B4 • Friday, October 29, 2021
thegardenisland.com
THE GARDEN ISLAND
Efficient, effective dream home Transform kitchens and laundry rooms into functional havens BRANDPOINT Now more than ever, home should be a place where you feel comfortable at all times - whether that’s being focused, productive or relaxed. This is the place where you can be your authentic self, so you want to make thoughtful upgrades that help you live your best life. Home renovations that feature personalized spaces with touches of luxury will help you create the functional, peaceful home of your dreams. Looking for ideas to solidify your vision? The 2021 House Beautiful Whole Home offers ample inspiration for homeowners across the country. This annual, builtfrom-the-ground-up property showcases the finest design trends, luxury products and personalized spaces. Located in the rolling hills of Fredericksburg, Texas, the property is designed to capture elements of home life with style and ease. Carisha Swanson, Market Director for House Beautiful, shares some of the most noteworthy design trends in two of the most functional rooms in the home: the kitchen and the laundry room.
Stephanie Sabbe, The Whole Home kitchen designer and principal of Nashville-based Sabbe Interior Design, removed the traditional island and replaced it with a comfortable six-person family table that intentionally encourages lingering conversations. Warm neutrals blend with cool, gray-hued teal cabinets for an elevated vintage design. Kitchen design trends “The centerpiece of the space is Multifunctional, hardworking the unique 48-inch Dual-Fuel Pro products are in high demand in the Range from Signature Kitchen kitchen. Current design trends fea- Suite,” Swanson said. “It’s the only one on the market with built-in ture appliances that wow and desous vide functionality plus inducsigns that last - all elements that help families come together for tion and gas, perfect for at-home meaningful connection. chefs.”
GENE J. PUSKAR / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
A for sale sign outside a home in Mount Lebanon, Pa.
US home prices surged in August at near-record pace
Nearby are the column refrigerator and freezer, and the panels really help tie together the vintage look of the kitchen. The overall composition feels like maybe it’s a new home or maybe it’s been here for decades. That’s the kind of timeless design we get really excited about,” she said. Adjacent to the kitchen is the tasting room by Dallas-based designer Jean Liu, owner of Jean Liu Design. “So many of my clients have been asking for entertaining spaces where they can display their wine - or collections of mezcal and tequila - separate from their dining or living rooms,” said
Liu. Her goal was to design a compact space for entertaining efficiently and effectively, so she chose to utilize the innovative Signature Kitchen Suite’s Undercounter Convertible Refrigerator-Freezer Drawers with refrigeration and freezing in both upper and lower drawers. This compact undercounter refrigerator is just one of the examples of new design trends that have sparked from homeowners’ increased desire for flexibility and versatility in their home, as it is a perfect fit for several rooms in the house, from the home bar, office, gym or rec room.
Laundry design trends While laundry rooms may not be the gathering destinations that kitchens or tasting rooms are, they certainly are accessed and utilized just as frequently. Investing more into the design and functionality of these spaces is a top design trend for 2021 and beyond. Making the most of every inch is the best way to create a functional laundry room that can be customized to the homeowner’s style. To maximize space and minimize work, choose appliances wisely. The Whole Home 2021 laundry room features the Energy Star certified LG STUDIO WashTower - a vertical laundry solution that takes up half the floor space without sacrificing capacity. Its sleek steel finish elevates the space while delivering smart convenience with an easy-to-reach Center Control panel (no stepstool needed!) to access the machine’s built-in intelligence and advanced cleaning functions. To further enhance the functionality of the space, designers included the unique LG STUDIO Styler steam closet for refreshing and drying with chemical-free steam technology. Use it to remove odors and reduce allergens and even lift the wrinkles out of a lucky suit, dress or jacket. To learn more about these trends and others from the Whole Home 2021, visit HouseBeautiful. com/whole-home-2021. The laundry room features the stylish, unique LG STUDIO Styler steam closet for refreshing clothes and the ENERGY STAR® certified LG STUDIO WashTower that takes up half the floor space without sacrificing capacity.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — U.S. home prices jumped in August by a near-record amount from a year earlier, as Americans eager to buy a home drove up prices on a dwindling number of properties. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index soared 19.7% in August compared with a year ago. That increase is just below July’s 20% jump, which was the largest gain on records dating back to 2000. Home prices are now at alltime highs in all 20 cities in the index. Home sales have been healthy for most of this year, spurred by an ongoing desire among many people for greater space to wait out the coronavirus pandemic. Mortgage rates have also been historically low, though they have risen in recent weeks, and many Americans have become wealthier since the pandemic as stock prices have moved steadily higher, enabling them to afford a new home. Phoenix reported the biggest price increase among the 20 cities that make up the index, as it has for more than two years. Its home prices increased 33.3% in August compared with a year earlier. Home prices in San Diego jumped 26.2%, the second highest, and Tampa’s home prices rose 25.9%, the third-largest gain. There are signs that the rapid price gains of the past year are cooling a bit. August’s price increases, compared with a year ago, were slightly lower than in July, the first decline in annual price gains since June 2020.
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