Happy 2014!

Happy New Year from all of us at Compass Real Estate Group, LLC!

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

354 Pequot Avenue

Southport, CT  06890

(203) 255-7410

www.compass-reg.com

Ring in the New Year in a New Home...

Located in the Old Hill neighborhood of Westport, CT, this attractive colonial boasts an impressive floor plan with 4,300 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, living room with fireplace, formal dining room, family room, large bonus room and master bedroom suite with a renovated bath.

On the exterior, this home features a screened porch, patio, private level yard with an in-ground pool and pool house. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac yet conveniently close to shopping, restaurants, the beach and public transportation makes this home quite desirable. $6100 month.

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

354 Pequot Avenue

Fairfield, CT  06825

(203) 255-7410

www.compass-reg.com

Have A Happy And Safe Holiday

Merry Christmas From Our Family To Yours.

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

354 Pequot Avenue

Southport, CT  06890

(203) 255-7410

www.compass-reg.com

See Our Top 3 Homes From These Christmas Movie Classics...

If part of your Christmas ritual is enjoying the movies that are centered around the holiday, then you're sure to recognize the residences of these Christmas classics.  Here are our top 3...

1.  Holiday Inn

This home gets the top spot in my book.  Maybe it's because it's set in CT (Midville, which doesn't exist actually - but you get the point), or maybe it's because I appreciate the enormous front porch, or maybe it's simply because I'm a huge Bing Crosby fan.  Whatever the reason, this home, complete with a dance floor, floor to ceiling windows, and log cabin inspired feeling is perfect to put anyone in the holiday mood.

 

2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Who can forget the Griswold's beautiful home in the suburbs of Chicago?  Or how it looked after Ellen was able to figure out how to keep the lights on.  The home, which in reality was located on the Warner Bros lot in Burbank, California, showcased the style of the late 80s with its mauve, aqua and pale yellow color palette.  Wallpaper was still very much on trend, along with the use of plaid and an overabundance of decor.  In the 80s, people didn't stage their homes as they do now, so it was perfectly acceptable to have a home that appeared "lived in".

3. A Christmas Story

Filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, the Parker's home reflected that of 1940s Midwest living.  Everything from the appliances in the kitchen, to the separate faucets for hot and cold in the bathroom replicates that style and era.  And nothing says "good night's sleep" like twin beds in the parent's room!  This home comes with none of the features we're all used to today.  It has one bathroom, the boys shared a bedroom, and the only technology in the house was a radio, but it encompasses all that is family and the holidays.  In 2005, the home was bought by a California native and fan of the movie who completely restored it to its original filming condition and transformed it into "A Christmas Story House & Museum".   

We hope you've enjoyed our top picks for Christmas movie homes.  Have a safe and happy holiday!

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

354 Pequot Avenue

Southport, CT  06890

(203) 255-7410

www.compass-reg.com

Good Things Come In Small Packages

If you're familiar with Norwalk, CT, than you're familiar with SoNo.  Overlooking the Norwalk River, SoNo offers so much to do all within walking distance.  An urban atmosphere nestled among tons of diverse shops and restaurants make this part of Norwalk quite desirable.  So you can imagine scoring a residence in this part of town can be challenging.  With such a great location, nothing stays on the market for long.

Located in the heart of SONO, this 1 bed/1 bath End Unit apartment for $184,900 offers many features including a very bright and open floor plan, freshly painted and recently updated bath with marble and granite, modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, washer and dryer, hardwood floors throughout, and French doors leading to a very spacious deck. A most desired location in Norwalk, it offers everything within walking distance... steps to the train, shopping, restaurants, parks, nightlife, movie theaters, museums, and the water. Call Compass to ask about the rental option on this great apartment. (203) 255-7410

Of course, at Compass Real Estate, all of our agents are natives of the Fairfield County areas.  So we recommend checking out these awesome places to visit in the SoNo district...

FOR A PUB STYLE LUNCH: The Brewhouse Restaurant, http://sonobrewhouse.com/

FOR A WATERFRONT DINNER: SoNo Seaport Seafood, http://www.sonoseaportseafood.com/

FOR A DECADENT DESSERT: Chocopologie, http://chocopologie.com/

FOR FUN: Maritime Aquarium, http://www.maritimeaquarium.org/

To find out more about the SoNo neighborhood, check out:    http://www.visitsono.com/

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

354 Pequot Avenue

Southport, CT  06890

(203) 255-7410

www.compass-reg.com

Spread Some Holiday Cheer

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and now today is known as "Giving Tuesday".

Do you know someone who is looking to be in a new space before the holidays?  

Give them the gift of a new home!  Well... maybe just the information on it. 

Here are two of our featured properties...


Marion Road
Westport, CT

Located in the Old Hill neighborhood of Westport, CT, this attractive colonial boasts an impressive floor plan with 4,300 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, living room with fireplace, formal dining room, family room, large bonus room and master bedroom suite with a renovated bath.

