Modern Kitchen Islands

 

Sleek surfaces, dramatic contrasts and bursts of color make modern kitchen islands both fashion-forward and fun.

 

 

 

 

 

Sleek surfaces, clean-lined cabinets, brushed-metal (or hidden) drawer pulls—these are some of the tell-tale signs of a modern kitchen island. But don't let these contemporary design elements limit your imagination.

One of the easiest ways to add modern flair to the kitchen island: choose a signature color (think tangerine orange or lipstick red) to distinguish the space.

Whether or not that color is repeated in another kitchen design element is up to you—there's no rule that says an island's counter (or color) needs to match its counterparts on the perimeter of the kitchen.

Employing a monochromatic palette, such as a white-on-white, all-black or warm wood, is another way to add contemporary character to the kitchen island. If a monochromatic style feels too dramatic for your space, there are plenty of high-contrast ways to incorporate modern touches. Think polished wood or stainless steel used as an accent on the base of the island or in place of trim.

By HGTV.com
Information courtesy of Habitat Real Estate Group

 

Habitat Real Estate Group
3 SW 129 Street Suite 200
Pembroke Pines, Florida
(305) 798-7620
tellolorena2@gmail.com

Miami heat hits housing

The only thing hotter than the beach in Miami this summer is its tempestuous housing market. While summer is historically the slow season for Miami, this summer saw record sales of single-family homes.

  

The city had 1,390 sales in June, an 8.6 percent jump from a year ago and a new one-month high, beating the mark set in June 2005 during the height of the last housing boom, according to the Miami Association of Realtors.

Condominium sales also rose, but at a slower pace, up just 4.5 percent from a year ago. While the supply of condos for sale is still relatively low, it did jump 9 percent from a year ago, and there is concern that thousands of new units, either planned or already under construction, will temper the market in the year ahead.

For now, however, prices continue to surge on higher demand. The median sale price for single-family homes rose 14.9 percent from a year ago to $280,000 in June, and the median sale price for condominiums increased 7.9 percent $205,000 from a year ago.

"An improving jobs market, historic low mortgages rates, and Miami's reputation as a world-class global city continue to attract domestic and international homebuyers who want to live, work, and play in one of America's most dynamic areas," said Christopher Zoller, residential president of the Miami Association of Realtors.

The outlook is not as bright for the luxury market on Miami Beach. With a median price of $2.3 million, down 5 percent from a year ago, sales are weaker by 10 percent, according to Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel and author of the market report for Douglas Elliman.

The stall on the high end is the result of fewer international investors in the market. Miami has been a safe-haven for money from all over the globe, but the strength of the dollar against foreign currencies is cutting into that. Buyers from Russia, China and Europe may be reconsidering Miami.

"Some of them certainly put their decisions on hold when it comes to investments. When it comes to end-users, people who want to live in the homes, that's a healthy part of the market," said Sladja Stantic, a real estate agent with One Sotheby's International Realty in Miami.

Luxury condos, however, are sitting on the market longer, which could portend weaker sales in the fall. The single-family luxury market, with a median price around $7 million, is faring slightly better. Sales and prices are down slightly, but the homes are selling faster than condos.

Article by CNBC.com

Information courtesy of Habitat Real Estate Group  

Habitat Real Estate Group

3 SW 129 Street Suite 200

Pembroke Pines, Florida

(305) 798-7620

tellolorena2@gmail.com

10 Interior Design Trends That Turn Off Home Buyers

                            

You want your home to look its best, and maybe you’ve been inspired by the interior design trends you’ve seen in magazines, on TV or on design websites.
But following some of the hottest home remodeling and interior design trends can backfire when it comes time to sell your home.
Buyers want to picture themselves in a home, and highly individualistic touches can get in the way of that.
When you’re ready to sell your home, it’s best to put things in pristine, move-in condition and remove all of the individual touches that made your house a home.
After all, your goal is to get potential buyers to picture themselves in the home—and they won’t be able to do that if your decorating style still dominates.
Check out the caveats that go along with these home interior design trends.

1. Boldly Painted Walls

Decorators often tout black or another bold paint color as the perfect backdrop to metallic accessories or appliances in modern home design.
The reality is that people prefer the exterior and interior walls of a home to be neutral. Even though repainting is cheap and relatively easy to do, it’s still a pain and buyers might not want to bother.
When decorating, your best bet is to stick to an appeasing hue for the walls and use accessories to provide pops of color.

