ABOVE: Real homes reflect the long-term view of their owners to use the best quality finishes they can afford. One source for inspiration is this feature kitchen at the Home + Interior Design Show this weekend. Photo courtesy Home + Interior Design ShowHERE'S A LITTLE SOMETHING I’ve noticed since the real estate market started slumping this year: City condo-owners are starting to view their property as a home — their home — as opposed to a commodity to be used to trade up.
Suddenly I’m hearing from home-owners who are looking for help to enjoy actually living in their properties for years to come as opposed to dressing them up to lure the next buyer.
It’s more proof of the social upside that comes with a downsliding market. People are jumping off the gimme-gimme roller-coaster and are starting to reassess what they what and what they need. And what we all really need as we’re reeling from the urgent news of a global banking crisis is a retreat from it all. We may have wanted more square footage last year; this year we need more peace of mind.
You can tell the difference between a commodity-property and a real home the moment you step inside, whether it’s a 500-square-foot Yaletown studio apartment or a sprawling 5,000-square-foot custom-built mansion at the top of West Van. Real homes don’t have a massive $4,000 bathtub that would run the hot water tank cold before it’s half full. Real homes have half-burned candles near the human-sized bathtub. Real homes don’t have the cheapest new lino or carpeting or basic-beige wall paint, selected simply for selling but the most long-lasting, quality finishes the owners can afford.
Commit to your living space and you’re free of the usual advice to keep it all neutral and impersonal. Build that family/friends photo wall-of-fame in the front hall. Paint each room a different colour — it’s only paint. Turn your dining area into your art studio, or the enclosed balcony into a library, complete with deep-comfort armchair. Create a minimalist Japanese-style living room, with only floor cushions and a low square table in the middle. You are only bound by your imagination. When you hear the cautious side of the brain tell you this is no way to increase selling appeal, turn up the iPod and clear the dance floor.
If you need inspiration, hit the Home + Interior Design Show that starts today (Thursday) at 4 p.m., continuing through Sunday at BC Place Stadium. Tickets are $14 per adult, but if you have a printer, you can save $2 by buying your tix online (and get more deets) at http://www.vancouverhomeandinteriordesignshow.com.
