Outdoor Living

In the past 15 years, homeowners have taken a new look at their outdoor spaces. Today’s private backyard spaces frequently feature covered living space, outdoor kitchens fitted with appliances similar to those found indoors, and upholstered furniture reminiscent of a living room. Doug Franklin of Lynn’s Patio Shop says, “The new outdoor room is the wow factor of the house. The customer who previously may have come in to purchase furniture to go around the pool is now looking for furniture to go under the roof of their outdoor room.” In the past an outdoor pool may have been open …

Pampered Pet Design Trends

Pull-out pet bowls, built-in dog showers in the laundry rooms, and attractively designed nooks for pet habitation within a home have been growing in popularity and are seen in more custom homes across the region. Pets, as Randy Arnold of Arnold Homes LLC says, are part of the family so homeowners are really concerned about their well-being. “Empty nesters, whose kids are grown and no longer living at home, are especially concerned about their pets.”                           In the 2014 Parade of Homes, Arnold included a dog shower in the laundry room …