Creative and Inovative

A recent volunteer day for Army Specialist Harry Stokes brought him one step closer to his forever home in Amarillo. He will be given the key to his new home on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 10 am

During the July 16 event, volunteers came out early that day to gather and get the landscaping done for the future home of Harry Stokes, giving the house even more life to its already beautiful exterior.

More:New roots for a veteran: Home For Our Troops presents house to wounded warrior

As previously reported, Army specialist Stokes served as a line medic with the 1-23 Infantry, 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team. On June 3, 2012, three months into his first deployment in Afghanistan, Stokes stepped on an improvised explosive device; then an ambush followed. This explosion caused numerous surgeries, and the amputation of his right leg and left foot happened immediately during the blast. The result was the loss of his right leg and his left leg below the knee. Stokes’ medical skills allowed him to administer his own morphine and apply his own tourniquets while he waited for further medical aid.

Stokes is now medically retired and faces difficulties at home due to his injuries. With the help of Home for Our Troops, Branson Homes Construction, and other sponsors, he will have a home where he won’t have to worry about navigating around: It will be wheelchair accessible to take away the stress from his day-to- day life.

“This was a long process to get everything done for this project. We love doing things for our community. We love to give back whenever we can,” said Scott Branson, owner of Branson Homes.

The community is encouraged to attend the event next month to watch Stokes receive the key to his home and

One thing’s for sure. With an increased value being placed on the comfort and usability of your living spaces, there has been no shortage of home buildouts and renovations over the past few years.

And if you take a moment to look around, you’ll see there are some very distinct and modern design choices popping up in the area.

Here, Michael Winn, founder of design brand Win Design + Build in Falls Church, walks us through the latest home exterior trends going on in NoVA.

Outdoor living

The past two years have seen a noticeable surge in both creating outdoor living spaces, and expanding upon existing areas.

“We’ve definitely seen a renewed interest in outdoor living,” says Winn.

This could include anything from porches, decks, and patios to pools and outdoor kitchens.

The possibilities are endless.

“The overarching theme here is really a byproduct of people spending a lot more time at home these past few years,” Winn says. “They wanted a space where they can safely gather with their friends and over the past few years, that has been outside.”

Modern and contemporary

A shift toward more contemporary home design has also happened in recent years.

“Previously, if a client was feeling a little adventurous or online, they would usually explore that on the inside, but we’re seeing that change recently,” says Winn.

An example of this may be taking an existing home like a Cape Cod, which is typically very traditional, and reimagining it in a way that makes it more modern.

This could be done with an addition or a pop top, where a second story or part of a second story is added onto a one-story home, Winn says.

Textured panels are also something new that

A lot goes into the paint selection process other than the color; you must remember that the pigment you choose needs to protect the walls from weather elements. First, when it comes to the paint color, you need to remember that the exterior is the first impression visitors have of your home, and you want it to leave the right impression.

Begin by looking around the neighborhood for some inspiration; don’t go for paintings that are too loud that they overshadow the area’s architectural designs. You also don’t want paint color that is too dull, making your house unappealing and almost invisible. Once you narrow down on a few hues that you like, buy a few samples and paint over a large foam piece just to have a feel at how they would look on your walls. Then, select the sliding paints separately from the other pieces of the faade. Also, you need to consider how the hue will look against other parts of the house that you won’t paint, like the roof.

According to Sherwin-Williams, the two major types of exterior wall paints include oil-based and latex based. Latex-based paints dry quickly and are easier to apply. Finally, Sharper Impressions Painting advises that a semi-gloss finish will protect your walls from elements like sun rays and moisture.