Sabal News

This is the place! To find out about all things Sabal, and everything going on in our community. You won't just find information about us and the homes we build, you'll get the inside scoop on events and activities here in the Charleston Area.

Have a Question? Call Sabal Homes Daytime, Nighttime, Saturday, too!

May 16

Charleston new homesIt’s not uncommon for first-time homebuyers to have a lot of questions. Even second- and third-time homebuyers still have questions, as there are a lot of steps involved in building a home or purchasing an existing home.

As part of Sabal Homes’ commitment to quality homes and personal customer service, we’ve hired an online sales counselor, Meghan Lammers. We created this new position so customers can reach a Sabal Homes representative pretty much 24/7.

As your free online sales counselor for all Sabal communities, Meghan will be able to provide you with:

• Instant access to the latest incentives and exclusive offers.
• Information regarding available inventory homes.
• Updates about upcoming events in your favorite communities.
• Answers to your questions about amenities, plans, pricing, custom features, schools, taxes and more.
• Help in determining your purchasing power.
• Help with setting an appointment to see your favorite homes in your favorite communities.
• And more…

Sabal Homes prides itself on providing our clients with personal customer service during the home buying process. Give Meghan a call today at 843-327-5950 or email her at mlammers@sabalhomes.net. Welcome Meghan!

 

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The Man Cave

May 9

Charleston new homesPretty much every man dreams of having a “Man Cave.” We haven’t met a guy who doesn’t talk about having one someday and what it would look like.

There’s a fun website Mancavesite.org that celebrates said man cave. It defines this room as a “dedicated area of a house, such as a basement, workshop or garage, where a man can be alone and socialize with his friends.” The site invites “cave dwellers” to send in photos of their caves to share with others. It also offers DIY tips and tricks and even selects a “Man Cave of the Year.”

Last year’s Man Cave of the Year went to a guy who turned a room in his house into a mini fire station. He literally cut the front off of an old fire truck, shined it up, turned it into a bar and used it as the centerpiece in his man room. He set up the rest of the room to look like an authentic firehouse, including lockers, fire hoses and more. It’s pretty amazing. Check out the slideshow here.

There’s even an entire television show dedicated to the man cave. In the DIY Network show, aptly called Man Caves, which airs on Fridays at 9 p.m., the hosts create a man cave for one lucky guy, as well as offers DIY tips, ideas and instruction. They probably go above and beyond what the Average Joe might do in his cave, but it’s still pretty cool and inspiring.

Have you incorporated a man room/man cave into your new home? Send Sabal Homes photos!

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Feeling Artsy? Lots Going On This Weekend to Inspire You

May 2

Charleston new homesYear-round, the Lowcountry hosts a lot of festivals and events in celebration of art and this weekend is no exception. If you’re looking for inspiration for design for your Sabal Home or are just looking to get out and about, there are some great activities coming up.

The French Quarter Art Walk is Friday May 4 from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Charleston. The French Quarter Gallery Association holds four art walks a year, which are held the first Friday in March, May, October and December. During the event, more than 30 galleries stay open late, serve refreshments and have artists on hand to talk to those strolling in and out.

The North Charleston Arts Fest also begins May 4 and runs through May 12. Held at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, this nine-day event highlights national, regional and of course local artists and performers. The festival celebrates all of the arts and includes dance, theater, music, film media and visual and literary arts.

The Southeast Tourism Society has recognized the Art Fest as a Top 20 Event. The “Main Event” is this Saturday and Sunday at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center. It offers free admission and parking for more than 40 performances on four themed stages: Cultural Heritage, Youth Entertainment, Bands and General Audience. There are also children’s activities, a food court and more.

During the week, there are more than 50 free and ticketed events at various locations around North Charleston. You don’t want to miss the National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, or the free Grand Finale at North Charleston Riverfront Park featuring performances, children’s activities and fireworks over the Cooper River.

What are you doing this weekend? Let us know!

 

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Window Boxes in the Lowcountry: Lush Foliage and Beautiful Blooms

Apr 25

Charleston new homesIt’s springtime and in the Charleston area, that means plenty of beautiful flowers are in bloom. An easy way to add a bit of color to your own Sabal home is by adding some window boxes. They’re easy to create and you can grow just about anything in them from herbs to flowers.

