November | December 2011
www.HeritageTexas.com 281.679.0101
11689 Westheimer, Suite C • Houston, TX 77077
Featured P roperty 11711 BISTRO PICTURESQUE GOLF COURSE ESTATE 5/5-3/4 Private entry courtyard, tower balcony with expansive views, infinity edge pool, summer kitchen with fireplace and amazing outdoor living area! Spacious home with library, wine room, furnished media room, game room & lavish master suite.
Add Richness & Warmth 3814 Antibes Lane Golf Course Home • 3-4/3-1/2 Open layout, breathtaking views, saltwater pool
3203 Bridgeberry Golf Course Home • 4/4-1/3 Long views with mature landscape, loggia, fireplace
11610 Gallant Ridge Golf Course Home • 3/3-1/3 One story, private courtyard entry, panoramic views
Listing Your Home During the Holidays 2914 Shire Wood Lane Villa For Lease • 3/2-1/2 Prime location, island kitchen, huge master
3511 St. Tropez Way Outstanding Estate Home • 4/3-1/3 Stunning exterior, quality finishes, saltwater pool
11502 Gallant Ridge Golf course home • 6/4-1/2 Game & media room, lake view
BRANDEY HECKEROTH
JOANNE ESKRIDGE
AMANDA WALSH
Brandey@HeritageTexas.com
JoAnne@HeritageTexas.com
Amanda@HeritageTexas.com
713.254.3551
281.250.1864
281.451.8107
CHARLIE ESKRIDGE
281.827.9912
Charlie@HeritageTexas.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.
Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996
Is it Wise?
An Unforgettable Finale to Dinner Monarch’s Decadent Chocolate Cake
Royal Oaks County Club’s
Real Estate Report
to embrace all those who enter, and add a dramatic dimension that flat walls can never emulate. Trained and seasoned artisans can apply these products in hues of every spectrum of the rainbow. The use of metallic paints, plasters, waxes, and glazes are becoming increasingly popular and the possibilities for the use of metallics are seemingly endless. For instance, waxes can be applied as topcoats to other finishes such as an existing Venetian plaster which results in added depth and character.
Featuring Monarch at Hotel ZaZa 713.527.1800 | HotelZaZaHouston.com
OH GOD! CHOCOLATE CAKE
NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011
take your home from dull to dramatic!
INGREDIENTS 1/3 pound butter
Custom faux finishes in your home can add that extra bit of sophistication; a sense of opulence that ties everything in your home together beautifully. “It’s like the finishing touch of a holiday bow on a festively wrapped gift,” says Cindy Leech, co-owner with Carol Rollins, of CC Custom Finishes (www.CCCustomFinishes.com). Known for their exquisite custom wall finishes featured in some of today’s top lifestyle and décor magazines, Leech and Rollins have transformed many homes from “so-so” to spectacular! Some of the more common faux painting finishes are: MARBLE FAUX FINISH – This is used to make walls and furniture look like real marble. This can be done using either plaster or glaze techniques. WOOD FAUX FINISH – This technique is often used to imitate exotic or hard-to-find wood varieties. STRI – This comes from the French word meaning “stripe” or “streak.” It is referred to as a negative glaze technique. SILK FAUX FINISH – Replicates the appearance of silk. RAGGING – A glazing technique using twisted or bunched up rags to create a textural pattern. BRICK FAUX FINISH – The look of brick and also stones are a popular style in Old World decor. TROMPE L’OEIL – French for “trick the eye,” this is an art technique involving extremely realistic imagery in order to create the illusion that the depicted objects appear in three dimensions. The applications range from small powder rooms to virtually every wall, ceiling, nook and cranny of a spacious estate. When artisans execute this specialized finish, the transformation is amazing. The smooth or textured walls of your home will allow the light and shadow of the room
1/3 pound unsweetened chocolate 1 pound semi-sweet chocolate 14 eggs, separated 1 1/3 cups sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/3 cup Kahlua METHOD Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Whisk egg yolks, sugar, salt and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Add Kahlua. Mix the chocolate into the yolk mixture. Whip egg whites to medium peaks and fold into the chocolate egg yolk mixture. Divide and pour mix into two spring form pans lined with parchment paper. Bake in a hot water bath at 325 degrees for one hour. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.
