The New Shape of Home Design: 2021 Design Trends We LOVE

Design Trends 2021

When it comes to home design, 2021 is the year for turning a new leaf.  Favored design trends from the last decade are fading fast, being replaced by a bold sense of adventure in color, texture and style.  Read on to find out what’s “in” and “out” in 2021:

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How Design Trends Have Changed in 2020

Craftsman home clearwater florida

A lot of things have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and construction and design are no exception.  Here are three ways that design trends have changed in 2020.

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Exposed Bulb Lighting – A Very Popular Lighting Choice

Exposed bulb orb pendant lighting over a kitchen island in one of our home remodel projects.

Exposed bulb lighting has become increasingly popular and looks like a trend that is here to stay. Rather than hiding the bulb behind an opaque shade, exposed light fixtures put the simple, sculptured form of the bulb on display, creating an outstanding point of interest.

For those captivated by the look, there are a remarkable variety of options. Pendant lights are one of the most popular and widely available forms.  They are being chosen to replace chandeliers and track lighting and work wonderfully well over kitchen islands.  

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Tips and Pitfalls of Buying Land to Build Your Dream Home

Land for sale
Beachfront Property

Not a week goes by that we don’t get calls from people looking for property to buy so they can build their dream home.  They are hungry for information and want to know what is involved and the process to get their custom home built.

When looking for a vacant lot or land for sale, the following tips will help you make your buying decision. Considering these before you buy can save a lot of unwanted surprises later and make for a happier experience building your new home.Continue reading

How Design-Build Helps You Save Money

Ne;son Construction Design Build

Did you know Design-Build can actually save you money? You have probably heard that if you want to build a custom home, the first place to start is with an architect.  Even Contractors will refer you to an architect if you don’t have blueprints done, because they need plans in order to give you a proper estimate.  The trouble with this is that most architects are going to draw you whatever you want and will not give you much guidance on what things cost.  So if you have a budget, you will likely experience sticker-shock when you bring your completed blueprints to your Contractor and find out it will cost you far more than you expected to build what you want. 

At our company, we saw many tears and much frustration in our conference room when homeowners discovered that they could not afford to build what their architect had drawn them.  Since our purpose is to make the building and renovating process less stressful and more enjoyable for homeowners, we decided there had to be a better way to help our clients create their dream homes within their budgets.  Because, let’s face it, not everyone has the cash flow of Warren Buffett – and even Warren runs a tight budget. That is when we discovered Design-Build. 

What is Design-Build?

Design-Build is a project delivery system in the construction industry in which one entity handles both the design and the build aspects of a construction project.  This means that one company (in our case, the Contractor) runs the design and planning portion of the project in addition to the construction.  Not only does this give both the Contractor and the homeowner more control, it saves the homeowner a ton of money.

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The Wonders of Natural Stone Flooring

Marble Tile in Historic Home Restoration Project provides elegance adding to the luxury of the home.
Elegant Marble Tile in This Historic Home Restoration Project

Finding the Right Stone Flooring

Natural Stone flooring is a wonderful choice for Florida homes.  Not only is its cool temperature perfect for withstanding the heat and humidity, it also adds a feeling of luxury that’s hard to find in other materials.  It is eco-friendly, as it is mined from the earth in various locations around the globe, and today’s selection offers fantastic variations in color and quality.  But with so much variety, how do you choose?  Where do you even start? 

We thought we’d simplify it for you.  Read on to learn more about stone flooring and which kind might be right for your home. 

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Choosing Custom Cabinets: Let’s Break It Down

Millwork custom cabinets

We love cabinets.  Aside from their practical use (they store things, organize our spaces, hide items that might otherwise be clutter), they can be the most beautiful part of a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom.  But not all cabinets are created equal, and stock cabinets can sometimes have a negative effect on a room, making it look cheap and cluttered.  That’s why we prefer semi-custom or custom cabinets.  Not only can the layout be designed to best fit your life, you can choose every detail from the style to the finish.

Millwork custom cabinets
     Kitchen Cabinets in a Whole Home Remodel

  But so many choices can make you dizzy trying to decide which ones are right for you.  Where do you even start?  Let’s break it down.  Read on to learn the basic types of cabinets and how to choose the style that’s right for you.

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Lighting Trends That Will Transform Your Home

wine cellar Island Estates
cool light fixture
This custom home remodel we did in 2016 included a number of great light fixtures and task lighting.

Lighting can make or break your room’s atmosphere. Whether it is your living room, kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, the lighting is a very significant aspect of any room. Not only does the type of fixture and quality of the light count, there are other details to consider such as the direction or quality of the light.  Here are a few things to think of when planning the lighting in your custom home:

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Home for the Holidays: 5 Tips to Improve Your Home This Time of Year

Holiday Decor

Holidays are the perfect time to do those little home improvement projects you may have been putting off all year. Around the holidays you usually have more home traffic, and you want your place to look its best. There are many trouble-free projects you and your family can do to jazz up your home for the holidays. Not only will it make your guests feel comfortable and at home, it will give you an excuse to spend quality time working on your home with your family.  

Read on for five tips to improve your home this time of year. 

Holiday Decor

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Is Beige the New Gray?

Beige Bathroom

 

Beige Bathroom
The master bathroom of this whole home renovation we did on Island Estates has a beautiful, warm color palette.

In the world of home design, trends ebb and flow almost as fluidly as the fashion industry.  They may come and go and come back again, but they always return with a new vibe, as cultural changes ripple through homes, businesses, restaurants and cafes, bringing new inspiration to homeowners, designers, architects and contractors alike.  Recently the tides have begun to turn again, and – as controversial as it may seem – beige is making a comeback.  Don’t worry, this is not the old-fashioned obsession with shades of brown and orange.  Beige is returning with a subtle warmth and elegance that is giving the ever-popular gray palette some stiff competition.  Read on for some cutting edge advice on incorporating beige into your home design.

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