An Intro to Art Deco

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An Intro to Art Deco

If there is one thing that Miami is known for other than its beaches, it’s the prevalence of art deco style in the area.

Art deco has been described as a “style of contradictions” according to an article on The Spectator. It is a visual arts, architecture, and design style that is characterized by looking modern (but not being Modernist), frivolous but austere, and individual yet universal. It is this set of contradictions that make the design appealing because it essentially blends just about everything to give people what they are looking for. And it’s in Miami, which this style has really come to the fore.

Miami has kept the 1920s Parisian architecture motif alive in the city. The photos presented in this artice by Miami Beach USA can serve as your inspiration in redecorating your home in art deco style.

This “anything goes” motif is what makes giving your home an art deco makeover less of a challenge, as opposed to renovating it following a different style. Nonetheless, there are some characteristics of art deco that you will need to remember when giving your home a makeover.

According to an article on The Spruce, art deco is characterized by strong geometric shapes and angular lines. However, what would otherwise be austere to the point of being harsh is somewhat countered by the incorporation of styles from other cultures, such as Greco-Roman, Egyptian, or Asian.

An article on Mental Floss, meanwhile says that art deco tends to use chrome, stainless steel, and inlaid wood, so accents in your home can use these materials. It also makes use of bold patterns, such as zebra print, zigzags, and big curves. This can be incorporated in your home via murals with bold patterns.

If these are too bold for you, you can instead repaint your home, or dress up your home by using colors traditionally associated with the art deco style as accents. Art deco color schemes can be categorized into three: bold (ranging from emerald green and canary yellow to scarlet red); metallic, which can include the gradients of black and white; and neutrals (cream, beige, and taupe).

In terms of the actual layout, rooms done in art deco style usually have one object in the room serving as the centerpiece. Polished hardwoods can be set against neutral settings, the rich browns of the furniture drawing the eye. Metallic accents, such as bronze or burnished steel, can also be used as décor to mimic the era, not to mention adding a touch of glamor in the room. It would be good if all your metallic accents are made from the same material for a consistent look. These can be set to a background in a neutral shade, to the point of being severe, to make these accents pop.

Alternatively, you can do the exact opposite by using bold colors for your background and neutral/light-colored items as your accent pieces. Do not combine a bold color for your background with statement pieces, as this will be too much.

Furniture to Complement Your Paint Job

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Furniture to Complement Your Paint Job

Imagine a situation where you were given carte blanche to create the space of your dreams. In this space you can choose the paint color, type, and texture. You can choose the type of windows, furniture, and accessories or electronics you want to include. You can even pick out rugs, lamps, tables, and more. In this situation, the sky’s the limit. Sound overwhelming? That’s because it is overwhelming. Having to put together an entire room or space can take time, research, and in most cases, money.

But for argument’s sake let’s narrow it down a bit and try to make the choice a little less overwhelming. Let’s imagine the room you have in mind is already painted and has a spattering of furniture, including a basic desk with no drawers, a television on a TV stand, a recliner, a coffee table, and a love seat. In this situation, you’ll want to remove the recliner, love seat, and desk to rearrange the room so that it has a more open feel. Imagine what your options are. Will you get a regular sofa? Will you get a sectional? What color will the furniture be? How will it match your current paint? How will what you buy make the room feel? Not as easy as it sounds, is it?

We love painting. To us, painting goes beyond just refinishing kitchen cabinets or painting a room or space and leaving. For us, painting is part of establishing a greater aura that influences how the room will look and feel. When we consult with you, we take into account your goal for the job. In many cases, we do work for those who are flipping houses, selling houses, moving into a new house, or completely repainting a space for any number of reasons. One of the more frequently asked questions we get is how to pick out furniture to make the new space not only work with the paint color and texture chosen, but to feel or look a certain way as well. With that in mind, we wanted to suggest a few tips to use when picking out furniture to help enhance your space and make it work with your new paint job.

