If you have the space to do it, it could be clever to add a swing. Though, not anything I've yet to see in any house! Would you add a swing in your home?
I remember growing up in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and looking at up at the ocean at sunset every evening from our covered lanai, swinging from the indoor swing my father had put up for us. I remember feeling like there couldn't be anything cooler in the world but to be exactly where I was at the time, just happy and content to be raised by loving parents who loved each other too very much I remember those days clearly, with no worry in the world, all was just as meant to be, a wonderful island life. Rain or shine I could swing away, overlooking at the ocean and epic sunsets framed by coconut trees, that told me that my life was going to be a great adventure!
Over thirty years later, I am living a wonderful island life again, in one of the most exclusive places in America, selling some of the most luxurious homes in the world. And this time, I am enjoying a wonderful indoor swing in my Southampton home.
Give me a call, I'll get you into a bigger space, and you can add anything you want to it! Whether it's a swing or something more conventional.
If you take the time to dig into the philosophy around feng shui, you'll understand that it doesn't come off as esoteric as one my think. It's based around the simple practices to make a home feel healthier and a lot more organized. It also helps you to connect to your home, in a way that can affect your mood and well being. Feng shui is as common as "spring-cleaning," or decorating to make a home feel much more comfortable.
This ancient Chinese tradition can be incorporated into your own home. It can be done in a modern holistic approach, while still honoring the age-old traditions that come with feng shui. It's not about transforming the structure of your home, but instead making it to evolve into a space that refreshes your home - and in turn your health. The following feng shui tips will do a little more than just bring some harmony into your home, they can potentially increase the value of your home's selling price.
Let's get into to the best feng shui decorating tips for your house below!
The the back door and the front door have a direct line of sight, that means the energy in the home, or the chi, will flow through the home too fast. Instead of it going straight out of the back door, you want it to undulate throughout the whole home in a graceful and even manner. The best way to slow down this flow is to place a patteren rug on the floor in front of the front door, add artwork on the walls, or add a round entry table to the foyer space.
Decluttering your home may seem like an obvious enough solution, we can all be guilty of letting our content accumulate in our home, that may not have a specific function. Clutter is more than just unappealing visually, it's an anchor for the energy in a home. An excessive amount of clutter can stop you from having clarity of thought, and even weigh you down emotionally. Feng shui isn't focused on having a perfectly styled home, but instead, provide a happier and healthier environment. Be sure to have the correction organization throughout your home. From paying bills, to recycling content, and even something as simple as a designated spot for your keys. It'll help you feel less frazzled and feel more efficient in your day to day routine.
(Go to: http://inspiringlifeathome.com/tips-for-decluttering-your-home/ for tips by amazing quartet women entrepreneurs, Virginia O'Neil, Gwen Madison, Janet Brown, and Lauren Jillson.)
The front door in a home is an important factor to feng shui. It's the main portal through which the energy from outside will enter into your home. You want to make sure the energy flows uninterrupted through the front door, without "metaphorically" running into a wall. Keep your front door area free of clutter and consider installing a mirror near the front door. This can hold the meaning that you are expanding the energy in the space, which in turn expands the opportunities within your life - and prevents you from feeling limited.
Whether present physically, or symbolically, the five elements you can find in a home are earth, fire, wood, metal, and water. The fire element can be brought into a home with warmer tones, or physically through a fireplace and burning candle. You want to ensure there is a balance between all of the elements. People can easily be drawn to an element that can cause an imbalance in their life. For example, if a person were to find themselves rather aggressive, they'd want to avoid a large amount of fire elements - such as a bright red wall. If a person is lacking motivation in their life, it'd best suit them to add more fire elements. Look at the elements within your home in a symbolic manner, and see what you need to change to create a more balanced emotional life.
