Date Archives: July 2022

Part of making your house a home is getting to customize it with your interests. Put your personality and hobbies on display when you design a built-in bookshelf.

Built-in bookshelves complement your home, and you can use them as a focal point instead of furniture. Additionally, built-in bookshelves are customizable, easy to organize and make the space look bigger. Our real estate agents put together this guide to help you add built-in bookshelves after buying our Raleigh homes for sale to customize them to your taste.

1. Take Measurements
   Where would you like your bookshelf to be? Measure the room's height and width. Just like with any home improvement project, measuring multiple times is a good way to ensure a successful project. Most people prefer their built-in bookshelves to be by the window. So, check the window placement as well. If the room has no windows, you can place the bookshelf by the center. Next, come up with the bookcase details. How many columns and rows do you need on the shelf? What will be the width between partitions?
   
   
2. Gather Materials
   Pick out the materials you'd like to use for this home improvement project. Cut your wood to the dimensions of the bookcase details. Assemble the wood and use the glue sets to assemble the partitions.
   
   
3. Cut and Assemble the Shelves
   After assembling the partitions, let the glue dry as you cut the shelves. From the measurement of the first step, you have an idea of shelf length. You can make them an inch longer and trim them to ensure the perfect fit. Lengthening the shelves a little more makes it easy to align them perfectly.
   
   
4. Trim the Brackets
   Using a jigsaw, carefully cut out the brackets. You can use sandpaper to smoothen the carve. Mark any intersections, and use a pencil to draw a smooth line that will connect the dots. Then, cut out the shape using a jigsaw.
   
   
5. Build the Partition
   Since built-in bookshelves don't have enough weight to support them as other cabinet face frames do, nail the frame parts together. Nailing makes the bookshelf more stable.
   
   
6. Add Wall Cleats
   Use wall anchors and reliable construction adhesives to fasten wall cleats on your drywall. If you have carpeting on your floor, roll it back to avoid making a mess. If you don't have drywall, you can also check the right anchor to attach your wall cleats. The cleat helps support the partition and acts as a cleat for the bookshelf's fascia.
   
   
7. Fasten the Brackets, Fix the Nails, Sand, and Finish Off
   Tip the partitions carefully and one at a time to avoid scaring the ceiling. Then add the brackets by gluing them to the partition sides. Next, nail them to the partition and filet. Once you fix the nails, sand the wood and finish the bookcase. You can paint it in your desired color.

Are you ready to find your next home and customize it? Contact us with your needs and preference, and let us help make your search easier.

Enjoying art is a great way to momentarily escape the stresses of the day and experience something new. Art in the form of music or theater is important because it allows us to open our minds and connect to different perspectives and mindsets. Public art also helps add to the character, uniqueness, and identity of a city or public space.

Raleigh is such a unique place, and it's actually one of the best places in North Carolina to experience art and culture. Whether it's local performance venues or public street art, our culture and entertainment make this city such an enjoyable place to live. Here are 5 examples of ways our real estate agents experience art around Raleigh.

• Visit The North Carolina Museum of Art
  If you're looking to see some of the best artwork North Carolina has to offer, you'll definitely want to check out The North Carolina Museum of Art. The artwork spans 5,000 years, from historical pieces to modern-day works. The exhibits are constantly changing, so it's fun to stop back throughout the year. The museum sits on a 164-acre park, which features several outdoor trails that guide visitors through many creative installations. If you'd like to have this beautiful art museum in your own backyard, there are several nice Raleigh homes for sale nearby.
   
• Listen to The North Carolina Symphony
  Raleigh is home to the sixty-six-member North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, which performs throughout the year at the 1,700-seat Meymandi Concert Hall located within the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts downtown. The symphony often hosts world-renowned guest musicians, and listening to their beautiful music is often a great way to spend a weekend evening.
  
  
• Take a Self-Guided Downtown Murals Tour
  Raleigh has so many murals and public art installations, and a self-guided walking tour is the best way to see them all. You'll see the Shaw University 150th Anniversary mural, the "Honest Abe" Lincoln automobile mural at the Lincoln Theatre, and the amazing John Prine mural on E. Martin Street. There are 10 stops on the downtown mural tour, so you're sure to get some post-worthy pictures.
  
  
• Enjoy The North Carolina Ballet
  Nothing is more uplifting than a classical ballet performance, so head on over to the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium for a performance from the Carolina Ballet. You can see many classic stories performed through ballet during the year, including the Nutcracker every December.
  
  
• Catch a Concert at Coastal Credit Union Music Park
  This outdoor amphitheater is a 77-acre complex that hosts many top artists and performers throughout the summer. Some of North Carolina's biggest concerts take place at Coastal Credit Union Music Park. Be sure to check the concert calendar, so you don't miss out on your favorite performer. 

The Raleigh art scene is even better when you call this area home. Contact us today for more information on local listings and tips for moving to the area.

Looking for doggy daycare here in the Triangle? Our real estate agents can help you find it!

Whether you're looking at Raleigh homes for sale or homes in other area communities, it's no secret that many of our customers love their dogs. When it's time to compare all of the property options, an ample backyard for Fido to enjoy is often a key consideration.

