HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-10-29, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015.
Renovations a great way to refresh living spaces
NC –As real estate prices
continue to climb, the cost to trade
up an existing home for a larger one
has increased substantially. As a
result, more and more Canadians are
choosing to renovate their homes,
rather than relocating.
In fact, it was recently revealed
that renovation spending in Canada
reached a record $68 billion last
year, outpacing spending on new
home construction. While the hunt
for more square footage can be
challenging, homeowners shouldn’t
feel like a costly second storey or
complete addition are the only
options.
Here are five great ways to create
or optimize space in your existing
home:
• Finish the basement:This one
renovation holds limitless
potential and can increase the resale
value or income potential of your
home.
Think about the possibilities: a
home theatre, office, spare bedroom,
basement apartment or recreation
room. The key to doing it
successfully is to focus on what’s
behind the walls, especially since
moisture is a common issue in
basements.
Choosing the right insulation is
critical. Look for products that are
vapour permeable, dimensionally
stable and mould and moisture
resistant.
• Create an open-concept feel
with light and colour:If your home
wasn’t blessed with towering
windows, installing French doors
and pot lights can encourage light to
travel more freely, creating the
illusion of space.
Likewise, choosing a paint colour
for walls, trim and moldings that is
lighter and cooler in tone (think soft
greys or blues) will help to reflect
light and give the room a more open
feel.
• Remove non-load-bearing
walls:Homeowners have the
opportunity to rethink the layout of
their home by removing non-load-
bearing walls. Removing
structurally unnecessary walls can
make your whole home feel larger
and improve the flow, lighting and
function of your home.
• Convert your garage:For many
homeowners, the garage becomes an
overflow room for storage – and is
often a walk-in headache.
Instead, convert it into another living
space, like a guest bedroom or
home office.
• Choose furniture and
accessories carefully: Adopt a
minimalist’s eye. Begin looking
around your home for furniture or
accessories that overwhelm the
space.
Interior designers recommend
choosing low-profile or small-scale
furniture for rooms with less square
footage. Dual-purpose items, such as
ottomans with storage chests inside,
are a budget-friendly way to save on
space while staying organized.
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Planning ahead
With renovation spending topping new home construction spending last year, more and more
people are finding ways to utilize the space they have over purchasing a bigger or better
home. There are plenty of ways to create better spaces in a home including removing walls,
converting garages and creating a living space in an unfinished basement. (MS photo)
MS –Every autumn, trees and
shrubs take on their brilliant display
of reds, oranges, purples and
yellows that mark the end of the
growing season. Fall foliage may
make for ideal photo backdrops and
scenic days in the countryside, but
closer to home, leaves may be more
of a hindrance than an aesthetic
pleasure.
The hundreds of leaves that adorn
the maples, oaks and other trees near
homes will eventually fall as autumn
turns into winter. Some will float
down to lawns, while others will get
lodged in gutters and downspouts,
posing problems that can cause
substantial and potentially costly
problems for homeowners.
Homeowners know that gutter
cleaning is an important part of fall
home maintenance, but they may not
completely understand why. Gutter
cleaning can be a messy and time-
consuming project, making it a
project many homeowners are apt to
put off. Waiting to clean gutters can
lead to considerable problems, so
it’s best to tackle the job well in
advance of the winter.
Gutters guide rainwater and runoff
from the roof so it drains properly
away from homes. When gutters are
clogged with leaves, a number of
Clean gutters
prevent costly,
serious problems
Continued on page 20