Renovation & Design

Renovation & Design

Get the popcorn ready

Let's say you're not quite satisfied with the 37-inch flat-screen TV you bought a few years back. You're looking for something a little bit more impressive, a system to give you that gasp-inducing, jaw-dropping, toe-curling movie theatre experience. Maybe it's time for your own home theatre.

What kind of equipment to buy depends on your budget, how much time you have on your hands, your technical prowess and -- of course -- how much you tend to drool over the latest high-tech gizmos. Those inclined toward do-it-yourself projects can buy a high-definition set or projector, hook it up to a DVD player and a surround sound system for US$3,000 or less.

But if money is no object, you can get your home cinema professionally designed, acoustically engineered, installed and tricked out to look like a real movie theatre... for US$25,000 and up. Like luxury cars or motorboats, there's practically no upper limit for those with money to spend.

Sal Alfano, a retired Wall Street executive, had a US$9,000 home theatre system built in his Pennsylvania home last fall as part of a basement renovation project.

It features theatre-style seats, a 103-inch screen (measured diagonally) with a high definition projector, a popcorn machine and soundproofing to preserve neighbourly harmony.

Having the system professionally installed made sense for Alfano. "I'm not a technician. Let them do it," he said.

Since then, he has enjoyed having his three grandchildren over to the basement to watch DVDs, and friends to watch sports games. "Even my doctor came over one night," he said.

Like Alfano, most people don't have the time or inclination to wire their own components and configure them for the optimal sound and picture, said Scott Oglum, founder of Newark, Del.-based TheaterXtreme, a chain of retail stores that specializes in outfitting home theatre rooms at prices starting around US$7,000.

A dramatic drop in prices for digital projectors in recent years has made it possible for ordinary Americans and Canadians to afford an impressive home theatre system. Until a few years ago, Oglum said, "it was strictly something that you saw in the Hollywood homes."

For those who are more technically inclined, designing and installing a system yourself is well within reach.

Greg Scavezze, a 37-year-old software engineer who lives near Salt Lake City is outfitting his basement this summer with a US$3,000 theatre system as part of a bigger basement-finishing project. An audio-video buff since high school, Scavezze already had several flat-screen TVs around the house, but wanted something more theatre-like.

"Each time I've done it, it's kind of gotten a little more grandiose," he said.

Before ordering his equipment, Scavezze did intensive research on the Internet, perusing sites such as CNet and www.avsforum.com -- a discussion site for audio and video enthusiasts. "This stuff is really not that hard to figure out," Scavezze said.

Home theatre aficionados say a digital projector, which can display a high-definition image on a screen mounted on your wall is the best way to get a movie-theatre experience. But flat-screen televisions remain far more popular among U.S. households than the projectors favoured by home theatre purists.

Shipments of flat-panel TVs of 40 inches or larger are projected to rise to more than 11 million this year in the United States, from 9.3 million last year, according to market research firm Pacific Media Associates. By comparison, shipments of projectors are far lower: about 150,000 units last year.

Possible reasons include the immense marketing behind flat-screen TVs and the fact that projection systems don't carry quite the same bling factor for most consumers. While projection systems are able to deliver a larger picture at a lower price, "the projector itself is not showy," said William Coggshall, president of Pacific Media Associates.

To be sure, the economic downturn and housing crisis have put a damper on some of the home theatre and consumer electronics market. Clients have been more hesitant lately about big-ticket projects, installers say.

"It's a harder sell," said Dean Callis of Paragon Technology Group, an Aspen, Colo.-based company that specializes in custom-built systems for the vacation home market.

Among those who are able to afford new home theatres despite the tough economic times, some are trying to make their theatres a more active space for their families.

They are installing small stages where kids can set up their musical instruments, or play virtual tennis on a Nintendo Wii. "They don't want to have it be a space... where their kids are just brain-dead, watching TV," said John Baumeister, president of Illinois-based Baumeister Electronic Architects, which specializes in custom-designed high-end systems ranging from US$50,000 to US$1 million.

Clients can get such features as a curved screen that gives you that wide-screen Lawrence of Arabia look, or a remote control that scrolls through a list of movies stored on a computer server.

Another plus: moving curtains that replicate a movie theatre's look. "You want the lights to dim, you want the curtains to open up," Baumeister says, just like in the movies.

