Curbed SF: The Stark Carpet warehouse clearance sale is finally back for four days only from Thursday, March 22nd, to Sunday, March 25th, at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. Take advantage of this opportunity to shop at America’s finest “to the trade” home furnishings showroom. Come browse over 100,000 square feet of designer merchandise at up to 75% off!

Selections will include carpet, rugs, remnants, wall-to-wall carpet, fabric and wallcovering at amazing discounts. Our company specializes in the most innovative designs in carpet, rugs, fabrics and wallcovering. You can put your personal spin on any room and leave a lasting impression. Deliveries and installations will be available and a staff of experts will be on hand to assist you in your selections. New shipments will arrive daily and all major credit cards are accepted. For more information, please call 415-861-0466 or visit starkoutlet.com.

Curbed SF – All New House Hunters Episodes on HGTV!

The search for a new home is full of surprises. Find out what’s behind the front door of some of the most desirable properties around the world with all new episodes of the HGTV hit series, House Hunters and House Hunters International, every weeknight starting at 10/9c.

From San Francisco to San Juan, Miami to Manila and Pittsburgh to Paris, join the fun as real-life homeowners across the USA and in exotic worldwide destinations try to find the home of their dreams (and their budget).

And the happy hunting continues online at HGTV.com/househunters, where you can download and print the new House Hunters Bingo game cards and play along at home, plus take fun quizzes and polls.

House Hunters and House Hunters International, every weeknight starting at 10p/9c on HGTV.

I have found a serious error when my Windows 7 machine automatically updated my browser to IE9 without my permission. Now I cannot find the way to remove it, so Firefox has become my new browser!

How did this start, you might ask? I was doing work on our WordPress blog when I realized that upon posting, they were BLANK! This only started happening after the supposed “upgrade” to IE9.

For the life of me I cannot find where to roll it back to the older browser version, so I turned it off in Control Panel and installed Firefox. Try complaining to Microsoft… There seems to be no mechanism for feedback, so if they don’t want input from a serious IT professional, then who needs them?

Mick Orton
IT Project Manager

Early in February I got an FTD reminder for Valentine’s Day in my e-mail. So I went to the website and ordered the special deal of 24 roses with a free glass vase. Today I opened the box for my sweetheart and was surprised to find 12 dried up roses and a teddy bear.

When I called customer service, the best they could do was send the correct order in two days thus missing the point of Valentine’s Day. I was so angry, I asked for a full refund and promised to never use FTD again. As a result I am writing this review so others can avoid the anger and embarassment I have experienced by not having the right gift ready for my honey!

In the past I have ordered from Pro Flowers and had a great experience. But FTD? Not a chance!

Mick Orton
Marketing Manager

Curbed SF – Valentine’s Day is just one day a year, but we believe in celebrating your loved ones year round. That’s why we’re excited about H.Bloom’s Give Love That Lasts contest.

You can win the prize that allows you to celebrate throughout the year: a year-long luxury flower subscription from H.Bloom delivered every other week, monthly wine deliveries from Swanson Vineyards and a special Simon Doonan prize pack.

Nominate yourself or your favorite people who live in San Francisco, New York, DC, or Chicago in one of 3 categories:

• New To Love – Couples who have been together for less than 15 years
• Long-Term Love – Couples who have been together for 15 or more years
• Love of Family – Enduring family bonds

Entries and votes are accepted through noon EST on Valentine’s Day. Enter early, though, since your friends can vote for you every day and the judges will select the winners from the 3 top vote-getters in each category. Start your entry on H.Bloom’s Give Love That Lasts contest page.

Tone Up and Rejuvenate at Equinox
No romantic rendezvous will be feared this Valentine’s Day when you finally enact your 2012 get-in-shape initiative. And what better place to revive that winterized bod than at Equinox?

If group fitness gets you going, Equinox has a ton of exhilarating classes like ViPR, 3Sum, Blockbuster Body or Barre Burn, a limb-lengthening, ballet-inspired workout. Prefer to tone alone? Take advantage of its unrivaled personal training program led by exceptional graduates of the Equinox Fitness Training Institute.

Seek post-workout relief with luxury amenities by Kiehl’s Since 1851, eco-friendly towels and eucalyptus steam rooms. And of course, round out any workout by indulging in a Chocolate Facial at The Spa @ Equinox.

Rejuvenate your physique and head over to Equinox now to take advantage of a complimentary three-day trial. >>

A pop of color in your room is like the perfect accessory – it elevates your home from the mundane to the beautiful. Adding fresh flowers to your place is the quickest and least expensive way to incorporate color and there’s no need to wait for Valentine’s Day to get them.

We’re crazy for H.Bloom, a flower company that offers a subscription service for luxurious arrangements starting at just $29 with free delivery. You just choose the style of bouquet you want (Classic, Contemporary, or Exotic) and how often you want one. The flowers are delivered by hand and your whole apartment is transformed. You can also get (or strongly hint someone buy you) gift subscriptions ranging from 1 to 12 months.

H.Bloom is offering Curbed and Racked readers 100% off their first bouquet*, including delivery, when you subscribe! Sign up by Tuesday, January 31 to get yours.

Check Out H.Bloom’s flower collections and sign up now!

H.Bloom delivers to the New York City, Chicago, Washington, DC and San Francisco metropolitan areas. Look for your zip code here!

As this year begins, we anticipate a steady, albeit modest, economic recovery including the housing market.

The government is supporting historically low interest making this a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for credit worthy buyers to purchase a home.  We think prices have leveled, but even a 5-10% drop would be more than compensated by interest saved compared to average rates of the past 50 years.   

Happy and prosperous New Year to all our friends in the San Francisco real estate market.

Thea Miller, Real Estate Representation (415) 229-1218
Theamiller@PreviewSFHomes.com

Janis Stone, Real Estate Representation (866) 224-8024
Janis@SFResidence.com

Michael DiVita, Mortgage Finance Support (800) 239-1103
Michael@DiVitaHome.com

From PreviewSFHomes – THE GIFT

For the 4th straight month, the unemployment rate dropped in California signaling a modest recovery.  Job growth leads in technology, trade and tourism, followed by education, health, information and motion picture production.  Small businesses are on the rise and many of the unemployed have become working independent contractors.  Leading the expansion are San Jose, San Diego and San Francisco.  The Los Angeles lifestyle still beckons as technology startups have begun to cluster in Venice, now unofficially dubbed Silicon Beach.   

In this holiday season, we celebrate the gift, the indomitable American spirit.

We wish our friends in the San Francisco real estate market good health and all happiness.

Thea, Janis, Michael and everyone at PreviewSFhomes.com

Thea Miller, Real Estate Representation (415) 229-1218
Theamiller@PreviewSFHomes.com

Janis Stone, Real Estate Representation (866) 224-8024
Janis@SFResidence.com

Michael DiVita, Mortgage Finance Support (800) 239-1103
Michael@DiVitaHome.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION:                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Michelle Payne                                                            December 2, 2011

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

925.275.3085

michelle.payne@westrsc.com

Veteran Coldwell Banker TRI Agents

Janis Stone and Thea Miller Join Forces with New

SF Residence Partnership

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – December 2, 2011 – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the leading provider of real estate services in San Francisco, announced today that highly regarded and well-respected San Francisco Realtors Janis Stone and Thea Miller have joined together to form the SF Residence Team.

“This is an exceptional partnering of two of our most outstanding agents,” said Mike James, vice-president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.  “Janis and Thea have dozens of years of experience in San Francisco’s luxury market between them.  Combining their unique skills and expertise will be an extraordinary benefit to their clients and we look forward to seeing what this exciting duo will accomplish.”

A Realtor in San Francisco since 1975, Stone has been one of the top producing agents in the City.  She has owned and managed homes, multi-unit buildings and condominiums, and is experienced in tax-deferred exchanges, property renovations, managing income properties and condominium conversions.

Since joining Coldwell Banker TRI in 1992, Stone has consistently ranked in the top 5% of the company’s agents and has earned the International President’s Circle and International President’s Premier awards. She is a member of National Association of Realtors (NAR), California Association of Realtors (CAR), and San Francisco Association of Realtors (SFAR).

Miller has more than 20 years of experience in luxury sales and marketing.  She is experienced in selling all types of property, in all price ranges.  She ranks among the top agents in the Coldwell Banker TRI office and is a member of The National Association of Realtors (NAR), The San Francisco Association of Realtors (SFAR), The California Association of Realtors (CAR), and Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate.

Coldwell Banker TRI’s office is located at 1699 Van Ness Avenue and can be reached at 415.474.1750.  Stone may be reached directly at 866.224.8024 and via email at Janis@SFResidence.com.  Miller may be reached directly at 415.229.1218 and via email at Thea.Miller@cbnorcal.com.  The SF Residence Team may be reached via their website at www.sfresidence.com.  

About Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is the largest residential real estate brokerage in Northern California and serves the markets from Monterey to Tahoe and nearly every market in between.  The company has 62 office locations and more than 3,600 sales associates throughout Northern California.  Last year the company handled 13.5% of all dollar volume sold in Northern California, more than double its nearest competitor.  Through its internationally renowned Coldwell Banker Previews® program, the company leads the luxury home market in Northern California, representing more than 22% of all dollar volume sold of properties over $1 million.  Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT has 750 offices and 45,000 sales associates operating in more than 35 major metropolitan areas. A subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, NRT operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information please visit www.CaliforniaMoves.com or call 925.275.3085. DRE # 00313415.