The seemingly endless run of bad housing news is discouraging some potential home buyers from considering a purchase. But the truth is that the advantages of homeownership have very little to do with investment gains. The best things about owning a home have a lot more to do with personal comfort and satisfaction.

Here are five of them:

· Be your own landlord. The bank can only kick you out if you don’t pay; a landlord can be much less dependable – deciding to sell the property or choosing to live there themselves.
· Paying the principal is forced savings. Yes, it’s possible that home prices will fall further. It is also possible that your 401(k) will lose value. But over the long haul, both are likely to enjoy modest gains in value.
· Fixed-rate mortgages never rise – and eventually you pay them off. With mortgage rates at record lows, people who buy now are locking in real bargains.
· Good schools. Family-sized rentals are harder to come by in areas with excellent public schools.
· Spacious properties in pleasant neighborhoods. Sizable homes in attractive communities are almost always owned – not rented.

Source: The New York Times, Ron Lieber (08/27/2010)

The increased use of digital applications to ensure consistency, safety, speed-cooking, and make bathing and kitchen work more enjoyable continued this year at the annual National Kitchen & Bath Association industry show.

Bathroom and kitchen products have gotten so smart, in fact, that home owners soon may have little to do but sit back while the power of water swooshing from a rainhead turns on its lights, or a laundry “cabinet” steams wet clothing dry while making it smell as fresh as the outdoors.

Here are other favorites seen at this year’s show:

1. Aquatic’s tubs look inviting, and the 60-inch by 32-inch models that fit a standard-size alcove offer a plus — they’re accessible and don’t convey an institutional aesthetic. The touch of a button causes a tempered, double-pane glass front to drop down. Other benefits: a 30-second quick drain, unobtrusive grab bars, and optional air jets.

2. Delta’s “Touch20” technology lets users tap a faucet to turn on water, thereby eliminating twisting a lever for those with arthritis or simply up to their elbows in flour or other cooking messes; it also times-out after a few minutes, so water stops flowing; good for conservation. 

3. Moen’s “io” has added a hand-held spray for Roman-style tubs for home owners to use when bathing (or showering). The digital device allows users to pre-set favorite temperatures and flow rates, akin to having a personal butler. An optional remote control is available.

4. Lutron, known for providing the right amount of artificial light in a room through sleek switches and dimmers, now is helping home owners control natural light, too. With its drapery and Roman shade systems, home owners touch a button and window treatments in a choice of fabrics descend or rise. Wireless hand-held options are available.

5. Blum’s “Aventos” lift-up, lift system comes equipped with a button so bi-fold cabinet doors open and close without home owners having to reach up and lift, good for aging Boomers or anyone with physical disabilities or health challenges.

6. Most burners generate plenty of high heat, but keeping a flame at a low simmer is a tougher challenge. DCS Range’s models melt chocolate and other foods without burning them at a very low 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. BreezeDry’s recessed or freestanding eco-friendly clothes-dryer cabinet eliminates trips to a drycleaner, shrinkage, damage of delicates, and fading from sunlight if clothing is placed outdoors. Home owners hang or lay wet items inside the cabinet, choose whether they want to simulate outdoor or indoor air, push a button—and the system senses when drying is done. Favorite settings can be programmed, and less energy is used than with a standard dryer.

http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2010/05/25/7-ways-to-go-digital-in-the-kitchen-and-bath/#more-1441

Sometimes what works in creating a great photo of a home doesn’t work in reality. That’s the main point of an article on “10 Decor Trends to Skip,” written by The Nest and reprinted at MSN.com. It’s always amusing to read the latest fashion faux pas when it comes to home design.

Here are some of the design blunders that made The Nest’s list.

• Antlers: Mounted horns displayed on walls became popular accessories in magazine home design spreads. But it’s now best to leave the horns on the animals, not the walls.

• Inspirational decor: Inspirational sayings like “Keep Calm and Carry On” or lettered decals such as “dream” or “friends” are no longer inspiring for home decor.

• Boutique hotel chic: It’s no longer a good idea to take pointers from hotels to guide your decorating. You’ll be left with “stiff minimalism, dull neutrals” — a quick way to achieve a blah room design, according to the article. (You might want to channel those inspirational sayings before starting your design!)

• Accent walls: Yes, surprisingly, accent walls made the list. Accent walls were once touted as a great way to bring in splashes of color, without committing to painting the entire room. But there’s no half-way now: It’s all or nothing. According to the article: “When all-white rooms were in fashion, one brightly painted or wallpapered wall was a great way to break up the monotony. But now, with bolder paint colors the norm, accent walls have less purpose and can break up the flow of a room. Plus, what was once an unpredictable pop of color is now, well…predictable.”

http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2010/06/10/the-big-bad-ugly-of-home-decor/#more-1453

Cash-conscious consumers continue to seek value, whether they purchase a $10,000 bathtub with jets, chromatherapy, and soothing sounds, or a $25 gallon of low- or no-VOC paint in chic fashion-forward hues.

