Whether you're listing your property for sale or redesigning your bathroom for your own aesthetic enjoyment, swapping out the shower curtain with an edgy design is the easiest and most affordable way to quickly improve bathroom ambiance.

1) My favorite, this "Tree" Shower Curtain, in dark brown on a white background, is made of washable polyesterl and brightens up the room with a clean, simple silhouette.

Almost any color pairing can do. White towels will give the bathroom a minimalistic, refreshing look; coral pink will play up on the age-old "retro" brown and pink theme; sage green will invoke the outdoors and a peaceful aura.

Available at UrbanOutfitters online for $40, and a bargain for the impression it makes!

2) PlushLiving's selection of vintage-inspired modern shower curtains are serious showstoppers in the bathroom. "Links" Shower Curtain (second picture) in blue and white combines the best of old and new. PlushLiving's curtains come in a delightful array of colorful bursts, $36 at AldeaHome.com

If you can't match the towel colors perfectly (or close enough) the safe bet is to defer to white. While traditional and contemporary decor often involves an amalgam of colors, truly modern decor is palette sensitive, often either monochromatic, a pairing of two colors next to each other on the pie chart, or two or three smartly matched but strongly opposing colors.

3) Another superb pairing with either white or other strong colors (avoid pale colors, or you might get the "washed out look") is the Paris or Empire State Building shower curtains.  These are stellar examples of "usable art"! They are engaging conversational pieces and will create flair in even the dullest bathrooms. Paris Shower Curtain or Empire State Building, $26 each.

Trick: To keep costs low, purchase one to two new sets of towels, depending on how much hanging space you have. Use your old towels for showers and put them away when you step out of the house for a buyer showing. Leave the new towels out and in perfect condition. Fresh towels make the entire bathroom fresh! Modern=clean!!

Yes, she is giving you that look. Yes, that look.

And it's something to write home about, too. With an asking price of $17,000 Juli Adams' deeply quizzical artwork pierces the thin veneer of polite society and into your soul. You'd brush it off, if you could, but you can't. It's exceptional.

Piece by piece, Juli Adams delivers wrenching, penetrating images that both inspire and frighten you at the same time. You look. And you look again.

Jennifer Bowman changes the tempo with
works that my mother would swoon for.

Free-flowing, interpretive pieces of gardens and countrysides that you could come home to day after day, brilliant color in a creative "loosing of the tie".

Chardonnay, anyone?

Our quest for the striking would not be complete without a hefty appreciation for a bit of the modern, specifically bronze, stainless steel, and stone sculpture that belongs in the gardens and houses of those not merely content with magnificence on the wall.

James Kelsey's sculpture is an experience in scale,  playfulness, and  presence.

While a painting can sit amicably by itself, Kelsey's sculpture demands dialog. Its strong, clean lines belong on the edges of pools and lakes, gracing zen gardens, and in the recesses of your imagination.

Seattle's annual Fourth of July Firecracker 5000 was a supremely delightful run, with slightly over 700 particpants showing up to strut their stuff in the late wee hours.

About one mile in, as the course curved back around toward the stadium, my twin sister explained with glee, "We're almost there!!!"  She became less than exicted when I shared we had only run about one mile and that in fact the course would snake around Belltown for another two miles before heading back for the final dash.

Congratulations, Anne!!! She is now training for her first full marathon this fall!

Left picture: My sis is directly in front of me with the light pink shirt and hair up in a long pony tail. We're running up Denny with the Space Needle in the background.

Bottom picture: My sis on the right, her first race ever, post run.

Ok, Ok, what is this, you're thinking??

It's an invite to participate with me and several other stoic Brio-ites who're just as excited as I am in the Firecracker 5000, a delightful 5k walk/run happening in downtown Seattle the night of July 3rd at 11:55pm, and running into July 4th.

Have you ever run under the stars before? If today's weather is indicative of our summer, this special night will be perfect temperature-wise for those of you who'd love to live out your wild side! Or run it, if you're up to it!

