Play With Creating A Fun, Kid-Friendly Backyard Backyard season is coming up and what better to keep your kids enjoying the splendid outdoors than a backyard made for kid fun. You don’t need a lot of space, and in many cases, you don’t need a lot of money to make a super fun backyard. Playsets The classic backyard playset still works great to keep little ones outside and having fun in the backyard. If you do have some extra cash to create an extra-special playset, your... [read more]

Interior Doors Interior doors serve numerous functions and can also be a strong design statement in your home. The type of door you choose will often be dictated by the space and budget you have. Even the smallest budget can still inject style into a space, so let’s explore the options. Flush Doors   Flush doors come in two versions –  hollow or solid construction. When closed, a flush door of solid construction keeps more noise out of a room than one with a... [read more]

Reducing carbon footprint and living a more ecologically friendly life has become a passion for many homeowners, particularly in dense urban environments. This often means living in small spaces such as condominiums or homes with a small footprint. With space at a premium in many cities, even a small condominium or home can cost a fortune, so leveraging every inch of your space is critical. Here are some tips to make living in a small space fun and enjoyable. 1. Lessen your... [read more]

Shining a Light on Home Electrical Wiring To most homeowners, electrical wiring is a mystery. Wiring is ‘out of sight, out of mind’ – hidden behind walls, light switches and receptacles throughout your home. When something goes wrong, most are a bit intimidated, which is a good thing, since amateur wiring can be a safety hazard and even cause a fire. Get the lowdown on the basics a homeowner needs to know and why they should not DIY their own electrical... [read more]

Pick a Side — Siding Options for Your Home Is it time to give your home exterior a refresh? If so, new siding is an easy way to totally transform the look of your home without moving. Deciding on new siding for your home involves more than picking a colour and finding what looks good. While personal style will always sway your choice, key factors such as durability, environmental impact, and upkeep should be considered before you give the go ahead. I’ve looked at the 5 most... [read more]

Opening Your Garage Up to Home Automation Automatic garage door openers have been around for some 40 years or so, but with advances in technology as well as home automation, garage door openers deserve a second look. Wireless Technology The whole meaning of the word wireless has changed immeasurably in the past 10 years, and much of it has centred around the mobile phone of course. With these advancements come advances in wireless garage door openers. Remember the old door openers... [read more]

Reorganizing And Reimagining Your Garage It’s the time of year when we start to think of shining the light on all corners of our home. Spring brings the opportunity to renew and refresh, to organize and cultivate. Often ignored, garages tend to be that place where we put stuff that we don’t want in the house. And sometimes we put our cars in the garage as well. If well organized, the garage can become a practical, tidy and clean environment in which to store and organize... [read more]

Eco-Friendly Apartment & Condo Living   If you’re looking to go green in your apartment or condo, you might find it more difficult than your friends living in houses. While they can add solar panels to their roofs and grow their own vegetables in backyard gardens, you might feel like there are fewer options for your smaller space. Fear not, size doesn’t matter when it comes to going green and there are many things apartment and condo dwellers can do to reduce their... [read more]

How to Photograph Your Home Renovation   Whether you are renovating the whole main floor of your home or the tiny powder room off your kitchen, taking photos at every stage of the project is one of the best things you can do as a homeowner. They are not only useful to use when showing off to your family and friends, but also for legal and insurance reasons. These photos add value and authenticity to your Homestars review, so we want to see them too! With that being said, I... [read more]

Passive House Design 101 While passively heating one’s house with solar energy has been a concept that has existed since the beginning of time, certified modern Passive Houses are a concept that came to life in Germany and Sweden in the late 80’s. The original goal of this method of home design is to create buildings that no longer need central heating systems, specifically for northern, cold climates. While this may seem to be a totally unrealistic goal for the average... [read more]

Best Driveway Surfaces for Canada When it comes to deciding which surface is best for your driveway, most Canadians choose between three good options: Asphalt, Concrete and Interlocking Stones (also known as paving stones or pavers). We spoke to the experts to find out the details every Canadian needs to know before deciding on a new driveway. Here’s a comparison of the most popular options: A Solid Foundation The key for any new driveway is the careful preparation of the... [read more]

WHAT IS IN A NEIGHBOURHOOD? When some people think of the suburbs they think of lots of traffic, congestion and very little open space.  And, for some areas that might be true.  Port Credit is one many places buyers are flocking to because families can enjoy the best of both worlds. Situated along the shores of Lake Ontario with exceptional views of the Toronto skyline, plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy and is just a short drive to downtown... [read more]

EXPLORING LONG BRANCH   Long Branch is a well-established neighbourhood located along the Toronto waterfront at the extreme south-west part of the city. This neighbourhood is in transition with many new home developments being built along Lakeshore Boulevard. This lakeside village is blessed with many fine attributes including picturesque waterfront parks, a local arena, a public library, a waterfront trail, a Go Transit station and a vibrant shopping district. Long Branch is... [read more]

