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Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
The 7 worst home design trends for anyone over 60 (and what to do instead)
Trendy isn't always timeless when it comes to home decor, especially when your joints disagree. While your younger self might have loved the idea of sleek, handle-free cabinets or a dramatic floating staircase, your knees, hips and peace of mind will all thank you for choosing function over fleeting fashion. 'Many of the most beautiful modern design features aren't built for long-term practicality," says Gemma Hobb, a Calgary-based Sotheby's International Sales Representative. "A home's functionality must evolve with its occupants.' If you're over 60 and planning to stay in your house for the long haul, consider avoiding these 7 home decor trends as part of any renovations. Picture this: you're trying to grab your coffee mug from the upper cabinet, but your arthritis is flaring up. Those handle-free cabinets suddenly become your worst enemy. Push-to-open mechanisms demand precise pressure and dexterity, which is precisely the kind of motion that becomes more difficult with age. Traditional handles and knobs? They're not just reliable workhorses; they provide better leverage and are gentler on aging joints. Deep base cabinets might maximize storage, but they also maximize frustration when you're crawling around on the kitchen floor, searching for the one pot you need. Items disappear into cabinet black holes. Your knees will protest. Smart solution? Pull-out drawers and lazy Susans that bring everything within easy reach. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. Admit it — these are stunning. But are they safe? Not even close. Open treads become foot traps, and those barely-there railings offer about as much support as a gentle suggestion. 'Comfort, safety and ease of daily living become top priorities for aging homeowners,' Hobb notes. Your staircase should support you, not be an obstacle course. Smart homes promise convenience, but what happens when the technology outsmarts you? Wifi crashes, apps freeze, and suddenly, you can't turn on a simple light. Touch-activated faucets become maddening when dealing with tremors or reduced dexterity. Sometimes, the most sophisticated solution is the simplest. A regular light switch never needs a software update. High-gloss floors, countertops and cabinet doors gleam like mirrors in design magazines — and they can turn your home into an ice rink. They're slip hazards waiting to happen and also show every fingerprint, water spot and dust particle. Matte finishes aren't just safer; they're significantly more forgiving for daily life. Remember when sunken living rooms — also called conversation pits — were the height of sophistication? Today's version includes random decorative steps scattered throughout open-concept spaces. These unexpected level changes are trip hazards disguised as design elements. Your peripheral vision may not be what it used to be, and these subtle elevation changes can catch off guard. If you're stuck with them, contrasting tape on step edges and excellent lighting are non-negotiable. The minimalist bathroom aesthetic has banished grab bars as 'institutional' and eliminated tubs as 'outdated.' Big mistake. 'A poorly-designed bathroom can quickly become one of the most dangerous rooms in the home,' warns Hobb. 'Fortunately, most issues can be addressed proactively through smart design.' Modern grab bars come in sleek finishes that complement any design scheme. They're safety features, not eyesores. As for tubs, soaking can be therapeutic for aging joints, not to mention some people can't stand for long showers. 'In my experience, simplicity, safety, and low maintenance are what aging buyers value most,' Hobb explains. However, here's the thing: this doesn't mean your home has to look like a medical facility or sacrifice style for function. It's about making wise choices that will serve you beautifully for decades to come. For those ready to take a comprehensive approach to aging-in-place design, consider following a safety checklist for aging-in-place. The Government of Canada Guidelines provide an excellent framework covering everything from exterior lighting and secure railings to proper bathroom safety features and fire safety considerations. It's a room-by-room assessment that can help you identify potential issues before they become problems. Your future self will thank you for thinking ahead. After all, the most enduring design trend of all is one that lets you live comfortably, safely, and independently in your own home for as long as possible. Because the best kind of home design isn't just stylish; it's livable for life.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ESPN's Bob Myers, former Warriors GM, fetches $12.6M in Presidio Heights
Bob Myers, the ESPN analyst and former general manager of the Golden State Warriors, has sold his Presidio Heights home for $12.6 million, according to public records showing a closing date of March 14. Myers and wife Kristen bought the 6,300-square-foot six-bedroom, four-bath and two half-bath home at 200 Laurel Street in April 2016 for $10.275 million, more than $1 million over its $9 million asking price, according to property records and listing notes from the time. The turn-of-the-century Queen Anne Victorian had been renovated by the previous owners shortly before they sold to the Myers, but it still maintains 'timeless architectural elegance' with 'soaring ceilings, intricate millwork' and grand public rooms, according to the listing notes from Sotheby's International agent Janet Schindler. Schindler declined to comment on the sale, citing a non-disclosure agreement. She listed the home for $12.9 million on January 22 and it was in contract on February 21, according to Redfin. Myers, who grew up in the Bay Area, was the GM for the Warriors from 2012 to 2023, during a stretch in which the team won four NBA championships and he was twice voted NBA Executive of the Year. He was also the Warriors' President of Basketball Operations for the last seven years of his tenure. When he stepped down, he told ESPN, 'It's just time.' ESPN announced he would be joining its 'NBA Countdown' pre-game show as an analyst later that year, a role he served again during the 2024-2025 basketball season. Last year he also became a consultant for the NFL's Washington Commanders. The buyer was Mapache Listo LLC, which was represented by Tyler Stewart of Heath Real Estate. Stewart declined to name her clients, citing security and privacy concerns, but said that they already had a home in Presidio Heights and a very narrow area that they were looking at for a larger home amid extremely limited inventory. 'In this specific location, which is essentially a four-block radius, you get maybe one house a year,' she said. 'So when those houses come up, it is obviously a very lovely home, but it's really location driven.' The buyers also liked that the property is located on a corner lot and has big windows to let in a lot of light, Stewart said. Even though the last renovation took place ten years ago, she said they weren't planning on doing work. There was competition on the home, she said, but ending up at a price of $2,000 per square foot is 'average for this sort of home in this location, so I think they felt really good about that.' Though this house sold quickly at near asking, Tyler said there's been 'a little bit of turbulence' in the market this spring because of the uncertainty in the national geopolitical and economic situation. Buyers are out there, but are also a lot pickier than they were during the height of the pandemic market in 2021 when 'if it had an address, it sold.' That means she's written offers for hundreds of thousands over the asking price on homes that had eight offers on them this spring, while other properties are just sitting. 'I can't say that there's a steady trend going on right now,' she said. 'It seems to be way more property-specific.' Beaux Arts Presidio Heights home sells off market at $26M San Francisco's priciest neighborhoods hit new peaks This article originally appeared on The Real Deal. Click here to read the full story.