Sooner or later, though, you might find that you need to travel and you aren't able to bring your beloved pooch. Airfare for dogs can be very expensive, and some road trips are just too long for them. And if you happen to be traveling by bus or Amtrak, not all vehicles are equipped to have them on board.

Likewise, boarding options might come in handy if you are selling your home in Raleigh. While lots of people love pets, they may not want them underfoot during a showing. And you never know if your prospective buyers may have an allergy to dogs or even a phobia.

Let's take a look at just a few of the many comfortable options available:

• Dog Holiday Resort – 830 L Purser Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603
  Dog Holiday Resort is open regular hours to help pets with lots of energy stay engaged while you're on your trip. Curbside service is available, and the facility is held to the highest sanitary standards. All dogs are welcome, from pups to seniors – simply disclose any special needs to get the appropriate attention.
  
  
• Dog Tales – 1204 Patterson Road, Durham, NC 27704
  For dog daycare near Durham homes for sale, check out Dog Tales. Dogs who visit here are kept safe and comfortable, fed according to your exact instructions, and have medications administered at no extra cost. Safe and fun playgroup sessions are held daily, and you'll also receive regular updates.
  
  
• Knightdale Pet Resort – 7633 Knightdale Boulevard, Knightdale, NC 27545
  For a dog daycare option near Knightdale homes for sale, many pet owners look to their local name: Knightdale Pet Resort. Dogs and cats are both welcome here and are looked after according to best practices in pet care. With these local animal behavior experts, your pet is in good and safe hands.
  
  
• Canine Country Club and Pet Hotel – 8320 Litchford Road, Suite #118, Raleigh, NC 27615
  Canine Country Club and Pet Hotel is the place that promises to treat your pet like one of the family. This highly reputed local business not only looks after dogs, but it also provides grooming, boarding, and training. All of its add-on services can be performed while your dog is enjoying doggy daycare in Raleigh.
  
  
• Audrey's Barkyard – 3129 Heritage Trade Drive Unit #104, Wake Forest, NC 27587
  Promising love, experience, and care for all of your favorite canine friends, Audrey's Barkyard is a top pick for reliable doggy daycare near Wake Forest homes for sale. Audrey's offers a full suite of pet care services including boarding for dogs and cats, pet grooming, dog training, and pet fostering.

Contact us to find out more about real estate opportunities here in the Triangle.

Looking for a culinary adventure right here in your own Raleigh neighborhood?

Our real estate agents can help you find it!

Raleigh homes for sale are set in a vibrant and picturesque city that's full of history. Explore a bit, and you'll discover some amazing stories. That's just as true of the thriving culinary scene. 

Raleigh's own "home-cooked" restaurant brands often have captivating histories of their own. When they're situated right in a historic building, that makes the ambiance even better. No matter if you're the world's biggest foodie or a history buff for the ages, you can have a satisfying experience.

Here's just a little taste of some of the best historical restaurants Raleigh has to offer:

• Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern – 330 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
  Located in the historic Dodd-Hinsdale House (completed 1879), Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern is a thrilling combination of history, atmosphere, and gourmet cuisine. A rich, seasonal menu showcases local produce and ingredients, while the wine list is second to none. There's even an attached tavern – a lively spot for refreshment after work that functions as a "restaurant within a restaurant."
  
  
• 42nd Street Oyster Bar and Seafood Grill – 508 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
  42nd Street Oyster Bar and Seafood Grill is a famous landmark restaurant that attracts visitors from all over the United States. From humble beginnings all the way back in 1931, it was once a simple grocery store that focused on oysters and draft beer. In 1987, it experienced a resurgence under the leadership of new owner Thad Eure, Jr., whose partners continue to lead it as a top seafood selection.
  
  
• Poole's – 426 South McDowell Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
  Poole's bills itself as a modern take on comfort food, reimagining the classics with "creative, simple offerings, carefully executed." With a legacy that stretches all back to a 1945 founder's inspiration by Winston Churchill, it has recently returned to its diner roots under Executive Chef Ashley Christensen. You'll be surrounded by retro-chic charm as you savor hearty foods and a full selection of dessert pies.
  
  
• Shorty's Famous Hot Dogs – 214 South White Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587
  Lots of places have "Famous" in the name, but Shorty's Famous Hot Dogs can point to more than 100 years as one of North Carolina's leaders in the classic American hot dog. Around since 1916, it pairs its dogs with good conversation and an intriguing history all within a short drive of Wake Forest homes for sale. Still led by the same family, it also has a range of sandwiches and burgers "grilled to perfection" and topped with all of your fresh favorites.
  
  
• Clyde Cooper's BBQ – 327 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
  Clyde Cooper's BBQ first made its mark back in 1938 and has been bringing in the crowds ever since. Recently announcing extended hours in response to rising demand, it is often open until the evening, sometimes running out of food early. Clyde Cooper's massive portions of smoky, satisfying meat are intended for dinner tonight and breakfast and lunch the next day, so you'll never go hungry.

Contact us to find out more about North Carolina real estate today.