Homes
Flipping your house: How to trade up
Flipping your house: How to trade up of
Tips to flip your starter home Getting ready to trade up? Then it's time to roll up your sleeves and get your starter house (or condo) ready for the resale market. Here are some dos and don'ts to help you get the best price and ensure your big flip isn't a flop.Do paintIt's one of the cheapest and easiest things you can do and also the most effective. A dingy or scuffed wall definitely needs repainting, but even walls in good condition can use a new paint job if they're currently an unusual colour. Neutral tones like white, cream or sandy taupe will appeal to the largest group of potential buyers.Don't do any major renovationsSure, you need to do some fast facelifts to get your home looking as clean, bright and spacious as possible, but don't spend big bucks hoping to make even bigger bucks. Your goal is to get your home looking as neutral a canvas as possible so the greatest number of potential buyers will want it. Think one-day makeovers, weekend projects and simple fixes -- not dream renos.Do clutterbustLet your home's "bones" shine through by banishing clutter. If your primary rooms are stuffed to bursting with furniture, move some of it offsite to a storage facility (don't let it block sightlines in your basement or attic either). And if anyone's coming to view your home, stash your everyday messes (toys, coats, old newspapers and magazines, etc) out of sight, too.Don't make a bad first impressionMake sure the first look potential buyers get of your front walk wows them. Repaint your front door and porch and replace a dingy mailbox or tarnished door hardware with newer models. If your porch light is out of date or ho-hum, replace it -- a stylish light costs under $100 and can make a huge impact. More tips: time warps, floral hints and bad smells Do hire a professional cleanerGet your house the cleanest it's ever been. Common problems like a greasy rangehood or backsplash, dirt-scuffed baseboards, and residue-covered shower stall tiles need some real elbow grease. If you don't want to get intimate with that kind of grime, hire a pro. (Pay extra and request a "deep clean," rather than standard weekly cleaning.)Don't let your bathroom stay in a time warpWhile major renos are out of the question, simple under-$1,000 switcheroos will actually pay off. Replace unattractively coloured ceramic fixtures (avocado green toilet and pedestal sink, anyone?) with basic white ones, and install new vanity lights if the existing fixture channels the wrong era.Do put your home in bloomEven though you're moving, it's worth keeping your flowerbeds looking their best -- a nicely landscaped house is one that really says "home sweet home." (Add a bouquet indoors, too.)Don't let your house have B.O.A stinky house doesn't send potential buyers a gotta-buy message. The thing is, though, if you smoke, have pets or cook extremely aromatic meals, you'll be so used to the smells that you won't be able to detect them. But outsiders will. So, if any of the above describes your household, embark on a de-scenting regimen. Steam clean all your carpets, drapery and upholstery, repaint your walls, change your furnace filters, and on days you're showing the house, either bake some cookies, light some scented votive candles or brew a fresh pot of coffee just before you go (make sure your agent is on board with ensuring the candles are blown out and the oven turned off to avoid fire hazards). Do let the dogs outKeep your pets out of the house during viewings and open houses. (And you stay out, too!)
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- Yuki Hayashi
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A touch of pink A touch of pink
A touch of pink ofMaster bedroom With room for two, the resolutely feminine home that Jodi Fisher shares with her daughter, Caia, is a sweet retreat from Vancouver’s urban hustle and bustle. At just 1,600 square feet, the petite house required some smart small space planning. Here’s how interior designer Rosemary Sleigh packed in the elegance, with Jodi’s inspired eye for art and decor lending personal glamour. A king-size bed is striking within the modest dimensions of the master bedroom, especially with a tall, sparkling bespoke headboard. Amplify the dramaHave fun with scale and details. Here, hot punches of pink introduce personality to the otherwise calm, dove grey space. In this lighthearted home, furniture choices and placement are deliberately bold. “In a small space, the pieces you select should be robust and daring,” says interior designer Rosemary Sleigh, “enough to anchor the zones.”Repeat, repeat, repeat!Successful small-space decor is an exercise in design fundamentals. The easiest example to glean from the Fisher home is repetition: the grey-on-grey palette, numerous black accents, rounded shapes, layered fabrics, and luxurious textures like smooth silk and fluffy wool. Add a smattering of one-off glam accessories, and you’ve got a poised look that begs to be emulated. “Good design principles are especially critical in a small, open plan,” says Rosemary.Let it sparkle“When working with any small space, look for ways to draw the light into the farthest reaches,” says Rosemary. In the bedroom, the custom-made quilted headboard evokes a starry night, thanks to a constellation of tiny mirrors embroidered right onto the fabric. Daughter's bedroom White and pastel pink set a girlie tone in Caia’s bedroom. A wrought-iron four-poster, twinkling chandelier and faux fur throw make the room fit for a little princess.“The space doesn’t feel small at all because of the layout, high ceilings and lots of light.” -JODI FISHER, HOMEOWNERBe playfulSmall children are a unique consideration when designing compact spaces. Streamlined living zones with lots of open space between furniture keep chaos under control as little ones race around. Creating a superplush and nifty nest (like the four-poster bed in daughter Caia’s room, heaped with pillows and a faux fur throw) means kids have a special spot to play and rest – although Caia says, “I love Mom’s princess room the best.”“The decor is really feminine – girlie, actually – and that’s just the way we like it.” -JODI- Credit
- Christina Symons
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25 insider condo buying tips 25 insider condo buying tips
25 insider condo buying tips ofBuying tips: 1 to 14 Condo sales are at an all-time high. In cities like Toronto and Vancouver, people are rediscovering the joys of living downtown again, along with the low-maintenance, easy lifestyle that goes with havng your very own castle in the clouds. And with housing real estate prices at truly stratospheric levels across the country, a condo is an affordable way into the market, especially for young people.Kathy Monahan, an agent with Forest Hill Realty in Toronto, has been helping clients buy and sell condos for nearly three decades and offers these 25 insider tips when you’re thinking of going condo.Before you start1 Hire a professional realtor to help with the buying process. It costs you nothing, since the seller pays the commission. 2 Make sure you have a good lawyer. 3 Seek financial qualification, to determine how much mortgage you can afford.4 Crunch the numbers with your financial backer; you’ll need extra money for closing costs, moving, land transfer tax and lawyers’ fees.On the hunt5 Be prepared to see a variety of styles: low-rise, high-rise, with or without amenities such as doormen or gym facilities.6 Purchase the largest suite you can afford. Studios and one-bedrooms are more difficult to re-sell.7 Visit the neighbourhood at different times of the day and evening. Does it suit you? 8 Choose a handsome view. Not only will it make day-to-day life more appealing, but it helps with resale later.9 Bear in mind that a southern exposure, although bright and sunny, may also be hot in the summer.10 Avoid a layout that looks out over the garbage pick-up area.11 Avoid a suite that overlooks the garage entrance and the coming and going of vehicle traffic.12 Avoid a suite beside or across from the elevator.13 A parking space is highly recommended. Even if you don’t drive, you can always rent it out.14 A locker is also highly recommended. There is rarely if ever enough storage space in a condo. Buying tips: 15 to 25 Home suite home15 Find out about visitor parking. How many spaces are available?16 With a resale condo, examine the appliances and wear and tear on the suite closely.17 Note the condition -- and aroma -- of the lobby and common areas such as hallways and stairwells.18 Find out who the occupants of the building are: mostly owners or tenants? Owners are preferable.19 Find out the monthly condo maintenance fees and what exactly they include (and don’t include).20 What are the property taxes? Are they included in the maintenance fees?21 Chat with other owners and ask about their experience in the building.Make me an offer22 Visit the suite at least twice, if you can, before making your offer. 23 Know what comparable suites in the building and in the area have sold for.24 As for offer price, listen to and discuss with your agent.25 When you are ready to make an offer, make it conditional on your lawyer reviewing the Condominium Documents and Status Certificate.- Credit
- Martha Uniacke Breen
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Beautiful buildings according to Alain de... Beautiful buildings according to Alain de...
