The kitchen is one room that can take a lot of colour, so take a cue from the Europeans and paint your walls cobalt or a deep shade of red. Update the kitchen sink with an elegant gooseneck faucet, or buy new breakfast stools or a rolling butcher block with storage. Stash kitchen appliances in cupboards and leave out one statement piece: a vintage breadbox, an old-fashioned scale or a trio of quirky tins.

Living Room

New window treatments can be more economical than you think. Look into ready-made panels that can be customized by ironing on a grosgrain border with fusable tape in an accent colour. If you are handy with a sewing machine, buy yardage at inexpensive discount fabric stores and make them yourself in a colour that matches the walls: designers use this trick to make the space feel bigger during the day, and intimate and cocoonlike at night when the drapes are drawn.

Wall to wall carpeting is pricey, but area rugs are a more modern option. Choosing a sisal or seagrass rug will help define the space in a room.

Mirrors make a space seem instantly bigger, but look for something that has a bit of interest, such as a Venetian mirror versus a framed version. A collection of mirrors gathered from thrift stores can act as a wall of art bouncing light around a room.

Dining Room

A drum shade hung low over the dining table gives instant impact. Or, go for a chandelier that only looks expensive to add a luxe touch. Update table lamps with an acrylic or glass base. Hang artwork to give guests something to ponder while they linger over dinner. Even inexpensive framed posters can become conversation pieces.

Bedroom

After years of safe neutrals, colour and pattern are making their way back into mode. The bedroom is the perfect place to try an accent wall. Use paint or paper on the wall behind the headboard to create a really dramatic backdrop for your bed. Don’t be shy – avoid sweet little prints – today’s best graphics are overblown with saturated colours and metallic foils are hotter than ever.

Bedding can completely change the mood of a room: rich, dark colours are sensual; light tones are fresh; and the trendiest looks today are a heady mix of patterns. For a finishing touch, have a piece of mirror cut to fit the tops of side tables. Or add a dressing table for an injection of Hollywood glam.

Bathroom

New fixtures breathe life into a dated bathroom. Go classic with chrome taps inset with enamel hot and cold labels for a vintage look; or sculptural faucets and taps for a completely modern take. A new bathmat and matching towels freshen up a space. If storage is an issue, roll towels up in a basket for a spa vibe.

1. Source(s) – yahoo.ca, corinnewatson.com

I know  a lot of you are looking to sell your home in Chestermere, or perhaps buy a new home in Chestermere, and are wondering how to go about your renovations or upgrades. Just read this great article from Mike Holmes that helps explain what kind of help you will need when renovating your home.

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When considering a renovation or a home repair, the big question for most homeowners is who should do the job and how much they should pay. Those questions are tied closely together; the more specialized and experience required, the higher the fee.

Should you hire a general contractor, a specialized tradesperson, or will a handyperson do? There are exceptions to every rule, but here are a few general considerations when deciding on the people who will be working on your home.

The scope of the project is the first thing to consider. If this is a job that will require building permits, you will want to go with a general contractor who knows building codes, and who has experience reading building plans and dealing with licensed sub-contractors and municipal building inspectors. Typically this person has a formal education in the building trades, or has decades of experience.

Obviously, big projects where you are building an addition, building another storey, modifying foundations or moving interior walls will require a team of specialists. Then the whole renovation needs to be overseen by a general contractor.

Projects that involve cosmetic improvements or replacing or modernizing what was already there, is squarely the domain of the handyperson. Typically, these kinds of jobs can be done by just one person. A handyperson can have a wide range of skills but there is always a limit to what he or she can do. If you have ever heard the expression, “jack of all trades, master of none,” this applies to handymen. It’s great to hire someone who has experience in many areas — just keep in mind that not everyone can be good at everything.

The thing that separates a good handyperson from a bad one is knowing to not overstep his or her bounds. A good handyperson knows if they are a good fit for a project and knows when a specialist would be better suited. By “specialist” I mean someone who does just one type of installation, such as roofer, or a window installer. These days, many types of products such as fibreglass exterior doors require a factory-trained installer, or the product loses its warrantee.

