8 Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Gourmet Kitchen
While customizing your Calvosa Organization home with our designer, we don’t blame you if your very first priority is your gorgeous gourmet kitchen. After all, fresh springtime pasta primavera tastes better when it’s prepared in a space that’s stylish and personalized from top to bottom…
The true heart of your home, your spacious kitchen is your personal sanctuary to not only create and share your best meals, but also to relax, unwind, and clear your mind. Complete with high-end appliances, an abundance of storage space, and ideal opportunities for customization, there are so many ways to make the most out of your gourmet kitchen — get inspired by a few of our favorites:
1. Add a Wine Fridge
First thing’s first: wine. Now that you have more room than ever before, give your wine collection the spotlight it deserves right in your kitchen. An efficient wine fridge not only lets you control the temperature of your favorite bottles while keeping them at reach, it also adds yet another sleek and sophisticated touch to your space.
2. Expand Your Cooking Skills
One of the best parts about your kitchen is that it comes complete with every appliance you could possibly need to cook. Whether you’d call yourself a Michelin-star-chef or an amateur (and anything in between), your kitchen has your back on any meal you’ve been wanting to make, from simple dishes to complicated delicacies.
3. Host a Wine and Food Pairing Party
What better way to celebrate moving into your Calvosa Organization home than by throwing a party centered on wine and food? With springtime calling for caprese salads, bruschettas, and absolutely anything with salmon, you can whip up your best treats and have your friends bring over reds and whites to pair them with.
4. Include a Large Island
Working with our designer, you have endless options to make your kitchen as unique and personable as you are. Have you always wanted to live on island time? Now’s your chance to include a center island that’s large enough for the whole family to eat at. Luxurious and functional all at once, you’ll want to get stranded here…
5. Create Your Dream Coffee Bar
Let’s face it, there’s nothing more satisfying than enjoying a cup of your favorite coffee in the morning before the day begins. That’s why your new kitchen has the space and the ability to be well-equipped for your very own personalized coffee bar. Put your barista skills to the test and let the caffeine flow!
6. Organization is Key
Simply put, an out-of-sorts kitchen leads to stress… You deserve to have enough space to keep your pots, pans, utensils, spices, towels, etc. as organized as can be. Fortunately, space, storage, and convenience are key components to your kitchen, and we build each one to keep everything tidy.
7. Pot Fillers
At the Calvosa Organization, we believe that even the littlest details make the biggest difference. Now that your kitchen is incredibly spacious, you have wide open opportunities to add certain touches that you never had before. Pot fillers are contemporary, convenient, and of course, easy on the eyes (oh, and so much fun to use).
8. Under Cabinet Lighting and Outlets
Let there be light gets an entirely new meaning in your kitchen… With ample cabinets and space, you can add a certain glow to make this room even more regal and enjoyable than before. Talk to our designer about what kind of illuminating look you’re going for, and we’ll absolutely make it happen with the flip of a switch.
Whether it’s a milestone celebration or an everyday family dinner, the kitchen is where the real magic happens — which is why we build each one with the highest quality details and design, so that you can experience your best moments here. Get ready for your most delicious days yet…
New Year … Hot New Products & Features
A new year means new home trends, technology and products! (The recent International Builders Show, Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, and Consumer Electronics Show introduced a ton of new and innovative inventions for the home.)
Here at Calvosa, we are committed to building homes that reflect each family’s unique lifestyle. Our builder and in-house design team are up on all the latest trends, so you’ll find plenty of inspired elements for your home! And since our homes are smart home ready, you can bring us your latest technology, and we can install it! Check out some of the hot products, designs and features we love!
1.) Understated design. Design-wise, a clean, less cluttered look is all the rage. At Calvosa, we’ve already embraced this trend. Our kitchens and bathrooms are models of sleek design, with smooth surfaces, lots of glass, and unfussy tile and accents. Our flooring and trim are elegant and sophisticated without being overbearing. And our exteriors are classically inspired, yet timeless.
2.) Outdoor living spaces. Spacious patios, cozy courtyards, screened-in porches, and welcoming porticos… Extended outdoor living spaces are a trend that we really go for! From fire pits to fireplaces, gas grills to pizza ovens, TVs to real furniture, this is definitely not your parents’ backyard experience.
3.) Smart home technology. To say that this field has exploded is an understatement. In the span of a few years, we’ve gone from smart thermostats to whole house automation. This year’s slate of smart home products include increasingly smarter kitchen appliances, smart bathtubs, smart faucets, smart garage doors, even smart mirrors! (Make sure you invest in a smart home hub, too. Someone has to manage all this technology!)
4.) Energy-efficient everything. From insulation to HVAC, lighting to plumbing, every year brings better, more efficient systems. We strive to incorporate the best possible products and building practices in every Calvosa home, including high performance low-e insulated glass windows and sliding glass doors, smart energy testing, air sealing and duct sealing, and even solar energy capabilities. Learn more about what’s new in home design! Chat with our in-house design team about incorporating trends into your new Calvosa home!
Follow through with your New Year’s Resolutions!
Making resolutions for the new year is a time-honored tradition. We vow to improve ourselves – exercise more, start (or finish!) a project… the list is endless. This year, see how many resolutions you can keep – right from the comfort of your Calvosa home!
- Get organized. Even though we live in a digital age, there still seems to be paper everywhere! Take time to de-clutter your drawers and desk. Sort everything. Designate a spot that’s just for paperwork or bills, and create a system for sorting things as soon as they come in. Clean out the closets – and see how much space you have.
- Create a healthier environment. Think about what you’re eating, wearing orcleaning with. Get the junk food out of the house and load up on lots of nuts, fruits and veggies. Be aware of the chemicals in your cleaning supplies. Replace them with non-toxic or earth friendly versions if possible. Buy better made clothes made with natural fibers.
