Creating A Master Bedroom Retreat

If your home is your safehaven, then your Master bedroom is your command center. It's the place where you can recharge and refresh from the busy-ness of our everyday lives. It's essential to create an atmosphere for yourself that is warm and inviting and comforting. Here's some Master bedroom ideas to transform your bedroom into a serene oasis.


Start your transformation with color. Whether you decide to paint your Master retreat, or incorporate new bedding, soothing colors like greens, soft creams, or purples create a feeling of rest and relaxation.

You spend a third of your life sleeping, so it’s important to choose a mattress, pillows and bedding that are the most comfortable for you. Bedding is also important. You have a variety of fabrics and finishes to choose from. Whatever you choose, make sure you feel most comfortable with it.

Maximize functionality by incorporating a space in your master bedroom for an elegant chaise lounge or a pair of overstuffed armchairs. Having any form of additional seating in your master creates a more dynamic sense of space where you can enjoy alone time away from the main social areas in your home and instantly creates a peaceful spot to unwind at the end of the day.


Lastly, incorporate personal touches, like family photos or keepsakes on nightstands or bookshelves. Try not to over-accessorize, but just include items that are important or sentimental to you. Banish electronics, like TVs, laptops, or cellphones to another room or hallway to keep your Master retreat a serene spot, without distractions.

How to Spruce Up Your Entryway

The entryway or foyer is your home's first impression on visitors. Make sure it's a good one. If you're looking for ways to add some life to your vestibule, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Floors

Your entryway floors take a beating from all the traffic and weather. Make sure your flooring can take the beating by choosing the correct flooring for your home. Consider adding an area rug or runner down to combat some of the foot traffic. Keep your rugs clear of the furniture so the space has a feeling of openness. And don’t let it extend the entire length of the hallway: You want to be sure that the front door can open freely.

Walls

The easiest way to liven up your foyer is to paint the walls. Choose a color that is in the same palette as the other rooms close to it for continuity. If painting isn't in the budget, pieces of art can work wonders. Hanging artwork, mirrors or other decorations engage your visitors eyes immediately and gives your foyer the lift it was missing. Art doesn't have to be expensive either. You can use swatches of wallpaper in clean frames to create an eclectic grouping, or try ornamental mirrors as well.

Furniture

Your entryway should not only be appealing to the eye, but it should also be functional. Consider adding a few pieces of furniture, like a small dresser and chair to give your foyer a cozy feeling. Put a basket or bowl there to be a catch-all for keys or mial, but make sure it doesn't become too cluttered. A drop-zone is another great piece to add to your entryway to corrall all of the coats and shoes.

The Talbot Wins Best New Home Design Award

The Talbot plan was a recent winner in the Best New Home Design Category at the Lexington Home Builders Association's Salute to the Stars. A winner in the $226-$300K price category, the Talbot is a 2632sf traditionally styled two-story with four bedrooms.

This new plan offers the great square footage values and family-friendly layout of popular plans like the Cavanaugh II and Arlington II Expanded, plus features like a covered patio, loft option, drop zone option, and pocket office option that are in high demand with today's homebuyers. The kitchen includes a walk-in pantry, a barrel-style island, and plenty of cabinet space. The upstairs master suite with trey ceiling has multiple luxury bath layouts, including a walk-in shower, drying area, and open linen shelves. The wrap-around master closet has direct pass-through access to the spacious upstairs utility room.

View our photo gallery by clicking on Photo Gallery from the Talbot page toolbar, or see the Talbot model at The Village at Lanes Run Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5pm, or any time by appointment.

Ball Earns Environmental Commission Award

Efforts to preserve what one news writer dubbed "the most fought-over tree in Lexington" have earned Ball Homes the 2014 Environmental Commission Award, and tree preservationists hope it may serve as a model for future developments.  The Lexington-Fayette Environmental Commission announced the award in November, citing planning and preservation efforts by Ball Homes during the development of a 25-acre tract of land off Harrodsburg Road near Military Pike that is home to the giant bur oak tree.  

A long-term plan to protect and preserve the tree was developed by Ball Homes in conjunction with Ian Hoffman, President of Big Beaver Tree Service, and Tom Kimmerer of Venerable Trees, Inc.  Before securing approval to develop the area, the company created a plan based around the tree's needs that would return the tree to healthy environmental conditions, protect it during development, and provide for its future care.  As a protected part of the new residential community of single family homes and apartments, the massive oak will be the focal point and signature feature of the neighborhood.

The age of the tree has been estimated at 300 to 500 hundred years.  It is a species that thrives in Central Kentucky conditions, but has become increasingly rare as it does not thrive in urban conditions, and younger trees are not growing up to replace the older ones.  Described as "the oldest living things in Kentucky" by Herald-Leader columnist Tom Eblen, the trees often dominate the landscape because of their size, making them "icons of the Bluegrass landscape."

In part because of its highly visible location, the ancient bur oak tree on Old Schoolhouse Lane has been the subject of much public discussion, and an earlier proposal by another developer that placed the tree at risk for loss or damage was rejected by the city. 

In fact, it was already threatened by soil compaction from an existing driveway that remained from a now-demolished residence built in the 1970's.   First steps to protect the tree involved pruning, removing brush from around it, and removing the driveway.  A temporary fence to keep construction at least 72 feet away from the tree was installed, and six inches of wood mulch placed.  Going forward, approximately 3/4 of an acre has been dedicated to the tree's preservation, and Ball Homes plans to retain ownership of that portion of the property.  

Tom Kimmerer of Venerable Trees suggests that the tree care plan developed for Ball Homes could become a model for preserving other ancient trees in the Bluegrass.  Read more about the story of the Schoolhouse Oak's conservation in Tom Eblen's Lexington Herald-Leader feature.

Photo courtesy of the Lexington Herald-Leader

Ball Homes Night of Hope

We're looking forward to one of our annual traditions, the sixth annual Ball Homes Night of Hope. This year’s event takes place on Thursday, November 13th at 7pm, at the Lexington Opera House. This year's featured speaker is country singer/songwriter Jimmy Wayne, the author of Paper Angels and the new book Walk to Beautiful, the story of his inspiring journey to raise awareness of homeless children.

Jimmy Wayne survived an abusive childhood and years of shuffling through the foster care system, eventually ending up homeless. He was taken in by a couple who fostered his love of music and helped him get his education. After completing his associates degree in criminal justice, he auditioned for a songwriting job for Acuff-Rose, and in 2008 had his first Billboard Top 40 country hits, including the #1 hit "Do You Believe Me Now." Jimmy Wayne never forgot his past though, and on January 1, 2010, he set out on a 1700 mile solo hike from Nashville to Phoenix to raise awareness of homeless youth. Called the "Meet Me Halfway" campaign, he walked 25 miles a day, and was covered by major national media, including People and USA Today. The story of this journey is chronicled in Jimmy's newest book, Walk to Beautiful.
All proceeds from the evening’s festivities go to the Hope Center, to help battle homelessness, addiction and mental illness across Kentucky.

For tickets or more information on this special event, visit the Hope Center website.