Home Design

If you're thinking about renovating or upgrading your kitchen, one of the most visually and functionally important aspects to consider is your countertop material. Sure, you could go with classics such as marble, granite, or even a more modern quartz, but have you considered wood? Contrary to what some people believe, wood can make an excellent countertop material when properly maintained. Keep reading to learn why you shouldn't overlook this underutilized design element!

Although it's usually not a wise move to chase trends during a remodel, knowing which styles are on the upswing or downswing can help you future-proof your home against looking dated. Perhaps nowhere is this more important than the kitchen, which has a median renovation cost of $11,000; the hefty price tag makes kitchens far too expensive for most homeowners to redo every few years. To get a feel for 2019's kitchen trends, home remodeling website Houzz surveyed over 1,300 homeowners to see which styles they chose for their recent or upcoming kitchen remodel. Keep reading to learn which design elements are rising above the competition!

As more young people look to move into the housing market and more retirees look to downsize, home builders have begun to move toward the middle of the market in 2017. Shares of both the most expensive homes (luxury, $500,000) and the least expensive homes (multifamily, $150,000) have fallen this year, while construction of the middle segments (move-up homes, starter homes, and townhouses) has risen. What does this mean for design? For the most part, it has followed the movement toward the middle, with a few notable exceptions.