Style Magazine July 2020
Let’s rewind for a minute to early March. Before life as we knew it came to a screeching halt. I was a distracted mom, driver, wife, and worker who was religious about my routine, took things like haircuts and hugs for granted, and had big plans to see the world this summer. Then, COVID-19. Need I say no more. For anyone who likes to be in control and is a creature of habit, it was the ultimate lesson in letting go and realizing that the only thing we truly have control over is our attitude. Despite the challenging moments, the tears, and the fears that my own family faced, the situation ultimately brought us, and our community, closer. It was a time—a lot of time—of reset, reflection, and, yes, reruns. I embraced the multiple months at home by learning a few new skills (baking sourdough bread and bagels), savoring every second with my daughter who’s growing way too fast, planting a pretty—and pretty prosperous—garden, and gaining a new appreciation for my neighborhood and the people and places that make it thrive. Another positive thing to come out of quarantine? The rates of pet adoption and fostering significantly spiked. As touch between humans became taboo and people started spending endless hours in the comfort of their crib, owning an animal became even more enticing. Just turn to this month’s feature, “Incredible Pets,” on page 53 to read about two lucky pups who were adopted amid the pandemic (Daphne and Lady), plus other four-legged friends who live, and are loved, locally. We also share a lengthy list of area animal rescues, tips for summer pet safety, easy ways to pamper your pet, and furry friends to follow on Instagram. It’s a feel-good feature you won’t want to miss. As life slowly returns to (a new) normal, I hope we continue to be more present, spend ample time outside—and in the kitchen—and, maybe most importantly, support the small businesses that support us on a daily basis. Cheers! — Megan // megan@stylemg.com @meggoeggowaffle
Let’s rewind for a minute to early March. Before life as we knew it came to a screeching halt. I was a distracted mom, driver, wife, and worker who was religious about my routine, took things like haircuts and hugs for granted, and had big plans to see the world this summer. Then, COVID-19. Need I say no more. For anyone who likes to be in control and is a creature of habit, it was the ultimate lesson in letting go and realizing that the only thing we truly have control over is our attitude.
Despite the challenging moments, the tears, and the fears that my own family faced, the situation ultimately brought us, and our community, closer. It was a time—a lot of time—of reset, reflection, and, yes, reruns. I embraced the multiple months at home by learning a few new skills (baking sourdough bread and bagels), savoring every second with my daughter who’s growing way too fast, planting a pretty—and pretty prosperous—garden, and gaining a new appreciation for my neighborhood and the people and places that make it thrive.
Another positive thing to come out of quarantine? The rates of pet adoption and fostering significantly spiked. As touch between humans became taboo and people started spending endless hours in the comfort of their crib, owning an animal became even more enticing. Just turn to this month’s feature, “Incredible Pets,” on page 53 to read about two lucky pups who were adopted amid the pandemic (Daphne and Lady), plus other four-legged friends who live, and are loved, locally. We also share a lengthy list of area animal rescues, tips for summer pet safety, easy ways to pamper your pet, and furry friends to follow on Instagram. It’s a feel-good feature you won’t want to miss.
As life slowly returns to (a new) normal, I hope we continue to be more present, spend ample time outside—and in the kitchen—and, maybe most importantly, support the small businesses that support us on a daily basis. Cheers!
— Megan // megan@stylemg.com
@meggoeggowaffle
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| home & garden |<br />
location," says Jake.<br />
For the project, Terra Inc. Construction focused on the kitchen<br />
and bathrooms, though the entire home got a facelift. According<br />
to Jake, remodeling your kitchen increases your home's resale<br />
value more than any other room, followed by bathrooms—<br />
especially master baths. This advice mirrors a 2019 study from<br />
popular décor and renovation company houzz.com, which found<br />
that approximately 30% of home renovation projects were kitchen<br />
remodels. Despite being the most expensive room to address—the<br />
same study reported a $14,000 average price tag per project—the<br />
returns are high. Remodeling <strong>Magazine</strong>'s <strong>2020</strong> Cost vs. Value<br />
Report found that homeowners in the Sacramento area recouped<br />
anywhere from 49-74% of the renovation cost in increased home<br />
value when it came time to sell.<br />
Jake recommends homeowners try to save money on their<br />
remodels by shopping around for contractors—but cautions<br />
against making the decision based entirely on price. "Get<br />
multiple bids from licensed contractors who have insurance—<br />
Bathroom<br />
AFTER<br />
AFTER<br />
Family Room<br />
BEFORE<br />
BEFORE<br />
both general liability and workers comp—to protect you as<br />
the homeowner from liability." He also suggests homeowners<br />
consider remodeling based on craftsman, country farmhouse,<br />
or modern aesthetics, all three of which are currently popular<br />
with homebuyers.<br />
That said, there's no need to renovate your home in a style<br />
that doesn't speak to you. Fortunately, there are professionals who<br />
can help style your home to make it as aesthetically pleasing as<br />
possible to potential buyers when it's time to sell: home stagers.<br />
Stagers may rearrange your furniture and décor, display new<br />
art, or help to declutter your home so potential buyers can<br />
better imagine themselves in your space. Jake says hiring a<br />
home stager upon completion of their renovation made<br />
a huge difference in their bottom line. "We partnered<br />
with Danielle Miller with Studio D Staging & Redesign<br />
(studiodstaging.com) in El Dorado Hills and got five<br />
offers—all above list price—and went to escrow in five<br />
days," he says. In total, the entire project went from start to<br />
sold in just 10 weeks.<br />
While the crisp colors and high-end finishes in this<br />
modern farmhouse home may inspire major renovation<br />
envy, remember that not every home renovation needs<br />
to be in the six figures to be impactful. In their 2019<br />
Remodeling Impact Report, the National Association of<br />
Realtors polled homeowners on the impacts of painting<br />
a single interior room—one of the most affordable home<br />
improvement projects homeowners can do without<br />
hiring a skilled professional. Sixty-one percent of survey<br />
respondents said that painting a room increased their<br />
sense of enjoyment when at home, and 75% reported<br />
feeling a sense of accomplishment when looking back<br />
on the project. According to Jake, homeowners can take<br />
on other small projects themselves, too, if they have a bit<br />
of extra time and budget. "Some flooring can be done<br />
by a homeowner with some practice," he cautions, "but<br />
expect it to take longer and be more expensive than what<br />
you anticipate!”<br />
Photos courtesy of Terra Inc. Construction.<br />
48 stylemg.com | JULY <strong>2020</strong> | /stylemg /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags
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