The Secret to No-Fuss Holiday Decor? Use What You Already Have

5 Holiday Looks on the Nice List

If Santa's decor has been on the top of your wishlist ever since he claimed his home on Zillow, now you can make it happen. We highlighted five ways you can easily incorporate his holiday style into your home.

Related:

• An Insider's Look at Santa's House
• The Untold Story of Tiny Homes, Straight From the North Pole
• How to Decorate Simply for the Holidays (With Big Impact)

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The Untold Story of Tiny Homes, Straight From the North Pole

Elves: They're just like us. Or is it the other way around? For instance, did you know that many of our trends originated from elf culture? It's true. Perhaps the biggest (or maybe it's the smallest) trend is the tiny home.

A short history of the tiny home

Elves didn't just invent tiny homes, they perfected them. When elves first joined Santa in the North Pole, they decided to live on-site – the traffic jams caused by migrating polar bears made the commute intolerable. So they quickly got to work building their own community on Santa’s land.

Because the diminutive craftsmen didn't need much space, they kept their homes small: 150 square feet. While each elf added their own flair, the layouts are similar with the living area and bathroom on the main level and the bedroom in the loft. Word of these mini dwellings spread south and so began the rise of tiny homes for larger humans.

The design hub of the north

The North Pole serves as the address for many elves. Nobody quite knows how many, but when Santa claimed his home on Zillow, we got a glimpse of one elf enclaves. Being the trendsetters they are, each elf had at least one statement-making feature created by their own ingenuity. These are our three favorites.

1. The serving cart

One look at those itty-bitty Moscow mule mugs on the stylish cart will make you crave a peppermint julep. Popularized by elves, bar carts like this one got their start by serving as an extension to the limited countertop space in tiny homes.

2. Wood panels and exposed beams

There's something about wood paneling and exposed beams that make this home feel so inviting. Before it became a design choice, wood planks were the preferred siding for elf homes because of their ability to insulate from the cold, harsh climate.

3. Yoga zone

Having your own home gym is a luxury reserved for those with extra space, so it's impressive this elf found room for a dedicated yoga area. While home gyms are a convenience for most, they were started by elves out of necessity due to regularly getting snowed in.

 

Related:

• An Insider’s Look at Santa’s House
• 5 Holiday Looks on the Nice List
• This Hobbit House Will Have You Dreaming of Middle-Earth

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An Insider's Look at Santa's House

When Santa claimed his home on Zillow, updated the home's facts, and uploaded photos and a video walkthrough, we wanted to learn more about his house. We tracked down the people in charge of Santa's remodel - interior designer Marian Bright and general contractor Doug Fir - and asked them to spill the details.

What motivated you to take on this project?

Marian Bright (MB): Santa is synonymous with the holiday season. He has inspired people around the world to change their home decor for at least one month out of the year. How could I say no to a challenge like that?

Doug Fir (DF): This is a man who appreciates fine craftsmanship and woodworking. One look at his gorgeous log home and I knew I had to get my hands on it. This was my chance to impress the jolly old elf and get on the nice list for good.

How did you incorporate Santa's style into his house?

DF: I didn't want to compete with the rustic vibe of the cabin that Santa himself built. So I found ways to enhance that atmosphere with outdoor elements. I brought grandeur to the mantle with floor-to-ceiling river rock, since the fireplace is such a large part of Santa's background.

More windows and skylights were incorporated into the new open concept design, making the home feel more spacious - especially for his many tiny guests.

MB: I wanted to meld Santa's iconic festive style with his wintery wonderland surroundings. That's why you'll find so much fresh greenery, knotty pine furniture and cozy linens all throughout. I call the look Falalala Fabulous.

Which area of the home proved to be the most challenging?

DF: Definitely the garage, which was converted from a rinky-dink one-sleigh space to a grease monkey's dream. Not only does Santa have dedicated parking for his all-weather sleigh, but he has room to work on it, too.

He was very specific about his needs for the area. I had to create space to accommodate a specialty lift, as well as incorporate an intricately wired system for the Elf Launch Staff who communicate with NORAD* for sleigh-tracking purposes on Christmas Eve. Who knew he was such a garage enthusiast?