Beautiful buildings according to Alain de... ofBeautiful buildings In his book The Architecture of Happiness (McClelland & Stewart, 2006), author Alain de Botton explores the connection between design and happiness. Are the two inextricably linked? Absolutely, according to Alain. "Beauty has a huge role to play in altering our mood," he says. "When we call a chair or a house beautiful, really what we're saying is that we like the way of life it's suggesting to us. It has an attitude we're attracted to." Agree or disagree, his insights are piercing and thought-provoking. So, according to Alain, what structures embody beauty? When asked to name his favourite buildings, here's what he had to say:Senate House, Bloomsbury, LondonThis elegant Portland Stone building was completed by the architect Charles Holden in the 1930s. Holden designed a lot of Underground stations around London, including White City and Arnos Grove. There are hints of art deco in all his buildings, but essentially Holden was a modern architect who had a feeling for the classical tradition and wanted to update it for his own age. Senate House is very austere, and could be faulted for being cold, but I love its serenity. It was built to last for centuries and the attention to detail is amazing - if you look at the handrails, they are pieces of art in themselves. As a library for the University of London, it's a very idealistic building, it's got a very high idea of what scholarship should be about. You really feel it's been designed with the noblest conception of learning in mind. Having used the library for many years, I know what it's like to be weighed down by the boredom and tedium of reading. This building provides anyone who works in it with a little uplift and joy.Laban Dance Centre, Deptford, LondonThis is one of the two buildings in the UK designed by the fabulous Swiss duo Herzog and de Meuron (the other is the Tate Modern). The pair started off as cool modernists but recently they've abandoned the austerity of modernism and are taking a more playful route. Laban, a dance conservatoire in southeast London, is an example of the new interest in ornamentation and prettiness. It's a remarkably delicate looking building. The walls are made of translucent glass and are lined with coloured lights, so that it's like looking at a box of sweets through a frosted glass jar. Day or night, the light washes out from the building on to the surrounding grey landscape. Architects like Herzog and de Meuron seem to be rediscovering the idea that buildings should be playful and beautiful, as well as functional and efficient. More beautiful buildings Dirty House, Shoreditch, LondonThis is a residential building in east London designed by the young British architect, David Adjaye. It's made of painted black brick and looks tough and urban. However, on the very top of the building, there sits a very elegant rooftop gallery made of glass. The contrast between glass and black brick is seductive, it suggests that we could all balance the masculine and feminine sides of ourselves. The building shows how you can build in very run-down inner city areas and make something good not by denying where you are, but precisely by acknowledging and celebrating it. The building could be called brutally beautiful. We've got one word, beauty, in our vocabulary to talk about architecture, but really, this covers a whole range of different kinds of attraction. Maybe there should be a subcategory of beauty called ‘industrial beauty' to capture what's special about this building.Queen's Building, Emmanuel College, CambridgeThis is a very fine building designed by the British architect Michael Hopkins and was completed in the mid 1990s. It's an elegant curved stone structure, which sits in its location with ease and grace - it both manages to catch the eye and blends into the historic surroundings of Cambridge. There are often a lot of tussles between supporters of modern architecture and classical enthusiasts - think of the endless debate between those who are pro and against Prince Charles's traditional views - but this building is one that seems to satisfy both camps. It looks classical without falling into any cliched visions of the past, while still retaining a lot of features found in old-fashioned buildings, like symmetry and regularity. A big question in architecture is: can we build today in a way that both satisfies the emotional needs to which old styles cater and yet acknowledges contemporary realities? Can we build in a way that reminds us of the comfort of tradition and yet doesn't turn its back entirely on the world we actually inhabit? Can we learn to translate the best of the past successfully into the language of the present? The lesson of this building is ‘yes'.Maggie's Centre, DundeeMaggie's centers are a series of day-care centers sited in the grounds of hospitals in the UK, built for people diagnosed with cancer. The idea behind them is that where you are can so seriously effect how you feel that you might be able better to fight cancer if you have the opportunity to spend time in a beautiful building. The Dundee Maggie's Center was designed by the Californian architect, Frank Gehry, who also designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The building has a comfortingly domestic feeling, it's a house rather than an institution, and invites its users to curl up with a book on one of its many window ledges, and take in a sublime view over the water. It's always ambitious to claim that architecture can change your life. This building is ample proof that it can.- Credit
- Natalie Bahadur
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Domestic giants Domestic giants
Domestic giants ofThe designers talk about their new collection Whether you've been loyal to Steve and Chris via their long-standing hit TV show Designer Guys or have become a more recent fan of their latest series So Chic with Steven and Chris, you know that the pair's decorating mantra is all about embracing personal style. With years of experience under their Gucci belts and an infectious passion for solving design dilemmas, it really comes as no surprise that this spring saw the launch of their own line of home furnishings, accessories and area rugs. We sat down with the pair to discuss the inspiration behind their oh-so-chic collection and why affordable luxury is the next big thing in home decor. Styleathome.com: What inspired you to create your own home decor collection?Steven Sabados: On our television shows we custom made furniture for our clients all of the time and we had many requests for these pieces from our viewers. Until now, these pieces were one-of-a-kind and not available to the public. We also wanted to give people exciting and stylish accessories at an affordable cost so re-creating a new look in your home wouldn't break your bank. We're inspired by our many travels: trips to New York, our hunting in beiges, browns, coppers, the classic black-and-white combination. Our style is not fussy or complicated. SAH.com: You mention that the furniture collection has many "luxury features". What does this mean?CH: We have upholstered sofas, loveseats, ottomans and headboards available in over 70 fabrics and 60 leathers. By luxury, we offer that custom-made feel. You can choose your fabric, skirt or wood leg trim as well as the base. That way, you can feel as though you own a piece that is exclusive to you. All frames have a lifetime warranty and all of our accent cushions are natural feather-filled. We designed the seating of this collection with very generous proportions. Again, we wanted our pieces to be comfortable. SAH.com: With the growth of luxury products, why make the collection more budget-conscious?CH: You should be proud of your living space and we feel that affordable designer collections are important because, more often than not, designer brands are overpriced and therefore inaccessible to so many people. We still wanted to have the look and feel of more expensive furniture but also make pieces that were durable enough to withstand everyday living. The talented duos fave pieces SAH.com: What are some of your absolute favourite pieces in the S&C line?SS: We love the Irene Chair because of its versatility. Because of the tufting, it has a very lavish feel and isn't too large that it couldn't fit into a certain room in your home. It could be placed in your bedroom, as a foyer chair, head chairs in a dining room or paired up in a living room. One chair can easily travel around the house from room to room. Experimenting with your aesthetic is what it's all about. SAH.com: What are some of the big trends for fall 2007?SS: The biggest word in decorating for fall 2007 (and hopefully forever!) is 'green'. Collectively, we have to be conscious of the world we live in. We are seeing recycled materials being used to create everything from fabrics to durable carpets and decorative accessories. So this fall when decorating, go green! SAH.com: Whose home would you love to redecorate if you could?SS: I would love to decorate Drew Barrymore's house. I have loved her for years and I think she is just a down-to-earth kind of girl. It would be so fun!CH: I would love to decorate Monique Imes' house (actress from the BET television show The Parkers.). I love her sense of humour and I think she would be a riot to hang out with!The S&C line of upholstery pieces and accessories are available at over 200 retail locations across Canada. Visit stevenandchris.com for more information.- Credit
