Big Brother Might Be Watching: What To Say—and Definitely Not Say—During an Open House

Touring your dream home during an open house or private showing is pretty exciting, especially if it looks even better than the listing photos.

Then again, you might discover the house smells bad or has uneven floors. Good or bad, it’s in your best interest to keep a tight lip about your thoughts. Many homeowners have doorbell cameras, baby monitors, surveillance cameras, and voice-controlled smart speakers like Alexa devices—and they could be watching and listening as you tour their home.

Big Brother Might Be Watching: What To Say—and Definitely Not Say—During an Open House

To be fair, sellers could be using those cameras and speakers for legitimate safety and security purposes. After all, they’re allowing strangers into their homes.

Still, according to a Lending Tree survey, about one-third of home sellers used hidden cameras when they showed their homes. Half of those surveyed said they used the cameras to gather intel on buyer feedback.

With that statistic in mind, here’s what you should know about spy cams before you go house hunting.

Should sellers use cameras to record buyers?

While cameras are common in commercial settings, some homebuyers might be uneasy knowing a camera or listening device is active during a home tour.

(amazon.com)

While cameras and listening devices are common these days, it’s crucial to understand that this doesn’t automatically grant sellers the right to record video and audio of homebuyers while they’re touring a home.

The laws vary from state to state, so if you’re seller, consult your agent and attorney before you activate any device before a showing.

Legal or not, the next question to ponder is whether you should watch and listen as prospective buyers poke, prod, celebrate, or judge your home.

If you’re recording to keep an eye on your valuables, or you want to use the “drop-in” feature on your Alexa to get the scoop on what buyers think of your place, Chelsea Werner, a global real estate advisor at ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, cautions owners to tread lightly.

In one example, a Reddit user said the use of Alexa devices during their home tour made them pass on a listing.

“This happened recently when we were visiting a home that had Alexa devices in each room that kept turning on when we would enter, I am 90 percent sure they were running a real estate application that could monitor our dialogue!’ they posted. “They were also speaking to us explaining all the benefits of the home, but I had my human realtor with me so it was needless and redundant IMO. Felt like I was in 1984 and we ended up passing on that specific house …”

This is just one example of why Werner strongly cautions sellers with devices to be upfront about their actions.

“If the seller wants to watch the activity from a camera, I tell them to make sure the camera or smart home device is prominently displayed so buyers can see they are being filmed,” she says.

Mum’s the word

Cameras might be the norm in commercial settings these days, but buyers are often less keen knowing a camera or listening device is active in a residential home may still creep out some buyers or leave a bad impression.

When Skutch M. and his girlfriend Allie K. of Baltimore were househunting, they toured more than 50 homes before their offer was accepted. And they were hyper-aware of cameras and mindful of the conversations they had in other people’s for-sale homes.

“It was definitely a strange Big Brother-esque feeling; but in some cases, it was someone’s home that they were still living in, so we understood,” says Skutch.

Skutch and Allie played it cool while walking through each house, trying not to show too much emotion either way. Yet, Skutch admits they occasionally considered using the cameras to their advantage.

“We were more tempted to talk negatively and insert some leverage into the situation if anything,” he says.

But that plan could backfire, depending on the seller, according to Casey Preston, an agent at Realty Executives Home Towne.

Even if it’s an honest observation like pointing out the old carpet or dissing the seller’s taste in art, it could put you at a disadvantage.

Can You View an Open House Without a Buyer's Agent?
Sssh. Don’t say anything about the house while you’re inside.

(Getty Images)

“Sellers are attached to their homes and can take things personally, and you don’t want to take the chance of your clients losing a deal over something that might be misconstrued,” says Preston.

As a recent homebuyer herself, Preston heeded her own advice and cautioned her new husband, who hadn’t bought a new home in 28 years.

“My husband is old school,” she notes. “I told him there could be cameras in the house and that we shouldn’t have any conversations or make any telling expressions while on the property until we got back to the car to chat about the house,’ she says.

That’s right. Hold your tongue until you get inside your car, as exterior cameras could also be watching.

Keep your excitement contained

When you discover the home you’ve been drooling over is even better in person, it might be hard to keep your oohs and aahs to yourself.

After all, wouldn’t the seller be pleased to know you love their house? Maybe, but there’s some good reason to dial back your enthusiasm a notch when cameras are watching.

“I remind my homebuyers that the last thing we want to do is accidentally show our cards to the seller,” says Brian Durham, vice president of risk management and managing broker at Realty Group LLC and Realty Group Premier.

If you try to negotiate repairs or price reductions later, you might also give up some bargaining power. Play it cool when posting on Facebook, too.

There is nothing wrong with sharing opinions, feedback, or asking questions within reason—but less is usually more.

(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

“Sellers have the buyer’s names from the contract, and they do look at social media,” Durham points out. “So if the buyer posts that they found the perfect home and how excited they are, the seller might see that. Buying a home is an exciting time, but you have to be careful not to let that excitement hurt your chances of going under contract or staying under contract.”

Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t say anything during your house hunt.

“There is nothing wrong with sharing opinions, feedback, or asking questions within reason, but usually less is more,” adds Werner.

She suggests buyers take their own videos for reference—and let the comments fly once they’re home.

 

For this and similar articles, please visit Realtor.com

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9 Cheap but Charming Ways To Update Your Bathroom Without Actually Remodeling

9 Cheap but Charming Ways To Update Your Bathroom Without Actually Remodeling

Plunking down big money to renovate a bathroom isn’t in the cards for many of us. New tile, a better shower stall and a luxe tub are big ticket items for homeowners. Plus, renters aren’t usually allowed to rip up a bathroom they don’t actually own.

Yet, a better-looking loo is a #goal since you spend quality time in yours every day. The fix? A few inexpensive no-renovation renovation ideas that go beyond new towels or a coat of paint to quickly improve your bathroom’s look and feel.

