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So what home trends do you see fading away in 2008 and which are on the horizon? I spotted a Kansas City Star story packed with predictions that could assist in house hunting or if you're thinking about redoing a room or two.
In
Yellow walls
Natural woods
Overflow tubs
Out
Brushed nickel
TV armoires
Desks
Any predictions of your own?
Here's mine: Heated floors in, granite counters way out. I know granite appears to still be very in, but just wait for it.
Biz editor Marcelene Edwards: Ovens with warming drawers and cold-water stove faucets in (she's remodeling), white kitchen cabinets and jetted tubs out.
Biz reporter Kelly Kearsley: Subway tile and second-floor laundry units in, backyards out.
Check out the full story:
Wenge, it's been good to know you.
Sunken Jacuzzis, we had some good times.
Blue and brown, I can't believe it's over.
After a couple of years of same-old, same-old on the home front, winds of change are blowing in. Some are driven by fashion, others by economic conditions and lifestyle shifts.
2008 will see waves of mainstream homeowners going green to save green, according to Ann Mack, director of trendspotting at JWT, a New York advertising firm. What Mack describes as a desire for "Prius homes" is being driven in part by financial incentives.
"Major banks are offering energy-efficient mortgages for homeowners," Mack said. Some changes are product-based (installing solar panels), while others are behavioral (holding out longer in summer before turning on the AC).
Home-buying workshops are scheduled to take place at Sunrise Elementary, 2323 39th Ave. S.E., in Puyallup on Thursday and Feb. 12. Topics include downpayment assistance and programs available to buyers. Lenders will be on hand to answer questions.
Each session starts at 6:30 p.m. and is expected to last two hours. The workshops are being put on by Consumer Counseling Northwest and the Puyallup School District.
To register, call (253) 588-1858, ext. 109.
