Kelly Dunn’s obsession with authentic expression is unparalleled and is the driving force behind her award-winning firm, FATHOM Design Company. Kelly is sought out by her colleagues as an expert on out-of-the-box solutions and blending colors and textures in imaginative ways that breathe new life into the world of interior design.

Kelly Dunn recently sat down and spoke to Haute Design to share some of her driving design principles.

Haute Design: What is the earliest memory you can recall where you knew you wanted to become a designer?

Kelly Dunn: I was a young teen when I would constantly rearrange the furniture in my bedroom. Sometimes the layout didn't even make sense, but I desperately needed my space to feel fresh and exciting. I would also rearrange my family's living room when my mom was out for the day, always promising to put everything back if she didn't like it, but I had to play with it and try new things.

HD: If you could name three design principles you live by, what would they be?

KD: 'AUTHENTICITY ALWAYS.' If your space does not reflect who you are to the core, something will feel off and you will always be frustrated.

'HAVE A CONVERSATION PIECE.' It continually breathes new life into your home.

'PLAY.' Introduce new colors and textures. Experience them, be curious. You may discover a whole new side of yourself that is waiting to be expressed.

HD: You have stated that you are bored by trends. How crucial is the client's input to the ideas and design you put forth in any given project?

KD: Client input is critical. It's their space, so it must resonate with them. If they are leaning heavily on trends, I try to dig a little deeper to discover what it is they're attracted to. Then I show them variations of what they're looking for that acknowledges a certain trend but is ultimately expressive of their true identity. This balance always produces spectacular results.

Photo Credit: FATHOM Design Company

HD: Is there a particular color or material you gravitate toward (consciously or subconsciously) throughout your work?

KD: There isn't a specific color but I personally gravitate toward dark and moody aesthetics. It certainly pops up in most of my work but ultimately, I focus on what is the best design representation for my clients' personal style.

HD: Has there been one particular factor to your work which you have implemented as a result of the COVID pandemic?

KD: The biggest hurdle the design community is still facing is that shipping is at least three times longer, production is either nonexistent or takes up to eight times as long and it has been difficult finding quality installers and finishers. Our clientele has been stir-crazy for so long and it's hard for them to wait on their finished spaces.

HD: Where do you see FATHOM Design Company in five years?

KD: Taking on more restaurant and hotel projects and expanding beyond NYC.

To learn more about FATHOM Design Company and book Kelly Dunn for an upcoming project, CLICK HERE.

The post FATHOM Design Company’s Kelly Dunn Shares Her Interior Design Principles appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Sam Frost/Design Credit: Willetts Design

Whether you’re building a new home or re-designing your existing home, this article has something for you.

From a home's structure to interior design, color, and more, it seems like some home design trends merely come in and out of style - like the fleeting fads that they are. So, which ones do you keep and which to change up? The trends worth keeping are the ones with the staying power - the ones with design resilience that influence the following year's trends.

Here, we're sharing the trends that are IN for next year that will help you parse through 2020’s finest design crazes. And so, without further delay, let’s look at the trends we’re predicting for the year 2020, and the reasons as to why you’ll want to incorporate such trends into your home decor.

Mindful Design

Photo Credit: Sam Frost/Design Credit: Willetts Design

Photo Credit: Sam Frost/Design Credit: Willetts Design

Photo Credit: Sam Frost/Design Credit: Willetts Design

Like every other year in the past, the year 2020 will see more than one popular color, and stunning shades like Luscious Lavender and White Neutral will be celebrated.

Home Offices

Photo Credit: Sam Frost/Design Credit: Willetts Design

Advancements in technology have made remote-working jobs more probable in the year 2020. This trend has interior designers enthusiastic about crafting furniture for home offices of all sizes.

Photo Credit: Sam Frost/Design Credit: Willetts Design

Freelancers and entrepreneurs are at the forefront contributing to this trend by operating successful businesses that provide top-notch professional services from their residences. This start-up culture (which keeps growing) is what will make this "home office trend" here to stay, with the year 2020 providing some of the most inspirational home office designs.

Hidden Storage

Photo Credit: Sam Frost/Design Credit: Willetts Design

We predict that in the coming year, out-of-the-box storage options will focus on being utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing, in order for homeowners to only showcase those items that personalize their homes and store away those items that clutter a space.

Multi-Functional Spaces

Photo Credit: Sam Frost/Design Credit: Willetts Design

The multi-functional use of spaces has now become a priority for most homeowners, and the versatility of furniture pieces is now mandatory. For example, many homeowners no longer want a permanent dining room. They prefer using any extra space as a mixed-use space: on any given week, either as a home office, creative space, meditation area or a temporary dining room for when their guests come to visit.

Photo Credit: Sam Frost/Design Credit: Willetts Design

The personalizing of spaces on an as-needed basis is the reason as to why versatile designated living spaces (which are able to change on any given day) are here to stay.

