Rachael Palmer - Blog

Seven inexpensive ways to update a home now

rachael.palmer@century21.ca — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Seven inexpensive ways to update a home now

Posted Oct 25, 2012 By EMC News

(See hard copy for photo.)

Oftentimes, buying a home opens up a bottomless pit of opportunities for projects and improvements. While some homeowners engage in different repairs and fix-ups out of necessity, many others like to freshen-up their spaces out of personal preference instead of need. But even the most well-intentioned projects can be waylaid if budgets are tight.

What many homeowners may not realize is that there are many ways to make updates and changes to a home that do not require a major overhaul or a large price tag. The following are seven projects that won't break the bank.

1. Move around furniture. You may be able to change the look of a room without spending any money. Interior designers know how to arrange furniture for maximum appeal, but the average homeowner can do it, too. Find a focal point in the room and angle the furniture toward it. Don't make the focal point the television, however. Try changing the placement of chairs and sofas. Simply moving a curio cabinet from one corner to another may also make a difference.

2. Add lighting. Lighting at different levels in the room can create a vibrant impact. Many homeowners mistakenly put in a couple of table lamps and think that will be adequate. However, properly illuminating a room means varying the lighting to create different moods at different times. Plus, more light can make a room feel more welcoming.

3. Add new pillows or drapes. Changing a few aspects of a room can give it an entirely new look. If you want to add a splash of color but don't know what to do, think about incorporating some new throw pillows or change the curtains. An accessory here and there in a bright color also can incorporate a new hue without it being overwhelming.

4. Change knobs or small accents. Give a room a new look by focusing on the small details. Switch out cabinet knobs for something updated and modern. Take inventory of wall outlets and light switches and think about selecting new ones that coordinate with your home decor.

5. Use plants. Empty corners or spots you're not certain how to fill may benefit from a plant. Plants are inexpensive ways to add instant color and visual appeal to a room. Plus, having live plants can help improve indoor air by filtering out contaminants. A home with plants also feels more cozy.

6. Hang new wall art. It may be time to look at your photos and artwork and make a few adjustments. Finding new prints to hang could instantly change a room's ambience. And you needn't spend a lot of money on professional photography, either. Grab your camera and take a few close-up shots of flowers or take in a landscape scenery. Many of today's home printers can produce professional-quality prints in minutes.

7. Try a new coat of paint. After you've exhausted other avenues, choosing a new paint color may be the new look you desire. Painting is one of the least expensive yet most dramatic methods of changing a home's interior. With dozens of hues to choose from, and new apps that enable you to take snapshots of things in nature or in your life and match them up to a paint color, you will have scores of opportunities to explore fresh new colors for your home.

When you get inspired to make improvements to the home but fear how much it may take out of your wallet, consider inexpensive tricks that can induce a big "wow" factor.

Feed Nova Scotia

rachael.palmer@century21.ca — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

• The Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® (NSAR) raised $16,169 for Feed Nova Scotia through the Realtors Miles for Meals campaign. This province-wide effort united realtors in an effort to raise funds and awareness for its 2012 Charity of Choice as part of the national campaign. "As Realtors we are constantly giving back to the communities we live and work in," says Wayne MacIntosh, NSAR's president. "The Miles for Meals campaign is our way of concentrating those efforts to have a bigger, broader impact." Since every dollar donated allows Feed N.S. to distribute $14 worth of food, the Miles for Meals campaign makes a big difference. The highlight of the Miles for Meals campaign was a two-week journey spearheaded by NSAR's Executive Officer Roger Boutilier, who cycled from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Yarmouth. He was joined by member realtors, some who cycled with him and others organized fundraising events along the route or made donations.

Downsize, not downgrade

rachael.palmer@century21.ca — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

nsize, not downgrade

by Contributed - Story: 74146
Apr 20, 2012 / 12:00 pm

Photo: Contributed - Shannon Stone

Are you a baby boomer thinking of making a move? Or are you like us, and trying to gently encourage your parents that now may be the time to downgrade?

We help many baby boomers make that transition from a big home with spacious rooms for all their furniture, bedrooms galore, bathrooms a plenty and large meticulous landscaped yards... to smaller homes with maybe 2 bedrooms, one floor living and much smaller yards.

