Category Archives: home decor

Household Items Every Engaged Couple Should Register For (and a few things to skip)

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register Household Items Every Engaged Couple Should Register For (and a few things to skip)

My Husband and I Scanning Away in Macy’s

Setting up a wedding registry was one of my favorite things my husband and I did together when we got engaged. We walked into Macy’s and were overwhelmed with excitement once our consultant handed over the scan gun.

Our only problem…we didn’t know where to start! Did we really need a rice cooker? How many decorative pillows would our bed really need? And what about that mixer everyone always talks about…which model was the one everyone says is a must have?

Of course I did my homework before hand by scouring TheNest.com and other wedding websites. However, as an only child and one of the first of my friends to get married I felt a little lost once that woman handed us the scan gun.

Now that I am coming up on my second year of marriage I have a pretty good idea of what items were smart choices and which I could have done without. Originally I planned to base this list on my own registry but then quickly realized many of my friends and family read my blog posts and I wouldn’t want to insult anyone by telling them I returned or (cough) re-gifted their presents. Instead I polled my own friends and our friends on the Coldwell Banker Facebook Page.

This in no way covers everything a couple will need but it certainly gives some interesting insights. Here is what I learned:

Must Haves

  • KitchenAid® Mixer (Most suggested Item!)
  • Coffee Maker
  • Good Vacuum (Believe me, a good one makes cleaning much more enjoyable! I highly suggest bagless)
  • Pots & Pans
  • Multiple Sets of Bedding
  • Glass Bakeware
  • Knife Block Set
  • Everyday Plates
  • Toaster
  • Crock Pot
  • Serving platters & bowls
  • Drinking Glasses

Will You Really Use?

  • China (Most debated item. Some say it’s still packed in boxes and others said it was their favorite item)
  • Ice Bucket
  • Crystal
  • Ice Cream Maker: As my coworker Anna put it so eloquently “Too much work. You know what’s easier? Picking up a pint of Haagen Daz.” PS while on the subject of ice cream…skip the scooper too. A spoon works just as good :)

Interesting Ideas

  • A Meat Slicer
  • Hot Dog Griller (Yes, I chuckled too but Ashley Houseman, an agent with Coldwell Banker Morris Realty, Inc., said this is one of her most favorite items!)
  • Cordless Drill (Bonus if it has screwdriver attachments)
  • Wok
  • Vacuum Sealer
  • Air Mattress (This has been a lifesaver for us)

Some Final Advice

1) Register early

A common question many engaged couples wonder is when they should register. Joe and I registered before our engagement party. Family and friends were happy to bring an actual wrapped gift instead of writing a check.

2) Register at multiple stores

It is perfectly fine to register at more than one location. It is wise to register with at least one store that has a brick and mortar store as some people may not be comfortable shopping online.

3) Don’t be afraid to think big!

You may think registering for a big ticket item sounds greedy but it will provide your loved ones an opportunity to buy a group gift, so shed that fear and $can away!

Thank you to all who helped with this list!

Cover image via Flickr user the queen of subtle

Did we leave something out or do you disagree with one of the items? Leave a comment!

We Promise You’ve Never Seen a Pool Like This

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You know that list you make every time you dream about hitting the lottery…you know the one. Not the one that includes paying off student loans, other debts and helping friends and family in need. It’s the fun one, meant for big dreams of lavish luxuries and gadgets that are only bought by people who have money to blow. It goes something like this:

lottery We Promise Youve Never Seen a Pool Like This

If this list continued, it would become a laundry list of amazing things that my spectacular mansion would have. This pool would definitely be on that list.

hiddenpool02 We Promise Youve Never Seen a Pool Like This

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the top 5 reasons why this pool is AWESOME!

  1. It saves space! For those who don’t have enough room for a patio and pool it offers the best of both worlds.
  2. It works fast. You can turn your pool into a patio in just 2 minutes.
  3. It is fun for the whole family because of the variable depths! This pool has 3 different depth settings which allow little ones and pets to enjoy shallow water and teenagers and grownups to enjoy. The depth settings include: Splash Pool: 0″-12″, Puddle Pool: 12″-36″, and Full Depth AKA Big Kid Pool: 50″-72″ which is perfect for my personal favorite…the Cannon Ball!
  4. Its energy efficient. According to hiddenwaterpools.com, this pool requires substantially less energy to heat the pool water since the patio is manufactured with composite materials that create a thermal blanket above the water.
  5. It is safe. When the pool isn’t being used the patio pops back up which can avoid accidental drowning or water related injuries that can occur with a conventional pool.
  6. (Ok I know I said 5 but this is a bonus) This video is set to James Bond music! Any pool that is worthy of having the Bond theme gets an automatic boost in cool factor.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

A Grown Up Way for Displaying Posters in Your Home

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openframe2 A Grown Up Way for Displaying Posters in Your HomeRemember the days of hanging up posters in your room? A Star Wars poster on your bedroom door perhaps? Maybe Michael Jordan in a tongue wagging pose over a cowering John Stockton? Or was it Donnie Wahlberg from his NKOTB days?

