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Austin Real Estate Blog

Blog by Ki Gray
Austin Texas, Texas

A general blog about real estate with random tips and observations.

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Austin Real Estate Blog

Restful Refuge- Tips to Create a Cozy Bedroom

Jun. 19, 2009
Your bedroom should be a reflection of coziness and comfort, which can mean a variety of things based upon preference and style. People also want bedrooms to be crisp and clean, as a general rule, in addition to coziness. One way to marry the two concepts is to focus on the lines of the room and ensure they reflect elegance and simplicity. This can be done by focusing on three basic concepts: Texture, color and balance.
Texture plays a key role in making the bedroom cozy from the perspective of linens, carpeting, rugs, fabrics, walls and furniture surfaces. Textures can vary from soft to coarse, patterned to nubby, and shimmering to flat. Focus on textures that reflect your style and what makes you feel serene. However, adding a variety of textures can add dimension to your room. The most interesting decorative approaches often include a wide variety of textures meshed together in one cohesive approach. There are a variety of ways to incorporate texture from furniture styling to a throw on the bed. Some designers recommend using soft chenille or cotton fabrics for the duvet cover or coverlet. And, a must for some, is crisp sheets, which provides that "hotel-like" feel. Another element to keep in mind is the texture used for the floor. Avoid tough surfaces like sisal, which can feel like the equivalent of walking on sandpaper. Soft surfaces or rugs add to the coziness of the bedroom.

Color is also a key element in the overall feel of your room, primarily because it is most often linked to an emotion response. Warm colored rooms automatically seem warm, regardless of the contents or accompanying designs or furniture. However, don't be afraid to use cool colors. Cool colors can be warm and cozy if done in a soft or deep color and accented with a warm neutral tone or warm stain color for wooden accents or furniture.

Balance is the third element of style that is fundamental to creating a cozy space. It entails a point and counterpoint approach to designing a room. For example, if your tastes tend to be modern or transitional, you might consider adding a sleek piece of furniture and contrast it with a textured fabric with a warm color. In spite of how sleek or contemporary you may like your spaces to be, adding enough detail in the right balance can add warmth to the typically sterile feel of modern styles.
Regardless of what elements you decide to incorporate, the most important element is that you feel as if you can retreat to your bedroom at the end of the day. Some designers recommend having lots of down pillows for propping up in the bed. Another suggestion is to have a chair or ottoman in the room (and not for the purpose of throwing laundry on to). Having a chair creates a nice relaxing place to curl up and read or relax. Adding a bright light next to this chair also prevents from having to have bright lights throughout the room. In doing so, you can have various levels of soft lighting in the room, creating a more romantic and intimate feel. If you lack the space for a chair, an alternative suggestion is to have swing arm lamps on each side of the bed, which frees up space on night stands for a book or glass of water.


Ki lives near Shoal Creek. He started working with Austin real estate after graduating from UT. He maintains a website where potential buyers search for Austin homes. It also has information on mortgage rate trends.

Home Remodeling: Lavish Bathrooms

Jun. 4, 2009
Nowadays people are spending upwards of $10,000 on a total bathroom remodel. Homeowners are opting for more spacious and ornate bathrooms complete with natural stone floors and multiple showerheads. But, if your budget can't quite handle the expense of a jetted tub or marble shower, there are plenty of options that provide heightened style without a heightened credit card bill.

The best place to start is with paint. Adding a splash of color can do wonders for your bathroom. Start by changing the color of your walls to a light and airy hue. The best options are blues, light purples and neutral colors, all of which convey a calming and soothing feel that is perfect for feeling relaxed in your bathroom. Another option for a quick upgrade that adds color is to change the faucets and fixtures. Adding a splash of class or style can quickly change the entire look and feel of your bathroom. A hot trend right now is brushed brass fixtures, which convey a rich and classy feel that complements neutral colors. Other popular options are faucets that buck the standard look with a unique layout or design.

