Spring Highlights in Riverstone Include ASID Tour, Builder Debut Big things continue to happen in Fort Bend’s Riverstone, with the Houston area’s only American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Home Tour continuing through May 27 and the local debut of an award-winning San Antonio builder. A select group of Houston’s top interior designers combined their creative might to design a home that has enchanted visitors throughout May. The 6,682-square-foot Vista Fontana, at 22 Ivy Bend, is an Italian villa that illustrates the latest trends in an innovative fashion, while holding to a unifying theme. More than a dozen designers from the ASID Texas Gulf Coast Chapter are showcasing their talents throughout the home. Among the award-winning professional designers involved are Kelly Gale Amen, Sharon Staley, Donna Vining and Diana Walker, all known for their innovative design and creative styling. Setting the stage for Vista Fontana is Riverstone, a project of The Johnson Development Corp., one of Houston’s leading residential developers. Known for its lush landscape and serene waterways, Riverstone is home to some of the area’s most luxurious properties. The ASID show home is within the gated enclave of Ivy Bend, a neighborhood of 10 properties along expansive Lake Riverstone. The home was named Vista Fontana, which means “fountain view,” for the lake scenes visible from nearly every room. The tour continues 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through May 26. The home also will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Memorial Day, May 27. Admission is $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Proceeds from the event benefit the ASID Foundation, an organization that supports interior design research, education and scholarships. For more information on ASID and to purchase tickets, visit www.asidtgcc.org. Starting presales this spring in Riverstone is Sitterle Homes, a long-time San Antonio builder making its first entrance into the Houston market. Sitterle is offering distinctive patio homes priced from the $280’s in Riverstone’s Providence neighborhood. For details on top-ranked Riverstone, which is again experiencing record-breaking home sales this year, visit www.riverstone.com. (See ad page 11.) Robby Buish/Village Builders, Wildwood at Northpointe and John Hammond, President of Friendswood Development Company, a Lennar Company, enhancing the luxury and quality of home and community development. (See page 35.) Start Remodeling in Your Own Backyard: Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association offers tips for transforming outdoor living spaces When homeowners consider a renovation, the interior of a house often gets all the attention. The outside space, however, deserves just as much thought, according to members of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. A few small changes can make an outdoor space more welcoming and functional, And with a little more effort, an outdoor living space can become spectacular – rivaling the interiors of some homes. Brandon Lynch, founder of Keechi Creek Builders, said the trend of extending living space to the outdoors took off a couple years ago. Lynch said the reason is simple. “People want to have somewhere to go outside,” he explained. “That’s where they want to spend their time. They want to be outdoors, barbeque and hang out by the pool.” Rob Douglass, owner of Texas Custom Patios, is seeing a similar increase in interest. “There’s a lot of demand for adding outdoor living space,” he said. “In Houston, we have good weather most of the year. People want to take advantage of that.” There are several ways the builders recommend improving outdoor space: • Update finishes. Douglass said a good first step is changing the finish on existing features – from walkways to ceilings. “Instead of bare concrete, we use stamped concrete, travertine or slate floors,” he said. He also adds new stains to wooden ceilings or shade structures. “We make all the same kinds of decisions as we do for interior spaces,” he said. “We look at granite countertops, flooring, paints and stains.” • Change the lighting. Lighting is another essential update, Douglass said. Spending time outdoors is not just for the daytime. Good lighting makes outdoor living space safer and extends the use of a deck or lawn into the evening. • Get cooking. Outdoor kitchens are the heart of the action, Lynch said. The grill typically takes center stage, but homeowners are cooking more than steaks and barbeque outside these days. Open-air kitchens feature refrigerators, sinks, pizza ovens, counter space and even bars. “Many of our clients install commercial grade equipment,” Lynch added. • Heat it up. Lynch said most of his clients request a fire pit or fireplace for their decks and patios. Douglass said outdoor fireplaces are one of the hottest trends he has witnessed lately. (Continues on page 38.) photo courtesy Texas Custom Patios. 32 To advertise call 281-372-6865 May 2013
May 2013 33