Interior Color Trends

Give your home a fresh look for the coming year

Many of us spent time in quarantine doing home improvment projects - deep cleaning long neglected areas, purging the garage or attic or even fresh paint in a room or two. Color has the power to completely transform the feel of a room. The right palette can add energy to a room or convey a sense of calm in a busy home. When many of us have spent the past several months at home, a fresh coat of paint might be just what you need. If you look around and see that your home could benefit from some spruced up paint, here’s preview of what the paint experts are predicting for the color trends of 2021.

According to Real Simple, “Sherwin-Williams has selected four color palettes that are all about balance and rhythm for its ColorMix Forecast 2021. As we reexamine our country’s past, deal with the present pandemic, and plan for the “new normal,” Sherwin-Williams has chosen palettes that are all about rhythm and “the balance between fast and slow, quiet and expressive, and virtual and physical.’” Sherwin-Williams created four unique palettes for 2021 that blend calming greys and warm tones with “bold blues, muddy greens, muted reds, bright pinks, and warm whites” into workable color schemes for any home. Learn more about the palettes and see all the shades for 2021 at www.swcolorforecast.com.

Behr introduces their Color Trends 2021 Palette as “21 colors to elevate your comfort zone.” Behr highlights six different color schemes ranging from “Casual Comfort” - featuring light warm neutrals and whites that create an inviting feeling in entryways, kitchens and open living spaces, to “Subtle Focus” - with light hues that feel sophisticated and inviting, creating an atmosphere that is effortlessly serene. Behr also highlight a more daring pallete called “Optimistic View” with “A pop of bright color that lifts the mood in any space you want to feel energized.” Lean more about all of Behr’s 2021 picks at www.behr.com/consumer/inspiration/2021-colortrends/.

A native of the area, Curtis Burchett has more than 18 years experience as full-time Realtor. He currently lives in Southwest Roanoke County with his wife and 3 children.

The First Tee more than just an introduction to golf

By Gene Marrano proceeds benefitting the local First

The First Tee is an international youth development organization that introduces the game of golf to many young people, some of whom may not have any other exposure to it. At the same time First Tee programs like the one here in Roanoke help instill values like integrity, respect and perseverance – the latter recalls that Mark Twain once called golf “a good walk spoiled.”

The First Tee of Roanoke Valley is based near Westside Elementary The Scott Robertson Memorial Junior Golf Academy, home of The First Tee program , includes a clubhouse, a driving range, a synthetic turf putting green and a practice bunker area. The prestigious Robertson tournament (held annually every spring at Roanoke Country Club right next door) attracts some of the best young amateur golfers nationally and even internationally, with

School in northwest Roanoke. Tee program.

Caroline Gilreath has attended classes at The First Tee of Roanoke Valley since age 7.

There are about 150 chapters nationwide. Jennifer Blackwood is executive director for The First Tee of Roanoke Valley, which opened for classes in 2005. She says families from all over the region bring their children (ages 5 to 18) to First Tee to learn the game. Then there are partnerships with area youth service agencies (Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, 4H etc.) and local schools, “where our pros go in and teach through [physical education] classes.”

With the school-based programs First Tee strives “to introduce the sport.” Life skills that the game lends itself to are another important component adds Blackwood, including “conversations about honesty, perseverance and respect. Those lessons are built into our golf curriculum.”

On First Tee the putting green for example while working on stance and distance control, children may also hear about showing respect to golf team members – and to coaches or their family. “No lectures,” promises Blackwood, who says they have seen positive changes in kids – even in reports sent back from parents. An annual parent-child golf tournament is one highlight for the program every year. September’s event at Roanoke Country Club included designated tee times – a first – in the name of COVID social distancing.

Caroline Gilreath has attended classes at The First Tee of Roanoke Valley since age 7. Blackwood says Caroline “worked her way through our program and is currently at the Ace Level (the highest certification) We are very proud of the Gilreath family.” Her 11-year-old brother Carder is also a First Tee participant and yes says Caroline, the matches are very competitive when they play against each other.

Caroline “really didn’t take to the game until I was around 12.” Two years later she was a freshman player on the Patrick Henry High School varsity squad. “Our team is great … it’s a lot of fun.” Now as a 15-year-old sophomore waiting for the scholastic golf season (pushed to early 2021 from this Fall due to pandemic precautions) she’s also looking at possibly playing in college. Being at the First Tee ACE level also means assistance with college planning and the recruitment process already underway for her.

She’s the only girl on her PH team and while starting each hole “two tees up,” from the boys she sees it as an advantage of sorts – Caroline normally doesn’t play the ladies tees at Roanoke County Club, where the family is a member. During matches she will often be paired off against the few females at opposing schools, “which is nice.”

First Tee “core values,” have taught Caroline Gilreath about “respect for everything. They’ve taught me to be a really good person on and off the golf course. I still use everything

they taught me today. I’ve [also] expanded my social life because of golf.”

She finds the outreach to local children via scholastic and afterschool programs “amazing,” and has worked camps, teaching the game to kids from Boys & Girls Clubs for example. “They have so much fun and they would never do it on their own.”

Caroline recommends First Tee to families considering it for their children: “they give you a great start to golf … and so many good tips you can carry with you the rest of your life.” See more on First Tee at firstteeroanokevalley.org.

Do you know a young student-athlete between 10-18 years old worth highlighting, and/or a worthy youth sports program? Send story suggestions to jackie@virginiafamily.com.

Rachel’s Reads

By Rachel Levine

Colored pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, and paint are essential staples of childhood. Children come into the world with an innate desire to create. As Pablo Picasso said, “Every child is an artist.” Celebrate that natural creativity by sharing these marvelous art books with your children!

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Someone has accidentally left out a set of red, yellow, and blue paint pots. Three very curious little mice have found them and simply can’t resist climbing inside and dunking themselves in the wet paint. The now red, yellow, and blue mice soon discover they can mix the colors and create orange, green, and purple too. This gentle introduction to the color wheel is lovely. By Barney Saltzberg Making art is all about experimenting and exploring. Beautiful Oops shows how to take what appears to be a mistake and repurpose it into

something absolutely amazing. Through clever flaps and pop-ups, the book shows ways of turning a tear, spill, or other oops, into something new and incredible. It’s great for all, but especially for those kids (and adults too) who struggle with frustration when their art projects don’t turn out

Beautiful Oops!

how they imagined.

Chalk by Bill Thomson

What would happen if your art came to life? Three friends find out when they happen upon a bag of magical chalk. They begin drawing together and suddenly their art starts rising from the pavement, vivid,