Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Geo Growers - Dripping Springs

After being pregnant and then having a newborn, my garden has seen it's better days.  So inspiration struck after the last rain.... our plants are greening up!  We decided to take a trip out to Geo Growers where you bag your own dirt and mulch and they also have a lot of rock such as pea gravel, crushed granite, basalt, compost and specialized soils.



This is our car stuffed with everything we could possibly need to garden.  We also got some compost tea (this stuff is supposed to be the bomb!) and poured it on some of our plants that needed a boost.



The pea gravel went under our pecan and oak trees and the dirt and mulch went into our garden beds.  Then we also bought this special Thunder Dirt to give a boost to all of our succulents and potted plants.

Our yard is so happy!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Landscaper Dream in South Austin


New homeowners Allie & Scott sign the final papers!  They are both landscape architects and we found an amazing home in South Austin with a HUGE lot.....a landscaper dream.

South Austin has perfect access to downtown and tons of hip eateries and shops.... they now have the IBIZ districts.  South Lamar and South First - both have fabulous local Austin businesses and these districts were created to support local business (I Buy Austin).

Austin Title handled things well when we had a few hiccups with the lender.  Overall, I think the homeowners were happy to finally get those keys!!!


Siena slept through the closing and made an appearance for the end.  Here she is chatting it up with my clients at the closing table.






Friday, October 14, 2011

Stager Perfection

Martha Cole
Staging and Redesign

Master Bedroom

Master Bath feels spa-like

Living

Kitchen
Attention: Amazing Stager, Martha Cole!  She staged this home at 932 E 56th street and it went under contract in 3 days.  For more information about her see below......



Who I am...
My name is Martha Cole. I’m a wife, mother of two teenage girls, former teacher, stay-at-home mom, and I have been obsessed with homes and interiors since childhood. My husband and I have renovated two older homes in Austin, successfully modernizing while preserving the original charm of the homes. I also founded a decorating ministry at my church which uses volunteer labor and donated materials to furnish and decorate rooms for families in Habitat for Humanity homes. The ministry has been written up in Austin Homes & Gardens and Presbyterians Today.
I have done self-study on interior design for many years, and I am an advocate of architect Sarah Suzanka’s Not So Big House philosophy. One of my favorite hobbies is going to open houses around Austin. I have a particular weakness for small cottage- and bungalow-type homes in some of Austin’s older neighborhoods, and I love to see these little gems being maintained, preserved, lived in and loved.

What I do...
Staging and redesign have completely different goals, but both take savvy design skills.

With staging, I can help homeowners make their homes more appealing, more inviting, and appear more spacious so that potential buyers get a great first impression as well as a sense of how they would live in the home (and they happy life they’d have if they bought the home). Decluttering, removing distracting personal items, rearranging, improving lighting and highlighting a home’s best features are keys to staging. Staging can help a home sell faster and for a higher price.

Redesigning is the art of creating wonderful interiors with the homeowner’s existing furnishings and accessories. I have a gift for being able to work with whatever is on hand. It’s all about using basic design principles: color, form, scale/proportion, repitition, etc. Even humble furnishings can look fabulous if arranged well.



Martha A. Cole
5915 Highland Hills Drive
Austin, TX 78731
MarthaACole@gmail.com


Thursday, October 13, 2011

ACL Music Festival - 10th Anniversary

Another one bites the dust!  Actually, thankfully this year there wasn't a lot of dust (there was a year known as the brown booger).  This might have been the best weather all three days combined in ACL history.  The Austin City Limits Music Festival celebrated it's 10th year.  This was my 8th year to go, WOW!  My parents live walking distance to the festival and they have gone every year, it's a no brainer when your that close.  You can even go back to the house for a break and here the music from their rooftop overlooking the Austin skyline.

There were so many great bands and I always enjoy hearing new music I've never encountered before.  This year we also did a first and that was taking our 7 month daughter Siena to the festival.  We opted to just take her in the morning from about 11-1pm.  This was my first time to partake in the Kiddie Limits and it did not disappoint.  There were kids with red mohawks, drum circles, live kiddie music, and much much more.  Siena danced, crawled, and took it all in.  She loved it and promptly passed out on our stroller ride back to the house.

Biking down to the festival


Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr threw some cool treats to the crowd!