 

 

Purpose
We want to be clear that we are not recommending any furniture company over another. Where you buy will be dictated by many choices, including your budget. In this situation, we refer to LazyBoy because they have a wide range of options that help us make our point. You see, when you’re looking to buy furniture for your space one of the first things you need to figure out is why. Is your space for decoration, random use, or everyday use? Are you looking to create a man cave, home office, or baby’s play room? Knowing this will help you narrow down your furniture choices. If you look at LazyBoy’s site, you’ll realize that the options are endless. You can choose sectional sofas and remove and add parts. You can accessorize lamps, rugs, end tables, and more. You can choose your fabric color and texture. And you can even choose power features that will blow your mind. Knowing why you want to furnish a space will help you narrow down your options and have a clearer goal in mind. From here, you can match the furniture you choose to your existing paint job or pick the paint based on the furniture you choose.

Which Comes First?

Which comes first, the furniture or the paint? That is completely up to you. Some people choose to paint first and match the furniture to it. Some people go with a neutral color so any pieces of furniture will work. Others choose to pick the furniture first and match the paint accordingly to either compliment the furniture or contrast it. You have to decide which way you want to go, and there is no right or wrong choice. It is a matter of preference. Certain factors will dictate this too. Depending on your budget, the size of the space, and the purpose for it, you may just choose to keep the paint neutral, pick the furniture that serves your purpose, and paint last. In the end, you or your potential buyers need to love the space, so it’s your call. But we are here to help if you need it.

Take it Slow

Depending on why you need to furnish, you may need to move at different speeds. However, no matter what the case is, you should take your time. Rushing to find furniture and get it set up can lead to buying the wrong size or type of furniture, shoddy furniture, or furniture that does not match your purpose or paint scheme. Thus, take your time to do the research, visit some stores, and piece things together, even if it takes years. To get it right is priceless. To rush and throw good money away is reckless.

 

Use a Pro

We put this tip last because it is the best. Some people hear “hire an interior designer” and think it’s just too expensive. But this could not be further from the truth. Some stores like LazyBoy have full-time interior designers that will come into your home, learn about what you need, take measurements, and then meet with you in the store a few days later to show you your options. They will take your paint choices into consideration, whether you painted already or are about to. Plus, they show you a 3D mockup of what your space will look like from an aerial and eye level point of view. They can exchange pieces of furniture to show you different options as well. To find an interior designer, check your local furniture store or read this.

Make the Investment

While some pieces of furniture are for accent or decoration only, and a minimal budget is okay, some pieces deserve the financial investment. This holds especially true when it comes to pieces that will be used on a regular basis, such as couches, recliners, kitchen furniture, and beds. The more you pay for furniture, in general, the better quality construction and durability you will get. This keeps your furniture in great shape for a long time and from consequently ruining any part of your paint job by staying away from the walls.

 

Other Furniture Buying Suggestions:

● Mark visuals on the floor where furniture will go to get a better idea of what it will look like
● Make sure measurements are correct, including the doorway, to ensure the furniture can get in your house
● Use the room’s natural design to pick furniture. A fireplace in a living room, for example, may call for more rustic furniture
● Consider stain-resistant fabrics
● Ensure your pieces complement each other
● Consider your theme (modern, casual, etc.)
● Start with the basics that will go in that room and add accessories from there

Picking the right furniture is critical to complementing your paint job and creating the best possible space for your needs. When picking your furniture, you want to consider many factors. You want to hone in on your use for the room, such as whether you will match the paint to the furniture or the furniture to the paint, take your time, use an interior decorator, know how much you are willing to invest in your furniture, and know what your other considerations are. Taking all of this into account will help you get the best return on your investment and a room that complements your paint job to help it all come together magnificently.

 

Adding Curb Appeal to Your Home

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Adding Curb Appeal to Your Home

As the saying goes, first impressions matter. As much as we may not want this to be true, it is a fact of life. And this also applies when it comes to selling or just improving the look and feel of your home for any reason. In fact, According to the National Association of Realtors, 63 percent of homebuyers will drop by after viewing a home they like online. That means they like what they saw at first glance, and they want to see the home in person. The question is, what will they see? We have some ideas on how to add curb appeal to your home for selling or just because.

Curb Appeal Starts Online

According to the National Association of Realtors, “89 percent of buyers found photos and 85 percent found detailed information about properties for sale very helpful.” This means that curb appeal starts online with the photos you post. Therefore, you will want to take photos in good light. Avoid bright light, and ensure there is no clutter in the image. Take several photos of each area you are posting and view them as a buyer would. Post only the best online. Hiring a professional photographer is an option as well. First impressions matter in the digital world.

