How the Coronavirus Is Reshaping Home Design: 10 Crucial Features a House Should Have Today5/19/2020  Life as we know it has changed dramatically in the coronavirus era, affecting work, school, travel, and more. And it's shed light on the way we live at home, underscoring the fact that there's nothing more important than safe shelter for our family.
To that end, COVID-19 is influencing what people want to see in home design. "After the pandemic, our homes are going to reflect the lessons learned during this painful period, such as ways to disinfect ourselves and our possessions," says Jamie Gold, a wellness design consultant and author of "Wellness by Design." Related Articles
In a postvirus world, we won't soon forget our shelter-at-home memories. Going forward, if there's even the slightest chance (god forbid) that we'll need to repeat this awful practice, homeowners may want to prepare by buying or renovating a house with amenities that'll make it just a bit more bearable. To help, here are 10 features to look for in a new home—or demand in your current one—once we've bid the coronavirus adieu. 1. More bathrooms A family member who's caught a virus needs his own loo to keep germs in one place, so the addition of a second (or third or fourth) bathroom in homes will be important. "This option used to be about convenience, but in the age of quarantines, sharing a bathroom could be dangerous," says David Sipp, owner of two Mr.Handyman franchises in Indiana. And since hand-washing is a constant nowadays, a half-bathroom or even just a sink right by a home's entrance may become fairly standard. "There's renewed focus on [sinks near front entrances] in an attempt to get people to wash before entering the home," says architect Kobi Karpof the eponymous firm. 2. Better mudrooms Taking off your shoes before entering the house has long been recommended to cut back on grime and germs. But now that a recent study found that the novel coronavirus can cling to shoes' soles and then get tracked inside, even more people may start removing their shoes right as they enter a house. This could make the presence of mudrooms—including larger, souped-up versions with seating areas and cubbies—more appealing than ever. 3. Bigger pantries You probably weren't alone if you found your food storage was lacking in the early days of the coronavirus—and the fix will be bigger and better pantries. Room for nonperishables is key so you can cut back on the number of grocery store trips you make. No room for a dedicated pantry? Sipp anticipates a need for more food storage like shelving and cabinets in other parts of the home, like the garage and basement. "And larger pantries won't necessarily live in the kitchen area, but will instead be more of an add-on in the laundry room or entryway," says Gold. The reason: Deliveries can be made contact-free, away from living areas, and trips into the house will be reduced. 4. More freezer space Remember the old-fashioned chest freezer your grandmother had? Look for it again, along with more built-in freezer drawers, in future home design. Panicky pandemic shoppers are snapping up all manner of foods, and the result has been a sold-out stock of freezer units. 5. Bathroom bidets The French know a thing or two about healthy bathroom design—and we're finally taking notice. Bidet use was already on the rise before the coronavirus, and since toilet paper shortages have hit hard, more and more folks are looking to install this amenity. Bidets are gentle and hygienic, and even when TP is back on store shelves, these devices will still be in demand, says Gold. Want something cheaper than installing a whole new appliance? Consider the washlet, which is a seat fitted to an existing toilet that's equipped with a spray nozzle. "There's less need for tissue with a washlet," says Melanie Turner, an architect at Perkins & Will. 6. Closed-off spaces "COVID-19 has brought to light a heightened desire for discrete areas, no matter how small, and convertible spaces like guest rooms that can be used for playtime or as a homework spot," says Turner. But open floor plans probably won't disappear—instead, a better balance between private, semiprivate, and public spaces is coming. "The reason is the need for homes to multitask better, which means if you have two partners suddenly working from home and a couple of kids home schooling, you'll have more quiet, separate spaces for everyone to function effectively," says Gold. 7. Brass and copper fixtures Adapting to a new, more germ-conscious way of living starts with a return to copper and brass (a copper-zinc combo) for doorknobs and fixtures. In fact, brass kills bacteria more effectively than stainless steel, according to research. Brass and copper are excellent metals for the home because both are naturally antimicrobial and corrosion-resistant. "Copper is one of the best for its antimicrobial properties and has been used for decades in plumbing—and brass and bronze are also very popular because of their inherent ability to kill germs, plus over time they give a desirable rustic look,” said Karp. 8. Hands-free light switches, faucets, and