Mark your calendar because the Saratoga Showcase of Homes returns this September! The showcase celebrates and recognizes Saratoga County’s most exceptional homes built by the finest builders in the Capital Region.

Now in its 18th year, the event will display the latest in building techniques and products for the home. Homeowners can also explore beautiful, high-quality furnishings and fixtures from the area’s top interior designers.

There will be three consecutive weekends to join the showcase tours: September 21st-22nd, 28th-29th & October 5th-6th. The showcase home tour hours are 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Also, be sure not to miss the new and exciting Showcase Chefs “Comforts of Homes” at participating showcase homes. These delectable events will take place September 20th!

To purchase your tickets, visit the Saratoga Showcase of Homes website. Proceeds from the event will benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. Be sure to grab your tickets and visit the showcase home on 96 Oak Street to explore the kitchen CCW designed with Witt Construction!

-Laura

Ambient

Any fixtures that reflect light off walls and ceilings add to the overall illumination of a room. You want your lighting to set the mood and perhaps attract the eye to certain elements. Install a dimmer switch to help add a layering effect. This will provide brighter light for tasks and softer light for mealtimes.

Task

Need additional lighting for your work stations? Having direct undercabinet lighting makes a world of difference. Task lighting can prevent accidents when chopping with a sharp knife. You can even have them above your sink and well out of the way from wet surfaces.

Decorative

Though fixtures provide ambient lighting, their main focus is to serve as decoration. There are numerous styles to choose from including pendants, chandeliers, wall sconces and table lamps.

Subway Tile

Subway tile has been making a comeback with homeowners. The trendy design can work with any look from vintage to modern. Consider crisp-white color tiles or even make a bold statement with color. Color is becoming a popular request in the bathroom.

Multi-Head Showers

A multi-head shower introduces luxury and functionality by misting you from different angles. It definitely adds something special and new to the space.

Radiant Heat

Coziness and warmth are what radiant heat will provide. The in-floor heating is a wonderful union of practicality and comfort. Not only is it more cost-effective than many heating methods, but it feels great on those cold winter mornings.

Framed Mirrors

“Move over medicine cabinet.” Adding furniture-style elements continues to be a hot trend in bathroom remodeling. A framed mirror is a simple and effective way to accomplish the look.

Designer Lighting

Update your lighting and bring glamorous, unexpected fixtures into the bathroom. If you don’t have a spacious area, add a small crystal chandelier for the touch of elegance you need.

Mark your calendar because the Parade of Homes returns in June! The event celebrates and recognizes the area’s most exceptional homes built by the finest builders in the Capital Region.

For more than 13 years, the Parade of Homes event has displayed the latest in building techniques and products for the home. It’s the perfect opportunity for homeowners to explore beautiful custom constructed homes, high-quality furnishings and fixtures from the area’s top interior designers.

There will be two weekends to join the parade tours: June 1st-2nd and 8th-9th from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Be sure to visit the Witt Construction homes on 51 Granger Avenue in Saratoga Springs and Retreat on Pond Hill, 38 Indian Pipe Drive in Wynantskill to explore the kitchens, baths, pantry and laundry room designed by CCW.

Visit the CRBRA online to learn more!

-Laura

Today is Earth Day and we are reminded that each of us has the power to reduce our impact on the environment. We encourage you to participate and make others aware of the environmental issues seen throughout the world. Make a difference by taking part in these simple actions throughout the home:

• Turn off the water when you brush your teeth
• Wash your clothes in cold water and use the short cycle
• Turn down your water heater
• Recycle and reuse plastic grocery bags…better yet, bring your own cloth bag to the market!
• Convert your household light bulbs to LED
• Purchase a filter for the kitchen faucet and cut back on water bottle usage
• Use your laptop over your desktop computer
• Take shorter showers
• Turn the lights off when you leave a room

Let your friends and family know that the small changes they do will have a huge impact on this wonderful planet we all call home.

-Laura

Decide a Look

Hewn wooden ceiling beams are accented by a weathered-wood farm table.

Do you want a cozy look and feel? Then select woods, plush fabrics, woven surfaces and natural fabrics for the floors and surfaces to add texture to a room. However if a streamlined look is what you want, then introduce lacquer, plastics, metals and glass. Just remember that balance is key. The best rooms have a perfect mix of both.

Introduce Nature

Thick, twisty tree branch and vase filled with freshly cut winding twigs.

Nature can play an interesting role in the home. It’s the perfect place to draw inspiration. Try using shells, stones, horns, feathers, and the unexpected, like cotton blossoms and birch branches, as decorative objects.

Make it an Accent

Leather Ceiling Tiles

Replace your accent colors with textures and surfaces. Texture can be used in place of color in a monochromatic scheme. And don’t forget the walls. Whether you include high-gloss paints, shell, leather wall tiles or Venetian plaster… walls are a great surface to play up texture.

