Tag Archives: house

What To Do in SA This Winter

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San Antonio Riverwalk

Unlike most of the United States, which is already suffering from freezing temperatures, in San Antonio, it’s time to get out of the house and take advantage of this perfect time of year.

Holiday Delights

Enjoy the Holiday River Parade on November 24 in style this year. Many restaurants offer dinner packages, and there really is no better view of the parade. The best part is you don’t have to fight the crowds. Choose from restaurants such as Biga on the Banks, Boudro’s, Hotel Valencia and more. You can book your reservation here.

Although our riverwalk is a top tourist attraction, it’s easy to forget how beautiful it is, especially when they light it up during the holidays with over 100,000 lights. It’s truly a winter wonderland in Texas. You can also take a special river boat tour and see our amazing city from a whole new perspective!

Lost Maples

If you’ve never heard of Lost Maples, you’re missing out. This state park, just a few hours from San Antonio, is a gorgeous respite from city life. This hidden grove of Uvalde bigtooth maple trees is best during a two week time period in the fall when it turns bright red and gold, but it’s a fantastic place to visit all year round. Winter is a great time to go camping or explore their 10 miles of hiking trails. You can also fish the Sabinal River or Can Creek, but keep an eye out, you might see our Stone Creek Custom Homes’ guys hooking some bass.

December Permaculture Class

Learn all about natural gardening from a pro – Sylvain Clavieres of Talking Tree Farm. They offer free permaculture classes at the farm (located near Converse), typically every month. The next one will be on Sunday, December 3 from 4 to 6 pm. Find out  how to start your own garden or discover sustainable techniques that will help you replenish the one you already have. The best part is they bring in a chef to prepare lunch using all of the delicious produce grown at the farm. This one is a must for a fun afternoon with the family. For more information, go to talkingtreefarm.com.

Cheese Please

IF you love cheese, get up close and personal with it at River Whey Creamery’s “Hands On Cheesemaking Class,” on January 21st. Learn how to make a lemon juice coagulated cheese, whole milk ricotta and a cultured cheese from nationally award-winning cheesemaker, Susan Rigg. Sign up early at riverwheycreamery.com.

When you’re done adventuring, give us a call at 210-494-5400 and let’s discuss how you can love San Antonio even more in your new custom home. You can also fill out our online form to request more information.

 

A Master Bath Fit for a King

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224 Fossil Hills Loop-16

Bathroom by Stone Creek Custom Homes

The bathroom is often considered a woman’s domain, but what about the men? This is one room in the house where their requests are sometimes overlooked. We recently conducted an informal poll to find out just what it is men want in their bathroom, and we were surprised by some of the answers and not so surprised by others.

Some men wanted urinals in their home bathrooms. Flat screen TVs were a hit, not to mention accommodations for libations. A bathroom fridge, anyone? Certainly, there were requests for large showers, spa tubs and, oh yes, surround sound. One man dreamt of a basketball hoop. This is where we begin to see why some men don’t get final say as to what goes into the master bath.

Still, whether you’re a bachelor or a family man, maybe it’s time to start imagining your perfect bathroom. Here are some ideas to help you start dreaming.

  1. Full-length Urinals. Yes it’s true! Urinals can be added to your master bath with a touch of class. Imagine a urinal alcove surrounded by beautiful stone work. Designed properly, it doesn’t have to be in the line-of-site of the doorway and can even have a partial door on it to keep the look of the bathroom streamlined.
  2. Shaving Serenity. You can now install dimmable backlit mirrors that will ensure you never miss a hair while you’re shaving again!
  3. Color du Jour. If men had their druthers, would you always go with the traditional black, gray or black and white décor? Certainly not! Modern men aren’t afraid to add a splash of color here and there. The use of dark wood with white accents is clean-looking yet masculine. If you want to amp up the testosterone, consider having a custom-made countertop made out of wood with a live edge. This natural look is raw, sexy, yet still luxurious. Also consider having a mural painted by your favorite local artist – something no one else has, and most people will never see. Sky’s the limit!
  4. Music. Surround sound is a great idea, but if it’s not in your budget, you can easily install a waterproof Bluetooth speaker. Listen to music from your phone that plays through a mini speaker that suctions to the shower wall. It’s time to “wash-n-roll!”
  5. Custom Home Steam Room. Remember this is your dream bathroom, and what better way to dream than in your own private steam room? From minimalist to bamboo bliss, you can truly have it all now. Check out these designs for further inspiration.

