Add Instant Charm

Provided By My Home Ideas

Transform your home into a quaint cottage with these instant updates.

Add a Picket Fence

The big idea: Frame your cottage by installing a picket fence around your lawn. Anchor posts with bright flowers for a pop of color, or plant a climbing vine that spills over the top.

Notice the details: Pickets come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Four feet is a standard height, and the tops can sit side by side or form a gently sloping pattern.

Go Dutch


The big idea: Say hello to your neighbors--and furry friends--with a Dutch door. The swinging upper sash invites cool breezes and natural light and adds a casual and friendly feel to any entryway or kitchen.

Notice the details: Original to Netherland farmhouses, a Dutch door is divided horizontally, so the top and bottom open independently of each other. Closing the lower part creates a gate, keeping small children and pets contained.

Dress Up Your Porch

The big idea: Create a welcoming outdoor room by transforming a porch into extra living space. Approach the decorating as you do inside: Combine comfortable furniture (weather-resistant works best) and eye-catching yet durable accessories for a space that invites lounging.

Notice the details: Explore vintage shops for colorful accents, like an antique birdbath turned into an urn for flowers, to blend with outdoor fabric.

Install Beaded Board

The big idea: Cover plain walls with beaded board to add a layer of texture and cottage character. Named for the thin, rounded “bead” that separates each wooden strip, beaded board is a classic choice for traditional paneling or wainscoting and creates a time-honored look.

Notice the details: Use beaded board on a ceiling to visually lengthen or widen a space. It also camouflages damaged walls and covers up unsightly popcorn ceilings.

Install a Farmhouse Sink

The big idea: No cottage is complete without a farmhouse, or apron-front, sink. Because of its depth and wide base, the style is ideal for fitting cookie sheets and family dinner-size pots and pans.

Notice the details: A two-handled faucet that’s mounted on top, like this vintage bridge-style model, swings out of the way and complements the old feel of the sink

Paint a Wooden Floor

The big idea: Paint an overscale pattern on the floor for high drama. Whether you choose a bold, geometric design or solid wash of color, a painted floor makes a big impression.

Notice the details: Durable porch paint and a polyurethane topcoat allow a floor to withstand foot traffic. If you prefer a worn look, skip the topcoat and use latex paint that will chip and scratch naturally.

Open Up Your Shelves

The big idea: Update basic or stock kitchen cabinets by removing the doors to show off your favorite collections. Open shelves not only keep items within easy reach but they also make a decorative statements out of cookbooks and appliances.

Notice the details: Add architectural interest by applying beaded-board paneling along your shelves’ back wall.

Plant a Window Box

The big idea: Hang window boxes on the front of your cottage for a romantic look. Overflowing with lush annuals and punctuated with various textures and bursts of seasonal color, these containers will seamlessly blend your house and garden and instantly boost curb appeal.

Notice the details: Proper scale is essential when adding window boxes. The planter should be the same width as the window to avoid a wimpy, barely there look.

Are you looking for a home that you can add instant charm to? Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.

Entertain With Style

Provided By My Home Ideas
Written By Heather Chadduck

Recipe for Success: "I like to have sit-down dinner parties with several courses. It's a treat for my guests to waited on -- no one my age does that anymore. I always try to invite new people into my group of friends. It makes for good conversation, then guests settle in and hang out."

Recipe for Disaster: "Don't serve something you've never made before. I tried to branch out and make roasted red pepper soup once, but I put too many peppers in the blender and the lid flew off. People were walking through the door and I was wiping soup off the walls."

Old World Chic

When I was looking for a house, one of the criteria was a dining room big enough for my 9-foot-long table -- I can seat 10 people comfortably though the room is only 11 by 14 feet," says Heather.

"As for the chandelier, the bigger the better. The more arms that spread out in a room, the better the light," she says. "I put this one on a dimmer switch."

Use What You Love

"Everything I own is mismatched," says Heather. "I have a passion for collecting anything that's used for entertaining."

To act as a placecard, she stamped leger paper with a guest's name for each setting.

Think Outside the Flower Box

Since Heather's table is extra long, she likes to make several arrangements that all of her guests can enjoy while seated. She created this fuss-free arrangement with items from the grocer's vegetable section. The vases are wrapped in the same ledger paper she used to create place cards.

Add a Personal Touch

For her dinner parties, Heather likes to do the cooking. "My signature dish is vichyssoise," she says. "I make it the day before, put it in julep cups on a tray, and keep it in the fridge all night. When guests walk in, I had them a cup and a spoon and everone has their first course standing up."

Are you wanting a new home so you can start hosting your very own dinner parties? Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.

 

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Contractor

Written By Louis Joyner
Provided By My Home Ideas
Source HBAA, part of the NHBA

You've spent hours tearing out pages of homes magazines and poring over plans, and finally you've chosen the look you want. You're ready to build your dream home or that master-bedroom addition. Just one question remains: Who is going to build it? To help with that selection, we've put together 10 questions for you to ask potential contractors and builders.

