1. Trade a large vanity for a delicate pedestal sink. Although a vanity provides storage, it can close off the room and make it feel cluttered, instead, add a space saving shelving unit above the toilet.  Avoid using enclosed cabinetry, even the smallest piece of furniture or accessory that sticks out in the room can stop where your eye goes and make your room seem to “shrink”, an open shelving unit will provide storage while making the room appear spacious. Adding recessed cabinets in the shower is also a smart way to save space.

2.  Lighting can make a huge difference in a small room.  Adding recessed lighting or a skylight helps to brighten and open up the room. Stategically adding mirrors in the correct places can multiply the space of the room visually.  Consider positioning a mirror directly across from a window inside the room, by doing so this will make the room appear as if there were two windows!  A great way to position multiple mirrors is to hang them  directly next to each other, from side wall to side wall, so that each mirror reflects into the other, by doing this it makes the room seem as if it goes on forever.

3.  Paint the ceiling the same color but one shade lighter than the wall, by doing this you create a smooth transition which cuts down the number of visual planes. The reason you want the ceiling one shade lighter is because the ceiling always reads one shade darker.  On a similiar note if you have a tiled shower extend the tile up onto the ceiling. This creates a seperate space and doesn’t cut the room in half.  When deciding on a shower curtain try choosing a clear curtain or glass shower door.

Try these techniques out and you will be surprised to see how your bathroom visually grows!

A rug typically accounts for about 30% of the visual impact of a room.  When choosing color keep in mind the amount of traffic the rug will receive. If it is in a high traffic area you may want to go with a darker tone rug.  If you want the room to seem bigger lighter tones are the way to go. Be careful with a bold pattern it may overwhelm the design of the room and you may want to choose a smaller size rug. Remember not everything in the room needs to match, as long as the rug picks up a color or tone already in the room.  A pattern is up to personal preference, but if you have a small room choose a small pattern to make the room appear bigger. Next time you are looking for the perfect rug keep in mind these tips and it will help to narrow down your vast array of options.

When deciding on what size of rug for a living room start by selecting the furniture layout.  Measure the area of the room between the furniture, meaning the front of the couch to the front of the other.  If there isn’t a second couch, measure as if one was there.  Once you have the measurements add 2 inches to each side to create balance.  From here you have some options, you can position the front legs of the furniture 1/4 of the way onto the rug with the back legs off.  If you want a formal feel a big rug in a big room with all furniture on the rug will achieve this look. Extend the rug past the furniture 6-12 inches.  Another option would be to postition the rug directly above the coffee table, for this look the coffee table will be the only piece of furniture postitioned on the rug. This can be a great way to introduce a pop of color for a small room.

When planning to put a rug in a dining room start by measuring the length and width of table.  Choose a rug where at least 24 inches of rug extends from the table on all sides.  This will allow the back legs of the chair to remain on the rug even when being used. Be sure to get a texture of of rug somewhat smooth to avoid wobbly chairs. 

A runner can be a great addition to a hallway.  Measure the length and width of the hallway and then subtract 2 to 3 inches of space in beween the wall and rugs edge.  Runners may be used in a bedroom position one on each side of the bed running alongside the bed lengthwise.  The most common way a rug is found in a bedroom is directly under the bed for a king or queen bed the rug should extend 18 inches past and for a full or twin 12 inches.

Hopefully these basic guideline help you on your quest for the perfect rug for your perfect home. Stay tuned for next weeks part 2 of choosing a rug!

Spring is here and why not give your home a fresh new look for the summer?  The front entry of a home is often one of the most forgotten areas, yet the first to welcome your guests.  Start by sweeping debris and dead leaves away from sidewalks and porch.  You may want  to pressure wash the siding and brick of your home, it is amazing how much dirty accumulates over the winter months.  If you have shutters wipe them down and then polish.  A basic interior car cleaner like Armorall works great (applying goo gone nurishes the vinyle and gives luster but be sure to try a small amount first as each material reacts differently).  If the front of your home is still looking a bit drab add a fresh coat of paint to certain areas where the paint has faded.  Using a contrast color to a  front door can add a whimsy feel and new look to your home.

Adding additional lighting to the front entry not only keeps your home safe, it is a great way to make your home look amazing at night.  Lighting can range from a single pendentant above the door to solar powered lanterns lining your walkway.  If you have a deck or porch consider adding lanterns, strings of lights and hanging glowing globes which will add a playful cheer to your space. Spruce up you patio furniture by washing the cushions and adding solid colored pillows of different sizes to the furniture, this will modernize last seasons look.

Now for the real fun part! Add your personal style by decorating, this doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy everything new.  Use everyday products you may have found when spring cleaning.

Here are ideas with products most everyone has laying around

-Take an old pair of boots fill with dirt and use as a planter

-Take glass bottles and jars and use as vases to give a rustic feel decorate with burlap, rope, and lace

-Create your own monogram planter by taking and old pot and painting it and then adding the first letter of your last name.

Have fun and add your own style, with some creativity you can have a place you will love to come home to and will radiate the fresh charm of spring before anyone even enters it!

]]> http://www.jordahlcustomhomes.com/springarize-your-entryway/feed/ 0 http://www.jordahlcustomhomes.com/2013-spring-parade-of-homes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2013-spring-parade-of-homes http://www.jordahlcustomhomes.com/2013-spring-parade-of-homes/#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:11:28 +0000 jordahl http://www.jordahlcustomhomes.com/?p=5985 With the Spring 2013 Parade of Homes underway, we are excited to see everyone that stops by our five featured homes.  Below you will find the addresses and a few quick details on each featured home, for more details be sure to pick up a free Parade of Homes magazine at Hornbachers.  Also don’t forget to ask about our Parade of Homes Promo that includes $8,400 in savings valid April 22nd – May 28th, 2013!  We would love to visit with you about building a new home…Your Home, Your Style!

