Designer Allie Mann Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Transitional home office photo in DC Metro

A charming 1920s colonial had a dated dark kitchen that was not in keeping with the historic charm of the home. The owners, who adored British design, wanted a kitchen that was spacious and storage friendly, with the feel of a classic English kitchen. Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn helped her client, while architect Greg Lewis redesigned the home to accommodate a larger kitchen, new primary bath, mudroom, and butlers pantry. Photos Adam Macchia. For more information, you may visit our website at www.studiodearborn.com or email us at info@studiodearborn.com.

Our La Cañada studio juxtaposed the historic architecture of this home with contemporary, Spanish-style interiors. It features a contrasting palette of warm and cool colors, printed tilework, spacious layouts, high ceilings, metal accents, and lots of space to bond with family and entertain friends. --- Project designed by Courtney Thomas Design in La Cañada. Serving Pasadena, Glendale, Monrovia, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Altadena. For more about Courtney Thomas Design, click here: https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/portfolio/contemporary-spanish-style-interiors-la-canada/

Rustic, modern and fresh. This open floor plan home is understated and warm. Layers and textures are well placed throughout the home. The kitchen is the natural heart of this home, where soft whites are mixed with natural wood beams and sparkling tile - proving that the best design is subtle yet full of details. Scott Amundson Photography Learn more about our showroom and kitchen and bath design: http://www.mingleteam.com

Hollub Homes | Interior design by Helene Hollub | Ken Hayden Photography
Example of a trendy girl carpeted kids' room design in Miami with white walls

Farmhouse two-story vinyl exterior home idea in New York

Make your patio or backyard your household’s favorite place to relax with the addition of the 5 Pc. Montecito Loveseat Sofa Set by Sunset West (2501-235Pc). Featuring 2 club chairs to go along with a loveseat, the set seats up to 4 adults very comfortably. The Sunbrella brand cushions provide not only deep seating comfort, but also unmatched lifespan and protection against the elements. The comfort of the Montecito collection is matched by its style, as the extra wide, half round wicker features a cognac finish that provides a bold and unique look that will stand out on your patio. The wicker is also made to last as it is made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that is resistant to splitting and fading. Set Includes: one (1) loveseat, two (2) club chairs, one (1) coffee table, and one (1) end table. Dimensions: Loveseat: 75"W x 35"D x 35"H Club Chair: 35"W x 35"D x 35"H Coffee Table: 48"W x 32"D x 20"H Side Table: 22"W x 22"D x 22"H

Visit the rest of our portfolio now at : www.laurau.com Learn about our new "design bar" concept, Studio U, online at: www.studiou.com Photography: Julie Soefer

Minimalist entryway photo in Other

The Pros and Cons of Fix and Flip Real Estate Investment Last week, we covered The Pros and Cons of Buy and Hold Real Estate Investment for rental property investors. This week, we want to talk about the other most common type of real estate investment: “fix and flip.” The Appeal of House Flipping We all love the house flipping shows on HGTV and other reality channels. They’re great and they make the prospect of buying, renovating and flipping homes for big profits seem super sexy and fun. However, any experienced real estate investor will tell you it’s not quite as easy as they make it look. There’s a lot of work that goes into a successful fix and flip investment. The basic premise of a fix and flip investment is pretty simple. You buy a property, usually one that needs some work and is available at a great price. You renovate the property, making the necessary repairs and upgrades to maximize its resale value. Then, you sell the property on the open market for the highest possible price. You get in and out as quickly as possible. Full-time flippers will move from property to property or will have multiple properties being worked on at the same time. Rather than the “buy and hold” strategy where you keep the house while earning rental income and equity over time, you are looking for the quick sale to earn your profits. If you are going to explore house flipping—whether as a full-time career or just a side hustle—you will want to know exactly what you are getting into. That is why we are going to cover the pros and cons of fix and flip real estate investment in this article. The Pros of Fix and Flip Here are some of the pros of fix and flip investing: Faster Return on Investment—The biggest appeal of fix and flip investing is that it gives you a quicker return on investment. Buy and hold will take you longer to see your ROI. House flipping allows you to see your full profit (hopefully) as soon as the house sells. The average house flip for an experienced investor is around six months. It may take longer for a first-timer who is just learning how to do certain things. Fairly Safe Investment—As long as you do all your projections and calculations carefully and avoid any major problems along the way, house flipping is a relatively safe investment strategy compared to something as turbulent as the stock market. Real estate markets are generally predictable and the short time frame of a flip helps you avoid losses if the property happens to depreciate over a longer period of time. Exciting—There is a reason why there are so many reality shows based around flipping and none based on buy and hold investing. It’s an exciting process to buy a home, gut it and completely renovate it. Then, you get the ultimate reward of selling it and collecting the profits—as long as you do things right. The Cons of Fix and Flip Here are some of the cons of fix and flip investing: Upfront Expenses—A house flip will require a lot of upfront expenses. We’re not only talking about financing the house itself, but all the renovation costs and other expenses involved in the flip. You are laying out all that money at the beginning and only seeing your returns when the property sells. This can create cash flow issues and stress if you fall being schedule or go above your initial budget. Taxes—House flips will usually create dramatic swings in income year over year, and that can increase your tax bill. You have to pace things correctly to take advantage of specific capital gains tax rules. Capital gains taxes are higher on any property owned less than a year, so you have to find that balance of how long you own any specific investment properties and how long it takes to complete the renovation and sale. Before you get too deep into fix and flip investing, you will want to talk with your tax advisor to make sure you have the right plan in place. Surprises—All real estate investment is susceptible to surprises. You don’t always know what lies behind the walls until you start the renovation process. You cannot plan for everything as a real estate investor, but you have to be prepared for anything. It is a good idea to add some wiggle room in your budget and overestimate your renovation expenses/timeline to cover any surprises that may come up. These are some of the biggest pros and cons of fix and flip real estate investment. Of course, there are other things you need to know as an investor, so be sure and do your homework in order to get the most out of your investment portfolio. Both fix and flip and buy and hold strategies can be highly lucrative if you do things right. There are no wrong answers, but there are wrong ways of doing things if you truly want to be successful in this field. If you are looking for great investment properties to fix and flip, join the exclusive PropertyLark home buyers’ network. If you qualify, you’ll have access to our exclusive off-market deals and analytics tools that will help you identify the best investments and get the highest possible ROI. Fill out the contact form and questionnaire on the PropertyLark buyer’s site to apply!