2008 Winter Newsletter

Neighborhood News2008

WIN

TER

TheDenverTeam.com

Second HOmeS

155

Welcome to Kelli Lanphere’s Neighborhood News

725 Cherry St

680 Clermont St

471 Magnolia St

645 Birch St

5730 E Cedar Ave

906 Forest St

369 Elm St

19 Jersey St

121 Elm St

501 Elm St

145 Southmoor Dr

165 Forest St

187174

Time to Re-Register

for National DO NOT CALL List

If you were among the first to sign up with the National Do Not Call Registry in June 2003, you will need to re-register by June 2008, since registra-tions are valid for only five years.

To re-register or verify that your number is still on the list, go to www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222. You can also report violators to the Federal Trade Commission at the same website. Remem-ber that certain groups — such as political opera-tions, charities, telephone surveys and businesses that have an existing relation-ship with you — are exempt from the list.

Late Car Payments Can Damage Credit ScoreToday more than ever, having a high credit score is vital to getting the best interest rate on your mortgage. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize how much damage a single missed car payment can do to your credit score. While a credit-card delinquency typically lowers your score by about 20 points, a missed car payment can drop it nearly 100 points, according to credit-report-ing company Experian. You can lose another 25 points if your car payment is late by 90 days.

2 KELLI LANPHERE . TheDenverTeam.com . 303-322-2210

Sold Sold Sold

The Time Is Right for Trading UpDespite the predominantly negative news you’ve been hearing about the national housing market, there is a silver lining behind the dark cloud of residential real estate. Right now, buyers have an unprecedented opportunity to not only purchase a home, but to trade up to a home that may have previously seemed out of reach.

The fallout from the ongoing correction in the mortgage industry has created a unique situation in the housing market. Inventory remains high, while the pool of potential buyers is shrinking due to stricter loan standards. If there was ever a time to move up to a home that you once thought was out of your price range, this is it.

Buyers in metro Denver currently have a bounty of properties from which to choose in virtually every price range…and a bounty of sellers who may be willing to offer highly favorable pricing, incentives or terms of sale. The final ingredient in this recipe for dream-home success is the assistance of an experienced Realtor such as myself who keeps close tabs on the market value of different neighborhoods and is an expert in negotiations and concessions.

To successfully sell a home in today’s market, you must be willing to price your home at what the market is will-ing to pay — not based on what you paid for it or even what it was worth last year. Christopher Mayer, director of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School, offers this plainspoken advice: “If you want to sell your house, then you list it at the market price and you sell it. If you don’t really want to sell, then don’t put it on the market. But don’t say you want to sell and then set the price so high that you spend the year cleaning up every morning, having people walk through your living room, look in your medicine cabinets and reject you. That’s just painful and expensive.”

The bottom line is that even if you have to price your current home aggressively in order to sell it, there is a good chance you can make up for it on the buying end by negotiating a great deal in this competitive market.

This is a complex environment for both buyers and sellers, but it is also one that offers unique opportunities. Please give me a call if you’re interested in exploring the possibilities of buying or selling a home this winter. I look forward to assisting you.

Kelli Lanphere

A Note From

Adding a Kitchen Island? Consider the Mechanics!If you long for more cooking and serving space in your kitchen, an island may be just the ticket. Before you start remodeling, however, be sure to plan for the mechanicals necessary for locating a cooktop or sink in the center of the room. The sink will require supply and drain lines, and the cooktop will need a ventilation sys-tem that is either an overhead unit or downdraft model. Both the plumbing and downdraft unit will require breaking through the floor, which is no problem if you have a basement or crawl space beneath, but could be problematic if the room is on a slab.

Bad Smells a Turnoff for HomebuyersCan the way your home smells have an impact on how it sells? Definitely! A recent poll by a Canadian real estate company re-vealed that 53% of buyers said unpleasant odors such as pet and cigarette smells had a stronger impact on their impression of the house than overall tidiness and cleanliness, strong wall colors or an outdated façade and landscaping.

Here are some tips to make sure your home’s smell doesn’t repel:

• Don’t mask odors with candles or potpourri — buyers will wonder what you’re trying to hide. Go for a clean, neutral smell, or consider creating a “homey” scent by baking cookies or a pie.

