Thumb through any design magazine these days and you’ll find stunning images of kids’ bedrooms, expertly decorated by some Finnish designer you’ve never heard of. And while they’re beautiful to look at, most parents probably wouldn’t haul in a designer for a child’s bedroom. You’re familiar with the scenario: It’s a girl? Floral wallpaper it is! A...
One of the challenging aspects of being a designer is keeping up with new products, materials and services for the home. One crucial venue for checking out the latest and greatest goodies firsthand is the National Kitchen and Bath Association Conference in Las Vegas. Designer Barbara Murphy of the Neil Kelly Company was there and came away with these top five hot...
Summer is still alive and kicking, and for most regions of the country that means plenty more of hours poolside lounging. So I will revisit the often discussed subject of safety - specifically, preventing household tragedies involving children and pools. Kids Health - a project of The Nemours Foundation - provides a comprehensive punchlist to help maintain a kid-safe...
Every homeowner has mortgage payments on the brain. Whether it’s a 15- or 30-year term, standard, fully amortizing mortgages are designed so that homeowners pay off the balance over the life of the loan. This means that homeowners with a 15-year term will make 180 payments – double that to 360 for a 30-year term. Homeownership, like marriage, is not a commitment...
FSBO [abbr.] – Property that is ‘For Sale By Owner,’ denoting a lack of an agent or broker representative Ah, FSBOs. Those properties owners insist on selling without the guidance of a professional, often in an attempt to avoid paying a hefty commission. A precarious move, considering the unpredictability of the housing market. Risks aside, FSBOs present a golden...
If you've been looking for a high-end real estate deal, you're in luck…sort of. Jon Bon Jovi's Soho penthouse was recently reduced from $42 million to $37.5 million. The 7,452-square-foot spot has been a long-time residence of Bon Jovi and his wife and high school sweetheart, Dorothea Bon Jovi. Awww. Located in the New Museum Building, one of the tallest structures...
Living in an apartment community certainly has its perks (i.e., not having to fix things when they break), but one thing I truly miss is having a backyard that I can enjoy—whenever and however I want to. While a quick look out the window may be enough to send you over the edge—Does the grass need cutting? Do the weeds need pulling? Have the flowers all wilted?...
“Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.” – Albert Einstein Einstein’s Razor sums up the ideal system – a process that effectively covers all bases and requires minimal effort to do so. Something that un-complicates things. Something that works. In a perfect real estate world, CRM systems would do it all, thoroughly and completely,...
Pools are make-or-break features for homebuyers – they’re either at the top of dream home wish lists or a deterrent for buyers who shudder at the thought of another maintenance project. Even if the buyer doesn’t necessarily want a pool, there is a way to persuade them otherwise, and that’s through staging. They key is to create a space that's an extension...
Today’s post is the last in my green living series, designed to appeal to everyone on the spectrum of our planet’s well-wishers: preservationists, conservationists, and activists. This final blog aims to give activists, or eco-superheroes, ideas for ramping up their green agendas. If you’re passionate about the environment and want a complete green overhaul,...
