According to a new study released by the Desjardins Economic Studies team some industrialized countries are displaying signs of economic weakness, but the report indicates that this is not necessarily a trend.
"Growth should firm up in the second half of the year and continue in 2012, without being outstanding," stated François Dupuis, Desjardins Group Vice-President and Chief Economist. Leading the way, as an example of just this, is the Canadian economy, where a recovery is underway. Although things are definitely picking up in this country, Desjardins warns that there is still much work to do ahead- and that there may be some bumps along the way. There will be challenges presented by “the winding down of government stimulus plans, budget cuts, as well as a currency whose high value is still hurting exports.”
There are also fears that a looming interest rate hike will put downward pressure on the Real Estate market.
Analysts encourage businesses- and the general population for that matter- to continue to invest. “Economic growth has been revised from 3.0% to 2.9% for 2011 due to temporary weakness this spring; for 2012, growth is maintained at 2.7%," emphasizes Yves St-Maurice, Director and Deputy Chief Economist at Desjardins Group. “
The high price of oil has been of benefit to Newfoundland and Labrador- as well as Alberta. There is expectation as well that British Colombia may get a shot in the arm from massive reconstruction efforts underway in Japan to rebuild after the earthquake, through the end of this year- and in 2012 as well. They feel that, eventually, Ontario will benefit again from the auto industry. Although new home building has not slowed down as of yet, they feel that it is only a matter of time.
Consumer spending fared worse in Quebec than it did in other provinces, mostly due to a 1% increase in QST.
Analysts feel that the economic damage done by the earthquake in Japan, while far-reaching and tremendously impacting is short term. “The damage done by Japan's earthquake and tsunami on March 11, and problems that have arisen at a number of nuclear power plants have had repercussions on the global economy. A number of industrialized nations will have their economies slowed this spring by the collateral impacts of these recent events. However, the effects will be temporary. The rebuilding efforts needed will have a positive impact around the world in the second half of the year. “
With inflation on the rise, most central banks are utilizing caution in terms of raising interest rates and monetary policy. Both the UK and Canada are not expected to raise rates until the end of the summer at the earliest.
Related Articles
Outlook Optimistic for Canadian Real Estate: Survey
Canadian Chamber of Commerce Reports Canada's Economy On Way To Recovery
Canada Bucks Inflation Trend
New Brokerage Model Registered
Canada Independent Mortgage Brokers to Remain Strong in 2011 Despite the Decline of U.S. Brokerage Market, says Report
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Model: Searching for a perfect love shack?
A little bit of his. A little bit of hers. A touch of theirs thrown in for good measure. The iCouple model at iLoft was designed specifically for a young professional couple. With that in mind, the designers aimed to bridge masculine and feminine, while embracing hip urban loft living with a clean, contemporary style. “It’s professional but not stuffy,” says Anwar Mekhayech, who designed the space with Andrew Bottecchia, both of The Design Agency. “It’s kind of playful, with art and splashes of colour. Urban and playful, but professional at the same time.” The 1,010-square-foot two-storey space features a comfortable European-inspired style, with an open, airy feel and little clutter. While the design looks high-end, Mr. Bottecchia adds everything was chosen to keep it affordable — perfect for a stylish young couple on a budget. Suites at iLoft, by developer Camrost Felcorp, range in size from 720 to 1,125 sq. ft. and in price from $329,900 to $482,900. The sales office is located on the fourth floor at 185 Legion Rd. N., Etobicoke. It’s open Monday to Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and weekends from noon to 5 p.m. For information, call 416-251-8888 or visit iloft.ca.
1. A glass top and base with chrome in between: Everything about this dining table from Casalife is reflective and “floaty,” explains Mr. Bottecchia — attributes that contribute to the suite’s lofty feel. A built-in Lazy Susan in the centre of the table is perfect for a dinner party. Swivel those canapés this way!
2. Tucked into one corner of the kitchen, the multi-functional desk is the perfect place to pay bills, do work at home or even eat your breakfast. From Ikea, it’s also affordable, but the black tempered-glass top “gives it a little bit of a bump” style-wise, Mr. Bottecchia says.
3. A pop of red’s sure to brighten your day — even if you’re stuck at home getting work done. The moulded plywood desk chair from West Elm scoops your back for comfort. “It’s a very Danish design element,” Mr. Mekhayech says.
4. It’s clear from the art (silkscreen posters of Canadian bands, purchased at Telegramme Prints) that the homeowners here love music. And maybe moose, too? The whimsical faux moose head comes from West Elm. “This is a young professional couple that’s hip and urban at the same time,” Mr. Mekhayech explains.
5. Red and orange are gender-neutral accents throughout the suite. This table from Casalife, featuring a red tempered-glass top and base, mimics the shape of the dining table, and it’s versatile. The telescopic base can move up or down.
6. “It’s like a nesting table,” Mr. Bottecchia says of the Casalife coffee table. The glass tabletops can be swung around to increase the reach and surface space during parties. Guests need somewhere to place their cocktails, after all.
Posted in: Condos, Posted Homes Tags: Condominium, The Model
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Realtor vs FSBO: A Balanced Perspective
To get legal advice, you visit a lawyer; to get medical advice, you go and see a doctor; most people, to get their car repaired, leave it in the hands of a trained professional. Even to get your hair cut, you go to someone who is trained to do that job. In all of these instances, the average consumer, without specific training and resources in a given area, defers to a qualified individual. So what is it about Real Estate that is so different? ...
Propertywire.ca reported last week on the findings of a poll by Propertyguys.com that surveyed a sampling of 700 Canadians.
Referencing the findings of their internal poll, Propertyguys.com reported that there is a correlation between return on investment and paying out commissions.
There was a wave of response from many of our readers, much of it negatively geared towards PropertyWire.ca giving voice to these kinds of organizations. Therefore, in the spirit of objective journalism, we now wish to present a counterpoint to the findings of this particular poll.
Because of the sensitive and highly controversial nature of the conversations our journalist had with our Realtor readers, many of those who commented did not wish to be identified. Amidst many of the comments there were several common themes expressed by many of our readers.
