Tips for Organizing Your Closet

Tips for Organizing Your Closet

The underlying key to success is having a clear, well-conceived plan, whether the plan is your own or a scheme designed by you and the organizer/designer. If you don’t have a plan, you’ll probably end up taking everything out of the closet. This will leave you with a mound of stuff piled on the floor with absolutely no idea how to organize it in any better manner that the way it was.

 With a carefully crafted plan, you can look forward to a smooth and swift process. Remember this simple equation: The more time spent planning, the less time or money spent later in physical labor or correcting mistakes.

 Tips and Tricks

After deciding whether to do the organizing yourself or with the help of a consultant, investigate the impact of the following elements of organizing. These elements bring sparkle, refinement, practicality, and common sense to the area to be organized.

• Simplicity. Conserving space is important, but not if it makes the system harder to operate than a system using a little more space. Keep it simple; a system that isn’t being used isn’t a system at all, no matter how much space is conserved.
• Consistency. The ultimate goal is to use methods that can be maintained without any extra effort on your part. The system should be designed in such a way that your daily, routine use of the system keeps it in order.
• Compromise. Few things in life, including organizing a closet, can be attained without some amount of compromise. You may have to forfeit advantages in one area to achieve advantages in another. Many parts are contingent on other parts, just like the pieces of a puzzle.
• Propaganda. Let the buyer beware is an apt warning for consumer to heed. Manufacturers display a constant stream of new products and gadgets for “organizing.” Don’t be swayed or confused by advertising or the myriad products on the market. Decide what you need and then search the marketplace for the product or materials that will do the job.
• Uniformity. The finished project will look more attractive if the products, hardware, materials, and appointments go together well. Personal preference influences whether the look will be utilitarian or decorative, but standardization and unity are impressive ingredients.

 In general, the budget is one of those elements in a project that requires compromise. If you received an estimate from a professional organizing company that stopped your heart, compare it with the cost of doing it yourself.

 Organizing your closets can appear to be a daunting task. But with the right determination and well-crafted plan, you can work your way toward a well-organized closet!

Home is Where the… Office is

10 per cent of Canada’s labor force – or 2.5 million Canadians – work outside the office at least one day a week* and 80 per cent of households own at least one computer. These are just two reasons why building an office in your home is a good investment. Whether it’s for business or personal use, here’s a few ways to ensure your new home office is both functional and comfortable.

Your first step is to find the ideal space for your home office. Look for a room with enough space to accommodate a desk, office chair, bookshelf, and equipment such as a fax machine, printer, or filing cabinet. If possible, ensure the room isn’t too close to high traffic areas like the kitchen, living room or any other area that may cause distractions. You’ll also want your room to have sufficient natural light, ventilation and easy access to phone lines and electrical outlets.

If finding the perfect space for your office proves difficult, you can always try transforming a large storage area, walk-in closet, or even a section of the basement. Partitioning an existing room is also possible with the help of a few strategically placed bookshelves.

Next you’ll want to plan your work area. To save time and a lot of moving, measure your furniture and the room’s dimensions and draw up a floor plan beforehand. Make sure to leave a clear path from the office door to your seat to prevent constant maneuvering around furniture, and situate your desk near electrical plugs and phone jacks. Install shelving behind your desk for easy access to books and supplies, and position your computer screen at a 90 degree angle from any light source to avoid any glare while you work.

Your final step is to add some style to your office. First choose a color scheme. Warmer colors like reds and yellows make for a comfortable, upbeat environment, while pastels and darker colors will give you a sophisticated, classy look. Give some visual punch to your office by adding paintings, sculptures, framed photos, or sports memorabilia to walls and bookshelves. Finally, use flowers or green plants to create a little ambiance and improve the air quality. Now your new home office will be ready for work, rest, or play.

Take your Winter Garden from Drab to Fab!

A garden is our little piece of paradise, a place to appreciate nature in its changing seasons, and winter is no exception. With a little planning you can go outside and enjoy the fresh air and exhilaration of your garden right through the winter.

Create color by incorporating some evergreens into your garden setting, including pine, fir and holly. Leave tall grasses or plants untrimmed as they’ll look sensational dusted with snow, especially red dogwood. Add more visual interest with bright bird houses, bird baths and statuary. Condo owners with balconies can create a mini garden: put winter kale and branches in a planter and surround with your favorite green boughs, which can last up to three months.