Whatever your choice of wall art was there was something great about being able to hang whatever you wanted on your walls and posters or small pictures were pretty easy to tack up on the wall and replace as you saw fit. But now you’re a home owner. Sticky-tacking decor to your wall is no longer acceptable. Hanging artwork officially become a hassle, and don’t even get me started when you take the time to perfectly hang something and then someone decides they want to move it. Painful.

And then what do you do with all those posters and prints that  you have? Custom framing is ridiculously expensive. That’s where OpenFrame comes in. It’s a novel concept from Jeff Sheldon of ugmonk.com & designer, Matthew Smith.

openframe1 A Grown Up Way for Displaying Posters in Your Home

OpenFrame takes the ease of those old days of tacking up posters and turns it into a grown-up version for the modern day homeowner. The video above shows it perfectly, but if you prefer reading instead of watching stuff, read on.

Made in the USA, OpenFrame gives you multiple sizes for a wooden “open” frame that has a magnetic board embedded in it. Using rare earth magnets, you can then hang a poster, print, photos or whatever on the open frame and have the ability to swap out what’s on the frame whenever your heart desires.

OpenFrame is planning to be offered in a variety of finishes and sizes so it’ll fit pretty much any type of home decor.

OpenFrame is currently on Kickstarter and being touted as “a simple, flexible way to display prints & photos.” Click here for more details.

Every Child Needs This In Their Room

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afraid of the dark Every Child Needs This In Their RoomThere are two things that seem to terrify most children when they are alone in their room at night…”monsters” in the closet/under the bed and darkness. You can blame it on scary movies, TV shows and video games but this fear seems to set in way before children have exposure to any of these things. I have discovered a product that solves both of these problems.

A nightlight has always been a common fixture in the bedroom of young ones. For some reason that little spark of light keeps all the “bad things” the darkness brings away and gives children peace of mind. According to cleveland.com, 32% of children even sleep with their light on. The product in the video above takes the traditional nightlight to a whole new level.

I recently discovered the greatest “monster deterrent” I have ever laid eyes on and knew I had to share it with our readers. I feel every child over the age of 2 would love to have this in their bedroom. It is a product  called Glo Nightlight made by boon…yes Glo without a W…which makes the name cooler. Unlike a standard night light that only illuminates one part of the room, the Glo Light has three removable lights that can be placed around the room.

Here are the top 4 reasons why this nightlight is so cool…

1) It has removable, illuminated Glo balls. This is by far the coolest feature. Children (and adults) can take a ball with them on their walk to the bathroom or anywhere else in the house. The light lasts for up to 30 minutes.

remoable Every Child Needs This In Their Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) It changes colors! Take a look at the video above to see a demo of this multi-colored interactive night light. You can select your favorite color or let the colors circulate all night.

lights Every Child Needs This In Their Room

 

 

 

 

3) They are safe. There’s nothing electronic in them, so they don’t get warm and they won’t break which means you can tuck your child into bed and they can hold on to one.

sleep Every Child Needs This In Their Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) According to boon, it is 95% effective at keeping monsters away all night long. What other nightlight can make a claim like that?!

Of course, this light isn’t just for kids. Adults can enjoy this innovative light as well. Read more about the boon Glo Nightlight here.

4 Affordable Ways to Make Over Your Living Room

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It is easy to lose track of time looking at the thousands of beautiful rooms on Pinterest in the home decor section. A majority of the photos look like they came straight out of a decor magazine which, quite frankly, makes me feel like the worst decorator…of ever. Seriously, who has the time and money to make their living room look like this?! Does anyone even really live in the home above? It is perfect!

While you may not have the time, or money, to decorate like a pro, here are 4 ways you can give your living room a make over:

Rethink your Floor Plan

couch 4 Affordable Ways to Make Over Your Living Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resist the urge to push your couches right up to the wall. This may be difficult in smaller living rooms but if you can you pull  your couch even a few inches away from your wall it will actually make your room appear larger. Doing this will also create a room that fosters more intimate conversations areas.

