Search results for "Utilizing heavy" in Home Design Ideas
Five Star Tree CareOak trees have been a symbol of strength for a long time. They are also known to live for a very long time, given the right conditions. The reason they became a symbol of strength is because they themselves are very strong and are able to survive some of the harshest storms, when healthy. The wood it produces is undoubtedly very strong as well and is commonly used in the making of furniture, homes, and boats.
Oak trees are not only used for their strong wood, but also for their beauty. There are even certain species that produce distinctive lobed leaves, allowing them to stand out. Then, when fall comes around, they become even more majestic when their leaves turn bright and brilliant colours that add texture and a unique spectacle to the changing environment.
The beauty is so amazing that you might even want one for your own yard. Our team here at Five Star Tree Services is going to go over a few different types of oak trees that might be perfect for your landscape! These are guaranteed to have spectacular fall colours, great shade, and amazing texture.
Different Types of Oaks
You might be interested to know that oaks are one of the oldest trees in the world. Archeologists have been able to date them back to around 65 million years ago. A healthy oak can even live to about 200-300 years old. But do you know where these big trees come from? Little tiny acorns. A single oak tree is able to produce roughly 10 million acorns over the course of its lifetime.
Not only are oak trees beneficial to people but they are also great for animals. They are able to support more than 500 moth and butterfly species, which is more than other native trees can do. Insects also like to find homes in oak trees, which helps to feed the birds. Not to mention that small animals like squirrels also can utilize them for things like food, shade, and shelter. They also help larger animals, such as the white-tailed deer, who eats the acorns during the fall and winter season, which is about 75% of their diets.
Around the world, you can find more than 600 species of oak trees. Let’s go over a small handful of our favourites that are great for providing dazzling colourful displays during the fall months, when the leaves change colours. These are going to range from bronzes, to golds, to reds, and everything in between.
Black Oak
It might be apparent that the name comes from the outward appearance from the almost black bark that you see, along with the deep orange or yellow inner bark of the tree. Being quite a statement tree, you can enjoy the green glossy leaves in the summer and then enjoy them again then they turn orange and red in the fall. This tree has a tendency to look very similar to a red oak, but one of the major differences is that black oaks are a little smaller and are able to tolerate drier soil conditions.
Specifications:
-Growing Zones: 3-9
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs slightly acidic, well-drained, and rich soil
-Growing height: 50-60 feet
White Oak
This oak tree is great for shade and can easily be spotted by the light colour of its bark. During the spring, it comes out with pinkish leaves that later on turn to dark green. The leaves of this tree are 4-9 inches long, have 7-9 lobes, and turn reddish-brown in the fall.
Specifications:
-Growing Zone: 3-9
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs to be planted in well drained and slightly acidic soil
-Growing Height: 80 feet
Red Oak
This oak doesn’t have its name for nothing. It offers the brightest red leaves out of all the oak trees. In the fall, the leaves turn a beautiful deep red. During the summer, it has glossy green leaves and an open canopy. This is a widely adaptable tree and it also grows much faster than other oaks.
Specifications:
-Growing Zone: 3-9
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs to be plated in slightly acidic, moist, but well-drained soil
-Growing Height: 50-75 feet
Bur Oak
One of the defining features of this tree is that it has unique acorns. They are larger than other trees and are fringed. It grows in a round shape that is dense with leaves, offering lovely shade and is able to tolerate heat stress and pollution. In the fall the leaves of this oak tree can turn either yellow/green, muted yellow, or yellow/brown.
Specifications:
-Growing Zones: 3-8
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs neutral to alkaline soil
-Growing Height: 60-80 feet
Pin Oak
Typically found along rivers in eastern and central US, this oak tree’s unique feature is its distinctive branching pattern. It has large leaves that are pointed with sweeping U-shaped spaces between lobes. The leaves in the fall turn a scarlet red and eventually become bronze later in the fall.
Specifications:
-Growing Zone: 4-8
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs slightly acidic soil. Can tolerate wet and heavy clay soils
-Growing Height: 60-70 feet
Live Oak
These are not usually super tall but they do have winding and spiraling branches which have the ability to grow into a massive diameter, larger than other oak trees, and this helps to provide a large area of shade. Another special thing about this particular type of tree is that it is the only evergreen, not a deciduous tree like the rest. This specific oak tree is one of the strongest and was used in colonial times for making ships in the US Navy. The glossy leathery leaves on this tree are 1-3 inches long and are dark green with lighter green underneath, which lasts during the entire winter.
