KC Condo Tracker

USA Today just plugged Kansas City as a prime destination to hit this summer. Visitors and locals eat up on good food, baseball and jazz AND spend less doing so. Read full article here.

Don't be a lazy local and whine that there's nothing to do in Kansas City. If you wanna try something new and fun, jump on a bus tour of downtown's lofts and condos this weekend, May 2-3. Tickets are just $5. See more 2009 Urban Tour details here.

In theory, there's a flashing blue light special on condominiums downtown and throughout Kansas City. Buyers are getting 10-25% off peak pricing if they follow the huge reductions being taken off starting prices more than a year ago.

Here's Our April Best Buy List. We compiled it after looking through 477 listings downtown to the Plaza that have been reduced $20K to $100K since going on the market originally. Our list closely looks at foreclosures, short sales, developers slashing prices and owners willing to do deep mark downs to move their properties.

We've highlighted our top four deals on the Best Buy List but have further info on each property you should ask for prior to making any decisions.

Sometimes people will go out and spend a fortune on furniture, set it up in the house, and not feel satisfied with the outcome. The pieces are great but something is missing. In most cases, they didn’t purchase the wrong pieces. They simply didn’t layer.

What is layering? Layering is the processing of bringing in contrasting textures, materials, and sheens. It gives your space depth. It gives it personality and life. It even lets you work with similar tones. Often times, people don’t want several bold colors in one room and instead want a more mature, neutral and classic theme. But they are also afraid of allowing the space to consequently come off as bland and boring. By layering, you can create an impressive space with only one color if you want. If you don’t layer, your space will look like a set of matching furniture purchased right off the floor at some giant furniture retailer.

Think contrast when you think about the textures. For example, say you want to work in two tones: cream and copper. In the photo below, the designer began with a cream leather bed. This leather has little-to-no texture, only a smooth surface. Therefore, in order to layer, the next item of similar tone should contrast in texture, like the pair of chenille stools at the end of the bed. Sheens are also important in layering. To contrast with the flat/matte sheen of the bed and the stools, the designer brought in silks and patterns on the bedding. Finally, a good designer will always contrast hard materials: copper, wood, glass and metal are all represented here. Doesn’t this bedroom look natural, professional and inviting?

Layering will give your space life and it will dictate the overall mood of the space.  The challenge is to figure out what mood you want to convey with your materials. You can go warm and fuzzy or cool and sleek. Hiring an interior design professional will help pull out the right materials and textures. 

Decorating advice provided by Dwelling Designs located in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit http://www.dwellingdesigns.com

I just visited an old friend in his West Bottom loft. The building was pretty frightening from the outside but stunning inside. John called his lifestyle urban camping. Picture 6000 square feet of raw space (no air conditioning) and him sleeping in the corner and you'll get the gist.

The loft not only had a swing in the middle it had trapeze ropes and silk scarves for the Cabaret girls to hang from during Dr. Sketchy events twice a month (proceeds help pay the rent and more importantly the whopping heating bill for the loft).

Kansas City is ripe with culture and great spaces to satiate any taste. I'm constantly having my eyes opened (thanks John) to other people's worlds in the urban core. And it's fascinating.