Boost your home’s curb appeal without draining your wallet. These simple, budget-friendly fixes—like adding a wreath, painting the front door, or tending to the landscape—will make your home look like a million bucks.
Refresh a Planter
Pay attention to your planters. Add character and interest to your home by planting flowers in salvaged or repurposed containers, like barrels, birdbaths, and wheelbarrows. Look for inspiration in items you already own and at flea markets.
Have a Seat
Seating can add major curb appeal without much cash. Look for something simple and eye-catching, like a pair of chairs found on Craigslist or a repurposed wooden bench. Add color with cushions and bright pillows—just be sure to use durable, weather-resistant fabrics.
Lantern Light
Flea market finds—like these majestic lanterns—add rustic beauty at little cost. Keep your eyes open at thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales for statement pieces that can flank a front porch.
Add a Wreath
Wreaths aren’t just for the holidays. Dress up your front door year-round with wreaths in a variety of fun textures and designs. Snag decor at a discount by planning ahead and buying items well in advance. Fall wreaths, for example, go on sale in November and December, so buy at a reduced price, then store until September rolls around.
Keep It Bright
Make a statement with a colorful front door. A fresh coat of paint can work wonders on any surface, and a bright hue ensures that your home will stand out in a sea of neutral colors. Simple materials you likely already have on hand—paint, primer, and brushes—keep costs low.
Light It Up
Warm lights and lanterns give off a homey vibe without much effort. You likely already have some sort of porch lighting, but consider adding a spotlight on a favorite tree or lanterns along a walkway.
Simple Symmetry
Symmetry is pleasing to the eye, but it can be difficult to obtain in home design—especially if your home wasn’t built with balance in mind. Capture the effect without a remodel by creating a symmetrical front porch or walkway. Matching potted plants flanking a set of stairs or identical rocking chairs on each side of your front door will do the trick.
Build Character
High-end curb appeal lets your home stand out—in a good way. The key is to play to your home’s strengths and architecture. If you’re on a budget, pick one feature to home in on—like shrubbery, lighting, or the front door—and make it the focal point of your exterior.
Change of Season
Seasonal decor changes your home’s look every few months without much work. Plus, you can decorate without breaking the bank. Just opt for simple, fresh accents. Try picking up pumpkins, squash, and gourds for fall, and go for evergreen boughs and red ribbons in winter. Bright, seasonal blooms do the trick in spring and summer.
There’s more to this month then March Madness. With so many fun activities in LA we thought you might need more then the weekend round-up. Read below for a collection of events happening throughout the month and discover your inner Angeleno!
The Other Art Fair is Coming to Downtown L.A. (March 28-31)
The Other Art Fair Los Angeles returns to Magic Box at The Reef. The Fair takes place March 28-31 for the 3rd edition of its independent artist showcase. See a curated selection of over 140 independent artists and check out thousands of pieces for every budget in one space. -> More information
The Torrance Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival (March 31)
The Torrance Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival comes to Columbia Park on March 31 for a unique blend of cultural performances with a fun variety of crafts by local artisans, centered around the blooming cherry blossom. -> More information
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Celebrates César Chávez Day (March 31)
This free celebration features a guest speaker from the Cesar Chavez Foundation, Xipe Totec Aztec dancers, live music by Lorenzo and the Carnales, plus art, garden, and culinary workshops -> More information
The listing held by Brandon Assanti continues to receive numerous media mentions since hitting the market.
Robb Report recently featured the property for it’s prime location, spacious living quarters and closet space.
The home sits on an acre of land and is 1 of only 8 homes that face the LA County Golf Course.
Described by the Robb Report as a “private oasis”, the 8,000 sq. ft. of living space includes six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a fully equipped gourmet kitchen.
The property boast additional luxury features like a home theater, indoor basketball court, and attached guest house.
The article also highlighted the best feature of all for those fashion fiends! Closets large enough to double as a personal store with custom shelving and room to spare.
Another remarkable feature of this listing is it’s proximity to the iconic Beverly Hills sign. This 90210 landmark is just across the street from the 20-car drive way leading up to your home.
9996 Sunset Boulevard is listed at $13 million by Rodeo Realty’s Brandon Assanti.
With only a couple weeks left in the first month of the year, there is no better time to ditch some of those 2018 home trends. While certain statement pieces will last through the seasons, the round-up below are so last year! So read below and start off fresh in 2019!!
It’s time to cool it with nailing 20-piece photo collages onto our walls. Instead, make a bigger splash with one large piece that leaves an impression.
“I love family photos, but the stark black or blond wood frames—thank you, Ikea!—that we’ve put up on the wall are a little, well, not trending,” says Los Angeles home designer Kim Gordon.