Specifications:
-Growing Zone: 8-11
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs to be planted in slightly acidic soil
-Growing Height: 40-80 feet
How Five Star Tree Services Can Help
Whether you are looking for the best oak tree for your yard or any other tree, our professionals here at Five Star Tree Services can help! With our wide variety of services, we can help you with all your tree care services in Richmond Hill! Give us a call today at (416) 990-3355!
Robin's Nest InteriorsIt was a pleasure to help this single dad transform a previous French Country motif into a Handsome Space with Masculine Vibe. The homeowner loves the blues you find in the Caribbean so we used those as accent colors throughout the rooms.
Entry
We painted the walls Sherwin Williams’ Latte (SW6108) to add warmth. We accessorized the homeowner’s beautiful burl wood cabinet with vibrant artwork and whimsical Chinese horses. I always recommend task lighting in a Foyer, if possible, and the rectangular lamp shade is the perfect shape to fit on the small end of the cabinet.
Powder Room
I adore the Candace Olson wallpaper we used in the Powder Room. The blocks look like sections of wood. It works great with the existing granite. Other examples of wallpaper here and here.
Great Room
We touched every surface in this Great Room from painting the walls Nomadic Desert (SW6107) to painting the ceiling Double Latte (SW9108) to make the room feel cozier to replacing the carpet with this transitional style with striated pattern to painting the white built-ins.
Furniture placement was a real challenge because the grand piano needed to stay without blocking the traffic flow through the space. The homeowner also wanted us to incorporate his chess table and chairs. We centered a small seating area in front of the fireplace utilizing two oversized club chairs and an upholstered ottoman with a wood tray that slides. The wood bases on the chairs helps their size not overpower the room. The velvet ottoman fabric with navy, azure, and teal blues is a showstopper.
We used the homeowner’s wonderful collection of unique puzzle boxes to accessorize the built-ins. We just added some pops of blues, greens and silver. The homeowner loves sculptural objects so the nickel twig wall decor was the perfect focal point above the mantle. We opted not to add anything to the mantle so it would not distract from the art piece.
We added decorative drapery panels installed on short rods between each set of doors. The homeowner was open to this abstract floral pattern in greens and blues!
We reupholstered the cushions for the chess table chairs in a fun geometric fabric that coordinates with the panel fabric. The homeowner does not use this set of doors to access the deck so we were able to position the table directly in front of them.
Kelly Sisler of Kelly Faux Creations worked her magic on the built-ins. We used Sherwin Williams’ Mega Greige (SW7031) as the base and then applied a heavy bronze glaze. It completely transformed the Great Room. Other examples of painting built-ins here and here.
We hoped you enjoyed this Handsome Space with Masculine Vibe. It was quite a transformation!
Premier ServiceInitial programming revolved around the disconnect between parking, kitchen, upper entertaining spaces, and the pool.
Accessibility was solved through the installation of the new multi-tiered, limestone balustrade lined, staircase in place of a previously disregarded space.
Additional hardscape features included a sunken fire pit, tiered fountain and multiple entertaining spaces to accommodate all needs. Plantings focused on providing structure to the space and bringing down the scale of the house. The highlights of larger Hydrangea and Arborvitae, added screening and privacy at the perimeter while utilization of evergreens bring interest to a space that allows nearly year round use. Lastly, heavy annual planting areas within the pool deck area give year-round interest to help draw people through the space.
Find the right local pro for your project
C&M InteriorsC&M Interiors participated in the Ladue News Charity Show House to design this grand foyer, staircase and second floor landing. The duo utilized their contemporary and minimal aesthetic to contrast with the heavy and bold wood work of the home built in 1897. Clear glass and gold metal accents brighten the expansive space while the combination of modern and antique help create a lively and fresh environment that is both elegant while cool and casual.
Envision WebStuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours
The design goal was to produce a corporate or family retreat that could best utilize the uniqueness and seclusion as the only private residence, deep-water hammock directly assessable via concrete bridge in the Southeastern United States.
Little Hawkins Island was seven years in the making from design and permitting through construction and punch out.
The multiple award winning design was inspired by Spanish Colonial architecture with California Mission influences and developed for the corporation or family who entertains. With 5 custom fireplaces, 75+ palm trees, fountain, courtyards, and extensive use of covered outdoor spaces; Little Hawkins Island is truly a Resort Residence that will easily accommodate parties of 250 or more people.
The concept of a “village” was used to promote movement among 4 independent buildings for residents and guests alike to enjoy the year round natural beauty and climate of the Golden Isles.
The architectural scale and attention to detail throughout the campus is exemplary.
From the heavy mud set Spanish barrel tile roof to the monolithic solid concrete portico with its’ custom carved cartouche at the entrance, every opportunity was seized to match the style and grace of the best properties built in a bygone era.
Henck Design LLCOne motif that Henck Design is known for is lining walls with large-scale mirrors in order to expand living and dining spaces for an elevated interior design. The design group utilized a variety of textures in the home like rough plaster, smooth large format tile, and light wood tones with heavy graining to add interest and tie spaces together.
New Creations Custom Kitchen and BathThese clients love to entertain and host large parties, but their existing kitchen was just too small and outdated. They have a large family with two huge dogs, so we knew we had to create a layout to accommodate everyone. We wanted to open the back wall so that the kitchen could expand into a formal dining room that they rarely used.
We were able to remove the built-in pantry, open the back wall, and absorb the entire formal dining room, to create a massive, open, chef’s kitchen. We designed a large eat-in central island built around a 36” gas cooktop with a heavy-duty downdraft pop-up vent. We maximized the cabinetry storage and made the most of every cabinet with pull-out organizers, hands-free trash pull-out, roll-out trays, large pantry cabinets, and gorgeous backlit glass front cabinets. We also created a large stone front bar area complete with a bar sink, double beverage centers, and an ice maker. We added built-in bench seating in the breakfast nook, a custom built-in desk area to utilize the space under the stairs, and refaced the fireplace to match the stacked stone in the bar area.
Sponsored
Sunbury, OH
J.Holderby - Renovations
Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!
Pelican Int'lLenox is a delightful balance of playful energy and elegance. Darker planks scatter throughout the design, an exquisite patchwork of wood tones that create a sleek look overall.
Part of the Metropolitan Collection XL, this series brings a modern approach with ultra large 9” x 60” planks. Beveled edges reduce visible seams between planks, adding beauty to the room. A rigid core protects from spills and heavy foot traffic. Uniclic technology makes installation simple while securely locking into place, limiting unwanted noise and movement. 20mil planks utilize UltraShield, a protective layer that holds up against scratches, stains and water absorption. 22mil planks feature DiamondDust, which provides a more robust solution for high-traffic areas. These wear layers are unique to the Solstone brand, providing enhanced durability for years to come.
Bloomin Blinds of North CharlotteDiscover how premium light-filtering materials and smart-home automation can secure street-level entryway glass without losing natural daylight.
Choosing the right window treatments for a home's front entrance is one of the most challenging design decisions a homeowner can face. The front door is the focal point of a home's curb appeal, often featuring expansive glass panels or side-by-side double doors designed to make a grand architectural statement.
During the day, these large glass features are an asset, flooding entryways and foyers with beautiful natural daylight. However, for homes situated on busy local roads or highly trafficked street-level lots, the dynamic completely changes once the sun goes down.
The moment interior lights are switched on in the evening, a stark contrast is created with the dark outdoors. This creates a severe privacy issue, leaving the entire foyer completely exposed to passing traffic and pedestrians. Finding a solution that delivers absolute evening privacy without permanently plunging the front entrance into darkness during the day requires understanding how modern window treatment materials and operating systems interact.
Light-Filtering vs. Blackout Fabrics
The first step in solving street-level privacy is selecting the correct fabric type. Many homeowners mistakenly assume they need heavy, opaque blackout shades to secure their home from outside eyes at night. While blackout fabrics certainly block 100% of the view, they also block 100% of the natural daylight during the day, forcing you to constantly raise and lower the shades just to see inside your own foyer.
A more effective approach for entryways utilizes premium light-filtering materials. These specialized fabrics are engineered with a precise, tight weave that operates on the principles of directional light and optical density.
Daytime Functionality: When the sun is shining outside, the exterior light levels are significantly higher than the interior light levels. The light-filtering fabric diffuses the intense, direct sunlight into a soft, ambient glow throughout the entryway. This keeps the home bright, eliminates harsh glares, and protects interior hardwood flooring, paint, and trim from damaging UV rays.
