trends Archives - Blackrock Construction

Retro is in … really it never went out. Some us just crave a CUTE kitchen. But retro can go belly up if you don’t know how to shop for quality vintage pieces. The line between shabby chic and just shabby is very thin.

Here, we gathered some information from the pros on how to sort the gold from the gross, and make it work in your kitchen.

Function First!

“A kitchen is like a lab for food prep.” Eddie Ross, Chef & Designer

First to “work” in your kitchen, vintage material must actually WORK. Simple right? Often we fall for the gorgeous piece that is a little off, the drawers don’t pull out easily or the shelves are rickety. Do not shy away from small issues but be honest with yourself about the quality of the piece you are dying to purchase.

In addition to functioning well, vintage kitchen items have to be durable. The kitchen see’s a lot of action. No matter how many years an antique has already survived, it has to be durable enough to survive your kitchen. The truth is many vintage materials have lasted because of fact that they were made so well. Learn how to recognize durability. For wooden pieces, check that the joints are still holding up, and the wood is still solid throughout. Pick it up, or try to, good quality tends to be heavier than bad.

“If you’re going down the vintage route, you want to celebrate wear and tear on an item,” says Kevin O’Shea, Interior Designer. “ BUT, how flawed is too flawed? If an item has a little chipping paint, fine but if you see rot or cracks that means structural damage. Move on.

You do need to consider safety when shopping vintage. Think about lead paint. Ancient wiring. Any painted item pre dating 1978 most likely contains lead-based paint. You can purchase a test kit for a song, this will be a great aide when vintage shopping.

Before vintage kitchen shopping, take detailed measurements of the area you aim to fill. Always keep a tape measure on you. Hit the shops with an open mind, be thorough, dig around, look in the back corners of the store, you never know what gems have been waiting for you.

To learn more about BlackRock Construction, our team and what we can build for you contact 802.861.1120 or info@blackrockus.com.

Cleaning … everyone’s favorite topic. And those hard to reach spots, WHY? When it comes to cleaning the complicated spots in your home, do you find yourself giving up before you have even started? Here are a few tricks to mark even the most complicated and hard to reach spots ‘no biggie’ on your to do list!

The blinds. Time to channel grandma and slip on a pair of white cotton gloves. Dip the fingertips of one hand into a solution of equal parts warm water and white vinegar and run your fingers through each slat, re-dip as needed. Use a dryer sheet to dry and voila! As an added bonus the residue on the dryer sheet will help repel dust in the future.

The ceiling fan. First make sure it is OFF and everyone in the house knows to keep it that way. Cover the floor below the fan with an old sheet or drop cloth. Fill a spray bottle with water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and spritz generously into an old pillowcase. Use a ladder to reach the blades and place the case over each one rubbing them clean, the dirt and dust will get caught inside. Cool trick right!

The mattress. Working directly over the mattress, pour baking soda into a sieve. Sprinkle the soda evenly over the mattress which will draw out dirt and odors. Leave the baking soda in place and re-make the bed with clean sheets. Leave in place for one full wear and simply vacuum up next time you change the sheets.

The radiator. This clean only needs to be performed as needed or twice a year. First, make sure everything is dry. Then, dust between the radiator fins with a bottle brush and make sure to vacuum up all debris so it doesn’t going back into the air. So simple and can save you from allergens in the air as well the additional cost accrued by slow working equipment.

The garbage disposal. Here’s how to clean this hard to reach breeding ground for bacteria. Pour 3 tablespoons of Borax inside, let it sit for one hour, and then flush with hot water. If you have lingering odors that won’t go away and want to make sure you keep blades sharp, freeze ½ cup of white vinegar mixed with water in an ice-cube tray, toss in a few cubes, and turn on the disposal. To break up grease deposits, feed the disposal a small fruit pit or a chicken bone every now and then. Does this sound a bit bizarre? Try it, it really works!

You are now five steps closer to a cleaner home.

To learn more about BlackRock Construction, our team and what we can build for you contact 802.861.1120 or info@blackrockus.com.

BlackRock recently completed a large commercial project dubbed The ALZ. Spring Village at Essex, owned and operated by Woodbine Senior Living is a 50 plus bed closed facility for seniors living with Alzheimer’s. This was an exciting project to be a part of, the entire BlackRock team is proud to see such a high level of care brought to Essex, Vermont. As we look toward the future, we look forward to more builds like this one. Here are some trends to look for in assisted living.

Senior living options will become increasingly popular. While CCRC’s or continuing care retirement communities have been attractive to many aging adults in the past, we are seeing this interest growing. CCRC’s offer continuing care starting with completely independent living and include assisted living, and even nursing home-level care. Residents have access to the care that they need at each life stage without having to move facilities.

Memory care gets nostalgic. Memory care facilities are using sight, sound, and even smell to help dementia residents retrieve long-term memories. Grounds and living areas designed in styles from the eras they recognize like the 1950s and 1960s bring residents back to the familiar world of their youth. Often items associated with major milestones are placed throughout the facility, such as wedding apparel and baby dolls. Research shows that this type of memory care reduces agitation and anxiety. It can even improve memory in some cases.