Act Like A Buyer

Walk around the exterior of your home like you are buying it. Bring a friend or neighbor with you for objective feedback. Take notes of what needs cleaning, replacing, fixing, or removing. Then get in your car and drive by your home both ways. You may see something you never noticed, like a ball on the roof.

Lookup

Many homeowners ignore the roof in the curb appeal process. But, the roof is important. Loose shingles, cluttered gutters, or a ding or streak can be a sign the house has issues. Therefore, get a roofer to take a look if you are not comfortable climbing up yourself. Do not ignore the roof.

Number Appeal

Ever go looking for a house you were invited to and could not find it because it had no visible numbers? Then you know that if buyers cannot find your house, you will not get sales. Make sure you have house numbers that stick out and shine. Consider the style of your home and either match it or contrast it, but ensure you can clearly see the numbers by night and during the day.

Second Opinions

The more time we spend in homes, the more we accept certain aspects, such as a crack in the sidewalk, that patch of grass that will not grow, or the off-putting mailbox that just never seemed that important. It could even be something as small as chipped paint from banging the keys against the door trying to open it. A second set of eyes can help point out these small things so you can fix them to give your house the best possible curb appeal.

Other Ideas to Improve Curb Appeal:

● Pressure wash dirty siding and decks
● Spruce up your porch, windows, containers, and front beds with plants
● Open up your windows and shutters to let light in and make sure they are uniform in color
● Light up your walkway with solar lights
● Paint the front door, trim, or shutters
● Add items such as new mailboxes, outdoor furniture, and garden accents

We love driving through the neighborhoods of the Treasure Coast and seeing all the beautiful homes with curb appeal. And we would love to help improve yours to sell or just to feel fresh. Contact us today to get a second opinion on your home exterior, including a consultation for painting portions or the entire exterior of your home to maximize it’curb appeal.

The Benefits of Painting

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The Benefits of Painting

Painting is one of those things you either love or hate. For some, it is messy, dirty, and hard work. Yet, for others, it is blissful, an escape, and something to look forward to. We love painting, so you can guess which side of the argument we fall on. However, we realize not everyone is aware of the many mental and physical and health benefits painting provides. Whether it is painting your house, which is our passion, painting a model car, or painting on canvas, we think painting can help you in so many ways. Below are just a few key ways painting helps you physically and emotionally.

Improved Creativity

Painting is a creative process. Just by looking at the picture in this blog post, you can envision the imagination used to create such work. For those who are more creative, painting enhances creativity and keeps it sharp. For those more analytical folks, painting can help stimulate and improve creativity. Painting is especially important to children. While they are in the developmental stages, painting can help their brain development, which can lead to better academic and social success.

Improved Memory

Painting helps improve memory by boosting recall skills. This is why you will see painting classes for seniors or those with mental impairments widely available. Painting helps sharpen the skills of memory because as you paint you have to remember the patterns and strokes to use. This can translate into better memory at work or in life in general. Some research shows painting may help keep dementia away.

Stress Relief

This is one of the major benefits of painting. For some, painting becomes a trance-like experience where all the worries, fears, and external pressures of the world disappear as they get lost in the project. It is well documented that stress can be a contributor to disease. Releasing stress is good for everyone! It certainly does not hurt to paint outside in nature either, which can double the relaxation. Especially here in the beautiful Treasure Coast.

Feeling Positive

The cumulative effect of painting is feeling better about oneself. After working on a project, and seeing it in its final state, one can only feel excited and proud of themselves. Plus, when painting, you are doing physical movement and are engaged. This can make you feel good as well.
Oh, the Exercise

Painting burns calories, especially when it involves large spaces such as a room of a house. In addition, it will help make your muscles stronger, create muscular endurance, and perhaps some muscle tone if you do it on a regular basis. We know because we paint year round! Plus, when exercising, your body releases feel good chemicals to the body, which can help improve mood.

Other benefits of painting include the following:

● Release hidden emotions
● Increase emotional intelligence
● Improve mobility
● Increase observation skills

We love painting. We want you to love painting too. Painting can improve memory, make you feel better, and help you get some exercise. It is great for the growth of children, as we have seen in our own children who paint with us. So, if you want to get started experiencing the benefits of painting, contact us to see how we can help!

