What's New in Tampa Bay: 
815 Water Street 

The new dual-tower residential building – the first residential component of Tampa’s new 53-acre downtown master plan.

Designed as a set of twins, 815 Water Street's two towers are connected by a retail and parking podium and will serve as the terminus of the master plan’s green spine, providing views out to the city and the water. To the west, the 21-story rental tower is perpendicular to Channelside Drive, while to the east, the 26-story condominium tower is angled towards the water, opening up the complex to downtown Tampa.

The towers’ façades are defined by the units’ exterior terraces, which provide daylighting and allow residents to take advantage of the local climate. Partitions between the units are animated through subtle rotation and angularity, connecting the building with the organic, unpredictable quality of nature. Pops of green are incorporated strategically throughout the project punctuating important moments in the building. The project’s design is derived from the idea that the human spirit can be elevated by surrounding oneself with authentic, natural materials, and non-repetitive patterns and shapes.

"Creating a building that makes a person feel better by interacting with it was inspiring to explore,” said Trent Tesch, KPF Design Principal. “Wellness, and how the building is going to be built, is our focus – integrating authentic materials and textures that are both refined and rough, which will make this project look distinct and unique. The building also has an authentic connection to nature, making those who enter it feel better instantly."

KPF’s first building in Tampa, 815 Water Street is scheduled for completion in 2020. KPF Principals Trent Tesch and Lloyd Sigal are leading the project with Director Jonah Hansen and Senior Associate Principal Chad Christie. Cecconi Simone, an award-winning, Toronto-based interior design firm known for residential and hospitality design, is designing the interiors of the building.

Craig's Take:
 
Tampa Bay has so much exciting new developments going on now and over the next several years. There are reasons I talk and write about Water Street so frequently. They are simple. First, it is one of the largest developments in the nation for one of the country’s fastest growing cities. There are so many facets of this massive 3-billion-dollar project.

The Water Street project in total, is set to feature a total of 3,500 new residences, including condos and apartments. 1,300 new residences will be built as a part of the neighborhood’s initial phase, bringing nearly 2,000 residents to the neighborhood as soon as 2021.

The first project to break construction is 815 Water Street. There will be two towers added that together will comprise of 420 total residences. What’s most important about this project. There are two primary factors that are important about this specific project. Number one, is its location and the fact it is located adjacent to Amalie Arena, and steps away from the new Sparkman Wharf, make it an incredibly coveted location. The second reason it is an important part of the overall Water Street project, is the fact the two towers will be built on to of a full-service 25,000 square-foot grocery store. This is very important to the overall success of the continued growth of Channelside. One of the main issues for Channelside residents, was the lack of grocery stories in the area. Residents had to previously drive out of the area to go grocery shopping. Upon the completion there will now be two, not one grocery stores. Publix, which is under construction is at the bottom of the Channelclub and this grocery store. Both are located on opposite end of the Channelside district providing residents with not one, but two grocery store options without them getting in their car.

We’ll be the first to admit that it’s hard to keep up with the latest and greatest decor trends. Not only are they constantly changing, but views vary wildly: One designer says something’s in, while another says it's out. And that’s nothing to say of your opinion on the matter.

But if you're seeking inspiration—or heck, maybe you just want to look at some beautiful photos and dream—we've got you covered.

If mashups and remixes are your thing, just you wait. And if you live for drama, get ready—there'll be plenty of that in the coming year, too.

"2019 is going to be all about mixing it up," says Jim Kabel, owner of Case Design/Remodeling in San Jose, CA. "It’s about creating visual interest."

These decor ideas promise to do just that. Striking and memorable—with a bombshell or two in the mix—these top trends are a great place to start your redesign wish list.

Click here to see the 10 Daring new trends.

2019 Real Estate Forecast:
What Home Buyers, Sellers
And Investors Can Expect

There’s no doubt about it: the 2018 housing market had its ups and downs.

The year started with sky-high home prices, historically low mortgage rates and a definitive upper hand for sellers. In recent months though, home price growth has faltered, rates have risen to their highest point in nearly eight years, and favor has started to shift from seller to buyer.

Will these trends continue? Will housing experience the same wild ride in the new year? Here’s what experts predict will happen in 2019 real estate market:

Mortgage rates will continue rising.

“Despite steady climbing for the past two years, mortgage rates remain lower than they were during most of the recession and below average for the type of strong economic growth we’ve been experiencing. That will change in 2019, as the 30-year, fixed rate mortgage reaches 5.8% — territory not seen since the dark days of 2008 when rates were racing downward in response to the housing crisis.” — Aaron Terrazas, director of economic research for Zillow

Millennials will keep buying homes — despite those rising rates.

"The housing market in 2019 will be characterized by continued rising mortgage rates and surging millennial demand. Rising rates, by making housing less affordable, will likely deter certain potential homebuyers from the market. On the other hand, the largest cohort of millennials will be turning 29 next year, entering peak household formation and home-buying age, and contributing to the increase in first-time buyer demand.” — Odeta Kushi, senior economist for First American

“Millennials will continue to make up the largest segment of buyers next year, accounting for 45% of mortgages, compared to 17% of Boomers, and 37% of Gen Xers. While first-time buyers will struggle next year, older Millennial move-up buyers will have more options in the mid-to upper-tier price point and will make up the majority of Millennials who close in 2019. Looking forward, 2020 is expected to be the peak Millennial home buying year with the largest cohort of millennials turning 30 years old. Millennials are also likely to make up the largest share of home buyers for the next decade as their housing needs adjust over time.” — Danielle Hale, chief 

Craig's Take:

Look for a deep dive into Craig's market forecast in 2019 for the Tampa Bay area. I have spent significant time interviewing top local economists, and the Mayor of Tampa Bob Buckhorn and the Mayor of St. Pete Rick Kriseman.
 

New Year, New Home:
Clever Tricks to
Rejuvenate Your Home's Interior

Year after year when January rolls around, Americans painstakingly put together a list of resolutions for the New Year focused on everything from health and wellness to finances and self-improvement. While many people concentrate on external factors, we often forget to look to the very spaces where the majority of our time is spent – the home.

When making a New Year’s resolution list, home improvements aimed at improving health and well-being are typically left off the list, but here are a few ways that your living space can actually enhance your life.

Rethink your layout. A little legwork can go a long way to completely freshen up and transform the look of any room. Whether it’s moving the sofa, reorganizing plants or swapping out accent furniture, this form of renovation won’t cost a penny and allows you to recreate any room in your house. Switching around existing furniture and mixing and matching decor are minor changes that can go a long way.

Bring nature in. A little pop of color can give your home the fresh revival it has been looking for, and plants are a cost-efficient way to bring your home to life – quite literally. The 2018 National Gardening Survey from GardenResearch.com reports that 30 percent of all homes have at least one houseplant, with that number likely to rise in the future due to the many health benefits of incorporating greenery in the living space. Besides making a home look more polished, biophilic designs and touches can have tremendous health benefits due to their positive impact on air quality and noise control, as well as enhanced creativity and reduced stress.

Click here to read the rest of the tips

Top Health Food
Trends of 2019