-- The Associated Press

Alan Zibel
November 9

Renovation & Design

Don't scrimp on the audio system

YOU can't have a great home theatre system without great sound.

For the uninitiated, home theatre audio comes with a confusing set of technical terms like DTS, SDDS, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, to name a few. But all the lingo boils down to something rather basic -- the number of speakers that surround the viewer, providing an immersive, enveloping experience.

The main goal "is to feel like you're actually sucked into a movie," said Dave Pedigo, senior director of technology at the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association.

And newer technology, such as high-definition Blu-Ray players, can deliver an even more impressive effect. You can even get rich surround sound from game systems such as the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

The most popular surround sound system is known as a 5.1 channel system, which uses five speakers to create three-dimensional whooshing sound effects. The next level up is a six-speaker, 6.1-channel system, and then there's the maximum 7.1-channel system with seven speakers.

Included in all three varieties is a subwoofer for thumping bass and other low-frequency sounds. A 5.1-channel system includes three speakers in front of the viewer and two rear speakers, while 6.1-channel and 7.1-channel systems add more rear speakers.

One easy option is to buy a "home theatre in a box" system that -- for US$200 to US$1,000 -- includes a receiver, speakers and sometimes a DVD player. Consumer Reports gives top ratings to systems made by Onkyo, Sony and Yamaha.

For the true audiophile, putting together your own stereo component system is the best option. Speakers made by Infinity, Bose, Polk Audio and Sony all get good ratings from Consumer Reports. Basic bookshelf speakers sell for as little as $95, but high-end speakers can sell for thousands. In Canada, Canadian-made Paradigm speakers are also a top choice. Britain's Monitor Audio also makes top-notch speakers at reasonable prices.

Picking which one is best for you really depends on the size of your room, experts say. If you have a relatively small basement and your couch is backed up against the wall, a 5.1 channel system works just fine.

"A lot of times people will say 'I want the biggest and the best,' rather than finding what's appropriate for them," said John Wanderscheid, vice-president at Aperion Audio, a Portland, Ore.-based designer of speaker systems ranging from US$1,200 to US$4,500.

In rooms where there is more than 4.5 metres of space between the rear speakers, Wanderscheid recommends a six- or seven-speaker system. But to have the best surround sound experience, they should be at least one metre behind your couch. Otherwise, he said, "in a small room it doesn't really add to the performance."

Another issue to consider is what kind of cables to use on your system. The latest and greatest audio and video equipment comes with a new cable that is designed to simplify the process.

High-Definition Multimedia Interface, or HDMI, cables can transmit digital high-def. video and surround sound audio signals over a single cable. That's far simpler than the older analogue standard, which required three video cables (usually coloured red, green and blue) to transmit high-definition signals and separate audio cables.

HDMI, however, doesn't work with older televisions sets and DVD players. Most of the time, HDMI works pretty well, experts say, especially if your setup is relatively simple.

But home theatre installers say they sometimes run into problems with repeated images using HDMI cables over long distances. And HDMI comes with a built-in copy protection so you might not be able to record some programming.

-- The Associated Press

Alan Zibel
November 9

Renovation & Design

Even hardiest of trees can suffer from wind chill

111

ANSWER: You don't have to wrap all evergreen conifers. Most of them are native to our climate, and are able to withstand the winter quite comfortably. The hard waxy covering on their needles usually protects the foliage against drying out.

But there are some occasions when conifers might need a bit more protection. These occasions usually always relate to the wind.

It's one thing to tolerate the freezing temperatures of mid-winter, but it's quite another situation when the wind howls. Just as humans can stand around waiting for the bus in minus-20 degree weather without getting frostbite, we soon rush for shelter if there's even a gentle breeze. The wind-chill factor comes into play, and our skin cools down to dangerously lower temperatures when the heat is sucked out of it by the wind.

The same thing applies to conifers.

They don't mind cold weather, but they have difficulty ignoring strong winter winds. Foliage that's constantly barraged by wind during extremely cold weather can soon give up what little moisture it managed to trap before the plant went dormant. And once that happens, the foliage will dry out and die.

The evidence of this is when we see surface foliage or whole sections of needles turn brown. We call it winterkill. Once foliage has died in this manner, the only way to handle it is to trim off the brown parts in the spring and let the healthier green foliage grow.

Winterkill might not affect very large conifers that are well established in their location, but it can be a problem for many of the smaller shrub-like trees or any conifer recently transplanted.