Look for a trend in senior co-housing. Co-housing is an option that has some appeal for a growing number of older adults, it offers the privacy of a single-family home with a sense of community. The advantages of co-housing for seniors include, access to a communal group of caregivers and shared responsibilities easing the burden of some daily activities such as meal prep, yard work and other household chores.

Senior living will be environmentally conscious. Going green! Cost concerns continue to affect the assisted living industry and the economic advantages of going green are undeniable. A growing number of assisted living communities will embrace eco-friendly measures. This shift is also client driven as facilities that embrace the green movement will likely see an increase in resident populations as more eco-conscious people reach retirement age.

Personal living spaces will see improvements. Many assisted living communities will be adding amenities to attract more seniors to them. Additions like walk-in closets, spacious bathrooms, and fully equipped kitchenettes will living spaces feel more like home. Improvements will also move outside, landscaped gardens and beautiful architecture will be a focus to appeal to the eye and heart of residents.

BlackRock, in association with Hergenrother Industries, currently has opportunities for leasing, purchase and investment in these and other projects, ranging from individual unit purchases to investment fund opportunities.

http://www.essexreporter.com/caring-for-memory/

http://www.springvillageessex.com/

To learn more about BlackRock Construction, our team and what we can build for you contact 802.861.1120 or info@blackrockus.com.

A key element to decorating a home is a mix of pattern, texture and color. For those of us that do not buy all our furniture at once but rather gather our furniture and décor as we go along. Furniture can be inherited, found and purchased in variety of styles and with a variety of wood finishes. Keep things interesting, allow your décor to steer away from the rather flat vision of matching wood floors and furniture finishes. Here are 5 great tips to making it work …

Consider the grain: Do your wood pieces have a grain? Pair pieces with similar grain pattern or size to create a pleasing visual in your room. Larger wood grains are more casual while smaller wood grains more elegant. Choose whoever suits you but stick with it.

Be aware of highlights and low-lights! Look carefully at the wood pieces you select for your home. Compare the undertones of movable furniture to your more stationary wood pieces, like the floor, and make sure they match regardless of the finish. Pair a dark wood table with a lighter wood floor, just be sure they share the same undertones. Wood finishes don’t need to match, but they should complement each other.

Embrace white: White paint and room features are a bit of magic when fitting multiple finishes into the same room. White and wood go together like peanut butter and jelly. A perfect pairing! Use white throughout the room to separate the finishes and create balance.

Be reasonable: Do not go crazy with a huge variety of wood finishes in your space, chose two or three types of finish and repeat these throughout the space. You want to live and entertain in a creative but not chaotic space.

Separate your woods: Use a rug or carpet to separate a wood table from a wood floor. This simple separation helps distract the eye from the differences in the wood and creates a great vignette.

There are no concrete rules for decorating, you should go with your gut … or your grain and create a living space that is appealing to you. Love the home you live in.

To learn more about BlackRock Construction, our team and what we can build for you contact 802.861.1120 or info@blackrockus.com.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and can be dressed in many different cloaks. So what is IN … and what is OUT in kitchen design?

BlackRock Construction co-owner and seasoned real estate agent Adam Hergenrother recently shared his thoughts with News Talk 602 WVMT on this what is trending in the market for kitchen decor.

Granite is OUT. Granite has been a long time staple for counters and kitchen islands particularly when you have easy access to a source, as we do in Vermont. There are quarries all around the state and just north of the border as well. Cabinets painted in bold colors are OUT. Gone is the trend to be bold and colorful with your color palate when it comes to cabinet design. So leave your Mondrian inspiration at the front door and think Oscar Tuazon for your color palate. Dark wood cabinets are also OUT. Kitchen design is leaning toward the contemporary and more traditional looks such as dark wood stain or dark brown paint is taking a backseat to a lighter more ethereal vision in today’s trendy kitchens. Our intention is not to say that if you have these design elements in your home you are out of style it is simply what is trending currently in the market.

Cambria, quartz and marble counters are IN. These mediums are quickly replacing the historically popular granite for detailing your home kitchen. Color contrast cabinets or ‘tuxedo’ cabinets are IN. The style conscious home decorator is all about a mix and match look in both cabinets and kitchen hardware. White kitchens are IN. Kitchens gleaming white cabinets to wall color is a very popular look these days, the simplicity of white allows for a lot of creativity with accent detail, creates a strong sense of cleanliness or sterility and allows natural light to be the star of the show. Barn doors, hidden appliances and dark floors are also IN.

It is hard to say when or where a trend gains traction but every season we are seeing new and interesting changes in the design market. From where we sit it is quite a show!

Listen to Adam’s interview with Charlie, Ernie and Lisa from WVMT here:

For more information on how BlackRock Construction can make your kitchen inspiration come to life contact us at: 802.861.1120 or info@blackrockus.com

Tag: trends

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You are now five steps closer to a cleaner home.

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