New Home Designs

 


IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE:

Estridge Homeowners: 30-Year Fixed Rates as low as 4.327% PLUS NO CLOSING COSTS!

Refinancing interest rates are still at all time lows and FirstSource Capital, an Estridge Company, is offering current Estridge homeowners the opportunity to save up to $436 every month on your mortgage payment with NO CLOSING COSTS. If you haven't reviewed your fixed mortgage rate in a while, now is the time!

>> Learn more about this special offer from FirstSource Capital.

Introducing Estridge New Home Designs! NEW: Estridge Guaranteed Buy Out Program!

Build a new home with Estridge and we guarantee your existing home will sell for 95% of the qualified list price. For more information contact Angie Huser at 317.669.8619 or husera@estridge.net or click here to register for information.

>> Learn more about this exciting opportunity for homeowners.

►HOMExperience Home Hint

Decorating your home for the first time? Updating an older home? Or just looking for decorating ideas? Read this month's HOMExperience Home Decor Hint to gather ideas for your bedroom, bathroom, living room or kitchen.

>> Learn more from the team at HOMExperience.

Did you know Estridge recently introduced more than 20 new home designs? You will find these new designs appealing on many levels, yet customizable to your personal tastes. Highlights include traditional spaces such as family foyers, mud rooms and Mom's retreats. All new designs include flex space near the guest foyer, allowing the ability to create a first floor guest bedroom, study or formal dining room. Match your needs and tastes with a brand new Estridge home!

 >> Learn more about these new home designs from Estridge.

 Estridge Neighborhood News!

Curious about your Estridge neighborhood? Find updates here! And feel free to share this news with any of your Estridge neighbors! The August issue includes updates on Anderson Hall, Bridgewater Parks, Grandin Hall, Heritage Hill, Highland Green, Somerset Woods and Whispering Pines... 

>> Read more Estridge neighborhood news here.

Anderson Hall News!
Welcome new residents!

Grandin Hall News!
Last month we mentioned Grandin Hall in Carmel added Christina Templeton, New Home Consultant, to their team! You can contact Christina by calling 317.669.8700, or by emailing templetonc@estridge.net. Grandin Hall is currently offering the Estridge Build Your Neighborhood Promotion! For more information on this promotion, call Christina Templeton at 317.669.8700, or by emailing templetonc@estridge.net.
West Carmel loves Grandin Hall! Grandin Hall is responsible for 38% of homes sold, both new and existing, in West Carmel starting at $600,000. And to add to our existing repertoire of custom homes, Grandin Hall has introduced plans in the $495,000 range. Find out what all the excitment is about! Call Christina Templeton, 317.669.8700, today!
Two Grandin Hall Homes Now Available! There is a New Home Available at Grandin Hall! With over 6,000 square feet, including 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a 3-car garage and 1 1/2 stories on a finished lower level with a fabulous Lanai, this home is offered at $729,000. Plus, the Grandin Hall MODEL HOME is now available! This stunning home offers 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a 4-car garage along with spectacular finishes plus 7,255 sqare feet and an outdoor Lanai. The Garndin Hall MODEL HOME is now offered at $898,000. Call Christina Templeton, 317.669.8700, for details! Learn more about Grandin Hall here.

Heritage Hill News!
Heritage Hill in Avon would like to welcome two new homeowners! Two new Estridge homeowners at Heritage Hill closed in the last month on homesite 8 and 16! Welcome!
Other Heritage Hill News: The Estridge Inventory Home on homesite 39 is almost complete! Check it out today!
“We just started framing a gorgeous ranch design on homesite 12,” Michelle Cannava, New Home Consultant at Heritage Hill, said. “It looks great, offering homeowners (and those thinking about building or buying a home) a chance to stop in and see this design transform into a home!” Learn more about Heritage Hill here.


Highland Green News!
Highland Green in Brownsburg is currently running a referral program where the customer will get a $500 gift card at HOMExperience. Refer somebody today! This program will run through December 31. Learn more about HOMExperience here.
We mentioned last month Highland Green added Jeff Visscher as a New Home Consultant! You can contact Jeff Visscher by calling 317.669.8631 or by emailing visscherj@estridge.net.