A specialist can also mean a licensed trades person such as a plumber, electrician or HVAC contractor. Does this mean that a handyperson should never touch anything to do with these areas? Not exactly. When is comes to plumbing, a handyperson can replace fixtures such as sinks, taps and toilets; just as long as the job doesn’t go beyond the emergency shut-off valves.

With electrical, once again, changing lighting fixtures is fine, but any work that modifies the wiring in any way, needs to be done by a licensed contractor. HVAC is the one area that a handyperson should never touch. The only thing that a handyperson can fix in this domain is the humidifier, and replacing the filters.

There are many types of renovation projects that fall into the grey area; jobs that appear to be too small for the skills and expense of a general contractor but could be within the limits of a handyperson. Projects like this would include finishing a basement. In this case, homeowners might think the wiring can be easily accomplished with the assistance of a licensed electrician and the insulation, framing, drywall, trim and paint would be in the ballpark of most handypersons with experience.

I feel strongly that there is no way a handyperson should take on this job. It might seem do-able, but the project is too complex and requires an experienced professional.

The decision to use a general contractor with grey area projects comes down to how long do you want the renovation to take. The advantage here, is that general contracting companies typically have more manpower at their disposal and should get the job done that much quicker.

If you use a handyperson, and the job is estimated at 150 to 160 man-hours, the job will take one person a month to complete. Now, the real world variables would dictate that a general contracting company has multiple projects going on at one time and they also overlap projects. In the end, even with the perceived extra manpower, the job could also be extended to a month, but spread over a fewer number of actual working days.

If you have found a handyperson that you like and trust, it is a small point that the job should take a month to complete. After all, the advantages of having one person do the job, is that the renovation becomes far less complicated for the homeowner, and the success of any project depends on the good working relationship between the contractor and homeowner. General contractors come into play when an army of trades people are required and the GC becomes the point person with the homeowner.

Regardless of going with a general contractor or a handyperson, the most important consideration is that the job is done properly and safely. If there is a specific product you want to install, you may need to choose from a list of factory trained installers. A GC or construction company will have a list of recent references, and when it comes to a handyperson, because many do not advertise, they will have been referred to the homeowner from other satisfied clients that the homeowner knows.

Think of a handyperson as a generalist for basic home repairs and straight forward renovations. For specialized installations, and complicated projects requiring permits, a specialist contractor or general contractor is the way to go, to make It right.

Catch Mike in his brand-new series, Holmes Inspection, airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV. For more information visit www.hgtv.ca.

Buying homes in Chestermere is a great investment. Not only from a financial side, but Chestermere is a great place to invest in your family and build beautiful relationships.

Having said that, sometimes you need to invest financially into your home in Chestermere. If so, here is a great article I read about wisely  investing in your renovation.

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1. Start smart Embarking on a renovation is a big commitment, so take your time when looking for the right contractor. Accordingto Evan Sversky, the owner of Winchester House, a building and contracting firm in Toronto, the best way to find a contractor is through word of mouth. Ask friends who have renovated or talk to professionals in the industry, such as real-estate agents, designers, architects and home inspectors. At the same time, “a contractor should always have references to give prospective clients,” he says. Instead of relying on phone conversations with references, invite yourself over to see projects equivalent in scope to yours. “I’ll take my prospective clients to show them the work I’ve done. It gives them an opportunity to talk to my previous clients directly,” Sversky says. Finally, when deciding on a contractor, never underrate your gut instincts – always look for good chemistry.

2. Get the paperwork To protect yourself in case something goes wrong later, make sure the contractor has the proper licensing and insurance, insist on a contract, and “never, never deal in cash, because you need paper trails,” says Sversky. (You’ll also need receipts to take advantage of the federal government’s new home-renovation tax credit.)

3. Beware of too good a deal Try to obtain at least three estimates, but beware of the bid that sounds too good to be true. “The best price isn’t necessarily the best contractor,” says Sversky. “And a lot of contractors, whether legitimate or ‘non-legitimate,’ will give you a lower number to get themselves in the door.” A good contractor should be able to complete the job without going over the quote, but you should always be prepared for extra costs. “Have a range or comfort zone, because things never cost exactly what you think,” says Arren Williams, a Toronto-based freelance home stylist. “Once you open up a wall, best estimates can go out the window.” Sversky agrees: “The client has to be prepared for the unforeseen, so it’s best to have about a 10 percent buffer.”

