 In today’s increasingly busy world, one where multi-tasking and mobile devices threaten to dominate our everyday lives, it’s more important than ever to take some time for ourselves and detach from life’s demands. This is a time for practicing mindfulness, which means having a clear awareness of our thoughts and feelings and of our immediate environment, shutting out all past and future distractions and simply embracing the present moment. We all need to take a few moments every day to properly experience mindfulness, as these few minutes of serenity can be enough to let go of the pent-up stress from our hectic daily routines. Giving a short time each day to practicing mindfulness will ease our anxieties, free us of negative thoughts, boost our immune system and facilitate a better quality of sleep. In turn, we will feel far more energized and motivated when waking up the next morning. As this infographic from EZ Living Interiors shows, a simple way to promote mindfulness is through interior design. It is very easy to arrange your home in a way that, as soon as you enter the front door, you can immediately feel more relaxed. A clutter-free environment with an abundance of natural light effortlessly creates positive energy and enhances a sense of mindfulness. Choose soft, neutral color tones for your décor, as this will help to achieve a mood of calm and serenity. Embellish your home with nature by incorporating plants into your décor and using sensuous natural fragrances. Best of all, establish a defined space for meditation and relaxation, a room that you’ll quickly associate with practicing mindfulness and switching off from the pressures of the outside world. Last year, Pinterest reported a 248% increase in search demand for ‘mindfulness’ in its home décor category, which suggests that the modern homeowner places great value in creating a mindful interior. You can pick up some fantastic tips on mindfulness in interior design in the infographic above. Like what you see? Get more interior design inspiration from across the pond at EZ Living Interiors, the No.1 furniture store in Cork, Ireland! Cheers, AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter
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 Crittal Doors, Image courtesy of Décor Aid As we near the end of 2018, there’s the annual talk of emerging trends that are certain to make a splash in the world of luxury interior design in the coming year. Industry experts work to predict the direction that styles are leaning towards, and catapult these ideas into their own work and designs. Thinking about a 2019 renovation? Our designers have scoured the trendiest of innovative design shows, followed the leads of industry giants, and have been inspired by adaptive innovators to predict the future of design for the next year and beyond. See how you can elevate your home and be on the forefront of interior design currants with these striking new trends.  Image courtesy of Décor Aid Color Trends Décor Aid’s designers admit that they were a bit surprised to see more feminine shades emerging as dominant color schemes, even in homes that are a bit more masculine. Soft shades like muted coral or dusty peaches were given a more adaptable, neutralized hue to better pair with more gender-neutral decor, while still providing a bit of warmth. Soft shades that veer more towards greys have proven to be a viable option for those that want the best of both worlds - color, but easily managed color. Look to shades like powdery sage green to meet this balance. 2019’s color palette also seems to be inspired by our plates, with shades like apricot, aubergine, and plum emerging as standouts. Decadent, heavy colors are on the rise, not only as standalone wall colors but also punctuated throughout rooms via accent walls, furniture and decorative pieces. These colors provide an elegant, moody ambiance that elevates the luxury in any room.  Image courtesy of Décor Aid. Kitchen Trends One of the most important areas of any home, the kitchen is constantly evolving. In fact, rooms from even a few years ago have come to look outdated. This year, our designers predict trends that will last. In the past, homeowners have opted for darker walls with light cabinets to brighten up their kitchen, but now designers are preaching the opposite. Instead of lightening your cabinets, choose shades that are deeper plays on bold color. You’ll find that a deep slate blue provides something more interesting to the eye than a true neutral, but is muted enough to not seem overwhelming in the space. Use a bright white on the walls to balance out the room, as dark colors can oftentimes shrink a space. Hardware is a detail that defines the kitchen - often creating the tone of the space based on the finish, material, and style. Designers from all over are loving brass, not only for its contrast to bland neutrals, but for its true contemporary flair. It also becomes a striking addition when paired with the aforementioned trend of darker cabinets. Cutting edge kitchens have incorporated brass into anywhere a metallic element is necessary: faucets, handles, drawer pulls, light fixtures, knobs, and chair legs have all become areas that catch the light (and the eye) and influence the feel of the room.  