Somerset Woods has five different designs currently in construction! Stop in to see these designs transform into homes! Contact Kelly Dillon, New Home Consultant at Somerset Woods, by calling 317.669.8624 or by emailing dillonk@estridge.net. Find more information on Somerset Woods here.


Whispering Pines in Avon is growing! This Estridge neighborhood currently has many homes under construction, including a new ranch design under construction at Whispering Pines homesite 111. Along with the new homes, new paved roads are now available for use at Whispering Pines! And their staff is growing. Whispering Pines would like to welcome Lauren Geisler, their new Sales Associate, along with Chase Miller, their new assistant builder! Questions about Whispering Pines in Avon? Contact Angela Line, New Home Consultant, by calling 317.669.8635 or by emailing linea@estridge.net. Learn more about Whispering Pines here.
 

Learn more about Estridge, central Indiana's hometown homebuilder since 1967, here. Check back here or become a friend of Estridge on Facebook for regular updates.
 

HOMExperience in Clay Terrace allows you to explore more than 24,000 design features to truly personalize your new home or update your existing home. Thinking about updating your central Indiana home or building a new home with all new design features? In this month's HOMExperience Home Décor Hint, Candace Crooks, Designer with HOMExperience, discusses decorating ideas, ideas and... ideas!

Decorating your first home or apartment? Updating an older home? Or looking for a few home decorating ideas?

Ideas for the Bedroom: Avoid "overdoing it" with flower patterns. These patterns convey life and color, mix and match well, but need to be edited carefully by adding other elements. Striped pillows provide a bit of a contrast and a cool color on the walls quiets things down and keeps the flower-pattern look from being too much. Remember having less furniture puts a spotlight on other things in the room. Since these pieces will have a greater impact, choose them carefully.

Ideas for the Living Room: Make a non-working fireplace the focal point of the room by adding elements of fire with a large candelabra. Go a step further and add some texture with stacked split-logs. Also, avoid the white-out effect and cover large, plain walls with sculptural artwork, mirrors or removable decals.

Ideas for the Kitchen or Dining Room: For townhomes or apartments where space is at a real premium, a mix of materials and colors highlight the eclectic feel of these types of housing. For homes with space, try opaque shades for Kitchen Islands in order to prevent the glaring reflection in the granite countertop that clear shades would not prevent.

Ideas for the Bathroom: Valances above the tub area let in as much natural light as possible, but can lack in privacy. Roller shades can be installed underneath to help this problem. If you’re looking for a spot of color in that boring white-walled loo, consider a wallpaper border, also a great idea for a child’s bathroom that you might want to update easily when they grow up.

- Candace Crooks, Designer, HOMExperience

View the Estridge E-Lifestyle Blog for other tips and hints here. Check back for regular updates or become a FAN of HOMExperience on Facebook for regular updates. Learn more about Estridge, the hometown homebuilder since 1967, here.


Did you miss last month's Home Décor Hint?
Read the July Hint here.
Read the June Hint here.
Read the May Hint here.
Read the April Hint here.

In this story from IBJ.com's Norm Heikens, high-end homes are rebounding in the Indianapolis area, good news for central Indiana homeowners looking to build a new high-end home. Learn more about Estridge Custom Galleries, founded in 1994 to provide custom designed homes in distinct neighborhoods from around $500,000 to over $1 million, here.

High-end home market hits foreclosure lull - Norm Heikens for IBJ.com

July 24, 2010 - Until this year, Indiana’s foreclosure epidemic knew no demographic boundaries. Über-expensive homes, those priced at $1 million or more, skidded into foreclosure right alongside starter houses in the most notorious vinyl villages.

But suddenly that’s changed. Since March, not a single foreclosure on a house priced at $1 million or more has been filed in the Indianapolis area—a possible sign of better times ahead in a niche where selling prices are down 20 percent or more from their peak in 2005 and 2006.

