701.478.3000 | 3280 Veterans Blvd. Suite 120 Fargo, ND 58104

Thomsen Homes

Affordable Luxury Homes in Fargo, ND

Design Studio

A MN gal and Thomsen Homes Design Specialist: Meet Alyssa

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Alyssa Asheim’s passion as a Design Specialist for Thomsen Homes stems from her ability to work with clients to conceptualize their dream home and make it a reality.

 A MN gal and NDSU graduate from Moorhead, Alyssa has planted her roots here with her husband Keith and daughter Harper.  Alyssa takes pride in creating living spaces that speak to the personality, preferences and experiences of each and every Thomsen Homes client she works with.

We sat down with Alyssa and got the inside scoop on her hidden talents, hobbies and what she loves most about her job.

 

Name three words that you describe you.

Energetic, Caring & Organized

Do you have any hidden talents or skills?

I don’t have any hidden talents, but I’m pretty good at drinkin’ beer. 😉 ~Billy Currington

Flashback to when you were 10 years old. What did you want to be when you grow up?

Interior Designer!

If you were a superhero, what super power would you have?

To stop time, I could use some extra hours in my day.

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working?

Hanging out in the aisle of Target with my daughter, it’s our happy place.

What would be your personal motto?

The laundry can wait.

Choose a movie title for the story of your life.

Lost at Sea or in a Thomsen Homes Development.

Look at your last song listened to. What is it?

Kidz Bop Version of Youngblood in the car.

What do you think are the best skills that you bring to your job?

Being organized, patient and adaptive is key when managing multiple client builds.  There are a lot of different aspects to building a home so you have to be flexible as a Designer and keep the best interest of the client in mind.

What do you love most about your job?

I think working with clients and collaborating with my co-workers is what I like best, it’s all about the people!  Also, the break room snacks, can’t forget that.

Krafting Your Kitchen – What’s Trending in the 2019 Kitchen

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“The kitchen is the heart of every home. It evokes memories of your family history.” – Debi Mazar

 

Indeed the kitchen is the heart of the home, or at least we like to think so here at Thomsen Homes. The kitchen is one of the most personal parts of the home, giving life to a person’s style and uniqueness. Kitchen style is forever changing year after year. 2019 is bringing some new trends that some will be sure to love!

One trend carrying into 2019 is custom-painted cabinets. This enables you to transform your kitchen like never before. Instead of staying within the boundary of stains, painted cabinets give you a plethora of colors to choose from. Literally endless! Are you a white, chic kind of person? Or perhaps you’re bold and like your cabinets to be a statement, maybe going with a blush or navy hue. Whatever your choice, here are a couple colors trending in 2019.

  • Warm Grey
  • Blues (robin’s egg, navy, almost-black blue)
  • Blush
  • Greens (think forest green, sage  or a deep teal)
  • Beige (yes even the “boring” colors aren’t so boring anymore)

 

Another new trend is the mixing of materials in the kitchen. Gone is the cliche that you can’t combine gold and silver or brushed nickel. How dare we? Well we say, “We dare you!” We recommend no more than two different metals in your kitchen. Be sure to make sure your fixtures coordinate well with the cabinetry/counter tops you choose in your home! If you aren’t sure, our designers will point you in the right direction!

What does your kitchen say about you? “Kraft your new kitchen” today with Thomsen Homes!

Preview Night – Join Us!

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Thomsen Homes has a new office! We’re excited to host our Thomsen Homes Preview Night on Thursday, February 19th. This event goes from 4-7 pm and we would love to see you there! Get a tour of our brand new Design Studios and chat with our sales team. Are you looking for a new home? Perhaps a friend or family member is on the hunt? Bring them with! Already, built with Thomsen Homes? Come join us and we can chat about our referral program. You can also enter to win a $500 gift card from Eco Chic! We can’t wait to see you there!

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

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Among dieting and exercising as the top new year’s resolutions, 2019 may bring a new kind of resolution and it has to do with your home.

Whether you rent, own, are looking to buy or renovate, having a new year’s resolution for your home can be one that may be easier or more fun to stick to than a diet (wink, wink).

 

Setting realistic expectations for your home

The tricky thing about resolutions is that sometimes the expectations we set for ourselves are unrealistic and not achievable, or we just stop and don’t continue moving forward with them. When it comes to your home, try to set timelines and expectations for these resolutions so you can achieve them.

