Spring Style Guide: 32 pages of fresh living
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Home Interiors & Home Staging
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volume 4 | Edition 07
home | decorating | projects | renovating | diy ideas
photo credit: www.wallpaper.com
happy happy living
Editor’s Letter These days, it seems everyone and their neighbours are talking about the hottest color: green. And by green, I don’t mean a color you will find in a paint deck, I mean our nation’s seemingly recent obsession with all things Eco. At Home Interiors & Home Staging , we are all breathing a collective sigh of relief that making choices that will make the world a better and healthier place is finally becoming second nature for Canadians. But for our loyal readers, caring about the environment is not new. Reduce, reuse and recycle (not to mention re-paint!) have always been words to live by the Home Interiors & Home Staging enthusiasts. In the last few years, as the other magazines have devoted entire issues to the “greening” of Canada, we’ve sat back, confident that our message, from the very first issue of Home Interiors & Home Staging, was clear: that we have always been caretakers of our planet - from eating organic, to building with reclaimed materials, to crafting items ourselves, to saving dowdy furniture from the landfill by remaking them into flea market chic. Our readers have always been nostalgic about the earth: we love using clotheslines on sunny days, we spent money on quality thermal windows to save energy, and we look upto history to inform us about living green. Fellow proponents of this decor lifestyle believe that having access to the simple pleasures should be universal, so we do our part to preserve it. With that in mind, you will begin to see that we are now highlighting our special ‘Eco-tips’ visually separated throughout our issues - if only to remind us all that making eco choices is ultimately better for the world we live in. If you have a fabulous tip about a greener country living ( from cleaning to decorating to cooking!), please write us at editorial @colorfullycolorless.com; we would love to hear about it.
Content HOME STAGING
10 TIPS & TRICKS :
curb - appeal
7
front & back yard
8
cleanliness organizational skills upgrades
9 10
special character wall colors
11 13 14
room sizes
15
surrounding amenities
16
public transport
17
CUSTOM INTERIORS
5 POINTERS :
green cozy
20 21
bold
22
water
23
sun
24
REALTORS - REAL HELP
INTERVIEWS :
realtor 1
27
realtor 2
27
realtor 3
27
DO IT YOURSELF
7 DIFFERENT MATERIALS :
diy wood
28
diy mirror
29
diy lamps
30
diy hanging lamps
31
diy leather
32
diy rug
33
Editorial James N. Dimonekas
President
Richard Bradley Editor In Chief
Alison C. Parks
Marketing - General Manager managing editor senior editor contributing editors
Emily DeNitto Lynsey Eidell Dan Carlin, Steven Fox, Hobbes Fury
Art creative director associate creative director art director contributing illustrators
Ken Dyment Mark Anthony Valerie Sebring, Pam Shavalier Ankita Kumar, Sakshi Jain
Sales & Marketing vice president, sales
Laura Torma
sales director
Racheal Long
marketing administrator executive assitant luxury director
Anthony J. Parks Christopher Clements Noreen Murray
Production photo retouchers prepress specialist jr. photo editor
Chirstian Ablan, Micheal Dobias Micheal Eric Espada Kelly Ozog, Micheal Warnock
HOME STAGING 10 Tips & Tricks
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photo: www.thefarthing.co.uk
feature 1 | home staging
photo: www.padrebeachhouse.net
Curb Appeal “ First impression is the last Impression.” When people decide that they are ready to search for their new house and every weekend go out looking for those house with sale boards signs, the first thing that will catch their eye is the CURB – APPEAL. Its one of the most important points when considering to sell or even buy a house. A person who is interested in how the house looks from outside will get tempted enough to book an appointment to see it from inside! The psychological reason behind this factor is that a person who maintains their house from the outside automatically reflects that they will take care of their house from inside too, So it will be a well maintained house, and gives the buyer peace of mind that it’s a ready to move in house, no new paint, fittings etc required… which means no extra money involved!
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feature 1 | home staging
photo: www.housebeauty.net
Front yard & Back yard
photo: www.docxie.com
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The vast difference between the seasonal changes in Canada, makes a very big reflection to the way people live, enjoy the idea of having well maintained front yard as well as backyard. The idea of enjoying the summers till they last, having little family get-togethers and doing lavish barbeque’s, fire pits etc. is a fairly important part of the buyers wish list. Its not always essential to have a very big yard rather than the indication of having a proper yard which can fulfill the idea of practical use as well as an asset to show off! Another important thing to consider -not only as a buyer or a seller- alone, is to appreciate the green effect one can create if they yards are well kept with different kinds of greens (vegetables or flowering plants). The calm & peaceful feeling it generates. Even better if it has a water body, through which a person can listen to the trickling water sound and feel relaxed.
photo: www.remodelingbathroomsideas.com
Cleanliness
A perfect scenario is, when a buyer looked up a house on the Internet is as clean and beautiful when they went to see it! It’s the appeal that a house creates by being clean simple and gives a feeling of being absolutely systematic for a new family to feel at home. The clean factor again gives vibes of the previous owners to have kept it in perfect care and so the new owners can be free from their heart to start enjoying in. No extra expenditure on cleaning no hidden problems of bugs, insects etc. just a happy feeling, a pride in the house, due to the way it shows.
photo: www.teenydinosaurs.com
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photo : www.builderproducts.com
feature 1 | home staging
Organizational Skills
One of the most difficult concepts to get across to home sellers, by their realtor or home stager is to organize their smallest part of the house, closets, drawers, shoes, extra groceries and specially basements. A lot of times the whole experience becomes very overwhelming scenario for sellers as they go through a lot of things in their daily
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life to reach the level where they can finally list their property in the best way possible, a few things they leave for the last part is to organize, which at the end makes a lot of a difference. Little things, done by home sellers come across as a lot of effort and detail put into making the house look so great! Details show care & appreciation.
photo: www.chesstrainingschool.com
Upgrades
When selling a house, there are certain things that are in the default list like cleaning, painting, fixing certain things, organizing closets, kitchens etc. but beyond that are things that increase the rate in which the seller can price their property. Kitchen and bathrooms are two major parts of a house that people get attracted or turned off by. Trendy backsplash or a outdated painted tile, granite counters verses laminate, bathrooms with standing shower rooms or pull out curtain bathtubs, all these make a very big different in the way
one can ask for over the listed price for an absolutely updated home fashion forward house. The big and small things as a part of an upgrade help the sellers fetch some extra cash and the buyers off course feel pride in owning the next trendy thing in that area. The appliances, stone accent walls, hardwood floors, granite counters, hardwood in rooms, finished basements, maintained back and front yards, all count as check marks to increase the value of the property.
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photo credit: www.homedepot.ca
photo: www.grabone.co.nz
Special Character
Special features in a house are also like upgrades but more towards the fancy updates that 80% bring pride in ownership rather than a very useful purpose. Swimming pools, ponds, professional landscaping, interior crown molding, updated bathrooms with music speakers, centralized vacuuming systems, finished basements etc. These kind of special features only attract people with a little more money to spend and people who look out for things that not everyone has. These upgrades do cost over and beyond but also majorly help in increasing the look as well as the value of their property. If the property goes for a multiple bid scenario then it can go over unimaginable bids. Putting in money in your own property will never let you down, if done in the right way!
