Tag: vermont granite

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10 Home Exterior Color Palettes

February 7, 2017News

Are you classic or bold with your home design? Show your style outside your home, draw inspiration from these exterior paint color schemes that offer serious curb appeal and tell the world what exquisite taste you have.


Brown + Gray + Yellow-Gold

A neutral palette of brown, gray and gold expresses a modern aesthetic. Choose the lightest brown to cover the majority of the home, and use darker accent colors to highlight the home’s architectural details.

Yellow + Cinnamon Brown + Pure White

This a great combination for a beach house or home with lots of natural sunlight. The sun warms the yellow creating a lovely glow, paint the front door cinnamon to ground the home and use white accents on the windows to create a crisp and clean vibe.

White Putty + Taupe + Olive Green

Classic American homes like a Craftsman look great in a neutral color palette. This is simple, sophisticated combination.  Choose a soft taupe exterior with an accent of olive and white to pair perfectly with a natural landscape.  

Green + Celestial Blue + White

A sweet trend in paint selection is to pair the home with the natural surroundings. A traditional home’s with a soft pine green base pops with an accent of sky blue and a creamy white door.

Slate Gray + White + Deep Turquoise

A blue-gray color palette tells the world you are sophisticated and elegant. Accented this combination with white trim for truly regal curb appeal. For a touch of fun paint the front door a dark almost navy turquoise to compliment the slate gray.  

Taupe + Beige + Brown + Brick Red

Root your home into its landscape with an earthy palette of taupe, beige, brown and red. Select muted hues to blend more naturally.

Peach + Reddish Brown + Cream

In the style of the old Victorian home this color palette is soothing and simple. Paint the siding warm peach while using the red-tinted brown and cream for the trim.

Gray + White + Moss Green

This combo has American Craftsman written all over it. A warm, neutral palette in gray and white is welcoming and friendly. Make the porch pop with the unexpected touch of painting its floor a natural green.

Classic Black + White

Be timeless with a black and white palette. This is one color scheme that will definitely not go out of style.

White + Dark Chocolate

A twist on the classic black and white. This combo is great for high contrast landscapes. The beauty of this color combo? Any accent color can be chosen for outdoor furniture and decorations.

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

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Small Office Design Ideas

December 10, 2016News

You do not always need a spare room or a huge master bedroom to set up a work-space in your home. Brilliant work-friendly spaces can emerge from a spare corner. Here are some ideas for beautiful small functional office spaces.

A little sunlight should never cramp your design style. Set a small desk and chair in front of a window and fill an empty corner with a tall bookcase or filing cabinets. Match the new furniture to the rest of the room décor to make this office nook blend seamlessly with the rest of the décor.

Working at a traditional desk will not make you more productive. I know, hard to believe! Rather choose a charming armoire to act as a hefty storage cabinet for stashing your special dishes, stemware and the family silver but give it double duty as it serves as your desk as well.  Simple reserve some of that abundant storage for your office needs and pull up a chair … a small space with big results!

Transform your bedroom with a few key pieces (desk, chair, floating shelves) to have it double duty as an efficient work area. If you can keep the spaces separate and clear while maintaining a decorating theme throughout.

Put that spare corner to work! Be liberal with the space you carve out, even a formal living room can accommodate a work zone. Sneak in a table, chair, and a few office accessories to create a space you can get comfortable and be productive in.

There is no space too small for a pop up office space. Never overlook a space, including the hallway. If you happen to have a hall area that is wide enough prop up a desk and slim seat against that wallpaper you keep meaning to tear down and get to work.

Use the whole wall for storage. When storage space is hard to come by a bare wall can be an asset. Consider building up rather than out. Simple, easy-to-install floating shelves are a super practical way of breaking up a wall. Tip: Paint the wall a bright color with contrasting neutral shelving, a pop of color is always a design win.

No more excuses, find the use-able space in your home and get to work!

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

 

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39th Annual Better Homes Awards!

November 18, 2016News

BlackRock Construction Wins Four Categories at 39th Annual Better Homes Awards

The 39th Better Homes Award ceremony, were hosted this year on November 15th  at the UVM Davis Center in Burlington. The event was extremely well organized and thoughtful. The décor was tasteful, service was great and the food was delicious; I understand the cheesecake dessert was a crowd pleaser. Many small details were taken into consideration including a large screen behind the podium to project the winning project as the attendee accepting the award spoke. The awards themselves, handsome plaques were customized with an image from the winning project. Very classy.

BlackRock Construction proudly won four award for the best construction projects in the following categories: ‘New Kitchen 150 sq. ft. and Under’, ‘New Kitchen 151 sq. ft. and Over’, ‘New Single Family Home $174/sq. ft. and Under ‘and ‘New Single Family Home $175/sq. ft. – $275/sq. ft.’. All of the BlackRock Construction project entries are custom-built, custom-designed family homes. Each project was entered with careful consideration to be a solid representation of the quality of work that BlackRock offers to all its clients.

Tom Hergenrother, co-owner and residential construction manager of BlackRock Construction accepted the awards on behalf of the company. Hergenrother said, “This is a huge moment for BlackRock. There were so many quality builders represented at the Better Homes Awards, and we are thrilled to come out on top and have our team recognized for their hard work, dedication and passion for housing design.”

