It’s no secret that dads love their tools. But tools aren’t just useful in the garage for fixing bikes. We’ve rounded up some of the best kitchen gadgets Dad is sure to love. Infuse a little tech and watch Dad whip up pub style french fries in the air fryer, the juiciest steak on the BBQ and weekend breakfast like he’s a sous chef. 

An Air Fryer

Cooking is the art of patience, but not if you have an air fryer. This trendy kitchen gadget uses rapid hot air technology to cook food faster and allows you to cook Dad’s favourite pub style fries and chicken tenders in minutes. While an oven typically requires 10 minutes to heat up, an air fryer doesn’t require any pre-heating. Food comes out crunchy and golden every time. 

A Sous Vide 

Pronounced “sue-veed” meaning “under vacuum” in French, this method of cooking has been used in high end restaurants for years and is now available to home cooks. Sous Vide consists of vacuum sealing food in a bag, then cooking it to a precise temperature in water. Perfect for cooking vegetables, fish or meat, you can attach the sous vide device to any pot, add water and drop in your food in a vacuum sealed bag or glass jar. Using precise temperature control, the food cooks in its own juices making it moist, tender and juicy. For those who enjoy a little kitchen tech, Anova has a sous vide device with bluetooth technology allowing you to monitor your food’s progress through the Anova Culinary App that sends notifications to your smartphone to tell you when your food is ready.

A Breakfast Sandwich Maker

Let Dad be the breakfast hero. No more weekend morning drives to McDonald’s. The Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker delivers a hot and hearty breakfast sandwich in just five minutes. Use an English muffin, bagels or pancake as your bread, add your egg, cheese and precooked meat. Top your egg with a second slice of bread, close and in five minutes you’ll have a delicious breakfast sammie at home.

A Waffle Maker

Your weekend mornings will never be the same again. Get a fresh, delicious restaurant quality waffle from the comfort of your own home. We like the Chef’s Choice WafflePro Classic Belgian 840B. Its customizable settings allow you to choose your brownness settings and adjust for a crisp exterior, moist interior or uniform texture, delivering your perfect waffle. Top with fresh fruit and whipped cream and enjoy! 

An Ice Cream Maker 

Make dad the king of desserts with an ice cream maker. Whip up a delicious batch of ice cream using cream, milk, sugar and the fruit or flavour of your choice. One bonus, other than ice cream at your fingertips of course, is that you can be in control of your ingredients and accommodate family members’ dietary concerns. We particularly enjoy the Ninja Creami, a slightly more expensive ice cream maker that makes a smooth ice cream similar in texture to a Dairy Queen Blizzard and can also make gelato, milkshake and smoothie bowls.

The MEATER+ Smart Meat Thermometer

For the grill master who enjoys a little tech, simply stick this smart cooking accessory into your steak or chicken, delivering a perfectly cooked meal every time. The Meater+ is a completely wireless meat thermometer and sends notifications to your phone when your food is ready.

The Grillbot Automatic Grill Cleaning Robot 

We can probably all agree that the worst part about cooking is the clean up. The Grillbot is essentially a Roomba for your barbeque. Its electric motors power its wire brushes and propel it across your grill, sounding an alarm to let you know when it’s finished.

Armed with all these amazing tools, you might need an extra cupboard in the kitchen to house them all, but Mum may never need to cook a meal again!  Happy cooking! 

By Lisa Evans

After experiencing the darkest winter in 80 years (and something called “thundersnow”), this year’s garden shoots come with an added relief – and science says there’s something to it. Plants and flowers not only make people happy but are proven to improve mood, health, and memory. Thankfully, with our wild and wonky winter behind us, flowers are here to stay (and the beautiful colours they bring with them). While spring blooms are certainly beneficial for our mental health, they’re easy to decorate with too, as long as you know how to care for them properly. From pink peonies to flowering cherry blossom trees and vibrant daffodils, making the perfect arrangement (and keeping it alive) can seem daunting. Whether you’re a botanist or an unintentional plant killer, these tips and tricks from local floral experts will make your thumb a little bit greener. 

Creating a floral arrangement is easier than one may think – even if you’re not a DIY expert. It may take a little creativity, but even if you don’t have the creative gene, simply playing with layouts and colours can create something spectacular. Start by gathering flowers in colours that work well together, such as orange and yellows or pinks and purples. You can get creative by mixing textures and shapes, too. Once you have your vase – one suited for the size of your arrangement – you can start assembling. 

