Think You Might Move to the NYC Suburbs?Here’s What to Do First
People are finding more reasons to move, such as:
More living and working space
Nature and a healthier lifestyle
A sense of community
Safety and privacy
Long Island Towns Offer Excellent Locations
As explained in the May 8, 2020 article in the New York Times: “The pandemic has convinced some New Yorkers that it’s time to finally give up on city living.” Prior to the pandemic, millennials often wanted a cheaper, quieter lifestyle. Now, the pandemic has added new requirements. When they want or need to stay closer to home, people also desire easy access to vibrant towns. Plus, convenient transportation is important so that they can go back to the city when they choose.
Lovely Long Island communities such as Great Neck, Roslyn, Manhasset, Plandome, and Port Washington are excellent choices for moving to the NYC suburbs. These towns offer a tasty variety of dining options, plenty of shopping, and easy transportation off of Long Island. A few good restaurants to explore could be ‘Waterzooi' in Garden City and Port Washington, or if Italian is your preference try ‘Il Mulino’ in Roslyn or ‘Limani’ for mediterranian foods, or try ‘La Parma on the Bay’ in Port Washington.
Beat the Overwhelm with These Five Steps
It is overwhelming enough to juggle a move, work and family, and in addition, you
move into a space that has to accommodate a change in lifestyle. City furniture may not fit well into the new house, or the style may not be right for you anymore. Additionally, there are new rooms to decorate and new multipurpose rooms to fill.
As a Long Island interior designer, let me share my solution: simplify your move by completing some of the home improvement projects before all the boxes and furniture arrive. Before the move, I also recommend these five steps.
Step 1: Start with a Floor Plan
If you need help, I’m available. That said, here’s one way to create a floor plan:
Measure the space in your home, as well as all current furniture you are thinking of keeping.
Cut out pieces of paper in the measurements of your furniture: one inch for each foot.
Draw each wall, window, and doorway to the same scale: one inch per foot. Make sure you put the swing of the door in the correct place.
When you place the pieces of furniture on the plan, make sure they are not too big or too small for the room and that they will fit through the door.
Keep in mind that you'll need sufficient room to walk around the furniture, along with clear paths to all rooms leading in and out of the space.
Do you now have high ceilings? Different size windows? Similar lighting conditions? Consider all of these factors, too.
Step 2: Plan the Finishes
While the house is still empty, consider the condition of the walls and floors. Prepare the walls for painting and anything else that may cause dust particles to fly into the air. To choose a paint color, I would look into the neutrals for the hallways and entranceway. Walls in the living room, dining area, and family room should be coordinated with fabrics and furnishings.
Then, refinish wood floors, or rip out carpeting. Completing these projects in an empty house means you won’t be living there to experience the toxic chemicals and noxious odors.
Step 3: Consider Remodeling
Kitchens and bathrooms can be remodeled or gutted. In fact, remodeling the kitchen is a priority for 47% of homeowners when moving into a new home, and 44% update the bathroom..
If you want a temporary fix, there are many simple ways of personalizing and revitalizing outdated looks, like adding new appliances, countertops and vanities, changing out fixtures and hardware, or replacing or refacing the cabinets.
Step 4: Determine the purpose of each room
Before you buy any furniture, define how a space will be used. Consider the needs of multiple generations if kids and older parents will be moving in together.
You may also want to consider creating a multipurpose room that transforms from a home office to a bedroom to a gym, depending on the needs of the moment.
Step 5: Remember the Outdoors
Suburbia provides opportunities for a backyard with a desk and outdoor cooking options. An indoor kitchen that can open up to a deck with a beautiful awning for great shade, a pool to relax and enjoy, and of course, comfortable outdoor chairs to relax and entertain.
If you are considering a move and feeling overwhelmed, please reach out to a Long Island interior designer with over 17 years of experience helping people transition into beautiful homes. Schedule a discovery call with Dafna Adler today.
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