Your Next Home - February 2023

Business Directory

Caliber Home Loans: Mindy Sedelmaier

231-233-0963

Carter Lumber

231-757-9000

www.carterlumber.com

Century 21: Kari King 231-651-0923

www.C21Northland.com

Century 21: Gini Pelton

231-690-0852

gini@c21boardwalk.com

Coldwell Banker: Jamie Gray 231-499-1430

Dwelling Realty

www.dwellingrealty.com

Essential Real Estate

231-942-9334

Therran Ferguson, Broker/Owner 231-510-1790

Michael Kruse 231-690-8882

Jenna Mahoney 231-942-9334

Holden’s Home Emporium, Inc 231-757-8733

www.holdenshomeemporium.com

Lighthouse Realty Manistee

231-398-3800

www.goLighthouseRealty.com

Heather Barker 231-510-5505

Shirley Barker 903-681-6102

Cathy French 231-233-3268

Leah Gannon 517-607-5347

Jeremy “Ox” Glenn 812-929-9289

John Hanson 231-510-5543

Bill LaBelle 239-887-1037

Leanne LaBelle 239-887-0998

Kerri Mackey 231-510-8380

Emily Pomeroy 231-510-1303

Dale Smith 231-794-9122

Cheryl Staszczak 248-805-3802

Casey Tennant 231-233-7613

Mason Oceana Manistee Board of Realtors

www.momboard.com

Metro Mortgage

231-425-5555

www.metromtg.com

Pamela’s Interior Design 231-723-8688

PamelasInteriors.net

Real Estate One: Kathy Neveu

231-342-0921

Redeemed

231-887-4222

State Farm Insurance Agency

Mary Studevant

231-723-9905

West Michigan Forest Products

www.wmkitchenstudio.com

Ludington 231-480-1200

Byron Center 616-281-6684

Muskegon 231-246-7184

Forest Hills 616-727-0909

Key components of 3 popular home interior styles

Considerable thought goes into designing a home’s interior. From which color to paint the walls to the size of the living room couch, homeowners must make a variety of decisions when planing their home interiors. One way to simplify interior design decisions is to choose a style. Interior design styles run the gamut from traditional to modern, and each style has its own unique look and feel. Though homeowners need not feel beholden to any particular item associated with a given style, three of the more popular styles, traditional, modern and farmhouse, each have certain key components that can ensure a home ends up with a look homeowners are aiming for.

1. Traditional

Homes with a traditional interior style give a formal yet welcoming feel. Many individuals associate crown molding and wainscotting with traditional interiors, so that’s something homeowners aiming for this style should keep in mind. Minimal or modern furniture pieces don’t fit with the traditional style, which tends to utilize period pieces made from real wood.

2. Modern Modern interiors may differ depending on which style of modern homeowners are aiming for. Midcentury modern typically features unique furnishings that some might see as retro. However, many companies now offer updated takes on midcentury modern that call to mind a bygone era but don’t make individuals feel as though they’re living in a museum. Urban modern is another popular modern style, and home interiors fashioned in this style tend to be light, airy and not

crowded with furnishings. Calm, soft tones are a go-to with urban modern interiors, helping to create the serene settings many homeowners are hoping to create with this style.

3. Farmhouse

Farmhouse has become very popular in recent years. In fact, a recent survey from the interior design service Modsy found that farmhouse was the most popular design style in 26 states. Farmhouse is beloved for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is its association with

a simpler lifestyle. The rustic charm of the countryside is never far from the mind when in a home with a farmhouseinspired interior. Traditional farmhouse and modern farmhouse are different styles, but natural materials and bright colors, particularly white walls, are elements shared by both.

Traditional, modern and farmhouse are three popular home interior styles. Each has its own unique components, and homeowners can supplement their favored style as they see fit.

231-510-1790

SALE PENDING

3140 Red Apple Road

Manistee, MI

49660

5 beds, 6 baths, 3267 SF • #22050019

Nestled safe & sound on a 1.67 acre parcel with 87’ of private low bluff Lake Michigan frontage! Located on the sunset side of Nor thern Michigan’s Lakeshore in desirable Filer Township, Manistee. This truly amazing proper ty features a 5,400 sq. f t. Custom-Built Luxury Dream Home with endless bedrooms, bathrooms, and plenty of places to relax. O ver 6,500 sq. f t. of total living & enter taining space,

including the fully finished 40’ X 24’ tw o story guest house with 2 separate garage stalls. Panoramic View s and your very own private white sandy beach with miles of horizon capturing some of the most breathtaking sunsets in the w orld. Whole home generator system. Vacationer’s paradise or a yearround sanctuary this proper ty is truly a must see!! Proper ty being sold fully furnished!

