In early 2007, CNN Money released an article describing six home design trends for 2007. Illinois-based Realtor Mark Nash predicts the trends annually by surveying nearly 1,000 real estate agents and brokers.

We took Nash’s predictions and found examples of them in neighborhood homes. These neighbors are ahead of the curve when it comes to what’s hot in home design. Their stories could help you decide if any of these trends are right for you.

 

THE TREND: Bolder, deeper colors for trim

WHAT CNN MONEY SAID: "Professional color forecasters predict the use of bolder colors for shutters, doors, window frames and other trim … in 2007. According to Doty Horn, director of color and design for Benjamin Moore, Americans have gotten progressively comfortable with the bold look."

THE TRENDSETTER: Susan O’Neill is indeed comfortable with color. One room in her house has four-foot, multicolored polka dots on the walls. That’s pure whimsy, of course. But she uses color for a classier approach in her entryway and living room, showing how much color can make a room pop. The diversity of hues makes for, she says, "a really cheerful house."

 

THE TREND: Engineered stone for your countertops

WHAT CNN MONEY SAID: "[Engineered stone is] made from quartz crystals and polymer resin so it’s nearly maintenance free. It’s heat and cold resistant, mildew free, stain resistant and harder than most things you put on it so it will not scratch. … The virtues that make it so practical will surely convince many buyers to go with it."

THE TRENDSETTER: When Jackie Telfair decided to renovate her house, she also changed her style, going from an antique-inspired look to a modern one. So it only followed that she would appreciate the way her slate-colored engineered stone countertops, installed by CabinetMasters, complemented her all-white kitchen. But functionality was another issue. "Honestly, I really did it for the upkeep. I didn’t want anything too porous that would stain easily or that would show fingerprints."

 

THE TREND: Wrought iron fencing

WHAT CNN MONEY SAID: "Buyers associate wrought iron with luxury and chain link with utility."

THE TRENDSETTERS: Patti and Charley Kiser’s fence uses wrought iron and wood, a design that came about after the couple added faux windows to their home’s front with wrought iron pieces similar to those in the fence. Designed by the Kisers with the help of Craftsman Fence Company, Patti Kiser says they’ve received many compliments from passersby. "We feel it turned out to be much more than just a fence. It enhances the exterior of our home to better coordinate with our interior design style and creates a lovely first impression of our home and neighborhood."

 

THE TREND: Go glass

WHAT CNNMONEY SAID: "Glass tiles are an elegant alternative to ceramic, and the cost differential is slight … Donna Greenbush, director of marketing for Oceanside Glasstiles, says the product adds a depth of field and luminosity unmatched in ceramic tile. It comes in iridescent, non-iridescent and matte finishes and all seem to ‘glow from within.’"

THE TRENDSETTERS: Bo and Tiffany Kice were looking for tile that would tie in with their bathroom’s modern, spa-like feel. "The tile was the key," Bo Kice says. "It had to be just right because it is the dominant texture and color in our bathroom." While shopping for tile, they found one they liked at a big-box retailer, but they thought the price was too high. So they went online, found something they liked and bought it. “It was more expensive then some of the ceramic tiles we considered, but not much more. It fit our budget perfectly."

 

THE TREND: Exotic and reclaimed woods

WHAT CNN MONEY SAID: "Homeowners value the rich, vintage look of recycled or unusual woods rather than the off-the-shelf look that everyone else has. … Reclaimed wood has also picked up some scars, nail and bolt holes, gouges, traces of old paint and the like, which only endears it more to connoisseurs.”

THE TRENDSETTER: As a remodeling contractor, Christman Fifer has access to plenty of scrap and reclaimed wood, and it shows in the house he shares with wife Sarah and their two young daughters, Abby and Kingsley. There’s the reclaimed red oak flooring in the master suite, and the bathroom’s cabinetry and mirror frame are made of scrap wood. But perhaps the most striking example of this trend is in the Fifers’ kitchen: The cabinetry is framed with scrap wood, and fronted with OSB — or roofing — wood. The whole project cost $80. Fifer’s thinking was purely economical. “We’d just had a kid, and we needed new cabinet doors. We could have paid $1,500 for them, but $80 is better.” Fifer says it’s difficult for the average homeowner to find scrap wood, but he recommends Seconds and Surplus Building Materials, which has locations in Dallas and Richardson (secondsandsurplus.com).

 

THE TREND: Drawer-type refrigerator/freezers

WHAT CNN MONEY SAID: “Nash asserts that you’ll love the flexibility these units provide; they can go wherever you want them to. Sub-Zero’s director of marketing, Paul Leuthe, says, ‘The design community was expressing a desire for a product that worked in a more decentralized and integrated way.’"

THE TRENDSETTERS: See "Fresh From the Oven," for an example of a homeowner who embraced this trend as part of an entire kitchen makeover.