Arguably the world’s most respected institution on color systems, when Pantone announces its Color of the Year, it’s big news. The most-used color system around the world by designers of all trades, their selection for the 2019 Color of the Year is Living Coral. Described as “An animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge,” it’s not a neutral tone. But trend followers know incorporating it in their home is a must.

But since the color drastically changes every year – last year was Ultra Violet and Greenery the year before – implementing it strategically is always a wise course. Not everyone can afford a new couch every year to make a bold and current design statement. So follow one of these tips to feel savvy all year long, without breaking the bank.

  1. Paint an accent wall: Living Coral is a bold color that’s far from subtle. And the act of painting an entire room, especially with a color that will require a few coats for an even finish, is a lot of work. So instead of going over-the-top with four walls of coral that may feel aggressive to the eye, consider simply painting one wall, or stripes on one wall, using the color.
  2. Accent décor pieces: A great piece of advice you’ll likely hear from any interior designer when furnishing a new home is that buying your furniture in neutral colors is a wise choice. Then, use accent pieces you can change out as trends change. It could be accent pillows for the couch, colored towels for the guest bathroom, a plush rug or a sassy coral lamp – with a color this lively, small pieces will definitely pop.
  3. Natural elements: We all love fresh flowers in our home. And since Pantone’s color choice was derived from nature, why not present it that way? Living Coral can be found in flowers such as roses, peonies, dahlias and more. Pair a few of these with some fresh greenery and white Baby’s Breath for a truly chic home statement.
  4. Dinner party focused: The dining room is one of the most fun and easy ways to decorate. And certainly, can be one of the cheapest. Incorporate the color into your dining room setup for a seriously on-trend atmosphere. Think table runners, napkins, placemats, glassware, plates or – taking a que from the previous tip – fresh flowers. This uplifting color will create a cheery mood and impress your in-the-know guests at your next dinner soiree. Mix and match!
  5. Bedding: Whether it’s where you rest your head every night, or the extra bedrooms where your guests store their coats and bags, a velvet duvet cover, accent pillows or quilt thrown over the end of the bed will give your home a contemporary feel.

The best part about all these tips is that they don’t have to be expensive! Shopping online, at thrift stores, major store chains or home décor discount outlets will allow you to have fun decorating your new Lennar dream home. And by getting these pieces at low prices, you can trade them out as holidays, seasons and new trends surface.

New homes, apartment complexes, hotels, shopping centers, entertainment spaces, restaurants, and businesses are filling in Tampa’s landscape gaps and creating a lively and culturally rich metropolitan area.    

Tampa, Florida, USA downtown skyline.

It’s clear that this incredible city is no longer a secret. In fact, according to a Bloomberg report, 150 people move to Tampa every day. It comes as no surprise that people of all ages are flocking here. Tampa has warm weather, is close to award-winning beaches and offers mouth-watering food at trendy, authentic restaurants. There are beautiful walking trails like the Tampa Riverwalk and Bayshore Boulevard as well as a vibrant entertainment culture including, theaters, professional sports, concerts, and family-friendly events.

If you’re relocating to Tampa for a job, or are wanting to move from the suburbs to the vibrant city, Lennar has a few Tampa communities you’re sure to love:

BridgeHaven Townhomes in Citrus Park

Stafford Place at Tampa Palms

Touchstone

Southport

There’s never been a better time to invest, take it from the savvy developers quickly scooping up real estate all over the city! Opportunity and your new home await here in Tampa, Florida. To view all Lennar homes available in Tampa Bay, visit our website and like us on Facebook.

By Jenna-Ley Harrison

The Lindera Preserve Community in Cane Bay Plantation witnessed a sweet Valentine’s Day treat with a special groundbreaking event for a new mortgage-free home for a wounded war veteran and his family.

“This is a dream come true,” said Matthew Weise, former U.S. Army sergeant first class. “It’s hard to believe a year ago I was just sitting in a swamp in Fayetteville.”

Led by a police escort to their new Witch Hazel Drive home, the Weise family was greeted along the street by cheering community members, waving American flags. With some Weise relatives present, most in attendance were local home builders and contractors connected to the project. They were strangers whose presence proved to Weise, wife Saray and their three children—Shadia, 16, Kaiser, 12, and Suri, 10—that they were surrounded by love.

When later addressing the crowd, Weise choked back tears as he reflected on his hardships.

