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Homeowners are expected to spend over $14 billion on bathroom remodels in the U.S. this year, quite a sum! With the goal of helping you and those you know get the best return on those home improvement dollars, here's a list of some of the most popular bathroom design trends for 2015. |
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By the way, if you or anyone you know has a real estate need, please contact us today. We'll always provide first-class service! |
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Dennis and Jane Guertin
952-442-1300 Direct
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Popular Bathroom Design Trends
What's In for 2015:
Rain Shower Heads
According to a recent Houzz.com survey, nearly half of the homeowners remodeling a bathroom in 2015 will install a rain shower head, while 62 to 71 percent will at least include a handheld shower head.
Radiant Heat Flooring
Heated flooring remains an extremely desirable feature that adds a touch of luxury to virtually any bathroom. It can be surprisingly inexpensive, thanks to electric radiant heat versions that are easy to install and provide homeowners with do-it-yourself options. The Family Handyman website has a good article with information about various electric and hydronic radiant floor heating systems.
(For $100 to $300 you can up the "wow factor" by adding a heated towel rack.)
Shower Seats
Who knew that people were spending so much time in the shower? Shower seats are popular items, according to the Houzz.com survey, with 49 to 55 percent of respondents saying they planned to include one in their remodel.
Grab Bars and No-Threshold Showers
Designing for aging in place has been a growing trend for years, which is why Baby Boomers and Millennials alike are installing grab bars in bathtubs and showers. For the same reason, no-threshold showers that provide easy access for people with impaired mobility are becoming very popular.
Tip: The recent trend has been to trade the traditional tub/shower combination for a luxurious, oversized shower, but for re-sale purposes it's usually important to make sure a tub is still easily accessible. The target market for most homes includes people with small children, and toddlers are far more likely to take baths than showers.
Jetted Tubs and Showers for Two
Creating a shareable space was important to 36 percent of Houzz.com survey respondents, while 35 percent said they planned to install a jetted tub. Freestanding tubs are also popular.
Media, Surround Sound, and Gadgets
With that in mind, it makes sense for the bathroom to be as spa-like as possible. Media, music, and touch-screen controls are all features that are popular in today's bathroom remodels.
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile
Most remodels in 2015 will use ceramic or porcelain tile for flooring, and paint for the walls. Tile is also a popular option for walls, and tile baseboard molding is becoming more common. (In general, a matte look is more popular for non-glass tiles.)
Tricks that Make a Small Bathroom Appear Larger:
Large Tiles
Homeowners often assume that a small room requires small tiles, but a larger tile pattern is actually more likely to make the room look bigger. (Think 12 to 18 inches in width.)
A Floating Vanity
Vanities that are attached to the wall rather than having a solid base show more of the floor area, which tricks the eye into making the room look larger.
Being able to see more floor and wall area because of the floating vanity and glass shower enclosure helps this space appear larger and less confining.
Few "Transition Points"
Tiling a shower all the way up to the ceiling is one way to make the bathroom look larger by eliminating transition points, according to interior designer Cheryl Khan. She advises clients that too many lines and borders can make a small space appear busy.
Glass Enclosures
Glass surrounds for tubs and showers are becoming more popular, and they help a bathroom look larger by not cutting off a part of it from view.
Tall Mirrors
Rather than downsizing the mirror to "fit" the room, Khan advises clients that a tall, narrow mirror will enhance a small bathroom's vertical space.
(What the lawyers make us say: The information in this newsletter is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Please always consult a qualified expert before making decisions based on this content. Nothing in this article is meant to be taken as expert legal or financial advice.)
Recent Market Highlights
- U.S. home prices rose 4.5 percent year-to-year in November, according to a recent S&P/Case-Shiller report. They rose 5.0 percent year-to-year in December according to CoreLogic, a data and analytics company.
- The national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is still under 4 percent.
The February Pending Home Sales Index rose 12.0 percent year-to-year, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Note: Housing statistics based on closed sales typically reflect market conditions of two or three months ago. To find out what's going on right now in your local market, please contact us directly.
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Contact Us for Market Information
Are you curious about your home's current market value, or do you have a question about home buying? Just reply to this email, or call us at (952) 442-1300. |
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View Our Featured Home Listings |
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Links that Make Life Easier
Sometimes real estate-related, sometimes not... these are assorted links that come in handy:
20 of the Coolest Pieces of Furniture You've Never Seen
From a walking table (yes, it really walks) to a sofa-bunk bed, this is an eclectic collection of creative and sometimes oddball furniture styles.
An Easy Fix for Tennis Elbow
The New York Times featured a simple at-home treatment for tennis elbow that appears to work for many people.
9 Genius Kitchen Tricks
Clever tips that can make life easier in the kitchen.
Favorite Flip or Flop Before and After Makeovers
Inspiring "before and after" pictures of rooms that received badly-needed makeovers.
Caine Monroy's 5 Lessons for Entrepreneurs
Five great tips from child entrepreneur Caine Monroy. (More about him in The Lighter Side, below).
The Lighter Side
Nine-year-old Caine Monroy spent months building an elaborate arcade out of cardboard in his father's auto parts shop, dreaming that people would flock to play his games. No one did, until a chance encounter with a filmmaker led to a short video that went viral and turned "Caine's Arcade" into a sensation.
Since then fans have contributed over $240,000 towards a college fund for Caine, and a new non-profit, the Imagination Foundation, has raised nearly $250,000 to sponsor creativity and entrepreneurship in children like Caine around the world. To top it off, he seems like a really nice guy. :)
Click here or on the image to see the video on the "Caine's Arcade" website.
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Your Resource for Real Estate |
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Are you thinking of buying or selling a home in the next year, or could you use some remodeling advice? Even if you just need the name of a good service provider, please remember that we're always here to help you. We welcome the opportunity to serve you, your friends and associates with our expertise and recommendations.
Please give us a call today at (952) 442-1300 if we can be of assistance! |
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If you are currently working with another agent this is not an attempt to solicit that business.
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