MB: For me, it was the living room. Doug created this masterful fireplace and I needed to match its stateliness with decor that could keep up - without overpowering the space.

That's why I mixed in just a couple of statement pieces around that mantle: 17th-century German nutcrackers and lanterns Santa used on a camping trip with Teddy Roosevelt. Of course, Santa requested I leave room for his 4K Ultra HD Sub-Zero Edition Smart TV programmed with a Christmas documentaries setting.

What inspired your designs?

MB: There were so many wonderful pieces around the home that Santa had picked up from his world travels. One item that served as my muse was an apron with a Scandinavian print that he got for Mrs. Claus in Sweden. That helped inspire some of the Nordic elements that you see in the kitchen.

What's your favorite element of the design?

DF: Before Santa hired me, the area above the dining and living rooms was closed off. Opening it up gave the house a whole new look, with more room to breathe. So I'd have to say the lofted ceilings is my favorite feature in the house.

MB: Doug's addition of the lofted ceilings allowed me to suspend a custom-made light fixture over the dining room table. I adore that piece. I commissioned it to be modeled after the property's landscape.

Want the full tour? See more photos of Santa’s house. 

*Endorsement by the United States Department of Defense or NORAD is not intended nor implied.

Related:

• 5 Holiday Looks on the Nice List
• The Untold Story of Tiny Homes, Straight from the North Pole
• 5 Home Repairs to Make Before You Host a Holiday Gathering

Originally published November 30, 2016

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What Happens When a One-of-a-Kind Home Needs a New Owner?

When shopping for a home, it’s not uncommon to come across one that truly stands out. It's not because the home is an old fixer-upper or that it's a newly renovated home with a designer kitchen. It's a home that's architecturally significant or in some way conveys a "different" attribute. For instance, it might be a castle, a church or even a fire station that has been converted into one or more living spaces.

With an unusual home, pricing and marketing can be a challenge. Here are three things to keep in mind when either buying or selling a truly unique property.

1. Buyers should be cautious

As crazy as it sounds, a would-be buyer may want to reconsider purchasing an offbeat home. While it may be a home you love, it is also an investment. A home with a unique, unchangeable structural feature will likely alienate a large portion of the market.

If you're faced with the opportunity to purchase a unique home, don't get caught up in the excitement of it all. Think long term. Understand that when it comes time to sell, it may be a burden, particularly if you try to sell in a slow market.

2. When selling, don't assume buyers will love what you love

As the owner of an interesting or different home who is considering a sale, be aware that not everyone will have the same feeling about the home as you did when you bought the place. While you're likely to get lots of activity, showings and excitement over your property, a lot of that may simply be curious buyers, nosy neighbors or tire kickers.

Time after time, sellers with unique homes believe that since they fell head over heels, another buyer who might feel the same. But that person could be hard to find.

3. Hire the right agent and have a serious marketing/pricing discussion

A unique home requires a unique marketing plan and pricing strategy as well as a good agent. The buyer may not even live in your local market, and instead might be an opportunist buyer open to a unique property. So you should consider advertising outside the mainstream circles. Media and press can help get the special home the attention it may need.

The buyer may not want to live in your town but is fascinated by an old church or castle. The more you get this out there, the better your options for finding the specific buyer.

If you get lots of action but few offers, you may need to drop the price below the comparable sales to generate interest, particularly if you really need to sell. Just like a home with a funky floor plan, on a busy intersection or with a tiny backyard, the market for your unique home is simply smaller.

With online home listings, blogging and real estate television shows, unique homes stand out and get more exposure than ever. But selling a distinctive or offbeat property requires out-of-the-box thinking early on, and with a top agent. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Be certain to price the home right, expose it to the masses and have a strategic plan in right from the start.

Top image from Zillow listing.

Related:

• How to Live in Your Home While It’s on the Market
• Saying Goodbye to the Family Dome
• 5 Steps to Selling a Home

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Originally published October 10, 2014.