Image courtesy of Décor Aid. Structural Trends When frustration sinks in with an outdated home, don’t look at the big picture— look to making smaller but crucial edits that will modernize the space and leave a lasting impact. A few shifts in the structure of a room or two can make your home more on trend than even the newest buildings. Crittal doors, while not new, have become a lot more familiar to those in the design world in the last few years. Our designers predict they’ll make a far bigger appearance in 2018 in homes that want to have a more sectioned off space without shrinking the home. Crittall style doors have quite an industrial minimalist look about them, usually with matte steel and glass framed in a grid-like formation, making them able to let light in and keep a space looking open. A full crittall wall with a door can function as a dividing wall between two areas, designating separate rooms. Because there’s glass, you won’t be compromising light or space. Recessed floors are also making a comeback. While your first thought may be that they seem a bit outdated, designers have been taking great strides in modernizing the look of a sunken floor. While not always suitable in contemporary 2019 (after all, which direction would the TV or fireplace face?), they make the perfect upgrade to a space meant for entertaining guests, as they have the ideal arrangement for facilitating conversation and interaction. With the addition of a small coffee table or bar, your home will certainly be the designated spot for get-togethers. Keep your fabrics within a neutral color scheme; because there is four times the area of a traditional couch, most colors may be a bit too much on the eye at this level.  Image courtesy of Décor Aid. Furniture Trends In the world of furniture, it seems to be that current trends are holding steady, and accelerating at that. Tufted seating options — from couches, to ottomans, to stools — have remained a staple of any space that wants to add a touch of decadent luxury. Our designers have also seen them making appearances in spaces you wouldn’t initially think of, like bathrooms. For a master bathroom with space to spare for a stool or bench, a velvet tufted piece makes the perfect accent. Use them to dress up a space that may be slightly lacking in luxury, or doesn’t provide as much of an opportunity for expression, like a hallway or entryway. These pieces make a notable difference. Like what you see? Learn more about Décor Aid’s award-winning designers here.
Cheers and Happy Designing! AP Thank you to Décor Aid for collaborating on this post. Amy Puchaty's thoughts and opinions are her own. As a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist, her marketing campaigns and copywriting work have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Follow Amy at #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  So you're sitting at home and want to invest in new bedding but mainstream prints and patterns aren’t for you? Enter Falneur Bedding, a contemporary world of made-to-order, custom color bedding that is about to get wondrously more interactive thanks to their newly relaunched website hiflaneur.com.  “Inspired by resort collections, luxurious travel destinations, and ongoing fashion trends, we call out shades such as midnight blue, grass green, candy turquoise, and winter earth tones,” says Ariel, an expert in all things Flaneur, who reached out to us about the company’s innovative approach to high-end bedding.  Falneur customers can now enjoy a color match from an uploaded image, a Pantone color code, or engage with one of their dedicated color experts online. Sounds like a designer dream to us.  Check out their Fall/Winter forecast of rich saturated hues, including luxurious jewel tones, and earthy-chic wonders at hiflaneur.com now. Are you more moody Camelot or vibrant Wadi Maghara? Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments.  We are leaning towards a timeless classic with the softness of Sudd but could easily see any of these capsule collections making a bold statement in our guest rooms.
