IT'S (UN)OFFICIAL!

The Triangle Business Journal's recent online poll indicates Southerners are outnumbered here in the Triangle. The survey, running from June 17 through June 23, asked "From where did you move to the Triangle?"
29 percent of the 900 respondents said they moved to the area from the Northeast. 14 percent of voters indicated they hailed from the Midwest, thus the regions containing Ohio, New York and New Jersey accounted for a total of 43 percent. (TBJ says this means folks who wore blue in the Civil War account for almost half the people here.)
Three Southern options given on the poll totalled 39 percent of the vote. So adding the 3 percent of voters who moved here from the Southwest to the Southern 39 percent, Northeners have a 1 percent edge---43 vs. 42.
Other areas of North Carolina and other Southeastern states logged in about 16 percent each.
A scant 6 percent of respondents moved from the West; 3 percent from another country.
One final category, the "not yet officially endangered" Triangle native represents a mere 7 percent.
Unofficial, but interesting.

Feel The Heat---in the kitchen.

Not long back, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops were the hottest kitchen features. Now, of course, they're pretty much standard in our area. So what's next?

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association's recent survey of more than 200 kitchen designers, cherry and maple cabinets, quartzite countertops and custom-paneled appliances are hot. In years past, oak cabinetry was preferred; but more than 75% of the survey participants report using cherry and maple, followed by paints and exotic woods. And while nearly all the designers consider stainless steel to be the most popular appliance finish, 77% say that custom paneling on appliances is on the rise. Granite is still the most frequently used countertop material, but 65% of the designers report using more quartzite, another durable stone material.

One trend that has remained constant is bigger, more open kitchens that accommodate more than one cook and function as more than just a place to cook. The "work triangle" --- the path between the refrigerator, food prep area and cooking area --- is being replaced by work zones.

Source: National Kitchen and Bath Association

If you're thinking of downsizing...

here are a few tips:

- Paint color. Open-plan rooms appear larger when painted a single color.

- Window treatments. Rather than heavy curtains or drapes, consider plain linen or sheer panels
in a color close to that of the walls.

- Flooring. Too many area rugs tend to break up the floor space. Bare can be beautiful.

- Unclutter. Only furniture on the floor---no treadmills or stacks of magazines.

- Seating. Armless chairs offer streamlined seating, likewise a pair of ottomans kept under a
coffee table.

-Storage. Baskets and trunks under leggy tables provide interest as well as storage.

-Beds. Leave off the footboard; it occupies a lot of space visually.

-Lighting. Recessed and track lights add to the sense of space, while chandeliers and ceiling fans
cut into space.

-Walls. Resist the urge to hang too much art, and leave one wall bare in each room to allow the
eye to rest.

More downsizing ideas from Lauri Ward can be found in "Downsizing Your Home with Style:
Living Well in a Smaller Space".

Going Green

62% of all state governments have adopted green building policies (18 within the last 3 years alone)

70% of homebuyers said they were more inclined to buy a green home in a down economy than a non-green home.

Residential green building is expected to increase 100% over the next five years.

Kitchens & Baths - Still in first place.

Yes, even in today's economy homeowners and buyers are willing to spend on upgrades in the kitchen and bath to create the look they see in magazines and on TV. Somewhat surprisingly, white is still the favored color in the kitchen for many. For accents, designers are turning to coppery metallics and glass tiles to add a splash of color.

Lighting, natural and manmade, are super important in both kitchen and bath. For the bath, lighting should come from the side as well as overhead to avoid creating shadows. Undercounter lighting in the kitchen adds to both safety and ambience.

As for "green", sustainable woods such as bamboo and eucalyptus and recycled copper are being used in kitchens. Water-saving features are ways for both kitchens and baths to be greener.

People still want to invest in their homes and more and more want custom features rather than anything standard or commonplace.