Roses are Red-- Violets are Blue-- What Front Door Color Screams You?

Let’s face it---we are all a little exhausted of this wintry weather and extreme cold and ready to move on to bigger, bolder, BRIGHTER things.  Our houses at this time are feeling rather small, drab and even blah.  But with spring right around the corner surely you have had plenty of time to think about how to spice things up.

Spring is the time to make change---give your home a facelift.  First things first, why not tackle the front door.  Doing so will even land you out of the house and soaking up the sun and milder temperatures.

The front door serves as a focal point to the exterior façade of your home---it is where people begin developing their first impressions of what is to come.  The front door serves as the passage and egress with which energy, prosperity, and opportunities begin and also end.  With that said what color screams you?

Cultures all over the world associate meanings with various colors.  Have a look:

Blue

Blue is believed to bring serenity, tranquility, positive liveliness, and abundance.

Yellow

Yellow is associated with mental clarity, perception, understanding, wisdom, confidence, curiosity, humor and high spirits.

Green

Green represents balance, serenity, empathy, growth, renewal and harmony.

Purple

Purple suggests power and offerings of opportunity.

Red

Red is a symbol of “welcoming”---opening up and sharing your home.

And lastly, if you aren't one to go bold you can always stick with the classic white front door.

White

White evokes purity, serenity and virtue.

Now what are you waiting for...be inspired :) With all of the color options and their symbolism you really cant go wrong.

Happy Home.  Happy Life.

Smooth Continuity

The desire for an “open floor plan” is on the rise and a rather popular request from our homeowners.  The flexibility this design lends is often ideal to accommodate the fullness of our everyday lifestyles---from rushed meals to long discussions, tackling the family bills to gathering and entertaining with friends and family.  This versatile flow offers so much and really makes the walls that surround us feel like HOME.  It seems some of the most meaningful conversations and wondrous gatherings take place in these very spaces—it’s no wonder why our homeowners are so intrigued.

Here in our latest model plan the main floor has a very open feel as soon as you walk into the home.  The entry, great room, dining room and kitchen create one mass space but serve as individual spaces as well.

The home and these adjoining spaces is where life happens.  Having such spaces so grand in size allows as many or as little amounts of activity to take place—all at one time.  These spaces as a whole provide service, comfort, function and flexibility from the moment we enter the front door.   

In this pic you can see how the kitchen, dining room, and great room are all one space.  But as this space became furnished each space took on its own identity.

On another note, incorporating an open floor plan does not mean that each space can’t have an identity of its own.  From a design perspective you want your spaces to have subtle differences but talk to one another and allow for smooth continuity.  The best way to work with spaces that don’t have architectural boundaries or that are free flowing onto the next space is to use one consistent wall color throughout.  Once your spaces have structure or a grounded feature, accent colors can be applied.  Accent colors can be achieved by applying a new color to a focal wall of that particular space or through the room’s accessories.  Spaces can take on their own unique look simply by placing one accent color in one space and another in the next.  The key however is having a palette that allows coordination or flexibility for colors to come together thus making a pleasing first impression to the eye as a whole.

As you can see in first pic--the great room followed by the dining room and kitchen.  Each space is fashioned to coordinate with the next thus making all flow and very pleasing to the eye.

So indulge—and if you find yourself under pressure to make your house a home through reflections of your lifestyle—connect with us.  Great design. Great quality.

Happy Home.  Happy Life.

Happy Thanksgiving from Us to You

We are surrounded by simple and abundant blessings often overlooked and taken for granted:  So cheers to good health, family and friends, love and everlasting happiness.

Wishing you a belated Happy Thanksgiving  from us to you.

Oh and couldn't help myself in sharing---a little kid humor---kids say the darndest things---but speak such truth :)

Happy Home.  Happy Life.

Home-A-Rama 2014 Participation Introduction

Wendy and Jeff are thrilled to announce Heartwood Custom Homes  participation in the 2014 Home-A-Rama,  in Westfield’s premier custom home community, Brookside.  We’ll be busy at work this winter creating our dream home to share with the public in early  June 2014.  Save the date--

Brookside, is a charmed community, conveniently located on 161^st just east of Carey Road just minutes from shopping, recreation, recognized golf courses and Westfield Washington Schools.  Proudly , Westfield High School has been identified as one of the most outstanding schools in the country.

