Renovate? Relocate? What you need to know...

It's a tough decision with many factors to consider such as cost, future, equity, opportunity, expansion, etc...

Take the Jones' Family for instance.  They have a growing family with a young child and a second on the way.  They live in a three bedroom single family home . Julie and Mike are both self-employed and work from separate home offices.



Before their daughter's arrival, they renovated their kitchen and installed new windows throughout. Julie also converted her office into a nursery. When she returned to work, she set up shop in a corner of the living room, but it was too cramped. She needed an office. Mike and Julie also wanted a family room that would double as a playroom for their growing family. They wondered if they should finish the basement with a bathroom, small office and family room, or move to a bigger house.


“If we renovate now, we want to make the money back if we sell the house in five years,” says Julie, who thinks they'll eventually move to be closer to a good school.


Here's a few things to consider :

- Your debt level, can you afford to upgrade? a bigger mortgage? a renovation?  If the answer is , no.  Stay put and wait it out.  Your living quarters should be a part of your long term goal, a little short term pain can be OK but not if it is going to cripple you financially.

- How long do you plan to stay where you are currently?  If you aren't planning on being in your current home more than  years keep updates very minimal especially if you are hoping to turn a big profit once you sell.  Upgrades like stone counter tops, stainless steel appliances and expensive designer tiles will help you sell faster but no necessarily make you more money.  A basement reno

- If you are going to renovate and at some point sell where should you spend your money? Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows, Flooring and paint are where you will make the most money.  A basement reno might help the home sell faster but you won't see a huge return in terms of profit once you've sold it.  But take a look at the comparibles from your agent to see what homes with the same features as yours are selling for.


Before you make your decision be sure to weigh your options and get your numbers.  so all the reno costs involved (such as blueprints, materials, and always leave about 10 to 15% extra for unforseen changes or issues).  When selling keep in mind the sellers pay the commission to the buyer's agent.  Another very important factor is stress level, with a new baby on the way and already one young child plus working from home - is it easier to move and have a few weeks of chaos, or months of messiness? 

So make the right renovate or relocate decision for you.....

Boy meets girl...his style meets her style...

So, boy meets girl ... they get along well for a few months (or more) and well, they then decide to move in together....probably not the way most of our parents would like to see us meet our match but that's how it is happening for many of us.  And the days of having the big splashy wedding shower where friends and family outfit your new home with everything you've ever dreamed of....that seems to be a way of the past as well.

More and more couples are choosing to live together before marriage and some skip the 'marriage' thing all together and start having children.

OK, so what in the world does this have to do with home decor??

Well, people are meeting their life partners later in life.  Many of us are living on our own and have our own places before we find that special someone.  Which means we have our own stuff and when our stuff meets his/her stuff it can be a tricky combination.

In my opinion, this is where and why we are starting to see new styles emerge.  We can no longer really put labels on a couple home decor like contemporary or country, it's more like this...rustic elegant or modern vintage. 

So how do we make different styles work together under the same roof?  Well, balance is so important.  Balancing out the elements of each style in a room.  so instead of having a rustic 'let's go to the lodge' looking living room and 'glamour in Paris' looking dining room in the same house.  You mix the styles together and create a style that reflects the both of you.



So take this image for example, the combination of the industrial chairs and light fixtures are a nice counter balance to the soft and subtle wall colour and table linens.  The table has a rustic top but again the cream base softness up the look of it.  The glass elements and the greenery add some feminine touches too.  the big clock wall feature has a 'found design' look and it makes a bold statement.




Another great mix of styles...There are more than 2 styles here.  You've got a modern coffee table, a contemporary streamlined sofa in a grey felt, modern photography mixed with a traditional mirror and a rustic rug but all together it really works and this is truly a person with a sense of style



I call this style - rustic elegance- see how the wood and the clean and sophisticated elements balance each other out.  They are opposites but they work well together.  The combination of the white on white, the upholstered chairs, the mirror, the candles and the floral arrangements mixed with the cast iron, the reclaimed wood with lots of character and depth, make this room truly special.

So here are some tips to mixing your styles:

- you need balance in the room, so be sure that the main two are featured.  If you have too many in one room and not one is really standing out - it looks like a garage sale, aim for an 80/20 mix.  80% being one style (the dominant) and the toher 20% can be another style or a mix of other styles.

- use the items you love and the stuff you don't donate or toss. If you love a piece you will always, always have a space for it.

- be willing to compromise with your partner, so if she really wants the ultra modern glass dining table then you should be able to hang your cabin inspired wall art

- think about how an item could be re purposed....a wild paint colour or fabric can make a traditional piece more modern, a country inspired art piece can look really modern and fresh once it is re-framed, so keep an open and creative mind

Yes - you can work together to get this done but remember decorating a space to reflect your personal styles and tastes takes time, so enjoy the journey and don't forget it is fun to buy some pieces together!

Clients first and the realtors who serve them....

Such a great video and it truly represents this brokerage - what they stand for, who they are and do for their clients...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uIBvXByy_4

New Paint Colours From Benjamin Moore

There is a new line of paint colours from Benjamin Moore called 'Colour Stories' - 240 different colours of paint.  These colours are very saturated.  Most methods for mixing paint use 3 pigments in this line they use 5 to 7 pigments for each colour. 

I received my fan about a week ago and I must say I'm loving the rich and varied palette of neutrals.  Looking for the right shade of grey or taupe - this line will have it!



Some of my favourite neutrals: Soho loft CSP-10, Upper West Side CSP-70, Urban sophisticate CSP-160, Rocky Beach CSP-190, Wicker Basket CSP-225 Shitake Mushroom CSP-1040and Royal flask CSP-315

There's a paint colour for every place....

Perfect for a little girls' room: Kept Love Letters CSP-425

Perfect for a little boys' room: Dusty Cornflower CSP-605 or Cable Knit Sweater CSP-650

Beach cottage or seaside home: French Toile CSP-595 or Cool Breeze SP-665

Exterior Door : After Midnight CSP-630, Espresso Bean CSP-30 or Velvet Cloak CSP-480

Bold but Feminine Accent wall : Berry Fizz CSP-440 or Elderberry Wine CSP-470

Sexy Master bedroom: Evening Skyline CSP-505

Soothing and Serene Bathroom: Through the Looking Glass CSP-495