Loving this fireplace!
/We did this simple renovation and focused on keeping the fireplace because its just so lovely. <3
The Morning Light...
/The morning light on the West Side… with the little pink cottage in the background. WOW. Just wanted to share since it makes us smile every single time. <3
Bubble Gum Pink Bedroom!
/Because… why not.
This apartment was rented nearly instantly. If you are looking for an apartment, keep us in mind! Call 716.235.5563 and ask for Kim Santana!
Westsiders: Your Rhode Island Christmas Tree Pop Up is HERE!
/There is no secret that I LOVE pop up Christmas tree lots. They’re special - temporary in nature but so so magical. We always have one in the neighborhood on Rhode Island & 18th. What I love about this place is its no frills but happens to be around the corner from Remedy House & Five Points so if you’re craving a hot cocoa, you can walk the tree down the street and grab one on your way home or drink before you go pick your tree out!
If you’re looking for POTTED trees, Urban Roots has them this year, too! (This is what we do but it isn’t practical for everyone!)
Residents & Neighbors - Looking for veggies this winter? MAP has you covered!
/Massachusetts Avenue Project has once again made a pivot. This winter they’re expanding their farm house hours to have Thursday afternoons AND Friday mornings. WOW! You can get so much goodness there - fresh chicken, apple cider, fruit, veggies , honey and even this beautiful wreath that would look fantastic in your apartment!
https://www.mass-ave.org
Classic Tile... Doesn't Go Out Of Style!
/We’ve been installing this black and white hex tile a lot lately. The classic style is timeless and beautiful!! When you’re thinking about a bathroom renovation, classic is always cool. <3
Proud Places: Your City Should Go And Love Itself by Jeff Siegler
/“If you found yourself in a relationship with someone with low self-esteem and you weren’t willing to leave, how would you go about making them feel better about themselves? Love them, unconditionally. This doesn’t mean accept them as they are, but fight to help them change for the better.”
Thanks for the honesty, Jeff.
You can read this very important article here.
Blue Pendant Lights!
/Sometimes you just have to take a leap and say yes to large blue pendant lights for your kitchen. They’re so Scandinavian! And you all know…we love a good minimal Scandinavian look. [Found on Wayfair!]
White Dove by Benjamin Moore: A Simple Yet Bold Paint Color
/White Dove by Benjamin Moore on the walls with bright white semi gloss on the trim. Yes, there are differences with white paint and yes, they can be used together. We like it because it is sophisticated and lets residents use their furniture and decorations as the pop of color that you need. You can learn about white paint colors here!
Wallpaper Wednesday - Black & Gold
/This hallway is a dream. We did not install this, it came this way! I think it has to be about 80+ years old.
MAP Farm Stand! Every Thursday from 3pm - 6pm.
/If you’re a West Sider, you probably know about the Massachusetts Avenue Project. Every Thursday, they have a MAP Farm Stand Pop Up at their farm on Massachusetts Avenue across from the Boys and Girls Club and Massachusetts Avenue Park. It goes from 3pm - 6pm and you can order everything online and pick it up! It is so easy! We wanted to share it again, just in case you haven’t made it yet. It has become the weekly staple for many of our residents in the neighborhood.
https://www.mass-ave.org
Planter Party!
/Planters can play such a critical role in bringing comfort to the street and smiles on your faces. When your neighborhood is lacking street trees, big planters in the hell strip can close the street in a bit to calm the traffic. And if you think the flowers are going to get stolen… yes, that may happen but more often than not, I lose flowers because the squirrels dig in there!
The ingredients: Home Depot 20” planter for $12, one concrete block smashed up in the bottom, two bags of soil and flowers. In this case, these bluebells were donated by a local instagram friend who wanted to help make her old neighborhood a little more beautiful.
Simple!!
In Our Ears: Music We Love To Work To.
/Without music, I’d be lost. It define trips, days, seasons, feelings, etc… all the things.
I thought it would be fun to share the playlist that I tend to put on as I am working. It’s upbeat, minimal words, optimistic and features a lot of random indie artists that Spotify has helped me find over the years. If you’re looking for something to listen to, check this out!
Love, Bernice
Inspiration From The Quirky Southwest Vibes in Austin, Tx.
/As luck would have it, I found myself in Austin for a few days partially for work and partially for fun. Austin is the 2nd fastest growing city because it is a huge tech city. Austin has a lot of growth issues but also an old school weird vibe that combines southwest and Portland together. While we here in Buffalo are very different from Austin, there is so much to take in as you walk around and so much can be applied to our work here!
Here are some of the things that inspired me the most about Austin, Tx.
Austin is a super dog friendly city. Dogs everywhere! What a simple way to accommodate folks. We are getting a dog bowl and treats out for our residents and neighbors ASAP.
Patios are important… and so is being silly. “Guac this way” really made me giggle. Note: this is a restaurant but do you see the name anywhere? No… and that is OK.
This door and this color palette made my heart explode.
Murals don’t always have to be elaborate. Even the simple ones can create fuzzy feelings and happiness!
I’ve been a huge fan of fake grass rugs for a while… but seeing it be really popular in Austin made me happy. More of this…because, why not?
Waiting in line is OK… and when the rent is high, don’t be afraid to mix uses in one place. LA Barbecue has a BBQ line, a coffee shop and a grocery store. We waited in line for over an hour for the BBQ… it was so worth it! (Women owned and locally sourced meat, I might add!)
Neon EVERYWHERE. Austin has this mid century vibe so it makes sense. There were neon signs for restaurants and stores …coffeeshops… bars… you name it, there may have been neon. It is really impressive!
