#elementsbyksorbe

“Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.” – Erma Bombeck

Impressive architectural details are the star of this entry; however, the simple white pots with greenery create a soft and welcoming introduction to this contemporary home.

When Kathy Sorbe and the Design Team were posed the question when wouldn’t they use Mother Nature in a project, there were a lot of thoughtful looks. And even after a few minutes to mull it over, they couldn’t think of any. It’s a tough question.

“Mother Nature is an essential part in almost every one of our design projects,” says Kathy Sorbe, owner and lead designer at The Elements in Storm Lake and Ankeny. “Even when we aren’t using actual ‘Mother Nature,’ we’re still inspired by the colors and textures she uses in plants, rocks, wood … even the sky… and rely on these when we design spaces.”

Live house plants can be incredible, but they can also be challenging if you’re not blessed with a green thumb. Instead, the Design Team likes to place artificial or permanent florals and greenery that are high quality, realistic and really honor Mother Nature. And as warmer weather approaches, homeowners will gravitate to outdoor spaces and, frequently, to the real thing.

“Whether you choose permanent or live greenery, they need to be contained in a pot,” says Sorbe. “These can be simple or elaborate, and depending on their use and placement, homeowners can choose from glass, glazed pottery, concrete, fiberglass and new composite materials that are stylish, sturdy and weather resistant.”

A very traditional entry is flanked with classical black urns. These pots are subtle but bring the ferns up from the ground and create an approach to the front door. Pink geraniums add a pop of color to this very neutral, transitional home’s entry.

Much like a rug contains and anchors furniture in a space, or a tray confines books and accessories on a coffee table, a container or pot takes elements of Mother Nature, corrals them and instantly makes them more important.

“Containers and pots are available in many styles, colors and sizes, and picking the right one can be a challenge,” says Michelle Patten, a designer at the Storm Lake store. “They can make a statement, almost like a piece of art, or they can quietly settle in the background and let the contents shine.”

Outdoors, on decks, porches and patios, containers with greenery bring life, color and add a soft edge to a home’s architectural features. Flanking a front door, they welcome guests into a home.

“The first thing before choosing an outdoor planter is deciding where it will go,” says Michelle Patten. “Choose a container that suits the color and architectural style of your home, and be sure to pick one that’s size-appropriate.”

Take cues from the home and choose planters that feel like a natural extension of the home’s façade, landscaping and interiors. In the outdoors particularly, Patten stresses the importance of choosing a container that’s not too small.

“Proportion plays a role in creating impactful containers and pots,” says Patten. “For years, homeowners chose low planters and created height with tall plants. We’ve turned that upside down, placing a lot of tall pots with lower plantings. The outdoors is big; it’s important to keep that in mind and choose pieces that are large enough to be impressive, but not overwhelm the space.”

The fiddle leaf fig is the new must-have plant. We like the real ones and love the artificial options, which are much simpler to maintain and could fool even the most experienced gardener.

When choosing exterior pottery and containers, especially in the Midwest, their ability to withstand rough weather is critical. They need to hold up to hot sun and not fade, withstand summer storms and not blow over, and handle cold weather and temperature swings without cracking or breakage. The Elements has products designed specifically for outdoor use that check all these boxes.

“Frost and freezes will kill our plants; winter is hard on our outdoor containers as well,” says Patten. “While we generally don’t recommend leaving them out all winter, some containers will fare better in an Iowa winter than others. The enemy of pottery in the winter isn’t really the cold, it’s water and ice. Ensuring the pots are properly drained will help them weather a winter if the pot is outside. This also means you can enjoy them all year and even add seasonal or holiday decorations.”

The Design Team recommends placing outdoor pots and containers on a hard surface and not directly on grass and soil. This can hinder drainage as cold weather approaches. There’s no such thing as a 100% frost-proof planter, so it’s important to keep the freeze/thaw cycle in mind. If possible, the Design Team recommends bringing in unused planters for the winter.

