Home Improvement

Your June Newsletter is Here!

June 10, 2022 by rteague Leave a Comment

Hello June! This month is heating up as we discuss all things summer-related. From our favorite “dad-approved” man cave spaces to this season’s most popular backyard design trends, we’ve got you covered. We also take a look at the Sacramento real estate market, which continues to make a big splash. Read on for the full scoop!

Check out the latest events and activities that the Greater Sacramento area has to offer.

Sacramento Events:

River Cats Schedule: Click Here For May Games
Sac Republic FC Schedule: Click Here For May Matches
Concerts in the Park: Click Here For This Year’s Schedule
Spring Concert Series in Old Folsom (Every Sunday): Click Here for the Complete Schedule
Now through June 12th (Every Saturday): Dance on the Edge of Summer
Now through June 12th: 21st Sacramento French Film Festival
Now through June 26th (Select Days): Old Sacramento Brew Boat Tours
Now through July 31st (Select Sundays): Waterfront Yoga in Old Sacramento
Now through June 30th (Every Thursday): Twilight Concert Series
June 9th: Food Truck Mania in Roseville
June 9th: ArtMIX at the Crocker
June 11th: Community Garage Sale in Old Fair Oaks
June 11-12th: Sacramento Pride Festival 2022
June 16th: Sac Hot Chicken Battle 2022
June 18th: Sacramento Water Lantern Festival 2022
June 18th: 3rd Saturdays Art Walk in Roseville
June 18th: 3rd Annual Front Street Brewfest 2022
June 18th: Concerts on the Square in Roseville
June 19th: Juneteenth Festival Weekend
June 19th: Father’s Day Car Show 2022 at BaySide in Roseville
June 25th: Taco & Margarita Festival 2022 @ Cal Expo
June 25th: Historic Folsom’s Hometown Parade
June 30th: Shawn Mendes at Golden 1 Center

Summer is the season for spending time outdoors. And what better way to enjoy your time outside than by creating an “Instagram-worthy” oasis in your very own backyard? Check out our seven favorite design trends that you can incorporate into your outdoor space!

Outdoor Kitchens: Outdoor kitchens are quickly becoming the mark of an indoor-outdoor living space. Satsha Lopez-Jaimes, Living Spaces Designer adds, “Just because it’s outdoors doesn’t mean you can’t have indoor luxury, so bring in storage or build in storage through shelving and cabinets; use shelves to display an herb garden in statement planters. To make it restaurant-esque, fill the larger kitchen space with lots of seating for dining.” Not sure what style of outdoor kitchen is suitable for your backyard? Get inspiration, tips and resources here.

Pizza Oven: Two words: Pizza oven. Over the past year, there has been a huge rise in interest in building outdoor pizza ovens. And what better way to ramp up your outdoor kitchen than with your very own outdoor pizza oven? Thankfully, adding one to your home doesn’t have to be a four-figure investment. Companies like Ooni sell portable outdoor pizza ovens for less than $400. Check out their oven here. Check out other affordable options here.

Outdoor Living Rooms: Outdoor kitchens have been on the rise for quite some time now — and while they’re not going anywhere — many homeowners are also interested in creating outdoor living rooms, according to Houzz. Not only do these spaces include stylish and durable furniture sets but many of them also have outdoor fireplaces, rugs, and TVs. Fair warning: Get ready to be the most popular hang-out spot in town! Find budget-friendly items, ideas, and inspiration here.

Fire Pits: The popularity of fire pits, tables, and outdoor fireplaces skyrocketed during the pandemic and will remain in demand this year, and for good reason. Fire pits are a surefire way to lend a cozy, communal feel to your outdoor space. Larger pits can serve as the center of a seating area, while portable ones are perfect for small patios. In terms of the latest outdoor fireplace tech, designer Raboine has another suggestion: “An update on the classic fire pit design we see becoming more popular is the fire table. Fire tables offer a sleek, linear look, which complements the modern design trend.” Check out some of 2022’s most popular fire pit and table ideas here.

Resort Aesthetics: Who wants to transform their backyard into their own private getaway? According to Pinterest, searches for “resort aesthetic” have doubled this past year, along with several other vacation-related terms. Not sure where to find this type of aesthetic? Target, for one, is featuring this trend, showcasing items including fringed patio umbrellas, boho wicker club chairs, and funky acrylic drinkware that would be perfect for piña coladas, daiquiris and, well, anything worthy of a tiny umbrella. Up your resort aesthetic game with this Maddalena Patio Chair Set, which is giving us serious vacation vibes.

