Make your new home more accessible with universal design Building a new home, versus buying a resale, gives you many advantages. With a Custom Home Builder, you can customize the layout to your personal taste, incorporate energy-efficient throughout, and move into a home that is fully warrantied. Another
distinct
advantage
of
choosing a new home is that you can incorporate universal design. Also known as “barrier-free design”, this thoughtful approach accommodates details that make your home accessible to anyone. Households with elderly or disabled family members experience challenges that others haven’t considered. Whether you need extra space to maneuver a wheelchair or single-story living to avoid climbing stairs, there are many details that can be easily built into your new home, like wider hallways and doorways, lower countertops and sinks, and ramp access. Universal design removes barriers and creates free flow throughout the home, for anyone. The goal is to provide functionality, comfort, and convenience, so that no member feels challenged in their own home. Even if you don’t have the immediate need for universal design features, ask yourself if this new home is where you want to stay. “Aging in place” is a concept that reflects the Baby Boomers’ lifestyle trend of staying in the same house beyond retirement, instead of downsizing to accommodate life changes. Talk to your home builder about adding these universal design features to your new home:
5-foot clearance space in hallways and 36-inch wide doors
Gently sloping walkway to all entrances
Touch lights or rocker switches instead of traditional toggle switches, and placed at the same height as the door handle
Walk-in tubs or step-in showers with no threshold (with wider doors) and grab bars and adjustable height shower head
Front-loading washer and dryer
Ovens and cooktops with controls on the front
Bathroom vanities with knee space underneath
Lever-style door handles instead of knobs
Even floor height, with no thresholds
Closets with adjustable rods and racks
Kitchen cabinets with varied heights
Slip- and trip-resistant flooring
Motion light sensors
Anti-scald valves
Universaldesign.org provides 10 checklists that cover every space of your home. Most of the universal design features are easy to integrate when building your home. Discuss these adaptations with your builder so you can enjoy many years of comfort in your home.
Enjoy Your Outdoor Living Space All Year When people talk about outdoor living space, all thoughts seem to head towards summer cookouts. Once the autumn weather slips in, however, you have plenty of time and activities to enjoy outside on your patio, deck, balcony, and yard. Seasonal outdoor decorating is as festive outside as it is inside your home. Add autumn colors and décor, like pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, and wreaths. Place easy-to-tend container gardens with hardy plants like kale, asters,
mums, and sedum, which can tolerate the chill but keep your outdoors colorful and alive! Change your outdoor color scheme by swapping out the cushions on your patio furniture. It’s a good time to clean and stash the summer cushions. Have some warm lap throws available for use outdoors, too. Lay down an outdoor rug to cozy up an area for fall. When winter rolls around, turn your outdoor living space into a winter wonderland, with twinkling white lights around the area. Add splashes of blue decorations—hanging from the trees, perched on walls, or nesting in the snow—to accent the winter white. A cozy fire is a welcome spot in fall and winter. Use your fire pit for warmth and cooking—or add an outdoor fireplace. Roast marshmallows for s’mores or try your hand at outdoor cooking. Check out some campfire recipes here. Do you have a pergola? If not, consider adding one. It’s a fairly simple task. In any season, this minimal enclosure can define an area while still being outdoors. When the fall sets in, you can cover the pergola with a canopy for a bit more shelter. Even when the temperature drops a bit, you can still go outdoors and play, no matter your age. In the fall, lawn games like croquet, bocce, badminton, and cornhole will keep you active enough to stay warm. Even if you decide to stay indoors during the winter months, invest some time in decorating your outdoor living space so you can enjoy the view. Birdfeeders, solar lights, and a stack of colorful pots will perk up a barren land scape and stave off the winter doldrums.
8 Bonus Room Ideas How many ways can you use a bonus room? Here are 8 great ideas… Who can’t use a little extra space in their home? The bonus room has become a desirable feature for new homebuyers. With one room that’s not designated for a particular purpose, you can create the functional space that best suits your lifestyle.
How many ways can you use a bonus room? Family/game room. If you’re tired of having toys, books, DVDs, and video game system controllers kicking around your living room, you might be ready for a family room or game room, where you can centralize the more active entertainment. Accent the space with storage spaces, like cabinetry and cubbies, to store the games and toys. Home theater. A home theater allows you, your family, and your guests to kick back and enjoy a movie in the comfort of your home—without the high cost of tickets and concessions. Convert the bonus room by adding a large tv screen, a home theater system to deliver the audio quality, comfortable seating, and the right lighting (with dimmers, of course). Craft space. Any crafter knows that the supplies somehow pile up and clutter makes it hard to be creative and productive. A craft room, art studio, or other creative space will have all the equipment, tools, and supplies where you can readily access and use them. Hang racks and build storage for paper, ribbons, fabrics, and yarn, or whatever your passion requires. Man cave. The two words that can send a man into a euphoric daydreaming state. The man cave provides a private haven, where the man of the house can hide from the “Honey Do” list, enjoy a book or magazine without interruption, play poker, have the remote control all to himself, and just revel in his thoughts. A great use for a bonus room, the man cave might feature comfortable furniture (e.g., reclining sofa with cup holders), a poker or pool table, gaming system, music system, small fridge, and bar. Home office. More people are working from home, either occasionally or full-time. A bonus room enables you to designate a home office space where you can either close yourself away to get work done, or close that work off from your personal life. The dividing line between work and living is essential to thriving in both. Make sure you can readily access the Internet from this room. And don’t forget the home office deduction on your income tax return!
