What I am seeing in New Home Building in the Carolinas:
- Amy Nickoloff
- May 28
- 4 min read
Wallpaper Accents, Plant Walls & Builder Collaborations
I walk model homes across the Carolinas every week and wallpaper accents are one of several trends I am finding.
Adding a wallpaper accent wall is a simple yet impactful way to elevate the design of any room. It creates a focal point that draws the eye, adding depth, texture, and personality without overwhelming the space. Wallpaper allows for a wide range of patterns, colors, and styles, making it easy to reflect individual taste or complement existing décor. Additionally, it’s a cost-effective way to make a dramatic change, often requiring less time and effort than painting or renovating an entire room. Whether it's a bold geometric pattern, a nature-inspired mural, or a subtle texture, an accent wall can instantly transform a plain room into a visually engaging and stylish space.
Integrating circular or spiral patterns—like those found in mollusk shells—into a living space can bring both aesthetic and psychological benefits. This pattern follows a mathematical principle known as the logarithmic or Fibonacci spiral, which grows outward while maintaining its shape. Such a structure allows mollusks to expand their shells proportionally as they grow, without needing to change the overall form or structure. These natural forms are inherently harmonious and balanced, which can create a sense of calm and tranquility in a room. The spiral, in particular, symbolizes growth, continuity, and movement, subtly encouraging a peaceful yet dynamic atmosphere. These patterns evoke the beauty and order of nature, helping to foster a connection to the natural world, which is known to reduce stress and enhance well-being.
From a design perspective, circular motifs soften the often rigid lines and angles of furniture and architecture. They add visual interest and flow, guiding the eye through a space more organically. Whether through artwork, wallpapers, textiles, or architectural elements like curved walls or spiral staircases, incorporating these patterns can make a space feel more inviting, fluid, and thoughtfully composed. In essence, using these forms is a way to mirror the elegance and efficiency found in nature, enhancing both the look and feel of your living environment.
Appearing repeatedly in nature, the spiral and circular patterns result from simple rules governing growth—from galaxies and hurricanes to sunflower heads and pinecones. These forms allow for efficient packing, structural integrity, and even optimal exposure to sunlight or airflow. In mollusks and beyond, the circular pattern represents nature’s way of balancing form and function—creating beauty through the logic of evolution and physics.
Another trend I've noticed is unique plant walls inside and outside model homes.
Houseplants offer a wide range of benefits that go beyond simple decoration. One of the primary advantages is their ability to improve indoor air quality. Many common houseplants naturally filter harmful toxins and pollutants from the air, such as formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide, helping create a cleaner and healthier living environment. They also increase humidity through transpiration, which can be especially beneficial in dry indoor climates, easing respiratory issues and keeping skin from drying out.
Beyond physical health, houseplants have well-documented psychological benefits. Being around greenery has been shown to reduce stress, boost mood, and improve focus and productivity. They bring a touch of nature indoors, which can create a calming, grounding effect—especially valuable in urban settings or work-from-home environments.
Aesthetically, plants add color, texture, and life to a room, enhancing its visual appeal and making it feel more vibrant and welcoming. Whether it's a leafy fern, a sculptural succulent, or a trailing pathos, incorporating houseplants into a living space can greatly enrich both the environment and the overall well-being of those who live there.
Builder Collaborations
I recently spoke with a prospective customer about their experience partnering with a small local builder in their community, which ultimately helped them sell out the neighborhood quickly. What stood out to me is how much more visually appealing and desirable a community becomes when it features a variety of elevations and floor plans. Personally, I’ve always loved older neighborhoods with Craftsman-style homes—each one unique, adding character and charm to the streetscape.
During our conversation, the prospect shared that large tract builders tend to sell homes faster and at higher price points when they collaborate with smaller local builders who offer slightly higher pricing and premium home features. This strategy not only boosts the overall value of the community but also allows the local builder to participate in larger developments with high-end amenities—opportunities they might not access on their own. It’s a win-win that combines the efficiency of a national builder with the craftsmanship and individuality of a local one.
When a big national builder partners with a small local builder to develop a new home community, both parties—and the project as a whole—stand to benefit significantly from the synergy of scale and local expertise.
For the national builder, the key advantage lies in gaining access to the local builder’s deep knowledge of regional preferences, permitting processes, subcontractor relationships, and community expectations. Local builders often have established trust and rapport within the area, which can lead to smoother approval processes, better subcontractor performance, and more tailored home designs that reflect the character and needs of the local market. This collaboration helps the national builder enter a new market with more agility and local credibility.
For the local builder, partnering with a national company offers access to greater financial resources, operational systems, and economies of scale—such as bulk purchasing power and standardized construction processes. These advantages can reduce costs, speed up timelines, and allow for larger-scale development than a small builder could typically manage alone. Additionally, the partnership can elevate the local builder’s reputation, open the door to more complex projects, and provide opportunities for long-term growth.
Together, this kind of partnership blends the efficiency and reach of a national company with the agility, insight, and relationships of a local expert—leading to a more successful and community-minded development.
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