Last night, I had the pleasure of volunteering with the Linden House Theatre Company assisting guests as they arrived to see the play, The Savannah Sipping Society. To my amusement, as you can see below, it is a credited role (yes it is!). Haha! Bold letters and all my first time in a program, plus […]

The Ottawa Real Estate Board will soon issue the March news release presenting the February statistics, in the interim here is a snapshot of the Ottawa’s real estate market, there are several key developments and trends to note: Market Activity and Prices: The Ottawa housing market experienced an increase in sales activity in January 2024, […]

To increase the value and saleability of your condo in Ottawa, focusing on kitchen and bathroom upgrades is a smart move. Here are some of the best design decisions for each: Kitchen Design Decisions Modern Appliances – Invest in high-quality, energy-efficient appliances. Stainless steel is a popular choice due to its modern look and durability. […]

There can be insurance issues if your roof is more than 20 years old. Here are some common challenges and considerations: Higher Premiums: Older roofs are generally viewed as higher risks by insurance companies. This risk perception can lead to higher insurance premiums as the likelihood of roof-related problems increases with age. Coverage Limitations: Some […]

Aldo Rossi was an Italian architect and designer 1931/1997. The first Italian to receive the Pritzker Prize – 1990. He studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. His architectural theory, sensitive to urban life, gained him international respect. “Rossi has been able to follow the lessons of classical architecture without copying them; his buildings […]

This one was slipping down my bookmark bar and almost got away. It may not now be quite as current as it was but nevertheless due it’s nature it must be posted. As presented by Narcity, Big 7 Travel did a survey: Top 10 sexiest accents in Canada. The Ottawa Valley accent made number 1. […]

Gordon Bunshaft (1909 – 1990) was an American architect. He studied at Massachusetts Institutre of Technology. He was a partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. A proponent of the Modern / International style, his buildings remain icons of their time. This timeline narates his work in a visual manner. “Gordon Bunshaft is an architect of […]

If you’ll allow me one last visit with John Nash, this time in Ireland and Wales. His work in Ireland and Wales precedes that of London and England. London was principally between 1806 and 1830, England 1795 to 1815. Wales was between 1788 and 1798 and Ireland 1796 and 1818. So this post highlights his […]

The Canadan Mortgage and Housing Corporation state that at first glance the September 2022 housing starts may look promising, but there’s much more to be done, experts say. The housing starts number rose slightly in September the CMHC reports that the situation is multi faceted and cannot easily be summarized in one number.

Doesn’t it make sense to live in the place you love to visit? Moving to the country is an easy dream, and with the continued “space stress” of the COVID-19 pandemic, wide-open spaces beckon. Can you see yourself lost in the blur of butter yellow sunflower fields now? Clean sheets blowing on the line? Collecting […]

A survey conducted by Royal LePage recently reveals that 54 per cent of Ottawa millennials believe they will own a home one day. Ottawa details here. Country-wide snapshot here, details here.

Martin Burger was seriously injured when a chunk of ice smashed into his windshield. Per the article in the Citizen “Burger doesn’t want sympathy. He just wants people to spend an extra five minutes clearing the ice completely from their cars before they drive off.” Beyond common sense it’s the law please help keep everyone […]

As we think of the future, I’m told there will be one, let’s think that perhaps one thing we could change and that is how we greet each other. When I briefly worked in Thailand I loved greeting someone with the wai. I thought what a civilized greeting! What a clean greeting! Things will change, […]

I stumbled upon an ApartmentTherapy blog post which features wainscoting to liven up an otherwise “boring” living room wall. It’s a good look! But my question was more is this an isolated situation or wainscoting back. So I googled some and found that indeed it is on trend. I remember finding a list of on […]

A little good news as we endure the storm that is caused by the COVID-19. The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation has raised a record-setting $3 million.

Six months after one of the worst natural dissasters to strike the city, life in the affected areas is moving forward. Claims are being adressed and the rebuilding will proceed. Read more here in the Globe and Mail.

Based on the Canadian Real Estate Association’s February 2023 statistics CREA CAFE’s Shaun Cathcart, Director and Senior Economist, Housing Data and Market Analysis can see subtle signs of an earlier than anticipated recovery of the real estate market. This conclusion comes after analysis of the following factors: Sales-to-new listings ratio Months of inventory Prices MLS® […]

The Toronto star reports that home sales are expected to rebound as interest rates begin to drop.

I’ve just learnt a new word: Midimalism. It seems to be a new trend! You guessed it it is somewhere in between minimalism and maximalism. It’s not bad actually. Not everyone wants to live at either end of the spectrum. Maximilism being too much for many and minimalism being, well, too little. So this perhaps […]

Colonnade BridgePort has submitted a plan to construct a 5-tower residential complex near Blair Station at 1900 and 2000 City Park Drive. The project would bring in approximately 1,200 rental units.

The following is a link to the 2018 Musical Ride Tour Schedule. But if you can`t make it enjoy the Canada 150 Vancouver Burnaby 2017 presentation below.

Church of Holy Apostles Athens Greek Cross Plan Cathedrals and great churches often exhibit a range of architectural forms that are distinctive and recognizable. Here are descriptions of the key elements you mentioned: Axis: The architectural design of cathedrals is typically oriented along an east-west axis. This symbolic alignment usually places the altar at the […]

After more than a year of record-breaking home sales activity across the country, it’s clear, Canadians want a place of their own to call home.And while most may be familiar with the financial benefits—homes provide a chance for owners to build equity and are a major source of wealth for millions of households across the country—they […]

Last weekend there was a tiny house show in Edwards. You may watch a video and read more about that here. Tiny houses are compact, minimalist homes typically ranging from 100 to 400 square feet. They prioritize efficient use of space and are designed to provide the essentials for living within a small footprint. Here […]

Last week I posted about cluttercore. Today I post about clustering. Clustering is an essential element of cluttercore. Now go display your collection. If you havent got a collection to display you’ve got work to do. BUT, here’s to me an important aspect: make it look collected not decorated. In order for it to look […]

Click the following link to Ottawa Tourism’s – Canada Day page highlighting what to do where on this Canada Day week-end in the Capital. It’s a tad hot out there, and it will get more intense so DO follow my daughter’s advice and drink a lot of water, otherwise things will only get worser.

A new trend is emmerging. The rise of the grandmillennial style. These millennials, aged from their mid-20s to late-30s favour Laura Ashley prints, ruffles, and embroidered linens. I think this is great news! For so long it seemed that the younger generation was all about Ikea – dismissing antique furniture and higher quality items. Rendering […]

James Sterling (1926-1992) was a British architect. From 1956 to 1963 he worked in partnership with James Gowan then from 1971 to 1972 he worked with Michael Wiford. His principal styles are brutalist and post-modern. “We honor James Stirling—a prodigy for so many years—as a leader of the great transition from the Modern Movement to […]

Kenzo Tange (1913 – 2005) was a Japanese architect. Considered one of the 20th century’s most significant architect combining Japanese traditionism and modernism. He was one of Japan’s most revered architect. He was very sensitive the the urban effect of his buildings. “Given talent, energy, and a sufficiently long career, one may pass from being […]

An omission was made in the January newsletter: not featuring 502-1510 Riverside Drive. Please click here for details of that listing. On December 21st the Government of Ontario issued a province-wide shutdown which took effect on boxing day. It contains so many restrictions a cheat sheet is needed to know what is and what is […]

Real estate team branding photoshoot

Maybe it’s just me! Or maybe it’s a Miami look, but I find Tommy Hilfigure & Dee Ocleppo’s Miami Home to be too over the top. I could live with one bold room but it seems to me every room in this home goes for a new bold look. Not very restful, to me. My […]

Parts of Carling Avenue are not particularly brilliant. It is forecast that the arrival of the Altea Active – Wellness and Social Club will help bring life back to that at times dismal Avenue.

Cadillac Fairview is considering adding a 21 storey highrise at the Rideau Centre. They would incorporate a heritage structure, the City Registry Office within its design. They’d like to move the heritage structure, which would require permission. They also seek permission with regards the number of visitors parking spaces. Details here.

According to a KPMG poll owning a home is a pipedream for many millennials. Soaring house prices and rising personal debt are making it difficult for even millennials with good jobs to attain this goal. Read full article on REM here.

Bright, spacious, penthouse level condo with 9 foot ceilings. Solarium style living room window. Converted to spacious 1 bedroom; could easily be converted back according to needs. 905 square feet according to builders plan. Roof top deck steps away. BBQ pit. Hot tup. Sauna. Gym. Fabulous location near park. Bicycle paths. Faces aviation museum. Locker […]

Here is a list of real investement tips proposed by Canadian Real Estate Magazine. As the new year begins, real estate investors across Canada are looking for strategies to maximize returns and minimize risks. Here are several key tips to consider when navigating the real estate market. Analyze 2023 Market Trends: Real estate markets vary […]

The Canadian Real Estate Association has recently announced a 3.3 per cent sales decline month-over-month in November. Compared with a year ago, actual home sales in November were down 38.9 per cent compared with November 2021. Details here.

Buying a home can be wildly intimidating—even if you’ve done it before.There are so many confusing terms, acronyms, documents, deadlines, companies, and people involved that it’s hard to keep it all straight. Though homeownership can be a savvy financial move, there’s definitely a learning curve upfront.If you’re thinking of buying a home, one of the best gifts you can give yourself is to become familiar with and educated about all the steps along the way.

The ice sculptures at Confederation Park are amazing! Such detail! Only -1c today I hope the weather stays below freezing to preserve these beautiful, ephemeral, sculptures a little while longer. 102 total views, 0 views today