Six months ago today, friends and family united for the special wedding ceremony for Nathan and Gabi Kivi. And it all started with the simple concept of a request.

A request from a resident is not an uncommon thing in my business, especially at Turnberry Towers, because service happens to be above all.  However, last year we received an extraordinary request: Would Turnberry Towers hold a wedding ceremony and reception? 

We deliberated over this very quickly, as it became apparent what the real reason was for a resident to have their wedding and reception at Turnberry Towers. We were successful in creating an emotional connection with them to where there was no other place they’d like to join in matrimony; and we couldn’t have been more thrilled. It’s one thing to LIVE at Turnberry, but nothing compares to LOVE at Turnberry.

You may be at that point where you’re ready to make the move to Las Vegas, but a bit of apprehension gets the best of you. It’s time to filter through all the questions you ask yourself, such as:

Is there anything more to Las Vegas than the Strip?

You bet there is, and we sat down with some of the city’s up and coming influencers to get their view on why Vegas is the best place for you to live.

From Turnberry Towers’ prime location near the Strip and Downtown to the entertainment in and around the city, this is your ultimate guide to living in Las Vegas.

In other news…

Las Vegas property value is rising. The housing market is bouncing back, which means it’s time to make a great investment. Share our video — and these numbers — and watch your investment value grow even higher.

•  U.S. home prices rose 8.1 percent for the 12-month period ending in January of 2013, the most since June 2006, according to The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index.

•   The Las Vegas housing market gained 15.3 percent over the same period, one of only eight markets to see double-digit increases.

•   This January, the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors (GLVAR) reported a home price increase of 24 percent for 2012, making it the city’s third best sales year in history.

Ready to take a look at Turnberry Towers? Contact our Sales Team at 702-732-9797.

Lots of sunlight pours into Turnberry Towers due to the floor-to-ceiling windows.

<—(Check out Part 3 of our conversation with Melissa Steach)

A home is a huge investment, and one of our biggest concerns is protecting all of the upgrades and features that are prone to damage. Furniture can be one variable, but more specific to Turnberry Towers, since we have floor-to-ceiling windows, is sunlight. How do we shield our floors from the elements?

A very easy, and inexpensive, way to protect your hardwood floors from damage is to put felt feet on the bottom of your furniture.

Would rubber feet do the trick as well?

I prefer felt to rubber, because if you’re anything like me, you like to change your furniture arrangement up on the fly just for the fun of it! Rubber feet are good for those items that you don’t want to slide.

And for our cherished Turnberry Towers residents when it comes to the sunlight pouring through the windows?

In the case of the floor-to-ceiling windows, which I personally have as well, there’s not much anyone can do to protect anything from sun damage. Just like sunscreen for your skin, the best you can do is apply a topical solution like a UV coating on the floors and cover up! Investing in good window shades and considering drawing them during times of intense, direct sunlight is the best you can do. Remember that real wood is organic and the aging process is part of its distinct beauty. Besides, unlike us, it takes a very long time for wood floors to show any real sun damage.

Melissa Steach

Melissa Steach is the author of the Amazon #1 Bestselling Book, “The Housing Project: Decorating a Home that Tells Your Personal Story and Reflects the Real You”.  She is also an award-winning fine artist and her decorating work has been featured on HGTV. She currently spearheads projects through Design and Signature Services by CORT and is based in Beverly Hills, Ca. For more information about Melissa, visit MelissaSteach.com.

So many stains; which do we choose?

<—(Check out Part Two of our discussion with Melissa!)

So, we’re moving quickly into the different stains of hardwood. The degree of stain varies so much, how do you pick the color of your wall paint to help bring it all together?

I was a huge lover of gray long before Pantone came along and called it a trend! That said, as a base color, I would almost always recommend a gray for any color wood floor. For example, “Paper White” by Benjamin Moore is a fantastic neutral base and goes well with cool or warm tones.

We agree, but does this mean we need to overcompensate in the finer touches, such as area rugs, furniture, and reflective surfaces? 

Remember, the devil is in the details: it always comes down to how you thread the story of your décor together.

Gotcha. What is the biggest takeaway on how to work with different stains?

The most important thing is to be sure, at least at the one point within every room, to reference either the color or the texture of the wood floor. This way, the eye is always taking in the space as a whole; creating a cozy, yet, expansive feel.

Don’t miss the conclusion of our conversation with Melissa Steach in which she shares her thoughts on floor-to-ceiling windows.

Melissa Steach

Melissa Steach is the author of the Amazon #1 Bestselling Book, “The Housing Project: Decorating a Home that Tells Your Personal Story and Reflects the Real You”.  She is also an award-winning fine artist and her decorating work has been featured on HGTV. She currently spearheads projects through Design and Signature Services by CORT and is based in Beverly Hills, Ca. For more information about Melissa, visit MelissaSteach.com.

A rustic-modern mix, this Turnberry Towers condo has the best of both worlds.

<—(Check out Part One of our discussion with Melissa!)

You’ve been dishing up some great info, Melissa, but let me get your take on something. Is there a guideline on how you should decorate your place based on the finish of your hardwood, let’s say, between rustic and modern?

The wonderful thing about hardwood floors is that you can decorate in any style you like! Today, especially, is more flexible than ever. All that matters is bringing together what you like in a way that is both appealing and makes some sort of visual sense.

So, with the versatility that hardwood can bring, should you stick with one particular style or can you mix it up a bit?

It’s never been easier to mix woods, surfaces, colors, and styles in order to express yourself uniquely. You could choose a décor that is more monochromatic and blends well with the floors, or one that is more eclectic, colorful, and chooses to contrast with it instead.

Okay, so it sounds like you can basically have A LOT of freedom when decorating with hardwood.

Honestly, I could rattle off a list of styles, but, really, who cares anymore? Just like a multi-hyphenate career, décor is what you make it just as much as what you choose to label it.

Part Three of our installment with Melissa talks about the light vs. dark stain of hardwood how you can incorporate that into a decorative purpose.

Melissa Steach

Melissa Steach is the author of the Amazon #1 Bestselling Book, “The Housing Project: Decorating a Home that Tells Your Personal Story and Reflects the Real You”.  She is also an award-winning fine artist and her decorating work has been featured on HGTV. She currently spearheads projects through Design and Signature Services by CORT and is based in Beverly Hills, Ca. For more information about Melissa, visit MelissaSteach.com.

This Turnberry Towers condo has placed area rugs to contrast the dark hardwood.

Hi, Melissa! 

Hi, Ellen!

Let’s get right to it. We’re talking hardwood floors today, and we’re fully aware that some people just don’t like them. Their reasons range, but the one we’re zeroed in on is that hardwood floors can seem too cold on the feet AND on the senses. How can we embrace them, and not replace them?

I actually run into this concern a lot less these days. That said, when I do – there are lots and lots of examples to show a doubtful client in need of a nudge into the more design-forward direction. Some ways to warm an apartment with hardwood floors are: area rugs, furniture, and reflective surfaces.

Let’s start with area rugs.

In the case of area rugs, “plush” does not necessarily mean shag. A plush area rug can, of course, be one that feels soft and rich underfoot, or is highly textured. But it can also refer to one which is bold or bright in color, highly patterned and, therefore, visually stimulating. One might choose to use one area rug in a highly visited room in order to create a statement, or use several placed about in order to create vignettes, which lead the eye from room to room.

Vignettes, eh? I like that. Okay, so what about furniture? It sounds like we need a specific kind of look.

Soft, lounge-like furniture, like a fabulous arm chair or a super comfy sofa can give an overall feel of relaxation and comfort that contrast nicely to and is balance by the more slick, hard surface of wood flooring. This mix in textures and surfaces is also very stimulating to the senses.

Last, but certainly not least: Reflective surfaces.

Reflective surfaces are great with hardwood floors in that they also provide a contrast. We tend to forget that even though wood floors feel hard (they need to be in order to stand up to wear and tear, and well…support all that we do on them), wood is typically a soft material. It can be scratched, scorched, even burned to ash. So, when paired with material like shiny glass or sparkling metals and mirrored surfaces – our senses register what really is hard and cold. Furthermore, the bling of the reflective surface brings attention to the warm color and organic nature of the wood floors. It’s really lovely just thinking about it!

Coming up in Part Two: tailoring your interior decorating to fit either a modern or rustic finish.

Melissa Steach

Melissa Steach is the author of the Amazon #1 Bestselling Book, “The Housing Project: Decorating a Home that Tells Your Personal Story and Reflects the Real You”.  She is also an award-winning fine artist and her decorating work has been featured on HGTV. She currently spearheads projects through Design and Signature Services by CORT and is based in Beverly Hills, Ca. For more information about Melissa, visit MelissaSteach.com.

The long discussion over whether or not to upgrade your space to hardwood flooring has had most people pulling their hair out in the struggle to decide if installing it will increase the value of your home.

The people against hardwood suggest the benefit of carpeting or tile’s equal return value compared to wood, and the people for hardwood speak highly of the aesthetics and decorative style.

However, allow me to introduce more reasons why hardwood is your secret long-term investment.

The Low-Maintenance Option

Most of us don’t have the time to focus on the upkeep of our space when we’re enduring long work days, constant social engagements, and hard-to-find time to relax.

Also, let’s face it, when we’re in Vegas, keeping the floors spic and span is the least of our worries.

Hardwood, compared to other flooring options, is considered to be the easiest to maintain and the most durable. Tile floors are connected by grouts, which gather dirt, scum, and bacteria; and a carpet’s fibers can be home to bugs, mites, and insects.

So, at this point, hardwood floors sound a lot less dirty and scary, and even better when I tell you that they are also eco-friendly.

An Environmental Choice

Surprised?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the “average annual net-growth for hardwood is greater than the average annual removals.”

This means that the supply-source of hardwood is a lot more than what is being removed around the U.S.

Also, the production and processing of wood uses much less energy than most other building materials, giving wood products a significantly lower carbon footprint.

These great eco-friendly opportunities surpass most of us because we’re more or less excited by the decorative aspect of hardwood, right?

Yes, Your Hardwood Floors LOOK Amazing

Wood is revered as a luxurious, aesthetic material because of the uniqueness and attractiveness of its grains.

Also, many interior designers argue that a wood floor can add the illusion of space, especially when we’re talking about a lighter shade. Lighter wood floors reflect the light, and, thus, become very effective in making a room seem livelier, more open, and natural.

So, Does Hardwood Actually Demonstrate Value?

Research has shown that homes with hardwood floors generally sell for nearly 20% more than homes without them, AND having hardwood floors installed before you list your property can speed the sale up by 4 to 6 weeks.

Maria Jeantet from Coldwell Banker explains the value of hardwood floors:

“Hardwood floors enhance the chances of your house selling faster. Generally speaking, most buyers prefer the hard wood floors over the carpet. It may not get you a high return, in fact, it may sell for about the same price as with carpet but it may sell faster because it will compete better with the inventory of ‘like’ properties.”

The Bottom Line

There’s always a bottom line, right? You should probably know that at Turnberry Towers, we’re offering a free hardwood floor upgrade through February 2013. Now, take OUR great opportunity to save money on installation and make a smart investment decision for your future.

Are YOU also a fan of hardwood floors, or do you prefer other flooring options? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

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