Meet the Maker: Karla Johnson-Grimes of 18th Floor Productions

Meet Karla

“I believe that personalized gifts show how much you appreciate a person! I create hand painted champagne bottles for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, home closings, etc”

Learn more about Karla below!

How did your business come to exist?

My daughter and I were looking for ideas for unique gifts for a few of her friends graduating from college. I painted champagne bottles for them and they loved them! I realized I had a business. That was just a couple of months ago!

What is your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge right now is making myself focus on my web site, but I know I need to finish it so I have a storefront other than Instagram and Facebook. I need to carve out time and make it a priority, but I would rather paint. I would always rather paint!

How did you arrive where you are today?

I refer to myself as a recovering Executive Director for a reason! I arrived here, now, because I’m at a point in my life where I want to do something that not only makes other people happy, but it makes me happy too! Recently I heard someone say that “self care is not selfish—it’s compassionate”.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of what I do is thinking about how much joy the person or persons on the other end will experience when they realize the bottle I created was personalized for them, and them only! I would love to be a fly on the wall and hear the excitement!

Get in touch with Karla

Instagram: @18thfloorproductionsdenver

Facebook: 18th Floor Productions

If you are a local artist/crafter/maker/indie business owner and would like to be featured on our blog, please fill out this form or contact Ashley at ashley@westandmainhomes.com with questions...we can't wait to learn all about you!

As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Accessory Dwelling Units

When West + Main agent Brogan Rossi and her husband were looking for a new house, they wanted  a way to make supplemental income through a rental in their existing home. 

"Houses with mother-in-law units are few and far between so when we toured this one, the unique second entrance to a large room in the back of the house caught our attention immediately. When it was listed, this space was used for storage...but with a separate entrance, it had income potential!

This project totaled around $15,000. We hired contractors to do the major things: they installed new vinyl flooring, built a wall to section off the apartment from our house, installed a thick private door for our in-house entrance, kitchen cabinets and sink, replaced the old bathtub and shower tile, and ran a new electrical line for the stove.

Then, we got to do all of the fun finishing touches: cabinet hardware, paint, new fan and light fixtures...and found the perfect renter!"

-Brogan Rossi

For more remodel inspiration, visit the first edition of the West + Main Home Magazine.

Looking for more projects like this?

• As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Summer 2021 Trend Report

• As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Online Estate Sale Finds

• As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Architectural Forecast

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Find a Dog a Home: Meet Snowflake

Hi, I'm baby Snowflake!

I am definitely a one-of-a-kind. I am sassy and talkative, but a champion cuddler. I love to play outside - but the leash is NOT my favorite. Really, I'm still just a pup with a lot to learn, but my whole life is still ahead of me. I want a family that will love me and teach me how to be the bestest girl. I will love you for my WHOLE life if you love me back! Love, Your Very Special Snowflake. (Put my name on your application ASAP so I can head home with you!)

More About Me:

• Breed: Siberian Husky Mix

• Gender: Female

• Color: Black & White

• Age: 3 months

• Weight: 15 lbs

• Energy Level: Medium-High

• Location: Colorado

For more info, please reach out to my foster mom Maggie or view my adoption profile!

The Vail Valley sees home sales double through the start of the summer

The summer season is synonymous with taking a break from reality to escape the routine of day-to-day life.

This has not been the case for the Vail Valley real estate market. The iconic Colorado resort community has been hotter than ever with another spike in buying activity through May of this year.

Through May of 2021, home sales in the Vail Valley have soared by an impressive 101%, rising from 310 homes sold during the same time frame in 2020 to 624 homes sold so far this year.

Perhaps what’s even more impressive is that the average sold price of those homes has appreciated by 23%, which brings the average sold price to $1,782,363 in 2021. This surge in buying activity shows that consumers continue to prioritize resort real estate and finding homes that cater toward their desired lifestyles. Overall, the total sales volume rose by an astounding 147%, totaling $1,112,195,002.

Not only are more buyers deciding to plant roots or invest in a secondary residence in the Rocky Mountains, but they are also acting more quickly once they find their dream homes. According to LIV SIR’s May Monthly Market Report, the average days on market has decreased by 32% — meaning that listings are spending an average of 102 days on the market in the Vail Valley.

The luxury sector of the Vail Valley’s real estate market has seen even more significant increases in buying activity this year. Looking at the high-end home market through May of this year, compared to the same period last year, luxury home sales have increased by 248%. During that time, 94 homes priced at or over $3,000,000 were sold.

Additionally, luxury homes in the area spent an average of 41% less time on the market through May of this year compared to the January through May of 2020. Even though the average sold price of those homes decreased, dipping by 9% to bring the average sold price to $5,481,955, the total sales volume still grew by 217%.

---

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Everything you need to know about Pet Insurance

So, you’ve become a pet parent. Congratulations!

We know how much love + snuggles (and did we mention hair?) your new furry friend can bring… And if the pandemic taught us anything, it’s just how precious our animal companions really are. They kept us company, and they are members of our family. And as such, we spare no expense to keep them happy and healthy. There’s just one problem with that — veterinary care (especially of the emergency variety) can be insanely expensive — so expensive that it can wreck even the most thoughtful of household budgets.
Enter pet insurance.

You’ve probably heard of it before. Maybe your vet even gave you a “free month” when you first took your pet in for their initial shots. But if that’s expired, it’s time to investigate a policy that can offer you the peace of mind you need, should something major go wrong.

Depending on the type of policy you choose, pet insurance coverage can include accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, dental disease, and behavioral issues.

And the younger you get your pet enrolled, the better. Why? Because pre-existing conditions won’t be covered, and the younger your pup or kitten is when you sign them up, the less likely it is for those to derail your plans. At HerMoney this week, writer Rebecca Jones breaks down the best ways to get your pet covered, ASAP.

And if you’re curious just how much you can expect to spend every year, we’ve got a complete breakdown here, including upfront and long-term costs. (And if lately it’s seemed like everyone on your street is bringing home a new fluffy baby — it’s not your imagination.

According to the North American Pet Insurance Association nearly 1 in 3 Americans adopted a pet during the pandemic, and 67% of US households currently own a pet. Now that’s a whole lot of love.)

---

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma