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SUMMER 2017
MAGAZINE improvemagazine.ca
Jack Storms glass sculptures page 4
Feng Shui Kitchens
page 12
3 Reasons Why Your Next Faucet Should Be a Smart Faucet page 16
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DESIGN SHOP, BUILD & RONOVATE
IMPROVE MALL
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Jack Storms glass sculptures
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ncredibly talented and skilled beyond all reason, Jack Storms was destined to be someone truly amazing. Both a tremendous athlete and a motivated student growing up in New Hampshire, it wasn’t until later in life that Jack discovered his passion for contemporary art. At 30 years old, Jack graduated Plymouth State University with a BA in Art focusing primarily on studio production. It was during his junior year at PSU that he stumbled upon a nearby studio of a glass artist producing a rare style of glass artwork by combining lead crystal and dichroic glass using a cold-glass process. Jack worked alongside this fellow artist for over a year to learn every component and facet of this incredibly challenging and unusual art form. He quickly discovered that the process itself was extremely intense, time consuming and physically demanding but no obstacle was going to get in the way of his dreams. Jack Storms was eventually a strong enough sculptor to branch out on his own in 2004 to open StormWorks Studio.
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Both challenged and inspired by having been told that his vision was impossible, one of Jack’s first major accomplishments as an independent glass artist was to invent and design a coldworking lathe that offers him the ability to turn glass and sculpt shapes with curves and details like one would produce from a wooden medium. Early memories of studying his fathers craftsmanship as he worked for hours in his own studio with a wooden lathe provided him with the blueprint of his vision, and his intense drive and deeply embedded passion as a glass artist combined with the inspiration that came from the idea of pioneering new trails in the world of fine art, motivated him toward this remarkable accomplishment.
MASTERPIECES • BellaVino sculpture by Jack Storms won the Peoples Choice Award at the 2007 BAGI Awards. • Carmel Valley Rotary Club commissioned a sculpture by Jack Storms for the President of Nigeria in honor of the first blood bank to open in Africa. • Firemans Bell sculpture by Jack Storms commissioned by the City of Pleasanton Firehouse Arts Center comprised of 8000 pieces of glass. • Optic Crystal Baseball Bat by Jack Storms comprised of 3000 pieces of glass, designed for former NY Yankees player Derek Jeter, commemorating his 3000th hit in the major leagues. • Large Spectrum Cube and Large TierDrop glass sculptures, commissioned by Marvel Studios for the blockbuster movie Guardians of the Galaxy, were featured at the broker’s shop scenes.
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The intense cold-glass process which can take up to 24 weeks for each contemporary glass sculpture to come to life begins at the heart of the design, by creating a core of lead crystal which is cut, polished and laminated creating reflective mirrors. When wrapped in optical glass, the refraction of light as it passes through the glass creates rainbows of hypnotic color. The drawn out process of repetitive cutting, grinding and polishing requires intense passion, rigid self-discipline, and more blood sweat and tears than any artisan could wrap their mind around. The results are mind-boggling works of contemporary glass art. Drawing inspiration from both his heart and his mind when conceiving his artistic designs, at the heart of each lead crystal sculpture by Jack Storms lays the theory of Fibonacci, a great mathematician that articulated the natural math seen in nature. Natural beauty is created, not manufactured. From the repetition florets of a flower to the scales of a pineapples skin, Fibonacci numbers are found in the pattern of growth of every living thing in nature. Information from https://jackstorms.com/
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Choosing the Right Home Alarm System 8
our front door handle — in full view of anyone who might have passed by on our fairly well-traveled street. I figured we got lucky that time but it was a wakeup call that we needed to beef up our security measures. I did a lot of research on home alarm systems and here’s what I learned: There are several national players in the home security industry (like ADT, Protection 1 and XFinity), as well as numerous regional and local companies. I discovered that much of the equipment used by most of them comes from the same few manufacturers, including GE and Honeywell. With larger companies like ADT (which we eventually chose), you can buy directly from them, or go through one of their authorized contractors who will sell you the equipment and install it, then turn over the ongoing monitoring to ADT. In our case, I was able to use my AAA membership discount with a local ADT-authorized agent and bargain for a lot of additional hardware, saving considerable money on the overall deal.
