Foam insulation was installed this week at the Belle Cote project. Sheetrock will be started next week, along with exterior masonry. Which has us thinking about the finish on this family room fireplace. The exterior masonry will include brick and Oklahoma stone, like the stone on the retaining wall (below). We'll use the Oklahoma stone on this fireplace and the covered patio living space fireplace and back wall. But the question is how to apply the stone? Full wall? Floor to

Last week I shared the poll results from our first 9 weeks of This or That Thursday. Today I'd like to share some of the decisions we have made for our Belle Cote project in Argyle. You'll be happy to know that there is a lot of overlap between what you selected and what will ultimately be installed in this home. KITCHEN: First up, the kitchen. CABINETS: Demand is still high for the white shaker cabinets. This clean look is popular in remodels and high end builds. It's a nice

It's been so much fun to contemplate finishes for a spec home we are building in Argyle, Texas and ask for your input too. After 9 weeks of you diligently following along and letting me know your opinions, I thought you'd appreciate a recap. Week 1: Lighting: Oil Rubbed Bronze or Warm Brass? Winner: Oil Rubbed Bronze Week 2: Windows: Black or White? Winner: Black Week 3: Master Bedroom - Carpet or Hardwood? Winner: Hardwood Week 4: Plumbing - My blog referenced 4 finishes but

Every home I have ever lived in has had carpet in the bedrooms. I always assumed that was the norm. However, as I explore the world of design I find it interesting how strongly some people feel about carpet. Carpet in a bedroom provides warmth and noise absorption (especially on a second story room). It can make a bedroom feel cozier than a solid surface floor. The downside is it also can harbor dust and dirt and synthetic fibers can emit chemicals. Carpet can range from very

We have always liked the look of white windows and white trim. On our own home we like the crisp pop of color against the brick and the dark gray exterior paint. In the interior we like the symmetry of the white windows and the cabinetry and wood trim throughout the house. This wasn't the norm, at least here in North Texas, when we spec'd all white for our home. Most of the homes in our area have tan window frames. As we are currently picking out the window package for our sp

One aspect of building a spec home (i.e. building on speculation that there will be a buyer interested down the road, versus building for a specific client) that is exciting is making all the selections for the finishes for a potential unknown client. This mean exploring current design trends and balancing them with traditional and timeless design classics. This week I am introducing a new weekly blog theme called This or That Thursday where I will share a couple of design id