Physiologically, we are drawn to natural light. That’s not surprising as natural light has been shown to provide numerous health benefits – both physically and mentally. Natural light promotes concentration and relaxation.
Numerous studies also conclude that we’re “wired” to be in community. Most people will recall time spent with family and friends as the best, and most important times in their lives; therefore, it’s no surprise that sunny spaces are golden for entertaining.
A natural conclusion is that areas in your home bathed in daylight would be ideal for making memories. Whether you relish delicious moments alone for personal reflection or growth or life-giving time spent with loved ones, “light, bright, and airy” describes the perfect space.
Hence, the long-standing popularity of sunrooms in our homes. Lined with windows on at least two sides to maximize natural light levels, sunrooms also connect us with nature’s beauty. And when the sunroom flows directly into your dining area, as seen in the Barclay (56392) plan, magic happens! Your dining space becomes so much more attractive, and the windows add a feeling of spaciousness. Practically, such design adds flexibility to your entertaining options as well. For instance, if on holidays you’ll have 12 people for dinner, you can add those leaves to your dining table (or set up another adjoining table) and all generations are together for that special meal!
About 13 years ago we did some remodeling. We chose a pleasant color scheme and then the art and decor to go with it. While I love the framed prints we have on our walls, sometimes I wish I could do something new or swap them out. But, to do that it takes time, money, and a little manual labor. To remedy the situation, here’s a great alternative — Meural!
Meural is a leader in the emerging industry of digital artwork display. The Meural Canvas features their signature TrueArt technology that delivers “an organic and lifelike art-viewing experience.” With a built-in ambient light sensor, the images automatically adjust to match the room lighting. The three styles of frames — black, white, or a lightbox version — complements any interior motif. The Meural Canvas houses a 27″ diagonal, 16:9 display with full 1920 x 1080 HD resolution and can be displayed in landscape or portrait orientations.
With 8 GB of storage, the Meural Canvas can store approximately 2,000 images, which can be your own photos or digital artwork, or select from over 30,000 licensed images available from Meural, from the great masters to contemporary. Changing which picture is displayed is as easy as a swipe of the hand or control from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Learn more about Meural by visiting their website: www.meural.com
Most model homes are a beauty to behold, designed to elicit all kinds of responses from visitors and prospective home buyers. But we have five senses. Are you marketing to all of them?
Touch. Some surfaces, such as flooring, are going to be encountered. Plush carpeting with the right pad can feel luxurious; tile bathroom floors can be cold. Some surfaces beg to be touched: tumbled stone backsplashes, come to mind. But to engage the sense of touch, sometimes an invitation is needed. According to one of the nation’s largest cabinet manufacturers, the majority of model home visitors do not open cabinet drawers/doors. You may need to invite model home visitors to open the cabinet doors to experience the soft close hinges.
Photo courtesy Mark Samu, Design: Jean Stoffer Designs, Ltd.
Hearing. Continuing the cabinetry illustration, soft-close hardware is quiet. While quiet may not be top-of-mind for prospective home buyers, its importance should not be undervalued. Quiet appliances, HVAC, kitchen exhaust and bath fans, food waste disposers, and garage door openers can become differentiators, especially when pointed out. Similarly, solid core interior doors, insulated plumbing walls adjoining entertaining areas and/or bedrooms, and even superior air sealing in exterior walls can contribute to a dreamy, serene environment.
Smell. Some studies suggest smell is the strongest of all of our senses. While your model home might smell “new,” those material off-gassing odors can trigger respiratory ailments among some buyers, particularly those with chemical sensitivities. The sense of smell has the ability to transport us to another time and place – bread baking at grandma’s house, for example. Department stores have long known that adding the scent of baby powder to their baby department increases sales. From potpourri and fresh flowers to delicious kitchen aromas, adding fragrance to your model home can create a much more pleasurable buying environment.