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lthough I take a certain amount of comfort from statistics that show major declines in most types of crime throughout the Canada, I also know that burglaries have increased in areas surrounding my neighborhood over the last few years. Until now, I’ve been on the fence about how best to ensure my family’s safety and protect our property. What finally prompted action was when my family recently returned home after being away for one night and found that someone had gotten about 90 percent through the process of unscrewing
Certain vendors will sell you the equipment directly to install yourself, which can save even more money on installation and monitoring fees. I watched their installation videos and it seemed fairly straightforward, but ultimately my wife and I decided that it was more cost-effective to take advantage of the steep equipment discount that came with having it professionally installed. (Run the numbers both ways if you’re handy with installations.) Some people install a security system that sounds an ear-piercing alarm if their house is broken into but doesn’t send a signal to a central monitoring station. That’ll save you from paying a monthly monitoring bill — typically $20 to $50 a month or more. If you’re lucky the neighbors will call the police, but be aware that police departments often charge a stiff fee for responding to false alarms. Far more common is to sign a monitoring service contract with a home security company — usually at least a two- or three-year commitment. It’s not unlike buying a 9
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subsidized smartphone from AT&T and then being locked into a multi-year service contract — that’s how they recoup the expense for discounted equipment.
on which equipment you’ve installed. We got a 5 percent discount for installing sensors on two doors and eight windows, along with two motion detectors.
Typically, whenever your system is activated by a broken seal or unexpected movement, it sends a signal to a central monitoring station — usually via your phone line. The monitoring station generally will call your home or workplace to verify it’s not a false alarm. If they can’t reach you, or the person who answers gives the wrong password, they may then contact the proper authorities (police, fire or medical services) to investigate.
As with any major purchase, it pays to shop around. I asked friends for recommendations and did a lot of online research, although I couldn’t get accurate pricing information without speaking to sales representatives. Don’t fall for highpressure sales techniques or scare tactics. Once you’ve identified a few good candidates, check for customer complaints with the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List or other trusted reviewers. The Federal Trade Commission provides tips for Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, choosing a home security system and identifying there’s a broad array of security equipment common scams. available, including: • Central control unit with backup battery, keypad If you can’t afford an alarm system, there are many and siren. (Some systems send a silent alarm relatively inexpensive steps you can take, such as to the monitoring station, which contacts the installing good-quality door deadbolts and window police.) locks, using light timers when away, adding outdoor • Motion detectors, which sense changes in motion-sensor lighting and installing inside-release a room caused by human presence. Special safety bars on ground-floor windows. detectors are also available for people with pets, to avoid false alarms. And don’t forget common-sense safety habits like • Magnetic door and window contacts, which, always locking doors, whether at home or away, when the alarm system is activated, form a placing delivery holds on mail and newspapers circuit that breaks when the door or window is when on vacation, and never publishing your travel opened, sounding the alarm. itinerary on social media sites — and make sure • Detectors for smoke, fire, carbon monoxide your kids don’t either. and/or broken glass. • Panic buttons (hand-held or mounted in strategic locations). • Pressure mats placed under rugs to detect footsteps. • Closed-circuit TV system to allow monitoring and/or recording inside or outside your home. • Temperature gauges to detect if your furnace is broken and the pipes are about to freeze. • Water detectors to detect basement leaks. • Most homeowners and renters insurance policies provide a discount for installing an alarm system — generally between 2 and 20 percent, depending 11
Feng Shui Kitchens – What You Need to Know
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n Feng Shui kitchens are the second most important rooms in your house (second only to your bedroom). That’s because, in Feng Shui, a kitchen represents wealth. The kitchen is so important because it is where we receive our life-giving energy and nourishment: our food. There is a cycle in all things and the cycle in the kitchen goes as follows: The healthier our food is and the higher amounts of chi in our food, the healthier our body, mind and spirit become, the more capable we become, the more money we make, the better quality of food we can buy, the stronger we become and so on. You can see how the cycle is positive and feeds into more positive energy. The cycle can also be destructive. The poorer we are, the lower quality kitchen we have, the lower quality of food we buy, the weaker our body, mind, and spirit become, the less capable we become, the less money we make, the lower quality of food we buy and eat and so on.
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Understanding these cycles can lead us to see why the kitchen is so important. There are some basic guidelines for a kitchen and supporting the cook. First the cook is to always have the best vantage point and view (no backs to doors), as well as a brightly lit, spacious, and well ventilated area to cook in.