When you’re ready to build that amazing bathroom, don’t forget to give us a call at 210-494-5400 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our online form to request more information.

Fall Inspirations for Your Home

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STD 24

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.

 

Hot! Hot! Hot! in San Antonio – Mid-Year Market Update 2017

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hill country house 05

It’s not just the weather that’s got us burning up – the local market is also hot as ever! The housing market in San Antonio hit record sales in 2016 with almost 30k homes sold, an 8.2 percent increase. So how are things looking now?

It’s no surprise we’re still seeing a lot of New York and California plates all over town. San Antonio also leapt into the top 20 “markets to watch,” according to Urban Land Institute.

With the continued low cost of doing business as well as the low cost of living, especially compared to other metropolitan cities, San Antonio is holding strong as a highly appealing place to live. The prediction is San Antonio will continue to rise to the top. Median home prices in San Antonio are $198,000, compared to the national average of $231,000.

Just last month, 2,981 homes were sold in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area, according to our own San Antonio Express-News. This is a 5.6 percent increase from the previous year.

Home sales are in line with national averages, but the good news for San Antonio dwellers looking to buy, appreciation rates are not as high as other cities, making it more affordable to buy or build a new home.

We’ve also seen fixed mortgage rates in the entire U.S. hitting a new low in 2017. According to Freddie Mac News, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.88 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending June 29, 2017. However, as the market is always fluctuating, you should do your own research to determine the best time to invest in a new home.

At Stone Creek Custom Homes, we are extremely proud to live and work in one of the best cities in the United States. We work closely with all of our customers to make sure they’re always getting the most bang for their buck, from the light fixtures to the foundation.

If you’re looking to build a custom home in this strong-as-ever market, give us a call at 210-494-5400 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our online form to request more information.

 

Summer Fun in San Antonio

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pool

San Pedro Pool

Although the sun is still going strong, summer is fading fast. It’s time to take advantage of the last days of summer. Here are some fantastic choices in the Alamo City!

  1. Party Bike Tours! See the city from a new perspective – by bike, and with some brews. There’s no better way to celebrate summer than cruising around the city with your friends and some tasty libations. There are a couple of companies in town that offer party bike tours – The Local Crawler and Alamo City Beer Bike. Both bikes are available for private rental. The Local Crawler offers three different tour routes – one that includes the Luxury, Burleson and Tacoland; one that includes Burleson, Big Hops, La Roca and Bexar Pub; and a final one that stops at the Bin or Shuck Shack, Burleson and Tacoland.
  2. Brunch. Enjoy a leisurely brunch during the week. NOLA Brunch & Beignets, owned and operated by one of San Antonio’s most talented chefs, Pieter Sypesteyn, just opened up near the St. Mary’s Strip and offers a New Orleans-style brunch every day except Sunday. Choose from an assortment of mouth-watering dishes, such as the bread pudding French toast with seasonal marmalade, the blue crab omelet and chef’s signature brisket grillades and grits. If you have room, you absolutely must get an order of the beignets – powdered, lemon curd or coffee and chicory.
  3. New Braunfels. Take a day trip to this cute little town, not far from San Antonio. They have far more to offer than just some good German food. During summer, you can beat the heat by grabbing a tube from Rockin’ R River Rides and floating the day away along the Guadalupe River. After a relaxing float, grab some small batch ice cream from local shop, Rhea’s, which is right around the corner. They offer deliciously creative flavors, such as avocado coconut, circus animals, and goat cheese and raspberry jam. They also happen to make what may just be the best waffle cones in Texas, but you won’t know until you try! If you’re not too tired, take a stroll through the historic downtown. You’ll find a bunch of great little shops. It’s almost impossible to not come home with something special.
  4. Cool off in Town. If you don’t have time to leave the city and don’t have access to your own pool, don’t fret. There are a couple of great pools in town you can enjoy for free. San Pedro Pool, located at the second oldest park in the U.S., San Pedro Springs Park, is just north of downtown. This lovely park not only has a giant pool, but tennis courts, so don’t forget your rackets! The pool at Woodlawn Lake is another wonderful alternative right in the heart of the city. Many people walk the perimeter of the lake before taking a dip in the pool to cool off.

If you’re looking to build a custom home in this amazing city of ours, give us a call at 210-494-5400 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our online form to request more information.