Rich gold, bronze and copper metallic plasters and glazes can add authenticity to Tuscan and Old World interiors giving your home that “lived-in” look of an aged European estate. Metallic pewter, charcoal, silver, lime, or even purple can create a gorgeous shimmering background for contemporary, industrial, and modern settings. An entry way is the perfect place to use metallics. The minute your guests enter your home, their eyes are drawn upward by the rich depth and dramatic presence of the ceiling. Tray ceilings adorned with metallic finishes will “wow” visitors as the soft flickering reflections created by a gorgeous chandelier shimmers in movement. Small powder rooms can be transformed into amazing “eye candy” that will be the envy of all who enter. Even the smallest of rooms can appear larger due to the reflective qualities of the metallic products. Leech adds, “Often, guests will be so intrigued by what they see, they can’t help but touch the walls!” Because kitchens are inarguably the heart and soul of a home, use wall finishes to turn your kitchen into the most celebrated room of the house. Plain range hoods can morph into a pleasing aged copper or bronze finish. A stencil motif along a backsplash or accent wall gives added vibrancy to the background finish and an island or bar looks magnificent with a rough, aged plaster with patches of monotone or metallic highlights. In addition to amazing walls and ceilings, faux finishing can be used for furniture and accessories. Leech notes, “We have made use of metallic products to enhance lamps, vases, pots, statues, mirrors, tables, and cabinetry.
Twilight Gala The Nature Discovery Center, Nov. 18th 713.667.6550 | NatureDiscoveryCenter.org The Center’s 17th annual gala “Garden of the Sea” presents a magical evening emceed by TV anchor Tom Koch. Dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions are in store. Proceeds will support the Center’s educational programs that serve up to 60,000 children and adults, including many underserved students.
Often it’s in the smallest of items or details that create the biggest impact.” If your home isn’t making the statement you had hoped, perhaps the relatively simple renovation achieved with wall finishes is just what your interiors need!
Shopping, entertaining, parties, decorating the house, charity work and so much more. For many of us, the holidays are already overloaded with seasonal obligations. Who in their right mind would add “sell house” to their already busy list? Well, it’s not such a bad idea after all. Consider this: Year in and year out, the real estate market begins to slow after Halloween and doesn’t start picking up again until late January. In fact, it’s not unheard of for home sales to be down 30% or so from December to January. Many people will take their home off of the market during this time, which leaves a fantastic opportunity to really stand out from your competition. With fewer homes available for sale, your home will receive more attention. With a reduced number of listings and condensed inventories, you’ll have more buyers’ agents that want to show your home to their clients. Additionally, many people that list their home during the holidays find that they receive better attention not only from agents, but lenders, appraisers, title companies and home inspectors. Those professionals aren’t as busy this time of year either. Besides having fewer homes for sale, there are also fewer buyers. But don’t let that overly concern you. Buyers who are shopping for a home during the holidays tend to be
more
Dutch and Flemish Masterworks Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Nov. 13th – Feb. 12th 713.639.7300 | MFAH.org View more than 60 works from one of the world’s most spectacular private collections of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings. With pieces from Rembrandt, Dou, Hals and Jan Steen, the collection highlights the leading artists of the age in every genre: portraits, still lifes, historical paintings and more. Don’t miss the full-day workshop on Dec. 3rd – The Secrets of Painting: Decoding Masterpieces with Science and History.
motivated. These buyers are serious, and you’re less likely to be contacted by those that are “only looking.” Plus, with many families having vacation days and time off work, it’s a great opportunity for typically busy people to find time for house hunting. We have another advantage here in our market. Many of our neighbors as well as homeowners from across the city entertain out-of-town houseguests for the holidays. What a great opportunity to present your home to people that may very likely decide (or have already decided) to move here! Lastly, isn’t your home always beautiful and inviting during the holidays? You’ve cleaned and decorated and put on all the finishing touches indoors and out. Having potential buyers view your home during this warm and welcoming season allows them to better picture their own family life in the appealing environment you’ve created. So don’t hesitate to list during the holidays – it just might work to your advantage!
The Nutcracker Wortham Theater Center, Nov. 25th – Dec. 27th 713.227.2787 | HoustonBallet.org Take your sweetheart, take a friend, take the whole family to this beautiful holiday tradition. With the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers, this fairy-tale-like evening will transport you to an enchanting world that will delight young and old alike. Cirque Du Soleil Dralion Toyota Center, Nov. 30th – Dec. 4th 866.446.8849 | HoustonToyotaCenter.com Fusing the 3,000-year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the multidisciplinary approach of Cirque du Soleil, Dralion draws its inspiration from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. The show’s name is derived from its two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West. Houston Heights Holiday Home Tour Houston Heights, Dec. 2nd – 3rd 936.597.8825 | HoustonHeights.org Stroll through one of Houston’s oldest neighborhoods as you tour six unique homes all decked out for the holidays. Docents will be on hand to comment on the rich historical and architectural significance of each home. The tree-lined streets of Houston Heights also offer antique and vintage shopping, art galleries, fine dining and eclectic boutiques. SAVEUR Cooks: Festive Holiday Sweets River Oaks Sur la Table, Dec. 10th 800.243.0852 | SurLaTable.com Make this holiday season deliciously decadent! Impress your family and friends as you learn to make fun and fanciful sweets such as elegant peppermint caramels, eggnog tart and crème brûlée. SAVEUR Magazine presents this class, within its SAVEUR Cooks series, exclusively through Sur La Table.
to embrace all those who enter, and add a dramatic dimension that flat walls can never emulate. Trained and seasoned artisans can apply these products in hues of every spectrum of the rainbow. The use of metallic paints, plasters, waxes, and glazes are becoming increasingly popular and the possibilities for the use of metallics are seemingly endless. For instance, waxes can be applied as topcoats to other finishes such as an existing Venetian plaster which results in added depth and character.
Featuring Monarch at Hotel ZaZa 713.527.1800 | HotelZaZaHouston.com
OH GOD! CHOCOLATE CAKE
NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011
take your home from dull to dramatic!
INGREDIENTS 1/3 pound butter
Custom faux finishes in your home can add that extra bit of sophistication; a sense of opulence that ties everything in your home together beautifully. “It’s like the finishing touch of a holiday bow on a festively wrapped gift,” says Cindy Leech, co-owner with Carol Rollins, of CC Custom Finishes (www.CCCustomFinishes.com). Known for their exquisite custom wall finishes featured in some of today’s top lifestyle and décor magazines, Leech and Rollins have transformed many homes from “so-so” to spectacular! Some of the more common faux painting finishes are: MARBLE FAUX FINISH – This is used to make walls and furniture look like real marble. This can be done using either plaster or glaze techniques. WOOD FAUX FINISH – This technique is often used to imitate exotic or hard-to-find wood varieties. STRI – This comes from the French word meaning “stripe” or “streak.” It is referred to as a negative glaze technique. SILK FAUX FINISH – Replicates the appearance of silk. RAGGING – A glazing technique using twisted or bunched up rags to create a textural pattern. BRICK FAUX FINISH – The look of brick and also stones are a popular style in Old World decor. TROMPE L’OEIL – French for “trick the eye,” this is an art technique involving extremely realistic imagery in order to create the illusion that the depicted objects appear in three dimensions. The applications range from small powder rooms to virtually every wall, ceiling, nook and cranny of a spacious estate. When artisans execute this specialized finish, the transformation is amazing. The smooth or textured walls of your home will allow the light and shadow of the room
1/3 pound unsweetened chocolate 1 pound semi-sweet chocolate 14 eggs, separated 1 1/3 cups sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/3 cup Kahlua METHOD Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Whisk egg yolks, sugar, salt and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Add Kahlua. Mix the chocolate into the yolk mixture. Whip egg whites to medium peaks and fold into the chocolate egg yolk mixture. Divide and pour mix into two spring form pans lined with parchment paper. Bake in a hot water bath at 325 degrees for one hour. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.
