Situated on Lake Eloise, part of Winter Haven’s Chain of Lakes canal system, this 2006-built home underwent a three-year renovation from 2022 to 2025 with results well worth the wait.
With four grown children, the husband-and-wife owners wanted to transform their family home into a space for entertaining, relaxation and everyday enjoyment. Inspiration came from the clients themselves—their lifestyle, focus on family and love of entertaining—resulting in a home that feels like a luxury vacation.
Original features such as blue-framed windows, soaring ceilings, concrete floors and exposed wood beams were preserved, while new additions include custom cabinetry, tall motorized drapery, bespoke rugs and curated furniture pieces.
R. Nickson Interiors incorporated real materials throughout, including marble, concrete and glass, layered with wallpaper and unexpected details for texture and warmth. The color palette of the home mixes blues and greens with pops of neon, while the primary suite offers a more subdued yet complementary look. Standout spaces include a powder bath with black concrete walls and countertops paired with brush-stroked grasscloth wallpaper, bar and mudroom cabinets painted a rich teal with stainless metal grill details and an Onyx backlit bar featuring slabs of deep blue and cream stone.
The home’s unique architecture presented challenges, yet the renovation was a dream project, enhanced by abundant natural light, the quality of the original construction and the clients’ enthusiasm throughout the process.
New Slat Wood Panels Combine High-Performance Acoustics With Modern, Design-Driven Appeal
ALBEMARLE, N.C., December 2, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Barron Designs, a trusted leader in architectural design products for over 50 years, announces the launch of its Acoustic Panels Collection – a line of slat wood wall panels that combine modern visual appeal with effective sound absorption. Designed for both residential and commercial use, these panels offer a versatile avenue for improving acoustics while enhancing interior style.
Each panel features a felt acoustic backing with sleek vertical wood slats, creating a modern linear texture that adds depth and warmth to any space. Offered in five curated finishes-Teak, Walnut, Maple, Oak, and Natural-the collection complements a wide range of styles, from clean minimalism to bold contemporary. These wood tones and grain patterns transform functional acoustics into a refined architectural statement.
“This launch reflects our commitment to design solutions that are both practical and beautiful,” said Amy Burgess, Director of Product and Channel Marketing at Barron Designs. “These acoustic panels give our customers the power to completely reimagine their space-visually and acoustically-without having to choose between style and performance.”
The panels offer a baseline NRC rating of 0.45, which can increase to Class A sound absorption depending on installation method and backing material. They install easily using adhesive or screws, making them ideal for home offices, creative studios, restaurants, and open-plan environments.
While Barron Designs is best known for its custom-crafted decorative beams and wall panels, the Acoustic Panels collection expands its portfolio to meet growing demand for design-forward acoustic solutions. Each panel is made from FSC® Certified wood, supporting responsible forestry and low-VOC emissions. An integrated antibacterial coating enhances cleanliness in high-traffic and hospitality settings, while a Fire Reaction rating of Class B-s1, d0 ensures dependable safety across diverse interior environments.
About Barron Designs Barron Designs is a leading manufacturer and distributor of exceptionally crafted architectural décor products, including faux and real wood beams, faux wall panels, decorative columns, and exterior siding. Founded in 1972, the company serves DIYers, designers, contractors, and architects nationwide, offering visually striking, easy-to-install solutions that stand the test of time. Learn more at www.barrondesigns.com.
Entrepreneur Grant Cardone said collecting and displaying art gives him more fulfilment than investing.
Grant Cardone
Multimillionaire Grant Cardone, who has been collecting art for around 15 years, says he’s a spontaneous buyer.
“I don’t consider myself a connoisseur. I’m very new to the art world. If I like it, I buy it. I don’t care who did it,” he told CNBC. Alongside pieces displayed throughout his home, Cardone also has an art gallery to house his considerable collection.
CNBC spoke to Cardone by video call — behind him in his Miami home office was an untitled piece by American graffiti artist Retna that Cardone bought in an online auction.
“I clicked the button — really hadn’t done any research … and got the piece … And it got here and I absolutely freaking loved it,” he said. He paid “maybe $140,000” for the work, he said.
A piece called “It’s Now Time,” by the artist Fringe, seen in Grant Cardone’s home gallery.
Grant Cardone
Along a corridor in Cardone’s home are two pieces by American pop artist Burton Morris, both depicting red Coca-Cola bottles lined up in a repeating pattern named Coca-Cola 50A and Coca-Cola 50B. “This I bought from Tommy Hilfiger … it reminds me of the importance of scaling,” Cardone said — fashion designer Hilfiger is the home’s previous owner.
Cardone, a real estate investor and author of “The 10 X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure,” has around 17 million followers on social media and uses his platforms to give occasional advice on art investing.
“[Followers are] starting to see the art saying, hey, you know, [has] that been good for you? And I’m like, yeah, it’s good for me … It’s better than the dollar or the euro … The stock market doesn’t give me any fulfillment, I don’t go back and look at my Apple shares and feel good about it. But I walk in my gallery or down the kitchen or in my office and I see a piece and I’m like, man, it’s super cool.”
The gallery in Grant Cardone’s Miami home. A print of a piece by Basquiat is seen bottom left.
Grant Cardone
Inside Cardone’s gallery — complete with floor-to-ceiling windows and a security guard — is a work by American contemporary artist Kenny Scharf titled “Blipsibshabshok” (1997), an abstract painting featuring colorful futuristic symbols. Cardone owns a second Scharf, “Controlopuss” (2018), a striking image of a red multi-legged creature, acquiring it for $279,400 from auction house Phillips.