Choose the Right Rug

rug 4 Affordable Ways to Make Over Your Living Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

The elements in a room should be connected, both visibly and physically, says Coral Nafie, About.com’s interior decorating guide. She adds, a rug on the floor adds color and a connection between pieces of furniture. The rug should be tucked under the front legs of chairs, sofas, and tables.

Declutter

declutter 4 Affordable Ways to Make Over Your Living Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ve heard the famous line “Less is more” right? Well the same thing can be said for home decor. Take inventory of everything in your room that isn’t furniture. This includes pictures, knick knacks, collectibles and anything else in the room you have collected over the years. Give a value to these things, sentimental or monetary, and get rid of the items that you can bare to part with. Clutter makes a room look disorganized and small. By reducing the amount of items in your room your special items will stand out even more than before. You can always store items and rotate them every season, this way your room is always getting an update. The best part about this tip? It’s free!

Perk Up Your Neutral Palette by Embracing Color

PopofColor 4 Affordable Ways to Make Over Your Living Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neutral colors are of course safe and when thinking about selling your home they are best to use. However, pops of color are a must when reinventing a living space. If you are not ready to commit to adding a bold color of paint to your walls there are several other options you can consider. A neutral background is the perfect canvas for colorful lamps, throw pillows, art and other colorful accessories. Allow Mother Nature to help! You can seem in the image above adding plants and flowers are an easy way of adding color and personality to a room. Of course a beautiful fragrance is an added bonus.

Need decor ideas? Check out real life examples from homeowners who have listed their homes with Coldwell Banker here.

A Luxury Ping Pong Dining Room Table

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In the middle of a nice dinner with friends, haven’t you ever just wanted to clear the table and throw down with a game of ping pong? Of course you have.

Well now you can actually do it in style. Table & Tennis has this incredible dining room table that also doubles as a ping pong table which is perfect for those lush dinner parties you host in your home. This isn’t just your run of the mill table either. It has a walnut veneer and drawers at each end to store your ping pong paraphernalia.

You better act now if you want this luxury table tennis piece in your dining room. Table & Tennis are only taking reservations until March 1.

Oh and the table will set you back $6,600.

Click here for all the details at Table & Tennis.

 

Image courtesy of Table & Tennis

Throw an Award Winning Oscar Party at Your Home

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leah gregg Throw an Award Winning Oscar Party at Your Home


Image Courtesy of Leah Gregg

By this point in February, most of the country has spent the better part of the past few months bundling up, shoveling ridiculous amounts of snow and scraping ice off of our windshields each morning before work. Oh…and hibernating too.

Speaking personally, the deep freeze of the winter months sends me into hibernation mode and I tend to see less of the people I care about most. If you’re like me and are looking for a fun way to reconnect with friends and family, and happen to be a fan of movies and the celeb filled Academy Awards, then throwing your own Oscar viewing party at home might be just what the doctor ordered! Here are some sure fire tips to help you pull off an Oscar party worthy of any A (or B) Lister.

  1.  Make it an Event! – The most obvious but very important first step is to build some “buzz” around your Oscar party within your close circle of friends. Set the right tone by creating and sending award show inspired eVites via eVite. Hat tip to the good folks over at Business Insider on the great find!
  2. Take a queue from Justin Timberlake, Suit & Ties Only – If you want to kick the awesomeness level of your party up a notch. Require that your soiree attendees come dressed up, like they were really at the Oscars!
  3. Roll out the Red Carpet - One of the signature parts of Oscar night are the red carpet arrivals and interviews that happen right before the actual ceremony begins. You can buy a 15 foot red carpet runner for $7 at Party City. Right before your guests arrive, roll that red carpet out! Designate someone in your family as the paparazzi and take some photos of your decked out guests. Post to Facebook immediately! If you really want to be creative, you can even film them on your iPhone and edit a fun video together after the fact.
  4. Bubbles – As your guests enter your home, usher them to your dining room where you would have already dressed it up for a cocktail hour (or half hour). You should have some light hor dourves on tap and make sure to have something bubbly for your guests to drink. Either sparkling cider, champagne or soda. Since the Oscars are the most upscale of all the award shows, bust out that nice China you keep in the kitchen cabinet for most of the year. Or head over to your local party store and purchase some fancy looking plastic champagne glasses, chargers and plates. Most important part: enjoy good conversation
  5. The big screen – A bit before the show begins, lead your guests to the room with your biggest screen. This should be where you all watch the Academy Awards. For a few bucks, you can spruce your space up by making it festive with some award show related decorations. Party supply stores like Party City have a slew of cheap decorations you can purchase to add some pizzazz to your shindig. Simple touches like hanging decorations and scene setters like this $5 red curtain hollywood decor panel can go a long way to creating the festive ambiance and mimicking the actual award show. Want to go the extra mile? Rent or buy a popcorn machine! 
  6. It’s all fun and games – What’s a party without some games? Oscars.org provides some downloadable/printable ballots that you can hand out before your party begins which are an absolute must have for any Oscar party. You can even up the stakes by giving away a prize to the winner who guesses the most categories correctly. Here are a few other cool game ideas
      • Oscar Bingo
      • Film Trivia
      • Six Degrees of Separation (i.e. How are Ben Affleck and Steve Urkel connected? Well, Affleck was in Armageddon with Bruce Willis who did Die Hard with the Father from Family Matters, which was the show headlined by Steve Urkel! lol)
      • Guess Who I Am
      • Oscar Party Pool

