A recreational, or rec, room can be the perfect space to have fun and enjoy time with others. But recreation can have many different forms. From a game room to a movie theater and so many other possibilities, it can be difficult to find the perfect design and style for you. Here are four steps that’ll help you do so:

1. Assessing the space

Whenever designing a room from scratch, it’s always a good idea to assess the size and dimensions of the space before anything else. Regardless of the room itself, the concept should always be centered around comfort. The first and foremost approach should be creating an inviting atmosphere for family and friends. Make sure to add ample seating, either spaced out for a larger room or closer together in a room with less space.

2. Finding the Purpose

It’s always crucial to think about the room’s purpose. For a more family-friendly setting, more comfortable seating and a fun atmosphere may work better. For those who appreciate a stronger sense of sophistication, a more refined look may be more suitable. For this style, an antique pool table with a polished finish can do just the trick. Darker walls add a dramatic backdrop to the space, incorporating the style even more so. If you’re a television junkie, a movie theater with ample seating may be more useful. Whichever purpose the room is used for, make sure it’s suits your interests and hobbies.

3. Incorporating Your Style

Alongside the space’s purpose, style is another crucial factor to consider. For a more sleek, modern design, install a flatscreen television to the wall and provide seating with a minimalist decor. Light fixtures should also be taken into account — modern light fixtures can add the perfect touch to finish off the room’s design.

4. Have Fun With It

The most important aspect of any rec room is to ensure that it serves its purpose, while also keeping a playful vibe. A bold color palette with a variety of textures and decorations can bring the room to life. Add funky decorations and avant-garde furniture to invite creativity into the space. In the end, remember to just have fun with it!

Although the interior design trends are headed toward bolder, more vibrant colors, neutral greys and tans are always in style. ‘Neutral’ doesn’t necessarily mean boring: here are three different ways to make a room with less vibrant colors still have a bold impact.

1. Dynamic Lighting

Although rooms with neutral colors can be warm and inviting, it can also end up being boring and dull. To prevent this from happening, look toward dynamic light fixtures. Avant-garde light fixtures like the chandeliers in this space offer a bright and eye-catching design. The additional brass fixtures diversify the textures in the space. Although almost all of the colors are neutral, the design of the room is anything but dull.

Photo courtesy of Sweetpea Willow

Photo courtesy of Brabbu Design

Don’t count out natural lighting, however. Bright sunshine can bring the neutral colors to life. The high glass doors allow for the natural light to shine through, and create a more lively and vibrant room in the process.

2. Contrast of Colors

The trick with designing rooms with neutral colors is a variation of those hues. Too much of one shade can make the entire space blend together, creating a boring look. Different shades of the same tones, however, can create a more vibrant style while also keeping a calm and comfortable atmosphere.

Although keeping with the neutral tones, this room stays bright and lively with its variation of those colors. The dark gray cabinets and chairs against the white brick walls creates a striking composition that’s both comfortable and eye-catching.

Photo courtesy of DelightFULL

Photo courtesy of Wallsauce

3. Varied Textures

To allow more variation in a space without getting too busy with the colors, look to diversifying the textures. Include different fabrics, tiles, stones, wood and more to add a more attractive style. The leather couch, painted mural on the wall and glossy wooden floors add variation to this space. But no matter which are used, the diversity of the textures will always give the room a beautiful, elegant design.

Photo courtesy of DelightFULL

W. Terry Potts

Country Club Properties

183 West Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741

828.526.2520 | ccp4terry@gmail.com | www.ccphighlandsnc.com

Country Club Properties is a fully independent real estate brokerage firm serving the country club market in the Highlands-Cashiers area. Completely independent from any developers, speculators or sales programs, Country Club Properties offers an untethered relationship. Area country clubs include Highlands, Wildcat Cliffs, Old Edwards Club, Mountaintop Club, Trillium Links Club, Cullasaja Club and Highlands Falls. Whether your interest is buying or selling real estate in the Highlands area, give Country Club Properties a call.

Listing by W. Terry Potts

Highlands, NC

Browery Road

One of the finest estates available in Highlands! Highrocks features gated access to a large private 3.6-acre lot with stunning views of Whiteside, and the valley vistas beyond. Featuring multiple stone fireplaces, water features, a custom dream kitchen, and Carolina room with a fireplace.

www.ccphighlandsnc.com.

$4,499,000.

W. Terry Potts originally appeared as an Elite Agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’19: Elite edition. See his page here.

