An appealing living-room arrangement requires more than a beautiful color scheme and nice furniture. There are other factors to consider, such as balance, proportion and placement. Not sure what that means for you and your living room? We asked three design experts to reveal the most common styling errors that people make and how you can steer well clear of them. Accompanying the text are images of beautifully designed living rooms that get it right.

1. Rug That’s Too Small

“A great rug can be the making of your living room. It grounds your furniture and, in an open-plan space, defines the living area,” says interior designer Gabrielle Reinhardt.

“The most common mistake people make when purchasing a rug is choosing one that’s too small for both the room and the furniture in it,” Reinhardt says. “A too-small rug sits separately from the furniture in the room, making the space look disjointed and feel uninviting.”

Solution. “Measure up your living room and the main pieces of furniture in it before you hit the shops,” Reinhardt says. “Ideally, the rug you choose should be big enough to allow the key pieces of furniture to sit on top of it.

“If your living room is not big enough to allow everything to sit fully on your rug, choose a style that is slightly wider than your sofa and allows for the front legs of your sofa and any smaller furniture pieces — such as side tables and stools — to sit on it,” she says.

2. Television Is the Focus of the Room

“The television is the ruin of most living rooms,” Reinhardt says. “Many homeowners will choose an oversize television that is too big for the room and then center all the furniture around it, forgetting that the living room is for entertaining and conversation too.

“I also often see living rooms with nothing in them but a television and a modular sofa or a sofa and a chaise,” she says. “A bare set-up such as this makes the room feel cold and unwelcoming, and suggests that the living room has no purpose beyond watching television — which can be an instant conversation killer.”

Solution. “The television can be an integral part of your living room without being the focus of it. The key is to conceal it as much as possible and create a space that performs dual functions as a watching zone and relaxing-social space,” Reinhardt says.

“A built-in wall of cabinetry or a ready-made cabinet with shelves are two smart ways to detract attention from a television or conceal it altogether. Use the open sections of the cabinetry to house books, photos, ornaments and other interesting things that will draw the eye from the television and add personality to the room,” she says.

“Also consider having a smaller television in your living room and keeping the oversize screen for a media room or spare room — if you’re lucky enough to have one — where it can be hidden behind closed doors,” Reinhardt says.

3. Squashing All the Furniture Against the Wall

“Pushing all your living room furniture up against the walls is another common styling mistake people make,” Reinhardt says. “I often see rooms where the sofa is against one wall, with a pair of armchairs against another, and the coffee table stranded in the middle of the room where nobody can reach it. The result is a dull room that feels a little like the waiting room in a doctor’s surgery.”

Solution. “Moving the furniture deeper into the room and setting up conversational zones will instantly make your living room feel cozier and more welcoming,” she says.

“The arrangement that works best will depend on the shape and size of the room. You may decide to put the sofa against a wall, with a pair of armchairs opposite it and a coffee table in between them. Or, if your living room is spacious, you may choose to place the furniture near the middle of the room, with space around it to move about,” Reinhardt says.

4. Sofa That’s Too Big or Small

“Selecting a sofa that’s the wrong scale for your living room is the biggest blunder people make,” says Lily Cumberland, interior designer at Coco Republic. “It’s important to remember that a sofa will often appear to be quite different in size once it’s out of the showroom and in your home.

“Color can also have an impact on how big a piece appears. A dark sofa with a skirt that goes to the ground, for example, can look quite heavy or imposing in a very small living room,” Cumberland says.

Solution. “Measure up your living room, the other furniture in the room, and the sofa you have your eye on before you buy. Always start with a floor plan first to ensure that the scale and proportion of the piece works in the space and provides enough room to move around with ease,” Cumberland says.

“Then consider the style of sofa. In a compact living room, consider a sofa on legs and with narrow arms to give the illusion of more space. If you have a large room, you might consider a more substantial sofa, such as one with wide arms that sits close to the ground,” she says.

Tip: “If you don’t have easy access to a floor plan of your living room, mark out the size of a potential sofa on the floor with painter’s tape or newspaper before you buy it to test the dimensions.”

5. Bad Lighting

“Even with the best layout and flow, bad lighting can ruin the look and feel of your living room,” Cumberland says. “Generally, the problem comes down to either too much or too little light, and not enough options to allow you to use the space for different functions.”

Solution. “Look to create a smart, layered lighting scheme in your living room consisting of different light sources, such as a ceiling pendant, table and floor lamps and up or downlights. Setting them on dimmers allows you to alter the lighting levels and mood to suit the occasion,” she says.

“A layered lighting scheme also allows two people to use the space at the same time for different tasks without disturbing each other. For example, one person might be watching television with the lights dimmed, while another person is reading in the corner of the room with a floor light on,” Cumberland says.

“There are three types of lighting you’ll want to include: ambient lighting — a gentle wash of light that allows you to move around safely; accent lighting — to highlight special features in the room, such as art; and task lighting — for reading and other tasks where you need to see clearly,” she says.

6. Artwork Hung Too High

“Artwork is often hung too high to be properly seen or appreciated,” says Frances Cosway, principal designer at White Pebble Interiors. “Gallery style is the only hanging style that allows for artwork to be hung higher than eye height as it combines artworks of different sizes to create a wall of art.”

Solution. “Artwork should be hung at eye height, with the middle of the piece approximately 63 inches from the floor.”

7. Tiny Coffee Table

“A coffee table that is too small for the living room and surrounding furniture is a common sight and leads to a couple of issues,” Cosway says.

“First, if your coffee table is not in proportion with the room, sofa and any armchairs, it looks wrong visually and the space won’t feel cohesive or comfortable,” she says.

“A too-tiny coffee table can also prove a practical challenge. If the coffee table is too small for the sofa or chairs, it will often get positioned far away from them in an effort to create a sense of balance, which makes it hard to reach,” Cosway says.

Solution. “As a rule of thumb, your coffee table should be between half to one-third of the length of your sofa. Look to position it about 16 to 20 inches from the sofa and armchairs so you can reach it comfortably.”

Source: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/7-common-decorating-mistakes-to-avoid-stsetivw-vs~166146496

At the start of the year, Canadian economists made their predictions of how they thought the national housing market would move for 2025. Yet, just like with the weather, sometimes there are fluctuations no one can quite predict. In this case those changes started south of the border. 

So where is the housing market going for the rest of the year? First we need to look back a bit in order to get a clearer picture moving forward.

How tariffs changed real estate markets for 2025 

The initial predictions for the market were a 8.6% rebound year-over-year from a sluggish 2024, says Ryan Biln, Economist with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). With interest rates steadily declining and pent-up demand waiting for more affordable pricing, it would seem that 2025 would have been the year for home buyers to enter the market in impressive numbers. 

Instead, the first half of the year started slowly, in large part thanks to concerns about tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The unpredictability of the tariff announcements meant buyers were skittish about locking in investments, especially if they worked in industries that were threatened by large-scale job losses. Those economic worries ultimately translated into broader uncertainty, particularly when Canadians were already impacted by rising inflation and wage stagnation. 

Aside from our neighbours, influences from around the world changed the market as well. Restrictions on foreign buyers purchasing residential real estate had led to a drop in overseas investment. 

Changes in foreign involvement in Canada’s real estate markets have impacted the rental market as well. Over the last several months, restrictions on foreign students obtaining study permits for Canadian schools has led to a significant cooling off in the rental market, particularly near colleges and universities. 

Biln notes there have also been significant changes in Canada’s condo markets, particularly in larger cities like Toronto and Vancouver. Sale prices on condo units have decreased significantly, but the inventory that is flooding the market is not for everyone. For example, a one-bedroom or two-bedroom unit holds little appeal for a family with several children. For some pre-construction properties, Biln says buyers have begun walking away from their deposit so as not to lose more money on their investment.

Canadian home sales are rebounding heading into fall

While the year may have started off slowly, things may be looking up, albeit cautiously. Biln explains the national market just reached its fifth month of rising sales in a row, and the busiest August nationwide since 2021. 

Biln says the market is in a balanced state across the country at the moment, although that does not paint an entirely accurate picture. Ontario and British Columbia, for example, are experiencing more buyers’ markets, while the Prairies and Atlantic Canada are leaning towards sellers’ markets. And with the latest Bank of Canada move to lower interest rates, it should mean a modest increase in market activity.

