Friday, January 30, 2009

Home Fads That Are Falling Out of Style


LAS VEGAS – Some home features don’t stay popular forever. More homes are inching away from incorporating the following home features, according to recent consumer preference surveys.

1. Fireplaces: The fireplace skyrocketed in importance in homes in 1991 with 62 percent of new homes having one or more. But the number has steadily been decreasing ever since. In 2007, the number dropped to 51 percent.

2. Carpet: While 54 percent of homes still have carpet floors, the number is decreasing and hardwood floors are taking the place. Vinyl and ceramic tile flooring also are being bypassed more by buyers. Seventeen percent of new homes contain hardwood floors throughout the entire house.

3. Living room: These once-decorative centerpieces of homes are slowly vanishing from newer homes. Thirty-four percent of consumers say they’re willing to buy a home without a living room.

4. Desks in the kitchen: These desks were once looked at as great storage areas but they’re often too small and quickly become clutter spaces in a home, said Gayle Butler, editor in chief of Better Homes and Gardens. Instead, more consumers say they prefer larger desks in or near the family room—equipped with a messaging center—where they can keep an eye on their kids as they work on the computer.

5. Skylights: The little windows that allow natural light to seep into a home from above are falling out of style. Only 10 percent of new homes will include them this year, a continuing downward spiral for skylights.

6. Upscale kitchen finishes: Granite countertops are slowly becoming less desirable among buyers who are now moving toward affordable, low-maintenance laminate countertops—which tend to last longer and now come in various styles.

What trends are you noticing are falling out of favor with your buyers?


From: Realtor.com

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Notice

The KW office is closed and All Rockwall ISD schools and facilities are closed today (Wednesday, Jan 28) due to inclement weather.

Be safe!

Amber

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

How To Mix Old and New


Introduce Old Objects:
Contrast modern furniture with rustic, vintage finds for a look that has richness and depth.

In this living room, an eclectic mix of old pieces really stand out against sleek surfaces: The flea market jug on a lacquered table, an old washbasin that was turned into a mirror, and an antique wagon wheel against a semigloss wall.


Warm Up Modern:

Combine contemporary furniture and accessories with old-world architectural elements, like antique heart-pine floors and beaded-board wainscoting.

In this living room, a low modern sofa emphasizes the high ceiling and complements the home's character. Three-inch-deep moulding running horizontally around the room offers extra display space for art framed like photos. The ledge allows collections to be switched out often, providing a gallery-like feel.

Transcend Time Periods:

Mix different styles of antiques and vintage furniture to avoid a style cliche. A well-edited room should look as if it's been collected over time, not shipped straight from the showroom floor.

In this living room, a Swedish-style sofa and French rounded-back armchair combine with a low coffee table, graphic pillows, and funky ceramic garden stool for a layered and sophisticated look.



Start With White:

Display bright colors and fresh patterns against an airy background. Upholstered sofas and chairs look casual and comfortable in white cotton and combine effortlessly with traditional and modern shapes.
In this living room, accessories are key: A contemporary, ebony-stained coffee table and bold rug blend well with a tufted ottoman and metal Campaign-style side table.

Be Spontaneous:
Make an unexpected furniture choice that defies tradition. In this breakfast room, a blue and white painted floor and a window seat filled with florals, checks, and stripes characterize cottage style. But the addition of a stainless steel table and pair of acrylic chairs creates an element of surprise that's both practical and stylish.
Casters give an industrial feel to the breakfast table & allow for a casual setup that can be moved on a whim. A collection of pottery, with varying shapes, sizes, & shades, catches the eye.

Tip the Scale:
Oversized furniture and art make a room seem bigger than it is.
Here, small prints floating inside large frames draw the eye up, making the ceilings appear taller.
The large dining table visually widens the room.




Use a Cottage Icon:
Rough-hewn beams add structural support and architectural interest to a vaulted ceiling.
Left unpainted, the natural beauty of the wood lends authenticity to any room.

Beams are increasingly easy to find, thanks to online sources that offer reclaimed lumber for new construction or renovation projects.


Re-Cover Old Finds:
Transform furniture with fabric that adds style and personality. In this dining room, simple white slipcovers bring a modern look to basic wooden chairs, while a wide silk stripe gives new life to armchairs found at a flea market.
A black dining table with turned legs bridges the room's traditional and contemporary features. Host chairs, placed at each end of a table, break the ordinary rhythm of standard dining rooms. Get a fresher, more collected-over-time look by mixing styles and ages -- pair antique with sleek.



Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Great Recipe for 2009

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3.When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________'

4.Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5.Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6.Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7.Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8.Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9.Life isn't fair, but it's still good. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

10.Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

11.You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

12.Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

13.Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all
about.

14.No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

15.Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

16.Forgive everyone for everything.

17.What other people think of you is none of your business.

18.GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

19.However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

20.Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

21.Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

22.Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

23.Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

24.When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it.