The fun part about already living in the best place to live in America is that we are able to take advantage of all of the attractions on any given Saturday. Besides the festivals, we can enjoy outdoor venues for food, drink, music, and many other fun activities like theater. Yes, there is even an outdoor theater in downtown Austin. Living here also allows us to stay at home when the weather isn’t cooperative. The weather is usually fairly cooperative, however. That is another great advantage to Austin, Texas, especially if you don’t mind the heat. So many of our new Austin transplants moved here to escape colder climates and are perfectly happy to roast in our warm Texas Summers. After all, there is a swimming pool or a lake every 10 feet or so. So there’s that.

The climate is so nice here that owning a convertible is almost a requirement, at least it seems like it. Alas, you may see 10 convertibles out and about any day that the sun is shining and the temperature is above 60 degrees. Since that is most days in Austin, convertible owners get the benefit of our fare city alfresco quite a bit!

Finally, there is the simple fact that Austinites are friendly and nice. Folks actually speak to each other at the dry cleaner’s, and you will see lots of smiles when you’re out and about. As far as quality of living goes, that one ranks way up there for most of us. Maybe it’s all the Vitamin D we get from all that sunshine, or maybe it’s because we started from such simple beginnings, but Austin is a happy place with happy people. Hopefully, we will continue to attract more of the same. So, if you’re reading this and considering Austin as your retirement home, on behalf of all of us, please plan to be happy when you get here. It’s okay if you’re unhappy right now because you don’t live in Austin yet, but somewhere along the way it is important to the Austin way of life that you shake off that old attitude and smile when you get here. You do that, and we’ve really got something worth bragging about here in Austin, Texas!

The post Austin is #1….Again! appeared first on Jenkins Custom Homes.

This year, the 2018 International Builders Show was held in Orlando, FL. The International Builders Show is the industry’s largest annual trade show and exhibition. It allows professionals in every aspect of the building industry from all across the US to come together. Housing professionals are able to experience some of the most cutting-edge designs, technologies, products and services in the industry. Here are just a few of the exhibits we were able to visit at the showcase. Discovering these new advances allows us to provide our clients with high quality products in every room.

To kick off the show, the opening ceremonies included incredible speakers such as Terry Bradshaw who is a four-time Superbowl Champion (Pittsburgh Steelers) and current award-winning broadcaster on FOX NFL Sunday.

We were able to explore several of the exhibits set up at the show, such as the Kohler Exhibit! This booth featured the DTV+ Shower System with KOHLER Konnect. This incredible system allows enables you to create and automate personalized showering experiences. The KOHLER Konnect app allows you to create and manage presets for sound, water, steam, and lighting to program the shower experience. You can even use voice to access those presets! It also features a wall mounted interface to adjust water temperature, and control showerheads, body sprays, music, lighting, steam, and shower duration. This also allows you to use lights for Chromotherapy!

Ever feel too tired to even get up and make your cup of coffee in the morning? Problem solved! At the Therma

dor booth, we were able to see how Alexa works with the HomeConnect coffee machine. Simply tell Alexa to, “ask HomeConnect coffee machine to make a strong, small coffee.” This also allows you to make cappuccinos or any of your favorite pick-me-up’s which means you can stay in bed a few minutes longer or have your hands free to do other things!

Curtis Stone led the show at the Bosch exhibit! The Bosch Induction Cooktop is absolutely incredible; it boils water in under 1 minute! The Induction cooktop gives such precision with temperature as opposed to the typical electric cooktop. As if it needs any more pros, the clean up for it is a breeze and it happens to be more energy efficient than an electric cooktop!

Hafele is a company out of Germany, we love their products for closet organization. You’ll have no problem finding your things in style with standard full-extension, soft close drawers and pullouts. Some of the personal touches available include jewelry and watch organizers, shoe racks, hampers and much more. Hafele also has their own Wardrobe Tubes, which reduce noise all while preventing scratching and giving lasting beauty and functionality to the space. Mounting hardware options include standard wall fittings as well as suspension fittings which make wardrobe tubes appear to float for a sleek, sophisticated look.

