The Dominion Lifestyle

The Dominion

January | February 2012

NON-MLS SOFT CONTEMPORARY • BIG VIEWS 5 Carriage Hills • 6908 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Bed | 8 1/2 Bath • $3,200,000 • 1.1 Acre View Lot

Happy New Year from Debra Janes and her Associates.

Proper Lighting Design Takes Your Interiors To The Next Level

Considering Selling?

PARADE OF HOMES ESTATE WITH GUEST HOUSE 20 Esquire • 8224 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Bed | 5-1 Bath • $2,750,000

GATED IN VINEYARD ESTATES 33 Vineyard Drive • 5400 +/- Sq. Ft. 4 Bed | 4-1 Bath • $1,795,000

Learn Your Options For Listing And Showing Your Home

STATELY HOME 2 Bishops Green • 6612 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Bed | 5-1 Bath • $1,790,000

Wintertime Comfort Food

For everything real estate...call

The Melting Pot’s Triple Cheese Fondue

FABULOUS ONE-STORY ON GOLF COURSE 16 Champions Lane • 4467+/- Sq. Ft. 3 Bed | 3-2 Bath • $1,650,000

FURNISHED IN COTTAGE ESTATES 3 Waterford Glen • 2508 +/- Sq. Ft. 2 Bed | 2-1 Bath • $395,000

210.573.4040 • dj@gvtc.com • DebraJanes.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Image: PURE Design Environments

Debra Janes

The Dominion

Real Estate Report

In Good Taste

Event Calendar

Featuring The Melting Pot 210.479.6358 | MeltingPot.com

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2012 Cowgirls Live Forever Pearl Stables, Jan. 19th Image: PURE Design Environments

Wisconsin Triple Cheese Fondue INGREDIENTS 1 and 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded butterkase cheese

& PUNCH UP YOUR HOME’S APPEAL

1 and 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded fontina cheese 3 Tbs. all-purpose flour 3/4 cup white wine

210.225.0612 | SARodeo.com Watch and admire as dozens of gorgeous cowgirls model upscale Texas-Chic at this annual fashion show and luncheon. Styles are by sought-after Julian Gold and the luncheon and girl-time is one of the best you’ll encounter.

Don’t miss it!

1/4 cup dry sherry

ave you ever walked into a space, whether it’s a home or perhaps your favorite restaurant, spa or boutique and been immediately taken in by the overall feeling you get? More likely than not, that “special something” you can’t necessarily put your finger on is accomplished though professional lighting design. Lighting done properly can be the finishing touch on your interior design, your space’s “sparkling jewelry,” if you will.

While most consumers either rely on an architect or an interior designer to assist them with this job, an alternative is a professional lighting designer, trained in the aesthetics, technology and conservation of lighting. Jaque Bethke, principal of PURE Design Environments (www.JaqueBethke.net), a firm working with clients all over the country, explains why no one should go this alone. “A lighting designer studies the spaces, considers its function and comes up with a plan that addresses everything from the fixtures and specific bulbs, to the lightings’ overall effect. When a room is lit for a party, for instance, the light should tell the people where to mingle, and where to find the buffet.”

Good lighting, when used properly, also helps you see better and perform tasks more easily.

Additionally, it provides safety, security and a sense

2 tsp. chopped shallots 1 tsp. freshly ground pepper 1/4 cup crumbled bleu cheese 2 Tbs. chopped scallions METHOD Toss the butterkase and fontina cheeses with the flour in a bowl. Place a metal bowl over a saucepan filled with two inches of water. You may also use a conventional double boiler. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and pour the wine and sherry into the bowl. Stir in the shallots using a fork. Cook for 30 seconds stirring constantly.

Add half of the cheese blend, and stir constantly until the cheese is melted. Add the remaining cheese blend, a small amount at a time, stirring constantly.

Fold in the pepper and bleu cheese. Pour into a warm fondue pot and keep warm over low heat. Garnish with the scallions.

of comfort. Lighting and lighting controls also provide you with the flexibility to adjust and adapt the mood and ambience of your home.