“This is a Basquiat right here. The original would be $45 million,” Cardone said, pointing to a print of a Jean-Michel Basquiat piece titled “Flexible” (1984/2016). The original was sold by auction house Phillips for $45.3 million in 2018. “This piece I bought with the house,” he said, gesturing to a work above the Basquiat titled “Read More” by American contemporary artist Al-Baseer Holly.
Grant said he chooses pieces to buy on instinct. “I’ll try to walk away from it. And if I keep seeing it, or I keep thinking about it, then I go back and say, OK, I’m supposed to have this,” he said.
“I plan on never selling any this stuff. It’s really for my personal enjoyment. And you know, art makes me happy,” he said.
Former investment banker Christian Levett has a different approach. He’s been collecting art for almost 30 years, starting with old master paintings and Roman, Greek and Egyptian antiquities before moving on to pieces by female abstract expressionists.
Art collector Christian Levett conducts private tours of his home in Florence, Italy. His collection is largely made up of abstract expressionist works by female artists.
Christian Levett
Aside from owning an art museum in Mougins, France, Levett conducts tours of the artwork on the walls of his home in Florence, Italy, where he lives for six months of the year — you could say his whole home is an art gallery. “It’s, kind of, a museum by private tour,” Levett told CNBC by phone.
Close to the city’s famous Ponte Vecchio bridge, Levett’s home has 20-foot-high ceilings, original frescoes and two floors of art, all by women. The collection is largely made up of abstract expressionist works by artists such as the impressionist Mary Cassatt and the surrealist Dorothea Tanning.
Once or twice a week, Levett invites small groups to see his collection, often taking tours himself. Groups are sometimes made up of students from the American colleges that have outposts in Florence, such as Harvard University and New York University, or come from museum or patrons’ groups.
A 1977 painting by American artist Joan Mitchell is a highlight of Levett’s collection, he said. The large piece, titled “When They Were Gone,” is nearly 240cm tall and 180cm wide, and hangs in his dining room.
Levett acquired it for about $2.8 million around 2015.
Christian Levett has switched from collecting antiquities to work by female artists, seen here in his Florence home.
Christian Levett
“It’s now probably a $15 million to $18 million picture at auction … Mitchell has always been one of the most important female painters of the 20th century,” Levett said.
He also spoke highly of an Elaine de Kooning oil painting of John F. Kennedy, commissioned as part of a series of portraits of the former U.S. president in 1963. Levett bought the artwork in 2020, paying around $600,000.
Levett said he opens his home to students in part because doing so might spark an interest in supporting art in future. “The students … are the acorns of the art world,” he said.
Work by female artists is Levett’s focus, and he is set to re-open his museum in France as the Female Artists Mougin Museum on June 21. He is currently selling the museum’s previous collection of art and antiquities via a series of sales at London auction house Christie’s, which have reached almost £9.5 million ($11.9 million) so far.
Christian and Karen Boros’ home is on top the bunker that houses their private art collection, the Boros Collection, in the center of Berlin, Germany.
John Macdougall | AFP | Getty Images
At a unique art space in Berlin, husband and wife Christian and Karen Boros live in a 6,000 square foot penthouse apartment above their private collection. The Boros Collection is housed in a former World War II bunker, a vast, high-rise building the couple acquired in 2003 and spent several years converting into a five-floor exhibition space, with their home on the sixth.
The bunker sheltered up to 4,000 people during the war, after which it was used as a storage facility for tropical fruit before becoming a nightclub. According to Raoul Zoellner, director of the Boros Foundation, 450 tons of concrete ceilings and walls were removed during its conversion into an exhibition space and home.
An artwork by Cyprien titled “Gaillard Lesser Koa Moorhen,” 2013, part of the Boros Collection.
Boros Collection, Berlin | Noshe
Christian, an advertising entrepreneur, bought his first artwork — a spade by German artist Joseph Beuys — when he was 18, he told the Financial Times.
“The bunker is not a museum … but an exceptional project initiated by an enthusiastic collector couple who could not have imagined how many diamond saws it would take to tear down dozens of bunker walls — or what that would set in motion,” Zoellner said in an emailed statement.
Karen and Christian Boros live in a penthouse apartment above their art collection in Berlin.
Max von Gumpenberg
Nearly 600,000 people have taken guided tours of the bunker since its conversion in 2008, with pieces from the Boros Collection shown on rotation, Zoellner added. At the moment, there are 114 works on view, with a “focus on the human body in a multiplicity of positions,” Zoellner said. “The works home in on the constant compulsion to optimize, the gradual adaptation of our bodies to technological devices,” he said.
Large artworks can help a space feel more homey, according to art consultant Louisa Warfield.
Andreas Von Einsiedel | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images
There are two common mistakes people make when hanging art in their homes, according to art consultant Louisa Warfield.
“The first is, they hang work that is too small for the space. And often you’ll go in, and you’ll find a sofa [couch] with one tiny picture above it, and that looks lonely and bleak,” she said.
Instead, “Hang a wall… with as big a painting as you can fit.” This helps a room feel homey, Warfield said, while at the same time making the space appear larger. Don’t be afraid to hang large artworks in smaller spaces such as hallways, Warfield said.
The second mistake is hanging artworks too high, which makes pieces harder to “connect” with. “Whether it’s just the visual connection, you just like the look of it, or whether it’s an emotional connection, you feel something from it … if the work is hung too high it feels like it’s not really in the room,” she said.
