Real Talk

Real Talk Perchance

to Dream

The dream home. Countless buyers search for it, have an image of it in their heads so clear, they can almost open the front door and step inside. The very concept has inspired classic movies and hit TV shows and best-selling books. It also inspires experts in the real estate business, those who love and appreciate special properties that have their own unique story to tell, to share what makes their notion of a dream listing come true.

Molly Deegan

Branch Real Estate Group My dream listing is any house that I can do a deal on within a week — it doesn’t matter what the price is. It doesn’t matter if it’s an estate, if it’s a saltbox cottage — I don’t care what it is. I’d like to have something that generates interest, that I can move very quickly, and where I can get buyer and seller from Point A to Point B. I really don’t care about the price. It’s just having something, grabbing it and moving it. That also contributes to my perception of success to others, that I can move product. That’s my dream listing right there.

Nicholas Colombos and Angela Dooley

The Colombos-Dooley Team, Compass Real Estate Colombos: For us the dream home is a reality. We have one now we are currently representing. It’s 26 Cricket Lane in Kings Point. It’s a waterfront, about one and a half acres, 1.46 to be exact, 8,300 square feet, new construction built in 2020 with a walk-out lower level. The finishes are impeccable, impeccable. They had the help of Rockwell Developers with the house. And it’s an incredible, incredible waterfront.

Dooley: You have Manhattan views, you have Connecticut views. It’s a very, very special property. It’s a very, very exclusive area. It’s going to take that special buyer to really appreciate this house. It’s built incredibly, the property is incredible, but it’s really about the views. You’re at the highest point in Kings Point. It is a dream listing.

24 | LI HOME Magazine | WINTER 2022 Home Experts Leatherman Homes A Nassau County dream home is most certainly subjective — depending on perspective, marital status, familial status and, of course, architectural style. For some people it is an enchanting South Shore paradise enthralled with scenic appeal. For another it could be a private gated luxury townhouse on the North Shore with all the amenities. Maybe it is a charming old-style cottage on a secluded lot, or simply a picturesque classic colonial with a lush green lawn and a white picket fence with an infinity pool located in a pleasant suburb within an elite school system. For others still it may be an artsy style home in Sea Cliff with museworthy views that spark a creative fire. A “dream listing” has to appeal to the buyer’s vision in a way that captivates their hearts with desire. When they see the listing, it should inspire the inclination that this is where they are meant to be in the hope that their daydreaming fantasy can actually become a reality!

Sara Feldman and Rozana Zemlyansky

V.I. Properties Team, Compass Real Estate Feldman: My dream listing would be a seller who takes pride in their home, who maintains their home, who’s open to suggestion and who understands the market.

Zemlyansky: Working with somebody who takes pride in their home, you feel that energy. And somebody who will do what we call risk-reduction protocols, doing everything preemptively so there are no surprises at the end. Like doing an inspection, and if there’s a problem, they’ll take care of it so they don’t need to renegotiate later on. And somebody who trusts us when we bring you an offer — I’m a big believer that your first offer is probably your best one.

Malka Asch

Coach Realtors In a seller’s market, the time is now to be well-versed in selling your home. A seller who’s motivated, open to suggestions and flexible is key. Many sellers benefit from an early inspection to ensure their home is up-tostandards prior to listing. Qualities of a highly marketable home include a minimalist mindset with decluttered spaces, newer appliances and freshly painted neutral wall colors. High quality photos are key! Open layouts and organized rooms promote buyers’ abilities to envision themselves in your listing. Ensure that your home is ready for market with a well-informed and hardworking agent who is knowledgeable about your area and will qualify your buyers for a seamless and smooth transaction.

Luxian International Realty A beach-front ultra-luxury modern mega-mansion in a lavish, gated compound that provides unmatched exclusivity, privacy and grandeur. Magnificent amenities that include an indoor pool and outdoor pool with a waterfall and multiple Jacuzzis. There is an oversized deck, private terraces, guest pool house, saunas, private gym, elevator, movie theater, tennis court and a private helipad. With direct access to the beach, it stands on a secure cliff atop a private peninsula and overlooks an extraordinary open view of the Long Island Sound.

