FineHomes Regina Summer 2011

FineHomes Regina’s Official Home and Renovation Magazine

REGINA

SUMMER 2011

WHY CRAWFORD HOMES? FLOOD REMEDIATION With Shell Busey Member

Regina & Region Home Builders’ Association

HOMES AND PROPERTIES RENOVATIONS OUTDOOR LIVING CONDO LIVING INTERIOR DESIGN LUSCIOUS LANDSCAPING RESTORATION

KEN BEATTIE Canada’s Favourite Gardener

STYLISH DÉCOR With Meredith Heron

The reason we are able to stand apart from other cleaning companies is the quality of our employees. We are extremely picky about who we hire as they represent our company out in the community. Our employees are exceptionally well-trained, eager to work, friendly but, most of all, have the same love for cleaning that I have as the owner.

Our employees come to work every day in a great mood, with smiles on their faces and return to the office with that same attitude—this shows that they really enjoy their jobs.

Clients who are at home immediately form a great relationship with the ladies who clean their home.

We strive to always be positive in the workplace and reward that attitude in our employees. For example: for every compliment that comes in from a client, the employees who cleaned that house get their names entered in our monthly draw and have a chance to win prizes from a spa day to dinner and a movie—the prize is always changing. Call the Tidy Time Saver today and have this great team make your home sparkle.

Tidy Time Saver Professional House Cleaning Service

Sharla Shaw

306.591.7969

sharlashaw@tidytimesaver.com

www.tidytimesaver.com

We Shop The World So You Don’t Have To.

Quality Products Make your yard maintenance free.

Stop by our landscape display at the Home and Garden Show or come visit our instore displays.

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WHITE CITY

lserbu@imagewireless.ca

Specializing in new residential, commercial and renovations

Bar-T Construction is a family-run business that has been serving Regina and Southern Saskatchewan since 1983.

At Bar-T Construction we understand that building a new house or doing a renovation can be a stressful time, so our knowledgeable staff will help you through the process of choosing the right exterior package for you. Please visit our showroom at 1150 Park Street and let us help you, whether you are looking to update your curb appeal or make your home more energy efficient. We are the exterior people.

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Rock

Hammer I N D U S T R I E S

Kevin Jordens 306.535.3564 kjordens@sasktel.net www.rockhammerindustries.com

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Parkland Carpet One has relocated to 1600 8th Ave. featuring large windows to display all the most stylish new window fashions from leading manufactures like Hunter Douglas. Parkland Carpet One offers the trademark quality that you’re familiar with for thirty years in Regina. Our experienced designers and installation technicians will help find the perfect window covering.

See Parkland Carpet One on Facebook 1600 8th Ave Regina, Sk. 306.525.9125 www.carpetone.com

You’ve saved enough water to fill more than

3.7 million bathtubs.

So far, you’ve installed 15,890 low-volume toilets through our Provincial Toilet Replacement Rebate Program. Congratulations. You’ve put $794,500 back in your pockets and conserved 739,090,912 litres of water.

Keep up the green work.

For many more easy things you and your family can do, check out gogreensask.ca

8

FineHomes REGINA

SKENV-0153E_Dailies-7.5x10_042111.indd 1

11-05-05 9:14 AM

We work for you, not the lenders.

Left to right: Andrew Anindo (Lic#315937) 533.5192, Paul Kozan (Lic#315901) 536.5587, Kara Lachance (Lic#316101) 535.4243, Paul Randall (Lic#315909) 533.8550, Christina Roulston-Marceca (Lic#315363) 537.3426, Steve Kozan (Lic#315938) 737.7827, Tarina Ly (Lic#315904) 596.5252, Lyndon Kozakewich (Lic#314073) 533.2633

• Are you buying or building a new home?

• Do you want to complete some home improvements?

• Would you like to consolidate your higher interest debt?

• Is your current interest rate too high?

Whatever your needs, we can assist you every step of the way. Call one of our experienced mortgage agents today to get us working for you.

Whether you are refinancing or purchasing a new home, our agents will ensure that obtaining your new mortgage is a smooth and seamless process and make sure that your interests come first. At The Mortgage Centre, we work for you, not the lenders!

2058 Lorne Street | Regina, Sk. | 306.522.5626 | www.mortgagecentre.com License #315900

FineHomes

REGINA

Summer 2011 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2 www.finelifestyles.ca Editor

Thom Barker editor@finelifestyles.ca

Graphic Design and Layout Joni Gaudette joni@finelifestyles.ca

In-house Design Lori Gallagher lori@finelifestyles.ca

Cover Photography Shawn Fulton www.shawnfultonphotography.com

Photography Calvin Fehr www.calvinfehrphoto.com Cortney Roth www.lightartist.ca John Morrell www.johnmorrellphotography.ca

Contributing Writers Carol Todd G.H. Lewmer Karin Melberg Schwier

Ken Beattie Mackenzie Brooks Meredith Heron Ryan Holota

Sheena Koops Shell Busey Tobie Hainstock Trilby Henderson

Advertising Consultants Kaitlyn Stoliker Randy Glascock Todd Elik Brooke Watson

kaitlyn@finelifestyles.ca randyg@finelifestyles.ca todd@finelifestyles.ca brooke@finelifestyles.ca

Office Manager Tracy Shaw 306.539.8779 tracy@finelifestyles.ca

Publishers Randy Liberet 540.3320 randy@finelifestyles.ca Wayne UnRuh 541.3365 wayne@finelifestyles.ca 3440 Balsam Grove Regina, Sk. S4V 2S4

Vice President, Business Development Randy Nicolle randyn@finelifestyles.ca 3440 Balsam Grove Regina, Sk. S4V 2S4 Fine Homes Regina is published four times a year by Fine Lifestyles Regina, Ltd. We reserve the right to edit any materials chosen for publication including photographs.

We reserve the right to reject or accept any article, photograph, image or advertisement. All contents of Fine Lifestyles Regina, Ltd., publications are copyrighted 2011 with all rights reserved, except for original articles submitted to Fine Lifestyles Regina, where copyright resides with the author. No other part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Fine Lifestyles Regina Ltd. or its writers.

The name Fine Homes Regina, its logo and material cannot be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the expert advice columns herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Fine Lifestyles Regina Ltd. or the companies they represent. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future.

No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

First Word

Looking for a real estate lawyer?

WITH FINE HOMES EDITOR THOM BARKER Procrastinate Now! That is such a concise and insightful joke, I wish I had written it. Alas, I stole it from Ellen Degeneres, who is a very funny comedian, if not a great dancer.

Like Ellen, I am a bit of a procrastinator. It’s a wonder my wife doesn’t complain about it (much) because she is the kind of person who will decide it’s time to pick up the living room and wind up cleaning the entire house. I’m the kind of person who will decide it’s time to do the dishes and wind up writing a column about procrastination. I suppose we complement each other.

At first glance, a defence of procrastinating may not be the type of thing you’d expect to see at the beginning of a magazine about homes. After all, our advertisers are hoping to inspire you to get off your butt and finally tackle that home improvement project you’ve been putting off. And we, of course, want our advertisers to be successful so they can continue to be our advertisers.

You may have already inferred that “procrastinate now” is my way of saying, “stop and read this magazine,” with obvious reference to the old adage “stop and smell the roses.”

The origin of that phrase is obscured by the vagaries of time. One story suggests it dates to a conversation between two American friends in the late 19th century, one of whom worked so diligently on her rose garden that she did not take time to enjoy her work until the other gently reminded her to experience the beauty she had created.

Another popular attribution is that it is misquoted from the famous golfer Walter Hagen’s 1956 book The Walter Hagen Story in which he writes: “You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry. Don’t worry.

And be sure to stop and smell the flowers along the way.”

12

Our staff have over 30 years of real estate law experience.

REAL ESTATE L AW • • • •

Residential, Commercial Purchases, Sales, Mortgages Refinancing Leases/Rent to Own

C ALL THE OFFICE FOR A FREE QUOTE

SIROIS LAW FIRM, P.C. MATT M. SIROIS, B.A. (HONS.), L.L.B .

2424 COLLEGE AVENUE, 3RD FLOOR

Some people credit Ringo Starr’s 1981 album and the title track written by Harry Nilsson, but I’m pretty sure I had heard the expression long before the 1980s.

REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN

Regardless of the origin, it remains very good advice. Let’s face it, there is always something we could or “should” be doing instead of smelling roses, golfing, listening to former Beatles’ records or reading magazines, so if you don’t do it now, when are you going to get around to procrastinating?

FAX: 306.585.6362

FineHomes REGINA

S4P 1C8 PHONE: 306.585.6288

SIROISLAW@SASKTEL.NET

Featured Contributors Photographers

Writers

John Morrell

Carol Todd

As a young child, John’s father introduced him to the world of photography. As he grew up on a farm, and often travelled to the city, he had the opportunity to see nature in a way that perhaps many other children did not. After he himself became a father, he began focusing on capturing those special moments and milestones of his daughters.

He has currently widened his photo subjects to include sports events, pet photography, weddings, architecture and photo directories. What keeps John interested in photography, is the people he meets. www.jmorrell1.photobiz.com/cart

Carol Todd began her professional career in 1978 at CKRM radio, as Carol Boese. She had the distinction of being the first female country and western disc jockey in western Canada before moving to the newsroom where she covered both civic and provincial politics. Todd is past editor of several industry magazines and is past contributing editor to Saskatchewan Business Magazine. She has written for numerous publications, and has also worked extensively in public relations. She continues to write for several media outlets, and is currently working on her first novel, as well as, an autobiography of her grandfather.

Cortney Roth

Tobie Hainstock

In the expanding world of “pick-up-a-camera-and-you’re-a-professional” photographers, Cortney differentiates herself by thinking outside the box as much as possible. Her award-winning approach is far from traditional, wholly unusual and quirky, but with spectacular results. From trainscaling to rooftop shoots to tree-climbing, she gets it done efficiently, professionally and with a flourish. www.lightartist.ca

Tobie Hainstock started in media in 2001 as a sales representative and feature writer for a small Saskatchewan newspaper. Later, Hainstock went to work as a Certified Radio Copywriter at Rawlco Radio in Prince Albert.

In 2006, she moved to CTV Regina and worked as a writer/producer. From 2008 to 2010, Hainstock worked in film production during which time she was nominated for a SaskFilm Showcase Award. Since leaving film, she has been freelancing for various newspapers and magazines throughout Saskatchewan.

Hainstock provides creative services to newspapers, magazines and businesses including writing and proofreading. thainstock@hotmail.com; 306-525-3609

Shawn Fulton

Meredith Heron

Shawn Fulton’s passion for photography began in high school with darkroom developing and printing techniques and evolved at the University of Regina while he was acquiring his BFA in film production. Since, Shawn has all but abandoned the darkroom for digital photography, but still likes to play with antique and Polaroid cameras at social events to give his “party photos” a timeless quality.

Shawn has a remarkable talent for lighting, which he attributes to his extensive background in stage and film. His work as a director, cinematographer and animator has been screened at film festivals nationally and he was recently featured on the cover of Saskatchewan Filmpool’s Splice magazine.

Shawn lives in Regina’s Cathedral Village with his wife, Kendra, and their two children, Rosco and Suki. www.shawnfultonphotography.com

Meredith Heron’s love of design came early and was nurtured in childhood while rearranging furniture and conducting house tours for her schoolmates in her family’s home. Although Meredith tried a more traditional route, becoming an elementary school teacher, her passion, enthusiasm and infectious love of design took over. Shortly after striking out on her own, Meredith made her mark by beginning Red Heron Essentials—now Meredith Heron Design Inc. with offices in the prestigious Designer’s Walk in downtown Toronto. She is a regular host/designer on several HGTV shows and her work has been featured on W Network. Driven, dynamic, and passionate, with moxie and style that is inherently Meredith, she blends, creates, discovers, and designs that which can only be best described as personally yours. www.meredithheron.com FineHomes REGINA

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What’sInside

24

16 79

and ensure that they fully prepare themselves to anticipate their guests’ needs.

“When we have guests in the Royal Suite, we make certain to ask all the right questions,” Marla said. “We want to know about their preferences. Are they allergic to flowers? Do they have any dietary needs? What do we anticipate they will need upon arrival? We want to know how we can best tailor our services so that guests have an outstanding experience during every moment of their stay. We do a very good job at it; our people are the best at what they do.”

Considering the major personalities who have passed through the Hotel Saskatch-

102

ewan’s doors, this seems an understatement. And they don’t always have a lot of time to do it. Marla explained that she rarely gets more than a couple of days advance notice about the most.

FEATURE STORIES 20 Home Smart Home 24 Cover Story: Why Crawford Homes?

18 SHOW HOME LOCATOR MAP

68 Candle Lake 84 Fit for a Queen 89 Ken Beattie 104 Meredith Heron

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138 Flood Remediation

68

20 67 88 84

89 112

But anticipating guests’ needs has made the hotel famously creative in acquiring hard to locate items, especially in the twin departments of food and beverage. “When the Rolling Stones stayed with us, we bought a full-sized fridge for Mick Jagger who couldn’t abide a mini-fridge,” Marla said. “We also had some time of finding Orange Fanta for Keith Richards. You know, at that time, Orange Fanta wasn’t available in Regina, so we had someone drive a case in from the United States.”

Fresh from the high of the stage, I’d want to uncap a Fanta from my full-sized fridge, too, but I was satisfied with the cupcake that appeared partway through our discussion. “I thought you might like one of these,” said Anne from the office adja-

104

cent to Marla’s. “They’re fresh from the kitchen’s oven.” I did want it, of course, but decided that it would be tough to be taken seriously with green icing all over

121 133

DEPARTMENTS 16 Homes and Properties 67 Outdoor Living 79 Condo Living 88 Luscious Landscaping 102 Interior Design 112 Home Improvement and Renovations 133 Restoration

FineHomes REGINA

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Homes and Properties Member Regina & Region Home Builders’ Association

FineHomes REGINA

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REGINA AND AREA

SHOWHOME LOCATOR MAP 16 6

11

2

4

Devonshire Dr

1 Pasqua St

Rochdale Blvd

N

9 Ave N

Argyle St N

9 Ave N Sherwood Dr

12 Ave N Ring Rd

McIntosh St

Rink Ave

5

13

Whelan Dr

McCarthy Blvd

Courtney St

3

46

McDonald St

11

6 Ave N

1 Ave N

Wa les

Dr

Dewdney Ave E

ce o

11

Ave

12 1

f

Victoria Ave

Prin

13 Ave

First St

Park St

7 Ave

14 College

Emerald Park (5 km)

Broadway Ave

rg

h

Un

Ar

ou

Ed

Wascana Parkway

Assiniboine Ave

co

9

la

Av e

10 33

1 Rge Rd 2193

Lewvan Dr

Jim Cairns Blvd

Albert St

Parliament Ave

Massey Rd

6

Hillsdale St

Rae St

23 Ave

25 Ave

25 Ave

Dr

ive

rsi

ty

Argyle Rd

Dr

Regina Ave

inb

REGINA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

7

Ross Ave

Ave

la

Arco ail CP R ve 13 A

Winnipeg St

Elphinstone St

Dewdney Ave

Broad St

Albert St

Lewvan Dr

4 Ave

d

15

R ng

Ri

4 Ave

Grant Rd

Gordon Rd

8

Township Rd 170

1 6

1.

LAKERIDGE

DUNDEE DEVELOPMENTS 347.8130 HOMES BY DUNDEE 4538 Brass Cres. 347.8100 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Weekends & Holidays 1-5 pm

2.

3.

SKYVIEW

TERRA DEVELOPMENTS INC. 924.0445

MAPLE RIDGE

MAPLE RIDGE DEVELOPMENTS INC. 789.0891 GILROY HOMES 7022 Maple Ridge Drive John Grundy 527.3772 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm STHAMANN HOMES 7014 Maple Ridge Drive Cheryl Fulmore - 536.7816 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

4.

18

LAKERIDGE ADDITION

DUNDEE DEVELOPMENTS 347.8130

FineHomes REGINA

WEST 5. FAIRWAYS HARVARD DEVELOPMENTS 777.0650

YAKOBOVICH HOMES 105 Oxbow Cres. 546-5353 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

PARADE OF HOMES ARTISAN DESIGN BUILD 202 Brookview Drive 546.8030 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm DAYTONA HOMES 101 Poplar Bluff Cres 522.3316 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 3-5:30 pm / 6:30 - 9:00 pm Sat. & Sun. 12-5 pm CRAWFORD HOMES 209 Brookview Dr. 525.9801 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm GILROY HOMES 121 Oxbow Cres. 789.6080 Hours: Mon- Thurs.- 7-9 pm Sat & Sun 1-5 pm HOMES BY DUNDEE 101 Oxbow Cres. 347.8100 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Weekends & Holidays 1-5 pm

6.

VARSITY HOMES 213 Brookview Dr. 525.2329 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm CENTURY WEST HOMES 222 Brookview Drive Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat., Sun. & Holidays 1-5 pm

EVANS COURT

EVANS DEVELOPMENT GROUP 584.5378 3566 Evans Court Hours: Tues. - Thurs. 2-4 pm 3501 Evans Court Hours: Tues. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 2-4 pm

7.

CREEKS 8. THE www.thecreeks.ca 522.2300

HARBOUR LANDING

DUNDEE DEVELOPMENTS 347.8130 CRAWFORD HOMES 4703 Glass St. 525.9801 Hours: Daily 1 -5 pm Mon- Thurs- 7-9 pm

GILROY HOMES 4131 Chuka Dr. Ron MacDonald 539.4568 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Weekends & Holidays 1-5 pm

WINDSOR CROSSING - CONDOS 46 Forty Harbour Landing Dr. 537.3200 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

HOMES BY DUNDEE 4834 E. Sandpiper Cr. 347.8100 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Weekends & Holidays 1-5 pm

JANSON HOMES 4814 Upson Rd. 537.3200

ASPEN HOMES 4129 E. Green Willow Terrace - 789.0088 Email: aspenhomes@sasktel.net Hours: Sat & Sun 2-4 pm www.aspenhomesltd.com

11.

FIORANTE HOMES New Showhome Opening Soon 4143 Chuka Dr. 569.3456

HOMES BY DUNDEE (opening end of June) 4707 Glass St. 347.8100 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Weekends & Holidays 1-5 pm

KRATZ HOMES 4123 Chuka Dr..

