color trends for 2008...

It's exciting to read the color trends for 2008 as the influence of the upcoming Beijing Olympics brings a refreshing palette into the forefront.

Yellow is predicted to be a strong color, as well as Asian-influenced reds and greens. Juxtaposed against the neutrals found in nature, these colors will really explode into strong visual statements for home interiors. The lower level of the Cambridge Model Home in Harrogate is a prime example of the impact that yellow can make against a more neutral backdrop.

A more delicate butter yellow combined with red in the Keswick great room showcases the strength of red and yellow together.

Designers enthuse that culture will truly be a driving force in interior design, citing that other cultural influences in 2008 will be the vibrant colors of India...golds, orange...citrusy, zesty colors in combination with yellows and greens. And a rich warm palette inspired by Central America will bring accents of purple to combinations of reds, oranges, and golds.

(Featured interiors designed by Louis Tyler Creative Services, for Wilkinson Builders.)

repurposing redefined...

No longer is repurposing limited to creating duct tape wallets or even to fashioning old wine corks into placecard holders, a la Martha Stewart. More and more, the art of repurposing is the difference between good interior design and exceptional interior design.

Many new homes feature expansive foyers, two story family rooms, and other soaring spaces that are the perfect palette for repurposed architectural features from the past. Vintage wooden doors with exquisite molding detail become art. Wrought iron window grills or garden gates give the look of scherenschnitte when positioned against crisp neutral walls. Barn beams with hundreds of years of history may be the perfect addition to a family room ceiling, as in the Wilkinson Builders Model home at Carlton SouthGate. Even smaller details such as vintage glass door knobs, finials, newel posts, and handcrafted brass hardware can have a new life as wall hooks, bookends, and other accent pieces. The real art of repurposing is having the ability to take a look at something that you may have seen hundreds of time, and being able to look at it anew to discover where in your home it may be the item that makes your room really memorable.

proving it

Proving the space is as vital for one preparing a home for the resale market, as it is when one is searching for a new home. In The Bristol at Sandy Hill, interior merchandiser Louis Tyler of Louis Tyler Creative Services proved the space in every room, and did it masterfully. The dining room does not just have a table and chairs, but rather, it easily holds a table with chairs, extra chairs, an oversize hutch, and a sideboard. And yet the room does not begin to feel crowded

or tight.
The space has been proven.

And again, in the guest bedroom, often a room in which some are just happy to have contain a bed and bedside table, the firm has included a generous sleigh bed, two bedside tables, a wide dresser, an occasional chair...and more. Again, the space has been proven.

When it comes time to think about staging your home for resale, consider the importance of proving the space.

all it takes for "wow" is a weekend...

The Bristol Model Home at Sandy Hill will have its Grand Opening next weekend, and in thinking about that, and about wall treatments in general (when you visit that Model, be sure to check out the great Tricia Guild wallpaper!), it was a reminder that often it is the least expensive features of a room that give it the biggest “wow” factor...specifically when it comes to paint. As a rule, home buyers tend to purchase options in their new homes that would be difficult or cost-prohibitive to add at a later date. But paint? Now that’s something that can be upgraded with ease...often just taking part of a weekend to create an incredible effect.

With the rise in popularity of do-it-yourself shows on HGTV and similar venues, today’s homeowners are more creative than ever when it comes to interior paint. Instead of just putting a fresh coat on the wall, why not consider adding the perception of texture with ragging? Or giving an antique look to a wall with color washing? An illusion of a woven fabric can be created with the simple technique of dragging; while simple stripes of a gloss varnish over a matte wall can create an elegant striping effect.

On your next visit to a model home, take note of the wall treatments. What may appear to be wallpaper at first glance, could actually be a creative paint treatment.

vessel sinks...centuries-old design for today

One of the newer trends in bathroom fixtures is vessel sinks, yet the concept is actually inspired by centuries-old design. Long before there was the luxury of running water, china washbasins were set on countertops or dressers, often with a pitcher alongside.

Today, there is are myriad choices in vessel sinks...ranging from one-of-a-kind handblown glass vessels, to marble, wood, stainless, porcelain, cast iron, frosted glass, and more. And the good news is that a vessel sink can be an affordable option for freshening up the look of a tired powder room in an existing home, just as it is the focal point of a bathroom in new construction. Vessel sinks can sit on just about any countertop...whether a vintage dresser, marble-topped apothecary case, or even an antique Victrola cabinet. And they tend to be the focal point, especially in a small powder room, so the cabinetry that they sit on really becomes secondary.


For those who have a concern that installing a vessel sink may “date” their bathroom, bath designers affirm that the vessel sink style will assuredly be a trend that becomes the standard. “It’s a classic design... now part of the design ethic...and far beyond a fad.”

Wilkinson Builders has noticed that more and more homebuyers are choosing to add this focal point to their bathroom designs; not just choosing vessel sinks for powder rooms, but additionally, incorporating the concept into the design of owner's baths and guest suites as well.

the heart of the home

A home's kitchen is its heart. It’s where the family meets, the guests
gather, and the warmth emanates. Each kitchen should be as unique and as full of personality as each homeowner. The functionality of a kitchen is as important as the beauty, for the kitchen is a room that serves many purposes.

Designing a kitchen is both challenging and rewarding as every homeowner has unique visions and specific needs. In Wilkinson Builders' Carlton SouthGate Masterpiece Home, the kitchen was designed as both a functional family kitchen and an unparalleled entertainment space. With a full 36" Sub-Zero refrigerator, a matching 36" freezer and two refrigerator drawers in the first island there will never be a shortage of space for keeping food and drinks cool.

Similarly, a large 60" Viking range is accompanied by a Wolf warming drawer, a Wolf convection wall oven and a Wolf microwave. And the family will never be caught short by last minute guests, as two quiet Bosch dishwashers hidden behind cabinetry panels allow quick and easy clean-up even during a party!

Design elements in the Carlton kitchen include the impressive limestone hood and recovered farmhouse beams, as well as the gentle terra cotta tiled floor. Attention is drawn to both the ceiling and floor creating a quite comfortable space for laughter and relaxation in between. The cabinetry is arranged in a simple, rhythmic layout of custom-distressed white cabinetry reflecting the relaxed feel of the home. Upper cabinets are highlighted by seeded glass and lighting, providing simple display areas high around the room.

By combining functionality and aesthetics, this kitchen is able to truly reflect the design of the home. Comfort, ease, elegance and a rustic appeal combine to create a unique experience. Two islands and an open floorplan provide welcoming space for every guest at Carlton as well as create a
comfortable space for everyday living.

express yourself

Bathrooms are quiet sanctuaries and fabulous design opportunities. Many homeowners are using these private spaces as outlets for their creativity and personal sense of style. Whether contrasting colored glass against tumbled stone, or mixing Italian tile and elegant counter materials, these creative homeowners are utilizing colors and textures as their palettes, opening up a world of design opportunity.

For a truly unique statement, specialty tubs are hard to beat. Free-standing tubs seem to be a common interest among many homeowners, no matter which way their design sensibility leans. With such a wide array of options on the market, die-hard traditionalists are adding graceful double slipper claw foot tubs while modernists are falling in love with the simplicity and clean lines of non-footed models.

In the Carlton SouthGate Masterpiece Home, our designer chose a Kohler Vintage tub that combines the roomy size of many modern tubs with the classic lines of a traditional tub. One practical bonus of this tub is the pedestal base, making cleaning under the tub a non-issue. Beauty and practicality combined is always an important goal, no matter what the budget.