Real Estate Journal - July 4, 2022

JULY 4, 2022 ISSUE | REJGUAM.COM 

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Be a showoff

Accents Upstairs, downstairs Let the sunshine in

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Checklist Guam waterworks

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Spectrum It’s heating up

t INDEX UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS .............................................3 CHECKLIST .......................................................................6 ACCENTS ...........................................................................7 SPACE STATION ...............................................................8 SPECTRUM .......................................................................9

The right display setting highlights special items. See page 7.

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | SUN ROOMS

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

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Let the sunshine in Sunrooms are the perfect way to let the outdoors in, while providing an al fresco sensation and still protected from the elements.

Screened porches are a less expensive alternative to sunrooms and also provide protection from dust, wind and pests; they are a favorite place to lounge in of family and guests.

Whichever you decide to add to your home, there are a few things to consider. Both allow you to enjoy the outdoor experience while offering more comfort and time spent in the areas, and both can be an excellent addition.

Sunrooms bring the outdoors closer.

Living spaces such as these have become extremely popular in recent years.

People want to enjoy an outdoor space experience at home, but in Guam it can become quite hot and uncomfortable on the patio or porch with pests flying about; enter a sunroom or screened porch.

While a sunroom can be more costly, it offers a more comfortable temperature while allowing the outdoors to be the main attraction of the room. A screened porch is more affordable and can be kept cool with the use of fans and other methods to keep comfortable temperatures.

Both a sunroom and a screened porch can become seriously damaged by devastating winds and rain from a typhoon and this should be on your radar when considering either of these options for an outdoor experience while indoors in your home, so that shutters can be prepared for the additional space also.

There are many styles to choose from if you decide to go with constructing a sunroom for your home. There are solariums which offer a great deal of glass paned windows even in the ceiling of the room that are impressive but can

be difficult to clean and prevent damage during inclement weather.

On Guam, where typhoons are a part of life, a rooftop made of glass might not be practical and typhoon shutters for such a structure would be difficult to construct and install. If damage is sustained in a sunroom after a storm, repairs can become costly.

Screens are less expensive to repair or replace and you can enjoy your living space again probably a lot sooner after repairs or attached typhoon shutter continued on page 5

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Enjoy natural lighting of a porch at any time of day.

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fixtures to the framework.

The point of an outdoor living space like a sunroom or screened porch is to enjoy the natural lighting provided by the sun or moon and stars. There is something serene and relaxing about the outdoors when you are technically still under some kind of sheltered structure. It offers the peaceful tranquility of being outdoors while not making you feel the vulnerability of being exposed to the outdoor elements. It is safer, more comfortable, and you can lounge for a longer time than you could if you were sitting outdoors.

Decorating a sunroom or screened porch should be kept to a minimum other than comfortable and neutral seating or dining table and accents of comfort here and there. You want the star of the show to be what is outside. A simple sectional style or bench type of sofa and loveseat in a neutral shade with comfy throw pillows will be all you need to offer an inviting space for your family and guests.

Basking in the shade of sunlight, watching the sunrise or sunset, or even sitting under the moon and stars in the evening is a spectacular way to enjoy the natural elements of the outdoors. Some other ideas for décor in these spaces include throw blankets, coffee or cocktail tables and ottomans. You don’t need much for these spaces and a few comfortable items are just what you need to let the outdoors in. If you wanted to go all out you could install a hanging chair or swing in a screened porch to make it feel even more like an outdoor retreat. Think comfortable seating with some accent pieces like photo frames or other keepsakes but not too many. The sunroom or screened porch is a place to relax and lounge rather than to put items on display.

The focus is what is around you outside — the trees and green environment, the wildlife, the sky and the sun or moon. p

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | SUN ROOMS

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C HEC KLIST | BATHROOM

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Guam waterworks Indoor plumbing is something we depend on heavily — meaning we should pay attention to how we can keep our pipes working properly and keep the plumbing and fixtures in our bathrooms running smoothly. We all love running water that is either hot or cold, and we depend on the pressure being of good quality and of course to remove waste. It is so ingrained in us to be dependent on our water system we often take it for granted and we only notice or pay attention when something is going wrong.

A few things to keep in mind are to ensure that what goes down the toilet or drains does not damage the plumbing or pipes. With that said, a good rule of thumb is to only flush the waste you produce and toilet tissue.

For drains, waste and wastewater should be the only things going

Give plumbing the attention it deserves.

down through them. Sanitary products, cotton swabs, pads or balls, anything paper, plastic or cardboard should not be put down the drain in the bathroom. These items can cause clogs and will often require the service of a plumber. Plumbers cost money and they also cannot be depended on to come at our beck and call when there’s an emergency.

Place these types of items in the trash and do not confuse the toilet or drain with a garbage disposal in your kitchen sink.

It is also not recommended to use a store-bought drainage clearing product. These products are considered ineffective by professionals and plumbing professionals often warn of the damage these products have on your pipes and plumbing system. It is even more damaging to older plumbing systems which may have worn

down. Drainage clearing solutions create heat in the plumbing system that the pipes were not designed to tolerate. Those solutions can cause corrosion and lead to bigger and more costly problems.

Another good rule of thumb is to use a plunger when you are having toilet clogging issues. However, you can unblock a toilet without a plunger. If your toilet won’t flush and begins to overflow, you can open the toilet tank in the back and push the water lever so that the stopper goes down and water stops filling in the bowl. Sometimes toilet blockages can be cleared by adding hot water and liquid soap to the bowl. This often can clear a clog after a few minutes and get things going again. Fill the bowl with hot tap water and then add the soap until things loosen up.

If you are doing everything you

can to prolong the use of your pipes and plumbing system, you should be good for many years to come.

Your bathroom fixtures are meant to last a lifetime and keeping them working properly involves regular cleaning and maintenance. If you suspect a leak, call a plumber to assess the situation. Using mesh drain covers to collect debris from going down the drain in sinks and tubs is also a good way to prevent them from needing to be snaked by a plumbing professional.

Leaky faucets and running toilets can costs hundreds or even thousands of dollars in water costs so keep your eyes out for these issues and mitigate them early on.

Keeping things maintained and clean are good ways to keep the plumber and hefty costs at bay. p

ACCENTS | DISPL AY C ABINETS/BOOKSHELVES

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Be a showoff Bookshelves and display cases are fabulous ways to showcase your taste and treasured items to the world. What better way to bring attention these items than with a piece of display furniture that ups the ante and makes them even more of a focal point?

The Real Estate Journal spoke with Daniel Hwang, general manager of Betterday Guam, a home store which opened recently in Tamuning and specializes in IKEA furnishings.

Betterday Guam carries an assortment of bookshelves and display cases and Hwang told REJ that “Normally new shipments come once or twice a month. If customers subscribe to our website, they will get a newsletter when new items arrive.”

Customers can view items at www.betterdayguam.com.

“Because of space limitations, we don’t display all of the furniture

Display shelves give a room focus.

items that we have in the store, but you can see all of our products on the website,” he said.

Displaying books and treasured items in your home can be a great way for homeowners to express themselves and also for guests to get to know the homeowner on a different level.

Hwang suggests several ways to use these furniture accent pieces in the home. “Organizing by genre is the basis of book organization,” he said. “But regardless of the field or height of the book, you can organize the book by color first.”

Placing books with like colors offers organization and neatness in the bookcase. Books should all face the same direction so that titles can be read by those perusing the shelves.

“The basic principle is to store books standing up instead of lying down,” Hwang said. “But in the case of a wide bookcase, it is easy

for books to collapse to one side like dominoes.”

He suggests using bookends to alleviate this issue.

“If you don’t have a bookend or if you’re burdened to buy multiple bookends, you can store books horizontally.” Another great way to display books is to stand them up and place them upright like photo frames. “This is great for books with beautiful covers,” he said.

Different kinds of bookshelves can offer different styles of placement.

“Floating bookshelves are impressive and are useful in small spaces or placed near your favorite couch or lounge seat,” Hwang said.

A floating bookshelf doesn’t have the traditional frame of a bookcase and instead looks like a floating stack of shelves. “It is a bookshelf that looks good even if you put the book roughly on the shelf,” he said.

For showcasing treasured

items in a display case, depending on what type of treasured item is, the placement of the display varies, Hwang said. He suggests displaying items like trophies and souvenirs in the living room or study and items like jewelry and accessories in your bedroom.

“Smaller items can be displayed on shelves or in glass cabinets but hunting trophies and sports memorabilia or trophies should be displayed on walls.

“A glass shelf is recommended if you want to display treasured items on a shelf or cabinet. This is because glass has the power to make displayed products stand out. Furthermore, a cabinet with a glass door is a great style for exhibiting treasured items because it can display items while protecting the product from dust and possible damage.” p

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SPACE STATION | ACANTA MALL

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Acanta Mall YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1997 LOCATION: Tumon, Guam PHONE NUMBER: (671) 747-MALL or (671) 477-5700 WEBSITE: acantaguam.com SOCIAL MEDIA: @acantaguam POINT OF CONTACT PERSON: Mimi Sorensen, president PROPERTY MANAGER: marilyn@spbguam.com DESCRIPTION OF MALL In the heart of Tumon Bay, two-story Acanta Mall was built in the late 1990s, and utilizes arches, glass windows and open-air walkways. Current tenants include Mi Sazon Mexican Restaurant, Bambino Boutique, Tumon Bay Nutrition Juice Bar, Crème Salon, Mactech, Cups Café, Shai & Sky boutique, Dave Designer’s Bags, Shiby Wholesale, Guam Cleaning Masters, Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association, Self-Made Fitness and Sorensen Media Group.

