COLIN & JUSTIN: THE GREAT OUTDOORS - OAKVILLE HOMES

By Colin & Justin

Ahh, bliss! As we compose this week’s column we’re sitting on our Scottish terrace, basking in unseasonably temperate highs. Aye, when the weather plays ball in Glasgow, it’s a wonderful place. That said, it would be a whole load more wonderful if we could simply pop a lid over the entire city. British weather, you see, in general terms anyway, can best be described as “ish.” Never Baltic, never Saharan, never really anything. Which is one of the reasons we so love Canada. We’re drawn to pronounced seasonal demarcation, a climatic plan of attack that tells us what to expect as each period unravels. Crisp falls, for example, which tend to deliver bitingly cold winters. Temperate springs which yield, in turn, to gorgeous summers. You get the gist . . .


It’s fair to say we’re obsessed with thermometers. Glued, as we often are, to CNN News, we’ve observed that much of Canada is currently enjoying similar highs to those we’re experiencing this side of the pond. And this information, for us, is manna from heaven because our next task, when the sun sets and we shower off the Ambre Solaire, is to jump online and book our North American travel. After six weeks filming in the United Kingdom, we’re home from homeward bound. Yay!

Which brings us neatly on to the great outdoors. We have a landscaping project in Halifax (one which we’ve been fielding due to a burgeoning diary) and, with a rare two-week window of opportunity upon our return, we’ll finally be giving it our undivided attention. Sure, it promises to consume our available schedule but we’re really looking forward to digging in. We’ve specified ebony decking (inspired by Bauhaus uncluttered aesthetics), a small rectangular lawn outlined with black bamboo and an assembly of Dedon weatherproof furniture. Perhaps, if we can twist our client’s arms, we’ll reveal the fruits of our horticultural labours in these very pages.

But our clients aren’t the only Canadians who’re gardening obsessed. Canucks in general love their outdoor space. Year in, year out, we’re constantly inspired by the work you guys do to ensure porches and decks (not to mention patios, gardens and terraces) are as attractive — and practical — as possible. We’re excited to observe a growing commitment to exterior space and, as devoted fans of al fresco entertainment, we’re envious of the fun factor we imagine takes place in each zone. Sure, we’ve a sizeable enough balcony of our own, but at 39 (windy) floors up, getting anything to grow is as likely as getting our buddy Gerard Butler to take up floral art.

And so, with warm days finally upon us, we reckon now is the perfect time to proffer some exterior maintenance tips to help you prepare for relaxing afternoons in what we hope will be ongoing sunshine. Or, for that matter, in readiness for casual, balmy evenings with the barbecue at full tilt. It’s amazing what you can do, with even just a little expense, to make the great outdoors even greater. Here’s how.

Getting the best from your space

Okay, we know what you’re thinking. Just how do I add that all important — yet often strangely elusive — design factor? Well, it’s not that difficult. A porch or front step, for example, should serve as a welcoming stop-off point as you fumble for your keys. It should provide visitors with shelter as you make your way to greet them. Porches allow you to spend time en dehors even if the weather is less than perfect and, if properly shielded from side winds via roll-down blinds or screening, they can be enjoyed well into autumn. Add a (supervised) shiny steel patio heater (they’ve come down in price over recent years) and you could well find yourself enjoying al fresco activity even as winter takes hold.

Finding inspiration

As summer approaches and you start planning how to dress your patio or veranda, consider how its furnishings should relate to the rest of your exterior. Plunder the detail of your home’s build period — roof lines, eaves, posts and rails, etc — and mirror these in your outdoors propping. Modern exteriors can be successfully dressed with contemporary pieces, but a traditional exterior tends to look best when dressed with wicker, wood or rustic detailing. Okay, so a little mixing and matching can be fun, but it’s good to respect your home’s architectural “vernacular.”

Ongoing care

Before thinking of furniture and accessories, make sure areas in which everything will be sited are well maintained. Prior to the mercury’s vertiginous ascent, it’s a good idea to tackle a little DIY. Here are a few points to consider:

• Use a power washer on pressure-treated lumber to remove grit and grime. Doing this won’t just clean, it will also help reveal the original tones and patina of your flooring.

• Treat your timbers. Apply top grade wood preservative to inhibit moisture ingress and sun damage.

• Remember that, with proper maintenance, a well-made deck constructed from pressure-treated wood can last 20 years or even more.

• If you have a slabbed terrace or patio, clean between each tile and apply weed killer.

• And if you’ve got grass? Invest in a cute wee mower and start striping that verdant greenery.

Tidy up

One of the worst things you can do is treat your garden, stoop or deck as a storage zone. A front porch used as a messy stop between kitchen garbage can and refuse collection is such a turnoff.

• Tip: Buy colour-coded crates, stash neatly together and make sure they don’t overflow. If you’ve nowhere to stash, think about the environment — sort refuse into boxes and seek out your nearest recycling centre. You know it makes sense.

Set dressing

A collection of pots planted with bright flowers and foliage will add a dash of drama to even the dullest approach. And, due to their portable nature, you can move them around as and when required. But don’t panic; you don’t have to be an expert horticulturist to achieve good results — many plant these days are specifically bred to challenge even the most inclement weather. Choose hardy plants to act as decorating accents against neutrally painted siding, pillars or walls.

• Tip: Hanging baskets are a great way to enliven proceedings, though remember these can dry out in as little as an hour on particularly hot days.

Finding extra function

On TV, and in private commission, we’ve dressed many gardens as comfy dining areas and we’ve attired others as secondary warm weather living zones. If you install safety gates to enclose young kids, decks and patios make fabulous playrooms as long as constant supervision is considered — particularly at the front of your home.

Top 10 tips

To create the perfect deck, patio or terrace:

• Develop a strong visual relationship between inside and out.

• Investigate building code and planning requirements before starting any building work.

• External lighting is important, so employ the services of an electrician and wire everything correctly so you can enjoy space at its best.

• Position small in-ground solar lamps at the side of steps and illuminate back and front doors with sensors that flick to life as you approach.

• Dress to impress — clever planting in pots and tubs is the simplest way to add outdoor style.

• A few jolly cushions will add “pop” to the plainest furniture while decorative outdoors crockery will awaken even the most boring table.

• Opt for stains that penetrate the surface of your deck or porch rather than those that simply sit on top of timber. And don’t be shy to chin your sales assistant — in better stores, such as Rona, they’re equipped to provide all the info you require.

• Debris in grooves between deck boards will trap moisture — this in turn may encourage mildew and rot. So start clawing it all out. The manicure comes later.

• Scan your own neighbourhood for inspiration and take photos of everything you like. Consider all your options and, if necessary, make a 3D model or plot everything out on graph paper.

• And finally! When you’ve dressed to impress, go one stage further by adorning your space with flickering lights and get ready to host that glamorous candlelit supper you’ve been promising your friends. Pop cute wee tea lights into storm jars and light citronella candles to keep bugs at bay. There’s little worse, after all, than dishing out that chic wee salad only to find a plague of yellow jackets sucking the life out of your balsamic dressing.

In essence, it really isn’t that hard to make your garden, yard or deck a positively welcoming and exciting haven. This year, as our professional calendar rolls ever faster, you’ll see us tackling more outdoor spaces than normal. We suppose we’re all now familiar with the term “bring the outdoors in” but perhaps these days, in light of how the gardening market is blossoming (if you’ll excuse the pun) maybe it’s finally time . . . “to bring the indoors out.”

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COLIN & JUSTIN: A MASTER STROKE IN THE MASTER SUITE - OAKVILLE HOMES

As designers, we relish the opportunity to pull down walls, reconfigure space and jiggle floor plans, all in our relentless quest to optimize the true potential of Canadian real estate. For us, a competent redesign is all about “freeing up” the home so it can articulate at its absolute best. We enjoy the challenge of combining small, awkward rooms to max up residential footprint. In fact, as far as we’re concerned, it’s often better to have fewer good rooms, rather than a labyrinth of smaller spaces that add little to the livability factor.