The boxes themselves come in all shapes, sizes and materials. Windowbox.com says the boxes once were only available in terra cotta, but are now made from just about any material, including wire, wood, plastic, metal, stone and concrete.

EHow.com says window boxes go way back to ancient Rome, when the planters were seen among the homes of those who did not have enough room for a large garden. They primarily contained plants needed for food, medicine or rituals. Wealthier Romans eventually began to use the window planters for decoration of their balconies and terraces in imitation of the ancient Egyptians.

Window boxes do require a high level of attention (and water) because they dry out quickly. So, if you’re worried about hanging out the window for watering and maintenance, the good news is you can also buy brackets to hang them on your deck and porch railings.

What plants should you choose for your window box? Garden.org says to mix plants of varying heights. Choose spiky upright plants for the center, flowering plants for the sides and trailing or cascading plants for the edges.

You also should choose a color scheme or color combinations that complement your home or landscape. Red, yellow, orange, bright pink and white look good from a distance, while blue, purple, and dark green show best at close range.

Let’s see who has the best window boxes among Sabal Homes. Share your pictures!

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Cooking With Color, Kitchen Design for Your Charleston Home

Apr 16

Summerville new homesWhen you have a gathering, where do most people end up? The kitchen of your new Charleston home! This room, no matter how big or small, seems to be the place where food and people come together. That’s why some homeowners love a kitchen that involves an open floor plan and why some homeowners tend to take “risks” when decorating the kitchen.

HGTV designers say the kitchen is a great place for mixing and matching colors because most appliances are neutral in color, so adding color creates energy. What’s new for 2012? Pantone, the color experts, say the current colors include shades of red orange, berry, blue and green, as well as neutrals.

Once you’ve chosen a color, how do you use it? One designer suggests that if you choose to use wood cabinets to use a light, cool color on the wall. If you use white cabinets, try a warmer color on the wall. This is called the “wood-wall rule of thumb.” Another designer says if you’re going to put color in the kitchen to keep the walls and cabinets neutral and to use color on the countertops or in fabric (seat cushions, placemats, napkins, etc.).

We wanted to know if any colors make you feel hungry? Apparently there are! Warm colors like apricot, yellows and reds are comforting and appetite stimulators. It makes sense, then, that these colors have long been popular choices for kitchens!

Most designers agree: The bottom line is, you should choose colors, textures and surfaces that you like and that fit your personality and needs. What’s the dominant color in your kitchen? Would you like to change it?

 

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Housetipper offer extended!

Apr 12

Due to its success, we have decided to extended our offer on Housetipper.com to last until April 30, 2012!

The basics- You pay $120. You get $4,000 worth of upgrades to your new Sabal Home!

Pretty sweet deal, don’t you think?

For all details visit www.Housetipper.com/Charleston

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Decorating Your Front Porch

Apr 11

Summerville new homesWhether you have a Sabal home with one porch or two, now is the perfect time to get your outdoor living space ready for the year. The following are a few basic items that will make your porch (or porches) a beautiful and welcoming place to relax or entertain.

 Furniture

There are so many options for outdoor furniture. You can keep it super simple with a couple of chairs or make your porch look like a true outdoor living room, complete with rugs, sofas and throw pillows.

Either way, you can’t go wrong with a few rocking chairs, the quintessential seating for a Southern front porch. Need a visual? Just take a look at the setup on the new model home in Foxbank Plantation! You could also add a table for a convenient place to set a drink, a book or even place a small lamp. You also might consider adding a café table and chairs for outdoor dining.

If you plan to “go for it,” consider buying a set that includes a sofa and a couple of arm chairs in wood or wicker. Or … an outdoor daybed would be the perfect place to relax on a lazy Saturday afternoon!

Outdoor furniture can be simple or elaborate, based on your tastes and budget. And they ‘re made in a variety of weather resistant materials that require no or very little upkeep. Even fabrics are made to be able to withstand year-round exposure to the weather and some can be cleaned with the simple spray of a hose.

