Alair Homes
If a fresh new year in the same boring house isn’t a thrilling proposition, you’re not alone. This is the time of year many get motivated to transform their living space with a few budget-friendly updates, a major remodel or something in between. Here are decorative and design trends for 2018 for three levels of transformation.
Simply Scintillating: Colours, Accents, Textures and More
You don’t have to spend a fortune to get transformative results. These cost-effective changes bring eye-appealing ROI.
Colours
Paint delivers bang for the buck. Pantone Color Institute’s Color of the Year, Ultra Violet, is getting plenty of press. Benjamin Moore paint named “strong, radiant and full of energy” Caliente red it’s Color of the Year. The bigger point is that bold colours, though not brilliantly bright, are trending. House Beautiful asked celebrity designers for their colour picks, and responses included lavender, olive green, and charcoal gray. Contrasting palettes, the use of bold colours on neutral backgrounds, is a hot way to use them. Fixer Upper star Joanna Gaines says, “I’m really into saturated color with white to balance it out, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.”
Patterns
“Hard geometrics are going to be huge,” says Trading Spaces designer Genevieve Gorder. Wallpaper on an accent wall and throw pillows or rugs with geometric print provide a few pleasing pops of pattern in any room.
Accents
Natural woven, textured materials in baskets, runners and wall hangings, “give homes a bit of international flair in 2018” according to designer Sarah Hullinger. When your accents are handmade by artisans, you’re guaranteed something unique. This level of craftsmanship can be found locally at London’s 2nd Floor Artisans’ Market, part of the Western Fair District Market.
Paint and replace cabinets with shelves
Kitchen cabinetry past its prime doesn’t have to drag down your kitchen vibe. Painting the lower cabinets and replacing the upper cabinets with shelves is a design trend favored by Family Handyman magazine. If you’re handy, this is a DIY project for a well-spent weekend or two.
Mid-range Marvelous
Floor Plan Changes with Style
When the alteration you’re looking for goes beyond cosmetic, a floor plan change using the design ideas above might accomplish your goal. Here are the home remodeling projects expected to top the charts in 2018.
Kitchens
No surprise here. Families are getting more face time with the addition of breakfast bars, countertop peninsulas with seating and built-in booths that bring everyone together beyond mealtimes. And nobody is left alone in the kitchen during food prep or cleanup when entertaining. For 2018, quartz is replacing granite as the go-to countertop while uniquely shaped tiles are putting an end to subway tile’s predominance. Brass, brushed gold, or even rose gold is big for faucets, door knobs, drawer pulls and accent décor too. Light, even bleached, wall cabinets over darker base cabinets are an interesting trend. Colours are being used in the kitchen too for sinks, faucets and appliances. Smart lighting enhances convenience, especially using hands-free technology like Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices.
Creating separate spaces
Is your floor plan a little too open, and what you’d really like is a quiet place to relax or get work done? The home office is trending because working at home is trending, but even those working away from home are finding value in having a haven of peace and quiet to combat a frenetically paced schedule. This is easily accomplished with a wall or two and a door, perhaps French doors that allow parents to see their kids without the noise.
Luxury bathrooms, turning two bedrooms into a beautiful suite and finishing basement and attic space are floor plan changes that will remain popular in 2018. Homeowners that expect to be caring for older adults at some point or that intend to stay put in the years ahead are using these floor plan changes to widen hallways and doorways and make other accommodations for wheelchairs, walkers and similar aids.
Big and Bodacious
The Home Addition
The hassle and high cost of moving are out for 2018, replaced by making your home exactly what you want it to be. If your house just isn’t large enough, an addition is the answer. Adding a second story, extending the footprint outward and two-story additions might all be options, and the space can be customized to fit your lifestyle.
When a floor plan change or home addition is the upgrade you’re looking for, give Alair Homes London a call. We’re London, Ontario’s locally owned and operated home construction leader with more than 15 years of experience. We’ll walk with you every step of the way from dream to design to done!