Therran Ferguson Broker/Owner

Safety upgrades for seniors’ homes

Many seniors want to spend as long as possible residing in the comforts of their own homes. According to AARP’s 2021 “Home and Community Preferences Survey,” more than threequarters of U.S. adults age 50 and older prefer living at home. But getting older often comes with certain deficits that may not make current living situations the safest for seniors.

Retirement Living reports that an older person is treated in an emergency room for a fall-related injury nearly once every 10 seconds. Falls cause millions of injuries and 32,000 deaths a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seniors may be affected by low vision, mobility limitations, cognitive decline, balance issues, and loss of muscle strength. Certain adaptations may be necessary if seniors want to stay in their homes, particularly in older homes that

have not recently been renovated.

Change knobs to levers

This is an easy modification. Levers are much easier for individuals with arthritis or persons who lack dexterity in their hands. Everything from doorknobs to faucet knobs can be replaced with levers.

Create zerothreshold entryways

Zero-threshold entryways, also known as flush entries, do not require crossing a lip or any raised barrier. They

can appear on doorways and showers and make it easy for people who have mobility issues, as well as those using scooters, walkers and wheelchairs, to move about unencumbered. Clear clutter/move obstructions

One inexpensive modification is to remove extraneous furniture and accessories. Such a change widens walking spaces in a room and accommodates walkers and wheelchairs. In addition, furniture can be pushed to the

room’s perimeter to make moving around easier. It’s also important to remove area rugs, as they’re often tripping hazards.

Install grab rails and supports

Minimizing falls could come down to providing support in key rooms of a home. Adding grab rails in the bathroom near the toilet and in the shower can help a person use those facilities without assistance. Install a grab rail close to seating in the kitchen to add support.

Consider smart lighting

Motion-activated or darkness-activated lighting switches and fixtures can automatically turn on lights, thereby improving visibility. Also, rocker light switches are easier to maneuver than standard toggles. Invest in a stairlift

Single-story homes are preferable for growing older gracefully, but many seniors live in multi-story homes. A stairlift makes a multi-floor home more accessible, according to Elder, an eldercare service provider. Stairlifts make it easier to traverse staircases and reduce the risk for falls.

These suggestions are just a few of the many home modifications that can help seniors safely age in place.

Manistee News Advocate Recorded Sales for the Month of: December 2022

Safety tips for individuals who live alone

The number of households with a single person living alone has increased considerably over the last half-century-plus. According to a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 37 million one-person households in 2021, representing 28 percent of all households across the country. This compares to 13 percent in 1960. Over the past decade, the number of single Americans increased by 4

million. Statistics Canada says 13 percent of the Canadian population is comprised of

single people living alone. Various factors have contributed to the rise in

the number of single people living alone. For example, delaying marriage is a growing trend. Today, the median age to get married for men is 30.4 years and 28.6 for women. In addition, more seniors are living longer, and may be outliving spouses. Some people are simply opting not to get married, as neither men nor women are expected nor required to have

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a partner according to current societal norms.

With so many people living alone, a refresher course in solo safety could be in order. Here are some tips for single living.

• Adopt a dog. The general consensus is a dog is not only a companion but a safety precaution. Dogs are in tune to sounds and disturbances, which can alert owners if and when things are awry at home. Dogs, particularly those who bark when someone is at the door, are built-in alarm systems. Criminals may be less likely to target a home where a dog is present, even if the dog isn’t perceived to be

aggressive.

• Get to know your neighbors. Singletons should make it a point to become familiar with their neighbors. This way they can learn schedules and alert one another if something seems out of sorts. A good neighbor will check in on another person if he or she hasn’t seen that person around in some time, which could help in the event of an injury or illness.

• Invest in smart technology. Smart home technology can run the gamut from motionactivated cameras to remote-operated lights and thermostats. This enables the home to be safe and secure, and even

appear occupied when a person isn’t home.

• Don’t advertise that you’re single. Those who live alone should not make a point of advertising it. For example, list “Smith Residence” on a lobby mailbox in an apartment complex rather than a single name. Avoid telling too many people you’re single, as word can get around and it is impossible to know who will find out. That includes spreading word online through social media.

• Upgrade locks and doors. Invest in more complex locks and deadbolts as well as security doors to add an extra layer of

security to a home. Such locks are only effective when inhabitants remember to lock their doors at night and when leaving their home.

• Develop an emergency exit plan. No one is coming to a person’s aid when he or she lives alone. That means a singleton must develop and rehearse emergency exit protocols that involve getting out of the home safely. In addition, one should pack emergency supplies and a go-bag in case a fast exit is necessary.

Living alone requires careful attention to security and taking added measures to be safe at all times.