Home Trend

Many eco-conscious homeowners are examining ways in which their homes impact the environment and how they can improve sustainability. Here are just a few tips to go green and help lower your home’s environmental impact.

Proper Insulation: Having the right insulation in your home is an important measure you can take to save energy. Proper insulation means less warm air escapes from your home during the winter and less cool air escapes during the summer. This reduces the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home and helps lower your energy bill.

Go Solar: Many homeowners view solar power as the energy source of the future and it’s easy to see why. Solar panels can be attached to your roof to help power your home with an energy source that’s clean, renewable and cost-effective. It’s a sensible home upgrade that’s great for the environment and your wallet.

Upgrade to Resource and Energy-Efficient Appliances: Many manufacturers understand the importance and appeal of energy and resource-efficient appliances and are bringing energy-efficient versions of everyday home appliances to market. Items like low-flush toilets, energy-efficient washers, dryers and refrigerators, and smart thermostats go a long way in making your home sustainable. Look for ENERGY STAR-certified products which will use anywhere from 10 to 50 percent less energy each year than a non-energy efficient equivalent.

Don’t Forget About Landscaping: The outside of a home has just as much impact as what’s going on inside the home. To go green outside, homeowners are creating gardens with food plants and trees, irrigation tubes and dry landscaping---the use of desert plants and features to help minimize water use. Studies have shown that even lawn maintenance habits can impact the environment. For example, mowing a lawn too short can significantly impact grass’ ability to pull CO2 out of the atmosphere....

Fall has already started, and now it’s time to look for the seasonal decorations that best suit your home. GIve your home a little warmth for the upcoming cool, fall weather!

Oranges, golds, browns, and beiges would be the best color options this time. Good thing there are many items with these colors during this season! Leaves, pines, pumpkins, tree branches, candles, and many more are all readily available!!

Use pumpkins as your table centerpiece for your dinner parties. Halloween and Thanksgiving parties always bring many families and friends together. So, surprise them with the best centerpiece they have ever seen with decorated pumpkins and beautiful brown pine cones. It’s a great combination! If you like candles, you can include them in your decorative elements to give it an even warmer, welcoming sense!

Another idea is to grab the fallen leaves of your favorite tree and fill a glass jar with them. It is so simple and looks so great that people would compliment and admire your creativity.

You can also paint tree branches with golden tones and browns and set them vertically by your front door. They will look like a decorative column made by nature! If you want to take it a step further, you can tie the branches together with a cute orange or beige ribbon and give it an extra color pop.

Lastly, if you have a fireplace at home, it is time to start using it! It will fill your home with cozy warmth and help combat the cooler, rainy weather that the Fall season usually brings.

Use some of these simple and gorgeous ideas for decorating your home, and make it look amazing for this Fall season!

Written By RJT employee, Remington Colbert

In life things need upgrades. Some people go over board and take things to the extreme by replacing everything in their life. However that does not always need to be done. Whether you are trying to be "ballin' on a budget" or just like projects, below are some fun way to redefine a look on any piece of furniture. 

Paint

The easiest way is paint. However many people make the mistake of ruining a piece of furniture or art because they do not know what they already have. If it highly collectible, valuable, or very rare, do not touch it. Preserve it the best way possible. Paint can do an absolutely exceptional job. 

Stain

Stain can either change the overall color of the wood, or it can be a nice freshen-up of an existing finish. This process can be messy and timeconsuming, however the finished product can be breathtaking. 

New Pulls/Handles

A simple change that can go a long way. Like everything, pulls and handles can become dated. If the lines on the piece are timeless, changing the pulls woith the times can keep a piece looking great for years. 

Adhesive Wallpaper

A new trend emerging is this stick...

Written by RJ Thieneman employee, Remington Colbert 

If you are like me, you probably do not have adequate storage in the kitchen for the pots, pans, dishes, cookware, snacks, veggies, the cake your mother made you, and at the moment your cabinets are bursting at the seems. Luckily there are solutions that will help tame the mountainness pile of kitchen clutter. And the best part is it costs very little! 

1. Mount Pot Lids on cabinet doors with command hooks.

This is a great saver. It frees up a pile of lose lids that always get caught in everything else. Plus it prevents from scratching. 

2. Create your own measuring cup rack!

This one is easy to read, there is a measurement reference chart, and it looks aesthetically pleasing. 

3. Mini Magnetic Containers for spices! 

This is a huge space saver. To help with convenience add some decorative labels to find what you need quickly. If you are the type of person who likes to hang things from the fridge, these can have a dual purpose!

4. Paper File Organizers have a dual purpose

...

