Just about everyone I know has strong feelings about the incandescent. Most prefer the light they provide. Most would also agree that they are inefficient compared to compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and light emitting diode (LED) technologies. Some argue that the newer technologies are inferior due to their color spectrum and their turn on time, though both of those characteristics have been improving with each generation of the technologies. Others are just turned off by the higher prices of the newer bulbs.

Congress got involved with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was supposed to take effect at the beginning of 2012. The plan was to gradually halt the production of incandescents starting with the 100W bulb this year. The 75W would have been phased out in 2013, and the 60W and 40W in 2014. However, action by Congress during December of 2011 has effectively pushed out the start date until October 2012.

I have two perspectives on the matter. At the personal level, I think that efficiency is important and have been testing out the various CFL products for years. They were very poor at first, and I think they earned their bad reputation. Some of the newer bulbs I’ve bought have been much better, almost as good as the incandescents. I do still have a problem with the smaller specialty bulbs that are visible. Coiled CFLs just don’t look right in a nice chandelier, and I haven’t been impressed with the performance of “decorative” CFLs I’ve bought.

At the professional level I am a really big fan of incandescents. I’ve shown buyers enough homes to know that they are always more impressed with a property well lit by incandescents than they are by CFLs. One issue is that the quality of the CFLs vary depending on which generation technology the sellers have. So it’s common to see older CFLs that play right into the negative stereotype, which gets a buyer thinking about the lighting instead of the house.

My main recommendation at this point is to sellers. No matter how you feel about the different bulb technologies, you will make your home sell faster, and potentially for more money, by replacing all your CFL bulbs with warm incandescents. Think of it as part of the staging process, and remember that you can pack up your CFLs to bring to your new home.

No. It was the Restoration Hardware Fall 2011 Source Book. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen anything quite like it as far as a store catalog goes. It’s 615 pages. I’m not kidding. It’s heavy. I weighed it. It’s three pounds. No, really, it is. How much does it cost to mail three pounds to thousands and thousands of people? And how many trees does it kill?

The perplexing thing to me is that the only items I’ve ever purchased from Restoration Hardware are stocking stuffers and ornaments around the holiday time. We’ve never bought furniture, lamps, draperies or anything of significant value from them. So why are they sending us this ginormous catalog? Shouldn’t they reserve this for their best customers?

Who else received this monstrosity? What are your thoughts on it? Ours is going in the recycle bin. It scares me.

One of the things I’ve noticed recently is that it’s time to do some interior painting in our house. We’ve been here about 7 years now and it’s time for a refresh. When we first moved in I was on a kick about color. The living room was red. One bedroom was bright blue, another was a darker green. And who can forget about the back stairway…

Over time, the dark colors started to feel oppressive. We changed the living room to a light neutral color about 2 years after it was painted red because I felt the room was closing in on me whenever I was in it. Not good.

Since we’ve been stuck in the house so much this winter, I’ve been making a list of everything that I think needs repainting. Our master bedroom, the dark green bedroom, another bedroom I use as my closet and *gasp* the beloved back stairway. All of this painting means that there are a series of choices for new colors that need to be made.

That can only mean one thing, a fun trip to the paint store to pick out paint chips! I am sent on my own for this excursion, Kyle just asks that the options come back and I pitch them to him. He has no interest in the nitty gritty details of sorting through thousands of colors.

Since I’ve now moved to the opposite end of the color spectrum (read: boring neutrals), picking chips is pretty easy. Blues, greens, yellows, pinks, reds are all quickly passed by. I’m looking for Serenity Now! That means very light grays, beiges and whites. I can spice things up with fabrics for curtains, bedspreads and throw pillows.

After about 30 minutes I’ve grabbed my fistfuls of chips and make my way home. Each chip has three or four colors on it, with only one or maybe two being acceptable. I go through everything and mark the options, then lay them out for Kyle. He hems and haws. “These all look the same, off-white.” I say “Oh good, so then it doesn’t matter which I choose.” This then makes him make a decision.

