Category: The Home Front Cincinnati

Neighborhoods with the best percentage of sales to active listings (only neighborhoods with at least 25 combined actives and solds are included):

1. MT. WASHINGTON //  21 sold with 4 active //  525%
or a ratio of 5.25 solds to each active listing

2.  WESTERN HILLS  //  29 sold with 6 active // 483%
or a ratio of 4.83 solds to each active listing

3. MIAMI TWP //  64 sold with 16 active // 400%
or a ratio of 4 solds to each active listing

Compiled using information from the Multiple Listing Service of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for the period 11/1/2021 through 11/30/2021. Information has not been verified, is not guaranteed and subject to change.

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of many cherished holiday traditions passed down from generation to generation around the world.  Families gather together each year, pull out boxes and boxes of treasured Christmas ornaments, and make memories together.   But how did evergreen trees and ornaments come to play such a role in our Christmas experiences?

Plants and trees that remained green all year have always held a special meaning for people in the winter.  Evergreen boughs or trees were used to represent the certainty that life would return in the spring, that farms and orchards would be green and fruitful, as a symbol of good luck to ward off evil spirits and illness, and even triumph of life over death.

The modern Christmas tree tradition is thought to have originated in Germany during the 16th century when devout Christians brought small trees decorated with fruits, nuts, or berries into their homes.

Legend has it an early glass blower did not have the money to buy nuts and sweets for his tree so instead of leaving it bare, he blew a few colorful baubles to hang on it.

Then in 1847, in Lauscha, Germany, Hans Greiner began producing glass ornaments and adding mercury or silver nitrate inside to give them a beautiful silvery sheen.

In the late 1840s, a published depiction of the beloved Queen Victoria celebrating Christmas with her German-born husband, Prince Albert, and their family around a decorated evergreen tree transformed the practice into a fashionable one that wealthy Americans soon rushed to adopt.

In short order, local businesses caught on to the ornament’s potential. The decorated Christmas tree had arrived!

By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S.  It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling.

One of the first American mass merchandisers, F.W. Woolworth, saw the commercial opportunity and began importing German glass ornaments into this country.  By the mid-1930s, over 250,000 ornaments were imported to the United States from manufacturers all over the world.

As time went on, tree decorations became increasingly artful, incorporating new materials such as tinsel, silk, and wool.  Today the most common materials for modern Christmas ornaments are glass, metal, plastic and wood.  In 1973 Hallmark introduced their “Keepsake” ornaments which encouraged the yearly collection of limited-edition ornaments.

Regardless of how it started, decorating the tree is a memorable time each year when families come together and share in the delight of unwrapping treasured ornaments, remembering moments from the past as they look forward to celebrations and new holiday memories.

We have all heard that pairing your wine and food helps to enhance the dining experience.  For some, its essential while others choose to drink simply what they like.  When enjoying a meal in fine a restaurant you may even encounter a sommelier, the wine professional formally trained in all things wine.

While all this fuss is made over the wine you are selecting, not much thought is put into the water you drink.  Until now.

While many might snicker at the thought of someone being an expert at making water suggestions, water sommeliers aren’t entirely uncommon in Europe.

Just like the subtle variances found in wine, a water sommelier is educated on understanding the nuances and varied properties of water and how they are unique to their origin, how each of them differs in composition, nutritional benefits, taste and health properties, if any.

All water is originated from rain or other precipitation but once it falls there are other factors that influence its taste.  Most water we consume today fell hundreds or even thousands of years ago.  Water then emerges or is extracted from various sources: spring water, artesian water, well water, rain water, iceberg water, glacier water, or deep sea water.

Lets take a closer look at what is in your water and how it contributes to the taste:

Minerality – The amount of minerals dissolved in water is indicated as total dissolved solids (TDS or Dry Residue), measured in milligrams per liter (mg/l) or parts per million (ppm), which are equal.

Natural Carbonation – Certain rare geological conditions can produce naturally carbonated water; often the carbonation can be attributed to volcanic activity. Naturally carbonated waters have historically been highly sought after for their supposed curative properties. The carbon dioxide helps this water absorb minerals in high levels.

Added Carbonation –  Current carbonation techniques involve pressurizing carbon dioxide before adding it to the water—the pressure increases the amount of carbon dioxide that will dissolve. Opening the bottle of water releases pressure, allowing the carbon dioxide to form bubbles that hadn’t previously been visible.

Vintage – The age of bottled waters should be noted, though, as an enjoyable part of their backstories, which add to the epicurean pleasure. Wine needs time to smooth out its tannin structure, but the quality of mineral water is not determined by its age. Vintage does influence water, however. Very young water and bottled Rain Waters don’t have much time to absorb minerals, so they tend to have low TDS levels and hence light, clean tastes. Old water may feel more substantial due to the higher Minerality.

Hardness – Calcium and magnesium levels combine to determine the mineral water’s “hardness”.