The beliefs purported by the findings of the Propertyguys.com poll seemed to be posing the question- read, a rallying cry, to our Realtor® readers, of “Why are Realtors® necessary?” Our readers responded passionately- answering not just that question- but “Why are the services that Realtors® provide necessary?" Here are some common themes:
Much depends on the property itself
Many readily admit, Realtors® included, that some properties- and some people- are excellent candidates for private sale. But the fact of the matter is that it often comes down to the property itself.
When all the stars align-price, location, state of the property & market conditions- some properties “sell themselves” in a matter of hours or days. However, as many of the statistics that we were presented with would suggest, for the most part, this is not indicative of the average selling experience.
What our readers told us is that you need to rely on a number of variables for these stars to cross- and it is, often times, in enlisting the services and support of a Realtor® that these variables can not only be harnessed, but turned into opportunity.
As an example, a Realtor® who is well experienced in rural properties with unique challenges, or a Realtor® who offers extensive knowledge of a municipalities, bylaws and areas- or a Realtor® who is very skilled in finding buyers to meet very specific property needs, or are skilled negotiators- all offer something that sellers simply do not have access to privately. These things (and many more identified by our readers) are simply what they feel distinguishes the services of a Realtor®.
Commission vs. Service
The debate over commissions is ironic really, because at its’ core, it has nothing to do with money, although messaging and advertising would lead consumers to believe that. The heart of this debate is really about service and choice. If you ask most consumers, it is not about what you pay- it is about what you get in return for what you pay. Again this comes down to understanding your own professional value and articulating it.
Other issues that private sellers may not have thought of
As many Realtors® have expressed to PropertyWire.ca, they can offer assistance even with things like safety (by screening people and qualifying leads), offering sellers access to their databases and networks, acting as an emotional break between a property they may not be able to be objective about & handling paperwork. A good Realtor will offer even more services than this. PropertyWire.Ca explored this is more detail in our recent article "Consumers Should Weigh Up The Risks Before Going It Alone In Real Estate".
Mixed Messages
By and large, our Realtor® readers are not discounting the existence of FSBO / low fee brokerages. They recognize their place within the market and that there are clients out there for whom private selling is a good option. As one of our commenter's expresses "Propertyguys has the right to compete and consumers have the right to use them".
What we heard from the bulk of those we spoke with is that they are frustrated with the messages, and the half-information that is being distributed by polls like the one that we reported on in the last story; for the public as a result, as reflected by our reader opinion, there is a predominant sense that that the message of “Why do we need Realtors®, when we can do this ourselves?” is being delivered. So who is responsible for delivering the other side of the coin to the consumer and are they doing a good job?
The real issue is that when consumers ask themselves "Why not go it alone?" they do not receive all of the answers they need to make an informed decision, and they end up armed with a little bit of information- which can end badly.
Related Articles
Matrimonial Home for Common Law Spouses in Ontario
Tax Advantages of Co-Tenancy in Families
Competition Series Part 6: RECO and the Consent Agreement
Bank Bears the Loss in Mortgage Fraud
The 2010 Real Estate Market
Propertywire.ca reported last week on the findings of a poll by Propertyguys.com that surveyed a sampling of 700 Canadians.
Referencing the findings of their internal poll, Propertyguys.com reported that there is a correlation between return on investment and paying out commissions.
There was a wave of response from many of our readers, much of it negatively geared towards PropertyWire.ca giving voice to these kinds of organizations. Therefore, in the spirit of objective journalism, we now wish to present a counterpoint to the findings of this particular poll.
Because of the sensitive and highly controversial nature of the conversations our journalist had with our Realtor readers, many of those who commented did not wish to be identified. Amidst many of the comments there were several common themes expressed by many of our readers.
The beliefs purported by the findings of the Propertyguys.com poll seemed to be posing the question- read, a rallying cry, to our Realtor® readers, of “Why are Realtors® necessary?” Our readers responded passionately- answering not just that question- but “Why are the services that Realtors® provide necessary?" Here are some common themes:
Much depends on the property itself
Many readily admit, Realtors® included, that some properties- and some people- are excellent candidates for private sale. But the fact of the matter is that it often comes down to the property itself.
When all the stars align-price, location, state of the property & market conditions- some properties “sell themselves” in a matter of hours or days. However, as many of the statistics that we were presented with would suggest, for the most part, this is not indicative of the average selling experience.
What our readers told us is that you need to rely on a number of variables for these stars to cross- and it is, often times, in enlisting the services and support of a Realtor® that these variables can not only be harnessed, but turned into opportunity.
As an example, a Realtor® who is well experienced in rural properties with unique challenges, or a Realtor® who offers extensive knowledge of a municipalities, bylaws and areas- or a Realtor® who is very skilled in finding buyers to meet very specific property needs, or are skilled negotiators- all offer something that sellers simply do not have access to privately. These things (and many more identified by our readers) are simply what they feel distinguishes the services of a Realtor®.
Commission vs. Service
The debate over commissions is ironic really, because at its’ core, it has nothing to do with money, although messaging and advertising would lead consumers to believe that. The heart of this debate is really about service and choice. If you ask most consumers, it is not about what you pay- it is about what you get in return for what you pay. Again this comes down to understanding your own professional value and articulating it.
Other issues that private sellers may not have thought of
As many Realtors® have expressed to PropertyWire.ca, they can offer assistance even with things like safety (by screening people and qualifying leads), offering sellers access to their databases and networks, acting as an emotional break between a property they may not be able to be objective about & handling paperwork. A good Realtor will offer even more services than this. PropertyWire.Ca explored this is more detail in our recent article "Consumers Should Weigh Up The Risks Before Going It Alone In Real Estate".
Mixed Messages
By and large, our Realtor® readers are not discounting the existence of FSBO / low fee brokerages. They recognize their place within the market and that there are clients out there for whom private selling is a good option. As one of our commenter's expresses "Propertyguys has the right to compete and consumers have the right to use them".
What we heard from the bulk of those we spoke with is that they are frustrated with the messages, and the half-information that is being distributed by polls like the one that we reported on in the last story; for the public as a result, as reflected by our reader opinion, there is a predominant sense that that the message of “Why do we need Realtors®, when we can do this ourselves?” is being delivered. So who is responsible for delivering the other side of the coin to the consumer and are they doing a good job?
