July, 2024 Trends in Home Design

Douglas Gee

President/ Mortgage Broker

DRE# 01942839 NMLS# 234605

949-345-7872

913-636-0262

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Hello Doug,

Home design trends constantly evolve as they adapt to our changing lifestyles. The rising cost of housing has made choosing the right home improvements more important than ever since some families are more likely to stay in their homes longer as they build equity. So, what are some of the growing trends in home design you may want to consider?

In the home, bathrooms get a health-conscious makeover. According to recent reports released by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), designers are creating spa atmospheres in residential bathrooms to promote calm and relaxation, with 78% reporting a focus on health and wellness as a driving design attitude. Pamela McNally, Senior VP of Marketing and Digital at NKBA states, “Baths are therapeutic sanctuaries featuring everything from hydrotherapy and chromotherapy to heated floors and integrated audio. Never before has the residential bath been this elevated.” Earthy tones and organic materials such as stone, wood, and bamboo can add nature-inspired accents. There is also an increase in demand for high-tech spa showers, with steam jets, body spray, high-end rain shower heads, etc.

Kitchens are another area where homeowners focus on wellness more than ever. The modern cook often relies on various gadgets that have long occupied precious counter space, such as air fryers, steam cookers, instant pots, and so on. Upgraded appliances often include those cooking functions instead of requiring a separate device, and new hidden storage provides a dedicated space to keep them handy but out of sight. Another request is extra refrigerated space to offer more flexibility for fresh food and beverages. A dedicated area to create and store your drink of choice has also become a leading trend, with 60% of this year’s survey respondents saying dedicated beverage areas within kitchens will be popular. Beverage centers now include coffee/tea service, water dispensers, under-counter refrigeration, and frozen goods storage for smoothies, shakes, and acai bowls, which have become a big part of what people commonly consume.

Smart Homes

Do you remember when your phone’s only function was to answer calls? Smartphones have become ubiquitous, but smart homes seem to be following a similar trajectory as the Internet of Things gains traction and becomes more affordable. As systems get replaced and upgraded, homeowners and potential buyers are increasingly interested in devices that can make their homes more functional, comfortable, and safe while using new technologies.

Home tech has become increasingly integrated with voice assistants, such as Siri and Alexa, which allow residents to control their environment, including lighting, thermostats, communicating with other occupants, or the music to be played. The growing number of widely available smart devices allows for seamless integration and connectivity. Your fridge could communicate with your smartphone to notify you when you’re running low on groceries. You could start preheating your oven while you’re still on your way home. Facial recognition and AI can identify residents and intruders on safety cameras. If the time has come to replace some of your systems and appliances, you may want to consider the smart version to avoid being left behind.

Contact me to find out what may be the most in-demand trends in your area and in your price range.

Best,

Doug

Real Estate Briefs

Fit For Royalty

You may be familiar with the “Color of the Year” trends released by various paint companies, but what about something different? Sherwin-Williams inaugurated its Loneliest Color, which spotlights the most-overlooked, least-tinted, and least popular color in its collection. The honor goes to Kingdom Gold SW 6698, a vibrant and luminous gold hue that goes a long way into inviting vibrancy, energy, and creativity into a home or space in small touches, according to Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams Director of Color Marketing.

Turn It Up

Remember the days when oversized sound systems were all the rage and homeowners proudly displayed their discs or CD collections? Nowadays, invisible house-wide sound systems are where it’s at. Desirable home systems are as discreet as possible thanks to nearly invisible speakers throughout the house and are compatible with streaming and smart home devices.

“Combined with cloud-based music streaming services, customers can eliminate any evidence of equipment or wiring in their homes. This design aesthetic can be extremely appealing, so once customers see what is possible, they tend to get hooked,” says Frank DeFilippis, Builder Channel Manager with Sonos.

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