The team is heading into the office for a big brainstorm this week, and getting together is always like a mini reunion. Creativity just flows easier, as does the free Diet Coke. I’m also having my portrait taken by Domino’s inimitable staff photographer Belle Morizio for some secret future content; you’ll just have to stay tuned. —Lindsey Mather, editor in chief
According to Pinterest, searches for “Greek Isle Aesthetic” are climbing month over month. Since outfit and nail inspiration queries dominate, I took it upon myself to unearth home decor that evokes the sun-drenched afternoons by the sea, endless blue skies, and general low-key luxury I associate with the country. Because name a better summer vibe! And reader, my search was very fruitful.
Nine ways to go Greek at home:
It’s not a Mediterranean summer without at least one blue-and-white fish platter.
I’ve talked a lot about moving into our new house (that’s us, above!), but very little about selling our old one. To be honest, I was caught off guard by how overwhelming and stressful the process felt. It reminded me a lot of new parenthood—you’re constantly shocked by “normal” things that no one ever talks about. So, in case you will be in my shoes sometime in the future, here are three surprising lessons I want to pass on to you.
Act Like Your House Is About to Go on the Market, Even If It’s Not
When moving was still an idea in our heads, my husband and I met with our real-estate agents to talk about what we were looking for in our next house. There was another item on the agenda we didn’t see coming, though: Home value–boosting improvements we should make now, while we had the luxury of time. The big one our agents recommended was repainting the peeling exterior. As soon as our offer on a new home was accepted, they explained, it would be crunch time to get our current place on the market—and the last thing we would want to take on is getting quotes and coordinating schedules. They were so right. Those weeks when you’re simultaneously buying a house and prepping one to sell are rather hellish, and I was thankful to have one to-do off our plate.
The Highest Offer Isn’t Necessarily the Best Offer
If you’re lucky enough to have a choice between two competitive offers, like we did, take a minute to look beyond the hard numbers at who is on the buyer’s team. A real-estate agent and lawyer who have worked in the area before—and, even better, that your agent is familiar with—will help the inevitable negotiations go smoother. Everyone is more likely to come to the table with similar expectations and ways of working; the hope is fewer surprises for both sides. Admittedly, I didn’t take my own advice and we learned this one the hard way.
Tidying Up Before Showings Is a Favor to Your Future Self
When it was time to put our house on the market, the first thing our agents tasked us with was decluttering. Not just the obvious places, like the kitchen countertops or my daughter’s toy corner, but the insides of closets and our basement storage area. They didn’t need to be empty, but they did need to be tidy: sweaters folded, shoes lined up, bins stacked neatly in a corner. Less stuff makes rooms seem larger and keeps potential buyers focused on the permanent features of your home. Grumpy and skeptical that this level of organization was really necessary, my husband and I dedicated two weekends to the task. It’s hard to say whether or not it impacted the number of offers we received. Where it did make a huge difference was during the move. The rearranging and purging was behind us, so packing was literally just that: putting stuff into boxes without another thought.
Side Notes
I treat myself to something small daily—life is hard! Usually, it’s from the local bakery, but the cheap decor thrills I came across this week are mighty tempting.
