When you step inside a newly built Parade of Homes house, don’t overlook the details.

That’s where the work of Montgomery’s designers shines. You’ll find their signature approach from top to bottom and throughout multiple homes on this year’s Spring Parade of Homes, which runs May 13-14 and May 20-21 and is hosted by the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire.

“Most of the time, we’ve worked on many homes on the Parade event, and this is no exception,” designer Paula Kruetzfeldt said. “Often it begins as working with a builder on a spec home that then progresses to having the house shown on the parade.”

Creation Builders

When a builder builds a home “on spec,” it means there is no immediate buyer. So, Montgomery’s designers are integral in making design selections that are appealing to a wide range of owners.

“When we’re selecting finishes, we’re keeping things neutral with little pops of color, so if by chance the home owner prefers something different it’s easy to switch out,” Kruetzfeldt said. “We keep the home neutral but jazz it up with materials, metals or lighting for more of a wow factor.”

1J Homes

Montgomery’s designers help select everything from flooring to wall coverings, lighting and kitchen finishes.

“We give our contractors the absolute best products possible, while fitting within what their budget allows,” flooring manager Olivia Niggeling said.

1J Homes

“All the products in these homes are extremely high-performing but meet the budget of a home owner who would be shopping within that price point.”

In a Parade of Homes house, visitors are going to see the latest and most current materials on the market.

1J Homes

“We’re continually going to trade shows and bringing back new products to builders before they even get to the store at times, so they will be showing the newest products in their homes,” Kruetzfeldt said.

What does that look like this year? Niggeling is excited for visitors to see the latest in luxury vinyl plank flooring, “which gives a really updated, enhanced look while still having the durability and performance that owners need and expect,” she said.

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“We’ll be showing some natural bevel products that are new to the market. I also suggest owners ask about materials. Some luxury vinyl can look like real wood or ceramic, so it’s important to understand what you’re seeing and what your expectations for the product could be.”

Kruetzfeldt recently returned from a lighting market and found “white is really trending in fixtures right now,” she said. “There’s a lot of bigger, bold and gold fixtures. And now because of LED light bulbs and the fact they don’t get hot, we’re seeing a lot of alabaster glass coming back and a lot of milky white. Mixed with gold it’s very classy looking, almost like turning light fixtures into beautiful art.”

Creation Builders

Many Parade visitors are looking to make a statement in their home, “so it’s fun to show how lighting can do that,” she said.

In this Parade home by Creation Builders, the Montgomery’s designers assisted with everything from paint colors to the fireplace surround, the tile back splash, lighting, mirrors and carpet. Plus, they staged the entire home with furniture and accessories.

Creation Builders

“We actually started with a new stain color, which is a unique honey grey color, and we built off of that, paired with some black and white to keep it classic, and had that warm wood color bring it all together,” Kruetzfeldt said.

“Many people don’t realize we work with hardware too, for kitchen cabinets, and we can coordinate that with light fixtures and other design elements in the house. So it really can be almost a complete stop for contractors or home owners to design the entire house. And when we stage with furniture and accessories for the Parade, it’s not uncommon for owners to ultimately go with many of those selections permanently.”

For a look at all four homes Montgomery’s supported on this year’s Parade, click here.

Expert advice

If you’re heading to the Spring Parade of Homes, the Montgomery’s designers have plenty of tips.

Touch and feel

The Parade is your chance to go beyond carpet samples and tiny pieces of tile, so make the most of it.

“Feel it, touch it, stand on it, all the things you can’t get from small samples,” Niggeling said. “Walk on the carpet, on the tile, on the laminate vinyl plank. You might have it in your head what you think something is like, but seeing it in application is a whole different ballgame.”

Ask away

Often, a Montgomery’s designer will be in the Parade home while you browse.

“We love when you ask questions about the performance of the product as it helps us get an idea for your style,” Kruetzfeldt said.

“There’s a lot of beautiful things to look at, and we can make sure we find something that’s within your budget. If we know what you like, you often can either buy that identical item or we can find a budget-friendly alternative.”

Don’t be afraid to dig into the details either, Niggeling added.

“Ask about things like the carpet or flooring’s wearability and traffic, especially if that’s key in your household,” she said. “Ask what type of carpet it is so you’re learning what you like.”

See a lot

With more than 60 homes on this year’s parade, there are options throughout the Sioux Falls area and in all budgets. But ideas can come from any home, so the designers recommend stopping in several.

“We encourage you to see as many Parade homes as you can,” Kruetzfeldt said. “You’ll leave with a better idea of what you like and don’t like, because you’ve actually seen the products.”

To connect with a Montgomery’s designer for your own home design needs, stop in any Montgomery’s store.