Category Archives: Home & Decor Tips

7 Unexpected Smart Home Devices That Can Improve Your Life and Property Value

Utah real estate has been booming—and it doesn’t hurt that the Beehive State is also at the forefront of the smart home movement. If you’re thinking of investing in your own patch of Utah, now’s a great time, and you can give your new property an extra edge with the latest innovation in smart home devices.

Forget motion-triggered lights and smart smoke detectors. The following seven devices take smart homes to a whole new level—and have the potential to improve your quality of life.

  1. Flosstime

Give your pearly whites the extra TLC they deserve with this smart floss dispenser. Flosstime mounts directly to your bathroom mirror and dispenses eighteen inches of floss with just the tap of your finger. This smart device provides a constant reminder that your teeth need more than just a brushing twice per day. The ease and convenience is a great way to get the whole family in the habit of flossing regularly. And the novelty engages the littlest members of your household in this healthy dental care habit.

  1. Quirky Egg Minder

It’s no surprise that the makers of this enigmatic smart device put the word “quirky” right in the name. The Quirky Egg Minder Smart Egg Tray solves a problem you may not know you have: waking up ready to whip up an awesome omelet and finding out that you are eggless. With this smart egg tray, you’ll never run out of this healthy protein source again. It keeps track of how fresh your eggs are and sends a notification to your smartphone when it’s time to replenish or use up an aging supply.

  1. Vivint Garage Door Controller

You might think you already know everything there is to know about garage door openers, but Vivint has raised the bar with its smart garage door controller. Say goodbye to running out of the garage before it closes or contorting your body to avoid tripping the sensor and raising the door accidentally.

With this piece of smart tech, you can open and close the garage with a remote and Amazon Alexa voice control from the bathtub, when you’re halfway to the grocery store, or from the office—you can even pop it open to let the FedEx delivery agent drop a package safely inside your garage. You’ll also receive push notifications every time the garage door opens or closes.

  1. Hatch Baby Smart Changing Pad and Wi-Fi Scale

Do you have children or are kids in your future? Lucky for you, the smart home market has wee ones in mind.

This smart device isn’t your grandma’s changing pad. When you put your little one down for a fresh diaper, the Smart Changing Pad gives you a full readout that includes stats about your baby’s weight, food intake, number of diaper changes, and more. For millennial parents who read every baby blog out there, this extra data is just what the doctor ordered to help you feel at ease.

  1. Furbo

Kids aren’t the only family members that can benefit from smart home tech. This smart pet device lets you check in on your furry friends when you’re away from home—and it even shoots treats out so you can play with your pets from anywhere. Furbo also comes with a two-way audio feature that lets you talk to your precious pup. And you can help them calm down if they get upset because Furbo sends you alerts when your pooch is barking.

  1. June Intelligent Oven

Experienced foodies and newbies to the kitchen alike love this smart oven that virtually eliminates the risk of overcooking or undercooking anything ever again. June, a countertop oven, uses HD cameras, artificial intelligence, and an internal thermometer to help you cook every dish to perfection every time. For those of you watching your waistline, it also weighs whatever you’re making so you can cook accurate portion sizes and better meet your weight loss goals.

  1. August Smart Lock

Security is a mainstay of smart home automation, and the August Smart Lock is the perfect example of why. You can turn your smartphone into your key and keep track of who comes and goes through the app that comes with this smart lock. There’s also extra security because the August lock is installed on the inside of your door, not the outside. This way, no one else can tell that you have a smart lock. It’s also compatible with Siri, the Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa for remote and voice control.

Seeking out a new home or investment property is always exciting, but with the smart tech revolution in full swing, even formerly boring details of a home take on a new luster. If you haven’t added smart devices to your list of must-haves, it’s time to give that list an overhaul. Take a closer look at how smart home devices can make your life easier—and possibly increase the value of your house.