• Keep exotic spices and fish to a minimum when cooking the night before a showing.

• remove animals and litter boxes from the property before potential buyers arrive.

Sold

Winter 2008 3

Cherry Creek Featured Homes

411 cook Street • $2,895,000 • cHerry creek

Located in the Heart of Cherry Creek North - close to neighborhood shopping & dining! Special features include: Amazing Floorplan

boasting Unsurpassed Style & Elegance, Stunning Ap-pointments, Gorgeous Woodwork, Extraordinary De-tails and Beautiful Outdoor Spaces; Grand Foyer with Natural Stone; Exquisite Formal Living Room with Gas fireplace and Built-ins; Elegant Formal Dining Room with French doors opening to an oversized South fac-ing private patio; Gourmet Irpinia Kitchen (with center island, top-of-the-line appliances, large breakfast nook

with patio access, walk-in pantry and Butler’s pantry) adjacent to a Welcoming Family room with Gas fireplace and custom Media area; Luxurious Master Suite (with vaulted ceiling, private balcony, gas fireplace, built-ins, 5 piece bath, steam shower and huge walk-in closet) plus two 2nd floor Secondary Bedrooms; Convenient 2nd floor Study/Retreat; Fabulous Finished Basement (with Enormous Entertainment room, Wet Bar; Private Guest Suite; Theater room, Workout room, Custom Wine Cellar and much, much more!


Cherry Creek Finest!


Luxurious Tuscan HomeClassic Touches & Extraordinary Finishes combine to create this Luxurious Tuscan style home! Special Features include: Fabulous location in Highly Desirable Cherry Creek North;

Dramatic 2-story foyer with a magnificent staircase; Elegant Living room with gas fireplace and French doors opening an Amazing “Heart of the Home” stone patio (complete with built-in BBQ and Water Feature) and additional access to the Front Porch; Gorgeous Formal Dining Room with stunning floor-to-ceiling Stone Fireplace; Spacious Family Room (adjacent to the Kitchen) with gas Fireplace and access to the Center Patio; Gourmet Kitchen with Top-of-the-Line Appliances (Wolf, Sub Zero, Asko, etc.), Center Island, Breakfast Bar, Butler’s Pantry, Wine Refrigerator & Breakfast Nook (opening to a cozy private Patio & yard); Amazing Master with Gas Fireplace, Built-in Coffee Bar & Refrigerator, Enormous Walk-in Closet, 5 piece luxury bath and Juliet Balcony; 2 Spacious Secondary Bedrooms; Convenient 2nd floor Laundry; Fabulous Finished Basement with Recreation room, Theater Room, Custom Wine Cellar, Hobby/Workshop/Storage Room and much, much more!

What Do Men Want? Their Own Space

Although 87% of the final decisions about home purchases are

made by women, 28% of men want a room of their own in that home.

A survey by Homes & Land found that

the type of room most often requested by men for their own is an of-

fice/study, media room, garage/workshop or

exercise room.

Winter 2008 5

Featured Homes Cherry Creek

WOW - Location, Location, Location! This magnificent new custom home by Deven-cor is located in the Heart of Cherry Creek

North - close to neighborhood shopping & dining! Special features include: Amazing Floorplan boasting Unsurpassed Style & Elegance, Stunning Appoint-ments, Gorgeous Woodwork, Extraordinary Details and Beautiful Outdoor Spaces; Grand Foyer with Nat-ural Stone; Exquisite Formal Living Room with Gas fireplace and Built-ins; Elegant Formal Dining Room with French doors opening to an oversized South fac-ing private patio (perfect for entertaining or simply re-laxing); Gourmet Irpinia Kitchen (with center island, top-of-the-line appliances, large breakfast nook with patio access, walk-in pantry and Butler’s pantry) adja-cent to a Welcoming Family room with Gas fireplace and custom Media area; Luxurious Master Suite (with

vaulted ceiling, private balcony, gas fireplace, built-ins, 5 piece bath, steam shower and huge walk-in closet) plus two 2nd floor Secondary bedrooms; Convenient 2nd floor Study/Retreat; Fabulous Finished Basement (with Enormous Entertainment room, Wet Bar; Private Guest Suite; Theater room, Workout room, Custom Wine Cellar and much, much more!

