Renovation & Design

Renovation & Design

Growing or not...it works

It's not often that a new home design receives universal acclaim.

As it turns out, The Majestic, a 1,413-square-foot bungalow built by Broadview Homes, is an exception to the rule.

"Without question, it's the most popular bungalow design offered by Qualico," says Qualico's single family sales manager, Dale Penner. "In a nutshell, it's an open, spacious home that offers complete flexibility to buyers, right from young couples to empty nesters."

Corinna McNamara, new homes sales consultant for 249 Aldgate, concurs.

"The design has worked well for pretty much everyone who's come through the home. You can start a young family here and still have room to expand as the family grows, or empty nesters can downsize yet still have enough room and creature comforts to keep them happy," she says.

The secret to the Majestic's sales success lies in the clever arrangement of the interior, says Penner. One of the key design features is the vaulted ceilings that can be found throughout the home's main level.

"Right from the outset, to have a vaulted ceiling really opens up the foyer and dining room area," he explains. "And that theme is carried through to each room on the rest of the main floor. Even though every area is spacious, the vaulted ceilings further increase the feeling of space, making the home feel much bigger than its listed square footage."

Indeed, the balance between open space and segmentation is just right: a one-third wall (with optional maple capping) separates the angled foyer from the dining room in understated fashion, while a three-quarter wall with plant ledge simultaneously separates the dining room from the kitchen, while allowing light to filter lazily back and forth between the two areas.

At the same time, large windows on virtually every wall make for a bright interior. Yet, although the design is predominantly open-concept, there is enough division to define each space -- the three-quarter wall behind that defines the rear of the dining room creates a hallway-type entrance that takes you into the kitchen/great room quadrant of the home.

"You don't want it to be so open that it feels like one big room," says McNamara. "This design can go as small as 1,200 square feet if necessary; adding the extra 200 square feet allowed our designers to include more subtle division features and creative touches. The great room, with its vaulted ceiling, five big windows and gas fireplace (set in beige ceramic tile beneath a maple mantle) is big, bright and relaxing."

That creativity is front-and-centre once you enter the kitchen/great room area -- it's a must, considering The Majestic (at least on paper) isn't a huge home. Use of space in the kitchen area is exceptional thanks to a corner-oriented stove and a maple island (with breakfast nook for two) that's just the right size, with the aisleway between the island and counter being four feet wide.

There's even room for a circular dinette for four, courtesy of an angled cutout (painted burnt orange to contrast with the tan paint) that allows traffic to flow freely into the great room.

"That cutout is a great touch," says Penner, adding the one-third maple capped wall that divides the dinette area from the great room is optional. "Without it, putting a table in the kitchen might be a stretch. People can walk through while you're eating, and you'll never be disturbed."

Meanwhile, the bedroom wing is set away from the kitchen and great room in its own separate wing. The light maple flooring that runs from the dining room into the kitchen and great room extends into the hallway, making for a light, rich feel. The two secondary bedrooms are amply proportioned, with a four-piece bathroom separating them from the master bedroom.

A short hallway leading into the master bedroom provides further separation and reveals a large master suite with a pair or double closets instead of a walk-in closet. There's room for the requisite king size bed, two end tables, a low-slung dresser and a funky display/storage unit; the ensuite is compact and functional with a maple vanity and frosted glass shower enclosure with sliding doors.

As winning as the design of the main floor is, Penner says the design of the lower level -- which is fully developed -- rivals it in style and utility.

"Placement of the stairs (at the front of the home) makes for a phenomenal layout down there," he says. "That's due to two steel beams that created the need for only one telepost. As a result, there's tons of room for expansion. There's all kinds of storage space, plus you get a fourth bedroom, games area, sitting area and third bathroom. This is a home that provides you with great flexibility -- and value."

lewys@mts.net

Size: 1,413 sq. ft.

Minimum Lot: 40' x 107'

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Price: $348,900 (including lot net GST)

Key Features: Bright, open design; front-oriented formal dining room; kitchen/dinette/great room with great flow due to open-concept floor plan; island kitchen with unique wall niche for dinette; large, secluded master bedroom with functional ensuite with frosted glass shower enclosure; fully developed lower level with large windows, fourth bedroom, full bathroom and games area.

Contact: Corinna McNamara @ 253-6238, Pager 946-2740

Todd Lewys
April 27

Renovation & Design

Moist air makes house doors expand, stick

QUESTION -- During much of this winter, my front door stuck badly after being fine for four years. And other doors in the house stick at different times throughout the year. What's the cause?