7. Celebs get gifts – Word on the street is that Oscar presenters get amazingly expensive gift bags just for showing up and reading a few words off the teleprompter. While you won’t have the budget for that, be sure to leave each guest with a small gift bag to take home as a token of your appreciation. You can get Hollywood themed party bags at any party store and you can get as creative as you’d like with your gifts: Chocolates, candy, cards, $5 gift cards or anything from the bargain bins at Target!

And there you have it! With a little bit of pre-planning and very little cost, you can have an Academy Awards party at home to make any A Lister jealous. The official Oscar’s website offers an “Oscar Party Kit” complete with non-alcoholic and alcoholic drink recipes, game ideas and even appetizer recipes. Either way, CB Believes that you should have a little fun everyday, but especially Sunday, February 24th when the world comes together to watch the Oscars.

Cheers!

Tips On How to Add Color to Your Home Without Going Overboard

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pinterest 2 Tips On How to Add Color to Your Home Without Going Overboard

Table accessories are a great way to add color

Striking a delicate balance in your home’s decor between relaxed sophistication and engaging pops of color can be a challenge to say the least. Go a little too color happy and it will look like your children decorated your home while you were at work; stray a little too on the conservative side and you might end up with a sterile look more reminiscent of a hospital than a home.

If you want to create a warm and sophisticated atmosphere in your home, but also love some edge with color, LXTV Open House asked New Jersey based interior designer Uma Stewart to give a few extremely simple tips on how to achieve balance.

Living Rooms: If you’re into sophisticated, formal and comfortable living rooms, Uma Stewart suggests going with muted colors like grey and beige. The trick is to select muted colors with colorful undertones. In the video from LXTV Open House, she chose undertones of blue and orange which you can support by purchasing art and accessories in those colors.

pinterest1 Tips On How to Add Color to Your Home Without Going Overboard

Use artwork for easy pops of color

Dining Rooms: For the most part, dining rooms should be a little more sophisticated and formal. Stewart recommends a white space but color can be easily added with simple anchoring accessories like a colorful table runner. You can support that pop of color withtable settings like silverware and napkin rings.

Master Bedrooms: In the client’s home that designer Uma Stewart shows us, she aimed to create a luxurious oasis for them; and don’t we all want that? Her plan of attack was to choose a natural color that “blends well wit neutrals but gives the eye something to look at.”

Master Bathrooms: Contrast is always nice but remember that it shouldn’t deviate from the decor of the master bedroom. Uma went with pale green in the bedroom so she used pale green in the bathroom but complimented it with rich dark browns to give the bathroom a nice contrast look. Soft muted colors like pale green in bathrooms also give off that spa like feel

So to recap, Uma Stewart’s top 3 tips on how to decorate with color without overpowering the design aesthetic of your home are:

1. Stick with bright pops of color on your artwork and accessories
2. Opt for muted colors on your furnishings
3. Pale washes of color on the wall work well. Even textured looks spice things up a bit.

 

 

Red Hot Decor Inspired By Taylor Swift

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redTswift Red Hot Decor Inspired By Taylor SwiftThe Grammy Awards are less than two weeks away and Coldwell Banker is putting the final touches on the new 2013 commercial which will premiere during the show.  A former Grammy winner and one of this year’s performers has inspired us to create today’s post. It also just so happens to be “Wear Red Day” to support the fight against heart disease in women.

