Brenda Mancil's Blog

Lake Geneva Wisconsin

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:45:04 -0700

Lake Geneva Wisconsin

From Iconic Waterfront Mansions to Classic Cruise Boats and Pristine Beaches,
This Midwestern Destination Swims in Historic Charm and Tradition

Written by Robyn Roehm Cannon

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to live in a luxurious manor on the shores of a crystal-clear lake, a visit to historic Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is a perfect way to live out that fantasy. Travelers have been flocking to this beautiful destination, located just an hour’s drive from Milwaukee and ninety minutes from Chicago, for more than 150 years since it was settled following the Civil War in the mid-1800s.

After the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, wealthy families escaped to their summer lake homes while the city was being rebuilt. The Wrigleys of the chewing-gum empire, the Vicks of cough-drop fame, the Maytags of the washing-machine business, and the Schwinns of the world-famous bicycle company are only a few who built multiacre waterfront estates on Lake Geneva during the next several decades. Amazingly, many remain intact, still enjoyed by fifth- and sixth-generation descendants.

No longer just a summer destination for the affluent, Lake Geneva is a charming town filled with lovely clothing and decor shops, world-class golf resorts and spas, weekly cottage rentals, and casual and elegant dining choices. An especially beautiful time to visit is early autumn, when breathtaking foliage colors surround the water with brilliant hues against the deepest blue skies imaginable.

A stroll on the lake’s twenty-mile walking path that runs between the water and the mansions allows you close-up views of the manicured gardens and estates, without fear of trespassing on private property. It’s a unique feature that keeps the lakeshore accessible to everyone.

The Baker House is a perfect spot to experience what privileged lake life was like during Victorian times. Originally built as a thirty-room summer residence in 1885 for Mrs. Robert Hall Baker, the mansion has been beautifully preserved with nearly all of its original ornate details intact and sits on the National Register of Historic Places. You’ll luxuriate in sumptuous bedding in a freshly restored suite that has one of the home’s thirteen original working fireplaces, all exquisitely adorned with rare J & JG Low Art Tile of Chelsea, Massachusetts. It’s a joy to see these colorful tiles that were so carefully installed more than a century ago by master craftsmen.

Each suite has a decadent bathroom and there’s a lovely parlor, a library, a cozy bar, and intimate small-plate dining to enjoy. Best of all, a private butler is waiting to serve you day or night. Need laundry or pressing attended to? Perhaps you’d enjoy a cold glass of bubbly as you relax on the chaise by the fire? Not a problem here. Your every wish is his command. An extensive collection of fancy vintage hats on display throughout the house is a playful touch. Co-Owner Bethany Souza encourages guests to try them on and assume a new character while in residence.

The Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, with its Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course, is another excellent lodging choice. The property was opened in 1968 by Playboy magnate Hugh Hefner as the first Playboy Club and operated as such for nearly twenty years. Although that era is gone, the resort’s elegant mid-century modern architecture remains as a nod to its storied past.

In addition to the resort’s airy guest suites overlooking the golf course, a highlight is dining at the outstanding Ristorante Brissago, where all ingredients are flown in from Italy weekly. You can expect mozzarella made in Campania, Sicilian hand-rolled pasta, and an extensive wine list representing only Italian vintages. Brissago is a dining experience that will be long remembered for its authentic and delicious food, inventive presentation, and romantic setting with spectacular views of the Wisconsin countryside.

For the true Lake Geneva experience, you have to get out on the water. There’s no better way to capture the majesty of America’s steamboat era than aboard Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s beautifully restored lake boats, many of which have operated since 1873. One of the most delightful summertime experiences is a ride on the U.S. Mailboat Tour, one of the only marine mail deliveries of its type in the country. It’s rollicking fun to see the mailperson leap off the boat onto a private pier, drop the mail into the box, and jump back aboard, without the boat stopping.

Whether you visit in the summer or fall, Lake Geneva will certainly charm you. It’s a rare opportunity to peek into the enclaves of the rich and famous, while enjoying the present of one of America’s most unique and treasured destinations.

[Source: Cannon, Robyn Roehm. "Lake Geneva Wisconsin" Home By Design. April-May 2012. Web. 24 May 2012.]

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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On the Market Now! Single Story Villa!

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:27:36 -0700

On the Market Now! 4305 Thunder Road!

$179,000!

This lovely single story villa home is a great example of use of space. You are greeted by a lovely entry way with a formal dining and formal living room. Both have hardwood floors and plantation shutters. The formal living room could be multifunctional and serve as a study or office as well! The kitchen has a breakfast and a wet bar, and also connects to a second living room to create a great open-floor plan for entertaining and space. The family room features rich paneled walls, plenty of natural lighting, and a beautifully designed rock fireplace. Complete with a built-in work desk, the family room is sure to be a popular room in the house! The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 baths complete with walk-in closets and baths in each bedroom!

And for those looking for great outdoor amenities, this home has a private backyard with room for a garden or outdoor cooking. A walking trail runs just behind the backyard. Perfect for exercising! A private park and pool are also nearby for residents to have picnics, lounge, swim, or to enjoy the great outdoors.

This home is move-in ready and recent updates include interior paint, carpet replaced, and wood flooring added in March of 2012.

If you are interested in this home and would like more information about this home or any of Brenda Mancil’s listings, or would like a complimentary home evaluation contact Brenda Mancil at: 214-679-1772 or bmancil@remax.net.

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Coming Soon! Prestigious Stonebriar Country Club Home!

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:54:50 -0700

Prestigious Stonebriar Country Club Home For Lease

$4,500/Month

Coming soon in Frisco, this beautifully designed home is sure to have everything on your wish list!

This gorgeous 4 bedroom, 4.2 bath home is located in a gated and guarded community in Frisco, TX, and looks out onto the pristine Stonebriar Golf Course. The home has a full sized pool and spa, large kitchen with two islands for cooking and entertaining, 2 dining areas, 3 large living areas, private baths in each of the bedrooms, and plenty of storage with built-ins in many of the rooms and walk-in closets in the bedrooms.

5 Glenmoor Court will be coming soon for lease at $4,500 per month. Lawn and Pool services provided. Easy access to 121 and Dallas Tollway.

If you are interested in this home and would like more information about this home or any of Brenda Mancil’s listings, or would like a complimentary home evaluation complimentary home evaluation, contact Brenda Mancil at: 214-679-1772 or bmancil@remax.net.

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Down by the River

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:10:38 -0700

The romance of the Old South evokes the architectural imagery of grand estates with dignified columns and sweeping balconies. But here on Spring Island, a 3,000-acre island in the South Carolina low country, some dwellings appear more as organic products of the woods rather than grandiose antebellum abodes. The exclusive community, which maintains nearly half of the island’s acreage as a nature preserve, is touted as an ideal home for “those who come not to be seen, but to behold.”

Jim and Betsy Chaffin, the developers of the community, are those who come to behold. Wanting to respect and preserve the natural beauty of the Spring Island landscape, the couple employed architect Jim Thomas, principal of Charleston-based Thomas & Denzinger Architects, to create their personal residence, which became affectionately known as the Chaffin Rivercamp. Thomas brought their dream to fruition in 2004 with the substantial contributions of his junior partner, architect Joel Newman, and local builders Mike Reynolds and Kraig Minkler.

Set on ten wooded, waterfront acres, the home is thoughtfully divided into three smaller buildings: the main home, a guest house, and a carport with an art studio. The arrangement, which mimics a riverside village settlement while maintaining the integrity of the natural landscape, is connected by a defining wood trellis. “The trellis defines a quadrangle on the forest floor,” says Thomas, “creating a human sense of place within what seems like formless nature.”

Because the property is much larger than the occupied area, the trellis provides a definitive and practical boundary without excluding the forest. “It is … a porous, transparent edge inviting the natural vegetation to grow and climb inside the compound it defines,” says Thomas. “While serving as an edge, it also ties the house and the forest together. It ties inside and outside together. It ties man and nature together.”

In an unusual unifying twist, the trellis merges with the exterior walls of the buildings and creates a narrow art gallery in the main home. The trellis maintains a consistent frame by connecting with all the buildings and continues through the main home to set a spatial frame for the gallery. Although the art gallery is protected from the elements with large window panes, the structure and ceiling are consistent with the exterior trellis, creating an uninterrupted component to the home.

The gallery features smaller pieces of art and includes spotlights to illuminate the works in the evening; however, special attention was paid to natural lighting throughout the home, evident with the multitude of windows. “The way we brought indirect sunlight into the house was a very important aspect of the design,” says Thomas. “In semitropical locations like South Carolina, sunlight has to be very carefully manipulated.” Here, Thomas was faced with the dilemma of maintaining the integrity of the site while marrying the demands of a humid location, which can become too warm with intense direct sunlight, and a heavily wooded area, which has the potential to be gloomy. “The ‘shed’ roofs over the living room, which slope in one direction only, are positioned to receive a maximum of northern exposure, which brings good illumination but no direct sunlight when used with deep roof overhangs,” says Thomas. “Thus the clerestory glass below the shed roofs brings into the house a relatively greater amount of northern light, which is good for artwork and provides a cooler living ambience in this tropical setting.”