The Dangers of Over Improving Your Your home can be one of your most important investments.  Proper maintenance and updates will preserve and improve the home's value.  Carefully consider improvements before making them. Some improvements can even harm your home's value.  Others may not have a good Return on the Investment. Pride of Ownership in Your Home Listing agents like to boast that a home shows "true pride of ownership".  This usually means... [read more]

Pool Safety Tips   Summer is finally here. The pool is open and ready for those lazy days of splashing and family enjoyment. Having a swimming pool is a luxury but also a responsibility. As a pool owner we are responsible for anyone entering the pool area to insure their safety. We can all recall as kids reading the DO NOT LIST posted at the local public pool. Maybe we can use a review of those rules.   The number one rule, DO NOT RUN around the pool.This is number one... [read more]

Home Sales Tips: How to Market the Community Around Your Home to Prospective Buyers Selling a home is more than real estate listings and making the home appealing to potential buyers. One factor to take into account when buying a home is its location, meaning the community that surrounds the home.   For sellers as well as buyers, it's important to highlight the benefits of living in a particular community.  After all, neighborhoods will have an enormous impact on the future... [read more]

Eco-Friendly Landscaping From The Ground Up More Canadian homeowners are realizing the importance of reducing their carbon footprint and taking personal accountability for the impact their homes have on the environment. Part of this carbon reduction planning takes place in back and front yards in the form of sustainable landscaping. Perhaps surprisingly, if not optimal, your landscaping can actually contribute to pollution and harm the environment. To reduce your carbon footprint and... [read more]

Creating A Peaceful And Rejuvenating Home Through Feng Shui Feng shui is the ancient Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing structures with the surrounding “invisible forces” that bind the universe, earth, and humanity together. This is known as qi. While embracing an ancient Chinese art might seem daunting to the average Canadian, getting started with feng shui is a fairly simple process. This ancient art can help you in times of great transition or change, as well as to... [read more]

BACKYARD OASIS   A sweeping backyard oasis with ample space for family entertaining, leaves the question which space to enjoy first?  Many outdoor spaces are often overlooked.  Your outdoor living area is your first chance to inspire and make an impression on guests. Research materials and landscaping techniques that are appropriate to your location and style,  And don’t forget to add the final touches, with outdoor furniture and accessories to finish the space.... [read more]

Door Colours And Their Meaning Colour is a powerful visual tool for expressing a wide range of emotions and impressions. As such, the colour and design of your front door deserves careful consideration. If you’ve been thinking of painting your front door, here’s the meaning of different coloured doors, and what the colour might project about your personality. Red Door A red door traditionally conveys a home that is welcoming and warm for both strangers and family.... [read more]

Prepping Your House for Sale In this day and age where image is everything, getting your house ready to sell is more work than the actual move itself. No longer is a simple clean up job going to do the trick. Now people get rid of their furniture and family photos, repaint, and hire a stager to make sure their house looks magazine perfect. How much you sell your home for really depends on the amount of time and money you can realistically invest in getting it ready. In a perfect world,... [read more]

2017 Powder Room Trends The powder room is the perfect little space to express your inner designer; let loose on that crazy wallpaper or tile that you’ve been wanting to try out. Go for that mirrored vanity, hang that art deco mirror. This public room will be seen and used by guests, so ramp up the style factor with some of these tips below. Bold Wallpaper Dramatic wallpapers that may be overwhelming on a large wall work well in small spaces, so go for your wildest decor dreams... [read more]

Top 6 Windows And Door Replacement Questions Living in a cold and sometimes damp country means the energy efficiency of windows and doors take on increased importance. Nobody wants to live in a drafty, cold home not to mention drafty windows indicates your hard-earned dollars are being thrown out the window. If you suspect you need to replace your windows or doors, start your journey by checking out the most common questions from homeowners about windows and doors. 1. What are the... [read more]

Home Safety With March Break here, the security of your home is at an all-time high. Breaks ins are common around times when many families will be taking time off to enjoy sunnier destinations. Your home’s security should always be a top priority, so we’ve put together some easy tips to make sure your home is protected whether you’re away on vacation or just out for the day. Alarm systems: For those in houses, this is often the first step towards a more secure... [read more]

Spring Cleaning Checklist The countdown to spring is on! March 20th marks the first official day of spring, which means you’ve got about 3 weeks to get ready for spring cleaning. It’s always good to be prepared, so this year instead of scrambling once the first sight of spring is here, start booking your spring time jobs now. Closet & Storage Solutions: The first place to start spring cleaning: your closet. An easy first step that’s sure to make a big impact.... [read more]