Our Architects' Top 10 Favorite Products of 2018

by Katie Gregory and Rachel Lyon, Home Product Blogger and Editorial Director for The House Designers®

Have you ever wondered how architects and home designers imagine their designs finished, and how they might go about specifying? By keeping on top of what's available, of course! The architects at The House Designers have diverse tastes and favor all sorts of products, so you'll find a diverse selection represented here. If some seem familiar, you may have seen them included on a variety of our America's Choice House Plans!

Durable Architectural Accents for All Styles

It should come as no surprise—everybody appreciates low-maintenance exterior products, because they keep your home looking great with minimal effort! Fypon® offers a huge catalog of columns and millwork, all made with weather- and insect-resistant materials that won't let you down. You'll also find woodgrain textures that you can stain or paint to the perfect natural tone. Fypon® will also help you find the right embellishments for your home through their free takeoff service, so you don't have to be overwhelmed by the choices!

Model: Fypon® Woodgrain Columns | Contact for a Quote

Contemporary yet Versatile Stone Veneer

Stone is a design must-have these days, which is why you'll see it detailed on many of our newest house plans. When architects look for the best complements to their designs, they want a large selection to choose from, like that offered by Eldorado Stone. Their collection is always expanding with new profiles and color palettes—like the option shown here, introduced earlier this year—so you're sure to find something beautiful for your own home. You'll find we love the chic, neat, and utterly adaptable varieties most of all!

Model: Eldorado Stone Cliffstone® in Whitebark | Contact for a Quote

Entry Systems with Clean and Classic Appeal

The front door should immediately draw the eye and strike a welcoming note, so it's important to find the right fit for every home. Therma-Tru® Doors has awesome paintable and woodgrain choices fit for all types of architecture, and our pick is one that keeps it simple in historical style. Shaker-inspired looks have made a big comeback in recent years, and there's no better place to showcase those crisp lines than with your front entry. There are plenty of door styles whether you want solid panels or flush-glazed glass, and don't forget to explore different finishes!

Model: Therma-Tru® Classic-Craft® American Style Collection™ 1 Panel Shaker Door in Driftwood Finish | Contact for a Quote

A Modern Take on Traditional Windows

Double hung windows find themselves on many of our house plans due to architectural influence, and they're flexible enough to help imbue the right vibe each time! Integrity® from Marvin® offers all sorts of simulated divided lite patterns, so you can achieve the best look with great performance. Whether you like a classic rectangular pattern, a Prairie style for extra oomph, a modern look with horizontal muntins, or just the checkrail for the widest views, you'll love the effect!

Model: Integrity® from Marvin® Wood-Ultrex Double Hung Windows | Contact for a Quote

A Sleek New Woodgrain Shade for Garage Doors

The garage door is more important for curb appeal than many think, so having plenty of design choices is an asset. Clopay® Garage Doors released a brand-new shade of their popular Ultra-Grain® finish, adding a modern gray called Slate to their various wood tones. This greatly broadened the possibilities for everybody, whether you want a traditional or contemporary look! Slate can mimic an aged, washed out look, or appear very chic and clean. And because it's a faux wood finish, it requires just minimal maintenance!

Model: Clopay® Gallery® Collection Garage Doors in Slate Ultra-Grain® Finish | Contact for a Quote

Luxury Appliances with Dark, Minimalist Looks

With a major rebrand underway this year, JennAir® is redefining luxury in the kitchen. The new NOIR™ line of appliances provides a sharp, edgy feel based on the contrast between stainless steel and black glass, and it definitely adds some drama to the cooking experience. Appliances like these are sure to make a kitchen stand out! And the draw extends beyond looks—they offer top-of-the-line functionality. JennAir® also unveiled RISE™, if you have a more heavy-duty aesthetic.

Model: JennAir® NOIR™ 24" Under Counter Microwave Oven with Drawer Design | Starting at $1,599.00 MSRP

Gorgeous Cabinetry with Custom Capabilities

With architects adding more built-ins to appeal to today's buyers, they know the value that cabinetry can add to a house. Dura Supreme Cabinetry® offers a variety of styles and solutions for every room, and they also have semi- to full-custom options to ensure each build is outfitted with the best in terms of looks and functionality. You'll love the lifetime warranty, and rest easy knowing that your cabinets were handcrafted to high standards by master carpenters in Minnesota!

Model: Kitchen with White, Glass Pane Cabinets from Dura Supreme Cabinetry® | Contact for a Quote

A Color Visualizer with Pre-Planned Palettes

Choosing paint is difficult, but ColorSmart by BEHR® makes it easy with multiple coordinated palettes in every color family, and even some special collections. Just pick what you like from a group and test them out in a preview to see how they translate to walls! You can use a variety of provided images or even upload a photo of your own space. It couldn't be easier whether you need ideas for an architectural rendering or a real home. Just see what we did with the 2019 Color of the Year, Blueprint, in this imagined kitchen!

Model: Kitchen with Blueprint (S470-5) Walls, Watery (HDC-CT-26) Ceiling, and Dark Navy (S530-7) Upper Cabinets and Baseboard Trim | ColorSmart by BEHR® Visualizer Is Free to Use!

Stylish Pull-Down Faucets That Slash Splash Potential

Many of us accept that getting wet is part of doing the dishes, but it doesn't have to be! With ShieldSpray® Technology from Delta®, you can blast away messes with a concentrated stream of water without worry, because there's a veil of water around the stream that acts as a shield to catch the resulting spray. This reduces splatter by 90% on average, and it's available on a number of pull-down faucets so you can choose the best style for your kitchen design. What a great marriage of form and function!

Model: Delta® Foundry™ Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with ShieldSpray® Technology | $398.35 MSRP

Architecturally Inspired Designer Handlesets

Baldwin® Hardware partnered with California designer Erinn Valencich to introduce the Hollywood Hills collection by Erinn V., which we first saw previewed at ADDS this year. These handlesets flaunt clean, modern lines and come in more than a dozen finishes so you can give your front door the perfect look. They're ideal if you're going for a crisp, transitional vibe, and they're exceptionally versatile on top of that! Looking for a smart lock option to complete your new tech-savvy home? You'll love the extra functionality of the collection's Evolved handleset for sure!

Model: Baldwin Hardware® Hollywood Hills Full Escutcheon Handleset in Venetian Bronze | Price Varies by Finish