- Make technology your friend. Whether you’re trying to lower your heating bills or find time to exercise consistently, automation is the key. Automated thermostats. Automated bill paying. Automatic reminders. It’s easier to develop and stick to new habits with a little help from technology.
- Find a space for everything.Go room by room, and think about what you really use each part of your home for — watching movies and reading in the great room, for example. Make sure that everything you need to do these things is at hand, and get rid of anything unrelated.
- Spend more time with family. Schedule family dinners, game nights, movie nights – whatever your family likes. Turn off the phones, and settle down in the great room with some popcorn and a plan to spend uninterrupted time together as a family.
- Actually exercise more. You’ve been thinking of creating your own mini fitness center, so go ahead and turn your bonus room into a gym or yoga studio. And use your smart phone or tablet to remind you to exercise every day. No excuses!
- Read more. You know that pile of books (traditional or digital) that’s been sitting unread for ages? Create a reading nook for yourself in the study or guest room. Find a cozy chair, a good light and a shelf or table, and get comfy. (Don’t be surprised if you keep finding kids in your nook, though!)
- Learn a new skill.Hop on the DIY bandwagon. Choose an area that appeals to you (sewing, woodworking, painting) and search for online tutorials, pick up a book, or hunt for a local class or workshop to get started. The sense of fulfillment you’ll get when you finish a project is unbeatable.
Four Online Features That Make Buying A Calvosa Home Easier
Websites are a major element of home buying today. For a builder, they are our storefront, our welcome mat and our capabilities statement all rolled into one. At the Calvosa Organization, we have created a website that is both informative and inspiring, offering a combination of useful features and
lovely photography. In particular, these four online features are very helpful for our prospective buyers. To make sure to check them out!
- E-brochures. For our Grace Estates neighborhood, we created an online brochure that has everything a buyer might want to know about the community and our company – floor plans, features lists, a note from Vince, and more! And it can be printed, downloaded, emailed or shared online.
- Virtual tours. We offer virtual video tours of our models that are so realistic they make you feel like you’re really there. You can see the details of the wainscoting in the dining room, appreciate the soaring ceilings in the great room, practically feel the cool surface of the marble counters in the kitchen, or imagine yourself soaking in the huge tub in the master bath.
- Path to Ownership. In order to make the process of building a custom home easy to understand, we have a simple path to ownership that details every step from your first meeting with Vince to your post-closing inspection. It’s your new home, and we want you to have a fun and exciting experience.
- Why Buy New list. If you’re still on the fence about whether to buy a new or used home, we have a very handy list of reasons to consider buying a new Calvosa home. From
customization to warranties, energy efficiency to storage space, you’ll see plenty of things to think about – maybe even some you hadn’t considered yet.
If you’re considering building a new home, visit CalvosaOrganization.com, and explore all the features we have to help make your journey easier and more enjoyable.
The Calvosa Organizations Steps to Building Your Home On Your Lot
Building your dream home on your own land is an exciting time – and the Calvosa Organization is with you throughout the building process. Our proven approach makes the whole journey easier and more enjoyable.
THE PROCESS
- Conceptual meeting
- Meet with Vince
- Discuss financing options
- Approve layout & design
- Approve contract & pricing
- Finalize financing
- Pre-construction meeting
- Meet with designer for selections
- Construction begins
- Mid-construction review
- Pre-closing inspection
- Closing & move-in
- Post-closing inspection
THE SPECIFICS
Vince Calvosa personally works with you as you select a home design & layout. With his years of experience, you can trust him to handle your questions about design, financing, pricing, and construction.
Once you’ve finalized your financing, the fun begins! We’ll have a pre-construction meeting to review your plans and ensure that everything is correct. You’ll meet with our designer to make your interior and exterior selections – paint, flooring, cabinetry, lighting, and any other details that contribute to the uniqueness of your home.
As your home progresses, you’ll see the details that make your new custom home so special. Our team prides itself on building each Calvosa home as if we were building for our own families. From the expert framing to the handcrafted trim work, you’ll be in awe of the talented people working on your home.
Isn’t it time you started down the path to building your new Calvosa home on your own land? Call today to make an appointment to come see us.
Our Favorite Ways to Add Luxury to Your Master Bath
No matter what size your master bathroom is, you can always find ways to make it even more luxurious. At the Calvosa Organization, we believe that the key to creating a luxury bath is the quality of the materials we use, and the talents of the craftsmen who install everything. Here are some tips we recommend for creating a more luxurious master bath experience.
- Choose the best quality finishes and materials possible. Whether it’s the tile on the walls, the faucets, the new tub or the cabinets, go for quality. Do your research so you know what you’re looking for.
- Consider adding more natural stone, like travertine, marble, granite, limestone, or onyx. These come in large tiles or panels now, so you can cover the floors or walls with fewer grout lines for a seamless look. Plus, no two pieces are alike, so your room will be unique.
Install a freestanding bathtub. Some of them are simply gorgeous, like sculptures. Just make sure the tub is long enough for the tallest person who might be using it.
- Make sure the trim work, colors and/or style complement the master bedroom, and the rest of the house. For example, if your home is a very traditional colonial, an ultra-modern looking bathroom will stand out a little too much.
- Don’t forget the lights. You can add plenty of visual interest with accent lighting, unique fixtures, and even some color-changing LED technology.
- Bath surfaces tend to be smooth and shiny, but adding texture is a great way to add a little interest. Look for unpolished stone, reclaimed wood or handmade tiles.
- Include some greenery. All those slick surfaces and shiny finishes can be a little cold and lifeless. Bring in some plants or potted trees to add warmth and life while improving air quality.