Hergenrother and the BlackRock leadership team acknowledge all of the subcontractors and suppliers who helped build the recognized homes, along with the photographers Nicolas Gentile and Joey Jones for capturing these projects so beautifully.

The Better Homes Awards is a longstanding tradition of The Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Northern Vermont. The Awards celebrate, recognize, and highlight fine Craftsmanship, excellence in housing design, architecture, interior design, landscaping, and remodeling.

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

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Home Architecture | Styles We Love

November 4, 2016News

Every house has a style. Some have two or more; due to renovations and new, eclectic mixes, fitting a home into one specific category can be tricky. “Throughout history, buildings have been pushed, pulled, poured and stretched into all sorts styles.” Architecture is truly a tangible reminder of evolving tastes and interests. Here are just a few of the many styles to choose from.

Townhouse – Mostly found in urban areas, the row house, more commonly known as the townhouse, became popular in the early 19th century due to limited space and the financial benefits for the architect and builder. Homes built in this style can be built quickly and on a smaller area of land. Row-house design is dictated by practicality; typically, they are two stories or more with a traditional layout, and a smaller outside space.

Craftsman – Craftsman style homes came out of the Arts and Crafts Movement. The emphasis is on natural materials such as wood, stone and brick. Expansive front porches and low-pitched roofs are commonly found with this style of home. Within the home an open floor plan often features built-in furniture, large fireplaces and exposed beams.

Contemporary – Contemporary refers to the building styles of today, this can vary in design and appearance. This style tends to connect indoors and outdoors. Contemporary homes emphasize energy efficiency, sustainable materials, lots of natural light and the use of recycled non-toxic materials.

Colonial – Colonial architecture originated in the 1600’s, due to the mix of American settlers the styles varied greatly. Colonial architecture is known for symmetry and characterized by evenly spaced shuttered windows. Evenly proportioned dormers, columns and chimneys also complement this formal style.

Mid-Century Modern – Born in the early 1940’s mid-century modern architecture flourished through to the 1980’s. This style is based on new ideas, mindsets and a forward-thinking style, and characterized by flat planes, large windows and wide open space. Simplistic style and integrating nature are very strong traits of this home design style. World War II brought new materials such as steel and plywood to architecture and design. Post war there was also a focus on building neighborhoods and this style was a very popular one during this evolution.

While these are just a few of the many home design styles you will find throughout the world they are some that we see often in Vermont and find comforting, familiar and beautiful.

To learn more about Architectural Styles visit: https://www.architecture.com/Explore/ArchitecturalStyles/Architecturalstyles.aspx

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

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Interior Design | Trends To Love In 2017

October 29, 2016NewsUncategorized

Trends, are by definition “a general direction in which something is developing or changing.” Like the people who inhabit them homes are a developing, ever-changing canvas. We like to think of trends as guidelines or suggestions. Some suit you and some do not, some are timeless and some certainly go out of style. We are always excited about trends because they tell us a lot about the world and people. If you are building a new home or renovating your current home, look out for the following trends to include for 2017.

Terracotta! The world of tiles is filled with a fascinating array of colors, patterns, styles, finishes, and of course, textures. The tile that you select can often determine more of your home design. A timeless classic that is reminiscent of gorgeous Spanish Revival interiors is the terracotta tile. Terracotta creates a special feeling of warmth and hominess that other mediums do not.

Cork! This is a naturally decorative and modern alternative to traditional coverings. Cork is available in a variety of styles, patterns and shades to compliment a variety of décor or furniture styles. We are seeing cork used for remarkably fun wall or ceiling covering, creating a unique ascetic in any room. Cork comes in tile or roll form and can be utilized in a large format or for smaller accents.

Jewel Tones! 2017 is all about embracing your royal side with deep jewel tones like teal, turquois, deep blue, rich purple and emerald green. The more traditional light and neutral colors are certainly pleasing and calming but a palate of rich jewel tones can make any room feel like it belongs in a palace. These luscious hues can be used for full wall color or just a pop to take your home to the next level.

Fancy Headboards! Think luxury hotel … The headboard is a charming design detail in any bedroom. It is not imperative to have one but can be a beautiful central focal point. Fabric upholstered headboards are a relatively affordable way to add serious impact to the bedroom. They create a soft and inviting look and are open to many style interpretations. If drama isn’t your thing, keep it simple, crisp, clean and modern. However, do not be afraid to go BOLD in 2017, a large, luxurious fabric headboard is right on trend.

Nooks! Tucking away for a little privacy is becoming increasingly important in this fast-paced world. Nooks are the perfect way utilize and odd corner and these cozy places can be adapted with different shapes and styles depending on the architecture of the home. Depending on the location of your nook you will need to select the perfect piece of furniture to compliment this cozy space. Think comfy … make this nook a true space of escape.

These are just a few interior design details you can incorporate into your home. If we can determine anything from these forecasted trends it is be BOLD and embrace luxury in 2017!

 

Read more about design trends for 2017:

www.domain.com.au/advice/the-interior-trends-youll-be-loving-in-2017-20160309-gnek90

www.stonegableblog.com/home-decor-trend-2017

 

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

 

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Kitchen Design | What is Trending?

October 8, 2016News

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