It’s finally February, and you know what that means… the Spring Parade of Homes is just around the corner! Beginning Saturday, February 24th, you will be able to tour 481 newly constructed homes throughout the Twin Cities, including 2 show stopping models by yours truly. The parade is a great time to get out, get inspired, and discover what’s hot in home design trends. Here are a few you’ll likely see along this year’s tour.
Open Concept Floor Plans
While many trends come and go, one change that has dominated the last decade and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere is open concept floor plans. While living spaces used to be clearly defined, most homeowners today are looking for spaces where the living area, kitchen and dining area all seamlessly open to each other. Some pros to open concept plans are togetherness, convenience, open sight lines, and the fact that they make smaller spaces seem larger. This is a trend you will see in both of Kootenia’s Parade of Home Models, as well as the rest of the tour.
Enameled Cabinetry
Homeowners today want something unique that reflects their personality, sense of style, while building character, and color is an effective way to accomplish that. For homes this often means custom cabinetry. A different color of paint on your cabinets, whether in the kitchen, bathroom, or living room, provides another level of customization and differentiation from other homes. Colors range from light to medium to very dark, and can most certainly contrast other elements of the space, such as countertops, islands and backsplash. Among Kootenia’s models, you will find white and neutral enameled cabinetry with some mix of darker colors like greys and blues. We love white for its clean, soft, and timeless look. Contrasting it with more bold tones such as grey, blue, or even black, beautifully balances a space.
Hard Surfaces
More and more homeowners are opting for hard surfaces in their homes. From tile to hardwood, and stainless steel to luxury vinyl plank, hard surfaces seem to reign supreme. The decision for these hard surfaces is based on two main factors: functionality and lifestyle. What materials are scratch resistant? Stain resistant? Stand the test of time while still being visually appealing?
Stainless steel appliances continue their popularity in kitchens for their appearance, durability and how easy they are to clean. Hardwood floors visually appeal to most homeowners, adding tradition and warmth to any space. However, hardwood floors will show every dent, scratch, and imperfection, which is why wood-look alternatives are especially popular at the moment. Engineered hardwood has a core of plywood or hardwood combined with a layer of hardwood veneer. This type of flooring is known for being much more durable than hardwood, and is also resistant to heat and moisture. Even more durable is vinyl plank flooring (can appear as wood or stone!), which is waterproof at its core and great for wear and tear. Within our models you will find stainless steel appliances, tiles (hello, subway!), oak hardwood flooring, as well as luxury vinyl plank flooring.
These are just a handful of the trends we are seeing in home design and décor. What’s great about the Parade of Homes is it truly has something for everyone, from modern to contemporary to traditional. So mark your calendars (Tour runs Thursdays through Sundays from 12-6pm, February 24 – March 25) and be sure to stop in and see us at:
- Parade #195: Gorgeous farmhouse styled 2 story walkout located on Rapp Farm Boulevard in North Oaks.
- Parade #197: Stunning 2 story walkout with home gymnasium located in Saddle Club at 6445 Fox Road in Lino Lakes.
We look forward to seeing you along the 2018 spring parade!