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7 Ways to Make a Smaller Bedroom Feel Larger and Work Better for You

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team
Sometimes a small bedroom can feel more like a cave than a cozy refuge. If a space lacks natural light, smart storage and the right color palette, it can feel cramped and uncomfortable. But with the right techniques, even the smallest bedrooms can be much more functional and even look bigger. 

Use these professional tips to turn a bedroom, office, storage room or attic into a comfy bedroom for friends, family — or you.
modern bedroom by Shor Home
The perfect example.This little room has it all: The daybed (with extra storage underneath) almost makes the space look like a sitting room instead of a bedroom but doesn't take away from its cozy vibe. A wall-mounted nightstand and light fixture maximize every inch of floor space. A classic acrylic chair provides necessary seating but visually disappears.
1. Add built-in shelving.Shallow built-in shelving can help you gain storage and maintain floor space. Stick to shelving that's no more than 12 inches deep. The units here act as bedside tables, eliminating the need for extra furniture. Recessing the bed in the middle of the shelving prevents it from encroaching on much-needed floor space. 

If you go with built-ins in your small bedroom, try taking them all the way to the ceiling to make the ceiling look higher. And paint the back wall a contrasting color to create layering and depth.
traditional bedroom by Shannon Malone
2. Let in natural light. While you should avoid blocking natural light in a small room, sometimes the only place that makes sense for a bed is right in front of the window. If that's the case, try a see-through headboard (like the one on this metal frame) to make the most of your sunlight.
3. Go for mirrored closet doors. Using a mirror to double your room's visual square footage is a trick that's been used for centuries. In small bedrooms this often means replacing your closet doors with mirrored ones. The effect tends to work best when you can take the mirrors from floor to ceiling and wall to wall.
4. Use a daybed. A daybed can help create the illusion that the room is more of a small sitting area, instead of a small bedroom that's been taken over by a bed. Daybeds often have storage built in underneath too — another bonus for a small room.
5. Paint the ceiling. Painting the ceiling the same hue as the walls can help to erase the shadow lines that visually define a space. A white ceiling against a darker wall immediately shrinks a space — your eye can sense the room's size right away. When the walls and ceiling are the same color, it's harder for your eye to tell where the room's parameters start and end, so the room looks larger.
6. Install pendants. Don't take up precious bedside table space with bulky lamps and oversize shades; install pendant lighting instead. Hanging pendant lights from the ceiling creates a focal point while providing task lighting on each side of the bed. Just remember to measure carefully and hang them low enough so you don't have to get out of bed to turn them off.
7. Put up wall shelves. A nightstand can take up a lot of floor space in a small bedroom, and using just one with a double- or queen-size bed means that someone won't have a spot for an alarm clock, phone or beverage. A wall shelf on one side of the bed — or on both — can give a small bedroom a more open feeling and extra floor space, while giving you all the room you need for nighttime essentials.
 
 
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Cobblestone Farm and Museum in Ann Arbor, MI

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Cobblestone FarmLocated within Buhr Park, in the very heart of Ann Arbor, MI, the Cobblestone Farm and Museum offers a glimpse at what life was like in southeast Michigan during the mid-19th century.

The property features a neo-classical style, cobblestone farmhouse, constructed in 1844 for Dr.Benahah Ticknor, a naval doctor. Today, the restored farm and farmhouse are open to the public and offer a variety of historic decorative art pieces and artifacts from the 19th century.

Special Events at Cobblestone Farm
Cobblestone Farm hosts a weekly farmers' market on Tuesdays, from May through November. The more than 25 weekly vendors offer local produce, plants, canned goods, flowers and dairy products.

The property is also the site of numerous special events, including: Living History Days, Michigan Log Cabin Day, Spring on the Farm, an Independence Day celebration, and Country Christmas.

Visiting the Cobblestone Farm and Museum
The Cobblestone Museum is open on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and admission is free.

The Cobblestone Farm and Museum is located at 2781 Packard Road in Ann Arbor.

Leading Michigan Real Estate Broker - Ann Arbor Real Estate Broker

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

This 3 minute Video Might help with your Realty selling Decision

Good morning.  

Check out this brief Video to learn about why Real Estate One is #1 in Michigan (#10 in United States) and perhaps contact us thereafter if you have any questions.  We are always here to help and enjoy hearing from you.  

Have a great day!

 

 

 

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Ann Arbor Population Growth

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

At a time when many Midwestern towns - both small and large - are shrinking, Ann Arbor bucks the trend, and is growing. The town, affectionately referred to as "Tree Town," is now Home to more than 116,000 residents, a gain of more than two percent over 2010 numbers, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

That makes Ann Arbor the fifth largest city in Michigan, behind Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren and Sterling Heights. The new 2,000+ Ann Arbor residents bolster the town's population above that of the Michigan state capital, Lansing.

"CNN Money" magazine named Ann Arbor one of the top 100 places to live in the United States in 2012, citing both the nearness of Big 10 football (Ann Arbor is the home of the University of Michigan), and the town's many job opportunities.

