After a 4 month absence, Lana Torre returns to Property Source Radio!! Tune is this Saturday morning from 9-10am on Sportsradio 950AM ESPN as she talks with House & Coyne. Lana brings a special guest with her, Stacey Haralambides who is the owner of the Aristo Development. Builders of Fine homes and subdivisions such as Woodcliffe, Coastal View in Webster, Canal Grove, Cobblestone Creek and Mallards Landing.

Stacey and Lana talk about the current new homes market both nationally and locally in Rochester, NY along with building Trends for Baby boomers down-sizing to smaller and more manageable spaces.

Carlos Rodriguez closes the show with a couple more scams to watch out for.

Join Steve Hausmann and Pat Coyne each and every Saturday from 9-10am for Property Source Radio. You can listen on the radio or stream the show from your computer or smart phone.

By Lana Torre

It’s a new year. There is hope that the housing market will finally take a positive turn in the US. We are fortunate, though, that Rochester hasn’t been hit like other areas of the country. Interest rates for mortgages are at historic lows, so if a new home or remodeling project is in your plans, here is a memo of what is in and new for 2012.

Think green. Save water by selecting new sink and shower faucets that use about one gallon of water per minute. Gray water systems can be implemented to recycle bath and shower water into water for irrigation for your lawns and flushing your toilets. Solar roof panels are back, and redesigned to provide 75% of your home’s energy usage, and some provide so much energy, you can even move your meter backward. Anderson Windows has developed a window with high E4 performance and the frames are made of a fiber that is 700 times more efficient than aluminum windows.

Fabric. Looking to add a punch to your family room without adding a great expense? Use toss pillows everywhere. The new fabrics are earthy, like linens and burlap, full of natural texture and interest. The newest patterns this year botanicals, ferns, sprigs and buds. Busy florals are back but the colors are muted and soft. Look for spring flower patterns in shades of light green and butter yellow

Area rugs. Think pattern here. Even if you are searching for a neutral sisal, find one with a pattern, like herringbone. Look for stripes of blues and browns or patterns of sea shells or lively circles. The price of area rugs has come way down lately, and a new rug under your coffee table is an inexpensive design fix.

Lighting. When looking for table lamps, pendants and chandeliers search out clear glass. New pendants shown in stores can even be glass jars or wine bottles made into light fixtures.

Furniture. Classic sofa styles are always in. Look for softly rolled or squared arms. Smaller sizes are back, gone are the chair and one half large scaled pieces. Occasional chairs with exposed high legs and large patterns are being shown.  If you have a large room, fill it with furniture arranged into decidedly different areas, like conversation and reading. Add case pieces like hanging cubbies or shelves for books and picture frames, usually painted in black. Mirrored accent tables will be big in 2011, look for side tables and bachelor chests. They will add interest to your room while creating reflective light. Place candlesticks on top, or sleekly framed family photos. Generally speaking, the look is more transitional to contemporary, clean and simple lines.

Recycle. Always green idea. Look for old silver pitchers, trays and ice buckets. Don’t even bother to polish them, retain the old, tarnished patina. Found bottles in colored glass are popular again. Greens and browns, earthy colors can be arranged on your sideboard or fireplace mantle. Always group objects in odd numbers for interest.

Enjoy your new year. Clean out, de-clutter, look for muted colors and natural fabrics. Keep it soft, keep it simple and make it another great year in the comfort of your home.

By Lana Torre

Is the stress of holiday decorating getting you down? Do you detest styrofoam evergreen trees on your holiday table? Does the thought of pouring over holiday catalogs to find the perfect centerpiece give you indigestion?

Give yourself and your family the gift of a natural holiday. Gather up the kidlets, grab your pruning shears, some tattered old tote bags, and your best pair of gardening gloves. Take a walk around your yard or a friend’s field, or find a wooded area nearby.

