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The Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa is an icon in Waikiki, a beachfront neighborhood in Honolulu popular amongst tourists. In fact, it was the first hotel in Waikiki Beach. Walking through the lobby of the hotel, which first opened its doors in 1901, feels like stepping into a bygone era. Much of the elegant architecture remains — and of course, so do the ocean views.

The sprawling courtyard, shaded by a massive, 100-year-old banyan tree, is a delightful spot for an afternoon mai tai as you soak up the Hawaiian sunshine. And the Moana Surfrider breakfast — held on a wraparound porch overlooking the water — is divine.

(Photo by Sally French)

But here’s the thing — anyone can visit the bar or restaurant, whether they’re a hotel guest or not. So do the rooms make it worth staying at the hotel? Or, would you be better off staying at another hotel on an Oahu vacation and simply popping over to the Moana Surfrider for a meal or drink?

Here’s our review of the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa:

The Moana Surfrider location

The Moana Surfrider’s beachfront location is top-notch. It offers direct access to Waikiki Beach, steps away from the ocean.

(Photo by Sally French)

The opposite side of the hotel lines Kalakaua Avenue, which is Honolulu’s main shopping street. The prime location means it’s bustling with people, both outside the hotel and on the beach.

Speaking of cars, though, you might not want a rental car in Honolulu given this hotel’s central location, proximity to public transportation and expensive parking rates. The Moana Surfrider parking fee is $65 daily for valet, which is the only option.

There’s also no free airport shuttle sadly, so you’ll have to book a shuttle or rideshare if you forgo a rental car.

Moana Surfrider rooms

(Photo by Sally French)

Moana Surfrider rooms with an ocean view are exceptional; the best rooms offer a panorama that includes both the ocean and Diamond Head, which is a volcanic tuff cone that now stands out as one of the most iconic natural landmarks on Oahu. However, these rooms tend to cost about $200 or more per night as an upcharge for the view.

(Photo by Sally French)

Aside from the view, the rooms are somewhat forgettable and a bit dated. Here’s a look at a Tower room with a king bed and Diamond Head vista:

(Photo by Sally French)

Beds are comfy, but nothing to rave about.

(Photo by Sally French)

The in-room coffee maker is a nice touch.

(Photo by Sally French)

Bathrooms typically feature a tub, though it’s not an oversized tub you’d necessarily want to soak in for a long time.

Rooms also have amenities including a mini fridge and hair dryer.

Key amenities at the Moana Surfrider

The Moana Surfrider charges a $42 daily resort fee, but there are a fair amount of amenities that potentially make the resort fee feel more worth it.

(Photo by Sally French)

The Moana Surfrider pool offers ocean views.

(Photo by Sally French)

The gym is good, but not amazing. Its low ceilings feel a bit cramped, but the cardio machines that face Kalakaua Avenue offer a nice view. There are dumbbells, weight machines and other small pieces of strength equipment like plyometric boxes.

Other, employee-led activities or classes vary by day but include yoga, hula dancing, lei making, a historical hotel tour and a traditional sunrise ceremony.

The resort fee also covers a few extras like a complimentary shopping tote bag and GoPro camera rental.

Moana Lani Spa, a Heavenly Spa by Westin

(Photo by Sally French)

There’s one key amenity that’s not included in the resort fee: Moana Lani Spa. As is usually the case with resort spas, services like facials and massages come at an additional cost. The Moana Surfrider spa is unique in that it’s Waikiki’s only oceanfront spa.

Moana Surfrider restaurants

The Moana Surfrider has one main restaurant serving breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea. There’s also a beach bar, a cafe, a coffee shop and a cocktail lounge.

Dining on the wraparound porch

For a fancier meal, head to the Moana Surfrider’s wraparound porch facing the water. That porch moonlights as a few different restaurants, depending on the time of day.

Veranda at the Moana for breakfast

In the morning, it’s called the Veranda at the Moana. You can choose to dine either buffet-style or order a la carte. Menu items embrace Hawaiian flavors, including the hearty loco moco (a Hawaiian dish of rice, hamburger patty, gravy and egg) and the mango pancakes served with lilikoi curd (lilikoi is the Hawaiian word for passion fruit).

(Photo by Sally French)

If you are committed to dining here, it can make sense to upgrade to the buffet, which offers one of the best brunches in Waikiki. It costs about $10 more than ordering entrees individually, but it entails an all-you-can-eat version of many items on the a la carte menu. Rather than decide between mochiko (local rice flour) waffles, Moana pancakes or an omelet, you might just try it all.

(Photo by Sally French)

Moana Surfrider afternoon tea

After breakfast, the space turns into the site for afternoon tea. Prices for Moana Surfrider tea start at $73 per adult and $37 per child. There, you’ll sip on island flavors like Hawaiian coconut or passion orange guava tea. Treats include tropical sorbet.

Beachhouse at the Moana

At night, that same wraparound porch becomes Beachhouse at the Moana. The white tablecloth restaurant serves fancy fare including steak and seafood.

Other standout dining at the Moana Surfrider

(Photo by Sally French)

The Beach Bar at Moana Surfrider: For casual dining with a stellar atmosphere, consider The Beach Bar. Menu items include poke, burgers and salad. The big draw is the live entertainment — typically ukulele — performed under the famous Moana Surfrider banyan tree.

(Photo by Sally French)

Vintage 1901: For drinks indoors, Vintage 1901 is one of the most charming bars in Waikiki. It’s primarily a wine bar, though other drinks include cocktails with local liquors. Located in the lobby, the bar stands out for its live piano music.

(Photo by Sally French)

Honolulu Coffee: The Moana Surfrider also hosts an outpost of Honolulu Coffee, which is a local coffee chain. Be aware that the lines can get long.

Who is the Moana Surfrider best for?

Travelers who want the best location: If you prioritize being within walking distance of major attractions, restaurants and shopping, then the Moana Surfrider is one of the best hotels in Waikiki. Direct access to Waikiki Beach is convenient, and the beachfront pool is delightful if you’d rather swim in a pool than the ocean.

(Photo by Sally French)

People who appreciate a historic property with charm: Known as the “First Lady of Waikiki,” the property is the first hotel on Waikiki Beach. The property goes a long way to acknowledge its history, including a museum on the second floor plus biweekly historic tours.

Who should skip the Moana Surfrider?

People who prioritize value over the view: Moana Surfrider rooms are impressive primarily because of the views, but you only get a view if you’re willing to splurge. If you’re the kind of person who ends up booking the cheapest available room, you’re better off booking a room without a view at a different hotel.

(Photo by Sally French)

Those travelers might be better off at properties like the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, which is also a Marriott Bonvoy property. Though it’s not waterfront, that hotel is located just across the street from the Moana Surfrider, providing tourists a similarly central location (albeit a walk across the street to get to the water). Prices vary by night, but NerdWallet found some examples where the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani was going for nearly 50% less on the same night than the Moana Surfrider across the street.

Travelers seeking peace and calm: The lobby, wraparound porch and outdoor space under the banyan tree draw tourists who aren’t staying at the Moana Surfrider, which means the lobby and porch might be packed with a lot more than just hotel guests. If you’re seeking a quiet getaway, you might find the Moana Surfrider overwhelming.

(Photo by Sally French)

Booking the Moana Surfrider

(Photo by Sally French)

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Source: nerdwallet.com

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Your home is your sanctuary, a reflection of your personality, preferences, and lifestyle. “Discovering your ideal interior design style is a personal journey that can significantly enhance your living environment,” shares Deziner Tonie of Decorating Den Interiors. “By understanding different styles, navigating trends wisely, and identifying timeless pieces, you can create a home that is not only beautiful but also uniquely yours. Let your preferences guide you, and don’t be afraid to mix and match elements to reflect your individuality.”

Whether you’re drawn to the cozy charm of a cottage-style apartment in Montauk, NY, the breezy vibes of a coastal décor house for rent in Portland, Maine, the classic elegance of a traditionally designed house in San Antonio, TX, or the clean lines of minimalism, finding the style that resonates with you is key to creating a space you’ll love. This Rent. guide will teach you how to find your decorating style through expert tips, suggestions, and recommendations.

