3 Trends in Kitchen Hardware to Keep an Eye On

You don’t have to transform your entire kitchen to feel like your kitchen has been upgraded. All you have to do is update some of your kitchen hardware, like the knobs on your cabinets or the handles on your drawers. You’ll get that new kitchen feel for a fraction of the cost. However, choose your new hardware wisely. Here are 3 trends in kitchen hardware to keep an eye on.

1. Artsy knobs

The great thing about the term “artsy” is that it’s totally up to your interpretation and discretion. You can take your pick of colorful knobs, varying sized knobs and knobs of many different styles. Got a theme for your kitchen? Go all out by getting knobs that matches your vision. 

Whatever your method of madness, personalize your kitchen in the subtlest and classiest of ways so you can impress guests. You can peruse the knob section at Home Depot or Lowes for ideas, or you can check out what’s new in the DIY section of the internet.

2. Bar handles

You can make your kitchen seem more modern and sleek without replacing a single panel or backsplash tile. Just incorporate long, straight lines in your kitchen with bar handles.
These handles are most commonly seen in restaurant kitchens: They’re long and slim metal bars that run the length of drawers. They’re not only great for design but also for utility. You can be completely engrossed in a recipe, reach over to grab a drawer handle and grasp it every time, without fail.

Now, if you have a theme for your kitchen, these handles are maybe not the best way to go. If you’re going for minimalist and even futuristic vibe, these handles are for you.

3. Finger handles

Although they may look like it, finger handles aren’t actually tiny shelves for mice (knock on wood that there aren’t really mice in your kitchen). These flat, stainless steel handles work great for the lower, base cabinets in your kitchen. Just slip a finger or two under the small lip of the handle to open your cabinets.

They look great and they’re completely functional. No more bending down to open a cabinet just to discover the pot you were looking for wasn’t even in there.

Pro tip: Updating the hardware in your kitchen is a great way to spruce up your kitchen before showing your house to prospective buyers. When you’re ready to sell your home, give us a shout. We’re here to help.

WHAT IS THE BEST INVESTMENT? REAL ESTATE!

In a quiet corner of West Palm Beach's Presidential Estates, where luxury homes abound, some on the waterfront, you will find WHITEHALL CONDOS.  There are sparkling white buildings with catwalk designs that bring N'Awlins to mind.  Beautiful gardens, flowering bushes, and palm trees are meticulously cared for.  It is quiet, peaceful, and there are a beautiful Olympic-size pool and a small clubhouse on the grounds.  Meandering paths have pretty views and an occasional bench to sit on and rake in the colorful pastoral views.

The new Banyan Cay Country Club is being built next door with a Nicklaus golf course, hotel and clubhouse, and they accept outside members.  Guard gated at the north and south ends, this is a safe secure community.

All units have 1385 living sq ft. They are spacious with a huge walk-in master closet, two bedrooms, two full baths, laundry room with storage space and a bonus room for storage or other usages.  There is a wall of windows at the end of the living room. Some overlook water views, some overlook the golf course.  Others overlook gardens. Kitchens have all the "usual" appliances and a small area for a snack. Some kitchens are updated, some are not. There is a pass-thru window from the kitchen to the dining area.

A property manager can handle "fix-up" that renters request and collect 

the rent for you.

If you are a large investor, this could be a way to start off younger members of your family learning about real estate investments "as they go."

Some of the Whitehall condo owners have two, three or four units that are rented out. Priced at market value, they sell and rent quickly. The units can cost from $114,000 to $140,000, and with many upgrades can cost more.

If you like this idea, give me a call or text me at 561-302-3388 and let me show you some units and the grounds.

Marilyn Jacobs, Realtor

IS BASEBALL YOUR GAME?

           UNITING EXTRAORDINARY PROPERTIES WITH EXTRAORDINARY LIVES

Take me out to the ballgame…. At THE BALLPARK OF THE PALM BEACHES.

Take your pick: Watch the NY Mets, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers or Minnesota Twins.  Located at 5444 Haverhill Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33407. 

Google Ballpark of the Palm Beaches or call 800-840-9227.

Have a great day!