721.9696 / 536.0903 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 2-9 pm Fri- Sun 1-5 pm

MUNRO HOMES 4649 Malcolm Dr. 596.2727 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm CLOSED HOLIDAYS

STHAMANN HOMES 4135 Chuka Drive Brad Gregg - 591.1736 Hours: Mon - Thurs 7:00 - 9:00 Sat & Sun 1:00 - 5:00

CENTURY WEST HOMES 4810 Upson Road Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat., Sun. & Holidays 1-5 pm

NORTHRIDGE DEVELOPMENTS 4139 Chuka Dr. 352.5900 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

NORTHRIDGE DEVELOPMENTS 4657 Hames Cres. 352.5900 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

NORTHRIDGE DEVELOPMENTS 101-2501 Windsor Park Road 352.5900 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

TRADEMARK HOMES 128 Emerald Ridge E.- Bower West Sales Centre Nathan Cressman- 205.2502 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

GREENS 13. KENSINGTON YAGAR DEVELOPMENTS INC. 789.0891 GILROY HOMES 2022 Norman MacKenzie 789.6080 Hours: Mon- Thurs.- 7-9 pm Sat & Sun 1-5 pm

ON ROSE 14. GARDENS KENSINGTON DEVELOPMENTS 1910 - 12 Ave. Lana Harrison 790.1843 Hours: Sat. & Sun. 1-4 pm

9. NORTHRIDGE DEVELOPMENTS

8226 Wascana Gardens Bay 352.5900 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

PARK 15. REGENT TRADEMARK HOMES 565 Elphinstone St. 205.2502 Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 5-7 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

10. www.greensongardiner.com 789.0891

THE LANDINGS

NORTHRIDGE DEVELOPMENTS 4405 Padwick Rd. 352.5900 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm HOMES BY DUNDEE 4413 Padwick Rd. 347.8100 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Weekends & Holidays 1-5 pm RIPPLINGER HOMES 4401 Padwick Rd. 533.9698 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm CRAWFORD HOMES 4409 Padwick Rd. 525.9801 Hours: Daily 1 -5 pm Mon- Thurs- 7-9 pm DAYTONA HOMES 4417 Padwick Road 522.3216 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 3-5:30 pm / 6:30 - 9:00 pm Sat. & Sun. 12-5 pm

GREENS ON GARDINER

CENTURY WEST HOMES (CLOSING END OF JUNE) 3316 Valley Green Way 522.1062 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat., Sun. & Holidays 1-5 pm

JASTEK RIVERBEND PROJECTS INC. 2102 Heseltine Rd. Rory Clark 790.3638 Mark Cullen 790.3695

TRITHART HOMES 347.7747 \ 536.5993

WASCANA VIEW

TRADEMARK HOMES 4822 Upson Rd. Nathan Cressman- 205.2502 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

RIVERBEND

PARK / WHITE CITY 12. EMERALD GREAT PLAINS LEASEHOLDS 525.9516

CREEKS EDGE

RIPPLINGER HOMES 4715 Glass St. 533.9698 (Opening in July) Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

GILROY HOMES 4665 Maclolm Dr. 789.6080 Hours: Mon- Thurs.- 7-9 pm Sat & Sun 1-5 pm

HARMONY BUILDERS 3617 Green Cedar Court - 591.0631 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

DALE ON LAST 16. SUN MOUNTAIN LAKE

GILROY HOMES 3304 Valley Green Way 789.6080 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm DAYTONA HOMES 3501 Green Bank Rd. 522.3216 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 3-5:30 pm / 6:30 - 9:00 pm Sat. & Sun. 12-5 pm CRAWFORD HOMES 3305 Valley Green Way 525.9801 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

SUNSMART HOMES 335 Mihr Bay Jaquie Stewart 791.7666 Hours: Mon.- Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm Resort tours daily 1-5 pm SANDSTONE HOMES 237 Tuwale Trail Jaquie Stewart 791.7666 Hours: Mon.- Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm Resort tours daily 1-5 pm

TRADEMARK HOMES 3300 Valley Green Way Nathan Cressman- 205.2502 Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-9 pm Sat. & Sun. 1-5 pm

FineHomes REGINA

19

HOME SMART

HOME

BY THOM BARKER

FROM TALKING REFRIGERATORS TO REMOTE CONTROL POPCORN MAKERS, THE FUTURE IS NOW FOR HOME AUTOMATION The 1950s was a period of prosperity and optimism in North America. Not for everyone, of course, and not everywhere.

But the prairie dust bowl was fertile again and the Great Depression a fading memory. The war was over, and in the United States, the failed promise of Herbert Hoover’s 1928 campaign slogan, “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage,”

20

FineHomes REGINA

finally seemed within reach for Americans and Canadians alike. Saskatchewan enjoyed a building and economic boom unparalleled until the present day.

domed cars that would drive themselves

Against this backdrop, imaginations bloomed, particularly in the minds of advertising executives. Famous campaigns of the day touted the imminent arrival of

by the sun; and kitchens that would vir-

while the family played board games in air-conditioned comfort driving crosscountry; The Jetsons-style homes powered tually do the work of beleaguered housewives.

ONWARD, SLOWLY BUT SURELY

FROM BILL’S HOUSE TO YOURS

Cars still don’t drive themselves, exactly, but several models on the market today do offer hands-free parallel parking. Most kitchen tasks are still largely a manual affair, but we have seen the large-scale adoption of many time-saving conveniences including dishwashers, microwave ovens, bread makers and refrigerators that will tell you when the milk has gone bad or when you are getting low on eggs. And the latest and greatest home entertainment centres include features such as the ability to start the popcorn maker without getting up from your movie-watching.

Okay, so the microchip thing may still be a little too Minority Report for the average homeowner, but these days, you don’t have to be a multi-billionaire technophile to live like one. After all, it was 1995 when Bill and Melinda completed “Xanadu 2.0,” ancient history, technologically-speaking. Heck, Facebook was still making a date to meet up at a coffee shop or bar and cell phones were, well, phones.

Mid-20th century prognosticators may have been several decades off with their predictions, but there have been many innovations along the way. Remember The Clapper, that cheesy 1980s, sound-activated light switch? And who can forget those mechanical light timers we sometimes used to fool burglars—only the stupidest ones—that we were at home and not thousands of kilometres away sipping Pina Colodas in The Bahamas? Remote-control security, programmable sprinkler systems and numerous other gadgets round out the list of standalone home automation (HA) products.

All of that is still a far cry from true, fullyintegrated HA, though. When Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda were building their $113 million mansion overlooking Lake Washington in Medina, a suburb of Seattle, they included miles of Ethernet and fibre optic cable to facilitate centralized and automated control over every aspect of their environment.

At chez Gates, residents and guests wear microchips that relay customized environmental preferences—lighting intensity, ambient temperature, entertainment centre volume, floor heating etc.—to the server network (Windows NT, of course) that controls the 66,000 square-foot cottage.

The system will even automatically put up your favourite artwork on the multitude of flat screens embedded in the walls as you stroll into a room.

When Tammy and Rene Simair built their Regina home in 2008, they decided to go the whole nine yards. Their system wakes up with them in the morning by heating the floors and raising the air temperature as it detects people starting to move around.

It lowers the temperature again and turns off all the lights when the security system is armed as the family leaves for work and school. It automatically lowers the volume of the entertainment system when guests approach the front door and mutes it altogether when the telephone rings. It

even sends Tammy a text message on her BlackBerry when the kids arrive home from school. And they can control everything from the sprinkler system to the security cameras via the Internet if they are away.

“Having the house automated and using the system has turned out better than I imagined,” Tammy said. “When everything is done for you, you feel taken care of, almost pampered. You can just live your life and not worry.”

Of course, the Simairs had their system installed during building, but you don’t even have to build new anymore. Today’s solutions can be retrofitted to existing homes with out-of-the-box, wireless, affordable and even do-it-yourself systems without gutting the place.

ALMOST READY FOR PRIME TIME? Despite the promises of the 1950s—and the perhaps surprising fact that integrated HA systems have actually been on the mar-

ket for more than three decades—they are still not even close to being a standard feature of most homes. There have been several players in the Saskatchewan HA arena for years, but a sure sign the technology may be almost ready for prime time is when the traditionally risk-averse telephone company starts to get involved.

In 2009, Sasktel, through its subsidiary SecurTek in partnership with Home Automated Living (HAL), launched its entry into the market with its Home Manager product. The provincial communications giant is banking on the fact that most people in Saskatchewan are already customers and offer the home manager along with monitored security bundled with its home phone, Internet, television and cellular services. It is that existing infrastructure which makes HA a natural for Sasktel and a boon for HAL. “Home Automated Living is proud to be a SecurTek partner,” said Tim Shriver, HAL president. “As an innovative company with extensive knowledge and experience in the monitoring industry, SecurTek is uniquely qualified to launch a home automation system like the one we’ve developed.”

THE FUTURE IS NOW So, given the maturity of HA, why hasn’t

it already enjoyed widespread adoption?

Scholars use a number of models to predict the success of technologies. Most use some sort of matrix or rubric to plot easeof-use against perceived usefulness, affordability and reliability.

“Home automation products need to be invisible to be successful,” wrote Daniel Amor in his book Internet Future Stategies: How Pervasive Computing Services Will Change the World. “Their functionality needs to be easily accessible without being vulnerable to configuration mishaps or software bugs.”

The proliferation of smartphones may well be the critical mass the home automation industry has been waiting for. A majority of people now have a potential HA controller at their fingertips wherever they go and are comfortable using it for everything from texting with friends to uploading work presentations to their boss. Add the fact that to support the new generation of “phones,” wireless networks have become fast, reliable and almost ubiquitous, the era of home automation may well finally be upon us.

For Tammy Simair, it already is. “It’s complete peace of mind, and I would miss it if I didn’t have it,” she said. FHR

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23

WHY CHOOSE CRAWFORD?

PHOTOS BY SHAWN FULTON

Crawford HOMES

&

Crawford REALTY

BY G.H. LEWMER

uilding your New Home is more than just a matter of constructing four walls. It’s an expression of who you are and what’s important to you. At the heart of Crawford Homes you will find a commitment to family, affordability, quality and sustainability.

24

FineHomes REGINA

Family

Affordability

Being a family owned and operated business right here in Saskatchewan, Crawford Homes has learned that the secret of success comes down to what’s important to you and your family. Understanding that everything Crawford Homes does is to provide a great home for their family and for your family. When you walk into owner Al Bashutski’s office, the first thing you see are pictures of his grandson Manni. Al’s life has always revolved around providing the best for his family. This is reflected in the homes he builds. If you understand this about Al and his team, then you’ll agree that Crawford Homes is the best company to trust to build your new home.

The intent at Crawford Homes has always been to provide great quality homes at an affordable price. That’s why Crawford Homes has become the recognized leader in the housing industry for over three decades. Using a vast network of experienced and talented tradespeople and suppliers enables Crawford Homes to plan and build into every home superior craftsmanship and quality materials at a fraction of what it would cost if you built that home yourself. In other words, a custom-built home without a custombuilt price tag attached to it.

Quality Quality comes down to facts and intentions. The facts are that Crawford Homes builds a superior product. That’s why tradespeople in the industry have been quoted as saying that Crawford Homes builds the best house in Regina. Crawford Homes intention is to increase customer satisfaction through better and more responsive customer care. Everyone who works with Crawford Homes strongly believes in and encourages a common sense and practical approach to building. Their goal is to educate every homeowner to make informed and smart choices, taking the time to go over things that need to be taken into consideration when building a quality new home.

PHOTOS BY SHAWN FULTON

Sustainability What is important to Crawford Homes is knowing that with every house that they build, they have an enormous responsibility to the customer and also to the public at large. For that reason Crawford Homes was one of the first, and continues to be the leader here in Saskatchewan and throughout Canada in construction of government-approved R2000 and Energy Star Homes.

R2000 and Energy Star By choosing an R2000 or Energy Star home the homeowner has made an investment not only to help the world reduce its carbon footprint, but also to save thousands of dollars in energy costs throughout the lifetime of the home. With energy costs slated to dramatically rise over the next decade, it makes sense to invest in an energy efficient home that will give your family maximum comfort at a fraction of the cost, all the while making the world a better place through a commitment to the planet. For more information on R2000 and Energy Star visit www.crawfordhomes.ca/ energyfeatures When you visit www.crawfordhomes.ca, you’ll find many of the popular floor plans that Crawford Homes builds. If you have unique ideas that you want to incorporate into your build, Crawford Homes has an in-house drafting team to work with you in helping create the quality home of your dreams. Crawford Homes builds in the most popular communities in the Regina area, with an enviable inventory of lots to choose from.

Crawford Homes offers what is recognized by the industry as the best warranty that’s available to new home owners. For more information visit www.crawfordhomes.ca/warranty

PHOTO COURTESY OF CRAWFORD HOMES

PHOTOS BY SHAWN FULTON

Crawford REALTY Homelife Crawford Realty- Resale Homes Crawford’s in-house Real Estate Brokerage, gives you the best of both worlds to help you choose a new or resale home. Crawford offers a guaranteed trade-in program which allows you to trade in your existing home and build a new one.

Crawford will guarantee you a fair price for your existing home that enables you to go to a bank to get the mortgage arranged to purchase your new home.

After 33 years, Crawford Homes and Homelife Crawford Realty is extraordinarily proud of the fact that they have established communities of affordable, energy efficient, quality homes that have helped to make Saskatchewan a better place to live. Crawford Homes is still willing to do whatever it takes to provide the best product and service to the customer.

Crawford Homes and Homelife Crawford Realty would like to thank you for your continued support and for making them one of the top New Home Builders and Real-Estate brokerages in Saskatchewan.

fhr PHOTOS BY SHAWN FULTON

Visit Crawford Homes and Homelife Crawford Realty anytime online at www.crawfordhomes.ca or at these Crawford Homes Showhome locations.

1) 209 Brookview Drive (Fairways West) Mon.-Thurs. 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Sat. and Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

2) 3305 Valleygreen Way (The Greens) Mon.-Thurs. 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Sat. and Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

3) 4703 Glass Street (Harbour Landing) Daily 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Mon.-Thurs. 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

4) 4409 Padwick Road (Harbour Landing) Daily 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Mon.-Thurs. 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

For the most current Showhomes and hours visit www.crawfordhomes.ca 533 Victoria Avenue Regina, Sk. | 306.525.9801 | www.crawfordhomes.ca FineHomes REGINA

27

INVESTMENT EXPERT SHARES WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE

Edna Keep

Wave Capital Investments 6135 Rochdale Blvd.

Phone: 306.721.9283/536.6266 edna@ednakeep.com “I see myself more as a financial educator than a financial advisor,” says Edna Keep, Real Estate Investor and Financial Educator with Wave Capital Investments in Regina. “I’ve learned through my experience how important it is for my clients to understand all their options when it comes to smart investments for their financial future. My mission is to educate and inspire them to make wise and beneficial decisions that will assist them in obtaining financial independence over multiple generations.”

Edna’s passion for, and specialization in, real estate investments has allowed her to share this self-made success to like-minded clients who are interested in achieving their own financial freedom.

“I believe that the strongest investment for anyone who wants to maximize their future revenue stream is real estate. If you understand how to actualize the most effective use of a property over time, you’ll be able to access that property to generate increased capital flow that can be put to use in a multitude of ways. People don’t realize there are so many different options when it comes to real estate 28

FineHomes REGINA

EXPERTAdvice

investments. My experience and knowledge in both residential and commercial properties can help to assist each client to understand what investment would best suit their personality.”

commodities hold. Housing first and foremost will be their most important concern. I see an enormous opportunity for all my clients to address that important concern by building their own personal wealth in the process.”

Edna has capitalized on that experience and understanding to build a portfolio of 125 properties valued at over 12 million dollars.

Her initiative has seized upon the opportunity that low bank lending rates and low vacancy rates have afforded to build investments and cash flow. She’s passionate about what she does and she’s eager to share her knowledge with all her clients.

For Edna, her greatest satisfaction comes from seeing her clients realize their financial potential. “It makes me so happy when my clients call back excited after they’ve accomplished their first investments. I realize that they’re on the road to accomplishing their goals and they’re doing it all by themselves.

All I did was help them get started. It’s a fantastic feeling when you can help people out in that way.”

“Whenever I meet with someone for the first time, they always say they’re a bit overwhelmed by how real estate investing works. It may seem daunting at first, but after I thoroughly explain all the steps involved, people are surprised to find out how it’s such an easy and effective way to build their investments.”

With Saskatchewan in the midst of an unprecedented increase of population and business opportunities, Edna is excited about what the future holds. “Our province has so many resource riches. We have potash, oil, agriculture, water, all integral commodities that will continue to increase in demand all around the world. We’re already witnessing a large influx of individuals to the province to take advantage of the opportunities these

To contact Edna you can reach her at Wave Capital Investments in Regina by calling (306) 536-6266 or visiting her website at www.ednakeep.com.

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306.737.1912 www.kratzhomes.com

Kratz Homes CREATING QUALITY HOMES SINCE 1959 With more than 50 years of experience in the business of building homes, Kratz Homes knows a lot about what it takes to make customers happy. When Joe Kratz founded his company he knew that customer service and quality were the cornerstones of building a successful business. By building homes with the right materials, the right designs, and by treating his customers with respect, he built a business that he could pass on to his son Ralph.

And that is why Ralph is building a home for the Grandchildren of one of the very first Kratz Homes customers. When you do things right, people keep coming back.

New Showhomes In The Creeks!

As a featured builder in The Creeks, Kratz Homes is proud to have two homes in The Creeks Parade of Homes. Located at 4119 Chuka Drive and 4123 Chuka Drive, these beautiful homes represent some of what is possible by building with Kratz.

Of course, you can also choose from one of our many available lots and build the home that is perfect for you.

306.737.1912

Dennis Coutts, CEO Habitat for Humanity; Laura Ross, Minister of Government Services; June Draude, Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for the Status of Women and Saskatchewan Housing Corporation; Greg Panio single dad and Habitat for Humanity homeowner.

This was taken at the ground-breaking ceremony on April 12.

HABITAT PROJECT BUILDS HOPE, TRAINS WOMEN AND TRANSFORMS LIVES

BY TOBIE HAINSTOCK

32

FineHomes REGINA

A

while back, I was at a

go beyond what we have accomplished.

the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation

charity

where

This is one of the motivations behind

announced the provincial government’s

into

Lau-

such projects as the Habitat for Human-

contribution of $50,000 for the project.

Saskatchewan’s

Gov-

ity Women Build. Another is to provide

minister.

an environment in which women can feel

“This investment reflects our com-

comfortable learning skills they might not

mitment to encourage Saskatchewan

“Have I got a story for you!” she exclaimed.

otherwise have the opportunity to learn.

women to explore, train and build ca-

Her passion was infectious as she began

As the first shovel of dirt was turned on

the supply of housing for Saskatch-

to tell me a bout Habitat for Humanity

April 12 at 1019 Rae Street, June Draude,

ewan families in need,” Draude stated.

Regina’s first ever “Women Build.” This

Social Services Minister and Minister re-

was something I could get very excited

sponsible for the Status of Women and

I

ra

Ross,

ernment

function

bumped Services

reers in skilled trades, and to increase

about. Any program that encourages people to get involved in assisting families to increase their quality of living has my vote.

In this particular case, the family benefitting from the Women Build project is a hardworking single dad with a family of four. For Greg Panio and his children Levi, Gabrielle, Olivia and Alexis, the dream of becoming homeowners will finally come true this fall.

“This opportunity is truly a blessing for me and my kids,” Panio said. “We are grateful to be chosen as a Habitat family and thank each and every person who has been involved in this project from the beginning. To those who will swing a hammer and pound a nail this summer, I want you to know that I am thankful for your generosity and effort.”

What a great way to empower deserving lower income working families. Providing the basic essentials is a primary desire of any parent. When someone is able to take it a step further, such as from renting to home ownership, there is so much more satisfaction while providing for those basic needs. When we are able to step past that and begin to acquire assets, we feel freer to dream bigger dreams and make bigger plans. We encourage our children to do the same and even

Ross added: “We are pleased to team up

with Habitat for Humanity and women

who were full of hope and optimism.

leaders in the community to support the

“This project is not about excluding

Regina Women Build project. “This project

men, but including women,” stated Den-

is another instalment in the long history of

nis Coutts, CEO, Habitat for Human-

women’s community work, of leadership by example, of mentorship and teaching other women, and most of all, of women’s commitment to using their own skills and resources to build strong, healthy neighbourhoods

and

lead a team of women on a Habitat for

ity Regina. “The Women Build program was established by Habitat for Humanity to encourage women to be involved with the construction of Habitat homes.”

Humanity Regina Women Build project.”

Although this is the first Women Build

communities.”

