Go With Sapphire Blue!

Always fabulous Glassybaby (go Seattle business!), just mentioned #Seattle on their Twitter :

glassybaby glassybaby 

"We're busy packing for the @Remodelista roadshow this Saturday...any color requests? #Seattle"

In the spirit of today's wedding countdown, I'm totally into the idea of a "Diana Sapphire Blue."

Who's with me?! In fact, while they're at it, what about a deep emerald green for our Emerald City?

Just around the corner.

Hint Hint. Nudge Nudge.

Leave it to Martha!

Personal aside, happy to see the "Spa Day" insert. :)

See all 82 (yes, 82!) below:

Martha Stewart Living Newsletter

So Cool!

This just in (thank you Twitter)! Paste Magazine lists Brandi Carlile accompanied by the Seattle Symphony as # 1 on their list of "12 May Albums Worth Checking Out."

Lovin' the Seattle Love!

See video and album details HERE.

Cheers!

OH!!! So, excited!

All You Can Eat Stopsky's, in the name of love! -- for Jewish deli delights Seattle Times Newspaper

Listing Feature On Curbed Seattle

This sure caught me off guard! (In an excellent way).
Sipping some afternoon 'presso, and surfing around some favorite rainy day sites - I came across this! One of my listings - on....drum roll, please.... Curbed Seattle!

Great views on my computer screen - Great views of the Sound. Can it get any better??

"5 Properties With Mind-Bogglingly Killer Views in Seattle"

Thursday, April 21, 2011, by Kelly Skahan

Next up: Alaskan Way.

Seattle residents have a pretty legit attachment to the crumbling bit of infrastructure known as the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and out-of-towners think we're nuts. They haven't seen the view, though! Seriously, where else can you see the Olympics at sunset on one side while you soak in the city on the other (often while traveling 20 miles above the ridiculous 45 mph speed limit)? Nowhere, unless you have $1.25 million and an itch to own the penthouse at 1950 Alaskan Way. It's a 2-bedroom condo with views of the ferry docks and the mountains on one side and some pretty towering buildings on the other, and it's got two parking spaces in the garage and an office to boot. Where do we sign?

For more info. on this see here -> Listing: 1950 Alaskan Way #524

Cheers!

Hop to it!

Outdoors | Hop to it! Easter parade, bonnet contest and egg hunts | Seattle Times Newspaper

Present: EMP pays tribute to our "Grunge" past.

EMP unveils Nirvana Exhibit

Sotheby's Sellers Edge - The Business of Extraordinary Living

THE SELLER’S EDGE

Home Improvements to Improve Your Sale Price

By Iyna Bort Caruso

The decision to put your house on the market is often the easy one. The hard part is deciding which, if any,
home improvements to make before hanging the For Sale sign. Whether you leave the home “as is” or upgrade
for a higher sale price, the answer depends on the category of home.

“In the half-million-dollar category, expectations are lower,” says Tracy Bacigalupi of Harbor Sotheby’s International
Realty in Bay Harbor, Mich. “Buyers reason that if the home isn’t fixed up, they’ll do the work.” But in the $1 million-plus
range, they “expect the home to be in really good condition, needing only minor cosmetic changes.”

Bacigalupi recalls one home that sat on the market for two years before the owner finally invested in improvements.
Immediately after the overhaul, the home sold.

Home improvement expert and host of DIY Network’s “Money Hunters,” Matt Blashaw, says one of the easiest
ways to increase the value of a house is to beef up its curb appeal. “This will increase the value of your home as
well as your neighborhood.”

Remodeling Magazine’s 2010 Cost vs. Value report supports that suggestion. Something as simple as an
entry-door replacement gets a big bang for the buck. In fact, this fix tops the magazine’s list of home improvements,
with a 102.1% return in the midrange project category. Replacement projects historically perform better in resale
value than remodeling. They are less expensive, for one thing, and contribute to curb appeal, which strongly influences
homebuyers.