BEST WAY TO CLEAN HARDWOOD FLOORS

Many homeowners love hardwood floors not only for their look and durability, but also because they're simple to clean—at least relative to carpeting, tile, and many other surfaces. But maintaining spick-and-span hardwood floors isn't quite as simple as it may seem, which leaves many homeowners wondering: What's the best way to clean hardwood floors, anyway?

“There’s a responsibility that comes with owning a wood floor,” says Brett Miller, vice president of education and certification for the National Wood Flooring Association in St. Louis. “People who haven’t had a wood floor before don’t always consider the importance of properly maintaining those floor coverings.”

If you want to keep your hardwood floors looking their best, here are the steps to take.

Related Articles

·       Hardwood for Flooring: Pros and Cons

·       Decoding the Listings: From Bamboo to Vinyl, Know Your Flooring Facts

·       You’re Cleaning Your House Wrong! Here’s Why

Remove debris regularly

Your first line of defense is to remove dirt and debris as quickly and often as possible. Even the smallest specks of dirt act like sandpaper, and can scratch the floor's surface and make it look dull. So make sure to vacuum or sweep regularly—ideally once every two to three days, or more for high-traffic areas, says Miller. If you vacuum, use the hard surface setting on your machine, which turns off the beater bar and lowers the vacuum to the floor for better suction power.

Wipe spills immediately

Hardwood floors may look impervious to spills compared with carpet, but certain substances can actually eat away at the top coat of polish on your floor. Some common offenders include milk, mustard, and pet urine. So if Fido or Fluffy isn't fully house trained, make sure to pick up after accidents pronto.

Mop the right way

A damp (but not sopping) mop can also help keep a hardwood floor clean, provided you use the right cleaner (more on what not to use next). Most wood floor installers or manufacturers recommend cleaners that contain isopropyl alcohol, which dries quickly, and are available at home supply stores.

To make your own solution for a monthly clean, add a capful of white vinegar to a gallon of water, which will help dissolve grease and grime on the floor, but not strip the finish. To remove shoe scuffs, rub marks with a tennis ball, which cleans without scratching the finish.

Whatever you do, do not clean wood floors with a steam mop, Miller says. “Steam is horrible for wood floors. It opens the pores in woods and damages the finish, causing irreversible damage to any wood floor.”

Use the right cleaning products

“Wood is probably the easiest floor covering to keep clean, but you have to use the right cleaning products,” says Miller. In fact, contrary to what you might think, he adds, “anything that says ‘polish’ or ‘shine’ indicates you’re adding a layer of something to the floor, and it’s not a protective coating.”

The result? Your floor might look shiny right after you're done, but it will quickly smear and look dull (prompting you to clean your floors again). So when in doubt, stick with cleaning solutions recommended by a hardwood floor specialist rather than what's being hawked at your average grocery store.

And if it still doesn't look clean...

If vacuuming and mopping don’t restore the luster to your hardwood floors, it may not be due to lack of elbow grease. Eventually, wood floors withstand enough damage that they should be refinished—meaning the top layer of wood is sanded down to remove marks, then covered with sealant. Hardwood floors should be resealed about once every 10 years, or every two to five years if they get substantial traffic from kids or pets.

BILL & MELINDA GATES SEATTLE HOME

“XANADU 2.0” IS AWESOME

·       Costing $60MM, it took seven years to build; Bill Gates also bought several surrounding houses for about $14.4MM.  The home has 24 bathrooms. Annual property tax is over $1MM.

·       Pool measures 60’x17’ and has a fossil-motif floor and underwater music system.  Locker room has 4 showers and 2 baths. Dive into the pool and you can come up by an outdoor terrace, going under a glass wall. Fitness gym is 2500 sq ft;  trampoline room has 20’ ceiling.   There is an elevator, but if you are into fitness, set your fitbit and head up or down the 84 steps from the entrance to the ground floor.

·       1000 sq ft dining room seats 24. 150 people can be fed dinner or 200 can be at a cocktail party in the 2300 sq ft reception hall.  Guests receive a pin that interacts with room sensors and can change to your preference the temperature, music and lighting.  This was built in 1995.

·      Guest house has 1 bedroom, 1 bath and is 1900 sq ft.

·       The grounds include an artificial stream and wetland estuary stocked with salmon and sea-run cutthroat trout. The sand on the lake bank is imported from warmer sandier climates, perhaps Hawaii.