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HOMES
The Calgary Sun n SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014
NEW HOMES & CONDOS
PHOTO COURTESY DECORATING DEN
If your home is in need of a makeover, a signature piece, such as a piece of oversized art, can be the perfect solution. Be sure to pick only one focal point per room.
pop with personality Make your home
JANINE WORKMAN Special to the Calgary Sun
Interior design in the home is all about letting your personal style shine. If your home needs a shakeup, embrace the unexpected and make a statement in your home with a new or restored item you love. “Home should be a haven, a place to relax, to entertain and to enjoy,” said Shaina Sala, owner of Showhome Furniture. “I would look for pieces that speak to you. “You may be surprised at how many pieces call out to you.” Before splurging, Sala says to ask yourself three questions: Will this piece last? Is it quality? Can I paint or stain in a different colour in a couple of years if my tastes change? When you bring your sig-
nature piece home, make the most of your new item by prominently displaying it in your space. “Visually, put it in a great spot,” said Sala. “Accessorize when necessary.” This can be a move away from traditional focal points in the home, such as the table or buffet in the dining room or the bed in the bedroom. “Something ‘different’ in the way of decorating is one of today’s status symbols and the result is an ‘anything goes’ attitude towards emphasis,” said Katie O’Dwyer, interior designer and owner of Decorating Den. One great example of a personality piece that can pop is a piece of oversized art. “Supersized graphics of all sorts and sizable pieces of sculpture are high on the sta-
tus list at the moment, and can be used as focal points themselves to add to the excitement of an emphasized area,” said O’Dwyer. Avant garde furniture with unique and innovative fabric can be another scene stealer. “Unusual fabrics, either vividly coloured or strikingly patterned, can be used for emphasis, and a dramatic area rug is one way of setting off or highlighting any specific part of a room,” said O’Dwyer. And while bold, bright colours and spectacular patterns can be fun and unique to use, be sure to choose only one personality piece or focal point per room. “Only a very large room is improved by more,” said O’Dwyer. “If too many areas compete for attention, none will succeed in claiming it.”
FALL PARADE OF SHOWHOMES — Advertising Feature
Warm Fireside attracts families MYKE THOMAS Calgary Sun It feels far from the hustle, bustle and noise of the city, but Fireside of Cochrane is a short drive to Calgary, nestled in the rolling foothills of the Rockies. The community was designed for family living, offering a range of home styles and amenities, says Theresa Tucci, marketing associate with La Vita Land. “We have four different home types, including single-family, townhomes, semi-detached homes and villas, that you will see on the same street, from Janssen Homes, ReidBuilt Homes, Landmark Homes and Calbridge Homes,” says
Tucci. “This eclectic mix makes for visually appealing streetscapes. “There are 32 acres of parks and pathways. To honour and preserve the community’s natural legacy, Fireside was designed around two significant wetlands, the first being the recently completed Bulrush Park and future Cattail Park, which will begin in Phase 6. “Flagstone Park is a getaway for families, with a full playground for the kids, and benches and picnic areas for parents to keep an eye on the young ones while talking with friends and neighbours.” The new Embers commercial centre, with a Shell station and Tim Hortons, is
now open. “Eventually the commercial area will have potential services such as a hair salon, liquor store, neighbourhood pub, yoga studio, etcetera,” says Tucci. La Vita Land is now developing Phase 5 of Fireside. “Vantage Townhomes by Calbridge has opened their new sales centre and Landmark just had the grand opening of its Whitney townhomes,” says Tucci. Fireside offers spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains, w ith quick access to the TransCanada Hwy. on Hwy. 22 and easy access into Calgary on Hwy. 1A (Crowchild Tr.) “It’s only 20 minutes from Calgary’s western edge on Highway 1A and the new Tuscany CTrain station is about 20 minutes from Cochrane, where residents who work or shop in Calgary can park and ride,” says Tucci. “Buyers are getting a lot more for their money in Fireside. “You are able to stretch your dollar a lot farther than in Calgary and there are just more housing options. People like the close-knit, small-town community feel.” Sh ow h o m e s a re n ow open. For more information, go to www.fireside cochrane.com