Renovation & Design

Renovation & Design

Hot ideas for warmer space

1111--Miriam

DEAR Miriam -- I recently designed and decorated a series of new homes imbued with a winning combination of my favourite traditional and modern elements. Even though many homes today are being built without a formal dining area due to space restrictions, I believe if you can have on, do it. We create our best memories around the table when we celebrate with family and friends.

The dining area shown here radiates with a welcome, lively spirit that will enhance any meal or special event. There is a timeless quality to the high ceilings and tall window. Traditional maple hardwood floors are a little lighter, and baseboards are higher than the standard builder size. The colour palette and furniture design are decidedly modern, but the punchy wallpaper's peach tones and floral pattern have a hint of nostalgia about them. A sleek grey dining set does not overcrowd the small space. Imaginative lighting options such as a linear crystal chandelier are classic updates that will steal the show. You don't say whether you are keeping your furniture, but one or two colour changes will give new life to what you have.

DEAR Debbie -- I am trying to update my boyfriend's formal living room to be more inviting. (Our wedding is in two months.) Right now it's white walls, oatmeal carpet, couch and loveseat patterned navy blue, maroon wing chair, ornately trimmed wood coffee and end tables. I don't know whether to add plants, rearrange seating area or add some extras. Please help.

--Deb

DEAR Deb -- Merging styles is a hot topic. You have two challenges. The first is how to make changes that will suit both you and your fiancÈ, which calls for more than a dollop of diplomacy and compromise. The second is the decorating challenge of updating a traditional style - that's the easy bit!. The least expensive option is to apply a new paint colour to the walls. Even a subtle change will freshen the look. The traditional palette is filled with warm and inviting shades; try a sand beige base coat, and roll on a coat of pearlescent glaze over the top for a luster that shimmers beautifully in night lights. Check out your lighting store in person or on line for inspiration. Choose a new table or floor lamp together and you'll have a winning combination of timely and nostalgic. I do think you should have some natural splashes of green with plants. To keep this modern, add three or four similar sized plants in modern pots (steel or painted terra cotta) in a symmetrical pattern on a shelf, fireplace or even the floor.

DEAR Debbie -- We have a small 1-bedroom apartment. For the living dining area I have picked out a khaki green and one shade darker for a focal wall. I'm not sure what wall to make the focal wall, the back wall of the dining room or the wall behind the sofa in the living room. Thank you.

--Crystal

DEAR Crystal -- I suggest you paint the main living area the lighter shade, and add the more dramatic, darker green to your dining room wall. Dining rooms are more apt to be theatrical spaces, and this is a great way to build character, and to draw attention to the change in mood.

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
October 5

Renovation & Design

Treat scale with dormant oil in winter

11

ANSWER -- I know I have answered this question in the past, but I seem to be getting many questions about this problem again so I thought we should readdress the issue.

Scale is an insect that really does not look like an insect. In fact, most times it does not look like an animal but rather a fungus. The appearance is that of many whitish spots dotting a branch or trunk. If you pick off one of the white spots you will see a critter hiding inside the armoured shell. It is this shell that makes the insect almost impossible to control with conventional insecticides. The insecticides cannot penetrate the protective covering.

It is the adults that you find in the armour.

The young "crawlers" can be treated with insecticide, but you have to apply it at just the right time to get them. This is almost impossible. The only thing you can do is to apply a product called dormant oil in the winter, well before spring. The oil will suffocate the insects in their shells. You may need to reapply. Make sure you follow the manufacturer's directions carefully as this product can damage your shrubs if not used correctly.

QUESTION -- I was wondering if my Virginia creeper vine could be wintered in the garage in the original pot -- the garage is not heated, but is insulated. Or should I just plant it in the ground? If so, when?

ANSWER -- The answer with overwintering plants in containers in our area is the same as always. Perhaps.

Much depends on the type of winter we get and how well insulated the roots are. Wrapping the container in insulation (fibreglass) will help. Keeping it in the garage will help.