The real issue is that when consumers ask themselves "Why not go it alone?" they do not receive all of the answers they need to make an informed decision, and they end up armed with a little bit of information- which can end badly.
Related Articles
Matrimonial Home for Common Law Spouses in Ontario
Tax Advantages of Co-Tenancy in Families
Competition Series Part 6: RECO and the Consent Agreement
Bank Bears the Loss in Mortgage Fraud
The 2010 Real Estate Market
Monday, June 20, 2011
Glorious sights, scents reward hard work.... By Helen Chesnut, Times Colonist
By Helen Chesnut, Times Colonist
Pick a spot - any spot in my garden. It's almost certain something will need doing there, and fairly urgently. That's just a fact of life when one person is attempting to manage a large garden.
There is an advantage to the situation. At every gardening session I can elect to work anywhere, and I often choose the prettiest or most fragrant location at the time.
That's why, on the Victoria Day weekend, I decided to spend a day in an area of the back garden where a longestablished Shogetsu (Myako) flowering cherry spread its long, horizontal limbs, dipping some of them into a stand of tall, self-sown, violet honesty (Lunaria, money plant) against the side fence. The flower-filled limbs also hovered over a neat row of cushion spurge (Euphorbia polychroma).
When it's in full bloom, I love standing under the flowering cherry tree and looking up into the fluffy mass of dangling white blossom. All this visual beauty was accompanied that day by the strong, clove-like scent of Korean spice viburnum blooming nearby.
Looking around from under this magical tree, I immediately spotted two villains needing to be challenged. The wretched Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria aurantiaca), despite being dug up many times, had resprouted through the wood anemones and daylilies. And sweet cicely had wandered again from its spot against a snake fence into a neighbouring geranium planting. More digging.
A rectangular plot adjacent to the flowering cherry tree had already been planted at one end with potatoes, and sweet peas against a length of wire fencing. Nasturtiums edge that end of the plot. To complete the planting, I dug compost and natural-source fertilizer into the soil, sowed canary vine seeds along a similar length of wire fencing at the opposite end, and filled the rest of the bed with cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower transplants.
It was a day well spent, amid flowers and fragrance, dabbling in a bit of trouble shooting and making another worthwhile down payment on floral beauty and fine food.
A twisted tale of cauliflower. At the most recent potluck gathering in my home, my friend Daphne brought a dish of lightly steamed cauliflower floret clusters topped with a white sauce deliciously flavoured with a little sharp cheddar. The cauliflower was grown at a local farm and sold at the Saturday morning market.
The following Saturday, I bought one of the cauliflower heads at the same farm's table and asked what variety it was. The grower identified the large, beautiful heads as Snow Crown, one of the earliest and most dependable cauliflower varieties. It is exceptionally cold tolerant but not recommended as far as I know for overwintering. This grower planted Snow Crown in her large greenhouse last September.
Snow Crown was for years a constant, reliable cauliflower in my garden, but over the years I'd drifted away to other varieties. Now I'm quite intrigued by the gorgeous May heads at the market. I've acquired seeds (West Coast Seeds) and will sow some indoors soon for transplanting next month and a fall crop.
As an experiment, I'll make another indoor sowing in July for transplanting into a cold frame in September, just to see what happens. A lot will depend on the weather this winter. In a good year, a January indoor sowing and March transplanting of early varieties will yield late spring and early summer crops of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Ask the Expert: The mortgage game
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With anticipated interest rate increases on the horizon, many homeowners are wondering whether to lock debt such as mortgages and secured lines of credit into a fixed-rate mortgage or stay variable. Even some who are mortgage free are concerned with how rate increases will impact secured lines of credit, the financing of vacation homes and recreational property.
First-time buyers may be particularly concerned with entering the national capital’s expensive real estate market.
What can you afford?
As a first time home buyer, it’s essential to figure out what you can afford. A quick rule of thumb is that your household expenses should not add up to more than 40 per cent of your pre-tax household income. Household expenses include mortgage payments, property taxes, condo fees, utility and heating costs, and any payments on other loans such as car loans, credit card debt and lines of credit.
Probably the first step should be to get a copy of your credit history from Equifax Canada and/or the credit bureau. As this is what lenders will look at, it’s important to review its accuracy.
Then do a household budget, list your assets and liabilities and meet with a bank or mortgage broker to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Try the monthly payments on for size. Let’s assume that your current rent is $1,000 and your anticipated payment as a homeowner is $2,350 for principal, interest, taxes, hydro, etc. Try putting aside the extra $1,350 immediately. Not only will this help you save some extra money, but it will get you in the habit of allocating this level of payment every month. Consider the maintenance costs as well, from normal upkeep to potentially larger expenses like a new roof or furnace.
It’s important to find out how much you can afford before falling in love with a house.
Start saving before you start shopping — the larger the down payment, the lower the financing costs. Although it’s not always possible for first-time home buyers, try to come up with at least a 20-per-cent down payment. Any down payments below this level must be insured with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) or Genworth Financial — another expense to factor in.
To assist with your down payment, consider using the Home Buyer’s Plan, which allows you to withdraw up to $25,000 from your RRSP for the purchase of a qualifying home.
Work with a real estate agent familiar with the area you would like to live in, an experienced home inspector and a real estate lawyer to help draft an offer and ensure that title is transferred properly.
Mortgage options
A recent survey indicated that more than 60 per cent of Canadians expect rates to rise over the next 12 months. With this in mind, here are some mortgage strategies to consider.
Fixed rate: If the prospect of rate increases is causing you significant concern, then perhaps you should consider locking in all or some of your debt. With the inflated home equity line of credit rates that consumers have been charged (prime plus 0.5 to one per cent instead of the traditional prime), it’s not that big a jump to a five-year fixed rate, perhaps as little as one per cent more.
If your fixed-rate mortgage is renewing in 2011 and you are interested in another fixed-rate mortgage, it may be worthwhile negotiating with your lender to close out your current mortgage and move into the new lower rate mortgage without penalty. As a strategy to pay off the mortgage sooner, consider increasing the payment and utilize weekly or accelerated bi-weekly payment schedules.
If you would like some level of security but don’t want a fixed rate on all your debt, consider a blend where a portion is at a fixed rate and the balance at a variable rate.