Orientation – pH Factor of Water – pH (for “potential hydrogen”) measures the waters’s level of acidity or alkalinity

Virginality – Indicates how protected a water is from its surroundings. It is determined by the water’s level of nitrate

Balance – Carbonation Levels of Bottled Water

The first recorded water sommelier in America was Martin Riese in 2011 when he relocated to Los Angeles from northern Germany.  Martin believes water is the most important beverage on the planet, and he’s urging consumers to rethink the value of this precious resource.

Like wine, water experts use words like minerality, balance and mouthfeel to describe a taste and use flavor profiles to match food.

Denmark makes a water called Iskilde. It is from a spring that was discovered 15 years ago by a retired insurance broker and his wife. Experts think water from that spring might be so old it could be from the last ice age.  According to Riese, Iskilde has both sweet and earthy notes making it a solid companion for pasta, mushroom dishes or pizza with truffles.

For delicate food, like sushi, it’s best to go with something smooth and subtle, like still water with low minerality. The water Lauquen from Patagonia would work for even the most discerning palate.

For dessert, a Spanish water called Vichy Catalan, which is very salty and bitter, can add a surprising dimension to chocolate dishes.

One of the prime joys of matching water and food, and one of the true marks of water connoisseurship is changing waters for each course, developing a progression of waters to guide you through the meal. Drinking a different water for each course highlights their subtle differences, and the progression adds enormously to the dining experience.

When it comes to bottled water, in the US we drink mostly spring water and filtered tap water. In Europe, mineral water is much more common. Mineral water comes from a naturally occurring source and has been revered for its therapeutic benefits for centuries.

Europeans have always known that water should not be “pure.” It needs to have dissolved minerals in it, like magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium. A lot of the bottled water sold in the US is highly processed, essentially just boiled and bottled tap water.

That’s not to say Martin doesn’t believe people should drink tap water. He recommends installing a water filter, which doesn’t need to be expensive but does need to filter out chlorine and drinking tap water over any bottled purified water.

Neighborhoods with the best percentage of sales to active listings (only neighborhoods with at least 25 combined actives and solds are included):

1. WESTERN HILLS  //  40 sold with 7 active //  571%
or a ratio of 5.71 solds to each active listing

2.  LOVELAND //  22 sold with 5 active // 440%
or a ratio of 4.40 solds to each active listing

3. WEST CHESTER //  102 sold with 29 active // 351%
or a ratio of 3.51 solds to each active listing

Compiled using information from the Multiple Listing Service of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for the period 10/1/2021 through 10/31/2021. Information has not been verified, is not guaranteed and subject to change.

COTY or better known as Color of the Year announced by paint companies and trend trackers everywhere are aligning nicely for 2022.

Most are focusing on tranquil, neutral, organic and green.  Gone are the intense, saturated hues of the past, and gray, which dominated décor for a while.  Natural shades that evoke warmth, calm and comfort will be everywhere you look – culture, media, fashion, design, food and technology.

A home’s appearance can directly impact a person’s mindset and this year’s color bring a sense of soothing tranquility.   Of all the cool colors, green is possibly the most versatile.  It connects you to nature and is said to create feelings of balance and vibrancy.  There is a green for every space in your home.

Behr – Breezeway

A relaxed and uplifting sea glass green expressing peace and tranquility for forward movement.  Breezeway naturally harmonizes with shades of white, gray and natural wood tones for effortless style in any room. Where a breath of fresh air meets a coat of fresh paint.

Benjamin Moore – October Mist

This gently shaded sage quietly anchors a space, while encouraging individual expression through color. Make room for creativity and nurturing. Evoking the silver-green stem of a flower, October Mist creates a canvas for other colors – and your imagination – to blossom.  Botanical hues ground us in a warm reassurance.

Better Homes & Gardens – Laurel Leaf

A shaded, rejuvenating green that mimics the soothing hues found in nature, such as dusty green eucalyptus. With warm undertones, this color pairs well with creamy whites, cozy beiges, light wood tones and leafy house plants. It’s the perfect versatile shade to create relaxation in any room.

Farrow & Ball – Breakfast Room Green

Described as the brand’s ‘most cheerful green’, this natural-looking tone would look at home in a scheme inspired by cottagecore or even goblincore – yes, that’s a real thing!

Glidden – Guacamole

This spirited yet soothing green brings an organic energy to any space.  Give your home office extra zen or create that bedroom retreat you’ve always dreamed of.

PPG – Olive Sprig

The gray-green shade is a relaxed, but enticing green that emulates the feeling of soothing aloe vera or a fragrant plant – brightening any space with organic liveliness. A versatile color that lives well inside or outside, and blends in with nearly any environment.  Elegant, grounded, versatile and highly-adaptable, it represents regrowth, mimicking nature’s resiliency.

Sherwin-Williams – Evergreen Fog

A versatile and calming hue, a chameleon color of gorgeous green-meets-gray, with just a bit of blue. It’s a simple but sophisticated wash of beautiful, organic color for spaces that crave a subtle yet stunning statement shade.  shade.”

