Jennifer Jinnette

When you're looking for the perfect community to call home, what are the main things you're looking for? Lot size? Amenities? Curb appeal? For me, when I was moving to Virginia from North Carolina in 2016, I was looking for the perfect community for my only child to grow up in. Amenities, space to play, new friends, beautiful homes, all while trying to get the best bang for my buck. I found all of that and more in Brickshire. Nestled along I-64 in between Richmond and Williamsburg in New Kent County, Brickshire features gorgeously constructed homes on over 1200 acres of rolling hills and woods. When shopping for a new home 5 years ago, I visited communities from Richmond to Williamsburg. None gave me the sense of home like Brickshire did. From driving past the entrance sign perfectly landscaped all year long, passing by the amenities including swimming pool, tennis courts, fitness center and jogging trails, and seeing beautiful homes of various architecture and design, I knew from the moment that I first visited Brickshire that I wanted to call it home. We enjoyed a fun last few weeks of summer when we moved here, and while I was happy with our choice, our first Halloween really solidified that this was the perfect place for us. The kids aren't the only ones who get into the Halloween fun! From "You've Been Booed" secret front porch drops leading up to the day, to adult only parties at the owners clubhouse, Brickshire residents love to celebrate! But we don't stop at Halloween! Christmas light competitions, Hanukkah parties, New Years Eve celebrations, socially distanced COVID Easter Parades, the list goes on and on! Santa even makes a special stop at the clubhouse on a firetruck to greet all of the neighborhood kids (and some of the big kids too). Don't forget about physical fitness! One of the best things about living in Brickshire is how active you can be! From a 24 hour fitness center, to miles of walking trails, Brickshire is the perfect place to walk, jog, bike, blade, play basketball, soccer, kickball, tennis, pickleball, golf... really the list goes on and on. We even have an annual 5K that benefits New Kent County Schools! Not only has living in Brickshire been amazing, but choosing a location that is in between two wonderful cities has opened up opportunities for work, play, and recreation! You're only 30 minutes from downtown Richmond and Williamsburg! Explore the sites of the Historic Triangle; visit Jamestown, Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens or Water Country USA to your east. Or, go west and enjoy the magnificent food, drinks, and outdoor activities that surround the James River in downtown Richmond. Want to stay closer to home? New Kent County is home to 4 wineries, a brewery, golf courses galore (including our very own Brickshire Golf Course), Colonial Downs/Rosies, and plenty of restaurants! We are so excited to be able to bring our collection of gorgeous homes and 20+ years of experience to Brickshire. With several homes about to close and more under construction, our homes in Brickshire are quickly becoming a favorite. We have 7 homesites currently available to choose your floorplan and build on. Click here to view our floorplans and learn more about Shurm Homes in Brickshire! Need something quicker? Our Potomac and Cordova will be ready late 2021! Ready to learn more? Contact us at sales@shurmhomes.com or call us at 804-552-3858.

It's one of our favorite times of the year, the MAME awards from the Home Building Association of Richmond! While things looked a little different this year due to the current social distancing restrictions, we were able to have a small "Speakeasy Themed" gathering in our office to celebrate the Sales & Marketing achievements of 2020, and look forward at the rest of 2021 and beyond! Congratulations to all of the nights winners, including our very own team in Dispatch Station who were awarded a team sales award for 2020! We look forward to what we hope will be an in-person event next year, and thank all of those who have built with us for trusting us to build your home for you! There have certainly been many challenges over the past year, but we continue to work diligently to handcraft the best homes for you.

Whether you are gathering virtually, or having a small dinner in person, Thanksgiving tends to be a time where our kitchens take center stage. Is your kitchen meeting expectations, or could it use an overhaul? We are sharing some of our favorite features in a kitchen to help you prepare a delicious meal, no matter how small the size may be this year. 1. The Double Oven The turkey (or tofurkey in this girls case), the green bean casserole, the pumpkin pie, the rolls... how do you fit it all in one oven and it all be HOT when it's time to eat? We love the functionality of a double oven to make multi-tasking a breeze! This Ellwood kitchen combines mixed metals and classic colors to create a timeless space! 2. The Pot Filler Voted "Best Feature" in our 2020 Parade of Homes entry, the potfiller is a kitchen feature that is both functional AND luxurious. It's luxurious in the fact that you don't have to have one. Anything you can do with a potfiller you can do with the kitchen sink, but it's so much cooler to do it with a potfiller! From water for the mac n cheese and deviled eggs, to filling a kettle for tea after dinner, the potfiller helps make the home chef's life easier! 3. Butler's and Walk-In Pantry A place for everything, and everything in it's place. That's easy to do when you have the convenience of a walk in pantry directly across from a Butler's Pantry. If you are entertaining, the Butler's Pantry helps you be the hostess (or host) with the mostest! The built in wine fridge helps keep those extra bottles of wine chilled for you to grab at a moments notice, and the privacy of the pantry allows you to quickly stash things you don't want your guests to see, in person or virtually! 4. Outdoor seating off of the kitchen Outdoor spaces became an extension of our dining spaces long before Covid-19 hit. What better way to gather responsibly than in the fresh air? With spaces including decks, screened porches, and paver patios, your options for outdoor living are versatile and customizable. Grab a blanket or an outdoor heater, and enjoy the tranquility of mother nature while feasting over your Thanksgiving dinner. Interested in learning more about our communities, or building on your own land? Drop your information below, or visit our website!

If you've ever driven through the Town of Ashland, VA, you may chuckle to yourself when you see the sign that says "Ashland, the Center of the Universe." How can this quaint town right off of I-95, with a population of 7,200 be the Center of the Universe? Just a quick drive to both Richmond VA and Washington DC, Ashland is centrally located along the East Coast, with easy driving or train access to many major US cities. Richmond International Airport and the airports near DC offer convenient access to flights around the world (when we can travel again, or course!). Just West of Ashland, down Patrick Henry Road, you'll find Riva Ridge, a pristine community of 8 5-8 acre homesites, with sprawling landscapes, gardens, and a place where you can finally bring your horses home. We are still a few months out from sales starting and our model home construction, but we are excited to share some of the development activity going on! Roads are being cleared and will soon be in! We are excited for construction to begin and to release more information as we get closer to our preview event. The beautiful colors of the autumn leaves perfectly frame the development activity, and with a little imagination you can envision what this may look like next fall, when residents of the 2 and 4 legged variety will call Riva Ridge home. If you are interested in finding out more about Riva Ridge, and how we can handcraft your dream home on 5-8 acres near the "Center of the Universe," sign up for our Riva Ridge VIP list at www.shurmhomes.com/riva-ridge.

It's been a busy 4 months in Pennwood Estates! We are sold out of Section 1, with the exception of 2 basement opportunities. As we prepare for the VIP Preview Event for the release of Section 2, join Melanie and Jennifer as we view the progress of Section 1. If you have not yet signed up for the Section 2 VIP list, be sure to do so today at www.shurmhomes.com/pennwood. Our VIP's will be the first to learn about lot releases, 2 new floorplans, and pricing, AND have the first opportunity to sign up for contract appointments for our new section. With record low interest rates and limited lots being released, you won't want to wait for this one!