ANSWER -- Your doors are expanding and contracting. This condition is typical, and is a result of the level of moisture in the air. When the air is damp, the doors tend to expand and may rub in several locations. When the weather is hot and dry, the doors shrink. Another cause for this condition is house shifting caused by changes in the level of moisture in the soil.

There are two major precautions you can take to prevent this problem. First, paint or seal the door on all six sides. That is, when painting the front and backside of a door, don't forget to hit the top, bottom, hinge side and latch side. This will protect all exposed surfaces of the door.

Second, the crawl space below the house should be ventilated to keep the soil dry. You should also make sure the soil surrounding the foundation is sloped so water runs away from the house. And don't over-water your lawn or landscaping. All of these precautions will help minimize the house from shifting and, in turn, help prevent your doors from sticking.

--Associated Press

Morris and James Carey
April 27

Renovation & Design

Wood as an art form

So often these days, we walk into a building store and come out with a pre-formed piece of manufactured wood -- a crown moulding made out of MDF, for example, or a set of flat-pack pine cabinets that we just need to put together with hammer and screwdrivers. Now, there's nothing wrong with this. But if you have the budget, you can hire artisans to create stunning cabinetry that raises wood from the status of simply functional or attractive all the way to art.

Take Noreen Irvine's Calgary home, for example. It's been eight years since a major renovation brought finish carpenter Dennis Heinzig in, but the solid maple doors, mouldings and built-in cabinetry that Heinzig and his crew created throughout the house still look -- and feel -- new. And none of it, from the fluted columns in the fireplace surround to the details above the built-in display cabinet, came out of a box or off a shelf.

"Everything was built on site," confirms Heinzig, owner of Heinbar Enterprises.

That includes the granite-topped centre island that anchors the open-concept living area, where the kitchen, casual dining and family area look out over a picturesque ravine. The maple wraps around two-thirds of the space, from the kitchen cabinets to the corner fireplace to the built-in computer nook and wet bar. A light finish keeps the woodwork from overwhelming the space, creating stunning accents that are repeated in the home's bathrooms and master bedroom.

But what makes this even more stunning is how it started. "I took Home Depot graph paper and put stickers on it to show where the fridge would be and where the dishwasher would be," explains Irvine. She gave Heinzig pictures of what she liked in magazines and photographs, including one from a family home in Ireland. He took it from there.

"From that conceptual point of view that the client provides, you can sketch out a more complete plan, adapting it to the framing and size that you have to work with," says Heinzig, who began his career in finish carpentry in 1975, working for another finishing company and learning on the job.

Heinzig and the three other carpenters who worked on Irvine's home have certainly created beauty. Gentle arches in the open display cabinets soften the vertical lines of the fluting, while the darker dentil strips set off the light finish in key areas. Repetition of these details creates continuity throughout the space, contributing to a style best described as classic made contemporary.

"The most valued asset of finishing is being able to leave the job and know that what you've done is always visible," says Heinzig. "You could come back five years from now and what you did will still be there. In finishing, everything you do creates the curb appeal -- the ambience for the home. To know that you're a part of it, and a part of your client's satisfaction with the home, is very fulfilling."

--Canwest News Service

: Yvonne Jeffery
April 20

Renovation & Design

The greening of Mike Holmes

Mike Holmes has gone green.

No, he doesn't have a new pair of overalls. The 44-year-old reno expert has taken up the environmental cause, and is as enthusiastic about energy efficiency and saving the planet as he is about saving homeowners from bad renovations.

Holmes is enthusiastic about several topics, such as what green building actually means and how to figure out which products are truly green. He could probably do a whole hour on green roofs, a topic that really gets him going.

"Is it just green because you can grow grass on it?" he says over the long distance line from his home near Toronto.

"Well, that's great, (but) the whole purpose of it is to keep in (heat). It creates a thermal barrier. If you put in six inches of earth on top of a flat roof, it helps hold in the heat value 60 per cent better than six inches of rigid foam.

"That's pretty impressive, SSRqcause six inches of rigid foam is considered a thermal break, much like a cooler. If you were to add six inches of earth on top of (a roof) it will hold 60 per cent more in. Now we're talkin' environmental. We're using earth, that's not so bad. We didn't have to boil it or do anything to it, much like we do to concrete or steel. And is asphalt (the standard flat roof material) really a good product, is it environmentally friendly? The answer is no, it's not."

Then there's the whole problem of using toxic material indoors, such as certain types of outdoor caulking, paint or adhesives.

"There's lots (of stuff) that we bring into the inside of our house that we should never use," he states.