That said, we love an easier ride from time to time and therefore kick our heights when we stumble across a needy room that already boasts ample square footage. A room where our demolition ball can be set aside for another occasion and our builders “rested” so they, too, can enjoy a lighter workload. Today’s project (all things considered still a large job) falls neatly, and squarely, into that “ample square footage” category. Significantly more commodious than the rooms we generally lavish, this master bedroom suite was in pretty much perfect condition when we rolled by, although any suggestion of good taste was invisible to us. The walls, however, were sound and perfectly smooth, the floor was level and solid and even the ceiling was gloriously ripple free.

But you know us. As much as this design crime scene was drably immaculate (who doesn’t like a little contradiction in terms?), we’re still going to give the perpetrators a little battering. Just look at the evidence. Curtains, above the bed and at the windows, tied back flat. Postage stamp sized rugs dotted around the floor. And a furniture collection that Noah might have discarded had he found time while outfitting his arc with a plethora of animalistic pairings.

So just who lived here? Well, believe it or not, a hilariously entertaining couple with whom we instantly bonded. At the very early stages of middle age, they’d allowed their boudoir to become a style vacuum and hadn’t decorated for 20 years. Outgoing to the max, our clients had a young demeanor in all of life’s other areas but, as far as their inner most sanctum was concerned, they didn’t have a clue.

Remedy, of course, lay just around the corner. During animated chatter and a whole load of elegant cocktails, we suggested a plan that we hoped might appeal. Our clients listened, and we talked. Then our clients talked and we listened. Collectively we agreed there was little to salvage from the room’s previous furniture collection, so each item that wasn’t required was shipped off to a local charity store. Nothing, in our world, is wasted. But of course you’ll know that if you were reading our column last week.

Our primary suggestion was to “zone” the soccer field-sized bedroom to make better use of the space. With ample room for cross purposing it was, to us, an obvious solution. Our plan would include, as well as luxuriously appointed sleeping quarters, a comfortable seating area in which to relax before hitting the land of nod, or an indulgent spot, perhaps, in which to prepare for the day ahead. In our bedroom projects, we generally try to include secondary seating, but with proportions such as these we could have subdivided the room and still left our clients with enough space to take in lodgers and house the entire furniture collection at the local branch of Sears.

Wall covering

There’s a lovely wee hotel in the heart of South Kensington, London, called No. 16 Sumner Place and, when filming recently in one of their toile decorated suites, we vowed to recreate the same look whenever we found a bedroom big enough. As soon as we encountered this one, we knew the French paper depicting pastoral scenes would make the perfect backdrop. But hold on a sec. Don’t think that traditional paper such as this will only work in a traditional home. We recently used it in a Manhattan loft and it looked strangely wonderful pasted on an accent wall as part of a project that we dressed with Bauhaus inclusions. It’s all, as we regularly command, in the mix.

Window treatments and bedding

Using fabric from the same range as our paper we commissioned bedding, as well as drapery panels to dress either side of white Roman blinds. Again, mixing and switching (done properly) can lead to lovely results. The opaque blinds softly diffuse incoming light while the Toile panels provide an extra layer that serves to fatten the overall look.

Flooring

As we were specifying lots of touchy freely fabrics and soft upholstery, we knew our scheme could easily handle a hard finish floor treatment. When compiling an essentially monochrome esthetic we always advise having an extra colour — or two — elsewhere in the mix to ensure results don’t appear one-dimensional. This in mind, rather than lay ebony (our original plan) we finally settled on an admittedly dark floor, but one with much warmer tones.

Rugs

For extra layering — and to help demarcate zones — we custom-manufactured rugs with inky black binding. The ebony tapes are like picture frames which serve to further enhance the art (in our case the furniture) that lies within. If you fancy a similar look on a budget, then it’s worth noting that Ikea carries a selection of rugs taped in various colours, so pop on over to the big blue and yellow shed for inspiration.

Bed side tables and hutch

If you read our column last week, you’ll recall we waxed lyrical about the joy of consignment stores. Indeed, it was from one of these very meccas we purchased these cute wee nights stands and, at just $45 a pop — and $75 for the matching TV hutch — they didn’t break the bank. In their original incarnation they were knotty pine but after being treated to a lick of black and white satin they suddenly took on a whole new look.

Bed

It’s SO important to scale furniture choices according to available square footage. That said, if we had a buck for every doll-sized bed we’ve seen dressed daintily in a large bedroom (or a dollar for each time we’ve espied a jumbo double king squeezed into a tight space) we’d be rolling in it. Rolling in the cash, that is, not the bed. But still the space versus furniture conundrum continues across the globe. It makes sound sense, before buying, to create newspaper templates; these will allow you to see how proposed items fit when arranged in your room.

Seating area

Anchored by another area rug, this comfy nook serves as a useful secondary living zone to which our clients can retreat should family life, downstairs, become chaotic. And isn’t it nice to have an extra crash zone, over and above the bed itself, to enjoy a glass of wine or read a book? Yup, if you’ve got the space, give it a go.

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GARDENS THAT WILL ATTRACT AMAZING WILDLIFE - OAKVILLE HOMES

As you prepare your shopping list for the garden centre this week, include plants which will attract wildlife to your garden. I am talking about the kind of wildlife that Canadians really WANT in their yard like butterflies, song birds, blue jays & hummingbirds.

The secret to attracting song birds, hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden is providing their favourite food and nectar-laden flowers in a sheltered, warm and sunny location.

Plant material plays a large role in attracting butterflies and hummingbirds (and song birds too!). Your choice of plants should include lots of native species, if you want to maximize the value of them as ‘magnets’ to butterflies and hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds are migratory. They pass through our gardens once in spring and again in late summer/early fall. Have a hummingbird feeder set up near your kitchen window so that you can see them easily from the indoors.

Hummingbirds are attracted by visual cues. Look for bright-coloured red or orange perennials and annuals with ‘trumpet’ shaped flowers for the hummingbirds.

While hummingbirds are attracted to your garden visually, they will stay longer if the flowers used to attract them in the first place have a sweet fragrance. They are, after all, looking for nectar to feed on.

Butterflies are attracted to your garden by scents in the first place. Flat, bold faced flowers are attractive to butterflies because they are easy to perch on.

Plant lots of trees for nesting and protection for the birds, including hummingbirds. Use a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees as both provide protection, food sources and shelter.

Bright sunshine is favoured by most butterflies and hummingbirds in fine weather, but trees provide protection from wind and severe weather.

Place lots of still water around the yard for drinking. Butterflies prefer drinking from shallow water. Bird baths work well. Empty them weekly to avoid mosquito breeding.

Songbirds are attracted to plants that produce a seed head, for the most part. Their food preference is seeds: which is why we use a select, clean combination of seeds to attract them to our birdfeeders.

Plants that attract songbirds later in summer and into the autumn, when the seed heads develop, include Beebalm, Echinacea [Coneflower], Globe Thistle, Sweet William and many ornamental grasses.

You can attract different types of birds to the yard by offering different mixes of seeds.

• Black oil sunflower seed is the universal bird food in my opinion. More birds seem to like it and go out of their way for it than any other single type of bird food.

• Finch blend: I love wild finches. They are small, colourful much of the year and active beyond belief! Finches prefer a mix of pure white millet, red millet and canary seed plus Nyjer and sunflower hearts.

• A songbird blend should be a combination of shelled peanuts, red millet, black oil and striped sunflower, cracked corn, white millet, red millet, canary seed and unshelled sunflower seed.

• Blue jays love peanuts in the shell. No sooner do I have the peanuts out there and they are calling one another to get over to Mark’s place — there is a feast in the making! And in they fly. Be sure NOT to use the peanuts in the shell that you buy for human consumption! Avoid anything that has salt on it.


With a little planning of your flower garden and investment in quality, Canadian produced bird seed blends; you can keep the wild birds coming to your yard year round! Just the right types of wildlife for most any gardener!

Hummingbird feeders should provide easy access to the feeding station, a perch and most important, the “nectar” that you put out for them should be refreshed each week. Otherwise the sugary liquid may go rancid. Place in an open area near a water source.

