Tag: News

Sustainable Material Spotlight: Organic Cotton

Soft, strong and sustainable, organic cotton is a clear winner for your next interior design project. These days, you can find organic products everywhere. When it comes to fabric, “organic” refers to the way the material was farmed. And organic cotton is one of the most sustainable textiles on the market. That’s an important note …

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How to Outfit Every Room with Storage

Each room has specific storage needs. Whether built-in or removable, homeowners benefit from having storage available in every room. Three Takeaways: Storage comes in all shapes and size and varies tremendously, depending on the type of home. That said, every home needs some available space to organize items of daily use and those reserved as …

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Sustainable Updates by Budget

A breakdown of sustainable upgrades by budget and the potential utility bill savings. About a third of agents and brokers are using green data fields in their MLSs to promote sustainable home features, believing them to be a selling point, according to the 2023 REALTORS® and Sustainability Report from the National Association of REALTORS®. Many homeowners may …

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Let the Staircase Set the Stage for Style

The staircase is often a focal point in a home, but also the last on the priority list when it comes to design or remodeling. However, prioritizing the staircase can set the tone for the rest of the design. Key Takeaways Few homeowners turn down a house because of the style and construction of the …

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Sustainable Material Spotlight: Reclaimed Wood

From salvaged barn doors to tree bark, reclaimed wood makes a statement in building and design projects. Take a walk down the aisles of any big-box retailer’s home goods section and you’ll come across decor made from what looks like distressed wood. The rustic look has been all the rage for years, but many of …

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How to Stretch a Kitchen Remodeling Budget

Kitchen remodels are generally expensive, but homeowners can find ways to scale back while still achieving their goals. Three key takeaways: Often the center of the home, the kitchen garners much attention. That’s why when something’s amiss, it might be too glaring to overlook. Take, for instance, an inefficient layout, poorly functioning appliances or lack …

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10 Home Design Trends Your Clients Will Love in 2024

Houzz, a remodeling website, chimes in with predictions for the most buzzworthy home features in the new year. Stylish storage, bolder patterns and textures and colors beyond the whites and grays are expected to shake up home design in 2024. Houzz, a home renovation and design platform, weighs in with its predictions for the home …

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Inside Home Systems: A Guide to Heat Pumps

Heat pumps offer an efficient alternative to standard HVAC systems and are often a selling point for sustainability-conscious buyers. Homeowners in America installed 4 million heat pumps in 2022, beating out fossil-fuel-powered gas furnaces for the first time ever. Why? Cost savings, efficiency, versatility and safety. As heat pumps continue to go mainstream, it is …

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Real Estate and Design Trends to Watch in 2024

From ecosystem conservation to “new” darker neutrals in exterior paint, we look at the trends set to take hold in the industry this year. Three Key Takeaways Staying abreast of what’s new and innovative in design and real estate is important, not to be trendy but to learn about innovative materials, systems and products to …

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Sustainable Material Spotlight: Rattan

From cane frames to woven chair backs, a touch of fast-growing rattan adds warmth to interiors. Did you know your porch’s wicker furniture and the arched cane bookshelf at your favorite coffee shop might be made from the same material? Warm and natural, rattan has been an interior design mainstay for decades, most notably in …

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Is the Home Office Getting a Pink Slip?

Designers and stagers are finding ways to offer people who work from home more versatility than a dedicated workspace often provides. Even though remote work remains commonplace, some real estate professionals and home stagers say the home office is losing its luster. Many home buyers are reclaiming this space for other nonwork uses. The shunning …

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Bathrooms: Smaller in Size, Big on Tech and Flair

Bathrooms are getting smaller, but that doesn’t mean they skimp on amenities. Smart tech, comfort and spa-like serenity still set the tone. Three key takeaways: Bathrooms are expected to get smaller in new construction, according to Carrie Tolman, associate principal with KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group in Chicago. As such, she expects the popular spa-inspired …

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