December Newsletter

A Cozy Close to 2025

As we slip into the heart of the holiday season, I’m feeling extra grateful for this community and the homes we get to shape together. From Maplewood and South Orange to Millburn, West Orange, and Verona, 2025 has been a year of resilience, creativity, and big moves—literally and figuratively. This month’s newsletter brings you: 🏡 SOMA, Millburn, West Orange & Verona Market Snapshots 🛋️ Interior design + project updates 🖌️ Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year - Holy Controversy! 👏 Welcome to D+D's newest team member, Keith Shepherd 📰 Real Estate in the News & Market Trends 🏘️ Local Happenings & Community Events 💡 Lifestyle Tips & Tricks for Homeowners 🏡 Featured Listings & Open House Schedule We're here to make sure your final real estate and interior design wishes of the year come true!

Local Market Snapshots Even with rates and inventory shifting, our local New Jersey markets remain strong and competitive—especially for well-prepped, well-presented homes. Here’s a quick pulse check based on the latest data from October/November 2025: Maplewood Maplewood continues to be a classic “if you list it well, it moves” market. Recent median sale prices are hovering around $1.1M, up roughly 10–11% year-over-year. (Redfin) Homes are still selling quickly, typically in just a few weeks, especially when they show well and are priced strategically. South Orange South Orange remains a hot spot for buyers looking for character + proximity to NYC. Median sale prices are around $1.0M+, with year-over-year increases in the mid-teens (around 16–17%). (Redfin) Days on market have compressed compared to last year—well-presented homes are moving fast. Millburn / Short Hills Still one of the most sought-after markets in the area, particularly for its schools and easy Midtown Direct commute. Average home values sit around $1.19M, up about 5% over the past year. (Zillow) Recent reports show sale-to-list price ratios over 107%, a clear sign that desirable homes are still attracting multiple buyers.(kimcannon.com) West Orange West Orange continues to offer great value and variety in housing styles. Recent median sale prices are in the mid–$600Ks, with prices up about 6% year-over-year. (Movoto Real Estate) Homes are selling in roughly a month and a half on average, with strong activity in well-located neighborhoods. Verona Verona is quietly having a moment. Median sold prices have been around $625K–$700K, with some data showing year-over-year increases north of 20% in certain segments. (Movoto Real Estate) Inventory remains relatively tight, which continues to support prices. What this means if you’re thinking of selling in 2026: Strategic prep — staging, minor updates, and thoughtful design—still moves the needle. If a spring or summer sale is on your radar, now is the perfect time to talk about timeline, improvements, and value.

Current Project Spotlight This year, our team was deep in projects that blended beauty, function, and long-term value. This month we are focusing on our current project in South Orange (note: these are just progress shots, all professional photos will be released in a future newsletter). South Orange Kitchen Rehabilitation, Family Room Upgrade and Playroom: This comprehensive South Orange home renovation centered on transforming a cramped, poorly laid-out kitchen into a bright, timeless, and highly functional heart of the home, featuring an improved footprint, better traffic flow, and classic, effortless finishes. Simultaneously, the family room received a major glow-up with rich, high-gloss burgundy walls for a sophisticated, moody warmth, complemented by a whimsical bird-motif wallpaper in the coffered ceiling, a custom fireplace, and sculptural lighting. Finally, an overlooked, unused room was reinvented as a vibrant, whimsical play space—a joyful zone that blends creativity and function for three spirited children. Family Room Before: Family Room After: Kitchen Before: Kitchen After: If you’re craving a change in your home for 2026—whether it’s a single room refresh or “let’s finally do the kitchen”—we’re booking new design projects now. Design Spotlight: Pantone's 2026 Color of the Year As someone who loves deep, rich, moody colors, embracing Pantone’s Color of the Year—a soft, airy white—was not exactly love at first sight. But let’s be honest: white paint is essential in so many spaces, and choosing the right one can make or break a room. And can we talk about the gender divide here for a moment? Ask most men their favorite white and you’ll get, “Wait… there’s more than one?” Ask a woman and you’ll likely get a curated list, complete with reasons, undertones, and where each one should live. (You know it’s true.) But I’m in. I’m embracing it. I’ll use it as the perfect backdrop to let all those saturated textiles, warm woods, and layered accents really shine. And—let’s be honest—I’ll definitely be pairing it with my favorite black, because the two of them together prove one thing: you truly can’t have one without the other. Team Spotlight: Welcome, Keith! Big news on the Dwell + Design front: We’re thrilled to introduce Keith Shepherd, our new Head of Operations and the newest member of the D+D family! Keith is the master of all things operational and transactional. Behind the scenes, he’s the one: Keeping contracts, deadlines, and documents perfectly organized Making sure milestones are met and nothing falls through the cracks Coordinating the many moving parts between agents, attorneys, inspectors, lenders, and contractors Freeing up our design and real estate team to focus fully on strategy, creativity, and client experience In short: when your deal or project feels smooth, clear, and under control, Keith is a big reason why. Please help me welcome Keith if you see him at a listing appointment, design walkthrough, or closing—he’s already making a huge impact, and I’m so grateful he’s part of the Dwell + Design team. Real Estate in the News Why Some Homes Sell Quickly - And Others Don't Sell At All There are more homes for sale today, but that doesn't have to work against you... Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters

Local Happenings

december 3-28, 2o25 It's A Wonderful Life: A Love Radio Play Step in from the cold as the stage is transformed into a 1940s radio studio for this cherished American classic complete with musical jingles and sound effects created live on stage. Ticket purchase is required. Click HERE for details!

december 31, 2025 Hackettstown's NYE Blast This exciting event will feature an M&M’S® lentil drop at midnight, along with food trucks, a kids' zone, and live music, ensuring a festive celebration for all ages. This year's festivities will take place in the heart of Hackettstown at the intersection of Main Street and High Street from 8:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Click HERE for details!

Lifestyle Tips and Tricks

Home Exterior Mistakes That Designers Want You To Quit Making Avoid these common design mishaps to help your home look its best. Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

How to Make Sure Your Sale Crosses the Finish Line If there was one simple step that could help you make your home sale a seamless process, wouldn't you want to know about it? Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters Best Places to Retire in the U.S. 2026 The best places to retire ranking can help you decide where to spend your golden years. Courtesy of U.S. News Take a Look Back at 25 Years of Design Trends These were the hottest trends each year since 2000. How many did you try? Courtesy of HGTV

Featured Listings

Academy Heights 254 Academy St, 07079 5 BD 4 BA $899,000

Maplewood 153 Garfield Pl, 07040 4 BD 4 BA $899,000 Cedar Grove 265 Little Falls Rd, 07009 5 BD 2 BA $889,500

Short Hills 16 W Rd, 07078 6 BD 6 BA $3,350,000

Thanks for reading and subscribing! Ready to achieve your next real estate goal? Reach out to chat!

Amy Lutz Interior Designer and Realtor M: 646.239.5248 O: 856.214.2639 amy@dwell-and-design.com

Office: 856-214-2639 Compass RE is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

marketingcenter--