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19 Design and Construction Trends for 2019

19 Design and Construction Trends for 2019

It’s a new year full of new possibilities! As one of Atlanta’s premier custom homebuilders and renovation firms, Highlight Homes places an emphasis on staying on top of the latest design and construction trends – and occasionally setting a few trends of our own! With 2019 now underway, we take pride in “highlighting” the top 19 Design and Construction Trends for the new year…

  1. Green Construction – As a company that places a HUGE focus on environmental-friendliness (and always has), we’re particularly happy about this trend. From smart homes to a focus on energy efficiency in appliances, windows, doors and more, we don’t see this trend going anywhere but UP!
  2. Waste Reduction – Going hand-in-hand with Highlight Homes’ focus on Green Construction, we – and now many of our friends within the industry – are placing a greater emphasis on waste reduction by streamlining processes and recycling. It’s good for everyone involved – the builder, the client AND the planet.
  3. Project Management Solutions – Highlight Homes is pleased to partner with Co-Construct, a secure, easy-to-use online service that allows our clients to make selection decisions, approve change orders, reply to messages, check progress information, review project files, and more. Communication is key to a smooth project!
  4. Sunrooms and Outdoor Living Spaces – Homebuyers and home owners are showing an ever-increasing desire to infuse a connectivity with the outdoors in their homes through exterior living spaces and the addition of sunrooms.
  5. Open Kitchens – Creating a sense of “dinner theatre,” more and more kitchens are opening up to the family room. Not only does it emphasize the home’s spaciousness and seamless flow of the floor plan, but it also encourages interactions between the inhabitants of those two often occupied living spaces.
  6. Home Office – With the growing popularity of remote workers/telecommuters, the concept of a home office or study is seeing a resurgence. Just imagine closing the office for the day and only commuting a few steps before spending the rest of the evening with your family as opposed to an hour or more on the interstate each day.
  7. “Pop the Top” Renovations – This is one of our personal favorites, when a ranch home is converted to a two-story by simply removing the existing roof and creating an entirely new level – virtually transforming the look and layout of the home to fit the needs of the family who lives there (or will live there).
  8. Two-Tone Cabinets in the Kitchen – Designers are becoming increasingly more daring in their color schemes – often selecting a different color for the island than what is featured on the walls. There is also a trend towards using one color ABOVE and another color BELOW the counter.
  9. Multi-Purpose Kitchen Islands – From storage and seating to meal prep and service, there are a number of very good functions for this mainstay of the modern kitchen. Don’t merely settle for a permanent fixture with a countertop – consider all of the great ways you could use that space. Love wine? Consider adding a wine cooler underneath next to a wine rack. Enjoy catching up on the day’s events while preparing a meal? Extend the countertop out so there’s plenty of space for seating underneath so family members and guests can pull up a stool while you work your magic.
  10. Focus on Minimalism – Clean lines rule the day in 2019, along with uncluttered spaces and smart use of space. Get rid of what you don’t need or stow it away out of sight for a simple yet sophisticated look.
  11. Accessories that Make a Statement – However, when you DO add an accessory or two to a space, make it count. It should be eye-catching – like an accent colored end table or a bold piece of artwork.
  12. Eye-catching Lighting – More than merely serving a purpose, your light fixtures are another way to really make a statement and draw the eye. Great lighting that adds to the appeal of a room is a smart investment.
  13. Open Shelving in the Bathroom and Kitchen – With a movement towards minimalism, there’s a growing trend towards open shelving among the cabinets found in bathrooms and kitchens. Be careful to keep these shelves uncluttered for a more appealing appearance.
  14. Eclectic Blends – More and more designers are enjoying a “no rules” leaning towards the concept of interior design. We’re seeing a lot of eclectic blending of styles including BoHo, Modern, Industrial, Farmhouse Chic, Traditional, Rustic, European-influences and more.
  15. Mixed Metals – Just as décor is seeing a blend of different styles, there is also a growing trend towards the mixing of different metals. Rather than merely seeing nickel door knobs, drawer pulls and faucets throughout the home, we’re starting to see a blend of gold, copper, bronze, silver, brass and industrial-inspired metals like matte black steel and more burnished metals.
  16. Tasteful Textures – In order to keep a minimalistic look from being boring, many designers are adding texture in upholstery, rugs, accents and even walls.
  17. It’s All in Black and White – Shades of white on walls and trim juxtaposed against bold black kitchen cabinets are witnessing a rising popularity. Not only do these two colors work well together, they also invite POPS of color in artwork, accessories and accent pieces. Jewel tones are increasingly popular and work beautifully against both black and white.
  18. Comfort Cavalcade – It’s all too easy for a minimalistic look to seem uninviting. That’s why there’s an emphasis on including comfy, cozy and inviting furniture for your living spaces. It’s entirely possible to provide seating that looks refined but also communicates “relaxation.” Don’t merely purchase furniture for its visual appeal, give it a test run and try to imagine spending long binge-watching sessions there.
  19. Pantone Color of the Year: Living Coral – Pantone – THE authority on color for the fashion and décor industries – has announced its color of the year for 2019. Drum roll, please…. It’s Living Coral (Pantone 16-1546). The company describes it as “An animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge.” It’s a great addition as an accent color in accessories for the home and plays beautifully against white walls, as well as greys, greens, blues and other warm pastels.

