As National Gardening Day approaches, many people are excited to get out in their gardens and start planting some new seeds. For those who enjoy gardening, having a larger lot to work with can be especially rewarding – and if you're lucky enough to have a 6 to 8-acre homesite in Riva Ridge, you have all the space you need to cultivate an incredible garden. Here are some tips for enjoying gardening on a larger homesite: Plan ahead: With so much space to work with, you'll want to take some time to plan out your garden before you start digging. Think about what types of plants and flowers you want to grow, how much sun and shade each area of your lot gets, and how much time and effort you're willing to put into your garden. Divide into zones: One way to make the most of a larger lot is to divide it into smaller zones. You can create different areas for flowers, vegetables, fruit trees, and even a seating area where you can relax and enjoy your surroundings. Experiment with different plants: With so much space to work with, you can experiment with different types of plants and flowers to see which ones thrive in your particular environment. Try growing everything from herbs and vegetables to exotic flowers and trees. Add some visual interest: To make your garden truly stand out, consider adding some visual interest with features like a water feature, a pergola, or even some decorative fencing. These additions can help to add some character and personality to your garden and make it a more enjoyable space to spend time in. Get some help: Finally, don't be afraid to get some help with your garden. Whether you hire a professional landscaper or enlist the help of friends and family, having some extra hands can make all the difference when it comes to maintaining a beautiful garden on a larger lot. So, as National Gardening Day approaches, take some time to enjoy your larger homesite in Riva Ridge and start planning out the garden of your dreams. With a little effort and some creativity, you can create a beautiful and rewarding space that you'll enjoy for years to come.

There are many advantages to building your new home, but the one that usually comes to mind for most people, is the ability to make your vision come to life! When you buy a resale, there is often a laundry list of projects you would like to do, or things you would like to change about your new home. This does beg the question— How “turnkey” is your “turnkey” house? When you go through the design process for a new build, you have the ability to make it TRULY move-in-ready. Nothing is worse than realizing that after weeks of packing, and then unpacking, moving around, and organizing, that your place still doesn’t feel complete. You hate the wall color, you are still annoyed that there is no backsplash, there is already a stain on the carpet that you promised yourself you would replace. What happens in most cases? These projects get pushed to the wayside, until you realize 8 months (or 8 years) later that you never made that house feel like the home you wanted. You will look up and see the pain samples still taped to the wall, the photos of your favorite backsplash options became nothing more than saved photos on your Pinterest board, and the rug that you chose to match your new LVP flooring is sitting in the closet—still in its original wrapping. The excitement of looking at new homes can give us a sense of confidence that we can make all of the little things we don’t like about a home, work. We suddenly imagine ourselves putting on a hardhat, and making someone else’s old home, feel like our new home. BUT, this is NOT an HGTV special, it’s your HOME. So why turn something old into something new, when you can turn something new into something that’s yours?! This is where Shurm Homes puts on our superhero cape and shows you a new way to imagine your space: from the ground up (LITERALLY!) The magic really takes shape in our design studio! At your design appointment, you will choose all of the details of your home, from your siding color to your door-style. We will make sure that when you close, moving in your belongings is the only project you need to do! The best part is… our design studio is IN HOUSE! You may be wondering what the advantages are of having an in-house design studio. Being able to have a private design appointment, where you get to see, touch, and compare all of the available selections makes all of the difference in the world. Everything from siding, faucets, foundation, granite, cabinets and more are available to view in person before you commit to your specific selections. Want to see our design studio in person? We would love to have you come out and view our design studio and get excited about the prospect of designing your new home! We have design studio open for preview appointments every few weeks on a rotating schedule! This means that if you are wanting to know what Shurm Homes has to offer, you can come by and see for yourself! Because it is open only by appointment, make sure you reach out to our Online Sales Consultant to find out the dates and get on the schedule! You can reach her at dmorton@shurmhomes.com We look forward to having you visit us in the design studio!

