MyPlanet Living Center Opens Showroom
CHICAGO — Mayan Metzler, founder and CEO of German Kitchen Center, a multi-brand chain of showrooms for European-style kitchen designs in the U.S., has unveiled the newest branch of the “MyPlanet Living Center” chain of showrooms, the company announced.
The new site features 14,000 sq. ft. at the 900 North Michigan Shops in Chicago’s “Magnificent Mile,” an upscale shopping district known for its high-end retail outlets.
MyPlanet Living Centers are designed as showrooms aimed at exposing homeowners and trade professionals to high-end products for the kitchen and bath, among other areas of the home. MyPlanet, a nonprofit organization focused on housing and medical support for vulnerable populations, donates proceeds from the centers to community groups that assist the needy, according to the company. Partners include German Kitchen Center and MyPlanet Construction system, an energy-efficient home building system.
Each MPLC partner within the MPLC Chicago site will operate their own space, similar to that of a permanent trade show booth, with MPLC staff available for customer service, the company said.
“MPLC showrooms are fulfilling various needs currently lacking in the home renovation market for both customers and suppliers,” said Metzler. “Most importantly, however, this is an opportunity to also improve our communities.
“As the for-profit arm of MyPlanet, we can help rebuild communities affected by the recent pandemic, as well as communities that have seen a decline in residents due to lack of employment opportunities,” Metzler added, noting that the company will soon be announcing several locations in midsized cities, as well.
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Liebherr Announces Appointments
Liebherr recently added three new members to its team.Jessie Escobar was recently brought on as Liebherr’s regional sales manager, Western Territory. In his current role, he leads sales development from Alberta, Canada to Southern California and offers support to retailers and distributors, while working to increase brand awareness and Liebherr’s footprint in the North American market.Christian Lopez has joined the Liebherr team as e-commerce specialist for Liebherr Appliances, North America. In his new role, Lopez will work to build strong relationships with consumer-facing dealers, creating an efficient path for dealers to purchase Liebherr accessories online.Sarah Gambrell is Liebherr’s regional sales manager for Scientific Appliances. With over 18 years of experience in sales — specifically with medical devices, capital equipment and pharmaceuticals — she is tasked with growing the Scientific Appliances division for Liebherr and becoming the conduit for dealers and distributors.
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Loan Limits Raised for Mortgages to be Acquired by the Enterprises
WASHINGTON, DC — The Federal Housing Finance Agency has announced an increase in conforming loan limits (CLLs) for mortgages to be acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) in 2022.
In most of the U.S., the 2022 CLL for one-unit properties will be $647,200, an increase of $98,950 from $548,250 in 2021, according to the FHFA.
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 requires that the baseline CLL for the Enterprises be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the average U.S. home price. According to the latest FHFA House Price Index (HPI), house prices increased 18.05%, on average, between the third quarters of 2020 and 2021. Due to rising home values, the baseline CLL in 2022 in all but four U.S. counties or county equivalents will increase by the same percentage, the FHFA said.
“These increases are an important step to ensure that government-backed mortgages keep pace with the sharp rise in home prices over the past year,” said Robert Dietz, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders. “Supply-side challenges, including building material bottlenecks and lot and labor shortages, will continue to place upward pressure on construction costs and home prices in 2022.”
For additional information, visit https://www.fhfa.gov/CLLs.
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Homeowners Seeking ‘Spa Feel’ in Bath Remodels, Study Finds
PALO ALTO, CA — U.S. homeowners are increasingly turning to their master bathroom as a safe and peaceful respite from a world that often seems chaotic and threatening, a major new survey has found.
According to the 2021 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, whose results were released last month, two in five surveyed homeowners report using their renovated bathroom for rest and relaxation. The survey also found that cleanliness and a lack of clutter are keys to creating a “spa-like atmosphere” in the bath.
The annual online survey was fielded between June and July 2021 to nearly 3,000 U.S. Houzz users who are in the midst of, are planning, or recently completed a bathroom renovation, according to the Palo Alto, CA-based online platform for home renovation and design.
“In the midst of the chaos created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re seeing homeowners turn to their bathrooms for respite, creating calming sanctuaries with premium features, hygienic surfaces, and plants and other greenery,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz senior economist.
“Given the major changes involved, homeowners renovating their bathrooms are (also) seeking professional help at a growing rate,” Sargsyan added.
According to Houzz, modern, transitional and contemporary styles remain the leading choices for renovated bathrooms. Other features gaining popularity include dimmable lighting and greenery. The percentage of homeowners who relax in their renovated bathroom by soaking in the tub was up six points compared to last year, outpacing the share of those who unwind with long showers, Houzz said.
More than three quarters of homeowners incorporate premium features into their bathtubs and showers, the company added. Top premium features for the bath include soaking tubs, space for two and silent whirlpool baths, while premium shower upgrades include rainfall showerheads, dual showers, body sprayers and thermostatic mixers.
Additional survey findings include:
n Marble in Vogue: Marble is being adopted at a higher rate by renovating homeowners, with increased usage in shower flooring, non-shower flooring and non-shower walls.
n Colorful Vanities: While white continues to be the dominant color chosen across all bathroom features, blue and wood vanities have become more popular over the past year, bringing warmth and texture to bathrooms.
n Lighting Upgrades: Homeowners cite both insufficient lighting and no natural lighting as issues before a bathroom renovation, which may explain why more than four in five homeowners upgraded their lighting fixtures this year, Houzz said. Wall lights and recessed lights remain the top two choices in upgraded lighting. However lighted mirrors, pendant lights and chandeliers all inched up in popularity from last year.
n Toilet Technology: More than a third of homeowners who upgraded their toilets during renovations incorporated technology. Bidets remain the most popular tech feature for one in five homeowners, followed by self-cleaning, heated seats, overflow protection and built-in nightlights.
n Lighted Mirrors: Three-quarters of renovating homeowners installed mirrors in their renovated bathroom, with over half installing more than one mirror. Some upgraded mirrors have advanced features, such as LED lighting and anti-fog systems.
n Custom Medicine Cabinets: Nearly one-third of renovating homeowners install custom or semi-custom medicine cabinets, many of which include features such as hidden plugs and lighting on the inside.
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