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Darling Homes is bringing its new Modernist Collection to Parkland Village in Bridgeland. This Cypress, Texas community is home to leading schools, world class amenities and plenty of opportunities for adventures in nature.
With all of the exciting features that Bridgeland has to offer, it just gets better with Darling Homes’ Modernist Collection. This collection of homes features clean, straight design lines throughout the home with more open spaces and volume than traditional designs. The Modernist Collection provides character and balance as you move through the home. The homes are designed to carry and cast both natural and artificial light and shadow throughout the interior spaces to create interest and a playfulness in texture while also providing the perfect canvas for buyers to personalize each home with their own tastes, art and belongings.
Walking through one of these homes will exude the feel of stepping into a museum that homeowners can complete with luxurious yet comfortable furniture pieces. Finishes and fixtures in the home will help add to the museum-feel finish. This includes sleek, cabinet fronts paired with large format stone tiles that will be similar in look to the countertops, large-scale fireplace walls that include tile and large cedar beams, wood throughout the entire first floor and lots of black plumbing.
Even though these homes are designed differently from other Darling Homes collections, they still will maintain traditional room counts. For example, two bedrooms on the first floor, an owner’s bedroom suite, large and open kitchen/family/dining areas, three-car garages and game and media rooms.
The outdoor living space included with the homes is designed to feel like part of the spacious interior, blending the outdoor and indoor spaces together so they feel work to create the perfect atmosphere.
The exteriors of the Modernist Collection are striking and interesting, complimenting the interior of the home. Elevations are carefully designed with roof pitches, colors, features and materials that will stand out from everything else available in the marketplace. At the same time, these homes provide the perfect balance in color, texture, proportion, movement and contrast, creating a playfulness not seen in traditional streetscapes.
Parkland Village at Bridgeland will feature hiking and biking trails, a fitness center and 900 acres of lakes and waterways that will provide many opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation in nature. If you’re interested in bird-watching, you’ll find over 140 different species of migratory birds feeding or gliding across the lakes. Other community highlights include a kayak launch, a beautiful resort-style swimming complex, a basketball court and an event hall and lawn.
In addition, Parkland Village in Bridgeland is attempting to set the standard for sustainable communities with its self-sustaining irrigation system, making it the first community in Houston to embrace the use of recycled water from community lakes for irrigation.
Looking to experience an enhanced lifestyle where community and nature thrive? Join Darling Homes’ Parkland Village at Bridgeland interest list as the Modernist Collection is coming soon to this beautiful Cypress community.
St. Patrick’s Day in Dallas is bigger than life. In fact, it’s the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Southwest! This year, The Dallas St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Taking place on Saturday, March 16, the parade is presented by the Greenville Avenue Area Business Association (GAABA), a Texas nonprofit organization.
The purpose of the parade is not only to celebrate the holiday, but also to raise money for the GAABA Scholarship Fund. More than $115,000 in scholarship money has been awarded to Dallas Independent School District students.
The Southwest’s largest St, Patrick’s Day parade almost ended before it could gain its legendary status. When the parade first began in 1979, it was nothing more than just a few cars, drinks and a dream. As word spread about this small neighborhood celebration, attendance began to increase. As attendance grew, neighboring residents voiced their concerns about the parade to the Dallas City Council and it was shut down in 1987.
Luckily, a group of local business owners formed the GAABA and fought to persuade the city to accept the parade’s application. The public’s demand for the parade also helped sway the decision to bring it back through their idea of an “un-parade” where make-shift floats read “this is not a parade”. Soon after, the city granted the permit for the 1989 Greenville Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Now, 40 years later, the parade continues. This year’s event is sponsored by numerous local radio stations, Comerica Bank, 7-Eleven, iHeartRadio, The Dallas Mavericks, Visit Dallas and many other local businesses.
More than 1,700 people participate in the parade itself and there are more than 90 parade float entries to pass through the 2-mile parade route, overlooking the crowd of 125,000 or more people in attendance. The festival starts at 9 a.m. and goes until 3 p.m. The parade begins at 11 a.m., starting at Blackwell Street and Greenville Avenue before finishing at Yale Boulevard/SMU Boulevard.