Relaxing at Ray LaMontagne

Just me and a few thousand of my closest friends ;)

Siena & her rockin grandma
Some favorites on Friday this year included Ray LaMontagne, Foster the People & Coldplay (I heard Kanye put on an awesome show too).  Saturday, we took Siena to Federico Aubele and then later we went to Iron & Wine (they live in Dripping Springs).  It was rainy & misty so we enjoyed the covered tent and banjo pickings from Abigail Washburn and we LOVE Gillian Welch.  We caught a moment of Cee Lo and then did a lot of dancing for Stevie Wonder!!  After some late night lasagna we rested up for DAY 3!  My close friend is in Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr so I got there early so I could be up front and they brought their A game.  Everyone was rocking out to their show.  The sun came out in full force for this show and they showered us with popsicles, how nice.  I danced and jumped and went crazy so by the end of the show I was exhausted and retreated home for a break and a chance to give Siena some kisses.  Merritt & I made it back down for an amazing Fleet Foxes show.  Their harmonies were absolutely incredible.  I met up with Josh from Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr at the legendary Randy Newman show which was a classic.  My husband Merritt and I finished off the night up front and center for Arcade Fire, a perfect way to end a wonderful weekend.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Circle C Victory!

Signing the last of the paperwork!
I helped Cheri & John find a lovely home to lease last year.  But the time had come for them to find permanent digs here in Austin.  We started the home search and found the PERFECT home for them in Circle C Ranch.  This gorgeous home boasted the ideal floor plan, hand-scraped hardwood floors, and a beautiful yard gardens.
What a gorgeous home for an amazing couple

We had a bit of journey on the financing, but these days, who doesn't?  I work with some amazing lenders if you ever want to find out more about what you qualify for just shoot me an email!

SOLD!

Love these folks!  Call Allstate Insurance Agency on Brodie for all of your insurance needs and they will take great care of you.

Friday, September 23, 2011

7 miles from downtown! Open House 9/25

Do you want to live 7 miles from downtown yet feel like you are in the spacious country away from the city?  Come by this awesome home that sits on a cul-de-sac with a .269 acre lot.  

OPEN HOUSE 
Sunday September 25th
2-4pm

Lush gardens and patio overlooking a large backyard

Master Bath Spa

Open floor plan with a cozy fireplace

Brand new flooring makes this office feel sophisticated

Gorgeous green lawn and gardens lead you to the entrance of the home
14905 Arizona Oak Lane
$155,000
2168 sq ft
4 bedroom/3 bath
Bonus Office/Study
Forest Bluff Neighborhood 

Come by to see this home for yourself!  Listing details at 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

La Condesa ~ Just Do it!





One word....DELICIOUS! Merritt and I went to La Condesa for "date night" and we were pleasantly surprised by all of the yummy food. We started out with their great happy hour. I got a fabulous watermelon martini and crab topped corn cake (called a huarache). The drink specials are excellent and I also recommend the grilled corn, tostadas, and taquitos, you can't go wrong.

The ribs were incredible: guava-glazed pork ribs & sweet plantains and we also got the three-day mole duck dish with sesame seeds and just for fun we added the potato poblano gratin. There was not a morsel of food left! It was finger-lickin good ;)

Great ambiance, wonderful food, and quality time with the hubby.... equals one happy lady!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Central Austin Charmer - Open House 7/24

Open House 2-4 pm Sunday 7-24




Wonderful Open House


Sunday 7/24


2-4pm


$139,500


This adorable 2 bedroom, 2 bath home is located just minutes from downtown and UT. Bike to North Loop Eateries & Shops and enjoy Central Austin.


It has lovely hardwood floors, vintage kitchen & baths, new carpet, & paint. Located on a non-thru street with beautiful trees in the front and backyard. At this price, it won't last long! Excellent investment!! Come by and see for yourself~



**Call Hanalei - 512-573-1432 for more details**

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Snack & See - Stunning Open House Tour Today 7/17


Open House Tour Today 7/17 from 3-5





Open House Today 7/17 3-5pm

Come by 5855 Temerity Way, outside of San Antonio to a Snack and See preview of three stunning hill country homes in the Rim Rock Ranch Subdivision.

This Hill Country home is well situated up on 2.62 hill top acres in the Rim Rock Ranch Estates near Bulverde, Texas, outside of San Antonio. With large bay windows facing an amazing sunset view overlooking 5 plus miles of greenery, you will feel like you're at your own private get-away retreat. Trees shade the lot as it terraces down the hill so that no homes can be seen. There are 3 bedrooms, plus a spacious study with built-in book shelves that could be converted to a 4th bedroom. A gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances including a new double-oven stove and island is perfect for entertaining. Beautifully landscaped with a fountain, grilling area, covered patio and trail that leads down to where you can gather to play a game of horseshoes or roast marshmallows over the fire pit, this home has it all!

For more information on this particular home: www.5855TemerityWay.com

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Allandale 4th of July Parade




Allandale came out in full force yesterday for it's annual 4th of July parade. Having a little one is unpredictable so Siena and I ended up catching the end of the parade at Gullett Elementary School. The parade was complete with classic cars, men in uniform (1800's style), and tons of kiddos on bikes and in strollers.

