Archives for February 2019

Arizona Winter Chilly Solutions by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

February 28, 2019 Joe Szabo

As the temperatures slowly begin to drop, there are a few easy things every homeowner can do to keep their home warm and cozy during the colder months of the year. Plus, these easy-to-implement tips will help you consume less energy and save money on your power bills.

Protect Against Drafts

A home that’s drafty is not only a home that’s uncomfortable, it’s a home that’s losing energy. Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy shows that stopping drafts around doors and windows can reduce energy costs for a home by as much as 30%. To make your home draft-free, grab some weather stripping and caulk and seal any open areas around window frames and doors. You can also add layered drapes to your windows to block out the cold. If you feel drafts creeping in under doors, try using a door sweep. Rubber weather stripping is also a great choice that helps block drafts around doors. Don’t forget to come up with a solution for the exit door to your garage or the hatch for your attic.

Seal Air Ducts

Any wire, pipe, or duct that goes into your wall, floor, or ceiling could be wasting energy. Plumbing vents are often guilty as well, because they typically run below the floor and through the roof. You can seal them yourself with weather stripping or caulking, or call Day & Night Air and let us take care of it for you.

Reverse Ceiling Fan Direction

Do you have ceiling fans in your home? If so, take a few minutes to flip the switches on the fans to make them run in reverse. In summer, you want to blow air downward to cool the room. Warm air rises, so in winter you want to recirculate that warmer air to the lower parts of the room and ceiling fans blowing in reverse will do just that. Keep your fans running on a low speed setting to help lift the chill from the room. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

Creative Outdoor Fireplace Ideas by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

February 25, 2019 Joe Szabo

These outdoor fireplaces are full of inspiration to help you create a charming, relaxing getaway in your own backyard. This natural stone outdoor fireplace and forest-like color scheme bring the outdoors into the porch and creates an inviting space for lounging on cool fall evenings. Building a freestanding outdoor fireplace creates an instant cozy gathering place for fall. Decorate the mantle with a row of tea lights for extra sparkle when the sun goes down.For year-round lounging, there’s an enclosed sitting area that boasts candle chandeliers and a fireplace. Filling the fireplace with candles instead of firewood gives this small seating area a very romantic feel.

A wood-burning outdoor fireplace is the center of attention in this porch, and dozing, reading, and chatting are the orders of the day. An indoor-outdoor rug softens and defines the gathering space. The brick in a courtyard and outdoor fireplace can come from old buildings that were torn down. The biggest issue with antique brick is there are several different sizes and it tends to get mixed up. You can set the brick in sand, rather than concrete, to give a relaxed and aged look. Plus, the sand helped level odd-size bricks. Here are more beautiful outdoor fireplace areas to get your creative juices flowing!

Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent.

The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoen ix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

Caring for your Wood Fireplace by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

February 21, 2019 Joe Szabo

Who doesn’t love a nice, warm fire in the fireplace during the cold weather months? There can be many advantages to a wood burning fireplace, including saving money on heating costs and supplementing your main source of heat. At the same time, maintenance and service of your fireplace is of utmost importance. Some homeowners may not be aware of the exposures associated with fireplaces and chimneys until it’s too late and becomes a very costly repair. To help you avoid the risk of a chimney fire, here are ten tips for wood-burning fireplace maintenance courtesy of DIY Network2:

Have your wood burning fireplace inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep at least once a year and more often if creosote builds up on the chimney walls rapidly. Depending on where you live, this can cost anywhere from $100 to $200.
Between professional inspections and cleanings, monitor your wood burning fireplace for signs of buildup or other problems.
Your chimney has a cap with open sides usually covered with mesh to keep rain, birds, squirrels, other animals, and debris from entering the chimney. The cap should be inspected regularly and replaced when necessary.
Check the interior of your wood burning fireplace’s chimney for creosote buildup.
Also watch for soot buildup in the chimney of your wood burning fireplace. Soot is softer than creosote, flammable, and should be cleaned out of the chimney regularly.
If possible, burn hardwoods like maple, oak, ash, and birch. The advantages of hardwoods are that they burn hot and long, have less pitch and sap, and tend to cause less creosote buildup. On the other hand, they generally are more expensive than softwoods.
Anytime there is smoke indoors from your wood burning fireplace, troubleshoot and immediately correct any problems that you find. Possible causes of smoke are a dirty chimney with creosote or soot buildup, other debris in the chimney, a damper that isn’t open or is only partly open, or wood that is not burning completely.
To ensure wood burning fireplace safety, consider installing a stainless steel liner that will withstand even the highest temperatures and will keep the fire and its embers contained.
To improve your wood burning fireplace’s efficiency, consider installing heat-proof glass doors to protect against heat loss and a fan or blower to direct the heat into the room. Doors are also a safety feature, since they can keep live embers from escaping the fireplace into the interior of the home. Glass doors should be cleaned regularly with a paper towel and glass fireplace door cleaner.
Clean your wood burning fireplace’s interior, including its floor, regularly. Sweep out or vacuum up cold ashes. Wear a dust mask and gloves when cleaning the fireplace. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