At the Thermodor exhibit, we were able to see their beautiful new Steam Convection Ovens. These are full size ovens including the broil option. These ovens also include a self cleaning feature, so you never have to worry about cleaning your oven again! They are also are faster than the previous models and have greater nutrient retention.

An incredible device at the Bosch exhibit is able to detect what kind of stain you have on your clothes. The Bosch Xspect identifies the type of fabric (including blended fabrics) and can immediately send washing instructions to the nearest washing machine. In the future, Bosch plans to develop this product into one that is able to scan food for ripeness or even scan a pizza and automatically preheat the oven to the correct temperature for it!

Another amazing feature to add into a home is the Samsung Family Hub fridge. This is more than just a fridge! It allows you to see into your fridge and take a picture of an item and add it to your shopping list so that you know exactly what you need when you are grocery shopping. It is also able to work with Amazon Dash and show USDA recommendations on how long each item will take to age. In addition, you can view a doorbell camera right on the screen!

One of our favorite materials to use in our homes is Dekton. This is a Consentino product and is similar to a standard countertop, but is much thinner profile, as well as harder and stronger. It is highly scratch and stain resistant. It also has a high resistance for hot and cold temperatures, meaning you can place a hot pot right on the countertop with no worry of damage. It comes in a variety of natural and solid finishes and can even be used as flooring!

Here is a video of our experience at the International Builders show in Orlando this year. We are so excited to continue bringing top of the line products and technology right into our clients’ homes.

The post International Builders Show appeared first on Jenkins Custom Homes.

Caliente – Benjamin Moore 2018 Color of the Year

Moving away from neutrals with a bold statement sets the tone for 2018. Caliente is strong, vibrant, and full of energy. This powerful choice by Benjamin Moore brings spaces to life! This color is powerful alone as well as pairs beautifully with warm and cool tones, making it the perfect choice to rev up any space.

The Power of Red

Don’t be afraid of this color! Although it might seem intimidating, it manages to warm up weathered rustic spaces as well as provide modern rooms with a striking confidence. From French Country to contemporary, Caliente is sure to complete the look with a dazzling touch. At Jenkins Design+Build, we design luxury our clients can use. We listen to their visions in order to provide them with the most compatible vibe in a home. This shade of red is energizing, spontaneous, and passionate. It excites our emotions and inspires us to take action – the perfect shade to set the tone for 2018!

Perfect Pairings

Caliente is stunning on its own as well as compelling when paired with warm or cool tones. This particular shade is able to warm up weathered and worn rustic spaces. It also injects energy into deep cool-toned grays, bringing them to life. Here are a few paint choices that we love paired with Caliente AF-290!

Spiced Spaces

Caliente allows us to turn any room into a statement setting. Our experts at Jenkins Design+Build create individualized spaces that capture the client’s personality through detail. Paint color is one of the details that complete the look and define the space. Caliente draws the eye and commands attention with its exuberant touch. Here are some of our favorite examples of how Caliente compliments any space from coastal to classic to modern!

Contrasting crisp white allows Caliente to take center stage.

A touch of red provides a striking first impression into this warm country home. Shades like Dreamy Cloud and Wolf Gray compliment the bold red.

We love it as a simple accent wall to spice up this modern bathroom. Whoever says simple is boring has never met Caliente!

Clean lines and warm toned woods tie modern and rustic together, providing the perfect blend of fresh with cozy.

Classic elements mixed with unique shapes and smooth finishes give this space its own character. Caliente spruces it up perfectly!

Make a bold statement like that of this rustic and charming entry way!

