PINNACLE PLUS REALTY LTD. BROKERAGE : AGENTS : Latest Blog Posts

October 2021 Market Stats for Windsor-Essex

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 13:31:52 GMT

Windsor-Essex Real Estate market update for October, 2021.

Looking to buy, sell, or have a question about the real estate market? Call us anytime at 519.944.PINN (7466).

Summer 2021 Season Checklist

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 14:41:29 GMT

Your summer season checklist for 2021 is here! Get your home summer-ready with this checklist that tackles your home inside and out.

1. Weatherproof home

Keep the cold air inside by sealing up your windows and doors with caulk. Not only will this make your home more energy efficient and help you save on your bill, but it can also improve your home’s air quality and prevent moisture problems.

2. Scrub deck & outdoor furniture

Blast away that dirt and grime buildup from your deck and outdoor furniture with a power-wash. Before you start, prep the surface by removing debris with a broom or leaf blower and rinse down your furniture with some warm, soapy water. If your deck has started to fade in colour, consider sealing it up with a stain to protect it from the elements.

3. Pool clean-up and maintenance

Spending days by the pool is a summer staple. Keep your water crystal clear with some shock. At night, dissolve the shock in a bucket of water before pouring it into your pool so it does not bleach your liner. Try to aim for a pH level of 7.2-7.8.

Safety reminder: To prevent any accidents, make sure your pool is fenced in with a self-latching gate and topped off with a safety cover when not in use.

4. Clean and inspect windows

Brighten up your space by washing your windows both inside and out. For a streak-free finish, spray on a mixture of part vinegar and water or glass cleaner and wipe down with a squeegee. Mend any holes or tears in your window screen using a screen patching kit to keep the bugs out.

5. Swap in white linens

Make your home feel light and airy with some white linens. Give everything a wash to remove dust and opt for lighter curtains and throw blankets.

6. Check air conditioner

Maintaining your air conditioner is crucial to keep it working efficiently and effectively. Regularly vacuuming vents to remove dust buildup, keeping vents furniture-free, cleaning and replacing filters and removing any growth around your condenser unit can improve airflow.

7. Repair chipped paint

If your paint is chipped, cracked or faded, give it a refresh with some new paint. Don't forget to strip all of the old paint before you begin anew.

Be sure to save to the photo below to help you keep track of your progress!

Sources:

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/to-dos-your-july-home-checklist-stsetivw-vs~68023310

https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/july-home-maintenance-checklist/

https://www.ahs.com/home-matters/repair-maintenance/make-summer-maintenance-simple-with-this-handy-checklist/

Reassess your Roof Shingles this Spring

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 17:05:00 GMT

Inspect your roof for any shingles that were lost or damaged during winter from the ground up. Bear in mind that the summer sun can damage roof shingles and the ones that are cracked or loose need to be replaced. Keep in mind the age of the roof covering, if it's older, you will need to start budgeting for a replacement.

Inspect your Gutters this Spring

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 17:03:00 GMT

After a long cold winter, spring in all its glory is here. The only downside sunshine highlights your leaf-filled gutters, cracked sidewalks, and the dead plants in the flower beds. Now is the time to check for loose or leaky gutters. Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space. Ensure that the downspouts drain away from the foundation.

Entertainment Spaces will change in 2021

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 17:01:00 GMT

We at Pinnacle believe that staying in is the new going out. There’s been a huge paradigm shift when it comes to outside entertainment. We expect to see bigger TV screens complemented by comfortable lounge seating areas and robust sound systems, as many people hope to recreate the movie theater experience in their own homes but incorporating their personal taste.

Cozy and relaxing living rooms expected in 2021

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 17:00:00 GMT

For 2021, we expect most living rooms to have a cozy and relaxing vibe. That’s because our living rooms have transformed into multifunctional places of refuge during challenging times. You can achieve this by acquiring unique antique or sculptural pieces of furniture in the living room and entry hallway.

Highlight your Outdoor Space

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:58:00 GMT

Because we spent so much time indoors throughout 2020, we’re sure that dreaming about the outdoors became one of your daily habits. In 2021, we hope to really show our appreciation of outdoor spaces and this can be done by highlighting the balcony, patio, backyard, terrace, veranda, you name it. Make sure you incorporate the outside element into your home staging.

Golden rules when it comes to Home Staging

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:53:00 GMT

We have two golden rules when it comes to home staging. One, depersonalize your living space and remove personal family photos and personal decor. The goal is to have potential buyers easily imagine themselves living there. Two, make sure you display a clean and tidy interior. Eliminate bulky objects from view and make sure the beds are well-made. This is to show potential buyers that they can move around easily.

Invest in Professional Photography

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:50:00 GMT

Because most real estate platforms have more or less transitioned to a fully online space, it is key to invest in professional photography. As the old adage says, a picture is worth a thousand words. Those professional photos will give potential buyers a very good look into your residential unit, inclusive of surrounding views and other key features.

Acquire a Professional Consultation for your Home

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:49:00 GMT

The best piece of advice we cannot stress enough is the importance of getting a professional consultation from an experienced real estate agent. This will help you get an idea of the most competitive price, inclusive of location, size, features, and more. We at Pinnacle Plus Realty are only a phone call or email away if you’re ready to sell your home this year.

Keep your Basement Dry

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:43:00 GMT

Water is a common problem in the basement space. We suggest installing a French drain system around the house’s perimeter. This will prevent water from seeping through the concrete slab. Don’t forget to add insulation and an HVAC system to keep the basement dry.

Acquire More Space at Home

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:37:00 GMT

If you’re interested in getting more space out of your already small living space, then the best area to start in is the basement. We suggest opting for vinyl or tile flooring with a rug on top for an element of softness, a fresh coat of paint on the walls, and adding recessed lighting.

Repurpose and upgrade your old furniture

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:35:00 GMT

We have found ourselves in yet another lockdown and that means we might have some extra time on our hands. This is an opportune time to roll up our sleeves and get started on that home-edition to-do list. You might have some pieces of furniture that are looking drab or are sitting unused. These pieces could use a simple upgrade such as a fresh coat of paint, playing around with patterns adding little decorative details, and swapping out handles can give your home an easy style refresh without having to do major renovations.

DIY Emergency Kit you can make at home

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:34:00 GMT

The end of times has become a recurring theme of current times. With this in mind, it wouldn’t hurt to make a DIY emergency kit, which will usually consist of a first-aid kit, masks, hand sanitizer, flashlight, signaling gear, bottled water, and granola bars.

A Rising Trend of 18-hour and 15-minute cities

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:22:00 GMT

Did you know that 18-hour cities and 15-minute cities are concepts that are transitioning into the mainstream? An 18-hour city is a medium-sized city which is less intense, low cost of living, and has attractive amenities. Kitchener-Waterloo, London and Ottawa are three Ontario examples.

A 15-minute city offers residents access to daily necessities – groceries, drug stores, libraries and schools – within a short walk or bike ride. According to the Globe and Mail, only 23% of urban Canadians live in this type of area.

Working from Home will become the New Normal

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:18:00 GMT

There is light at the end of the tunnel with approved COVID vaccines making the headlines, but many Canadian employers are rethinking their entire workflow. Many are realizing they don’t need to live in close proximity to their offices, and are now eyeing properties in the suburbs of major cities, and this trend is expected to continue, even post-pandemic.

14 Wall Murals That Will Totally Transform a Room

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 20:14:18 GMT

Wallpaper has had its moment as a must-do and a must-remove feature in our homes. And although we’re confident tacky wallpaper borders from the 80s aren’t going to turn up in the pages of House & Home magazine anytime soon, there’s another type of wall covering that’s growing in popularity. Wall murals are affordable, easy to apply and remove, and can totally transform a room in just a few hours. To help you choose the right wall mural for your space, we curated 14 examples to inspire your next makeover project.

Image via minted

1. Misty Forest

Support an independent artist and transform your room into a dreamy swirl of calming blues and greens with the misty forest mural from minted. This mural is printed on a peel-and-stick material that can be adjusted if you don’t get it right the first time. A 9 foot by-8.25 foot mural starts at $275.

Image via eazywallz.com

2. First Steps on the Moon

If you thought a space-themed room was just for kids, think again. This removable and reusable wall mural featuring the first steps on the moon is modern, textured, and will surely make a statement in any room. Panels range from about 4.5 feet by-3 feet to 15 feet by-10 feet and start at $165 with free shipping in Canada.

Image via Wayfair

3. Mullican Warehouse Brick

An interior brick wall adds instant character and texture. But purchasing or renting a home with a coveted exposed brick wall is not always an option, and adding a brick wall isn’t a simple DIY project. Instead, consider this brick wall mural to get the look without making a permanent change. `And at about $165 for six panels, it’s a lot more affordable too.

Image via The Home Depot

4. Amaya Black

The abstract brushstrokes in this black and white mural available online from The Home Depot makes it easy to match up the edges for a seamless look on a large wall in an entryway or living room. This option is applied with an adhesive and starts at $113 for two panels that combine to cover 6 feet by-8 feet.

Image via Wayfair

5. Whitted Pastel Triangles

This wall mural offers a pretty palette of pastels that would work well in an office, kitchen, bathroom or gender neutral kid’s room. If you’re worried about spills or splatters, this option will stand up to messes with a semi-gloss finish that’s easy to wipe down. This mural comes with six panels that can cover up to 77 square-feet for $165.

Image via Wallsauce.com

6. Romantic Flower Chandelier

You’ll fall in love with this custom-sized Romantic Flower Chandelier wall mural printed on demand according to the dimensions of your room. Simply measure your wall, supply an image of your space and choose the peel-and-stick or paste-on option. Your wall mural will be custom printed starting at $5.48 per square foot.

Image via Wallsauce.com

7. Blue and White Shell

Pair this tie-dye wall mural with a pair of overalls and jelly sandals for a blast from the past perfect for a trendy teenager’s room. Once popular in the 1990s, tie-dye is back in style and this wall mural makes it easy to embrace the trend without making a permanent change. This is another option that’s printed on demand to fit your space starting at $5.48 per square foot.

Image via Eazywalls.com

8. Minimal Map of Paris

Travel to another city without leaving your home with a lifesize wall mural featuring a map from your favourite vacation destination. This option shows off the streets of Paris with a detailed black and white map. A package of panels covering an 8 foot by-5 foot space starts at $350 with free shipping in Canada.

Image via coverthesewalls.com

9. Fall

This Canadian company’s wall murals give you the flexibility to create exactly the look you want by supplying individual decals instead of a stick-on panel. Cover These Walls’ Fall design comes with 44 decals for $90 in a range of neutral hues that will work in any season of the year.

Image via minted

10. Cornflower Lake View

Cool, calming and totally serene, this wall mural will make you feel like you’re watching the most epic sunset any day of the week. The Cornflower Lake View mural is easy to install, tear-resistant and printed on a premium matte woven fabric so there’s no shine. Achieve bliss starting at $190 for a 6 foot by-8.25 foot mural panel.

Image via minted

11. Ice Canyon

Add drama and moodiness to any space with the Ice Canyon mural from minted. This swirly mix of greens and blues will bring a bold but calming look to a bedroom or living room. A 10 foot by-10 foot mural printed on a peel-and-stick matte woven fabric is available for $370.

Image via muralunique.com

12. Coniferous Trees in the Fog

With this mural, you’ll feel like you’re setting out on a calming hike in the woods, but without the bugs or bears. The Coniferous Trees in the Fog mural is washable, removable, and reusable and starts at $319 for a 12 foot by-8 foot mural.

Image via coverthesewalls.com

13. Sanctuary For Sheldrick

Show off your love of animals and support the The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust with this versatile wall mural that would look cute in a kid’s room, but chic in any living space. An 8 foot by-2 foot panel starts at $95, and Cover These Wall’s donates 5% of sales from this mural to support elephant rescue and rehabilitation.

Image via coverthesewalls.com

14. Canopy

Pair Cover These Walls’ Canopy wall mural with a rattan light fixture and fringed rug to go for a trendy boho look in any room. With a bold pattern but neutral colour, this mural will make a statement without feeling too busy. One set includes two 8 foot by-2 foot peel-and-stick panels for $95.

No matter which option you choose, be sure to measure your walls carefully and follow the installation instructions to transform any space from boring to beautiful in no time.

Source: realtor.ca

5 New Year's Resolutions for Your Home

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 20:23:01 GMT

Every year when January rolls around you vow to lose weight, save money or spend more time with family and friends. But what goals do you set for your home?

Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

In the spirit of new beginnings, HGTV has consulted the experts and come up with some resolutions that will make your home a more beautiful, efficient, clean and green place in the coming year.

Here are our five picks for the best home improvement resolutions for the new year and how to achieve them:

1: Streamline the stuff

One of the best and least expensive ways to feel better about your home is to clear it of clutter.

Each year most of us acquire a mountain of stuff. Without some regular purging, cabinets and drawers get jam-packed and it becomes hard to find the things you use and enjoy the most. (All that clutter also makes your house look dated and dirty, designers say.)

This year resolve to go room-by-room periodically clearing anything that you don't use, wear or love and donate it to charity. After that, think twice about what you bring in, says Antoinette Nue, an Atlanta consultant who specializes in helping people simplify and go green.

"Fill your home with the things that raise your energy level and make you feel good, and get rid of the things that drain your energy or are broken," she says.

Regan Baker Design Inc.

Stash useful (but not beautiful) items such as DVDs, remotes and those kicked-off shoes in simple woven baskets. Group similar items together on sleek trays, says Stuart McCormick, a designer with Liz Levin Interiors in Washington D.C.

Clear your counters of everything you don't use on a daily basis. And get ready to breathe a little easier in your own home.

2: Make it safe and sound

Your home may be beautiful, but is it safe? There are a few things that every homeowner should do to ensure that they're not living with a potential health hazard or fire risk.

First, check your house for radon. This colorless, odorless gas causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year from the radioactive particles it traps in your lungs as you breathe, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. One in every fifteen homes has elevated levels. And with test kits costing as little as $20 at your local hardware store, there's no reason not to get right on that.

While we're on the subject of deadly gas, make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector on every bedroom floor in addition to fire detectors. If a chimney flue or furnace vent gets blocked or leaks, carbon monoxide could back up in your house and kill you. Like a radon test, this is a small investment — $40 or more — for such an important safeguard.

Watch out for dryer lint. We know you clean the little trap inside the door, but most people neglect to clean the vents and ducts behind the dryer. Lint may seem innocent, but it's highly combustible, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, accounting for more than 15,000 building fires a year.

Christopher Shane

Make sure your house can breathe. Hickory Hills, Ill. home inspector Jack McGraw is always surprised at how many people's bathrooms and attics aren't vented to the outside (or the vents are covered over with shingles.) This makes you a prime candidate for mold.

And if you're considering a remodel — and your home was last built or remodeled before 1978 — consider testing for lead paint and asbestos flooring. It will have to handled properly during removal, or particles can be released into the air for you to ingest.

3: Shrink your bills (and your carbon footprint in the process)

When people think of going green, they often think it takes solar panels or a hybrid car to make a difference.

Not so, says Bob Schildgen, who wrote the "Hey Mr. Green" column for Sierra magazine. It just takes a little old-fashioned common sense.

The best place to start is by cutting your energy usage in your home:

- Remember your mom's advice and switch off the lights when you leave a room.

- Turn off your air conditioner when you leave the house and dial your heater down to 55 degrees at night.

- Install LED bulbs and low-flow showerheads.

- Try drying some of your clothes on the line and wait for the dishwasher or washing machine to be full before you run them.

- Turn off your power strips and/or set your home computer to revert to sleep mode when not in use.

- Water your yard less. Put in drought-tolerant landscaping if necessary.

- Give composting a try. Your garden will thank you.

4: Work out a weekly system for keeping your house clean

Here are a few tips for keeping the mess under control from Jeff Campbell, author of the book Speed Cleaning and owner of the Clean Team housekeeping service in San Francisco.

Flynnside Out Productions

Daily: Dishes go in the dishwasher every night - no excuses! Dirty clothes go in the hamper and jackets or clean clothes are hung in the closet. Bring everything back to its assigned place.

Weekly: Clean your entire house, using these tips:

- Keep all of your cleaners, as well as rubber gloves and spare cleaning cloths - in a portable carryall that moves with you from room to room.

- Stash cleaning implements such as a toothbrush, scraper, sponge, a few cleaning cloths and plastic bags in a builder's apron that you wear when you clean. Hook your glass cleaner and all-purpose cleaning spray on the loops to keep your hands free as you work around the room clockwise, cleaning from high (cabinets) to low (floors.)

- Focus on one type of cleaning at a time. It's faster, Campbell says. Wipe down fingerprints on all of the cabinets, for instance, before moving on to spraying and wiping counters. Then move on to windows and mirrors and appliances. Once that's done move on to sweeping and then mopping floors.

- For optimum efficiency, enlist the help of your family. If you can, divide the jobs among at least three parties: One of you can do the dusting/vacuuming and changing beds, the other can do the bathroom cleanup, leaving only the kitchen and trash emptying for you to handle. The upside? You can get the whole house done in 45 minutes, Campbell says, leaving more time on the weekends for the park or the movies.

5: Get your place ready for entertaining

Each year most of us vow to spend more time with family and friends. To make you feel like inviting people in, why not give the areas you entertain in a little update?

You don't have go for broke here and invest in a new kitchen remodel. All it takes to get a fresh new look is a little bit of rearranging and a few updates, says designer McCormick.

Courtesy of Paper Daisy Design

One easy update that makes your home seem more "finished" is the addition of plants, she says.

"They bring in new energy and help clean the air," she says. "And it's a great way to decorate if you're on a budget."

A couple of dramatic presentations like a large flowering agapanthus or potted palm in a bright ceramic planter that complements your existing color scheme will do the trick.

Pulling out a new accent color from your existing decor can make the whole room seem fresh. Pick an underused color in the room and add more of it in the form of a new pillow or throw to update your look, McCormick advises. A colorful rug or runner can also help anchor your space.

Lastly, take some time to rearrange your furniture so it is oriented in conversation groups and not just facing the television. That just might up for chances for real conversation and connection in the New Year.

Source: HGTV.com

How to celebrate Halloween during COVID-19

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 13:32:47 GMT

Re-posted from: https://www.ontario.ca

Follow these steps to celebrate safely and make sure the only thing to be scared of is the costumes.

Celebrate Halloween safely

Halloween may look a little different this year, but it can still be a lot of fun. Follow public health advice and measures from public health experts, and make good decisions based on your own unique situation.

