All homeowners may consider their houses unique, but the design pages in newspapers and home magazines quickly spread the word on what’s new, what’s old, what’s in, what’s out-making it easy for homeowners to duplicate trends.
White-and-black kitchens with granite countertops and oodles of top-quality equipment are hardly unique to serious cooks and Pearl Mesta wanna-bes. Even those who specialize in opening takeout Chinese want a nice, clean, fresh place to do so.
Rooms with media equipment to rival a movie mogul’s studio-albeit on a smaller scale-also have become quite commonplace far from La-La Land. So have master bathrooms with whirlpool tubs, steam showers and his-and-her vanities, particularly in newly constructed high-end homes.
So, what’s left to give a home a personal stamp, help it stand out from dozens of others and become a selling feature if the owners decide to move?
Fortunately, there still are many interior design and architectural elements to make even the jaded homeowner “ooh” and “ah,” according to real estate agents, designers and architects queried.
Part of the secret to integrating these one-of-a-kind details depends on a home’s price range and its location. A nicely remodeled kitchen in a large, upper-bracket home on the North Shore hardly will do the trick, unless it has those extra somethings such as a second dishwasher and sink, a separate pastry center, a brick pizza oven, or a walk-in wine cellar.
Developer David Hoffman knew that an indoor pool with waterfall and a pond with waterfall would generate talk in the new Hybernia development in Highland Park that his Red Seal Development Corp. is working on with Jacobs Homes. Both homes are in the $2 million price range.
In contrast, few homes in Woodstock have fancy master bathrooms with any spa-type features, says Re/Max real estate owner Thomas R. Smith. “The bulk of our market is homes priced between $150,000 and $220,000. Owners look for value and cleanliness, not the latest trends.”
In addition to economic factors, homeowners need to remember that for every feature that elicits raves by some, there are always others who will find fault, whether it’s the styling, workmanship or practicality. Many would never want to heat and care for any pool, indoors or outdoors.
Real estate agent Bonnie Wilson of Koenig & Strey’s Evanston office found out about such fickleness when she listed a house with a wood floor that had green and black painted triangles. “Some loved it; some hated it,” she says.
To hedge her client’s bet, she listed the house with a promise that if the buyer didn’t like the floor, the seller would pay to have it restained.
An equally smart tack to follow is never to base a design purely on its resale potential, since there are no guarantees in the housing market. Nevertheless, there are some features that generally win more accolades than others. They include:
Kitchens
New kitchens with white backgrounds and appliances may sound sterile to some, but the fresh ambience helps them stand out amid the many tired and dark kitchens, says Bonnie Barski, vice president and manager of the Jameson Realty Group in Chicago. “People are so busy today that they want to do as little remodeling as possible, especially when it comes to the kitchen.”
What can give such neutral backgrounds some pizzazz are tastefully colored countertops and backsplashes of high quality granite, tile, Corian or stainless steel and interesting wood, vinyl or ceramic tile floors, she adds.
Equipment that goes beyond the ordinary, such as a Miele dishwasher, Dacor oven or SubZero or Traulsen refrigerator, also help create a positive impression, according to Chicago architect Allan J. Grant.
Kitchens that open to spacious family rooms are also memorable, says real estate agent Louise Eichelberger of Village Green Realty in Winnetka.
The price point determines whether an owner will gain an eat-in kitchen and a separate dining room, but having both in certain homes can make a significant difference in marketability and resale, says Barski.
Bathrooms
While the condition and newness of a bathroom can make a difference, so can special features such as a separate dressing room or shower with a toe tester to avoid too hot or cold water. The number of bathrooms also matters. The latter usually relates to the size of the home and its price, but not always and that’s what can make the difference between good and great. A modest house with a second full bathroom will be remembered, as will a pricey home where each bedroom has its own bathroom.
Color
While white and neutral colors appeal to the widest possible audience, a shot of attention-getting color such as ocher, sage green, charcoal or pale terra cotta definitely will help a person remember a house, says Glencoe interior designer Susan Kroeger. “If they don’t like the color, they can always paint over it,” she says.
Natural products
It’s not just all-natural food that whets appetites today. Homeowners prefer natural materials such as granite, marble, wood and stone indoors and real grass and wood chips outdoors rather than their manmade counterparts, says Laura Good of Ariston Realty Corp. in River Forest.
What makes such natural products more appealing is how they’re incorporated. Parquet floors with unusual borders and insets make a distinctive artistic statement, architect Grant says.
Closets, cabinetry
Because few homeowners claim that they have an overabundance of storage, most are impressed by walk-in closets (including cedar) and built-in cabinets that maximize every square inch and meet specialized needs such as a space to stash clothing, books, entertainment equipment and collections. When accented by appropriate molding, columns and hardware, they become that much more special.
Bedrooms
Not just their size and condition, but the number of bedrooms piques interest today. “Even a single person wants a minimum of two bedrooms so they can use one for a study or guest room, though it needn’t be large if the main bedroom is a decent size,” says Barksi of Jameson Realty Group. In more expensive markets, such as the $500,000-priced homes on the North Shore, it becomes difficult to sell a house without a fourth bedroom.
Probably the most impressive bedroom feature is where the children’s bedrooms are in an area that’s separate from the parents’ master bedroom.
Attics, basements
Finished spaces that have natural light, plenty of headroom, and space to set up a play or exercise area stand out from those that give their occupants the feeling of being sent to a dungeon or the tower, Good says. “If they’re air-conditioned or if the attic has a skylight, so much the better.”
Outdoor living
Screened porches, decks-particularly those with multiple levels-and landscaped front and back yards can make a house distinctive, as long as such amenities don’t gobble up the entire property, says Linda Bussey of Baird & Warner’s Winnetka office. Landscape lighting is another out-of-the-ordinary feature, improving both the aesthetics and safety of the property, she adds.
Similarly, city apartments and houses with nicely landscaped outdoor spaces and attractive views also are more the exception than the rule, Kroeger says. In both cases, size is less critical than privacy, according to Eichelberger.
Indoor light
Good natural light and artificial task, ambient and dramatic lighting are always remembered, says Chicago interior designer Leslie Stern. “Behind a toilet in one client’s master bathroom, a glass block wall is lit for drama with a lilac-colored lens so the effect creates a focal-point wall,” she says. “The cove molding in the room also is lit with a recessed neon lamp source.”
Odds and ends
There is a host of ways-big and little-to jolt potential buyers into remembering a home: fresh flowers; programmable electronic equipment that turns on lights, stereos and bath water; a chute to a basement-level laundry, though the preferred location is adjacent to bedrooms; bedrooms with fireplace corners; dramatic staircases; roomy garages.
Architect Grant has one client who built a garage with enough room and a drain to wash his car indoors in winter. Architect Richard Becker may have one of the most novel features-a plaque stating that band leader John Philip Sousa spent time one summer in his historic Highland Park home when he played at Ravinia.
