Our Designers’ Favorite Kitchen Countertops Right Now

Contributed Blog by Jordan Fuller, Pratt Home Builders Interior Designer

Over the last few years, kitchens have become more unique and specialized because as some say, the kitchen is the heart of the home. There are so many components and aspects that go into a kitchen such as the cabinet, color palette, countertops, hardware, appliances, backsplash, and flooring. It’s a perfect place to express the essence of those who live there, and can provide a mood to tee off of the the whole-house design.

Pratt offers around 35 different countertops that range from Granite to Quartz for homeowners to choose from while they are in Design! Countertops are typically one of the main focuses within a kitchen or a bathroom that hold many different attributes which affect the way the kitchen or bathrooms are visualized. Regardless of the space, countertops are constantly used and hold high visual impact within a room.

Here are my top 5 countertops, in no particular order, that can change the look of your space and how to turn your kitchen into the heart of your home!

1. CALACATTA GOLD – QUARTZ

Calacatta Gold is our highest tier countertop we offer at the moment here in the Design Center at Pratt Home Builders. Quartz has become a major trend over the last few years in the design community due to its minimal maintenance, high scratch resistance, stain & acid resistance along with a high impact resistance as well. This quartz pairs well with just about every cabinet color we have to offer.

2. BLACK PEARL – GRANITE

Black Pearl is a beauty within itself and makes a bold statement, so it’s perfect for customers who want higher drama or a sleek look in the kitchen. This specific countertop is a granite composition which is a natural stone. Black Pearl Granite is well-loved not only for its attractive aesthetic, but also for functional properties such as easy cleanability, family friendly, high durability and a high heat resistance. Paired with a light color cabinet, this countertop will make its own first impression that is timeless and eye-catching.

3. ETERNAL STATUARIO & ETERNAL CHARCOAL – QUARTZ

Both of the quartz countertops play off of one another and compliment each other when installed in the same room. Recently one of our other designers, Rebecca, had a client that chose these two countertops for their kitchen – one for the kitchen perimeter and the other for the island. The light and delicate veining between the two contributes to create a high contrast and bold look within the kitchen once it is installed. Although the two quartz countertops stand greatly on their own, when combined, they create a unique pairing to match your personality & style for your home!

4. SIBERIA – GRANITE

With the plethora number of countertops we offer at Pratt, Siberia is one of my top choices for granite. The black speckles within the natural stone stand out against the white milky base color. My favorite design with Siberia is a white or grey cabinet with black hardware to bring out the black speckles within the granite. I have seen this done with a black kitchen / bathroom faucet or champagne bronze as well. This specific countertops speaks for itself with the luxury of also having low maintenance, a unique look and having a stain resistance protection.

5. UBATUBA – GRANITE

Here at Pratt, this specific countertop comes STANDARD with no additional charge while clients are in design. Since I have been at Pratt, this countertop has been chosen many times whether it was for a kitchen, a main bathroom or even guest bathrooms! UbaTuba is a darker granite that showcases black and brown within the stone itself. I personally love when materials and products can be viewed differently when we pair it with different surrounding finishes. One of my favorite ways to style this certain granite is with our boardwalk stained cabinet and with either black or bronze hardware / plumbing finishes. OH – and did I mention this granite is standard?

Our Designers’ Favorite Kitchen Countertops Right Nowgmwebservices2024-02-20T19:35:27+00:00

5 Indoor Herbs to Spruce Up Your Home and Recipes this Fall and Winter

Temperatures are dropping in the Greater Chattanooga area and the colder part of Fall is just around the corner. As leaves change colors, sweaters come out of the closet, and there are fewer hours of sunlight, it’s a great time to plan new pastimes for winter months. Indoor gardening has become a favorite activity of many residents. Luckily, herbs are an easy way to begin and serve multiple purposes within the home. Indoor plants improve air quality and emotional health. Herbs also add an aromatic element to your space that can boost emotional health, and have many health benefits to boost immunity all winter long. The ones below are also versatile and perfect for a variety of cozy winter recipes that will invigorate the senses.

