4 Ways to Add a Touch of Sophistication to Your Valentine’s Day Home Décor

More often than not, Valentine’s Day décor is a little over the top – bright, uncoordinated smatterings of pink and red hues with various colored hearts, teddy bears and kisses everywhere. While this may be perfect for your child’s next Valentine’s Day craft project, it doesn’t do much to create a classy feel in your home.

Fear not — our experts have compiled a few ways to bring some elegance into your home for the holiday that you’ll fall in love with.

Soft Romantic Hues

In lieu of bright pinks and deep reds, opt for a more muted color pallet that evokes feelings of enchantment and passion. Instead of leveraging pink or red as your primary color, opt for a white background with subtle pops of soft blushes and pale pastels to elevate your décor.

Florals and Candles

Nothing says romance quite like flowers in a candlelit room. While roses are a Valentine’s Day staple, opting for an arrangement of peonies, peach blossoms, white lilies, and succulents surrounded by a variety of greenery creates an arrangement reminiscent of a soft sunset. Setting out a variety of soft pink taper or pillar candles can help create the perfect soft, dreamy ambiance in any room of your home.

Cozy Accents

Valentine’s Day is all about spending time with the ones you adore, and what better way to do that than with a touch of cozy furnishings. Soft-knit blankets and fuzzy pillows create the perfect aura for snuggling up with the one you love.

Hearts With a Twist and Tulle

Although hearts are a staple of any kind of Valentine’s Day décor, how you choose to incorporate them into your own can say a lot about your taste. Try introducing them through cute burlap garland or tiny cutouts you can hang from white branches. For some festive wall hangings, create some cute tiny locket-style hearts suspended in frames to add an antique touch or a more modern geometric-looking DIY heart. Pull in touches of tulle or sheer fabric to create a whimsical aura.

Whether you use all of the ideas or just one, your Valentine’s Day décor is sure to delight all of your loved ones. If you’re looking to fall for your forever home, contact us to learn more about building your dream home in Crooked Tree.

4 Home Hacks to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions on Track

There’s no better time than the start of a new year to think about changes that you’d like to make in life. Whether it’s completing personal projects, improving work habits, or even spending more time with friends and family, everyone can benefit from establishing a few goals that they’d like to work on throughout the year.

In order for resolutions to develop into habits that can be sustained all year long, it’s important to create an action plan that will set you up for success. Indeed, making sure that your home environment is conducive to your goals is a critical first step of that plan.

Here are a few of our favorite home hacks that will help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions all year long:

Keep Your Kitchen in Check

“Eating better” is not only one of the most popular resolutions — it’s also one of the easiest to break. Getting creative about how you use your kitchen space can go a long way toward keeping you accountable.

For example, prioritize space in your pantry for pre-prepared healthy snack bags that are easy for you (and the kids) to grab-and-go during busy afternoons full of soccer scrimmages and musical rehearsals.

Additionally, if your kitchen table is currently piled high with clutter such as magazines, junk mail, and last week’s spelling test, it’s time to clean it off! Experts have routinely found that children who eat with their family around a dinner table are able to build stronger relationships and perform better academically.

Update Your Entertaining Spaces

Similarly, spending more quality time with friends and family is another popular resolution. Using the beginning of the year as a time to refresh your primary entertaining spaces (whether it’s a living room, a finished basement, or even a home theatre) can be just the push you need to finally host that dinner party or game night you’ve been talking about forever.

For example, gather the family for a flea market outing to find a vintage piece of furniture to rehab and turn into a statement piece for your living room. If your kids are creative, enlist them for a cute DIY art project — then place them front and center so your party guests can admire your “mini-Michaelangelos”!

Create a System for Controlling Clutter

Have you heard the expression “outer order, inner calm”? A home that is free of clutter contributes to a clutter-free mind, allowing you to pursue resolutions and accomplish goals with more clarity.

If your home seems to accumulate clutter quicker than you can pick it up, the New Year is a great time for the family to work on organizational habits that will keep things clean year-round. You can start by assigning specific days/times and people to take care of each task; for example, perhaps each member of your family takes 30 minutes every Sunday afternoon to tidy up the rooms they use most.