1. What types of projects do you do?

Match your job to the builder. Some contractors may be better at new construction -- others at remodeling . Explore pricing as well. A builder that concentrates on million-dollar custom homes may not be the best choice for a modest cottage on a tight budget.

2. Can I see some of your projects?

Good builders are proud of their work and enjoy showing it to potential clients. Ask to see photographs of complete projects, and choose someone whose work looks similar to the job you're planning.

3. Can I talk to some of your former clients?

Word of mouth if often the best way to find and learn about a builder.

4. Are you licensed and insured?

Depending on the state, builders should have a state-issued home builder's license in addition to a local business license. They and their subcontractors also should carry a general liability and workers’ compensation liability insurance.

5. How long have you been in the business?

While longevity isn't a guarantee of quality or reliability, it is an indication that the builder can run a job successfully and satisfy clients.

6. How do you handle callbacks?

You need to hire a builder who is willing to return to the site and fix any building-related problems that may arise -- even after the job is finished.

7. How much do you charge?

While an experienced builder may be able to give you a rough cost estimate, most really can't give an exact number until you work out plans and specifications.

8. What is your payment schedule?

Most professional builders work on a pay-as-you-go basis, receiving partial payments throughout the process. The payments for new construction, also called draws, typically are scheduled as a certain percentage of the total cost when specific stages of construction are completed. Avoid any contractor who wants full payment before starting the job.

9. With whom will I be working on the jobsite?

Know who your main contact will be. Some builders supervise in person; others use superintendants or foremen to handle day-to-day operations.

10. Do you belong to any type of professional building organization?

Professional licensing often is a requirement for membership in a group such as the National Association of Home Builders. Members also are encouraged to attend continuing education program courses, and they often receive professional designations such as Certified Graduate Builder (CGB). Because licensing and membership in this type of organization is an indication of a builder's knowledge and reputability, you're likely to find a good builder through such an organization.

Are you looking for your dream home? Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.

Life Outdoors

Provided By My Home Ideas

See how these real-life homeowners made their outdoor spaces livable rooms -- ideal for entertaining and relaxing.

Seamless Blend

People who entertain often will appreciate a kitchen that blends into the garden. This one includes a sink, grill, and pizza oven with plenty of counter space for food prep and serving. Note how the stonework and plantings blur the lines between utilitarian space and landscape.

Sleek Driveway

Even the tiny transition between the driveway and the yard here looks sharp. It features a grid of pavers seamed with woolly thyme. Oranged-streaked phormium echoes the pebbles, seat cushions, and side tables.

Light the Night

When night falls or the weather gets nippy, a toasty fire is both a practical luxury and a luxurious necessity. This fire pit and built-in bench encourage hanging out in the garden, particularly for drinks or desserts. Marshmallows are optional.

A Little Lighting

Lanterns filled with votives and suspended from bamboo poles make this garden functional at night. The flickering light illuminates plants and objets d'art.

Are you looking for a home that has the perfect outdoor space to create your own personal oasis? Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.

The Art of Display

Source My Home Ideas
Provided By Shelley Dudley
Adapted From Design Idea Book, Oxmoor House, 2007

Grouping similar objects together makes any collection more exciting. Our tips will help to enhance any display.

Collective Traits

Objects work best together when they share a trait. This collection features vases in both glass and pottery, all in gourd shapes.

Similar Sets

The same goes for this display of veined stone -- the tabletop, lamp base, and figurine -- and wood pieces, grouped into like sets. The frame on the wall shares traits of both.

Hanging Glass

Paintings and photography aren't the only things that can be hung on walls. Here freeform glass bowls are displayed in a hallway.

Exotic Display

African headdresses above a desk make for especially intriguing displays.

Multiple Impact

Just about everything benefits from being hung in multiples. Witness these fish-eye mirrors and soft botanical prints: both would have had less impact hung solo.

Creative Display

The designer of this room made creative use of the molding along the top of the wainscoting: She hung a painting and collection of plates to look as if they're propped on the ledge. The height of the wainscoting makes it work.

Keep It Close

Furnishings and wall hangings can often feel like exactly that: a group of furnishings with a group of wall hangings floating above it. To make everything cohere, this mirror and botanical prints were hung close together and low to the dresser.

Classic Space

Mantels and the wall space above them are classic spots for displaying cherished art and objects, but the mouth of the fireplace is often a missed opportunity. This one contains a porcelain piece that matches those on and above the mantel.

Looking for a new home to fabulously furnish? Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.

Favorite Places - Living Areas

\Provided By Shelley Dudley
Source My Home Ideas

Living areas can be anywhere in the house and are usually distinguished by a favorite chair, a preferred reading nook or just a cozy place where family and friends congregate and come together.

Classic Western Look

If you're unsure where to go first in this Abilene, Texas, home, just follow the cat tracks. From the front door, tiny feline footprints lead toward the open living area. Guests frequently comment on them, not because the homeowners refuse to clean the floor, but because the footprints are the only reminder of a cat who long ago stepped across the terra-cotta tiles while they were drying in the sun in Mexico, leaving his mark forever.