People sometimes make the mistake of hanging artwork too high, according to art consultant Louisa Warfield. Instead, hang the work so that its center is about 150cm above the floor, as demonstrated by the large painting on the right hand side of this dining room. The work displayed is by contemporary artist David Price and the interior designer was Rachael Harding.
Louisa Warfield Art Consultancy
A guideline is to hang the work so that its center is about 150cm above the floor, Warfield said. Alternatively, hang it so that your eye level is about a third of the way down from the top of the piece. “These are guides — there’s no hard and fast rule,” she said.
Having a gallery wall, where several pieces of varying sizes are hung together, is a popular way to display art at home. Most people are not art collectors who buy work around a particular theme; instead, they might acquire pieces on vacation or receive art as gifts, Warfield said.
“As our lives grow and get bigger, [the artworks] often don’t match. But a gallery wall … allows you to draw together lots of quite disparate bits into one quite holistic look,” she said.
Warfield suggests giving the display cohesion. “This might be as simple as everything has a black frame. This might be simple as everything is a flower picture, or … everything is a black and white photo,” she said. She might add a quirk, such as having one picture that has a touch of red in it that stands out against a monochrome selection.
A “gallery wall” in art consultant Louisa Warfield’s London home. Warfield suggested laying pictures on the floor in your desired arrangement before hanging them.
Louisa Warfield Art Consultancy
In a large home, a gallery wall might be about 160cm in height and about the width of the couch the art will hang above, Warfield said. She said mixing larger pieces with smaller ones is acceptable and recommended laying out pictures on the floor in front of the couch to decide how to display them. Should you have the largest picture in the middle of the display? “There’s no ‘should,’” she said. “There are a million different ways of doing it.”
Warfield charges £175 ($222) plus taxes for two hours of advice on what to buy and how to display it. When it comes to the hang itself, it’s worth hiring a professional who understands the best fittings to use for the size of the artwork and the type of wall it will go on, Warfield said. Expect to pay a professional hanger around £80 an hour, she said.
You might want artwork to fit with a color scheme you have chosen for your home, but this is something that the art world — which can be elitist — might look down on, Warfield said. Her approach is more inclusive: “You must do whatever you want in your home — it’s your sanctuary,” Warfield said.
“What I advise my clients is that you might want it to match now, but your sofa and your [color] palette is almost certainly going to change again in seven to 10 years,” Warfield said. If you are buying art and are keen on a matching approach, “be very aware of how much money are you spending, and will that picture have longevity after you have changed the color of your sitting room?”
Work by British artist Sophie Carter in a penthouse apartment by interior designer Yoko Kloeden. Art consultant Louisa Warfield said she commissioned the piece to reflect the views from the building.
Louisa Warfield Art Consultancy
If you’ve recently moved home and feel your existing artworks don’t fit your new space, consider reframing pieces or hanging them unframed to give them a new look, Warfield suggested, or have them glazed in non-reflective and UV-protective glass that will display work more clearly.
ForHelen Sunderland Cohen, who collects modern and contemporary art and photography, balance is important. “I try to place works that feel good in a particular space, and that interact organically with one another. This could be through colour, style, or a motif. For example, I decided to hang black and white photography down one corridor,” she told CNBC by email.
Sunderland-Cohen’s London home features an open-plan living area with large windows along its length that shed light on her collection.
A mask by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare hangs next to a monoprint on fabric by British artist Aimee Parrott, followed by an oil on canvas by post-war British artist Prunella Clough. Meanwhile, a bright pink porcelain cone by Simon Bejer is displayed on a side table — Bejer is a graduate of the City & Guilds School of Art in London, where Sunderland Cohen is a trustee.
Art collector Helen Sunderland Cohen said she aims for a “harmonious and balanced” environment when it comes to playing art. She is pictured here with an antique atlas, part of The Sunderland Collection.
Helen Sunderland Cohen
“I … try to arrange the art in a way that works with the furniture, rugs, and light, so that everything feels harmonious,” Sunderland Cohen said.
Sunderland Cohen, who manages The Sunderland Collection, a collection of antique world maps and atlases, said she buys work for her home that she has a personal connection to, such as places she has lived. “I think a lot of displaying art comes down to confidence and intuition, rather than worrying about what other people will think or how trendy an artist is,” she said.
“I am fascinated by design, and like living with it: even simple objects like a well-designed lamp or a beautiful cushion, or a quirky vase. These items do not have to be expensive, just engaging and fun,” she said.
HOUSTON – Brittany Franklin is a busy mom. Her daughter Stevie just turned one year old, she runs local non-profit Sky High for Kids, and although she and her husband had discussed moving to another house once their baby was born, they decided they wanted to make their current home work better for them.
First, they tackled their living room — the main gathering space for their family and friends.
“We for so long had two big chairs and a small couch, and it just made the room very crowded,” said Franklin, who worked with the design team at Living Designs Furniture to help her vision come to life.
Now, Franklin has an oversized sofa with two moveable ottomans so she has enough seating that a large sectional would have provided, but the flexibility to adjust the furniture based on her needs. The result? A more open, usable space.
“Now we have so much space and we can gather,” said Franklin.
The fabric she chose is a beautiful, stain-resistant Crypton that will stay looking new for years to come.
In addition to upgrading her living area, Franklin designed furniture for her bedroom, guest room, dining room, kitchen nook, and sitting area — giving her entire house a more beautiful, livable feeling. Watch the full video to see the result.
