Date Archives: July 2021

As a vegan or someone who eats plant-based most of the time, it's not always easy to find places to dine. Lately, though, the restaurant scene has been expanding, with many new vegan restaurants opening up across the country. The Triangle area is no exception. Whether you're strictly vegan or just trying something new, here are some of the top vegan restaurants near Raleigh homes for sale.

• The Fiction Kitchen: 428 S. Dawson St., Raleigh, NC 27601
  The Fiction Kitchen serves vegan and vegetarian cuisine, prepared in a 100% vegetarian kitchen. They're open from 3:30 - 7:30 pm, Wednesday - Sunday.
  
  This restaurant has an incredible selection of starters, from their Lion's Mane Spread to their cornmeal-fried mushrooms. Favorite entrees include the curry bowl and the peanut noodle soup. The menu is detailed so you can tell which dishes are vegan and which are gluten-free.
  
  
• Neomonde Mediterranean: 3817 Beryl Rd., Raleigh, NC 27607
  Neomonde Mediterranean is a contemporary cafe serving Lebanese dishes. You can order at the counter and enjoy your meal either on-site or to-go. While the restaurant is not strictly vegan, they do offer a lot of vegan and vegetarian options.
  
  Favorites at Neomonde include the falafel pita and the butternut chickpea salad. They also have delicious Lebanese flatbreads.
  
  
• Purple Cabbage: 306 E. Hargett St., Raleigh, NC 27601
  Purple Cabbage is a vegan food truck serving the Triangle area. You can follow their social media pages to see where they are parking. 
  
  The star of the menu at Purple Cabbage is the vegan burgers. They're served on soft, fluffy buns with purple cabbage slaw on top. Their vegan chicken sandwich is pretty popular, too!
  
  
• Boss of Vegan: 1129 Corporation Pkwy., Suite 181, Raleigh, NC 27610
  With a name like Boss Vegan, it has to be good! This place is known for its sandwiches. The Boss-BLT, made with vegan bacon on a Hawaiian roll, is incredible. People also love the fresh cucumber salad.
  
  You can pre-order from Boss Vegan on their website. They even offer some make-at-home options, like their bake-at-home vegan sugar cookies. 
  
  
• Earth to Us: 1720 Guess Rd. #18, Durham, NC 27701
  Serving 100% vegan American and Latin comfort food, Earth to Us is a must-visit restaurant. They started off with just a food truck, and now they have two physical locations in Raleigh and Durham.
  
  A favorite at Earth to Us is the loaded nachos, which are topped with raw cashew cheese, black beans, and pico de gallo. Guests also love the mac & cheese plate, a classic comfort food choice made with BBQ vegan chicken. Don't forget to end your meal with some carrot cake before heading out to look at Durham homes for sale!
  
  
• Vegan Flava Cafe: 306 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516
  Vegan Flava Cafe opened in 2011 as a mobile catering business. They recently opened their brick-and-mortar location inside the Dogwood Market near Chapel Hill homes for sale. The restaurant goes out of its way to use organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free ingredients. 
  
  The Chickpea Mock Tuna wraps at Vegan Flava Cafe are really popular. Guests also love the Too Tasty Tacos. If you're in the mood for something cool and refreshing, try one of the smoothies. The Island Flava, made with organic mangoes, pineapple, and almond milk, is sure to please your palate.
  
  

Eating vegan is easier when you're surrounded by delicious vegan restaurants like these. Our real estate agents are ready and waiting to help you find a home in Raleigh so you can visit again and again. Contact us to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment with an agent.

Our real estate agents know that a beautifully decorated home is inviting to potential buyers. If you're searching for options to decorate your home's spaces, one trend that you'll encounter is known as cottagecore, which adds a woodsy and cozy feel to your home's interior. Consider this trend for your home with these interior design tips. 

Cottagecore Explained

Cottagecore is an increasingly popular style of home decor that focuses on creating a cozy environment with high-quality, environmentally focused materials. It's similar to hygge, a Danish decor trend that focuses on creating a comfortable space that utilizes multiple cozy elements. 

The look of cottagecore includes soft hues, gorgeous floral prints, string lights, and soft area lighting, and authentic vintage or vintage-inspired pieces. Your end result is a romantic space that incorporates elements from nature. While a room decorated in a cottagecore style may remind you of a rustic cabin or a lovely beachside cottage, this decor works well in any area, including homes in the city or suburbs. 

While minimalism isn't the sole focus of cottagecore, there are minimalistic elements. With cottagecore, less is more, especially since this decor movement values sustainability.

Instead of five cheap throw blankets, invest in one or two durable throws that you adore and are of superior quality. When buyers are searching for Raleigh homes for sale, homes that embrace cottagecore are less likely to be filled with distracting clutter. 

Adding Cottagecore Decor into Your Home 

If you're ready to use cottagecore design trends in your home, you don't have to invest a lot of time or money to get started. Start with fresh flowers. Since floral prints are one of the main tenets of cottagecore, an arrangement of flowers instantly adds a romantic, nature-inspired vibe. 

Then, add soft lighting to the space. A few strands of string lights are an affordable option, or you might opt to add candles. When using candles, stick with nature-inspired scents that will coordinate well with the decor. 

Check your cabinets for porcelain dishes, etched glasses, and mason jars. Display your favorite pieces on a floating shelf or bookcase.

The thrift store is an excellent spot to find vintage-inspired or even authentic vintage items for your decor. Look for paintings or prints that feature nature scenes. A glass vase or wood-framed mirror are other pieces that work well in almost any home. 