Night-Time Functionality: At night, the lighting dynamic reverses. The interior foyer lights make the inside bright, while the outside is dark. Because of the specialized tight weave, the fabric blocks the transmission of clear shapes and details. To a person standing out on the street or driving by on a busy road, the view inside is completely obstructed, delivering total privacy when the family is home for the evening.
Challenges of Front Door Installations
Securing privacy for a double wide front entrance introduces unique structural hurdles that standard windows do not face. Traditional blinds with hanging cords or manual pull chains are poorly suited for front doors. They disrupt the clean architectural lines of a grand foyer, create a safety hazard, and can easily get tangled or damaged when the doors are opened and closed.
The window treatments must be mounted high and wide enough above the door trim to ensure that the front doors can swing open and close freely without ever catching on the fabric or the lower hem bar.
How We Applied These Principles in Sherrills Ford, NC
Applying these exact educational principles to real-world homes is what Cole and I do every day at Bloomin' Blinds of North Charlotte. We recently worked with a homeowner in Sherrills Ford whose beautiful new construction property sat on a highly trafficked road. They loved their double wide front door entrance but felt entirely too exposed to the street at night.
We brought our mobile showroom directly to their driveway. This allowed us to hold up premium light-filtering fabric samples directly against their entryway glass, matching the materials perfectly to their home's natural lighting, interior paint, and trim before making a single cut.
To solve their street-level privacy issue, we custom-built and installed two matching light-filtering roller shades, mounting them flawlessly side-by-side above the front door frame. To keep the home’s interior design completely cohesive, we carried the exact same style to the back of the house, installing a matching single roller shade on the rear door.
Smart Home Window Automation at Your Fingertips
Because entryway windows can be tall and awkward to reach manually, our family team integrated advanced smart-home motorization into this Sherrills Ford project.
Beyond the convenience of a handheld remote control, these automated roller shades feature seamless Wi-Fi integration. The homeowners can control their privacy through a dedicated smartphone app or link the system directly to their existing voice-activated smart home networks, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.
This allows for complete hands-free window automation. The clients can program custom daily routines—such as setting the front entry shades to automatically lower exactly at sunset—or simply use a voice command to secure the foyer instantly from the comfort of the couch.
Vintage Cellars & SaunasThis gorgeous custom wine cellar acts as a dramatic entrypiece as you walk into this beautiful home in San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, California. San Juan Capistrano is a lovely community located slightly inland, tucked within Orange County near cities like Newport Beach, Lake Forest, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, and Irvine.
This fantastically designed wine cellar, courtesy of the master wine cellar builders at Vintage Cellars, is a unique representation of fun and bespoke features that can be incorporated into a traditional redwood, yet modern and bright wine cellar like this. The wine room draws you in from across the house, with its warm redwood tones and interesting wrought iron and glass door. Wine Cellar doors are often overlooked, but proper knowledge of door materials, glass specifications, threshold placement and hanging procedures are key to creating that perfect airtight room. Additionally, based on the location of your room within your home, the amount of glass in your wine cellar, and your location in the world, levels of cooling capacity need to be seriously considered.
Glass is a naturally poor insulator. Because there has been a very heavy push for "wine cellar art," "wine cellars as art," and wine cellars as a main design component within high end homes, glass wine cellars are often incorporated in high trafficked areas or spaces where each homeowner can show off their prized wines to friends in an almost showcase like display.
When you first enter this large custom wine cellar in Orange County, Southern California, standing out first immediately on your left is a unique work station with a scanner, label-maker, and table top - perfect for inventorying the 3,500 bottles that this rustic wine cellar holds. The e-Sommelier system integrated allows this homeowner to catalog each and every wine within his collection, first letting the program know he owns it, how many bottles, which vintages, and with the click of a button - custom wine labels each with a bar code. Accompanied with the bar code scanner, the e-sommelier system has become a great companion for wine cellars and wine collectors alike, allowing a somewhat seamless and straightforward process in inventorying wines.
Directly past the wine inventory station is a vertical row of large format bottle coved trays, displaying some of the owner's favorite wines in the most coveted vintages.
This large walk in custom wine cellar in all heart redwood wine racking fills most of its capacity utilizing double deep, individual bottle storage. At waist height spanning the entire circumference of the wine room is a high reveal display row, highlighted with LED lighting and more single deep storage behind.