On the exterior, this home features a screened porch, patio, private level yard with an in-ground pool and pool house. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac yet conveniently close to shopping, restaurants, the beach and public transportation makes this home quite desirable. $6100/month

Chatfield Street

Stamford, CT

Only a short walk to the Springdale train station.  This home features an updated kitchen and bath, newer appliances, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, living room with fireplace, dining room, hardwood floors throughout, deck overlooking a fenced-in yard, basement with theater and off-street parking.  Close to all that Springdale has to offer.  $2600/month

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

354 Pequot Avenue

Southport, CT  06890

(203) 255-7410

www.compass-reg.com

Happy Thanksgiving

From our family to yours.

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

354 Pequot Avenue

Southport, CT  06890

(203) 255-7410

www.compass-reg.com

TV Real Estate: The Homes We Virtually Grew Up In

I recently tripped down memory lane when I came across an episode of The Cosby Show.  The familiar rooms of that unforgettable brownstone got me thinking of all the living rooms and kitchens we grew up watching.  Here are the most memorable ones in my opinion...

The Brady's Kitchen

Wow, if that doesn't scream 1970s kitchen, I don't know what does!  But it was perfectly in style with its decade.  Kitchens were either done in harvest gold, avocado green or burnt orange.  The Brady's chose to step out of the box and go with two of those memorable tones.  And a center island complete with cabinets, a cook top and sink?  Obviously ahead of its time, and a glimpse of what was in store for future kitchens.

The Ricardo's Living Room

Even though this room changed 3 times - 2 New York apartments and 1 house in Connecticut - we can't forget the iconic living room that was seen in the earlier years of I Love Lucy.  The modern straight lines of the furniture were completely on trend for the 1950s.  The living room shown below is actually the 2nd apartment, differentiated only by the window above the piano.

The Huxtable's Kitchen

Well, I had never seen a fireplace in a kitchen until I saw The Cosby Show.  Actually, almost every room in that house had a fireplace in it!  Anyway, this kitchen in particular will always be one of my favorites. It had a cozy feeling while offering plenty of room and being extremely accessible to four other spaces - the living room, the dining room, upstairs and the backyard.    

Seinfeld's Open Floor Plan

Jerry's New York apartment had a modest open floor plan, featuring his bachelor pad style - bike hanging on the wall near the bathroom, Mets paraphernalia in the original episodes (that was changed to Yankees in the later years - but let's not go there) - a quintessential 90s look with enough room for 3 friends.  This familiar apartment was where most every episode took place, which is why the image below is burned in the memories of all those who were Seinfeld fans.  

Even though we've only scratched the surface with the rooms pictured above, one thing is evident: television set design is always on trend with the time period they're representing.  So if you're in need of some inspiration before you design your 1960s vintage kitchen, go watch an episode of Mad Men.

Compass Real Estate, LLC

354 Pequot Avenue

Southport, CT  06890

(203) 255-7410

www.compass-reg.com 

Wallpaper City

When I asked a friend of mine (who's a real estate agent) why the house down the street from me was on the market for 3 years, he responded with a roll of his eyes and said "Ugh, wallpaper city."

It got me thinking about wallpaper and the love-hate relationship we've formed with it.  Whether you like it or not, it's a design trend that refuses to completely remove itself from the world of home decor. While it waited patiently through a decade of bold paint colors, it has recently made a comeback, returning for the most part as an accent.

If you're hesitant to conform to this trend, take a look at the photos below.  You might change your outlook...

A Little Goes A Long Way

Whether you're a wallpaper fan or not, you don't have to go overboard with the design.  A 360 degree view of the same print can sometimes cause a headache.  Accenting one wall (primarily the focal point of the room) can bring interest without being overwhelming.  On the opposite walls, choose paint colors that pull tones from the wallpaper as seen in the pictures below.

Choosing To Be Bold

Personally, not my taste, but for others who absolutely insist on wallpaper in their homes, it might be.  A bold print can certainly bring a room to life, but it must be paired with furniture that doesn't scream or clash.  Also staying in the color family and style of your decor helps to pull everything together.

Subtle Hints

A tonal look can add a delicate touch to your room.  It can bring an understated sense of texture if your desire is to showcase your furniture more than your walls.  An elegant and safe choice if you're just dipping your toe into the wallpaper pool.

When You Can't Make Up Your Mind

Choosing two different prints in the same color family can really make a statement.  And this option is for those who go back and forth between wallpaper samples, asking friends and family members for their opinions, letting swatches hang on the wall for months at a time, and so on.  Why choose one when you can do both?

Ultimately you'll be the one staring at it, so take your time in making your decision.  And remember, even the most beautiful wallpaper can be a disaster if it's not hung properly, which is why we've attached a link (c/o DIY Network) on how to hang the newest addition in your home...

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/tips-for-hanging-wallpaper/index.html

And when you get sick of the wallpaper, we've also attached a link on how to remove it...

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-remove-wallpaper/index.html

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

354 Pequot Avenue

Southport, CT  06890

(203) 255-7410

www.compass-reg.com