December is “brrringing” a sleighful of holiday activities to the Balmoral Clubhouse, 15808 Crystal Terrace Drive, 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15

Santa will be on hand to greet children and hear their fondest wishes for presents under the tree. There will be a giant snow globe and bounce house, and you can take holiday photos with a stuffed reindeer. Hot cocoa will be available, and event-goers can find sweet treats at the funnel cake stand. A food truck also will be offering items for purchase. Holiday games will keep the fun going as people can tour the Balmoral Amenity Village, featuring Texas’ first Crystal Clear Lagoon. Model homes in the community also will be available for touring.

The event is open to the public and tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children and can be purchased at the door. Balmoral residents get preferential advantages, with access at 1 p.m., a free meal ticket and no fee.

Purchase Tickets Online

While we still have nearly a whole month before Christmas, we all know that preparations for the big day have to start early. How many of us put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving? How many of us put up the lights that following weekend? And who else has decorating done by the first week of December? For a lot of us, Christmas starts early, but for some of us, the holidays are a process. Let us help with that process with some great Christmas décor trends and ideas that are sure to inspire!

This year, white is in! It sounds simple but white snow and faux furs complement a home’s white walls and make for a wonderful winter wonderland! But no white décor is complete without bold pops of red — like mistletoe, cranberries, red plaid and pomegranates. Fruit and berries add a rustic yet elegant touch to your home’s modern décor.

Red fruits aren’t the only options this holiday season. Go natural with a modern twist on holiday décor. Interior designer Tobi Fairley suggests, “Use fresh evergreen boughs, garlands and wreaths combined with in-season citruses like lemons, tangerines, and oranges.” This green and citrus-centered color palette is sure to impress — all the while giving your home a beautiful natural atmosphere and a wonderful citrus scent!

String lighting has come a long way over the past couple of years. A trip to your local craft store can yield some incredible finds. Most decorative wire and micro lighting come accompanied with a battery pack, which opens the door to countless new lighting opportunities. From the fireplace mantle to the kitchen centerpiece, add a little sparkle to any area of the home.

Gold is always in when it comes to holiday décor and as it turns out, gilding is much easier and more fun than you’d expect. Take any fruit, pinecone, Christmas ornament, etc., and give it a golden touch with this fun and easy tutorial. Let the gold pieces accent your main colors (perhaps the white and red) for an elegant tone throughout the home.

How will you make your home the perfect home for the holidays? The only thing that could be more perfect is a new home in Balmoral.

 

Family traditions are what we remember most about the holidays, and it’s never too late to start a new tradition. Start making holiday memories by adding place settings to your holiday routine. Gather the family and get creative — or even crafty — with these fun and simple table settings that can really add a touch of elegance to your next big holiday meal. Give the kiddos something to be proud of while they impress your guests with a fun and festive tablescape this holiday season.

The first setting in our list only calls for five items and can be put together fairly quickly. You’ll need satsuma mandarins (or any other small citrus fruit – preferably with the stem still attached), a handful of star anise, candles/candleholders of your choice, white gift tags, small alphabet stamps and ink. Finding the citrus fruits can be a fun trip in and of itself. Whether you find them at a local market or a farmer’s market, these little guys are the staple of this bright autumn setting. You can stamp on holiday phrases such as “thankful” or “give thanks” or use them as nameplates for the family to give it that personal touch. The star anise is not only delicately beautiful, but it also smells amazing and reminds you of all the delicious spiced food we enjoy in the fall.

Kraft paper plays a huge role in many of the modern table setting trends of 2018. This timeless, inexpensive and versatile material allows for bounds of creativity, and here are just a couple of ideas for how to use it this holiday season. Using a white paint marker, you can create a personalized “place card/placemat” right on your kraft paper runner. Round out the look with a marble palette for dishware and sea green- to celadon-toned centerpieces. You can add to this idea or leave it out for a fun and simple way to spruce up the runner. You can use edge punchers (found at any local craft shop) to give the runner a delicate yet elegant touch. Ribbons make for great napkin ties and can be adorned with a plethora of different leaves and berries and can be tied together with a name card for this fun family project. Lastly, kraft paper can be laid out on children’s tables with mini terracotta pots filled with crayons for a fun dinnertime activity.

Lastly, in true Balmoral fashion, you can utilize a stunning sky blue- and sand-based palette for a coastal holiday setting! Small baby boo white pumpkins (yes, that’s really what they’re called) with name tags tied with raffia make pretty little place cards — perfect for this elegant seaside motif.

Whether this is your first year in Balmoral or you’ve been calling Balmoral home for a while now, we know the holidays will always be unforgettable when you’re home.

As our gorgeous crystal lagoon amenity nears completion, Westin Homes would like to introduce you to something equally stunning — the master bath at 12122 Allington Cove Lane.

Don’t get us wrong, the rest of the home is gorgeous too, but we are in love with this bath! The jetted tub is perfect for soothing aching muscles. Built for two, the bath also features a walk-in shower with a marble shower seat. Dual vanities make the morning routine a snap. Stone countertops, picture-frame mirrors and custom tile surrounds add an elegant touch. Another thing we love is that there is a closet for him and one for her so both of you can stay organized.

More highlights:

• Upgraded stone-and-brick elevation
• Dramatic two-story foyer and sweeping staircase
• Elegant tile floors and plush carpeting throughout home
• Sophisticated architectural features including 8-foot arched doorways, art niches, a triple-tiered rotunda and coffered ceilings
• Formal living room tucked behind French doors can flex into a study or playroom
• Beautiful formal dining room
• Signature floor-to-ceiling bay windows in family room accents fireplace and cathedral ceiling
• Dream kitchen boasts granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, oversized cabinets, island with counter seating, walk-in pantry and custom backsplash
• Casual dining area opens to covered patio
• Guest suite with full bath
• Master bedroom highlighted by coffered ceiling, bay window and seating area
• Game and media rooms meet your entertainment needs
• Three-car garage

This extraordinary 3,533-square-foot home is priced from the $420s. Come see it before it is gone.

Why Vacation When You Can Staycation?

Why go on vacation when you can enjoy a staycation all year round at Balmoral? Spend all weekend enjoying white sand beaches, paddle boarding or just splashing around. When you are done, take a nap on one of our hammocks or a dip in the infinity pool. It’s fun for all, and it’s all yours when you make the move to Balmoral.

 

Balmoral’s crystal clear lagoon is making waves not only in Texas (we are going to have the first lagoon in the state!) but also across the nation.

Builder magazine, a national publication covering the residential real estate industry, has been watching the entry of Crystal Lagoons amenities into master-planned communities. It has been tracking the progress of the Balmoral crystal clear lagoon, running an article on it in the latest print publication and — most recently — posting an update on the Fill the Lagoon event held recently in the community.

We’re excited, too! Filling the lagoon is the last construction phase for the lagoon, which will open with the 8-acre Amenity Village later this summer.

Read the full Builder magazine article here.