Look for bird’s nests, berries, herbs, seed pods, feathers, small branches with leaves, and pine cones of different sizes. If your pine cones have lost their scent, spray with evergreen oil. I have a secret ‘spot’ where I clip rose hips. They are so beautiful and such a deep red. I very carefully clip the hips and remove any thorns. I then put them in a large plastic bag and spray with bug spray. When I am ready to decorate, I will place a large bunch of hips mixed with evergreen branches in an old silver pitcher, add a festive ribbon… simply beautiful!

Slip some florist wire through a bird’s nest and hang from your tree or wreath. Collect your seed pods and give them a spray of gold paint. I also love to dry artichokes, the mini version, and spray them gold too. Place them in a large, clear, glass bowl for a centerpiece on the dining room table.

On a Saturday morning at the public market buy lots of citrus fruit. Lemons, limes and oranges studded with cloves remind me of Christmas’ past, and the aroma is still engrained in my mind. You can also slice the citrus very thinly, lay the slices on a screen and allow them to air dry. Take a needle and fishing line and thread them in a line to make scented garlands for your tree. If you are the old fashioned type, string popcorn and cranberries in long lines to drape across the mantle. Remember stale popcorn always strings best.

If your plan is to prune your evergreens and use the branches to make roping or wreaths, prune late. Evergreens dry out quickly. If you do prune, keep them cut side down in a bucket of water, with a splash of bleach. I cut holly and pachysandra from my garden and make small bunches to hang from the arms of my dining room chandelier. After they are attached with pipe cleaners, I will add ribbon to secure the greens. If you save ribbon from year to year [like I do], grab your curling iron and run the ribbon through it, much easier than the Rowenta! If you make garlands and wreaths from fresh greens, after assembly simply spritz them with clear floor wax and they will look shiny and fresh for weeks. If you wish your tree to look like it was just cut from a snowy forest, sprinkle the branches with baking soda.

This season, give your family the gift of a natural holiday,

Mother Nature approves.

Happiest of holidays to our readers!

By Lana Torre

Have you ever thought about how you would negotiate your older years? Do you have long-term plans for your housing? Will you remain in your home, or do you plan to move into an assisted living facility?

I know what my answer is. Simply, “there is no place like home”.

The Property Source is delighted to have a new advertiser. He is Dennis Draper, COO of “Home for Life” Renovations. Dennis is an accomplished architectural designer and home builder in the Rochester area. I am proud to say we have collaborated on many residential projects throughout our careers.

His company, very forward thinking, will assess and evaluate your needs and then create a design especially for you and your current home so you can live safely and comfortably as you age. Another term for this is “aging in place,” which is simply modifying your home to negotiate your needs as the years pass. His company will work with you throughout the total process from inception to completion.

The trend is to stay in your home and avoid nursing homes and assisted living centers for many reasons. One reason is comfort, to be able to stay in your familiar environment. I know that I just couldn’t be without my garden! Our homes are our palaces, full of memories. Another reason is cost. We all know how pricey private facilities are and the cost is mounting. Many times the monthly fee for assisted living is $2,000 to $6,000, so renovation of your current home is absolutely more cost-effective.

Home for Life Renovations provides a team of professionals including architects, physical therapists, interior designers, licensed contractors, and aging-in-place specialists. This team can design and implement internal ramps, barrier-free entries, adjustable sink heights, handrails, elevators, roll-in showers, voice-activated light switches, any and all solutions for accessibility.

This concept of aging in our homes is the perfect solution for most of us. Personally, I have broken my leg several times and was a prisoner in my own kitchen. Having accessibility would have made my recuperation much easier. I did remove my slate and brick walkway and replaced it with a beautiful winding exposed aggregate ramp. The ramp served me well to get in and out of the house and also looks just perfect in my rustic garden.

If staying in your home as you age is your perfect solution, call Dennis at 585-444- 0300 or visit his website at HomeForLifeNY.com for a free in-home consultation.

May you live in your home happily ever after!