Renovations and Improvements

The City of Calgary suggests changing up some holiday acts to decrease environmental impact
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The City is urging residents to green up their season this year with some easy tips.
“It doesn’t have to be complicated to cut back our environmental impact this time of year,” said Claire Beckstead, corporate environmental specialist with the City. “There are many simple green actions Calgarians can take that lessen our impact on the environment while keeping the fun and excitement of the season.”
Efficient lights
Consider either cutting back on the amount of lights you display this year, or, make the switch to LED lights, which can use 90 per cent less energy than regular holiday lights. Another suggestion is putting your tree and house lights on a timer.
Thermostat down
While cooking and hosting friends and family, things are going to warm up at home. Turn the thermostat down a few notches to save on the energy bill. Going away for the holiday? Turn your thermostat down while you’re away.
Transportation situation
The City said a lot of the holiday’s environmental impact comes from traveling and fuel consumption. They suggest using transit and/or walking as much as possible while getting your shopping done. If you do drive, try to carpool or do so during off peak times.
Give local
Give the gift of your own two hands by volunteering or giving gifts of passes to local sites or events. Or, check out local markets to find Calgary and area made products and gifts.
Eat local
Foods from afar have a large carbon footprint so try and stick to eats and treats close to home. The City recommends shopping for your dinner at markets or stores that supply local and organic products.
Wrap it up
Get creative with your wrapping this year, try using dish towels or clothing as wrapping, or, if you do use paper, try and avoid metallics and foil, which isn’t recyclable.
– http://www.crebnow.com/dreaming-of-a-green-christmas/#sthash.cPcqQOyk.dpuf
Plant a tree
It may be too late this year, but instead of cutting down a tree, plant one! buy a potted tree to decorate and then plant it in the spring. If it is too late this year, plant two!

You don't notice it – but most buyers will…

Imagine you’re viewing a potential new home. You walk in the front door and are instantly impressed. You explore the property room by room and like what you see.
Then there’s something you notice that’s not quite right. An odour. You realize that it’s likely cat dander and, now that you’ve identified it, you smell it everywhere. Suddenly the home doesn’t seem as attractive as it did just moments earlier.
The owner of the property is probably so used to the smell that he doesn’t even notice it. Neither does anyone else in the household.
So, when marketing your home for sale, be scent sensitive. Think about the odours that you may have become used to but others are likely to notice. Even odours you think are pleasant, like the strong scent given off by some house plants, may not be pleasing to everyone.
An odour can easily distract a buyer from appreciating the good qualities of your property. Pay particular attention to garbage bins (which can smell even when empty), pets, kitty litter (even when fresh and unused), the kitchen (especially after cooking), perfumes, and closets.
The smell of cigarette smoke is particularly unpleasant to many people. Its odour can linger even on an outside deck or patio.
Bottom line? Don’t assume buyers won’t notice certain smells. They will.
Looking for more advice on selling your home quickly and for the best price? Call today!! 403-283-7113

Budget #YYC: Water talks

Calgary City Council continued it’s budget talks for Action Plan 2015-2018 today.
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This morning council continued its discussion on the city’s utilities and environmental protection, including Calgary’s water services.
“The numbers are extraordinary and I start to worry that we are building a system in water and wastewater we will just not be able to afford in future generations,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi to city staff.

Director of Water Resources, Rob Spackman explained cost growth is due to a number of things including growing demand on water as the city grows, uncertainties of climate change and increasing costs of treating and supplying water.
“Because of the demands on our water supply and our water system, it is prudent for us to provide alternate ways to provide water,” he said.
The Action Plan report for Water Resources and Water Services identifies a key area of focus for 2015-2018 as Council Strategy H3, which looks at managing the interrelationships between flood protection, water quality and quantity and land use.
Sign up for the e-newsletter to receive news, updates and information about Action Plan 2015 – 2018 throughout the year.

Taken from: crebnow on Nov 25, 2014 and The City Of Calgary website.

Open House SHOW & SALE this WEEKEND!

21st Annual Christmas Open House Show & Sale

 
Saturday: November 8th ~ 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
 & Sunday: November 9th ~ noon to 4:00 pm
 
FIND THE PERFECT GIFT for yourself & others… Celebrate 21 years with us & to Thank You: most of our in-stock items are being offered at a Special Sale Savings rate!