Planters: Gardening remains on the rise, and even if you don’t have a spacious backyard, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get in on the action. Many companies and brands are coming up with new ways to make use of every square inch, like these affordable Plant Traps, which allow you to hang plants on the outside of your deck or balcony.

Stonescaping: If you’re sick of sky-high water bills or live in a drought-prone area, consider switching up your lawn in favor of a gravel one, which is quickly becoming the latest and most popular landscaping trend. Hardscaping not only helps you use less water but also creates a more eco-friendly backyard. Consider using pavers and gravel patches to define areas of your outdoor space, like a space for alfresco dining or playing bocce ball. Check out these stone landscaping ideas for serious inspiration.

Father’s Day rolls around on June 19th, and what better way to honor dad than with his very own man cave? Check out our top four man cave ideas to transform any ordinary space into his favorite hideaway!

Movie Theater Man Cave: Grab the popcorn and get ready to enjoy the ultimate man cave complete with ample seating, dimmed lighting, and a massive projector for dad’s viewing pleasure. Transform your basement or one of your spare rooms into an at-home movie theater by incorporating one or more of the below pieces.

Decorated Garage Man Cave: An unused garage is a perfect space for a custom man cave, providing a place for dad to unwind, relax, and entertain after a long day at work. You can easily transform your garage into a man cave and still set it up to be a garage again in the future. Check out this complete guide to converting your garage into the ultimate man cave escape and check out some of our favorite accessories below.

Bourbon Bar Man Cave: Want to transform your ordinary bar into a high-end home bar? The best part is that it won’t break the bank! With a few added accessories, dad can have the bourbon bar of his dreams. Fair warning: Other dads might flock here, making your home bar the most popular hang-out spot in town.

Sports/Game Room Man Cave: Themed man caves are in, and this one is clearly owned by a sports lover. Even if you have a small space, you can decorate tastefully to achieve a sports lover’s paradise. Not sure where to begin? Learn how to create the quintessential sports man cave here and check out our favorite accessories below.

While there’s no denying that our current market favors sellers, we are starting to see a slow but steady growth in inventory that will help eager buyers as they dive into the real estate pool. According to the Sacramento Association of Realtors, the active listing inventory increased 27.8% from March of this year to April. Compared with April of 2021, inventory is up 33.4%. As for sellers, we are still seeing very competitive sales prices. The medium sales price increased 1.7% – from $556,000 to $565,500. This figure is up 15.5% from April 2021 ($489,500).
So what does this mean for buyers and sellers? While still very competitive, data suggests that a leveling market is on the horizon.

Selling Soon? Here’s a Home Feature That Will Appeal to Many Buyers

March 18, 2022 by rteague Leave a Comment

People who are thinking of selling their house often wonder what they can do to increase its appeal to buyers. The goal of doing so is fairly obvious: maximize profit and minimize time on the market.

Many think that updating their kitchen or bathrooms, or even adding an addition, will do the trick. In a sense, they will. If you do a major renovation or addition, it’ll surely increase how much your house will sell for, and there’s a good chance it’ll sell more quickly if you do substantial upgrades before you list. But, it’ll also cost you a good chunk of time, money, and it probably won’t net you more money than the actual cost of the work.

On the other hand, there’s a simple tweak you can do to your house (if you haven’t already) that’ll increase its appeal to a lot of buyers, which is…

Create a dedicated home office space.

Home offices have been a feature buyers have liked for some time, but over the past two years they’ve become all the more appealing due to the pandemic. With the pandemic winding down — hopefully for good — it may seem like home offices won’t be as much of a draw. But that’s not likely. Here are a few reasons why a home office is still something buyers will want to see if you’re selling in the near future:

While some companies have started having employees come back into the office, many others have not. There are still plenty of companies playing it safe and having their employees work remotely.
The pandemic loosened the jar lid, so to say, and now more people are doing whatever possible to continue working from home entirely — or at least in a hybrid fashion — simply because they like the quality of life better.
Gas prices fluctuate, and they won’t be high forever, but right now they are – and there’s a good chance they’ll be that way for a while. So if you’re selling soon, working from home to save on the cost of commuting is likely on a lot of buyers’ minds.
“What if it happens again…” The pandemic is barely in the rearview mirror, and people are sensitive to needing a dedicated home office space if there’s another variant or surge, but they’re also thinking about a future pandemic. It may not have been something buyers would’ve been sensitive to a couple of years ago, but it’ll be a long time before buyers don’t think what living in a house would be like if it happens again in the future.