Before diving into the discovery process, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with some popular interior design styles:

  • Traditional: This style is timeless and elegant, featuring classic furniture, rich wood tones, and sophisticated textiles like silk and velvet. Traditional design often includes ornate details, such as crown molding, and a color palette of deep, warm hues. Furniture is often arranged symmetrically, creating a balanced and harmonious look.
  • Minimalism: Focused on simplicity and functionality, minimalism embraces clean lines, neutral color schemes, and a clutter-free environment. The mantra “less is more” is central to this style, with a focus on quality over quantity. Minimalist spaces often use a monochromatic palette and emphasize open, light-filled spaces.
  • Modern: Modern design is characterized by clean lines, sleek surfaces, and a neutral color palette with bold accent colors. It emphasizes function and avoids excessive ornamentation. Modern spaces often feature materials like glass, steel, and concrete, and furniture pieces that are both stylish and practical.
  • Industrial: Drawing inspiration from warehouses and urban lofts, industrial style features raw, unfinished elements like exposed brick, metal beams, and concrete floors. The color palette is typically neutral, with shades of gray, black, and brown. Furniture and décor often have a rugged, utilitarian feel, and vintage or repurposed items are common.
  • Bohemian: Also known as “boho,” this style is eclectic and free-spirited, characterized by a mix of colors, patterns, and textures. Bohemian spaces often include items from around the world, such as textiles, rugs, and furniture with a handmade or artisanal feel. Plants, macramé, and a variety of throw pillows and blankets add to the layered, cozy aesthetic.
  • Scandinavian: Originating from Nordic countries, Scandinavian design is known for its simplicity, functionality, and connection to nature. It features light, airy spaces with a predominantly white color palette, accented by natural materials like wood and leather. Clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and an emphasis on natural light are key aspects of this style.
  • Mid-century modern: This style, which originated in the mid-20th century, is characterized by clean lines, organic curves, and a focus on functionality. Furniture pieces often feature tapered legs and a mix of traditional and non-traditional materials. The color palette includes earthy tones and bold, saturated hues.
  • Modern Western: “Modern Western decor blends the rustic charm of traditional Western style with sleek, contemporary design elements,” Teri James with Teri James Photography shares. “This aesthetic often features natural materials like wood and leather, combined with more contemporary accents. Western wall decor, such as framed prints or canvas artworks of vast landscapes, horses, or cowboy-themed art, plays a crucial role in bringing the theme to life,” James shares. Key pieces might include a statement leather sofa, a reclaimed wood coffee table, and wall art inspired by the rugged people, animals, and landscapes of the West. By combining old and new, modern Western decor creates a warm, inviting space that feels both timeless and fresh.
  • Farmhouse: Farmhouse style combines rustic charm with modern comforts. It features distressed wood, shiplap walls, and vintage accessories. The color palette is often neutral, with whites, creams, and soft pastels. Chrissy Evancheck, with Countryside Home Decor, recommends decorating uniquely in this style. “Mix vintage with modern by blending rustic farmhouse pieces with contemporary decor for a cozy vibe,” Evancheck suggests. “Soften your decor with plush pillows and blankets in neutral tones. Have fun exploring and trying out these simple tips for adding a little farmhouse decor to your favorite spaces.”
  • Art Deco: Originating in the 1920s and ’30s, Art Deco is known for its bold geometric patterns, luxurious materials, and rich colors. This style often includes elements like mirrored surfaces, chrome accents, and exotic woods. Art Deco spaces are glamorous and sophisticated, with a strong sense of drama and opulence.
  • Eclectic: Eclectic style is all about mixing and matching different styles, periods, and influences to create a unique, personalized space. It allows for a high degree of creativity and self-expression, combining various colors, patterns, and textures in a harmonious way. The key is to balance diverse elements to avoid a chaotic look.

Understanding these popular interior design styles provides a foundation for discovering which elements resonate with you. As you explore, you’ll find that you might be drawn to a single style or prefer a combination of several, creating a space that truly reflects your individuality.

2. Reduce limitations by avoiding overthinking

“Consider your space style, which is influenced by location, culture, and lifestyle,” notes Dundee Deco. “Five styles to think about are rustic (farmhouse-inspired), French/European, Asian (including Japandi and minimalism), coastal (beach-inspired), and chic (feminine, usually amplified to glam). Choose what fits your lifestyle, mood, or personality.” Using this as a guideline, you can easily mix and match styles. “Combine your time and space styles to create unique blends like modern farmhouse or rustic vintage. Space styles can mix too, resulting in designs like coastal chic or Asian glam,” Dundee Deco suggests.

Starting with a blank canvas is a good place to begin if you’re overthinking what style suits you. “Create a neutral canvas, allowing you to explore bold colors, vintage finds, or minimalist touches – the choice is yours,” recommends Mouna Menebhi of The Boho Lab. “You can explore and personalize your space without sacrificing the environment, by ethically sourcing handmade furniture while adding character and story to your space.”

3. Don’t be afraid to mix styles

Discovering your design style with Katherine Mueller Design is all about embracing your uniqueness. “Katherine loves to mix styles because she believes every client is unique, and their spaces should reflect that individuality,” Bridget Caldaza with Katherine Mueller Design shares. “Start by identifying what you love — colors, patterns, textures — and how they make you feel. Experiment with different design elements to see what resonates with you and makes your space feel like home. Ultimately, your design style should be a reflection of who you are.”

Spouse-ly echoes this sentiment, encouraging following your preferences.”When it comes to discovering your design style, don’t limit yourself,” shares Spouse-ly. “Combine 2-3 traditional styles to create your own unique look. For example, have you heard of the style coastal luxe or transitional farmhouse? Probably not too often because they are inspired by different colors, decor,  and textures that make up their own vibe. Don’t forget to add pops of handmade decor to truly make your space one-of-a-kind.” Mixing and matching styles is a great way to expand your design horizons while determining what your preferences are.”

4. Reflect on your personality and preferences

Consider your lifestyle, interests, and daily routines. Are you someone who thrives in a structured environment, or do you prefer a more relaxed, carefree atmosphere? Do you enjoy being surrounded by keepsakes and mementos, or do you feel more at peace in a space free of excess items?

“Discovering your interior design style begins with exploring your preferences and inspirations. Start by collecting images, colors, and textures that catch your eye, creating a mood board for visual reference,” Dawn Bremer of The Bremer Team shares. “Pay attention to your lifestyle needs, ensuring the design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Experiment with different styles and elements in small areas of your home to see what resonates,” Bremer shares. Reflecting on these questions can help you identify the elements of a design style that align with your personality.

Alex Solonsky, Founder of Artificial Paintings recommends considering spaces that make you feel at home in your decorating process. “To find your design style, start by reflecting on your favorite spaces — be it a cozy cottage, a sleek modern loft, or a charming coastal retreat, Pay attention to what elements make you feel at home,” Solonsky recommends. “Don’t be afraid to incorporate unique pieces that tell your personal story. Trends come and go, but a space that resonates with your personality will always feel timeless,” Solonsky adds.

4. Explore inspiration

Gather inspiration from various sources to see what resonates with you. “In order to identify your interior design style, thoughtfully consider what you’re drawn to in movies, TV shows, and magazines — vintage or modern, eclectic or classic,” Connie Strazzeri, Digital Marketing Manager for Vogt, shares. “From Architectural Digest house tours to Nancy Meyers movies, aesthetic inspiration abounds online, and you can hone in on your specific taste by Pinteresting images that correspond with your source of inspiration.”

  • Magazines and books: Design magazines and books are treasure troves of ideas and visuals. Tear out or bookmark pages that catch your eye.
  • Online platforms: Websites like Pinterest, Instagram, and Houzz are excellent for discovering and saving design ideas. Create boards or collections of spaces that you love.
  • Moodboard: “To find your design style, start by creating a mood board with images, colors, and textures that you naturally gravitate towards,” Sandy with Home By Keira recommends. “Experiment with different styles by incorporating elements you love into your space and see what resonates with you and not ‘trends’. Trust your instincts — your personal style should reflect who you are and what makes you feel at home,” Sandy concludes.”Once you’ve created a mood board, it’s helpful to turn to the experts, like our in-house team at Vogt, to help you bring your vision to life,” Strazzeri recommends.
  • Showrooms and stores: Visiting furniture showrooms and home décor stores can give you a tangible sense of different styles. Pay attention to what draws you in and feels right.
  • Your closet: “Finding your unique decorating style is important so that you can create a home that reflects you. I like to recommend that you start by looking into your closet and taking note of what clothes and accessories you usually would wear,” suggests Rachel Beeman. “By doing this, you can get a good hint from your wearable style and translate that into what you might like in your home. For instance, love wearing bold and colorful? Then chances are you might love that style in your home as well.”