Please invite your families, kids too! Friends, neighbors, anyone who'd enjoy this funtastic event! The event costs $25 if you register by the 2nd of July, and $35 for after that.

On Race Day (July 3rd):

10pm  Day of race registration and bib and chip pickup in Memorial Stadium

11:55 Start of Race

12:30 Brief awards ceremony with music and refreshments inside Memorial Stadium after the run

The Memorial Stadium is located at the Seattle Center at 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109.

The direct link: http://www.promotionevents.com/events/events-08/FC5K-08/registration.htm

Call me with any questions about this superb walk/run on my cell at 206-724-6500. Come and have fun!! Look forward to seeing you there!!!!

Happy Fourth!!!!

While I rave about Bellevue proper, and I rave about Seattle proper,

(granted, both of these cities are smoking hot, and their obstinance in maintaining their values despite greater market turmoil elsewhere testifies to this...)

...some of you may be wondering, "Sara, sure these areas are great, but what about a terrific larger home for a price I can afford?"

With the median home price in Belleuve at $635,500, and the median condo price at $324,995, many are feeling priced out of the market. If you work in either of these two great cities. promising homes can be found just a short commute away, and no, you don't have to sacrifice on the bedrooms, or the space!

The following home is a terrific example.

This is one of my listings, located in Bothell, on a quiet street with quick access to 405 and a short dash to I5. It's tucked into the edge of a cul de sac, in a friendly neighborhood of like houses, and comes complete with three bedrooms, a bonus room, a supersized entertaining deck, and a hottub below, as well as the preliminary living and dining room. The kitchen features  newer modern and visually appealing cabinetry, and all three bedrooms are reasonably sized with generously large windows. The home is fully fenced with visibly high quality wood fencing (new), and the landscaping maintenance is minimal, yet aesthetically inviting.

The price? $349,950, just an elbow above the median price for a condo in Bellevue. What a steal!!

The home is owned by an executive who commutes to Bellevue, and he is downsizing because he no longer needs such a large home. It's been maintained exceptionally well, and if this is the home for you, you're guarranteed to love it as much as he did.

Feel free to take a drive by to see the home, or give me or your agent a call and I'd love to show you the home (or any others you're interested in).

Home Facts:

Address: 20616 13th Drive South East, Bothell, WA

Square Feet: 1,650 as per seller

Beds: 3

Baths: 1.75

Year Built: 1975

Details: Two car garage, laundry room, well-maintained bright and airy Bothell home, close to 405, quick drive to I5, nearby grocery and shopping, great Bothell schools! Large Deck, hot tub, fully fenced, fabulous home for entertaining, on cul de sac in quiet, friendly neighborhood! Steal of a price!

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest,

it was common for residents of the Bellevue/Eastside and residents of Seattle not to intermingle, viewing Lake Washington as a great expanse separating two very different worlds. I still encounter people who won't jump the "pond" to the other side, but for those in the Emerald City ignoring their eastern neighbor, an almost seemingly overnight transformation is taking place.

Calling Bellevue Seattle's sister city may be a bit presumptious, but no doubt this shining star is becoming a neighbor with which to contend. Why?

Bellevue residents have the "hots" for Bellevue,

and the temperature is rising: In the city's annual performance survey, 95% of respondents said they believe Bellevue is an excellent place to live, up two percent from last year. 94% rank the quality of life in their neighborhood as good to excellent, up 4%.

Bellevue is being "urbanized":

Aside from the stunning additions such as Bellevue Towers and Washington Square in the downtown district (and a new nightlife!), Bellevue's Bel-Red Corridor will be transformed into a more urban environment, with mixed use development, new neighborhoods (including affordable housing), parks and open areas, improved transportation, and more streets, bike lanes, and trails.

Preparing for the commuting future:

Bellevue's Light Rail Best Practices Commitee issued a report on the development of light rail after firsthand observation of the light rail systems in Portland, San Jose, and San Diego. What you need to know: connections will include downtown Bellevue, the Bed-Red area, Overlake, and Seattle, while preserving and enhancing Bellevue's character. Your ongoing participation is sought by the Best Practices commitee.

