3 Tiny Homes That are Living Large

3 Tiny Homes That are Living Large

By: Deirdre Sullivan

Published: December 26, 2012

You can get a lot of living out of a tiny house by including things that make you happy.

Small is the new big when it comes to micro-living.

If you think a tiny home would crimp your way of life, check this out. We found three weensy abodes that feel like much larger homes. The trick is that each place maximizes space to compliment the resident’s lifestyle.

1. A home that doesn’t skimp on traditional elements

This 500-sq.-ft. home was built in Vancouver by SmallWorks Studios. Despite its diminutive size, this mini-mansion was designed with plenty of traditional elements that make it feel like a much larger home. It packs a sleek small kitchen, a bedroom balcony, and a one-cargarage.

Plus, its tiny footprint helps it be energy efficient.

In Vancouver, a home similar to this starts at around $200,000 and takes 16 weeks to build.
 


2. A place built for entertaining

A woman in Barcelona remodeled her tiny apartment so she can have parties.

Although her bedroom eats up a quarter of her 128-sq.-ft. dwelling, she didn't like the idea of installing a loft or Murphy bed to create more floor space.

So, with the help of a few clever storage built-ins that concealed extra chairs and an expandable kitchen table, the Spanish hostess is able to seat 12 for dinner.

FYI, when the party moves into the living room, she uses foldout cardboard stools to create more seating.



3. A man cave that includes more than a few conversation pieces

J. Michael Moore (who happens to be 6’4”) filled his vibrant, 225-sq.-ft. home with furniture and kickknacks he likes to look at.

Moore avoided using a monochromatic paint scheme and went with color blocking — a method that pairs opposites on the color wheel. Although the colors are bold, color blocking helps tie all his stuff together so his space doesn’t feel cluttered or overwhelming.

A loft bed and moveable furniture helps Moore maximize his square footage and lets him rearrange the space to serve many purposes.

 

Small Baths

10 Inside Tips From a Designer Who Specializes in Small Baths

By: Dona DeZube

Published: December 27, 2012

A New York City designer shares secrets to making a small bath both functional and beautiful.

Got a small bathroom to renovate? Go wild with texture and colors if it’s a rarely used guest bath, but stick to clean and simple in a master bath.

That’s the word from designer Jamie Gibbs, who transforms incredibly small New York City bathrooms into beautiful spaces. “I liked being shocked by details in a little space, especially if it’s not going to be used much,” Gibbs says.

His small-bath secrets:

1. Avoid textures in bathrooms that get daily use. In a heavily used bathroom, anything with texture becomes a collection spot for mold, mildew, and toothpaste. Say no to carved vessel sinks or floor tile with indentations.

2. Be careful with no-enclosure showers with drains right in the floor. These Euro showers allow for a feeling of openness, but the average American contractor doesn’t know how to waterproof the floor for them, Gibbs says. The tile seals can be compromised if not installed correctly, causing the materials to decompose, and water to leak underneath.

3. Use opaque windows and skylights to let light filter into all parts of the bath. A long skinny window with frosted glass means you don't have to burn high-wattage light bulbs. Make sure water condensation will roll off the window into an appropriate place (i.e. not the framing or the wall) to avoid future maintenance issues.

4. Look for fixtures that have a single handle rather than separate hot and cold taps. “Space-saving gearshift faucets are a very good choice in small bathrooms,” says Gibbs. You’ll also save money by not having to drill holes in the countertop for the hot and cold taps.

5. Save space with wall-mounted toilets and bidets, but be aware that the water tank goes into the wall. That’s fine if space is such a premium that you won’t mind going into the wall to make any repairs. But if you share a wall with a neighbor, that's a different issue.

6. Use a wall-mount faucet to make a reduced-depth vanity work in a small space.“I can get away with a 22” vanity instead of a 24” vanity with a wall mount faucet,” Gibbs says.

7. Check the space between the handles and the faucet of any space-saving fixtures. “If you can only get a toothbrush in it to clean, you'll save space, but it’s functionally stupid,” Gibbs says. Make sure the sink is functional, too. If you’re using a vessel sink, make sure it’s large enough and not too high. “If it’s too high, you'll knock it so many times that the fittings will come loose,” Gibbs says.