My husband Martin and I met in Brussels in 2012, when I literally stepped on his toes at my neighborhood farmer’s market. At the time, I was working as a security manager at NATO headquarters, and he was on a business trip from his home in the Netherlands.
Three days later, we went on our first date. Five weeks later, I moved to Washington, D.C., to take a post at the Pentagon. Almost a year and a half later, we decided we’d get married and he’d join me in D.C.
As a Marine Corps reserve officer, I took advantage of my VA loan benefits, and we bought a small home in 2014. We brought our newborn daughter home there in 2016.
But we always knew we wanted to move back to Europe eventually.
When the pandemic hit, it gave us time to pause and plan our long-awaited return to Europe.
We wanted to be a short drive away from my in-laws in my husband’s hometown of Rotterdam as they aged. We ultimately chose Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the administrative center of the European Union. We calculated that we could live there for less than D.C. or theNetherlands, and it’s only 90 minutes from Rotterdam.
It helped that I already had a solid network of friends in Brussels, too.
Jessica calls Martin her “90-day fiancé.”
Courtesy of Jessica van Dop DeJesus
We sold our D.C. home for $899,000 in 2021 — a 67.7% increase compared to what we’d paid for it. And after a year renting in Brussels, we started looking for a place to buy. Our two main requirements: It had to be walking distance to our daughter’s school and have an outdoor space big enough to eat outside.
Six months and 20 apartments into our search, we finally found “the one” in Saint Gilles, the neighborhood south of the city center where I’d lived before.
I fell in love with the 14-foot ceilings, the Art Nouveau buildings, and the great parks nearby.
One of Jessica’s favorite things to do in Brussels is go to the markets. There are cafés nearby where she likes to order a coffee or, “if I’m feeling a bit festive,” a glass of wine.
Federico Campanale
We offered 547,500 euro, or $586,767, for the apartment in Brussels, leveraging the cash we had from the sale of our D.C. home to put down a 10% down payment of $58,677 and securing a 20-year mortgage with a 3.59% interest rate.
We live in a street-level duplex in a building with only three apartments. It’s slightly smaller than our D.C. home, but it’s been worth it. Our neighborhood is equivalent to Logan Circle in Washington, D.C., where a place like ours could easily cost double or more. We’ve been able to add our own touches.
The front door leads into our dining room — one of my favorite parts of the apartment because of its high ceilings and large space for our long dining table, where we host many dinner parties.
Jessica is a food and travel content creator, and cooks pretty much every day. She loves that she and her family can host dinner parties in the dining room.
Federico Campanale
Next to the dining room is our living room, where I made a “fitness nook” with my stationary bike and weights so I can work out while watching TV.
We added an American-style stove and oven that fits my Thanksgiving turkey, as well as a wine fridge to our galley kitchen. We put in terrazzo floors as an homage to my childhood home in Puerto Rico.
“In Europe usually ovens are very tiny, but not the case with me because I love a big Thanksgiving turkey,” Jessica says.
Federico Campanale
Toward the back of the first floor, a small room doubles as an office and a sitting room. Large sliding doors lead to our two-level terrace, one with a large table we use in the warmer months.
Jessica and her family like to eat outside on the terrace in the warmer months. Above and beyond the patio, she says, “we have a beautiful view of the city hall.”
Federico Campanale
The bedrooms, laundry room, storage, and bathroom are on the bottom floor.
Lack of closets and storage space is common in European apartments. Fortunately, the former owners made a storage system under the stairs, which we use for extra clothes, household items, wines, and photography equipment.
“My daughter’s room still has the home’s original tile, which we love,” Jessica says.
Federico Campanale
We have an average-sized bedroom with a walk-in closet and a small guest bedroom with a full-sized bed.
Our bathroom is big for European standards with a shower and tub, and we plan to renovate it in 2025.
The bedroom is “very basic,” Jessica says.
Federico Campanale
Currently, our monthly housing costs in Brussels include our mortgage ($2,931) and condo fee ($65) as well as utilities such as electricity ($73), gas ($70), water (about $50), and internet and cable ($68).
I miss being within driving distance of my family in Western New York. The main sacrifice of this move is being so far from people I’m close to. But we’re happy to be in Brussels.
Our neighborhood, Saint Gilles, has always been one of my favorite parts of the city, filled with Portuguese, Brazilian, Eastern European, Italian, Latin American, and North African restaurants and shops. We even had a Latino-themed Christmas market with Colombian food stands and live salsa music sponsored by the town hall last year!
Our daughter, now seven, is a half-Dutch, half-Puerto Rican, third-culture kid, so we wanted her to grow up in a diverse community.
Jessica’s seven-year-old daughter already speaks English, Dutch, and Spanish, and will start learning French at school next year, too.
Federico Campanale
Belgium shares borders with four countries: the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and France. This close proximity makes it easy to take a quick weekend trip to explore even more places and cultures.
I can’t say leaving the U.S. for Europe meant the end of all our problems. But I feel more content and at ease here. I don’t worry as much about school shootings, for example, or the potential loss of employer-sponsored healthcare. We can afford to live, get childcare for our daughter, eat and cook like the foodie I am, and travel regularly.
And we can embrace a slower pace of life and a culture that prizes friends and vacations at least as much as work.