A wall full of little frames, Gordon says, fails to make a statement and ends up being overlooked and ignored. Plus, those frames will just accumulate dust and fingerprints.
In the new year, Gordon says the tedious clutter will give way to “big, potentially colorful, and absolutely impactful” art that wows—think charcoal sketches or watercolors—“anything to relieve some of the monotony.”
Three years later, and we’re still ringing the closing bell on this exhausted look. It seems old habits (and Edison bulbs) die hard.
So, we’ll say it again for the people in the back: Industrial chic is played out. It’s time to flip the switch on cage lighting and aggressively exposed pipes and beams.
“More often than not, [this look] fails and lacks the authenticity the designer is ardently trying to create,” says David Shove-Brown of Washington, DC–based architecture and design firm //3877.
Industrial kitchens are “not the most inviting place to be the heart of your home—more like living in a Costco,” O’Neill adds. “So, unless you are a professional chef, let’s retire this trend.”
Make the swap for lush, opulent hues in the kitchen—deep (almost black) greens and blues, and dark woodwork—and lean on matte metallics for contrast, recommends Debbie Schamberger of Elite Kitchen & Bath.
“Gold is strong for hardware, faucets, and lighting fixtures—a soft gold, like Champagne,” she says.
We can already hear the boos and hisses on this one, but Portland, OR, designer Justin Riordan isn’t having it.
“Boho has to die,” he says. “It’s totally flippin’ over.”
You know what we’re talking about: The macrame wall hangings, the waxy-fake succulents (“You’re not fooling anybody,” Riordan says), and your Moroccan lanterns all had a good run, but it’s time to rein it in.
“You can, of course, continue to buy $19 batik pillows at Target, but stuff like that is just fodder for your next garage sale,” Riordan says. “It comes on really fast and goes away really fast.”
If you just can’t tear yourself away from that gypsy-soul-world-citizen vibe, Riordan suggests channeling those feelings into an authentic piece that reflects a real ethnic tradition—say, a kilim rug—and building the room around that.
We know—we can’t believe it either, but the word art trend is still happening. In 2019, however, the pros are determined to make it finally stop. Even if you can live, laugh, and love with the best of them, those words don’t belong on your walls.
“Any text art hung in the home meant to be positive just comes across as cheesy and predictable,” says Jessica Boudreaux, an interior designer in Miami and New York City. “Stuart Smalley called, and he wants his signage back.”
Ana Cummings of Ana Interiors agrees: “It’s about as hokey as you can get.”
But isn’t the island sort of ultimate #kitchengoals? Diana Blaszkiewicz, an associate with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in Washington, DC, doesn’t think so. Her clients increasingly want to ditch the kitchen island, and she’s happy to oblige.
“They’re bulky and often don’t provide adequate storage space; plus, they’re very easy to bump into in the middle of the night,” she says.
In lieu of an island, situate the dining table closer to the kitchen, Blaszkiewicz recommends, or use modular, moveable storage instead.
“From walls to napkins, from Florida to Maine, it has been all about gray for so long now, I can hardly remember when it snuck in,” O’Neill laments.
“Because we’ve concentrated on cool grays for so long, it just feels dated at this point,” Riordan adds. “Everything I see in that palette just feels really cold to me.”
Plus, gray has become the go-to neutral for home staging—and that means this hue often “screams ‘newly flipped,’” Blaszkiewicz notes.
That doesn’t mean neutrals are out, but designers are ready for a shift to warmer tones, like sandy taupes.
Certain residential features are the brainchildren of home builders—notinterior designers. Such is the story of microwaves situated above cooktops.
“It was never a good design choice,” Cummings says. “Microwaves are so ugly, to put it bluntly.”
The microwave-over-the-range setup is not even functional, says Doug Lewis, a kitchen and bath remodeler in Richmond, VA. The combo’s popularity is driven entirely by the need to economize space—and it sacrifices the ventilation capabilities of a full-size hood vent (as opposed to the scrawny item built into the bottom of over-range microwaves).
“With those, you’re maybe getting 25% venting function,” Lewis says. “Plus, it’s just an awkward height for younger or shorter people to use. Ever tried to reach over your head to get hot soup out of the microwave? Not good.”
So what’s a space-starved homeowner to do? Undercounter microwaves are gaining popularity, Lewis says, and a growing number of cabinet manufacturers offer designs that accommodate them. You can also mount your microwave under upper cabinets while still preserving that precious counter space.
For years now, microfiber has been the hero of home furniture—an affordable and practical choice for its durability. So durable, in fact, that this vaguely suede-like fabric is ready for a rest.
Why? Most microfiber furniture can make the overall design of a room appear dated and cheap, says Beverly Hills, CA–based designer Kita Williams. And while it’s not impossible to find a microfiber piece in a modern shape, aren’t you ready to try something new?
