HOMES IN ONE OF SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA'S MOST CHARMING NEIGHBORHOOD

C'mon, let us take a little walk today, shall we? I've picked out a most charming neighborhood with tree lined sidewalks and wide boulevards.


A bit of history as we stroll along....

San Mateo's Aragon is one of the classic neighborhoods of the San Francisco Peninsula. Built mostly between 1929 and 1939, this unique community was planned with wide boulevards, nostalgic lamp posts, and towering trees that shade the sidewalks.










European-inspired designs grace the streets with a profusion of English Tudors, Spanish Revivals, and East Coast Colonials. The gabled rooflines, grand picture windows, and romantic porches express a singular personality in each handcrafted home.

Keep you eyes keen so you don't miss the amazing details!









Utility lines are installed discreetly along the rear of the properties, so as not to disturb the leafy feeling of the streetscape. Aragon homes were designed so superbly in the 1930s that much of the original architectural integrity remains today. Aragon residents passionate for their neighborhood often stay in the same home for decades.










So glad you could join me for the part 1. Hope you can meet me back here tomorrow for the rest of the tour!

Hope you have a lovely evening!

Kitchen Renovation

have you ever heard of the urban legend about the woman who wanted some new tiles for her kitchen? The legend goes that the woman not only got her new tiles, but a brand new kitchen, a gas leak and a $30,000 dollar debt as well. Such stories for some are actually not exaggerations but possibilities for homeowners who begin ideas for a kitchen renovation in their heads and never advance from there. A kitchen renovation for all intents and purposes is a change far from simply getting new wallpaper or a new dinette set. If you don’t want to think out the difference between renovation and redesigning you could always hire a professional. But if you balk at the costs of hiring one, then you have no choice but to get down to the nuts and bolts of what a proper kitchen renovation should accomplish.

If you simply want to change your tiles or your cabinets then you should summon a force of will to do just that, nothing more, nothing less. But if you happen to be among 6 out of 10 Americans who suddenly discover something far more serious than ugly furniture, please be reminded that you have been warned. Houses grow old and kitchens especially bear the wear and tear of being a major hub of family activity. It is but natural that at some point, the problem may be more than just leaky pipes or bad drainage.

Ideally, depending on the age and condition of your home, the ideal time for a kitchen renovation should be about a year and a half if it’s a brand new home. If it’s an old house, you may want to renovate immediately according to you specifications. Old homes in particular make it easier for planning a kitchen renovation because you get to spot the problems almost immediately. As in any endeavor that involves labor and expense, planning and organization are important components that should be written down, not stored in your head. It would be better if you take a larger approach to your kitchen renovation rather than doing it piece-meal. If you make a thorough assessment but could not afford all of it, you can do the more important renovations today and do the rest later. The important thing is that you’ve taken the trouble of understanding your kitchen as a whole unit which means that you are better equipped to handle problems that may come along the way.

Bathroom Renovation

Everyone talks about DIY projects the way they talk about romantic dates; some work, others don’t. But in the end, you simply have to take matters in your own hands because everyone knows that builders and contractors in this country earn more than you do! Still, any task that involves something more than super glue and a glue gun can be daunting. But if there’s a room in your house that you can start “practicing” on with a guaranteed degree of success, it’s your bathroom. There are certainly bathroom renovation ideas and methods that you can actually accomplish with skill and flair given proper planning and organization.

The ease of a bathroom renovation is because of a bathroom’s size; the smaller it is, the bigger your chances of working around some of the changes you’d like to put in. Most bathroom renovation ideas often center on simply putting new tiles and fixtures. But don’t be afraid of enlarging the space because you’d think it would become more difficult. Chances are, enlarging the space simply involves taking down an adjacent closet or dividing wall; this is not much in terms of measurements, but even small additional space increments in a bathroom can go a long way.

Don’t hold your breath, but your bathroom renovation ideas should then incorporate such tasks as stripping down the entire bathroom which would enable you to re-layout the new space. This task is not complicated as you might think and mostly involves some muscle work. Try to find a general builder who will charge you only the basic fee for this, or better still, a male relative or friend who can do this for you for free! But it is always generally helpful if you involve yourself in the learning process of home renovation. Be brave enough to step out of your comfort zone to learn stuff which might prove to be useful in the long run. Bathroom renovation ideas should translate into educational opportunities as well.