Variable rate: There are many studies that show that despite its volatility, a variable-rate mortgage tends to save more interest in the long term.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
House guest horrors: The seven deadly sins
Every summer, the species comes out of hibernation and wreaks havoc in your home, eating everything in its path and leaving a mess in its wake. No, we don't mean bears or ants. We're talking about house guests, those all-too-common creatures who show up on your family's doorstep and create total chaos.
It may seem like we're exaggerating, but for every lovely guest we've heard of (like the gracious woman who offered free babysitting services and made a batch of delicious muffins for our friends), there are two awful tales about a selfish or slovenly visitor who made their hosts regret ever opening the front door.
Before you play host or stay with a friend, read our totally anonymous worst-house guest tales.
SIN NO. 1: SNOOPING When you open your home to people, you are trusting them around your most prized possessions and giving them a peek into your private life. But that doesn't mean a guest should abuse that trust. One friend tells us that there was "obvious evidence that the house guest had gone through our things." There were caps left off of items in her medicine cabinet and things hanging out of drawers. "It was totally creepy," she adds.
If you need something -say, a Band-Aid or an Aspirin -don't just rifle through your friend's things, ask. Better yet, pack wisely (that includes all your basic toiletries and a decent medicine kit), so you don't have to hit up your friends for more than they are already providing, which is a roof over your head.
SIN NO. 2: 'HELPING'
This one came up a lot in our survey: The house sitter who overwatered her hosts' plants in the living room but didn't wipe up the resulting flood, causing thousands of dollars of damage to the floors. The guest who unloaded the dishwasher and placed items exactly where they didn't belong ("I couldn't find my cutting boards until we moved!" our friend admitted). The budding chef who insisted on making a gourmet meal but left a messy kitchen that took hours for the hosts to clean up.
Rather than tackling a project without getting clearance, offer to help by asking "What can I do?" Basic good manners -unloading groceries, making the bed, bringing your dishes into the kitchen -don't need an official okay, but before you decide to refinish that antique chair, see if the chair's owner actually wants you do that.
SIN NO. 3: ABUSING THE BEDSHEETS
One friend told us that she found a "mystery stain" on a mattress after a friend departed. Another had an even weirder tale. He and his wife let a couple stay at their home while they were out of town. When they returned, they couldn't find their comforter. When asked, their guests acted surprised and confused. "Oh, yeah, right," they finally offered up, reaching back in their memory from one day earlier -they'd gone to the emergency room with the comforter and then left the bedding in their car and forgotten about it. No further explanation was offered. We once (stupidly, but in our defence, it was our first kid) changed a newborn's diaper on our relative's 80 billion-thread-count king-sized bed. Disaster.
When you're using someone else's sheets or bed, by all means stick to sleeping, not eating, drinking wine, fooling around, changing diapers or anything that might involved a trip to the ER. If you do spill or get dirt on the sheets, immediately tell your hosts and then either do the load of wash yourself or offer to pay for a dry cleaner. If the stain does not come out, insist on replacing the damaged item. And wherever you sleep -be it the couch, floor or guest bedroom -make up your bed every morning. On the last day you're there, strip the bedding and ask if you can do a load of wash or help make the bed up with fresh sheets.
SIN NO. 4: DRINKING TOO MUCH
"My folks lent out their house to some friends who were in town for a wedding. They left their kids at the house with a sitter and attended the wedding. Their sitter proceeded to help herself to my parents' liquor cabinet and then barfed on the living room chair and rug. And then she passed out. Oh, and she was a minor." Granted, this wasn't the fault of the guests, who were mortified, but it was their sitter who caused the gross damage.
Don't drink to excess when you're a guest.
SIN NO. 5: EXPECTING HOSTS TO BE CRUISE DIRECTORS
"People have no idea how much work it is to entertain," says one woman. Her demanding visitors "were so entitled, they expected to be waited on and amused the entire time." Another frustrated homeowner says, "We had people visit for a weekend. Their kids got up at 6 a.m. and ran around the house while the parents slept until 9: 30 or 10 a.m."
Instead of sleeping, he and his wife had to get up, make the children breakfast and watch over them as their parents enjoyed a free morning of babysitting.
If you're visiting friends to spend time with them, see what they have planned and be a good sport (nobody cares if you don't really like county fairs). But you should also be open to doing your own thing, coming up with suggestions for activities and giving your hosts a break from you. P.S. Never expect to be chauffeured around. Rent a car, get a taxi or borrow a bicycle.
SIN NO. 6: FREELOADING
We'd never advocate charging a guest for your hospitality, but many people take advantage of their hosts' generosity. One woman's cousin will often call to say she's coming, then show up later that day with her boyfriend and two young children in tow. "They don't help with dishes or cooking and don't offer to pay -even for themselves -if we go out."
Offer to take everyone out to eat or buy muffins and bagels for everyone for breakfast. Chip in for groceries. Pay the museum entrance fee. If you're driving around and your host needs gas for the car, pay for it (don't take no for an answer).
SIN NO. 7: NOT SAYING THANK YOU
It's surprising how easy it is to forget to thank your hosts -maybe you're racing to catch a flight or your kids are freaking out about getting back into the car and you're focusing on making sure you haven't forgotten anything. But we admit, it stings when our guests don't express their gratitude.
As you are leaving, you should thank your hosts, but we suggest a post-visit thank-you card/call/email/pigeoncarrier letter. If you did not bring a gift when you arrived, a small present would be thoughtful, too, but a heartfelt "thank you" would mean the world.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
It may seem like we're exaggerating, but for every lovely guest we've heard of (like the gracious woman who offered free babysitting services and made a batch of delicious muffins for our friends), there are two awful tales about a selfish or slovenly visitor who made their hosts regret ever opening the front door.
Before you play host or stay with a friend, read our totally anonymous worst-house guest tales.
SIN NO. 1: SNOOPING When you open your home to people, you are trusting them around your most prized possessions and giving them a peek into your private life. But that doesn't mean a guest should abuse that trust. One friend tells us that there was "obvious evidence that the house guest had gone through our things." There were caps left off of items in her medicine cabinet and things hanging out of drawers. "It was totally creepy," she adds.
