With growing or shrinking family dynamics and ever changing lifestyles sometimes, we simply outgrow our house…or it stops feeling like home!  For some, the simple answer is to move or build elsewhere…but for others, moving is simply out of the question.  Perhaps it’s about logistics and proximity to work, the babysitter, particular schools, parks, arenas, malls, or the nearest city centre that makes it impossible to consider. Maybe they cannot bear to leave their neighbours, who over time have become great friends, or it is just the general tranquility or maturity of their neighbourhood that is the draw. For whatever the reason for not moving, renovating can be the answer. For some a kitchen, bathroom, basement, or open concept renovation can often resolve an indoor functionality issue and make them love their home once more. However, sometimes the solution for a specific problem involves an addition for much needed space or the need to update or recreate the exterior of the home. 

Wow! Has a whole year passed by again? … it seems like just yesterday that we were looking at what the trends would be for 2018.  Where does the time go?

Wood floors, timber beams, and barn board façades are not new to housing but lately there is an increased interest in bringing a natural look and warmth back to our homes.  Perhaps, it is the fundamental comfort that wood adds to any space, inside and out, that makes a house feel like a home! … Or quite possibly it is the desire of many to incorporate more green products into their living space.   Reclaiming old barn board and beams is genuinely a great way enhance a home but equally to recycle.

One of the joys of the Christmas holidays is the opportunity for reflection on the past year.

We have all heard the term “Smart Home” but what does that really mean?  Well, the term refers to homes where the entertainment systems, security system, window coverings, lighting and climate control are all capable of communicating with one another and are remotely controlled by the homeowners’ app on their tablet/laptop, phone, or an integrated system. 

If the stores have hung their ‘Happy Holiday’ signs, then winter is just around the corner!... And we all know that a Niagara Region winter usually entails snow, ice and frigid temperatures…that is if the year brings a true Canadian winter.  The Farmer’s Almanac seems to suggest that it just might!

Small rooms can be challenging to arrange and decorate in order to make the most out of the space. However, depending on the remaining layout of your home, a small room does not necessarily have to remain that way. Some homeowners feel limited with their spaces because they see the existing layout and walls as a permanent restriction. Not so! It is often possible to resolve small room dilemmas by removing walls, redesigning access doors and borrowing or reclaiming space from an adjacent closet or hallway, thus combining rooms to create a brand new space. It is even possible to combine smaller rooms on one floor and then recreate the incorporated space in a different location such as a basement or attached garage.

By simple definition the “outbuilding” is a building on the same property but separate from the house—for example a shed, barn, pool house, carriage/guest house, gazebo, or garage, etc. 

Cathedral, vaulted or flat ceilings – It is not just a change in angle?

Every year there are new trends in building and decorating and 2015 is no exception. Some of the trends are simply a continuation or stepping stone from prior years. Much like in the last few years, it appears that there remains a strong desire to transform the compartmentalized house into a family-friendly, entertainment-ready, open concept home. Improving flow and updating/adding new efficient windows and French doors allows for more natural light and a spacious feel… even in the most modest size dwelling. In fact, dream homes are no longer about size…the luxury is simply in the details.