What You Need to Know about Wood Fireplaces by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

February 19, 2019 Joe Szabo

There’s nothing like the crackle and pop of a nice warm fire on a cold evening. If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home, you know how wonderful they can be. You also know how much maintenance they can take to operate properly and stay clean. Most people feel the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. If you don’t already have a wood burning fireplace, you may be interested in learning where you can find fireplaces for sale or how to go about installing wood fireplace inserts. Either way, we’re here to talk about everything related to wood fireplaces so you can make the best decision possible. First, what it is? Essentially, a standard, wood-burning fireplace comprises a hearth (which is basically the floor in front of the fireplace), the firebox (where the wood burns), the damper (the lever that opens and closes the flue) and the smoke chamber and flue (where the smoke is drawn up and out). It’s important to only use seasoned wood in your fireplace, as it gives the most effective fire with the least amount of smoke and creosote buildup.

PROS OF WOOD FIREPLACES

From operation costs to ambiance, there are several advantages to using a wood burning fireplace. Let’s take a look at a few of them:

The net fuel cost is cheaper than heating oil, natural gas or coal.
You can purchase wood locally and support community business.
Wood is widely available.
Wood is renewable and sustainable.
The price of wood is relatively stable.
Wood emits fewer pollutants into the air.
It provides a natural ambiance reminiscent of the outdoors.

CONS OF WOOD FIREPLACES

Fireplaces have their negative sides, too:

Wood burning fireplaces and stoves emit smoke and soot. Without annual cleaning of your chimney, that buildup can pose a danger.
You have to buy or chop your own wood and store it in a dry place.
You can’t leave a fire unattended. Even warm ash can re-ignite.
Traditional wood burning fireplaces aren’t very efficient. If you add an insert, you can improve that efficiency somewhat.
Fires take some time to build and must be constantly stoked before they die out.

Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

Your Guide to Wireless Speaker in your Home Theatre by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

February 14, 2019 Joe Szabo

Although there is a large selection of portable and compact wireless powered Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speakers designed for personal music listening, there is an increasing number of inquiries regarding the availability of wireless speakers that are designed specifically for home theater use.

Running those long, unsightly speaker wires required to connect speakers for a surround sound setup can be quite annoying. As a result, consumers are attracted by the increasingly promoted home theater system options that tout wireless speakers as a way to solve this problem. However, don’t get sucked in by the term ‘wireless.’ Those speakers might not be as wireless as you expect.

What a Loudspeaker Needs to Create Sound

A loudspeaker needs two types of signals in order to work.

First, speakers need to access the music or movie soundtrack. This is provided in the form of electrical impulses (the audio signal).
Second, in order for the speaker to take the electrical sound impulses and convert those impulses into an actual sound that you can hear, the speaker needs to be physically connected to an amplifier, which can be powered either by a battery (most applicable for portable devices) or AC power.

For a full rundown on how loudspeakers work, how to safely keep them clean, and the different types used for both music and movie listening, refer to Woofers, Tweeters, Crossovers: Understanding Loudspeaker Tech.

Wireless Home Theater Speaker Requirements

In a traditionally wired speaker setup, both the soundtrack impulses and the power needed to make the loudspeaker work are passed through speaker wire connections from an amplifier.

However, in a wireless speaker setup, a transmitter is required to transmit the needed audio signals, and a receiver needs to used to receive the wirelessly transmitted audio signals.

An illustration of the requirements for a wireless home theater system. — Vin Ganapathy ©Lifewire

In this type of setup, the transmitter has to be physically connected to preampoutputs on a receiver, or, in the case where you have a packaged home theater system that incorporates a built-in or plug-in wireless transmitter. This transmitter then sends the music/movie soundtrack information to a speaker or secondary amplifier that has a built-in wireless receiver.

However, another connection is needed to complete the process – power. Since power cannot be transmitted wirelessly, in order to produce the audio signal that is wirelessly transmitted so you can actually hear it, the speaker needs additional power in order to work.

