5 Condo Friendly Valentine’s Day Ideas
It’s the season of love! We’re a few weeks into February, Groundhog Day has come and gone, which means Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Don’t fret if your plans are not in order just yet, we’ve got you covered with 5 condo friendly Valentine’s Day ideas. Movie Marathon Sometimes, traditional date nights are the best kind! Turn your living room into a home theatre with a few simple steps. First, collect all your favourite movies, whether they’re romantic comedies, dramas, or thrillers. Next, dim the lights and close the curtains to avoid a glare on your television. Finally, gather all the snacks you and your partner love, and get comfortable on the couch. It’s time for your Valentine’s Day movie marathon! Game Night Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a few fun games! Board games have come back in style, so dig up your collection and set up a tournament for the day. If you have younger children, enjoy some bonding time, and play group games such as Twister, Monopoly and Pictionary to get the whole family involved. If it’s just the two of you, you’ll want to increase the difficulty level and go with games like Dutch Blitz, Sushi Go and Code Names. Game night is such a fun and unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and there’s options for everyone! Charcuterie Board Create a fun charcuterie board using all your favourite foods! Get creative and incorporate all your preferred cheeses, nuts, fruits and meats to create a beautiful board. You and your partner can spend time making this board together in lieu of a big dinner, leave it on the kitchen island, and snack on it throughout the day. If you don’t want to make the charcuterie board, but still want to enjoy one, place an order at The Block Co. They work with your budget to create a custom charcuterie board for you to enjoy at home, and are available for curbside pickup. Pair the finished charcuterie board with a bottle of red wine and have yourself a lovely Valentine’s evening. Make Dinner Together Head over to your local grocery store and pick out all the ingredients for your favourite meal. You can even order your groceries online to save time! Check out this post on 5 Reasons to Shop For Groceries Online. If you’re cooking a special Valentine’s Day meal for you and your partner, add a few special touches to create a romantic ambiance in your condo. Dim the lights, set the table with your fancy dinnerware, and light a few candles to set the mood. Celebrating with your family? Cook a meal the entire family can enjoy and involve everyone in the process. Have one family member cook the main dish, another person can be responsible for setting the table, and someone else can make dessert. If you’ve been longing to try a new recipe, here’s your chance! Virtual Double Date Night If you’re used to gathering with other couples for Valentine’s Day, you can still plan for a virtual double date. Seeing friends and family virtually is a wonderful way spend quality time with one another. Plan a time to meet over Zoom or Facetime and enjoy catching up with other couples. Turn it into a group date by inviting other couples to join in virtually! What are your Valentine’s Day plans?
5 Tips to De-Clutter Your Closet
Happy New Year! As we begin 2021, we’re all looking forward to a fresh start. After the holidays, there’s a tendency to organize, purge, and declutter. We suggest starting with your closet! Once you tackle your wardrobe, the rest of your condo will be easy. Here are 5 tips to help you declutter your closet in a day: Empty Your Closet Take out every single piece from your closet and lay it out. This will allow you to see everything you own, and if there are too many of one particular item, for example blazers. Analyze each piece of clothing separately before placing it back in your wardrobe and ask yourself some fundamental questions: Does it still fit? How often do you find yourself reaching for this piece? When was the last time you wore this item? Can you style this clothing item multiple ways? Do you love wearing this item, or are you keeping it for sentimental reasons? If you find yourself answering ‘no’ to a lot of these questions, it may be time to part ways with this piece of clothing. You can donate it to charity, sell it at a consignment shop, or see if a friend or family member may be interested in giving it a new home. Using this system with each piece in your wardrobe will guarantee you only keep items you truly enjoy styling. If removing every item in your wardrobe seems overwhelming, start slowly. Organize by each category, such as shoes, denim, work attire, etc. and work your way through your entire closet using the same system. Create Categories When removing pieces from your closet, and going through them one by one, it’s important to create categories. Of course, start with the ‘keep’ category. These are the items you love and want to keep in your wardrobe, so hang them up right away! Next is your donation pile. These are the pieces you don’t wear anymore, or they no longer fit correctly. They will be donated to charity or passed along to family or a friend. Lastly, there should be an alterations pile. If you meant to hem a pair of pants or take in a dress ages ago, and never got around to it, here’s your chance! Oftentimes, people intend to alter a piece of clothing, but end up forgetting to do so. This leads to unworn items taking up in your closet. After decluttering your closet, make sure you visit the alterations shop! Create A Capsule Wardrobe A capsule wardrobe is a select amount of seasonal clothing that you enjoy wearing and looks flattering on you. Creating a capsule wardrobe of pieces you love to style will ensure a great outfit every day of the week! After decluttering your wardrobe, take note of the pieces you keep and the ones you wear most often, and start building your capsule wardrobe from there. A capsule wardrobe will also help keep track of all the items you own, ensuring your closet never becomes overloaded with clothes again! Maximize Storage Space Closet space is notoriously limited, so you’ll want to capitalize on every inch of space. Pull out anything that doesn’t belong in your closet and find another home for it. For example, if you’re storing your wedding dress, suitcases or golf clubs in your closet, find another area for them in your condo. Other ways to create more storage is to put in shelving, or use baskets and bins to store items that won’t fit in traditional dresser drawers. Get creative with storage and maximize your closet space! Commit to A Monthly Declutter Incorporate decluttering your closet into your routine. If you make it a habit, cleaning your wardrobe won’t be so overwhelming. Try to declutter your closet once a month. Create a small donation bin in your closet to store items you want to donate, and empty it every so often. Are you excited to declutter your closet this new year?
