Home Storage: 7 Clever Ideas

Your house has been keeping secrets from you: Out-of-the-way places and forgotten corners that are full of potential. With a little imagination, you can turn your home’s nooks and crannies to your advantage, adding much-needed storage and living space without adding on or moving out. To get you started, we’ve gathered up 7 clever ideas for squeezing more out of what you already have.

The Instant Bedroom

With its now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t ability to magically pop out of walls, the classic Murphy bed is the perfect solution for those who have regular overnight guests but don’t have a spare bedroom. Mechanisms for single Murphy beds start at $700; add about $300 for a basic mattress. Custom cabinetry surrounds are $1,000 and up.



Credit: FlyingBeds.com


Inventing An Alcove

Two tall built-in cabinets on either side of this kitchen window create an instant alcove that’s perfect for a comfy window seat banquette for eat-in convenience. You’ll need 20 to 24 inches of depth to create a window seat with enough room for cushions along the back.



Credit: Flea Market Trixie

Calling All Walls: Give Us Space!

 Your interior walls are hollow, meaning there’s space to be had between the wall studs. You can take advantage with alcoves and niches designed to fit between studs, or make one yourself. But take care when opening up walls — there may be electrical wires and plumbing pipes inside.

Credit: Photographer Nancy Nolan for At Home in Arkansas magazine

Gaining By Subtraction

By building out the corner of this small study room and adding soffits, this home owner created alcoves that are perfect for tucking away seating and adding modular storage cabinets. There’s even a nook for a reading lamp. Store-bought cabinet units are cheaper storage solutions than built-ins, but with this arrangement, the effect is similar.

Credit: Peter Pawlak Design Studio - 917.447.4099

Divided and Conquered

Needing to separate the living area from a sleeping room (but not allowed to build permanent walls), this enterprising apartment dweller used a freestanding wardrobe closet as a room divider. The side facing the bedroom offers plenty of storage behind sliding doors. Fabric stretched across the back of the wardrobe presents the living room with a fun design element.



Credit: Groovy Elisa

You're So Vanity

 A custom-made laminate shelf, a mirror, and a slide-away stool can turn an unused slice of wall space into an a entryway vanity for last-minute wardrobe checks before you head out the door. This shelf may be a mere 6 inches wide, but it’s a great place to toss the keys, the mail, or your gloves when you return.

Credit: Peter Pawlak Design Studio - 917.447.4099

Doing Your Home Work

 Need a home office? A little-used closet is ideal command center for a home-based business. This tucked-away office features an inexpensive desk ($100-$300) as the main work surface. If things get messy, you can simply close the door. Chalkboard paint ($15/qt.) surrounds the door frame for quick don’t-forget messages.

Credit: Ashley Sheping

Source:  HouseLogic

Fannie Mae: Outlook for Home Prices Rises Again.

The consumer outlook for U.S. home prices improved again in January, extending a recent upward trend in housing market sentiment, according to mortgage market firm Fannie Mae.

For its monthly reading, Fannie Mae said respondents in its January survey predicted home prices will rise by 1% over the next year, up from the 0.8% gain forecast in December.

Views on the direction of the U.S. economy also continued to improve. According to the respondents, 30% said they believe the U.S. economy is on the right track, up from 22% with that view in December. The percentage who said the economy is headed in the wrong direction fell to 63% of respondents, marking a 6 percentage point decline from the previous month.

Fannie Mae Chief Economist Doug Duncan pointed to a slowly improving U.S. job market as one cause for rising confidence in the long-battered housing market. ”The strengthening employment picture last Friday provides encouragement that the improving trend in consumer confidence will continue and will at some point be reflected in a firming up of consumer spending,” Duncan said.

A report last week from the U.S. Labor Department showed nonfarm payrolls grew 243,000 last month, the largest gain since April. The jobless rate fell from 8.5% to 8.3%, the lowest it has been since February 2009.

Fannie Mae’s January survey also found 44% of respondents expect their personal financial situation to improve over the next year, up from 40% with that view in December.

The survey is based upon a monthly poll of roughly 1,000 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1%.


Source:  The Wall Street Journal, by Mia Lamar

Weekly Market Update: February 6, 2012

Whether motivated by the election cycle, a jump in employment, improving housing market metrics or the best start to a year for the S&P 500 since 1969, home buyers posted increased activity levels compared to last year. Consumers signed more purchase agreements but sellers entered into fewer listing contracts. Changes in supply-side metrics confirm this, suggesting that relatively less new product is entering the market compared to buyer demand. That's helped other metrics return to more friendly territory. Whatever the reason, it's good to see that vote of confidence.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending January 28:

• New Listings decreased 17.5% to 1,090
• Pending Sales increased 22.9% to 833
• Inventory decreased 23.5% to 17,762

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price decreased 6.5% to $145,000
• Days on Market decreased 2.3% to 141
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.7% to 90.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 33.3% to 4.8

Source:  Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors

What’s Hot With Outdoor Living Trends

It’s not quite spring yet, but it’s not too early to start thinking about the outdoors.  You can start planning your next outdoor project today and by the time the weather warms up, you'll be ready to go.

