Web-Based Interior Design

Our world gets more and more virtual as each day goes by. We do more communicating online. We are buying more goods and services online too.

One growing online service area is rather surprising considering the nature of the work: web-based interior design services. Obviously, these services do not involve the hands-on approach usually associated with interior designers. This approach may be best for people who are only looking to have one or two rooms redecorated.

One reason to take advantage of these services is the reduction in costs. When designing remotely, designers charge less. There may be some e-mail and phone communication, but the designer will probably not set foot in your home.

So what do you get from a virtual designer? You'll probably get a customized plan and shopping list, along with sample paint suggestion and fabric swatches.

If you would like to really work with a designer and if you do not want to do the shopping on your own, this may not be the approach for you. Even some interior designers who offer this service admit that it is best if the designer can actually see the room. Still it is an option to consider if you are on a budget and could benefit from advice from a trained eye when it comes to decorating.

Some Things Never Go Out of Style

Every year newspapers and magazines compile there “in” and “out” lists to tell readers what is passé from the old year and what will be all the rage in the new year. Fashions change, celebrity popularity waxes and wanes, and certain phrases that were once cool start to become very annoying.

Well, in real estate some things never go out of style (money, good location) and some things never really come into style (there still is no such thing as a free lunch or a free house).

Here are some things that, while not totally out, are getting harder to find:
-Jumbo loans (Loans for mortgages that are more than $417,00)
-No down payment
-100% financing for people who don’t have terrific credit scores
-Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMS)

Here are some trends that we are seeing going into the new year:
-Lenders are looking beyond credit scores. Even when a consumer has a good credit score, a lender is looking to see how much you have in saving s and if you have job stability.
-More scrutiny. Lenders are not approving loans quite as quickly
-Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMS) have not disappeared. Although many people see ARMS as the culprit for the nation’s foreclosure woes, they are not going away.

Sunrooms Bring the Outdoors Inside

Bringing the outdoors inside is one of this year's biggest housing trends. Outdoor living spaces that connect to and extend an indoor space add depth of use to your home. Glass-walled sunrooms are one of the most popular and delightful examples of this trend.

"Even on overcast days, as long as it's not storming, you do get quite a bit of reflected light coming through the windows," explained architect Richard Taylor. "When there's not as much sun, people try to get as much of it as they can."

An all-season view of the garden or lawn is another bonus in creating a sunroom. The primary reason most homeowners give for adding a sunroom to their home is not added space, but increased quality of life. Many use it as a year-round breakfast or family room. Sunrooms are often constructed to adjoin an outdoor patio or deck so that activities can easily move from one space to the other in good weather.

Of primary concern in construction is energy efficiency. Vast expanses of glass can tax a home's heating and cooling capacity. Quality insulation, energy efficient windows and sometimes a second furnace or air conditioner may be necessary. For heating, ceramic stoves or small fireplaces can solve the problem and provide a warm ambiance in cold weather.

But despite construction concerns, sunrooms are growing in popularity. The warmth and dazzle of the sun warm our psyche as much as our bodies. A sunny room just makes you feel good!

Snoring Rooms Save Marriages!

It's like they say, everything old is new again! Fashions recycle. Ford brought back "the good old days" of the 1940s with the PT Cruiser. Fashion constantly recycles the look of bygone eras. And housing styles change, marrying nostalgia with modern convenience. Our quest for a good night's sleep has put a new spin on a 1930s habit most of us left in the dust long ago.

In the 1930s is was not unusual for married couples -- particularly those in higher income brackets -- to have separate bedroom suites. Driven by the Victorian mores of the time, husband and wife typically slept and dressed in their own suite of rooms. Women might even receive more casual female visitors in their private sitting room. Men might retire to theirs for a brandy and a cigar at the end of the day.

While not embracing the mores, modern couples are recognizing the advantages of separate sleeping quarters to guarantee a good night's sleep. Snoring rooms are on the rise, according to the 2007 What's In, What's Out for Homebuyers survey.

"[Snoring rooms] are an emerging boomer trend" says Mark Nash, survey administrator. "It's more important to get sleep than to lie awake all night
next to a buzz saw."

A standard feature in many new homes, particularly upscale models, "sleeping closets" can be added to most homes without too much fuss. Slightly larger than the size of a single bed, a snoring room can be carved out of existing space with minimal remodeling. Contractors have converted the sitting area of a bedroom suite, an office adjoining a bedroom, a large closet, a landing alcove, a portion of a guest room. Depending on the extent of the remodeling, a snoring room might cost a few thousand dollars for construction and sound-proofing, but that's a small price to pay for a happy -- and well rested -- spouse.

If you're married to a buzz saw, finding a home with space for a snoring room could save your marriage -- or at least make for a happier spouse. With his intimate knowledge of the Maryland and metro DC housing markets, veteran realtor John Day can help your find that perfect new home with plenty of space for all your needs.

This is a great time to be shopping for a new home. Inventory is up, prices are down and interest rates are low. If you crave a good night's sleep, don't wait another night. Call John Day now, give him your wish list and let John find the home of your dreams -- one without a buzz saw soundtrack! Visit John Day's website to take a virtual tour of thousands of homes in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. If you're buying or selling a home, John Day is your key to success.

