Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 11, 2010

13

HOMES AND PROPERTY

 Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 11, 2010 


One Of A Kind: Featuring unique homes and gardens and the people whoe create them Story and Photos By Chris Bertrand 

Karen Crisci’s Magnolia: Dressing your home, your body or your Christmas tree to fit your lifestyle

Karen Crisci, owner of 
Magnolia in Arcadia, left 
a corporate job requiring 
extensive business travel 
for what she envisioned 
as a store and business 
where she could paint 
murals for a living. She 
and her mother in law, 
Paula Clinnin, opened the 
doors of Magnolia twelve 
years ago.

Their Magnolia venture literally blossomed into 
an umbrella of several businesses keyed to fine 
tuning your home, your wardrobe, your big 
events like Methodist Hospital’s Crystal Ball and 
Showcase homes or even your Christmas tree, 
indoor and outdoor decorations and lighting to fit 
your individual personality and lifestyle or that of 
your business.

“We handle many fashion shows each year, tied to 
fundraisers for organizations like ORT, Monrovia 
Guild of Children’s Hospital, Republican Women’s 
Club and several local women’s clubs. 

They’ve been so well received that I’ve made 
myself available as a speaker to groups and clubs 
discussing the choice of the right wardrobe for 
your body type. You can also get that information 
one on one, too, by making an appointment with 
me at the shop. Since we carry many lines you 
won’t see at the malls, my customers appreciate 
that what they buy here won’t likely be seen 
duplicated at an event.”

If it’s one or a hundred fresh or “faux” flower 
arrangements, Magnolia has the staff and 
studio to create original centerpieces and other 
arrangements, including a walk in cooler to keep 
the arrangements fresh until the day of the event. 

This time of year, Crisci and her staff are busy 
decorating large and small homes and businesses 
for the holidays. “We decorated the large Southern 
California Edison complex in Rosemead again 
this year,” she says. “They like the decorations to 
appear as a fait accompli, so after the employees 
leave for the weekend, we get to work with a staff 
of about twenty five. When Edison reopens on 
Monday morning, all the decorations are in place” 

But big businesses or homes aren’t the only 
customers for the Magnolia holiday decoration 
elves. “For years and years, we decorated a single 
tree for a homeowner’s tiny cottage in Sierra 
Madre Canyon with the owner’s own ornaments. 
She really appreciated our flair,” smiles Crisci, 
“But each one, large or small, gives us such a real 
sense of fulfillment.”

Whether at work at former Senator Margett’s tony 
digs or a more modest home, she takes time to 
carefully analyze the homeowner’s personality 
and lifestyle. “Even the way we apply the ribbon or 
garland on a tree or wreath can portray a different 
style, so we really give some thought and planning 
to how the ribbon will move or dance on the tree 
down to the position of the last leaf or ornament,” 
according to Crisci. “We want to make it work to 
balance the home like a piece of art.”

As a business owner, Crisci is known for her 
infectious laugh, but even more for her absolute 
focus on each customer. “When you are talking 
to Karen, she is totally focused on what you are 
saying and your needs,” say Bob Thibault of their 
long relationship with Crisci and Magnolia for 
home decorating to Christmas gift inspirations 
for his wife. 

Carmen Thibault reflects, “She has a way of 
making her clients feel like they are the only one 
with whom she is working, while paying careful 
attention to her customer’s desires and financial 
parameters.”

Julia Brady, another longtime customer summed 
it up well. “Magnolia always provides that extra 
touch for the ‘WOW’ factor… no matter if it’s a 
gift, the clothing and jewelry you’re wearing or 
your decorated home!

And those murals Crisci intended to paint? She 
can arrange to paint one on your wall or a canvas, 
too. Just one of a dozen creative facets of Magnolia 
and Karen Crisci.

Chris Bertrand


HOME DECORATING 
CONTEST!

Submit your entries for our 2nd annual 
Holiday Decorating Contest! Enter the 
address of homes we should consider 
for our 2nd annual contest. We’ll drive 
and evaluate the entries in our service 
area from Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra 
Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia and Duarte 
on Monday and/or Tuesday, December 
13-14 between 5-9 p.m. Make sure 
your lights are on for us to take photos 
and make the awards! Send your 
submission addresses with street 
address, cross street and town name to 
C.Bertrand@MtnViewsNews.com


Pricing 

Under Pressure

Deciding on an asking price for your home 
is challenging enough these days, but you need 
specific pricing strategies for particular scenarios, 
especially if you're under pressure to move quickly 
or your home isn’t selling after being on the market 
for several months. Here are suggestions for both 
situations.

If you're facing a deadline due to job relocation or 
other reasons, then you need to price competitively, 
even more competitively than expected in today's 
market. You'll need to list at significantly less than 
your competition. Think 10% to 15% less. That 
may seem tough to stomach, but it’s better than 
continuing your monthly loan payments or the 
hassle of trying to find tenants to rent your home.

If your home has been listed for some time, but 
not generating interest, you'll need to lower your 
price. Of the three elements that sell a home - 
price, location, and condition - price is the one 
you'll have the most control over.

If home values have declined in your 
neighborhood, the price you originally listed at a few 
months ago may now be too high and out of line with 
comparable listings. Now would be the time to have 
your real estate agent prepare a new Comparative 
Market Analysis (CMA) and reevaluate your pricing 
strategy. If you've got to sell, and sell now, price it like 
you mean it.

Luther Tsinoglou has just been named the top 
producing sales agent in Dickson Podley Realtor's 
Sierra Madre office for 2009, making the top 10% 
at the company overall. Luther has been licensed 
and practicing real estate since 1992. He specializes 
in residential and income property in Southern 
California. Luther can be reached at his direct line 
(626) 695-8650 or at luther@tsinoglou.com.

Happy 
Holidays