For some ideas on these mini projects, we’ve tapped interior design pros who’ve actually made these same types of updates in their own homes and for clients. Here are eight smart (and easy) bathroom renovations you can achieve without tackling a  complete overhaul.

1. Install a bidet attachment

Bidet toilet attachment

(walmart.com)

Bidets are catching on in the U.S., though they’re more popular in Europe generally. But if you like the idea of a more, um, comprehensive cleanup after you do your business, consider this small upgrade that’ll run you about $100.

A bidet attachment goes in between your toilet seat and the tank, and the water comes from your home’s own pipes (it’s redirected via a nozzle).

2. Swap out your fixtures

Photo by Studio McGee 

“Your bathroom sink faucet is the most used item in this space, so a nice new option in an updated design will serve you well and create a fresh look,” says Pamela O’Brien, of Pamela Hope Designs.

“Black or brass will make your bathroom look sleek and modern,” says Elise Armitage, design expert and founder of What The Fab.

Other fast and inexpensive upgrades include changing the door handles, cabinet pulls, towel bars, or toilet paper holder.

3. Craft a different vanity

Just about any small cabinet, table or dresser can be made into a vanity, so if you’re handy and already have the piece, this project will only run you your time and the cost of the sink.

Making your own vanity is an excellent choice if you can’t find a prefab pick to fit a tight space. And if you can do most of the work yourself, save the plumbing part, you still might save money versus a floor model. And DIY is so much more interesting than installing the same big-box vanity every one else has.

O’Brien also suggests a new vanity mirror over your sink for a fast upgrade, “though if you want to take it a step further, consider replacing the vanity lights, too.”

Pick warm white light bulbs for the prettiest glow, say the pros.

4. Install a stick-on backsplash

Photo by Michael Tauber Architecture

Peel-and-stick tiles are a lifesaver for renters and thrifty homeowners alike, as they can be easily applied and taken down. You can place faux pebbles, geometrics, or subway tile-esque designs right onto the wall or over existing tiles you want to hide (we’re looking at you, avocado green hexagons!).

5. Hang a new shower curtain

A new shower curtain is a no-brainer, especially if yours is old and crusty. But you don’t need to pick the wildest pattern out there or even a color. Instead, go sheer.

Kara Harms, the design mind at Whimsy Soul, just completed a much-needed makeover in her own rental bathroom—and one of her ideas was to add a see-through curtain alongside the tub.

“This clear pick immediately made my bathroom feel bigger since I could look all the way to the back wall,” she says. “Plus, it let more light into the shower area, and the orange color added a pop of personality.”

6. Add some greenery

Photo by JS Interiors LLC 

Harms also souped up her bathroom with a variety of plants by drilling holes for ceiling hooks.

“I was able to then DIY some macrame plant hangers and hang a ton of greenery around my bathroom to help it feel more like a jungle,” she shares.

But if you don’t have a drill or can’t put holes in your rental ceiling, several potted options are easy to display on the counter or shelves (if you have the space).

7. Add a statement piece

Photo by Beth Kooby Design

A standard-issue shower stall can sometimes be an irrevocable snooze. But since you have to put your toiletries some place, why not make your storage stand out?

This faux stump is styled with an orchid and a loofah, but you can corral your items on a similar piece for the same effect.

And if you decide to stick with a trusty metal caddy, “make sure the color matches the hardware in your bathroom, like gold or silver,” suggests Harms.

8. Edit your products

Photo by Beth Kooby Design 

A mess of plastic bottles crammed into your shower niche or lining the tub edge is a sad sight, per the experts. Instead, keep only what you love and use, and ditch the rest. Make Marie Kondo proud.

Or make like Harms and decant your products into chic, matching containers.

“I buy a set for about $10 and transfer my face wash, shampoo, conditioner, and liquid body soap into them, and now my shower looks uniform and elevated,” she says.

 

For this and related articles, please visit Realtor.com

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At This Southeast Portland Park, Both Humans and Beavers Are Builders

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Errol Heights has an epic slide, a mini skate area, and trails through beaver habitat.

On the left: a community garden, a mini skate park, and grassy expanses. On the right: a vast pond constructed by beavers (and currently covered in duckweed).

IMAGE: JASON HIL

ON AN IDYLLIC FRIDAY MORNING, southeast Portland’s Errol Heights Park hums with activity. Toddlers pull themselves on all fours up a gentle turf slope. An older kid dangles upside down from a rope bridge as another hop-hop-hops up a series of log steps. At the mini skate area by the community garden, two neighborhood teenagers taking a break from carving turns gush when landscape architect Carol Mayer-Reed, whose firm helped design the park, asks how they like it.

“This is awesome,” says Solomon Dolinar, 17. “We were really hoping a skate park would come up around here. It’s perfect.”

A pocket-size skate park is ideal for kids and beginners.

IMAGE: COURTESY KEN RUMBAUGH

Michael Milch, meanwhile, is visiting with his wife and two grandsons, 7 and 5, from Gladstone. Milch is mayor of the nearby city and learned about this park from a constituent: a second grader unimpressed with the slides in his own community. But the newly installed slide at Errol Heights—a German-made steel twister that towers 24 feet in the air—was, he told Milch, “the best.”

Word, it seems, is getting out about the recent $12 million glow-up at Errol Heights, which sits on the southern fringes of Portland, just across Johnson Creek from Milwaukie. And this part of the park is lovely indeed, with grassy expanses, play areas tucked between trees, 11 picnic tables (five of them ADA-accessible), and a small splash pad. A striking bronze-and-steel sculpture by Portland artists Terresa White and Mike Suri features, among other birds, a peacock: the neighborhood is home to a semi-feral muster whose screams regularly split the air.

