By Shayna Mace | Photo courtesy Acker Builders
The Parade of Homes always showcases the latest in design. Above are some of the hot home trends that were featured in the summer Parade — and what you’ll see more of coming up.
Top Home Design Trends
THAT NATURAL FEELING
In this Waunakee Parade home by Acker Builders, warm, cozy and transitional describe this 5,240-square-foot property.
- Sconce lighting is popular. In this great room (left), it’s employed to spotlight the items in the built-in bookcases.
- Fireplaces were all the rage in Parade homes — virtually every home had one! This fireplace is accented with Oakfield Heritage Antique stone with a white mortar overgrout joint, explains Michelle Acker Nell, co-owner of Acker Builders.
- The Chambord engineered wood flooring in claret French oak is used throughout the main floor for cohesiveness.
Photo courtesy Acker Builders
THAT NATURAL FEELING
In this Waunakee Parade home by Acker Builders, warm, cozy and transitional describe this 5,240-square-foot property.
- The homeowners selected brushed gold Kohler fixtures throughout the kitchen (above). Gold and brass fixtures, hardware and lighting continue to be extremely popular.
- Tucked out of sight is a walk- in pantry, another must-have spotted in many Parade homes.
- Acker Builders commissioned a custom plaster hood for the stove, adding a unique texture to the kitchen. The room is softened by quartz countertops in Taj Mahal and warm wood cabinets.
Photo courtesy Acker Builders
GORGEOUSLY-APPOINTED SPACES
Warm elements are carried throughout all of the living spaces in this Acker Builders home.
- A four-poster bed adds a touch of tradition and style to this elegant, yet cozy bedroom.
- The homeowners selected the interesting wallpaper for behind the bed.
- Multiple textures lend the room depth, such as the furry bench at the foot of the bed, a soft chair in the corner and the wood elements in the furnishings and ceiling beams.
Photo courtesy Acker Builders
GORGEOUSLY-APPOINTED SPACES
Warm elements are carried throughout all of the living spaces in this Acker Builders home.
- To create a cozier atmosphere in the dining room, a detailed wood ceiling was added.
- Bar and entertaining areas were must-haves in Parade homes, and this one is gorgeous, with a curved niche, tiled backsplash and brass hardware.
- A masterful mix of textures are also employed in this room, with metal, natural textiles and wood furnishings.
Photo courtesy Acker Builders
A SOOTHING SPACE
This library/den, located in Brio Design Home’s New Glarus Parade home, beckons you in for a cup of tea or a good read.
- Most Parade homes featured a home office or den tucked off the great room or main entertainment space, affording solitude and privacy, like this den/ library. Pocket doors allow the room to be closed off.
- A sliding ladder? Yes, please! On the opposite wall is a built-in TV. The LifeCore Allegra Maple Serenity flooring is engineered wood, and a throw rug softens the space.
- Colored cabinets, especially in blue and green shades, continue to be popular — and add some pizazz. These built-in cabinets are by Aspect in Gales Force finish with champagne hardware.
Photo courtesy Brio Design Homes
![SCENIC VIEWS
This light, bright Jason Thomas Homes property, located on Pioneer Pointe golf course in Verona, has scenic views and plenty of trend-worthy details.
Jason Kratochwill, owner of Jason Thomas Homes, says he used a smooth finish on the home’s walls throughout, rather than an orange peel texture (which is more common). “It’s a bit of an upgrade in the Midwest [to do a smooth finish] because of the need to use better primers and a little more care with our humidity and temperature changes,” he explains. The walls are painted Sherwin-Williams’ Greek Villa.
A custom steel catwalk overlooks the great room, which Kratochwill says is popular now. He also points out that since the second floor is visible from the great room, they added in lighted art niches in the hallway that “provide interest so instead of just looking up at a wall or a hallway you’re looking up at something that [has] style.”
“Two-story great rooms have come back,” explains Kratochwill. “We maximized the window sizes and configuration [in this room] to enhance the views and bring the light in.” Indeed, grand great rooms were en vogue in Parade homes as they allow homeowners to seamlessly entertain between rooms.
Photo courtesy Jason Thomas Homes](https://bravamagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/022-7621-Colonial-Way-Verona-22-870x580.jpg)
SCENIC VIEWS
This light, bright Jason Thomas Homes property, located on Pioneer Pointe golf course in Verona, has scenic views and plenty of trend-worthy details.
- Jason Kratochwill, owner of Jason Thomas Homes, says he used a smooth finish on the home’s walls throughout, rather than an orange peel texture (which is more common). “It’s a bit of an upgrade in the Midwest [to do a smooth finish] because of the need to use better primers and a little more care with our humidity and temperature changes,” he explains. The walls are painted Sherwin-Williams’ Greek Villa.
- A custom steel catwalk overlooks the great room, which Kratochwill says is popular now. He also points out that since the second floor is visible from the great room, they added in lighted art niches in the hallway that “provide interest so instead of just looking up at a wall or a hallway you’re looking up at something that [has] style.”
- “Two-story great rooms have come back,” explains Kratochwill. “We maximized the window sizes and configuration [in this room] to enhance the views and bring the light in.” Indeed, grand great rooms were en vogue in Parade homes as they allow homeowners to seamlessly entertain between rooms.
Photo courtesy Jason Thomas Homes
NATURAL BEAUTY
Chad Coogan, owner of Coogan Builders, says their Waunakee Parade home is one-of-a-kind.