The vaulted living room receives the ideal amount of sunlight to showcase the home’s unique interior architectural details. The ceiling’s wood beams are made from recycled heart pine, which is also used for the flooring and in the columns that support the spiral staircase. The Doric columns are salvaged from an antebellum mansion in Beaufort, South Carolina, and restored to their classical glory. The oval shape of the spiral staircase facilitates easy movement between the living room and kitchen, separating yet unifying the spaces.

Although difficult to capture in photographs, the tabby-like interior wall finish is a detailed nod to the history of local structures. Tabby, says Thomas, is a primitive form of concrete made with sand, water, and baked oyster shells that was used in the region by early settlers. A tribute to this material, the walls were made of masonry and coated with sand and cement plaster mixed with oyster-shell fragments, pottery shards, and bones of small creatures found on the site.

A myriad of traditional and unconventional elements ultimately brings this home together. “The namelessness of this style is a quality which pleases me, but it frustrates the owners and others,” says Thomas. “An artist once wrote that once you can give a name to something, you stop really looking at it.” So this inspiring property, incorporating regional history, reverence for nature, and modern lines, may lack a clear architectural identity, but it continues to evolve quietly with the land, sitting below live oaks and among palmettos, as the Chaffin Rivercamp.

[Source: Giovonnini, Maresa. "Down by the River" Home By Design. April-May 2012. Web. 14 May 2012.]

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Looking for a Great Investment Property?

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:09:05 -0700

Looking for a Great Investment Property?

Looking for a great investment property in a great location? Consider this single-story home coming on the market soon!

Located in the Valley Ranch division in Irving, Texas, 405 Red River Trail is a great investment opportunity. Numerous updates have already been done including replacement of the roof in 2011, wood panel siding replaced, additional gutters added, wood on exterior of the home painted, wood flooring added in the dining, living room, and hallway, interior painted, updated front door locks and hardware, tile and toilet replaced in the second bathroom, and much more! Only needs cosmetic updates.

In addition to numerous updates and a great price, 405 Red River Trail is located in an ideal neighborhood called Valley Ranch. It is a great community division in Irving, Texas and also home of the Dallas Cowboys. The area is comprised of parks, trails, canals, and a plethora of businesses for shopping, dining, and other activities.

If you would like more information about this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home, or to schedule a showing, or would like a complimentary home evaluation, contact Brenda Mancil at: 214-679-1772, bmancil@remax.net, or www.HomesPricedtoSell.com .

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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South of the Border

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:19:37 -0700

South Of The Border

Gather Friends and Family for a Festive Menu That's Fit to Feed a Crowd

Written by Caroline Ford | Photography by Brenda Crow

Springtime inevitably brings about parties and gatherings that require a festive meal to feed a crowd. Whether you’re hosting a graduation dinner, blowing out birthday candles, throwing a shower, or simply looking for an occasion to dust off the patio furniture, this make-ahead Mexican feast will ensure you enjoy the fete without scurrying around frantically the day of your bash. Even better, this menu invites guests to contribute their own complementary dishes to round out the meal, such as salsas, grilled corn, slaws, fish, steak—the taco toppings are endless. Serve the pork shoulder with warm tortillas, spicy pickles, hot sauce, crumbly cotija cheese, lime wedges, and any of your other favorite condiments.

Frozen Bourbon Margarita
Serves 10–12

2 12-ounce cans sugar-free lemon-lime soda
1 12-ounce can frozen limeade concentrate
12 ounces water
12 ounces tequila
8 ounces bourbon
4 ounces triple sec (or other orange liqueur)

Garnish:

lime wedges
salt

Pour all ingredients into a large zip-top freezer-safe plastic bag. Seal and shake to mix ingredients. Set bag in a large bowl (to prevent leakage) and place in the freezer for at least 24 hours before the party. Run a lime wedge around the edge of a rocks glass or a margarita glass and dip the rim in salt. Fill the glass with the margarita and serve immediately.

Guacamole
Serves 8

2 large ripe avocados
¼ cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons minced red onion
2 tablespoons Mexican crema or sour cream
⅛ teaspoon ground coriander
⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
⅛ teaspoon curry powder
2 garlic cloves, minced into a fine paste
finely grated zest of 1 lime
juice of 1 lime
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper

Cut avocados in half, remove seeds, slice flesh into small squares with a knife, and spoon the flesh into a medium mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mash gently with a fork until the guacamole is partly smooth with some small bits of avocado remaining. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Refried Beans
Serves 8

1 pound dried peruano or pinto beans
1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped into large wedges
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed water
kosher salt
6 ounces Mexican chorizo, casing removed
¾ cup lard

Garnish:
cotija
cilantro (optional)

Rinse and drain the beans, removing any bits of rock or debris. Place in a large stockpot with onion and garlic and cover with several inches of water. Bring to a simmer and add a generous amount of salt. The water should taste salty. Cook for 2 to 3 hours, or until beans are very tender. Drain, reserving cooking water. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chorizo, breaking it up as you stir, until it begins to crisp in spots, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove half of the chorizo with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.

Add the lard to the skillet and heat to melt completely. Add the drained beans and gently mash them with a fork. About half of the beans should be mashed. Allow the beans to cookwithout stirring, allowing a crispy bottom to form, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir, scraping the crispy layer back into the beans, mashing as you go. Add the reserved cooking water, ½ cup at a time, until beans are thick but not dry. Repeat the cooking and stirring process for about 20 minutes so that there are many crispy bits throughout and the beans have become smooth and creamy.

Spicy Pickled Veggies
Serves 8

1 large carrot, peeled and sliced into ¼" pieces
1 Anaheim pepper, seeded and cut into ¼" strips
1 jalapeno, stemmed and sliced, loose seeds shaken off
2 peeled garlic cloves
10 black peppercorns
½ teaspoon cumin seed
¼ teaspoon coriander seed
1 bay leaf
1 green cardamom pod
1 cup white wine vinegar
½ cup water
2 teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon granulated sugar

Pack the prepared vegetables into a clean mason jar. Toast the garlic, peppercorns, and spices in a skillet over low heat until fragrant but not burned. Transfer immediately to a mortar and pestle and crush gently until all spices are broken. Scrape into a small saucepan with vinegar, water, salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil and pour over the packed vegetables. Seal the jar and shake to distribute. Cool the jar to room temperature and then refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Pineapple-Braised Pork Shoulder
Serves 12–16 with plenty of leftovers

4–7 pound pork shoulder
2 tablespoons salt, divided
3 guajillo chilies, stemmed
3 ancho chilies, stemmed
1 yellow onion, peeled and quartered
4 garlic cloves
¼ cup brown sugar
1–2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 whole cloves or ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
juice of 1 lime
1 12-ounce can pineapple juice

Pat the pork shoulder dry and rub the surface with 1 tablespoon salt. Let rest at room temperature for 1 hour. Meanwhile, shake the seeds out of the dried chilies, tearing them open to remove. Place the pods of the chilies in a large bowl and cover with boiling water.

Soak until softened, about 15 minutes, and drain. Heat the oven to 300 degrees F. Place the softened chilies in the bowl of a food processor with the remaining salt, onion, garlic, brown sugar, olive oil, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, and lime juice and process until smooth. Massage the mixture into all sides of the pork shoulder. Place the pork in a large dutch oven and pour the pineapple juice around the sides. Cook, covered, for 7 hours or until fork tender. Remove the lid, turn the heat up to 475 degrees F, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the outer edges are crisp. Remove from the oven and carefully shred the pork with two forks, discarding any large pieces of fat. Let the pork continue to soak in the juices. Season with salt, if necessary. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Baked Corn Chips
Serves 8

2 tablespoons olive oil
zest of 1 lime
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon kosher salt
pinch of cayenne
12 yellow or blue corn tortillas
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the olive oil with the lime zest, lime juice, salt, and cayenne in a small bowl. Brush the mixture onto each side of the tortillas. Cut the tortillas in half and each half into thirds. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 20 minutes or until dry, crispy, and golden brown. Watch chips carefully so they don’t burn. To test doneness, try to break one chip in half; it should snap without any bend. Chips will continue to harden as they cool. The cook time will vary depending on how heavily you brush on the oil mixture. Store tightly covered in foil for 1 to 2 days.

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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On a Mission

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:36:31 -0700

The Beauty Is in the Details in This Mission-Craftsman–Style Home

Written by Jeanine Matlow
Photography by Douglas Hill

Sometimes an opportunity comes along that is simply too good to pass up. That was the case for Venice, California–based architect Lewin Wertheimer and his clients, who were collaborating on a remodel/addition project when a double lot became available across the street. After careful consideration, they scrapped their original plans to build an entirely different house on the larger site.

Wertheimer says the inspiration for the Mission-Craftsman–style home came from a Santa Monica house that his clients adored. Although the architect had not worked in this vernacular before, he says that the more he studied it, the more intriguing it became to him. The architectural details are a blend that includes Mission, Craftsman, and Colonial. “It’s a hybrid style, reminiscent of many houses done in the ’20s and ’30s in places like Hancock Park, California, and Oak Park, Illinois,” explains Wertheimer. “It’s a combination of styles that come together.”