The pullback follows more than 60 filings in the segment in the past two years, according to RealtyTrac, an Irvine, Calif., firm that tracks default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions.

Overall, foreclosure filings are on the upswing in the Indianapolis area, rising 22 percent, to nearly 20,000, in the 12 months that ended in May.

Just about everyone but prospective buyers wishes the blight would go away.

Many of the million-dollar homes ending up in foreclosure were owned by executives who found themselves unable to pay mortgages after losing jobs or businesses, or going through a divorce or suffering health problems.

Others were owned by contractors who built on speculation and then saw demand for mansions vanish almost overnight as the economy skidded into recession. Read Norm Heikens' entire IBJ.com article here.

Learn more about Estridge, central Indiana's premiere custom homebuilder, here. Learn more about Estridge Custom Galleries, founded in 1994 to provide custom designed homes in distinct neighborhoods from around $500,000 to over $1 million, here.

Check out BuilderOnline's take on Symphony, one of the largest developments ever in Indiana, an Estridge project currently in the zoning phase with the city of Westfield, Ind. Read a portion below, or the entire article here.

Estridge Moves Forward With $1.2 Billion TND; With 1,400 acres and more than 3,800 homes, Symphony is one of the largest developments ever in Indiana. - Alison Rice

July 22, 2010 - The housing downturn hasn’t curtailed the Estridge Company’s ambitions. This fall, the Carmel, Ind.,-based company plans to start breaking ground for Symphony, a traditional neighborhood development (TND) north of Indianapolis. At 1,400 acres and 3,860 homes, it will be one of the largest new-home developments ever in Indiana.

But Symphony will be notable for more than its significant size. Composed of a handful of “villages” linked by trails and roads, the $1.2 billion project in Westfield, Ind., will offer buyers and residents the chance to live in a community designed to bring together multiple generations: singles seeking urban density in suburban locations, sports-crazed families with minivans and soccer cleats; and aging seniors in need of continuing care.

“We want to model what new neighborhoods should be,” says Paul Estridge Jr., president of the Estridge Company.

Symphony seeks to accomplish that through an “intergenerational approach” that mixes housing types and prices across the development, rather than the customary “silo-ing” in many new-home developments, where the product offered only appeals to one market segment. Under that model, when housing needs change, buyers must move elsewhere, no matter how much they might love their community.

In the works since 2002, Symphony’s plans have evolved during the downturn. “It’s a blessing, because if we hadn’t have done this during a recession, we would have done [Symphony] on a quicker time frame,” Estridge says. “We would have missed the realization that we needed to be on a different track than we were on.”

“That’s the lesson of the recession,” says Brian Canin of Orlando, Fla., planning firm Canin Associates, which designed Symphony. “Before the recession, you could say, ‘I have the luxury of targeting just the $500,000 to $2 million market. Now we have to cater to the very broad spectrum of everyone who needs a house and put the money where it really works.” Read Alison Rice's entire article via BuilderOnline here.

Learn more about Estridge, central Indiana's premiere homebuilder since 1967, here.

July HOMExperience Home Décor Hint: Free-Flowing Flowers
- Candace Crooks, Designer, HOMExperience

Flowers are an essential part of any home environment, whether you’re entertaining or enjoying the space yourself. Of course, we would all like to have fresh cut flowers replaced daily. If you have the time, this is ideal, but busy daily schedules often interfere. Remember potted house plants can create a similar effect. Orchids can last for years, flowering several times over, if well cared for, and many simple green plants - rubber trees and palms, for example - require minimal maintenance. If your green thumb is truly non-existent, don’t give up hope: Decorating with black and white photos of flowering plants or purchasing silk reproductions (see photo) can create the desired effect with zero upkeep.

View the Estridge E-Lifestyle Blog for other tips and hints here. Check back for regular updates or become a FAN of HOMExperience on Facebook for regular updates. Learn more about Estridge here.

Did you miss last month's Home Décor Hint?
Read the June Hint here.
Read the May Hint here.
Read the April Hint here.
 

