Hardwood Flooring & Granite Countertops Remodeling
Home Remodeling Trends
by Jim Neidner
 Whether it’s in the cool Colorado Rocky Mountains or the hot humid flatland of Houston, Texas, people select similar remodeling and updating projects. If your carpet is worn out and needs replacing, out the door it goes. If the family lifestyle has changed and you no longer need the fourth bedroom, converting the fourth bedroom into a large master suite or study has become a big remodeling trend. Master bathroom and kitchen remodeling will always be on top of wish list.
One trend I find interesting is a rise in allergy and asthma families replacing carpeting with hard surface floorings. Another is the baby-boomer nearing retirement and now thinking about handicap accessibility, wider hallways, roll-in showers and roll-under-counter sinks.
People remodel and up-date their home for many reasons. When asked on my radio home show a question like, "What are some of the remodeling trends for the 21st century and can you offer any suggestions?" it’s really a difficult question to answer because we see it ranging from simple remodeling projects to the sublime.
However, this year we had several conversions of gamerooms, where the pool table never got used, to full-blown Media rooms--from surround sound speakers with huge TV entertainment centers to everything including the popcorn machines. Thousands of homes were built in the late 60’s to 80’s with a walk-in wet bar located in the family room as a focal point and now makes a super media conversion. Even the small preacher bars with doors are being converted to media centers.
Remodeling is hot because people like where they live and don’t want to move. Friends, shopping, churches, mountain views are all the things they have lived with for years and that’s what holds them to the area the prompts the choice to remodel. New home buying is expensive and in most cases the lots are smaller than the one they already own. So to remodel a new bathroom, kitchen, and even family room or bedrooms allows the owner to stay right where they are and still have the feeling of a new home.
Kitchens will always be on top of the list in remodeling trends. Families are entertaining more and the kitchen is a family gathering place. So removing walls that separate the kitchen from the family room is a big trend.
When you open the kitchen up to the family room, the big concern is a noisy dishwasher. With technology advancement there are several appliance manufacturers like KitchenAid and Whirlpool featuring whisper-quiet dishwashers that you can barely hear running. This type of dishwasher should be a trendsetter for 21st century.
Of course the slab granite countertops are still hot and the 12" x 12" granite tile is running a close race due to the price savings. Hardwood floors are still in, tile floors in the large 16" x 16" tile with diamond in-lays are going strong and bold wall colors with white trim will be continue to be big trendsetters.
Exterior products that seem to still be a hot trend in the market are the cement fiber sidings like "Cemplank and Hardi-Plank" just to mention a few. People are tired of replacing rotting wood, consumers want something that will stand the test of time and still have a real wood look. Backyard views are still a big trend and that’s where the new direct-vent fireplaces really make a difference. Your fireplace does not have a chimney and you can place a window above the firebox and mantel as well as on each side of the fireplace. Also the outdoor kitchen under a patio cover is trendy. Family and friends enjoy entertaining outside and taking advantage of the summer weather. Keeping up with the remodeling trends can truly assist you at resale and might even offer you better pay-back values on your real estate investment.
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