Puget Sound Properties & Lifestyle

After years dominated by sleek, ultra-contemporary aesthetics, design is taking a nostalgic turn, thank goodness. People are increasingly craving warmth, character, and history in their homes—seeking pieces that feel handcrafted, storied, and soulful. That isn’t easy, and takes patience, time and resources to make happen. Here’s a closer look at the top vintage-forward trends reshaping home décor in 2025: Custom Woodwork & Rich Millwork Say goodbye to glossy minimalism—today's homeowners crave the tactile allure of real, beautifully detailed wood. Custom-crafted doors, built-in shelving, and arched interior niches are making a strong comeback. Inspired by organic modernism and neoclassical design, arches and scalloped doorways soften spaces and heighten visual dept. Paired with warm finishes—think walnut, cherry, or honeycombed oak—these elements instantly elevate a room. Decorative Panels & Painted Screens Vintage-inspired screens and panels—especially hand-painted or...

In my 15+ years in real estate, I’ve guided countless buyers and sellers through the intricacies of home value—and one topic that continues to spark interest is the difference between single-story and multi-story homes. While multi-level homes can be appealing for their compact footprint and separation of space, single-story homes often retain a higher value, and it’s not just about aesthetics or lifestyle. The construction differences, building costs, and land use all play a role in why single-story properties are often in higher demand and appraise for more. The Construction Factor From a builder’s perspective, a single-story home requires more foundation and roofing materials compared to a two-story home of equal square footage. This is because the footprint is spread horizontally rather than vertically. You’ll need a larger slab, more trusses, and often more framing material. That said, while this may make construction slightly more expensive on a per-square-foot basis, it also r...

Building Your Dream Home: Part III - The Build Out We close out this week’s three-part series on building your dream home. Earlier his week we covered land, feasibility, contractors, architects, permits and many other topics. We’re ready to build our home!  If you’re lucky enough to have cash in hand and you have approved your contractor bid and have permits ready to go, you can begin the process of demolition (if needed) or site preparation. Your contractor and your architect should be on the same page with detailed plans and execute the plan you’ve put together.  If you need to get pre-approved from a lender for a construction loan or a rehab loan, that process should already be completed before you start writing checks. Each bank/lender is going to have their own construction process. They’re going to need to know who the builder is, and have them conform to the banks process for taking draws as the construction project progresses. Each month, your contractor will be su...