Estridge Neighborhood News for July

There so many events and opportunities throughout the summer in the many Estridge neighborhoods in central Indiana. Here are few of the great things going on right now in these wonderful Estridge neighborhoods:

Bridgewater Parks is growing! Seven homes have been sold in this Estridge neighborhood in the past 90 days!
Bridgewater Parks is currently offering the Estridge Build Your Neighborhood Promotion. For more information on this promotion, call Jessica Paullus, New Home Consultant at Bridgewater Parks, at 317.669.8538, or by emailing paullusj@estridge.net.
New pricing at Bridgewater Parks! Bridgewater Parks is offering new homesite pricing for the Renaissance Collection homesites. For more information on the new homesite pricing, call Jessica Paullus, New Home Consultant at Bridgewater Parks, at 317.669.8538, or by emailing paullusj@estridge.net.
Learn more about Bridgewater Parks here.

Grandin Hall in Carmel has added Christina Templeton, New Home Consultant, to their team! You can contact Christina by calling 317.669.8700.
Grandin Hall is now offering two new floor plans available to walk through! Call Grandin Hall at 317.669.8700.
Grandin Hall is currently offering the Estridge Build Your Neighborhood Promotion! For more information on this promotion, call Christina Templeton, New Home Consultant at Grandin Hall, at 317.669.8700, or by emailing templetonc@estridge.net.
Learn more about Grandin Hall here.

Heritage Hill in Avon would like to congratulate our Realtor Partner Winner of Heritage Hill’s Grand Opening Drawing: Robin Graves with The Sanders Group Realty won a Panasonic camera!
“We just started building a gorgeous ranch design for new homeowners,” Michelle Cannava, New Home Consultant at Heritage Hill, said. “We are getting ready to frame it so stop in and see this great design transform into a home!”
Learn more about Heritage Hill here.

Highland Green in Brownsburg is currently running a referral program where the customer will get a $500 gift card at HOMExperience. Refer somebody today! This program will run through December 31. Learn more about HOMExperience here.
In addition, Highland Green has added Jeff Visscher as a New Home Consultant! You can contact Jeff Visscher by calling visscherj@estridge.net or by calling 317.669.8631.
Learn more about Highland Green in Brownsburg here.

Somerset Woods has five different designs currently in construction! Stop in to see these designs transform into homes! Contact Kelly Dillon, New Home Consultant at Somerset Woods, by calling 317.669.8624 or by emailing dillonk@estridge.net.
Find more information on Somerset Woods here.

Whispering Pines in Avon is growing! This Estridge neighborhood currently has four homes under construction! Two of these four homes are designs from Estridge’s new Ameritage Collection, while the other two homes are Estridge's new ranch home design. We are down to just 13 homesites remaining in Whispering Pines. In addition, Whispering Pines is offering 50% savings on all homesites until July 25, 2010. Be sure to share this news with your friends!
Contact Angela Line, New Home Consultant at Whispering Pines in Avon, by calling 317.669.8635 or by emailing linea@estridge.net.
Learn more about Whispering Pines in Avon here.

HomeLife's Helpful Homeowner Hint: Stay Cool This Summer Central Indiana
-From Estridge's HomeLife Team

Summers can be long and hot, particularly if you are losing money on your home's utility bill. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 43% of any homeowner’s utility bill goes towards heating or cooling. In the July HomeLife's Helpful Homeowner Hint, we share ways you can save money through your cooling bill. 

