Your Home

When visitors step into your home, the foyer not only reflects your style, it creates a lasting first impression. Decorators know the importance of an attractive, yet functional foyer. They also know that it is a high-traffic area which requires durable materials – no-wax flooring, pre-finished hardwood, washable paints – to keep it looking good…

There is an expression that good fences make good neighbours. One qualification. Only when the fence happens to be on the correct boundary line.  Here are 5 things to remember when it comes to boundary lines: 1. There is a difference between a fence line and a deed line If you look at a survey,…

More and more Toronto homeowners are moving outdoors for the precious weeks of summer. With the popularity of all-weather furniture, cushions and carpeting, decks and patios are becoming outdoor rooms. Add an affordable patio heater or outdoor fireplace and you can extend outdoor living on cool nights and well into the fall. Decks are a…

The long, lazy days of summer have finally arrived and offer homeowners the perfect opportunity to assess the condition of their property, plan for upcoming renovations and take care of some of those jobs in the job jar! Summer is the ideal time to upgrade to energy-efficient windows and doors. Even replacing one or two…

Preparing your home for summer involves just as much planning and organization as switching your wardrobe before the warmer months arrive. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed because you’ve waited too long to begin, no matter whether it’s finding a swimsuit or buying an air conditioner. Here’s a helpful guideline: Air Conditioning: Summer’s Delight Bring the…

Renovating your home is one of the best investments you can make, and this is the year to make those renovation dreams a reality. Whether renovating to sell or just upgrading to enjoy your home, you will reap the rewards in a return on investment. The 2015 Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value report, which gauges…

In the midst of the winter we love to think of the summer as this idyllic time when we live barefoot under the sky and everything is perfect and beautiful. Then when the summertime comes, we find ourselves complaining about too much sun, being too hot or bugs – and stay inside in the cool…

Most residential tenants are long term tenants who pay their rent on time and properly look after a landlord’s property. The trick is to do the proper research in advance so that you do not end up with the tenant from hell. Here are some tips to follow: 1. When you advertise for tenants, always state…

Supersized master showers reign, according to the 2015 Houzz Bathroom Trends Study. Showers are expanding with many of the more than 3,000 homeowners recently surveyed saying they plan to upgrade their master showers and increase its size. Thirty percent of those surveyed by Houzz who say they have plans to upgrade their master shower plan…

The addition of a skylight can beautifully transform the interior of your home. While adding an extra source of natural light, skylights can also add architectural interest to a room. When choosing a skylight, look for the same energy features as you would in any replacement window. An energy-efficient skylight will have a gas-filled insulated…