more "We already have hands-free faucets, light switches, and voice-control features to operate windows, showers, thermostats, and sound systems. Plus there's a hands-free door opener that's being introduced for homes," points out Gold, who anticipates seeing them in homes now more than ever. "We've had touchless entry and infrared detection systems in place for years in hotels, so I expect to see these technologies applied for opening home cabinets, fridges, and drawers in the near future," adds Karp. 9. Closed HVAC systems For people with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues, more sophisticated HVAC systems, including those that can be closed from the outside world for limited amounts of time, might become more common. "We have to weigh the benefits of fresh air with the desire to temper or limit intake at very specific times," says Turner. 10. Nicer home offices This one's obvious, and it runs the gamut from a fully equipped workspace in a separate room to smaller iterations like nooks under the stairs or a retrofitted closet. Having a quiet area in which to work will be a must-have, and if you can include the ability to work while standing up or moving, your wellness will be enhanced, says Gold. "As people video chat and Zoom more with colleagues from home, they're becoming hyperaware of the changes they'd like to see in a home office, including better lighting and more storage. And since a return to the workplace will be gradual, high demand will continue for an office that's comfortable and functional,".
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 Martha's Vineyard Home Insurance The NFIP administers flood insurance to home owner's and renters. They are also in charge of mapping flood zones as shown on a community's flood hazard boundary map or a flood insurance rate map. (FIRM).
Poor employee relations and training - Create a team work environment that keeps staff motivated and happy. Employee involvement in the business, training and increased education promotes a feeling of ownership. You will be surprised how much they know and how much they want to help. I had never considered how much time my family would spend in our basement until the theater room was finished. Now I can not imagine our home without this space. I also built my office into a corner of our basement home theater to have an additional amount of privacy from the regular traffic of the house. Buy Flood Insurance separately. This is a decent route in terms of coverage, but buying Flood Insurance from a separate provider can often times be unnecessarily expensive. Phil - That means it is sequestered so it cannot interact with the oxygen in the air to create more carbon dioxide. That is why forests are called carbon sinks. The carbon is stored in the trunk and it is like it is sunk down into the tree so it cannot form gases in the air. Navigation is going to be key, too. There will most likely be no cellular data service in the area you are in. For navigation, you should include in your survival kit both maps and a compass. This will help you get around. It is highly suggested that you buy a map of the region you're living in rather than just the local area so that you'll always be aware of your surroundings. You might want to include a solar powered radio so you call for help if you require immediate attention. Flares will also be useful should you need to signal your location to others so that they can come assist you. Remove the water. The first step is to get the water out of the home. If the water comes from outside, it should recede on its own. Once it recedes, you can mop to remove the excess water. If the flood comes from a leak or other mishap inside the home, you can dry the area with a mop or towel. You must make sure the area is water-free before restoration can begin. Sometimes it will be necessary to set up oscillating fans to help expedite drying the area. Unless the area is fully dry, you will not be able to move on and repair the damage. I've decided not to follow that path, but my own path to break the ties Corporate America has on my life. I am taking control of honest wealth, and helping others to do the same. Reverting to the basics of silver and gold. Ask me how to break your own ties, and lessen Corporate America's power. WE deserve, as the people, to take back the power given to those (who don't act in our interest) so our politicians will be more concerned with what WE want. |
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Using innovative thinking, cutting-edge tools and expert resources at national and local levels, we deliver the best possible outcome on every policy we manage. Need Home Insurance? Easy, Fast, & Secure Home Insurance. Get Free Quotes 100% Online Now! Available 24/7. Affordable Rates. Cover Your Biggest Investments. Get a homeowners insurance quote, find coverage options. We'll help you understand and customize the right home insurance coverage for you.
Home is where your heart is—along with a healthy chunk of your net worth. Get started today with a free homeowner's quote.
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