Articles Tagged "Duvall"

The season of pumpkin spice, sweater weather, and apple-everything is here, and our brokers want to make sure you're ready for the fall interior design trends. Pumpkin décor is a forever favorite, but there are many other brilliant ways to dress your home for the season. Thankfully, the fall interior design trends for 2021 have something for everyone. We're talking layering, vintage décor, cozy autumnal shades, natural elements, and more. It's time to make your home feel festive and comforting. Here are the most prevalent home decor trends for you to experiment with this fall.

• Cozy Fabrics and Natural Textures
  As the weather turns colder, ultra-soft fabrics are a must, and natural texture is a key trend for 2021. People are drawn to a sophisticated, chic, and cozy feel in their homes. Layering chunky knitted blankets and furry fabrics with velvets and other rich, textured fabrics will give your space a warm and welcoming fall vibe. 
  
  
• Vintage Decor
  Vintage pieces and family heirlooms are definitely trending. As much as modern décor is adored, the pandemic seems to have promoted homeowners to turn to the past with their designs. They want accessories and furnishings with character and nostalgia. For some, this means dusting off old furniture, vases, candlesticks, and picture frames to bring a sense of security from the past. For others, it's all about breaking out their grandmother's 1940s colored glassware. Whatever antique pieces you have, mixing them with more contemporary pieces can go a long way to keep your space from getting too dated.
  
  
• Nature-Inspired Colors
  Red, yellow, and orange are the conventional fall colors, but designers are increasingly gravitating towards other nature-inspired hues. These are warm, richer tones such as blues, deep greens, and browns. These colors signify renewal, hope, and freshness. You can use them to add a layer of character and sophistication to your living space without overpowering it. To make these colors feel appropriate for the season, use them in deeper shades and complement them with warm undertones. Line your dining room table with a navy blue runner and layer in a few pillows in forest green to set off the rest of your yellow and orange décor. Incorporating metal decorative accents is also a great way to provide a pop of color and add contrast to a design.
  
  
• Emphasis on Nature and Natural Elements
  This fall presents a great opportunity to bring the outdoors inside. The pandemic has taught us how much better life is when we sit outside and connect to nature. The trend of creating fluidity between indoors and outdoors spaces is here to stay. This doesn't mean turning your home into a greenhouse, it's about incorporating natural fabrications and furnishings into your decor. You can also bring in some heard-wearing plants and maximize natural light.
  
  
• Beyond the Open Floor Plan
  We hate to see this one go, but the open floor concept is becoming something of the past. The past year and a half have seen us use the spaces in our home much differently than before. We've realized that the open floor plan may be ideal for entertaining, but not so much for everyday life. Instead of having large open spaces where furniture floats, consider using room dividers and partitions to add versatility to your space. Create a home office, gym, or any other functional space.

• Add Shapes
  Juxtaposition is big when it comes to the top fall interior décor trends of 2021. People are becoming more adventurous with their furnishings, where soft edges meet hard lines. This is more prominent in coffee tables, contemporary wall art, patterned rugs, and vases. Curved and shapely vessels and furniture tend to create quiet drama in neutral spaces and add a much-needed distraction from the angular lines of your other furnishings. Throw some shapes in to create contrast and draw the eye across the space.
  
  
• Plaid and Stripes
  The two most useable patterns have united to create the perfect fall complement and add some interest into every corner of your home. You can jump onboard the plaid and stripes bandwagon by mixing the prints with your throws, bedding, cushions, and curtains. Go for black and white patterns mixed with red, coral, and brown accents. Patterned rugs are also great for layering under more neutral rugs to give them a bit of edge without it being overwhelming.

Planning to buy a new home this fall? We're here to help you find your dream home in the Pacific Northwest. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Fall is here! And with it comes fall weather. So it's time to pay attention to home maintenance and repairs. If you're thinking about selling your home in the near future, our brokers can offer advice on important fall maintenance tips.

In the Pacific Northwest, the fall season is the beginning of chilly temperatures, heavy rainfall, and snow and ice. Preparing your home with necessary maintenance before cold weather sets in will protect against costly damages and keep your family warm and comfortable. Take a look at 10 fall maintenance tips that you should not ignore:

1. Check Your Roof
   Look for damaged or missing roof shingles that may lead to water leaks in the attic and the walls. Water leaks can cause a variety of costly damages including rotten beams, ruined insulation, and dangerous black mold that is toxic.
   
   
2. Clean Out Your Gutters
   While you have your ladder handy, clean out your gutters and downspouts. A shop vac works great for removing dirt, debris, and leaves, but if you don't have one try an old plastic spatula. It's considerably slower but it won't scratch your gutters. Clogged gutters can cause roof and siding leaks, as well as foul-smelling standing water that attracts mosquitoes and insects.
   
   
3. Mow Your Lawn Shorter
   When temperatures start dropping, it's best to mow your lawn with a shorter cut. After you rake up dead leaves and debris, set your mower to cut the grass at 1-1/2 to 2 inches high. This will prevent tall grass and weeds from smothering new spring growth and reduce the chance of unwanted lawn pests and mold that often forms on snow.
   
   
4. Prepare Your Lawn for Winter
   After mowing the yard, prep your lawn for winter weather with fertilizer and water. Choose a fertilizer that's labeled 4-1-2 with good nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels to help grass store nutrients. If you have sprinklers, give your lawn a good soaking, check sprinkler pipes and heads for leaks, and wrap your above-ground pipes with insulation before freezing temperatures arrive.
   
