The first step after deciding to do a renovation or construction project is the search to see what’s out there. Most people think they have an idea of what they want, but after the search begins, they find themselves drawn in many different directions. Along with indecision due to information overload, fear starts to set in. Fear of the overwhelming amount of decisions to make. Fear of the time and cost investment. Fear of making the wrong choice.
The type I’d like to cover is derived from the battle between trend and timelessness. Before we start down that path, I think it’s important that we learn more about trends and how they impact our decision making process.
At any given time, there are at least 2 major trends in the design industry. This can often be split into a traditional/transitional trend and a contemporary/modern trend. Most people find themselves falling into a one of these categories based on where they live and the type of home they have. For example, if you live in the Midwest, in a suburban or rural area, it’s going to be highly unlikely that you’ll be putting a chic contemporary kitchen in your home. On the other hand, the probability is equally low that someone in a high-rise in Manhattan is installing a farmhouse kitchen in their flat. Also, I would like to differentiate a trend from a fad. Fads come and go like the wind. We see them for a year or two and then they find their way out. Trends tend to have a longer lifespan ranging, in my opinion, from about 5 to 10 years.
Under 5 Year Plan – Stay on Trend
How does timeline affect the decision making process? Quite dramatically actually. It all depends on the occupants current lifespan in the home. I don’t mean that in a morbid way, but in the expected number of years left before it’s time for a move. If a client is looking to renovate and has a timeline of under 5 years, I’m typically very upfront about how the return on investment just isn’t there. Knowing that, let’s say they were still interested in moving forward with a project. We’d likely make stylistic choices that gravitate towards the trend because we are designing with the intent to sell within a few years. The further you deviate from the trend, the more you will alienate your target audience. That’s not to say that there won’t be a buyer for your home, but you may limit who’s interested. It’s a double-edged sword in this timeframe because as the person who invested in the space, you only get to enjoy it for a few years and you typically make choices for unknown future inhabitants in lieu of ones that may have been better for you.
5-15 Year Plan – Monitor the Trend
When designing for this period, it’s always going to be a better investment financially being closer to the 15 than the 5. Yes, your new kitchen, bathroom, laundry, or closet, etc. will depreciate more and more each year, but you will get to enjoy the time you had those updated spaces. Your neighbors who remodeled to sell may get a slightly better price for their home boasting of their brand new kitchen, but they will have sacrificed on the style, the quality of materials, and the enjoyment factor. Based on surveys by Consumer’s Reports, the ROI on minor to midrange kitchen remodels was between 60% and 90% which means that they lost money giving someone else a new kitchen!
Over 15 Year Plan – Screw the Trend
All that being said, this period allows you more freedom. The longer you stay in the home, the more the trend will change and less likely that it will matter when you go to sell because what was popular then is no longer relevant. What it comes down to at that point is quality. If you buy a home and the kitchen is off trend, but the cabinets are of high quality and the original owner invested in higher end countertops and upscale appliances, those are dramatically better qualities than an on-trend kitchen that’s already falling apart or failing.
To summarize, the fewer years you stay in a home, the less “you” you want to put into it. More years equates to more freedom to express your style and fulfill your needs.