14 Small-Space Lessons from a 750-Square-Foot Townhome Makeover

This article has been taken from Better Homes & Gardens from author Deb Schwartz, a reliable source for Homes, Gardens, and everything in between. If you’d like more information on how to makeover a small space, please visit the linked website.

Designer Shannon Claire Smith knows the challenges of small space living. Faced with a dated 750-square-foot Washington, D.C., condo, she used paint and smart furniture choices to transform it into a glamorous retreat. (Only the bathroom underwent a full renovation.) Her tips for making this one-bedroom look and live larger than it is can be applied to any small space. We drew on lessons learned from Smith's interior designs to answer reader questions on making the most of tight quarters.

1. Make Your Room Seem Larger

Smith painted the built-ins blue-black. "Dark colors are counterintuitive," she says. "A lot of people think they make a space feel smaller, but they really make the ceiling feel higher and the room appear larger." Black window casings also draw eyes out, making a space seem larger. White shades trimmed in black retain the effect, even when closed.

2. Go Big on Seating

A low-back sectional actually takes up less space than a sofa and chair would and accommodates her tall husband, Nick Herman. She pushed it right up to the built-ins, leaving just enough room to open the cabinet doors.

3. Simplify Silhouettes

Furniture with simple shapes and strong lines, like the round coffee table, keep a space from feeling cluttered. The table's open brass base has a light visual footprint, and its curves are easy to navigate.

4. Build Continuity

A decorating scheme that flows room to room is key in a small space, where multiple rooms are often visible at a glance. Smith achieved flow with a limited, mostly neutral palette that gets depth and interest from varied shades: whites and ivories, charcoals and grays, navy blues and blacks. She restricted metal finishes to matte black and antiqued brass. Because the front door opens directly into the main room, Smith positioned the dining and console tables to designate a foyer, which ends at the dresser that she stocks like a bar.

5. Use Mirrors

Smith wanted to preserve the illusion of space that the existing mirrored wall created. However, it lacked character, so she installed a grid of molding over it. Seams in the mirror determined the molding placement, and industrial-strength contractor's glue holds the off-the-shelf pieces in place. Hanging art on a mirrored wall creates even more visual depth.

6. Store Smarter

Smith replaced a bulky yet shallow upper cabinet and short glass shelves with deep wood shelves that hold more. A tile backsplash in a classic running bond pattern adds timeless appeal.

7. Use Dead Space

A picture ledge from IKEA turns the space above a shallow counter into a place to display art, store spices, and hang mugs or utensils.

8. Camouflage It

Painting the lower cabinets black blends them with the countertop. Fewer visual interruptions equal a larger look.

9. Add Drama with Paint

Smith's two-tone wall delivers instant style and creates a sense of architecture in a boxy room. The neutral color combo serves as a versatile background that she punches up with accents in warm metals and dusty rose (a throw and artwork).

10. Create Focal Points

Architectural elements, like box molding on the walls, plus a bold ceiling light and a statement headboard, give a room flair. Smith styles the bedside table in layers, starting by leaning a mirror against the wall to anchor the vignette and frame a small painting. Clustering small items gives them greater impact.

11. Create an Illusion

Smith painted the ceiling black in the bathroom because "dark colors are like the night sky—you don't really know where it ends and it makes the room feel wider and taller."

12. Use Every Inch

Open shelves fill a previously empty spot above the toilet to put regularly used items in reach. A round mirror breaks up straight lines and amplifies light.

13. Unify Surfaces

For space-enhancing uniformity, Smith chose white for the large ceramic tiles lining the bathroom walls and the small hexagonal tiles covering the floor. Bonus: Tile is easy to clean, and dark gray grout hides dirt.

14. Build in Storage

Pedestal sinks are often recommended for small bathrooms, but Smith opted for a 36-inch-wide vanity with lots of storage instead. She swapped out the hardware for a custom appearance.

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12 Flower Garden Design Tips That Will Help You Plan a Stunning Landscape

The following article has been taken from Better Homes & Gardens, a reliable source for all things home, gardens, and everything in between. If you’d like more information on How To Plan a Stunning Landscape, then please visit the linked website. Please enjoy the 12 Tips Better Homes and Gardens has for creating your most beautiful flower garden.

Flowers make any landscape more beautiful. But don’t be intimidated by the idea of planting a flowerbed. Use these tips to help you learn how to design a flower garden, and use them as inspiration for creating your own colorful spring landscape.

Research Flower Characteristics

The best flower garden designs incorporate several types of flowering plants, including long-living perennials, short-term (but long-blooming) annuals, seasonal bulbs, ornamental grasses, and vines. Before you officially get started on your flower garden design, do a little research on what types of plants will grow best in your area, what colors and textures they offer, and any limitations or special care they might need.

Choose Your Flower Garden Design Style

Your personal preferences (or your home's architectural style) can help dictate your garden design and set parameters for its size. Different flower garden design ideas and styles lend themselves to different types of plants. For example, a contemporary-leaning landscape might take a minimalist approach and clearly define flower beds with hard lines; a cottage-style garden encourages a mix-and-match approach and whimsical paths and flower beds. If you enjoy bringing flowers indoors, consider a perennial cutting garden.

Determine the Garden's Shape and Size

Flowering plants can be arranged in beds of almost any shape and size, from expansive rectangles to petite corner beds. To get an idea of how your flower garden will fit into the rest of your landscape, use a garden hose to outline the edges before you start digging. Walk around the bed; look at the proposed garden bed from every viewpoint. Test if you'll be able to access plants in the middle or if you'll need to include a path. If you're specifically looking for flower garden ideas for beginners, start small: You can always expand your plan if you want, or go bigger next year.

Select Flowering Plants

Once you've decided on your flower garden's design, shape, and size, it's time to put your plant research into action. Consider show-stopper plants you want to use as a focal point, flower sizes, year-round interest, bloom time, and color combinations.

Supply a Focal Point

Every garden bed, no matter how big or small, needs a focal point that gives the eye a place to start before moving on to the rest of the flowerbed. That could mean anchoring a large bed with boxwood shrubs in the corners and a flowering shrub in the middle or planting a mass of a single flower type in the center of a skinny border. You can also add an interesting piece of garden art.

Evaluate Plant Height

You'll also have to consider a plant’s height when making your selections. For example, if your garden is a border along the house, the tallest plants will need to go in the back but shouldn't be so tall that they block windows or doors. If your flower garden design is an island, the tallest plants should go in the center. Some short plants suffer when shaded by tall plants, so take individual flowers' needs into consideration.

Review Bloom Times

Well-designed flower gardens have plants with year-round interest and staggered bloom times. Evaluate both factors before selecting plants. You don't want to create a garden that's full of color in the summertime but bare in autumn. That's another reason it's important to combine different types of plants—shrubs that provide spring bloom and winter structure, fall-blooming bulbs, and summertime perennials, for example—in your flower garden design.

Select Complementary Flowers and Foliage

Creating the best color combinations in your flower garden design can be tricky. A good place to start is the color wheel. For example, gardens planted in shades of the same hue, like pink, are pleasing to the eye. Colors next to each other on the color wheel, like purple and red, look good together, as do colors across from each other—purple and yellow. Foliage can also provide much-needed texture and color for visual interest when blooms have wilted away.

Rely on Odd Numbers

When laying out your flower garden design, plant at least three (or any odd number) of the same kind of plant, either together or spaced apart. It's a visual design trick that creates cohesiveness so flowerbeds feel less jumbled than a one-of-each-kind collection of plants.

Incorporate Hardscape

Hardscape elements, like pergolas, trellises, and arbors are beautiful complements to flower garden design. If you're crafting a bed that flows from front yard to backyard, for example, an arbor with a climbing rose can help mark the transition from public to private spaces.

