Tag Archive for: principles of design

The Character of a Home

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In any community a property with character stands out.  Picturesque Geneva Lake is the location of the latest home to join the iconic collection of Lowell Custom Homes. The distinctive design radiates character and charm.  In the first of a series of articles we are sharing this inspirational home and its eloquent style.  Starting with an overview, future articles will be devoted to the finely tuned details that make it a masterpiece.

Lowell Custom Homes collaborated with homeowners and designers at North Shore Nest to strike the perfect balance for lake home living.  The timeless coastal architecture is accentuated with impeccable design revealed in the photography of Aimée Mazzenga

Beginning with first impressions, this home promises relaxed luxury within.  Quality construction and authentic materials establish a foundation for the craftsmanship Lowell Custom Homes is known for.  Scott Lowell and his team explain it best here.

The character of a home is much more than the sum of its parts.  Each home is about feelings and emotional comfort.  It is about the right design in the right setting.  Architectural design should be unified with the natural environment and surrounding community.  Here the harmony begins at the point of entry as it eases from exterior to interior experience.  Detailed woodworking, feature ceilings and the spacious flow of rooms all contribute to a light and airy feel for the home.

Our response to a home is generated by how involved we become as we move through the space.  Shapes, lighting and color palette are all part of the character.  Here a sense of calm and order is expressed through the perfect symmetry of furnishings within the receptive living room space.

The living room merges seamlessly to a kitchen which features Das Holz Haus cabinetry from Geneva Cabinet Company. This truly is the heart of the home with beamed ceilings, custom range hood and an inviting island for meal prep and gatherings.  The custom cabinetry is furniture quality and offers abundant floor to ceiling storage with true divided mullioned glass.

The bright, uplifting feel is carried into the versatile dining area which serves throughout the day as an ideal place to feast and linger.  Friends and family can gather and set the mood from casual to formal while taking in the tranquil view of Geneva Lake.

Just beyond the main living space a change of pace is offered by an intimate study with wooded views.

Flooded with natural light, the bedroom suite is designed to start each day fully refreshed.

We leave you with this little teaser for the next article where we promise to feature the outdoor living spaces for this home.

Spoiler Alert – visit our Featured Gallery for a preview!

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Interior Design by North Shore Nest

Photos by Aimée Mazzenga

Home Design Lesson: Living in Harmony

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How is it that some homes overflow with lovely feelings of contentment while others are just “meh”? Often it is the result of an elusive quality known as harmony. Harmony is one of the most essential principles of design, but it often defies description. To achieve harmony, a delicate balance is needed between all of the other elements and principles of design.
Harmony at home Gussie pet fits perfectly into home design scheme
While we were gushing over Gussie at the latest photo shoot, we couldn’t help but notice the natural sense of harmony that flows throughout this home.   As the fluffiest member of the family,  she too fits right in with the welcoming composition. While we work closely with clients on architecture and material selections, the credit for achieving the complete sense of harmony goes to our brilliant homeowners! But . . . we are happy to tell you how it’s done.
Harmony is a complex formula that we can start to understand by looking at the basic elements of design. Individual factors like color, line, and proportion, can be described as either creating unity through sameness, or adding variety through contrast. Well balanced elements bring the most pleasing sense of order and relevance to the exterior and interior design of a home.

Harmony through Unity

Harmony Principle of Design Home Unity color scheme and material selection
When every part of a home has a general sense of order and belonging it is referred to as unity. In this home it starts with the consistent use of unsaturated light and airy colors to create a palette that is visually soothing.
Harmony Unity Character Bunkroom guest room lake home image Lowell Custom Homes Lake Geneva WI
Maintaining a consistent character will further the sense of harmony in home design. As a lakeside retreat, this home uses references to the nautical theme as well as natural materials to be beautifully in sync with the lake front setting. Playful details, like the porthole pantry window, lighting and hardware, join the guest bunk-room concept to lend a refreshing vacation atmosphere to this home.

Harmony through Variety

Harmony home design principle unity of character Lowell Custom Homes Lake Geneva WI
A subtle contrast in material selection plays an important role in alleviating monotony.   This allows the eye to pause on areas of interest, without a jarring transition.   Here the light ash flooring and weathered wood furnishings play well against the matt wall surface. While the color palette and character remain consistent, this contrast offers a healthy balance for the overall sense of harmony of the room.
Lowell Custom Homes Lake Geneva Wi Harmony through variety of texture in a home
Visual texture will also enhance the harmony of a home. Here architectural elements add moments of importance with a light hand that is consistent with the homes lake front character. The woodworking details include shiplap paneling, cabinetry and crown molding which all serve to introduce contrast to the smooth quartz countertops, shapely glass light fixtures and hardware. Every accessory is refined and displayed in keeping with a harmonious approach.
Lowell Custom Homes Harmony principle of design in home exterior material selection
Most importantly, the exterior of this home is thoughtfully planned to be in complete harmony with its lakefront setting. The natural stone foundation is a mix of lighter natural shades to support the refined selection of washed gray shingles and silvery white  trim. And just as nature likes to surprise us with pop of color, the peaceful exterior of this home is gently accented by a lovely shade of blue to reflect the sky and nearby waters.

You can see more of this delightful getaway in our last blog were we take you through the process of building, from the Tear down to Tranquility.  See our Houzz Portfolio for a  complete tour!  For a limited time the entire step-by-step process of this home’s evolution will be shown on the Lowell Custom Homes Project Gallery!

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 will answer all of your questions and guide you every step of the way!

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Best of Walworth County Award in the

New Home Builder and Home Remodeler categories!

We would appreciate your vote – just click here – Vote for Lowell Custom Homes!

Voting is open until October 15, 2017 

Lowell Custom Homes

262.245.9030

Photography by S.Photography & Styling, Lake Geneva, WI

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