The Importance of Good Color

The final color selection is really all about flow, even down to all the little details.  The biggest enemy of good color flow is changing the color palette midway through the project.  For those who tend to be indecisive, a professional can be a huge help. Color is a very personal decision. Just like good design in any form, it should be highly unique to the client. At Jenkins Design+Build, we spend time learning our client’s preferences. Then we convert those preferences into their spaces.  In the words of Eero Saarinen (who designed the famous St. Louis Arch), the best designs are “the shapes that the ‘creators’ best relate to and thrive in”.  To see a sample of what we’ve been designing lately, check out our What’s in Design section.

The post 2018 Color of the Year appeared first on Jenkins Custom Homes.

Over the past five years, luxury home pricing has increased, and 2017 was no different. “Despite slowing growth trends across the Texas housing market, job market and economy in 2017, Texas luxury home sales volume has continued to grow at a booming pace,” Vicki Fullerton, chairwoman of the Texas Association of Realtors, said in a statement. “Rising home prices, high-end remodeling activity in major metro areas and relocation activity from out-of-state residents all continue to be drivers for Texas home sales of $1 million and higher.”

According to the Texas Luxury Home Sales Report, released Dec. 14 by the Texas Association of Realtors, 868 sales of single-family homes priced at $1 million or more in the Austin metro area were up nearly 21 percent from the same period a year earlier. Those sales made up 11.8 percent of all listed home sales.

New Home Prices per Square Foot

The Journal reports that the average price per square foot in Austin for luxury homes sold in the past year was $452 per square foot. This puts the median size at 3,493 square feet.

Price increases in the custom home sector in Austin have been influenced heavily by labor shortages and increased material cost. While more and more people move to Austin every day, trade contractors and skilled labor have not kept pace. Hurricanes and strong housing throughout the country have kept labor growth at a modest pace. Add to that the increase in material cost, and the result is the steady increase in custom home pricing.

How Design affects Prices

The primary factors affecting new home prices are not style and colors but rather material and architecture. That is why we integrate the design team into the process (via in-house design) and have done so for many years. Designing to the budget of the client allows the overall project to maintain a cohesiveness from the very first day. Instead of “upgrading” just the items that the client specifies, the entire home is considered in terms of the budget. With literally thousands of options, there is simply no way to standardize custom home pricing. There are “good/better/best” options and even some bad options for our climate and soil conditions. Even within the “best” options, some options don’t work well with others. That is why it is so important to consider budget before a single line is drawn on the page. With a design and construction team working side by side from day one, the budget can be a reality and the end result is a better design.

The post New Home Prices in Austin appeared first on Jenkins Custom Homes.

Farmhouse Chic Look – Neutral Colors

Soft colors play a major role in creating a soothing atmosphere. Think about it, when you enter a relaxing spa there are typically no bright colors jumping out at you. There’s a reason for that; neutral colors reduce stress! Using colors like Shoji White and Modern Grey create a perfect space to put your feet up and unwind.

Farmhouse Chic Look – Rustic Finishes

The farmhouse chic feel comes from incorporating rustic elements into modern and traditional pieces. For example, the ceiling in this great room is a rustic grey pine with a whitewash finish. With a more polished finish, this material would have taken on a richer feeling. A key to achieving the look is using natural materials such as wood, stone, and shiplap. Using actual farm pieces such as barn doors give the home a unique charm. Accessories with a worn finish, such as a vintage flour sifter or garden watering can as a flower vase, can add a whimsy touch.

Soft Plush Furnishings

Designing a calming farmhouse space requires completing the look with soft, plush furnishings. These comforting materials can be incorporated into several elements such as cloth on dining room chairs, an eclectic table setting, and cozy pillows/throws that incorporate the neutral color palette.

Refurbished Elegant Lighting

Ahh lighting! Lighting, lighting, lighting! This is one of the most important features in my opinion. Unique choices show personality and give a space character. Distinctive light fixtures bring a space to life! When going for a farmhouse chic vibe, lighting that incorporates glass or crystal combined with a dark iron contrast spruce up the space. Rustic elegance is tied into each lighting fixture to tie the home together.

