Housing Fads

I'm older than dirt.  Well, maybe I'm a tad bit younger than dirt, but not much!  I am old enough, however, to remember when avocado and BROWN appliances were all the rage.  Dark Mediterranean wood and avocado appliances were recommended for our very first kitchen remodel in 1973.  The contractor looked quizzically at me when I declined avocado.  Nope, not going there!  Beautiful, pristine, white appliances were installed and moved to the next home because they had not gone "out of style". 

Fads come and go in housing just like in fashion.  Skirt hems lengthen and shorten.  Sleeves billow and become sleek.  Necklines are jewel, cowl, crew, and turtleneck.  Housing is the same.  There is always something new to entice the consumer to make a change.

Some changes in housing occur because our lifestyles change.  Examples of this kind of change include formal living and dining rooms being replaced by kitchens that open to great rooms.  Master suites have supplanted the single shared bathroom and small closets taking up one bedroom wall. 

Other changes occur because society gained wealth and home buyers could afford more oppulence.  This kind of change includes hardwood floors, granite countertops, vaulted ceilings, and bedroom suites.  Unlike the 1950's rambler which made housing affordable for the middle class, today's middle class is buying more square footage per person with many more amenities built into the home.

The January 21 edition of REALTOR® Online, a professional publication for REALTORS®, listed home fads that are becoming passe´.  The list included:

• Fireplaces
• Carpet - hardwood floors are "in"
• Kitchen desks
• Skylights
• Upscale kitchen finishes including granite countertops
• Living rooms

Since the article is written for a national audience, some of these trends may not apply to the Saint Paul real estate market.  For instance, granite is still a positive feature here although skylights never have been a real selling point because of Minnesota's snow.  Carpet has lost favor compared to hardwood floors.  Fireplaces?  I can't imagine that they will ever go out of style in Minnesota, but one's budget is still the operative word in deciding whether to add one or not.  Living rooms have lost favor compared to great rooms as we merge our formal and daily lives together calling for more family friendly homes.

Stainless or commercial appliances were not mentioned in the article.  I truly wonder if they will become the avocado of the future!

Comments

[Bill]

We have definitely seen an increase in demand for granite in kitchens. It seems now if the flooring isn't hardwood and the kitchen hasn;t been redone with granite many of the resale houses just don't resell!

Regards,

Bill
http://www.granitecountertopscalgary.com

[real estate in philippines]

I bought house last year and i don't include the payment of house in the appliances.

-Aubrey

[Mathew Bossert]

The only thing fads seen to do is keep Interior Designers and Contractors in business ;) Going "Timeless" is my style.

[Maureen McCabe]

We had white appliances growing up, it was an embarrassment when friends came over to visit that we were not keeping up with the Joneses. My mother got Harvest Gold appliances when they moved while I was in college.

I love white now. Stainless is attractive but I think about how those Harvest Gold, Avocado and Brown appliances looked when I started selling real estate... wait I sold a house a couple of years ago that had one of the three lovely colors still.

[Linda Davis]

I bought my house in 1974 and had...yup, avacado appliances which have been replaced by white!