Enhancing our living spaces is a vehicle for enhancing our lifestyles. Most everyone strives to live in an environment that brings out the best in us. As we consider domestic improvements, whether it’s purchasing a new home or sprucing up our existing quarters, let’s check out what national research and local CLAY STAPP+ CO experts tell us is trending now.
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Source: freshhome.com[/caption]
Open Floor Plans: Open plans promote interaction among family and guests, as walls are not a barrier. Open plans also give us the flexibility to increase or decrease the size of specific areas as occasions command. We can add a table to the dining area or add chairs to the great room for large gatherings, or create niche areas; all on an as needed basis.
Multi-Generational and Universal Layouts: With an aging population and longer life expectancies, blended families are more common than ever before. We are seeing more and more grandparents moving in with adult children, resulting in the need for home plans to accommodate more than one family unit in a single home. “The trend of aging in place continues as it has for the past few years; it’s just affecting more of us now, “according to the US Census Bureau.
Downsizing Continues To Grow: Homeowners continue looking for smaller living quarters with top notch features. One level living including hardwoods, high ceilings, crown molding, granite countertops, and screened “reading” porches are in high demand, says Allison Moriarty, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for M/I Homes. Although these homes may include a bonus room and/or an extra bedroom upstairs, they are geared towards spending time on the main level. Oftentimes lawn care is included for these homes, Allison adds.
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www.designshuffle.com[/caption]
Neutrals Rock… With Pops of Vibrant Hues: Various shades of warm gray top the charts for neutrals in living spaces, with caramels and cinnamons making appearances in more private areas, such as master bedrooms, dens, and keeping rooms. Colors are now trending away from cool grays and true browns, say Pam and Debby. Bright pops of color for front doors, accent walls and the backs of built-in shelving express our ingenuity, providing contrast to create a feel-good factor and an elevated intensity of passion and luxury. Look for vivid accent hues of royal blue, purple, magenta, green, orange, and yellow in 2014.
Carpet Designed for the Whole Family (Including Fido!): As with walls, gray is the carpet color of choice in 2014, says Brentwood Carpets CEO Harry Harles. Previously popular textured carpet, such as the mini-shag, is out; soft, textured “Saxony” carpet with a smooth, velvet-like appearance is in. Carpet fibers have dramatically improved over the past few years to become more durable than ever before, with built in products to include enzyme treatments that act as a moisture barrier between the carpet surface and the padding below. After cleaning stains in the past, they would often reemerge from the padding to the carpet surface. With this new technology, accidents and spills don’t reach the padding, thereby making carpet a low maintenance element in our homes.
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