The back wall, in addition to the high reveal display row and double deep individual bottle storage, incorporates a rectangular wine work center with glass rack above - perfect for decanting, storing uniquely shaped bottles, and opening your favorite bottles with friends. Directly below this countertop are two drawers. A unique feature throughout this wooden traditional large walk in wine cellar in San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, California is the incorporation of wine barrel into the room's corner walls, work stations, countertops, and center custom table.
This custom wine cellar near Newport Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Coto De Caza, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, and other gorgeous beach communities in Orange County, also incorporates wine case storage throughout the bottom, and a small area above the wine inventory system for split bottles.
Vintage Cellars, as well as the homeowner, are very happy with the way this beautiful project turned out, and we would love the opportunity to help you with you wine cellar projects!
Please contact us today to speak with one of our wine cellar specialists and begin building your wine cellar dreams today!
Alair Homes PlanoOur clients wanted to increase the size of their kitchen, which was small, in comparison to the overall size of the home. They wanted a more open livable space for the family to be able to hang out downstairs. They wanted to remove the walls downstairs in the front formal living and den making them a new large den/entering room. They also wanted to remove the powder and laundry room from the center of the kitchen, giving them more functional space in the kitchen that was completely opened up to their den. The addition was planned to be one story with a bedroom/game room (flex space), laundry room, bathroom (to serve as the on-suite to the bedroom and pool bath), and storage closet. They also wanted a larger sliding door leading out to the pool.
We demoed the entire kitchen, including the laundry room and powder bath that were in the center! The wall between the den and formal living was removed, completely opening up that space to the entry of the house. A small space was separated out from the main den area, creating a flex space for them to become a home office, sitting area, or reading nook. A beautiful fireplace was added, surrounded with slate ledger, flanked with built-in bookcases creating a focal point to the den. Behind this main open living area, is the addition. When the addition is not being utilized as a guest room, it serves as a game room for their two young boys. There is a large closet in there great for toys or additional storage. A full bath was added, which is connected to the bedroom, but also opens to the hallway so that it can be used for the pool bath.
The new laundry room is a dream come true! Not only does it have room for cabinets, but it also has space for a much-needed extra refrigerator. There is also a closet inside the laundry room for additional storage. This first-floor addition has greatly enhanced the functionality of this family’s daily lives. Previously, there was essentially only one small space for them to hang out downstairs, making it impossible for more than one conversation to be had. Now, the kids can be playing air hockey, video games, or roughhousing in the game room, while the adults can be enjoying TV in the den or cooking in the kitchen, without interruption! While living through a remodel might not be easy, the outcome definitely outweighs the struggles throughout the process.
TVL Creative Ltd.This project's final result exceeded even our vision for the space! This kitchen is part of a stunning traditional log home in Evergreen, CO. The original kitchen had some unique touches, but was dated and not a true reflection of our client. The existing kitchen felt dark despite an amazing amount of natural light, and the colors and textures of the cabinetry felt heavy and expired. The client wanted to keep with the traditional rustic aesthetic that is present throughout the rest of the home, but wanted a much brighter space and slightly more elegant appeal. Our scope included upgrades to just about everything: new semi-custom cabinetry, new quartz countertops, new paint, new light fixtures, new backsplash tile, and even a custom flue over the range. We kept the original flooring in tact, retained the original copper range hood, and maintained the same layout while optimizing light and function. The space is made brighter by a light cream primary cabinetry color, and additional feature lighting everywhere including in cabinets, under cabinets, and in toe kicks. The new kitchen island is made of knotty alder cabinetry and topped by Cambria quartz in Oakmoor. The dining table shares this same style of quartz and is surrounded by custom upholstered benches in Kravet's Cowhide suede. We introduced a new dramatic antler chandelier at the end of the island as well as Restoration Hardware accent lighting over the dining area and sconce lighting over the sink area open shelves. We utilized composite sinks in both the primary and bar locations, and accented these with farmhouse style bronze faucets. Stacked stone covers the backsplash, and a handmade elk mosaic adorns the space above the range for a custom look that is hard to ignore. We finished the space with a light copper paint color to add extra warmth and finished cabinetry with rustic bronze hardware. This project is breathtaking and we are so thrilled our client can enjoy this kitchen for many years to come!