A sculpture by Terresa White and Mike Suri features three birds—owl, heron, and peacock—that call this area home.

IMAGE: COURTESY KEN RUMBAUGH

But there’s more. Wend your way west, and you’ll reach an elevated steel walkway that switchbacks, in an appealingly irregular fashion, down a steep grassy hillside. As you follow its 337 feet—it, too, is ADA-accessible—a large pond comes into view. Ringed by cottonwoods, bigleaf maples, and Doug firs, on this spring day it’s as busy as the playground above. Ducklings skitter across the surface as geese flap overhead. Swallows swoop low, and warblers trill from the canopies. Pacific tree frogs ribbit in a steady chorus.

Things down here feel a world away from the scene above, the calm interrupted only by the occasional car gunning up SE 45th Avenue. That’s because this part of Errol Heights owes its existence not to humans but to another builder, the OG landscape architect: the assiduous, semiaquatic rodent that is our state animal.

Once, there were trees here. Then the beavers moved in.

IMAGE: MICHAEL NOVAK

THERE WAS NOT ALWAYS A VAST POND AT ERROL HEIGHTS. For decades, this spring-fed creek was dotted with man-made dams, which created a trio of small pools amid thickets of trees. But in 2007, the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) began removing these dams—and another dam builder began to move in. This was by design: in a 2016 blog post about a restoration project in the area, BES proudly noted that it was “letting local beavers engineer and build it.”

And build it they have. The beavers at Errol Heights—city employees estimate it’s a family of four to six—have constructed a sprawling complex of dams, taking out hundreds of trees and flooding the area in the process. As some of the dams have aged, they’ve become fixtures of the landscape, sprouting vegetation where waterfowl build nests. It’s among the best places in the city to witness the work of the industrious rodent: their log-and-mud dams, the chew marks they leave on trees, the profusion of wood chips they produce.

“Anybody in Portland can walk through Errol Heights and see active beaver habitat,” says Ali Young, a capital project manager with BES. “That’s a cool, unique thing. Not a lot of other cities have that.” What you’re unlikely to see is the animal itself. Beavers, especially in cities, are most active at night. But you might hear the thwack of a tail against water, their trademark warning call.

Ducks (like this family of mallards) have thrived in the pond built by beavers.

IMAGE: MICHAEL NOVAK

Accordingly, the work in this part of the park has been about facilitating immersion in the natural environment. Trails are wide, in places cantilevering over the water—with sufficient clearance should beaver activity cause levels to rise. Scenic overlooks invite lingering. Much was designed with school classes in mind: a rock-lined cove just off the trail can serve as a de facto classroom, while a dock allows students to scoop water samples for testing.

There’s never any doubt you’re in the city. The pond laps against a retaining wall along SE Harney Street, and an industrial fabrication facility sits opposite. It’s easy to rue this sort of human impact, to wonder how this area might have looked even 100 years ago. But there’s also something enchanting about this unlikely urban oasis.

“We’ve destroyed so much habitat, and [wildlife] pathways have been disrupted,” says Christian Haaning, a natural resources ecologist with Portland Parks and Recreation. “So once they get here, they hang out here. You could walk in the forest for hours—days!—and see half the species in that pristine wilderness that you would see in an hour in this park.”

The switchbacking, elevated walkway leads to a very impressive slide, which is German-made and stands 24 feet tall.

IMAGE: MICHAEL NOVAK

Once, as in so many wetlands, people dumped trash here; Haaning tells me crews had to remove an entire school bus from the site. Invasive weeds remain a challenge. But as he and I tour the park, we’re startled by a western tanager, its plumage a lick of flame, alighting on a branch a few feet from us (“hello, handsome,” croons Haaning). On a later visit, I listen to a red-breasted sapsucker hammer against a tree as a pair of deer amble leisurely by. Haaning says he’s seen minks, muskrats, and river otters.

For Mayer-Reed, this part of the park is where “the person becomes secondary to nature.” Here, she says, we learn to see a world outside ourselves: “Sometimes being in a park, especially a park like this, can round off some of the rough edges we have as human beings.”

Some of those edges gnawed off, no doubt, by a bucktoothed rodent.

 

For this and similar articles, please visit Portland Monthly

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Good Dog! Why Pets Are Popping Up in Listing Photos—but This Cuteness Could Come Back To Bite You

Opinions on best practices for real estate photos vary, but one thing everyone agreed on—until recently—is that sellers’ pets should never appear in the listing. Buyers want to picture their own lives in the home, so photos should be a blank canvas.

But more agents are saying that thinking is for the dogs.

Good Dog! Why Pets Are Popping Up in Listing Photos—but This Cuteness Could Come Back To Bite You

“Usually, we don’t put animals in pictures. It’s not a thing in the industry that is done,” says Corcoran Group agent Noemi Bitterman.

Yet, when arranging a photo shoot for a three-bedroom Brooklyn co-op she was representing with her partner, Kajsa Hutton, earlier this year, the sellers’ brown poodle hopped on the couch and refused to leave.

“So we were like, ‘OK, let’s just go with it,’” Bitterman says.

That ended up being the photo everyone loved.

“She just looked so beautiful, and she blended in with the color of the couch,” recalls Bitterman. “She gave the apartment a feeling of warmth and family. People were calling up saying, ‘I love that photo with the dog.’”

The $998,000 co-op sold fairly soon after. Good dog!

Agent Noemi Bitterman included the sellers’ poodle in her Brooklyn listing.

(Realtor.com)

Pets in listing photos—a growing sales tactic?

While Bitterman was more or less photobombed and forced to include pets, other real estate agents have embraced them as the hot new sales prop.

Suzanne Weinstein of Coldwell Banker Warburg recently featured a black poodle in the photos for a one-bedroom Park Avenue co-op in Manhattan for $679,000. She thought the pup would not only add a feeling of “elegance and warmth,” but would also promote the building’s pet-friendliness.