We now have our four colors, found at Benjamin Moore- Misty Gray, Whitewater Bay, Swiss Coffee and China White. I will admit that there was a perfectly lovely color named Mayonaisse which I had to pass on, simply because of the name. Who wants to think about congealed fat spread on their walls? Not me.

So, over the next few months I will be busy in the late evenings. That’s when I paint. Usually starting at about 10:00pm and ending around 2:00am. I get a little obsessed about it once I start. But it gets done and everyone else is sleeping, so I can be more productive. Bring on the neutrals!

Readers, how do you feel about picking paint colors? Are you leaning more towards vibrant colors or neutrals these days? And do you usually have an inspiration piece that helps you choose a color or do you choose a color and then design around it?

Events & Activities

CMTA Hartford Boat Show, CT Convention Center, Fri 1/28 to Sun 1/30
I’m sensing a bit of a theme in the January events at the Connecticut Convention Center … big toys! Last week they had the RVs, and this week it’s boats. If only it was followed by cars and electronics in the coming weeks (it’s not). Being a land-lover, the boat show isn’t high on my priority list, but I know lots of people who love both sailing and fishing. Might be worth checking out. Get $2 off the $12 adult admission (kids 12 and under are free) using the coupon on the event website.

Canton Barn Saturday Auction, Sat 1/29 at 7:30, Free
This week is as good as any to mention the Canton Barn’s weekly Saturday night auction. We would highly recommend checking this place out if you are in the process of furnishing or decorating a house. We’ve attended on a number of occasions, bought a bunch of stuff, and have been impressed with how reasonable prices can be for larger items. For example, we still regret buying our dining room set new when we could have found a table and chairs with more character for a fraction of the price at the Canton Barn. Doors open at 5:00 so you can inspect the items up for bid, and the actual auction starts at 7:30. They cook burgers and ‘dogs on the grill out back and have an impressive assortment of pies. Arrive a little early, put a cushion on your chair, check out the merchandise, grab some pie, and enjoy the event. The Canton Barn is smoke-free, alcohol-free, and cellphone-free. Once the auction begins it is also adult-only. There is no buyer’s premium or reserve bid, they accept cash and checks only – no credit cards – so plan accordingly.

Open Houses

For those who are looking for a new home but aren’t all that keen on this January’s shovel-palooza, we have the perfect solution … condos! This week we have two fantastic condos open for your inspection, both very centrally located in Greater Hartford and in the vicinity of Elizabeth Park.

791 Prospect Ave #B3, West Hartford, $305,000, 1/30/2011 from 1:00 to 3:00
The Grosvenor House complex in West Hartford is adjacent to the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden. Unit B3 is a modern, bright, and spacious ranch style condo with all the amenities. A spacious entry opens to the large combined living and dining rooms that serve as the heart of the home. The updated eat-in kitchen is fully applianced, and has plenty of storage. A secluded master bedroom suite features a large bedroom, private office, multiple walk-in closets and a full bath. A second bedroom and second full bath complete the home. The condo also has garage parking, elevator access, a private balcony, in-unit laundry, central air, storage unit, and totals 1,826 square feet. More details and a photo tour are available.

38 Goodwin Circle, Hartford, $489,900, 1/30/2011 from 1:00 to 3:00
The Goodwin Estate is a relatively new complex in Hartford’s West End. Built in the mid 2000s, the complex has the new construction look and amenities. Unit 38 is an end unit that backs to the woods. It is a townhouse style, with large open living room and dining room and fully appointed kitchen with maple cabinetry, granite counters, and stainless appliances. The walkout lower level is fully finished as a large family room with full bath. Upstairs is a master suite featuring private loft, walk-in closet, and large bath with Jacuzzi tub. Two additional baths and a full bath complete the upper level. The condo also has an attached 2 car garage, private deck, in-unit laundry, central air, and totals 3,164 square feet. More details and a photo tour are available.

What Else?

Send Kyle (KyleB@KyleB-RE.com) a quick note if you know of other events we should include … thanks!