The highest risk is to conifers that are exposed in very windy locations.

Picture an ornamental thuja or juniperus planted near the corner of a house or in a side garden between two houses. The positioning of the buildings can cause an acceleration of even the normal winds. Plants like this will be prime candidates for winterkill, no matter how mature or hardy they are.

The easiest way to protect your conifers that might be at risk is to create a wind barrier around the plant, something that will cut the force of the wind back to manageable proportions. The cheapest method is to wrap the plant with a double layer of burlap, held in place by a few loops of garden twine. It's not very elegant, but it does the job. You can make it look a bit more professional if you put three or four stakes around the plant first, and then stretch the burlap over them. A cylindrical section of snow fence works well as a frame, as long as it's tall enough to hide the plant.

If you want to be even more discrete, replace the burlap with a new winter-wrap material, made of a layer of felt-like fibre bonded to a thin plastic film. It blends with the landscape much better than the sacking. Even one layer of this cuts the wind quite effectively.

This winter-wrap can be tied around the plant with twine, but it holds better if you staple it to a frame of wooden stakes.

Some people use this winter-wrap to protect their coniferous hedges against the damage caused by the salt used on streets.

If the fabric is stretched across posts in front of the hedge, it makes a very effective barrier against the salt, and is well worth the one-time investment.

--Canwest News Service

Stuart Robertson
November 9

Renovation & Design

A floor so beautifully unique it will floor you

Part sculpture, part mosaic, part Zen retreat, the floor inside the bedroom of this Calgary condo is everything flooring usually isn't. Put simply: It's a work of art.

It sparkles in the sun, appearing to flow serenely between the queen-size bed and a bank of custom-built maple cabinets. It collides with the rest of the room's red oak hardwood like waves hitting a beach. It looks like a Japanese stream, but it's not water.

Made of flattened sand (the part that looks wet) and white pebbles preserved under a clear epoxy finish, the waterproof, resurfaceable floor is a prototype for Calgary artist Paul Lloyd.

He's added three dimensions to it by strategically placing four hand-ground stones of Carrera marble that rise above the epoxy, giving the illusion of worn stepping stones across a glistening curve of water.

Look closely and you'll see tiny shells that seem to lap against the marble. It's perfect inside this spare, modern space because it's been custom-designed for it.

"It is a piece of art and designed that way," says Lloyd, a self-taught artist and woodworker with an inventive streak, who's dabbled in the arts for 20 years.

"We wanted something that was continuous, we didn't want something broken into bricks or tiles," Lloyd explains when asked how he and the homeowner came up with the idea for a floor that looked fluid.

He also needed to find a material light enough so the floor wouldn't require additional engineering.

"It was a creative journey because everything had to be developed. It was a matter of, how do I do that?"

Good question.

Lloyd, trained as a chemical engineer, developed his bent for artistry during a seven-year stint in Sydney, Australia, where he launched a company that specialized in decorative boxes, vases and address books for the gift market.

After moving back to Canada, and a short stint in IT, the 44-year-old found a way to marry his entrepreneurial skills and creativity with the design aspect of being an engineer. Custom woodwork called, followed by flooring.

His initial goal was modest: Find a way to bring artwork and personality into the structure of a home instead of merely hanging it on the walls. A floor is a floor; how do you bring variety and interest to it?

After deciding on a Japanese stream for the Calgary condo, Lloyd took six months to develop the floor, two of which were spent testing out different products.

Along the way he discovered new techniques in custom floors he believes will appeal to a niche market. He realized his flooring lends itself to many different applications -- depending on the client, he could incorporate fabrics, handmade paper or even semi-precious stones into the surface where people place their feet, rarely looking down.

As far as Lloyd knows, flooring like his doesn't exist on the market.

"The closest I've seen are one or two artists in Calgary who do paintings on the floor and then cover them with a thin coat of epoxy," he says.

Are homeowners ready to walk all over its art?

"Designers are very interested in seeing something new and different," says Lloyd.

So are Calgarians, who are always looking for unique ways to put a personal stamp on interiors.

The only caveat: Any client must appreciate quality workmanship and understand the time it takes to develop a custom floor, since, in a way, each floor would end up being a prototype.

Says Lloyd: "In this marketplace, especially on the upper end, people want originality in their homes.