Taste. The sense of taste is the trickiest of the senses to deal with, because the introduction of food and/or beverages ushers in the likelihood of added clean-ups. Yet, people linger more in the home when refreshments are available. Some builders restrict where food/beverages are to be consumed, posting signs such as “Please enjoy our refreshments here in the information center.” Savvy builders are also tying into cause-related marketing, serving only responsibly-sourced fruits or coffee that comes from a third-world country women’s cooperative.
Why all the fuss over multi-sensory marketing? Engage three of more of your model home visitors’ senses and your home will be twice as memorable as homes that are mere eye candy.
More home design articles on our Design Trends website page.
While southern Maine may be best known for Lobster and Lighthouses, homebuilder Mark Patterson is making strong inroads for adding a third “L” – Livability. “It’s evident when you walk into one of our homes or our showroom,” Mark said, adding, “We put livability first. For example, our buyers may be looking for an open floorplan, well-planned storage, or an oversized, walk-in shower, amenities you just won’t find in used homes.”
But all new homes are not created equal. Mark continued, “Some builders build what they like. At PATCO, we focus on what our buyers value and appreciate.” That includes practical as well as aesthetic features. “It starts when you arrive home. Just inside the door from the garage you’ll find our ‘drop zone,’ which is great whether you need a place to set heavy things down or to keep clutter out of the kitchen.
“We’re the only homebuilder in the area that has a design center, which makes choosing products for their new home so much simpler. From stylish door options to designer carpeting, beautiful cabinetry and hardware choices, our clients find our showroom takes the selections process from stressful to delightful.”
Furthermore, PATCO’s design center is an educational environment in which home buyers discover and gain an appreciation for products for their new home, such as one-piece fiberglass bathtub/shower enclosures that are low maintenance, giving homeowners back a little more time. Mark is quick to point out the well-known products, “People trust brand names and it’s an important element in knowing they’re getting a quality home.”
Construction quality is non-negotiable with PATCO’s customers. That’s why PATCO homes are highly energy efficient, utilizing Tyvek® house wrap, Low E and Argon gas insulated windows and performance insulation in the walls and ceilings. The company’s homes are also backed by 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, providing the peace of mind that comes with a 10-year structural warranty.
Read more about PATCO Construction, Inc., including photos of their design center and newest home!
Some people just don’t like the looks of a built-in seat in their shower. But shaving in the shower is a reality. The solution may be the addition of a recessed toe-hold, elevating your leg a few inches off the shower floor. Such an amenity is dramatically more comfortable when shaving!
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Hence, the long-standing popularity of sunrooms in our homes. Lined with windows on at least two sides to maximize natural light levels, sunrooms also connect us with nature’s beauty. And when the sunroom flows directly into your dining area, as seen in the Barclay (56392) plan, magic happens! Your dining space becomes so much more attractive, and the windows add a feeling of spaciousness. Practically, such design adds flexibility to your entertaining options as well. For instance, if on holidays you’ll have 12 people for dinner, you can add those leaves to your dining table (or set up another adjoining table) and all generations are together for that special meal!
Meural is a leader in the emerging industry of digital artwork display. The Meural Canvas features their signature TrueArt technology that delivers “an organic and lifelike art-viewing experience.” With a built-in ambient light sensor, the images automatically adjust to match the room lighting. The three styles of frames — black, white, or a lightbox version — complements any interior motif. The Meural Canvas houses a 27″ diagonal, 16:9 display with full 1920 x 1080 HD resolution and can be displayed in landscape or portrait orientations.
While southern Maine may be best known for Lobster and Lighthouses, homebuilder Mark Patterson is making strong inroads for adding a third “L” – Livability. “It’s evident when you walk into one of our homes or our showroom,” Mark said, adding, “We put livability first. For example, our buyers may be looking for an open floorplan, well-planned storage, or an oversized, walk-in shower, amenities you just won’t find in used homes.”
If you don’t want a seat in your shower…