National Farmer’s Market Week!

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If you haven’t had the visual and informative pleasure of reading a copy of Edible Silicon Valley….you are truly going to be pleasantly surprised when you do.  The artistry that is scripted in this publication embraces the love of all things food. From what is seasonally fresh, to where to find it and what recipe to prepare it in, the appealing pictures ignite the desire to prepare all the artisanal recipes. Providing the confidence for each aspiring evening chef with user friendly directions, you can enjoy all the bounty that this beautiful state provides…and not just high real estate prices.

“Edible Silicon Valley celebrates the local, sustainable food sources of the Silicon Valley area. Every season we serve up a combination of profiles, features, and recipes that illuminate the people who work so hard to bring this bounty to our tables. Intertwined throughout the magazine we include food as art through stunning photography and illustrations. Edible Silicon Valley is a feast for the eyes, the intellect and the palate.”

Here is a picture of the quarterly magazine that is available in print  form or on-line. I’ve provided the link below if you would like to subscribe to it. They also feature a newsletter and blog. Some local markets feature the publication. I know Roberts has it!

http://ediblesiliconvalley.com/

Decorating a Dorm Room?

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Well you knew it would come eventually….the wonderful bundle of joy that was your blessing 18 years ago is flying off to the land of the “College Campus”.  So how do you prepare emotionally for leaving the love of your life, turning around and walking away so they can begin their own lives…you prepare their nest! Off to Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Best Buy and The Container Store! These are the immediate rites of passage. Keep the parents busy preparing the kids new home away from home while they are busy socializing, adjusting and preparing for their first sojourn into the eventual shock of reality. I’ve done this 3 times…and it is always a mix of love, emotion, devotion, completion, accomplishment and sadness. Here are some tips I wish I’d had.

Tips:

1. Dorm beds need Twin XLG sheets! You will need to find them on-line as most stores, with the exception of BB&B don’t stock them. Good news is that nowadays there are chic and stylish sheet selections. You can definitely be creative and embrace the new found independent sense of style that is emerging in your collegiate.

American Flag Twin XL Bed Set, $169 from Urban Outfitters.

2. Rugs, most colleges will specify how big your rug should be on their website, but if they don’t, generally 4×6 or 5×7 is a safe bet. These rugs will provide warmth for the cold little tootsies that are waking up early to get to the 8am class that only freshman enroll in.

Virring Rug $9.99 from Ikea.

3. Pillows….pop with personality and  can provide sentimental connection.

Plus One Pillow In Pug, $44.99 from Mod Cloth.

 

4. Lighting…in my family we call these Gypsy lights and they can be changed depending on the mood or holiday! These little lights  that can be static or flickering provide a soft approach to the sometimes glaring overhead florescent lights that most dorms offer for optimal studying success.

Mix and Fla-mingle String Lights, $19.99 from Mod Cloth.

 

5. Laundry Storage….and you will need a lot of it because laundry will not be in your college students top 10 must do’s each week!

Large Tint Stacking Drawer $14.99 ea from The Container Store.

6. Wall decor!  From clocks to expressions of personality dorm walls are the mirrors of every collegiate’s true directional purpose…even if it’s only in the immediacy.

We Are Young Flag, $34 from Urban Outfitters.

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Photos courtesy of Pinterest!

 

 

Luxe Rustic Vacation Retreats ~

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Ranch at Rock Creek

Recently Architectural Digest featured an article on luxurious “glamping” destinations in the United States. Striking a nerve in the sense of relaxation and adventure portion of my brain, I thought I would share the highlights of the “tent resorts” that peaked my interest. Can’t you just see the stars, smell the pines, imagine the peace, taste the evening meals you enjoy with family and friends……escape for a moment….and come back with memories for a lifetime.
The above tent cabin is at Relais & Châteaux’s  Ranch at Rock Creek, in Philipsburg, Montana is a two-hour drive west of Helena. “Glampers”have the option of staying in rustic luxury log cabins or a selection of ten canvas tent suites with private bathrooms, fluffy beds, and wood-burning stoves! From $995/night per person, all inclusive; theranchatrockcreek.com.
Photo courtesy of The Ranch at Rock Creek

