46 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2020
PRESS HOME
DIY REIMAGINED SPACES FOR PANDEMIC LIFE
continued from page 45
According to a recent survey of nearly
1,000 U.S. homeowners on Houzz,
70 percent reported reported they
were thinking about making changes
that could help them enjoy their
homes more. Outdoor, bathroom, and
kitchen projects topped the wish list.
Here’s what design pros have been
doing to help homeowners out during
the pandemic.
NEW NORMAL
Haley Johnson, communications coordinator
at real estate marketplace
Zillow, points out that the pandemic
emphasized the importance of keeping
germs away from the main spaces
of your home.
“Consider upgrading your bathroom
or kitchen with a touchless faucet to
limit the amount of areas your family
and guests are touching,” she suggests.
“Plus, a nice, new faucet can add
style to a bathroom or kitchen alike.”
Builders are also considering how
coronavirus will drive building decisions
in the future.
“Staying at home emphasized there
were not enough quiet spaces to work,
and we might start to see the once-popular
open floor plans change in favor
of more privacy, adding in more doors
to separate rooms,” she explains. “As
people are working from home now,
there needs to be space to accommodate.
However, you can also have the
best of both worlds by adding barn
door features to give yourself privacy
when needed, while still preserving
the open-concept space.”
GREAT OUTDOORS
During quarantine, folks craved
spending time outdoors and quickly
learned how to transform any backyard
or patio space, no matter how
small or boring, into a lovely oasis.
And now, it’s a hot trend.
“It’s no surprise outdoor space is the
top reason people would consider a
move due to social distancing recommendations,”
Haley says. “Spend
this time sprucing up your yard by
landscaping, adding a firepit, and
overall making your outdoor spaces
a cozy getaway you can enjoy safely.”
Design pros Jen Fox and Tonia Omeltchenko
of LI-based Fox + Chenko
touted some recent “pandemic-friendly”
projects that have made a huge
difference in their clients’ lives. In
one, a multi-seasonal, screened outdoor
living space with direct access
to the backyard added sizable square
footage to a family’s Port Washington
residence.
Careful space planning and selection
of all-weather performance furnishings
and lighting created both
lounging and dining zones. In chillier
months, heat from the natural stone
gas fireplace will warm the room,
while in nicer weather, framed screen
windows and an oversized driftwood
ceiling fan allow for ultimate cooling
and airflow.
A combination of pendant and sconce
light fixtures adds style and function.
Tall outdoor lanterns, patterned decorative
pillows, a colorful textured area
rug, and lush greenery add a relaxed
ambiance to this nature-inspired
refuge.
MULTIFUNCTIONAL MUSTS
In another project, a new home office
doubles as a guest room for a client
in Great Neck.
“Not only does the user need a
proper space for a laptop and cell
phone, but other factors, like how
quiet the area is for a phone call,
how well-positioned the space is to
WiFi, or what the background for a
Zoom call is, has to be considered,”
says Omeltchenko.
“The desk area has to be organized
and have storage space,” she adds.
“The bed – usually a pullout sofa –
should have a comfortable mattress
and be easy to operate.”
STRENGTH, STABILITY & SERVICE
To our heroes… the doctors, nurses, EMT workers, police, firemen and essential workers who
tirelessly risk everything to protect and serve our communities, we can never sufficiently express
our gratitude and deepest appreciation for your selflessness and courage. Thank You!
As your Community Bank, NYCB has been serving the financial needs of our friends and neighbors
for over 161 years. We remain steadfast in our commitment to a tradition of Strength, Stability &
Service and to providing the products and services our customers require and deserve.
Let’s join in looking forward to the brightness that the future promises while honoring those who
consistently sacrifice so much. Stay healthy and stay safe.
myNYCB.com
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/myNYCB.com