Part of building in value is having the ability to make selections, then change them affordably as lifestyles change. A host of products at were showcased at the the annual National Kitchen & Bath Association show in Chicago in April. They demonstrated how flexible and cost-effective kitchen and bathroom products have become. Some innovative designs on view:

• 

  Rev-a-Shelf

  Rev-a-Shelf’s space-saving interior systems now include glass-lined shelves that can be adjusted up and down or left to right, depending on a cabinet’s shape and size and what’s stored. One pull-out “basket” turns 360 degrees to provide complete access. The glass is finished to prevent items from sliding.

• Giani TM, a paint kit that transforms laminate countertops or backsplashes into granite look-alikes, lets homeowner’s redesign rooms quickly and stylishly at a fraction of the price of costly remodelings, whether for their own enjoyment or to attract sellers. The $49.95 kit offers a choice of six patterns and colors and requires just five steps.
• With counter space at a premium, sinks are no longer just sinks. Kohler’s “Poise” features a removable cutting board, wine glass rack for glasses to dry upside down, and basin to protect the sink base. The company’s “Stages” sink has a removable cutting board and prep trays and serving bowls. Blanco offers similar solutions with its 20-inch-round “Ronis” sink with cutting board and tray with colander and solid basket.
  
• Saving space means greater design flexibility, and Geberit’s concealed tank and carrier system frees up 2 square feet of floor space per toilet. The design also makes it easier to clean underneath the bowl.  
  

  Liebherr wine and humidor

• Liebherr’s fully-integrated wine and humidor equipment take up no counter or floor space since they’re designed to be built into walls. The humidor fits 15 to 16 dozen cigars; the wine cellars keeps 18 bottles at a range of temperatures.
• Kichler’s energy-efficient LED lighting strips can be installed in a variety of lengths and in any place–from along toe kicks at cabinet bases to underneath countertops and inside ceiling coves at the top of a room.

http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2010/06/21/kitchen-bath-building-in-flexibility/#more-1468

Functionality is still a key driver when home owners spend thousands of dollars to build and remodel kitchens and bathrooms. But high performance shouldn’t exclude comfort — and fun. These products, which were highlighted at the 2010 annual National Kitchen & Bath Association show in Chicago, mesh function and comfort:

1. Warmly Yours adds the right amount of warmth just where it’s needed to make bathing, shaving, or applying make-up easier and more delightful, with radiant floor mats, towel warmers, and defoggable mirrors. Outdoors, sensors can detect wetness and cold to warm surfaces, whether a driveway, front walk, or patio.

2. Known for its dish drawers, Fisher & Paykel introduced an all-in-one “CoolDrawer” that makes gathering in the kitchen more enjoyable. The undercounter, variable-temperature drawer can be programmed to chill or freeze foods and store wine.

3. Glass works well as a countertop surface since it’s fashioned from recycled content, is low maintenance, nonporous, durable, and can be molded into curves or angles. But it also can be an artistic, fun surface to work on. ThinkGlass’ control panel allows the glass to change colors while also being illuminated.

4. Bathing hasn’t been just about getting clean since ancient times, but today’s tubs keep upping the ante on how relaxing the experience it can be. Kohler’s “Fountainhead VibrAcoustic” design features vibration, recorded sound tracks–though home owners can add their own music choices, chromatherapy, and different colors for the tub itself. Maax’s “Eterne” tub offers similar pleasures with aromatherapy, chromatherapy, a quiet pump, and optional back massage heater.

5. With new standards required to make showering more water efficient, Moen’s “Envi” rainhead satisfies the need; its 100 nozzles also make the experience more soothing. The head can also be adjusted so fewer nozzles provide a more concentrated spray.

Those kitchen cabinets may soon get pricier.

A new law recently signed by President Obama limits the amount of formaldehyde used in U.S. products. Formaldehyde can be found in the glue that holds wood together, often used in furniture, cabinets, and inexpensive wood products.

While the new law will make furniture greener — and safer to your health — some furniture-makers will likely need to increase the cost of their products as they explore an alternative to using formaldehyde. Some industry experts predict that furniture pricetags may increase anywhere from 5-15 percent on items that currently contain the formaldehyde-based glue. 

In high doses, formaldehyde can be dangerous to your health. Health experts have linked it to respiratory problems and even cancer.

The health dangers of formaldehyde gained widespread attention after trailers for victims of Hurricane Katrina were banned when some victims experienced respiratory problems from the formaldehyde used in the trailers’ walls, cabinets, and ceilings, according to a recent article in USA Today (Furniture to be Greener, But Pricier by Jayne O’Donnell).