The architect took the aesthetic to another level by doing his own research. “I wanted to know more about the history of this style to really understand the rules that went along with these houses,” he says. “It’s sort of simple; it’s a box house with a front porch and front wings that take away from the boxiness. It has a cornice on top, decorative attic grills, a tile roof, a balcony, and a bay window above the sunroom. These architectural elements help to decorate the box.”

In what the architect aptly named the doughnut plan, a hybrid of styles results in a graceful interior resolution. “Each room flows into the next very easily,” he says. “It makes such a big difference to how the house is lived in and used. When circulation starts getting really complicated in a house, you’re doing something wrong. You’re not going to have the kind of life and soul people want from a house.”

The front entry hall in the 4,000-square-foot home leads to the living room, which continues on to the family room, kitchen, and breakfast room. The dining room circles back to the entry. “You can get to all of these rooms from each other,” Wertheimer says. “The rooms basically go around the staircase. It’s such easy living to walk in one direction. It makes for a really open connection between the spaces.”

Board and batten along the wall mimics the staircase railing that stops short of the bottom step. “I like stairs that let you pick your direction when you are coming down to the bottom,” Wertheimer says. The painted newel posts were inspired by an old home in Beverly Hills. “I loved the little round medallions on the top; the circles soften with their curved shape,” he adds. Walnut floors stained a dark chocolate brown provide a striking contrast to the crisp white surfaces.

Arches are another softening tool to get away from the boxiness, says Wertheimer. Columns and built-ins are among the other highly desirable architectural features. The built-up crown molding was custom designed by the architect. “It’s something very important with the flat plaster ceilings,” he says.

The Craftsman-style dining room contains stained wood and colored panels. “The dining room is beautiful at night; the flowers just kind of glow and the lighting is kind of subtle,” says Wertheimer of the hand-painted wallpaper panels. He is particularly fond of the antique porcelain hardware from Crown City Hardware, in Pasadena. “It shows beautiful signs of age, such as cracks and yellowing. They are beautiful knobs with a lot of history.”

Wertheimer says the hybrid style was liberating when it came to furnishing the home. “I don’t like the idea of living in a museum,” he says. For instance, he discovered the unique kitchen light fixtures at Obsolete, in Venice, California, when they had barely broken ground on the house. “I told my clients they were going to think I was crazy, but I just found the lights for the kitchen. The double chain, double hook, and shape of the glass shade are all so unusual.”

A great deal of time was spent on the myriad architectural details, such as the carved cornice corbels, the attic grills with custom brass, and the windows and doors that were done in the Craftsman vernacular. “There is symmetry and asymmetry going on,” says Wertheimer. “It’s all about composition and balance.”

Repetition plays a key role in the overall cohesiveness that creates a dialogue between the inside and the outside of the home. “The dining room banding is reminiscent of the horizontal banding on the outside of the house,” says Wertheimer. “The arch of the fireplace echoes the arch of the entry to the sunroom and the elliptical arches in front of the house. One thing that is very important for me is that the interior and exterior speak to each other.”

[Source: Matlow, Jenine. "On a Mission" Home By Design. April-May 2012. Web. 30 April 2012.]

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Looking for a Single Story Villa Home?

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:35:49 -0700

Looking for a single-story home with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and a great location? Peek inside this spacious home on the market for $179,000!

Located just south of LBJ and minutes from the Dallas North Tollway, 4305 Thunder Road has 2 living areas, a formal dining area with plantation shutters, kitchen that opens up unto the family room, walk in closets in the bedrooms, and a private patio and backyard for entertaining.

4305 Thunder Road comes complete with a gated community park and pool. Perfect for the whole family!

Recent updates to the home include interior paint, new carpet, and wood flooring. 4305 Thunder Road is move-in ready!

The nearby local schools for the area include the exemplary Nathan Adams Elementary, Marsh Middle School, and the highly distinguishable W.T. White High School.

If you would like more information about this home or to schedule a showing, or would like a complimentary home evaluation, contact Brenda Mancil at: 214-679-1772, bmancil@remax.net, or
www.HomesPricedtoSell.com

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Twitter | LinkedIn

Coming Soon in Frisco - Spacious Home With a View

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:03:33 -0700

Coming Soon in Frisco!
Spacious Home With A View!

Looking for a luxurious home with plenty of space and lots of natural lighting? How about this 4 bedroom, 4.2 baths home! Located in Frisco, TX, 5 Glenmoor Court looks out onto the Stonebriar golf course in a gated community. This home has everything you could ask for! A spacious kitchen with two islands, 3 living areas, 2 full dining areas, a game room, study, and a full size pool and spa. The home has plenty of storage with built-ins in many of the rooms and walk-in closests in the bedrooms.

If you would like more information about this home or any of Brenda Mancil's listings, or would like a complimentary home evaluation, contact Brenda Mancil at: 214-679-1772 or bmancil@remax.net

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Twitter | LinkedIn

Join the Coupon Craze

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:41:56 -0700

Learn How to Shop Smartly and Save Big by Couponing Written by Ashley Gartland

You need only watch an episode of Extreme Couponing to recognize that everyone from moms to busy professionals has caught coupon fever—and with good reason. In these lean times, couponing helps shoppers save on groceries and household items and “buy” products without actually paying for them. In just a few hours a week, you too can start couponing to reduce your household expenses. Whether you want to trim your weekly grocery bill or score free toiletries, couponing can help you shop smarter and stretch your hard-earned dollars further. Here’s how.

Learn the Lingo
Don’t know the difference between a peelie and a Catalina? Here’s the basic couponing vocabulary you’ll need to know to embark on the path toward big savings.
Blinkie: A manufacturer’s coupon for a product dispensed in store by a coupon machine
Catalina: A receipt-like coupon received at the register postpurchase
Coupon insert: Coupon circulars such as SmartSource that are inserted into Sunday newspapers
Coupon: A note from a store or manufacturer that entitles a shopper to receive a discount on a product
Double coupon: A store coupon that lets shoppers double a manufacturer’s coupon up to a certain value, typically $0.50
Hangtag: A manufacturer’s coupon displayed on the “neck” of a product
Manufacturer’s coupon: A coupon produced by the manufacturer to entice shoppers to buy the product for less
Peelie: An adhesive manufacturer’s coupon that peels off a product for immediate use
Stacking: Using a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon together on one item
Tearpad: A pad of manufacturer’s coupons located next to an item
Stockpile: A food pantry or stash of food and nonfood items purchased while on sale

Find a mentor. The quickest way to learn to coupon is to study a pro at work. You might call a friend who coupons regularly and tag along on a shopping trip. If you’re the scholarly type, consider signing up for a class at a local college or community center or hitting the Web. There are multiple couponing sites that will provide you with a virtual mentor and scads of how-to advice.

Set up shop. Savvy shoppers get organized long before they start clipping coupons. Arm yourself with basic tools such as scissors and a calculator and then select a filing system that meets your needs. You can store coupons in an accordion file, envelopes, shoeboxes, or a binder outfitted with baseball-card inserts. “With so many different options available, just find the one that works for you,” says Kelly Hancock, author of Saving Savvy. “You are the one who will be using your system, so organize it the way you thinkit makes sense.”

Start your search. Between Sunday newspaper inserts and the Web, there’s no shortage of places to find coupons. Hancock recommends gathering extra copies of weekly newspaper inserts and sales fliers from family and friends. You can also join a store’s customer savings program to download coupons directly to your rewards card and find more coupons among the aisles. If you’re loyal to particular brands, you should also visit company websites and Facebook pages, says Kathy Spencer, author of How to Shop for Free. After you sign up for company newsletters or “like” businesses on Facebook, they’ll often send coupons your way.

Make a game plan. Experienced couponers know that weekly meal plans are the foundation of successful shopping trips. “You form your shopping list by determining what you are going to eat from what you already have on hand in your pantry and freezer,” says Hancock. “From there, you decide what you are going to purchase from the items that are on sale and items that you have a coupon for.” Don’t know how to make a meal plan or shopping list? The bloggers behind most couponing websites post weekly deal scenarios that outline how to put the week’s coupons to the best use.

Shop and store. Once you’ve hit the stores and brought your deeply discounted purchases home, you’ll need to organize them so nothing goes to waste. Hancock recommends setting up additional storage shelving in unused areas of your home and utilizing under-bed bins to store items with a longer shelf life, such as toiletries. Finally, always rotate the items on your shelves so the products that expire soon are the ones you’ll use first.

Pay it forward. As you become a practiced couponer, you’ll discover you don’t need all the items you can snag for free. Most couponers agree you should pick them up anyway and donate them to someone in need. “When you walk into a homeless shelter and donate products or donate to a senior who is really struggling, the feeling is better than the coupon high; it’s euphoric,” says Spencer. “You go from a place where you need help to using couponing to be able to help someone else.”

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

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Living the Dream

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:46:31 -0700

A Family’s Carnival Legacy Is Incorporated into a Mediterranean-Style Home
Boasting Eco-Friendly Elements and a Focus on Outdoor Living

Written by Blake Miller | Photography by Dino Tonn | Courtesy of IMI Design

When Guy and Charlene Leavitt decided to build their dream home, they didn’t have to go far. In fact, just two blocks from the home they lived and raised their six children in over the past twenty-five years was a vacant lot that would become the setting for their three-bedroom retirement home. Consisting of four stunning acres—two of which are a preserve—in Ahwatukee, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, the lot backed up against the mountains, creating a picturesque backdrop for the finished home and guest house, boasting an underground firing range, swimming pool, and RV garage.

