Back to the Stone-age, Homeowners Opt for a Bold and Natural Look
(ARA) - From the bone-chilling cold climates of the North and Northeast, to the sun and moderate temperatures of the Southwest and West Coast, the trends of home improvement and interior design are strikingly similar.
A survey of general contractors, painters, floor installers and interior designers from coast-to-coast was conducted recently to determine home improvement trends as they are happening - not just as manufacturers are predicting.
Some highlights of the survey are:
- Most professional painters are painting interior walls shades of white. Homeowners' choices for exteriors are earth tones and taupe.
- Homeowners are choosing hard, stone-like, solid surface materials for kitchen countertops. The second most popular choice is tile, although the trend seems to be moving away from tiles on countertops. The preference is for solid materials - if not laminates, then such solid plastics as Corian and Wilsonart. Solid surfacing is really a workhorse material. It's practical for high-wear areas, and the ability to renew its finish is one of its most significant characteristics. Style stone (a granite-like material) and natural granite are also quite popular. Tile is usually installed on the backsplash.
- Tile floors are the most popular choices of homeowners from Seattle to Virginia, according to the survey. A close second is laminate flooring that looks like wood. Home improvement specialists are seeing a gradual movement toward natural materials that come from sustainable resources that are affordable, recyclable and easy to maintain.
- Large family rooms and sunrooms are popular today, along with such home extensions as exercise rooms, master suites, hearth-room kitchens, screened porches, etc.
For the Trend Seekers:
Many homeowners are opting to remodel and expand their existing homes and they often are choosing bright and bold approaches. One such example of a vivid interior is the home of Jessica Whitney. "My husband and I were getting a little antsy in our current living conditions, but we couldn't afford to move, so we decided to remodel," said Whitney.
With little knowledge of remodeling, Whitney logged onto a home services company's Web site, ServiceMagic.com that connects homeowners with local, prescreened service professionals. She filled out a step-by-step questionnaire and, within 24 hours, was contacted by three service professionals interested in the job.
"I knew I wanted a change, but, first, I needed to seek advice from a professional before I spent more money on correcting my mistakes than on improving them," said Whitney.
Andy Bell of Handyman Express turned Jessica's basic white walls in the family room into a vibrant sitting room by painting one wall a deep raspberry color. Whitney accentuated the room with blue throw pillows for the couch and sofa chair.
"At night, lots of candles of contrasting colors create a mood that is desirable for any occasion," said Whitney.
The use of color in designing interiors can be highly effective in creating an appealing environment. Studies on color association have been conducted to learn how different colors affect people. Someone's choice of color for their home depends on many things - trends, size of the room, lighting and childhood influences, for example.
Red is the strongest of all colors. Raspberry reds express excitement, high energy, warmth and vibrancy. In fact, raspberry is a stimulating and active color that would also be appropriate for an entry hall. Warmer reds, also inviting, can provide an intimate atmosphere in a dining room.
Experts point out that there are many different shades and tints of colors - each with a distinctive personality. The experts advise that color selections be based on how you feel about a particular color. A room filled with bright lively colors may energize one person; another person may find the brighter hues exhausting.
Suggestions for the living and dining rooms:
- Be bold. Paint one or two walls a deep shade of red, blue, green or olive.
- Create a mood. Contrasting throw pillows and candles for the evening can turn a traditional room into a visually pleasing one.
For the smaller kitchens, Designer Lucy Kendzior, recommends tearing down an existing wall, to open up the kitchen while adding more space for cabinets and countertops.
Interior designers are a great starting point for homeowners wanting to remodel or just to have a new look. They work with you to evaluate your needs and communicate these needs to the architect and the contractor. Also, interior designers help enhance a home environment through their understanding of design and space and their expertise in combining creativity with quality design.
Note: When planning your kitchen remodel, begin by discussing your cabinet needs. Not only will cabinets be your kitchen's most prominent feature, they'll also probably take longer to obtain than any other item.
For the too-small-for-comfort kitchen:
- Try maple. Maple cabinets are not only pleasing to the eye, but they also are top notch when it comes to durability. The all-American appeal of maple can be found in every price range. Also, maple lends a warm glow to a kitchen--or any room in the house. Its smooth, close-grained characteristics fit in beautifully with any home decor.
- Go back to the "Stone Age." Granite tile for the countertops is a unique and classy look with contrasting cabinets.
- Try tile for the kitchen floor. Ceramic floor tile allows for easy clean up and an authentic look. Tile is an excellent choice for kitchen floors because it is durable, has slip-resistant qualities and comes in a variety of colors and prices.
Easy touch-up for the entrance:
- Replace the old door with a new model. This will spare you the cost of resizing the opening and still give you a fresh, updated look. Many door models are built to fit into existing woodwork, which also will save you the cost of having to replace the entire unit.
- Add an attractive storm door to protect the entry door and keep heat inside during the winter and allow fresh air to come inside in the summer. Choose a door with a movable sash to allow for more flexibility.
- Install trim work. Trim the exterior of the door with finish carpentry such as columns and a crosshead pediment to extend the width of the door. Ask your carpenter about high-density urethane foam millwork, a great option for high maintenance wood.
- Lighting. Outdoor lighting can go a long way to create a warm, welcoming effect for your guests. Lighting installed above or at both sides of the front door is an excellent option. Be certain to hire a qualified electrician to install your new fixtures.
Finding a contractor via the Web has become a popular trend that is sure to stay in fashion. Not only is it free to consumers, but it is a more time efficient and convenient way to research contractors' credentials.
It used to be you grew up in a tight-knit community and could rely on quality referrals from friends and neighbors, but with Americans being more transient today, most of those connections have been lost. Now, people are turning to the Internet to reestablish those connections as well as provide the necessary research to make an informed decision.
According to ServiceMagic.com, requests for home-related referrals run the gamut, ranging from simple home maintenance to complete home remodeling projects. The most common service request fulfilled by ServiceMagic is maid service. Although a relatively low-ticket purchase, maid service is a common household need that many families across varying income strata can afford.
However, the second most popular home service referral sought over the Internet is for general contractors and home remodelers, which can cost tens, and even hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to ServiceMagic-generated data. The other most commonly requested services reported (in order of popularity) are for painting, handymen, plumbing, electricians, deck installation, fence installation, roofing and lawn maintenance.
Courtesy of ARA Content, www.aracontent.com, e-mail:
info@aracontent.com
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