Your Dream Home Resolutions Bucket List

The new year is almost here, and you may be thinking about all of the things you didn’t get done in 2016. Rather than mourning the time you missed, why not start a list of all the things you can do in 2017? This is a great opportunity for new or soon-to-be homeowners to gather their thoughts on all the possibilities they may have for their space. How many projects will you start?

The 2017 Home Bucket List:

• Refresh (or add to) what’s hanging on your walls.
• Paint your ceiling.
• Remodel and rethink your closet situation.
• Build a home theater.
• Put in a skylight.
• Add a kitchen island. 
• Install new flooring.
• Build a sun porch.
• Make space for a home office that you love to work in. 
• Install a garbage disposal.
• Add a rec-room.
• Build a library.
• Hang a hammock.
• Install surround-sound.
• Turn your basement into a wine cellar.
• Add an outdoor fire pit.
• Make use of unconventional—but thoughtful—storage solutions.
• Build a walk-in pantry.
• Clear out your garage to park in it.
• Add a fireplace.
• Install solar panels.
• Create a mudroom.
• Add a bar outdoors, indoors, or combine with accordion glass windows.
• Turn your attic into a hideaway.
• Build a breakfast nook.
• Add a balcony.
• Install a tub that you can fit in comfortably. 
• Make space for a real garden.
• Add an in-ground pool (even just a small one).

How many ideas of your own should be added to this list? If you’re still searching for your dream home, get in touch with us today!

Jeff Mistretta 

631-484-0133 | LongIslandAreaRealtor@gmail.com

Maximizing Your Space in a Smaller Home

• In 2005, 9% of new homes were 1,400 square feet or smaller.
• In 2015, 4% of new homes sold were 1,400 square feet or smaller.
• In 2005, 7% of new home sales were for houses 4,000 square feet and up.
• In 2015, 11% of new home sales were for houses 4,000 square feet and up.

For years, developers had been building larger houses, as wealthier buyers who wanted grander homes were the only people who would qualify under tougher mortgage standards. Recently, lot availability has declined and become more expensive, causing builder profit margins to become tighter, so builders have more of an incentive to build large homes that will sell for a higher price. Distressed sales rates are still over double what they were in the year 2000, many featuring medium to smaller-sized homes— giving developers even less of an incentive to build small homes. However, this doesn’t speak to the rate at which modest houses are being purchased. Odds are, those who aren’t buying brand new homes are taking advantage of the availability of more affordable, smaller ones.

After World War II, financial struggles gave birth to the modern midcentury homes that so many people know and love; a style returning to the tiny house movement and newer postmodern styles. The beauty of some of these great homes is what can be done to fully take advantage of the space by combining midcentury storage design and visuals with fresher ideas. One great style to turn to is the open floor plan, which should be executed thoughtfully; it’s important to consider the level of privacy needed for each space of the home, be it bedrooms, bathrooms, home offices, etc.

Playing with blurred layering and zone separation are important concepts to consider when remodeling a smaller space in order to keep your open area from feeling stale. Features like floor level, islands, furniture placement, and lighting can have a major impact on the feeling of space within a home. Utilize natural light and highlight areas of importance with a skylight or angled light. Allow the different areas of your home to be viewed from multiple angles by occasionally blurring the boundaries between two— like the kitchen and the dining area. Selecting the right furniture will also make a major difference in creating a great sense of space, like layering different heights to break up uniformity, as will utilizing smart storage practices.

 For houses of any size and budget, contact the Mistretta Group today!

Jeff Mistretta 

631-484-0133 

LongIslandAreaRealtor@gmail.com

New Home Trends for 2017

The Scandinavian look has been a popular design trend in past years, especially in the fall and winter due to its appeal to the chilly seasons. In the past, real and faux-fur accents and cold metals have been the focal points of minimalist, organic features of homes. Currently, gray flooring is making a major comeback to add to an already calm color scheme; unlike the stained concrete which became particularly trendy in the recent past, grey-stained wood floors could become a major staple to compliment homes. This could majorly increase homeowners’ freedom in decorating and painting, as well as maintaining a unique, modern appearance to update any house. 

Warm and cool subdued tones and moody hues are predicted by paint and decor companies to dominate in the new year, compared to the louder, brighter colors of 2016. Jewel tones and baby pastels are sure to take a backseat this time around. Especially appealing in the coziness of your warm home in the winter, 2017 brings soft neutrals that will easily transition into the following seasons. Sherwin-Williams introduces Poised Taupe as a counterpoint to the cool gray that has become popular recently, as does Olympic’s purple-hued Cloudberry and Glidden’s Byzantine Blue. Industry experts cite mindfulness, harmony, coziness, and meditation as their prime focus for each new color; this might be an especially beneficial switch for homeowners who might need a visual refresher in their homes. For new homeowners, these hues could be a great solution to assembling fresh spaces after their move. For a major punch of color, a nostalgic warm gold— Honey Glow from Dunn-Edwards—can become a great accent color or could be used in an entire room for a serious mood boost, and the complex and contemporary Shadow 2117-30 by Benjamin Moore is a weighty choice for anyone looking for a unique pick. 

Whatever 2017 brings design-wise, the one thing you can always count on in putting together your new home is a great real estate agent! 

Jeff Mistretta 

631-484-0133 

LongIslandAreaRealtor@gmail.com