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

Housing Trends eNewsletter- Lorena Tello

Housing Trends eNewsletter- Lorena Tello

7 Things Your Home Inspector Wishes You Knew

No matter whether you’re buying or selling, the home inspection process can be somewhat terrifying: For sellers, it’s a stark reminder of the nagging issues you might have turned a blind eye to over the years. And for buyers, it’s a recipe for pure heartbreak—falling in love with a home that might just end up making no sense to buy.

But don’t let the inspection stress you out. And remember, that’s not what your inspector wants either—all he or she wants is a comprehensive to-do list and a happy client.

So form a team with your home inspector to make the process easier and more effective. Knowledge is key! Here are seven essential things you keep in mind.

For sellers

1. Move your pets

We know your puppy is adorable—but even if your home inspector loves dogs or cats, pets running underfoot makes the job much more difficult.

Inspections often require opening exterior doors again and again, offering pets far too many opportunities to dash to freedom. When you leave the premises for the inspection—and many inspectors ask sellers to do so—take your pets with you. Please.

With animals out of the way, “every time I walk in or out, I don’t have to worry about losing a cat or a dog,” says Alan Singer of Sterling Home Inspections in Armonk, NY.

2. Don’t forget to clean

Whether you plan on being there for the inspection or not, make sure to clean up beforehand. No, you don’t need to scrub—an inspector won’t ding you because your stove’s grimy. But all that clutter? Yeah, that’s all got to go.

“It makes a huge difference when I walk into a house where everything’s put away,” Singer says. “It’s a game changer not just for me, but for the home buyer.”

Often, the inspection is the first time the buyers are (almost) alone in the house for an extended period of time.

“If it doesn’t feel like how it did before—if we’re trying to dig through items—it can sour their experience,” Singer says.

For buyers

1. Your potential home will have problems

Your home inspector will likely come up with a seemingly endless list of problems after the walk-through. Don’t panic!

“I’m on their side, but still, I’m judging the house fairly,” Singer says. “Even my home has problems, issues, maintenance things.”

Yeah, there are times when you should worry (we’ll get to those a bit later). But not every issue is mission-critical, and your inspector will know which problems you should tackle first.

2. Almost anything can be fixed

There are a few starkly frightening home inspection terms that seem to be in everyone’s vocabulary: mold, radon, and asbestos.

And yes, they’re scary—but no scarier than a roof that needs replacing, home inspectors say.
“People who write articles tend to scare homeowners about mold or radon,” Singer says.
So let us—your humble (and rather defensive) writers—take a moment to correct that assumption: Don’t worry so much about mold and radon!

Singer, who started his career in homebuilding, says, “everything is upgradable, fixable, or replaceable. You just need to have a list of what those things are.”

Not convinced yet? Check out this Washington Post article about a couple who got a discount on a four-bedroom Colonial because they weren’t terrified by mold.

3. One thing you should worry about is water

Here’s one problem we give you permission to stress out about (just a little): water. No, it’s not a deal breaker (remember that part where we wrote almost anything can be fixed?). But it’s important to address any water-related issues before the deal closes—or at least immediately afterward.

Make a note of issues such as puddles and leaky ceilings. And give special attention to the basement. Addressing water problems in the basement can be an expensive and difficult proposition, Singer says. “A wet basement can be hard to fix.”

4. Home inspectors can’t predict the future

You might want to know how many more years the roof will hold up—and while your inspector might be able to give you a rough estimate, he can’t give you a precise timeline.

“People think that we as inspectors have a crystal ball,” Singer says. “Or that we have X-ray vision” to see through walls or examine the inner circuitry of your kitchen stove.

Sorry, folks: They don’t, and they can’t.

“We can’t tell you how long it will last,” Singer says. “We can just tell you if it’s in good shape.”

5. Find the balance between your heart and brain

It’s easy to forget your love for the home when you’re counting the dollar signs and hours you might have to spend on repairs. But just remember to take a deep breath, think rationally, and consider whether it’s a smart investment in your future.

Singer empathizes: “The justification can sometimes be a horrible process, because our brains are all about money and time and (asking) ‘What kind of mistake am I making?’”

Barring any major renovations needed—such as a new roof or mold removal—your inspector’s visit will simply provide a to-do list. But not everything needs fixing immediately, so don’t let a long list dampen your love for the home. Just take things one at a time.

Article 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