Home Design Trends in 2022

I recently had the amazing opportunity to hear from Max Wilker, Style Director for Better Homes and Gardens about upcoming trends in home design. What does 2022 hold for in terms of style and design for the home? Let’s dive in with the four most popular overall trends he’s seeing.

1. Refined Farmhouse

   • Refined farmhouse is a a modern take on the farmhouse style that has been popular for several years now. It’s cleaned up and simple with pops of color

   • Shaker cabinets, great lighting, black accents

2. Coastal Casual

• A relaxed style with natural textures, soft touchable fabrics, rattan, driftwood, blue glass, shades of cream and light/bleached wood flooring

• Pops of color in navy or coral

3. New Traditional

• Classic forms with contemporary elements

• Warm colors, layering fabrics, floral wallpaper, deep rich jewel tones balanced with softer whites, classic lines

• Accessorize with pattern on pattern, velvet, oriental rugs

4. Organic Modern

• A blend of simple and natural elements through texture, wood, and reclaimed and handmade accessories

• Natural leathers in camel and warmer shades

• Colors in simple greens and blues

• Accessorize with plants. Think- bringing the outside inside

Other Trends to Watch

• Kitchen

  • Slab Marble backsplash to add drama to the kitchen

  • oversized and decorative range hood as a focal point for the room

  • White kitchens are still in, but with accents. Think pops of color, cool marble patterns, and natural wood

• Metals-

  • gold and brass are in, copper is out

• Colors and Neutrals

  • Neutrals- Gray, greige, beige, and creamy whites

  • Black and Bone (not white!) combinations

  • Blues and Greens are a yes

• Wallpaper

  • Look for big florals

  • Wall Murals are a fun new take

  • Statement, accent walls

• Furniture

  • Textured furniture fronts

  • Unique hardware

  • Wrapped furniture in all sorts of textures such as jute, leather, gold, grass cloth

Wishing you happy home designing in 2022! If you have any real estate needs in the coming year, reach out to me!

Freshie's Lobster Co., Salt Lake City

The world’s best lobster roll is right here in Salt Lake City

I chatted with Lorin Smaha, Owner of Freshie’s Lobster Co. in Salt Lake City last week. Check out the amazing things they’re doing and then go try the world’s best lobster roll for yourself. Let me know what you think!

Uploaded by James Tanjuatco on 2018-10-25.

Home Design Trends in 2019

What’s trending in home design in the coming year?

I had the amazing opportunity to listen to a talk from Max Wilker, style director for Better Homes and Gardens Magazine about the top design trends to expect for 2019. He is incredibly knowledgeable and I can’t wait to share with you what I learned!

Colors of 2019

Every year the major paint companies come out with their color for the following year. The biggest thing to see in these colors is that they’re all natural colors. The big trend will be bringing the outdoors indoors. Max says the biggest color you’ll be seeing next year is terracotta, so watch out for it!

Pops of terracotta on the couch

Behr- Blue Print
PPG- Night Watch
Sherwin Williams - Cavern Clay

Black and white will also be a popular color combination. Black wood framed interior windows are becoming more popular as they showcase the view through the window more than a white wood framed window.

Have you heard of Greige? This is the color between gray and beige. Think light gray. You’re even going to see it in fashion as well.

Design Trend

The biggest design trend for 2019 is going to be the Southwest design. Think worn leather, nature artwork, southwestern designs on pillows and rugs, and cactus. For a more modern take on the southwest design, put the design in black and white.

Outdoor living spaces

Remember the outdoors coming in? Well the indoors are going outside too. Outdoor living spaces are going to be big. Outdoor kitchens are making a comeback now that technology has caught up and we are now making more durable kitchen materials that can withstand the outdoors year round.

Look for big porches that showcase oversized outdoor furniture which are great for cuddling up on. Ceiling fans on porches and even TVs are becoming popular.

Kitchens

There is a lot going on with kitchen design! White is still the number 1 color for cabinets, but it’s slowly losing popularity. Cabinets are going one of two directions-soft colors such as light greens, cool blues, and pale grays, and very dark blues. Darker kitchens will be trending such as navy, deep gray, and black.

As for finishes, look for gold pulls and matte black appliances and faucets.

Forget granite, quartz is now the number one preferred counter top including vertical installations. Imagine no grout to get dirty and quartz is very durable and easy to clean.

Other Trends

Lighting: Go over-sized. The bigger the better! Lighting has become a statement piece in a room.

Sustainability- A big trend in home design is sustainability. People like materials that are recycled, organic, reclaimed, renewable, or sourced sustainably.

Flooring- Luxury Vinyl Plank is all the rage right now according to Max (I put it in my own home, check out my blog post here). Natural or white wash are the trending colors.