Before even reaching the table of contents, it was already clear that I am not in their target market. The advertising was a dead giveaway. Cadillac, Breguet (appears to be a watch brand, though may also be a jewelry boutique that has their own brand of watch), Restoration Hardware (the new updated version that I completely don’t understand), Chanel #5, Clive Christian (furniture), David Yurman (watches), American Airlines, and GIA (Gemological Institute of America). Luxury brands, and not my usual fare.

So that’s kinda disappointing – not a good start for my new subscription. We like to try out new magazines periodically and know that there are going to be both hits and misses. And since they all come for free, well, using random airline points that will never add up to a free ticket, it’s really not a big deal when one fails. This one was not off to a good start.

Moving further into the magazine, the photography really stood out. We have a real appreciation for quality pictures of homes (as most buyers do too after looking through listings for any length of time), and the Architectural Digest pictures are exceptional. The photographers framed the shots well, properly lit the scenes, and paid attention to the details that can really help a picture. The homeowners also deserve some credit since the Editor-In-Chief noted that they don’t do any staging on the shoots – it’s just the photographer.

The articles were well written, but I struggled to stay engaged. They’re a mix of insight into the lives of people you may (or may not) know and discussion of the design process. I found myself skimming through the prose to get a sense of the subjects’ human side, while skipping over portions about their design aesthetic. In thinking about why, I decided that design is so personal that it’s really difficult to get me (and others?) interested in someone’s process. Even though I’ve only gone through a design exercise and project on a much smaller scale than these people, I feel like I understand how it works and am most interested in the result. Perhaps if I had not had an experience of my own I would have read the stories more closely in hopes of gleaning some insight.

The photos are definitely the highlight of the magazine for me. I’ll look forward to seeing the architecture and decorating ideas that arrive on my front porch in the coming year, even if it does mean flipping through page after page of luxury items that I don’t aspire to ever own. Well, maybe I could be convinced to invest in some Bang & Olufsen speakers one day … just don’t tell Amy.

Gary Chang, a Hong Kong designer, transformed his 360 sqft apartment into an incredibly functional space using rolling walls that appear to be inspired by the moveable stacks often seen at town records departments, and sometimes in libraries. It looks like he put everything that needed plumbing into the outside walls, and must have figured out a way to manage the electric cables, so that he could roll his TV to wherever he wants it to be. Very creative – check it out.

There are only 2 magazines that I immediately sit down and read cover-to-cover, and this is one of them (the other is Wired). It is a perfect mix of interesting stories, tasteful design ideas, and moderate skill project suggestions. Each issue is full of useful tips and addresses issues that relate to me, since we actually live in an old house.

This month I learned that…

1. We can grow purple shamrocks (four-leaf clovers) in our yard since they require indirect light. We’ve struggled to grow something other than hostas in the part of our yard shaded by the ginormous maple trees, so this might be a way to add some color and interest to the area.

2. After looking at pictures of kitchens both in the ads and in the articles, I’m more comfortable that darker knobs will look good on our white cabinets. Although Amy found some interesting crystal knobs yesterday afternoon, so it may be a moot point.

3. The article about “the best place to buy an old house” really shows how interesting and diverse residential architecture was throughout the country 100 years ago. One of our clients actually commented on this yesterday after we showed him a very unique brick tudor within walking distance of West Hartford Center. We were sitting in the car debriefing and he pointed out that all the houses would have looked nearly identical if the street had been developed since 1960.

4. Spring comes early in the This Old House world. There were two articles about tidying up outside which will need to wait at least two more months for those of us in the Hartford area. Even our friends in the warmer climates are getting slammed with winter this year, so I’m not sure if there is anywhere entering spring at the moment. Washington DC is a mess, and apparently it’s snowing in Atlanta today.

I picked up all of these tidbits in the first half of the magazine. But wait, there’s more! Secrets to Curb Appeal … Reader Remodel of an American Foursquare… Garden Junk … All About Wood Windows. This Old House is terrific for homeowners interested in learning about little things they can do around their place, inside and out. And there are ideas on just about every page for those who aren’t likely to pick up a hammer themselves.