What this means that the speaker still has to be physically attached to a power source and an amplifier. The amplifier may be built right into the speaker housing or, in some cases, the speakers are physically attached with speaker wire to an external amplifier that is powered by batteries or plugged into the house AC power source. Obviously, the battery option severely limits the ability of a wireless speaker to output adequate power over a long period of time.

When Wireless Is Not Really Wireless

One way that so-called wireless speakers are applied in some Home-Theater-in-a-Box Systems that tout wireless surround speakers have a separate amplifier module for the surround speakers.

In other words, the main receiver unit has a built-in amplifier that physically connects to the left, center, and right front speakers, but has a transmitter that sends the surround sound signals to another amplifier module that is placed in the back of the room. The surround speakers are then connected by wire to the second amplifier module in the back of the room. In other words, you have not eliminated any wires, you have just relocated where they go. Of course, the second amplifier still needs to be connected to an AC power outlet, so you have actually added that.

So, in a wireless speaker setup, you may have eliminated the long wires that typically go from the signal source, such as a stereo or home theater receiver, but you still need to connect the so-called wireless speaker to its own power source, and, in most cases, a second amplifier module, in order for it to actually produce sound. This can also limit speaker placement as the distance from an available AC power outlet then becomes a major concern. You may still need a rather long AC power cord if a convenient AC outlet is not nearby.

An example of a home-theater-in-a-box system that includes wireless surround speakers (as well as a built-in Blu-ray Disc Player) is the Samsung HT-J5500W which was originally released in 2015 but is still available.

Other examples of home-theater-in-a-box systems (minus a built-in Blu-ray Disc player) that provide the option for wireless surround speakers are the Bose Lifestyle 600 and 650.

On the other hand, there are systems such as the Vizio SB4551-D5 and Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro that come packaged with a sound bar for the front channels, a wireless subwoofer for the bass, and reception of the surround sound signals. The subwoofer then sends surround sound signals to two surround sound speakers via physical speaker wire connections.

The Sonos Option For Wireless Surround Speakers

One option for wireless surround speakers that makes things a little more practical, is the option offered by the Sonos Playbar, Playbase, or Beam Systems. These products provide built-in amplification and speakers for the left, center, and right channels. However, Sonos offers a platform that allows users to add an optional Wireless Subwoofer, as well as having the ability to expand into a full 5.1 channel surround sound system by syncing up with two, independently amplified, Sonos Play:1 or PLAY:3 wireless speakers. These speakers can do double duty as wireless surround speakers for the Playbar, Playbase, or Beam or as independent wireless streaming speakers for music streaming.

The DTS Play-Fi, Denon HEOS, and Yamaha MusicCast Wireless Surround Speaker Solutions

Similar to Sonos, DTS Play-Fi provides the ability for licensed companies to incorporate wireless surround sound speaker options in a soundbar system using compatible wireless speakers. Control is provided via compatible smartphones. One Play-Fi wireless-surround sound speaker-enabled soundbar is the Polk Audio SB-1 Plus.

Denon has added a wireless surround sound speaker option to its HEOS wireless multiroom audio system. One Denon standalone home theater receiver to include the option of using either wired or wireless surround channel speakers is the HEOS AVR.

Following in the steps of DTS and Denon, Yamaha has added wireless surround and wireless subwoofer capability to its MusicCast wireless multiroom audio system. MusicCast Wireless Surround is available on select Yamaha home theater receivers.

Wireless Subwoofers

A more practical application of wireless speaker technology that is gaining a lot of popularity, is in a growing number of powered subwoofers. The reason that wireless subwoofers make a lot of sense is that they are typically self-powered already and, thus, have both a built-in amplifier and the required connection to AC power. Adding a wireless receiver to a subwoofer does not require a major redesign cost.

Subwoofers are sometimes located far from the receiver they need to receive the audio signal from, incorporating a wireless transmitter for the subwoofer either built-in or added to a Home Theater Receiver or Preamp and a wireless receiver into the subwoofer is a very practical idea. The Receiver transmits the low-frequency impulses to the wireless subwoofer, and then the subwoofer’s built-in amplifier produces the power required to allow you to hear the sound.

This is becoming very popular on soundbar systems, where there are only two components: the main sound bar and a separate subwoofer. Although the wireless subwoofer arrangement eliminates the long cable usually needed and allows more flexible room placement of the subwoofer, both the soundbar and subwoofer still need to be plugged into an AC wall outlet or power strip. However, it is a lot more convenient to find a power outlet for one speaker (the powered subwoofer) than two, five, or seven speakers that make up a typical home theater system setup.

