CityView Magazine

32 March 2022 COZY OUTDOOR LIVING From pizza ovens to fire pits, and meditation gardens with soothing water features to comfortable seating areas that allow for social distancing, it's all part of the growing trend toward outdoor living areas, according to Faye Riddle of Coldwell Banker Advantage. Also hot: grills for mega-cookouts, covered porches, and floor-to-ceiling stone fireplaces. "We are talking an oasis for families," she says. "Home has never been more important." BOUTIQUE-WORTHY CLOSETS "ey could be other bedrooms, that's how big they are," says Kirkwood regarding the trend toward larger walk-in closets. Riddle echoes the sentiment. For many, bigger is better, and quality details matter. Fantasy spaces feature everything from vanities to safes. Add custom cabinetry, granite-topped islands, Hollywood-style lighting, lots of hang space, and niches to hold designer shoes and handbags. Kevin and Shawn Grullon enjoy their home's outdoor living space, complete with a pizza oven, plenty of room for entertaining and relaxation and a pool with a waterfall as the focal point. (Photo by Cindy Burnham) HOME SWEET OFFICE Home offices have been elevated to new importance, says Riddle, a Realtor who holds a special designation in luxury properties for Coldwell Banker Advantage. Riddle owned an interior decorating business for about two decades in Fayetteville before she went into real estate, so she has seen a lot of trends come and go. "Home offices have become more streamlined and less cluttered," she says, calling COVID "the game-changer." Because people are spending more time working from home, they tend to personalize the space more. "I'm also seeing punches of color, less built-ins, and tables to lay out their work," she says. Some also have upped their technology to stay connected. Another trend: a dog bed or niche, usually under the desk, to make the space especially pet-friendly. HIDE & SEEK It seemed only logical that hidden pantries would become popular as we began noticing the trend toward spotless kitchens – very little is placed on sparkling granite countertops – and fingerprint-proof appliances and stove hoods that stand out like museum pieces. e hidden pantry as such is typically created behind a paneled or sliding door in the rear of the kitchen or adjacent to it, says Cummings, a custom homebuilder. On one of his recent home plans, Cummings says, the space was referred to as the "messy kitchen." It's a place to wash dishes, store the microwave (perhaps in a drawer), make the coffee or create your coffee bar, put your wine fridge, and freezers, too, says Kirkwood. Organization is the name of the game in cabinets and shelving for nonperishables. McIntosh also notes a demand for recycling bins and "hidden composting bins that are clean and green with no smells or mess."

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