trends 2watch
Text Jo Alcorn
Home Trends’ Style Editor shares her favorite bedroom finds
Real Estate Real Estate Advice with Advice with Joe Mancuso Joe Mancuso
Plum’ s the Word SC170-4 Beauti-Tone, www. beautitone. com
4 condo secrets REVEALED
DARKER COLORS Whether these hues are painted on your walls or used in your room’ s accents, they add drama and warmth to a design concept.
HGTV, Home To Win, Designed by Jo Alcorn, www. whitewashco. ca
WALL DETAILING Wallpaper or wood detailing on your walls create a more elegant custom look.
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PATTERN In the bedroom, we’ re adventuring past the usual patterned bedding by including bold oversized rugs under a bed.
West Elm, www. westelm. ca
STATEMENT LIGHTING Designers are drawing your eye up with stylish art-like fixtures this year.
Living Lighting, www. livinglighting. com
NATURAL TEXTURES Cane, rattan and abaca will be a material of choice for manufacturers in 2017. Look for pieces showcasing different techniques including wire brushing which helps highlight its wood grain.
CB2, www. cb2. com
In recent years, condos have become very popular. Here are a few common reasons why they are becoming a hot ticket item.
LOCATION In real estate, location is a dominant factor in choosing a home. In many cities a condo unit is the only way to access a preferred neighborhood in proximity to key work areas, especially in downtown core areas where other forms of housing are simply not available or much more expensive.
CONVENIENCE AND SECURITY One of the features of a condo is its secured entry system which often has security staff present. The maintenance of the building is generally looked after by the property management team. This allows the owner to travel or pursue a busy lifestyle by shifting some of the normal responsibilities of property ownership to a professional team and share the cost with the other owners.
AFFORDABILITY Although the price of a condo varies greatly, they are generally less expensive than a townhouse, detached or semi-detached home in a comparable area. This often applies to first-time home buyers, people wishing to downsize and people moving from a rural or suburban area into a city.
DOWNSIZING Some people find downsizing from a larger home difficult as they must shed lifelong belongings. Whereas others find the need for less furniture stuff to be liberating while the ability to live in a smaller space much more efficient and convenient.- Text by Joe
Mancuso