Jessica van Dop DeJesus is a freelance journalist, a digital media strategist, and the founder of The Dining Traveler, a multimedia digital platform covering food and travel. Jessica was raised in Puerto Rico and began traveling as a young Marine over 25 years ago. She currently serves as the Latinx facilitator for the Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship program for Bunker Labs, providing mentorship to aspiring veteran entrepreneurs. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.
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Sergio Mercado may draw inspiration from the sleek, contemporary style of California, but his timeless and luxurious designs have become an iconic part of the New York City area, whether that be a classic townhouse or a plush restaurant.
Mercado started his interior design journey in San Francisco, where he developed a signature style that became highly sought after in residential, hospitality and commercial spaces. He spent years building up brands like BAMO, Inc. and Clodagh Design, helping them see through his unique modern lens.
For the past nine years, Mercado has devoted his efforts to building Sergio Mercado Design Studio, where he focuses on the personal aesthetics of each individual client, while still infusing his own artful style and passion.
Observer recently had a chance to speak with Sergio Mercado and learn more about how his studio remains a standout in the interior design world.
A space in Water Mill, NY designed by Mercado. Joshua McHugh
Observer: What inspired you to become an interior designer?
Sergio Mercado: I feel as though I’ve always had the inclination towards design. As a child, I was constantly rearranging the furniture in my parents’ home. My father built me a clubhouse, which I was quick to furnish, and my parents also let me design my bedroom when I was 16.
What are you known for?
Creating spaces that are sleek and rich in design and texture, while also feeling calm and serene.
How has your design ethos changed since you first started out?
My design ethos has definitely evolved. Throughout each design process, I’m always considering whether the core of what we are designing is life-enriching. A home can be both beautiful and easy to maintain and live within.
How do you help clients move past their comfort zone?
By presenting a concept passionately. If you share how passionate you feel about a concept with your client, they will sense those feelings and will want to see that vision conceptualized.
Where do you recommend saving vs. splurging on interior decor? What investments in decor have the most significant return on investment?
This is a hard question to answer, because I feel that well-designed and limited-edition furnishings are a good investment. As an example, a piece by Finn Juhl, Wendell Castle or Sergio Rodrigues will not only have an impact in a room, but will also retain its value. There is always going to be a market for this type of furniture.
What are your favorite brands to work with?Are there any design rules you live by?
Too many brands to name them all, but top of our list would be Avenue Road for furnishings, The Future Perfect for lighting, Rosemary Hallgarten for rugs and textiles and Salvatori and Boffi for plumbing fixtures and bathroom vanities. They produce pieces that are well-made and designed. I don’t think there should be rules on design.
How do you help your clients avoid decision fatigue, and keep the process fun instead of overwhelming?
We try to avoid revisiting design decisions. Our best ideas are generated in the beginning of the design process. If we explore other concepts, we find that nine times out of 10, we revert back to our original ideas. We’ve found the surefire way to avoid this is by presenting our clients with multiple concepts from the onset.
Is there any item or type of decor that you find clients need the most help selecting? Or come to you with buyer’s remorse after trying to find that piece themselves?
The decor that most clients have difficulty in selecting are sofas and dining chairs. Scale in seating can be tricky. We always insist on clients sitting in sofas, club chairs and dining chairs [to test them out].
A townhouse designed by Mercado. Joshua McHugh
Do you find yourself doing a lot of gut renovation work?
Most of our work consists of gut renovation projects.
Do you educate your clients to invest in certain pieces?
When we present limited edition furnishings, we will provide context by presenting our clients with the designers’ bio. It is also helpful when furniture designers exhibit at furniture fairs, such as Salon of Art & Design or Design Miami. Our clients love attending furniture fairs.
Have you worked with clients on second and third projects over the years? Do you find your client going outside of their comfort zone more after you have worked on the initial project with them?
We have a couple of clients who we’ve worked with on multiple homes. And yes, after having experience working together on an initial project, a level of trust and comfort is achieved. Shared visions and concepts are much easier to discuss and implement.
The front door of your home serves as the gateway to your personal sanctuary, playing a pivotal role in first impressions, security, and energy efficiency. In this article, we delve into the five key considerations you should bear in mind when choosing a front door that complements your home’s style while ensuring safety and optimal performance.
Perhaps you’re closing escrow on a new Bellevue, WA home and are planning to personalize it with updates, or you’re looking to deploy your newfound real estate investment strategies on an Austin, TX home. Regardless, this Redfin guide will give you the insights needed to pick the perfect front door for your home. Let’s get started.
1. Prioritize material and durability
Consider materials like wood, fiberglass, steel, or aluminum when choosing a front door. Each has its own set of pros and cons related to durability, maintenance, and appearance. For instance, while wood offers a classic and timeless appeal, it may require more frequent maintenance against weathering and potential warping. On the other hand, steel and fiberglass tend to be more resistant to wear and tear, with aluminum doors providing lightweight durability but potentially being more susceptible to dents and scratches.
2. Use your front door to enhance the curb appeal of your home
One of the first things visitors notice about your home is the front door, making it a central component of curb appeal. Ensure the design, color, and style of the door match and enhance your home’s exterior. By thoughtfully selecting a door that reflects your personal taste and complements the architectural integrity of the house, you can elevate its overall appearance and leave a lasting impression on guests and passersby.
Billy Cline, president and CEO of Your New Door, shares how “a carefully selected front door can add to a property’s value, but also acts as a portal from the outside world.” Upon guests or your arrival, the door presents a statement for what’s to come.
