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homes
1365 Ottawa St.
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b r e a k i n g n e w s a t L EA D ER P O ST . C O M S ec t i o n F
S at u r day, N ov e m b er 16, 2013
Rework the home office for play Portable tech makes new use of space Ellen Gibson The Associated Press The home office, it seems, is going the way of the fax machine. Interior designers say families are finding more inventive uses for their homes’ extra little rooms — optimistically called “bonus rooms” by real estate agents. With the spread of wireless Internet and portable devices such as tablets, it’s common now to send spreadsheets and emails from any room in the house, not to mention the nearest coffee shop. In fact, among major home-renovation projects, home-office improvements provide the puniest return on the investment when a home is resold, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2013 “cost vs. value” report.
So instead of that dustcollecting desk, many families are seeking creative ways to customize these alcoves as game rooms, dressing rooms, small theatres and more. “I get this question a lot,” says Elizabeth Cb Marsh, an associate interior designer at Jenkins Baer Associates in Baltimore. “Especially in large, new-construction homes, there are these bonus rooms that are just there.” When her clients make over a pre-existing office, she usually recommends trying to preserve any builtin features, such as shelving or cabinetry. If the space is large enough, she says, one option is to create a billiards room. Find a small (2.1-metre) pool table to place in the centre of the room. If there’s a wood counter, retrofit the top with a waterproof material such as stone for an elegant wet bar, and if you have the budget, install plumbing for a small sink. ProjectNursery.com/On The Real, Greg McHale
See Rooms, F5
A children’s homework hub. Families with children have even more options for converting an office space.
O N - S I T E S H OW S U I T E OPENING SOON • Floors: 10 • Condos: 71 • 1 BR from 1017 sq. ft. • 2 BR from 1389 sq. ft. • Townhouses from 930 sq. ft. • Hardwood floors, stone countertops, stainless steel appliances Presentation Suite and Sales Centre 2139 Broad St. Regina, Sk.
• Underground parking; rooftop patio, social room, and fitness centre; security and concierge service • Bonus: 3 year tax exemption Presentation Centre Hours Fri. Sat. & Sun. By Appointment
Presentation Centre Hours: Daily 12:00 - 5:00 PM And by appointment
W W W. C E N T R E S Q UA R E P L AC E . C O M
For more information call: (306) 565-2300
Project Development Consultants: Hydeman Property Management
its n U 18 ain ly m On Re
OCTOBER 2013
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Find your freedom.
Joyce Tourney
Terrie Dunand
Keith Larson
Rick Miron
RE/MAX Crown Real Estate
Mack MacDonald
RE/MAX Joyce Tourney Realty
Kim Kezama
Natasha Blaisdell
Jason Cossette
Leslie Degelman
RE/MAX Joyce Tourney Realty
RE/MAX Joyce Tourney Realty
RE/MAX Crown Real Estate
RE/MAX Crown Real Estate
• 234 UNIVERSITY PARK DR
For more information, visit www.thecreeks.ca
RE/MAX Crown Real Estate
RE/MAX Crown Real Estate
RE/MAX Joyce Tourney Realty
• 2350 2ND AVE.
www.remax-crown-regina.ca
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