Bring your FRIENDS and all who attend are automatically entered to WIN one of our new Silk Velvet scarves!
New! Silk Velvet Scarves from England: incredible 100 % Silk-Velvet hand-crafted scarves & shawls – these must be seen & touched “in person” to fully appreciate their unique shimmer, weight & stunning play of light ~ superb colors and pricing
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Journals all on sale, Art, FORTUNY lighting (check us out  www.luminosodesign.com), Secret Garden Wall Calendars, all in-stock Jewelry on sale, Aromatherapy Bath & Body products
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CO 2 large Silk Scudo BR

Location: 1901 Bowness Rd. N.W.(in West Hillhurst)
(2 blocks south off of Kensington Rd. N.W. @ 18th Street N.W.)
(Tuscan yellow bungalow, olive green trim, wrought iron doors … on the corner)
 
 
we accept cash, personal checks, Visa & Master Card
Payment plans available on ART and LIGHTING Purchases
many items available for under $20.00/25.00/50.00
 
 
contact: spectrumconsulting@shaw.ca
or call. D. Shannon @Spectrum Consulting/Luminoso Design
if you have any questions: 403 283.5763
www.luminosodesign.com 
 
If you are unable to attend, please call … you can shop by appointment and/or we will hold your product & gift choices for you.

Fourteen-storey luxury condo planned along Elbow River

12 suites in 14-storey Mission tower

A unique luxury condo development planned for Calgary’s Mission neighbourhood is aiming at making an easy transition from the single-family lifestyle to highrise living.
The XII, a 12-suite, 14-storey landmark, to be built at 304 26th Avenue S.W., along the Elbow River, will feature one home per floor for 10 units and two units consisting of two floors each, the Herald has learned.
Stanley Yasin, managing partner of The XII, said construction of the project is expected to begin next spring with occupancy scheduled for the beginning of 2017.
He said units will range in size from 2,200 square feet to 3,300 square feet with prices ranging from $2.95 million to $5.8 million.
The development will also include a unique underground automated parking system.
“We spent a fair amount of time researching the marketplace and understanding what some of the other luxury buildings were offering and we came to the conclusion that this site best called for what I call a transition between single-family home living and condominium living,” said Yasin.
“By having single-level living we’re able to achieve the privacy and the comforts of a single-family home.”
Yasin said the automated parking system is a way to park cars that is safe, secure and easy. Homeowners will be able to drive their vehicles into the garage, exit the car and walk straight into the lobby, and the car will automatically drop below and essentially park itself. Prior to doing that, it will rotate so that when the car is retrieved it comes back up to the garage facing out.
Yasin said the company’s research indicated there is a strong demand in Calgary for luxury residential product.
“Once we decided that we were going to build a luxury way to live, it became obvious that we needed to create a building that called for that,” he said. “So the design was to achieve that luxury kind of living and the quality of the interiors will be very high. In fact, part of our mantra is to give our purchasers the opportunity to be able to finish the space to their liking, to their comfort.”
Architect Jeremy Sturgess said the features of the building come together to present a structure that is “light years” beyond anything currently available on the market and it will be iconic for many years to come.
“The XII is a jewel of urban elegance and will be a legacy. Residents will be living in some of the best space in Canada,” he said.
“The site is probably the last piece along the river in a set of buildings that had been building over time and creating in particular an important urban edge between the river and the single-family development to the south of the river and kind of downtown and the urban condition that really is sort of between the Elbow River and the Bow River moving northward.”
Sturgess said the site is one of the last key opportunities to do “something remarkable” there.
Other amenities include large storage spaces, high-tech and smart appliances, a full-time concierge in the lobby, digital video security surveillance, emergency backup of critical building systems in the event of power failure, large terraces, high-speed residential elevator with smart individual access control system, individually-restricted floor access, individually-controlled heating and air conditioning, and column-free living.
To customize their home, owners will have private consultations with Sturgess, interior designer Douglas Cridland and travel to Vancouver to meet with the bulthaup kitchens team.
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By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald October 21, 2014 9:56 AM