Once your research is done and you've decided on all the elements and the garden size, it's time to prep the bed by removing any old plant material (including grass). You may also want to add edging, such as pavers or another material.

Now, it’s time to go get your plants! Shop early in the morning to avoid crowds so you have plenty of time to make your purchase. If you’re shopping in a greenhouse on a sunny day, wear layers because it can get hot (and bring a bottle of water, too). Do your best to stick to your list—it’s easy to get carried away when you're face-to-face with all the beautiful plant options.

Prep, Edge, Purchase, and Plant

Once your research is done and you've decided on all the elements and the garden size, it's time to prep the bed by removing any old plant material (including grass). You may also want to add edging, such as pavers or another material.

Now, it’s time to go get your plants! Shop early in the morning to avoid crowds so you have plenty of time to make your purchase. If you’re shopping in a greenhouse on a sunny day, wear layers because it can get hot (and bring a bottle of water, too). Do your best to stick to your list—it’s easy to get carried away when you're face-to-face with all the beautiful plant options.

Mulch, Water, and Enjoy the Show

Any newly planted flowers should be well-mulched then watered regularly until the plants are established. Monitor your rainfall and water as needed, ensuring that your plants receive about an inch of water a week.

Once your new garden is in the ground, place a chair or two close enough to admire it. Enjoy watching the plants grow and bloom, and take in the view.

In the fall, you’ll want to assess your garden. What did you like? What grew well? Think about what you’d change next spring. Consider whether you want to build a no-dig flowerbed. And do what gardeners do in the off-season: Dream of the next garden.

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Predicted Most Popular Color of 2020

We all have our favorite colors that we love to splatter all over the walls, include on our bedsheets, have as silverware, and surround ourselves with. Every year there’s an annual color that is predicted to be the it-color that will be the most popular color in households across the country. The article down-below has been taken from Apartment Therapy, our go-to source for all things home decor, interior design and home organization. If you’d like to get more information on colors that are most predicted for 2020, then please visit them at apartmenttherapy.com. 

It’s been a wild season for 2020 Color of the Year announcements, from Benjamin Moore’s beige alternative to Pantone’s literal classic choice. And even though we’re officially into the new decade, that doesn’t stop the predictions from coming—and this trends study delivers a new option for this year’s most popular color. 

1stdibs just released their annual Designer Survey that taps hundreds of interior designers around the world, and it unveiled Green/Emerald as the haute hue of 2020. 32% of the respondents went with green, beating out blue that racked in 29% of the votes.

This might not be a surprise to everyone, though, as Behr subtly hinted at the rise of green popularity with their 2020 Color of the Year, a soft yellow-green called Back to Nature. It wasn’t long ago that Sage Green was a trending color, too, which was seen as a sophisticated earth tone by design enthusiasts and bloggers alike. 

Looking ahead, you might be asking yourself how you can jump on this design trend and incorporate more green into your living spaces. Like any color, there are multiple ways to do this, but getting creative with your wall art or adding some fun banana leaf decor is a low-lift way to start. 

In addition to the most popular colors, the study pulled out the hues that are losing their popularity in the design world. There have been debates about whether or not Millennial Pink is still trending, but the study reports that it’s on the decline, dropping from 29% of respondents to 24% over the last year. Purple showed the largest decrease in percentage over the last three years though, standing at 17% in 2017 and now favored by a mere 1% of respondents.

That’s the beauty of annual color trends though—they’re annual. What’s on its way out in 2020 might be on its way back come 2021. But for now, we’ll enjoy the spotlight on green.

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How Color Psychology Can Make You Happier At Home

If you’re anything like us, then you’re also incredibly obsessed with interior design and all things home decor. But one thing that we’d like to discuss more is the concept of Color Psychology. By definition, Color Psychology is the study of colors in relation to human behavior, according to oberlo.com. It aims to determine how color affects our day to decisions. The article below originates from the site Apartment Therapy, a modern take on displaying beautiful interior design and a source of educating their readers on how to customize their own homes, DIY techniques, and everything one must know about organizing their home. Down below we’ve outlined the article from Apartment Therapy explaining how color psychology can make a happier home. If you’re interested in learning more, please visit the according link: How Color Psychology Can Make you Happier At Home

If you’re often stressed in your living room or are having trouble falling asleep in your bedroom—good news, it may not be you. It may just be time to rethink the color painted on the walls. 

We’ve discussed before how color can affect our emotional state, and while there are no set rules for which hue belongs in which room, the one you choose should match the tone you’d like to set. Is the kitchen your solo space to cook and meditate? Go with soft, soothing pastels. Is it your entertainment zone? Give it some life with bright berry red. Once you know the vibe you’re going for, use our newly updated Color Search tool (you can now search by room!)

Entryway 

If you want to celebrate more: Introduce pops of unexpected color—here, in the form of friendly orange polka dots—to put your guests into party mode the second they walk in.

If you want an easygoing entrance: Use neutral grays and whites. In a foyer that leads into color-saturated spaces, the contrast will draw visitors into the next room.

Bedroom

If you want to unwind: A dusty rose boudoir is both relaxing and romantic.

If you want more drama: Search for bedrooms in dark gray and navy.

Living Room

If you want to keep the peace: Brush on a soothing and sophisticated navy blue.

If you want more whimsy: Opt for playful pink or orange paint.

Kitchen

If you want to add some spark: Vibrant red energizes a kitchen that’s typically a hub of activity. 

If you want more tranquility: Look for pale shades of blue or mint green.

Dining Room

If you want to smile more: Sweep the room in a sunny yellow.

If you want more elegance: Pick rich plums and pinks.

Bathroom

If you want to keep calm: Go for a subtle gray, which lends a soothing spa-like ambience to this powder room.

If you want more coziness: Browse bathrooms in rich, warm hues.

Office

If you want to be inspired: Go for a bold green accent wall; studies show that looking at this color may spark creativity.

If you want more joy: Choose a yellow workspace.

Library 

If you want to be more imaginative: Paint with teal, which is said to inspire inventive thoughts and makes an eye-catching backdrop.

If you want more focus: Try a clean white workspace to cut down on distractions.

If you’re looking to have the ability to jazz up your own home, contact your nearest Fixed Rate Realtor to start a home search for your future home.

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10 Lessons on Leadership from Robert Iger

If you’re going to hear any form of leadership advice, it might as well be from the one and only CEO, Robert Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. He’s been the CEO of a company for the last fifteen years that “held assets worth a total of over 193.98 billion U.S dollars”in 2019, according to statista.com. With Robert Iger’s new book release, “The Ride of A Lifetime”, came ten principles that strike him as being necessary for true leadership. If you’ve yet to pick up his book, then we encourage you to do so. It not only describes his past and rode to becoming CEO of The Walt Disney Company, but you get insights of the company that you otherwise would never believe are true, or would believe would happen at the happiest place on earth. Below we have outlined Robert Igers 10 principles to being a true leader. Take them as you please, incorporate them as you feel, but do carefully read these if you’re looking to grow your impact of leadership within your business, team, company, or simply for yourself. 

Optimism: ‘Even in the face of difficult choices and less than ideal outcomes, an optimistic leader does not yield to pessimism.”

Courage: “The foundation of risk-taking is courage.”

Focus: “Allocating time, energy, and resources, to the strategies, problems, and projects that are of highest and value is extremely important…”

Decisiveness: “All decisions, no matter how difficult, can and should be made in a timely manner.”

Curiosity: “The path to innovation begins with curiosity.” 

Fairness: “Empathy is essential, as is accessibility.” 

Thoughtfulness: “Thoughtfulness is one of the most underrated elements of good leadership.”

Authenticity: “Be genuine. Be honest. Don’t fake anything.”

The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection: “If you believe that something can be made better, put in the effort to do it.”

Integrity: “A company’s success depends on setting high ethical standards for all things, big and small.”

The ability to lead ourselves and others is a quality we all pose if we choose to unlock it and allow ourselves to explore it. If you’re looking to move to Denver to expand your business or grow your self-development, contact your local Flat Fee Realtor to take you around the best Denver and surrounding neighborhoods to get an idea of where you’d like to transition.

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Our Go-To Super Bowl LIV Food & Drink Favorites

The most important factor of hosting the ideal Super Bowl party is crafting the best, refreshing drinks and making the most comforting and easy-to-grab food. It’s a long game, so having the right amount of food and drinks to accompany the game and satisfy your guests is a special formula. Sticking with the classic Super Bowl food is always a hit, but we’d like to encourage you to try some new recipes for the big game, or try to incorporate a twist with the classics. Down below we’ve outlined some recipes and drinks that are full-proof to be a hit at your next Super Bowl party. And as you start planning and setting up for Super Bowl LIV, and are struggling with the awkward space in your living room, or the minimal storage in your kitchen, or maybe even not being able to have the proper sized TV of your dreams in your small basement; think about calling your local Flat Fee Realtor. We can take a look at larger square footage homes that you and your family could potentially move into to be able to host the proper parties that you imagine. 

Below we have created a few options for food and drinks that you too can create for your own Super Bowl party, or tips and tricks you can forward to your friends and family that will be hosting the big game party. 

For the Health Conscious Host:

Food: 

• Lightened Up Sausage Dip

• Slow-Cooker Turkey Sausage Poblano Chilli

• Herb-Marinated Chicken Skewers

• Fudgy Brownies with Greek Yogurt 

• Paleo Buffalo Sauce Style Wings

• Customizable Nacho Bar

• Roasted Corn and Cheese Dip

• Spicy Popcorn

Drinks: 

• Classic Gatorade Ready in the Cooler

• Spiced Cranberry Cider Cocktail

• Lemonade

• Cucumber Basil IPA Cooler

• Sangria

For the Crock Pot Lover

• Sweet and Spicy Meatballs 

• Spinach Artichoke Dip

• Pizza Dip

• Chicken Wings

• Little Smokies

• Guinness Beer Cheese Dip

• Chili

• Bean Dip

• Spiced Mixed Nuts

• Peach Salsa

For the Creative Food Artist

• Football Mason Jars to hold popcorn

• Football Inspired and Decorated Chocolate Covered Strawberries

• Rice Krispies Shaped Like Footballs

• Cake in the Shape of a Football Field

• Football Helmet Centerpiece 

• Chiefs and 49ers Cupcakes

If you’re hosting the Super Bowl or saw some creative ideas at your friends Super Bowl party, then we’d love to see them! Tag us on instagram @fixedraterealestatedenver with all of your festive treats!

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10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Super Bowl

Every year the Super Bowl grows in ticket prices, halftime shows, and expectations for the game. This year the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will be meeting for the first time at this year’s Super Bowl. The 2015 Super Bowl had a record-breaking average TV-audience of 114.4 million viewers, and the average “30-second ad-spot during the Super Bowl broadcast cost an estimated 5.25 million U.S. dollars in 2019”, according to statista.com. With the average cost of a Super Bowl ticket being $3,335 as of January 30, 2017, the Super Bowl has been the most watched American television broadcast of the year. With this massively watched annual event, there are an array of unique facts and statistics that you otherwise wouldn’t know. Down below will be a list of 10 of the most interesting, shocking, or unique facts of the Super Bowl over the years. 

All of the following statistics have been incorporated from mentalfloss.com. If you’d like to get the full list of 53 Facts about The Super Bowl, then we encourage you to visit their site. 

• Peyton Manning is the  only starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams: the Indianapolis Colts in 2007 and the Denver Broncos in 2016. 

• The 1985 Bears recorded a hit rap song called “Super Bowl Shuffle,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. (It lost to Prince & The Revolution’s “Kiss”.)

• Super Bowl bonuses are a thing. In 2017, every player on the Pats’ championship roster earned $107,000 for winning. The defeated Falcons received $53,000 each as a consolation prize. 

• In 1993, Michael Jackson’s halftime performance had  higher ratings than the game itself. 

• Phil Simms was paid $75,000 to shout “I’m going to Disney World” on the field moments after his Giants won Super Bowl XX1. Disney also paid Denver’s John Elway the same amount of money to yell the same thing-just in case his team won. 

• When Jacksonville, Florida hosted Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005, the city didn’t have enough hotel rooms to meet the NFL’s requirements. So in their bid to serve as the Big Game’s host, they had to recruit five docked cruise ships as “floating hotels” for the event. 

• In Las Vegas, more than $115 million is (legally) bet on the Super Bowl every year. 

• The Vince Lombardi Trophies are made by Tiffany & Co. out of sterling silver. 

• A power outage at New Orleans’s Superdome put Super Bowl XLVII on hold for 34 minutes. 

• In 1989 the Super Bowl halftime show was broadcast in 3D. In it, a magician dressed like Elvis Presley had the entire stadium participate in a round of “Is this your card?” trick. 

If you’re hosting the game on Sunday or as heading out to a sport’s bar to watch the big game, bring up these facts to your football fanatic friends and see if they’re aware of these unique facts about the Super Bowl. 

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Ideas on How to Celebrate Super Bowl LIV

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Super Bowl Sunday is America’s second-largest food consumption day.” So in this case, what you prepare and decide to eat is most definitely one of the most important aspects to celebrating, especially since the only other activity that will be going on is having your eyes glued to the TV (or arguing with your family about faul plays and mistakes made by the referee). Either way, here are a few tips on what you can do to really make this Super Bowl memorable and one for the books. 

Host Super Bowl LIV at Your Home and Decorate Accordingly

One of my favorite ways to celebrate a huge event like the Super Bowl is to host it at home where we can relax, dodge large, wound-up crowds, and sit-back and relax as everyone has a great time rooting for their favorite teams. Instead of having a low-key Super Bowl Sunday where you may or may not even really get into the game or notice it, we encourage you to invite your favorite people, set out lots of easy to make and fun finger-food (preferably on plates that are colored accordingly to the teams), and interesting drinks that are also either the color of the teams, or something super light and simple like beer or sparkling wine. Here are some ideas and links to game day food and drink ideas:

Entries: Classic Buffalo Wings, Pull-Apart Garlic Bread Pizza Dip, Queso Dip, Nachos, Pizza, Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork, Mac & Cheese Bombs, or Triple Pork Sliders. 

Snacks: Hot Corn Dip, Smoked Gouda-Chorizo Jalapeno Poppers, Chips & Dip, Soft Pretzels, Quesadillas, Seven-Layer Dip, Guacamole and Chips, or Hot Artichoke-Spinach Dip. 

Drinks: Pink Señoritas, Touchdown Punch, Bloody Mary, Moscow Mule Punch, Blue Moon Jell-O Shots, Prosecco Slushies, Moscato Lemonade, or Giggle Juice. 

Bonus Tip: If you’re looking to go all-out for the Super Bowl, tell your guest you will award the most creatively dressed guest for their team a prize at the end of the game. This will really get your guests into the spirit of the game and competition. 

Get a Group of Friends and Head to Your Favorite Sports Bar 

If you’re looking to really get deep into the game and experience some harsh competitive spirits, then think about getting a group of friends and heading over to your favorite sports bar to watch the game with a big, enthusiastic crowd of football fans. This definitely takes some manual labor to scout out the best sports bar to go to, how much the cover ticket will be (yes, the bar will almost always charge a cover to just get in), and how early you want to get in there in order to get good seats. This is not an experience you necessarily want to bring your newborn babies or very small children to, just because of the wild and loud nature of a sports bar, especially on the day of the Super Bowl. There will be shouting, there will be angry and expressive fans, and there may or may not be a bar brawl. A very fun and entertaining environment to be in, especially if you’re looking to be loud and cheer on your favorite team. 

