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Monthly Archives: February 2016
No foyer…No problem!
Could not have written this article better! In this time of exorbitant housing prices rendering small square footage a proper foyer is really a luxury. Here is an article by designer Leslie that I thought was terrific.
There is something about coming into a home that has a foyer, an entryway, a vestibule.
It says, “Come on in! Welcome. Stay awhile.”
It’s the welcoming committee for the rest of our home.
It’s the welcoming committee for the rest of our home.
But not everyone’s home or apartment is blessed with such a space.
Many front doors open directly into the living room.
However, it’s not hopeless! You can create the feeling of a foyer.
House to Home Elements to Consider:
- Lighting: table lamps, hanging swag lamps, floor lamps, uplights (can lighting), candles
- Softness: rugs, rug runners
- Seating: benches, chairs, ottomans, stools
- Storage: dressers, credenzas, armoires, large covered baskets, stacked luggage, night stands, umbrella stands, hooks
- Personality: family photos, travel prints, souvenirs
- Reflection: mirrors, glass, mercury glass
- Life: plants, flowers, clocks with pendulums
The primary thing to remember is that you’ll either need a physical barrier or a visual one.
A physical barrier literally blocks the view of the rest of the room.
A visual barrier gives the viewer decor to instantly view in the front door area;
it separates and sets the entryway apart from the rest of the house.
Even if it’s only a few square feet, give your home a place
in which to pause before entering the rest of the house.
A physical barrier literally blocks the view of the rest of the room.
A visual barrier gives the viewer decor to instantly view in the front door area;
it separates and sets the entryway apart from the rest of the house.
Even if it’s only a few square feet, give your home a place
in which to pause before entering the rest of the house.
Make it Organized & Pretty
If you only have one wall near the front door and no coat closet or console,
compact helpers work perfectly here.
If you only have one wall near the front door and no coat closet or console,
compact helpers work perfectly here.
 "Pin on Pinterest")
If It’s Compact, Make an Impact
A slim and sleek shelf topped with a gallery wall of precious photos
makes a spectacular statement.
makes a spectacular statement.
The drawers below the shelf hold keys, gloves,
the dog’s leash, gadgets, whatever.
the dog’s leash, gadgets, whatever.
Brilliant!
 "Pin on Pinterest")
Source Unknown
Define with Molding
Give the spot its own personality.
Frame the wall you’ll be using to draw attention to it.
Frame the wall you’ll be using to draw attention to it.
Define with Wallpaper
Accent wallpaper makes a dramatic statement
that can be fun for a transition space.
Source Unknown
Define with Wainscoting
Easy-to-apply wallpaper or the traditional wood panels
create instant cottage appeal.
Paint It Happy
A dresser or console painted in a fun, vibrant color is a sweet way
to say “Hello” to your family and friends.
to say “Hello” to your family and friends.
 "Pin on Pinterest")
Display It Happy
Your collection of heirloom and thrift plates needs to be displayed somewhere.
Why not the entryway?
Your collection of heirloom and thrift plates needs to be displayed somewhere.
Why not the entryway?
Use a Hall TreeIf you only have three to five feet of space
(and perhaps you’re renting and can’t alter the wall in any way),
the classic hall tree may be just what your entryway needs.
Focus on the Front Door
Painting the inside of the door is probably
the easiest fix and the most eye-catching.
Illuminate with Swag
You can create a small square of foyer space simply by
flanking the front door with sconces,
spreading a rug upon the floor,
and hanging a lamp from a hook over the spot.
(If there’s no nearby outlet, use an extension cord;
secure it as close to the floor molding as possible.)
IKEA to the Rescue
A tall or low Expedit shelving unit can be used
between the space near your door and the rest of the room.
(We have the black/brown 5 cube by 5 cube unit and love it!)
Source
A House (Er, Room) Divided
In a larger or longer room, a screen or hanging divider
is an excellent solution for a lack of defined landing area
once you’ve entered the home.
Source Unknown
Source Unknown
Tile Transitioning
My friend Gina from The Shabby Creek Cottage
tiled a tiny space by her front door.
She says:
“Making a grand entrance isn’t all that easy
when you have a 2 ft. by 4 ft. square to do it in.
No room for big furniture. No big open space to decorate.
That’s okay, I like to keep things simple…”
Family Friendly
Children love their own personalized space!
Give them one (or two, or three, or more…).
Source Unknown
Lean a Mirror
Even a chunky wardrobe mirror works well to define a visual vestibule.
I like Old Time Pottery and Hobby Lobby’s selections.
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Nook Necessities
Maybe you have a bitty spot that is more like a crevice than anything else.
Shelving, hooks, and baskets can help to organize your homecomings.
Source
Armoire
Not only is it great (hidden) storage, but it looks great, too!
A mirrored one is perfect for last-minute primping.
Recycle That Pallet
Yet another pallet creation, and it’s fantastic!
Source Unknown
In My Home
My basement cafe has no foyer to speak of.
Here’s how I used the wall behind the door
so guests can park their purses or primp.
 "Pin on Pinterest")
I hope that this encourages those of you who have lost hope of having a foyer!
Try creating one; you will feel proud to enter and to invite others into your home!Have a beautiful, blessed day making your home!
Try creating one; you will feel proud to enter and to invite others into your home!Have a beautiful, blessed day making your home!
Happy Valentines Day ~
Happy Valentines Day to all of my friends…………………….