After the parade, the festival continues with the annual St. Patrick’s Day Concert. This year will feature performances from Just Like P!nk and more who will cover 40 years of music featuring hits from Guns N’ Roses, Britney Spears, P!nk, Muse, Nirvana, Prince, The Beastie Boys, Queen, Michael Jackson, Salt-N-Pepa, Rage Against the Machine, Aerosmith, Nelly and many more.
Interested in attending this huge St. Patrick’s Day Celebration? Click here for ticket sales.
Guest Contributor Lee K. Crowder, Design Gallery and Model Home Branding Manager for Taylor Morrison and Darling Homes
Darling Homes builds in the metro areas of Dallas and Houston. However, no matter where you live, sooner or later the sun goes down (or the clouds come out) and Mother Nature needs an assist. That’s where smart lighting choices come in. Lee Crowder, our Design Gallery and Home Branding Manager, offers illuminating insights about home lighting in our Details Matter series.
Let the Sunshine In!
Lee Crowder says home lighting begins with the floorplan’s design and how the home is situated on the homesite.
Whether you get sun exposure throughout the day or only during certain times of day depends on whether you home has an East/West or North/South orientation. Pay attention to the site plan when you’re shopping for a new home. If you love waking up to morning sunshine, you’ll want your owner’s suite facing east. If you savor watching sunsets, pick a home with a balcony or picture window facing west.
Lee K. Crowder
The thought and attention that goes into details like site orientation are part of the Darling Homes Experience.
Obviously, the more windows in your home, the more natural light you’ll enjoy throughout the day. If that’s your vision of perfection, then look for homes with volume ceilings and windows that soar the full two stories, typically offered in great rooms, living rooms and owners suites.
By contrast, rooms with lower ceilings (9 feet of height vs 11 feet or more) reduce the amount of natural light and make the space feel darker at times.
Dealing with Shade
Family rooms that open onto covered patios tend to be darker. In that case, Lee suggests adding extra LED flush-mounted lighting. This may also be a solution for brightening up a secondary bedroom where there’s only one window.
Perhaps your foyer could use some brightening during the day. Add glass panel insert windows to your front door and let natural light flow into your home. If you have a small or narrow entry, you might want to borrow this trick.
Landscaping is another consideration that can impact natural light. “Trees and tall shrubbery can cut down significantly on the amount of sunshine your home receives,” says Lee.
Finally, don’t overlook window coverings that provide privacy (and protect upholstery) without blocking natural light. “Your Design Consultant at the Taylor Morrison Design Studio can show you a variety of suitable window treatments for this purpose that will complement your overall design scheme.”
Brighten Up and Lighten Up
Okay, you’ve made the most of the available sunshine. Let’s see what design tips and tricks Lee advises for creating the illusion of light. Paint, especially white paint, can be your best friend, according to Lee.
“A neutral base color for your rooms will make your home look brighter, while also giving you greater flexibility with the rest of your color palette. Off-set the neutral walls with crisp, white trim for a bright, sophisticated look. And don’t overlook the power white ceilings have to create the illusion of height and spaciousness, even in small rooms.”
24/7 Daylight at Your Fingertips
Lucky us. We can flip a switch (or punch a smartphone app) and light up the darkest space, creating everything from the brilliance of sunlight to the soft ambient glow of moonlight. Best of all, we can do it without generating the harsh shadows or excessive heat of the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs.
“At Taylor Morrison and Darling Homes we use LED ceiling flush-mounted lights instead of traditional can lights. These are thin disks that affix easily to the ceiling and let you add LED lighting to any room in the house. They have the added advantages of lasting longer than incandescent can lights and, because they collect no dust, you won’t need to open the fixture to clean them. That’s a big plus!”
Lee recommends reviewing your various spaces and ceiling heights to determine where to add more LED disks.
“If you spend a lot of time in the room doing things like reading, crafts, office or homework and other tasks that require good light, you’ll want additional disks. If the ceilings are low, adding more disks is a clever way to make the room appear larger. They make it a snap to find clothing, especially in a deep walk-in closet. And they are ideal over vanities where you want good light for applying makeup and grooming.”