The primary area of focus in today's lavish bathrooms is the shower. If you prefer to have a bath tub, there are three general types to choose from: standard drop-in tubs, free-standing tubs or walk-in tubs. Many homeowners are opting for air-jet tubs with provide therapeutic and massaging effects while also allowing homeowners to use bath salts or bubbles. If you prefer the shower only layout, the possibilities are endless. Today's showers are virtually human carwashes with the ability to install multiple shower heads with a variety of sprays and angles.
If these options are not for you, try going with a few simple upgrades. Adding a high window near the top of your bath or shower can allow natural light to enter the area, which opens everything up and you feel less like you're crawling into a cave to take a shower. In addition, consider regrouting your current tub and tile. This simple task can go a long way in eliminating any dingy appearances that have accumulated over several years of use. Another option is the installation of a prefabricated tub or shower surround, which can replace or be installed over top of your existing shower depending on the model and type chosen. Finally, consider adding a luxurious shower head, such as a rain-like or massaging shower head for a extra touch.

The final element that distinguishes a luxurious bathroom from a standard bathroom is the lighting and flooring. Lighting, while often overlooked, can be an excellent way to control the feel of your bathroom. A good idea is to install a diverse set of lighting such as overhead can lights near the vanity area and indirect ambient lighting that is ideal for low-key and relaxing baths.
Flooring is also a popular upgrade with natural stone and tile being especially popular in lavish bathrooms. Since these types of flooring can be cold, many homeowners opt to install sub-floor heating systems that warm floors with heated water. A more economical choice is to use low-voltage electric mats, which are smaller in size yet provide just enough of a warm area to stand while getting ready each morning.

In addition to these remodeling ideas, top the bathroom off with accessories that accentuate the look and feel of your bathroom. If you're looking for an elegant appeal, small yet stately glass containers with a stainless steel top to store cotton balls and Q-tips are popular accents. If you looking for a warm and low key feel, a popular choice is baskets to store lotions and towels. Finally, top it off with new drawer pulls or towel rods to match the updated look and to carry the theme throughout your bathroom.


Ki works as a realtor in the Austin real estate market. He developed a search of houses in the Austin MLS on his website. His site also has general information on Austin real estate and Austin condos.

Changing The Look Of A Fireplace

Jun. 4, 2008
A fireplace is meant to be the centerpiece of your living space, the heart of your home. Sometimes, however, this focal point is less than impressive and more than lacking in the drama factor. If your fireplace is bland, plain or simply unattractive, a quick color change can do wonders. The secret is using multiple coats to build up depth and create a faux finish, rather than just painting on one flat color.

You will need three complimentary colors for this project in progressively darker shades. Natural stone and earthy colors, such as grays and browns, are ideal. A quart of each color will be more than enough to complete your fireplace. Flat exterior paint works best, providing better resistance and more clemency for the hot environment of the fireplace surround than interior glossy paint.

First, choose a color for your base coat. This should be the lightest color of the three. For instance, if you are going for a stone look, choose a medium gray.

The next color will be used for ragging over the top of your base. This color should be several shades darker than the base color and will provide dimension to your finish.

Finally, choose an accent color. This color will be used in moderation, to highlight and further enhance the finish. It can be a varying color from the first two, as long as it is natural and complimentary.

Begin by protecting all surfaces you don’t wish to be painted with drop cloths and painters tape. Apply an even coat of your base color with a paint roller or large paintbrush. A second coat may be needed, depending on the surface and color being painted.

Once the base has completely dried, you can begin applying the next color. Working in one small area (for instance, if your fireplace is brick, do one brick at a time), daub several uneven streaks of paint on the surface. Using a rag, rub the paint, spreading it and pulling it randomly. Continue with another small area until the entire fireplace is complete. A spray bottle of water can be used to dilute the paint while you’re working, making it easier to spread and thinning out some areas, creating a more authentic look.

After you have ragged the fireplace to your satisfaction, use the third color to highlight some crevices, corners and other key areas (It is not necessary to rag this color on the entire fireplace). Use the same technique with the rag and spray bottle to soften the edges of the paint.

In addition to painting, you can enhance the look of your fireplace with a few tiles, appliqués, onlays or other architectural elements. In no time and with just a little paint and a few decorative touches, it can be simple to change a plain, ordinary fireplace into a showstopper.

Ki is a realtor in Austin. He helps buyers and sellers interested in the Austin real estate market. His site has a free graphical search of the Austin MLS along with updated information on his Austin Real Estate Blog.