Tag Archives: design

Meet Our Interior Design Consultant, Carla Royder

Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

IMG_5504 (2)

As you can imagine, building dream homes requires a strong team of professionals. When it comes to interiors, we rely on interior designer, Carla Royder, and her own team (Renee Golobay, in particular) at Carla Royder Designs to inspire, inform and guide our customers so that they achieve everything they want within their budget.

Carla, who opened her business in 2003, has a wide range of customers with homes ranging from $500 thousand to five million dollars. Her company is a full-service firm, meaning they also completely furnish homes when the client requests it.

Think of Carla as a liaison that helps streamline communications between builders and customers. “The selection process can be overwhelming,” Carla pointed out. “We help narrow down their choices so that it’s not overwhelming.”

The Selection Process

First, we provide Carla with a budget. Before you go in to pick out what you want, she recommends sifting through home magazines and pouring over Pinterest to help give her team an idea of the style and look that you’re wanting. The clearer the vision you have of your new dream home, the better they can help you create it. That’s true for us as well.

“My biggest philosophy is I like to get to know the client and who they are. I want their personality to show through in their house because a home should say who you are. I think people should be able to walk into your home and be able to feel your personality,” she explained.

The best part is the showroom! Carla has samples of everything you could ever want and more, from tile to countertops and light fixtures – literally anything and everything you might need in your new home.

This process should be fun, if not easy, but we guarantee Carla’s team does their best to make it feel like a breeze.

Trends

No matter how hard we try to avoid trends, it’s nearly impossible. Carla recommends every home get a facelift approximately every five years.

For our customers, she says the trend is leaning towards light colors and clean, crisp interiors and simple tile patterns. She noted that brass tones are also making a comeback.

So what’s the best part of Carla’s job? She tells us, “When the clients are blown away. I absolutely love the big reveal when we pull a room together, and they come home and see it for the first time. Some clients fall to floor and have tears coming out of their eyes. That is super rewarding.”

With Carla and her staff on our team we know the home building experience is definitely a rewarding one! To get started, please call us at 210-494-5400.

 

 

Get Ready for Your Memorial Day Cookout!

Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

photo

Who doesn’t look forward to an amazing Memorial Day cookout with all of their friends and family in their lusciously-landscaped backyard?! But what if your backyard isn’t so luscious? Here are some fast, easy things you can do to help enhance your Memorial Day experience, your backyard and your culinary prowess!

The Backyard

If you haven’t had time to landscape your backyard the way you want it, consider sprucing it up for your party by covering the deck and yard with potted plants filled with beautiful blooming flowers. As an added touch, you can paint the pots with glow-in-the-dark paint to make them stand out when the sun goes down.

No one will be paying attention to how perfect your backyard is or isn’t as long as you have games for people to play. Buy a set of bocce balls, croquet and badminton and keep everyone entertained and happy. However, beware of mixing too much alcohol with a game of bocce ball… or croquet for that matter!

The Grill

You may already have the king of grills, but if not, think about adding this little green gem to your backyard. The Big Green Egg is a popular addition to outdoor kitchens. We’re finding that a lot of our clients either have one or want one. It may not be the prettiest appliance, but this kamado-style ceramic charcoal barbecue cooker is considered one of the most versatile cooking devices on the market. You can grill, bake or smoke just about anything with it… and it tastes delicious!

The Barbecue

You can enhance just about any protein – beef, chicken or fish with a simple pesto. San Antonio’s own, Chef Chuck Hernandez, also known as the Pesto King and owner of Arugula Catering and the soon to be open O’liva Cafe downtown, was kind enough to share his Chihuahuan-style Pesto recipe with us. It goes great with grilled meats and veggies, either as a marinade or a condiment. Chuck likes to add it to his quail diablos and grilled avocados (pictured here). If you try it this Memorial Day, please send us a pic or post on our Facebook!