Exercise room. When you have an exercise room or fitness center—as opposed to a treadmill tucked in a corner where it doubles as a clothes dryer—you’re more likely to utilize the value of the equipment. Install a television screen so you can entertain yourself or watch workout videos. Include a small fridge or a water dispenser to keep hydrated. Choose flooring that is both durable and easy to clean. Foam and rubber tiles provide the cushioning you need and are easily replaced when damaged. Homework station. Avoid “The dog ate my homework” excuse when your students can organize their books and assignments in a homework station. In addition to a desk, computer, Internet access (with parental controls) and bookshelves, include bulletin boards for posting calendars, notes, and reminders. You can also use dry erase, chalkboard, or magnetic primer right on the walls to turn them into functional space. With dry erase and magnetic primer, you apply one coat and then cover with your choice of wall paint. Guest room. A bonus room generally doesn’t include a closet, but for a guest room, you don’t need one. Just furnish the space with an armoire to allow them to hang up and store clothing. You can also use a day bed with underbed storage or a trundle bed to accommodate an extra guest. How will you use your bonus room?
5 Tips to design a chef’s kitchen you’ll love When cooking is your passion, the kitchen is the most important space in your home. Today’s foodies are investing in designing the ultimate chef’s kitchen. You don’t need massive space— just smart planning. A true chef’s kitchen is designed with functionality in mind.
Here are some helpful tips to design a chef’s kitchen. 1. Efficient layout. Follow the triangle pattern that connects you to the sink, refrigerator, and range, without excess steps. A U- or L-shaped kitchen layout or center island
provides the best flow from these three key places.
2. Easy care, durable surfaces. Certainly, you want an attractive kitchen, but you need to consider that the workspace is going to need to withstand a lot of spills, chopping, hot pans and dishes, and splatters. Look for surfaces that are easy to clean, resist stains, and can hide the inevitable scratches. Stainless steel is ideal for appliances and sinks. A quartz countertop is easier to maintain than granite, while still providing an elegant appearance.
3. Non-skid flooring. With spills and splatters prevalent in your kitchen, you’ll need a nonskid floor. Travertine tile is beautiful, but not easy to keep clean. Cork flooring is becoming more popular in kitchens because it’s eco-friendly, durable, and provides a bit of cushioning for your feet. Vinyl flooring or ceramic tile with a non-skid coating offer a wide range of colors and designs.
4. Smart storage. Make every space count in your chef’s kitchen. Take advantage of the many cabinetry options available, like deep drawers where you can stash your pots and pans, with the lids so you don’t have to go searching. Install pullout cabinets for your pantry, spice rack, canned goods, and vertical items, like trays, racks, and cookie sheets. Use drawer organizers to separate your cooking utensils. If you like a rustic look, use a pot rack so your pans are at arm’s reach.
5. Put luxury in your appliances and tools. Quality tools that allow for great results with ease are essential for a chef’s kitchen. A double wall oven, four or six-burner gas stove, oversized refrigerator, professional stand mixer, and warming drawer (many stoves now come with one built in the bottom as well) are some of the finishing touches that contribute to the kitchen of your dreams. Top it off with task lighting in key areas, and you’re cooking now!
What Color Would You Paint Your Bedroom? According to a 2014 Sherwin-Williams survey, seven out of ten homeowners will undertake a home-related project in the next six months. And three in four homeowners have at least one room that needs paint — and the bedroom tops the list.
Soothing green makes this master bedroom an oasis
So if you are one of the homeowners who is deciding what color you want to paint your bedroom, here are some suggestions from the experts.
Gray has been trending as a bedroom color for years. Recently, people adding violet and opal undertones. Gray is popular because it is so easy to pair with natural elements like wood and wool as well as trendy metallics.
Pastels are beginning to make a comeback this spring with a more sophisticated edge. Pale or blush pink or coral gives a feminine, Audrey Hepburn elegance. A light tint of pink can extend a
warm sophistication. This pairs well with gray and white accents and will help to soften the look even more. But, too much or too dark and you will feel like you live in “Barbie’s Dream House”.
