Aug
9
(BPT) – Parents, grandparents and children all living happily together under one roof — it’s an iconic American image you may associate with “the good old days.” In reality, more Americans are now living in multi-generational ho…
Aug
9
(BPT) – Parents, grandparents and children all living happily together under one roof – it’s an iconic American image you may associate with “the good old days.” In reality, more Americans are now living in multi-generational households than at any tim…
Aug
9
Top 5 secrets from professionals on home renovation
August 9, 2016 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – When asked what kind of upgrades homeowners would like to make in their home, most have a similar wish list that includes features like marble or granite counter tops, an open concept kitchen, a remodeled bathroom and a deck.There are plenty of…
Aug
9
Top 5 secrets from professionals on home renovation
August 9, 2016 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – When asked what kind of upgrades homeowners would like to make in their home, most have a similar wish list that includes features like marble or granite counter tops, an open concept kitchen, a remodeled bathroom and a deck.There are plenty of…
Aug
5
Modern family portraits: How tech is driving design in today’s living rooms
August 5, 2016 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – The evolution of American families and their changing lifestyles is a popular topic these days. As family dynamics and lifestyles morph, they drive a change in home design. Aside from the enduring presence of a TV and seating, today’s living room looks and functions very differently from living rooms of just a few decades ago.
“People are changing their vision of a ‘traditional home,’ ” notes Lydia Marks, co-principal of New York City-based design firm Marks & Frantz Design. “That new vision requires different design ideas, and technology is really informing design decisions in modern living rooms.”
“The forces behind these changing dynamics include generational shifts in attitudes, behaviors and lifestyles as well as advancements in home technology, each informing the other,” adds Lisa Frantz, co-principal of Marks & Frantz Design. “Millennials are spending more time at home, parents are seeking memorable experiences through home entertainment, and boomers are working later in life, often multitasking across devices within their home. These shifts are helping drive the trend toward living room designs that are more adaptable.”
Usable decor at the heart of today’s living room
Today’s living rooms feature a multitude of state-of-the-art technology. Stunning televisions, slim speakers, ultra slim laptops and tablets are a must in today’s living room designs, and because there are so many options and colors to choose from, families can seamlessly integrate technology to enhance the function and design – even in traditional homes.
“New colors like rose gold laptops and vintage orange portable speakers create new opportunities to add personalized touches, while striking new television design, like LG OLED TVs, make a stunning statement piece,” Marks says.
“And it’s not just about the advanced design form,” adds Frantz. “These products are also delivering innovative performance. It’s about form and function. LG OLED TVs not only look great, but they deliver stunning picture quality and advanced access to streaming content from popular apps, internet channels and streaming content providers.”
Connected devices like Smart TVs are transforming how people consume content. Advances such as the webOS Smart TV Platform offer new features like “Channel Plus” for simple access to channels including BuzzFeed, Esquire and more. And, as the first TV to support both available HDR formats – Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10 – OLED smart TV users can stream the newest HDR titles from leading content providers like Netflix, Amazon Video and VUDU.
Dynamic, multi-purpose living spaces
Formal living and dining rooms that are never used are a thing of the past, Marks explains. TV still remains king; Mintel reports 99 percent of American households with children younger than 18 have at least one TV in their home. However, families are using spaces like living rooms to serve multiple functions, including entertainment and work, researching and making purchasing decisions, and communicating with distant loved ones.
According to a recent Mintel study, more than 80 percent of millennials shop for clothing apparel online and more than 67 percent have “binge watched” a TV series, ranking it as their top online TV viewing behavior. Devices such as the feather-weight LG gram 15 laptop, clocking in at a mere 2.2 pounds with a large 15.6-inch screen, make it easier than ever to transition from the office to the living room while also providing enough screen space to multitask between work deadlines, watching your favorite sporting event and late-night online shopping.
A smarter home on the rise
Homes are becoming as connected as the people who live in them. Today, home automation systems can control thermostat settings, lower and raise mechanized blinds, turn lights off or on, and monitor home security.