8. A pedestal sink is all form and no function. “It’s a great-looking sink, but there’s no place to [set] anything,” Gibbs says.

9. Wall-mounted vanities seem like they’re space savers, but they create dead space between the vanity and the floor — a space that often accumulates junk and never gets cleaned.

10. If you're comfortable with it, go European and put up a glass walls between the bathroom and bedroom to create the illusion of space. Or put bathroom fixtures in the bedroom just outside the bath.

Why Declutter Your House?

Why Declutter Your House?

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon

Published: January 7, 2013

When you declutter your house, are you choking off your life energy or soothing your soul?

When it comes to decluttering your house, do you ever want to just throw in the towel (preferably on the floor) and stop trying so hard? Maybe a little clutter is a good thing.

After all, is life really better when we sort, color-code, and neatly stack everything in clearly labeled plastic bins? Or is an uncluttered life not worth living -- antiseptic, alienated, a Stepford home that feels like nobody really lives there?

Clearly, mounting clutter stresses some folks. A UCLA study shows that cortisol (stress hormone) levels in women rise in sync with the amount of clutter in their homes.

Yet some people love their clutter and think a full house is akin to a full heart and an active brain. Lifestyle coach Jolanda Molenaar says that if you love the items around you, and you don’t feel overwhelmed, then clutter is a non-issue.

Teenagers, we know, seem happiest when sweaters and dirty dishes litter their bedroom floors. And when parents pick their battles, the clutter hill is not one many moms choose to die on.

Some adults hate clutter, but seem helpless to corral it. They turn to $150/hour professional organizers who crack the whip and force them to toss old photo albums and even the trophies that junior got for merely showing up to the pee-wee championship soccer tournament.

But I find that the more chaotic my insides, the more I must simplify and organize my outsides. Unfortunately, my clutter bug husband is the opposite; when he’s most stressed, clutter soothes him, like a security blanket of stuff.

Have You Seen Your Refi and Mortgage Options Lately?

Article From HouseLogic.com
By: Dona DeZube

Published: April 08, 2013

Three good reasons to warm up to a refinance this spring.

Low interest rates and new loan programs abound this spring, so if you assumed your refinancing and mortgage options were dismal, you'll be surprised by these three offerings.

1. Refinance with new FHA fees

In a nutshell: FHA raised insurance premiums for new borrowers, while lowering fees for some existing customers who refinance, making comparison shopping with private mortgage insurance worthwhile. Mortgage insurance covers the lender against losses caused when borrowers stop making payments.

The details: FHA's new insurance premium rates include a great deal for existing FHA borrowers -- you can refinance by paying a miniscule .01% upfront fee and an annual premium of just .55% if you got your original loan on or before May 31, 2009.

The catch: The deal is only for home owners who got their FHA mortgage on or before May 31, 2009.

The latest FHA deal for new FHA customers buying homes isn't nearly as sweet. You'll pay a whopping 1.75% upfront fee and an annual premium of 1.35% - more if your loan is more than $625,500. For a $200,000 loan, that's $3,500 for the upfront premium payment and $2,700 for the annual premium.

If you can meet the tougher underwriting and higher downpayment rules of private mortgage insurance companies, check to see what that would cost for your specific loan and location using calculators from such sources as MGIC, Radian, or Genworth Financial. Use the calculators to check how your payment would change depending on how much equity you have in your home.

2. Refinance underwater mortgage

In a nutshell: If you owe more than your home is worth, you may finally be able to refinance into a lower rate thanks to the government's HARP refinancing program.

The details: You can take advantage of historically low interest rates by using the latest version of the Home Affordable Refinance Program, which removed a previous cap on how far below your mortgage your home value can be.

The HARP program even works if you've been hit by the economic double-whammy of a falling family income and a falling home price. You qualify for a HARPrefinance if:

          •You have income coming in.

          •You've made your mortgage payments on time every month for the past six months and have no more than one late payment in the past year.

The catch: Banks can layer their own tougher rules on top of the HARP requirements, and they're not obligated to let you use the program to refinance your existing loan.

3. Refinance rental properties

In a nutshell: Some real estate investors have new loan options for the first time in years.

