Thank you to Beacon Appraisal Group for compiling this report.
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.
According to West + Main agent Bethany, her kids' bathroom was all beige, with a mediocre vanity, square frameless mirror, and dated 1990’s fake travertine floor tiles.
"I decided to brighten it up and honor the home’s 1970’s roots magic mushroom wallpaper and bright turquoise floors," said Bethany.
"The wallpaper was the most expensive part of the project, but it was SO worth it! My mom and grandma used to wallpaper together, so we continued the tradition," said Bethany. "Since it was paste-on paper, it was messy, time consuming, and a labor of love. But we had a fantastic time problem-solving, matching up the pattern, and laughing the whole time."
With no budget for flooring, Bethany pre-treated the existing tile with TSP and one coat of resin-based Fusion Mineral Ultra Grip, and the vanity got the same treatment in a charcoal gray. The unique mirror and pale pink walls brought everything together and gave the space a nostalgic, playful, yet earthy vibe. "When the kids stepped into the bathroom for the first time their eyes lit up. And, I confess...I love it so much I sometimes go sit on the edge of the bathtub with a glass of wine and just hang out in there.
Project total - $1000
“I wanted to do bold statement wallpaper so it would be the focal point of the small
bathroom. The larger print makes the bathroom appear larger than it really is and I love
how it turned out...especially the vanity, which I made myself!”
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.
CinderBlue
7 pm. Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards, 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr. Terrebonne.
With Americana rock 'n' roll from CinderBlue and a sit-down dinner from our guest chef. 21+. $115.
SNOWBALL NYE Party!
8 pm. Old Stone Church, 157 NW Franklin Ave.
The inaugural SNOWBALL, a celebration of safety in the snow. Showing Pretty Faces, an all-woman ski film. 11 pm: DJ Dance Party (soul, funk, hip-hop). Drinks by GoodLife Brewing, Oregon Spirit Distillers; food by El Sancho. Proceeds to fund a new avalanche forecasting center for all of Oregon! Tickets available at Crow's Feet Commons and BendTicket.com. 21+, $15.
Back Roads at the La Pine American Legion
8 pm. The American Legion Post, 52532 Drafter Rd. La Pine. Classic rock-country band, Back Roads.
1920s-style New Year's
9 pm. Astro Lounge, 939 NW Bond St.
Big band/swing house music brought to you by DJ Raider Mystic. Dress as a gangster, flapper or Babe Ruth. No cover.
McMenamins 2015 New Year's Eve
9 pm. McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St. Tony Smiley rocking beats in Father Luke's Room and the raucous reggae, funk and bluegrass blend of World's Finest in the Theater. Hello, 2015! 21+, $5.
New Year's Eve Celebration
9 pm. Silver Moon Brewing, 24 NW Greenwood Ave.
Moon Mountain Ramblers performing. The event will feature special guest Crystal Pizzola of Tone Red and opening band The Miners. $8.
Bobby Lindstrom & Friends
9 pm. Velvet Lounge, 805 NW Wall St.
Blues/rocker Bobby Lindstrom mixing up a blend of old blues, rock and lots of his own original tunes, plus "Ed the Whistler." Champagne toast, awesome band, great specials. No cover.
New Year's Eve Party
9 pm. Hardtails Bar & Grill, 175 Larch St.
Dance the night away with live music by The Substitutes. Free champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight. Food and drink specials all night. Sisters Inn & Suites room packages for only $79. Reserve your room now. Free rides to and from Hardtails. No cover.
VTP New Year's Eve
9 pm. Volcanic Theatre Pub 70 SW Century Dr.
With Harley Bourbon, Avery James and The Hillandales, and Warm Gadget. Masquerade party, busting a New Year piñata, and champagne provided! $5.
Run Into The New Year 2015
11:30 pm. Fleet Feet Sports 1320 NW Galveston Ave.
The group will run 2.015 miles to start the new year off on the right (or left) foot! All proceeds benefit the Bethlehem Inn and the Bend High Walking Club. Please remember a headlamp, reflective wear and party pants! After the run enjoy goodies from local favorites like Ida's Cupcakes. For more information visit fleetfeetsports.com. $10.
New Year's Eve Celebrations at Sunriver Resort
5 pm. Sunriver Resort, 17600 Center Dr.
Enjoy three great celebrations for New Year's Eve at Sunriver Resort!
New Year's Eve Modern Masquerade Dance
7:30 pm. The Dance Surge, 63220 O B Riley Rd.
A night of dancing!
Denim to Diamonds NYE Party
10 pm. Dawg House II, 507 SW Eighth St., Redmond.
DJ, hors d'oeuvres and toast at midnight. 21+.
