So Cal Homes and Lifestyle by Patty

When our home reflects our heart, our soul, our life and our family, we can’t help but feel warm fuzzy feelings about the place we live. How we design our home tells our story in so many ways! And how we design our home can write our story, too. Are you mindful of the life you want to live as you design your home? Do you consider a sense of “belonging” in your home? Have you started thinking about the upcoming holidays?  What mood and experience do you want to create in your home? Remember the last time you walked into a professionally designed home and marveled at its beauty? Chances are, the designer carefully planned the interior finishings -- like crown mouldings and interior doors. While trim and doors have a major impact on interior decor, few homeowners select them with the same care as their furnishings or paint. Interior finishings are decorative interior products that create the look, feel and flow of design throughout your home. They includ...

Pumpkin spice has become the iconic symbol of fall. Check out these details about the history of the iconic autumn flavor, from holiday pie to lattes and even dog treats. Pumpkin spice is a combination of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger and sometimes actual pumpkin. Early settlers may have made pumpkin pies that contained similar spices  as early as 1620, by making stewed pumpkins or by filling a hollowed out shell with milk, honey and spices, and then baking it in hot ashes. But it isn’t until 1936 that we find the earliest popular mention on record for anyone using the term “pumpkin spice” for this blend of flavors. (Washington Post) It wasn’t until the 1950’s that spice companies actually began selling blends labeled “pumpkin pie spice”, which was then simplified to “pumpkin spice” in the 1960’s. While these flavors had been frequent companions in pumpkin pie for some time, cooks soon began to get more comfortable using the blend in a variety of other dishes, often th...

Smile on the Inside: Interior Decorating Ideas Get that classic look Trends come and go, but you don't want to be redecorating every time they do. Decorate in a sophisticated way that lasts longer and works better. Use the inherent character of your home to decorate! It adds authenticity to your designs. If you renovate, do so to bring out the unique flair of your home. Follow the rule of threes: Pair your decorations in threes to make them aesthetically appealing. Make rooms look bigger with white furniture, mirrors, and rugs. Stay under budget by focusing on whichever pieces of furniture are essential to a room—for example, a bed for the bedroom. Keep your curtains patternless so that they are always in fashion. Go colorful in your rooms! But don't go crazy—a good way to keep yourself in check is to limit yourself to three main colors. Always choose comfortable furniture! Make centerpieces with fresh fruit or flowers; pla...

Here are 10 tips I feel will help your kitchen and dining spaces look their best for prospective buyers! 1.   Clean your kitchen as if the sale of your home depends on it.  This is the simplest and cheapest way to make your kitchen look more attractive! 2 . Limit counter top items to 2 essentials.  3 . Consider removing extra furnishings .  Free standing islands, kitchen trolleys and dining hutches can close in a space.  If you cannot remove these pieces, ruthlessly edit the items displayed on or in them. 4 . Pot racks , although super handy, send the impression that the kitchen does not have enough storage.  Either remove pot racks or stage them sparingly with only 3 immaculately clean items. 5. Remove extra chairs from around the dining tabl e.  Four to six chairs is ideal.  You can easily tuck one out of sight for showings. 6. Choose a centerpiece for the kitchen table.   A vase of flowers, urn full of fruit, or a ser...

Orange County is a county located in Southern California, U.S.A. The approximate population of Orange County  is over three million, it has the second most people for any county in the state of California, and has the fifth most people for any county in all of the Unites States. Orange County is the third-most populous County in California.     (Wikipedia) Known for its wealth and famous for tourism, Orange County is home to Disneyland as well as miles upon miles of sandy beaches. Orange County is located right at the center of Southern California's Tech Coast. Orange County is the smallest county in all of Southern California. The county is bordered on the north by Los Angeles County, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Riverside County, on the northeast by San Bernardino County, and on the south by San Diego County. The most northern part of the county sits on the coastal plains of the Los Angeles Basin. The southern half sits on the foothil...