Coldwell Banker American Homes Blog
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27
5 Kitchen Island Styles to Fit Any Use
Regardless of the size of your kitchen remodel, adding an island to your design is one of the best things you can do to make your home more livable. There are many ways to fit an island into your kitchen. Here are some types of kitchen islands to consider:
1) Go traditional.
If you have a small kitchen, you may not think you have room for a separate island. But even spatially limited kitchens have space for an island. Choose an appropriately sized island that blends well with the rest of the room.
The blend-in strategy works best for small kitchens, so choose colors and materials that are similar to what you already have. Whether you blend a butcher-block kitchen island into a wood-grain kitchen or select a small, black granite island to complement your black and white kitchen, you will end up with a stunning result.
2) Add more storage.
Many older kitch...
27
5 Tips to Create a Multi-Tasking Home Office
Did you know approximately 40 percent of employees telecommute to the office?
Remote work has made the home office a necessity for many of us, but without space to spare, dedicating an area for work can be difficult.
Enter the multi-tasking office—not only functional during working hours, but also practical for a range of activities, from entertaining to exercising.
To make a multi-tasking office in your home:
Use every square inch. Work with the room's existing layout—tuck a desk into an attic dormer, for example, or convert a closet into a workspace.
Divide the room visually. Cordon off work space with curtains, a folding screen or partition, concealing other areas of the room not in use while "at the office."
Look up. Make use of wall space for maximum storage. To stay organized while the room is not an office, install layered shelving...
27
What Makes a Homeowner Happy?
What makes a homeowner happy? A safe community? A short commute? What about walkability?
The answer is all of the above, according to HomeAdvisor.com's recently released Homeowner Happiness Index, an industry indicator ranking the happiest cities in the nation.
"A homeowner's quality of life is more likely to be dependent on their community and access to important attractions and services than it is on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in their home," said Dr. Karen Ruskin, HomeAdvisor's happiness expert, in a statement.
Square footage is indeed less of a factor in determining a homeowner's happiness, the Index shows. Natural light, on the other hand, is an important consideration—naturally-lit homes tend to appear more spacious.
The Index also reveals a happiness trend among empty-nesters and married couples without children, who reported feelin...
27
Does Your House Match National Construction Trends?
The U.S. Census Bureau recently unveiled the latest national annual data on the characteristics of new, privately-owned residences, gathered in the 2015 Survey of Construction (SOC). The SOC's statistics divulge trends in homebuilding, painting an insightful portrait of the American home today.
According to the SOC, the median size of a single-family house built last year is 2,467 square feet. Of the 648,000 single-family homes built last year:
• 600,000 have air conditioning
• 282,000 have at least four bedrooms
• 246,000 have at least three bathrooms
• 183,000 have a fiber-cement exterior
• 137,000 have an open foyer
• 122,000 have a patio and porch
• 66,000 have at most two bedrooms
• 25,000 have at most one and one-half bathrooms
The median size of a single-family house sold last year is 2,520 square feet, according to the SOC....
21
3 Tips for Homebuyers in a Competitive Market
(BPT)—Homebuyers traditionally face competition at the height of real estate season. Now, with market indicators reaching record post-recession milestones, competition is stiffer than ever.
To gain an edge as a buyer, real estate professionals advise:
Getting Pre-Approved – Getting pre-approved for financing will give you significant leverage in negotiations with the seller—and knowing exactly what you can afford will keep you on track if a bidding war ensues.
Thinking Long-Term – As a homebuyer, your decision regarding which home to purchase should align with your future expectations. Planning to grow your family? Consider a larger house in need of work instead of a completely updated two-bedroom bungalow. Looking to downsize? Consider purchasing a ranch home without stairs.
Researching the Neighborhood – Researching areas in advance can save you time spent huntin...