To have a safe and happy Halloween, you should:

avoid gatherings with people outside of your household
stay home if you are feeling ill, even if you have mild symptoms, or if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19
turn off your porch light and don’t hand out treats if you are sick, even with mild symptoms, or self-isolating
stay within your public health unit region

Check with your local municipality or public health unit for any additional advice or restrictions that may be in place.

If you live in a public health unit region in Stage 3, consider getting a poster to help let your neighbours know whether you are handing out treats.

If you live in Ottawa, Peel, Toronto and York Region

Given the high transmission of COVID-19 in Ottawa, Peel, Toronto and York Region, traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating is not recommended. Consider alternative ways to celebrate instead, such as:

encouraging kids to dress up and participate in virtual activities and parties
organizing a candy hunt with people living in your household
carving pumpkins
having a movie night or sharing scary stories
decorating front lawns

If you live outside of Ottawa, Peel, Toronto or York Region

If you live outside the modified Stage 2 public health unit regions and are going to go out to trick-or-treat:

only go out with members of your household
only trick-or-treat outside
both trick-or-treaters and people handing out candy should wear a face covering — a costume mask is not a substitute and should not be worn over a face covering because it may make it difficult to breathe
do not congregate or linger at doorsteps and remember to line up two metres apart if you are waiting
avoid high-touch surfaces and objects, such as railings and doorbells
whether you are collecting or handing out treats, wash your hands often and thoroughly, or use hand sanitizer

If you are giving out treats, do not leave them in a bucket or bowl for children to grab. Consider using tongs or other similar tools to hand out treats.

Print a poster to tell trick or treaters if you are giving out treats

Consider printing one of these posters to let your neighbours know whether you are handing out treats.

If you will be giving out treats and live in a public health unit region in Stage 3. print poster here

If you won’t be handing out treats this year or live in a public health unit region in modified Stage 2 (Ottawa, Peel, Toronto or York Region). print poster here.

SEPTEMBER HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 14:46:37 GMT

Fall May Be the Best Time for you to Sell your Home

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 01:17:00 GMT

7 GREAT REASONS TO SELL YOUR HOME IN THE FALL

“When is the best time to sell my home?” This is a question facing homeowners every day as they consider listing their home on the market. Most experts will tell you the best time to sell your home in the spring but, of course, that’s not always an option. So, what about the rest of the year?

Good news! If you're thinking of selling, you don’t have to wait until the snow melts. Here are seven fabulous reasons why fall is the ideal time to sell your home.

1. Great for New Builds

A new build is definitely worth waiting for. That's why, if you do plan on building your next home, it will be important to consider your construction timeline when listing your current one. This is why coordinating the purchase of a brand new home is best done in the fall.

If you close a deal on your new home in October or November, you’ll be ready to move into your new castle by early spring. This will also give you the same amount of time to list your home and ensuring you get as much from the sale as you're hoping for.

2. Less Competition

Listing your home in the spring means you'll be going up against the largest number of comparable listings. By hammering in your “For Sale” sign in the late summer or early fall, you can rest assured you'll have less competition.

You're also likely to get closer to your asking price (as long as it's on par with the market!), as you won’t have to bring it down to stay competitive.

3. Long Listing Period

Maybe you own a home that’s tougher to sell; maybe it's a “fixer-upper”, or it's an older home where you can’t use the microwave and toaster at the same time without blowing a fuse. If this describes your reality, listing in the fall will provide the longest possible window in which to sell your home. You’ll benefit from a busy fall selling season, a quieter winter, and a booming spring before everyone leaves for summer vacation.

4. Enjoy The Summer

Listing in the winter or spring could mean spending your summer moving or be forced to stay at home so as not to miss out on a sale. This will always present several challenges that can best be avoided by selling your home in the fall.

No one wants to move their entire lives during the hot summer months! This time of year is reserved for getting the rest and relaxation you so richly deserve. Go to the beach, camp out under the stars, or visit a distant locale. Don’t use Edmonton’s short summer stressing yourself out with a move.

Also, if you plan on relying on friends and family to help you move all your stuff, good luck scheduling your move around their backyard barbecue parties, trips to the beach and summer vacations!

5. Be Ready For Next Fall

Listing your home this fall will bring you less stress next fall. Other than New Year’s Day, there is no other time of the year that feels like a new beginning than September. The kids are back at school and work is starting to get busy again as everyone is back from summer holidays.

By selling in the fall, you’ll be settling into your new home by late spring, even if your home is on the market for three or four months. This will give you several months to get acquainted with your new home, the community, and your neighbours.

You’ll also avoid the stress of registering your child late into the school in your community while moving at the same time.

6. Buyers are Serious

During the summer, homebuyers are more focused on weekends at the lake, coordinating picking up and dropping off their kids at summer camp, and a great number of other things. While we shouldn’t generalize, it common for a number of buyers to be less committed to buying during this time.

Fall homebuyers tend to be more interested in acting on a home purchase, as they have now spent time looking at their options and have a better idea of what they want. Not to mention, the pressure to buy is a little greater at this time in order to avoid moving during winter.

7. Curb Appeal

There is something so vibrant about seeing a home in the fall; the changing colours, the falling leaves, the decor homeowners add to their front doors or windows. It can give older homes a more cozy, New England charm! Increasing your home's fall curb appeal also tends to be much simpler.

Even though the experts say spring is the ideal time to sell your home, there’s no need to wait out another long Alberta winter. From decreased competition to shorter wait times, there are several great reasons why the fall is the perfect time to list. Combine the natural curb appeal the season brings with a warm and well-staged interior [ http://yegblog.qualicocommunities.com/blog/home-staging-101-10-tips-for-selling-your-home-fast-in-any-market ] and there’s no doubt you’ll sell in no time.

Looking for more advice to help sell your home? Check out our post on 6 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Selling Their Home.

Image:www.depositphotos.com

Source: https://www.qualicocommunitiesedmonton.com/

Does your home still have these décor trends?

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 01:12:00 GMT

Decorating Trends on the Way Out in 2020, According to Top Influencers

Emily Henderson / Photography

When it comes to staying on top of the latest design trends, it's just as important to know what's "out" as it is to know what's "in." That's why we polled top influencers about the design trends they're saying goodbye to this year. If you're wondering what's on its way out in 2020, you've come to the right place. Read on, or risk falling for a design "don't" instead of a design "do."

"We went from Millennial Pink to a lighter-toned blush pink within the last few years, and I am ready to say goodbye to anything that feels too soft in the pink family altogether. Instead, I'd opt for a putty color or something with a little warmer tone to it that leans more terracotta and rust."
— Bobby Berk
02of 15

@beckiowens — Terrazzo

"I’m personally not a huge fan of terrazzo. So if 2020 means the end of that trend, it's safe to say I'd be glad to say goodbye to it. ” — Becki Owens
03of 15

@em_henderson — Seashells

"In terms of longevity, I don’t think seashells are here to stay. In the right home they can be awesome, but overall I think 2020 home decor trends will not involve many seashells.”
— Emily Henderson
04of 15

@katemarkerinteriors — Warm Neutrals

"Grays and a limited neutral palette. We are so excited to see the beloved ‘neutral palette’ expand to include warmer, richer browns, camels, and cognacs. These warmer neutrals play so nicely with grays and whites, so various shades of all of the above will be our go-to colors in the year ahead! Warmer tones also help imbue a home with a timeless, enduring ambience."
— Kate Marker
05of 15

@thejoshuatreehouse — Brand New Everything

"New things can be great, but we’re hoping to see more and more spaces embrace vintage pieces. We’re all about reducing consumption. Giving old objects new life is not only great for our planet, but brings so much character and soul to interior spaces.”
— Sara & Rich Combs
06of 15

@deecampling — Dark Walls

"I’m glad to see the end of dark walls. Although they can make a space feel cozy, particularly in the evening, and are often great backdrops for art, I find dark walls oppressive."
— Dee Campling
07of 15

@reserve_home — Macramé

“I’ve felt this way for a while, but I’m ready to say ‘see ya never’ to macramé. I’m all for a thoughtfully chosen or one-of-a-kind piece, but I feel that rooms full of macramé hangings, planters, and even swings tend to look overdone."
— Mallory
08of 15

@plankandpillow — All White Kitchens

“Even though we love a neutral color palette, we are ready to move on from all-white kitchens once and for all. In the upcoming year, we're excited to reintroduce color to this important room within any home.”
— Brooke and Henry Jones
09of 15

@bradytolbert — Boho Hanging Chairs

“Now, don't get mad at me yet. I've used it in projects before and will continue to use it in the right space (outdoor, boho, global-inspired). But in other styles and rooms where it doesn't stylistically feel like a good fit, I am ready to see the hanging chair take a seat and make room for some more modern and clean-lined options coming from the ceiling. Leather sling chair, anyone?”
— Brady Tolbert
10of 15

@rebeccaandgenevieve — Neutrals

“I'm ready to say goodbye to everything neutral and white everything. The world is a colorful place and I'm ready to reflect that in my work wholeheartedly as the new year approaches."
— Valeria Jacobs
11of 15

@organize_it — Accent Walls

"In 2020, I am psyched to say goodbye to accent walls. Accent walls have been a trend for a while now and are beginning to fade. It is no longer the focal point of interiors. Single colored walls are making a greater impact when paired with colorful decor or furnishings.”
— Rivka Davidowitz
12of 15

@withinthegrove — White Kitchens With Stainless Steel

“Is it true? Could we be seeing fewer white kitchens with stainless steel appliances in 2020? I certainly think so! I'm thrilled to see this trend go as homeowners start to experiment with moody colors like black and deep olive green for their kitchen cabinetry. And with dark cabinetry comes the re-introduction of white appliances, but with brushed bronze pulls and hardware."
— Elizabeth Rishel
13of 15

@amykartheiserdesign — Modern Farmhouse

“It seems like every home going up these past few years has been a modern farmhouse. In 2020, I’m looking forward to a new year where people are embracing color and more of their own personality in their homes! I was never a big fan of the feature wall, either. If you’re going to go bold, I say go big! I’m seeing people embrace color and patterns more and more, so I’m excited to wrap whole rooms in wallpaper, rather than just one wall.”

— Amy Kartheiser
14of 15

@ohsolovely_blog — Overdone Mid-Century Modern

“I love the modern aesthetic, but sometimes mid-century modern can feel way overdone. I’m definitely drawn to clean lines, but think it’s important to add layers, texture, and color to a space to make it feel inviting and unique. Almost every trend can work if done the right way—there’s definitely a balance.”
— Audrey Kuether
15of 15

@handmadecharlotte — All White

"All-white everything. We love color way too much to embrace minimalist style!” — Kathleen Ballos

Image:Emily Henderson Photography

Source: www.thespruce.com

Don’t forget any of your home maintenance for the fall!

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 01:05:00 GMT

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

September

Check exterior finishes for signs of deterioration (peeling paint, loose siding, cracks)
Check garage door tracks and lubricate bearings
Check caulking around windows and doors for air and water leaks
Seed the lawn
Inspect fireplace and chimney dampers, clean if necessary
Check basement or crawl spaces for leaks or moisture
Have humidifier, furnace and (heat recovery ventilator) HRV serviced
Clean and test clothes dryer vent
Check and reset ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

October

Check windows and screens for cracks or separations
Drain exterior water lines
Check roof including shingles and flashing and ensure vents are sealed properly
Check weather stripping for damage or wear
Check sealing around windows and doors for air or water leaks
Test septic system and clean if necessary
Winterize landscaping and remove leaves
Clean or replace furnace filter
Check and clean the heat recovery ventilator (HRV); wash or replace the filter;
Clean water heater
Shut off exterior water supply
Check eavestroughs and downspouts for debris
Clean humidifier and check for condensation and proper humidity levels
Check and reset ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

November

Check attic, basement and crawl spaces for leaks or moisture
Inspect floor drains to ensure trap is filled with water
Clean or replace furnace filter
Check and clean the heat recovery ventilator (HRV); wash or replace the filter;
Check for condensation and humidity
Check and reset ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

(Image: Unsplash: Scott Webb)

Source: www.tarion.com)

Moving Will be a Breeze When You Use These Tips

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 01:48:00 GMT

26 Moving Tips To Make Your Life Easier

We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, Trendy Mami may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.

Moving tips are much needed during this stressful time. Just last year, my husband and I decided to make the big move from our tiny apartment in San Francisco to our brand new home in the Napa Valley after finding out that we were expecting a beautiful now 5-month-old.

Now imagine me trying to get everything together while pregnant. So many boxes, labels, fragile china, and lots of furniture to be lifted into a moving truck, and only so many hands to do it.

~Advertisement~

Since my husband and I are pretty meticulous when it comes to our stuff, we wanted to find ways to make packing as efficient, organized, and easy as possible. And of course, we didn’t want anything damaged! So after some searching, I found some moving tips, tricks, and products that made our 30-mile move a million times easier.

Lifting, shifting, moving, and carrying

1. Slide everything you want

Furniture like sofas and tables are heavy, so it’s easier to slide them across. We tried using some DIY sliders made from foam mats, but they just weren’t doing the trick. Luckily, we found these great furniture sliders from Super Sliders with pretty durable rubber foam to help us move the dresser and couch to the truck.

2. Lifting made easy

Wanting to keep labor costs as small as possible, I found this ingenious lifting and moving system from Shoulder Dolly (which kind of looks like something a bodybuilder would use!). All we did was take the straps over our shoulders and buckled the belt in front of us. There was then another strap attachment that went under the thing we were lifting. That way, we’d get extra help from the strap to help us move all of our heavy things. No movers needed!

3. Move the heaviest items into the truck first

This is one of the most useful moving tips I can give you. Items will be less likely to shift the closer they are to the cab, since they’re sandwiched by other items. Make sure these first items are the heaviest, such as sofas and tables. Packing bigger items first will also ensure you know how much space realistically have in your moving truck (and if you need to rent something bigger).

4. Pack items from the same room together

We save a ton of time by packing all our kitchen stuff next to each other. When we needed to cook our first breakfast, we knew exactly which boxes needed to be pulled out. Our friends and family who helped us pack benefited too: They knew exactly where everything needed to go.

5. Place heavier items in smaller boxes

What’s harder than lifting a box full of heavy things? Lifting a big box of heavy things. Trust us, we learned this one the hard way. Once we realized what we were doing wrong, we placed heavy items such as books, decorative centerpieces, and heavier electronics into smaller boxes so the box would be easier to maneuver.

Padding and storage

6. Learn to love labeling

The key to not wasting a few hours searching for stuff is labeling the stuff in the first place. Buy at least five rolls of different colored electrical tape or these pre-printed label tapes that make your life SO MUCH EASIER.

Once you’ve labeled by room, you can even get a bit more specific. Write the box’s contents in marker on the box. For example, after you’ve labeled the yellow tape “kitchen” and slapped it on the box, write “dishes and utensils” below the label for your fork and knife box.

7. Use shrink wrap instead of duct tape

We realized how much duct tape we were wasting when we went through two rolls in a heartbeat. I got some shrink wrap from Ultra that had a huge stretch factor — perfect for wrapping boxes with fragile things inside. We weren’t wasting tons of tape, we used less wrap then we thought we would, and it was pretty strong as it wrapped around all our boxes.

8. In fact, just say no to duct tape

There’s a reason why it’s called duct tape and not packing tape! Packing tape is the stuff that comes in rolls with a special handle to make application to boxes much easier than peeling duct tape. Plus, it’s super sticky and you can reasonably write on it (perfect for labeling). If it’s good enough for UPS or the post office, then it’s good enough for your fragile belongings.

9. The hanger trick

Taking off hangers from your clothes and then putting them back is one of those annoying tasks you never think of when moving. Instead, take your clothes down from your closet — hangers included — and place them in a large garbage bag. Make sure the tie part of the bag is facing downward. Then, poke a hole through the top of the bag with the hanger.

10. Fill that fridge

If you’re taking larger items with you like the fridge or the washing machine, you can place smaller items inside.

11. Protect your mattress with a mattress bag

The bed however was very tricky. We really couldn’t figure out a way to lift and move the mattress and tie it to the top of my car without risking damage to the mattress. We found this mattress bag from Cresnel online to protect the bed. Who even knew there was such a thing? The mattress bag made moving the bed downstairs and to my car a lot easier.

If you’re thinking of getting a new mattress, you might want to check out Purple, Nectar, Casper, Saatva, Tuft & Needle, Beautyrest, Serta and Molecule for great deals on super high quality mattresses! Plus they can ship it right to your new place!

12. Heavy duty totes for everything

With so much stuff, we didn’t have time to unpack all the things we put in the van. Since our rolling bags already had silverware and China in them, I found these nifty, heavy-duty totes from Earthware where we packed up pretty much everything we needed for the first night: clothes, shoes, toiletries, laptops, books, and a sleeping bag for each of us.

13. Ziploc bags

My husband and I were surprised at all the little things we had. As in really little things, like screws, nails, and little trinkets. Pack a lot of Ziplocs so that you have enough to spare when these unexpected little things pop out, or you need to reassemble your shelf when you move in.

14. Use Cushion Sheets

Here’s one of the many moving tips to protect your items during the move. For Fragile objects such as photoframes, glass wear, and dishes these cushion sheets make you feel sure that no crack is ever gonna happen to them, if you tend to get paranoid, place 2 sheets between the items instead of one.

15. Bubble Wrap Never Gets Old

A must for wrapping furniture corners, TVs, electronics, Fragile objects.

16. Use Massive Plastic Bags to Prevent Scratches and Avoid Dust

For keeping Sofas, loveseat, and all your other big furnitures clean during transportation and prevent scratches and dings, use big plastic bags all around them.

17. Use Blankets for the Big Items

A easy and fast alternative to Bubble Wrap, Moving Blankets are perfect to cover tables, TVs, Mirrors and other bigger objects. They’re easy to put on and take off and they will prevent scratches and hits.

18. Use a Dolly if you’re doing things yourself

If you decided that you can do things yourself without a moving company, a dolly will be definitely helpful to move the big bulky items.

19. Protect the corners

Protects photos, diploma, all sorts of frame corners from getting scratched and dinged up with this Frame Corners Protectors.

The (not so little) details

20. Donate

This is one of those moving tips that will make your life easier and many other lives better. Places like Goodwill will take your gently-used stuff, and you’ll get a tax write-off after you drop them off. Alternatively, you can also call up a donation company to pick them up from your soon-to-be-former home. We donated some of the board games we had and got some great tax write-offs in return. The best of both worlds!