"People like to put their personality and image into their homes. It's an outward projection of their accomplishments."

Paul Lloyd can be reached by e-mail at pjlloydtelus.net.

--Canwest News Service

Lisa Kadane
November 9

Renovation & Design

Not So Big idea spreads 'all over the world'

It's been a decade since a soft-spoken architect from North Carolina shook up the sometimes haughty world of design and architecture with her hugely popular book, The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live.

Sarah Susanka demystified architecture and injected every-day sensibilities into the sometimes dry theories behind why one space feels delightful while another comes across as dark and poky.

Then she launched a campaign against the proliferation of the big, bland McMansions that builders were hurrying to build in suburbs across the United States during the boom of the late 1990s and the seemingly insatiable years of the new millennium.

"There is very little living going on in the living rooms of new homes," the woman who has been called a cultural visionary told delegates at a gathering of the International Home Builders' Association in Orlando, Fla., in 2005.

Huge, two-storey living rooms are noisy and impersonal, said Susanka, who was named a top newsmaker in 2000 by Newsweek. Instead, it would make sense to cut back homes by one-third the square footage and inject the savings into finishing details such as window seats, away rooms and lowered ceilings to create intimate spaces. Concentrate on sustainable, energy-smart designs, Susanka told the giant gathering of builders from across North America and Europe.

Remember, this was before the housing crisis surrounding the subprime was a blip on anyone's radar.

In the process, the architect with a zealot's determination started a housing revolution, popularizing design and convincing a growing number of builders to adopt her smaller-is-better strategies.

She followed up the first book with a collection of six Not So Big books on renovations, gardens and how to have a satisfying not-so-big life. Her message: Ratchet back on activities and the business factor and concentrate on the moment.

In life and design, Susanka speaks to quality, not quantity, to details, not big, empty spaces.

During the past decade, she has gathered a loyal and growing army of buyers and builders.

Susanka translated architectural talk into popular, people talk, says Jacques Hamel, former chair of Ottawa's Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee and the city's committee of adjustment.

"There is no doubt Susanka popularized design and the feeling of being in a space and understanding why certain spaces felt good," says the Ottawa architect. "She's marvellous at articulating architectural talk."

Before Susanka, American architect Christopher Alexander laid down the concepts of good design in his book Patterns of Language, says Hamel. Susanka made good design even easier to understand.

Ottawa custom builder and top renovator of 2008, Steve Barkhouse is more direct.

"Sarah Susanka made it sexy to be smart and thoughtful about good design, about creating a sustainable house or a flex house that changes with a family's needs," says the owner of Amsted Construction and a Susanka fan who renovated his own bungalow in the Kanata community of Beaverbrook. Barkhouse won a "green" award for his design.

Earlier this fall, Susanka came out with the 10th anniversary edition of her first Not So Big House book.

"What has changed is that the Not So Big message is spreading, not only in the United States, but all over the world," she writes in the book's final chapter. "I've discovered that the starter castle phenomenon that I'd believed was unique to the United States is, in fact, a problem almost everywhere in the developed world. China, Russia, the Middle East and Australia are all grappling with the same set of questions as we are: Is this what we really want? How can we design better homes for the way we really live? How do we make them energy efficient and build them sustainably?"

"The approach to the development of the new blueprint described in the Not So Big House has offered a road map not only for enthusiastic homeowners but also for architects, designers, builders and developers looking to find a desirable alternative to the standard bigger is better house plan."

Then Susanka took a close look at three homeowners who were inspired by her first book, and walked through the top 10 characteristics of a Not So Big House certain to make one feel at home. They include making spaces personal, fitting a new home neatly into a neighbourhood, rethinking a floor plan to make it change with a family, changing ceiling heights, including a private room or space, creating interior views, having a sense of shelter, paying attention to details, walking toward the light and, finally, wrapping all of the pieces together under one snug roof.

Mostly, Susanka's success came because she threw open the doors and windows of good design to Joe and Josephine, the buyers.

The Not So Big House: A Blueprint For The Way We Really Live, Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition is published by Taunton Press and costs $32. It's the ideal gift for anyone buying their first, third or 10th home.

--Canwest News Service

Sheila Brady
November 9

Renovation & Design

The personal touch

Those glossy furniture catalogues in your mailbox offer a pleasant vision of home decorating. They show how easy it is to order up a stylish, thoughtfully designed living space where everything blends smoothly.