It could be at least three years before all products sold in the United States must meet the new guidelines, which limits formaldehyde emissions to 0.09 parts per million or less. In California, which paved the way for the federal law, furniture stores must comply sooner — Dec. 31, 2011.

http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2010/07/30/new-law-likely-will-lead-to-higher-prices-for-furniture/#more-1555

With temperatures reaching record highs throughout the U.S., thoughts of autumn seem but a woeful wish. The fall season evokes thoughts of home and hearth, as families and friends eagerly anticipate re-connecting with one another amid busy lives.

Of course, most want a home design and décor that will impress, and help de-compress, impending company – one with that autumn sensibility that exudes comfort and warmth … and duly stimulates the senses.

With this in mind, here are 10 top home design and décor trends for fall: 

Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson Designs

1. Vintage accents. What’s old is new again. French-burlap is no longer just for sack-racing. This Earth-friendly fiber is being used for chic pillows imprinted with a vintage stamped design or even a family initial.

Accent chairs can also be seen covered in gray linen imprinted with vintage “document” script writing. Vintage couture lamps (and their replicas) are utter perfection this year, especially those with milk glass and natural material bases, drum shades, and antique brass finials.

Aged, color-washed wood accessories such as candlesticks, urns, and bowls are popular as oversized accessories to accent and update a time-worn look.

2. Wallpaper! With a decreasing demand for faux finishes and walls painted in solid primary colors, wallpaper is making a comeback in a big and decidedly fashionable way. 

From bright and bold to subdued and elegant, today’s wallpapers are easy to apply and even easier to remove, making updating the seasonal look of a room easier than ever before. here are a seemingly endless number of choices from solids to patters, and everything in between. 

Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson Designs

3. Timeless art. When shopping for items to occupy wall space, ditch the quick fix, “matchy-matchy” picture. Art doesn’t have to be expensive but it should certainly have meaning. Buy what you love. Mix mediums and styles. To add depth and character to your pieces, forego the glass cover that can be distracting and casts a glare that actually detracts from your interior design.

4. Elemental color. While neutrals have made a strong showing in design this year for primary design elements like walls and baseline furnishings, boldly colored accent pieces give a space visual interest and appeal.

Brightly colored and/or patterned pillows, rugs and other accessories will bring an otherwise bland space to life. Of course, these accessories can be readily transitioned to exude the spirit of a given season.

5. Space simplification. With a strong desire to ease and reprioritize our homes and lifestyles, de-cluttering — even with respect to editing down furnishings and accessories — is the best way to gain control of your surroundings and feel a refreshed sense of purpose.

It is very important to streamline not only the lines of your furniture, but the bulkiness as well. But, this does not mean giving up comfort for style. Many times we place too many items in a room by way of accessories, pillows, throw rugs, and family photos.

Pick and choose very carefully the most important items and then pare down from there. There is brilliance in restraint.

6. Rug rage. There has never been a more exciting time than now in the area rug industry. Whatever style, shape, and design you can imagine is within your reach.

Even if a space has wall-to-wall carpeting, place an area rug to establish a layered look and add depth and personality to a room and also tie in other disparate color components. A rug’s color palette and pattern can easily establish the desired style and tone of a season. 

Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson Designs

7. Bed basics. Bedding has also changed this year. The pomp and circumstances of overstuffed pillows that seem to multiply in the night are out. Way out.

Exquisite, neutral colored linens are in, especially when paired with a luxurious top blanket and a clean lined duvet.

For those who desire more color that’s representative of fall or any other season, indulge in two medium sized pillows placed in front of each sham. 

Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson Designs

8. Pillow talk. Today’s pillow designs offer an array of textures, colors, shapes, sizes, and accents, and can completely transform a room’s aesthetic. Accordingly, pillows have become the ultimate interior design accessory, especially since they are so versatile.

Choose an assortment of pillows for the spring and summer and other set for the fall and winter. This is an easy way to seasonally transition a room in an easy and budget-friendly way.

Also, resist the urge to “karate chop” pillows to give them a center crease as this look is not style savvy.

9. Window treatments. While many love luscious fabrics, an overuse of material on your windows can quickly overpower an otherwise streamlined room. Linen panels are now very trendy since they beautifully outline and soften windows. This classic and timeless fabric is now available in a staggering array of colors to coordinate with any interior palette.

10. Brass. Yes, brass is back but a bit older and wiser. Antiqued brass and even antiqued gold have both made a large comeback on everything from drapery rods, to cocktail tables, to door and cabinet knobs to décor figurines.

The light reflecting surface of brass adds warmth, glow and movement to a space and, thus, is perfect in a room with a fireplace.

http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2010/08/23/10-autumn-home-design-decor-trends/