4. Pick these upgrades… When it comes to increasing your home’s value, kitchen and bathroom renovations are at the top of the list. Still, it’s important to be sensible. “The quality of materials you use should be relevant to the house,” says Rory McGlade, a Re/max Chay Realty sales representative in Tottenham, Ont. “There’s no point in putting a $30,000 or $40,000 kitchen in anything other than a detached home. If you had a townhouse and put in things like granite countertops, you’d go way beyond the value of the house,” he says. Other upgrades that increase the value of your home are flooring (but not carpets), roofs (especially for smaller homes), windows, landscaping (for larger homes) and paint.

5. …But ditch the hot tub If you’re thinking of adding a hot tub in the backyard to make your house more desirable, think again. “Upgrades that are terrible dollar for dollar are pools, hot tubs, deckings and saunas,” says McGlade. These are luxury items that aren’t key to the house, and, he explains, “for a lot of people, these types of things aren’t even considered a positive.”

6. Splurge and save In a kitchen, relatively inexpensive classic cabinetry from a big-box store and a backsplash of white ceramic subway tiles – which are as “cheap as chips,” says Williams – will gamely hold their own next to a luxurious quartz countertop and high-end plumbing fixtures. For smaller dwellings like condos and townhouses, good-quality laminate flooring can be used in place of more expensive hardwood. And adding architectural details for interest is always key. Much of it, like applied panel moulding or wainscotting, can be done at relatively low cost. “Really simple things that buyers expect to see now include chunky baseboards, attractive deep-panelled doors and crown moulding,” says Williams.

7. Mind the mechanics And never forget: When doing a renovation, it’s the mechanics – heating, electrics and plumbing – that are truly the most important part of your home, even though they may seem like invisible improvements. “They have to be done to code and they have to be done right, by licensed professionals, to avoid any possible disasters once the walls are closed in,” insists Sversky.

Thanks Laura Muir
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Corinne Watson
Chestermere Lake Realtor

If you have just purchased a new home, or thinking about staying in your current one, here is a useful article about your living room that might help you to live a little more comfortably.

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Just as kitchens are considered the ‘heart of a home’, living rooms are recognized as the soul of a house. This is a space that defines your inner spirit and personality; it is a space to showcase who you are.

When designing any space, you first need to recognize what the function of the space will be. Unfortunately, when it comes to a living room space, we all too often forget this important step. So what is the function of a living room? I believe that the true function of a living room is to nurture conversation. The living room is a space where we should enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of wine with friends and family. With the function of our living room in mind, let’s get to the basic of good living room design.

Colour palettes for a living room should welcome and encourage conversation and should also be rich with texture. Remember to pay as much attention to the texture as you do the colours of the walls, flooring, furniture, and accessories. Hot living room palettes for 2009 include a range of cool grays, blues, purples, and sexy reds.

Furniture is also an important consideration in a living room. Choose upholstery fabrics that provide lots of texture and comfort, such as leather. With respect to furniture arrangements, try to keep furniture off the walls to encourage the room to breathe. No two seats should be further apart than 15 feet in order to make conversation natural and easy. Seats should also be accessible to tables so that guests can easily rest drinks and other items. In addition, the coffee table should be approximately 18 inches from the front of the sofa or chairs. As for lighting, basic guidelines suggest 100 watts per square foot of space; try to use table and floor lamps that have three-way switches, so that you can keep lights low and romantic when required.

If your living room floor is laid with hardwood, include an area carpet to keep everybody cozy and the space defined. A great addition to a living room is a fireplace which brings ambience as well as a focal point. If your room doesn’t already have a fireplace, consider one of the new electric fireplaces which are quite stylish.
After all the final adjustments to your living are made, go ahead and invite some friends over to enjoy your new living room!

Leave your comments on your best living room renovation tip.

As well, contact me for a list of preferred contractors in Chestermere.

