This year designers are leaning into streamlined simplicity. For a fresh start to this year consider upgrading your kitchen!

Clean Lines

A great option for your kitchen upgrade would be to transition to flat-panel cabinets with minimal embellishment that looks as if they came from a showroom.

Black Cabinetry

Black is the new white according to experts. Hues that are richer, bolder and darker are what people want now to bring their kitchens to life.

Neutral Walls

Just because cabinetry is going darker doesn’t mean your walls will follow suit. Bright whites and warmer tones are still common on kitchen walls.

Open Shelves

Open shelves are still in popular demand. These will be all over kitchens this year, they are great for displaying a pretty collection of glassware or providing the illusion of space.

Less Bling

Hardware accents are in the past, less is more in this new year. A popular and cost-saving solution is integral pulls on cabinet doors.

Brass Accents

Brushed brass is expected to stay hot this year and be on everything.

Downsizing

Functionality is critical, people are being smarter about what they actually need. Massive prep spaces, dual-functioning ovens and so forth are no longer as popular.

To see if a new-construction home is the right path for you consider these five factors:

1. New homes may not be listed in your local MLS

Homebuilders often have their own sales employees working for them on site, unlike a regular seller who lists their home with a local real estate agent. This cuts costs and gives them more control. For buyers, this may mean the homebuilder isn’t a member of the local MLS. The builder may be more inclined to advertise in the paper, on a billboard or online. So, if you’re interested in a newly built home make sure to work with your agent to identify all of the possibilities.

2. New homes are often sold before they’re built

A builder typically will get financing lined up and map out both a construction and a sales process. This means they’ll try to sell as many homes as possible, before they’re even built. Model homes are used to let buyers go in and review floor plans, fixtures and finishes while the homes are under construction. Homebuilders may have 100 homes in the community, but they won’t all be available at once so keep in mind the different sales cycles.

3. The first buyers may get the best discounts

In the early in the sales process, home builders want to get a few homes under contract quickly. If a builder can announce they have 10 homes under contract in a few months, the project can seem more desirable to future buyers. This typically means that early in the sales process there could be room to negotiate the price down. There is the risk of being committed to the project early however, you could lose your down payment if the project’s sales are not manifested.

4. Builders don’t have a personal attachment to the home

Home builders don’t have the attachments to a home like a family who has made memories there. For a home builder, it is all a numbers game. They set prices based on their inventory, though there may be room for negotiations.

5. Discounts may be available in the form of upgrades

If the project you’re interested in nearing the end of its sales cycle, with many homes already sold, the builder may be a little more willing to negotiate with you. These negotiations will most likely be on upgrades, rather than price. However, upgrades can end up being worth thousands of dollars and a better deal than simply getting a reduction in price.

Windows and doors are an important part of a home. On top of being major features, they can also enhance your curb appeal. Make 2018 the year to replace older windows, doors, hardware or treatment. Here are some of the top trends 2018 has instore for windows and doors.

Windows

Windows in your home can impact many areas, installation can improve your home’s décor, efficiency and curb appeal. Here are some other window trends expected for 2018:

Energy-Efficiency

As last year’s trends may suggest, homeowners continue to look for ways to increase their home’s energy efficiency with the right windows. When choosing energy-efficient windows, start with windows that have been Energy Star certified. This certification means that they have been tested and meet standards that are set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Black Window Fames

Style is important when choosing your windows, back window frames are trending this new year. Any type of material can be made into a black frame.

Window Treatments

Sometimes windows are in good shape, but need a different look. Changing window treatments is a great way to get them up-to-date.

Colorful & Geometric Curtains

Both styles are predicted to be hot this year. They can add just the stylish touch you need in any room. Textures are also trending this year, so look for curtains with various textures like velvet or tassel embellishments.

Natural Window Treatments

Natural window treatments are another trend from 2017 that is to continue in the new year. Materials like bamboo and woven cotton will remain popular to homeowners for blinds and shades.

Doors

One of the first things a visitor notices about your home is your front door. Choosing the glass inserts, hardware and color gives you the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind entry door to your home. Here is what you’ll find in 2018:

Bold Colors

Front doors with a color that really pops has already become more popular. While red has been a trendy choice in the past, teal and yellow are now big colors. Changing the color is a great way to dress up an older door without a complete door replacement.

Door Décor

A budget friendly and easy way to make your door more stylish is changing the door décor. A year-round wreath is a great décor idea. You’ll want to stick to minimal and bold pattern styles to hang on your door year-round, warm metallic details are also hot this year.

Building a custom home or doing a major renovation is done to create a space that is personal, which means you shouldn’t have to adhere to trends. But there are some trends that you may like to incorporate in your home.

Clean Lines, More Open Spaces

Experts say that new construction is going more contemporary. Even those who choose to stay with more traditional exteriors, the inside concepts are more open. Floor plans that are more open give you more useable space. A kitchen that opens into the dining area or a den give an illusion of a larger floor plan. To bring the outdoors into play in a home, it is becoming more common to have an abundance of glass or lift-and-slide doors. There is a better understanding among homeowners that 100% of their spaces should be completely usable.

Take Some Risks

When building your dream home, you should have some fun. There are many subtle ways to incorporate some edgier concepts into your home. You could get on board with the glass and metal trends, these can be employed throughout your home or even in your staircase. Consider patterned woods, iron-and steel combinations, intricate wood designs. A powder bath is a great place to try a bold concept because it is nothing major so can be easily changed in the future.

The Great Outdoors

In a quest to utilize all your square footage, you don’t want to forget about the backyard. Creating openings between indoor spaces that go directly outdoors can be a way to bring more use, like a patio with a firepit. However, backyards can become quite expensive, so you will need to budget accordingly.

Go Green, Get Smart, and Stay Healthy

The focus of many has become “healthy homes” or “wellness homes.” People are choosing clean-air filtration systems and surfaces that are easier on the body. But if you have the money energy saving tactics are a smart way to live healthier.

1. Use small Christmas trees to spread the joy throughout your home easily. This way you won’t have to rearrange any furniture or take up much space, but can still have the effects of a tree.

2. Use ribbon instead of greenery to save some money. Greenery can add up if you try to place it in every room of your house. Instead use ribbon to cover different areas. For example, wrap your banisters in a festive colored ribbon and add a bow to the end.

3. Make an advent calendar using a chalkboard or a white board. This is a simple way to decorate any room and you can add different embellishments like string, ribbons or ornaments to enhance it.

4. Use ornaments or creative napkin folding to spruce up the dinner table. This way if you don’t have holiday dishware your table still looks festive. You could put an ornament on every place setting or fold your napkins to look like a Christmas tree.

5. Add garland or decorations above the headboard of your guest’s bed. This way when guests come stay with you for the holidays, they instantly feel welcomed with holiday cheer.

6. Hang greenery above your front door on both sides. This gives the outside and inside of the front of your house some holiday spirit without too much hassle.

7. Paper bag luminaries are a safe an easy way to decorate inside or outside. All you need is paper bags, a festive hole punch and battery-operated tea lights and you’ve got easy decorations.

From everyone here at P&D Builders, LTD., we wish you a happy holiday season!