Featured Agent: Candy Swick of Candy Swick & Company

with:Unique Homes Staff

Candy Swick

Candy Swick & Company

2063 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34237

941.954.9000 | www.candyswick.com

Listing by Candy Swick

Sarasota, Florida

18^TH FLOOR SWEEPING BAY VIEWS! Unobstructed water views will forever grace this residence poised directly on Sarasota Bay. With only one floor above, this prime location lies beneath the protection of the penthouse and is high enough to see the Gulf of Mexico. This is the only double unit in the building with two garage parking spaces and over 3,000 square feet of interior living space plus two balconies. The combined Van Gogh & Renoir layout has three bedrooms, three baths, a study, dining, living and family rooms. Sensational water views set the stage in the main living area, perfect for entertaining. Located in a secure, 24-hour guard gated, Downtown Sarasota building with amenities.

www.candyswick.com.

$2,500,000

Candy Swick originally appeared as an Elite Agent in the

Unique Homes Spring ’19: Elite edition.

See her page here.

September 17, 2019 Leave a comment

Featured Agent: Chris Loffreno of Loffreno Real Estate, Inc

with:Unique Homes Staff

Chris Loffreno

Loffreno Real Estate, Inc

2100 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33931

239.463.2999 | 800.741.2986 | chris@loffreno.com | FortMyersBeachRealEstate.com | Loffreno.com

Fort Myers Beach is a laid back casual beach town on Estero Island, off the Southwest Florida coast. A long, sandy beach faces the Gulf of Mexico, and offers the bay on the other side of the Island featuring fresh seafood off the docks. Boating and fishing are boundless from the island or its offshore Gulf waters. A short drive brings you to neighboring communities of Naples, Sanibel and Captiva. There are numerous stores and shopping centers, waterfront dining and an array of water sports and activities. There is always something to do in this active beach town!

Listings by Chris Loffreno

Classic Florida Beachfront Enclave

Your island estate located in a secluded and private setting just off road. An extended driveway greets you to this outstanding gulf-front property of two attached homes. Upper $2 million.

Chris Loffreno originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’19: Elite edition.

September 17, 2019 Leave a comment

Designing Under Slanted Ceilings

with:Camille Furst

Slanted ceilings have made their way outside of the attic, now in living, dining and bedrooms. Designing under these slopes can be tricky, but there are ways to get around it — and even use them to make the room more elegant and spacious. Here’s how:

1. Light and Airy

Whenever you’re tight on space, adding a coat of white paint to the ceilings and walls can make all the difference. Not only does it add a simple and natural tone, but it’s malleable to design the room to your style.

Photo courtesy of English Blinds

Photo courtesy of Oak Furnitureland

The blank canvas that comes with white walls and ceilings allows for limitless creativity. Create a nautical look for a more relaxed vibe, or add bold colors to make the space stand out. With a white canvas, slanted ceilings can do no harm.

Photo courtesy of Melody Maison

2. Lighting the Room

Lighting a room can be the most difficult challenge when designing a space under slanted ceilings. Many don’t think they can use any overhead lighting, since the ceiling is on a slope. In reality, however, it isn’t impossible — it’s all a matter of picking the right light fixtures.

This is a simple yet elegant style for light fixtures that work perfectly on slanted ceilings. The wires can slightly slightly bend, so that they hang naturally.

Another great way to add natural light under slanted ceilings is with skylights. They flood the room with natural light in the daytime and add a unique and stylish look to the space.

3. A More Natural Look

Sometimes, however, it’s better to let the slanted ceilings add a unique design to the room, rather than hide them with an all-white hue. Adding wooden beams can do just the trick. When the ceilings aren’t too low, wooden beams won’t emphasize the height, but add a beautiful finish to the room instead. Light or dark browns for the wooden beams create a beautiful, natural look that goes with any style.

Photo courtesy of Covet Valley

Photo courtesy of Covet Valley

September 16, 2019 Leave a comment

Invest Now for Your Future Needs

with:Unique Homes Staff

Investment is a great way to grow wealth over time and can be a game-changer for most people. It can help you generate cash, providing you an additional source of income and even have you covered with regard to retirement. Either way, if done right, investment builds wealth. Naturally, investing your hard-earned money can be an overwhelming challenge since there are a wide range of investment options to choose from. At this point, assessing your personal risk tolerance and time horizon helps you to decide where and how to allocate your investments.

