The Rural Voice, 2006-01, Page 37Home Decorating
Jobs for stormg dags
Patti
Robertson
operates
Classic
Interiors in
Wingham.
By Patti Robertson
Let it snow, let it snow, let it
snow...Oh! Hi! Happy New Year
everyone!
I've been very busy preparing my
winter New Years list of things to do
... the jobs I plan to tackle on snow
days. You know — you wake up to
bus cancellations and sure enough
you look out the window and can't
see the neighboring homes just mere
feet away!
What better times to sleep in a
little, read the newspaper front to
back while sipping tea and then
tackle a few projects that have been
latiently awaiting your attention. Dig
nto the very back of closets and
Lown to the very bottom of the trunk,
Just down and refurbish the long-
ieglected shelves, repair loose wall
coverings, sew the hem on the semi
sheers and generally start overhauling
all the odds and ends that have
awaited your loving touch.
I enjoy January through March, as
this down time affords me the
occasion to redecorate at least one
room within our home. This gives me
the opportunity'to apply the attention
to detail that is so much a part of
what I love doing. This year it's
going to be the master bedroom and I
can hardly wait! I've planned a
colour scheme that incorporates a
creamy caramel, along with a rosy
coral, black and a little hint of sage
green – but enough of that for now.
I'll tell you more later.
Along with all my planning 1
turned my thoughts to you, "my
gentle readers" and the columns of
the year ahead and decided that it
would be great to explore "spaces"
within homes ... you know, our
rooms, nooks, crannies, foyers, etc.
We all have them and each is as
unique and individual as each of us
are.
We'll look at the home in general,
the space, the requirements of the
area and what it needs to be utilized
to its greatest potential. What does
the space need to accommodate
furniture requirements, styling, what
will be on the walls, ceiling and floor.
What types of lighting are required
and of course the full range of
accessories and window treatments
right from dollar store finds to one of
a kind original works of art. And
most importantly budget! Believe it
or not every project has a budget
target. The sharing of all these details
can be so helpful in assisting with
each of our design plans. .
We are going to explore three
small bathrooms, each creatively
unique and high on style that I've
recently designed for clients. We'll
travel from a small but wonderful
tiny cottage in the Ripley area to a
gorgeous condo in Hanover and then
into the foyer in a Toronto condo.
Then it's onto a great luxury weekend
retreat on the shores of Lake Huron
and so much more!
I'm looking forward to sharing
tips, tricks and trade secrets with you
throughout 2006. I'm excited to be
sharing my "design adventure " with
you. So, stay tuned it's going to be a
great year... I guarantee it!0
News
Gay Lea profits strong
despite flat sales
during 2005
Sales for Gay Lea Foods Co-
operative stalled in 2005 with some
key products losing market share. yet
profits were at a record level.
Andrew McGillvray, president
and chief executive officer of the co-
op, told members at the zone one
annual meeting in Brussels.
December 5, that sales for the year
were $330 million, about the same
as last year though less was actually
sold this year than last. Part of the
reason was that Gay Lea processed
seven per cent less milk than in 2004
when strikes in Quebec saw milk
diverted to Ontario plants.
Despite this, profits were $9.7
million, about one per cent higher
than 2004.
John Smith, vice-president of
marketing said Gay Lea's branded
butter dropped market share this year
but a concerted effort to recapture
the brand's popularity has been
paying off with sales increasing in
October.
The co-op's sour cream sales
followed a similar trend, dropping
throughout the year but recovering in
October.
Lacteeze, the company's non-
dairy milk substitute beverage also
suffered a substantial market share
loss with a plan to rebuild sales.
A bright spot is the company's
Nordica cottage cheese line where
single -serving packaging has opened
new markets.
McGillvray said innovations like
the single serving packaging and
spreadable butter prove the need for
continued development of new
products.
Andy Colatosti, vice-president of
sales, said sales were down five per
cent from the target for the year but
the company is budgeting for 6.3 per
cent growth in 2006 with a goal of
$350 million in sales.
McGillvray said the Teeswater
plant continues'to be under utilized
despite an investment in upgrading
equipment, but significant progress
has been made.0
JANUARY 2006 33