Bethke adds, “The more layers of light you have in a space the greater the effect from each light source, such as recessed light, LED, table lamps, wall sconces, and so forth.”

Properly used lighting should complement your lifestyle and meet your family’s needs. When planning your home’s lighting, designers keep these strategies in mind: • Identify the activities that occur in each room such as reading, food preparation, hobby work, grooming, laundry, homework, etc.

• Identify the mood or ambience that you want to create in each space.

• Identify any accents that you wish to emphasize such as wall and ceiling details, artwork, or wall textures.

• Identify the colors and finishes. Dark areas absorb more light than those with lighter finishes, so lamping and supplemental alternative light sources may need to be considered.

After assessing the space and concluding what category of light is necessary (general, task or accent), a lighting plan can be developed.

When considering the general lighting of a room, the goal is to provide the space with an illumination level evenly distributed throughout the room.

In many cases task lighting is overlooked, but is the most critical category of lighting. This requires a lot of calculation to provide adequate light for such things as kitchen counters, bathroom lighting and utilitarian tasks.

This type of lighting must be a much more concentrated level than general lighting and is necessary to provide light directly where you are working.

“Accent lighting is what makes the home come alive.

This is a broad category but it includes such things as the home’s architectural lines, ceiling details, wall textures, sculptures and mood of the room. The most care should be spent on this category because it is the soul of your home,” advises Bethke.

Employing the help of a lighting designer or engineer will help you understand how to use all these sources of lighting. Lighting – like life – is about balance. If you want to make a marked difference in your environment, do it with lighting. When lighting is done well it can be a form of sculpture and you can never have too much of it. It not only transforms a space, but can transform even your world and how you perceive it.

Western Heritage Art Show Pearl Studio, Jan. 20th 210.226.4651 | Alamo-Kiwanis.org The 49th annual art show includes the exhibit and purchase of western artwork featuring the nation’s and region’s top artists in the southwest, wildlife and Native American art styles. In addition to fantastic art, enjoy casino games and prizes, live music, a catered buffet and open bar. Proceeds benefit local children’s charities.

BBQ Cook-Off Sea World, Jan. 27th – 28th 210.827.7988 | SARodeo.com As a part of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, join fellow BBQ aficionados for a day of mouth-watering Texas BBQ, live music with Cody Canada & The Departed and Brandon

Rhyder. Come ready for all the festivities and Many sellers are concerned about the lack of privacy that accompanies putting their home up for sale. There are many options that a real estate agent has at their disposal that can help lessen this issue for sellers.

As a seller, you need to consider the balance between giving up some of your privacy and making your home more accessible for other agents to show.

The easiest way to provide access so that many real estate agents can show your home is to have your home listed in our local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), with a sign in your front yard and a lockbox on your front door. However, for many reasons you may not want to go with those options.

Perhaps you’d rather not have a For Sale sign at your home.

You can ask your agent to indicate within their advertising that there is no sign so other agents are aware of this. Many restricted covenant neighborhoods do not allow For Sale signs at the property anyway.

Secondly, you can choose to limit access by not having a lockbox on the door and having your listing agent personally show the home to prospective buyers and their agent. That way someone you know (your real estate agent) is present at every showing. This also allows your agent to personally point out the special features of the home which the buyers’ agent may not be familiar with. However, many buyers’ agents find it cumbersome to show homes this way. They may be running late and have to call the listing agent to reschedule, or their client may pull up to the home and not want to see it after all.

Arranging an appointment around the schedule of four different parties (the homeowner, the listing agent, the potential buyer and their agent) is simply more difficult and may lessen the number of serious showings you could have.

As an alternative, sellers can choose to set out the lockbox only for showing appointments. Or, your agent can program the lockbox so that it can only be accessed during specified days and times. That way, they control access to the home during hours that you can be disturbed or are away from the home anyway. The buyers’ agent has a little more flexibility in scheduling when they can utilize the lockbox for access.