Corinne Watson

Source: yahoo.ca

Community Christmas Party
Saturday, December 12th
Chestermere Rec Centre
(Admission: Donation to the Food Bank)
Activities:  1 – 4 pm  Rec Centre Hall

Santa’s Workshop for Kids – Crafts & activities for kids of all ages!
Free coffee, hot chocolate, treats & a visit from Santa!

Hayrides:  1 – 3 pm   Outside
Entertainment on the Stage:   1 – 4  pm   Rec Centre Hall

Musical Performances by local talent!
Please call 272-7170 ext 224 if you are interested in performing.

Volunteers are needed to help with decorating on Fri, Dec 11th from 10 – 4 pm

or supervising craft tables between 10 & 4 pm on Sat, Dec 12th.  If you are able to lend a hand, please email recreation@chestermercrca.com or call 272-7170 ext 224 and let us know. Volunteers do it with heart!

Christmas Marketplace
Saturday, December 12th @ the Chestermere Rec Centre
10 – 4 pm   MPP RM
Lots of unique gift ideas!   Over 40 Booths!
This is the way Christmas shopping should be -community style with lots of parking!

Musical Theatre Christmas Performance
“Holy Moly…A Crazy Christmas Eve!”
Date:  Friday, December 11th   Time:   7:00pm
Cost:   $5.00/Adults and $3.00/12 & under & a donation to the Food Bank!
Coffee, hot chocolate and treats @ intermission.

Christmas Jellybean Dance
Saturday, Dec 12th    7 – 9:30 pm
Grades 5 – 8    Cost:  $7.00    Grades 1 – 4 are welcome with parental permission!
Supervisors always needed!
Tickets available at the door only.

If you have any other Christmas events in Chestermere, please email directly and I will post them!

Corinne Watson
Chestermere Lake Realtor
cwatson@cirrealty.ca
403.921.SOLD

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Save up to $1,350 on home improvements purchased before February 1, 2010.

Put your tax dollars back into your home.

What is the HRTC?

Under proposed changes, the HRTC is a non-refundable tax credit based on eligible expenditures incurred for work performed, or goods acquired, after January 27, 2009, and before February 1, 2010, under an agreement entered into after January 27, 2009. The HRTC can be claimed when filing your 2009 tax return.

The HRTC can be claimed for renovations and alterations of an enduring nature and that are integral to the eligible dwelling (such as your home or cottage) or the land that forms part of the eligible dwelling.

How is the HRTC calculated?

The 15% non-refundable tax credit can be claimed on eligible expenditures of more than $1,000 but not more than $10,000. The maximum tax credit that can be claimed to reduce your federal income tax is $1,350. However, if the total of your non-refundable tax credits is more than your federal income tax, you have no federal income tax to pay, and you will not receive a refund for the HRTC.

Example

William and his spouse Marie pay $5,000 to purchase an energy-efficient furnace for their home and $3,500 to build a deck at their cottage.  They also decide to have the area around the deck landscaped for $2,500, bringing their total costs to $11,000 ($5,000 + $3,500 + $2,500). Marie claims expenses of $9,000 ($10,000 – $1,000), resulting in an HRTC of $1,350.

William and Marie may also be eligible for the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes grant. For more information about the ecoENERGY program, visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca.

Important things to remember

You do not have to submit your supporting documents with your income tax and benefit return; however, you must ensure this information is available should the Canada Revenue Agency request it.

To avoid problems with your HRTC claim, make sure you:

• get your contracts in writing (www.hiringacontractor.com); and
• keep your receipts.

Eligible expenses must be of an enduring nature and be integral to the eligible dwelling. The cost of routine repairs, maintenance, and expenditures not integral to the dwelling are not eligible.