So if you’re thinking about selling your home in the near future and want to add some appeal, create a dedicated home office space if you don’t already have one.

You don’t need to (and probably shouldn’t) do an addition to add a home office. Just repurpose a room, or a section of one, and make it into a home office. Here are a few ideas on how to carve out some space:

If you have a spare bedroom, and it won’t take away from the marketability in your area for the likely buyer, just turn it into a home office.
If you have a finished basement, turn part of it into an office.
If you have an unfinished attic, consider turning that into an office for as little money as possible.
Section off a portion of your living room as a home office. It doesn’t need to be huge; buyers just need to see where they could set themselves up to work from home if they lived there.
Perhaps use a formal dining room, since many people don’t use them as often as they would use a home office.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer of course, but creating a home office is most likely to add appeal to your house if you’re selling in the near future.

These Are the Biggest Kitchen Trends for 2022

February 22, 2022 by rteague Leave a Comment

If you’re planning on renovating your kitchen this year, you want to make sure that the changes you’re making feel timely and on-trend.

But what, exactly, does timely and on-trend look like for 2022?

According to the 2022 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, which surveyed more than 2,300 homeowners on their recent and/or planned kitchen renovations, some of the biggest trends in kitchen design include:

Upgraded countertops. 35 percent of homeowners splurged on upgrading their countertops—with engineered quartz (42 percent) and granite (24 percent) being the most popular countertop materials.
High-tech appliances. 27 percent of homeowners upgrade their appliances during the kitchen renovation process—and 35 percent of those homeowners opt for appliances with high-tech features (like smart refrigerators), a six percent increase from 2021’s data.
Larger kitchen islands. Kitchen islands have been on-trend for years—but this year, the trend is all about larger islands. According to the data, 39 percent of homeowners are building kitchen islands that stretch 7 feet or longer—up five percentage points from 2021.

FOOD, FAMILY & FUN: 2021 THANKSGIVING GUIDE

November 18, 2021 by rteague Leave a Comment

Turkey day is just around the corner…and if you’re hosting this year, you might be feeling the pressure right around this time with all of the work that goes into preparing a Thanksgiving feast. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate guide to help with all of your Thanksgiving needs – from local activities and events, to delicious food and drink recipes organized by category, to gorgeous table setting decor ideas and more. Read on for tips, tricks, and ideas for a gobblin’ good time!

Are you staying in town this year to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family? Explore local events, happenings, and volunteer opportunities that are taking place this holiday season.

Local Events and Activities

1. Now – December 31st: Friendsgiving at the Revival
2. Now – January 16th: Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink
3. November 24th – December 24th: Theatre of Lights at the Old Sacramento Waterfront
4. November 19th – 21st: Sacramento Fall Festival
5. November 19th – January 16th: Global Winter Wonderland 2021
6. November 19th – December 12th: Elf: The Musical
7. November 20th: Holiday Sip & Shop
8. November 23rd: B looms & Bubbly: Thanksgiving Workshop
9. November 25th: Run to Feed The Hungry
10. November 25th: Historic Folsom Christmas Light Promenade
11. November 25th: Turkey Trot in Roseville
12. November 25th: Elk Grove Gobble Wobble
13. November 25th: Folsom Turkey Trot

Volunteer Opportunities

1. Donate to Loaves and Fishes Holiday Headquarters
2. Donate to Animals at The Sacramento SPCA or Front Street Animal Shelter
3. Donate to Toys for Tots (contact me today to coordinate dropping off a new, unwrapped toy to one of our office locations)
4. Donate or Volunteer at the Sacramento Food Bank

From tasty appetizers and main meal items to drinks and desserts, these Thanksgiving recipes are sure to impress everyone at the dinner table this year. So get ready to “gobble til you wobble” with these classic Thanksgiving pairings!

Tasty Appetizers: While the mains tend to steal the show on Thanksgiving, these tasty apps will keep your hangry guests happy until dinner is served!

Delicious Mains: You ain’t seen stuffin’ yet! These beloved mains will have your guests running back for seconds!

Let’s Talk Turkey:

Mashed Potato Mash-Up:

Please Pass the Sides:

Festive Drinks: From festive cocktails and punches to delicious mocktails, we have a drink for everyone to enjoy!

Delectable Desserts: Give em pumpkin’ to talk about with these over-the-top Thanksgiving pies.