How To Decorate Simply For The Holidays
We’re so excited for the holidays! There are gifts to wrap, cookies to bake and a Christmas tree to put up, in addition to decorating the rest of your space. While we can’t bake your cookies or wrap your presents, we can definitely help you in the decor aspect! Since we’re spending more time at home, we’re looking forward to a slower holiday season and decorating for Christmas is the perfect relaxing activity. Simple decor can have a big impact — including relieving you of some holiday stress. Try honing in on these three areas to bring the holiday cheer into your home: Greenery Incorporating natural greenery is the easiest way to decorate for the holidays! It’s minimal enough to add to any room, while bringing warmth into your space. Add a piece of garland to the windowsill, and cozy up with a good book or arrange it on the dining table for a touch of holiday decor in your kitchen. You can also drape garland on the headboard of your bed or along the railing on your balcony. Hanging simple, natural-looking wreaths are a great addition to your front door without being too over the top. Another great way to bring nature into your home for the holidays is to get a real Christmas tree. Leave it bare with white lights for a minimal look or combine a few neutral ornaments to create a beautiful decor piece, which will also smell amazing! Think Minimal Instead of the traditional kitschy decor typically associated with this season, opt for neutrals. Combine different textures such as faux furs, knit pillows and velvet blankets to convey warmth in your home. Neutral colours such as white, gray, beige and black fabrics can be very inviting, while keeping your space cozy and classic. Hang neutral, textured stockings to keep everything cohesive. You can also place a bowl of ornaments on the kitchen island or coffee table for a minimal look or if you’ve acquired too many for the tree over the years. For a more natural look, use pinecones instead. Lighting Lighting is a fun way to get everyone in the holiday spirit. While you may not spend as much time on your balcony during the winter season, adding a few twinkly lights will help make the space extra cozy. Windows are another great area to put up lights. Turning them on while watching a holiday movie and sipping on some hot coco will create such a delightful atmosphere. If you prefer a more minimalistic tree, all you need is a few lights to make the perfect decor piece! Check out a few of our favourite local shops for decor inspiration: Classique Decor: This beautiful showroom has high quality products, with handpicked Canadian made furniture and accessories. In House Living: This stunning 3000 square foot store is constantly changing, as the owners carefully select the merchandise, which arrives every week. Liz At Home: This fabulous showroom has incredible furniture, artwork and decor items, all at an affordable price! How do you decorate for the holidays?