Year End Market Report ~ 2014 – 2015
San Mateo & Santa Clara Counties comparison sales from 2014 to 2015 were down in units and up in dollar volume in every city I observed with the exception of Redwood City & Los Altos which marked a 10% & 5% increase in units sold respectively. This reflects a lack of inventory and a high appreciation we have continued to see since we started rebounding after the 2008 crash. Predictions for 2016 seem to be more of the same, with possible appreciation leveling out in the high single digits. Housing market fundamentals are strong, job and income growth are positive, mortgage rates are low and should remain low in 2016, lending standards are more reasonable then they have been a year ago, and household formation is rebounding. Overall 2016 should prove to be a year similar to 2015. Fingers crossed! It is an election year though and historically the housing market waits to see the outcome.
Here are the Stats:
2014 -2015 Year End Totals
City YTD 2014 YTD2015 %Change
Atherton
# of Sales 105 76 -27%
Median Price $4.4M $5.9M +34%
Menlo Park
#of Sales 438 384 -12%
Median Price $1.6M $1.9M +15%
Los Altos
# of Sales 331 349 + 5%
Median Price $2.3M $2.6M +14%
Los Altos Hills
# of Sales 96 94 – 2%
Median Price $3.3M $3.6M +10%
Palo Alto
# of Sales 471 412 -13%
Median Price $2.1M $2.5M +15%
Portola Valley
# of Sales 85 62 -27%
Median Price $2.5M $2.6M + 7%
Redwood City
# of Sales 627 690 +10%
Median Price $975K $1.2M +25%
San Carlos
# of Sales 383 307 -10%
Median Price $1.3M $1.5M +16%
Woodside
# of Sales 105 94 -10%
Median Price $2.4M $2.7M +13%
What’s Better than Marinated Cheese!
Marinate Your Feta and Never Look Back
Credit: Alex Lau
The quality of your cheese-eating life hasn’t reached its full potential. It’s time to start marinating your feta. Food director Carla Lalli Music always keeps a few Mason jars of the stuff in her home fridge to have on hand whenever she wants to schmear it on crackers or crusty bread, crumble it onto a salad or a soup, or stuff it into an omelet. You could say the quickie technique is her bread and, er, cheese. And it’s incredibly easy to pull off if you have a jar, a fridge, some olive oil, a few key ingredients, and five minutes.
If you’re ready for peak cheese, raise your hand—and watch the video below.
Super Bowl ~ Appetizer
Thought this looked terrific for the Super Bowl!
Antipasto on a stick!
Ingrediants
- 1 – 7 oz container fresh or marinated mozzarella balls
- 8 oz. sliced prosciutto
- ½ lb. genoa salami, sliced thin
- 1 12 oz. jar roasted red peppers
- 1 6 oz container of marinated olives – the type you find in the olive bars @gourmet grocery stores
- 1 head of red leaf lettuce or arugula, buttery mache, whichever kind of leaf you like
If you want to drizzle them with olive oil and a little vinegar you can do that as well. Little tomatoes can be substituted for the red peppers or even added for more color.
Then just put them on the skewers arrange on a platter and enjoy the game! Can be prepared ahead of time covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated. However allow them to come to room temperature before you serve them to get the best flavor from the cheese and prosciutto.
Creative Landscapes ~ Sloped Yards
Landscaping a sloping hillside yard can be challenging…
In this article by Laura Gaskill, one of my favorite go to research writers at Houzz, she has put together a terrific collection of ideas on how to landscape difficult hillsides. Pictured in the first selection are retaining walls made of stacked Arizona sandstone, slate and bluestone. Contemporary Landscape by Berkeley Landscape Contractors Mariposa Gardening & Design.
2. Hillside slide. Why stick with stairs when a slide is so much more fun? In this kid-friendly yard, a stainless steel slide is set into the terraced landscape, ending next to a sandbox with a removable cover.
3. Stone ramp. If the terrain in your yard isn’t too steep, a ramp lined in stone makes a lovely alternative to stairs. Interspersed with mossy ground cover, the “steps” develop a weathered look over time.
4. Built-in bench. Create a retaining wall and seating area in one with a built-in bench that swoops upward. As part of a larger patio, the built-in seating provides a quiet space to read or relax next to the outdoor dining area.
5. Steel-lined steps. Corten is a steel that develops a patina over time, without causing corrosion to the metal. Here, it was used to form a retaining wall along a stepped path, leading from one zone to another on a hillside lot. Lush ornamental grasses soften the lines of the steel wall and concrete steps.
6. Sunken patio. Create a lush, private outdoor space with steps leading down to a patio ringed in terraced planting beds. The multiple levels of greenery make even a small patio feel more spacious.
7. Desert garden. Get a similar terraced garden look in an arid climate by incorporating xeriscape plantings. The color and shapes of these corten steel planters enhance the architecture and landscape.
8. Hillside hearth. Snuggled into a hillside, this outdoor fireplace looks extra cozy, and the hill provides a natural windbreak. A splash of bright red and yellow in the seating area echoes the hue of the plantings, drawing the eye into the garden.
9. Treehouse perch. On a very steep lot, a deck extending from the house can provide a lovely spot from which to view the rest of your property. Here, curving decks wrap around the home, even incorporating a mature tree with built-in bench seating.
10. Terraced gardens. Fieldstone terraces beautifully divide the space in this expansive, gently sloped lot. The upper terraces lead to a picket-fenced vegetable garden, while a path of stepping stones leads down to a bluestone patio with stone fireplace.