Sit outside on your garden furniture and soak up some sun out of the wind. By treating and protecting your wood or metal furniture it can be left outdoors so you have a front row seat to winter’s wonder. Take the chill off the air with an overhead patio heater, which will keep you warm and comfortable and also provide light for nighttime. If permitted in your municipality, a fire pit adds an extra glow, especially when you sit around it with your favorite people toasting marshmallows, or sipping cups of hot chocolate.

Winter lighting adds an extra dimension to your garden or balcony. Solar lights provide a soft glow to a snowy landscape, or simply wrap a small tree or bush with a string of white LED mini lights. Lights add an element of wonder to dark winter nights.

Too tired to go outside after a long day at work? A hot tub in your garden is a perfect place to unwind and wash your troubles away, or to soothe aching muscles after shoveling mountains of snow from the driveway. Picture yourself immersed in hot bubbling water as snowflakes fall around you.

Taking time to sit and relax is good for you, and the quiet serenity of a winter garden is perfect for reflection or meditating. Take your camera outside and capture the sights of a Canadian winter in all its wonder. Snow has a way of making everything look magical so don’t miss out on the special experience of being out and about in your own winter wonderland.

Bill to assist seniors with home renovations passed into law

 

On October 3, the Ontario Legislature passed the law that will assist seniors in making their homes more accessible.

Bill 2, Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit Act, 2012, will create a permanent, refundable Personal Income Tax credit to assist seniors with the cost of permanent home modifications that improve accessibility.

The credit would be worth up to $1,500 each year, calculated as 15 per cent of up to $10,000 in eligible home renovation expenses. It could be claimed by senior homeowners and tenants, and people who share a home with a senior relative. Seniors at all income levels can qualify.

Eligible expenses include renovations to permit a first-floor occupancy or secondary suites for seniors, grab bars, handrails, wheelchair ramps, installation of walk-in bathtubs and showers, lowering counters and making light switches, etc.

To view all eligible expenses and learn how to claim the credit, visit the Ontario government website.

As a vocal advocate for tax rebate for Ontario homeowners, OREA supported the legislation and spoke in its support in front of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Follow the link to see full presentation.  

In addition to helping Ontario seniors remaining homeowners longer, the new tax rebate will help create jobs essential to the health of Ontario’s housing market and encourage the use of professional contractors and deter underground economic activity.

Canadian home prices cooling

This may not be great for business, but hey, I tell it like it is.

Via: CBC News | Business

As mortgage rates plummet to historic lows, some consumers may be wondering what’s waiting for them in the usually frantic spring housing market.

“March through June is prime time in the real estate and mortgage markets,” Robert McLister, editor of Canadian Mortgage Trends told CBC News in an email.

McLister said headline-making interest rates are encouraging some to buy early, but those numbers are not huge, at least at this point.

“The spring should be ‘steady as she goes’ unless the government tightens mortgage qualifications again, or rates spike. In either case, we could see a meaningful bulge in demand from people trying to beat those changes.”

According to the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals, 63 percent of consumers believe Canada is in a housing bubble. (Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press)

McLister is not alone in this prediction. Most experts seem to think the Canadian housing market will remain relatively stable for the foreseeable future.

According to the most recent Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) forecast, national home sale activity for 2012 and 2013 is projected to remain roughly on par with the 10-year average for annual activity, because of low interest rates and the projected low economic growth.

“Interest rates aren’t going to be low forever – but they’re not going anywhere fast,” Gregory Klump, CREA’s chief economist, told CBC News.

Scotiabank Senior Economist and Real Estate Specialist Adrienne Warren echoed that sentiment earlier in March, at Scotiabank’s 2012 Canadian Real Estate Outlook and Trends Forum.

“Home prices have leveled out over the past six months as market conditions become better balanced and as higher prices, tighter mortgage regulations and slowing job growth cool demand,” she said.

“We expect sales and prices will be relatively flat in the year ahead.”

The low rate debate

In the last CREA forecast, Klump called the continuation of low interest rates a “silver lining” in the face of what looked like a risky Canadian economic outlook.