Aging Boomers Driving Home Gym Trend

Busy homeowners are discovering it makes sense to stay in to work out. No commute, no lines, no fees and no pressure to look good before you go to the gym are just a few of the reasons homeowners give for letting their health club membership lapse in favor of a home gym.

Home gyms are a hot commodity these days. Today's home gyms go way beyond a stationary bike plopped in front of the TV. Increasingly homeowners are dedicating or even designing an exercise room, both to stay fit and as a selling point.

One-third of new and potential home buyers cite a home exercise room as either essential or desirable, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Between 2000 and 2006 there has been a 30% increase in the number of people who exercise at home, says the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.

The trend is driven primarily by aging Baby Boomers concerned about their health. Seeing themselves as 15 years younger than their actual age, Boomers in their 50s and 60s are increasingly concerned about health and fitness. They have embraced healthy diets and daily exercise as a way of life and want the convenience to pursue it in their own homes on their own schedule.

A typical home gym may include popular cardio-vascular equipment like a treadmill, bike, recumbent machine, stairs or step blocks. A television, stereo, large window or mirrored wall are often included. Requests for spas, saunas and meditation rooms to counteract stress are also on the rise. Locations vary, but many homeowners like the convenience of locating the home gym near the bathroom or bedroom.

Third on the list of most popular special function rooms -- behind #1 home offices and #2 media/home theaters -- home gyms are one of the housing market's hottest new trends.

If you want a home gym in your next home, talk to veteran realtor John Day. Give John your complete wish list and let him find the home of your dreams. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success. Click the post title to visit John Day's website and check out the latest listings, then give John a call today.

As Real Grass Lawns Fail, Popularity of Hardscapes Rises

With much of the country at draught or near-draught levels, many communities are implementing watering bans. Some homeowners have turned to artificial turf in a drastic attempt to save water -- and wear and tear on their lawn mowers!

Admittedly, people trading their Kentucky bluegrass for non-plant alternatives probably don't find any joy in spending their Saturdays weeding, mowing, fertilizing and sweating; but hardscape landscapes have a marked appeal for busy professionals who might enjoy exercising their green thumb if they only had the time.

Hardscaping includes the installation of walkways, retaining walls, patios, built-in barbecue grills, fences, hot tubs, swimming pools and ponds. Low-maintenance materials like stone, concrete, crushed rock or shredded bark are used in place of grass. Busy lifestyles, the trend toward outdoor rooms and the desire to spend leisure time recharging the old batteries, not battling the weeds are driving the trend. According to the National Gardening Association, lawn and garden sales are decreasing while sales of hardscape materials are on the rise.

For those who don't don't want to live in a rock quarry, but long for the look of a green, well-manicured lawn without the upkeep, there's artificial turf. Yep, it's the same stuff they put on football fields.

"The blades are significantly shorter. It's like a manicured lawn," said Trevor Brooks of NewGrass in Scottsdale, Arizona. While the company's biggest sales are in the Southwest, water conservation is piquing the interest of East Coast residents. "It's a little more expensive upfront," Brooks said. "But there's no maintenance. No water costs. You don't have to mow the lawn. In the long run the (artificial) grass pays for itself in three years. There's also a manufacturer's warranty on color fade. It won't show any wear and tear."

Made from polyethylene, the same compound use to make water bottles, NewGrass comes in three lengths and sells for $3.79 to $4.99 per square foot. Maintenance free, dust free and allergy free, NewGrass looks as real as its living counterpart. Talking about his own NewGrass lawn, Brooks confided, "Our looks so real I've had people come up to me and ask how much water it needs."

Whatever you're looking for in a home, you'll find it on Homes Buy Day. Visit our website and take a virtual tour of thousands of beautiful homes in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. Give your wish list to veteran realtor John Day and let John find the home of your dreams. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.

Wine Cellars Growing in Popularity

Wine is big business and wine cellars are increasingly popular with home buyers. I have friends who are dedicated wine connoisseurs. They bought a home for the 1950's bomb shelter in the basement. A little remodeling and it now houses their growing wine collection.

The installation of refrigerated and climate controlled wine cellars is the current rage. According to the Wine Market Council, per capita wine consumption in the U.S. reached a record high last year. Homeowners are remodeling basement nooks, under stairway space, spare rooms and (like my friends) bomb shelters to house cases of their favorite vino. Many builders are including wine cellars in new upscale home plans.

To protect wine and keep precious vintages from turning into expensive vinegar, wine cellars must maintain a temperature of 52 to 55 degrees and a humidity of 50% to 70%. Wine cellar walls must be insulated, a cooling unit and racks installed, often a custom floor and lighting are included, and special doors that seal in the temperature and humidity are required. Wine cellars run the gamut from utilitarian pre-fab kit rooms to opulent custom cellars with mahogany racks and tasting bars with seating.

