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Elliott Homes — big winners in design California for the past three years. One of the results of such over- whelming popularity is the need to keep pace with household demand for schools. With the opening of the Epic Academy, River Islands now has three K-8 campuses built throughout the com- munity. Like all of the schools built at River Islands to date, it of- fers a state-of-the-art, technology-based cur- riculum to its students. All of the schools — River Islands Technol- ogy Academy, STEAM Academy and Epic Academy — share the same approach to in- struction, teacher train- ing and curriculum, so all students enjoy the same resources and pro- gramming. River Islands High School has just wel- comed its first class to the Ninth Grade Acad- emy. Given the enormity of the construction pro- cess, the school is being built in phases, intro- ducing a new class every year until the entire high school is complete in 2025. With 13 lakes, a dozen parks and miles of trails already in place, River Islands offers an appealing lifestyle, earning its nickname "the home of the 7-day weekend." There are more life- style-enhancing ameni- ties to come, to ensure that future neighbor- hoods will also enjoy lakefront footage, parks both large and small, and more links to the trail system, which will ultimately offer an 18- mile loop around the community. There are currently a dozen new-home communities for sale in River Islands, with more in the design pro- cess to ensure a steady flow of new floor plans, home sizes and prices. With so many people working from home, flexible floor plans and extra bedrooms have been very popular. It is not uncommon to see a tech center, a dedicated homework space and one or two home offices in a single home. A "hot sheet" of weekly fea- tured homes is available at the Welcome Center at 1401 River Islands Parkway. Neighborhood prices vary widely based on the size of the homes being offered and their amenities, but gener- ally, home pricing starts in the low $600,000s and ranges up to over $1 million. The best place to start a tour of River Is- lands is online, at www. RiverIslands.com. All of the floor plans, eleva- tions and video tours are available there. Cur- rent pricing for every neighborhood is also available on the site. Content provided by River Islands River Islands from page 1 Make a dining room more elegant for entertaining This is Elliott Homes' award-winning community Turkey Creek Estates in Lincoln. This community most recently won Best Architecture Series at the North State Building Industry Association Awards. Earlier this month, the team at Elliott Homes was honored with an industry award for the work in their pro- duction home division. The Major Achievement in Marketing Excellence, or MAME Awards, recognizes the indus- try's most outstanding contributors who are the top achievers in the new-home industry. The 46th annual awards ceremony, hosted by the North State Building Industry Association in Sacramento, recognized our Turkey Creek Estates in Lincoln, California. The project won Best Architecture Series, beating out numerous talented builders and developers in Northern California. The homes of Turkey Creek Estates effortlessly blend design efficiency, excitement and versa- tility to attract home shoppers seeking value, quality, and innovation in their dream home. Thoughtful collaboration among Elliott Homes, Bassenian Lagoni Ar- chitect and Studio II In- terior designer resulted in homes that deliver timeless-yet-modern ex- terior and interior styles, creative use of space and high-quality materials that make day-to-day upkeep easier than ever. From young families to retirees and everyone in between, there is un- doubtedly an ideal plan for every stage of life in this series. With eye-catching Farmhouse, Prairie and European elevations, each layout is distinc- tively unique while remaining complemen- tary to the rest. Sizable garages that can house recreational vehicles enhance the commu- nity character without overpowering the overall look of the homes, and the sought-after, single- level layouts thought- fully combine spaces for privacy and gathering in various footprints and sizes — all without wasted space or cost. The two-story plan allows ample space for large families and even multiple generations to live well together. Groundbreaking de- sign elements — such as two-level kitchen islands with corner seating, to-the-ceiling cabinets, stunning nat- ural lighting and smart space utilization — cre- ate immense value for buyers. Incredible landscaping brings the interior design to the outdoors in a seamless transition — making it no surprise that these homes sell as soon as they're listed. "We are extremely honored to have won such a prestigious award for our Turkey Creek Es- tates project, and we're excited to continue to watch this community grow," says Heather Hoffman, Elliott Homes marketing manager. To learn more about the homes behind the award and how you can make one of them your own, contact them online or give them a call at (916) 245-7980. Content provided by Elliott Homes BY METRO The kitchen may be the heart of a home, but when it comes to enter- taining, a dining room — if one is present in a house — tends to be the prime gathering spot for meals. Dining rooms may not be top on the list of spaces to renovate, as they tend to be used in- frequently. But a dining room makeover may still be a worthy endeavor. Here are some simple ways to make the dining room more elegant and functional. Clear out the clut- ter: The first step toward improving a din- ing room is to remove any extraneous items from the space. If the dining room table is not used very often, it likely has become a catchall for other items, such as bills, newspapers or kids' homework. Rather than using the dining space as a makeshift office or homework station, invest in a roll- ing cart to store those papers and other items. Simply roll it into a closet or another room when it's time to host a party. Hang a statement light: Few decorative items add as much drama and ambience to a dining space as a new overhead light. People hear chandelier and think of a bejeweled or crystal design. But various chandelier styles can fit the aesthetic of a home. The light will be a focal point and instantly make the din- ing area more elegant. Install the light on a dimmer to adjust the il- lumination as needed to set the mood. Invest in new linens: Purchase coordinating table linens that will be used for special oc- casions. A decorative tablecloth or table run- ner coupled with cloth napkins and place mats help to set the scene of the dinner party. Add artwork: Many modern homeown- ers have eschewed the china cabinet that once was standard in dining rooms. Rather than a bulky piece of furniture, a large piece of state- ment-making artwork or framed photos over a more minimalistic buffet table or small service bar is preferable. Choose artwork that complements the colors in the space. Include a center- piece: Centerpieces add sophistication to the table and tie into the event. Floral arrange- ments, a bowl or basket of fruit, pine cones or greenery from outdoors or collectibles such as shells in a tall canister can serve as centerpieces. These are just a few of the many simple ways to dress up dining spaces and make them more elegant. H2 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP 001 Homes | Advertising Section

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