While the Leavitts wanted the house to accommodate their growing family—they have fifteen grandchildren—they had three main priorities that guided the project: First, the couple—who own Ray Cammack Shows, a full-service carnival company, which hosts nine of the largest fairs in the Southwest United States—wanted to incorporate both a Mediterranean style in the architecture and decor of the home as well as their respective families’ carnival backgrounds. Second, they wanted an eco-friendly home that utilized Smart technology and green building materials. Third, they wanted to maximize the outdoor living space so they could take advantage of Arizona’s mild spring, fall, and winter weather. To achieve this, the Leavitts turned to architect Joe Groff of CCBG Architects, who took their wish list and made it a reality.

One of Groff’s biggest challenges was making the home’s architectural detailing as authentic as possible. “Most of the challenge here was to achieve the proper level of patina necessary to achieve an old-world look,” says Groff of the home’s Tuscan-style façade. To create the look, Groff and his team salvaged timbers from a hundred-year-old barn to design the trusses, which are held together with heavy iron gussets in the main space, while a combination of rustic stone and stucco make up the exterior walls.

To achieve the Tuscan look on the interior of the home, the Leavitts enlisted the help of interior designer Anita Lang of Interior Motives, in Scottsdale, Arizona, who scoured the country for furniture and accents to add a taste of the Italian hillside to the home. Together with Lang and Groff, the Leavitts incorporated their carnival backgrounds into the decor and architectural details. Stained glass windows on the front doors of the home feature three carousel horses, while the bar in the great room boasts hand-carved replicas of brass horse poles from a merry-go-round. An oversize custom hand-painted tapestry rolls up and down to cover the television in the great room, and an antique merry-go-round stands in the family’s courtyard. “[Incorporating the carnival theme into the decor] meant a lot to the both of us because we both came from carnival backgrounds,” says Guy. An RV garage serves as a carnival museum boasting artifacts from the family’s years in the business.

Making the home eco-friendly was the second priority on the Leavitts’ list. Before they broke ground, Guy visited the lot on the longest and shortest days of the year at sunrise and then every two hours thereafter to chart the sun with a sundial. “The sun plays a big factor in how you live,” explains Guy. “It can be in your favor or against you if you don’t lay your house out right.” Based on Guy’s charting, Groff situated the home so that it would utilize the sun’s energy and then added large solar panels on the roof, which blended in to the Tuscan-style façade so as not to affect the architectural detailing. Sustainable cork flooring in the kitchen and recycled barn wood throughout the home are two other ways the Leavitts added eco-friendly elements to their home.

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

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Just Listed! 4305 Thunder Road

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:43:48 -0700

Just Listed! 4305 Thunder Road

New on the market! A lovely single story Villa listed for $179,900!

This 3 bedroom, 3 bath home is move-in ready! The home comes complete with a formal dining and formal living area- both with wood flooring and plantation shutters- a wet bar, a spacious kitchen that opens into a second living room, and walk-in closets in the bedrooms.

Looking for a great home with plenty of outdoor space and activities? 4305 Thunder Road comes with a spacious backyard! Great for entertaining and outdoor cooking. The area also has a gated community park and pool!

Recent updates to the home include interior paint, new carpet, and wood flooring.

The nearby local schools for the area include the exemplary Nathan Adams Elementary, Marsh Middle School, and the highly distinguishable W.T. White High School.

If you would like more information about this home or to schedule a showing, or would like a complimentary home evaluation, contact Brenda Mancil at: 214-679-1772 or bmancil@remax.net or visit www.HomesPricedtoSell.com.

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Formality in Today's Garden

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:02:15 -0700

Formality in Today's

Timeless Design for Your Own Garden Setting

Written by Robyn Roehm Cannon
Photography by Francine Katz

As a designer of small formal European-style gardens, I've found that my love of symmetry, balance, dramatic scale, and simplicity is what drives my creations. Some people believe that formal gardens are suited only to sites on a grand scale. But I have found just the opposite. Whether they are intimate and complex or simple and streamlined, small formal gardens have one thing in common: They have a terrific ability to provide year-round interest and are surprisingly easy to maintain. The added bonus: A formal garden transcends the whims of fashion. It never goes out of style.

There are so many options open to those who wish to create a formal garden today. One of the most exciting is the opportunity to use garden statuary and water features to provide a focal point or framework for the design and add a feeling of vitality to a garden space.

For centuries, statuary and fountains have anchored formal baroque parterres, intricate herb knots, potagers, topiary, and rose gardens throughout Europe, thanks in great part to work done by statuary makers in the London-area factory of Eleanor Coade, which operated from the early 18th century through the middle of the 1800s.

Fortunately, today’s landscape architects and designers have myriad choices for garden art that looks aged, although it is new. One of the West Coast’s largest suppliers, Lucca Statuary, in Seattle, Washington, specializes in hand-cast concrete pieces that are custom-finished with muriatic-based penetrating stains originally designed for floors.

But it is not enough to have beautiful product from which to choose. Unless it is carefully and thoughtfully placed, garden statuary and fountains can look sorely out of place—like a bad collection from the movie set of My Big Fat Greek Wedding—or worse, like they fell from the sky and landed haphazardly in the middle of the front yard. Conversely, gardens designed around beautiful statuary are restful places to be, no matter what the season. Here are few important considerations for using fountains and statuary in your garden:

Building a garden without structure is like writing a sentence without punctuation. If you are starting from scratch, build the bones of your garden before you plant. The hardscape is the most important element—paved areas on which to put furnishings and walls to give your garden structure and privacy. Always pick your fountain and your architectural garden ornament first, and then design your garden around them.

Adopt the European principle of using every inch of space and living in it to the fullest. Look carefully at your yard. Right now, you have untapped space potential waiting to be reclaimed. For example, a narrow side yard can be transformed into a charming classic allee with Italian cypress and roses, with a tiny fountain at the end of a path.

Courtyard gardens emphasize privacy. You may already have natural hedges or fences that define your space. If not, you’ll want to add hedge material. A soft green wall is the perfect backdrop for a bubbling fountain or an exquisitely planted urn.

Don’t be afraid to place large decorative pieces in a small garden. One magnificent architectural garden ornament used as a focal point is more effective—and more classic—than a collection of small unrelated items that add up to a lot of visual clutter and confusion. Edit your garden décor in the same manner as you would edit an interior room. Think of statuary as a piece of fine jewelry for your garden. Less is more—more elegant, more impact to the eye.

If you have a larger piece of property or an expansive yard, think in terms of unifying your space into a series of garden rooms. Walk your property and determine the places from which you are most likely to observe your garden or a special view—or the place where you would like to entertain guests. Then plan these areas as outdoor rooms, each with its own architectural garden ornament as a focal point. Consider using a pair of urns on pedestals to create an entrance to a space. By connecting the newly defined spaces with a path, you can move from one special venue to another.

Stand in your windows and observe your garden from the inside out. We spend a good deal of time looking at our garden from inside, during months when it is too cold, rainy, or snowy to enjoy it outdoors. So make every window view count by creating small vignettes centered on a piece of statuary. The addition of low-voltage lighting will create a dramatic effect after dark and make your outdoor space seem like an extension of your interior.

Classic garden statuary provides a delightful detail in garden design. It makes a small garden space seem important, and it makes a case for the year-round pleasures of formality, which easily can be adapted to a contemporary lifestyle. With careful selection and placement, and by building your plants around your pieces, your garden can look as though it has been there forever. That should be inspiration indeed.

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

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Sold! 2824 Quarter Horse Lane

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:15:17 -0700

Sold! 2824 Quarter Horse Lane

Sold in just 2 days, 2824 Quarter Horse Lane is a great home for first time home buyers. The home has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a living area, kitchen, and dining room. The single story home located in the subdivision of Carter Ranch has an open floor plan, a spacious master bedroom, and walk in closets in all of the bedrooms.

This move-in ready home has been recently updated with a new roof, exterior trim paint, new shutters, a custom Texas style front door, and more!

The location comes with wonderful amenities such as a community pool, a club house, a playground, and community trails.

The schools located in this area include Celina Elementary, Celina Intermediat School, Celina Middle School, and Celina High School.

If you would like more information about this home or other listings, or would like a complimentary home evaluation, contact Brenda Mancil at: 214-679-1772 or bmancil@remax.net

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

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Sold! 11360 Old Works Drive!

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:11:51 -0700

Sold! 11360 Old Works Drive

This great 2-story David Weekly home is perfect for growing families. 11360 Old Works Drive features 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths and 1 half bath, 2 living areas, a study, formal dining room, and a game room! The large kitchen with an island opens up to one of the living rooms. Perfect for entertaining!

The home has lots of windows for natural lighting and an ample sized backyard for kids or pets to play in. There is also an extended patio for all your outdoor activities.

Old Works Drive is only walking distance to a creek and jogging trails and is only minutes away from 121 and other major highways.

