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Real Estate Experts Intends to Plant 5000 Trees in Partnership with American Forests

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Real Estate Experts, a residential real estate and property management company based in Chapel Hill, will donate $50 to American Forests to aid in reforestation efforts for each real estate transaction.

Every $50 donation will amount to 50 trees planted on behalf of Real Estate Experts’ clients who will receive a certificate at closing, informing them that the company is planting trees in their names.

Client CertificatesAccording to Jodi Bakst, Real Estate Experts’ broker/owner, her company’s goal is to plant 5000 trees in 2020.

“Real Estate Experts is committed to doing our part to improve the environment and reduce our carbon footprint,” she said. “We’re confident we can meet our 5000 trees goal. In fact, we hope to exceed it.”

Reforestation efforts recover hundreds of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat, according to American Forests, along with safeguarding vital watersheds, absorbing millions of tons of greenhouse gases, and protecting some of the most picturesque landscapes in America.

“We’re thrilled to launch an exciting new partnership with Real Estate Experts,” said Lindsey Putz, American Forests’ director of corporate giving. “The company’s generous support will help us restore critical ecosystems across some of the country’s most important natural landscapes. Forests in these ecosystems collect and filter drinking water, provide wildlife habitat and naturally capture carbon emissions to slow climate change, so the work is more important than ever.”

Bakst’s partnership with American Forests is just one indication of her commitment, and her company’s commitment, to environmental stewardship. She is currently working on developing a new neighborhood in Orange County, NC, that will be 100 percent Net Zero Energy, the first of its kind in North Carolina.

About American Forests:

American Forests, the nation’s oldest conservation organization, has been restoring forests for more than 140 years. Since 1990 alone, they have planted nearly 60 million trees in forest restoration projects in all 50 states. They have also worked in dozens of cities across America, expanding the tree canopy and improving the quality of life for residents. American Forests uses trees and greenspace to make America’s communities more sustainable, beautiful and livable. For more information: www.americanforests.org.

About Real Estate Experts:

Real Estate Experts is a residential real estate and property management company that has been serving the greater Chapel Hill-Durham area, including Mebane and Burlington North Carolina, for over 20 years. In addition to providing high-level customer service to their buyer, seller and investor clients, Real Estate Experts has industry-leading expertise in transactions involving inherited homes, divorce negotiations and workouts, and in green building and high-performance properties. To learn more about Real Estate Experts, visit www.realestateexperts.net or contact Jodi Bakst at 919-928-5131 ext. 2 or email info@realestateexperts.net.

 

Triangle Architects, Artists Raise Funds for Homeless Cats and Kittens

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5 Houses, 1 chair, 4 pieces of art

Modern cat houses and original art are auctioned off to benefit SAFE Haven for Cats

A sleek black cube, a “cannoli” rendered in walnut veneer, a maple cat house/side table… These were among the modern, indoor cat houses that Raleigh-area architects and designers created for The Cat’s Meow 2018, the second annual fundraiser for SAFE Haven for Cats.

Founded in 1994, SAFE Haven is Raleigh’s no-kill shelter and low-cost spay/neuter clinic. Since opening, SAFE Haven has orchestrated the adoptions of more than 9500 cats and kittens and spayed or neutered over 25,000 animals in its clinic.

Five modern, one-of-a-kind indoor cat houses, four original works by Raleigh artists, and an iconic Eames Shell Chair comprised this year’s live auction held in Trig Modern in Raleigh on June 7th. Professional auctioneer Ben Farrell sold every item.

Presented by Trig owner Bob Drake and Ann Marie Baum of Baum Shelter interior design, the event raised nearly $3000.

Safe-Haven-for-Cats-LOGO“All of us in the SAFE Haven family are amazed at the generosity of the designers and artists who created all of these cat-centric works of art for The Cat’s Meow,” Miller said. “We are grateful to our local business sponsors Trig Modern and Baum Shelter for creating and hosting this event. Because of them, we will be able to save the lives of many more stray and abandoned cats and kittens in June and July.”

The 2018 Cat’s Meow auction items were:

Cat Cannoli

1. Cat Cannoli by architect David Cole, founder and principal of Inclusion Studio. Low and cozy, the cannoli features a walnut veneer exterior that brings to mind paneling frequently used in mid-century-modern houses. A real, cat-sized cowhide rug slips inside the bright red interior.

Cat's Loft

2. A Cat’s Loft by Will Alphin, founder and principal of REdesign.build, and his talented team. The sleek black cube features the smooth, satin finish of a fine piece of furniture. The cube sits on a metal frame base, allowing the piece to do double duty as a cat’s modern loft and a side table. The opening lets the resident peek out from this elegant hiding place. A removable lid allows humans to locate their feline friend quickly, vacuum up the accumulated cat hair, and get rid of the occasional fur ball with ease.

