This Bocce Court & Horseshoe Pit installation is our featured project of the month, and this family operated winery at Dancing Apache Ranch wanted activity / game play features for a special events wine tasting room, as well as one for a more private “family” gathering space. Their choices were bocce & horseshoes, and we couldn’t have been happier to create this for them! We first had to meet with the client to select the location for each amenity, and after a little brainstorming and checking out our other bocce & horseshoe courts online, we think we nailed it…the bocce court selection was directly adjacent to this cool outdoor tasting room. The view from the bocce court is the barn-converted tasting room on one side, and the vineyards on the other….PERFECT! If that wasn’t enough, we also installed new matching-themed landscape lighting with bronze fixtures and a programmable timer. Now the competition starts with wine and goes on into the dark… Next came the locale for the family horseshoe pits, and the natural spot was right next to the most popular family gathering area. Where you ask?...why, the kitchen / outdoor dining ramada of course! This added sport amenity really brings the family together, both young and old, and the simple style ties that ranch theme destination together full circle. With a little sod removal and some grading, this completed install was a total ringer, with everybody a winner. Adding sport amenities to gathering spaces is a great way to bring family and friends together. From the bocce court at the tasting room to the horseshoe pits at the ramada, the installation of these two activities included all the finishing touches. One look at the bocce court proves why we are the top bocce court builder in Arizona! As with every project, we provided our “like it was my house” service. Call us for your very own creation!

Photo: Ryan Hicks © 2018 Houzz
Example of an eclectic living room design in DC Metro

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in Salt Lake City with white walls, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace

Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club: Ficus Benjamin trees offer old country canopy street scape surroundings. Arranged in an allee, the Ficus lead visually to the main areas. Estate Landscaping & Lawn Management was the landscape contractor for this project.

Photography by Susan Gilmore
Example of a classic galley dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a minimalist deck design in Philadelphia

You’ll want a system that delivers large drops of water close to the ground, so that little or no water is lost to evaporation, as water is applied at ground level, close to root systems. They are also designed to be smart enough not to water when it’s raining or the ground is already saturated from prior precipitation.

Marylinda Ramos
Patio kitchen - large contemporary backyard stone patio kitchen idea in Boston with an awning

The l1 originates from the linee kitchen range: it has the same quality, the same appearance, and uses the same types of wood. Only the variety is different, limited to selected units and one handle. The price benefits that result from this make the l1 an attractive TEAM 7 entry-level kitchen – ideal for first-timers. Still looking for more? No problem: The individual elements of l1 can be combined freely with cabinets from the comprehensive linee range. Our flexible design elements also allow for additional planning possibilities. The fine, open solid wood bodies can be perfectly integrated in the kitchen and, with their rear walls of wood or coloured glass and dimmable LED lighting, provide the ideal stage for your favourite objects.

This Bocce Court & Horseshoe Pit installation is our featured project of the month, and this family operated winery at Dancing Apache Ranch wanted activity / game play features for a special events wine tasting room, as well as one for a more private “family” gathering space. Their choices were bocce & horseshoes, and we couldn’t have been happier to create this for them! We first had to meet with the client to select the location for each amenity, and after a little brainstorming and checking out our other bocce & horseshoe courts online, we think we nailed it…the bocce court selection was directly adjacent to this cool outdoor tasting room. The view from the bocce court is the barn-converted tasting room on one side, and the vineyards on the other….PERFECT! If that wasn’t enough, we also installed new matching-themed landscape lighting with bronze fixtures and a programmable timer. Now the competition starts with wine and goes on into the dark… Next came the locale for the family horseshoe pits, and the natural spot was right next to the most popular family gathering area. Where you ask?...why, the kitchen / outdoor dining ramada of course! This added sport amenity really brings the family together, both young and old, and the simple style ties that ranch theme destination together full circle. With a little sod removal and some grading, this completed install was a total ringer, with everybody a winner. Adding sport amenities to gathering spaces is a great way to bring family and friends together. From the bocce court at the tasting room to the horseshoe pits at the ramada, the installation of these two activities included all the finishing touches. One look at the bocce court proves why we are the top bocce court builder in Arizona! As with every project, we provided our “like it was my house” service. Call us for your very own creation!

Designed by Tammy Valler, Decorating Den Interiors in Franklin Lakes, NJ. Placed Third in the Family Room Category and First place in the 1st Timers Category in our 2014 Dream Room Contest.