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Go Exploring With This Tiny Home in Tow

Architect Duff Bangs and social worker Ashley Rodgers were ready to leave Seattle - and the nine-to-five grind. Taking a leap of faith, the couple quit their jobs, sold their condo and spent the past summer traveling the western United States in the Adventure Wagon 28, a 200-square-foot tiny home with a 70-square-foot sleeping loft. Now settled in Eastern Washington, Bangs and Rodgers are continuing their business Modern Wagon with the mission of building affordable tiny homes that are ready to hit the road, and donating a portion of the proceeds to housing for the homeless.

When designing the prototype, the couple aimed to include amenities like a bathtub, washer and dryer, and space for a yoga practice. The 28-foot trailer, carefully balanced for weight distribution, features a sloped roof and angled front and rear walls for maximum living volume. The exterior is composed of aluminum composite rainscreen with pre-finished birch lining the interior and Europly cabinets.

Bangs and Rodgers traveled nearly 11,000 miles over three months beginning in June 2017 - heading east to Chicago, back west to Colorado and Yellowstone National Park, and then south to Utah and Southern California before ending up in Eastern Washington. “We stopped at every national park we could,” says Bangs, who still lives in the prototype with fiancée Rodgers. “Living in a tiny home is better than I expected. [We] downsized from a 1,000-square-foot studio, and our lives are so much less cluttered and more simplified.”

Photos courtesy of Modern Wagon

The 13,000-pound tiny home stayed steady, even through storms in Montana and the Midwest. Says Bangs, “The entire journey has been extremely rewarding. It was pretty amazing to set a goal to design and build such a fascinating project within our deadline and be able to have the freedom to travel for three months all while towing our home.”

If you’re curious to hear more, check out the Modern Wagon blog for an account of the design process and road trip, and the website to get in touch with the creators.

This article was written by Jenny Xie and originally appeared on Dwell. Check out more of their content on Dwell.com.

Related:

• Could You Live ‘Tiny’? See How a Seattle Couple Found Room for Their Dreams
• The Tricky Thing About Buying a Tiny Home
• Here’s the Wackiest Tiny Home You’ve Ever Seen

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A Fireplace for Every Room

Remote Meditation Retreat With Rocky Mountain Views – House of the Week

Sometimes when searching for a place to live, you don't find the spot - the spot finds you.

Such was the case for David Tresemer. The year was 1986, and Tresemer was looking to escape the hustle and bustle of burgeoning Boulder, CO. He drove 90 minutes in every direction and was eventually drawn to an expansive spot a short drive from the city.

"It's so pure. It looks down on Boulder," he said. "The land really just spoke to me."

With snowcapped-mountain views and creekside trails to explore, the 105-acre setting was so inspiring that Tresemer not only built his home here but also created a spiritual retreat for the community.

The centerpiece is a 12-sided structure he calls the StarHouse, which serves as a nondenominational gathering space for everything from yoga to weddings to solstice celebrations.

"We all tend to feel a little overwhelmed by what's going on in the world, and it's important to have a place to reconnect - for silence and a deeper connection," said Tresemer's wife, Lila.

Lila and David married in the StarHouse in 1995, and they've since officiated a number of weddings there. They now live in a custom-built 6,500-square-foot home on the property named MorningStar.

With 7 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, the house is bathed in warm, natural wood elements, from the walls to the ceilings to the doors.

Tresemer described the home as rustic and spiritually accented, with crystals and fountains interspersed throughout.

There's a celestial mural the couple commissioned from a local artist above a fireplace, and an outdoor courtyard serves as a private meditation spot.

But the west-facing deck on the second floor, perfect for dramatic sunsets and more, might just be the couple's favorite.

"You're looking at the snowcapped mountains, and you can see the sunset or the moonset," Tresemer said. "I prefer the moonset because it's so dramatic."

An off-grid, 2-bedroom retreat cabin is just beyond the main house (a woman recently spent an entire week there in silent meditation).

There’s also a historical 1904 homestead cabin on the property, along with organic gardens and other spiritual locales, including two labyrinths.

A perfectly shaped dodecahedron acts as a meditation chamber, and a 20-minute walk on the property leads guests to a physician's tree - a spot for personal healing, Tresemer said.

Despite their deep love for the home, the Tresemers decided to put it up for sale for $2.45 million (they’ve also listed the entire property for $5.2 million). 

