2020 saw people spending more time at home than ever—and, for many homeowners, all that time at home drove them to tackle a variety of home upgrades.

But which upgrades proved the most popular over the past year?

A recent article from Apartment Therapy asked designers and contractors to share their most-requested home upgrades of 2020. Some of the year’s most in-demand upgrades include:

Kitchen banquettes. Homeowners spent most of 2020 cooking and eating at home—and, as such, kitchen banquettes, which make for a stylish, personal, and cozy space to share meals, were among the most requested home upgrades this year.

Sanitizing stations. Because proper sanitation was so important in fighting COVID, 2020 saw many homeowners requested “sanitation stations” in their entryways—complete with storage for hand sanitizer, gloves, mask, and other sanitation essentials.

Functional closets. With many people spending the majority of their time at home in 2020, no one wanted to stare at a messy, disorganized closet—which is why renovations to make closets more organized, functional, and streamlined were among the most requested home upgrades in 2020.

So, what does this mean for you? If you’re thinking about upgrading your home, these in-demand upgrades are a great place to start—and if you’re thinking about buying a property in 2021, make sure to keep an eye out for these upgrades.

When it comes to renovating your home, there are few renovations that have as much of an impact as hardwood floors. But if you want your hardwood floors to feel stylish and on-trend in 2021, what kind of flooring should you install—or, if you’re renovating existing flooring, what kind of updates should you be considering?

A recent article from realtor.com outlined 2021’s biggest trends in hardwood flooring, including:

• Natural colors and stains. 2020 was a challenging, hectic year (to say the least!). In 2021, homeowners are looking for homes to inspire feelings of relaxation and tranquility—which, for hardwood floors, translates to natural colors and stains.
• Rift-cut floors. Thanks to its unique-yet-functional style, rift-cut floors are poised to be everywhere in 2021. With rift-cut floors, planks are milled in a way that’s perpendicular to the wood’s growth rings, creating a floor that’s equal parts clean and uniform and unique and eye-catching.
• Longer boards. Longer hardwood boards create the illusion of a larger space—and because people are spending so much time at home, this visual trick is going to be a go-to for floor renovations in the upcoming year.

While the most wonderful time of the year is right around the corner, it’s safe to say that our holiday festivities might look a little different amid the growing pandemic. This year, we have been asked to forgo our large celebrations with extended family and keep within our immediate “family bubbles”. It’s easy to feel discouraged and alone during a time like this, but now more than ever, it’s important to appreciate the gift of health, our loved ones, and the magic of the holiday season.

I hope to bring some much-needed holiday cheer in this month’s newsletter, which covers everything from the best light displays, to family-friendly holiday activities, to socially distanced local events and happenings!

You can still make this holiday a memorable one while keeping yourself, your family, and your community safe with these local (and virtual) happenings in and around your area:

Virtual Philharmonic Performances
What: The Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera is offering a digital series, so you can live stream these amazing performances from your home! Concert links are available with a gift of $25 or more. The streams will go live at 7:00 pm the evening of the concert and will be available for up to 30 days afterwards.
When: Saturday, December 19th at 7:00 pm
Where: Donate online to the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera to receive a link.

Curbside Shopping With Santa
What: Curbside Holiday is a wonderful opportunity for your kids to see Santa while shopping safely and locally. Shop online with local favorites like Capital Books, the Crest Theatre, the Kitchen Table, and more! You’ll select a pickup window and Santa will bring your gifts directly to your car!
When:
Saturday, December 19th from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 20th from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Where: Shop online at curbside holiday and pick up your gifts in the designated zone between 1011 and 1013 K Street.

 

A Christmas Carol Livestream
What: Manual Cinema is bringing a breathtaking reinvention of “A Christmas Carol” to audiences of all ages. This new take on a holiday classic is presented by the Mondavi Center at UC Davis.
When:
Friday, December 18th at 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 19th at 5:00 pm
Sunday, December 20th at 4:00 pm
Where: Get tickets from the Mondavi Center.