In Regina, 60 per cent of the Habitat

project in Regina, with women leading

In addition to media people milling

for Humanity volunteer workforce is

the project, it is by no means the first

about, snapping pictures and interview-

made up of women, therefore, it only

ing officials, the whole neighbourhood

makes sense there would be a Wom-

seemed to turn out. The enthusiasm was contagious. There was a real aura of encouragement and goodwill along the entire street. It was a good news story and it was so refreshing to talk to people

34

FineHomes REGINA

en Build project in Queen City, Coutts

Women Build to take place. The first one occurred in 1991, since that time, more than 1,400 Women Build houses have been built in North America and around

said, adding, “I commend Minister June

the world. In Canada, there have been

Draude and Minister Laura Ross for

more than 40 homes built by women

taking the initiative to be the first to

crews. Each build is overseen by jour-

neyperson carpenters and the Women

quired to contribute 500 hours of sweat

on social services decreases. They are

Build project in Regina is no different

equity toward the building of his home.

then better able to contribute to their

being headed up by experienced trades-

For all partner families, sweat equity is

community and the local economy. Af-

women Pat Fayant and Val Overend.

tracked and must be completed before the

fordable housing ultimately leads to bet-

keys to the home are handed over. Habitat

ter outcomes for families in the areas of

The

brings

families are also required to pay an inter-

health, education and the overall well-

women from all walks of life together

Women

Build

program

est-free mortgage which is based on the

being of the individuals within those fami-

to actively address the need for afford-

homeowner’s current financial position

lies. Really, isn’t that what we all want?

able family housing. And while women

and the professionally appraised value of

building together offers tremendous

the home. A review of the homeowner’s

Throughout the months of the Wom-

empowerment, the benefits go beyond

financial situation is also done annually.

en Build, Fine Homes Regina will

those volunteering to transform the lives of families and their communities.

As a Habitat partner family, Panio is re-

be following the progress and talkThe folks at Habitat for Humanity un-

ing

derstand that, as a family’s financial

FHR

situation improves, their dependence

PHOTO: COURTESY OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

further

with

those

involved.

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t " DBMNJOH QFBDFGVM QMBDF We are excited to begin our new condo development in a small coastal community, Los Ayala, Nayarit, in Jaltemba Bay, Mexico.

One hour drive from Puerto Vallarta. Steps away from the ocean. Swimming pool.

Private rooftop lounges. Secure with compound perimeter. Plans will be available soon.

Brass Homes Ltd.

BRASSHOMESLTD BUILDING LIFESTYLES

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Regina, SK S4T 2A5 Tel: 306.737.0820 info@brasshomes.ca www.brasshomes.ca

We will also construct villas in the Los Ayala, Rincon de Guayabitos, and La Penita area.

FineHomes REGINA

39

Now Available on Aspen Village Drive in Emerald Park t Executive and self-sustainable homes on pie-shaped lots t Backing onto Aspen Links Golf Course

BRASSHOMESLTD BUILDING LIFESTYLES

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BRASS HOMES LTD. BUILDS CUSTOM HOMES TO SUIT YOUR LIFESTYLE

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We now have a map of the lots available at Aspen Grove in Emerald Park posted on our website.

www.brasshomes.ca

MORTGAGES

EXPERTAdvice

10 Reasons to Use a Broker

Laurie Krueger

Mortgage Broker, Partner The Mortgage Market Regina 206-4303 Albert St. Regina, Sk. 306.541.8002 lauriekrueger@sasktel.net www.lauriekrueger.com License # 315957

1. Get independent advice on your financial options.

As independent mortgage brokers and mortgage agents, we’re not tied to any one lender or range of products. Our goal is to help you successfully finance your home or property. We’ll start by getting to know you and your homeownership goals. We’ll make a recommendation, drawing from available mortgage products that match your needs, and we will decide together what’s right for you.

2. Save time with one-stop shopping.

It could take weeks for you to organize appointments with competing mortgage lenders - and we know you’d probably

42

FineHomes REGINA

rather spend your time house-hunting!

We work directly with dozens of lenders, and can quickly narrow down a list of those that suit you best, making comparison-shopping fast, easy, and convenient.

3. We negotiate on your behalf.

Many people are uncertain or uncomfortable negotiating mortgages directly with their bank. Brokers negotiate mortgages each and every day on behalf of Canadian homebuyers. You can count on our market knowledge to secure competitive rates and terms that benefit you.

4. More choice means more competitive rates.

We have access to a network of major lenders in Canada, so your options are extensive. In addition to traditional lenders, we also know what’s being offered by credit unions, trust companies, and other sources and we can help you take care of other requirements before your closing date, such as sourcing mortgage default insurance if your down payment is less than 20 per cent of the purchase price.

5. Ensure that you’re getting the best rates and terms.

Even if you’ve already been pre-approved for a mortgage by your bank or another financial institution, you’re not obliged to stop shopping! Let us investigate to see if there is an alternative to better suit your needs.

6. Get access to special deals and addons.

Many financial institutions would love to have you as a client, which is why they often offer incentives to attract

creditworthy customers. These can include retail points programs, discounts on appliances, shopping clubs and more.

We do the math on which offers might be worth your attention when it comes to financing or mortgage insurance - so you get the perks you deserve.

7. Things move quickly!

Our job isn’t done until your closing date goes smoothly. We’ll help ensure your mortgage transaction takes place on time and to your satisfaction.

8. Get expert advice.

When it comes to mortgages, rates, and the housing market, we’ll speak to you in plain language. We can explain the various mortgage terms and conditions so you can choose confidently.

9. No cost to you.

There’s absolutely no charge for our services on typical residential mortgage transactions. How can we afford to do that? Like many other professional services, such as insurance, mortgage brokers are generally paid a finder’s fee when we introduce trustworthy, dependable customers to a financial institution. These fees are quite standard and nearly industry-wide so that the focus remains on you, the customer.

10. Ongoing support and consultation.

Even once your mortgage is signed and paperwork is complete, we are here if you need any advice on closing details or even future referral needs. We are happy to be of assistance when you need it.

SUN COUNTRY HOMES A Big Company Or A Small Company? Yes

BY RYAN HOLOTA ealing with a small company has many distinct advantages over dealing with a great big company.

With a small company, you generally deal with the same person over and over again, developing a relationship and really getting to know each other. You have access to the decision makers in the company, ensuring that you can get satisfaction if you run into a problem. And, when it comes to building

a house, you get to customize the build exactly the way that you want to, without being confined by the usual processes and procedures that a big company has.

Of course, there are some benefits to dealing with big companies too. Large companies have offices where you can meet with estimators, general contractors, and designers. Further, these businesses

also have the resources and experience that is needed to become Energy Star certified builders, to qualify as members of the Saskatchewan New Home Warranty Program, and to be CMHC approved builders. They also build a lot of homes and have a lot of experience dealing with the issues that arise during the construction of a home. They can also keep sub-trades busy, meaning that they

FineHomes REGINA

43

are able to use the same people regularly and can offer consistent quality on their builds.

Somewhere between large and small; this is the unique position in which Sun Country Homes resides. Founded in 2005 and locally owned and operated, Sun Country provides employment to Saskatchewan trades people and gives back to the community in which they live and work. They purchase their supplies locally, hire local contractors for work they do not do themselves, and promote a family atmosphere for their employees. For Sun Country it boils down to three ‘P’s: People, Product, and Price. They pride themselves on clean, safe, and organized job sites and on using advanced cost-saving materials to simplify building and to reduce end prices for their customers.

Being accessible is of great importance to Sun Country Homes. The president’s office is located directly beside the front door of their headquarters, not stuck away in the back corner of the building. Project managers and contractors are easy to reach by telephone or email, and they are quick to return phone calls if you don’t get a hold of them the first time. Unlike some home builders who restrict access to the job site, Sun Country Homes makes it easy for you to view the progress of your new home. One of the advanced technologies that the team at Sun Country employs is a cloud-based project management program. Not only do all of their team members have access to the most current data about their home, their customers can log in to a special website and see recent pictures of their build, as well as view up to date budgets, dates, and timelines for the completion of their home.

Real Affordable Homes Home affordability is a problem. Despite what national studies show as the average home price in Regina, the reality is that building a new home in Regina is going to cost nearly $400,000.00 today. To Sun Country Homes, this does not equal affordable housing. To provide real opportunity for home ownership, Sun Country has developed a real line of affordable homes.

How affordable? How does $239,000 for a brand new, single-detached home sound?

You read that number correctly. Through careful lot selection, precise workmanship, and the ability to garner excellent pricing on materials, Sun Country Homes can put you in a new home for as little as $239,000 depending on the area that you choose to live in. Better yet, they have homes in this price range available for purchase right now. That means no waiting, no searching, and no unexpected charges or

Need To Move Today?

cost overruns. Just pick your house, get the mortgage, and move in.

can walk you through the entire process from beginning to end.

Like To Hear The Crickets?

Emerald Park And White City

Sun Country has inventory available for purchase right now in White City and Regina, including some of the affordable homes that they build.

Sun Country Homes often builds acreage homes. Whether they are small retirement homes or expansive dream houses, Sun Country is the builder to choose when you need work outside of a large residential centre. Because they don’t invest their money in new developments, Sun Country is untethered to the newest city developments and is willing to build your home anywhere. For many of their customers, this means that they choose to build their dream home on larger lots in the country. With the growing trend of acreage developments outside of the city, there are many locations for you to choose from for you to build on. These locations allow for more flexibility in the design of your home and let you explore the options of using outdoor spaces as a part of your living space in the summer, something that small city lots don’t allow you to do. Best of all, Sun Country Homes

Being based in Emerald Park, it is not surprising that Sun Country Homes builds many houses in the beautiful bedroom communities of Emerald Park and White City. With a selection of lots available for you to build on, and if they don’t have the lot that you want, they can leverage their network of business relationships to try and get it for you.

For more information about Sun Country Homes, visit their website at www. suncountryhomes.ca. You can also phone Sun Country Homes at (306) 522-3303.

Their latest show homes are available for viewing in White City at 1 Lott Road and 65 Fairway Crescent.

Sun Country Homes has been in Emerald Park since the company was founded, and has been a part of many of the most exciting new developments to come to the community for the past six years. Using their in house designer, they have even managed to create a beautiful home with a three car garage that costs the same as a home with a two car garage. That home is currently available for viewing and is for sale.

fhr Sun Country Homes 204-28 Great Plains Rd. Emerald Park, Sk. 306.522.5003 www.suncountryhomes.ca

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CHANGING SPACES

ith more than 20 years of experience behind him, Darrell Stasuik, principal owner of Changing Spaces, could be considered an expert in adding value to a home. Whether it’s creating a new media room or building an outdoor space, Darrell has had many happy customers over the years. “I hear over and over from families how much they enjoy their new space,” says Stasuik.

“It’s motivating. It’s why I do what I do.”

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After developing a successful career in the construction industry, Darrell decided to build his own business—one where he could really make a difference for Regina families— in an industry that doesn’t always have the best reputation for quality workmanship. Early on, Darrell realized he made the right choice. One of the first projects he was contracted for was a full home renovation in east Regina—and Changing Spaces was up to the challenge.

From demolishing walls to a complete kitchen overhaul to creating a yearround family space out of the sunroom, in just eight weeks, Changing Spaces transformed this 2,700 square foot, 1980s two-storey into a contemporary home that the homeowners were proud to share with friends and family.

What started as a one person business has grown into a company that employs

five people, including Darrell’s son Brennan. While the company has grown, the values that built Changing Spaces remain the same. “It’s about doing things right,” says Darrell.

“Always starting with a solid foundation and then working with my customers to bring more to the space than they thought was possible.”

Providing a professional image is a priority for the Changing Spaces. From its fleet of bright-red work trucks to uniformed employees, you can trust your projects to this team. “It’s not unusual for homeowners to allow us to work during the day while they are at work,” Darrell continues.” We appreciate their trust and take that seriously.”

Throughout his career, Darrell has built many strong relationships in the city of Regina. Changing Spaces contracts the best local tradespeople to work on its jobs. “After working in the industry this long, you develop some solid relationships with people—and you know who to call to do the best job on your project,” Darrell says.

For Darrell and his family, Changing Spaces is more than the name of their business—it’s a personal philosophy!

Over the past few years, Darrell and his wife Melissa have taken their passion for homes personally. They have enjoyed building and renovating their own homes, each time paying special attention to unique detailing and the latest in interior design. “I think we are addicted!” says Melissa, laughing. “It’s not like we intend to build or renovate and then sell, we just get a new idea and can’t wait to bring it to life.”

A passion for creating unique and inviting spaces seems to run in the family. Darrell and his brother Darcy have teamed up on Changing Spaces renovation projects in the past and now this duo is taking on a new venture together. This fall, look for a new home builder on the Regina scene—one that is committed to “eliminating the sticky

notes” from the new home experience. Curious? Learn about Pristine Homes on the following pages.

...INSIDE AND OUT

Changing Spaces would be honoured to be part of your next home renovation. We specialize in Changing Spaces...inside and out...so give us a call at 531.9301.

Darrell Stasuik 306.531.9301 email: changing_spaces@mail.com

PRISTINE HOMES you dream...we finish nyone who knows Darcy Stasuik would say that he values meticulous execution. They would also say that he has a passion for homes and an eye for detail.

projects they worked on together was a full basement renovation. Their customer commented that she not only loved her new family space, but that her home was actually cleaner after the contractors left!

When Darcy decided to go into business for himself, a partnership with his brother at Changing Spaces was an obvious fit.

Having worked together on projects in the past, the Stasuik brothers complement each other perfectly. One of the first

For almost two decades Darcy has learned “on the job” from his brother Darrell about what it takes to build a quality home or complete a renovation from the ground up. Anyone who visits a home that Darcy has renovated comments

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almost simultaneously on the quality of the workmanship and the immaculate attention to detail. He prides himself on doing every job well—and not being afraid to invest the time to ensure the outcome meets his high standards. Darcy also believes in being trustworthy and accountable. “A promise is a promise,” says Darcy.

Pristine Homes plans to not only deliver a home that is finished with a high degree

of quality, they plan to make the homebuilding experience enjoyable for their customers. While their first Pristine Home is yet to be unveiled, samples of the quality of workmanship that you can expect can be found in the work the Stasuik brothers have put into a recent Stone Pointe two-story walkout.

Their first home is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2011 – so watch for your opportunity to experience something different and to own a Pristine Home that will be delivered.......finished.

fhr

you dream ...we finish

pristineHOMES Darcy Stasuik | Project Manager/Owner 306.537.4703 PristineHomes@sasktel.net

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WHITE CITY YOU’LL LOVE IT HERE!

BY TRILBY HENDERSON n many ways, your home sets the stage for your life. So when you decide to build a new home, it’s essential to take the time to envision how you want to live.

Does your family gravitate toward the kitchen? Do you see yourself spending a lot of time outdoors? Would you use a separate entrance to clean up after a long day at work? A large walk-in closet? A shower or a jacuzzi tub?

While all of these things are important, no matter how much thought you put into designing and building your new home, few things will have a bigger impact than finding the right location in a great community.

This is exactly what Roy and Joyce White discovered when they moved into their dream home backing the golf course in White City last year. The couple had always entertained the idea of moving from Regina to the community that shared their name, but weren’t sure where, when or how it would happen until a chance meeting while out with friends led them

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to Emerald Park Homes.

For the Whites, the18-hole golf course is one of the community’s most attractive features. In fact, as avid golfers, both Roy and Joyce were ecstatic to learn that a lot was available backing the Aspen Links Country Club and Golf Course, and although it was the first lot they were shown, Joyce said they immediately knew it was the one they wanted.

In addition to providing them with a great selection of lots to choose from, Emerald Park Homes invited the couple to tour other houses currently under construction so that they could witness the quality of the company’s work from start to finish.

“We were blown away,” Joyce said.

Both Joyce and Roy were also impressed with the professionalism and approachability of each of the subcontractors who worked on their home.

“We were out here every single weekend the summer our house was built,” she said. “Quite often there were one or two

or three different crews here and they would stop and show you exactly what they were doing. They were very, very good to us.”

The Whites’ two bedroom home features an open concept living area with large windows to highlight the golf course view.

Among the many features that the couple had their hearts set on were dark hardwood floors, dark maple cupboards with granite countertops, and a gas fireplace. Joyce said one of the most important items on their list was a large backyard deck. “We always wanted to have a really big covered deck,” she said. “Our deck is massive.”

“I sit out there and have coffee early in the morning and watch the golfers go by, and same with the evening,” she said.

There is no doubt in Joyce’s mind that building a home in White City was a great decision. “There’s nothing I would change.

It’s exactly what we were looking for,” she said. “It is even better than what we expected.”

The community itself has played a huge role in the Whites’ satisfaction with their new home. The couple was pleasantly surprised by the friendly and welcoming local atmosphere. “Our neighbours are so nice. It’s just a really nice, small-town community where everybody says ‘hi’ to everybody,” she said.

The quick commute to the city to shop or visit family is another attractive feature for the former Regina residents. In fact, Joyce said it takes minutes to drive to their previous home, now owned by their daughter and son-in-law. “It’s fifteen minutes door to door,” she said. “In Regina it takes you that long to get anywhere you want to go.”

New homeowners like the Whites will also be impressed with the community’s larger lots, lower taxes and excellent services.

“In the wintertime, our street was scraped every day,” Joyce said. “The services are phenomenal.”

Of course, anyone considering a move

to the area will want to check it out for themselves.

Emerald Park Homes invites you to take the short drive east of Regina on the #1 highway to Emerald Park and White City to see what it has to offer. If you haven’t been out here lately, you will be surprised to see how it has grown. New homes and new businesses include a doctor, pharmacy, credit union, daycare, etc., to make this a wonderful place to raise a family or to simply enjoy your retirement.

SHOW HOME: 36 Bower Drive, White City, SK.

1449 sq. ft. Bungalow, 25’ x 28’ a/garage, covered decks, back and front, Open concept.

There is a great selection of lots available for your custom designed Emerald Park Home, each marked with a sign in the Bower West area, just east of White City Drive and on acreages in the rural area.

If you would like a meeting to view lots, plans or discuss prices, please email or call to book a convenient time. Please indicate if you would like to take a short tour of the area to view a show home or other homes that are being built in this area.

fhr

Emerald Park Homes 64 Great Plains Road Emerald Park, Sk. 306.781.3383 www.emeraldparkhomes.ca

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Great Plains Leaseholds Ltd. Your Number One Developer for Emerald Park and White City

PHOTOS BY SHAWN FULTON

or those looking to live just a few minutes away from all the hustle and bustle of the city, Emerald Park and White City have long been considered the prime location. A young community located just minutes from the east end of Regina, Emerald Park and White City have built a reputation as a wonderful place to live. Large lots, diverse housing, and a great quality of life are just some of the things that cause residents to rave about their community.

There are many good reasons for the success of our community. The lot sizes are much larger than you are likely to find so close to Regina and, thanks to careful planning and development, each of those lots are planned with trees and green areas. Actually, much of the innate beauty of this community is because of the careful planning that has been built into the community by

the developer. There is a set of strict architectural controls in place, but rather than being designed to limit your creativity, they are designed to enhance the beauty of the town. Instead of telling you what type of house you have to build, the guidelines in Emerald Park and White City keep each house plan unique, ensuring that the home you build does not look like the home beside or across the street from you.

These same controls allow you the flexibility to individually landscape your yard, and be assured that your neighbour is required to do the same.

For those with industry experience or the avid do-ityourselfers, White City and Emerald Park is one of the last urban communities available that will sell lots directly to home owners who want to build their own home. You also have the option of purchasing a lot through your favourite

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in the future. While the citizens of some neighbouring cities may complain that their street doesn’t see a snowplow more than once or twice a year, residents of Emerald Park and White City see them regularly. More exactly, they see the evidence of their work within Emerald Park and the town of White City. Snowplows are very active in the area and most of the streets are cleared of snow before the residents of the community leave for work in the morning.

builder, and an additional discount will be given if that builder is part of the New Home Warranty Program.

For those looking for something a little different, Emerald Park and White City is also home to the first Bareland Condominium Project in rural Saskatchewan, in which you live in a traditional detached or attached house but your condo fees go toward the yard work and snow removal that most people don’t like to do. This project allows you the privacy of your own home, while still allowing you to spend your Saturday morning doing what you want to do instead of mowing the lawn or shovelling snow.

Speaking of snow, the white stuff is one thing you may not need to worry about

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Much more than just a bedroom community, Emerald Park and White City is a young, vibrant community in its own right. There are baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a community centre and a skating rink for the residents to enjoy, as well as the golf course. A vibrant business community also exists, offering all sorts of amenities to the region.

Perhaps most importantly, White City and Emerald Park is a real community. You will get to know your neighbours, perhaps better than you would anywhere else.