Examples of eligible expenses

• Renovating a kitchen, bathroom, or basement
• New windows, doors, or flooring
• Building an addition, garage, deck, shed, or fence
• A new furnace, woodstove, fireplace, water softener, or water heater
• A new driveway or resurfacing a driveway, re-shingling a roof or painting of a house
• Landscaping – new sod, perennial shrubs and flowers, trees, etc.
• Swimming pools (permanent – in-ground and above-ground)
• Fixtures – blinds, shades, shutters, awnings, lights, fans, etc.
• Associated costs such as permits, professional services, equipment rentals, and incidental expenses

Examples of non-eligible expenses

• Furniture, appliances, tools, and audio and visual electronics
• Routine repairs, maintenance and cleaning (e.g., furnace cleaning, snow removal, lawn care, pool cleaning, house cleaning)
• Financing costs

Where can I get more information?

For more information, go to www.cra.gc.ca/hrtc or call us at 1-877-959-1-CRA.

The Home Renovation Tax Credit is subject to Parliamentary approval.

source: www.cra.gc.ca/hrtc

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Here is a YouTube Video that helps break it down.

SCENARIOS OF KITCHEN RENOVATIONS AND HRTC INCENTIVES.

* Stephen recently had Kitchens Etc. install new Aurora Maple Cappuccino Cabinets with glass doors and a new Granite countertop and sink. The costs incurred were over 18,000.00, but because of the 9,000 eligible expenditures, they received a tax relief of $1,350.

* Caroline and Mike had Kitchens Etc. install new Integra Cherry Nutmeg Cabinets with glass doors, handles and knobs. They also ordered a Silestone (Sienna Ridge) Countertop. They incurred $20,000 in expenditures renovating the kitchen. Caroline and Mike can claim a HRTC Tax Credit of $1,350.

For instance, if homeowners spent $1,000.00 that is the deductable, but if they spent $2,000, they would receive a tax credit of $150.00. If they spend $5,000, they would receive a tax relief of $600.00. If homeowners spend over $10,000, they still only receive a tax credit based on $10,000.

source:  ArticleBase.com

I hope you have found this information useful. A lot of homeowners in Chestermere will be  finding a little extra cash in their pockets when they take advantage of this tax credit.

If you are thinking of renovating your home and selling it, give me a call! I can help you make that process as easy and smooth as possible!

Corinne Watson
Chestermere Lake Realtor
403.921.SOLD
cwatson@cirrealty.com

Sources: articlesbase.com,

In This Article: Renovate On a Budget | Video: Vintage Bathroom Renovation | 5 Prudent Reno Tips

Renovate a bathroom on a budget

From low-cost to big-buck-spending, explore your options in giving your bathroom a new look and a new mood.

For many of us, the bathroom is the tiny, cluttered room off the bedroom where we rush to brush, shower and coif before racing off to the office. But what if it were a place to retreat after a long, hard day, a haven to soothe the soul and calm the nerves? It can be done – and within any budget.

Low-cost: Accessorizing
The key to making a room more inviting is to use what you already have.

“Play with the existing colours in the room,” suggests interior decorator Karl Lohnes. “If you have a gold toilet, tub and sink, make that part of your colour scheme.”

Matching dominant colours will create a more uniform and calming look. Bright colours that compete for attention tend to create a chaotic mood. Karl explains that he recently re-did a bathroom that had dark-brown mini tiles. He played up the colour by incorporating a chocolate brown canvas shower curtain along with some brushed nickel accessories for a streamlined hotel look.

Jacqueline Glass, interior decorator and owner of Jacqueline Glass & Associates in Mississauga, Ont., says white is the colour of calm. Multiple white towels are an inexpensive way to create a lush environment, and they’ll look good against almost any wall colour. Stack them on a tray topped with a bar of lavender soap, which adds an inspiring scent. Pillar candles placed around the room add a romantic touch to evening baths, fresh flowers (even a single stem) add beauty, French hand-milled soaps offer a decorative touch, while a plush white robe and slippers are pure comfort. “There’s nothing more soothing,” says Jacqueline. “It’s what you do for yourself.”

Mid-range: Do-it-yourself
Upgrading lower ticket items can add new life to a staid, functional room. “Everybody’s moving to multiple jets, but for the person on a budget, there are products out there with two [shower] jets, very easy to install, to ease off the tension,” enthuses Jacqueline.

Other DIY efforts include replacing worn faucets, towel and toilet paper bars, mirrors, medicine cabinets and light fixtures – Jacqueline recommends downlights, which are more flattering, and putting them on dimmers.

