Love Your Home

What your home looks like at night should be just as important as what it looks like in daylight. Having the proper exterior lighting will accent the architectural features of your house, provide some passive security, and illuminate pathways, back yards, and entryways. The right lighting will also enhance your home's curb appeal. We're going to talk about some different options for exterior light...

You don't have to do a complete renovation in order to totally change the feel of a room. Accent walls are a great way to add some texture, interest, and even a bit of luxury. There are many different ways to incorporate an accent wall in almost any room of your house. We'll explore some of those options and show you how you can freshen up your space and add a touch of luxury to your home. You can...

Having a small kitchen has its challenges. We all would love to have tons of counter and storage space, but small kitchens don’t usually come with either. Unless you’re willing to take down walls and expand the size of your kitchen, it can be frustrating to have a lack of space. You may not be able to expand the size of your kitchen, but in this podcast, we’ll discuss our top 10 ideas on how you c...

Walk-in showers have become extremely popular. Many of our clients are even asking us to remove their bathtubs and replace them with walk-in showers. In designing the walk-in shower, there are many things to consider. Do you have a glass enclosure? What type of tiles should you use? What size should the shower be? And, of course, should it be curbless or with the curb at the entrance? In this podc...

When you’re planning a renovation, there are many steps to take in the planning process. However, one that is often overlooked is getting your neighbours ready for the renovation! Your renovation will be disruptive to your daily life, but it will also affect your neighbours. Assuming you want to keep peace in the neighbourhood, you’ll want to minimize the impact your renovations will have on your...

Adding a heated floor is one of our most requested luxuries during retrofit renovations. Heated floors aren't just for bathrooms anymore. We've been asked to add them to kitchens, basements, bedrooms over garages, and laundry rooms as well. We'll talk about the benefits and disadvantages of heated floors, types of floor heat, and why you should consider it for your next project. You can find compl...

You've decided it's time to freshen up your home and get some painting done. Now all you have to do is pick just the right paint colour. Easy, right? With the thousands of colours that are available, it's not as easy as just picking a colour you like the look of. In this podcast, we'll explain many of the things you need to know to help you make the right decision when it comes to paint colour. Yo...

You want a new kitchen but you don't want to spend a lot of money. You know that the dated honey oak 1990s kitchen has to go, but how can you afford a completely brand new kitchen? Cabinet refacing might be the solution you're looking for. I'll explain exactly what cabinet refacing is, talk about the pros and cons and help you decide whether it's a good option for your kitchen. The information in...

Many of the renovation projects we do for our clients require architectural drawings. However, not every renovation project requires drawings, so how do you figure out when you need drawings and when you don't? What are the penalties for not getting drawings done? Who do you go to for the drawings? By the time you finish listening to this podcast, you'll know the answers to all of these questions...

Selecting your flooring can be one of the most important decisions you will make during a renovation. There are so many things to consider including style, colour, durability and maintenance. Before you make your final selection, you need to get educated on what's available, the differences in quality, and what the pros and cons are of each. You can find complete notes for this episode here on our...

Kitchen renovations are fast becoming the most popular renovation for home owners . We're spending more and more time in our kitchens these days. It's become the heart of the home where you not only prepare meals, but also socialize, do homework or office work, and gather with your family and friends to talk or eat meals. Consequently many home owners are considering kitchen renovations as their n...

When it comes to renovations, your laundry room is perhaps one of the most neglected rooms in your home. However, it's a room that's used once or twice a week, or sometimes daily if you have kids. You don't have to do a complete renovation to increase the functionality of this room and update the decor. We're going to offer you some budget friendly ideas on how you can update and renovate your lau...

Do you daydream about a complete gut and redo of your entire home but it's just not in your budget to do that? Take a look around your home. Are there areas that you think could use a little updating or refreshing? Do some areas of your home look a little bland and boring? By updating your interior doors, changing out or adding trim to certain areas of your home, you can change the entire appearan...

Kitchen backsplashes can be a subtle part of the decor, or a notable focal point. Selecting the right backsplash can be a daunting task. There are many things to consider even beyond just the colour and design. We’ll provide you with a guide to help you learn more about backsplashes and how best to select just the right one. An easy way to see all of your colour options together is to have a large...

From design to function, modern bathrooms have definitely evolved. At the centre of it is the bathtub, which can be hard to pick with the abundance of designs and features available today. We’re here to tell you that choosing the right bathtub for your home doesn't have to be a difficult task. From traditional bathtubs to modern whirlpools and air baths, you can find a wide variety of options to c...

Kitchen renovations don't have to cost a fortune. There are many ways to renovate your kitchen while staying within a budget. We explore 6 ways you can have a budget friendly kitchen renovation and still have a kitchen you can love. You can find complete notes for this episode here on our blog. We welcome your rating on this episode, and look forward to having you follow our podcast. If you live i...

Nobody likes to deal with a clogged drain but it happens to the best of us. Prevention is worth a pound of cure so we’re going to tell you lots of ways you can prevent clogs from happening. For the times that the inevitable clog materializes, we’ll also give you ways to clear those clogs naturally and easily. You can find complete notes for this episode here on our blog. We welcome your rating on...

Knowing how to read a renovation contract and ensuring you have all of the details covered in that contract can make the difference between a successful renovation and one that falls short of your expectations. We deconstruct a typical renovation contract to help you understand what details should be included and how to interpret the contract you’re about to sign. You can find complete notes for t...

Finishing or renovating your basement is a great way to add additional square footage and usable living space to your home. Whether it's a space for entertaining, sleeping, cooking or you plan to make it into an apartment for your adult child or elderly parent, it can add a lot of value to your home. However one step you don't want to skip is soundproofing your basement. There's nothing worse than...

Bathroom renovations are becoming more and more popular. They are no longer utilitarian rooms, but instead are becoming at home retreats and personal spas. The bathroom trends of 2022 are going to be exploring new colours, textures, materials and patterns. We'll talk about 8 trends that you can expect to see in 2022. You can find complete notes for this episode on our blog at: 8 Bathroom Trends of...

Since the pandemic started in 2020, many of us have been spending so much more time in our homes. This has meant a lot more time being spent in the kitchen. We were cooking a lot more meals at home, spending time with the family, setting up a workspace or even a place to do homework within the kitchen. that has led to a greater demand for kitchen renovations To create a space that's more functiona...

You've just paid top dollar to hire a professional to renovate your bathroom and now it's time to have it painted. You were sure you picked the perfect colour but when you walk in to have a look after the painting has been completed, you're horrified at what you see! Paint can completely transform the look of a room but if you don't pick the right paint colour, it can turn an otherwise beautiful s...

A well-designed laundry room should be a pleasant, inviting space that is conducive to doing the necessary task of laundry. A poorly designed laundry room can feel like an addition to your home that was never meant to be there, but a well-designed laundry room can be a real asset. We’re going to explore some ideas on how you can create a perfect laundry room for your home. You can find complete no...

We go into many homes to do home inspections, renovations and repairs. We seldom ever leave those homes without finding at least 1 or 2 electrical safety code violations. More often than not, we see a lot more than 2! Some of the violations are minor but others are serious enough that they could cause a fire. This podcast discusses the most common electrical code violations that might exist in you...

Kitchens have evolved from being a room with just a sink, stove, and fridge to becoming a space where we cook, work, do homework and entertain. It is now often the most important room in the house. It's where you start out your day with that fresh cup of coffee so the mood of the kitchen can really set the tone for the rest of the day. Kitchen renovations can cost $20,000 up to $70,000 and more! B...