5 Reasons to Shop for Groceries Online
We’re all in favour of easing and simplifying areas of our lives! One weekly activity that can be streamlined is grocery shopping. Ordering groceries online is now easier than ever, and there are countless options to choose from. Here are 5 reasons we’re in favour of getting your groceries delivered to your doorstep. Convenience You can place your grocery order anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There’s no need to rush to the store after work or attempt to fit in a quick shop between your very long list of errands. Now, you can sit back, relax and order your groceries from the comfort of your couch. Some grocery delivery options even offer the convivence of a delivery hour, so you know exactly when to expect your fresh food. Forget about taking multiple trips down to your car and lugging heavy grocery bags back up the elevator. All you need to think about is when Paradigm’s concierge will notify you about your grocery delivery, saving you time and energy! Superior Quality & Freshness There may be some hesitation when purchasing groceries online due to the inability to handpick fruits, vegetables and meat products. This is understandable as most people are very particular when it comes to these items, and only want to purchase the highest quality products. However, in order to minimize complaints, grocery stores will always send their customers the best quality items and freshest ingredients. Safety Ordering your groceries online is not only convenient, but it provides safety and limits outings during the pandemic as well. There are options for contactless delivery, so you can receive your order right to your doorstep without having to interact with anyone. Additionally, with grocery delivery options, you can easily avoid the hassle of large crowds and parking queues. With grocery stores limiting the number of guests that are allowed inside, delivery becomes an easy, convenient and safe option! Meal Prep Take all the stress out of meal prepping! You don’t have to scribble a last-minute list before you leave for the grocery store anymore. Now you can check your inventory while you’re home and place your order, instead of calling your spouse a few times to double check which ingredients you’re missing. It’ll be much easier to plan meals with the whole family, and quickly place an order with your local grocer. Pricing and Delivery With the rise of grocery delivery services, comes ample competition. This means you’re free to browse various online services to find the best pricing for you and your family’s meals. There’s also the option to choose a grocer based on delivery preferences, some grocery services actually do same day delivery! Check out a few of our favourite local grocery stores to order from: Farmway Foods – You can have top-quality, local Ontario meats delivered to your door! Saving time and serving families is their top priority, which is why they serve their customers the highest quality meats sourced from family-owned local farms. Plus, all the animals are ethically raised, and free of added hormones and antibiotics. DeliverGrocery.ca – An online grocery delivery service, able to deliver your order in as little as 3 hours. This grocery deliver service has personal shoppers doing the work for you, picking and packing your groceries while ensuring fresh, quality items. Given the pandemic, all employees wear protective gear and offer contactless delivery to ensure customer safety is top priority. Farmer Jack’s – They create essential boxes filled with fresh, local and ethically sourced produce, so you can get your groceries without ever leaving your home. Mrs.Grocery.com – Their mission is to make shopping local convenient. They do this by increasing the collaboration between local farmers and small businesses using their same day order fulfilment network. Have you tried ordering your groceries yet?
Construction Update: Crane Installation – November 2020
With construction of Illumina well underway, one of the most visually exciting events is the installation of the crane. Watch our video for a fall construction update from Molinaro Vice President Robert Molinaro. We are delighted for potential buyers to begin to see what we’ve been envisioning for Illumina!
How To Maximize Space In A Small Kitchen
Small kitchens can be a challenge. Counter space is slim, appliances are squished together, and storage is limited. Use these tips to set up a kitchen that lets your inner chef shine. Minimize Appliances Reducing the number of appliances in your home is the easiest way to maximize space. Own a blender that you rarely use? Time to donate it! Not into your sandwich press anymore? There’s another device that you don’t need to keep. Declutter your cabinets from all the appliances you no longer need, and you’ll be amazed at the amount of space you have. Kitchen counters and the island are next. As tempting as it is to keep all your appliances out for ease and efficiency, they also create clutter in your kitchen. Only keep the essential appliances out, such as your toaster and coffee machine, pick three that are important to you and your family’s lifestyle. This will create a calming, clean and creative space for you to cook and enjoy your kitchen. Don’t Forget the Inside of Cabinet Doors It’s important to utilize every inch of space! Creating extra space inside your cabinets can truly transform your kitchen. Use caddies, wire racks or hooks on the back doors of cabinets to maximize space. You can store lightweight items such as dish towels, sponges, and cleaners without taking up any precious cabinet space. Invest In A Kitchen Cart If you’re tight on counter space, a roll-away kitchen cart is perfect! You can use these types of carts to hold extra appliances, cookbooks or dishes. They also make an ideal bar area if you lack a place to store wines, liquor and other accessories. They’re extremely versatile and can be moved around to serve your needs depending on if you’re having a big baking night, or you’re hosting your family over for dinner. Declutter While decluttering your entire kitchen can seem overwhelming, if you start slowly and break it up into sections, it becomes much more doable. Create a few rules for yourself. For example, if you haven’t used an item in two or more years, donate it. Not only will you help someone in need, you’ll free up space in your kitchen. This is not just limited to appliances – think kitchen gadgets, cutlery, tupperware and spices as well. Make decluttering your kitchen a quarterly habit. Doing a deep clean of your kitchen every few months will help it stay tidy and give it the illusion of appearing more spacious. If you want to go the extra mile, here are a few organizational services located in Burlington and the surrounding area, to help you make the most of your space: Maid of All Work: they help busy homeowners have more freedom and enjoy life by getting organized and letting go of items they no longer need. Allison Moon Professional Organizing: she offers a fun and creative approach to bring order to your home. How are you going to maximize the space in your kitchen?
