South Africans are as susceptible to trends and styles in home design and décor as any other people in the world, even when they do not realise what is influencing their choices.
Rawson says any homeowner wanting to add value to their property, particularly if about to sell it, should consult an experienced estate agent on what features buyers today regard as popular.This is according to Bill Rawson, Chairman of the Rawson Property Group, who says this being the case, any homeowner wanting to add value to their property, particularly if about to sell it, should consult an experienced estate agent on what features buyers today regard as popular.
If possible, Rawson says homeowners should ensure that these are incorporated in the home.
1. Colour schemes
Although white, off-white and soothing neutral toned plastered walls are still the first choice of most homeowners, Rawson says face brick is again proving popular because it offers big reductions in maintenance, particularly in the coastal areas. And in the lower and lower middle price brackets, he says face brick is an obvious choice.
Rawson says pastel shades are now very much in favour and it is common these days to find that pale greens, blues, pinks and yellows are increasingly used.
In certain modern houses, particularly those on the Atlantic Seaboard in Cape Town, he says there is a growing tendency to be really bold on one or two interior walls, giving them striking red, black or other strong colours.
2. Ceilings
Rawson says ceilings have come a long way in the last two decades, and no middle class home these days can afford to have hardboard ceilings with peg joints. These, although perfectly efficient, are seen as suitable only for affordable housing.
There is, however, a growing tendency for ceilings to be removed altogether and for the trusses to be sanded and painted, thereby making an attractive ceiling. Rawson says this move usually involves adding insulation to the interior roof.
Wood strip ceilings are also acceptable today in workrooms, gymnasia and family rumpus rooms, but are generally regarded now as unsuitable for living rooms and bedrooms.
3. Lighting
In certain modern houses, particularly those on the Atlantic Seaboard in Cape Town, Rawson says there is a growing tendency to be really bold on one or two interior walls, making them a striking red, black or other strong colour.Lighting has also entered into a new era, one in which hanging lights and chandeliers are increasingly seen as old fashioned, says Rawson.
Recessed down lighting is now what most people prefer, and it is almost essential today for such lights to have strength level adjustments on the switches. With power costs rising so quickly, he says LED lights are definitely the smarter choice.
4. Finishes
Natural materials, especially wood, stone and thatch are now highly prized and there is a growing tendency to clad both interior and exterior walls with the beautiful white, light brown and honey coloured stone that we in South Africa have available to us, says Rawson.
5. Floors
The trend towards natural materials is especially noticeable in flooring, says Rawson. Solid natural wood floors are one of the first installations undertaken today on most upgrades, and there can be no doubt that they do add greatly to the value of any home. In most cases they instantly add more than double the installation cost, he says.
Laminated wood floors have often been seen by many as a cheap alternative, but Rawson says the plain truth is that they are today so well made that it is often difficult to tell the difference between this and genuine wooden floorboards.
The quality of tiles, too, has improved beyond recognition, but judging by the plans he sees, Rawson says they are now not quite as acceptable in living and communal areas as they used be. They are generally kept now for bathrooms and kitchens only.
6. Wallpaper
Surprisingly, Rawson says following the trend in Europe where wallpapers are almost de rigueur, wallpapering is coming back into fashion here, especially in the more upmarket homes. Certain wallpapers are extremely smart, but also very expensive.
7. Windows and doors
Rawson says the use of aluminium sliding doors ties in with another highly desired improvement or transformation, and this is quite possibly the most important: the ability to make a home suitable for indoor/outdoor living and entertaining.Full-length glazing, especially when it forms part of a sliding aluminium-framed door, is definitely another of the main improvements that home upgraders tackle.
Rawson says aluminium windows and door frames are probably the most popular new feature that aspiring home upgraders can introduce, and the big advantage is that not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but unlike wood they are maintenance free and do not jam as a result of warping or expansion due to moisture.
The use of aluminium sliding doors ties in with another highly desired improvement or transformation, and this is quite possibly the most important: the ability to make a home suitable for indoor/outdoor living and entertaining, says Rawson. Fully-glazed sliding doors linking with outdoor patios, which in turn link with the garden, are regarded by many as an essential in most homes today, he says.
8. Living areas
Similarly, Rawson says open-plan interiors now almost always add value to a home. These days an open link from the living or dining areas to the kitchen is regarded as a bonus as it enables the family to talk to each other while food is being prepared.
However, as a corollary to this, it is essential that the finishes and fittings in the kitchen be upmarket and attractive. He says granite, marble or expensive wood countertops, aluminium extraction fans and timber covered façades are big drawcards and add value. Rawson says it has to be remembered that for many people the kitchen is the most important room in the house.
Rawson says cracks and damp spots on the walls are two of the main factors which will immediately detract from the value of the home, and should be admitted to at the onset.
“Sellers or estate agents will often say that cracks can be easily remedied and are not serious, but shrewd buyers, quite rightly, distrust such statements. If there is evidence of cracks having been plastered and painted over, they will be particularly suspicious,” says Rawson.
“This is perfectly natural because there have been some very unfortunate cases where even homes approved by bank valuers have developed serious cracks in the first one or two years after transfer.”
Looking at gardens, Rawson says it is not altogether clear whether swimming pools are always regarded as a bonus, but for some people they do undoubtedly add value to the home. A feature that definitely does attract nearly all home buyers is automatic irrigation in the garden.
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