21. Change your address

This is one of the moving tips that might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget to do this when you have a million things going on. We noticed the err of our ways when our Amazon Prime shipment didn’t come in after a week! Turns out Amazon still thought we lived at our apartment. If you don’t want your fancy new drone to be shipped to the wrong address, then plan ahead!

22. Cancel all your subscriptions

This one might also seem like a no-brainer, but it’s also something you can easily forget. Make sure your TV, internet, electricity, utilities, and online shipping subscriptions to your old address have been canceled and you’ve asked for your records to be transferred to your new address. Pay particular attention to local and federal government services, as many of them (such as the DMV) require you to register your new address within a certain time period (e.g., within the next 10 days). Many online services make this service easy on their website or their mobile app.

23. Stop buying food

My husband and I are foodies, so the worst thing you can say to our faces is “no food!” It’s one of the moving tips that everybody tends to forget. But all that food is going to waste if you don’t stop buying it before your move. Plan to stop buying food at least a week before you move to ensure you finish everything. My husband and I lived on ramen noodles more times than we’d like to admit, but it was worth it! Ramen gets a bad rap anyway. It’s delicious!

24. Make copies of your important papers

I know this is one of the moving tips that might sound like making your move even more tedious than it should be. But you can’t risk losing the only copies of your family’s birth certificates, passports, social security cards, pay stubs, tax returns, mortgages, car payments, and the like. If it can get lost or damaged, then it’s best to make copies of it. If you’re not willing to waste that much paper, you can turn your documents into PDFs and place them on a flash drive or a cloud service. Alternatively, take advantage of services that will offer paperless, digital versions of your important documents.

25. Give favors in return

What’s the best way to anyone’s heart? Pizza! There’s really no reason why you can’t thank all the people who helped you move with a few pizzas and some drinks on your dime. The day of the move my husband stepped out for a bit to call some pizza and soda in, and we had a makeshift lunch in our front lawn while we sat on boxes. How’s that for a first meal at the new place?! It’s a story we’ll always remember, and the least we could do for our family and friends who decided to help us with the move.

In just a little over a day, my husband and I were able to move everything into our new humble abode. And I did it with a baby on the way! Just goes to show you anyone can move efficiently and easily.

When was the last time you moved? Do you have more moving tips? Was it stressful? Leave a comment below!

Looking for a checklist? Here is our personal checklist made just for you!

Image: Unsplash: HiveBoxx

Source: www.trendymami.com

Tips for the Moving Process

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 18:00:55 GMT

It’s official: you’ve signed the papers, dotted all the i’s and crossed the t’s—you own a new home! You’ve almost reached the end of your journey. However, now, faced with the daunting task of moving, it may seem as though the journey has just begun. Moving can be a time-consuming and stressful experience if you let yourself be overwhelmed by the job. Remember, though, having a successful move means taking care of the details, one by one. If you break the process down into steps and arrange your time accordingly, you can make it manageable. Use the following checklist to ensure you’re covering all the bases, and you will be well on your way to a successful move!

Household

• Arrange to have your mail forwarded to your new address.

• Forward or cease all deliveries to your home, and forward or cancel newspaper and magazine subscriptions.

• Disconnect or take care of utility, cable and phone services and accounts.

• Arrange for utilities to be connected at your new house.

• Cancel pre-authorized bill payments.

• Begin going through closets and discarding any unnecessary items.

Packing

• Plan your packing. Start by purchasing or acquiring suitable containers. Most moving companies have specialized containers you can buy. Also, speak with others who have recently moved—they may be looking to get rid of boxes. You’ll need the following: small boxes for heavy items (books, tools, etc.); large boxes for bulky items (bedding, stuffed toys, etc.); medium boxes for bulky but less heavy items (towels, small appliances, etc.).

• Begin to collect other packing materials. Decide which items you’ll need from the following checklist: -White paper -Tissue paper -Paper towels -Newspapers -Non-printed paper -Packing tape or twine to seal boxes and containers -Scissors -Labels and stickers (available from your moving company) -Felt marker to label boxes -Notebook and pen for listing contents • Set goals and deadlines for yourself. Aim, for example, to pack one room per week.

• Attach a list of contents to each box. Separate and label boxes to be placed in storage.

• Consider holding a garage sale to rid yourself of excess belongings.

• Begin to use up the food in your pantry and freezer. Let the food you already have dictate your menus.

• Have rugs cleaned that are to be moved, then roll and wrap them.

• Make special arrangements for the moving of plants or pets.

• Collect all personal items from local services (dry cleaning, storage, photos).

• Service all appliances you are taking with you. Note that all gas appliances must be emptied, as it is illegal for movers to carry flammable substances.

• Take inventory of all the boxes, and contents of the boxes, you have packed.

• Have your car serviced and tuned up.

Community

• Return library books.

• Clean out your locker at any club you are leaving.

• Determine how to transfer your children to a new school.

• Return items you’ve borrowed to friends, and collect any you’ve lent.

• Mail or e-mail change of address notices to family members, friends, and office contacts.

Records

• If needed, transfer medical and dental records, and fill prescriptions.

• Change the address on your driver’s license.

• Change the billing address for credit cards.

• Change the address for banking statements.

• Leave a record of security codes for new tenants.

Insurance and Legal Matters

• Visit your lawyer and ensure all documents are signed.

• Notify your insurance company well in advance of the move and ask them to review your policy.

• Transfer insurance to your new home, or acquire new insurance.

• Review your moving company’s insurance policy. If it doesn’t cover as much as you’d like it to, obtain your own.

• If you are currently renting a house or apartment, give written notice to the landlord.

• Have all keys to your old home delivered to your lawyer or realtor.

One for the Money, Two for the Show: Prepare the Inside of your House for Showing

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 18:12:00 GMT

Once you’ve minimized the clutter in your home, clearing out excess items and furniture, you’ll be ready to concentrate on repairs, cleaning, and decoration. Your goal is to get each room looking its sharpest and most fresh—the better your house looks, the greater your chances that it will sell quickly and for top dollar. Concentrate on the following areas to get your home into selling shape.

Walls and Ceiling: Examine all the ceilings and walls for water stains or dirt. We don’t often look closely at the walls that surround us, so be careful—there could be residual stains from leaks that have long been fixed, or an accumulation of dirt in an area you hadn’t noticed. Painting the walls may be the best investment you can make when preparing your home to sell. You can do it yourself, and relatively inexpensively. Remember, the colours you choose should appeal to the widest range of buyers, not just to your own personal taste. A shade of off-white is the best bet for most rooms, as it makes the space appear larger and bright.

Carpet and Flooring: Does your carpet appear old, or worn in areas? Is it an outdated colour or pattern? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you should consider replacing it. You can find replacement carpeting that is relatively inexpensive. And always opt for neutral colours. Any visibly broken floor tiles should be replaced. But make sure you don’t spend too much on these replacements. The goal isn’t to re-vamp the entire home, but, rather, to avoid causing any negative impressions due to noticeable damage or wear around the house.

Doors and Windows: Check the entire house for any cracked or chipped window panes. If they are damaged in any way, replace them. Test all windows, as well, to ensure they open and close easily. Try spraying WD40 on any with which you’re having trouble. This should loosen them up. The same can be done with sticking or creaking doors. A shot of WD40 on the hinges should make the creak disappear. Check to make sure each door knob turns smoothly and polish it to gleaming.

Odour Check: Begin by airing out the house. Chances are, you’d be the last person to notice any strange or unpleasant smell that may be immediately apparent to visitors. If you smoke indoors, you’ll want to minimize the smell before you show your home. Take your cigarettes outside for a period of time before you begin showing. Ozone sprays also help eliminate those lingering odours without leaving a masking, perfumed smell. Be careful if you have a pet. You may have become used to the particular smell of your cat or dog. Make sure litter boxes are kept clean. Keep your dog outdoors as much as possible. You may want to intermittently sprinkle your carpets with carpet freshener as well. Plumbing and

Fixtures: All sink fixtures should look shiny and fresh. Buy new ones if scrubbing fails to get them into shape. Replacing them can be done fairly easily and inexpensively. Check to make sure all hot and cold faucets are easy to turn and that none of the faucets leaks. If you do find a leaking faucet, change the washer. Again, this is an easy and inexpensive procedure. Finally, check the water pressure of each faucet, and look for any stains on the porcelain of the sinks or tubs.

Once you’ve covered all these bases, your house will be in prime shape for its time on the market. Congratulations—you’re ready to begin showing!

How to Shop for a Vintage Rug Online

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 04:03:00 GMT

A vintage rug can tell a story and transform a room. And if you think you have to wait to take that dream trip to Morocco or Turkey to find the perfect rug, you're wrong.

Thanks to a growing market of online vendors, you don't need to leave your couch to score a vintage rug from an exotic, faraway destination. But buying a vintage rug sight unseen can be intimidating — that's why we're sharing tips about how to shop for one online.

Rug vocab 101

Image via Eski Design

When shopping for a vintage rug online, you're likely to find information about how it was made, where it came from and the material it's made from (like cotton, silk or wool).

“When looking for quality, you want to see the words ‘hand-knotted' or ‘hand-woven' plus the materials of the rug listed out,” says Gabrielle Ferri, designer and owner of Eski Design, an online vintage rug shop based in Peterborough, Ontario.

If you don't see a clear description of the rug, ask before buying or move onto another vendor. A good vintage rug dealer should be knowledgeable and upfront about their inventory. When it comes to what type of material to choose, Ferri's top pick is wool.

“A good quality rug starts with good quality materials. If it's in the budget, I suggest going with 100% wool. Wool will give you the most durability and longevity,” says Ferri.

A wool-cotton blend is another option that will stand up to foot traffic and is easy to clean.

What to know about wear and tear

Image via Eski Design

Not unlike a piece of art, one of the best things about vintage rugs is they only get better with age. When shopping for a vintage rug, signs of wear like fading and irregularities often make a rug more interesting and memorable. Although a little wear and tear is normal, there are a few red flags to look out for.

“Steer away from rugs that have damage to the border. The border can be the most difficult part of the rug to repair. So, unless it's such a bargain that the price of repairs makes it well worth it, skip over pieces that are unraveling at the seams,” says Ferri.

To ensure you get a quality rug with no surprises, Ferri suggests studying the pictures of the rug carefully and looking for a close-up shot of the fringe (the edge of the rug) and the back of the rug.

“The back of a handmade rug will have the same design on the back and front and the fringe will be woven directly into it (not added on afterwards),” says Ferri.

If you're interested in a rug but want to see more pictures, don't be afraid to ask.

Choosing the right size

Image via Eski Design

It can be hard enough to return that t-shirt you bought online, never mind a 9 by 12 foot vintage rug. Although some online vintage rug shops accept returns (be sure to check the return policy and expect to cover the shipping costs), knowing what size rug you're looking for is the key to loving your purchase.

“What I suggest is taping off the area where the rug will go with standard rug sizes (like 4 by 6 feet or 8 by 10 feet) and seeing how it feels. You'll get a good idea of what size you need and then you can start searching for your dream rug in that ballpark size, give or take a few inches,” says Ferri.

If you've already fallen in love with a rug that's too small or not the right shape for you space, Ferri suggests layering it over a natural jute or neutral coloured rug.

Check for positive reviews

Image via Eski Design

A large vintage rug could cost upwards of a thousand dollars, which is why it's important to buy from a credible online vendor. Ferri suggests reading reviews and checking social media (Instagram offers plenty of vintage rug inspiration) before making a purchase.

“Do they have good reviews and happy customers? What are people saying about them and their rugs on social media?” says Ferri.

Once you've found a rug you love, confirmed it's quality and checked reviews, all that's left is clicking “buy” to begin your vintage rug collection.

Source: realtor.ca

5 Reader-Favorite Home Tours From 2019

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 23:28:15 GMT

A home should reflect the people who live in it. And this countdown of the five most popular home tours from our My Houzz series in 2019 illustrates exactly that. See a professional organizer and collection enthusiast’s neon pink and pattern-happy apartment in New York, a chef’s open and airy kitchen in California’s wine country and other personality-driven homes.

Parisi Images

Photos by Sarah Parisi Dowlin

5. Eclectic Farmhouse-Inspired Style in Florida

House at a Glance
Who lives here: Josh and Mary Beth Tatum and their black Labrador, Stubbs
Location: Miramar Beach, Florida
Size: 3,644 square feet (339 square meters) including carport and porch; three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms

Mary Beth and Josh Tatum bought a lot on scenic Choctawhatchee Bay in Miramar Beach, Florida, after living in a teardown for years. They took the opportunity to build and design a new home, relying on Houzz for design ideas and inspiration. “I used Houzz to home in on my particular design aesthetic,” Mary Beth says. “I was then able to further streamline and categorize my thoughts through the ideabooks.”

Her design inspiration started in the kitchen. “My favorite item in the home is our La Cornue French range,” she says. “We purchased this before we began construction. Our entire first floor was designed around this piece.” The interior features a palette of rich grays, cool blues and silver inspired by the range.

Parisi Images

Building the home, which sits amid pine and river birch trees just across from the bay, was a team effort. Josh drew up plans and sent them to a draftsperson at Kennedy Drafting Service. Then the couple, pictured here with their 13-year-old black Labrador, Stubbs, hired subcontractors to complete the renovations. “We got what we liked and appreciate every aspect of it,” Mary Beth says.

Read more about this home

Margot Hartford Photography

Photos by Margot Hartford

4. A California Interior Designer’s Bright Remodel of Her Family’s 1956 Home

House at a Glance
Who lives here: Stacee Christen of Christen Interiors and her two sons, John Paul and George
Location: Marin County, California
Size: 2,875 square feet (267 square meters); four bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms

Interior designer Stacee Christen bought a 1956 fixer-upper tucked into the side of a hill in Northern California’s Marin County and went straight to work remodeling the neglected property, which had been untouched by previous owners for decades. The day the house closed escrow, the first dumpster arrived. “Six weeks later, we moved in,” she says.

Christen worked closely with general contractor Rob Jackson to make the quick interior transformation. “I started with opening up the main room by knocking down the walls that were blocking the flow and visual connection to the kitchen and stairs,” the designer says.

Margot Hartford Photography

“I wanted to create a mostly bright envelope with clean white lines,” says Christen, pictured. “It’s easy to interchange the accent colors that way.”

Read more about this home

Rachel Loewen Photography

Photos by Rachel Loewen

3. Thoughtful Refresh for a Historic Home in Illinois

House at a Glance
Who lives here: Jessica Hoenes, owner of Found Home & Design; husband Matt; daughter Ellie, 8; and son Parker, 5
Location: Glencoe, Illinois
Size: About 2,500 square feet (232 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms

For Jessica and Matt Hoenes, it took three years of patient renovations to get their 1895 Chicago-area Victorian just right. “We love doing house projects but we do them in spurts,” Jessica says. The couple used Houzz for inspiration, and to read reviews of architect Lesa Rizzolo of L.A. Rizzolo Architects before hiring her.

The house was originally a barn for a Victorian and was turned into a Colonial-style residence in 1947. The Hoenes family is only the third to occupy the home, and the couple brought in a general contractor to do a lot of the heavy lifting. “It’s had renovations that feel timeless and can be passed on to a fourth family,” Jessica says.

Find a local architect on Houzz

Rachel Loewen Photography

The couple replaced all the doors and windows on the house and repainted the previously blue exterior white. Since most of the outdoor space is in the front, they had a patio put in. Matt created a pathway using rocks from his parents’ property in Missouri and built the patio table seen here, with Jessica next to it.

Jessica loves how the home works for her family and isn’t set up merely to look pretty. “I love that we’re preserving a piece of history in the community and making it a cozy, functional place to raise our children,” she says.

Read more about this home

Rikki Snyder

Photos by Rikki Snyder

2. Patterns and Collections at Play in a New York Apartment

Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Jeanie Engelbach of apartmentjeanie and her English bulldog, Tater Tot
Location: New York City
Size: 775 square feet (72 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom

Collection enthusiast and professional organizer Jeanie Engelbach shows how to balance color and restraint in her compact rental apartment, which she packed with neon pink wallpaper, candy-colored hues and styled vignettes. “I realized that I can’t live in a home that doesn’t have at least one wall painted in sunshine yellow,” Engelbach says. “Given the limited wall options, I went with the low kitchen ceiling. It adds an unexpected punch and brightens the darkest part of the apartment.”

Watch now: See how Engelbach displayed her collections in her previous apartment in this episode of Houzz TV

Rikki Snyder

As a professional organizer, Engelbach uses Houzz ideabooks to gather photos for inspiration and to share resources with her clients during the planning phase of an organizing project. “I love when a client comes prepared with their own Houzz ideabooks,” she says. “We might not end up where they started, but it’s always insightful to see what attracts them and how they perceive their dream space.”

Read more about this home

Lauren Edith Andersen, Photographer

Photos by Lauren Edith Andersen

1. A Chef’s Kitchen Renovation in Wine Country

Kitchen and Office at a Glance
Who lives here: Amy Vogler of Wooden Spoon Kitchen; her husband, Rocky; their 6-year-old daughter; and their Labrador mix
Location: Kenwood, California
Size: New kitchen: 320 square feet (30 square meters); new office: 280 square feet (26 square meters); total home: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); two bedrooms, two baths

Amy and Rocky Vogler waited more than 10 years before renovating their 1970s kitchen in their Northern California wine country home. Amy is a cooking professional who develops, tests and writes recipes for cookbooks and is also a producer on video and TV projects, cooking apps and websites. The previous kitchen and adjacent workspace were cramped, and storage space was minimal. The couple wanted to flip the locations of the kitchen and family room to radically transform the space into one with a much more functional layout.

They hired a team of design professionals, including architect Malcolm Yuill-Thornton, general contractor Mike Samuelson, painting professionals Baggenstos & Associates and Rhyne Design Cabinets for custom cabinetry.

“I had a long time to think about where things should be,” Amy says. “I’m very practical and never thought I’d have a kitchen as big as this is. It’s been a game changer for our family, for my work, for everything. I knew, if I was standing at the sink, where things should be in my head. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Lauren Edith Andersen, Photographer

source: houzz.com

Cozy Comfort: Keeping the Heat in Your House

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 16:34:22 GMT

When winter weather arrives, there is always one thing in the forefront of your mind—the impending heating bills. Keeping precious heat in your home is a constant concern, or perhaps it seems like a far-off dream, like the oasis mirage of a frozen desert. While you have likely taken steps to winterize your home, let's dig into options to help you keep things comfortable and cost-conscious.

