NC & SC Design Trends That Add Value to Your Home

Renovating an existing home, or designing a home from the ground up can be a daunting task.

Anyone who bought a pink toilet bowl or a green dishwasher can attest to the fact that what seems like a great idea today, might not be looked on so kindly in the future.

The best advice for renovating and designing your home is to focus on regional influences, the area you have selected as Your best place to live , to make your home fit into its surroundings.

In beautiful North Carolina and South Carolina, there are many home design trends you can follow to ensure your home has lasting value.

The first places people consider when thinking about renovations are the kitchen and bathrooms. Kitchen and bathroom renovations account for the largest segment of the billion dollar per year home renovation industry.

Thinking back to green dishwashers and pink toilets, you’ll want to make sure your renovations don’t fall into that tragic category. There are some safe bets, and some things to avoid.

Starting in the kitchen, you’ll probably be tempted to redo the cabinets. There has been a recent trend towards glass fronted cabinet doors, however be sure to consider if you want visitors looking into your cabinets.

Do you really want guests staring into the disarray that may be in your cabinets, or have the added time requirements of keeping them streak and smudge free?

Stick with traditional wood finishes. Darker wood colors are coming back into fashion, if you’re so inclined. Granite countertops have been a perennial favorite, and recently matte finished countertops have gained popularity.

If you are considering installing these, you should be aware that they stain very easily, and can be subject to nicks and scratches. Instead, take a look at engineered compounds, which are blends of recycled granite and resin. These are less expensive than granite, come in more colors, and are not susceptible to stains or scratches.

In the bathroom you may be tempted to install one of the fancy, above the counter, bowl style sinks you’ve seen in trendy restaurants and cafes. Think again though, as they are difficult to clean, and unwieldy to use on a daily basis. Instead, invest in a soaking tub to relax your stresses away, and have grown in popularity over whirlpool tubs.

Also popular are spa style showers which have multiple shower heads, and “garden” tubs designed to open from the front, allowing easier access for people.

On a national level there’s a trend toward using exterior materials and architectural features that provide durability and low maintenance.

In both North Carolina and South Carolina, brick is the preferred building material. First, it’s made from local Carolina clay, and second it’s durable and attractive.

Finally, since it has a good weight to it, brick increases the thermal mass of your home, contributing to increased energy efficiency. Installing awnings over windows is also a great way to increase the value of your home, and decrease your energy bills.

Traditionally people living in North Carolina or South Carolina enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors. Today, it’s the biggest trend nationwide. Designing your home to incorporate the outdoors is one of the best things you can do to increase its attractiveness to buyers, and create enjoyment for yourself.

Adding a porch, a sunroom, or an outdoor kitchen, are great ways to get outside. Many people also choose to add these features as a replacement for a traditional basement.

Many people coming from the Northern states are used to basements, but many areas of the Carolinas are not suited for basements, due to the high water table or yearly humidity concerns. Adding these outdoor living spaces doesn’t have to be expensive either.

The outdoor kitchen can be as simple as a terraced area made from attractive fieldstone and an inset grill. The sunroom and porch are simple enough projects that a good handyman can complete over a few weekends.

From reading a good book in the sunroom in the early winter months, to grilling outside in the summer months, with the great climate of the Carolinas, you’ll be able to enjoy these features nearly year round.

When planning any construction involving wood, we urge you to use Forest Stewardship Council certified products and reclaimed woods (www.fscus.org). You’ll be doing your part to help protect a valuable and limited resource.

Hardwood floors remain a popular option for flooring in the Carolinas, and by using reclaimed wood sources (wood taken from old mills, barns, and other sources) you’ll add character and a depth of color you can’t find in new wood sources.

The reclaimed wood is also immune to warping and shrinkage problems experienced with new wood.

Home design trends are always changing, and are regionally influenced. When buying a new home or renovating your existing one, consider popular design trends as an easy way to establish value in your home.

Many North Carolina and South Carolina homes have beautiful architecture and using popular design features will not only maintain your home’s value but will make living more enjoyable.

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About Bob Bencivenga

Bob Bencivenga

Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations. Bob researches the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable.

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