Yes, life happens and it can be tricky to actually stick to a schedule — but spending a little time now can save you a lot of frustration (and time spent finding lost things!) in the long run.

Designate an Area for Physical Activity

Getting fit is also one of the top resolutions for the New Year, but making “me time” for fitness can be difficult in the midst of life’s other demands. Simplify your life by finding an area of your home to turn into a home gym; not only will it help to keep you accountable, but you’ll also save valuable time by not having to commute back and forth to your local gym.

One of the best parts about designing your own workout space is that you can tailor it to your own personal interests. Like dancing off the pounds to something like Zumba or Hip-Hop Abs? Keep your space open, with plenty of room for movement. Want a place just to meditate or lift weights? A smaller room will suffice.

If moving into the home of your dreams is one of your goals for the New Year, the custom builders at Crooked Tree Preserve are here to help make it a reality. Contact us to learn more today!

4 Basement Design Ideas to Beat the Winter Blues

As the temperatures drop, outdoor activities are replaced with more time spent indoors – which means it’s important to make use of every room in your house to keep the cabin fever at bay.. We have some ideas for how to outfit your basement to maximize your space and minimize the chance of being driven crazy by family members this winter.

Second Living Space

Sometimes you just want to watch a Hallmark movie, but your teenager is playing Fortnite, again. Or your family is watching “Elf” for the 11th time this week and you just want to read a book. Outfitting your basement with a comfy couch, plenty of lighting, and a nice TV is crucial to creating a second living space that you want to spend time in. Who knows? With enough blankets it could become the room everyone wants to spend time in!

Out of Sight Playroom

It’s important to let kids use their imaginations – toys like LEGOs, dolls, and train tables are great for this; what they aren’t great for, however, is keeping your house in order. Keep these toys in the basement so kids can create whole worlds without creating clutter throughout the house.

Home Theatre

Bring the movie theatre experience to your basement with a projector and home theatre set up. Add some comfy chairs and a popcorn maker for ambiance. Soon, your house will be the destination for movie nights, game watches, and more.

Parent’s Retreat

The basement doesn’t have to just be for the kids. Turn your basement into it an adult’s escape with game tables, a bar, and memorabilia cases. It can be a place to entertain and show off without worrying about hiding away kids toys and shoes.

If you’re looking to build your perfect home – with a basement retreat perfectly suited for your needs – a home in Crooked Tree Preserve could be what you’re looking for. Contact us today to learn more about building the perfect home for you and your family.

Small Spaces for Big Work Goals

In the world of laptops and smart phones, many workers are given the option to work from home from time to time. It’s important to have a dedicated space in your home to work for those times without devoting an entire room that will remain unused much of the week. We have some ideas for you to squeeze an office in no matter how much space you have.

Hide in Plain Sight

Secretary desks may seem a little old-school, but they are perfect if you have limited space. You have an actual work surface for your computer and notes and storage space for documents and work supplies, but at the end of the day you can “leave work.” By simply folding up your desk, work can be out of sight and out of mind for the evening, and your cluttered desk magically disappears. What is left is a beautiful statement furniture piece.

Just the Storage

If you prefer working from the couch or are content at the kitchen table, consider finding storage solutions for your supplies. Finding a bookshelf or built-in with lots of shelves and cubbies offers solutions for your office supplies and all of your family’s odds and ends. Built ins also make efficient use of large walls to be decorative and useful.

Tucked Away

Do you (somehow) have a spare closet in your home? Consider putting it to good use as a small office. Simply remove the door, add some shelves and a work surface, and you have a pocket office. Add a curtain to easily hide away all your work things once quitting time comes around.

If you’re looking to build your perfect home, complete with an office that suits your needs, a home in Crooked Tree Preserve could be what you’re looking for. Contact us today to learn more about building the perfect home for you and your family.

Home Hacks to Stay Organized This School Year

September means school is officially back in session! It’s a time to reset, get organized, and prepare for the chaos ahead. Making sure your home is ready to handle the school routine is important, and there are a few easy things you can do to set your whole family up for success.