2. Wallpaper

Bold, graphic patterns increasingly are being incorporated into interior design, often in the form of wallpaper.
But wallpaper—even if it’s only on one wall—is an extremely personal choice and time-consuming to remove if it doesn’t appeal to the buyer
Consider replacing wallpaper with a neutral paint for broader appeal.

3. Lavish Light Fixtures

While potential buyers want rooms that seem airy and bright, beware of installing a showpiece light fixture that is too modern or ornate.

Fixtures should enhance your home—not steal the spotlight.

4. Gleaming Gold

Designers may be mixing silver and gold to give homes star quality, but it might be wise to change out fixtures if they have the wrong metallic sheen.
Gold can give a home an outdated, ’80s feel. Switching out the faucet and door handles with a more appealing finish—such as brushed nickel—is relatively inexpensive and can help make your home appear sleek rather than out of style.

5. Converted Garages

People want a covered parking space so that they have a safe place for their car—especially in areas where street parking is at a premium. Additionally, people often use their garage as storage space.
If you convert your garage into a space tailored your specific needs, such as a music practice room, it may not suit your potential buyers.

6. Converted Bedrooms

Like with the garage, people want rooms built for their original purpose.
If you’ve converted an unused bedroom to an office, walk-in closet, or a game room, make sure you can easily convert it back to a bedroom when you’re ready to sell.

7. Carpets

While designers love to play with the texture of shag carpeting as it feels soft underfoot, the majority of home buyers prefer hardwood floors.
People assume carpets trap dirt, germs and odors, and they don’t want to go through the hassle of steam cleaning their home before they can move in. Potential buyers also don’t want to spend time removing carpet to expose hardwood floors.
If someone really loves carpet, it’s much easier for them to add it themselves—after the purchase.

8. Too-Lush Landscaping

The “outdoor living room” is all the rage, and you may be tempted to build out your backyard into a lavish wilderness of flowers.
But potential buyers may be hesitant to buy a home with an overly landscaped property requiring a lot of maintenance.
Focus on creating or maintaining a nice and neat outdoor space that people can enjoy without too much fuss.

9. Pools and Hot Tubs

A pool may seem like a luxurious feature, but it can be a big turnoff for buyers.
Pools are perceived to be expensive to maintain and potential safety hazards, especially for families with children. Above-ground pools are eyesores and can leave a dead spot in the backyard.
These sentiments extend to hot tubs, too. Many people see hot tubs as breeding grounds for bacteria, and they are not a feature easily removed from the deck or back yard.

10. Fancy (or Not) Pet Products

Sales of pet products are expected to increase nearly $3 billion from last year, and there’s an increasing market for luxury pet items.
But even animal lovers don’t want to see another family’s pet paraphernalia in a potential home. Even if your home is immaculate, the presence of pet-related items will give the impression that it’s dirty.
Be sure to remove all traces of your pet—including toys, food dishes and photos—before listing your home for sale.


By Realtor.com
Information courtesy of Habitat Real Estate Group

 

Habitat Real Estate Group
3 SW 129 Street Suite 200
Pembroke Pines, Florida
(305) 798-7620
tellolorena2@gmail.com

Contemporary/Modern Interior Design

Hiring an interior designer doesn't mean giving up control of decorating your home, but these professionals can introduce you to ideas and decorating options you wouldn't have otherwise considered or knew were possible. Modern interior design has come into its own and promises to turn your home into a masterpiece of aesthetic beauty without sacrificing one moment of practicality or function.

Modern and contemporary, while seemingly synonymous, can often mean quite different things in certain contexts. One of these contexts is interior design. Contemporary interior design means essentially the latest interior design fashions. Modern interior design will often refer to "mid-century" design. Even with these different meanings they will still easily converge. You and your interior designer may decide to borrow elements of 60s or 70s interior design, but this doesn't mean you're going to go out and find the most hideous wallpaper and upholstery simply for nostalgia. In any event, whether you're talking about contemporary or modern interior design, there are some things you should keep in mind while deciding your home's decor.

