Dreamy Decor and Staging for a Mid-Century Home

Do you have a mid century modern home in Seattle and wondering how to stage it? A lot of folks have that concern when they go to sell. They may be moving into a new home and don't want to leave their furniture in the house, so they look to a stager to help guide them to make the house show its best.

Many homeowners love the mid century luck and have a lot of period pieces, but we caution against using too many. Items in a home sale. Maybe best to go modern and add a few more up-to-date touches to appeal to a larger range of clients and customers.

However, I really well done mid century look will appeal to a number of buyers who enjoy that. Of architecture. If you're going to do it, it's good to have professional photos taken when you go to sell your house and perhaps a video tour. This will get the buyers coming to your door to check out the house!

There was a time in the 70s and 80s by mid century modern architecture was not as appealing as it is today. Many folks loved the Victorian and craftsman bungalows in Seattle. However mid century modern architecture has made a comeback in the Pacific Northwest, and these homes sell for premium prices today.

Mid-century Modern Malm-style fireplace

 Avocado wishes and harvest gold dreams!

Though not shown in their current catalog or on their website, I think this is a early Malm fireplace in A lovely shade of avocado green. 

It was spotted the other day at Earth Wise in Seattle for $375. While it may not be safe to use or up to current standards, it would make a great focal point in your mid century modern home.

New IKEA store opens near Seattle in Renton

 The new IKEA show room that reopened again recently is marvelous. It's twice as big with many more designer rooms that were at the smaller store next-door. Apparently, the designers create the price tag first and then they find clever ways to create the high quality furniture that we've all come to love. If you've never been to an IKEA store then perhaps you don't know that everything is flat packed, but that makes it cheaper and easier to ship and they pass the savings onto you by requiring that you put the furniture together. But most of the time it's pretty easy.

I appreciate the fact that IKEA has clear standards for all the wood they used in their products, which includes a ban on illegally log the woods. They partner with organizations like the WWF and the Forest stewardship Council so that More wood can come from well-managed forests.

IKEA Renton offers free Wi-Fi.  Just search for the "IKEA WIFI" network on your Wi-Fi enabled device when you enter the store. Launch your browser and follow the on-screen instructions. You'll be able to log on that first time and automatically select and connect every time you visit. This is helpful if you're trying to figure out sizes and dimensions or do price-comparisons. 

IKEA Renton Store Information Address 601 SW 41st St. Renton, WA 98057 Store Hours: Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 9:00pm Sunday: 10:00am - 8:00pm Restaurant Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9:00am - 8:30pm Sunday: 9:00am - 7:30pm

Northwest Flower and Garden Show

 

I look forward to this event every year, The northwest flower and Garden show that takes place at the convention center in downtown Seattle. Wouldn't believe how huge it is, and it starts out on a Saturday in a big empty building the size of several football fields. By Tuesday morning they've moved in tons and tons of dirt and rocks and flowers and trees and created an incredible garden at the light. Plus there's hundreds of exhibitors and always so many wonderful things to see

Swingin' Urban Pad for Guys or Dolls

Swanky urban condo with it's own private garden and tiki bar!  Revel in the mid-century modern architecture in the Capitol Hill neighborhood condo in Seattle.  An amazing find in Seattle real estate for those who crave an urban lifestyle.

Best Apple Pie in the World

Everyone know that the best pie crust contains lard.  Disgusting?  Well, yes, but a lot of really good things are disgusting.  You know, like vegetables grow in DIRT and those fish that you eat have been swimming around in the same water with other unpleasant things.  But they sure taste good!

 Here's a photo of Max, my oldest son (he's in college at Evergreen)  making one of his great pies. This one happens to be apple pie.   Best Lard crust recipe ever:

1 and 1/2 cups flour
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup LARD
3-4 tablespoons cold water

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in lard until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle in water, a tablespoon at a time, until pastry holds together. Shape into a ball; chill for 30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Transfer to a 10-in. pie plate. Flute edges; fill and bake with the apples (below)  If you want a top or to lattice the crust like this photo, you'll need to double the recipe.

Filling

1/3

to 1/2 cup sugar

1/4

cup all-purpose flour

1/2

teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2

teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8

teaspoon salt

8

cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (8 medium)

2

tablespoons butter or margarine

In large bowl, mix sugar, 1/4 cup flour, the cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Stir in apples until well mixed. Spoon into pastry-lined pie plate. Cut butter into small pieces; sprinkle over filling. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1/2 inch from rim of plate.

Roll other round of pastry into 10-inch round. Fold into fourths and cut slits so steam can escape. Unfold top pastry over filling; trim overhanging edge 1 inch from rim of plate. Fold and roll top edge under lower edge, pressing on rim to seal; flute as desired. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of foil to prevent excessive browning.

Bake 40 to 50 minutes at 425 degrees or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust, removing foil for last 15 minutes of baking. Serve warm if desired.

YUM!!!

32 Cheap And Easy Backyard Ideas That Are Borderline Genius

I have an ugly stump on my boulevard that I put a pot on and planted some seeds, but this I never thought of painting the whole stump like these folks down on 17th near Trader Joe's on Capitol Hill.  Here are a few other ideas for your yard and garden area:
32 Cheap And Easy Backyard Ideas That Are Borderline Genius:

French countryside in Normandy Park, just South of Seattle

"Pigments from France of burnt ochre, Italian green earth, warm saffron drenching joyful surfaces of plaster walls; international assemblies of cultural pieces respectfully orchestrated to ease and enrich their diversity...' Détente'. A patina of textures dominate the exhilarating décor: the influence of stained concrete, tiles, antique Teak floors; heavy beams against delicate Fretwork; blown glass finials. Romance on stage from dawn to sunsets across 222' saltwater. The ingenuity of ‘mélange’."

This is a beautiful one-of-a kind home that's located just South of Seattle in Normandy Park.

Halloween house and yard

Halloween house and yard, a photo by greenwalksblog on Flickr.

I just love the decoration and gear the little guy is wearing in this picture! Fall is in the air and with Halloween coming up, decorations and breathtaking leaves are popping up everywhere. It's just one of the many advantages to living in the beautiful North West!

Jo gets a new home on Beacon Hill

Jo first tried to buy a short sale in Judkins Park, and when that failed, she turned her sights to Beacon Hill and she found this darlng vintage home.