Posted inPeople & Places

Gem Hunting

Very trendy these days to buy used items online, but don’t call that “thrifting.” Thrifting is the actual walking into a thrift shop or rummage sale, looking for a small cooking pot, but then jumping up and down discovering three midcentury canisters like the ones grandmother had. It is the unexpected. Maybe you’re looking for […]

Posted inGarden

The Profusely Abundant, Plant-Filled Garden of Jill and Michael Betts

Jill Betts and her husband, Michael, have created a profusely planted, abundant garden on their 2.5-acre property off the Seabeck Highway. In April 2020 (at the beginning of the gardening season), she began a five-year labor of love and perhaps “obsession.” Michael Betts, who’s retired from the Navy, is a consummate builder of anything his […]

Posted inPeople & Places

Kitsap Building Association Legislative Bus Tour

The Kitsap Building Association & the Kitsap County Association of REALTORS® recently hosted a legislative bus tour that brought together elected officials from the state, county, and local levels to visit construction sites across Kitsap County. The goal of the tour was to provide policymakers with a firsthand look at the challenges and opportunities facing […]

Posted inAt Home

10 Totally Doable Ways Sellers Can Raise Resale Value

As the market cools off, homeowners are more interested than ever in finding ways to make sure their properties resell for as much as possible. However, choosing between the many potential renovations makes moving forward with your home improvement and listing for sale overwhelming. What type of renovations can increase home resale value or generally […]

Posted inHome

All in the Family

When it comes to their four-generation family beachfront on the shore of Port Gamble Bay, father and son owners Jim Nelson and Pete Mueting-Nelson are looking to the future while honoring fond memories of the past. A new house, designed by Jim Nelson and built by Smallwood Construction of Bainbridge Island, has replaced the old […]

Posted inHome

An Interplay of Light and Art

Henri Matisse. If one has ever visited the Matisse Chapel in Vence, France, the first, perhaps most important element that overcomes a visitor is the light. Prisms embrace morning yellows and blues and become rainbows across the altar and flooring, resulting in a magical, mystical, spiritual experience. Exactly what the artist wanted. Artists are obsessed […]

Posted inPeople & Places

WillaBella Farm

Roots run so deep at WillaBella Farm in Gig Harbor that they go all the way back to 1912. The unassuming farmhouse, with its fir lumber flooring and arched doorways, still stands. As does the guest house, which was first a woodworking shop. From the grape vines to the heirloom orchard of apple, pear, cherry […]

Posted inAt Home

A DIY Guide for First-Time Homeowners

Becoming a first-time homeowner is a remarkable achievement, but the journey doesn’t end at closing. With today’s market challenges, making your new house feel like home can seem daunting. The good news: with thoughtful planning and proven DIY tips, you can create a space that’s beautiful, functional and uniquely yours — without stretching your budget. […]

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