Take Some Risks, but Don't Go Overboard

Play it too safe and your house will lack a distinctive quality that can wow guests. Take too many ill-advised chances and you may lose your footing with your own home and, possibly, some of its functionality. A good interior decorating scheme should always include your lifestyle and how you will use each and every room. It can be a dangerous idea to "experiment" with decorating schemes and things can quickly go out of fashion. You should look for an interior designer who's eager to incorporate new things into your home but whose sincere intent is always to create a timeless effect. For new construction, begin thinking about interior design right away. Again, too many risks with structural design can be off-putting to potential buyers if you ever decide to sell your home, but distinctive installations and design can also make buyers fall in love with your home.

New Materials, New Techniques

A large part of contemporary interior design is utilizing new materials and techniques. The most common decorative installations include metal, blown-glass, and concrete. Metal, obviously, isn't new, but contemporary lifestyles have begun to emphasize the need for simplicity. Metal creates a sleek, no-nonsense feel to a home. Most often metal is used for accents and fixtures. The purpose of metal isn't to create a cold or detached feeling but to enhance the warmth of other, nearby decorative elements.

Blown glass is a great way to create that elusive distinctiveness for your home. It brings the same kind of artistic element as wall hanging or sculpture but can often double as a lighting fixture or other functional element in your home. Colored glass can fit any decorative scheme, and blown glass is about as close as you can come to a can't miss decorative element.

Concrete has arrived. Decorative concrete can be finished to create any number of modern effects. Floors, countertops, and furniture are great places for concrete installations that will really show off your decorative chops. Many homeowners are still unaware of just how versatile and beautiful concrete can be, and this type of information and specific guidance for still largely untested waters is the perfect reason to hire a designer for all your modern interior design needs.

Color and Lighting

It's difficult to underestimate these elements in any interior design, but especially for modern interior design. Continuing with the trend toward simplicity, neutral beiges, whites, and browns are common but are also often complemented with a more vibrant accent wall. Simple, but not boring, is the mantra here. Lighting is often used to highlight specific areas of interest. Track lighting and floor lamps are the most popular, but any lighting fixture that creates clean lines and emphasizes the featured decorative elements will meet the contemporary design model.

Article by Homeadvisor.com
Information courtesy of Habitat Real Estate Group  

Habitat Real Estate Group
3 SW 129 Street Suite 200
Pembroke Pines, Florida
(305) 798-7620
tellolorena2@gmail.com

The 5 Best Things to Buy in August

Ah, August. This hectic month is jam-packed with back-to-school obligations and last-minute barbecue invitations. But did you know it’s also a great time to save some cash?

Sure, school supplies are on sale this month, but August is full of awesome deals for the home, too!

Here are five things you can buy on the cheap this month:

1. Outdoor gear. Stores make it a high priority to get rid of outdoor gear before the temperatures drop, and this includes everything from patio furniture to grills to lawn mowers.Tip: It’s best to wait until the end of August to purchase outdoor furniture. Retailers like Sears and Home Depot will discount patio sets by as much as 90 percent!

2. Storage containers. Stores tend to cater to the new college crowd during August. That means they’ll mark down the value of dorm supplies, especially storage containers and organizers. In the market for some new under-the-bed storage drawers or maybe some space-saving bins for your bathroom? Now is the time to buy.

3. Linens. If you’re looking to restock your linen closet, August is the best time to do it! Not only are college kids shopping for new bed linens, many shops are also trying to purge their summer sheets to make room for heavier fall and winter gear. You can expect to find linens, duvets, pillows and blankets at a discount price.

4. Kids clothing. If your little one’s jeans have seen one-too-many grass stains this summer, jump on the back-to-school bandwagon! Clothing retailers have widespread sales on kids clothing during August with markdowns as much as 40-70 percent off!

5. Office supplies. They may be under the label of “school supplies,” but don’t be fooled! Grown-ups need pens and pencils, too. If you have a home office (or just need some new envelopes) stock up on these supplies while you can. Tip: Need a new desk for your home office? Computer desks often fall into the “dorm items” category, so they’ll be cheaper this month, too. 

By Brightnest

Information courtesy of Habitat Real Estate Group

 

Habitat Real Estate Group
3 SW 129 Street Suite 200
Pembroke Pines, Florida
(305) 798-7620
tellolorena2@gmail.com