Canadians love their homes and, according to a recent poll, roughly one-third will borrow money to finance renovations. If you have home improvement dreams of your own, here are some tips and ideas to get you on the right track.
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Unable to afford a bigger house for their families, homeowners are renovating instead
The high cost of real estate in certain markets has led many Canadians to stay put and invest in improving their current homes.
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Is a reno right for you? Things to consider
Reno or go? How costs should factor into your decision
When you’re deciding whether to renovate or move, there’s more to consider than meets the eye.
Do you really need that sexy new kitchen?
Robert R. Brown, author of Wealthing Like Rabbits, explains the difference between home improvement wants and needs.
Step away from the hammer: When a reno is a good investment and when it’s not
When it comes to return on investment, not all home improvements are created equal. Here are some projects that add value, and some that don’t.
A DIY home renovation is rarely easy, fast or cheap
Thousands of homeowners plunge into renos without factoring in the potential costs of making mistakes. Here’s why hiring a good designer can pay off.
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How to pay for your home improvements
Financing a million-dollar reno
Big projects often come with surprises. Here’s how one family dealt with a 50-per-cent increase in their renovation cost.
Paying for the reno: line of credit or renegotiate your mortgage?
Whether you use your mortgage or a line of credit to cover the cost, know your options before you start.
Della Rollins for the Globe and/The Globe and Mail
Need some inspiration? Check out these trends
Owners design Toronto home to minimize environmental footprint
For architects Janna Levitt and Dean Goodman, designing their Toronto home was an opportunity to innovate within the narrow dimensions of a 20-foot-wide downtown lot and to “demonstrate the many things we think are really important in our time, in an urban environment.”
A meticulous designer does a top-to-bottom Victorian reno
Designer Mary-Beth Jenner brought a Victorian home back to its brick walls and reframed the whole house. Where she could, she attempted to save some of the original details.
Reclaimed Trading Co.
Recycled, repurposed and renovated: Builders adapting sustainable practices
The pressure is on for builders and architects to reduce, reuse and recycle, a trend that is catching on with homeowners and giving a new lease on life to reclaimed and salvaged materials.
A Toronto reno worth the wait
The house at 232 Rose Park Dr. in Toronto’s Moore Park neighbourhood was a gracious 1920s-era dwelling with an unfortunate 1960s makeover when Alex and Ella Rebanks purchased the property about 10 years ago.
Courtesy of Circle Wellness Stud
Designing for wellness: Beyond the in-home gym
Increasingly, homeowners around the world are willing to pay premiums to incorporate health and wellness design features into their homes. And the trend goes well beyond at-home saunas.
Three words for a stunning Toronto condo renovation – warm, modern and bright
Nesmith and Ingrid Chingcuanco weren’t deterred by dated popcorn ceilings and a strange entry vestibule when they bought their Toronto condo, because they were intrigued by the size and what could be done with it.
Intuitive design is about how people really live
If you always eat out, do you really need a dining room table? Toronto’s Spaces by Jacflash designs homes according to the client’s unique disposition and lifestyle, an increasingly popular, successful, even liberating approach in interiors called intuitive design.
Need more ideas? Check out our Globe Home & Design site
Dianne Nice