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Homeowners, in the highest numbers since before the recession, are choosing to hire a professional for their home remodels.  These same homeowners are planning bigger more expensive remodels than their counterparts the do it yourself-ers.

The most popular home remodeling project continues to be kitchens with adding and remodeling bathrooms a close second.

The average budget for homeowners planning to remodel and hire a pro is $139,000 to remodel 3.7 rooms.  For do it yourself-ers, the projects are smaller – just 3.25 rooms on average and costs just $59,000.

Photograph by Giles Douglas

by Bonnie Joy Designs, Interior Designer

Wall beds have been around for a long time, but boy-o-boy, have they come a long way!

Traditionally known as “Murphy” beds, these kinds of built-in systems were traditionally engineered as space-savers for small rooms — such as dorms and studio apartments. Eventually, over the years, the built-in cabinetry grew up and evolved into rooms with dual purposes — like the library and guest room shown in this picture.

Fast forward to 2013, and the newest form of the bed is now know as a “German” bed. Trust me, these are nothing like their brethren. Indeed, these beds come with so many bells and whistles that they are amazing pieces of modern innovation!

To begin with, the top portion of the casework is actually a unique display case which has three decorative glass shelves that are 1/2″ thick. Each shelf is 12″ wide and the whole case is illuminated by five 20 watt Halogen accent lights, on a three-setting dimmer.

WHEW!

The bottom portion contains a bed which rolls out at the touch of a remote control button. The foot-board is attached to an extending base platform. The whole thing is worthy of your attention if you are James Bond or, just the average homeowner trying to remodel a room to accommodate a bed and beautiful accents at the same time.

If you need some design inspiration, we have millions of images in our Design Gallery that you can search for, save and share with the world!

Photograph and Data supplied by Ken Dychtwald

by Bonnie Joy Designs, Interior Designer

As this chart shows, throughout most of human history people did not age, they just died.

Now that has changed; the majority of Baby Boomers — and even their parents — are living to ages not attainable only a few decades ago.  Accordingly, many of them are choosing to Age-in-Place, by making targeted modifications (remodeling) their homes so that they do not have to move.

But there is also a large and growing number – currently about 1.2 million households — that are choosing to move to 55+ communities. This data is significant because by next year – 2014 – the Baby Boomers will represent one-quarter of the population of the entire United States! This will greatly impact the choices available in the housing market, putting more pressure on industry leaders to address this growing demographic.

In fact, the Baby Boomer’s influence on the housing market has been profound for the last 30 years, and they will continue to have a huge impact on trends in housing for the mature market as they move towards retirement.

All of these statistics lead to an inevitable conclusion: the primary driver of the home-selling market is no longer the domain of first-time buyers, but maturing Baby Boomers as well.   This fact alone will redefine the traditional notion of the housing market.

If you need some design inspiration, we have millions of images in our Design Gallery that you can search for, save and share with the world!

Photograph by Edwin Coursey

by Interior Designer, BonnieJoyDesigns.com

Question: How are a Margarita and a Sisal area rug related?

Answer: The have the same “mother!”

In fact, its the Agave plant that is the common denominator here, as Sisal is a natural fiber harvested from Agave, and that same plant produces the Tequila which is found in a Margarita. How about that for a strange connection!

Sisal is very durable and soft material whose fibers are spun into a thick and supple yarn that is woven into complex patterns used to create area rugs. Sisal’s natural attributes also include being fire retardant, sound absorbing and anti-static. Sisal is also much stronger than most other natural fibers that are found in rugs — such as flax, jute and hemp.

The interest in Sisal has surged recently because it is environmentally and architecturally neutral, yet it comes in a wide variety of styles, patters and colorways.

Sisal is also a lasting player in the rug arena because of its price – which has come down significantly in the last few years.  Indeed, there are some very sweet deals to be found these days on Sisal area rugs, so make sure you shop around before you purchase.

Conclusion: The fiber that shares the same “mother” as the main ingredient in a Margarita is a budget-friendly addition to your home!

Painted Walls with photograph by Mary T. Clark

by Bonnie Joy Designs, www.bonniejoydesigns.com 949.706.3379

One of the most important things I have learned over the years is that paint – what kind, what color and what finish – is difficult! So I am going to share some tips in order to make the process of picking the paint “finish” a lot easier for you.

I once specified a “high gloss” paint to go on a low ceiling because the area was dark and I thought a high gloss finish might reflect what little light was coming into the room. BINGO! I was simply stunned at how well this idea worked; not only did it reflect the light, it but it made the entire room feel larger as well.

“Eggshell” paint is best for walls that have moderate amounts of traffic (such as hallways) and it’s also a good choice for a bathroom with limited amounts of moisture, such as a powder room.

“Satin” paint is good for high rooms that have high moisture, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Finally, don’t be afraid of using a “flat” finish on your walls as it can actually hide any imperfections!

Find more great design ideas with our Decorating Idea search tool.  You can browse by room, keyword, style and even color!  And when you find something you like you can save it, share it and add a few notes so you can find it later.