This black poodle is the star of this Park Avenue listing.

(Realtor.com)

However, not all dogs are treated equally.

“I don’t think I would include a breed not known for friendliness,” she says, tactfully not naming any breeds in particular.

And dogs aren’t the only pet in the picture, either. House flipper Tyler Drew of Anubis Properties once bought a home with a custom-built pet door that proved so popular with homebuyers that it sparked a bidding war. He made sure to leave a cat in the listing photos.

And like all things, pets are best in moderation.

“If I see more than four animals in a listing, I’ll usually just avoid the property,” Drew says.

This cat (or rather the pet door) caused a bidding war.

(Tyler Drew)

The risks of placing pets in listing photos

But many think that agents’ decision to include pets in listings photos is barking mad: Why alert homebuyers to potential issues such as unwanted odors or fur-clogged filters?

“I would be sniffing intently to see if there is any spray or issues on the floors or lower walls,” says Elizabeth Boese of Coldwell Banker. “Furry animals in the home can also mean a forced-air furnace or AC were overworked as the filter clogs more frequently from the extra fur in the air.”

Listing photos are no place for furry friends, agrees Cedric Stewart of Entourage Residential Group at Keller Williams Capital Properties.

“I get the logic, but I think it is a very bad idea,” he asserts. “In the same way that you want to paint and change the carpet if a seller is a heavy smoker, it’s best to do all you can so that someone who is allergic to pet dander can still enjoy the tour and express interest. I tell my sellers to remove any signs of a cat or dog, which is the exact opposite of this trend.”

A cute pug is helping to sell this Upper East Side townhome.

(Realtor.com)

Devin Kay of The Exclusive Group at Douglas Elliman is also in the no-pets camp.

“Agents use marketing tactics like including pets, staged people, or other props to make their listings go viral,” he says. “But in my experience, buyers prioritize location, architecture, and interior finishes, not pets or other props.”

Paige Elliott of Elliott & Elliott Real Estate Group says she doesn’t even know any photographers who would allow pets in a photo.

“There are insurance and security concerns,” she says.

One agent equates showing pets in listing photos to having a presidential campaign sign on the front lawn.

“You’ll attract some and repulse others,” says Bruce Ailion of Re/Max Town and Country. “Why take the risk of alienating anyone?”

If you are itching to use a pet in a listing photo, stay away from the four-legged ones, asserts Chrissy Grigoropoulos, founder of Property Shark Realty and author of “Ladyshark: How To Become a Millionaire in Your 30s.”

“Fish are easy pets to include that don’t yield any odor or lingering allergy possibilities,” she says.

If you simply must stage your dog, keep the photo in the backyard, she says.

But there is one type of listing where animals are always welcome, concludes Christine Sparacino of Re/Max Sparrow Realty: “a farm.”

 

For this and related articles, please visit Realtor.com

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Ursula K. Le Guin’s Portland home will become a writers residency

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The former home of the late Ursula K. Le Guin is being readied to become a base for contemporary authors.

Theo Downes-Le Guin, son of the late author Ursula K. Le Guin, remembers well the second-floor room where his mother worked on some of her most famous novels.

Le Guin's 88 years yielded dozens of books, and countless friendships across Oregon.
Le Guin’s 88 years yielded dozens of books, and countless friendships across Oregon.

Eileen Gunn / Courtesy of Ursula K. Le Guin

Or at least how it seemed from the outside.

“She was very present and accessible as a parent,” he says. “She was very intent on not burdening her children with her career. … But the times when she was in there to do her writing, we knew that we needed to let her have her privacy.”

Downes-Le Guin, who also serves as his mother’s literary executor, now hopes to give contemporary authors access to her old writing space. Literary Arts, a community nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, announced Monday that Le Guin’s family had donated their three-story house for what will become the Ursula K. Le Guin Writers Residency.

Le Guin, who died in 2018 at age 88, was a Berkeley, California, native who in her early 30s moved to Portland with her husband, Charles. Le Guin wrote such classics as “The Left Hand of Darkness” and “The Dispossessed” in her home, mostly in a corner space that evolved from a nursery for her three children to a writing studio.

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“Our conversations with Ursula and her family began in 2017,” the executive director of Literary Arts, Andrew Proctor, said in a statement. “She had a clear vision for her home to become a creative space for writers and a beacon for the broader literary community.”

No date has been set for when the residency will begin. Literary Arts has launched a fundraising campaign for maintaining the house and for operating an office in town.

The Le Guins lived in a 19th-century house designed out of a Sears & Roebuck catalog, and the author’s former studio looks out on a garden, a towering redwood tree planted decades ago by the family, and, in the distance, Mount St. Helens. Downes-Le Guin does not want the house to seem like a museum, or a time capsule, but expects that reminders of his mother, from her books to her rock collection, will remain.

While writers in residence will be welcome to use her old writing room, the author’s son understands if some might feel “intimidated” to occupy the same space as one the world’s most celebrated authors.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to be in there in this constant state of reverence, which would be against the spirit of the residency,” he says.

According to Literary Arts, residents will be chosen by an advisory council that will include “literary professionals” and a Le Guin family member. Writers “will be asked to engage with the local community in a variety of literary activities, such as community-wide readings and workshops.” The residency will be year-round, with a single writer at a time living in the house. The length of individual residencies will vary, as some writers may have family or work obligations that would limit their availability. Downes-Le Guin says he wants the residency to feel inclusive, available to a wide range of authors, and selective.

“We don’t want it just to be for authors who already have had residencies elsewhere,” he says. “But we’ll want applicants to demonstrate that they’re seriously engaged in the work. We want people who will make the most of this.”

