Design magazines always extol the virtues of “the mix” in the homes they feature each month. You can create this combination of styles, collections and finishes yourself. First, think of homes where you feel welcomed and comfortable. Think of your own lifestyle. If you have a houseful of kids and pets you don’t necessarily have to upholster everything in vinyl. Think of the rich red velvet of seats in grand theaters and concert halls. That velvet has held up under the bottoms of literally thousands of audiences over time, yet still looks fresh and luxe.
Design with your favorite possessions in mind. Do you collect old porcelain plates? Hang them on the walls of your breakfast nook. Do you collect Led Zeppelin memorabilia? Hang it on the walls of your family room or home office. Are you crazy about mid-century modern furniture and long to turn your living room into a replica of a Mad Men set? Well, you can set about to make it so.
Many big-name designers and decorators rave about the finds they’ve discovered on Dixie Highway’s many antique and consignment shops in West Palm Beach. Make a Saturday outing of taking off and checking them out. Buy anything you love and can afford. Remember, you only regret what you let slip away. Work on creating “the mix” to bring your new Centerline Home to perfection. Never apologize for what you think looks great. It’s perfectly alright to use two upholstered wingback chairs at the ends of your dining room table while the side chairs are from another period or style altogether. Remember, your home is an expression of you. Don’t be afraid to make a statement!
Now you’ve attained your dream home. You’ve selected your options for appliances, finishes and flooring, cabinetry and countertops. The moving van has delivered all of your family’s belongings and while you welcome the sight of familiar things in unfamiliar surroundings, you can’t help but notice the stains on the furniture, the smallness of your art work swallowed now by what looks to be acres of fresh white walls and the general shabbiness everything else. This certainly isn’t how you pictured your dream home. What do you do?
First, take a deep breath and brace yourself for the home decorating bug. You could go to a big box furniture store and kit out your surroundings by buying new furniture by the room. Or you could open up a copy of the latest catalogue from Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware. If you really have deep pockets, you might hire an interior designer to help you pull together all of the elements that uniquely define your taste and how you want to live.
Before you rush to try and match what you really want with a family room that’s on sale at Rooms To Go or City Furniture, spend some time thinking about what you and your family really need in terms of interior design. Instead of burning up your credit cards with what’s in style in the catalogues, go to Barnes and Noble or online and pick out a stack of home design magazines. You will naturally gravitate to those whose “looks” are in tune with your taste and budget.
Remember, you really don’t want to visit a neighbor and find your very same living room furniture and accessories at their house. You also don’t want guests to step into your family room and automatically think “Pottery Barn Spring 2012.” You are more unique, original and special than that. The most beautiful homes are the ones that linger in memory as especially comfortable, stylish and welcoming. These rooms look “collected” over years, not purchased in one fell swoop. Your home reflects your travels, your personality and your own style. It is perfectly alright to mix your grandmother’s coffee table, your aunt’s prized Murano glass lamps and your children’s framed artwork with new things.
Your beautiful new Centerline Home is your greatest opportunity express yourself for years to come. Start a conversation with your rooms that will last a lifetime, not a season.
Three spectacular Builder Show Homes have been created by award-winning architects and designers. Catering to the specific lifestyles and desires of Generation Y, Generation X and Baby Boomer buyers, these magnificent residences include the latest features and products from America’s finest manufacturers - all in a breathtaking country club setting, located in the Lake Nona area of Orlando, minutes from Medical City.
These Builder Show Homes are now for sale by appointment only. (407) 278-0356
For some Centerline Homes readers, the thought of keeping a magazine clippings file might seem as old-school as writing with a quill. If so, create a file on your laptop or iPad where you can save images of all the things that you admire or wish to copy from your favorite home design magazines. There are advantages to keeping a traditional file. It’s probably impossible, if not difficult, to match a paint or finish color on your iPad using the color match systems at hardware stores. Having an analog file is also comforting in an old-fashioned way. Over time, you can easily track looks and styles that once made your eyes light up but now have been replaced by others.
However you choose to create your magazine clippings file, you will find it a valuable resource as you refer to it for manufacturers, suppliers and names to make your interior design dreams come true for your new home. If you’re just getting started on your dream file, here are a few suggestions you might find helpful:
Architectural Digest is the granddaddy of high-end home design magazines. Many of the designers and home décor items featured are almost forbiddingly expensive. However, it is always a great source for ideas which you can use no matter what your budget is.
Elle Décor is an “aspirational” magazine much like Architectural Digest. However, with its broad scope of contributors and ideas, it has much to offer for an education on what is beautiful and still approachable in terms of costs.
House Beautiful is a venerable publication that dates back for nearly a century. The interiors presented offer a wide range of styles and solutions for home designers like you. By offering themed issues about colors and styles, you’re sure to find many things you can use yourself.
Traditional Home is exactly what it claims to be. It features rooms that are inspired by classic American, British and French interiors. If you prefer flowery chintz slip covers over cutting edge minimalist Italian design, this one is for you.
Dwell is a resource for the most contemporary, architect-minded designers. It offers articles covering green products and furnishings as well as a wealth of ideas you can adapt at home.
NAHB Gives Five Reasons Why Right Now May Be Your Best Chance to Move-UP!
“Now may be an ideal time for any family looking to upgrade from their starter home to one more suited to their current or future needs," said Joe Robson, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders and a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. "Buyers are able to get more home for their money by taking advantage of current prices and interest rates."
Here are the top five reasons current home owners should consider upgrading to their dream home:
Interest rates are at historic lows, which means you can buy more house than you could a year ago -- for the same monthly mortgage payment.
Prices have come down. Even if your current home is worth less than during the last housing market peak, your dream home is likely more affordable too.
There are plenty of homes on the market right now, both new construction homes and existing, giving you lots of choice.
You can move in to your new home faster, as many builders either have completed homes in inventory or they can start work right away due to the production slowdown.
You may have outgrown your home, but it's probably someone else's ideal starter home. Now is the time to market your home to first-time buyers. The current housing market offers unprecedented opportunities for first-time and move-up buyers alike. Take a look at the homes in each of the Centerline Homes communities. For price, location amenities and value, every model offers an opportunity to truly move on up.
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