Organize the Gear

In a perfect world, your home will have an area for a cubby system. You would be able to store backpacks, shoes, sports equipment and more in one out of the way location so kids will always know where things are. Based on the layout of your home, that may not be possible, so it’s important to find other solutions. Baskets work well for shoe storage, and you can tuck them into a corner or under a table so they’re out of the way. Look for an area you can put hooks at different heights to catch backpacks and coats from the whole family.

Create a Homework Zone

Having a dedicated place for kids to sit down and do their homework may help actually get it done without too many complaints. Make sure there are plenty of pens, pencils, and notebooks within easy reach, and designate it as a “quiet zone” to help eliminate distractions. Whether you have a desk space in the kitchen or a cabinet by the kitchen table, there is a solution that will work for your family.

Make a Central Command Center

You can (attempt to) eliminate the questions of “what do we have this weekend,” “what’s for dinner,” and “where’s my permission slip?” with a central command center. Add a calendar, menu board, folders, and more so that everyone in the house knows what’s going on. Find high-traffic area such as a kitchen wall, the refrigerator, or the mudroom so nobody will miss it.

Whether you are able to implement all of these ideas, or just a few, they should help you start your year off right and help you get to the top of the class.

If you want to make sure your home is tailored to all of your family’s needs, a home in Crooked Tree Preserve could be a perfect fit for you! Contact us today to learn more about turning the home of your dreams into a reality.

“A New Path Home” Celebration at Crooked Tree Preserve

Join us on Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30, 2019, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. for the “A New Path Home” Celebration at Crooked Tree Preserve!

Visit us from our brand-new Bethany Road entrance and tour our stunning model and market homes from a variety of our luxury and estate builders for a chance to win a Mason Fun Pack featuring season passes to Kings Island, The Beach Waterpark, YETI tumblers and beach towels! As you visit our model and market homes and take in the view of our picturesque community, you’ll have a “passport” stamped to be entered for a chance to win.

Crooked Tree Preserve combines the ease of luxury living with the peacefulness of a wooded retreat. Our community features 50 acres of nature preserve, 1.5
miles of paved walking trails, a community garden, a pool,
and many other upscale amenities that make it the perfect place to call “home.”

Make the Most of Your Spring & Summer with These Fun Activities and Attractions in Mason

As the temperatures get higher and the days grow longer, there’s no doubt that your family will want to take full advantage of the better weather by finding fun outdoor activities to partake in. Whether you live in Cincinnati or are visiting from out-of-town, the city of Mason, Ohio has plenty of fun attractions to keep the fun going for months on end.

Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite spring and summer activities in and around Mason:

Experience Adventure at Kings Island

When it comes to family fun in Mason, you can’t beat the gold standard — Kings Island. As the largest amusement and water park in the Midwest, Kings Island offers 364 acres full of heart-pounding excitement for thrill-seekers of all ages. If you haven’t been to the park in a while, you’ll want to be sure to check out Mystic Timbers — an 18,804 feet monster of a coaster that was awarded “Best New Ride” by Amusement Todayin 2017.

This year also features the return of the Kings Mills Antique Autos, a fun ride from yesteryear that will delight both young and old alike. We can’t wait to revisit this Kings Island classic — and we guarantee it’s a great way to make some treasured memories with your family this summer, too!

Soak Up the Sun at The Beach Waterpark

If you’re looking for something with a more relaxed pace, you can’t beat The Beach Waterpark. The kids will love getting wet and wild in play areas like Big Creek Beach — and you’ll love enjoying a refreshing cocktail and live music on one of the park’s popular Reggae Sundays.

Best of all, The Beach is incredibly affordable, with general admission passes starting at just $20. There are even deeper discounts for larger groups, giving you a perfect excuse to get the whole family together and jump into fun!

National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting

Want to beat the heat and cool down while soaking up some knowledge? You’ll definitely want to make a pit stop at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting. This entertaining attraction is located on the site of the former Voice of America Relay Station that played a pivotal role during World War II, making it a great destination for the history buffs in your clan.