Lighting

In addition to the lighting that comes standard on your porch, you may wish to add a few tables and lamps for additional or softer lighting. Evenings can be perfectly lit with a few strands of party lights.

Plants and Planters

Terra cotta, wooden and even foam containers (that look like terra cotta) come in all shapes and sizes to fit your space and budget. You can keep it simple with just greenery, or go for seasonal pop of color. Southern Living says that when you select plants to fill the planters, consider the maintenance and amount of light the plants require.

Whether you keep it simple or create a true outdoor living space, don’t forget to take a picture of your front porch and send it to Sabal Homes!

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Congrats to Kimberly Fussell!

Apr 11

Congrats to Kimberly Fussell of Charleston for winning a brand new iPad from Sabal Homes at the “Big ‘Ol Egg Drop” at Foxbank Plantation this past Easter Sunday!

Kimberly Fussell, lucky winner of a new iPad from Sabal Homes

Meghan, one of our community sales assistants, was up early early Sunday morning to direct interested homebuyers to our model home in Foxbank Plantation. We asked all interested to register with sales agent Debra to win an iPad- and Kimberly was the lucky winner.

Thanks to all who came out!

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April is “Eat Local” Month in Charleston

Apr 2

Charleston new homesDuring the past few years, there has been a big push to “buy local.” That applies to everything you purchase from food to gifts. Sometimes it’s not possible, but we’re pretty resourceful here in the Lowcountry and you can buy almost everything you need from local, independent businesses and farmers.

Here at Sabal Homes, a locally owned and operated builder, are big supporters of this movement and plan to enjoy “Eat Local” month during the month of April.

According to Lowcountry Local First, who is promoting the first annual Eat Local month, “Eat Local is our sustainable agricultural initiative designed to grow and support local food systems by connecting local farms, produces and apprentices to the local restaurants.” By doing so, the group hopes to get people to good food and ensure agriculture continues to be an integral part of the Lowcountry economy and our way of life.

How can you Eat Local? You can join the Eat Local Challenge, which involves buying at least 10% more local food than you normally do or dining at restaurants that use locally produced food. You also can pledge to can or put up seasonal produce, just like our grandparents used to do!

Lowcountry Local First has planned several educational events to help you learn more. They also have lots of resources online, including a list of farmers’ markets and CSAs in our area, and a list of restaurants that use locally produced food.

Buying local keeps money in the Lowcountry. Here’s an interesting statistic: For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 goes back into our community versus only $14 from a national chain store.

We’ll be looking for you at restaurants around town and at local farmers’ markets during Eat Local month!

To find out more about Eat Local and Buy Local, please visit http://lowcountrylocalfirst.org/.

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Put a Lowcountry Twist on Your Easter Basket This Year

Mar 28

Charleston new homesRemember how much fun it was to get an Easter basket when you were a kid? Well, here at Sabal Homes we were thinking it would be fun to put a little bit of a twist on Easter baskets this year. Instead of the typical Easter basket, why not use a sweetgrass basket made right here in the Lowcountry?

If you’re not familiar with sweetgrass baskets, they are beautiful handmade baskets made using a special long grass that grows behind sand dunes near the ocean and along the boundaries between marshland and forest. The long-stemmed plant, named for its sweet scent, is typically harvested in spring and summer and then set out to dry.

Basket weaving is a tradition that is handed down through generations and it truly is an art form. Weavers not only use sweetgrass, they also often use longleaf pine needles to add a variation of color. They also use strips of Palmetto leaves to stitch the coils together.

There are many places to purchase a sweetgrass basket in the Charleston area, including in the historic and recently renovated City Market in downtown Charleston. There also is a Sweetgrass Basket Corridor on Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant.

When looking for sweetgrass baskets, you’ll notice that some will have a greenish color. That simply means it was made with recently harvested grass. All of the baskets will settle into a light brown color as they naturally age.

And once Easter is over — and the marshmallow Peeps and chocolate bunnies are gone — you can use your sweetgrass basket as a stand-alone piece of art, or in everyday life. Enjoy!

 

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