“Err on the side of caution, and stay away from microfiber,” Williams says. “Stick with linen, leather, pleather, tweed, and canvas-type fabrics.”
Celebrate the New Year in style! If you perfect soiree is the one you plan to have at home we have the guide for you. Read below for a stylish round-up of DIY home decor to ring in 2019!!
For a touch of drama (and whimsy), hang this banner made from leftover holiday tinsel. To make it, choose the numbers you need from our template and print onto card stock.
For a fun twist on the New Year’s Eve countdown, pass Champagne in glasses marked with numbers representing those anticipated last 10 seconds. Self-stick numbers can be found in office- and art-supply stores. On January 2, either peel off numbers (use a cotton ball and adhesive remover to wipe away residue) or save the flutes for next year.
For this savory edition we’re rounding up the best places in the city of LA to dine 2018 away and brunch 2019 in! So if your more excited about five course menus versus full open bars then this is the list for you. But scroll and secure quickly, because NYE is a mere week away and reservations are filling up fast!!
The buffet style menu is $175.00/pp and includes tray passed appetizers, buffet stations (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm), all-inclusive beverages (specialty cocktails, wine, beer and Champagne toast at Midnight).
With Christmas just a week away, we know there is one thing on your mind! Holiday Cocktails!! Just as true as the spirit of Christmas, the “Spirits” of Christmas are your key to surviving Manic Monday with your in-laws. So check Cranberry Spritz off your list because have rounded up the best seasonal beverages to put you in a holly jolly mood.
The addition of homemade juniper syrup and fresh pine sprigs makes champagne feel even more festive.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup juniper berries, crushed
1 bottle (750 ml) dry sparkling wine, such as Prosecco
Unsprayed pine sprigs, for serving
DIRECTIONS
Bring sugar, 1 1/2 cups water, and juniper berries to a simmer in a pot, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool completely. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve; discard solids. Refrigerate 1 hour or up to 1 week.
For each cocktail, combine 3 tablespoons juniper syrup with 1/2 cup sparkling wine in a glass. Garnish with a pine sprig; serve immediately.
There’s no substitute for homemade eggnog during the holidays! Our latest, greatest version combines silky custard with three types of booze — bourbon, rum, and cognac.
Freshly grated nutmeg offers a more delicate flavor and aromatic scent than the pre-ground variety. The eggs in both the base and the meringue are cooked, so food safety shouldn’t be a concern.
INGREDIENTS
6 large egg yolks, plus 2 large whites
3/4 cup sugar
3 cups whole milk
Large pinch of coarse salt
1 cup heavy cream
2 ounces bourbon, such as Michter’s or Maker’s Mark
2 ounces dark rum, such as Appleton Estate
1 ounce cognac
Unsweetened freshly whipped cream, for serving
Freshly grated nutmeg, for serving
DIRECTIONS
In a medium heatproof bowl, whisk egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar until pale yellow and thick, about 2 minutes. In a medium saucepan, bring milk and salt to a bare simmer. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot milk mixture into yolk mixture.
Pour yolk mixture back into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until mixture is just thick enough to coat back of spoon and hold a line drawn by your finger, 3 to 5 minutes.
Pour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Let cool, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Add cream, bourbon, rum, and cognac; cover and refrigerate overnight.
Whisk remaining 1/4 cup sugar and egg whites in a heatproof mixer bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm (it should feel smooth between your fingers), 2 to 3 minutes. (For fully cooked eggs, a thermometer inserted into meringue should register 160 degrees.) Remove from heat. With a mixer on high speed, beat until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Fold into eggnog.
Pour into glasses (or a punch bowl); top with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle with nutmeg.
Margaritas aren’t just for summer! Cranberry simple syrup makes the frozen cocktail festive enough for the holidays.
Cranberry simple syrup gives this frozen cocktail a festive crimson hue — perfect for the holidays!
INGREDIENTS
For the Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
8 ounces frozen cranberries (2 cups)
1 tablespoon finely grated lime zest
For the cocktail
1 cup tequila
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
DIRECTIONS
Make the Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup: Stir together sugar, cranberries, lime zest and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high, stirring constantly, until cranberries just start to burst, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool completely. Refrigerate, covered, until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 1 week.
Make the cocktail: In a blender, combine tequila, lime juice, 4 cups ice, and 1 1/2 cups cranberries and syrup from Whole Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup. Blend until smooth. Divide among 4 margarita glasses.
Massachusetts senator David Webster allegedly gave this potent punch recipe to a friend before he died in the mid-nineteenth century. Our iteration combines fruit with black tea, rum, sherry, Bordeaux, and Champagne.