Whether you’re hosting for the first time or the tenth time, your table sets the tone for your Thanksgiving feast. Create a table that’s dressed to impress with these eye-catching ideas and designs. Bonus: they won’t break the bank.

1. Set the Scene with a Harvest Centerpiece: Set the scene for your Thanksgiving feast with this show-stopping (and all-natural) apples and leaves tablescape, this gorgeous DIY cranberry candle centerpiece, or this pumpkin planter centerpiece. You can also fill the center of your table with a colorful display of pumpkins, gourds, nuts, fruits, veggies, or seasonal blooms.

2. Go Rustic This Year: Add warmth to your Thanksgiving table with white pumpkins and candles to create this lovely rustic table setting. Carry on the rustic theme to each place setting with these rustic wood table name holders and these rustic napkin rings from Amazon.

3. Add a Pop of Color with Florals: Take your Thanksgiving dinner to the next level with flowers galore. Create a simple yet elegant table by pairing your best white dishes with seasonal flowers – think orange, yellow, and red – to add a pop of color to your table.

4. Create a Kid-Friendly Tablescape: Don’t forget about the kiddos! Entertain your younger guests with a kid-friendly tablescape. Simply cover it in craft paper and add crayons to each place setting to keep them drawing all night long.

Sending warm, heartfelt wishes from my home to yours this Thanksgiving!

Thinking About Updating Your Home? Here Are Some 2021 Design Trends to Consider

August 23, 2021 by rteague Leave a Comment

When you redesign your home, you want to design it in a way that feels timely and on-trend. But what does “timely” and “on-trend” look like in 2021? The 2021 Houzz Emerging Home Design Trends Report outlined some of the year’s most popular home design trends, including:

Dedicated activity spaces. Forget craft closets. One of 2021’s biggest trends is creating an entirely dedicated room or space in the home to house the family’s favorite activity—whether that’s an art studio, a home theater, or a wine cellar.

Living room refreshes. Updating their home in general is a priority for many homeowners this year—but the room homeowners seem to be most interested in refreshing? The living room. According to Houzz’s data, searches for living rooms (which can provide homeowners design inspiration) are up 52 percent compared to 2020.

Luxury colors and materials. This year, homeowners are embracing luxury in their home design—with velvet, gold, and crystal accents all in high demand.

Your August Newsletter is Here!

August 19, 2021 by rteague Leave a Comment

Summer may be winding down but there’s still lots in store for residents and visitors alike! Soak in the last of summer with an exciting lineup of concerts, food festivals, River Cats games, airshows, and more. This month, we also explore the current real estate market where things are (finally!) starting to look up for buyers. Last but certainly not least, we’re sharing 2021’s top fall decor trends to get your home ready for the new season…because it’s never too early to stock up on seasonal candles and cozy blankets right? Read on for the full scoop.

Click on the below links to see what local events are taking place now through the end of September!

Sacramento:

River Cats Schedule
Sac Republic FC Schedule
August 20th (And Select Days): Live Music at Crawdads on the River
Now-September 31st: Front Street Water Carousel & Waterfront Wheel in Old Sacramento
Select Weekends (Friday-Sunday): Old Sacramento Underground & Time Travel Tours
August 27th: Tahoe Park Food Trucks
August 28th: 22nd Annual Race for the Arts 5K, Kids Fun Run & Arts Fest
September 5th: Chalk it Up 2021
September 9th-18th: Farm to Fork Festival (In Person)
September 9th: Legends of Wine
September 10th: Joe Rogan @ Golden1 Center
September 11th-12th: Sacramento Grilled Cheese Festival
September 11th (Every Second Saturday): Dance on the Edge @ Old Sacramento Waterfront
September 11th: Alejandro Fernandez @ Golden1 Center
September 12th: Tower Bridge Dinner 2021
September 18th: Country in the Park 2021
September 18th-19th: 2021 Crawfish & Catfish Festival
September 24th: Tahoe Park Food Trucks
September 24th-26th: California Capital Airshow
September 29th: Gold Over America Tour: Starring Simone Biles

Carmichael:

Every Sunday: Carmichael Farmers’ Market
Every Sunday: Carmichael Cars and Coffee
August 21st & 28th: Concerts in the Park
September 25th: Founders Day

Fair Oaks:

August 26th & September 30th: Concerts in the Park
August 27th: Comedy Under the Stars
August 28th: Theatre Under the Stars

Rancho Cordova/Gold River:

Every Saturday: Sunrise Light Rail Station Farmers Market
August 18th (And Select Days): At at City Hall: Abstraction
August 20th (And Select Days): Movies at the MACC
August 20th (And Select Days): Friday Night Concerts