Le Guin's fiction has repeatedly addressed political and social situations, but in more fantastical settings.
Le Guin’s fiction has repeatedly addressed political and social situations, but in more fantastical settings.

Euan Monaghan, Structo. / Courtesy of Ursula K. Le Guin

 

For this and similar articles, please visit OPB.org

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The Best Sofa for Your Astrological Sign

No piece of furniture sets the tone for your living room more than the sofa. But besides being the vehicle to advertise your design tastes, it’s also where the binge-watching happens, where family or friends gather for a chat over coffee, or where you curl up with a book and good intentions before an accidental afternoon nap. In summary: Couches are heavy hitters in your home.

Knowing there’s a lot to consider during the purchase of such a pivotal furnishing—style, budget, material and size—we consulted higher powers to lead you to your most complementary sofa. Let the stars (and your astrological sign) be your guide.

sofa astrological sign briar aries
sofa astrological sign briar aries

If you’re an Aries: Briar Sofa

Unafraid of trying new, bold things, you surround yourself with items that match, or even broadcast, your intensity. A dynamic burgundy velvet sofa that reflects your energy is certainly not for the fainthearted, but it would look right at home in your home.

Buy it: Briar Sofa in Banks Currant, $1,931 at Joybird

sofa astrological sign taurus
sofa astrological sign taurus

If you’re a Taurus: Wells Leather Grande Sofa

You love making sure your place is filled with comfortable, well-made things. It’s upon closer inspection that one might realize the extent of your taste for luxury. This classic leather sofa was created with you in mind; the beautifully neutral shade has a hint of green—a power color for the Bull.

Buy it: Wells Leather Grande Sofa in Fern, $5,199 at Crate & Barrel

sofa astrological sign gemini
sofa astrological sign gemini

If you’re a Gemini: Cecilia Willoughby 2-Cushion Sofa

Curious and fun, these social butterflies attract others with their undeniable charm and they like their homes to reflect their inner brightness. While yellow is a supercharged color for a Gemini, a uniquely patterned couch could suit you, as well.

Buy it: Cecilia Willoughby Two-Cushion Sofa, $2,698 at Anthropologie

sofa astrological sign cancer
sofa astrological sign cancer

If you’re a Cancer: 5-Seat Modular Corner Sectional

As the zodiac’s homebody, the private crab enjoys creating a true sanctuary. Compassionate and highly sensitive to emotions swirling around you, you love showing others that you care. At home, surrounded by possessions that reflect the deep and multilayered world within, your couch plays a quiet, supporting role. A cushy, lounge-able sectional is in your cards.

Buy it: 5-Seat Modular Corner Sectional, $5,250 at 7th Avenue

sofa astrological sign leo
sofa astrological sign leo

If you’re a Leo: Elena 3-Seater Sofa

The image of a queen on a throne comes to mind. All the better to entertain adoring fans and visitors if that throne is as arresting and vibrant as you. The attention this lush, jungle-inspired shade (and the brass accents) will inspire at your next fete is just what you crave.

Buy it: Elena 3-Seater Sofa in Green Velvet, $1,750 at Live Lusso

sofa astrological sign virgo
sofa astrological sign virgo

If you’re a Virgo: Muir Sofa

Simplicity doesn’t mean sacrificing sophistication. Appreciative of clean lines and interesting details, your discerning eye is drawn to the blending of function and form. This minimalist wood-framed style truly suits your inner perfectionist—the one who needs order and prefers neutrals at all times.

Buy it: The Muir Sofa in Dusk, $4,500 at Maiden Home

sofa astrological sign libra
sofa astrological sign libra

If you’re a Libra: Mori Performance Fabric Sofa

Your penchant for harmony naturally encompasses your surroundings, giving you a knack for creating aesthetically pleasing spaces. Your home is the very picture of peace, and this couch fits with its clean, warm vibe. When others comment on the incredible but low-key way your style comes together, it lights you up.

Buy it: Mori Performance Fabric Sofa in Alpine, $2,299 at Castlery

sofa astrological sign scorpio
sofa astrological sign scorpio

If you’re a Scorpio: Mardones Sofa

Your flair for the dramatic and powers of observation are legendary. Some may say you enjoy playing up the moodiness—just a bit—and your predilection for black leans into that. The never-not-trending shade is loved by many, but when used by you, Scorpio, the mystery you (and your living room) project undeniably intensifies.

Buy it: Mardones Sofa in Curious Ebony, $2,199 at CB2 

sofa astrological sign sagittarius
sofa astrological sign sagittarius

If you’re a Sagittarius: Joannes Velvet Sofa

An Old World sofa paired with an adventurous color choice feeds your natural optimism and satisfies your exploratory side. Plus, the unique shape will look just quirky enough, anchoring a space filled with the many treasures you’ve gathered on your far-flung travels.

Buy it: Joannes 84” Velvet Sofa, $1,140 at Wayfair

sofa astrological sign capricorn
sofa astrological sign capricorn

If you’re a Capricorn: Madison Leather Chaise Sectional

Ever the hard worker, you often make things look like they fell together effortlessly—but there’s actually a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Your understated but carefully considered style finds its match in a buttery leather sectional. Quiet luxury is right.

Buy it: Madison Leather Chaise Sectional Sofa in Caramel, $3,299 at Castlery

sofa astrological sign aquarius
sofa astrological sign aquarius

If you’re an Aquarius: Carson Sofa

Whipsmart and eccentric, you’re a true individual—and you possess an incredible eye for modern design. When your rich inner monologue takes you spinning off into other dimensions of space and time, the blue color of this sofa will help bring the Water Bearer’s attention back to Earth.