The holidays are a time for family, friends, and food! For some families, this is the only time of the year that they will have all of their family under one roof, so it is safe to say that it is one of the most important times of the year for many households. However, along with the cheer and excitement that accompany the grand events, stress can pry its way into the days and weeks prior to hosting. As a family-owned company, we care about the gathering aspect of the holiday season here at Shurm Homes. We want to make sure that your energy and focus can be on your time with loved ones, rather than worrying about preparation. We have compiled a list of suggestions and reminders to help you ease into the holidays! Organize the Food: How much pie is too much pie? You may find out if you skip this step! If your guests are all bringing dishes to the meal, you may want to set up a system for assigning dishes. You, as the host, can either do this on your own by reaching out to guests individually… OR you can use a program such as Sign-Up Genius. You can put all of the food items into the program and send a link to your guests. This serves two great purposes: 1.) It allows you to make sure all food items will be present at the meal 2.) It allows your guests to see what food items have already been chosen by someone else, so you don’t have too many of the same items. Don’t forget that some of your guests may have dietary restrictions! Ask this in advance so that you are inclusive as possible—No one wants to only eat salad at a holiday feast! Clean That Kitchen: One thing that throws a lot of people off when it comes to hosting a big family meal, is just how jam-packed your kitchen will be with people and food. When you clean and organize your kitchen in preparation for a large gathering, make sure that you are cleaning every surface with a disinfectant. Every inch of your available counter and island space may be used to hold food. Make sure your normal counter décor, and unnecessary appliances are off of your counter and put away in a space that will not disrupt your meal preparation. Make sure that all cookware that may be needed is cleaned, and in a convenient location. Wash and dry all of your dishes prior to hosting—Your sink will be full by the end of the day, so create the space now! Make sure that you sweep and mop a day prior, so that your floor is safe and not slippery! Make a Plan for the Food: Cooking takes time. Make sure that you make the most of your kitchen appliances by planning the order of dishes and cooking! If you built a home with us, you may remember speaking to our Designer about appliance packages. Did you take advantage of our convection microwaves, or our double ovens? Now is the time to put them to use! Prior to beginning the cooking process, make sure that you have a plan of action for which ovens and microwaves to use, and when. A double-oven can allow you to cook a large item like turkey or ham all day, while simultaneously cooking the sides. A convection microwave, paired with the double oven, can be a great help in warming and heating the food as you set the table! Cooking is already a time-consuming and attention-consuming process without the added element of scheduling the food preparation as you go. Some items like crock-pot recipes, turkey and ham will likely take longer to cook. Make sure that you are well-aware of how much time each item you need to make will take. Get ahead of the undue stress by mapping out your cooking ahead of time. Create Your Gathering Space: Make sure you have your space set aside for your guests to eat. Whether you already have a table for dinner, or you need to set one up, you don’t want to make decisions about your gathering-place at the last minute. Due to high-demand, you may find it difficult to find foldable chairs and tables close to the holiday season. Everyone who forgot to plan beforehand will be scorching the earth to find those last available sets of tables and chairs. Don’t leave any room for worry—plan your space ahead of time! Create the Boundaries That You Need: The last piece of advice that we have may seem obvious, but it is extremely important, and isn’t always easy. You are inviting your friends and family into YOUR space. A home is a very special place, and your family and friends should respect that. Since you are hosting, if you need your friends and family to wait until a certain time to come over, or safely leave at a certain time, make sure to create a clear boundary ahead of time so that everyone knows the plan. You want to have the best time possible, and that can not be done if you feel uncomfortable. It is best, and easiest to set the expectation early. So, whether your holiday is going to happen in a small window, or is going to run from sun-up to sun-down, make sure you let everyone know the plan! If you find yourself hoping to change something about your space to enhance your hosting experience next year, now is the perfect time to start talking to someone at Shurm Homes about building in time for next years’ celebration! Whether you host this year and want more counterspace, better appliances, or more outdoor space, OR if you are a guest with aspirations of having a place to host at next year, Shurm Homes can help you create the space of your dreams! From everyone here at Shurm Homes, have a happy, healthy and safe Holiday Season!

The timeless beauty and incomparable quality of Shurm Homes is evident in our models. Take a look! Dispatch Station Model 1491 Dispatch Station Rd, Quinton, VA 23141 Private wooded homesites Minutes from Quinton Community Park Small town charm with modern amenities Riva Ridge Model 13350 Riva Ct, Ashland, VA 23005 Quiet and peaceful surroundings Large homesites for horses to roam freely Close to everything you want and need Explore new home communities and quick move-in homes throughout the Richmond area from the $300’s Shurm Homes, where passion comes to life.

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!