No remodeling needed here!

Three nights ago I had the good fortune to be included in a party at Club Cielo in the new high rise condominium project in Seattle called Escala. I was blown away by the decor, amenities, food, and service at the club. Built by developer Eric Midby, this sophisticated condo complex brings a touch of NY to downtown Seattle.

My experience started in the lobby where the roaring fireplace set against creamy stone creates a luxurious entrance. Then, my party bypassed the gorgeous staircase with custom iron railings and koa wood art installation to take the elevator, which was a delightful art deco inspired ride. Once out of the elevator, I was immediately struck by the backlit marble bar in the club. Staff members told me there are over 1,000 color variations that slowly change throughout the hours.

The food was delectable - an extravagant raw bar was overflowing with braised sable fish, petite oysters, marinated mussels, alaskan king crab, smoked salmon and other seafood delicacies. A carved kobe beef station included crispy onion threads and watercress with each custom made beef panini. And the dessert station sported a "frozen grill" which immediately froze chocolate and other confections into a perfect adult lollipop. Late in the evening, I was offered a tour of the spotless kitchen where the chef topped a spoonful of blueberry mousse with truffle and hazelnut. Delightful!

We took a quick tour through the workout and spa facilities which were very tastefully designed and complete with state of the art facilities. My group ended the party sipping scotch in the private theatre's luxurious and deep leather chairs.

Why am I mentioning it in a blog about home remodeling? While Escala's lifestyle may be a dream for many, some of the best Seattle design talent was involved in this project, and everyone can get inspiration for their homes from elements in this residence.

HomeSavvi unveils a new look

We're unveiling a new look and feel for design galleries and contributed articles today - we're really excited! take a look and tell us what you think.

Ventana Construction remodeling seminar

Event: Building a Better Home: Remodeling and Custom Home Workshop

Location: Ventana Construction offices, 5458 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136

Time: Thursday, December 3, 2009, 6 pm

Summary: If you are a considering remodeling the home you have or building a new custom home, this workshop is an invaluable first step in the process. Learn from experienced professionals about how to get started, what to expect, and the steps you can take to make your project successful. This 1 ½ hour workshop is open to the public and seating is limited. Call 206-932-3009 to reserve your space.

Remodeling shopping in SODO district, Seattle

On Friday last week, I spent the day in the SODO area in downtown Seattle, meeting with a number of store owners and managers. If you haven't gone there before, it's a cool shopping area for home remodeling needs. You can find a little bit of everything - including the kitchen sink! First, I went to Seattle Door and met a really friendly sales associate named Ryan. Seattle Door carries both wood and fiberglass doors and windows from companies such as Simpson, Marvin, and Thermatru. Seattle Door has recently started opening on Saturdays to help homeowners who can't get to their showroom during the week.

At Tile for Less, there is really great heated countertop just inside the door. Inspired me for my next luxury! They also rent tools if you are daring enough to try tiling on your own.

Allied Marble's owner, Jimmy Mai, is a third generation, highly experienced marble fabrication expert. His family has owned the business for over 30 years, and Jimmy grew up learning everything about marble, granite and other popular stones. His showroom has some gorgeous transparent stone to view and touch.

Bamboo Hardwoods is a locally owned store with four locations - three in Seattle and one in Redmond in the Whole Foods complex. The main warehouse and showroom is where I visited and found some really nice accessories for my home as well as interesting information on bamboo floors, poles and veneers.

Remodeling Seminar Last night

Last night, the HomeSavvi team had our first home remodeling seminar at the beautiful Albert Lee Appliance store in Bellevue, WA. There were five professionals who talked about ways to save money, save time, go green, and the best ways to improve your home's value. 13 homeowners were there, and 7 of them won raffle items. The pros who spoke were Rick Van Arnem of Kitchens Plus, Brian Hughes of Hughes Building Company, Vernon Learned from Lighting Universe, Bruce Donnally of Donnally Architects and Bonnie Bagley Caitlen of Bonnie Bagley Interiors. You can find all of them on HomeSavvi's local resource guide for the Seattle area.

Kitchen and bath remodeling secrets seminar

Do you wonder whether it would be better to reface your cabinets or get new ones? Or, how much value you'd get from a custom made vanity in your bath vs. one you could buy online? Tomorrow at Albert Lee Appliances showroom in Bellevue, WA, HomeSavvi is hosting its first remodeling seminar.

This picture is from our Speed Dating event held earlier this year.

20 people are registered already and there will be fun giveaways and great raffle items. We have 5 highly qualified speakers - check out the link to see more about the details.

http://www.homesavvi.com/SavviHomeRemodelingSeminar

HomeSavvi: New Home Remodeling + Improvement Forum

If you've ever wondered how much your kitchen will cost, where the best online remodel deals are, or whether your living room would look better in a bold color, you're in luck! HomeSavvi has created a new home remodeling forum for home remodeling enthusiasts and professionals to ask advice, share their projects, and save on products!

We have created three different sections intended to serve as a resource for homeowners, professionals and the HomeSavvi community at large.

HomeSavvi Forum: Ask The Community- Need advice from an expert? Just ask the question. The Ask the Community section of the HomeSavvi’s online forum is the perfect place for homeowners to ask their remodeling questions directly to expert trade professionals, interior designers, architects and fellow homeowners who have been through a remodeling before.

HomeSavvi Forum: Coupons and Discounts- Looking for deals online for your next remodel? Browse our Coupons and Discounts section. The Coupons and Discounts section of the HomeSavvi’s online forum is where you will find exclusive offers, local deals and promotional discounts for your remodeling projects, from choosing the perfect appliance to how to build a deck. We recommend you visit often to see what’s new!

HomeSavvi Forum: Pro Access (Logged in, Pros only)- The Professional Access of the HomeSavvi’s online forum is a place for remodeling professionals to communicate in a private setting, share ideas and best practices.

We look forward to your posts, and thank you in advance for participating!