The schools that serve under 11360 Old Works Drive include Smith Elementary, a 2006 Blue Ribbon school, Clark Middle School, and Frisco High School.

If you would like more information about this home or other listings, contact Brenda Mancil at: 214-679-1772 or bmancil@remax.net

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Vegetarian Menu

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:04:41 -0700

Vegetarian Menu

Carrot and Mushroom and Cauliflower, Oh My!

RECIPES BY Laura Swayne | Written BY KIM A. FUQUA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Brandon sawaya

Home By Design often gets vegetarian recipe requests, and we’ve been a little lax in providing very many of them, so this issue we’re offering up a full menu!

Fresh vegetables signal springtime from the produce aisles and the farmers’ markets, showcasing this season of renewal. Utilizing raw, grilled, roasted, and baked vegetables, along with a variety of fresh herbs, Laura Swayne shares with us just a sampling of her favorite vegetarian recipes.

Fresh and healthy gazpacho soup does double duty as either a cold soup on a warm spring day or as a hot soup on a chilly spring evening. For an early-spring supper, portabella mushrooms update the classic chicken Parmesan with a vegetarian twist, sided by roasted cauliflower with even more delicious Parmesan cheese. And don’t forget dessert with Swayne’s “best ever” carrot cake recipe!

GAZPACHO	PORTABELLA PARMESAN
While gazpacho is typically served cold as a summer soup, this dish is also delicious as a hot tomato soup on a chilly evening.	Portabellas have a meaty texture, fabulous flavor, and are so easy to prepare. Even the most die-hard carnivore will love this hearty mushroom dish.
Servings: 6 Prep Time: 15 minutes Chill Time: 2 hours 3 small fennel bulbs, roughly chopped 4 celery stalks, roughly chopped 1 bunch scallions, roughly chopped 1 medium sweet onion, roughly chopped 2 small garlic cloves, chopped 3 red bell peppers, roughly chopped 2 large tomatoes, diced, or one 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained ½ cup olive oil 1 tablespoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 32-ounce container tomato or vegetable juice ½ cup fresh lemon juice celery leaves (optional) fresh dill (optional)	Servings: 4 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes 4 portabella mushrooms, stemmed and wiped clean 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup spicy tomato sauce ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese ¼ cup shredded fontina cheese ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Heat grill or grill pan to high heat. Preheat oven to 400. Brush mushrooms with oil on both sides. Sear mushrooms for 5 minutes per side. Spread ½ cup tomato sauce in bottom of a 9x13 pan. Place mushrooms in pan, bottoms up. Pour remaining sauce over them. Combine mozzarella and fontina cheeses and spread evenly over top of mushrooms. Sprinkle Parmesan over entire dish. Bake 15 minutes or until cheeses are bubbly and golden brown.
Place fennel, celery stalks, scallions, onions, garlic, and bell peppers in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped and combined but not pureed. Pour the mixture into a large glass or plastic bowl. Stir in the tomatoes with their juices, oil, salt, black pepper, tomato or vegetable juice, and lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. To serve, sprinkle with celery leaves, dill, or both.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH HERBS AND PARMESAN	HONEY-ROASTED ROOT VEGGIES
Chop your bunches of parsley, thyme, and tarragon for this recipe, and then freeze the remaining fresh herbs in small Ziploc bags for future use.	Roasting brings out great flavors in the various vegetables in this recipe.
Servings: 4 Prep Time: 15 minutes Bake Time: 25 minutes 6 cups cauliflower florets (about 1 head) 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons parsley, finely chopped 1 teaspoon thyme, finely chopped 1 teaspoon tarragon or rosemary, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated 1 tablespoon lemon juice salt and pepper, to taste Preheat oven to 450. In a large baking dish, mix florets with olive oil. Bake 20 minutes, stirring every five minutes. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and garlic and bake five minutes more. Add cheese, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until well-combined and serve.	1 cup peeled, chopped sweet potatoes ¾ cup peeled, chopped turnips ¾ cup peeled, chopped parsnips ¾ cup peeled, chopped carrots 1 shallot, finely diced 2 tablespoons olive oil ¼ cup honey kosher salt, to taste Preheat oven to 450. In a large baking dish, mix vegetables together. Toss with olive oil, honey, and salt. Bake 35 minutes until tender and brown, stirring halfway through.

BEST-EVER CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING

This version of a classic is moist, simple to prepare, and beautiful, too!

Servings: 10-12 Prep Time: 30 minutes Bake Time: 45-50 minutes

Carrot Cake: 4 cups carrots, peeled and grated
1½ cups walnuts or pecans,
coarsely chopped
1 cup dark raisins
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
1 cup canola oil
1 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup walnuts or pecans, finely chopped to
cover sides of cake (optional)

Cream Cheese Icing:
1 cup butter, softened
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
5 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans. A 9x13 pan could also be used for a sheet cake. Mix the carrots, nuts, and raisins together in a bowl and set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together flour, cinnamon, cloves, baking powder, soda, and salt.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together eggs, oil, sugars, and vanilla until well-blended.

Slowly fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture, mixing just until all ingredients are moistened. Fold in the carrot mixture until well-combined. Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake 45 to 50 minutes, until cake springs back to the touch and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Allow to cool in pans 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from pans to a cooling rack to continue cooling completely. With a long serrated knife, trim off rounded portion of each cake layer to create flat surfaces. Place one cake layer, cut side down, on a serving platter. Spread with ⅓ of the icing. Top with second layer, cut side down, and spread top with about ½ of remaining icing. Use remaining icing to cover sides of cake. If using nuts for the side, press these carefully into the sides, as well.

For the icing: Cream butter and cream cheese together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition, until smooth. Add grated orange zest and vanilla. Continue beating 1 minute to make the icing very fluffy.

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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The Far Reaching Benefits of Trees

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:30:34 -0700

THE FAR REACHES OF TREES

Plant a Tree in your Garden Today and Make the World a Better Place
Written by Robyn Roehm Cannon

Albert Einstein once observed, "The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago-and the second-best time is now." For being a nuclear physicist and not a landscape architect, he certainly had that theory right. Einstein surely wasn't alone in his appreciation of trees and his understanding of their importance in our landscapes and our lives. Everyone loves to sit under the shady canopy of a mature tree on a hot afternoon, and most of us have a sentimental connection to a tree that we played under, swung from, or climbed the limbs of during our childhood.

My early memories recall a massive triple-trunked mulberry tree, which shaded the entire front yard of my parents' St. Louis home. All summer long, my counsins and I collected its giant, deliciously sweet berries that stained our tongues purple. Much later, when I was in high school and in a new house, I remember the twin white oaks that framed the front walk of my friend Ellen's yard, and how she, a proverbial tomboy, would delight in climbing the trees to sit and wait each morning for my dad to take us to school and them jump down with a hoot and a flourish as she saw his car approaching. Recently, I passed those same oaks and realized that they are no longer easily scalable. In thirty-four years, their trunks have grown six feet higher-but I still visualize Ellen up there when I walk by.

In my own Seattle garden, a twenty-foot hearty Windmill Palm anchors one side of a hillside terrace. Its towering presence has inspired our Mediterranean landscape design, and my husband recalls the day-many years ago now-that he struggled to plant it at only six feet tall. Today, we sit under its arching fronds, sip margaritas, and pretend we live in the tropics; last season, we added two more palms to keep it company.

"The need for a variety of trees in the landscape is now greater than ever."

These days, the need for a variety of trees in the landscape is greater than ever as our cities expand, green spaces diminish, and air pollution increases. Emotions run high and citizen groups fight developers as legacy trees are sometimes sacrificed in the name of progress. But the good news is that more and more municipalities across the country are building new parks and making it a requirement of new construction to leave a site with more trees than may have been there in the first place. And though they are saplings today, these trees will bring shade, seasonal color, and beautiful variety to the gardens and public spaces of the future.

As a residential garden designer, I encourage you to plant the largest trees you can afford in your own space, bringing specimens in with a crane, if possible. Although that may seem an extravagant measure, consider the benefits. If your home is new, trees well on their way to maturity will contribute an air of permanence and scale to your landscape and bring you immediate pleasure in your garden. If you’re living in an older home with an established landscape, seek out and work closely with a certified arborist to assist you with annual pruning and in protecting your trees’ long-term health. Many a beautiful mature tree has been needlessly lost to disease or wind damage that could have been prevented by proper maintenance each season.

Bailey Nurseries, in St. Paul, Minnesota, recently announced home gardener access to its online image library at www.baileynurseries.com. Here, you can easily locate trees by name, height, habit, zone, bloom date, and exposure and quickly print all the information for future reference.

As you consider trees for your landscape, remember that planting a tree has many far-reaching benefits beyond our own front yard. Here are just a few:

• Trees lower local air temperatures by transpiring water and shading surfaces. Because they lower air temperatures, shade buildings in the summer, and block winter winds, they reduce building energy use and cooling costs dramatically.

• Planting trees remains the cheapest, most-effective means of drawing excess carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. In one year, an average tree produces enough oxygen for a family of four and absorbs CO2 output from four cars. If every American family planted just one tree, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would be reduced by one billion pounds annually—almost five percent of the amount that human activity pumps into the atmosphere each year.

• The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that with improvements in plant productivity and conversion efficiencies, twenty-five percent of U.S.-imported oil could be displaced by plantation-grown trees by 2050.

When Einstein noted that it’s never too late to begin planting trees, he had no idea the challenges our society would someday face. But we can all make a difference. So find a tree that you love, get your shovel, and start digging. Your grandchildren—and your planet—will one day thank you for your contribution.

[Source: Roehm Cannon, Robyn. "The Far-Reaching Benefits of Trees." Home By Design. Feb.-Mar. 2012. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.]

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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The Big Picture

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:17:26 -0700

A Manor Style Home in the Midwest Settles into Its Surroundings with the Help of Visbeen Associates

Written by Jeanine Matlow Photography by William J. Hebert

While the contents of a home may be considered the core, nothing sets the tone like the exterior. In the case of this abode in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Wayne Visbeen, AIA, IIDA, managed to give his client a beauty that will stand the test of time. The president of Grand Rapids–based Visbeen Associates, who was responsible for the architecture, interior architecture, and landscape planning, shows that you don’t have to shout to get your point across.

In fact, the restraint is part of the charm. “The client wanted a house that from the front façade would be fairly discreet,” says Visbeen, who collaborated with Vice President Paul Fikse on the project. “It’s a large home within a beautiful neighborhood. ... The client wanted it to be fairly low-profile and inconspicuous. You spend a lot of time winding your way up through the front entrance and landscape.”

Originally, the homeowner favored a brick façade because she wanted something monochromatic. “What came to my mind was brownstone because I’m from the East Coast,” says Visbeen. A stone mason was brought in to create a number of unique features with the malleable material.

Custom-carved limestone was used in conjunction with the brownstone for the house, which was built in the tradition of a much older home. “It really is a piece of art,” says Visbeen, who worked with builder Douglas Sumner. The flagstone for the home and landscape comes from a quarry in Vermont. “These are hundred-year-old stones purchased for the landscape,” says Visbeen, who located matching slate for the landscape and roof at the same quarry to tie everything together. The stones, which were placed throughout the property, are especially evident around the brownstone bridge.

Visbeen describes the home, which the firm refers to as Old Woods Manor, as an English manor house. “We tried to pick up on a European flavor, but there are certainly updates,” he says. Outdoor features on the property, which encompasses more than eight acres, include a number of patios that surround the house and a hot tub that is integrated into the naturally shaped pool. Eighteen-foot-high waterfalls cascade down a hill for a dramatic effect.

The entire landscape was designed to be interactive regarding the approach toward the home, which winds over a bridge that provides the first impression of the house. And there are plenty of places to enjoy the outdoor views. “The stone paths and bridges offer the opportunity for a lot of meandering,” Visbeen says.

The hardy pine trees came from Colorado. “We wanted it to feel more organic,” says Visbeen, who points out that the highly organized interiors of the house are in direct contrast to the natural landscape. “We wanted to counterpoint the landscape and home, which is very easy to navigate and classical in nature. But in the garden, everything is curvilinear; there are no straight lines. We wanted it to look natural right from the onset.”

Steve Windemuller, president of Windscapes Landscaping Inc., in Burnips, Michigan, worked on the design and installation of many of the hardscapes and the landscaping. “They wanted a nice landscape that they could enjoy by walking in the garden, so we created special paths,” Windemuller says. “There is very little formality. It somewhat blends in naturally. We wanted to push the limits. While there are some native plants, many are not indigenous to the area. For instance, flowering pear isn’t indigenous, but they do well here. We take a different approach and mix up our varieties a bit, which is fine to do as long as they’re not invasive.”

The plantings were designed to provide color throughout the seasons. “There are enough evergreens to get them through the winter,” Windemuller says. The color from the flowers and leaves lasts from early spring to fall, while the varying heights and textures lend a more natural look.

The layering aspect of planting lower, medium, and taller adds interest. “Many people like large masses,” says Windemuller. “There is a place for that, but I like a little chaos, with a few of these here, and a few of those there. I like to break the rules. It goes against the textbooks, but that’s the fun part to me. Every time, we do something new.”

Blending the various elements paid off in the end. “We wanted to have everything tie together with harmony. The landscape definitely did that because there were enough indigenous plants. The continuity was created by the hardscape and the landscape that really pulled the project together,” says Visbeen, who credits his client with their success. “It’s unique to have a client who really appreciates beauty and that level of detail.”

[Source: Jeanine Matlow. "The Big Picture". Homes by Design. Homesbydesign.com. February/March 2012.]

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Farm to Table

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:48:53 -0800

Fresh Herbs Are Easy to Grow and Add Zest to Home Cooking
Written by Robyn Roehm Cannon

My favorite time of year in the garden is basil season. In Seattle, that’s August and September—which constitute our short Pacific Northwest summer. There’s nothing so satisfying as a dinner of grilled chicken or fish alongside a composed salad of vine-ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced sweet onions, chunks of soft buffalo mozzarella, and generous handfuls of torn fragrant basil, grown on the west side of my garden. It makes me giddy with anticipation just thinking about that meal.

You may not feel you have the time or energy to tend a large flower garden, but a backyard herb garden is a delightful addition no matter where you live. Herbs offer so many benefits for such a small investment of time, money, and water. If you love to cook, there’s untold pleasure in harvesting your own fresh herbs to add to salads, marinades, dressings, cocktails, and desserts. At the height of season, you’ll enjoy gathering large armfuls of herbs to add fragrance and texture to floral bouquets or to elegantly garnish platters of hors d’oeuvres for a late-summer party. The possibilities are endless.

Building the garden is easy, but the one requirement is a sunny location. Most herbs will not tolerate or thrive in shade, so the hotter the site, the better. Certain herbs, particularly mint, are best contained in their own vessels—large terra cotta pots work especially well—because they multiply by underground runners and can be maddening when they mingle with other varieties. Otherwise, you can easily build a raised herb bed by nailing together four two-by-fours and purchasing bags of fresh compost to fill it before planting.

There are hundreds of varieties of herbs. Take basil, for example: there’s the common Italian or Genovese variety, but also cinnamon, lemon, lime, Thai, African Blue, Red Rubin, or Spicy Globe varieties. That’s just the short list, but each variety will bring its own unique combination of color and flavor, so explore and find varieties that are perfect for your taste. Your local garden center can supply you in either seeds or four-inch starter plants.

A good way to determine what to grow is to consider the food you like to cook and the herbs you regularly use in your kitchen. If you frequently cook Asian-influenced food, you’ll want Thai basil. If you love a good mojito or mint julep, you’ll want mint, despite its invasive character. Consider adding lavender, a decorative herb that also tastes lovely in lemonade and makes delightful sachets; cilantro for homemade salsa; and rosemary for enhancing fresh marinades. Chives are useful in myriad dishes, including scrambled eggs and as a salad garnish.

Sprigs of thyme are wonderful additions to soups, roasted root vegetables, and poultry. Thyme is also the primary herb in Herbs de Provence, a French blend that also includes marjoram, rosemary, summer savory, lavender flowers, and other dried herbs. Thyme is also typically included in the traditional bouquet garni, a bundle of herbs that is wrapped in cheesecloth and used to flavor stocks and sauces.

Some herbs—such as basil, chives, mint, parsley, and cilantro—are considered tender and are only grown seasonally in the garden. They do best if watered frequently and kept compact by frequent harvesting during the growing season.

Woody-stemmed herbs such as thyme, rosemary, sage, lemon verbena, and oregano can be harvested and dried for use during the winter months. Gather the stems together, tie the bundle with a length of kitchen twine, and hang it to dry. When the moisture is gone, carefully rub the stems to remove the leaves. A great way to make sure these precious herbs are preserved is to seal them in Ziploc bags and store them in the freezer until you are ready to use your supply. Make sure to label the bags to eliminate confusion and return the bag to the freezer after you have taken out what you need.

Whatever herbs you choose for your backyard garden, you’ll be guaranteed a satisfying result and a marked improvement in the flavors of the food you prepare.

Basil-Lime Gimlet This is my favorite summer herb-infused cocktail. Serve it on a warm evening as a fragrant and tart aperitif.

Makes 1 cocktail

4 large basil leaves ½ ounce simple syrup 2½ ounces vodka ¾ ounce fresh lime juice ice
In a cocktail shaker, muddle 3 of the basil leaves with the simple syrup. Add the vodka, lime juice, and ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with the remaining basil leaf.

For a creative party favor, give your guests something that will last long after the festivities. Even those without a green thumb will appreciate these seed bombs; just throw, and they’ll grow!
WILDFLOWER SEED BOMBS
www.uncommongoods.com

[Source:Robyn Roehm Cannon. "Farm to Table in Your Own Backyard". Home by Design. Homebydesign.com. February/March 2012]

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Pinehurst and Southern Pines

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:24:29 -0800

Though Pinehurst and Southern Pines are known mainly for the golf options—there are forty-three golf courses in the area, including the acclaimed Pinehurst Resort No. 2, which will host the men’s and women’s U.S. Open in 2014—the towns are also home to a world-class spa, fine dining, and quaint shopping, making it a must-see destination. There’s a good reason why people flock here throughout the year, especially in the fall and spring, when the weather is mild and the foliage is breathtaking: years ago it was thought that the scent of the pine trees had a relaxing effect, so families would head to Southern Pines for rest and relaxation. The same can be said today with the effect of a slower pace of life and seemingly endless options to unwind.

By Day

The Village of Pinehurst

If you stay at the gorgeous Pinehurst Resort, you’ll want to grab one of the many bike cruisers, which sit in front of the property. The homes that surround the resort, not to mention the Village of Pinehurst itself, are best toured by foot or bike so that you can take in the sights, sounds, and smells (especially in the spring and winter, when the hundreds of azaleas and camellias are blooming).

Green Gate Olive Oils

Spend some time in this tasting room sampling the more than forty olive oils (try the garlic-infused and the black truffle); flavored vinegars (the cinnamon-pear works wonderfully drizzled over fresh fruit); and balsamic vinegars on tap. The oils and vinegars are stored in stainless steel containers called fustis, imported from Italy, to preserve their delicate flavors so what you’re tasting is fresh and downright delicious.

Monkee’s

The Southern Pines outpost of this trendy women’s boutique carries many of the same great lines you’d find in many high-end shopping malls around the country—Bettye Muller, kate spade, Shoshanna, Milly, Kensie, and more. Shop jewelry, shoes, and accessories, too, before perusing the sale racks, where 7 for All Mankind jeans, Diane von Furstenberg dresses, and Cole Haan pumps are often discounted.

Beaute Apothecarie

Makeup reigns supreme in this store within a store, located inside Southern Pines Paper Co. The edited list of lines includes BECCA, Natura Bissé, Jane Iredale, as well as harder-to-find products by LuLu Organics and Tocca Beauty. Makeup goods that were once only available at Barneys New York and Saks are now at your fingertips in this adorable shop.

Gentlemen’s Corner

It may appear as though Pinehurst and Southern Pines cater to a female clientele with the abundance of storefronts boasting Vera Bradley, Lilly Pulitzer, and Crane & Co. goods. But this Pinehurst store, which is best described as Palm Beach meets the Hamptons, stocks golf and casual attire and shoes by Peter Millar as well as Robert Talbott neckwear (check out the bowtie collection!).

The Spa at Pinehurst

Unwind after a round of golf or an afternoon of shopping with one of the more than fifty services available at this Forbes Travel Guide four-star spa. After your magnolia luxury facial or golfer’s massage, during which Pinehurst’s own line of aromatherapy massage oils are used, relax by the indoor pool in one of the spa’s plush robes or detox in the eucalyptus steam room.

By Night

The Porch at Pinehurst Resort

After a long day of shopping and touring, you’ll want to pull up one of the white rocking chairs on the resort’s oversize porch and enjoy an Arnold Palmer (iced tea with lemonade), one of the resort’s complimentary cigars, or, depending on what time of day, complimentary miniature scones, tea cakes, and English tea courtesy of the resort. This setting is especially relaxing during the fall and winter months when smoke from the resort’s and nearby homes’ fireplaces lingers in the air.

The 1895 Grille

One of Pinehurst Resort’s renowned dining options (and the only Four Diamond–rated restaurant in the area), this cozy dining room allows you to have a romantic dinner while sampling Southern fare at its finest. The chefs look to local ingredients so you know that what you’re getting is fresh and flavorful in every bite.

The Jefferson Inn

From spring through fall, The Jefferson Inn boasts one of the best outdoor music scenes in the area. Pull up a chair at The Tavern, the inn’s restaurant, and take in the rustic, relaxed vibe while listening to live music several nights a week.

[Source: Blake Miller. Pinehurst and Southern Pines. Home by Design. Homebydesign.com. February/March 2012.]

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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The Sweet Aromas of Spring

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:23:05 -0800

THE FRESHEST FLAVORS OF THE SEASON MINGLE IN THIS ALFRESCO MEAL
Written by Caroline Ford | Photography by Brenda Crow

As winter’s frost melts into the soft pastels of a budding spring, I’m eager to gather my friends in celebration. The bright colors of the season’s edible treasures need nothing more than a clean, white tablecloth and a bouquet of fragrant flowers. Enjoy this light lunch on a sunny patio or fling open your windows for a fresh breeze and the sweet smell of spring. For a twist on a standard mimosa, I’ve paired a sweet rhubarb syrup with tart grapefruit juice to create a flirty pink cocktail that’s a welcome refreshment as your guests join the party. Since nothing says spring quite like asparagus, I’ve placed rows of tender green stalks on top of zesty ricotta cheese tucked into buttery puff pastry. The individual tarts are served alongside herbaceous mini frittatas and vibrant pink gravlax on rye crackers. For a decadent finish to the garden party, I love serving a classic combination of berries and cream. Sweet and rich, the roasted strawberry ice cream highlights the gorgeous colors of this tender spring fruit. It’s outstanding accompanied by pieces of dense poppy seed pound cake or fluffy angel food cake. These recipes will serve a party of six, but they can be easily doubled for larger festivities.

ASPARAGUS TARTS

Serves 6

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 cup ricotta cheese

zest of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon chopped dill

1 tablespoon chopped chives

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 large bunch of small stalks of asparagus, any tough ends removed

1 tablespoon olive oil

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the puff pastry into 6 rectangles measuring 6 by 3 inches. Lay the pastry on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Stir together the ricotta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, and herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide the ricotta mixture among the 6 pastry rectangles and spread the mixture evenly, leaving a ¼-inch border on all edges.

Toss the asparagus stalks in olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Trim the stalks to fit exactly on top of ricotta mixture, leaving the buds intact. Bake for about 20 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.

MINI HERB FRITTATAS

Yields 12 mini frittatas

8 eggs

8 tablespoons heavy cream

1 cup finely grated Parmesan

2 packed tablespoons finely chopped dill

2 packed tablespoons chopped chives

zest of 1 lemon

1½ teaspoons kosher salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Garnish:

5 very thin slices prosciutto, torn into 3-inch-long strips

½ cup arugula

Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Beat the eggs in a medium bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine. Pour the mixture into greased mini muffin tins, just shy of the top. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes; the eggs should start to look set. Turn on the broiler and cook until the frittatas are puffed and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Top each frittata with a small strip of prosciutto and 1 to 2 arugula leaves and serve warm or at room temperature.

RYE CRACKERS WITH GRAVALAX AND PICKED RED ONION

Yields 12 crackers

3 thin square slices rye bread

4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 tablespoon chopped capers

1 tablespoon chopped dill

zest of ½ lemon

½ teaspoon salt

¼ pound gravlax

pickled red onions (recipe follows)

Garnish:

chopped chives

Cut each piece of rye bread into 4 small squares. Brush squares with olive oil and bake at 350 degrees F until the bread is toasted and beginning to brown. In a medium bowl, stir together cream cheese and heavy cream until the mixture is smooth and spreadable. Stir in the capers, dill, lemon, and salt. Spread 1 to 2 teaspoons of the mixture on each cracker and top with a small piece of gravlax, a couple of slices of pickled red onion, and chopped chives to garnish.

Pickled Red Onion:

½ large red onion

1 tablespoon kosher salt

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Cut the red onion vertically into very thin slices. Sprinkle the slices with salt and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Rinse the slices with water and allow to drain.

Once the slices have drained, toss them with vinegar and sugar. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. The leftover red onion can be used for sandwiches or salads.

ROASTED STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

Makes 1½ quarts

1 pound strawberries, green tops removed

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon Maraschino liqueur or other cherry liqueur

1½ cups whole milk

1½ cups heavy whipping cream ⅔ cup granulated sugar, divided

1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped

salt 5 egg yolks

Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Cut any large strawberries in half so they are all approximately the same size and place them in a large bowl. Toss the berries with brown sugar and balsamic vinegar. Roast on a baking tray for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Toss with the maraschino liqueur and transfer to a blender or food processor. Blend or pulse very briefly to break the strawberries up but so that a few small chunks remain. Place the berries in the refrigerator.

Heat the milk, cream, ⅓ cup sugar, vanilla seeds, vanilla pod, and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Bring just to a boil. While the milk heats, whisk together the remaining ⅓ cup sugar and egg yolks in a medium bowl. Slowly temper the hot milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the pan and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is thick and coats the back of the spoon. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl and chill in the refrigerator. When the mixture has fully chilled, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and continue to refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Freeze the ice cream base in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer’s instructions. Pour in about half of the roasted strawberries when the ice cream starts to churn. When ice cream is almost done, pour in half of the remaining strawberry puree. When done, transfer half of the ice cream to a freezer-safe container and smooth the top into an even layer. Pour the remaining strawberry mixture in an even layer on the ice cream. Make a final layer with the remaining ice cream and freeze. The middle layer of strawberry puree will result in a bright pink strawberry ripple in each scoop.

RHUBARB-GRAPEFRUIT MIMOSA

Makes 1 cocktail

2 ounces grapefruit

1 ounce rhubarb syrup (recipe below)

6 ounces Champagne or other sparkling wine

Combine the grapefruit juice and rhubarb syrup in the bottom of a glass and top with Champagne.