Biln notes buyers still have concerns. Continuous headlines about a potential recession has many buyers shopping more cautiously, or still waiting for further signs of stability. While economic headlines have been less prevalent last summer, uncertainty is still there, and that anxiety is definitely having some impact.

How will local real estate markets fare to close out 2025?

It is nearly impossible to determine the forecast for the Canadian housing market because, as Biln notes, it does not exist—at least not in that way. The country is highly regional, and so the market in Vancouver may look different than it does in Edmonton, which is different from Toronto which can be entirely different from Halifax. 

In Toronto and Vancouver, the condo markets have taken a significant hit as noted earlier, which in those markets represents a sizable portion of the market. In parts of the Greater Toronto Area and Greater Golden Horseshoe there are signs of stabilization, and lower prices in some areas, but even these two cities are not identical. In Vancouver, affordability is still a challenge, but in the suburbs, the family-oriented housing market is, as Biln describes, “holding up better.”

In Edmonton, the market had started the year high, but appears to be cooling down moving into the fall. Housing prices are more affordable than nearby Calgary, and that affordability has made for a stronger market overall. However, the numbers show that local demand is still somewhat cautious. The Halifax market had seen a boom during the pandemic due to remote work and migration, and it remains active. While it has slowed slightly, other more-affordable markets throughout Nova Scotia have experienced a surge. 

No one has a crystal ball, and it is impossible to determine with any certainty what’s coming down the pipeline next. One thing is for sure though, a REALTOR® is still your best guide in the buying process. A licensed REALTOR® knows your local market, understands local trends, and can advise you on the things that are most important to you. 

Source: https://www.realtor.ca/blog/what-the-2025-fall-market-could-look-like/39634/1362

The Bank of Canada just made its first interest rate move since March. As of today, September 17, the key overnight policy rate has been lowered by 25 basis points, from 2.75% to 2.5%, its lowest level in three years.

Here’s what that means for Canadians who are watching real estate markets and why this shift could matter more than it seems to home buyers and homeowners.

What did the Bank of Canada do on Sept. 17?

The Bank lowered its benchmark rate, citing signs of a weakening economy, a softening labour market, lower inflationary pressures, and concerns about external risks, such as trade and tariff instability.

Because the overnight rate influences many borrowing costs (including the prime rate), changes here tend to ripple through to mortgage rates, lines of credit, and other variable-rate debt. The prime rate serves as the baseline for variable-rate mortgages and is increased or decreased in increments that match the Bank of Canada’s policy changes.

Screenshot from the Bank of Canada.

How homeowners benefit from a lower interest rate

One of the most immediate effects of a rate cut is for homeowners whose mortgages are variable, or whose payments adjust with the prime rate. The 2024 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Mortgage Consumer Survey states about 23% of Canadian mortgage holders have a variable rate, while 69% opted for a fixed rate.

That means the September cut should translate into some instant savings for about one in every four Canadian mortgage holders.

What this means for people entering the housing market

Even though fixed rates aren’t directly tied to every move of the Bank’s policy rate, they are influenced by bond yields, market expectations, and overall borrowing costs. When the key rate falls, fixed rates tend to drift downward (or at least stabilize), especially if markets believe this is part of a broader easing cycle.

This means some home buyers who were previously priced out because of high interest costs may now qualify for the home they want. Lower interest payments mean a given income can support a somewhat larger mortgage.

Recent data from mortgage-rate aggregators show typical five-year fixed rates in many parts of Canada are now in the 3.7% to 4.5% range, and variable offers are close behind.

The outlook ahead: what CREA’s data says

The outlook for fall 2025 remains cautiously optimistic. The Canadian Real Estate Association’s (CREA) recent housing market report assumes that pent-up demand, combined with lower borrowing costs and a surge in listings could lead to a rebound in market activity across Canada. August proved to be the fifth straight month of increased home sales and new listings are up 8.8% compared to this time last year.

CREA Senior Economist Shaun Cathcart said if you’re a first-time home buyer this could be a sweet spot to time your purchase.

“I think we’re going to see a lot of (buyers) start to show up and start to pick these listings off any day now,” he said during the latest Housing Market Report.

Are further interest rate cuts likely to come?

Many economists had been betting on more rate easing later in 2025, depending on inflation behavior, economic output, and global uncertainty. With its move to 2.5%, the Bank has room, but will likely be cautious. Markets will be watching upcoming inflation reports, employment data, and international developments.

Why you should use a REALTOR® now

Your REALTOR® is your personal real estate MVP. While you’re figuring out financing, they can already get to work behind the scenes.

If you’re buying, this means setting up searches for you, attending open houses on your behalf, and asking around to their connections about what might be coming available.

If you’re selling, your REALTOR® can get to work marketing your property right away, getting it ready for staging and compiling documentation, all without severely disrupting your routines.

By now you know interest rates impact the Canadian real estate landscape and that likely isn’t about to change any time soon. Making the right decision at the right moment seems like a lot of pressure when you don’t know where interest rates will be on a month-to-month basis.

Thankfully REALTORS® monitor market trends and housing data to make sure, whether you’re buying or selling, your best interests are kept top of mind.

Don’t put it off any longer.

Source: https://www.realtor.ca/blog/what-the-bank-of-canadas-rate-cut-means-for-housing-markets/39555/1362

We’ve all experienced it: blistering temperatures, above our typical summer averages, that have us flocking to the comfort of our homes. But what about the plants in our gardens? Unless they are in a pot and can be brought indoors, plants are stuck outside, bearing the brunt of the heat wave with no escape. Most summers have a period of abnormally high temperatures that can be highly stressful for plants — even native and drought-tolerant species — resulting in wilting, sunburn and even death.

Thankfully, there are methods we can use to moderate the damaging effects of a heat wave. We will go over five ways to help your plants survive the heat, and look at how to determine if you can revive a “fried” plant.

Heat waves don’t arrive without warning, and today’s weather technology gives us several days in which to prepare plants for an onslaught of intense heat.

Definitions of what constitutes a heat wave vary, with most stating that it’s a period of abnormally high temperatures for that particular region. Some specify that a heat wave lasts at least two days, while others begin at five days. One definition I found stated that a heat wave is when temperatures are 9 degrees Fahrenheit above the average high.

Plants in containers are most susceptible to extreme heat, as the air temperatures can “cook” the roots as well as the tops. Shallow-rooted plants such as annuals are particularly sensitive to the effects of a heat wave, while most succulents are fairly tolerant.

Let’s start with the most important tip of all.

1. Give Your Plants Extra Water

High temperatures increase the rate that water is lost to the atmosphere from a plant’s leaves, resulting in wilting and sunburn damage. You’ll need to increase the amount of supplemental irrigation that they receive. It’s best to do this the day before the heat wave arrives.

When you water your plants is also important. Irrigating them in the middle of a hot day isn’t effective, as your shrubs and perennials are devoting all their energy to dealing with surviving the heat, not to taking up water. The best time to water plants is early in the morning, when temperatures are lower, which will help carry them through the day.

Avoid overwatering, which is also harmful to plants. If the soil is soggy, skip the extra watering session, as it will do more harm than good.

2. Provide Temporary Shade

On a hot summer’s day, we all look for a shady spot where temperatures are a few degrees lower. Unfortunately, plants can’t move toward the shade, but we can bring it to them.

Nurseries and big-box stores carry landscape burlap and shade cloth, which can be placed on top of plants to screen them from the sun. Other temporary shade methods include using a portable shade canopy to shield an area of the garden from the sun. Even a single patio chair can protect a low-growing plant.

If you have container plants, place them on rollers so that you can move them as needed to a shady area.

3. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch

Hot temperatures don’t affect just the parts of the plant that are above the ground; they also impact the roots. Adding a layer of mulch around trees, shrubs and ground covers will help keep the soil several degrees cooler while preventing it from drying out.

Apply mulch about 3 inches thick around your plants, spreading it to the drip line (where the branches extend out to) and taking care to keep it 6 inches away from the trunks of trees.

4. Avoid Pruning

It’s tempting to prune away sunburned growth, as it isn’t attractive, but put away those pruners. Although the outer foliage may be damaged, it’s protecting the interior of the plant by providing shade. Wait to prune away sun-damaged growth until temperatures return to normal. For extra safety, wait until summer is almost over before pruning away in case of the arrival of another heat wave.

