Five Tips to Identify Fixer-Upper Homes Worth Investing In

December 18, 2014

Emerging Trends in High-End Home Design at DesignMiami/

Celebrating 10 years, DesignMiami/ brought together thirty-five of the world’s leading galleries to showcase emerging home design trends.

Guest post from Hillary Hertzberg, member of the leading luxury real estate team The Jills®

People from all over the globe flock to Paris and New York City during fashion week to catch a glimpse of the upcoming trends strutting down the runway. DesignMiami/ is the exceptional collaborative runway for high end home design. Leading galleries from around the world come together to exhibit emerging furniture, lighting and design trends with museum quality displays. DesignMiami/ celebrated its ten year anniversary this year which brought together thirty-five of the world’s leading galleries. The result was an unparalleled platform for collectible design.

A clear theme this year was man’s relationship with nature as seen in powerful installations and moving design.

Within instants of entering the DesignMiami/ tent, you couldn’t help but feel the magnetic pull towards the Thinning Ice/ Jeanne Gang and Swarovski installation. Illuminated cracks in the polar white floor and a media wall of 25 LCD screens with different glacial images created an icy atmosphere, starkly different from the tropical warm weather outside the tent. Large white tables with pockets of crystal formed the center piece of the exhibit, representing the diminishing glaciers and holes in the polar ice formations. It was a truly beautiful display of a not so beautiful truth. The purpose of the exhibit was to get people talking about climate change and it did exactly that and more.

The installation “Ephemera,“ by Viennese designer Mischer’traxler for Perrier-Jouët, was comprised of a long wood table with a seemingly dull display of leaves, trees, insects and other plants and static mirrors on the wall. Suddenly, the installation came alive as the forms on the table rose up in full bloom. Then, in the next instant, they died back down, just as unexpectedly as they had risen. In a similar vein, digital leaves grew and shrank across mirrors at all different times showcasing the constantly changing stages and cycles of nature.

Another trend at the fair was the use of unorthodox and atypical materials for sculpture and furniture.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Or one man’s trash is what Jay Sae Jung Oh used to create treasured pieces. In her “Savage” series, she combines and tightly wraps various discarded objects together in a very intensive process to create an exquisite and luxurious finished product. Her Savage Chair piece, made of tightly wrapped leather, was appropriately positioned directly in front of the words “NEW & USED” on the wall of the display.

Year after year, the trends seen at DesignMiami/ make their way into homes across the city and way beyond. Looking forward to seeing what’s next!

A Sentimental Christmas Gift For Someone Who Just Moved

Because the key to great gift is being thoughtful…

Know someone who just moved? Keep the memory of their last home alive with a DIY key christmas ornament.

via inmyownstyle.com

via Pinner Becca List

6 Tips For Hosting A New Year’s Eve Party In Your Home

If you’ve decided to ring in the new year in your own living room, here are some tips to make party planning a little less stressful.

If you’ve decided crowded restaurants or bars aren’t the way you want to spend the last day of 2014, having your family and friends over to your house to ring in the new year may be a better option. Check out these party planning tips in order to plan a fun and memorable occasion with minimal stress.

Set a limit for the amount of people you invite, and stick to it

It can be tempting to invite your friends, neighbors, gym buddies, and everyone else you see on a regular basis, but keeping the party on the smaller side will not only make your event more intimate, but it will also be less stressful!

Make a “to-do” list

To avoid feeling overwhelmed with party-planning tasks, make a list of everything that needs to get done. Prioritize and enlist the help of a significant other, family member, or close friend so you don’t feel like all responsibilities fall on your shoulders.

Ask everyone to bring a food or drink item

Providing all of food and drinks for your guests can get pricey and time consuming. Ask your guests (in advance!) to come with an appetizer, dessert, or drink. This will minimize your personal party budget and possibly eliminate a few errands, leaving you more time to relax before the big night!

Plan ahead

Tasks like bringing folding chairs up from the basement, washing out those champagne glasses that have collected dust in the cabinet, or cleaning up your kids’ toys from the foyer may not seem too daunting, but don’t wait until the morning of the party to get it all done. You will find yourself rushing around and feeling stressed — which is the last thing you need before welcoming guests into your home!

Keep the bar well-stocked

You want to be able to mingle with your guests throughout the night – not feel like you’re working the whole time. Set up a “bar” area with various drink options, cups or glasses, ice, and napkins and let guests help themselves. Keep an eye out so you know when it’s time to re-stock!

Have fun

Remember, the whole reason you’re hosting a party in the first place is to enjoy time with your guests. Don’t get so caught up in the planning process that you forget to enjoy yourself! A party in your home is a great way to make a lasting memory, so relax and soak up every minute!