Open Concept Floor Plan

The ultimate factor that creates a farmhouse feel is the open concept floor plan. This references an actual barn with its high cathedral ceiling that draws the eye and provides a seamless connection between the kitchen, dining, and living spaces. The overall feel of the home comes from several other aspects that add to the ‘open’ feel as well. Details like the large stackable glass doors (window walls) in the main living space capture the year-round cross breezes due to the North-South orientation. These also provide a continuation of space between the interior and exterior to give the ultimate farmhouse feel.

To see more images of this chic farmhouse, check out The Vineyard Farmhouse from our last Parade of Homes.

The post Achieving the Farmhouse Chic Look appeared first on Jenkins Custom Homes.

Extra Refrigeration

Consider “point of use refrigeration” in addition to your main refrigerator. Your first thought might be a beverage cooler, which is a great start, but also think about installing one for produce or meat right beside your prep station.

Get Serious About Storage

Think beyond the deep drawers and extra cabinets: you want well-designed storage solutions with appropriate spaces for small appliances, food items, and more. When there’s truly a place for everything, it’s easier to stay organized.

Concealed Appliances

Induction stoves, refrigerators that look like cabinets, and microwave drawers (as shown below) create a sleek, cohesive look for your kitchen, especially if it’s an open concept that blends into your living room.

In a brilliant combination move, you can conceal a walk-in pantry behind regular cabinet doors: you maintain your sleek design and take advantage of optimum storage at the same time.

High Tech

Bluetooth-connected appliances allow for smoother multi-tasking. Automatic faucets make it easy to wash produce and dishes, and you’ll probably save water while you do it. Don’t forget to include energy-efficient washers, dryers, washing machines, and more.

Composite Countertops

Looking for a unique, eco-friendly option for countertops?

“Formed from materials such as fly ash or recycled paper, composite countertops inhibit the growth of bacteria and resist stains, scratches and heat. Most are free of VOCs, emit no radon gasses, and are considered food safe.”

You might need to seal the countertop, but that’s necessary for certain stone countertops, as well.

Go Gray in the Kitchen

Though white is still a great option for kitchen cabinets, it’s slightly darker cousin is getting a lot of attention lately, too. HGTV is calling gray the new white. A fun way to incorporate it is to go grey on the island or just the base cabinets in the kitchen. If gray isn’t your thing, shades of blue also make a nice contrast with lighter-tone cabinets. Even the wood flooring can bring in shades of gray if desired.

Go Bold

Bold, look-at-me hardware is fun, and the trend extends to lighting fixtures. Your kitchen hardware can draw attention because of size, shape, color, or “bling” (like these at right); so get creative when choosing knobs and handles.

“Big, bold and in long widths, this new, chunky look demands attention as an important design element in the kitchen. Warm finishes in brass, copper, bronzes continue to be strong, but black and polished or satin silvers such as nickel work just as well in these bigger, more modern designs.”

Multi-Purpose Sink

You know the sink has to be big, but there are options beyond size to consider. Draining grates and cutting boards that fit into a groove to slide without slipping are easily removed for washing, but they allow you to transform your sink into a full work station with less mess. When you go really big, you can install two faucets and make space for two people to work at once, perfect for hosting large dinner parties or family meals where everyone shares in the prep work.

Hardwood Floors

In the kitchen? Hear us out. This allows for a seamless kitchen-to-living-space look in an open concept, and hardwood floors are tough. Choosing a hardwood like oak or maple will help it last and last, despite the high volume of traffic in the area. Plus, “Solid hardwood flooring can be refinished 10 to 12 times during it’s typical 100-year lifespan.”

If you’re concerned about the upkeep, go with wood-patterned tile: it’s easy to clean and care for, and these look-alikes are getting so good you’ll hardly notice it’s not real wood.