5. Skip Fertilizing

As we talked about earlier, plants devote all their resources to surviving a heat wave. Because of this, they can’t spare the energy to take up fertilizer, which remains in the soil and can “burn” the plant. After the scorching weather has abated, go ahead and resume your regular fertilizing schedule.

Is Your Plant Dead or Alive?

The damaging effects of a heat wave can leave you with a “fried” plant. So, how can you tell if it’s dead or can be revived?

Wilting: This signals that a plant is unable to take up water quickly enough to replace what’s lost through its leaves, which is a common occurrence in unusually hot weather.

Whether or not a plant can recover is determined by the “permanent wilting point” of that particular type of plant. If it has gone past that point, then no amount of water will bring it back. However, if the leaves begin to plump up after being watered deeply, then the plant should be fine.

Sunburned leaves: This is another sign of heat damage. When this happens, check to see if the stems are green or pliable; if so, the plant is still alive. Additionally, if there’s still some green present on the leaves, then the plant is salvageable.

Avoid removing the sunburned leaves until the heat wave is over, as they protect the healthy leaves. If the majority of the plant experienced sunburn, let any leaves with green areas remain, as that green part still functions to photosynthesize to help the plant grow new leaves.

Source: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-help-your-garden-survive-a-heat-wave-stsetivw-vs~90673598

Adding to or remodeling your house is one of the most exciting and creative processes you can go through. But with all that responsibility comes pressure to make informed decisions that will last. How can you make sure to get the right design for your lifestyle, stay within your budget and maximize the return on your investment? Start with a great design for every room in your house — including (or especially) the bathroom.

Bathrooms, whether big or small, should always be well thought out and carefully located, and should function with multiple users in mind. We’re long past the era where there was one bathroom for every three bedrooms in the house, and everyone had all the time needed to use it. Today’s bathrooms need to be beautiful, use space efficiently and serve the users functionally. Avoiding common design blunders, as these rooms nicely do, can help you be happier with your bathroom for the long haul.

1. No View Out
No one likes a dark, damp bathroom with bad circulation — it’s no fun spending time in a space like that. If you’re building or relocating a bathroom, try to site it on an outside wall with windows.

If windows are not an option, installing an operable skylight can allow for the fresh air and natural light needed to make the space feel comfortable.

2. Clear View in From Public Rooms
I once worked on a large remodel for which the existing design had a bathroom in the dining room — seems kind of like a conflict of interests, right? Whenever possible, avoid locating the bathroom directly off one of the home’s public rooms — like the kitchen, living room or dining room.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to put in a long hallway, but create some sort of formal separation to break up the line of sight. The last thing you want is to be sitting in the living room with a glass of wine and looking straight into the bathroom at the toilet.

3. Making It All About the Toilet
That leads me to my next blunder: Avoid making the toilet the first thing you see in the bathroom, and avoid any sightlines to it from adjacent rooms. I like to put the toilet and shower in their own room while keeping the sink separate. This allows someone to take a shower while someone else gets ready at the sink.

In the bathroom floor plan here, the wall between the two rooms adds only a couple of inches to the overall size of the bathroom but doubles the room’s functionality.

4. Not Considering a Curbless Shower
A curbless shower makes a bathroom feel bigger and look cleaner — plus, it’s practical for aging-in-place homeowners, since it adheres to universal design principles.

This design can be fairly easy to achieve in a new bathroom and often in a remodel as well. Just make sure you talk to your architect or contractor about it in the planning stages prior to construction.

5. Thinking Bigger Is Better
That’s right: Bigger isn’t better; better is better. Whether you’re designing a large master bathroom in your dream home or trying to figure out how to squeeze in an extra bathroom for your growing family, the most important aspect of your new bathroom is that it has a great design that functions efficiently for your specific lifestyle.

The truth is, great design is less about how a bathroom looks (although it’s always nice when it looks fantastic) and more about how it works. Great design translates to a house that functions better, costs less to build, is more efficient to maintain and gets you more for less.

Source: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/5-common-bathroom-design-mistakes-to-avoid-stsetivw-vs~19332903

Several things can contribute to a successful living room design. Standout architectural features like fireplaces, custom built-ins and beamed or vaulted ceilings — as well as cohesive color palettes, rich materials and thoughtful furniture layouts — are all worth considering to elevate the look and feel of a space. You’ll find plenty of ideas to try in this countdown of the most-saved new living room photos recently uploaded to Houzz.

10. Sky High
This family room is part of a new open-plan kitchen, living and dining space added to the rear of a London home. Ahrberg Jackson Design helped select the finishes and furnishings, which include a stylish rose-and-sage color palette, floral wallpaper in the dining area, and a midtone wood entertainment unit with a mix of open and closed storage space plus a decorative slatted panel. The walls and ceiling are drenched in grayish-green paint that feels both bright and cozy thanks to a skylight and floor-to-ceiling glass.

9. Edgy Elegance
Open to a billiard room with a bar on one side and a spacious kitchen on the other, this Chicago-area family room by Amy Storm & Co. was designed for entertaining. The earthy, edgy mix of materials and colors reflects the home’s black-and-stone exterior. A chunky, geometric black coffee table echoes the bold aesthetic, anchoring an inviting seating area with a sectional upholstered in a nubby, neutral fabric.

8. Jardin Chic
In this relatively petite Parisian living room, Anne Chemineau maximized space with a built-in sectional that combines seating and storage. On the far wall, slim open shelving shows off decorative objects as well as the sweet floral wallpaper behind them. The contemporary furniture and pendant light contrast with the room’s traditional architectural details, which include a tray ceiling, elaborate molding, an arched glass door and a tall mirror with a richly embellished frame.

7. Let In the Light
Full-height glass and soaring ceilings connect this open-plan living room to its tropical setting south of Miami. Wecselman Design collaborated with the client and architect, Max Strang, to harmonize the interiors with a mature tree at the center of the property, choosing streamlined furnishings and a cohesive, quiet palette of black, beige, white and blond wood.

6. Rock and a Soft Place
Toblesky Green Architects connected this Reno, Nevada, living room to a covered veranda using a zero-corner glass bifold door system, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining space with dual fireplaces and TVs set into rugged stone. Inside, designer Theresa Reed furnished a cozy seating area with a plush sectional, soft rug and two Teddy bear-like chairs, all in warm earthy tones drawn from the wooded landscape.

5. Sunken Treasure
In a newly built home in Kirkland, Washington, Cohesively Curated designed a chic seating arrangement featuring a sectional and a round coffee table with a reeded base. A warm neutral palette and tactile textures flow through the open-plan layout into this sunken area, where a smoky blue velvet lounge chair adds a subtle pop of contrasting color — and appears to swivel so its occupant can face the stone-clad fireplace.

4. Neutral Expression
A steeply pitched, beamed cathedral ceiling creates a sense of spaciousness in this living room, while drawing the eye toward the minimalist fireplace and TV design. Built by Stonewood in a Minneapolis suburb, the home also has shed dormers and extra-tall black-framed windows that enhance the light-filled, open-plan space. The architecture may be dramatic, but the furnishings’ color palette is much more restrained, sticking to light neutral tones and accented with black elements that echo the window frames.

3. Global Appeal
Soaring ceilings gave designers from ODS Architecture the opportunity to hang a cluster of globe-style pendant lights over this contemporary Hillsborough, California, living room. The pendants’ gossamer-like shades, which filter the natural light coming in through the room’s large glass doors and windows, are voluminous but light and airy, creating a sculptural focal point without visual heft. Rounded furnishings echo the lights’ curves and soften the architecture’s straight lines and right angles.

2. Midcentury Meets Contemporary
Working with Guy Ayers Architect, Jeanne Moeschler Interior Design refreshed this midcentury Eichler home in Los Altos, California, for clients drawn to a Big Sur-inspired, coastal-cabin look. Moeschler — who uses Houzz Pro business software to manage projects — brought the outdoors in with blues and greens drawn from the views, along with earthy materials like raw linen, stone, wood and handmade ceramics. Light stone floors and pale sofas help brighten the once-dark interior and let the wood-paneled peaked ceiling get the attention it deserves.