Cherry Creek Finest!

“Green” Yard Tools Save Energy & Reduce EmissionsA new line of outdoor tools from MTD Prod-ucts can help clear the air while cutting hedges or blowing leaves. The 4-cycle trimmers, blowers and cultivators produce half the emis-sions of standard 2-cycle tools and increase fuel efficiency by about 25%. The eco-friendly tools are also reported to start easier, have better engine performance, be quieter and produce less vibration. They can be found at The Home De-pot, Lowe’s and Sears.

Colorado Ski Resorts RULE!Colorado boasts six of the top 10 North American ski resorts, according to readers of SKI Magazine:

1. Deer Valley, Utah

2. Vail3. Whistler/Blackcomb, B.C.

4. Aspen 5. Snowmass6. Park City, Utah

7. Breckenridge8. Beaver Creek 9. Steamboat 10. Sun Valley, Idaho


SOLD!

Hilltop Featured Homes

225 S. elm Street • $2,650,000 • Hilltop

Timeless design accentuates the grandeur of this magnificent new Tudor home! Enjoy a Clas-sic floorplan with authentic European feel. A

lovely entry terrace is accessible from the library and the formal dining hall and is a treat for guests who want to take some air. A first-floor guest room has double French doors to the rear terrace and features a full bath. The great room shows off its artful ceiling treatment, twin sets of double French doors to the rear terrace, a stunning fireplace, and built-in cabinetry. The home’s masterpieces are its gourmet kitchen and master suite. The kitchen is complete with an island workspace, walk-in pantry, adjoining breakfast bay, grilling porch,

adjacent to an open family room with fireplace, and a planning office, all this creates a spectacular lifestyle hub for family and friends. Sumptuous comforts and thoughtful design set this master suite apart. A large main room features a private balcony, morning kitchen, and built-ins. The master sitting chamber entices with a fireplace and double-door entry. The master bath features a garden tub, steam shower, and linen closet. A fabulous finished basement with a circular wet bar and wine cellar, recreation room, billiards room, game room, theatre room, Guest suite complete with built-in kitchenette and a Secondary Laundry room. A true Must See!!


Exquisite Hilltop Masterpiece

Denver Ranks

9th in

E-Mail addictionIf you sleep with your por-table e-mail device nearby so you can hear when an e-mail arrives, you may be addicted…but you are not alone. More than half of Denver’s portable e-mail device users admit to that habit, helping make Denver one of the top 10 cities in the U.S. for “e-mail addic-tion.”

A study by AOL and the Opinion Research Corpora-tion ranks Denver ninth, up from 18th place three years ago. The survey also reveals that one in three Denverites say access to e-mail is critical when plan-ning a vacation, 15% have a portable e-mail device, and 35% of those say they can’t live without it.

nationally, 59% of people e-mail from their beds, 53% from the bathroom, 37% while driving and 12% during church.

The most e-mail addicted city in the nation? Washington, D.C. 3Ways to Tackle Toy CLUTTER

If your child’s playroom looks like a tornado strikes it — every day — here are some tips for creating order out of chaos from “Today” design consultant Elizabeth Mayhew:

1. Weed out any toys your kids have outgrown, don’t like or that are falling apart.

2. Teach kids early to sort and label their toys by designating boxes and bins for specific types of playthings like “cars,” “dolls” or “games.”

3. Hang low pegs or hooks so kids can store play clothes the same way they do coats, hats and backpacks at school.

Winter 2008 7

Featured Homes Hilltop250 S. daHlia Street • $1,375,000 • Hilltop

WOW ... Amazing Renovation! Open & Elegant yet Warm & Inviting - this Beau-tiful home is perfect for raising a Family,

entertaining Friends or simply Relaxing. Located on (a little more than) a quarter of an acre, this Fabulous “Sanctuary in the City” features a Private/Secluded “Park-Like” Yard with Mature Trees, Sensational Out-door living areas (complete with Built-in Wolf BBQ, Covered Patio, Outdoor Gas Fireplace, Stone Terraced/Professionally Landscaped Perennial Gardens, Flower Gardens & Custom Accent Lighting System); Other Special Features include: Dramatic, Open & Flowing