Polished Concrete

Great for floors or counters, polished concrete offers a wide range of colors and patterns. It’s long-lasting and resilient, perfect for your high-traffic kitchen. It does have to be sealed, as it is more porous than tile. However, it will stand up really well to pets, people, and parties.

Whatever you envision for your kitchen, we can help. For more kitchen ideas, take a look at this collection of our best kitchen design ideas built over the past two and a half decades.

The post The Best 10 Design Ideas for Your New Kitchen appeared first on Jenkins Custom Homes.

Specifically, the current trend is for smaller, freestanding tubs with larger custom showers that might include body sprays, steam showers, rain bars, etc. Or even for no tub at all. Why?

There appear to be three main reasons behind this trend:

1. Aging baby boomers. As the largest generation grays, many of them are finding that climbing in and out of the tub is difficult and showers are much easier. This is also reducing the number of tub/shower combinations installed in secondary bathrooms, as people are opting more for showers. Some people are also asking for wheelchair accessible showers, which just means that they are large enough to fit a wheelchair and feature a shower pan, or floor, with roll-in access.

2. People are realizing they do not actually use the giant tub all that often. Busy lifestyles mean less chance to luxuriate in the tub. Instead, a luxury shower allows similar relaxation benefits in less time. New shower technology means that the effect of a whirlpool can be substituted by using body sprays and rain heads.

3. The large footprint of the giant tub is limiting what else can be done with the room and the space. Many people would rather eschew the tub and have more counter space or a larger shower. Privacy for the water closet can also take precedence in the master bathroom. We have even seen a resurgence of the bidet in some bathrooms.

All three of these are good reasons – but does this mean the trend is here to stay? Maybe, maybe not. For one thing, not having any kind of tub anywhere in the house can make it difficult to re-sell. Young couples and families with young children are most likely to demand a tub (needed for washing babies). We are suggesting to our clients that they either keep a small tub in the master bathroom or have a larger tub in one of the other bathrooms (which might be better for kids anyway). We are also recommending to our clients that we give some thought to where a tub might be added later, for resale, and possibly even setting plumbing behind the wall to plan for it. It costs very little to plan for it but can be very costly to ignore the possibility.

And, although busy lifestyles are with us to stay, it is absolutely the case that styles change. Right now, buyers are looking for large, luxurious showers, sometimes with dual heads, larger counters and mirrors. If they do have a tub, they want it smaller and free-standing rather than built-in to allow for more space. These are, however, just trends. White tiles are also in right now and the chances are that, like different colors of tiles, large tubs will come back in again in the future.

Or, perhaps, technology will push things in a different direction again. Some of the new bathroom technologies are very interesting (colored lighting in the shower to “balance your energy” anyone?), but others, like in-home steam rooms and smart showers are likely here to stay. Smart showers – allowing temperature and spray intensity to be saved and restored via remote control – are likely to intensify the tub to shower trend. It is likely that the shower of the future actually recognizes which household member is stepping in and adjusts the settings accordingly. On the other hand, the tub of the future might fill itself when your alarm goes off – and that kind of technology could direct things the other way.

Most likely, large showers will remain popular, while tubs will remain a more personal choice. There will likely be a certain group of people who really enjoy and want a nice long bath, regardless of the trends.  Demographics, technology, and style changes will cause bathroom layout trends to keep changing. The key for anyone designing and building a custom home is to consider their own situation and plan for their lifestyle within the home. Each situation is personal, and a home should be full of personal choices. Only then will the home feel comfortable and perfectly-suited to its owners. As Eero Saarinen, the Architect behind the famous “Gateway Arch” in St. Louis surmised, the ‘creators’ will create the shapes that they best relate to and thrive in. The best way to solve these types of issues is to understand the personal needs of the family and then co-create the solutions with them as their home design emerges. That way, the home truly suits their needs rather than following a trend, which is likely to change later anyway.

The post The Missing Master Bathtub – Why Things are Changing appeared first on Jenkins Custom Homes.