About Us

The market has never been better for Washington- and Baltimore-area homeowners. Despite a soft economy, the value of residential real estate in our region continues to rise in record-breaking proportions. According to the National Association of Realtors, in the second-quarter of 2003 the median price of existing single-family homes rose 14 percent in the greater Washington area and 16 percent in the greater Baltimore area, both twice the national average.

Homeowners are pouring these profits back into their homes. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry projects that Americans will spend a record $214 billion on home renovations this year, focusing mainly on kitchen and bath renovations and home additions.

These figures show that there’s no place like home—as both a solid financial investment and an individualized retreat to enjoy with family and friends. Indeed, local residents put a high premium on making their houses homes: In 2002, Washington-area residents spent a whopping $5 billion in furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliance stores, ranking the area fourth in the nation in these expenditures according to Market Statistics, 2002 Demographics U.S.A.

Clearly, our local interior design and home furnishings scene is as vibrant as our real estate market is robust. In HOME & DESIGN’s annual Sourcebook, it is our goal to present you with a wealth of resources and invaluable advice that will help you create the home of your dreams.


Enjoy,

Sharon Jaffe Dan
Editor in Chief