Rich gold, bronze and copper metallic plasters and glazes can add authenticity to Tuscan and Old World interiors giving your home that “lived-in” look of an aged European estate. Metallic pewter, charcoal, silver, lime, or even purple can create a gorgeous shimmering background for contemporary, industrial, and modern settings. An entry way is the perfect place to use metallics. The minute your guests enter your home, their eyes are drawn upward by the rich depth and dramatic presence of the ceiling. Tray ceilings adorned with metallic finishes will “wow” visitors as the soft flickering reflections created by a gorgeous chandelier shimmers in movement. Small powder rooms can be transformed into amazing “eye candy” that will be the envy of all who enter. Even the smallest of rooms can appear larger due to the reflective qualities of the metallic products. Leech adds, “Often, guests will be so intrigued by what they see, they can’t help but touch the walls!” Because kitchens are inarguably the heart and soul of a home, use wall finishes to turn your kitchen into the most celebrated room of the house. Plain range hoods can morph into a pleasing aged copper or bronze finish. A stencil motif along a backsplash or accent wall gives added vibrancy to the background finish and an island or bar looks magnificent with a rough, aged plaster with patches of monotone or metallic highlights. In addition to amazing walls and ceilings, faux finishing can be used for furniture and accessories. Leech notes, “We have made use of metallic products to enhance lamps, vases, pots, statues, mirrors, tables, and cabinetry.
Twilight Gala The Nature Discovery Center, Nov. 18th 713.667.6550 | NatureDiscoveryCenter.org The Center’s 17th annual gala “Garden of the Sea” presents a magical evening emceed by TV anchor Tom Koch. Dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions are in store. Proceeds will support the Center’s educational programs that serve up to 60,000 children and adults, including many underserved students.
Often it’s in the smallest of items or details that create the biggest impact.” If your home isn’t making the statement you had hoped, perhaps the relatively simple renovation achieved with wall finishes is just what your interiors need!
Shopping, entertaining, parties, decorating the house, charity work and so much more. For many of us, the holidays are already overloaded with seasonal obligations. Who in their right mind would add “sell house” to their already busy list? Well, it’s not such a bad idea after all. Consider this: Year in and year out, the real estate market begins to slow after Halloween and doesn’t start picking up again until late January. In fact, it’s not unheard of for home sales to be down 30% or so from December to January. Many people will take their home off of the market during this time, which leaves a fantastic opportunity to really stand out from your competition. With fewer homes available for sale, your home will receive more attention. With a reduced number of listings and condensed inventories, you’ll have more buyers’ agents that want to show your home to their clients. Additionally, many people that list their home during the holidays find that they receive better attention not only from agents, but lenders, appraisers, title companies and home inspectors. Those professionals aren’t as busy this time of year either. Besides having fewer homes for sale, there are also fewer buyers. But don’t let that overly concern you. Buyers who are shopping for a home during the holidays tend to be
more
Dutch and Flemish Masterworks Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Nov. 13th – Feb. 12th 713.639.7300 | MFAH.org View more than 60 works from one of the world’s most spectacular private collections of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings. With pieces from Rembrandt, Dou, Hals and Jan Steen, the collection highlights the leading artists of the age in every genre: portraits, still lifes, historical paintings and more. Don’t miss the full-day workshop on Dec. 3rd – The Secrets of Painting: Decoding Masterpieces with Science and History.
