Using Art to Add Personality to Your Home

Adding art pieces to your home can be the perfect way to add a spark of personality to your space. Art can create drama, unify a color scheme or even add humor to a room.

We used many beautiful art pieces in our Award-Winning Parade of Homes entry. One of my favorites was the statement piece we used in the family room. It adds so much color to the space! Click here to see more images from our Parade home.

I noticed an abundance of artwork used in the recent 2011 Salt Lake Parade of Homes. Here are some of my favorite pieces:

And here's a fun way to inspire your own little artists- display their artwork in a playroom!

Creating a Spa-Like Master Bathroom Inspired by the Parade of Homes

The best way to create a spa-like bathroom is to start with a clean, fresh color palette. Of course I love the simple white and green palette of the McArthur Homes Award-Winning Parade Home, the Cordova. The white octagon tile caused quite a debate. People either loved it or hated it. I'm on the love-it side myself. :) The cultured marble shower and garden soaker tub (a must for a spa-like bathroom) are included at McArthur Homes, making this an affordable and stylish bathroom.

This luxurious bathroom is right up my alley also! Here, the details combine to create a spa-like experience. Want to add a touch of day-spa to your own bathroom? Add rolled white towels on a shelf or tucked underneath a bench. I tried this in my master bath and LOVE it! Other details include a small makeup mirror, sconces flanking the mirrors for ideal lighting and plenty of candles.

Excuse me while I just drool over these white marble countertops. Marble is probably the thing I love most in the world of interior design. Yum!

The tub shown below is another favorite detail. I can't imagine bathing my kids in it, but I guess that is what makes it feel even more relaxing!

And here's one more simple way to transform your bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary. Just add a couple of towel hooks and two white robes. I feel more relaxed already! :)

Salt Lake Valley Parade of Homes 2011

If you've heard anything about the Salt Lake Parade of Homes this year, you've probably heard about the "Up" house at Herriman Towne Center. It's a life-size replica of the home in Disney's movie "Up," complete with a Carl and Ellie mailbox!

To celebrate all of the fun that the "Up" house has brought to Herriman, McArthur Homes is offering FREE Ice Cream to those who visit McArthur Homes at Herriman Towne Center during the Parade of Homes. Come visit us 11:00am-9:00pm Monday-Saturday to see our beautiful model home and find out about all the amazing things that will be coming to Herriman Towne Center over the next few years.

And while you're here, be sure to visit the "Up" house and check out the Parade of Homes.
Salt Lake Parade of Homes
July 29th-August 14th
11:00am-9:00pm
http://www.saltlakeparade.com/

Lighting Trends from the 2011 Utah Valley Parade of Homes

This year at the Parade of Homes there were some definite trends in lighting for new homes. The first I noticed was paper or linen shades. They were everywhere! I especially loved this dramatic fixture hanging above a contemporary great room.

Here is a more subdued version that we used in the master bedroom of the McArthur Homes model home.



Pendants hung on either side of the bed were a popular choice in place of traditional lamps.

This long kitchen nook pendant has the same shade style as others I saw throughout the Parade of Homes.

I also liked this fun fan fixture for an exercise room. It's practical and cute!

There were also many examples of fixtures that mixed crystal or glass with metal. This chandelier was actually in a girl's bedroom. Very chic!

Besides the trends I highlighted above, there were a wide range of lighting fixtures to fit EVERY style. From traditional to very modern. What style of fixtures would you like to see in your new home?

Playful Kids Room Decor Ideas

Don't you love visiting the Parade of Homes to find decorating inspiration? This year, McArthur Homes' Utah Valley Parade of Homes entry gave me SO many great ideas for decorating my home. I have already copied the upholstered headboard from the master bedroom (post coming next week) and I plan to recreate the fun flower pillow and french script drapes soon! Here are a few kids space ideas from the Utah Valley Parade of Homes. Which is your favorite look?

One of the most popular spots on our McArthur Homes "Cordova" home was this fun study loft. It is the perfect space for kids to do their homework and stay organized. That awesome world map is from Ikea!

Below are a few highlights of the girl's and boy's room in the home. The boys room was a fun bug/explorer theme. This was a great idea because there are so many things you can use to accessorize: toy bugs, magnifying glasses, binoculars, maps, books etc. The girls room had this awesome vignette that combined a tough-looking black leather chair and a super sweet pink pillow with an adorable pink, green and yellow lamp. I love those unexpected combinations!  