To extend the life of your flowers, keep these expert recommendations in mind: 

• Buy flowers that are still closed (this indicates they’re younger). 
• Clean-cut the stems before placing them in water.
• Trim any foliage (you don’t want foliage below the water line)
• Ensure all stems are in the water; there’s no need to fill the vase to the top.
• Keep your arrangement in a cool spot, away from direct sun. 
• Change the water every two days.
• Remove any dying flowers from the vase. 

If you’ve ever received or purchased an arrangement from a florist, you’ve likely seen the little powder packets that come with them. Darla Malcolm-Hauraney from The Garden Girls explains, “This little packet of flower food contains a floral preservative that can help hydrate your fresh flowers and make them last longer. Bacteria growth in the vase commonly kills flowers prematurely, and flower food can prevent this by killing bacteria in the water.” 

For those who take cuttings from their garden, Darla’s recipe for homemade flower food does just the trick.

• One quart of water 
• Two tablespoons of sugar
• Half a teaspoon of bleach 

Nothing beats a fresh bouquet of blooms from your own backyard, and according to Darla, the French peony is one of the most sought-after varieties for the garden. Valerie Jansen from Connon Nurseries agrees: “Peonies are very popular as perennial plants in the garden due to how spectacular and showy their blooms can be. Often mixed in perennial borders, the flowers of many peony varieties are fragrant, fluffy, and great for cut flowers!” 

Surprisingly, peonies also have many health benefits. The bright and vibrant petals of peonies are known to boost energy and reduce stress, while their sweet aroma can help improve mood. 

If you prefer other flowers, The Garden Girls also suggest looking for a longer-lasting flower to bring indoors. Darla recommends Freesias, Hydrangeas, Hypericum, Eryngium (Sea Holly), Sunflowers, Goldenrod, and Zinnias.

The budding of spring is just around the corner! Create your own bouquet from garden clippings, order an arrangement from a talented local florist, or grab a bouquet from the farmer’s market. Colour is here to stay! (At least until next winter). 

Happy Spring!  

by Nicole Lischer

Local Links

The Garden Girls, Halton
Thegardengirls.ca

Campbell & Co. Home, Burlington
Campbellcohome.com

Centro Garden, Burlington
Centrogarden.com

Connon Nurseries, Waterdown
Connon.ca

Fiori, Oakville
Fiorioakville.com

Brant Florist, Burlington
Brantflorist.com

Bulow Garden Centre, Oakville
@bulowgardencentreoakville

Foli, Burlington
Foli.ca

When it comes to home renovations, natural stone is a popular choice. It doesn’t matter if you’re replacing those old linoleum floors with gorgeous granite tiles or turning your bathroom into a marble palace. Something about natural stone feels timeless, elegant, and like a good investment in your home. There are also some spectacular artificial stone options to expand your options even further. Here’s how to choose which products to use in different parts of your home — no matter what you end up going with, we’re sure it will look amazing.

In The Kitchen

There are a lot of opportunities to add natural or artificial stone products in your kitchen: on the floor, on the counter, in a beautiful backsplash, or even as an accent wall.

Let’s start with flooring — you want to look for something durable and low maintenance (especially if you have kids or pets). However, it’s important to be realistic about what ‘low maintenance’ truly means. “Stone is a natural, porous product,” explains Natasha Altena of Eden Tile-It in Burlington. “No matter the application, stone is going to require some level of maintenance.”

Granite and marble countertops are classic, but they aren’t the only option. An artificial product like quartz may provide a similar look and is incredibly durable. Quartz is scratch-resistant, bacteria-resistant, and difficult to damage, but it’s not heat-proof. It doesn’t require sealing, but it may discolour somewhat over time. Granite requires a bit more maintenance — ideally, you should seal it every year, but it withstands heat well. It’s not as strong as quartz, but it’s still pretty tough and looks great. And what about marble? It has a stunning aesthetic and is great for bakers because it remains cool, but it won’t withstand heat like granite will (meaning, you can place a hot pan on granite but not marble). Marble also stains more easily than other stones because it’s more porous.

You can use just about anything as a backsplash. This might be where you want to splurge on marble if you choose a more costeffective product for your floors and countertops. Altena notes that while marble is one of the softest types of stone, it performs well once sealed. “Marble stands up to the job as a backsplash option — it tends to come in lighter colours and less busy patterning, which seems to be trending still in the industry.”

