Coming Home
Author: Betsy Dell
Word Count: 816
Date: 2/20/09
We've been talking about a change in our attitudes towards housing that is reflected in an old saying: "A 'home' is where you live your life. A 'house' is where you pose waiting for the photographers to show up." We've built our dream houses, but the paparazzi never came. Now we want to come home. These eight market trends show how we're getting there:
1. Shelter:
A home is first and foremost a shelter against life's storms, but the economic crisis struck us like a two by four. We've been so busy feathering our nests that we've failed to attend to the structure of our homes. When the storm hit, we were unprepared. Now we're working to guard our families by installing long-lasting roofs, windows that keep the outside out and the inside in, and by properly protecting our homes' exteriors.
2. Green:
We're not suddenly more concerned about sustaining our planet. We're very concerned about sustaining our families. To keep our utility bills in check, we're making our homes more energy efficient. To protect ourselves against the looming threat of water shortages, we're reducing in-home consumption. Outdoors, we're planting California natives and replacing traditional lawns with less thirsty fescues.
3. Family Reunion:
Self-contained enclaves, or caves, for individual family members are out. Togetherness is in. We're modifying our rooms so we can gather more easily for group activities, or engage in a range of solitary pursuits while keeping each other company. Furniture will be smaller, less static and more multifunctional, making our rooms both flexible and accommodating. As accommodation becomes a priority, children and pets will become a design consideration and Universal Design will move from fringe to mainstream.
4. No More Reservations Accepted:
We retreated to caves because so much space in our house had been reserved for formal or occasional use. This space will now be pressed into service and made family-friendly. Walls will come down as homes are opened up for everyday living. More attention will be paid to unifying color and design. Outdoor rooms are still viewed as a cost effective way of adding usable space.
5. Comfort and Warmth:
Once we shed the pretense of formality, we're free to be ourselves and encourage others to enjoy the same luxury. The new design focus is on making our homes a place where family and friends feel at ease. Beautifully grained woods, warm and inviting wall colors, earthy textures and shapes, richly patterned or highly tactile fabrics and a touch of nostalgia all play an important role. The kitchen remains the heart of the home and is fast becoming a center for entertaining as cooking parties come into vogue.
6. Smart Storage:
Togetherness works best when we're not tripping over each other's stuff. Built-in cabinets and efficient closets will become part of almost every room in the home. As storage becomes an element of space rather than an afterthought, equal attention will be paid to beauty and functionality.
7. At-Home Entertainment:
A remarkable dynamic of economic downswings is that our need for play goes way up—particularly for inclusive play. Family and neighborhood movie and game nights will become regular fixtures in our lives. And having a pool or a spa will become more important, not less.
8. Maintenance:
When we felt like our pockets were bottomless, we were pretty cavalier about maintenance. Now we are looking at maintenance as an insurance policy against the cost of emergency repair or unscheduled replacement. So, from our landscape and irrigation systems, to our chimneys, gutters and HVAC, we're taking care of what we've got.
Trends are an industry mirror of consumer demand, so they reflect what we value based on how we are spending. Our spending shows that our values are changing. We've focused our attention on sheltering and protecting our loved ones. We've focused our desire on nourishing relationships.
When consumer demand begins to change course, only front-runner companies are positioned to respond. The rest of the market lags behind, trying to sell yesterday's news at a bargain price. These bargains are as enticing as a Siren's song but they are also traps because we end up buying things we don't really want.
The bargain labor that is readily available in a slow economy is also a trap. Quality workmanship costs more, but it lasts.
Because the economy is slow, there are some real values available. The way to distinguish a value from a bargain is to hold it up against the trends. So, starting next month, we're going to look at each trend in greater detail.
We'll show you where trends overlap, giving you a bigger bang for the buck, and we'll point to any particular values.
The way to steer clear of traps is to keep your eye on the goal. Your wallet may not permit major changes at this time, but even taking baby steps will feel like coming home.
Good Morning on Friday July 30, 2010
