10.31.2011

2nd Project

After selling my first house and searching for months and months for my next one, I finally found it! This house was in rough shape and was definitely not a lipstick job. It was the first time that I would actually be knocking out walls and re designing the floorplan on the main floor. I was a bit hesitant, but excited all at the same time. Out of all the projects I have done, this tops the list as one of my favourites. It was a big semi detached home featuring 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms (unusual for old houses in Toronto), finished basement, a deck off the master bedroom and 3 car parking, perfect for a family.
I know you're all anxious to see it, so here it is, let me know what you think!

Before...exterior
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After...exterior
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Curb appeal is everything and this house was majorly lacking it, I didn't have much to work with as the outside is aluminum siding, so I cleaned it up, landscaped it with new grass and bushes and painted the concrete by the front door, to give it a stone look...what a difference!

Before...main floor
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On the main floor the living room and dining room were split up into 2 bedrooms, so I knocked out all the walls to make it open concept
Living Room
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I also kept part of the wall separating the front door from the living room, so that when you walked inside the house, you wouldn't be standing right in your living room
Dining Room
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Love the exposed brick...what a great discovery!
After...living room
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New laminate floor, new paint, new window coverings and of course some staging!
After...dining room
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To bring out the exposed brick, I painted an accent wall in a rust colour to tie it back to the brick

Before...kitchen and sunroom
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After...kitchen
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The original kitchen cabinets were great, but needed a face lift, so once again I painted the cabinets in a light beige colour and added handles. To save on cost, I hired the people from Countertop Makeovers to reface my existing back splash, kitchen counter and island. They had a huge selection of colours to choose from, were in and out in a few hours, no mess to clean up and saved me tons of money in the process. Paired with new stainless steel appliances, pot lights, new laminate floor and paint.....the kitchen looks amazing!!!
After...sunroom
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This room was just off the kitchen and is also the entrance to the backyard and lane parking...it is a big space and I didn't want it to go to waste so I thought it would make a perfect office (the house already has a mud room at the front entrance). New laminate floor, paint and custom window coverings went a long way here.

Before...main floor powder room
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The main floor has a washroom which is a huge bonus, but it also had a shower, which I thought was a bit odd, the bathtub was also eating up space in the kitchen. So I decided to turn it into a powder room by removing the tub, this also created extra space in the kitchen.
After...main floor powder room
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I kept the original toilet and sink and with some new paint, mirror and light fixture, the bathroom turned out great.

Before...upstairs
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After...upstairs

Again, new paint and laminate floor, goes a long way in the upstairs hallway

Before...master bedroom
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After...master bedroom
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The master bedroom was a kitchen, so I ripped it out, had the drywall fixed up and it was ready for new laminate floor and paint...this bedroom is great because of the size and the deck...it was hard to part with it

Before...2nd bedroom
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After...2nd bedroom
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New laminate floor, paint, window coverings and staging....voila!

Before...3rd bedroom
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After...3rd bedroom
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Since one of the walls shared a wall with the main washroom upstairs, I decided to make a semi ensuite for this bedroom. It also got new laminate floor, paint, window coverings and staging...this bedroom could double as a master bedroom

Before...main washroom
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After...main washroom
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New porcelain tile floor, new toilet, new mirror/medicine cabinet, new light fixture, new subway tiles in the shower, new paint and can't forget the new rain shower head...looks so much better!

Backyard Oasis
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Unfortunately, I don't have a before picture, but it was a sight for sore eyes, the entire backyard had interlocking with no greenery whatsoever, so I ripped up the majority of the interlocking and kept enough as a walkway from the parking as well as for the patio set and added new grass and flowers as well as a new fence.....backyards are suppose to be an extension of the house, an oasis, and I think this one was a success!

After living in this house for a while and truly enjoying it, it was time to sell it and move on.....I'm sure the new buyers are loving it just as much as I did.

Happy Halloween!
Aleks


10.28.2011

Scary House!

Since Halloween is just around the corner, I thought I would feature how one of my clients decorated their new house this Halloween season. Check it out and let me know what you think. I think it's pretty scary!!!Photobucket

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I have a busy weekend planned of Halloween parties, a birthday party and trick or treating. I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween weekend and here's something I thought I might leave you with for the weekend!
Aleks

10.27.2011

Kitchen Island vs. Peninsula

In my neighbourhood, the Junction, I see tons of young couples and families snatching up old homes and renovating them to their tastes. These homes are at least 50 years old if not older, meaning no open concept main floors and small kitchens. We all know that kitchens are the focal point of a home, as we spend most of our time in there either cooking or entertaining or both. Most people will spend a chunk of their renovation budget on re-designing their kitchens and why not, as it improves the resale value of their home.

We live in a generation where open concept main floors are a "must have", but it's good to have a definitive separation between the kitchen and the rest of the house. A huge trend I've noticed recently in the homes I've seen is either big kitchen island or peninsulas, which also are great for creating extra storage. Now at first I didn't even know what a peninsula was or that it even existed, but I soon realized that some of the kitchen islands that I was calling islands were in fact peninsulas. So here's the major difference between the two:
  • a kitchen island is a separate entity and has circulation on all 4 sides
  • a peninsula is usually attached to a wall and has circulation on 3 sides
    Kitchen islands are great, but usually require more space so a peninsula might be a better alternative, depending how much space you have to work with, and in my neighbourhood it's usually not too much. I know that for my next project house, I will definitely be building an island, as entertaining in your living room is a thing of the past!

    Bottom line, I want you to be the judge and check out these photos of kitchen islands and peninsulas and let me know which one you prefer:

    Kitchen Islands
    I love the vintage feel to these islands and the stools and light fixtures are great!
    ferguson residence contemporary kitchen
    KitchenLab eclectic kitchen
    Aleks

    10.26.2011

    Spectra Condos-Cityplace Phase 2

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    Spectra condominiums is Concord Adex latest addition to Cityplace, a master-planned community that anchors downtown west to the city's southern border at Lakeshore Boulevard. Here you will find Toronto urbanites who enjoy all the daylife and nightlife that the area has to offer including world-class shopping, major league sports and entertainment venues and minutes walk to the entertainment and financial districts. The building is 39 storeys comprised of a tower, podium and townhomes and offering bachelor all the way to 3 bedroom units and everything in between.

    Phase One has already sold out and an exclusive VIP sales event on Phase 2 podium and upper floors is happening for one day only on November 8th, 2011 starting at 12pm. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at 416.707.1209

    Here are the details:
    • Floorplans, click here
    • Sales centre is located at 23 Spadina Ave
    VIP Offerings:
    • 15% deposit
    • $200 gas card (for deals signed by 2pm)
    • Exclusive pricing
    • $2,000 cash for bachelor, 1bedroom & 1+den units
    • $5,000 cash for 2 bedroom & 2+den units
    • $10,000 cash for 3 bedroom + units
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    Building Facts:
    • Located on the corner of Fort York Blvd. and Dan Leckie Way
    • TTC streetcar walking distance
    • 39 storey building
    • bachelor, 1 bedroom, 1+den, 2 bedroom, 2+den and 3 bedroom units available
    • Rooftop terrace with lounge, outdoor dining, BBQ areas and Tai Chi deck
    • Unlimited access to the Prisma Club which includes indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, yoga studio, cardio room, weight room, spinning room, half badminton, half basketball court
    • Guests suites, pet spa, massage lounge, theater and billiards and games room
    • Laminate wood flooring throughout, carpet in bedrooms
    • Maintenance fee estimated at $0.51/sq ft plus electricity
    • $38,000 for parking (available for units greater then 600 sq ft)
    • $5,000 locker
    • Occupancy date: December 18th, 2014
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    Tower
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    Lobby
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    Pool
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    Rooftop Terrace

    Kitchen:
    • PhotobucketContemporary kitchens, clean and uncluttered
    • Under-Cabinet lighting
    • Engineered stone counter tops
    • Tile backsplash
    • Stainless steel sink and designer faucets
    • Stainless steel fridge and stove with smooth cook top
    • Stainless steel microwave/hood fan and dishwasher
    • Stacked washer/dryer


      Bathrooms:
      • Sleek bathrooms
      • Solid surface counter tops with integral sinks
      • Porcelain or ceramic floor and wall tiles
      • Low flush toilets
      • Shower stalls (where applicable) with designer faucet and shower head with wall tile and glass door
      • Bath tub with designer faucet and shower head
        ***For more information on Spectra and to take advantage of this VIP offering, please contact me***

        Aleks
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