Soaring vaulted ceilings and well-placed windows can make your Master Bedroom feel like a retreat.
Dusty Aqua is becoming a Pinterest favorite. It has a spa-like effect in a bedroom and can give a beachy-feel. It can really brighten up a room that doesn’t get a lot of sunshine. But, as with other subtle colors, bright tones can overwhelm. It is better to stick to pastels, whites and grays.
BEHR Paint’s Director of Color Erika Woelfel suggests a deep, tropical green to create a soothing sanctuary. This color works well with light wood floors and furniture. It also helps bright colored bedding to really pop.
One very surprising suggestion is using black. Black on the ceiling or as an accent wall will evoke a spacious feel of the night sky. Black can also be balanced with grays or whites. Avoid using bright colors with black as it creates an over the top effect.
Bright accent colors can make a room pop, but it needs to be paired with neutral bedding.
How “Smart” is Your Home? Imagine having your home act as your personal assistant… raising the temperature when you are cold, lowering the window shades before bed or creating a grocery list based on the
contents
of
your
refrigerator. This is not a page from the 1960’s cartoon, “The Jetsons”. All these things are now possible.
“Smart Home” is the latest term being used for home automation. It usually refers to a home that is equipped with heating/cooling, lighting, security and appliances that can be controlled remotely via computer or smart phone, so that you can regulate your home from anywhere. Many smart homes have built-in monitoring systems that can calculate and log usage by all connected devices. This can assist with energy-efficiency.
Some computer systems can monitor so many aspects of daily living that they actually appear to be intelligent. For example Samsung has a refrigerator (Model #RF4289HARS) that has a built-in touch screen to keep an inventory of its contents. It can also search for recipes on Epicurious and display them on the screen. The LG Smart ThinQ LFX31995ST refrigerator will communicate with your smart phone to send a grocery list. It can track the expiration dates of food items as well as recommend recipes that can be made with its’ contents. Smart ThinQ can also access your Gmail calendar or you’re your favorite Pandora tunes while you are cooking.
The Nest thermostat comes with integrated WiFi, You can control, schedule and monitor your home’s temperatures from anywhere in the world. Nest learns your behaviors and automatically adjusts its settings for maximum efficiency and comfort. It will tell you how much energy you’re using and remind you to change your furnace filters.C
Other popular smart home technologies include remote control window shades, door locks and security cameras. Landscape irrigation systems are becoming smarter able to detect if it has rained and how much and then adjusting the watering for that day.
If you are wondering what the benefits are of a smart home beyond the cool factor – think convenience, energy efficiency, security and well, of course the cool factor.
Kitchen Design Trends for the Future Consumers are getting tired of the fluffy over-designed kitchens. They are looking for simple lines and are interested in good storage and space planning. Specialty workstations are becoming more common and range from the very elaborate to the most basic utilitarian. Some of the more fun specialty areas include: coffee bars, baking stations, wine-tasting nooks and even pizzamaking stations. The kitchen is still the heart of the home with family and friends choosing to gather there more than any other room in the home. But modern kitchens reflect the style of the rest of the home
incorporating sitting areas and dining rooms to create a unified space. They are often open to the family room or dining room and may include cabinets that look more like furniture with counters and huge islands for preparation, dining and gathering. While some high-end designers are beginning to spec gray cabinets, the number one color choice for 2014 is crisp white. Beautiful and timeless, white cabinets are a versatile choice. They can work well with multiple architectural styles from country chic to traditional or even contemporary. White cabinets also open the kitchen up to a number of decor choices and color palettes. We are seeing these splashes of color in glass mosaic back-splashes. Also open shelving is making a comeback displaying fancy and often colorful accessories. Layered kitchen lighting containing a series of recessed fixtures providing ambient light and chandeliers and pendants over islands and seating areas to deliver task light. Accent lighting above or below cabinets or in a glass front cabinet highlight special areas of the kitchen. Oversized lighting fixtures is another big trend of this season. Giving a sense of depth and perception the light fixtures can create both drama and interest. Many homeowners are splurging on their kitchens with commercial grade appliances including double ovens, multi-tiered drawers to create more storage, soft close cabinet doors and drawers with concealed hinges. As tech-savvy as consumers now are, technology is also becoming a “must have� in the kitchen. Homeowners are accessorizing their kitchens with electronics such as wall mounted televisions, sound systems and computers. Other high-tech features include: sensoractivated lights that illuminate the kitchen only when it’s in use, meat thermometers that alert your smartphone when dinner is ready, and a hands-free faucet that keeps it clean from sticky hands. Many of these features are available in our communities in Sammamish, Seattle, Renton, Kirkland, and Bellevue.