Luxury Living | Majestic Chandeliers

An intricate and ornate lighting fixture, chandeliers are often seen as a luxurious status symbol and centerpiece within the home.  Whether designed from gold, glass or crystal, no two chandeliers are alike.  Discover some exclusive homes highlighted by majestic chandeliers.

Chandelier 1 Texas$17,500,000 USD | Dallas, Texas | Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

Dallas – Located just north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, this French-inspired estate features two unique chandeliers in the formal dining room.  Beautiful and intricate in design, the chandeliers were custom crafted in Italy specifically for this room.  The 40,000-square-foot home additionally includes a 78-foot dome open to all four floors, a two-story mahogany library, theater room, bowling alley, racquetball court, commercial laundry room, gift wrapping room and wine room.

Chandelier 2 Dubai65,000,000 د.إAED | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty

Dubai – This regal Emirates Hills villa features a grand ballroom with a captivating, three-tier candelabra-style glass chandelier.  The residence has elegant finishes throughout including ivory with gold-plated moldings, cornice, entablatures and columns, Renaissance-style sculptures and décor, imported marbles and custom-designed woven carpets.  Spanning 25,000 square-feet, there are six en-suite bedrooms, top-of-the-line kitchen, gymnasium with Jacuzzi, steam and shower facilities and an eight-car garage.

Chandelier 3 Canada$1,350,000 (CAD) | British Columbia, Canada | Sotheby’s International Realty Canada

British Columbia – This Keystone Award winning property features an impressive grand entrance with an 18-foot ceiling and an extraordinary and intricate glass chandelier.  An eight-bedroom estate, the home also has a gourmet kitchen with walk-in pantry, a sunken living room, scotch room, theater room, recreation room with wet bar and marble flooring throughout.  The landscaped backyard boasts a covered patio area and has underground sprinkler and drainage systems.

Chandelier 4 ItalyPrice Upon Request | Verona, Italy | Italy Sotheby’s International Realty

Italy – A historic estate, this Italian property is a small village comprised of three units.  The villa intended for hosting receptions overlooks Garda Lake in Bardolino and features a 180-square-meter dining room highlighted by a grand chandelier.  The additional villas include high ceilings, exposed wood beams, a professional-grade kitchen, wine cellar and spa and wellness center.

Chandelier 5 California$8,500,000 USD | Ventura, California | Sotheby’s International Realty – Montecito – Coast Village Road Brokerage

California – With breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, the dining room of this California residence features a custom artisan glass and crystal chandelier.  The home has luxurious finishes throughout including Venetian plaster walls, arched ceilings, onyx fireplaces, rare green patina granite and custom lacquer oak cabinets.  A five-bedroom estate, the property additionally had a home theater, enclosed courtyard, fire pit, spa, three-car garage and 80 feet of private waterfront.

3 Brilliant Hacks to Make Snow Shoveling Less Miserable

Person shoveling snow in a yard

Don’t break your back shoveling snow. Try these tips to make winter less of a burden.

If you’re a homeowner in a snowy climate, chances are good you rue the winter: All that snow has to go somewhere, and it’s not getting there itself.

Cue the snow shovel.

Barring a move to a snow-free state or barricading your family inside all winter, there’s no way to avoid the endless task of shoveling snow. There are, however, ways to make the process much easier. Here are three simple hacks to make the morning after a snowfall much less stressful.

1.  Spray Your Shovel with Cooking Oil

Snow sticking to your shovel makes an already arduous task even more obnoxious. Avoid it with this hack: Lightly coat your shovel with non-stick cooking oil to make snow slide right off. No more time wasted removing snow from your snow remover. (You can substitute a spray lubricant like WD-40, but the downside is it’s toxic.)

2.  Lay Out a Tarp Before the Snow

If you like short cuts, this technique, billed as “the laziest way imaginable” to clear snow, according to a tutorial from “Instructables,” has got your name on it. The day before an expected snowfall, lay a tarp on your walkway. When the snow finishes falling, just pull out the tarp, and voilà: an instantly cleared walkway. (Word to the wise: Make sure pedestrians won’t trip on your tarp; include a sign or use this technique in your backyard walkway if you’re concerned.)

The technique requires a tarp, firewood, and twine as well as some prep work. Pre-storm, use firewood to weigh down your tarp — you don’t want it flying away in the wind! — and tie the twine to both the tarp and to a shovel standing upright in your yard. You’ll use the shovel to pull out the snow-laden tarp.

Although this method might be faster than shoveling, it does require manpower. After all, a cubic foot of snow can weigh between 7 and 20 pounds. So don’t get too ambitious with the size of your tarp or you might not be able to pull it once it’s full of snow.

3.  Make a Homemade De-icing Cocktail

De-icers make snow removal easier by cutting through the tough, icy layers that are a pain to remove with a shovel. But an easy solution should be easy on your property as well. Many commercial de-icers are pretty harsh.

Commercial ice-melting substances — magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride (salt) — all cause damage to the environment, according to the University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center. They can also damage concrete sidewalks and driveways, which mean hefty repair costs later.

A better solution: Make your own de-icer using rubbing alcohol or vinegar. You’ll save money, too. Commercial melters typically cost $8 or more. Plus, you’ll avoid the hassle of trekking to the hardware store to stock up.

Use vinegar before a storm to make ice and snow removal easier:

  • Combine 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water.
  • Spray or pour gently (you still want to avoid runoff into your landscape) before a storm.

To keep the sidewalks and steps from icing after a storm:

  • Combine 2 parts rubbing alcohol with 1 part water.
  • Apply to minimize runoff.
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10 Christmas Light Tips to Save Time, Money, and (Possibly) Your Life

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Christmas lights can be modest displays to show good cheer, or million-bulb light-apaloozas that draw gawkers from near and far. Here are some tips on how to get the most from — and spend the least on — your holiday display.

1.  Safety first. Emergency rooms are filled with homeowners who lose fights with their holiday lights and fall off ladders or suffer electric shocks. To avoid the holiday black and blues, never hang lights solo; instead, work with a partner who holds the ladder. Also, avoid climbing on roofs after rain or snow.

2.  Unpack carefully. Lights break and glass cuts. So unpack your lights gingerly, looking for and replacing broken bulbs along the way.

3.  Extension cords are your friends. Splurge on heavy-duty extension cords that are UL-listed for outdoor use. To avoid overloading, only link five strings of lights together before plugging into an extension cord.

4.  LEDs cost less to light. LED Christmas lights use roughly 70% to 90% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. You can safely connect many more LED light strings than incandescents. Downside: Some think they don’t burn as brightly as incandescent bulbs.

5.  Solar lights cost nothing to run. Solar Christmas lights are roughly four times more expensive to buy than LEDs, but they cost zero to run. They’re a bright-burning, green alternative. Downside: If there’s no sun during the day, there’s no light at night. The jury’s also still out on how long they last; they’re too new on the market for results.

6.  Dismantle lights sooner than later. Sun, wind, rain, and snow all take their toll on Christmas lights. To extend the life of lights, take them down immediately after the holidays. The longer you leave the up, the sooner you’ll have to replace them.

7.  Plan next year’s display on Dec. 26. Shop the after-Christmas sales to get the best prices on lights and blowups that you can proudly display next year. Stock up on your favorite lights so you’ll have spares when you need them (and after they’re discontinued).

8.  Permanent attachments save time. If you know you’ll always hang lights from eaves, install permanent light clips ($13 for 75 clips) that will save you hanging time each year. You’ll get a couple/three years out of the clips before sun eats the plastic.

9.  Find those blueprints. Instead of guessing how many light strings you’ll need, or measuring with a tape, dig up your house blueprints or house location drawings (probably with your closing papers) and use those measurements as a guide.

10.  Store them in a ball. It sounds counterintuitive, but the best way to store lights is to ball them up. Wrap five times in one direction, then turn the ball 90 degrees and repeat. Store your light balls in cardboard boxes, rather than in plastic bags: Cardboard absorbs residual moisture and extends the life of your lights.