The details: In recent years, small landlords like me have had a tough time finding a bank to finance more rental property purchases. Once you had more than four rental property loans, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were no longer willing to guarantee your loans, even when your credit scores were top-notch and the property was able to turn a profit from day one of ownership.

Now, some banks participating in the HARP program are taking applications from landlords with multiple properties and lots of mortgages. HSBC recently agreed to look at a mortgage on a property I own in Baltimore. My current interest rate there is over 7% and if I get the HARP refinance it will fall to 4.6%.

It's too soon to say whether the banks will actually fund me or any other landlord who wants to refinance.

The catches

          •Only Fannie Mae has made this change. (It'll purchase up to 10 loans from any one investor.) Freddie Mac is still limiting single-family landlords to four loans.

          •Most banks discount your rental income by 25% when making investor loans, which adds up when you have multiple properties.

But, the fact that banks are accepting applications from rental property owners is a sign the credit spigot may be reopening for creditworthy real estate investors.

A Musical Bathtub and 5 Other Smart Home Products

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: John Riha

Published: January 28, 2013

Would you buy any of the wow products HouseLogic's intrepid reporter spotted at the home builder show?

After hiking miles of aisles past thousands of products (you're welcome!) displayed at the 2013 International Builders Show in Las Vegas, I found a few designed to make your life easier, cooler, more efficient, and more fun. (Of course, many come with a steep price.) Come on, wouldn't you want these?

Music in Your Showerhead

Credit: Kohler

Closet crooners, rejoice! Kohler's Moxie shower head features a Bluetooth-enabled speaker so you can pipe your favorite playlist directly into your morning shower. The waterproof (obviously) wireless speaker attaches with a magnet to the shower head so that - even if you can't carry a tune - you can detach it post-shower and carry the little speaker with you while you decide which socks to wear. The lithium-ion battery gives 7 hours of play and is rechargeable via USB. List price is $199.

Music Inside Your Bathtub

Can't help but give innovative Kohler another shout-out for its VibrAcoustic hydrotherapy technology that lets you transfer your music directly into your tub via an MP3 device. Plug in your iPod, pick some mood music, and VibrAcoustic makes the walls of your tub - and the surrounding water - gently vibrate to the rhythms of your tunes. Talk about an immersive musical experience!

VibrAcoustic technology adds $2,400 to the price of your tub. Need even more fun? Include chromatherapy (colored lights) for another $600.

Solar-Ready-or-Not HVAC

Sure, you'd like to go solar, but maybe you're not sure how to go about it. No worries - Lennox SunSource solar-ready air conditioners and heat pumps are ready when you are. When you decide to go solar and save on your utility bills, an HVAC pro simply plugs compatible solar panels into the unit - there's no need to fool around with your breaker box or add a power converter.

If you're not using your HVAC, the unit simply routes the juice from your solar panels into your home to power your appliances, lights, and other electrical goodies.

A high-efficiency unit runs $2,500 to $3,500 installed, depending on its capacity. Solar panels available through Lennox are $1,200-$1,500 per; a typical house uses at least eight.

You may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to 9% of the cost of "solar-ready equipment." If you also invest in solar panels, then you may be able to claim a federal tax credit of up to 30% for the whole kit and kaboodle. Check with your tax pro.

Don't forget: Many states offer additionalcredits and rebates for solar installations.

Is Your Refrigerator in Hot Water?

Your refrigerator wants to be so much more to you than cold. The GE Cafe series has a touch-control, on-demand hot water dispenser that serves up H2O at four pre-set heat settings. You can get warm water for baking or piping hot water for instant oatmeal. Yup, you can get chilled water and ice cubes from the door-mounted dispenser, too. The sleek fridge retails for $3,299.

Even More Keyless

Biometric locks have been on the market for a while now, but Simplicikey takes high-techsecurity one step further: a handheld key fob locks and unlocks your door from up to 50 feet away.

Add the new Keycloud technology and you'll be able to lock your door using your smartphone, tablet, and laptop. Use the Keycloud app to check the status of any of your exterior doors, even at a second house or rental property. Cost: $199-$279 (the app is free).

Private Screening

On the low-tech end of things, I saw this at a booth and thought it was pretty clever. No, it's not an actual product, but part of a booth design. Take a large planter, fill it with polished rocks, and stick some bamboo stalks in it to create a tres modern fence. Use it as an indoor partition or outdoor privacy screen.

