Live Queen Anne

Queen Anne Farmer’s Market is happening today!

Kelley Face — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:38:45 +0000

The Queen Anne Farmers Market is happening today from 3-7pm! There will be chef’s performing cooking demonstrations, live music, fresh seasonal fruits and veggies, and even a children’s cooking class. For the schedule of events check out their website here. If you want to make a step towards personal health, getting into shape and boosting your energy, the healthiest woman I know Sarah Adler is offering free Nutrition Consultations this month. She is a certified nutritionist and writes a fabulous blog all about eating real food. I have done a grocery consult with her and made small changes in what I purchase that have made a big lasting impact. You can email her at sarah@onvo.com.

Want to add value to your home by refinishing or repainting wood?

Kelley Face — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:15:49 +0000

Everyone knows if you can do it yourself, you can save money, and add value to your home! For instance, many buyers in Seattle are drawn to white kitchen cabinets, because they add brightness to our homes during our gray Seattle winters. Doing some of these light remodeling projects on your own can be easy! I have had countless evenings chatting over the fence with my delightful neighbors Barb and John, me holding a power sander and them kneeling over their garden. My latest endeavor is antiquing a beautiful old church pew I found on craigslist for $40 which has the words “Jose’s bench” carved into its underside. If you don’t know antiquing – think shabby chic (here is an example).

How to do it:

I learned everything I know from the incredible neighborhood service at True Value Queen Anne where they have literally come to my car to help carry a table chair into the store, and YouTube–where handymen before you and I have video taped just about everything do-it-yourself. The basic two methods of antiquing furniture can be found in these videos:

Glazing Method
Sanding Method

Painting wood can be inexpensive and easy but ONLY if the color or stain you want to paint comes in a spray can. If you happen to want the perfect seafoam teal (like me), you are in for either buying a costly power sprayer, (the cheaper Pre-Vac sprayers are painfully ineffective) or saving money by hand painting with a brush. YouTube also has a video on what to do if you spill a gallon of paint on your carpet, which I also had the privilege of watching this spring! I’m always looking for new project ideas, please send me anything you have been working on, or any ideas you have for home renovation and decor. Also beware of putting more into your home than you can recover upon trying to sell. Email me if you have questions about specifics.

Finished Result of the pew partnered with our refinished/upholstered chairs!

Do you know your neighbors?

Kelley Face — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:03:08 +0000

I’d like to share a great example of the sense of community and neighborly grace I have experienced in Queen Anne. This spring one of the (few) beautifully sunny mornings I hopped on the #4 bus from Queen Anne Avenue headed downtown to put together a Relocation Guide for some clients who are coming to town. Here I am, focusing on writing out my day’s to-do list, and a gloriously happy elderly woman sits down next to me. I compliment her on her gloves, and she thanks me, takes them off, and attempts to give them to me! We continue chatting, and I was absolutely refreshed by her joy for life, her zest, and her eagerness to genuinely get to know a stranger on the bus. Dear Betty told me she was 89 years old, and she rode the bus everyday just to get out of the house, then come right back home, never getting off at a stop. We exchanged numbers and addresses (since we both live on 1st North) and have been meeting regularly for eggs and toast at the Queen Anne Cafe since.

I have never met so many people walking along Queen Anne Avenue as I do with Betty. Betty is friends with everyone, and everyone is friends with her. The waitresses and cooks at the Queen Anne cafe greet her by name, escort her to her favorite table, and automatically bring her usual juice and tea. In our walks I’ve met her friends, apartment neighbors, her hairdresser, her tax man and her grocery store clerks. She greets everyone on the street with a heartfelt “good morning”, whether she knows them of not, and over time, many Queen Anne residents have grown to love her. I see the small, kind ways the people of upper Queen Anne help Betty, and she helps many people as well. She literally goes through life eyes wide open looking for ways to help others. You may see her delivering papers to residents in her building or employees in nearby shops, or you may see her picking up fallen flower petals and leaves off the grass around her building. She is so generous I think she would give me the shoes on her feet if I needed them. It is not everyday you are graced by the presence of such a community member and friend.

Next week we are going to Teacup on Boston and Queen Anne Avenue, probably Tuesday or Wednesday around 8:30am. If you see us there, come say hello, and join us – I promise you will leave with more joy than you came with. If you are someone who enjoys the sense of community partnered with close proximity to the city, Queen Anne may be just the neighborhood you should move to. If you have questions about relocating to Queen Anne or a neighboring Seattle city, send me an email or call. I am happy to help!

