Home Design Trends for 2007: The Good, the Bad and the Strange

I love my job. Not only because I enjoy helping buyers find their dream homes and helping sellers find the right buyers, but I get a kick out of seeing what fabulous and creative things people do in their homes as well as trends in new home construction. I thought you would enjoy hearing about the great design ideas in some of the luxury homes of Morristown, Basking Ridge, Harding, Bernardsville and the neighboring communities. Below is a list of What’s Hot and What’s Not in the beautiful counties of Morris and Somerset, New Jersey.

What’s In

Dedicated his and her spaces. A little solitude is just the ticket for those of you who love your significant other but occasionally want some alone time in a personal space to read, work on hobbies or just “chill.” These range from yoga/meditation rooms to scrapbooking centers to sumptuous spa areas.

Two home offices. Rising gas prices and long commutes have convinced many couples to work at home. Separate offices provide much needed privacy and quiet working space; you can always make an appointment to meet for lunch in the kitchen!  Don’t skimp on your home offices; the nicest ones are at least 10’ x 10’ each.

Snoring rooms. When ear plugs won’t do the trick, many master bedrooms now have adjacent sleeping spaces where the snorer (or the one with his/her head under the pillow) can go and have a decent night’s rest.

Heated patios, walkways and driveways. Winter is beautiful, but New Jersey’s boomers are apparently fed up with clearing snow. Heated outdoor driveways allow you to zip off to work without having to get up an hour early to shovel. An added bonus: heated patios extend the outdoor entertaining season.

What’s Out

Bedrooms too small for a bed. Cozy is one thing, but if you only have 6 inches of room on either side of the bed, you’re not going to be happy. At one time builders tried to crowd as many rooms as possible into a home and didn’t consider the fact that no one wanted such tiny bedrooms. Thank goodness this trend seems to be turning around and more spacious bedrooms are back.

Glass upper cabinet doors. Only in home magazines do people keep their baking supplies so neatly organized that they’re attractive through the glass doors. Besides, who wants to climb up there to clean them?

Above the vanity bowl sinks. They’re stunning to look at but so impractical. No matter how gently you turn on the faucet, it seems the water splashes up the sides, over the top and onto the vanity. 

Circular staircases. They were all the rage during the mid-seventies but they’re now deal-breakers--unloved by home buyers and unfriendly to pets and children. If you have one in your home and are planning to sell, rip it out and install a standard staircase.

Do you know of other unusual home trends? Please share them with me at Adrienne@adriennefrancis.com and I may use them in future columns. If you’re buying a home and would like some guidance or selling a home in Morris or Somerset counties and you’d like to schedule a free consultation about how to price it for maximum profit with minimal time on the market, call me at (908)766-2900 X288 or Cell (201) 259-4449. www.adriennefrancis.com