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335 GLOUCESTER SOLD!! - OAKVILLE HOMES

Congratulations David & Chris!

LISTED AT $1,679,000 - TOO LATE!

Call Mary Ann TODAY for your evaluation!


Welcome to 335 Gloucester. This 4 bedroom home is situated on a majestic 150' X 147' lot. PREMIUM & EXCLUSIVE location on Old Oakville's most sought after street! Surrounded by multi million dollar homes. Walk to nature trails, parks, downtown boutiques, restaurants, marina & lake. Location, location, location! Endless opportunities with this home. Renovate, add on, or custom build your super sized estate dream home. Zoning is R01 - and property is over 1/2 acres.

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HOW TO MAKE YOUR KITCHEN A GREAT PLACE TO COOK - OAKVILLE HOMES

The kitchen is the heart of many homes, an all-purpose area where much of life happens. But in the end, it has just one function that makes it unique among rooms: It’s where you cook.

Clutter, distractions, poor workflow — sometimes a kitchen’s layout can hinder the cooking process more than it helps. Decorating can create similar pitfalls. “We get too caught up in colour palettes and soft fabrics, and we overthink it,” says Genevieve Gorder, co-host and judge of HGTV’s Design Star.

But a well-planned kitchen can boost your cooking experience and make the room an even more treasured space, says Gorder and fellow designers Betsy Burnham (founder of Burnham Design) and Brian Patrick Flynn (founder of decordemon.com).

It’s all about focusing:

“A kitchen is the most task-oriented space in the house, so it must honour function as well as aesthetics,” Gorder says. “A light, bright, clean kitchen is a nice framework for the dance that is about to happen, which is cooking.”

How can you reimagine your kitchen to make it the best possible place to cook?

THINK IT THROUGH

More than any other room, Burnham says, kitchens need to be precisely planned. If you’re remodelling, “you need to go out and really touch and feel all the appliances, see what’s out there,” she says. “It’s not just, this is cool. My friend has this, so I want it. It’s, how do I really cook? Where do I put my spoon? Where do I like to have my towels?”

Leaf through food magazines to see how professional cooks arrange their kitchens.

“Professional stuff is so available to the public now,” Burnham says. “You can arrange your drawers with those dowels that organize restaurant plates. They’re spring-loaded.”

Installing a second sink or second dishwasher has also become more common.

Big changes don’t have to be expensive, Flynn says. But since a kitchen won’t be remodelled often, “think of how far each dollar goes in relation to durability first, then aesthetics second.”

All three designers preach simplicity and timelessness: “Go with classic colours, a classic backsplash,” Burnham says. “You really don’t want a date on that kitchen.”

CLEAR THE DECK

“When there’s a clean butcher block out on the counter,” says Gorder, “I want to cook.”

Devote counter space to cooking tools and fresh fruits and vegetables, but nothing else. Keep your go-to items (wooden spoons, whisks, etc.) next to the stove in one large, open container.

An airy, uncluttered kitchen is the goal. “Especially by the stove,” Gorder says. “People tend to overfill the space.”

Lose the decorative baskets and knick-knacks, she says: “If it’s not something I cook with or I eat, it doesn’t belong in here.”

SIMPLE SHADES, DASHES OF COLOUR

All three designers praise the merits of a white kitchen. An uncluttered, white space with a large, white farmhouse sink is “an invitation to play,” Gorder says.

Burnham and Gorder are fans of white Cararra marble countertops, which work with contemporary or classic decor. Don’t worry about fragility, says Gorder: White Cararra marble “made up the entire city of Athens and it’s still standing. You’re not going to ruin it by one little spill or scratch. In fact, the more it’s worn, the more beautiful it is.”

Flynn loves doing kitchens in white-on-white or white with light grey. For clients who don’t want white, he favours brown with grey or black with grey. “These colour combos,” he says, “work with virtually any accent colour.”

The placement of those accent colours is the key. “Choosing a bold-coloured tile backsplash is enough to give a commitment-phobe an instant coronary,” Flynn says, since those tiles will likely remain on the wall for many years.

Keep the inspiring dashes of bold colour relegated to items you can replace inexpensively.

To add a backsplash without expensive tilework, Flynn suggests using textured vinyl wallpaper. “It’s the same material used in restaurants and hotels, so it’s easy to care for and it’s flame-retardant,” he says.

For a bold punch of colour in a black-and-white kitchen, Flynn added “fire-engine red in accents such as a pendant light over an island, a steel console table and vinyl stool cushions. The small doses packed a ton of colour into the space. But if the homeowner’s taste were to change, it’s simple to bring in a new colour.”

STORAGE CHANGES

Consider changing your cabinets and storage to suit your cooking style, Burnham says. Do you prefer closed drawers or open shelving? Could you use more storage close to your stove? It’s possible to change just one or two cabinets, rather than the entire set.

Gorder suggests extending cabinets to the ceiling and storing rarely used items up high to clear more space in the immediate cooking area.

For an infusion of fresh style, Flynn says, “cabinet doors can sometimes be very cost-effective to update. New cabinetry gets pricey because of fabrication, removal and installation,” he says, but “if cabinets are in good shape, I have a carpenter add a band of moulding to the front of my cabinet doors, then spray them with oil paint in a gloss finish.”

Replacing cabinet hardware can add style, while making cabinets easier to use. “Glass and chrome hardware adds an element of glamour,” Flynn says. “The best part about hardware updates? You can do them yourself!”

FINISHING TOUCH

Once the space is cleared of all clutter and decked out in a clean, crisp colour palette, and all your cooking tools are conveniently at hand, Flynn has one last recommendation: Hang just one or two pieces of inspiring art.

“It’s not necessarily something most people think of doing,” he says, “but it really personalizes a space.”

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HAPPY VICTORIA DAY! - OAKVILLE HOMES

HAPPY VICTORIA DAY TO EVERYONE!!

For those of us in the Great White North we celebrate Victoria Day today. It also marks the first long weekend of the summer (which in Canada last about 6 weeks). The weekend is typically cold and wet but that doesn't stop Canadians from planting their backyard gardens or opening up their summer cottages. Oh yes a we light fireworks too. I mean how else would you know it was a holiday?


Victoria Day is celebrated the last Monday before May 24 or on May 24 if falls on a Monday. The important thing is to get a long weekend out it. The holiday is colloquially known as May Two-Four in most parts of Canada; a double entrendre that refers both to the date on which the holiday usually falls (24 May) and the Canadian slang for a case of 24 beers (a "two-four"), a drink popular during the long weekend.

Now you may ask why Canadians celebrate Victoria Day. It's to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday. Now she hasn't been Queen for over 100 years but what politician is going to yank a holiday over a small technicality like that. In fact I'd been happy to celebrate more of the monarchs' birthdays if it meant a day off work. You know there were 8 King Edwards and 6 Georges.

NATURAL WAY TO RID YOUR GARDEN OF PESTS - OAKVILLE HOMES

If it’s not creepy, crawly insects using your garden as their own personal salad bar, it’s a fungus that quickly and quietly takes over your plants or weeds so determined to grow you can’t see what used to be behind them.

Garden pests come in a number of forms, but most aren’t difficult to get rid of. After all, you planted that garden, so you should be able to enjoy it to its fullest!

Carson Arthur, host of HGTV’s GreenForce and Global’s Room to Grow says there are a few natural home remedies that will help you get rid of pesky insects, weeds and fungi in your garden.

If you have: Creepy crawlers (aphids, earwigs, slugs)

Try: The garlic press system

This is Arthur’s remedy for most of the creepy crawlers you’ll find in your garden. He takes an old lemonade jug, adds five to six bulbs of garlic (about 40 cloves), mashes them up and then fills the container with water. He lets this brew in full sun for three to four days then strains out the pulp and adds the juice to a spray bottle, which he then uses on garden plants.

The potent smell will turn even the hungriest insects away. “But make sure you wear gloves and wash your hands well or else you’ll smell like you’ve been eating Italian food for three months!” says Arthur.

Don’t worry about wasting the rest of your concoction, either — you can spread the pulp around other plants to deter slugs, which particularly hate it.

