Designed To Sell - Model Home Makeovers

Are you looking for new housing trends, photos from the New American Home,travel destinations, or decorating ideas? We know the place to go!
Check out The Official Lifestylist® Channel - a place where we are putting together videos and information that can help you find the answers you are looking for.
There are lots of new projects in in production - we would love to hear from you and know what you'd be interested in seeing. Next week we are off to Arizona to visit The Mosaic Cafe, Sabino Canyon and Old Scottsdale! We will also be getting some advice from Thermador on what are the best appliances for my cooking style.
Lifestylist® Designed homes are becoming something that consumers are asking for, and we will be sharing some of our latest designs soon as well. Visit our new channel often to stay in touch - we'll see you there!

Who knew? So often we think that new, innovative ideas are typically found in larger urban areas then slowly work their way into other markets. When I started hearing great things about Red Baron Building Company in Lindale Texas I have to say I was skeptical, but as a Lifestylist® I never pass on an opportunity to see and try new things.

Owner Jerry Alexander isn't someone that sits in an office and talks about building - he's more comfortable being in the field making choices and doing things himself. His interest in green building has him busy designing new products and and using existing products in new and unusual ways.  It's absolutely amazing the things that Jerry and his team are doing with concrete, and some of the products they have designed will not only be available in their homes, but to designers and consumers as well.

Ruby Trails is a new subdivision that Red Baron is building with homes starting in the mid-100's.  I visit a lot of new homes, and I can honestly say I've never seen homes that offer as much as these do.  This is a builder who obviously loves what he does, and hasn't overlooked one detail. Full brick and stone exteriors - many with keystones made by Red Baron, and entry doors with leaded glass and transoms. Spacious kitchens with the coolest countertops I've seen in years - concrete with embedded objects in them that I'm just lusting over.

All of the homes are Energy Star rated, and seeing that they are using Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters was amazing - that's what I want in my personal home! All of their hardware is oil rubbed bronze, and the wood trim in the homes is beautiful! Many of the homes have not one, but two walk in closets in the master  suites... did I mention that all of this is included, not an option?

This is just a small list of what these homes have to offer. It's exciting to me that a home in this price range can offer so much, and be energy efficient as well. If you are looking for new trends, obviously Lindale is the place to be. I can't wait to see what else Red Baron Building and Jerry can come up with!

It sounds like things are picking up in Florida, and that has been one of the hardest hit areas in this housing downturn. The New American Home was a great example of how there are still people wanting to build the home of their dreams.

The Sarasota County Homebuilders Association just had their Parade of Homes, and this year they had 57 models on the tour - almost twice as many as last year.  The show will be held February 19 - March 6th.  The Sarasota Herald-Tribune had a story about the show that was very positive and had some wonderful photos - definitely a step in the right direction. It was great to see that some of our favorite builders in that area - Minto Communities and Bruce Williams Homes were included in the show.

If you are interested in getting some Lifestylist® Designed models in your communities, please email us at: answers@lifestylist.com.

Being a part of The New American Home and active at The International Builders Show is paying off - our phone is ringing off the wall! It seems like people are ready to move forward and start finding the home of their dreams again instead of waiting.  Today the sun is finally out and I've heard that new communities are busy - are you ready for these new customers coming to your door?
Now is the perfect time to do some spring cleaning of your existing models. One of the services we offer our clients is to go into an existing model and seasonalize it - for warmer weather lighten up the colors of accessories, move things around to give the model a new look, and make sure that everything that is in your model is in selling shape. We make a list of items that need to be replaced or repaired and make recommendations to the builder as to what needs to be done to help you sell homes.
These services are done by an accredited Lifestylist® - not an assistant or intern so you know you are getting the best recommendations.
If you are interested in getting your existing model homes in selling shape, email us at: answers@lifestylist.com