- The great room has 30-foot-high ceilings and 16-foot-wide retractable Anderson doors that open directly on to the screened porch.
- Stone elements are featured throughout the home, including on the fireplace, the kitchen backsplash and the primary bathroom (below).
- A masterful mix of textures are also employed in this room, with metal, natural textiles and wood furnishings.
NATURAL BEAUTY
Chad Coogan, owner of Coogan Builders, says their Waunakee Parade home is one-of-a-kind.
- Much of the lighting throughout the home is from Madison Lighting, like these jewel-inspired pendant lights.
- Coogan notes that there has been a growing demand for separate sink areas, so they included them in this primary bathroom.
- Clients continue to want soaking tubs, and this handsome one invites the homeowner in for a soak.
THAT NATURAL FEELING
In this Waunakee Parade home by Acker Builders, warm, cozy and transitional describe this 5,240-square-foot property.
- Sconce lighting is popular. In this great room (left), it’s employed to spotlight the items in the built-in bookcases.
- Fireplaces were all the rage in Parade homes — virtually every home had one! This fireplace is accented with Oakfield Heritage Antique stone with a white mortar overgrout joint, explains Michelle Acker Nell, co-owner of Acker Builders.
- The Chambord engineered wood flooring in claret French oak is used throughout the main floor for cohesiveness.
Photo courtesy Acker Builders
THAT NATURAL FEELING
In this Waunakee Parade home by Acker Builders, warm, cozy and transitional describe this 5,240-square-foot property.
- The homeowners selected brushed gold Kohler fixtures throughout the kitchen (above). Gold and brass fixtures, hardware and lighting continue to be extremely popular.
- Tucked out of sight is a walk- in pantry, another must-have spotted in many Parade homes.
- Acker Builders commissioned a custom plaster hood for the stove, adding a unique texture to the kitchen. The room is softened by quartz countertops in Taj Mahal and warm wood cabinets.
Photo courtesy Acker Builders
GORGEOUSLY-APPOINTED SPACES
Warm elements are carried throughout all of the living spaces in this Acker Builders home.
- A four-poster bed adds a touch of tradition and style to this elegant, yet cozy bedroom.
- The homeowners selected the interesting wallpaper for behind the bed.
- Multiple textures lend the room depth, such as the furry bench at the foot of the bed, a soft chair in the corner and the wood elements in the furnishings and ceiling beams.
Photo courtesy Acker Builders
GORGEOUSLY-APPOINTED SPACES
Warm elements are carried throughout all of the living spaces in this Acker Builders home.
- To create a cozier atmosphere in the dining room, a detailed wood ceiling was added.
- Bar and entertaining areas were must-haves in Parade homes, and this one is gorgeous, with a curved niche, tiled backsplash and brass hardware.
- A masterful mix of textures are also employed in this room, with metal, natural textiles and wood furnishings.
Photo courtesy Acker Builders
A SOOTHING SPACE
This library/den, located in Brio Design Home’s New Glarus Parade home, beckons you in for a cup of tea or a good read.
- Most Parade homes featured a home office or den tucked off the great room or main entertainment space, affording solitude and privacy, like this den/ library. Pocket doors allow the room to be closed off.
- A sliding ladder? Yes, please! On the opposite wall is a built-in TV. The LifeCore Allegra Maple Serenity flooring is engineered wood, and a throw rug softens the space.
- Colored cabinets, especially in blue and green shades, continue to be popular — and add some pizazz. These built-in cabinets are by Aspect in Gales Force finish with champagne hardware.
Photo courtesy Brio Design Homes
SCENIC VIEWS
This light, bright Jason Thomas Homes property, located on Pioneer Pointe golf course in Verona, has scenic views and plenty of trend-worthy details.
- Jason Kratochwill, owner of Jason Thomas Homes, says he used a smooth finish on the home’s walls throughout, rather than an orange peel texture (which is more common). “It’s a bit of an upgrade in the Midwest [to do a smooth finish] because of the need to use better primers and a little more care with our humidity and temperature changes,” he explains. The walls are painted Sherwin-Williams’ Greek Villa.
- A custom steel catwalk overlooks the great room, which Kratochwill says is popular now. He also points out that since the second floor is visible from the great room, they added in lighted art niches in the hallway that “provide interest so instead of just looking up at a wall or a hallway you’re looking up at something that [has] style.”
- “Two-story great rooms have come back,” explains Kratochwill. “We maximized the window sizes and configuration [in this room] to enhance the views and bring the light in.” Indeed, grand great rooms were en vogue in Parade homes as they allow homeowners to seamlessly entertain between rooms.
Photo courtesy Jason Thomas Homes
NATURAL BEAUTY
Chad Coogan, owner of Coogan Builders, says their Waunakee Parade home is one-of-a-kind.
- The great room has 30-foot-high ceilings and 16-foot-wide retractable Anderson doors that open directly on to the screened porch.
- Stone elements are featured throughout the home, including on the fireplace, the kitchen backsplash and the primary bathroom (below).
- A masterful mix of textures are also employed in this room, with metal, natural textiles and wood furnishings.
NATURAL BEAUTY
Chad Coogan, owner of Coogan Builders, says their Waunakee Parade home is one-of-a-kind.
- Much of the lighting throughout the home is from Madison Lighting, like these jewel-inspired pendant lights.
- Coogan notes that there has been a growing demand for separate sink areas, so they included them in this primary bathroom.
- Clients continue to want soaking tubs, and this handsome one invites the homeowner in for a soak.