Big-ticket projects, of course, require both a budget and due diligence. “The kitchen is king,” says Blashaw.
“Unless your home is falling down around you, the smartest place to put your hard-earned dough is in the kitchen.
That’s where all the magic happens. If you have the means, make sure to place all your new toys into a nice flowing
workspace. This will pack a lot more value into your home renovation,” he says.

A major upscale kitchen remodel averages $113,164 according to the Remodeling Magazine survey and returns 59.7%.
A midlevel kitchen averages $58,367 with a 68.7% return. Blashaw recommends stylish choices but nothing too lavish.
In high-end homes, he suggests quality stainless-steel appliances, gas stove, stone countertops and tile floors.
“You don’t have to go with professional-grade appliances or blow your budget on Travertine.”

Bacigalupi agrees on the role a kitchen plays in a home’s salability. “I’ve watched buyers fall in love with the house,
but if the kitchen isn’t where it needs to be, they walk away. It’s such an emotional aspect of the home. They want
it to be amazing.”

The master bathroom is another important area that can prompt an offer. “A sanctuary, it truly needs to feel special,
like a mini spa,” says Bacigalupi.

Sellers should think like buyers and ask themselves, what aspects of the home detract from the experience of living there?
Weigh the quality and condition of the countertops, cabinetry, flooring and fixtures against their age and style,
recommends architect David Ellison of The D. H. Ellison Co. in Cleveland, Ohio. Old doesn’t always mean less
marketable. “A vintage kitchen or bathroom in good condition is often of equal or better value – and more
attractive – than a brand-new kitchen. Never replace a high-quality vintage item with a low-quality new item
as this degrades value,” he says.

Most remodeling projects with the best returns are practical, such as siding and window replacements.
The average cost of fiber-cement siding is more than $13,000, but it returns 80%, second in the Cost vs. Value survey.

Another factor to consider is whether the home is a primary or secondary residence. Vacation homebuyers just
want to show up and enjoy. They may be willing to rip up a carpet, but they’re generally not interested in ripping
out a kitchen. In Mallorca, Spain, about 70% of properties are holiday homes, with many owners hailing from
Germany and Great Britain, says Stephen Dight of Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty. Easy fixes that won’t
interfere with the enjoyment of the house get buyers’ attention. “The majority of people like to have something
ready as they have neither the time nor the inclination to source furniture, decorators or building contractors.
This is especially true with first-time buyers who know fewer people and are daunted by such a project,” Dight says.

Whether primary or a vacation home, renovating up to buyers expectations is always a sound investment. A home’s
appearance should measure up to the best property in the neighborhood. Anything that might raise questions should
be repaired, restored or replaced. “Don’t give buyers a reason not to buy. Give them a why,” says Blashaw. “If there’s
one thing out of order, that’s when a potential buyer starts focusing on the negative.”

The latest from HauteLiving

Haute Event: Tonight with Carolina Herrera Brings Music To Bay Area Kids

Posted By Kimberley Lovato on April 20th, 2011

If you’re looking for something special to do tonight, and you happen to have a spare ballgown laying around, head to Davies Symphony Hall at 7:30 where, for the first time in nearly thirty years, the venue will host to a glamorous fundraising evening of high fashion fused with music passion at “An Evening With Carolina Herrera.”

Presented in partnership with Neiman Marcus, the event honors the 100th anniversary in 2011-2012 of the San Francisco Symphony and features a runway show on the Davies Hall stage by the chic and internationally-acclaimed clothing designer (and previous Haute Living San Francisco covergirl), Carolina Herrera, showcasing the Fall 2011 collection. Herrera will also attend a pre-show reception (5:30-6:30) for ticket buyers at the $500 level. All proceeds from the event support the Symphony’s acclaimed music education programs, which provide music education to more than 75,000 Bay Area children each year. “The San Francisco League of the San Francisco Symphony is thrilled to partner with Carolina Herrera and Neiman Marcus in offering fashion- and music-lovers from the Bay Area an extraordinary experience at Davies Symphony Hall,” said Patricia Ferrin Loucks, event chair.

