The second-floor laundry room, the walk-through pantry, even the half bath on the main floor – everyday items that we now see in today’s homes - all have been products of home design innovation through the years.

Improving the way people live through better home design is the goal of every homebuilder, and it’s not just tweaks to floorplans. It can be through the introduction of new materials, home automation features, or including former upgrade features as part of the standard builder package.

Home design changes with the homebuyers needs, market conditions, and lifestyle demands, and today builders are seeing demand soar for finished basement developments as among the top priority for buyers.

Here are what other home design innovations builders are offering in 2025.

Cantiro

“At Cantiro, ‘innovation’ isn’t just a buzzword—it’s one of our core values,” says Ryan Smith, President of Cantiro Homes. “We’re constantly collaborating with stakeholders and suppliers to explore new materials, smarter building techniques, and ways to enhance the function, value, and sustainability of our homes.”

This year, Smith says Cantiro’s dedicated Product Development team is pushing boundaries by introducing new home designs tailored to evolving lifestyles, affordability challenges, and modern buyer expectations. “Our goal is to offer a diverse range of Cantiro homes that meet people’s needs at every stage of life.”

Beyond home design, Cantiro is also integrating AI-driven tools into their website and customer service processes. These advancements will help homebuyers navigate their options with ease while providing existing homeowners with better resources and support for their Cantiro home.

“We believe a well-designed home should already include the features buyers want most,” says Gary Hoeft, GM of Cantiro Homes. “That’s why we build modern, stylish, and functional spaces including high-quality finishes.”

“For those looking to add a little extra, we see frequent requests for railings, fireplaces, and layout modifications – all of which we accommodate through our optional floor plan configurations,” says Hoeft. Buyers can personalize their homes further with Cantiro’s Define and Enhance personalization packages, adding their unique flair beyond the standard options.

Last year, Cantiro introduced the Metro Collection—a cutting-edge lineup of townhomes and rear-laned homes that bring our expertise in single-family home design to a more compact, efficient, and value-driven format.

“These homes prioritize customer-centric design, smart use of space, and affordability, making homeownership more accessible without compromising on quality,” Smith says.

The Metro Collection is available in Riverstead (SW Edmonton),Alces (SE Edmonton), and Greenbury Park (Spruce Grove). “The Metro Fit 14 has been so popular that we can barely keep up with sales,” says Smith. “Due to its overwhelming popularity, we will be expanding this collection to offer an even more affordable 12-foot model, providing more selection for buyers.”

Beyond the Metro Collection, Cantiro has also added models to their best-selling Life Collection with larger homes tailored to buyers seeking more space—whether for growing families or multigenerational living. “With interest rates continuing to shift, we’re seeing some buyers starting to look for larger layouts again.” Examples of these new model include the Family Generations 26 (show home in Alces, SW Edm) and Entertain Vista 24 (show home in Ardrossan). Find out more at cantiro.ca/homes.

Excel Homes

“New Year, new standard specifications for all homes built in 2025 in Edmonton! We’re always looking for ways to enhance the quality, comfort, and style of our homes, so we’re thrilled to introduce our new standard specifications,” says Excel Homes Marketing Manager, Kristina Plank. “Designed with modern homeowners in mind, these improved specifications offer more value and style without the need for additional upgrades.”

Some of the new features include 1¼-inch quartz countertops in kitchen, main bath and ensuite; ecobee™ Smart Thermostat™ Premium & Ring Video Doorbell; high-efficiency furnace and tankless water heater and full front and rear landscaping. Automatic mortgage insurance rebate with the RBC Green Home Mortgage program is also part of the package.

“Every single new home built byExcel from February 4, 2025, onward will receive our new standard specifications,” Plank says.

Excel, in fact, will open six brand-new showhomes in the Edmonton region this year to showcase these latest standard specifications. These include the best-selling Rosewood will make its debut this spring in The Orchards.

Excel currently builds in the Edmonton communities of The Orchards, Edgemont, Keswick Landing and Vita Crystallina, with plans to start pre-selling in their new community of Alces very soon with two new showhomes. Find out more at excelhomes.ca.