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Smart Design With Suzette: The Wired Home – Raising Your Home’s Intelligence Quotient

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The Kwikset Kevo smart lock. Courtesy photo
 
Smart Design With Suzette
By SUZETTE FOX

The Wired Home – Raising Your Home’s Intelligence Quotient

When it comes to smart tech systems and gadgets, today’s home can provide more intelligence and convenience than ever before. You’ve probably been hearing about smart home technology for years – the lights that turn on when you pull into the driveway, the dead bolt that springs open as you reach the door.

If you are thinking of raising your home’s intelligence quotient, here are your best bets. All of them are easy to use, function without requiring Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: Green Living

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Green living. Courtesy photo
 
Smart Design With Suzette
By SUZETTE FOX
 
Green Living

For a while now I have wanted to write a series of articles on the latest green products for your home. One of my desires is to get the word out to folks far and wide so when it comes time to make renovations there is information available to make decisions with the least negative effect on our environment and our own health. I plan on putting these products in my own home right along with you.

Every object you own — your furniture, your clothing, your beer cans, your stuff — comes from somewhere; Read More

Los Alamos Single Family Home Sales Hold Steady Condo Sales Up

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By CINDY HOLLABAUGH, President
Los Alamos Association Of Realtors

Single Family Home sales held nearly steady from 69 in the 3rd quarter of 2014 to 68 this quarter. 

Single Family Home sales volumes also remained nearly flat from $21.1M in 2014 to $21.2M for the 3rd quarter of 2015. Condo and Townhome sales jumped in the 3rd quarter of 2015 to 21 units compared to 14 units sold in the same quarter of 2014. 

The median price of Single Family Home sales fell when compared to the 3rd quarter of 2014 or $282,250 to $276,500 in this quarter. During this same period, the median price of Condos/Townhomes Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: Weekend Projects – DIY Ideas That Make A Big Impact

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Before and after bookcases. Courtesy photo
 
Smart Design With Suzette
By SUZETTE FOX
 
Weekend Projects: DIY Ideas That Make a Big Impact

Well, it’s Labor Day weekend. I’m excited to work on projects around the house that will make a big impact. While my husband is off golfing (I’m a golf widow), I’ll have a few extra days this weekend to tackle a DIY project or two.

I’ve gathered some of my favorite projects that take an afternoon to a full weekend to complete. One might possibly inspire a room makeover this weekend for you!

 

An inviting entrance. Courtesy photo
 
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Smart Design With Suzette: Garages

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The organized garage. Courtesy photo
 
Smart Design With Suzette
By SUZETTE FOX
Garages

If you can’t find room to park your car, it’s time to clear out the clutter and reclaim your garage.

It’s the one part of the house that my family tends to let go. It holds our garbage and recycling, bikes, sports equipment, yard sale items, paint, tools, potting bench and gardening equipment, lawn mower, and of course one car in our two-car garage.

We toss our dirty shoes in there, pile our yard tools on top of each other, randomly stack shelves with odds and ends, and have about a dozen junk drawers. And, if you’re Read More

Flamingos Flock 825 Aster Street

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Flamingos on the lawn at 825 Aster St., the home of Michael and Natali Barkudarov. Courtesy photo
 
COMMUNITY News:

What goes best with pink flamingos? How about a heart-shaped trellis of climbing roses?

This beautiful yard display is the hard work of Michael and Natali Barkhudarov. The front of their home at 825 Aster is a riot of color from the beautiful, lush yard to the Blaze climbing roses and other blooming perennials. Michael and Natasha collaborate on their yard.

Michael says that the yard is beautiful thanks to Natali’s attention to the flowers. She credits him with keeping Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: A Lighting Plan

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A well-lit living room requires a combination of ambient, accent and task lighting. In this living room, recessed fixtures cast general lighting, wall-mounted lights showcase artwork and an adjustable floor lamp provides light for reading. Courtesy photo
 
Smart Design With Suzette
By SUZETTE FOX
A Lighting Plan

Something that often gets forgotten, and which can have a profound effect on the look and feel of a home, is lighting. Strategically placed lights and landscape lighting can drastically alter the way you feel about your home, how you interact with your home, and according to Read More

Buying And Selling A Home Is A Dance

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By CINDY HOLLABAUGH, President
Los Alamos Association Of Realtors

Buying and selling a home is a dance. Your date to the dance is your Realtor®. Your Realtor® is going to want to meet you and get to know you and your housing needs. Your Realtor® will then take you to the dance. 

The first of many dance partners will be your lender. If you are a buyer, it is always a good idea to talk to a lender prior to looking for a home so that you know what you can afford.

After you are approved for a mortgage and have found a home, you will start dancing with several different partners. These can include a title company, Read More

Wildlife Friendly Home Welcomes Flamingo Flock

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A flock of flamingos swarms Shelly Cross and Troy Matevia’s home at 3338 Orange St. Courtesy photo

COMMUNITY News:

Shelly Cross and Troy Matevia’s home at 3338 Orange St. in Los Alamos is a wildlife sanctuary.

Feeders hang at every window and the yard is aglow with color from a variety of flowering plants. A small fountain bubbles quietly beside the porch swing.

Shelly and Troy have worked hard to turn a fairly barren yard into this quiet paradise. Thanks to their efforts, they received a visit recently from the traveling flock of flamingos that turn up around town to recognize beautiful Read More