- Lara Ceroni
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15 ways to add autumn to your home 15 ways to add autumn to your home
15 ways to add autumn to your home ofIn the living room In the summer, our natural instinct is to lighten everything up - paler colours, more visual white space and a decidedly pared down environment. Things change. "Fall is about layering up and creating warmth," says Sally Healy, of Calgary-based Sally Healy Design. It's true that warmer, richer colours signify the season naturally, "but I can take any palette and make it look like fall," says Sally. "It's about the texture and fabric. At this time of year, [fabrics] should be more lush (think velvet) and ribbed and nubbly."Here are some of Sally's other ideas for injecting that fall feeling into your home decor. In the living roomAdd area rugs. But remember that nothing looks worse than a rug that's too small for a room – it makes the space look busy. To welcome fall, lay a Buffalo or cowhide on top of sisal or another tight rug.Things don't have to be precious to be special. Cut down branches from your yard and put them in a vase that's filled with leaves and pinecones. It's cheap and fabulous. Add a beautiful throw to the sofa (wool or fur, preferably) and change the pillows (try chenille, mohair or thick port au soie satin). Hang more drapery, specifically woolen panels. They're classic and make a space feel comfy. For a less expensive option, you could just hang side panels for anther layer over your existing window treatment.Warm up your space with painted glass in oxblood red on the back of bookshelves. The reflective sheets are exquisite and cheap. In the dining room, bedroom and bathroom In the dining roomIf there's a lot of wood and hard surfaces, soften things up by slip covering the end chairs or using upholstered end banquettes. On the table, mix things up with coloured crystal, chargers and decorative plates. Cut coloured crystal and Moroccan tea glasses – they have a richness that just feels like fall.Put bowls of coconuts on the table. The texture is perfect for this time of year, especially with a layer of baby pinecones or moss.In the bedroomLayer up the bed with a quilted blanket in satin or velvet. Upholster the headboard. Replace white lampshades with black or something lined with gold or silver. In the bathroomHang floating shelves to store books and candles and soaps. Get a long wooden tray for the counter and place vases filled with sea corals on it. Add little lamps to the vanity. If you have the room, slip cover a chair and ottoman in a warm-coloured terry cloth and a wool runner.- Credit
- Jasmine Miller
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Get the movie look: The Break-Up Get the movie look: The Break-Up
Get the movie look: The Break-Up ofLiving room style; walls & flooring Is it possible to love your home more than your spouse? In the movie, The Break-Up, a dissolved relationship did nothing to move either Gary (Vince Vaughan) or Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) out of their luxurious condo. In fact, territorial lines grew deeper and things got uglier as this unhappy couple tried everything to squeeze each other out. Observing the condo itself, it's no stretch to see how they based an entire film around this upscale dwelling. While the balance between his-and-her decor styles is a hard line to find, this chic condo hit the mark with an expert mix of hard and soft accents. The lookCarmen Wageman, designer and owner of Stage-Right Interiors in Toronto, explains this condo does more than just mix his-and-her things together. "This room features a wide assortment of styles, including retro, contemporary and traditional. When combined in this way, this style is known as 'Transitional' -- a style that is classic and timeless, simple and sophisticated."She says a "Transitional" look offers a warm and serene atmosphere through a mix of fabrics (from leather to vintage), sleek-lined furnishings and earthy green-coloured walls. Carmen recommends this living room for homeowners who value serenity and relaxation. "If you are looking to create a living room setting that invites your guests to kick up their feet and relax for a time, then this is the style you're looking for," she says. Copy the lookTo recreate the look of this condo in your own living room, Carmen suggests the following accents and furniture pieces: 1 WallsA warm, muddy undertone colour is a great backdrop for abstract art.• Try Benjamin Moore's Brandon Beige, CC-5302 FloorsA cream coloured rug with simple lines and leafy accents lends a calm, casual, peaceful look.Movie stills courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For more information on The Break-Up on DVD, visit UDVD.caCarmen Wageman's Stage Right Interiors has grown to become Toronto's largest full-service staging company. Carmen and her team can supply this look from The Break-Up as part of their "in-home" design service. Sofas, windows, tables, chairs 3 SofasWhite sofaStraight-line style with tufted back creates a mix of traditional and contemporary. This look is great if a Transitional room is what you're after. Purchased in a cream coloured ultra-suede will give you an extra modern lift with the bonus of the ultra-suede stain-resistant durability.Couch: Stylus Style: Haro Fabric: Endurance Bone Visit stylussofas.com for dealer information.Leather sofaA dark brown leather couch that sits beside a modern style couch relaxes the mood and sets the tone for lingering.Couch: Stylus Style: KylaFabric: Dark Brown LeatherVisit stylussofas.com for dealer information.4 Tables -- clean linesThe glamour of retro can be seen in this simple, edgy coffee and matching end table. The mix of wood and glass keeps this look contemporary and light.Coffee Table and End Table: Elite Style: ChelseaVisit elitedesignfurn.com for dealer information. 5 Chairs -- retro flairAdd a little whimsy to a Transitional space with a couple of retro pattern chairs. This will add colour and style to an otherwise plain pallet. This chair is a balance between masculine and feminine, soft curves and hard lines, and is a must-have for this style of room. Chair: Rowe Style: MarcelVisit rowefurniture.com for dealer information.6 WindowsA window which combines both dark wood blinds and fabric panels is rich with colour, texture and luxury. Keeping it simple is the key. Limit the pattern and keep the colour of the curtain panels lighter than the walls for a casual urban look. Panels: Sears Whole Home® 'Rio Grande' Pintuck Tab-top PanelColour: Putty Blinds: Sears Whole Home® 'Palma' Roman-style Bamboo Shade Colour:Walnut Movie stills courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For more information on The Break-Up on DVD, visit UDVD.ca- Credit
- Colleen Tully
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Decorating with white Decorating with white
Decorating with white ofHow to bring white into your home With its high-ceilinged rooms, handsome French doors and elegant woodwork, the McLean family's rambling country house in the hills of Caledon, Ont., could have been built a hundred years ago. But although its design was inspired by the family's previous weekend retreat – a nearby century-old farmhouse – the new year-round home is only a few years old. The secret of its timeless, dreamy mood – old-fashioned and romantic, yes, but also pulled together and breezily up-to-date – is in the liberal use of white by homeowner Linda McLean and architect-designer Dee Dee Taylor Hannah.One thing that Linda, her husband, Jim, and their daughters, Stephanie, Jennifer and Krista, loved about their old house was its orderly progression of rooms, and in particular the two fireplaces directly facing one another in the rooms to the left and right of the front hall. “As you entered, there was a wonderful feeling of welcome when both the fireplaces were lit,” says Dee Dee. So in the new house, they began with the same main-floor layout and embellished it by widening the entry hall and doorways, enlarging rooms and adding a spacious main-floor bedroom suite for Stephanie, who uses a wheelchair.Welcome in the sunshineTo flood the interior with light and open it up to stunning views, regular windows were replaced with either French windows or French doors. The end result is a spacious, airy scheme where both the interior and exterior landscapes are visible all around.For the decor, Linda wanted a monochromatic palette based on white – a smart choice since a unified scheme created a visual link among the main rooms, most of which are visible from each other. The decision was also surprisingly liberating, says Dee Dee: varying tints, textures, sheen levels and materials kept things interesting without destroying the overall harmony. Hints of blue and pink soften some of the ceilings and walls, and upholstered furniture is covered in light-colour fabrics. Some wood pieces are painted white, and throughout the space, the same dark-stained hardwood floors unify and ground the lighter-than-air look.Photography by Ted Yarwood Sunny images of white light With the sunlight pouring in, the rolling Ontario landscape outside the windows and the airy decor, there truly is a friendly, old-house feel to the home. “There's a certain fluidity, a soothing continuity among rooms,” says Linda, “a sense that it all connects.” Photography by Ted Yarwood- Credit