1. That’s a Wrap
A striking fireplace structure made of black soapstone, walnut veneer and plaster takes center stage in this Raleigh, North Carolina, room by contractor Rafael Lopez of HomeBuild — whom the homeowner found on Houzz — and designer Alona Perov of Co Interiors. Set a few inches off the wall, the feature hovers slightly above the floor, extends up a wall and continues partway across a 12-foot ceiling painted a warm shade of gray. Multicolor LED backlights enhance its dramatic, floating effect, and clean-lined furnishings complement its contemporary-modern style.

Source: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/the-10-most-popular-new-living-spaces-right-now-stsetivw-vs~182138599

Whether you want more privacy and security or to enhance the design of your backyard retreat, adding a fence can make a huge difference to how you enjoy your space. And while you might be wondering if you should invest in budget-friendly chain link or more luxury materials, it’s even more important to make sure your fencing project complies with municipal regulations and bylaws, including your legal property lines. Here’s what you need to know, and how experts can help.

Where to start before putting up a fence

Before knocking on any doors, do some research to figure out what kind of fence you want, when you’d like to have it installed, and what municipal rules and requirements you’ll have to respect. This includes minimum and maximum heights and types of models and materials permitted, says Kelly Grant, an associate and REALTOR® with MaxWell POLARIS in Edmonton, Alberta.

“Once that’s established, then it’s important to speak with the neighbours to decide what the project is going to be before any work takes place—including any suppliers or installers being hired,” says Grant, who is also a civil and construction management engineer.

Brian Hutchinson, co-owner of outdoor construction company Groupe Ubora in Baie-d’Urfé, Quebec, always asks homeowners for a copy of the certificate of location before beginning a new fence project.

“It shows us the plot plan of the home, including the size of the house and your land. That’ll tell us exactly where the fence should be. Then at that point, it’s up to our clients: if they want it right on the shared line, then ideally, it’s advisable to split the cost with the neighbour,” explains Hutchinson.

If you don’t have a current certificate of location, Grant advises hiring a licensed surveyor to determine exactly where the property line is and create a new property report in compliance with the municipality. The surveyor will stake your boundaries with pins.

Consider your neighbours when installing a fence

If you’re sharing the cost of the fence with your neighbour, Hutchinson suggests putting that detail in writing so the contractor plans will show the fence either inside the property line if you’re footing the bill, or right on the line if the fee will be shared. Your neighbours are not required to pay for new fencing or upgrades, notes Grant.

“If one or multiple neighbours do not want a fence, they cannot legally stop you from installing a fence on your own property that’s inside the property line, providing the homeowner meets all the municipal and/or condo by laws,” he says.

With several neighbours beside and behind you, each fence project is mutually exclusive from the other and should have separate agreements, he adds, and for any fencing disputes, it’s smart to consult a lawyer for advice if an agreement can’t be reached. Even if you’re not planning to split the cost of the new fence, it’s always advisable to inform your neighbours as a courtesy, he adds.

“There are going to be trucks and equipment, and when we drill and cement the post, it can make a bit of a mess in terms of excavation. We always clean it up afterwards, but good to be aligned with whoever is beside you and behind you,” says Hutchinson.

What should your fence be made of?

There are options at all price points for new fencing. A chain link fence is the most economical, followed by pressure-treated wood and ornamental versions that look like steel.

“Then, we have a hybrid and vinyl mix, which is an aluminum post and frames and a vinyl plank, which looks like a composite. And finally, there’s aluminum and composite, which is the higher-end style of fencing,” says Hutchinson.

If you’re sharing the cost with a neighbour, Hutchinson recommends a hybrid aluminum and vinyl fence or a composite fence because they look the same on both sides while providing good privacy. Other considerations include the size of fence panels, gates and hardware, distances between fence posts, and any foundations required, adds Grant.

“To take maximum advantage of your fence investment for resale, I advise homeowners to consider earth tones that would appeal to most future buyers, as opposed to others that stand out, that might only appeal to a small segment of buyers,” he says.

Check with your municipality regarding fence specifications

You might have restrictions on which fence to install depending on where you live—anything from how far you must set the fence back from the property line, to acceptable building materials, to standardized heights. For example, in one city Hutchinson regularly does work in, the height of a fence is allowed to be six feet six inches, whereas other municipalities cap that at six feet.

“If you have a pool, the exterior of your fence cannot show the framing. So, if you’re doing a traditional wood fence with horizontal 2-by-4s, those must be on the inside because a child could climb up the back side of the fence if the frame is facing the street,” he explains. “Other towns don’t allow chain links for the front of your home, but they do allow them for the side and for the back.”

How to be considerate when building a fence

When discussing your fence project with neighbours (whether they’re chipping in or not) be clear about their existing landscaping, hardscaping, and plants.

“If somebody has a very landscaped yard, and there’s stone that goes up to the fence, or a garden that’s impossible to touch, those are all things that have to be talked about, as that can affect the cost,” notes Hutchinson.

“Sometimes people will hang their pool equipment on the existing fence, so it’s always good to be made aware of things like that to be sure everyone is aligned that, yes, we will be making somewhat of a mess when we come to take down a fence, drill four and a half feet deep and put our posts in.”

To reduce the mess, make sure your contractor puts down sheets of plywood or some other type of covering to protect grass or paving stones, suggests Hutchinson.

How your REALTOR® can help with fences

While REALTORS® can assist property owners by referring quality licensed surveyors and real estate lawyers that have experience securing property compliance, they cannot provide legal advice or tell you where to install your fence, notes Grant.

“We provide general advice, but not technical advice in those areas,” he explains. “REALTORS® can request a copy of the property report and compliance from the seller if it’s available and refer buyers to a qualified real estate lawyer for review to see if there’s any legal issues. If the real property report and compliance is not available at the time of the offer to purchase, the standard clause requires the seller to obtain municipal compliance on all facets of the property before completion.”

If the municipality discovers a non-complying fence, it will usually insist the seller remedy the situation, he adds. That could mean obtaining missing permits, removing the fence or compensating the buyer to do so.

Because buyers prefer homes with fences, Grant recommends sellers consider building one before putting your property on the market, as this can potentially increase its value. A well-built fence and well-maintained fence can elevate your property and last between 15 to 25 years.

But keep in mind, a poorly maintained fence may signal to buyers that there’s work to be done, which could keep some people on the sidelines. Your REALTOR® will be able to give you advice on whether it’s worth it for you to remove or fix up an old or damaged fence.

The more information you gather before building a fence, the more successful your project will be!

Source: https://www.realtor.ca/blog/figuring-out-fences-what-you-need-to-know/39086/1367

Smart locks are becoming one of those essential upgrades for tech-savvy homeowners across Canada providing convenience and enhanced control. With features like keyless entry, multiple access options, and heightened security, they’re redefining what it means to feel safe and connected at home.

But are they worth it? With concerns about installation, hacking risks, and reliability, let’s explore whether a smart lock is the right choice for your home and compare the best options available on the Canadian market.

Why Consider a Smart Lock?

Traditional locks are simple and reliable, but smart locks offer extra conveniences such as:

• No more lost keys! You can unlock doors with a code, fingerprint, or smartphone.

• Lock or unlock your doors from anywhere via an app.

• Doors can lock automatically for added security.

• Managing guest access control, as you can assign temporary codes for family, visitors, or service providers.

Common Concerns About Smart Locks (and Solutions!)

Some homeowners may still hesitate due to concerns like installation complexity, battery reliability, and hacking risks. Totally fair! Let’s see if we can help ease your fears a bit.

What if the smart lock runs out of power?

• Battery life: Smart locks rely on batteries, and users worry about them dying unexpectedly. Don’t worry! Most smart locks send low battery alerts before they stop working.

• Power outages: If a lock depends on Wi-Fi, what happens during an internet or power outage? Many models feature physical key overrides, so you’ll always have access.

• Cold weather performance: Canada’s harsh winters can reduce battery efficiency, but with a bit of research, you can find some with extra-long battery life. We’re talking six months to a year per charge!

How secure are smart locks?

• Cybersecurity threats: Some fear hackers could gain access through the lock’s app or Wi-Fi connection. But did you know that some top brands use the same security standards used by banks?

• Data privacy: Concerns about whether manufacturers store access history and personal data. Most systems let you opt in or out of data ,or use the smart lock purely as a keyless entry system without connecting to the cloud.

• Physical security: Locksmiths argue traditional locks are more durable and harder to tamper with, but some smart locks include tamper alerts that notify homeowners of unauthorized access attempts.

Are smart locks difficult to install?

• Door Fit issues: Smart lock manufacturers tend to make them in a standard size for entryways, but always check your measurements before purchasing.

• DIY vs. professional installation: Some homeowners worry about installing incorrectly. There are brands out there that retrofit onto existing deadbolts, making for a much easier installation.

• Connectivity problems: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signals can be unreliable. However, modern smart locks use low-energy Bluetooth (BLE) and dual-band Wi-Fi to reduce interference and improve connectivity.

Final Verdict: Are Smart Locks a Good Idea?

Smart locks offer a blend of convenience and advanced security features that can significantly enhance the modern home. While they may not be suitable for everyone, their benefits are undeniable for busy homeowners, rental property managers, and tech enthusiasts.

By carefully weighing the pros and cons and selecting a model that fits your specific needs, you can make an informed decision about whether a smart lock is a worthwhile investment for your home.

Source: https://www.realtor.ca/blog/are-smart-locks-worth-it-a-comparison-guide-for-canadian-homeowners/39020/1367

An outdoor kitchen is a natural gathering spot in the landscape. After all, everyone ends up in the kitchen indoors, so the odds are great that the same thing will happen when there’s a kitchen outside. An outdoor kitchen encourages you to enjoy dining al fresco whenever the weather is good, whether you have guests or not. When it’s time to entertain on a larger scale, the outdoor kitchen allows you to be part of the party.

Read on to learn more about what adding an outdoor kitchen entails, whom to hire, the pluses and minuses of different appliances and building materials, added features you might want to consider and the timing of getting from the initial planning stage to the finished project.

An outdoor kitchen is a major undertaking in terms of time and expense. Before you take the plunge, decide if what you’re dreaming of is something you will use. If budget is a concern, consider adding an outdoor kitchen in stages.

Whom to Hire

There are a lot of pieces to consider for an outdoor kitchen, even if you’re doing a small, simple project, so finding the right pros is important. If your kitchen is part of a new landscape plan or the cornerstone of a landscape upgrade, you should be working with a landscape architect or landscape designer.

Businesses that sell outdoor appliances and materials often have a staff designer who can help you decide on the layout and features you need and can provide advice on how to make it happen.

A licensed general contractor who is experienced in outdoor kitchen construction can make sure the installation is done correctly. You will need to hire a licensed plumber and a licensed electrician for any plumbing or electrical work.

Design Considerations Before Adding an Outdoor Kitchen

Before getting to the actual design, think about exactly where the outdoor kitchen will go in your yard, the ideal size and layout of the space and the overall look and feel you want.

Your climate. One of the first things to consider is your climate. If summers are hot, muggy, rainy or short-lived, the amount of real time you’ll spend using the kitchen may be limited. A cold-winter climate will also mean additional maintenance to winterize the space.

Your lifestyle. A second consideration is what type of outdoor kitchen makes sense for your lifestyle. “We encourage homeowners to think about what they are going to use the kitchen for,” says Rob Douglass of TCP Custom Outdoor Living. “Is it just for them and their family? Is their family large or small? Do they entertain a lot or have big parties with lots of people?”

You may want an outdoor kitchen that comes with all the bells and whistles. Perhaps a simpler design that will make your current space more efficient is right for you. Whichever you choose, the space should be functional and hardworking. Most of all, it should be a space you’ll be happy to be in and to show off.

Where it will go. An outdoor kitchen should be easy to get to and easy to use. Designer John Algozzini of Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors usually locates an outdoor kitchen near the most routinely used exit from the house, such as the family room or kitchen. “Proximity and usability make for good design,” he says.

Douglass is also a fan of putting the outdoor kitchen near the home. “Being near the back door, for ease of bringing food out or for cleanup, is always ideal,” he says. Adds Daren Langhorne of Core Outdoor Living in Clifton, Virginia, “In our experience, most clients want to hide their outdoor kitchens from interior sight lines. We think just the opposite. Put it in full view to entice yourself and your visitors to go out and play.”

There are times when moving an outdoor kitchen further away from the house might make more sense. If you have a satellite outdoor dining or lounging area, locating the kitchen nearby makes it easy to serve food and drinks and adds to the outdoor living ambiance.

Locating a kitchen space near a pool or another destination in your yard may also entice people to explore and appreciate the rest of the landscape. If your home opens directly onto a heavily used spot where a lot of people interact, especially a play area for children, locating the kitchen slightly away from the action will give you a safer spot for food preparation.

Your yard’s microclimate will also be a factor. Choosing a spot that won’t get a lot of wind will make the outdoor kitchen more comfortable. Unless you want to add a roof or shade structure overhead, a location that receives direct sun might be too hot. An extremely shady spot might also be uncomfortable for several months of the year.

Size and layout. Even the smallest outdoor kitchen designed for a single cook will need enough space for food prep, cooking, serving and getting started on cleanup. If more than one person will be using the space, you’ll want enough room for everyone to move comfortably.

The layouts that work well in indoor kitchens will be equally functional outside. Looking at the pros and cons of each can help you decide what will work best for your space and your needs.

How to Choose the Right Size and Layout for Your Outdoor Kitchen

Style. An outdoor kitchen is a great way to showcase your landscape’s design style. You might opt for a traditional look with classic brick; a Mediterranean style featuring stucco finishes, a granite countertop and a pizza oven; or a tropics-inspired outdoor paradise complete with a tiki bar. “The key item is that all the spaces should be synchronized, just like the interior of your home,” Algozzini says.

Outdoor Kitchen Appliances and Fixtures

Deciding what you want in your outdoor kitchen can be overwhelming. You’ll need a grill, of course, but would two be better? What’s the best refrigeration to choose? Should you add a sink?

To narrow down the list, focus first on what makes sense for you and your family. You can always plan so that it’s possible to add more to the design in the future

Grills and other cooking elements. A built-in grill is the centerpiece of an outdoor kitchen. Choosing the right grill for what you want to cook, how you want to cook and who you want to cook for is your starting point.

Refrigeration. An undercounter or full-size refrigerator makes it easy to stock cold drinks and keep food from spoiling. Adding a freezer, either separately or as part of the unit, gives you a spot for ice cubes, ice cream and other frozen treats.

You might consider adding two refrigerator units, with one specifically designed to hold beverages. If you place the latter near the end of the counter, your family and guests can easily access the beverage of their choice without getting in the way of the food preparation. A beer tap will add a party feel to the space. A long trough or bin that you can fill with ice and drinks can serve the same purpose as a drink refrigerator.

Any unit you choose will need to be rated for outdoor use to handle the high and low temperatures found outdoors. To extend its life, install the unit where it is sheltered. You may also need to take steps to protect it from freezing temperatures and long cold spells.

Sinks and faucets. A sink gives you a spot to rinse off food before cooking, wash veggies straight from the garden or even soak a pan or two. A stainless steel sink is both weather-hardy and easy to care for, although it can get hot and reflective in direct sun. Other material choices for an outdoor sink include stone, concrete and hammered metals such as copper or nickel.

Whatever material you choose, be sure it’s rated for outdoor use. Fortunately, most sinks are easy to take care of. You can also add a cover to keep dirt and debris out when it is not in use.

Sink installation isn’t as simple as it might seem, especially if you want both hot and cold water. “You’ll need to run both supply lines and add a drain line,” Algozzini says. Douglass adds that you might even need to add a small hot water heater.

You’ll find faucets that are stationary, that swivel or that allow you to pull down the faucet head. Whichever you choose, make sure it is rated for outdoor use.

Extra storage. Extra drawers, bins or cabinets can hold everything from grilling tools, dishes and serving pieces to glasses, cups and silverware.

A spot for trash and recycling makes cleanup much easier. A paper towel holder can be included on the countertop or set into a door. If you’re a dedicated griller, tuck a small pantry area or a spice rack into your design.

Tying It All Together

Once you’ve picked out the appliances and decided on the other elements that will form the core of your outdoor kitchen, you’ll need to pull everything together. That’s where countertops and bases or cabinets come into play. The counters and base material will also define the look and feel of the space.

Countertops. There are a number of material options for topping your outdoor kitchen. Stone is the most popular choice for outdoor countertops. It’s durable, beautiful and can handle spills, stains and the outdoor elements. A wood countertop fits in with almost any style, from traditional to contemporary, and its organic vibe complements most landscape designs. Concrete has become a favorite material for outdoor countertops, especially when paired with a contemporary landscape design. Tile is another countertop choice.