Being a part of The New American Home and active at The International Builders Show is paying off - our phone is ringing off the wall! It seems like people are ready to move forward and start finding the home of their dreams again instead of waiting.  Today the sun is finally out and I've heard that new communities are busy - are you ready for these new customers coming to your door?
Now is the perfect time to do some spring cleaning of your existing models. One of the services we offer our clients is to go into an existing model and seasonalize it - for warmer weather lighten up the colors of accessories, move things around to give the model a new look, and make sure that everything that is in your model is in selling shape. We make a list of items that need to be replaced or repaired and make recommendations to the builder as to what needs to be done to help you sell homes.
These services are done by an accredited Lifestylist® - not an assistant or intern so you know you are getting the best recommendations.
If you are interested in getting your existing model homes in selling shape, email us at: answers@lifestylist.com

This Lifestylist® got a lovely thank-you note the other day from a reader. I had recommended The Gaylord Texan as the place to stay during Super Bowl XLV, and they couldn't agree more! With North Texas having the coldest weather we've had in years, being in the wonderful atmosphere of The Gaylord Texan with all of it's attractions, shopping and dining under one roof is definitely the place to be.
We have had the wonderful opportunity to meet with John Imaizumi - Senior Vice President and General Manager. It is obvious from the moment that you meet him why his "Stars" (what the employees are considered) and guests love him so much. His honest compassion and love for this group shines through, and you can see his attention to detail everywhere you turn.
Even if you aren't staying at this hotel, it's the perfect place to just go spend the day during your Super Bowl XLV visit. The Gaylord Texan is the official hotel for The Dallas Cowboys and is close to the stadium and DFW airport. There is great shopping for those Texas themed items, and coffee shops for you to just sit and people watch from.
The Old Hickory Steakhouse is our favorite restaurant in North Texas, and not only is the food spectacular, the staff knows how to make everyone feel important as well.  Executive Chef Joanne Bondy prepares her signature dishes including her Habanero Cream Corn that I can't get enough of! They also have tableside service for their artisanal cheeses and desserts.
If you want to get some lighter fare and focus on a wine tasting, be sure and visit Old Hickory's upstairs wine bar and veranda. It features an Enomatic wine system, and you can get flights of wines that you have always wanted to try in as little as a one ounce pour.
Ready to kick up your heels? The Glass Cactus Nightclub that is also part of the Gaylord Texan is the place to be. It boasts 39,000 sq. ft. of indoor floor space and has 13,000 sq. ft. of outdoor decks overlooking Lake Grapevine. They'll be having a special "Big Game" viewing and After-Party on the 6th.
We'd love to hear about your experiences at the places we recommend - feel free to let us know at: answers@lifestylist.com
Make sure and let people know that The Lifestylist® sent you - we love sharing our favorite destinations.

There are thousands of show homes built every year, but Champion Homes discovered a way to really set themselves apart from the crowd while doing a wonderful thing.

At the recent International Builders Show in Orlando, their Genesis division unveiled "The Tyler" - a beautiful modular home that was built at Champion's manufacturing facility in Lake City, FL. The home showcased how beautiful accessible design can be. The kitchen and master bath had the necessary clear space radius, and the wider hallways allowed for wheelchair accessibility. the home was filled with lots of innovative products - I especially loved the storage options that were shown.

The home was part of the NextGen Experience and was in the outdoor village at the show. Now that the show is over, Champion is teaming up with the non-profit organization Rebuilding Together and will be delivering the home to a lot in Tampa where it will be reassembled. The home has been donated to Mr. Waldemar Alameda and his family. Mr. Waldemar served our country in multiple tours of Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, and was severely injured in an IED explosion.

The home is beautiful inside and out, and I love the exterior elevation. The trim and color accents give the home lots of character and allow it to fit into almost any neighborhood in any part of the country.

As the Lifestylist® for Champion Homes of Texas, I couldn't be more proud of Champion and their giving spirit, and I hope that this home serves as an example of what can be accomplished with factory built housing and a company that knows how to give back to the community.