Why Investing Your Tax Refund in Repainting Your House Makes Sense

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Why Investing Your Tax Refund in Repainting Your House Makes Sense

It’s that magical time of year again. No, it’s not summer, spring, New Year’s, or the holidays. It’s tax time! But, why do we get the feeling you’re not jumping with joy? Taxes do evoke a certain ill feeling in a lot of us. After all, Benjamin Franklin said it best, “The only things certain in life are death and taxes.” As good citizens, we know it’s our duty to pay our taxes. While the excitement of anticipating a refund can make us feel giddy, it’s really what we can do with that extra money that gets us the most excited.

While some choose to pay down debt, purchase new clothing or other luxury items, go on vacation, or pad the college fund for the children, there are many ways to spend your tax return. We love painting, which is why we believe the best place to spend your tax refund is on repainting portions or the entirety of your house.

According to Saving to Invest, the estimated average tax refund for this year is $2,840. According to Home Advisor, “The average cost to paint a house nationally is $2,581 and most pay between $1,714 and $3,682.” This range depends on the size of the house and what part is being painted, but it gives you an idea of the general cost. According to Consumer Reports, painting multiple rooms in your house can increase your potential return from 1 to 3%. Fixing the exterior of the house, including painting, can yield a 2 to 5% potential return when you sell. According to Trulia, the average home cost in Port St. Lucie, FL is $200,000. Your range of potential returns when investing in painting portions of the interior and exterior of your house can range from $4,000 to $10,000. That’s not a bad ROI (return on investment) when you look at the hard facts. Even if you’re not planning to sell right away, we believe you should invest your refund in the repainting process.

We recognize these are all averages and that numbers change based on house size, location, when you sell, and many other factors. However, even if you adjust your calculations, you’ll still come out on the winning end. If you live in a smaller house that may sell for less, it will cost less to repaint. If you live in a larger house, it may be more expensive to repaint, but you will be able to sell it for more. Any way you look at it, investing your refund in repainting your house is a win-win situation. Rather than purchasing something that will depreciate over time, invest in a property that will gain value over time.

Contact us today to see how we can turn your tax return into the best investment possible!

5 House Painting Apps Worth Your Time

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5 House Painting Apps Worth Your Time

Madonna once sang, “I am a material girl, and I live in a material world.” If we were to re-write those lyrics today, they would read, “I am a digital girl, and I live in a digital world.” As of 2016, according to Statista, the Apple app store had over 2.2 million apps. That is a lot of apps. And when it comes to painting your house, that is not a bad thing. With all the apps, there are many that can help you plan and prepare for a new painting project. Whether you are spot painting, looking to refinish cabinets, painting a single room, or painting the entire interior or exterior of your house, as the saying goes, “There is an app for that.” We wanted to share our five favorite painting apps to help you with your next project.
Color Connect
By Valspar
This app by Valspar lets you explore their paint colors, which are available at Lowe’s, ACE, or independent retailers. The paint calculator helps you estimate how much paint you’ll need for your project.

In addition, you can upload photos and get advice from a color consultant via live video, audio, or e-mail. Plus, The app also provides how-to videos to help get your project off the ground.

Note: You can’t save your paint colors and there’s no search, so navigation can be tricky.

Color Smart
By Behr Mobile
This app comes with a function that lets you search for a shade by name, number, or color family. Plus, you take a picture or select an existing one from your library, and the app will match that color with an existing Behr color.

The app’s preview function allows you to virtually paint a handful of rooms by simply clicking on a color and then the wall you’d like to see the color on. It’s handy to see what the paint looks like in a room. Be careful with this feature though because it’s not your house and the design elements will be very different.

With the Behr app, you can save projects, colors, pallets, and paint calculations so that you can come back to your work later. While we love this for exploring colors and what they may look like in a room, it does not replace trying out paint samples in the actual room you wish to paint.

Paint My Place
Paint My Place is the only app that is not connected to a major paint company. You can explore across three brands: Benjamin Moore, Dulux, and Farrow & Ball.

You can take or upload an existing photo of the space you’re going to paint and paint it virtually. You choose the paint and color to do this with.

However, the painting feature is not the most precise. You may wind up painting a portion of a room or a house object you did not intend to due to the inaccuracy of the feature.
But, this function is designed to give you an idea of what a color is going to look like so in that vein, it is useful.

