Tag Archive for: home design

A Cozy Home Welcomes Winter

in , /by

It’s time to fill your home with cozy charm!   As the days become shorter, we naturally migrate indoors and reconnect with everything we love about our homes.   A positive mindset is the key to breezing through winter, and a welcoming home will support you in the frosty months ahead.   So, resist the urge to hibernate and include some of these soothing ideas to truly embrace the season!

Soften the Light

cozy home lighting

Lighting is a dramatic architectural feature that can help us adapt to short winter days.  No need to flood rooms with artificial lighting.   Enjoy indirect, low levels of light for a relaxed mood.  Some favorite strategies are outlined here.  And our friends at Geneva Cabinet Company share some of their techniques to effectively layer your lighting here.

Start a Fire

cozy home fireplace seating

Winter gives us permission to slow down and reflect.   A fireplace with cozy seating is just the place to do that.   The latest technology offers several options to bring this feature within reach.  New eco-friendly fireplaces offer easy installation and run on ethanol or electric.  EcoSmart even has portable fire tables to help set the mood.

Go Deep

cozy home surround yourself in bold color

Wrap yourself in comfort with a bold color choice for the walls. Don’t be afraid of deep color, as you can see here it is expertly applied by North Shore Nest with an exquisite balance of furnishings.

Escape Within

cozy home library wall

Grab your fuzzy blanket and curl up with a favorite book.  We love the idea of this library wall featured in a well-traveled hallway.  Just passing your collection will remind you to slow down and decompress.

Dig Into a Hobby

cozy home potting shed for hobby time

Weather-out a chilly winter by indulging in your favorite hobby.  This indoor potting shed was created with repurposed street pavers and vintage timbers from Heritage Beam & Board.  Such a nice reminder that spring is around the corner.

Enjoy Culinary Capers

cozy home kitchen gatherings

Trying new recipes, baking, or even just teaching yourself to use a salad spinner are delightful ways to pass the time.  The kitchen is a natural gathering place and perfect for culinary exploration.

Pump Up Your Jam

home gym workout room

No need to battle foul weather just to get a workout in.  An in-home space can be as simple as a yoga mat or as high profile as this inspirational gym.  Having the area set up in advance is all the motivation you need for your spring fitness goals.

Have One On The House

Winter is a natural time to reconnect with friends and family.  A home bar can serve up your favorite cocktails, green smoothies or specialty coffees.  What counts is a space, large or small, where entertaining is easy and effortless.  Gather your ingredients, add comfortable seating, and enjoy!

 

Connect with Lowell Custom Homes here

or call 262-245-9030

 

Stay in touch by signing up for our blog alerts at the top of this page.  You will be notified by email when we publish our next article with the latest design ideas and inspirational projects!

(of course, we never share your personal information)

Hello Summer – Outdoor Living

in /by

The art of outdoor living embraces the comforts of home, with the added benefit of fresh air.   What better way to celebrate summer than stunning spaces where you can relax and share sunny days with friends and family.  We love the way our homeowners and their designers at North Shore Nest created versatile outdoor environments. The photos by Aimée Mazzenga beautifully capture their new Lowell Custom Home on Geneva Lake.  We hope to inspire you to build your own outdoor living retreat!

Go With The Flow

The secret to a great open-air experience is space that transitions seamlessly from indoors to outdoors. This upper porch is accessed directly from the living room and surrounded with neoclassic railing which integrates the home’s coastal architecture.  It transforms the deep covered porch to an outdoor lounge with ample protection from the elements.  Furnished with comfortable seating and a casual dining area, homeowners can move outdoors with ease.

Enjoy the View

Of course, location is everything in a lake home and this vantage point opens to a relaxing panoramic view.

Al Fresco Dining

Fine food and refreshing drinks can easily accompany the al fresco experience with an outdoor kitchen and dining patio overlooking the lake.

A Gathering Space

The lower level finds a covered patio with cushy weather resistant seating and a swinging daybed for afternoon naps.

Poolside Paradise

And just steps away poolside umbrella seating offers sun or shade options along with a dip in the infinity pool.

Staycation Motivation

At a time when vacation and travel plans are often up in the air, the most reassuring alternative for summer fun can be your own backyard.

To see more of the stunning details of this Lowell Custom Home visit Poolside Paradise in our Featured Home Gallery.

Contact the experts at Lowell Custom Homes to help plan your new home or remodeling project.

 

Connect here

or call 262-245-9030

Stay in touch by signing up for our blog alerts at the top of this page.  You will be notified by email when we publish our next article with the latest design ideas and inspirational projects!

(of course, we never share your personal information)

Custom Home by Lowell Custom Homes

Interior Design by North Shore Nest

Photos by Aimée Mazzenga

Traditional Design Is Back!

in , /by

After two decades of Midcentury modern dominating the design universe, traditional is reemerging as a fresh and time-honored aesthetic.  While design styles always go through cycles, the advantage of traditional is that it’s a classic.  It is often the jumping off point for many other styles, so it blends easily when you are working towards a personally curated look.