Written by RJ Thieneman intern, Remington Colbert

Summer time is the best. Few obligations, vacations, and many activities keep everyone happy and busy during the summer. Whether you loathe or love the summer heat, it is a fact that a majority of the summer is spent outside. Pool side tanning, hammock laying, or flower bed planting, forces you outside. Unfortunately when you have a lame or sad outdoor living space, the enjoyment of being outside can be taken away. In some cases it is not always easy to have stunning outdoor living space. It can be expensive, time consumming, and a lot of work. And if you live in a new construction development, you have to deal with a blank canvas to start. Here are some fun backyard ideas that could potentially be integrated in to your living space. 

Renovations are always a fun and exciting option, however they can be timely and expensive. But with a great eye, drab can become fab! 

Pools are a summer staple. Teak deck asorbs heat, creates a trendy look, and like this home owner, when space is limited compact it in. 

Who doesn't like food? Having a fully functional living space both inside and out is becoming more and more common. Instead of your grill in the corner, how about building a mini kitchen?

Create intimate spaces that are fun for all ages.

Bold visuals that create individual areas, break up the yard as a whole and create...

Written by RJT intern, Remington Colbert

The entryway of a home is a guest's first impression of your home and your lifestyle. The old saying "first impressions can be tough" stands to be true. Give any guest, inlaws, and relatives that you try to outshine something to talk about! Easy changes do not have to be expensive or even super time consuming. When redoing a space, there can be thousands of ways to make a change. Whether you are renovating, redecorating, or even shifting your exsisting stuff around, change can be a good thing! Here are some easy ways to shake up your entryway!

1. Bold Color

Bold colors reflect a personality, a mood, or a meaning. Many designers love color because there is many possiblities for great design. Do not be affraid to do something different! 

2. Bold prints

Whether you put a bold wallpaper on the wall or have super accentric fabric, a bold print can give off a positive and welcoming vibe and have a refelction on your fun side!

3. Family Photo Wall

To make your home feel strong of family, create an art gallery style collage with different frames, sizes, textures, and styles. It will come accross as cool, trendy, and fun.

4.Antique Trunk/Furniture

Through back to a by-gone era by adding...

Written by RJT intern Remington Colbert,

Everyone loves their pets and want them around 24/7, however all the things that come along with a pet can get in the way. Cages, toys, food bowls, harnesses, beds, etc. The list goes on and on. However besides storage solutions many new home builders and remolders are creating designs to blend pet's needs with great design. Whether you're remodeling, building, or just like looking a pictures of cute animals, hopefully these ideas can help in your home planning process! MoneyWatch CBS had some great ideas back in 2014, and these ideas can be implemented in your home! 

Custom Staircases

Just like people, animals get old over time and have dificulty on stairs. Small pets have a disadvantage with stairs from the start. Creative stair solutions like these create a unique look, easy movement for the pets, and makes for an interesting conversation starter! 

Doors with windows

Bring the outdoors in, our keep the pets active with the outside world! Windows not only provide for additional light, they create a high end look and keep the pets less isolated. 

Pet Doors

Builders are getting away from the pet doors built into the main exterior door. Now it is common to find additional doors placed to the side. It's quite similar to the Alice in Wonderland doors that are tiny! For a clean look order a custom that is identical to the main door!

Custom Cabinetry...

Written by RJT Intern, Remington Colbert

Spring is just around the corner! Longer days, warmer mornings, and the singing birds throughout the day indicate no more bone chilling coldness. Getting antsy for the weather to warm up quickly is very common. No one wants to be in the cold for too long, it's unbearable. However, some years winter just doesn't want to break quickly. Bringing the springtime outdoors in can be a challenge, especially with the ever-changing weather, allergies, and bugs. YUCK. However, it is way easier than one might think. Here are a few tips to bring the outdoors in this spring!

Fresh Cut Flowers

When anyone thinks of spring the first thing that comes to mind is flowers. Flowers add a beautiful natural element to any space. They add a pop of color, an enchanting aroma, and a feeling of joy. And with the ability to grow any plant at any time, your favorite flowers can be found year round at most florists!

Colorful Pots

No matter how bland the house plants are around the house, colorful pots make a fun visual impact, even if the plant doesn't bloom. Plants need to be re-potted from time to time, so why not do something playful? Pots can be matched to the room decor or to whatever holiday or season approaching! These are most fun in sun rooms or kitchens full of herbs.

Fresh Herbs

Herbs make great spring time accessories; plus they taste good! Herbs, like any plant, help filter the air in the home, add that natural element, and give off pleasant smells. If they are in your kitchen, you have quick access to them for use...

Written By LRG Marketing Intern Remington Colbert

Home trends change year to year, decade to decade. Here are few of the predicted 2018 home trends according to the lovely editors from Country Living Magazine. 

2018 has some big trend changes that may shock some, it may excite some, but it will definitely leave one in awe. 