If you need something -say, a Band-Aid or an Aspirin -don't just rifle through your friend's things, ask. Better yet, pack wisely (that includes all your basic toiletries and a decent medicine kit), so you don't have to hit up your friends for more than they are already providing, which is a roof over your head.
SIN NO. 2: 'HELPING'
This one came up a lot in our survey: The house sitter who overwatered her hosts' plants in the living room but didn't wipe up the resulting flood, causing thousands of dollars of damage to the floors. The guest who unloaded the dishwasher and placed items exactly where they didn't belong ("I couldn't find my cutting boards until we moved!" our friend admitted). The budding chef who insisted on making a gourmet meal but left a messy kitchen that took hours for the hosts to clean up.
Rather than tackling a project without getting clearance, offer to help by asking "What can I do?" Basic good manners -unloading groceries, making the bed, bringing your dishes into the kitchen -don't need an official okay, but before you decide to refinish that antique chair, see if the chair's owner actually wants you do that.
SIN NO. 3: ABUSING THE BEDSHEETS
One friend told us that she found a "mystery stain" on a mattress after a friend departed. Another had an even weirder tale. He and his wife let a couple stay at their home while they were out of town. When they returned, they couldn't find their comforter. When asked, their guests acted surprised and confused. "Oh, yeah, right," they finally offered up, reaching back in their memory from one day earlier -they'd gone to the emergency room with the comforter and then left the bedding in their car and forgotten about it. No further explanation was offered. We once (stupidly, but in our defence, it was our first kid) changed a newborn's diaper on our relative's 80 billion-thread-count king-sized bed. Disaster.
When you're using someone else's sheets or bed, by all means stick to sleeping, not eating, drinking wine, fooling around, changing diapers or anything that might involved a trip to the ER. If you do spill or get dirt on the sheets, immediately tell your hosts and then either do the load of wash yourself or offer to pay for a dry cleaner. If the stain does not come out, insist on replacing the damaged item. And wherever you sleep -be it the couch, floor or guest bedroom -make up your bed every morning. On the last day you're there, strip the bedding and ask if you can do a load of wash or help make the bed up with fresh sheets.
SIN NO. 4: DRINKING TOO MUCH
"My folks lent out their house to some friends who were in town for a wedding. They left their kids at the house with a sitter and attended the wedding. Their sitter proceeded to help herself to my parents' liquor cabinet and then barfed on the living room chair and rug. And then she passed out. Oh, and she was a minor." Granted, this wasn't the fault of the guests, who were mortified, but it was their sitter who caused the gross damage.
Don't drink to excess when you're a guest.
SIN NO. 5: EXPECTING HOSTS TO BE CRUISE DIRECTORS
"People have no idea how much work it is to entertain," says one woman. Her demanding visitors "were so entitled, they expected to be waited on and amused the entire time." Another frustrated homeowner says, "We had people visit for a weekend. Their kids got up at 6 a.m. and ran around the house while the parents slept until 9: 30 or 10 a.m."
Instead of sleeping, he and his wife had to get up, make the children breakfast and watch over them as their parents enjoyed a free morning of babysitting.
If you're visiting friends to spend time with them, see what they have planned and be a good sport (nobody cares if you don't really like county fairs). But you should also be open to doing your own thing, coming up with suggestions for activities and giving your hosts a break from you. P.S. Never expect to be chauffeured around. Rent a car, get a taxi or borrow a bicycle.
SIN NO. 6: FREELOADING
We'd never advocate charging a guest for your hospitality, but many people take advantage of their hosts' generosity. One woman's cousin will often call to say she's coming, then show up later that day with her boyfriend and two young children in tow. "They don't help with dishes or cooking and don't offer to pay -even for themselves -if we go out."
Offer to take everyone out to eat or buy muffins and bagels for everyone for breakfast. Chip in for groceries. Pay the museum entrance fee. If you're driving around and your host needs gas for the car, pay for it (don't take no for an answer).
SIN NO. 7: NOT SAYING THANK YOU
It's surprising how easy it is to forget to thank your hosts -maybe you're racing to catch a flight or your kids are freaking out about getting back into the car and you're focusing on making sure you haven't forgotten anything. But we admit, it stings when our guests don't express their gratitude.
As you are leaving, you should thank your hosts, but we suggest a post-visit thank-you card/call/email/pigeoncarrier letter. If you did not bring a gift when you arrived, a small present would be thoughtful, too, but a heartfelt "thank you" would mean the world.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
Friday, June 17, 2011
Measures set to ease traffic congestion during Mercier Bridge closings
MONTREAL - Montreal’s summer traffic woes just got a lot worse.
But authorities are taking measures to mitigate congestion caused by the sudden partial closing of the Mercier Bridge.
Lane directions are being changed and more South Shore commuter trains and buses are on the way. They’re also considering opening to car traffic the ice bridge next to the Champlain Bridge.
Here are the measures:
Mercier lane changes
The part of the bridge that normally takes motorists to Montreal remains open, but lanes on it will switch directions at various points:
- From midnight to noon, both its lanes will be used for Montreal-bound traffic only.
- From noon to midnight, both its lanes will be used for traffic to the South Shore.
- On weekends, it will be used as a two-way road, one lane in each direction.
There will be short periods during configuration changes when the entire span will be closed.
Commuter trains
The Agence métropolitaine de transport will add six weekday departures on its weekday-only Candiac commuter train line as of Thursday morning, thanks to the cooperation of Canadian Pacific, which owns the tracks and bridge used by the line.
New departures from Candiac will leave at 6:35 a.m., 8:25 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. From Lucien L’Allier station, new departures will leave at 9:35 a.m., 3:55 p.m. and 5:55 p.m.
These are in addition to the 12 daily weekday trains on the Candiac line.
The AMT is also adding a total of 380 additional parking spots at its Candiac, St. Constant and Ste. Catherine train stations.
Buses
The AMT said regional transit authorities on the South Shore will add buses to and from Montreal. Details have not been worked out yet.
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Measures+ease+traffic+congestion+during+Mercier+Bridge+closings/4952466/story.html#ixzz1PXRgyRhO
But authorities are taking measures to mitigate congestion caused by the sudden partial closing of the Mercier Bridge.
Lane directions are being changed and more South Shore commuter trains and buses are on the way. They’re also considering opening to car traffic the ice bridge next to the Champlain Bridge.
