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Smart Design With Suzette: Holiday Decorating

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Dining room decorated for Hanukkah. Courtesy photo
 

By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos

It’s that time of year…we excitedly stand out in the cold to watch the holiday light parade, marvel at the performance of the Nutcracker ballet and look forward to time spent with family and friends celebrating the holiday season.

Whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope you will enjoy reading this as I share some ideas that might inspire you this season.

We often see holiday decorating ideas that are perfect for the living room and even the tabletop, but what if you’re one of those particularly dedicated folks who Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: Designing Perfect Pantries

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Walk-in pantry. Courtesy photo

 

By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos

Ask your friends what they dislike about their pantry and you’ll likely get “it’s too small” or “I can’t find anything!”  I hear these complaints often. Clearly, a pantry takes careful planning.

Whether you’re building a new kitchen or remodeling, you need to consider what makes a pantry work and which kind is best for your situation. There are three main types of pantries: cabinets, reach-ins and walk-ins. There is also a hybrid pantry/mudroom/laundry room that the homeowner walks through as they enter the house.

Keep a few Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: Bathroom Face-Lift Or Renovation?

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Curbless shower and sliding shower head. Courtesy photo

 

By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos

Do not underestimate the time you spend in your bathroom on a daily basis. Whether you are getting ready to start your day, unwinding in a warm bath, or getting the kids ready for bed, your bathroom is an important aspect of daily life.

An updated bathroom adds substantial value to your home in the event that you would ever choose to sell. Today’s demanding homebuyers are drawn to “move in ready” and spa-like retreats; and buyers are willing to spend more money to get the features they want in a home.

Here’s something Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: Seven Sustainable Products From Greenbuild 2016

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Dekton by Cosentino line Trillium. countertop. Courtesy photo
 

By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos

Sustainability-minded designers and builders flocked to L.A. (the other L.A.) for the annual Greenbuild Conference & Expo last month.

Along with a slate of education opportunities, the event featured hundreds of manufacturers showcasing products that save energy, conserve water, maximize resources, provide daylighting (the illumination of buildings by natural light) and otherwise contribute to a home’s sustainability.

Though Greenbuild is still largely a commercial show, many Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: Holiday Guests

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Guest bedroom with luggage rack is ready to welcome visitors. Courtesy photo
 

By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos

Now that it’s November, the holidays are upon us, and with them, holiday guests. Here are a few tips for getting your home ready for guests with affordable ideas to refresh and organize your home.

Identify And Anticipate Needs
The only way identify what your guests might need is to stay in your guest room overnight. You might find you need an extra blanket, pillow, clock, radio, or reading materials. By staying overnight in the room, you can best identify the amenities your guests will appreciate. Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: What’s Trending In Baths

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Bathroom with a barrier free shower with a linear drain. Courtesy photo

 

By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos
 
In renovating my master bathroom, I’ve been looking into the latest trends and weighing the old with the new. One thing is for sure, linear drains are hot – here is why.

Previously, shower floors were fairly predictable – a round drain, centered, underfoot and highly visible. That’s changed over the past few years as sleek linear drains have quickly caught the attention of designers and homeowners thanks to their modern, streamlined appearance and installation flexibility. Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: Designing A Green Lifestyle

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Solar panels. Courtesy photo
 

By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos

Whether we want to admit it or not, the Earth is currently facing some serious challenges. Fires and droughts are becoming more common and ice caps are melting. If climate change is going to be managed, it’s going to require participation from everyone in society. Below are a few ways you can live green and design your home to help the environment.

Use a Smart Thermostat
In the summer, homes consume a lot of energy for air conditioning. During the winter, heating is the biggest energy expense. If you want to make your home greener, you need Read More

Enchanting Halloween Decorating Ideas

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Tiny graveyard. Courtesy photo
 

By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos

Halloween’s just around the corner. If you like to decorate for Halloween, it’s not too late to enhance your haunted house, add a touch of fright to party decor, or prepare for trick-or-treaters. Here are a few of my favorites…

Tiny Ghost Town
I saw this last year in a magazine and it turned out terrific. Matte black spray paint or dark gray craft paint will turn craft store birdhouses into an eerie mini landscape. To bump up the creep factor, add oversized spiders to your scene.

Billowing Ghosts
The two ghosts pictured are about 25 years Read More

Los Alamos Home And Condo Sales Jump

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Courtesy/LAAOR
 
LAAOR News:
 
A report released by the Los Alamos Association of REALTORS® (LAAOR) shows Single Family Home sales moved from 68 in the 3rd Quarter of 2016 to 94 this Quarter.
 
LAAOR President David Horpedahl
 
The median price of Single Family Home sales held nearly steady when compared to the 3rd Quarter of 2016 or $276,500 to $279,500 in this Quarter. Single Family Home sales volumes also rose sharply from $21.2M in 2015 to $29.5M for the 3rd Quarter of 2016 reflecting the surge in sales.
 
Condo and Townhome sales
Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: Photography

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Courtesy photo
 
By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos

Recently my youngest daughter had the opportunity to experience a photo session with local photographer, Paulina Gwaltney. From the moment we stepped into Paulina’s boutique studio, we could tell she had a great devotion for creating portraits. Her artful display of photographs was very impressive. As a professional that wants to help educate others, Paulina would like to share her knowledge with you, so you too, can artistically display your portraits at home. Paulina…

Beautiful photographs are something everyone likes to have. We enjoy Read More