If you have: Slugs

Try: Copper wire

A simple copper wire, which carries a natural current, can also help keep slugs away. Place the wire in a ring on the ground, around your hostas for example, and slugs will stay far, far away. Copper wire is available at hardware stores.

If you have: Weeds

Try: Boiling water or vinegar

“This is a grandmother tip,” says Arthur. “My grandmother used to just walk around with her kettle and pour boiling water on weeds.” No muss, no fuss — your weeds should just die back. If this straightforward approach isn’t strong enough for the green monsters in your lawn, try a little bit of vinegar. “It’s an acid, so it will damage soil a bit,” says Arthur. After you’ve applied the vinegar to your weeds and pulled them out, it’s beneficial to your lawn to add new, healthy soil in the same spot.

If you have: Fungus on your plants

Try: Garden sulphur

Don’t let an ugly fungus like black spot taint the beauty of your rose bushes. Arthur says garden sulphur is making a comeback. It’s a natural mineral and is a quick and easy fix for almost any fungus in your garden. You can find different mixtures at home and garden stores.

One natural deterrent to stay away from: hot pepper flakes and cayenne pepper

We’ve all heard this home remedy for animals prowling in our gardens: spread a little bit of cayenne pepper or some hot pepper flakes on the ground and they’ll keep their nosy paws out. This is true, but if squirrels, cats and rabbits get too much spicy powder on their paws and then rub their faces, Arthur says they can go blind. We may not want these critters digging up our gardens, but we don’t want to harm them either, so opt for a more animal-friendly solution.

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NEW LISTING AT 82 ARKENDO DRIVE - OAKVILLE HOMES

LISTED AT $995,000

Location, location, location....This stunning 5 bedroom residence is nestled on a quiet, family friendly court SOUTH OF LAKESHORE in prestigious south east Oakville. Steps to the lake, ravine & nature trails. Home faces the beauty of a lush ravine - boasting incredible views. This home has been professionally renovated from top to bottom providing luxurious finishes. Stunning custom eat in kitchen with granite, family sized island & stainless steel appl's is perfect for the serious chef's. Gleaming hardwood floors through out, over sized bright windows, pot lights, crown moulding, deep baseboards & so much more. Large principal rooms & generous bedrooms. Decadent "spa like" baths. Lower level has just been renovated too - offering new carpeting, new 3pc bathroom & sauna with brand new shower. Exceptionally private setting with mature trees & extensive landscaping! One of the largest homes on the street. Surrounded by multi million dollar homes in the area. Pick up the phone today to book your showing! Contact Mary Ann Schiralli at 905-338-9000. Shows to perfection! A must see.

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NEW LISTING AT 196 WILDER DRIVE - OAKVILLE HOMES

LISTED AT $1,299,000

Rarely does a property like this come up! Premium location - SOUTH OF LAKESHORE - steps to Appleby College & the lake. 1/3 acre lot! Every inch of this 4 bedroom residence has been FULLY renovated and loaded with luxurious finishes. Gorgeous architecturally enhanced exterior with stunning wrap around covered porch. Custom gourmet kitchen with granite, island & top of the line stainless steel appl's. Deep baseboards, crown mouldings, gleaming hardwood floors, built in's, audio system & more. All the bells & whistles. Shows like something out of the pages of a magazine! This sensational property has been professionally landscaped - front, rear & side yards. Inground pool, lovely new cabana & private rear yard oasis. Multi- tiered custom deck - perfect for large outdoor gatherings. New walk out balcony from the master bedroom retreat - boasting breathtaking views. New roof, furnace, AC, windows, doors, pool heater, filter & pump. The woodlands on the north side of this home is part of this property - just like owning your own park!! Tons of room for the children to run, play & explore! For the most discerning buyer. Pick up the phone today & book your showing. Call Mary Ann Schiralli at 905-338-9000.

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108 WILSON STREET SOLD IN JUST 1 DAY! - OAKVILLE HOMES

Congratulations to Niki & Blayne!!!!

Drop dead gorgeous semi-detached, only 4 years young! Location, location, location - just steps to the lake & shops in downtown Oakville. Fully loaded with stunning upgrades, all the bells & whistles - including an elevator! Custom gourmet kitchen with granite, huge breakfast bar/island with Jenn-Air gas range, refrigerator, & Bosch dishwasher. Fabulous "rustic oak" hardwood flooring & crown moulding through out. California shutters & Swarovski crystal chandelier at main foyer. Indoor/outdoor built in speaker system on 2 floors, including main floor terrace & roof top terrace. Custom built in's & gas fireplace with gorgeous mantle & marble surround in family room with a walk out to the massive 26' x 19' terrace - fantastic for your extended entertaining! Roof top terrace with electrical rough in for a hot tub & gas line for a BBQ. 2nd floor master bedroom retreat with spa like master 5pc ensuite with his & hers vanities boasting "caesar stone" counters, huge jetted tub, separate privacy toilet, vessel sinks, frameless glass shower & heated floors. Main bathroom includes Travertine, with vessel sinks & frameless glass shower.

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INSPIRATION CUISINE - OAKVILLE HOMES

Cue the corkscrew and prepare to enjoy your favourite barbecued foods with some fine wines.

Life used to be so much simpler. There was a time, not so very long ago, when having a barbecue for dinner meant nothing more than simply throwing a hunk of meat or a foil-wrapped fish on the old Hibachi and turning it once or twice. Then we'd wash it down, of course, with a cold beer or a glass of wine.

Today, we no longer barbecue food, we grill it. Some of us are into cedar-planking, smoke-cooking, cold-smoking, slow-cooking, rotisserie-roasting and flame-grilling. As if that weren't enough, we also season our food with marinades, brines, dry rubs, bastes and glazes.

Back in our innocent years, just about any table wine would do, so long as it was red for meats and white for fish. Not anymore. Nowadays, we serve individual wines to highlight each course. We want taste adventures in our glasses, just as we've found them on the grill.

My new favourite opener is an unoaked Chardonnay, the grapes for which are grown in the traditionally red Beaujolais region of France. Pisse-Dru, Beaujolais Blanc is dry and refreshing with substantial body and flavour depth. And it goes with all the hors d'oeuvres we serve before lighting the barbecue.

Sauvignon Blanc, with its grassy aroma and gooseberry/passionfruit flavours, also pairs really well with opening dishes such as vegetable terrines and crudités, with or without the dips. For instance, a dish as simple as asparagus spears dressed in olive oil and crushed garlic, seasoned and barbecued on a foil tray, plays rather cleverly with the flavours of Sauvignon Blanc.

The main course is another matter altogether. The strong flavour of char in those crisp, blackened corners, peaks and edges and all those spices, gooey bastes and caramelized sauces definitely calls for bold wines with lush berry flavours, lively acidity and enough finesse to soothe the third-degree burns I've seen on some steaks.

Ripe, jammy flavours are the specialty of New World reds, which tend to have a fruit-first approach to flavour delivery. They also have the knack of skilfully enriching the incinerated flavours that emerge from many a creative grill-master's flames.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Zinfandel from Australia, Chile and the United States – those big guns are the best at taming the ferocity of fire. Mains such as beef with cracked pepper, lamb with dried herbs and mustard, or chicken wings with hot creole dressing benefit from the lush fruit of a New World red.

The spicy nuances of Asian cuisine -- hoisin, ginger, chili, soy and five spice -- call for the flavours of a late-harvest Gewürztraminer or an off-dry white Zinfandel.

Fussing over wine is hardly reserved for the main course. Desserts can come off the grill, too. Last year, for example, I barbecued ripe peaches, served them with vanilla ice cream and pistachios and paired them with a late-harvest Riesling.

Maybe you're a person who's happy with simpler (and less expensive) pleasures. Recently, I tasted a bag-in-the-box wine that was balanced, fruity and easy to quaff. Ancient Coast Baco Noir comes in a three-litre box with its own built-in pour spout. I found it equally enjoyable with an all-dressed burger, a honey-garlic sausage some days later, and rib-eye steak a week after that. The wine stayed fresh the whole time. If you don't much like the idea of serving wine straight from a box, then simply pour it into an attractive decanter.