Rhubarb Syrup

2 cups 1-inch rhubarb pieces

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup water

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for about 25 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on the solids to extract all the juices. Save the cooked rhubarb to use as a compote, if desired. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

[Source: Caroline Ford. "The Sweet Aromas of Spring" Home by Design. Homebydesign.com. February/March2012]

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Date-Night Makeover

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:35:41 -0800

Give Your Friday Night a New Look with Eight Twists on Traditional Plans

Written by Ashley Gartland

If you’re like most couples, date night involves some version of a dinner out followed by a visit to the cineplex to catch the latest blockbuster. The dinner-and-a-movie routine is part of an enjoyable night out, but mixing things up on occasion stands to benefit couples, too. Whether you change the theme, the time of day, or the location of your date, replacing your go-to night out with something new can help you bring the excitement back into your relationship and discover new qualities in your significant other. Ready to revamp the traditional night out? Here are eight fresh ideas to inspire a date-night makeover.

REDEFINE THE DINNER DATE. When your typical Friday night involves a table for two at a fancy restaurant or, conversely, Chinese takeout eaten on the couch, you and your taste buds will likely tire of the same old routine. You can keep the dinner tradition alive but make it more appealing by changing your reservation to a new location. You might drop by the latest hotspot, plan a progressive dinner in which each course takes place at a new restaurant, or head to an eatery with communal tables so you can engage with your date as well as fellow diners. The new scenery, personalities, and flavors are just what you need to get out of a rut.

WORK IT OUT. Say goodbye to sedentary evenings and start using your free time to be active as a couple. Exercise indoors by scaling the walls at a rock climbing gym or practicing poses at a yoga studio. Or head outdoors for new adventures: rent bikes and pedal along a local bike path or tackle a tough hike that offers great views as your reward.

HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL. If you’ve always wanted to learn to scuba dive, collect wine, or make pasta, consider signing up for a class that will teach you that desired skill. Browse the offerings at local colleges and independent businesses and sign up for a class or a series on a topic that interests both of you. Short on time? Take a tour of the art museum or sit in on a public lecture, and you’ll have conversational fodder for days.

TURN BACK THE CLOCK. There’s fun to be had in acting like a teenager again, whether you go roller-skating hand in hand or take your spare change to an arcade for a rousing Pac-Man tournament. You might attend a high school football game and then head to the local drive-in to celebrate the win. A meal of burgers, fries, and milkshakes partnered with your favorite high school tunes will complete the evening’s nostalgic feel.

GO FORAGING. Whether you’re hunting for mushrooms in the forest or searching for the perfect armoire at the flea market, seeking out something special as a couple gives you a shared sense of purpose. Drive to the beach and comb the sand for shells, go antiquing in a nearby town, or visit an old bookstore and search for your favorite titles. And if your foraging adventure takes place outdoors, don’t miss the opportunity to pack a picnic.

ACT LIKE A TOURIST. Taking a trip together doesn’t always require leaving town. Book a night at an upscale local hotel and enjoy a weekend spent playing tourist in your own backyard. You might spend your days exploring the sights or sign up for tours and activities that cater to out-of-towners that will provide you with new insights about your hometown, too.

ATTEND A BLACK-TIE EVENT. If the last time you wore a tux or a fancy gown was prom or your wedding, invite your significant other to play dress up by gifting him or her tickets to a black-tie event. Go all out by arriving with flowers or a corsage and enjoying an aperitif at a fancy bar.

HIT THE BOOKS. If you’re a couple of bookworms, make a date of grabbing coffee and browsing the shelves at your favorite bookstore. Take the time to flip through interesting titles and share new discoveries and then separate for a while to shop for a surprise. Find a book you think your significant other would like and buy two copies so you can read it together and extend the date beyond the bookstore.

[Source: Ashley Gartland. "Date Night Makeover" Home by Design. Homebydesign.com. February/March2012]

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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New Listing in Frisco!

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:02:34 -0800

New Listing!
11360 Old Works Drive
Frisco, TX
$249,000

11360 Old Works Drive in Frisco is new on the market. Great family home with all the amenities of Plantation Springs. Convenient location with easy access to 121 and Preston Rd.

This David Weekley home features 4 bedroom, 3.5 baths, 3 living areas, study, master downstairs, game room, and 3 bedrooms upstairs, as well as an ample sized yard for children. Large kitchen is open to family room for ease in entertaining. Neautral colors throughout. Move in ready!

This home is priced at $249,000.

For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Brenda Mancil at: 214-679-1772 or bmancil@remax.net.

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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A Home-Grown Park in Pittstown

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:32:51 -0800

A New Jersey landscape design specialist incorporates more than one hundred types of plants to create a park-like landscape surrounding his home.

WRITTEN BY MARESA GIOVANNINI

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAY ROSENBLATT

“A landscape can be an evolving thing, and there’s no need to feel this sense of forcing it,” says Howard Roberts.“Sometimes things reveal themselves that you didn’t even expect by being a little more patient.” Patience is exactly the virtue Roberts needed during the twelve years it took to transform his run-down, three-acre property of empty fields into a mature, lush, and private retreat for his family. Involved in the landscape industry for more than thirty years and currently the owner of New Jersey-based Cross River Design Inc., a landscape design and build company, and its offshoot, Liquid Inc., a custom pool and water feature design company, Roberts had all the tools he needed to embark on his evolving design.

Located in Pittstown, New Jersey, Roberts’ forty-year-old home is a three-quarter-scale reproduction of the George Wythe House in Williamsburg, Virginia. The simple brick exterior and existing meadow landscape drove the outdoor color palette with varied tones of red and green for the barn, garden structures, wicker and teak furniture, plants, pots, and other accessories.

Although the material items were relatively simple to install, the natural barriers took more time to cultivate. “We had no privacy, cover, shade, wind screens, or scale on the property, so the first effort was to start planting a variety of native shade trees,” says Roberts. “I wanted them to acclimate and get established as quickly as possible so I could enjoy that investment while I was living here.” He added to the five existing trees on the property by planting 135 young trees including pin oaks; London planes; weeping willows; dawn redwoods; kousa dogwoods; Norway spruces; crabapples; and sugar, red, and paperbark maples.

With challenges such as heavy deer pressure and sun and winter-wind exposure, the site had many accommodations that required careful consideration. To thwart grazing animals, Roberts selected deer-tolerant shrubs and perennials such as lilac, vitex, butterfly bush, deutzia, spirea, and varieties of viburnum so his gardens could would maintain graceful color.

More than one hundred types of plants offer a multitude of textures and sizes to shape and layer the more organic outdoor rooms. Roberts’s intention for the gardens and seating areas around the property was to create an intimate, park-like setting instead of the linear composition that would traditionally accompany this style of home. “Nature is the best teacher,” he says. “These plants have natural shape and habits for a reason.” Trees, shrubs, perennials, ground cover, and other details all contribute to these welcoming yet undefined outdoor rooms.

Arguably, the most defined outdoor space is around the pool. Designed by Roberts, the shallow lap pool is the focal point of the rear living space yet is separated from the home by a structural fence, a hedge, an arbor, and a gate. Because the pool is usable only a few months of the year, Roberts created a design that was functional and appealing throughout the seasons. The fence, accented with boxwood hedges, keeps children safe during the summer months and shields the unsightly pool cover during the rest of the year. It also helps extend the green space around the pool so there is a place for the kids to lay their towels and bask in the sun.

A pergola addition off the house is balanced by a similar one at the far end of the pool that provides another garden space and an elongated view of the pool toward the house. “I’m always trying to draw people into different spaces [and] experiences, and to extend, frame, or open their views and perspectives,” says Roberts. Whether guests are lounging in the chaises or eating lunch at one of the tables, they are surrounded by colorful potted and hanging plants that highlight the space. Minimizing the potentially pesky presence of bees, most of these plants provide color with foliage instead of flowers; however, vibrant fuchsias, shrub roses and dwarf geraniums also bloom when the time is right.

“I couldn’t afford the money or time to build my entire project in one or two phases … but I always had a plan, vision, and goal in mind,” says Roberts about the grounds, which he personally maintains. “Honestly, it will never be done; it is a work in progress, but that is what is great about a garden.”

[Source: Maresa Giovannini. "A Home-Grown Park in Pittstown". Home by Design. Homebydesign.com. February/March 2012.

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Coming Soon! Great Family Home in Plantation Springs Subdivision of Frisco

Brenda Mancil (RE/MAX Premier Properties) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:44:35 -0800

Looking for a home in a subdivision with lots of amenities for the whole family? Plantation Springs offers just that. You’ll find jogging paths/bike paths, parks, lakes, and greenbelts. Sold on the community? Then take a look at this home in move-in condition that will be coming on the market this week!

11360 Old Works Dr. in Frisco. $249,000. Call for details or to schedule a showing!

For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Brenda Mancil at: 214-679-1772 or bmancil@remax.net.

Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772

www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com

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Brenda Mancil's Blog

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By Day

By Night

The Sweet Aromas of Spring

Date-Night Makeover

New Listing in Frisco!

A Home-Grown Park in Pittstown

Coming Soon! Great Family Home in Plantation Springs Subdivision of Frisco

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Spacious Home With A View!