Lifestyle Archives - Celia Dunn Sotheby's International Realty

Home Ideas Home Improvements Real Estate Tips Residential

Interior Lighting 101

Nothing creates a mood quite like lighting. Whatever atmosphere you are aiming for, your lighting choices can really enhance or detract. Let’s go over some of the basic tenets of how to use light to set the scene. Levels One of the most important aspects of successful lighting design is to plan light sources at different levels in a room. This allows you to layer light that can be used separately or collectively, keeping your options flexible. You can accomplish this with table lamps, floor lamps, wall scones and overhead lighting options. Dimmers Never underestimate the power of a dimmer switch. Being able to minutely adjust the amount of light in a room is an easy yet powerful way to have the best lighting...

Nothing creates a mood quite l...

February 24, 2021

Home Ideas Market Trends

Minimalism

The constant popularity of minimalist home decor is a testimony to its soothing elements and timeless appeal. The feelings of serenity and calm minimalism can inspire belies the effort that goes into the design. Minimalism is more than just choosing a few pieces of furniture to place in front of a white wall. Without thought and care, your attempt to create a minimalist interior could come across as cold or sparse. Let’s take a look at some key elements of minimalism design and how you can inject these peaceful elements into your home decor. Monochromatic One of the first characteristics that comes to mind when thinking about minimalist design is the lack of color. Or rather, the lack of bold and contradictory colors....

The constant popularity of min...

February 17, 2021

Buying Lifestyle Real Estate Real Estate Tips Residential

Travel Dreams: Owning a Second Home

As the winter weather roars on up north and people continue to work from home all over the country, the idea of a second home or vacation home may sound pretty wonderful right about now. If you’ve been dreaming of getting away from your same four walls and wanting a change of scenery for a bit, read on for some introductory information about purchasing a second home. Second Home Location Location is an important aspect to consider when buying a vacation home. It needs to be far enough from your primary home that you really feel like you are getting away when you visit, but close enough so you can really utilize the property. If it’s too much of a hassle to...

As the winter weather roars on...

February 3, 2021

Home Ideas Lifestyle Real Estate Residential

Design Eye: Which Fireplace Style is Right for Your Home?

It’s that time of year- even in the Lowcountry- where this is a chill in the air and staying snuggled up by the fireplace sounds like the best way to spend a winter’s eve. There are so many design styles out there, how do you know which one is best for you? Brick When many people think of the classic fireplace scene, a red brick fireplace comes to mind. A lot of homeowners have been painting their brick fireplaces in the last decade or so, so you can see a variety of colors out there but white and light gray are the most popular options for painting brick. A fairly straightforward DIY, painting your brick fireplace is a great way to make...

It’s that time of year- even...

December 2, 2020

Home Ideas Home Improvements Lifestyle Market Trends Residential

The Return of the Home Office

With so many people still working primarily from home, and children attending classes virtually, the demand for a dedicated home office space has risen exponentially over the past few months. No matter how much space you have, or what your decorating style, there is a work-from-home setup that will work for you. The Den For some, nothing less than a designated room will do. A private sanctum where you can duck away from it all in relative quiet is a necessity for back to back Zoom meetings and virtual collaborations. Perhaps you need to have shelves of reference books readily available or tools of the trade close at hand. You may want space for a desk, chairs for visitors, and a side...

With so many people still work...

October 28, 2020

Neighborhood Spotlight

Belfair: Neighborhood Spoghtlight

Brief History Belfair is a private golf community located in Bluffton, South Carolina. Upon entry, one is greeted with a drive down the stunning Avenue of Oaks. These trees were planted in 1927 by then owner, William Mosely Swain. Originally the area was a working agriculture estate established by William Telfair and Betsey Bellinger. The married couple combined their last names to come up with the moniker ‘Belfair’. After various iterations of farm life, the land made the transition to a world-class gated community in 1994. Belfair Today There is a total of 730 homesites in Belfair, each one more magnificent than the last. The majority of homesites boast either water views or golf course views. The community has two fantastic golf courses...

Brief History Belfair is a pr...

October 14, 2020

Lifestyle Market News Market Trends Real Estate

The Global Pandemic and The Real Estate Market

Continuing our series of taking a look at how the world of real estate has shifted thanks to the global pandemic of COVID19, here is the second part, dealing with some of the bigger ways the transaction process of buying and selling real estate has been forever altered. Part Two - The Transaction Process Not only has the global pandemic altered what buyers are now looking for in a home, but it has also greatly affected the process of buying and selling property. Remote showings, digital paperwork and virtual tours are the new norm. Let’s take a look at some of the more important changes COVID19 has had on the transaction process of the real estate market. Virtual Open Houses With social distancing the new...

Continuing our series of takin...

September 30, 2020

Lifestyle Market News Market Trends Real Estate Residential

How a Global Pandemic has Changed the Way We Live

Part One - The Foundation It’s undeniable that the worldwide pandemic, COVID-19, has changed the way we live and interact. The question on everyone’s minds is, ‘but for how long?’. Unfortunately, we at Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty don’t have an answer to that question. But we can help you navigate this new world of real estate by going over some of the changes we have seen these past few months with regards to what home buyers are looking for and how the home selling process has changed. There is a lot happening in the world of real estate so we’ll be breaking this topic down. Right now, let’s take a look at some of the fundamental changes we are seeing in how...

Part One - The Foundation It�...

September 9, 2020

Home Ideas Home Improvements Landscaping Lifestyle Residential

The Outdoor Kitchen: 101

The coastal low country enjoys such wonderful weather for so much of the year; it’s only natural that you’d want to take advantage of being outdoors as much as possible. One great way to achieve that goal is with an outdoor kitchen. Especially as we are spending more time making meals at home, having a custom outdoor area for preparing food can be a great way to break up the potential monotony. There are a variety of appliances and accoutrements you could utilize to create your dream set up. Let’s take a look at a few of the basic items you should start with as a base for building a great outdoor cooking space. THE GRILL This is a staple for any...

The coastal low country enjoys...

August 19, 2020

Buying Home Improvements Real Estate Residential

5 Things to Consider About Homes With A Pool

Summers down south are hot! And since many folks' travel plans have been disrupted and they are spending more time at home, the prospect of a home with a pool is enticing. Whether you are thinking about buying a home with a pool or having one put in at your existing abode, here are 5 things to consider about homes with a pool. 1. In Ground or Above Ground Pool? Each type of swimming pool has its pros and cons. Above ground pools are less costly to install and there are many options these days that allow you to set them up yourself without having to hire professionals. Another potential plus- if you plan on eventually moving, they can be taken with you....

Summers down south are hot! An...

July 29, 2020

Lifestyle Tag