Oregano

Perhaps the ultimate cold-weather herb for your ideal-health arsenal, Oregano is known for its anti-bacterial and anti-viral qualities. Some studies indicate it can fight diabetes and cancer. The plant will grow to approximately 10 inches tall and is easy to use in sauces and soups.

Mint

An herb that many may either love or hate, that is exactly the effect it has in nature. Mint can actually attract good bugs and repel bad ones, so it can be great to use inside as well as outside. It is versatile in that it can be used for sweet and savory dishes. During cold winter months, it is helpful to have on hand as mint has been shown to boost energy and focus.

Rosemary

Common to see as the holidays approach as a small Christmas tree, Rosemary is a wonderfully fragrant shrub that’s been used years for a number of therapeutic applications including boosting mood, energy and focus. It certainly adds beauty and a pleasant scent to indoor spaces, and if transferred outdoors can thrive locally in Zone 7. It’s perfect to keep on hand all winter long as it adds a savory dimension to chicken, potatoes and bread.

Thyme

A perennial herb with a robust scent and flavor, Thyme is also rich in Vitamin C and anti-oxidants. It is perfectly paired with other ingredients that share its Mediterranean origins: olive oil, tomatoes, and garlic. Thyme can also be used to flavor nearly anything including but certainly not limited to poultry, pork and fish.

Do you plan to start an indoor herb garden? We would love to see photos of your progress! Please consider tagging us on social media @prattliving

5 Indoor Herbs to Spruce Up Your Home and Recipes this Fall and Wintergmwebservices2021-11-01T02:44:02+00:00

Editorial: Dare to Dance to Benefit Emergency Housing

By Brittany Shaw, Pratt Home Builders New Home Matchmaker and Dare to Dance 2020 Castmember

It’s hard to believe Dare to Dance month has already come and gone! I’ve had a few weeks to reflect on this incredible event in this most unique of years. I can’t say enough about the Kidney Foundation of Greater Chattanooga as well as all the generous sponsors and donors who helped us fund Emergency Housing for the Kidney Foundation, despite whatever financial challenges they may have faced in 2020.

Editorial: Dare to Dance to Benefit Emergency Housinggmwebservices2020-10-31T23:12:48+00:00

Guest Editorial: Tools for Transferring Your House to Your Loved Ones By Attorney Amanda N. Jelks

For most people, our homes are amongst our most valuable assets. We invest a huge amount of time, resources, and energy into paying for our home and maintaining it. More importantly, we make precious memories that will last a lifetime. When people think about the legacy they want to leave their loved ones, their home is usually at the top of the list of things to protect.

There are different estate planning tools that can be used to make sure the people you select ultimately receive your home. The most common tools used are wills, trusts, and deeds. We generally advise against adding someone as an owner on the deed to your real estate, because doing so almost always makes your real estate available to their creditors, heirs, and spouse. It is also usually not ideal to transfer your house to someone else making them the 100% owner of the house while you are still alive, because that could interfere with your ability to qualify for Medicaid to assist with paying for long-term care and you completely lose control of what happens to your house.

A will or a trust are generally the better tools to use to transfer your real estate to loved ones after you pass away. The primary difference between the two options is whether or not your loved ones have to go through some form of probate to transfer the house to their names or list it for sale. Wills must go through probate court, despite the common myth that says otherwise. The word “probate” actually means “to prove a will” and, hence, the will doesn’t mean anything until a judge says it does. The issue with probate is that it is lengthy (at least one year in Tennessee and can be much longer in Georgia) and the administrative expenses, which come out of your loved one’s inheritance, can be significant. The way to avoid probate is by having a revocable living trust.

A “Revocable Trust” is a trust that has detailed instructions as to what happens to your assets when you pass away. It is revocable in that you can change and update those instructions while you are alive. One can think of this type of trust as a bucket. You can put things into the bucket, you can take things out of the bucket, you own the bucket, and have total control over it. In order to put your home into the “bucket,” you record a deed that gives ownership of your home to the trust.