Envision WebStuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours
The design goal was to produce a corporate or family retreat that could best utilize the uniqueness and seclusion as the only private residence, deep-water hammock directly assessable via concrete bridge in the Southeastern United States.
Little Hawkins Island was seven years in the making from design and permitting through construction and punch out.
The multiple award winning design was inspired by Spanish Colonial architecture with California Mission influences and developed for the corporation or family who entertains. With 5 custom fireplaces, 75+ palm trees, fountain, courtyards, and extensive use of covered outdoor spaces; Little Hawkins Island is truly a Resort Residence that will easily accommodate parties of 250 or more people.
The concept of a “village” was used to promote movement among 4 independent buildings for residents and guests alike to enjoy the year round natural beauty and climate of the Golden Isles.
The architectural scale and attention to detail throughout the campus is exemplary.
From the heavy mud set Spanish barrel tile roof to the monolithic solid concrete portico with its’ custom carved cartouche at the entrance, every opportunity was seized to match the style and grace of the best properties built in a bygone era.
Sponsored
Sunbury, OH
J.Holderby - Renovations
Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!
TVL Creative Ltd.This project's final result exceeded even our vision for the space! This kitchen is part of a stunning traditional log home in Evergreen, CO. The original kitchen had some unique touches, but was dated and not a true reflection of our client. The existing kitchen felt dark despite an amazing amount of natural light, and the colors and textures of the cabinetry felt heavy and expired. The client wanted to keep with the traditional rustic aesthetic that is present throughout the rest of the home, but wanted a much brighter space and slightly more elegant appeal. Our scope included upgrades to just about everything: new semi-custom cabinetry, new quartz countertops, new paint, new light fixtures, new backsplash tile, and even a custom flue over the range. We kept the original flooring in tact, retained the original copper range hood, and maintained the same layout while optimizing light and function. The space is made brighter by a light cream primary cabinetry color, and additional feature lighting everywhere including in cabinets, under cabinets, and in toe kicks. The new kitchen island is made of knotty alder cabinetry and topped by Cambria quartz in Oakmoor. The dining table shares this same style of quartz and is surrounded by custom upholstered benches in Kravet's Cowhide suede. We introduced a new dramatic antler chandelier at the end of the island as well as Restoration Hardware accent lighting over the dining area and sconce lighting over the sink area open shelves. We utilized composite sinks in both the primary and bar locations, and accented these with farmhouse style bronze faucets. Stacked stone covers the backsplash, and a handmade elk mosaic adorns the space above the range for a custom look that is hard to ignore. We finished the space with a light copper paint color to add extra warmth and finished cabinetry with rustic bronze hardware. This project is breathtaking and we are so thrilled our client can enjoy this kitchen for many years to come!
N Sabella IncMore function and a minimalistic look was this client’s goal or this heavy utilized bathroom. A cabinet that sat on the vanity was ripped out which created more counter space, made the room feel bigger and opened up the wall for open, clean shelving. Simple, yet elegant black matte fixtures and accessories achieved the modern look with clean lines. There are no windows to let in natural light. This smart mirror comes with built-in LED lighting that can be adjusted for different levels of brightness and color temperature, providing optimal lighting for grooming and creating a warm ambiance. The tile pattern pulls the eye in and up elongating the room.
Bloomin Blinds of North CharlotteDiscover how premium light-filtering materials and smart-home automation can secure street-level entryway glass without losing natural daylight.
Choosing the right window treatments for a home's front entrance is one of the most challenging design decisions a homeowner can face. The front door is the focal point of a home's curb appeal, often featuring expansive glass panels or side-by-side double doors designed to make a grand architectural statement.
During the day, these large glass features are an asset, flooding entryways and foyers with beautiful natural daylight. However, for homes situated on busy local roads or highly trafficked street-level lots, the dynamic completely changes once the sun goes down.
The moment interior lights are switched on in the evening, a stark contrast is created with the dark outdoors. This creates a severe privacy issue, leaving the entire foyer completely exposed to passing traffic and pedestrians. Finding a solution that delivers absolute evening privacy without permanently plunging the front entrance into darkness during the day requires understanding how modern window treatment materials and operating systems interact.
Light-Filtering vs. Blackout Fabrics
The first step in solving street-level privacy is selecting the correct fabric type. Many homeowners mistakenly assume they need heavy, opaque blackout shades to secure their home from outside eyes at night. While blackout fabrics certainly block 100% of the view, they also block 100% of the natural daylight during the day, forcing you to constantly raise and lower the shades just to see inside your own foyer.
