Texas Homefront - October 2012

Texas

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H MEFRONT Magazine TM

North Texas Edition | OCTOBER 2012

FALL

Entertaining

EDITION

In This Issue The Good Old Days

TUCKER HILL

+

READY...SET...CARVE! The Season Brings

` Fall DECOR Erin Hickman & Rachel Ellis of Tom Grisak Realtors

TEXAS LUXEFRONT

THE MAGAZINE THAT TURNS YOUR DREAMS INTO YOUR DREAM HOME

Texas

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H MEFRONT Magazine

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North Texas Edition | OCTOBER 2012

FALL

Entertaining

EDITION

Spotlight The Good Old Days TUCKER HILL Page- 6

Feature Stories

The Season Brings Fall Decor `

Page- 10

Ready...Set....Carve

Page- 12

Erin Hickman & Rachel Ellis of Tom Grisak Realtors

TEXAS LUXEFRONT

Page- 14

Executive Publishers Jason & Heather Reynolds Editorial Director Heather Reynolds Production/Artistic Director Jason Reynolds Contributing Writers Vicki Northcutt Heather Reynolds Photography Contributors Ian Halperin Cedarbrook Photography Production / Design Cedarbrook Media Group © 2012 Texas Homefront Magazine All Rights Reserved Worldwide The title and all material are protected by international copyright laws and are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the publisher’s permission. Although the greatest of care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine at time of going to press, neither Texas Homefront Magazine nor Cedarbrook Media Group can be held liable for omissions, inexactness or errors.

FOR ADVERTISING Opportunities Contact: Texas Homefront Magazine PO Box 405 Prosper, Texas 75078

Ph:469.481.2935 www.txhomefront.com

From The Publishers What a great time we had putting this month’s issue together!! We would like to thank Vicki Northcutt, Marketing Manager at Tucker Hill, for all of her efforts and help with the cover story on “The Good Old Days at Tucker Hill”. She was instrumental in pulling it all together, and we are grateful and so appreciative of her hard work.

Tucker Hill is a beautiful community with many amenities for its homeowners. Southern Land Company will be hosting “Pumpkinville at Tucker Hill” from October 17-31.

Your pumpkin purchase will benefit McKinney Christian Academy.

Admission is free and each weekend will feature lots of extra free activities including hay rides, photos, performances, pumpkin carving/ decorating, gardening and more!

They will also host a food drive to help fill the shelves at the McKinney Food Pantry. Bring your canned fruits or vegetables to the collection site at Pumpkinville and help “Scare Away Hunger”.

We know our children work hard to envision and create the perfect costume each year, and walk block upon neighborhood block to acquire a bag full of candy that weighs more than their backpacks! Once the thrill of the evening has passed, are you left wondering what to do with all of that candy?? We have the perfect solution for you, and provide a way to get your children involved in the grace of sharing. Grace Christian Church will be collecting candy to donate to soldiers overseas. “Halloween for Heroes” is November 3rd, 2:00 – 4:00pm at Frontier Park in Prosper. Bring a picnic to the park, enjoy family games and donate your excess Halloween candy. All donations benefit Soldiers’ Angels.

October and November are two of the most beautiful months in the year, and are filled with family celebrations and traditions. As you gather with your children, family and loved ones, we pray that your home radiates with warmth, love and togetherness.

That’s what makes this time of year special and why so many of us relish the fall season. We hope that you and your family have a fun and safe Halloween!

Welcome Home!

Jason and Heather Reynolds Executive Publishers

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heather@txhomefront.com

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On the cover: A welcoming front porch at Tucker Hill Photo by Ian Halperin www.txhomefront.com | 5

The Good Old Days

TUCKER HILL

By Vicki Northcutt

Have you ever been on vacation and found yourself drawn to a walkable, quaint village or historic neighborhood where you admired the charm of how these areas safely blended living, shopping, and working together into a real sense of community? Did you find yourself day-dreaming about what it would be like to live in such a way, maybe thinking that this lifestyle was only available in an urban setting?

Well, for those who are looking for a nod to the nostalgic, for that interactive village lifestyle that encourages porch-sitting and really knowing your neighbor, there is an option known as Tucker Hill in McKinney. And, by real estate standards, this community is one of the best local examples of a national trend now referred to as “New Urbanism” or “Traditional Neighborhood Development” (TND).

Although coined by the real estate development community, the term TND is quite simple. This development philosophy was embraced as the norm in the country prior to World War II, and has since made a resurgence in growing markets around the United States. Today’s TND focuses on authentic, period architecture, especially what was once common to the area, and not mass-produced/ streamlined building. These developments offer diverse housing styles and prices that include features such as, buildings that are closer to the street, front porches and window boxes. Narrower streets are lined with a canopy of shade trees and boast a network of sidewalks that beckon people to leave their cars parked and, instead, take a stroll.

Hike and bike trails traverse the community and open spaces, parks and a main public square serve as gathering points for residents. There’s a balance of public and private space, with green or natural space given a high priority in the neighborhood’s overall design.

TNDs look different from other suburban neighborhoods and cannot be described as “cookie-cutter.”