UNITS AVAILABLE: First floor: • Units 113 & 114: Former Hooters restaurant 4,346 square feet • Unit 102: Bakery or retail space 812 square feet • Unit 104: Retail space 722 square feet Second floor: • Unit 205: Office space 358 square feet Acanta Business Center: • Unit 201: Entire floor 3,973 square feet (Entire floor) • Unit 202: Single business unit 144 square feet (Seven units available) • Unit 209: Office space 399 square feet

SPECTRUM | WARM COLORS

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Heating up Colors in the family of red, orange and yellow are considered the warm color palette and using them in your home can warm the feel of your house when you use them. Warm colors are similar to the colors of autumn or fall and can be used in any room in your home, but they are most often used in larger rooms like the living room or family room.

Using shades of yellow and orange for large pieces like floors, walls and larger furniture pieces look stunning when paired with statement accent items in bolder colors, such as red hues. Mustard is a soothing color that evokes warmth and comfort.

These shades can be paired with other warm colors and with bolder pieces in a different shade to tie a

Autumn colors add a warm element to decor.

room together.

Gold, beige, brown, and tan are considered in the warm family.

Using these tones with the base colors of red, orange and yellow can make a room look vibrant and rich.

Using warm colors for wall paint can look cozy when paired with shades of other colors in the warm family for window coverings and flooring.

Luxurious drapery in warm shades can turn a room into a relaxing zone that reminds you of the season right before the year comes to an end. The autumn or fall inspires these color combinations that help people feel cozy and definitely warm as opposed to hot or cold like the summer or winter, respectively. However, it is perfectly acceptable to use accents

from another color palette.

When deciding to decorate your home using warm colors, remember to balance them appropriately. If you use only warm colors and no accents from other color families, you might end up with a dull looking space.

Just remember to add accents such as green plants in the room for a little pop.

Tones of rich amber, burnt orange, reddish and earthy tones of brown are inviting in a bedroom. These warm colors can easily transport you off to slumber in an opulent decorated bed with deep rich fabrics and colors of the changing leaves.

The fall season is a favorite of so many because it represents the maturation and closure of the year.

Colors in the warm palette are vibrant and complimentary to one another. They can be used in many variations. You could select one color such as brown and use several hues of the same color making a room monochromatic and impressive to look at. You could also use the rule of three and only use three shades in the warm family for your living room or kitchen saving the boldest colors for accent pieces. A kitchen decorated in warm colors, especially red and reddish hues will bring about a hungry appetite.

Designers use an 80/20 rule when decorating a room. This means you should make 80% of the room continued on page 10

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SPECTRUM | WARM COLORS

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

PUBLISHER Maureen N. Maratita EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Morgan Legel CONTENT COORDINATOR Jacqueline Guzman DESIGN & LAYOUT Conrad Calma Vikki Fong LJ Mingoy DIGITAL MEDIA SALES Natalie Seno ADMINISTRATION Jennifer Orot DIRECTOR Ken Duenas MANAGING DIRECTOR Marcos W. Fong

The Real Estate Journal — July 4, 2022. Entire contents copyrighted 2022 by Glimpses Media. The Real Estate Journal is published monthly by Glimpses Media.

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more neutral warm colors and 20% bolder colors.

Rugs, carpets, window coverings, bedding, wall colors and wallpaper in warm colors are available everywhere and in countless styles to choose from. If the warm color palette is your favorite, then you won’t be disappointed in the selection of items to decorate any room in your home. Look at the color palette and

determine which combinations make you feel the most comforted and relaxed and go from there.

Warm colors can be used in combination with cool colors or hybrid colors to achieve a look you desire. Remember, selecting the color combinations for your home depends on your taste. If something evokes soothing and relaxing vibes, then you cannot go wrong. Your home is your space to do with what you decide and there is no rulebook to follow. Rather

there are only suggestions and you can find your favorite warm color combinations for your home with a quick internet search.

A room looks more successfully put together if the focal points are in the same warm color palette, if you are going with warm. Then most of the room with the warm shades and make accents take up what is left in another color family.

This will provide the balance that a room needs. p