But where do you fit in that equation? Some of us live in homes that look "very Ikea" or "very Pottery Barn," but express nothing at all about the people who live there.

"You take more ownership of the space when you put it together yourself," says interior designer Janine Carendi. But "retail stores... have created an environment that makes it easy for people to buy an ensemble. So oftentimes the home does look (right) out of the showroom."

Design experts say adding a dose of personal expression to your living space is simpler and far cheaper than you might think.

Go shopping at home

Designer Brian Patrick Flynn is a huge fan of mixing old and new items to give rooms texture. Search your attic, basement and garage for hand-me-downs and relics from your childhood.

"Find any sentimental object with character, personality or a great story," he says, "and make it the centrepiece of a space."

An old side table that belonged to your parents might look great next to the new sofa you bought last year. And don't be afraid to make inherited pieces your own: "Maybe a piece of furniture your grandmother gave you is not the prettiest colour," says Carendi. Try spray-painting or staining it a new shade.

Designer Mallory Mathison suggests placing a stack of your favourite books in the living room. What we read speaks volumes about us.

It's also fun, she says, to explore your home in search of collections you don't know you have. Got one pretty clock on a table in your bedroom, another in a hallway and a third in your living room? Group them together, and it's a collection.

Seek inspiration in unexpected places: "Look in your closet," Carendi says. "Do you really like patterns? Or a solid colour? Bring that into your space."

Find new uses for textiles that have history, says Flynn. Cover throw pillows with fabric from the prom dress you can't part with. Or frame a swatch of that Hawaiian shirt you wore in college. Flynn's duvet cover is made partly from a Halloween costume he wore as a child.

Flea market finds

Don't have any hand-me-downs? Comb flea markets and antique shops for pieces that grab your attention or evoke memories.

"Looking for things that strike you is more important than saying, 'I'm looking for a 30-inch-high table that's round,"' says Mathison.

Carendi says flea markets are great for things like frames, mirrors and tables. A bit of glossy spray paint and a $5 item becomes a great focal point for a room. Second-hand sofas and chairs can be riskier, since the stuffing may be past its prime.

When professionals decorate a room, the best parts are often the one-of-a-kind pieces, says Flynn. Be a little daring, he says, and go as kitschy as you please -- even if it means buying a garden gnome for $10.

"If it makes you laugh and it makes you happy, buy it. It adds personality, and you can't get that at the big box stores."

Get artsy

There may be a local artist whose work strikes you and doesn't cost much. Or homeowners can buy a canvas and "explore their own artistic urges," says Mathison.

And while you have the paint out, she says, try stencilling family members' monograms on their bedroom walls or headboard.

Give photos a facelift

Having pictures around is important, says Carendi. But the trend of printing several shots in black and white and displaying them in matching frames is getting old. Mix photos from different times in your family's history, says Mathison, and use several frame styles.

Technology gives us the freedom to add our own artistic take to old photos: "I like to take old photos and have them blown up to enormous scale," Flynn says. "Or take a photo and crop it to maybe just show one side of your grandmother holding her favourite purse."

Where have you been?

Use items that recall places you've been or that were gathered during your travels, says Mathison. Consider framing postcards or maps of cities you've enjoyed visiting or favourite places you've lived. Some maps are free to download and cost just a few cents to print.

Your hometown paper may have vintage photos of your birthplace that they're willing to share or sell for a small fee. Your favourite resort may have a promotional photo of their most spectacular view. Call and ask if they'll e-mail you the image, and then frame it alongside your own candid shots.

The final touch? Carendi suggests regularly lighting candles in your favourite scent to create a signature fragrance for your home.

Simple as these projects are, they can change the look and feel of your home. "As you choose accessories and artwork, they become a story," Carendi says. "And you take more ownership of the space because you put it together."

Melissa Rayworth
November 9

Renovation & Design

Don't sweat the small space

Today's new condominiums and town-homes are designed on a smaller footprint that has changed the way our homes are furnished. At first, the options for decorating were decidedly modern. Small spaces were thought to be best suited to the sleek, clean lines of pale woods and steel-based sofas, transparent or translucent glass and plastic tables, white walls and bleached floors. The minimal approach to design and decoration allowed the space to breathe, but it was often cold, and for traditionalists, this simply wasn't home.

I have designed a series of homes this past year that combine the best of both worlds, and these exciting spaces work brilliantly. High ceilings, crown mouldings and deep baseboards share all the traditions of older homes captured in today's modern vision. The living room in this elegant townhouse combines lofty design with the finest materials to ensure you feel cosseted and comfortable. To achieve the right balance, every square foot is considered, every corner utilized. When you are looking for solutions to the challenge of furnishing your small space, here are some guidelines that I followed with great success.

Begin with built-ins. Take a look at the wall space and any nooks and crannies that are produced by a chimney flue, heating ducts or supporting beams. They may leave an awkward corner or dead space that you can fill nicely with built-in cabinetry. Here, the fireplace is flanked by custom cabinets that fit the existing wall space and provide a stylish area for storage and display. The window seat is a natural extension and is practical use for the recessed space.

Select furniture that fits. This isn't always easy to find, but more and more designers are aware of the need for compact styles. And you can find what you are looking for in modern and traditional designs. Look for sofas and chairs that have no skirts or added frills. Open space below and around furniture always makes a room feel more airy. The upholstery will set the mood, and here you can swing from classic white cottons and brocades to supple claret leather and suede or funky fuzzy fuchsia. Some chairs and ottomans are also designed with built-in storage, which is a great solution for stashing away magazines, toys and extra cushions.

Mirrors are a decorator's best friend. Properly placed, a mirror reflects light and pushes out the walls. In this living room, the mirror above the sofa sits opposite the high window and widens the room. Its wood frame matches the detail on the sofa. Glass accessories and fixtures help to keep the ambiance bright. The wooden tables have glass inserts, which break up the solid tops and lighten their appearance.

Choose colours that suit the mood you want to achieve. If possible, select your most expensive items first, the sofa and chairs, and the floor and carpet, and then your wall colour. Paint is the easiest to change, and the least expensive part of your decorating budget. I love the look of dark hardwood floors; they suit contemporary and traditional styles and there is a rich, timeless quality that appeals to me. The dark floor grounds the room along with the wood furniture trim and tables. Pastel hues of the area carpet, creamy upholstery, white lamp shades and silky blue cushions provide large blocks of light, so I chose a muted grey blue for the walls. The neutral shade picks up colour from the room's furnishings and is kept fresh by the white trim.

Debbie Travis' House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.

Debbie Travis House to Home
November 9

Renovation & Design

Books can liven up your space -- but think outside the shelf

Books are a great decor accent. Whether they are featured in a grand built-in bookshelf or placed strategically on an accent table for effect, books make a room complete. Their varying sizes, colours and textural qualities alone make them great finishing items in most any room. When you see a great decor photo in a magazine, no doubt a few books have been purposefully placed to add some personality into the space. A room without books can feel incomplete.

Bookshelves

Book lovers know how quickly their collection can overtake their space. What does one do with all of those books? If you have the space, built-in bookshelves can be a great addition to the home. Well-made, well-designed, quality woodwork will increase your home's resale value so it's worth the initial investment. If you are surrounded by piles of books, having custom cabinets installed will enhance your home and solve your storage problems while keeping your treasured books within easy reach. There's nothing worse than having to store books away in an attic or closet. If your family room needs focus, bookshelves flanking a plain fireplace will make for a stunning focal wall while showcasing the fireplace. In some cases, built-in bookshelves flanking a window can be dramatic and will provide the option for a cozy window seat for reading. In an attic bedroom with sloped ceilings, built-in bookshelves will make short work of otherwise useless space on the short vertical walls under the dormer ceiling. If you don't think you have enough room for built-ins, think about using unused spaces like areas under stairways, underused closets or spaces overhead. If you have high ceilings, a set of long shelving planks mounted on decorative brackets can be wrapped around a room near the ceiling to hold your books. A decorative ladder leaning in the corner would be a great touch. You'd have to have an actual working stepladder in order to be able to reach the books on this high shelf so it's a good idea to use this shelf for books that are used less often. Decorative shelving like this was popular in Victorian times in a formal dining room and might be perfect if you have an older home.

Tips for a great display

There is a trick to making a bookshelf look attractive. Yes, books with nice bindings help, but how you arrange them is really the key. You want to fill each shelf with a variety of items in various shapes, sizes and finishes. For example, on the top shelf you might have three hardcover books laying flat with a round decorative twig ball on top; next to that six matching books set upright and next to them a fern in a brass pot. The next shelf down you'll want to achieve a similar outcome with different objects and stagger them from the placement used above. You may have to play with the settings for a bit to decide what items are in scale with the overall look. Change things up every so often to keep the focal point looking fresh and interesting. Hint: Don't push the books back into the bookshelf, place them near the front of the shelf so that the bindings are at the forefront. You'll achieve a much cleaner look this way.

Books as accessories

Students living on campus or in a student dorm are usually low on funds but have an abundance of large, heavy textbooks. Because the books need to be in easy reach, consider using them in decorative piles as side tables or coffee tables. Place a serving tray on top to protect the books from spills and voila, you have furniture! This way, you don't have to buy these particular pieces of furniture and your books are displayed in a funky, eye-catching way. A stack of books can look quite nice depending upon what you're working with, so give it a try. If the books you have are not exactly pretty, you can still stack them up and drape them with decorative fabric to use as a side table or night stand. If you want a more uniform look you could cover your books with craft paper in a desired colour, such as black, for instance. Temporary book jackets like this can mask many flaws.

You don't have to be a student to use these ideas. In a den, porch or even the bedroom, stacks of large, hardcover books can make great occasional tables or nightstands. Easy to make and easy to break down and move.

Kids' books

Children's books come in all shapes and sizes so they are a little harder to store on a traditional bookshelf. The more decorative and popular books can be stored in plain view on slim plate railing placed around the room. Install the plate rail shelving in a fashion befitting the room and the needs of your child. You could, for instance, place several four-foot shelves in a stacked pattern on one wall and hang the two bottom shelves at your child's height so they can reach their favourite books at any time. The more fragile books can be placed on higher shelves for the grown-ups to get at story time. Because kids' books are so colourful and fun, having the books fronts on full display will make the room a fun place to be. No painting necessary! The books can do all of the work in that department.

Books are for more than just reading. Use them to expand your knowledge and beautify your space.

connieoliver@shaw.ca

Connie Oliver Room For Change
November 9

Renovation & Design

Pipe down those rumbling heating ducts

11Thank you for your time.

-- Christine McBride, e-mail

ANSWER -- As the heating season is now upon us, I thought this would be an excellent time to answer your question. Noisy forced-air heating systems are a common complaint and I will offer some advice for relief of this issue, which is usually nothing more than a nuisance.

There are two main causes of your noisy ducts, with one being within the scope of normal repairs and the other more difficult.

The first possibility is poorly secured or installation of the heating ducts and plenum on the heating system. This may have been an original defect when the home was built and did not become a problem until the newer furnace was installed. Since you have upgraded your furnace a few years ago I can safely assume that your home is more than 20 years old and it is unusual, but not unseen, to have poor-quality ducts originally installed. Most HVAC contractors employ good sheet metal technicians or licensed gas fitters who have the right tools and expertise to properly install ducts for a forced-air system. What is more likely, is that the ducts may have become loose or were poorly secured or installed at the time the new furnace was put in.

The way to check for this possibility is to follow the furnace warm-air ducting from the main plenum to the elbows or junctions where the branch ducting attaches. Push on the ducting gently to see if any movement occurs.

If there are loose or damaged supports between the floor joists, open joints in the ducts, or easily moving sections, then that is likely the cause.

This defect can often be rectified by adding additional support brackets, or tightening up the existing ones, to prevent movement of the ducts when the furnace fan engages.

In this same light, a problem with the ducting may have occurred when your new furnace was installed. To accommodate this upgrade, the old plenum from the original furnace would have to be disconnected and a new connection made between the new furnace and the main duct. The housing for the new furnace is usually much smaller than for the old one, often requiring substantial retrofitting of the metal ducts. To accomplish this with minimal disruption to the old ducts requires substantial skill. Sometimes, the old ducting may have been partially unsecured from the floor joists to ensure a proper fit with the new sections. If this is not properly re-fastened, there could be significant looseness, which may cause the ducts to rattle when the furnace comes on. Also, vibration from the exhaust fan or blower fan of the new unit may cause more movement in the ducting than the previous furnace.

If the ducting in the basement is obviously loose or has significant movement when tested, simple repairs may solve your problem. If the ducts are mostly hidden behind a finished ceiling in the basement or in walls in the home, these repairs may be tougher to diagnose and difficult to rectify. In those situations, little may be done without major demolition or removal of wall and ceiling coverings, which is likely not warranted.

The other possibility for the new noise is simply due to a higher-quality air-movement system in your new furnace. Most new furnaces have much more efficient and powerful blowers than old ones and the noise you hear may be caused simply by an increased volume of air moving through the ducts. Also, the faster air may be heating the cool ducts more rapidly than the old blower, causing the ducting to expand rapidly. This thermal expansion and contraction is often the cause of banging noises and can be quite noticeable.

The problem of noisy air movement from your new furnace is likely emanating from the old ducting, so visual inspection for obvious defects may allow you to fix the problem with minimal effort. If the ducting is hidden, or the problem is not apparent after your personal evaluation, calling a licensed heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractor to look for solutions is the way to go. This may be done as part of annual servicing on the heating system or as a separate service call.

Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors -- Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be e-mailed or sent to: Ask The Inspector, P.O. Box 69021, #110-2025 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB. R3P 2G9. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.

trainedeye@iname.com

November 9

Renovation & Design

Home Divas share passion for decorating

What do you get when you cross two Susan's, two Sharon's and a Nadine, add in a passion for home decorating and top it off some wine and chocolate? They're called The Home Divas.

In the fall of 2002, the group of five women got together through a mutual friend and formed a group to socialize and discuss all things home-related. The common denominator was a passion for home decorating and design. Today, the group is still going strong and doing more than ever to fuel their love of house projects.

"Some people have book clubs, this is something different," says Kuz. "We share the same interests and learn from one another."

While none of the women have any formal training in decorating or design, they do have a wealth of knowledge from combined experience that they bring together through this group. Susan Kuz and her husband undertook a massive renovation that completely transformed their home with a big focus on making it environmentally-friendly. Sharon Vogel, another "Diva", and her husband have built three new homes for their family.

Six years ago, the group started out as a decor group. The women would get together going to each other's homes to solve decorating dilemmas. When Vogel was immersed in the building process of her latest house, for example, she turned to The Home Divas for advice on everything from paint colours to carpet and counter choices. If someone was planning a move, the group would offer advice on what to fix or upgrade to improve the sale of the home.

Those home meetings, which included a healthy dose of wine, good food and conversation, evolved to include "field trips". The women regularly attend events such as the Home Expressions show en masse and they've made trips to places like a local nursery, where they had what Vogel calls a "plant purchasing party" to help select plants for each other's gardens. Today, they meet about once a month, sometimes more, depending on what's happening in any given month. Over the years, they've covered everything from whole home renovations to landscaping, heating systems and new home building.

Word has started to spread about The Home Divas. People have heard about the group and many have called the Divas to ask for home decorating and renovation advice. Several people who have purchased homes with the intention of renovating and flipping them have invited the group to do a "walk through" of their house to share their ideas and advice before they embark on the project.

"We all notice different things," notes Kuz. "We feed off each other and each of us has a special area of interest."

"It's like having a mini focus group," adds Vogel, who works in marketing and communications. "This is pure fun for us and we are willing to share what comes to mind."

The five women have diverse backgrounds and come from different areas of the city, so they combine to offer a well-rounded perspective on any given project.

But it's not all about consultation and discussion. The Home Divas make sure they have time to socialize and visit.

"It's really about celebrating our friendship and sharing our passion," says Vogel. "Life is too short to drink bad wine or put off creating a home that inspires, soothes and makes you happy."

When asked what advice they have for home owners, the pair is quick to point out that decorating doesn't have to be expensive. If you do your homework and take the time to shop around, you can get some great deals. Simply painting a room is another way to make a drastic change without spending the big bucks.

Kuz also places a lot of importance on the "bones" of a house. She says a lot of attention is now being placed on creating a more environmentally-friendly home and living "green".

"There are a lot of green products out there and people are using other products in different ways," she notes. "Think about are you going to be comfortable in your home and what are you putting into it?"

Vogel's advice is not to follow what's hot or trendy, but rather what you like. She says you need to find ways of expressing yourself through your home.

"Your home is an expression of you," she says. "It's not about replicating a magazine -- it's about who you are."

The Home Divas are now exploring new ways to share their love of decorating and offer their advice and experience to others. If you're interested in getting in touch with the group, you can email Kuz at susan@yourhomedivas.com.

tracey.thompson@mts.net

Tracey Thompson Around the Market
November 9