Category: News

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Vail Resorts Plans to Buy Vermont’s Iconic Stowe Mountain Resort

February 22, 2017News

Colorado’s Vail Resorts plans to acquire Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont’s century-old ski mountain.

Vail Resorts announced on Tuesday it will pay $50 million to acquire all mountain operations at Stowe Mountain Resort, a significant endorsement for Vermont’s ski culture.

The purchase conditions include food and beverage facilities and rental / lift offices on Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak. The Stowe Mountain Lodge, the Stowe Mountain Club, and the Stowe Country Club, among other properties, will continue to be owned by Mt. Mansfield Company under American International Group, Inc.

Vail Resorts owns many ski operations across the country and beyond, but Stowe Mountain Resort will be their first mountain resort on the east coast. Blaise Carrig, senior adviser to the mountain division at Vail, reports that there are no immediate plans to change Stowe. The company intends to honor Vermont’s history and maintain Stowe’s iconic east-coast feel.

Carrig said they expect to keep current Stowe employees but noted there will be organizational adjustments given Mt. Mansfield Company’s ownership of some mountain real estate.

Pending the acquisition closing, Vail Resorts plans to introduce the Epic Pass to Stowe for the 2017-2018 ski season. The pass includes unlimited skiing many Vail resorts for the price of $809, if purchased during preseason. This is a huge price drop compared to this year’s $1,860 adult pass at Stowe.

Located just minutes to Stowe Mountain Resort is the Stowe Highlands development built by BlackRock Construction and Development. The Stowe Highlands community features 11 luxury single-family homes on the Stowe Country Club Golf Course with easy access to I-89, Montpelier, and Burlington.

For more information about building at Stowe Highlands or designing a luxury home of your own with BlackRock Luxury, please contact Jay Mitiguy at Jay@HergGroup.com or 802.324.8500.

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10 Ideas for Storage with Baskets

February 18, 2017News

No matter where you put baskets; in cubbies, on shelves, under furniture, they store tons of stuff while adding charm to your decor. Here are 10 ways to use them.

 

1. Use baskets in the kitchen to hide secrets on open shelving. Baskets add a tidy look in the kitchen and create a warm uniformity within the space.

 

2. Tuck crafts and miscellaneous items away neatly in a study, spare room or childrens space. Use a simple book shelf and baskets to create an organized storage space. You can label them or stick a tag to the bottom of each bin for easy and hidden reference.

 

3. Baskets make great storage in the bathroom. Use a cloth basket rather whicker for bathroom supplies so it can handle getting wet and be easily cleaned.

 

4. Line baskets with fabric to match your room. This is a great trick to implement for under the coffee table storage in the livingroom. Want to hide tv remotes and the like but have easy access? Storage baskets are great for this.

 

5. Tuck baskets under a bench by the door. The area by your front door can get a bit cluttered if you are not careful. Use basket storage to hide dog leashes, hats and gloves as well as smaller apparel you want to have easy access to.

 

6. Create toy storage in your children’s rooms. Wall mounted cubbies with basket inserts make clean up time easy. Label each basket so your child can clean his or her room without much help.

 

7. Organize your pantry. Tall baskets are great for bulk pantry storage. Get baskets with handles to manage easily on a regular basis.

 

8. Bedside baskets. Place a bench at the foot of the bed with basket storage underneath. This is a great spot to store extra blankets, slippers and other nighttime necessities.

 

9. Organize your linen closet into baskets. Create a system for your linens that keeps them organized into itemized baskets. This way you can easily transport to and from the laundry room. Don’t forget to label them!

 

10. Free standing storage. Because a basket is a decorative piece they can placed around a home for storage without needing to be hidden away. Use a large basket next to the sofa to store throw blankets.


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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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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5 Tricks For Home Cleaning

January 27, 2017News

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.

