2019 Inspirational Educator Award

June 30, 2019

We were honored to round out the 2018-2019 school year awarding the Inspirational Educator Award winner, Katherine Sartori. Katherine is the orchestra teacher at Washington Middle School and was chosen for this award by our 2019 first-place scholarship winner. Fiona Whitaker. Our surprise ceremony awarding Katherine was touching and absolutely wonderful to take part in. […]

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First Place Scholarship Winner – Fiona Whitaker

June 26, 2019

Congratulations to Fiona Whitaker, our first place winner in our 9th annual What Makes a House a Home scholarship contest. Fiona wrote a very beautiful essay painting a vivid picture of how she defines “Home”. Her beautiful analogies of home bring the story to life in your mind, “Picture this: A cement foundation poured, a […]

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Second Place Scholarship Winner – Julian Desmond

June 25, 2019

Congratulations to Julian Desmond, our second place winner in our 9th annual What Makes a House a Home scholarship contest. Julian wrote a wonderful essay about the moves a military family faces. In his own words, “The older I get, and the longer I stay in one place, the more I realize how different my life has […]

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Third Place Scholarship Winner – Emelyn Keller

June 24, 2019

Congratulations to Emelyn Keller, our third place winner in our 9th annual What Makes a House a Home scholarship contest. Chloe wrote a great essay about transitioning from one home to another. We loved this line “Your family, which you naively had thought to be a democratic union, has decided, without your consent, to pick up and […]

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Four Tips for Maximizing the Space in Your Home

May 31, 2019

If you’ve ever watched a home buying or renovation show on television, the phrase “open concept” is probably burned into your brain. Gone are the days of choppy layouts and room-defining décor that can make our favorite areas feel blocky and confined. Today’s homeowner wants sprawling spaces that enable them (and their guests) to seamlessly […]

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Scholarship Contest in Voting Phase!

May 6, 2019

The submission portion of our contest is now wrapped up and we are into our fan voting phase! We had another amazing response this year with 62 essays submitted to our contest. Please be sure to vote for your favorites through our website www.whatmakesahouseahome.com  – Voting is today through Friday, May 10th. The finalists will be […]

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7 Best Thurston County Restaurants With a View

April 30, 2019

With a population nearing 300,000, sweeping vistas of Puget Sound and big mountain views, there’s no shortage of people or picturesque landscapes in Thurston County, Washington. This serene setting also has a burgeoning food scene that’s often able to pair delicious menus with stunning atmospheres to create a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Though the county’s largest […]

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9th Annual Scholarship Contest

April 8, 2019

Our “What Makes a House a Home” college scholarship contest is in its ninth year.  Our independent judging panel will be awarding three scholarships at the end of May. This is a very rewarding program for us, not just in helping some great local high school students, but also in hearing their amazing stories of […]

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Rob Rice Homes Introduces New Golf Course Home Plan

April 2, 2019

Rob Rice Homes is thrilled to reveal their latest new house plan! The “Westminster” is currently under construction in a small, peaceful setting that is part of the master planned community of Meridian Campus in Lacey, Washington. This new home is situated perfectly to take in the views of the 16th Fairway of the Woodlands […]

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April Showers Bring May Flowers: Prepping Your Garden for Spring

April 1, 2019

Gardeners, rejoice! The temperatures have started to creep up, rain showers have slowed and any fallen snow is now long gone. The spring equinox, or what’s more commonly known as the first day of spring, has come and gone, and amateur growers and planters are ready to break out their trowels. But before you get […]

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