“With the popularity of wireless devices and smart homes, homebuyers and real estate developers alike now have a stronger interest in creating spaces that seamlessly integrate advanced technology in ways that will enhance the space, and simplify a buyer’s life,” notes real estate trends specialist Ricardo Rodriguez of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
At the same time, people remain concerned about the high initial set-up costs and perceived complexity of connected homes. Professional installation of consumer electronics products has remained a rare occurrence, even among higher-income households. In fact, in a recent Mintel study, only 10 percent of respondents had ever paid for custom installation of electronics. Instead, consumers prefer DIY (do-it-yourself) and plug-and-play home monitoring solutions with home automation capability, like the Smart Security from LG and ADT, which represents an easy-to-install approach that gives families greater control over how they protect and control their homes.
“Product design is so streamlined and visually appealing that consumer electronics are no longer the elephant in the room; they’re often the star. Stylish interiors are enhanced by smart technology, and that’s really having a transformational influence on modern living room design,” Marks says.
Aug
3
Make a home feel bigger, function better without adding a square foot of space
August 3, 2016 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – Party balloons, elastic waistbands and the universe – for some things, expansion is easy. When your home is too small, however, it’s not always possible to expand it.
Whether you live in a suburban townhouse, an urban condo or a big, modern single-family home on a tiny lot, chances are good building on or up to expand just isn’t in the cards for your home. Many Americans are in the same situation, and they’re seeking creative ways to maximize the utility of the space they have.
Here are some ideas for improving the functionality and appearance of your space without adding a single (and costly) square foot to your home’s footprint:
Make it look and feel bigger
A space that’s crowded with stuff, filled with large furniture and decorated in dark hues will feel tight and oppressive no matter how big the room is. Decluttering, lightening up your decor and right-sizing furniture are three of the easiest ways to make your home feel bigger and work better. Replace dark drapes and carpets with lighter colors, paint the walls in pale neutral hues, and ditch the sectional that dominates three walls of your small living room.
Next, look up. Natural light can help a space feel bigger and brighter, and modern skylights, like those from Velux America, make it easy to bring natural light into virtually any room.
A before/after video of a Charlotte, North Carolina home illustrates the dramatic difference simply adding skylights can make. Visit https://vimeo.com/176301240 to view the video.
There are also a number of traditional skylight solutions, including light wells from attics to ceilings below, for spaces without direct roof access.
Skylights are also great sources of natural light in rooms where privacy is important, such as the master bathroom. What’s more, Energy Star-qualified, solar-powered, fresh-air skylights provide natural light and passive ventilation without requiring you to give up any precious wall space.
Add solar-powered blinds in designer colors and patterns to complement the decor, and you can control the amount of light entering a room with a programmable touchpad remote control. Even better – homeowners can receive a 30 percent federal tax credit on the skylights, blinds and installation costs. For rooms without direct roof access, another option could be Sun Tunnel tubular skylights that funnel natural light from the roofline into spaces below. These models also have optional light kits that make them functional 24/7. Visit www.whyskylights.com to learn more.
Finally, it may be possible to remove a non-load-bearing wall between rooms to create a more open space. For example, if your kitchen is partitioned off from the family room, removing the wall between the spaces – or even half of it – can make both feel bigger. Have an unused bedroom adjacent to your master bedroom? Removing the wall between the rooms can give you an impressive master suite.
Reclaim unused space
Virtually every home has some space in it that’s not being used. Finishing a basement or attic can be a cost-effective way to increase your home’s living space without adding to its footprint. Basement finishing systems make it easier and faster than ever to create a comfortable and attractive space below ground, while finishing an attic may be as simple as adding insulation, sheet rock and skylights or roof windows.
Another option might be to increase your entertainment space by converting a patio or deck into a sun room. Gaining that space as living area can allow you to reconfigure other areas inside your home for greater utility. For example, a finished, enclosed patio can function as your family room, allowing you to use all or part of the old family room to expand your kitchen and add a powder room.
Use existing space wisely
Finally, use the space you do have more efficiently by designing rooms that multi-task – such as a home office/guest bedroom combination or guest room with the closet converted into a work space. If you’re like most Americans, you store stuff in the garage. Adding organized storage such as shelves and cabinets can help optimize the space and maximize the amount you can store there.
Achieving a more expansive feeling in your home doesn’t have to require an expansion. Instead of building an addition, add some smart decorating and design ideas. You’ll end up with a home that looks bigger, feels more open and works better for your lifestyle.