Here are the measures:
Mercier lane changes
The part of the bridge that normally takes motorists to Montreal remains open, but lanes on it will switch directions at various points:
- From midnight to noon, both its lanes will be used for Montreal-bound traffic only.
- From noon to midnight, both its lanes will be used for traffic to the South Shore.
- On weekends, it will be used as a two-way road, one lane in each direction.
There will be short periods during configuration changes when the entire span will be closed.
Commuter trains
The Agence métropolitaine de transport will add six weekday departures on its weekday-only Candiac commuter train line as of Thursday morning, thanks to the cooperation of Canadian Pacific, which owns the tracks and bridge used by the line.
New departures from Candiac will leave at 6:35 a.m., 8:25 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. From Lucien L’Allier station, new departures will leave at 9:35 a.m., 3:55 p.m. and 5:55 p.m.
These are in addition to the 12 daily weekday trains on the Candiac line.
The AMT is also adding a total of 380 additional parking spots at its Candiac, St. Constant and Ste. Catherine train stations.
Buses
The AMT said regional transit authorities on the South Shore will add buses to and from Montreal. Details have not been worked out yet.
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Measures+ease+traffic+congestion+during+Mercier+Bridge+closings/4952466/story.html#ixzz1PXRgyRhO
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Martha Stewart moves outside
Check out my twitter account.
https://twitter.com.DianeLaflamme
Martha Stewart is working hard so you can have a nice backyard.
No, the reigning queen of domesticity is not hunched over, feverishly weeding your lawn as you read this. But her goal to make all things beautiful has given the masses access to chic and affordable outdoor furniture and accessories.
The business magnate talks about what’s important in outdoor furniture in a conversation with the Citizen’s Paula McCooey.
To stay in touch with her Canadian partners at Home Depot, the American business magnate and media personality was in Toronto Monday doing what she does best — multi-tasking.
In classic Martha Stewart fashion she was zipping around the city, conducting an interview on Canada AM at the crack of dawn, meeting with Home Depot employees about her new line of products, lunching at trendy O&B, checking out Toronto’s high-end home furnishing stores Elte and Gingers, and visiting Jo-Ann and Michaels stores, where she carries her crafts line that includes her popular “glitter kits”. Oh, and then she whipped off an inspiring speech at Roy Thomson Hall for the Unique Lives & Experiences tour, an annual lecture series that also included comedienne Joan Rivers and Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert.
And in between all of that she squeezed in some time for the Citizen to discuss Home Depot and a partnership that began in January 2010.
“This has been a phenomenal partnership so far, and I expect it to continue to be very, very successful,” says Stewart, the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, a publishing giant that includes magazines, books, television and radio shows, along with merchandise.
Stewart says she works closely with six people on her design team to put her personal stamp on hundreds of different products, including her 15 styles of outdoor furniture that boasts everything from swivel rockers and conversation sets to party bars and umbrellas.
Stewart, who has homes in New York and Maine, understands the need to invest in stylish, yet lightweight outdoor furniture. The 69-year-old has seen a dramatic shift from the days, as recent as 10 or 20 years ago, when an outdoor chair could be as heavy as a concrete planter.
“It used to be cast iron furniture, remember? They started in the 19th century and then they were made by Fiske and other such foundries. And it was all cast iron, maybe wooden seats, but very uncomfortable and very heavy, year-round outdoor stuff. But now there are chaises, there are fixed cushions, a variety of water-resistant fabrics, and it’s a very different kind of thing. It’s outdoor living.”
She says people are trying very hard to spend more time outdoors, given the growing trend of screened-in rooms, and better furniture choices makes the prospect more exciting.
“People are realizing that they can enjoy outdoors as well as indoors, and the furniture is reflecting the more comfortable (choices).”
Stewart stressed that the goal at her company is to offer the best value, with comfort, stylish design and good construction — and keeping pieces lightweight.
“It is sturdy without being too heavy,” she says.
For those of us who are not, well, Martha Stewart, she and her team have produced indoor paint, furniture and decor that is colour co-ordinated with tags of colour icons to make mixing and matching simple and ensuring colours do not clash.
“We have a whole colour co-ordination scheme that is very, very useful for the homemaker,” says Stewart. “It enables people who think they are (design) challenged as interior designers to co-ordinate colour ... one of our paints, for example, (will match the) colouring of specific rugs, matched to a specific curtain, matched to a specific paint that we are using for kitchen cabinets.
The colour co-ordination extends to the outdoors “to a degree,” she says, and will continue to grow.
Does does Martha Stewart herself use her own products?
Absolutely.
She is now building a guest house on her sprawling property in Maine, where she is using her own furniture line and an array of blush-colour tones (in her low-VOC paint, of course) to create a welcoming atmosphere.
“I am creating a large tool workshop where I am using the entire Martha Stewart Living Craft Furniture line designed for the Home Decorators catalogue owned by The Home Depot. I use my paints exclusively for all painting projects. And I, of course, am building the interiors of a guest house using several items from the Martha Stewart Living Kitchens line.”
Stewart says there are some people who will walk into Home Depot and buy whole collections, however, she acknowledges many will want to refresh their decor in smaller steps.
“Many people have older pieces that they carry over from year to year. You can buy the table with two chairs, or you can buy a couch with two chairs and a coffee table. But many people do buy the whole set, and we try to keep a design at least for two seasons so that you can add to it.”
She says a great way to freshen an outdoor look on the cheap is to buy new cushions for older furniture if you’re not ready to make the leap to a new set. And her design advice for mixing and matching old and new? Pay attention to common tones.
“You can look for similar materials so you don’t have a clashing colour scheme,” she says. “And then you can get replacement cushions to refresh your older patio with some of the new things. And all of that is absolutely doable, so you don’t have to feel like you have to discard a whole set.”
Now that is a good thing.
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
https://twitter.com.DianeLaflamme
Martha Stewart is working hard so you can have a nice backyard.
No, the reigning queen of domesticity is not hunched over, feverishly weeding your lawn as you read this. But her goal to make all things beautiful has given the masses access to chic and affordable outdoor furniture and accessories.
The business magnate talks about what’s important in outdoor furniture in a conversation with the Citizen’s Paula McCooey.
To stay in touch with her Canadian partners at Home Depot, the American business magnate and media personality was in Toronto Monday doing what she does best — multi-tasking.
In classic Martha Stewart fashion she was zipping around the city, conducting an interview on Canada AM at the crack of dawn, meeting with Home Depot employees about her new line of products, lunching at trendy O&B, checking out Toronto’s high-end home furnishing stores Elte and Gingers, and visiting Jo-Ann and Michaels stores, where she carries her crafts line that includes her popular “glitter kits”. Oh, and then she whipped off an inspiring speech at Roy Thomson Hall for the Unique Lives & Experiences tour, an annual lecture series that also included comedienne Joan Rivers and Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert.
And in between all of that she squeezed in some time for the Citizen to discuss Home Depot and a partnership that began in January 2010.
“This has been a phenomenal partnership so far, and I expect it to continue to be very, very successful,” says Stewart, the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, a publishing giant that includes magazines, books, television and radio shows, along with merchandise.
Stewart says she works closely with six people on her design team to put her personal stamp on hundreds of different products, including her 15 styles of outdoor furniture that boasts everything from swivel rockers and conversation sets to party bars and umbrellas.
Stewart, who has homes in New York and Maine, understands the need to invest in stylish, yet lightweight outdoor furniture. The 69-year-old has seen a dramatic shift from the days, as recent as 10 or 20 years ago, when an outdoor chair could be as heavy as a concrete planter.
“It used to be cast iron furniture, remember? They started in the 19th century and then they were made by Fiske and other such foundries. And it was all cast iron, maybe wooden seats, but very uncomfortable and very heavy, year-round outdoor stuff. But now there are chaises, there are fixed cushions, a variety of water-resistant fabrics, and it’s a very different kind of thing. It’s outdoor living.”
She says people are trying very hard to spend more time outdoors, given the growing trend of screened-in rooms, and better furniture choices makes the prospect more exciting.
“People are realizing that they can enjoy outdoors as well as indoors, and the furniture is reflecting the more comfortable (choices).”
Stewart stressed that the goal at her company is to offer the best value, with comfort, stylish design and good construction — and keeping pieces lightweight.
“It is sturdy without being too heavy,” she says.
For those of us who are not, well, Martha Stewart, she and her team have produced indoor paint, furniture and decor that is colour co-ordinated with tags of colour icons to make mixing and matching simple and ensuring colours do not clash.
“We have a whole colour co-ordination scheme that is very, very useful for the homemaker,” says Stewart. “It enables people who think they are (design) challenged as interior designers to co-ordinate colour ... one of our paints, for example, (will match the) colouring of specific rugs, matched to a specific curtain, matched to a specific paint that we are using for kitchen cabinets.
The colour co-ordination extends to the outdoors “to a degree,” she says, and will continue to grow.
Does does Martha Stewart herself use her own products?
Absolutely.
She is now building a guest house on her sprawling property in Maine, where she is using her own furniture line and an array of blush-colour tones (in her low-VOC paint, of course) to create a welcoming atmosphere.
“I am creating a large tool workshop where I am using the entire Martha Stewart Living Craft Furniture line designed for the Home Decorators catalogue owned by The Home Depot. I use my paints exclusively for all painting projects. And I, of course, am building the interiors of a guest house using several items from the Martha Stewart Living Kitchens line.”
Stewart says there are some people who will walk into Home Depot and buy whole collections, however, she acknowledges many will want to refresh their decor in smaller steps.
“Many people have older pieces that they carry over from year to year. You can buy the table with two chairs, or you can buy a couch with two chairs and a coffee table. But many people do buy the whole set, and we try to keep a design at least for two seasons so that you can add to it.”
She says a great way to freshen an outdoor look on the cheap is to buy new cushions for older furniture if you’re not ready to make the leap to a new set. And her design advice for mixing and matching old and new? Pay attention to common tones.
“You can look for similar materials so you don’t have a clashing colour scheme,” she says. “And then you can get replacement cushions to refresh your older patio with some of the new things. And all of that is absolutely doable, so you don’t have to feel like you have to discard a whole set.”
Now that is a good thing.
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sugar and spice in little girl's room
In the bedrooms they've created for their little girls, the interior-design team of Nicola Marc and Beth Gold have kept one decorating idea front and centre — these are spaces where older furnishings can take on a new life, where memorabilia is treasured and where favourite things are always on display.
The cradle is gone, and so is the changing table, but these rooms are easy to grow into, the designers say. Each room keeps sentimental touches from their infant days, but because some of the furniture could have been used in an adult space, the transition is smooth.
"As designers, we like to create an aesthetic and work with existing pieces," says Marc, who recently joined Gold in MarcGold Interiors.
In the sunny bedroom of Gold's three-year-old daughter Chloe, drapey white and blue linen curtains fit in with the white-framed prints made by Chloe's grandma. On her bed, a family piece from the 1950s, the white ruffled bedspread is covered with pillows and a quilt that was once Gold's.
"I'm using lots of pillows because Chloe uses it as a seating area," Gold says. "Not all bedrooms have room for seating."
The floral motif in the room is repeated in a vintage framed album cover, on the pillows, the area rug and the wallpaper that backs Chloe's pinboard on the wall just above her desk.
The pale colours in the room reflect the rest of the house, Gold says, where dashes of strong colour add playfulness — like the raspberry desk in Chloe's room. And the straw baskets filled with toys can easily be used for other functions in the rest of the house.
"We think about how we can make a fairly easy transition from one stage to another," Marc says. "It reflects our general approach to design."
"We want to give things new life by recovering and reframing," Gold says. "I'm soon going to reframe my husband's baby sampler for Chloe's room."
It's important, they say, to keep things fresh and to honour a child's history in their room — rather than reflecting the latest fad or cartoon character, their children's' room are designed to reflect the child.
The room, they believe, should fit into the overall design of the house, and they might even use an iconic piece, like a child-sized Barcelona chair — to add both a design-conscious and user-friendly element.
"We think you can make a child's bedroom fun and young without using child-themed paper or bedcovers," Gold says.
Marc's daughter, Clara, who just turned four, has a pegboard just above her bed, made from a recycled antique wooden shelf. Marc covered the backing with cork and trimmed it with bunting so that when Clara comes home from nursery school, she can put up her latest drawings.