Even if a full wine cellar doesn't fit the budget, many homeowners are adding a small wine rack and a wine cooler to the kitchen or bar. A few tips from wine connoisseurs:

• Store bottles horizontally so the cork stays moist which keeps oxygen out and prevents the wine from turning to vinegar.


• Place racks out of the sunlight which can prematurely age wine.


• Keep wine at a constant temperature. Red wines at 50 to 55 degrees; whites slightly lower.


• Keep wine at a humidity of 50% to 70%.

No matter what special feature you're looking for in a home, veteran realtor John Day can help you find it. John has years of experience in real estate and an intimate knowledge of the Maryland and Washington DC area markets. Visit John's website to preview thousands of beautiful homes; then give John a call to schedule personal tours of your favorites. If you're looking for a home or need to sell your home, John Day is your key to success.

Neutral Palette Blooms With Color

Gone are the days when selling your house meant drowning it in a sea of beige to appease potential buyers. The neutral palette now blooms with color. Turquoise, purple and orange flash a bit of brilliance next to the creams and sandy tans.

"There is an entire world out there of colors that are not beige," says Stephanie Hoppen, author of the book Perfect Neutrals: Color You Can Live With (Watson-Guptill, $35). "If green is not neutral, gardens would always look ghastly; if blue is not neutral, nothing would go with the sea or sky."

Explaining color theory, Hoppen shows how to pair deep, rich hues with equally intense colors to create a soothing room. In the right combinations, even saturated colors can harmonize, not jar, she says. To aid the reader, Hoppen includes helpful reference charts for paint colors, carpets and upholstery fabrics. She also provides a source list for paint, wallpaper, carpet, flooring, fabric, leather, lighting and accessories. As Hoppen is British, a number of the specialty stores are in the United Kingdom, but most of her sources are international with products available in the US.

If you're getting ready to sell your house, consider using colorful new neutrals to attract buyers. Consult with veteran realtor John Day. An expert at staging homes for sale, John can let you know where best to spend your time and money to make your home attractive to buyers. Visit John Day's website for more seller tips. You'll find great tips for buyers too and hundreds of beautiful homes for sale in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. If you're selling or buying a home, John Day is your key to success.

Needs of Aging Boomers Drive Housing Trends

Flexibility and accessibility are the new buzz words for home designers, architects and remodelers. The changing needs of Baby Boomers are driving changes in housing trends.

With land prices rising, homeowners are making the most of their space. Smaller homes on smaller lots are gaining favor. The key is in making better use of the available space. For the first time in 3 years, home sizes are decreasing rather than increasing, according to the latest Design Trends Survey by the American Institute of Architects. Homeowners are focusing not on more space but on using that space more effectively.

Aging themselves and, in many cases caring for their aged parents, the Boomer generation is looking for homes that are more accessible. Wider hallways, fewer steps, single-story homes, open floor plans that are easy to maneuver through -- all are in increasing demand.

The survey of 500 architects asked what clients were asking for.

74% greater accessibility
63% outdoor living space
63% informal space

If you're looking for a home with flexibility and accessibility, click the post title to go to John Day's Homes Buy Day website. You'll find thousands of homes in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. Give John Day a call, tell him what you're looking for, and let John find the house of your dreams. If you're buying or selling a house, John Day is your key to success.

New Design Trends Make Use of Outdoor Space

It's a far cry from the family camping of your youth, but there's a definite trend in home design to bring the outdoors inside and connect the inside to the outdoors. Today designers, remodelers and builders have taken outdoor living to the next level. Indoor rooms are not only being designed to connect to patios, decks and gardens, these outdoor spaces are being planned as extensions of their interior counterparts. Your backyard is now considered another "room" in your house to be tweaked and manipulated to enhance your overall comfort and convenience.

Here are some of the new trends seen at a recent Parade of Homes:

• Huge windows make the outdoor view part of the indoor scenery, letting in fresh air and sunshine.
• Gathering rooms are a new channeling of the great room concept. Window walls with multiple glass or french doors to a large patio make it possible to use the patio and room as a single unit. Intricate tile patterns begin inside, leading onto the outdoor patio where they are repeated and enhanced. Lighting and decorating schemes for the indoor space are also carried into the outdoor area. In one home, a stunning two-sided fireplace was built into the common wall allowing use from both the inside room and the patio.
• Plasma TVs mounted on the walls of covered porches and patios let you cheer for the home team while you're barbecuing. One home featured a specially designed rear window with motorized blinds that allows movies to be projected onto it. Films can be viewed from the indoor family room or, with the flick of a switch, the image inverts for outdoor viewing.
• Ceiling fans mounted into porch ceilings create a breeze when Mother Nature takes a rest and keep bugs away.
• Integrated stereo systems now include outdoor speakers, some even disguised as flower pots and benches that also provide extra seating.
• Large one-way windows in the bathroom allow light and view in but keep peeping toms out.
• Specially designed cupolas and skylights bring natural light deep into the interior of the home.

Whatever you're looking for in a home, John Day can help you find it. A top realtor with prestigious Long & Foster Realtors, John has an intimate knowledge of Maryland's real estate markets and can help you find the perfect home in the perfect community. Take a look at the latest listings on John's website. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.