Betty’s Favorites:
Queen Anne Safeway
Queen Anne Cafe
Roger’s Park
Seattle Pacific University Park

Queen Anne named a “Brand Name” neighborhood

Kelley Face — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:54:03 +0000

“Those who don’t live there want to, and those who live there never want to leave” quoted Seattle Metropolitan Magazine regarding Seattle’s quote on quote “Brand Name neighborhoods” Queen Anne, Leschi, Madison Park, View Ridge, and Greenlake in their Annual Best Places to Live 2010 feature. For those of you thinking about relocating to Seattle and considering what neighborhoods to check out, last year Queen Anne topped the list at the #1 best place to live in Seattle. So I figure this year we were still 1st, but it would be unfair to choose the same neighborhood twice. Alright, now I am playing into the stereotype that Queen Anne-ites can be a bit narcissistic about our little community – guilty. But the truth is, every little pocket of Seattle does have a bit of it’s own personality – and proudly so! I love helping my buyers decide what suits them and seeing them happily grow a sense of pride and involvement in their neighborhood after they move in.

What is the Future of the Queen Anne business district?

Kelley Face — Mon, 17 May 2010 23:10:28 +0000

Today walking along Queen Anne Ave I noticed that the retail space formally occupied by Hilltop Yarn was available for lease and disappointingly vacant. Like many other upper Queen Anne residents, I love the quaint small business charm of our retail district and I silently mourned the loss of the sunny shop and the darling window displays of rainbow colored yarn. I have been making an effort to buy a gorgeous and well-worth-the-dollar-more card from Queen Anne Dispatch or a movie from Video Isle rather than get everything at a one stop shop chain store (nothing against Safeway). I heard once that if each person spent $20 locally a month it would support our local businesses, and keep the charm and character of Queen Anne alive. After all, the charm is part of the appeal of the residential Queen Anne, and thus our strong (comparably speaking) housing prices.

200 West Highland to Foreclose?

Kelley Face — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:58:46 +0000

As you were hand in hand with a special someone at Queen Anne’s Kerry Park you may have noticed the luxurious new-ish condo buildings directly behind you. These grandiose residences at 200 West Highland range in asking price from $895,000 to $2.25 Million. The whole crew of regulars in today’s new construction luxury market were invited: including Bosch dishwashers, granite countertops, marble, Viking range, exotic woodwork, and many others. Unfortunately interest has not been as high as was expected, only 7 of the 25 units have sold and last week Bank of America moved to foreclose on the remaining 18 units unless developer Lorig Associates repays a $26 million loan-ouch! One of the main deterrents I have heard from interested buyers have been the general layouts, and the piercingly high dues, ranging from $900- $1500 per month. Of course, for lovers of Queen Anne’s historic views, a condo right behind Kerry Park is unparalleled real estate worth paying top dollar.

Need a hand around the house?

Kelley Face — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:10:50 +0000

Seattle magazine just announced their incredible list of affordable local service providers allowing you to outsource and simplify. Hire someone to conquer your clutter, set up your new home utilities, pack your child’s healthy bag lunches, and even scoop your dog poop in the backyard. So many affordable services you will love browsing their unique list. Of course for home related service providers you can always call me as well.

Olympus Manor

Kelley Face — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:31:31 +0000

Charm & character abound in my newest 1920’s classic condo on Queen Anne. This sunny end unit boasts a newly remodeled kitchen with granite counters, stainless steel appliances & new cabinets. Keeping with the period design, the bath is updated with pedestal sink & tile floors. Large living area boasts original mahogany doors & hardwoods add warmth to the classic feel. All this within 2 blocks of Queen Anne Avenue, and the coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques and nightlife that QA is famous for! $185,000, HOA:$260

Housing Market

Kelley Face — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:39:38 +0000

Earlier today, CNN had an article summarizing where we are today and what we can expect in the future. For some of you, this is not new information but in summary: the worst seems to be behind us, but growth and appreciation will not be immediate. Sturdy recovery is a slow and steady process.

2009 Seattle Real Estate Overview

Kelley Face — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:03:28 +0000

Gorgeous images by Andria Lindquist, AndriaLindquist@gmail.com

Looking back at 2009, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service summarized the real estate market happenings revealing a few refreshingly positive signs. Overall, median home prices fell making housing more affordable for buyers. This median landed at $380,000, which is 16.5% lower than the 2007 peak, but still $100,000 higher than in 2002. Activity also picked up in many counties neighboring the Puget Sound where more sales were made in 2009 than 2008. Fun facts: the lowest priced home sale last year was $40,900 in Kent and the highest was $15.56 million in Mercer Island. More information can be found in this Seattle Times article. The link is a little slow to load, but it is well worth the wait!