DECEMBER 6, 2021 ISSUE | REJGUAM.COM
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Color blind
Accents Upstairs, downstairs It’s official
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Checklist Dollars and sense
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Spectrum Going green
t INDEX UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS .............................................4 CHECKLIST .......................................................................6 ACCENTS ...........................................................................7 SPECTRUM .......................................................................9
What colors work best together? Accent colors should always compliment the primary color. See page 7.
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UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | GARAGE
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
It’s official Nearly two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, some residents still find themselves working from home. By now, a makeshift office space is set up somewhere in the living room, bedroom or spare room. With today’s more mobile technology, a working space can be virtually anywhere.
A home office does not need to be as professional-looking as a standard one, so have fun with it!
But a dedicated work space can help separate the grind from personal life. With a good desk, chair and light source, a home office can be established. “It really depends on how the person works that reflects how they want their home office space to look like,” according to the sales team at M80 Systems Inc.
“Manufacturers tend to come out with a home office kit that shows a whole set up, but some people customize depending on their space. A good way to start with home office space is figuring out what kind of chair is most comfortable for the individual, according to M80 Systems. People are more
likely to sit down throughout the day as opposed to standing or lying down, so a good chair would be ideal. One with good lumbar support and a memory foam seat will prevent future back pain. Chairs with wheels can also be convenient but it may not be ideal for smaller spaces. Modern trends have seen
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
A lot of office spaces are within other living areas, so it’s important to get a desk that fits the aesthetic of the room.
standing desks on the rise, especially ones with adjustable heights. An economical alternative is the desktop riser, which is an extra piece that can be put on top of a desk for higher elevation. These types of installations can make one feel more productive, especially at home. Vicky Baldonado, sales manager of Furniture Outlet, said that smaller sized desks have been requested at the store recently, possibly because people want to set up an office space within their homes. “They mostly ask for darkcolored ones, so it can match the rest of the home. But they look for something compact, or something that doesn’t take up a lot of space in the house,” Baldonado said. A home office does not have to be as professional as a standard office. As long as it is a designated space to work and does not have many distractions, it will suffice. p
UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | GARAGE
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C HEC KLIST | MAINTENANCE
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Dollars and sense Home maintenance requires a steady budget. This can mean different strategies between homeowners and renters. Daniel Bruschi, principal broker of BHI Realty, previously shared with the Real Estate Journal that the differences in buying and renting lie mostly in costs. Assessing the different expenses and maintenance checks can help residents set aside money in case of an emergency. Renters generally have less financial burden, maintenance issues and legal worries, with the downfall being that their living space is not their own, according to Bruschi. “Most renters have less monthly expenditures than a typical homeowner, who would have homeowner’s insurance, property taxes and probably mortgage payments as well, but may also include monthly common area fees, maintenance costs and special assessments,” Bruschi said. For renters, it is steadier
to keep an emergency budget because of the recurring cost of rent money and bills. Whenever a maintenance issue arise, landlords will be able to assist. However, because renters do not own their homes, the money they put in never really comes back to them. Emergency budgets are more necessary for homeowners because they invest what they put into their home, whether it be mortgage payments or renovations. “When you buy a property, in most cases, you’re building equity in yourself. Even if you have to get financing and pay a monthly mortgage payment, some of that payment is toward your principle, which is basically yourself,” Bruschi said. For homeowners, maintenance is likely where an emergency budget is needed most, as anything in a home can break without notice. Budgeting for this can be tricky, as there are several types of costs homeowners have to also
keep in mind, like insurance and property taxes. Since owning a home is a long-term commitment, monthly savings can start at a minimum until the homeowner is
in a more financially comfortable space. Anywhere between 5% and 10% of a paycheck into emergency savings can go a long way if repeated consistently. p
Homeowners will more likely need an emergency budget compared to renters.
ACCENTS | GALLERY
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Color blind Color matching is not an easy task, and in the realm of interior design and decoration, improper coordination can sometimes lead to costly fixes. The safest way to colorcoordinate home decor is to start with a neutral base. That way, any color you would like as accents, whether subtle or vibrant, can work well. Accents are more flexible in that they can be changed after a while to different colors; if you are the type to try something new every once in a while, your accents should best compliment colors
With the modern-day open floor plan, having colored walls stops the line of sight.
