The Latest Home Decor Trends

Colors

This year, home decorators have made it known that color is not simply for art hanging on the wall. Mint Green is the color of the summer. And it's not just reflected in clothing and jewelry: furniture and home accessories also come in this fresh color. Silver has been the metal of choice for years, but now yellow metals--gold and brass--are in. Gold accents with softer finishes (rather than full-on shine) and antique brass finishes have made their way into kitchens, bathrooms, lighting fixtures and more. Also making a comeback is wallpaper. Despite it's bad reputation, wallpaper comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and styles. If you're weary about using wallpaper, consider covering an accent wall, or a small space such as an entryway, rather than an entire room. Painted front doors freshen up a home's exterior, and painted furniture is also trendy. Dated pieces found at flea markets or secondhand shops can be transformed by a coat of paint and new hardware. This DYI project is great for creative people who like a good deal. Watercolors are also popular, not just on art, but also on fabrics and accessories. This, too, you could try yourself, by picking up watercolor paint at a craft store and applying it to lamp shades and fabrics. For more DYI projects, click here.

Materials
Exposed brick often gives a home character and style. Now, raw wood and rope are becoming just as popular. Wood is compatible with many different styles (cottage, vintage, contemporary, etc). You can find raw wood pieces at architectural salvage stores and flea markets. You can also buy new items that are meant to look distressed. Repurpose wooden objects you already own but don't often use--that latter in your garage would make a great bookshelf! Barn doors enable people to close off rooms separated by a large doorway. Simple track hardware can be found at a farm supply store. The resulting sliding door will be both practical and stylish. Like raw wood, rope also lends itself well to a variety of styles--from nautical to industrial. It provides a natural, earthly feel to any room. Woven chairs and baskets can be found at many stores, and wadded rope used as book ends or door stops are also available.

Decor
Curvy and colorful gourd lamps look great on side tables and nightstands. Statement installed light fixtures are also trendy ways to brighten up a room. Lighting show rooms and home centers showcase stylish fixtures in various styles, such as industrial. Block Prints are noted for their global appear and exotic flare. They are becomming more common (and thus affordable!) in mass produced products. Nailhead trim continues to be popular. It adds sophistication and timelessness to a piece of furniture. Lattice or trellis prints (most commonly a color pattern on a white background or the inverse) make great window treatments and throw pillows. You can also stencil patterns onto a wall, or use wallpaper.

Watch the video below for a demonstration on how to paint, sand, and distress furniture:

Demand for Homes Outnumbers Supply

Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, writes in Realtor Magazine that the housing recovery is surpassing expectations. Increased demand and minimal new-home construction have increased home prices at a near double-digit pace. 1.5 million new houses are needed each year to keep home-price gains at the ideal level of 3-5 percent annually. As of March, this number finally exceeded the 1 million mark for the first time in five years, but still failed to reach 1.5 million. Home prices are expected to continue to rise even more over the next couple of years, as many buyers chase after too few sellers. While increasing home values are good for sellers, price increases often exceed income growth and thus put buyers at a disadvantage. This situation hinders the economy and leads to inflated price increases in some parts of the nation.

Those considering selling your home, you may want to take advantage of the excess housing demand. Contact me to see what I can do for you.

Read the full article here.

A Snapshot of Contemporary Home Design: The Parade of Homes is Here!

The BIA Parade of Homes is here! It features 13 homes that vary in style and price (from $450,000 Craftsmans and Colonials to $850,000 Italianate houses). An article in The Columbus Dispatch discusses the latest housing trends: master showers instead of baths, home offices, eat-in kitchen islands, granite alternatives such as marble and quartz, wall textures and surfaces, outside storage, stained and polished concrete lower-level floors, outdoor rooms, hidden garages that increase curb appeal, and built-in desks that provide computer space. The article also discloses trends of the past. Only 35% of buyers want dining rooms. First floor master suits with lounge areas are also no longer desirable. Many people consider master sitting rooms a waste of space; they also want their bedroom to be on the same level as their childrens'. Finally, having a large master suite on the first floor simply takes up space and displaces rooms that are not as appropriate on the second floor. Two-story interiors are also on the decline. People prefer family rooms with 10 or 12 foot ceilings as opposed to a "great room." This allows for another room (a second family room, loft, etc) above the great room. Check out these trends for yourself: the Parade epitomizes contemporary housing design.

Event Details

Location: Jerome Village, in southeastern Union County. Click here for directions.

Dates/Times: Saturday June 15th-Sunday June 30th
                      Monday-Saturday: noon-9pm
                      Sunday: noon-6pm

Tickets: 11$ online, 12$ at the door. Children 12 and under are free.

Parking: 2$ cash