White wines should have refreshing acidity and fruity flavours in order to open up the appetite.

Pisse-Dru, Beaujolais Blanc (Beaujolais, France), $12. This rare white is pleasing as an aperitif, with its pure and fresh flavour. It's just as happy paired with fish and seafood (raw or barbecued).

Gallo, Sierra Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2003 (California, U.S.), $9. This crowd-pleaser has a light grassy bouquet and a tart fruit taste. Serve with a mixed grill of vegetables with crumbled goat cheese, or smoked salmon rollups with dill cream cheese.

Jackson Triggs, Proprietors' Reserve Gewürztraminer (Niagara Peninsula, Ontario), $11. The oily, pungent and wild flavours of lime and lychee, honey and honeysuckle counter the exotic spices of many Asian foods, from simple shrimp rolls to Hunan hotpot.

To pair with the main action, red wines need oomph.

Ancient Coast, Baco Noir (Ontario), $30 (3 L). Vibrant, smoky, black fruit flavours and tangy acidity make this terrific for grilled foods.

Columbia Crest, Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington, U.S.), $16. The ripe flavours of California wine and the smoothness of French.

Errazuriz, Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Aconcagua Valley, Chile), $18. The Errazuriz reserva grows in a semidesert region and exhibits “warm” flavours that reflect its origins.

Rosemount Estate, Diamond Merlot (Southeastern Australia), $16. No namby-pamby Merlot, this: deep, plummy flavours take on all comers: burgers, pepper steak, spiced wings and lamb chops.

Dessert wines ought to be sweeter than dessert.

Mission Hill, Late Harvest Riesling (Okanagan Valley, B.C.), $35. Pours like syrup, swallows like silk. Concentrated pear and peach flavours, vanilla sugar and lemon cream nose.

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FABULOUS OUTDOOR PARTIES - OAKVILLE HOMES

Turn your fabulous outdoor party into the soiree of the season that everyone's talking about!

After two years planning corporate events, engagement parties and other celebrations part-time, and holding down full-time office gigs, Monica Krasny and Rachel Azagury quit their day jobs and turned their Toronto company, The Designer Event, into a full-time venture. And through their sister company, Designer Cookie, they create edible chocolate business cards, gift baskets and cakes embossed with your favourite photos (it's all edible).

These girls know how to party and they have some advice if you're planning a summer event -- big, small, formal or casual -- of your own. "Our philosophy is don't stress," says Rachel. "The event isn't just for your guests, it's for you, too. Don't worry about whether your guests will like it because they will: it's free food, it's summer, and it's going to be great."

The trends right now

• Cute favours for your guests to take home.
• Mini mains -- hamburgers, mac 'n cheese pots, and hot dogs made with party sausages. For dessert? Mini cakes and cupcakes, of course!
• Moroccan themes and Indian prints.
• Live entertainment. "I mean showgirls, poker, not your typical 'sit-and-eat-rubber-chicken' event anymore. Interactive activities are popular," says Rachel.
• Food stations. "Maybe not for a wedding, but for an engagement party or sweet 16, they're perfect. You don't need a six-course meal," says Rachel.

Food

"At outdoor events, people are always nibbling, but they don't actually eat a lot in the summer, so give them something light," says Rachel.

• "Barbecue is always going to be big because it's easy, fun and fast," says Rachel.

• Finger foods. "People often overlook them, because they think guests will think of them as cheap. Not true. As long as people don't leave hungry, you're fine."

• Grilled fruit kebabs. Try pears, mango or banana dipped in orange juice. "Don't get grill marks on the fruit," says Rachel. "Just warm it up a bit." (And don't grill it where you grilled meat.)

• Couscous. "You can serve it with grilled veggies or meat and you can make it ahead of time," says Rachel.

Drinks

"Sangria. Without fail, it's the best summer party drink," says Rachel. "And when you add edible flowers and different-shape ice cubes to the bowl, it becomes your centrepiece."

Monica's no-fail recipe:

1 litre pop (7-Up or Sprite is great)
1 litre pink grapefruit pop
1 bottle of wine, red or white
1 small bottle of champagne or sparkling wine
Grenadine syrup to taste
Dash of lime juice
Diced fruit (like tangerines, lychee fruit, apple, pears)
Maraschino cherries

Mix all ingredients in your favourite bowl, et voilà!

Decor

"A great event can happen with a limited budget," says Rachel. "It's all about showcasing one or two things that will wow your guests -- decor especially."

• Use a lot of colour. "Green, pink, orange, yellow -- they're best for the tablecloth. Avoid white!" says Rachel.

• "Evening events need a lot of lighting -- and citronella," says Rachel. These bug-repelling candles come in all kinds of fun shapes. "Use the pails if you have a beach theme going or bamboo stakes if you're trying something Hawaiian," says Rachel. "Whichever you choose, just don't forget them!" Inexpensive Japanese lanterns from IKEA, a market or Chinatown are other great lighting sources.

• Add fruits to your flowers. "Cut some kiwis in half and put them in your favourite vase," says Rachel, "then add water and your favourite flowers. Lemons also look nice presented this way."

• Use tea light candles everywhere. Along the table, floating in bowls, lining your fence. Be careful with scented candles, though, since they attract bugs. Try tea light citronella.

• For ambience, buy a copper fire pit. "You can get one for about $100," says Rachel, "and you'll use it all summer."

• Try eating on the floor. Buy a piece of half-inch-thick particleboard or pressed lumber from a local hardware store or home centre. Lay it on the grass and drape it with fabric. Use colourful pillows as seats, "but make sure to tell your guests ahead of time so they don't arrive wearing miniskirts," Rachel cautions.

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THE ONE WEEKEND GARAGE MAKEOVER - OAKVILLE HOMES

Garages aren't the sexiest spot of the house. Hearing the phrase, "Honey, let's organize the garage" doesn't set pulses racing the way "Baby, let's make over the kitchen" does. Nonetheless, garages are among the most hardworking spaces in your home, so taking a weekend and investing a few hundred dollars in garage organization tools will pay off in savings of both time and money.

A clean and organized garage saves you time by keeping essentials in clear view, so you can find what you need and go, without tripping over items or causing a minor avalanche whenever you pull something from the bottom of a pile.

And you'll save money because your investments, from sporting goods to tools, will last longer when they’re stored safe from moisture, heavy weights, rodents and dust. (Your car, of course, will be protected from falling skis and wayward bicycles.)

Ready to get your garage in order? Here's our one-weekend, three-step guide to finding a place for everything and putting everything in its place.

Step 1: Purge and repatriate

Garages have a way of collecting clutter. Start by purging yours. If you haven't used something for over a year, move it to a space where space is less of a premium, like the attic or basement. Or, better yet, donate, sell or gift it.

Go through piles, boxes and shelves and move anything that's not in the correct spot. Use baskets or storage bags to tote things where they need to go, one for the basement, one for the attic, one for Goodwill and so on.

Step 2: Sort belongings and choose storage tools

Take a look at what’s left and decide what storage elements would work best for you. The essentials include:

• Closed storage: Make sure to include at least one closed-door, lockable unit like Rubbermaid's resin cabinet or Husky's metal-front cabinet. It's essential for keeping poisons like antifreeze, plant food or pest control products, and sharp tools behind lock and key.

• Open shelving: Shelves keep frequently used items readily available and in plain sight. Vented metal styles, wood slats, (or, for light duty, vented plastic) minimize the volume of dust that can collect.

• Hooks, clamps and holders: These allow you to make use of vertical space, getting big items like bikes, trikes, oars and paddles, rakes, hoes and brooms off the ground and out of your way.

• Bags: Most wall-mounted garage organization systems include clamp-on mesh bags that make it easy to store soccer balls, basketballs, tennis balls etc.

• Boxes & bins: Group irregular items and stash them in big bins on casters so you can roll them under a shelving unit or work table. Group them intuitively so items are easy to find: bags of soil, grass seed and pea gravel together, for instance. Boxes and baskets can also hold smaller items neatly on shelves.

