Lighting up the night

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The annual Festival of Lights Parade in Downtown Los Altos got us all geeked up (and chic’ed up) for holiday decorating, and that got us thinking: When do you flip the switch on your home displays?

CHIC (Pearl)

I love the holidays, and I’m pretty traditional when it comes to timing. Before the day after Thanksgiving became known as “Black Friday,” it was better known as the day to shake off your turkey coma and drag the holiday decorations out of the garage for an afternoon of untangling lights and counting wise men. And that’s more fun to me than shopping at a crowded mall and fighting over parking spots.

GEEK (Kevin)

My philosophy with holiday decorations is go big or — don’t go. If you’re putting up one light strand, you may as well use 20 to make an adequate impression on your neighbors and help your ‘hood feel more festive. As you may have guessed, big displays are my thing, and I save time by starting wicked early. In fact, I keep some outdoor decorations up (unlit) year round to save time on the inevitable setup.

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

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Lighting is a key item on any buyer’s checklist, and you don't need fancy lamps or chandeliers. Here are some simple solutions for using natural light to help your home shine bright like a diamond.

CHIC (Pearl)

From a design perspective, it can be easier than you’d think to make your home feel warmer, brighter, and more open. Try painting your walls and ceilings white (or off-white) and placing mirrors strategically to help bounce natural light throughout the house and make your spaces feel larger. If you have a big collection of artwork to display, hang light colored pieces on the walls to add warmth and combine style with function.

GEEK (Kevin)

Finding the right balance of lighting for your home is like a physics problem just waiting to be solved. First, remove any obstructions from your windows and keep them squeaky clean to allow the maximum amount of uninterrupted sunlight to get inside. Choose brightly-colored furniture that allows light to pass above, beneath, or even through it. And if you need an extra boost from above, try adding solar tubes or skylights in the ceiling.

Chic's Picks: Holiday Fun in Silicon Valley

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We don’t know about you, but this pandemic has us missing live theater, music, and other arts and cultural activities. That’s why we’re excited to see the return of holiday events that are sure to bring joy to the season. Palo Alto Weekly put together this list.

There are so many beautiful places in the Bay Area, and we feel so privileged to experience them. One of those places is the Filoli Historic House and Garden in Woodside. Earlier this week, we stopped by for Holidays at Filoli and wandered through a garden of sparkling lights.

These pictures can’t do it justice. We recommend seeing it for yourself. You’ll feel like you’re Alice in Wonderland! Get more info on the Filoli website.

Chic vs. Geek: Active Listening

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Do real estate agents take into account feedback from prospective buyers they meet during open houses?

CHIC (PEARL)

The short answer: Absolutely! We had more than 160 people come through our latest open house each day over the weekend, and I talked to almost every one of them. What I heard was that the right light fixtures can make the house feel totally elevated. This house definitely has that vibe and more thanks to a series of unique skylights and recessed ceiling lights. And it only took a small investment from the total renovation budget to make a huge improvement that makes a great first impression.

GEEK (KEVIN)

What I learned was how much people love cooking on gas stoves. I can’t say that I blame them. But with many cities starting to ban natural gas appliances in new homes, the only way to get that new gas stove you saw on that cooking show is to renovate a home with existing gas service. So if you want to get your chef on, you should consider buying a newly remodeled home instead of starting from scratch. Or you could go green with an induction stove top. Either way, we’ll help guide you home.