House Remodeling

house is the most important investment that you will make during your lifetime. Not only is this the place that you will live and spend most of your time, but it can also turn into a huge profit opportunity. One of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard was to look for a mediocre house in a great neighborhood. If you can find this scenario you are almost always assured to make money on your housing investment. However you will not be able to make much money, unless you do some remodeling of your house. Remodeling a mediocre house in a great neighborhood will always bring a nice profit if done correctly. Remodeling might seem like a daunting task, but there are some things that you can do to make the job easier.

Remodel before moving in – Not everyone has the opportunity of doing their remodeling before they move in, but it will definitely make life a lot easier if you can do some or all of your remodeling before moving in. Remodeling is a very stressful proposition which can be made much less stressful if you are not leaving in your house while you are remodeling.

Stay within your means – Make sure that you do not go overboard on your remodeling efforts, because it will not be worth it if you can not make your house payment after you finish remodeling.

3D House Plans

Two story homes are enjoyed by families of any size. However, you won’t only find two story houses in the suburbs. Many people are deciding to build new homes within city limits that are ranging in size from cozy cottages to large modern designs. Pricing can also be a surprise to some. Two story homes can be cheaper to construct than one story homes when compared by square foot. Custom home designs are found in various prices since homeowners are able to have more of an input on what characteristics they want their home to display.

More Spacious Common Living Areas are found in Two Story Houses

You can easily create a two story home on a smaller plot of land without losing the interior space you want. Since you’re building on more than one level, you don’t have to find a piece of land that is large enough to handle each room to be spread out on one layer. Instead of having the rooms stretch out on a single level, two story houses give you the chance to place some rooms upstairs.

The most common trait two story floor plans have in common is to have bedrooms located on the upper floor. This creates a larger area on the first floor for entertaining guests and to accommodate regular living activities. Many floor plans will bring the master suite to the lower floor for various reasons. One benefit of doing this is that older adults are able to access their room easier than if it were located upstairs. Plus, older children and adults may enjoy the division of bedrooms so everyone has a better sense of privacy.

Kitchen Remodeling Design

When considering a major kitchen remodeling exercise, think of the kitchen in it's entirety; think of the layout of the entire kitchen and the optimum utilization of space, even if this requires changing the locations of many of the features & appliances. The plan should aim at providing a user friendly layout while still maintaining functionality of the kitchen.

Functionality will be served better if you think of the daily activities that focus on the use of the stove, the refrigerator, the dish washer and such other appliances. Their placement should be such that they all will be within easy reach so the amount of time and effort involved in preparing and serving meals is reduced.

If you’re in the market for new appliances, and have a family or like to entertain, you may wish to plan for an extra large fridge. Living with a fridge that’s too small is more time consuming than you think, as putting food away, and finding the ingredients you’re looking for can be a hassle. People who upsize their fridge when they renovate are almost always happy they did.

Since the time your kitchen was originally designed and laid out, lifestyles have changed and now kitchen has become the focal point of the home; it has become more of a social center for your family & friends. The kitchen remodeling should be so planned to allow those preparing the meal to take part in the social interaction while still attending to guests and other family needs.

Home Furniture

There are homes that look well outside but as you enter the inner portion, you will find a plain place of walls, a few attractive pieces and you feel deceived by the outside. There are home essentials which could not just be neglected as any other home decors are. They are home furniture.

The most important thing for one is on how to choose the right furniture for your home. Making the wise choice is your way of having them as good forms of investment; they would last over time if they are of good quality. To achieve this, the following must be remembered:

Select furniture with neutral colors that is pleasing to the eyes. Neutral colors are never off. They would match any other colors around; this makes them safe as well as convenient for it will not be full of hassles to maintain the color harmony which really matters in a room set-up.

Choose those that fit the size of your home. If you have a small space, you need not go for huge set of furniture. Moreover, they are easier to move if needed. Never forget that it’s your home and not a furniture showroom if in case.

Go for classic but artistic. Classics are never out of style. All you have to do is inject some juices of your artistry in arranging and giving them make-over from time to time. This way would let you save money since you do not have to buy a new set if the arena of style calls you to.