With clean, sleek and modern furniture being the current trend, those with different styles can feel left out. But if your preference is furniture that’s more antique, you can have it both ways. These pieces can add beautiful conversation pieces for each and every space, while also staying on-trend.

This antique table adds so much character and charm to the space. With a unique design and intricate detail, the table adds a pop of color and a one-of-a-kind piece to bring the room together. Benches on the side create clean lines that add a subtle modern twist. Add a decorative lamp and some miscellaneous decorations on top to complete the look.

Photo courtesy of Covet House

Photo courtesy of Wallsauce

For more of a juxtaposition between the antique and modern styles, look toward bold representations of each. The mural on the wall is of Michelangelo’s painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. As one of the most famous pieces of classical art in the world, it adds a beautiful antique look to the space. Pair it with a modern couch and coffee table for a beautiful composition of both styles.

For a more antique look with less modern accents, look to rustic furniture, walls and floors. This space has an old world charm, and the cabinet’s bold yet faded color add to this style. The rugged wooden floors consisting of different hues contribute to the rustic charm as well. Add greenery and a beautiful mirror to bring the space fully together. The cabinet below has more modern accents to balance the antique style. The bold, retro lamps and decorative wallpaper create an eccentric character to the room.

Photo courtesy of Orchid Furniture

Photo courtesy of Orchid Furniture

This home in Bellevue, Washington, is redefining what it means to live in luxury. This stunning new construction is the perfect modern home for an individual or family.

Walk into through the solid mahogany doors to the foyer and see the unique and custom-made staircase to your right. The 5-bed, 6-bath home has the master suite on the main level and four en suite bedrooms on the upper level as well.

On the main level is also a home office, patio with a built-in barbecue and heaters a chef’s kitchen and so much more. Meanwhile, the upper level features an entertainment room with all the bells and whistles, convenient laundry room and cozy reading nook.

The chef’s kitchen with quartz countertops & backsplash, 14-foot island, a Wolf stove and Miele appliances.

This home has been thoughtfully designed with luxury and efficiency in mind, and is the ultimate form of luxury for its owner.

Luxury Portfolio International® (LPI), the luxury marketing division of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, has released a new, global report: The Allure of the Second Home: Why Affluent Buyers are Displaying Confidence in Resort Markets.

This detailed research focuses on affluent consumers (the top 10 percent and above income earners in 26 countries) who are in the market to buy or sell a second or vacation home in the next three years.

The Allure of the Second Home reveals that the potential for luxury property has never been bigger. Just in the last four years, personal wealth globally has grown by 15 percent and the number of high-net-worth-individuals has increased by 25 percent. For those at the highest end of the wealth spectrum (over $10 million in assets), this represents a unique opportunity. While the mainstream market has concern and is showing caution, this consumer, and particularly those in the market to buy a second home, is becoming more aggressive and feeling a high degree of confidence in the market.

Photo by Jessica Bryant.

“Today’s affluent second home buyers have more assets than in the past, they are younger, with nearly half under 40 years, and they are experienced with home ownership,” said Stephanie Anton, president of Luxury Portfolio International®. “This group is looking for additional residences for their portfolio that cater to their discerning lifestyles, where amenities and wellness are priorities.”

Photo by Expect Best.

Beyond physical and emotional wellness, which most affluent consumers focus on, luxury second home buyers are especially keen to improve their intellectual, social and even spiritual wellness, with 96 percent taking at least one aspect of wellness seriously. Learn more about how luxury developers are keeping this in mind to differentiate themselves in the full report.

Key Takeaways

The high-end second home market is a net growing market
Younger buyers make up half of the luxury second home market right now
Ultra-high-net-worth individuals are investing more aggressively
Buyers are ultimately seeking a life well-lived

Download the complete report at luxuryportfolio.com/whitepaper

Chris Loffreno

Loffreno Real Estate, Inc

2100 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33931

239.463.2999 | 800.741.2986 | chris@loffreno.com | FortMyersBeachRealEstate.com | Loffreno.com

Fort Myers Beach is a laid back casual beach town on Estero Island, off the Southwest Florida coast. A long, sandy beach faces the Gulf of Mexico, and offers the bay on the other side of the Island featuring fresh seafood off the docks. Boating and fishing are boundless from the island or its offshore Gulf waters. A short drive brings you to neighboring communities of Naples, Sanibel and Captiva. There are numerous stores and shopping centers, waterfront dining and an array of water sports and activities. There is always something to do in this active beach town!