Get an energy audit

The best way to see where your energy dollars are going—besides out of your pocket and into the atmosphere—is to conduct an energy audit. An energy audit determines the energy efficiency of your home and identifies areas where heat is escaping. Using the findings to make home improvements can result in precious savings.

We reached out to Tim Vander Meer, a Certified Energy Advisor from Ontario for some insight. According to Tim, the average cost of an audit runs about $400 for most homes, except for exceptionally large homes, which are more complex and require additional time to audit. Add-on services like thermal camera scans can also be conducted.

Tim identifies two common problems when auditing homes:

“Out of sight, out of mind—rooms you close the door to or whole floors like the basement, still cost you energy and therefore money. Just closing the door does not stop this from happening. Heat will simply move down through your floor and out the basement walls”;
“The second problem is under-insulated attics. Many people are unaware of the insulation level and that's an area that causes your air conditioner to run more in the summer and of course your furnace to work harder in the winter.”

When an auditor inspects your home, they'll do a walk-through and identify where air leaks occur and discuss different ways to fix them.

Can I DIY my improvements?

While it's recommended that you have a professional perform home improvements, if you're skilled enough or willing to learn, some tasks can be managed without help.

Insulation: An energy audit will determine if there's enough insulation in your attic and basement. On this, Tim advises, “If you have less than nine inches of insulation, it's worthwhile to add more. Basement walls are responsible for a large amount of heat loss, so if they are completely uninsulated, consider adding some. If they're already insulated, but using older white foam board (widely used in the ‘70s), consider building a wall in front of this to increase the insulation.”

Windows and doors: Tim suggests adding weather stripping to window and door frames to prevent gaps. Always cut stripping to the correct length and place it between the door and the frame for a proper seal. Install a door sweep and check periodically for wear to ensure optimal performance. Weather stripping and door sweeps can be found at most hardware retailers.

For windows, Tim recommends caulking the trim at the wall and window frame. If a properly secured window still leaks air, then a correctly applied window film kit will greatly improve energy efficiency. Remove outside screens to allow adequate air flow across the exterior panes, reducing moisture deposits. Excessive moisture deposits on the inside of windows may mean interior humidity levels are too high.

Affordability

If affordability is a concern, simply following the DIY recommendations above will help improve your home's energy efficiency. Also ensure you replace your furnace filter each month to optimize its performance.

The costs associated with improvements can add up quickly, often putting them out of reach for some. Fortunately, there are organizations and energy service providers who offer programs to help offset the costs of improving energy efficiency—programs may vary by province.

Window coverings

Although windows have come a long way when it comes to efficiency, they're still notorious when it comes to heat loss. Like a cozy sweater can help keep you warm when the temperature drops, one of the easiest ways to help prevent unnecessary heat loss through your windows is by covering them. Thermal window coverings—particularly in rooms with large windows—can add an additional layer of insulation. They typically contain a central layer of acrylic foam which acts as a barrier to stop drafts and heat transfer through your windows. Cellular shades can also further insulate windows as they create a honeycomb pattern of air pockets along the length of the window when extended. A third option is to install interior shutters which secure snugly into the window frame and can be opened during the day to allow direct sunlight into the room.

Ceiling fans

A ceiling fan on low setting will help distribute heat evenly throughout a room during winter. Be sure to reverse the direction of the fan so it spins clockwise. This will create an updraft to pull the warm air (which rises naturally) back down into the room. While this is useful when using the room in question, Tim recommends turning the ceiling fan off when you leave to avoid wasting energy.

Ice dams

Ice dams form at the edge of your roof when water freezes in the eavestroughs and up your roof. They are also the most telling sign of heat loss through your attic and can put undue pressure on the eaves and cause water backups under the shingles into the underlying wood.

Addressing insulation deficiencies in your attic is a good preventive measure. Additionally, ensure gaps in walls, ceilings, closets or vents between your living space and the attic are sealed.

If you need to remove the ice dam, avoid using hammers, axes or picks as it's easy to damage your shingles, which become brittle in cold weather. Some ways to remove an ice dam without harming your roof include:

use a snow rake if you live in a bungalow or split-level home to remove snow and ice from the top edge of the ice dam;
apply a chemical de-icer to melt the dam and to help clear your eavestroughing and gutters; or
apply a hot water spray (this is only a stop-gap solution).

Remember that any work requiring a ladder during the winter is extremely dangerous. Aways take appropriate safety precautions.

Whether you choose to protect the heat in your home with an energy audit and professional home improvement or DIY your way to a warmer interior, following these considerations may help you improve your home's energy efficiency and save money on energy bills.

source: realtor.ca

Chalet-Inspired Design

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 20:46:47 GMT

While it's 6,154 kilometers from Parliament Hill to the Matterhorn on the Swiss-Italian border, the Alpine design influence is much closer, given the highlands, mountains and winter climates shared between regions. Likewise, there's a shared rustic sensibility about architecture and design that suits the rugged surroundings found in abundance in these locales. It's no wonder the steep-roofed A-frame style pops up all over Canada, along with cozy interiors aimed at warming the soul as much as the body.

Alpine design style (known also as Swiss chalet style in places where the phrase doesn't conjure thoughts of rotisserie chicken) has much in common with Canadiana as well as the Canuck tendencies toward timber frame and log cabin construction.

The steep slope of the roof helps shed heavy snow during the winter.

Those steep gables are, after all, a practical consideration that use gravity to help shed the weight of deep snow, as necessary in Smithers as in Zermatt. Exposed beams, highlighting the beauty of construction materials and large windows to expose majestic vistas, are also mutually appreciated.

German-Swiss origins

Image via Wikipedia Commons

Architecturally, chalet-style finds its origins in the late 18th century, originating in rural Switzerland, nudging across lower Germany and the other Alpine countries, before spreading virally through the burgeoning tourism industry. Since this was primarily an indulgence of the well-to-do, they would often introduce chalet design elements closer to their own, non-mountainous homes. By the turn of the 20th century, the growing popularity of chalet-style spread to Scandinavia, the Netherlands and even Cincinnati.

Alpine interior textures

Few would equate the terrain of southwest Ohio as even remotely Alpine, which demonstrates the appeal and adaptability of chalet design. Fitting in with a Canadian audience is even less of a stretch. The rock, pine and water trilogy that defines the country is a natural fit for the chalet influence even without considering the ski lodge culture that crosses the nation.

The use of stone and wood beams help give this contemporary home a chalet feel.

Wood is perhaps the fundamental buzzword of the chalet interior. The honey hues of logs and timber, along with rough-hewn flooring, provide a warm and golden backdrop that delivers long wear with low maintenance, perfect for Canadian cottage living.

Raw wood immediately suggests other elemental decorative touches. Wrought iron, stone and textured fabrics are natural accompaniments that reinforce the alpine feel. Faux replicas of animal hides and furs, a nod toward contemporary sensibilities, serve to soften the harsh edges of lumber, metal and stone, as do soft, warm throws. The Hudson's Bay point blanket is right at home with Canadian versions of chalet style.

And what is a chalet without a magnificent stone or masonry fireplace, with perhaps a hearth using another thick slab of wood? In lieu of that, an iron wood stove is apropos in a more modest chalet. The fire itself is an essential part of the décor for many.

Chalet incorporations

Chalet style blends well with plenty of other design styles and trends. Virtually anything rustic works and the alpine mystique is a perfect backdrop for inspired upcycling. For instance, DIY hanging mason jar lights provide a crafty opportunity to paint your chalet with complementary glows.

The alpine interior favours natural light by day and warm firelight at night, so point lighting for diffuse accents avoids competition with these desired elements.

Other design elements that may fit with your vision of Chalet style include Industrial, Arts and crafts, Eclectic and Farmhouse, to name just a few.

There's a versatility to chalet-inspired design that suits the Canadian personality every bit as well as it does the European Alps. Intensely personal, often casual, occasionally formal, chalet style is always comfortable.

Source: realtor.ca

Top Considerations When Putting an Exercise Room in Your Home

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 19:18:26 GMT

As we approach the New Year, it's as good a time as any to start making positive lifestyle changes and more health-conscious choices. It's a time when well-intentioned people flood the nearest gym, fully intending to commit to a healthier routine year-round, only to abandon their fitness goals by Easter.

What better way to kick your fitness regime into high gear than from the comfort of your home? With an at-home gym, you never have to pack a bag, there's no need to account for travel time and, best of all, you can blast your music sans headphones! Instead of looking up gyms and fitness centres nearest you, claim some space in your own home to dedicate to health and exercise.

So you're motivated. But where do you start?

Amanda Hamilton, an internationally-known interior designer based in Calgary, Alberta, says most of the time, people automatically think of putting exercise rooms in basements but that may not be the wisest decision. Basement rooms can often be unattractive, they get the least amount of light and they're sort of depressing spaces to go into. Plus, when something is out of sight, it's also out of mind.

“For most people it's a matter of convenience. We're all very busy. If you create a gym in your home and it's in front of you all the time, it's going to be easier for you to use the equipment and you're going to build better habits,” says Hamilton.

When designing and building your home gym, the possibilities are endless but there are a few things to keep in mind.

Layout

The first thing to consider is the layout of the room. Ask yourself what type of equipment you are going to have and how it will be placed in the room for efficiency sake, as well as ease of movement (for example, an elliptical machine might not work in a room with a low ceiling). It's also common for people to centre their equipment around a television so they can pass time while they are sweating it out, so you'll want to consider your options for placement of electronics relative to equipment.

Flooring

Flooring is an equally-important consideration. The wrong flooring can lead to injuries like slips and falls and even cause chronic joint pain. The right flooring, on the other hand, can help increase stability, reduce body impact and reduce the noise escaping your workout space. From rubber and foam to artificial turf, there are a number of flooring surfaces that will make your gym more fitness-friendly.

“We generally try to use an actual rubber gym flooring, especially if people are doing weights. If they're dropping weights, a rubber floor helps prevent some of the noise and it can also help protect your floor from damage,” says Hamilton.

Lighting

Training in a brightly-lit environment is a game changer! Nothing beats natural light, but sometimes there's not enough to go around. If natural light is limited, use LED lighting when possible as it's often the most cost effective and can come close to replicating actual sunlight. Mirrors are not only helpful for providing feedback on your form during exercises, but they can help make a space appear larger (and brighter) than it actually is.

Storage

An essential component of any at-home gym is storage. Using a pegboard to hang resistance bands, jump ropes and ear phones not only keeps them off the ground and out of the way, but it also keeps them from tangling (“I love untangling knots,” said no one ever). Heavier items such as kettlebells and weights can be stowed away on a rack, in cubbies or an ottoman, which can also double as a workout bench.

Power

No gym is complete without a power source. It is recommended to have your cardio machines and other workout gear plugged directly into the wall outlet or surge protector and not run through extension cords.

Budget

Getting into shape doesn't have to mean spending a lot of money. Knowing your workout goals can help you budget both your money and your space. Gym equipment can range from affordable to thousands of dollars. To keep costs low, start by purchasing a few of the basics: a flat bench, yoga mat, free weights, jump rope, kettlebells and resistance bands – and then add new items one at a time. Before opting to go with new equipment, consider scouring garage sales and secondhand shops or sites, first. Sometimes you can find great deals and equipment that's barely been used.

Tunes

An efficient and invigorating workout needs a great soundtrack. While you can get your groove on using your smartphone and headphones, consider investing in portable or smart solutions you can bring with you to your gym when you need them.

Do you have a home gym? What do you love most about your space? Let us know in the comments or on any of our social pages.

source: realtor.ca

Some Strong Opinions About Neo Mint

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 19:06:31 GMT

The recent article on Designing with Neo Mint – a shade predicted to be the colour of 2020 – was a polarizing one. While some of you were here for it (32%), the majority of you were decidedly not (68%). Some strong opinions included:

“Gross!! What are they thinking?”
“Hideous.”
“Hospital ward mint. No tx.”
“Let's go back in time to 1982. No thank you!”
“Looks like Crest toothpaste.”
“Don't know who the forecasters were but I think they were smoking something green.”

Source: houzz.com

5 Great-Looking Galley Kitchens That Really Cook

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 01:20:00 GMT

Galley kitchens get a bad rap. Perhaps it’s their association with inadequate storage, cluttered countertops, depressing lighting or a bulky fridge that mucks up any hope of a clean-lined space. But forget all that — these five stylish galleys will banish those impressions. And if you’re dealing with a galley that feels more like a back alley, learn from the smart moves these design professionals made.

22 INTERIORS

1. Retro and Bold in Los Angeles

Even though galley kitchens tend to be small, remodeling them can be overwhelming. A design pro can help you create a kitchen that maximizes storage, functions well and suits your style.

These creative Los Angeles homeowners hired interior designer Lucie Ayres of 22 Interiors to help them pull their galley kitchen together. Ayers knew that her clients wanted to add interest to the long and narrow space. The bright backsplash tile is a big pick-me-up that’s complemented by a black-and-white cement tile floor. Light aqua cabinetry, carefully selected light fixtures and a vintage stove maintain a retro vibe.

Find a local kitchen designer on Houzz

22 INTERIORS

Smart moves: Using a counter-depth panel-front refrigerator keeps it from jutting into the traffic path. Extending the cabinetry to the ceiling maximizes storage. The designer also reserved the back of the room for a workspace and a cabinet with retractable doors that conceal the washer and dryer.

Learn more about this kitchen

Shop for encaustic cement tile on Houzz

BedfordBrooks Design Inc.

2. Victorian Inspiration in Toronto

This Toronto homeowner owns a restaurant, so he already knew how to make a kitchen function well. But he turned to BedfordBrooks Design for help in maximizing storage and finding a style that would suit his Victorian-era home. They landed on this charming bistro-inspired look. Oversize round lights draw the eye up in the long and narrow space. A deep, 7½-foot-wide island-like storage area in the center and double-stacked upper cabinets provide scads of storage.

Cabinets 101: How to Get the Storage You Want

BedfordBrooks Design Inc.

Smart moves: Instead of altering the original layout of the house by completely opening up the kitchen to the dining room, the designer created this wide pass-through that serves as a breakfast bar too. It’s topped by a leaded-glass transom that also suits the home’s period style. Limiting the opening to the pass-through allowed the designer to load up the space around it in the kitchen with cabinetry.

Learn more about this kitchen

Urban Purpose Design; Design + Build

3. Vintage-Modern Mix in Atlanta

These artistic Atlanta homeowners deliberately went from a U-shaped kitchen to a galley kitchen and find that it functions well for the way they like to work together. The well-traveled couple were inspired by spaces they had seen in New York City, Milan and Paris that were modern yet rooted in history. They worked with interior designer Micaela Quinton of Urban Purpose Design, who helped them implement their ideas. The sink, range and fridge create a work triangle with ample counter space around it. They also have a designated coffee station on one end of the kitchen and a recessed niche to house their KitchenAid mixer on the other.

Find a local contractor who specializes in kitchen remodeling

Urban Purpose Design; Design + Build

Smart moves: The pantry has food stored behind the sliding chalkboard door on the left, and display-worthy glassware, a small TV and other objects on the right. The pantry’s shallow depth makes it easy to find items. The peony wallpaper behind the shelves makes it a feature.

Learn more about this kitchen

Browse botanical wallpaper in the Houzz Shop

Cezign

4. Sleek Refresh in New York City

This tight Manhattan kitchen was jampacked with cabinetry, had an oppressively low ceiling and was painted in shades of beige. Designer Cecilia Dupire of Cezign raised the ceiling a foot and replaced overly ornate cabinetry and moldings with sleek alternatives. She also replaced a bulky refrigerator with a panel-front fridge and two freezer drawers. The induction cooktop has a pop-up downdraft, freeing the overhead space for storage.

One part of the design that’s intentionally not so sleek: an antique table and chairs that add warmth and contrast in the contemporary kitchen. The family can post artwork, notes and messages on the magnetic glass panels. Square recessed lights and undercabinet lighting brighten up the once-dark space.

Cezign

Smart moves: A pullout pantry cabinet and pullout drawers make the most of every inch and provide convenient storage.

Learn more about this kitchen

ZeroEnergy Design

5. Open and Streamlined in Boston

An opened-up galley kitchen has its pros and cons. On one hand, it tends to feel larger, enjoy more natural light and encourage socializing (and maybe even helping with the food prep). On the other, it means potentially losing a wall of upper cabinets and appliances.

Architect Stephanie Horowitz of ZeroEnergy Design and her husband, Alex, renovated their Boston condo’s open galley kitchen to suit the way they knew their family would function in a tight kitchen space. The renovation included relocating a laundry room-pantry door, which had been where the framed print now hangs. “Having a large door in the kitchen disrupted the flow and access. Plus, laundry and food storage are a bad mix, as a laundry room is often a humid space,” Stephanie says.

The upper cabinets that extend to the ceiling increase the room’s storage potential. And, like the Los Angeles kitchen, a counter-depth fridge keeps everything pleasingly streamlined.

ZeroEnergy Design

Smart moves: The appliance garage provides storage space for china, glassware, cookbooks, a rice cooker, an espresso maker and other small appliances. The door pulls down to conceal these items for an uncluttered view from the living room.

Learn more about this kitchen

Takeaways

Don’t be afraid to go bold in a small space.
Use counter-depth refrigerators and freezer drawers to maintain clean lines.
Opt for panel-front appliances for a streamlined look.
Consider a pass-through to another room to help make a kitchen feel larger and brighter and to promote social interaction.
Prevent small appliances from taking up valuable countertop space by using an appliance garage, specified cabinets or a niche. Or designate well-organized stations for things like making smoothies or coffee.
Create layers of light with recessed lighting, undercabinet lighting, and ceiling and wall fixtures.
When opening up a galley to another room, consider the views into the kitchen and design accordingly.

Source: houzz.com

Designer Secrets: 10 Pros Share Their Favorite White Paints

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 15:30:41 GMT

You might think all white paints are pretty much the same, but nothing could be further from the truth. Most white paints have an undertone that can skew them cool or warm. The same white paint will look different in different parts of the world, and even at different ends of the house. A paint that pops brightly in San Francisco could look drab in New England, and vice versa.

Designers agree that you should test your paint in large swaths, to view it in different lighting at different times of the day. But that said, they usually have a few go-to shades of white up their sleeves, the ones they know won’t let them down. Ten designers shared the white paints they count on and why.