- Martha Uniacke Breen
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Clutter control Clutter control
Clutter control of1-2-3: Get organized! Flip through any design magazine and you'll notice the rooms are flawless. Remote controls, shampoo bottles and newspapers are nowhere to be seen. And generally, neither are people. While these houses might not appear lived in, it's really just creative clutter-solutions at work. And it is attainable -- you can achieve this look without throwing away all of life's "stuff" by effectively managing your belongings.Where to startBegin by taking photos of every room in your house. Resist the urge to straighten up beforehand. The first step to creating a home that always looks tidy is identifying the problem areas.Study the photos with an objective eye. Is the entranceway littered with jackets, shoes and bags? Does the fridge boast ratty paperwork, coupons and magnets from your local real estate agent?Once you've identified the problem areas, here are a few ideas to help you successfully manage your mess.Behind closed doorsIt wasn't until her kitchen was being overtaken by notes, bills, and postcards, that Gail White, an executive assistant in Calgary, finally discovered a way to control the clutter by utilizing an out-of-sight surface -- her pantry door."I did the garage sale circuit one Saturday and found a few cheap bulletin boards," she says. "I secured them to the inside of the pantry door, and pinned everything up in there. Everything is out of sight, and my kitchen seems much larger." In other rooms, hang large hooks on the back of your closet doors for clothing, and small hooks on the back of the medicine-cabinet door for necklaces. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn. Stylish storage Out of season, out of sightIf it's not in season, hide it. Winter jackets and shoes can be moved to your basement or attic during the summer to make room in the closet for your everyday wear. When there's space in the closet, your family will be much more inclined to tuck their belongings away.Beautiful basketsLidded baskets provide stylish storage in your living room, bathroom, and bedroom. They offer convenient hiding places for magazines and books, bath products, slippers, and other daily use items that aren't part of the décor, but a necessary part of life. Baskets can be purchased at discount stores or craft stores and can make an inexpensive and attractive addition to any room. MaintenanceNow that you've discovered a few ways to manage your clutter, be sure to maintain your new style. Continue to look for new ways to store, display, or hide your belongings, and you'll find your home looks larger, cleaner and more stylish. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn.- Credit
- Sarah Deveau
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15 ways to show off your collection 15 ways to show off your collection
15 ways to show off your collection ofTry layering and arranging items in odd numbers Designers and stylists often group objects in uneven numbers for a better look. Arrange a collection in clusters of three, five, seven or any odd number you like.2 Build a spaceIf you're the proud owner of a treasured collection, build a dedicated spot for it. Adding a shelf above your headboard, filling an awkward nook or building storage along a hallway are clever ways to claim space. Install overhead spotlights to create a museum-like look.3 Pile it highNever mind what minimalists say -- abundance is cheerful and also completely chic. To keep a big dishware or linen collection casually sophisticated, stack similar items together on open shelving.4 Elevate the everydayA beautiful vignette isn't restricted to precious collectibles; feel free to exalt everyday items to star status. For instance, display a selection of sun hats that guests and family alike can pick from on summery days.5 Move things aroundDon't just plunk it down. To create an artful display, tweak it: nudge items an inch here or there, for instance, or hang them just a little lower -- until you're delighted with the results.6 Build layersLayering items -- pillows propped in front of pillows, a stack of small books in front of a stack of larger books -- will give oomph to a smaller collection by creating the appearance of depth and density.7 Take a pictureWhen in doubt, take a snapshot; it will help you see with fresh eyes the mantel or bookcase arrangement you've been fussing over. Digital cameras are especially handy for a quick look.8 Give it a new lifeSome textiles are too charming to hide in a drawer, like lusciously printed scarves, a few yards of leftover fabric, even vintage tea towels. Repurpose them as a set of pillow covers, placemats or drapes. More tips: use light and colour to their best advantage 9 Stagger heightsMatching kitchen canisters, Russian dolls, nested mixing bowls: no need to line them up tallest to shortest; instead, arrange them like a family photo, casually gathered around one another.10 Light it rightExperiment with lighting to make your treasures shine. Low-wattage incandescent lights cast a warm glow, halogen sparkles like sunlight, and energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs have come a long way. And, of course, nothing can top the beauty of natural light.11 Find a spotAlmost any bare surface could be a canvas for a lovely display; unlikely spots make for a nice surprise. Try the side of a kitchen cabinet, a windowsill, or the inside of an unused fireplace.12 Unify dissimilar itemsHow do you make memorabilia of different shapes, varying sizes and a range of colours resemble a well-edited collection rather than unrelated items strewn about? It's easy: display them in frames of identical colours, including shadow-box frames for three-dimensional items.13 Coordinate coloursDon't stress about colour. Coordinate a palette the way you love best: all white is understated, all black is sophisticated; a rainbow of jewel tones is delightful, while soft pastels are restful.14 Give small objects groundingIf a grouping of tiny items -- antique perfume bottles, salt and pepper shakers, glass paperweights -- isn't making a big impact, ground it by arranging the items on a plate or tray, or in a shallow basket of a contrasting colour.15 Do some researchStuck for ideas? Peruse books for tips and pics on how to display your collections. These are some of our favourites.• Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers and Ali Hanan (Ryland Peters & Small, 2005)• Home Rules by Nate Berkus (Hyperion, 2005)• Pottery Barn Storage & Display (Oxmoor House, 2004)- Credit
- Helen Racanelli
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12 tips that will make your house shine 12 tips that will make your house shine
12 tips that will make your house shine ofGetting fresh: Tips 1 to 6 Sure, you vacuum and do laundry every week. Your tub never has a ring and your stovetop is always shiny. You're house proud, and why not? Guests always comment on how organized and clean your place is. But this summer, even you can take it up a notch. Here are 12 easy chores that'll make your home shine. 1 Clean lampshades. Disconnect the lamp and remove the shade. If your shades are simple -- no decorations -- just use a damp cloth to gently wipe the inside and outside. If there are embellishments that need extra attention, use an old toothbrush to get them clean. Wipe down the lamp base and give the cord a once-over, too.2 Wash draperies. For fabric panels: Some can go into the washer; others (like silks and fine fabrics) can be gently vacuumed, brought to the dry cleaner or washed by hand in the sink or tub. For mini-blinds: Cover your hands in a pair of cotton socks. Dip them in warm soapy water and wipe each of the slats clean.3 Clean ceiling fan blades. Climb a ladder and dust ceiling fan blades with a feather duster.4 Dust the baseboards. If a simple dusting doesn't suffice to remove gathered dust on your baseboards, use a toothbrush to gently scrub them clean. Be careful not to damage the painted walls above. 5 Wipe and disinfect all your doorknobs, light-switch plates and telephones with a damp cloth. Use a damp paintbrush on stereo knobs and to dust its crevices. You can do the same for your remote control. 6 Wash all inside and outside doors with soapy water, remembering to wipe the top edge of the frame. Getting fresh: Tips 7 to 12 7 Clean window screens by removing them and laying them on the ground in the yard. Spray with the garden hose, wipe with a soapy cloth and rinse with the hose. 8 Clean shower curtains. Cloth curtains: Take them down and wash them in the washing machine, then hang them outside to dry. Before hanging them back up in the shower, soak them in salt water to prevent mildew. Plastic curtains: Leave them hanging in the shower and spray the top with your favourite cleaner, letting it run down to cover the entire curtain. Allow cleaner to sit for a few minutes, then rinse with the showerhead or wipe with a sponge.9 Clean drains. Nothing says summer like a fresh-smelling home, and stale drains can sometimes give off a subtle odour. In the kitchen and bathroom drains, pour about half a box of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain with a small plate or bowl for a few minutes. Complete the process by running the cold-water tap for a few minutes.10 Clean all filters. Your dehumidifier may be getting a workout this season, as will your central air conditioner and air-purifier unit. Remove each of those filters and screens, submerge them in water and gently brush with a cloth. Let stand outside to dry before reattaching.11 Disinfect all your garbage cans and recycling bins. Take them outside and douse them with cleaner. Grab a tall, cool drink and call your best friend. When you get off the phone, attack garbage cans with the garden hose. Leave them upside down on the deck and put your feet up until they drip-dry.12 Clean out the kitty litter box. Those plastic buckets, domes, houses and other containers are indestructible, it's true -- but that doesn't mean they don't get filthy. Take the litter box out to the backyard and hose it down. Soap and water will work wonders.- Credit
- Carmen Taylor
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The peaceful nursery The peaceful nursery
The peaceful nursery ofAt home At homeHome is as much a feeling as it is a physical place. “It's good to be home,” “home sweet home,” and “welcome home” are all expressions that strike a deep emotional chord. “Feeling at home” is synonymous with feeling content, comfortable, and secure. It is important to your health and happiness that the physical space you call home provides you with this sense of comfort and security. Creating a home-and more specifically, a special place for your baby-that will give both you and your child this sense of peace is essential.There is no better time to create a home that supports and nourishes you and your family than when preparing for the birth of a baby. The transition into parenthood can be one of the most extraordinary, yet also demanding, times in your life. As you adjust to your new role as a mother or father, your home can become a great source of support. An organized, healthy home and a peaceful, beautiful, comfortable nursery can help you function with ease and grace. In addition, as you design the nursery and make space for your new baby, you will also take an inner journey that will prepare you for parenthood: as you change your home, you too will change. Your home will become a vehicle for becoming more conscious about who you are, what your priorities are, what kind of parent you want to be, and what kind of children you want to raise.For a newborn, the significance of the nursery is even more profound: the nursery is your baby's next womb. An enchanted, peaceful, and cozy nursery will give your baby the security and comfort to thrive. Some of your baby's first interactions with you and the world will take place in this room. By creating a nursery filled with healthy, happy, and loving energy, you're building the foundation for a healthy, happy, and loving relationship with your baby.Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids. You and your home You and your homeYour home has an enormous influence on your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. An organized, beautiful, and toxin-free environment can boost your energy, promote good health, and support your dreams, while a disorganized, cluttered, and uncomfortable space can deplete your energy, undermine your ability to succeed, and dampen your spirits.Your home tells the story of who you are, what you enjoy doing, how you are feeling, and who you spend your time with. Your surroundings are an outward manifestation of your inner experience. Your home is a reflection of you. For example, if you're feeling a little down, you might find yourself unconsciously creating a gloomy environment by shutting the curtains or allowing your home to become messy. On the other hand, if you come back from a vacation reenergized and with a “new outlook on life,” you may choose to reflect your new state of mind by displaying souvenirs or photographs from your vacation. The pictures on your wall, the food in your refrigerator, the objects you have stored in your closet, how you decorate (or don't decorate) are all things that can tell you something about yourself. What story is your home telling about you? Take a moment to “read” your home by observing your surroundings. Do the objects you have chosen to surround yourself with reflect your interests, hobbies, and habits? If the answer is yes, then go one step further and ask yourself if you are happy with that reflection. If the answer is no, ask yourself why not?Being conscious of your environment is so important because your surroundings have the ability to influence your life. For instance, a clean, clutter-free desk may help you pay your bills on time, which may in turn affect your finances. A comfortable dining area may encourage more family meals, thereby shaping a closer relationship with your family. A restful, quiet nursery will help your baby sleep, allowing you to also get more rest, which will then affect your family's health and happiness. What's in your home and how it's arranged can affect some of the most important aspects of your life.Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids Designing your life Designing your lifeOnce you appreciate the power of the connection between your surroundings and your life, you can use this new understanding to organize and decorate your home so that it supports you in building the life you desire. As you design your home, you have the opportunity to design your life. What better time than when preparing to welcome a new baby to create the life you envision for yourself and your new family?The most effective changes in your home will result not only in the physical transformation of your surroundings, but also in a transformation of your mind, body, and spirit. Your home offers an opportunity for change because it is a tangible reflection of your innermost feelings, yet it is separate enough that you can step back and be objective. It is often easier to address the state of one's home than one's state of being. For example, a disorganized home may be easier to identify and change than a disorganized life.It is easy to only focus on the big events-such as holidays, celebrations, or entertaining out-of-town guests-yet it is the small everyday moments that make up the majority of your life. What seem like tiny annoyances or disturbances in your home can actually affect your well-being in much greater ways. Clutter on the kitchen counter may prevent you from cooking nutritious meals, which over time could affect your health. Searching frantically for your keys each morning might make you consistently late for work, which could then affect your career. Your home should nurture you by supporting your daily rituals. Your living room should be comfortable and lively so that your friends feel welcome. Your bedroom should promote peaceful sleep so that your immune system has time to recoup and your health is maintained.Designing your home is both an inner and outer process. By making changes in your outer surroundings, you are supporting a change on the inside. If you want to bring more serenity into your life, you'll want to bring objects, colors, and art into your home that are relaxing. You could bring in a small fountain if you are calmed by the sound of water, or light candles if watching the flicker of a flame brings you a sense of tranquility. Whatever you choose to "do" or “bring” to your home you are also "doing" and "bringing" to yourself. To further achieve your goal of bringing more peace into your life, think about the changes you'd like to make within yourself, such as reducing stress, maintaining a positive outlook, or seeking clarity about personal issues. Perhaps you will choose to meditate each day, or to start each morning writing down everything that is "on your mind" to help you feel more at peace. As you bring peace and harmony into your home you are simultaneously fostering inner peace and harmony. As your environment becomes more and more a reflection of who you are, your state of mind and physical surroundings seem to blend. The more aligned your inner and outer world, the more you feel "at home."Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids Feng shui Feng shuiMany cultures recognize the link between your home and your life. In India, the five-thousand-year-old Hindu design practice called Vastu holds that you must first create harmony in your environments in order to experience harmony within yourself. Many Native American rituals revolve around connecting to the land and giving thanks to Mother Earth. In Germany, Bau-biologie, the study of how your environment and the materials in your homes and office affect your health, holds that you must live in healthy buildings in order to experience optimal health. Feng Shui is the three-thousand-year-old Chinese practice of making positive changes in your environment to produce positive changes in your life. All of these practices have evolved similar holistic approaches to design, the core of which acknowledges the connection between one's environment and one's well-being.Feng Shui revolves around the universal principle that everything is made up of energy, including your body, your thoughts, and the empty space surrounding you. Even objects you may consider inanimate, such as a table or a rock, are made up of moving molecules and send out their own unique vibration. Your own energy is affected by all the energy that surrounds you. The goal is to help positive energy flow through your home in a way that enhances your life. Feng Shui embraces the idea that, just as different pressure points in acupuncture correspond to specific parts of the body, different areas of your home are associated with different areas of your life. These areas include health, family, love, relationships, career, wealth, fame, helpful people, children, creativity, knowledge, and self-cultivation. So when you improve the energy in part of your home, you're also improving part of your life.Although Feng Shui may seem complex, its philosophy includes commonsense practices and simple suggestions such as keeping your environment clean and organized, clearing clutter, arranging furniture so you can move easily from room to room, surrounding yourself with things you love that reflect and support your goals, and putting safety and comfort first by making sure your home is healthy and functional as well as beautiful. Fundamentally, Feng Shui is about making a home that you thoroughly enjoy-a home that supports your dreams and nurtures your mind, body, and spirit.Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids. Healthy home Healthy homeA basic tenet of Feng Shui holds that your physical environment is in essence an extension of your body and therefore how you care for your home is just as important as how you care for yourself. Think of all the care women put into nurturing their bodies while pregnant. You need to give the nursery the same kind of consideration. Just as a woman does not put toxins, such as alcohol and cigarette smoke, into her body during pregnancy, you should not put anything toxic in the nursery. With all the best intentions, many parents buy all new furnishings for the nursery, furnishings that contain chemicals that, especially when new, may release unhealthy fumes into the air of the nursery.Paying attention to air quality and the chemicals found in your home is particularly important when preparing for a new baby. Babies' immature organs are less able to cope with the toxins in their environment than those of adults. Children enjoy touching everything around them; eventually either their hands or random objects wind up in their mouths, exposing them to even more chemicals.People are becoming increasingly aware of the numerous chemicals in the environment. Many people know that most produce is treated with pesticides that remain on the food all the way to the kitchen. As a result, many people wash their fruits and vegetables and are becoming more conscious of the importance of buying organic food. People are also more aware than ever that industrial pollutants and pesticides from farm fields can contaminate water supplies, to the point where drinking bottled water and using water filtration systems in homes is commonplace. In today's world you also need to pay as close attention to the materials that you use to build, decorate, and clean your home as you do to the food you eat and the water you drink.Taking small steps to create a healthy home will make a big difference, so don't worry if you can't make big changes in your home today -- do what you can. Even small changes in your environment can significantly impact your life. You may even decide to just start with one room; and what better room than the nursery where your baby will spend more than a third of his or her early life?Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids. -
Condo style: 9T6 Condo style: 9T6
Condo style: 9T6 of9T6 living room Cool, sophisticated and urban - that's how Mike Niven of Mike Niven Interior Design sums up his direction for the 9T6 condo development's model suite in downtown Toronto.9T6 - The bachelor pad416-484-9600; 9t6condos.comThe site - Toronto, Queen Street West & St. Patrick StreetThe specs - 222 units; 460 to 1,405 sq. ft.The price tag - $190,000 to $600,000The designer - Mike Niven, Mike Niven Interior DesignThe architect - Atkins Group Corp. ArchitectsThe developer - Camrost-Felcorp 9T6 bedroom "It sort of plays on a boutique hotel feel," Mike says of the model suite's master bedroom. Mike fashioned a headboard from a dark wood folding screen, and dressed the bed in the same dark chocolate and cream scheme that permeates the rest of the condo. A series of black and white photographs are the perfect complement to this almost achromatic space. 9T6 kitchen The kitchen, a custom design from Mike Niven specifically for 9T6, is the heart of this highrise condo. Opening onto the living room, the kitchen boasts white quartz countertops and a mirrored backsplash. "The bottom part of [the backsplash] is frosted just to give a linear component," Mike says. "It's a simple detail, but something a little different." Stainless steel pulls - harmonious with the stainless appliance suite - pop against dark wood cabinetry.- Credit
- Brett Walther
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Condo style: Lumiere Condo style: Lumiere
Condo style: Lumiere ofLumiere condo master bedroom The definitive contemporary condo in downtown Toronto, the Lumiere model suite's ultramodern aesthetic comes courtesy of munge//leung: design associates. Lumiere - The mod pod 416-591-7700; lumierecondos.comThe site - Toronto, College & Bay streetsThe specs - 326 units; 601 to 1,262 sq. ft.The price tag - $300,000 to $675,990The designers - Alessandro Munge, Sai Leung, Munge/Leung Design AssociatesThe architect - Rudy Wallman, Wallman ArchitectsThe developers - Menkes Developments and Lifetime Urban Development Group Lumiere dining area The sleek and unique linear kitchen arrangement stretches the length of the open concept living and dining area. "At the end of the day, it's no bigger than a standard kitchen, but it is very unique in that it feels a lot bigger," says designer Alessandro Munge. The contrast between the two-toned white and wenge cabinetry sets a dramatic tone that continues throughout the suite. Defining the dining area is a showstopping 60s-style light fixture that hangs above the round glass-topped Herman Miller table. Lumiere bathroom In the bathroom, a semi-recessed vessel sink rises from a marble countertop atop cabinets with a strikingly pronounced vertical wood grain. "We've chosen to answer people's concerns about counter space," says Alessandro. "We've reconfigured the arrangement of the toilet and maximized the width of the cabinets." Lumiere guest bedroom Even at 870 square feet, there's room for a queen-sized bed in the suite's guest bedroom. Here, munge//leung chose a walnut-framed bed, topped with a silver-grey felt headboard.- Credit
- Brett Walther
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Your first new home Your first new home
Your first new home ofGreat pro ideas When I moved into my first house many years ago, the contractor asked me two routine questions: "What colour do you want to paint your walls?" and "Where in the kitchen do you want the electrical outlets?" I was stumped. Eventually, I found my voice and proceeded to give misguided and uninformed answers to these queries. I'm still living with the results.First-time homeowners are frequently overwhelmed by the sudden inundation of details confronting them the very second their brand-new residential threshold is traversed. I sank beneath the sheer and sudden weight of it all. But you don't have to. The following advice from the design pros will help you stay afloat."Avoid the temptation to buy new furnishings just because they're on sale or you think you have to. They may not work for you in two years, and you'll feel too guilty to replace them. Wait to buy things you really love." Jeffrey Douglas, JAD Design Group, Toronto"Assess the design priorities in your new house, then decide what you can live with for a while and what needs to be done immediately. Also, pay attention to where there's natural light at different times of the day before selecting and installing light fixtures." Susannah Walker, Susannah Walker Interiors, Vancouver"You'll want to cover the windows right away -- most people do," says Valerie Laidley, who likes the sophisticated look of laminated shades made with your own choice of inexpensive fabric. "When you're ready, you can add draperies to the blinds for a coordinated look." Valerie Laidley, Square One, Montreal"Take care of the stuff you don't see first," says Scott Yetman. For example, make sure the electrical wiring is safe and adequate and the plumbing is good. And remember to check the furnace. "It'll be hard to enjoy your home if the heating doesn't work properly." Scott Yetman, Scott Yetman Design, Montreal More tips from the experts Don't just paint the whole house off-white. "Contrary to what many people say, it's a big deal to repaint," says Paul Lavoie. If you have to paint, pick wall colours you really love. "It's still the best way to get impact." Paul Lavoie, Paul Lavoie Interior Design, Calgary Don't make any major structural changes until you've lived in your house for a while. When you do, avoid design fads: "You could tire of them quickly. It's also good to keep resale in mind, especially if you don't know how long you'll be there." Susan McIntyre, Susan McIntyre Design, Vancouver Stick to essential furnishings, such as a basic table and chairs for dining that can be used elsewhere later on. Also, beware of the tendency to install built-ins right away. "Your assumptions about the uses of specific rooms will probably change over time." Brenda Porter, Brenda Porter Interior Design, CalgaryCreate a colour board on which to stick your favourite paint chips, finishes and fabric swatches. "It will be your map to purchasing and making design decisions. It will ensure that everything is part of an overall scheme." Cindy Guberman, Design Profile, Winnipeg "Have somewhere comfortable to sit," says Scott Elson. Buy a sofa that can be moved into the family room later, or if you already have one, slipcover it for a fresher look. Most of all, "Don't let anyone talk you into buying a suite of furniture." Scott Elson, Elson Associates Interior Design, Toronto"I encourage people to fully decorate at least one room – a family or living room – instead of doing bits and pieces. This provides you with an oasis even if the rest of the house is in chaos, as well as somewhere you can receive your friends." Bea Doucet-Watts, Doucet-Watts & Davis Interiors, Halifax- Credit
- Rachel Rafelman
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Wallpaper on a whim Wallpaper on a whim
Wallpaper on a whim ofWallpaper on a whim Wallpaper is a great way to show off your sense of style. Why not display your do-it-yourself talent, as well?Paper trailFirst-timers should work with a durable, DIY-friendly paper such as vinyl, says Jerry Aleksic, owner of Artistic Design Decorators in Toronto. According to Jerry, striped wallpaper is best avoided, as separate pieces can be difficult to match. Plain paper, or paper with a busy pattern can be more forgiving. To determine the amount of wallpaper you'll need, add the lengths of all your walls and multiply by the single height. Subtract door and window areas, then add an emergency 15 per cent to the total.Hang timeAfter cleaning, spackling, sanding and priming the walls, it's time to begin. "The first sheet you put up is going to be your worst one," says Jerry. "By the time you get to that focal point you want to have some experience." First, start in an inconspicuous spot, like behind a door or in a corner. Find the centre of that wall and draw a straight "plumb line" from the ceiling to the baseboard, against which you'll hang the paper. Mark off the rest of the wallpaper-width. Cut strips to the height of your wall plus four to six inches for overhang, ensuring that the pattern of your wallpaper aligns. Roll the paste evenly and thoroughly on the back of the paper, beginning from its centre. Fold -- without flattening -- the top and bottom edges into the middle, pasted sides in and ensure the edges are aligned. This process, known as booking, allows the adhesive to penetrate the paper and keeps it wet until needed. Unfold the top half of the strip and align with the plumb lines and with the ceiling, leaving a couple of inches for trimming. Work out air bubbles or wrinkles with a smoothing brush. Be as precise as possible with the first sheet. "If your first sheet is not put on straight, it's only going to get worse and worse," warns Jerry. If you come across any problems, pull the paper off the wall without sliding it around. Wipe off any excess paste with a damp sponge, then continue with the bottom half of the strip. For strip number two, align without overlapping the pattern starting from the ceiling. "Once you've matched the top two feet, everything will fall into place," says Jerry. Smooth out the paper and roll the seam 10 minutes later. With a few strips completed, use a broadknife or scraper to crease the ceiling line and the line at the baseboards. Holding the broadknife in place, use a utility knife to trim the excess paper.Tough spot: WindowsCut the overlapping paper along the sills. Press the paper against the left and right casings and trim excess. Paste matching paper, with half an inch overhang, over the top and bottom casings and tuck the overlap underneath the corners of the facing walls.Now stand back and admire your handiwork. If only you could wrap gifts with such finesse.- Credit
- Heather Camlot
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Design wars Design wars
Design wars ofCouple style problems Style At Home associate Art Director Karen Williams and her boyfriend, Eric, rarely disagree. They've been together for seven years and it's a comfortable match, so they're not afraid of moving in together. In fact, they fell in love with some floor plans last year; their first home will be finished around Thanksgiving. Since the house is being built from scratch, the young couple has had to decide on everything from floor finishes to appliances, not to mention the number of pot lights, style of medicine cabinet and shape of vanity. They navigated those minefields well – for the most part they agreed and where they couldn't, they compromised. But now they're on furniture. No fights have broken out, but suddenly compromise isn't as easy as it was. According to Toronto designer Lara Neal, this kind of merging can be an emotional, sometimes painful, process, “but that's part of moving in together,” she says. “You open yourself up to someone else critiquing your wares.”The solution? You'll have to give in on some choices. There could be one item that one of you absolutely has to have and which is horrifying to the other person: a big bulky Lazy-Boy or fancy frilly antique heirloom, for example. You can't completely eliminate your partner's past or their stuff, so don't try. Here are Lara's tips for keeping the design wars at bay:Take inventory of everythingEach of you needs to review, assess and evaluate all your possessions with an eye to making every room in your new home functional. Edit what you have and be as honest as you can. Often couples have twice the furniture they need, so get rid of pieces that are damaged and not terribly valuable. If his things are in better shape than yours, perhaps you need to get rid of yours. Couple style solutions Be prepared to mix and match different styles and periodsKaren wants fabric to reign in the living room and Eric wants leather. No problem: get a sofa in fabric and two leather club chairs or a leather ottoman. There's nothing wrong with mixing materials if that meets both tastes.Re-jig, re-use, re-paintIf, between the two of you, there are a number of disparate pieces, you can unify them by painting them the same colour or reupholstering them with the same fabric. Maybe you don't like his dresser; update it with a coat of paint or new hardware. Pick your battlesRemember: unless it's a family heirloom, it's just furniture. Don't let it ruin your relationship. Use pieces in places you wouldn't usually think to: If he really prefers his bedroom dresser to yours, put yours in the front hall as a place to throw keys, store gloves and scarves and other off-season necessities.Think about scaleJust because your nine-person sectional (clad in butter-soft Italian leather and boasting hand-crafted springs) is a showstopper, his velour covered three-seater might actually fit your new square living room better. Consider a proIn the battle of the sexes, I recommend couples handle disagreements through a designer. He or she can mediate the relationship and create a harmonious look in the home. Being a designer is about understanding his tastes and her tastes and merging the two so in the end there's a cohesive look and each person feels represented. Finally, hope your dream home has a basement where you can store things out of sight!- Credit
- Jasmine Miller
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Renovate or relocate? Renovate or relocate?
Renovate or relocate? ofThe dilemma Renovate or relocate? To help one family decide, we asked an investment advisor, contractor and real estate agent to assess their situation and give expert advice.The familyMark and Karen Podborski and their two-year-old daughter, Eve, live in a three-bedroom house in Toronto. Mark and Karen are both self-employed and work from separate home offices. Before Eve's arrival, they renovated their kitchen and installed new windows throughout. Karen also converted her office into a nursery. When she returned to work, she set up shop in a corner of the living room, but it was too cramped. She needed an office. Mark and Karen also wanted a family room that would double as a playroom for Eve. They wondered if they should finish the basement with a bathroom, small office and family room, or move to a bigger house. “If we renovate now, we want to make the money back if we sell the house in five years,” says Karen, who thinks they'll eventually move to be closer to a good school. What the investment advisor saidMark and Karen think they can afford to spend $20,000. “They want advice on a short-term goal, but it should all be part of a long-term plan,” says Priscilla Low, an investment advisor with BMO Nesbitt Burns in Toronto. "They need to invest in their retirement and Eve's education, too." However, she points out some factors in their favour: they have little debt; their earning power will increase over the next decade; and interest rates are currently low, so financing a higher mortgage or borrowing for a reno is feasible. Her final opinion: "They can afford to do this."What the contractor said "The first thing I ask people who are thinking of renovating a basement is how long they're going to stay there," says Jim Caruk, a master contractor and host of HGTV's Real Renos. "If they say five or 10 years, I say 'OK, don't expect to get your money back.'" He also suggests hiring an architect to draw up blueprints, which adds 10 to 15 per cent to the total cost. Without drawings, contractors might bid on different details, so you end up comparing apples to oranges. Blueprints also cut down on changes a client is likely to make once work begins. "Changes cost money," says Jim. Even with blueprints, add another 10 to 20 per cent for hidden costs and unforeseen changes, he adds. That's a total of 20 to 35 per cent ($4,000 to $7,000) on top of Mark and Karen's budget of $20,000. Jim also thinks their original budget is tight (see Real Basement Reno Costs, next page), especially if they decide to raise the basement ceiling height by digging down the floor. The numbers What the real estate agent said Rhonda Barresi of Gallo Real Estate in Stouffville, Ont., agrees with Jim that a basement renovation doesn't pay back. "A basement is a great selling feature, but it doesn't make the house worth a lot more," she says. What does? "Location, location, location," says Rhonda. "New kitchens, bathrooms and windows are good, too." According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, expect to make back only 50 per cent of your initial investment by finishing a basement -- a kitchen reno returns 68 to 73 per cent. Rhonda also warns Mark and Karen that a basement reno may price their house out of the market by making it worth more than what houses in their neighbourhood sell for. She estimates that the Podborski house is worth about $345,000, a big jump from what the couple paid 10 years ago, thanks to their kitchen reno and the hot real estate market. If they decide to move, Rhonda says they should expect to pay about four to six per cent ($13,800 to $20,700) in real estate commissions, land-transfer taxes, legal fees, moving costs and utility hook-ups. She thinks Mark and Karen should take the profit they would make from the sale, and take advantage of low mortgage rates and buy a bigger house with a finished basement a little further from the city. The final decisionAfter finding out how much a basement reno would cost and knowing that they wouldn't get all that money back, Mark and Karen decided to move. Happily, their house sold quickly for more than the $345,000 they were asking. "The bank wanted to keep our business, so it gave us a penalty-free discharge on our old mortgage and approved a new one for $30,000 more at a substantially lower rate, so our payments barely went up," says Mark. Karen adds, "The new house is much bigger than our old one but was only a few thousand dollars more because it's outside the city." So even though their $20,000 got eaten up in selling and moving costs, the extra money borrowed for the mortgage allowed the couple some cushion in case the new house needs unforeseen maintenance work. "At least with the move, the chaos will settle down in two or three weeks instead of months of messy renovating," says Karen. "Plus our new house is closer to parks and schools for Eve."Real basement reno costs• Blueprints $3,000• Bathroom (minimum) $8,000 • Walls (ready to paint) 1 sq. ft. @ $3.50 x 500 $1,750• Fix uneven floor $500• Pot lights 10 @ $140 $1,400• Radiators 3 @ $750 $2,250• Windows 3 @ $470 $1,410• Carpeting 1 sq. ft. @ $2.20 x 500 $1,100..........................Subtotal $19,410• 10% extra for unforeseen changes $1,941 ........................... TOTAL $21,351 NOTE: The total doesn't include the option of lowering the basement floor. That would add anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 -- well beyond Mark and Karen's budget.For help deciding whether or not the renovation you're planning will pay off, check out cmhc.ca. Many publications (some free and some for nominal fees) are available to order, but there's also a great Before You Renovate guide posted online to get you started in the planning process.- Credit
- Kathleen Dore
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Geothermics: Right under your feet Geothermics: Right under your feet
Geothermics: Right under your feet ofGeothermics: An intelligent technology Geothermics not only offers the advantage of using an inexhaustible source of energy – the sun – but it doesn't burn fossil fuel and therefore doesn't produce greenhouse gases. The results speak for themselves: On the one hand, users can expect to save 60 to 70 percent on heating costs; on the other, the average size household can cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 to 5 tonnes per year, according to Natural Resources Canada.An intelligent technologyDid you know that almost half of the sun's geothermal energy is captured and stored in the ground and in water? At a depth of approximately two metres, ground temperature is constant during winter and summer, varying between 5°C and 12°C, depending on the geographic location of your home. A geothermal system makes it possible to extract and harness a part of this energy, and it produces a more uniform heat than oil or electricity. However, if your home is poorly insulated to begin with, a geothermal heating system will not necessarily make it more comfortable.Geothermal systems can be installed in new and old homes alike. The process involves the installation of underground pipes outside the house and a geothermal heat pump inside the house.Two types of geothermal systems are currently offered: open-loop and closed-loop. The open-loop system uses energy stored in a lake or wellbore, a method seldom used owing to tougher policies on the protection of waterways. The closed-loop system taps into the energy stored in the ground. In both cases, the heat pump circulates a liquid through a series of pipes buried beneath the ground or water. As its name suggests, the heat transfer fluid carries the heat to the heat pump, which compresses it before pushing it through the home-ventilation conduits. Thanks to its coils, the geothermal system can also be used in homes heated with hot water. It works the same way for air conditioning but in the reverse direction: Hot air drawn from the home is sent back into the ground, and cool air is pumped into the conduits.While a geothermal system will meet almost all of your home-heating needs, it is still equipped with a backup electrical system in the event that the heat pump breaks down or for especially cold days. And it has the added advantage that it can be attached to a “desuperheater,” which uses a part of the heat recovered by the heat pump to preheat the water used in the home.To install the piping system, consumers can choose between drilling vertically or horizontally into the ground around the house. In the first case, the borehole will reach 30 to 122 metres (100 to 400 feet) in depth, depending on the amount of energy the home requires. This method uses a minimum amount of space but is more expensive than drilling horizontally – which requires that the pipes be installed only two to three metres below the ground. The two methods are equally effective, and the final choice will depend on the size of the property (a minimum of 3,700 square metres – 40,000 square feet – is needed for horizontal drilling) and the type of soil (such as sandy or peaty). Geothermics: Save money, at what cost? Save money at what cost?According to the experts, the installation cost is the only reason geothermal systems are not already widely used. For a home measuring 139 to 186 square metres (1,500 to 2,000 feet), this system (warm-air heating and air conditioning) costs between $18,000 and $25,000, or roughly $7,000 to $10,000 more than a traditional central-heating system. That said, a geothermal system presents a huge advantage in that the investment can be recovered in five to 10 years. And you will continue to save several hundred dollars a year long after it has finished paying for itself. There are financial-assistance programs for homeowners intent on installing a geothermal system. NaturalResources Canada offers a maximum grant of $3,500, provided that the installation is carried out by an accredited contractor.Qualified contractor an absolute mustUp to now, mandatory training and certification have not been required to install geothermal systems. However, effective January 1, 2008, all installations must be certified by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition – all the more reason to choose a certified contractor, particularly if you intend to apply for a grant. This way, you can be sure that the contractor – like the drill operator – holds a valid licence and has the proper liability insurance and the experience necessary. An experienced contractor must know, for example, how to precisely calculate the number of metres that must be drilled for home heating and air conditioning, while taking into account the quality of the home's insulation.The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition offers training in geothermics; you can contact the coalition for the names of contractors who have taken the training course. Initially reserved for installers and drill operators, the course is now available to designers of residential and commercial systems.Natural Resources Canada advises people to contact at least three certified contractors for a written estimate of the work to be done. Once you choose a contractor, the contract you sign with him should include: an analysis of the job; the work to be done at each stage; a list of the equipment required; the cost of materials and labour; and a payment schedule. And don't forget to read the contractor's warranty. In general, contractors offer a one-year warranty on parts and labour, while the manufacturer's warranty may vary between five and 10 years for labour and the heat pump, which has a lifespan of roughly 20 years. As for the pipes, they are often guaranteed for 25 years or more. RESOURCESCanadian GeoExchange Coalition 514-807-7559Natural Resources Canada publishes Residential Earth Energy Systems: A Buyer's Guide. To order a free copy, call 1-800-387-2000- Credit
- Isabelle Bergeron
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