• Seal Those Leaks That Leak Money. Check around chimneys, windows, doors, furnace and water flues and electrical outlets. Caulk or weather stripping offer great solutions for windows and doors. Try foam sealant on those larger spaces.
• Insulate Your Wallet and Air Ducts. Every homeowner should consider insulating their air duct work to cover leaks and to save a heavy burden upon their wallet.
• Become a Fan Fanatic. Be sure you turn off bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done bathing or cooking. If you are considering replacing an exhaust fan, be sure you look at high-efficiency models.
• Program and Pocket the Savings. A properly installed programmable thermostat can save money through controlling your environment. Simply turn back the thermostat by 15% for at least eight hours and pocket the savings.
• Save Bucks with Better Blinds. Keep the summer heat out of your home with shades or drapes.
• Fiscal Filter Fun. Be sure you change or clean your home's filters once a month.
• Energy Efficient Effects. Try to select energy-efficient products when you buy new cooling equipment. Ask for the energy facts sheets for different designs or models, and try to compare potential usage.
• Stop The Santa Claus Effect. Has your chimney fallen into disuse? Can you feel a draft from your chimney? Try purchasing an inflatable chimney balloon to stop the Santa Claus Effect.
  

Did you miss last month's hint?
Read the June HomeLife's Helpful Homeowner Hint here.

Find more information on Estridge's HomeLife Maintenance & Reliability Program, a three-year inspection program designed to identify a check-list of items requiring maintenance, touch-up and repair here.

Estridge is central Indiana's hometown builder of premiere homes and neighborhoods, since 1967. Find more information on Estridge here.
 

The question seems simple: "How do I choose the right homebuilder for my family?"

• Custom Builders
• Production Builders
• Semi-custom Builders
   

Working with a few hundred new central Indiana homeowners annually, the Design Consultants at the Estridge Design Studio in HOMExperience are often asked about the most popular design features for new Estridge homeowners. This month Tina Dahl, Design Consultant with HOMExperience, focuses on a recently popular design feature: The Simplice Pull Down Faucet.  

This month, the most popular custom design feature amongst Estridge homeowners is the Simplice Pull Down Kitchen Faucet. 

The high arch design of this popular kitchen faucet by Kohler compliments many home decor styles with availability in Polished Chrome, Vibrant Brushed Nickel and Matte Blackas well as provide great functionality in the kitchen. Estridge homeowners appreciate the choice between a spray, an aerated flow and a pause function. Plus, The quiet hose with Kohler ProMotion technology allows 360-degree rotation. As with all Kohler faucets, the Simplice finishes resist corrosion and tarnishing.  

- Tina Dahl, Design Consultant, HOMExperience.

April Estridge Design Studio Feature: Distressed or Scraped Hardwood Flooring
May Estridge Design Studio Feature: Dual HVAC Systems

Thinking about updating your Indianapolis home or building a new home with all new design features? Visit HOMExperience and explore more than 24,000 design features to personalize your new home or gather ideas to update your existing home. For more information on HOMExperience, click here.

• A shock to the wallet: Cracks, discolorations and signs of warping in electrical outlets and cords are bad signs. Look to replace them. Be sure you hire an electrician if you find an outlet that no longer holds a plug. Improperly working outlets, fixtures or light switches can shock hundreds of dollars out of your wallet.
   
• Care for your air: Be sure you regularly change your air filters. Dirty filters cause more than 60 percent of all service calls. Look to change your air filters every month, particularly if shedding pets or kids are present in the home. Kids and pets can be dirty!
   
• Do you feel that draft: Windows and doors are the two biggest losers of cool air in the summer. To prevent this look to weatherproof both your windows and doors. You’ll find a benefit in your bills during both cold and hot weather. Check the seal quality of your doors and windows with a digital thermometer. Be sure to inspect caulking for cracks or distortions.
   
• Leaky toilets and faucets leak money: Fix that drip – it could save hundreds of dollars annually on your utility statement. Call a plumber if you find you’re up a leaky creek without a paddle.
   
• Be bold concerning mold: Make sure the caulking in your bathroom is secure and not cracked or damaged. Water penetration, which leads to mold and other issues, can be prevented if the subsurface, typically drywall, remains dry. Additionally, you can avoid replacement of fixtures if the surface, typically tile, is kept watertight.
   
• Leaky roofs lead to lighter wallets: Just because you have a leak doesn’t mean you have to replace the whole roof. But you should avoid a bucket -- a small leak can cause dozens of issues, turning into a major and expensive fiasco. Call a roofer and be crystal clear you are looking to repair the single leak, not replace the entire roof.
   
