KING LIVING Home & Lifestyle Magazine NOV14

NOVEMBER 2014

HH OO MM E E& & L LI F E M M AAGGAAZZI INNEE I FEESSTT YY L E

IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS THIS

Holiday Season

www.KingLiving.ca

contents NOVEMBER 2014

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IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

07

MARKET WATCH

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PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM THIS SILENT KILLER

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BEAUTIFUL SINKS DESERVE A FINISHING TOUCH

King Living Home & Life Style Magazine is published monthly and delivered to all homes and businesses in King Township By Canada Post.

Agreement # 41362062.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to publish this magazine as accurately as possible; however errors and omissions can occur. Abode Magazine’s employees, agents, representatives and vendors are not liable for any damages relating to errors or omissions in the editorials or advertising which may appear herein except where a specific charge has been made.

EVALUATION CERTIFICATE

This certificate entitles a residential property owner to one market evaluation by TheRainMakerTeam, and a complete presentation of TheRainMakerTeam’s home marketing program. This service to be performed without cost or obligation to the owner. Call for an appointment.

Joseph Cartaginese*, Paula Perri*, Jamie Goldenberg+, Stephen Ferritto+, Domenic Spina+

TheRainMakerTeam

905.832.3880

info@therainmakerteam.com

*Broker

TheRainMakerTeam.com + Sales Representative

we make “sold” happen

Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale.

How to protect your family from the silent killer Oto install at least one working carbon monoxide (CO) alarm

ntario’s new law that requires homeowners (and landlords)

outside sleeping areas (if there is any risk of CO exposure) has many health and safety officials breathing a sigh of relief. Many homeowners though, might be scratching their heads.

While smoke alarms have had more than 25 years to become part of any safe home, carbon monoxide alarms are a relatively new entry. Take a look at some valuable tips for protecting your family, since humans cannot see, smell, or taste this silent killer: • Carbon monoxide gas has almost the same density as air.

That means it mixes freely with it, rather than rising above it (like hot air) or falling below it (like cold air).

New models also feature a built-in “end of life” signal that tells you when 10 years are up and it is time to replace the entire unit.

“When you do the math, a homeowner can save about $40 during the 10-year feel better when you go out. Then, when lifespan of their alarm by switching to you return, the flu-like symptoms return. a worry-free model with a sealed lith• Two of today’s most popular CO alarm ium battery,” says Carol Heller, a home choices are: models that have battery safety expert with alarm manufacturer backup and continuous (not push-but- Kidde Canada. “And since most homes ton) digital displays that show you if low have at least two smoke alarms and levels of the gas are present, allowing one CO alarm, the savings can really you to take corrective action before an add up. On top of that, the freedom emergency can happen; and, CO alarms of never having to change batteries that have sealed lithium batteries lasting again is a real hit with homeowners.” www.newscanada.com 10 years from activation.

• Since carbon monoxide mixes with air, it means that a CO alarm can be installed anywhere: on the ceiling alone or as a combination smoke/CO alarm (battery powered or hardwired); down near floor-level (plug-in); or on a bookcase or shelf (battery power only).

• If you choose a plug-in or hardwired model, be sure it also has a battery backup. A power outage is not a good time to be unprotected.

• Symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure include feelings similar to the flu, without the fever. Another telltale sign that you may have carbon monoxide in your home is that you feel lethargic, nauseous and achy in the house but quickly

If your walls could talk, they’d thank you.

Anna Raeli, Agent 2201 King Road, Suite 2 King City, ON L7B 1G2 Bus: 905-833-2662 Bus: 905-833-ANNA www.annaraeli.com

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NOVEMBER 2014

3

HOME DÉCOR

IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS THIS

HOLIDAY Y S

ou’ve been decorating your home for the holidays for years. Why not do something different this time around? “With a little ingenuity, you can turn your house into a wonderland that not only is reflective of the season, but of your personality,” says Sally Morse, director of creative services for Hunter Douglas, a leading name in Canadian window treatments.

“Plan ahead, testing some

of the concepts described here to see if they’re right for your home and family.” says Director of Creative Services for Hunter Douglas,

SALLY MORSE

Begin with the basics “What counts most in any room,” says interior designer Alexa Hampton, “are balance, colour, contrast and proportion:”

• If you put a big tree at one end of the living room, be sure the other end features something equally “heavy”; a garland wrapped around the stair rail or draped over a large mirror.

• If walls are white or ivory, use deep purple and red accents. Bright pillar candles in glass cloches on the hallway table work well. White-on-white displays offer a casually elegant ambience, e.g. white hydrangeas interspersed with a few lemons.

• If the front door is extremely tall or wide, mount two wreaths instead of one.

Choose your colours It’s not written in stone that you must employ red and green for the holidays. Maybe you love pinks and yellows, rich jewel tones like garnet and sapphire, or crisp black-and-white.

Wreaths look lovely beribboned in nearly any colour, from hot pink to cool citrus. Trees can be monochromatically decorated with one colour as well as a rainbow of hues, and centerpieces composed of silver bowls overflowing with Granny Smith apples or clementines are exceptionally eye-catching.

Secrets for every room No mantle? No problem. There’s something you can do to make every room festive… without going overboard.

• Replace the hallway runner with something in tune with the holidays, perhaps a dark tartan or free-form line pattern done in gold on black. Change the shades in one or more of the rooms; it’s as transformative as new wall colour. As wintertime is fast-approaching, look for treatments that offer optimal energy efficiency, like highly insulating Hunter Douglas Duette Architella Trielle honeycomb shades. They can help reduce heat loss at the window by up to 45 percent.

• Have the kids cut out snowflakes from construction paper in white or a colour that coordinates with their bedrooms. Tie on various lengths of ribbons in the colour of their choice and then affix to the ceiling.

• Don’t forget the bathroom, especially the one used by guests. A bowl of lavender plus a sprig of it tied to the shower head look special and adds a delicious scent.

• Drape glittering tinsel around dining chairs and add a smattering of silver stars and bells at the back for pizzazz. Or wrap them with ribbon, a tree ornament or name card tied at the back with a bow.

“Plan ahead,” says Morse, “testing some of the concepts described here to see if they’re right for your home and family. Doing that not only will guarantee a more joyous celebration for all, but provide a lot of fun for everyone right now.”

More information is available online at www.hunterdouglas.ca. www.newscanada.com

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NOVEMBER 2014

Improve your entire day with these easy breakfast ideas W

BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE Breakfast smoothies make for a quick morning meal for the whole family. They’re a go-to favorite, and can be made to taste preference with nut butter, fruits and/or veggies. Just blend the single-serve ingredients with ice, or batch it for a family.

ant to keep the weight off? It starts at the breakfast table. ENERGY BARS Seventy-eight percent of those who successfully maintain Energy bars can be great options if prepped their weight loss eat breakfast each day, according to the National on the weekends. Make a batch for the week, • 8 ounces of milk or a milk alternative Weight Control Registry. and it’s easy to grab and go. Here’s a recipe • 1 tablespoon of natural nut butter (peanut, almond or cashew) Why does breakfast seem to make the difference? that won’t disappoint: • 1 cup of fruit and/or veggies Anika Christ, registered dietitian and senior program manager • 2 ½ cups of raw oats • 1 scoop of whey protein of Life Time Weight Loss at Life Time–The Healthy Way of Life • 3 scoops of whey protein powder, vanilla Courtesy of BPC Company, says eating breakfast–especially a high-protein break- • 2 ½ tablespoons of ground flaxseed fast - will leave you with sustained energy throughout the morning. • ¼ cup organic honey Rather than feeling famished mid-morning, many people find • 4 ounces unsweetened applesauce when they make the right breakfast choices, they can easily last • 1 teaspoon baking soda until lunch time before they need to eat again.

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2 ounces chopped almonds During the morning rush, you may be tempted to skip breakfast • ¼ cup dried fruit, chopped for extra minutes of sleep or simply getting yourself and your family ready for the day ahead. But as many experts maintain, Mix the oats, protein powder, flaxseed, honey, breakfast may be the most important meal of the day and cer- applesauce, baking soda and vanilla extract tainly it’s the one that could give you that extra morning energy in a bowl. Mix in the remaining ingredients. kick you’ve been looking for.