As long as you are alive and competent, you are in the driver’s seat as it pertains to the trust. When you pass away or if you get to a point where you can no longer manage your affairs, the successor trustee (named by you) will have extensive instructions as to how they should manage your home (e.g., who can live in your home, whether it must be sold after your death, at what age someone can take ownership of your home, or how proceeds from the sale of the house are divided amongst your beneficiaries).

Only a licensed attorney, preferably one who is well-versed in estate planning, should set up a trust for you and your family. There are many factors that are specific to you that need to be weighed when deciding if a Revocable Trust is your best option. So, when you are ready to plan your estate, find a law firm that will work with you to preserve your legacy.

About the Author

Amanda N. Jelks is the owner of Jelks Law, PLLC, an award-winning law firm located on the North Shore in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She and her team help families and business owners with estate planning and probate matters. Amanda was selected as the “Best Attorney” by the Chattanooga Business Elite in 2020, has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers® for the last four years in a row, and the firm was awarded the 2018 Emerging Business of the Year by the Urban League of Greater

Chattanooga. Amanda is licensed in Tennessee and Georgia.

Guest Editorial: Tools for Transferring Your House to Your Loved Ones By Attorney Amanda N. Jelksgmwebservices2020-05-14T20:32:27+00:00

Design Details: Interior Doors

Interior Doors are easy to overlook – until they’re not. You know the old, hallow, orange-wood doors at Grandma’s house that match the wood paneling accent wall in their basement? Those are not the kind of statement interior doors that are breaking into 2020. We are talking about the modern and trending interior doors that everyone should be buying this year.

Sleek and simple is the name of the game at the start of this new decade, which is why we are starting with the classic stile and rail, or panel, door. These classic two, four or six paneled doors have been a popular choice since the mid-1900’s. While this style door has been around for quite a while, it is a classic style that is taking on new, leaner features that allow it to stay relevant. The panels have become much simpler over time and the ornamental details have minimized. Even the six panel doors have taken on a more modern design than they once had, giving them a step up from something trending that will be out of style in a few years. While six panel doors are still an active player in the game, the two-panel door remains the star of the show.

While it’s never a bad idea to go with a classic, sometimes the edgier, more trending interiors pull at homeowner’s heartstrings. If this is you, an exterior mounted sliding-track barn door might be right for you. This interior element acts as an architectural detail, framing cased openings as the center of attention in any room. The spotlight cannot help but shine on this feature, as it silently claims all attention.

This is not your ordinary interior door—the metal frame of the door adds an industrial look and depending on what door you choose, anything from a modern to farmhouse to traditional look can be achieved. Some opt for a rustic look to match interior farmhouse style décor. To achieve this, add a pop of Barn-wood red paint on the door or use old, reclaimed wood to tie in the rustic feel of the other interior design choices.

If your style is a little more modern or industrial, look for a two-panel shaker style door—for extra pizzazz, use glass inserts on the recessed panels of the door. Frosted glass can make a huge impact if you’re wanting something more streamline than wood but don’t want to lose the privacy of a solid door.

Interior doors are something that are easy to forget about but can make a lasting impact if the details are not overlooked. Remember when selecting interior accents and décor to find a theme or color pallet you love and can stick to long-term. This will help your home feel cohesive and well put together. Choose accents that follow similar themes, materials, textures and colors that will allow your home to host a complex environment that is layered with pieces you love. Doors are just one piece to the puzzle!

Design Details: Interior Doorsgmwebservices2020-04-05T23:57:17+00:00

Introducing Engel Park: Your New “Home Base” in East Brainerd

Our newest community is now open! Engel Park is located on Julian Road just off of East Brainerd Road in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

It features single family homes in Phase I with townhomes scheduled for Phase II. With both single level and two-story homes available, this community is perfect for a wide range of homeowners. Prices start in the mid 200s.