Bases and base cabinets. These are the backbone of your kitchen, defining the overall space, housing the grill or grills, holding the cabinets, drawers, refrigerators and sinks. Bases and base cabinets have to be hardworking. You’ll be preparing and serving food on them and possibly using them as a dining space, so you’ll need materials that can stand up to hard use, spills and the elements.

A professional will fabricate the basic structure, including adding necessary insulation and flameproofing materials. The next step will be adding the features you want and paneling them. Finishes can range from brick and wood to stucco, concrete, metals and natural materials such as bamboo.

Lighting. An outdoor kitchen, especially if combined with dining or seating areas, invites you to linger outside into the evening. Having the right lighting will make all the difference.

You want the grill and food prep areas to be well-lit. Walkways and transition areas may not need as much direct lighting, but there should be enough to make moving around safe and easy. A softer, more subtle ambient light in dining and gathering areas can help set the mood while allowing you to enjoy the changing natural light from twilight on.

While you can make do with string lights or a wall-mounted sconce or two and a task light next to the grill, putting together a lighting plan when designing the kitchen will increase the usability of your space.

Bonus: A sound system can add musical ambience to your outdoor gatherings and can be included in the electrical plan. You might even want to consider an outdoor-safe television for watching the game or having a movie night.

Heating and cooling. The temperature is not always ideal outdoors. That’s where fans and outdoor heaters come in. Fans, especially ceiling fans if your patio is under a roof, will circulate air and help keep spaces comfortable when the weather is hot. That same air circulation can also come into play when it’s cooler outside. Reversing the fan blades from a summer setting will draw the cold air up.

Strategically placed outdoor heaters, whether you choose a standalone or overhead version, can warm up a surprisingly large area. They can run on propane, natural gas or electricity, as long as the latter is rated for outdoor use. Most outdoor heaters will warm up an area 20 feet in diameter in an uncovered space. Those that run on propane tanks can be set where it is safe, and some electric heaters can be plugged into an outdoor outlet.

You will need a professional to install most electric outdoor heaters, especially if you want to tie them into your natural gas line.

Roofs and overhead structures. Having something overhead will protect both the kitchen area and guests from the elements, whether it’s harsh sunlight, rain, weather extremes or snow. This, in turn, will mean you can use your outdoor kitchen far more often. As a design feature, it sets the kitchen off as a separate space from both the house and the rest of the landscape. It allows you to easily add amenities like overhead lighting, heating and cooling.

A roof or overhead structure also has some drawbacks. An overhead structure is not recommended above many grills, for safety reasons. If you do have one, be sure you have the appropriate ventilation around the grill and an overhead vent installed. A patio roof can also close off the space unnecessarily.

A fully covered space is both more expensive and permanent, but it will ensure that both your kitchen and those using it are out of the elements. It will easily allow you to add in overhead lighting, heating and fans.

A partial roof can give you some shelter while still allowing you to keep the grill and other cooking areas safely ventilated and away from flammable materials.

A pergola adds the simplest overhead structure. This allows you to define the area without fully enclosing it. It also allows you to add other amenities such as lights, heaters and fans. You can build on this with an open roof system of permanent or adjustable slats or louvers. This will add some sun protection as well as create a dappled light that helps temper the glare of the sun.

Other Considerations for Adding an Outdoor Kitchen

Permitting and codes. Building an outdoor kitchen will almost always require permits, including for electrical and plumbing work. Codes can vary widely, so you’ll need to understand what your locale requires. A professional can help with this as well as with obtaining the actual permits.

Be sure to also check for any requirements or restrictions if you are part of a homeowners association.

When to do this project. Adding a hardscaping feature to your landscape is usually best done during good weather from spring to fall. Fortunately, you can get started with the beginning steps before you’re ready to start building. Use the latter months of fall, your winter downtime and early spring to get the plans in place.

How long it will take. Putting in an outdoor kitchen will not be a quick process. You will need to have plans and get permits, order the materials and appliances and plan for having features such as countertops fabricated. You may also need to have a concrete pad or other base installed before construction can begin. That can take several weeks to get into place.

Once things are ready to go, the actual installation of a very basic outdoor kitchen may only take a week or slightly more to install. If your project is more complex, plan on a longer build time. “You may have up to four trades working at one time,” Algozzini says. Scheduling different pros can also take some time.

Source: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/what-to-know-about-adding-an-outdoor-kitchen-stsetivw-vs~144980221

Basic rectangular shapes dominate kitchen island designs. While there’s nothing wrong with the straightforward approach, it might not be the right setup for your space or lifestyle. To think outside the box — or rectangle — consider these five kitchens with personalized island designs that enhance dining, seating and style.

1. Dropped-Down Dining

Designer: ​Anastasia Harrison of AHD & Co
Location: ​W​arren, New Jersey
Size: 506 square feet (47 square meters)

Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners envisioned a kitchen that would serve as both a gathering place and a hardworking hub for daily life,” designer Anastasia Harrison says. “At the heart of the design is a generously sized island that comfortably seats a crowd — ideal for casual meals, conversation and entertaining. The layout was thoughtfully designed to ensure an easy flow throughout the space, with dual sinks and designated prep zones that facilitate multiple people cooking or cleaning at once. Bathed in natural light, the kitchen features classic, durable materials chosen for their timeless appeal and ability to withstand the rhythms of everyday use.”

Kitchen island. “​A key feature of the kitchen is the custom double-layer island with seating for eight that brings both function and visual dimension to the space,” Harrison says. “The lowered section was designed with younger family members in mind — perfect for casual meals, homework or simply being part of the action. This thoughtful adjustment also makes the space feel more relaxed and welcoming.”

Harrison uses Houzz Pro software to manage her business and projects. “Our clients lived halfway across the world in Taiwan during this project, and using Houzz to manage the process was extremely helpful in keeping everyone on the same page,” Harrison says. “We used Houzz Pro to share mood boards, design selections, invoicing and proposals, all of which allowed for quick feedback and easy approvals despite the time difference. The clients frequently commented on how seamless and organized the process felt and how confident they were in the decisions made from afar. Houzz Pro helped bridge the distance and made a complex international renovation feel surprisingly easy.”

Other special features. “A full-height quartzite (Patagonia Green) backsplash with dramatic veining creates a stunning backdrop, tying the whole room together with elegance and ease,” Harrison says. “Designed with a family of enthusiastic home cooks in mind, the kitchen features multiple work zones, dual sinks and generous counter space, making it easy for everyone to cook, prep and clean up together.”

“Uh-oh” moment. “We were set on using Patagonia quartzite for both the countertops and the full-height backsplash, but with such a bold, dynamic stone, matching the patterns across multiple surfaces was no small feat,” Harrison says. “The veining is incredibly distinctive, and we knew any mismatch would be obvious. We ended up securing five slabs to give us the flexibility we needed for a cohesive layout. Even with that, templating was a challenge. It took careful planning and layout work to ensure the most dramatic sections aligned perfectly across the island and backsplash. The result is seamless and showstopping, but there was definitely a moment of, ‘How are we going to pull this off?’ in the middle of it all.”

2. Face-to-Face Seating

Designer: Janelle Patton of Lark Interiors
Location: Coppell, Texas

Homeowners’ request. “This kitchen was originally about half the size and had a terrible layout — you had to walk around the island to get to the fridge,” designer Janelle Patton says. “It was also dark and dated. Natural light was a huge priority for this client, so we added windows and chose light, bright materials.”

Kitchen island. “We opted for tabletop-style bar seating so the family could face each other as they ate,” Patton says. “We made the countertop out of sealed white oak so that it would be extra durable. This also allowed us to avoid having a seam in the stone on the island.”

Other special features. “The blue French Lacanche range was the most special element in this space,” Patton says. “It is a bit of a splurge but allows for two double ovens and endless burner options. Plus, the color has a huge visual impact on the space. The cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore Hushed Hue and the white oak island was custom-stained. The countertops are Le Blanc quartzite so that the owner didn’t have to worry about etching and staining.” A white oak beam detail frames the window area. The backsplash is creamy white zellige tile.

Designer tip. “You can put a range in front of a window!” Patton says. “Natural light was a huge priority in this project, and using an in-ceiling vent hood allowed us to add an additional window behind the range.”