Buy it: Carson Sofa in Baltic, $2,078 at Apt2B

sofa astrological sign pisces
sofa astrological sign pisces

If you’re a Pisces: Waverly Sofa

Your sensitive self feels best surrounded by the soothing, restorative shades of the ocean, Pisces. The dreamy seafoam color of this couch and its gently rounded shape are both romantic and reminiscent of water. Curl up, loosen those impressive powers of imagination, and daydream away.

Buy it: Waverly Sofa in Champlain Sea Velvet, $3,999 at Kim Salmela

 

For this and similar articles, please visit Realtor.com

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How Parents Are Helping Their Adult Children Buy Homes Today: ‘We Own 25%, Mom and Dad Own 75%’

Leslie Sherman was resigned to being a renter the rest of her life.

The 33-year-old couples therapist and her husband, Conrad Useldinger, 30, a dance academy director, live in San Jose, CA. Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, where Apple, Google, and Nvidia are based, it is the most expensive housing market in America, according to a Realtor.com analysis. There, the median home list price hovers around $1.46 million—and homebuyers need to earn at least $361,000.

“We didn’t have plans to buy a place because it was not going to be financially feasible for us,” she says. “So we were going to rent indefinitely.”

But, that’s when Mom and Dad stepped in.

“My husband and I started investing in Silicon Valley real estate in the early 1980s,” says Kathy Fitzgerald Sherman, a retired lawyer. “We benefited greatly from the explosion in real estate values, which also made it impossible for our kids to purchase real estate on their own. Our decision to help them was a ‘pay it forward’ kind of action.”

In February, Kathy and her husband, Michael Sherman, helped Leslie and her husband close on an $850,000 condo. All four of their names are on the deed: Leslie and her spouse own 25% of the property, while Kathy and Michael own 75%.

Here’s how this unusual deal came together, along with the pros, cons, and other considerations that homebuyers (and their parents) might want to know.

Conrad Useldinger and Leslie Sherman in front of their new condo

(Leslie Sherman)

Why parents are pitching in to help their kids buy a home

While turning to Mom and Dad for help buying a home is an age-old practice, today’s high-priced housing market has made it a growing necessity.

Although San Jose’s million-plus list prices are at the high end of the spectrum, they aren’t all that unusual. The national median list price currently hovers at $424,900, according to the latest Realtor.com data. Mortgage rates are high, too, passing the dreaded 7% threshold in April.

In a new study by Intuit and Credit Karma, 38% of Gen Z homeowners say they received financial assistance from their parents to buy a home. It also helps that boomers tend to be a wealthy generation, whereas their kids are often saddled with massive student debt, making it hard to enter the housing market.

“Even with zero-down payment programs, high home prices and interest rates can put buying a home out of reach without help,” says real estate agent and attorney Bruce Ailion, of Re/Max Town and Country in Alpharetta, GA.

The Shermans helped both of their kids purchase their first home, and see the money they’d invest as an advance on their inheritance. But in both cases, they did so carefully.

Michael Sherman and Kathy Fitzgerald Sherman helped their daughter, Leslie, and her husband close on an $850,000 condo.

(Leslie Sherman and Conrad Useldinger)

The two generations sat down to craft a “shared equity” deal. (You’ll sometimes hear this called, humorously enough, a “rich uncle” arrangement.) Based on their income, they figured out how much the young couple could afford to pay monthly. Next, they worked backward to determine what size mortgage the young couple could handle. The parents stood ready to pay the rest.

Once they had an estimate of what price house they could afford, they were off to the house-hunting races, which they did as a team.

“Since we’d had experience buying several properties in the area, we went with them, pointing out plusses and minuses,” says Kathy. She admits that she didn’t give them carte blanche to choose just any place.

“But we were sensitive to their feelings and wanted them to love what they purchased,” she explains.

House hunting as a family

At first, they checked out houses in the Los Gatos Mountains, but the maintenance costs seemed too much.

“They were in our budget, but I absolutely hated them,” admits Leslie. “They all required some amount of work right out the gate, and I did not want my future to be filled with endless home improvement projects. That is just not the life I had envisioned for myself.”

Their attention then turned to condos, and they found one they really liked—and that her parents liked, too. It was a two-bedroom, two-bath with a spacious kitchen, office space in the primary bedroom, and in-unit laundry (at the top of Leslie’s wish list). Also part of the package were killer amenities, including a pool, hot tub, playground, and beautiful gym.

“We decided to make an offer the very next day, before others came in,” says Leslie.

Where Leslie Sherman and her husband decided to buy property

(Realtor.com)

The condo came with great amenities like a swimming pool.

(Realtor.com)

The deal this couple could offer was strong: With her parents’ backing, Leslie and her husband could offer all cash if needed, with no contingencies. They snagged the property for $850,000 ($5,000 below asking price).

At closing, her parents ponied up $650,000 in cash, leaving Leslie and Conrad with a $200,000 mortgage—$1,297 a month at a 6.75% interest rate. Leslie and Conrad also pay property taxes, homeowners association fees (currently $465 a month), and maintenance.

“We pay for all repairs,” notes Leslie. “But if there are ever any major upgrades, we could split the cost. Under their arrangement, it would be in the same 75% versus 25% proportion.”

Get it in writing

All of these details were written up in a rock-solid legal agreement, which is exactly how you want to do this to protect all involved—no casual “pinky swear” kind of deals allowed. Such arrangements need guardrails.

“The best way to make sure bad feelings don’t arise is to have a contract,” explains Kathy. “If there ever is a disagreement about how to handle something, we can just look in the agreement.”

There are infinite ways to structure investing in a home for a child, Ailion notes. For instance, when the property sells, the parents might get their money back plus interest. This interest could be similar to what their funds would have earned if they had been sitting in the bank. Or, if the child is making the interest payments and maintaining the home, they might want to negotiate a bigger cut of any gains in the property’s value.

For most families executing this kind of deal, a lawyer will be necessary. Because Kathy is a retired lawyer, she jumped in, buying a boilerplate equity-sharing agreement and modifying it to suit their needs.

