Renovations, decor and more: Here’s what’s hot in home design

by Pete Kelly | For Jersey's Best

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Renovations, decor and more: Here’s what’s hot in home design

Whatever home improvements you decide on need to reflect your lifestyle and preferences, regardless of what’s trendy now.

“The final decision is what your (space) will look like,” said David Earl, owner of Merit Kitchens and Hunterdon Kitchens. “I can’t tell you what will be in style three or four years from now. Nobody knows. A while ago yellow was big in kitchens — for about six months — and then it was out again. So, design for yourselves and your taste and not for some future person who might buy that home. Because if you decorate to your taste, somebody else will feel the love that was put into it.”

Homeowners are spending more on renovations and decor, according to the home improvement resource site, HomeAdvisor.

From baby boomers enhancing their investment to millennials getting their fixer-upper up to speed, homeowners are making the most of their space.

Projects that improve a home’s look and value should top the list, and kitchen remodeling, siding, replacement windows and architectural stone are sound investments that make bold design statements. Homeowners will recoup nearly the entire cost of these projects when they’re ready to sell, according to HGTV.com and construction industry source, Remodeling magazine.

High-quality siding keeps its appearance for decades. “Once you install siding, you’ll enjoy it for as long as you’re in your house,” said Neil Sciacca, president of Randolph-based New Jersey Siding & Windows. “And when you’re ready to sell, you’re selling a maintenance-free house.”

Today’s homeowners are choosing wood or wood-composite siding for that old-fashioned wood look, Sciacca said. And compared with vinyl and other traditional sidings, wood-based siding comes in wider panels, so homeowners get greater exposure per panel and a more seamless look.

Replacement windows also can revamp a house’s look while improving energy efficiency, Sciacca said. Windows with industrial black frames are in, and they artfully complement or contrast the house’s overall color themes.

Stone adds both charm and value. As homeowners favor contiguous, larger spaces over traditional, separated rooms, stonework can be used to create a common theme that flows throughout the home.

“Our lives today are about moving easily from one setting to another. Our homes should reflect and accommodate that reality,” said Heidi Arpacilar, executive vice president of Carlstadt-based Marmiro Stones. As such, she urges clients to view their home “from the inside out” when considering stone design options.

“For example, if we’re using stone to create a focal wall in a great room that faces a pool area, the stone that defines the walkway to the pool or the pool’s perimeter will complement the color and texture of that focal wall,” Arpacilar said.

Homeowners also recoup between 40 percent and 83 percent of the cost of interior room restoration when they sell their house, according to HGTV.com. The decor experts at Speedwell Design Center in Morristown note that vinyl plank flooring — once considered a “cheap” alternative to premium flooring options — is now an increasingly popular style statement. Thanks to advances in flooring technology, today’s vinyl plank flooring offers a more genuine-looking, wood-like appearance that lends a touch of warmth to the living room, rec room, bedroom or family room.

Vinyl plank flooring is simple to install, easy to mop and maintain, resists dirt and water, and is durable and scratch-resistant. It comes in a range of wood styles and, best of all, its inviting look lasts for decades.

 

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