PlaidFox

Simply White by Benjamin Moore

“Simply White is a more modern, clean white,” Ben Leavitt of Fox Design Studio says. “It is a beautiful natural shade that works well with any gray tones.”

In this space, Leavitt chose Simply White for the walls and ceilings, then painted the trim and doors in Thunder by Benjamin Moore for contrast.

Find an interior designer on Houzz

FOUR POINT DESIGN BUILD INC

Cool December by Dunn-Edwards

“I love Cool December for the way its cool undertone works in the bright California light,” Los Angeles designer Laura Schwartz-Muller of Four Point Design + Construction says. In this portrait photographer’s office, it provides a lovely backdrop for a gallery wall.

See more of this office

Urbanology Designs

White Wisp by
Benjamin Moore

“All whites have some undertone. White Wisp has a very slight gray undertone that keeps it from feeling cold or icy,” interior designer Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs says.

In this dining room, the paint works wonderfully with the bright Texas light and the different browns and tans in the reclaimed wood.

Lisa Tharp Design

Pointing by
Farrow & Ball

“Pointing is a wonderfully classic white with just a hint of warmth. I use it often because it reads as a warm white without veering yellow,” interior designer Lisa Tharp says. “It reminds me of fresh cream in early-morning light.”

Tharp is also careful about designing in a healthy and environmentally conscious way. “I like that Farrow & Ball’s line is comprised of healthier low- or no-VOC formulations, depending on sheen level,” she says.

In this library in Brookline, Massachusetts, she selected Pointing for the millwork because it offers a clean and warm counterpoint to the metallic specialty finishes on the walls and curved ceiling.

See the rest of this home

ACQUIRE

Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore

“For white trim color, my go-to for years has been Decorator’s White,” interior designer Nikki Dalrymple of Acquire says. “It’s a true bright white that never disappoints. The undertone is so subtle that it never seems to fight with any chosen wall color.”

In this lovely living room, the white on the millwork provides a clean contrast to the creamy tan hue on the walls.

Wall paint: Monroe Bisque, Benjamin Moore

See more of this room

Encircle Design and Build

Imagine .01 by Colorhouse

Health and environmental consciousness is priority No. 1 for Michelle Ruber of Encircle Design and Build. Her favorite white comes from her favorite paint company, Colorhouse. “I was drawn to the company for its environmental benefits — the paint is zero-VOC and has no fumes, which is extremely important for the painters’ health and for the health of people who are living in the house during a remodel, not to mention the health of the planet,” she says. “So you have all that, plus the colors are amazing — every one of them is spot on.”

In this Portland, Oregon, vacation rental that Encircle designed and remodeled, Ruber’s spot-on choice was Colorhouse’s Imagine .01. The white brightens up the walk-out lower level and can hold its own against the city’s many gray days.

See more of this house

Ggem Design Co.

Super White by Benjamin Moore

“I love Benjamin Moore Super White. It’s a really clean, crisp white that adds a nice contrast even against other whites,” interior designer Shannon Ggem says. Here she used it on the cabinets and trimwork in an elegant master bathroom.

See more of this home

Design Harmony

Pure White by
Sherwin-Williams

“I love Sherwin Williams because they are very user-friendly and they provide large swatches to designers — not all companies do that,” Harmony Weihs of Design Harmony says. One of her go-to whites is the company’s Pure White.

She used it on these cabinets in this kitchen. “I love this white because it’s on the brighter side for a white while still being warm, which works great for all of our gray Pacific Northwest days,” she says.

SHAPESIDE

Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore

When she’s going for minimalist style in a design, Chantilly Lace is a no-brainer for interior designer Genna Margolis. “It reads cool and it’s clean, crisp and simple,” she says. “Sometimes when people are fearful to go too white, they wind up choosing something with a yellow undertone, and it winds up reading yellow, making the room look more rustic.”

The paint was the right choice for the peaceful, minimalistic look of this yoga studio Margolis designed.

Designer Secrets: 10 Pros Share Their Favorite Off-White Paints

I dea Space Architecture + Design

Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore

“One of my favorite whites is Swiss Coffee,” interior designer Julie China of Idea Space Architecture + Design says. “It’s a warm white that doesn’t go too yellow or almond — it is a nice crisp white with warm undertones.”

China chose the hue for the trim work throughout this 1920s home, seen here in the crown molding. “Swiss Coffee was a good choice for this 1920s house due to the warmer color palette and existing chestnut moldings on the first floor,” she says.

Source: Houzz.com

Designing with Neo Mint

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 03:20:00 GMT

Foreseeing the future is never easy, but experts at the World's Global Style Network (WGSN) use social media, popular culture, data mining and street fashion to bring businesses the styles of tomorrow today. Gazing through a pastel-tinted crystal ball, the colour experts at WGSN declare Neo Mint the trendsetting colour for 2020.

The colour has great retro appeal, instantly evoking kinder and gentler times, while still resonating today, representing renewed interest in both science and environment with a shade that's also gender-neutral, a mid-point between feminine and masculine hues.

New decade, new influences

There's something about the turn into a new year, a new decade, new century that sparks an urge for renewal in many people and, of course, there's often a point where the charm of past décor schemes evaporates, and it's usually unrelated to calendar milestones. Keying in oncoming trends helps keep interiors fresh.

Followers of style may know that Pantone's 2019 colour of the year was coral, for which Neo Mint is an ideal complementary hue. There's a logical forward progression for younger designers who don't have the retro association with pastel greens that older decorators may carry, though contemporary takes on styles like Mid-Century Modern and Art Nouveau may inform the connections.

Incorporating Neo Mint

Source: Pinterest

Walls

There's a trickle-down effect to trends that suggests rushing to re-paint an entire room Neo Mint may be premature. Large expanses of this colour can create an institutional feel without strong attention to breaking up visual spaces.

A feature wall in Neo Mint may be a better way to ease into the trend, particularly if you indulged in millennial pink and want to dial back its influence. The two colours play off each other well, so a single mint wall in an otherwise pink room provides a counterpoint balance.

Source: Pinterest

Minty wall coverings with discrete geometrics or pinstripes may also break up that hospital ward impression in full-wall applications.

Neo Mint serves as a terrific backdrop for darker shades of green, from artwork to potted plants. The juxtaposition of greens presents a hip spin on a monochromatic approach. It also sets off darker natural tones well. Brown leathers, weathered boards, bronze and brass all sit well in front of a Neo Mint wall.

Fabrics

Source: Pinterest

The calming nature of Neo Mint make it a light and refreshing choice for bed linens. Again, layers of varied hue density create striking impressions. If it's time to refresh your linen closet, plush, oversize Neo Mint towels are sure to be a hit after a bath or shower.

Upholstery can give even conventional furniture designs a mid-century edge, simply by virtue of the pastel green colour. Low-backed chairs and sofas accent the effect.

However, Neo Mint shows enough versatility to assert itself in busier design styles as well. Simple panel drapes in this hue can be the splash of colour in a minimalist setting or a fabric feature in a shabby chic collection.

A versatile new addition

Because of its pastel nature, Neo Mint blends well as an accessory flourish in many colour schemes. It's equally at home with corals, pinks and terra cottas as it is with azures and aquas. Neutral builder's paint in a rental unit invites a colourizing splash perfectly suited for Neo Mint. It can even surface in retro appliances, backsplashes and bathroom tiles.

Source: Unsplash

Ultra-contemporary, retro or retro-futuristic, Neo Mint is a trend that puts a new spin on a familiar and comfortable shade. It's perhaps a perfect opportunity to gently jump ahead of the curve with a design statement that whispers rather than screams.

Source: Realtor.ca

PINNACLE PLUS REALTY STEP BY STEP MOVING DAY CHECKLIST

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 21:10:13 GMT

As Moving Day approaches, your nerves will naturally heighten because you are concerned you will overlook or forget crucial details. Dealing with these details in a step by step form and early enough will ensure that the move to your new home runs smoothly. Pinnacle Plus Realty Ltd. Brokerage Moving Day Checklist will prepare you for the move to your new home! Having this checklist by your side will protect you from missing any important steps!

Our moving checklist is broken down into 2 areas: Preparation for Moving Day and Moving Day itself. The important tasks and details within allow you to properly plan and help ensure a smooth and enjoyable transition into your new home. Make sure you have enough time to complete all tasks. Your sanity depends on it.

PREPARATION FOR MOVING DAY

PACKING & DECLUTTERING

The earlier you begin the decluttering process, the faster and easier packing will be. You’re already ahead of the game if you decluttered your home during the home-staging process. If you chose to store those items, it is time to deal with them now!

□ Schedule moving day with the movers or rent a moving truck for that day.

□ If you are hiring a mover, hire a well-known, reputable company and go over liability insurance with a fine-tooth comb before signing and be sure to take extra care in packing items properly.

□ If moving yourself, ask friends and family to save the date

□ Order food and beverages for that date

□ Collect boxes and newspaper or packing supplies

□ Declutter more!

□ Donate unwanted items to charity (get a tax receipt!)

□ Schedule a moving sale for any valuable unwanted items. Promote on your social media pages, group pages, and local papers… or posting photos of items on social media asking prospective buyers to contact you with interest.

□ Attend your moving day sale if you chose to have one

□ Pack any belongings you will not need until you arrive at your new home. (see sidebar for great packing hints!)

□ Label boxes and mark “fragile” those that are.

□ Give your old home a thorough cleaning.

Packing and Decluttering can be an enjoyable process as long as you give yourself enough time to do. There is nothing worse than rushing through the moving process so get packing and decluttering as soon as you can start. Allowing enough time will reduce anxiety and make the move more fun! Plus, purging unwanted items and minimizing your lifestyle, as well as donating these items to charities in need can be very gratifying.

When packing, use all items you can to reduce waste. For example, consider rolling a floor lamp with a rug, leave old sheets on mattresses and use bath towels to wrap delicate items! Also, use large boxes for lighter items and small boxes for heavier ones.

COMMUNICATE YOUR MOVE!

It is essential to communicate your move to assure that your life will remain in order when you arrive at your new home. Don’t sit on hold with companies when you should be unpacking! Have these tasks completed prior to your move for a much better moving experience.

□ Notify billers and subscriptions of your move and pay outstanding bills. Give a 2-week notice for phone and utility services to disconnect services at your current home and arrange for services at your new address. Give a 4-6 week notice to magazines and newspapers.

□ Give your new address to friends, family, and neighbors.

□ Notify the post office of your new address and date of move for mail forwarding

□ Return borrowed items and recover items you have borrowed out

□ Ensure your important records are in order, easily accessible and in one safe place. These are considered any financial records, insurance policies, medical or school records.

□ Empty gasoline from your barbecue and lawnmower and dispose of all flammables properly.

□ Confirm with your moving company closer to moving day or remind friends and family.

□ Confirm with caterer your food order, dates, and location of delivery.

If you are moving to a new city, fulfill these tasks prior to your move.

Allow old bank accounts to remain open until all payments have cleared. Open a new account in the city you are moving to and transfer some funds. Have your car serviced and schedule a final check-up with your doctor and dentist and ask for records to be transferred. Pretend you are taking a trip for a week and pack a suitcase with items you couldn’t live without, in case the moving day is delayed. Include within that suitcase: medication, cleaning supplies, tools, and lightbulbs. Once you’ve settled into your new home, close the accounts in the city you left if you are certain all payments have cleared.

MOVING DAY

It’s moving day! I’m sure you are excited and nervous. You’ve been up for hours, anticipating the day. You are either waiting for the movers to arrive or until the rental truck facility opens. Stay nourished and hydrated… Brace yourself for a busy day!

□ Be present with the moving company and be ready to let them know of the problems you see.

□ Order food for friends and family who are helping you.

□ If you are packing the truck yourself, place heavier boxes on truck floor and lighter, more delicate boxes above them. Handle very precious items yourself accordingly.

□ Perform a final walk-through of your home, double-checking hiding places. Have an empty box in hand to fill with items you might have missed. Turn off all lights, lock the windows and doors, say your goodbyes and leave the keys with your REALTOR®.

□ When arriving at your new home, set up an easy access area where items can safely be left when movers are unloading boxes. All boxes going directly into storage should be placed there immediately so they are not confused with those you are using.

□ Perform a deep clean on your new home prior to unpacking.

□ Unpack one box at a time very carefully, not allowing items to suddenly drop out

The Realtors® at Pinnacle Plus Realty Ltd. Brokerage is so excited for you! We live for this and hope you have found your dream home. With this Moving Day Checklist in hand, we’ll be there with you every step of the way! If you need any assistance, please contact us. Welcome home, friends.

22 Small Ways to Live Greener

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 03:52:00 GMT

Trying to live a greener, more environmentally sustainable life can seem overwhelming—what do you do and where do you start? Can a few little changes around the house really make a difference?

To borrow an old adage, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” With that in mind, we have small changes you can gradually work into your home routine that aren't just eco-friendly, they're also budget-friendly.

Outdoors:

1. Plant a small backyard or patio garden

Reduce your grocery bill by growing herbs and vegetables in your own backyard or build a garden box or two for your windowsill or balcony. If you grab too many herbs for dinner, there are plenty of things you can do with the surplus—like making a sauce or personalized teas.

2. Line dry your clothing

Fresh air: dryer sheets try and replicate it but it's hard to beat the real thing. Line drying your laundry is quick, fresh and can help you save on your utilities. Plus, you get a bit of fresh air yourself!

3. Use water from a dehumidifier to water plants

Put the garden hose away. If you use a floor model dehumidifier to keep your basement dry, moisture collects in a reservoir and provides several litres of water you can use for your houseplants or garden.

4. Get a rain barrel and collect rainwater

You'd be surprised how much water you can collect from a downpour or two. Make sure you cover the opening with mesh to keep the bugs out and you'll have gallons of water at your disposal in the summer.

Indoors

1. Unplug small appliances and electronics when not in use

It might not be easy to get behind the stove to unplug it, but before you leave for work in the morning, unplug things like small appliances, phone chargers and even your entertainment centre. Consider using power strips so you can kill the power without rearranging your furniture.

2. Open the curtains

Let the sun do its thing to light and warm your house naturally when you're at home and the weather is cooler. In peak summer or winter, however, closing your blinds, drapes or shutters can help keep the heat either out or in.

3. Seal up your home

Plug, insulate, replace, repair, caulk or seal your doors, windows and any errant cracks to make your home as leak-proof and airtight as possible.

4. Save baths for special occasions

Keeping baths and showers to a minimum (both in frequency and time) will help make a big difference for your water consumption.

5. Conserve your flushes

Consider switching to a low-flow or high-efficiency toilet to help save water. You can even make use of the water collected from your rain barrel (tip #5)– dumping a bucket of water right into the bowl is enough to trigger a flush, then gravity takes over. Don’t waste water on flushable wipes where they can block or damage your septic or sewage system. Dispose of these items in the trash and save flushing for when you really need to (hint: if it's yellow, let it mellow).

6. Wash laundry in cold vs. hot water and wait for a full load

Many of the brands you're already using have cold wash soap options—and remember, you often need less soap than you think, so check the measurement lines on the lid or scoop and don't eyeball your pour.

7. Go paperless and pay your bills online

If you use mobile banking, opt-out of receiving paper bills. Many service providers have dedicated apps so you can see your entire transaction history whenever you want.

8. Under the sink and yard composter

Many municipalities across Canada have initiated green bin programs to encourage people to compost their household waste and food scraps. Check with your local government to see what's available or make your own.

9. Use your heat dampers

If you have central heating, you likely have floor vents to distribute warm air to each room. Those floor vents (dampers) have dials so you can keep them either opened or closed. Consider closing them in rooms that aren't being used, like a spare bedroom) to reduce the energy spent heating the space. It's recommended that you don't do this in bathrooms or anywhere there is plumbing to avoid frozen pipes.

Bonus tip: Replace your furnace filter regularly so trapped dust and debris don’t restrict airflow and force your furnace to work harder.

Photo by Ella Olsson on Unsplash

10. Properly secure opened food packages

Stale food often ends up right in the trash (or green bin) earlier than it needs to because of improper sealing. Spare clothes pegs work great as bag clips and can help keep crackers, cereal and chips fresh longer while glass or food-safe containers can keep a variety of foods fresh or frozen.

11. Control the temperature

If no one is home during the day, why spend the money and energy to keep the house super toasty (or cooled)? Use a programmable thermostat to help regulate the temperature throughout the day or consider investing in a smart thermostat that you can control via your smartphone.

12. Handmade door draft stoppers

If there's a draft coming under a door you haven't had the chance to deal with, keep the cold air out by making a handmade door draft stopper with an old rolled-up bath towel or even old pillow inserts or stuffing.

Products

1. Use natural cleaners

There are many options available for store-bought cleaners featuring all or majority natural ingredients. Or turn to Pinterest for tips on how to make your own cleaners using baking soda, vinegar and even coffee grinds.

2. Use energy efficient light bulbs

There are plenty of bulbs on the market now boasting significant energy savings, like compact fluorescent or halogen bulbs.

3. Use cloth alternatives

Steer away from single-use materials like napkins, paper towels and cleaning pads by swapping them for cloth options. You can make cleaning rags by cutting up old bed sheets, towels and even t-shirts instead of throwing them out.

4. Alternatives to buying new

Before buying anything new, consider community sites, swap-and-sells or local Facebook groups. Do some digging: your city or community might put on a large annual yard sale full of great deals.

Renovations

1. Renovating more sustainably

When you're planning your next home project, think about ways you can get the work done more sustainably—here are five tips!

2. Getting rid of renovation waste

Think about how you'll dispose of the building waste when you're done. Here are a few eco-friendly tips to get rid of everything.

Source: Realtor.ca

Quiz: Find Your Ideal Canadian Neighbourhood

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:40:01 GMT

There are so many gorgeous places to live in Canada. But, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. Some of us can't get enough of the big city and others yearn for the solitude of the Canadian wilderness. What if you're not too sure where you should live? Take our quiz to discover the Canadian neighbourhood that could be just right for you!

1. Which ambient noise best suits you?

A. Traffic, planes, trains and the bustling streets.
B. A quiet neighbourhood with only distant traffic sounds.
C. Distant crashing waves, gulls and a brisk salt breeze coming through the window.
D. The wind in the trees, nighttime peepers and crickets.
E. Barely a peep from anything, anywhere.
F. Bells, whistles, tinkling and whirring.