Floorplan * Formal Living Room with Cathedral Ceil-ing, Built-in Bookshelves & Gas Fireplace * Wonderful Family Room with Gas Fireplace, Cathedral Ceiling & Spectacular Garden Views * Spacious Formal Dining Room * Ash Hardwood Floors * Dramatic Gourmet Kitchen with Breakfast Bar, Slab Granite Countertops, Maple Cabinets, Upscale Appliances * Private Master Suite with Fabulous 5 Piece Luxury Bath + dual walk-in closets * 2 Spacious Main Floor Secondary Bedrooms - each with Private Baths * Professionally Finished Base-ment (includes 2 additional Secondary Bedrooms, Full bath & Storage) & Much more!

100 S. clermont Street • $1,435,000 • Hilltop Custom built in 1996 and Located in the Heart of prestigious Hilltop this stunning Southwestern style home boasts amazing Charm & Character, unique design touches and attention to artistic detail throughout! Special

features include: Beautiful Living Room with wood beam ceiling and gas fireplace; Light and bright Dining room adjacent to a cozy Library with built-in shelving; Gourmet Kitchen with upscale appliances (Wolfe, Sub Zero, etc.), walk-in pantry, center island & breakfast nook (opening to a secluded back yard with flagstone patio) and adjacent to a welcoming Family room (featuring wood beamed ceiling & double sided gas fireplace); 2 main floor bedrooms (one currently being used as a Study) + main floor Full bath/powder room; Private 2nd floor Master suite (with dual walk-in closets, 5 piece luxury bath including claw foot tub and glass block shower) + 2 Secondary bedrooms that share a nice size 4 piece bath; 14 x 12 balcony with Hot Tub; Convenient 2nd floor laundry room; 3rd floor Study with inspiring mountain views (the perfect home office!); Other special features include: 3 car attached garage with breezeway; Custom designer Lighting; Saltillo Tile; Hardwood floors; Arched doorways; Open unfinished basement with tall ceilings; Fun gardens; Flagstone patios and much, much more!

Got an old Fleece Jacket? Turn It Into a New one!Here in Colorado, it’s nearly impossible to find a closet without at least one fleece jacket. If yours is just hanging around unworn, don’t throw it away. Thanks to outdoor-gear maker Patagonia, your fleece clothing can enjoy a second life. Patagonia is collecting used clothing (regard-less of brand) made from Polartec and Capilene to melt and make into new fabric and clothes. The company estimates that making polyester fiber out of recycled garments, compared with using new polyester, will result in a 76% energy savings and reduce greenhouse gases by 71%. For more informa-tion, visit www.patagonia.com/recycle.

Beautiful Hilltop Ranch

Stunning Southwestern Style

Baby boomers armed with discretionary dollars are primarily responsible for the increase in vaca-tion-home sales in recent years. The reasons be-hind the trend are varied: Seventy-nine percent of buyers purchased the home to use for vacation

or as a family retreat, 34% to diversify their investments, 28% for use as a primary residence in the future, and 25% for the tax benefits. Eighteen percent of buyers planned on renting out their homes.

Before making the decision to become a vacation-home own-er, RealEstateJournal.com, the Wall Street Journal’s online real estate guide, suggests you consider the following:

Determine if it’s practicalIt’s easy to fall in love with a place while you’re on vacation and conclude that you want to spend time there every year…so why not buy a vacation home? Kenneth A. Kamen, president of Princeton, N.J.-based Mercadien Asset Management, says many people underestimate the costs of owning a second home, which can include not only the mortgage, but taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities.

In addition, second-home buyers may feel committed to spending most vacations at their new home, thereby giving up a sense of freedom and flexibility.


With the nationwide supply of homes far outnumbering demand and interest rates still appealingly low, this may be an ideal time for that vacation-home purchase you’ve been dreaming about for years. And you haven’t been dreaming alone: In 2006, second homes accounted for 36% of all residential property sold in the U.S., according to the National Association of Realtors. That amounts to a record 1.07 million vacation homes sold last year, a 4.7% increase over 2005.