If the soil gets overly dry you may have to mist it as well. The best way of ensuring survival, by far, is to plant it in the ground. This eliminates the temperature variations that occur with a containerized plant in the winter.

QUESTION -- Could you give an opinion on the following gardening problems? Some of our tomatoes, when ripe, have rotten spots on the bottom. Also, the top leaves of our golden elder tree are turning brown.

ANSWER -- Some golden elders are prone to sunburn. If the plant is in full sun this might be one of many causes.

The tomato problem is likely blossom end rot. Blossom end rot is a physiological problem with tomatoes and zucchini. The first symptom is the appearance of what looks like a water-soaked area at the bottom of the fruit. This area continues to deteriorate turning black/brown and shrivelling, leaving a leathery sunken area. It is caused by a lack of calcium. This does not necessarily mean that the soil is deficient in calcium; it may simply mean that calcium has not been able to be taken up by the plant.

This lack of uptake could be caused by several factors:

Lack of steady moisture during periods of drought. It is critical to keep tomatoes moist at all times, and this is especially true when the fruits are setting and developing. Using a clay pot in a hot location could be a contributing factor. Clay pots are notorious for drying out more quickly than plastic pots because the clay is much more porous.

The plant needs calcium to develop fruit properly and that calcium is dissolved in soil water. If water is lacking then so is the calcium. Thus, you can have a calcium deficiency and yet have a good source of calcium in the soil.

Rapidly growing plants are more prone to the problem because fast growth requires an abundant supply of water and calcium. Also, excess nitrogen can contribute to the problem by excessively speeding up growth.

Transplanting tomatoes into cold soil may contribute to calcium deficiency because the organisms that convert calcium into a usable form are not as active in cold soils.

Cultivating deeply around tomatoes can damage roots and cause a lack of water and calcium uptake.

Tips to avoid blossom rot:

Keep soil moist but not sopping wet. Excess water is just as bad as not enough.

Mulching will help maintain even soil moisture.

Shallow, frequent cultivation is best.

Adequate but not excessive nitrogen.

--Canwest News Service

Gerald Filipski
October 5

Renovation & Design

Can pesky basement teleposts be removed? Moving those supports tricky business

111The design of our basement is L-shaped, due to the attached garage. I have no problem with the posts below the back beam, which spans the full 47-foot width of the house. However, the two support beams at the front of the house are only 21 feet long, spaced 10 feet apart. These beams each have a single post near the centre, which are very inconveniently located.

The beams are made up of four thicknesses of 2x10 lumber. The floor joists are professionally manufactured for a "squeak-proof" floor. The floor sheathing is glued and screwed to the floor joists.

I have received several suggestions as to how we could safely remove the teleposts. One suggestion was to have two metal plates put on each side of the wood beams, bolted tightly together. Another suggestion was to remove the wood beam completely and replace it with a steel I-beam.

My husband is very concerned about removing these beams, as they are cemented into the concrete foundation walls. In our previous home we had the beam that ran the full 40-foot length of the house removed and replaced with a steel I-beam. That was the only beam in the house. In the 25 years that we lived there, we had no problems.

I would appreciate any suggestions you can give me with this problem.

-- Rita Borthwick, Winnipeg

ANSWER -- Many homeowners have the same concerns as you, with troublesome posts preventing practical use or development of their basement's living space. Unfortunately, removal or relocation is not a simple matter, due to the specific design of the home's support structure. Care must be taken to reinforce or replace the beam properly, to prevent sagging in the floor system and damage to the structure of the home.

As you have discovered with your previous home, removal of the nuisance teleposts is not beyond the realm of possibility, but you may not recall the difficulty in replacement of the wood beam with a steel one. Your husband is correct that it may be tricky to remove the original wood beam from the pocket created in the original concrete foundation and replace it with one of a different size and material. Your idea of using larger steel I-beams to replace the wooden ones may be possible, but installation may be very tricky. Wood beams are typically constructed by laminating shorter pieces of dimensional lumber, to create the appropriate sized components. This is easily done during initial construction, and may not be difficult even after the home is partially finished, due to the shorter lengths of wood. Steel beams, on the other hand, are mostly installed as a single component that will span the entire distance between the foundation walls.