5. Identify timeless pieces

While trends can be fun to incorporate, timeless pieces form the foundation of a lasting interior design. “Rather than following trends, buy items you love and then find a place for them,” Pamela Wingard suggests. “Then use them, whether eating dinner on your wedding china or displaying your favorite collection on a bookshelf. Then donate items in your home that you don’t really love or pass them along to a family member (That’s probably how you got them anyway),” Wingard notes. “Curating what you already have will give you a fresh perspective on what you really like and help you determine your design style.”

Your style, your sanctuary

Discovering your interior design style is a rewarding process that allows you to create a space that truly feels like home. “Choosing your own interior style is all about experimenting until your home feels uniquely yours — a place where you can relax and thrive,” Teresa with Mindful Cements reminds us. “Go for elements that you gravitate towards and bring extra uniqueness to your space, such as geometric prints, furry rugs, or warm-cherry wooden furniture. Creating your own space should reflect your personality and lifestyle, so experiment with colors, textures, and scents until it feels just right,” Teresa concludes.

By exploring different styles, reflecting on your personality and preferences, and incorporating timeless pieces and personal touches, you can design a space that not only looks great but also feels uniquely yours. Happy decorating!

Wesley Masters works on Redfin’s stellar Content Marketing team as a content writing specialist. She has been with Rent. since 2023 and her previous experiences include non-profit communications, graphic design, and content creation. Wesley lives in Atlanta, GA, and loves outdoor walks, hanging out with her loved ones, and finding new recipes to try on Pinterest. Her ideal home is a brownstone with contemporary interiors.

Source: rent.com

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The best souvenirs become home decor

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Journeying to a new place lets you try on what living in another culture feels and looks like, whether you’re exploring the adobe house-filled streets of Santa Fe or the lantern-lit alleys of an ancient Moroccan city. Many travelers, dazzled by the rug sellers of Istanbul or the pottery workshops of Oaxaca, return with worldly housewares or art to decorate their homes.

“A textile, a clay bowl or an object you pick up at a flea market connects you to a time that you’ve enjoyed, a memory of a place,” says Hilary Robertson, a Brooklyn prop stylist and author of “Nomad At Home: Designing the Home More Traveled.” “If you can’t move to Marrakech or Kyoto, you can at least recreate something of the feeling.”

But snapping up the best items for your particular home requires a bit of strategy and advance planning. Here’s how to shop smartly, how to get your treasures back in one piece, and what to do with them upon your return.

Do your homework

You usually won’t turn up Indigenous handicrafts or interesting local art at an airport store or the hotel gift shop. “So do research before you go, looking up artisan networks, finding out which days flea markets operate, and figuring out what you might even be able to buy in a given place,” says Rachna Sachasinh, owner of Tikkiwallah, an online shop selling fair-trade Thai and Laotian pillow covers, blankets and other textiles.

Seek tips on what to buy and where to shop from your hotel concierge (or short-term rental owner), and via the websites and social media accounts of official tourism boards. You can also flip through old-school guidebooks (Lonely Planet, Rick Steves), which tend to concentrate on local retailers, rather than the location of every West Elm in Mexico City. TikTok and Instagram also offer potential shopping info, but be wary of paid brand placements.

While cool art and vintage home decor are available at most destinations, “you’ll find more handmade items like textiles, rugs and baskets if you travel to places like Morocco, India and Mexico, which still have living crafts cultures,” says Sachasinh.

Consider hiring a shopping pro

To get straight to the treasure hunting, you could hire a tour guide who specializes in shopping for a few hours. Look for market- or retail-specific experiences in your destination on travel booking sites such as TripAdvisor and Tours by Locals; using the name of a specific place (“Istanbul Grand Bazaar” or “Oaxaca pottery workshops”) can further winnow your search.

You can also try a simple online search to turn up market-savvy private guides such as Buenos Aires Shop Hop (guided jaunts to leather workshops and vintage markets in Argentina) or Maryam Montague, the proprietor of Peacock Pavilions hotel in Marrakech, who takes travelers on daylong expeditions through the city’s souks looking for fuzzy tribal rugs, bright pottery and leather poufs.

Or go on a crafts- or shopping-focused trip. Tour companies such as Ace Camps and Thread Caravan host weeklong trips to meet artisans and make things alongside them in destinations such as Perú (try weaving in the Sacred Valley near Machu Picchu) or Japan (learn how to use shibori indigo dyes or make pottery).

Luxury trip-planning company Indagare offers frequent style-centric small group tours to Mallorca, Rajasthan and Paris with dinners in designers’ homes, market excursions and meetups with artists. Grant K. Gibson, an interior designer, leads small groups to destinations such as Jaipur, India, and Oaxaca, Mexico, where they visit showrooms, learn about block printing and woodworking techniques, and usually come back with suitcases full of merchandise.

“Design touches on so many passion points — art, history and culture, food and wine — that trips like these are a great linchpin for learning, exploration and meeting fellow design enthusiasts,” says Indagare founder and chief executive Melissa Bradley.

Know what to look for

To support local artisans, look for fair-trade crafts stores, which pay creators fairly for their products and tend to stock goods representative of a destination. Other top bets: flea markets focused on handmade or antique goods, museum shops, and government-sponsored artisan boutiques or networks. For instance, Artesanías de Colombia shops in Bogotá and Cartagena hawk rope hammocks and palm fiber baskets produced by Indigenous weavers.

“And visiting an artisan workshop might give the deepest connection to something handmade, since you get talk to the crafter or even make something beside them,” says Sachasinh, who recommends the weaving workshops and the blanket- and table runner-stuffed store at Ock Pop Tok in Luang Prabang, Laos. At the Seattle Glass Blowing Studio, artists create the delicate bowls and glasses the Pacific Northwest city is known for — and teach beginners how to make their own.

Think about how you’ll get it home

Serendipity and impulse inspire many souvenir purchases. But if you want a Turkish rug for your living room or a vintage Parisian painting to match your bathroom tile, be sure to travel with photos and measurements of the space you have in mind. “I always bring a measuring tape and swatches of any fabric I want to match, too,” says Montague.

Planning on carrying a lot of items home on the plane? Stash a collapsible duffel (Paravel makes a clever zip-down one) in your luggage, or, for larger purchases, pack an extra, empty hard-sided suitcase. “It’s usually cheaper to pay for an extra checked bag than to ship a lot of things home,” says Montague. Know that oil paintings can be taken off their stretchers and rolled up, and that you can purchase a throw pillow cover that takes up little luggage space and buy the bulky insert when you arrive home.

“I’m wary of checking a bag with breakables, though,” says Bradley, who has ferried glass and pottery back from Cambodia and South Africa in a hard-sided carry-on.

And whether you are two hours away by car or five time zones away by plane, retailers that sell bulky items can generally guide you toward a shipper, even though it’s often not cheap. “I had this great farmhouse dining table shipped from the Paris flea market, and I’ve had people on my trips to India send home inlaid dressers,” says Gibson.

Get creative

Many housewares bought on your travels can be repurposed, and even ordinary goods found in other countries can seem special or elevated compared to what you’d get at home. “I go to Mexican hardware stores, because even basic items like door hooks or storage bins can be so colorful and fun,” says Robertson.

A Navajo rug can serve as a tablecloth; a beaded Maasai collar morphs into a sculpture when displayed on a wire stand. Even the simplest souvenirs — a vintage postcard of Yellowstone National Park, a scrap of fabric — look terrific when nicely framed.

Grouping disparate travel finds on a gallery wall can make them seem cohesive. “I have the most random … stuff hung on the wall of the staircase at my house — a painting from India, a brass bowl I got in Turkey,” says San Francisco interior designer Chelsea Sachs. “It’s like a chronicle of my life, and these things remind me of special moments when I get back home.” Indagare’s Bradley arranges Iranian tiles, Burmese boxes and Peruvian ceramics amid the novels and art books on her shelves.

