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Ask an Expert: 3 Home Design Trends To Pay Attention to in 2019

Posted by Melissa Lynn Galland on Oct 25, 2018 7:38:00 AM

Topics: Custom Home Design, Homebuilding Tips, Design

Whether you’re building a home in 2019 or just looking for a chance to revitalize your existing decor, a new year is always a great opportunity to incorporate some fresh design ideas.

Of course, trying to follow each and every home design trend will make your head spin. There are thousands of ideas in monthly design magazines and on the wide variety of home renovation and decor shows. Meanwhile, a new celebrity product line seems to emerge every week.

That’s why it’s important to hone in on the design trends that will work best for you. You don’t need to adopt every year’s trends to keep your home feeling updated and fresh. Instead, look for trends that suit your home and your personal style best, and then choose one or two that will have the biggest impact.

Here, our design experts explore three of the biggest trends for 2019—so you can decide which ones to incorporate into your home:

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4 Ways to Add Storage to Your Small Space without Spending Big

Posted by Julian Lane on Oct 2, 2018 10:02:47 AM

Topics: Homebuilding Tips, Design

It doesn’t matter if you’re in a tiny house or have plenty of room to spread out: storage space is almost always in demand. Keep reading for ways to maximize yours without draining your bank account.

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Indoor Houseplants: 5 Plants That Will Liven Up Your Home

Posted by Melissa Lynn Galland on Oct 2, 2018 9:19:00 AM

Topics: Custom Home Design, Homebuilding Tips, Design

Indoor houseplants can be a beautiful, vibrant addition to any home’s decor. They add interesting colors and textures, and they instantly create a cozy, welcoming vibe.

Better still, houseplants have been shown to be extremely beneficial to your health for several reasons:

  • They remove toxins from and add fresh oxygen to the air in your home.
  • Seeing greenery has been shown to reduce stress levels, encourage a sense of calm, and improve your overall mood.
  • Caring for a living thing—even a plant or two—can give you a sense of purpose and may prove to be very rewarding.

Of course, not every plant is ideal for an indoor life. When shopping for houseplants, be sure to look for those that will thrive in the light and heat of each given room. For example, ferns and cacti love the baking heat of a sunroom, but philodendrons enjoy minimal light and would probably fry.

Luckily, there are plenty of easy-to-grow indoor plants available for the beginning plant parent. Here are five of our favorites to quickly and easily liven up your home:

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Creating the Perfect Yard: What Kind of Fence Should I Build?

Posted by Melissa Lynn Galland on Sep 4, 2018 5:42:41 AM

Topics: Custom Home Design, Design

Although you might spend a lot of time inside your house, your outdoor spaces are an important component of the overall look and feel of your home. Hardscaping, plantings, and other exterior features say a lot about who you are, so you want to get them right. If you decide to install a fence, it might be the first thing people see when they approach your home, so there’s a lot to consider when deciding what type of fence to build.

For many people, fences are both practical necessities and opportunities to show a little style. If you’re trying to create the perfect yard, think about how these types of fences would contribute to the look you’re trying to design.

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Landscaping a Custom Home: DIY or Hire a Contractor?

Posted by Melissa Lynn Galland on Aug 13, 2018 1:11:16 PM

Topics: Homebuilding Tips, Homebuilding Process, Design

Although it might not be the first thing you think of when building a new home, the landscaping is one of the first things people notice. It also takes time for newly planted flowers, shrubs, and trees to fill out and look natural in their new setting. Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a contractor, you need to plan the landscaping early in the process so that you’re not stuck with barren soil surrounding your beautiful new home.   

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Home Design Ideas: Find Inspiration Using Pinboards on Pinterest

Posted by Melissa Lynn Galland on Aug 6, 2018 6:39:06 AM

Topics: Custom Home Design, Homebuilding Tips, Design

If you’re planning to build a new custom home, you’re about to make a lot of design decisions. Many people find this part of the process to be the most fun, but even if you enjoy it, making so many choices can feel overwhelming. Using Pinterest is a great way to find inspiration, generate new ideas, and keep your thoughts organized. With millions of images at your fingertips, you can find the design details that resonate most with your style and customize them for your own home.  

Whether you’re a new Pinterest user or a seasoned pinning veteran, there are a few tips you can try to get the most from your boards when looking for home design ideas.

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Storing Your Outdoor Gear: 5 Creative Ideas You Can Do Yourself

Posted by Melissa Lynn Galland on Jun 28, 2018 9:40:42 AM

Topics: Custom Home Design, Homebuilding Tips, Design

One of the biggest perks of calling the Pacific Northwest home is the nearly endless array of outdoor fun we can enjoy throughout the year. From kayaking and mountain biking to surfing, snow skiing, and camping, our landscape offers a bit of everything. But for true outdoor enthusiasts, this variety of hobbies can lead to a big problem: lack of storage space.

It’s a common dilemma for those who love the outdoors. If your interior storage space is spoken for, you might have a bit of room in your attic or garage. But even those with larger homes may not want to stow muddy boots and dripping kayaks in their attics, garages, or closets. The ideal solution is to store outdoor gear where it belongs: outdoors.

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Adding Beauty to Your Home with a Sustainable Garden

Posted by Melissa Lynn Galland on Jun 4, 2018 11:55:46 AM

Topics: Homebuilding Tips, Design

There’s nothing quite like a beautiful garden to make a house feel like a home—especially when it’s done in an environmentally friendly way. In the Pacific Northwest and around the globe, sustainable gardens are becoming increasingly common, which is a trend that homeowners, neighbors, and the environment itself can all appreciate.

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Home Solar Panels That You Can Install Yourself

Posted by Melissa Lynn Galland on May 24, 2018 6:38:30 AM

Topics: Homebuilding Tips, Design

Installing solar panels on your roof or on the ground near your home is a great way to reduce both your environmental footprint and your utility bill. Solar panels can also increase the resale value of your home because future owners will enjoy lower energy costs. Many solar panel systems have a lifespan of 20-30 years or more, which means you continue to enjoy savings long after the cost has been paid off. By saving on installation costs, you can reach that point even faster.

While many companies provide solar panel installation, it is possible to install some systems on your own. Whether you are an avid DIYer or just want to save a little cash, these home solar panels are designed to be installed by people with basic construction skills.

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Designing The Perfect Home for the Outdoor Enthusiast

Posted by Melissa Lynn Galland on Apr 30, 2018 7:50:14 AM

Topics: Custom Home Design, Design

For those who consider themselves outdoor enthusiasts, their love of nature is part of nearly every aspect of their lives. Even when planning for their next home, they keep the outdoors as a top-of-mind priority. Luckily, there are several exciting home design trends happening right now that will help any outdoor enthusiast to feel right at home.

Below, we explore some of the top home design features that are perfect for nature lovers:

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