CatHouse_ModSideTable

3. Cat House/Modern Side Table by Corey Baughman of Clearscapes. The piece is composed of solid maple and brass with a painted light-blue exterior and wax finish. The inverted form is reminiscent of a traditional concept of “house.” The interior is carved. The exterior is smooth. And elevated on tapered legs, it can serve as both cat house and modern side table. There’s also a cup holder on the surface.

Vertical Modern Cat Tower

4. Vertical Modern Cat Tower by artist and interior designer Clark Hipolito, founder and principal of The Art Co. Created with a cat’s love of climbing in mind, the tall Tower features lots of scratching surfaces and a very “climbable” structure.  A couple of dangling green balls for batting around complete the contemporary composition.

Ca.CliffHanger

5. California Cliff-Hanger…on Casters! by Jamie Smith of Xylem, Inc. cabinetmakers. Utilizing the economy of the “S” shape, this creative cat house offers three levels – internal and external – rendered in white and wood-grain laminates. Today, a real California Cliffhanger might feature a “green,” or vegetated roof. This roof is covered in carpeting, however, that inspires hours of scratching. And napping. And the casters let the owner’s human move it around to find a sunny spot, offer a view out a window, tuck into a dark corner if strangers come in the house…

Eames Chair plus Cat Illus. copy

6 Eames Molded Fiberglass Shell Chair donated by Bob Drake, owner, Trig Modern, and “Smalls on Eames Chair” original illustration by Karen Kluttz. The chair, originally designed in 1950, and Kluttz’s illustration of her own cat, “Smalls,” on two red Eames shell chairs, were auctioned off together.

SofaSnoozer_KK copy

7. “Sofa Snoozer” and “Fish Market,” original illustrations by Karen Kluttz. A Visual Arts Exchange artist, Karen Kluttz donated three cat-related pieces to The Cat’s Meow 2018.

Louis St. Lewiis 2018

8. Untitled by Louis St. Louis. To borrow some words from critic D. Eric Bookhardt, Gambit Weekly, New Orleans, the artist created this piece especially for The Cat’s Meow as one of his series of “smallish collages…a mix of pop and classical images cut up and sandwiched between sheets of glass. Touched up with paint and displayed in ornate frames…”

2018 HEADER

About The Cat’s Meow:  The Cat’s Meow is an annual party and auction of modern, professionally designed indoor houses for cats to benefit SAFE Haven for Cats in Raleigh, sponsored by Trig Modern and Baum Shelter, both of Raleigh.  For more information, visit this year’s Facebook page.

For more information on SAFE Haven for Cats in Raleigh: www.safehavenforcats.org.

DATE CHANGE: The Cat’s Meow Charitable Auction Postponed to June 7th

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2018 HEADER

May 11, 2018 (Raleigh, NC) – Due to scheduling conflicts, Trig Modern, Baum Shelter, and SAFE Haven for Cats have postponed The Cat’s Meow charity auction and party to Thursday, June 7th. The event will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. at Trig Modern, 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road, Raleigh, NC.

Featuring entertaining auctioneer Ben Farrell, The Cat’s Meow is an annual auction of cool, modern, indoor “houses” for cats created by architects, artisans, interior designers, and other professionals. All proceeds go to SAFE Haven for Cats, a non-profit, no-kill shelter and low-cost clinic in Raleigh dedicated to caring for and finding homes for thousands of homeless cats and kittens, many of which have been abandoned and need veterinary help as well as permanent homes.

Hosts for The Cat’s Meow are Bob Drake, owner of Trig Modern furniture showroom and design center, Ann Marie Baum of Baum Shelter, a new interior design firm in Raleigh, and Pam Miller, founder, president, and CEO of SAFE Haven for Cats.

Completed cat houses should now be delivered to Trig Modern by June 6th. Anyone interested in designing a cat house, donating another item for auction, or providing in-kind donations should contact Ann Marie Baum as soon as possible either by phone (919.971.5450) or email: annmariebaum7@gmail.com.

Follow The Cat’s Meow 2018 on Facebook.

Safe Have Logo_1About SAFE Haven for Cats:

SAFE Haven’s mission is to ensure the well-being of every cat through adoption, affordable spay/neuter services, community outreach and adherence to no-kill principles. The shelter receives no government funds and relies solely on private donations for 84 percent of its budget.

Visit safehavenforcats.org for more information.

 

Trig Modern Raises Nearly $5000 for SAFE Haven for Cats During “The Cat’s Meow” Auction

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The Dwell House by Grant Newton

Dubbed the “Dwell House,” a sleek composition of intersecting cubic volumes rendered in white laminate and natural wood, was one of six Modern cat houses created by architects and furniture designers to benefit SAFE Haven for Cats during The Cat’s Meow Cocktail Party and Auction sponsored by Trig Modern design center and showroom in Raleigh.

For the auction, the six imaginative houses were joined by a mixed-media painting by Louis St. Lewis of Raleigh and New Orleans, a large neon tabby cat sculpture perched on an old radio by neon artist Nate Sheaffer of Raleigh, and an iconic mid-century modern chair from Modernica donated by Trig Modern’s owner Bob Drake.

Under The Sea by i.S. Design

Approximately 100 cat enthusiasts attended The Cat’s Meow, along with

For Perching, Playing, and Napping by Little Associates.

two three-month-old kittens that SAFE Haven’s founder and director, Pam Miller, and a few volunteers brought to the event. Trig Modern provided an abundance of party food, wine, beer, and chilled water for the crowd as they perched on modern sofas and chairs throughout the showroom.

Mixed-media painting by Louis St. Lewis

With entertaining encouragement from professional auctioneer Ben Farrell, who donated his services to the cause, every item sold for prices that exceeded their designers’ expectations. Proceeds went directly to SAFE Haven for Cats in Raleigh, a non-profit, no-kill cat shelter and clinic that, to date, has found homes for nearly 8500 formerly stray and abandoned cats and kittens.

The auction itself netted $4525 with the “Dwell House” by Greensboro furniture designer Grant Newton commanding

The Cat Cave by Corey Baughman

the highest winning bid at $1150. Other donations brought in $274 and SAFE Haven sold $59 in retail items, making the grand total for the evening $4858.

Neon sculpture by Nate Shaeffer

“We want to thank Pam and the SAFE Haven volunteers; our delightful auctioneer Ben Farrell who made the auction entertaining as well as profitable; the architects, designers and artists who contributed their time and talent to the cause: and everyone who attended, especially all of the enthusiastic bidders,” said Bob Drake. “It was a wonderful evening and we’re looking forward to another Cat’s Meow next year.”

Background: This past February, Drake and Trig Modern’s interior designer Ann

Marie Baum, a SAFE Haven volunteer, invited architects and other designers throughout the Triangle to create “cool, modern” houses for indoor cats for the fundraising auction. According to guidelines, the houses had to be modern in style and of such quality that potential bidders would welcome them in their homes. They also had to be small enough to fit through a regular residential door and light enough for two people to carry them.

Multi-Use Play Tower by Arielle Condoret Schechter, AIA

The following designers created the cat structures:

The “O” by Bret Page Architecture

For more information on Trig Modern, visit www.trigmodern.com

For more information on SAFE Haven for Cats, visit www.safehavenforcats.org.

About Trig Modern:

Founded in December 2012, Trig Modern is owned and operated by furniture and lighting designer Bob Drake. Through its combination of modern and mid-century-inspired furniture, lighting, wall and floor coverings, and accessories, as well as Modern kitchen and bath remodeling services, Trig Modern’s mission is to present a realistic portrait of sensible living and offer an antidote to excess, formality, and convention. For more information, visit www.trigmodern.com, call 919.516.8744 and find Trig Modern on Facebook. The showroom is located at 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 109, Raleigh, NC 27604.

About SAFE Haven for Cats:

SAFE Haven’s mission is to ensure the well-being of every cat through adoption, affordable spay/neuter services, community outreach and adherence to no-kill principles. The shelter receives no government funds and relies solely on private donations for 84% percent of its budget. Visit safehavenforcats.org for more information.

Trig Modern Announces…

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catsmeowheader_large

Architects and designers create cool, modern cat houses for an auction to benefit SAFE Haven For Cats.

Trig Modern design center and showroom in Raleigh announces “The Cat’s Meow,” an auction of modern, professionally designed houses for cats to benefit SAFE Haven for Cats, a non-profit, no-kill shelter in Raleigh dedicated to finding homes for homeless cats and kittens.

The auction will be held Wednesday, May 10th, from 6-8 p.m., during a Cocktail Party in Trig Modern’s showroom in Dock 1053, 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road. Raleigh. The Auction and Party are free and open to the public. Professional auctioneer Ben Ferrell is donating his services.

Ann Marie Baum, Trig Modern’s lead interior designer and a SAFE Haven volunteer, has issued Invitations to architects and designers throughout the Triangle area to create “cool, modern cat houses that people who love cats will be delighted to have in their homes. So we’re encouraging participating designers to think of their contributions as furniture or accessories that will contribute to, rather than detract from, someone’s décor.”

Modern design and quality construction are also imperative, she stressed, “so that the houses will fetch substantial prices. This is a fundraiser after all!”