Dunton River Camp

Dunton River Camp is the sister property of the Dunton Hot Springs resort in the Colorado Rockies. Sitting in a riverside clearing, the eight smartly appointed contemporary tents each include an en suite bath and a private porch. The dining room and guest lounge are located in an adjacent 19th-century farmhouse.
From $1,400/night for two people, all inclusive; duntonhotsprings.com
Photo courtesy of Dunton River Camp
Hedges, New York
This once lakeside Adirondack camp for a Civil War brigadier general features wood-and-stone lodges and cabins of the Hedges of Blue Mountain Lake, in upstate New York. Retaining the charms of a bygone era—albeit with many marked improvements, including four-course dinners, daily maid service, and nightly s’mores.
From $195/night for two people, including breakfast, dinner, and activities; thehedges.com

Photo Courtesy of Alan Pouch

The Point, Adirondack Mountains

Staying on the East Coast for another Relais & Châteaux resort, The Point in the Adirondack Mountains Upper Saranac Lake (which is upstate New York for all of my California friends who don’t go past Colorado) graciously occupies the four original log buildings of the Great Camp built by William Avery Rockefeller in the 1930s. Art and antiques adorn the 75-acre resort which today upholds a formal tradition worthy of the Gilded Age: black-tie dinners on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

From $1,600/night for two people, all inclusive; thepointsaranac.com

Photo Courtesy of The Point.

Mustang Monument

I featured this resort in Northern Nevada a few months ago. Opened in June on 900 square miles in northern Nevada, Mustang Monument exists primarily to protect the group of 650 rescued wild American horses from which it takes its name. Guests who come for equestrian and hiking safaris stay in one of 20 luxurious tepees or cabins kitted out with plush king-size beds, leather armchairs, and woven rugs.  Here was my original post: https://furstmanproperties.com/?p=958.   From $1,000/night for two, all inclusive; mustangmonument.com

Photo: Kristi Johnson and courtesy of Mustang Monument

The Resort at Paws Up—a 37,000-acre working cattle ranch between Helena and Missoula, in western Montana— is enticing guests with 30 one- and two-bedroom tented accommodations across five camps.  Cliffside Camp opened only last June, on a precipitous perch with panoramic views over the Blackfoot River and the rest of the ranch. From $450/night per person, all inclusive; pawsup.com

Photo courtesy of The Resort at Paws Up

Bedroom Dimensions not Dynamics!

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As we spend most of our time….although not always awake….in the bedroom, the dimensions and the placement of your furniture can impact your day.  Particularly if you wake up and stub your toe the first thing in the morning. The comfort and solace that we seek at the end of the day and in the early morning are enhanced by the layout of your bedroom. I pulled this article from Houzz because I found it provided specific dimensions and design ideas to maximize your bedroom furniture placement potential. When real estate is becoming increasingly more expensive per square foot. Creativity becomes a must when dealing with smaller spaces.
From small spaces, to night tables, cribs, dressers, ceilings and sitting areas Stephen Randel details exact placement for your furniture and reasons why they work. Remodeling, sprucing or reinventing….need some suggestions..http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/25889748/list/Key-Measurements-to-Help-You-Design-Your-Dream-Bedroom

 

Before & After Town Home

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Pacchetti-13-EditPacchettilr

Remodeled this town home to make it more attractive to the buying public on a budget and in two weeks! Producing a contemporary feel to what was dated and bland.  Original cream carpet with vanilla paint was replaced with engineered hand scraped hardwood floors, new fixtures and contrasting paint colors.

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Dining room went from dark and dreary to light and modern.

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Family Room/Kitchen area became inviting and entertaining.

2014-07-27 14.49.18PaccKit

With the addition of Granite counter tops, new appliances, glass tile back splash and a coat of paint this outdated kitchen turned into a Cook’s Delight!

Pacchetti-12

Master Bedroom

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Guest Bedroom

PaccOff

Third Bedroom/Office

Visit the website for additional photos at www.116pachettiway.com.

 

 

Buttermilk Pancakes & Berries!

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Buttermilk pancakes with cinnamon summer berries - Brunch Recipes

Haven’t posted a recipe for a while…been swamped with wonderful clients….woke up to a foggy morning, a few hours until work and thought a nice breakfast with my family sounded heartwarming.  What’s better than buttermilk pancakes to soak up summer’s sweetness!