Miles of lighted pathways and park spaces fill the area, ensuring lots of opportunity to get out and enjoy the beauty of the area.

There is an excellent school, operated by the Prairie Valley School Division. The division is staffed by excellent teachers, has innovative programs, a strong focus of discipline and significant input by the parents.

You Can Live Here “Many people are under the impression that the communities are full, or that the prices are beyond what they can afford,” says Ben Kuzmicz of Great Plains Leaseholds, “but that just isn’t true. We have two new subdivisions that are opening up and the prices are affordable with proven resale. Because of the structure of our community, you can come out here, buy a lot, do your own landscaping, build your own garage, that type of thing, or have it done for you by one of the many builders who build out here.

You can also feel secure for the safety of your family and resale of your property. It is great to live out here, the schools are phenomenal, the snow removal is second to none, and the quality of life is just really fantastic.”

To learn more about what your life could be like, visit www.emeraldparksaskatchewan.com or call the Great Plains Leaseholds office at (306) 525-9516. We will direct you to the show homes that are open at that time or we will take you on a tour of the community. You’ll love it. fhr Great Plains Leaseholds 306.525. 9516 Fax: 306.781.3090 great.plains.auctioneers@sasktel.net www.emeraldparksaskatchewan.com

PHOTOS BY SHAWN FULTON

Emerald Park/White City Bower West - Walkouts/Bays/Crescent Lots

Some of the above lots and golf course lots may still be available through local builders including Aspen, Camelot, Carolyn, Crawford, Cypress, Emerald Park Homes, Genoway, Harmony Builders, Hextall Properties, Kratz, Lionsgate, Munro, Pastuch, Reimer, Ripplinger, Sthamann, Sun Country, Trademark, Trithart and Varsity home builders.

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The Art of Art Buying Assiniboia Gallery

BY BRENDA LYSTER Doctors don’t make house calls…but a Regina commercial art gallery does.

“It’s very common for people to ask us to come to their house, look at the style of their home and recommend art pieces for them,” says Mary Weimer, co-owner of the Assiniboia Gallery along with her husband, Jeremy. “We bring the art over and hang it so clients can see firsthand how the original pieces will look and feel in their home.”

The approach works extremely well for customers because going into a gallery and looking around may mean you’re actually missing what you really want.

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Mary explains, “At our gallery, we have hundreds of pieces of original art for sale, but it’s not like a retail store where everything is on the shelf and you can see it all at once. We often have exhibitions that focus on one or two artists at a time. So when you come into the gallery, you’re not seeing all we have to offer. You might walk in, see an artist on exhibit and think ‘this isn’t my style’…when truly, the perfect painting for you is merely 10 yards away in our art storage area and you don’t even know it.”

Kerry Lumbard is one of the customers who benefited from the Assiniboia’s home visit approach and Mary’s artful eye. “Mary

toured my home, met with me and got a great understanding of our style. Then she went back to the gallery and returned with some beautiful new art pieces…what she picked out literally transformed our home in a way I never could’ve done on my own,” explains Kerry.

An Artful Arrangement Another service the Assiniboia provides is best described as art re-arrangement.

“What tends to happen in people’s homes is that art becomes part of their usual visual landscape and their eyes don’t tend to see it anymore…that’s where we can help. We come into your home, re-

hang your art and bring a fresh eye to the possibilities…customers find they start enjoying their original art as much, if not more, than when they first purchased it,” Mary explains.

About Assiniboia Gallery With more than 50 professional artists represented, the Assiniboia Gallery can best be described as an abundance of variety, style and quality for interested art buyers. Situated at 2266 Smith Street in the stylish business area just south of the city’s downtown, the gallery offers a dynamic visual reward for art buyers, new or established. Opened in 1977, the gallery represents regionally diverse contemporary and traditional Saskatchewan and Canadian artists in a variety of mediums, from glass and jewellery to paintings and ceramics.

Frame and Re-frame “Updating your framing is a brilliant way to refresh the existing art in your home,” advises Mary. The gallery has an experienced framing department that excels in helping customers choose the right frame or refresh an old art piece. Moreover, customers can get all their framing done at the Assiniboia Gallery – from art you’ve purchased on a trip to degrees and family photos.

How to Buy Art: A Primer Mary and Jeremy talk with hundreds of art buyers a year and they offer the following how-to suggestions on purchasing original art:

“What Mary picked out literally transformed our home in a way I never could’ve done on my own.”

- Kerry Lumbard, Assiniboia Gallery Customer

A. Art Degree Myth. “One of the misconceptions we often encounter,” comments Mary, “....is that people think they need to have an art degree in order to purchase art and truly that’s not the case! All you really need to know to buy art is the ability to answer the question, ‘Do I love it?’ “ B. Artfordable: “Buying original art is actually more affordable than people think,” says Weimer. The cost of art can vary greatly depending on the experience of the artist, the size of the piece and a host of other factors, so there is a wide price range people can consider when purchasing art. In addition, the Assiniboia Gallery offers monthly payment plans so people can pay over time.

C. Test drive the art: Buying art is a commitment, so see what the art would look like in your home before you purchase. “Many people may not know you can do this,” says Mary, “But as an independent business, we can offer that one-on-one tailored service and customers feel even better about their choice.”

D. Go online: The Internet has opened up art buying in wonderful ways for customers. “By going online, you can familiarize yourself with the artists we carry and then when you come in, we can pull out a larger selection you can see in person,” says Mary.

fhr Assiniboia Gallery 2266 Smith Street Just South of Regina’s Downtown Area 1.866.378.0997 (within Canada) T: 306.522.0997 info@assiniboia.com www.Assiniboia.com Twitter: ArtYouCanBuy Facebook: AssiniboiaGallery Blog: www.LivingUpDowntown.com

COLOUR ME HAPPY OPTIMISM, SOPHISTICATION TRENDING FOR 2011

BY MEAGEN THOMAS

Maybe the vibrant, visible-from-theSpace Station Honeysuckle pink that is Pantone’s colour of the year pick won’t be your first choice for an exterior or even a large feature wall, but the colour authority’s choice signals a brave new world of bold, smart colour choices for 2011.

This year is about good cheer, good times and quiet contentment. So say

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Benjamin Moore’s colour designers forecasted Vintage Wine as Envision Color 2011’s colour of the year.

maroon, is definitely not a perennial favourite. In fact, it seems to go through long periods being ostracized by fashion-conscious dressers. First seen on the fashion runways of New York, Paris, and Milan, this rich hue with a deep brown base and a hint of smoky violet is just as magnificent in the home.

The hue, which some might also call

Vintage Wine is receiving sweeping

the experts at leading paint franchises and so says the consumer public.

STRANGE WINES

favour in both interiors and design circles as well. As an undertone in many of the latest wood finishes, leathers, and other textiles, Vintage Wine, and its lighter variations, will make a great paint colour pick for many applications over the coming years.

In fashion, it’s been a couple decades since this colour was really hot and the time lapse has made it look fresh and modern from the runway to the rack to the sidewalk. Case in point, wine shades started showing up on the covers of 2011 s first issues of fashion magazines in small details like makeup, typesetting, and accessories. This sets the tone, so to speak, for the whole year.

Wine a little to, um, feminine for the den? Lean toward the richer, manly maroons with their earthy, masculine tobacco brown notes.

Just as much fun inside as out, give your patio pieces a make-over with this tasty shade. While you’re at it, wouldn’t the shed look dazzling in this shade, especially if you garnished it with a few hanging planters of jewel-hued perennials for added drama? This is the get-along colour of all time—it goes great with most anything you put next to it and gosh, it’s just nice to look at. Okay, maybe the psychology stuff is true. I feel more at one with the universe just writing about it.

COLOUR ERUPTION I’m sure the nice folks at brand guru Landor weren’t being tongue-in-cheek—or obsessing over unpronounceable Icelandic volcanoes—when they predicted charcoal, smoke and ash in their annual colour trend forecast. Well, we’re MOSTLY sure.

They’ve bucked the moody trend to forecast fire-inspired, lava-hot colours of fire red, molten orange and spark yellow (no, really) as colours to incorporate into urban designs.

Sticking to the elements theme, bright clean blue hues earthy-comfort colours of scotch, honey, caramel and cashmere along with soft greens are the ‘it’ colours of the year.

They also stress that purple will move away from mauve to and (I’m not making this up): “come alive with the influence of fire.”

Okay, maybe it is all about volcanoes.

Take a bow, Eyjafjallajokul and Grimsvotn; you are the trend makers of 2011. FHR

CITRUS KICK In colour theory, complementary means opposite: colbalt/mustard, teal/orange, chartreuse/magenta and so on are heaven-sent pairings for the bold and brave colour lovers among us.

ICI Dulux has chosen a soft, light and airy citrus shade for their colour of 2011. According to their press materials, it “symbolises a freer spirit, sense of fun and positive energy. Encapsulating a mood of hope and optimism, it conveys a feeling of fizzy sherbet, new growth, relaxed fun and the goodness and vitality of sunshine.”

Perhaps they over-reach with a laundry list of positive psychological benefits colour bestows—promotes communication and learning; engendering feelings of well-being and positive thoughts… yada, yada, whatever—but take a boo at the Citrus Yellow H1.18.84 89YY 78/269 and note how it enlivens Vintage Wine.

Spookily compatible in a host of shades, a designer could do worse with these two on the palette as a starting point.

vintage wine

honeysuckle

PHOTOS COURTESY HEARTLAND/AGA MARVEL

NOSTALGIC KITCHEN

BY KARIN MELBERG SCHWIER

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I

t’s the centerpiece of the Norman Rockwell-esque kitchen, the warm glow of enamel and chrome gleam that defines the dignified and squat wood-burning cook stove. A romantic appliance, but probably not so much for those who lived at the turn of the 20th Century and through the Depression years and faced the wood chopping, water hauling, and sending children to split kindling.

Today, the allure appeals to people like Tereigh Ewart-Bauer and Egan Bauer. To recapture the 1920s ambiance of their lovingly restored Riversdale home, their ‘must have’ list included a wood burning cookstove.

No longer simply the cast-iron workhorse of yesteryear, today’s cookstoves marry the nostalgia of great-grandmother’s farm kitchen with the opulence of a highend, high-efficiency kitchen technology.

In Canada, Heartland Appliances manufactures a range of top-of-the-line appliances that range in style from period pieces to retro to boldly modern.

Tereigh and Egan’s Classic 9200 model conjures images of Olivia Walton preparing Sunday dinner. Tereigh hungrily researched how to satisfy her love of original character and passion for cooking and baking. Many gas ranges were less expensive, but none evoked the nostalgia and elegance of the wood-burning cookstove as well as the Heartland line.

“I’ve always been a lover of all things old,” Tereigh explains. “Egan calls me an old soul, and that’s why we bought our house, built in 1927 in Riversdale, a gorgeous core neighbourhood with homes that still retain their character. I wish I could say that I bought the stove because I have childhood attachments, but sadly, my early memories are of 1970s avocado green appliances!”

Once Tereigh had fallen in love with the modern cookstove, her love affair nearly fizzled over the price. The one she wanted, the Classic, was over $5,000.

“What prevented me from falling out of love was my faith that we would find a used one, and we did.”

The couple set off on a two-day journey

to Green Lake, B.C.—sleeping in their cargo van in the mountains—to collect their baby. Once home, Tereigh, an educational development specialist at the University of Saskatchewan, spent days peeling off layers of drywall, plaster and wallpaper to uncover the original brick chimney. “Thrilled to be rid of a muchhated ceramic-top range,” Tereigh says Egan, a general contractor, did some exquisite tile work, and the ‘new’ stove looked like it was meant to be there.

“My favourite meal to prepare is East Indian food,” says Tereigh, “but I have to admit that there is a special feeling that comes from cooking a ‘traditional’ meal like turkey and all the fixings.

I feel like I’ve been transported back in time when I use the range for that kind of meal, and find myself imagining who used to cook the same meal in my kitchen, on a wood stove, 84 years ago.”

Famous in her circles as an exceptional baker, Tereigh says the stove is not only a visual delight, but a baker’s dream.

“The oven is so even; it makes the meanest cheesecake I’ve ever been able to make in any oven I’ve ever owned! And being able to make a mean kahlua mochaccino cheesecake is very important!”

When Tereigh and Egan decided to redo their kitchen, they wanted to do it right.

“Everything within reason, but still we didn’t want to cut any corners or have any regrets, so there are a few things we really went all out on,” she explains. “Clearly the stove was one of them. We weren’t just buying a stove of exceptional quality, but a conversation piece, almost a piece of art. It really sets the tone in the kitchen, and acts as a time transporter! It’s hard to put a price on that.”FHR

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Candle Lake Provincial Park Photo Credit: Tourism Saskatchewan / Paul Austring

The Allure of the North Candle Lake combines luxury and wilderness for residents and visitors

BY TRILBY HENDERSON

Set just inside the boreal forest less than an hour northeast of Prince Albert, the Resort Village of Candle Lake has become one of the most desirable year-round recreation destinations in Saskatchewan.

Even its name, derived from a Cree Indian belief that unexplained light can be seen floating above the lake’s surface, evokes an image of beauty.

Then there is the lake itself, a pristine body of water that boasts some of the country’s best inland beaches, including Wasketeena, Sandy Bay and Minowukaw.

Throw in the lake’s natural sand dunes, vast surrounding forest and unique features such as the purple sand that covers areas of its shoreline, and its no wonder Candle

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Lake is considered by many to be the best resort village in the province.

Debra Hunter and her husband, Dave, readily tout the area’s many attractive features, including its renowned hunting and fishing. Hunter said they spent years vacationing at Candle Lake before making Minowukaw—the village’s easternmost subdivision—their permanent home in 2002. As an avid hunter and fisherman, Dave had spent much of his childhood in the area and had always planned to one day live there year-round.

Of course, non-sportsmen can also appreciate the community’s proximity to the wild. Hunter said it’s common to

see wildlife within the village’s borders, particularly during the quiet off-season.

“There’s so much to see,” she said. “Here, the outdoors is just amazing.”

Candle Lake offers plenty of opportunity to experience and enjoy the outdoors. In the winter, visitors travel for miles to crosscountry ski on the groomed trails, and go snowmobiling or ice fishing. Summer activities are even more abundant, from hiking, biking, quading and golf to boating, water sports and swimming. With its large surface area and numerous sand beaches, including a few that can only be accessed by boat, Candle Lake is both a magnet for vivacious summer fun and a haven for rest and relaxation.

Candle Lake Golf Resort Photo Credit: Tourism Saskatchewan /Rob Weitzel Graphic Productions

Candle Lake Golf Resort Photo Credit: Tourism Saskatchewan /Rob Weitzel Graphic Productions

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Fishing, Candle Lake Provincial Park Photo Credit: Tourism Saskatchewan / Paul Austring During the peak summer months, Hunter says the number of residents in the community more than triples. This doesn’t include the hundreds of visitors who come to stay at the campgrounds, RV parks, hotels and cabins within the resort village itself and the neighboring Candle Lake Provincial Park.

Hunter said the tight-knit community also offers a number of organized social activities, including yoga and other fitness classes, a children’s playgroup, swimming lessons and arts clubs. The nearby Candle Lake Provincial Park also hosts a range of events during peak summer months, including performances by well-known music artists such as the Saskatchewan Express.

Hunter said one of the more popular attractions in the area is the Timberland Gallery, owned by award-winning artist Dennis Chamberlain, whose photographic

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When it comes to man-made structures, many would consider the Candle Lake Golf Resort to be the area’s crowning jewel. The world-class facility provides the perfect setting for guests to enjoy luxury and comfort in the midst of the lake’s serene natural splendor.

offers visitors several opportunities to experience the best of both. For one, guests can enjoy a delicious meal or meet friends for a cool drink at the Water’s Edge Restaurant and Lounge, with a magnificent panoramic view of the lake as a backdrop.

Or they can park their boats in one of the 180 slips at the golf resort’s inland marina, the largest at Candle Lake, after enjoying a full day out on the water.

According to James Michayluk, director of marketing for the golf resort, the challenging 18-hole course is one of the features that makes Candle Lake Saskatchewan’s finest resort village.

The last three holes of the course run alongside the lake, providing players with a breathtaking view of the shoreline as they hit the homestretch.

Michayluk said the landscape found north of Prince Albert is unlike any other, and believes all Saskatchewan residents should bear witness to the beauty of the area at least once. And of course, whether looking for place to call home or to simply spend a summer vacation, Candle Lake is a great place to sample the allure of the north.

Michayluk’s other two favourite features of the area are the lake itself and the people, and the Candle Lake Golf Resort

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art truly captures the essence of northern Saskatchewan. “It’s beautiful,” she said.

PVC CURES THE SUMMERTIME BLUES

BY TOBIE HAINSTOCK ummertime! We all love it and like everyone else, you want to get out and enjoy it! Spend time on the golf course! Take a family vacation! Go on a fishing trip! Enjoy long walks with that special person! Relax on the deck! There are so many great things to do in the summer; it’s hard to choose which to do

first...but wait...the fence needs repair and the deck railing needs staining...so much for this summer’s fun...

Glacier PVC has the answer to your ‘Summertime Blues.’ According to Dave Bulmer, Glacier PVC Fencing and Decking Manager, PVC fencing lasts longer, doesn’t

warp and doesn’t change colour over the years. The durability of PVC is truly a trait to be appreciated. Unlike traditional wood fencing, PVC is mechanically fastened and does not sag.

Bulmer explains that the installation of PVC fencing is a much cleaner process

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than traditional fencing. Because galvanized steel pipe is pounded straight into the ground, there are no holes to drill and no dirt to backfill. This leaves virtually no debris in the yard. “In most cases, the only way homeowners even know we’ve been there is by seeing the new fence in the yard,” he says.

Impervious to insects and to the elements (such as moisture), PVC fencing is built to last a lifetime. Bulmer states that he has seen fences that have been put up 14 years ago, looking as good as new today! Overall, the fence stays straighter and always keeps that fresh new look.

Specially designed to withstand our harsh Canadian winters, the post is less likely to heave due to frost than concrete mounted systems.

Bulmer advises that it’s generally a good

idea to order your fence about two to four weeks in advance just to ensure it is up and ready when you want it. Installation can be done anytime of the season from spring thaw to freeze up.

Always beautiful and tasteful, PVC fencing comes in a wide selection of styles. Whether you’re looking for a ranch rail fence, semi-privacy, open picket, solid privacy, ornamental or something completely different, the team at Glacier PVC can help you find what suits your needs best. Bulmer also states that they can help you mix and match to create a great look combined with the privacy and security you’re wanting.

Looking for something completely unique? No problem! “We manufacture all our own fences,” says Bulmer, with their automated router, Glacier PVC can

build you a customized fence.

So, what does Bulmer think of owning a PVC fence? “It’s great!” he grins, “You always have a nice looking fence and you don’t have to spend your weekends scraping and staining and mending.”

Well, who says “there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues?” With worry-free and maintenance-free PVC fencing from Glacier, your summer can finally be your own. Enjoy your fishing trip; improve your golf game; suntan on your deck – summertime is here!

For more information about PVC fences, call 546-3990 or check them out online at www.glacierglass.com.

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418 Quebec Street Regina, Sk. 306.545.3990 www.glacierglass.com

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“Even if you build on a hillside, it’s a much more versatile method of securing your property,” states Jordan, “we can drill horizontally or on an angle if needed. This works well for retaining walls designed to reinforce soil or unstable vertical surfaces

SteelPoint Screw Pile Monitoring Advantage “While installing a screw pile on site, we monitor the amount of torque produced screwing the pile into the soil.” says Jordan. This technique allows them to calculate if an individual pile will carry the engineered loads that it was designed for, in the specific soil it was installed in.

SteelPoint Screw Pile Speed Advantage Concrete needs time to cure. When using SteelPoint screw pilings, builders and contractors can place loads on the screw pile right after installation. This means it is possible to install piles and build a deck the same day or form basement footings first and install SteelPoint screw piles, tie in rebar and pour concrete all in one day.