Perhaps you're ready to make more significant renovations to your home, so it adheres to the cottagecore look. Look for flooring that mimics the appearance of wood. While hardwood floors are one alternative, engineered wood floors are another durable, budget-friendly alternative that recreates the look of wood.

Or, if you're renovating a space where you prefer to use tile, check out ceramic tiles that maintain a wood appearance. Search for tiles with a low-gloss finish, and avoid intricate designs. The goal is to produce a simple, classic look. 

Ready to sell your current home and find a new one for you to decorate with the latest interior design trends? Contact us today to get started!

Once you've found your perfect home, the next step is to make it your own - starting with the kitchen. If cooking is your passion, you can up your culinary game with a few simple design ideas. There are plenty of Raleigh homes for sale with amazing kitchens to suit your needs. Here's how to take those kitchens even further.

Appliances

The right tools can help in a myriad of ways. An induction cooktop, for instance, regulates heat much more accurately than a regular stovetop, allowing for more precise temperature measurements. The appliance itself never gets hot, reducing the risk of accidental burning. Plus, it's more energy-efficient than electric or gas stoves.

You might also consider a high-speed oven. Using both convection and microwave heating, it heats better and more accurately, cutting cook times in half.

Finally, if you don't have a stand mixer, it will change your life. A good quality mixer will last for many years, providing thorough, even mixing. You can do everything from whip cream to beat meringue to knead bread dough quickly and easily without wearing out your arms. Plus, with extra attachments, you can roll out and cut your own fresh pasta, grind your own meat, and much more.

Organization

A few simple organizational improvements can help you tremendously. Install some sturdy hooks above the stovetop, on which to hang your pots and pans. This will make them easier to find and access when you need them. You can do the same for mixing spoons, spatulae, and other basic tools. For knives, consider installing a long, magnetic strip that the knives can stick to. That way, you can simply remove one when you need it and put it back in its place when it's clean.

In your cluttered cabinets, try putting in a Lazy Susan. They design them for all different purposes, from organizing herbs and spices to storing empty containers. Whatever you're using it for, a Lazy Susan lets you keep everything organized and view it at a glance, so you don't have to rummage through a lot of extra clutter to find what you need.

Also, consider installing tension rods in your cabinets. They make great customizable barriers that you can prop things like pans and cookie sheets against, rather than stacking them up. By storing things vertically, you can create more space in your cabinets and keep things more organized.

Renovation

If you're really committed to updating your kitchen, consider some renovations and remodels. Start with more shelves. A single shelf that stretches across an entire kitchen wall can provide a tremendous amount of storage for various things without taking up much extra space.

If your home doesn't have a kitchen island, you should put one in. It provides extra space for everything you need: a counter for prep work, a table for seating, plus storage beneath for pots and pans, appliances, etc.

To make cleanup simpler, cut a small hole in the kitchen island countertop, and store a trash can in the cabinet underneath. Now you have a quick and easy way to eliminate everything from eggshells to empty packaging as you cook.

These are just a few of the kitchen updates you can make in your home to make cooking easier and better. Get creative and see what other improvements you can make to help you when you cook.

If you want to find your perfect home with your dream kitchen, contact us. Our real estate agents can help you find the right space for you and ensure every room will meet your needs.

Whether you're a newcomer to the Raleigh area or have lived in Wake County for a long time, a visit to the Joel Lane Museum House lets you take a step back in time. You'll learn about local, state, and national history as you get a glimpse into life in the late 1700s.
  
Our real estate agents share what you can expect when visiting Raleigh's oldest house.
  
About Raleigh's Oldest Home

The Joel Lane Museum House was built in 1769, making it the oldest home in Raleigh and even older than our country. Built by Colonel Joel Lane – who is known as both the Father of Wake County and Raleigh – the house is now a museum that's a Raleigh Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  
In 1771, he introduced legislation to found Wake County, and the Colonial Assembly approved it. Lane's home was the site where the decision was made in 1792 to buy a 1,000-acre parcel of his land for the state's new capital city of Raleigh.
  
Learn About Colonial Life

The museum lets you hear the stories of the people who lived during the colonial era, the Revolutionary War, and the early years of a new nation. Costumed guides tell accurate stories and create a personalized tour for each group of guests. 
  
The house itself has been restored to its appearance in the 1793-94 era. You'll also see a building called the Kitchen, which was moved from northern Wake County in 1979. It was a middle-class house built around 1790 but is similar in design to a colonial kitchen. In addition, the visitors center – which houses the gift shop and offices – is also on the property. It was built around 1840 as an addition to the Lane home but was removed from the original home when it was restored. 
  
What to Know Before You Go

Tours resumed for the Joel Lane Museum House in June, giving North Carolina residents a chance to learn about the Revolutionary War and the early days of the Raleigh area.

The Joel Lane Museum House is located at the corner of South St. Mary's and West Hargett Streets in Raleigh. To take a tour, go to the visitors' center at 160 South St. Mary's Street. Parking is free and can be found on St. Mary's Street in front of the visitors' center and on Hargett Street in front of the museum house.

Be sure to check their website or call before your visit for the latest on their COVID-19 guidelines.
  
Admission to the museum is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors age 65 and over, $4 for students kindergarten through college with ID, and free for children under 6 as well as Blue Star Families.
  
Contact us to see Raleigh homes for sale or to sell your home in the Raleigh area. Our real estate agents are knowledgeable about the local market and can help ensure that you're happy with your real estate transaction.