2. What kind of work commute do you prefer?

A. Take the streetcar downtown.
B. Catch the Metro.
C. A short drive suits me just fine.
D. I enjoy walking or cycling to work.
E. No commute: Working from home is perfect for me.
F. A quick scoot, sled or reindeer ride to the workshop.

3. How close to the big city would you like to be?

A. Right in the thick of things.
B. In the suburbs, but not too far from downtown.
C. I'm indifferent about proximity to a big city.
D. A number of cities within a few hours' drive would be great.
E. If I never see a big city again, I'll die happy.
F. What's the big city?

4. If you lived near water, what should it be?

A. A Great Lake
B. A large river system.
C. Salt water!
D. A small river running through town.
E. A historically significant river system.
F. An enchanted lake.

5. When you step outside what would you prefer to see?

A. Photo credit: Via Axel Drainville on Flickr	B. Photo credit: Matt.Holding
C.	D.
E. Photo credit: Robinsoncrusoe [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons	F.

6. What is your favourite season?

A. I don't have one. They're all too hot, cold, wet or dry.
B. Summer
C. Spring
D. Fall
E. Winter
F. Christmas! duh.

7. What do you enjoy doing outdoors with the family?

A. A walk down the street to a central inner-city park.
B. Hitting a community playground or splash pad.
C. Skiing or snowboarding.
D. A geocaching adventure.
E. Hunting or fishing in the wilderness.
F. Magical sleigh rides.

8. What kind of school would best suit your child(ren)?

A. An urban school with a wide range of cultures.
B. A suburban school with a choice of English or French immersion.
C. A small town school where everyone knows each other.
D. A small community school within walking distance of home.
E. A school with a strong Indigenous curriculum.
F. I don't have children, but I'm definitely young at heart.

The results

Mostly As: Parkdale, Toronto, Ontario

You love a community with a lot of character that reaches beyond daylight hours and the urban appeal of this culturally rich Toronto neighbourhood would satisfy your appetite. This charming Victorian neighbourhood was built in the 1850s and has a lot of history and culture, with influences from many parts of the world. Parkdale is home to urban schools, local eateries and bars, and plenty of eclectic shopping destinations. Read the full guide to learn more about Parkdale.

Mostly Bs: Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec

This suburban neighbourhood is just the place for a variety of anglophone and franco-Québec schools, plus easy access to numerous parks and splash pads that are perfect for hot summer days. The independent municipality is found on the island home of Montreal and is within 30 minutes of downtown Montreal. Here's the full scoop on this family-friendly neighbourhood.

Mostly Cs: Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

Long may your big jib draw! This lovely, scenic town on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador is a beauteous jewel nestled amongst the high hills of the island. You'd love the salt air that blows in from the incredible and scenic Bay of Islands and would enjoy the friendly vibe and slower pace of Newfoundlander life. Check out what else awaits you in Corner Brook, B'y!

Mostly Ds: Medicine Hat, Alberta

Welcome home to sunny Medicine Hat, Alberta—fondly considered the geocaching capital of Canada. With some of the most mild and consistently sunny weather conditions in Canada, you'll just love the splash of fall colours against the red rock coulees that abound in the area. A handful of small, tightly-knit communities means you're never far from school or work, or your next discovery adventure to the latest geocache. Read the full neighbourhood guide for more about Medicine Hat.

Mostly Es: Whitehorse, Yukon

You've come to the conclusion that the call of the wild—and North—is too irresistible to deny any longer. Whitehorse, Yukon is the place for you! With a piece of Klondike history flowing through town, you're never more than a few minutes from the Canadian Wilderness and everything it has to offer, including stunning Aurora Borealis on most clear nights. Go take a look at your new digs in Canada's wilderness city.

Mostly Fs: Santa's Village, North Pole

Ho Ho Ho! Clearly, you need a touch of magic in your life. While not technically part of Canada, Nunavut is this magical location's closest land connection. Worried about surviving a year-long winter? Not to worry, it always feels like Christmas in Santa's Village. Go see what enchanting possibilities are in store for you there.

Pretty even: Kelowna, British Columbia

You are pretty laid back and don't have a real preference when it comes to what type of neighbourhood vibe you would like. With that in mind, pack your belongings and head to Kelowna, British Columbia. You'll be treated to mild weather, some of the best fruit in the country, quick access to both Okanagan lake—keep an eye out for Ogopogo!—and the mountains. Plus, if you're a golfer, get ready to hit the links as early as March! Take a look at this beautiful West Coast city and all it has to offer.

source: realtor.ca

Quiz: What International Design Style Are You?

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 03:28:00 GMT

When it comes to injecting new life into your space, look beyond the current trends and styles of your neighbours–the world is full of unique design aesthetics inspired by centuries of culture, history and trends! With plenty of inspiration to be found across the globe, take our quiz and find your international design style.

Be sure to keep track of your choices and tally them up at the end.

Photo via Unsplash

1. What dessert are you eating?

a) Deep-fried Mars bar
b) Fresh doughnuts
c) Lemon meringue pie
d) Coffee cake
e) Ice cream

2. What is your ideal day?

a) A big street party with your friends and neighbours
b) Making a homemade meal with friends
c) A morning spent reading at a coffee shop with a strong espresso
d) Spending the day on the beach followed up by a candlelit dinner
e) A cozy day spent in eating snacks and watching Netflix

3. Choose a pattern

a) Vibrantly coloured woven textile
b) Scalloped with flowers
c) Geometric gold and black
d) Red terracotta tiles
e) Pink and white polka dots

4. How would you describe yourself?

a) Adventurous
b) Loyal
c) Serious
d) Carefree
e) Confident

5. Pick an archway

a) Yellow archway
b) Scalloped archway
c) Elaborately carved archway
d) Stone arches
e) Geometric wood archway

6. Pick a season

a) Spring. Nice and warm!
b) Summer. The hotter the better.
c) Autumn. I don't like overheating outside.
d) I like it temperate all the time.
e) Winter. Perfect for getting warm and cozy.

Mostly As: Mexican design

With a style that's as bold and brilliant as the flavours in its dishes, Mexican design encourages you to release your inhibitions and grab the brightest colours you can find. Toss them together in textile pieces like woven rugs with intricate patterns infused with pinks, yellows, oranges and greens. Use reclaimed wood or rattan furniture to round off this style to capture the rustic vibes of Mexico.

Mostly Bs: Indian design

You feel right at home in the sun-kissed style of Indian design. This is one ornate style that dares you to push the envelope. You're a fan of controlled maximalism and Indian design has been mastering busy, loud motifs for centuries. Dizzying marble patterns and delicate silks—meticulously embroidered—are right at home with heavy, dark wood furniture and large windows that let in the light.

Mostly Cs: French art deco

Photo via Unsplash by Léonard Cotte

You want to kick off your shoes and relax in the lap of luxury at the end of the day. Art Deco was created for the elite class of French society and this style spares no expense. You're ready to put in the time and effort to fill your space with bold geometric shapes, heavy, carved furniture, velvet, and intricate details as far as the eye can see.

Mostly Ds: Tuscan style

Photo via Unsplash by Rowan Heuvel

You're an old soul. Whether it's in the green hills of central Italy or your own home here in Canada, Tuscan style is a reliable design where form and function are key. This look has been around since the Renaissance and is still standing strong. Combine exposed ceiling beams with terracotta pots for your favourite plants, wrought iron window boxes or patio furniture and aged stonework to bring this Mediterranian style into your space.

Mostly Es: Japanese Kawaii design

Photo via Unsplash

You don't take life too seriously. The adorable and carefree style of Japanese Kawaii (meaning “cute”) has been embraced worldwide by those not ready to close the door on childhood joy. If you can't commit to a full Sanrio-branded remodel of your home, stick to a bright pastel pattern, accent pieces in the form of cute clouds, cats, frills, ultra-soft throw pillows and prints of your favourite kawaii characters. Interior design is all about self-expression so don't hold back!

source: realtor.ca

How to Calculate Your Home Office Tax Deductions as a Freelancer or Small Business Owner

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 13:56:10 GMT

Freelancing or running a business from home can often mean long hours and late nights. However, there are several perks to being your own boss. If you work from home more than 50% of the time, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) offers a number of tax breaks to encourage small businesses to start up, succeed and stimulate the economy.

Buying the equipment you need for your business and organizing your home office properly can benefit you come tax time. With a bit of research and an accountant, you're in the driver's seat when you file your taxes. For the first few years, you might get sizable returns and ongoing write-offs related to your home office, transportation and equipment.

For ease of explanation, let's use the sole proprietorship scenario of one person running their own business, 100% of the time, such as myself. Yes, part-time or salaried employees working for a company from their home have write-offs too, but they also have more limits on what and how much they can claim.

What you need to know

Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash

While tax specialist George Winfield said every tax situation is different, there are resources and a few general rules to follow.

“You have to use your house as your place of business and be able to prove the percentage of the home that is dedicated to business purposes,” Winfield said. “From there, there is a formula to determine the amount of rent or mortgage, reasonable maintenance and capital expenditures to keep the office portion of your home functioning.”

To start, the CRA will want to know if you use this space exclusively as a principal place of business or on a frequent basis for operating or meetings.

Like many of us, we have a dedicated office or workspace at home, but after hours we vacate—because who wants to hang out at the home office after a long hard day?

Be accurate and reasonable

Image by tookapic from Pixabay

In our above-mentioned scenario, as a work-from-home business owner, a portion of that space and all of the needs required to run it-—like utilities and upgrades—are tax deductible. It should go without saying this is based on a reasonable amount of space and associated expenses based on accurate calculations of the square footage of your home, detailed receipts and records, as well as an explanation for any questions, should it arise in the future.

For example, my house is 2,640-square-feet and the dedicated office space I use is 355-square-feet, but I use it 100% of the time for business as I'm a full-time freelancer. My household expenses total $28,500 for items in Section 7 of the T2125 CRA form:

Heating;
Home insurance;
Electricity;
Cleaning materials;
Property taxes;
Mortgage interest; and
Maintenance, repairs, home office renovations.

So the basic calculation for my tax deductible expenses would be: 355 ÷ 2,650 square-feet x $28,500 = $3,817.

While the calculation is not an exact science, what's important is to have all receipts and documentation needed and be accurate about what your business space requires. Be reasonable about what is needed for the business. If you decorate your house from top to bottom and replace your roof, that might not be applicable—unless, of course, your office area was leaking and needed some upgrades to be functional.

Capital expenditures

Photo by Michael Soledad on Unsplash

Being your own boss also means you need to get the proper equipment, upgrades and office furniture needed to operate at maximum potential. An ergonomic chair, keyboard and computer are all reasonable business expenses, but what about upgrades to the home office that are part of the house?

Upgrades like a gigabit wired network, better router, new electrical outlets, proper lighting, ventilation and insulation might be imperative to the workspace, too. It might even include a lock on the door so those persistent kids or pets don't barge in during meetings. These are outliers you need to think about, all of which can be considered reasonable expenses to further business operations.

Tax season

If you're unsure about making any expenditures for your home office, contact an accountant to get an informed answer whether the spend qualifies for a tax write-off or what you want to spend or ideally where to spend it.

The goal is to keep your home and home office running like a well-oiled machine and get a few bucks back at tax time.

The article above is for information purposes and is not financial or legal advice or a substitute for financial or legal counsel.

Source: realtor.ca

7 Innovative Design Apps That Help with Home Projects

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 02:52:00 GMT

Whether you're renovating, redecorating or spatial planning—you know there's an app for that. We're taking a closer look at seven mobile apps that will give you a leg up on your next home project.

Magicplan

This is an app for everything from a brand new build to a redecorating project. Since you can recreate all of your doors, windows and furniture in the app (right down to their exact measurements), you can rearrange an entire room and see what works before rolling up your sleeves and pushing heavy beds or couches around.

There are different ways to create a floor plan in magicplan, from individual rooms with well-lit photographs, to free form drawing or even an augmented reality (AR) feature that will scan the space and create a to-scale plan. Once your room is sized, tap the “Add Object” button and add everything from doors, plumbing, furniture and electrical in various styles and sizes. On your floor plan, tap where you want to place your object and then add it. From there you can move it along the wall or across the plan.

Rating: 4.5/5 magicplan takes some getting used to, and there are a lot of options within the app, but nothing here is trying to trick you or make you do complicated 3D math. The ability to create a floor plan of your space without grabbing a ruler and pencil is super-efficient.

Cost: Free + in-app purchases
Platforms: iPhone, iPad and Android devices

Download for iOS

Download for Android

DecorMatters

Be your own designer with the DecorMatters app. With a free account, you can save your designs, build mood boards and portfolios, follow your favourite designers and be part of a vibrant and creative community.

Full of design inspiration, DecorMatters lets you fill a room with with features like furniture, art and lighting options from their expansive library—including real products from your favourite stores.

Even cooler: Its augmented reality features. Scan the floor of a room through the in-app camera and add to-scale products to your space in front of your eyes. There's plenty to explore in DecorMatters, but the technology behind the app is seriously impressive.

Rating: 4.6/5 It feels like a game with how much you can play around with the products. Cycle through décor, furniture and colours to see what you like best before committing to a style. It's a full room transformation without the price tag.
Cost: Free + in-app purchases
Platform: iPhone

Download for iOS

Pantone Studio

This colour palette app invites you to “explore a universe of colour and discover harmonies and colour values”. Simply put, this is a colour swatch app with plenty of perks.

Sure there are a lot of features you can unlock for a price, but the free components of Pantone Studio are a great starting point to find complementary colour palettes. If you allow Pantone Studio access to your device's photo gallery, the app will create a five colour swatch based on the hues and tones in pictures you select. From there, you can drag the swatch to the bar at the bottom for a closer look and detailed read-out of the colours.

You can even use built-in AR technology to create a swatch in real-time using any object in your home.

Rating: 3.8/5 This is an easy-to-use app to help harmonize a room and get creative with your colour choices. If you want to design a room around your favourite piece of art, upload the photo to Pantone Studio and the app will pick five colours to work with. From there, you can paint walls, find textiles and stain woods to help tie the room together.
Cost: Free + Free Trial and in-app purchases of the Pantone swatches
Platforms: iPhone

Download for iOS

Morpholio Board

Do you like to gather all of your ideas in one place before you start a big project? Morpholio lets you create mood boards with photos from your device's camera roll and real products from an extensive library (complete with links to websites with more information) or photos from the web.

Visit your favourite websites and crop out images to add them directly to your board and when you're done, simply export your board to save it to your device's photo gallery.

This app comes with a handy feature tour right away so you can get familiar with the app before you start collecting ideas.

Rating: 4.5/5 There are many products to scroll through and tools to alter each image you add, but the mechanics are simple enough that it won't take long to get used to. This app is like kind of like Pinterest if you could cut and paste each pin onto a corkboard for a more holistic view of a mood or idea.
Cost: Free to build boards + in-app purchases to unlock special features
Platforms: iPhone, iPad

Download for iOS

iPhone built-in measuring and level

If you have an iPhone or iPad, there's an app package that can come in handy during your renovations or redecorating: the Measure app, which uses AR to measure objects and distances. Follow the on-screen instructions and simply tap a point at one edge of your object and move your phone along its length until you need to make a turn. Anchor another point and keep going. Once you're done, tap the measurement on the screen to get a final reading. Then, if you swipe to the right, you'll also find the built-in level. The level works in any direction; you just need to tap to calibrate 0º and let the red or green screen tell you if you're level or not.

Rating: 5/5 The design of both features is super streamlined and simple to navigate, and the AR component of the Measure app is still new enough to be pretty thrilling.
Cost: Free
Platforms: iPhone, iPad.

Hey Android users, don't feel left out. Search “Bubble Level” on Google Play for your own built-in level.

iHandy Level

This one is a pretty straightforward app. Can't reach your level buried somewhere in your garage? iHandy Level will get the job done.

The level is actually very sensitive and will give you an accurate reading in degrees from a flat, vertical or horizontal position. You can even turn on a beeping sound that will help guide you hot or cold style.

Rating: 3.9/5 iHandy Level has a simple design but it requires frequent calibration. You can also add on tools like a protractor, ruler, Plumb bob and surface level as in-app purchases.
Cost: Free for the level tool + in-app purchases for additional tools
Platforms: iPhone and Android

Download for iOS

Download for Android

Compass

The iPhone's compass app can help you figure out what kind of light each room will get throughout the day—like soft morning sun from the east or hot, direct afternoon light from the west. Knowing what light you'll get is helpful, especially if you're decorating with plants or art, or installing skylights.

Android's Compass Galaxy is a comparable app, with simple calibration and accurate readings.

Rating: 5/5. Works like a charm!
Cost: Free
Platforms: built-in on iPhone, available to download for Android

While enlisting the help from professionals is always the way to go when it comes to major home renovations or large-scale projects, the helping hand these apps offer can give you a lot of freedom to really plan and visualize your project. Plus, with so many augmented reality features, you can see the finished project before it's even started! Pretty cool.

Source: realtor.ca

Looking Ahead at 2020 Design Visions

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 01:45:00 GMT

The New Roaring Twenties, two-thousand-and-twenty, twenty-twenty, whatever you call it, we've made it nearly 20 years into the 21st century. A lot has changed since the start of the new millennium, including popular home design trends. As we look ahead to the start of a new decade with clear eyes, let's explore what trends we can expect to welcome home.

Photo by Aaina Sharma on Unsplash
Photo via GettyImages.ca

Colour(s) of the year

[Swatch created with unofficial Pantone colours]

Rich blues, greys, greens and creams were strutting down the London Fashion Week runway earlier this year, showcasing Pantone's Fall/Winter 2019/2020 colour palette (featured here in the colour authority's Colour Trend Report). Evening Blue and Guacamole are two standout shades, a deep, elegant blue and a lively, fresh green respectively, with complementary neutral hues to balance them out.

Photo via Unsplash

Neo Mint is predicted to be the colour of 2020 according to the trend forecasters at WGSN. This soft green shade harkens back to the colour of Mid-Century innovation and presents a futuristic hue in harmony with 2017's millennial pink.

While the world eagerly awaits WGSN and Pantone's official announcements of the colours of 2020, we're expecting to see a lot of these cool tones next year in everything from paint to textiles to furniture.

Modular a la mode

Photo via Pinterest

Speaking of furniture, things will be coming together a little differently in 2020. Many of the exciting furniture pieces that came out this year were multifunctional like the modular dressers, couches, tables and chairs crafted by some of the leading furniture designers around the world.

As we move into smaller smaller spaces, and condominiums in urban areas, the furniture we choose needs to work double-duty throughout the day, depending on our needs. It's a trend we used to see exclusively in trailers and mobile homes, but will play a bigger role in our houses next year and beyond.

Easier access

Designed to be easier to get in and out of with a high, curved back for more support.
Photo courtesy of IKEA, OMTÄNKSAM collection of accessible furniture and items

Accessible parks in neighbourhoods across the country are making it easier for everyone to live life to the fullest. Inside, we expect to see an increase in affordable and stylish accessible furniture, household devices and utensils available to Canadians in 2020. During their annual global press event Democratic Design, Swedish furniture giant IKEA announced a slew of new projects including a push to bring more accessible products to their catalogue including carefully made armchairs, couches, and glass vases designed for easy gripping and tested out by real people with different needs.

Environmentally-inspired

From shipping containers to recycled materials, we're moving onward with our quest to more sustainably-built homes, environmentally-friendly materials and energy-efficient fixtures.

In the new decade, we'll see a shift to more environmentally friendly building and renovation methods including passive builds and Net Zero Energy homes. In fact, there are plans in place to develop a Net Zero Energy ready building model for new homes across Canada by 2030.

Left Photo: Pinterest
Right Photo: Pinterest

Wild animal prints and wallpaper made a comeback this year and in 2020 we can expect to see it put to exciting new use with bold geometric patterns, macro floral prints and palm leaves, animal prints like big cat, snakeskin and alligator, and everything else under the sun.

New-age vintage

Maybe it's subconscious inspiration as we move into “the ‘20s”. It's hard not to think about what an influential decade the Roaring Twenties were for home and interior design, bringing about the Art Deco movement. We're always looking back for inspiration for the future and that is especially true as we head into the next decade.

Photo via Instagram @makemovesvintage

Shell motifs were huge back in the ‘20s and saw a resurgence in the ‘80s before going out to sea again. But, our seafaring friend, the scallop-shaped shell has come ashore again and decorated everything from plush headboards to catch-all dishes, throw pillows and eclectic vintage pieces.

Bamboo and rattan were a big deal back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but we're seeing their resurgence in interior design and outdoor furniture—especially vintage pieces.

Minimizing minimalism

Photo by Anna Sullivan on Unsplash

We want to see our stuff in 2020. The tastefully subdued and crisp minimalist style could take a back seat next year in favour of a more maximalist approach. Don't be afraid to bring your trinkets and odds and ends out from storage to display with pride once more.

What styles do you want to see take off in 2020? Have you pioneered a trend to take us into the next decade?

Source: Realtor.ca

Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: A Five-Scenario Showdown

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 16:36:45 GMT

All tile is created equal, right? Not quite. Porcelain and ceramic may belong to the same family, but they’re two slightly different products. One may be more advantageous than the other depending on where you’re installing it. Here we pose five scenarios and explain whether porcelain or ceramic is the better choice.

But before we walk through each scenario, let’s note the key difference between porcelain and ceramic tile. Though they’re manufactured with different types of clay, the Tile Council of North America defines porcelain in terms of water absorption. Specifically, porcelain tiles absorb less than 0.5 percent of water. Ceramic and other non-porcelain tiles absorb more than 0.5 percent water.

Turkel Design

Scenario 1: You’re installing tile in a room with high moisture content.

The best pick: Porcelain

Remember, the TCNA defines porcelain as tile that absorbs less than 0.5 percent of moisture. Why doesn’t porcelain absorb much moisture? According to the TCNA, porcelain is naturally dense, which means it’s harder to penetrate. In other words, it’s nearly waterproof. This property makes porcelain a no-brainer for bathroom installations, as well as other areas of your home that are exposed to moisture.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that ceramic is a bad choice for bathrooms. In fact, many homeowners install ceramic in their showers and on their bathroom floors. However, porcelain’s impermeability will ensure you have the best protection against moisture.

Browse porcelain wall and floor tiles in the Houzz Shop

Le Gourmet Kitchen Ltd.

Kitchens can also be considered wet zones due to liquids encountered during food prep and clean up, as well as the presence of your sink and dishwasher. You may feel more comfortable with porcelain flooring to withstand spills and leaks.

Find a kitchen designer on Houzz

WEST BAY HOMES real estate development

Mudrooms usually bear the brunt of the dirty shoes and feet that enter your home daily. Porcelain is built to withstand exposure to moisture from rain, sleet or snow. You may also prefer porcelain in your laundry room in the event your washer leaks.

AJ Culembourg

Scenario 2: You’re on a budget.

The best pick: Ceramic

Not all porcelain tile is costly, but if you shop around long enough, you’ll start to notice a trend: It’s generally more expensive than ceramic is. If you’re on a tight budget, ceramic will fit the bill. It’s difficult to find a quality porcelain tile under $3 per square foot; high-end porcelain tile will easily surpass $5 per square foot. Ceramic, on the other hand, seldom costs more than $4 per square foot, and there are plenty of affordable styles under $2 per square foot.

Browse ceramic wall and floor tiles

Lucy Crockett Design

Budget doesn’t mean passé when it comes to ceramic tile. Fortunately, you can still find ceramic tiles that showcase the latest industry trends, such as wood-look tile.

Find a bathroom remodeling pro near you

Hills & Grant

Scenario 3: You’re installing tile in a space with high foot traffic.

The best pick: Porcelain

Both ceramic and porcelain excel in high-traffic areas in comparison with other flooring types (such as hardwood, laminate and carpet). But porcelain is a denser tile, and as a result it offers better long-term resistance to scuffs and scratches. Through-body porcelain, where the color on top of the tile goes all the way throughout the tile’s body, is especially scratch resistant. Living rooms and hallways are two of the perfect places to install porcelain. Households with children and pets will appreciate porcelain’s durability.

Steven Dailey Construction

As the heart of the home, kitchens experience a fair share of foot traffic too. If your cooking space is your home’s social hub and a common gathering place for your family and guests, porcelain is the best option.

MATT architecture LLP

Scenario 4: You’re a DIY aficionado.

The best pick: Ceramic

Density isn’t always a perk. Ceramic is easier to cut and install than porcelain is. According to the TCNA, non-porcelain tiles are easier to affix to the floor than porcelain tile. If you’re planning to install tile yourself, especially in a situation where many cuts are required, you could find yourself in hot water. The job could quickly turn sloppy, and you may dish out more money to have a pro correct your mistakes.

Klopf Architecture

Scenario 5: You’re remodeling your patio floors.

The best pick: Porcelain

When it comes to patio flooring, the great outdoors can be unforgiving. This is another scenario where porcelain’s impermeability wins. When ceramic tile freezes, it absorbs moisture. This causes ceramic to expand and break. You could be looking at a flooring replacement much sooner than expected.

If you live in an area that is prone to hard freezes, ceramic tile is out of the question for an outdoor space. If you live in a climate where freezes are occasional or uncommon, ceramic is risky at best. Carefully weigh your decision when deciding between porcelain or ceramic.

source: houzz.com

Taking Restaurant and Bar Bathroom Style to Go

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 18:37:20 GMT

Gone are the days of boring, dingy, utilitarian public washrooms. Sure, they have their place, but even highway rest stop bathrooms are upping their game with softer lighting and a piece of art or two.

It's in restaurants and bars where bathrooms are getting the heaviest makeovers. Patrons are looking for flashy exteriors and interiors full of ambience, but they're also venturing to the back of the establishment—just in the far corner, on your right—to check out the restroom.

“You have to see the bathroom in this place,” your dining partner says as they sit back down. And don't deny it, you get a bit of a thrill hearing that phrase. What could this restaurant have possibly done to make a bathroom look cool?

Photo via Instagram Photo via Instagram

Frankly, restaurant and bar owners have more freedom to fly in the face of convention when it comes to creating a stunning, trendy little room for patrons to do their business. It's part of the experience. It's a necessary (and required) room to have—there are building codes to respect—but maybe most importantly, it has to look good for the ‘Gram.

If you've ever taken your dining partner's advice and checked out the bathroom in this place and found yourself blown away, pulled out your phone to snap a pic or two and thought “I wish I could have this,” here's the good news: you can!

Take a look at some of the trends happening right now in bar and restaurant bathrooms and take them to go.

Don't let flashy tiles scare you

Subway tiles have come back in a major way but, for this look, steer away from basic white. Throw caution to the wind and forge ahead with something more daring; black tiles with white grout, anyone? Honeycomb tiles or even exposed brick can elevate your bathroom from the ordinary.

Have you thought about a bold, patterned wallpaper? Take a page out of Vancouver restaurant Anh and Chi's book and cover the walls in something out of the ordinary. If you're worried busy paper is too much, think about how great it will look in your bathroom selfies.

See the light

Vanity lighting and showy fixtures help bring the pizzazz of trendy public bathrooms home. Whether your space is nice and bright or moody and dim, the right light makes all the difference. Find out how to set up your own lighting schemes with our handy guide.

Add another mirror

Maybe the racy wall to wall (to ceiling?) mirror look of London restaurant Nopi isn't a domestic look but there are simple ways to bring unique mirrors into your own bathroom. Span the width of the countertop to make the room feel bigger or track down some unconventional shapes (circular and oblong mirrors are in). Surround them with vanity lights or LED backlighting to make them pop.

Photo via Instagram

Hide the clutter

Photo by intan Indiastuti on Unsplash

There isn't much clutter in a public washroom; soap, hand dryers and a garbage pail or two are the most of it. Keep your own accessories to a minimum to match this style. Use hideaway storage, cabinet doors that sit flush with touch latches or shelves (sparingly) to achieve the look.

Rise up with creative sinks (and toilets)

Push pedestal sinks aside in favour of more dynamic vessels. Raised bowls, sinks carved out of dazzling granite or marble—even upcycled decorative ceramic pottery can crank up the wow-factor in the bathroom. Mount that sink on a live-edge wood counter to drive the entire aesthetic home.

Defy the rules when it comes to your toilet hardware, too. Wall-mounted or floating toilets remove a lot of the bulk and help to streamline the look of the room.

When it comes to upgrading your bathroom at home, lean into the dazzling designs that impressed you at dinner. If you find yourself playing it safe, you might miss the mark here. Don't be afraid to pull out all the stops to create a flashy space that will leave your dinner guests delighted.

Source: Realtor.ca

Cover photo by Mark Chan on Unsplash

We Get Rare Access to a $25M Penthouse With Parking For 11

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 13:56:13 GMT

If you're living in or shopping for a swanky condo in any major Canadian city, you know branded and themed buildings are on-trend. These highrises typically have exotic names (or may be branded after the landmarks they replaced) or are part of luxurious boutique hotels with integrated units.

Large developers and designers obsess over the tiniest details on everything from themes and art to materials and ornate exterior lighting to give them an edge in the searing condo market. But in Miami, Florida, some developers are thinking even bigger—after all, this is a city where $4-million cars adorn the walls as art (albeit just a carbon fibre replica).

The Porsche Design Building built a massive tower that not only soars 60 storeys on a tiny strip of sandy beach, it allows residents to haul their pricey exotic car(s) up to their suites more than 180 metres in the sky!

The brains behind this impressive concept is Gil Dezer of Dezer Development, based in Miami, Florida. Gil is said to have inherited his boldness to really push the boundaries of design from his father Michael.

“We call it the Dezervator,” Dezer laughs, “It's a highly-engineered, computer-controlled and patented design— it's mesmerizing to see the lifting of three cars so many storeys up. Our residents really enjoy showing off the tech, especially the one in the Penthouse suite that can fit 11 cars!”

Photo courtesy of the authorPhoto courtesy of the author

Wait, 11 cars? That's the size of a small parking garage. To get a closer look at the suite, what better way than to take the Dezervator up (and up and up)?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhcNqU4gApg

The penthouse suite recently sold for $25 million USD (down from the original $32 million asking price) and not only features 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, but also parks 11 vehicles in three separate areas. At the time of our visit, Dezer explained they left everything on the interior to the prospective buyer's imagination. The unit has cavernous open spaces and the condo's interior will be designed to the specifications of its new buyer.

Owners enter the building through a street-level tunnel to drive up to a large glass pod. A dolly rolls out and snatches the tires using thin rollers to elevate the car just a few centimetres off the ground. From there, the long stainless steel dolly retracts the car back into the Dezervator and the computer takes over. Upon arriving on your floor, the car either slides out into the suite to be on static display or, in the case of this penthouse, it can be moved around the open garage space.

The penthouse also boasts four floors of living space and features massive patios, a pool and hot tub, and balconies facing every direction allowing for stunning 360-degree views.

Photo courtesy of the authorPhoto courtesy of the authorPhoto courtesy of the author

Naturally, the penthouse was the most expensive of the 135 units in the building and this project has attracted the most billionaire owners of any condo in the world! As the saying and the hashtag go: #OnlyInMiami.

While Miami might not be in the cards, your unique dream home is waiting to be discovered. Find your drool-worthy abode by filtering your search by property type and with keywords like “penthouse”, “waterfront”, “pool” and more.

Source: Realtor.ca

Creating a Unique Backyard Retreat

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 02:58:00 GMT

For those desperately in need of some me-time, a personalized backyard oasis might be the perfect solution.

There's been an explosion in the popularity of chic, private getaways steps from home—like the “she shed. Essentially, these sanctuaries are designed to create an at-home retreat perfectly tailored to you. The beauty is in their absolute versatility.

What relaxes you? Is it getting your hands dirty while potting fresh plants and herbs? Is it a quiet space to read or work? A space to workout without interruption?

The options to transform or create your perfect space are endless and all depend on what you define as your happy place. We have some inspiration to help you dream up your perfect retreat and a breakdown of what to consider before getting started.

For the green thumb

If you enjoy cultivating your own fruits and veggies year-long, potting plants and just generally being around flora and fauna, a greenhouse-style retreat might be right for you! Make yourself a workstation for potting and build a plant wall with your favourite leafy friends.

Photo via Instagram

For the wellness guru

Photo via Unsplash

Whatever your wellness vibe is, there are some self-care design staples you can incorporate into your retreat to set the tone. Line window sills with selenite crystals and rose quartz to offer emotional healing. Try adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to a diffuser (or a few pots of the real deal) and make room for a yoga mat or meditation space. You'll be blissed out in no time.

For the creative type

Photo via Pxhere

Are you a craft lover, writer or painter? Set up a workstation and hang some of your favourite pieces of art on the walls. Your retreat could eventually turn into a private gallery or workshop space.

Dancer or singer? Consider lining a wall with mirrors or adding some soundproofing. Treat your retreat like a private studio and make space for whatever it is that lights up your inner creative.

Things to consider before starting your retreat

Photo via Instagram

Codes and regulations

Every municipality has its own codes and zoning regulations. If you're building new, make sure to contact your city or town to find out if you need a permit before getting started. Inquire about foundation requirements, as larger structures might require a permanent frost-proof foundation.

Location, location, location

Be careful not to place your retreat at the bottom of a hill. The risk of mould, wood rot and blistering paint is much higher in low-lying areas where water tends to collect. Consider placing the structure in an area with access to sunlight. This will help reduce your need for electricity or supplementary lighting and keep things dry.

Photo via Instagram

Materials to fit your needs

There are three primary materials that can help you get started when buying or building a backyard retreat. They are wood, metal and resin. These versatile materials can help you from the ground up- whether you're framing with metal, or adding a small wooden deck, each of these materials has its pros and cons.

Wood

Pros: Highly customizable, won't rust or dent.
Cons: Prone to rot, may be more costly.

Metal

Pros: Lowest cost per square foot and won't rot.
Cons: Not as customizable as wood and may be prone to rust.

Resin

Pros: The quickest and easiest to assemble—many are prefabricated and can be purchased at most big box hardware stores. Resistant to rust, rot and insects
Cons: Doesn't offer much in the way of design options.

If you're not sure how to tackle the construction, consider consulting a specialist at your local home improvement store to get an understanding of what you're looking for and how to bring it to life.

Lighting

Photo via Instagram

It might be worth determining in advance how much light you will need in your she shed. With a sunny backyard, you may be able to get away with some solar-powered lights and/or a skylight. If not, you may need to get an electrician involved.

You're never too old to have your own backyard clubhouse. One of the best parts of growing up is being able to fulfill your childhood dreams and what better way than building a private little retreat where you can escape and be by yourself to read a book, practice yoga or just enjoy some me-time.

Source: realtor.ca

10 Tips to Protect Your Home

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 21:32:20 GMT

Whether you live alone or you've just moved into a new neighbourhood, the thought of a break-in could keep you up at night. Even though Canada is one of the safest countries in the world, home invasions and burglaries do happen.

Thieves are opportunists, which means they'll look for the easiest openings to take things with minimal risk of getting caught. While we can't guarantee your home's security, these precautions can help make your home less of a target for criminal activity.

1. Adopt good habits

Many burglaries happen without any signs of forced entry. Even if you're just going out for a few minutes and especially when you go to sleep at night, always lock your doors and windows. And, never leave a spare key “cleverly” hidden on your property. Intruders may look around for these, making their break-in that much easier.

2. Get a motion sensor/detector

Motion sensors connected to lights can be a great deterrent against burglars. Even if a would-be thief knows you aren't home, your neighbours could notice the activity from the lights turning on and notify someone.

Some motion detectors can cover 240 degrees with 100-feet of range. Pair them with bright halogen bulbs to make the largest impact (of course, check with your township and neighbours to be sure there aren't any restrictions or objections, first).

3. Put your lights on timers

If and when you travel or leave your home for an extended period of time, programming your lights to go on and off at normal intervals can help create the illusion of an occupied home—which could be a deterrent for thieves to attempt a break-in. There are a variety of smart home apps and devices to get you started.

4. Don't leave any opportunities for burglars/thieves

Thieves don't want to spend time digging through your possessions and risk getting caught, they'll take the most valuable items they can see and leave quickly. Don't make it easy for them. Refrain from leaving your valuables (for example: money, wallets, jewelry, keys and electronics) in plain sight near easily-breakable windows or out in the open on the main floor.

5. Don't put your name on your mailbox

If your name is prominently displayed on your mailbox, virtually anyone can look you up online and—even if you're not connected— can potentially find out information about you, like whether you live alone or if you're on vacation.

6. Install an alarm system/security cameras

Alarm systems can be extremely effective deterrents against break-ins. Cameras even more so, because the footage can be used to identify suspects and as evidence in court.

