Every cloud has a silver lining...

And the cloud that's been hanging over our head is, "What was that AMAZING color on the walls in the Oakmont home in the Escapes (Home #5)?"  It was this magical, very silvery robin egg type color...and it just looked SO soothing and luxurious.  Apparently a great number of visitors asked the same question as well to the builder who was hosting the house.  The builder didn't know, but he handed out Robert McArthur Studios' (the interior designer) cards and suggested we contact the office to find out the color.

I emailed them on Saturday.  And then I waited.

Lo and behold!  The response came this morning.  And the color is....(drum roll please)...

Benjamin Moore - Silver Lining - #2119-60

Immediately I wanted a paint chip to put in my enormous idea portfolio for our next house.  I used BenjaminMoore.com's store locator to see where my nearest store is, and it said there wasn't one anywhere near St. George, UT.  Benjamin Moore prides itself on NOT selling at "big box" stores, so I knew I wouldn't have any luck getting this chip at Lowe's or Home Depot.  However, I knew I'd seen Benjamin Moore paint chips somewhere in St. George...if only I could remember where.  Then it hit me...Ace Hardware!  So, moral of the story: if you strike out using BenjaminMoore.com's store locator too, call your local Ace just to see if they carry Benjamin Moore Paints.  But the story doesn't quite end there.

I went to Ace Hardware and had no luck spying Silver Lining anywhere in their paint chips.  The wonderfully helpful employee at the paint desk helped me search for 10 minutes to no avail, but she said I could borrow their color fan deck that included Silver Lining and bring it back another day so that I could see how it looked in my house.  Score!  This is why I love Ace Hardware.  And we all lived happily ever after.

Home #8 - The Phoenix

1500 E. Split Rock Dr. #109, St. George, UT

Here is the grand showcase home of the entire tour...at a whopping $1.865 million, this is definitely the must-see of all of them.  Although I had high hopes that the rec room downstairs would feature a basketball court or something at least a little insane with such a hefty price tag, I was disappointed.  All of the money clearly went into architectural detail with the arched roofs and high end finishes throughout.

Unbelievable wall of windows greets you upon first entrance.

Glorious curvy details in the ceiling above with tons of recessed lighting.  Love the lavender and grey colors too.

Gorgeous and sleek modern gas fireplace!

A view from the living room into the kitchen.  And yes, that's someone playing the baby grand piano for entertainment.  This was THAT kind of house.

Glass spiral staircase leading to the basement.  So modern.

The "rec room" in the basement featured a pool table and a sectional couch facing a TV with odd placement on that wall.

Another shot of that cool spiral staircase!

Very cool textural design on the wall.  Like windswept sand.

Out back there is a little seating area with a fire pit featured in the indigenous lava rocks.

Cute, soothing colors in this guest room.

I can't get enough of those pendant lights...the bubbles in the glass add such a cool dynamic!

Nice soaker tub.  And I'm a sucker for huge frosted windows in the bathroom.

"Linen-style" tiles are becoming all the rage!

The Master Bedroom.  So much room, it almost looks like an entire wing of the house, huh?  Well, it is.

The office is right off the master bedroom, separated only by this smooth and stylish glass sliding door.

A view from inside the office.  We determined that there is almost never a reason to leave the "Master Wing"...it's got everything in it.

Awesome open fireplace off the master bedroom.

More fire.  More lava rocks.  And a pool!

Here you can see the arched roof better.  Stunning, eh?

Lovely, spacious master shower.

The fireplace in the master bedroom that is visible from the outside.  You've gotta be completely fine with your business being open to the world in this master bedroom!

The tile work and lighted cabinets are gorgeous in this master bath.

A mini-bar in the master.  What did I tell you?  You really could live just in your room.

Guest bathroom.  Lovely curved sink.

Beautiful kitchen, but I have got to admit, I have no idea what that glass table is doing intruding right on top of the island.

Mmm yep...that pantry looks more like a walk-in closet.

Parting shot of the entry into the living room.  Beautiful!

The Verdict:
Exterior: Five Flags
Floor Plan: Four Flags
Interior Design: Five Flags
Neighborhood: Five Flags

Home #7 - Spud Retreat

3052 N. Snow Canyon Pkwy. #73, St. George, UT

Well for kind of a silly house name, the "Spud Retreat" proved to be one of the more lavish homes on the tour.  The owners had this house custom built and they apparently fancied the theme of "grass" because the form and silhouette of grass was carried throughout starting with the doorbell...

Exhibit A. Grass/Leaf Doorbell.

Cool fireplace with a viking Native American sculpture spotlighted.

Asymmetrical natural stone above the counter sink basin.  Me likey.

The semi-flush mount lighting fixture is actually pretty boring but the cool circular tray ceiling is nice!

Ok this was scary.  This little wrought iron "screen" was actually not attached to anything so when guests come in and lean on it, they'll fall right down the stairs!

Gorgeous views of red rocks out back.  This is why you come to live in St. George!

I really like the number of recessed lights all over the kitchen area.

Some curvy, mountain-like details in the stone work above the TV and fire place.  Not my taste, but I can appreciate the $$ that went into that no doubt!

Nice little pool and jacuzzi out back.  No one out here calls it a jacuzzi I noticed...everyone calls it a spa?

Gorgeous glass and copper tiles in the shower!

Carrying on with the nature theme...branches and vines as the stair rail.

Nice theater room.  Every (nearly) million dollar house should have one of these.

A little cove in the basement turned into a John Deere playroom for kids.  That's cute.  

Yeah I just LOVE this window seat that perfectly fits the contour of the room.  I am sure this little baby was custom made and therefore lots of $$$.  But well worth it!

Cool "mountain" pattern in the shower tiles.

Fountains shoot into the pool.  If I were a kid I'd play with that feature all day.

And the piece de resistance...a twig toilet paper holder.  Yep they totally "natured" this place up.

The Verdict:
Exterior: Four Flags
Floor Plan: Three Flags
Interior Design: Three Flags
Neighborhood: Five Flags

Home #6 - Agua Corriente

Here we are at another home in the Entrada area, in a neighboring subdivision to Home #5.  There is not really too much to be said about this one.  Each of the homes in this neighborhood has its own waterfall in the back yard that flows into a stream, connecting each of the neighbors' yards together.  Even empty lots that have yet to contain a house already have the waterfall feature up and running.  The interior of this house was fairly blase other than the features below:

Interesting fur mosaic rug in the family room!

Lovely and enormous drum shade light fixture over the dining room table.

The Verdict:

    Exterior:

Floor Plan:

                                 Interior Design:

                  Neighborhood: