the dominion lifestyle

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Asweenteranotherbusyholidayseason,IwanttotakethisopportunitytoextendmygratitudetotheresidentsofTheDominion.ForthosethatI’veworkedwithovertheyears,“ThankYou!”forawardingmewithyourtrustandconfidence.Itisanhonortorepresentsomanyfinehomesinthiscommunity,butevenmoreofapleasuretoknowmanyofyouandcountyouasvaluedfriends. Thanksgivingisearmarkedasadaytogivethanksandtobegrateful.Inthespiritoftheseason,Iextendmyownwishestoyouandyourfamilyforaholidayandan

upcomingyearfilledwithhappinessandjoysthatcomefromthesimpleplea-suresinourlives.HappyThanksgiving!

For everything real estate...call Debra Janes

Featured Listing InThe Dominion

Listing Your Home During the HolidaysIs it Wise?

Authentic Cuisine d’ItaliaZocca’s Lasagna

Featured Listing inThe Dominion

Add Richness & Warmth

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing. Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

November|December2011

A Heartfelt Thank You!

Debra [email protected]

DebraJanes.com

20 Esquire$2,750,000YearBuilt:2007

Bedrooms:5•Baths:5.5LivingArea:8224Sq.Ft.

LotSize:.56Acres

Customfauxfinishesinyourhomecanaddthatextrabitofsophistication;asenseofopulencethattieseverythinginyourhometogetherbeautifully.“It’slikethefinishingtouchofaholidaybowonafestivelywrappedgift,”saysCindyLeech,co-ownerwithCarolRollins,ofCCCustomFinishes(www.CCCustomFinishes.com).Knownfortheirexquisitecustomwallfinishesfeaturedinsomeoftoday’stoplifestyleanddécormagazines,LeechandRollinshavetransformedmanyhomesfrom“so-so”tospectacular! Someofthemorecommonfauxpaintingfinishesare:MARBLEFAUXFINISH–Thisisusedtomakewallsandfurniturelooklikerealmarble.Thiscanbedoneusingeitherplasterorglazetechniques.WOODFAUXFINISH–Thistechniqueisoftenusedtoimitateexoticorhard-to-findwoodvarieties.STRI–ThiscomesfromtheFrenchwordmeaning“stripe”or“streak.”Itisreferredtoasanegativeglazetechnique.SILKFAUXFINISH–Replicatestheappearanceofsilk.RAGGING–Aglazingtechniqueusingtwistedorbunchedupragstocreateatexturalpattern.BRICKFAUXFINISH–ThelookofbrickandalsostonesareapopularstyleinOldWorlddecor.TROMPEL’OEIL–Frenchfor“tricktheeye,”thisisanarttechniqueinvolvingextremelyrealisticimageryinordertocreatetheillusionthatthedepictedobjectsappearinthreedimensions. Theapplicationsrangefromsmallpowderroomstovirtuallyeverywall,ceiling,nookandcrannyofaspaciousestate.Whenartisansexecutethisspecializedfinish,thetransformationisamazing.Thesmoothortexturedwallsofyourhomewillallowthelightandshadowoftheroom

toembraceallthosewhoenter,andaddadramaticdimensionthatflatwallscanneveremulate. Trainedandseasonedartisanscanapplytheseproductsinhuesofeveryspectrumoftherainbow.Theuseofmetallicpaints,plasters,waxes,andglazesarebecomingincreasinglypopularandthepossibilitiesfortheuseofmetallicsareseeminglyendless.Forinstance,waxescanbeappliedastopcoatstootherfinishessuchasanexistingVenetianplasterwhichresultsinaddeddepthandcharacter.

Richgold,bronzeandcoppermetallicplastersandglazescanaddauthenticitytoTuscanandOldWorldinteriorsgivingyourhomethat“lived-in”lookofanagedEuropeanestate.Metallicpewter,charcoal,silver,lime,orevenpurplecancreateagorgeousshimmeringbackgroundforcontemporary,industrial,andmodernsettings. Anentrywayistheperfectplacetousemetallics.Theminuteyourguestsenteryourhome,theireyesaredrawnupwardbytherichdepthanddramaticpresenceoftheceiling.Trayceilingsadornedwithmetallicfinisheswill“wow”visitorsasthesoftflickeringreflectionscreatedbyagorgeouschandeliershimmersinmovement.Smallpowderroomscanbetransformedintoamazing“eyecandy”thatwillbetheenvyofallwhoenter.Eventhesmallestofroomscanappearlargerduetothereflectivequalitiesofthemetallicproducts.Leechadds,“Often,guestswillbesointriguedbywhattheysee,theycan’thelpbuttouchthewalls!” Becausekitchensareinarguablytheheartandsoulofahome,usewallfinishestoturnyourkitchenintothemostcelebratedroomofthehouse.Plainrangehoodscanmorphintoapleasingagedcopperorbronzefinish.Astencilmotifalongabacksplashoraccentwallgivesaddedvibrancytothebackgroundfinishandanislandorbarlooksmagnificentwitharough,agedplasterwithpatchesofmonotoneormetallichighlights. Inadditiontoamazingwallsandceilings,fauxfinishingcanbeusedforfurnitureandaccessories.Leechnotes,“Wehavemadeuseofmetallicproductstoenhancelamps,vases,pots,statues,mirrors,tables,andcabinetry.

Oftenit’sinthesmallestofitemsordetailsthatcreatethebiggestimpact.” Ifyourhomeisn’tmakingthestatementyouhadhoped,perhapstherelativelysimplerenovationachievedwithwallfinishesisjustwhatyourinteriorsneed!

Shopping,entertaining,parties,decoratingthehouse,charityworkandsomuchmore.Formanyofus,theholidaysarealreadyoverloadedwithseasonalobligations.Whointheirrightmindwouldadd“sellhouse”totheiralreadybusylist? Well,it’snotsuchabadideaafterall.Considerthis:Yearinandyearout,therealestatemarketbeginstoslowafterHalloweenanddoesn’tstartpickingupagainuntillateJanuary.Infact,it’snotunheardofforhomesalestobedown30%orsofromDecembertoJanuary. Manypeoplewilltaketheirhomeoffofthemarketduringthistime,whichleavesafantasticopportunitytoreallystandoutfromyourcompetition.Withfewerhomesavailableforsale,yourhomewillreceivemoreattention.Withareducednumberoflistingsandcondensedinventories,you’llhavemorebuyers’agentsthatwanttoshowyourhometotheirclients.Additionally,manypeoplethatlisttheirhomeduringtheholidaysfindthattheyreceivebetterattentionnotonlyfromagents,butlenders,appraisers,titlecompaniesandhomeinspectors.Thoseprofessionalsaren’tasbusythistimeofyeareither. Besideshavingfewerhomesforsale,therearealsofewerbuyers.Butdon’tletthatoverlyconcernyou.Buyerswhoareshoppingforahomeduringtheholidaystendtobe

more motivated.Thesebuyersareserious,andyou’relesslikelytobecontactedbythosethatare“onlylooking.”Plus,withmanyfamilieshavingvacationdaysandtimeoffwork,it’sagreatopportunityfortypicallybusypeopletofindtimeforhousehunting. Wehaveanotheradvantagehereinourmarket.Manyofourneighborsaswellashomeownersfromacrossthecityentertainout-of-townhouseguestsfortheholidays.Whatagreatopportunitytopresentyourhometopeoplethatmayverylikelydecide(orhavealreadydecided)tomovehere! Lastly,isn’tyourhomealwaysbeautifulandinvitingduringtheholidays?You’vecleanedanddecoratedandputonallthefinishingtouchesindoorsandout.Havingpotentialbuyersviewyourhomeduringthiswarmandwelcomingseasonallowsthemtobetterpicturetheirownfamilylifeintheappealingenvironmentyou’vecreated. Sodon’thesitatetolistduringtheholidays–itjustmightworktoyouradvantage!

HolidayRiverParade&LightingCeremonyRiverWalk,Nov.25th210.227.4262|TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.comAstheofficialkickofftothePaseoDelRioHolidayfestivities,thelightingofthetwinklingcanopyoverRiverWalkisaTexas-sizedcelebrationanda“wouldn’tmiss”traditionformany.Theparadefeaturesilluminatedfloats,bandsandplentyofholidayrevelry.Lettheseasonbegin!

TheNutcrackerMajesticTheatre,Nov.25th–27thandDec.2nd–4th210.554.1010|SASymphony.orgTakeyoursweetheart,takeafriend,takethewholefamilytothisbeautifulholidaytradition.WiththeSugarPlumFairyandtheWaltzoftheFlowers,thisfairy-tale-likeeveningwilltransportyoutoanenchantingworldthatwilldelightyoungandoldalike.PresentedbyBalletSanAntonioandtheSanAntonioSymphony.

GrandWesternShindigCowboysDanceHall,Dec.6th210.334.2455|Shindig.MissionRoadMinistries.orgDustoffyourboots,donyourjeansandbesuretojoinyourfriendsforanightofgreatfood,auctions,raffle,livemusicanddancing.Noblacktieattireatthisfundraiser–bootsandjeansarerequired!Proceedsbenefitmorethan700childrenandadultswithdevelopmentaldisabilities.

BazarSabadoSanAntonioMuseumofArt,Dec.10th210.978.8100|SAMuseum.orgReadyforafun-filleddayoftreasurehunting?Justintimeforholidaygiftgiving,the25thannualBazarbringsyouethnicjewelry,smallpaintedfurniture,nativities,clothing,textileandaccessoriesforthehome.You’llneverknowwhattheartisansandcraftsmenwillhaveonhand–butyoucanbeassureditwillbeunique.

2011PoinsettiaBallTheWestinLaCanterraResort,Dec.13th210.785.5850|FriendsOfHospiceSA.orgSponsoredbyFriendsofHospiceSanAntonio,thisholidayfundraiserincludesdinneranddancingalongtoTheRickCavenderBand.Yourattendancewillaiduninsuredhospicepatients–agifttomanyfamiliesthatismoreappreciatedthanyoumighteverimagine.

JingleBellRun/WalkUniversityoftheIncarnateWord,Dec.17thArthritis.orgJingleBellRun/Walkisafunandfestivewaytokickoffyourholidaysbyhelpingothers!Wearaholidaythemedcostume.Tiejinglebellstoyourshoelaces.Runorwalka5-kilometerroutewithyourteammembersandcelebratetheseasonbygiving.Now’syourchancetohelpfightarthritis,thenation’smostcommoncauseofdisability.

NOVEMBER|DECEMBER2011

LASAGNA

FeaturingZoccaCuisineD’Italia210.444.6070|ZoccaRiverWalk.com

LASAGNAMEAT1.75lb.ofItaliansausage1/4cupdicedcarrots1/4cupdicedonion1/4cupdiceddelery1/2cuptomatopaste2T.mincedgarlic

1. Lightlysautéthesausagebreakingitupintosmallpieces.2. Addthevegetablesandcontinuecookinguntilsoft.3. Addthetomatopasteandcookfor5minutesmore.4. Transfertothebowlofafoodprocessor.Pulseuntilthe sausageandtomatoaresmooth.

LASAGNACHEESE1.5lb.ricottacheese6oz.half&half3oz.gratedasiagocheese1.5oz.gratedparmeseancheese2T.mixedfreshrosemary,oreganoandsage,chopped

1.Startwiththericottainamixerfittedwithapaddleattachment.2.Addtheasiago,parmeseanandherbs.Continuetomix slowlywhileaddingthehalfandhalf.3.Adjusttheseasoningandrefrigerate.

LASAGNA2lb.fresheggpastasheets4cupslasagnacheese4cupslasagnameat4cupsmarinarasauce4cupsprovolonecheese,shredded

1. Spraythesidesandthebottomofabakingdishwitha nonstickspray,andcoverwithonelayerofthepastasheets.2.Spread1/3ofthecheesemixtureoverthepasta,and sprinklewithonecupofmarinaraandplacethelasagna meatonthesurfaceofthecheese.Sprinklewithonecupof theprovolone.3.Coverwiththepastasheets,pressgently,andrepeatthe processtwicecreatingthreelevellasagna.Topwiththelast cupofprovoloneandmarinara.Wraptightlyinplastic,then aluminumfoilandbakeat350degreesfor45minutes.Allow thelasagnatosetup10minutespriortocuttingandserving.

Serves: 4

take your home from dull to dramatic!