Use Professional Design Tricks to Create Unforgettable Spaces

Everyone loves to visit model homes, design centers and showrooms. You get to see and touch and experience a home you probably don’t live in – but could!  (Who hasn’t envisioned having a gorgeous gourmet kitchen or a luxurious spa bathroom or an adorable themed children’s room?)  

While living in an ultra-designed home may not be on your horizon, you can use some designer “tricks of the trade” to create memorable – and welcoming – spaces in your home.

·                 -Timeless design can be updated or adapted to a growing family.  Beware of anything that’s too trendy. 

           -Make a statement with furnishings, art, and accessories.

·                 -Choose classic finishes and colors for anything permanent (i.e. flooring, wall paneling).

·       Regardless of its design, your home should reflect the family that lives there!

The Kitchen.  While today’s kitchens tend to be 

heavy on large stainless steel appliances, you can soften things up a bit with comfy banquettes, warm wood tables, soft, plush area rugs, and warmer colors like reds and oranges.  Keep a bowl of fruit and a basket of granola bars handy for starving children and guests.

The Family Room. Usually the heart of the home, the family room should be sturdy and comfortable, allowing roughhousing, sleep-overs, movie nights and daily life with equal aplomb. This room needs: comfortable sofas and chairs, squishy, fuzzy, fluffy pillows and throws, durable floor coverings, and lots of personal touches like family pix or kid art on the walls.

The Master Bedroom. Next to the family room, the master bedroom is probably the most common family hub. Kids, pets, laundry, broken toys, stacks of books, art projects… everything winds up here at some point. Yet this space can also be your oasis. Choose serene colors, nice fabrics, an upholstered headboard – anything that can help you find some peace and quiet, while everyone snuggles in your bed at once!

The Master Bath. The bathroom is a great way to give yourself some luxury. Elegant materials like marble and onyx, used in interesting ways, offset with cool blues and greens and interesting accessories, can make your master bath feel like it’s in a 4-star hotel.

The Kids’ Space. Children have obsessions – racecars, panda bears, comic books, outer space, Barbie dolls, singing & dancing, bugs, Harry Potter. Gather one or two special items that feed into their fixation – posters, pillows, lamps, area rugs – and balance it all with some neutrals so it doesn’t get too overwhelming.

The Nursery. Who says everything has to be drowning in pastels? Go for charm and elegance with sophisticated neutrals (grays and beiges), and add a little sparkle with crystal light fixtures and interesting wall art.

9 Ways to Bring Even More Happiness to Your Home!

Get and stay happy at home!  According to a variety of scientific studies, there are colors, scents, and accessories you should have in your home to improve your chances for complete and utter happiness.  Take a look, and see if one, some, or all of these items are part of your home!

1. Fresh flowers

Research conducted by Rutgers found that being in the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions and heightens feelings of life satisfaction.  Consider a bunch of posies an investment in your happiness.

2. Sentimental photos

If your nightstands or end tables are purely functional, you may want to change things a little. Swap in some family photos ASAP. A study at the University of Portsmouth found that looking at old photos results in positive feelings and a sense of calm.

3. Vanilla candles

While it may not be your favorite ice cream flavor, vanilla is apparently a kick-ass mood elevator! A Chemical Senses study found that vanilla beans are super uplifting. So go ahead and light up a vanilla scented candle after a stressful day — it'll help you relax.

4. Green or yellow walls

Out of the entire rainbow, a study from Vrije University in Amsterdam found that these two hues evoked the most feelings of happiness. They're bold color choices, though, for every wall in your home, so maybe try a few statement walls instead.

5. Furry friends

This one’s a no-brainer. Research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that pets provide meaningful support for owners, helping them with social isolation and ultimately improving their lives. In other words, having a pet makes us happy!

6. Floral scents

The next time you pick out a new perfume or air freshener, try one that’s floral. The scent receptors in your nose are linked to the part of your brain that determines your emotions. And according to research from the Association for Psychological Science, floral scents can boost your feelings of happiness.

