August 14th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Although the details of the first garden may forever remain unknown, it’s safe to assume that gardening has been around for hundreds of years. For many, gardening is seen as an art form and an expression of self and home. Gardens can be made to be beautiful, filled with flowers and trees to provide shade on a sunny afternoon, but a garden can also be a source of food and in the past, maybe even survival. Traditionally, gardens were fenced off in some way to provide a barrier of protection against animals. The practice of fencing off a garden led to the art of espalier.
Espalier is the training and pruning of a plant (typically a tree) to grow flat against a barrier such as a wall or fence. This art form can be used in your home garden as an architectural accent. Use it to dress up stone walls or a fence. Try using fruit bearing trees such as apples or pears to add a pop of color to your perimeter.
Some garden centers sell plants that have already been trained, but if you’re looking to train a plant start by planning out your pattern. Common themes include traditional designs that have the plants growing horizontally, vertically or crisscrossed. Once you’ve planned your pattern determine a suitable location and what type of plant you’d like to use. Depending on your pattern, additional equipment may be required such as posts or wires. Consider talking to a local professional at your garden center for additional information and advice on your specific property. Remember, training can take months to years, so be patient and continue to prune as needed!
August 11th, 2014 at 9:00 am
Coming up on August 14th is the second annual Dine Out for the Cure event brought to you by the Susan G. Komen Foundation of San Diego. Eat at participating restaurants and anywhere from 25-50% of the restaurant’s profits for the day will go to Komen San Diego.
According to the American Cancer Society about one in eight women in the US will develop breast cancer. Almost everyone knows someone affected by cancer and we all want to know what we can do to help. By enjoying a night of delicious food you can help breast cancer patients become breast cancer survivors.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is a global breast cancer awareness group that has invested more than $1 billion in breast cancer research since 1982. The San Diego branch, Komen San Diego, was founded in 1995 and has awarded grants totaling more than $9 million to local organizations for contribution to breast cancer awareness, support, treatment and education. Learn more about the local foundation and how you can get involved or donate by visiting http://komensandiego.org/.
August 7th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Each year we look to the future wondering what will come next – flying cars, the ability to teleport – but what we often forget is that the future is right in front of us, in our architecture. As we think about the environment of the future, our buildings shape more than we think. Architectural Digest recently put together their list of “The 14 Most Anticipated Buildings of 2014” and the future is clear in each intricate design.
Certain themes are substantiated throughout. Each building has an underlying humanitarian tone coupled with unique edifices and visual illusions. For example, the Jockey Club Innovation Tower in Hong Kong maximizes an irregularly shaped piece of land with a stunning building devoted to none other than design students. Many of these buildings are designed to maximize space; like the Shanghai tower which stretches through the sky over 121 floors. Our favorite might just be the dissevering foundation illusion created at the Broad Art Museum in Los Angeles.
These stunning buildings will not only shape architectural trends as they open, but continue to shape the future. To see the full list of anticipated buildings, visit http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architecture/2014-02/tallest-best-new-buildings-towers-in-2014-slideshow.print.
August 5th, 2014 at 9:45 am
Our offices are growing and we are proud to welcome three new team members to the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties family! Michelle Sargent, Del Mar; Max Hechtman, Beverly Hills; and Stacy Alvarado, Encino each joined us during the month of July.
“Michelle brings an extensive knowledge of sales and marketing to her new career,” says Delorine Jackson, manager. “With her passion for real estate and determination to succeed, she will quickly rise to the forefront of our industry.” As a pharmaceutical sales manager and territory manager in the biotechnology industry for 12 years, Sargent learned that building relationships is the key to establishing a successful business. “To understand your customers’ needs you have to be a great listener,” explains Sargent. “This is also critical to figuring out the type of service a person prefers, and which method of getting and receiving information is their favorite.”
Nick Cacarnakis, manager of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties’ Beverly Hills office, welcomes broker associate and international marketing guru Max Hechtman. “It’s professionals like Max that elevate this company as a leader in the real estate industry,” comments Cacarnakis.Having received personal training and mentorship from world-renowned marketers, Hechtman is skilled at implementing comprehensive marketing campaigns for a wide variety of high net-worth clients. Previously receiving his bachelor’s degree in Media Management, and raised in the high-expectation world of the entertainment industry, Hechtman is proficient with delivering outstanding results and maintaining the strictest standards of confidentiality.
Kathy King, manager of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties’ Encino office and regional vice president, is pleased to welcome Stacy Alvarado. “Stacy is a determined and passionate Realtor,” says King. “Her communication skills, personal experience managing real estate and in-depth knowledge of the area will benefit our office and her clientele.” Prior to real estate, Alvarado spent 25 years as an account executive and operations manager in commercial collections. Leveraging her astute understanding of negotiating strategy, she has personally bought, managed and sold a dozen properties. A result-driven Realtor, Alvarado combines her passion for real estate and her talent for negotiating to benefit her clientele.
August 4th, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is pleased to recognize Erica Huang Derby for ranking number six for individual agents in the La Jolla office, which includes approximately 150 agents, for her sales performance through the first half of 2014. A Realtor for more than 15 years, Derby also recently celebrated the closing of a property valued at $4.5 million.
Derby, who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, explained that her sales over the past six months have already made 2014 her best year ever in real estate. Working with people from widely differing countries and backgrounds, she has built a thriving business by focusing on helping her clients successfully acclimate into their new surroundings.
