Susie Skog knows Lake Norman Real Estate Inside Out

Here are a few stand-out ways to add a statement ceiling to your home!

Add a Pop of Color

Try a simple splash from the rooms existing color scheme or go bold with a hand-painted pattern.

Get Creative With Textures

From exposed wood to custom plaster ceiling treatments, textures add a new layer of depth.

Incorporate Unique Lighting

Dramatic chandeliers or pendants will take it to the next level while illuminating colors and textures more vividly.

Hang Wallpaper

Wallpaper doesnt just belong on the wall! Traditional patterns and custom-made designs can be added to any ceiling.

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Here are a few ways going green in your home is good for you!

Removal of Air Pollutants

State-of-the-art ventilation and air filtering systems monitor air flow while removing pollutants, dust, and mold spores.

More Natural Light

LEED-Certified homes connect inhabitants to the outdoors, reinforce circadian rhythms, and reduce the need for lighting through increased natural light.

Less Toxic Chemicals

Characteristics like radon-resistant construction and fewer volatile organic compounds mean your living environment has your well-being in mind.

Proximity to Walking and Biking Paths

LEED homes are incentivized to be located near walking and biking paths in order to promote clean transportation, which also keeps you on the move.

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Here are the defining features of French Provincial homes…

Stone, Brick and Slate

The exterior of this architectural style can be immediately recognized by its stone or brick faade and slate roof.

Symmetrical Windows

Multi-paned windows are commonly featured in French Provincial style architecture and are typically arranged symmetrically.

Rustic Warmth

Exposed wood beams, weathered finishes and wrought-iron accents are all great additions.

Light and Airy Colors

Complementing the natural materials, a light color palette plays a major role in creating the casual elegance thats highly sought after.

Furniture and Decor

When decorating in French Provincial style, the goal is to achieve a sense of simple romanticism throughout each room.

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Anyone who has embarked on selecting a white paint color knows that it can arguably be the most complex paint color to choose. The lighting so impacts white paint that understanding when your room gets the most and least natural light is the first step for selecting a white paint color. In addition, white paint has more depth than what meets the eye, as white paints have varying undertones. Heres a list of some of the best white paint colors and what makes them unique.

Benjamin Moore White Dove (Warm)
A perennial favorite, Benjamin Moore White Dove is a soft, creamy white that is not too warm or too cool. It can read warm without yellow undertones, while also being fresh and bright without blue undertones. Its a classic pick for trim work as well as entire walls. While White Dove may have yellow undertones when compared side-by-side with other white paints, it wont have those undertones when its by itself.

Benjamin Moore Simply White (Warm)
Like a favorite white t-shirt, Benjamin Moore Simply White is a clean, crisp warm white that works equally as well on walls as it does on trim and ceilings. Simply White is a welcoming white that provides a soft, cozy glow and creates a fresh feel. Simply White can have warm yellow or gray undertones, depending on lighting. Because of its warmth, it is not a true white.

Farrow & Ball Wimbourne White (Warm)
This just off-white color is a shade away from pure white. A hint of yellow adds softness and versatility. Farrow & Ball Wimbourne White is beautiful on walls or cabinets.

Benjamin Moore Decorators White (Cool)
As a bright, neutral white, Benjamin Moore Decorators White can instantly illuminate a space and pairs well with every paint color. While its considered a neutral shade of white, Decorators White can have gray undertones, making it pair beautifully with cooler paint colors. Its stunning for trim work and also is a neutral choice for cabinets.

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (Cool)
This bright, clean and pure white is void of warm and cool undertones. Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace is crisp without being sterile and creates a bright, airy space. Chantilly Lace is a true white that can have gray or blue undertones. Its an excellent pick for kitchen cabinets or even a whole home.

Sherwin Williams Extra White (Cool)
An excellent choice for trim and ceilings, Sherwin Williams Extra White is a bright white with cool undertones. It pairs well as a trim color in a room with blue or gray walls.

Sherwin Williams Pure White (Warm/Cool)
Sherwin Williams Pure White is a beautiful pick for a bright white paint color that isnt too stark. Its a clean white that isnt too white, due to hints of yellow and black to add warmth and soften it. While Pure White can have gray undertones, its such a neutral white that it doesnt significantly veer warm or cool.

For the best white for your home, remember to test the paint on your walls during different times of day, so you can be confident that the white paint you select is the best choice for your home.

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Installing an indoor basketball court can help aspiring stars brush up on their skills, or provide recreational entertainment for both the youngest and oldest basketball fans. In addition, it offers a place to burn off extra energy during the colder months and stay active year-round, as well as provide both health and social benefits. Read on for details to consider if youre interested in building an indoor basketball court in your home.

Decide on Full or Half Court
Whether you install a full or half court is dependent on the usable space you have. If youre building an indoor basketball court in your basement, you may opt for a half-court. However, if your indoor court will be an independent structure, you may have the space for a full court.

Incorporate Locker Rooms
If you anticipate friends coming over to play, adding locker rooms and a shower will give them a place to store their belongings and clean up after an intense game.

Create a Multi-Purpose Space
You can extend the use of your indoor basketball court by building a multi-purpose space. Adding additional recreational features, such as a climbing wall, racquetball space and volleyball or badminton net, may appeal to different age levels, interests and family members. create a universal sports court by ensuring the floor has the necessary markings and posts for the needed nets.

Build a Multi-Level Space
A multi-level space will allow spectators to come to watch a game and turn the area into a lounge space. If the court will be used primarily by children, its an especially great space for parents to take in a scrimmage.

Consider the Ceiling Height
The ceiling or roof height is crucial for an indoor basketball court. This will allow for the hoop to be regulation height and to be able to play the most authentic game.

Know the Importance of Soundproofing
Basketball can be a loud sport, between the ball bouncing on the ground, the board, the buzzer and any banter between players. Soundproofing the space will create a more comfortable atmosphere for everyone at home.

Select the Flooring Surface
Its important that the flooring surface of an indoor court isnt slippery, so the flooring selection is essential. Maple flooring is one of the most common choices because of its durability and shock-absorbing properties. However, other wood types may wear down over time, making future repairs inevitable. Another flooring option is cement. An epoxy finish over the cement will create a smoother surface.

Determine the Court Design
Whether you choose colors from your favorite collegiate team, professional team or your own favorite colors, the design possibilities are endless. Designing your indoor basketball court can be the most fun part of the process from a neutral space, an all-wood atmosphere, a brightly colored area or an homage to your favorite team or players.

Published with permission from RISMedia.