Friday, October 25, 2013

Kitchen Trends

The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home. It remains one of the most important areas in home design and warrants a lot of thought before building your custom home.

Some trends designers are seeing in kitchens these days are:

  • More square footage. Kitchens are getting larger as they become the focal point for entertaining.
  • Increase in detail. Molding, millwork and paneled doors are some examples of how to dress up the kitchen.
  • Designer islands. More than just functional space, islands are taking on a life of their own with a unique style or color that stands apart from the rest of the kitchen.
  • Less clutter. Kitchens are being designed with extra storage space to hold rarely used appliances and free up precious countertop space.
  • Glamorous lighting. While some elements of the kitchen are becoming more clean and streamlined, buyers are adding in touches of upscale decor in chandeliers or oversized light fixtures.
What are your ideas for your custom kitchen space?

Friday, October 18, 2013

Entertaining Ideas!

Hard to believe but there are less than two weeks until Halloween!  Once you get settled in your new home it's natural to want to show it off - maybe with a Halloween or Fall Party?  Here are some easy but eye-catching Autumn recipes to use at your big event!

Click on the images below to get step-by-step instructions!











What are some of your favorite recipes?

Friday, October 11, 2013

Financing Options

Financing a new home is often one of the more intimidating aspects of the home buying process.

To ease some of that anxiety, we're explaining three of the major loan programs, FHA, VA and USDA.

FHA Loans:
FHA loans are mortgages that are backed by the Federal Housing Administration. These loans are especially attractive for buyers who don't have a large down payment, could use some credit help, want to keep their monthly payments as low as possible or have any concerns about increasing monthly payments. FHA loans offer competitive interest rates and typically require less money down.

VA Loans:
A VA loan is guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and is available for eligible Veterans, Active-Duty Personnel, Reservist or  National Guard members and some surviving spouses.  In most cases no down payment is required with a VA loan, the interest rates are competitive and closing costs are comparable to other loan options. VA loans also do not require private mortgage insurance.

USDA Loans:
USDA loans are also known as Rural Development Loans and are backed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Eligibility is limited to rural areas as designated by the USDA. Loans do not require a down payment. Lenders will evaluate your debt to income ratio and credit score to ensure that you qualify.

These are only three of the financing options available. Talk with a lender to find out which program is right for you.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Choosing your color palette


Building a custom home involves many decisions, maybe none more important or difficult than choosing your color palette.  Here are some tips from the experts on how to make that decision just a little easier.
  • Start with your formal areas first - dining room, living room and entry way. 
  • Rule of thumb - use darker colors on the floor, medium shades on the wall and lighter colors for the ceiling
  • Think about the colors you wear. People typically buy clothes in colors they like or look good in. Keep these colors in mind for your home as well.
  • Use this ratio - 60 percent dominant color, 30 percent secondary color and 10 percent accent color
  • Work within the same hue if you find a color you love
  • Consider your lighting. Observe your room or space in morning, afternoon and evening light. Light will greatly affect paint colors.
  • Decorate for yourself. It's okay to get opinions from friends or family but ultimately it's your home and you have to live there. Choose what you like even if other people don't.