"I think this really comes back to reading directions. Too many of us are proud and think we know what the hell we're doing. How many shower doors have I installed, and I still read the directions, in case there's something different about this product. We have to do this."

"I've seen people use exterior foundation coating on the inside to supposedly solve a leak. And this was a contractor, by the way, it wasn't a homeowner. That is the last product you want on the inside of your house. Most foundation coatings are extremely toxic."

Uncovering mistakes like this, and fixing them, has made Holmes into something of a national folk hero. His popular HGTV show Holmes on Homes receives a staggering amount of requests from the public to come and right the wrongs contractors have done.

"Last year, 65,000 people were begging for my help, and I helped 13 families," he says.

"It is depressing to see how many people are in trouble. Do you know, some of them will e-mail me back 20 times: 'I am desperate, I am in trouble.' And I can't help them and I feel terrible about it."

Holmes divides contractors into three types: the good, the bad and the ugly.

"The good, there are no more than 20 per cent," he says. "The bad, 70 per cent, the ugly, 10 per cent."

The difference? The good are constantly training and educating themselves, and also have personal integrity. The bad may know how to bang in a few nails, but "unfortunately just don't know enough, and they don't care enough, because they don't have the same integrity as the good."

The ugly are genuine ripoff artists, smooth-talkers who "can sell fridges to eskimos" and scam people out of tens of thousands of dollars, again and again.

How do you protect yourself against bad or ugly contractors? Do your homework, and don't be in a hurry to do a reno.

"A sure sign somebody (who) doesn't know what they're doing is when they don't walk in the door, presenting themselves as a professional, and hand you a list of references right there," he says.

"I'm sorry, pros don't do that. Pros walk in and they have a portfolio package of who they are and why they're that way. Remember, they're almost anal because they care about what they do, they're perfectionists.

Holmes says a pro will say " 'Here's at least 20 references, please phone each and every one of them. Ask them a ton of questions. You want to go see them? Go see them. Let's talk about what you want to do and we'll come back and talk about price later.' That's a pro."

"(The bad is) the guys who walk in and go 'Yeah, I'm Joe. Whattya want, whattya want?' They don't write anything down, they don't seem to know anything, and they say 'That'll cost 10 grand, and I want nine grand down now.'"

How much should you give as a down payment?

"Well, rule of thumb is you don't give them any money on the very first day. But the second day, if they've presented themselves again with professionalism, I would say 10 per cent down, absolute max. Remember, you're only tying up your time, because they're going to schedule.

"Then you've got to look at how much is that? Is the job $100,000, should you really give them $10,000? Maybe not more than $1,500. (Create) a cap on how much you're going to give them down before they actually start the job.

"Once they start the job, that's when you give them 10 per cent. Then just pay them in milestones, because it makes logical sense. Pay as the work is being done."

You also should hold back some money at the end of the job, to make sure everything has been done right.

"The lien act was designed on purpose, and it says hold back 10 per cent," he says.

"You want to hold back 10 per cent for 45 days, and the reason it's 45 days is the company has a right to lien you for 45 days after the last day of work. So hold that money back, make sure nothing goes wrong. A pro will let you do it anyways."

"Never (completely) pay them. Because if you do, trying to get them back in your door is probably not going to happen."

Giving out advice like this, and ripping contractors who have done a bad job, cannot endear him to many people in construction. Does he ever come face to face with the guys he rips?

"I have a couple of times," he says.

"I'm not there to get into a confrontation. Although I'm not afraid of it, don't get me wrong. But I had one of them say to me 'You're just bashin' everyone, you're makin' us all look foolish.' I said 'Do you watch my show? Dude, I'm not bashin' everyone, I'm saying there's good guys out there, I'm saying there's pros out there, and I'm telling the homeowners to find them.' I'm saying to 'check out guys like you, because here I am fixing your work. And did you come back and fix it?'"

He's so busy fixing up other people's messes he doesn't really do any renos outside his TV jobs anymore. But he hopes to slow down his schedule over the next couple of years to concentrate on doing specials rather than a weekly show. He also is starting his own development company.

"To me, Holmes on Homes, I've done enough of it, I think I need to go to the next level," he says.

"I've opened up a development company, I'm going to build the world's best homes, and guarantee them myself. Everyone is going to have the opportunity to buy them. I'm hoping to change the building industry."

The Holmes homes will feature a modern style, low slung bungalows with flat roofs. He says they'll be so environmentally friendly they'll be "dark green."

"I've always said this: we can build a house that won't burn down. We can build a house that won't leak, we can build a house that will not mould. Now if we can do that, and then build it environmentally friendly and energy efficient, I think you've hit the lottery. Shouldn't you be doing that? The question is, why aren't we? I've been saying this for years, so I'm going to do it."

