Tag: 2018

5 lighting trends we love

Lighting is something that you typically notice when it’s really good or really bad. Many homeowners make the mistake of not having enough when it comes to lighting. Sometimes, certain events at your home call for different lighting. (Think an evening cocktail party.) People often wonder if they can mix finishes in their rooms (do the light fixtures in my kitchen need to match the cabinet pulls?). With so much to consider, we thought we’d highlight some of the trends we are loving now!

Chandeliers: Lighting with big impact

The classic overhead fixture has come a long way! Chandeliers can be had in contemporary designs with updated finishes.Warm metals are popping up everywhere! Think of fixtures made of rich copper (hammered or raw copper exude a natural beauty, while a satin finish feels luxurious) or brass. Brass fixtures can be polished, aged or burnished. The varying patinas give totally different looks! Brass is definitely making a comeback. A few weeks back, we shared an awesome photo of a powder room with a mosaic tile floor and brass bath fixtures. Check it out on our Instagram account!Gold tones (especially rose gold) are also hot this year. Like its brass counterpart, gold doesn’t always have to be shiny and bright.

Vintage Vibe: Upgraded

“Vintage” is one of those oft-overused words. When it applies to this year’s lighting trends, there’s a little “upgrade” from the typical looks that celebrate an older, industrial age. This year’s fixtures really showcase sleeker materials and modern technology. Sure, fans will still see the natural colors, rustic finishes and simple designs that have come to define vintage lighting.The sleeker materials make the lights feel more thoughtful in design and less “I found this old bucket, hung it upside down and screwed a lightbulb in it!”. Vintage lights work well in the kitchen (think above the island or work space) and as wall lights or sconces. (Image: Library Pendant by Troy Lighting, via Bellacor.)

Mixed Metals

It’s like wondering if you can wear a brown belt with black shoes. Can you mix metals when it comes to your lighting choices? The short answer is yes. Mixing metallic design elements can be achieved by doing it within a single lighting fixture or even within a larger design environment (an entire room).The key? Make your choices look intentional. Put some thought into it. One of the areas you can look to “mix” it up is the actual texture of the fixtures. Consider mixing hammered, matte and even polished finishes for a layered, rich look. You might also consider mixing warm metals (gold, copper) and cold (silver, chrome) metals.

Energy-Saving bulbs

As with many areas of their lives, homeowners are choosing to go green and conserve energy wherever possible. It comes as no surprise that choosing energy-saving lightbulbs helps homeowners create a more earth-friendly home. LED and CFL bulbs are currently the most efficient choices. These use up to 80% less energy and last significantly longer than incandescent bulbs. Before purchasing bulbs, make sure you light fixture is compatible!

Star light, Star BRIGHT!

Starburst fixtures catapulted onto the scene last year and they are still making major statements everywhere you look. You can see this bold fixture combines the WOWS of the gold and the starburst. (Image: luxxu.com)Often, like a quick paint makeover, lighting is an inexpensive way to dramatically update your home. We often have sellers look at their lighting before we list and a) make sure there’s enough to highlight the home, and b) that it is updated and works with the aesthetic of the home. Read more about staging here.The Cami Jones Collaborative team is committed to helping our sellers realize top dollar for their homes! We offer best-in-class marketing support, and you can expect things like professional staging services, photography, expertly-made flyers, postcards, and a smart social media strategy. Contact us here or call us today at 913-402-2550 and let us show you how we use the latest and most effective technology to market it in a variety of ways.*Photo Credit: allen + roth Collinwick Pendant lanterns over the island via Lowe’s

2018 Spring Parade of Homes

It sure doesn’t look and feel like spring, but the 2018 Spring Parade of Homes is right around the corner! The Spring Parade is presented by The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA) and is sponsored by Stewart Title. Every year, thousands of area homeowners tour the Spring Parade for the latest in home design and construction. Therefore, the annual event has become highly anticipated and kicks the already hot spring buying season into full-on overdrive! Homeowners looking to upgrade to a larger home, downsize to a smaller one or just browsing for design ideas will be sure to find lots of inspiration.

Spring home shows and tours often spur people to tackle small (or major) home improvement projects or even look for a new home to purchase. And new construction continues to be as big as ever. We recently blogged about the hot market and how it’s led to low inventory. Listings are moving quickly and properties are hot, both new construction and resale.

The Spring Parade of Homes hours

The event runs April 28 through May 13, 2018. Homes will be open from 11 a.m to 6 p.m with free admission. You can pick up a guide outside the HBA at I-435 and Holmes or at any of the homes on the Parade.

Harvesters Hammer Out Hunger

This year, the HBA is partnering with Harvesters to Hammer Out Hunger — more specifically childhood hunger — during the summer months. From April until the end of the Spring Parade the HBA will be accepting non-perishable food items at its headquarters at 103rd and I-435 as well as donations at its website.

The Spring Parade of Homes goes mobile

The HBA has made it easy to find your favorite homes and map your route! There are apps available for download on both Android and Apple. Here’s what you can do and expect from the app, and these features sound totally amazing!

