Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

Some unusual items that more and more home buyers have on their wish lists. Plus: What's out.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Some of the latest trends in homebuilding and remodeling were not too hard to spot. Is anyone surprised that Americans, already living in monster homes, want even bigger ones?

But there were some developments we never saw coming.

Here's a few that Mark Nash, author of Real Estate A-Z for Buying and Selling a Home, has gleaned from a survey he conducted questioning 923 real estate agents, brokers and industry executives.

Upscale garages: Who knew that those smelly, greasy spaces overstuffed with junk and empty boxes would morph into showplaces for Home Improvement types?

"Today's owners want [garages] decked out with cabinet and storage systems, matching refrigerators, air conditioning and residential looking flooring," says Nash.

The Web site contractor.com reports a garage remodeling starts at around $7,500 and goes up, sometimes steeply, from there depending on size and just how nice you want it.

Nash, a real estate broker himself, says he has had home sellers so infatuated with their upscale car storage unit that they become livid when house hunters get a bit of dirt on the floor.

Caving: People want more personal space - for both mom and pop. Apparently, married people often like time alone. Who knew?

So, an amenity of choice these days is "personal, dedicated space for one person in a household to go and work on projects or simply 'chill,'" says Nash.

Rejuvenation rooms: No, This is not simply to work out in. These are one-stop sites for exercising, meditating, yoga, sauna and fancy steam showers.

"This is kind of a new age, serenity room where you do these quiet exercise things and then jump in the spa," says Nash.

First you get your head together, then your body and then you steam off the sweat you expended doing it.

Heated patios: (See outdoor living rooms) Northerners want to reduce their winter workouts shoveling snow, according to Nash, so they're installing heated patios, walkways and driveways.

Plus they want to "add a couple of weeks of outdoor enjoyment in spring and fall," he says, and the warmth radiating off these outdoor surfaces makes the diffrences between just comfortable and "Let's go inside."

Snoring rooms: Husband (never wives) have often been banished for excessive snoring but it must be a lonely feeling to trudge out of the master bedroom suite and down to the living room couch. Now they don't have to

The huge master suites being installed in upscale housing typically come with large sleeping areas, a big walk-in closet and a gigantic bath. More and more now, they'll be equipped with another room entirely, a 12' by 12' or so space with a double bed and chair that will spare the innocent sleeper from the worst ravages of the noisy snorer.

It's not just for dad, according to Nash. "The first person to start snoring has to make the exit," he says.
On the way out

In addition to up-and-coming trends, Nash also identified a few destined for the trash heap of home-design history. These include:

Spiral staircases, which were once the rage, are now death to the home seller. Aging boomers don't care to climb them and they're tough on pets and small children. Nash advises sellers to remove and replace them before putting a home on the market.

Bamboo floors are also out. The early reviews are in and owners have found them to be easily scratched and prone to warping.

Hardwood laminate flooring is also a no-go. "They don't stand up to multiple sandings to change color or remove stains," says Nash.

Lastly, he advises sellers to never smoke in the house. Buyers hate the stale smoke odors.

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

This is interesting.

NBC just did a program on people building out garages.

Pocket Doors are another trend. It's an old concept but they are coming back. If you have a small space such as a bathroom, pocket doors are great. Here's a site for those who are not farmiliar with them.

Johnson Hardware

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Message edited 12/5/2006 10:11:44 PM.

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

I have pocket doors in 2 out of my 4 bathrooms. They're what sold DH on the house since he thought they were "cool"...

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

Posted by Eva Luna

I have pocket doors in 2 out of my 4 bathrooms. They're what sold DH on the house since he thought they were "cool"...

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

I'm doing initial info gathering for an expansion to our place. I'm planning on putting a small bathroom in the garage. My next door neighbor has it already, and it's great for when you're outside, and just need to go, but don't want to track mud in the house. He had a huge party in his yard, and was able to keep the house off-limits. (I'm not worried about getting mud in the garage, though... it's where I'll park the cars and yard tools. I expect dirt....

We're not tearing up a good driveway just to heat it, but if we ever decide to redo our driveway, we will probably get it heated. Saves so much time shoveling.

Cheaper than building a "snoring room". I strap a rolled-up sock onto my back at night. No snoring, and we don't have to waste room for me to snore in!

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

I fully intend to setup a garden room for all my orchids & other plants. A room with windows for natural light would be best, so that heated porch thing is great.

Otherwise, it will be a greenhouse attached to the back of the house, but the other rooms are easier to come by. I could convert a garage but I'd rather use that for the car.

My Dad's a big snorer, so whenever they're staying, I'll expect Mom to be on the couch. It would be nice to have a daybed or something in another bedroom but I don't expect to have an "extra" bedroom available.

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

interesting.

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

i have never heard of a heated driveway???

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

Interesting article. Im surprised the hardwood laminate is a "no no" Dh and I really wanted to put those in but decided to hold off because right now they were too much $ for us. Maybe we shouldnt do them afterall.

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

Posted by Lisa

Posted by MrsSchwags

i have never heard of a heated driveway???

I remember when i was growing up, one of our elderly neighbors had that....as soon as it started to snow....it would go on and they would never have any snow on the driveway or walkways!!

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming

I knew someone who had a heated bathroom floor under tile. It's called radiant heat I think?

What a nice thing. Not to have cold tile under your bare feet in the morning!

Re: Interesting CNN article: 5 home trends we never saw coming