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Out-of-the-Box Fire Pit Ideas

Once upon a time, fire pits were built out of necessity, for both warmth and cooking. But today’s fire pits are more stylish than ever. The new fire pits — including gas-powered versions — add serious drama when it’s time for s’mores.

Fire bowl

firepit

Source: Zillow

No chopping wood here! These sleek and modern fire pits are often built out of a concrete and Fiberglas mix to create a lightweight structure. Fuel canisters sit within the pit and are easily refillable. Any fire-proof substance can be added to the fire bowl for an appealing display — even when the fire is out.

firepit_1

Source: Urban Oasis

A fire pit with a deep basin can provide significant warmth for an outdoor seating area.

firepit_2

Source: StoneToYou

Ash-colored firestone pebbles surround the gas flame in this fire bowl. This fire pit comes with on/off key for easy control.

Fire pit table

firepit_3

Source: Zillow

Go for a two-in-one style. Many of these fire pit and table combinations come with lids to cover the fire pit when it’s not in use. These styles work with gas-powered and wood fire pits.

Source: New Image Landscape and Pools

This fire pit is built out of Travertine stone. The naturally-occurring material is one of the most durable on the market.

Source: Alderwood Landscape

A fire pit with stone details creates a gathering place at the edge of a yard.

Fire and water

firewater

Source: Zillow

Don’t choose between a fountain and a fire pit. Ready-made fire pit fountains make it easy to combine both elements. Or, create your own water fire pit by adding an above ground pit to a water feature. As long as you can safely run a gas line, or ensure fuel canisters remain dry, you can enjoy the combination of water and fire.

firewater 2

Source: Pebble Tec

Add free-standing fire pits to the edge of a pool for an easy fire-plus-water installation.

Fire as art

fire_art

Source: Garden Studio Design

Fuel canisters or gas lines make it possible to add flames to any fire pit installation.

Source: Third Rock Gas Fireplace

Global warming goes literal with this unusual fire pit.

via Out-of-the-Box Fire Pit Ideas | Zillow Blog.

Create a Splendid Sensory Experience This Thanksgiving

Did you know we eat with our eyes first? Our senses then gauge smell and, finally, taste. Create a superb Thanksgiving experience by layering sight, smell and taste into your dining table decor.

Whether you prefer traditional, modern or quirky style, anyone can create an opulent, sensory dining experience with these holiday décor tips.

holiday-table

Invoking a refined elegance and velvety calm, purple is perfect for this year’s holiday table.

Purple is easy to combine with traditional décor. Shades of purple, plum, violet and lavender make a lavish complement to traditional Thanksgiving colors such as orange, yellow and green. Adding an unexpected color gives a fresh, updated look to the time-honored Thanksgiving palette.

Purple-Thanksgiving
Bring the Outdoors In

Novembers in Utah make a cozy backdrop for Thanksgiving. Remind your guests to be grateful for the earthly beauty Park City and Salt Lake City have to offer by using natural elements in your Thanksgiving table. Wood accents, colorful fruits, rich vegetables and plants add to the beauty of the table and home décor.

Use Potted Plants
Introduce different shades of green through the use of plants. Replace large floral centerpieces with untraditional floral surprises: mossy green mini-pots, potted succulents, bulbs and fresh herbs. Plants add color, texture and pleasant smells to a dining table.
Use fresh herbs for both meal prep and as decorations. Incorporating fresh herb plants into the table décor nicely layers sight, smell and taste, creating a brilliant sensory experience.

SONY DSC

Don’t Just Eat the Vegetables and Fruit

Seasonal gourds, vegetables and fruits make excellent table accents. Select interesting-looking vegetables and leave them in their natural state, use them to add a pop of rich color wherever you need one. Combine pumpkins and gourds with cranberries, apples and pomegranates to incorporate the traditional holiday colors. Try using fruits and vegetables that are on the menu.

