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Great Lifestyle Is About Good Thoughtful Design

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

LifestyleSometimes I think I ought to have been an architect. Good design whether it be in a commercial building or in residential promotes an emotional warm feeling in you.

Great Lifestyle Is About Good Thoughtful Design.

In touring houses with residential buyers we call it the WOW house when you hit on it. A clean fresh house, nice floorplan, nice amenities, very livable. In commercial buildings there is light, art mixed with the practical and open space. I have seen it with bridges where you can see the water visibly that it crosses from both sides.

On the opposite side I have been in WalMarts where they are turning every other flourescent light off with dim lighting to save money, graffiti written on railroad bridge trestles, dirty carpet with socks and underwear laying out on home staircases, black water in gunked up backyard pools with the highlight being a big frog sitting on some plastic hosing, you get the image...

In our homes, in our commercial buildings, in our skyscrapers, highways and bridges, we all if we have any control of that architecture, should make an effort to make it have good feelings for us. It is our home space, it is our workplace. There is a reason for art and beauty in our lives and it is just to not visit paintings in a museum on a Saturday when the relatives come into town. It is to make our life better. There is a reason some homes are given the Builder's Showcase awards and some businesses are given those Best Place To Work honors. Or the best bridges of the nation like in Austin, TX. It is about DESIGN.

It is cause someone cared up front or along the way to create some legacy for themselves and for those that came after them. People who would say WOW inside a house or Ahhhh inside a building. A sense of belonging. A sense of I want to be here. Not a bad thing to strive for in our lives. You will know it when you see it.

Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

I guess we can call it the WOW effect. Our buyers wants the WOW house and our sellers have the WOW house that everyone else wants.

Mar 13, 2011 05:05 AM
Glenn Roberts
Retired - Seattle, WA

I feel the Awe in some buildings and I just love going back there. REI in Seattle is such a place. I've tried to capture the feeling in a photograph and may try again after reading this. Thanks, Gary

Mar 13, 2011 05:06 AM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

"Sometimes I think I ought to have been an architect."

Me to Gary! Me to.

Although I've been and remain a fan of Howard Rourke I've found it's more fun to employ architects!

"In touring houses with residential buyers we call it the WOW house when you hit on it."  I love a good WOW from the street, but even more I like a WOW when I leave building! Functional affordability satisfies more people than StructuralArt.

Then again people with the money are entitled to their art.

I just wished that Governments and Churches would understand the art of pure functionality as apposed to Pyramidal Style Monuments to the control of other peoples money!

Bill

Mar 13, 2011 05:43 AM
Connie Goodrich
Keller Williams Realty - McKinney, TX
CRS ABR (McKinney Realtor)Texas

Good design both on the exterior and interior is important.  A great design will be rewarded by the years of enjoyment and as you so well put it the Legacy to how you will be remembered.  Very nice post!  A yes, mindful use of spending of "our" money that we entrust for good use should be paramount to all decisions on how to spend!

Mar 13, 2011 05:52 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Gary-A great design and the style that makes you happy is the best design. Great post.

Mar 13, 2011 06:07 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Sarah: The WOW houses if priced right usually fly off the shelves with a sale.

Glenn: You'll have to blog about that place in Seattle for us.

Bill: More money does need to spent in the art area of life I am convinced of that as well.

Connie: We can make glorious designs sometimes with just a little focus in how we spend our money on the interior or exterior.

Sharon: Happy is the good word I agree when looking at the effect it has on us with the design.

Mar 13, 2011 06:18 AM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Gary, I so agree with you. The Wow can be in many things. I love bridges that give the wow feeling.

Mar 13, 2011 06:27 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I interviewed for a listing with a major-WOW house today.  There was no detail overlooked.  Of course, the reason the home was a wow to begin with was evident in the little things the sellers were doing to make the home even better before listing. 

Mar 13, 2011 07:17 AM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.

Gary, you alluded to a great point....great design is worthless if the property is not showing well due to neglect or junk laying around. 

Mar 13, 2011 03:06 PM
Janice Roosevelt
Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA
OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

Gary, great post and good design can be simple.

Mar 14, 2011 12:58 AM
Steven Nickens
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI
R(S)GRI ABR, Maui Real Estate Hawaii

Gary, my wife gives that sense of beauty to my home and life, with her sense of style.  It's the little things sometimes that makes one's office or home unique. For me fresh cut grass does it every time.

Mar 14, 2011 03:15 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Connie: I have like yourself started paying attention to bridges that I admire. Some architects do an excellent job with "art" in that area.

Chris Ann: Some homeowners their house completely shows to the world that it is their 'pride and joy.' Should make for an easy sale. Everyone loves wow houses.

Sondra: That's interesting, like say the home is a beauty but a junky car is parked on the front lawn or there are high weeds everywhere in the grass. It is the sum total you are right.

Janice: I like that thought of simple design. It doesn't have to cost much or be elaborate to give that very positive feeling.

Steven: I love the smell of fresh cut grass and well done landscaping. Some women have that magic touch of turning a house into a HOME.

Mar 14, 2011 05:47 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Gary,

Good design is so important starting from the inside working out and vis versa! I agree a great lifestyle is about good thoughtful design.  

Mar 14, 2011 11:53 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Gary the space you design and live in says a lot about a person for sure!

Mar 15, 2011 01:04 AM