“There was a point in my life where I didn’t think anybody cared,” Weise said. “Thank you for caring for my family’s life.”

The domestic deal was made possible through a partnership between Lennar Homes and Operation FINALLY HOME, a nonprofit organization that awards mortgage-free homes to American military heroes and widows of fallen service members.

“This is a welcoming place, and we’re just so honored to be a part of it, to be able…to help provide…this home of hope for you all,” said Rusty Carroll, executive director of Operation FINALLY HOME.

The organization partners with corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, remodelers, developers, individual contributors, and volunteers. The Weise family is the 151st home recipient since the organization was established in 2005.

Pointing to the concrete foundation behind him, Jason Byham, Lennar’s division president, urged the Weises to soak in the moment’s meaning.

“That’s going to be a place where you guys are going to make some really awesome memories over the next years,” he said. “Take pictures; let that sear into your brain. That is a really, really strong foundation…both figuratively and physically. …Enjoy what this home is going to mean and the stability that it’s going to bring to your family; and every time you walk through that front door, I really hope that no matter how bad the day has been…don’t let any of it overwhelm you.”

For the last 15 years, Weise has been stationed at Ft. Bragg Army base in North Carolina and said he’s ready to move closer to his extended family—many of them long-time residents of Johns Island and James Island. His mother is also a Charleston native, and though Weise grew up in Georgia he said he was born in Florence, South Carolina.

“Their roots are in this area; we wanted to get them back to this area,” said Rusty Carroll, executive director of Operation FINALLY HOME. “God has a plan, in His time, that things come together, and this is (the Weises’) time.”

It was on New Year’s Eve, during a live episode of FOX and Friends, when the Weises first learned about their future, four-bedroom Summerville residence. The news proved shocking since the family thought their Big Apple visit was to meet with a builder—and while there, also appear on the national news network to discuss Weise’s war stories.

Though Weise said he’d remembered applying to the home program four years earlier, he never imagined he’d be selected.

“They tricked me to go up there,” he said with a laugh.

The decorated war hero is no stranger to front-line fighting, sustaining injuries during three of his six deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. According to Carroll, in one incident mortars struck a building where Weise was located, and in a second incident, his vehicle drove over an IED. Weise also stepped on an explosive device during one Middle Eastern mission.

“So half of the time he was (overseas), he was obviously in dangerous situations,” Carroll said.

While a “litany of…challenges” have “caused him to not necessarily be the person he was when he went in” to the Army,” the seasoned military man has shown unprecedented perseverance, Carroll said of Weise.

“I know personally he’s striving to be a better person when he’s gotten out,” Carroll said.

Weise’s close calls with death left him with a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder; but his survival left his family believing in a Higher Power’s protection.

“God was looking out for him,” said father Steve Weise, a U.S. Navy submarine vet. “Somehow, all that shrapnel went somewhere else.”

Looking for adventure, Weise said he signed up for Army right out of high school. It was just months before 9/11 happened. He explained the decision was better for him than the alternative—college.

“I didn’t really like sitting in a classroom,” Weise said.

And for his courageous feats, Weise was awarded two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars. But his most priceless achievements aren’t represented by medals.

“I think the three biggest awards he would want to be remembered for is that of son, husband and father,” Carroll said.

Weise’s patriotic sacrifice prompted many in Thursday’s crowd to personally thank him for his service, shake his hand and bond over their own past military experiences.

Though the Weise family has endured a rocky road the last several years, Byham encouraged them to look with excitement on their new, future Lowcountry chapter.

“I know that life hasn’t really been easy for you guys to this point,” he said. “But somebody once told me that ‘our lives are the sum of important moments’; and if that’s the case, I really hope that this moment is sealed in your memory forever, because there are a lot of people that love and support you guys, that don’t even know you; and I think that’s what makes America great.”

Cane Bay High, where the family’s oldest child will attend in the fall, also participated in the event. The choir performed the National Anthem, and the Air Force ROTC presented the colors.

Ventura, Calif. – February 2019 – It’s your last chance to call Solana Heights home with Barcelo being the last available community in this beautiful masterplan offering new single-family homes for sale. But don’t delay – Barcelo has released its final phase of new homes, so now’s the time to discover your dream home in a prime Ventura location just two miles from downtown.