• Juice up that pump: Be sure you monitor your sump pump. Charge or change the batteries regularly. You may need to update the pump itself every few years. Water in the basement can cause thousands of dollars in damages, plus destroy any personal items in storage.

June HOMExperience Home Décor Hint: Break The Rules
- Candace Crooks, Designer, HOMExperience

Any teenager can tell you rules were made to be broken. And every once in a while, the designers at HOMExperience agree. Check out these five interior design rules you should break in order to maximize your small space at home!

Rule to break # 1: Paint small spaces white.
Wrong! Colors can do incredible things! Paint with bright colors and fun patterns. That will draw your eye away from how tiny the room is and will focus on how fun and cute the room looks. Also, paint the walls and ceiling the same color so the eye doesn’t stop at the ceiling line.

Rule to break # 2: Stay away from multiple patterns. 
Don’t do this! Solids, tone-on-tone textures and small prints can make a room feel larger by making it seem calm. Sometimes, however, calm can be boring! Patterns seem to actually enlarge the space. Big bold prints on the walls and lots of patterns in a small space really distract you from the size of the area, and the room takes on the feeling of a walk-in art piece. But be careful! Not every mix of patterns will work well in a small space. Make sure the scale of the pattern varies.
 
Rule to break # 3: Keep knick-knacks to a minimum.
Wait a minute! Your space should be a “visual destination” achieved through an arrangement of objects carefully placed on shelves or tabletops to attract the eye. If you decide to use objects with different materials, use the same color to unify them. Always remember you need a place for the wandering eye to rest. It’s better to group a large number of objects together rather than scattering them throughout a room.

Rule to break #4: Very small rooms demand very small furniture.
Nope! While small furniture may leave more room for walking around a small space, small couches or chairs are rarely comfortable. One large piece of furniture will pay off with style and comfort.

Rule to break # 5: Hang lots of mirrors to visually expand a space.
Be a rebel and do something different! It's true that mirrors reflect light, which can make a space look brighter. Mirrors reflect the depth of the space to the opposite wall, making the room appear larger. But do you really want to look at a reflection of a blank wall? Instead of turning your small space into a hall of mirrors, line the walls with art and objects that you love. This will make it the best small room possible!

 

View the Estridge E-Lifestyle Blog for other tips and hints from HOMExperience here.
Check back to learn more or become a FAN of HOMExperience on Facebook for regular updates.

Did you miss last month's Home Décor Hint?
Read the May Home Décor Hint here.
Read the full April newsletter here.
Read the March Home Décor Hint here.

When people start a life together, finding the perfect gift to honor the occasion can be a difficult task. What are some ideas for wedding gifts? A stunning crystal decanter, a large hurricane or the perfect flatware are all elegant and special, yet functional choices. While the couple’s registry is a good place to start, remember it's perfectly acceptable to purchase something outside of the list. Don’t be afraid to get personal with your gift - try top-off candelabras with scented candles that suit the couple’s personality, fill a classic frame with their wedding invitation or add a monogram to luxurious sheeting.

- Candace Crooks, Designer, HOMExperience

HOMExperience Home Décor Hint: Ten Ways to Make Over Your Décor for Summer

The summer months present an opportunity to change the look of your home. Here are ten ways to make over your décor for Summer:

1. ReWork Your Look
Summer offers a great opportunity to make over your shelves and accessories. A thourough cleaning or dusting combined with the replacement of objects with an eye towards keeping the look light can work wonders. Pull from storage your floral china or white ironstone, add a glass collection like pitchers, or update your picture frames.

2. Sheer, Sheer, Sheer and Sheer
Sheer tablecloths, sheer curtains, sheer bedskirts and sheer pillows scream “summer” louder than any other element. Look for designs that are plain, embroidered, or printed and will match your interior.

3. Step Sweeper
Dont' forget to clean your main entryway! By cleaning you bring the look of summer to your front door. Be sure to wipe down the doors and windows and it might be a good idea to touch up the paint.

