As it relates to homes, universal design creates a home with features that give independence to a wide range of people in a household, even as a family grows, Vance says…

Homeowners are starting to warm to the concept, especially Baby Boomers of which 10,000 are turning 60 every day. Last Year, an American Institute of Architects survey found that nearly three-quarters of 500 architecture firms said that homeowners were asking for greater accessibility within the home through wider hallways, fewer steps and single-floor design. That was up from 66 percent the year before.

The National Association of Home Builders also reported that 63 percent of upscale builders and 56 percent of average home builders believe they’ll see a growing trend toward universal design over the next decade as Baby Boomers advance in age and decline in health.

While many homeowners start taking universal design elements into consideration as retirement nears, AARP suggests making these changes as soon as possible.

Source:  http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/dec/05/realestate/chi-universal-design_chomes_1205dec05

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Excerpt:   New trends in tile, like the look-alike stone, create endless possibilities for designers and homeowners to express their personalities. Globetti works with many clients who view tile, which now comes in everything from glass and crystal, polished or unpolished finishes and etched and hand-painted designs, as an artistic edge, one that makes their home their own…

New trends in tile are helping designers, builders and homeowners colorize their world as accents on floors and walls. Glass tile, available in a rainbow of hues, offers instant shine and casts prisms of sunlight throughout a room. New tile designs that incorporate crystals and beadwork also add a touch of sparkle, and tile maker Ann Sacks recently introduced hand-blown-glass tile mosaic finished with 24-karat gold to catch the light.

“People like glass tile and metallics because of the sparkle they add,” says DuPont. “But you have to remember a little goes a long way.”

Tile manufacturers also are borrowing from the past, replicating aged and crumbling terracotta and transferring the look of ancient Japanese pottery and mural designs to hand-painted, glazed tile squares. Natural elements, such as the look of bamboo and pebbles, also have been reproduced in tile and add a touch of texture to a room.

Source:  http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/apr/25/decorative-tile-defines-homes-personality/

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Excerpt:   “In more metropolitan areas, the trend is toward contemporary, architectural styling. However, with a surge of renovating older homes, estate homes, lake homes, etc., many homeowners prefer more traditional styling,” Wurth says.

Brodey agrees. “As always, the contemporary products are doing best in the metropolitan areas and major cities, while the traditional products are still doing extremely well in other parts of the nation,” he notes. However, he has seen a growing demand for contemporary accessories featuring simple volumes and clean, sleek lines.

For Rohl, traditional looks with spa-like designs are still the focus in master suites. “Our consumers travel the world and then come home wanting to re-create the spa-like experience they had abroad. They want the Old World feel with all of the modern conveniences,” says Rohl. He also expects to see a greater interest in the firm’s Michael Berman Collection, which he refers to as “Trans-Modern design” – a softer, warmer version of contemporary, inspired by the streamlined modernism of the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s.

Transitional design is the bridge between traditional and contemporary, and is a growing design choice according to Morea. She adds, “There are also more literal design trends continuing to gain popularity such as nature-driven designs and sculptural forms, but I am leaning toward transitional looks for 2009.”

Source:  http://www.kitchenbathdesign.com/print/Kitchen-and-Bath-Design-News/Elegant-Accents/2$5172

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Excerpt:   "In today’s kitchens, it’s not uncommon for us to combine several styles in one large kitchen," says Mary Fisher Knott, president of Mary Fisher Designs in Scottsdale, Ariz. That means doing the refrigerator in an armoire-style cabinetry with contemporary or Asian-style finish and giving the rest of the cabinetry a softer look to create more impact on larger pieces.

Although trends will vary across regions, home designs and homeowner preferences, designers across the country generally say there are some key patterns in what customers seek. Colors are growing everywhere, thanks to the use of painted cabinets. "Overall, I’ve seen a trend away from whites and heavy distressing to more painted finishes," says Dave Cerami, president of Home Tech Renovations in Philadelphia. Sage green, chiffon yellow and French crème have replaced whites.

Mary agrees, seeing softer earth tones dominating in her market, especially earthy greens and deep blues, as well as browns, reds and even black. "It runs the gamut and tends to fit with the rest of the home’s décor."

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"Furniture pieces are very, very strong right now and that will continue," she says. The designs are functional she adds. Elevated dishwasher cabinets feature storage space for dishes. Cabinet storage is becoming more egalitarian overall, with pieces storing both foodstuffs and dishes together.

Source:  http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/di_design_trends/article/0,,HPRO_20174_3811087,00.htm

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Excerpt:   Strapped homeowners intent on sprucing up their spaces are saying goodbye to marble backsplashes and luxurious spa baths and opting for less-expensive materials and furnishings instead.

The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies' Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity estimates that spending on home improvement will fall by an annual rate of 12.1% by the third quarter of 2009, to $110 billion. That's a drop of over 25% since the 2007 peak.

"Even our wealthiest clients express a desire to have us hold back right now," says Los Angeles designer Timothy Corrigan.

For designers accustomed to blank checks and unlimited timelines, slashed budgets encourage a change in practice. When a recent project's budget got cut by 20% despite a signed contract, Florida-based interior designer Cecil Hayes proposed alternative solutions. These included reupholstering an existing piece instead of purchasing a new one, and using less expensive materials, such as red oak instead of rosewood.