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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.

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

The 39^th Better Homes Award ceremony, were hosted this year on November 15^th 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.

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.

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.

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.

Adam Hergenrother, founder and co-owner of BlackRock Construction was recently featured in Business People Vermont. The article is aptly titled “Designated Driver’ as a reference to Adams forward focus and progressive vision. In this article Adam shares insights into his philosophy of life and business. He discusses his many projects, including how BlackRock Construction came to be.

Adam and Tom Hergenrother started BlackRock Construction in 2012. The brothers had been raised with contracting in their blood, their father is also in the business. With Adam’s already established and very successful real estate agency, Keller Williams and Tom’s expertise as a contractor this partnership was the perfect next step. Headquartered in Colchester, BlackRock Construction is an assemblage of award-winning construction and development professionals. With over 40 years of combined experience, the management team at BlackRock is hardworking and hard hitting.

Adam is often quoted to say “Find the right people and give them the keys”. This is a practice that he has applied to all of his business, putting strong capable leaders in the drivers seat and through a shared vision enjoying the ride.

“Human capital is the important thing, so you always create a culture of growth.” – Adam Hergenrother

Currently the BlackRock team has multiple residential homes and properties in the works as well as commercial builds such as a new headquarters for Hergenrother Enterprises in South Burlington. Planned for completion in January, the new, 20,000-square-foot headquarters sits on 3.5 acres, which features a pond, a walking path, and room for another 12,000-square-foot building. This is a team that thinks big and dreams beautifully.

Read the full article here: “Designated Driver”

To learn more about BlackRock Construction, our team and what we can build for you call 802.861.1120 or visit us at blackrockus.com.

Join us for wine and cheese as you chat and tour a beautiful BlackRock Construction built property!

Date: 10.27.16

Time: 5pm – 7 pm

Location: 451 Golf Course Road, South Burlington

RSVP: info@blackrockus.com

Building Ignite is a meet and greet with the BlackRock Construction team and open house at BlackRock CEO’s listed home. This home is listed for sale and we will have folks from the building team on site to answer any questions you may have about this home or building a custom home for you. Navigating the world of home buying and new construction can often be daunting – buying land, choosing your home design, colors, custom finishes, selling your current home, financing, etc. Building Ignite is designed to educate the community about the building and design process, financing new construction, getting the most return on home renovations, and more!

451 Golf Course Road home to BlackRock founder and co-owner Tom Hergenrother and boasts many luxury features. This custom designed home features an array of exotic products including, Vermont barn wood, handmade Vermont red maple floors, polished aggregate concrete and custom imported tile that creates a spa like experience in the master bath. The large lot perches above the 16th hole at the prestigious Vermont National Golf Club with exceptional westerly views of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Champlain. Three decks and a patio provide plenty of outdoor entertaining and enjoyment. Additional features include 9 ft. ceilings, a full basement with 9 ft ceilings, a large mudroom with built-ins, 1st floor office, walk-in pantry, custom back splash, bead board, alarm, and is wired with a smart home technology interface. And along with the 4,046 square feet of finished space above grade, there is also an additional unfinished 1000 sq. ft. bonus room over the garage for easy future finishing! Quality construction, HERS rated, Energy Star Certified Home. Owner is a licensed Realtor.

For more information on this open house contact: info@blackrockus.com

To view this property listing click here: 451 Golf Course Road, South Burlington

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

“If you love something, it will work. That’s really the only rule.” – Bunny Williams Interior Designer

As part our process at BlackRock Construction we try and get professional photographs of every finished residential project after the homeowner has moved in and spend some time with the home. There is so much value in waiting a few weeks, sometimes months after a closing. The homeowner has had the time to put a personal touch to the home, express their style and most importantly create the vision they had throughout the building process.

Personal style is everything for a home! New home owners pour over design catalogs and follow home trends closely but truly at the end of the day a home is a collection of ideas, trends and accents that suit the occupant’s personal style. Thank you Houzz, Pinterest and Instagram for the easy access to design inspiration. Pulling ideas from a variety of sources to arrive at your personal style is now so accessible and can be a really fun journey.

Equally important is the building process. The homeowner’s personal style and preferences are expressed through the building process from patio to rooftop. We see a huge variety of preferences in the details of each home build and the options are vast. Fireplaces are a favorite of ours, some may say a signature ‘must have’ in a BlackRock home. Fireplaces vary from the very sleek and modern to the very traditional. This central meeting spot and feature enjoyed by all is a great reflection of personal style.

“Success is the sum of details” – Harvey S. Firestone. In home design this holds very true. For BlackRock detailing starts from the moment the foundation is poured and follows us through the building process until the last shingle is hammered. Details such as built in bench seating in a well-lit breakfast nook, coffered ceilings in a master bedroom or a handsome real wood front door set the stage for homeowner to create their space.

Sometimes the simplest details make the most impact. A bouquet of flowers, a candelabra or a well-placed stack of books can become central design details that create your personal style. Tying a home together with simple details creates an environment that speaks of its designers and tells a visual story of the home owner.

Whatever your personal style follow your inspiration!

The style of this room leans more toward the traditional with a large elegant marble and wood fireplace as a central piece in the room design. Natural design elements are prominent, creating a very calming space with the use of sky blue and white hues, natural wood, glass and a simple flower bouquet.

This sleek, modern fireplace is a central design detail for this home. The home owner has incorporated a traditional rug and color accents throughout the room mimicking the hues in the rug.

We spend so much of our time in our kitchens, so shouldn’t it be the most functional all rooms? Cabinets play an important role in both your kitchen’s appearance and functionality. From sleek stainless steel to traditional cherry, here are some fun cabinet options to explore.

Newer Posts

Small Office Design Ideas

39th Annual Better Homes Awards!

Mixing Wood Finishes | Tips to Know!

Home Architecture | Styles We Love

Interior Design | Trends To Love In 2017

BlackRock Construction | Business People Vermont

Building Ignite | Twilight Open House

Kitchen Design | What is Trending?

Your Home | Your Style

What is Your Cabinet Style?

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