   
5. Clean Out Your Chimney
   There's nothing like a warm roaring fire in freezing winter temperatures to keep your family cozy. Fall means it's time to call a professional to inspect and clean your chimney and test your fireplace flue for a tight seal that eliminates drafts. For added protection, invest in a chimney screen to prevent birds and squirrels from building nests because they look for safe, warm winter homes in the winter.
   
   
6. Touch Up Your Exterior Paint
   If your house needs a paint job, take care of this task before winter. Paint doesn't handle extreme hot or cold temperatures well, even if it's outdoor paint. In freezing temperatures, paint gets very thick and doesn't spread evenly with rollers or brushes. Cold weather also prevents the paint from drying properly, so anything that blows into your house can stick to or leave ugly marks in the paint.
   
   
7. Service Your Heating System
   If you're like most homeowners, you likely have a central heating and air conditioning system. To ensure heat during winter weather, schedule a fall appointment with a professional HVAC technician to inspect and clean your furnace unit, usually located in the garage or a hall closet. Since your heat hasn't been turned on in a year or so, it's essential to ensure that your burner isn't leaking carbon monoxide.
   
   
8. Check Windows and Doors
   During the fall, inspect your windows and doors for unwanted drafts. Add weatherstripping to ensure tight seals, inspect and replace any damaged glass in windows and sliders, and replace or repair any damaged window or door frames. Drafts will make your home chillier during winter and your heating bills will be higher from running your furnace around the clock.
   
   
9. Clean Heating and Dryer Vents
   Dirty vents obstruct proper airflow. Clogged interior air vents will prevent proper heating into your home and keep you feeling colder during the winter. Dirty dryer vents with lint buildup can make your dryer less efficient and even start a fire caused by static electricity that ignites.
   
   
10. Check Your Safety Devices
    While doing fall maintenance, take time to check home safety devices. (1) Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replace old batteries; (2) Check your fire extinguisher's expiration date and replace it if necessary; (3) Check your home for radon gas levels of 4 or above which is considered dangerous by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).  

If you're considering buying or selling in the Washington area, contact us for available properties. We have many available homes that may be just what you're looking for.

Knocking out a few simple tasks this summer will help ensure you don't run into any unexpected problems caused by poor gutter maintenance. This may include leaks, damage to your insulation, siding damage, and more. Don't let this happen to you! Follow these simple tips, and you'll be ready for whatever Mother Nature brings. 

1. Remove Collected Debris
   If it's been a while since you've performed any gutter maintenance, a lot of leaves, sticks, and other debris may have accumulated in there. Start by putting on a pair of thick gloves and pulling out debris by hand. This is the first step to ensuring water has a clear path to flow off of your roof and out the downspouts. This allows it to move safely away from your home, so it doesn't cause damage. 

2. Check for Nests
   Birds often like to make their nests in gutters since it offers them a high perch that is relatively undisturbed. By summertime, the babies have usually flown away, making now a great time to remove the empty nests from your gutters. Just be sure to check carefully for any signs of life before pulling them out. If you notice babies are still living there, consider leaving them undisturbed and checking back in a few weeks. 

3. Clean Off Your Gutters
   Now that you've removed the large items from your gutters, use a gentle abrasive cleaning product or soap and water along with a scrub brush to give the inside of your gutters a thorough cleaning. This will allow you to remove any moss, mold, or algae built up inside your gutters. If you notice areas where there's a lot of growth, pay attention. This could be a sign that you have a drainage problem. 

4. Check for Damage
   Once your gutters are clean, you'll be able to tell if there are any damaged areas you need to address. Carefully check all of your gutters for holes that need to be filled, areas of rust, or anything that's sagging or askew. You can typically fix sagging gutters by pulling them upward using a pair of pliers. If you notice any sections of your gutter that are extremely rusty, consider replacing them. 

5. Repair Any Leaks
   As you're checking for damage, there's a good chance you'll come across some leaks. This often happens when there are visible holes or areas that are buckling. You can also check for smaller leaks along the cracks and seams by using a hose to run water through the gutters. Watch out for any areas where water comes out before it reaches the downspout. You can effectively fix most gutter leaks with a waterproof sealant, like silicone caulking. Depending on the type of damage, you may also use some metal flashing and attach it using roofing cement. Once the repair has dried, run water through again to make sure it's sealed. If not, you'll want to call in a gutter professional to take care of the problem. 

6. Visually Inspect Your Roof
   Since you're already up on a ladder, take a moment to visually inspect your roof. Keep an eye out for loose shingles, which can cause leaks. If your gutters haven't been maintained for a while, this may also cause water to pond on your roof, leading to additional problems. Catching issues early can help you get them fixed before they become a much bigger deal. For safety reasons, avoid getting up on the roof yourself. If you notice any potential issues, call a professional roofer to come out and take a look. 

7. Install New Equipment
   If you've been thinking about installing new downspouts or gutters, the dry season is the perfect time to take on this project. You may also want to consider installing gutter covers. This upgrade prevents leaves and debris from falling into your gutters. While it will take some effort to install, you'll love how much it cuts down on your future gutter maintenance! 

Whether you're planning to stay in your home for the long term or you're thinking about moving soon, our brokers encourage you to keep up with basic maintenance tasks. This will help ensure your home maintains its current value and its curb appeal. 

We're here to help. Your dream home is waiting for you, so don't wait. Contact us today to discuss your goals and get started.