If the word “museum” conjures up images of boring, stuffy spaces, think again — this destination is an interactive space that includes a radio station control room, faithful re-creations of radio and television studios from the 1920s through the present, and much more. Tune in to this museum for an incredible — and educational — afternoon that your family won’t soon forget.

Red, Rhythm & Boom

Mason’s annual “Red, Rhythm & Boom” festival offers your family a unique way to celebrate our nation’s independence in style. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, July 3rd, and will feature fun for the entire family — including interactive inflatables, crazy carnival games, bounce houses, and more.

Family members of all ages will love watching the death-defying skydiving stunts performed by FASTRAX Skydiving. The evening concludes with a salute to our nation in a stunning fireworks display by Rozzi’s Fireworks.

No matter what is on your family’s spring and summer bucket list, Mason is sure to offer something for everyone. If you’re interested in calling the city of Mason “home,” be sure to get in touch with the builders at Crooked Tree Preserveto start building your dream home in our picturesque natural community today.

Build the Perfect Kitchen for 2019

When it comes to designing the perfect kitchen, striking the perfect balance between trendy and timely is no easy feat. We’ve gathered some out our favorite kitchen trends for 2019 to help remove some of the stress — and bring a little extra fun and flair to this important part of the home.

Colors
White is always a mainstay for kitchen cabinets, but they’re not the only option. According to HGTV, popular colors are moody tones such as a matte black, hunter green and navy. Mix it up and use a moody dark tone on main cabinets with a slight variation of lighter colors for an island.

Cabinets
Gone are the days of simple shelves for storage. Deep drawers for your larger pots and pans are a must. High cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling will not only make your kitchen look bigger and more put together, but also allow you to have more storage space.

Flooring
When it comes to flooring, you should consider mixing dark hues with light colors. For example, think about incorporating light wood floors into your kitchen in order to brighten the room. Wood flooring is clean cut, sophisticated, and easy to maintain. If you have an entirely dark kitchen, everything will seem small; adding lighter elements will circumvent this and help the room breathe a little more.

Countertops
Stone has ruled for a long time, but why not mix it up and mirror the floor? Light wood counters with ample space make a statement. The less cluttered you are with your countertops the bigger and cleaner your kitchen will feel.

Backsplash
To add to your clean countertop, you’ll want to also work a tall backsplash into your design — especially behind the kitchen sink and stovetop. You can easily tie in your black cabinets and make it clean with a black or white backsplash.

Appliances
Appliances are often a homeowner’s favorite part of their kitchen because it pulls everything together. Gunmetal ovens, microwaves, and refrigerators are in style for 2019. When you are shopping for an oven, make sure to go with a dual oven, as they are both practical and on trend for this year. Gunmetal and matte black are on trend in 2019 since they show sophistication upon first glance. Gunmetal is especially popular because it does not smudge when you touch it and it entails less upkeep.

Smart Home Technology
It may seem over the top, but consider bringing the latest technology to your kitchen. Smart fridges, motion censored light switches, and WIFI operated coffee machines that you can control from your phone are interesting, practical, and will truly make your house feel like a home of the future.

The builders at Crooked Tree Preserve are dedicated to making all of the dreams you have for your home a reality. Contact us to learn more about joining our community today!

4 Ideas for Incorporating Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year Into Your Home

Every year, the experts at Pantone select a “Color of the Year” that influences a wide variety of industries, from fashion to home furnishings and everything in between. Whether you are an interior design expert or just a homeowner looking for some inspiration, incorporating the Color of the Year into your home can be a great way to make your décor more current — or even just refresh a room that could use a little TLC.

For 2019, Pantone has declared the Color of the Year to be Living Coral — “an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge.”

Compared to the more muted colors that have been chosen in years past, the vibrant nature of Living Coral means that it is a perfect hue to act as either a complement to your current designs, or as a focal point for something completely new. Here are some simple ways to bring this energizing color into your home:

1. Go All-In on an Accent Wall

The warm and inviting nature of Living Coral makes it an ideal shade to use for a bold accent wall. Consider painting it into a room with an otherwise neutral color palette, such as a bedroom full of blacks or a living room that is primarily grayscale; not only will the contrast be visually stunning, but Living Coral’s bright undertones will also help brighten up the room as a whole.

