As homeowners look to remodel or build a new home, it is essential they make the best choices when incorporating the latest design trends. Making wise design decisions can influence the resale value of the home.
A study conducted by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies found that close to 30 million homes were “significantly upgraded” within the past 10 years. The study showed “interior spaces” as the fastest-growing segment of the market with $13.5 billion invested in kitchens and $10.5 billion in bathrooms.
Current design trends give homeowners a taste of something new and an opportunity to refresh the senses. At Reico Kitchen & Bath, the leading kitchen and bath retailer in the Mid-Atlantic states, Deleigh Van Deursen, CKD, CBD, NCIDQ certified, Instructional Designer and Kitchen & Bath Design Trainer, offers homeowners advice on the latest design trends destined to last as well as insights on the trends fated to die quickly.
Van Deursen’s recommendations include:
1. Natural Looking and Easy to Care for Products
According to Van Deursen, materials come in and out of style and predicts those that will last are “natural looking and easy to care for.”
According to a recent article in AOL Money & Finance, products such as above-counter sinks, glass doors, built-in-flat panels and tumbled stones are not so easy to care for and may fall victim to the dying trends category. Each of these products at one point seemed like a good idea; however, they are creating openings for alternatives to take their place. Homeowners are encouraged to keep things simple and within practical design to maintain current trends.
2. Stay Middle Of The Road
Homeowner’s safest bet when choosing trends is to stay “middle-of-the-road.” According to Van Deursen, “Fashion extremes tend to fade much sooner.” Van Deursen suggests homeowners look at the overall picture and plan ahead. Homeowners should ask themselves two key questions:
- How long will I be here?
- Am I worried about resale value in the next five years?
Van Deursen recommends individuals worried about the resale of their home should look at the marketplace and keep larger items such as cabinets in the medium tones and consult a professional to determine the best options for adding appropriate flare that is easy and less expensive to replace. “It is simple to add additional flare to a home without going overboard,” said Van Deursen. “Paint, small appliances, decorations or even countertops can add a sense of high-style and fashion to your home, but are easily replaceable.
3. “Form Follows Function”
Consumers are best determining which trends are destined to die by following the traditional saying, “form follows function.” In our lives, we like to follow and stick with things that work. We tend to keep these items around and don’t shy away from minor adjustments. However, when we come across items that are fun, trendy, pretty or just sound like a great idea, but fail to meet our standards of performance, we move to something better. These are the products that will eventually fizzle.
Van Deursen uses the example of the first stainless steel appliances as products that fell short of standard expectations. “When first introduced, stainless steel appliances were something new and different from the ordinary black, white and almond color choices, which “intrigued” consumers to use their purchasing power in the marketplace,” said Van Deursen. “However, consumers soon found themselves having to clean these appliances multiple times due to fingerprints that took away from the clean and shiny look of stainless steel. This led the industry to tweak the stainless look by toning down the shine and color to minimize the fingerprints.”
Many homeowners find themselves ready to take a break after a one time remodeling project. According to AOL Money & Finance, Ellen Gefen, a TV producer in Greensboro, N.C., who recently finished remodeling her kitchen was taken back by all the pressure behind making the correct choices from paint to knobs.
Gefen says she can’t image having to do the process all over again. “It’s different than having a baby, where you forget the pain,” said Gefen. Overall, many homeowners find remodeling to be a stressful and a time consuming project which they are only willing to go through once. This reinforces the importance of choosing design trends that are going to last.
4. Future Of Design Trends
Van Deursen has several predictions for the future of design trends. She envisions
a strong continuing growth of maple and cherry cabinets with more options in renewable resources such as replenishable wood as well as alternative fuel sources. Van Deursen notes, “We seem to be heading down the path of nostalgia and a great deal of rustic looks with antique finishes becoming more popular. The market will stay that way until it becomes too saturated and consumers start looking for a change. Overall, we will continue to see twisting of existing trends and the ongoing popularity of natural looking, yet easy to maintain products.”
Trends Will Come & Go
Design trends will continue to come and go based on the never-ending change in consumer tastes and the introduction of new and exciting trends in the market. Reico Kitchen and Bath plays a beneficial role to homeowners providing them with the current design trends as well as insights to choosing the best styles that suite their needs.
About Reico Kitchen & Bath
Founded in 1952, Reico Kitchen & Bath is the premier supplier of kitchen and bath products in the Mid-Atlantic States, selling more kitchens than all of the home centers in the area combined. The Company has 20 locations serving Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Reico has distinguished itself with homeowners, builders and remodeling contractors by offering unsurpassed service, unparalleled product selection and a stress-free buying experience. Most recently, Reico introduced the Couture Design Group which caters to customers designing high caliber kitchen projects in and around Washington D.C. For more information, call (800) REICO-11 or visit reico.com. |