3. Be thorough with security features
When choosing a front door, a critical consideration should be its security features. Staying vigilant by ensuring all the necessary bells and whistles, such as keyless entry, deadbolts, and other mechanisms, are included can lead to a better night’s rest.
Rose Reif, brand and business manager for Window Works Co., suggests if your front door has windows, “adding obscured glass to enhance privacy.” She adds how “obscured glass is a great way to cover windows without sacrificing natural light.”
4. Don’t forget about sun exposure
Investing in a front door can come at a higher price tag; therefore, you’ll want to be sure that the material selected is resistant to wear and tear from overexposure to the sun. However, if you can’t resist a door that will experience wear and tear, explore additional tips to avoid sun damage.
Billy Cline adds, “An entry that faces north receives no direct sunlight, which is best for wood doors. However, for front doors that receive sunlight, consider an iron, fiberglass, or clad door.”
5. Pick a door style that complements your home
It’s essential to choose a door style that complements the architectural design of your home. Whether you have a modern, traditional, or colonial facade, there’s a door design to match. Ensure the style, lines, and details resonate with your home’s overall character to create a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing exterior.
Inna Shellkopf with Brownstone Doors Co., in Brooklyn, NY, shares, “When you’re in the process of replacing a front door on a historic property, research the appropriate door style of the era in which the property was built.” Shellkopf adds, “Choose the appropriate door hardware that complements the door’s style–this attention to detail can further enhance the overall appearance.”
If you’re unsure of the home’s design style, Benjamin Eli with RUS Doors Inc. in North Hollywood, CA, shares that “front doors can start the momentum as to the direction of style the house is going for.” Therefore, choosing a front door can be a great starting point in your renovation endeavors.
6. Focus on energy efficiency
Opt for doors with good insulation properties, weather stripping, and energy-efficient glass options to save on heating and cooling costs. A well-insulated door can significantly reduce energy loss, leading to a more comfortable living environment and lower utility bills. Furthermore, by investing in an energy-efficient door, you’re enhancing your home’s performance and taking a step towards eco-friendly living by reducing your carbon footprint.
Final thoughts on choosing a front door
Creating a cohesive design requires carefully considering every detail, including choosing the perfect front door. With Craftwood Doors and Windows, Greg Kaminski states that “the front door makes a lasting first impression and creates a bold statement about the residents’ design preferences.” From curb appeal and security features to structural material and style, let these five tips guide your next project.
Heat pumps are becoming more popular for residential housing with energy prices increasing and the need to reduce use of fossil fuel heating systems.
Andrew Aitchison | In Pictures | Getty Images
Thinking about a home heat pump? New and expanded government incentives, coupled with sharply rising utility costs, make it more compelling.
Especially when used in connection with clean electricity sources like rooftop or community solar, a heat pump — a single electric appliance that can replace a homeowner’s traditional air conditioner and furnace system — can warm and cool a home with less planetary harm.
These investments are becoming more appealing to consumers, too, given inflation’s heavy hand. A whopping 87% of U.S. homeowners surveyed said they experienced higher prices in at least one household service or utility category over the summer, according to SaveOnEnergy.com. There’s another possible bonus: Incentives being offered through the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
“These incentives are not only saving you money now and in the long run on your utility bills, but they are putting our economy on track to reduce consumption of fossil fuels that contribute to climate change,” said Miranda Leppla, director of the Environmental Law Clinic at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. “It’s a win-win.”
The use of heat pumps will become more common as governments legislate their adoption. Washington State recently mandated that new homes and apartments be constructed with heat pumps. In July, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a goal of 3 million climate-ready and climate-friendly homes by 2030 and 7 million by 2035, supplemented by 6 million heat pumps by 2030.
Here are four important things to know about upgrading your home to a heat pump system.
Heat pump cost, savings and efficiency considerations
Heat pumps are appropriate for all climates and are three to five times more energy efficient than traditional heating systems, according to Rewiring America, a nonprofit focused on electrifying homes, businesses and communities.
Rather than generating heat, these devices transfer heat from the cool outdoors into the warm indoors and vice versa during warm weather. Heat pumps rely on electricity instead of natural gas or propane, both of which have a higher carbon emission than renewable electricity such as wind or solar, said Jay S. Golden, director of the Dynamic Sustainability Lab at Syracuse University.
With installation, heat pumps can range from around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on factors such as the size of the home and heat pump type, according to Rewiring America, but it estimates the savings could amount to hundreds of dollars per year for an average household. What’s more, it’s a long-term play, since heat pumps that most people will consider installing have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, according to Rewiring America.
Electricity costs also tend to be more stable, insulating consumers against gas price volatility, said Joshua Skov, a business and government consultant on sustainability strategy who also serves as an industry mentor and instructor at the University of Oregon.
“While there’s an upfront cost, millions of homeowners would save money with a heat pump over the life of the device,” he said. “You’ll save even more with the federal government covering a chunk of the upfront cost.”
Inflation Reduction Act incentives
The Inflation Reduction Act — an expansive climate-protection effort by the federal government — includes multiple incentives to lower the cost of energy-saving property improvements. These incentives significantly exceed what’s available to homeowners today, said Jono Anzalone, a lecturer at the University of Southern Maine and the executive director of The Climate Initiative, which empowers students to tackle climate change.
For low-income households, the Inflation Reduction Act covers 100% of the cost of a heat pump, up to $8,000. For moderate-income households, it covers 50% of your heat pump costs, up to the same dollar limit. Homeowners can use a calculator — such as the one available from Rewiring America — to determine their eligibility.
