Home Design Trends for 2019

The New Year is a great time to freshen up your home with new design trends. I am very excited to see an increase use of natural materials being used in design this year. I have highlighted key design trends that can easily be incorporated into any home. There are certain design choices that will work better for your region.  

Terrazzo

Made from a mix of glass, granite, marble, or quartz chips suspended in polished cement or resin, this midcentury mainstay was once a flooring mainstay. Recently, terrazzo has seen a major resurgence, but with a bit of a modern twist. Bolder and brighter colorways are being employed, larger pieces of stone are being used as aggregates, and it's now being used to make furnishings and home accessories. It's important to note that the process presents the chance to incorporate color—a fact that modern-day manufacturers have been taking advantage of. 

Mixing Metals

 

Mixing metals will continue to take precedence, but it will come along with mixing of textured materials. A variety of textures help add depth and contrast, creating a multi-dimensional room. Brass and copper can add warmth into any room.

Accent Colors for 2019

The word for 2019 is richer jewel tone color pallets!  The most popular is Nightwatch green, this moodier alternative to hunter and bottle green makes for a nice alternative to today’s on-trend matte black and looks great with high-shine finishes and elements. But if a full room is too much, do consider small yet dramatic ways to bring the color in, say a vibrant textile like on the couch in the photo, or a deep green rug set against a luminous marble floor.

Earthy Colors

Expect earthy colors to reign supreme in 2019. Beige shades, sage green hues, natural wood tones and more will make for a cozy, soft, peaceful vibe.

Natural Elements

In 2019 design is emphasizing the relationship between humankind and nature, and the connections between the two. Natural, organic materials–such as wood floors, stone, and daylight and plant life–remind us of the exterior and brings the outside and nature, in. We are machine- and technology-driven society, but nostalgic about past processes and handiwork, so opportunities for custom wood pieces, plants, and textures will help bring the nature into your space. Items made by hand using sustainable materials like jute, rice paper, and clay will be in, in 2019. We see people needing these grounding elements in their homes as a way to feel more in touch with the earth.

Flooring Trends

Light-colored floors are making a comeback, thanks to the homeowner's growing desire for a more airy and open look and feel. In shades of birch, beachy white and light oak, these floors reflect more light, and can transition from casual to luxurious, without sacrificing comfort.

  Green is the new Black!

Houseplants are making a big comeback and for a very good reason. Not only are indoor plants aesthetic, but they bring HEALTH into our home. Aesthetic Indoor Plants are the New Decor Trend that Reap Major Benefits. Interior Designers all agree that  houseplants are the style trend that is here to stay.  Green is the New Black!

Green is the new black

Bring plants into every room to bring color and to clear the air in that room!

I am excited to incorporate these trends into my Home Staging/ Redesign Company. There are rich hues and clean spaces with touches of wood! These Elements are perfect for bringing warmth and elegance to any home.

Cynthia Wigart

Element Innovations

Lake Tahoe Home Staging Services

Vacant homes tend to sit on the market longer than staged homes. There are so many items that can be added to entice the buyer to "Feel Home". The National Association of Realtors recently published that a vacant house will tend to sit on the Market 70% longer.

You only get once chance to make a first impression so it pays to take the photos of the home after it has been professionally staged to get the best results.

The three rooms that we highly recommend you focus your attention on is the Living room, Dining room and the Master Bedroom. That is what we call a soft stage. Highlighting the most important rooms in the house for potential buyers.

Many of the homes that are staged have an increase of traffic because of how the property shows. Realtors will visit a property regularly that is priced right and looks amazing. I see so many other properties sit om the market that could really have improved the marketing in their property. 

The cost of soft staging a home is about $700-$1000 a month. If you look at your potential price reduction it is FAR cheaper to invest in home staging service.

Our market is heating up and three homes have sold quickly that were staged early this spring. It is a great time to redo your photos and stage your property prior to reducing sales price.

Loving Life at the Lake,

Cynthia Wigart

Prepare Your Home to Sell with Home Staging

Prepare Your Home to Sell with Home Staging

Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money.  Home Staging is not interior decorating; it is going through the home to make it appeal to the most buyers. It is pure economics, improve a product and it sells for more.

Whether the property is owner-occupied, or vacant, staging is recommended before listing a property. It can be equally effective after a property has been on the market for an extended period unsold. The cost of home staging is far less than the first price reduction after a home has been on the market.  If you do not address the issues within the home, the buyer will typically walk through with a fix it list adding up in their mind.  A home that is cluttered or in need of repair may instantly turn off potential buyers and trigger thoughts that a home may be too much money and work, as opposed to being in move-in ready condition.  Many potential buyers may see the smallest tasks as overwhelming and attach a much larger amount to fix than the reality of completing these items prior to listing. Many times a fresh coat of paint and reworking furniture can dramatically improve the flow of the home.

With the summer real estate season just around the corner, many home sellers are waiting for the prime opportunity to place their home on the market.   Summer is a strong season for both buyers and sellers. For those looking to sell their homes for the most amount of money in the shortest amount of time, there simply is no better tool than home staging. National Association of Realtors (NAR 2015) surveyed that a staged home was on the market 73% less time than homes that have not been staged.