For example, if you rent your home but are looking to own, set a resolution to start the wheels in motion to move towards that goal. Maybe you need to start with seeing what you qualify for, or maybe you need to knock off some debt before doing that. Set an end date to do these things by and try and keep yourself accountable for doing so.

Are you in an existing home that maybe your family has grown out of? Look at different options on how to find a home to accommodate your family and your lifestyle. Maybe consider new construction and look at different floor plan options that would work for you.

Do you have house projects that you just never have gotten around to doing?  These can add up quick. Try and limit yourself to a couple. Maybe you want to put up a kitchen back-splash, or get new shades? no matter what the resolution is set realistic expectations, so you can achieve it.

 

Do your research

Remember no matter what the resolution is from diets, to home resolutions, do your research. In the long run this will help you. Look at your options, what you can afford, consider new and existing construction and weigh your options. Try not to limit yourself and do the research up front.  Find inspiration through Instagram, Pinterest and blogs to start to get excited about your new home resolutions.

 

How to prepare for your design appointments

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When building a Thomsen Home, you will have two design appointments with your design specialist. This step can be overwhelming for some people, use our tips below to help prepare for your design appointments.

Before Your Appointment

  • Create a list of everything you want to include in your home and be prepared to remove some things (or even add a few).  Our design specialists recommend adding items to your home that will be harder to add later on, such as a gas line rough in for a future fireplace. Gather ideas from Pinterest and Houzz to help spark some creative ideas. You can even print these off or save them on your phone or tablet to show your design specialist during your appointment.
  • Calculate your budget. Let your Design Specialist know what your budget is up front. They will be able to take your budget into consideration when helping you select certain options for your home.
  • Consider your lifestyle and needs such as children, pets, storage, large kitchens, entertaining, etc when thinking about options to add to your home.
  • Consider these questions before your appointment:
    • What area of your home do you spend the most time in? How about the second most?
    • Do you entertain friends or family in your home? If so, what features do you wish you had to enhance the entertaining experience?
    • Consider the exterior of your home – What colors are you leaning towards? Do you prefer brick or stone?
    • Do you feel as though you never have enough storage in your home? If so, where do you feel you need more? Kitchen/Pantry, bathroom, laundry room, mudroom, master closet?

During Your Appointment

  • Bring your own samples of fabric swatches from your furniture, curtains, etc. Having a visual of what your décor pieces look like might help you decide on what selections you choose for your home.
  • Once you select your samples during your design appointment, take pictures of the samples for future planning and decorating ideas.

After Your Appointment

  • Once your design appointments are done, you can sit back and relax while your home is being built!

If you’re looking for more design tips and trends, check out our design section on the blog.

A new level of value: LP SmartSide Siding

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This week Thomsen Homes announced our new level of value by including a sod yard, appliances, deck or patio, and LP SmartSide siding in every one of our homes. We are excited about this opportunity for our clients!

You may be wondering what LP SmartSide siding is. Below is a snippet from a brochure from LP SmartSide explaining how LP SmartSide siding compares to traditional vinyl siding.

LP SmartSide Siding: The Next Generation of Siding

LP® SmartSide® trim and siding products are made from premium engineered wood for exceptional durability and beauty. Unlike wood siding, LP SmartSide products provide the protection you need from the elements. Smart homeowners know LP SmartSide trim and siding products are the right choice for lasting curb appeal.

Defining A Beautiful Home

LP SmartSide trim and siding help give your home the warm, natural look of real cedar without the worries. It’s an upgrade from vinyl siding and a beautiful, durable alternative to fiber cement. Plus, LP SmartSide products are the perfect accent to brick, stone or stucco homes. With an extensive array of siding profiles, available in either cedar wood grain or smooth textures, you can make your home the ultimate reflection of your unique style. Tough From The Inside Out SmartSide® trim

Tough From The Inside Out

Every LP SmartSide product is manufactured with our proprietary SmartGuard® process to help resist decay, fungi and termites in even the harshest environments. To prove it, LP SmartSide products are subjected to intense performance testing in Hilo, Hawaii. Our samples are still performing after experiencing conditions comparable to decades of harsh exposure.

A Warranty That Protects Peace of Mind

All LP SmartSide products come backed with an industry-leading, transferable, limited warranty.* It’s the kind of warranty that protects your investment and peace of mind.
• 5-Year 100% Labor & Replacement on LP SmartSide Trim and Siding
• 50-Year Prorated Limited Warranty on LP SmartSide Trim and Siding Substrate

*See www.lpcorp.com for complete warranty details.

