Top Kitchen Trends for 2016

Recently, REALTOR® Magazine contributor Melissa Dittmann Tracey reviewed which kitchen design trends continue to be most popular. Luckily at Elite Homes, you can use our design center to make your new kitchen trendy! 

Not surprisingly, transitional, traditional, and contemporary styles remain the most popular, but industrial and farmhouse are picking up speed! And while neutral colors remain dominant (whites/off-whites, grays, beiges/bones), the two-tone trend is growing, with 42% of designers reporting that they’ve used a mix of color cabinets in recent remodels or mixed up the color palette by using a different countertop material for the island versus the perimeter counter space. 

If you haven’t gotten your kitchen remodel going yet, here are a few more design trends from the National Kitchen & Bath Association!

Tilt-outs and Tilt-ins for Storage. These solutions make life easier, which is why this design element will never go out of style. They are extremely functional and conserve valuable countertop or pantry space.

Wood or Tile Flooring. Wood and ceramic/porcelain tile remain the two most popular kitchen flooring materials.

Quartz and Granite Countertops. Quartz has gained considerable share in countertop preferences over the last five years. 

Coffee Stations and Wet Bars. Built-in coffeemakers and coffee/espresso stations, and integrated wine/bar areas are making themselves part of today’s kitchens.

Special Pet Spaces. Feeding stations, under-counter crate areas, pull-outs to store pet food and toys.

Docking and charging stations. People spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and the convenience of being able to charge a phone or tablet, and to play music while cooking or entertaining, is a trend that’s sure to continue.

You’ve started your new home search with Elite Homes, but aren’t entirely sure which community or area is right for you. Not to worry!  Below is a list of tips to help you make the decision about which of our communities fits you and your family best.

11.   LOCATION. Which community is closest to your job? Can the kids walk to one of the many great schools in the area? How close are the shopping centers, restaurants, medical facilities, parks, etc?

22.   PRODUCT & PRICE. Which one of our floorpans fits your family best? Do you need flexible space? An in-law suite? A home office? What kind of mortgage are you qualified for?

43.  NEIGHBORS. Whether you want a close knit group of neighbors or your own private space - we have both in our communities! Are there other kids for your kids to play with? Is there someone to take after-dinner walks with and share car-pooling?

54. GO WITH YOUR GUT. Is your little voice telling you “YES!”, but your logical brain is only saying “Maybe”?  Hard decision time. You can make a list of pros for each community and lay them next to each other, or you can listen to your gut. Chances are, if your instincts are saying this is the place, then it’s probably just what you’re looking for!

   Whichever community you choose, you'll love living an Elite Built Home! 

9 reasons to visit to a model home!

You’ve made one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make – you’re going to build a new home! And you probably have questions upon questions. Now is the time for a visit to a model home!

• 1.     Before you visit, know what you like. What’s your style? What’s on your “must have” list? A model home is designed to entice and inspire.
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• 2.     Nothing beats speaking face to face with a sales person. You’ll get quality interaction with a team member, and you’ll get a good read on how the company works. This is important when choosing a builder to build your new home!
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• 3.     You can ask all of your questions and get direct immediate answers. No waiting around for days or weeks! Go ahead and ask about options, and making layout changes. How long is the construction timeline? What do we need to know about financing? Are there energy-saving features?
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• 4.     A sales person can help you figure out what style or size home will work best if you’re downsizing or upsizing, or if you want a big yard for pets or children, etc. Once a salesperson has a good idea of what you are looking for, he or she can point out plans and features that could be a good fit.
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• 5.     Engage your senses! See the quality of the builder’s work up close. Hear whether the neighborhood is quiet or bustling. Touch the granite counters and wood cabinets. Open the closets and drawers.
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• 6.     Use your imagination! Close your eyes and imagine yourself living here. How will the home actually feel when you’re living in it? How many people does the family room really fit for movie night?  Will your king size bed fit in the master suite? Is the garage big enough to store your stuff?

• 7.     Take the opportunity to ask if there are incentives or promotions available.  Maybe there’s a move-in ready home just waiting for you. Maybe the builder is offering free options or upgrades. You’ll never know if you don’t ask!
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• 8.     Get a feel for the whole community, its location and what your daily life would be like living there. Where are the walking trails and the community park? Is the elementary school really walking distance? How loud is that major road just outside the neighborhood? What’s traffic like? Realistically, how long is the commute to work?
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• 9.     Build excitement!  Maybe you’re the one doing the research, and comparison shopping. Visiting the model is a great way to pull the whole family into the process. Let everyone take notes about what they like, what they want. It’ll help you in the decision-making process.
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• These are just a few reasons. We’re sure you can come up with dozens of others. So, get your list together and go visit a model today.

Tips for creating a baby nursery with all the necessities!

While the nursery is technically the baby’s room, parents/caregivers spend a lot of time there – rocking, nursing, singing, changing, playing, pleading – for the first year or two. When putting together your list of “Must-Haves” for the nursery, remember to make it a practical space that you’ll be comfortable in, and one that will be adaptable as your child grows.

The Crib. As the centerpiece of the room, this is one of your most important purchases. Before you choose a crib, think about having to buy multiple beds in the future. (i.e. Crib, then toddler bed, then twin.) Consider a convertible crib that turns into a toddler bed and eventually a full-size bed headboard. Buying a convertible crib might save you money in the long run.

A Mattress. While you don’t have to spend a fortune, make sure you get one that’s comfortable and sturdy.  A good crib mattress should last though several children, withstand lots of scrubbing, and eventually fit into a toddler bed.

Crib Sheets. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises having no bedding (i.e. bumpers or pillows) in the crib, so you’ll just be buying fitted crib sheets.  Buy multiples, and make sure they’re durable because you’ll be washing them a lot! If you can’t resist buying a bedding set to use later, you can use the quilt/comforter as a wall hanging until the baby is old enough.

A Glider/Rocker. You may think they’re old fashioned, but you’ll want a rocking chair. Trust us, at 3 am, you’ll be glad to have someplace comfy to nurse. And most babies really do like being rocked to sleep. Go with something simple and classic that you won’t mind having around the house after baby grows up.

A Dresser. Save yourself some money and forego buying a changing table. Instead, invest in a medium-height dresser that can double as a changing table. (Just add a plush changing mat to the top.) The top drawer can store diapers & supplies. Test out the drawers and make sure they slide easily, because putting laundry away is tedious enough without having to wrestle the drawers open all the time.

Storage. Despite their deceptively small size, there never seems to be enough storage for all the baby’s odds and ends. Incorporate shelving, baskets and/or drawers to contain the chaos. Check out local crafts supply stores & discount stores for cheap and adaptable storage solutions.

Decoration. It’s so easy to personalize your baby’s room today.  From appliques and murals, to monogramed toys and sibling artwork, you can create a nursery that’s original and interesting but not overly fussy.

A Monitor. You’ll have a love/hate relationship with this machine. Constant surveillance isn’t necessary, but if you’re sleeping, doing laundry or are otherwise out of earshot, a monitor of some kind can be a blessing.

A Night-Light. Get one that generates enough light so you can see to nurse or change diapers in the middle of the night, but not so much that it wakes up or stimulates your little one into thinking it’s time to play.

A White Noise Machine. White noise can have a calming effect on babies. Some white noise machines come with preset types of noises, or you can also just use your old boom box and purchase a few white noise CDs to put on repeat.