In bedrooms or family rooms, especially in warmer climates, you should consider adding a light kit to your ceiling fans to get the benefit of cooling and illumination in one package.
Designing with Light and Light Fixtures
Take the virtual tour of our 5031 Model Plan at Lakewood at Brookhollow in Prosper, TX and you’ll notice dramatic pendant lights over the kitchen island as well as flush-mounted disk lights in the ceiling. “Your kitchen is certainly someplace where you don’t want to skimp on lighting, and this model demonstrates how you can have the design element of pendants combined with highly functional but inconspicuous ceiling lights.”
Sparkle and Shine Your Way
A major perk of buying a new Darling home is your visit to the Design Gallery. “You’ll see a dazzling selection of lighting fixtures for task lighting and mood-setting, along with hardware, flooring, wall and window treatment options, appliances and much more,” says Lee. “It’s your opportunity to make your home reflect your taste with the expert help of a professional design consultant.”
Here’s a Bright Idea
It’s a great time to visit a Darling Home community near you. Touring a few model homes is an excellent way to understand how much details matter when they’re thoughtfully combined. It’s a fun way to spark your imagination and turn on a few creative lightbulbs, too! Explore all our Darling Homes communities online, find the one that’s absolutely YOU and plan a visit today.
For years, Riverstone in Sugar Land has drawn Houston homebuyers to the area for its prime location, water features, parks and resort-style amenities making it the perfect place to put down roots. This year, Darling Homes is introducing new model homes to this gated section of larger home sites in the sprawling suburban Houston community.
Offering distinctive designs and living spaces ranging from approximately 3,600-5,400+ square feet, Darling’s Cornerstone Collection on 70’ homesites and Regency Collection on 80’ homesites in Avalon at Riverstone provide for a unique and treasured living experience. Each home design features dramatically open concepts that allow the living experience to be a connected one. Intense architectural elements give the home a look that is unparalleled.
Features such as game rooms, media rooms, outdoor living spaces with custom fireplaces, exterior outdoor kitchens and private guest casitas make the homes much more than just a place to rest your head. These features make it possible to entertain in style, too.
Darling Homes also offers homeowners further options to customize their new home. Options include multi-generational suites and utility rooms, pool baths, outdoor staircases, spice kitchens, wet bars, and outdoor fireplaces.
The gated Avalon at Riverstone features tranquil waterfalls, Treehouse Park, fishing piers, over 250 acres of scenic lakes, more than 500 acres of park lands, a 3.5-acre Bark Park, playgrounds, lavish swimming complexes and a splash pad for the kids to enjoy. Avalon at Riverstone is resort living at its finest.
The surrounding area also offers residents plenty of options for art, shopping and entertainment with Fort Bend’s Children’s Discovery Center, the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, Covington West Park, Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex, First Colony Mall, Sugar Land Town Square and more.
Looking to make the move to the award-winning community of Riverstone? Take a look at all that Darling Homes has to offer in Avalon at Riverstone 70s and Avalon at Riverstone 80s and find your dream home today.
If you live in Houston, you know exactly what Rodeo Houston means to the city. Cowboy hats and boots, live music, carnival rides and the world’s largest livestock show and rodeo. Known as the best tradition in Texas, Rodeo Houston is much more than just entertainment. It’s a celebration of Texas culture that aims to educate and raise money for various charities around the state.
Go Texan Day kicks things off. The day celebrates the unofficial kickoff of the 20-day Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Houston residents dress up in their Texas best, sporting jeans, cowboy hats and boots to school or work, showing off their western pride for tradition. You’ll see #GoTexanDay everywhere on local social media, from Houston news stations displaying their Rodeo style to elementary school classrooms full of tiny Texas boots. Go Texan Day is a day for everyone of all ages to come together to celebrate Texas’ Western heritage and raise awareness for rodeo season.