Ann Arbor Real Estate Market Status Update

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Check out this Video from Our Company President

Get Ann Arbor Property Listings here.   Let us know how we can help or check out the Info Links listed above.  

 

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Ann Arbor Summer Festival - June 14 - July 7, 2013

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Ann Arbor Summer Festival logo​This summer, there won't be anything remotely woebegone about Ann Arbor, even though the Ann Arbor Summer Festival commences with Mr. Prairie Home Companion himself, Garrison Keillor, who kicks off the preliminaries on June 1st at Hill Auditorium. Mr. Keillor, by the way, has hinted in advance that he might serve his own recipe of rhubarb pie to all attendees - enough said!

Spanning June 14 to July 7, this 30th year of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival (which will soon have its own downloadable app) will showcase the usual lineup of world class bands on its main stage (Top of the Park), niche jazz bands like Preservation Hall and New Orleans Bingo, fusion Latino-Asian dance music from the likes of Pink Martini, and Malian blues from Amadou and Miriam.

Renowned nationally for its eclectic mishmash of art, music, hippiedom, and cultural innovation, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival makes others seem like child's play.

At this festival, mega stars of art and music venture along the fringe territories staked out by up-and-coming indie rock bands. Everybody sips a little something to combat the heat. The rain doesn't dare drop by. Children are welcome, but occasionally best left at home.

It's not every day that a troupe of men in ballet drag go on pointe (literally) and re-interpret Balanchine's “Swan Lake”. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, world famous for precisely this reason, considers such feats all in a day's work. They will bring their testosterone, unreal flexibility, impeccable technique, and perfectly timed camp to Ann Arbor this summer - a first, to be sure, for both the troupe and the audience.

There will be plenty of rival movement to keep the Trockadero ballerinas on their toes: Les 7 Doigts de la Main, a Montreal circus troupe, makes its Ann Arbor Summer Festival debut. Mixing acrobatics, dance, and visual tricks, Les 7 Doigts (7 Fingers) is on the vanguard of modern nouveau-cirque. Performances are kid-friendly and tickets begin at $10.

Rounding out the selection of more typical, family-safe alternatives is “Tangle”. Scheduled to inhabit South Ingalls Mall, “Tangle” is an interactive, riotous romp through a maze of elastic, created entirely by kids right there on the spot.

There will also be free outdoor movies (this year a showing of Tom Hanks' “Big”), free live music shows, and tons of community programs. The festival's proximity to Ann Arbor's diverse restaurant scene in the downtown area is another plus.

At the Festival website, search for more info by acts, subjects, or genre, and purchase tickets as well. Sampler packages are available, with steeper discounts for the more shows purchased. Children under three are not permitted.

3744 Vicksburg, Howell, MI

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

OVERLOOKING CHEMUNG HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Wonderful upgraded Ranch Style Condo with 2 Car Attached Garage.  This unit is a Bayport II plus model located in the Villas of Oceola and build by Pulte Homes.  It is located on one of the most expensive premium lots that provides an elevated view of the scenic Golf course Fairways in the distance.  

  • Finished Walk Out Basement Upgrade
  • Over 3000 sq ft of total finished living space including lower level
  • Custom Book cases and full bath in Basement
  • High Efficient Water Heater and Furnace
  • Custom Blinds
  • Corian Counters
  • Stainless Steel Appliances
  • Study with French Doors
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Baths
  • Cedar Deck with steps
  • Commanding elevated View of Golf Course in the Distance
  • 2 Car Attached Garage
  • Cathedral Ceilings
  • Gas Fireplace with Wall Switch
  • Oversize Maple Cabinets

Call for a Showing Appointment Today!

Click this link to view Howell Condo for sale.  You will find additional photos, mapping directions and more.  

 

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Ypsilanti: Depot Town Destrict and Expansion

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

In Ypsilanti, Michigan, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is attempting to ensure the Depot Town district's continuity by expanding its boundaries. Formerly comprised of two separate DDA's, the more recent singular DDA has existed since 2009, owing to an Ypsilanti City Council Vote.

Properties from Huron Street to Pearl Street and Cross Street (used as mixed commercial and residential) would become part of the expanded district. The assumption, or hope, is that in lieu of decreasing property values within the current district, a larger district will generate higher revenue from the Depot Town Tax Increment Finance and Development Plan. However, Tim Colbeck, DDA Director, has stated the TIF wouldn't necessarily see expansion in conjunction with the district, but that the restructured district would serve “operational purposes”.

Colbeck noted that some businesses not presently within the district already receive benefits from the DDA. He went on to say these same businesses are eligible for Building Rehabilitation and Facade Grants (and other programs), benefits that will possibly increase when these businesses are officially absorbed into the district.

The TIF will continue to allow taxable value within designated DDA boundaries to generate tax revenue for the DDA, not the city of Ypsilanti. Often this revenue is crucial to ongoing improvement projects that raise property values, invigorate commercial traffic, and ultimately create more revenue.