Rustic-styled-outdoor-Thanksgiving-table-idea

Create Warmth with Wood Accents

Wood accents are all the rage. Raw cut wood creates a beautiful juxtaposition with fine china and crystal stemware. Layer in lush evergreens with raw wood accents to create a lush setting. If you are hosting visitors from out of town, try using wood found locally (credit patrick). This will offer a nice touch and give the guests something to remember about Utah.

Woven Baskets and Natural Grasses

Woven baskets and natural grasses help to add texture to the table. Use baskets to house dinner rolls, display beautiful organic vegetables or as decorative elements. The woven pumpkins below add a pop of color and texture.

Use the tops of natural grasses in the napkin holders, in the centerpiece or as the centerpiece. Layer natural grasses with gourds, fruit and natural plants to create a bountiful harvest table.

copper

Use Copper instead of Gold or Silver

Copper offers a new take on the traditional Thanksgiving color scheme, offering warmth and sophistication. Not to mention, copper is often used in the highest quality cookware. Use any copper cookware you already have to adorn the serving table or use copper sheets as napkin holders. Use copper vases to house natural grasses or fresh herbs.

Make Place Cards

A DIY place card can keep Aunt Sue from arguing with Grandpa Joe, but it’s also the kind of personal touch that makes guests feel welcome. You won’t regret spending some time on this one as your visitors are sure to appreciate a creative idea with their name on it.

placecards

Excited to start cooking and decorating for Thanksgiving? Check out our Pinterest board for more ideas on how to decorate your home for Thanksgiving by layering the sights, smells and tastes of the season.

Winterize Your Home With These 10 Tips

The leaves are changing and temperatures are starting to dip, you know what that means – it’s time to winterize your home! Here are 10 tips to get you on track.

1. There’s nothing worse than waking up to a freezing house on a snowy day. Changing your furnace filters monthly ensures efficiency in the winter when your system is going overtime and regular tune-ups can add years of life to your heating system and help you avoid a mid-winter replacement. Tip: remember that hot air rises, run your fan clockwise to push hot air downward and circulate it around the room.

2. Heat is lost from the exterior of your water heater all the time, in winter this is exacerbated. Insulating your tank with a water heater blanket can cut the cost of running the heater by as much as 10 percent.


3. Are fall leaves clogging up your gutters? Make sure you clean them out before winter. Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams that prevent water from draining from the roof, causing water damage to the inside and outside of your home.

4. With all those exposed branches, fall may seem like the best time to trim shrubs and trees. However, experts suggest trimming branches closer to winter, just before that first snowfall. Pay special attention to weak branches that could snap when the snow starts falling.

5. Between furnaces, Christmas trees and chimneys, fires become all too common in the winter season. Change batteries in smoke detectors at least once a year, and invest in carbon monoxide detectors.


6. Avoid costly spring repairs to your sprinkler system by getting it professionally blown out.  In addition, detach garden hoses and drain all outside waterspouts.

7. Drafty or single-pane windows should be upgraded to something more efficient. If that’s not an option, be sure to invest in storm windows or window insulation kits.


8. Sealing up drafts in the home can save you 10-20 percent on your energy bill. Adding caulk around windows and weather stripping around doors is a good place to start. If you’re feeling like taking on a larger project, add more insulation to your attic and around pipes.

9. Patch cracks in the sidewalk and driveway. Cracks in cement and asphalt allow water to seep underneath and freeze, which then expands, lifting portions of the cement and leads to more cracks. Prevent cracks from ever forming by sealing your driveway every year.


10. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, chimneys need to be cleaned each year to prevent soot buildup, leading to harmful smoke and potential fires.

Now that you’re all prepped for winter, it’s time to enjoy the rest of fall. Check out Summit Sotheby’s International Realty’s favorite fall activities in Park City.

2014 Trends for Outdoor Living

Everyone likes a little luxury, but in a recovering economy the focus falls on practicality. This year’s trends for outdoor living are a fusion of those two desires – focusing on bringing the indoors out, creating a purposeful and comfortable environment.