For the above reason, it may be fairly straightforward to install a steel I-beam in a new home under construction, due to easy access to the foundation. In a finished home, like yours, it may not be possible to transport a 21-foot-long beam into the basement. Also, the weight of such large steel members may require the use of a crane for lifting the beams into the location for installation. Because your home is a side-by-side condominium bungalow, access to one side of the foundation may not even be possible, without permission from your next-door neighbour. Getting access to the non-shared side of the foundation may be just as tough, due to the proximity of the adjacent unit in the condo complex.

For these reasons, reinforcing the existing beams is a better option for possible removal of the teleposts. Bolting steel angles to the existing wood beams may be one option, but the limitations of this may be similar to those for I-beam installation. Adding more wood or wood-composition beams to the existing ones may be the simpler and less costly alternative. Just like the floor joists in your home are manufactured from wood fibre components to span specific distances, manufactured beams are also available for use in house construction. Because of their design, these components may be able to span larger distances than dimensional lumber. Laminating these manufactured joists to the existing ones may allow removal of the teleposts, without costly and difficult removal of those already in place.

Since you have supplied me with a small version of the original foundation and beam plan for review, you will notice one critical item on this drawing. There is a small round stamp, signed by a registered structural engineer, in the bottom right corner. This verifies that the components of the floor structure have been reviewed by a professional engineer to ensure that these items can properly carry the loads needed to prevent structural damage to the home, under normal use. Any modifications to this plan must be further reviewed by an engineer to meet the same criteria. Especially with manufactured floor systems, scrutiny by an engineer familiar with the properties of these components is critical before any modifications are made.

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

Ari Marantz Ask the inspector
October 5

Renovation & Design

Even cheap facelift can make big difference

If you're not ready for a full-scale renovation, a mini facelift can make your home feel fresh again.

With a modest investment in improvements, such as paint, lighting, linens, cushions and slipcovers, you'll see your home and existing furniture through new eyes. Simply re-arranging the pieces, and perhaps eliminating one or two pieces can also re-energize a tired room.

Designers say paint is the easiest and most cost-effective way to transform a space.

"Paint the walls, or one wall, or a key piece of a wall, or a fireplace mantel, or just the bulkheads -- you get the idea," says designer Joanne Padvaiskas, founder of Wow Great Place, with offices in Ottawa and Montreal.

"When you change your wall colour, the relationship of the existing pieces of furniture changes completely," she says. And subtle hues in fabric and artwork may become more visible as they play against a new colour.

Lighting can also transform a space, says Padvaiskas. "Even changing the bulbs can change how the room feels. Put as much as you can on dimmers -- put a dimmer in the bathroom for your next long soak in the tub. Think about where you need and want light."

If light fixtures or lamps and lampshades feel dated, shop for new ones at the nearest big box store -- there are some real bargains out there.

Next, consider how your furniture is arranged. "I've done lots and lots of spaces where we simply spent an hour or two rearranging the furniture. It amazes people how different the room will look and feel."

She may pull a sofa away from the walls, or create groupings of furniture in a larger room, but she never neglects traffic patterns and the way her clients use the space. If you're acting as your own designer, remember to make yourself at home: it's your place, not a furniture showroom.

Sometimes an unloved piece of furniture can blossom in another room. Chairs are the most versatile. They can live almost anywhere in the home, says Padvaiskas.

Chests of drawers are also good travellers. "They can act as a console or a dining room buffet. And I almost always remove the mirror on a bedroom dresser, and either hang it above the dresser on the wall, or use it in a different room. Just because the pieces were bought as a set doesn't mean they always have to live in the same room. Matchy-matchy can be bland."

New linens in a bedroom, and fresh towels in the bathroom are, of course, instant improvements.