Baum and Trig Modern’s owner, Bob Drake, were inspired to organize and present “The Cat’s Meow” after seeing the results of a similar event that architects in Los Angeles. “How cool can a cat house be? Just take a look at these,” she said, referencing Los Angeles Architects For Animals fundraiser for a local nonprofit.

“We are so excited about ‘The Cat’s Meow’ auction to help formerly stray cats find their home-sweet-home’ literally,” said Pam Miller, founder and president of SAFE Haven for Cats. “This is a creative, fun, and practical way to help abandoned cats and kittens find the first real home they have ever known. We’re so grateful to Trig Modern for hosting this event.”

Completed cat houses will be delivered to Trig Modern May 4-6 and remain on display in the showroom until the night of the Cocktail Party and Auction. Those interested in bidding may stop in the showroom anytime during business hours (Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to take a close look at the little houses prior to the auction.

Anyone interested in participating in “The Cat’s Meow” – by designing a cathouse, providing in-kind donations, etc. – should contact Ann Marie Baum as soon as possible either by phone at Trig Modern, 919.516.8744 or by emailing her: annmariebaum7@gmail.com.

For more information on Trig Modern, visit www.trigmodern.com.

About Trig Modern:

Founded in December 2012, Trig Modern is owned and operated by furniture and lighting designer Bob Drake. Through its combination of modern and mid-century-inspired furniture, lighting, wall and floor coverings, and accessories, as well as Modern kitchen and bath remodeling services, Trig Modern’s mission is to present a realistic portrait of sensible living and offer an antidote to excess, formality, and convention. For more information visit www.trigmodern.com, call 919.516.8744 and find Trig Modern on Facebook. The showroom is located at 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 109, Raleigh, NC 27604.

About SAFE Haven for Cats:

SAFE Haven’s mission is to ensure the well-being of every cat through adoption, affordable spay/neuter services, community outreach and adherence to no-kill principles. The shelter receives no government funds and relies solely on private donations for 84p percent of its budget. Visit safehavenforcats.org for more information.

 

The Raleigh Architecture Co. Raises Funds, Food For Urban Ministries of Wake Co.

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The Raleigh Architecture Co.
Sunday Supper in the city: RACo helps raise $1500 and 200 pounds of food. Photo © Juli Leonard.

The downtown Raleigh firm hosts Capital Club 16’s Sunday Supper On The Road.

The Raleigh Architecture Company (RACo), a design-build firm in the city’s downtown Warehouse District, helped raise $1500 and 200 pounds of food for Urban Ministries of Wake County when partners Craig Kerins, AIA, and Robby Johnson, AIA, hosted Capital Club 16’s “Sunday Supper On The Road” event in their offices on Sunday, November 9.

Shannon and Jake Wolf own and operate Capital Club 16, an American-German restaurant in downtown Raleigh. Several times annually they collaborate with other local businesses, artists, farmers, and friends to host “Sunday Suppers On The Road,” family-style dinners featuring all-local food and beverages. Open to the public but with limited seating, these suppers raise funds for various non-profit organizations. All proceeds are donated to the designated non-profit.

“We’re great friends with Shannon and Jake and we wanted to host an event that allowed us to celebrate the season, friendship, local purveyors, and to raise awareness for a community organization [Urban Ministries] that’s providing a critical service,” said Johnston. “Holding the November Sunday Supper in our office was an opportunity to give something back to the city that gives so much to us.”

Actually, the Sunday Supper took place in RACo’s workshop, which is under the same roof as the office on South West Street. Fifty-five people sat at white linen-draped tables to enjoy food and drink from Laurel Branch Gardens, Locals Seafood, Boulted Bread, and Trophy Brewing — all Raleigh-based businesses. Capital Club 16’s pastry chef Carrie Gephart prepared the desserts.

Besides purchasing tickets to the supper, which raised the $1500, attendees also donated food for Urban Ministries mission – 200 pounds of it.

Urban Ministries of Wake County is a private, non-profit organization that engages the community to serve and advocate on behalf of those affected by poverty by providing nutrition and promoting health and wellness. For more information: www.urbanmin.org.

For more information on Capital Club 16, go to www.capitalclub16.com.

For more information on The Raleigh Architecture Company, visit www.raleigh-architecture.com.

About The Raleigh Architecture Company:

The Raleigh Architecture Company is an award-winning design/build firm specializing in Modern sustainable architecture, and craftsman-quality construction. As licensed architects and general contractors, we consider designing and building to be one integrated process. This streamlined approach empowers us to meet our clients’ economic expectations and to seamlessly execute high quality details, both small and large. Our office and shop are located under one roof in downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District at 502 S. West Street. For more information visit www.raleigh-architecture.com, call 919-831-2995, or email: info@raleigh-architecture.com.