Time for one final question: A female friend wonders how many pairs of overalls he has.

"Forty-five," he replies.

Really? He has different 45 pairs of overalls?

"Well, yeah," he laughs.

"Why not? I've also got boots, clothing, you name it. It's going to be (available) to the public very soon."

When he does sell them, it'll be for charity.

"That's why I have 45 -- I kept all my overalls from the first few seasons and put them away," he says.

"The idea was to give them to charity and raise money. It kind of made sense to me, instead of just giving them away. We can help make a difference, that's what it's all about."

--Canwest News Service

John Mackie
April 20

Renovation & Design

Get organized before you decorate

It is exhilarating to take on any design and decorating project, but it can also be terrifying. We all know how things can go wrong resulting in disillusionment and, of course, a depleted wallet. Whether I am decorating my own home, or working along with homeowners (some unsuspecting) for my TV shows, I have learned the hard way that an overall plan is very necessary. Here's how I get organized and I think you'll discover that by taking the time at the beginning to put your thoughts, dreams and realities in order, your finished rooms will excite you even more than you imagined.

Begin with your budget: there's nothing more frustrating than getting half way through and running out of money. And believe me, you can work miracles on any budget, so don't be dismayed if you can't afford everything on your wish list. Choose a mood or style for your room and go through magazines and books, even photographs of holidays and restaurants you love, and gather together your favourites. Research is next. What's the latest in lighting? What are your options for floors and tiles? Which sofa works for your space?

I have produced an ingenious DIY Decorating Kit complete with tips and tools that will help you every step of the way. You'll find budget sheets, ideas for research and successful shopping, and my favourite techniques for choosing the right moods for your rooms. And to help you on your decorating journey I have given you real samples of a variety of materials that can make up a space, including flooring, fabrics and paint swatches. These are guides to how a variety of materials can work together.

Unlike decorating books, this kit is your own personal design bible that you can keep with you at all times. You never know when you'll see something that inspires you. Now you have somewhere to immediately file away that information until it's needed.

Dear Debbie -- I have never been a rash sort of person, but after living through a nasty break-up and an illness I have sold everything, and I do mean everything, including bed, furniture, dishes. I've bought a small condo with a sensational view of the ocean. I'm a 55-year-old man eating on the kitchen counter and sleeping on a futon. I want peaceful. Any ideas to get me started in a new direction?

--Albert

Dear Albert -- Decorating may seem trivial to many, but your surroundings are your life, and now you want peace and somewhere to recharge your batteries. First I would choose a colour palette that enhances this calm mood and also frames your incredible sea view. I'd paint the walls a delicate pale, pale green. This serene colour will make your view stand out even more. Then add a cheerful colour to one space; perhaps your bathroom could be a sunny yellow. Buy yourself a proper bed so you're not feeling like a student. There are so many cool modern platform beds which are low and their Japanese influence again enhances the relaxing effect. Soft flowing sheers on your windows and a few candles and you will have a wonderful place to call home.

I have one more idea, it's something I have just done. We are hearing a lot at the moment about 'vision boards'. Take a notice board and put it somewhere that is always near you. Stick on pictures of what you want for the future, maybe a picture of a mountain stream, a desert sunset -- whatever you would like to aim for over the next few years. You may not be ready for this yet and may think it's silly, but I love to look at my vision board and dream. Mine has a picture of the most beautiful farm in Tuscany -- my dream.

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

Do your homework before you begin your reno and you'll end up with an exciting new look that fits your budget.

Debbie Travis - House to Home
April 20

Renovation & Design

Art-filled home a work in progress

If ever a house proved that art and budgets can happily coexist, it has to be Sandra Young's home on the outskirts of Calgary.

Against a soft blue-grey palette, paintings and sculptures create an ambience of warmth and imagination in this bungalow, with family at its heart and art... well, everywhere.

"This is sort of our playground," explains Young, a designer who owns Willow Studio in Calgary. "We're very experimental here -- we have to practise so we know what will work."

We're sitting in the open-concept living area, where a compact kitchen acts as a cornerstone for a larger vaulted space separated into conversation and dining areas. The wall colour creates a sophisticated but surprisingly warm background, set off by trim and mouldings painted a deeper grey.

"I was thinking about a classic men's suit when I decorated this," Young says, adding that this is the second makeover since the family moved in eight years ago. Largely unfinished when they found the property, it took on warm, southern hues the first time around -- the current look is Young's solution for cooling things down without sacrificing the warmth and comfort that a family home needs.

