Date Archives: October 2020

When revamping your kitchen, you might be tempted to go with the most recent design or that trendy color of the year. Just because it's trending doesn't mean you should go for it.

We can tell you that kitchen design trends come and go, but certain classic looks have stood the test of time. These designs are simple, beautiful, and appeal to a wide audience. And because the kitchen is one of the most expensive areas to renovate, it's smart to stick with what's tried and true. Here are the top 7 timeless kitchen trends that have been loved for decades.

1. Neutral Paint Colors
   The classic white-on-white kitchen will never go out of style. And while it's sometimes critiqued for being boring, it provides a sophisticated look, can blend into any style, and appeals to the masses. You can easily swap out accessories to get that kiss of color. Also, a neutral-color kitchen creates the illusion of space. It can be a blank canvas for your creativity and for buyers interested in buying your home.
   
   
2. Subway Tile
   Subway tiling is one of the most popular kitchen trends, and for a good reason. It's easy to install, it's relatively inexpensive, and has stood the test of time. It has a pleasant pattern and can be arranged in so many ways to get a custom look that complements your personality. It can work with many different décor styles without competing for visual attention.
   
   
3. Single-Level Island
   A single-level island provides a clean, classic, and seamless look. It's a practical feature that allows you to prep meals, help kids with the homework, eat breakfast and gather with loved ones. When keeping an open layout, a kitchen island serves as a focal point and allows light to stream through the space. 
   
   
4. Shaker-Style Cabinets
   Trends among cabinet fronts are always changing, but Shaker cabinetry is a trend that has been around for more than 100 years. With recessed panel doors, Shaker cabinets are known for their functionality, durability, and a simple, clean, and timeless look. This style works well with both farmhouse and modern designs. 
   
   
5. Quartz Countertops
   Quartz-surfacing countertops will continue to be a popular option for a long time. Made by mixing crushed quartz stone with resin, quartz is one of the strongest countertop materials. It is resistant to burns, chips, and scratches and doesn't stain from acidic substances. It offers a timeless appeal and requires less upkeep than many other countertop materials. 
   
   
6. Deep Sink
   A deep and wide sink is just plain practical and a clean kitchen's best bet. Deep sinks contain splashes and properly accommodate large pans, pots, and other items that require hand washing. A large, deep sink can also be a statement when it comes to décor. Choose a sink with a metallic, marble, or porcelain finish and pair it with a stylish faucet. 
   
   
7. Hardwood Floors
   The classic hardwood floor never goes out of style. It lends warmth and natural beauty that can make a kitchen feel more inviting, cozy, and comfortable. Hardwood adapts to any style and can stand up to spills and stains. If you have hardwood floors in other parts of your home, putting them in your kitchen can help create a seamless look by pulling together your interior design. While hardwood floors last for years, you can stain, refinish, or paint your floor to get a fresh new look.

Design a kitchen that buyers looking for Spokane homes for sale will love no matter the decade. Reach out today for more information.

From the September 2020 issue of @Home with Coldwell Banker Tomlinson.  Written by Abbey Parsons, CBT West Plains Branch Manager.

Kohlrabi - I had to GOOGLE it; I had no idea what this vegetable was, until a bag of fresh produce showed up on my doorstep in early May of this year.  Our family decided to try a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) subscription.

You can join these programs as a community member by paying for a share of the harvested produce.  We paid for our share up front in March and we receive a weekly delivery to our door.  This has expanded our vegetable choices while supporting a local family business that keeps money in our community. 

COMMUNITY IS KEY

Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a farm marketing model that allows the consumer to buy shares of a farm's harvest before the growing season starts.  Thus, delivery through the winter months may include beets, corn, broccoli, onions, turnips, radishes, carrots, cilantro, kale, mustard, spinach, basil, lettuce and, of course, kohlrabi!  There are also such frozen options as blueberries, peaches, berries, and peas.  Customers may also choose from prepared foods, ingredients for which are raised on local farms, such as hummus, soups, sauces and jams.

FARMING IS THEIR PASSION

Courage to Grow Farms is a first-generation, family-owned urban farm that practices zero-waste regenerative agriculture and employs organic methods.  It was established in 2018 with the idea of teaching their community, particularly its youth, techniques of sustainable agriculture on small parcels of land.  In only two years, they have created, worked and mentored six urban farms in the Spokane area, all of which are now being run successfully by people eager to learn the trade.  In cooperation with other farmers throughout the Pacific Northwest, they now offer much of the Spokane region a bountiful, locally-produced fresh box throughout the year.

GIVING BACK

Since the community keeps them going, they are eager to give back to the community.  Since 2018, they have donated hundreds of pounds of wholesome food to the Farm to Food Pantry Program, Catholic Charities, Food For All, as well as providing their packages free of charge every week to families in need.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED

Twenty consecutive weeks of deliveries are available for $800.  For more information, call or text (509) 270-7264 or visit their website at www.couragetogrowfarms.com.

View our comprehensive Spokane real estate market report for the month of September!

The information in this report is compiled from a report given by the Spokane Association of REALTORS© and to the best of our knowledge is accurate and correct.

Download the September Market Report PDF here.

Want more info about the current real estate market? Contact us today to speak to an agent. 

Halloween is almost here, and we couldn't be more excited! We love everything about this holiday, including the quest to find the perfect pumpkin. Over the past several years, we have explored all of the area's best pumpkin patches. Throughout our journey, we've come across a few that really take things up a notch. 

Whether you carve a pumpkin every year or you're thinking about starting a new tradition, you'll want to check out one (or more!) of these great local spots. 