The l1 originates from the linee kitchen range: it has the same quality, the same appearance, and uses the same types of wood. Only the variety is different, limited to selected units and one handle. The price benefits that result from this make the l1 an attractive TEAM 7 entry-level kitchen – ideal for first-timers. Still looking for more? No problem: The individual elements of l1 can be combined freely with cabinets from the comprehensive linee range. Our flexible design elements also allow for additional planning possibilities. The fine, open solid wood bodies can be perfectly integrated in the kitchen and, with their rear walls of wood or coloured glass and dimmable LED lighting, provide the ideal stage for your favourite objects.

Photo: Kayla Stark © 2018 Houzz
Example of an eclectic kitchen design in New Orleans

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!

The l1 originates from the linee kitchen range: it has the same quality, the same appearance, and uses the same types of wood. Only the variety is different, limited to selected units and one handle. The price benefits that result from this make the l1 an attractive TEAM 7 entry-level kitchen – ideal for first-timers. Still looking for more? No problem: The individual elements of l1 can be combined freely with cabinets from the comprehensive linee range. Our flexible design elements also allow for additional planning possibilities. The fine, open solid wood bodies can be perfectly integrated in the kitchen and, with their rear walls of wood or coloured glass and dimmable LED lighting, provide the ideal stage for your favourite objects.

AFFORDABLE, EARTH FRIENDLY, STYLISH, AND LIVEABLE, NOSTRA (ITALIAN, FOR “OUR LAND”) IS A LIVING CONCEPT THAT UNIQUELY MEETS TODAY’S GREATEST HOUSING DEMAND. PRICED STRATEGICALLY FOR FIRST TIMERS, INVESTORS AND FAMILIES, THE BRAND TARGETS THE LIVE/ WORK MARKET AND STARTER HOME FOR MILLENNIALS, THE PROPERTY RE-INVESTMENT MARKET FOR BOOMERS, AND THE COTTAGE LIVING MARKET FOR MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILIES.

Simply Revolutionary The beautiful, patented stainless steel tap is designed to be built into any tabletop. The simplicity of the TopBrewer fits elegantly into any surroundings and allows you to focus on a more direct contact with your customers or clients. The TopBrewer brews a perfect cup of fresh-bean coffee – every time. Put coffee in the centre of your workplace. Imagine a product which adapts to your needs. The TopBrewer is designed to seamlessly become a part of your regular work environment, and enhances it. If you're looking for cold water, juice or a piping hot espresso, this is the solution for you. Your café, reception or meeting area will never be the same. With the TopBrewer you take up only 1% counterspace in return for 100% customer satisfaction. Combine multiple TopBrewer units, to cater for all your needs, easily adapting to your environment and allowing for several servings simultaneously. Low energy usage. Not only does the TopBrewer have more drinks than any other coffeebrewer. It offers higher performance than any previous coffeebrewers, it’s also more energy efficient, using up to 90 per cent less energy in the idle state than our competitors. Friendly to the environment. The coffee-brewer is mostly produced using steel. Steel is the most recycled material in the world, and in it's recycled state it saves 80% CO2 emissions and 75% of the energy needed to create steel from raw materials. Steel can be recycled infinitively without loss of strength or durability. Power saving - standby timer. With most units in the coffee world, they very rarely want to switch them to standby or even switch them completely off. The reason being there is a internal water tank which is being kept warm. In the TopBrewer, we encourage you to use the powersaving mode, the unit is designed so that from a cold start to the first brew it only takes 45 sec. The schedule system within the machine ensures, that it will not be using energy when you dont desire it. Single touch brewing. One-Click function for fast and easy operations with a clean surfaced animation - interacting with our app and brewing a cup of coffee, is all part of the coffee experience. Brew status always in presence: As a user of the TopBrewer, you will always be presented with the current state. Is the machine ready to brew, queuing a drink or is it in the process of grinding your fresh beans. No matter what happens in the process, the TopBrewer will inform you of it's current activity.

The l1 originates from the linee kitchen range: it has the same quality, the same appearance, and uses the same types of wood. Only the variety is different, limited to selected units and one handle. The price benefits that result from this make the l1 an attractive TEAM 7 entry-level kitchen – ideal for first-timers. Still looking for more? No problem: The individual elements of l1 can be combined freely with cabinets from the comprehensive linee range. Our flexible design elements also allow for additional planning possibilities. The fine, open solid wood bodies can be perfectly integrated in the kitchen and, with their rear walls of wood or coloured glass and dimmable LED lighting, provide the ideal stage for your favourite objects.

Photo: Kayla Stark © 2017 Houzz
Inspiration for a tropical living room remodel in New Orleans