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“What’s Trendy” Lists…NO THANKS!

I can’t tell you how often, in one magazine after another, I read about what’s HOT and what’s NOT in home decor. Like anyone else, I peruse the lists but at the same time, I LOATHE these lists because they instill a fear in homeowners that they are going to somehow make a decision that will negatively time stamp their home. While it is true that trends blow in and out like the wind, I wholeheartedly believe that if you surround yourself with things that you love, your home will always feel warm and happy.

Most importantly, I cannot emphasize enough that it is impossible to beat time. Time will always win. There is NO WAY to build a timeless house. In ten years, your ten year old remodel is going to look ten years old. Yes, even the “classic” style that is so popular right now with the white subway tile, the carerra marble and polished nickel fixtures is going to look ten years old in ten years. Even though someone named this style “classic” it is still very reflective of the time in which we live. When the economy is slow and scary, greys take over. Grey are safe. They are calm. They are stable. Any other color would be bold in an unsteady economy. But, now, as the economy is moving forward with vigor, we are beginning to see some bursts of color and risks in finish that were absent just two years ago.

The purpose of this post? To give you confidence to design your home to reflect YOU! Make your home comfortable for you and everyone else who lives there. If you currently just love grey? Then stick with it. But if you favor some other color, you will love your house more if you surround yourself with colors that make you feel at home. Paint is just paint. While you live in the house, paint your walls a color that you would love to look at. But, when you sell the house, if those colors are not neutral, they will need to be painted over since we all find comfort and distaste among different hues. And if you’re thinking it would be safest to just paint everything neutral right now in order to avoid the work later? Walls and trim often start looking like they need touch ups in about three years so it is very likely that they would need painted before your home sells anyway.

And if you love sticking with what’s HOT because it makes you feel right, then do it. But please don’t ditch something you love just because it’s on the NOT list. Chances are, it will be back on some other sort of list in no time. #LOVEYOURHOME!

Just in case you can’t resist reviewing the lists, here are a few…

Trends in Home Design

What Sauder Says on Decor

House Beautiful on Color

Elle Decor on Global Trends

Elle Decor Recommends Apps to Help You Decorate

Hot and Not from Zillow

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Pete Evens likes to say he can do “CUSTOM ANYTHING”

This used to be a dresser and now it's a really unique vanity. You'll see close ups of the sinks and faucets further down the page.

This used to be a dresser and now it’s a really unique vanity. You’ll see close ups of the sinks and faucets further down the page.

These are pics of a fun project by Pete Evens of Anubis Construction. The clients weren’t afraid to take some chances using an old dresser and converting it into a new vanity. With a few alterations by Pete Evens, it’s a unique base to define the mood of the bathroom.

These sinks were made in Pennsylvania by JSG Oceana. They are made using a similar process as much of the oven safe and thermo-resistant (it can take extremes of hot and cold without breaking) glassware that comes out of this region. They are available in lots of colors and sizes. They also make drop in sinks and undermounts which can be fun when installed with LED light below them.

Sink by JSG Oceana in Pennsylvania

Sink by JSG Oceana in Pennsylvania

And I’m sure you wanna see what this looks like with the water on, right…???

Come on...this is a TOTALLY fun bathroom, right?!! It would be such a pleasure to use these faucets daily with the water cascading over your hands

Come on…this is a TOTALLY fun bathroom, right?!! It would be such a pleasure to use these faucets daily with the water cascading over your hands

We LOVE wall hung toilets for SO MANY reasons. They are so easy to clean compared to a floor mount toilet. One can sweep or mop right under them instead of around all of the grooves of a regular floor mounted toilet. The carrier on which they are mounted provides several height options for installation so tall homeowners can have a taller finished bowl height and shorter homeowners can select the shorter height. (To be clear: once installed, they are not adjustable.)

Wall Hung Toilet for ease of cleaning. That's the actuator (flush button) on the wall above the toilet.

Wall Hung Toilet for ease of cleaning. That’s the actuator (flush button) on the wall above the toilet.

That's a pretty shower and all...but where's the drain???...

That’s a pretty shower and all…but where’s the drain???…

There's the drain!! It is installed with the floor tile so that it nearly disappears

There’s the drain!! It is installed with the floor tile so that it nearly disappears

The drain is by Quick Drain USA. Look closer…there is NO THRESHOLD on this shower. You can walk or roll a wheelchair or walker right in. It’s so elegant and easier to clean since there are fewer corners to get icky.

No threshold and Shower Valves by California Faucets. Heads Grohe and Aquabrass

No threshold and Shower Valves by California Faucets. Heads Grohe and Aquabrass

Here are more options by Grohe and Aquabrass.

You can reach Pete Evens at [email protected] or by phone at (831) 212-1905.

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Jared Lewis and this DREAMY kitchen

This kitchen was designed with traffic flow in mind

This kitchen was designed with traffic flow in mind

These clients are high on style and reasonable on budget and look what they pulled off!! When we met them, their little family was increasing in size with a new baby and a toddler in tow. And in the middle of all of this, the wife has decided to start her own law firm. This is what focus, an excellent contractor and quality products will get you. The kitchen in this house was very ordinary to start with — certainly very much like one that we have all lived with at one point or another (as soon as I have “Before” pics I will share them). This new area is so focused on family, fun and flow. Look how easily one can move from room to room, from table to sink to bar area and into the living area. They are going to enjoy this for decades.

Jared Lewis worked with Beyond the Box in Santa Cruz for the cabinets and kitchen design

Husband and Wife, the two kids or two friends can sit at the bar while the cook is in the kitchen

Husband and Wife, the two kids or two friends can sit at the bar while the cook is in the kitchen

You would be able to find me HERE! (I'm an excellent mixologist -- joking! But I like to keep the mixologists company)

You would be able to find me HERE! (I’m an excellent mixologist — joking! But I like to keep the mixologists company. No one should mix alone. Grinnn…)

This is a fireclay sink and their faucet is Made in the USA!!

This is a fireclay sink and their faucet is Made in the USA!!

Perfect for family dinners and board games

Perfect for family dinners and board games

Think of how easy it will be to pull this pantry out and not have to bend down and dig for items WAY in the back. SOOO Practical! It seems like one would be more likely to use everything because things will always be within sight providing inspiration for meals

Think of how easy it will be to pull this pantry out and not have to bend down and dig for items WAY in the back. SOOO Practical! It seems like one would be more likely to use everything because things will always be within sight providing inspiration for meals

There's a Made in USA pot filler. Love how the pot matches the tile.

There’s a Made in USA pot filler. Love how the pot matches the tile.

Close up of the tile

Close up of the tile

Another pic of the lovely tile

Another pic of the lovely tile

Before Pic One

This wall went bye-bye

This wall went bye-bye

Before Pic Two

Hard to believe that it ever looked like this. The great team of Beyond the Box, Jared Lewis and the Homeowners delivered DREAMY results.

Hard to believe that it ever looked like this. The great team of Beyond the Box, Jared Lewis and the Homeowners delivered DREAMY results.

To see more of the work of Jared Lewis Construction, click here

You can also find Jared Lewis on Houzz

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