 

Outdoor Ice Skating
What: Treat your family to an afternoon of outdoor ice skating in Historic Folsom! To make sure you stay safe, please observe social distancing and wear a mask while skating.
When: Open now through January 18th.
Where: Purchase tickets online to skate at the rink located at 200 Wool Street, Folsom CA.
Dance Gavin Dance Tower Bridge Livestream
What: Tree City Sessions Volume 2 features Dance Gavin Dance performing a fan-voted setlist featuring hits and tracks that have never been played live, all from the bands hometown in Sacramento on the iconic Tower Bridge.
When: Saturday, December 19th, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Where: Purchase your tickets here for this virtual event.

 

Waterfront Wheel in Old Sacramento
What: Located at the newly activated Waterfront Park (in front of Rio City Café), a visually-exciting and whimsical 65’ Ferris wheel, operated by Brass Ring Amusements, Inc, will take center stage for the holidays. Rides offered now through January 31, 2021.
When: Rides offered now through January 31, 2021.
Where: Purchase your tickets here to ride the Waterfront Wheel at 1150 Front Street, Sacramento CA.

Wondering where you can catch a dazzling light display this year from the comfort of your car? Check out some of my favorite holiday light displays!

1. Bayside Christmas Lights Drive-Thru in Roseville (Now through December 31): Join Bayside for its 5th Annual Christmas Lights Drive-Thru that is sure to delight the entire community. Round up your loved ones, jump in the car, listen to your favorite Christmas music, and enjoy a mile of spectacular lights! Free tickets are required to manage traffic flow and are limited. Click here to learn more.
2. East Sacramento’s Fab 40s Christmas Lights (Neighborhood Event): Grab your hot chocolate and bundle up while you admire this classic, established East Sacramento neighborhood for its beautiful homes and brilliant light displays. This neighborhood is transformed into a winter wonderland during the holiday season with lights and garland draped around the tree-lined streets.
3. Pebble Creek Christmas Lights in Rocklin (Neighborhood Event): This neighborhood has been attracting spectators for years with its popular Disney-themed homes and elaborate light displays! Stroll through the neighborhood by foot at a safe distance from others or bundle up in the car and roll down the windows for an impressive display of lights!

Please visit CaliforniaChristmasLights.com or SacBee.com for a full directory of homes displaying lights.

Are you going a little stir-crazy in your home this year? Relish in all that this holiday season has to offer by baking a dessert, playing a game with your family, or creating your very own DIY hot chocolate bar. Check out some of these festive ideas below.

1. Liven Things Up With Christmas Karaoke: There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than with some Christmas Karaoke! Liven up the party with Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” or classics like “Jingle Bell Rock”. Spotify has some great Christmas Karaoke playlists. Check them out here. YouTube also has a great selection of free Karaoke playlists.
2. Host a Gingerbread House Competition: Show off your decorating skills with this sweet holiday activity that the entire family will enjoy. Add an element of competition by having each family member create their own…winner gets to open the first present on Christmas morning! You can also include the extended family by setting up a Zoom call for an online competition. Purchase your gingerbread making kits here.
3. Plan a Christmas Craft Day: Entertain the kiddos with an afternoon full of holiday-themed arts and crafts like this fun DIY ornament making activity. Check out some other crafts ideas to make your home merry and bright here.
4. Create Your Own Candles for the Perfect Holiday Gift: Spread the holiday cheer with these DIY scented candles, which make the perfect Christmas gift! It’s surprisingly easy, plus there are dozens of essential oils that make delightful Christmas scents. Think frankincense, cinnamon, vanilla, and Douglas fir.
5. Host a Family Game Night: Christmas games are a fun way for the family to come together—and dedicating your evening to playing a few is an easy way to infuse a regular old Friday night with some holiday joy. There are tons of options including Christmas movie trivia, holiday charades, a kid-friendly scavenger hunt, festive Mad Libs, or a good old fashioned board game.
6. Whip Up These Adorable Snow Globe Cupcakes: These Snow Globe Cupcakes topped with edible gelatin bubbles are the perfect treat to serve up during the holidays. Check out the recipe here.
7. Set Up Your Own Hot Chocolate Bar: Any hot chocolate lovers out there? Make a big batch of hot chocolate and set out plenty of toppings—think marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles, and crushed peppermints—then let everyone in the family go to town. Learn how to set up a hot chocolate bar here.
8. Host a (Socially-Distant) Cookie Swap: For a socially-distant spin on the Cookie Swap tradition, invite 5-10 people to participate, and ask each person to drop a half-dozen cookies on the doorstep of each participant. Check out some delicious holiday cookie recipes here.

