Video! How to Make Ceilings Look Taller

Felipe Rodriguez of Spaces Design is passionate about his work. He’s also a charismatic and enthusiastic teacher.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing you all a safe, warm and happy holiday with family and friends.

Holiday Fun in San Francisco

Here are a few holiday treats to check out in San Francisco this weekend.

1. Macy’s teams up with Union Square to present their annual holiday tree, ice skating rink, SPCA holiday windows and photos with Santa.  https://unionsquareshop.com/holidayEvents.html
2. Now through New Year’s Day, you can experience San Francisco’s art scene through a Festival of Lights! http://www.illuminatesf.com/
3. Also illuminated is the Conservatory of Flowers for their Night Bloom, a 5-week light and sound exhibition where flowers will be ‘bursting with vibrant and luminous displays.’  https://conservatoryofflowers.org/nightbloom/
4. Meet some real reindeers!  Each year, the San Francisco Zoo brings in reindeers for its ‘Reindeer Romp.’  http://www.sfzoo.org/announcements/reindeer-romp-3

Enjoy!!

Christmas is almost here – How do I decorate?

I’ll admit it: I hate decorating. The garlands around the doors are the worst part. My arms wind up over my head for so long they go numb, and it’s a b*tch trying to get them up without nailing big holes in the walls.

I’ve heard there’s a franchise that will decorate for you called Holiday Lights (here’s the link for the local one.). I may consider using them next year. I’ve also considered just throwing out all the decorations we’ve got and starting fresh with new, easier-to-execute ideas.

Here are some inspirational ideas I’ve found. Lots of them involve big trees—which is one of the things that will have to go if we make the kind of changes I’m considering. But the color schemes and other out-of-the-box ideas are making me consider the possibilities (although be forewarned—this is a slide show from some years ago and it includes a Melania-style blood red Christmas tree. . . )

First off, consider including your favorite colors. You don’t need to stick with red and green. Go with the color scheme you already have in your home and they will likely make the tree fit better into your home’s decoration. The slide show here offers violet as one option and turquoise with green accents as another. I personally might favor blue and orange (I’m serious),

Second, try playing with shapes and proportions. Make the most of what you have in order to invite the holiday spirit into your home. For example, if you have a low ceiling and not a lot of breathing room, a small Christmas tree will fit the place in a cute, perfect way. We went with a three-foot Norfolk Pine ion top of a tonsu and it worked great.

Third, get Hygge with it.  In Scandinavian design, simplicity is everything. That means ditching the sparkly colors and ornaments and using white and natural materials. You can also play with texture (burlap? wood grain?) and throw some greenery around instead of killing your arms (and your walls!)

Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays!

Looking for Some Discounts?

October 2018 saw the highest number of price reductions in 6 years– a signal of changing market conditions. The number of expired and withdrawn listings – no sale – also started to climb in October 2018.

Video! Ebony, Bamboo and Bleach

This 60-second video displays Meredith’s knowledge and opinion on flooring styles. She has a much better eye for design than I do.

How Does Your County Stack Up?

Were you to study appreciation all by itself, the market looks quite healthy–and San Francisco held its own when compared to other counties buoyed by the tech sector.

My own speculative brain wonders why San Mateo County is making such a strong showing. One reason may be that the area is favored by young families who “need to buy” instead of “want to buy,” i.e. Millennials who are proceeding with more caution. The stories of newly minted millionaires throwing money at expensive homes have disappeared for the most part. This age bracket also spent formative years during the Great Recession and are consequently far more cautious about taking on debt.