7. A journal

While exercise or therapy can contribute to your current state of mind, writing in a journal contributes to your future mood. Research published in Psychological Science found that re-reading old entries (even if they're short) can make you feel happier.

8. A made bed

Never underestimate the power of making your bed every morning.  According to a survey by Hunch.com, 71% of people who make their beds consider themselves happy — while 62% of non-bed-makers say they're unhappy. Wow! Totally worth spending two extra minutes tucking in your comforter.

9. And remember: Less is more

According to UCLA's Center of Everyday Lives and Families, there's a link between high cortisol (a stress hormone) levels in women who own homes with a "high density of household objects." In other words, the more stuff you have, the more stressed out you feel. So cut the clutter for a better chance at a calm and happy life.

Spice up your kitchen with some of these ideas!

As you'll probably be reminded tomorrow, the kitchen is always one of the busiest rooms in the house. A little imagination and some smart details can steer this room toward a look filled with personality...

1. Add a dash of copper. Copper is a hugely popular material, with a long history of use in the kitchen. Often it shows up in pots and pans, but it can make a real splash as a sink. With its nicely artisanal feel, a copper sink is an unusual, stylish choice.

2. Get a handle on things. Switch up your cabinet handles and pulls with metal, wood, glass, leather or ceramic. It’s an easy way to give your cabinets a fresh look.

3. Shine a little light on it. While kitchens often feature integrated overhead lights and task lighting, they aren’t particularly attractive. Try adding a more decorative table lamp to a work surface or sideboard to give the room a different feel.

4. Hang some art. While the kitchen is a practical room, it can use a bit of style, too. Hanging art in the kitchen can extend the style found in other areas of the house, and make the kitchen feel part of the whole.

5. Never underestimate the value of paint. A kitchen can be the perfect canvas for a creative paint job. Use paint to create the illusion of a backsplash, or a chair rail or paneling. It can make the room feel bigger or cozier, depending on the color.

Elite Homes builds beautiful garden home communities perfect for baby boomers 55+ - featuring, single-family, low-maintenance homes, in a relaxing and convenient locations around Louisville.

Tips for making your kids’ rooms the coolest

Children’s rooms are quickly gaining equal footing with the other spaces in a home. Parents have started to realize that spending a little more time and money on the kids’ rooms will pay off in later years. Not to mention that the kids’ rooms can easily be the coolest part of the house!

While decorating is a huge part of this blog, a few design-savvy tips first.

•  Don’t design for babies & toddlers. Design for the bigger kids they’ll become. Planning ahead saves you from having to completely re-do their rooms in a few years. Buy good quality furniture that will last, through the crayons and the jumping on the bed!
•  Consider built-in shelves and/or a desk. It’s practical, space-saving, and can be used if you eventually turn the room into an office.
• Don’t spend money on trends. If your daughter wants a trendy look, stick to pillows, lamps and area rugs that can be switched out when new colors and patterns become popular.

Now, some tips for creating a cool room!

• Ask your child for their input! What you’re envisioning may not be what they’re envisioning. Let the room reflect THEIR personality – not yours.
•  Pick a theme. What’s their hobby, talent or current obsession? From football to Star Wars, ballet to pirate ships, you can find or make features, furniture and accessories to carry your theme from the ceiling to the floors.
• Don’t forget to utilize the wall space! Especially if it’s a small room. A mural, chalkboard paint, stripes, patterns… the walls can make your theme come to life!
• The bed doesn’t have to be a traditional bed. Consider bunk beds, loft beds, beds tucked under the eaves, daybeds, canopy beds – even racecar beds.
•  Storage doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, if you make it a fun part of the design, your kids will love cleaning up! Try built-ins, cubbies, baskets, bins, window seats, or benches. 

Just remember to have fun. Make it a room that you and your child will want love to spend time in. A room that reflects how cool your kid who lives in it is!

Elite Homes builds beautiful garden home communities perfect for baby boomers 55+ - featuring, single-family, low-maintenance homes, in a relaxing and convenient locations around Louisville.