The Rodeo takes place at NRG Park in Harris County and takes over NRG Stadium, NRG Arena and NRG Center. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was first established in 1932 as the Houston Fat Stock Show and has now grown to more than 30,000 entries. The show is organized by three categories of competitions known as the Junior Show, Open Show and Youth Show. The show sets world records in the junior market auctions, raising more than $12 million in 2016. Submissions for the junior auctions include school art as well as different types of livestock and wool entries.
The official sport of Texas is rodeo and at Rodeo Houston, you’ll understand why. Events include tie-down roping, bareback riding, team roping and more happen throughout the event. The bull riding competition tests the cowboy’s physical strength as he faces off with a bull weighing up to 2,000 pounds whose single thought is removing the rider off its back. Participants in these events come from across the nation in hopes of taking home one or more of the Rodeo’s coveted grand prizes, totaling a $2.17 million payout.
Every night after the rodeo dust settles, a superstar will steal the show. With this year’s performances from pop star Camila Cabello and EDM entertainer Zedd, the music is larger than life, true to Texas tradition. Not to mention the performances from some of country music’s finest including Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Zac Brown Brand and much more.
Looking to get in on the action? Check out ticket sales here.
Major League Baseball is back on March 28! In Texas, this means it’s time to bust out the baseball caps and get ready to support the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. And if regular season baseball seems a bit early this year, it is! This is the earliest opening day in the history of the game (outside of international openers). But as any baseball fan will tell you, it’s never too early to play baseball!
Dallas
The Texas Rangers will start the season at home at Globe Life Park in Arlington. They will face off against the Chicago Cubs at 3:05 p.m. The Rangers have their sights set on a better finish in the American League West this year and will look to Mike Minor to begin the season on a high note. The Opening Day starter was 12-8 in 2018 with a 4.18 earned run average. This will be Minor’s first Opening Day start of his career. For information on tickets click here.
If you live in Dallas but can’t make it to Opening Day, you’ll have 81 other chances to visit Globe Life Park before the team moves into its new home next door in 2020. Check out the Rangers’ 2019 schedule here.
Don’t live in Dallas? Darling Homes has you covered. Check out all of the gorgeous homes Darling Homes in Dallas has to offer so you’ll never miss another home game.
Houston
The 2017 World Champion Houston Astros will face the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg to kick off their 2019 campaign. The game begins at 4 p.m. Last year, the Astros won the American League West before bowing out to the eventual world champion Boston Red Sox. For information on tickets to this game click here.
When the Astros return home, be sure to check out the team’s home field, Minute Maid Park. Take a look at the Astros schedule here.
Don’t live in Houston? Check out all the beautiful homes Darling Homes in Houston has to offer so you’ll never have to miss a home game.
More homes from Darling Homes’ Retreat Patio Collection and American Classic Collection have arrived in the community of Woodforest. These collections offer homebuyers in Montgomery, Texas an unparalleled living experience in an amenity-rich and active master-planned community.
Woodforest Retreat Patio
The Woodforest 65’ homesites features the Retreat Patio Home Collection. This collection of patio homes is designed to offer luxurious homes with ample space for entertaining without sacrificing storage space or living areas, giving homeowners the best of both worlds. Homesites feature private rear yards that back to either a wooded reserve or golf course.
Darling Homes offers one- and two-story homes in that include up to four bedrooms with home studies and expansive master suites with walk-in closets, made for homebuyers looking to downsize without compromising their lifestyle. The homes, which range from approximately 2,900 to 3,800 square feet, offer Modern, Traditional and International exteriors and include three-car garages as standard.
Available options include extended covered patios, courtyards, outdoor fireplaces, guest suites and media rooms and more.
Woodforest American Classic
The Woodforest American Classic Collection offers a step back to a time when neighbors spent time together on front porches waving to the people who would pass by. This series of homes with colonial-influenced designs are inspired by classic American architecture and neighborhoods with a modern twist that includes all the updated and upscale features that Darling Homes is known for.
This collection of homes offers owners the best in upscale living. From gourmet kitchens to elegant master suites with vaulted ceilings, the American Classic series is the perfect choice for those who seek a classic and unique living experience but still inclusive of all the bells and whistles of the modern era.