Condominiums

As with any investment, there are several variables that can influence the outcome of your investments. Condos are in high demand among millennials, and so, investing in them can be a great move if you make smart decisions and purchases. Unlike most housing options, the management of the condominium tends to its maintenance and upkeep, meaning you save time, energy and money. Condos typically come with premium amenities such as swimming pools and gym, yet the purchase price is generally cheaper than single-family homes. When it comes to investing to provide future income, investing condominiums tend to be a safe bet. Head on over to get a listing in this location.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Dividend Stocks

If you’re open to taking on a little more risk, dividend stocks may be an option for you. Including both common and preferred stocks, the equity market can provide great possibilities for future income. Invest in companies that have safe dividend payout ratios and, in return, the portion of profit for shareholders is distributed among the shareholders. Generate income on the basis of the number of shares you own.

September 15, 2019 Leave a comment

Adding Some Sunshine

with:Camille Furst

Adding yellow accents to a room can be tricky: while it can transform a dull design to a bright and airy space, anything too harsh can cause the opposite effect. Luckily, there’s a foolproof way to designing a space with the color, and it can be a breath of fresh air whenever you walk into the room.

Photo courtesy of The French Bedroom Co.

Photo courtesy of The French Bedroom Co.

When it comes to bedrooms, it can be difficult to choose the palette. While yellow walls may be too overbearing, yellow anywhere else may not be enough to do the trick. That’s why these two bedrooms have designed their spaces with two main categories: a bright yellow and a neutral color, such as grey, white or brown. They both balance each other out perfectly, with the yellow still adding that pop without being too harsh. The combination of hues adds to the comfortable and stylish decor, creating a space that’ll both brighten you up in the morning and be a calm retreat at the end of the day.

Photo courtesy of DelightFULL

Creating a living room with just a hint of yellow can add the perfect accent. This room that’s almost completely blue has a beautiful addition found with the bright yellow chair. It creates the perfect balance between the colors, creating a space with a unique and alluring charm.

The main trick with designing a room around the color yellow is to pick the right tones. The yellows shouldn’t be too harsh or overbearing, otherwise it will bring an unappealing style to the space. Meanwhile, the main colors of the room should be more neutral yet distinct from the yellow. Clear whites and dark browns and neutral grays play well here.

Photo courtesy of English Blinds

Photo courtesy of Orchid Furniture

Incorporate fresh plants to add another hint of color without making the space look disorganized or messy, and you’re on your way to creating the perfect space that’ll brighten up your day the moment you walk in.

September 14, 2019 Leave a comment

Tips for Your Tot’s Bedroom

with:Camille Furst

When designing a child’s bedroom, the typical idea is to create a space with a bright, happy atmosphere. Finding the line between fun and playful to childish and unfashionable can be a thin one. It’s important to keep this space clean and stylish, without making it too modern or uncomfortable. Here are a few ways to find the perfect balance:

Photo courtesy of Noa and Nani

1. Storage Space

The many toys and games a child has creates the need for just as much storage space to organize it all. To keep the clutter away, choose a bed frame that includes built-in storage underneath. The mess that’s usually found under a child’s bed is now tucked neatly away in drawers, to create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

2. A Colorful Canvas

The key to decorating a child’s bedroom is balancing the tones and color schemes, in order to create a happy childlike atmosphere. Look toward colorful pieces to balance out more subtle tones. This way, the space will look warm and inviting while not feeling cluttered and chaotic. A bright, colorful rug like the one below can add a fun, youthful piece to an otherwise modern room. Shelving is also a great way to add color to a child’s room. While not too overbearing in its appearance, the bright color is a modern and stylish way to keep a kid’s room on trend.

Photo courtesy of Go Modern

Photo courtesy of 111 Leroy

Photo courtesy of The Alyn

3. Balance Between Modern and Warm

Designing a child’s room is also finding a balance between modern and functional while creating a warm and welcoming space. The goal is to avoid scattered and outdated designs. A designer’s trick is to use both warm and colorful tones with function in mind. Deep greens, browns, reds, and blues create a sanctuary that’s both stylish and comfortable. In this bedroom at the Alyn, shown below, a neutral color palette alongside other playful elements to maintain the balance.

Photo courtesy of 100 Barclay

September 9, 2019 Leave a comment

Stained Glass is Back With a Modern Twist

with:Camille Furst

Over the past few years, stained glass has gone from a dusty antique item in an old home to modern works of art. With the industry making a comeback into the luxury scene, interior designers are challenging themselves to design a space around the ornate glass. Here are a few different ideas:

Photo courtesy of Bespoke Glass

Photo courtesy of Florence Broadhurst Fabrics

Stained glass can add a pop of color and make your space feel both cozy and modern. The green colors on this partition add a bright finish to the room, making it the centerpiece for all the other furniture to gather around it. While still looking modern, it brings back an old-school style to provide a sense of comfort as well. Nowadays, adding a piece of stained glass to a home brings a unique style unlike any other — one that brings you back in time, while also staying ahead of the times, too.