3. Built-In Banquette

Designer: Sydney Foley and Emma Legg of Kindred Interior Studios
Location: Summerfield, North Carolina
Size: 350 square feet (33 square meters)

Homeowners’ request. “Our clients wanted to update their early ’00s Tuscan kitchen into a lighter, brighter space that aligned with their country chic aesthetic,” designer Sydney Foley says. “We did not need to change the layout very much and worked with most of their existing cabinets. A lot of their complaints and elements that dated the space were cosmetic. The kitchen, on the back of the house, received little to no sun and felt gloomy on even the sunniest days. Paint and new countertops played a large role in lightening the space.”

Kitchen island. “With all the angles of the room, the existing island shape worked and we were able to maximize our clients’ budget by keeping it,” designer Emma Legg says. “To give it a new look, we opted for replacing mesh doors with solid ones and smoothing out clipped corners. A coat of fresh blue paint (Whirlpool by Sherwin-Williams) and white quartz countertops gave it a whole new identity. Our clients have a large family — five kids — and the breakfast room was generally too small to fit everyone. They loved the flexibility of having a tall, round pub-style table in the main kitchen area. We freshened up their old-world-style furnishings and replaced dated pendant light fixtures with ones more appropriately scaled that speak more to their French country style.”

Other special features. “We replaced the contemporary stainless steel hood for an oak one that adds a focal point, texture and warmth to the new design,” Foley says. “Another feature that makes this kitchen stand out is our use of color in the backsplash and island. We intentionally layered elements like the hood, backsplash, lighting and hardware to keep the space from being a trendy white-on-white kitchen.”

Designer tip. “Use what you have to your advantage,” Legg says. “When our budget shrank … we had to keep the tumbled stone tile floors, which weren’t our first choice. Instead of ignoring them, we incorporated additional distressed layers such as the light fixtures and burnished brass hardware. We also brought in warm tones with the wood hood and brass plumbing fixtures to make it feel cohesive.”

Backsplash tile: Boston Topacio, 2 by 10 inches, Soho Studio; cabinet, ceiling and trim paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore; wall paint: Neutral Ground (kitchen) and Smoky Blue (sunroom), Sherwin-Williams

4. Eat-In Dining and Display Space

Designer: Lea Litvin of LO Design, in collaboration with Chris Greenawalt of Bunker Workshop
Location: Philadelphia
Size: 280 square feet (26 square meters)

Homeowners’ request. “The home is part of a development of two houses that both have distinctive L-shaped layouts, incorporating outdoor space into the floor plan of the main living spaces,” architect Lea Litvin says. “The design of the kitchen was intended to reflect the light, airy nature of the south-facing home, carrying a minimalist, luxurious aesthetic through.”

Kitchen island. “An eat-in kitchen was important for daily functionality, and our goal with this configuration was to place some casual seating that opens to the deck to emphasize the indoor-outdoor nature of this space, which is ideal for entertaining,” Litvin says. “The glass cabinet was a unique touch designed to create an area for display and storage of serving pieces and glassware.”

Other special features. “The stunning Calacatta Vagli marble countertops, backsplash and frame detail set this palette apart for both its elegance and warmth,” Litvin says. “The form of the island is accented by the framed cooking station and dual-tone cabinets beyond, unifying the two elements. Across from the patio, a sleek paneled refrigerator sits flush with the rest of the cabinetry, which craftily conceals a walk-in pantry and powder room.” The cabinets and flooring are white oak.

Designer tip. “By extending the island toward the refrigerator, we not only expanded the surface area in the kitchen but also completed the work triangle — vastly improving the kitchen’s functionality for daily use,” Litvin says.

“Uh-oh” moment. “There were a few moments during the kitchen fabrication and installation process where we weren’t sure how the flush pantry wall would turn out,” Litvin says. “But we remained patient with the millwork shop as everything was being calibrated, returned to the shop for adjustments and brought it back again. The result was worth the wait.”

5. Rounded Ends

Designers: Josh Ehr, Eileen Wetzel and Beth Miller of Studio Ehr
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin
Size: 340 square feet (32 square meters)

Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted a functional kitchen for entertaining,” designer Josh Ehr says. “They asked for a large island and a connection to the backyard, which is adjacent to a beautiful wooded area. In order to give the kitchen adequate space, we combined three separate rooms that had been small, angular spaces with limited functionality. By taking down some walls and reshaping the space, we were able to create a new room that feels open and spacious.”

Kitchen island. “This 1950s midcentury home has a lot of irregular geometry with some sharp angles,” Ehr says. “The island adds soft curves that mediate that angularity and add a sense of flow. The rounded ends allow for conversational seating arrangements, and the extra-large sink layers on a modern functionality. Complementary details such as the fluted walnut paneling, rounded hardware and honed stone countertop enhance the softness.”

Other special features. Custom walnut cabinetry. White oak flooring. Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and backsplash. Large workstation sink.

Designer tip. “I recommend highlighting one key feature of a room,” Ehr says. “In this case, we wanted the island to be the prominent feature. Low ceilings, minimal lighting and an unembellished range hood all allowed for the island to take center stage.”

Paint: Creamy, Sherwin-Williams

Source: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/5-new-kitchens-with-island-design-ideas-stsetivw-vs~181467780

It used to be, almost everyone’s first home was considered a “starter home.” But between a lack of housing supply, the rising cost of housing, and other economic challenges, is the concept of starter homes even a thing in Canada anymore?

What is a starter home?

Traditionally, starter homes were the first homes most people bought when they were just beginning to build their lives, careers, and families.

Starter homes were usually small, modest, and relatively inexpensive properties that were often located in less sought-after neighbourhoods or needed a few renovations. While they may not have been anyone’s idea of a “forever home,” starter homes were an affordable way for first-time buyers to get a foot on the property ladder, and start building equity without having to save for decades first to afford the down payment.

When it comes to starter homes, think less than 2,000 square feet, liveable, but a DIYer’s canvas of possibility. They became popular following the Second World War when, in 1946, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) was created. The CMHC helped make homeownership more attainable for Canadians by administering housing programs, offering loans and overseeing social housing, and the boom of single-family homes began (think strawberry box houses).

What’s caused a change in starter homes?

Today, however, Canada’s affordability crisis coupled with a lack of supply has dramatically changed both the kind and price of properties that would’ve once been considered starter homes.

In the 15 years between 2006 and 2021, the average price of a home in Canada more than doubled in value. At the same time, rents in much of the country have also risen significantly, hampering the ability of many renters to save for that all-important down payment.

“The traditional idea of a starter home—a small, affordable property that a buyer stays in for a few years before moving up—has definitely shifted,” says Mike Dirks, REALTOR® and owner of Dirks Real Estate, and Director of Education at Royal LePage Westside in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“With rising prices, higher interest rates and more stringent mortgage qualifications, many first-time buyers are either stretching to buy something they can stay in longer, or holding off on purchasing altogether,” he explains.

What do starter homes look like today?

One outcome of the growing disparity between incomes and home prices is that both starter homes and first-time buyers look very different today than they did a few generations ago.

“A starter home used to be a modest, entry-level property, often a small, detached house,” Dirks says. “Today, the first purchase is often a condo or townhouse, especially in urban areas where detached homes are out of reach.”

According to Christine Cowern, a REALTOR® and Managing Partner of The Christine Cowern Real Estate Team in Toronto, Ontario, starter homes today are both smaller and located farther afield than most buyers would have accepted a decade or two ago.

“Starter homes used to be semi-detached or detached homes that were centrally located,” she explains. “Now, people are having to move outside the large city centres and farther away from work, because urban areas are too expensive. Or if they need to remain in the city, they’re buying condos or townhouses, which are [generally] more affordable.”

What are first-time home buyers looking for now?

Because they have to save for so much longer to afford a down payment, today’s first-time buyers are also typically older and may have larger families than in the past.

Between 1977 and 2000, for example, public records show the average age of a first-time home buyer in Canada increased from 32 to 36 years old. Today, some first-time buyers are waiting until they’re well into their 40s or until they receive an inheritance to buy their first home.

As a result, many traditional starter properties don’t offer enough space for today’s older buyers and their families. In addition, because their budgets are already stretched to the limit, those buyers who do manage to find a home they can afford will often stay there much longer before they can build enough equity to move up the property ladder.