There are thousands of show homes built every year, but Champion Homes discovered a way to really set themselves apart from the crowd while doing a wonderful thing.
At the recent International Builders Show in Orlando, their Genesis division unveiled "The Tyler" - a beautiful modular home that was built at Champion's manufacturing facility in Lake City, FL. The home showcased how beautiful accessible design can be. The kitchen and master bath had the necessary clear space radius, and the wider hallways allowed for wheelchair accessibility. the home was filled with lots of innovative products - I especially loved the storage options that were shown.
The home was part of the NextGen Experience and was in the outdoor village at the show. Now that the show is over, Champion is teaming up with the non-profit organization Rebuilding Together and will be delivering the home to a lot in Tampa where it will be reassembled. The home has been donated to Mr. Waldemar Alameda and his family. Mr. Waldemar served our country in multiple tours of Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, and was severely injured in an IED explosion.
The home is beautiful inside and out, and I love the exterior elevation. The trim and color accents give the home lots of character and allow it to fit into almost any neighborhood in any part of the country.
As the Lifestylist® for Champion Homes of Texas, I couldn't be more proud of Champion and their giving spirit, and I hope that this home serves as an example of what can be accomplished with factory built housing and a company that knows how to give back to the community.

One of the best things about attending The International Builders Show is getting to meet with all of the different manufacturers and hearing what trends they see coming to market. Kitchens are a very important part of the home, in fact the Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen found that 30 percent of adults considered their kitchen to be the center of activity in their homes.

The biggest trend in the home - one that continues to gain momentum is lifestyle. Choices are made by considering the homeowners lifestyle instead of a "style" such as cottage, traditional, contemporary, etc. Now we talk about if the consumer is an avid chef, if they are wine lovers, or if they live on "take-in". I have considered myself a Lifestylist® for over 20 years now, so I'm thrilled to see this term becoming more accepted.

Color is coming back into the kitchen! Darker finishes are starting to lose market share, and lighter stains and painted finishes are being seen in more homes. The New American Home this year featured Rushmore® Maple Square Hazelnut Glaze cabinets by Timberlake Cabinetry that were light and cheery.

KraftMaid's director of designer relations Sarah Reep stated that "Cabinetry with colorful finishes adds a burst of personality to your kitchen walls. KraftMaid's variety of woods and finishes make it easy to personalize your kitchen with the styles and colors that inspire you". KraftMaid says this year's kitchen color trends are bringing back the basics - creamy browns, navy and reds. Darker colors will be replaced with colors and styles reminiscent of farmers' markets and country roads.

Thermador is introducing color into the kitchen in a different way - their Sapphire dishwasher that was shown in The New American Home comes complete with Sapphire Glow LEDs that illuminate the interior of your dishwasher with a beautiful blue glow. This was a huge hit at the show, and it is not only really cool but it's also functional - it allows you to see items that are even in the back.

As the size of new homes starts to shrink, the space allocated for the kitchen is also getting smaller. Now more than ever consumers are looking for ways to add storage and make the most of every square foot of space. Being organized in the kitchen is a must.

We are looking forward to attending the Kitchen and Bath Show to search out more trends for us to share.

It's beginning to look like the interest in The New American Home 2011 is going to continue long after IBS 2011 is over. The homeowners have been gracious enough to put up a website where they are saying thank-you to all of the wonderful companies that have made this home a success. I also just found a great video on The Deconstruction of The Original Homes that shows how everything was recycled.
These homeowners went above and beyond to make sure that this New American Home was one of the best and most successful, and I'm thrilled that they have asked this Lifestylist® to help them add their life and style into their beautiful new home! Stay tuned to see the changes that we make.

It's beginning to look like the interest in The New American Home 2011 is going to continue long after IBS 2011 is over. The homeowners have been gracious enough to put up a website where they are saying thank-you to all of the wonderful companies that have made this home a success. I also just found a great video on The Deconstruction of The Original Homes that shows how everything was recycled.

These homeowners went above and beyond to make sure that this New American Home was one of the best and most successful, and I'm thrilled that they have asked this Lifestylist® to help them add their life and style into their beautiful new home! Stay tuned to see the changes that we make.