Clay pots … move aside. Materials like resin and concrete create interesting finishes. Unique shapes, energetic colors and impressive sizes are all available at The Elements’ Storm Lake and Des Moines showrooms.

If durability is key for outdoor containers, indoors, it’s all about versatility.

“Anyone who’s been to one of The Elements’ seminars has heard Kathy talk about ‘investment pieces,’ which are larger, more substantial and likely pricier than the pots your grandmother used,” says Patten. “However, investment pieces aren’t a one-and-done. We like clients to use these for years, frequently changing them out.”

Sorbe and her designers have filled large glass containers with fruit, dominoes, sand, rocks, holiday decorations … you name it. She likes the flexibility of these pieces, using them as containers for greenery, but also for very functional uses as well.

“We love glass,” says Sorbe. “It reflects light and can be sleek and stunning. Glass also can disappear, making whatever’s inside the star of the show. And the contrast between the fine character of glass with the rougher elements of Mother Nature is brilliant.”

Indoors, the Design Team uses pots to hold tall grasses, artificial trees and even birch branches or driftwood, with the height creating scale in the space. It’s another opportunity to bring the beauty and energy of Mother Nature into living spaces.

“There’s nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” – Jane Austen

We all have something in our home that we would change if given the opportunity. Or had the time. The last months have given homeowners the time, and a lot of it. And in that time, as most spent quite a few more hours in our homes, many homeowners decided it was time for a change.

“With social distancing requirements, changes in work style and recommendations to stay home, the pandemic really put the focus on our living spaces,” says Kathy Sorbe, owner and lead designer at The Elements in Storm Lake and Ankeny. “Homeowners quickly recognized the limitations in their homes, and many decided it was time for a change.”

Sorbe says some of these projects were do-it-yourself with homeowners armed with a paintbrush and social media inspiration. But many took this opportunity to think about their home, how they use it and live in it and what they can do to improve it on a bigger scale with The Elements’ Design Team.

“The first question that most homeowners ask when undertaking a major remodel or renovation is whether it’s worth it,” says Mishelle Lalone, a designer at The Elements in Storm Lake. “Some changes can really add value to your home. Others may not add dollars to the appraisal, but these updates and upgrades can add intangible rewards like comfort and convenience. In these cases, the homeowner’s goal is simply to make their home more enjoyable.”

A pool is a perfect example. It’s not an inexpensive upgrade, and some real estate professionals even believe that it can decrease the value of your home or make it more challenging to sell. However, a pool can add hours and hours of family fun, even in the limited time Iowa’s season allows and is an additional space to entertain and relax.

Will a pool bring you a dollar-for-dollar return on your investment? No. Will you ever see wider smiles on your children and grandchildren when you tell them there will be a pool? Probably not.

Sorbe and her team help homeowners balance these two goals.

Homeowners are heading downstairs in a new way. Rather than just extra space, lower levels are great for entertaining, games and sometimes even a quiet getaway. A wet bar and game table equipped with roller chairs are adjacent to an enviable home entertainment system, making this lower level a favorite spot in this home.

According to Zillow, more Americans are interested in renovating their kitchens than any other room, which isn’t surprising to the Design Team at The Elements. Kitchen remodels are the most popular home improvement project in America. Along with bathrooms, they’re one of the priciest, so input and assistance from a design professional can save you time, money and a lot of headaches.

“It’s commonly held belief that remodeling your kitchen will increase the value of your home, matching the investment on the project,” says Lalone. “Spend $20,000 on a remodel and add $20,000+ to your asking price. While not always the case, there is an opportunity to add real value to your home with an updated kitchen.”

Sorbe says that not only do homeowners frequently add the cost of the project to the value of the home, a well-thought-out, timeless and functional kitchen can add more value than the dollars invested in the project.

Kitchens are easily the most-used room in a home, and they can tend to show wear, which can quickly make the space look dated, worn and tired.

“A timeless and simple kitchen that’s functional for the homeowners is the best option,” says Sorbe. “Lots of detail, like an elaborate backsplash, decorative painting or even intricate flooring will get busy and tiresome. We like to add details in artwork and the accessories, which keep the space fresh.”