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Home Toolkit Must Haves

January 20, 2017News

Having the proper tools is key to being able to do simple home repairs and odd jobs yourself. The long and the short of it is there are simply some essential tools that every home just must have. Here is our list of the essentials …

  1. Drain Snake … this tool is IMPERATIVE. You can easily avoid a much larger plumbing bill if you simple DIY a clogged drain with this handy tool. 9 times out of 10 a backed up drain is a simple clog.
  2. A ladder. No you may not need an extension ladder for your simple home project needs but a simple step ladder is a must.
  3. A portable jump starter. This is an especially useful item to have at home if you life in the country. How many times have we all left the lights on and woken to a dead battery. Help yourself and keep one of these handy to easily get yourself on the road again.
  4. A snow shovel. Two words … Vermont winter.
  5. A X-ACTO knife kit. You will use this more than you would have imagined. Super Sharp and lightweight the X-ACTO is great for jobs from scraping tape or paint off a glass surface to getting the perfect cut from a roll of christmas wrap.
  6. Wire Cutters. Yup, you will use these! Great for their namesake cutting wire and other too tough for scissors items in the home.
  7. Duct Tape. This is literally the #1 most useful item to have at home.
  8. A portable compressor. Save your breath! This handy item will inflate all your inflatables from tires to air mattresses.
  9. A collection of bungee cords in various sizes and strengths.
  10. A hand truck. While this may not be an item you use every day it sure will make a whale of a difference when you need it.

And now for the basic, no surprise here list!

  1. A 50ft extension cord.
  2. A measuring tape.
  3. An adjustable wrench.
  4. Pliers.
  5. A hammer.
  6. A box cutter.
  7. A shop vac or vacuum capable of taking care of wet spills.
  8. A plunger.
  9. Needle nose pliers.
  10. A tarp.
  11. A high powered flashlight.
  12. Glue. Super glue is nice … but try Bish’s Original tear Mender or Sticky Ass Glue instead.
  13. A glue gun.
  14. WD40
  15. TWO screwdrivers … a flathead and phillips head are essential. And you must own both.

While not all of these tool items are what we would think of as conventional. They are all item you will find yourself saying “I wish I had …” on more than one occasion.

 

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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Trends in Assisted Living

December 29, 2016News

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.

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Interior Design Trends for Commercial Builds

December 17, 2016News

The most important things to consider when designing a commercial interior is efficiency, being cost-effective and creating a unique and thoughtful space.

Follow these simple trends to achieve the most of your commercial project.

  1. Furniture Selection – Cost no longer drives this design element but rather functionality. Today’s trends reflect more and more ergonomic design, like adjustable arms on chairs and standing desks. Much like home design organic elements are making their way into furniture design and we are seeing lots of durable materials like woods, metals, and glass. Likely your clients will be looking for quality so why not offer it to them.
  2. Geometric Patterns – Large (or super-scale) design patterns using geometric patterns are showing on trend. This vision expresses personality and makes a memorable impression.
  3. Funky Combos – Designers are getting a little quirky with patterns and textures. Think mismatched tile or paint combinations and roll with this atheistic. This is a fun way to separate your space from the norm and stand out in the crowd.  
  4. Deep Colors – Referencing back to organic and natural elements being the flavor of the year the trend in commercial interior color is deep, cooling, natural tones. Charcoal, gray, ivory, stone, and taupe are a few colors that come to mind. Often a simple deep color palette is accented by a splash of the unexpected, bright orange or vivid blue to make a statement.
  5. Open Floor Plans – The days of small isolated cubicles are behind us, today’s work space is light and friendly. Separate desks with low or transparent panels, or none at all. Keeping work space open promotes communication and the sharing of knowledge.

To learn more about BlackRock Construction, our team and what we can build for you contact 802.861.1120 or info@blackrockus.com. To learn more about Hergenrother Realty Commercial division contact Jay Mitiguy at 802.324.8500 or jay@herggroup.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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Mixing Wood Finishes | Tips to Know!

November 12, 2016News

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.