Cheers and Happy Shopping! AP Thank you to Flaneur for collaborating on this post. Amy Puchaty's thoughts and opinions are her own. As a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist, her marketing campaigns and copywriting work have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  According to Lee Arenberg, “Renovating a home is like building a character. You start with the foundation, work with the lines, then there’s costume fitting. It’s the same with remodeling and staging.” At least that's what he told me when I got a personal call from the Pirates of the Caribbean star back in August.  His stunning Dallas Craftsman hit the market and sold within a month, thanks to the help of listing agent Kyle Baugh of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, and a hefty dose of interior design from Arenberg's wife.  Originally listed for $549,900, I had the pleasure of covering the home on CandysDirt.com. You can read the full post here. In the meantime, I'll just leave you to marvel at these jaw-dropping property photos.        Yes, we wish it was ours too. Congrats to the lucky new homeowners!
Cheers, AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  Timbers Kiawah Ocean Club & Residences, Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Starting from $475,000 to $1.285 million a fraction. Photo credit: Shawn O’Connor. Last week we had the pleasure of unveiling the new model at the Timbers Kiawah Ocean Club & Residences to all of our 300,000+ readers on SecondShelters.com. This incredible resort offering is the only private residence club with fractional ownership on Kiawah Island, and the newest oceanfront offering in over 30 years!  The interior design is enough to entice one to buy, but those views...and the pricing! It's a gem of a find for oceanfront living starting at $475,000 to $1.285 million a fraction. Here, the rich architectural heritage of the Lowcountry meets the contemporary demands of today’s buyer to bring you one unforgettable oceanfront retreat. Sidenote: If there is one thing readers should know about my design tastes, it's that I am a sucker for a classic blue and white color palette. Timbers Kiawah does not disappoint!  Learn more about the talented design team, Hilton Head-based J. Banks Design, plus read my interview with Managing Director of Development at Timbers Resorts, Chris Burden, on SecondShelters.com now. You'll quickly see why Timbers Kiawah is the place to buy in South Carolina. Check it out and give us a thumbs up if you like what you see.
Cheers, AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  Guest Post Alert! This week we are happy to feature guest blogger Mia Clarke who is part of the content and community team at Userful.com - the experts in all things video wall and display solutions. When they first approach us in teaming up, we could not get over their amazing video displays and the opportunities they present for marketers, companies, and brands, including some of our clients like luxury real estate brokers and agents, and big name tech conferences and events. If Userful's video displays are good enough for the likes of NASA, HP, Yale, and Nestle, then they're good enough for us too. Check out what Mia has to say below and let us know what you think. Could you see a use for Userful's video walls in your home or office? Transform Your Lounge with a Home Video Wall By Mia Clarke Home Video Walls are used in lounges to entertain guests and serve other functions. These walls are built up using advanced technology and are known to deliver excellent picture quality. They are light in weight, easy to install as well as dismantle. Features Of home Video Walls
Home Video Walls are made of individual modules which are interlocked and form a seamless and cohesive unit. All these modules are manufactured to precise tolerances which maintain the same precise pixel pitch. 
Flat Panel UHD- It comes along with 4K screen and widely known for serving an unparalleled experience. It is considered good to buy in order to impress visitors and clients. It is time to say YES to Led Video Walls since they make you different from others. Flat Panel HD- It is the most basic of viewing screens and considered ideal for presentations, displaying information as well. In short, it can be said that it is perfect for business purposes. Multiple Screen Systems- It is next in this list cannot be ignored at any rate. It is ideal to choose if you are looking for something can go beyond approximately 95 inch capacity of standard HD screen. It works in various conjunction to display the same image. Multi-Screen System- It is enough to leave you speechless. It does not only indicates that you are a techno freak but also lift up the beauty of wall. There are many companies using the larger screen to enjoy the better resolutions. Tiled Screen System- They are liked by the people who wish to go along with the new age technology in order to impress their guests. It is ideal to choose in order to add WOW factor to your lounge.  Happy screening! We hope you enjoyed this informative read from Userful. The possibilities of video wall displays are endless...who knew? AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter
 Content inspired by potsplantersandmore.com Home ownership is a big investment, which is why it’s important to love where you live. Sometimes, a room needs a makeover to help it feel like home. The nice folks at Pots Planters & More looked at Google search trends across the country to see what the most popular interior design styles are by state and which parts of the house were most renovated. Take a look at the graphic below to see where your interior style falls in the United States of Design. What you find may surprise you - like the popularity of Scandinavian design in Texas, Colorado, and California, or the fact that the most popular rooms to remodel in the midwest include beds, baths, and basements. Who knew?  With home decorating networks, magazines, celebrity fads, and home makeover TV shows, there is no shortage of inspiration. The design styles that are most popular right now include bohemian (most popular among 14 states), Scandinavian (11), farmhouse (10), and art deco (5). While it’s not surprising to see Florida favors a coastal style, it’s interesting that New Jersey and Virginia also share their love of this look. Southwest design is synonymous with the directionally matched states of New Mexico and Arizona, but nowhere else. And Kansas, America’s Heartland, is searching for minimalist design more than anywhere else in the country.  As any host will tell you, the party always moves to the kitchen. No longer just a place to cook and eat meals, kitchens are the command centers and heart of the home, with the most traffic and daily use among households. It’s also the room that people most want to update, renovate, or makeover—the kitchen is the most Googled room for interior design among people in 17 states. After kitchens, people in 11 states most want a restful sanctuary. A bedroom is more than a place to sleep; it’s an escape from their busy day, and a private place to rest their heads peacefully. A well-appointed bathroom and a nicely architected backyard are areas that highlight and enhance a living space beyond their intended use. And while basements and living rooms are the least searched areas for a new design, improving these areas is always a bonus.  While residents of each state are researching interior design ideas, some are Googling more than others. The Great Plains states of North Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado are leading the country in most searches, along with California, Alaska, Ohio, Delaware, and Vermont. Following closely behind are other mid-country states: South Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota. All states west of the Rocky Mountains are in the mid-range for interior design searches. Nearly half (23 states) are on the low end of the search spectrum, concentrated in the Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions.  Perhaps people are looking to update an old structures, like in the century-old farmhouses of the Northeast and antebellum cities of the South. Perhaps they are rebuilding after weather disasters, like in Florida, Louisiana, California, and Texas. Perhaps people simply want to give their home a fresh look. Whatever the reason, people around the country are researching the best paint colors and accent rugs to create the room of their dreams. As a Colorado resident, it comes as no surprise to me that my state has a high interest in interior design. Colorado's commercial buildings and private residences are some of the most beautifully built in the country, often designed around effortless entertaining indoors and out. Are you in need of a refresh but don't know where to start? Updating your home with plants is one of the easiest ways to boost curb appeal, liven up a bland interior, or inspire an outdoor oasis. And with those summer barbecues and backyard garden parties right around the corner, there is no better time than now to refresh your space. Pots Planters & More is a company on a mission to design, manufacture, and distribute high quality planter boxes and pots for the garden enthusiast with a discerning eye. They carry a wide variety of garden planters and flower pots in all shapes, sizes and styles, including galvanized steel and fiberglass. Here are a few of our favorites left to right: Alzira Round Planter Pots - Fiberglass Planters by Jay Scotts, Globe Spherical Planters - Fiberglass Planters by Jay Scotts, Large Outdoor Planters - Plastic - 14"/16"/20"/26"/34" Diameters - Madison by Crescent Garden.
Cheers and happy planting, AP Special thank you to potsplantersandmore.com for collaborating on this post. All opinions are my own. Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  Are you following us on Pinterest? The "Amy Puchaty" Pinterest page is growing fast, and has a following of over 40,000 monthly viewers! The page is chock full of links and images to recent real estate articles, unique recipes, the latest in fashion and design, plus everything that's inspiring Amy right now on the home front.