Press the mixture into a pre-sprayed cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for Christ says that Life Time’s nutrition philosophy builds off of a 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely and nutritious breakfast, and suggests that a healthy breakfast can cut into 12 bars. be easy, even on the go, with a little bit of prep.

“What we want to avoid is sugary, highly processed breakfasts, like cereal, that start our bodies on a glucose roller coaster,” says Christ. She adds that a well-rounded breakfast will include a quality protein, carbohydrates, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables and healthy fats. Here are her top three fast and filling breakfast recipes:

A good breakfast reduces your desire to reach for sweets or snacks mid-morning and sets you up for success for the rest of the day. Try it for a week and you’ll realize investing those extra couple of minutes in the morning will pay dividends later.

Would love to see your smile Your 2014 Dental Benefits are Expiring

New Patients Welcome

all us today to make your next appointment New Patients Welcome Call us today to make your next appointment

Dental benefits are provided to you yearly and have a certain dollar amount. If you do not use those benefits you lose them benefits dental Dedicated to providing the (unused highest quality do not carry overand to the nextfamily. year). While services to you your We provide an treatmentdentistry is never dictated by insurance, optimal experience using we the can latest help maintainin your health We and reduce out of to technologies our oral industry. are confident make your every appointment easy and relaxed in a pocket expenses. We encourage you to call and friendly environment. reserve your time with us as soon as possible in order for us to reach your dental needs prior to the end of the year.

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K I N G CKINGI T Y| NOVEMBER D E N2014 T A 5L LIVING

2115 King Road Unit 2

TheRainMakerTeam.com

we make “sold” happen

PRESTIGIOUS BELLARIA RESIDENCE

KING

Unit features upgraded kitchen cabinets with granite countertop, backsplash, laminate floors, crown moldings, pot lights. Facing north with east exposure overlooking 20 acres of lush greenery.

Tudor style home on 15.41 acres of complete seclusion; pass the gates along the winding driveway to the top of the property. Brand new reno’d kitchen & brand new ceramic tiles & hardwood floors on the main level; amazing family room with 16ft high cathedral beamed ceilings & walkout to 950 sq.ft. Solar heated pool, barn/workshop with concrete floor.

90 ACRES OF PARADISE

2-STOREY GEORGIAN STYLE HOME

A unique spot to build a family retreat.

Acreage, multitude of trees, lush vegetation, and privacy. A short walk from the beaches of Tiny, on Georgian Bay.

Joseph Cartaginese*

Paula Perri*

Domenic Spina+

Large principal rooms. 10 scenic acres partly wooded. A private and peaceful property in the heart of escarpment.

Jamie Goldenberg+

Brokerage in Canada*

Stephen Ferritto+

Amanda

Adminisrative Assistant

Call

905.832.3880

*For Royal LePage based on real estate sales of independently owned franchises in 2013

*Broker

+ Sales Representative

Market Watch

*

King Township

*source: TREB 2014

October Sales October in King Township was our most active month year to date in sales of detached homes with 35 sales and an average price of $1,102,000. The supply of detached homes remained steady.

King Township remains a desirable community, due to its location, green open spaces and its tranquil settings.

By Joseph Cartaginese, Broker TheRainMakerTeam* Royal LePage Your Community Realty

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DIY PROJECTS

DO-IT-YOURSELF

HOME Winterization PROJECTS

As the months pass and the end of the calendar year approaches, it’s time to update your do-it-yourself list. Several home winterization projects will help keep your home in good repair come spring.

While some projects should be left for the experts– like cleaning out the chimney–there are several most homeowners can accomplish themselves.

These projects are easy to tackle, and the end result will make a huge difference to your home all winter long and into the spring months.

FLUSHING GUTTERS Leaves and small tree branches often fall onto the roof of your home during the summer months, and then wash into the gutters when it rains. Sometimes they’ll flush out, but other times this debris can build up, and prevent the water from draining down the gutter pipe.

In winter, this water can back up and freeze, causing an ice dam, which can then damage the roof shingles, and cause leaks into the home and garage when it rains.

Be sure to flush the gutters clean, and if you’ve noticed icicles in certain areas in the past, consider installing a heating cable to help keep the water melted and moving down the gutter and into the yard.