Fabrics, buttons and other easy-to-transport materials you snap up on the road can turn into home accents, even if you aren’t especially crafty. Bring home a couple pieces of washi — a Japanese mulberry paper so storied it’s recognized by UNESCO — to hot-glue onto a lampshade or inside a wooden tray. A basket or other object can be turned into a light fixture. “I carried a huge antique rattan bird cage home on a ferry from Provincetown once, and now it’s a chandelier,” says Robertson.

And almost any textile — a striped Peruvian blanket, a vintage quilt from a flea market — can be fashioned into a throw pillow or shower curtain by your drycleaner or used to reupholster a chair seat. “Sometimes stuff has to hang around for a while before you know what you’ll do with it,” says Sachs.

You might not want to amass a cabinet full of souvenir teacups, spoons or snow globes like your great grandparents did. But the concept of picking up one small object everywhere you travel still has some validity; it might save you from overbuying, and even kitschy trinkets can summon memories. Think about scoring a holiday tree ornament or small flower vase every time you go on a trip, or save a few coins from each foreign country you visit to pile into a bowl on your coffee table. “Pieces from different places become integral to your home and allow you to reconnect with a destination and its aesthetic,” says Bradley.

Source: dailyherald.com

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Amazon Prime Day isn’t the only major sale happening this July. The retail giant Target have also joined in on the summer-ready festivities by kicking off their famous Target Circle Week sale, running from now through Saturday, July 13.

Promising huge savings for this week only, the only catch is that you need to be a Target Circle member to shop the deals. But don’t fret, it is totally free and all you need to do is sign up with an email to get access to the very best savings. And in addition to all the weeklong savings, Target are spotlighting the hottest deal of the day items that you can find further knockdowns on. It really isn’t one to miss.

So as a seasoned shopper (both personally and professionally) I’ve sat down and scoured the Target home sale for hours, so you don’t have to. Here is my edit of the very best home deals to be found.

Shop the Target Sale by Category

Target Circle Week Best Sale Finds

Target Circle Week sale: home decor

22″ Pleated Shade Metal Arch Table Lamp Brass/Cream – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

Nuloom Christana Traditional Checkered Jute Area Rug

Woven Block Print Square Throw Pillow – Threshold™ designed with Studio McGee

33″ Faux Gypsophila Leaf Plant – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

Tic-Tac-Toe Set – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

250 Thread Count Organic Percale Sheet Set

Checkerboard Pouf – Threshold™

Canvas Slipcover Armless Dining Chair – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

Nancy Meyers aesthetic to your table. Complete with a padded seat and an angled backrest, it keeps you sitting comfortably and can be machine washed for easy care.

Ogden Nightstand Brown – Threshold™ designed with Studio McGee

Vivian Park Slipcover Ottoman – Threshold™ designed with Studio McGee

Modern Turned Bed – Threshold™ designed with Studio McGee

transitional, vintage-inspired bedroom. Built with a rubberwood frame, this bed features a sleek design with turned legs and comes with a stylish, modern headboard.

Shiffer Console Table Brown – Threshold™ designed with Studio McGee

Tangkula 3PCS Patio Rattan Furniture Set

Portable Outdoor Patio LED Tabletop Lantern – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

portable lamps are a must for summer hosting. This LED lantern from Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia comes with a top handle for convenient carrying, and a base dimmer switch that helps create the perfect outdoor ambiance.

Nuloom Candace Traditional Vintage Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug

best outdoor rugs are the ones that look like they belong indoors. This timeless rug however ensures durability and long-lasting beauty thanks to its UV-resistant, durable blend of polypropylene and polyester.

Kylie Rattan Bistro Table – Safavieh

66″ Bold Stripe Inflatable Pool Cream/Light Blue/Green – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

Best Choice Products Wicker Egg Chair

An egg chair feels like the ultimate garden luxury. The bohemian style, water- and UV-resistant wicker with weather-resistant cushions make this seat a long-lasting addition to your lounging spot.

What is the Target Circle Week sale?

Target ‘Circle Week’ is a regular sale held for Target’s Circle members – both free and paid. You can find deals across all categories both in-store and online so you’ll be able to shop clothing, homeware, appliances, and more for less.

Circle 360 members (Target’s paid membership subscription) is also reduced during Circle Week, making it just $49 for the first year. Plus, members can get same-day no-fee delivery on orders over $35.

When do Target have sales?

Just like most retailers, Target tend to hold sales throughout the year to help you celebrate big landmark dates like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Black Friday and Christmas holiday sales.

Keep an eye on this page for updates and the very best edit of all Target sales held throughout the year.

Source: homesandgardens.com

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In case you haven’t heard, there’s talk of a “refinance boom” as soon as 2025. Yes, you read that right.

While it seemed like high mortgage rates were going to spoil the party for a long time, things can change quickly.

Thanks to the millions who took out high-rate mortgages over the past couple years, even a slight improvement in rates could open the floodgates.

But now more than ever it’s going to be important to go with the right lender, the one who ultimately offers the lowest rate with the fewest fees.

This is especially true now that banks and lenders are working hard to improve recapture rates for past customers.

A Refinance Boom in 2025? What?

First let’s talk about that supposed refinance boom. This hopeful news comes courtesy of the latest Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey® (MLSS) from Fannie Mae.

The GSE surveyed over 200 senior mortgage executives and found that almost three in five (58%) expect a refinance boom to start in 2025.

And some even believe it could kick off later this year, though that would take a pretty big move lower for mortgage rates in a hurry.

Either way, many are now anticipating that the Fed will cut their own rate in September as inflation continues to cool.

This expectation may lend itself to lower mortgage rates as bond yields drop and take the 30-year fixed down with it.

Assuming this all plays out according to plan, we could see a nice uptick in mortgage refinance applications.

After all, some four million mortgages originated since 2022 have interest rates above 6.5%, with about half (1.9M) having rates of 7%+.

If the 30-year fixed makes its way down closer to say 6%, or even lower, many recent home buyers will be clamoring for a rate and term refinance to save some money.

Loan Servicer Retention Has Surged Higher Recently

Now let’s talk about something called “servicer retention.” In short, once your home loan funds, it is typically sold off to an investor on the secondary market, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Along with the sale of the loan are the servicing rights, which can either be retained or released.

If they’re retained, the originating lender collects monthly payments and keeps in touch with the customer for the life of the loan (unless servicing is transferred at a later date).

If the servicing rights are released, payment collection is handed off to a third-party loan servicer.

Lately, banks and lenders have been opting to keep servicing in house to take advantage of a possible future transaction.

It allows them to keep an open line of communication with the homeowner, pitch them new products, such as a refi or home equity loan, cross-sell, and more.

In the meantime, they also make money via servicing fee income, which can supplement earnings when new loans are hard to come by (as they have been lately).

Anyway, what many mortgage companies are realizing is that with servicing retained, they can mine their book of business for refinance opportunities.

So instead of you calling a random lender when the thought crosses your mind, they might be calling you first.

Will You Still Shop Around If They Call You First?

While it might sound nice to have a built-in reminder to refinance when rates drop, it might also deter shopping around.

The latest Mortgage Monitor report from ICE found that retention rates on recent loan vintages have surged, as seen in the chart above.

Loan servicers retained a staggering 41% of borrowers who refinanced out of 2022 vintage loans and 47% of those who refinanced out of 2023 loans.

In other words, they’re snagging nearly half of the refinance business on loans they funded just a year or two ago.

And the retention rate among rate and term refis on FHA loans and VA loans tripled from around 15% in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 46% in the first quarter of 2024.

This means you’re more likely than ever to hear about refinance offers from the bank that currently services your mortgage.

That’s great for the mortgage companies, since they get to earn money on loan origination fees, lender fees, and possibly selling the loan and/or servicing rights again.

But it might not be great for you if you just go with the first quote you hear. Speaking of, ICE also noted that 36% of borrowers “considered” just one lender before making a selection.

And 48% considered just two. Did they consider two or actually speak to two? Remember, shopping around has been proven to save borrowers money. Actual studies by Freddie Mac prove this.

