Back
If you’re in the market for a new home or simply want to see this year’s hottest home designs, you get the chance to do both at the upcoming Parade of Homes Fall Classic 2020. Parade-goers can tour nearly 115 homes — including nine built by Landmark Fine Homes — when the nine-day event kicks off Sept. 19.
Hosted by the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association, the annual open house event (now in its 75th year) allows attendees to create personalized self-guided tours of homes in developing neighborhoods across central Oklahoma. Even those who aren’t house hunting get a kick out of the event, said Elisa McAlister, COHBA’s senior director of operations and events.
“Of course we have people who are out to buy a house, who are in the midst of the homebuying process or just starting it,” McAlister said. “Then you have home remodelers who may be revamping their own house and want to see new, up-to-date designs, whether it’s popular trends in paint colors or tile or outdoor living ideas. Then we have lots of people wanting to go out and look at the homes because that’s something they enjoy doing.”
First time attending? No problem. COHBA has made it easy to plan your parade route. Every OnCue gas station in the OKC metro area will carry free parade guidebooks starting in mid-September. Those guidebooks will walk you through all open house locations you can visit during the event, which runs 1-7 p.m. each day from Sept. 19 to 27. Click here to find an OnCue location near you.
In addition to perusing the guidebook, parade-goers can create their own login on the Parade of Homes website to assemble their self-guided parade route. Just navigate to the homepage, click “Login” in the upper righthand corner, then “Not a Member? Register.” Registering will enable you to sift through all the home listings, “favorite” those you’re interested in touring, and order homes in whatever sequence you want for a route that makes sense for you.
Rest assured organizers have kept COVID-19 precautions in mind. Because several homebuilders are involved in the parade, each is responsible for precautions at their own open houses. Safeguards might include wearing a face mask or covering inside each home, applying hand sanitizer upon entering homes, and minimizing the touching of any surfaces inside the homes. See the Parade of Homes’ FAQ page for more information about COVID-19 safety.
When you arrive at a home, you’ll see large real estate signs in front of each house to signify it’s a parade house. Many builders will have the house staffed to answer any questions or show attendees through the homes. Other builders open their homes for self-guided tours.
You can reap several benefits by attending the event. For starters, you’re able to tour homes of all price points, starting at around $200,000 and capping at about $900,000, which allows you to see what types of homes fall within your budget.
In addition, you get to discover this year’s top trends, giving you a good idea of what style of home you prefer or what design and decor elements (yes, some homes are staged) you can implement in your new home.
“The farmhouse trend is still pretty solid right now,” McAlister said. “I also think some people are bringing in more transitional styles to mix with the farmhouses. Everything used to be shiplap and all white, but now people are starting to bring in pops of color and mixing materials like wood and metals.”
McAlister added that home offices and recreational rooms are trending this year due to families quarantining at home, and working from home, to avoid exposure to COVID-19. Homebuilders have taken notice of that desire to be safe inside the home and enjoy the areas around the home since, for many, travel is limited.
“Because of that, a lot more people are wanting an area for their home office or for homeschooling or virtual schooling,” she said. “You’ll also see a focus on the outdoor living space because everyone is staying home and enjoying their patios, pergolas, etc. The popularity of swimming pools has just been unreal right now, too.”
Bear in mind, most, but not all, of the homes are for sale. Some might have sold just before the start of the parade, while others might be a model home that will give you an idea of what else the homebuilder can accomplish for you. No matter the status of a home, attendees are encouraged to connect with the homebuilders to learn more about their available options.
Parade-goers will also get the chance to tour the COHBA Project House, featuring donated and discounted products, in Waters Edge at Stone Mill in Yukon. Once sold, proceeds will help continue the work of the association within the new home construction industry and community, plus its advocacy work, for years to come. The association monitors code and regulation changes locally, always with the homebuyer in mind.
“If a city or municipality starts implementing more codes or regulations, those most likely increase the cost to the builder to build the house, which then increases the price the homeowner pays for the house,” McAlister said. “At COHBA, we keep a pulse on what’s going on at the city level to make sure the cost of living remains affordable for our community. ”
In addition to Landmark Fine Homes, the event is sponsored by Stone Mill, Timberland Creek, Metro Appliances & More, Samsung, OG&E, McCaleb Homes, SWM & Sons Custom Homes, and Silver Stone Homes.
Want to get a headstart on your Parade of Homes house hunt? Look through the available homes on our website to get an idea of what you’ll see in person come Sept. 19!