Sherry, Bordeaux, Champagne, rum, and black tea meld with fruit in this knockout punch recipe that’s adapted from “The Steward & Barkeeper’s Manual” (1869). It can easily be doubled to serve a larger crowd.
8 ounces fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons), plus 2 more lemons, sliced into thin rounds, for serving
1 bottle (750 milliliters) Jamaican black rum, such as Hamilton
1 bottle (750 milliliters) oloroso sherry, such as Lustau
1 bottle (750 milliliters) Bordeaux red wine
1 pineapple, sliced into thin rounds, plus leaves for serving
1 bottle (750 milliliters) Champagne brut or prosecco brut, chilled
1 orange, sliced into thin rounds, for serving
12 star-anise pods, for serving
Freshly grated nutmeg, for serving
DIRECTIONS
Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Remove from heat and add tea bags; let steep 10 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add oleo saccharum, stirring until sugar dissolves and mixture is translucent. Remove lemon peels with a slotted spoon; discard. Stir in lemon juice, rum, sherry, and wine. Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
When ready to serve, line the inside of a large punch bowl with pineapple slices (do not overlap). Fill one-third of the way with large ice cubes. Slowly pour tea mixture into punch bowl, making sure not to disrupt pineapple slices. Top with Champagne; gently stir to incorporate. Float lemon and orange slices on surface; sprinkle with star anise and nutmeg. Serve over ice.
Fresh rosemary adds a lovely woodsy aroma to this fruity, bubbly Pinot Noir-based cocktail.
INGREDIENTS
Ice
1 1/3 cups Pinot Noir
1 1/3 cups ginger ale
6 teaspoons cherry-flavored liqueur, such as maraschino or kirsch
Rosemary sprigs (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Fill four glasses with ice; add 1/3 cup Pinot Noir and 1/3 cup ginger ale to each glass. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons cherry-flavored liqueur to each glass. Stir to combine and serve with rosemary sprigs, if desired.
A pinch of cayenne pepper turns up the volume on this refreshing cocktail made of bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and apple cider.
INGREDIENTS
Ice
6 ounces bourbon
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
1 cup apple cider
Cayenne pepper
DIRECTIONS
Fill four glasses and a cocktail shaker with ice. To shaker, add bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and apple cider; shake vigorously. Strain into glasses and top each with a pinch of cayenne pepper, if desired.
Never choose between a dessert cocktail and a cup of coffee again! For the best of both worlds, shake up a shot of espresso with chocolate, sugar, vodka, and ice, strain, and finish with whipped cream.
Can’t decide between a post-dinner drink and a hit of caffeine with something sweet? This mocha cocktail should satisfy both cravings.
INGREDIENTS
1 ounce chopped bittersweet chocolate
1 teaspoon sugar
Hot espresso shot (1 1/2 ounces)
2 ounces chilled vodka
Ice cubes
Heavy cream
DIRECTIONS
Combine chocolate and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Pour espresso shot over chocolate mixture; stir until smooth. Add vodka and a few ice cubes. Shake vigorously several times, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Spoon over top a few tablespoons of heavy cream that’s been whipped just until silky and thick; stir with a toothpick to create streaks. Serve immediately.
Serving big-batch drinks like this fruity gin-and-rosé punch at holiday parties is definitely the way to go. Guests can help themselves, and you can focus on hosting!
Float cranberry ice cubes for a more festive punch bowl — drop 1 or 2 cranberries into each ice cube mold before filling with water and freezing. This recipe comes from Sas Stewart of Stonecutter Spirits.
Stir together gin, pomegranate juice and simple syrup in a punch bowl or large pitcher. Add ice cubes and sparkling rose just before serving.
COOK’S NOTES
For a cranberry-infused simple syrup, add 2 cups fresh or thawed frozen cranberries to saucepan with water and sugar before cooking. Strain the syrup once cool, and discard or reserve the cranberries for another use.
Freshly grated nutmeg and aromatic star anise give this creamy gin-based cocktail a flavorful boost.
Spices add a complementary note to most cream-based cocktails — grated nutmeg and aromatic star anise add flavorful dimension while also providing a visual accent in this recipe from Sas Stewart of Stonecutter Spirits.
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup Stonecutter Spirits Single Barrel Gin (2 ounces)
1 1/2 tablespoons cream (3/4 ounce)
1 tablespoon creme de cacao (1/2 ounce)
3 to 4 dashes Jamaican or Angostura bitters
Freshly grated nutmeg, for sprinkling
1 star anise, for topping
DIRECTIONS
Shake together gin, cream, creme de cacao, and bitters vigorously with ice in a cocktail shaker for 8 to 12 seconds. Strain into a chilled brandy snifter glass. Sprinkle with nutmeg and float star anise.