From books to traffic signs, symbolism bombards us daily. In every day life, we are guided by the symbolism that surrounds us, which is enhanced even more so within our homes. An intimate environment represents an individual's fears and challenges. If you have trouble finding clarity, see if you have a lot of stuff cluttered in your home. If you have low self esteem, check to see if mirrors are hung too high, which equates to you never measuring up. If you find yourself unable to get out of the single life, do you surround yourself with single decor? I.e. single vases, single chairs, single person in pictures/art. Figure out the challenges you face on a daily basis in your life and look at the symbols the content in your home hold, to understand what changes need to be made.
Natural light can make a person much happier and more positive. You want to enhance as much natural light in a home as possible, which can be done by placing mirrors directly across from windows to help reflect the light throughout your space. Just like the space below, sliding doors on two sides of this living room allow for ample natural to flood the space creating warmth in the winter.
This home built by DeVito & Company is so well designed and is listed in the Hamptons by Geoff Gifkins and Doug Sabo. So if you are ever in Southampton and want to view this beautiful new construction, give them a call!
Beautifully designed architecturally stunning custom home with 9,200 sq.ft. on 3 levels. This house has been crafted for those who want it all and don't settle for the same old same old. Classic design with modern flairs and all the latest technology throughout.
The lower level shows off an amazing wine vault, recreation room, gym, media lounge, laundry center plus additional bedrooms & baths. A very short distance from Southampton Village beaches & shopping makes this location hard to beat. Extensive landscaping with mature plantings, ensure this home creates a perfect get away, and permit for a tennis court is available. This innovative luxurious new construction boasts all of the latest modern amenities. From imported marble to solid oak wood floors, not a single flourish or detail was overlooked.
This luxury home boasts the following:
Discover more of what this spectacular custom home has to offer by catching an open house this weekend. The listing agents on this listing are Geoff Gifkins, Noë Brown, and Lynne Leahy, of Nest Seekers International Hamptons.
Located just minutes from both shopping and ocean beaches, this stunning new construction boasts all of the latest modern amenities. From imported marble to solid white oak floors, not a single flourish or detail was overlooked. Discover more of what this spectacular custom home has to offer by checking it out this coming weekend!
Keep in mind, this "Modern Elevated" style house boasts:
Listing Agent: Geoff Gifkins - Nest Seekers International Hamptons.
For more info click link below:
Ready to paint your home? Be sure to use the right finishes in each room and feature to make the best impact in your home. Using the wrong finishes can backfire for home owners if the wrong ones are used in the wrong spaces. Below, you'll find the most common finishes and recommendations on where they are best applied to.
- PAINT FINISHES -
Flat is a low-sheen paint with a non-reflective finish that touches up well and hides minor surface imperfections. It's ideal for low traffic areas, interior walls and ceilings.
Matte has a low luster reflective finish that is durable, easy to clean, touches up well, and also hides minor surface imperfections. It is great for low to moderate traffic areas, such as bedrooms, and interior walls.
Eggshell Enamel has a soft, velvety appearance and is a good choice for moderate traffic areas such as living rooms.
Satin Enamel if you desire a pearl-like appearance, and are painting moderate to high traffic areas or areas that have some exposure to moisture, such as kitchens.
Semi-Gloss Enamel if you desire a sleek, radiant sheen that is great from cabinets and trim, high-traffic areas and high-moisture areas.
Hi-Gloss Enamel creates a brilliant, shiny appearance with a glass-like finish. This is great for high-use surfaces.
My favorite color right now that I have seen in the modern flair homes of the Hamptons homes for sale is the different shades of gray. That's what's hot right now here and it just keeps everything clean, zen, and up to the buyers to spice it up if they feel ike it. One of the homes I love most is a DeVito home on 230 Bishops Lane, listed with Geoff Gifkins.So, if you are ever in the Hamptons and you see that there is an open house at that address, stop by and experience what a "modern-elevated" style home wityh "gray vibrancy" looks and feels like.
If you haven't bought a home yet, you're missing out on a wonderful feeling! That moment when you walk through your doors, throw your purse or keys on the floor, plop down on your couch and breathe a sigh of relief while thinking, "Finally, it's ours (or mine)!" And the joy of looking at all of your boxes, getting to roll your eyes about why you buy so much stuff, then giving yourself a moment to take a nap because you worked hard to get here and earned it! Yes that's a real feeling!