Exterior- Black and charcoal are popular exterior colors with a colorful front door.

As the calendar rolls into 2019, I hope this gives you fresh inspiration for home design in your own home or maybe a flip you’ve been considering. Happy designing!

Farmer's Markets Around Salt Lake City - Summer 2018

Summer is in full swing which means it's time for farmer's markets! There are so many to choose from in the Salt Lake area and here's the list of my favorites! Give them all a try this summer and enjoy!

Park Silly Sunday Market

Main Street, Park City
Every Sunday through September 23 (excluding August 5, 12, & 19)
10am- 5pm
www.parksillysundaymarket.com

Liberty Park Farmer's Market

Liberty Park, Salt Lake City
Every Friday through October
4pm-Dusk
libertyparkmarketslc.com

 

Murray Park Farmer's Market

Murray Park, Murray
Every Friday and Saturday, July 27-October
9am-2pm
www.facebook.com/murrayfarmersmarket

 

9th West Farmer's Market

International Peace Gardens, Salt Lake City
Every Sunday through October
10am-2pm
9thwestfarmersmarket.org

 

Wheeler Farm Sunday Market

Wheeler Farm, Murray
Every Sunday through October
9am-2pm
slco.org/wheeler-farm/Sunday-Market

 

Downtown Farmer's Market

Pioneer Park, Salt Lake City
Every Saturday through October
8am-2pm
www.slcfarmersmarket.org

 

Sugar House Farmer's Market

Fairmont Park, Salt Lake City
Every Wednesday, July through October
5pm-8pm
www.sugarhousefarmersmarket.org

My Basement Remodel

This is a post I've been excited to write for months now! Our basement is finally finished! One of the biggest factors in deciding to buy our house last summer was the unfinished basement. We saw so much potential equity in finishing it into a beautiful space. Well, with the help of our amazing contractor, that dream has become a reality! I can't believe what a transformation has taken place in our basement! Follow the links if you want to shop my style- I designed almost every aspect of this basement myself!

Bathroom

Full disclosure- this is my absolute favorite thing we did (and maybe my favorite spot in my entire house now!). The previous owners had put in a bathroom, but it needed to be completely gutted. The shower was tiny and gross, the pedestal sink offered no storage and the closet in the middle of the bathroom was just odd. I knew it needed to be completely reconfigured. We decided to remove the stairs and door that went to the garage since the basement already had an exterior entrance. We shifted the bathroom back into the corner where the stairs once were. Moving plumbing in concrete isn't easy or cheap, but we knew it would make a huge difference in terms of the size and layout of the bathroom.

Designing a bathroom with a window and two doors was definitely a challenge, but I think we came up with the best layout possible.  Now with the stairs gone and the bathroom enlarged and moved, we had enough room for a walk in closet between the bathroom and bedroom and the bathroom can be accessed from the bedroom as well. 

The shower is a piece of art. I could live in there. Since all the walls and plumbing were opened up, we decided to add a rain head shower head as well as a large bench. I love the light, marble looking tile and the river rock flooring. Along with the frame-less glass, it keeps the room light and bright.

Shop my design:

Vanity
Shower Tile
Shower Floor Tile
Vanity Light
Faucets (I bought these from Amazon Warehouse and saved $60!)
Shower Fixtures
Rain Head Shower Head

The Wet Bar

The home came with plumbing for a kitchen, so why pass up the opportunity for a little entertaining space downstairs? I wanted something small and compact, so I went with the essentials, a small fridge, microwave, and sink. I wanted a slightly bigger sink than a normal bar, but not full size, so it took some time to find this one, but I'm so happy with it. I've never put butcher block in before, but I'm so glad my contractor suggested it. It brings so much warmth to the bar and I love how the open shelves look against it.

Shop my design:

Cabinets
Cabinet Hardware
Shelving
Counter top
Sink
Faucet

The Family Room

The big change to the family room was the electric fireplace that we decided to put in. Basements always feel cold, so we thought it would be a great way to add some interest to the room and provide extra heat. I also love that our contractor built out a little bit of the wall for added interest.

Shop my design:

Flooring
Fireplace
TV Mount
Entryway Light

The Finishing Touches

Loving this entryway! I wanted a fun light and found this one on Amazon for super cheap. Our awesome contractor rebuilt the stairs too and now it's a proper entry into the basement.

We removed the stairs into the garage and relocated the bathroom in order to capture more square footage. It also meant that the bathroom got a window and lots of natural light. 

Part of the old bathroom became a walk in (and walk through) closet. You can see the little cut out where the toilet used to be.