A high-profile seller may not want their name in the Multiple Listing Service. Although it’s a required field within the MLS advertising, the seller can request to withhold their name from being part of the listing. Your agent can simply state “Client of…” rather than the property owners’ name.

Additionally, the property address and property photos can also be withheld from internet marketing. Keep in mind though, that not including property photos can greatly diminish interest and inquiries. Perhaps a solution would be to include plenty of beautiful photography, but nothing that specifically identifies

the property, such as the front elevation or view from the street.

Finally, many real estate agents have “pocket” listings. This means that they have the listing “in their pocket,” private and not available to other agents via the MLS. The agent uses their superior networking skills to share the opportunity with agents that they know would have a serious buyer who may like the home. Again, many high-profile clients prefer to use this inter-agent networking system rather than the more public MLS to list their home. A pocket listing ensures the greatest of privacy as the selling agent only reveals information about the property to specific interested parties and their agents. Generally pocket listings are shown by appointment only and the selling agent may require that the buyers be pre-qualified before showing them.

When it comes to making choices on maintaining your privacy, it’s critical to discuss your options with your Realtor.

With a clear understanding that the more private you make your property’s sale, the less access and exposure you will have to buyers; you can find suggestions and solutions that will work for your situation. Ask your real estate agent about different listing options that will help you feel more comfortable with the selling process.

don’t forget your wet wipes and bibs!

Broadway Rocks!

Laurie Auditorium at Trinity, Feb. 3rd – 4th 210.999.8119 | SASymphony.org Come rock it out with your symphony orchestra as they perform your favorite selection from various Broadway blockbusters such as Mamma Mia, Tommy, Rent, The Lion King, Hairspray and The Phantom of the Opera.

Tower Climb and Run Tower of the Americas, Feb. 25th 210.223.3101 | LoneStar.cff.org/TowerClimb Has your New Year’s resolution to hit the gym been sliding into oblivion? Never fear, get your buns moving along with hundreds of other participants to combat the 952-step challenge to the top of the 58-story tower. Proceeds benefit the fight against cystic fibrosis.

In Good Taste

Event Calendar

Featuring The Melting Pot 210.479.6358 | MeltingPot.com

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2012 Cowgirls Live Forever Pearl Stables, Jan. 19th Image: PURE Design Environments

Wisconsin Triple Cheese Fondue INGREDIENTS 1 and 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded butterkase cheese

& PUNCH UP YOUR HOME’S APPEAL

1 and 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded fontina cheese 3 Tbs. all-purpose flour 3/4 cup white wine

210.225.0612 | SARodeo.com Watch and admire as dozens of gorgeous cowgirls model upscale Texas-Chic at this annual fashion show and luncheon. Styles are by sought-after Julian Gold and the luncheon and girl-time is one of the best you’ll encounter.

Don’t miss it!

1/4 cup dry sherry

ave you ever walked into a space, whether it’s a home or perhaps your favorite restaurant, spa or boutique and been immediately taken in by the overall feeling you get? More likely than not, that “special something” you can’t necessarily put your finger on is accomplished though professional lighting design. Lighting done properly can be the finishing touch on your interior design, your space’s “sparkling jewelry,” if you will.

While most consumers either rely on an architect or an interior designer to assist them with this job, an alternative is a professional lighting designer, trained in the aesthetics, technology and conservation of lighting. Jaque Bethke, principal of PURE Design Environments (www.JaqueBethke.net), a firm working with clients all over the country, explains why no one should go this alone. “A lighting designer studies the spaces, considers its function and comes up with a plan that addresses everything from the fixtures and specific bulbs, to the lightings’ overall effect. When a room is lit for a party, for instance, the light should tell the people where to mingle, and where to find the buffet.”

Good lighting, when used properly, also helps you see better and perform tasks more easily.

Additionally, it provides safety, security and a sense

2 tsp. chopped shallots 1 tsp. freshly ground pepper 1/4 cup crumbled bleu cheese 2 Tbs. chopped scallions METHOD Toss the butterkase and fontina cheeses with the flour in a bowl. Place a metal bowl over a saucepan filled with two inches of water. You may also use a conventional double boiler. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and pour the wine and sherry into the bowl. Stir in the shallots using a fork. Cook for 30 seconds stirring constantly.