So if you just say sure, let’s work together again, you could possibly miss out on much better offers in the process, even if it is convenient.

Personally, I’d rather get a lower mortgage rate than save a tiny amount of time.

Before creating this site, I worked as an account executive for a wholesale mortgage lender in Los Angeles. My hands-on experience in the early 2000s inspired me to begin writing about mortgages 18 years ago to help prospective (and existing) home buyers better navigate the home loan process.

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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1

Fresh Bedding

Linoto Linen Sheet Set

At once crisp and comfortable, linen sheets are the epitome of understated elegance. Their naturally imperfect finish gives them a rumpled, lived-in look that somehow still looks polished.

2

An Arty Catch-All

Mela Artisans Scalloped Bowl

Why not turn your fruit bowl into a tabletop accessory? This hand-carved wooden bowl offers a stunning natural shape.

3

A Vintage-Inspired Rug

Loloi Accent Rug

Now 57% Off

Try a low-pile rug in a high-traffic area to minimize wear and tear. This gorgeous Persian style is a great option.

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4

A Cushy Couch

WILLIAMSPACE Curved Sofa

This oversized boucle couch will undoubtedly be the star of your living room—not only for its eye-catching silhouette but also its cozy, deep cushions.

5

A Chrome Coffee Maker

Alessi 9090 Espresso Maker

Bring a bit of design history to your morning routine with this deluxe coffee pot, which was featured in the MOMA upon its creation in 1978.

6

A Charming Vessel

Creative Co-Op Terracotta Urn

Now 24% Off

For a rustic touch, skip bright florals in favor of some pampas grass and dried eucalyptus. This whitewashed pot is wide enough to hold a large arrangement.

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7

A Gilded Accent

Kate and Laurel Arendahl Arch Mirror

Now 35% Off

Enhance your entryway—or at the very least, your outfit selfies—with an ornate mirror that looks like an antique treasure.

8

A Sink Set

Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Duo

When it comes to little luxuries, upgrading your hand wash is one of the easiest ways to make the everyday feel special. We love this nourishing, citrusy duo from Aesop, which comes with both hand soap and hand balm.

9

A Soft Throw Blanket

State Cashmere Reversible Blanket

No matter which way you use it, this reversible cashmere throw is oh-so chic and soft.

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10

A Multifunctional Stool

LETESA Velvet Ottoman

Available in 16 colors and shapes, this soft ottoman is the ultimate versatile find. Not only is it a striking piece of decor, but it also doubles as extra seating when needed.

11

Striped Serving Board

Bloomingville Marble Board

Take your charcuterie spread to the next level with this striped marble board. Even when empty, it’ll look great atop your kitchen counter or coffee table.

12

Earthy Linens

Eight Owls Linen Napkins

Forego the tablecloth at your next soiree: Olive-colored linen napkins offer a pared-back alternative with a Mediterranean-inspired edge.

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13

Modular Seating

Jennifer Taylor Home Marcel Bubble Arm Chair

Now 26% Off

No space for a sprawling sectional? Make do with a set of oversized arm chairs that are just as plush.

14

A Sculptural Side Table

Christopher Knight Home Jerod Accent Table

A geometric statement piece with a twist, this end table has a wood-painted finish but is actually made of concrete for extra durability.

15

A Brassy Centerpiece

Creative Co-Op Metal Candelabra

Whether used as the focal point of a lush tablescape or to add height to a mantel vignette, you can’t go wrong with an antique brass candelabra.

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16

Detailed Barware

NOVICA Hand-Blown Water Glasses

You’ve stocked your bar cart with high-end mezcal and endless bottles of Ghia; now, make sure your glassware is up to par with a set of hand-blown tumblers.

Elly Leavitt is a fashion and luxury commerce editor at Hearst covering fashion, design, and more across multiple brands. You can probably find her in line at Trader Joe’s. You will never find her at SoulCycle.

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Source: townandcountrymag.com

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Warehouse, Fee Collection, Broker AVM Tools; Violation Tracker; Lender and Investor Changes

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Warehouse, Fee Collection, Broker AVM Tools; Violation Tracker; Lender and Investor Changes

By:
Rob Chrisman

Wed, Jul 3 2024, 11:43 AM

Did you know that there were 2.5 million estimated people living in the newly independent nation of the United States in July 1776? Per the Census Bureau, that figure has now risen to around 335 million. 56 individuals of those 2.5 million people were signers of the Declaration of Independence, with John Hancock, a merchant by trade, being the first signer. Benjamin Franklin, who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest signer at age 70; Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was the youngest signer at age 26. Speaking of numbers, if you like them, although the FHFA and the CFPB would like you to believe that they are part of the fabric of the United States, they aren’t. But the FHFA and the CFPB Release Updated Data from the National Survey of Mortgage Originations for Public Use. Hey, I only know what I read in the newspapers. But there is some interesting real-time information out there, and if you want to see who’s paying what in violations, here you go. (Today’s podcast is found here and this week’s is sponsored by Bundle, the attorney-prepared legal documents company that is dedicated to the real estate, mortgage, and title industries. Fuel your operations and execution of documents from deeds to subordinations to assignments, and everything you need for any order, in one bundled price; receive 20 percent off using the code “Chrisman” at checkout. Hear an interview with Atlas Real Estate’s Tony Julianelle on the recent single family rental market transformation and why individuals in the mortgage industry should care about property management.)

Lender and Broker Services, Products, and Software

“Leadership is crucial for organizational success and culture. Recognizing the differences between strong and weak leadership will directly impact your team’s success. Inspired by ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins, this upcoming webinar features Laura J. Brandao (Equity Prime Mortgage), Keith Canter (First Community Mortgage), and Richard Grieser (Truv) sharing insights from their many years of mortgage leadership experience. You’ll leave this July 10th session with strategies to effect change in your organization, attract and maintain the right talent, understand team needs to advance shared goals, maintain a disciplined yet happy culture, and leverage technology as an accelerator. Come join us!”

Rocket Pro TPO offers Home Equity Loans powered with AVM (Automated Valuation Model), providing faster and more cost-effective appraisals. With AVM, valuations are delivered in seconds, nearly five days faster than traditional methods, saving clients time and money. Interested? Price a loan today.

Lenders across the country are still looking for ways to cut costs without sacrificing revenue. Start off easy by collecting fees upfront. Fee Chaser by LenderLogix makes it as easy as clicking a button… literally. Book a 15-minute demo and get started in a few weeks.

PlainsCapital Bank National Warehouse Lending, a subsidiary of Hilltop Holdings (NYSE:HTH), offers funding for multiple mortgage products and programs with little to no additional requirements: FNMA HomeStyle, FHA 203K Full, Limited, and USDA Rural Housing renovation loans. Mortgage Revenue Bond and DPA loans with extended dwell times. Sub Limits for lower FICO scores, manufactured homes, renovation, construction and other unique mortgage products and programs. With over 30 years’ experience and a well-capitalized diversified financial holding company we provide our customers with confidence to meet their loan funding needs. If you are interested in learning more about PlainsCapital Bank National Warehouse Lending please contact Deric Barnett, (469)955-6786.

Agency, Lender, and Investor Changes

FHA posted to its Single Family Housing Draft ML proposing changes that would update FHA’s Defect Taxonomy to include fraud or material misrepresentation involving a Third-Party Originator (TPO) as a Tier 1 severity defect. FHA’s Defect Taxonomy is its quality assurance framework for all Title II loan reviews. It provides a consistent methodology for identifying defects at the loan level, useful data, feedback through structured categorization of defects, and balance between FHA’s risk management and quality assurance business processes. Interested stakeholders are encouraged to thoroughly review the Draft ML and provide feedback through June 24, 2024.

FHA published Mortgagee Letter (ML) 2024-12 implementing the provisions of the final rule, Revision of Investing Lenders and Investing Mortgagees Requirements and Expansion of Government-Sponsored Enterprises Definition, announced April 23, 2024, in FHA INFO 2024-21. The final rule revised and clarified requirements for investing lenders and mortgagees to gain or maintain status as an FHA-approved lender or mortgagee, separately defines Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSE), including the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB), from other governmental entities and aligned general FHA approval standards with current industry business practices.