Home staging allows buyers to see the space and not the distractions that could take their focus away from the beauty of the home. 90% of buyers are looking for homes online first before deciding to visit the property. Make sure all of the photos are a showing the property in a way to highlight the positives and down play negatives.

In California home staging can be used as a write off for advertising cost on capital gains. There are so many advantages to staging your home wither it be a vacation rental, full time residence, or new construction you need to put your best foot forward when placing your investment on the MLS.  Then you can relax knowing that you have done everything to prepare your property for the best possible offer.

By: Cynthia Wigart

Element Innovations.

Living Rooms can sell a home!

If you are preparing your home for sale don't miss the living room as a very important room to stage for potential buyers.  86% of home buyers consider a "Living Room" Important to have staged according to National Association of Realtors 2017 reports.

When you are preparing your home for sale  it is hard to be objective. Bringing in a home stager for a "Get it Sold Report" will give you a clear road map to ready your property to go on the Market.

The home stager is trained to look at each room of the home and make suggestions so that you can attract the most buyers to the property.  90% of home buyers look first online and it helps if they can see the room not the huge bright red couch.

Many of the suggestions a home stager will make are to get the biggest impact for the change. Simple changes like colors and placement can really make a difference. Trained in color and room arrangement we are able to help the homeowner see the property through the buyers eyes. The packing starts NOW!!

How to update a bathroom for Sale

Bathroom Redesign

When you are preparing  a home for sale you want to neutralize each rooms in the house. This bathroom originally had very busy wallpaper and bold red accents. You want to appeal to the most potential buyers both in person and online. By removing the wallpaper and painting the sage accent color are now the focal color. This makes the bathroom seem larger and also clean. 

Don't leave repairs and updating to the buyer they will estimate far more cost in the home offer than actually completing the work yourself. The ROI is 6%-10% on all redesign updates in the home. It will increase the amount of buyers visiting your property and fetch you more overall in getting your asking price.

Metals in 2018

Brass and Rustic Mix for 2018

Decorating for 2018 will have a return of Brass as an accent metal. It has a rich and warm feeling to mix both natural and Brass elements. Don't be afraid to mix metals within your home. You can have chrome, brass, and wrought iron in the same room and get an overall design that shows an eclectic rustic style.

I love that the design trends are allowing everyone to express a mix of metals and wood to create this new home trend. Many homeowners need to embrace mixing elements to get that overall warmth in the home. You can do this by mixing accessories in the room to update. Find a variety of accessories in different  metals and place them in groupings. 

A great way to see farmhouse of 2017 updated to eclectic rustic style

2018 Home Trends

2018 Home Trends

Everyone wants to bring current design and styles into their home. While getting all of the information for 2018 forecast I tried to look at the practical trends for the customers I serve in Lake Tahoe.  Living in the mountains there are some styles that work and do not work in our area and for the clients. I have put together a list of practical ways to update your look for 2018.

SPA BATHROOMS

Why wait to go to the spa to get that amazing aesthetic? Instead transform your home into a total escape.  A deep bathtub and lovely floor tile are the perfect combination to create a dreamy bathroom haven. With gorgeous textures in neutral tones, the bathroom should create  a wonderful calming atmosphere.

MIXED METALS

Sticking to just one metal can be boring. Have fun with your decor and appliances by mixing up the hues. Renovating a bathroom? Don’t worry about matching up your light fixtures with your hardware. Don’t forget about matte metallics either. We love a good black light fixture thrown into the mix.

STATEMENT CEILINGS

Adding pops of color or patterns to your walls is great, but have you ever thought of putting it on your ceiling? Incredible architecture like using wood treatments on the ceiling can also help add a geometric element to your space. 

HERRINGBONE PATTERN

If you’re re-doing your floors or walls, consider using a directional herringbone pattern to add dimension to your room.We love a good herringbone back splash in the kitchen. The pattern can really add a classic, yet modern element to any space.

COLORFUL DOORS

Give your guests a bright and cheery welcome with a door that isn’t just any old basic shade. From traditional doors to gates, a colorful hue is always appreciated! 

Don’t leave out those interior doors either! They can lay a foundation to your room’s palette.

LARGE WALL ART 

Say goodbye to the gallery wall and hello to huge art pieces that will take up that blank space in your home. Looking to style an awkward nook in your home? Measure out the space and find a cool piece to fill it up.

COLOR PREDICTION

Sage has now established itself as the new neutral and we don’t have a problem with that at all. Calming and stylish, it totally can elevate any space.  The shade looks particularly great mixed in with warm wood and live greens. Painting your kitchen cabinets? A sage shade can help give them a modern rustic flair.

Whatever home trends you add to your home make sure it "Feels Home" and have fun experimenting with change.

Loving Life at the Lake,

Element Innovations

A New Year a New look

Element Innovations is ready for 2018! We have updated our website with completed projects and are ready to serve any of your needs to increase buyer traffic to your home.

Check out our new website at elementinnovations.com

Exciting News for 2018

Element Innovations was awarded the HOUZZ service award for the second year in a row!! 

Thank you to all of the amazing realtors and clients we have worked with during the last 2 years that made this award possible. Here is the link to review our account and see what our customers and realtors  are saying!

 https://www.houzz.com/pro/elementinnovations4u/__public