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feature 1 | home staging
photo: www.ontrus.com
Wall Color
photo: www.meddiodesign.com
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The idea of using different wall colors signifies the same idea of putting in an extra bit into the properties look and feel. The builders beige is definitely a neat and clean look but the effort into coordinating it with the curtains, furniture or creating a mood for that specific part of the house makes a lot of a difference. A lot of people get scared with the idea of using different colors, and yes! They should be if the only colors that come to their minds is bright, if not then good that is exactly what will pop out the other features on the house. Little subtle accents can really make it more elegant, trendy and does that psychological trick. Don’t be scared to use it, wall colors wall papers, they exist because they make a difference but if done the right way!
photo: www.withgood.co
Room Sizes
This is a tricky one! But this is a very simple concept too. Small rooms should always be created as small utility rooms, like single beds, study rooms, prayer rooms, yoga room etc. do not try and put in a king bed wall to wall and make it look even smaller! As soon as a person spots the room to be as big as a king size bed – the room is as small as a bed, no one will try and understand that the bed is a very big size for the room. This happens because we compare things in our minds, if the single bed room had a single bed lighter colors and a fun feel, everyone will appreciate it. This does not mean that big rooms should have all the stuff that can be placed in it, it should also have small dedicated zones that bring the whole room together.
photo: www.home-designing.com
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photo: www.zillow.com
feature 1 | home staging
Surrounding Amenities
photo: www.theredpin.com
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In today’s fast-pace world, everyone wants things close to their doorsteps. Everyone wants grocery, mall, park, gym and what not right in and around where they live. A very positive point in having a few amenities around the property is that feeling in the buyers mind that everything is close for them to utilize. Active families or rather active lifestyle is the key these days, so these kind of people will be more than happy to pay a little extra but have a peace of mind that their activates are just around the corner. Gym, parks, schools, bus-stops, grocery malls, small convenience stores all add up to the value of the community as well as your own property.
photo: www.commons.wikimedia.org
Public Transport
One decisive point to make or break the deal for a home-buyer to buy a house or leave it is if they have family members who travel everyday to work in public transport. In regards to the harsh weather conditions that we can witness in Canada, all people who travel by any means of public transport really wish to have them close to they house for less inconvenience. The time and effort that goes into that journey everyday and the way it’s laid out makes the difference. The only problem is, that this is not something that a home seller can choose to have or not. But this is definitely something that can increase the value of once property.
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photo: www.sacredelk.tumblr.com
CUSTOM INTERIORS
feature 2 | custom interiors
GREEN A few things to always keep in mind when doing custom interiors is the function, form and usability. Green patches or zones are the new concepts in modern Interiors as they increase the Eco-friendly characteristic of a house, take up really less space and when it comes to use of green zones, we all know it too well now. It’s a very flexible form, because of which it suits all spaces, environment and can be planted in various shapes, sizes and colored pots. The kinds of plants you choose also represent a mood suitable for that space. Canada has a very typical weather due to which interior green zones are very essential for a person’s internal relaxation and calmness. Little unique potted plants can lift up the spirits and light up the room just by the fresh feeling that it provides.
C 20| HOME INTERIORS & HOME STAGING | JULY 2015 photo credit: www.pinterest.com
photo: www.pinme.ru
COZY
Cozy corners is very subjective, a lot of people can’t relate to why should one create such spots in their luxury decorated houses but these are as essential as having some fresh breath with the green zones. Little corners of thoughtfulness, that creates these little private stories. Not everything in a house has to be to please your guests, certain places are where your freedom comes to live, you speak, feel and think for your own self. Our climate basically being on the colder side for most of the year gives us an opportunity to explore different interesting ways to creating these cozy corners in all colors, shapes and harmonizes as possible. These can also be a two-friend zone, where friends can come over and share stories and sip some tea on a cold sunny afternoon or you can sit with your cat and read a quite book! The way you look at it changes the whole outlook towards it!
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BOLD
Don’t be scared! Be bold. The use of bold colors, patterns, shapes, forms and furniture bring out a very unique and different character to your house. The modern living has given us the freedom in thought of using many colors together or going absolutely wild with trying few a many patterns together, trying bold colored walls having different textures flowing throughout the house, but the only consideration is them intersecting each other with grace. The flow of one thing to the other should be ridge free. Trying to create opposite attracts also proves right. A very colorful couch n nude colored rug or a very colorful vase and a dark solid wood table. The amount of what you are doing is also very important. The space in which the statement is being created becomes magnificent for which the room should be able to stand for its look, feel and appeal.
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photo : www.guatacrazynight.com
feature 2 | custom interiors
photo: www.vaghaye.com
Water and the sound of water trickling down create that calming effect that nothing else can substitute. Water bodies as per fang Sui also has a very relaxing effect for people living around it and also the way people process activities around water bodies. Water bodies inside or outside are very essential, they have the same impact on people as greenery does. Water falls are also available in very small versions which can directly be placed on table tops and switched on or off according to the mood you want to establish. There are lavish bigger versions of water bodies such as wall water falls inside that can also be used for a unique characteristic enhancement purpose or even to create a different light effect.
WATER
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SUN Sky light is like having an extra window for the sun to penetrate right inside the house. Being in Canada, the best thing one can have is an extra bit of the sun light when its actually cold outside, having some interesting sky-lights can make it very useful for the people living as well as an asset when selling your property. Sky-lights cannot really be made into fancier decorative pieces but they are so useful that they are actually meant for that purpose alone!
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photo : www.wegox.com
feature 2 | custom interiors
feature 3 | realtor interviews
REALTORS REALLY HELP “Real estate is a big deal.” For most Canadians, a home is the most expensive purchase they’ll make in their lifetime. It’s a serious transaction with significant financial and emotional ramifications for the parties involved, and having proper representation is critical. Today’s buyers and sellers agree, that in 2014, a full 89 percent of buyers used a real estate agent, and so did 88 percent of sellers. Realtor’s representation during a real estate transaction is important for both buyers and sellers. Here are reasons given out by the three best Realtors and they answer the following six questions in regards to why and how they became the best in what they do:
Gursewak Singh: 21st Century legacy ltd. Brampton. Contracts and negotiations. Finding the right home is the fun part. Then the real work begins. Today’s contracts can be 50 pages long - not counting addendums and riders. Realtors can help you navigate these complex documents and craft an attractive offer that makes sense for you. Plus, when it comes to negotiation, your Realtor is your advocate and can bring an objective voice to a very subjective situation. Following a code of ethics. When you work with a Realtor, you’re partnering with a professional who operates according to a strict code of ethics. In place for over 100 years, the Realtor Code of Ethics ensures that consumers who work with a Realtor are treated professionally and ethically in all transaction-related matters. Browsing online is a terrific way to start a home search — in fact, almost 90 percent of people start their home search online.1 But when it’s time to buy, knowing all the pros and cons of a property can help you make the right decision. Realtors live and breathe real estate, and they can share information about a home that you wouldn’t otherwise know. For example, they can tell you about the perils of polybutylene piping (a plumbing material that is likely prone to bursting), or the concerns with FRT plywood (a roofing material that can spontaneously combust in higher temperatures, like those in attics).
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Par Sidhu: ReMax Realty ltd. Brampton. Your Realtor can go beyond the aesthetics and tell you important details about homes you’re considering. Pricing and selling a home. There are lots of sites where you can view price estimates for your home before you list it for sale, but you take a risk using them. In some markets, online estimates can be off by as much as 35 percent, and they often rely on tax records and data that can be as old as 6-12 months. Realtors know the local market, have access to the freshest sale data, and can price your house in line with the market to maximize your earnings. In 2014, sellers using an agent got $40,100 more: The median sale price for the 88 percent of sellers who worked with an agent was $215,000, versus a median sale price of $174,900 for the 9 percent of sellers who didn’t use an agent.