The American Society of Landscape Architects conducts an annual Residential Trends Survey. Here are some of the findings from its 2011 survey, based on what landscape architects say are very to somewhat popular outdoor living feature trends:


■96.2% rated exterior lighting as somewhat or very popular;



■94.2% fire pits and fireplaces;



■94.1% seating/dining areas;



■93.8% grills;



■89.5% installed seating, such as benches, seat walls, or ledges;



■83.5% weatherized outdoor furniture;



■74.2% counter space;

■61.3% utility storage;



■58.3% stereo systems;

■54.7% sinks;

■50.2% refrigerators



The survey also showed more interest in technology featured on the outside too, such as stereo systems, Internet access, and televisions.



Also, low-maintenance landscaping and sustainability is also getting more popular, such as water-efficient irrigation systems and rainwater harvesting.



Source:  Styled, Staged and Sold,  By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR Magazine

Open Houses: February 5, 2012

4645 Old Kent Road - Deephaven
$749,000
3 bedroom/5 bath
SqFt:  5,288
OPEN:  2:00 to 4:00

Nestled on a private lot in North Amesbury, this home offers gracious living! It is beautifully updated & designed with family and entertaining in mind. Enjoy Main Level Living with a lower level Guest Suite, Exercise Room & Custom Pub. The 5 Car Finished Garage is the perfect "Man Cave". This home is a must see! Contract for Deed financing now available. Please call 952.470.2575 for more information.

Click HERE for more information.

6461 Oriole Avenue - Chanhassen
$259,000
4 bedroom/2 bath
SqFt: 2,750
OPEN:  11:30 to 1:30

This updated 1 ½ Story home is nestled on a private .4 acre lot nestled between the City of Chanhassen and the Village of Excelsior. Experience all that Lake Minnetonka has to offer in addition to all the amenities and conveniences of Chanhassen. This sun-filled home has been freshly painted and all new carpet and flooring installed. The bright kitchen features all new appliances, hardware and fixtures. Entertain with ease in the spacious dining room and great room with wood burning fireplace. The finished lower level offers a second wood fireplace and spa-like bath. While located in Chanhassen, this home is served by the Minnetonka School District and enjoys the strong sense of community from the many festivals and events throughout the year in both Chanhassen and Excelsior.


Click HERE for more information.

Weekend Happenings: February Festival and City of Lakes Loppet

19th Annual February Festival
Lake Ann
1456 West 78th Street, Chanhassen
Saturday, February 4th, 2012
Festivities start at 12:00
Cost:  Free, Ice Fishing Contest $10/ticket

There's plenty of fun to be had outside this weekend in Chanhassen.  Come enjoy sleigh rides, bonfires, s'mores cookout, food concessions, door prizes, ice fishing contest (with live bait being sold by the boy scouts), ice skating, sledding, bingo, and the culmination of a city-wide medallion hunt (with a $750 prize)!

The weather is supposed to be perfect for being outdoors this weekend.  Enjoy!


The City of Lakes Loppet
Wirth Park, Minneapolis
Sat./Sun. February 4th and 5th, 2012
Race times and events vary
Cost:  Free to the public, registration costs for racers

The City of Lakes Loppet is a cross-country ski festival featuring the beautiful trails and lakes of the Twin Cities.  Join us on the first weekend in February for this celebration of winter in Minnesota!

A loppet is loosely defined as “any long endurance race or athletic event which occurs across varied terrain.” Cross-country skiing is the name of the game, and as for the terrain? The beautiful and (currently!) snow-dusted trails around Theodore Wirth Park.

Highlights include a snow sculpture contest, several fun and challenging Loppet races (including shorter courses for children), and a “Luminary Loppet” featuring a beautiful night-time ski around Theodore Wirth Park, lit up with thousands of ice luminaries. And don’t forget to take a break from the festivities and enjoy good food and beverages at the Surly Beer and Vendor Village (hours vary by day).


For a full listing of events and course maps, visit the City of Lakes Loppet event page.  Like City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation on Facebook.  Follow @Loppet on Twitter.

Weekly Market Update: January 30, 2012

As the first month of the year trots onward, so do home buyers. They posted increased activity levels compared to the same week in 2011. Seller activity slowed compared to last year, however. Inventory declines effectively positioned many local markets into a more balanced state – particularly toward the end of last year. Increased seller activity in the coming months could slow or even reverse that trend. Don't fret. Not only is an increase in new listings perfectly normal for this time of year, but improved absorption rates and seller concessions could begin to stew into seller confidence.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending January 21:

• New Listings decreased 8.2% to 1,092
• Pending Sales increased 29.0% to 730
• Inventory decreased 23.2% to 17,822

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price decreased 6.5% to $145,000
• Days on Market decreased 2.1% to 141
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.7% to 90.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 33.7% to 4.7

Source:  Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors

Guide to Paint Sheens: Oooo, Shiny!