Note: Being free, the app comes with adds. However, you can upgrade to the paid version for $2.99 and get the option to save work and share it. This is only available for Apple devices.

Color Capture
By Benjamin Moore
The app will match the colors in any photo and also show the next four closest shades.

While you are scanning through the various Benjamin Moore colors, you can save, e-mail, post to Facebook, or tweet out the color you find. You can let your friends on social media help decide what color to use if you like.

Note: The colors look much different on the screen than they do in real life. This is fairly universal with digital paint samples. The brightness and resolution of your screen can play a role in this discrepancy.

Color Snap
By Sherwin-Williams
With Sherwin-Williams’s Color Snap, you can create color palettes and match colors to a photo in your phone. The app’s color-match feature will automatically pick out the colors in the photo that it can match and then create a palette with those colors. The app also allows you to click on a certain color to match and the palette will include a selection of complementary colors.

You can view each color in a room example. Like other apps, it is great to see what a color will look like on a wall, it is just not your wall.

We Love Painting. These apps can help you in your planning and preparation process. Contact us to see how we can make your app creations a reality!

5 Ways to Pick the Right Paint for the Job

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5 Ways to Pick the Right Paint for the Job

One look at the paint choices for your house painting job can send you into a fainting spell. Colors within a color family cover every possible shade within that family, from very light to dark. Trying to understand this can cause headaches that won’t go away for some time. Add to this all the different styles of painting that exist and it becomes too much to consider. That is why at We Love Painting, we wanted to share 5 ways to choose the right color for your paint job, whether it’s an interior or exterior job.

Start with an Inspiration

This may sound counterintuitive, but don’t pick the paint color first. You want to consider some other things before you pick your paint color. One of them is inspiration. Much like the great artists who look for inspiration in objects, nature, and people, you too can find inspiration everywhere. From online searches and social networks to visiting home shows, inspiration is everywhere. Some people find their color based on a Starbucks coffee color, a blanket for their child, or a design on a plate.

Keep It Neutral

This doesn’t mean you should paint your house a boring color. Decide what you want the focal point of the room or area you are painting to be. If it’s the ceiling, for example, go bold on the sample. If you choose to go bold in one area, then you want to keep the other areas neutral in order to balance things out. Neutral colors work everywhere.
Use Testers

Buy testers in different shades and colors, and paint them in patches to see how they look during different times of the day. Leave them up for at least a week, but beware that testing on white walls can throw the color off. If you have to use larger swatches of color testers, they are widely available at affordable prices. It’s worth the small cost to avoid spending money on gallons of paint and realizing you don’t like your choice. Plus, you can use the testers to touch up smaller areas of your home as well.

Test Against Furniture and Fabrics

Don’t paint your furniture! Instead, paint poster board and place it near your furniture or fabrics. This way you can see what your choice will look like. If it doesn’t match, see if the undertones go nicely with your furniture. You are not painting an empty room and leaving it that way. You want your choice to make everything in the room coordinate or be complemented by it.

Ask for Help

As you can see, this is not an easy choice. It can be vexing at times, so ask for help when you need it. This could mean going into a paint store and speaking to a professional, having a paint company like ours come out for a consultation, or hiring a personal stylist to help you plan. It could also mean speaking to family members or friends and getting their feedback. You don’t have to do this alone to get it right.

We make it a priority to ensure you choose the right paint when you work with us. That’s why we consult with you first, go over your options, show you sample colors, and make recommendations along the way. Contact us to pick your ideal paint color today!

5 Signs It’s Time to Repaint the Outside of Your House

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It’s no secret that painting your house can boost your home value and give it a fresh look. When you paint the outside of your house, you have the opportunity to fix any dings or structural issues during the process. Plus, you’ll also remove old paint that is unsightly. Repainting your house makes your neighborhood feel fresh and more enjoyable to come home to. For these reasons, painting the outside of your house is worth the investment. Below are 5 ways to tell when it’s time to repaint the outside of your house.

Peeling and Cracking Paint

When you see paint peeling or cracking, it’s telling you something important: moisture is seeping beneath the paint. When this occurs, it could be a sign of more damage beneath. Moisture, after all, is the main cause of mold, and it can lead to structural damage over time. When you see peeling or cracking paint, it’s not only time to consider repainting but also time to get your house inspected for other issues such as mold.

