HGTV Your Way | Blog by John Cherveny
4 Popular Design and Build Styles to Consider For Your Home.
The other day I bumped into a realtor friend. She said I should come by her open house to see the “beautiful HGTV-inspired” home she had listed. I wondered for a minute what makes a home HGTV inspired? I was intrigued, so I went to see the home. She was right, the home was beautiful. And it did have an HGTV-like look. It was beautiful in a way that told a story. The story was about an elevated type of design, and a style that flowed into every room and every detail. Every piece of furniture, every fixture, every accent was a piece of the complete, whole story.
Seeing it first-hand led me to the conclusion that HGTV inspired was really all about having a beautiful, cohesive style. A style in which the warmth, lighting, spaciousness, functionality, personality, furniture and accents ALL serve a purpose.
We all love HGTV – we fantasize about the “larger than life” homes. We salivate over the gorgeous designs, possibilities and surprises. How can non-interior-designers achieve a beautiful home too? Where do you begin to create a refined and elevated look for your home by yourself? Whether going for HGTV-worthy or not, it begins with choosing your style.
As a custom home builder, I can tell you that it is easier to fine-tune your style while starting a brand new home. However, you can still achieve wonderful results with a remodel too. The first step is figuring out which style resonates most with you and your family. What attracts you and makes you feel good? Then communicate that to your builder and decorator.
“Decorating” your home is one of the final steps. Many key style features and nuances will happen during the build or renovation. There is so much your builder can do to promote and incorporate your style choices all along the way to the final decorating stage. For example, your builder can recommend elevations, floorplans, window sizes and shapes, natural wood beams, arched doorways, structural columns, etc that will create the foundation that complement an authentic style.
Here’s a list of 4 popular design styles to explore:
- Rustic
You can achieve a rustic style by combining natural and industrial elements. Rustic brings the outdoors inside through oversized windows, strategic skylights. It accents with rubbed steel, open grained and reclaimed woods. Warm earth tones create a cozy and natural feel. Colors come from the surroundings for inspiration, such as tree greens and sky blues. This style emphasizes natural finishes, stone, metal, leather, brick, reclaimed wood and natural fabrics.
I would suggest adding the following structural features for a true rustic look: asymmetrical placement of wood and stone, high cathedral ceilings, prominent stairs, huge beams and fireplaces.
- Minimalist
Minimalism is a popular style. It is often misunderstood as many associate this style with bare walls, cold furniture and zero personal“stuff.” It is a clean, somewhat sparse look with a slew of subtle nuances going on. When done right, this style is sleek and elegant, beautiful and comfortable.
The key to this style is less is more. Rooms will have light furnishing, uncluttered surfaces, muted or neutral colors, hidden and attractive storage areas and functional elements.
I would suggest adding the following structural features for a true Minimalist look: geometric components, clean lines and strategic use of materials for visual interest and texture.
- American Coastal
The American coastal style is defined by relaxation and comfort. It has become one of the most popular decorating styles in the United States. This style has a beach house feel with an open, airy spaces. It has classic, coastal elements like driftwood, weathered woods, rough stone, natural light sources, soft furnishings, and nautical hints. Coastal design uses a color palette featuring beach-hued tones in white, sand, blue and green. There is a lot of glass and natural light throughout.
An important component of the American Coastal style is incorporating natural, textured elements. Texture can come from natural fiber and sisal rugs, woven fabrics such as linen and cotton and grasscloth wallcoverings. The furniture is often made out of teak, bamboo, wicker or seagrass.
I would suggest adding the following structural features for a true American Coastal look: thoughtfully-placed, large windows to showcase views and sets of French doors to bring in sunlight, breezes and add charm.
- Mediterranean
The Mediterranean home is defined by open spaces with large exterior windows. This openness style is an invitation for pleasant weather and favorite for warm climate areas.
The Mediterranean style is distinguished by the influences of Southern European countries like Spain, Greece and Italy. It consists of light and warm undertones with splashes of bright, sun-baked colors. Natural materials, such as ceramics, wood, black wrought iron candelabras, cotton, terra cotta, and heavy woods.
I would suggest adding the following structural features for a true Mediterranean look: as a tile roof, open balconies, large windows and a courtyard.
Other elements set this style apart. They include arched doorways and windows, soft rugs, handmade accessories, mosaics and chandeliers.
My advice
Start at the beginning… When planning to build or renovate a home, spend time thinking through the over style you want to achieve. Think especially about the permanent fixtures like the architecture, glazing and core materials. Deciding what you love first (colors, textures, accents, materials) will help to lead you to a particular style. If you love reclaimed wood and hearty furniture – Rustic may be the way to go. If you love the beach and a relaxing color palette – Coastal may be the way to go. Whichever style you choose, make every detail a part of a cohesive plan.
What turns an average home into a stunning home? An HGTV-inspired home? I believe it’s the overall story you tell. It’s the blending of core, distinctive and genuine elements with every little detail to create an authentically-styled best-seller.
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