SteelPoint Screw Pile Design Advantage As the name suggests, the steel ‘screw’ pilings are screwed into the ground giving an anchoring effect which is more secure than traditional concrete pilings.

The ‘screw part of the pile,’ or Helix Plate welded at the base of the pile shaft acts as the screw which draws the pile into the ground while rotating. This large helix plate at the bottom of the pile now

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keeps the pile from sinking when loads are applied and from rising when frost or expanding soils try to lift the pile up. The fact that the smaller pile shaft diameter is located at the top of the pile means there is less surface area for frost or wet expanding clay to grab the pile and try to lift it. This is a real advantage in Regina’s expanding clay soils that have caused many homes to move.

SteelPoint Screw Pile Environmental Advantage

Some common screw pile foundation applications include:

Because the screw pile is actually what’s known as a ‘displacement’ pile, this technique removes the soil as it is screwed into the ground. No soil is actually removed from the site. “There is no mess to deal with and haul away.

For those who are renovating and working around landscaping, there is no disturbance to trees, bushes, etc.

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Screw pile in footing

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Pile under sunroom

Some of the other differences between screw piles and other foundation options are summarized in the table below: Benefit No Curing Time /P 1SF &YDBWBUJOH Site Verified Loading Environmentally Friendly Removable 3F VTBCMF Vibration/Noise Free "MM 8FBUIFS *OTUBMMBUJPO

Cottage pile foundation

Screw Piles Concrete Piles Driven Piles X X X X X X X X

X

X X

Saskatchewan’s “Great Lake” abounds with the biggest biggests and most mosts

BY TRILBY HENDERSON nown fondly as Saskatchewan’s ‘Great Lake’ and the ‘Jewel of the Prairies,’ Lake Diefenbaker offers a seemingly endless array of events, attractions and activities to suit any vacationer’s or resident’s interests.

Whether seeking a relaxing holiday, an action-filled adventure, or a new place to call summer home, visitors will not be disappointed with what they find at Lake Diefenbaker and around its far-reaching shore.

“Visitors are often amazed at the lake’s size, its cleanliness, and the diverse landscapes in different areas around the lake,” said Joel Perry, acting chairperson for Lake Diefenbaker Tourism. “They are

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amazed that we have all this to offer in southern Saskatchewan.”

Lake Diefenbaker is a man-made reservoir that was completed in 1967 with the formation of the Qu’Appelle and Gardiner Dams along the South Saskatchewan River. Today, the lake measures more than 225 kilometres long and features more than 800 kilometres of shoreline.

Diefenbaker’s prime location less than two hours from each of four of major Saskatchewan’s cities—Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Swift Current—makes it a popular destination for local and out-of-province visitors alike. Camping opportunities abound

with three provincial parks, three regional parks and a number of privately owned campgrounds and RV parks located within the vicinity. And visitors looking for more lavish accommodations can try any of the dozens of bed and breakfasts, hotels, cabins, and even luxury condos available in the area.

New or avid fishermen will find the lake to be very rewarding. Perry says Lake Diefenbaker is home to 27 species of fish, including walleye, northern pike, rainbow trout, sauger, perch, burbot and lake trout.

In fact, a World Record rainbow trout was caught in the lake in 2007, weighing in at 43.6 pounds. Plus, Perry adds that the lake’s vast size and expansive shoreline

rodeos, fishing, golf and ball tournaments, and festivals.

There are also several large tourist attractions in the area that visitors should take advantage of, one of the biggest being the Gardiner Dam. The 64 metre tall, 5,000-metre long structure remains one of the world’s largest earth-filled dams and is able to discharge 7,500 cubic metres of water per second.

mean fishermen don’t have to worry about a lack of good fishing holes.

Fishing isn’t the only appealing activity on the lake. Perry says every type of watercraft—from kayaks and canoes to windsurfers to large sail and powerboats— can be seen coasting the water surface.

“Because it is so huge, there is room for all water enthusiasts to enjoy the lake in an uncrowned atmosphere,” he said.

On shore, visitors can take part in biking, hiking, bird watching and even geocaching, a GPS-enabled treasure-hunting game rapidly gaining popularity in this age of technology.

There are five golf courses located in the area, each set along the breathtaking backdrop of the lake. Throughout the year, the surrounding communities host a variety of events worth visiting, including

Lake Diefenbaker is also home to Canada’s longest pedestrian bridge, known as the Skytrail. Standing at 150 feet tall and spanning a length of 3,000 feet, the former rail bridge provides visitors with amazing views from its location across the Saskatchewan River near Outlook.

“People should visit Lake Diefenbaker to experience its unique beauty as an escape from everyday life. Be it for a week’s vacation or a day trip, we are sure you will find something in our area that interests you,” Perry said.

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GROW YOUR OWN Living in a condo doesn’t mean living without fresh herbs for salads or the cooking pot. With enough sun and a little effort anyone can grow a pot-full of potables right outside their door.

BY CAROL TODD

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To prepare your pots to grow your own kitchen garden, place a small piece of screen over the drainage holes in the bottom of the pots and add at least two inches of coarse sand and small rocks and pebbles to ensure proper drainage.

Mix a good quality potting soil with half of its volume perlite or other similar material to keep the soil from compacting. You can use plastic pots placed inside decorative ceramic or other containers, or the containers themselves. Just be sure there is adequate drainage and, depending on the material and the colour of the pot, you may need to water more often. Dark plastic pots, for example, heat up quickly in the sun and need more water.

The potables

hile agriculture, the systematic growing of plants for food, is thought to have begun 8,000 to 9000 years ago, it wasn’t until the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs that the distinction between horticulture (garden culture) and agriculture first became distinct.

With large areas devoted to field crops surrounding population centres, many garden crops, such as cucumbers, onions, lettuce, mint, chicory, radish and melons were grown within protective walls surrounding homes and communities.

It was thanks to these walled gardens, especially those surrounding medieval monasteries, that many of the plants we know today survived the destruction of the Dark Ages. The monks were among the first to grow herbs for medicinal uses, as well as herbs for the soup pot.

Today’s herb aficionados can easily have their own kitchen garden. Just place a pot full of aromatic herbs on the balcony or outside the kitchen door for easy access.

Snipping off what you need as you need it ensures fresh herbs for your table and also keeps the plants growing bushy and strong. Whether you have a green thumb or not, you can have your own pasta or pizza sauce. Just add garlic!

The pot Like your property itself, the main consideration for growing tomatoes and herbs in containers is location, location, location.

Most herbs, and the tomatoes, require at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. If you live somewhere without a south or west exposure, check out your local farmers’ market for your ingredients.

To build your own Pizza or Soup Pot, you’ll need: tB QPU BU MFBTU JODIFT JO EJBNFUFS tTPJM TBOE BOE TNBMM SPDLT BOE HSBWFM tQFSMJUF tCFEEJOH QMBOUT

The main ingredients for a Pizza Pot are oregano, basil and tomato, but you can also grow other herbs such as parsley, chives, dill, thyme or any herb that strikes your fancy. ‘Roma’ or ‘Patio’ tomatoes are the best for container growing, but if you just want tomatoes for a salad, try one of the small fruit kinds, such as ‘Tiny Tim.’ Some garden centres carry large, well-established tomato plants and/or ‘Tumbler’ tomatoes in hanging baskets.

There are numerous different kinds of basil, from the familiar soft green ‘Sweet Basil’ to the purple ‘Dark Opal’—the flavours vary so try a few to see which you prefer.

All basils require full sun, but be careful not to overwater. Pinch the growing tips of shoots to promote strong, bushy growth and prune off flowers as soon as they appear.

For the best flavour, use the youngest, most tender leaves. That tenderness requires the same care in handling– basil leaves bruise easily so handle them carefully and use a sharp knife. The best way to keep basil is to freeze it—finely chop the leaves before putting them into ice cube trays, cover with water and freeze.

Once frozen, pop the basil cubes into a separate container and keep in the freezer to add to sauces.

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Oregano Don’t confuse oregano with its close relative marjoram. They taste similar, but marjoram is somewhat sweeter. The best oregano for pizza sauce is Greek Oregano, with its strong, yet not overwhelming, flavour.

Regardless of whether you want a fresh addition to a salad or a tantalizing pizza or pasta sauce, growing your own can be a tasteful and enjoyable experience.

Unlike basil, which is an annual and can be started from seed, oregano is best purchased as a bedding plant. It’s also a perennial plant, so if you have a sunny window you can bring it inside over the winter. Just make sure to treat it first with an insecticide such as End-All. Oregano dries well, but can also be frozen or preserved in a good quality olive oil or balsamic vinegar. Put sprigs of oregano, basil and parsley in a bottle of olive oil for a unique and tasty salad dressing.

Fresh herbs have a milder flavour than dried—as a rough guide, use two to three times as much of the fresh as you would dried.

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Todd is a horticulturalist who grows medicinal and culinary herbs, and Old Garden Roses, in her small town garden.

CAROL’S PIZZA SAUCE Ingredients t MBSHF SJQF UPNBUPFT t 0OF MBSHF PS UXP TNBMM HBSMJD DMPWFT t UCTQ FYUSB WJSHJO PMJWF PJM t TUBML DFMFSZ t UCTQT GSFTI mOFMZ DIPQQFE CBTJM t UCTQT GSFTI mOFMZ DIPQQFE PSFHBOP Peel and seed the ripe tomatoes. To peel easily, cut out the stem end and place in boiling water until the skins start to lift.

Immediately immerse in ice cold water and the skins will slip off easily.

In a heavy sauce pan, sautĂŠ the garlic in the olive oil until tender. Meanwhile, mash or chop the tomatoes and add to the pan. I throw in a stalk of celery, quartered, which I remove before the sauce starts to get really thick. Add the herbs and simmer slowly until sauce is thick but not burned. Spread onto a pizza crust and add your own toppings for a wonderful homemade delight.

Use more tomatoes, adjust the seasoning and thickness, and add extras such as sautĂŠed onions and peppers to turn your creation into a sauce for your favourite pasta.

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536-0027

FIT FOR A QUEEN Her majesty Elizabeth II has stayed there. So has Andy Garcia,

while

filming

The

Unsaid. Charlize Theron, Cher, Céline Dion, Avril Lavigne, Tim McGraw, and heavy weight film producer Oliver Stone have all enjoyed its opulence and luxury. Now, Fine Homes writer Mackenzie Brooks and photographer Roger Bayerlee take us on an exclusive tour of Regina’s most exclusive hotel room.

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My meeting with Marla Preston, general manager of the Hotel Saskatchewan, started out with a small scheduling hitch in the Royal Suite. Roger needed extra set-up in the room to accommodate his equipment and to produce the proper ambiance to create the look we needed.

Marla and her staff immediately went to work and, in minutes, produced all we required. All it took was a couple of phone calls and Marla’s staff rolled out, like a hospitality army, and made the room perfect.

“If that’s what they can do for a writer,” I thought, “what can they do for those who don’t work in our sweatpants?” I soon found out, as Marla showed us up to the room. The Royal Suite is the hotel’s most outstanding and spacious suite, and is, in fact, a collection of six rooms that make up an entire corner wing of the hotel: the foyer, dining room, living room, master suite, full ensuite bath and servery. The Royal Suite also has an adjoining bedroom suite attached that can be opened to increase the guest’s available space.

Arriving in the Royal Suite, guests are greeted by the abundant stained-glass ceiling, an original feature of the hotel which was moved from the lobby to the Royal Suite in the hotel’s most recent round of renovations. Renovations were undertaken in the early 1990s to refresh the hotel while still remaining true to the original turn-ofthe-century Victorian opulence the Hotel Saskatchewan is known for. No detail was overlooked in the renovation, which was executed by recognized local designer Verna Alford of Alford’s Interiors. Elements in the Royal Suite, like lighting and carpets, were researched and made-to-order from British originals, replicated in England and shipped directly for installation in Regina.

Our visit continued in the administration offices of the hotel where Marla explained that her staff knows details matter. The team at the Hotel Saskatchewan makes it their business to extensively research the personality and special requirements of their Royal Suite guests

and ensure that they fully prepare them-

But anticipating guests’ needs has made

selves to anticipate their guests’ needs.

the hotel famously creative in acquiring hard to locate items, especially in the twin

“When we have guests in the Royal Suite,

departments of food and beverage. “When

we make certain to ask all the right ques-

the Rolling Stones stayed with us, we

tions,” Marla said. “We want to know

bought a full-sized fridge for Mick Jagger

about their preferences. Are they al-

who couldn’t abide a mini-fridge,” Marla

lergic to flowers? Do they have any di-

said. “We also had some time of find-

etary needs? What do we anticipate

ing Orange Fanta for Keith Richards. You

they will need upon arrival? We want

know, at that time, Orange Fanta wasn’t

to know how we can best tailor our ser-

available in Regina, so we had someone

vices so that guests have an outstand-

drive a case in from the United States.”

ing experience during every moment of their stay. We do a very good job at it;

Fresh from the high of the stage, I’d want

our people are the best at what they do.”

to uncap a Fanta from my full-sized fridge, too, but I was satisfied with the cupcake

Considering the major personalities who

that appeared partway through our dis-

have passed through the Hotel Saskatch-

cussion. “I thought you might like one of

ewan’s doors, this seems an understate-

these,” said Anne from the office adja-

ment. And they don’t always have a lot

cent to Marla’s. “They’re fresh from the

of time to do it. Marla explained that

kitchen’s oven.” I did want it, of course,

she rarely gets more than a couple of

but decided that it would be tough to be

days advance notice about the most.

taken seriously with green icing all over

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my lap. It’s hard to be professional and serious while eating a cupcake and besides, I was already wearing blue jeans.

Hey, it’s a step up from sweat pants…

As a base price, the Royal Suite is available for $1,800 a night. For celebrities, the Royal Suite commands additional services (with additional prices). Guests can have access to a 24 hour on-call chauffeured Mercedes-Benz and enjoy luxury spa treatments in suite.

For privacy, the Royal Suite’s dining room is the perfect setting for dinner while sticking to the busy schedule of, for example, a Head of State. Dinner is prepared downstairs and served by a tuxedoed butler from the Royal Suite’s servery.

The Hotel Saskatchewan’s kitchen is renowned for the highest quality cuisine available in Regina and with the combined international training and profes-

sionalism of Gaëtan Bottier, director of food and beverage, (French-born and trained in Vienne, France) the Royal Suite dining room table is always held to the highest standards expected in the fine hotels and dining rooms of Europe.

Chef Milton Rebello, a journeyman Red Seal Chef with culinary training from around the world, ensures the food served at the Royal Suite dining table inspires and delights even the toughest customers.

Still, I was pretty happy with my cupcake.

The Royal suite has also been temporary home to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip for whom the red carpets are rolled out without fail, former Presidents Bill Clinton and François Mitterand (for whom the Suite’s bullet proof glass was installed), and teen sensation Justin Beiber during his recent Regina stop on his World Tour.

The morning of Beiber’s September 15, 2010 show at the Brandt Centre, Justin

tweeted to his fans “just had this dream…

I lost my two front teeth and we had to do a meet and greet…” I have no doubt that the Hotel’s expert locators could have even found Justin some new teeth in time for his show. “My granddaughter is a huge Justin Beiber fan, and he was nice enough to pose for some pictures with me while he stayed with us, which I sent to her,” said Marla. “She was very excited!”

On the subject of the Royal Family,

however,

ewan

was

the

Hotel

Saskatch-

famously

“mum.”

From my observances, it’s clear: whether you are Jon Bon Jovi (swoon!), or a regular Joe trying to make a milestone wedding

anniversary

extra

special,

extravagance starts and ends with the Hotel Saskatchewan for VIPs, Royals, rock stars, and even writers. FHR

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Luscious Landscaping Member Regina & Region Home Builders’ Association

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IMPROVING YOUR SOIL SO YOU HAVE GUMBO – HARDLY A VALID EXCUSE!

WITH KEN BEATTIE

C

’mon folks, is it not a rule that the better a gardener you are the worse the soil that is bestowed on you? For what it is worth, it sure seems so! Having lived in Saskatchewan for more than two decades, I became more than familiar with the native “soil.” Yes, I

do use the term loosely as soil has the connotation that it is actually usable for plants to grow in. Gumbo, well, not so good. On a positive note, gumbo makes some of the best pottery in Canada.

Actually, when you really think about it

and distill all the information that you read, hear and acquire, success in the garden all boils down to the soil that you have. A very long time ago an excellent gardener told me to put my time, effort and money into my soil, the rest will just happen. As it turns out, after

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89

more than four decades of trial and error, that person was totally accurate.

So then, I am sharing that same wisdom with you now. There are really no quick fixes, immediate or overnight cures for lousy soil. It takes time, much like dieting.

Sure, I guess that you can lose a number of kilos overnight or within a given period of time if you subscribe to the fads that are current; soils are the same. There is no shortage of “remarkable remedies� for poor, unproductive soils. Some are liquid additives, some more in the line of powders or secret blends under various labels as obscure as the listed ingredients. Truth is, heavy Saskatchewan clay gumbo can be tamed and actually present itself as an excellent growing medium without a lot of fuss and muss.

Sand is not our friend. Consider what concrete is composed of‌ sand and cement.

The clay soils of Saskatchewan are akin to cement. Adding sand to gumbo makes great pottery and lousy growing soil. The reason for this is that sand doesn’t hold the tiny clay soil particles far enough apart from each other, thus limiting the air that is supposed to flow into the soil. For that

matter, water has a difficult time travelling through the particles as well. You may have discovered that once your gumbo gets wet, it gets very slippery and actually will heave or expand. Adding sand to this situation just makes it all worse.

The trick is to add organic matter and a material that will not clump, clog or squish when it gets wet. What could that be? Kitty litter is the absolute answer.

I know, you think that I’m crazy; adding kitty litter to Saskatchewan soil and all! I suppose next he will suggest nonclumping and not previously enjoyed?

Absolutely. Just what the doctor ordered.

The idea is that kitty litter, or clay that has been baked with heat, actually does not disintegrate and therefore holds the clay particles at a good distance from each other, avoiding the stickiness thing.

These spaces provide a channel for air, water and nutrients to travel into the soil.

The organic matter that you will add along with the kitty litter provides a host of beneficial organisms to the soil.

I prefer to use phyto or plant-based organic matter as opposed to manures.

This is simply a personal choice and not

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any better than any other form really.

Compost, of course from your home compost heap, pile or bin is typically excellent to add to a prairie clay soil with kitty litter.

The most predictable request when mentioning soil additives is “how much?” and “when to add?” Really, let’s put things into perspective here folks, it is dirt after all. It is neither that precise of a science nor astrologically-associated, it is simple common sense. Your heavy clay soil will require enough kitty litter to allow water to drain away in a reasonable length of time.

If you add too much, it will drain faster, not enough the opposite will occur. If you are a numbers kind of person, then consider approximately 1 kg for every 3 square meters to start and amend as you see fit depending on how poorly your clay drains.

Compost, organic matter or whatever your term for the “good stuff” can never be overdone. Most gardeners never have enough organic matter, often turning to the dark side of gardening and “borrowing” leaves, pilfering vegetative detritus and the like from neighboring yards to appease their addiction to good soil.

If you make your own compost, kudos to you for sure; add as much as you can and add it often to your Saskatchewan clay. So

many gardeners or rather gardener helpers (husbands generally) are of the mind that adding compost once is enough. Not annually mind you, once… often overheard rejoicing at the garden center that “oh ya, I did that last year.” Do not succumb to such folklore; in good old SK this is at the very least an annual chore.

Understanding now that the nutrient value of a Saskatchewan gumbo is rather high, the trick to making it available for the plants relies on the additions that you make. Sure, it is very simple to add inorganic and/or organic fertilizers, and for certain they do achieve a result.

Overall however, the most cost-efficient and long-term benefit for your soil is to add what has been suggested. Naturally, you may subscribe to adding fertilizers as additional amendments, and that is a good thing. The season is short enough and, let’s face it, we want the most out of gardens for the season.

Just a word of caution, however, improved soil conditions will require more water than you may be used to applying. Take care and monitor the needs of your plants or perhaps, if reasonable, consider mulching your newly invigorated soil to conserve moisture

and cut down on your maintenance.

An additional hint for cooler, prairie soils is an annual addition of a mycorhizal bacterium usually sold under the trade name of MYKE. These microscopic “good guys” will increase your soil’s viability and nutrient availability remarkably. Keep in mind they must be added annually to your prairie soils.

So there you go, a summer’s full of good things to feed your soil with. Please, by all means remember, the kitty litter must not be previously enjoyed.

Happy gardening and enjoy the season.

Ken Beattie, affectionately known as Canada’s Favourite Gardener, is a graduate of the prestigious Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture and is currently Director of Horticulture for Assiniboine Park, one of North America’s largest urban parks, in Winnipeg. As a TV host, radio contributor and author, his easy exuberance and playful personality are well-known to enthusiasts from Saskatchewan to the Philippines. FHR

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BY CAROL TODD

he seemingly infinite number of roses available can be mindnumbing. Without getting into the botany lesson, let’s call them all varieties for simplicity’s sake, lest our minds boggle down in the Latin.

In general, let’s call them hardy, semihardy and tender, encompassing the degree to which they will survive the Saskatchewan winter without assistance.

The hardiest are the species roses, the roses closely related to their wild cousins.

Next hardiest are those roses, such as the Morden, Parkland and Explorer series, which were developed specifically for growing in Canada. The semi-hardies, like the Old Garden Roses (OGR), require some minimal winter coverage and, lastly, the true climbers and tea roses, which are the most tender of all, need a high degree of winter coverage to survive.

Some people avoid growing roses, believing that this most beautiful of flowers requires an overwhelming amount of care. While it is true that it can take a fair amount of effort to grow some roses, such as the true climbers and the hybrid teas, most roses will thrive with a minimum of

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TLC. As Lois Hole, the gardening guru and late Lieutenant Governor of Alberta put it: “Water once a week; fertilize once a month and deadhead once in awhile.”

Planting

especially those ordered through the mail or internet, such as the OGRs, come “bare-root,” which is just like it sounds— the bare roots of the plant are packaged in a plastic bag with peat moss or other material.

Almost all roses need sunshine, although some of the OGRs will tolerate partial shade, so pick a sunny spot that is out of the wind.

In either case, it is important to keep the plant moist until you plant. In the case of the bare-root plants, it helps to soak it in water for about 12 hours before planting.

Most roses are bought from a garden centre already growing in a pot. Others,

Dig a hole two three times the size of the pot for potted roses, or about 1.5 - 2 ft in

Bring your walls to life!

diameter for bare-root. Mix about one-third compost in with the existing soil and add a handful of bone meal to encourage root development. When planting bare-root, build a little pyramid in the centre of the hole to fill the space within the roots. It will help the plant endure our Saskatchewan weather if the graft (the knob at the bottom of the stem) is buried three to four inches below the surface, so make sure your hole is deep enough.

This last is especially critical for the hybrid teas.

Once you’ve got the plant in the ground, fill the hole three-quarters of the way to the top with the soil mix and water thoroughly. Don’t be tempted to step on the soil to tamp it down; that could damage the plant: the soil will settle as a result of the water action.

After the water has drained, add more soil, leaving a slight depression around the centre of the plant. Water again and sit back and wait for the show!

Pruning Most roses require pruning only once a year. In the case of the OGRs, pruning is done after they bloom; other, re-blooming, roses are pruned in either the spring or fall. Just as in deadheading (the removal of spent flowers to encourage further blooms), pruning involves cutting branches just above the little bud growing where a set of five leaves meets the stem. Pruning to the outside encourages growth in that direction, leaving the centre clear to encourage good air circulation to help prevent disease.

Fertilizing A general balanced fertilizer will work just fine, but many growers use fertilizers specific to roses, such as 28-15-15 (28% nitrogen, and 15% each phosphorus and potassium).

Fertilize once a month in the summer, up until August. Don’t fertilize after the end of July or mid-August to help the plant get ready for the winter.

Winter protection

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Hardy roses don’t need any protection over the winter, though it doesn’t hurt to shovel some extra snow on top to help insulate them and provide soil moisture first thing in the spring. The OGRs and other semi-hardy varieties will benefit from extra snow cover as well, though it is a good idea to give them an extra “blanket” of peat moss or dry leaves as well. An inverted tomato cage wrapped in burlap will form a good receptacle for the peat for smaller shrubs. The tender roses should be covered with at least 10 inches of peat or other insulating material; after freeze-up, lightly spray the pile with water to freeze it into a protective crust. In all cases, water the plant thoroughly before you cover it.

fhr

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

BY CAROL TODD hen Shakespeare wrote: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” he could well have been referring to old garden roses. Known variously as old roses, Victorian roses and old garden roses (OGRs), by any name they are, indeed, sweet smelling beauties to rival even Romeo’s Juliet.

Cousins of the modern hybrid tea rose— the long-stemmed variety most of us are familiar with from the florists’ shops— OGRs can be traced back centuries.

While they are officially considered OGRs if they date from before 1867 when the

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first hybrid teas were introduced—and Canada became a country!—many date back to the 1300s or even earlier.

The first roses were grown in China more than 5,000 years ago. Two thousand years later the Greek poet Sappho called them the “queen of flowers.” Since someone first stumbled onto a thorny, bloom-filled bush, roses have been admired and treasured for their aroma, beauty, and usefulness as a medicinal herb and ingredient for perfume and other cosmetics.

Roses are, indeed, much more than

just pretty plants according to Doug Bradford, the southern representative of the Saskatchewan Rose Society.

“They’re pretty special. They play a role in our lives,” he says. Bradford, who’s been growing roses, mainly hybrid teas, for 20 years, was bitten by the rose bug growing up on a farm near Central Butte watching his mother “potter” with her rose bushes. Roses are, indeed, special— they have become iconic symbols of love and faithfulness whose presence marks most of the major events in our lives, from graduations to weddings and every special occasion in between.

None can do it better than the OGRs. While many of the hybrid teas have an aroma, it is nothing compared to the sensory onslaught of the OGRs, whose flowers have been used for centuries to make attar of roses, the essential oil used to make perfume—a single bloom can fill a house with its perfume. The downside is that, unlike the teas and the hardy roses, most of these roses usually only bloom once a year. But, when they do, stand back and marvel: they are covered with a multitude of multiple-petalled blooms.

Interspersing them with hardier varieties will ensure you get a full season of flowers. The upside is that the OGRs are also hardier than the teas and don’t require as much care.

Cherie Lowe, whose Calgary yard is filled with 250 (yes, that’s 250!) roses, many of them OGRs, was drawn to the shrubs for a number of reasons. “The explosion of the colour is fantastic,” she says, adding it is really “neat” to grow something that is not all that common. The history of the OGRs was another attraction. “If they’ve been around this long, there’s a message in that,” she says, believing it is important to preserve horticultural heritage.

Calgary weather may be generally better than ours, but the OGRs will grow quite nicely in southern Saskatchewan, and unlike other roses, many of them will also tolerate some shade. Unfortunately, they are usually not available at local garden centres, but many are available through Pickering Nurseries in Port Hope, Ontario at pickeringnurseries.com, Richter’s Herbs in Ontario at richters.com or other online suppliers.

Whichever of these beautiful and fascinating shrubs you decide to grow, just remember: always stop and smell the roses!

fhr

Regina Designer creates green foundations using Nature’s Canvas

BY CAROL TODD

Houses need a solid foundation. Plants require strong roots. And, a good landscape design needs both to provide attractive and functional outdoor living spaces.

Recently transplanting her own roots back to Saskatchewan, Bonnie Martel of Nature’s Canvas can create a landscape design that will provide a solid basis for your yard and all that live and play there, people, pets and plants—from the roots up. Martel has years of hands-on experience, coupled with an education in design and studies in horticulture.

Regardless of the size of the project, she can bring balance and artful flow to your exteriors by blending nature’s beauty with man-made structures.

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Martel works side-by-side with her clients using computer software to give them an actual vision of their yard. “I like to bring life to my designs by using the latest technologies that help the homeowners visualize their yard with true-to-life 3D imaging so they can better understand the concepts, colours, sizes, shapes and textures of plants and hardscape elements,” she says. The software gives the client views from all angles, even a bird’s eye view, as well as walk-throughs and a look outside from inside the house.

“Once the fundamentals are in place, changes are very quick and easy, so alternate plants can be set in or paving stone colour choices can be made to complement existing home features,” Martel adds.

But, don’t go thinking Martel stays behind the computer. The Emerald Park resident loves to get her hands dirty and will work alongside her clients to ensure they get the yard they need and want. “It doesn’t have to stop with just the design planning.

I like to help with plant selections and installations, and to work with the contractors at every stage of the project,” she says. The final product blooms into delight for her, and her clients. “I enjoy seeing the whole job transform into fruition,” she says.

fhr Nature’s Canvas Emerald Park, Sk. Bonnie Martel 306.596.2940 www.naturescanvas.biz

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Superblinds & Draperies Don’t Let Your Windows Go Naked When you build a new home, you put a lot of thought into it. Hours are spent pouring over drawings to tweak the floor plan, to make sure that the doors are in the right place, and that the kitchen has enough storage. You may even plan the location of windows to take advantage of the morning sunshine or to give you the best view of a park.

When the time comes to cover that window for privacy, why wouldn’t you spend time to select the right window coverings? The products that are available at Superblinds & Draperies are of a much higher quality than what you will find in other stores in Regina. A Hunter Douglas dealer, Superblinds is undergoing a change into a Hunter Douglas Gallery store featuring an almost limitless amount of styles, finishes, and textures to ensure that the window coverings you choose are perfectly suited for your home and your style. As a dealer of the Alustra Collection, an exclusive collection of distinctively designed window fashions that feature innovative textures, unique fabrics, and beautiful craftsmanship, Superblinds is uniquely suited to help you add warmth to your home.

Window coverings are often seen as the final step in the completion of a home, but that’s not the way that it should be.

Window coverings are a crucial part of the interior design in a home, and attention should be paid from early on. Doing so not only provides you with a much better final product, but can also help out financially.

What many don’t realize is that window coverings are considered a fixture in a home and can actually be included in your mortgage. This means that you can buy lifetime quality blinds and window coverings today that will last you for the time that you are living in your home.

With a product line for every budget Anita and Lisa work closely with their clients, to get to know them, how they live their lives, and to help select window coverings that don’t just cover a pane of glass, but

also accentuate the warmth and beauty of your home. Call 757.1331 to make an appointment, or stop by their showroom at 1142 Broad St.

Superblinds & Draperies 1142 Broad St. Regina, Sk. 306.757.1331 www.superblindsregina.com

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COLOUR A NEW CONCEPT FOR CANADIANS?

BY MEREDITH HERON I spend an inordinate amount of time on

Every time I flip through a magazine

We are better than this, people. When

Twitter or ‘the Twitter’ as many of us

and I see clean lines, an abundance of

I saw Iggy’s “Rise Up” video on You-

lovingly refer to it. I have befriend-

contemporary-style wood and a noticeable

Tube, I was hoping it was a call to charge

ed

many

Americans

in

the

de-

sign world and have come to the realization—of which I have long suspect-

absence of colour or pattern, I assume it’s Canadian. Throw in some industrial,

against espresso, beige, taupe and boring.

Sadly, it was not what I had hoped.

ed was the case—that Canada is really

raw-looking wood with a chandelier

Now, don’t go getting cheeky on me

considered

over

and saying that you too are against

tal

104

of,

to you

FineHomes REGINA

be

the

know,

beige the

capiworld.

it

and

it’s Canadian.

then

I’m

CERTAIN

these

dullsville

neutrals

and

are

varying things up with—GREY. I have had a life-long love affair with grey but substituting one for another is, well, it’s basically admitting that beige is a gateway colour, if you know what I mean.

It’s not that I’m against neutrals. I’m not. I revere them. I use them like Donald Trump uses hairspray. However, there are ways to use them and ways not to use them.

Paint your walls in warm off-whites or muted tones. If you want to do a neutral sofa, that’s fine but if you have neutrals on your walls and sofas you need to liven things up somewhere else.

In my own home, I have opted for a muted non-colour tint on the wall, a light grey with hint of lavender on the sofa, and a grey and white wool carpet—a basic platform on which I’ve layered, indigo (chairs), cobalt (drapery) and coral red (pillows).

The drapery and the pillows have these bold splashes of colour on a neutral cream background to pull them back into the neutrals in the room. If I opted for fabrics without a neutral backdrop, I would achieve a colour-blocking effect—a great look, but not so much for a narrow Victorian.

Just remember, you can start slow, but the world around you isn’t monochrome so why do you force yourself to live in a house that is? FHR

SPRING RENEWAL...

OR THE UGLY REVEALED?

BY MEREDITH HERON

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I

always remember the first true weekend

tle, boxwood and maybe some grasses. I

Maybe if I went to the back and unearthed

of spring that we are teased with here in

like my landscaping decidedly architec-

the gorgeous lawn furniture that has been

Canada.

windows

tural and classic preferring to leave the

under cover all winter I ll feel better.

down in the car and people flooding

accents to seat cushions, throws and cut

patios en masse. People talk of that

flowers I pick up from the market to ar-

Um, who forgot to rake all the leaves in

certain smell—aka wet dirt—as they

range just so. I return home and dive

the backyard before the snow came?

wax poetically about how great it is.

into my planters with zeal and fervour.

Short

sleeves,

The first one down, four more to go and

Oh well, a few pretty pillows on the chairs

Inevitably at this point in the year, I m

I decide to get a drink. Fussing with the

and we re all set right? Maybe a loud print

overcome with the urge to plan my exteri-

first one again, I move on to the second

from Schumacher s Trina Turk outdoor

or décor and garden plantings for the sea-

and inevitably realize I didn t get enough

line in cobalt blue (hot up trend colour on

son. I fantasize about the landscaping I ve

potting soil (an improvement over last

the rise) to distract from the rotting leaves,

yet to do, always with serious intent that

year when it was forgotten entirely).

flaking paint—oh I know, a large tropical

“this year” will be the year to do it. I dream

tree in an urn could hide the pile of leaves.

of the parties I will throw, the lounging

Several hours later, all three cast iron urns

we will do and of course am commit-

are done along with two zinc planters.

ted to be the envy of the neighbourhood

Phew! That was a lot of work. Somehow

with my stunning front planter creations.

though, in the time it took to go to the Gar-

Maybe this one will be the year it finally

den Centre until the last planter was done,

changes? FHR

Off to the garden centre I go with great

it would appear that all the paint on the

gusto! This is it! Boston ferns, some myr-

exterior of my house decided to flake off.

Every year.

BY CAROL TODD

kitchen is more than countertops, cupboards and appliances. It is the gathering place for family and friends. In many ways, it is the heart and soul of the home.

But ensuring your kitchen is familyfriendly, aesthetically pleasing and highly functional takes more than a trip to the hardware store and a weekend with a paint brush. A warm, welcoming and efficient kitchen is probably the one room that can benefit most from an expert’s touch according to Angus Smith, Regina manager of Kitchen Craft Cabinetry.

“Homeowners may have a good idea of what they want: a designer brings it to life,” he says.

Smith and his experienced staff, including designer Laura Bernier, can ensure your kitchen not only reflects your needs, but also your desires, incorporating modern elements and finishes to make your kitchen your very own. “Anybody can build a box,” says Smith. “If a designer has met your expectations, the final product carries more impact than just the veneer, a designer makes it yours,” he says.

“The client’s style is very important,” adds Bernier. “There are so many styles and finishes available that it can be overwhelming to many people. I enjoy helping them narrow down what they are attracted to is an important part of my job.”

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Certainly choosing from among the more than 1,300 different products Kitchen Craft offers would be enough to stir your mixed kitchen thoughts into a puree, and Bernier delights in helping pull it all together. “It’s exciting to help transform an empty space or an existing kitchen into a room that’s functional, efficient, stylish and beautiful,” she says.

Among those 1,300 products are myriad styles, colours and materials available to fit in any space to make your kitchen unique. There are no less than 51 different door styles in dozens of colours, all proudly Canadian-made in Winnipeg. Kitchen Craft was founded in that Manitoba city more than 35 years ago and is now sold in dozens of stores in Canada and the United States.

Laura and customer Janice Cain discuss her finished kitchen Kitchen Craft manufactures two main lines of cabinetry, Integra and Aurora, for the kitchen, bathroom, home office, laundry and throughout the home. In 2002, Kitchen Craft became part of the MasterBrand Group of cabinet manufacturers, offering multiple lines of modular, semi-custom and custom cabinetry. The company backs up its commitment to quality with a lifetime warranty.

With more than eight years experience under her tool belt, Bernier is adept at sorting out all the options for Kitchen Craft clients. “What has always interested me is working on a project that is such an integral part of the home,” she says. To ensure their kitchen or other area truly reflects their wishes, she encourages clients to be involved even before their first meeting with her. “I appreciate it when they gather pictures from the Internet and magazines. That really helps create the space that they envision.”

She uses that information, as well as, how

they plan to use the space, the number of people in the family, who does the cooking, and the appliances, to build a plan that will meet the clients’ needs and budget. Like cooking itself, accurate measuring is critical to ensuring the final product comes out right, and Bernier, Smith and the Kitchen Craft craftsmen keep their pencils and tape measures sharp. No eating of inches or anything else with this team. “We measure it all and develop detailed drawings based on all the specifications,” says Smith.

And, Bernier says there’s even a surefire way to measure her success. “I know I’ve done my job well when I meet up with someone that I’ve done work for in the past and they tell me how much they still love their kitchen and are still receiving compliments on it. They send their friends and family to me and I help someone else create their dream kitchen. It’s very rewarding,” she says.

You can also take pride in the fact that

your kitchen cabinets are good for the environment. Kitchen Craft has been certified in the Environmental Stewardship Program administered by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer’s Association (KCMA). The program provides kitchen cabinet manufacturers with a viable method to measure their environmental management practices against an industry standard. “Kitchen Craft Cabinetry is proud to be part of a program that authenticates its high level of commitment to the environment and sustainability of natural resources,” says Smith.

So, go ahead, hug your cupboards. After all, they are truly yours and yours alone.

By design.

fhr Kitchen Craft 1434 Broad Street Regina, Sk. 306.522.8949 www.kitchencraft.com

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HOME STAGING

EXPERTAdvice

Can Staged Homes sell faster and at a higher price?

BEFORE AFTER

last one eventually sold for $20,000 less.

My client was very happy he spent $1,200 to make the best return.

Di Thompson

Simpy Stunning Designs phone: 306.585.0775 cel: 306.581.7750 dithompson@sasktel.net www.simplystunningdesigns.ca YES! These results can be easily achieved, and at a reasonable cost. Staging a home is about expertly merchandising properties.

Make a great impression, unclutter, keep it fresh, add colour, reduce furniture or with vacant homes bring in furniture to highlight or create focal points. Don’t forget about the street view and pictures on the Internet.

I can help anyone get a premium price for their property.

Why Stage? - Make a property more attractive to a broader range of buyers. Enhance a home’s positive features. Capitalize on the emotional impact of the first impression and make the property memorable in the eyes of the homebuyers.

Best Results so far? - My best staged property so far has been a Condo. It was staged during the slower summer period, and sold within 5 weeks. Three other similar Condos in the area did not sell as quickly and the

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Home staging is not about decorating - It’s about getting a home ready to sell—recommending the appropriate changes to get the most money in the shortest amount of time. I love my work, I help the seller make their home beautiful, and the buyer finds a great home that is move in ready.

Staging goes beyond the usual list of repairs, decluttering, and packing personal items; these will be discussed by a CSP who has been trained to handle objections the homeowner may have to getting a home ready for sale. Stagers “kick it up a notch” by broadening the appeal of the house to a wide array of potential buyers at the same time targeting the most likely market using lifestyle selling techniques.