Three large windows dramatically transform this from a basement bedroom to a lovely guest room. The bed has very few frills and notice how the large artwork makes the space seem even bigger.  

We all love our families, but whether you’re a youngster, teenager or parent, we all need our privacy, and many homeowners look to create this solitary space in the primary bedroom.

“Creating a primary bedroom suite with an attached bathroom – double sink a must! – and walk-in closets is not always as challenging as some homeowners think,” says Lalone. “Moving away from dressers and chests and toward well-designed storage in walk-in closets can free up space and create a more restful, soothing bedroom where you can relax and recharge.”

The Design Team also recommends moving away from elaborate bedding, instead choosing more simple styles in natural fabrics like cotton and linen. And just like most other spaces, the designers add energy, color and whimsy in the artwork and accessories.

Most importantly, outdoor living furniture and accessories must be durable and able to stand up to everything Mother Nature tosses out. Homeowners are expanding their usable space outdoors. Defining the space with a patio, deck or even pergola, homeowners find these outdoor living spaces used and enjoyed frequently.

An extra amount of time indoors over the past few months has many homeowners looking to maximize the amount of living space in their homes, and to do that, many are looking down.

“Lower levels offer a lot of opportunity to expand,” says Lalone, “adding valuable square footage and usable space.”

The Design Team has added extra bedrooms, theatre spaces and home offices, as well as transformed this frequently unused space into man caves, bar areas and even game rooms. The potential in this often-overlooked space is limitless.

“In many new constructions, builders are taking a very different approach with the lower level,” says Sorbe. “They are using larger windows, finer details and, probably the biggest change, raising the ceiling height in the basement to 8, 9 or even 10 feet. The bigger windows and elevated ceilings completely remove the ‘basement vibe’ from these spaces. Gone is that underground feeling that some basements can’t avoid.”

What if you don’t have 9-foot ceilings in the basement? Can you still convert it to a lively, usable space? Sorbe says yes. The Design Team can help select colors and even furniture styles that help create the illusion of a more spacious area without a major construction investment.

The Elements loves working outdoors. Spring will be here before you know it; now is the time to plan your outdoor space. There’s time for your custom outdoor furniture to arrive and be ready for the first nice day!

Homeowners aren’t just thinking about the spaces with four walls and a roof; the outdoors offers an abundance of opportunity to expand. Stamped concrete patios and composite deck materials mean these spaces have little to no maintenance, and the setting is pretty amazing.

“I know it’s still cold, and we see far more white than green now, but spring is closer than you think,” says Sorbe. “Now is the perfect time to plan for warmer weather and your outdoor room.”

Outdoor kitchens … even weatherproof televisions with surround sound … mean that relaxing and entertaining outdoors has evolved to a new level of comfort and convenience. And while many people can’t shake the memory of the “lawn chair” that was far from comfortable, Sorbe says their outdoor living furniture doesn’t sacrifice comfort for durability.

“People laugh when we tell them that some of our outdoor lines are more comfortable than the furniture they have in their living room,” says Sorbe. “We get to chuckle when their eyes get wide as they settle into some of the most comfortable seating in the market today!”

The Elements features outdoor living furniture from O.W. Lee, Lexington and Summer Classics, all carefully chosen lines that offer stylish and comfortable pieces that can hold up to even the roughest weather that an Iowa summer can serve up. Sorbe says outdoor living furnishings have to hold up, and you have to love using them.

“Planning an outdoor space can be daunting because homeowners often don’t know where to start,” says Sorbe. “We don’t just work inside … working with homeowners to envision, plan and furnish their outdoor space is one of our favorite things to do. Whether it’s an in-home or in-store consultation, we can help homeowners create the outdoor space of their dreams!”

Gold accents in the lighting and the hardware look fine and smooth so The Design Team used a textured runner on the floor and raw wood and metal accents for contrast. The white-on-white kitchen is the perfect canvas to update in this clean and timeless space.