A more effective approach for entryways utilizes premium light-filtering materials. These specialized fabrics are engineered with a precise, tight weave that operates on the principles of directional light and optical density.
Daytime Functionality: When the sun is shining outside, the exterior light levels are significantly higher than the interior light levels. The light-filtering fabric diffuses the intense, direct sunlight into a soft, ambient glow throughout the entryway. This keeps the home bright, eliminates harsh glares, and protects interior hardwood flooring, paint, and trim from damaging UV rays.
Night-Time Functionality: At night, the lighting dynamic reverses. The interior foyer lights make the inside bright, while the outside is dark. Because of the specialized tight weave, the fabric blocks the transmission of clear shapes and details. To a person standing out on the street or driving by on a busy road, the view inside is completely obstructed, delivering total privacy when the family is home for the evening.
Challenges of Front Door Installations
Securing privacy for a double wide front entrance introduces unique structural hurdles that standard windows do not face. Traditional blinds with hanging cords or manual pull chains are poorly suited for front doors. They disrupt the clean architectural lines of a grand foyer, create a safety hazard, and can easily get tangled or damaged when the doors are opened and closed.
The window treatments must be mounted high and wide enough above the door trim to ensure that the front doors can swing open and close freely without ever catching on the fabric or the lower hem bar.
How We Applied These Principles in Sherrills Ford, NC
Applying these exact educational principles to real-world homes is what Cole and I do every day at Bloomin' Blinds of North Charlotte. We recently worked with a homeowner in Sherrills Ford whose beautiful new construction property sat on a highly trafficked road. They loved their double wide front door entrance but felt entirely too exposed to the street at night.
We brought our mobile showroom directly to their driveway. This allowed us to hold up premium light-filtering fabric samples directly against their entryway glass, matching the materials perfectly to their home's natural lighting, interior paint, and trim before making a single cut.
To solve their street-level privacy issue, we custom-built and installed two matching light-filtering roller shades, mounting them flawlessly side-by-side above the front door frame. To keep the home’s interior design completely cohesive, we carried the exact same style to the back of the house, installing a matching single roller shade on the rear door.
Smart Home Window Automation at Your Fingertips
Because entryway windows can be tall and awkward to reach manually, our family team integrated advanced smart-home motorization into this Sherrills Ford project.
Beyond the convenience of a handheld remote control, these automated roller shades feature seamless Wi-Fi integration. The homeowners can control their privacy through a dedicated smartphone app or link the system directly to their existing voice-activated smart home networks, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.
This allows for complete hands-free window automation. The clients can program custom daily routines—such as setting the front entry shades to automatically lower exactly at sunset—or simply use a voice command to secure the foyer instantly from the comfort of the couch.
Cabinet-S-TopThe designer was able to accommodate the needs expressed by the client by using a custom cabinet line that utilized a gloss white thermofoil slab door that gave the effect the client was looking for. The materials used gave durability over a painted finish that went with the décor of the rest of the house. This custom cabinet line allowed the size of the cabinets to be exactly the same. The cabinet line also allowed for custom sized door plants to be used to conceal the Sub-Zero refrigerator. The height of the upper cabinet doors were oversized to give the client the ability to pull the doors open from the back side to eliminate the need for hardware. On the pantry, microwave and oven cabinets, spacers were used and finger pulls were routed into these doors to also eliminate the need for hardware. A tab style pull was used to give the ability to open the lower cabinet doors and drawers with minimal hardware exposure. Solid full extension pull out shelving was used for durability for the clients’ heavy pots and pans.
