Decor Can Be a Solid Investment

If you're thinking about a significant change in your home décor, consider dedicating a portion of your budget to a major furnishing that offers strong visual interest, plus the potential to improve or hold its value over time. With luxury items considered discretionary purchases, many antiques and artists' originals are selling for much less than before the recession. That creates an opportunity for an astute buyer to purchase a compelling item that can maintain its resale value, while also fulfilling its role as a central décor piece. Although you will need a good eye to recognize such an investment, a wealth of guidance is available for beginners from reputable dealers and collectors. Whether you fancy a modern painting, an antique sculpture or a rare vase, experts say you should pay for the highest quality you can afford, keep it in top condition, and get it insured. Above all, it is imperative that you truly love any collectible you buy, so you can enjoy it for as long as it takes to appreciate.

Previews Spectacular Home Guide

At the top of the list

The holiday season is not just a time to celebrate home and family—it’s also a time to celebrate the freedom of travel. A vacation residence often provides us with a place to enjoy the ultimate luxury: time. Whether you prefer to jet off to the slopes of Lake Tahoe or sunnier locales like Hawaii, we’ve selected seven “Great Escapes” that will surely inspire you to take the time to recharge and reconnect with your loved ones this winter. Ready to escape with Previews® Inside Out? Let us be your guide to discovering your second residence . . . or even a new place to call home!

Kelowna, BC

The largest city in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley wine region, Kelowna is beloved for its temperate winters, hot summers, wineries, championship golf courses and lakeside activities, as well as skiing and snowboarding. As for vacation residences in Kelowna, forget visions of quaint little log cabins and hot apple cider. The area has more than its fair share of contemporary masterpieces, like this award-winning architectural set right on the Okanagan lakeshore. Concrete, glass and heavy timber combine to create over 10,000 square feet of luxury. There’s nothing like waking up to your own private views of the snowcapped mountains and frozen lake from your glass-enclosed master suite.

Honolulu, Hawaii

There is nothing quite like a vacation in Hawaii: miles upon miles of perfect white sand beaches and swaying palms, lush green hillsides, fine restaurants and resorts. The capital city of Honolulu and Waikiki may be buzzing with activity—but they will seem worlds away from this rare private beachfront estate. Surrounded by water, a bird sanctuary and seven acres of preservation land, the 4,602-square-foot contemporary gives you and your guests (should you choose to share this secret gem with those closest to you!) spacious living areas opening to large lanais with ocean, coastal and mountain views, Koko Head to Diamond Head. You’ll feel like you’re on your own private island.

Incline Village, Nevada

You might find yourself uttering these same words with one visit to this new 8,800-square-foot home in Nevada’s Incline Village. Set on over an acre, the mountain residence serves as your invitation into a winter wonderland, thanks to sweeping panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and snow-sprinkled trees. Six bedroom suites, seven full bathrooms and two powder rooms make it easy to house extended family during the holidays. Embrace the rustic mountain setting with seven natural stone and formal granite fireplaces, or take your favorite glass of Cabernet in the gorgeous wine cellar and tasting room. And if you’re dying to hit the slopes? You’re only a short distance away from Diamond Peak, Northstar and Heavenly.

Cabo San Lucas

There is nothing dreamier than Cabo’s windswept coastline and soft golden sands for a winter escape—and this four-bedroom, four-bath Mexican contemporary villa lures you deep into the promise of beachside bliss. Every inch of Casa de Hierro beckons you to forget your former life back home (Cabo sunsets tend to have that effect on people). Take a dip in the infinity edge pool. Make your guests feel as if they are on top of the world by the fire pit overlooking the sea. Let the indoors become outdoors, and the outdoors, indoors. Winter . . . what winter?

Tuscany, Italy

Italy and its rich, vibrant culture have long been the subject of adoration in poetry, music, literature and film—so much so that composer Giuseppe Verdi famously declared, “You may have the universe if I may have Italy.” You may agree, once you lay eyes on this newly built Tuscan villa. Nestled between the hills of the Tuscan countryside and the seaside, the five-bedroom oasis is tucked away at the end of a quiet road in the port city of Capalbio, yet is a short drive to services and seven miles to the beach, a beautiful pine forest preserve national park and the islands of Isola del Giglio and Giannutri. La vita bella? Si!