1. Urban Eden Farms: 2121 S. Cherry St., Spokane, WA 99224
   If you've been thinking about moving into one of the beautiful Spokane homes for sale, you'll definitely want to familiarize yourself with Urban Eden Farms. This CSA (community supported agriculture) sells organic, locally-grown produce on the farm on Saturdays from 9 am until noon. Not only can you get a great pumpkin here, but you can also pick up all the tasty veggies you need for your weekly dinners.

2. Beck's Harvest House: 9919 Greenbluff Rd., Colbert, WA 99005
   When you're ready to really get into the spirit of the season, head over to the Fall Harvest Festival at Beck's Harvest House. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through October 25th, you can visit their pumpkin patch and enjoy an array of other fall activities. You'll love the giant corn maze, apple cider, homemade pies, local food trucks, world-famous pumpkin donuts, and more! Even better, the farm is located not far from some of the best Colbert homes for sale, making it convenient to stop by while you're out exploring the area.

3. Eleven Acres Farm: 10909 E. Day Mt. Spokane Rd., Mead, WA 99021
   The popular Eleven Acres Farm has a great pumpkin patch and pick-your-own apples, and fresh-grown winter squash. To see what other produce they have available, make sure to check out their website! After you're done with your visit to the farm, make sure to take a drive around so you can check out some of the beautiful Mead homes for sale. 

4. Hidden Acres Orchard: 16802 N. Applewood Ln., Mead, WA 99021
   A dog-friendly farm that's open every day, Hidden Acres Orchard, is a great location for a family pumpkin-picking outing. They currently have white and orange u-pick mini pumpkins, a huge selection of carving pumpkins, giant pumpkins, and stacking pumpkins. You can also pick up some sugar pumpkins, baking pumpkins, and gourds to cover all of your fall baking and decorating needs.

5. Sunset Orchard on Green Bluff: 8110 E. Greenbluff Rd., Colbert, WA 99005
   If you're looking for the widest selection of pumpkins around, you'll want to head over to Sunset Orchard on Green Bluff. They have over 30 varieties of pumpkins this year, including giant varieties, carving pumpkins, and edible pumpkins. Have fun wandering through the fields in search of the perfect pumpkin, or skip the hassle and choose one from their convenient displays. They regularly restock them, so it'll be easy to find one you love. Before you go, you'll want to make sure you also pick up some fresh apples and veggies. 

Fall in Love With Your Dream Home

Autumn is the perfect time to find your dream home, and we are here to help. Get in touch today to discuss your goals and get started! 

Original article posted by Washington Association of Realtors

On October 6th, the Governor announced that limited open houses are now permitted in Phase 1.5, Phase 2, and Phase 3 counties.  Spokane County is currently in Phase 2 of Washington's "Safe Start" Recovery Plan.  With that, measures must be taken to ensure that open houses are done safely under required protocols.

In order to hold an open house, the firm and broker must take measures to ensure that occupancy is restricted to the gathering size permitted by the current county phase and all other required protocols are followed (face coverings, social distancing, sanitation, etc.)

For Phase 2 counties - no more than five (5) people, in addition to the broker, may be in the property at any one time.

Brokers must strictly adhere to the occupancy restrictions for open houses, including the following:

• Post signs at the property (e.g. on the open house signs, at the front door, inside the property etc.) alerting the public to the occupancy restriction and reminding the public to wear face coverings and social distance.
• Brokers need to carefully monitor the number of persons on site at any one time and not admit more than the allowed number of persons into the property.
• Brokers need to constantly monitor the front door and potentially lock the door from time to time to prohibit additional persons from entering.
• Firms may consider assigning two brokers to an open house – one to stand outside and monitor the number of persons admitted to the property, and the other to be inside the property.
• Brokers must enforce the face covering requirement.
• Persons waiting to enter the property must social distance and wear face coverings.
• Clean and disinfect all surfaces, before and after the open house, and have sanitizer placed around the property.
• Because contact tracing in the event of an outbreak is important, brokers should maintain contact information for all attending an open house.

View all of Coldwell Banker Tomlinson's scheduled Open Houses here.

From the September 2020 issue of @Home with Coldwell Banker Tomlinson.

Watch any home improvement show from the last several years, and you'll see it: open shelving in the kitchen.  But is this trend something you should embrace in your own space?  Will you love it or regret it if you rip out all your upper cabinets?  Those are the questions we're posing today as we examine the pros and cons of open shelving.

RISE IN POPULARITY

If it seems like open shelving is everywhere, that's because it is.  "Open shelving is one of the most popular - and also the most controversial - kitchen trends of recent years," said Apartment Therapy.  Some kitchens, in an effort to look updated and open, have eliminated upper cabinets entirely, integrating open shelving instead.  Others utilize the trend more marginally, replacing just one or two smaller sections of upper cabinets.  If you are wary of converting your entire kitchen to open shelving, this is a good starter.

Another way to get your feet wet is to simply remove the front of your cabinets instead of taking them down all together.  This way, you can get the look without a major change, and you can always put the doors back on when the fad eventually passes.

LIGHT, AIRY, AND OPEN

That's what a lot of people are looking for when they make the decision to go with open shelving.  And it works - sometimes too well.  Getting rid of all the typical upper cabinets can sometimes make a space look too minimalist.  "Open shelving can also look a bit... unfinished," said Apartment Therapy.

SHOWCASING THE GOODS

Then again, it's a great way to highlight china, nice dishes, or decor items.

IT'S DUSTY IN HERE

Regardless of what your dishes look like, they're likely to get dusty without the benefit of being behind closed doors.  "While we love looking at neatly arranged dishware on an open shelf, the reality can be a bit frustrating.  Namely, due to all the dust and grease that end up on the carefully-arranged plates, bowls, mugs, and glassware," said House Beautiful.  In fact, the site is so adamant about its stance on open shelving that the trend made the list of "9 Trendy Home Features That Are Secretly A Pain."