Adjust the Lights

Relaxing Den

Your lighting scheme is just as crucial as the textural surfaces you add. Be aware of the materials and objects that reflect light or create visually interesting shadows.

Update Your Floors

Add value and style to your bathroom floors. Porcelain, ceramic and natural stone continue to be super popular with homeowners and designers. Also you’ll get the most added value with an almost dollar for dollar investment.

Exchange Your Shower Head

Should you sell your home, even the simplest detail plays a role. Therefore, minor updates shouldn’t be avoided. By switching out your shower head, you can turn your shower into an oasis. Consider a rain head for its dollar for dollar return on investment.

Install New Lighting

Lighting makes a huge impact in a room creating the ambience you desire. Instead of glaring, blinding lightbulbs above the sink, install task lighting. These lights can be recessed into the ceiling, or even select a pendant or sconce fixture to help illuminate the mirror. Track lighting also continues to be a wonderful option, providing lights to sit along a track on the ceiling or wall. You can adjust their position to shine wherever you want.

Switch Out Your Sink

With so many tasks taking place around the sink, why not update it for a look that appeals to the eye? Not only can sinks be fun, but also they can introduce luxury into your bathroom. Simple details like a new shiny chrome faucet and porcelain handles can add a lot of value to your home. Integrated sinks, in which there are no edges or hangovers from the countertop to the sink, continue to be a homeowner’s favorite. Also, vessel sinks are a creative way to bring life and uniqueness into the space.

Natural Light

Add a feel of cheerful richness into your kitchen with sunlight. Your space will be brighter than ever before. By working through design elements, you can incorporate new windows, skylights or French doors into the kitchen area.

Butler’s Pantry

Fuse old-world elegance and new-world practicality by creating a butler’s pantry. This small area between your kitchen and dining room is great for prepping tableware and food courses.

Custom Cabinetry

Forget store bought and have the kitchen fitted with cabinetry. No kitchen is the exactly the same, so the space will be customized based on your needs. Your room will not only be designed to handle daily functions, but will also look stunning through the years!

Marble

For an elegant and subtle look, marble is a beautiful addition in the kitchen. The material can be used in various areas, including backsplashes and countertops.

Lounge Life

When you design the kitchen to also act as a great room, you have a space that’s truly welcoming. Create an inviting space by incorporating a fireplace, multimedia entertainment system and/or cozy seating area.

Multiple Work Stations

Work where you want by creating multiple work stations throughout the kitchen to extend its versatility and flow. Each area would be fitted with separate sinks, counters and storage.

Walk-in Pantry

Outfitted to house nonperishable food, extra serving pieces, and miscellaneous odds and ends, having a large walk-in pantry is the perfect home luxury.

One of a Kind

Every kitchen should have a distinctive element. Whether it’s a handcrafted stone countertop, Portuguese-tile backsplash or an antique hanging light fixture, incorporate at least one captivating object in your kitchen.

Olive

Relaxing yet bold enough to make a statement, olive is the perfect shade of green that can be used in any room. The color pairs well with cream and brown tones. We personally enjoy this color for the living room accented with brown leather furniture.

Rose

Create a welcoming escape in any nook with this pink hue. The color is perfect for the foyer or even in a dining area. Rose goes well with a variety of colors creating a lush and rich feel. Incorporate the color in spaces where guests will gather due to its inviting nature.

Charcoal

The grey family may have some of our favorite tones. When you use colors like charcoal in the home, you can juxtapose your most eclectic pieces in style and color. Accent colors can be a breath of fresh air in rooms of neutral colors, so get creative. Bring in pieces that will pop, such as a red sofa, bright tufted benches or funky art.

Bathroom designers and suppliers are producing more diverse products. The industry is constantly improving and refining the manufacturing processes and materials without forgoing style. Every fixture has endured some change for the modern bathroom. Wooden bathroom furniture can now withstand the steam-filled rigors of daily life. By pre-treating the furniture with a moisture resistant coating, you enhance the performance and durability of the product. Manufacturers have been using higher quality materials, such as acrylic and resin, for tubs and showers that retain heat. These products are also easier to clean and are stain/scratch resistant. Lastly, improved technology provides better control of water temperature flow rate for faucets and shower heads.

With 60% of water usage taking place in the bathroom, it’s important for manufacturers to discover ways to reduce the home’s impact on the environment, and also your utility bill. To reduce water consumption, dual flush toilets and ceramic disc technology hare two great developments. Also cabinet manufacturers, including Wood-Mode, have become industry leaders in developing greener products and processes for the home.

The modern bathroom isn’t financially out of reach as you may think. You can certainly find the special products you desire to design a space without forgoing reliability and durability.