“In theory, anyone can do this,” she notes. “Since I am an attorney, I was particularly comfortable doing that.”

But what about that old saying “Never do business with friends or relatives”—does it apply here? Can it all backfire? Not for the Sherman clan so far.

“We haven’t had any issues,” says Leslie. “My parents are not controlling, but that’s not the case with everyone’s parents. To avoid problems, you would definitely want the contract to spell out how decisions about changes to the home will be made. That’s especially important if there are disagreements.”

And the upside of doing this kind of deal right is tremendous.

“I know that without this arrangement, we wouldn’t be able to get into the housing market in this area,” says Leslie, “so we are really very lucky.”

Leslie and her husband preferred a condo over a stand-alone home.

(Realtor.com)

 

For this and related articles, please visit Realtor.com

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Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies” Gets a Refresh at Portland Art Museum

PAM’s conservator will use tiny cotton swabs to remove a layer of varnish from 1959.

Claude Monet, Waterlilies, 1914-1915, oil on canvas, Museum Purchase: Helen Thurston Ayer Fund (Portland Art Museum)

 

Many visitors to the Portland Art Museum have oohed and aahed over Claude Monet’s Water Lilies. The 1914-15 oil painting is a cornerstone of the museum’s Impressionist collection and a perpetual visitor favorite. It features the characteristic blues and greens of the artist’s Giverny, France, garden, plus reflections and pink and blue blossoms.

The first time that conservator Charlotte Ameringer surveyed her new employer’s collection upon moving to Portland from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston in 2022, she saw all of the Monet’s glory, plus something else: a varnish on top that absolutely had to go.

“It significantly changes the way it looks—and not the way the artist wanted it to look,” she says. “Because it’s so important a painting, we have this obligation to present it in its best light.”

Ameringer has her chance starting in late June, thanks to a Bank of America grant, one of 24 artworks to receive support this year.

Monet created a series of about 250 Water Lilies (Nymphéas) paintings in his garden in Giverny over the three decades before his 1926 death. PAM’s is considered a particularly superb interpretation: It hung in the artist’s son Michel Monet’s dining room for more than 35 years before coming to PAM in 1959. That’s when the varnish went on, as per the industry standard.

The artist was very specific starting around the 1870s that his paintings should not be varnished, Ameringer says. She gives an analogy of collecting rocks at the beach: wet rocks have vibrant, saturated colors but once they dry out, all those color differences are much more subtle.

“The dry rock is what Monet wanted,” she says. “A wet rock is what we have. [The varnish] amps it up in a way he didn’t really intend.”

This is the second time a piece in PAM’s collection has been chosen for the Bank of America conservation program: In 2019, Roy Lichtenstein’s Brushstrokes, the yellow and green aluminum sculpture in front of the museum on Southwest Park Avenue, got a fresh coat of paint.

Art lovers can follow along with Ameringer’s painstaking work with a series of seven videos that she will create during the painting’s six-month conservation. She uses tiny, hand-rolled cotton swabs similar to Q-tips dipped in a mixture of solvents to remove the varnish without damaging any of the paint layers. She might be able to finish 2 square inches in an eight-hour workday.

But what is it like to work so intimately with a masterpiece?

“I think it’s really exciting, I’m not going to lie about that,” Ameringer says. “But we’re trained to treat every painting equally. You don’t know what will be important in 100 years.”

While Water Lilies is getting work done, visitors can get their French art fix at the museum’s exhibit Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, which runs June 8-Sept. 15. The show includes Monet’s Rising Tide at Pourville, an 1882 painting of a clifftop dwelling in Normandy.

 

For this and similar articles, please visit Willamette Weekly

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Sittin’ Pretty: 5 Porch Decor Ideas That Will Transform Your Favorite Summer Perch

Porch season is officially here!

Sure, it might sometimes still be a little too chilly to enjoy your favorite outdoor perch unless it’s drenched in sunlight, but soon enough we’ll all be sipping sweet tea and basking in some summertime warmth. The beginning of porch sittin’ season always begs the question: How do you revive a space that’s been dormant all winter long?

Sittin’ Pretty: 5 Porch Decor Ideas That Will Transform Your Favorite Summer Perch

Don’t worry, we took to Instagram to find you all the answers.

Luckily there is no one way to get your porch ready for the upcoming season of lounging. While porch design is eclectic and individual, we do have a few ideas on how you can get started if you’re feeling stuck.

Here are five of the cutest looks from the design world of Instagram to help you get your porch summer-ready.

1. Set the table

One of our favorite ways to create a porch everyone wants to hang out on is by setting a welcoming table like this one from @theproperpeacock.

While you might not want to leave it fully set unless you’ve got friends coming over, now is still a great time to get all the outdoor tableware (and a table, if you need one) to re-create this look in a summertime snap.

“I love how this trend brings function and style together,” says design expert Tina Priestly, of Ready, Set, Refresh. “Last summer, I set up a small bistro table with colorful, weather-resistant plates and glasses. It made the porch feel like an extension of our dining room.”

Get the look: Go al fresco and expand your dining possibilities this season with this outdoor dinnerware set.

2. Celebrate vintage porch furniture

Not ready to spend a lot on all-new outdoor furniture? We’ve got you. Go antiquing for some charming pieces to adorn your porch, as we see in this look from @the.martinhouse.

“Springtime means garage sale time,” says designer Devin Shaffer, of Decorilla. “It amazes me how the supply of high-quality vintage pieces never runs out, and especially for outdoor spaces that don’t require perfect products, the number of options is limitless.”

Get the look: Shaffer recommends visiting your local antiques markets to source metal chairs, old signs, wrought-iron decorative fences, and whatever else suits your creative fancy this season.

