- It's Time to Go 'Greige'
'Greige' encompasses a range of grey, beige, and bone colors, and is the new color scheme of choice for bathrooms in 2014. Opting to include a warm neutral such as bone color can offset the cooler feel of grey, and may help to keep your remodel current if future trends favor warmer colors.
- Subway Tiles Are In
Rectangular-shaped subway tiles are showing up in more and more remodels throughout the home. Typical tile sizes range from 3 by 6 inches to 12 by 24 inches. While smaller tiles might seem like an obvious choice for the bathroom, keep in mind that
bigger tiles may create a less 'busy' effect and can make smaller areas seem larger.
- Universal Design Is Holding Strong
Grab bars in the shower and bathtub, along with other
features that make the bathroom safer and more accessible to people with limited mobility, have been a strong element in home design for years. Expect universal design features like these to become even more popular as the population of seniors increases.
Notice the grey color scheme, large subway tiles, and designer grab bars in the bathroom photo below.
- Heated Floors Are Still a Hot Item
Over half of the designers surveyed by the NKBA said they
expect to see increased demand for electric radiant floor heating in 2014.
Note: If you are remodeling for a future home sale, this can be a relatively easy and inexpensive way to add some 'Wow Factor'.
- Pair Stand-Alone Tubs with Steam Showers
Freestanding tubs are starting to displace jetted tubs in popularity, and are often installed alongside steam showers. Seventy percent of designers in the NKBA survey reported installing
built-in seats in showers, and requests for
no-threshold showers (those that require no step to enter or exit) are on the rise.
- Quartz Is King for Countertops
Engineered quartz was the popular choice for bathroom countertop material in the NKBA survey. Similar to granite in cost and appearance,
quartz is slightly less porous and therefore easier to keep clean. Unlike granite, it does not need to be sealed. Typical prices range from $50 to $100 per square foot installed.
- Expect More Floating Vanities Floating vanities are suspended above the floor from attachment points on the wall, providing easier access to the flooring for installation or repair. Because they allow more of the floor to be visible, they can also make the room appear larger.
(This photo shows raised sinks, but
undermount sinks are becoming more popular.)
- Darker Wood Trumps Light
Homeowners prefer dark and medium tone wood to lighter wood for cabinets, according to the Houzz.com survey. Cherry and maple were the two favorite choices. The survey actually showed white cabinets as the most popular color, but it's hard to go wrong with a nice wood cabinet.
- Silver Tone Fixtures Top the List
Brushed nickel and polished chrome were the top two choices for fixture materials in the Houzz.com survey, followed by brushed and polished stainless steel. Brushed bronze was last on the list.
Quick and Easy Bathroom
Remodel Ideas
When you don't want to invest time and money in a full-fledged bathroom remodel,
what simple upgrades can boost appeal relatively quickly? Here are three ideas:
1. Add a glass tile backsplash to an older sink.Glass tile backsplashes are quite easy to install, and they instantly impart a newer feel to older bathrooms. The photo below shows how a new backsplash livens up an original 1970's vanity.
2. Replace hardware, mirrors, and lighting.Something as simple as
a new faucet or modern style drawer handles can add pizzazz to an older vanity. If mirrors and lighting are dated, swap them out for a more contemporary style.
Oiling a worn out oak cabinet with Danish Oil can revitalize the wood and make it look much newer.
3. Replace old flooring with resilient vinyl plank flooring.'Resilient' tile and plank is a new generation of
high quality vinyl that looks like tile and hardwood. It is easy to install and holds up well in areas that are prone to water damage, such as bathrooms and laundry rooms.
Note: Interlocking planks may be easier to install than the self-stick variety, and they are also easier to remove later on. You can
click here to see an example of interlocking resilient planks at Home Depot.
- U.S. home prices rose 13.2 percent year-to-year in January, according to a recent S&P/Case-Shiller report. They rose 12.2 percent year-to-year in February, according to CoreLogic, a data and analytics company.
- The national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is in the low to mid 4-percent range.
The Pending Home Sales Index dropped 10.5 percent year-to-year in February, according to the National Association of Realtors�.
Note: Housing statistics based on closed sales typically reflect market conditions of two or three months ago.
To find out what's going on right now in our local market, please call us directly.
Are you planning to buy or sell a home, or do you know someone who is? Please call or email us. We're never too busy to help you and the people you care about with real estate.
(*What the lawyers make us say: The information in this newsletter is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Please always consult a qualified expert before making decisions based on this content. Nothing in this article is meant to be taken as expert legal, financial, or medical advice.)