 

Wishing you and your loved ones joy, good health, and some much needed holiday cheer this Christmas season!

On cold winter nights, there is nothing better for the soul than nestling with friends and family in a home that’s cozy, warm and welcoming. No one knows this better than the Scandinavians, who have taken the concept of snug and inviting and made it into an art form.

In countries like Sweden, Denmark and Norway, the winters are long, starting as early as October and lasting until April or May. Snow blankets the land and temperatures remain well below freezing. On the days it can be seen, the sun remains low in the sky and sets before 4p.m. In this type of climate, inviting and comfortable surroundings are not a choice, they are a necessity. So much of a necessity, that there’s actually a word that describes the idea of comfy and snug – koselig.

Koselig (pronounced kush-lee) can be loosely translated as cozy, but it means much more than that. Take the best parts of Christmas and combine them with a roaring fire in a timbered ski lodge and throw in the feeling you get when you wear your favorite sweater and you’ll have an idea of what koselig means. It goes without saying that when it comes to getting through winter in style, koselig is the way to go.

This article demonstrates some of the best and easiest ways to make your home absolutely koselig this winter. So, grab that comfy throw and a cup of hot chocolate and let’s get started!

1. Use Warm Layers of Light

Humans are creatures of light. We react emotionally to the light that we see. If you don’t believe this, think about how harsh fluorescent lighting makes you feel. Now, think about firelight. See the difference?

One of the easiest ways to make your home feel cozy and warm is by using warm light that’s layered. Use dimmer switches on overhead and ceiling lights to create ambiance and try three-way bulbs in table and floor lamps. Also remember that string lighting is not only for the holidays. Use strings of white lights along bookcases, cabinets and archways to create a comfortable and warm look that will drive away that winter chill.

2. Bring on the Textiles

In the Middle Ages, people put beautiful tapestries on their walls to keep them warmer. Today, you can do the same thing by using rugs and blankets around your home.

Start in your entryways. Rugs, runners and mats near your entry doors not only sop up the wet from winter boots and shoes. They also set a warm and welcoming tone for your family and guests when they come in from outside. There’s a reason that they’re called welcome mats.

If you have hardwood floors, you can never have too many rugs, especially in places that people don’t expect them. Place a rug under your kitchen table to keep feet warm and comfortable. Rugs in your bathrooms covering up cold tile floors are also a nice touch.

Don’t forget using textiles on the surfaces in your home. Use seasonal runners and mats on tabletops, counters and dressers. Have plenty of throws and comfy blankets on the backs of couches and chairs.

Use floor-length drapes as window coverings. They not only provide additional insulation value, they also make you feel more insulated from the frightful weather outside.

In addition, remember that drapes aren’t only for windows. A strategically placed set of drapes in an archway or foyer can make a room feel much more cozy and intimate. When not in use, they can be swagged back and still look good.

3. Where There’s Fire, There’s Warmth

If you have a fireplace or wood stove in your home, you already have the #1 way to make your home koselig this winter. Nothing feels better or is more inviting that the heat, warmth and light of a fire. Keeping wood and fire tools near the fireplace contributes to the good vibes, even when the fire is out.

If you have a fireplace, don’t forget about your mantle. It’s the perfect place to deck out in more textiles, candles and knickknacks that add to that welcoming feeling.

Speaking of candles, you don’t need a fireplace to get the warm feeling of firelight in your home. Candles are a wonderful way to make any room in your home feel more snug and cozy. Use candles of different sizes, from tea lights to pillars, to create a mood that will make your family and guests feel warm and comfortable inside no matter how cold and dark it gets outside.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if you’re like me, you might be wondering how you can celebrate safely this year amid the pandemic…Many of us will forgo our usual traditions and spend this holiday away from our extended family and friends. But that doesn’t mean you can’t think outside of the box and create new traditions. This year is an opportunity to switch things up and show your family, friends, and community all of the ways that you’re thankful for them – even if it can’t be done in person. Below are a few creative ideas to help you celebrate Turkey Day, 2020-style.