Karen Elefante

Compass Real Estate It’s a Colonial with an open layout and high ceilings. A large living room with a stone wood-burning fireplace, a formal dining room with wainscoting. An oversized kitchen with an island, granite countertops, white cabinets and stainless appliances. A large den extension in the rear of house, a master suite with a palatial bathroom, three additional bedrooms with hall bathroom. There is an attic for storage and a full finished basement. There are hardwood floors throughout and a central air system, new windows and roof, and 200 amp electrical service. The property is 60x150 on a great tree-lined street. This house is one of a kind!

Alan Schnurman

Saunders & Associates The house sits high above the Great South Bay with endless views and sunsets that just take your breath away. It is a new modern flat-roof contemporary with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout. It includes an open-view kitchen, a great room with a gas fireplace, multiple bedrooms for the extended family, and two home offices to work and study in. The lower level includes a gym with a sauna, a widescreen movie theater, walk-in wine room and a large play area. The client turns to me and says, “I’ll take it.” And of course that is when I wake up. Excellence Real Estate

“A room should never allow the eye to settle in one place. It should smile at you and create fantasy. — Juan Montoya Photo by Barbara Lassen “

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From luxury homes, residential communities, condominiums and undeveloped land, to commercial and investment opportunities, V.I. Properties does it all! Choose V.I. Properties, a team that makes you truly feel like a VIP.

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Talking ’Bout a RESOLUTION

Home and lifestyle experts inspire 22 New Year’s promises and projects for 2022

A new year, a fresh start. If you are among the 75 percent of Americans making a New Year’s resolution, putting the focus on an aspect of your home is not only a great way to infuse your goal with a sense of purpose, but it might actually help inspire you to stick with it and accomplish some much-needed tasks in the process! Experts in all things home have gathered together to inform us, inspire us and give us the know-how and confidence to say — c’mon, say it with us: In 2022 we resolve to…

HeATThings Up

Winter is fireplace season on Long Island, and with it comes the burning desire for flickering flames, the sounds and scents of crackling logs, and the warmth that a fire brings to both body and soul. But what type of fire gets you fired up is as heated a debate as dogs vs. cats, chocolate vs. vanilla, summer vs. winter—the beauty being, you really can’t lose, no matter which side you choose when it comes to deciding between gas-burning and wood-burning options.

“It really is a matter of personal choice and taste, and both are popular,” says Dennis Lawrence, owner of Taylor’s Hearth & Leisure in Franklin Square. The ultimate decision for each homeowner seems to come down to cleanliness and convenience versus the classic cozy qualities of yore.

“The advantages of gas are, they’re neater, they’re cleaner, there are no ashes, there’s no soot,” Lawrence says. “There’s a simple remote control to turn it on an off. Gas radiates more heat into the room — with the blowers and the fans, it’s more heatproducing. And it’s easier to maintain.

“With wood,” he continues, “you get the crackling, and the smell of the wood is nice. But any wood-burning fireplace really doesn’t generate heat into the room. Most of the heat is just getting sucked up the chimney. In most wood-burning fireplaces, the chimney just acts like a vacuum, and it just pulls all the heat out of that space.

For those who are committed to the old school charms, there are modern options to help deal with those energy-loss issues.

“They have wood-burning inserts if you want to continue burning wood but make it more efficient.,” Lawrence notes. “It’s a unit that would slide into your existing fireplace, and you run a liner up the chimney. They’re all cast iron and they radiate heat into the room, and they have blowers that push the heat into the room. So you can still keep it wood-burning but make it more efficient.”

Pick the Perfect

Houseplant

“The benefits of houseplants are endless. In addition to cleaning the air of harmful toxins, they can help to improve your mood, reduce stress and provide you with better sleep,” offer the experts at Hick’s Nurseries in Westbury. “Fill every room of your home with houseplants and their restorative qualities will improve your life.” In the bedroom, they recommend a Peace Lily or Snake Plant, while the home office can benefit from a ZZ Plant or Dracaena. Try a Rubber Plant or Fiddle-Leaf Fig in the living room, and Pothos or Succulents are ideal in the kitchen.

Master the Décor

Whether you’re planning a new build, upgrading your current house or focusing on a specific room, hardwood floors add a timeless beauty. Of course, choosing the right hardwood requires some expert insights.

