Home Design Sites

Looking for home inspiration? Interested in the latest design trends? All you need is a computer or smart phone to find out all you ever wanted to know about new home design.

Meet Houzz – one of the newer social media sites out there with an emphasis on home design. Houzz is a website with over 5 million photos of new homes, home décor, remodeling, landscaping and furnishings.  In addition to photos, Houzz allows you to learn about professionals in the industry, contact them and rate them. You can also purchase some items directly through the Houzz website. Houzz is a free site but does require an account for full access. Sign up with your email or through Facebook. Visit www.houzz.com.

For more home inspiration ideas try Pinterest.  While Pinterest is not exclusive to home design like Houzz, it has become a popular means of finding and storing visual ideas.  Pinterest allows you to store your favorite photos on boards to come back and revisit later. You can also click the photo to go back to it’s original website if you would like to find out more. Like Houzz, the site is free but does require an account for full access. Visit www.pinterest.com.

Have you found inspiration for your new home on one of these sites or others?

2015 Color of The Year

Every year the Pantone Color Institute selects it’s “Color of the Year”  for use in fashion, beauty, graphic design and interior design. This year’s color is Marsala, Pantone 18-1438.  Marsala is an “earthy wine red” that is both “hearty and stylish”.

For interior design purposes, Pantone sees Marsala as a versatile statement color good for both rugs and upholstery.  As an accent color Marsala is a perfect fit for tabletop décor, linens, placemats, bedding and throws. Marsala adds a touch of elegance to any room and is especially fitting for the kitchen and dining room.

The Pantone Color Institute has been choosing a color of the year for over 15 years.  The institute makes this decision based on global research in fashion, entertainment and technology.

What do you think about the 2015 Color of the Year? Will you incorporate it into your home this spring?

New Ideas for Valentine's Day

So you've

got a brand new home, the weather forecast for the weekend is cold, and it’s Valentine’s Day.  Time to celebrate by staying in!

Staying home for Valentine’s Day doesn't have to be boring. Avoid the crowds, traffic and winter weather with these fun at-home date ideas.

1. Cook together! Gather up all of the ingredients for a fancy dish you've been wanting to try. Put on some favorite music and get cooking!
2. Picnic Indoors.  Spread a tablecloth on the living room floor, light some candles or the fireplace and enjoy a casual dinner of your favorite picnic fare.
3. Reminisce! Pull out your wedding album, old letters, photos from when you first met!
4. Watch a romantic movie. Pop the popcorn and pull out the candy. Snuggle under a blanket and enjoy.
5. Be creative! Paint a picture together, work on a puzzle, dream about the future, dance in your living room!

What are your plans this Valentine’s Day? Any ideas for a stay-in date?

Outlook Positive for 2015 Housing Market

Some of the nation’s largest home builders are seeing signs of an improved housing market based on numbers from the second half of January. Consumer confidence remains high and interest rates remain low – two important factors for the housing industry.  Improvements in the overall economy including job and wage growth, combined with lower gas prices, all led to improvements in consumer confidence and the introduction of more potential buyers to the housing market.

A panel of economists at this year’s International Builders Show, admit that 2014 sales were lower than expected but predicted a stronger 2015 based on improving economic factors across the country. 

A strong housing market is traditionally a backbone of a strong overall national economy. 

The spring remains a strong time for the housing industry as families look to buy new homes and move in over the summer while children are out of school.  Across the Southeast, the mild winter weather may lead to an earlier than usual start to the spring shopping season.