“Besides the model homes, this is the final phase release at Barcelo, so interested home shoppers are encouraged to act fast because these homes are sure to go quickly,” said Ken Melvin, Division President for Lennar LA/Ventura. “Barcelo pairs modern new home designs with an unbeatable westside location in Ventura for an incredible lifestyle. You’ll love living near popular destinations including downtown, exciting recreation, beaches, parks and much more.”

New homes at Barcelo start from the low $700,000s with three distinct two-story floorplans to choose from ranging in size from approximately 2,603 to 2,971 square feet including three to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. New homes showcase open living areas for entertaining and connecting, expansive master suites complete with luxury bathrooms, relaxing California Rooms for outdoor living and flexible spaces per plan—plus, select homes boast partial ocean views.

At Solana Heights, timeless architecture meets casual luxury. This family-friendly setting offers a wide range of amenities for residents to enjoy including three parks: an entry park with picnic tables and barbecues, a gated dog park for your furry companions and a central park with play equipment, outdoor seating and inviting relaxation and gathering space. In addition, many of Ventura’s first-rate public and magnet schools are located nearby including E.P. Foster Elementary, De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts and Ventura High School. For commuting, local freeways are nearby such as the US-101 and SR-33.

The home and lifestyle you’ve always imagined for your family is waiting at Barcelo, so make your move today! Stop by the Welcome Home Center located at 232 Chickasaw St. in Ventura and tour the models. For more information, visit www.lennar.com or call 805-665-6085.

About Lennar

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.

Menifee, California – February 2019 – Lennar is excited to announce the highly-anticipated community The Townes, will Grand Open this Saturday, February 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Menifee Town Center masterplan. Home shoppers are invited to enjoy complimentary snacks, refreshments, fun activities and the first opportunity to tour the brand-new model homes.

“The Townes is a great opportunity for a variety of home shoppers, from first-time buyers to empty nesters,” said Tara Conklin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Inland. “This collection of upscale condominiums all showcase modern floorplans with open-concept layouts that maximize interior space and Everything’s Included® features that come at no additional cost.”

The Townes presents four distinctive floorplans for home shoppers to choose from that range in size from approximately 1,330 to 1,575 square feet of living space. These new condominiums provide two to three bedrooms, two and one-half bathrooms and a two-bay garage.

Every home will showcase Lennar’s innovative Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Design. These homes incorporate wireless access points that are heat mapped out and then built-in to the home to provide whole-home connectivity.

Each residence also comes with Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program, which provides added style and value as standard. Items such as, stainless steel appliances, solar and integrated home automation come in every home at no additional cost.

The Grand Opening will take place at the Welcome Home Center, located at 27300 Provincetown Way in Menifee. Eager home shoppers are encouraged to join the VIP list to stay updated on new information. Visit www.lennar.com/inlandempire or call (888)203-9186 for more details.

About Lennar

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.

Lancaster, SC- Asour communities grow around Charlotte, we love seeing the joy of home ownership lead to neighborly initiatives that make a difference. Over the past year, there’s no better example than the Needle Crafters, a group of 30 homeowners in our Tree Tops community who have harnessed their sewing skills for the greater good.

Given the backdrop of the community’s amenity village center, the group unofficially started with just a few women who met regularly in the sewing cabin. As friendships formed, the Needle Crafters have gone on to make quilts for the homeless, hats and blankets for babies at the Levine Children’s Hospital and most recently 200 placemats to support HOPE (Helping Other People Effectively) in Lancaster, S.C. Now, the group is assisting Days For Girls, a nonprofit that provides DFG kits for menstrual health in Kenya.

“As the Needle Crafters and our Tree Tops Cares groups have demonstrated, active adults are a significant and positive part of any community, particularly for their outstanding volunteer service and philanthropy,” said Sheila Hendrickson, Lennar’s Lifestyle Director based in Tree Tops. “As we continue our commitment to this lifestyle, it’s amazing to see Tree Tops’ neighbors band together, making a worldwide impact.”

The story of the Needle Crafters was also recently featured on CN2 News and thanks in-part to Tree Tops, Lennar has recently been named the number one active adult builder in Charlotte.

About Tree Tops

Tree Tops is an active adult community, offering a return to nature for homeowners 55 or better. In addition to nearly 800 homesites, the gated community features resort-style amenities such as pickleball, hiking trails, a village center, pool, and a waterfront amphitheater for events and gatherings. The Welcome Home Center is located on 3040 Arches Bluff Circle in Lancaster, S.C. and for more information, visit www.lennar.com/treetops.