This transition can be very difficult; especially for baby boomers who are typically 47 to 66 years of age but feel and act much younger.

Downsizing in size does not often mean downsizing in price – it’s not easy to find a sprawling rancher in excellent condition that offers the features a discerning buyer wants and needs. They are out there, but there are fewer of those than the standard 2-storey homes we find throughout Kelowna.

There is a need for more luxurious adult oriented communities in the flat areas of Kelowna. However, the good news is if renovation is in the budget then there are a few options.

Typically the average price for a rancher townhome is between $400,000 to $500,000 - and don’t be discouraged - there are larger townhomes or rancher style homes available so most of your furniture will fit, especially the dinning room table.

Our past clients who have made the move to go smaller haven’t looked back. They travel more often, golf more frequently and have also met more friends in the community they are in.

One of our clients, John, said 'why didn’t I do this sooner we travel 6 months of the year now and I don’t have to worry that my grass wont be watered or my home will not be secure’.

If you are looking for a similar move the right property is out there, and a good Realtor can find it for you

Home buying wish list

rachael.palmer@century21.ca — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Homes

The home buying wish list

Sheila Brady, Postmedia News | Aug 9, 2012 12:41 PM ET
More from Postmedia News

Chris Mikula/Postmedia News Open-concept living areas with lots of natural light, like Richcraft's Baldwin model in Kanata Lakes, are in high demand.

Buying a house used to be easy because builders didn’t offer options. You talked to your banker and signed on the dotted line.

Now, house shopping is like finding a magical bathing suit — the one that makes your waist look smaller, legs longer and chest parts voluptuous.

We consulted an expert panel of architects, builders and designers to sort through the racks of housing options and come up with a short list of what will please your banker, save the environment, impress the guests, coddle the chef and make room for the kids and their computers.

SINGLE, TOWN OR CONDO
The single family home used to be king (or queen) in Ottawa’s housing market, for example, but that was before rising land prices pushed the average price out of reach for many buyers. The average new single in Ottawa costs $485,000 and that’s before factoring in upgrades.

The single now represents 35 per cent of sales, condos range between 20 and 25%, and the ever evolving townhome captures the rest, says Shawn Bellman, director of marketing for Richcraft homes. Townhomes are getting bigger and more sophisticated, appealing to first-time buyers, grandparents and folks who don’t want to cut a lot of grass.

THE BIG ON SMALL
Buyers are putting big homes on tiny lots to curb rising prices, says Mr. Bellman. A 44-foot lot is the new 50-foot lot, with 35-foot lots representing more than 50% of Richcraft’s single family home sales. Richcraft will soon join builders such as Holitzner, Minto and Mattamy, who are already building single homes on 30- and 31-foot lots.

You can fit a 2,680-square-foot house on a 35-foot lot and a 2,100-square-foot house on a 31-foot lot, says Mr. Bellman. And every builder in town has a home over 3,000 square feet on a 38- or 40-foot lot in their portfolio, adds veteran housing specialist Ron Desjardins.

CONDOS AND SPACE
Condos have shrunk in the past six years as builders try to keep prices within reason, says David Chick, executive vice-president of Domicile Developments, which recently released the Kavanaugh, a 132-unit building on Beechwood Avenue. In the past year, Ottawa’s average condo has shrunk by about 100 feet to 830 square feet. There are also condos well under 600 square feet designed for first-time, younger buyers. However, older buyers want more space, says Mr. Chick, adding several buyers combined two units at the Kavanaugh to end up with more than 2,400 square feet of space.

Condo buyers want generous master bedrooms, big enough to handle a king-size bed, says Chick. Ten-foot by 10-foot bedrooms just don’t do it for these buyers, who also want a generous walk-in closet that can be customized to hold their stuff.

OPEN AND LIGHT
Walls are disappearing in new homes and in renovated spaces, says architect Linda Chapman. Windows are getting bigger to improve natural lighting and to connect with outdoor gardens. “People really want openness, where the dining room, living room and kitchen are all open to each other and flowing. Rooms are definitely not hived off any more.”

KITCHEN POWER
Kitchen islands are getting bigger so friends can sit around and be entertained and families can share a casual meal, says Mr. Bellman. Larger islands are also practical because many include recycling centres, adds Dan Gauthier, senior designer for Potvin Kitchens, which works with several builders, including Richcraft and Minto. “They aren’t pretty or sexy, but you have to put them somewhere.”

Larger islands are also replacing the breakfast table, says Mr. Bellman.

Granite is also slipping in popularity, being replaced by quartz and Corian on countertops, says Mr. Gauthier. Look for a new product called Geostone, a manufactured product that contains recycled glass, adds Ms. Chapman. Stainless steel also holds a slim slice of the kitchen market.

Traditional cabinets are gone, says Mr. Bellman, replaced with a Shaker style that is contemporary and urban. Ecru and grey tones are the hot colour for cabinets.

Eclectic styling is also warming up contemporary kitchens, says Lauren Connolly, a designer at Astro Design. Rustic stools, matte-finished brass light fixtures and multiple work spaces and big pantries are de rigueur.

And back to those oversized islands — the bigger the better, says Ms. Connelly. “I have seen islands that can seat 12, but you need a big house.”

NATURAL, PLEASE
Natural stone is popping up in spa-inspired bathrooms, softening the contemporary edge of kitchens and making a statement on a two-storey wall, says interior designer Linda Nolan.

Ms. Nolan used natural stone in the spa bathroom of a home at Mont Tremblant, and then hung mirrors on top. “It is very Zen, very cool and very peaceful.”

She has also added the stone (it’s actually a product called Thinset and available at Merkley Supply) to kitchen backsplashes, and it’s on a fireplace in Richcraft’s 2,680-square-foot Baldwin model home. “There is no mantel, so the fireplace is contemporary and again very simple and Zen,” Ms. Nolan says.

CONNECTING TO THE OUTDOORS
Stone used inside a house is being repeated outside, connecting the two areas, says Ms. Chapman. Large windows are also connecting the spaces, while adding lots of natural light.

Work is almost finished on a very traditional 1937 home on Huron Avenue in West Wellington, where Ms. Chapman added an ultra modern two-storey addition at the rear of the property. Light floods through large windows that come down and touch the kitchen countertops, including a wide shelf where the owners plan to grow herbs. The dedicated cooks and gardeners step out onto a back deck and down into their garden.

In Kanata South, Monarch has borrowed California and Florida’s pre-occupation with outdoor living and created a private courtyard. Large patio doors and windows look out into the courtyard in the Blackstone neighbourhood.

ENVIROSMARTS
The homes industry has gone green, with front-loading washing machines that use a cup or two of water, low-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads. Earlier this year, the Ontario Building Code was tightened, making it mandatory for all builders to meet Energy Star levels of insulation.

But while green is good and people expect it, but they don’t want to pay more for it, says Dany Bonneville, vice-president of Bonneville, the Montreal-based company that has built 35,000 energy-efficient modular homes in the past five decades. Buyers want high-tech windows and the super-efficient furnace in the base price of the house, he says.

NOTHING BUT HARDWOOD, MAYBE CERAMIC
When it comes to flooring, there is no compromise, says Mr. Desjardins. Buyers expect and get hardwood flooring throughout the main floor of single family homes and many townhomes as a standard feature. If it isn’t standard, then builders usually offer it as a signing bonus. Ceramic in bathrooms and entrance areas is also essential.

A novel twist on hardwood is a grey milk wash, says Ms. Nolan. “It looks very cool and very natural.”

GET CONTEMPORARY, DARLING
Natural light, open floor plans, urban touches and Zen finishings all add up to a recipe for Ottawa’s growing affection for contemporary living, says Ms. Chapman. Mr. Bellman calls it urban transitional. It is all about a casual lifestyle, where people like to entertain around an oversized kitchen island and look through an energy-efficient, wide, plate-glass window to a garden beyond.

Rachael Palmer - Blog

Seven inexpensive ways to update a home now

Seven inexpensive ways to update a home now

Feed Nova Scotia

Downsize, not downgrade

Home buying wish list

Homes

The home buying wish list

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