Decor and Design

Monday, March 30, 2015

If your home is your safehaven, then your Master bedroom is your command center. It’s the place where you can recharge and refresh from the busy-ness of our everyday lives. It’s essential to create an atmosphere for yourself that is warm and inviting and comforting. Here’s some Master bedroom ideas to transform your bedroom into a serene oasis.

Start your transformation with color. Whether you decide to paint your Master retreat, or incorporate new bedding, soothing colors like greens, soft creams, or purples create a feeling of rest and relaxation.

You spend a third of your life sleeping, so it’s important to choose a mattress, pillows and bedding that are the most comfortable for you. Bedding is also important. You have a variety of fabrics and finishes to choose from. Whatever you choose, make sure you feel most comfortable with it.

Maximize functionality by incorporating a space in your master bedroom for an elegant chaise lounge or a pair of overstuffed armchairs. Having any form of additional seating in your master creates a more dynamic sense of space where you can enjoy alone time away from the main social areas in your home and instantly creates a peaceful spot to unwind at the end of the day.

Lastly, incorporate personal touches, like family photos or keepsakes on nightstands or bookshelves. Try not to over-accessorize, but just include items that are important or sentimental to you. Banish electronics, like TVs, laptops, or cellphones to another room or hallway to keep your Master retreat a serene spot, without distractions.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

The entryway or foyer is your home’s first impression on visitors. Make sure it’s a good one. If you’re looking for ways to add some life to your vestibule, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Floors

Your entryway floors take a beating from all the traffic and weather. Make sure your flooring can take the beating by choosing the correct flooring for your home. Consider adding an area rug or runner down to combat some of the foot traffic. Keep your rugs clear of the furniture so the space has a feeling of openness. And don’t let it extend the entire length of the hallway: You want to be sure that the front door can open freely.

Walls

The easiest way to liven up your foyer is to paint the walls. Choose a color that is in the same palette as the other rooms close to it for continuity. If painting isn’t in the budget, pieces of art can work wonders. Hanging artwork, mirrors or other decorations engage your visitors eyes immediately and gives your foyer the lift it was missing. Art doesn’t have to be expensive either. You can use swatches of wallpaper in clean frames to create an eclectic grouping, or try ornamental mirrors as well.

Furniture

Your entryway should not only be appealing to the eye, but it should also be functional. Consider adding a few pieces of furniture, like a small dresser and chair to give your foyer a cozy feeling. Put a basket or bowl there to be a catch-all for keys or mial, but make sure it doesn’t become too cluttered. A drop-zone is another great piece to add to your entryway to corrall all of the coats and shoes.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

The Ball Homes model of the week is our Wakefield model home in the Middleton Park subdivision in Knoxville.

This home is a fantastic plan with plenty of open space on the main floor and large bedrooms upstairs. The living room bay window and the open kitchen, breakfast area, and family room are some of our favorite details of this plan. Upstairs, you’ll be able to relax in the spacious Master retreat, with tray ceiling and voluminous Master bath.

Go tour this model home yourself at 1730 Avashire Lane, Knoxville, TN 37931.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

There’s a new addition to the Ball Homes collection of floor plans. The Livingston is a traditionally styled two-story plan with a three car tandem garage. 

The first floor includes a formal dining and a study, a spacious family room, and a large open kitchen with an elliptical island, corner pantry, and breakfast area with additional cabinets and built-in buffet option.  The formal dining room is open to the foyer, and also via a pass-through from the kitchen.  Keep the family organized with a mudroom with an optional built in bench and storage off the garage entry.   

Upstairs, the master suite and three roomy bedrooms with spacious closets surround a central loft area.  

The master suite overlooks the rear yard with a triple window, and double doors connect to the luxury master bath.  A spacious shower and garden tub are included, and can be customized from several available options.  The room-sized master closet has direct access to the utility room, which includes a folding counter.

For more photos and information on the Livingston floor plan, visit the model home in The Abbey at Old Oxford, or contact a Ball Homes Specialist today.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

While it’s nice during these hot summer months to add an extra source of air to a room, ceiling fans add-value year round because they are energy efficient, stylish, and can provide an additional light source for not a lot of money. A ceiling fan is within reach of most budgets and can pay for themselves in energy savings over time. Here are some tips for using them to their maximum effectiveness.

Keep Cool at a Low Cost

Ceiling fans use just slightly more energy than a 100-watt light bulb, saving you up to $165 in energy costs over the life of the fan. For every degree you raise the air conditioning thermostat above 78 degrees, you can save 3% to 8% on cooling costs.


The Safer Option

Ceiling fans also have a number of benefits over floor standing or smaller desk-style fans. Ceiling fans become part of the room’s décor, save space and are safer particularly for children and pets.

Not Just for Summer

During the cold winter months, run your ceiling fan blades clockwise to push warm air down into the lower half of the room without creating the cool draft associated with running the blades counter-clockwise in the summer. This helps keep down the cost of gas and energy bills associated with heating your home during harsh winter months.

Depending on the style you choose, ceiling fans add a touch of old-fashioned grace or sleek high-tech to your decor. No matter what the fan looks like, however, it can add an inexpensive way to keep comfortable, without raising your energy bills. If you already have ceiling fans in your home, use them correctly to maximize their benefit. If you don’t have ceiling fans, consider adding them to the rooms you use most frequently.