Tag Archives: fall

Fall Inspirations for Your Home

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As the seasons change, so do we cycle through trends and what’s “in fashion,” – more quickly, it seems, than ever before. When it comes to home design, from wall colors to appliances, it’s not as easy or financially realistic as changing out your ties and shoes. Still, there’s something to be said about these fall inspirations… see if any of them stick. Most importantly, however, is that you love it, whether it’s trendy or not!

Create a Tech-Free Zone

Have an unused room or corner space? You can easily create a haven from all the digital madness by creating a cozy nook. All you need is a comfy chair or hammock, some pretty pillows and lacey curtains hung from a faux wooden beam. Add a small bookcase filled with those vintage items (yes, books!), a cool lamp and piece of artwork, and you have yourself a little getaway. Leave your phones at the door.

White is Out; Color is In

Although white will always be a great accent color, all-white, or gray, interiors are fading into the background. This fall, expect to see rich browns, greens, blush and even black. Dark green (we used to call it Hunter Green), is being noted as a popular color choice by trendsetters. When accented with natural wood, leather or brass, it makes for a striking look. Jewel tones, used as accent colors in things like pillows, are also hot right now.

Past & Present

It’s fair to say the future of home décor is eclectic. With so many different eras to choose from, the desire to furnish a home in the same period is considered aesthetically unimaginative, and just isn’t done anymore, according to housebeautiful.com. Instead, people are filling their homes with a mix of old and new – vintage, retro, and modern. The sky’s the limit! They suggest starting with a favorite period of your choice and then working from there. Find yourself a gorgeous vintage armoire, for example, and pair it with a custom-made bed. You can find a handful of very talented woodworkers and metal artists in Texas. Here’s a local metal artist that stands out:  http://www.schroederart.com.

Smart Furniture

While we’re looking for ways to disengage from technology, designers are finding new ways to incorporate it. Keep an eye out for even more clever charging docks – ones that are actually built into the furniture, so you don’t have to have those clunky eyesores in every room. Check out IKEA’s SELJE nightstand, as one “smart” example.

At Stone Creek Custom Homes, our passion is helping our customers define and build their dream homes from the ground, up. Give us a call at 210-494-5400 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our online form to request more information.

 

Vegetable Gardening in Texas – Tips and Tricks

Veggie Garden

Veggie Garden

Gardening is just one delicious and eco-sustainable way to enhance your landscaping. It may only be April, but savvy South Texas gardeners know that this is the best time to start planning your garden because spring is, well, here!

If you’re a first time gardener, be aware there are a lot of factors which determine the success of your plants – your soil, sun and shade, plant food, and the type of plants you’re trying to grow. While it’s always good to consult with the nursery where you purchase your plants or seeds, you should also do your own research to ensure you’re giving your plants the right amount of water and sunlight.

Not all plants do well in the heat, which is why planting early, after any potential frosts, is a good way to go. In Texas, we’re able to plant in both the spring and fall because of our long summers.

Picking a spot for your garden that offers the right amount of shade but can also be seen from the house is important. What’s the point of planting the garden if you can’t enjoy it, right? Also take into consideration when the sun hits your site. Afternoon sun will be hotter and more drying than morning sun.

Most vegetable plants flower, adding an extra aesthetic beauty to your yard. You can even identify which ones have just the right color palette, and if you don’t find what you’re looking for you can always intermingle non-edible plants with your vegetable garden to give it that extra flair.

A few extra tips to help with your new garden:

-          Plant a little extra for the animals. Even if you plant deer-resistant plants and spray the heck out of your garden, it’s almost impossible to avoid having some of them eaten. Of course, planting an organic garden will be even more challenging (although certainly well worth the effort!), so planting a little extra will avoid future frustrations.

-          Tomatoes need calcium to achieve their full flavor potential, which is something often lacking in our soils. To supplement, you can use dry egg shells. When planting your tomatoes, add about 4 or 5 egg shells crushed to a powder in the bottom of the hole before planting. This will provide all the calcium they need and prevent blossom end rot.

-          There are some veggies you only need to buy once and they’ll continue to grow indefinitely. By using the scraps of certain vegetables, you can regrow to your heart’s content. These include scallions, carrots, bok choy, garlic, celery, basil, cilantro and romaine lettuce.

If you want to dig a little deeper, check out Dough Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac and Cheryl Hazeltine’s Central Texas Gardener. You can find both of these books at our San Antonio public library.

Of course, if all of this just seems too overwhelming, you can also choose to grow hydroponically and do away with concerns over weather, bugs and even dirt!

For assistance on planning and building your next stunning custom home and garden, please call us at 210-494-5400.