4 Ways to Cozy Up Your Kitchen for Fall
Grab your hearty soup recipes, decorative pie plates and favorite cookbooks. Fall is here, and with a little effort you can get your kitchen ready for our favourite season. Bring Out Your Cookbooks There’s something about this time of the year that brings out the cook in all of us. Dust off those cookbooks and turn to your favourite fall recipes. Not to mention, they make beautiful kitchen decor! With this season, the dinner options are endless. Try making butternut squash soup, chicken pot pie, or a delicious roast. Don’t forget about dessert! There’s nothing cozier than a busy kitchen, with the scent of tasty treats wafting in the air. This season calls for banana bread, apple crumble, and pumpkin cheesecake. Discuss your favourites with your spouse and kids and have a bake-off with the whole family. Visit Your Local Home Decor Shop Burlington has some of the most unique decor and furniture shops, all with beautiful pieces for fall! When shopping for your decor, avoid colourful, kitschy items. Instead, stick with neutrals you can use for multiple years to create a classic autumn atmosphere. A few fall inspired items to keep top of mind are cozy throws, table runners, and seasonal knick-knacks. We’ve listed some our favourite Burlington shops below: Classique Decor specializes in both modern and contemporary furniture, along with wall art, gifts, and custom upholstery. Scan Decor serves the GTA and Halton region, with a beautiful showroom in Burlington. They believe in their products and are strongly committed to providing their clients with unique pieces that are built to last. In House Living offers a relaxed shopping experience, with three thousand square feet of beautiful furniture and accessories. Incorporate Natural Colours and Textures When we think of autumn, we tend to think of earthy tones: beiges, browns, and greens. Use these colours as a base for your decor, playing with different textures for extra warmth. Try laying out wooden accents such as pie plates or cutting boards to bring in natural elements. If you’re tight on space, woven baskets are both a great storage solution and the perfect fall accent. Lighting candles on the kitchen counter and dining table will make the room extra cozy, bonus points if they’re fall scented! Finally, draping a textured throw over your chairs will make your dining area extra homey. Create a Hot Drink Station Nothing says fall like a designated hot drink station in your kitchen. Use a tiered tray or small cake stand as a starting point for your station. Pull out your beloved mugs and start organizing! Next, take your coffee beans and fall tea blends and add them to the stand. Don’t forget about sweeteners, honey, and cinnamon. Lastly, add your favourite refreshments, such as scones, biscotti and cookies. This cozy station is the first place you and your guests will stop off when they visit! How are you cozying up your kitchen for fall?
What To Unpack First In Your New Home
Where are the towels? Who packed the cat food? When you’re surrounded by boxes, what you need is a strategy. We all know moving can be extremely stressful, but if you’re organized, you can make the unpacking portion very efficient. The key is to plan ahead, well before your moving date arrives. Around 100 boxes containing all your valuable belongings will arrive at your new home, stacked to the ceiling, which will be slightly overwhelming. To create a seamless moving process, you’ll want to get the important pieces ready first, and ensure you have everything that you and your family require for the first few days. Here’s a strategy of how to unpack when you first arrive at your new home. Essentials Create and label a few essential boxes with all the crucial items you will need for the first night. These boxes should include extra clothes, towels, toiletries, medication, and snacks. If you have multiple family members, a good strategy would be to pack one essential box per person. Make lists for yourself, your partner, and your children and have them add their own items to create their essential boxes. Once you arrive at the new house, everyone will have all their important items in one place, and they’ll have exactly what they need for the first few nights. Basic Furniture After you’ve unpacked the essential boxes, next up is major furniture! Wouldn’t it be nice to have a comfortable place to sleep after all that unpacking? Building the bed is the most important thing to finish on the first day. Don’t forget about pillows, sheets, and a comforter! Moving is exhausting and it’ll be nice to start off with a good night’s sleep in your new home. Try to aim for all the beds to be made and dressed on the first day, so you and your family can enjoy your night. If you have time after the beds are made, dining tables and chairs would be a logical next step. This way, when you take a break from unpacking, you can sit as a family and dine together (even if you’re having takeout)! Install Appliances After you’re set up for basic sleeping and eating, it’s time to get your appliances up and running. If the new home comes with appliances, check to make sure they’re working correctly. There’s nothing worse than faulty machines when you have a sink full of dishes or a huge pile of laundry. Takeout is great for the first day or so, but after a few days, it’d be nice to cook a meal together in your new. If you’ve ordered new appliances, try to schedule their arrival on the first or second day of your move, so you can access them immediately! Bathrooms While bathrooms are quite usable on their own, if you unpack all the items from your essentials box, you’ll effectively have a working bathroom. Place your towels on the rack and line up your toiletries in their new space, and you’ve got yourself a functional bathroom. If you have extra time, start unpacking other boxes, and set up shower items, hair tools, and makeup. Home Office If you have a home office, it’s the next section of your home that you should begin organizing. Make sure the Wi-Fi is set up, as well as your desk, chair and computer. After a few days of unpacking and moving around furniture, you’ll want your home office to be ready for your next workday. Pets If you have pets, are they staying with friends while you set everything up? Make sure you’ve unpacked everything your pet needs to feel comfortable and safe when they get to the new house. Pets will likely be confused about the new environment, so it will help to have familiar items such as their toys and food set up when they arrive. Let us know what you’re unpacking first in your new home!
