Holiday Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and plans for the big meal are well underway!

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving Day is the busiest day for home fires, of which the leading cause is cooking.  Keep your holiday safe and happy this year by following these tips below.

- Stay in the kitchen when you're cooking. Don't leave food unattended.
- Keep children away from the stovetop - by at least 3 feet
- Wear short sleeves while cooking
- Have pot holders and kitchen towels sit away from heat sources
- Make sure the floor is clear from toys and pocketbooks
- Keep all lit candles above the reach of children and make sure they are blown out when the evening is over
- Test all smoke detectors and fire extinguishers

Follow these safety tips and keep your home and family happy this Thanksgiving! 

Paradime Featured in Columbia Metropolitan

Thank you to Columbia Metro Magazine for the great feature in your November 2013 issue!

If you didn't see it on the stands, check out the link below!

Paradime Columbia Metro

Designing Your Bath

The bathrooms of yesteryear were often overlooked as functional rooms without much style.  That has changed greatly over the years with the importance of the master bathroom following only the kitchen in resale evaluations.

So what to today's baths look like?  Here are some of the trends builders and remodelers across the nation are reporting.

White and off-white remain the top color schemes followed by beige or brown. Rising in popularity are colors in the grey family.

Granite has typically been the go to surface material but quartz is narrowing the gap dramatically.

Ceramic tile flooring remains the most popular floor option followed by natural stone flooring.

New bathrooms are better lit - both with natural and artificial light.

Grab bars, once only installed on an as-needed basis are being requested more frequently. Many at-home accidents occur in the bathroom and as the Baby Boomers age they are planning ahead with safety in mind.

His and hers vanities are extremely popular even in smaller baths. Storage options are essential with more drawers and dividers being incorporated into the layout.

What would your dream bathroom look like?

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?

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?

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.

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.