JULY 5, 2021 ISSUE | REJGUAM.COM
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Talafofo treasure
Properties to love Upstairs, downstairs Getting fresh
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Accents Picture this
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Spectrum Seeing red
t INDEX UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS .............................................4 CHECKLIST .......................................................................8 ACCENTS ...........................................................................7 SPECTRUM .......................................................................9
This beautiful two-story dwelling is located in Ipan, Talofofo. Photo courtesy of Sunrise Realty
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PROPERTIES TO LOVE
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
THE SKINNY 177 PEREZ HEIGHTS IPAN, TALOFOFO, GU 96915 $989,000 Inside • 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms • 2-story structure • 3,387 square feet • Open concept living room with high ceilings and natural lighting Outside • 4 balconies • Temperature-controlled garage • Professionally landscaped What’s cool • Beautiful views of the ocean • Minutes away from beaches, hiking spots and tourist attractions • Stunning entrance way and grand staircase How to make this your own (quickly) Contact: Nadja Sandra Rillamas Sunrise Realty Call: 671-486-2913 Email: nadja.sunriserealty@ gmail.com
This residence has four balconies with amazing ocean views.
An open-space concept with lots of natural lighting leaves a lot of options for design within this home.
This beautiful two-story dwelling is located in Ipan, Talofofo.
Photos courtesy of Sunrise Realty
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UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | L AUNDRY ROOM
Getting fresh: a lively laundry room While the laundry room is a necessary component of a home, it is not a space that is frequented as much as other rooms. Because of this, it is often left with minimal styling and design. But some easy additions and do-it-yourself decorations can make this room hold its own in terms of aesthetics. “Let’s be honest, who likes doing laundry?” said Alan Torrado, event coordinator and design consultant. Nevertheless, he said, it’s something we do spend quite a lot of time doing. “Decorate the room with colors that you like and won’t get bored in,” he said. “Your laundry room needs to be an efficient space where everything has its place.” Some important aspects of a laundry room are proper shelves,
Decorating your laundry room in a style you enjoy will help with the desire to do laundry.
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
Shelves and hampers are a nice and simple way to organize your laundry room.
“Decorate the room with colors that you like and won’t get bored in.” cabinets, hooks and clothing racks, whether freestanding or attached to the wall and/or cabinets. Most importantly, the laundry room should be free of clutter and organized, to help trick your mind you actually want to do laundry. “One way of storing and displaying laundry detergents is putting your powdered detergent in large glass jars and having them on display,” he said. “It adds some color on the shelves and you can easily see if you are running low on detergent. “As for liquid detergents, I have my liquid detergent in large squeeze bottles. It makes it easier to fill the detergent compartment in your washing machine.” Any way you do it, according to Torrado, there are a few essential items needed in every laundry room. “Every laundry room should have these essential items: a table and folding area to fold everything that comes out of the dryer; an ironing board, clothes hangers and a clothing rack; a three-compartment laundry hamper for sorting whites, darks and colors; a good trash can to throw away used dryer sheets and lint, and to dispose of all the stuff that comes out of the pockets of clothes before you put them into the washer; and an area to put all those loose coins that somehow always appear whenever you are doing laundry,” he said. p
UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | L AUNDRY ROOM
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ACCENTS | L ARGE WALL ART
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
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Picture this: go big and bold with art Incorporating large pieces of wall art into an overall home design can seem intimidating at first, but with the right attitude, it can make any space in your home the main attraction. Think of an art gallery concept, where dozens of pieces have their own space on walls and columns. Although there are plenty of artwork to look at, each one seemingly has a gravitational pull because of their style, texture and personality. “It’s all about what speaks to you and your personal taste. It’s a bold opportunity to express yourself,” said Alan Torrado, event coordinator and design consultant. And as long as the wall art is a reflection of yourself, there really is no wrong or
right choice, he added. But as one considers large wall art in design, it is a good practice to think about how the piece accentuates the functionality of that room. A living room, for example, is the space where friends, family, and guests will most likely congregate and converse. To compliment this, artwork that is lively, vibrant and atmospheric will encourage a dynamic environment. Alternatively, artwork with deep and dark tones and subtle patterns can add a layer of serenity to a room. Taking up a whole wall with a single piece of art is a bold statement, Torrado said, but there are several creative ways to make it seem less blocky or overwhelming.
“There are some local artists that can paint large canvasses to fit the space. You can also opt for a triptych, which is a set of three artwork pieces that make an overall image,” he said. “I’ve seen local photography work of beautiful Guam sunsets that would make a perfect triptych.” Guam has plenty of photographers who are willing to sell their prints of beautiful scenery, such as waterfalls, beaches, and aerial views of the land. You can also shoot the photos yourself, as smartphone technology has upgraded its camera quality to take crisp shots. A trip to the printers and some lamination or framing can turn an iPhone photo into a living room centerpiece.
Playing with dimensions can also make the artwork feel more involved in a room. Instead of twodimensional prints and canvases, one can also frame fabrics and elements of nature to serve as a display piece. It can be a beautifully detailed quilt that an ancestor made or a historic dress that has visible elements of the past, Torrado said. What’s great about wall art is that can be changed out easily — a clear edge over painting an accent wall or adding patterned decals. “Like an art gallery, you can always change the look as often as you please,” Torrado said. p
This aged piece of 18th- and 19th century plants serves as the main artwork of a kitchen.
Photo by John I. Borja
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C HEC KLIST | STRUCTURE
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
Good bones: the foundation of every good home PUBLISHER Maureen N. Maratita EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Morgan Legel CONTENT COORDINATOR John I. Borja EVENT COORDINATOR AND DESIGN CONSULTANT / CONSULTANT TO REJ Alan Torrado CREATIVE CONTENT MANAGER Vikki Fong DESIGN & PRODUCTION Conrad Calma DIGITAL MEDIA SALES Natalie Gilbert Raizalyn Soriano ADMINISTRATION Jennifer Orot
In the case of a home’s structural integrity, a simple visual check can go a long way in saving thousands of dollars in damages. A crumbling house is the last thing a homeowner wants, so it is important to watch out for signs of bad structure, and, if any are seen, have a professional work on it right away. This means that residents should make it a habit to give a thorough look of their home, both inside and out, to look for anything that may raise concerns. But what are the signs? Certified home inspector Tevita Tuituu of Home Solutions Guam said cracks and water leaks are two of the most common ones to look out for. “A [do-it-yourself ] test can be conducted by simply applying a quality exterior paint over the general area that is showing signs of cracks,” Tuituu said. “If the paint shows signs of cracking or stretching,
DIRECTOR Ken Duenas MANAGING DIRECTOR Marcos W. Fong
The Real Estate Journal — July 5, 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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Concrete cracks are big indicators that something may be wrong with the structure of your home.
it means there is movement in the foundation.” Also, be on the lookout for bowing walls — walls that look like they are caving in or bulging. This is a sign that the walls are not properly supporting the weight of the roof, which could lead to serious damage or injuries. Although a property may be fairly young, rainwater can easily degrade its structure quality, which can lead to worse situations in a short amount of time if not addressed quickly. “Water is the number one cause of damage and deterioration of a home,” Tuituu said. “This — coupled with humidity and heat — can cause cracks that you may not notice until leaks occur, become severe and lead to bigger issues with structure and foundation.” He added that flowing water outside the home can soften surrounding soil in the property
and allow movement of the home’s foundation. If this is the case, try to mitigate by redirecting the flow of water away from the home. A professional may need to be called in to re-level the space. Keeping a log or mental note of these visible signs in the home can help a professional tremendously when they assess the property. In some cases, concrete cracks occur naturally and are not too serious. However, when a crack gets bigger over time, that is a sign of worse things to come. “You cannot put a bandage on something that needs stitches or requires more work. They heal differently when it comes to time and work. Professionals will provide you a full report and assessment of your structure and foundation as well as what is recommended to help the situation,” Tuituu said. p
THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
SPECTRUM | RED
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Seeing red: bring passion into your home One of three primary colors and found at one end of the spectrum, the color red can be found in virtually any scene — from crimson sunsets up above to vibrant corals below water. Red has the longest wavelength in the color spectrum, making it the easiest color to see. It is also regarded as the first color humans see after black and white. With this in mind, the use of the color red needs care when selected in the home, as it will immediately capture one’s attention. A general rule for using red is to only use it in places that you want seen. According to Color Psychology, red has a natural perception of being bold, risky and alert. That does not mean the color invokes a feeling of discomfort or panic, however. Red can encourage a dynamic working environment. It adds an air of energy and excitement, which is ideal for spaces where social events can take place. It can also help draw attention away from other sights that may not be too appealing to look at. “The best way to use [red] is in small doses, as a sign of passion and energy,” Color Psychology recommended. Alan Torrado, event coordinator and design consultant, said that a pop of red can go a long way, and something as simple as a red throw pillow can immediately change the personality of a room. But if you enjoy a bold lifestyle, a red accent wall may be a good choice for you. This can also make a room feel bigger, he said. “When you enter a room, your eyes focus on the red wall and it quickly becomes the focal point of the room,” Torrado said. There are some spaces where red may not be ideal. Torrado recommended that the color should not be used in the bedroom, as it may be too energetic. “Your bedroom is your refuge and personal oasis. It’s the place you go to rest, relax and recharge for the next day. It is better to decorate and surround yourself with things that will make you feel calm,” Torrado said. Likewise, red may not be the best color to use in bathrooms, either. Some places where red will work best include the living room, garage, and outdoor patio. Red can also work well on a garden shed, or any outdoor space that is surrounded by green — red’s contrasting color. p
The color red can immediately grab a person’s attention.
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