Commitment to environmental stewardship:

By the close of 2008, the City of Bellevue vehicle fleet will include 31 Hybrids, as well as several "flex" fuel vehicles which run on a combination of gasoline and ethanol. Thirty-two diesel vehicles have been retrofitted with "diesel particulate filters" that trap pollution normally emitted into the air. The entire fleet (as well as maintenance equipment) recycles its engine oil, antifreeze, fluids, tires, batteries, metals, mercury switches, and brake components.

No longer in Kansas, Toto! Shopping is stepping up:

Neiman Marcus is moving into the Braven (under construction, on the corner of 8th and 112th), as well as the emergence of other stores like Burberry and Lacoste in Bellevue Square. We knew you'd finally get here!

[Picture of Bellevue Towers taken from my car heading west on Bellevue Way. These are my favorite new addition to the city!]

The Newmark Tower

in downtown Seattle, on the corner of Pike and Second Ave, is an established building with a full concierge, indoor pool, gym, spa, and an overnight guest suite. 

The high rise on the left is the "Newmark", in which I sold a comfortable condo to an earth-friendly client. The Newmark Tower is a short 1.5 blocks from Seattle's renowned Pike Place Market, two blocks from Westlake Center and the shopping district, and one block from the beautiful Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony.

My client loved the location, a short bus-ride right off 2nd into south Queen Anne. She often frequents Belltown via an even shorter bus-ride, or a brisk walk. Eco conscious, she eschewed owning a personal vehicle, proving how pedestrian friendly a city Seattle really is.

The Newmark underwent extensive renovations in 2002-2003 and is a good catch for a building to buy in, if you can get it!

I captured these pictures of the building from the 9th floor of the parking garage on the corner of 2nd Ave and Union in downtown Seattle.

The next picture captures the view looking west from the parking garage, and the edge of the Newmark on the rightmost.

I just got meme'd, compliments Rich Jacobson, and since this is the second time I've been meme'd, I thought I'd just do it...

Question 1: Who is my favorite Musical Artist?

This is tough to narrow down, I am very broad-spectrum!!! It'd have to be a three-way tie between Luciano Pavarotti, Bono of U2, and Peter Furler of Newsboys.

Question 2: Who is my favorite Artist?

William-Adolphe Bouguereau, hands down. 

Question 3: Who is My Favorite Blogger?

My favorite RE blogger is Jessica Horton! And I love Kevin Tomlinson for the pure entertainment factor. Both exceptional people, btw!

Question 4: If I could meet anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and what is interesting about them?

I would want to meet Jesus. I want to love others the way Jesus loved them.

Question 5: What did I want to be when I grew up?

A doctor, a pilot, an archeologist, and journalist, a New York Symphony violinist, and a shrink.

Question 6: What is the most interesting piece of Trivia that I know?

LOL that depends on how you define "trivia"! Actually, I can't think of anything... nothing seems like "trivia" to me! Rhodedendrums and Azaleas like shade. (Is it trivia if it has a practical application?)

Visceral fat is very dangerous, as it functions as its own organ in the body and correlates directly with life-threatening conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease... (Also  has practical application...marathon, anyone?)

Question 7: If you could live in any point of history when would it be and why?

Right now. I can't imagine a better time in history where individual people have been empowered to make the world a better place, caring for the disenfranschised and those in need. I am excited about the opportunity to live right now.

Question 8: What is the most interesting job you’ve ever had?

I thought of a few that matched perfectly for this, but then I opted to be non-traditional and speak about a "job" that's been close to my heart for over a year.... specifically, what it means for me to be a good steward of my life, my opportunities, my friendships, my money, etc. I've been taking steps to live more intentionally, with the choices I make, how I spend my money, even my entertainment... I can either live accidentally, or I can live on purpose. I used to feel powerless to change the world, until one day I realized that my powerlessnes came from the every day choices I made. Being a steward of my life is the most interesting "job" and meaningful one I could ever have.

Is your discount broker watching out for you??

What services will you be doing without, that you just don't know yet?

