Urban Nest Design Tip of the Week: Pet Hair Solutions for Wool Rugs

Easily Remove Pet Hair From Wool Rugs With One Simple Tool

In this series, we share simple DIY solutions for maximum design impact, brought to you by our very own Agent Andy Barlow.

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I want to talk about flat-woven wool rugs this week. I love flat-woven and Kilim rugs, and they are a really popular choice in design right now. However, for those who own one and have pets, you may have noticed just how much they seem to act as a magnet to pet hair. Well, worry no more because I have the solution! 

Meet the Cotton Picker: Strings Attached mitten. My mom actually gifted me one of these a while back and I had no clue why, or what to do with it. But then, after purchasing a flat-woven wool rug and getting frustrated by how quickly all the cat hair was sticking to it, and how unsuccessful vacuuming or lint-rolling was working, I decided to try out mom’s gift. 

My first reaction: HOLY SMOKES! My rug was looking brand new again! All you have to do is put on the mitten and rub it over the rug in circular motions and it literally grabs all the hair like magic. This little mitten is a game-changer when it comes to owning a Kilim rug - gets it looking brand new and causes no damage! And the best part, they are only about $5 and last for about a year. They also work well on other fabricated furniture, so pet hair be gone! Thanks mom! 

Check out the before and after photos below. 

BEFORE

AFTER

Design tip bonus: This rug is the Pradeep Flatweave Wool Rug from World Market. This is a beautiful rug, and isn’t outrageously expensive. My favorite is the runner (sized 2.5’ x 10’), perfect for a hallway, and costs just $169. 

Urban Nest's Design Tip of the Week is written by our own Agent Andy Barlow. He divides his time between real estate and interior design, meaning that he can help you buy a house and decorate it too. Ready to take the leap into a more comfortable space for you and your family? Get in touch with Andy here. 

Urban Nest Agent Insight: Munir Henry on Reframing Escalation Clauses

Reframing Escalation Clauses With Urban Nest's Own Munir Henry

In this series, we share home buying and selling advice, insight, and trends from our esteemed agents that keep their fingers on the pulse of Portland's real estate market.

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Sometimes buyers ask about using escalation clauses as an offer strategy -- this is where you offer a base price and then offer to beat a competing offer by a certain amount up to a max price -- but many often worry that they're tipping their hand to the sellers by letting them know what they would really be willing to pay. 

There is a chance that the seller would counter the buyer at their max price, without a competing offer being present. 

However, I like to reframe this idea as a chance to 'get the house for less.' For example, say a buyer was going to offer $375k on a house with no escalation clause. Using this strategy, they could instead offer $350k and promise to beat a competing offer by, say, $5,000, up to a max of $375k. 

This leaves them no worse off than if they went with the original offer with no escalation, but gives them the opportunity to possibly get the house for less.

Take a look at Munir's active listing at 5003 SE Tibbetts St. Portland, OR 97206.

Click here to learn more about working with us to find the PDX home of your dreams today.

Agent Andy's House of the Week: 4512 SE Ivon St.

A Creative's Paradise in South East PDX

In this series, Urban Nest's very own Agent Andy Barlow shares his favorite Portland home of the week. See stunning properties from all across town and pick up valuable insight from one of Portland's most discerning real estate professionals. 

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This week we are heading down to SE to see a pristine and well-styled home in the Richmond neighborhood. Just two blocks off Division, it sits on a quiet and lush street, yet is a 5 minute walk to some of Portland’s best restaurants and coffee shops: Good Coffee, Stumptown, Petite Provence, Tea Bar, Woodsman Tavern, Kim Jong Grillin, Tokio Table (I could keep listing an entire page worth if you wanted...)

When I saw this house pop up online, I knew instantly it was going to win my house of the week. I reluctantly left the house and ventured out into the heat (my car telling me it was 111 degrees - though it may have been exaggerating some) and drove to the evening open house. I was expecting it to be pretty vacant due to the heat, but boy was I wrong.

I walked in the door and the place was in party mode. The listing agent, Lissa Moon LaCroix, warmly met me at the door and guided me into the kitchen to offer wine and charcuterie, and the place was bustling with people touring the home. 

As I cooled down with a nice cold glass of Pinot Grigio I started to tour the place myself. It was pretty obvious why so many people were willing to fight the heat to be here - the place is stunning. 

“The owners are both creatives for Wieden+Kennedy and they put a lot of effort into making this their forever home,” Lissa told me as we stood in the dining room. “They had no plans on leaving, but when Apple calls you can’t pass that up!” 