Listings by Chris Loffreno

Classic Florida Beachfront Enclave

Your island estate located in a secluded and private setting just off road. An extended driveway greets you to this outstanding gulf-front property of two attached homes. Upper $2 million.

Chris Loffreno originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’19: Elite edition.

Adding yellow accents to a room can be tricky: while it can transform a dull design to a bright and airy space, anything too harsh can cause the opposite effect. Luckily, there’s a foolproof way to designing a space with the color, and it can be a breath of fresh air whenever you walk into the room.

Photo courtesy of The French Bedroom Co.

Photo courtesy of The French Bedroom Co.

When it comes to bedrooms, it can be difficult to choose the palette. While yellow walls may be too overbearing, yellow anywhere else may not be enough to do the trick. That’s why these two bedrooms have designed their spaces with two main categories: a bright yellow and a neutral color, such as grey, white or brown. They both balance each other out perfectly, with the yellow still adding that pop without being too harsh. The combination of hues adds to the comfortable and stylish decor, creating a space that’ll both brighten you up in the morning and be a calm retreat at the end of the day.

Photo courtesy of DelightFULL

Creating a living room with just a hint of yellow can add the perfect accent. This room that’s almost completely blue has a beautiful addition found with the bright yellow chair. It creates the perfect balance between the colors, creating a space with a unique and alluring charm.

The main trick with designing a room around the color yellow is to pick the right tones. The yellows shouldn’t be too harsh or overbearing, otherwise it will bring an unappealing style to the space. Meanwhile, the main colors of the room should be more neutral yet distinct from the yellow. Clear whites and dark browns and neutral grays play well here.

Photo courtesy of English Blinds

Photo courtesy of Orchid Furniture

Incorporate fresh plants to add another hint of color without making the space look disorganized or messy, and you’re on your way to creating the perfect space that’ll brighten up your day the moment you walk in.

Over the past few years, stained glass has gone from a dusty antique item in an old home to modern works of art. With the industry making a comeback into the luxury scene, interior designers are challenging themselves to design a space around the ornate glass. Here are a few different ideas:

Photo courtesy of Bespoke Glass

Photo courtesy of Florence Broadhurst Fabrics

Stained glass can add a pop of color and make your space feel both cozy and modern. The green colors on this partition add a bright finish to the room, making it the centerpiece for all the other furniture to gather around it. While still looking modern, it brings back an old-school style to provide a sense of comfort as well. Nowadays, adding a piece of stained glass to a home brings a unique style unlike any other — one that brings you back in time, while also staying ahead of the times, too.

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the Blake Hotel adds a unique style to the space by featuring the work of Bespoke Glass, a studio-based business in Brooklyn, New York. The different shades of blue colors and the glimmer of the glass adding a retro look that transports you to a different time in the past, while also staying current and on-trend. The placement of the blue pieces adds an edgy and one-of-a-kind appearance. Not only is it a partition, but it’s a work of art in its own right.

Photo courtesy of Reed McKendree

Photo courtesy of Bespoke Glass

By changing the designs stained glass was normally confined to in the past, studios and interior designers around the globe are beginning to take out the dusty antiques from their storage bins and create works of art instead. With so many different styles and colors, the possibilities are endless.

John Fairbanks & Marion Fairbanks

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, The Fairbanks Group

333 Village Main Street, Suite 670, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

With combined Real Estate experience of more than 60 years, The Fairbanks Group share a passion for their profession. John Fairbanks and Marion Fairbanks continue to bring international recognition for their people-centered, results driven professionalism. Having earned membership in the Society of Excellence and the International President’s Elite, they represent the top 1% of the company’s sales force, both domestic and international. Much of their business is repeat and referral from satisfied individuals. Always able to provide exceptional service, John and Marion are available to exceed your needs with their aggressive marketing and astute negotiating skills, coupled with a personal interest in their clients’ real estate concerns, mean results for their clients. These strengths continue to maintain John and Marion as top performing agents in the San Gabriel Valley for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage for more than 30 years.

Listings by John Fairbanks & Marion Fairbanks

1955 Brigden Road, Pasadena, ca

A mountain backdrop, exquisite facade with brick accent, stately front porch and elegant curb appeal is only the beginning of this newly redesigned and renovated residence located in Pasadena’s prestigious Brigden Ranch! Offering more than 3,000 square feet of living space including 4 bedrooms (2 master suites), 4 baths, a formal living room with fireplace, a family room with Napoleon fireplace, an office, breakfast area and a chef’s delight of a kitchen. The backyard is an entertainer’s dream with an outdoor barbecue!

Offered at $1,750,000