With current technology, you can even monitor cameras and alarm systems from your smartphone or computer no matter where you are.

Most systems come with decals or stickers to be displayed prominently on doors and windows to let others know your home is protected.

7. Secure your doors and windows

Creating additional obstacles for burglars and thieves can help you feel safer in your home. A few options are:

Wooden deadbolts in window sills to prevent windows being opened from the outside;
An attractive set of bars mounted outside of ground-level windows;
Galvanized steel locking mechanisms on doors; and
Keys that require specific authorization for duplication.

8. Get a dog

Not only are dogs great company, they can also be a fantastic stand-in for an alarm system. Fiercely loyal and protective of their owners and territory—dogs are likely to come to the door to investigate visitors. So if someone shows up while you're asleep, a dog will usually let you know and maybe even protect you from a potential threat.

9. Have good relationships with your neighbours

Having a good relationship with your neighbours means you can rely on each other to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity. Get to know your neighbours, start with offering to help them with things like mail pickup and snow removal while they're away and they'll likely return the favour—keeping both homes safer.

10. Be prepared for emergencies

Nobody likes to think about home invasions. It's crucial in the worst-case scenario, you have a plan and a way to call for help.

Keep your phone charged and within arm's reach near your bed so if you wake up to an emergency, you can call 911 immediately.

Source: realtor.ca

Improve Your Health and Wellbeing With Biophilic Design

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 21:48:52 GMT

There's no doubt 2019 is the year we re-acquaint ourselves with nature—by eating cleaner, living more sustainably, buying more plants, doing more yoga (and charging our crystals). Why? Because being closer to mother nature brings us immeasurable comfort, peace and much-needed clarity in an increasingly chaotic world.

According to the World Health Organization, stress-related illnesses, like mental health disorders and cardiovascular disease, are predicted to become the two largest contributors to disease by 2020. Considering our diminished connection to nature and the ever-increasing omnipresence of technology, there's less opportunity to recuperate our mental and physical energies now than ever before.

Welcome to the age of biophilic design

Photo by Valeria Boltneva from Pexels

Biophilia or “the love of nature” focuses on our attraction to nature and natural processes. The term popularized by American psychologist Edward O. Wilson in the 1980s suggests we all have a genetic connection to the natural world. Biophilic design is an architectural framework that weaves the beautiful, organic elements of nature into the indoor environment to stimulate and strengthen that connection.

What does this mean for our interiors? Biophilic design can translate to light-filled spaces, living, breathing plant life and soothing patterns that mimic nature's awe-inspiring processes—think flowing rivers, lush forests, honeycomb patterns and stunning bedrock motifs.

Fast facts

Photo by Marta Dzedyshko from Pexels

Terrapin claims that hospitals incorporating biophilic design principles have demonstrated improved postoperative recovery rates (with less pain), 8.5% shorter stays and 22% less medication for their patients.
A series of studies from Exeter University concluded employees were 15% more productive when workplaces were filled with just a few houseplants, as employees who actively engage with their surroundings are more efficient and more creative workers.
Hotel guests are willing to pay 23% more for rooms with views of biophilic elements.
Natural elements in the classroom are thought to increase rates of learning, improve concentration levels and attendance, and reduce impacts of ADHD.

How to incorporate biophilic design at home

You don't need to set out to build an entire plant wall (but definitely show us if you do!). The benefits of biophilic design can be achieved through small changes in your home and workspace.

Breathe life into your living areas

One of the simplest ways to introduce natural elements in your home is with plants. Yes, real ones that need water and sunshine. The living area is the best space to add aloe vera, fiddle-leaf fig trees and English ivy. Not only do these gorgeous plants add oxygen and vibrancy to your space, they're also low maintenance and can handle some neglect.

Light the way, naturally

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

Obviously, natural lighting is best when it comes to biophilic design. Access to large windows and unobscured views of the outdoors can work wonders for your mental health and energy levels. Artificial lighting disrupts the circadian rhythm, leading to decreased concentration during the day and restlessness at night. If you're in a space with small windows and minimal lighting, opt for natural daylight lamps that simulate natural light.

Bring biophilic elements to the office

Photo by Chris Gonzalez from Pexels

Whether you have the ability to tweak your office space at work or simply design your home office, it's important to remember this space is crucial to your well-being. If you're on a budget, spend your time and money improving your workspace. Spaces that are temperature controlled, with good air circulation and generous lighting are the key to improving focus. Plants, plush green tones and soft textures are going to help stimulate creativity. Opt for a beautiful natural wood desk for your space and an ergonomic chair.

Walls and flooring

Image by Ferenc Keresi from Pixabay

Nature is wild and beautiful, so a combination of textures and tones is a perfect reflection of the natural environment just beyond our four walls. Get to know what you like and which materials, textures or patterns make you feel zen. Carpeting or wallpaper with soft ripples or your favourite florals are a safe place to start exploring.

A natural palette

The possibilities are endless when you're playing with yellows, blues, greens and warm earthy tones. Colours directly affect our mood so avoid grays, reds and dark, daunting colours. Green is the universal colour of calm—hence why actors and television show guests sit in a “green room” while waiting for their spot on camera.

Design trends may come and go but the biophilic design movement is here to stay.

Source: Realtor.ca

What to Know About Installing a Walkway of Pavers and Pebbles

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 21:33:43 GMT

Find out how to get started, whom to hire, materials to use and costs to expect when adding a path of pavers and gravel

Garden paths made of pavers set into gravel are one of the most popular walkway styles due to their natural look, permeability for rainwater and versatility in design. Given the wide range of materials available and opportunities for different combinations, walkways made of pavers and pebbles work with all garden styles. For example, you can pair poured concrete slabs with dark gravel for a contemporary look or set irregular flagstones in warm-toned decomposed granite for a more Mediterranean feel.

If you’re considering adding a pathway of this style, there are a number of things you will need to consider, including the range of costs for materials and installation, whether to hire a professional and how to reduce the gravel traveling onto the pavers.

The Todd Group

Project: Installing a walkway of pavers and pebbles

Why: To create a welcoming front walkway, connect garden areas or provide an invitation to explore

It’s a good project for you if: Pathways of pavers and gravel can be problem solvers in gardens that receive a lot of rain. Rather than running off a hardscape area, rainwater trickles between the gaps in the gravel and stays on site. “It you have drainage problems and need to maintain porosity and pervious surfaces,” says landscape designer Zach Hammaker of ZH Design, “nothing beats [gravel].”

A walkway with pavers and pebbles may not be for everyone. Compared with a smooth surface, stone and gravel pathways can be more difficult to navigate for wheelchairs, walkers and strollers. Proper installation with a nice, firm base can make it much easier for wheels to move across the surface without sinking or jolting. “I can easily roll my full yard waste can over it,” says landscape designer Cathy Edger of Edger Landscape Design, in reference to a pathway made of gravel installed on base rock.

The Office of Charles de Lisle

Whom to hire: Hiring a contractor, a landscape designer or both is your best choice. For paths that require grading or stairs, it’s recommended you hire a professional.

Cost range: Cost varies widely depending on the materials selected and size of the pathway. Hammaker advises clients to budget between $25 and $50 per square foot for a professionally installed path. This range of cost includes materials and the installation.

Things to consider: How to choose pavers and pebbles or gravel that are in keeping with the style of your garden. Getting the installation right is key in the safety, durability and the overall finished look of the path.

Find a landscape architect or landscape contractor in your area

Natural Dimensions Ltd. - Landscape Architecture

Typical project length: Installation time depends on the size of the path and complexity of the materials. Walkways made of custom poured concrete or those that require fitting together irregular flagstones will take longer than those using precast pavers. Project length can vary from multiple days for a simple installation to several weeks for more in-depth designs or difficult sites.

Best time to start: Dry season. Ideally, paths should be installed start to finish on dry soil and, if using poured concrete, in relatively warm weather.

SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture

Permitting: Permitting requirements vary by state and county. Whether or not you need one for installing a new pathway or replacing an existing one generally depends on the size of the proposed design. Count on needing to submit plans to your local building commission if you’re doing anything more than laying down a few pavers in some gravel as a quick backyard project.

Building departments are primarily concerned with the safety of new walkways (particularly in front yards) as well as the total amount of “permeable” vs. “impermeable” surfaces on the property as a whole. Gravel and pebbles count as permeable surfaces since rainwater can be absorbed between the stones. Counties vary on whether they consider compacted gravel surfaces (such as those of a driveway) to be impermeable or permeable surfaces.

Landscaping Solutions

Material Options
Pavers. When choosing pavers, there are a number of qualities to consider, such as shape, size, color and cost.

Precast pavers: Precast concrete pavers are available in square, rectangular and circular shapes and can be one of the most inexpensive options. The downside: The pavers themselves are usually fairly small (1 foot by 1 foot is most commonly available) and often come standard in only a few colors (light gray, dark gray and terra cotta).
Concrete: Cast-in-place concrete runs more expensive than precast but opens more possibilities in the design. You can pour larger landing pads or nonstandard forms, such as long, narrow rectangles. Concrete of any form looks chic in contemporary gardens, particularly paired with dark gravel.

Gardens by Gabriel, Inc.

Cut stone: Cut stone works well with any garden type, from traditional to cottage-style. A wide variety of cut stones are available in hues and materials from desert gold granite to cool-toned bluestone, and prices can vary.
Flagstone: Pathways made of irregular flagstones fitted together add texture to the landscape. Due to the time it takes to fit the slabs together, installation can be more expensive than for cut stone. Flagstones complement Mediterranean-, ranch- and desert-style gardens.

June Scott Design

Gravel and pebbles. In general, select gravel or pebbles that complement your pavers. For a subtle look, choose gravel that picks up the colors of the paving stones. Pale pavers paired with dark gravel (or vice versa) creates a more dramatic garden path.

Gravel: The cost of gravel varies by type of rock and size of stone as well as what is more widely available per region. Decomposed granite (also called “granite fines”) have the smallest particle sizes, while coarse gravels can have rocks over an inch wide.
Pea gravel: This attractive gravel is widely available and has a satisfying crunch underfoot. One drawback: The rounded pebbles tend to travel up onto pavers.
Mexican beach pebble and polished river rocks: Larger rocks have a chunky, tactile quality between pavers and the added benefit that their weight keeps them from traveling.

How to Choose the Right Gravel for Your Garden

Luciole Design Inc.

Edging materials. Pathways made of gravel won’t stay put without an edging material such as synthetic bender board or terrace board, precast concrete, bricks, stone or metal edging.

Synthetic edging: Edging made of recycled plastic is inexpensive, durable and widely available. Synthetic edging is very pliable and can create tight, smooth curves to pathways, as shown in the California native garden here.
Concrete bricks: Less expensive than brick or stone, precast concrete bricks can also act as attractive edging for paths.
Brick: Brick edging works well for traditional and cottage-style gardens and is widely available.
Stone edging: Stone is typically sold by the pallet, so it can be difficult to estimate the price per linear foot. Granite cobblestones are commonly used as edging in Northeastern gardens.
Metal edging: The sleekest, most contemporary option on the market, metal edging is highly durable and nearly disappears from view. Coated aluminum tends toward the lower end of the price range, while unfinished and powder-coated steel can be more expensive.

Shop for garden edging on Houzz

Land Aesthetic

How to Get Started

First, make a plan. Map out the length, width and trajectory of your pathway either on your own or with the help of a professional. Next, choose your pathway materials. Apply for and receive a permit, if it’s required by your county, and you’re ready to begin installation.
Prep your site. Start the path installation by leveling the area and digging down to remove soil between 4 and 10 inches deep, removing any weeds. You can lay down a weed barrier at this point, although the black landscape fabric commonly used for this can deteriorate or become visible over time. Anchor your edging material to border the path.
Lay a foundation of base rock. Once the area of the path is dug, raked smooth and edged, spread a layer of base rock between 2 and 9 inches deep. The base rock acts as the stabilizing foundation of your pathway — keeping gravel from rolling too much underfoot and providing a firm base for pavers.
Arrange pavers. Compact the base rock with a handheld tamper. If you’re laying flagstones or large pavers, top the base rock with about an inch of sand to settle the stones in place. Check to make sure the pavers are level and adjust as necessary. Leave gaps between the pavers or flagstone to accommodate the gravel.
Spread gravel. Once pavers are in place, spread between 1 and 4 inches of your selected gravel to cover all base rock and surround the pavers. Rake smooth.

Edger Landscape Design

In this California habitat garden, the pathway was made of gravel and bluestone flagstones set into sand over compacted base rock. The cool tones of the stone pick up the blue-violet hues of native Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii, zones 8 to 11) and foothill penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus, zones 6 to 10).

The depth of the path area and base rock needed varies by region and specific site. “I find that there is not a lot of knowledge about how deeply [gravel] should be laid,” Edger says. “Here in California, I like a 3- to 4-inch layer of base rock and a thin layer of the gravel. It only needs to be slightly deeper than its own diameter for it to provide cover and be a firm surface.”

ZH Design

A flagstone and pea gravel path edged with granite cobblestones winds through the front yard of a Colonial farmhouse property in the Delaware Valley, Philadelphia.

Generally, gardens in areas with heavy rainfall and snow will need to have a thicker layer of gravel (and a deeper trench for the installation) than drier regions. “Paths like this are typically laid on top of a three-quarters-inch modified stone base that is compacted. For this type of path, a base of 6 to 9 inches thick would be acceptable in our Northeast zone,” Hammaker says. To reduce pea gravel getting on the flagstones in the garden pathway here, Hammaker set the flagstones just slightly higher than the gravel. Another trick: “The pea gravel is only lightly sprinkled on top of a layer of sand,” which sits below both the flagstones and the gravel to hold them in place.

Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture

A contemporary pathway of precast concrete Stepstone pavers paired with smooth gray Mexican beach pebbles adds geometric interest to a backyard in the San Francisco Bay Area.

When laying out pavers or steppingstones during installation, keep in mind where your foot would fall in a natural stride. Place a paver there. Landscape architect Ive Haugeland of Shades of Green Landscape Architecture used precast concrete Stepstone pavers set about a hand-span apart to make a walkway that is both visually stunning and easy to traverse. Haugeland estimated the price of the pathway was at least $25 per square foot.

Westover Landscape Design

In a Northeast front yard, Pennsylvania fieldstone flagstones create a meandering path across three-eighths-inch native washed gravel made from crushed bluestone. Mounds of gray-green catmint (Nepeta sp., zones 4 to 9) soften the edges.

For pathways of flagstone or pavers that transect gravel areas, there is no need to border the pathway with edging material as long as the gravel patio is contained. “The steppingstones are nestled in place on stone dust. No mortar or cement was used,” says landscape designer Robert Welsch of Westover Landscape Design. The curved path adds a charming design detail to the gravel seating area and connects the driveway to the front walk. Welsch says that the gravel courtyard and flagstone pathway cost between $1,200 and $1,500 including materials and installation.

Outdoor Republic

Maintenance. To keep the pathway looking good, use a combination of a rake and a broom to keep gravel smooth and stray rocks off the pavers. Leaf blowers set on low are also effective at removing lightweight fallen leaves and debris without shifting the gravel. To counteract sinking gravel, every few years spread a layer of fresh gravel, rake smooth and lightly compact it around pavers.

Decorative Landscaping

5 Features to Reduce Gravel Traveling

Proper installation. “The key is a good strong base and not to put the gravel down too thick. You want to create surface friction against the base to help keep [gravel] in place,” Hammaker says. Reduce traveling further by keeping the gravel level just below the pavers, setting gravel in sand on top of the compacted base rock and using path edging.
Locking gravel. Rocks with jagged edges lock together to form a firmer base underfoot than rounded stones such as pea gravel.
Bigger rocks. Larger stones (silver dollar-sized to palm-sized) are usually heavy enough to stay put.
Larger pavers. Creating generous landing pads in a pathway, such as those out of poured concrete, reduces the likelihood that you’ll kick pebbles up onto pavers while walking across the path.
Binding products. There are a number of products on the market that can be poured on top of gravel and, once set, hold the stones in place. They are usually made up of either polyurethane or epoxy solutions and can be purchased from home improvement stores.

Source: Houzz.com

Canadian-Owned Vacation Homes On the Water (That You Can Rent)

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 15:31:45 GMT

For Canadians, buying a home beyond our borders means we can be proud custodians of charming dwellings abroad. And with the rise of the gig economy, working remotely and a growing community of snowbirds eager to escape winter, more and more of us are keen to own a slice of international real estate. If you pick the right property in the right area, they can even help pay for themselves through short-term rentals.

This is the story of three Canadian friends who packed up life and hauled off to milder destinations. Two chose Europe, while I had a great opportunity in southern Florida. Coincidentally, we all chose properties by the water and opted to list them as vacation rentals when we weren't there ourselves—and quite often, they're rented by other Canadians.

Here, we look at these three unique, Canadian-owned vacation homes around the world that you can rent from a fellow citizen.

Humble ocean canal abode

It may be in Florida, but make no mistake; I've put my Canadian stamp on the place wherever I can. In addition to the flag waving proudly, the house is full of Canadiana-inspired artwork and the comforts of home, including a Tim Horton’s fine grind for the coffee maker. Beyond that, it's an all-Florida experience close to the beach, near shopping, boating and wonderful nature reserves.

Canadian ‘embassy' in Amsterdam

In the Netherlands, you'll also find Canadians renting their homes. Many European nations have generous vacation policies and the Netherlands offers six weeks to start. During those weeks, Dejan Kamenski offers up his waterfront home in downtown Amsterdam. Dejan and his wife own a four-story walk-up built in the 1600s on the canals near the Anne Frank house. He opens up his doors to travelers while he comes home to stay at his Muskoka, Ontario cottage. Dejan is a family man with two kids and offers his property on Kid & Coe.

The Can-Dutch floating mansion

Paige and his spouse have built an Airbnb empire renting out their famous luxury waterfront floating home. Featured on travel documentaries hosted by National Geographic, YouTube and BBC, they've put their proud stamp on the place with Canadian art on the walls and interior elements sourced from Canadian designers. This floating home is partially submerged in an area of Amsterdam called IJberg, which is connected to the Amsterdam's canal system. Residents can rent boats to tour the maze of waterways and even dock near a local pub.

Aside from their waterfront locations, one thing we all have in common with our international homes is we love catering to Canadians seeking sun and fun.

Looking for a vacation home abroad? Work with a Canadian REALTOR® for a referral to an international real estate professional.