North Shore Views

Tripping the Light Fantastic in Wilmette

At our house we have gotten a little lax in the Christmas decorating department, and at this point I’m wondering when we’ll even have time to go get the Christmas tree between hockey games and pageant rehearsals. But luckily for us, most of our neighbors take this decorating thing a bit more seriously and we can enjoy their Christmas lights. One neighbor, in particular, puts on a display worth going out of your way to see. It’s grown every year and has gotten so popular that this year they set their lights to music and invited everyone over to munch on cookies and drink hot cocoa while enjoying the show. Even Santa stopped by to hear last minute gift requests from neighborhood kids.

Steve Maris, a self-proclaimed Christmas junkie, has been decorating with lights every year, adding more and more to his collection each Christmas. At this point he has about 30,000 lights on his house and garage, in the trees and all over the yard. In the past year he has spent countless hours programming the lights to blink to the music until he had a two hour long show. It truly is an awesome sight and will put even the most Scrooge-like person in the Christmas spirit. You can get a taste of it here:

Want to check out Steve Maris’ handiwork in person? The show will go on nightly through Christmas at 1200 Cleveland Street in Wilmette, but don’t count on hot cocoa or cookies unless you bring them yourself. And Santa has headed back to the North Pole to prepare for the big night.

Tags: Christmas light shows, holiday decorating

Selling Your Home This Holiday Season? Decorating Dos and Don'ts

To decorate or not to decorate…it can be a real dilemma for home sellers.

Your real estate agent has probably told you to make your house as neutral as possible so it will appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers. On the other hand, you want to make your home feel warm and inviting so that buyers can picture themselves living there. With those two things in mind, here are some dos and don’ts for keeping your house show-ready during the holidays:

Do decorate, but think seasonal vs. holiday. Seasonal wreaths, garlands and greenery will make your house feel festive and inviting, without being too reflective of your personal taste. Red poinsettias in baskets also add a nice punch of color and can liven up a room during dreary winter months. Just make sure to throw them out when they start to get leggy and lose their leaves. Dying plants are a big no-no.

Don’t display religious items like nativity scenes, menorahs, etc. These can be a turn off to buyers who do not share your family’s faith traditions.

Do keep pots or planters outside the front entry updated with seasonal plants: mums in fall, evergreens in winter, and pansies in early spring. Don’t leave them empty and forgotten just because it’s cold out. They may be the only bright spot in an otherwise bleak landscape.

Don’t go crazy with outdoor decorations. Give your rooftop Santa and reindeer a year off and settle for some simple white lights (non-blinking, please!) on the bushes or a tree. Leave the icicle lights in storage.

Do have a Christmas tree if your family celebrates Christmas and you have children in the house. But you may want to lighten up on Sally and Tommy’s handmade decorations this year and stick with more generic ornaments. Take the tree down the day after Christmas.

Don’t put presents under the tree as that will make the space look smaller and feel cluttered.

Do put several indoor lights on timers to go on as soon as it gets dark (especially in the front rooms of the house). The house will give off a warm glow and provide added curb appeal to buyers who drive by in the evening. And make sure the porch or entry lights are working and turned on when the sun goes down.

Don’t have your marketing photos taken when holiday decorations are up. If your house lingers on the market into the spring, you don’t want to have to take new photos.

Tags: holiday decorating, home selling tips, preparing your home to sell, Real estate