Construction Update: Illumina- September 2020
At Illumina, you’ll be in the heart of the city, just steps away from Burlington’s natural beauty and ready to enjoy the quiet retreat you’ve dreamed about. Construction at Illumina is moving along nicely, both on budget and on time! Watch our video for an update from Molinaro President Vince Molinaro and Vice President Robert Molinaro, as well as a comprehensive overview of the construction process.
5 Myths of Real Estate Agents
Do you need one? Do they keep the whole commission? Let’s set the facts straight. Buyers and sellers often enter the market with misconceptions about real estate agents – how they work, how the process works, and what the relationship is all about. You Need a Real Estate Agent The truth is, you can actually sell your home yourself, with no agent. You may be excited to save the commission money but selling your property on your own can be extremely challenging. Hiring an agent will save you a lot of hassle, stress, and give you piece of mind. They’ll easily be able to distinguish legitimate buyers, negotiate on your behalf, and sift through all the legal jargon that comes with this type of transaction. You’ll feel very confident when selling your home, knowing your agent has had countless successful sales, is available to answer any intimidating questions, and will look over all the final details. They Only Care About Selling You A Home When you hire a real estate agent, they go above and beyond selling you a home. They will also ask you about your long-term goals and help you find the ideal type of neighbourhood you want to live in. Do you enjoy living in the suburbs, with green space and a family community? Would you prefer living in the heart of the city, close to transit lines and a gorgeous skyline view? Or would you like a combination of both? A real estate agent is extremely knowledgeable on different neighbourhoods and will work with you to find the perfect home to suit your lifestyle. Real Estate Agents Make a Lot of Money This is one of the most common myths, that just because they sold an expensive home, real estate agents made a huge commission. What most people don’t know is that agents split the commission with the buyer’s agent. After this, the brokerage may also take a cut depending on the arrangement they have with the real estate agent. Not to mention, agents pay for their own marketing expenses. Video tours of the property, social media, websites, digital marketing, print materials, and open house events are all their responsibility. At the end of the day, real estate agents are left with a fair commission. Real Estate Agents Will Do Anything To Make A Sale Real estate agents tend to have a bad reputation for saying or doing anything to make a sale because only then do they receive their commission. While there are a few agents who may demonstrate this kind of behaviour, most agents are incentivized to hold themselves to a code of ethics with their clientele. Why? Because real estate relies on referrals, and no client wants to send their friends and family to a pushy salesperson who will manipulate them to make a sale. Whenlooking for a real estate agent, it’s crucial to find a person who’s trusting and has your best interest at heart. Majority of the time, you will have an enjoyable working relationship with your real estate agent. All Real Estate Agents Are the Same Just as with any sales job, no two real estate agents are the same. They may work for the same brokerage, discuss the properties they’ve sold, and deliberate over the housing market; however, these agents are completely different. They have distinctive presentation styles, sales approaches, and creative abilities. One agent may focus more on staging the property while another puts more energy into their social media presence and marketing materials. Like any industry, you want to find the perfect agent when you are buying or selling your home, one that you feel comfortable with, and who understands exactly what you’re looking for