Reimagining the Kitchen

Reimagining the Kitchen: Trends for 2013

Article From HouseLogic.com
By: John Riha

Published: January 30, 2013

Today's kitchen is a quick-change artist that adores families and loves simplicity.

If you're looking to remodel your kitchen, we've got good news and bad news.

First, the good stuff. According to trend experts Lita Dirks and Dominick Tringali, you don't have to shell out major cash to add space. Instead, look to expand what you already have. Vault your ceiling, add windows, squeeze in clever storage ideas. Make the space work harder, not bigger.

Plus, relax. Casual kitchens are trending, with doo-dads and gee-gaws (think elaborate trim and vent hoods that look like medieval castles) going away, and simpler, sleeker designs coming on strong.

Speaking on kitchen trends at the 2013 International Builder's Show in Las Vegas, interior designer Dirks and architect Tringali teamed up to describe the new American kitchen as one piece of a larger, open floor plan.

It's all part of a new kitchen gestalt that Dirks describes as the "prep-eat-play" triangle, with flexibility and casual living as key ingredients. The notion tosses the kitchen into a design blender along with living, dining, and family rooms, and frappes everything into communal happiness.

Example: You can eat at a comfy banquette, or in front of the TV (don't tell your child-development counselor), or in the breakfast nook, or you can belly up to the island. No rules!

The bad news (OK, it's not that bad) is that we've heard some of this before. Open floor plans have been around since the moon landing and yes, we like them. A lot. What we really have here is affirmation - and freedom to create kitchens that are less ornate and yet have more personality.

Just like you.

Of course, Dirks and Trengali definitely have the pulse of today's home owner and offer some great takeaways. We've combined their goodies with our own kitchen trendspotting for 2013. If you're planning a kitchen redo, here's what you need to know:

Contemporary kitchens are In. Specifically, they're getting simpler and more modern, with less elaborate detail and trim. In fact, the National Kitchen and Bath Association reports that in its annual survey of kitchen designers, "transitional" design - meaning a simple, more modern aesthetic - has surpassed "traditional" as the preferred design for the first time in the association's history.

Kitchen cabinets are dark, or white. Darker, furniture-like finishes are popular, but so is pure white. The middle ground - think natural oak - is going away. Dark finishes help the kitchen integrate into the overall scheme; pure white is the ultimate accent color that readily complements the rest of the living area.

Islands rule. Kitchen islands are becoming more multi-dimensional, serving as food-prep areas, snack stations, wine storage, and display cabinets for objets d'art. Also, they're essential for directing traffic flow within an open floor plan, channeling guests toward comfy seating areas, for example. Small kitchen? Go with a rolling cart that's there when you need it.

Countertop revolution. Say hi to porcelain and ceramic slabs that look like stone, wood, and fabric, says Jamie Gold, a California designer. The product is made from clay, quartz, and feldspar that's subjected to high heat - just like regular tile. Unlike other engineered countertops, this product doesn't use cements or resin binders. It's not readily available in the U.S. yet.

Appliances are disappearing. In the past, we loved our commercial-style kitchen appliances that made us look like we really knew how to cook. Now, appliances are hiding behind wood panels and faux veneers so they integrate better with the overall living space. New finishes, such as GE's slate and Whirlpool's Ice White, are bucking the stainless steel trend, but don't bet on stainless going away anytime soon - it's still hot.

Espresso yourself. An eye-catching extra gives a kitchen a blast of personality. Cool sinks and high-tech faucets are au courant. Other possibilities include:

          •Stylish vent hood.

          •Ventless fireplace.

          •Espresso machine.

          •One-of-a-kind tiles as accents on kitchen backsplashes and countertops.

Glass finishes. Glistening glass is popping up everywhere in the kitchen, especially glass tiles installed as backsplashes. Applying clear glass panels over walls painted soft colors gives a deep sheen that harmonizes with today's contemporary looks. Bonus: It's easy to clean.

Grab some fresh air. Outdoor kitchens and entertaining areas are hot. Your indoor kitchen should have an outdoor doppelganger close by, available through wide glass doors.

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Copyright 2013 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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Copyright 2013 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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