bobby-raehn

DESIGN EYE: WHICH FIREPLACE STYLE IS RIGHT FOR YOUR HOME?

Sat, 15 May 2021 12:54:31 GMT

It’s that time of year- even in the Lowcountry- where this is a chill in the air and staying snuggled up by the fireplace sounds like the best way to spend a winter’s eve. There are so many design styles out there, how do you know which one is best for you?

BRICK

When many people think of the classic fireplace scene, a red brick fireplace comes to mind. A lot of homeowners have been painting their brick fireplaces in the last decade or so, so you can see a variety of colors out there but white and light gray are the most popular options for painting brick. A fairly straightforward DIY, painting your brick fireplace is a great way to make your space feel more modern.

STONE

Stone is a surprisingly versatile material choice for surrounding your fireplace. Depending on the type, color, pattern repetition and size of stone, you can create a rustic feel, boho vibe or clean minimalism look.

MARBLE

The go-to for those wanting luxury, marble can provide a strong impact and really make a statement. From the ornate, hand carved mantles to a sleek vertical wall of polished delight, a marble fireplace instantly elevates any room it’s in.

WOOD

While a wood fireplace surround may not seem like an obvious choice, it can be a great style to lighten up a room and make a dated house more modern. Wood planks are streamlined and visually calming, giving your eye a place to rest as it roams the room.

TILE

Using tile as a fireplace surround will provide you the greatest variety of style options. Typically less expensive than the other materials on this list, tile can help you bring almost any design vision to life.

With so many styles and materials to choose from, you’ll have a great time creating the perfect fireplace for your home to enjoy throughout the winter months.

THE RETURN OF THE HOME OFFICE

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 22:56:39 GMT

With so many people still working primarily from home, and children attending classes virtually, the demand for a dedicated home office space has risen exponentially over the past few months. No matter how much space you have, or what your decorating style, there is a work-from-home setup that will work for you.

THE DEN

For some, nothing less than a designated room will do. A private sanctum where you can duck away from it all in relative quiet is a necessity for back to back Zoom meetings and virtual collaborations. Perhaps you need to have shelves of reference books readily available or tools of the trade close at hand. You may want space for a desk, chairs for visitors, and a side table for refreshments complete with mini fridge and coffee maker. When you have a whole room to work with, you can easily create a home office space that blends comfort and efficiency.

THE CLOSET SPACE

For those who can’t dedicate a whole room to work or school, the closet home office is the answer. Situated in a rarely used hallway or guest bedroom, the closet office typically has space for one (maybe two if it’s a double closet) with open shelving above and drawers or file cabinets below. Cork boards and framed artwork add some fun to make up for the lack of views. This type of workspace is perfect for children as well; it is easy to set up a small area for homework and virtual classes in the corner of their bedroom. Having a specific area setup for kids can greatly aid in their ability to concentrate and learn in the home environment.

THE KITCHEN NOOK

Remember these? A staple in new construction from the early nineties, the kitchen office nook is seeing use like never before. Designed to blend in with the rest of the kitchen, these nooks are often equipped with a desk for one and upper and lower cabinets to easily hold files, a printer and everyday office supplies out of sight when not in use. It is easy to carve out a smaller section of the home like this as a temporary home office fix until you have a better understanding of where your daily work and school routine is heading and what your long-term home office needs are.

THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THE REAL ESTATE MARKET

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 22:53:36 GMT

Continuing our series of taking a look at how the world of real estate has shifted thanks to the global pandemic of COVID19, here is the second part, dealing with some of the bigger ways the transaction process of buying and selling real estate has been forever altered.

THE TRANSACTION PROCESS

Not only has the global pandemic altered what buyers are now looking for in a home, but it has also greatly affected the process of buying and selling property. Remote showings, digital paperwork and virtual tours are the new norm. Let’s take a look at some of the more important changes COVID19 has had on the transaction process of the real estate market.

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSES

With social distancing the new way of life, sellers are hesitant to have scores of potential buyers roaming their homes in person. Holding an Open House was a great way to entice people in the very early stages of shopping for a new home to see a property in person. So what is the solution when health and safety discourage gatherings? Enter the virtual open house. Agents are now planning events in real time where they do live walk-throughs of a listing on social media channels. Potential buyers can tune in from the comfort of their current home to get a better understanding of a property’s layout and ask questions just as they would have at a traditional open house. This trend will likely be around to stay long after interaction restrictions have lifted, as well as growing to incorporate virtual reality with regularity. It’s convenient for home buyers, who now, don’t have to spend hours driving all over town. Plus agents can reach a whole new audience- those who live out of town and are considering a move to the area.

PAPERLESS TRANSACTIONS

Our Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty agents have been utilizing the benefits of paperless transactions for a while now, but the technology has evolved thanks to so many people having to work from home lately. There are all manner of programs out there, but the key points are that a buyer or seller is able to read through all of the paperwork necessary to the purchase or sale of a home on their computer, phone or tablet. Then they can electronically sign where required, all without ever having to touch a piece of paper. Not only is this more efficient (no need to print, sign, scan and email for fax back), but it is environmentally friendly as well. The documents are sent and stored securely, and can easily be generated or updated with just a few strokes of a keyboard. Paperless transactions are now a staple of the process of buying and selling real estate.

REMOTE SHOWINGS

Like Open Houses, viewing homes in person and meeting up to discuss a transaction are happening less. Instead, agents are honing their remote showing skills and using programs such as Zoom or FaceTime to walk through properties with buyers or hold virtual coffee dates to discuss buyers’ wants and needs. It can be a difficult task to accurately represent a home’s potential through digital means alone. But with health and safety at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it looks like remote showings are here to stay. However, this is another development where the technology makes it easier for out-of-town buyers and sellers to stay properly informed and have a more stress-free experience.

The technology we use in our daily lives is constantly evolving. It is interesting to note what aspects this pandemic has caused to shift at a more rapid pace than others. There’s no denying the advantage of many of the new, and emerging technologies. But when it comes to the process of buying or selling real estate- the largest transaction anyone will have in their lifetime- buyers and sellers are relying even more on the knowledge and expertise of their Realtor. Having a professional working for you, whom you can trust to guide you towards the best decision is invaluable. We can send and receive so much information digitally now, but there’s something that just can’t replace the innate understanding and feeling that comes from the human touch.