If you’re considering multiple green home improvements, keep in mind that the law’s overall threshold for “qualified electrification projects” is up to $14,000 per household.
Federal tax credits for homeowners
For those who exceed the income threshold for a rebate, there’s the option, starting Jan. 1, to take advantage of the nonbusiness energy property credit, commonly referred to as 25C, said Peter Downing, a principal with Marcum LLP who leads the accounting firm’s tax credits and incentives group.
Homeowners can receive a 30% tax credit for home energy efficiency projects such as heat pumps. In a given year, they can get a credit of up to $2,000 for installing certain equipment such as a heat pump. This credit will expire after 2032, according to the Congressional Research Service.
There can be another tax credit to homeowners who purchase a geothermal heat pump, which is a more expensive, but longer-lasting option on average. Homeowners can receive an uncapped 30% tax credit for a geothermal heating installation, according to Rewiring America, which estimates an average geothermal installation costs about $24,000 and lasts twenty to fifty years. That means the average tax credit for this type of pump will be around $7,200, Rewiring America said.
The ventilation system of a geothermal heat pump located in front of a residential building.
Rulemaking is still underway for the Inflation Reduction Act. But it is possible eligible consumers will be allowed to receive both a rebate and a credit, Downing said. But the math is not likely to be as straightforward, based on previous IRS guidance on energy rebates backed by the federal government. Say a consumer is entitled to a 50% rebate for a heat pump that costs $6,000. For purposes of the tax credit, the remaining $3,000 could be eligible for a 30% tax credit, resulting in a possible credit of $900, he said.
State and local financial support
States, municipalities and local utility companies may provide rebates for certain efficient appliances, including heat pumps. “Check with all of them because there are so many different levels of programs, you really need to hunt around,” said Jon Huntley, a senior economist at the Penn Wharton Budget Model who co-authored an analysis of the Inflation Reduction Act’s potential impact on the economy.
Also be sure to check back frequently to see what new state, local and utility-based incentives may be available because programs are often updated, Golden said. Reputable local contractors should also know about locally available rebates, he said.
Many installers have aggressive financing packages to make heat pump installation more feasible, Anzalone said.
In 2020, when the pandemic put our travels to a halt, my family bought a four-bedroom, 3,600-square-foot home in Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida.
My parents had been wanting to buy a vacation home for some time. I have a now five-year-old daughter, and my brother was about to become a father, so we were looking for a place to spend quality time together.
My husband and I live about three and a halfhours away in Miami, but Golden Oak is our home away from home. Since we both work remotely, we’re able to visit at least twice a month with our daughter.
As a travel and parenting blogger, I get a lot of questions from my followers about what it’s like to have a home in Disney’s highly coveted residential community.
Disney’s Golden Oak is a gated property of luxury, single-family homes, just four miles from Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park.
There are about 300 homes that range from 1,800 square feet to 12,000 square feet. One house sold for $12 million this year, and another is currently listed at $9.5 million.
Sectioned into eight neighborhoods, the homes were designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, the Walt Disney Company division that oversees the design and construction of its theme parks.
Residents have access to pools, a fitness center, restaurants and other Disney resorts. They also have membership to the exclusive Golden Oak Club, which offers “concierge-style services,” including private VIP park tours and special event tickets.
Golden Oak first started listing homes in 2010. But despite being a Disney regular, I’d never heard of it until my parents visited friends at their vacation home there in 2020.
Cristie lives in Miami with her husband and their daughter, but they travel to their Disney-themed vacation home near Orlando, Florida twice a month.
Photo: Cristie Anne Cabrera
During their visit, they got to tour one of the newer houses. They FaceTimed my brother and me to show us the home. We all fell in love with the place and put a contract in at full asking price.
Houses in Golden Oak sell quickly, but we got lucky with timing. The entire first floor came furnished, so we were all able to enjoy Thanksgiving weekend there together just days after closing that year.
We live in The Cottages at Symphony Grove neighborhood. Each house has its own whimsical look. Ours was inspired by Belle’s cottage in “Beauty and the Beast.”
Each house in The Cottages at Symphony Grove has its own unique theme.
Photo: Cristie Anne Cabrera
One thing that all the Golden Oak homes have in common are the tiny Disney-themed details. Our property, for example, has over 50 hidden Mickey Mouses. The kids love trying to find them every time they come over.
Our house is styled as a French cottage, particularly on the first floor.
The entrance to the home is styled with a carved door and an elegant chandelier.
Photo: Cristie Anne Cabrera
The kitchen and dining room are complete with wooden beams and other countryside accents.
Distressed wooden details, intricate tiles and a towering kitchen hood give the space a French-countryside feel.
Photo: Cristie Anne Cabrera
Upstairs, the house becomes more clearly Disney-themed. On the second floor, my bedroom has a quote from “Beauty and the Beast” above the bed.
My brother’s room has “Winnie the Pooh” characters hand-painted on the walls.
The bunkbed room (a.k.a. the “Bambi” room) is tiny but full of beautiful details like wood-paneled walls and a small nightlight for each bed.
The cozy bunk beds in this “Bambi”-themed room makes it a family favorite.
Photo: Cristie Anne Cabrera
My favorite feature in entire house is a spiral staircase on the second floor that leads to “Belle’s Reading Room” on the third floor, which is now the girls’ playroom.
It has reclaimed wood beams on the ceilings, hand-painted drawings on the walls, a built-in bookshelf, and the same railing as the staircase on the windows.