Valspar – Blanched Thyme

A natural shade that encourages a calm balance within yourself and your home  Calming and nourishing – this natural shade encourages a calm balance within yourself and your home.

In 1891, Daniel Swarovski’s vision was to create “a diamond for everyone”.  He invented an electric machine that cut more accurately that ever before, making the beginning of a new era for crystal.  From American jazz halls to Parisian couture houses, dresses dripped with beads and Swarovski crystals, reflecting the excitement in the 1920’s.

Inspired by decades of creative collaborations and expertise, Swarovski opened its first boutique in the 1980s.  The world’s fascination with a new brand of jewelry and crystal figurines began. With the introduction of the annual limited-edition Christmas ornament, a new tradition was born for collectors around the world.

For over 35 years, Swarovski has captivated the world with unique pieces like the Nirvana cocktail ring, the Slake bracelet and its signature Swiss movement watches.  In 2008, the magical ‘Crystal Forest’ interior design was implemented in stores worldwide, welcoming shoppers to an architectural crystal wonderland.

From inspiration brief to collection launch, Swarovski’s creative process is uniquely prolific.  With a focus on trend curation, design, and meaningful branding, every piece tells a story and embodies over 125 years of mastered craftsmanship.  The continuous evolution of material and technique makes Swarovski the leader of crystal cut creations.

There is a range of brands under Swarovski.  Atelier Swarovski, for example, partners with prominent luxury fashion designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Jason Wu to produce luxury clothing.  Schonbek is aimed at producing crystal chandeliers. Swarovski also manufactures lighting systems, road safety products, optical instruments, read-made jewelry, museum art, and figurines.

Two Mercedes models were covered with 300,000 sparkling diamond shaped Swarovski crystals. One in silver and the other in gold.  Priced at $901,000, one has already been bought and is being driven on the streets of Dubai.

There’s nothing Swarovski can’t design or create – from the giant crystal on top of the Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree to covering any designer items with thousands of Swarovski crystals. In a sense, Swarovski has tied itself to luxury and creativity.  Isn’t it time to start your own collection?

https://www.swarovski.com/en-US/

Monticello, a 43-room estate, was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. He began construction on Monticello in 1769, after inheriting 5000 acres of land from his father at age 26.   For more than four decades he spent designing, dismantling, and reimagining the estate he called his “essay in architecture”.

Due to its architectural and historic significance, the property has been designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1987, Monticello and the nearby University of Virginia, also designed by Jefferson, were together designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site*. The current nickel, a United States coin, features a depiction of Monticello on its reverse side.

Jefferson designed the main house using neoclassical design principles described by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio and reworking the design through much of his presidency to include design elements popular in late 18th-century Europe and integrating numerous ideas of his own.

Situated on the summit of an 850-foot (260 m)-high peak in the Southwest Mountains south of the Rivanna Gap, the name Monticello derives from Italian meaning “little mountain”.

Monticello was unique not only in its design but also in its use of local resources. At a time when most brick was still imported from England, Jefferson chose to mold and bake his own bricks with clay found on the property. Monticello’s grounds provided most of the lumber, stone and limestone, and even the nails used to construct the buildings were manufactured on site.

Along a prominent lane adjacent to the house, Mulberry Row, the plantation came to include numerous outbuildings for specialized functions, e.g., a nailery; quarters for enslaved Africans who worked in the home; gardens for flowers, produce, and Jefferson’s experiments in plant breeding—along with tobacco fields and mixed crops. Cabins for enslaved Africans who worked in the fields were farther from the mansion, out of Jefferson’s sight both literally and figuratively.

Known for spending lavishly on books, wine and, above all else, his beloved Monticello, Jefferson left his heirs under a small mountain of debt when he died on July 4, 1826. His daughter, Martha Randolph, was forced to sell the estate, which had already entered the early stages of decay due to years of neglect. In 1836, it was bought by Uriah Levy, a real estate speculator who was the first Jewish American to serve an entire career as a commissioned Navy officer; he and his nephew, Jefferson Monroe Levy, are largely responsible for its restoration and preservation. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, a nonprofit organization, purchased the property in 1923 and continues to operate it as a museum and educational institution.

“I am as happy no where else and in no other society,” Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “and all my wishes end, where I hope my days will end, at Monticello.”

*A World Heritage Site:  the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.  https://whc.unesco.org/en/faq/19

The Jefferson Residence:  https://www.monticello.org/  & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monticello

Neighborhoods with the best percentage of sales to active listings (only neighborhoods with at least 25 combined actives and solds are included):

1. MT. WASHINGTON  //  27 sold with 1 active // 2700%
or a ratio of 27 solds to each active listing

2.  WESTERN HILLS  //  33 sold with 5 active //  660%
or a ratio of 6.60 solds to each active listing

3. SOUTH LEBANON  //  29 sold with 9 active // 322%
or a ratio of 3.22 solds to each active listing

Compiled using information from the Multiple Listing Service of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for the period 9/1/2021 through 9/31/2021.