Browse the homes and their features, choose your favorites and build a custom tour with driving directions.
Quick access to the most important features to help you find homes fast with the most up-to-date information available.
Advanced Search: Search for homes by location, subdivision, price range, style, amenities and much more.
Use the interactive map to see the entire parade at a glance. View and navigate to homes directly from the map.
Quickly find homes that are closest to you. Sort the homes by distance from where you are currently to save time.
Save your favorite homes and the app will create an optimized GPS route to get you from house to house the most efficient way.
View the award winning homes after they are announced. Search to quickly find the the winners.

If you’re a desktop person, no worries. You can still search by location, price range, builder, subdivision, school district, etc. using this link. As of now, there are 373 entries!*images and information provided by https://kchba.org/kc-parade-of-homes/spring/

4 Outdoor Living Design Trends We’re Loving

Spring has us thinking about spending outdoor time with family and friends! There are so many amazing trends on tap for 2018 when it comes to outdoor living and backyards. Our team’s featured listings even showcase unique features like fire pits and screen porches. These essentially extend the living space! Manufacturers have introduced us to new materials, furnishings that hold up to the elements and fixtures that are pretty enough to use inside! Thoughtfully-designed backyard space is like having an addition on to your home. Incorporate some of this year’s trends, and you might never leave the outdoors!

Watch the Big Game outside!

It’s very popular to not only have a flat screen mounted in your outdoor living space, but to have a nice bar to go with it! Those late spring and summer Royals games become neighborhood events when the game, snacks and cold drinks are right there! People are opting for “self serve” casual bar setups, and often sinks, refrigerators and cabinetry are incorporated. We’re drawn to this outdoor, multiple-screen sports bar as seen on Pinterest…who wouldn’t be?!? Especially in March, when you want to see multiple basketball games at the same time!

La Cantina Folding Doors- bring the outside in

WOW! Removing the kitchen wall and adding La Cantina folding doors allows for seamless movement between the inside and out. Think how awesome it is when your favorite restaurant throws open those garage doors in the spring and summer…same deal! Folding or movable doors really allow you to bring the outside in. Check out this amazing image of La Cantina folding doors from www.homestagingresource.com.

Matching Flooring and Fixtures to the inside

It’s increasingly popular to match flooring and fixtures so your outside space truly feels like an extension of the inside. To that end, showy landscapes are out, and functional living spaces made from good quality materials are in. Gone are the days of using inexpensive indoor/outdoor carpet and hardware-store lawn furniture. People are really investing in their outdoor living spaces, and it shows!Outdoor fabrics are even being designed by top designers and force you to take a double-take…can you really leave them outside in the elements? Yes! Fade-resistant, waterproof, comfortable and stylish…sign us up!

Energy Efficient (and nice looking) outdoor heating

Eating, relaxing and using your outdoor space can almost be a year-round thing (unless we get one of those ridiculous Midwest winter storms!) if you employ good heating. There are lots of newer, efficient and even attractive looking options! Patio heaters are always a good option, and they remain popular choices for restaurants, bars and homes. Patio heaters can be floor standing, tabletop, wall mounted and ceiling mounted, and most run on propane gas.

This is a great video that breaks down the options and may help you decide which best suits the needs of you and your family!

If you’re looking to add on or redo your backyard, we hope we’ve provided some inspiration! If you’re looking to buy a home with an already-fabulous outdoor living space, we can help you make that part of your search. Any of the experienced agents on our Cami Jones Collaborative team can make your dream a reality! Call us today or contact us here.

5 Top Trends for Basement Design in 2018

If you’ve got children (especially teenagers) then you well know that everyone likes a bit of privacy. Some like to spread out in the basement, and have their own space to plug in, tune out and unwind. Maybe your family just grew by a set of in-laws who moved in, or a recent college graduate who you thought was officially on their own only to return!Any of these scenarios might have you contemplating a basement remodel. You might even be finishing the basement as part of a new construction. Either way, we’ve poked around and thought we’d share some of 2018’s top trends when it comes to basements.Rewind a few years, and a basement remodel was basically done to add storage. Maybe the remodel added on another bedroom (or pseudo-bedroom) or created a toy room or game room. Today’s basements and lower levels are far more functional, featuring usable space that even adds value to a home in the process. Here’s what is trending for this year:

Basement Theater/Media Rooms

In general, you have two options. You can enclose a theater or media room, making almost a mini movie theater. The other option is to have a more open TV space. The open space is obviously more casual and more cost-effective. It’s a good option if your kiddos are smaller and you don’t necessarily want them out of your sight when they’re watching TV! A theater room is a great upgrade to a basement and can include everything from a HUGE projection screen to reclining seats, surround sound and custom lighting. If theater’s not your thing, game rooms are also big!

In-Law Suites

For in-laws that visit often, or have become permanent fixtures in your home, an in-law suite might be a good investment. At the basic level, you’d want to include a nice bedroom and on-suite bathroom. Have the space and budget? Include a kitchenette and even a reading nook or small study. As our parents live longer and many choose to age in place, an in-law suite is a great optino for many families.