With almost 2,500 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 3 finished floors, this 1938-built Bungalow has been tastefully updated throughout and not a single corner has been left untouched. The owners really put some fun into the home with pops of color, cool furniture, and tons of art (all of which I would gladly take for my own home). I love that they were able to modernize the house while still keeping it packed with charm. 

My favorite part? This is another tough one. Overall I think the home has been updated so well - this place is literally move-in ready. The main level bathroom had me swooning (love how crisp and clean it looked) and the living room was so inviting. And the location... wow! This is another one that will go near the very top of my list of favorite Portland homes. If you’re in the market, don’t let this one pass you by! 

To see the full listing and tour video, click here.

Click here to learn more about working with us to find the PDX home of your dreams today.

Urban Nest Design Tip of the Week: The DOCKSTA

A Versatile and Stylish Kitchen Table That Won't Break the Bank

In this series, we share simple DIY solutions for maximum design impact, brought to you by our very own Agent Andy Barlow.

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This week we’re going back to IKEA to get the DOCKSTA table. This has long been one of my favorite IKEA items, and when I recently decided I needed a new dining table, it was no surprise this is what I brought home. 

What I love about this table: 

- It’s extremely versatile when it comes to pairing it with chairs. Go modern, go midcentury, go vintage, go mix and match! And because it’s all white, you could bring in pops of color with the chairs, or go all white to make for a really clean aesthetic. My favorite pairing with this table is a wood chair - the wood brings some contrast and warmth against the white coolness of the table. 

- The size. With a diameter of 41 inches, it’s the perfect table to sit 3-4 people, and because it’s round, it fits more easily into small spaces. This is a great table for a breakfast nook.

- The white top brightens up your space and makes your dishes and food pop! Make any meal Instagram-worthy with this table as your backdrop.

- It’s affordable! For $179 (and sometimes 10% cheaper if you’re an IKEA Family Member) it’s less than half the price of other tulip tables, much larger, and doesn’t look cheap. For those millennials who are trying to break free from IKEA as you reach adulthood: reconsider this table as an exception! 

Head over to IKEA and take a closer look (and add it to your cart) here. 

For more DOCKSTA inspiration check out these on Pinterest.

Urban Nest's Design Tip of the Week is written by our own Agent Andy Barlow. He divides his time between real estate and interior design, meaning that he can help you buy a house and decorate it, too. Ready to take the leap into a more comfortable space for you and your family? Get in touch with Andy here.

Agent Andy's House of the Week: 420 NW 11th Ave #719

Stylish Pearl District Charmer

In this series, Urban Nest's very own Agent Andy Barlow shares his favorite Portland home of the week. See stunning properties from all across town and pick up valuable insight from one of Portland's most discerning real estate professionals. 

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This week we’re heading downtown into the Pearl to see my favorite listing. This place is all about the location. Step outside the front door and you’ll find any shopping or food your heart could desire. And since this unit is on the 7th floor, the view ain’t bad either! 

The Gregory Condominium building was constructed in 2001, though it boasts some art deco flare that makes it seem like something more historic. There are 133 units that range from about 1,000 square feet up to an impressive 3,000 square feet. On the 5th floor there is deck for residents to use for BBQs or parties, and with those kinds of views it would definitely be a fabulous place to gather with friends. 

Heading into the actual unit (a one bedroom a little shy of 1,000 square feet) you find a giant bathroom (with laundry) and a nice sized hall closet. As you pass through the hallway there is built in storage and a loft style bedroom with sliding glass doors. At the end of the hallway the unit opens up to the kitchen and living room and a full wall of east-facing windows with an unobstructed view. There is no deck, but the windows open like french doors and there is a small railing with enough space to put some potted plants. 

The living room is for sure the highlight of the unit. Exposed concrete beams and ductwork make it really feel like you're in a high end downtown loft. The staging also looks amazing (shoutout to Copeland + Co!) and personally I’m ready to just move right in! 

And, as if it couldn’t get any better, there’s more! “It has parking!” Annie Smith, the listing agent told me. “And there is a large storage unit for the condo as well.” And let me tell you, these are some good perks for downtown living. 

My favorite part? Those windows. The view here is so spectacular and I love how you can open them up to get some good air flow. Also, you just can’t beat this location. And lastly, since I can never just choose one favorite thing, I love the architecture of the building. It stands out from many of the surrounding buildings and is just what you should expect for the Pearl - a loft warehouse vibe that screams city living at it’s finest. 

Take a look at the full listing here.

Click here to learn more about working with us to find the PDX home of your dreams today.