Pratt Home Builders offers two choices: pre-sales (buyer chooses the homesite, home plan and all finishes) or market homes (homesite and home plan selected by our production team and finishes curated by our in-house design team).

Introducing Engel Park: Your New “Home Base” in East Brainerdgmwebservices2020-01-28T01:57:28+00:00

PHB Home Stories: Dave and Reba

“We looked for three years… and we couldn’t be any happier with Pratt and with our home.”

PHB Home Stories: Dave and Rebagmwebservices2020-01-06T20:59:53+00:00

How to Choose the Perfect Front Door for Your Home

Whether it’s draped in a Christmas wreath, guarded by a fun, fall-quoted mat or framed with blooming florals, your front door should be a statement when it comes to the exterior of your home. Reds, yellows, blues—oh my! The options are quite literally endless and once you add stains to the mix, it can become a little overwhelming to commit to a pallet. So how do you know what color front door is right for you? Your front door should be as individual as you are and make a statement while still tying into the rest of your home. It’s important to note the other colors and tones on the exterior of your home before sealing the deal on a paint color.

When you are looking for a refresh on an old door or just deciding which direction to go with a new one, look to the colors in the brick, siding or stone that frames your front door. Is there lots of texture and movement? Are you looking at an achromatic or monochromatic scheme? The easiest way to create a pallet is to find the colors present and pull from those. The hints of blue or red in a monotone brick are what can turn a random burst of color into a purposefully picked theme on your front porch.

When it comes to making a statement on your front porch, it’s important to keep in mind the long-term design of whatever you choose. Does your front porch receive a make-over during the holidays? If so, what color is your fall and winter décor? If you’re bouncing between themes and color pallets, you might opt for a classic stain or neutral swatch so that the façade is not dictating what décor you can use. If you routinely use one color pallet—for example, if your fall décor is made up of warm tones like reds and oranges, and your winter décor also plays off a similar bright red color—you may choose a warm-toned door. This allows your entryway to become a part of your decoration. If you want it to stand out from the color pallet you use when decorating, pick a complimentary color to play off the décor you have; however, if your Halloween pieces and Christmas wreath have no correlation, definitely go with something more transitional like a rustic grey or classic stain so that your front porch can path the way for the theme of your home.

Whatever color pallet you choose for the front of your house, let it make a statement and be the focal point as the entrance to your home. Let your creativity take flight and put your own mark on the home you love to live in.

How to Choose the Perfect Front Door for Your Homegmwebservices2019-11-18T16:54:36+00:00

Community Updates: Now Taking Site Reservations for 3 New Phases

We’re so excited to share that we have new phases opening at three of our most popular communities in Greater Chattanooga. All of these communities offer low-maintenance living, desirable areas, a variety of home plans, and stunning onsite amenities to make living better easy and accessible.

Learn more or schedule a visit on prattliving.com or call 423-757-7687

GreyHawk Trails – Signal Mountain, Tennessee

Creekside at Hampton Meadows – Ooltewah, Tennessee

Magnolia Farms – Apison, Tennessee

Community Updates: Now Taking Site Reservations for 3 New Phasesgmwebservices2019-11-01T16:56:24+00:00

Five Advantages of Single Level Living

In the new home construction industry around Chattanooga, Tennessee, we are seeing a resurgence in Single Level Living. Many homebuyers of all ages are finding that a home on one level would accommodate their needs throughout the years. Pratt Home Builders offers a Single Level home plans in every community.

Accessible

It’s not surprising Single Level homes are among the most popular, as many Baby Boomers are downsizing from multi-level houses and seeking homes without stairs.

Versatile

In-laws visiting? Small children? Multiple levels can present challenges for a variety of people.

Lower-Maintenance

The right floor plan and the right finishes will make for spending less time working and more time living.

Convenient

Pratt Home Builders offers a variety of single level home plans with a wide range of square footage, so you can choose the right size for your lifestyle needs.

Options

To compliment the various Single Level home plans we offer, barrier-free design options are also available.

Five Advantages of Single Level Livinggmwebservices2019-09-16T18:42:27+00:00