Design tip: Remember to accommodate your car(s) before you buy! Mark the footprint(s) of your vehicle(s) with painter’s tape, then mark the footprint of the to-be-installed storage elements (find the dimensions of each item online). Do you have enough space for everything, and to accommodate foot traffic? Okay, now you can buy.

Step 3: Design and install a system

Once you've determined what tools will help you store your goods, spend an afternoon installing your system with a partner to ensure things are installed securely and level.

Use this opportunity to clean items before you store them.

OPTIONAL PRE-INSTALLATION STEPS:

• LIGHTING MAKEOVER: Replace a dim single overhead bulb with track lighting for an instant lift.

• DRYWALL: For a more polished look if your garage has unfinished walls, install drywall before painting.

• PAINT: If your garage is uninspiring, consider painting it a nice, expansive white. Allover colour may be a bit overwhelming in this space, but bright hits of juicy hue on a feature wall can add life to this space

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10 WAYS TO "GREEN" YOUR HOME DECOR - OAKVILLE HOMES

When spring arrives, we often think of refreshing our home with bright splashes of colour, changing our window coverings, replacing worn flooring or simply adding new accessories for an inexpensive lift. It’s all too easy to get swept up in redecorating without thinking about the effect on the planet. To go green, think recycled, reused or repurposed pieces. Part of the secret is to dust off your creativity and have some fun.

1. Recover: One of the easiest green improvements is to simply recover or re-upholster your furniture instead of replacing it. It will give new life to the piece and the room.

2. Rescue, reuse and rethink: Other people’s castoffs could prove useful, prescribing to the adage, ‘One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.’ Shop vintage or second-hand at garage sales, charity shops, antique markets, flea markets and eBay. They’re all great hunting grounds for interesting, unique items. Buying used can be considerably cheaper than buying new, and adds more character to your home. Also, by using community listings such as Craigslist, Kijiji and Freecycle, you can meet other like-minded people in your city.

3. Colour: A new paint colour refreshes and revives a room. Changing the way a room looks with paint is much cheaper than buying new furniture or wallpaper. Think colour therapy, not retail therapy! Look for paints that are water, not oil, based to avoid the excess gases that latex paints can put into the air. Many paint companies are now on board with eco-friendly paints, offering an enormous, and increasingly affordable, choice of colours and finishes.

4. Accents: Cushions add zip to a tired room. Old linen sheets, tea towels, tablecloths and curtains can be repurposed in no time into colourful, unique pillows. You can also make cushions from old clothes, adding vintage buttons or ribbons for a truly custom look. Innovative art ideas for your walls are endless: try framing an enlarged photo or covering a canvas with wallpaper, book pages, scrapbooking paper or a collage.

5. Flooring: Natural materials such as stone and recycled or renewable materials such as reclaimed lumber and bamboo are more durable than plastic and vinyl tiles and won’t end up in a landfill for the next 200 years if and when you decide to replace them. Cork is another green option for floors. Kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms can all benefit from the breathable, highly sustainable material. It provides natural insulation for floors, too.

6. Window coverings: Check local charity shops and places such as Value Village to recycle previously enjoyed curtains. With a little bit of ingenuity your finds can be reworked to fit your window or remade into roman blinds or café curtains. Vintage table linens or colourful sheets can also be reinvented to create unique window coverings. If you’re shopping for new, hemp, linen, soy and organic cotton are a small number of the eco-friendly fabrics available. Many of these fabrics are biodegradable, renewable and non-toxic.

7. Bathrooms: Renovating your bathroom? Instead of buying a new vanity and sink, consider adding character with an antique dresser modified to fit a recycled sink and taps for a portion of the price of new, plus you’ll get more bang for your buck with a truly distinctive look. Check your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore for sinks and taps.

8. A fresh coat: If your furniture is looking chipped, worn or scratched, why not paint it? You can hide repair work, scratches and scuffs with a quick layer of paint. Inherited an old, dark dining table and chairs? Lift the whole look with white paint. Try leaving the top of the dining table as it is or enhance it with a layer of varnish, and paint the legs and the chairs white. Recover the seats of the chairs with a bright fabric, and you will have a completely new casual country chic look.

9. Lighting: Brighten your decor with LED lights – replace all of your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. They are a bit more costly initially, but once you’ve made the switch, replacing light bulbs will become an infrequent chore. Instead of adding more ceiling lights, choose table lamps: they use less energy, cozy up a room and can be moved around for task and ambient lighting.

10. Change doors: The Habitat for Humanity ReStore has kitchen cupboard doors starting at $2, and full doors starting at $15, which can help you achieve a funky vintage or eclectic look. Pick up a vintage tin ceiling tile and use it as a notice board with magnets that you make yourself.

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OUTDOOR LIGHTS, GO BEYOND PATIO LANTERNS - OAKVILLE HOMES

Summertime and the livin’ is easy: warm nights out on the patio, grilling supper and sipping cold drinks. The sun hovers on the horizon well into the evening, but at some point, it always dips low enough that we need to flip on some artificial light.

If you’re replacing your patio or landscape lighting this season, keep that easy-going summer attitude in mind and look for easy-care, simple fixtures and lights.

Here’s what’s trending this year:

Eco-friendly lighting

“LEDs are the most energy-saving exterior source right now,” says Mark Naimer, president of Union Lighting, Canada’s largest lighting showroom.

Solar-powered LED (light-emitting diode) lights are the obvious eco-savvy choice, but even LED lights that draw their power from your home instead of the sun are environmentally sound. According to Naimer, they use a fraction of the energy used by traditional bulbs and last up to 50,000 hours, so each one can be a long-term investment.

Solar lights come with an added bonus, too: no cords. This means they can be moved from place to place or split up. Even a light or two in your potted plants on the patio can add just enough brightness to create a visible pathway or show off your gardening skills.

Dark, sturdy finishes

According to Naimer, cast aluminum is the most popular finish across Canada. “It’s an excellent choice for Canadian winters,” he says, because it won’t rust and the finish won’t change much over time. Plus, they’re sturdy and can stand an accidental hit or two from a shovel when we lose track of them in the winter.

In Toronto in particular, Naimer says dark finishes are most popular — “90 per cent of what we sell is dark in colour.”

However, much like the season’s vibrant outdoor furniture trends, some lighting is brightening up, too.

“Paper lanterns are coming back,” says Shannon Eckel-Braun, owner and principal stylist at The Design Factory in Kitchener-Waterloo. “I like clusters of three or four small ones together, hanging at different lengths.”

As for glass, Naimer says textured glass is gaining popularity. Seeded glass, for example, looks great even when it isn’t perfectly clean, and homeowners are always looking for low-maintenance pieces.

Ambient lighting

Create a soft, comfortable atmosphere with clusters of paper lanterns, rope lights or solar-powered tiki torches. Eckel-Braun says these are a nicer alternative to smoking, messy torches unless you are using them with citronella.

For those nights you end up lingering around the dinner table, a simple string of white twinkle lights (ie: Christmas lights) on the underside of your umbrella should be enough to illuminate the table so you can see everyone’s faces and maybe even play some cards.

Similarly, paper bags weighed down with sand and lit up by votive candles are an inexpensive way to temporarily create a pathway.

A softer glow

Outdoor LED lights for your garden and patio often come in the same range as holiday lights: everything from orange-yellow through various shades of white to stark blue.

“Softer white is easier on the eyes. It’s a clean, classic look, whereas any colour can be too much,” says Eckel-Braun.

Naimer agrees: “People feel the cool blue colours are a little sterile looking, so they’re opting for colours closer to a regular indoor bulb.”

Mid-range natural whites — closer to what most of us have indoors — are generally easier on the eyes and more subtle in landscaping.

Shopping tips

No matter the style of light you choose to brighten your yard, there are a few things to keep in mind when shopping:

•How much work is involved in installing the lights? Do you have to remove them each fall and put them out in the spring, or can they withstand the cold and snow?

•What will it cost to run the lights?

•Do these colours and finishes flow with the fixtures you have inside the house and/or match the rest of your outdoor decor?