Add half of the cheese blend, and stir constantly until the cheese is melted. Add the remaining cheese blend, a small amount at a time, stirring constantly.

Fold in the pepper and bleu cheese. Pour into a warm fondue pot and keep warm over low heat. Garnish with the scallions.

of comfort. Lighting and lighting controls also provide you with the flexibility to adjust and adapt the mood and ambience of your home.

Bethke adds, “The more layers of light you have in a space the greater the effect from each light source, such as recessed light, LED, table lamps, wall sconces, and so forth.”

Properly used lighting should complement your lifestyle and meet your family’s needs. When planning your home’s lighting, designers keep these strategies in mind: • Identify the activities that occur in each room such as reading, food preparation, hobby work, grooming, laundry, homework, etc.

• Identify the mood or ambience that you want to create in each space.

• Identify any accents that you wish to emphasize such as wall and ceiling details, artwork, or wall textures.

• Identify the colors and finishes. Dark areas absorb more light than those with lighter finishes, so lamping and supplemental alternative light sources may need to be considered.

After assessing the space and concluding what category of light is necessary (general, task or accent), a lighting plan can be developed.

When considering the general lighting of a room, the goal is to provide the space with an illumination level evenly distributed throughout the room.

In many cases task lighting is overlooked, but is the most critical category of lighting. This requires a lot of calculation to provide adequate light for such things as kitchen counters, bathroom lighting and utilitarian tasks.

This type of lighting must be a much more concentrated level than general lighting and is necessary to provide light directly where you are working.

“Accent lighting is what makes the home come alive.

This is a broad category but it includes such things as the home’s architectural lines, ceiling details, wall textures, sculptures and mood of the room. The most care should be spent on this category because it is the soul of your home,” advises Bethke.

Employing the help of a lighting designer or engineer will help you understand how to use all these sources of lighting. Lighting – like life – is about balance. If you want to make a marked difference in your environment, do it with lighting. When lighting is done well it can be a form of sculpture and you can never have too much of it. It not only transforms a space, but can transform even your world and how you perceive it.

Western Heritage Art Show Pearl Studio, Jan. 20th 210.226.4651 | Alamo-Kiwanis.org The 49th annual art show includes the exhibit and purchase of western artwork featuring the nation’s and region’s top artists in the southwest, wildlife and Native American art styles. In addition to fantastic art, enjoy casino games and prizes, live music, a catered buffet and open bar. Proceeds benefit local children’s charities.

BBQ Cook-Off Sea World, Jan. 27th – 28th 210.827.7988 | SARodeo.com As a part of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, join fellow BBQ aficionados for a day of mouth-watering Texas BBQ, live music with Cody Canada & The Departed and Brandon

Rhyder. Come ready for all the festivities and Many sellers are concerned about the lack of privacy that accompanies putting their home up for sale. There are many options that a real estate agent has at their disposal that can help lessen this issue for sellers.

As a seller, you need to consider the balance between giving up some of your privacy and making your home more accessible for other agents to show.

The easiest way to provide access so that many real estate agents can show your home is to have your home listed in our local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), with a sign in your front yard and a lockbox on your front door. However, for many reasons you may not want to go with those options.

Perhaps you’d rather not have a For Sale sign at your home.

You can ask your agent to indicate within their advertising that there is no sign so other agents are aware of this. Many restricted covenant neighborhoods do not allow For Sale signs at the property anyway.

Secondly, you can choose to limit access by not having a lockbox on the door and having your listing agent personally show the home to prospective buyers and their agent. That way someone you know (your real estate agent) is present at every showing. This also allows your agent to personally point out the special features of the home which the buyers’ agent may not be familiar with. However, many buyers’ agents find it cumbersome to show homes this way. They may be running late and have to call the listing agent to reschedule, or their client may pull up to the home and not want to see it after all.