One example of a wireless subwoofer is the Klipsch R-12SWI.

The WiSA Factor

Although wireless technology has been popularly embraced by both the CE industry and consumers for internet connectivity and audio/video streaming in the home theater environment, the elusiveness of quality products and transmission standards have hampered the implementation of wireless speaker technology that is applicable for the needs of serious home theater use. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

To address wireless application in the home theater environment the Wireless Speaker and Audio Association (WiSA) was formed in 2011 to develop and coordinate standards, development, sales training, and promotion for wireless home audio products, such as speakers, A/V receivers, and source devices.

Supported by several major speaker (Bang & Olufsen, Polk, Klipsch), audio component (Pioneer, Sharp), and chip makers (Silicon Image, Summit Semiconductor), the goal of this trade group is to standardize audio wireless transmission standards that are compatible with uncompressed audio, Hi-res Audio, and surround surround formats, well as developing and marketing end-user audio and speaker products that are compatible across different manufacturers, making it easier for consumers to purchase and use wireless component and speaker products that are suitable for home theater applications.

As a result of WiSA’s efforts, several Wireless Speaker product options for home theater applications have been made available to consumers with more on the way.

Here are some examples.

Beginning with the 2019 model year, select LG OLED and UHD TVs are WiSA-ready. This means that LG WiSA-certified TVs, with the addition of a plug-in WiSA USB Transmitter, can bypass the need for a home theater receiver and send full surround sound audio in a variety of Dolby and DTSformats wirelessly to any WiSA certified home theater speaker system, such as ones offered by Klipsch, Bang & Olufsen, Axiim, and Enclave Audio listed above.

The Damson Option

Although WISA-based products provide a viable wireless home theater speaker setup option another choice to consider is the Damson S-Series modular wireless speaker system. What makes the Damson system unique is that its modular design not only makes it expandable, with support for traditional two-channel stereo, surround, and wireless multi-room audio, but it also incorporates Dolby Atmos decoding (in addition to Dolby Digital and TrueHD) – A first in a wireless home theater speaker system. Damson employs the JetStreamNet wireless network/transmission platform for the speakers and the main module provides connectivity for compatible sources devices.

The Bottom Line

When considering wireless speakers for a home theater setup, there are several things to consider. The fact that “wireless” doesn’t always really mean wireless is certainly one issue, but, depending on your room layout and the location of your AC power outlets, some sort of wireless speaker option may be perfectly viable and desirable for your setup. Just keep in mind what speakers require to produce sound when you shop for wireless speaker options.

For more on wireless speakers and wireless home theater connectivity, read What is Wireless Home Theater?

For information on wireless speakers, and technology, for non-home theater personal (indoor/outdoor), or multi-room listening applications, which include Bluetooth, WiFi, and other wireless transmission platforms, refer to Introduction to Wireless Speakers and Which Wireless Technology is Right For You?.

Also, there are ways you can incorporate your old or current wired speakers into a wireless audio or home theater setup. Check out some options.

Designing Your Ideal Home Office by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

February 11, 2019 Joe Szabo

Whether your home office is designated space for running a business, the occasional telecommute, or simply a nook for paying bills and organizing your schedule, you deserve more than a metal desk and extra chair stuffed into a spare corner. Why? An office that reflects the design and comfort of the rest of your home is a place you’ll want to burn the midnight oil. Here are 10 tips for creating a charming, practical work space.1. Location, location, location. You’ll likely spend many hours in your home office, so don’t stiff yourself on space (e.g. squishing a tiny desk into a windowless closet to preserve the rarely-used guest room). Also consider traffic flow and your ability to withstand distractions. Do you work best in the thick of activity, or should your office be tucked away in a quiet space? If clients will be stopping by, a private space with ample seating is a must.2. Don’t sacrifice form for function. Your desk, shelves, and storage should serve you, not the other way around. Consider your workflow and what items you need at your fingertips before investing in furniture, and then look for pieces that are both beautiful and functional. Home office furniture should complement other rooms in your house instead of screaming “soulless cubicle.” If your home has traditional décor, warm wood and soft, comfy chairs or a loveseat are ideal if you have the space. A contemporary home office can feature artistic pieces or modern metal furniture. 3. Invest in a great chair. You spend hours parked in your office chair; a beautiful, ergonomically-correct, comfortable seat is worth every dime.