Ginnie Mae announced a term-sheet for its proposed Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Mortgage-Backed Securities (HMBS) 2.0 program, initiating a comment period ending July 31st. The proposed program aims to enhance liquidity access for HMBS Issuers by allowing the re-pooling of active and non-active buyouts into new custom, single-Issuer pools. The new HMBS 2.0 program, described in more depth in our blog Ginnie Mae Announces New Pool Type to Improve HECM MBS Liquidity,​ seeks to address liquidity constraints in the reverse mortgage sector by providing a new capital markets execution for older vintage HECMs.

Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.59 trillion in May, including $36.9 billion of total MBS issuance, leading to $14.3 billion of net growth. May’s new MBS issuance supports the financing of more than 116,000 households, including more than 58,000 first-time homebuyers. Approximately 74 percent of the May MBS issuance reflects new mortgages that support home purchases because refinance activity remained low due to higher interest rates. More information is available in Ginnie Mae’s Press Release.

USDA Rural Development posted a bulletin on June 21 announcing an interest rate increase for SFH programs.

Don’t limit your borrower’s buying potential if they require a loan amount beyond conventional limits. Loan Stream Mortgage Jumbo ONE loan programs empower you to give your clients more options all while helping you close more loans. With four Jumbo ONE programs available for Purchase, Cash-Out, and Rate & Term Refinance.

Citi Correspondent Lending updated Trailing Outstanding Document requirements. Changes include updated timelines for submission of missing documents and remediation of deficient documents, additional impacts when missing/deficient document issues are not resolved in a timely manner, and reporting changes. View the complete Outstanding Document Updates Announcement, which provides effective dates and outlines details for all of the changes.

Sellers in Carrington’s Non-Delegated Correspondent channel are now able to select who they want to generate the closing docs during loan submission. The cost for Carrington to generate the closing docs is a low $350.

Newrez approved correspondent clients, don’t forget that loans containing an ACE + PDR appraisal method must submit a PDF report that uses the Uniform Property Dataset report (UPD) and includes the required certifications, floor plan and photographs to Freddie Mac using the Beyond ACE application programming interface (bACE API). Details are available in Newrez Bulletin 2024-040.

Eliminate mortgage headaches for your borrowers with Kind Lending’s Written VOE (Verification of Employment) program. This non-QM product uses a written VOE for qualification purposes versus traditional documentation such as W2s and paystubs.

National residential lender PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company, now offers a new home equity loan product giving homeowners the ability to convert home equity into cash. With a PrimeLending home equity loan, homeowners can access a portion of their home’s value without having to sell it. Simply put, homeowners can borrow money using their home equity as collateral and repay the loan at a fixed-rate over a 30-year term. Homeowners receive the cash as a lump sum upfront to use however they choose, such as consolidating debt, making home improvements, or covering tuition, medical or unplanned expenses.

Capital Markets

Fed Chair Powell knows Halloween is nearly four months away. The head of the Fed refrained from spooking markets yesterday at the European Central Bank’s annual forum, citing progress on inflation, which helped to bolster bets that the Fed will be able to cut rates this year. He added that the risks between price pressures and the labor market are coming into better balance, though predictably declined to foretell of a September reduction. In the wake of President Biden’s poor debate performance last week, many investors are preparing for higher-for-longer interest rates from the increased likelihood of a second Trump term and additional inflation-stoking tariffs. Conversely, Chicago Fed President Goolsbee said yesterday that the Fed should prepare for rate cuts.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) is conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Looking for signs that the labor market is softening? May’s JOLTS report showed a labor market that in many ways looks like its pre-pandemic self. The number of job openings per unemployed worker remained unchanged, back at its 2019 average. Job openings unexpectedly rebounded in May from the three-year low hit in April, increasing to 8.140 million from 7.919 million in April, interrupting a downward trend. Fed Chair Powell yesterday described the job market as cooling off appropriately.

Due to the Independence Holiday tomorrow, some usual economic releases and supply are moved up to today’s calendar. The calendar kicked off with mortgage applications decreasing 2.6 percent from one week earlier, according to data from MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey. Keep in mind that we have had three straight weeks of gains, including during the prior holiday-adjusted week.

Markets have also received Challenger job cuts for June: 48,786 cuts, down 24 percent from the 63,816 cuts announced one month prior but 20 percent higher than the 40,709 cuts announced in the same month in 2023. We’ve had ADP employment for June (150k private-sector jobs were created, the lowest gain in five months but still a gain), and jobless claims (238k, as expected; continuing claims 1.858 million). Other releases today include the May trade deficit, Final S&P Global services PMI for June, ISM services PMI for June, factory orders for May, and Treasury releasing details of the mini-Refunding consisting of $58 billion new 3-year notes and $39 billion and $22 billion reopened 10-year notes and 30-year bonds.

The latest Fed Minutes (from the June 11-12 Federal Open Market Committee meeting) will be released today and should give us some further hints of the Fed’s thinking, though Fed messaging has been clear that inflation remains too high, and patience is needed to allow more time for the current rate target to bring it back down. Futures settlement close is at 1:00pm ET with SIFMA recommending a 2:00pm ET close for cash bonds.

Looming after tomorrow’s 4th of July Holiday is the June nonfarm payrolls report on Friday, where estimates anticipate the economy added nearly 200k jobs throughout the month, while they anticipate the unemployment rate will remain near historic lows at 4 percent. We begin the day before the holiday with Agency MBS prices a few 32nds better from Tuesday’s close, the 10-year yielding 4.41 after closing yesterday at 4.44 percent, and the 2-year is yielding 4.75.

Jobs

“After 50 remarkable years in mortgage lending, Planet Home Lending Senior Vice President, Correspondent Lending Jim Loving is retiring. Jim is an industry icon who’s built a remarkable culture focused on partnership since he joined Planet in 2014. Jim’s legacy at Planet and in the industry is a lasting one. From inventing Best-Efforts Delivery to building Planet Home Lending into a top-tier correspondent lender, he’s been a mentor and partner to many in our industry. As Jim moves on to the next chapter, our experienced Regional Managers will continue to serve as expert guides, helping you navigate today’s market challenges. We hope you’ll join us as Planet extends its deepest gratitude to Jim for his exceptional contributions.”

“Loan officers! Discover the radius advantage. Are you navigating a market that’s forgotten the value of loyalty? At radius financial group, we’re rewriting the script with our MLO Partnership-Proposition (MPP). We understand the industry’s pulse and the need for a genuine partnership—not just a platform to process loans. As lenders focus on consumers, we concentrate on you, the heartbeat of our business. You’re not just a number here; you’re the face of our brand, co-branded for success. We’re committed to investing in you, providing a stable home where your talents are nurtured and your book of business flourishes. For confidential inquires please contact Carla Herrera (781-742-6500).”

Retirements… Can our biz survive losing 123 years of experience in one fell swoop? Of course it can. How ‘bout 32-year vet Max Cocetti retiring after 19 years with MGIC? Or 41-year vet Donna Miller retiring from Truist? And after only 50 years in the biz, as noted above short-timer Jim Loving is calling it a career leaving his 10-year post as SVP of Correspondent Lending at Planet Home, with hopefully more Corvettes in his future. We wish them all the best!

 Download our mobile app to get alerts for Rob Chrisman’s Commentary.

Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

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Home design trends in any year contradict themselves. For 2023, designers said it was the year of organic materials and muted greens, while other designers were painting walls black for dark academia bedrooms—complete with crows. Trends come and go, but we can use them to inspire ourselves and create our idea of a happy place. No matter how different we all may be, there’s a design trend for each of us—even if it includes crows. 

When home decorating, the goal is to find colors and elements that you like and that support the look you want to achieve, and then give them a try. The trick comes in finding a way to try 2024 trends without making major changes that you’re not ready to live with for the long haul. From the many, many trend lists we’ve looked at this year, we’ve chosen styles and elements that run the gamut from bold to understated, and modern to traditional. Whether you’re a moody crow lover or a modern farmhouse diehard, you’ll find something in this year’s trends to up-level your look.