•Is this an environmentally sustainable product?

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HOW TO CHOOSE A COFFEE TABLE - OAKVILLE HOMES

The coffee table is an essential piece of furniture for any living room. Find out which size, shape and material will work best in your space.


A coffee table helps anchor a living room seating area and functions as a place for setting down drinks or snacks. It also provides a display surface for favourite books or decorative pieces. Here are a few important points to consider when shopping for a coffee table.

Form, size & Height

Height
Select a table that works with your seating height. Most coffee tables measure from 16 to 20 inches high.

Shape
A rectangular shape works in most rooms. A rounded table will create a sense of flow; square offers a larger surface but requires lots of floor space.

Length
Keep your sofa size in mind when deciding on a table length. A coffee table should be one-half to two-thirds as long as the sofa it’s placed in front of.

Materials

Wood
Hardwoods like oak, walnut, cherry or maple dent less easily than soft woods like pine and cedar. A “solid wood” table means it’s made of solid boards. “All wood” tables are produced from engineered plywood or particleboard. If a table is veneered, ask the salesperson whether it’s made of solid or engineered wood underneath.

A lacquered finish provides protection to a table’s surface and ensures longevity. An expensive wood table should have a super silky finish.

The legs on a wood table should be attached with mortise and tenon joints, or with brackets and lag bolts if the legs can be removed. Well-made drawers will have dovetail joints rather than stapled ones.

Metal
If you’re leaning towards a metal table or base, choose stainless steel for its strength and durability. It comes in matte finish or can be polished to achieve a sheen similar to chrome.

A “chrome” table means that a coating has been applied to the metal base, and can easily chip or wear off.

Glass
The airy look of a glass table makes it a good choice for a compact living room. While tempered glass is five or six times stronger than standard glass, it's generally not necessary in a coffee table, as the thickness of the glass itself makes it strong.

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RUN, WALK OR PLEDGE IN SUPPORT OF OTMH! - OAKVILLE HOMES

RUN WALK OR PLEDGE IN SUPPORT OF OTMH!


The 14th Annual OTMH Classic
Sunday June 20th, 2010 (Father's Day) at Wallace Park

Don't miss out on one of Oakville’s most anticipated and public events of the year. Last June, close to 1,200 community members participated in the OTMH Classic, generating more than $120,000 (net) for the purchase of essential new equipment such as a new echocardiogram machine and stress test equipment for the Cardiology Department at our hospital.

Register today and help us purchase vital medical equipment for OTMH. Your participation will ensure that our doctors, nurses and staff can continue to provide the highest quality healthcare services.

The Oakville Hospital Foundation is grateful to Founding Partner, Oak-land Ford Lincoln, for agreeing to support the OTMH Classic for a 14th consecutive year! We hope you will also join us, by participating in one of our race-activities: 5 km Run; 5 km Power Walk; 3 km Family Walk; and, the 1 km Children’s Fun Run. Every participant will receive an official OTMH Classic race shirt, a belly-filling Father’s Day breakfast and a race-kit filled with family-themed products.

EARLY BIRD ENTRY DRAW & GRAND PRIZE DRAWS!

Early Bird Entry Draw

Register online at www.otmhclassic.com by May 21st and you will be eligible to win a Polar heart rate monitor, valued at $100, courtesy of Hikers Haven.

Grand Prize Draws

Raise $200 or more in pledges by June 20th and you will qualify to win:

1) Camping Package for a Family of 4, valued at $700, courtesy of Hikers Haven. Package includes: tent, 4 sleeping bags, 1 stove and 1 cookset.

or

2) RBC Canadian Open Prize Pack, valued at $1,300, courtesy of the RCGA. Package includes: 4 week-long passes to the Canadian Open, apparel and food & beverage vouchers.

IT'S EASY!

REGISTER as an individual or team.

PERSONALIZE your home or team page.

START COLLECTING PLEDGES by sending an email to your friends, family and colleagues asking for their support to help purchase equipment for your hospital's Cardiology Department.

CHALLENGE friends and family to match or exceed your fundraising goals for the opportunity to win top fundraising prizes!

Events such as the OTMH Classic help the Oakville Hospital Foundation raise funds to purchase essential medical equipment needs for OTMH. For more information on fundraising programs, events or ways to make a difference to the health of our community, please visit our website at: www.oakvillehospitalfoundation.com.

6 PATIO FURNITURE TRENDS FOR SUMMER - OAKVILLE HOMES

At the first sign of sunshine and warm temperatures, Torontonians are out on patios in full force. We crave these fleeting summer moments all through the cold winter and thrive outside from May to September.

Now, the latest patio furniture trends reflect how much time we spend outdoors and focus on comfort and style, not just function.

Shannon Eckel-Braun, owner and principal stylist at The Design Factory in Kitchener-Waterloo, says pieces commonly found indoors are now being adapted to suit outdoor settings.

“It’s not just a patio anymore, it’s another room from your house that’s outside.”

This means everything from couches and coffee tables to recliners, ottomans and floor lamps are being designed for the great outdoors.

Here are 6 of this season’s biggest trends for outdoor living:

Deep seating furniture and coffee tables

What do you typically do on your patio or deck? Is it a family zone, like a living room, or is it reserved more for guests?

If you’re catering primarily to family, think about what you like about rooms in your house and try to create a similar feel outside.

Duy Vinh, general manager at Salco Patio and Leisure in Markham, says the theme of bringing the indoors out isn’t brand new, but this year, he’s seeing more people buying deep seating pieces and coffee tables as opposed to dining sets. This creates more of an outdoor sitting room rather than a formal dinner table.

If entertaining is your main priority, you may want to opt for a more traditional dining area. Eckel-Braun says you’ll still find lots of upholstery and thick, comfortable cushions, much like the deep seating furniture.

Area rugs
Whether indoors or out, “an area rug automatically creates a defined space,” says Eckel-Braun.

If you’re having trouble dividing your space into distinct zones — whether they be for eating, lounging, cooking or just for the kids — think about how indoor floors and tiles help us define rooms inside. The same concept can be applied outside with an all-weather rug.

Tip: Look for rugs designed for the outdoors. Martha Stewart Living, for example, has outdoor rugs designed to look like natural fibres, but they are actually manufactured from “100-per cent enhanced polypropylene for UV protection and mildew- and mould-resistance.”

Curtains and fabric dividers
Looking for a way to create a private space without boxing in your deck?

In the same way an area rug can define a space, sometimes all you need are some outdoor curtains or movable fabric dividers. Both are simple ways to create a wall without having to build a permanent divider.

Comfort accessories
Outdoor furniture has started to mimic what we have indoors because it’s more comfortable and that reaches beyond major pieces.

Eckel-Braun calls throw pillows, area rugs and inexpensive lighting “comfort accessories” because they make spaces easy to live in, whether indoors or out.

If you can only afford to change one element in your outdoor space, Eckel-Braun says it should be these items. A few bright throw pillows in a bold pattern will refresh any patio set.

Tip: Choose mildew and water-resistant fabric and look for “UV protected” on the label so you know the colour won’t fade.

Stools and benches

“Function is trendy,” says Eckel-Braun.

Step up your patio functionality with a few stools, which can be used for seating or side tables or can even serve as pedestals for urns and planters when not in use.

The same goes for benches. They’re great for seating guests, but can be pushed aside when they’re not in use. And, like many indoor benches, their outdoor counterparts are now starting to have under-seat storage for throw pillows, candle holders or whatever else you want to stash away while you’re not outside.

Bright colours — maybe
“Showrooms are utilizing vibrant colours on their umbrellas and cushions,” says Vinh, “but people are still going with the earth tone colours.”

“[Trends are] shifting slightly towards more eye catching colours such as the yellows and reds but a majority [of people] still prefer the safe choice of browns and grays,” he says.

According to Eckel-Braun, the best choice depends on the rest of your yard.

If you grow mostly foliage and greenery, she says you can play up pattern and colour in your furniture. She loves bold prints like damask; thick stripes are also popping up everywhere this season.

However, if your garden is an oasis of bright flowers, choose a more neutral scheme for your furniture and accessories so you don’t have too many elements competing for attention.

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NEW LISTING AT 108 WILSON STREET - OAKVILLE HOMES

STEPS TO THE LAKE & SHOPS - $1,049,000

Pick up the phone today! Drop dead gorgeous semi-detached, only 4 years young! Location, location, location - just steps to the lake & shops in downtown Oakville. Fully loaded with stunning upgrades, all the bells & whistles - including an elevator! Custom gourmet kitchen with granite, huge breakfast bar/island with Jenn-Air gas range, refrigerator, & Bosch dishwasher. Fabulous "rustic oak" hardwood flooring & crown moulding through out. California shutters & Swarovski crystal chandelier at main foyer. Indoor/outdoor built in speaker system on 2 floors, including main floor terrace & roof top terrace. Custom built in's & gas fireplace with gorgeous mantle & marble surround in family room with a walk out to the massive 26' x 19' terrace - fantastic for your extended entertaining! Roof top terrace with electrical rough in for a hot tub & gas line for a BBQ. 2nd floor master bedroom retreat with spa like master 5pc ensuite with his & hers vanities boasting "caesar stone" counters, huge jetted tub, separate privacy toilet, vessel sinks, frameless glass shower & heated floors. Main bathroom includes Travertine, with vessel sinks & frameless glass shower. Call Mary Ann Schiralli to view this sensational residence at 905-338-9000.

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VISIT THE NEW LCBO IN OAKVILLE! - OAKVILLE HOMES

The NEW Oakville LCBO Store has One of a Kind Features!

On May 7, 2010, hundreds of Oakville residents attended the official opening of the new 16,200 square-foot LCBO Olde Oakville Market Place store at 321 Cornwall Road at Trafalgar Road.

The new store reflects the latest evolution in LCBO retailing, including a walk-in temperature and humidity-controlled (THC) room for high-end wines and a large tasting bar with an automated system for dispensing wine and spirit samples. It will also offer one of the largest VINTAGES fine wine and spirits selections in Ontario.

Some of the new store’s unique features include:

Selection of more than 3,200 wines, spirits, beers and cocktails

More than 1,500 VINTAGES premium products – one of the largest selections in Ontario

The first LCBO store to offer a walk-in temperature and humidity-controlled room for high-end wines

A tasting bar with an automated system for dispensing samples of wines and spirits

A Best of Ontario section with more than 200 VQA wines

An event kitchen with overhead LCD screens for cooking demonstrations and wine classes

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY - OAKVILLE HOMES

To the world you might just be one person, but to one person you might just be the world...!
Author Unknown

Happy Mother's Day To Everyone!

EXTERIOR HOME PAINTING - OAKVILLE HOMES

When you paint the exterior of your home it's all about quality, reveals Sharon Grech of Benjamin Moore, whether that's the quality of the paint of the quality of the application. Here our resident paint expert shares her advice on how to properly prime and cover your outdoor surfaces:


When painting wood and metal doors brick, stucco and concrete surfaces:

Three factors that will determine how successful your exterior painting will be: the quality of product, the quality of the preparation and the quality of the application……so for once don’t just jump right into the colour!

The “pre-primed” metal doors that you buy MUST be painted within a month at most. If you paint within that time frame, the surface will be sound, and you can paint directly with a high quality waterborne product like Aura Exterior. But if you wait longer you will likely notice some bubbling or peeling. In this case you have to spot prime the exposed metal areas with Fresh Start 163 Alkyd Rust Inhibitive Primer before painting. If you find any rust – you must remove it with a wire brush first. After spot priming you can paint with the Aura Exterior colour of your choice – I recommend the semi-gloss finish for doors.

When painting a previously painted wood door it is important to remove any peeling paint and caulking first and create a smooth, sound surface. This can be done with a metal scraper and/or a sander (be sure to wear safety glasses!!) If there are any scrapes or holes, fill with a high quality exterior spackling product, or caulking, let dry and then prime with Benjamin Moore’s Fresh Start Primer. I recommend Aura Exterior in semi-gloss for doors, or if you prefer to work in alkyd for a high gloss, then Benjamin Moore Collection K133 Alkyd High-Gloss Enamel tinted to a colour of your choice.

Brick tends to only be painted on older homes when repair work has been done or when the homeowner dislikes the colour. Brick is hard to replace seamlessly….so painting can mask that problem and renew the façade.

As with any surface, you must clean very thoroughly. Brick is very porous, so you can give it a good clean just with water if you use a pressure washer. Let it dry for a good day or more – but don’t wait too long for it to get dirty again!

Benjamin Moore’s Aura exterior paint is self-priming on most surfaces, so this will save time and cost. Simply use a good fluffy, high nap roller to apply the paint on brick. It should give good coverage unless the brick has extremely deep mortar. 2 coats will give the optimal finish. If you have any doubt about the surface, speak with your retailer and in some cases a primer will be recommended or use of a sprayer.

There are 3 finishes of Aura exterior: flat, low-lustre, semi-gloss. I tend to specify the flatter finishes for the body, and the glossier for trim and doors.

Stucco is becoming more and more popular in Canada, and as a surface it is very easy to paint – same process as with brick and most masonry surfaces. Just be sure it has cured – at least 30-60 days, clean, let dry and paint with a high quality waterborne product, my recommendation is Aura Exterior flat or low-lustre.

Concrete is an area that tends to get ignored, but a painted concrete porch or steps can have a huge impact on your homes curb appeal!

Just be sure it has cured – at least 30-60 days, clean, let dry and paint with either a waterborne product – Latex Floor & Patio or an Alkyd Urethane Porch & Floor.

Metal tends to be more of a decorative accent on a home’s exterior (rail, urn or mailbox for example) – but very impactful when painted. Often people choose black or white for metal rails and mailboxes. If you want a more custom colour, you can use Fresh Start 163 Alkyd Rust Inhibitive Primer, and then custom tint the alkyd high-gloss to any colour you want.

Reminder!
For the best end result you should attempt to paint in the most ideal conditions:

Dry day with dry surfaces (24 hrs without rain is ideal)
Not in direct sunlight
Only when the temperature is a steady 10 degrees

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OAKVILLE SCOUTS PLANT 100 TREES - OAKVILLE HOMES

Scouts plant 100 trees at the Halton Waste Management Site!

Last week, on Saturday, May 1, Halton Region in partnership with Conservation Halton and local Halton Scouts raised environmental awareness and enhanced the landscaping of the Halton Waste Management Site (HWMS) by participating in an annual tree planting event. Approximately 40 Scouts planted 100 trees at the landfill site located at 5400 Regional Road 25 in Milton (view map ).

“When it comes to making a difference for the environment, change is often a result of the small steps we take,” said Halton Regional Chair, Gary Carr. “I thank Conservation Halton for providing trees and educational assistance and all of the Halton Scouts for taking small but important steps towards protecting and preserving the environment.”

Chair Carr, Conservation Halton Chair, Brian Penman and Conservation Halton CAO, Ken Phillips, took part in a brief opening ceremony at the event. Halton area Scouts and many of their leaders and parents also participated in the tree planting event with trees provided by Conservation Halton. Scout Canada Special Events Coordinator for the Burlington Area, Mr. Bob Collison, volunteered his time once again to recruit and coordinate the Scouts who play an important role in the maintenance of the Waste Management Site while helping the environment.

“Conservation Halton is delighted to once again partner with Halton Region and the Halton Scouts in this important initiative to restore the region’s landfill site,” said Conservation Halton Chair Brian Penman. ”These programs are very important, as the trees planted help our environment by improving air and water quality, as well as increasing the forest cover in our watershed.”

The Scout tree planting event is part of Halton Region’s ongoing tree planting and maintenance program at the Halton Waste Management Site. Over 1,500 trees have been planted on the Site since it opened in 1992, which is an example of the sound environmental practices applied at the HWMS operations. Other practices include collecting rainwater from building roofs for re-use on site for tasks such as garden watering and washing equipment and utilizing over 35,000 passenger car tires in the asphalt used to pave the Site roads.

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