We often hear, and read, about the cost effectiveness of home ownership. The equity build-up, the freedom it can give us from finances in our retirement years, and a plethora of other ways owning a home can be a positive impact on your bottom dollar. But we don't often hear about the emotional impact owning a home can have. Yes there will be days the fridge is acting silly and you need to call your home warranty, or days you have to get outside to mow your own yard, but nothing beats the pride and joy of owning a home.
There is a sense of security, and a sense of "this is mine and I worked my way up to this moment," that provides moments of bliss. The ability to do with your home as you please, not pay a pretty penny for every member of your fur family, and the privacy it provides can't be beat.
Home ownership also gives you the ability to put down some roots. And we mean that figuratively and literally. You get to build memories through the holidays and go through many milestones with your family, that leave a significant impact into the later years. You also get to build bonds with your neighbors, and grow in a community oriented neighborhood. With rentals, people come and go annually, but there are deeper roots planted with building relationships with those living next to you. Potlucks, 4th of July and New Year's Eve spent lighting fireworks, and just the excitement of getting to know each other and build new relationships.
Buying a home isn't about the dollars and cents for everyone, sometimes it's just about the joy of owning your own place, and getting to build amazing memories in it. If you've been longing for this, get in touch with a real estate agent, and make it happen. You owe it to yourself to make your dreams come true!
Home ownership rates are the lowest they have been in the last 50 years. Yet a large portion of Americans are still renting properties, instead of enjoying a home of their own. Consumer reports believe this is an issue because of a buyer's lack of trust in their ability to purchase. It is still a long standing notion that a buyer needs 20% towards the cost of the home in order to move forward, but this isn't true. With countless down payment assistant programs, and closing cost roll-ins, a home owner could move in with as little as a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars. Which is a huge difference in the time it takes to save up to make the move.
With interest rates at an all time low, home ownership in today's market is a great investment. The money saved over a mortgage's lifespan can result in tens of thousands of dollars, if not hundreds. That's more money in your pocket today. Don't wait to buy when interest rates soar again. With low interest rates, that means your monthly mortgage payments are at a significantly lower cost, as well. With such a heated housing marketing, rental prices are soaring, and statistics are constantly showing that home ownership can be equivalent to your rental rate each month, if not less. Why get stuck in a small 2 bedroom apartment, if you can move into a home a pay a monthly rate that is the same, and get a 3 bedroom house with a great backyard?
There is also a fear that a home can keep you "stuck" or "rooted" to one place, without an easy transition out if you decide to move. Although the future of the housing market isn't easily predictable from location to location, you can always discuss with your agent about buying a home in an area that has a strong turn-over rate when a home hits the market. The equity build up when it comes time to selling is going to be far more beneficial, than if you put money into a rental and decided to move. The money from selling the property can be used to purchase a new home. With renting, there would be no additional funds to transition into a new place.
Now imagine if you were renting a home for $2000/month. If your landlord is renting to make a profit, think how much less you'd be paying on a monthly basis towards your mortgage, if the home was yours. Then you wouldn't be paying a landlord to profit off of you, you'd be paying a reasonable rate, and get to call the property your own. Discuss with your agent and lender the steps you need to take towards home ownership, you might be happily surprised about the type of home you can afford to move into.
This is also a great buying opportunity if you are wanting to transition into a new home. Low interest rates equate to more savings. You could potentially end up getting a bigger home for the same monthly payment cost when you buy your next property. And with such a hot market, there are more homes for sale, which means you can find the right one.
If you have not already spoken with an agent, get in touch with one to get a complimentary CMA. See if the numbers work out for you and/or your family, and if moving is something you want to do. Whether you are re-sizing, or moving to a different state, your agent can get the numbers in order to make sure it's in your best interest to transition in today's market. Don't wait and lose tens of thousands of dollars in your sale price!