1. Quiet Luxury

Designer: ANA Interiors. Photographer: Ana Cummings

If you’ve scrolled your feeds looking for home design ideas recently, you’ve seen #quietluxury trending. This understated approach to posh emphasizes quality and craftsmanship over flash and bling. Paring down decor, keeping clutter at a minimum, confining colors to muted neutrals, and adding quiet luxury ingredients are meant to inspire calm. The centerpiece of a quiet luxury living space is the cloud couch, a white sofa with a puffy seat and back pillows stuffed with goose down. 

“Quiet luxury is here to stay,” says Morgan Olsen, Thumbtack’s home and design expert. “Homeowners are done with loud luxury trendy pieces and are being very intentional with their spending. 2024 will be about craftsmanship over big brands and labels, as homeowners look for reclaimed materials and quality furniture.” 

That means buying pieces that last decades rather than the 3 or 4 years of mass-produced furniture. “But who said you have to get the cloud couch?” asks Olsen. Instead, find secondhand furniture by quality makers and reupholster it. Or pare down your wall art and knickknacks, then add goose-down throw pillows and a luxurious throw like this State Cashmere Striped Throw Blanket to your existing neutral sofa. 

2. Healthy Habits

Designer: Kelley Design Group.
Builder: CKN Capital Group.
Photographer: Cate Black Photography

Bringing wellness closer to home is no longer a luxury but an essential for many people, especially for exercise and spa experiences. “Homeowners will continue to turn their homes into wellness retreats, prioritizing features that have health benefits,” says Olsen. 

According to the 2024 Houzz U.S. Emerging Summer Trends Report, with cold plunge pool, indoor sauna, and backyard sauna all rising in search frequency in the first quarter of the year, compared with Q1 2023. At-home exercise has evolved from a stationary bicycle, with searches for bocce court, bowling alley, and game room all higher than last year. Mentions of pickleball courts on Zillow are up 64 percent over last year. People are looking for homes with private courts and nearby public courts. Pickleball in the driveway, anyone?

In addition to saunas, Amanda Pendleton, Zillow home trends expert, lists spa bathrooms and red-light therapy rooms among the features home buyers are using to complement wellness routines. While replacing a bathtub with a walk-in spa shower is a trend for remodeling projects, you can spend far less and create a spa bath at home with simple switches. Create a relaxing atmosphere by focusing on all five senses. Replace the counter clutter with a flower arrangement or basket of fluffy towels. Choose soft textures in muted colors and a comfy bath pillow, like this Luxurious Cork Bath Pillow by LIVTUUshop at Etsy. Add the soothing scent of essential oils and a source of meditative sound. Don’t forget a glass of cucumber water.

3. Hidden Spaces

Courtesy of Ruhl | Jahnes Architects.
Photographer: Nat Rea

Nothing beats a cozy reading nook, according to the 2024 Houzz U.S. Emerging Summer Trends Report. Searches for library walls, reading corners, and book nooks have all gone up this year. Secret spaces have long been a favorite for people who enjoy a bit of whimsy at home, along with out-of-sight storage. The Houzz Emerging Winter Trends Report, released at the end of 2023, shows that cloaked additions are gaining popularity. Searches for trapdoors are up by 350 percent, and searches for kitchens with hidden pantries rose by 250 percent. Say goodbye to the wet bar in the living room and hello to a secret speakeasy bar and lounge, or a wine bar and cellar under the stairs, both searched more often in 2023. 

If you’re not ready to tear down any walls or excavate the closet under the stairs, create nooks and hidden spaces with a few easy changes. Give more privacy to a window seat by hanging curtains outside the front of the seat rather than against the window. Hide the entrance to a closet with this Door Mural of Antique Bookshelves by Recallart at Etsy. In the kitchen, create a secret pantry by adding vertical wood panels on and around the pantry door. For renters, this Abyssaly Wood Slat Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper at Amazon is removable; homeowners who want a more permanent solution without the hassle of cutting wood can try the Set of 4 PVC Wall Paneling pieces at Wayfair that mount with adhesive.

4. Blues and Greens

Courtesy of Brittany Lyons Interiors.
Photographer: Mike Healey Photography

Green is the most popular color this year for home design. No, wait, it’s blue. Blue is the most popular color this year for interiors. Designers differ on this one, but most agree that shades of blue and green are taking center stage in the home. Mitchell Parker, senior editor at Houzz, says blue provides a calming influence. 

Sage and gray-green also are on the rise, according to the Houzz winter report. A barely-there sage functions as a neutral on kitchen cabinets, and a darker gray-green provides contrast to warm neutrals. In true blue fashion, however, several paint companies have chosen a shade of blue as their 2024 color of the year. 

Add contrast to neutral furniture and flooring with blue or green items you already own, gathering throw pillows and blankets, table runners, vases, decorative containers, and framed prints from other rooms. Add a blue or green ribbon trim to curtains or the base of a fabric sofa without a sewing machine by using HeatnBond Hem Iron-On Adhesive at Amazon; seal the trim with a flat iron (used for hair styling) in places you can’t fit onto an ironing board. For a classic look, we like this M&J Trimming Greek Key Fabric Ribbon in denim blue and sage options.

5. The Return of Creams

Courtesy of kate roos design.
Photography: Andrea Rugg Photography Andrea Rugg Photography

While many new homes are still coated in gray from floor to ceiling, the trend is moving away from this cool palette and back to warmer colors like cream, tan, and brown. Stark white walls are too harsh for this year’s earthy color schemes. Parker says beiges, creamy off-whites, and rich browns are the focus for a warm, welcoming space. 

If you like the look of an all-neutral, off-white room, add textures and patterns, as well as a variety of tones, to create a more layered look, says Parker. The Graham Leather/Suede Lumbar Rectangular Pillow Cover and Insert at Wayfair has a removable cover to swap for a machine-washable option when needed. Swapping accessories has a big impact, especially if you clear the clutter first. We like this Handmade Wood Table Vase, an organic take on the popular ceramic styles, and the Magalia Wood Tray that brings both functionality and latticework texture.

6. Whole Wall Art

Photo: iStock

If you want an abundance of colorful expression in your home design, those cream walls act as a blank canvas perfect for art and pattern. Bold floral wallpaper or a hand-painted mural are both big this year. Zillow’s 2024 home trend report shows that many homeowners are into eclectic, maximalist interiors. Murals in homes for sale are showing up 18 percent more often than last year. The good news is you can learn how to paint a mural even if you’re not an artist, with a bit of painter’s tape and imagination.

Wallpaper also comes in mural patterns, including the peel-and-stick variety beloved by renters and frequent redecorators everywhere. Modern botanicals, landscape vistas, and stripes are trending patterns this year. Guest baths are often the place to start, since the design will make a big impact in a small space without costing a lot of time or money. Murals like this Chinoiserie Watercolor Peacock Wallpaper by FabbWallDecor, can be subtle while bringing interest to a neutral palette. Or make a big impact with this Removable Abstract Wall Art Wallpaper by ONDECORstore, both at Etsy. 

7. Handmade Touches

Photo: Zillow

This year, embrace handmade pieces that show the inevitable imperfections of craft. Artisans are impacting today’s trends with handmade tiles, hand-thrown serving dishes, and hand-painted murals. Pendleton points to Murano glass chandeliers as an example of the handmade and bespoke features popping up in today’s homes. The colorful light fixtures are featured 58 percent more often in searches on Zillow, despite the sometimes hefty price tag. If this Ares Murano Glass Chandelier at $1,675 is out of budget, support an Etsy artist with this Handmade Dusty Pink Peony Pendant by FloralsBySERRO. 

Handmade items make your home unique and add a personalized touch to any room. The 2023 Houzz U.S. Bathroom Trends report showed that 62 percent of renovating homeowners are choosing a custom or semi-custom vanity. Repurpose a piece of vintage furniture and make your own vanity, or add painted details to an existing model.

8. Brutalism

Photo: Zillow

Even if industrial design isn’t your style, the return of brutalism can be a welcome change in today’s homes. Brutalist design uses materials like raw concrete, brick, steel, and bronze. You’ll see organic shapes with raw edges and unpolished surfaces, as well as a streamlined design for functionality. Pendleton says Zillow has seen a 452 percent increase in the number of homes for sale that mention brutalist design.

