Brunswick County Parade of Homes 2012 - Form & Function

I was a judge for the Brunswick County Parade of Homes 2012, the second year I’ve been asked. Treated to a lovely dinner last Wednesday at a restaurant with incredible intercoastal views, put up at a beach front hotel, treated to breakfast and lunch the next day. How could I say no? Enjoyed a day of feminine bonding with two female drivers and a fellow interior designer from Greensboro. This year there were many more creative elements to the homes while still reflecting the coastal living that these homes embody.

The kitchens were luxe and functional for the most part with many beautiful features.

parade22 — LOVED these windows over the kitchen sink…sacrifice some upper cabinets for the view and this modern touch

parade19 — beautiful, but simple, tile backsplash

parade16 — lovely bar/entertaining area beside kitchen nook

parade11 — small kitchen nook, suitable for the retirees that will likely buy this house

The family rooms were spacious, as often they were the only living areas in the house.

parade34 — neutral palette with view to the lanai

parade29 — loved the unfussy trimwork in this family room with great addition of built-ins

parade9 — beautiful and unexpected french mantel

The bathrooms were lovely and had some unexpected touches, as well as a nod to simpler design.

GREAT open storage in the bath…have to keep it neat when not hidden behind linen closet doors

parade10 — curved wall in the master bath with textured walls

parade5 — close up on textured faux wall

parade7 — lovely faux painting in powder room

parade32 — simple is better, as shown in this bathroom’s tilework and layout

Dining rooms had some bold color choices and great storage options.

parade21 — bold navy blue was a standout

parade3 — who needs a china cabinet with all these built-ins for the dining room

Bedrooms were generally restful and displayed a calm color palette.

parade26 — greens and blues – not so obviously beachy

parade25 — loved the color of this chest

Many laundry rooms had storage and function but this one was a stand-out.

parade12 — this laundry room might actually make doing this chore fun

Saw some bolder choices in lighting.

Outdoor living was highlighted in all the homes…most had covered porches or lanais and outdoor areas that extended the living outdoors.

parade31 — who wouldn’t love to roast marshmallows here?

parade23 — this is the best place to read a book in this home

parade17 — porch living with a nod to modern country

parade4 — this sunroom turns into screened porch with a quick pull down of the special feature windows

And finally, some of the outdoor features on the houses were noteworthy.

parade — the overhang with lights is a nice feature to drive up to at night

parade2 — leaded glass detail and solid door to main entrance

parade13 — tilted shutters elevated this exterior’s wow factor

And just in case you think I’m a pushover, I judged these houses fairly – I wasn’t easy on them but gave credit where creativeness and function prevailed. Hope to get asked back next year! Brunswick County Parade of Homes 2013, here I come!