By popular demand BAGI, Builder Association Greater Indiana,  has brought back this event – a great gage of the economic recovery in Central Indiana.  We entered the last and final Luxury Home-A-Rama - 2008 October in the Willows of Zionsville. Perhaps you remember our home? It won a number of awards including:  Best of Show, Best Curb Appeal, Best Interior Design, Best Lower Level, Best Outdoor Living, and Best Master Suite.

Luxury Home Exterior

   

Luxury Home Interior

This year we enter with an exciting twist – as we have sold the home to a lovely family who will collaborate with us on the journey.  We are a great fit – in fact our paths have crossed over the years – initially through our other building company – The Old Town Design Group and our interior design firm, Everything Home.  So off we go, the dig is underway and we’re busy making framing decisions, elevation tweaks, and layouts.   Selections will start soon.

We plan to share posts of our progress throughout – so follow our blog as the  Heartwood Custom Homes project is revealed. 

As always--- if you find yourself searching for a great location, great design, great quality, and a home as unique as you are please call to schedule your free consultation today! 

Color Inspiration---Latest Trends for 2014

Have you ever pondered the very idea of marrying colors together to develop a striking first impression--to establish the perfect environment to live in?  Absorbing all the possibilities can be taxing but Sherwin Williams takes on a heroic role relieving you of such burdens.  Sherwin Williams conveniently develops annually--colors that are trending.  Colors we see in nature, fashion, art & even in our feelings.  From the most popular hues they construct fabulous palettes and schemes. 

            For the upcoming year they developed four new palettes all drawn from various things driven from life and our surroundings.  All are distinct but compliment each other beautifully.

So today I share with you---drum roll please---Color Trends for 2014.  Believe me, after you take a look---your weekends will be booked solid---paint brush in hand--- refreshing and giving the walls and furniture a splash you knew it needed but never could put your finger on.

  Have a look---

Reasoned

Diaphanous

Curiosity

Intrinsic

For further details regarding palettes and specific colors simply search Sherwin Williams 2014 Color Forecast.

As always---Happy Home.  Happy Life.

Welcome to the Neighborhood...

Chalk another one up---we are happy to introduce one of the last homes going up within the Blackwell Park cul-de-sac just east of Carmel's Arts and Design District.

This soothing humble abode is stunning inside from the subtle colors, to the intricately detailed tile floors, and all the clean lines--who wouldn't want to retreat inside the walls of this luxurious craftsman style home?

Take a look for yourself---We will let you be the judge.

Featured Spaces.

Entrance.

Extremely spacious.  Sets the tone for the rest of the home.

Family Room.

Great focal wall---with central fireplace and storage support on either side.  Ideal place for entertaining and enjoying guests company as well as family time.

Fireplace.

More detailed view of the focal wall of the family room.  As you can see very simple, clean lined and possesses charm and sophistication.

Kitchen.

As you move through the family room you reach the kitchen or the hub of the house.  Very streamlined and lots of counter space as well as large appliances for those who enjoy being in the kitchen and taking on the chef role.

Master Bath.

In love--the master bath is quite a retreat.  So many beautiful elements and surfaces from the elegant tile flooring to the clean countertops and who could pass up on that amazing claw foot freestanding tub.

I knew you wouldnt be disappointed and all the other spaces of the home are just as fabulous as those featured.

The big picture-- homeowners are thrilled and very much looking forward to moving in and calling these brand new spaces their home.  To our new homeowners welcome to the Old Town Design Group Family and neighborhood!

Happy Home.  Happy Life.

Award Recognition: Best of Houzz 2013

As a delighted supporting design role to Heartwood Custom Homes, I am happy to announce that Heartwood has been recognized as one of Houzz’s Best of Houzz 2013.  The winning titles are given to top home pros in the Houzz professional communities.  Winners are selected in two categories: Design and Customer Satisfaction.

For those of you unfamiliar with Houzz---Houzz is the leading online site for home remodeling and design.  It is a direct connect, a social media if you will, that allows homeowners, design nuts and design professionals to communicate, visualize, and source.  It’s a great resource for home inspiration and also a direct communication tool to professionals.

I would highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t done so already.  Simply visit www.houzz.com. You can even begin following both Everything Home and Heartwood Custom Homes pages.  If you have any questions regarding any of the posted projects please feel free to leave a comment or contact us.

Happy Home. Happy Life.