Posts Tagged ‘interiors’

10 Easy Ways to Transform an Affluent Kitchen to a Minimalist Kitchen

Sunday, August 15, 2021
Debbi DiMaggio

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Are you considering living like minimalists? If yes, you’re doing a great favor not only to yourself but to others around you.

Starting a minimalist life could be challenging, but it’s worth every second of your life. In this post, we have shared only ten ways to transform your grand kitchen in to a minimalist kitchen. Most of the upgrades are easy to do, and anyone can do them. But there are some areas where you might have to hire a professional.

Let’s begin our journey to living a minimalist’s life.

Tips to Create a Perfect Minimalist Kitchen

Clutter-free Kitchen

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The easiest step to a minimalist kitchen is to get rid of the clutter. And by clutter, I don’t just mean taking out the trash.

Start with cleaning the kitchen from tip to toe. And then take out the unwanted items.

The key here is to get as much space as you could. 

Hide Your Silverware and Dishware

The next tip is to place everything accurately in a comforting zone. Starting with silverware and dishware, assign a proper place for these items. I’ll suggest drawers with suitable cases for each item. If you live in a condo and don’t have enough space in your kitchen, use a combination of cabinets and drawers for the silverware and dishware.

And if you’re still short on space, use some creative ways to store utensils.

Remove Extra Knives

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Minimalists aren’t a fan of excessive items, like knives and other silverware. And if you want to live a life like that, get rid of unused knives and other cutlery.

If you want to keep all of them (and use them often), at least find a suitable case for these sharp items.

Say Good-Bye to Unused Dishes

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Minimalists don’t like to stuff things up. They only try to keep things they use (and we all should be like that). Just like removing extra cutlery from your kitchen, take out that extra dishware from your home. I’m sure there’ll be many dishes that you haven’t used in years, and you still don’t want to ditch those. But it’s always better to keep things simple and clutter-free.

Ditch Add-ons

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Our kitchens usually have more things than we need. If yours is like that, get rid of the extras. If ditching these extras is not an option for you, you could at least pack them and hide them in an unused space in your home.

Hide Away Appliances

Hide Away Appliances

So you might not agree with me on it, but I’m confident you would agree once you hear my justification for that.

Kitchen appliances like toasters, coffee makers, spice racks, etc., are almost daily used items. But they take a great deal of your kitchen’s space. And if I’m right, they also create a mess once you’re done using them (like the bread crumbs dropping from the toaster). 

So to give a minimalist look to your kitchen, you may have to do some extra chores, but it would always pay off once you’ve cleared the space.

So an excellent way to hide them is in the cabinets. The challenge is when you’re living in a condo. The space is usually less. So you might have to think of other ways.

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Relocate Your Microwave

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Microwaves and other appliances are best hidden. Remove your microwave from the countertop and have it built-in –above or below your kitchen counters.

Get Rid of the Knobs

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Now that you have cleared up the mess, it’s time to do the minimalist makeover.

The first thing that you could do is get rid of the knobs and replace them with plain, solid-colored doors without knobs. If this goes beyond your budget, think of replacing pointy knobs with bar handles. And if that still doesn’t work for you, try using solid-colored knobs (or paint them matching the cabinet tone). Do the same with the drawers.

Replace Faucets

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Choose the sleekest and modern faucets to give a more minimalist approach to your kitchen. If you already have one in your kitchen, no need to replace it.

Give an Elegant Tone to Your Kitchen

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That’s going to be one of the best things to do with your kitchen (and it’s my favorite one). Use a solid color palette (preferably neutral tones).

Try using the same color or a bit of variation. But keep a similar tone.

Do You Want to Transform Your House into a Minimalist Home?

Meet Guest Author – Jessica Watson

Jessica is a passionate content marketer, primarily working with real estate businesses in the USA and Canada. She loves writing for the web. In her free time, she likes watching movies and hanging out with friends.

real estate, like cars, are sexy

Friday, January 18, 2019
Debbi DiMaggio

Quentin Bacon
Real Estate Is Sexy

We’ve heard the saying time and again … Sex Sells.