Photograph provided by David Becher

by Bonnie Joy Flamm, Interior Designer bonnieflamm@cox.net

Remember the phrase, “you’re in the dog house!” It didn’t mean anything good – see photograph at right! But it no longer means what it once did – and today - the “dog house” is nothing like its old counterpart…

The newest trend is a luxury dog “bedroom” which is both fun and fabulous. Your dog is part of your family and needs a private space of his/her own. A pet’s bedroom is now one, sumptuous place, but remember:
Decorate your dog’s bedroom within your budget, taste, personality and his or her age in mind;
Choose a floor that will withstand regular mopping (no carpet, please!);
Purchase a colorful dog bed that has an easy-to-size cover allowing for frequent washings.

Above all, be creative and your dog will love you for it!

Check out more great home decorating ideas with our Decorating Idea search tool.  Search millions of pictures by room, keyword, style and even color!  Find something you like?  Save it, share it and add a few notes so you can find it later.

Photograph by Liz Marie

by Bonnie Joy, Interior Designer www.bonniejoydesigns.com

Thinking of adding a ‘new addition’?

What if your “new addition” doesn’t mean adding on a new room to your house, but having a baby?

Furthermore, how can you decorate the baby’s room in a modern way? Here are some tips:

1. Rather than using the traditional baby colors of pink and blue, how about a light and airy shade of yellow (it’s like sunshine!) for a girl or a handsome shade of green for your new little boy? Either one has a distinct, modern feel to it – as seen in this picture.
2. Although the focus of any newborn’s room will be the crib, changing table and glider, don’t forget to make room for guests! This can be a cute, built-in seat under a window or even a sand-alone, “love seat” to accommodate family members.
3. Invest more in your furniture and less on accessories, because you will need to change the small things more often as your baby grows!

Check out more great ideas with our Decorating Idea search tool.  Search millions of photos by room, keyword, style and even color!  Find something you like?  Save it, share it and add a few notes so you can find it later.

Photograph by FuLinHyu

by Bonnie Joy Designs, bonniejoydesigns.com

“Knock…knock…” Who’s There? “This old House!”

Unfortunately, this joke is not very funny, as we might agree that our homes may have lost their luster over the years. We just “get used to” seeing the same old furniture; and things that used to shine, now look a bit dated and tarnished.

We may do little about it because it would just cost so much money to update everything at the same time.

However, there are some wonderful tips to overcome this dilemma which are affordable if you are willing to supply a little bit of “elbow grease”and creativity.

1. Bring your old wood  furniture back to life with repair sticks. There are no excuses anymore, as there are so many color and tones to choose from.

2. Add new curtain rods and finials to your rooms. You will simply be stunned at how easy this is for you to do. Even more impressive is how beautiful this budget-friendly “trick” works!

3. Add a new shade to your lamp. Chances are, that old lamp shade has faded over the years, so update your look and show some pizazz with a new shade…

These three little tips will make a big difference in your home-life!

If you need some design inspiration, we have millions of images in our Design Gallery that you can search for, save and share with the world!

by Bonnie Joy Flamm, Interior Designer www.bonnieflamm@cox.net

Let’s say that you have used the Remodel-or-Move’s cost calculators and decided that you want to move. Home-buyers are face with a cornucopia of choices for sale these days. So, how do you get a great deal?

When you look for a new home, you should look for a property with the best long-term investment value, and the most effective aspect of that is not price, but location, location, location.

Stunning views are always highly desirable, but a beautiful neighborhood is also extremely important. If the home is situated in the suburbs, you should check out the “comps”  in the area.

Convenient access to jobs, shopping, health care and schools are also key factors. Find out how the schools in your potential new neighborhood compare with the national standards. The bottom line is that a view-home in a safe neighborhood with the best schools makes a great real estate deal!

Search for more ideas with our Decorating Idea search tool.  Search by room, keyword, style and even color!  Find something you like?  Save it, share it and add a few notes so you can find it later.

Photograph provided by Lenny Santamaria

by Bonnie Joy Designs, www.bonniejoydesigns.com

Gracious and inviting, “traditional” home decorating remains the most popular style of design in the United States, despite being at the peak of its popularity in the early 20th century. Traditional style offers warmth and classical comfort – what many remember from their childhood homes.

But for the uninformed, traditional design can be equated with “stodgy,” “boring” and even “uninteresting” design. In-other-words, nothing to get excited about…

So what can you do to update your traditional living room?

For starters, never forget that traditional design still reflects fine woodworking, craftsmanship and graceful lines. However, the modern interpretation suggests a more relaxed, less formal style. Most importantly, “matchy-matchy” is out of style!

Instead, “mix things up” with a clever combination of old elements and features of modern design. Notice the cool ottoman in the picture above, with a different upholstery pattern than the ones on the chairs and pillows. Once you achieve this look, the essence of your traditional home will be preserved and updated!

If you need some design inspiration, we have millions of images in our Design Gallery that you can search for, save and share with the world!