“Many hardwood species have bold, characteristic textures and patterns,” says Glenn Altarac, owner of Floor Décor & Design in Rockville Centre. “For example, the rustic flair of oak floors is ideal for adding a dash of Old World charm to your home. Still others, like maple, have a refined, elegant grain style and are more contemporary.”

In addition to the pattern and texture, the type of hardwood you choose will have an impact on the feel not just beneath your feet, but all around. “Different species of wood can also have many different shades between them,” Altarac notes. “Darker wood floors are more traditional and warm, while lighter hues showcase a more casual look.

on the Floor

“You can also choose a hardwood flooring type based on how well it accents the room, including furniture, a wall hanging, a rug or a countertop. You should also consider the gloss level of the hardwood. Additionally,” he adds, “the plank size and finish of any hardwood floor will create varying looks to complement a room’s desired style.”

Make the New Year

a Hue Year

Soothing, cool and calm are the buzzwords for home-changing hues, as Sherwin-Williams gives us the 2022 Color of the Year: Evergreen Fog. “Evergreen Fog is a sophisticated wash of color for spaces that crave a subtle yet stunning statement shade,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “The new year is about starting anew, and that sentiment is at the heart of this color, Wadden notes. “Evergreen Fog inspires us to begin again and is a great choice for modern interiors and exteriors.”

Break Out the Burlap

Wrapping isn’t just for gifts. This year, give it a go in the garden, where you can help your plants battle winter season damage caused by leaves and buds drying out. “Winter winds on Long Island, especially near the water, can cause plant material to suffer desiccation — when moisture is given up and not replaced — which can kill areas of the foliage,” says Fox Tree Service owner Bart Fusco, a registered consulting arborist. “Surrounding a plant in burlap or another barrier to the wind can help stop water loss. Another method is applying an anti-desiccant.”

Your home.Your home. My mission.My mission.

Compass is the nation’s leading brokerage. It is a real estate company, but also a Compass is the nation’s leading brokerage. It is a real estate company, but also a powerful technology firm. It confidently helps evaluate properties, predict market trends, powerful technology firm. It confidently helps evaluate properties, predict market trends, and helps you achieve the greatest return in the shortest time. The market for sellers and helps you achieve the greatest return in the shortest time. The market for sellers is still robust and prices are at their peak. If you are curious about what your home is is still robust and prices are at their peak. If you are curious about what your home is worth call Karen Elefante! She will help you explore your options. worth call Karen Elefante! She will help you explore your options.

Karen ElefanteKaren Elefante

Licensed Real Estate SalespersonLicensed Real Estate Salesperson karen.elefante@compass.com karen.elefante@compass.com M: 516.398.5055M: 516.398.5055 100 Merrick Road, Rockville Center, NY 11570100 Merrick Road, Rockville Center, NY 11570

compass.comcompass.com

Show Your Car

SOME COLD WEATHER LOVE WEATHER LOVE

“When keeping your car in the garage for the winter, make sure you keep for the winter, make sure you keep the car active. In other words, do not neglect the car,” says automobile not neglect the car,” says automobile afi cionado Kevin Killelea Jr. of Rockville Centre Auto Repair and Rockville Centre Auto Repair and Towing. “Cars are meant to be driven, Towing. “Cars are meant to be driven, so make sure the car gets a good ride so make sure the car gets a good ride at least once every two weeks. is at least once every two weeks. is will help keep fl uids running, keep the will help keep fl uids running, keep the rubber components active, and help rubber components active, and help the car recharge and add life to the the car recharge and add life to the battery.”

Get Organized

Any time is a good time to undertake that home organization project, but taking that fi rst step can be daunting. If your house is drowning a chaotic explosion of clutter or you are simply looking to bring some order to your home, Marie Limpert and Annmarie Brogan, the co-owners of Organize Me! of NY and co-authors of the book Beyond Tidy: Declutter Your Mind & Discover the Magic of Organized Living, are always ready to help kickstart things.

“People don’t always make the connection, but the truth is both organized and disorganized living infl uence how we show up in the world — one positively, the other not so positively,” says Brogan. “Both aff ect confi dence, reliability, trust, mood, how we communicate with others and how well we manage our emotions. Both aff ect how much quality time we have for the people and activities we love. ey impact how we manage our money. ey aff ect how other people perceive us.”

ere are numerous possible reasons why people may become disorganized, but the approach to getting organized has a common starting point. “ e question we normally ask our clients when they call us for help is: Are you willing to change your behavior in order to move forward?” says Limpert.

e fi rst step toward moving forward could very well be taking a step back and looking inside oneself. “Research studies confi rm our ability to develop new habits, learn new skills and gain knowledge,” Brogan adds. “It’s not that some people have the ‘organizing gene’ and others don’t. Anyone can improve and learn. So don’t write yourself off and say, ‘I’ll never be organized!’ e only thing holding you back might be your thoughts.”

Learn a DIY Skill

OR A DOZEN

First, set a number: 12. at’s only one a month. Not too overwhelming, yet enough to give you a real sense of achievement and a good foundation of skills as a homeowner. Now, in no particular order, the talents that await you: • Unclog a drain • Patch drywall • Paint a room • Fix a leaky faucet • Change a light fi xture • Replace cabinet hardware • Install a mailbox • Caulk a tub • Powerwash a deck • Locate a stud • Work on a ladder • Find reliable pros: Knowing how to select the right handyman, or plumber, electrician, contractor and so on, is as essential a skill as any of those do-ityourself skills. Maybe even more.

Keep Home Décor

Fresh and Fun

“Adding new things always makes you happy,” says Danielle Frey, brand manager and buyer for Madison’s Niche boutique in Stony Brook. Even small design and décor touches, she notes, can help you find small joys throughout the year while keeping your home looking and feeling new.

Tabletops: If you have an entryway table, or in the center of your dining table, put a basket and get a candle in there, or a new floral arrangement. Vases are huge right now — traditional ones, and some that have a new, clean almost Scandinavian feel. That’s a good way to change up your table top.

Flowers: Change your floral arrangement with the seasons. If you have a pet and you can’t have real plants, artificial plants and leaves look so real nowadays, you could put a bouquet of fake flowers and it will look real and beautiful, and it just adds that little softness and pop to your table. Diffusers: You don’t need to light it, you don’t need to remember to blow it out, they can go in any room, and they really fill the room with fragrance. And fragrance lifts your spirits.

Throw Pillows: There are neutral ones that would match anyone’s couch, and then there’s something with a design, floral throw pillows with studs on the ends—that’s just a fun way to spice up a couch or a chair, or even your bed.

Books: Books are a huge thing right now. It’s very popular to do a little stack of books, decorative books like Chanel No. 5, the coffee table book. It’s a showstopper.

Bottom Line: You want to feel happy in your space. So add things that bring you joy.

Shape Up the Home

Gym

Getting in shape is always near the top of any resolutions list. Getting your home gym right is a logical first step. If you’re looking to start with a single piece of equipment yet want to truly work out, Michael Dern, co-owner of Carters Home Gym in Westbury, recommends a universal home gym. “Primarily because it trains your total body,” he says. “It has, like, eight different machines built into one. So, usually there’d be eight different machines spread out across a gym. Instead, this is all put into one. It has a lap pull-down, a bench press and more.”

It’s also great for fitness newbies because “it’s easy to use,” Dern adds. “On the piece of equipment it actually gives you the examples of how to use it. For someone who might not be so experienced with working out, this machine pretty much teaches you how to use it yourself. You won’t have to worry very much about your form.”

Dig the 811

You know 911. That’s easy. The 411, well, your favorite search engine pretty much sent that the way of the dodo. But three digits many Long Island homeowners don’t know but should are New York 811. By law, excavators and contractors working in Nassau and Suffolk Counties (and the five boroughs of New York City) must contact New York 811 at least 48 hours but no more than 10 working days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) prior to beginning any mechanized digging or excavation work to ensure underground lines are marked. Homeowners are also strongly encouraged to call when planning any type of digging on their property, but newyork-811.com notes that for excavation work completed on personal property, it is the contractor’s responsibility — not the homeowner’s — to contact New York 811

Build an Emergency Survival Kit

“Disasters can happen anywhere, anytime — even in someone’s own home,” notes the American Red Cross, which recommends building an emergency preparedness kit as the first step toward getting your household ready for emergencies. A 72-hour kit is one of the most valuable resources you can have at the ready in your home, and ready to take on the road if needed. It will include such items as food and water supplies, cooking materials, a first aid kit, sleeping necessities (sleeping bags, tent), clothing, personal items (including prescription and non-prescription medication, documents and cash), lights, radio and other necessities.

Great resources and checklists to help you build and customize a kit for you and your family can be found at redcross.org, staysafe. org, aarp.org, ny.gov and ready.gov.

Year Gear Up for a of Cooking

Whether you’re a home chef preparing for your next dinner party or a first-time homeowner setting up your kitchen, stocking the space with essential cooking gadgets ensures that every meal will be memorable. Food industry extraordinaire Fran Walker, owner of Chef Fran’s Kitchenwares in Jamesport, dishes on five fab picks for tools of the trade to put in your kitchen this year:

Silicone Oven Mitt with Cotton Lining, Mastrad These 425-degree-resistant mitts made the top of Walker’s list, as these handy tools are useful for nearly every meal preparation.

60-Minute Timer, Fox Run This must-have can also be a cute accessory for anyone popping dishes in the oven — Walker has some shaped like roosters. “In my catering business, everybody had a timer that they kept in their pocket. Otherwise you forget what you put in, and that leads to mistakes.”

Wooden, Bamboo Salad Bowl, Any Brand Its versatility “gives you a little leeway if you’re hosting a party and you’re a little flustered,” and it you get a quality wooden bowl, it will last for years to come.

Silicone Flexible Measuring Stir and Pour, 1-Cup, NorPro This multi-purpose tool is essential for bakers and chefs alike.

Four-Cup Glass Fat Separator, Any Brand What appears as a pitcher can efficiently separate fat from other liquids. If you’re looking to make a creamy gravy, this gadget has a removable spout at the bottom for an easy pour.

Bring a Local

Farm Home

One of the great benefits of living on Long Island is the access to the bounty of our local farms. And now is the time to start supporting local farmers while savoring seasonal specialties grown and raised right here with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership. The way CSA programs typically work is you buy a “share” of a farmer’s offerings — and here on our island that includes everything from vegetable farms to dairy farms to oyster farms — and then get a weekly package (box/bag/crate/etc.) that you either pick up or have delivered. Farm to table, right at your own table.

Start a Long Island Wine Cellar

As a famous Long Islander sang … “a bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rosé instead…” Now that you’re finally ready to from the foundation of your Long Island wine collection, why not all three? And, while we’re at it, how a bottle of bubbly and a fine dessert wine? Lisa P. Shock, advanced certified sommelier/SSA, of East Hampton’s Park Place Wine & Spirits, uncorks a quintet of local bottles to get you started.

Bottle of White: Paumanok Chenin Blanc 2020 A perennial customer favorite that resides on just about every restaurant’s wine list on the East End. This is a fresh, crisp, racy and bracing Chenin that is redolent of grapefruit and pineapple, with more subtle notes of melon, apple and guava. It’s bar none one of the best American Chenin Blancs around!

Bottle of Red: Leo Family Red 2015 One of the best red wines produced on Long Island, by revered winemaker John Leo. Rich, ripe black fruit, cassis and sweet spice are beautifully balanced with fresh, vibrant acidity, culminating in a transcendent, terroir-driven red blend that will make you swoon. We fell in love with his red immediately and it has graced our shelves ever since. It exhibits balance, elegance, finesse of the old-world combined with liveliness and fruit from the new-world.

Bottle of Rosé: Channing Daughters Rosato Cabernet Franc This South Fork rosé is requested by our customers, second only to Wölffer’s. It’s made solely from Cabernet Franc, which is one of the most successful grapes on Long Island. This is full of fresh red currant and Meyer lemon flavors tinged with a hint of violet and lots of sea spray — an ideal wine for your seafood and one which can simply be enjoyed on its own.

Bottle of Bubbles: Sparkling Pointe Blanc De Blanc 2017 An exceptional local sparkler from the North Fork that rivals many of the Champagne on our shelves. This Blanc de Blanc is consistently one of the best of Sparkling Pointe’s many excellent offerings. It’s an elegant wine that shows classic expressions of apple and lemon juxtaposed with complex notes of freshbaked brioche, nuts and cream. Hightoned acidity and fine, delicate mousse fill the palate with intensity and harmony, with an exceptionally long finish.

Dessert in a Bottle: Macari ‘Block E’ Riesling 2013 The Macari Family produces some of the very best wines on the North Fork. Their luscious dessert wine was crafted from 100 percent Riesling grapes sourced from Seneca Lake, N.Y. Rich and full flavored, this wine’s cling peach scents give way to a deeper, apricot-driven core of flavor. The wine was produced in the ice wine style in which the grapes are pressed while frozen, yielding extremely concentrated juice high in sugar, flavor and acidity.

Score a Silver Screen

“Now more than ever, companies are producing films that premiere on streaming services,” says Paul Reiners, project manager with Syosset-based Sound Dimensions Plus. With this in mind, now is the time for movie lovers to upgrade their viewing experience to home theater quality. The Samsung Ultra Short Throw 4K Laser Projector, Reiners notes, can produce a 120-inch projection, and whereas a typical projector needs to sit 12 to 13 feet back from a wall, this Samsung device can create a large screen image while sitting at the juncture of a wall and the floor.

“If you don’t have the space, you could potentially turn a bedroom into a theater,” he says. “It’s an allin-one solution.”

Get Key Paperwork in Order

You never know when you’re going to need an essential homeowner document, but chances are you wouldn’t be able to go find it at this very moment if you needed to. Are we right? If so, this is the year you devise a plan to get those docs in order. “It doesn’t need to be perfect,” says Stephanie D’Angelo, Esq. of D’Angelo Law Associates PC in Uniondale. “It just needs to be comprehensive.” Here’s D’Angelo’s tips for where to start: • Your original deed: You are entitled to have an original deed in your possession. If you don’t, call your attorney or go to your county clerk and get a new one. • A copy of your homeowners insurance policy: We have insurance policies for when times are tough. Insurance companies aren’t known for being understanding and, needless to say, they don’t necessarily make it easy to recover. You need to know what your policy covers. • A copy of your title insurance: This is very different from your homeowner’s insurance policy! Title insurance covers ownership of your land. You don’t want to have to search for it when your neighbor starts telling you that your fence is on their property. • Warranties: Do you have central air? Did you recently purchase a new boiler? How old is your refrigerator? What about solar panels? Often these larger ticket items come with warranties, and you should keep all your warranties in one place so you don’t have to go searching for them when that expensive item malfunctions. • Satisfactions/ Certificates of Occupancy/ Permits/etc.: You’d be surprised how often this is an issue when buying or selling a home. Sometimes they’re not filed with the town, so if you have it then we don’t have to hire an expeditor to complete the job. You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by just keeping proper records. • Last word: Finally, keep everything in a fireproof and waterproof lock box —j ust don’t forget the code or lose the key.

Implement a Smoke Detector

Care Plan

According to the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center in Uniondale, “It’s simple to keep smoke detectors in good condition. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure to replace the batteries every year or as needed. Most models will make a chirping, popping or beeping sound when the battery is losing its charge. When this sound is heard, install a fresh battery, preferably an alkaline type.

“Remember, every three years to change the bulbs. Keep extras handy. Check the smoke detector every month by releasing smoke or pushing the “test” button. Clean the detector face and grillwork often to remove dust and grease. Never paint a smoke detector as it will hamper its function. Check your detector if you’ve been away from home.”

And for anyone you know moving into a new home this year, the museum notes that “smoke detectors make great housewarming — or any time — gifts. It’s an interesting present that can save lives and it shows that you care.”

Study Up on Real Estate

Knowledge is power when it comes to understanding real estate, whether you’re buying, selling, renting, investing, you name it. Turning to the experts is a great start, both for real estate veterans or anyone just entering the market, especially with the range of books written by pros in all aspects of the field. With hundreds of titles out there to choose from, we turned to Book Authority’s ranking of the top five best-selling real estate books of all-time: 1) The Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller with

Dave Jenks and Jay Papasan 2) The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner 3) The ABCs of Real Estate Investing by Ken McElroy 4) The Book on Flipping Houses by J Scott 5) Loopholes of Real Estate by Garrett Sutton

Embrace a Healthy, Holistic Home

“Our homes create a sense of wholeness and give us a living experience both in unity and complexity. A house doesn’t just have floors, ceilings and walls, but it is also made from memories and experiences. It’s our sanctuary,” says Catherine Canadeo, a board certified holistic health coach and p resident/CEO, Catherine Canadeo Health and Wellness Corp. “Our homes keep us grounded and centered in an everchanging world — it’s how we take root, day after day, in a corner of the world.

“The feeling you get when walking through the front door, having a sense of belonging, is deeply rooted in our being,” she continues. “Each room stirs its own particular set of sensations but is still part of a complete unified whole living space. Through our senses we experience the soulful comfort inside as we connect with the deepest, most personal and most precious parts of our lives. Our homes are filled with our unique energy, which transcends and connects us to our journey to ourselves.”

Stick with At Least One Resolution

Studies show that anywhere from 80 to 92 percent of people fail to make good on any resolution they’ve made in any given year. You’re better than that. And if you’re struggling with which one to commit to, well, we’re partial to…

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Into the Wood

A Long Island venture recrafts the notion of the family table

By Eric Feil

Photo courtesy The Rustic Loft

Where things begin is as important as where they end up. The connection between those points is the essence of the origin story. When the players in such a tale embrace that idea, it makes the tale all the richer and gives it life beyond any natural conclusion.

“Since the age of 14, my father, George, worked as an apprentice in his brother’s cabinet shop, specializing in the production of furniture. In 1990 he started his own cabinet shop, building custom kitchens, vanities and wall units,” Leo Cacciatore recalls. “As a kid growing up, I would spend my summers working at the shop, staining kitchens cabinetry, closets and learning everything I could.”

Flash forward to the bustling streets of Lynbrook, the waterfront village of Stony Brook, ancient barns across rural America, a buzzing workshop in Bellmore, dining rooms and living rooms and kitchens across Long Island, and this story’s next chapter is being written by Cacciatore’s Rustic Loft. When he speaks, the relationship with the materials or the people for whom he and his team make their custom hardwood furniture, his passion is evident. One cannot help feel how embraces the idea that the time spent to learn a craft is forever intertwined with future creations, that the past informs the future every step of the way.

“In 2017 we started talking about the possibility of opening up a showroom showcasing all the different types of furniture we could build,” he says of the moment the concept for The Rustic Loft came to life. “We weren’t really sure whether to have it based on a theme or to just have all different types of styles available. After discussions with friends and family and through watching HGTV, we learned there was a high demand for rustic farm tables.

“We built a few to really fine-tune the manufacturing process. I posted them on social media and people just loved them. We decided to go for it.” He signed the lease for the Lynbrook location, renovated the place, and then went ahead and built pieces to fill the showroom. “My family was the biggest support,” he notes, “as initially this was a risk and we were going to have to live without my income for a while.”

The concept of family is apparent at every turn, stemming from those days learning at his father’s hand. It is essential, though Cacciatore does not say this overtly. He does not need to. It is right there in his own narrative. “Before she joined us full-time, my sister worked as a digital and media design strategist at Discover Long Island and would come work weekends, helping customers as well as developing our logo, digital presence and all media-related advertising. My wife, who was a full-time nurse, would work her days off at the showroom. “My father, nothing less than a creative genius, designed many of the different styles we manufacture, and my mother would help with the bookkeeping. Even my kids got involved. My daughter took an interest in design and would follow me around at the shop and showroom and learn everything she could. My son would help me with physical labor and even deliveries so I could keep costs low during the initial startup phase.”

If one played word association with Cacciatore, there’s a sense that almost every answer he’d give would be collaboration. Even the name of the business itself was a group effort. “We had a few different ideas for names initially. I wanted something that was conceptual to the theme of farm tables, yet versatile enough so that we could evolve with the styles. I also wanted to emphasize that it was American made. I came up with a few ideas and ran it through family and friends, and even did a group vote with the team at the Emergency Medical Company of Lynbrook Fire department, which I volunteer for. Everyone loved the name The Rustic Loft.”

That back-and-forth, the sharing of thoughts and visions and concepts, extends to every piece he and his team create. That, and the challenge, is the real thrill.

“I had a customer bring me an odd-sized wine fridge to fit in a corner perfectly. I had to literally do trigonometry to create the optimal piece

Photos E. Feil/LI HOME to fit in perfectly all the while ensuring the fridge fit in nicely to the cabinet,” Cacciatore says. “To this day that concept has inspired myself as well as many other customers to have similar pieces built. Another one is a wet bar we recently built, with a custom fridge built in and sized with the ability to fit a sink faucet and power a wine fridge. I really enjoy these types of projects, as they are challenging and really bring out our creative and analytical skills.

Equally rewarding is the process of giving new life to the reclaimed materials The Rustic Loft sources. Oak, maple and other wood that otherwise would have been lost to the ravages of time once again finds beauty and purpose. Naturally, Cacciatore doesn’t go about finding these materials alone, and the collaboration (there’s that word again) goes hand-in-hand with the same kind of exacting attention to detail in his associates that he demands of himself.

“We partnered with an Amish family of woodworkers who salvaged oak from old barns built in the 1800s out in Walnut Creek, Ohio. I watched how they would take apart the barns, plank by plank, run the beams through a metal detector to mark the nails for removal. Then they would kiln the wood to the optimal moisture level for furniture manufacturing.

“It is ingrained in their culture to value their resources and respect the history associated with it,” he adds. “With our reclaimed oak tables, it is really incredible to think that the very wood used to make the table was part of a barn right in our homeland. It truly is putting a piece of American history in your home.” And so the story continues…

The Rustic Loft: 420 Sunrise Hwy. in Lynbrook, 97K Main St. at Stony Brook Village Center and therusticloft.net.

Grieving Property TAXES

When You’re on the Move

By Scott Adams

The local real estate market remains hot, and with sales prices at notable highs and inventory continuing to be historically low, many homeowners are pondering whether now is the time to put their house up for sale. Of course, many have questions: Can I still grieve my taxes if I’m going to be putting my home on the market? What is the impact if, say, my home is assessed at $500,000 but I want to list it for more? Is there any downside to doing it, or should I even bother, if I’m going to be moving anyway?

“Yes, you can still grieve it,” says Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC Property Tax Supervisor John P. Frascella. “You’ll never get penalized. Hopefully you can help the new owner inherit an improved tax situation.”

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start, and continue, the process. Even in this current market, there are any number of factors that may keep you from selling your home. So should you wind up staying put, you would still have the process in motion to make sure you have a fair assessment. And having things started can be beneficial for prospective buyers — you can begin, and they can pick up the ball and run with it.

“Yes, you should do it to protect them,” Frascella says of people who may wind up buying your home. “So you can file the grievance, and then, if you’re dealing with Maidenbaum, we give you take-over documents, which go to the buyer, and the buyer may say, ‘I’ll take over the grievance.’”

If you are going to sell your home, the experts at Maidenbaum note, it is critical to obtain the purchaser’s signed acceptance of an assignment of your tax assessment reduction agreement. (Case transfer, they say, ensures that the party who receives the benefit of the savings — i.e. the buyer — is the one who pays the fee. If you sell the property and do not make arrangements to transfer your tax grievance to the buyer, you will remain responsible for the fee.) A real estate closing attorney can assist with this by obtaining the appropriate forms for the purchaser to complete the assignment.

“So if you’re the buyer, for sure, you want to take over the case,” Frascella says. “You’re not going to get a transfer fee or any nonsense like that. You’ll take it over and we’ll see what we can do. But the listing is going to tell us where we stand. There might be ones that are a home run — you could be listed for a million but you’re assessed at the county at $1.5 million, so you may be in line for a reduction as the buyer. So the listing will tell us a lot about where we stand on the case.

“In all honesty, it’s the new owner’s prerogative if they want to take it over,” he continues. “There is literally no downside. And why would you want to put yourself in a position where you’re automatically going to be subject to whatever the county says, if you don’t do the grievance?”

The myriad financial aspects of home ownership need to be dealt with not only in the present, but with an eye toward the future. The expenses that come with owning a house may be something you can handle today, but being prepared for tomorrow is another issue. Property taxes, particularly here in our local market, are no exception.

“I know, from experience, people have complained time and time again, ‘I should have done this earlier, what did I do, am I going to have to sell my house now?’ Frascella says. “Sometimes people will come to me after 15 years of not doing it and they say, ‘I’m getting priced out — I’m getting priced out of my own house.’ So yes, you want to get on it early, stay on top of it. You don’t want to throw it by the wayside.”

Learn more about property tax grievance and other property tax issues at maidenbaumtax.com.