As One of my goals for 2013, I am planning a trip to Italy.   This Hotel in Matera is built into a cave and the design is so serene with simplistic beauty.  The design is so calming and welcoming.     Matera is the only place in the world where people can boast to be still living in the same houses of their ancestors of 9,000 years ago.

Until the late 1980s this was considered an area of poverty, since these houses were, and in most areas still are, mostly unlivable.  Today there are many ...

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Thinking out loud today because it is the first day of October.  Fall is in the air!   The wind is bringing the changes of season to us.     Everyone is starting to decorate their front Door or Porch.   It is so fun!    I love this time of year.   I was traveling small winding roads this weekend in Nashville and Kentucky.   The leaves were starting to change, some of the tree's seemed to have their tips on fire.   If you home is on the market decorating your front door can add some sizzle to ...
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Fall is in the air and I can't help but think about decorating for fall. 

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People are really big into the open kitchen, den/living rooms right now.  That's why our TVs keep getting bigger and bigger- people are watching them from 2 rooms over! Also, something I have noticed is people are leaning towards smaller, more quality space vs. a lot of unused square footage. The out door Space becomes a part of the living space and extends the smaller interior spaces to include this wonderful space
 Buying and selling homes is an emotional decision, people buy from the heart,...
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Located in the Heart of Crestline on a gorgeous street.    Exceptional details and Open Spaces.  A designer's dream and perfect for entertaining. Spacious rooms, tall ceilings, hardwood floors, French doors, deep crown molding, large kitchen with high end appliances, master suite located on main level, two car garage on main, gorgeous iron banister leading to the second floor, antiqued beams in family room  and surround sound in upstairs playroom, stereo throughout the house,  Fabulous O...
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Undertaking a home makeover can be daunting, but it is possible to have jaw-dropping results with relatively minimal effort. Try tweaking your interior design style one room at a time. Paint is every home-decor enthusiast's best friend and there are countless ways to achieve dazzling impact with a little bit of color

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It's a tool used by house flippers all across the nation. Stagers know its power. Real estate agents push its importance. What is this not-so-well-kept secret of real estate? A kitchen can sell a house.  

A kitchen is the heart of a home. This is true all across the globe. The old saying that the "stomach is the way to the heart" carries a lot of truth. Kitchens are where we spend much of our time and most of that is with our families. It's the room where we nourish our bodies and...

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This is  actually a small space, but this designer used every inch in the best possible way for a dining room.  French reclaimed doors, limestone fireplace and antique chandelier are the first things that stand out when you look into this room.  The simple lack of color allows this space to be very elegant and welcoming to your dinner guest. 

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12 Things Entrepreneurs Should Be Thankful For

1. Customers.

2. Getting to pick the exceptional people we work with.

3. An opportunity to add value, big or small, to people's lives.

4. Not having to ask permission to try something crazy.

5. The patience and understanding of our family and friends — especially when we likely don't deserve it.

6. Receiving payment for value delivered. There's no feeling like it.  

7. The joy of seeing a sliver of light after some dark, dark, days.

8. The free...

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Great place to have a cup of hot chocolate with friends on Halloween!

I believe that a kitchen is a special place and I absolutely love it when I am cooking and everyone is in the kitchen with me!  The aroma's, the taste, the conversation and the love.  No place I would rather be.    

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Mediterranean-inspired and  striking architectural details.    Feels like home and style is in abundance.  The absence of color brings harmony, considerable charm and comfort!   

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Dinner for family or friends.  "Caio Bella"



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A picture is worth a thousand words!   The search for a new home can be more difficult than expected.   With all the headlines about the Real Estate market you would think you could find the perfect home, all inclusive of every one of your wish list items and be able to purchase the home for at least 20% off the listing price.  Wow, wouldn't that be great!    There are some area's were people are waiting on homes to come on the market, because they have seen all the homes available in their p...
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About 20 years ago, I became interested in spaces inside the home that had a step down.  Just one or two steps down, to a more dramatic room design.  In the 70's, these rooms had a modern feel to the with contemporary pictures illustrated in this era, couples having small parties. How fun!   While designing my home on Coshatt Trail in 1999, I considered adding this to my plan.  However, in determining the cost associated with a small step down was a great deal more cost than I expected. Since...
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If you are like me and live in an older home, built between 1965 and on, you have a small closet in your hallway, or  under the  steps.   Is yours organized,  so anyone wearing a coat can open the door and hang it up when they come to visit?  LOL, were in Alabama and no one wears coats, with the exception of maybe a few days in Jan and Feb.  If your home is like most homes we tour, this closet is almost always a mess.   So I have an idea for you today, check out this great idea on what you ca...
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The Living Room

The sofa and chair's slipcovers go right in the washer, and the shearling throws childproof the sharp corners of the wooden chairs.

I love the atmosphere in this room, the colors and design make you want to find a good book and relax.  


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Have you been thinking about a new home in the past few months, just not sure if it was the right time, not sure if the prices were low enough. Were you putting off the inevitable need for better or larger space for your family to live and play. Were you wishing for the perfect home? There are a lot of new and positive things happening in Birmingham. Now is absolutely the best time in the past 5 years to buy a new home. Interested rates are still low and you can get a great home at...
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What a great reason to buy your first home, the government is giving you $8,000 if you are a first time home buyer and $6500 if you haven't bought a home in 3 years. This money will be given to you about 8 weeks after you close on your home. CASH! It is free money!!! Time runs out after April 30, so you don't have time to waist.

This money will allow you to do updates needed on your new home or pay off any debt or take a family vacation this summer! . I am a Dave Ramsey Fan,...
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Patched-Up Patio Before, this patio was full of potential but was in dire need of maintenance. The door was falling apart, and the mess was bound to turn off buyers. After, this patio is a warm oasis, with new furniture, lighting and curtains. TIP: Think of outdoor space as an extension of your home. Just as you would stage your living room or dining room to appeal to buyers, you should clean, declutter and add style to your outdoor spaces as well. An inviting "outdoor room" with furniture,...
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A great way to give your home a simple update is to paint your shutters, add a new style of shutter or dress up with new updated hardware. (Shutter Dogs) I see homes everyday that have shutter styles that doesn't work well with the architectural style of the home. One of the best ways of making sure the style works for your home is to research the architectural style of your home. Examples, like Georgian, Tudor, Modern, Frank Lloyd Wright, Cottage, English, French and it goes on from there....
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