Want to try your hand at fixing up a fixer upper? Give me a call and let's find you your dream house!

Real Estate Insider: Finding the right lender

What to know about finding the right lender who will work hard for you

When you find yourself ready to take the plunge into buying a home, you're going to need two very important people on your team: your real estate agent and your lender. The quality of your lender can either make your transaction go smoothly and as stress free as possible, or cause major problems which could mean you lose out on your dream home. Choosing a lender that will work hard for you is one of the most important decisions you'll make in the purchase of your new home. But don't stress! Here's what to know when choosing your lender:

Start your home buying process with an in person meeting with a lender

Before you open up Realtor.com, you're going to need to know what your budget is, how buying a home will impact your finances, and how much you can qualify for. I highly suggest each of my clients meet with their loan officer in person (if possible) as the very first thing they do before looking at homes. It's such a vital piece of the process because you can really dig into what to expect from your lender as well as important financial information to consider when purchasing a home. The next step in the process will likely be to fill out an application with your lender to find out what you can qualify for. In this competitive seller's market, you'll want to have a pre approval done before putting offers on homes to be more a more competitive buyer.

Make sure your lender will be available to you outside of the average work day 

In this highly competitive market, you're going to want a lender who gives you their cell phone number and will be available to you outside of the normal work day.  You might need to put an offer on a home on a Friday night because it just hit the market. Or you might need your lender to call the selling agent on a Saturday morning to talk about your strong pre approval status to sway them into choosing your offer. Whatever it is, there are many times when you may need your lender outside of the normal 9-5. When there are multiple offers on a home in addition to yours, you'll want a lender who goes the extra mile for you even if it's the weekend or an evening. Forget calling a call center to talk to a rep who doesn't know you and your situation personally. Find a lender who will work hard for you and doesn't mind answering your texts on a Saturday.

Beware of shady lenders

Let's face it, there are unethical people in every field. Beware of a lender who is extremely desperate for your business or who offers extreme discounts in order to win your business. I recently heard a story of a lender who promised deep discounts and then when the disclosure came out three days before closing, their fees were much higher than they initially stated. Work with a lender from a reputable company and make sure you trust your lender. If they seem extremely desperate for your business, red flags should be going up! 

Ask your real estate agent for advice

Your real estate agent has likely closed many deals and has worked with many lenders. Trust their expertise, experience, and advice when it comes to lenders. They know which lenders are great to work with and will take care of you. 

 If you're ready to start your home buying process, reach out to me today!

Restaurant Spotlight: Tinwell

Discover Salt Lake's Best New Bar

Tinwell recently opened just south of downtown in an area of Salt Lake that is booming with new restaurants, bars, and breweries.

I love Tinwell's mix of industrial and vintage feel. It's cozy, warm, and open inside.

Be prepared to read a small novel of wine, beer, and most importantly, cocktail selections. Tinwell offers classic cocktails and their own creations which are both creative and strong.

I love the small details that weren't spared in the decor here. 

If you love cocktails, you have to head over to Tinwell next time you're in the mood for a great drink and atmosphere.

Moving to Salt Lake City | What to Know

Salt Lake City Relocation Guide

You've decided to make the move to Salt Lake City! Maybe you've just received a job offer, you want to be closer to family or you just love the beautiful lifestyle we have here in Utah. Once you begin thinking about making a move to Salt Lake, there are some things you'll want to keep in mind as you transition. As a Real Estate Agent, here are my top tips on making your move to Salt Lake City a smooth one.

Learn About Salt Lake City's Best Neighborhoods

Little else will probably impact your new life in Salt Lake more than where you live. Your neighborhood is going to set the tone for the restaurants you visit, the people you meet, and the quality of life you enjoy. I've lived in seven different states in my adult life and every time I've moved I've spent countless hours on Google maps just trying to figure out what this new city looks like. The second thing I do research and read every single thing I can find about the neighborhoods of where I'm going. Salt Lake is a diverse city with many different neighborhoods to suit just about anyone (and that's saying nothing of the suburbs where you'll find even more areas that might fit your lifestyle). So research your heart out and get a feel for the different areas of Salt Lake. Soon you'll start to picture yourself in one area in particular. I've written my own blog post about my favorite Salt Lake neighborhoods here which is a great place to get started on your research.

Find a Trusted Real Estate Agent in Salt Lake City

I can't tell you how many times I've moved and my real estate agent was literally the only person I knew in town. Having a trusted, knowledgeable real estate agent can sometimes make all the difference in a big move. One service that I offer to my out of town movers is a driving tour of the city so that you can see the neighborhoods and landmarks you've been researching on Google. Make sure you find someone who will go above and beyond to help make your transition to the area a smooth one.