Today I came across a listing in Somerset that I've never paid much attention to. It's been listed for sale for nine months, dropped in price by 75k but still erroneously listed about $50k above market value. In the marketing remarks it says: "Seller to offer buyer up to $30,000 cash bonus at closing".

My first instinct was to ask, "What does it matter if the seller will offer 30k in cash bonus if potential buyers are searching the market for homes $30k less? What the seller has done is artificially inflate the price of his home above the range that potential buyers would look for it in.

I thought about calling the listing agent and passing along my suggestion as an act of realtor cameraderie, when I noticed the listing office: a discount brokerage to whom you pay $500 to list your property for up to a year. This was not the sort of brokerage that offered any real representation to the seller.

In fact, it was unlikely they had ever counseled the seller on either price or strategy. So why did the seller choose a discount broker that as of today has cost him more in mortgage payments since listing (and that he could have saved) than he would have paid out to a qualified area specialist for proper representation?

The answer lies in the prejudice in percieved value.

Let's consider another market:

The real difference between international real estate representation and US real estate representation lies in the perceived value of the agent, not in the difference between the services rendered.

This should make us wonder why we devalue our real estate experts in the US and why we think a discount broker is just as good.

When visiting my cousin in Lake Como, my husband and I had the opportunity to enjoy the company of a local agent. In Italy, the agent explained, you pay your agent up front. You pay fees to them to search for a house for you, and you continue to pay them cash out while they negotiate the deal and secure your property. Likewise, you pay them to find a buyer should you be selling.

In the US, not only do we not pay our agents upfront, we treat them like they are trying to rip us off. "You want us to pay how much? And what for?"

...the prejudice in perceived value...

That's exactly why to some there is no perceived difference between a discount broker and a highly experienced market specialist.

Some questions to consider:

• Will my discount broker consult me on market pricing and strategy backed up by qualified and ample research?

• How qualified is my discount broker (if at all) on the particulars of my neighborhood market? (Consider that two blocks out from your home could be the end of your neighborhood and the start of another. How intimately does the discount broker know neighborhood boundaries and values?

• Is my discount broker out in the field selling every day? Or do they sit behind a desk?

• If I choose my discount broker because they give me the commission savings I want (meaning, they don't negotiate with me at all), how can I know they're any good negotiating the price I want?

• How much money and time am I prepared to lose (think mortgage payments, lost opportunities on contingent purchases, etc)

• Do I believe a worker is entitled to fair pay for their work? Am I being realistic in what I hope to get for what I pay?

• Is there anyone on my side (as buyer or seller) watching out for me that's not scared to give it to me how it is (speak the truth to me, even if I'm not excited to hear it) to help me sell my home?

Mark your calendars!!

Only two days away, residents in Bellevue, Washington have the opportunity to participate in an innovative "Spring Forward Expo: Projects Affecting Your Future" event/open house Wednesday, May 15th, where experts on over 40 city and regional projects affecting the city will offer presentations and seek your feedback. The event will take place at Bellevue City Hall at 450 110th Avenue NE, on the first floor concourse. (This is your opportunity to visit the gorgeous new City Hall if you haven't done so!)

Some of the projects featured and seeking your input:

• The Light Rail Best Practices Committee draft report regarding light rail practices to be applied in Bellevue. (EXCITING!!)
  
• Aquatic Center Feasibility Study north of Main Street
  
• Boeing/Eastgate Property Master Plan
  
• Meydenbauer Bay Project and Land Use Master Plan (I Blogged about this earlier, here's the master plan we've been awaiting!)
  
• Sound Transit East Link (To be created off the Freeway)
  
• Neighborhood Sidewalk Program (Livability, Livability!)
  

                      ...and there's a whole lot more!!! In fact, so much more, that it's guaranteed something here's going to affect you directly if you're a Bellevue resident... More info on Spring Forward Expo

Bellevue is truly a proactive city. Whereas some our neighboring cities face grumbles regarding mismanagement of resources, Bellevue deserves kudos for improving the quality of life of its residents and for its wise stewardship of resources and opportunities.