FEBRUARY 1, 2021 ISSUE | REJGUAM.COM
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Sweet dreams
Upstairs, downstairs — A bedroom to escape to Upstairs, downstairs Bedroom
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Checklist Wiring
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Spectrum White pages
t INDEX UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS .............................................2 CHECKLIST .......................................................................4 ACCENTS ...........................................................................5 PROFILE............................................................................6 SPECTRUM .......................................................................7
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UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | BEDROOM
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
Sweet dreams Out of all the spaces in a home, the bedroom is arguably the most comfortable, as it is the homeowner’s private space to wind down and sleep. So, what bedroom setup makes you feel the most comfortable? The average bedroom contains a standard set of a bed, a dresser and a nightstand. Fuller bedrooms add a vanity set, end tables and a headboard to the bed. Bedrooms become even more intricate when a walk-in closet and bathroom extension are included. Depending on the space, the room can be furnished and designed in various ways that befit the occupant. These days, a modern approach of style and design is in. Victor Penafiel, regional manager of Buddy’s Home Furnishings, said whitewash and marble themes have been trendy with the business’s customers, who are mostly 30 years of age and older.
And unlike the past where solid colors filled the room, Penafiel said a mix of colors tend to be more attractive nowadays, especially varying shades of gray and brown. “For bedroom flooring, you’d see carpeting with throw rugs underneath the furniture,� Penafiel said. “But there is also a trend of tile flooring with carpet accents that match the dresser or vanity.� Compressed mattresses with spring coil are replacing the traditional box spring mattresses, he added, mainly because they last longer and offer more comfort. Jose Castro, assistant manager of the Dial Rent-to-Own Mangilao branch, said realtors who purchase from the store choose from a wide range of colors and fabrics to stage a bedroom and make it appealing to homeowners. These include light colors, woven fabrics and leather pieces. “We have different styles set up
This modern, bohemian bedroom layout swaps a nightstand for a plant stand and other greenery to create a calm environment.
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UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | BEDROOM
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
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An area rug not only makes a large statement when entering a room, it also creates a soft place to rest your feet.
to give examples of what people may like, because people have very different tastes,” Castro said. “Some setups have a smaller threepiece set with a headboard, vanity and dresser that some people like, while others would prefer a bigger five- or six-piece set.” The best way to see what’s trending with the bedroom furnishings is by visiting home furnishing stores to see what they have on display. Castro said each Dial Rent-to-Own branch has different items on display, and different seasonal items that debut throughout the year. This provides a new experience for customers and realtors each time they visit the store.
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“... there is also a trend of tile flooring with carpet accents that match the dresser or vanity.” Buddy’s Home Furnishings and Dial Rent-to-Own both offer services where a homeowner can pick out a bedroom set to rent, so they can get a feel of how it would work in their home. If the homeowner would like to try something different, they can return the bedroom set with no long-term obligation and try another set. This is a good way to experiment with different bedroom themes. “I would say usually within a month is when a customer should know if a set is right for them. But in most cases, their first choice is usually the ones they stick with,” Penafiel said. p
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C HEC KLIST | WIRING
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
Wired for sound How often have you checked your electricity in the past year? Part of owning a home is making sure its infrastructure, including wiring, are functioning as they should. It’s easy to forget about doing a routine check on wiring in the home because much of the electrical infrastructure is hidden behind walls, switches and outlets. However, if you want to keep your lights on or prevent electrical hazards, it is recommended to survey your systems every once in a while. Author and contractor Dan Stout, who writes for the Family Handyman, suggested for the most part that in-depth assessments of wiring in the home should be left to a certified electrician. But there are a few things homeowners can check on before calling a professional. First tip when opening outlets:
never assume that a line is dead just because it’s not generating electricity, or the main circuit breaker is off. Identifying which wire to fix is not as easy as pointing out a red wire or blue wire. “A home’s electrical system is large, complicated and may have been worked on by dozens of different people who may not have been properly trained or following code,” Stout wrote. “The end result is that when you open up an electrical outlet, you may find a bewildering bird’s nest of wires, electrical tape and wire nuts.” Instead of picking apart wires with your hands, use a noncontact voltage tester to verify that a line is dead. In the event you find that the circuit breaker is not completely shutting off electricity, it is important to call a professional
to get that fixed. Workarounds, like taping a circuit breaker switch down to get it to work, is too risky as a solution, Stout added. Another important component to have on outlets that are near water sources are ground fault circuit interrupters. These switches are required by the national building code to be on every outlet that is within six feet of a water source, most commonly the bathroom. Essentially, these GFCI serve as emergency switches that shut off the lines connected to that outlet in the event water gets into the outlet holes. To further prevent damage to outlets, Stout recommended adding tamper-resistant receptacles to cover the holes when the outlet is not in use. Indoor covers are child-proof, while outdoor covers
protect the outlet from heat and rain damage. The Guam Power Authority also provides everyday safety tips for homeowners to keep in mind: • Do not overload electric outlets and extension cords. • I f an electric appliance is known to get hot during or after use, be sure to keep it away from flammable objects. • Do not run electric cords under rugs, furniture legs, or near hot appliances. • Only use heavy duty extension cords for outdoor use, as they are resistant to sun and rain damage. • Patch frayed electrical cords with electrical tape. p
This outlet, located above a sink, has a ground fault circuit interrupter.