John Capizzi, general manager of Neiman Marcus’ Union Square store, commented, “ ‘An Evening With Carolina Herrera’ is a wonderful way to honor the San Francisco Symphony’s remarkable history of bringing classical music to both the Bay Area and the world for 100 years.”
For more information and a ticket order form, visit www.sfsymphony.org/fashionshow or call the San Francisco Symphony Volunteer Council to reserve tickets at 415.503.5500.
Kimberley Lovato is a freelance writer based in San Francisco.
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Riedel Stemware Event @ Purple Bellevue

Last minute Thursday event notice - sourced from fabulous EatBellevue. See below.
Cheers!

Riedel Stemware Event at Purple Bellevue

BY CHARLES KOH | DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE, EVENTS, RESTAURANTS, WHAT'S NEW | POST A COMMENT | APR 08 2011

 

Vinum Wine Glass Seminar

On Thursday, April 21st from 6:30pm – 8:00pm, Purple Cafe in Bellevue will welcome Joel Simon from Riedel Crystal Glassware to an exciting event. For 300 years and 11 generations, the Riedel family has been synonymous with fine wine glasses and decanters and we are proud to utilize their crystal stemware in our four locations.

Price is $85 and includes the seminar, wine tasting, and light appetizers. In addition, you will take home the Vinum tasting set at the end of the evening. This set of 4 glasses includes Bordeaux, Burgundy, Montrachet and Sauvignon Blanc and retails for $116.

Space is limited; please contact Event Planning to make a reservation.
206.838.3853.

For more information about Riedel glassware, please visit their website.

Purple Cafe and Wine Bar
430 106th Avenue Northeast
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 502-6292
108th Ave NE & NE 6th St
Open Mon-Thu 11am-10pm; Fri 11am-11pm; Sat 12pm-11pm; Sun 12pm-9pm

View Larger Map

by Charles Koh

Bon Appétit! Twitter: @charleskoh
Charles Koh has written 79 article(s) at EatBellevue.com

Curbed takes on the Viaduct

News sources across the country (including the NY Times) have taken on the great "Viaduct debate." Reporting on Seattle's historic indecision, Curbed Seattle plays a bit on the ironies surrounding the issue.

See HERE!

Curbed National Comes to Seattle!

We hoped, we prayed (we wished on stars!) - and it has finally happened, people!

One of my all time favorite browsing sites has launched a Seattle division.  Yesterday, Curbed National debuted their Seattle "sister site," and I must say, they hit the ground running. Loaded to the hilt with fabulous Northwest content, this site is dressed to impress - Seattle style.

With features such as "Celebrity Listings," "Eater Seattle," "Cool Listings,"and loads of other fantastic blurbs spanning the city - this site will most certainly turn some heads. The style, the writing, the feel - is all fabulous. Capturing this humble bloggers heart, one post at a time. #Sigh.



See their "Well Hello There" posting below.

Welcome Curbed - I'll be by soon with a welcome basket!

WELL HELLO, THERE!

Welcome to Curbed Seattle!

Climb aboard, untie the ropes, and heave-ho this baby off the dock– it's time to set sail on the good ship Curbed Seattle, launching this very morning. From the ins and outs of the real estate scene, to adventures in urban planning and architecture, to local oddities, for Curbed Seattle, it all comes back to real estate, rent, and the neighborhoods we inhabit.

Curbed Seattle joins the growing Curbed Network of sites including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and DC, not to mention ourNational Mothership. We'll take that Curbed DNA and refocus it on our city. Federal Way native Kelly Skahan (that's me) is at the helm, and she's making up for her suburban childhood by combing the mean streets of Seattle for the scoop on the latest developments, zoning squabbles, and decorative t-shirts on Waiting for the Interurban. We can't do it alone though, so if you've got the goods on cool properties, ridiculous new architectural plans, or members of the Mariners infield who've moved in next door, email us atseattle@curbed.com.

While you’re at it, head on over to our sister site Eater Seattle, which hits the ground running today under the guidance of one Allecia Vermillion. She'll keep you posted on the latest restaurant openings, chef squabbles, and industry gossip. Do check it out.

We're glad to be here, and hope you're glad we're here too. Sally forth then, dear Seattleites, and let's do this.

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11:00 AM, Apr. 19 2011