New Year's Eve Party
8 pm. 2nd Street Theater, 220 NE Lafayette Ave.
Featuring live music, comedy, a photo booth and more. $25, $20 for ages 21 and younger.
Masquerade Dance Party
8 pm. The Belfry, 302 E. Main Ave., Sisters.
The Sugar Beets, Eugene Americana pop band, performs.
$8 plus fees in advance, $10 at the door.
Find more events on The Source Bend.
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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.
Luckily, first-time homebuyer workshops taught by seasoned real estate professionals abound. Think of these classes as primers to help you understand the homebuying process, step by step. These in-person or online workshops are easy to find—try a simple Google search such as “local first-time homebuyer workshop.”
And best of all? Many of these workshops are free. Here’s what you should know about finding and taking a course as well as what you can expect to learn.
Why take a first-time homebuying seminar?
Buying a first home can be an intimidating undertaking if you don’t understand the entire homebuying process.
Many buyers jump straight into attending open houses. And while oohing and aahing over a home’s spa shower is exciting, looking at properties should be Step 3 or 4 in your homebuying journey. First, you’ll want to find a real estate agent and a mortgage lender.
“I learned that there is a lot to think about when purchasing a home,” says Kamyar Shah, the fractional chief operating officer at Kamyar Shah. “I had no idea how much time it took and all of the information you have to gather to make sure you are making the right decisions. I was also surprised by the amount of money that goes into purchasing a home and having a down payment.”
Don’t take a workshop in Iowa if you live in Idaho
“You want to take a local course so that you can learn about not only the general homebuying process but what the market is like in your town or area,” says Katie Wethman, founder of the Wethman Group, a real estate team in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
Wethman, who has taught homebuying classes for 11 years, begins her seminars by explaining the difference between a buyer’s market and a seller’s market.
“Buyers need to know what’s going on in their unique market,” says Wethman. “What’s the average price point? How much inventory is out there? How quickly are homes selling?”
Once you understand market conditions in your area, you’ll know who has negotiating power: the buyer or the seller. If it’s the seller, you may need to be prepared to waive contingencies since you’re competing with other buyers. If it’s a buyer’s market, perhaps you can be aggressive with making a low offer. (These days, most areas are distinctly seller’s markets.)
Other basic workshops
Basics covered in the class include why lining up financing before viewing homes is imperative. Once you know what type of monthly payments you need to cover, you’ll know your price range. And you won’t waste your time looking at homes you can’t afford. (Get a jump on crunching these numbers with a mortgage calculator.)
By taking a homebuyer education workshop, you’ll know how to ensure that you are mortgage-ready, advises Kathy Bennett, CEO and founder of Bennett Packaging, who took a homebuying workshop with her husband. “You’ll know what documents you need to give to the underwriter so you can get approved quickly.”
“It was very interesting to learn about the different types of loans that are available for people who are purchasing their first home,” adds Shah.
You’ll also learn how to make an offer.
“I talk about the contingencies that form an offer so that buyers know what safety nets will protect them in case something goes wrong, such as a problem discovered during the home inspection,” says Wethman. “Then we talk about what closing costs are in the area and what happens at settlement.”
People generally buy a home every five to 10 years. Yet, just because you successfully purchased a home before doesn’t mean you’re going to remember everything.
“The homebuying process and contracts change over time,” says Wethman. “And odds are the market is completely different from the last time an existing homeowner bought a property.”
Some classes are simply sales pitches for an agent looking to represent you. But remember to do your research before signing with an agent. The golden rule when it comes to agents? Interview at least three before settling on one. You want an advocate who will not only negotiate for you but also protect you from unforeseen issues that will inevitably crop up. In other words, it’s OK to take a workshop without hiring the agent who taught it.
Also, the workshop should be one hour at most. You don’t want to leave feeling overwhelmed and struggling to digest a ton of new information. But you do want to feel like you can go out there and start house hunting with confidence.
“The homebuyer workshop helped us immensely when we were finally planning to own a house as opposed to renting one,” says Bennett. “The homebuying process is stressful enough. But by knowing what comes next, you aren’t left to guess about the homebuying process. You can make informed, sound decisions that help you reach your goal. It played a critical role in our buying process, and I recommend it.”
Learn more on Realtor.com
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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.
A new year, by its very nature, usually brims with optimism and the promise of fresh starts. But as a weary world continues to ponder what the future might look like, after having collectively endured almost two years of tumult, it seems we’re clinging to familiarity more than ever.
Many of the top interior trends of 2022 are iterations of those we saw in the previous two years, but, thankfully, it’s not because we’re resigned to the fact that every day feels much like the one before. Instead, we’re being more true to ourselves and what feels good.