Sunil Saini : 21st Century legacy ltd. Brampton. Fiduciary responsibility. When you work with a Realtor, their fiduciary responsibility is to you. That means you have an expert who is looking out for your best financial interests, an expert who’s contractually bound to do everything in their power to protect you. That’s big, the value of that commitment cannot be overstated. “For more than 100 years, Realtors have subscribed to the NAR’s strict Code of Ethics as a condition of membership,” says National Association of Realtors President Gary Thomas. “Realtors have the expertise and experience to help sellers protect their investment and help buyers build theirs.” Complex, ever-changing real estate regulations. Buying or selling a home is not like purchasing a plane ticket. Every home is different, and laws change every year and vary from state to state. Generally speaking, people purchase a new home every 7-10 years, and a lot can — and usually does — change between transactions. Realtors are immersed in real estate, and they must stay current with all the updates in regulations, laws, contracts and practices. Once you retain your Realtor, they put that knowledge to work for you.
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feature 4 | diy materials
DIY wood
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A natural material that can be used for many “do it yourself” projects to make one of a kind décor items for your unique house. Out of the many ideas for projects that one can carry themselves are the four mentioned here. A birch wood candle stand, barn wood or treated wood used for headboards, tables, stools and end tables for a rough but still an elegant look. Painted barks for side tables purpose or even some asset furniture.
DIY mirror
Small broken pieces of mirror can be a very creative project material to create mosaic patterns to make light reflective surfaces. Interestingly this can also be used for creating shiny head boards as mirrors also make spaces look much bigger than they really are. Mirrors add a texture to the surface and also add that spark to things around it. The trendiest home fashion these days is to have a full mirror covered front console to add that vibrancy to the entrance of the foyer.
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feature 4 | diy materials
DIY lamps
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Light source is a very important part of how you create a mood for a specific area. Table lamps are easy to make, decorate and place as per the color scheme of the room. Lamps can also add another dimension by reflecting textures and making it more than just a light source. Being smaller surfaces to work on lamps can be very easy to do and the material used can just be anything in your vicinity. The great thing about lamps is that just by changing lampshades, one can use the same stand suitable for different moods or according to seasons.
DIY hanging lamps
Do it yourself is usually items that are easy to do with the least amount of expenditure but at time it can be more than just little fun items and look professional done, functional and practical to use. Hanging lamps can be tricky but not impossible, the whole idea is to make one of a kind lamp that totally suits the ambiance one has created in a specific location in the house with their creativity and still be absolutely useful. This is not required but it will be a pleasure walk when people look up to it and ask where they can buy it from, and you feel exclusive about the idea that it was hand made by you for a explicit area.
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feature 4 | diy materials
DIY leather
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Leather is a readily available material that can be purchased either in a fabric shop or used after wear and tear. These small home dĂŠcor ideas can be really different and still functional. Leather belts are strong to be altered into fun elements like rack holders, plant holders, small entrance rugs, or simple small exceptional coasters. Living in Canada, also gives us an upper hand on having cozy materials in our houses. Fur, lather, dark colors etc. can be used without a doubt whether they would fit in properly or feel out of place.
DIY rugs
This is a time taking project, depending upon a person’s level of interest and material but otherwise there are infinite possibilities that one can explore while making their own rugs. The material, shape, size, color, pile everything can make a big difference in the way it would finally look and feel. There are a few easy techniques that can help an enthusiast to initiate such a project. The idea still remains the same, making something that no one else has a replica of. One of a kind and made with love are the two things that define the idea behind doing it yourself.
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feature 5| next issue
next issue... 10 inexpensive decor ideas in less than 100 bucks. 7 small backyard up-gradation designs. 4 color palettes that work all year long.
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thank you ANNA OLSZOWKA
905.854.0162
www.annafarrow-ball.com
ARTHUR QUENTINE
905.689.9900
www.arthurquentin.com
NICOLE CARBERY
877.932.1213
www.colebery.com
JANINE WONG
866.996.4222
www.janine-wong.com
AMANDA HOW
416.504.5358
www.designsugar.com
BLEU NUIT
514.504.7757
www.bleunuit.ca
CARPET ONE
800.267.2678
www.carpetoneonly.ca
MOKUBA
416.405.7675
www.natureliving.com
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“The best rooms also have something to say about the people who live in them.� - Charles Eames
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