Save Up and Actually Buy a Ticket for the Super Bowl

This definitely is more out of reach than the other options, and Super Bowl tickets alone are unbelievable expensive and hard to get ahold of. But if you’re lucky enough to save up the money to buy a ticket for the Super Bowl and attend a game, this of course is one of the most memorable ways to celebrate the game. If this is a possibility for you, then consider making the weekend out of it and spend the rest of the weekend celebrating the game around the city that the game is being held in. Visit some local food spots, explore the cities most loved neighborhoods, and get a better idea of the culture of the city you’re visiting and what it means to them to host the Super Bowl. 

Get Your Most Tedious Chores Done While Everyone Is Inside Watching the Game

Maybe you’re not so into the hype of game day, and maybe you blatantly don’t care whatsoever about football. These three hours of the game are your perfect opportunity to go grocery shopping, get your nails done, take your kids to a fun activity, or do whatever else that would usually include a huge crowd of people. There will most likely be way less traffic, no one outside, and you’ll have an easier time getting around places and getting the things done that you need to that would otherwise be a pain on a sunday afternoon. If that’s not an option and your significant other or family wants you to sit and watch with them, I encourage you to make the most of the game: get your favorite snacks and drink together, take some Instagramable pictures, focus on the hilarious commercials and get ready for a fabulous halftime show performance. 

Where’s your favorite place to watch the Super Bowl, or what is your favorite Super Bowl tradition? Let us know below in the comments!

Denver is highly recognized and loved for our football team The Broncos. After the Broncos won Super Bowl LI, over 1 million Denver Natives came together in Denver during the historical Super Bowl parade to celebrate the win of the Broncos against the Panthers. If you’d like to be part of the Denver culture and move to this enthusiastic and patriotic state, then we recommend you contact your local Flat Fee Realtor to get you the best and most promising deal on a home in any of our Denver or surrounding neighborhoods.

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10 Unique Historical Facts About Colorado

When being a Denver native, you come to learn facts and secrets about Colorado that you otherwise wouldn’t know as just a tourist. But even being born and raised in Beautiful Colorado, there are unique traits of this incredible state that are typically unknown. Below are 10 facts that are unique and interesting to note about Colorado that make Colorado even more special than it already is. If you’re a Denver Native but have yet to truly and thoroughly explore the depths of Colorado, we recommend taking a few weekends out of your routine and take a trip around the state to the unique cities listed below. 

If you’re contemplating whether or not moving to Colorado is the next step for you, take a trip out here and see for yourself whether or not this incredible state suits your needs. If you’re in need of an agent that can show you the neighborhoods that you’d be interested in seeing, then we recommend contacting a local Colorado Flat Fee Realtor that can take you around and demonstrate what it would be like to live in Colorado. Now, take a look below to discover 10 unique historical facts about Colorado that you’ve most likely never heard. 

Denver Lays Claim to the Invention of the Cheeseburger

According to The Gazette, the trademark for the name Cheeseburger was awarded on March 5, 1935 to Louis Ballast. His restaurant was located at 2776 North Speer Blvd. 

The Highest Suspension Bridge in the World Is Over the Royal Gorge

If you’ve yet to visit the Royal Gorge for a day trip, we recommend the drive. The Royal Gorge Bridge spans the Arkansas River at a height of 1,053 feet. You can also walk, drive, and until recently, bungee jump off the bridge. 

Leadville Sits at 10,152 feet, Making It The Highest City in the U.S.

Something incredible to mention to your family and friends outside of Colorado that have never visited a city at such a high and incredible elevation. 

Pikes Peak Cog Railway Is the Highest Railway Train in the World

Pikes Peak is not only known for this fascinating train in the middle of the mountains, but also for the breath-taking views you experience when hiking in this area. 