This paint sheens guide can help you add the perfect finish to an infinite number of paint colors. The higher the sheen, the higher the shine. Flat paint has no shine; high-gloss is all shine. In between are eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss, each with its own practical and decorative job to do. Don’t know which sheen to pick for your situation? This paint sheens guide helps you decide which sheen will perform and look best on your walls.

In the painting world, very shiny translates to very durable. High sheen can take a lot of abuse and a lot of scrubbing. The lower the sheen, the silkier the effect; but, like silk, scrubbing will damage it.

High gloss: The most durable and easiest to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. Think appliance-paint tough. High gloss is a good choice for area that sticky fingers touch—cabinets, trim, and doors. High-gloss, however, is too much shine for interior walls (unless you want to make a big impact like the picture below). And like a Spandex dress, high gloss shows every bump and roll, so don’t skimp on prep work.

• Practical application: kitchens, door and window trim
• Durability: very high

Semi-gloss: Good for rooms where moisture, drips, and grease stains challenge walls. Also great for trim work that takes a lot of abuse.

• Practical application: kitchens, bathrooms, trim, chair rails
• Durability: high

Satin: Has a yummy luster that, despite the name, often is described as velvety. It’s easy to clean, making it excellent for high-traffic areas. Its biggest flaw is it reveals application flaws, such as roller or brush strokes. Touch-ups later can be tricky.

• Practical application: family rooms, foyers, hallways, kid’s bedrooms
• Durability: high

Eggshell: Between satin and flat on the sheen (and durability) scale is eggshell, so named because it’s essentially a flat (no-shine) finish with little luster, like a chicken’s egg. Eggshell covers wall imperfections well and is a great finish for gathering spaces that don’t get a lot of bumps and scuffs.

• Practical application: dining rooms, living rooms, libraries
• Durability: medium

Flat or matte: A friend to walls that have something to hide, flat/matte soaks up, rather than reflects, light. It has the most pigment and will provide the most coverage, which translates to time and money savings. However, it’s tough to clean without taking paint off with the grime.

• Practical application: adult’s bedrooms and other interior rooms that won’t be roughed up by kids
• Durability: medium-low

More fun sheen facts

Dark, richer paint colors have more colorant, which boosts sheen. If you don’t want a super-shiny wall, step down at least one level on the sheen scale. Ditto if you’re painting a large, sun-washed or imperfect wall.

Adding sheen also adds price: Valspar Ultra Premium eggshell costs $32, satin $33, and semi-gloss $34.

Source:  Houselogic, written by Pat Curry

Open Houses: January 29, 2012

10 George Street - Excelsior
$1,195,000
3 bedroom/3 bath
SqFt:  3,144
OPEN:  1:00 to 3:00

Nestled on 62' of level, sandy lakeshore on Gideon’s Bay, this beautiful Nantucket style home enjoys long views of Lake Minnetonka on a private lot that abuts a quiet 60’ fire lane. Beautifully updated and well maintained, this home has an open floor plan with walls of windows to take in the long lake views. The main floor includes a Gourmet Kitchen, Dining Area, Hearth & Family Room. The second floor includes a Master Bedroom with His/Her Bath and two Junior Bedrooms that share a Full Bath. The owners recently added a 2nd floor Family Room with extensive millwork, fireplace and entertainment center. French doors open to a lake-front Office or 4th Bedroom. The Lower Level includes a Laundry Room, Family Room and Full Bath. The deck is a perfect place to enjoy the lake and wraps around the front of the house with a wood fence for privacy. There’s also a hard to find 3 Car Garage and plenty of street parking for guests. Walk to the heart of historic downtown Excelsior and experience the charm and sense of community provided by this lakeside village throughout the year. Please contact Eric Stafford for more information - 952.470.2575

Click HERE for more information

6481 Pipewood Curve - Chanhassen
$529,000
4 bedroom/3 bath
SqFt: 2,787
OPEN:  2:00 to 4:00

Situated on a private, walk-out lot and offering wetland views, this custom built home features a Gourmet Kitchen with granite counters & KitchenAid appliances. The Two-Story Great Room offers an inviting gas fireplace and built-in bookcases & entertainment center. Walk to the LRT Regional trail and enjoy the charm of historic downtown Excelsior. Residents send their students to Minnetonka Schools.