Wanting to add some character or sophistication to your living room but don’t know where to start? Easy. Look to the room’s center of activity: the coffee table.
Between all of the different styles and decor ideas that exist, you can create thousands of combinations with just a few coffee table decorations. While all of those options can be overwhelming, they don’t have to be!
The key to decorating your coffee table is to keep it simple. Pick a style or one staple and build the rest of your design from there. Simplicity will help create a cohesive design that ties into the whole room. Coffee table decorations are important because they help complete a room. They’re more than just a coffee table tray or a candle — they’re the finishing touches that add personality and style to a room.
Are you still overwhelmed by the idea of putting together your own coffee table arrangement? To help, we’ve compiled five easy-to-follow tips that will act as a guide for simply decorating your coffee table.
Geometric sculptures or antique decor serve as perfect conversation starters! A statement piece can provide visual appeal while also serving as a base for your other coffee table decor choices. A statement piece can say whatever you want it to. Whether that’s a statement about your home, family, history or even style choices, let the piece do the talking.
Items like coasters or small storage boxes can be placed on coffee table trays to provide usefulness to your table. These items serve unique purposes like eliminating clutter, providing a place for a cold glass or a soft candle to freshen the scent of a room. Regardless of the intended purpose, make your coffee table useful for you.
Create layers by adding differently sized and shaped items to your coffee table. Plants allow you to bring a bit of the outside in and add a variety of height to your coffee table decor. Choosing items that vary in height or shape will also stagger your eye and add layers of attractiveness.
Coffee table decorations don’t have to be from a matching set. Picking differing textures like wicker baskets or ceramic vases can add variance and opulence to a simple table. Coffee table books or fresh flowers bring in pops of color that can be neatly matched to other areas of a room.
While you may find comfort in piling your coffee table with vases, books, plants and other things, be sure to leave room on your table. Undesigned space gives you a place to prop your feet up or set a book down for a bit. Leaving space for life will create a neatness and intentionality within your coffee table design that is priceless!
With these five tips, you’re sure to decorate a coffee table that you’ll love. Remember to keep it simple and focus on items that provide value or beauty. All of these tips will help you pick coffee table decor that enhances your home. After you’ve put your extravagant ensemble together, consider sprucing up another area of your home by creating an audio room!
Picking your home floor plan can seem like one of the most exciting and fun parts of homebuilding. But with so many different choices, how can you determine the best floor plan for your needs?
Working with an experienced home builder who will work to understand your particular wants and needs is important. The right builder will work alongside you to guide you to the best floor plan design for your perfect home.
Here are some tips to get started with narrowing down your choices.
Start with the interior — how many and what type of rooms you will need — before selecting the exterior finish. Most architectural styles can be applied to just about any floor plan, so design around your practical needs and desires inside before thinking about the outside.
Landmark offers a variety of house designs and floor plans, with different characteristics based on each owner’s wants and needs. Detailed building floor plans offer an opportunity to truly understand the size and shape of each room. Visualize yourself moving from room to room in the home. Share your wants and needs lists with your builder so they can begin to match them to floor plans you’ll love.
This is also the time to start getting specific with architecture. Tell your builder if you only want to see floor plans for ranch-style homes, or if you have your heart set on a cute, two-story Cape Cod. They’ll share detailed descriptions and images, along with available options and customization strategies that make your home unique.
Here are a few of Landmark’s most popular floor plans:
Preston: One-floor living at its best, with plenty of space for entertaining, the Preston plan includes over 2,500 square feet of space, including three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage. This open floor plan has the owner’s suite tucked away in a corner and a great flex space.
Kirkland: Popular for its flexibility in one-floor-living design, Kirkland offers multiple exterior options and almost 1,900 square feet of customizable space, with three bedrooms, two full baths and a two-car garage.
Ellie: One of Landmark’s newer plans is also one of their most popular. Ellie’s one-floor living features a whopping 3,355 square feet of available space, including a porte cochere for maximum driveway space, a large master bedroom (three total bedrooms), two full baths and one half bath, and a three-car garage.
Chloe: This brand new floor plan offers an amazing 3,134 square feet of space, with four bedrooms, two and a half baths and a three-car garage (optional four- or five-car). Spacious one-floor living with an open concept and oversized pantry, Chloe’s welcoming, expansive farmhouse design is ideal for entertaining and larger families.
Contact a homebuilding expert from Landmark Homes today to let us help you find the perfect home. Landmark Homes is a former “America’s Best Builder” award-winner, and we are proud of our dedication to quality, custom-built homes.