She chose a fresh putty colour to paint the pegboard. "That colour looks so nice with blue," Marc says. "I like to do the unexpected with colour."
The fabric-covered single bed was found at a garage sale, its cane head and endboards broken. Now the pretty fabric used to cover them are also used in details on the pillow and on the fabric bolster, inside which Clara keeps toys from time to time.
A complimentary blue-striped linen with cream lining is used to make the canopy that drapes the bedhead.
"Kids love those whimsical touches," Marc says.
Because she wanted to keep the dark-stained hardwood floors yet achieve a cosy ambience, Marc added two champagne coloured sheepskin rugs on the floor, just below the painted bookcase full of Clara's favourite books and boxes to hold her dolls' clothes, books and toys.
On the spacious wall near the bookcase, Marc has created a grouping of her daughter's artwork and family photographs above a prettily framed series of letters, written to the newly born Clara by each of her grandparents.
Baskets of toys fill a corner of the room, while on butterfly hooks above Clara can hang favourite items. In the far corner, what was once her changing table has reverted to its original use as a white-painted chest of drawers.
Even the large cupboard in the room is put to play and storage use, covered with blue and white floral wallpaper, with organizational boxes and room to put away clothes and shoes.
"I love the huge scale of the flowers in this wallpaper," says Marc, who has labelled the boxes with various types of clothing.
"This gives Clara a chance to learn how to organize her things," she says.
donnanebenzahl@videotron.ca
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
Dream closets start with good sort...
DIYers often install systems without first measuring their stuff, then try to make their stuff fit. Instead, first size up your contents.
DIYers often install systems without first measuring their stuff, then try to make their stuff fit. Instead, first size up your contents.
Photograph by: Thinkstock, Postmedia News
There's always a trigger, experts say. When someone finally checks into rehab or jumps off a bridge or breaks down and organizes their closets, some event sets it off. For me, it was moving to a house with smaller closets.
While I considered pitching myself off a bridge, I settled on getting smarter about closet organizing. In my new place, closet space isn't just smaller overall, the master closet area is divided into three closets: his, hers and I don't want to go there.
Because I purged when I packed to move, all the clothes I brought to my new digs were staying. Every garment fits, looks good, all the zippers work and nothing bears some sorry hope of coming back in style.
As I set about organizing my new closets, I knew they would have to meet minimum standards -no belt snake pit, no sweater stack that comes with an avalanche warning, no underwear drawers that look like chickens live in them and no hangers so tangled they look like they've been in a barroom brawl.
More than that, what I really wanted was a closet so organized that I could pull together an outfit without taking a step.
I started by sorting. I grouped clothing by colour, then by season. I divided clothes into fat days and skinny days, by short and long, by categories (pants and blouses), and by function (work, casual and dressy).
This got so complicated, I called a professional . Lisa Engel, vice-president of marketing for Closet Maid, knew my pain. "Moving is a major closet-makeover trigger," she said, sympathizing. Other ones are having a baby and getting married.
The recession is also having an effect. "Before, when people got married or had a baby, they often got a bigger place," she said. "Now people are stuck, so they're making the closet space they have work harder."
To help me get the most out of my closets, Engel shared some inside-thecloset scoop. Here, she said, is what most consumers don't know:
. The typical three-metre-wide wall closet with a pole and a shelf holds three metres of hanging clothes and three metres of stacked folded clothes on the shelf.
That same closet with a system can hold just over three metres of hanging space, five metres of shelves for folded items, plus drawers and racks for belts and shoes.
. After a point, additional cost buys strictly looks. For a relatively minimal investment, you can have a wire-closet system that does everything a pricey cherrywood system does: organize and add useful, differentiated space.
. DIYers often install systems without first measuring their stuff, then try to make their stuff fit. Instead, first size up your contents.
Measure how many feet of longhanging items you have. Start your plan there, then add upper-and lower-hanging racks for short-hanging items. Next add a shelf tower, bins and racks for ties, scarves and belts.
. The best hangers curve like shoulders to keep garments in their ideal shape, but contoured hangers can hog space. Next best are flat, thick (halfinch) wood or plastic hangers, which take less room.
. The primary rule of closet organizing is put what you wear most within easy reach, said Engel. Archive items you won't wear until the weather cools.
Consider under-the-bed storage boxes. After that, how you arrange your clothes is personal.
. Don't hang what you should fold, and don't hide what you should see. Fold and stack T-shirts, sweaters and exercise wear, and don't keep shoes or jewelry in boxes, which wastes space and makes you forget what you have hidden.
. Buy systems you can adjust. This way you won't worry if you make a planning mistake. Plus, you can take flexible systems with you when you move, which you may not have to do if you get the closets right.
© Copyright (c) McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
And they're off! Queen leads the way in style stakes as Royals attend day one of Ascot
The Royal Family were out in full force again today as day one of Ascot kicked off.
The Queen, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Beatrice and Eugenie arrived together in horse-drawn carriages to celebrate the event's 300th year.
The monarch looked elegant in mint green as she waved to the crowds, accompanied by her husband, Prince Phillip.
The princesses looked elegant in smart attire and wore a more toned-down look than at the Royal Wedding.
Eugenie, 21, wore a teal lace dress by Issa, matching hat and white jacket.
Beatice, 22, looked demure in a nude and black outfit.
Prince Charles and Camilla were also at the event, but there was no sign of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2003369/Royal-Ascot-2011-Queen-leads-way-Royals-attend-day-horse-race.html#ixzz1PHnV2cFZ
Camilla followed in the footsteps of Catherine, who has been pictured in a number of recycled outfits lately, wearing the same blue coat and dress she wore to the Royal Wedding.
Also in attendance was Danielle Lineker, who did her best Posh impression, posing in a nude Victoria Beckham dress.
Also in attendance is Jackie St Claire, a regular at the five-day meeting at the famous Berkshire racecourse, that is set to attract royals, celebrities and horse-racing fans alike.
Jackie wore an elegant grey dress offset by a larger-than-life yellow hat.
A statue of Ascot equine legend Yeats is to be unveiled during the Royal meeting, which runs until Saturday. The four-time Gold Cup winner dominated Royal Ascot from 2006 to 2009.
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