Last, but not least, don't forget to pay attention to your foyer and front door. The foyer should be welcoming but also practical, with a place to drop keys and mail and slip off outdoor footgear

As for the front door, "It gives the world an idea of who lives inside. It is the face of the house," Ms. Padvaiskas says. The colour has to work with the facade of the house, of course, but it's an opportunity for bold colour: "Classic black, fire engine red, warm yellow, navy or royal blue, even deep eggplant, all make gorgeous front door colours."

--Canwest News Service

Lin Connery
October 5

Renovation & Design

Battle of the bathroom

This one is for the couples out there who share one small bathroom with their partner and are finding it to be a bone of contention. By couples I mean everything from a husband and wife to roommates to parent and sibling to spouses. No one is exempt from the small bathroom battle.

Sharing any small space can be difficult but with the bathroom it's personal in more ways than one. Each person wants their time and space in the bathroom. This can be anywhere from 10 minutes for necessary functions to an hour for a relaxing bath. When schedules don't jive, battles begin. When space is at a premium the boundaries overlap and chaos can ensue.

Well, maybe I'm overstating things a bit but there are ways to alleviate tension and create more bathroom bliss when sharing one small bathroom.

Scheduling

This is huge, especially in the morning. If each of you needs to get in the bathroom in the morning at the same time of course this is going to cause turmoil. Why start your busy day harried and stressed before you even get out the door? If one of you can get up even ten minutes earlier to start the bathroom process ahead of the other you'll save yourself a lot of headaches. Some grooming processes can be done the night before which will free up valuable morning bathroom time.

Too many functions in the space

Small bathrooms just aren't conducive to all of the rituals one could normally cram into a larger space. Some functions, like putting on makeup and hair styling, could be set up in another room (like the bedroom) to free up bathroom space and time. A simple vanity in a corner of the bedroom can be set up for these necessary daily rituals thus freeing up bathroom time and valuable space.

Doubling up

Counter space and elbow room are sparse in a small bathroom so having a simple system in place to alleviate overflowing countertops, wet towels on the floor and so on will help keep the space clean and your nerves calm. A few things that you can do is to have two of the things you might be vying for. Two mirrors is a good idea. One at the sink and a second full length one behind the bathroom door (or wherever you can fit one) will give each person a little breathing room and will brighten up the space at the same time. Even a pull-out wall mirror can be helpful and usually has a magnified mirror on one side for putting on makeup. A second towel bar or ring (I prefer towel bars as the towels dry better on them) will help keep your mate's towels from being under your feet. Adding decorative hooks for items like bath robes is also a great idea. Even if the items hang in plain view, at least they're not on the floor. It is a bathroom after all so having items like bathrobes in plain view is not a crime and might actually give the space a spa-like feeling.

If you have the space to install second sink and/or a larger vanity then by all means do so. Two sinks will enable you to each do your thing at the same time saving time and possibly your relationship! If you have the option to install a sink and vanity in your bedroom, as in our feature photograph, even better. More and more designers are blurring the lines of the bathroom and bedroom areas and are placing more bathroom items right into the bedroom. Claw foot tubs, shower stalls and the like can be found right in the master bedroom in many new designs.

If a second sink/vanity is not an option, you can lessen the dispute over counter space in a couple of ways. One idea would be to purchase a small caddy for each person in which to keep their essentials, like hair brushes, hair spray and so on. This caddy can be stored in the bathroom (if you have the space) or kept in another area and brought into the bathroom as needed. Installing additional storage units on the wall might be another option. Each person gets a designated space and everything is out of sight when the cupboard doors are closed. Hanging storage, like wire basket trios, can hold items like hair brushes, bath supplies, face cloths and bar soap for easy access and will not affect the small footprint of the room.

If your laundry room is in the basement, see if you can install a laundry chute in the bathroom or in close proximity (like in a closet floor) so that the wet laundry can be sent out of sight immediately and down to the laundry room in the basement. This will help keep the space tidy.

connieoliver@shaw.ca

Connie Oliver Room For Change
September 28

Renovation & Design

A mosaic of beauty

A few months ago I wrote a column about mosaic tiles. There is a resurgence of interest in this ancient art form; we are seeing stunning mosaic work decorating bathrooms, kitchen backsplashes and floors. The number of enthusiastic responses I received via e-mail prompted me to revisit the topic. I heard from mosaic artists who were pleased to be recognized, and who wanted to add valuable tips and suggestions for other projects. And I also heard from adventurous readers who were each inspired to embark on a mosaic project of their own for the first time.