What Is Your House Made Of?

Depending on the material used to build your house, you can use that as a time frame for repainting your house. For example, wood surfaces need to be repainted every 3-7 years, aluminum siding every 5 years, stucco every 5-6 years, and cement fiberboard and bricks every 12-13 years. Non-painted bricks should be power washed frequently. What your house is made of matters when it comes to repainting the outside.

Trim Is in Decay

The trim around your windows and doors may need to be repainted more frequently than the outside of your house itself. This is because the trim around doors and windows takes more of a beating due to frequent use. If you see decay in your trim paint, it’s time to repaint this portion of your house. This not only keeps your house looking good, it also keeps your windows and doors protected from the elements as paint is a first line of defense.

Fading Color

If your paint is fading, it’s a sign of sun damage. This damage weakens the protective capacity of the paint and is a tell-tale sign that it’s time to repaint your house.

Your House Is Older Than 5 Years

When a new house is built, a single layer of paint is applied. After 5 years, it’s time for another layer of paint to ensure the house is protected and well maintained. This will ensure you keep that new-home look and feel for at least 5 more years.

Other Signs It’s Time to Repaint:

● Gaps or shrinks in the boards of your house
● Cracking stucco
● Cracking caulk

We love painting the outside of houses! It gives us joy to see a house newly painted, looking and smelling fresh. We take pride in making the outside of your house something worth looking at every day. Contact us today for a free consultation.

5 Reasons to Buy a Home in the Treasure Coast

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5 Reasons to Buy a Home in the Treasure Coast

When you read the words “Treasure Coast,” you may think of gold. And you wouldn’t be wrong for thinking this. The Treasure Coast, a region on the Atlantic coast of Florida, was named so because of lost treasure that can be found offshore. Although this may be how it got its name, it’s definitely not a reason to move here. In fact, if you come looking for actual gold, you’ll be quite disappointed. However, if you are looking for metaphorical gold, you’ll be overjoyed. Buying a home in the Treasure Coast is a great investment that’ll make you feel like you struck gold for many reasons.

 

The Indian River Lagoon Is One Reason to Buy a Home in the Treasure Coast

 

It’s a Natural Beauty

 

The Treasure Coast is comprised of beaches, nature preserves, abundant sunshine, and more trails to walk than you can imagine. One main attraction is a nature preserve that is 11,500 acres and makes you feel like you stepped back in time. In addition, the Indian River Lagoon has its own beautiful views and animals to behold. No matter how you slice it, when you buy a house here you’re buying a piece of nature itself.

 

Family Friendly

 

Treasure Coast is fun for everyone. From beaches to fun places to eat, there’s something here for everyone. One of the more fun kid-friendly attractions is Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. It has lots of Disney magic, and you’ll feel like you’re at Disneyland without having to travel as far. Plus, there’s a water park, lots of nature learning centers, fruit farms, museums, and so much more. You’ll never find yourself running out of weekend activities for the family here.

 

Oh, the Weather!

 

The annual average temperature in Stuart, Florida, one of the cities in the Treasure Coast, is 74 degrees. You can generally wear short sleeves and shorts year round. Imagine leaving your house in sandals on the weekend, all year round. This alone is worth its weight in gold. The total amount of days with sun in Florida can run as high as 266 days of the year. Imagine the possibilities of life with such wonderful weather.

 

What a Deal

 

With such proximity to the ocean and nature, living in the Treasure Coast is a steal of a deal. According to Zillow, the average cost of a home in Stuart, Florida is $209,100, while the average rent price is $1,400. You just cannot beat this value.

 

All the Little Things

 

There are so many little reasons to buy a home in the Treasure Coast. Stuart, Florida is a prime example of this. The unemployment rate is below 5%, and the average commute is 22 minutes long. It has a small population, is business friendly, spends an average of $11,000 per student, and out of a crime scale of 1 to 100 where 100 is the worst, it scores a 29, which is low and consists of non-violent crimes. What’s not to love about this place?

 

The Treasure Coast is indeed like striking gold. Buying a home here is something you will not regret and will enjoy immensely. The area is great for families, is nature centric, and has fantastic weather as well as all the little things that make you go “wow!” That is why we love painting on the Treasure Coast and why you will love living here!