Deck These Halls With Boughs of Holly

Got a lot of holiday decorations?  Spread them out in this beautifully updated home in Easton, CT.

Actually, "updated" is an understatement.  Completely gutted and remodeled is more like it.  Moving into a brand new home has literal meaning here.

This gorgeous split-level home offers:

New Interior
New Exterior
2182 Square Feet
3 Bedrooms
2.5 Bathrooms
Living Room with Fireplace
Dining Room
Eat-in-Kitchen with New Appliances
New Countertops and Cabinets
Redesigned Bathrooms
Hardwood Floors Throughout
Lots of Closet Space
Finished Walk-Out Basement
Mud Room
2 Car Attached Garage
Located on a Large Wooded Lot

Don't wait on this one!  To seek more information, contact:

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

354 Pequot Avenue

Southport, CT  06890

(203) 255-7410

www.compass-reg.com

100 Years of Kitchens

This Thanksgiving, let's be thankful for the evolution of kitchen designs.  Here's a look back at the past 100 years.

The Early 1900s

I tapped into my mother's memory bank for this one.  Although a child of the 50s, she grew up in a home that dated back to beginning of the 20th century.  Her recollection of her childhood kitchen was spot on with the images I came across.  Kitchens at the turn of the century typically consisted of a hardwood floor, an oven, sink, and a centrally located table to prepare food (much like the islands we're used to today).  Built-in cabinets were hard to come by at this point, so free standing pantries and exposed shelving were used for the storage of food, dishes, pots and pants, etc.  Also exposed were heat pipes, yet to be built on the inside of the walls, along with their cast iron radiator counterparts. Functional kitchens, but lacking in style.

The 1920s

Enter style.  And enter the modernized kitchen that we're more used to seeing these days.  The 1920s brought a more accessible and sanitary kitchen with easy to clean linoleum floors, built-in cabinets, and counterspace.  Although it might have shrunk a bit in square footage, it still managed to accomodate all that the modern housewife required, while packing a punch of style with it.

The 1950s

Ugh, I love this time period.  Who doesn't want their kitchen to replicate a diner atmosphere?  Ok, maybe it's just me.  Or maybe it's because the picture below features the the exact table, color and all, my grandparents had in their kitchen, and it conjours up many happy childhood memories.  Functionality with bright pops of color was most common.  Also notice how the laundry has made its way into the kitchen?  Now the modern housewife can conveniently take care of all her chores in one area.     

The 1970s

Ok, when I saw this picture I had a flashback, because this was my childhood kitchen.  Complete with the harvest gold floor, refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and even telephone.  Dark cabinets accompanied those earthy tones, which were most commonly offered in harvest gold, avocado green or burnt orange.  Simplicity was the feature here.  The basic straight lines of the cabinets, the simplistic cabinet pulls.  I guess we needed that to compliment the paisley curtains and wallpaper!

The 1990s

And after all of that color, we needed a change, and boy did we.  The 1990s, followed by the overindulgence of the 80s, brought no style or color at all.  Although it did bring the return of hardwood floors, which unfortunately matched perfectly to the cabinets.  Plain almond or white colored appliances went along with plain formica countertops.  But it wouldn't be that way for long...

The New Millenium and Beyond...

Granite.  Stainless Steel.  Islands.  Lighting.  Color.  Texture.  Today's kitchen is known as the central gathering place in the home.  So it must look its best.  Buyers have almost come to expect a kitchen with all of the features mentioned above.

A modern kitchen has almost everything from each time period.  We'll take the idea of the island from the early 1900s, the idea of style from the 1920s, the idea of convenience from the 1950s, the idea of color from the 1970s, and the idea of texture from the 1990s.  And after 100 years of progression, the kitchen doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon.

Article by Kim Fromentin
for Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Skip the lengthy process of buying and be in this spectacular rental by the holidays.  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

Thanksgiving Dress Code

Be inspired by our favorite table settings for the holiday...

You've just found out you're hosting Thanksgiving.  This is one of the most enjoyable holidays because the main focus is on food, so the table setting should be secondary.

Here are a few inspired designs...