Chihuahuan Pesto Recipe

  • 2 cups  fresh cilantro – rinsed, drain-dried with some stems
  • 1 medium fresh jalapeno pepper
  • 1 green onion, stalk included
  • 4 cloves  garlic
  • 1/3 cup  jack cheese
  • 1 teaspoon  prepared mole paste
  • 1/3 cup  toasted pecans
  • 1 tablespoon  orange, pomegranate or pineapple juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon  cumin powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon  oregano dried or fresh
  • 1/3 cup  EVOO
  • sea salt & black pepper to taste

Directions:

Using a food processor, gently pulse ingredients until they are thoroughly combined. Scrape sides down with a rubber spatula. Approximately 1 minute. Serve or refrigerate in an air-tight container, up to 4 days.

If you don’t already have an amazing home and backyard for your Memorial Day cookout, we can help you get ready for next year! Give us a call at 210-494-5400.

 

More Kitchen, Less Kitsch

Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

For some of us, the kitchen is where we spend the majority of our time. High tech appliances and current trends are making kitchens more inviting than our living rooms. So if your family likes to gather around the kitchen, even when it’s not dinnertime, here are a few yummy ideas to consider for your next kitchen:

KITCHEN CONNECTIONS:  The kitchen is often a hub for home owners’ electronics. Two-thirds of NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) kitchen designers said they’re now incorporating docking and charging stations in kitchen remodels. Fifty-six percent said they included a flat-screen TV – so you don’t miss Manu’s 3-pointers while grabbing a snack.

ENERGY SAVINGS:  Home owners are always on the look-out for energy savings. Sixty percent of home designers expect energy-saving appliances to be in higher demand this year. Water-saving kitchen faucets are another energy-saver worth incorporating into your new kitchen. As far as finishes go, satin nickel is still a gorgeous choice.

OPEN SHELVING:  If you want to showcase your beautiful dishes or glassware, consider open shelving. Not only does it create an airy, fun feel to the kitchen, but it personalizes the space and allows you to show off that wedding china or other unique items. Not recommended if you’re a messy cook!

OPEN FLOOR PLAN:  Beyond open shelving, open kitchen floor plan designs are in much higher demand than a traditional closed kitchen space. This is a great design to incorporate for active families who like to host parties. Just remember that everyone will be able to see what you’re doing in the kitchen. You’ll also need to consider how the kitchen décor will complement the rest of the house.

KITCHEN SINKS:  With the growing popularity of warm metal fixtures and wood cabinets, consider a plain white kitchen sink or even a colored kitchen sink as opposed to traditional stainless steel. Imagine a striking canary yellow or a beautiful blue to help the kitchen pop!

LOOK UP:  Ceiling design is a lovely way to stylize your kitchen and make it an incredible showpiece. Statement-making ceilings are hot! You can use lighting, bulkheads, coffer ceilings or even murals, if you want to go nuts, to enhance your kitchen ceiling.

Remember to beware of flash-in-the-pan trends, such as crazy colors or design choices that may date your home. Custom home designs and all of the intricate decisions you’ll face are what we do best! Give us a call us at 210-494-5400 to get started.

2015 Home Trends – Hot or Not?

Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

If you’re going to put time and money into building a new home, you might as well make sure it’s everything you want it to be. Here are some fun new trends designers are anticipating for 2015. Read on to see if any of them spark your imagination!

ARCHITECTURE & FURNITURE

According to Zillow, mid-century modern elements in architecture as well as furniture is one of the biggest up-and-coming home design trends for 2015. However, keep in mind that trends such as these should serve as inspiration, but should not be overdone!

COLORS

Everyone’s talking about colors, but what colors are hottest is up for discussion.  According to Sherwin-Williams, people are opting for brighter colors now that we’re out of a recession.  Check out their Coral Reef, color #6606, which they’re saying reflects America’s new optimism for the future.

Pinterest seems to support this idea, as a majority of the color trends for spring on display are certainly bright, bubbly and even traditional Easter holiday colors.