From the beautiful woman draped on a luxurious sofa between the glossy pages of Architectural Design or Elle Decor to that strong, handsome man showering beneath a luxury faucet shower head.

Sex sells, and people crave beauty.

Take Note: Pinterest is just one popular site both men, woman and young people go to find beauty. Pinterest Statistics (by Omnicore)

93% of active pinners said they use Pinterest to plan for purchases and 87% said they’ve purchased something because of Pinterest.

Total # of Monthly Active Pinterest Users: 250 million (source) (Last updated 17/9/18)

# of Pinterest Users from the US: 125 million (Last updated: 17/9/18)

# of Pinterest Users around the World: 50%+ (Last updated: 17/9/18)

Total # of Pinterest Pins: 175 billion+ (Last updated: 17/9/18)


Total # of Pinterest Boards: 3 billion+ (Last updated: 17/9/18)

Total # of Pinterest Users who save Shopping Pins on Boards Daily: 2 million

Pinterest Market Value: $15 Billion+ (source)

Pinterest Demographics

  • 81% of Pinterest users are actually Females.
  • 40% of New Signups are Men; 60% New Signups are Women.
  • Men account for only 7% of total pins on Pinterest.
  • Millennials use Pinterest as much as Instagram.
  • The median age of a Pinterest user is 40, however, the majority of active pinners are below 40.
  • Half of Pinterest users earn $50K or greater per year, with 10 percent of Pinteresting households making greater than $125K.
  • 30% of all US social media users are Pinterest users.
  • 50% of Pinterest users are from the US.

Buyers and Sellers want that too. (Even if they’re not totally aware of it, they do. That’s why we stage homes and have professional photographs taken.)

Marketing, like Sex, Sells.

Beautiful photographs displayed in a glossy brochure and online where Buyers scan the Internet in search of their dream home, attracted to, and lured in by the attractive photographs.

Professional photographs are key. As is staging. It is a fact Staging attracts more Buyers. A home is oftentimes the largest asset in a person’s life, thus investing in a home to make it appeal to the masses is crucial for the best return.

3 Things All Real Estate companies do in order to Sell a clients home.

All companies provide similar services.

But it’s the demeanor, passion, attitude and work ethic that sets each company and real estate agent apart.

1. MLS. All companies enter listings into the MLS. Some agencies will hold off. Be sure to ask why, if you are a Seller.

2. Open Houses.

3. Market & Advertise. 

Home Buyers, oftentimes, begin their search online. They also seek out local agents rather than use an out of area Realtor. Buyers have busy lifestyles, thus Open House’s are key to selling a home.

•Buyers SEEK out local agents.

•Buyers ATTEND Open Houses.

•Buyers SCAN the Internet.

Top 3 Places Agents Generate Leads for themselves and their Seller Clients = ROI

  1. Referrals. Past Clients. Other Realtors. Family/Friends, Neighbors, For Sale Signs.*
  2. Open Houses & Networking. (If you are a Seller selling your home, is your Agent/Company holding Open House’s each weekend? Are they networking and connected to other agents in and outside of their community?)
  3. Internet & Print Advertising. (Are they advertising your home and showcasing it across social media?)

•R  Referrals.

•O Open Houses.

•I   Internet.

How do we define Real Estate Agents & Real Estate Companies?

First off, who we are not.

We are not machines. We are not robots or technology. We are not Siri, or Alexa.

We are human. We are human beings.

We create an experience for our clients. We answer questions. We provide answers. We are a sounding board. Oftentimes a therapist, babysitter and psychologist. We offer advice and a place to vent and discuss. We are not one sided. We communicate and offer a human experience, a human connection. We embody skills and knowledge, expertise, and a wide network to assist each one of our clients.

Real Estate Companies like Real Estate agents emote a feeling. People experience different things when they walk into your home, a Real Estate Firm or a doctors office. Successful Agents like Companies should create a friendly, happy and positive environment that leads to a positive experience, and in turn creates more business and referrals.