Folsom:

August 19th & 26th: Twilight Concert Series in Historic Folsom
Every Saturday: Cars and Coffee Show at Folsom Palladio
August 21st: Health & Wellness Fair
August 27th: Rick Esterling Piano & Vocals
September 2nd: Ryan Hernandez & Band
September 17th-18th: American Pops Social
September 19th: 2021 Peddler’s Fair
September 25th: 5th Anniversary Jazz Celebration
September 26th: The Wedding Expo Experience

El Dorado Hills:

Every Sunday: El Dorado Hills Certified Farmers’ Market
Every Thursday: Live on the Boulevard at El Dorado Hills Town Center
September 19th: Gold Country Run & Sport 5K

Elk Grove:

Every Thursday: Neighborhood Market
Every Saturday: Farmers Market
August 20th & 27th: Hot Summer Nights Concert Series
August 19th (And Select Days): Diversity Month
September 1st: Food Truck Mania
September 4th: R ead to A Dog
September 30th: Cultural Connections: Hispanic Heritage Month Storytellers

Roseville:

August 19th: Food Truck Mania
August 20th & September 17th: Friday Flicks at Vernon Street Town Square
August 21st & September 18th: Concerts on the Square at Vernon Street in Roseville

Rocklin:

Now-September (Select Days): Concerts at the Quarry
August 27th & September 24th: FREE Farmers Markets at Johnson-Springview Park

Low inventory in markets across the country have been driving up prices and creating bidding wars, making it extremely difficult for many potential buyers to successfully find and purchase homes. But it looks like things are (finally!) starting to look up for buyers.

According to realtor.com’s Monthly Housing Report for July 2021, while inventory is still low, more homes are starting to hit the market. New home listings were up 6.5 percent nationally year-over-year—and up even more (11.1 percent) in large metro areas. The more homes that become available, the more options there are for buyers—and the more the market shifts in their favor. In Sacramento, the active listing inventory went up 23.5% from June to July of this year according to SAR!

“July housing trends show a market still working its way back toward some version of normal. The feverish pace of home sales is beginning to follow historical seasonal patterns, while new listings grew at an unusually high rate for the summer months, further helping the inventory crunch,” Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com, said in a recent press release. “This is shifting the housing market balance in a more buyer-friendly direction.”

So, what does this mean for you? If you’ve been struggling in your home search, the new inventory hitting the market could make it easier to successfully find and purchase a home—so get out there and start looking!

If you’re thinking about doing a bit of re-decorating to get your home ready for fall (which officially starts on September 22nd), make sure you’re on-trend by embracing all things cozy! Here are some of the top fall decor trends for 2021.

Velvet: It’s time to bring on the velvet! As far as upholstery is concerned, fall’s biggest trend is velvet – and we couldn’t be happier since this texture is perfect for creating a cozy, fall-ready ambiance. Think in terms of velvet layers, like the pillows and sofa pictured above. And don’t be afraid to embrace bold, cooler colors.

Leaves & Textures: Fall is synonymous with warm colors and cozy textures. Consider adding pumpkins and fall leaves to dining tables and family rooms to help bring that fresh fall feel into all areas of the home. You can also get creative with textures – from textured pillows, blankets, and even tabletop items such as figs and cotton – the sky is the limit!

Tarnish Accents: Cozy goes beyond fabrics and upholstery. When redecorating your home, consider incorporating distressed metals into your design to bring that soft glow into your home. Think accent tables, wall shelves, candle holders and centerpieces.

Candles: It’s hard to imagine with the recent heatwaves, but once the wind picks up and the leaves start to fall, candles will be sure to bring that warm and inviting feeling into your home – they also serve as beautiful decor and fill the home with cozy scents. Place a few votives on the fireplace, entryway table or outdoor patio to illuminate your home and add a touch of elegance.

Chunky Knits: It should come as no surprise that the arrival of fall will bring knits in every form– from sweaters and scarves to throw blankets! Knit throw blankets and pillows are a fall design favorite, but they can also work year-round when kept in neutral shades like creamy white or soft brown. You can also layer rugs, throws, and pillows along with warm colors to bring coziness into all areas of your home.

Pumpkin + Chocolate: Step aside pumpkin lattes because sweet is taking on a whole new meaning for your fall decor. Consider incorporating touches of orange and brown, in shades such as pumpkin and chocolate, to warm up any room in your home.

Russ Teague