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Remodelers expect healthy gains, forecasters project modest growth

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

Will 2019 be another busy year for remodelers, or will demand begin to taper off? Data from recent industry studies provide somewhat contrasting views, with remodelers expressing confidence about their business prospects and industry economists foreseeing much more modest growth for the year. One point on which they both agree is that market and demographic trends will sustain positive demand for remodeling services for several years to come.

Housing America part 4: The ambiguous role of design

Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building Materials

One architect I heard speak at an event last year described those working in her profession as "agents of expensiveness." It can certainly seem that way. One sector that doesn't come to mind when we think of architectural flair is that of public housing. There certainly has not been much cash to flash about recently. But it has not always been that way, and some are making steps to raise our expectations of the design of affordable and public housing. Can design really save the day?

Does DIY harm interior designers?

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

There's plenty of good news in the 2019 Houzz State of the Industry report. Among all the statistics provided in the report, though, one data point in particular caught my eye. When asked about their business challenges in 2018, 21 percent of interior designers — far more than any other group of professionals — cited "Increased popularity of DIY." In fact, it tied for No. 4 among a list of 14 possible business challenges. That made me wonder, are interior designers disproportionately disadvantaged by DIY consumers?

Safety tips for real estate professionals meeting with buyers or showing…

Terri Williams Facilities & Grounds

In 2018, 67 percent of real estate professionals experienced a situation that made them fear for their personal safety or the safety of their personal information, according to the 2018 Member Safety Report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). In fact, 28 percent of respondents reported that they feel unsafe every few months. According to Mark Leetch, senior risk control consultant at CBIZ Inc., this is a very real problem. "Realtors face the exposure of sexual assault, robbery, and even being murdered," he says.

The future of interior design sourcing

Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Like many other industries and professions, interior design is becoming increasingly digitized. From conception and rendering, to project management, to how designers communicate with their teams and their clients, basic processes and procedures are transferring to digital platforms. One of the areas most affected by this transformation is sourcing and purchasing. What began as a gradual shift towards e-commerce at the beginning of the decade has exploded into a robust online universe of interior design products and services. E-commerce has pulled back the curtain on interior design sourcing.

Housing’s delicate balance

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

With home sales continuing to fall, things don’t look good at the moment for the housing industry. Nonetheless, builders and realtors remain optimistic that the tide is beginning to turn in their favor. A number of factors, such as declining mortgage rates and home prices, rising inventories of homes for sale, and strong consumer confidence in the economy, may lure more buyers into the market this spring. Much depends, however, on whether the economy begins to slow down, as some experts predict, and whether current homeowners view this as an optimal time to sell.

The real way social media helps interior design businesses

Catherine Iste Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Marketing isn't the only thing Pinterest and Instagram can help designers do. The ease of posting amazing images, inspiring design boards and our portfolios makes both sites great tools for sharing more about our work, approach and style. On the flip side, both sites can wreak havoc on our productivity, self-esteem and may not directly help our marketing. There is more to these impactful platforms, and it is time to better understand and take advantage of the real ways social media helps our design businesses.

The future of hotel designing

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

No one knows what trends will shape hotel design a decade from now. One thing seems certain, though. Hotel interiors will interact with guests in new ways and offer environments that will cater not only to their desire for rest and relaxation but also to their overall health and well-being. They will do this by combining the latest technological innovations and biological science with centuries-old traditions of providing excellent service and guest care.

Aging homes will keep remodelers busy

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

It's not just homeowners but also their homes that are aging in place. As the pace of new home construction has slowed, America’s existing housing stock is getting older and older. The majority of these homes are more than 30 years old, and a sizable portion are more than 50 years old. To meet the demands of today's building codes and younger buyers, these homes eventually will need to be updated and renovated, which should provide a steady pipeline of projects for remodelers for some time to come. According to a study conducted by remodeling cost website Fixr.com, a majority of U.S. states had homes with a median age of 35 to 39 years in 2018.

Housing America part 2: The tale of St. Louis’ Pruitt-Igoe

Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building Materials

The tale of the Pruitt-Igoe public housing estate is perhaps the most widely told tale of public housing in the U.S. It has become part of the country’s urban mythology and serves as a pivotal vignette in the longer history of the evolution of housing policy in the U.S. That story did not have a happy ending. A colossal project that dominated the city of St Louis when it was built in 1954, it stood for less than three decades. Its demolition live on television in 1972 became a pop-culture moment that marked a watershed in what was seen as a failed experiment in public housing. Perhaps that makes it a good place to start.

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