Homes will be open for viewing April 27th – May 5th, weekdays 6:30-8:30pm & weekends 12-5pm.

947 30th Ave W, West Fargo, Eaglewood Addition – $168,319

• 2,000 Sq Ft Fully Finished

• 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms

• Vaulted Ceilings on Main Level

• Oversized Foyer w/ Custom Cubbies

• Custom KnottyAlder Cabinetry

• Granite Island w/ Breakfast Bar

3004 14th St W, West Fargo, Eaglewood Addition – $247,420

• 1,924 Sq Ft Finished

• 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms

• Spare Bath w/ Dual Sinks

• Open Living Area w/ 9′ Ceilings

• Large Corner Walk-In Pantry

• Message Center

• Upper Level Laundry

3126 6th St E, West Fargo, South Pond at The Preserve – $221,970

• 2,077 Sq Ft Finished

• 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms

• Front Cedar Porch w/ Stone Accents

• Gas Fireplace w/ Stone Detail

• 6′ Poplar Painted & Distressed Kitchen Island w/ Granite

• Knotty Alder Kitchen Cabinets Extending to Ceiling

• Master Suite w/ Dual Sinks & Separate Soaking Tub & Shower

3410 Shadow Wood Lane E, West Fargo, Shadow Wood 5th Addition – $389,900

• 2,595 Sq Ft Finished

• 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms

• 3 Stall Garage Fully Insulated & Sheet Rocked

• His & Hers Walk-In Closets

• KnottyAlder Cabinets Extending to 9′ Ceilings

• Upper Level Loft

5609 61st St S, Fargo, Deer Creek Addition – $204,924

• 1.982 Sq Ft Finished

• 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms

• 2 Stall Garage Fully Insulated & Sheetrocked

• Upper Level Laundry

• Mudroom

• All Bedrooms Have Walk-in Closets

• Master Suite w/ Dual Sinks, Tile Accent Soaking Tub & Separate Shower

Paint oversized stripes on the walls. This style is fun, yet soothing and easy to change if you pick one color of stripe to paint over in the future.

For a timeless interior design in a nursery, don’t be afraid to add sophistication. Enlarge a monogram of the infant’s initials on the wall for a classic design element that still celebrates your newborn in a personal way.

• Wallpaper or a large graphic is a great way to add a lot of style in a quick and durable way. By choosing a classic stripe pattern in youthful colors, you can achieve a look that won’t have to change, as your child gets older.
• Adding a dimmer switch will help change the mood when reading a bedtime story and can also help save on the electric bill.

Concrete: Thanks to a multitude of available colors, textures and finishes available, concrete is trendy, sleek and durable as time itself.  It can be very cost effective, however, since fashion often comes at a cost, it’s a very hard surface that is not comfortable to walk all day.

Large-format tiles: In the world of tiles, there is an explosion of shapes, sizes, materials and patterns. Large tiles have been gaining more popularity lately than the traditional 12” X 12” tiles.

Luxury vinyl: No we are not talking about that peel-and-stick people used. It is a new category of flooring that combines classy look of hardwood or stone floor with the durability of vinyl. It stands up to moisture and is a natural fit for kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.

Good old hardwood floor: If your home building plans consists of a sustainable wood flooring, hardwood floor is perfect for you. These floors are usually produced in the United States instead of having to import. Hardwood floors made with oak, hickory, maple, and heart pine are making a comeback.

Cork: Like we mentioned in our previous post, cork is taking up a remarkable place in flooring trends. It has amazing acoustic-insulating qualities and very comfortable to walk on compared to tiles and hardwood floors.

Reclaimed woods: Thanks to the factory-finished hardwood floor that offers all the charm of reclaimed timber and timeless hand-hewn look without the outrageous price of true salvaged lumber. It has a great capacity to withstand moisture variation.

Bamboo: Bamboo comes in variety of colors and styles that can fit perfect right into your interior design. Bamboo is as hard as most hardwood floor when dried. There are new products called strand-woven bamboo that are produced using the inner fibers, which are twice as hard as traditional bamboo flooring. It can be used to mimic the classic look of hardwood floor as well.

Go to our Pinterest account at http://pinterest.com/jordahlhomes/ and browse through our custom home designs that fits your flooring needs!

Ambient

Ambient is a hidden source of light that washes a room with a glow. It flattens an interior design and creates very little shadow. A wall sconce is an example of ambient lighting, as are paper lanterns. Use of a dimmer can also provide ambient light.

Task

Task lighting is just that; lighting that’s used to perform daily activities. Effective task lighting enhances visual clarity and keeps the eyes from getting tired, so it needs to be glare-free

Accent

Directional lighting or lighting that adds interest or highlights a certain part of your interior design or unusual architectural feature in a room. A bulb and some kind of shield to direct the light are all that’s needed for this type of lighting. Halogen spotlights and table lamps with opaque shades are good ways to achieve accent lighting.

Aesthetic

Lighting itself can be a work of art for your interior design. A neon sculpture would be purely decorative and an example of aesthetic lighting. A spotlight illuminating a statue on a pedestal or portrait on the wall is also artistic. This type of lighting also needs to be used along with other lighting types.

Natural

The last light that we can’t skip is natural lights like sunlight, candlelight and firelight. This is light that moves and is sometimes referred to as kinetic. The quality of natural light, sunlight in particular, depends on many things — time of day, weather, what season it is. Fall has a different light than summer, for instance. The setting sun gives a different kind of light than midday sun.

Decks have become less of a wooden platform and more of an outdoor room.Transform your deck into a relaxing and restful retreat with these simple deck design ideas.

Add water