Liz Local Richmond - Summer 2021

RICHMOND SUMMER 2021 Dream Homes Favorite Local Restaurant Outdoor Spaces Office Space

Are You Living in Your Coloring Contest Winners Dream Home? Age 0-4 The past 15 months has been a roller coaster in our real estate world. It’s hard to imagine OLIVIA AGE 4 that in spite of being in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, we also experienced the Age hottest real estate market in US history. The 5-9 perfect storm of low listing inventory and historic low interest rates converged to cause HARPER AGE 7 buyer demand to spike to all-time highs. One last thought on dream homes... Clearly, it’s a great time to be a seller. But… what about the other side of that equation? We recently completed a “Dream Home Coloring Contest” for kids Sellers are asking themselves, “I may get peak and got some wonderful inspiration. Who wouldn’t want room for barn pricing for my home right now, but then I’ll animals (including a sunglass-wearing llama), a house that converts into have to turn around and pay peak pricing a rocket ship, or a rainbow facade? One submission even had a bathtub on the other end. Does that make sense for shaped like a high heel shoe! Check it out on our Facebook page! me?” Every situation is different, and the answer really depends on a lot of different While I’m not sure our agents will be able to score those features for factors. One thing that definitely makes you in a new home, we definitely can find you a place that you would sense, though, is that now is a great time for call a dream home! an in-depth look at values with your favorite REALTOR. If you’re not currently living in your dream home, now just may be the perfect time to explore alternatives. Other drivers that are causing people to re- think their current space are the possibilities created by new opportunities to work remotely. Many people have realized that they can hang up their commute, and work from home…and that home can be anywhere they want. That freedom extends beyond location – it also means new and different features are important in a home: home offices and outdoor spaces have become all the buzz in recent months. We’ve devoted this month’s edition of Liz Local to exploring a few of those features. Liz Moore, President

Be the first to know what’s happening Contents in your neighborhood! Dream Homes Get the Scoop! 2 Sign up to receive FREE emails when a neighbor’s home hits Hello From Your Liz Moore REALTOR® the market or goes under contract. Insider emails include 3 price, photos, and home feature details. There’s no cost and absolutely no obligation...simply call or send me your email Favorite Local Restaurant address and neighborhoods you’d like to “scoop.” 4 Age Outdoor Spaces 10+ 6 HAYLEE AND AUTUMN AGE 11 Office Space 8 Chesterfield Feature 10 SUMMER 2021 / LIZ LOCAL 3

Favorite Local Restaurant O’Toole’s Restaurant and Pub The Irish pub O’Toole’s Restaurant & Pub has been a fixture in Richmond for more than 50 years. Jim and Marie O’Toole first opened the establishment on Forest Hill Avenue on October 8, 1966. Today, the couple’s sons, John and Tom, oversee the business, which has locations on Forest Hill Avenue and Midlothian Turnpike. “My brother took it over in the mid-1990s, and it has continued its success ever since,” Tom O’Toole said. Tom O’Toole is responsible for day-to-day at the operations at the Midlothian location, while his brother John handles all of the food ordering. Tom’s daughter, Michaela, and a long-time employee, Sarah Porter, are the managers for the front of the house, making it a truly family-owned and operated business. Bringing Comfort Food to Richmond O’Toole’s Restaurant & Pub specializes in home-cooked comfort food. “Our heritage is Irish, and we do some traditional Irish dishes, but we also make a lot of other dishes including seafood, sandwiches, pizzas, and Italian dishes,” Tom O’Toole said. More popular menu items include Irish staples like Shepherd’s Pie, Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash, and Spaghetti O’Toole - a dish with meat sauce, 4 SUMMER 2021 / LIZ LOCAL

Italian sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, and mozzarella cheese. Their Irish egg rolls, made with corned beef, seasoned cabbage, and Swiss cheese, are highly recommended. Learning From the Best Tom O’Toole believes one of the secrets behind the restaurant’s success is its long-time commitment to customer service. “We treat everyone as family, our staff and our guests,” he said. “My parents told me a long time ago to ‘treat your customers like they are guests in your home.’ We want everybody to have great food, fun conversation, and to leave happy and full.” Tom O’Toole first began working in the Forest Hill restaurant when he was seven-years-old. He started out folding pizza boxes and worked his way up to washing dishes, bussing tables, and then bartending. “I was always the ‘front end’ guy, and my brother John was always the ‘back end’ guy,” he said. “He is a wizard in the kitchen. I’ve never seen anyone as good as him.” Tom O’Toole took a respite from the business to work as a car salesman but was eventually lured back to the restaurant by his brother. Ready for some great comfort food? “It took me all of five seconds to say ‘yes,’” Tom O’Toole’s Restaurant & Pub O’Toole said. “The restaurant is where I needed to 13919 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, VA be. I’ve always loved it.” (804) 893-5706 | https://otoolesrestaurant.com Keeping It In The Family Tom O’Toole relishes working in the restaurant industry because of the people he meets every day. “I love being around people and making them smile,” he said. “I think the restaurant business has always come naturally to me. My parents started the restaurant when I was only one, so I really did grow up in the restaurant. I would love for the restaurant to stay in the family after I’m gone, but I want my children to follow whatever dreams they might have.” For now, Tom O’Toole is simply content continuing the tradition of O’Toole’s Restaurant & Pub for both new and old patrons in the Richmond area alike. “We are a place where people of all ages can come to and have a great meal and a great time, a place where you show up as a stranger but leave as a friend,” he said. SUMMER 2021 / LIZ LOCAL 5

Outdoor Spaces We’ve all been spending more time outdoors lately. On any Mike Bramble-Turkovich, owner of Berkeley Design Group, given weekend, local home improvement stores are packed - agrees. Bramble-Turkovich said it’s apparent that people are especially if it’s pretty outside. You see people walking out wanting to spend more time outdoors and are investing in with plants and flowers, new patio furniture, fire pits and for their yards. In addition to patio and fire pit installations, the real yard enthusiast – dozens of stones or brick for deco- Bramble-Turkovich said many of his clients are wanting to rative landscaping. When the pandemic shut down schools, add outdoor lighting and fountains to their space. He is also offices, sports and other events, people found themselves at seeing a demand for outdoor kitchens. “People are wanting home with time on their hands. Backyard ideas that may have to stay outside longer and socialize longer and having an out- been planned for the future or “sometime down the road,” door kitchen, with a grill and refrigerator right there makes suddenly sounded like a good idea for the present and many life easier,” he said. “You don’t even need to go inside your began making outdoor improvements themselves or hiring house.” Enhanced lighting such as downlighting on columns contractors to do the work. and posts as well as recessed lighting in pavers also means more time outside, said Bramble-Turkovich. Trey Watford works for River Pools and Spas and runs a part- time landscape design business. He said the outdoor improve- Much like pool installation, however, finding available contrac- ment industry is booming. “For pools, we’re booking a full tors can be tricky. After going through a year of the pandem- year out right now,” said Watford. “It’s just crazy. Basically, if ic, Jen and Tim German began thinking about their outdoor you want a place to swim in next year, you need to start plan- space and how nice it would be to have a patio and fire pit for ning now.” get-togethers. Wanting it to be ready by the summer, the Ger- mans contacted a company in January about installation and Watford has been equally busy with his outdoor design work. were told they could get started in about six weeks out. Those “Once people realized they would be staying home and cruis- six weeks eventually turned into several months. “We tried es and trips to Disney were put on hold, they started to look calling a few other people, but they either couldn’t get to us at their own houses and yards and wanted to create a better until August or were booked until next year,” said Jen German. space for their families,” said Watford. Watford said he believes the demand for outdoor design, pool Watford has been doing a lot of designs for outdoor kitch- installation, landscaping and hardscaping will continue for a ens as well as for roof structures that extend over an outdoor couple of years and said homeowners should be prepared to space to create an open-air patio. “People are wanting to ex- wait. “Any reputable company is going to be busy right now,” tend their home to create a multiuse space that could be used he said. “If they say they can get to you in the next couple of for entertaining or for work,” said Watford. days, there’s probably something wrong.” 6 SUMMER 2021 / LIZ LOCAL