like white, off-white, gray, brown or black. “My all-time favorite color combination is anything with neutral tones,” said Austin Grant, owner of Grey By Grant. “Using neutral tones in your home allows for a clean design and is fitting for any time of the year.” Furthermore, neutral tones really allow homeowners to go all out with their accent colors. A splash or orange or a bright teal will not look oppressed against a beige wall. And when you are dealing with a black backdrop,
virtually any color under the sun will be highlighted. “Neutral tones allow you to easily change your accent colors when your mood changes,” Grant said. For different home styles, Grant had several recommendations. Subtle and isolated homes can have a nice color theme of aqua, black and white. For the more traditional homes in rural areas, warm white, nude and cream will maintain a classy look. Modern homes with bold personalities tend to work with
more stand-out colors. Red, lime green and turquoise can all make great choices, as long as they are paired with white, gray, charcoal or cream colors, Grant said. A word of caution from Grant: because of Guam’s tropical weather and heat, it is best not to go with dark color combinations, like black and maroon or dark brown. Too many dark tones in a home can retain heat and make a home feel uncomfortable. A good rule of thumb is that for every dark color, have at least one light color to pair it with. p
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SPACE STATION | TUMON SANDS PLAZA
Tumon Sands Plaza
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1972 LOCATION: Tumon PHONE: 671-646-6806 or 671-888-1944 WEBSITE: www.tumonsandsplaza.com SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook @guamtsp Instagram @tumonsandsplaza POINT OF CONTACT: Monte D.M. Mesa, general manager DESCRIPTION OF MALL: Tumon Sands Plaza has been Guam’s original luxury shopping center, providing premier brands and customer service since 1972. Tumon Sands Plaza offers the best shopping experience for tourists and locals, with a variety of luxury brands such as Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Rolex and exclusive brands, Chloé and Givenchy. Customers can find a selection of dine-in options, like Joinus Teppanyaki Restaurant, which has been an island favorite. Since 2018, Tumon Sands Plaza has broadened its selection of restaurants offering all-American dining experiences with Olive Garden and Chili’s Grill & Bar, both exclusively at Tumon Sands Plaza. There is an ATM located on the first floor and free Wi-Fi available for customers. Our lounge area allows customers to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee from Honolulu Coffee Café while shopping. Tumon Sands Plaza also has small local businesses such as Crystal Energy Infinite, a metaphysical shop, Castro Art Gallery and Analista & Co Clothing Company located on the second floor, which are local attractions but are also well-liked with the visitor markets. UNITS AVAILABLE: • First Floor, Unit 3 (Former Red Lobster Space)- 5,206 square feet • First Floor, Unit 2A (Former Loco Boutique Space)- 1,496 square feet • First Floor, Unit 5/6A (Former ABC Store Space)- 2,279 square feet • First Floor, Unit 4A (Former Swarovski Space)- 1,125 square feet • First Floor, Unit 13 (Former Kenzo Space)- 1,476 square feet • First Floor, Unit 11 (Former Furla Space)- 849 square feet Tumon Sands Plaza is located in the heart of Tumon Bay. It is a high-traffic area for tourists and military customers as it is along the main hotel strip of Guam.
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SPECTRUM | PINK
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Going green Green is one of the most common colors to see on our nature-enriched island. And with the holiday season in full swing, green represents both vitality and festivity. The color is representative of life and growth because of its prevalence in nature, from the swaying palm trees by the beach to the moss on jungle grounds. Green also represents sustainability and is the forefront color in most ecofriendly and waste-free concepts. “The color green makes me feel calm and grounded. It sparks emotions of tranquility and peacefulness,” said Austin Grant, owner of Grey by Grant. “It reminds me of the local tradition of picking and cleaning lumot. Lumot is moss that is often used as the base for many traditional Nativity scenes in homes across the island.” It’s a color that is ideal for any space or design concept, Grant said, and as a focal color, it brings
Fresh plants and foliage can make a room look and feel more lively.
life and comfort to any setting. Because of its abundance in nature, it’s not difficult to find floral pieces and foliage to bring into the home. Most modern home trends with
fresh plants, too, he said. The pandemic has increased interest of indoor plants as people practice social distancing. With the holiday season in
full swing, the color green will be even more present as the island community decorates with festive colors. Christmas trees, continued on page 10
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SPECTRUM | PINK
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
continued from page 9
PUBLISHER Maureen N. Maratita EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Morgan Legel
fresh garlands and wreaths would appeal to to more traditional holiday stylists. However, there are other style choices that can offer a year-round appeal. “Creative ways to use green include using emerald green candles throughout your living room or entrance way, or changing
your throw blankets and accent pillows to a subtle green tone,” Grant said. As green is more a cool tone, subtlety tends to be its strong suit in design. But green is versatile in that in can compliment basically any other color, given the right shade or pastel. Green and yellow, for example, can easily make one room in a home stand out among
the rest. For a calmer appearance, green and gray or blue brings a more natural feel to a space. Whether painting the walls sage green or bringing in actual sage plants as living room accents, there is an endless amount of options when designing with green. And with how common it is on Guam, it surely is the easiest to incorporate in a home. p
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The Real Estate Journal — December 6, 2021. Entire contents copyrighted 2019 by Glimpses Media. The Real Estate Journal is published monthly by Glimpses Media. 161 US Army Juan C. Fejeran St., Barrigada Heights, Guam 96913. (671) 649-0883; Fax (671) 649-8883. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Glimpses Media, P.O. Box 3191, Hagåtña, Guam 96932. Send e-mail to glimpses@glimpsesofguam.com. All rights reserved. No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher. Printed by Guam Daily Post LLC, on Guam. In the Northern Mariana Islands, contact Glimpses Media at Glimpses of Saipan Inc., 2nd Floor Transpac Business Center, Middle Road, Gualo Rai, Saipan, MP 96950, or call (670) 235-7645; Fax (670) 234-1801. Send e-mail to subscriptions@ glimpsesofguam.com.
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Whether green is incorporated for the holidays, it’s always a good idea to add natural elements to tone-down the color.