REPAIRING POTHOLES

Roof & Gutter Heating Cable

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NOVEMBER 2014

Any missed cracks in past years with asphalt driveways probably have become potholes by now thanks to the freezing and thawing of water during the winter months.

But you don’t need to replace the entire driveway to take care of these problems. U.S. Cold Patch is a strong patch product made from 95 percent recycled materials with no odour or mess. Just sweep the area in and around your pothole, pour in the patching mixture, and roll over the area with a car tire, allowing you to use the driveway immediately. Make certain the entire hole is completely filled and tamped down to prevent water from seeping into the patch. Because U.S. Cold Patch doesn’t contain solvents and raw asphalt, there is no danger of tracking the material into the house or garage.

EXTRA INSULATION AGAINST HEAT LOSS Colder temperatures affect pipes, doorways and windows. Protect pipes from freezing by wrapping any pipes exposed to the cold with pipe insulation.

Also check your doors and windows for leaks or gaps. Find gaps by lighting a candle and holding the flame near the closed window and door seams.

If the flame flickers, air is moving through the seam where there is a gap. Fill those gaps with caulk or weather stripping to form a better barrier against the cold. Gaps in caulk and weather-stripping can account for 10% of your heating bills.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE FURNACE There is nothing worse than having your furnace conk out in the middle of winter. You know it will happen on the coldest day! Have a professional inspect and clean the furnace to ensure it is running efficiently. Not only will it protect you against breakdown, it could save you a few dollars on your heating bill.

DON’T DRY OUT You may already know that dry winter air can affect your health, but did you know that it can also affect your home? If you have hardwood floors, and many do these days, the dry air can cause cracking, shrinkage and warping of your cherished flooring. Be sure to clean your humidifier of mineral deposits and replace your pads from last year. A properly humidified home is good for your wood and your health.

EMPTY OUTSIDE WATER LINES Take steps to ensure that outside faucets and inground irrigation systems don’t freeze and burst. Close off any outside faucets and then open the faucet to drain any water left in the line. As for inground irrigation systems, follow manufacturer’s guidelines for winterization or hire a professional to take care of it.

These home DIY projects don’t take a lot of time to accomplish, and will benefit your home and property during the winter months and as spring arrives. Be sure to put them on your home winterization to-do list each fall, so you can enjoy the winter in comfort.

Courtesy of BPC

Honeywell HE265/225 Whole-House Bypass Humidifier

KING LIVING

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NOVEMBER 2014

9

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NOVEMBER 2014

Every beautiful sink deserves a finishing touch he faucet you choose is central to the overall visual appeal T of a kitchen sink – even on the trendiest models with eye-popping colour.

Right now, for example, a ground-breaking, rock solid material

by Blanco called ‘silgranit’ comes in six beautiful and densely-textured colour sink choices – and each one has a faucet in the silgranit colour to match. You can even get a split finish faucet: a combination of colour and chrome.

Blanco points out that all of its faucets are universally designed in a variety of models and styles to last a lifetime and to accommodate todays’ kitchen designs. The newest Blanco Sonoma dual-spray pull-down faucet available in polished chrome and stainless steel, for example, has classic and modern slick lines that transcend trends – and the equally attractive, new Blancoculina Mini kitchen faucet in polished chrome or stainless steel, is seen as ideal for open floor plans. The closed coil is sleek, tangle-free and easy to clean while the magnetic spray holder allows the faucet to glide effortlessly into place. Culina mini offers all the function, performance and innovation of the original award-winning Culina faucet, just in a smaller profile to give homeowners limitless options for open living spaces. Each faucet, like each Blanco sink, is an achievement of German engineering and sophisticated styling.

More information is available online at www.blancocanada.com. www.newscanada.com

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Contact The Rain Maker Team at 905.832.3880

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NOVEMBER 2014

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TheRainMakerTeam.com

we make “sold� happen If you are looking to buy or sell, call

TheRainMakerTeam

We make SOLD happen!

We Provide: Moving Boxes Property Staging Professional Photographer

Feature Brochures Home Address Website 24 Hour Virtual Open House

Brokerage in Canada*

Call

905.832.3880

*For Royal LePage based on real estate sales of independently owned franchises in 2013