The boys room also had this Periodic Table of Elements and EVERYONE wanted to know where it came from. It is actually a vinyl sticker from Scribble on Everything, and you can buy it online here. 

The Utah Valley Parade of Homes offered plenty of other inspiration. Here are some of my favorite looks from this year's homes.

Inexpensive plastic pennants are perfect wall decor for this colorful sports-themed room.

 

I love the idea of hanging pendant lights on each side of a bed!

 This simple Kid Zone was created in a basement stairway. It was decorated with only vinyl circles, a small rug and table but was still a huge hit with my kids. Definitely a project anyone could complete quickly and for hardly any cost.

 The white painted trees in this nursery are adorable and really highlight the tall ceilings, making this small room feel a lot bigger.

I LOVE these "By Order of the Management" signs to remind kids about the rules of the house! So cute and clever. Even better, I found out they are very reasonably priced. Check them out here on Etsy.

This bright turquoise and orange combo would be fun for a little kid or a preteen. It is so refreshing!

This may be a bit over the top for most of us, but I still love this playhouse built into an upstairs playroom. I love the funky style of the buildings and how it works in so well with the sloped ceiling.

The best part? The "Kidz 4 Sale" sign. Who doesn't feel like posting a sign on their door just like this every now and then? :)

I hope you enjoyed these kids space ideas. Did you see these homes at the Utah Valley Parade of Homes? Which one was your favorite? I'd love to hear what you think!

If you want more inspiration, come visit our Cordova home in Lehi near Thanksgiving Point, now open to the public!

Final Photos- Utah Valley Parade of Homes 2011

 The 2011 Utah Valley Parade of Homes is underway and we couldn't be more excited to show off our new Cordova home! Yesterday I spent opening day at the Parade home and the response was unbelievable. People LOVE the decor, the layout and all of the thoughtful details that went into this home. A big thanks to all of our trade partners who participated in building this home!

So here are some things that people couldn't stop commenting on yesterday... we'd love to hear what you think too!

The small "drop zone" cabinetry between the mudroom and the kitchen was very popular. The space is perfect for a laptop, cell phone charger and bill pay area. It's the simple details like this that can make your new home fit perfectly with your lifestyle. There's also a nearby powder room featuring a great spring green that people have really responded to.

The family room makes a huge impression with it's large size and open feeling. People have said that they could really see themselves entertaining or just relaxing with family in this comfortable space. (I personally L-O-V-E those blue and white upholstered chairs and the playful drapery fabric!)

The kitchen has also been very popular and people are surprised to hear that the cabinetry and flooring are both affordable options from our McArthur Homes Design Studio. The cabinetry is Beech with an Espresso stain (an included finish for McArthur Homes homeowners) and the flooring is a beautiful engineered Birch in a Driftwood finish. The countertops are also a huge hit in a White Ivory granite.

The area that has received the MOST comments in the home is this clever reading nook tucked into the stairwell. Designed by our very own, Roger Bess, this window seat and open shelving turns a previously "wasted space" into a highlight of the home.

 At the top of the stairs is another clever nook designed as a homework area for the kids. I love the idea of giving the kids an area to do their homework while still being open to the rest of the home.

The master suite is especially impressive with its large size, vaulted ceilings and adjacent nook (see next pic). People have loved the open feeling and details such as the fresh fabric choice for the drapes and accents.

As part of the master suite, this is the PERFECT place to get some peace and quiet, a little sanctuary all your own. To me, those chairs seem to be begging for someone to curl up on them and enjoy a good book!

The master bath also turned out beautifully! It has a clean, refreshing look with white tile and that same spring green in the accents and drapery. The white octagon tile from DAL tile has a lot of people talking. They either LOVE it or they don't, but I'm definitely a fan.

The front living room (which can also be converted to an office) has a slightly more formal look than the rest of the home. It stays fresh and playful with white paneling and fun details like the furry white pillow on the sofa. The paneling look shown here and in the mudroom has been a huge hit. For directions, see our "how to" post here.

To see the rest of the home, visit us at the Parade of Homes through June 18th. You can buy tickets online here, or purchase them at the Cordova home in Thanksgiving Meadows, Lehi. 

Here's one last photo that I think sums up the style of the home. The chair is tailored and elegant, the pillow adds a pop of color while the numbered boxes and gumball machine add a touch of whimsy. I think Emily from HGTV would call this Tailored Whimsical Elegance... or something like that. :)

Here are some links if you'd like more information on this home design or the home builder, McArthur Homes. Enjoy!