Building a new home can be such a daunting task, but Pinterest has helped Amy curate a board - titled "New Home Designs Ideas" - to keep her design inspirations neat, tidy, and at her fingertips. Amy loves to collect images of home decor and design trends that speak to her. It's served as a great planning tool and she references it often when making decisions, from budgeting household items to deciphering what purchases will bring the most value to her home in the future. As someone who comes from a family of designers and artists, Amy knows it's important to start planning in advance to find the things she truly loves. If you like what you see, follow along and give us a like. You never know what might inspire you! Cheers from the team, AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  2373 3rd Ave, Napa, CA listed for $7.85M by Cyd Greer of Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley. Photo Credit: Realtor.com We have been working at a feverish pitch over here at Amy Puchaty Communications this spring! From drafting up agent bios, blogs, listing copy, and press releases for clients across Texas, Colorado, and California, to our recent editorial in LIV Magazine, the premiere publication of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty - ranked the #1 Sotheby’s International Realty affiliate in the world for sales volume – things have been busy! Check out some of our best work in a round up of what’s trending now.  LIV Magazine, Volume 4 Issue 1: Spaces with Intention It was an incredible experience to tour the Denver Art House, one of three extraordinary homes featured in our LIV Magazine editorial, Spaces with Intention. Amy Puchaty also landed an interview with the architect of the home, Jim Olson of Seattle-based design practice Olson Kundig – also known for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center, and Denver's new Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art. The firm is responsible for significant projects around the world as wide ranging as "huts to high rises, homes—often for art collectors—to academic, cultural and civic projects, museums and exhibition design, places of worship, creative production, urban design and interior design."  SecondShelters.com: Splurge vs. Steal Resort Edition Napa Valley A great read for those who dream of wine country. Here we pin two exceptional Napa Valley listings against one another based on location, acreage and ability to produce quality fruit. What we find may surprise you…  CandysDirt.com: BREAKING! EXCLUSIVE! We got the exclusive on a 1925 Fooshee & Cheek Spanish Colonial Revival in the treasured Greenway Parks neighborhood of Dallas, TX. Amy Puchaty was enlisted by Gretchen Brasch and Elly Holder of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty to write the property copy, and also break the news on the #1 real estate blog in the country, CandysDirt.com. It's a beauty, filled with fresh design inspiration and modern splashes of color. If you are anything like us, you'll be gushing over this property's photos for days.  Press Releases Are Our Jam! We love writing press releases for our clients and this one was no exception! Our latest in The Denver Post centers on a 1910 Mediterranean Revival Mansion designed by architects William F. Fisher and Arthur A. Fisher. It is chock full of authentic period details, originally built for oil tycoon, Charles Orchard and his wife Mabel. Most recently the mansion appeared in every episode of the 15th season of Top Chef!  First Dibs on Long Cove’s New Henderson Bay Home Sites Something we love writing about are lake listings, and the new Henderson Bay home sites in Long Cove cannot be beat! Amy Puchaty interviewed architect, David Stocker, of Stocker Hoesterey Montenegro Architects, and Long Cove VP of Sales, David Camp, to give you the inside scoop on this fabulous second home opportunity. Don't miss their stay and play packages to get a feel for lake life at Long Cove. Love what you’re seeing? Amy Puchaty Communications is here to make your listing or product shine. Call us for copywriting that sells today!
Cheers, AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  Photo Credit: Amy Puchaty Communications My life is all about homes. I live, eat, breathe and sleep homes...days, nights, weekends it's all about homes, and these last few months have been a whirlwind of writing and marketing homes for the best in the business. But every now and then, a luxury real estate writer needs a break, and today, it’s all about my home!  I love gathering inspiration from my favorite designers and bloggers from the pages of Architectural Digest and Southern Living, as well as Gal Meets Glam, Lark & Linen, Studio McGee, and so many more!  We are hoping to break ground on our Modern Farmhouse in May, and any free chance I get, I’ll be pinning, plotting, and planning its design. Curious what's inspiring me right now? Follow my Pinterest Board, New Home Design Ideas to find out.  Cheers and Happy Pinning! AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter |
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