Designers make reality of decorating dreams

     By Holly Ivy DeVore
     Real Estate Writer
      When touring a professionally decorated model home, one may notice the color-coordinated wallpaper, window coverings and accessories; upgraded counter tops and flooring; and carefully placed furniture and wall hangings.
      After selecting a new home, a buyer faces the challenge of personalizing an empty home to reflect the manicured appearance of a model.
      There are many choices. Cherry, oak or pine cabinets? Galaxy black, crystal blue or tropical green counter tops? Video entry or audio intercom? Wood blinds or thermal-backed draperies?
      Through their design centers, some Las Vegas builders are assisting their clients in making these decisions.
      "Once a client purchases a home, we assign a designer," Dawn Fondy, design studio manager at Red Rock Country Club, said. "That designer will stay with the buyer until the close of escrow."
      Services offered by design centers vary among builders. Some centers focus on counter top and cabinet options while others may also assist buyers in selecting flooring, window treatments, landscaping, lighting, wiring, swimming pools, security systems, entertainment centers, furniture and artwork.
      "This is where the customer spends the most time," said Emily Rodgers, director of housing operations at Anthem Country Club in Henderson. "Designers play a very important role for the home buyer."
      The amount of time a buyer spends at a design center can range from an afternoon to several appointments, depending on the services offered by and selected from the design center, the size of the home, and the buyer's budget and knowledge of what they want in advance.
      "The choices buyers make with us are choices they'll enjoy for years to come," Diane Salas, senior options coordinator at Pardee Homes, said. Pardee's design center assists buyers in select neighborhoods with such options as cabinet and counter top finishes, and electrical and lighting options.
      "I find that a lot of these people have their own creativity and they have their own color schemes," Salas said. "Most people have a good idea of what they want to do."
      Designers at Anthem Country Club interview clients to learn about their personalities, lifestyles and preferences, according to Pat McCleve, design studio manager at the country club. "Buyers need to prioritize what's really important to them," she said.
      Rodgers agreed. "Buyers should understand their lifestyle, understand their budget and trust their designer," she said. "If they can do that, they can get the help they really need."
      Buyers with limited budgets may find design centers a good source of ideas of how to make their new home look like a model home.
      "If someone is very budget-oriented, the designer knows how to substitute a lower-priced product" to achieve the same appearance, Rodgers said.
      A popular trend in Las Vegas model home interiors is the use of earth tones, according to Fondy, who said stone, iron and colors from nature have been used in exteriors and interiors of models.
      "Treating the outdoors as a part of the interior design is something new that we will continue to see," she said pointing out that model homes also often feature "rich deep colors," fine fabrics, and the use of texture. "We typically follow a color and theme throughout the entire home."
      Another trend is an emphasis on designs that allow for "casual entertaining in the kitchens and family room areas," Fondy said.
      Upgrades in lighting to accent art pieces and home offices are also a popular option among buyers, according to Salas. Offerings at her design center include dimmer switches and recessed, accent and under-cabinet lighting.
      McCleve said buyers who would like to have a home entertainment center, office, central vacuum system or water softener in the future should consider prewiring or preplumbing for such upgrades through the design center and purchasing the feature at a later date.
      After moving into their new homes, Fondy said, buyers can focus on furnishings, artwork, wallpaper and accessories.
      "Those little details are so important. Those details are what really finishes it off and makes it look like a model," she said.