Stagers and Realtors work together - A stager is a third party who will discuss any challenges to the condition of the home.

The real estate agent does not have to risk losing a listing by pointing out all the work that needs to be done. They have delegated that job to the stager.

Staging impacts the condition of a house.

By changing the condition of the house you decrease the odds of showings without bids. Attracted buyers will be impressed by the way the house looks.

A staged home makes for beautiful photos.

Beautiful photos attract more buyers to showings; this means more offers and increases the opportunity to sell the listing on the first round of marketing.

Di Thompson – Owner/Lead Designer of Simply Stunning Designs I took my staging training in Regina in September 2006 through the Canadian Staging Professionals, and followed that with more personalized training with a professional stager in Edmonton. I then teamed up with another stager and began redesigning rooms and finally worked up to staging properties for sale on my own.

My expertise has grown with each job and my inventory is increasing every year. I have had listings mostly in the $200,000 to $350,000 range and have also designed a home for $500,000. Recently I was contracted to design and purchase furniture and accessories for show suites for a large Condo Unit, and am working on two show homes for opening dates in the Spring of 2011.

I have been artistic all my life and painted many pictures while I was a member of the Prairie Artists Guild here in Regina. I have taken courses in Interior Design, Floral Arrangements, Woodworking, Upholstery, Sewing, Willow Chair design, Faux Art, Feng Shui, Photography for Staging, and also dozens of short classes to help me run a small business from Web Design to Bookkeeping to marketing. I constantly update my skills by reading, taking classes, and redesigning spaces.

I truly believe that homes are meant to be beautiful and comforting, so that we can all be inspired to lead productive, resourceful lives.

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FineHomes REGINA

Skyline Painting Ltd. RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & NEW CONSTRUCTION PAINTING • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR • SPRAYING • WOODWORK FINISHING • SERVING REGINA FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS

For a free estimate contact Greg@skylinepainting.ca Greg Lundlie Phone: 306.529.2470 www.skylinepainting.ca

The Sculpted Wood Company

BY FHS STAFF When a homeowner decides that it is time for them to invest significant sums of money in improving their home, they are probably having issues with the functionality of a space. Perhaps their shower is too small, their deck no longer accommodates their growing family, or their kitchen is laid out in a way that is not functional for their personal style. People rarely embark on a home improvement project simply for the fun of it. For a contractor, customer satisfaction is measured by how close you come to meeting their expectations.

Colin and Cheryl Ellis of The Sculpted Wood Company understand this simple principle. From bathroom renovations to kitchen development to decks, fences, and sheds, the couple know that it’s not uncommon for renovations to get

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complicated. “We place tremendous importance on the quality of the job, of course,” says Cheryl, “but we spend even more time before the job ever begins, understanding what you need, what you expect, and what suits your lifestyle. Then we work together to make sure that the project you are embarking on is something you will be satisfied with now and for years to come.”

Sometimes this means getting creative with the materials Sculpted Wood uses or spending time looking for just the right product to complete a job the right way. However, they are willing to put in the time upfront, before the saws come out, and during the project to make sure that the end product meets their client’s expectations.

“We really like to spend time with our clients, to understand who they are and what makes them tick,” says Colin. “It results in a better project for us, and a better experience for the homeowner.

So many contractors today are rushing through jobs, and the homeowner can feel a little lost in the project. The fact is that we are a small business; and, we provide a very personalized service. We want to make sure that we give people the right advice. I don’t tell my clients that I can completely turn their bathroom project around in one day, because that’s just not how it works. Being honest and upfront about everything is how I like to do business.”

An accomplished furniture builder, Colin has developed an impressive array of skills in the renovations industry. For

him, detail is key. Referring to a flooring project that spans three rooms Cheryl tells a story about subfloors: “Each room had a different flooring material that was to be installed. One would be hardwood, one would have heated tile, and the final space would have unheated tile. Installed normally, each finished floor would have required a transition to prevent tripping over the different flooring heights. Instead, Colin carefully varied the height of the subfloor in each room so that the finished project would be level across the entire space. It turned out beautifully.�

That level of detail is apparent in all of the projects that The Sculpted Wood Company takes on. Decks, patios, bathrooms, and kitchens all showcase an incredible level of detail, one that surprised a lot of their customers. But it is all in a days work for Colin and Cheryl.

To learn more about The Sculpted Wood Company, and to see examples of their beautiful work, visit www.sculptedwood.ca.

To make an appointment or simply to talk about a project, call 306.539.0979.

The Sculpted Wood Company Colin Ellis 539.0979 www.sculptedwood.ca

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Family Means Everything at Timberstone The success of our business is, in large part, the fact that without exception our customers, our masons, our homebuilders and our architects, become family here. We work with them on their timeframe, with their needs being our first priority.

Last summer we opened this family business as we saw the need for superior products and service in an industry that was booming as our province grows.

A family business brings passion to our work that many companies just don’t have. Our customers may walk in the door as strangers, but they leave as friends. We are committed to the same goals. They need superior products and people, who know the value of the skill and the time they commit with the work they do. The fact that TimberStone can provide what they need keeps them coming back.

TimberStone has both natural and manufactured stone from Enviromental Stoneworks with many different profiles in an array of colours to suit any home or business. From Ledgestone to Flagstone, from pillars to mantels and from columns to ornamental panels, we have both the stone and accessories to make your home or business a showplace. The long lasting and carefree beauty of stone makes your life worry free. It stays consistently beautiful for decades, improves the value of your home or business and maintenance is limited.

TimberStone has both Canadian and American clay brick product lines in a variety of colours and sizes. We have the only Canadian brick product line available in the metric sizes which is user friendly to both architects and masons. TimberStone also has on staff, a 25-year veteran mason whose experience with the industry can help you with any project you have on the go. Our customized showroom and our understanding of dedicated service come hand in hand with the high standard of materials we offer.

Darrell and Kim Kennedy along with Darrell’s mom Tracy and her partner Luke bring 25 years combined experience in the sales and service industry.

They understand the importance of the relationships that are built through honest and reliable commitments.

Our customer service is the key to our growth. Recognizing the needs of the industry and being able to adapt to fill those needs with quality products is the path to success for both the industry and us. TimberStone stores all our products indoors, providing a consistent and quality product every time.

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You will likely meet Tracy when you walk into the showroom or Luke when you walk into the warehouse. They know the products and their customer’s needs. Even though we are still a young company, we are so grateful for the support and the relationships we have developed within the industry. They have become friends and they can rely on us to be there to make their work easier.

We have a great time; working with our customers is lots of fun. We have a lot of referral customers coming into the store. Many people telling us the reason they come to us is because their friends enjoyed doing business here. That means the world to us.

Building a family business is important to us. We have three generations working at TimberStone and most of the time, the fact that we know each other so well is advantageous. We as a family have the same goals and the same belief in commitment to our customers. Darrell believes: “Building a company that my sons will be proud of and they will grow to become part of is important to me and I feel we are doing just that.�

TimberStone, a family built on the foundation of dedication to offering only the best.

Timberstone 515 - 6 Avenue East, Regina 584-2990 www.tsdstone.ca tracy@tsdstone.ca

EXPERTAdvice WHY SHOULD I REPLACE MY OLD WINDOWS?

Mike Grob

Humphrey Window and Door Store 375 Quebec St 543.1655

There are many reasons to replace the windows in an older home, ranging from simple aesthetics to more serious concerns about energy efficiency.

Aesthetics are one major reason why people replace windows in their home.

Older windows made from wood require frequent repainting, and over time the wood can crack, split, and rot, leading to a rundown look. Modern vinyl windows are virtually maintenance free: they never need sanding, painting, or staining, and they never rot or decay like wood windows often do.

Functionality is another major concern.

Over time, as windows are repainted, the mechanisms often become gummed up, sliding parts wear out, and the window

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just doesn’t work as well as it should. New windows offer a multitude of different styles and opening mechanisms which will allow you to easily open and close windows to let fresh air enter your home.

Energy efficiency is one of the most common reasons I hear about today when people look into replacing their windows. No matter how well-constructed your home’s exterior walls, large holes are cut into them to place windows. If those windows aren’t well-constructed, are installed improperly, or they’ve just aged and are now leaking, you are literally throwing money out the window. While energy efficient windows have existed as far back as the 1970s, the technology has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. With today’s technology some people can see a reduction in their heating and cooling bills by as much as 30 to 40 per cent just by changing their windows.

Selecting a quality window is important however. Choose uPVC framed windows: they are much more energy efficient than wood, aluminum, or composite materials.

Also, look for window frames that have,

at a minimum, fusion-welded corners.

These corners will never leak, which means that neither air nor water will be able to penetrate through the window frame; this is essential for providing the best insulation.

Finally, take a careful look at the glass used in the production of the window. Glass can come with what is called a Low-E coating.

This coating is applied to the glass to make it more energy efficient. What this means is that the heat generated in your home in the winter will reflect back into your home, and the heat from the summer sun will be reflected away from your home to keep your house cooler in the summer, Mike Grob is the President of Humphrey Window and Door Store, with more than 50 years of experience in providing excellent advice, products, and customer service to homeowners in Regina and area. To learn more about how new windows may be able to save you money, visit their showroom at 375 Quebec Street or call 543-1655.

At the forefront of window design and manufacturing excellence.

Showroom at 3041 Saskatchewan Dr. Regina

306.359.6987 windows and doors

with the installation of Storm-Tite windows or doors

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Home Insulation with G. Michael Dynna, President of Spray Jones

EXPERTAdvice There is a lot of information available about different types of insulation available for my new home. Why should I choose Walltite Eco Foam Insulation for my new home?

Simply put, because it insulates so well.

Let’s talk for a moment about home insulation. When fibreglass insulation is used, it is not the fibreglass that provides the insulation. The fibreglass strands actually separate tiny pockets of air from each other. It is these pockets of air that provide the insulation. That is why insulation loses effectiveness when it is compressed.

Air is not a good insulator, which is why we need to use so much insulation to protect us from the elements. In order to retain more heat in our homes, building standards have had to change from 4-inch thick wall to 6-inch thick walls.

This allowed more of a less effective product to fit in the wall. Because insulation is stuffed in between wall studs, there are often gaps and voids, and a plastic vapour barrier must be installed to keep warm air from leaving the house. This vapour barrier can trap water in the wall where it can cause mold and other problems.

G. Michael Dynna

President of Spray Jones Phone: 306.359.FOAM (3626) Toll Free: 1.888.414.FOAM (3626) www.sprayjones.com

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Spray foam is a completely different product. It can be sprayed onto nearly any horizontal or vertical surface and into areas that could not be insulated with traditional insulation. As the foam is sprayed it bonds to the surfaces it comes into contact with creating a permanent airtight seal. The blowing agent the material is sprayed with causes the product to puff and creates microscopic bubbles that are filled with an inert gas. It is this gas that provides the insulation benefits; it is a much more effective insulator than air, and with as many as 1.5 million bubbles per cubic inch of foam, the end result is a

product that seals completely, provides superior insulation benefits, and will save you money over the course of your time in the home. Because the foam is a type of plastic that is completely air and watertight, there are no moisture transfer problems and no vapour barrier is needed.

When choosing insulation, we have been trained by the industry to look solely at R-values. In truth, R-value is one of three important factors that should be considered when looking at insulation.

In practical application, this means that spray foam insulation, such as Walltite Eco, can resist heat transfer nearly 6 times longer than fibreglass insulation.

This means that your furnace runs less often, your heating and cooling bills are lower, and your home maintains a more consistent, comfortable temperature year round.

Michael Dynna is the President of Spray Jones Spray Foam and Acoustics. Dynna has been in the foam insulation industry since 2000 and founded Spray Jones in 2005. Spray Jones is the founding father of residential and commercial foam in the province and has insulated more buildings than any other company.

Do you get a lot of emails?

You wouldn’t believe it. At least 100 emails per show. Actually, I also ask that if people are going to email me that they include their phone number. I’d so much rather just call someone and tell them the answer than spend all that time writing it.

Lots of people are surprised to hear from me, too. They don’t expect it at all. I get, “You’re calling ME?! Hey, Ethel... Shell Busey is on the phone right now!”

What’s your take on the home reno reality shows?

Well, they’re not reality, not really. They’re entertainment. Some of the things they do on there aren’t possible to do in reality.

One show I really did like was the Home and Garden Network’s Handyman Superstar Challenge. They did real projects in a reasonable amount of time. It was one of Mike Holmes’ shows with Jim Caruk, and I was on there twice as a judge. There’s an American version of it – oh my, I swear, they must have screened the people who wanted to be on the show for the worst ones they could find. Just terrible. When people talk about poor quality in the industry today they’re talking about these people.

What’s Mike Homles like?

He’s a great guy, but he’s also an industry and a brand. When he goes to a home

show he’s got security guards around him to keep people away. I can arrive at a show and walk around with a big bag full of stuff I’m going to give away and talk to people.

I’m just regular people and I’m not a millionaire even through lots of people think I must be because I’m on the radio and on TV. Not to take anything away from Mike, but we’re about different interests in the industry. He’s Hollywood. I’m a low-key, regular guy who talks a lot and goes into a lot of deep detail—sometimes for a long time—answering questions.

If the shows aren’t that realistic, why are they so popular?

Let me ask you: What’s more popular, AM, FM, iTunes, XW Radio, the Internet?

AM radio, talk radio, has a demographic, mostly people like me in their 50s or in their 70s. Young people—the ones who frankly need the advice what with so many younger people being homeowners nowadays—get all their information from the TV or the Internet. People want the quick answer or quick fix and they don’t want to do the work finding out for themselves.

So why are we so uninformed with so much information around?

Knowledge that used to get passed down from grandfather to son to grandson just isn’t getting passed down anymore. I was going to give this little tool set—it’s the

cutest thing, real tools but small, perfect for a child—to one of my grandsons, who is 7, last Christmas. I put a hardhat and a tool belt on him and he just wasn’t interested. He told me, ‘Not now, maybe when I’m older’ and went into the house. Kids don’t see dad or granddad fixing or building stuff. Today, many people simply have no clue whatsoever about how to do even basic things.

People think it’s so simple and easy because they saw in on the TV or read about it on the Internet. They have the barest minimum of knowledge and let me tell you it’s unimaginable the waste it leads to.

People get the wrong thing or don’t know how to work with something the right way.

What’s worse is there’s no one around to show them how to do it right.

A lot of the stores proudly market themselves on being staffed with experts though.

I’m not harping on big box retailers, I swear, but you’ve see those aprons they wear and all those buttons they have on them right? That’s a button for every department they’ve worked in. They’re seldom in one department long enough to really get any real expertise in it before they move on. Back when I had my own Windsor Plywood store, even back before that when I was with Beaver Lumber, when a customer wanted to know where something was they weren’t sent off in a vague direction to where it might be; we took the customer there ourselves and when he got to the part or the product we

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SPRAY FOAM INSULATION & COATINGS

WHY SPRAY FOAM INSULATION? • Did you know that 40% or more of your homes energy loss is due to air leakage?

Contact us to upgrade your insulation today!

• If your building your dream house or putting on a new addition, you should consider using the best insulation money can buy.

• Spray Foam Insulation stops air leakage by completely sealing the cracks and crevesis in your homes construction.

With Spray Foam Insulation you: Improve Air Quality Protect your families health Save Money

Call 306.924.2435

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explained it to them, and most times we’d grab a trainee to come along and learn how to advise and educate the customer so they’d learn to do that to.

And you’re not a fan of the Internet as a source of insight?

I’ve got a website and it’s full of information, but people pick up what they want. Most people today are what I call label readers. They read the label and that’s the sum total of what they know about a product.

They don’t even read the label that well. I get calls from people lots asking, say, if they can use a kitchen and bathroom paint in a dining room. Well, yeah, of course they can, but they ask about it. Look at it another way. Say someone buys deck paint. They see the word ‘deck’ and just slap it down whichever way. Next summer they’re calling me asking why it’s coming off. “Well, what kind of deck was it for?” I’ll ask, because I know they stopped at ‘deck’ and did not read whether it was for cedar or lumber or what-have-you.

fhr

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Experience.

Quality.

Reliability.

THANK YOU to these Regina home builders and contractors. We appreciate your business.

Bartlett Construction P.B. Renovations & Millworks Century West Homes Crawford Realty Cypress Homes Delu Homes Harmony Builders Homes By Dundee

1344 Cornwall St. | Regina, Sk. | 306.539.2121 www.kelturndrywall.com

Janson Homes Private Homes Sask. New Home Warranty Trademark Homes Westmount Development Ltd. Wilson Windows Windsor Crossing Development

KELTURN Drywall Ltd.

LOW MAINTENANCE DECKING with a little help from the experts at Windsor!

RHINO DECK COMPOSITE DECKING

No painting or staining, no splinters and it looks like wood, but is made from recycled materials. In fact, Rhino Deck is the proud recipient of the United Nations Programme Award for recycling over one billion bottles each year.

Master Mark Plastics is the manufacturer of Rhino Deck and is recognized as one of the top HDPE recyclers in the USA. Master Mark recycles upwards of 35 million pounds of recycled HDPE plastic annually.

Go Green!

Rhino Deck uses approximately 50% recycled wood and 50% recycled plastic. The recycled wood is from recovered shipping pallets and scrap wood from cabinet making operations. The HDPE plastic is from recovered post consumer bottles. These ingredients are then blended with colorant and U.V. stabilizers to make Rhino Deck, the toughest and longest lasting decking material for your building projects.

Rhino Deck features a textured wood grained, non-skid finish. Can be used in a variety of places like decks, walkways, gazebos, pool areas, docks, children’s play areas and other places that you may want a low maintenance, splinter free deck. Can withstand the elements without splintering, warping or rotting. Easy to clean and maintain... Simply cleaning the surface once or twice a year with a good quality cleaner is all you need.

Slip resistant wet or dry.

• 12’, 16’ & 20’ Lengths • 5/4” x 6” • 20 Year Manufacturer Warranty • Various Colours Available Rhino Deck is the proud recipient of the United Nations Environment Programme Award for recycling over one billion bottles each year.

RHINO DECK SOLID: A solid decking board that is attached to the joist by pre-drilling and screwing the board to the joist. Rhino Deck provides an economical yet attractive option for your project.

Barnwood Acorn Grey Brown RHINO VISION GROOVED: Rhino Vision grooved board can be attached to the joist by deck clips instead of pre-drilling, drilling then attaching through Starting at... the top of the board. This gives the deck a cleaner look with no visible screws and reduced labor and installation time.

RHINO FASCIA BOARD & MOLDING: Rhino Deck fascia board & moldings offer the perfect finishing touch for your deck. They must be used together with the fascia molding being pre-drilled and screwed down and the fascia board slid between and allowed to “float,” allowing for thermal expansion. Board is 8” x 8’ RHINO VISION CLIPS: Rhino Vision clips are a black plastic clip, pre-loaded with a coated steel screw. The screw has a black coating for less visibility. To figure amount of clips needed: Take the sq. ft. of your deck and multiply by 1.5 to get the number of clips. Box of 150 covers approx. 100 sq. ft.

Chestnut

Safari

Sand

Slate

LIN FT

920 BOWER CRESCENT • REGINA Ph: 306-721-6560 • Toll Free: 1-888-799-6789

Monday - Friday: 7am - 6pm • Saturday: 8am - 5pm • Sunday: 11am - 5pm

w w w. w i n d s o r p l y w o o d . c o m

CHIPPER’S

CONTRACTING

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL RENOVATIONS

!.9 2%./6!4)/. /2 #/.3425#4)/. 02/*%#4 9/5 (!6% #!,, ./7 &/2 9/52 &2%% %34)-!4% s "!4(2//- 2%./6!4)/.3 s "!3%-%.4 $%6%,/0-%.4 s +)4#(%.3 s 7).$/73 !.$ $//23 s '!2!'% 0!#+!'%3 Member Regina & Region Home Builders’ Association

Kurt Jacklin Cel: 306.501.1514 Res: 306.546.3548 kurtjennifer@accesscomm.ca www.chippersrenos.com

QUALITYPure & Simple he exterior appearance of any home is the one element that immediately reflects the quality of that home, as well as the professionalism of the application team involved in the finish. The goal of Stucco by Tom is to complement that effort with materials of the highest quality—namely, acrylic stucco.

