Hybrid biz adds pizazz to real estate listings

Hybrid biz adds pizazz to real estate listings

Tools

Story Published: Mar 31, 2007 at 1:14 PM PDT

Story Updated: Apr 1, 2007 at 10:23 AM PDT

By Denise Whitaker

Watch the story
There's a new hybrid business in the Seattle area that combines real eastate with two things are often paired together - wine and art.

A business called The Living Room in Kirkland displays works from local artists alongside hundreds of bottles of wine from Washington and beyond. It's a tasting room and wine store.

And of course, no living room is complete without over-stuffed chairs and flat panel TV screens.

"We weren't sure what to expect when we came in, but I think it's a very cool place," said one customer, Matt Kochel.

That's a typical reaction from the curious patrons who wander in from the street. And it takes some a minute or two to notice the programming on the TV monitors - they're real estate listings.

The Living Room is a wine store and a local Windermere office.

"And this is one more opportunity for us to expand, provide a pressure-free, no-sales atmosphere real estate information center," said the owner, Aaron Shriner. "So people are welcome to come in, ask questions, we're here as a resource."

Vito Parente is the main resource.

He's an Italian, who also lived in France and Spain before calling Washington home.

"I will serve them as a concierge as, make the experience as pleasant for them as possible," he said. "If they're interested in the real estate process, I would just introduce them to the real estate process."

If not, Vito will guide you through the 300 bottles on hand.

"We'll try to customize our wine store to our customers, through our clients," he said.

Patron Matt Kochel believes the place is off to

"It's a very unique concept I think it can do really well," he said.

"We had the space, we had the location, we couldn't see giving it up," said Shriner. "And we started looking at how we could provide more for our customers, how we could provide more for our agents."

And this latest business fits in with the city of Kirkland, which boasts upscale art galleries, boutiques and outdoor cafes.

The Living Room features work of three local artists in its galleries. The artwork will rotate four times per year.

Weather & Traffic

Icon
Current Temp 70.0 °F
Mostly Cloudy with Haze
More Weather

Weather & Traffic

More Weather

On Demand

Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV.

Stay Connected

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Marketplace