4. Lighten Your Living Room 
Are velvet drapes or a heavy corduroy sofa sitting in your living room? Change them out for lighter looking alternatives by removing the heavy materials for airy sheers. Use a slipcover to add paler tones or floral patterns to your sofa or chairs.

5. Roll Up the Rugs
Area rugs look just right in winter, but with Summer it's time to roll up the rugs and replace them with cotton rugs in light colors.

6. A Room with a View
Rearrange your furniture for summer. By changing the focal point to a view other than the fireplace or TV, like your backyard or garden, you open your home to the outside without opening your doors.

7. Porching It!
Do you love the feeling of summer on your porch or deck? Bring the feel of that porch inside. Throw a few outdoor accessories, garden furniture or floral fabrics into your family room. Gain the appeal of the outdoors, with the comfort of your AC system.

8. Silky Storage
Replacing silk flowers with live plants like orchids breathes a lively touch into cold spaces.  

This coming Friday, June 11, HOMExperience by Estridge will host the third in their five-series of Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight events. The events, hosted in Clay Terrace in Carmel, feature local central Indiana artists and musicians, both performing live throughout the evening. Guests and attendees are encouraged to browse the artwork of the featured artists, while enjoying complimentary cheese, wine, live painting and live music. Each event is FREE to the public.

This Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight on June 11 will feature artists Forrest Formsma (forrestformsma.com) and Susan Mauck, along with the music of Shane Rodimel (shanerodimel.com).

Susan describes her oil and pastel work as impressionistic with a contemporary edge. While she considers herself a "studio" painter, she does enjoy outdoor or "plein-aire" painting. Her imagery is strong in color and movement, yet possesses a quiet sensitivity. Susan often paints from photographs, placing her models by a sunny window. She feels this adds not only beautiful light, but also interesting designs and shapes. Susan typically does a thumbnail sketch of her subject to ensure a quality composition. Susan recently moved to the Carmel Arts & Design District where she works as an art consultant for many designers and builders. Learn more about Susan and her work here.    

Mark your calendars now for these evenings of FREE entertainment.

Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight Schedule:

Friday, June 11
Music: Shane Rhodimel, www.shanerodimel.com
Artists: Forrest Formsma, Suan Mauck

Friday, June 18
Music: Frank Bradford, www.frankbradfordmusic.com
Artists: John Reynolds, Rita Spalding

Friday, June 25
Music: Frank Bradford, www.frankbradfordmusic.com
Artists: Jerry Points, Constance Scopelitis

Check back to learn more or become a Fan of HOMExperience on Facebook for updates. 

HomeLife's Helpful Homeowner Hints for June

Spring and summer present a danger to central Indiana homeowners that often goes overlooked: lightning strikes. Lightning protection systems, or grounding systems, provide direct paths to the ground to help avoid fire and other damage caused by lightning. HomeLife's Helpful Homeowner Hints for May will help you prepare your home for potentially damaging spring weather:

• If lightning is nearby, avoid open areas like fields, isolated trees, water and high ground.
• During a storm, avoid using your home's telephone, unless there's an emergency.
• Consider purchasing a Surge Protector Device (SPD), which diverts any electrical surge to the ground surrounding your home.
• Be sure your surge protector is UL Standard 1449.
• Make sure your protector will protect ALL of the equipment in your home it's meant to protect.
• Don't forget other utility lines leading to your home, such as phone lines or coaxial cable lines for your TV cable or satellite, need to be included in protection.
• Buy a SPD with a warning alarm or light that indicates when it needs to be replaced.
• Look for a SPD with a manufacturer's warranty.
• Invest in an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) which can detect dangerous arching conditions that could occur in your home's fuse box during a lightning storm. 

Estridge is Indianapolis' hometown builder of premiere homes and neighborhoods. For more information on Estridge, click here.
 
For more information on Estridge's HomeLife Maintenance & Reliability Program, a three-year inspection program designed to identify a check-list of items requiring maintenance, touch-up and repair, click here.