The management of Stucco by Tom (2010) Inc. is a joint effort between husband and wife, Thomas and Mary Strymecki. Each of them brings a wealth of experience to this business making their working relationship quite viable. They have been in the construction business for a combined total of over 40 years.

Tom has been involved in stucco in both Alberta and British Columbia for over 20 years. His specialty is the application of acrylic stucco on cementitious, ICF and EIFS substrates. Mary has enjoyed working in the construction field off and on for most of her adult life, beginning here in Regina in her early teens, working

her way up to project management and eventually partnering with Tom in the stucco business. After numerous visits to Saskatchewan, to visit friends and family, over the past few years, they realized that the new housing boom here was the perfect place for them to show their wares and provide the construction market here with a top quality product. So in August 2010, they packed up their home and business and moved to Regina.

“Providing stucco finishes to the exterior of a home or a business is a most rewarding occupation. Seeing the finished product provides a level of pride that is most satisfying and by incorporating architectural elements such as columns, keystones, or accent bands, complemented by the rich colour and texture of acrylic stucco, makes us feel confident of the attractive exterior appearance that will compel future potential buyers to take a closer look at our projects.”

“In this trade, as in many others, selling

our product to a customer building a home or a contractor building a strip mall or a condo complex requires a solid marketing program. We have found that the best sales aide in this business is satisfied customers and proven product examples. Everything we do follows the 2005 National Building Code or better, and we are the only Stucco Company to offer 3-, 5- or 12-year warranties on all our systems.” Stucco by Tom also has a full website with numerous photos of previously completed projects.

Customer Satisfaction is key to our marketing since it is the word-of-mouth advertising that gets us most of our jobs— and we’d like to keep it that way.

Tom Strymecki Tom Strymecki

fhr

Project Manager Project Manager

Stucco by Tom (2010) INC.

Stucco by Tom (2010) INC. Box 4242 Regina, SK S4P 3W6 www.stuccobytom.com

‘that stucco guy’ Box 4242 Specializing in Acrylic EIFS - ICF

‘that stucco guy’

Regina, SK S4P 3W6 Tel. 306.737.2261 Fax: 306.789.2533 www.stuccobytom.com stuccobytom2010@gmail.com

Regina, Sask Specializing in Tel. 306.737.2261 Acrylic Fax: 306.789.2533 Mary Strymecki Mary:EIFS 306.737.7400 | Tom: 306.737.2261 - ICF stuccobytom2010@gmail.com Stuccowww.stuccobytom.com

by Tom (2010) INC. Business Manager

Box 4242 Regina, SK S4P 3W6 www.stuccobytom.com

‘that stucco guy’ Specializing in Acrylic EIFS - ICF

Tel. 306.737.7400

Fax: 306.789.2533 Mary Strymecki stuccobytom2010@gmail.com

Business Manager

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Stucco by Tom (2010) INC. Box 4242 Regina, SK S4P 3W6 www.stuccobytom.com

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Ratcliffe Excavating 132

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Regina, Sk. 306.501.0219

Restoration Member Regina & Region Home Builders’ Association

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The Restorex Team

Local business RESTORES property and peace-of-mind

BY G.H. LEWMER ost of us know someone who has lived through the feelings of helplessness that can arise when a disaster like a flood or fire strikes their home or business. Or maybe it has happened to us personally.

Unfortunately disasters do happen. When you sustain this type of damage to your property, it may feel like everything is out of control. That’s where experienced restoration contractor Restorex can make such a difference. Disaster damage is always a traumatic event. Let Restorex

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give you piece of mind by taking care of your home or business as if it was their own.

With three locations to choose from in the Regina, Moose Jaw and the Melville/ Yorkton area, Restorex Disaster Kleenup has been in the restoration business for 10 years. Serving the entire southeast corner of Saskatchewan, Restorex works directly with you, the home or business owner, and your insurance company, to ensure that everyone is satisfied and all

of your restoration needs are handled.

Restorex understands the importance of communication during a restoration project and is committed to keeping everyone updated on the steps being taken and the project status until the job is done and you are satisfied.

The scene after an emergency can diminish hope and cause people to believe they will have to start over from scratch. In the unfortunate event you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry. Restorex is there to

help. When disaster strikes—strike back with the experts you can trust and rely on at Restorex Disaster Kleenup.

Restorex has a staff of over 60 trained and accredited restoration specialists who care for you, your family, and your home or business. They use only the safest products, keeping you and your family’s health in mind. Restorex accesses the latest state-of-the-art technology to ensure that all water or fire damage in your home or business is taken care of with minimal demolition or disturbance to surface areas. Fire and flood restoration is a specialty field. Restorex’s employees are trained in nationally-recognized cleaning and reconstruction techniques to eliminate things like smoke odour and soot damage.

They promise to restore your structure to its pre-loss condition and eliminate your headaches during the process. Whether it is your home or business, you can trust the Restorex experience, training, and

professionalism to get the job done. With the amount of experienced personnel and leading-edge technology on hand, Restorex is equipped to handle claims of any size, ranging from your home or small business to schools and factories.

Restorex follows nationally-recognized standards and best practices as a valued member of Disaster Kleenup Canada (DKC), Canada’s leading network of restoration professionals. The company is also a member of the Certified Contents Restoration Network (CCRN), a worldwide leader in cleaning, restoring, and disinfecting, smoke, soot, and flooddamaged soft contents, as well as, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certificate (IICRC), a nonprofit cleaning, inspection and restoration certification agency.

One of the most valuable services Restorex offers the home or business

owner is the ability to restore damaged soft contents, like clothing, toys, furniture, or sporting equipment, that are affected by flood or fire damage. Restorex uses the Esporta Wash System, an innovative washing system combining hydraulic pressure cleaning and a specific blend of detergents that helps reclaim items that may at first glance be considered unsalvageable. The Esporta Wash System can successfully restore items affected by sewage, bacteria, odour, and chemicals often to a state better than they were before the loss.

In case of flooding, when restoration commences on any building with water damage, Restorex works with the proven technology of structural drying to help quicken the drying process. Structural drying is an “open system” technology incorporating heat and air movement that provides positive air pressure with high heat and low relative humidity.

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Incorporating structural drying in the restoration process significantly reduces the risk of mould and costly repairs. This system dries effectively in all conditions, giving Restorex the ability to dry water damaged homes in as short a period as possible.

Restorex technicians concentrate on safely drying, deodorizing and disinfecting the areas flooded or damaged by water.

Their crews are available around-theclock to help minimize water damage to walls, floors and ceilings. The Restorex advantage combines professional knowhow with state-of-the-art equipment and products.

When dealing with the complexity of fire damage, Restorex has the experience and technology to immediately identify and facilitate the restoration process that needs to occur when dealing with smoke, soot and dirt residue. All decontamination procedures done by Restorex are documented and rapid hygiene testing is undertaken to validate that the clean-up has been effective and that the property has been restored to a non-hazardous

state.

Restorex professionals have the equipment and experience necessary to handle the most challenging situations.

Restorex is the one-stop water and fire damage treatment company who can respond to 24-hour emergency calls. They are equipped to facilitate quick response to water and fire damage calls. Prompt action by experienced restorers makes a difference in mitigating structural damage to property.

Restorex offers a range of restoration services including fire and flood damage, carpet cleaning, odour removal, and trauma services. For a comprehensive list of all the services that Restorex can offer, visit their website at www.restorexsask.ca.

proud sponsors of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, The Schofer brothers understand first-hand the flexibility required and quick-on-your-feet decisions that come with dealing with disasters.

They embody the Saskatchewan spirit of always being there for your neighbours and doing whatever it takes to make things happen. Know that in your darkest possible moment, the experience, knowledge and service that Restorex built their reputation on, will always be there for you.

fhr Restorex Saskatchewan Ltd. 1465 McDonald St. Regina, Sk. 306.522.3350 www.restorexsask.ca

Besides being a restoration company, Restorex offers other services including a full flooring and paint showroom.

Lifetime Saskatchewan residents (and owners) Sean, Travis and Richard Schofer were born and raised in the Melville area and are committed die-hard fans and

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THIS SPRING, Saskatchewan residents have seen unprecedented flooding. In this edition of Fine Homes Regina, noted renovations expert and radio personality Shell Busey advises readers on what they need to know about Property Restoration.

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nterior water damage is the number one property loss category for insurance companies. Mitigating that loss is the responsibility of the insured person, and often involves calling a restoration professional.

Professionals use specialized instruments that can measure the moisture content of materials and track where the water has migrated to, and can uncover hidden pockets of water which can result in mould and bacterial growth leading to other damage and an unhealthy living environment.

Once the moisture has been mapped out, a drying plan can be developed which returns restorable materials to their normal state (called ‘dry standard’).

The goal of restorative drying is to remove the moisture from the materials using the least intrusive method resulting in fewer repairs once it’s all dry. Drying professionals are continually experimenting and

pushing the envelope on what is technically possible.

Top Down Drying (drying in place) The top-down drying system attempts to dry everything without removing anything.

This method is effective if clean water escapes from a supply pipe, runs onto and starts soaking into a relatively clean surface or material; the water extraction and drying process begins within 24 hours; and the affected materials can get wet and dry without changing their structural or finishing integrity. The bad news is only 10 per cent of all water damage claims fit into this category and can be processed in this fashion. When it works, it is a great and cost-effective solution.

The other 90 per cent Bacteria will multiply every 20 minutes

under ideal conditions. Depending on the existing conditions of food source, temperature and moisture, mould will inevitably begin to grow within three to four days. Unfortunately, the ideal conditions for mould and bacteria are also ideal conditions for human living.

If the source is contaminated—i.e., dishwasher backup, laundry overflow, drain backup, roof leak, sewer backup or spring flooding—decontamination can quickly become costly and materials must be replaced. Since cleaning and decontaminating can only occur and be proven effective on non-porous materials, and since carpet, underlay, K3 board and drywall are all porous, all attempts to disinfect are expensive and often more costly than replacement.

Another concern is material damage. Water causes many materials to swell. When they dry again is strength maintained?

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Particle board (K3) used in many floors as underlayment and MDF used in many trim materials (base and casings) and laminate floors all fall under the same category. Once water is introduced there is no saving it. These products will swell and won’t return to their original state once drying has taken place, leaving it in a weakened state. Many furniture bases with veneer finishes made of particle board swell and fall apart later as well.

What You Can’t See If you simply extract the water you can see and dry what you can see, what about all the layers you can’t see? Is there a hidden sub floor, swelling particle board under vinyl floor upon which carpet and pad were installed? Did someone build the wall over the carpet?

What’s happening under the cabinet or behind it? Did you find that hidden cavity by the curved staircase or other nook? Even when all the other variables point at drying in place, assumptions in this area can kill the success of the job.

Summary A variety of equipment will accomplish the desired result of restoration. There is never one tool that fixes every problem. There are many variables that change how each job is approached. The professional drying technician can assess the situation accurately, make a sound judgment call on which equipment to use, which process to follow, and have a reasonable rationale based on the industry standard of care.

Myriad building materials and methods require a high level of education and experience for a professional restorer to consistently make the right call. Many people say they can do it, few do it well.

Shell Busey can be heard every Saturday morning on Saskatchewan’s Rawlco Radio Network. Go to www.

TheHouseSmart.com for more home improvement tips or to sign up for his free HouseSmart monthly ENewsletter.

fhr

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When Disaster Strikes...

Help is nearby, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

BY TRILBY HENDERSON ealing with the aftermath of a storm, fire or flood can leave home and business owners feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Luckily, Regina and area residents can now turn to the experienced property restoration specialists at their local Winmar service centre to restore their homes and bring back their peace-of-mind.

Winmar is a Canadian-owned disaster restoration and general contracting chain

that specializes in property damage restoration for insurance companies and their clients. With more than 60 franchises across the country, the company has built a name as one of Canada’s largest and most respected restoration firms and its new Regina branch is no exception.

“At Winmar Regina, our focus is on helping people clean up and repair the damage caused by unfortunate events so that they can get back to their regular

lives,” said Anna Tzortzis. Tzortzis has owned and operated the Regina franchise with her husband, Mike Cornford, since it first opened for business in January 2010.

For Tzortzis, Winmar is, in many ways, a family business. In fact, it was at her stepfather’s franchise in Chatham, Ontario that she first gained experience with the company. When her stepsister opened a new franchise in Saskatoon, Tzortzis and Cornford decided to follow suit and

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“It doesn’t matter what time we get a call—two, three o-clock in the morning—we’ll be there”

PHOTO BY SHAWN FULTON

establish a franchise of their own in the province. It wasn’t long before Tzortzis’s stepfather and mother also made the move, selling their Ontario business and bringing Winmar to Moose Jaw. Since opening in January 2010, Winmar Regina has provided area residents with the same high quality workmanship and devoted customer service that its national brand is known for. The company adheres to the certifications and standards set by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), and its staff are trained in the latest industry technologies.

Tzortzis said Winmar Regina’s services cover damage caused by a wide range of natural disasters and human error, including flood, fire, wind, mould, vandalism, and even damage caused by a vehicular impact.

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“We do everything,” Tzortzis said. “Our employees are trained and experienced in the restoration and reconstruction process, and we have access to the best equipment for the job, whether we’re dealing with wind damage or a sewer back-up.”

Tzortzis said flooding is the most common cause of property damage in southern Saskatchewan. Last summer, the company doubled its staff in order to keep up with the numerous flood damage claims.

Winmar Regina was also one of several Winmar franchises to come to the rescue when severe flooding devastated the city of Yorkton in July, and spent three weeks in the community working alongside eleven other Winmar operators.

Tzortzis said the situation in Yorkton demonstrated how the company’s access

to a national network of restoration experts benefits their customers. With staff from the corporation’s head office on hand to address customer questions and concerns and take care of the administrative and organizational details, Tzortzis and her employees were able to focus their attention on the front-line efforts of the actual clean up.

“When a catastrophe hits, all of our other Winmars come to help,” Tzortzis said.

“It was a big deal to the community that all of the Winmars were there together.

Everybody was really happy.”

A fast response is especially vital when dealing with sewer damage. In such situations, each passing hour can have a crucial impact on the homeowner’s chances of being able to restore their property. Fortunately, Winmar’s 24/7, 365-days-a-year service means

PHOTO BY SHAWN FULTON

the company can have their trained technicians on site right away to stabilize the scene and prevent further damage.

“It doesn’t matter what time we get a call—two, three o-clock in the morning— we’ll be there,” she said.

Creating a healthy and safe environment for their customers is Winmar’s top priority, and the company monitors every phase of the clean up to make sure it is properly and entirely completed.

Winmar employs state-of-the-art equipment to detect any mould or contaminants in the damaged area and uses commercial grade disinfectants and anti-microbial applications to address any issues. Employees are trained in a number of specialty areas, from mould remediation to advanced structural drying.

Even when time is of the utmost importance, Winmar Regina’s staff takes great care to ensure each job is thoroughly completed and begin each project with a detailed assessment before determining a course of action. With Winmar, homeowners don’t have to worry about undetected damage posing future hazards.

Being able to rely on a single point-ofcontact to take care of the process from start to finish is a huge stress reliever for the customer, Tzortzis said. Rather than scheduling and dealing with a number of different contractors, customers can rely on WINMAR to both clean up and rebuild.

Although most of their work comes to them through insurance claims, Tzortzis said they also complete private work for businesses and individuals who don’t have coverage or choose not to file a claim. “We will go anywhere we are

needed,” she said.

“Sometimes things happen that people aren’t covered for,” she said. “We’re not going to leave anybody without help.”

If Regina residents find themselves in a disastrous situation this spring or summer, Tzortzis encourages them to call Winmar Regina quickly. The company can be reached any time via their 24-hour emergency phone number. “If you’re faced with damage to your home or business, don’t wait,” said Tzortzis. “Contact your insurance company or call us directly and take the first step toward getting your property repaired and your life back on track.”

fhr Winmar 305 Dewdney Avenue East 306.949.0032 (24 HOURS)

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AN EYE FOR RENOVATION Solaris Restoration

BY SHEENA KOOPS he brick heritage home in Regina’s Lakeview neighborhood stands twostories tall, with original features, waiting for a good eye to see its potential.

Clipboard in hand, Steve McNabb of Solaris Restoration begins to take notes: floors, gutting, structural, cabinets. The homeowner asks about the possibility of custom steam showers and a deck over the garage. McNabb adds this to his notes. The homeowner is concerned that he is asking too much, but McNabb has no worries because this is what they do.

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Although the team at Solaris Restoration specializes in full renovations and insurance restoration, they also take on smaller contracts. Everything from bathrooms to studio additions; grandparent suites to complete tear down and rebuilding from scratch; home theatre tiers and even stages. “We are small enough to be personal and big enough to get any job done,” says McNabb. Solaris Restoration , the renovation arm of the parent company, Sun Country Homes, has the best of both worlds, with complete access to full

time crews and quality sub trade experts including electrical, plumbing, concrete, soffits, fascia, and eavestroughing. “This works well for us because we have the ability to accommodate anything, any size of renovation,” says McNabb; however, the team at Solaris Restoration is small enough to be personal. Solaris Restoration takes your request and makes it happen.

Solaris Restoration prides itself in customer service. Steve Klippenstein hired Solaris Restoration to complete a

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOLARIS RESTORATION

major 2500 foot basement renovation, including a full bar, cabinets, custom shower, living room, gymnasium, even rubberized floors. “Solaris was incredible,” says Klippenstein. “We made our plan, went through the timeline process, and they managed the whole project from A-Z, on time and on budget. Safety was paramount because we have three children. Solaris was excellent, accommodating our family’s lifestyle. In renovations there are a lot of materials, tools, even dirt, but they made sure our home was always livable and safe.”

Klippenstein did his homework. “We had seen homes that they had built and been involved in through Sun Country, so we knew they were professionals; then we researched a variety of companies, and we chose Solaris Restoration. We couldn’t risk a project of this size with people who weren’t one hundred percent professional.

We have zero complaints.” In fact, Klippenstein will be a repeat customer in the next few months as they undertake major renovations in their upper two floors.

Solaris Restoration works in Regina, but clients call from White City, Balgonie, Emerald Park, and even Cottage Country. McNabb says his crews always look forward to serving Regina’s surrounding area, too. Once people call Solaris and make an appointment, a team member will walk through the project and provide a free estimate. A follow-up session will examine any questions or concerns before a contract is drawn up, which includes price, timeline, with start and finish date. “We welcome customers to get other quotes because we want our customers to feel comfortable with what we are offering,” says McNabb. This transparent philosophy pays off as the team at Solaris makes it work for individual clients. Customers, who do their homework, will find that Solaris Restoration is fully licensed and the employees are bonded, insured and up to code.

Back at the heritage home, McNabb is half way through the renovations and he can already see the finished product. “When this place is finished,” McNabb says, “it’ll be someone’s dream home.” He pauses, “Seeing a job well done, seeing that finished project is always a highlight. Knowing that the homeowners are happy keeps us in this business.” McNabb and his Solaris team have their good eyes focused using Restoration vision.

fhr Solaris Restoration Services 204-28 Great Plains Rd. Emerald Park, Sk. 306.522.5003

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Making Dream Homes a Reality

HTH Custom Homes | Lumsden, Sk. 306.541.9190 www.hthcustomhomes.com

Your own place, your own rules.

Let’s face it...you can only call your parents “roommates” for so long before it gets a little awkward. It can be expensive to make the leap and get your own place, but in Harbour Landing there are housing options to help you fly the coop and soften the landing.

A Community of Choice

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