By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
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.
By Barbara Ballinger, Architecture Coach columnist
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. Continue reading »
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
The sagging economy is influencing home design as more home owners favor smaller indoor and outdoor spaces that are often cheaper to maintain. Forget the formal spaces that are rarely used. Home owners nowadays don’t want to waste space and want to use every square inch of their home.
Home sizes and lots continue to decrease as preferences grow for low maintenance property improvements, according to the American Institute of Architects Home Design Trends Survey for the first quarter of 2010.
“We continue to move away from the McMansion chapter of residential design, with more demand for practicality throughout the home,” AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker said in a public statement about the survey results. “There has been a drop off in the popularity of upscale property enhancements such as formal landscaping, decorative water features, tennis courts, and gazebos.”
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson
Add calmness to any room with an eye-catching color combo: yellow and gray, says designer Elaine Williamson with Elaine Williamson Designs.
“It’s so peaceful and calming –it’s just a really good combination,” says Williamson, adding that white added in can exude even more sophistication.
Need some ideas on how to mix in the color combo?
- Use gray as a base color on upholstered furniture, such as furniture with espresso-stained wood.
- Try a yellow throw pillow on a gray sofa.
Do you have a favorite color combo? Tell us what your favorite color combos are when designing a room and send a photo of it to Melissa Tracey at mtracey@realtors.org. Please include your name and contact information.
By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic
A do-over in the kitchen will bowl over buyers—and sellers will recoup most of the cost when they sell. A mid-range kitchen remodel brings an average 72 percent return on investment, while an upscale kitchen re-do returns an average of 63 percent of the money invested, according to Remodeling Magazine’s most recent annual Cost vs. Value Report.
You can help sellers maximize the return on a kitchen remodel with tips now available in the July “Smart Kitchen Solutions” article package at the REALTOR® Content Resource. Here’s just a taste:
1. Keep the same footprint. No matter the size and scope of your planned kitchen, you can save major expense by not rearranging walls and locating any new plumbing fixtures near existing plumbing pipes. Not only will you save on demolition and reconstruction, you’ll greatly reduce the amount of dust and debris your project generates.
2. Focus on durability. “People are putting more emphasis on functionality and durability in the kitchen,” says Molly Erin McCabe, owner of A Kitchen That Works design firm in Bainbridge Island, Wash. That may mean resisting bargain prices and focusing on products that combine low-maintenance with long warranty periods. Continue reading »
By Erica Christoffer, Multimedia Web Producer, REALTOR® Magazine
Happy Independence Day! This weekend, many of your sellers will raise the flag outside their homes in celebration of the day our nation was formed. Of course, many of you will also be displaying the American flag outside your homes and businesses. But before the Stars and Stripes go up, check out these tips from the Veterans of Foreign Wars on flag etiquette:
If the flag is flown on the same staff as other flags: The U.S. flag should be at peak, above any other flag.
If the flag is grouped with other flags: The U.S. flag goes to its own right, the observer’s left. Flags of other nations are flown at same height.
When marching with the flag: The U.S. flag should be to marcher’s right, the observer’s left.
When the flag is flown over a street: Union (stars) face north or east depending on the direction of the street. Continue reading »
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