Gullett is the perfect place to have this gathering with a shaded playground and covered area as well. Because even at 9am it is HOT in July in Austin. So after the local band and all of the parade arrived, we sang the star spangled banner and then Kathy Tovo and the police chief spoke giving updates on city and neighborhood info.

Other nice items.....HEB donated cold bottled water, yes! The Amy's Ice cream Van was a hit as usual, the line was HUGE, we might need two vans next year. There were also breakfast tacos from TacoDeli, lots of great local food. Allandale T-shirts were available and the whole area was bustling with red, white, and blue!

Siena enjoyed her first 4th of July Parade!!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Add color to your home - Miguel Imports




~Miguel Imports~


Miguel Imports is located on Burnet Road in the Allandale/Crestview neighborhood. This place has some amazing pottery. For Mother's Day, my husband picked out some beautiful planters and vases. They have every color, shape, and size. A lot of cool Mexican style pottery lines the walls and the outdoor area goes on and on. Miguel Imports also sells herbs and some plants too!

If you're looking to stage a vacant home or add color before putting your place on the market, this is an excellent spot to shop.

Friday, May 6, 2011

3 Months Old in Austin


Our lovely daughter turned 3 months old yesterday, where has the time gone. She has already attended two closings and is a pro when coming to listings with me. Siena is truly a happy baby and right now she loves to blow spit bubbles, go in the stroller to Northwest Park, and make faces at me and her daddy. She has already been around the town.... Perla's, Barton Springs Pool, SXSW, San Jose Hotel..... the list goes on. She's one happening Austin baby.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

A Pflugerville Winner~





Roxana and Mario have bought their first home in Pflugerville, Texas. This was a multiple offer situation and so they were thrilled when their offer was accepted. Their home is conveniently located near the middle school and all the amenities in Pflugerville. They are excited to move into their new home! Another happy ending~

Friday, January 28, 2011

Generational Communication



I attended an interesting presentation yesterday on how each generation communicates. Marjorie from Independence Title talked of the differences of communicating and connecting. She recommended a book called Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John Maxwell and spoke of how each generation relates. For example, The Greatest Generation, born before 1946, likes to receive information via telephone or in person. They like details and want to know all of the facts. Then there's the Baby Boomers who want to be super tech savvy and love their email but some are more or less into technology and texting than others. Then you have the Generation X which communicates via text and would rather do all of their research online before making any decisions. They are more savvy and are a little skeptical. Gen Y is even more comfortable texting, using Facebook, and doesn't even know what a phone book is! Last but not least, The Millennium Generation will be growing up using the iphone & ipad and will be on the cutting edge of all of the technological gadgets. It's true that our ways of communicating and taking in knowledge is changing. You can easily communicate many different ways but are we really connecting. Is connection still face to face or is texting just as good.

I think a lot of the older generations are picking up on all of the new technologies but still cling to some of the classics like phone books. My 91 year old grandmother has a Facebook account and checks email daily, but she still has her handwritten address book and always reads the print newspaper. However, she just got an iphone, way to go!

There are always going to be new technologies, once upon a time it was VHS, CD players, and television. Now we've got ipads, blue ray, HD and I'm sure there's something amazing that will hit the streets in the next few years.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Barton Hills - Sold!



JUST SOLD
1806 Brookhaven

This gorgeous home in Barton Hills sold in under 6 days!

Here are two of the sellers signing the last of the paperwork at closing. They were thrilled with the great response. We had over 20 people at the open house, tons of calls and excellent interest. The whole process went smoothly and they were excited to close so quickly.

Search Austin Homes or give me a call to get your home listed today ~ 512.573.1432

Friday, January 14, 2011

Lamar Homes Construction and Remodeling






Remodeled and Under Contract


Lamar Homes, a local home builder (and yes my parents!) that also does remodels handled the remodeling of this current listing on Brookhaven Drive in Barton Hills. Improvements included the removing of all dark wood paneling, popcorn on the ceilings, carpet, wallpaper, and dated fixtures. Fresh paint, carpet, and hardwoods gave new life to this home.

Michael Mason, owner of Boardwalk Flooring, did a fabulous job putting in Cognac Oak hand scraped wood floors, giving the entry and living/dining/kitchen areas an open clean look. The remodeling went smoothly and quickly and allowed the sellers to have it ready to go on the market before the end of 2010. This home went under contract in under 6 days!

If you're looking to remodel or update your home call Gerald Lamar at 512-748-5288 for a bid. He renovated my husband and I's current home in Allandale and we love it!

Check out an article and photos in The Statesman