But some experts say the low rates could be dangerous if consumers jump into the housing market and then find that interest rates, or their employment prospects, change.

“The general concern is interest rates are at historic lows both in nominal terms and to some extent in real terms,” Tsuriel Somerville, a professor in real estate finance at the University of British Columbia told CBC News.

‘Each region has its own economic dynamic, and that’s stronger growth in the Prairies right now.’—Tsuriel Somerville, Real Estate Finance Professor

“The Bank of Canada has given signs that rates are going to rise and people feel that rates are going to rise – so there’s a worry that people might take on debt that they can handle now, but might not be able to handle at higher interest rates.”

“Fixed rates are still at eye-popping lows,” McLister said, referring to the current four- and five-year mortgage interest rate at 2.99 per cent.

“Falling mortgage rates improve housing affordability, which draws more buyers out of the woodwork and allows people to pay more,” he said. “That, in turn, leads to somewhat greater demand and stronger prices.

“If rates were to surge a few per cent, and incomes and employment didn’t strengthen simultaneously, we’d see a rather unpleasant impact on prices.”

Nonetheless, Klump says, the evidence is that people educate themselves very well before undertaking huge debt, lessening some of this worry.

“I’m hearing from our realtors that before people sign an offer they know what it is they can afford, they’re not going out on the edge and grabbing more than they could afford long term.”

Ontario, B.C., settling down

CREA said national resale housing activity should be around 458,800 units in 2012, representing an annual increase of 0.3 per cent compared to 457,305 sales in 2011. Higher demand in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia is expected to offset softer activity in British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick.

“Each region has its own economic dynamic, and that’s stronger growth in the Prairies right now, certainly more than Ontario and, to a minor extent, B.C.,” UBC’s Somerville said.

“Both B.C. and Ontario, or the Toronto condo market and B.C., had a recent period of accelerated activity, and now there’s a step back from that.”

Klump agrees. He said sales activity in Ontario was trending up throughout 2011, alongside a spike in price in the second quarter, and CREA didn’t see that as being sustainable.

“What you’re looking at from a trends perspective is a pretty steady average price,” Klump said. “The spike is why we have a decline in average price this year for Ontario.”

Prairies growing

Somerville said that while Ontario steps back from last year’s accelerated real estate activity, the Prairies are still pushing ahead because of their strong resource economy.

“Ontario is much more about last year’s activity and the condo market in Toronto, because overall it’s been a weaker market than the Western markets because of the weaker economy,” Somerville said.

“I think because Alberta – not only did they fall harder [in the 2008-09 recession] but they recovered more slowly on the price side – so you might see more price increases in Alberta than in the rest of Canada,” he said.

Somerville says current mortage debt situations are often fostered by foolish, irrational spending. (Steven Senne/AP Photo)

Somerville also said B.C. is more likely to be in a bit of a decline compared to Central Canada, which is more likely to be in the low-growth stage.

He said that, as a general rule, a forecast rarely predicts extremes – and concedes that this spring does seem like it will include either modest growth or decline on a regional basis, without huge jumps either way.

In that framework, he said, Atlantic Canada can sometimes be harder to predict, because of construction and resource booms that haven’t achieved any real consistency.

Despite the broad steady-as-she-goes consensus here about Canadian housing prices, there are still some who feel that much of Canada is on the brink of a bursting housing bubble, where prices will tumble dramatically.

Somerville is not one but he does acknowledge that these concerns won’t likely go away anytime soon, for two main reasons.

“One is the recent history,” he says. “Two is looking around and still seeing some dark clouds on the world economic horizon.”

The Georgina Book

I’m proud & delighted to say I’ve enjoyed this book cover to cover, and I’d recommend it to anyone!

Via: Georginamaps

The Georgina Book is the logical next step in the Community Mapping project of the Alliance for a Better Georgina. It reflects what people treasure most about Georgina’s diverse communities. It provides an overview of the Lake Simcoe region and the Town itself, and it gives young people a forum in their own chapter.

In the year 2000, the not-for-profit Alliance for a Better Georgina was formed to help make Georgina a great place to live and work. Its most ambitious project was the creation of poster-size maps showcasing the social, historic and environmental features of six of Georgina’s diverse communities.

It took dozens of community workshops to create those maps reflected on this website. In 2009, the “ Lakeshore” map received international attention as one of the exemplary maps of the world by the Environmental Systems Research Institute of California.
The ABG’s next step was to bring the maps together in this book, add information on Keswick, Sutton and Jackson’s Point through community forums, meeting with young people as well.

We hope this book helps strengthen environmental awareness, increases appreciation of local arts and culture, helps youth develop skills in green technologies, augments resources for Georgina businesses including agriculture and the tourism industry, promotes investment, and that everyone will enjoy learning from it. By gathering stories and information and assembling a unique record of Georgina’s assets, they hope to illuminate the vision of Georgina as a wonderful place to live and work.

Via: Toronto Star

Instead of making lists, or writing essays, they documented the information with maps.

“Maps are a great way to communicate things, a great tool to bring people together,” says Slaight, who retired to the area after a distinguished Toronto career as creator of Owl magazine and its offshoots Chickadee, Chirp and Owl TV.

“When people feel good about their community,” Setter says, “when there’s a sense of proprietorship, they’ll defend what’s good.

“If a developer comes in to build 300 homes in a prized area,” he says, “the community will object to that.”

The Town of Georgina is actually a set of villages, hamlets and lakeshore communities amalgamated in 1971 as a single municipality.

Instead of mapping the whole place at once, the Alliance identified nine main segments and approached them one at a time, beginning with the farming settlement of Baldwin.

The process brought a few surprises.

One came in the form of an international award for exemplary map-making from the Environmental Systems Research Institute of California — “Our little map up against the National Geographic Society,” Slaight says.

So pleased were Alliance members with the material, they published it as The Georgina Book: What Citizens Value the Most. Now in bookstores, it runs 100 pages with more than 500 photographs and colour maps, and sells for $19.95. The website www.georginamaps.ca gives further details.

From the book, new projects are evolving.

The strong water theme inspired the idea for a water festival to be called Splash, described atwww.ontariowatercentre.ca as helping “to foster the development of a culture of water sustainability in Ontario.”

In turn, the festival could lead to a water research and educational centre, the Alliance says — another way to shape Georgina’s future by celebrating its attributes.

How well do you know Georgina?

Cryderman Farm, in Baldwin settlement, is home to the local chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing.

Two of Canada’s best-selling 20th century writers, Stephen Leacock and Mazo de la Roche, are buried near each other in St. George’s churchyard near Sibbald Point.

When he was lieutenant-governor in 1822, Sir John Peregrine Maitland proposed Roches Point as capital of Upper Canada and laid out a city plan. The idea lapsed when residents of York, now Toronto, declined to move.

To help promote Lake Simcoe’s environmental health, Georgina women tastefully posed nude for calendars in 2006 and 2009. They called themselves Ladies of the Lake, after the 19th-century area steamship Lady of the Lake, and raised more than $400,000.

Many century homes in Pefferlaw settlement are still inhabited by the third and fourth generations of original families.

The Georgina Book: What Citizens Value the Most

TORONTO HOME PRICES UP 8% IN 2011

| via toronto real estate blogs

Greater Toronto Realtors reported 4,718 transactions through the TorontoMLS® system in December 2011. The December result capped off the second-best year on record under the current Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) boundaries. Total sales for 2011 amounted to 89,347 – up four per cent in comparison to 2010.

“Low borrowing costs kept Buyers confident in their ability to comfortably cover their mortgage payments along with other major housing costs,” said TREB President Richard Silver. “If Buyers had not been constrained by a shortage of listings over the past 12 months, we would have been flirting with a new sales record in the Greater Toronto Area,” added Silver.

The average selling price in December was $451,436 – up four per cent compared to December 2010. For all of 2011, the average selling price was $465,412, an increase of eight per cent in comparison to the average of $431,276 in 2010.

“Months of inventory remained below the pre-recession norm in 2011. Very tight market conditions meant substantial competition between Buyers and strong upward pressure on selling prices,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

“TREB’s baseline forecast for 2012 is for an average price of $485,000, representing a more moderate four per cent annual rate of price growth. This baseline view is subject to a heightened degree of risk given the uncertain global economic outlook,” continued Mercer.

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