4. Paint the walls a color you love. Forget “office beige”: you need a color that gets your work motor humming. For some people, that’s a bright, cheery color like orange or lime green. Others need a calming shade like botanical green or sea foam blue to perform. Find out more about how certain colors can affect your mood.

5. Give yourself a view. Position the desk where you can stare at something more interesting than a blank wall (even if you do love the color) when you glance up from the computer. A window’s natural light is ideal, but if you’re in a windowless space, hang a pretty picture above the desk, or position your chair to face the door.

6. Choose homey accessories. Unless you’re going for a contemporary look, choose extras that enhance the comfy feeling of your home office, like a pretty mug for a pencil holder, trendy notepads and sticky notes, and a decorative waste basket. Wrap your bulletin board in a gorgeous fabric, and hide utilitarian bookshelves behind curtains made from the same material. Hang inspirational prints on the walls, whether that’s simply your kids’ framed artwork or a classic painting.

7. Organize vertically and horizontally. Many home offices aren’t swimming in square footage, so using space efficiently is imperative. Hang floating shelves on the walls to get papers and office equipment off the desk, and use vertical file folders on the desk to keep important papers within arm’s reach. Are you a stacker or a filer? If you tend to make piles, get a nice basket to tame your mail, notes, and papers. If you prefer a clean desktop, designate one drawer for your “to-do” papers. Wooden or metal cube storage is a fun alternative to bookshelves, since each space can be used for books, knickknacks, or baskets of odds and ends.8. Master your technology. There’s not much you can do to beautify the computer, printer, and phone, but you can hide unsightly cords. Start by making sure your equipment is close to outlets and easy to access if you need to unplug. Encase cords on the desk in a pretty fabric cord cover like this one from Taylor Gifts, and feed the cords into a desk grommet, a plastic or metal cap that helps guide cords through a hole in the desk and hides them underneath. Tame the cord jungle on the floor with cord winders, tubing, or a wire organizer that’s attached to the desk and lifts the cords off the floor. 9. Let there be light. Here’s a bright idea: make sure your office has plenty of light to cut down on eye strain and headaches. Position the computer monitor so there’s no glare from a window or overhead light, and put a small lamp on the desk for task lighting. 10. Inspire yourself. Set up a mini-shrine — a few cherished knickknacks, a piece of framed art, a special photo on your desk — that motivates you to create and/or get the work done so you can get out of there. A print of Paris can channel your inner muse, or a photo of your children might remind you that you’re doing it all for them. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

Creating a Fantastic Home Library by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

February 7, 2019 Joe Szabo

Proper storage is the holy grail of the home library. If you’re an avid reader, you’ve likely spent a lot of time storing your books in less-than-ideal conditions. Now that you’ve committed to designing your very own library, it’s time to proudly put your books on display. The first step is picking the best location in your home for this project. Few are lucky enough to be able to dedicate an entire room to the task. Rather, it’s much more common to find creative ways to share space with a home office or formal living space. If need be, a smaller reading nook can also be carved out from previously unused space in a master bedroom or loft area. Once you can picture where your library will take shape, it’s time to get serious about storage. Floor-to-ceiling shelving units or built-ins are the traditional choices. However, these days, homeowners are getting more creative. Search out some design inspiration for alternatives that will work in your unique space.

Make sure there’s plenty of seating. Image: Martha O’Hara Interiors

Create the right seating arrangement

After storage, proper seating is the next most important part of a home library. There are very few hard-and-fast rules here, but whether your space will accommodate a single chair or you have square footage for a whole grouping, it should be comfortable. This is one of the few times we’ll advise you to forgo ultra-modern minimalism in favor of the larger, more plush pieces common in traditional design. Once you have your furniture in place, designing a proper layout is the next step. Of all the seating arrangements in your home, this one in particular should feel welcoming. Try arranging each piece at a slight angle to bring a casual and comforting air to the space. When there is more than one seating element involved, you’ll want to position them so they’re angled toward each other rather than turning away.

Layer lighting to make reading easy. Image: Amanda Kirkpatrick Photography

Layer your lighting

While proper lighting is a key element in every room in your home, it’s especially crucial in a library. No one likes the struggle of squinting to make out words. Providing a proper lighting scheme, as well as the right type of light, is essential to the room’s ability to function the way you want. Start by reviewing your existing lighting scheme. Ideally, it will feature at least one of each of the following:

Ambient: Also known as general lighting, ambient light fills the majority of the room and allows you to move around safely. It usually comes from recessed lighting, track lighting or wall-mounted fixtures.
Accent: Accent lighting is used to highlight a particular focal point, such as a piece of wall art. Picture lights, wall-mounted-fixtures or track lighting are common, and dimmers are often used on these features to provide mood lighting.
Task: As the name suggests, task lights are used to assist you in completing a particular function. This could be anything from desk lamps to pendant lights that hang over a kitchen island.