This year, we are encouraged to celebrate Thanksgiving “al fresco”, as outdoor gatherings are deemed significantly safer than indoor ones. And with the forecast showing plenty of sunshine and a high of 63 degrees in the Sacramento area, it’s not totally out of the question. So grab some outdoor heaters, crank up that fire pit and throw on a sweater and warm attire for a memorable outdoor celebration. If you are celebrating with different households, create a potluck station where each household can take turns loading up on their favorite dishes. Check out some of the below essentials—from kitchenware to décor – for a successful outdoor gathering. You might find that you already have some of these items lying around the house…

Outdoor Heaters Fire pit Throw Blankets Stainless Steel Coffee Urn Hot Chocolate Bar Slow Cookers Champagne/wine bucket stand Folding Tables

Folding Chairs DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards Thanksgiving Centerpiece Festive Chargers Stemless Wine Glasses Flatware collection Dinner Napkins

 

 

 

If you are unable to celebrate with extended family and friends, consider organizing a virtual Thanksgiving experience with your loved ones. Not sure how to set up a Zoom call? Check out this helpful guide.

Recipe Swap: Participate in a Thanksgiving recipe swap, where you can share your favorite recipes, test them out and set up a Zoom call for a taste test challenge! You can easily exchange family recipes online using one of these existing Google Doc templates.

Game Night: Who loves game night? Host a virtual game night with these 10 kid-friendly games (Thanksgiving themed of course) that can be played easily from behind the screens. You can also make a game out of these Thanksgiving Trivia questions, where the winner receives an e-gift card or prize of your choice.

Macy’s Parade: For many of us, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together is a favorite tradition, and this year they are going virtual. So why not go virtual as well and watch along with your extended family and friends using Zoom or FaceTime? Find out how you can tune in here.

Zoom Dinner: Last but certainly not least, consider hosting a virtual Thanksgiving dinner with loved ones that are not able to attend using Zoom or Facetime. Set up a call using your phone or laptop and share your meal as you normally would, go around the table and say what you are thankful for, catch up with the family…the possibilities are endless!

This Thanksgiving, it’s especially important to help those in need as many have been affected by this pandemic, both health-wise and financially. Below are some ways that you can donate your time, money, and resources to charitable organizations, businesses, and community members.

Support Our Local Restaurants: Many of our local restaurants are especially hurting during this time. Consider ordering takeout this year at one of your favorite spots. Check out Sac Bee’s list of restaurants that are offering delicious Thanksgiving feasts. OpenTable® also has a growing list of its own—see what made the list here.

Help Out a Neighbor in Need: Volunteer to go grocery shopping for a neighbor or friend who may be at-risk or elderly.

Donate to a Food Bank or Shelter: Find a local food kitchen or shelter that may need your help this year. Donate your time or money to the Sacramento Food Bank here or a local shelter here.

Give Back to our Furry Friends: Our furry friends need love too! Volunteer, donate, or adopt a pet at a local shelter, including The Sacramento SPCA or the Front Street Animal Shelter.

Run to Feed the Hungry (Virtual Event): Participate in the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ first-ever, Virtual Run to Feed the Hungry event.

Meals on Wheels: Find a Meals on Wheels near you and sign up to volunteer. This widespread organization is committed to supporting our senior neighbors to live healthier and more nourished lives in their own homes.

 

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

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed what many people are looking for in their homes—and, as such, it’s shifted major home and design trends.

And it looks like many of those trends are going to continue long after the pandemic is over.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined the pandemic-related housing and design trends that are likely to stick around post-COVID, including:

• A shift to the suburbs. Many city dwellers are leaving crowded urban areas in search of more space in the suburbs—and now that more companies are going remote (and workers aren’t tied to any particular city), it’s likely that trend is going to continue.
• Clean and cozy design. People are spending more time at home than ever before—and they’re trying to make their homes feel as clean, cozy, and comfortable as possible. Open floor plans, lighter wall colors, decluttering, and simple design accents are on trend right now—and are likely to continue to be on trend moving forward.
• Prime outdoor space. Because people are home so often, having an outdoor space is more important than ever—and backyards and other outdoor spaces are primed to be one of the most in-demand home features for buyers well into 2021 (and beyond).

So, what does this mean for you? Whether you’re thinking about selling your home today or sometime after the pandemic subsides, it’s important to understand the most in-demand trends; that way, you can frame your property in a way that appeals to potential buyers—and have a more successful home sale as a result.