Nashville’s country-pop princess Taylor Swift has made her affinity for all things red crystal clear. She’s often seen wearing red lipstick and dresses, performs with a red microphone and she even entitled her recent album (up for a Grammy) “Red.” Below are 8 Red Hot homes that we think T Swift would fall in love with.

1. Villa Monticello in Irvine, CA – $6,500,000

You don’t have to be Taylor to fall in love the gorgeous red terra cotta colored walls of this stunning Villa. With panoramic views of the canyon and the golf course, Villa Monticello may well be the finest estate on the market in Shady Canyon. The front exterior highlights are courtyards, beautiful stonework, an elevated terraced garden, petite vineyard with citrus trees and 500 white roses flowering as hedges.

Currently listed by Jerry Snyder with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Newport Beach, CA.

2. Extraordinary Paul Williams Traditional Estate in Beverly Hills, CA – $15,995,000

Miss Swift is used to the glitz and glamour of the red carpet and the future homeowner of this house will feel like a star when they enter this glamorous foyer that features a stunning spiral staircase accentuated by a 2-story glass window. This luxurious foyer establishes the focal point of the estate and links the public rooms. The grounds of this estate are truly majestic, meticulously landscaped with patios, lawns, secret gardens, enclosed cabana/outdoor dining room, pool, spa, and pool house.

Currently listed by Jade Mills with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Beverly Hills, CA.

3. 14 Bedroom Mansion with Diplomatic Overlay in Washington, DC – $4,999,995

The Edward Stotesbury Mansion in Dupont Circle.  Built by Architect Walter Paris in 1883, this red mansion of marble and stone envelops you in the grandeur of a bygone era. It is an excellent example of Richardson Romanesque architecture.

Currently listed by Michael Gerrior with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Washington, DC.

4. Spectacular Mountain Views in Paradise Valley, AZ – $6,873,000

Taylor is on tour for a good part of the year, and most likely doesn’t get to enjoy her kitchen too often, but we have a feeling she would love the red tray ceiling in this kitchen. This home is enveloped with amazing mountain views. Other fabulous amenities include a pool, putting course, tennis court, and an over-sized observation deck.

Currently listed by Ellie Shapiro with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Phoenix, AZ.

5. An Entertainer’s Paradise in Boca Raton, Fl – $6,500,000

This lush indoor movie and gaming theater is just one of the many jewels of this Boca Raton mansion. The future homeowners of this stunner will enjoy the outside just as much as the inside while hosting their guests by the infiniti pool with rock waterfall and jacuzzi, and built in BBQ, all while soaking up breathtaking panoramic lake views.

Currently listed by Allyson Finger with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Boca Raton, FL.

6. A Beautiful Home “Where Elegance and Grace Meet” in Wilmington, NC – $625,000

If you have ever wondered where elegance and grace meet, take a virtual tour of this wonderfully restored home located in Downtown Wilmington. As you enter you will find original tile work in the alcove which opens up to a beautiful foyer with intricate hardwood floor design that is carried throughout this fabulous red dining as well as the living rooms.

Currently listed by Allen Lacoe with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage in Wilmington, NC.

7. A Home with Surprising Extras in Richlands, NC – $174,900

As a country-pop singer we think this sweet bedroom would be the perfect place to get inspired for her next album. The listing description of this property also mentions that it is close to shopping…we say double win!

Currently listed by Amber Raynor with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage in Jacksonville, NC.

8.H̫tel Particulier in Paris, France Р$6,873,000

This luxurious listing in Paris, France is the epitome for red decor at its finest. Charm and Tranquility are found in each room which are all in the perfect style of Napoleon III.

Currently listed by Coldwell Banker PREVIEWS Demeure Prestige.

A Stylish Terrarium for the Home Gardener with Limited Space

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Gardening is one of those ideals of prospective home owners. Who doesn’t like the thought of watching something new created from the very soil that you call your own? But not all of us have the backyard, front yard or general land mass to be able to enjoy nature’s bounty.

Sure you could go with the standard potted plants, but anyone can do that. So when I saw these terrariums from West Elm it looked like the perfect marriage of fashion and function for the homeowner looking to enjoy gardening even in the smallest of homes. (Side note: I will confess I had to look up what a terrarium was. Here’s the full definition.

These wire terrariums feature blown glass onto the metal frames and give you an incredible conversation piece that also gives you the ability to garden within the confines of your home.

I thought a piece like this would be incredibly expensive, but it’s actually quite affordable as the price ranges from $49-$129 depending on the size purchased. Visit WestElm.com for more details