7 Hot Trends in Home Remodels
Have plans to renovate your home anytime soon? Then you’ll want to keep in mind these thoughtful design ideas that have become increasing popular throughout 2016—and most likely are going to stay relevant for the long haul.
1. BOLDER IS BETTER—BUT WITH THE DESIGN IN MIND
When it comes to color, sure, white is still quite popular, but a lot more color is creeping into home design these days. The key to making bold colors work (and not going out of style) is to pick hues, materials, and patterns that are authentic to the architectural style of the house. For example, gray-green or steely-blue cabinetry looks great in craftsman kitchens. A colorful glazed brick backsplash will feel right at home in a brick bungalow. Or, you could also incorporate porcelain mosaic tile patterns in the bathroom of an older home. They’ll feel “vintage” as soon as they are installed.
2. REMODELING FOR ACCESSIBILITY
Instead of buying new (and anticipating doing it again in 10-15 years), more and more people in Colorado are remodeling their homes to fit their current needs, but with an eye to the future so that it can be their forever home, too. People are more aware of aging in place, so the trend has included design features such as a bedroom with a full bath on the main level of the home and grab bars in the bathroom (or even just including backing for them to be installed down the road).
3. CLEANER LINES AND MORE CONTEMPORARY STYLE
Contemporary is all the rage—and the key to doing it wisely is to mix those modern elements with a few references to the original style of the home. A shaker cabinet in quartersawn oak is a classic selection for a craftsman-style home, but when you do it in a frameless construction with a modern gray finish, cool quartz countertops, or cabinets that have a more horizontal layout with lift-up hinges, the overall look is quite contemporary. It’s a delicate balance, as you don’t want the interior of the home to look like a completely different house than its exterior.
4. MORE EMPHASIS ON LIGHTING
Statement lighting is becoming more and more important in almost every room of the house. It can have a huge effect on a room’s overall look, and there are numerous beautiful and eye-catching options. Scale is getting bigger, too. People are moving away from mini-pendants and moving towards larger fixtures and chandeliers. It’s often a splurge, but it pays off in the end.
5. THAT “PRO” LOOK
Stainless steel appliances have been trendy for a while, but people prefer a professional look now more than ever—for example, that might include induction cooktops with built-in wall ovens and microwaves, as well as specialty appliances, like built-in espresso makers or wine dispensers.
6. ALL THAT BRASS
Antique and un-lacquered brass finishes have made their comeback in the design world for a few years now, but it’s finally trickling down to the masses. The best part about brass in a home remodel is that these finishes are completely appropriate for older homes—even when it’s applied to a contemporary overhaul.
7. STORAGE YOU CAN SEE
When it’s glass-fronted cabinets or open shelving, people are no longer afraid to show off their stuff. It adds an instant depth and texture to kitchens, especially, where it’s often hard to achieve that layered, live-in look otherwise. Use a discerning eye, though—not heavily editing what you choose to display can cause the space to look too busy and cluttered. You should also aim to account for small appliance storage in the design phase, so that you can tuck coffee makers, toasters, or blenders away and keep them off the counterspace.
Brynn Mood is a designer with Classic Homeworks, a full-service design/build remodeling firm specializing in the renovation of Denver’s older homes. View their profile or contact Brynn at 303.722.3000.
Content for this article provided by Classic Homeworks.