“Many buyers today see their first home as a long-term investment,” Dirks says. “In the past, buyers would get into anything they could afford, assuming they’d trade up in a few years. Now, many buyers want extra bedrooms for future kids or work-from-home setups, outdoor space and proximity to transit, knowing they may be in this home for 10-plus years instead of five.”

According to Crystal Tost—Managing Partner of the Calgary Listings Group in Calgary, Alberta, and a REALTOR® with more than 25 years of experience—price is the main factor driving what most buyers are looking for.

“When I started in real estate in 1997, most first-time buyers were in their 20s, and they were happy just to get into a detached home—even if it had very basic finishes,” she explains. “They saw it as a stepping stone, something they could upgrade over time.

“Back then, a new build in a suburban community could be purchased for around $120,000. Today, those same homes are selling in the $600,000 range,” she adds. “Because of this, there’s been a change in expectations—many buyers today want higher-quality finishes and upgrades from the start, likely because of how much they’re paying compared to past generations.”

Renting vs. buying: what’s more realistic?

In the end, the answer as to rent or buy comes down to your personal financial situation. You’ll need to weigh factors such as job security and whether or not you want to lay roots somewhere for the foreseeable future.

Cowern notes that for many Canadians, renting has become a new form of starter home.

“Years ago, owning a home was considered a higher milestone of financial success and adulthood than it is today,” she says. “With the upward trajectory of prices we’ve seen over the last few years, renting is almost a prelude to homeownership now, whereas in the past, people would go right into buying a home and skip renting altogether.”

According to Tost, another big change is that most first-time buyers who want to enter the housing market simply can’t afford to do it alone.

“Many are purchasing with a spouse, a partner or even a parent,” she says. “A lot of them feel discouraged, especially those who dream of owning a detached home but find it out of reach.”

Getting into the Canadian housing market

There is some good news, however. The combination of lower interest rates and recent changes to the federal rules governing mortgages could make it easier for first-time home buyers to enter the market over the next few years.

Plus, there are still a few things buyers can do to help make buying their first home more affordable.

• Make a firm distinction between the things you want and things you need in a home.

• Open your search to include condos, apartments, and townhouses instead of only traditional detached single-family homes.

• Consider buying a fixer-upper or a smaller property than you’d ideally prefer, or look for desirable homes in lesser-known neighbourhoods that are farther from the city centre.

• If your circumstances allow, consider moving to a town or city where housing is relatively more affordable.

• If you do find a home you can afford, consider staying there for a few years longer to let your equity grow before you move up the property ladder.

Lastly—but perhaps most importantly—if you’re a first-time home buyer (or hope to become one), ask a REALTOR® for guidance! In addition to answering any questions you may have, a REALTOR® can walk you through all the options that are available in your price range, and help you find a home that fits your needs wherever you are in your real estate journey.

Source: https://www.realtor.ca/blog/starter-homes-are-they-a-thing-of-the-past/38418/1362

Waiting until you’re married to buy a home together isn’t necessarily standard practice for couples anymore. These days, almost a quarter of long-term relationships are common law, according to Statistics Canada. In fact, Canada has the highest share of couples living together without being married, driven by Quebec, where 43% of couples have common law unions.

Whatever the reason, buying something together is a big decision, and it’s important for couples to be ready for the financial and emotional commitment—and to be aware of some considerations unique to unmarried buyers (because there are definite differences in the eyes of the law.) 

We talked to a REALTOR®, a mortgage agent, and two couples’ therapists who all shared helpful insights for unmarried couples thinking about buying a home together. All four of our experts agreed that couples must:

• be emotionally ready;

• be financially aware;

• understand legal considerations; and

• be able to talk everything through before making the decision to buy.

Be transparent about your financial situation

Money is one of the biggest sources of conflict in a relationship, says Emily LeMoine, a registered psychotherapist at Grey Couch Counselling. Before making any big decisions, it’s crucial to have an honest conversation about your full financial pictures: be transparent about your income, debt, credit scores, and financial goals. Do the two of you have similar savings priorities and spending habits? How much of a strain will financial stress put on your relationship?

Not being up front about debt or a less-than-stellar credit history will only result in conflict—especially since applying for a mortgage means any issues will come to light pretty quickly.

“If anyone has a poor credit score or a lot of debt, it will come out in the mortgage application,” says Amanda Dindayal, mortgage agent, financial coach, and owner of RedPocketBook.ca. “All assets and debts need to be disclosed, so being honest about money now can reduce stress later.” 

She also says whoever is on title has to be on the mortgage application, so if either partner has a credit score that can impact their eligibility, it’s good to know that going in. Plus, if one of the partners is self-employed, it’s important to ensure all their taxes are up to date and they can show proof of consistent income.

Discuss how you’ll split living expenses

If you feel you’re ready to take the financial leap of buying a property together, it’s time for part two of the financial conversation: the specifics of how you’ll pay for the home and cover ongoing costs. Will you split the down payment and mortgage 50/50 or come up with a different arrangement? It’s up to you, but whatever you decide, be sure to document everything so you’re on the same page. 

“Couples should decide in advance how they will split the down payment, mortgage payments, maintenance costs, and other expenses,” says LeMoine. “A joint account for shared costs can work well, but it’s important to set clear guidelines before you buy, especially if you have significantly different salaries or have different priorities when it comes to purchases, renovations, and other big expenses. If one partner contributes more, documenting it can help prevent misunderstandings down the line.”

Have conversations about future financial goals

“A home is a big financial investment, but it’s also a significant emotional one,” says Ria Gulati, who’s also a registered psychotherapist at Grey Couch. “Explore everything from why you want to buy to how ready you both really feel. It isn’t uncommon to find that one partner is a lot more gung-ho about the idea than the other.” 

She recommends you also discuss your expectations for the future: while you may or may not be planning to get married, it’s important to talk about other things that will impact your future. 

• Do you plan to have kids?

• What are your career trajectories?

• Do you want to stay in the same place long-term?

• What would happen if one of you lost your job, got sick, or if your relationship ended?

Most couples don’t want to talk about money or the negative stuff like what happens if they break up—that’s understandable. They want to remain optimistic, but avoiding the negative now can mean unspoken differences and expectations, and a bunch of unpleasant conflict down the road. It’s crucial to make sure you’re on the same page from the beginning. 

Couples who have effective, consistent, open conversations about their emotional needs are more equipped to purchase a home together than those who avoid, suppress, or withhold emotional content, says LeMoine.

Should you put both names on the home title?

You might think laws around common-law relationships would entitle both partners to half if there’s a split, but that’s actually not the case. Common law couples aren’t automatically required to split property acquired during their relationship. Being listed on the title is the only way to ensure legal ownership of the home.

So what happens if, say, one person covered the whole down payment or paid more of the mortgage? If there’s no agreement in place from the start, things can get messy. 

“I would encourage an unmarried couple buying a property together to discuss each person’s financial contributions,” says Julian Kashani, a broker and REALTOR® at Property.ca. “They should draw up a contract based on these financial responsibilities and include future buyout terms.” 

He recommends unmarried couples go with one of two options: 

1. A joint tenancy, where both own the property 50/50.

2. For unequal ownership shares, a Tenants in Common agreement allows percentages to be specified.

Talk to a lawyer about your joint homeownership

Nobody plans to split up, but it’s prudent to protect yourself in case things don’t go according to plan. A legal professional can help you navigate the complexities of property ownership, draft a fair cohabitation agreement, and ensure both partners’ rights are protected.

Find a REALTOR® you both like

Are you working with a real estate professional who represents both of your interests? If one partner has a close connection with a REALTOR® who’s a friend or family member, the other partner might feel left out, resentful, or as though their needs and wants won’t be taken into consideration. It’s a good idea to select someone neutral who prioritizes both partners’ interests. Ask friends and family for a recommendation—or search REALTOR.ca for a REALTOR® specializing in your area.

Buying a home together is a wonderful milestone in your relationship. To ensure the purchase is one that works for both of you now and in the long term, thoughtful planning and plenty of open communication will help ensure you end up in a place that works well for both of you. 

The information discussed in this article should not be taken as financial or legal advice. This article is for informational purposes only.

Source: https://www.realtor.ca/blog/the-unmarried-couples-guide-to-buying-a-house-together/8142/1363