'It's Calgary's time,' developer says

Influx of residents will continue to drive growth

Toronto condo developer Brad Lamb doesn’t need convincing that Calgary has become a hotbed of multifamily residential construction.
Figures released Wednesday by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. confirm local housing starts in the sector are soaring. It said 1,042 multi-family units were started in
the Calgary area last month, more than three times the number of September 2013.
Total starts for the month were 1,528 units.
Lamb, who was in Calgary on Wednesday, has two projects – 6th and Tenth and The Orchard – under development in the Beltline district.
“This is Alberta’s time and it’s Calgary’s time to build and gentrify the city. You’re going to see within the city core, the Beltline and the downtown, that it will continue to develop with hotels, office buildings and places where people want to live,” said the head of Lamb Development Corp.
“You have a huge influx of Canadians and immigrants everywhere wanting to live here because it’s a strong job market and that’s going to continue and that means housing growth is going to continue.”
Shoring and excavation work is underway at the 224-unit 6th and Tenth project. The 31-storey development should be completed in about 24 months, said Lamb.
The Orchard, at 5th Street and 12th Avenue S.W., will consist of two 31-storey towers separated by a roughly one-acre apple orchard.
Construction on the 432-unit project is expected to start next fall, with completion of the first tower expected to take 26 months. Work on the second tower would begin eight months later.
“We want to deliver buildings that people look at and point to and say well that’s a really great addition to the city core,” said Lamb.
Year-to-date, total starts of 13,803 are up from 8,833 for the same period last year.
The multi-family sector has more than doubled to 8,731 units.
Felicia Mutheardy, the CMHC’s senior market analyst for Calgary, said “production for all unit types continues to be at a heightened pace, supported by strong economic factors such as elevated net migration and job creation.”
Canadian housing starts inched up in September to 197,343 annualized units, from 196,283 in the prior month, he said.
Robert Kavcic, senior economist with BMO Capital Markets, said Alberta starts rose again in September, leaving the third quarter at the strongest level since the tail end of the 2006/07 boom – just shy of 43,000 units.
“Alberta simply needs the homes, with the population expanding close to three per cent year-over-year and rent growth now running at a five-year high,” said Kavcic.
 
By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald October 9, 2014

Preparing for a power outage…

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Some people can live in their homes for years without ever experiencing a power outage. In fact, even in areas prone to serious storms or snowfalls, power loss doesn’t happen that often. No wonder so many homeowners are caught unprepared when it does.
After going through Snowtember here in calgary, one would think people are more prepared. However, that’s not always the case… Supplies may be low or empty and since it just happened, its not your mind it will happen again but just as it did recently, it could happen anytime.
Most power outages will be over almost as soon as they begin, but some can last much longer – up to days or even weeks.
During a power outage, you may be left without heating/air conditioning, lighting, hot water, or even running water. If you only have a cordless phone, you will also be left without phone service. If you do not have a battery-powered or crank radio, you may have no way of monitoring news broadcasts. In other words, you could be facing major challenges.
To make sure you’re not caught unprepared, follow these tips:

  • Replace batteries in unused flashlights every six months or keep a fresh pair tapped to the flashlight.
  • Keep candles and matches in a handy place. Monitor them closely when lit and always blow them out before going to sleep.
  • For computers and phones, consider purchasing a power backup. (Some models provide up to 8 hours of power for two or three devices.)
  • Know the address of your local fire station and nearest community centre. These are the most common places to find help during a power outage.
  • Have bottles of water and some sealed try food just in case.
  • You can install a non-electric standby stove or heater. Choose heating units that are not dependent on an electric motor, electric fan, or some other electric device to function. It is important to adequately vent the stove or heater with the type of chimney flue specified for it. Never connect two heating units to the same chimney flue at the same time.
  • If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney cleaned every fall in preparation for use and to eliminate creosote build-up which could ignite and cause a chimney fire.
  • If the standby heating unit will use the normal house oil or gas supply, have it connected with shut-off valves by a certified tradesperson.
  • Before considering the use of an emergency generator during a power outage, check with furnace, appliance and lighting fixture dealers or manufacturers regarding power requirements and proper operating procedures.

People with disabilities or others requiring assistance

Consider how you may be affected in a power outage, including:

  • Your evacuation route – without elevator service (if applicable).
  • Planning for a backup power supply for essential medical equipment.
  • Keeping a flashlight and a cell phone handy to signal for help.
  • Establishing a self-help network to assist and check on you during an emergency.
  • Enrolling in a medical alert program that will signal for help if you are immobilized.
  • Keeping a list of facilities that provide life-sustaining equipment or treatment.
  • Keeping a list of medical conditions and treatment.
  • If you live in an apartment, advise the property management that you may need assistance staying in your apartment or that you must be evacuated if there is a power outage. This will allow the property manager to plan and make the necessary arrangements on your behalf.

When the power does go out, make sure the stove is turned off. You don’t want an unattended burner or gas leak when the power finally comes back on.

Simple Ways to Get Rid of Pests

Pest infestations not only cause damage, they can also take a chunk out of a homeowner’s wallet. Here are a few ways to prevent critters from calling your house “home.” Remember, for large infestations, always call a professional.
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Ants follow the trails left by scout ants. If you find a trail of ants in your kitchen, clean the area with soapy water, household cleaner or a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar. To avoid an infestation:
• Keep sweets and food in tightly closed containers.
• Plant spearmint around your house.
•Place strips of cucumber, citrus peels or borax near
any openings where you’ve seen ants.
Termites
While no home is safe from termites, it is possible to reduce the chances of an infestation.
• Termites thrive on moisture. Survey your home’s foundation, and look for water leaks.
• Schedule a pest inspection. Termites are crafty critters that only make their presence known through the damage they cause. Schedule a pest inspection every couple of years to catch an infestation early and help you avoid making costly repairs.
Roaches
The easiest way to prevent roaches is to keep your kitchen spotless—clean up crumbs, wipe down the sink and sweep the floor. But, if you’ve already seen them in your kitchen, here are other options:
• Sprinkle catnip or bay leaves in areas where roaches lurk, such as behind the refrigerator, under the oven and under your sinks.
• If you see a roach, spray it with soapy water. The soap will slowly suffocate it.
• Set traps with baking soda and sugar. Roaches love sugar; however, the baking soda will dehydrate them.
Rodents
Rodents can wreak havoc on your home. While traps are effective once the rodents are in the home, here’s how to keep them out in the first place:
• Keep your kitchen clean. Wipe down the counters and sweep the floor before you go to bed.
• Ants aren’t the only vermin that hate mint. Mint keeps rodents at bay as well.
• Place steel wool in holes on the exterior of your home.
• Put trays of used cat litter outside near where you think they could get in. Rodents will smell the cat and scurry in the other direction.
Fleas
Pets can give us a lot of things—love, attention and fleas. Although chemical pet treatments can get rid of the fleas on your pets,
they often don’t get rid of them in the house. For that, try these suggestions:
• Sprinkle salt, borax or baking soda on the carpet and upholstery. Let it sit for a few hours, and vacuum afterwards.
• Get a dehumidifier. Fleas love humidity. If you keep the humidity in the room under 50%, you may be able to get rid of adults fleas and their larvae.
• Clean your bedding and your pet’s bedding regularly.
• Comb your pet’s coat with a special flea comb, and clean it in a glass of soapy water.
Pest Facts
* Ants are the #1 nuisance pest.
* 56% of homeowners have had problems with ants in the past year.
* 67% of homeowners are most concerned about pests during the summer months.
* Homeowners who sought professional pest control did so to get rid of ants, spiders, termites and cockroaches.
* 53% of homeowners are concerned about pest damage to their homes and property.
© 2014 Buffini & Company.

Let the sun shine into your home with these colour choices

The paint companies have revealed their picks for 2014, and there’s one overriding message: Let the sun shine in.
“Last year, it was all about shutting off, of wanting to escape from the hectic pace of life in our homes – but now we are feeling again that we can express ourselves in a bit more creative ways than in the past,” observes Martin Tustin-Fuchs of Dulux. Certainly, 2014’s colours show a new sense of assertiveness and personality not seen in the last couple of years, allowing you to create a personal statement simply by repainting your walls.
From buttery yellows to fresh blues, complex pinks, and neutrals that are much more interesting than your basic, safe, boring beige and tepid taupe, many of the shades of 2014 are purposely selected for their liveability. While there are some bright and unexpected shades sprinkled across most manufacturers’ palettes, for the most part these are colours chosen to let neutral-weary Canadians welcome colour back into their homes without going into shock.
Two top picks of the year, Breath of Fresh Air (806) by Benjamin Moore and Creamy (50YY-77/285) by CIL, are both splendid examples of shades that are anything but neutral, yet fresh and easy to live with.
“Yellow in many ways behaves like a neutral, in that it goes with everything,” says CIL’s Alison Goldman. “And Creamy is a great yellow for anywhere in the home, because it sits right on the border between too acid and too creamy.” Yellow is also predicted to be a strong colour in accents and accessories; two of Sico’s offerings, Bunch O’Bananas (6096-54) and Citrus (6098-54) are a little more assertive. While either shade would look stunning in a room furnished with rich-toned furniture and colourful artwork, some home decorators might find them more appealing used in smaller doses, such as painted furniture or on an accent wall.
Benjamin Moore’s Breath of Fresh Air comes from the opposite spectrum of the colour wheel, a fresh sky blue that is equally at home in bedroom, bathrooms or living rooms.
Pinks and corals are a trend increase for 2014 as well, but the best ones are neither too sweet nor too muted. Dulux’s Tender Rose (#50) has orange and earthy undertones to it, adding sophistication and broadening appeal; from bathrooms and bedrooms to hallways, dining rooms and even living rooms. Other interesting, complex pinks include Sico’s Palace of the Winds (6060-31), CIL’s Salmon Pink (60YR-59/261) and Behr’s Minuet Rose (T14-15), each infused with drama that’s anything but girlish.
Even this year’s neutrals have a complexity that makes them interesting as backdrops to brighter accents, paired with more colourful paint shades, or with pastel-coloured upholstery (which was an important message in the Milan and High Point furniture shows last summer). CIL’s Chinchilla White (10YY-46/041) is a taupey grey that has a chameleon quality to it, according to Goldman. Paired with a clearer colour like Creamy, it adds a presence that grounds the sweetness of the yellow; paint the trim crisp white, and it behaves like a colour all on its own. Other neutrals contain a hint of romance and nostalgia, such as Benjamin Moore’s Castleton Mist (HC-1) – a mustardy taupe, or Dulux’s Tibet Tan (70YR 45/133) – a rich clear mocha.
Several companies present their annual picks in groupings to make it easier for consumers to create cohesive looks around the shades, or to use different colours in combination without fear of making a mistake. Behr’s website is a good place to start for colour groupings that pair well together, and for design and theme inspirations. Its four groups for 2014 – Urban Alternative, Natural Avocation, Seaside Harmony, and Grand Reign – each represent a distinct theme that you can complete with accessories, furnishings and art. For example, Urban Alternative, according to Behr’s Nancy Bollefer, works very well in open concept homes or condos where more than one room is visible at a time.
“It has a rustic, earthy, authentic feeling,” says Bollefer. “It’s designed to celebrate craftsmanship, an integration of different materials, and an artisanal, made-from-scratch feeling.” The palette, says Bollefer, is particularly appealing to young men, since it’s quite neutral in tone, rich and complex, with a classic feeling designed to outlast fleeting trends.
Other groupings in Behr’s palette include Natural Avocation, evoking the world of natural history and science, with mounted butterflies and framed bird pints, polished brass and leatherbound books. At the other end of the spectrum is Seaside Harmony, a cool, sophisticated update of the coastal look, with washed out neutrals like South peach, a near-white with just a breath of pink, and Ocean Liner, a clear aqua blue. “These two shades together have a retro, Miami Vice mood that’s popular with younger people right now,” says Bollefer. The final group, Grand Reign, is inspired by the film Anna Karenina, with opulently rich colours like Coronation (T14-12) a gold that in certain sheens, can gleam like a metallic.
Many of the 2014 colours inspire new, creative ways to bring in colour that go beyond the expected. “Try painting a staircase not in typical neutrals, but in a yellow like May Yellow, then add a colourful runner,” suggests Tustin-Fuchs. “There are many ways to use colour in smaller ways. Again, it’s all about using your home as a means of personal expression.”
 
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Historic McHugh House makes move

It only travelled one city block — but that was enough to save a historic Calgary dwelling from the wrecking ball.

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Spectators gathered in the Mission district on Sunday to watch the removal of McHugh House from its longtime home on 18th Avenue S.W. and relocation to a small city-owned park along 17th Avenue at Centre Street.
McHugh House — the sixth oldest house in the city — is a three-storey brick and sandstone dwelling that previously belonged to prominent frontier rancher J.J. McHugh and his family.
It was built in 1896 in Rouleauville, originally a French-speaking settler village before the land was annexed by the City of Calgary in 1907.
In preparation for the big move, crews temporarily removed the century-old bricks and covered the building with plywood to stiffen the structure and prevent it from leaning while in transit.
The city was fortunate to find an ideal site to relocate the 118-year-old mansion, said senior heritage planner Darryl Cariou.
The house has fallen into disrepair in recent years but there are plans to refurbish it and possibly open it up for public use.
“It is always a solution of last resort to move a historical building,” he said. “If you do move it, you try to keep it as close to its original context as possible.”
Over the years, McHugh House has had many incarnations, from a rooming house to a residence for troubled teenagers and new mothers.
The Roman Catholic diocese eventually took ownership of the turreted Queen Anne-style mansion in 1960 but in recent years planned to knock it down to sell the property for development
In February, city council approved $450,000 in funding to spare the house from demolition.
The McHugh family is remembered as an early builder of Rouleauville, and the city recognized the important of preserving the residence for future generations to enjoy, said Cariou.
The structure contains historical significance and will hopefully remain standing for decades to come, he noted.
“The house is 118-years old. Moving it here means we’ll probably have a 200-year-old house one day.”
By Tamara Gignac, Calgary Herald June 9, 2014