Throughout history people are drawn to the familiar for security during uncertain times.  That may be partly responsible for the current resurgence, but there is also a new generation being exposed for the first time to these very livable interiors. Many homeowners were not in the audience to appreciate the classic rooms of Mario Buatta or Sister Parish.  Either way, this design movement is a refreshing way to incorporate planet-friendly elements with vintage and repurposed furnishings.  This is the look that will be known as the New-Traditional or Neo-Traditional for the next decade and beyond.  Sourcing favorites like 1st Dibs can provide unique character for these rooms.

But, just as today’s high waisted jeans are drastically different from 80’s Mom jeans, traditional design has evolved.  We are keeping the comfort and pleasing shapes while lifting the mood with lighter treatments of color, pattern and material.

Elements of the New Traditional or Neo-Traditional Style

Traditional style is timeless and pulls inspiration from the 18th and 19th century.

Architectural details like crown molding, ceiling beams and wood paneling add a determined but comforting mood when applied with a light touch.

Often traditional style will reference European decor in its detailings.   Featured here is one of our favorite homes showing traditional design with a French attitude. Formality can be taken up a notch or calmed down by the choice of furnishings. 

Rooms will often have a beautiful focal point like a stunning fireplace seen above, or even a mantel range hood as show in the kitchen below.

Neo-traditional is certainly not fussy.  In order to keep elements in check there will be a dash of modern with the European viewpoint.  Finely finished pieces can easily co-exist with natural and relaxed materials like linen, bamboo and rush. 

Beyond all visual combinations, the essence is comfort and easy living.

While the details may be finely crafted, the home will always respond to lifestyle demands.

 

We invite you to stay in touch by signing up for our blog where we cover the latest design ideas and inspirational projects.  

(There are not affiliate links and of course we never share your personal information)

Photography by Shanna Wolf/S.Photography

Designing for Comfort

in , , , /by

This is the season to prioritize comfort.  The evenings come early, and the morning air can be brutal.  Instead of just hunkering down, it’s the ideal time to celebrate home life with some extra attention to our well-being.  The Danish call this attitude Hygge, we call it the essence of home.

You can heighten the feeling of comfort in small ways or go big with a whole house refresh. Either way, here are some of our favorite ideas to up the cozy-factor this winter.

Natural Materials

Natural and authentic materials help us feel grounded. A stone fireplace, architectural beams, and natural wood tones are soothing.  Even accessories added to your kitchen counter or cocktail table will create a mood.  One of our favorite places for cozy touches is Summer Made in Lake Geneva.

Soft Furnishings

Simple additions go a long way to warm up a room.  Bulky knit throws, area rugs, toss pillows and overstuffed furniture all nurture the spirit. A good place to start your shopping for the Lake Geneva winter vibe is Paper Dolls Home Furnishings.

Warm Color & Texture

Natural colors tend to lean warmer and when combined with the texture of knotty wood paneling, the effect surrounds you in security.

Layering Pattern

Pattern fills a room,  and when layer upon layer is applied the comfort factor rises.  Upholstered headboards and lush layers of bedding compound the visual effect.

Quiet Moments

When everyone is forced to stay close to home, it pays off to have an at-home-retreat.  A quiet place where you can hang a do-not-disturb sign and enjoy a bath, sauna, or favorite chair with a good book.  You’ll love this list of book club favorites.

 

Fireplace Gatherings

Taking the chill off around the fireplace is a time honored tradition.  Arranging comfy furniture in a cluster around the hearth will facilitate warm and friendly conversations.

 

Inviting Spaces

Rooms that are pulled together are always more inviting.  Coordinated by color and designed with good circulation space, people will not hesitate to enter and put their feet up.

Scented Spaces

Engage all of the senses with a fragrance that will enhance memories.  Evergreen, bayberry, zesty orange, and cinnamon will keep you filled with warmth.

 

Embrace Friluftsliv – The Outdoor Extension of Hygge

 

Friluftsliv follows the Danish Hygge trends with the Norwegian cultural concept that promotes “free air life”.   Spending time outdoors during the winter season has been shown to improve physical and mental health and reduce stress.  Even if you’re not up for a long walk, a warm cup of cocoa on your screened porch will do wonders to reduce stress.

 

Daily Rituals

Relying on daily routine can give structure to otherwise endless days.  Light a candle, call a friend, have an afternoon tea  . . .   taking the time to tune into your sense of calm during the winter will provide a sense of balance throughout the season.

 

So, stopping fighting the urge to ward off winter and start working with it to enjoy the warmhearted memories you’re now creating.

 

 

We always love hearing from you and are happy to discuss your personal home projects.  Building a new home or remodeling can be an exciting adventure and our team of experts is available to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.

262-245-9030

 

There are no affiliated links in any of our posts and we never share your personal information.  You can subscribe to our blog updates with no concerns.