The positioning of the stove The position of the stove is the next important factor. A stove can influence the well being of a family. If it is stuffed into a corner it can inhibit the cooks movements and energy flow, lowering the quality of the food being prepared, which can then have a negative impact on the Health, Wealth, Careers, and Relationships of the family members. Symbolically the stove in feng shui kitchens represents the home’s finances. So it is important to make sure your stove is in excellent condition, works well and is kept clean. This symbolizes money easily flowing into your home. If burners are broken or clogged, business will be plagued with obstacles. The burners on the stove are believed to influence a family’s prosperity, so the more burners you use more often, the more all avenues of money will come to you. You can place a mirror behind your stove to double your money. It is also easy to see why if the cook is unhappy, due to structural, color, or functionality issues in the kitchen the energy going into the food is not of the highest energetic quality and will have a negative impact on family members as well.
Colors for your kitchen Time to paint? Pick colors that correspond to the best colors for the area on the bagua map your kitchen is located (see below for a link to a bagua map) or that make you feel passionate as a cook.
In Feng Shui, kitchen represents wealth
Fix it, Clear It, Clean It De-clutter your kitchen. What items are out that you never use and are an eyesore? What can be changed or moved around to make you’re kitchen more functional? Clean out those overstuffed cupboards and wash down the shelves. Maybe you can purchase an inspiring tray and place your oil and vinegar out where you can get to them easily. Keep working your space until it feels more spacious and you are happy to be in your kitchen once again.
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SMART HOME
3 Reasons Why Your Next Faucet Should Be a SMART FAUCET We’ve had high-tech shower heads for several years now, so isn’t it about time that sink faucets catch up? What you may not realize is that high-tech faucets – known as smart faucets – have been around since as early as 2009. As with most smart home products, people tend to think of smart faucets as gimmicky and gratuitous. What’s wrong with a traditional setup? Is there really enough room for improvement to justify an upgrade? I’m here to convince you: yes!
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FINER CONTROLS AND SETTINGS We’ve all been there: first turn on the hot faucet and wait for the water to heat up, then turn on the cold faucet to bring the temperature back down to a comfortable level. How much water is wasted from that? And finding the right balance of hot and cold is a frustrating game. A little too much in one direction and you’re left with either frostbite or third-degree burns. It just isn’t fun, but with the right smart faucet, you may never have to play that game again. For example, advanced models – like the Nomos by Fima Carlo Frattini – have digital displays that let you fine-tune temperature with pinpoint accuracy. Others are more simplistic, 16
IMPROVED WATER EFFICIENCY
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Money is a big concern when it comes to appliances and home improvement, which is one reason why smart home products are so great: they save you energy and money whether we’re talking about thermostats, power plugs, or lighting solutions – and faucets now join that list. For example, smart faucets that are marked WaterSense use 20% less water than traditional faucets right out of the box. Couple that with finer controls for temperature and pressure and you’ll conserve more water while wasting less. This should excite you, even if you aren’t an environmental green freak. After all, improved water efficiency means you can get the same amount done with less water – and less water used means a smaller water bill every month.
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FEWER GERMS AND DISEASES According to an office environment study in 2012, break room sink faucets were determined to be the absolute dirtiest surface of all regularly-used facilities: The study researchers swabbed some 4,800 surfaces in office buildings housing some 3,000 employees. The study got the “officially dirty” readings on: 75% of break room sink-faucet handles 48% of microwave door handles 27% of keyboards 26% of refrigerator door handles 23% of water fountain buttons 21% of vending machine buttons Now, obviously this doesn’t translate perfectly into a household scenario, but the findings are indicative of one thing: faucets are dirtier than we care to think – even dirtier than your keyboard – and that’s because we don’t clean them often enough. 17
Colin and Justin: A one stop shop
Unique home improvement destination has everything you need under one roof
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unpredictable weather — serving only to undermine the shopping experience. But all that is changing, courtesy of an exciting new retail prospect Improve Canada (www.improvecanada.com) a unique home destination where everything you need is available — all year round — under one massive roof. Already up and running (with ongoing development and expansion), the continually improving ‘mega mall’ sees its ‘Grand Opening’ this weekend. Promising a mix of big names and big ideas, the weekend long ceremony boasts a stellar cast. Preaching from the main stage on Saturday are Sarah Richardson (11 a m ), Outside event season, tricking out the home requires those (ahem) pesky Scots Colin and Justin at 2 p.m. a degree of plaza-to-plaza stealth, with car rides, bus — and again at 5 p.m. – as well as HGTV luminary trips and train journeys — and the attendant hassle of Scott McGillivray at 4 p.m. act — we love home exhibitions. Whether info’ packed outings such as The Cottage Life Show, The GTA Home and Reno Show and The Toronto Fall Home Show (large affairs at which we’re often booked to speak) or smaller ‘one off’ trade gatherings in halls around the GTA, we’re often first in line to size up inspiration. Yup, life without Canada’s home event diary would be a lesser life indeed. But of course these exhibitions are, for the most part, seasonal with the availability of ‘renovation’ fodder, between times, somewhat limited.
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On Sunday, at noon, you’ll have the chance to meet Mike Holmes Junior, home style legend Tommy Smythe at 2 p.m, and Steven Sabados, designer extraordinaire and co-host of CBC’s The Goods, at 4 p.m. Aside from the stellar line up, what else can you expect? Well, for starters, more than 350 retailers under one roof and 320,000 square feet of floor space crammed with 38 different categories of home improvement. In a nutshell, Improve Canada is the country’s largest dedicated home enhancement destination, a one-stop shop for everything home related. All things considered, however, it’s way more than just another big box store. From kitchens and bathrooms, to bedrooms and living rooms, and from sofas and artwork to home office and lighting (and much more, besides) the retail outpost boasts a breathtaking inventory. But it isn’t just inventory which will ensure Improve Canada is a success: convenience, too, is sure to make it all the more attractive. Due to multiple on site retailers, shoppers will be able to compare price points and quality (between stores in a similar wheelhouse) without leaving the location. To us,
it’s a no brainer — we’re only surprised it’s taken until now for a venture like this to grace these shores. We work extensively in Europe, where similar business models exist, so we’re thrilled that an offering of this type is finally available here. This weekend’s grand opening will also see a special appearance by Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor of Vaughan (12.15 p.m. on Saturday) as well as around $25,000 in prizes and give aways. It promises to be a fun few days. And besides, it’s Spring. A time when home improvers everywhere are hell bent on making the best of their nests. Whether moving, improving, staging, decorating, building, landscaping or simply looking for some new cushions or a fun piece of artwork as your home’s finishing touch, you’ll find everything you need at Improve Canada (7250 Keele Street, Vaughan) under one — enormous — roof. We’ll see you there! For further information visit www.improvecanada.com. — Watch for Colin and Justin on ‘Cabin Pressure’ (Cottage Life TV) and on ‘Cityline’ (Citytv). Find the ‘Colin and Justin Home Collection’ in stores across Canada. Material from http://www.torontosun.com/
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Touch of Modern
Modern and Fresh Pendant Lamp Design – Lava Drop The frozen lava hang like stalactites from the ceiling, creating a refined show of lights. Made from mirrored glass and with best materials called Lava Drop. Tsunami Glassworks in collaboration with Alvaro Uribe Design says the inspiration for this particular lamp came form of lava drops floating.
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Modern House This a modern house with simple and minimalist style, as if looking to not distract the inhabitants from the beauty of the ocean beyond. Situated in Sydney, Australia called Queenscliff House and designed by Utz Sanby Architects. 23
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MOLDED STYLE SUAR WOOD CHAIR PRODUCT NUMBER: CH4112824
This is what we call functional art. The curves of the wood, the grain of the suar –make of this as much a sculpture as it is a chair. This is a unique piece of art that you can sit on. Shop at www.artemano.ca
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Making Your Ideas Possible Custom Home Renovations in Greater Toronto Area
Call Us: 647-936-7250 Email: info@decorner.ca Our Showroom at Improve Canada. ADDRESS 7250 Keele Street, Unit 299 Vaughan, ON L4K 1Z8 Sat & Sun From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 28
Living Room Remodel
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From Redactor
ADVERTISE WITH #1 HOME IMPROVEMENT MAGAZINE Call Us: 647-936-7250 www.improvemagazine.ca Email: info@improvemagazine.ca Our Office at Improve Canada. ADDRESS: 7250 Keele Street, Unit 299 Vaughan, ON L4K 1Z8 Sat & Sun From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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SAVE, DESIGN, SHOP, BUILD & RONOVATE SOON IN YOUR POCKET!
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MAGAZINE improvemagazine.ca
Improving Home Improvement 32