Simply A Smarter Choice

• Made of an engineered wood substrate, a renewable resource with a reduced environmental impact.
• LP® uses SFI(R) certified forest management and procurement systems, which help ensure wood comes from well managed forests.
• A cleaner, more efficient installation process with no silica dust, unlike fiber cement products.

There are so many reasons to have LP SmartSide trim and siding installed on your home. It’s a beautiful choice that helps add true craftsmanship and warm appeal to any style of home. View more brochures and information here. 

Want to learn more information on the process of building with Thomsen Homes and details on a new level of value? Contact Nate or Jessica to learn more.  

Create a smart Home With Samsung’s SmartThings

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If you haven’t heard of Samsung’s SmartThings, look it up right now! Seriously. This innovative new device from Samsung can astonishingly turn your Thomsen home into a smart home. In simple terms, it is a home automated system that you can connect your phone via Samsung’s app, Google Home or Amazon’s Alexa to control your lights, garage doors, cameras, door locks, thermostat, blinds and more.  

Centralized Hub

The heart of Samsung’s SmartThings is their centralized Hub.

“The Hub communicates with all of your different connected products – regardless of their wireless protocol – so that you can easily monitor and control them from the SmartThings app. The Hub contains ZigBee and Z-Wave radios, and is also compatible with IP-accessible devices. There’s no hard-wiring or installation needed. Simply connect it to your Internet router using the included Ethernet cable, attach the power cord to the back of the Hub, and you’re ready to start creating a safer, smarter home.”

By using the Samsung’s SmartThings Hub, compatible devices (outlets, light switches, etc) and the app, you can control just about anything in your home. For example, you can program specific lights to turn on when you unlock your front door. You can also set your early morning routine in the app to gently turn on the lights and music, as well as start your coffee machine before you even wake up. According to SmartThings.com, plug your iron into a SmartThings Outlet and you’ll be able to turn it off via the app or put a SmartThings Motion Sensor in your living room to turn off the lights. The SmartThings app will even alert you if there is a potential water leak or suspicious activity while you’re away. Complete your Smart Home by using Google Home or Alexa. Change your thermostat, turn on or off your lights or start music, all with the sound of your voice. The possibilities are endless! There’s no limit on the number of individual devices that you can connect to the Hub. View a complete list of products here.

Ask your Design Specialist on how to integrate SmartThings into your new Thomsen Home. Check out more design tips and trends here.

Design Trend: Navy Cabinetry

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Navy cabinets are a growing trend in the interior design world. When incorporated correctly, this trend can create a classic, timeless look. Whether you are going for a farmhouse look or a modern feel, navy cabinetry can complement with various decor pieces to create any style.

Incorporating navy cabinets in the kitchen

When using navy cabinets in the kitchen, it is best to use the darker color on the base perimeter cabinets or accent with a navy kitchen island. Our design team recommends pairing darker base cabinets with white upper cabinets. When using a darker color on upper cabinets, this may create an unbalanced, top heavy feeling in your kitchen. Add a white granite or quartz countertop to create a well-balanced kitchen design. In your decor pieces, incorporate metals such as gold, nickel or copper items. This kitchen in our 2585 2-Story Model Home incorporates the custom navy blue base cabinets with white upper cabinetry. Accent pieces include nickel cabinet hardware, bronze lighting, and a mix of metal decor pieces.

Incorporating navy cabinets in the bathroom

If you’re going for a lighter, classic look, accent the dark cabinets in your bathroom with a lighter countertop. Choose either white, cream or a grey countertop. Thomsen Homes offers numerous granite and quartz countertops, as well as high-end laminate options. If you are creating a masculine bathroom, pair the navy cabinets with a darker countertop such as dark grey. Again, incorporate metals such as gold, nickel, or copper in your decor pieces, as well as lighting fixtures and cabinet hardware. This bathroom in our 1670 Rambler Model Home is a great example of how to decorate with navy cabinetry in the bathroom. Accent pieces include satin nickel cabinet hardware, lighting, plumbing fixtures, and bronze decor pieces. 

Whether you decide to incorporate navy cabinetry in your bathroom or kitchen, you can’t go wrong with this classic design that adds a hint of color to your space. If you’re looking for more design trends, check out our design section on the blog.