Condo and apartment designs are always moving with the times, embracing new technologies that enhance lifestyle while never losing sight of providing the modern idea of a comfortable, stylish home.
Global best practices are quickly implemented by local designers who pick up the latest buzz of excitement in new home living.
New trends can either act as a guide for your next purchase or provide pointers to making the condo you wish to sell as attractive as possible.
Hot Seat
The fireplace is back. Not traditional wood-fired ones, of course, but electric and gas equivalents that deliver heat and ambience without the hassle of chopping wood and cleaning out the ash. This trend couples with a new emphasis in interior design of the earthy and artisanal furnishings.
Green is said to be the hot color, and soft furnishing of traditional, culture-based patterns are taking over from pastels and manufactured items. So, maybe it’s no surprise buyers want a fireplace for an additional back-to-nature feel.
The Invisible
Designs are moving away from busy, technology-driven kitchens and bathrooms. By all means install a top-quality brand-name dishwasher, but don’t think its appearance is going to impress anyone.
Instead, buyers are seeking a more minimal approach where closed cabinetry hides the gadgets and provides a much cleaner and elegant appearance.
Small, intricate tiling is giving way to the simple cleaner effect of large tiles. Back-splash, whether in the kitchen or bathroom, are embracing earthy, textured qualities rather than bold colors.
Walk-In Robes
A prerequisite for many buyers has become the walk-in wardrobe. They’re not just a must-have feature. They’re the deal-clincher if the kitchen and bathrooms are up to scratch.
Designers love to hide walk-ins behind sliding mirror doors but the perfect scenario now is for a walk-in robe to be positioned and hidden between the master bedroom and the ensuite. That’s not always possible with older condos, of course, but buyers are expecting that level of detail in new buildings.
Lights on
The impact of great lighting in a condo should not be under-estimated. Like the re-emergence of a fireplace to create ambience, buyers want a similar impact from interior lighting.
For those selling a property, consider investing in modern lighting to overcome any lack of natural light. Bespoke feature lighting fixtures can have a stunning visual impact, especially as buyers are becoming increasingly bored with halogens sunk into ceilings