motivated. These buyers are serious, and you’re less likely to be contacted by those that are “only looking.” Plus, with many families having vacation days and time off work, it’s a great opportunity for typically busy people to find time for house hunting. We have another advantage here in our market. Many of our neighbors as well as homeowners from across the city entertain out-of-town houseguests for the holidays. What a great opportunity to present your home to people that may very likely decide (or have already decided) to move here! Lastly, isn’t your home always beautiful and inviting during the holidays? You’ve cleaned and decorated and put on all the finishing touches indoors and out. Having potential buyers view your home during this warm and welcoming season allows them to better picture their own family life in the appealing environment you’ve created. So don’t hesitate to list during the holidays – it just might work to your advantage!
The Nutcracker Wortham Theater Center, Nov. 25th – Dec. 27th 713.227.2787 | HoustonBallet.org Take your sweetheart, take a friend, take the whole family to this beautiful holiday tradition. With the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers, this fairy-tale-like evening will transport you to an enchanting world that will delight young and old alike. Cirque Du Soleil Dralion Toyota Center, Nov. 30th – Dec. 4th 866.446.8849 | HoustonToyotaCenter.com Fusing the 3,000-year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the multidisciplinary approach of Cirque du Soleil, Dralion draws its inspiration from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. The show’s name is derived from its two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West. Houston Heights Holiday Home Tour Houston Heights, Dec. 2nd – 3rd 936.597.8825 | HoustonHeights.org Stroll through one of Houston’s oldest neighborhoods as you tour six unique homes all decked out for the holidays. Docents will be on hand to comment on the rich historical and architectural significance of each home. The tree-lined streets of Houston Heights also offer antique and vintage shopping, art galleries, fine dining and eclectic boutiques. SAVEUR Cooks: Festive Holiday Sweets River Oaks Sur la Table, Dec. 10th 800.243.0852 | SurLaTable.com Make this holiday season deliciously decadent! Impress your family and friends as you learn to make fun and fanciful sweets such as elegant peppermint caramels, eggnog tart and crème brûlée. SAVEUR Magazine presents this class, within its SAVEUR Cooks series, exclusively through Sur La Table.
November | December 2011
www.HeritageTexas.com 281.679.0101
11689 Westheimer, Suite C • Houston, TX 77077
Featured P roperty 11711 BISTRO PICTURESQUE GOLF COURSE ESTATE 5/5-3/4 Private entry courtyard, tower balcony with expansive views, infinity edge pool, summer kitchen with fireplace and amazing outdoor living area! Spacious home with library, wine room, furnished media room, game room & lavish master suite.
Add Richness & Warmth 3814 Antibes Lane Golf Course Home • 3-4/3-1/2 Open layout, breathtaking views, saltwater pool
3203 Bridgeberry Golf Course Home • 4/4-1/3 Long views with mature landscape, loggia, fireplace
11610 Gallant Ridge Golf Course Home • 3/3-1/3 One story, private courtyard entry, panoramic views
Listing Your Home During the Holidays 2914 Shire Wood Lane Villa For Lease • 3/2-1/2 Prime location, island kitchen, huge master
3511 St. Tropez Way Outstanding Estate Home • 4/3-1/3 Stunning exterior, quality finishes, saltwater pool
11502 Gallant Ridge Golf course home • 6/4-1/2 Game & media room, lake view
BRANDEY HECKEROTH
JOANNE ESKRIDGE
AMANDA WALSH
Brandey@HeritageTexas.com
JoAnne@HeritageTexas.com
Amanda@HeritageTexas.com
713.254.3551
281.250.1864
281.451.8107
CHARLIE ESKRIDGE
281.827.9912
Charlie@HeritageTexas.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.
Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996
Is it Wise?
An Unforgettable Finale to Dinner Monarch’s Decadent Chocolate Cake
Royal Oaks County Club’s
Real Estate Report