Kitchens

Entertaining is a huge part of using your backyard, that only gets easier when there’s no reason to go inside. An outdoor kitchen complete with a fridge, stovetop, sink and a huge BBQ make this possible.

Entertaining

Technology

Weatherproof TV’s and wireless sound systems are perfect for enlivening the outdoors. Heated concrete is also becoming popular, especially in snowy Park City by completely eliminating the need to shovel when you head out to your hot tub after a day on the slopes.

Garden

Landscape

No longer is it in vogue to fight the natural landscape. Native plants are a must, as is water-efficient irrigation systems. In Utah this means drought resistant plants, perennials and evergreens. Kick it up a notch by incorporating yard art.

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Gardens

Edible plants are a key part of a utilitarian backyard. Making it convenient means gardening on a small scale via planter boxes, large pots or working it into your other landscaping. For example, plant lettuce next to sage to keep the bugs away.

Outdoor Tv

Hot tubs

An expertly planned hot tub can create a year-round oasis. What’s better than watching the snowfall from your streaming tub? In ground hot tubs, located close to the backdoor are especially popular where snow and ice is an issue.

Patio

Fireplaces and fire pits

Fire effortlessly creates a gathering place in the summer, and makes your backyard livable until late fall by keeping you warm – making them a trend everywhere, but a must-have for any Utah backyard.

Roof top add-ons, gazebos, and pergolas

For Utahns, the overhead cover trend is good news, making outdoor spaces usable at last during the hot summers and snowy winters. Gazebos and vine covered pergolas can provide cover for your fire pit, seating area or hot tub, and are a great option for those who don’t want to build a rooftop add-on.

Outdoor Lighting

Lighting

As homeowners work to bring the indoor ambiance outside, lighting should follow suit. Outdoor lights create ambiance long after the sun has set and become especially useful in the fall as the days become shorter.

Durability

In a recovering economy, the focus always falls on things that last, making durability a top priority for 2014. Homeowners are choosing furniture built into the infrastructure of the backyard, or made out of heavy-duty metals or wood; with cushions made with materials that can entertain and stand the test of time.

Outdoor Heating

Temperature control

Making the outdoors as comfortable as your living room is made less challenging by investing in overhead fans for those hot, breezeless days and radiant heaters for colder summer or fall nights.

 

Chic Trends for the Luxury Home Owner

Luxury is about more than just lavishness. New trends have emerged in the luxury home market that put special attention on the comfort of the owner by turning a home into an oasis.    

The Smart Home
Roll down the shades, adjust the lights or temperature, lock the doors and turn on the bubbles in the hot tub – home automation is the new hot thing. Now everything can be controlled with just a touch of a button on your smartphone.  

Wine Room
For the wine aficionado, this is a great way to keep your bottles perfectly stored and to enjoy them more often. For those whose worlds don’t revolve around a nice cabernet, a wine room is still a great place to entertain and show others how to live in the lap of luxury!  

Home Gyms
Convenience is something everyone will splurge on. What’s more motivating and efficient than your own private gym right down the hall?  

Spa Bathrooms
Make your bathroom your primary retreat with the works. Each area is personalized to the sexes with vanities, bidets and urinals, heated floors and towel bars, saunas, steam showers, soaking tubs, and showers that simulate monsoon rains.  

Outdoor Space
The popularity of an opulent yard is fading, but great views have always been an attribute of a luxury home. Rooftop decks and terraces take advantage of views and an outdoor space that is low upkeep and useable for entertainment needs of a luxury owner.  

Luxury finishes everywhere.
Nothing is more lavish than the kind of expert craftsmanship that allows an entire wall to be claimed by the natural beauty of rare wood or rock that continues flawlessly from floor to wall to ceiling. Marble is the new luxury finish and onyx is the new accent stone.    

Light
Luxury homebuyers are saying they see the light – through their windows. A home without lots of natural light is simply sub-par in today’s luxury home market, oversized, floor to ceiling windows are common now, as are ceiling windows.