Just a reminder

Real Estate is personal.

Real Estate is you. Real Estate is us.

* Go to Omnicore to read more Fun Facts on Pinterest

* For Sale signs and Open Houses are crucial marketing tools when selling a home. We have sold a few high high homes because of the For Sale, and from holding Open Houses. People who were not looking to buy ending up buying just because they happened to come upon an Open House, and others saw our For Sale sign and called. Moral of this story: No stone unturned.

if you build it … they will come

Saturday, May 10, 2014
Debbi DiMaggio

The Transformation of 227 Magnolia Avenue in just 2.5 weeks.

Before

After |  A little paint and landscaping goes a long way to beautify a lovely home.

The new house color and trim compliments the brown roof while blending in with the landscape and environment surrounding the home.

 

Stage One: Empty Home including window coverings, carpeting and most lighting.

Stage Two: Refinish Hardwood Floors – Add where necessary.

In this case we installed new hardwood floors in the family room, master bedroom, master bedroom closet, master bathroom, hall bath and powder room. We also refinished the floors in the kitchen and hallway to match the rest of the home.

Time: 10 Days [Read More..]

what’s hot in home design // inspired by fashion and art

Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Debbi DiMaggio

Thank you to Michael Friedes Design for an inspiring presentation!

A quick recap of what I heard that day. Love it!  As did our HIGHLAND PARTNERS agents.

 

What’s in Style:

The 70’s era has made its way back in home design today.

Hot Colors Now:  Orange and Purple

Purple Purple Purple

Purple In Nature: Lavender

Pop of Purple In Fashion

Variations of Purple

 

Gray is the New Beige

The Look:  Simple, Clean, Fresh

 

Highlights:

  • Eco Chic
  • Recover old pieces you inherited or purchased at a thrift shop or flea market Reclaim, refinish or distress oak wood furniture  ( believe it or not , oak is back! )
  • Lots of Texture
  • Pop of color mixed with neutrals
  • Gray is the new beige
  • Hot colors – orange and purple
  • Hang Art, Gallery Style
  • Restoration Hardware
  • 70’s Look and Style

 

Combine a recovered, re-purposed chair with a brightly colored, textured print in a room with neutral accents and wall color.

Start with your favorite color and print, as captured in the photograph below…..then repeat it in your favorite couch or chair.

Home Design Inspired by Fashion and Lifestyle
Texture on the Walls
Texture on a Sofa, Chair or Ottoman
Nail-heads or Tufted
Texture is
What’s Hot Now!

Texture

Fabulous Robin’s Egg Blue, Faux Leather Door Detailing with Nail-heads

Contrast

Black and White with Natural Floor Coverings

Pop of Color

Accessorize your space with colorful Flowers, Lamps or other Accessories

 

What’s Hip in Kitchen Design

It’s back and never seems to go out of style. (I love it and never tire of that look.)

Carrera marble counter-tops mixed with dark wood cabinets, glass back splash or subway tiles and polished chrome.  …contrast of light and dark.

Color Meanings

Blue is a color we all need in our life.  Paint your bedroom or office blue… read why.

Blue is serene and tranquil, the color of peace and contentment. Thanks to its calming effects, blue is the color choice for many hospital nurseries, and studies show that when sitting in a blue room, most people report feeling quiet and settled. If blue is your favorite color, you love harmony, are capable, reliable and sensitive and always make an effort to think of others. Blue is often the chosen color by one that is generally more conservative in nature. (Reprinted from Michael’s handout.)

Relax and Renew with Blue
Deep navy walls, white furniture and white detailing…Clean, Fresh and Relaxing
Eco Chic – Natural Elements with Neutral Tones

From the Earth

 
and finally….
Wallpaper is Back
Patterns, Murals or Theme – Make Small Spaces Interesting with Wallpaper
There is so much more!!
Ask Michael to send you the color meaning print out or call Michael for a consultation for your home or office. www.mf-da.com
XOXO!
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