The materials you use during a home renovation set the tone for the overall feel of the project. Whether you are looking for a luxury kitchen or a functional family room, the materials you choose contribute greatly to the design choices. Here are some of the most popular materials that we’re seeing in 2017.

Flooring

  • Leather Tile: Leather tile is easy to maintain and long-lasting with proper care. It’s also warm to the touch, and “welcomes nicks, scratches, and spills. These incidents add character and create a patina, a natural effect that gets more beautiful with use and age,” (source).
  • Bamboo: Even though bamboo is not a new material, we’re seeing more options in colors and styles these days. “Newer products called strand-woven bamboo, a highly engineered product using the inner fibers, are twice as hard as traditional bamboo flooring…[you can even find] bamboo…offered in wide-plank styles that mimic the look of classic hardwoods,” (source).

Walls

  • Wallpaper: Gone are the days of over-powering floral print wallpaper. Now we’re seeing wallpaper with a variety of textures, colors, and finishes. Wallpaper can be shaped and patterned to look like anything from crocodile skin to wood to metal. Today, textured wallpaper adds dimension and warmth to a room when used as an accent wall.
  • Shiplap: Shiplap will be in style for a long time coming. It’s neutral, soft stripes blend seamlessly with many different styles and colors making it a great way to add interest to a room. It’s resurgence in popularity is due in large part to Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” where she uses it frequently in her elegant, yet rustic designs.

Countertops

  • Marble: Marble is still the “darling of the design world” with Carrara or Calacatta the most sought after stones (source). The gray-toned veining in both marbles melds well with the predominately white kitchens that are so popular right now.
  • Glass: Glass can come in almost any color and you’re able to cut it into any shape or texture. It’s also stain-resistant and easy to keep clean making it perfect for busy kitchens.

When choosing materials for your home remodeling project, make sure to consider function, design, and budget. Splurge in areas that you want to showcase and save in spaces like mudrooms and laundry rooms. With so many material options today, we’re sure we can help you find the right fit.