“The return of brutalism is the most surprising rising trend of 2024, particularly after the hygge movement where homeowners embraced cozy comfort over hard surfaces,” she says. “The hallmarks of brutalist design—raw, organic, and unfinished materials—are already showing up in furnishings, lighting, and accessories. When juxtaposed with overstuffed sofas, curved armchairs, and plush high-pile rugs, brutalist architectural elements can add visual interest and much-needed contrast to a space,” says Pendleton.

9. Style That Sticks

Designer: Molly J Littlejohn Design.
General Contractor: Kraft Custom Construction.
Photographer: Chuck Collier

Some trends stick around for years. Most people are hanging onto their outdoor kitchens and fire pits. Others come and go, like inflatable furniture. No one is missing that squeaky stuff. As interior design trends have bent back toward the traditional and eclectic, designers are emphasizing a focus on timeless style that doesn’t look dated from year to year. 

Parker says modern homes are showing brick, clay tiles, rustic wood, and other materials that signify a legacy rather than a fad. To get a timeless look that works for your space, create meaning through your belongings. A quality collection of original artwork from your travels will never go out of style, nor will vintage area rugs. Antiques are a good bet too because they add contrast to modern accessories. 

White bedding, pleated curtains, and anything with stripes serve as foundational textiles you can build upon as trends change. Truly timeless style is about quality and meaning, so make space in your home for what matters most.

Source: bobvila.com

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For the past decade or so, it seems gold and brass have been the metals of the moment in the interior design world, closely aligned to the fashion cycle that’s placed them at the forefront. But the tides could be turning. With 2000s fashion having a full-circle moment, so are the cool steely tones of the early aughts and late ‘90s, paving the way for a prominent silver home decor trend.

“Silver and gold like to fight for the spotlight every year, and this year, silver has won,” says Bethany Struble, lead designer at Totum Home. She explains that this recent victory is a direct correlation to runway shows of recent seasons — think the silver brooch trends that dominated the Fall/Winter 2024 runways of Miu Miu, Chanel, and Tory Burch and the silver statement necklaces and earrings seen at Prabal Gurung and Carolina Herrera, respectively — that now has consumers embracing the shimmering silver tones.

Although silver may have once been associated with wealth and status, Struble says, this time around, it feels a bit more casual and approachable compared to gold (especially if you lean toward shiny finishes) and this modern take on the metal has more of a laidback edge to it.

“I think it connotes something futuristic,” says Alex Bass, an interior designer, art curator, and founder of Salon 21, a fine art and interior design studio, drawing comparison to the decor of the Space Race era of 1950s and 1960s, which had a silver-clad, futuristic look.

Embracing this trend is all about incorporating subtle accents that can elevate your space through their shimmering finish. From accent lighting to shelving, here’s how Bass and Struble say to embrace the classic metal.

How To Decorate With Silver Pieces

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Small Touches

When trying new trends, it always helps to start small. Bass says one of the best ways to dip into silver aesthetics is to add small touches here and there, whether it be through barware, picture frames, planters, or even accent lighting. “I love adding a silver table lamp to a space — it creates a visual interest without being too much,” Bass notes.

Add Dimension Through Shelving

“Silver is also reflective, so it’s a fun way to add dimension to a space,” Bass explains. To up the ante on dimension while still keeping things subtle, she recommends adding silver etageres to your space or using similar-looking items like side tables or even serving trays as decor items.

Mirrors

Accent mirrors automatically have a silver touch to them, so they’re an easy way to add this cool metallic tone to your space. Bass says to take this a step further and choose mirrors with silver frames. “Having a silver border makes it more decorative,” she explains, noting that mirrors also help a space appear larger. You can also incorporate more metallic tones in your wall art through framing. (And, if you do go for a silver frame, be sure to include a silver picture light to elevate the finished piece.)

Cabinet Knobs & Drawer Pulls

Your cabinets and dresser drawers are another easy way to lean into a trend. To add more silver tones to your space, Struble recommends swapping out your cabinet knobs and drawer pulls for the cool-toned metallic.

Mixing Metals

Decorating with silver doesn’t mean you need to swap out all of your gold and brass accents. Instead, finding a balance between the various tones can be chic — just like it is with your jewelry.

“Mixing metals is easier than you might think,” says Struble. Since silver has a more neutral tone, it’s easy to pair with most other metal finishes, and you don’t have to think too hard to create a balance — not just in metallics but in your overall decor look. “Silver and gold together open up a lot of opportunity to style with warm and cool tones in the same space,” Struble explains.

When decorating with mixed metals, Bass recommends finding pieces that you love and that fit the same aesthetic to ensure they pair together seamlessly, even if they have different tones. And, if you want to embrace the current style without it feeling too trendy, she says to look for vintage brass and silver pieces at antique malls and thrift stores for a more timeless look that will never go out of style.

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Source: thezoereport.com

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MyTyles, a leader in innovative tile designs and home decor, announces the launch of its exclusive new collection tailored to meet the evolving tastes of modern homeowners. With a keen understanding of contemporary consumer behavior and segment values, MyTyles continues to set industry benchmarks with its unique, high-quality tile offerings.
Shaping modern homes with unique tile designs
MyTyles has consistently been at the forefront of design innovation in the tile industry, catering to a generation that values uniqueness and sophistication in home decor.The company’s new collection, featuring rustic finish tiles, Terrazzo, Brick Cladding, and Natural Stone Cladding, is poised to redefine home aesthetics. Each tile is crafted precisely, reflecting the brand’s commitment to quality and style.
“Our customers are not just looking for tiles; they are seeking an expression of their individuality and taste. The current generation of homeowners has excellent taste. They want something unique and unusual. Rustic finish tiles and minimal styles are our best sellers in every category. Introducing designs like Terrazzo, Brick Cladding, and Natural Stone Cladding has made quite a mark,” says Biren Agrawalla, Founder at MyTyles.
Embracing consumer trends and values
The home improvement industry constantly evolves, with consumers’ tastes and preferences changing rapidly. MyTyles is at the forefront of this dynamic market, continually adapting its offerings to meet the ever-changing demands. By keeping a finger on the pulse of industry trends and consumer feedback, the company ensures that it remains a top choice for those looking to enhance their living spaces with beautiful and functional tile solutions.
“Our new collection is inspired by a deep understanding of what today’s homeowners are looking for- distinctive, high-quality designs that make a statement,” adds Biren. “We’ve seen a growing demand for styles that combine traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics, and our latest offerings are a testament to that trend,“he further added.
A comprehensive product portfolio
MyTyles’s extensive product portfolio includes a variety of tiles designed to meet the needs of different spaces and preferences. Key highlights include:

  • Rustic finish tiles: Perfect for those who appreciate a vintage look, these tiles add a timeless appeal to any space.
  • Terrazzo tiles: Known for their durability and distinctive speckled design, Terrazzo tiles are making a strong comeback in modern interiors.
  • Brick cladding: Offering a rustic charm, brick cladding is ideal for accent walls and exterior facades.
  • Natural stone cladding: Adds a touch of nature to interiors and exteriors, providing a sophisticated, earthy look.
  • Metallic tiles: Combining metal and ceramic, these tiles add a touch of luxury and modernity.

Revolutionizing online tile shopping
In a market where traditional tile shopping can often be cumbersome and time-consuming, MyTyles is pioneering a new approach. The company ensures customers can access the latest trends and highest quality products by showcasing an extensive range of tile options worldwide. This global perspective broadens the selection and brings unique and exotic designs to consumers’ fingertips.
Market readiness and product launch initiatives
As part of its mission to dominate the online tile market, MyTyles is launching several initiatives to enhance its market readiness. These include strategic partnerships with global suppliers, advanced logistics to ensure timely delivery, and a user-friendly website that simplifies shopping. The company is also planning a series of product launches, introducing exclusive collections that will captivate the market.
Explore the new collection
To explore the new collection and learn more about how MyTyles is transforming home decor, visit https://mytyles.com/.
About MyTyles
MyTyles is a premier destination for high-quality, innovative tile designs. Focusing on craftsmanship, quality, and style, MyTyles offers various products catering to modern homeowners’ diverse tastes. From rustic finishes to contemporary styles, MyTyles is dedicated to helping customers create unique, beautiful spaces.
Disclaimer: The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to the same. TIL does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the above content, nor is it responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. The article does not constitute investment advice. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated and verified.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com