Relaxed Living

A wash of pastels brings this coastal living room together. Promote conversation with four chairs instead of the traditional sofa, anchored by round ottoman.

Basics and Branches

Create this sweet spot in a living room or entryway with a few key furniture pieces and a bundle of pussy willow branches.

Exotic and Natural

Clean, modern lines and exotic accessories give this living room a Bali-inspired, open-air vibe.

Fabulous Focal Point

Even when it is too warm for a blazing fire, you can use your fireplace to create atmosphere by adding candles or even white sting lights. For an extra touch, lean a mirror against the back wall to add extra dimension.

Sunshine Day

Cheerful and energizing, yellow brings warmth to a room. It enhances and maximizes natural light and can brighten a space with few windows.

Reach The Sky

In this coastal family room, a vaulted, beaded-board ceiling makes the room feel incredibly spacious and open. Solid orange fabric brings out the orange tones in the natural stain of the wood and mixes flawlessly with a funky green print.

Mixed and Cozy

The mix of comfy slipcovered sofas with a 1940s French acrylic coffee table and antique Louis XVI armchairs infuses this room with a personality of its own.

Conversation Starter

Carol suggests creating a seating arrangement with a circle of chairs, rather than sofas positioned across from each other. "People sit more comfortably in their own chairs, and it's better for conversation," she says.

Living Large

Beach house style just got a lot more interesting. "Don't be afraid of color," says designer E. Dale Trice. He proves his fearlessness in the living room with a vivid sectional sofa, curtains the color of a Gulf sunset, and accents of ocean blue.

A long, narrow table against the wall of windows serves as a library table when not in use for dining. The mahogany trestle table base supports a wrapped aluminum top. Water hyacinth chairs are an economical alternative to wooden chairs and pick up the black tones of the photograph frames.

Looking for the perfect home to create your favorite place? Call us at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.

3 Steps to a Great Spring Lawn

Sources My Home Ideas/http://www.myhomeideas.com/
Photo Provided By Southern Living

Kick off your springtime gardening with these easy tips for a lush-looking lawn.

Get Ready for Spring


Your lawn may look sadder than a termite at a concrete festival, but it certainly doesn't have to stay that way. Giving your grass a bit of attention toward the end of winter will pay off big-time this spring and summer.

• Step 1: Aerate your soil

Compacted soil is hard for water, air, and roots to penetrate, and that makes it hard on grass. So go to your local equipment rental store, and get a core aerator. A half-day's rental should cost you around $40.

This machine, which resembles a large rotary tiller, uses steel tubes to take plugs of soil from the lawn and deposit them on the ground. Aerating once a year reduces compaction and increases the vigor of your lawn.

• Step 2: Mow the old grass low

Those with cool-season grass (bluegrass, fescue, or perennial ryegrass) can skip this part. But those with warm-season lawns (Bermuda, buffalo grass,centipede, St. Augustine, or Zoysia) need to mow that old, brown grass low at the end of winter to remove thatch, an accumulation of dead stems and leaves.

Heavy thatch prevents water and nutrients from reaching the roots and promotes disease.

Cut Bermuda lawns to 1/2 inch and leave the clippings in place to decompose. Mow other types to 1 inch. If you use a regular mower, bag the clippings; then compost or discard them. Mowing low lets more sun reach and warm the soil, encouraging the grass to green up.

• Step 3: Stop weeds

As the temperature reaches 70°, seeds of lawn weeds sprout. Stop them by applying, in late winter, a pre-emergence lawn weed preventer such as Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer, Vigoro Ultra Turf Pre-emergence Crabgrass and Weed Control, or Green Light Crabgrass Preventer.

When watered in, it forms a barrier atop the soil to keep weeds from sprouting. (Don't aerate after you put down the chemical, or you'll break the barrier.)

However, if you're sowing grass seeds this spring, don't put down any of these products, since weed preventers keep grass seeds from coming up, too.

Downsizing Your Lawn

If the idea of maintaining a large expanse of grass seems a bit daunting, consider downsizing your lawn.

If you like clean landscape lines, healthy green grass, and free weekends, consider hemming your lawn in with pavers or a brick patio. Because lawnmowers and string trimmers can damage the bark of trees and shrubs, reshaping your lawn so that all other vegetation is outside its perimeter avoids accidental contact.

This change also benefits the turf by reducing water and nutrient competition and providing more sunlight. With less fertilization, less watering, and less mowing to do, you can enjoy the lawn more!

Contrasting Color

Reap some wonderful landscape rewards with a little lawn.

Red brick or black stone borders around your lawn create a contrast of color that breaks up the monotony of green. Replicating the brick or stone of a house's foundation in the landscape will pull the eye from the curb to the front door, while repeating the straight lines of a front porch or the curved lines of an archway will create a pleasing effect.

In the lawn at left, combining flat stone pavers with turf creates a formal but functional entrance.