Francesca Brennan | Realtor
Entablature Realty
“We are seeing a lot of homeowners tackling home improvement projects, mostly centered around creating office and homeschool spaces for parents and kids to work/ learn remotely. These projects might include turning a guest bedroom or dining room into a flex space with built-in bookcases and/or built-in shelving for organizing work and school supplies. Other improvements are focusing on outdoor space as an extension of living space, which might include covering a patio to provide shade for outdoor play for kids, upgrading their grilling/outdoor kitchen space or the ultimate exterior improvement — adding a pool!”
John Cognevich | President
Stone Interiors New Orleans
“We are seeing many customers coming in our showroom wanting to lighten up their existing kitchen by changing out a darker color granite and using lighter materials such as quartz, marble or quartzite. People are turning to a more bright and airy feel in their color selections. There has also been a huge interest in adding outdoor kitchens. I believe that the kitchen is a true gathering space where families come to share meals and spend quality time cooking and entertaining.”
Robert Van Meter | Realtor
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
“People are focusing on the kitchen space and are specifically in search of high-end stoves and more space to cook. Many are being more adventurous while cooking — trying to make homemade bread or pasta, for example — so they want the space to do this and are looking for quality appliances. Homeowners are also being bolder with tile and cabinet color choices. Outdoor projects like landscaping, vegetable gardens and even chicken coops are also priority projects for many homeowners. I personally upgraded my landscaping over the past few months and included some beautiful uplighting.”
Richard Maia | Chief Operating Officer
LAS Enterprises
“A person’s home and its comfort and function are now top priorities. We have experienced an explosion of basic work orders like homeowners taking care of, or repairing long-existing problems or issues they had previously put off. We are also noticing an increase in jobs for non-essential upgrades and quality of life additions to outdoor spaces.
People are now much more likely to finally take care of that window that has been leaking, or those wooden shutters that are rotted and falling off the house. With more people working from home, scheduling work to be done at home is not the obstacle it commonly was before and I would expect this trend to continue for some time.”
Rachel J. Jones | Vice President
Triton Stone Group
“We are seeing a huge influx of people renovating and upgrading their homes, and we have been seeing many notable features on repeat, including large islands with waterfall edging. Marble in the kitchen is still big, and hidden pantries are very coveted right now, with cabinets that open up into another room. Matte-finish appliances, under-cabinet lighting, hidden plugs and glass tile are big, and color is back!
The next hottest trend will be all voice-activated kitchen fixtures and appliances. We are seeing whole homes built with everything connected to voice activation.”
Josh Fogarty | Partner
Satsuma Realtors and Satsuma Property Management
“As our daily lifestyles change with the current times, there is a focus on spending more time at home. Over the past few months, I’ve noticed homeowners prioritizing the renovation and improvement of outdoor spaces as well as the addition of swimming pools. With the added bonus of a nearly year-round pool season in New Orleans, a private pool at home feels like the next ‘coolest’ trend. Additionally, it could add value to your property.”