FANCY

Elegant, chic, formal; however you may refer to it, this design is not just about the china or stemware, it's about lighting, textures and overall mood.  This option not only features candles and floral arrangements, but your creative side as well.  Preparing individual menus, place cards, color schemes and festive accessories go hand in hand with the fancy Thanksgiving table.  These table settings display an attractive sophistication and can add a serious amount of style to your feast.

               

SIMPLE

Cozy, casual, informal; this style is what most of us are used to.  But don't let "simple" be confused with "uninterested".  The simplest tables can also be the most chic.  And remember, these beautiful tables will soon be full of color and life when the food is added.

          

KID-FRIENDLY

If you have kids, then you already know keeping them seated at the table for a long period of time can be a challenge.  Rather than sitting on pins and needles, hoping they don't break your great grandmother's fine china; exchange the elegant white tablecloth and expensive flatware for butcher paper and crayons and let them go to town.  When they're happy, you're happy.  And you can enjoy your meal while they're entertaining themselves.

     

The decision to go elegant, festive, casual or kid-friendly is up to you.  Your table should reflect your own personal style and traditions.   Putting too much emphasis on being perfect is bound to raise the stress levels.  So take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the holiday!

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

2490 Black Rock Turnpike, #150

Fairfield, CT  06825

www.compass-reg.com

Taking The Plunge With Backsplash

A backsplash can either make or break your kitchen.  With so many styles, materials and colors to choose from, it can seem a tad overwhelming.

Before choosing a paint color for any room in my house, I like to take a stroll through the appliance section of Home Depot.  Conveniently available for all to see are mock kitchens, done in different cabinet styles, counter tops, backsplashes and paint colors.  Inspiration less than 100 feet from the paint section.

I find it difficult to stand in front of 1,500 paint swatches and just choose a color. The same can be said for selecting a backsplash.  How can you really know what will work with your kitchen, just by staring at a swatch?  Here are a few tips to help you through the process...

Backsplash Rules of Thumb

1. Look At Your Kitchen As A Whole

A retro style backsplash will most likely not work with country cabinets and floors.  Though it may be tempting to select a bold pattern or style, you must imagine how it will work with the rest of your kitchen.  Take everything into consideration, including: appliances, cabinets, counter tops, floors and overall decor.

2. Obey The Counter Tops

Because a backsplash is usually the last piece of the kitchen to be put into place, the counter top should determine the tone. This is a mistake many people make, especially with granite.  Unless your granite is solid in color, going with a busy backsplash could be where your kitchen goes downhill.  Granite is commonly rich in color, showcasing the highs and lows of the material, so sticking with a neutral backsplash is the way to go.

3. Choose Colors That Compliment Each Other

If your kitchen has a warm tone to it, then go for a backsplash in that color family.  Kitchens that have a modern look with stainless steel appliances, silver cabinet pulls, dark charcoal or black counter tops, etc should consider cooler color tones.

4. Think Long-Term

Once you've applied the backsplash, you've entered into a long-term relationship.  So before you make your decision, keep in mind that you'll still be looking at it ten years from now.  Which brings me to the next rule...

5. Take It For A Test Drive

It's so convenient that we can now take a sample of paint, plop it on the wall and give ourselves time to decide without having to buy an entire can of paint.  You absolutely can do the same with a backsplash.  Ask for a sample swatch of the styles you're considering, tape it temporarily to the wall and leave it there for a week.  One tip though, if you're considering multiple swatches, is to spread them out.  Looking at them side by side can be confusing to the eye.

6. Pair It With Paint

Let's face it, you will repaint your kitchen eventually.  And if you're like me, you'll probably choose a different color. Take a look around your house and decide if you tend to choose cooler tones: blues, purples and greens or warmer tones: reds, oranges and yellows.   A backsplash should work with the paint colors that you tend to select.

7. Be Inspired

The Internet is full of unique kitchen design images, so it's best to be inspired by something that comes the closest to your own kitchen. You can simply type in the style of your kitchen, "country kitchen", "retro kitchen", "Mediterranean kitchen" and get a myriad of images that will help you through the designing process.

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

2490 Black Rock Turnpike, #150

Fairfield, CT  06825

www.compass-reg.com