If you are lucky enough to live near a studio that offers classes as well as all the supplies you require, then take the time to drop in and soak up the ambiance. At the Mosaic Beach Studio, www.mosaicbeach.com, I was totally inspired by all the aids available to help anyone turn out a professional mosaic project, including a series of wrought iron tables, trivets, wood trays, vases, terra cotta pots and mirrors. There are also moulds for coasters, square plaques and garden stones.

Here are some tips from the pros. If your mosaic project is on an area that is difficult to reach or work on for a prolonged period of time, such as a backsplash, wall or floor, use the mesh method of applying the tiles. Draw your design on a piece of craft paper and tape it to your work table. Cover the craft paper with plastic film, then a sheet of mosaic mesh and tape down. Cut your tiles and use a bit of Weldbond to glue them in place on the mesh. You will be able to see the design through the mesh. Remember to leave space for grout around each tile piece. Once the pattern is complete, you will be able to peel off the plastic covered pattern and it's ready to install.

For exterior tables that are going to be exposed to harsh winters, use exterior grade plywood and cover it with a sheet of concrete board. Wood alone will contract and expand, which will ruin your mosaic. For all exterior projects, weldbond, exterior grade silicone or thinset mortar are the recommended adhesives.

Grouting is very important, it frames each tile and can ruin your work if it isn't applied well. Always use sanded grout, which comes in powder form and you add water to mix. It is recommended for all projects, inside and out. You can colour the grout with a little acrylic paint or tint.

It is a good idea to seal the grout on surfaces that may stain - table tops, trays, and floors. Choose a good quality sealer and apply until the grout no longer absorbs it. Reseal on an annual basis. Epoxy resin is an option if you want a super smooth, perfectly even surface.

To the reader who inquired about using mosaic tiles on her existing garden pavers, yes you can do this. Use thin set mortar to adhere the tiles and grout with a sanded grout. For those who want to apply tiles to glass, or laminate, yes to both. Apply a high quality primer to the laminate surface first for better adherence.

It's clear that this is a strong trend that not only looks great, but speaks to the artist in all of us.

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
September 28

Renovation & Design

Consider removing siding to reinsulate home

111 I have an older house built in 1902 with wood siding. I am in the process of having the walls insulated and this will result in numerous holes being drilled into the siding and then plugged with a wooden plug. My house is ready for some exterior work so the timing is good. My question is whether it would be better to paint or to cover the wood siding either with stucco or vinyl siding. There are spots of dry rot occurring in the siding and the plugs would all need to be sanded and filled with wood filler. I don't know whether covering the wood siding would stop the dry rot from going any further or if it would require repair as well. What would you feel is the best value for improving the exterior?

I appreciate any insight you might have.

---- Marlaine Willborn, e-mail

ANSWER -- You have posed a very interesting question that likely faces more and more people each year, as blown-in insulation increases in popularity. While I will address your question directly, I will also offer another alternative that you may not have explored.

The choice of repairing and painting the old wood siding or covering it with new material will largely depend upon your preference. There will be a large amount of work involved in any choice you make, so aesthetics and cost will be two factors you can use to make your decision. Patching & painting will likely be the least expensive option, as long as there are not too many rotten boards. It may be difficult to find an exact replica of the older siding, so that may only be a viable option if the siding is in fairly good condition. That choice will also be a good one if preserving the original look of the home is desired.

Covering the old wood siding after insulation will be a better option if the older material has considerable rot, badly peeling paint or loose sections. In that case, covering the damaged wood will improve the look substantially. Vinyl siding is one option that may mimic the original look most closely but is not the only choice. Stucco is another option that may be a more popular choice, but will change the look of the home considerably. There are hundreds of homes in our area that have older wood siding covered with stucco and many have retained a good appearance for decades. There are also newer types of finishes, such as cement composite siding or imitation stone, that have become more popular due to their durability and relative ease of installation, but will likely be more costly to install than the first two options.

All of these options will improve the look of the old siding considerably, but all will require one other modification to the home that will add cost and labour. Due to the added thickness of installing new siding over the old material, the window and door trim will have to be built up. All of the window and door trims or brick moulds will have to be furred out to extend beyond the new siding. Also, window and door flashings may have to be replaced with wider ones to accommodate the thicker trim. To eliminate the need for this or the alternative of extensive scraping and painting, another option should be explored.

Complete removal of the existing siding and sheathing and reinsulation with alternatives to blown-in insulation is another possibility. The benefit of this relatively labour-intensive option is that the windows and doors will not have to be extended and less costly insulation may be used. To blow insulation into existing wall cavities from the exterior, a large number of holes may have to be drilled and plugged, which will be fairly labour-intensive. Also, blown insulation may not have complete coverage if there is extensive blocking in the walls or existing insulation is in place. Often, older homes had wood shavings in the walls that have settled to the bottom and have poor insulation value. Adding more insulation by blowing in through small holes may not give complete coverage and could result in uneven insulation levels.

If all the siding and sheathing are removed, rigid insulation or a combination of batts and rigid insulation may be installed, giving excellent insulation levels. This may be less costly or similar in cost to blown-in and will have a higher insulation value and may reduce heating costs much more significantly. If you still desire high-quality blown-in foam insulation it can still be installed more completely from the exterior, after the siding is removed.

Several options have been suggested for the energy efficiency and comfort improvements you are planning, but the ultimate decision is yours. The final choice should be a combination of aesthetic appeal, cost-effectiveness and practicality that most closely suits your tastes.

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

Ari Marantz
September 28

Renovation & Design

Fall for <em>style</em>

Just because fall -- and, inevitably, winter -- are on the way, that doesn't mean you have to shelve your home decorating or renovation plans until spring.

Thanks to the Autumn Home Show -- which runs through today at the Winnipeg Convention Centre -- there will be an avalanche of ideas for aspiring home decorators and renovators to take from the drawing board to reality, says show organizer Ron Mark.

"We're very excited about bringing this show to Winnipeggers," he says. "Trust me, there's going to be a lot to take in. There will be over 100 exhibitors involved in the show who will be on hand give people ideas on what they can do, and how to make their home an oasis."

He adds the show's most prominent feature is a 1,600-square-foot Living Green & Beautiful home designed by Calnitsky Associates Architects and built by Malibu Building Group.

"It will be front-and-centre on the convention centre's third floor and will feature new green products, technologies and services. It will also illustrate how to incorporate them into your own projects," Mark explains. "Visitors will get a first-hand look at things like geothermal heating, solar panels, low V.O.C. (Volatile Off-Gasing Compounds) paints, even couches with low emission foam and bamboo kitchen cabinets. The idea is to show that you can live green and beautiful at the same time."

The Autumn Home Show's second component will be an Idea Stage, where four different panels will give presentations on diverse topics -- and conduct question-and-answer sessions.

"It's a great place to learn how to get started and to get energy saving tips, or the lowdown on the latest green products, such as dual-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads or even the best Energy Star-rated appliances on the market," he says. "Drop by, and you'll be amazed by how much you can learn about the little renovations and things that can not only upgrade your home, but make it greener."

Last but not least is Consult a Decorator, where show patrons can book a 15-minute appointment to get professional advice from a CDECA (Canadian Decorator's Association) accredited interior designer.

"This feature is free -- all you have to do is to go online (see Consult a Decorator link to view available time slots) to our website to book an appointment, or call us at 219-4442 to reserve your 15 minutes," he says. "Just bring your plans in with you to give the decorator a good idea of what you want to do and they'll be glad to get you pointed in the right direction."

There will also be a grand prize draw for a living room package donated by JS Furniture & More, says Mark.

"Just fill out an entry and drop it into the ballot box on the Idea Stage," he says. "Who knows, you might not only go home with all kinds of great home decorating and renovation ideas, but some fine furniture and accessories, too. It's going to be a great show."

Admission to the Autumn Home Show costs $10 (plus agency fee) for adults, $8 (plus agency fee) for students and seniors. For more information, see the show website at www.autumnhomeshow.ca

lewys@mts.net

Todd Lewys
September 28

Renovation & Design

Decorating for a cure

When Susan Sorbie and her husband Tom moved three months ago from Victoria to Comox, about three hours north, they thought they were starting a new chapter of their lives. After 30 years of marriage, Tom retired early to spend his days with Susan who at 50, had survived two nasty bouts with ovarian cancer.

But things didn't work out the way the B.C. couple had planned. Three weeks after they moved into their new home, Susan was diagnosed for the third time and they just didn't have the heart to set up their new house.

"It was so hard getting things organized," she says. "Getting chemo, there was a lot going on. It wasn't coming together."

Then Sorbie remembered an article she had read about a professional who donated a bedroom redesign to a woman with ovarian cancer.

The article told the story of two redesigners, Sharon Wood and Jan Laurie, who transformed Lelean MacFarlane's bedroom into a sanctuary where the single mother of two young boys could focus on her own health for a while.

Wood and Laurie are Vancouver Island-based members of the Canadian ReDesigners Association which, at Wood's suggestion, decided four years ago to offer free room makeovers to women going through or recovering from treatment for ovarian cancer.

Women in that situation can contact the Redesigners association who will set them up with a professional. In the four years they have been doing it, Wood estimates only a dozen women across the country have taken advantage of it. Since September is ovarian cancer month, the association decided to alert others to their service.

Wood's mother died of ovarian cancer and Wood knows how brutal the treatment can be. She wants to offer her skills to others so they can focus on healing in an environment free from stress or distraction.

MacFarlane's bedroom was her third such donation and MacFarlane, who was at the tail end of her treatment, was thrilled.

"To know that the support is still there and to have people still walking beside me was great," she said in an interview. "It had a huge impact on me in terms of moving forward from ovarian cancer to cancer-clear. It was such a gift."

Sorbie figured Wood would be inundated with requests from others and didn't expect she'd be available.

"But she e-mailed me back in 24 hours and said they would love to do it," Sorbie recalls.

So began an odyssey that saw Susan and Tom's bedroom transformed into a haven for healing.

In the month leading up to the makeover, Wood frequently e-mailed Sorbie with questions about what is important to her and what makes her feel happy or calm. From Nanaimo, Wood tried to plan a room that offered something for each of the senses.

Most of Wood and Laurie's redesigns have made do with what the homeowners already have. This was a great comfort for MacFarlane who never felt like she was in unfamiliar territory. Occasionally, Wood donated small items like a throw or new cushions. And sometimes she would encourage the owner to invest in something new like original art. But this time, Wood decided to involve the nearby community of Courtenay/Comox in the redesign and requested donations from local businesses. They responded with enthusiasm.

In Courtenay, 5th Street Florist donated a spectacular white orchid for the bedside table, Tab Imports provided draperies, Cody & Company in Courtenay gave some wall art and HomeSense in Nanaimo, which, through Winners, is already associated with ovarian cancer, came through with new bedding and lamps.

"I knew it would be touching," says Sorbie. "But I was actually really overcome with emotion. It really choked me up.

The designers had introduced a soft seafoam green into the room, which had been that ubiquitous beige. They removed some old furniture and brought in a chair.

"It really does feel like a sanctuary," says Sorbie. "It didn't feel like that before. It was just a place to sleep. Now I can sit and read. I can't associate ovarian cancer with being in that room."

Since her first diagnosis four years ago, Sorbie has had a complete hysterectomy causing chemical menopause, and lost her hair to chemotherapy. The treatments also caused nerve damage that made walking excruciating.

She felt like she'd lost all her femininity.

"When you get this disease, you know that family and friends will rally for you, but I have been so fortunate to have absolute strangers come forward. It just bolsters you, gives you that extra oomph. I feel like my heart and soul have been nourished," she says as tears well up.

For more information about this program, go to the Canadian ReDesigners Association website at canadianredesignersassociation.org.

-- Canwest News Service

Karen Gram
September 28

Renovation & Design

Curb appeal now key to home sales

A little bit of turf bisected by a sidewalk and surrounded by a laurel or pieris hedge used to be the standard landscaping a homeowner accepted when purchasing a newly constructed home. Now, a home needs to be staged inside for top dollar and the outside must have much more curb appeal.

No longer an afterthought, well-designed landscaping is high on the wish list for many home purchasers.

"I have sold homes to clients whose decision to purchase the home has been based more on the garden than on the house itself," says real estate agent Patrick Skillings.

Smart builders are spending close to 10 per cent of the cost of construction on landscaping these days. That figure includes all the hardscaping -- walkways, retaining walls, patios or terraces -- and turf, trees, plants and irrigation systems.

Steve Copp Construction just completed a modern home in the Victoria suburb of Gordon Head, that sits on a 15,000-square-foot waterfront lot with a northeast exposure. The task of landscape designer Rob Bond was to design a deer-proof, low-maintenance, low water-consumption garden that fit the site and the architecture of the house all within a set budget. Bond recommends that the sooner a landscape designer is brought into a project, the better he or she will be able to accomplish all those tasks.

Site, according to Bond, should always dictate what will happen. Although this property is waterfront, it is not a cold site since the prevailing winds come across the land and not the ocean. The site was basically flat with a steep drop to the beach.

The house sits approximately on the first third of the rectangular lot presenting a large, unadorned plane toward the street. Bond has softened this area with 12-year-old Cedrus libani (Cedar of Lebanon), an ornamental maple, phormium and Carex testacea- an evergreen grass. Woolly thyme clumps complete the neutral colour scheme, which in turn pulls out the colours in the rock face details of the house.

The cedars were chosen for their architectural shapes. They will grow taller than wide, casting narrow shadows -- important on a small lot. Conifers are underused, Bond says. As a group, they are more expensive than most deciduous trees used in residential landscaping but they are low-maintenance and are almost drought-tolerant once established.

The are no flowers and the garden has "empty" spaces where ground, aged fir bark mulch shows. Bond believes many new gardens are over-planted and will need plants removed within three years. This garden -- only one month old -- has great bones that can easily accommodate another layer of colour or texture if the homeowner chooses or it can easily mature naturally without anything else being added or subtracted. New owners need at least a year to assess how they want to live in the outdoor space.

The main door to the house is on the side of the building rather than on the street side. An exposed aggregate path leads to the door and then a more organic path of slate pavers continues toward the backyard. Bond purposely made this change to slow people down as they walk toward the views of the ocean.

Once in the backyard, a full 180-degree ocean view dominates. The challenge for a landscaper is to create enough drama to balance the huge backdrop of the ocean and sky.

Using different levels in a space is always more interesting than one flat plane. The house has a large slate terrace which steps down to a grassed yard in massive slate steps. A large round patio made of stamped concrete has been pulled away from the house toward the ocean. This has been purposely placed to receive as much sun as possible. The terrace next to the house is a shady space.

Bond chose to use weeping Blue Atlas cedars as focal points in this space. He cautions that, because weeping trees command so much attention, they should be used in a controlled fashion -- repeat the same plant rather than introduce other varieties. Repetition of a plant, colour or form -- this time Mexican feather grass, planted around the cedars and encircling the round patio -- is one of Bond's signature details to unite different areas of the garden.

The fact that all the trees on the shoreline were topped to reveal a full unobstructed view of the ocean was not Bond's decision. Selectively eliminating trees to frame views would have been his preference, making for a more interesting and intimate space. He also feels that the inclusion of lawn is "old school" and would have done the entire area in slate.

Each person will see this garden differently, of course, and there are lots of spaces to add personal touches of grand containers, fountains or statuary.

--Canwest News Service

Susan Ramsey
September 28