Click HERE for more information

Donate Pillows to Needy Families

Weekend Happenings: St. Paul Winter Carnival

The St. Paul Winter Carnival
Downtown St. Paul
January 26 thru February 5
Click HERE for schedule of events
Cost:  Most events free to the Public

The St. Paul Winter Carnival has been around since 1886 and these days draws over 350,000 visitors each year.   The mission of the Carnival is "To foster a sense of community, pride, belonging and connectedness by celebrating Saint Paul's unique history and emerging heritage through fun and educational experiences."
 
What can you expect?  A lot!  Ice carvings, parades, coronations, art shows, a half-marathon, hockey, ice skating, sled dog races, curling, food, and music galore.  There's something for everyone, every day of the festival.  Be sure to check it out at their website, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Refrigerator Cleaning

You're stuck inside anyway, so you might as well make the most of your time and get some much needed cleaning done.  And one project that many put off for far too long, but gives huge satisfaction is cleaning the refrigerator.  Opening up that gleaming, organized cold box makes everything feel better and somehow makes the food much more enticing.

Supplies  Begin armed with serious ammunition: you'll need all-purpose cleaner, a sponge and hot water, and a steel wool scrubber in case you have gnarly spills to clean up. Disinfectant wipes ccan also be handy.

Break down the task by shelf. Start by taking out the contents of the entire top shelf. In addition to cleaning the shelf itself, be sure to wipe down the sides of the fridge, too.

Rather than simply tossing expired bottles, rinse them thoroughly so that they can either be recycled or repurposed for something else (like homemade condiments).

 
Consolidate. Sometimes several containers your most popular food can get hidden behind everything else in the refrigerator.  Condense the same unexpired items into one container.

 
Pare down your condiments by throwing away those that look funny, smell weird, or have expired. Also get rid of other items that you know you're probably never going to use.
 
 

Put like items next to one another. For instance, you may have six jars of cured or pickled vegetables, but all are different. Place them all in a line side by side in the refrigerator, so you know exactly what needs to be used up.

Wipe down stains and sticky spots on bottles. This will help keep the refrigerator as clean as possible.

If you know an item's going to expire soon (like this mustard, for instance), mark it with the label "use first." That'll help remind you to reach for the Dijon mustard that expires next month before you grab the yellow mustard that will still keep for the next year.

Remove crisper drawers completely from the refrigerator and scrub them clean with dishwashing detergent and hot water.

 
Label your herbs and spices so you know exactly what is in every bag. It only takes a minute, but it'll save tons of produce from going to waste.

Source:  YumSugar.com

Weekly Market Update: January 23, 2012

Last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that mortgage applications increased more than 23.0 percent from the week prior. The fine print stated that most of the increase was driven by refinancing activity, given record low rates. Residential construction data also provided glimmers of hope. By now, many have surely noticed that the supply-demand balance is changing. What some may not realize is that this is a leading indicator, while home prices are a lagging indicator. Price appreciation is the final phase of recovery. Excess supply is down–in some areas, it's way down. Purchase demand in most areas strengthened throughout the second half of 2011. For sellers, it's less scary out there. For buyers, it's still a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending January 14:

• New Listings decreased 5.2% to 1,216
• Pending Sales increased 28.4% to 728
• Inventory decreased 23.8% to 17,690

For the month of December:
• Median Sales Price decreased 6.5% to $145,000
• Days on Market decreased 2.5% to 140
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.7% to 90.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 35.6% to 4.6

Source:  Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors

Celebrity Listing: Vera Wang

While best known for her wedding dresses, Vera Wang is a multidimensional style icon.  She has designed couture dresses for the stars, has a clothing line and bedding line at Kohls, has designed figure skating dresses, and of course, there are the wedding dresses.

She has made New York her home for many years and continues to call it her home base.  But she travels often to Los Angeles and has been looking for a place to call home there for 10 years.  She finally found the perfect spot:  a sleek four-bedroom house in Beverly Hills.

The home is a light-drenched aerie with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that overlooks the Los Angeles Basin and the Pacific Ocean, a sweeping view that she deems "insane." The midcentury-modern abode in Trousdale Estates was built in 1967 and is classic Richard Neutra-esque Hollywood. To wit, Burt Reynolds is one of its previous occupants, a fact that amuses Wang greatly.

Ms. Wang shows off her new abode in a recent Harper's Bazaar article.  Let's take a peek, shall we?



Can you believe Ms. Wang is 62 years old?!



Source:  Harper's Bazaar

Open House: January 22, 2012

6461 Oriole Avenue - Chanhassen
$259,000
4 bedroom/2 bath
SqFt:  2,750
OPEN:  11:00 to 2:00

Nestled on a .4 acre, private lot, you’ll love the sun-filled, eat-in Kitchen, Great Room with wood burning fireplace & finished lower level walkout. Updated & in great condition with new carpet & paint throughout. Located in Excelsior Elementary and Minnetonka schools! To schedule a private showing or for more information, please call 952.470.2575.


For more information, click HERE.