Archive for April, 2008
Bungalow is Newest Addition to Eclectic Shopping on Del Ray’s Mt. Vernon Avenue
April 30th, 2008 Categories: Del Ray, Green Living
What started as a personal quest for “appropriately scaled and eco-friendly furniture” in his Rosemont bungalow, has turned into a sleek new home decor shop on Del Ray’s Mt. Vernon Avenue for Daryl Wakeley. After years as a magazine designer, Daryl’s finely honed aesthetic is now focused on building a collection of decidedly interesting and luxurious home goods.
Located in the center bay of a long vacant commercial building renovated to accommodate three shops, Bungalow Homewares Gallery is a perfect addition to the neighborhood. Bungalow juxtaposes industrial chic with , among other things, sheets and towels made of organic cotton in sweat shop free conditions, Ethiopian bed covers made by a women’s cooperative; cork branch votive holders; and vintage rice winnowing baskets.
One of my favorite items was a set of tumblers made from the bottom half of recycled wine bottles. After the cut edge is polished to a rolling smoothness, each tumbler is filled with soy wax and topped with a paper collar embedded with wildflower seeds that can later be planted. There are a variety of scents but the lemon grass was special.
Most of the items have a “back story” and Daryl is happy to share the origins of both the product and the artisans. For instance, just inside the front door (and in front of a sofa I have my eye on) is a coffee table made from re-cycled iron and Honduran pine. As part of the coffee industry in Honduras, pine trees are planted to shade the young coffee plants. When the trees become too large they are harvested and recycled into furniture and other items.
Another story involves the blankets made from a woman-owned business in Ethiopia. The blankets are woven on traditional looms which are quite narrow, so for larger pieces - like the very American king size bed - the pieces have to be stitched together by hand. The stitching adds yet another dimension to these one of a kind pieces.
When asked about prices Daryl offered this considered reply: while indeed he has things that might be bought without hesitation, other pieces are what he calls “aspirational.” Water-based or soy emulsion paints in 12 colors are also part of Daryl’s design offerings and large, 18 x 18 panels are available as samples for interested customers.
Open just two weeks, Daryl is already in sync with the rhythm’s of Del Ray and will celebrate this year’s First Thursday with a reception for Jill Saxton Smith. Her exquisite woodblock prints are the first of what will be a series of rotating gallery exhibits. The exhibit runs from May 1 to July 31.
Now that you’ve read about Bungalow, go visit for yourself at 1901 Mt. Vernon Avenue. You’ll be glad you did.
Virginia
Thanks to my spouse and managing partner who does all our shopping. Michael
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Looking for the Number 1 Real Estate Company in the Country? Then Stop Right Here!
April 28th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria, Real Estate News
NRT, the parent company of Coldwell Banker, announced today that it was ranked as the NO. 1 Residential Real Estate Brokerage Firm in the U.S. by REAL Trends 500, a leading provider of trends and research for the residential real estate service industry. This is the 11th consecutive year in which NRT has earned the top spot nationwide for both closed sales volume and closed sales transaction sides. NRT recorded $174.2 billion in closed sales volume and 326,323 in transaction sides.*
I can’t tell you how proud I am to be a part of the Coldwell Banker family. It may sound corny but when you ask me to help you buy or sell a house, you are really asking a whole team of professionals to make your dreams come true. From pricing to staging to finding a school to how to get to work, every person in my office is ready to help me help you.
Operating in 35 major metropolitan areas, NRT is the nation’s largest residential real estate company with approximately 940 offices, 56,000 sales associates and 7,500 employees.
So why wait, let me put all of Coldwell Banker’s resources at your disposal.
I’ll look forward to hearing from you. You can reach me at 703.927.4554.
Michael
*Every real estate transaction involves both a “buy” side and a “sell” side.
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Alexandria’s Annual Spring Clean Up is a Scavenger Hunter’s Paradise
April 25th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria
Ever heard the phrase “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure“? Well, never is that more true than during Alexandria’s city wide spring cleanup running this year from April 5 to April 26.
Every Saturday in April, residents in designated zip codes are invited to clean out their closets, basements, attics, garages, etc. , and set the results curbside for FREE pickup by the city’s refuse collection.
“Acceptable” trash includes appliances, steel pipes, furniture, mattresses, brush, tree limbs and tires.
But it’s once the materials are curbside that the real fun begins. Scavengers, entrepreneurs, fixer upper types, junk dealers, etc. move like vultures looking for items they can salvage, resell on Ebay or Craig’s List, or simply rework for their own use. We got one of our favorite large, terra cotta garden urns from just such a moment and my wife still regrets the dressmaker’s dummy she let slip away.
It’s fun, it’s totally acceptable and it doesn’t cost a thing!
Thanks for stopping by,
Michael
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