Heather Faland is one of our talented Interior Designers at Lennar who designs and styles model homes across our West Coast communities. We recently interviewed her to gain insight on a model home she completed for our Residence Four model home at Overlook at Emerald Ridge, a master-planned community of new single-family homes that are now selling in California’s Jurupa Valley.
Did the location of this model home influence your design choices?
“Absolutely! For every project we do research to understand the people that currently live in the surrounding areas, such as what they do for a living, what they like to do for fun and what they are looking for in a community.”
How would you describe the style of this project, as well as the color schemes?
“The overall style of this model home is transitional. This design style blends some traditional elements along with modern design elements to create a space that is both functional and beautiful.”
The Kitchen
“The green counter stools were a must! I wanted to add a punch of color in the kitchen so that your eye danced from wall to wall in the kitchen. This helps future homeowners to take notice of all the features offered in a Lennar kitchen.”
The Dining Area
“Since the dining room is in an open area, it was important to create an impactful feature that helps define the space—and that’s where the trim wall detail comes in! Layering artwork on top of the wall detail adds even more depth and dimension, giving the room a polished, elevated feel. The neutral wall color serves as the perfect backdrop, allowing the warm wood tones of the dining table and the crisp white chairs to really stand out. And the artwork ties everything together beautifully, pulling in all the colors from the palette. I love when one design element brings the whole color story full circle!”
The Great Room
“It was important to carry the wall detail from the dining room into the great room to really emphasize how spacious both areas are. The pop of green in the sectional helped ground the space while adding just the right amount of color and personality. Plus, it’s such a beautiful sight—you can see that gorgeous green the moment you walk through the front door! It naturally draws your eye all the way from the entry to the back of the home. Everywhere you look, your eyes dance across the various textures and layers that give this space so much warmth and dimension.”
The Owner’s Suite
“We elevated the owner’s suite with a custom fluted wall detail! This type of detail shows all the potential a space has by accenting a single wall. We wanted to convey a calming and serene bedroom to retreat to at the end of the day.“
The Loft
“I absolutely love the checkered wall painted detail in loft. It was such an impactful moment upon reaching the second floor. It was important for us to add this wall detail there to draw your eye to the space. Otherwise, it can just look like a pass-through room. Now, you are wanting to stop and look at the space. Design elements like this are why our jobs as Interior designers at Lennar so important. We create memory points for future homeowners to imagine themselves in this space.“
Secondary Bedrooms
“Each secondary bedroom in this model had its own unique vibe and purpose, and I had so much fun designing them! One of the rooms was intentionally turned into a home office—because let’s be honest, more and more homeowners want that perfect “get stuff done” space.
Upstairs, we created four secondary bedrooms, each designed with a specific personality in mind—from middle school to high school age. After some research (and a little creative daydreaming!), we landed on four fun themes: a dirt bike boy, a golf-loving boy, a fashion-forward girl, and a mushroom-woodland-inspired girl.
Each room got its own signature wall detail to bring the theme to life. The dirt bike room features a painted road that actually climbs up the wall and onto the ceiling—so fun! The golf room has a sleek horizontal paint detail that highlights mounted golf clubs. The fashion girl’s room includes a tiled accent wall that adds a little glam and texture, while the mushroom girl’s room combines natural wood tones with a punchy paint for that fun, magical feel.
And the office? Wrapped in a textured, colored wallpaper that totally grounds the space. Wallpaper is such a great way to make a statement and set the mood—it’s like the finishing touch that ties everything together!“
What was the best part of working on this model home and seeing the space come to life?
“The best part is seeing everything come together in the end—it’s so rewarding! There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes to bring a beautiful, fully finished project to life. Hearing people say how much they love the space and noticing all the design details you poured your heart into is the best feeling. And seeing your 2D presentation transform into a real, tangible space? Absolutely satisfying!“
This model home, Residence Four, is part of the Overlook at Emerald Ridge master-planned community in Jurupa Valley, CA.
Click here to schedule a tour or contact us with any questions. To view more interior design work done by Lennar’s team, follow their Instagram @lennarwestinteriordesign.
More about Designer Heather Faland
What is your favorite detail in this model home?
“I absolutely love all the different wall details throughout the model—from the fluted wall trim in the owner’s suite to the checkered painted wall detail in the loft and the painted road detail on the ceiling in the secondary bedroom.”
Why do you love most about interior design?
“It might sound a little cliché, but I truly love everything about interior design! From playing with color palettes and exploring different styles to experimenting with new ideas that push creative boundaries—I love it all. Design is such a beautiful form of expression. While it’s always subjective, I believe great design has a universal way of making people feel something and can inspire them to explore their own spaces.”
Which design trend are you loving right now?
“I am loving bold minimalism. This trend is all about making a statement without going overboard. I use vibrant colors, high contrast and a few standout pieces that really pop. Instead of filling a room with lots of little things, this trend focuses on one impactful element that sets the tone for the whole space. It could be a show-stopping piece of art, a textured wall or a unique design detail—something that instantly draws your eye and ties the whole room together. It’s minimal, but oh-so memorable!”
Fun Fact about yourself?
“Here’s a fun two-level fact about me: I’m a type 1 diabetic, and back in middle school, I was part of an all-girls diabetic singing and dancing group! We performed at fundraisers and inspired newly diagnosed diabetics, showing them that diabetes doesn’t have to stop you from doing anything you want in life. Nowadays, my singing career is mostly confined to the shower—but hey, it’s still a showstopper!“