Much like the evolution of fashion in recent years, interiors are increasingly becoming less about what’s trendy and more about personal expression. “Rather than specific trends declining, we are seeing the lines between different styles blurring,” says Gemma Riberti, head of interiors at WGSN. “A key example of this is minimalism and maximalism. As the line blurs between these two approaches, this has empowered consumers to find their own take on either. This is leading to a highly personal and more nuanced approach to interiors.”
Still, several recurrent threads are on the horizon for interiors in 2022. Read on for predictions from Riberti, along with fellow trend forecasters Michelle Lamb, Roberto Ramos, and Lisa White.
Consumers’ love affair with soothing greens and blues and earthy tones continues, but it’s not necessarily simply a case of aesthetic preferences.
“Research shows that natural color schemes and organic forms like those found in nature reduce stress, lower blood pressure and heart rate, increase productivity and creativity, and make us happier,” says Michelle Lamb, who is the editorial director at The Trend Curve. “Perhaps because humanity has never needed the healing powers of nature more than we do at this moment, there is a quest to take this approach even deeper.” Lamb predicts more jungle-inspired hues—as well as olive and moss—used in tandem with natural wood tones, stone with prominent graining, bamboo, rattan, dried grasses, and flower blossom and leaf motifs.
It seems we’re also looking to the sky for inspiration. “We believe in the growing importance of a luminous mid-tone that calls to mind the luminosity of clear skies and is therefore cool and optimistic, not cold,” Riberti says. “It’s a great color to instill positivity without being overwhelming, and it works well both with the naturals and with the other mid-tones, bringing to spaces and products a lightness and a reassuring, yet optimistic simplicity that will certainly resonate with consumers and their shifted lifestyles in 2022 and beyond.”
According to Riberti’s colleague Lisa White, creative director and director of interiors at WGSN, terra-cotta will continue its starring role in a year when “color is about being both grounded and hopeful.” White continues, “The appeal of terra-cotta tones translates to interiors products across the board, from hard materials like natural stone, oxidized metals, wood, and clay, as well as soft materials like linen, leather, suede, and brushed pile fabrics.” Finally, she adds, “We are even seeing products being beautifully upcycled by being dipped in terra-cotta paint.”
Our collective yen for biophilia is here to stay, but in 2022 it’s likely to become more sophisticated, White says.
“People have wanted to bring their living rooms and spaces outdoors, and they will increasingly want to bring the outdoors in, taking plant parenting and biophilic design to new heights,” she says. “We will see the rise of the indoor tree—especially lemon trees and olive trees—taking center stage in large pots.”
As cottagecore and grandmillennial trends ebb, a slightly more mondaine interpretation is taking its place: the contemporary conservatory. “Homegrown plant propagation is becoming more popular, and manufacturers are capitalizing on this by introducing new devices that enable different plant species to flourish inside, like miniature greenhouses modeled on classical designs,” White says. “The contemporary conservatory is a look that will be trending, whether creating an all-over garden-inspired room with patterned wallpaper and wicker furniture, or simply styling a conservatory corner in a sunny location in the home.”
One thing’s clear about the future of interiors: They need to feel as good as they look. All of our experts agree that consumers are paying much more attention to the sensory experiences of their homes.
“Scent has taken center stage during the pandemic, and people are scenting specific areas of their home with different scents as a way of inhabiting space with all of their senses,” White says. “Perhaps the home office will be scented with sage to promote mental acuity, while the bedroom will be scented with orange blossom to promote calm and sleep, and the living room with something cozy and festive like the fragrance of a crackling fire.”
Ramos, CEO of the cultural forecasting agency The Ideatelier, says that tactility, composition, and sensory stimulation are influencing people’s choices for interior products. “The sensorial experience is dynamic and individually unique, yet desirous on many levels,” he says. “[This includes] visually stimulating vibrant color combinations, high-tech performance designs such as voice-activated kitchen faucets, and bamboo as the most important fiber to emerge in furniture and lighting design, which is natural, sustainable, and organic.”
Maybe we’re all just feeling a little fragile, but many of us are still not ready for sharp edges in our interiors. “Femininity will have an impact on form in 2022, conveyed through rounded details ranging from circular structural elements to gentle curves,” Lamb says. “Think: radiused corners or curved backs on sofas and flared arms on chairs or bumpers on sectionals. Waterfall corners on desks and consoles will reinforce the trend, as will drum tables and scalloped shapes on accent items from area rugs to ottomans.”
Riberti adds that curves needn’t always be dramatic. “Comfy, curvilinear, welcoming forms will be paramount,” she says. “Not necessarily plump and over-the-top exaggerated, but soft to the eye and the hand to create an overall relaxed and comfortable feel within the space.”
Read more on Architectural Digest.
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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.
