Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

2014’s Parade of Homes in Central New York!

by Filed Under: design, interior design, parade of homes


Every year, my mom and I go off for the day and attend Central New York’s Parade of Homes. It is an annual event with a collection of newly built homes, all decked out and decorated by local interior designers. The event has been featuring about 8 homes in recent years, but this year, it has 12 homes! We loved that there was more to see. So, we put on our most comfortable shoes and went out for the afternoon to the Town of Clay, where the Parade is held this year. It did not disappoint! There is something so amazing about a brand new home. All of the finishes are custom, the paint colors and floors are all fresh and new. It’s like opening a present on Christmas!! So without further adieu, let’s take a look at my favorite highlights of the Parade…

The Ashfield by Miller Custom Homes


This home had a calm, serene color palette. And who doesn’t fall in love with white kitchen cabinetry?!? I loved the lanterns above the kitchen island and the stenciled wall in one of the bedrooms. Stencils were seen throughout the homes in the Parade this year. Each very thoughtful and unique!

The Timbercrest by Sciuga Custom Builders


This home had me at hello with its soft, buttery yellow siding and the entire exterior design. I also loved the pebble stone fireplace surround in the living room. Such a chic, rustic touch. And then the custom banquette in the kitchen! How smart and creative is that built in bench?!? I loved that the interior designer took it one step further with the stripes down the center. Such a thoughtful touch. The bench also doubles as storage for additional kitchen towels and utensils. So smart!

The Madison by Mark Antony Homes


His homes never disappoint and are always the classic, chic homes of the Parade. I loved this great room vibe with the kitchen and family room. The designer used the same paint color in most of the first floor, keeping a continuous flow throughout the spaces. I loved the details on the dining chairs and the gray finish of the trellis table. The kitchen is huge and even features a custom window seat, which I loved! The fireplace is simple and elegant and I loved the deep hearth for baskets!

The Chardonnay by Pigliavento Builders

{This mirror is also a TV!! So cool!}

This home above was designed by my friend, Taylor. She did thoughtful, creative touches in the children’s spaces. Love the vintage look in both of these kid bedrooms!

The Glenwyke by Smolen Homes


This was one of the smallest homes at the Parade at about 2400 square feet. But bigger doesn’t always mean better and the builder and designer did a great job with thoughtful touches and precise details. The beams in the great room brought the spaces together and made this home shine! I loved the banquette that was tucked away in the kitchen. The cabinetry was beautiful and made this area so bright and energetic. I also loved the modern soaking tub with its sleek shape. And the boy’s bedroom was so cool with a full map on one wall! That would be a fun space for any child to hang out! 
The Brittany by Signature Crest Builders


Lighting can make or break a room and I thought the pendants over the kitchen island were fabulous! I also loved the locker style system for the mud room. Sneakers and sports equipment can easily be tucked away in the bottom compartment!
So there you have it… my review and favorite moments of this year’s Parade of Homes! If you haven’t stopped in yet, not to worry! It will be running until June 22nd. To learn more about the Parade of Homes before you head out, visit HERE.
Thank you so much to this year’s sponsors for gifting tickets for me and my mom to the Parade of Homes this year! We had a blast.

The Parade of Homes is Here!

by Filed Under: design, parade of homes


My mom and I visited this year’s Parade of Homes in Central New York, and it did not disappoint. Nestled near the quaint town of Jamesville in Lafayette, this neighborhood boasts lake views and stunning new homes! My mom and I attend this event every year, as it’s a great way to get some design inspiration and see beautiful homes that have been fully decorated by local interior designers. The Parade is open through September 22nd, so there is still plenty of time to get out there and experience it yourself! Let’s get right to the homes, with some of my favorite spaces…

This first home was built by Martin Custom Homes and is ‘The Waterford’ model…

I love how this home felt so spacious. The office had that gorgeous coffered ceiling and there was plenty of room to work in the kitchen. The walk in pantry is a mom’s dream and that master bedroom closet had me at hello!

This next home was by Mark Antony Homes and is their ‘Beth Ann’ model. It had one of my favorite bathrooms of the parade!

I am always a sucker for an all white kitchen. I love the sand colored linen drapery panels in the family room, adore the high ceilings and love that half bathroom ceiling stencil! That adds such an unexpected touch to the space. {It also ended up being my highest ‘liked’ image on instagram, yet!}

This next home was unique and designed by Konrad Builders. It had a mid century modern vibe and was so different from the rest of the Parade’s homes. This home had the best windows and natural light!

Aren’t the windows amazing?? I can just imagine this home in the winter, looking out at all of the snowy trees. This home also comes with dock access and a beautiful view of the lake from the backyard! The above image of the bathroom shows the stunning floors!

This next home was one of my favorite exteriors. It had such a coastal, Nantucket vibe, with a mix of the blue and shaker style siding. It is ‘The Oakhurst’ by Sciuga Custom Builders.

I loved that farmhouse sink in the kitchen and the dining room had a large wall of built in shelving. That would be a lot of fun to dress up!

This next home was by far, the favorite of both myself and my mom. It was built by Zellar Homes and is ‘The Stewart’ model. The interior designer brought a subtle theme to her designs from the classic film, It’s a Wonderful Life. We were both ready to move right in! 


There was so much attention to detail in this home. I love that the window frames were a tan color in the family room, allowing them to pop against the walls. The kitchen was simply stunning! We were so impressed with how lived in  and warm this home felt. Well done!

The last home I’m going to show today was built by Smolen Homes and is ‘The Jonsten.’

I truly believe fabric can take a room to the next level. The drapery fabric in the family does just that and makes a stunning impression on the rest of the room. I loved the ceiling detail in the dining room and the modern art above the console!

All in all, this was a great event! My mom and I had a blast and walked away with plenty of design inspiration for our homes. To learn more about the Parade of Homes in CNY and all of this year’s builders, visit the main site HERE. Thanks so much to the Parade of Homes sponsors for this year’s tickets to the event!

To follow the Parade of Homes on facebook, visit HERE.

To follow the Home Builders of CNY on twitter, visit HERE.

And to follow the Home Builders of CNY on pinterest, visit HERE.

Which home/design feature was your favorite??
Hope you can make it this year, too!

Our Area’s Parade of Homes

by Filed Under: parade of homes


My mom and I recently toured our area’s Parade of Homes. We look forward to this event every year, and it never disappoints! Last year’s event gave me the inspiration to add damask wallpaper to our foyer. My husband always wonders what ideas I will come home with- but he doesn’t mind, because I always make sure to take pictures of the amazing home theaters and sports rooms for him! This year’s homes were full of soft, neutral wall colors, warm wood floors and creamy white cabinetry in the kitchens and living rooms. Needless to say, I fell in love. Here are the highlights…

I loved the stacked stone chosen for the fireplaces, the detail in the moldings the soft, neutral colors, the white cabinetry, warm wood floors and the overall serene, liveable vibe of these homes.
Which room is your favorite?