Karl also suggests replacing the bathroom door with one that has a full-length mirror set in, along with new knobs and handles. He also recommends a fresh coat of paint for the walls and tiles, if necessary. Complete the room with a tray-topped trolley to hold a bottle of Perrier or top-quality Egyptian cotton towels, with luxurious bathmats to sink your feet into. Shelving lined with multiple candle- or flower-filled hurricane glasses makes the perfect finishing touch.

High-price: Renovating
How you think of your bathroom is how you should decorate it. “It’s not just tub, toilet, sink,” says Jacqueline. Consider a fireplace to read by, a window seat to gaze at the stars from or a bar fridge built into the cabinetry filled with bottled water or even champagne.

For ultimate luxury, enjoy the bubbly in a multiple-jet bath. Or admire family portraits on tone-on-tone damask wallpaper worry-free by increasing the room’s ventilation. Add music by wiring in speakers.

For absolute calm, take a cue from the outdoors. Karl suggests going natural in colour (biscuit, linen, taupe), material (stone tile, dark wood) and light. “It will make you feel like you’re bathing outside,” he says.

Incorporating the latest trends
The newest accessories and hardware can easily be incorporated into the redesign of your tranquil retreat.

1 Black, oil-rubbed bronze, antique-copper finishes on fixtures
2 Square-shaped faucets
3 Undermounted tubs with generous decks
4 Sophisticated finishes once reserved for kitchens, like granite
5 Custom-bath enclosures
6 Glass doors detailed in copper or stainless steel

As bathroom designs move toward an open look, use attractive baskets to store makeup and sundries. Remember, a sanctuary can only be peaceful when all irritations are successfully disposed of.

Vintage Bathroom Remodel


5 Prudent Bathroom Renovation Tips:

1.) If you are a do-it-yourselfer and tearing apart your old bathroom is part of your renovation project, thoughtfully consider hiring a renovation contractor for the job, instead. Even one oversight could prove a costly mistake.

2.) Before beginning new bathroom installations such as cabinets and counters, check the walls to be sure they are plumb. If they are not, deal with the walls to make them plumb before making new installations. Otherwise, visible gaps will result.

3.) If you plan on staining your trim material, finger-joint trim is not a good option; joints will show through the stain and mar the overall effect. Likewise, nails should be countersunk using a nail punch and holes covered with putty.

4.) Flexible air ducts can sometimes be used to carry heat or cool air from the main trunk to the bathroom’s outlet register – making installation easier and much less hazardous a task.

5.) When purchasing primer to coat the new walls and ceilings, ask the paint dealer to tint the primer to match the color of paint you plan on using over it. The effect will be richer color and the need for a second coat of paint is often eliminated.

A bathroom is one of the most important rooms of any house. When all is said and done, quality of work, increased function, and desired effect should be top priorities when it comes to making bathroom renovations.

Acquiring the services of a reliable, professional contractor will help guarantee project success and protect your financial investment. Professional contractors in your area are waiting to bid competitively on your project. Contact Patrick from Lakefront Finsihing for quotes on Contracting and renovating.

Looking at Buying Real Estate in Chestermere, view my listings here

Corinne Watson.com – Chestermere Realtor

styleathome.com
handycanadian.com

A regularly scheduled seasonal maintenance and repairs can help protect your investment by correcting any problems before they become too costly.

What will be happening on RealtyKicthen.com is that this article will serve as an introduction to an ongoing series.

This ongoing series will pertain to home maintenance.

For the series you will find monthly checklists or guides as to what you should be doing the specific month to your home.

In the checklist you will find jobs to b done such as checking your ventilation system or even checking to see if your house is well insulated.

It will vary for each month, especially when the season changes. However the maintenance checklist should be able to serve as a guide to managing any maintenance issues and what should be fixed immediately to avoid any developments becoming too costly.

Now for certain jobs, you will find articles specifically aimed towards it on how you might want to go about correcting the problem, if there is any.

The goal of this series is to help you, Canadian homeowners maintain your house in peak condition allowing it to remain a safe environment for you and your family to enjoy.

Save money with regular home maintenance