"[This spot is] already loved by many, but there's room for someone to bring their own vision and their own concept," Lila said. "We would like to see it continued by a community of people who've come to love it."

"It's age-related for us, and we feel there's a lot of vision and enthusiasm among the younger generations," she continued. "We would love to see them take it to the next level."

Roger Walker of RE/MAX Alliance on Walnut carries the listing. Photos courtesy of Rob Larsen.

Related:

• Designer Lookbook: Rowland + Broughton’s Aspen Barn Studio
• Mountain Bliss: A Creekside Cabin, Rustic Treehouse & Outdoor Canopy Bed
• Rocky Mountain High: John Denver’s Aspen Estate For Sale

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Vote Now to Pick the Ultimate Kitchen for Holiday Entertaining

Bringing a 1980s Relic Into the Light, Bright Modern Age

It's never easy to restore an old home, but redesigning a home built in the 1980s - an era not particularly loved for its style - requires imagination.

Debbie Cederlind and Lora Lindberg, Seattle house-flipping pros and owners of Urban Squirrel, recently tackled a Bothell, WA home built in 1989 that didn't have much going for it on the style front.

"With 1980s houses, it's a challenge to put character back in,” says Cederlind. “We started with no character, but it felt good at the end. We made it stand out and gave it some specialness that wasn't there."

The traditional-style home had already been renovated before Cederlind and Lindberg got their hands on it, but the work was less than desirable.

"There were some hideous paint colors on the wall,” Lindberg recalls. “You could see they were trying to inject character with super bright yellows and reds. And there was a bathroom with no windows. It was livable, but pretty ugly inside."

Let it breathe

When Cederlind and Lindberg first walked into the home, their main objective was to let some much-needed light inside.

They removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room and opened up the stairwell leading down to the basement. The stairwell was long and completely closed up with a door at the top, so the designers decided to open both sides of the wall.

"We let it breathe a little bit," Lindberg says.

The kitchen was reimagined - taken from dark and unremarkable to sleek, light and modern, featuring a charcoal-colored island, white open shelving and a shiplap treatment. The designers also covered the appliances with paneling to make them less obvious.

In addition to revamping the kitchen and the main bathroom, which was lightened with a rectangular exterior window and some large-piece tile work in the shower, the designers also altered the awkward layout upstairs.

They decided to close off an outdated half wall that overlooked the living space and front entryway, then create a bedroom to replace the lofted office that previously existed there.

Inject character

The bulk of the work and style added to the home was in the basement. "The space was super creepy and weird and didn't flow well," Lindberg says.

Out of this blank, dark and uninviting slate, the designers created two bedrooms, a library, a kitchenette and an additional bathroom. The kitchenette and bathroom feature sliding barn doors, which open up to the large living space downstairs.

The kitchenette is every bit as stylish as the full kitchen, featuring open shelving, charcoal-colored open cabinets and stone counters.

The biggest quandary the designers faced in the basement was deciding what to do with the three posts in the middle of the room. After much deliberation, they turned the posts into a built-in library, adorning it with vintage-style hanging chairs on each side suspended from beams.

"We went around and around, and that was the trickiest thing to figure out,” Cederlind says. “But if you’re a family with kids, you want the whole basement to be a big playground.”

Get the look at home

• Make your kitchen flow. "Now that we're doing these open kitchens, people don't want their kitchen to look like a kitchen. They want it to flow," Cederlind says. Add artwork, pottery and other accessories to make the room feel less like a kitchen and more like the rest of your home.
• Consider conversation. "We think a lot about our seating arrangements. We think about conversation and not about TV placement," Lindberg says. Face couches and chairs toward each other - not the TV - to create a cozy space for chatting with friends and loved ones.
• Incorporate contrast. "You need the balance of dark and bright," Cederlind says. If you have dark hardwood floors, don't feel like you have to match your cabinetry. Creating contrast will prevent your home from looking too dark or dated.

Take the full home tour:

Related:

• Designer Lookbook: Taking a Century-Old Home From Boxed Off to Bright and Open
• Rehabbing a Home? Be Ready for These 5 Costs
• Design Pros’ Secrets for Finding and Using Reclaimed Materials

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