July 2017

The Craftsman, or Arts and Crafts Movement, began as a reaction to the industrial age and Victorian homes of the era . In Europe, they strove to bring attention back to the detail that only hand crafted design brings; in America, they had larger plans. The simple structures adorned with such precise decorative arts and living in harmony with their natural environments would assure the middle class that they too were worthy of such beautiful homes.

One famous designer of this movement was David Owen Dryden, who ushered the craftsman style bungalows into San Diego’s Balboa Park. Dryden’s opportunity came when large scale homes and commercial buildings dominated the more well-known architects of the region around 1911-1912. His homes typified the Arts and

When Nook Experts match a buyer with their dream home, the only thing as important as architectural style is the neighborhood. That’s why we’re bringing you the #NookNeighborhoods series, where every Wednesday you’ll find cool history and culture to make sure you don’t overlook an area that could have the best nook for you.

We recently announced how happy we are to add the Alex & Joe - Miami Luxury Real Estate Team to the Nook Family of real estate experts. You’ll see some more exciting stories about the Miami-Dade area right here on the blog, starting with one of our favorite Nook Neighborhoods, Coconut Grove!

Have you heard of “island time”? That’s how to describe the feeling when you experience Coconut Grove. There’s so much to do and not a big

Here at Nook, we have a passion for people, places, and properties. There is a reason that we say people first, for what makes a neighborhood special if not the people who live there? Welcome to #TastemakerTuesday, where we’ll feature the visionaries in our favorite nooks who are dedicated to building a better community through their talents.

There’s that famous bit in L.A. Story when Steve Martin gets into his car to drive three houses down the block. Then the other great scene in Swingers when all four friends drive from one bar to another in four separate cars. It’s a stereotype of Los Angeles more well known than the casting couch; it’s a song and it’s a movie.

Nobody walks in L.A.

Except, they do. Many, many people walk in L.A, and take the

Wednesday was opening day at the Del Mar Race Track, and you know what that means…

Stylish hats? That’s right, The Del Mar Race Track’s Opening Day Hats Contest has been a staple for years, with five categories: Most Glamorous, Best Racing Theme, Most Outrageous, Best Fascinator and Flowers/Other. Some take the opportunity to celebrate their favorite San Diego hot spots; others spend hours learning a new skill to create the perfect homage; or you can go simple and just make a hat out of betting slips.

The hat contest brings a bit of extra fun to the race track, and it’s all part of the massive rebranding the Del Mar Race Track accomplished in the early 2000s. With the tag line “Cool as Ever,” their marketing and programming goes way beyond its

When Nook Real Estate Experts match a buyer with their dream home, the only thing as important as architectural style is the neighborhood. Luckily, each neighborhood in our regions has its own distinct flavor to find your perfect match. That’s why we’re bringing you the #NookNeighborhoods series, where every Wednesday you’ll find cool history and culture to make sure you don’t overlook an area that could have the best nook for you.

I was converted to the other side

From the day I'd gotten there

-Lenny Kravitz, “California”

There’s a mist of nostalgia over Venice Beach, despite the eternal sun and consistently mild weather. Its personality evolves with the times, but always maintains an image of the quintessential beach town for the young

Here at Nook, we have a passion for people, places and properties. Welcome to #TastemakerTuesday, where we’ll feature the visionaries in our favorite nooks who are dedicated to building a better community through their talents.

Downtown L.A. may have some great speakesies, but to find Costa Mesa’s spots, you have to navigate through an industrial area for the quite literal diamond in the rough: The Boathouse Collective.

Clay Peterson grew up in Costa Mesa. He’s raising his family there, and at one point worked full-time while creating art and music in a warehouse off the beaten track, among factories and storage facilities. His vision for an art and recording studio that hosted local bands wasn’t paying the bills, so he transformed the space. In

When we brought you the highlights to living in San Diego’s Gaslamp District, it was clear that the annual Comic-Con event needed its own nook. Every July, over 100,000 celebrities, artists, and professional cosplayers descend upon San Diego, and spend nearly $85 million in direct spending.

How did that happen? Back in 1973, 300 comic book lovers met in the basement of the U.S. Grand Hotel, officially starting the first SDCC, or San Diego Comic-Con. Maybe they knew it had a lot of potential to grow. The founders did always keep the comic books convention tied to pop culture. I’m not sure anyone predicted that they would have to cap the attendance at 130,000 or that hundreds of thousands of hopefuls would wake up early and refresh their computer screens

When Nook Experts match a buyer with their dream home, the only thing as important as architectural style is the neighborhood. Luckily, each neighborhood in our regions has its own distinct flavor, and it won’t be hard to find your perfect match. That’s why we’re bringing you the #NookNeighborhoods series, where every Wednesday you’ll find cool history and culture to make sure you don’t overlook an area that could have the best nook for you.

You can probably guess that a place like Long Beach has some of the best seafood in SoCal, but that’s not all, not by a long shot. Whether you need a classy happy hour to take a client or a brunch for the whole family, you can find it here.

• Royal Cup Cafe. 994 Redondo Ave.  Regulars have their favorite

Are you uninspired by your house or apartment hunt? Tired of the same old ground-plan and beige walls? Want to live in the middle of the action?

It’s time to consider loft living.

“People freak out with inspiration when they see this large empty space with no walls,” David Hernandez, Nook’s Resident Loft Expert, explains. “Loft properties, especially a converted loft space, have a special kind of charm that comes from living in a place that was initially designed for something else.”

Live in downtown LA? I admit that I was one of the people who initially scoffed at the idea of revitalizing downtown. A few years later and with half my designer friends now living there, I happily eat my words - and a renowned French dip sandwich - at Cole’s, before meeting

Our Real Estate Experts learn so much about the neighborhoods where they specialize. Whether it’s the history, why it’s a great place to live, the architectural styles that give each neighborhood its own unique flavor, or just quirky reasons why you would want to buy a house there, we’re on it. #FactFactsFriday is a weekly series so we can share these pieces of neighborhood trivia with you.

1. Named the 4th Friendliest City by Forbes in 2012. Part of the criteria for this honor is home ownership, which studies show are tied to neighborhood stability. Then they rated the charitable giving, college graduates and crime rates in Seal Beach. Forbes’s last step was to poll residents on NextDoor.com, a site that requires you prove your residency before