Now, about those wood windows…

The latest project we’re tackling is “refreshing” our dining room. There are some features that we really like about the room and others that we loath. Our “likes” tend toward the original aspects of the house; the fireplace, built-in hutch, and ornate windows. Our “loathing” is directed towards poor choices that go against the character of the house; popcorn ceiling texture, modern style chandelier, and questionable wall colors. After 5 years of living with it and prioritizing other projects, we’re finally getting around to redoing the dining room.

The scope of the changes are going to be removing the popcorn ceiling texture, replacing the chandelier with one that’s more period appropriate, changing draperies and window seat covering, repainting walls, and maybe purchasing a new rug. This is going to be one of those projects where the cost exceeds any type of return we would ever get when we go to resell. It’s more about being happy with the room and wanting to spend time there, rather than looking to make a buck. And we’re okay with that.

We purchased the chandelier on a whim during a trip to New York City this past weekend. Now we’re on the lookout for drapery fabric. We’ll give you updates as we progress. Here’s a peek at how the room looks currently…

This sort of thing has happened to me before. One of the interesting aspects of working in real estate is that you see different versions of the standard features. Sometimes the features are basic elements of the property like the home style, topography, or view. These features cannot be reasonably replicated elsewhere. In this case I can’t have the yard unless I buy the house.

Other times the interesting features could be replicated. For example, I could use the ideas of a particularly well done kitchen in a different house. It wouldn’t be exactly the same, but close enough to capture the feel and functionality of the space.

The ultimate in collecting unique features is to build your own home. You get to make all the decisions (not always a good thing) and set the priorities for the design. I’ve always thought that it would be really interesting to work with a professional to design a home that brings together a collection of my favorite features into a single cohesive property.

My home wouldn’t be over the top. It would have relatively common features like a kitchen with built-in electronics, a master bath with heated floors and towel bars, second floor laundry, and an entertainment system with projector in the family room. I would also want some less common features like a rooftop deck, elevator, and rainwater collection system. All of this would be wrapped up into a traditional design with historic elements. I think it could be done, but I would certainly have to save my nickels.

Now if only I could build it on that yard…

The last “deal breaker” might seem like a unique one, but it’s really not uncommon for buyers to pass on a house because it won’t accommodate their furnishings. Right now I’m working with a buyer that enjoys entertaining and they really love their dining room table. It’s a substantial size and has been in the family for awhile, so we must find a dining room where it will fit comfortably. Buying a different table is not an option that they would consider and I really can’t blame them.

In this case, room size becomes the determining factor. But in other examples I’ve seen, room layout becomes an issue. Earlier this year, I showed a very charming house that had lots of windows in all of the bedrooms and a few of the bedrooms also had doorways out to sleeping porches. Furniture layout in these rooms was clearly an issue, even for the current owner. There wasn’t enough wall space to place a double bed flush against the wall, the bed was oriented kitty-corner to the wall. A dresser was blocking a doorway to the sleeping porch, simply because there was nowhere else for it to go. Those buyers liked the rest of the house, but decided to pass because they felt the bedrooms weren’t furniture friendly.

A final classic example is when a stairway to the second floor does not offer enough clearance to fit a queen sized (or larger) mattress. Hopefully if you’re a buyer with a queen sized mattress, you figure this out before you’ve closed on the property. When I’m showing houses, I try to keep a close eye on bed sizes when we’re looking at the bedrooms. If I don’t see any queen beds I’ll make sure I check the clearance on the stairs. If it seems like it will be a tight or impossible fit getting the mattress up the stairs, I’ll ask the seller’s agent to check with the sellers to see if it is actually possible to fit a larger mattress up the stairs. It’s often overlooked, but important to most buyers. This was a practice I picked up when I was working with a buyer that had a king sized bed. Bedroom size and stair clearance was an issue in many homes for them, so we were always checking on this.

As a seller, there is not much you can do about a buyer’s existing furnishings and how they’d fit in your home. But what you can do is to arrange your furniture in a manner that shows a room as functional and make it look as spacious as possible. Your agent or a stager should be able to help you with this and put your home in its best light. Your home still might not work for the buyer with the dining room table requirement, but will hopefully be more appealing to the majority of buyers that see it.