"I go for things that stand the test of time and can be crisped up or freshened up with different elements," she notes.

"Think of a tailored suit that you can have for many years -- you can complement it with the perfect necktie and shirt that will give it seasonal variety," Young says.

A blond bamboo floor and white ceilings help to capture the prairie light streaming in through the windows and reflecting off the jewel-toned glass mosaic tiles that line both the fireplace surround and the kitchen backsplash. A stunning chandelier cascades from the ceiling above the dining table, while beaded track lighting highlights the rest of the space. It's the lighting that provides insight into Young's approach to design.

"We were on a tight budget and we had so many light fixtures to replace," she recalls. "We made our own light fixtures out of simple, cheap lighting kits that we added our own copper tubing and glass beads to. We've since started replacing them with some of the things we've brought in for the store... it's an evolving process. When you're working with limited materials and you don't feel it's OK to spend excessively, it brings out more creativity."

She suggests not buying everything you need for a space all at once, instead letting the design grow naturally. "I think building on what you have is more interesting than starting over," she says. "I'm fundamentally not a wasteful person."

Her budget concerns extend even to art, which she calls her biggest passion.

"Most of these paintings have significance for me, because they're from my design travels when I'm researching or studying, or they're artists that I've met -- and the occasional garage sale find," she says.

She's a big fan of supporting local artists, including Alberta College of Art Design students. In addition, her husband, Todd Young, is a metal sculptor who works with materials such as recycled steel.

Creating vignettes, or mini-displays that group several pieces together to tell a story, is a favourite trick, learned during her days in display design (think store windows). Young also likes to hang pictures in unexpected places or to pair them in vignettes with sculptures or even lamps.

Young emphasizes that whether your passion is art, antiques, fabrics or anything else, taking your time when renovating or decorating can pay dividends.

"It's a design and lifestyle journey," she says. "It's enjoying each aspect of it at the same time as envisioning the future and your ultimate home, whatever that might be."

For more information, see willowstudio.ca.

-- Canwest News Service

Budget-friendly, impact-creating tips

When you move into a place with stipple or popcorn ceilings, consider immediately (as in, before decorating or moving in furniture) scraping it down -- it's a chore, but it adds a more sophisticated touch to your space (and it's even more of a chore if you leave it until after your possessions arrive: that dust goes everywhere).

Paint-grade trim is cheaper than finished woods, and you don't have to worry about whether the different woods in the room complement each other.

Replacing kitchen cabinet doors saves plenty of money over replacing the cabinets themselves.

Move drapes around within the house: Handle different window sizes by using extra panels or borders, or by cutting the drapes down to size.

Create your own art by selecting favourite photographs, blowing them up in size and either framing them or transferring them to fabric to create soft accents such as pillows or wall hangings.

Reupholster dining chairs instead of replacing them.

Don't be afraid to mix old (such as an antique piano desk) with new (a modern chair) to bring your decor into the contemporary.

Work with a designer who understands what you want to achieve: he can help you pick out the decor elements that are working for you (and those that aren't), and help you use your items in the most up-to-date way.

: Yvonne Jeffery
April 20

Renovation & Design

Sold!

Address: 44 Lagace Place

Asking Price: $249,900

Sold Price: $270,000

Taxes: $3,717

Square Footage: 1,220

Bedrooms: 2 + 2

Bathrooms: 3

Lot size: Irregular

Listing Agent: Judy Mueller, Royal LePage Prime Real Estate, 989-7900

Weston

Address: 1410 Roy Ave.

Asking Price: $89,900

Sold Price : $99,000

Taxes: $1,090.72

Square Footage: 725

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1

Lot Size: 41 x 104

Listing Agent: Rachel Gendron, Century 21 Jefferson Assoc., 488-7911

Lindenwoods

Address: 15 Ossington Court

Asking Price: $379,900

Sold Price: $417,500

Taxes: $5,772.59

Square Footage: 2,400

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Lot Size: 37 x 116

Listing Agent: Cliff Palmer, Realty Executives First Choice, 885-8999

West End

Address: 553 Beverley

Asking Price: $139,900

Sold Price: $145,100

Taxes: $1,928.73

Square Footage: 1,300

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1

Lot Size: 25 x 100

Listing Agent: Cliff Palmer, Realty Executives First Choice, 885-8999

St. Norbert

Address: 129 Laurent Dr.

Asking Price: $189,900

Sold Price: $215,000

Taxes: $ 2,843.00

Square Footage: 1,064

Bedrooms: 3 + 2

Bathrooms: 2

Lot Size: 21 x 72

Listing Agent: Terry Isaryk, RE/MAX Performance Realty, 231-5557

Island Lakes
April 20

Renovation & Design

Problem solved -- beautifully

VICTORIA -- Terry Johal transformed a rocky cliffside building lot that others had rejected into an award-winning showcase of his home-building skills.

Although the pie-shaped lot nestled on the side of Bear Mountain offered a spectacular view, a steep drop-off presented an architectural and engineering challenge that caused other builders to balk.

"Where others saw difficulty, I saw opportunity," says Johal, 31, a builder and owner of Victoria's Terry Johal Developments. "I also managed to get it for a good price."

Recently, at the Bear Mountain Awards for Building, Innovation and Design Excellence, judges recognized the extent of his efforts, awarding the house, which is also his residence, Home of the Year.

"I wanted the design to be timeless, something that will still be attractive 10 to 20 years from now," Johal says. He calls the West Coast-styled house a fusion of design elements of Victorian and modern contemporary.

His house designer, Bill Lunt of Mesa Design Group, agrees.

"Today's West Coast arts and crafts style, with its use of timber and natural elements such as rock, is classic," Lunt says.

Although he and his twin brother Dave, 45, drew up the design of the house, he says Johal basically knew what he wanted. They have worked with Johal over the last six years and have collaborated on about 12 houses together.

The 4,000-square-foot, three-level, three-bedroom, three-bath house is designed for entertainment. Both Johal and his wife Angela, 26, have extended family and friends in the area and enjoy staging get-togethers.

Visitors to the home will invariably pause in the foyer to take in the sight of the 22-foot-by-25-foot living room with its 18-foot ceiling, floor-to-ceiling wall of glass and spectacular views beyond.

"I made sure the great room, with its impressive two storeys of glass, was positioned to take in the view of the (Bear Mountain) village below," Lunt says.

The kitchen, with its dark-stained maple cabinets, adjoins the dining room.

Brazilian granite is used for cabinet countertops as well as the island.

The separate formal dining room's ceiling is coffered. Wainscotting and a heavy crown moulding are used throughout the house.

A mud room/laundry room is just off the two-car garage. A home office and a powder room are also on the main level of the house.

Wide-plank Brazilian cherry wood flooring is found throughout the main level. In the front entryway, the floor is inlaid with travertine limestone and slate. All three bedrooms are found on the upper level, far away from the activities and any noise from below. The master bedroom comes with a walk-in closet and a spa-like ensuite, complete with a two-sided fireplace and skylight. A Juliet balcony takes in the views that include Bear Mountain village at the bottom of the mountain.

One of the bedrooms is the nursery for Jagger, the couple's seven-month-old baby boy.

The last bedroom serves as guest accommodation.

While the formal entertainment might be on the main level, most men will be attracted to the action on the lower level.

"It's the dream basement," Lunt says.

Built onto a natural shelf on the side of the mountain, the lower level includes a media room, complete with five soft leather seats facing a rear-projection, 100-inch screen. It competes for attention with a billiards room, complete with a formal bar.

A well-equipped exercise room with an infrared sauna and bathroom rounds out the lower level.

Entertainment continues outside, weather permitting, with a gazebo and hot tub.

Landscape architect Jason Parks's task was to provide as much patio area as possible, yet balance it with the elements of a Zen garden -- a hobby of Johal's.

"Because of the steep slope, designing a multi-use garden was a challenge," says Parks, with 19 years of garden construction and design experience. He still managed to incorporate a koi pond into the design.

"I believe a water feature should be included into a garden whenever possible," Parks says.

Apart from awards from his peers, Johal also has satisfied customers who are just as enamoured of his work.

Kate and Steve Diskin are living in a 2,860-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath house that Johal built in 2005. The house was also a winner at the Bear Mountain Awards, winning the category for best single-family home under 4,000 square feet. They were so impressed with the design and quality of their house that they have commissioned him to construct another one for them.

"It is difficult to try to express the wonderful, welcoming feeling this house has," says Kate, a clinical psychologist originally from Calgary.

"While the design is simple and discreet, there is a qualitative difference that can be felt."

When she and her husband decided to build their dream home they wanted Johal to do it again. She says that not only is Johal good at building, he is also good at organizing and getting everybody to work as a team on the house.

"He's quite remarkable."

-- Canwest News Service

: Pedro Arrais
April 20

Renovation & Design

Solutions: Different fabrics require different care

A little maintenance can go a long way to preserve the life of fabrics. Take care of spills and stains and address them immediately rather than allowing them to become ingrained.

1. WOOL: With proper care, the natural qualities of wool can be maintained for years. If you give wool clothing a 24-hour rest between wearing it, will shed wrinkles and return to its original shape. Hang woven wool garments on shaped or padded hangers. Store knits gently folded in drawers. Brush wool clothing to remove surface oil. Use a damp sponge for knits and finer fabrics. Refresh wool garments immediately after wearing or unpacking by hanging them in a steamy bathroom. Moisture from the steam removes wrinkles. If wool gets wet, dry the garment at room temperature away from heat. If there's a nap, brush with the nap. Remove spots and stains promptly.

2. HEMP: Hemp has been used in the making of clothing, rope and canvas fabrics for centuries. Before the Industrial Revolution, most textiles worn throughout the world were made using hemp. Fabrics made from hemp are traditionally stronger, more durable and more insulating and absorbent than many other materials available. On average, hemp fibres last three times longer than cotton. Traditionally, a coarser fibre was used to make canvas and rope; advances in breeding the plant have resulted in a much softer and finer fabric ideal for weaving into cloth for clothing. Never use bleach on hemp fabrics and avoid detergents containing Optical Brightening Agents (OBA's). Recommended water temperature of 120 degrees F. is fine for most colour-fast or undyed hemp fabrics. Tumble dry.

3. COTTON: Cotton is probably one of the most common fabrics you're likely to have in your home. Cotton is a natural fibre and is used in a wide variety of clothing and home furnishings. Cotton is easily washed and/or dry cleaned. Cotton has a tendency to wrinkle very easily, however cotton/polyester blends have gained popularity. Many people prefer the year-round "breathing" and lack of pilling of 100 per cent cotton.

4. SILK: Silk is a protein fibre, more similar to wool than to cotton. It is very similar to human hair. Remembering this will help when you think about how to wash or clean it. Silk is extremely strong, but repeated exposure to the sun will erode the fibre. As a result, silk fabrics are not the best choice for curtains and draperies. The colours in your silk will undoubtedly fade over time, even when permanent dyes have been used and they have been professionally set. Reds are particularly sensitive to running and fading. Store your silk away from exposure to light, especially direct sunlight. Washing silk may also cause excess dye to discharge. When in doubt, dry clean the garment or item.

5. RAYON: Some rayon fabrics should be dry cleaned, while other types of fabric and garment construction are such that they can be hand or machine-washed. For washable items, follow this guide: Use mild lukewarm or cool suds. Gently squeeze suds through fabric and rinse in lukewarm water. Do not wring or twist the article. Smooth or shake out article and place on a non-rust hanger to dry. Rayon sweaters should be dried flat. Press the article while damp on the wrong side with the iron at a moderate setting. Between wearings, rayon articles may be pressed with a cool iron. Steamers as opposed to traditional irons are perfect for rayon. Rayon is a popular choice for: Blouses, dresses, jackets, lingerie, linings, pants, sport shirts, sportswear, suits, ties, work clothes, bedspreads, blankets, curtains, draperies, sheets, slipcovers, tablecloths, upholstery.

6. LYCRA: Originally developed as a replacement for rubber, LYCRA®, by DuPont, is remarkable for its ability to stretch many times its original length -- and then snap back to its starting size with no loss to its spring. There is really no such thing as a commercially available fabric made entirely of Lycra; it is never used alone, it is always combined with another fibre (or fibres), both natural or manmade. As little as two per cent Lycra is enough to improve a woven fabric's movement, drape, and its knack for holding its shape. If the other fibres in the garment are machine washable and dryable, this should be the recommended method for cleaning. Dry cleaning is also an option. Avoid chlorine bleach when washing.

7. SATIN: Originally made from silk, most satin is now made with synthetic fibres. Follow instructions on care label: Hand wash, machine wash or dry clean. Iron washable satin, inside out while damp.

8. NYLON: Nylon fabrics are extremely strong, lightweight, smooth, and lustrous. They are also non-absorbent and have excellent wrinkle resistance. Often combined with spandex, nylon knits are very stretchy but recover their original shape. Nylon is used to make many items, including: lingerie, carpets, rainwear, and tents. Machine-wash sturdy articles in warm water with an all-purpose detergent. Hand-wash lingerie and hosiery using warm water and a light-duty detergent, or machine-wash in a mesh bag to prevent stretching or tearing. Tumble-dry nylon at a low temperature setting. Press at a cool temperature setting.

9. ACETATE: Acetate is made from cellulose and has a silk-like appearance. Closely related to rayon, it has good body and drapes well. Taffeta, satin, crepe, brocade, and double knits often contain acetate. Acetate is not very absorbent or colourfast and loses its strength when it is wet. If the care label specifies that the article is washable, hand-wash it in warm water using a light-duty detergent. Do not soak coloured items or wash them with white articles. Hang-dry acetate away from heat or direct sunlight. Press acetate at the coolest setting, on the wrong side, while the article is damp. Note: Nail polish remover and perfumes will permanently damage acetate.

10. ACRYLIC: Many acrylic weaves resemble wool's softness, bulk, and fluffiness. Acrylics are wrinkle-resistant and usually machine-washable. Often, acrylic fibres are blended with wool or polyester fibres. Acrylic's biggest drawback is that it pills. Blends will do this less than pure acrylic. Wash acrylic by hand or machine. Turn garments inside out before laundering to reduce pilling. Wash delicate items by hand in warm water, gently squeezing out the excess. Machine-wash sturdy articles with an all-purpose detergent, and tumble-dry at low temperatures.

11. FLEECE: The denser the fleece, the better the quality. Gently stretch fleece and let it relax. Does it quickly bounce back to its original dimension or does it wave and ripple? High-quality fleece has quick recovery. To give yourself a preview of how well the fabric will wear, rub the fleece roughly against itself, in a circular motion, on both sides of the fleece. If it looks a bit rugged, starts pilling, or distorts, it is a lesser quality fleece. High-quality fleeces go through multiple shearing and velouring processes to reduce pilling. Fleece fabrics are predominately made from 100 per cent polyester. To avoid unnecessary abrasion, launder garments inside out, separately or with similar garments. Use a powdered detergent in lukewarm water, gentle cycle. Liquid detergents may alter the effectiveness of the chemical treatment applied to some lighter-weight fleeces. Hang dry and do not use bleach or softeners. Softeners have an adverse effect on the chemical finish that is applied to the surface of some mid-weight and heavy-weight fleeces. Pressing is not recommended. Never place an iron directly onto the fleece. Direct contact may leave a permanent imprint or melt the fabric.

12. POLYESTER: A synthetic, manmade fibre produced from the polymerization of ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephalate or terephthalic acid. Some characteristics of polyester include: crease resistance, ability to dry quickly, shape retention in garments, high strength, abrasion resistance, and minimum care requirements. Polyester is a very important fibre in upholstery fabrics. Before washing, check the label but typically machine washing is acceptable. Avoid washing polyester in very hot temperatures as doing so may damage fibres.

13. SUEDE: Suede, by nature, has got its problems when it comes to cleaning. The best way to deal with suede is to care for it well. Always clean suede before storing it. Suede can be brushed with a damp, soft rubber or bristle brush, and baking soda. Do not rub too hard and do it in a gentle circular motion or back and fourth. Never use chemical fluid or spot remover on suede as the colour of the garment will run and leave light rings around the stain.

14. VELVET: Velvet is usually made from rayon or acetate, which is a dry clean-only fabric. Other velvets are machine washable; check the label and always launder inside out to protect the fabric from rubbing against other fabrics. If you need to have it pressed, take it to your local dry cleaner, or press it yourself by using what is called a needle board (available at your local fabric store). The top of the needle board has many needles protruding from the surface of a flat board. Put the needle board on your existing ironing board with the needles pointing upward, place your velvet fabric face down on the needles, and steam press with an iron.

15. FAKE FUR: Clean once a year. Choose a professional dry cleaner that specializes in fake furs. The dry cleaner can remove stains left by food, make-up or spilled drinks. Regular cleaning serves to keep moths away. Wear a soft scarf inside the neckline of the coat to prevent body oils and make-up from collecting and causing a stain. Between cleaning, treat small stains on the fur and lining. Use a good cleaning fluid that is specifically for use on fur and fake fur. Test a small spot on both the fur and the lining. Use a blow dryer on the dampened spot to prevent a ring from forming. Store the clean fur on a padded hanger in a fabric bag. Don't enclose a fake fur in a plastic bag. Like real fur, a fake needs to breathe.

Solutions is compiled from various sources: articlesbase.com, housekeeping.about.com, pajamashoppe.com, fabriclink.com, fibersource.comnabru.co.uk, regalfabrics.com, xtcapparel.com, kushtush.com. Similar information may be found elsewhere.

Solutions sleuth Reena Nerbas is a home economist and speaks professionally on the topic of household challenges; she is also the author of two national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions and Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets. She can be heard on radio programs across Canada and seen on the CBC TV show Living Winnipeg.

www.householdsolutions.org

Reen Nerbas
April 20