Here, your ambient and task lighting is most important. Make sure to have one of each directly above or beside each spot in your seating area. Then, provide the right light temperature. Day bulbs, ranging from 5,000K-6,500K, are the best choice for reading, so you may want to invest in a few of those.

This space should be as cozy as possible. Image: Kevin Dakan Architect

Make it cozy

The last component to any home library is coziness. While this isn’t an official principle of interior design, in our minds, it’s absolutely essential here. After all, this space is an indulgence at heart. Your final product needs to feel like somewhere you’d gladly curl up with a good book for hours on end. In this case, utilizing textiles is an especially great option for bringing a level of comfort to the room. For example, you can ground the space with a nice, plush throw rug. Then, add a few throw pillows to each chair or sofa in your seating arrangement. Finally, consider adding a soft blanket to the mix to keep warm in cooler temperatures. The last component is adding an element of personalization. Since your home library will likely function as an escape from the stresses of everyday life, that’s incentive to make it feel like an oasis. Whether it’s a piece of wall art or a particular décor item that will make this room feel like your own, here is official permission to invest. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

Creating You Best Home Gym by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

February 5, 2019 Joe Szabo

Do you dream of having your own home gym but don’t think you have room—in your home or your bank account? Think again! Here, your step-by-step guide to building the perfect home gym for any space on any budget. Step 1: Find a space in your home that you can dedicate to your workouts. First, you need to decide where you want to set up your home gym. The spare bedroom, office, or even a back porch or patio, are all great spaces for exercise. And if you don’t have a spare room, a small area in your home (like the living room) that can double as your workout space will do. Step 2: Give it good fitness feng shui. To help boost your energy level during your workouts, make your space as light and airy as possible. An ideal fitness space has lots of natural light coming in from windows or doors.. And while adding in windows may be impossible, you can add in more light sources to your room: mimic recessed lighting with tap lights or add a few lamps that use soft white bulbs. Bringing in plants can also help boost oxygen levels in the room. Ferns, bamboo palms, and spider plants top the list for their indoor air purification powers. Clear your exercise space of clutter and distractions—try to remove all gadgets, gizmos, papers, or other items that might call your attention away from your workout. If you’re an exercise DVD fan, you’ll want to make sure you’ve set up your TV or computer at a level that is best for following along with the routine. Also; you may want to consider adding a mirror to your workout space, says Barrett . “Mirrors are great for meditating on movement–the mirror lets you be your own instructor.” Not only can mirrors be a helpful tool for feedback on your form during exercises, they can also help to open up a space, making it appear larger than it actually is, which may help you feel less cramped in a smaller workout area. Step 3: Stock your home gym. You don’t need a ton of equipment or bulky machines to make your home gym an effective place to exercise. In fact, some of the best home workout equipment is actually quite small and inexpensive.

We love foam rollers because they’re so versatile–you can use them for ‘kneading’ out muscles, core strengthening, or as a prop for yoga poses. And you can skip buying a bulky treadmill for cardio, easily stored jump ropes are perfect for quick cardio, Barrett says. And no need for a bunch of weights or cable machines for strength training, invest instead in one set of dumbbells that you can adjust in weight and/or a set of resistance bands.. While stability balls and BOSUs can be fun for workouts, they can be tough to store. That’s why we love using balance discs at home instead.You don’t have to buy everything all at once. Start with a few key pieces and then gradually build up from there. Save even more money by putting some items on your wish list for upcoming holidays or your birthday, shop at used sports stores or garage sales, or swap out with friends to rotate your equipment for free. Step 4: Organize your home gym. Once you’ve got all your equipment, you’ll need to store it in between workouts, especially if you’re using a shared space (such as the living room). If possible, dedicate a few shelves or bins to organizing everything you need for your workouts. Get creative with ways you can store your fitness equipment to keep it neat, dust free, and out of sight when not in use. Step 5: Use your home gym! Now that you’re all set up, be sure to put your home gym to good use! Invite a workout buddy over to train with you, or ask your partner to sweat it out by your side. Just like a real gym, it won’t do you any good if you don’t regularly visit it. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.