Finally, there’s a guest suite that connects to the home through the outdoor patio. That whole area feels like you’ve entered a princess suite, thanks to a few Disney touches like the “Alice in Wonderland” doorknob.
We also have a small pool and jacuzzi. It’s completely surrounded by the home, making the space more private. In the patio area, there’s a dining table for six, a sitting area with a couch and chairs, a fireplace and an outdoor kitchen.
We don’t visit the theme parks too often when we’re in Golden Oak. Most of the time, we just enjoy the neighborhood and spend time at home together.
We have golf carts that we can use to visit Golden Oak’s playground, parks and resident-only clubhouse.
The kids love watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the dock at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. We also take my daughter there to ride ponies. In the summer, we use their splash pad and pool that has an amazing slide.
For us, this truly is the happiest place on earth.
Cristie Anne Cabrera, a.k.a. The Traveling Red, is a Miami-based mom, social media influencer and travel blogger. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and her blog for a look into her travels to Disney’s Golden Oak and road trips in her school bus conversion.
Paris, France, March 17, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– The Home Design Institute (HDI) Paris, a leading educational firm providing professional training in interior and landscape design, announced today the results of a survey of nearly 250 participants on their feelings and perceptions after moving from a smaller home to a larger one.
The data was comprised of students that took a free interior design course at HDI and that indicated they had moved to a larger primary residence in the last two years. Participants were asked a number of questions concerning their relocation. An overwhelming majority, 68%, indicated that they felt happier after living in their larger home for six months, citing a variety of reasons including increased comfort (79%), more space for individual family members to utilize (77%) and improved relationships between family members (44%). Less than one-third of all respondents were less happy after living in a larger home for six months; of those respondents, the most cited reason was having to pay larger bills (73%). The full responses were:
After 6 months, 32% of respondents felt less happy after moving to a larger home citing:
– Larger bills (73%)
– More homework (52%)
– Increased distance between family members (37%)
– Decreased sense of security at home (23%)
– Higher repair and maintenance costs (22%)
– Difficulties with managing a larger property (18%)
After 6 months, 68% of respondents felt happier after moving to a larger home citing:
– Greater comfort at home (79%)
– Availability of individual spaces for each family member (77%)
– Home has become cleaner (54%)
– Improved relationships between family members (44%)
– Opportunity to create a calmer, individual workplace (38%)
“It was really fascinating to see the strong feelings of the respondents in this survey,” commented Ilian Petrov, Founder of the Home Design Institute Paris. “We were not expecting so many respondents to have the same answers, but it turned out that many of the participants felt the same way.”
Data indicates that worldwide, people are living with more space per person, and it is a reasonable conclusion to think the pandemic may have exacerbated this trend with the desire for larger spaces as individuals and families spent more time at home. Another result of this prolonged home time was skyrocketing demand for interior designers and home improvement contractors. Petrov said that HDI’s free Interior Design Fundamentals course has become more popular than ever. The class is an introductory-level course designed for people who are looking to start as independent interior designers.
ABOUT THE HOME DESIGN INSTITUTE PARIS Founded in 2014, the Home Design Institute (HDI) Paris is a leading educational company that operates primarily in Eastern and Western Europe. HDI has more than 10,000 students that have successfully completed the program and gone on to pursue their dream profession. For more information please visit: https://homedesigninstitute.com
The company, run by a mother-daughter team, was certified as a woman-owned business
Press Release –
Jan 20, 2022
SAN DIEGO, January 20, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– Blindsgalore, a company offering high-quality window coverings at affordable prices, was recently certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
Chelle Walters founded Blindsgalore as she struggled to find quality, affordable window treatments that fit her needs. Walters started Blindsgalore to offer custom window treatments that anyone at home could design. Her daughter, Alissa Walters, joined the company in 2008 as the CEO. The pair maintains their family ideals dedicated to quality, beauty and approachability with all Blindsgalore products.
“We want to be transparent about exactly who is behind the scenes at Blindsgalore so that our community can know who they are working with and so that we can hopefully become less behind the scenes,” Alissa Walters said. “Being supported by the WBENC is an honor for my mom and I as owners. We like to know who we’re working with and we know our customers do, too.”
The WBENC standard of certification is a meticulous process, including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women. Blindsgalore is 100% owned and operated by Chelle and Alissa Walters. By including women-owned businesses among their suppliers, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs.
“There are 13 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., representing 42% of all businesses. Yet there is still a significant disparity in revenue and capital between these businesses and others,” said a spokesperson for WBENC). “WBENC is helping bridge that gap — through access to opportunities, programs that accelerate growth, and campaigns to influence consumer buying behaviors.”
For more information about Blindsgalore, visit blindsgalore.com.
About Blindsgalore: Based in San Diego, CA, Blindsgalore is a web-based retailer that specializes in custom window treatments. For over 20 years, the Blindsgalore team has been helping customers simplify the online ordering process and has sold over two million window treatments across the country. For more information, visit www.blindsgalore.com.
About WBENC: Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation’s leader in women’s business development and the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with more than 17,000 certified Women’s Business Enterprises, 14 national Regional Partner Organizations, and more than 350 Corporate Members. More than 1,000 corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands, as well as many states, cities, and other entities, accept WBENC Certification. For more information, visit www.wbenc.org.
### Media Contacts: Jocelyn Bishop jbishop@blindsgalore.com Blindsgalore, 5744 Pacific Center Boulevard, Suite 306, San Diego, CA 92121