TVL Creative Ltd.This project's final result exceeded even our vision for the space! This kitchen is part of a stunning traditional log home in Evergreen, CO. The original kitchen had some unique touches, but was dated and not a true reflection of our client. The existing kitchen felt dark despite an amazing amount of natural light, and the colors and textures of the cabinetry felt heavy and expired. The client wanted to keep with the traditional rustic aesthetic that is present throughout the rest of the home, but wanted a much brighter space and slightly more elegant appeal. Our scope included upgrades to just about everything: new semi-custom cabinetry, new quartz countertops, new paint, new light fixtures, new backsplash tile, and even a custom flue over the range. We kept the original flooring in tact, retained the original copper range hood, and maintained the same layout while optimizing light and function. The space is made brighter by a light cream primary cabinetry color, and additional feature lighting everywhere including in cabinets, under cabinets, and in toe kicks. The new kitchen island is made of knotty alder cabinetry and topped by Cambria quartz in Oakmoor. The dining table shares this same style of quartz and is surrounded by custom upholstered benches in Kravet's Cowhide suede. We introduced a new dramatic antler chandelier at the end of the island as well as Restoration Hardware accent lighting over the dining area and sconce lighting over the sink area open shelves. We utilized composite sinks in both the primary and bar locations, and accented these with farmhouse style bronze faucets. Stacked stone covers the backsplash, and a handmade elk mosaic adorns the space above the range for a custom look that is hard to ignore. We finished the space with a light copper paint color to add extra warmth and finished cabinetry with rustic bronze hardware. This project is breathtaking and we are so thrilled our client can enjoy this kitchen for many years to come!
Pelican Int'lDark and intense, Navarre closely mimics natural wood. This option is perfect for fans of rustic yet refined design approaches. This specific style features a unique Gra-Matt™ finish.
This stylish matte coating eliminates reflections and harsh glares, while its granular surface resists scratches and heavy wear. Unlike high-gloss finishes that highlight fingerprints and smudges, the Gra-Matt™ finish masks everyday marks. Its slip-resistant quality makes it a safer option for areas with kids, pets, or elderly occupants. Plus, its dense protective layer prevents solvent permeation, such as acetone, nitric acid, and other harsh chemicals.
Part of the Solstone Coastal Collection, Navarre is a premier option in Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring. Esteemed for its 100% waterproof construction and exceptional durability, this series utilizes advanced technologies to authentically replicate the intricate textures of natural wood and stone. Solstone's distinctive rigid core exhibits unparalleled strength, rendering it an optimal solution for high-traffic areas and commercial settings. Easily install over uneven subfloors, and existing hard surfaces, including tile.
Robin's Nest InteriorsIt was a pleasure to help this single dad transform a previous French Country motif into a Handsome Space with Masculine Vibe. The homeowner loves the blues you find in the Caribbean so we used those as accent colors throughout the rooms.
Entry
We painted the walls Sherwin Williams’ Latte (SW6108) to add warmth. We accessorized the homeowner’s beautiful burl wood cabinet with vibrant artwork and whimsical Chinese horses. I always recommend task lighting in a Foyer, if possible, and the rectangular lamp shade is the perfect shape to fit on the small end of the cabinet.
Powder Room
I adore the Candace Olson wallpaper we used in the Powder Room. The blocks look like sections of wood. It works great with the existing granite. Other examples of wallpaper here and here.
Great Room
We touched every surface in this Great Room from painting the walls Nomadic Desert (SW6107) to painting the ceiling Double Latte (SW9108) to make the room feel cozier to replacing the carpet with this transitional style with striated pattern to painting the white built-ins.
Furniture placement was a real challenge because the grand piano needed to stay without blocking the traffic flow through the space. The homeowner also wanted us to incorporate his chess table and chairs. We centered a small seating area in front of the fireplace utilizing two oversized club chairs and an upholstered ottoman with a wood tray that slides. The wood bases on the chairs helps their size not overpower the room. The velvet ottoman fabric with navy, azure, and teal blues is a showstopper.
We used the homeowner’s wonderful collection of unique puzzle boxes to accessorize the built-ins. We just added some pops of blues, greens and silver. The homeowner loves sculptural objects so the nickel twig wall decor was the perfect focal point above the mantle. We opted not to add anything to the mantle so it would not distract from the art piece.
We added decorative drapery panels installed on short rods between each set of doors. The homeowner was open to this abstract floral pattern in greens and blues!
We reupholstered the cushions for the chess table chairs in a fun geometric fabric that coordinates with the panel fabric. The homeowner does not use this set of doors to access the deck so we were able to position the table directly in front of them.
Kelly Sisler of Kelly Faux Creations worked her magic on the built-ins. We used Sherwin Williams’ Mega Greige (SW7031) as the base and then applied a heavy bronze glaze. It completely transformed the Great Room. Other examples of painting built-ins here and here.
We hoped you enjoyed this Handsome Space with Masculine Vibe. It was quite a transformation!
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