Architecture is an obvious give-away, but at second glance, people also notice the attention given to flowers and landscaping. Tucker Hill’s developer, Southern Land Company, agrees, as they employee a full-time “Flower Lady” who offers a continuous container program and education to residents, as well as a landscaping staff overseen by a certified horticulturist. These employees make it their mission to set Tucker Hill apart with their attention to detail. For instance, you’ll see a variety of hedges, maintained at a mature size, with no gaps between shrubs. Retaining walls are an interesting mix of diverse materials. Courtyard gardens or side yards are transformed into private havens surrounded by an array of wall materials, from wood to pierced brick. Sidewalks and public buildings feature unique landscaping materials such as wooden arbors or fences of pierced brick or wrought iron. A mix of annuals and perennials are always visible throughout the neighborhood, so there is never a lack of color, even in winter. www.txhomefront.com | 7

While a TND is an obvious fit for empty nesters or retirees, a recent Wall Street Journal article suggested that as “Generation Y” begins to look for a place to call home, they’re looking for outdoor space that doesn’t require mowing; amenities such as fitness centers and party rooms; a community with planned resident activities; and shopping and dining that are just a walk away. In the recent past, most of these amenities were only available in urban settings…at a high price. But thanks to the TND, this millennial generation is reconsidering the suburbs, like McKinney, and what it has to offer.

of community that many homeowners seek when buying a new home. As Tucker Hill continues to expand, residents will soon see the addition of a premium residents club that will not only be home base for the activities director, but also house exercise facilities, entertainment options and a generous amount of space for residents to interact and host events. Tucker Hill will also see a quaint neighborhood village built to fit the same architectural design style of the community. This small mixed-use village will likely include commercial shop space and serve as a gathering place for the residents.

From day one, Tucker Hill has been patterned after the award-winning TND, Westhaven, in Franklin, Tennessee (also a Southern Land Company community). As both communities have grown, so have the planned amenities including a resort-style pool, playgrounds, and dog park. Tucker Hill residents currently enjoy a signature amenity of SLC communities by having an activities director and planned residential programs. The activities director is in place to uphold the sense

Thanks to the new TND concept, history really is repeating itself as developers like Southern Land Company and communities like Tucker Hill focus on building the future to mirror the “good old days” of pre-World War II neighborhoods.

Vicki Northcutt is the Marketing Manager for Tucker Hill, located just north of Hwy. 380 between Ridge and Custer Roads, in McKinney. For more information about available homes, builders, and Phase 2 which is opening up in October 2012, please visit www.tuckerhilltx.com or call 214-544-7550.

Fall

Decor `

To create a glamorous, yet rustic mantle, combine natural elements in your garland with painted gourds and pumpkins placed on candlesticks. A fall wreath hanging from the mirror ties the look look together.

When decorating your mantle, let your garland hang off evenly on both sides. Fall decorations can be a little dark, so adding lights creates beautiful highlights. You can then begin to add pops of color to the browns, golds and greens of the garland by using red accents, orange pumpkins, feathers and various fall berries. The key to this look is to make sure to layer your decorations, and let them hang over your mantel.

Want a cute idea for a centerpiece? Use a pumpkin as a vase!

Cut out the top of a fake, carve-able pumpkin and fill with an arrangement of silk flowers.

Or, place a vase inside the opening full of fresh flowers or a potted plant.

There are numerous ways to add spice and a little harvest to your home, and what better place to start than your front porch, door or entry? Autumn colors are amazing, and this front porch brings them together tastefully, with pops of orange creating great color contrast. The corn stalks and hay bales add the perfect harvest feel.

10 | Texas Homefront Magazine

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Ready......Set......

by Heather Reynolds

F

W

O

Y

or many, the tradition of carving a pumpkin for Halloween is essential. Yet many do not know the origin of the tradition or what the glowing jack-o-lanterns symbolized. Halloween is based on an ancient Celtic holiday know as Samhain, or “summer’s end�. Marking the end of the Celtic year, it began at sundown on October 31st. It was a night to honor loved ones that had passed, and was celebrated for centuries by the Celts, witches and many other nature based religions, and was yielded as the most magical night of the year.

n this magical night, the original jack-o-lanterns were carved from turnips or gourds, lit by lumps of coal and set on porches and windows to welcome passed loved ones, while protecting against wicked spirits. Pumpkins caught on after settlers arrived in America and found the native fruit to be easier to carve.

12 | Texas Homefront Magazine

Carve!

hen selecting your perfect pumpkin, look for one that fits your design. Medium sized ones work best for most stencils, large ones can be displayed as elaborately designed centerpieces and small pumpkins work for carving traditional faces. A good selection will be uniformly orange, with no bruises, cuts or nicks. Do not shy away from your perfect selection just because it lacks a stem. A simple fix is to carve out the bottom, place your light source on the ground and sit the pumpkin over it!

ou will need the right tools to design and carve your jack-o-lantern, the basics of which you probably have in your kitchen already. A long thin bladed boning knife should be used for cutting the top hole and large pieces out of the face. Sharp knives work best, and are safer because they require less force when cutting.

“

Jack-o-Lantern, Jack-o-Lantern, You are such a funny sight.

As you sit there by the window, Looking out into the night.

You were once a sturdy pumpkin, growing on a curly vine.

Now you are a Jack-o-lantern, See your night lights shine.

“

To remove the seeds, pulp and skin from the inside of the pumpkin, an ice cream scoop or large ladle work best. If you are free-handing the design, a grease pencil works well to draw the shapes. However, if you are not exactly the artistic type, you can find stencils or templates online, in craft stores or you can even create one with your computer. An X-acto knife works perfectly for carving detailed areas, and an ice pick or nail works great for holding a stencil in place for tracing.

A

fter you have carved the perfect design, it is time to illuminate your pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern. The traditional method is to place a votive candle in a glass holder. There are also battery powered units that flicker just like a real candle and have bright yellow LED light bulbs, or even special effects lights that change colors, resulting in a colorful display. A third illumination option is to use glow sticks, and although the glow is not very bright it does produce an eerie effect.

D

epending on the complexity of your design, carving your jack-o-lantern can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day. Once carved, the pumpkin will begin to lose moisture and only has a lifespan of about 2-3 days. You can extend the life of your creation by applying petroleum jelly to the cut edges and interior to seal in moisture, or by submerging in water overnight.

Happy carving!

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