What are you doing for New Year’s Eve this year? Leave us a comment below or tweet @coldwellbanker and let us know your plans!

These hot tips make selling a home during colder months very merry.

Selling a home during the holidays can feel like a challenge. From winter weather to deciding whether to decorate or not, there are certainly some obstacles. Here is excellent advice from the experts from our global network of Coldwell Banker agents, brokers and offices.

Keep it Classic

“Should I decorate for the holidays?” This is an extremely common questions for home sellers. It may be family tradition to “deck the halls” across every square inch of your house, but, if you are trying to sell your home, it may be better to scale back. When selling a home, it’s important to present it in a way that others can see themselves living in.

“We encourage sellers to still decorate (if that’s their thing), but not Griswold style decorating…. keep it simple and classy. Mostly keep the walks clear and maybe add a spot for shoe removal just inside.” –Coldwell Banker Terre Haute

Use the holidays to create warmth in your home. “I think lights and color can warm anyone’s heart,” says Heather Ostrom, a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker Sun Ridge Real Estate in Roseville, CA. With the right touch, holiday decorations can create an emotional attraction for a buyer to your home. A cold, undecorated home can’t compete with one that has the fireplace roaring, the smell of fresh baked cookies, and elegant, yet festive décor.

Less is More

The holidays can be hectic which means time you normally spend cleaning may be spent at the mall and holiday gatherings. It is important to stay on top of keeping you house clean and tidy, especially if you decide to decorate.  Andrea Geller, a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Chicago, says she loves holiday decorations, but to a point. “However you decorate, don’t distract prospective buyers from the space,” she advises, explaining that holiday decorations can cause clutter, which could potentially make a room or space look smaller.

“Be sure to hide wires from holiday lights. Stick with decorations that aren’t covered in glitter and decorate with intention” -Andrea Geller

If your home is located in areas that get snow, be sure to keep up with snow removal on your driveway and sidewalks. Also, it is a good idea to ask visitors to remove their shoes so you don’t have salt stains on floors and carpets.

Stay in Season

One area where you likely won’t want to display holiday decorations: your listing photos. Jessica Edwards, an agent with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage in Wilmington, N.C., says holiday decorations can unintentionally date a photo, especially if the house is still on the market after New Year’s passes.

“Keep it very classic and neutral and if you put a tree where a chair or table typically goes and then jam the table or chair elsewhere in your house for a few weeks you should ask a neighbor or friend to stick it in their house so you don’t have extra furniture cluttering spaces or taking up more space” -Jessica Edwards

While experts advise against decor in listing pictures, open houses are a totally different game…

“[Listing] photos should NOT have decor because that could date them. Open houses MUST have holiday decor!” Brenna Lee Roth-Miller

Want to read more advice on selling your home? Visit the new coldwellbanker.com!

Christmas Tree image via frommyfrontporchtoyours.com

Hostess Gift Ideas For Every Stop On Your Holiday Party Tour » Coldwell Banker Blue Matter

Tips for a Greener Holiday

Four easy ways to reduce waste during the holidays

Athena Snow December 10, 2014

With the holiday season upon us, here’s a little seasonal sharing of some alarming stats.

According to Stanford University, “Americans throw away 25 percent more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period than any other time of the year.” The article goes on to put that into perspective by demonstrating how many football fields can been covered with paper or how we could tie a bow around the earth with the miles of ribbon saved if we reused.

So with the same holiday spirit of sharing, here are four tips on cutting back on the holiday waste. Hopefully those crazy stats motivate you to try something different this year.

1. Get others to join you in the effort – Encourage your secret Santa group to get creative in how everyone wraps their presents. Make it a new rule that everyone must use recycled material to wrap this year’s gift, and give a creative award to the group’s best reused/recycled gift wrapping effort.
2. Donate vs. buy – Instead of picking up a gift from a big box retailer at the mall, consider making a donation on a person’s behalf to a charity that matches their personality. For instance, if the person is an animal lover, why not make a donation to your local shelter?
3. Pass on the disposable dinnerware – If you’re hosting the holiday party, be sure to go with the washable items versus the disposable ones. Don’t be reluctant to ask everyone to bring along extra plates, silverware or cups if you’re short.
4. Mom/dad, it needs batteries – Don’t forgot to check those boxes (which hopefully you’ll recycle) to find out what type of batteries Suzie’s new toys need. But most important, pick up the rechargeable batteries.

Photo credit: Flicker user Mooslcorn Ranch

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2013/12/13/renting-vs-buying-a-home-which-is-smarter