Conde Nast Traveler would have you believe that ochre is the “it” color of the moment. Inspired by recent fashion trends, ochre is transitioning into home design, where it makes a dramatic impact when paired with rich, velvet jewel tones.

Remodelista’s pick for interior wall color of the year is a gorgeous yet humble pale, dusty pink called “Pink Ground” from Farrow & Ball. It pairs especially well with black or grey furniture.

KITCHENS & BATHROOMS

An organic look for appliances is a continuing trend. Buttons on dishwashers are being gracefully hidden; refrigerators and ovens are made to blend into the kitchen’s décor, so that sometimes they’re even hard to find! Take a look at the Zen Oven by Amica, which has a crisp white façade with a simple wood handle and two black buttons –  the perfect accent to a minimalist kitchen.

Marble backsplashes are being used to create an exotic look and accent piece in any kitchen, while jewel-toned tiles in fun shapes are a stylish option for master baths or even guest baths and go great with vintage tubs.

THE LIBRARY

Surprisingly, in a country obsessed with getting online, libraries filled with old-fashioned books (made with paper!) are back in style. According to Details.com, libraries with actual books are making a comeback. Maybe it has something to do with the popularity of Downton Abbey, or perhaps people are simply nostalgic for the old days. Even VCR’s are coming back!

Stone Creek Custom Homes, along with our interior designers, can help you make all of these important decisions. Call us today at 210-494-5400 for a complementary consultation!

Lighting the Way in Your New Custom-Built Home

Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Many people don’t realize just how important lighting is to achieving the desired look or feel you want in your new custom home. Lighting isn’t just an art, it’s also a science. The right lighting can dramatically enhance the space – make it look larger, softer, grander, warmer, cooler, the list goes on. Architectural elements and art pieces should also receive precise lighting design consideration in order to gracefully showcase the unique aspects of your home that make it special.

Natural & Artificial Light

Finding a harmonious balance between natural and artificial light is key to feeling at home in your new house. Natural light and the way it moves through your home is a crucial consideration.  For example, how the sun moves along the horizon from sunrise to sunset and how it affects the interior as well as the exterior of your house, helps us to make decisions, such as orientation and design.

In the evening hours, artificial lighting must replace the natural daylight and enhance your space, not diminish it, using either subtle or dazzling methods. Understanding the intent of the lighting and décor such as how the space is to be used and what, if any, decorative pieces should be emphasized, determines exactly where fixtures should be located and what type of fixtures are best.

Our Lighting Experts

We work with Turney Lighting & Electric – who is quite literally a one-stop source for all lighting, fans and home accents. When the time comes to decide on lighting fixtures, we send you straight to the experts, along with the house plan and lighting budget. Turney has a beautiful showroom in San Antonio and Boerne where you can explore a variety of options. They help guide you in the right direction, based on whatever theme or style you want throughout your new home.

Illuminating Trends

The U.S. Lighting fixture industry generates over 22 billion dollars a year and is estimated to rise 7.7% annually to 32.5 billion in 2018. Surprisingly, there are a lot of factors that influence the market, including things like environmental factors.

Lighting fixtures themselves are becoming showpieces in modern homes. Gone are the days of bright white kitchens and garish lighting. Directional sconce lighting is coming back into fashion. Depending upon the style of your new kitchen, you can go for a minimalist monochrome design or traditional brass fixtures, for example, that look exceptional in a room with natural tones.

Go Green

Following LEED energy-saving practices is becoming more and more common as energy costs continue to rise. CPS Energy has indicated that energy bills will increase approximately 4% in 2015, therefore saving energy wherever and whenever we can is always at the top of the priority list.

Lighting controls are a fantastic and easy way to save money. Not only do they dramatically extend the life of bulbs, but they use less electricity. As opposed to standard light switches that only save money when “off,” dimmers and controls save on energy around-the-clock!

For more information on illuminating your new custom home, call us today at 210-494-5400 or visit our website!