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Modernize your grandmother’s kitchen
Homeowners Desiree and Brian Bell wanted to change the look of their 1950′s kitchen into a room they could call their own. Lauren Lake of Spice Up My Kitchen recreated the old space into a traditional one with modern flair and functionality. See the results on this HGTV video.
Kitchen islands aren’t going away
Better Homes & Gardens
The kitchen island is often the hub of the home, the place where family members and guests gather to eat and socialize. While the island’s function remains the same as it has been for years, its look and feel are changing.
“Pare it down to the basics, and anything else is a great addition but not necessary,” says Samantha Emmerling, a senior editor at House Beautiful, as reported in the Chicago Tribune. She notes that since most homeowners want an area for prep, additional counter space, seating, and storage, the form of the actual island ought to follow its function.
What about size? The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends a minimum of 3 feet by 4 feet. Maximum size should be determined by the aisle space that surrounds the island. A clearance of 42 inches is ideal for providing ease of movement. Kitchens accommodating more than one home cook, however, should have at least 48 inches of aisle space.
Homeowners can get creative with design, because the best islands are not necessarily custom-built. Better Homes and Gardens features furniture pieces that are up to the task — antique table, workbench, and stainless steel restaurant-grade shelf. Repurposing antiques and salvaged pieces or buying shelves that aren’t expressly made for the kitchen add unique style and charm to the single-most utilized room of the home.
Housing news for April
Housing prices for King County in the month of April were strong, and inventory was down 37 percent from one year ago, reports the Seattle Times based on data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. The median house price in King County went up to $360,000, which is 9 percent better than last month and about 3 percent higher than April 2011.
Snohomish County’s median house price jumped to $255,502, which is almost 10 percent better than a year ago. A total of 741 homes were sold, 25 percent more than the number closed in April 2011.
Sales in April 2012 grew, year-over-year, in each of the following regions:
- Eastside — up 17 percent
- North King County — up 54 percent
- Southwest King County — up 39 percent
- Southeast King County – up 7 percent
However, median prices in North, Southwest, and Southeast King Counties as well as on the Eastside dipped at varying levels.
Glenn Crellin, associate director of research at the University of Washington’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies, remains hopeful. “We’re at the beginning of the prime selling season, so to see this sort of strength coming out … this is very good news for the industry.”
See the full story, “King County home prices rise with fewer houses for sale,” at the Seattle Times.
Housing news for April
Housing prices for King County in the month of April were strong, and inventory was down 37 percent from one year ago, reports the Seattle Times based on data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. The median house price in King County went up to $360,000, which is 9 percent better than last month and about 3 percent higher than April 2011.
Snohomish County’s median house price jumped to $255,502, which is almost 10 percent better than a year ago. A total of 741 homes were sold, 25 percent more than the number closed in April 2011.
Sales in April 2012 grew, year-over-year, in each of the following regions:
- Eastside — up 17 percent
- North King County — up 54 percent
- Southwest King County — up 39 percent
- Southeast King County – up 7 percent
However, median prices in North, Southwest, and Southeast King Counties as well as on the Eastside dipped at varying levels.
Glenn Crellin, associate director of research at the University of Washington’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies, remains hopeful. “We’re at the beginning of the prime selling season, so to see this sort of strength coming out … this is very good news for the industry.”
See the full story, “King County home prices rise with fewer houses for sale,” at the Seattle Times.
Herb container gardening 101
Growing herbs does not require lots of space or raised beds. In fact, all you need is a container. Watch this Six Minute Style video with Susan Doherty, plant your own potted garden, and enjoy the fragrance and taste of herbs throughout the spring and summer months.
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