Highlight Homes welcomes the opportunity to help you incorporate one or more of the trends listed above in your next renovation project or custom home. We invite the opportunity to start a discussion with you and can be reached at 678-873-9234, info@highlighthomesga.com or via our convenient online contact form.  To learn more about us and take a peek inside past Highlight Homes’ projects, please visit us at www.highlighthomesga.com.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Pantone’s Color of the Year 2017 Will Really Grow on You

Pantone’s Color of the Year 2017 Will Really Grow on You

Greenery Color Swatch - Pantone Color of the Year 2017Pantone® – THE authority on color for the fashion and design industries – has found the ideal cure for Spring fever with its 2017 Color of the Year. Dubbed “Greenery” (Pantone 15-0343) is literally a breath of fresh air. Whether bringing a new look to a living space by incorporating an accent wall, evoking a feel of welcome by painting your front door or adding pops of color throughout your interior with accent pieces and décor, Greenery is “a refreshing and revitalizing shade… symbolic of new beginnings.”

According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, “Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the reassurance we yearn for amid a tumultuous social and political environment. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.”

This yellow-green hue plays well with others. Pantone suggests palettes that include everything from a tropical bright such as Calypso Coral (Pantone 17-1744), to a cool neutral like Bronze Mist (Pantone 17-0843), to a sweet pastel such as Spa Blue (Pantone 12-4306) and virtually everything in between.

Past Colors of the Year from Pantone have included Rose Quartz (Pantone 13-1520), Serenity Blue (Pantone 15-3919), Marsala (Pantone 18-1438), Radiant Orchid (Pantone 18-3224), Emerald (Pantone 17-5641), Tangerine Tango (Pantone 17-1463) and Honeysuckle (Pantone 18-2120) – among others.

Through our custom home construction and luxury renovation divisions, Highlight Homes regularly assists clients in the selection of colors – in addition to eco-friendly construction materials, design elements, interior and exterior finishes, and more. If you’d like to learn more about all of our service offerings and see some of our work, we invite you to visit us at www.highlighthomesga.com. To schedule a free consultation for a reimagining of your current home or to discuss your vision for your custom dream home, contact the Highlight Homes team at 678,873.9234 or info@highlighthomesga.com.

About Pantone and the Pantone Color Institute

Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, is the global color authority and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. Pantone products have encouraged colorful exploration and expressions of creativity from inspiration to implementation for more than 50 years. Through the Pantone Color Institute, Pantone continues to chart future color direction and study how color influences human thought processes, emotions and physical reactions. Pantone furthers its commitment to providing professionals with a greater understanding of color and to help them utilize color more effectively. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers designer-inspired products and services for consumers. More information is available at www.pantone.com/plus.

2016 Pantone Color(s) of the Year: Rose Quartz and Serenity

2016 Pantone Color(s) of the Year: Rose Quartz and Serenity

Pantone press_coy2016For the first time EVER, Pantone – THE authority on color for the fashion and design industries has named not just one, but TWO colors as its Color of the Year. Exploring color’s softer side, Pantone has designated a blending of Rose Quartz (PANTONE 13-1520) and Serenity (PANTONE 15-3919) to reflect the public’s growing desire for balance and well-being.

“Joined together, Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace,” explained Pantone Color Institute Executive Director, Leatrice Eiseman, on the company’s website.

According to Pantone’s Color of the Year web page: “Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times.”

For homeowners who swear by color psychology and the use of certain colors to lend a sense of balance to their world, this will no doubt come as good news. Atlanta-based Highlight Homes is happy to help its renovation and custom home clients incorporate these lovely new Colors of the Year in their homes. When used in conjunction with other hot trends such as crisp, white kitchens, reflective surfaces and “Old Hollywood”-inspired mirrored and metallic home accessories, both shades could lend to an elegant and sophisticated look. When used for Interiors, the Pantone press release announcing the Color of the Year suggests that “the pairing of Serenity and Rose Quartz bring a feeling of calm and relaxation into the home environment. Like a serene sunset, Rose Quartz encourages reflection on one’s surroundings while Serenity, a transcendent blue, provides a naturally connected sense of space.”

Pantone believes that both colors serve as a distinctive choice for rugs and upholstery, as well as paint and decorative accessories, such as solid and patterned fabrics, throws, pillows, bedding, kitchen items, tableware, and home accessories like candles, decorative bowls, vases and florals. Either would serve as a striking addition to any room as an accent wall or a painted door and trim.

Pantone recommends the following shades to complement Rose Quartz and Serenity: Grays such as Pantone 14-0000 Silver Gray, 18-3906 Volcanic Glass, 14-0216 Lint, 17-0613 Vetiver, 18-5204 Granite Gray, 11-4201 Cloud Dancer and 15-4702 Puritan Gray; Browns such as Pantone 19-0810 Major Brown, 18-1112 Walnut, 13-1012 Frosted Almond, 18-1108 Fallen Rock, 18-1235 Russet, 15-1218 Semolina and 16-0906 Simply Taupe; Bright pastels such as 16-2107 Orchid Haze, 15-1520 Blooming Dahlia, 16-3521 Lupine, 12-5406 Opal Blue, 18-3211 Grapeade, and 13-1125 Peach Quartz – among others.

To learn more about Rose Quartz, Serenity and Pantone’s suggested color palettes, visit the Color of the Year announcement page online.

About Pantone and the Pantone Color Institute: Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, is the global color authority and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. Pantone products have encouraged colorful exploration and expressions of creativity from inspiration to implementation for more than 50 years.

Image Credit: Pantone LLC Virtual Press Room