3. Create a garden corner

Another fun way to breathe new life into an old porch is to create a garden corner like this one from @karenkeysar.

“Bringing in greenery is a must for any porch,” says Priestly. “It’s like adding a breath of fresh air! I’ve created a little garden corner with potted plants and hanging baskets. It’s so relaxing to sit surrounded by natural color.”

Get the look: Get yourself one of these wood potting benches, and you’ll soon be inspired to build your very own garden corner!

4. Pick a color and stick to it

If you’re really feeling stuck when it comes to where to start decorating your porch for the season, just keep things simple. Pick a color that works with your house, and use it as a decor anchor, like this design from @1848schoolhousecottage.

“This is actually one of my favorite design tricks,” says Shaffer. “This exterior design approach highlights the surrounding landscape and the beauty of the environment. Colors inspired by nature, such as blue, brown, beige, and green, are all great choices.”

Get the look: Pick a color scheme by starting with this outdoor metal rocking chair set that comes in a variety of nature-friendly hues.

5. Bring the indoors out

The options for hybrid indoor-outdoor furniture are seemingly endless, which is another reason we love this outdoor living look from @houseof_york. This look is easy to re-create and sure to bring some serious chill vibes to your porch this season.

“Investing in indoor-outdoor furniture is a game changer,” says Priestly. “I got an outdoor patio daybed for a porch last year from Wayfair, and it’s been a hit with everyone. It’s comfy and can handle the weather like a champ”

Get the look: Design a porch that feels like an extension of your living room with this wicker outdoor patio daybed.

 

For this and related articles, please visit Realtor.com

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How Much Should You Spend on Outdoor Seating? 2 Experts Weigh In

Whether you like to sip your morning coffee on your patio, enjoy an after-work drink on your deck, or gather around the firepit for post-dinner s’mores, you’re going to need some outdoor seating. But with so many options to choose from, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Should you focus on a quality sofa or opt for a set that includes additional seating (and maybe also a coffee table)? What types of materials should you look for (and avoid)? And how much is the right amount to spend?

We talked to interior designer Angela Belt and landscape designer Amber Scott Freda to get their take on how and what to buy this season. Read on to find out:

Multi racial group of friends enjoying lunch, talking and smiling on wooden decking
Consider how you plan to use your outdoor space when it comes to budgeting for outdoor furniture.

(Getty Images)

5 tips for buying outdoor seating you won’t regret

When it comes to outfitting your outdoor space, follow these universal rules of thumb.

  1. Know your space and your lifestyle. The right furniture for you depends on your space and your lifestyle. If you’re lucky enough to have a rooftop terrace, be sure to consider the wind’s ability to blow things away. Got kids? Maybe don’t get white cushions or pieces with sharp metal corners.
  2. Don’t overspend. “For most of us, outdoor seating is a seasonal retreat, so it should be a low-cost investment,” says Belt. A good benchmark? Budget less than you would on your indoor living room, which is used year-round. Freda notes that you can find sofa sets from places like Amazon, Wayfair, The Home Depot, and Lowe’s, for around $1,000-$2,000. She adds that stores like West Elm and CB2 might offer the sofa alone for the same price, and high-end vendors, like RH, Design Within Reach, Pottery Barn, or Crate & Barrel, will be at least double that amount for just a sofa.
  3. Read the online reviews. If you are going to buy from lower cost or mid-range sellers, Freda has one important tip. “I recommend going with items that already have a high volume of reviews,” she says. “If there are any defects or other problems, those will be reflected in people’s comments.”
  4. Consider artificial or composite wood. Freda also notes that real wood, while nice in theory, won’t last as long as artificial wood—and it will weather to gray unless you sand and oil it on a regular basis. “There are very nice looking composite wood materials that give the look of wood, but are a lot more durable,” she says. If you do choose wood, Belt advises steering clear of “solid woods that expand and contract due to natural elements.” Instead, opt for something more weather-resistant like teak or acacia.
  5. Choose something comfortable. Last but not least, both Belt and Freda suggest prioritizing seating you’ll actually want to sit in, whether that’s a sofa set, a standalone sofa, or a cozy lounge chair. “People will use their outdoor space more if they feel comfortable being there for an extended period of time,” Freda says.
Summer evening on the terrace of beautiful suburban house with patio with wicker furniture and lights
A matched set is a good start for your outdoor seating setup.

(Adobe Stock)

If you’re starting from scratch and like to entertain: Get an outdoor seating set.

If you don’t have any outdoor furniture, Freda says you’ll need at least a sofa or loveseat and a coffee table to make your space functional. “If you plan to entertain at all, go for the set,” she adds. Belt agrees, adding that “it’s more cost-effective to buy a set of outdoor furniture than buying each piece individually.”

Shopping list: 

If you already have chairs and a coffee table: Splurge on a quality sofa.

If you’re looking for an investment piece to take your outdoor setup to the next level, you can easily spend $3,000 or more on a single sofa. But, according to Freda, the prices at high-end sellers reflect style, durability, and customer service. One of her go-to vendors? RH. “They have a really nice white-glove service,” she says. “They install and assemble the furniture for you.” Freda also likes Summer Classics for looks employing wicker, woven straps, and vintage rattan, as well as Blu Dot, West Elm, and CB2 for a diverse array of styles at more affordable prices.

Shopping list:

Exterior view of house with patio with wooden furniture
A lounge chair or two will round out your outdoor furniture setup and give you more flexibility for entertaining and relaxing.

(Getty Images)

If your outdoor area is on the small side: Buy a lounge chair (or two).

No room for a sofa? Comfy seating is still the way to go. That could be a cushy conversation set, a single lounge chair for soaking up the sun solo, or even a fold-up chair that can be tucked away when not in use.

Shopping list:

 

For this and related articles, please visit Realtor.com

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