Cooperative Living May 2020 - 27

like a spa, to be nice and clean and feel
like more of a retreat, " King says.
The possibilities for transforming
a bathroom into a lavish retreat are
endless, from painting the room in
earthy colors and installing dimmer
switches to a full-on remodel that
includes radiant heating underfoot and
a luxurious rainfall showerhead above.
" It might be a soaking tub or a
walk-in shower, " says Jessica Lautz,
vice president of demographics and
behavioral insights at the Realtors
association. " Adding or remodeling
a bathroom is very popular. People
feel happier in their home after they
tackle that project. Plus, it has a high
Joy Score. "
3
ALL ABOUT STORAGE
Storage and finding ways to better
organize are key concerns among
homeowners.
" This is always on the wish list, "
says master certified remodeler Dennis
Gehman, owner and founder of
Harleysville, Pa.-based Gehman
Design Remodeling and treasurer
of the remodeling industry group.
" Homeowners really want closets
with organizing systems and storage
solutions in the attic and/or basement
for off-season items. "
Like the full kitchen renovation,
a closet makeover scored a perfect 10
on the Joy Score. It can be as simple as
buying a DIY closet-organizing kit from
a big-box store to a much more
elaborate (and expensive) system that
includes custom cabinetry fitted with a
variety of nooks and crannies, cubbies,
shelves and drawers, depending on the
owner's needs.
FRESHLY PAINTED INTERIOR
One of a homeowner's most coveted
home improvements is also one of the
4
4
JOY
9.8
SCORE
easiest DIY projects. A fresh coat of
paint, especially when it is carried
through the entire house, can make
a home feel brand new.
" Having a full interior paint job
really brings a lot of happiness to
people, " notes Lautz. " The only two
items with a higher Joy Score are a
kitchen renovation and closet
renovation. "
Painting is one of the least expensive
ways to give a home's interior a facelift
and keep it from looking dated. Even
targeting specific areas to paint -
a single room, doors and trim - makes
a difference and contributes to the goal
of adding more personality to the home.
Currently reigning in popularity
among homeowners, according to
Gehman, is a lighter color palette of
light whites, grays and light blues.
" People are using the same colors
throughout the house, " he notes.
WOW-FACTOR FLOORS
5
Installing wood or luxury vinyl
flooring or refinishing the wood floors
come to mind when homeowners
set their sights on upgrading or
modernizing their flooring.
" Real hardwood flooring has a huge
wow factor, " says Lautz. " You notice
it right away and it very much appeals
to an owner. "
Whether to achieve more
functionality and livability or enhance
the beauty and aesthetics of the home,
homeowners feel a huge sense of
accomplishment with this finished
project. They also enjoy their home
more and have a greater desire to
be in it.
Replacing carpeting with wood or
vinyl also plays to a homeowner's dual
desire to be as low- or no-maintenance
as possible.
" People want the lowest maintenance
5
JOY
9.2
SCORE
possible, from the flooring on up, and
that means no carpet, " says Ellis. " They
don't want to vacuum. They just want
to run the jet-spray mop and be done
with it.
" When I was growing up, my dad
would clean window screens on the
weekend, but nobody has time for that
anymore. When time is freed up, people
don't want to be vacuuming. They
want to enjoy their home, not for it
to be a chore. Especially now! " 
Kathy Witt is a travel columnist and
feature writer for Kentucky Living
magazine.
Three Things
Homeowners
Don't Want
FORMAL, ENCLOSED DINING ROOM
WALL-TO-WALL CARPETING
EXTERIOR WOOD FEATURES
As much as homeowners
desire an updated kitchen, they
overwhelmingly reject the formal,
enclosed dining room. Also on
the list: wall-to-wall carpeting and
exterior wood features outside.
" Compartmentalizing rooms is
not what people are looking for, "
says Tim Ellis, president of T.W. Ellis
Design/Build/Remodel, Forest Hills,
Md., and the 2019 remodelers chair
for the National Association of
Home Builders. " The formal dining
room and formal living room have
gone by the wayside. And rather
than carpet, homeowners will
pick up a less-expensive vinyl or
even a laminate. "
Also on the reject pile: wood
exterior features. Eventually wood
starts to peel and that leads to
lots of maintenance issues and
headaches for the homeowner.
" Everything on the outside, be
it backyard or portico, it's all lowmaintenance
composite or vinyl, "
notes Ellis. " People want to go as
low maintenance as possible. "
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Cooperative Living May 2020

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