2. Say “Yes” to Statement Pieces

Another simple way to get your fix is to purchase one or two Living Coral-colored statement pieces that will draw the focus of a room, such as a couch, chair, or area rug. These items can help to give your rooms more visual interest by ensuring the piece demands attention from everyone who enters it.

3. Do It DIY Style

If you’re not convinced that you want Living Coral to be a permanent part of your décor, consider working the color into your home by creating some fun DIY projects featuring the hue. Purchase some blank canvases and let your imagination run wild with a little impressionistic painting, or find another craft project — such as creating your own pottery — that will allow you to combine this fun color with your artistic sensibilities.

4. Pillows, Please!

Finally, one of the easiest ways to work Living Coral into your home’s aesthetic is to load up on throw pillows. That way, the color can be incorporated into almost any room, from bedrooms to living spaces and beyond. Pair a Living Coral-colored throw with your standard set of pillows for a fun pop of color that will bring a smile to your face every time you see it.

The natural sensibilities of Living Coral are especially well suited for a home in Crooked Tree Preserve, a community in Mason, Ohio that gives homeowners the best in luxury living set against a backdrop of beautiful nature-themed amenities. Contact us to learn more about brightening up your life with a home in our community today!

Our Favorite Places to Eat, Drink and Play in Mason, Ohio

Mason is not only the home of Crooked Tree Preserve it is also a bustling area that is just a stone’s throw away from both Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. While both large cities offer fun for the entire family, you may not be aware that Mason itself has much to offer for those of all ages.

Amusement

There are several fun amusement offerings in and around Mason. First, Kings Island is a 364-acre amusement park located just across the highway from Crooked Tree Preserve. The park, owned by Cedar Fair, boasts several coasters that are ranked among the best in the world including The Beast, Banshee and Diamondback. Kings Island also features an 18-time Golden Ticket award-winning kids’ area, along with one of the region’s premier waterparks.

Speaking of waterparks, The Beach Waterpark and Great Wolf Lodge are also located in the area. The Beach Waterpark is home to 22 different outdoor slides, while Great Wolf Lodge offers indoor splash park fun for the family year-round.

For adults, Miami Valley Gaming is close by. The facility offers more than 1,800 gaming machines, live racing and various dining options whether you are looking for light bites or more elegant fare.

Dining

While there are many enjoyable Cincinnati-based chains available in the area such as Gold Star Chili and LaRosa’s, there are also ton of other small local offerings throughout Mason.

The Wildflower Café features a regularly changing menu that is based on seasonal, local eating. If pizza is more your style, there’s always Two Cities Pizza Co. The restaurant is a mashup of New York and Chicago-style pizza — a kind of “tasty peace treaty,” as the restaurant’s menu calls it.

Finally, if you’re looking for a more upscale experience, you can’t go wrong with Tony’s Steaks and Seafood. This owner-operated restaurant strives to deliver luxury without the pretension and has a variety of different options on their menu such as Rig-a-Tony, the New Zealand Rack of Lamb and Jack’s Dry-Aged Bone-in New York Strip.

Sports

While Cincinnati is home to the Cincinnati Bengals and Reds, Mason is home to the annual Western & Southern Open. The annual tennis tournament takes place every year and attracts the best players from all over the world.

If you’re more of a participator than a spectator, there are a couple of great golf courses in the area for you to enjoy. The Heritage Club is a private, member-only club that boasts a championship 18-hole P.B. Dye-designed golf course, swimming pool and tennis courts. The City of Mason Golf Center includes access to the 18-hole championship Grizzly course and the four-hole Academy course, as well as access to two driving ranges and the country club amenities.

Mason has so much to offer to homeowners and visitors. As a resident of Crooked Tree Preserve, you not only get to enjoy all of the great attractions the city of Mason has to offer, you also have some amazing amenities right in your own backyard. Our community is home to 50 acres of nature preserve, 1.5 miles of paved walking trails, a community garden, and much more.

To learn more about available lots in our community, contact us today at (513) 535-4888.