With home prices and moving costs at an all-time high, it's no surprise that many are deciding to stay put.

Consequently, those planning to put down long-term roots want their home to be long-lasting and characteristic of both their preferences and their family's needs for years to come. House & Home spoke with area experts for advice on how to achieve longevity in functionality, style and advantageous residency.

"People are remodeling their house to stay [there] as opposed to selling it and moving into a new house, and they're remodeling and making the house more convenient [in preparation] for as they get older," says Aaron Lewis, owner of Closets For Less.

Storage solutions are an excellent way to create the feeling of an expanded space with the extra benefit of organization. The days of chaotic clutter and not knowing where anything is are long over, especially with organizational systems that vary depending on client needs.

"I often explain to people that a closet system is a great idea for any space that you want to maximize the storage in. It is a flexible system, which allows you to use the space for your exact needs, even if those needs change in the future," says Karen McWilliams, owner of Closets by Karen.

Homeowners are also becoming more creative than ever before: transforming garages for more space, creating gathering places in their outdoor areas and dedicating unused rooms to make expansive walk-in closets reminiscent of Barbie's.

"If they want to get rid of their furniture and make their closets more of a dressing area, we can put drawers in the closet as opposed to just shelving, shoe shelves and so forth," explains Lewis.

Walk-in closets can be a game-changer, providing a better quality of life with clothes and accessories easily accessible and arranged to speed up a morning routine. With organization trending on social media lately, people are looking to both simplify the everyday aspects of their lives and designate spaces and systems for specific purposes. It's also in style to show off these home transformations—which is why design and color are equally considered.

"In general, organization of every aspect of your life has become a huge trend. Closets and closet organization have become a priority when people are remodeling a space, building a home, or just need to make their existing closets more functional. As far as the closet materials go, I am seeing a huge trend of lighter wood and white closets. Most people want a light, bright feeling in their closets," says McWilliams.

One option is to use a personal passion as a starting point for brainstorming ideas to create a prized new space. Book lovers can take their supply of books and organize them by color to display a unique and charming library for visitors to admire while also designing a picturesque environment in which to read; seated window nooks are great for pets and a place to relax in the sunlight while still indoors; a backyard patio with television and sound system installations can be the new favorite place to watch the game—the options are endless.

Home Trimwork's design sales manager Mark Ollivier determines his client's taste from inspiration images. His projects include built-ins, stairways, paint, molding, fireplace mantles and flooring, thus bringing the wisdom it requires to make a room—and the entire home—come together harmoniously.

"For many years, clients would tear out magazine pages of images they like and put them on the refrigerator door so they could glance at it several times a day. These days, anyone can do a simple Google search and have countless images to browse and save," he says. "Getting the client to share these images so that we can review them together is vital. Having several images from a client is very helpful to see if there is a common thread from a style standpoint. As we go through these examples, I can pick out certain details to see what part of the example draws their eye. From there, I can apply those features to their design and display how it flows and complements their space."

While everyone's taste is different, experts see more of their customers drawn to timeless designs with room for alterations. Having modifiable implementations allows for tweaks to be made when a fixture needs sprucing up, allowing for easy changes in the future. Neutral colors and simple lines are popular for that very reason.

"Clean, simple lines with painted finishes tend to have more longevity, as they can easily be changed as time goes on. Natural wood products that commonly receive stained finishes are not as common unless we have a client that has longed for a traditional-style library or home office where most or all of the surfaces are finished with stain and polyurethane. This, of course, is timeless if done properly," Ollivier continues.

Whether opting for an addition like a protective top coat or a larger construction project like new flooring, any change can make a long-occupied home feel revitalized and brand new. If the time comes to move one day, refurbishments and exclusive qualities only add to the property value.

"[Floor finishing is] a water base or oil base. It depends on the type of the floor they have; we figure out the best finish to put on the floor. Water base is going to last longer than three years ... even oil base is good as well, standard for three or more years," says Gilmar Marcelino, owner of Victorian Floor Finishing.

To prove that planning is everything, he emphasizes an all-at-once methodology.

"One shot from beginning to the end; not phases, like, one room today, another room tomorrow. We never recommend that. Two things: the process takes longer ... and the cost of the effect," Marcelino continues.

The key to a long-lasting look is to implement materials that are more resistant to damage. Like everything, finding the right product is a case-by-case scenario, but evaluating expectations and necessities for a project with a professional can make renovation goals a reality. Knowing the chosen materials and products will go a long way in expediting any needed replacements in subsequent years.

It's no mystery why homeowners are opting to make a home the best possible version of itself. At the forefront of a completed project is the everyday satisfaction it will bring for years to come. Refurbishments, remodeling or just a fresh coat of paint can bring a new spark of energy to your home and, subsequently, to your life.

Resources:

Closets By Karen
Hawthorne, N.J.
(973) 427-0510
ClosetsByKaren.com

Closets For Less
Bucks County, Pa.
(215) 660-3080
Closets4LessBucks.com

Home Trimwork
Serving N.J. & Pa.
(800) 888-4467
HomeTrimwork.com

Victorian Flooring Finishing, Inc.
Palmyra, N.J.
(856) 858-6465
VictorianFlooringFinishing.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 24, Issue 1 (November/December 2023)
For more info on House & Home magazine, click here.
To subscribe to House & Home magazine, click here.
To advertise in House & Home magazine, call 610-272-3120.