Berry Syrup:

1 lb of your favorite summer berries (I use blueberries, raspberries and blackberries)
1/2 c sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
1 t lemon zest
1T arrowroot
Juice of one orange

To make the summer-berry sauce, put the sugar, cinnamon and arrowroot in a saucepan. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the orange juice. Set over a low heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture starts to thicken. Add the berries, turn up the heat, bring to a simmer and cook gently for 5 minutes or until the sauce is slightly thickened. Set aside.

Buttermilk Pancakes:

3 T unsalted butter melted
2 c all-purpose flour
1/4 c granulated sugar
2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1/2 t. kosher salt
2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs
Vegetable oil for the griddle

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk and eggs. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Whisk gently until the dry ingredients are almost incorporated; stop before the batter is evenly moistened. Add the cooled melted butter and mix just until the batter is evenly moistened (there will be lumps). Let the batter rest while you heat the griddle.

Heat a griddle or a large skillet over medium heat until drops of water briefly dance on the surface before evaporating. Lightly oil the griddle. Working in batches, pour 1/4 cup of the batter onto the griddle for each pancake, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Let cook undisturbed until bubbles rise to the surface and the edges look dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Check the underside of each pancake to make sure it’s nicely browned; then flip. Cook until the second side is nicely browned, about 1 minute more. Transfer the pancakes to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you repeat with the remaining batter.

Serve with the berry syrup, a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar and a little creme fraiche! They are great with a few slices of Applewood Smoked Bacon.

Photo courtesy of Tara Fisher.

 

 

Gone to the Dogs!

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The latest trend in home design and construction…..dog specific rooms!

Home builder Standard Pacific now offers a dog friendly option in their communities across the United States. From Florida to California, in their 27 new home developments buyers have a pet paradise option. (Photo: Anthony Gomez/Standard Pacific Homes/A.G. Photography)

The suite is a 170-square-foot pet paradise with a step-in wash station, handheld sprayer and leash lead; tile walls and floors; a designated drying area with a commercial sized pet dryer; a water station; automated feeders; a large bunk-style bed; cabinets for toys, treats and food; a stackable washer and dryer; a French door that opens to a puppy run; and a flat-screen television set. The pet option adds $35,000 to the list price. Approximately 70% of all buyers who look at Standard Pacific’s developments are pet owners.

Standard Pacific, based in Irvine, decided to offer pet suites after conducting livability studies with homeowners. Pets were a constant theme, said Jeffrey Lake, vice president and national director of architecture for Standard Pacific.

“Devotion to pets is second-to-none,” he added. “They are family.”

The American Pet Products Association reports that 68 percent of Americans own pets and contribute to an industry worth more than $55 billion annually.

Real estate officials say building homes designed to cater to pets is a new concept, but that remodels for pet owners have been available for some time. Those looking to sell their homes may find their pet additions might add to the attractiveness of their home. Providing useability much like a laundry room or mud room offers. Pet washrooms can offer multi-purpose facilities which buyers may find desirable. Who doesn’t want to have a place for dirt whether it comes in on a dog or a child!

 

Q2 Real Estate Report 2014-Silicon Valley

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Spring is typically a brisk season for real estate, but second-quarter activity in our Silicon Valley region was even busier than usual. Tech-industry workers and foreign buyers catapulted our market activity resulting in high sales prices. Just a few years ago, homes in our immediate counties sold for $1.1 million to $1.7 million; today, those same homes command between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, and they go into escrow as soon as they hit the market. 

High-end homes continued to sell well, with many buyers paying all cash for properties priced at $10 million and higher. An estimated 25 percent of sales in the region were “off-market” – private transactions that never appeared on an MLS.

Off-MLS sales are controversial. While buyers and sellers can avoid the tumult of open houses and bidding wars, a prearranged price can mask a home’s real value. Buyers, for example, may pay well over a homes value just to avoid competition. On the other hand, sellers may settle for a price far below what a home is worth in an off-MLS transaction to avoid the multiple offer situation.

Looking Forward: The third quarter in Silicon Valley looks to be busy, although not as hectic as the second. Homes generally attracted fewer multiple offers in the second quarter than in the first, and we expect that trend to continue.

Defining Silicon Valley: Our real estate markets in the Silicon Valley region include the cities and towns of Atherton, Los Altos (excluding county area), Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park (excluding east of U.S. 101), Palo Alto, Portola Valley, and Woodside. Sales data in the charts below includes all single-family homes in these communities.