Ojai, Califorina

The Ojai Valley has long attracted artists and Hollywood starlets seeking refuge among its postcard-like hills and mature citrus and avocado groves. This beautiful 2,727-square-foot ranch-style residence offers the epitome of the quiet Ojai lifestyle, surrounded by ponds, creeks and hiking and equestrian trails in the exclusive gated Hermitage Ranch. Here, you’ll have your own equestrian arena, stalls and pasture, plus 42 acres of income-producing avocado and citrus trees and a handsome stone terrace equipped with automated screens that open to real fresh air. Wait—is that a deer wandering through the orchards? It is . . . and the sight of him reminds you of the very reason why you are here: to connect with nature.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona and all of its contemporary art, architecture and pleasures of the palate have a nearly hypnotic effect on those who visit its Mediterranean shores. In winter and summer, the city attracts its fair share of visitors who fall under its spell. Perhaps they’ll be equally mesmerized by this contemporary nine-bedroom luxury villa, set on a

large swath of land in the exclusive residential community of Supermaresme in Sant Andreu de Llavaneres. Spacious living areas, a large master suite with his-and-her bathrooms, a gym and infinity pool opening to the most amazing views . . . it all seems like a modernista Gaudi dream, tucked behind private gates.

Have a fantastic holiday season. If you'd like some information about other vacation or lakefront residences in Kelowna, or are looking to invest in the Okanagan Valley, call Paige Guernsey directly at 250-862-6464.

Talk to you soon...

Article courtesy:  http://previewsinsideout.com/news/previews-guide-great-escapes

 

Gutter Maintenance Tips

It is almost winter in Kelowna and that means it is time to clean out the gutters if you have not already, this is a great way to get your home ready for sale and helps prevent future damage or issues. I recommend hiring a professional to clean your gutters as it can be a dangerous and tedious job, but if you feel like taking on the task yourself here are some helpful hints to get the job done.

Ladder Safety: Ensure someone is on the ground helping you secure the ladder, one miss-step and it could be costly. Orchard ladders with three legs are not recommended, be sure to use a sturdy four leg ladder with a secure platform and a five gallon bucket to collect debris.

Garden Hose: A regular garden hose with municipal water pressure is sufficient and attached a pistol grip spray nozzle to the end. This type of nozzle can regular water pressure and direction and can be purchased at any hardware store.

Gutter Scoop:Scooping out the leafy debris seems to be the best overall method for cleaning out the gutter. An excellent tool for this job is the bright orange plastic “Gutter Getter Scoop,” which can be purchased at most hardware stores. This tool is unique because the front scooping edge is very thin and it forms itself to the bottom of the gutter trough, making it easy to scoop out even the toughest of debris in any size gutter system. Stay away from a metal scoop such as a garden shovel, this can scrape the bottom of the gutter and cause damage and future rust which will deteriorate the gutters.

Gloves: This will protect you from whatever bacteria may be lurking in the gutter debris. Leather gloves are recommended as rubber can rip and tear from the metal edges.

Rake off the Roof: Debris can be left on the roof and will wash down the next storm. In order to prevent your hard work going to waste, remove the debris first.

Downspouts Unclogged: After you have cleaned the gutters, direct the water pressure into the downspout to flush out debris.

Clean gutters two times a year: Make sure gutters are cleaned at least twice a year, once in the fall and again in the spring. One main reason for cleaning out gutters is to eliminate the possibility of water damage from rainwater runoff due to a clogged gutter. Another reason is to reduce the possibility of rust corrosion. Even though it may not rain during the summer, if there is debris in the steel gutters, the rusting process can speed up. It’s difficult for rust to speed up with clean gutters. The faster the rusting process, the sooner new gutters will be needed. Keeping your gutters from damaging your home will maintain is value and prevent possible issues with foundation and siding.

Gutter Guards: There are many great products that can be installed onto the existing gutters or the option of new gutters can give your home a spruced up look and make it more pleasing to buyers. Visiting your local hardware store is an excellent place to start. There are many gutter professionals that we would be happy to recommend should you choose to repair or replace your gutters.

Gutter cleaning is an important step in home maintenance and something a home inspector will look at when you sell your home. Prevention is key and keeps your home looking sale ready.

If you are thinking of buying or selling, give Paige Guernsey, an award winning real estate agent in Kelowna, BC direct at 250-862-6464.

Talk to you soon…

Paigehttp://goo.gl/3mj6P

10 Halloween "Life Hacks"

Thinking about decorating for Halloween? Here are some easy and fabulous "life hacks" to help take the "trick" out of decorating your house and turn it into a treat. Forget pumpkins, turn milk jugs into laterns with the help of Christmas lights, glow sticks or a head lamp. (Also gives you a jump start on detangling your xmas lights)

Punch bowl for the party? Carve out a pumpkin and drop a bowl inside

Vampire pumpkins, why not, candy teeth or fangs from the dollar store with pin eyes do the trick.

How do you keep pumpkins looking great....floor cleaner does the trick to preserve them.

Glow in the dark pumpkins and a little masking tape, make for a scary combination. 


Cute and easy way to decorate pumpkins, knee high stalkings!

Make holes with a power drill for a decorative effect.

