AKDSEO, Author at Handed designworks

He Wanted a Home and a Wife. China’s Property Crisis Left

August 4, 2022 AKDSEO

To prepare for his wedding, Zhong Qichao last year bought a two-bedroom apartment along the coast of Lianyungang, a third-tier city in northeastern China.

It almost took a village to come up with the 300,000 yuan ($44,500) in down payment—about 45 times his monthly salary. The 27-year-old restaurant manager pooled his own earnings and the entire savings of his farmer parents. He borrowed from his relatives and took a loan from a bank for the rest. Since he closed the deal last March, he had spent a third of his paycheck on mortgage payments every month. It was a stretch for him financially, but he knew that all would be OK when he moved with his new wife into their new flat overlooking the sea in May next year, when the development is set to complete.

Unfortunately for Zhong, things didn’t go as planned. In November, construction of his new

Property

Oceanfront California Home With Direct Access to Famous Surf

August 3, 2022 AKDSEO

An oceanfront property in La Jolla, California, hit the market Tuesday for $45 million.

ADRIAN MORA FOR DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REALTY

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An oceanfront property with private stairs to one of the most popular surfing destinations in La Jolla, California, hit the market Tuesday for $45 million, Mansion Global has learned.

If it sells for anywhere close to its asking price, it will be the most expensive sale in the ZIP code, according to listing agents Josh and
Matt Altman
of Douglas Elliman. It’s currently priced at about $20 million more than the most recent record sale, a $24.7 million waterfront home that sold in 2020.

The seven-bedroom, eight bathroom residence is located on a double lot that’s about 1.4 acres, which is “unheard of” for waterfront properties in the region, according to listing agent Matt Altman of Douglas Elliman. He shares the listing with his brother and business partner,

Bathrooms

If You Shop at Walmart, Prepare for This Major Change to 28

August 2, 2022 AKDSEO

When you walk into a Walmart store, you don’t really expect to be surprised. In fact, one of the main draws of the retailer is its consistency—as well as its reliably low prices—and shopping at Walmart pretty much guarantees that you can get everything you need in one fell swoop. But now, the company has announced some major changes for 28 locations, and you might be in for a surprise on your next shopping trip. Read on to find out what Walmart has planned, and whether it’ll affect a store near you.

READ THIS NEXT: If You Shop at Walmart, Get Ready for This “Ultra-Convenient” Change.

Walmart has been actively making changes to its business model in 2022, introducing more tech-savvy capabilities and streamlined delivery services. This month, the retailer rolled out new augmented reality features in the Walmart app, allowing you to see what different furniture items look

Kitchen

10 Items to Shop from Amazon’s Small Kitchen Organization

August 2, 2022 AKDSEO

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

I’m a proud member of the small space kitchen universe, and if you can relate to the annoyances of a lack of drawer space, super tall cabinets, or little to no countertop storage, I’m here with you. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place, because we discovered an under-the-radar Amazon storefront full of products dedicated to small kitchen organization, and there are so many great finds to choose from.

From glass storage jars to house all of your grains, dry goods, and pastas to festive floating shelves and hanging fruit baskets, this storefront is full of great items to shop for your kitchen. Not to mention, a vast majority are wallet-friendly, with prices starting at as little as $13. So whether your tiny

Property

Home listings surge, but mainly for houses priced above

August 2, 2022 AKDSEO

The chronic shortage of homes for sale that’s made fierce bidding wars common and sent prices to record highs has long frustrated homebuyers. After a streak of annual declines going back three years, the number of homes for sale finally rose on an annual basis in May and June.

But would-be buyers looking for more modestly priced homes will find scant relief in the listings surge. The increase in homes for sale nationally has been concentrated in the higher-price end of the spectrum, $250,000 or higher, while listings for properties priced below that threshold are becoming more scarce.

“In a market that has been so low on inventory, any increase in the availability of homes for sale is going to be welcome, but the biggest increase that we’ve seen so far is in the pricier side of the market,” said Danielle Hale, Realtor.com’s chief economist.

Listings for homes priced at

Remodel

The California amusement parks we’ve lost forever

August 1, 2022 AKDSEO

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – News that the Great America amusement park in Santa Clara will be closing in the next 11 years may bring back memories of other California theme parks that have shuttered over the years. These are a few of the most memorable parks that are gone for good.

Playland at the Beach

Playland at the Beach straddled San Francisco’s Ocean Beach on the western end of the Richmond neighborhood from 1913 till 1972, though the first ride — the Gravity Railroad roller coaster — opened in 1884.

A very popular attraction at Playland was a fun house featuring animatronic characters. Until a 1983 remodel, the fun house at the Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk was identical on the inside to the Playland fun house.

There were also bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, a shoot-the-chute, a carousel and a giant camera called the Camera Obscura.

Bathrooms

Bathroom design mistakes: and 7 ways to change them

August 1, 2022 AKDSEO

The bathroom is often the smallest room in the house and, until recently, they have been a bit of an afterthought when it comes to design. The result was a multitude of bathroom design mistakes that can leave the room feeling drab or lifeless.

Bathroom ideas should be quite the opposite, however, as Diane Hyde, marketing manager at Craven Dunnill Jackfield (opens in new tab) explains. ‘If you’re looking to experiment with bold colors and decors and inspired layouts and patterns, the bathroom is the perfect space to make a distinctive design statement that is uniquely individual.’

Although many people focus on avoiding or fixing important bathroom remodel mistakes, design mistakes are just as important to rectify so that you can have a spa-like sanctuary within your own home.

Here, experts offer their advice for avoiding bathroom design mistakes and creating a bathroom to impress.

Bathroom design mistakes

Before

Kitchen

MacKenzie-Childs Barn Sale is here: 10 best deals on fun

August 1, 2022 AKDSEO

Having a minimalistic home is trendy, but that’s really all that it is. A trend isn’t something that sticks around. Why have a home that feels like a hotel room when you can have a home that is uniquely tailored to you?

MacKenzie-Childs can help you achieve the home aesthetic you want, especially if you want items that no one has, items that fit your style, and looks like you’ve just entered a fairy-tale fantasy. MacKenzie-Childs is a brand that goes above and beyond on home items and accessories.

Check out the MacKenzie-Childs Barn Sale event that has thousands of goodies for up to 70% off.

Looking to spice up your kitchen with cute and unique decoration? Take a look at our favorite kitchen items that can take your kitchen from drab to fab.

1. Courtly Check Enamel Tea Kettle – 2 Quart

Courtly Check Enamel Tea Kettle - 2 Quart | MacKenzie-Childs — Courtly Check Enamel Tea Kettle – 2

Property

A Never-Been-Lived-In Aspen Home Sells for $48 Million

August 1, 2022 AKDSEO

In Aspen, Colo., a contemporary house that took more than a decade to build but has never been lived in has sold for $48 million, property records show.

Records show the sellers were Connie Duckworth, a former partner at

Goldman Sachs,

and her husband, Thomas Duckworth, a former money manager.

The identity of the buyer couldn’t be determined. The Duckworths didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The Duckworths first listed the property in August 2020, asking $47 million, according to Realtor.com. (

News Corp,

owner of The Wall Street Journal, also operates Realtor.com under license from the National Association of Realtors.) Most recently, it was listed for $53 million.

The concrete-and-stone house has never been lived in, according to listing materials. In the 1980s, the Duckworths purchased the roughly 2.5-acre lot in Starwood, a gated community where the singer-songwriter John Denver once lived, records show. They started building

Remodel

Bayport’s Jon and Dani Wrobel Costar in HGTV’s Flip to a

July 31, 2022 AKDSEO

A Bayport couple who buy, remodel and resell homes are costarring in Flip to a Million, a new HGTV reality show premiering in August, just before their decor store debuts in Sayville.

Jon and Dani Wrobel compete against fellow professional house flippers Jason and EJ Williams of Chicago as the two couples try their luck in Dallas, starting with a budget of only $1,000 each. As the name of the show suggests, the challenge is to turn that seed money into six figures. The public will get a chance to meet the Wrobels during the upcoming soft opening of their store, True Place, which is also set to open in August.

“We love to just make houses beautiful again,” says Dani. “A house is not just four walls and a roof. We really like to put our whole heart and soul into every flip that we do.”

Flip to

An oceanfront property in La Jolla, California, hit the market Tuesday for $45 million.

Playland at the Beach

Bathroom design mistakes

1. Courtly Check Enamel Tea Kettle – 2 Quart