#2SecOnd HOme a “Must-Have”

for Many Baby Boomers

Winter 2008 9

Decide if it’s affordableIt may be hard to justify spending $250,000 or more on a property you only use four times a year, so estimate how much time you can realistically spend at a vacation home and what the home will actually end up costing. This estimate should include travel costs, insurance (which often can be at least 50% more expensive than insurance on a primary residence), and a 10% to 15% buffer for unexpected costs like when the water heater needs to be replaced or bad weather damages the property.

Keep in mind that lenders may charge a higher interest rate or require a bigger down payment for a second home, especially in today’s market.

Consider your future plansIf you’re planning to use a vacation home as an eventual retire-ment home, buying in advance to try out the new location could be smart. Buying so that future generations can use the home (or sell it) may also be a valid reason for some buyers.

Choose a location wiselyBefore starting your second-home search, answer these ques-tions: What will the home be used for (a winter or summer getaway, or both)? Is access to your favorite sports and hobbies important, or do you simply want a place to enjoy peace and solitude? How close do you want to be to your primary home? Most second-home buyers prefer to travel within 200 miles of their primary residence, according to David Hehman, presi-dent of EscapeHomes.com.

The most favorable deals may be found in lesser-known places near more famous (and expensive) locations. Find a place that is in a good position to increase in value, whether due to rising popularity, restricted building codes or a small amount of land left for development.

Do your researchIt’s fine to look at homes while on vacation, but never buy one at that point.

Instead, take the knowledge from the trip and do some home-work on the area and the market, preferably with the help of a local real estate professional who specializes in vacation homes.

Make sure it’s rentable

While many second-home owners don’t buy a home with the intention to rent it out, it’s still wise to know if a property is rentable at the time of purchase. Why? Buyers often end up renting a home if they’re not using it as much as they origi-nally thought or if their financial circumstances change, and a rentable property might also be a selling point at resale. To that end, be sure to ask about renting terms and restrictions before buying.

Remember that you can usually deduct the interest and taxes on a second home. If you use the home for less than 15 days a year and rent it out the rest of the time, you must report all income, although you may claim deductions for advertising, maintenance, depreciation and other expenses. If, however, you live in the home part of the year, vacation there yourself or allow friends or relatives to use it at a bargain price, you will find that different rules apply to reporting rental income, and deductions will probably be limited.

If you have the second-home bug but are not exactly sure what you’re looking for — or where to look — please give me a call. I can help you create a “wish list” and then use my expertise and connections to help you find the ideal destination and vacation home.

SecOnd HOme a “Must-Have”

for Many Baby Boomers

Mountain View and Montclair Featured Homes

1815 S. Uinta Way • $1,150,000 • moUntain VieW

This stunning custom home is located in the highly desirable Mountain View Subdivision (City of Denver; Unincorporated Arapahoe

County)! Special Features Include: Fabulous Flexible Floorplan (with Wonderful Appointments, Designer Décor and Sensational Location); Exquisite 2 story Foyer with Stone mosaic tile & Skylights; Private Main Floor Guest Suite with ¾ bath (handicap assessable), walk-in closet + access to the backyard & covered patio; Elegant Formal Dining Room; Gourmet Kitchen (with center island, all appliances, slab granite, breakfast nook and walk-in pantry) adjacent to a Wonderful Family room with Gas fireplace and French doors opening to a large private backyard with covered patio and pond

(perfect for Entertaining or simply Relaxing); Private 2nd floor Master Suite with vaulted ceiling, gas fire-place, coffee bar, 6 piece Luxury Bath (includes Double Headed Shower, jet action tub and Bidet), Walk-in closet and Master Retreat (with French doors opening to private balcony + circular stairway to a 3rd floor Ob-servatory/Studio with a built-in bar area and Balcony with spectacular unobstructed mountain views); 2 Spa-cious Secondary bedrooms sharing a “Jack & Jill” bath; Amazing Nanny Suite complete with private entrance, kitchenette, full bath, laundry and walk-in closet; Beautifully finished basement with Recreation room, Theatre Room, Full service Wet bar; Guest Suite/Study with atrium and much more!


Fabulous Flexible Floorplan

This Beautiful new custom home is located in desirable Montclair. Special Features Include: Fabulous Flexible Floorplan with won-derful “Great Room” Family, Dining, & Kitchen area that create

a warm and comfortable environment; Elegant in-formal Dining Room; Gourmet Kitchen (with huge center island, all appliances, slab granite, breakfast nook and walk-in pantry) adjacent to a Light and Bright Family/Great room with Gas fireplace and French doors opening to a covered pa-tio (perfect for Entertaining or simply Relaxing); Private 2nd floor Master Suite with gas fireplace, 5 piece Luxury Bath, Walk-in closet and access to private balcony; 2 Spacious Secondary bedrooms; 4 piece full bath; Guest suite with ¾ bath and access to private balcony; Convenient 2nd floor laundry; Beautifully finished basement with Recreation room, Wet bar (in-cluding dishwasher and wine refrigerator adjacent to Activity Room; Guest Bedroom, full bath, mechanical & storage rooms and much more!

925 leyden Street • $847,000 • montclair

Beautiful Great Room!

Winter 2008 11

Featured Homes Hilltop 444 elm Street • $765,000 • Hilltop

WOW...This home is absolutely stunning! What a uniquely elegant yet fun & excit-ing home! Totally renovated in 2001,

special features include: Beautiful kitchen (with concrete countertops, custom cabinets, stainless steel appliances, skylight & breakfast bar); Spacious formal dining room; Gorgeous formal living room with barrel ceiling, Wood burning fireplace & French doors opening to 25 x 7 front patio; Dramatic main floor family room with gas fireplace & streams of southern light opening to backyard deck & flagstone patio; 2 main floor bedrooms with fabulous guest bath; Gorgeous private master suite (with vaulted ceiling, 5 piece luxury

12 x 4 deck, skylight & spacious walk-in closet with 2nd laun-dry area) + Beauti-ful secondary bed-room; Finished bsmt. (with rec. room, 5th bedroom, Mechani-cal room with work-shop, Laundry room with mechanical, Bonus “hobby” room with storage (perfect for a future wine cellar or ); Hardwood floors; Custom lighting; Designer Décor much much more!

4740 e. 4tH aVenUe • $625,000 • Hilltop

Bursting with vintage charm, this classic Hilltop ranch provides lots of possibilities ... “Scrape” and build new custom home, move-in and enjoy as-is or “update” to personal taste! Special features

include: Fabulous location on a Premier corner lot in the heart of presti-gious Hilltop; Flexible floorplan with spacious rooms throughout; Large living room with wood burning fireplace and built-ins; Vintage Kitchen with Breakfast Nook and all appliances including professional Jenn-Air gas stove (4 burner + griddle); Formal dining room with picture window overlooking a private courtyard with Covered Patio & Mature trees; Fin-ished Basement with spacious Family Room (or 4th bedroom) with built-in shelving and laundry/mechanical room (with ample storage); Other Special features include: Gorgeous side yard with beautiful flower gardens & custom grape vine covered trellis; Hardwood floors; Newer windows; Ceiling fans; Attic fan; Sprinkler system and much more!.

Fun & Exciting

925 leyden Street • $847,000 • montclair

Great Opportunity!

Crestmoor Featured Homes

75 S. JaSmine Street • $975,000 • creStmoor

WOW ... Surprise Inside! Lo-cated in prestigious Crestmoor Park and totally renovated (by

BOA Construction) in 2006, this unassuming ranch-style home features a fun/flexible floorplan compli-mented by wonderful outdoor spaces (perfect for en-tertaining friends or simply relaxing) and ... Location, Location, Location. Special features include: Beautiful formal Living Room w/ gas fireplace; Spacious informal Dining Room; Fabulous Gourmet Kitchen (with high end appliances, slab granite countertops, walk-in

pantry, tons of cabinet space & center island with breakfast bar); Wonderful Master Suite (opening to a covered Patio) with Private Retreat, Walk-in closet and Amazing 5 piece Luxury bath (including jetted tub, custom steam shower & heated floors); 3 main floor Secondary Bedrooms sharing a beautifully updated Full bath (complete with slab granite and heated floors); Professionally Finished Basement with Family room, Wet bar, Hobby area; Dry Sauna; Study, Full Bathroom (currently being used as Darkroom). Other Special Fea-tures include: Convenient main floor Laundry; Large Sunroom and much more!


Fun and Flexible Floor Plan

Steps to Crestmoor Park!