The post Upcoming Home Trends For 2020 appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

To delve deeper into the factors that bolster Broward County’s luxury real estate, Haute Residence talked to Mark Kravitz, real estate agent with One Sotheby’s International Realty. Kravitz not only serves the affluent communities of Broward County, but also resides in one of them, Plantation Acres.

A recent study for the Urban Land Institute by PwC ranked Broward County among the most attractive and fastest growing real estate markets in the US. What is driving the growth? 

Like the rest of South Florida, Broward County continues to see growth in all sectors of the real estate market. While Miami has seen a little too much growth recently as well as some very high prices, Broward County continues to grow at a much steadier pace making it extremely desirable to buyers and investors. When it comes to the luxury market in West Broward, like Plantation, Davie, Southwest Ranches and Weston, buyers can find beautiful homes on large pieces of land for less than half the price of most of the luxury areas in Miami.

When it comes to real estate investment, what makes Broward County an attractive destination?

Cap rates here are more attractive currently than those in Miami-Dade. Investors looking for long-term investments as well as those seeking to flip in the short-term see Broward County as being a safe investment. Prices are not as high as Miami, yet rents are still quite competitive and are continuing to increase annually.

American Express opened its South Florida headquarters in Broward earlier this year, what is it about the county that makes it a welcoming home for large companies?

West Broward County has cities that have partnered with developers to make real estate acquisitions attractive for major national companies. From the City of Sunrise welcoming the new luxury development of Metropica to the redevelopment of the major retail areas in Plantation, these municipalities are working with developers and companies to bring everyone to the table and create the most efficient use of real estate as possible.

For example, the new luxury condominium Metropica in West Broward includes retail, luxury rentals, a hotel, conference area and more. In the city of Plantation, developers are redeveloping traditional malls and creating mixed-use projects with outdoor dining and retail combined with high-end rentals and commercial space.

And right outside the cities' centers, there are beautiful residential neighborhoods that maintain strict standards and building codes allowing these areas to remain private and pristine while still having all the benefits of being close to all the conveniences of a major city.

These facilities will continue to attract national anchors to relocate to West Broward. Moreover, major roadways make it simple to travel from West Broward to Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach so companies see West Broward not only as appealing for its infrastructure and development but also as a being centrally located to all other major metropolitan areas in South Florida.

What are this year’s trends in real estate in towns like Plantation and Davie?

There is no question that modern architecture is currently popular in Plantation and Davie. However, the area is already seeing a move away from the ultra-modern and a return to a more contemporary and transitional look. Buyers in these areas are seeking acreage and properties with homes that have more classic architecture and high-end timeless finishes. The days of white porcelain floors and stark white quartz countertops are quickly coming to an end and a warmer, more timeless aesthetic is becoming more desirable to current and future homeowners in Plantation and Davie.

There is also a sense in these neighborhoods that it is no longer as easy and affordable to find homes on oversized lots, which is what put these neighborhoods on the luxury home map initially. Indeed, new construction projects are building on half acre lots in Davie, and the larger lots in Plantation and Davie are becoming harder to find.  When updated homes on an acre or more of land come in the market, they move quickly.

What is the average price for a luxury residence in the county? What type of homebuyers move in to Broward?

Luxury homes in Davie and Plantation start around $1 million and go as high as over $3 million.  These prices are considerably lower than comparable product in Miami, which is why we are seeing a lot of buyers moving here from Miami. In addition, the schools – both public and private – are very desirable to anyone considering moving to South Florida so many of the buyers we see are focused on specific schools and the future education of their children. Finally, most of the luxury neighborhoods in Davie and Plantation are extremely private and quiet, attracting buyers looking for a more peaceful and secure lifestyle.

What is the end-of-year inventory in the county? Is it indicative of any market trends?

The luxury market in Davie and Plantation has seen a small increase in inventory, which has corresponded to a slowing down of increased prices for luxury properties.  That being said, this market never experienced the overly inflated growth of some other South Florida neighborhoods, so both buyers and sellers continue to view the luxury market as strong with prices and inventory levels remaining steady in most communities.

What are your expectations for 2018?

For 2018, I expect the luxury market in Davie and Plantation to continue to be strong. Many baby boomers who originally bought in the 90s and early 2000s are moving on to the next phase of their lives and I am continuing to see young families from Miami looking for more affordable luxury product buying homes here. With new retail and commercial development continuing at such a rapid pace combined with the outstanding selection of public and private schools, I expect to see an increase of buyers from out of state looking to Davie and Plantation as extremely desirable areas to live.

Mark Kravitz is the exclusive agent representing the Plantation and Davie, Florida real estate markets as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. Reach him at 954-739-7653 and view all of his listings here.

Image courtesy of Mark Kravitz

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