Arranging an appointment around the schedule of four different parties (the homeowner, the listing agent, the potential buyer and their agent) is simply more difficult and may lessen the number of serious showings you could have.

As an alternative, sellers can choose to set out the lockbox only for showing appointments. Or, your agent can program the lockbox so that it can only be accessed during specified days and times. That way, they control access to the home during hours that you can be disturbed or are away from the home anyway. The buyers’ agent has a little more flexibility in scheduling when they can utilize the lockbox for access.

A high-profile seller may not want their name in the Multiple Listing Service. Although it’s a required field within the MLS advertising, the seller can request to withhold their name from being part of the listing. Your agent can simply state “Client of…” rather than the property owners’ name.

Additionally, the property address and property photos can also be withheld from internet marketing. Keep in mind though, that not including property photos can greatly diminish interest and inquiries. Perhaps a solution would be to include plenty of beautiful photography, but nothing that specifically identifies

the property, such as the front elevation or view from the street.

Finally, many real estate agents have “pocket” listings. This means that they have the listing “in their pocket,” private and not available to other agents via the MLS. The agent uses their superior networking skills to share the opportunity with agents that they know would have a serious buyer who may like the home. Again, many high-profile clients prefer to use this inter-agent networking system rather than the more public MLS to list their home. A pocket listing ensures the greatest of privacy as the selling agent only reveals information about the property to specific interested parties and their agents. Generally pocket listings are shown by appointment only and the selling agent may require that the buyers be pre-qualified before showing them.

When it comes to making choices on maintaining your privacy, it’s critical to discuss your options with your Realtor.

With a clear understanding that the more private you make your property’s sale, the less access and exposure you will have to buyers; you can find suggestions and solutions that will work for your situation. Ask your real estate agent about different listing options that will help you feel more comfortable with the selling process.

don’t forget your wet wipes and bibs!

Broadway Rocks!

Laurie Auditorium at Trinity, Feb. 3rd – 4th 210.999.8119 | SASymphony.org Come rock it out with your symphony orchestra as they perform your favorite selection from various Broadway blockbusters such as Mamma Mia, Tommy, Rent, The Lion King, Hairspray and The Phantom of the Opera.

Tower Climb and Run Tower of the Americas, Feb. 25th 210.223.3101 | LoneStar.cff.org/TowerClimb Has your New Year’s resolution to hit the gym been sliding into oblivion? Never fear, get your buns moving along with hundreds of other participants to combat the 952-step challenge to the top of the 58-story tower. Proceeds benefit the fight against cystic fibrosis.

The Dominion

January | February 2012

NON-MLS SOFT CONTEMPORARY • BIG VIEWS 5 Carriage Hills • 6908 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Bed | 8 1/2 Bath • $3,200,000 • 1.1 Acre View Lot

Happy New Year from Debra Janes and her Associates.

Proper Lighting Design Takes Your Interiors To The Next Level

Considering Selling?

PARADE OF HOMES ESTATE WITH GUEST HOUSE 20 Esquire • 8224 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Bed | 5-1 Bath • $2,750,000

GATED IN VINEYARD ESTATES 33 Vineyard Drive • 5400 +/- Sq. Ft. 4 Bed | 4-1 Bath • $1,795,000

Learn Your Options For Listing And Showing Your Home

STATELY HOME 2 Bishops Green • 6612 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Bed | 5-1 Bath • $1,790,000

Wintertime Comfort Food

For everything real estate...call

The Melting Pot’s Triple Cheese Fondue

FABULOUS ONE-STORY ON GOLF COURSE 16 Champions Lane • 4467+/- Sq. Ft. 3 Bed | 3-2 Bath • $1,650,000

FURNISHED IN COTTAGE ESTATES 3 Waterford Glen • 2508 +/- Sq. Ft. 2 Bed | 2-1 Bath • $395,000

210.573.4040 • dj@gvtc.com • DebraJanes.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Image: PURE Design Environments

Debra Janes

The Dominion

Real Estate Report