Photo by John I. Borja
ACCENTS | WALLS
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
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The wall of fame One simple but effective way to add some personality to a room is to pick a wall and paint it a different color from the other walls. Accent walls are a great way to make the home feel more unique and vibrant, and the extra kick of color opens new furnishing options, in terms of colors and textures. Painted accent walls are the most common, but some homes also opt for textures and builds. Those types of covering include fabric wallpapers, stone or wood pieces and even marble plates. If you ask around the different paint supply stores in Guam, you will realize that accent colors are so personal that there really isn’t a
Accent walls add personality to a room, in contrast to the neutral colors.
“popular” color to splash on a wall. In general, the color or style of an accent wall is up to whatever makes the homeowner feel happiest. “It’s a personal taste,” said Eric Borja, store manager of Rainbow Paint Supply. “Whenever a customer comes in and asks what I would recommend, I just tell them to go with a color that will make them feel most comfortable. Since they will see it every day, it has to be a color they like.” There are a few tips that homeowners can follow when choosing an accent style, Borja said. First, look at the room you want to spruce up and take note of the
permanent fixtures, such as furniture pieces and lighting. The accent wall should work well with the colors of those pieces, otherwise it may look disconnected from the rest of the room. Some colors blend in very well with most colors, while others have particular shades or palettes that match. Grays are neutral and can accommodate plenty of colors, like light yellow, light green, dark red or dark blue. If the walls or furniture pieces are mostly light blue, for example, there are fewer color choices for a good accent wall. Copper or a neutral beige may be appropriate for that theme. Borja
said he personally prefers a brownish gray theme, as it is neutral and easy on the eyes. Bold, contrasting colors can also be great for accent walls — if done right. For this route, consult a color wheel. A good contrasting color is usually the color directly opposite of the initial color on the wheel. Green and red invokes a holiday theme, blue and orange make a nice sunset, island vibe and purple and yellow can portray royalty. Whichever route you take for an accent wall, the most important thing to note is that it is your home that this wall is part of, so make it a reflection of you. p
This before and after of an accent wall makeover shows the difference a small paint-job can make.
Photos courtesy of In and Out Painting
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REAL ESTATE PROFILE | MACKS REALTY
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
Real Estate Profile — MACKS Realty EMPIRE REALTY YEAR FOUNDED ON GUAM: 2007 PRINCIPAL BROKER: Soo Choi NUMBER OF REALTORS: 3 WEBSITE: www.macksrealty.com PHYSICAL LOCATION: 193 Tumon Lane, Ste. 107, Pia Marine Condo, Tamuning, GU 96913 AREAS OF EXPERTISE/SPECIALTIES: Experience with all aspects of real estate but mostly investment property sales to foreign investors. INVESTMENT TIP: “Location, location, location! And I suggest condos that have good track record renting to the military.” — Soo Choi PICK OF THE MONTH: Pia Marine Condo with three bedrooms, two bathrooms listed at $325,000, which is below market price. It boasts two bedrooms and a third tatami-style room, with a huge wrap-around balcony and oceanview. This condo is centrally located in the heart of Tamuning with easy access to Route 1 and it is a popular rental choice for both Navy and Air Force military clients.
This space has multiple functions; from a bedroom or an office to a play room or a dining room, the possibilities are endless.
This condo also has an ocean view.
A modern wood and white kitchen sits in the corner of this condo.
One of the two bathrooms is flanked with a decorative backsplash behind the sink.
Photos courtesy of MACKS Realty
SPECTRUM | WHITE
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
White pages A white theme for a home can bring about feelings of cleanliness, open space and renewal. And while some homeowners may be hesitant to commit to an all or mostly white design, there are many ways to make it work without looking plain. Anjie Cho, architect and cofounder of the Mindful Design Feng Shui School, wrote in an article in The Spruce that white can brighten and expand a room and bring about positive energy to the space. “The best part about white is that the color works in all types of spaces and styles. White is a versatile and timeless color,� Cho added. The rooms where white works best are in the kitchen and in the bathroom, Cho wrote. As most appliances, tubs, sinks and toilets are white, the room can build upon this theme by incorporating white cabinets, walls and curtains to inspire cleanliness. Accent colors can be added as strips along the walls, on cabinet doors, or on throw rugs. The top concern people may have about white walls, furniture pieces or rugs is that stains and dust are very noticeable on them. Food or drink spill on a colored rug is easy to cover up, but once it seeps into white, the stain becomes difficult to remove.
Even with a white-on-white theme, adding natural elements, like wood and greenery, makes the home fresh and fun.
To combat this, one can opt for fabrics or textures that are resistant to such stains. Faux leather and suede are good substitutes for more vulnerable fabrics like cotton. There are also furniture sprays that add a protective coat to furniture to prevent stains or dust from building. These are especially ideal for busy homes with children or pets. Home improvement stores like the Home Depot and the Guam Home Center provide various shades of white, so experimenting with the different tones can add dimension to a room. New Zealand-based magazine Your Home and Garden broke down shades of white into three categories: cool, warm and inbetween. Cool whites are ideal for outdoors, but can work indoors when complimented with terracotta, sand or khaki green accents. Warm whites have a yellow tone to them and are most effective in rooms or spaces with plants or trees. In between these two is a green tone of white. This white is flexible and changes with lighting. White spaces offer homeowners to be creative with their designs, as white matches with any color, so residents should consider this versatile color when creating their dream home. p
White is an unexpected color choice, especially in nurseries, but it can produce a calming and clean space to relax.
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