Open Concept, Lots of Public Spaces

Open concept is exactly what it sounds like: open spaces with very few walls separating living spaces. Many homeowners choose to go open concept in the main living areas, and then continue that to the basement. A plus for smaller basements is that you don’t lose valuable floor space by creating lots of walls. You can maximize usable space while making a modern, open feel. As an extension of this, many people choose to carry the same finishes through to the basement. If they’ve gone with an espresso hardwood or glazed cabinetry upstairs, they carry that through to the basement. The end result? The basement feels like the rest of the house, not an afterthought. Many choose to forego the basement door and just have an open staircase going down.

Home Gym

People have always been on board with using the basement to work out and store exercise equipment. Some are even taking the gym concept a bit further and creating mini spas. We’ve seen infrared saunas and shower areas installed expressly for use in the exercise area. As with any areas, the sky is the limit when deciding how luxurious you want to go…and what the budget will allow!

Multi-use Spaces

We’ve seen lots of areas that are multi-purposed for busy families. For example, an area with a large built-in counter could double as a craft room and a homework nook. People like convertible spaces so they’re not “locked in” to having one thing in one place. Convertible spaces are good for resale, as the space allows a potential buyer to envision her “stuff” there.*image courtesy of Just Basements / Houzz

Home Décor Trends 2018

We’re well into January and we’ve been compiling 2018 home décor trends from our favorite websites and blogs! We thought we’d share what we’ve seen so far. It’s no surprise, but the categories that make us “ooooh” and “ahhhh” are Kitchen and Bath. These areas are where most homeowners choose to focus their time, energy (and money). They are also the places where one change (flooring, tile, lighting, wall covering) can make a huge impact.Often, many homeowners look to see where they’ll get the most bang for their buck when spending décor or remodel dollars. It should come as no surprise that according to HGTV, a minor bathroom remodel pays the biggest dividends. They note that it costs about $10,500 to replace the tub, tile surround, floor, toilet, sink, vanity and fixtures. You’ll get back an average of $10,700 at resale, a recoup rate of 102 percent. But how to decorate? Here are the latest décor trends for 2018, broken down into some major categories:

Kitchen

According to ELLE Decor, the #1 kitchen trend to look for is colored cabinets; blue and green specifically. These fresh hues can be mixed with other colors or complementing wood stains. They are even bold enough to stand on their own.Another trend is to go bold (if blue and green cabinets weren’t bold enough for you!). Consider using Pantone’s color of the year, Ultra Violet. If painting an entire wall is too much for you, use it as an accent color. Perhaps paint the inside of a built-in with the bold color or call attention to a tufted seat, piece of art, or accent wall.Sticking with the dark, bold colors that are on-trend for kitchens, dark countertops are back in. Dramatic blacks are in style as are deep greens.Mix-and-match finishes are something to look for, too. “Using multiple colors in kitchens has become a popular trend this year. For example, painting base walls or cabinets in a dark charcoal tone and upper cabinets and walls in creamy off-white tones is something we’re seeing more and more of,” according to Sue Wadden, the director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. This would be in contrast to a kitchen with white cabinets, white tile and a white countertop.Finally, high contrast marble with bold veining is very popular as a kitchen statement piece.

Bath

According to trendsetters, stainless steel and polished nickel might be things of the past, replaced by brass (again!). Brass accents actually impart a warm tone when compared to the sometimes cold and clinical look of stainless steel. Think brass faucet fixtures or cabinet handles. These would look great coupled with another trend for baths– black and white. We’ve seen some terrific black and white tile floor designs. Another cool look is to wallpaper one wall of the vanity in a glossy black and white pattern, and paint the other walls solid.Bucket sinks (also known as Trough sinks) are farmhouse inspired and will be popular in both kitchen and bath. Think retro and nostalgic…these are hot! (Image via Pinterest.)

Lighting

Huffington Post points out that one of the biggest trends is lighting is to “buy local.” Interesting, artisan lighting fixtures from local artists and small businesses ensure that your home doesn’t look like every other one in the neighborhood! They personalize your home and boost the local economy, to boot!We will continue to see more LED lighting. It is affordable and cost-efficient in the long run. The upfront cost for LED bulbs is likely more…but you will make it up as they are more efficient. Look for LED lights outside of the home as well. People are spending more time and money on their patios and outdoor living spaces, and lighting is no exception.Look also for nostaligic details like retro Edison bulbs, which were really making a surge in 2017. They complement popular farmhouse style homes, industrial condos, lofts and everything in between.

Flooring

Flooring, like many other areas of our lives, is increasingly giving a nod to alternative, eco-friendly and organic materials. Linoleum has seen a resurgence as manufacturers have upped the style quotient and incorporated style and design that don’t scream hospital or grade school flooring. Linoleum designs can even mimic limestone or other natural material with veining!Another popular flooring option is cork. We love this look of cork penny mosaic with dark grout! (Image courtesy www.tierneyconner.com.) There are even newer whitewashed corks for a lighter look and feel.Ready to update your home? Whether you’re updating so you can stay put, or updating and spiffing up to sell, there are lots of beautiful options out there!