Home Trends According to Jason Cameron

Jason Cameron, host of the DIY Network’s Man Caves and Desperate Landscapes, was in town last weekend to speak at the 2012 Home & Remodeling Show at the Dulles Expo Center. I had the opportunity to sit down with him on Saturday morning before he went on stage.

As a Realtor, I was curious to know what trends he was seeing both inside and outside the home. One word sums it up–green.

Outside the Home
Permeable Paving: The first thing Jason said when I asked him what trends he was seeing was a lack of concrete. For instance, instead of driveways and walkways being made out of concrete, he’s seeing permeable paving being used–porous material that allows water and air to move through them.

Synthetic Turf: I had to laugh at this one. I had an image of the fake grass rug my best friend used under the awning of her tent trailer when we went on our camping adventures. Jason said so many advancements have been made in synthetic turf that it is hard to distinguish it from the real thing.

Rain Chains: Widely used in Japan, rain chains can be used as a decorative alternative to a downspout. They are becoming quite trendy according to Jason.

One of the attractions of a rain chain is that it can be easily combined with a rainwater harvesting system that is both beautiful and practical. Jason said rainwater barrels or cisterns are also popular.

Inside the Home
Recycled Materials Countertops: Using recycled materials such as paper and aluminum for kitchen countertops is a big trend, but Jason specifically talked about recycled glass countertops. A combination of recycled glass and resin, these countertops are every bit as durable as granite but less expensive.

I blog about real estate and life in Northern Virginia at MargieMac.com.