11 JaSmine Street • $668,000 • creStmoor

This unassuming “retreat” is open & dramatic yet also works comfortably as a family sanctuary complete with a fun, flex-ible floorplan and wonderful outdoor spaces. Special fea-

tures include: Fabulous location with a view of Crestmoor Park; Beautiful front “courtyard” with flagstone patio + a private & se-cluded “park-like” backyard with covered patio (perfect for enter-taining friends or simply relaxing); Open, flowing floorplan with an amazing combination of formal and informal living areas (tons of flexibility & possibilities!); Spacious Formal living room with large custom picture window and wood burning fireplace; Formal Dining Room with convenient access to the back covered patio; Beauti-ful updated kitchen (with all appliances, abundant maple cabinets, Corian countertops, tile floors & eat space in kitchen); Nice master suite with private full bath and dual closets; 2 main floor second-ary bedrooms sharing a vintage full bath; Nicely finished basement includes Rec. room, 4th bedroom, updated full bath & nice laun-dry/storage room and much more!

Steps to Crestmoor Park!

Winter 2008 13

Featured Homes Crestmoor 121 leydon Street • $1,699,000 • creStmoor

European Elegance at its finest! Special features include: Fabulous location in the prestigious Crestmoor Park; Stun-

ning new home with amazing floorplan; Dra-matic Foyer with magnificent staircase; Elegant Living & Dining rooms with coffered ceilings and French door access to private patios; Main floor Study; Gourmet Kitchen with top-of-the line appliances, Center Island with Breakfast

Bar & spacious Breakfast Nook adjacent to a welcoming Family “Great” Room opening to a private patio with nice backyard; Butler’s Pan-try complete with secondary dishwasher, wine refrigerator, espresso machine and walk-in pantry; Main floor Guest suite with full bath; Fabulous Master suite complete with adjoin-ing master retreat, gas fireplace, dual walk-in closets and 5 piece luxury bath; Three unique

Secondary bedrooms (each with a private full bath and walk-in closet); Convenient library/loft area with built-in bookshelves; Gorgeous Finished Basement (with enormous 2nd Fam-ily room, Recreation room, wet bar, walk-in Wine cellar, 2 spacious bedrooms sharing a Full bath and much, much more!

235 iVanHoe Street • $570,000 • creStmoor

Fantastic opportunity to move into prestigious Crestmoor! This beautiful brick ranch, situated on a large lot, boasts many special features: Fabulous location (just minutes from Down-

town Denver, Lowry, and the Cherry Creek Shopping District); Spa-cious living room with arched doorways, coved ceilings, and built-in shelves; Light and bright dining room with coved ceilings; Updated kitchen with, slate backsplash, maple cabinets, all appliances and lots of counter space; Spacious master bedroom; 2 good size secondary bedrooms; Full bath; Sunny family room with French doors lead-ing to the park like backyard and covered patio; 4th bedroom/office space; ¾ bath; Other special features include: Attached 2 car garage, hardwood floors, wood burning fireplace, and a beautifully mani-cured backyard with mature landscaping.Beautifully Updated Kitchen

SOLD!


Crestmoor and Cherry Creek Featured Homes

423 locUSt Street • $1,599,000 • creStmoor

This gorgeous new custom home is lo-cated in highly desirable Crestmoor Park and boasts the Best of Main Floor

living including an amazing Main Floor Mas-ter Suite! Special features include: Fabulous Floorplan (with Stunning Appointments, De-signer Décor, Gorgeous Woodwork and Ex-traordinary Details); Exquisite Formal Living Room with Vaulted ceiling, Wood Beams & Gas Fireplace; Elegant Formal Dining Room with Butler’s Pantry (complete with Dish-washer, Sink and Wine Cooler); Gourmet

Kitchen (with Center Island, Top-of-the-line appliances, large Breakfast Nook and Walk-in Pantry) adjacent to a Dramatic two-story Fam-ily “great” room with stunning Circular stair-case, Gas fireplace and French doors opening to a large Private backyard with Patio (perfect for Entertaining or simply Relaxing); Amazing Main Floor Master Suite with Gas fireplace, 6 piece Luxury Bath (includes Steam Shower, Air jet tub and Bidet), Dual Walk-in closets and Sitting area with access to the patio & yard; Main Floor Guest Suite (or study) with private

¾ bath, walk-in closet + access to the backyard; Main floor laundry; Optional elevator to all levels; Spacious 2nd floor loft overlooking the Family room + 2 additional Secondary bed-rooms; Other special features include: Arched doorways; Art Niches; Sparkling Hardwood floors; Travertine Tile (in ALL Bathrooms and the Laundry room); Open unfinished base-ment (perfect for future expansion if desired); 3 car attached garage with storage/workshop area and much, much more!

Main Floor Living

119 JackSon Street • $825,000 • cHerry creek

Sensational design with grand finishes and timeless style combine to create a fabulous retreat. Situated in desirable Cherry Creek North, this stunning

townhome provides the perfect balance of comfort and convenience. Special features include: Fabulous circular stairway with custom iron railing; Spacious formal Dining Room; Beautiful living room with gas fireplace and access to the front stamped concrete patio; Amazing gourmet kitchen with all appliances, slab granite, and center island with breakfast bar; Warm and welcoming Family room (with sliding glass doors to an oversized patio) which boasts a built-in entertainment area & gas fireplace; West facing study with custom built-ins; Spectacular master suite with vaulted ceilings, dual walk-in closets, and luxury 5 piece bath (complete with jetted tub & travertine tile); 2nd bedroom with walk-in closet and full bath; Incredible finished basement with 3rd bedroom, huge Rec/Theater room, exercise room and much more!

Cherry Creek Townhome

P A U L A ’ S P L A C E

Winter 2008 15

Cabernet ChoColate Molten Cakes

This is a new all time favorite desert discov-ered by my friend Lila … she discovered it on a McCormick advertisement and sealed her fate in always having to prepare it when I get to choose!

4 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 tablespoon Cabernet Sauvignon (always use something you would drink)

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 eggs

1 egg yolk

6 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon Ginger

1/8 teaspoon cloves, ground (optional) – I never do these ... not a clove lover

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Butter 4 6oz. ramekins and place on baking sheet.

2. Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwavable bowl on High for 1 minute or until butter is melted. Wisk until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in wine, vanilla and sugar until well blended. Whisk in eggs and yolk. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour bat-ter evenly into prepared ramekins.

3. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until sides are firm but centers are soft. Let stand 1 min-ute. Carefully loosen edges with small knife. Invert cakes onto serving plates. Sprinkle with additional sugar. Serve immediately.

MAKE AHEAD: The chocolate mixture can be prepared up to 10 hours ahead of time. Pour the batter into the prepared ra-mekins; cover the plastic wrap and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature for 30-45 minutes before baking.

apple and pear Crisp

When it is the season for apples and pears, hardly a day goes by without preparing something with one or both! I was watching my favorite cooking channel and my favorite cook – The Barefoot Contessa and saw this recipe, I couldn’t get to the store fast enough to buy the necessary items to prepare this that evening.

2 pounds ripe Bosc pears (4 pears)

2 pounds firm Macoun apples (6 apples)

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the Topping:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal

3/4 pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Peel, core and cut the pears and apples into large chunks. Place the fruit in a large bowl and add the zests, juices, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour into a 9 x 12 x 2 inch baking dish.

3. For the topping: Combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for 1 min-ute, until the mixture is in large crumbles. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit, covering the fruit completely.

4. Place the baking dish on a sheet pan and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is brown and the fruit is bubbly. Serve warm.

It wouldn’t be a well rounded meal if there wasn’t something sweet at the finish? Well it isn’t always the finish, when I was visiting my

sisters in New York we went to breakfast and I ordered pancakes with an apple pie appetizer, man was that good. I do have an apple pie recipe,

however it is only available by appointment and you have to listen to my long story about my mom!

Main Floor Living

Excellence“Going far beyond the call of duty, doing more than others expect... this is what excellence is all about.

And it comes from striving, maintaining the highest standards,

looking after the smallest detail, and going the extra mile.

Excellence means doing your very best, in everything, in every way.”

AuthorUnknown

SellingFineHomesSince1984 [email protected] • www.TheDenverTeam.com • 303.322.2210

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2008 Winter Newsletter

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