Learn Salt Lake's Grid System

I've lived in a lot of cities and I've never lived anywhere so easy to navigate. The very first planners of Salt Lake were a meticulous bunch and I silently thank them every time I can navigate myself around this city. Salt Lake and the suburbs are set on a numbered grid starting from Temple Square so if you know your cross streets, you know exactly where you are positioned in the city. I meet transplants all the time and the ones who have learned the grid system know their way around our city so much better than the ones who haven't learned it. Don't worry, it's easy once you get the hang of it. Each street to the North, East, South, and West of Temple square are numbered and given a direction so 100 South is 1 block South of the Temple and runs East and West, 200 East is 2 blocks East of the Temple and runs North and South and so forth. Pull up Google Maps and start studying- you got this!

Find Things to do in Salt Lake City

Once you get here, one of the best ways to feel connected to your new city and meet people is to get out of the house and attend events. It might seem simple now, but when you've just moved to a brand new city, it's difficult to find out what fun things are going on. I put out a monthly email of events going on in the Salt Lake Valley. It's a great email to receive because it comes to your inbox just once a month and you'll have a list of great events to get you out and meeting people. If you want to start receiving it, enter your information to the top right of this page to subscribe. Rest assured, once you get out of the house the people in Salt Lake are incredibly friendly. Strike up a conversation and you just might meet a fellow transplant (this city is full of them!).

Find Your Social Group

When I first moved to Salt Lake, I knew I needed to find some groups to join because it's an easy way to meet a lot of people similar to you in one setting. The groups I found that fit my lifestyle were Fit4Mom (a workout, support, and play group for moms and children) and The Junior League of Salt Lake City (a social and volunteer organization for women). Through these groups I've met some incredible friends and added a lot of great events to my calendar. Meetup is a great website to find groups with similar interests- or start your own!

Explore Beautiful Utah

One of the greatest things about living in Utah is being so close to all of the beauty here. I recently met some people from the East Coast who had taken two weeks off of work to fly out to Salt Lake, rent an RV, and drive all over the state visiting the national parks. I was so struck by the amount of time, effort, and money they were undertaking and I live right next to it! What an amazing opportunity to see some of the most beautiful places and ski the best snow in the entire country! If you love being outdoors, then there's almost zero shortage of things to do here in Utah! This is my favorite website to find great hiking trails and here's my guide to Capitol Reef National Park which is not far from Salt Lake.

Discover Salt Lake City's Best Restaurants 

In my opinion, one of the best parts of moving to a new city is discovering and trying new restaurants. I love reading a new menu for the first time. I run an Instagram account where I post my favorite food and drink finds all over the Salt Lake Valley. Follow me and get some great ideas on new places to try!

Congratulations on your move to Salt Lake City and welcome to the neighborhood!

Weekend Getaway: Capitol Reef

Of all the National Parks in Utah, Capitol Reef is a hidden gem. In fact, many have never heard of it in the shadow of the attention from Zion and Arches. Capitol Reef is an absolute must see in Utah, and the best news is that it's the closest National Park to Salt Lake making it the perfect weekend getaway. Only 3.5 hours from Salt Lake you'll reach the little town of Torrey at the entrance of Capitol Reef. We spent a weekend at Capitol Reef and had an amazing time.

Where to stay: Torrey is conveniently situated just outside of the park entrance. We stayed at the Capitol Reef Resort which was great. It's very close to the park- maybe only 2-3 minutes drive. The rooms have been updated and the grounds are beautiful. There are even teepes and covered wagons available to stay in. We enjoyed the nightly campfire with s'mores where we met fellow guests visiting from France, Denmark, and Australia.

Where to eat: We picked up a quick breakfast and coffee one morning at Castlerock Coffee. The coffee, food, and service were all great! Our first night we tried out Cafe Diablo in Torrey and the food was so good we decided we wouldn't even try another place and went back again for dinner the next night! The patio seating is relaxing with beautiful views and the food was phenomenal. Cafe Diable is a must try!

What to do: Capitol Reef is very accessible to all hiking levels. We tried two of the easier hikes and enjoyed the beautiful views. There is also a lot of history to take in. We enjoyed the petroglyphs, old school house, original cabin home, and small museum located in the farm store. It was amazing to imagine the pioneers who first settled the area. There are also large orchards located in the park where visitors can pick their own fruit. Finally, you have to view at least one sunset from an overview at the entrance from the park. It was definitely a highlight of our trip!

Capitol Reef makes the perfect getaway from Salt Lake. The stunning topography is a must see. Because it is a lesser known park, you won't encounter the vast number of visitors that you may at other parks. Enjoy Utah's beauty just a few hours from home!