1. Jewel Colors

The past few years have seen light and bright colors around the home. The monocramatic themes of home design are starting to slide by. Instead, bold, rich, sexy colors will likely appear more and more in furniture, paint choices, fabrics, and more. 

2. Heavy Cabinetry

Recently, there has been a push for less cabinets and more shelving in kitchens. Let's be honest, when things are put away and out of sight, there is peace of mind and a clean look. Heavy cabinetry is back, but with a new twist. Instead of doing traditional white, black, or wood tones, new colors are emrging. Grey, blue, and green are becoming commonplace. 

3. Brass

Yes, Brass is back! However, it's not in those candlesticks or 1980's light fixtures. It's being used in hardware accents in tables, cabinetry, drawer pulls, etc. 

4. Wabi - Sabi

What? Wabi - Sabi is the Japanese art of...

Written by RJT Intern, Remington Colbert

The holidays are a time of relaxation, laughter, good eating, and family endeavors. After they end, a new nightmare begins; how in the mistletoe did I have my decorations organized?!?!  To create a wrap on the end of the holiday cleanup, try some of these creative ways for quick organization and space saving!

Storage of wrapping paper

For space saving and easy searching try a wall mounted plastic bag dispenser for all year use. For the once a year paper, like holiday paper, a clear garment bag will keep the paper high and dry, organized, and out of the way. 

Storage of Strand Lights

There is nothing more frustrating then having strand lights tangled. Then once they are untangled, the broken and missing blubs only add to the decorating headache. To prevent this, and save space from the scary bin of lights, try wrapping lights on pieces of cardboard or thick poster board. This keeps everything nice and tidy. Filling the cardboard in a bin or other storage device keeps them easy to retrieve for the next holiday. 

For Wreath Storage

Stacking wreaths only smashes them into an unsighly mess that looks like the extra lawn clippings left out by the curb. The best way to store wreaths is to hang them in a wreath bag. If there is ample amount of storage, an old hat box is...

Written by LRG intern, Savannah Wafford 

Have you been to the Buliding Industry Association of Louisville’s Homearama 2017 yet? If you have been or not, you can catch up on the kitchen and bathroom trends here! If you’re looking to incorporate Homearama trends into your home or buy a new home here is some inspiration from our homes in Rock Springs and Saratoga Springs: 

Mudrooms: 

This trend is both practical and stylish! Mudrooms add character to your home and keep your space a little cleaner: 

5304 Pebble Creek | Rock Springs 

5304 Rock Ridge Dr. | Rock Springs 

...

Written by RJT Intern, Savannah Wafford

Have you been to the Buliding Industry Association of Louisville’s Homearama 2017 yet? If you have been or not, you can catch up on the kitchen and bathroom trends here! If you’re looking to incorporate these trends into your home or buy a new home here is some inspiration from the kitchens in our homes in Rock Springs and Saratoga Springs:

Pendant Lights

Pendant lights are popping up everywhere to brighten up counter tops and kitchen islands. Choosing unique pendant lights is an inexpensive and easy way to change the look of kitchen.

The industrial pendant lights hanging above the dining table and kitchen island give this kitchen a cohesive and modern feel.

4700 Saddle Bend Way | Saratoga Springs

Even though the look of these lights are different, the metal and glass work well together to give the space a modern and industrial look.

5424 River Rock Dr. | Rock Springs

...

Have you been to the Buliding Industry Association of Louisville's  Homearama 2017 yet? If you have been or not, you can catch up on the kitchen and bathroom trends here! If you're looking to incorporate these trends into your home or buy a new home here is some inspiration from our homes in Rock Springs and Saratoga Springs:

 Soaking Tubs:

This trend has been popping up in houses everywhere and is featured in several Homearama homes. 

5305 Rock Ridge Drive , Rock Springs

5304 Rock Ridge Drive, ...

Written by LRG intern, Savannah Wafford 

Feeling blue? Thats okay! That is if you are painting your home. 

It seems that color can make a big impact on how much your home can sell for. A new report from Zillow found that homes painted in blue and gray tones could sell faster and for more. Zillow found that homes painted in these tones could sell for up to $5,440 more. The report looked at photos from over 32,000 homes sold around the country to see how paint colors affected the selling price. The report found that living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms that featured hues of blue and gray added value to homes.

On the other hand, there are colors that you should steer clear from when selling your home. Homes with darker walls and colors like terracotta were selling for up to $2,000 less than expected. The biggest turn off for home buyers? No color at all. Homes with white and off-white bathrooms sold for over $4,000 less on average than similar homes.

So if you are planning on selling your home soon, a quick coat of paint could make all the difference! Looking for inspiration? Check out the photos below.

This custom, new construction in Rock Springs added tones of blue to make...