The World’s Largest Natural Hot Springs Pool Is Located in Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs is a special treat Colorado Natives and world travelers alike thoroughly enjoy visiting throughout the year. Located 45 minutes from Aspen, Colorado, this two-block long pool is not only rich in nutrient minerals to soak into your skin and heal your aches and pains, but is also buried in history. Located across the street from the historic Hotel Colorado, a favorite stop of former president Teddy Roosevelt. 

Colfax Avenue in Denver is the Longest Continuous Street in America

At 26.5 miles long, Colfax Avenue boasts a heavy commercial street with some of Denver’s most loved restaurants and cafes, book stores and local shops, and most visited recreational parks and music venues. 

You can Be in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah All At the Same Time

Colorado’s southwest corner borders Arizona, New Mexico and Utah and is the only place in America where the corners of four states meet. 

The Eisenhower Tunnel is the Highest Auto Tunnel in the World

If you’ve driven deep West into the mountains at any point during your time in Colorado, then you’ve definitely experienced the cool effect of driving through directly through the depths of a grand Rocky Mountain. 

Colorado is the Only in History to Turn Down the Olympics

Due to the high risk and fear of cost, pollution and a drastic population boom, state voters chose not to host the 1976 Winter Olympics. 

The Park Theatre in Estes Park Was the State’s First Place to Catch a Movie

The Park Theatre is the oldest movie theatre in Colorado and among the oldest worldwide with being built in 1913. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the rich history of Colorado, we encourage you to visit this hidden gem state and consider the potential of uprooting your life here!

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What is Hygge?

If you have any sort of interest in interior design or home decor, then you’re bound to have heard the Danish word “Hygge”, pronounced “hoo-ga”, circling around the world of home design and aesthetics. If you’ve never heard it before, you’re in for a cozy treat once you fully understand the focus and intention Hygge has. To begin, here is what we’ve found to be the closest definition of Hygge, a concept originating from Denmark. 

Hygge has no specific word for translation, but instead is translated as a concept; a “single word that encompasses a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life,” according to CountryLiving Magazine. Hygge is an important part of being Danish and is considered to be “a defining feature of our cultural identity and an integral part of the national DNA,” according to Meik Wiking, the CEO of The Happiness Institute. This lovely mindset with the Dane’s obsession with all things comfy and cozy, is credited as one of the reasons why Denmark is always rated at the top of the list of the world’s happiest countries. Fortunately, news has spread fast about the Dane’s secret to happiness, and the world is taking it all in and starting to incorporate the benefits of Hygge into their everyday lifestyle, home decor, and way of life. If your current home isn’t sufficient to bring you the joy of Hygge like you’re expecting, contact your local Denver Flat Fee Realtor to get the best support on starting your search for a new home. Continue reading below if you’d like a better understanding of the history, what it means to live a hygge life, and what isn’t hygge. 

History 

Hygge promotes the idea of a warm and cozy lifestyle, a concept that part of Danish culture since the early 1800s when the word first appeared in the written language. Essentially, it’s derived from a Norwegian word for “well-being”, similar to the German concept of gemütlichkeit, and the Dutch idea of gezelligheid. By 2017, the US had finally caught-up with the cozy craze and the concept of hygge began to be written and covered in publications like The New York Times and The New Yorker. It caught fire on social media and spread rapidly on Pinterest.“Pinterest 

predicted it would be one of the hottest home decor trends of 2017 after activity on the sit about “hygge” increased 285 percent at the end of 2016.” 

What Does It Mean To You?

Here are a few items that are considered to be hygge-like and that you can incorporate into your home: 

• Candles

• Fireplaces

• Throw Blankets

• Homemade sweets, comfort food, and hot drinks

What Isn’t Hygge You May Ask?

Danes are especially specific on what they consider Hygge and what they don’t. Here is a quick list of items and activities that you wouldn’t typically see a Dane obsessing over: 

• Staring at your phone all day

• Hibernating indoors alone all winter

• Strict rules

• Purchasing products just to be on-trend

If you’re interested in how you can indulge in the secrets of living a Hygge life, then we recommend picking up some light reading. “The Little Book of Hygge” Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking, CEO of The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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