Kitchen Trends to watch for in 2017

Renovating your kitchen is a great way to improve your life and add value to your home. Typically, kitchen trends change more quickly than other rooms in the home, so it’s easy to become a little overwhelmed when it comes to planning your kitchen remodel.

You might be asking yourself, which trends are worth investing in and which should be left behind? Here’s our guide to 7 of the biggest kitchen trends to watch for in 2017:

1. Function Over Form

Many hardware and cabinet designers are streamlining their products, creating hydraulic cabinets and drawers with damping. This modern take on cabinets and drawers allows homeowners to open and close their drawers with the push of a button. These futuristic features are great for maximizing space in…

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For recent retirees or empty nesters, the idea of downsizing may seem as exciting as it is daunting. For starters, you will have less to maintain and clean, giving you more time to enjoy your retirement and relax. Additionally, downsizing often means moving to a more modern home, which also results in reduced energy bills and fewer repairs over the years. For retirees on a fixed income, this is vital.

One of the negative aspects of downsizing is the stress involved. For many homeowners, they have lived in their family homes for decades, so going through everything for a move can be overwhelming and unpleasant.

If you’re wondering how to downsize into a smaller home, here are some of our best tips and tricks that will give you more confidence…

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For professionals in real estate, one of the most exciting moments of the year might be when Realtor.com publishes its annual National Housing Forecast. This crystal ball looks at a number of important economic indicators to make predictions about what buyers and sellers can expect in the coming year. Though the 2017 forecast notes that national market growth may be slowing compared to previous years, there's also a lot that savvy sellers can learn from about housing trends in Santa Cruz.

More Millennials?

According to the forecast, shifting demographics will play a huge role in shaping the real estate market in the U.S. over the next decade. In particular, millennials—a generation of first-time homebuyers—are expected to make up 33% of the…

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Christmas gifts for the home

A recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency found that the average American spends 87% of their life indoors. That means most people spend twenty-one hours per day inside. Naturally, a lot of that time is spent at home.

So, this holiday season, consider giving your friends and family something that they can use every day in their Santa Cruz home. These practical gifts will not only garner use, but also add a little bit of every day luxury into your loved ones' lives.

Here's an idea for each room of the house.

Kitchen

Buying gifts for those who love to cook can be easy as pie if your foodie is big on kitchen appliances. Take a stroll through the aisle of Macy's kitchenware section and start weighing the pros and cons of a trendy…

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