For some, improving their outdoor space meant getting a lit- “We’ve really enjoyed the chickens,” she said. Dalgleish also tle creative. Harmony Dalgleish had always wanted a garden. added a tire swing, because her kids had always wanted one, A busy college professor with two children, Dalgleish didn’t as well as a fire pit and a new grill. “Being home because of the have a lot of free time on her hands. But, that changed in pandemic really got me thinking differently about my out- April 2020 when she began working from home. Suddenly, door space,” said Dalgleish. “I had all these ideas and things I Dalgleish had time for the yard projects she had been putting wanted to do, and I finally had the time, so we did them, and aside. Wanting to create the best garden possible, Dalgleish I’m glad we were able to.” spent a day sun mapping her yard. This process takes a while, but it helps you understand the movement of light and shade Businesses in your yard – that way you know where to place plants in the yard so they thrive. Turns out, the best place for her gar- Trey Watford: Outdoor Design den was the front yard. Dalgleish and her family built raised garden beds and installed a picket fence around it to keep the facebook.com/VirginiaLandscapeDesign deer away. She purchased a kiwi vine, blueberry and raspber- ry bushes and herbs. She plans on adding tomatoes, zucchini Berkeley Design Group and cucumber as well. In addition to the garden, Dalgleish and her family also bought a chicken coop. “It was totally spur BerkeleyDesignGroup.com of the moment,” laughed Dalgleish. Looking to improve your outdoor space? Here are some popular trends and tips! Outdoor Kitchens Patios Gardens Pergolas Lighting Outdoor kitchens Creating a cozy Adding a vegetable Homeowners are You can go big or complete with weath- outdoor space often or flower garden to looking to extend small with outdoor starts with a patio. your outdoor space their usable living lighting. From add- erproof cabinets, Even small patios not only provides space outdoors - ing string lights to lighting, furniture, tangible results, it can especially with more installing recessed storage, fireplaces, spruced up with also be therapeutic. people crowded in lighting in pavers space heating, refrig- outdoor furniture, Gardening offers for more hours at or downlighting on erators and music sys- greenery and décor motivation to leave home - and they often posts, the extra light tems are all migrating can offer a comfort- the house and spend need shade to properly means more time to the wilds of the able oasis. With time outdoors, which enjoy it. A pergola is a enjoying the outside. backyard, substan- lumber and compos- is good for the mind relatively quick and af- You’ll be surprised ite prices increasing, and body. Gardens fordable solution, and at the impact this tially extending installing patio pavers can often be built or simple touch can living space. is both economical can be simple installed in a weekend. have on your yard. or intricate. and attractive. SUMMER 2021 / LIZ LOCAL 7

Office Space When COVID-19 first impacted the United States in 2020, companies and businesses that could, instructed their employees to work from home... At one point in April of 2020, nearly As weeks of working from home turned For Kinkead, she needed functional- 70% of full-time employees were work- into months, she decided it was time to ity, but also wanted the office to look ing from their homes. For many, this upgrade her space. If this was the new like it belonged there. After meeting meant working from their sofa, bedroom, normal, then she needed a new office. with Bristow, Kinkead decided to put kitchen table or even their closet! Gone Since her house didn’t have an extra in a desk, bookshelf, credenza and in- were such niceties as ergonomic chairs, room for an office, she chose to turn her stall new lighting. She also decided to white boards, filing systems, monitors formal living room, which she hardly add French doors for additional priva- and executive desks. At the same time, used, into a workspace. Not know- cy. “My husband is at home as well, so people were navigating new communica- ing where to start, Kinkead reached when I was working in the dining room, tion methods such as Zoom or Webex out to Deanne Bristow, an interior de- I would have to announce when I was meetings all the while managing occa- signer with The Guild Hall, for guid- having a Zoom call or meeting since sional interruptions from children, pets ance. Bristow had worked with some of there were no doors,” said Kinkead. and doorbells. Their home was now their Kinkead’s family members and came workplace. Though the number of people highly recommended. Kinkead is looking forward to working who work from home has decreased over from home in her new office. She loved the year, many employers have elected to First thing Bristow did was meet with collaborating with Bristow and is excit- keep their employees virtual. Kinkead to assess her space. Like she ed about the furniture she picked out. does with all clients, Bristow asked “We’re doing it all in rattan, so it has Rebecca Kinkead is one of them. A Kinkead a number of lifestyle ques- kind of a British West Indies look mixed sourcing specialist for the College of tions. “There are a lot of things to con- with a little colonial because that’s their William & Mary, Kinkead has been sider when redesigning a space, such as vibe,” said Bristow. “So now when you working from home since April of if the client has kids or pets and how walk in the front door, instead of there 2020. Her setup at home, however, is much light the room gets,” said Bristow. being this living room that they never a far cry from her office at the college. “Everything that can affect the room’s used, there will now be this new space.” “I work in the dining room mostly,” environment plays into the design.” laughed Kinkead. “My computer takes over the table.” 8 SUMMER 2021 / LIZ LOCAL

Need to upgrade your home office space? Here are five inexpensive ways to make wherever you work in your house “work” for you. 1 4 A Good Desk Since you’re going to be spending a lot of time there, it’s important to find a desk that you like. Desks range in sizes and price, so there are plenty of options. 2 You can even consider a standing desk if you’re looking to improve your health. Soft Light Desk Lamp Invest In An Ergonomic Chair If you spend the majority of Working slumped over a kitchen table or the day looking at a computer, propped up by pillows on your couch isn’t it’s important to have good doing your back any favors. A comfortable lighting. Working in dimly lit ergonomic chair, designed for maximum environments can strain your lumbar support, will help minimize back eyes, which can lead to fatigue, pain and let you focus. If there’s one thing headaches and blurred vision. to spend money on, it’s this. If you have blinds or curtains, open them. Natural light is also good for mental health. 5 Get Some Plants Plants are more than just pretty decora- tions, studies have shown that being around plants is good for your health. They filter the air and their presence is therapeutic. 3 Use Your At home you might not have an administrative assistant to help you, but you probably have a smart device such as Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. Smart Devices You can you both devices to set reminders, to-do lists, set up calls and schedule meetings. Thinking of redesigning your space? The Guild Hall | 1300 Jamestown Road | Williamsburg, VA 23185 | 757-565-0221 SUMMER 2021 / LIZ LOCAL 9

Looking for a new area to call home? Try Chesterfield! Chesterfield is a rapidly growing suburb located just south of Richmond with the James River to the north and the Appomattox River to the south, and is home to over 315,000 residents. Here you will find numerous family friendly neighborhoods, shopping areas, and excellent schools. From waterfront homes overlooking serene lakes to new neighborhoods along the booming Rt. 360 corridor, there is something to suit every taste. The county offers a wide variety of house styles, from historic homes to townhouses, condos, and single-family homes with generous acreage. Communities like Brandermill and Woodlake offer easy access to the beautiful Swift Creek Reservoir, while neighborhoods like Salisbury boast large, lush green yards with homes in peaceful settings. If you want to settle in a location that can offer excellent schools, keep in mind that Chesterfield is the home of 6 National Blue Ribbon schools and 7 National Title 1 Distinguished Schools.1 Because of its close proximity to Richmond, Chesterfield is an ideal location for those who want to settle close to nature but work downtown or visit the city often. Access to travel out of the area is easy, with two local Amtrak stations and the Richmond International Airport nearby. Chesterfield is rich with American history. Pocahontas once lived here, the first tobacco crops sold in Europe from America 1 Chesterfield Education Foundation, 2021, www.cefva.org/ 10 SUMMER 2021 / LIZ LOCAL

were grown here, and America’s second successful settlement was founded here in 1611. History buffs can find great experiences at places like the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia and Magnolia Grange Plantation House, as well as the Midlothian Mines Park. The area balances suburban amenities like numerous shopping options and unique restaurants with its beautiful parks and recreation areas like Pocahontas State Park. If you want options for day trips, Chesterfield is only about two hours from Virginia Beach, 100 miles from Washington, DC, and 2 hours from Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. But you don’t need to go far to find recreation options! With Rt. 288 and 95 easily accessible, no part of Richmond is very far away. Head toward the city for a day of shopping and a large variety of local cuisines. For the more outdoorsy types, James River Park right in Chesterfield offers walking trails and boat access to the river as well as picnic tables and playgrounds for quality family time. You’ll find all you need to live your happily ever after right here in this scenic Virginia county. Make Chesterfield the new place you call home, today. The Liz Moore Difference At Liz Moore and Associates we take a different approach to both pricing and marketing. We don’t believe that “one size fits all” for a marketing plan, nor do we believe that a computer program can effectively recommend a market value. We have reinvented the process by beginning with the end in mind and have accordingly developed a marketing methodology that delivers better results for our clients! lizmoore.com ADVERTISEMENT SUMMER 2021 / LIZ LOCAL 11

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