Darling Homes has several three- and four-bedroom home designs to choose from –
ranging from approximately 2,300 to 3,300 square feet, allowing homebuyers an
exciting array of choices.
The Woodforest Retreat Patio Home Collection and American Classic Collection of homes will be offered in a north Houston community that features a golf club, water spray park, miles of trails, tennis courts, basketball courts and much more.
Learn more about Woodforest and the Darling Homes’ American Classic Collection here or the Darling Homes Retreat Patio Home Collection here or call 713-401-2008 today.
When the weather finally begins to warm up, it’s time to prepare your yard for April showers and the opportunity for gorgeous May flowers. Transitioning your outdoor landscaping from winter-protected to spring-prepared is a breeze with the following tips that will help guide your grounds into an enchanting oasis.
Transitioning from Winter
Just as you put away your winter wardrobe to make room for spring, you need to do the same with your yard. Remember to remove any burlap you may have used for winter shrub or tree protection and then inspect your plants for broken branches or other damage to see if they need to be pruned or removed all together.
Next, rake old leaves and debris from plant beds and use an edging tool to refresh and tidy up the natural edges around the beds. Don’t forget to test out your irrigation system once the weather has warmed up enough to ensure it hasn’t been damaged during the winter.
Testing Soil
Once every few years, it’s best to test out your soil to see if it has the proper pH balance and mix of nutrients. When a plant’s soil pH is high, its ability to absorb nutrients can be disrupted and if it’s too high, it prevents the iron in the soil from changing into a form the plant can absorb. To test your soil, you can purchase a soil meter or pH kit. If you would rather test it yourself, there are some homemade soil pH testing methods you can try out here.
Lawn Fertilization
Once you’ve analyzed your soil conditions, you can decide whether or not to fertilize your lawn. If your soil is in need of nutrients, it’s best to choose a fertilizer that can fulfill those needs. A slow-release or controlled-release fertilizer is generally the best option to reduce the possibility of losses to the environment and increase nutrient absorption. It may also help your lawn to choose an organic fertilizer to improve the health of your soil in certain cases.
Despite popular belief, choosing to fertilize early in the spring might not be the best time for your lawn. In Texas, homeowners often make the mistake of fertilizing when it begins to warm up, but your lawn might not be ready to wake up from dormancy. This is because the Bermuda and St. Augustine grass that exists in Texas thrives in the warm season, which means neither are ready to break out of dormancy until soil temperatures stay above 70 degrees for several weeks. According to Dr.Green.com, the best time to begin fertilizing for spring in Texas is usually about mid- to late-April each year.
Once you’ve chosen your fertilizer and when to fertilize, make sure you read the directions to avoid making the mistake of using too much. This can harm your lawn and end up costing more than expected. If you use too little, your lawn might not achieve the results intended and can lead to thin stand, causing soil erosion and unwanted runoff.
You can also choose to fertilize your trees and shrubs as most will benefit from the correct type of fertilization. However, make sure to consider the steps above before deicing how much and what type to apply.
Weed Control
Spring is ideal for removing those tough weeds that made it through the winter by applying pre-emergent weed control for weeds like crabgrass. This will create a barrier across the surface of the soil that will prevent the seedlings of weeds from penetrating through.
The right time to apply weed control is during flowering time, also known as forsythia, when your shrubs are in full bloom. In gardens, the best time to begin weed prevention is when you plan to plant flowers or vegetable beds.
Make sure to clear the designated area of weeds before you start planting, so they won’t become more prone to weeds later on. Also consider adding a layer of mulch or straw to further prevent weed germination and growth.
Applying Mulch
Mulching areas of your yard can do much more than making planting areas look clean and neat. Mulch helps soil retain its moisture, keeps roots cool in the summertime and insulates them during the winter.
Plus, organic moisture is added to the soil as mulch decomposes over time. Adding in a one-inch-thick layer of fresh mulch is ideal for plant beds and around trees but make sure to not let the mulch touch tree trunks as it may prevent the trees from gaining access to oxygen
With the help from these tips, you can make your Darling Dallas or Darling Houston home as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside.