the guide
OCTOBER HOME SALES
Recent U.S. Census reports indicate that New Jersey’s population has grown steadily over the past decade, and numbers are to increase. Chalk that up to the ongoing interest in our state’s suburban solace, which continues to fuel the real estate market. If you’re debating whether to buy or sell a home this season, consider the following stats from last October, near the height of the housing boom.
9,685
The number of single-family homes that closed in October 2020, up 34.3 percent from the previous year.
11,108
New listings of single-family homes in October 2020, an increase of 11.7 percent over the year before.
$410,000
MUST-READS Justina Blakeney has been a household name in interior design since debuting her lifestyle brand, Jungalow, a decade ago, and she’s keeping the momentum going with her newest book: Jungalow: Decorate Wild (Abrams, $28). It’s filled with photographs of—and tips on using—bold colors, mixed patterns, whimsical shapes and more fun design styles that define the Jungalow aesthetic. In the same vein, this summer Blakeney also unveiled her new furniture line, Opalhouse, which she designed with Target. Much like rummaging through a garage sale or a thrift store, sifting through the pages of Modern Americana (Gibbs Smith, $24) by West Coast-based designer Max Humphrey will give readers a thrill. With out-there finds and accessories such as gingham print, vintage signs, maps and Pendleton blankets, the spaces featured in this book inspire readers to use their own collections in innovative ways at home, whether that’s a country house or an urban loft. And diehard abstract art fans can now view Picasso’s greatest works right from their reading nooks in Musée Picasso Paris (Flammarion, $40), edited by the museum’s former president, Anne Baldassari. This essential resource is the most impressive collection of Picasso’s works ever printed, from the Blue Period (1901–04) to the portrait of the “Young Painter” (1972), which he finished in his penultimate year. The volume also details Picasso’s work in sculpture, ceramics, photography, drawing and etching.
WANT TO BECOME AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
In real life it requires an arts degree, post-graduate schooling and lots of tests, but in The Sims 4 all you need is your smartphone. The latest expansion pack of the long-running video game, the Dream Home Decorator Game Pack, features interior designer as a new career path. And it’s a lot like the real thing; players will meet with clients, discuss their desires for the project and even do an HGTV-style reveal once it’s completed. Learn more about how your Sims can succeed in the biz and get the game at ea.com/games/the-sims/the-sims-4/.
Median sales price of singlefamily homes in October 2020, an 22.4 percent increase over 2019.
$515,618
Average sales price of singlefamily homes in October 2020, up 23.7 percent from the previous year.
Average days properties had been on the market in October 2020, down 33.3 percent from the previous year. Source: New Jersey Realtors
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AQUARIUMS AS ART
Fish tanks have evolved from small fishbowls to fullon aquatic masterpieces. They can enhance a room while creating a calming effect you likely won’t get from paint color or décor alone. And many companies across the Garden State install fish tanks directly into walls or furniture for a seamless look. “Aquariums are soothing, always changing, never boring living art that draw young and old into their depths,” says Sol Bick, owner of Lakewood-based Aqua Creations. If you want something more low-key, you can opt instead for a fishbowl-style tank, which can be placed on a counter, table or desk to create an extraordinary centerpiece. The relaxing nature of fish tanks has been proven, and after the year we’ve had, everyone needs a little calm.
8/31/21 11:15 AM