2015 will see the expiration of the current Depot Town TIF plan. The succeeding plan, around which planning has entailed all of the aforementioned, will last until 2030. Requests for proposals have illuminated certain goals deemed central to the update process:

  • Keeping the gentrified feel of the downtown district intact
  • Maintaining district's cleanliness, quality of public services, diversity
  • Property upkeep
  • Regional connectivity and promotion of a friendly pedestrian environment
  • Residential and Commercial facilities with tech accessibility
  • Diverse housing, retail space, and commercial area
  • Multiple public transportation options
  • Job opportunities

Colbeck has stated job opportunities and investment in local economy are priorities of the update, which the DDA's Operations and Finance Committee will lead. Also on the Committee's immediate agenda: Hiring a consultant (by July) to help compose a long-term strategy. Two public meetings and a survey of the public's reactions, concerns, or complaints are to take place in the near future.

Arbor Hills Shopping Center

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Arbor Hills Shopping Center boasts an inspirational rise-from-the-ashes tale to rival the best Hollywood tearjerker. And this happy ending involves lots of love: love of shopping, that is. Calling all mall addicts, shopaholics, and those in dire need of retail therapy - the ultimate mall to trump all others is coming to Ann Arbor.

Slated to open this August, Arbor Hills is currently taking shape on 7.45 acres of land, on Washtenaw between Platt Road and Huron Parkway. Strategically located a stone's throw from Country Farm Park and a Whole Foods store, future Arbor Hills shoppers will potentially catch whiffs of fresh cut grass and organic nuts while perusing Dutch ovens at Sur la Table - talk about a unique mall ambiance.

The story of Arbor Hills Shopping Center began when developers first wanted to erect another such mall back in 2006. At that time, Ann Arbor City Council approved a site plan for The Shops at Arlington. But the economy conspired against them, and bad luck killed those dreams at once. Comerica Bank, the lender, longed to withdraw its bet in lieu of foreclosure and the unfinished deal sat on the table.

Along came Tom Stegeman, who formed a team with co-founder Max Reiswerg. The duo purchased the property for a cool $3 million, and promptly proposed the Arbor Hills idea. As it was significantly less extravagant than the original concept, the idea squashed several others submitted by competing development groups. Arbor Hills was born anew.

The grown up Arbor Hills Shopping Center will comprise four buildings spread out over a pristine, choreographed landscape. The mall is unique in that three of its buildings will be accessible by both car and the sidewalk, the latter designed with pedestrian needs in mind. Parking is scattered behind and close to all buildings, reducing walk time to and from vehicles and increasing convenience.

Tenants have already begun renting spaces; 15 leases have reportedly been signed to date. Confirmed tenants include the likes of Brooks' Brothers, The North Face, and Anthropologie - to name a few. Restaurants with outdoor patios have also been proposed. To accommodate the hoped-for rise in activity, a traffic light is to be installed at Platt Road's intersection. There will also be new sidewalks, bicycle spaces, and viewing platforms spanning restored wetlands.

Buhr Park of Ann Arbor

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Buhr Park is a relatively large, multi-purpose park located at 2751 Packard Street in southeast Ann Arbor in-between two other expansive city-area parks: County Farm Park and Mary Beth Doyle Park.

A sweeping, sprawling swath of emerald green grass, rolling gently over scenic hills and between various leafy deciduous trees, Buhr Park is 39 acres of family fun. Here you will also discover several attractive picnic areas containing barbecue grills, a play area specifically for the wee little ones, and a number of soccer fields, tennis courts and softball diamonds.

In addition to the pastoral grounds, Buhr Park houses some phenomenal sports and recreational facilities. Here are some details on the major ones:

Buhr Outdoor Ice Arena
This outdoor ice skating rink has a specialized sub-floor built into it, which allows the City of Ann Arbor to keep the ice open and maintained as long as the temperature outside stays above 50 degrees. Whether you are a figure skater or hockey player, the Buhr Park Ice Arena invites you to drop in sometime. Don't have skates? No problem; Rentals are available.

Drop-In Roller Hockey
The puck drops on roller hockey on May 25 and runs Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. until Sept. 1. Skaters of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come on by and have some fun.

Buhr Outdoor Pool
The Buhr Outdoor Pool features six 25-yard lanes, a deep well, and a zero-depth entry wading pool for the kiddies that's separated from the big pool and contains interactive water toys.

Buhr Park Pool Day Camp
From June 17 through Aug. 30 the Buhr Outdoor Pool runs a day camp that provides theme-related games, snacks, and other activities, such as group games, arts and crafts, and various sports. Licensed by the State of Michigan, the day camp is supervised by staff members who hold current certifications in CPR and First Aid from the American Red Cross.

Cobblestone Farm and Museum
Cobblestone Farm and Museum is a volunteer-run weekly gathering of local farmers, craftspeople and musicians, who offer fresh vegetables, berries, eggs, honey and much more. It is located on the grounds of the Ticknor-Campbell Farmhouse Museum, a 19th century-era farm, featuring authentic items and artifacts in realistic setting.

Displaying blog entries 411-420 of 564

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