In The Bathroom

Consider porcelain or ceramic tiles if you want something practical and budget-friendly for your bathroom floor. They come in various colours, patterns, and shapes, and you can choose ones with a higher friction rating to avoid slips. Porcelain tiles are often the same colour through multiple layers, so it’s easier to hide chips if they happen (the same can’t always be said for ceramic tile, however, beautiful they are).

“For a shower, marble tile and slabs are still popular, although porcelain tile and slabs have come a long way,” Altena says. “It would definitely be less maintenance and more affordable to check out what is available in porcelain options for showers over natural stone, as they can look identical after a proper installation.”

Everywhere Else

If you’re looking for stone tiles for your foyer, hallway, fireplace, or another spot in your house, consider the room’s function, the look you’re after, and the budget you’re working with. You may want to go with a natural stone like granite, limestone, travertine, slate or marble. Look at different finish options — honed or polished, for example — and take samples home to see what looks best in the space and lighting you’re working with. There are several stores in Oakville and Burlington with some beautiful options!

by Erin Pepler

Local Links

Eden Tile-It, Burlington
tileit.ca

Tile Giant, Burlington
tilegiantcanada.com

The Flooring Gallery, Burlington
eurostandardinc.com

Deco Tile, Oakville
decotile.com

Speers Flooring, Oakville
speersflooring.com

Every home has it: dead space without a designated purpose. There’s the hall closet where you toss shoes, backpacks, and coats, and…is that a pair of ski boots? Plus, the spot under the stairs where you house bins of outgrown baby clothes and keepsakes…just in case. You might have grandchildren one day. These spaces, while often underutilized, are valuable real estate in your home.

Dominique Rutledge of Rutledge Improvements has transformed underutilized spaces like these into fun and functional spaces. Most recently, Rutledge worked on our Editor, Anneliese Lawton’s basement, turning the empty wasted space under the stairs into a fun playhouse for her three children (all under the age of 6).

“We cut it all open, drywalled, trimmed it out, made an entranceway,” says Rutledge. To make it look like a house, Rutledge added a shiplap to the front of the entrance and a window with a hanging basket to put a pretend garden. A platform at the upper level of the stairs provides a fun, enclosed fort area below, and a ladder allows the kids to use the platform as a lookout.

Rutledge says under the stairs is one of the most common spaces homeowners like to transform for storage solutions, but this is the first time he’s used the area to add functional living space to the basement.

From a design perspective, Katie Campbell from Katie Campbell Interiors & Design says that her goal is to always maximize space and functionality in a home. Adding, “We hate wasted or unused space. At a recent project, we were redoing the staircase – so we decided to leave it open underneath and create a built-in bench seat. We added a niche in the underside of the stairs to be used for books, a wall sconce above, and a comfortable seat cushion…it became the perfect reading nook for their kids.” When designing new builds, Campbell notes that the elimination of wasted space should be considered during the initial design stages, such as making rooms larger to remove dead corners.

But if you’ve purchased a home that already has awkward spaces, Rutledge has some fun recommendations. He once created a wine cellar under a set of stairs. With six feet of space at the highest point, the wine cellar was tall enough to be a walk-in. “It was custom with glass on the outside, all cedar on the inside, and custom wine bottle holders,” says Rutledge.

A closet can provide a perfect solution for families who don’t have a spare bedroom to house a nursery. By removing the walls on either side of the door to widen the entryway, you can easily fit a crib. Having the crib within steps of your bed is not only a convenient space-saving solution but means you don’t have far to go for all those late-night wakings.

If you’ve always wanted a home office or crafting space but don’t have a spare room, a closet can provide the ideal workspace. Add a desk and some floating shelves, and some fun wallpaper for an inspirational office. Simple wall-mount Kallax drawers are a great storage solution for supplies that you want to keep hidden away. Rutledge suggests opening up the walls when removing the closet door so your office doesn’t feel closed in and instead becomes a nook, an added extension of the room’s space.

By utilizing tucked-away spaces, you can reclaim square footage into something cozy, functional – and completely unique to your needs.

Local Links

Rutledge Improvements
rutledgeimprovements.ca

Katie Campbell Interiors & Design
katiecampbellinteriors.com

By Lisa Evans

The holiday season is here, and it’s time to dust off that box of festive decor and create a little winter magic inside your home. It’s also a great excuse to go shopping for high-quality, locally-made holiday décor — after all, these pieces often become family heirlooms that bring back memories year after year. So, don’t be a Scrooge — shop local, build your own collection of sentimental pieces and let your home sparkle with holiday joy. Here are some suggestions to help get you started.

Trim your tree

Ornaments can be passed on from generation to generation, so don’t be afraid to invest in a few (or a few dozen) you really love. You may be drawn to classic Santa or snowman pieces, elegant gold and silver accessories, one-of-a-kind crafty ornaments, or quirky bobbles that make you laugh (we’re talking about you, naughty ornaments, and festive pickles). You may want wooden garlands, family-friendly cloth ornaments, religious symbols, or something that complements your home’s colour palette. Anything goes — let yourself explore and find out what you’re drawn to. Your Christmas tree doesn’t necessarily need to look like it belongs on the cover of a magazine — it just has to feel right. We recommend starting at a local shop like The Handmade House (with locations in Burlington and Dundas), Rustic Daisy’s in Waterdown, and The Artisanville, located inside Burlington Centre. They offer a wide selection of unique, handmade ornaments that make perfect gifts for anyone on your list (including yourself).

Magic on the mantle

If you’re lucky enough to have a classic fireplace mantle, make the most of it! And if not, mimic the same look using a console table, the top of an upright piano, or even a floating shelf. Consider using some greenery like garland from Centro Garden in Burlington, along with some candles, festive table top accessories, and olive wood accents. Centro also carries beautiful barware, textiles, and more items that are functional as well as stylish. You can also shop for festive mantle pieces at Lakeside Livin’ in Bronte, which has a great selection of beautiful stockings, adorable gnomes, and elegant ornaments.

Spruce up your glassware

A holiday cocktail tastes even better in gorgeous glassware, and Hue La La — a by-appointment boutique in Burlington — has some excellent choices. Look for beveled, smoked, coloured, or even novelty glassware that brings you joy while impressing any guest. A decanter will look beautiful on your table and make any wine taste just that much better (even if it came from a box). Add some pottery mugs from the Art Gallery of Burlington for those booze-infused evening 

coffees or hot chocolate, and you’ll be ready to let those sleigh bells ring. Hue La La also carries festive napkins, quirky ornaments, gorgeous tabletop decor, and fantastic hostess gifts. Cheers to shopping local, and happy holidays!

Add A Festive Touch to Your Bathroom 

The best play to spread holiday cheer is by sprinkling it everywhere – even in the bathroom, which is really one of the best spaces in your home to make the festive season fun. Lakeside Livin’ carries novelty items like Santa-themed toilet paper, along with the much-loved holiday scent Frasier Fir (available in candles, incense, soaps, and varieties). At Rustic Daisy’s, where everything is made in Canada, you can find winter-scented soaps, holiday candles, and even holiday-themed tea towels to add a special touch. 

While Santa toilet paper may not become a holiday heirloom like a hand-made ornament, it may just become a family tradition. You never know what will be passed down for generations.  

By Erin Pepler

Furnishing your home can be a thrill or a challenge, depending on how much you enjoy interior design — and in some cases, it’s a bit of both. Choosing large items, accent pieces, art, and textiles that complement each other can be intimidating, and getting everything on your list comes at a price. You want decor that reflects your style and adds function to your home, but you don’t want to break the bank — so where do you start?

A home is a home

While some people feel like they should wait until they’re in their “forever home” to invest in beautiful, high-quality pieces, there is no better time than the present. “Your home is an extension of your personality and should reflect a life of thoughtful purpose,” says Anderson’s Interiors in Burlington. 

Whether you’re renting or hoping to relocate, Robinson notes divisibility is key. “You want furniture that is easy to move and fits in different-sized homes.” So, avoid a massive sectional but say yes to that solid wood dining table that extends with a leaf.

Focus on building a collection of timeless, quality pieces that you love — rugs, art, chairs, or a smaller sofa — these can be incorporated into different spaces over time. Joshua Creek Furniture and Swiss Interiors, both in Oakville, have large showrooms featuring everything from furniture to décor pieces, and they even offer custom-made furniture (which can be perfect for furnishing awkward spaces).   

If purchasing something new isn’t an option, Fairhome Interiors in Burlington also carries a large selection of beautiful fabrics and has an upholstery room on-site. Upcycle an older sofa with high-quality new fabric to rejuvenate a space.  

What should I invest in?

Everyone’s lifestyle is different. Katie Campbell of Katie Campbell Interiors & Design can direct you where to start. Katie says, “The best approach to creating a home that tells your story and reflects your values is through a collaborative process.” As a certified and storied interior decorator, Katie offers a full range of services required to design and implement your unique vision while removing the stress that can arise with inexperience, including design consultation, space planning, and custom designs. 

Emma Robinson of ER Designs Inc recommends investing in a great sofa, a high-quality dining table, and the often-neglected bedroom. “Adding a beautiful headboard and bedframe will give your bedroom a focal point and help achieve that “finished” look,” says Robinson.  Anderson’s Interiors, Joshua Creek Furniture and Swiss Interiors are all great places to start. They carry beautiful selections of Canadian-made upholstered and solid wood bedroom sets (including dressers, nightstands, and chests if you’re looking for a finished look). Home Sweet Linens, a family-owned shop in Oakville, carries luxuriously soft bedding and throw pillows to tie it all together. 

Where can I save money?

“It’s easy to get away with inexpensive items,” Robinson shares. “What makes a home unique is when you incorporate some of those inexpensive items with more expensive ones.” She suggests investing in anything that’s a focal point, whether it’s a piece of furniture or an amazing painting, but those filler pieces throughout a home can be more affordable. “There are a lot of great looking, quality items that are duplicates of expensive pieces,” she says. A great rule of thumb is to invest money in pieces you only need one of (a table, your bed, a large piece of art for over the couch) and spend less on things you buy in larger quantities (tabletop decor, accent pieces, etc.). 

We love Pure Boutique, Campbell & Co., Centro Garden, Lakeside Livin’ Home Décor, and Homebody for timeless (and seasonal) décor pieces (think beautiful candles, vases, table accents, and more). Each shop has its own vibe and personality, just like your home! 

And when you get that high-low balance just right? Perfection! 

By Erin Pepler

Local Links

Campbell & Co.
campbellcohome.com 

Joshua Creek Furniture
joshuacreekfurniture.com

Swiss Interiors
swissinteriors.com

Pure Boutique
pureboutique.ca

Anderson’s Home Interiors
andersonsinteriors.ca

Fairhome
fairhome.ca

Home Sweet Linens
homesweetlinens.com

Centro Garden
centrogarden.com

Lakeside Livin’ Home Décor
lakesidelivin.com 

Homebody
homebodystudio.ca

Emma Robinson Design
erdesignsinc.ca

Your home should be your sanctuary — a place you feel relaxed, comfortable, and above all else, safe. This is even more true if you have kids, pets, or an aging family member who lives with you. Let’s keep your sweet home as safe and secure as possible — you’ll be glad you took the time to protect your loved ones and your biggest asset. If you’re interested in adding security features to your abode, here are a few key areas to address. 

Light it up

Start by ensuring you have great exterior lighting. Motion-activated lights are an excellent option, but anything that lights up your yard is effective. Consider wall-mounted lights at your front door and on either side of your garage, ground-level lighting along any walking paths, and motion-activated lights at your back and/or side entry. If you have a large yard, you may also want to add floodlights with a motion sensor, and if you travel often, consider exterior lights with a timer setting to help give the illusion that someone is home in the evening. Groves Electric in Hamilton has a wide selection of outdoor light fixtures and installation services, and your local hardware store will have DIY options. 

Lock it up

Your home should have a modern, high-quality lock system at each access point, including the garage. Additionally, be sure to have functioning locks on all main-floor windows. If you keep valuable items in a shed or other outbuilding, install proper lock systems on those doors as well. You may also want to have a lock on your back gate!

Your front door is essential to your home’s security, so talk to an expert about keyed and coded lock systems. Each option has pros and cons — ease of use, reliability, safety, and durability, for example — and a home security professional can advise on which is best for your home and family. Consider reaching out to Oaktown Lock and Hardware on Speers Road in Oakville — they’ve been serving Halton residents since 1964.

Stay tuned in

Consider a doorbell camera or other digital security solution if you travel frequently or spend extended periods away from your home — even to the cottage at weekends. The Ring system is a popular and affordable option. You can also get large-scale video surveillance systems that allow you to view live footage of your home’s interior and exterior via an app on your phone. Not only will this give you peace of mind if you’re worried about home intruders or porch pirates, but it can also alert you to other issues, such as flooding. A double win!

Digital21 in Burlington has a wide variety of tech solutions, including surveillance cameras, innovative home features, and gate access/control. A1 Security Systems in Burlington offers home alarm systems and innovative home features, and Sounds Good in Oakville has a similar offering. 

Get Smart

From a simple alarm system to a fully integrated security system, there are a number of ways to incorporate additional safety measures into your home (or cottage). PMWYRE in Burlington offers design, installation, and maintenance of full-service alarm systems for every need and budget. All systems (camera, video, doorbell, alarm, lights, shades) can be managed through a single app. And even better, you can access the feed from anywhere in the world. 

And there’s even more!  PMWYRE also offer leak and flood detection and CCTV.  This means your systems can detect leaks (such as a hot water tank, sump pump, or split dishwasher hose) and will send a notification right to your smartphone. In some cases, you can even close the water valve from the app on your smartphone to prevent further damage. With CCTV, you can constantly be in the know about what’s happening at home. PMWYRE helps by strategically placing cameras around your home, and then provides you with access to the stream from virtually anywhere in the world. Some systems also come with built-in mics so you can hear the audio in addition to viewing colour images.

How’s that for safety?  

By Erin Pepler

If you’ve ever been house-hunting or considered a home renovation, you’ve probably heard the term ‘good bones’ used to describe certain properties. The implication is usually clear—the house is in decent shape and would be considered a good investment rather than a money pit—but when it comes down to it, do you know exactly what having ‘good bones’ means?

The Size—And Layout—Is Right

If a home lacks cosmetic updates but is spacious and has a great layout, you could say it has good bones, says Duncan Harvey, a licensed real estate broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Oakville. Essentially, you’re describing a home that can be modernized or changed to reflect your aesthetic without knocking down load-bearing walls or making other major structural changes. This factor is particularly important if you’re looking at a condo or other apartment-style home that cannot be expanded with an addition. “It’s when you can go in and change cabinetry, change the flooring and update some fixtu es, but you’ve already got a large kitchen and a great layout,” he offers as an example. In short: it’s not pretty (yet), but it’s functional.

The Basement Is In Good Shape

Harvey suggests taking a good look at the basement to ensure it’s dry and has no foundational issues. “You’re going to look for water issues; check out the mechanical systems,” Harvey says, noting that this is particularly critical when looking at older homes or heritage properties. Check out the walls, too. “If you’ve got old windows that have damage, that’s a big cost to take on.” He also suggests taking a good look at the home’s flooring—it may look fine at first glance, but if it’s in rough shape and needs replacing, that will be a major cost.

You Know What’s Behind The Walls (And On Them)

A house with good bones will have updated plumbing and electrical systems—no knob and tube or aluminum wiring, for example. Ideally, it will also have a newer roof and driveway. “Not everyone wants to go behind the walls,” Harvey notes, suggesting that you assess the home’s wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling systems before committing to a purchase or renovation. “A lot of people don’t sign up for that.”

Scott Murray from Murray’s Pro Painting says you should consider what’s on the walls, too – especially regarding wallpaper. Wallpaper removal can be time-consuming, but most importantly, “It can ruin your walls and require major patching once it comes down,” says Murray. Adding, “Some older homes have multiple layers of wallpaper. If the walls weren’t prepped properly before hanging, you can be left with some damage.” He also suggests you take a good look at the ceilings. “It’s becoming more popular to remove popcorn ceilings but it’s a very messy job.” If your goal is to remove the popcorn, Murray recommends stripping the ceiling before moving in. In either case, if you’re not familiar with the process and have the budget, working with a professional for messy jobs is a great way to go.

It’s A Manageable Project

The definition of “manageable” is different for every homeowner, but your renovation experience, skills, budget and willingness to tackle a big project are all important factors that should be considered before buying a new home or renovating your current residence. Katie Campbell from Campbell & Co. Home in Waterdown warns, “There is only so much you know before demolition begins. We make educated guesses and assumptions based on years of experience, but the bottom line is no one can see through those walls.” Her best advice to anyone looking to renovate is to “have a budget for the unexpected.” So, before grabbing your sledgehammer, do your due diligence and decide if you’re mentally and financially prepared. “It’s those little costs that add up and ruin the experience,” Harvey adds, and inexperienced renovators may find themselves in over their heads. “If you run out of money [repairing things behind the walls], you can’t even get to the cosmetic stuff.”

But if the bones are good? You may end up with that HGTV-worthy interior after all.

Local Links

Murray’s Pro Painting
Murrayspropainting@gmail.com
905-299-4277

Campbell & Co.
Campbellcohome.com
416-988-3428

Duncan Harvey
harveymccreery.com
905-510-5995

by Erin Pepler