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the Blake Hotel adds a unique style to the space by featuring the work of Bespoke Glass, a studio-based business in Brooklyn, New York. The different shades of blue colors and the glimmer of the glass adding a retro look that transports you to a different time in the past, while also staying current and on-trend. The placement of the blue pieces adds an edgy and one-of-a-kind appearance. Not only is it a partition, but it’s a work of art in its own right.

Photo courtesy of Reed McKendree

Photo courtesy of Bespoke Glass

By changing the designs stained glass was normally confined to in the past, studios and interior designers around the globe are beginning to take out the dusty antiques from their storage bins and create works of art instead. With so many different styles and colors, the possibilities are endless.

September 7, 2019 Leave a comment

Elite Agents: John Fairbanks and Marion Fairbanks of The Fairbanks Group

with:Unique Homes Staff

John Fairbanks & Marion Fairbanks

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, The Fairbanks Group

333 Village Main Street, Suite 670, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

With combined Real Estate experience of more than 60 years, The Fairbanks Group share a passion for their profession. John Fairbanks and Marion Fairbanks continue to bring international recognition for their people-centered, results driven professionalism. Having earned membership in the Society of Excellence and the International President’s Elite, they represent the top 1% of the company’s sales force, both domestic and international. Much of their business is repeat and referral from satisfied individuals. Always able to provide exceptional service, John and Marion are available to exceed your needs with their aggressive marketing and astute negotiating skills, coupled with a personal interest in their clients’ real estate concerns, mean results for their clients. These strengths continue to maintain John and Marion as top performing agents in the San Gabriel Valley for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage for more than 30 years.

Listings by John Fairbanks & Marion Fairbanks

1955 Brigden Road, Pasadena, ca

A mountain backdrop, exquisite facade with brick accent, stately front porch and elegant curb appeal is only the beginning of this newly redesigned and renovated residence located in Pasadena’s prestigious Brigden Ranch! Offering more than 3,000 square feet of living space including 4 bedrooms (2 master suites), 4 baths, a formal living room with fireplace, a family room with Napoleon fireplace, an office, breakfast area and a chef’s delight of a kitchen. The backyard is an entertainer’s dream with an outdoor barbecue!

Offered at $1,750,000

John Fairbanks & Marion Fairbanks originally appeared as Elite agents in the Unique Homes Spring ’19: Elite edition.

See their page and additional listings here!

September 5, 2019 Leave a comment

Bayfront Estate in Florida Offers French Charm

with:Camille Furst

In Sarasota, Florida, this home is elevating the standard of luxury, waterfront living.

1309 Vista Drive in Sarasota, Florida, is a gated French Country private estate located right on the bay. It was built in 2015 on the 1.5-acre-plus property.

Located in one of Sarasota’s most coveted neighborhoods, Harbor Acres, the property is just as close to the bay as it is to the bustling downtown district filled with restaurants and retail stores. The perfect blend of old-world charm and modern Florida luxury.

The interior of the home includes a La Cornue gourmet kitchen, imported French stone floors and cabinetry. But the quality doesn’t end inside — with over 244 feet of direct bayfront on the property, you can enjoy the water every day of the year.

1309 Vista Drive in Harbor Acres, being a perfect blend of French charm and modern style, is the quintessential home of the neighborhood and surrounding area.

Photos courtesy of 1309 Vista Drive.

September 3, 2019 Leave a comment

Lagoon Transports You to the Caribbean

with:Camille Furst

For those who love consistently warm weather throughout the year, Florida is known for its tropical, relaxed atmosphere. The palm trees and sunny days transport you to the Caribbean — especially in a residential amenity like Laguna Solé.

Laguna Solé is a massive 7-acre, man-made swimming lagoon large enough to fit 21 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The crystal clear water imitates the Caribbean while its ultrasonic filtration system uses 100 times fewer chemicals than a regular pool.

The lagoon is located in the heart of Solé Mia, known for being the “city within a city” that’s being built by two of the most powerful real estate dynasties in America, the LeFraks and Soffers. The LeFraks developed LeFrak City in New York and Newport, New Jersey, while the Soffers are known for developing much of what Miami is today.

The lagoon is accessible by residents and guests of the Shoreline, Solé Mia’s newest two residential towers located right next to the lagoon.

The $4 billion city of Solé Mia is known for its residential amenities that are elevating the standard of residential living — and Laguna Solé is the most recent and extravagant example.

Photos courtesy of Solé Mia.

August 29, 2019 Leave a comment

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