Coloured glow sticks are a great option for kids and a safe alternative to candles.

Use a pin or nail to trace marks into pumpkins.

Use a mallet and a cookie cutter for fast, sharp and effective shapes or eyes. Dry erase markets are easier then permanent markers, as mistakes are easy to fix. Cut the top and side out of the pumpkin for easy candle installation.

Turn a pumpkin into a Keg.

Buying and selling your home should not be "spooky  or scary",  if you are thinking of buying or selling, give Paige Guernsey, an award winning real estate agent in Kelowna, BC direct at 250-862-6464.

5 of the World's Greenest Homes

In this series I'll be looking at 5 of the worlds GREENEST homes. As most of you know now, there are a wide variety of ways that you can create sustainability in all kinds of real estate. There’s also as many reasons that people choose this way of keeping their global footprint small. All over the world, so many are looking for innovative and cost effective ways of saving energy and costs while at the same time reducing their waste and carbon emissions. BELLWETHER OF BELVEDERE

Pretty fancy name for a pretty cool house located just north of San Francisco in Belvedere.  Jordan Harris is a sustainability consultant who works hard to convert anyone to hybrid, particularly in their buildings.  He and his wife Julie wanted to exemplify their passion for sustainability and successfully created a modern home that seamlessly integrates all kinds of sustainable building technology. The best feature however, according to the Harris's, is that they have an electric meter that runs backwards and since 2006 hundreds of kilowatts of power has gone back into the grid! Their remodelled home has so many amazing features and the first order of business for them was to re-connect it to the natural surroundings.  Instead of facing directly into the lagoon and looking out to their neighbor, the residence was rotated 30 degrees which allows the eye to wander over the water to the mountain peak of Mt. Tamalpais.

The house is extremely energy efficient with the following items: 1) Photovoltaic solar cells 2) High-efficiency boiler 3) Radiant in-floor heating 4) Insulated glazing and low-e coatings on all windows and doors 5) Insulated solar shades to allow as much or as little solar gain as needed 6) High-efficiency household appliances 7) Ultra Touch cotton insulation (a treatment added to walls for added R factor)

Ninety five percent of the timber was salvaged or sustainably harvested.  Low VOC paint wNinety five percent of the timber was salvaged or sustainably harvested.  Low VOC paint was used on all vertical surfaces including a brick wall that was hidden behind some drywall.  An interesting feature is the large wall in the living area that was coated with an aluminum laminate (applied to recycled substrate) that captures and reflects light.  The floors are bamboo - a sustainable product that's easy to grow and harvest.  The garage floor and the underlay for paving stones outside were made from 30% fly-ash concrete. (Concrete use and manufacture is responsible for 8% of the worlds carbon emissions. Fly-ash concrete mixes waste from coal-burning plants with concrete to make stronger, less ecologically damaging material).  Original elements such as plumbing fixtures and cabinetry were re-cycled where possible.  Old doors and windows were donated to a building resources organization (we have RE-store in West Kelowna.  Remember to donate your gently used building products, appliances, home improvement items and furniture!)  and the old concrete was re-purposed and/or re-cycled.

Besides being one of the worlds most environmentally friendly homes, this house is a thing of beauty.  Transparent glass walls allowing an abundance of natural light and a spectacular waterfront garden creates a sensation of continuous space between the indoors and out.  With clean lines and aesthetic beauty this home sets itself apart while at the same time there is little visually about the house that hints at it's tree-hugging soul!

We can all do our part for the planet.  In Kelowna there are many resources and companies available to help guide you through a GREEN build or reno project for your real estate.  Call Paige Guernsey on her direct line at 250-862-6464 for your green housing questions today! Talk to you soon... Paige

Big White real estate

I had an appointment to show some real estate at Big White yesterday. There have been 74 sales so far this this season compared to 32 last. The real estate market took quite a hit there, with some saying they lost up to 25% of the value it was prior to this latest recession. Having said that, the buyers are out there taking advantage of the fall in prices. I spoke with a number of realtors who work predominantly at Big White and am told that most buyers are local.
After working, I was lucky enough to be able to meet some friends for skiing in the. Sunshine, warm temperatures, and snow that was soft! We do live in an amazing place.
Talk to you soon...
Paige

Kelowna real estate... the best place to invest

A Vancouver based company sold luxury townhomes to 2010 Olympic visitors for a total of over $31 million. While I was in Vancouver to catch some of the buzz, I met 6 new people one day on the streets and 3 of them were planning on a visit to Kelowna during their Olympic stay! Upon further inquiry, these people, from different parts of the world were impressed that you could buy a nice 2 bed, 2 bath condo for around $300,000... less than where they were from!
Kelowna and our real estate are becoming international players. Check out my website for more great information about Kelowna, BC !


Talk to you soon...
Paige