The tradition scrolls back five generations to Switzerland, and Kopf Builders as we know it in Avon Lake was incorporated by Bucky Kopf in 1964, who likes to say he started with “a hammer and a saw out of the back of a truck,” says Brett Kopf, vice president.
From its stomping grounds in the far east parts of Lorain County along the lakeside and up to Catawba, Kopf Builders is known for its communities that offer plans to accommodate a range of lifestyles: attached condos, detached cluster homes and single-family homes.
Here are some in-demand design and decor requests that Kopf is fielding from clients.
Making Room. “The dining room has almost become obsolete for most people,” Kopf says, relating that instead homeowners want dual first-floor offices for him and her. “Morning rooms off the kitchen are used for dining, and people want oversized islands, up to 10 feet long and 6 feet deep.” Also, there’s a recent trend toward first-floor master suites for clients of all ages.
What’s Outside. Mixed materials still rule the exterior finish market: standing-seam metal accent roofs over garages and porches, shake siding and stone veneer. “I think I’ve built only one brick house in the last eight years,” Kopf relates. Plus, clients are investing in backyard living features like stamped concrete patios, seating walls, outdoor kitchens and fire pits.
Coastal Colors. The trending palette for walls and finishes includes shades of white and blue, along with warmer grays. But ultimately, clients steer color decisions. Kopf says, “We allow individuals to make personalized selections for their homes.”
