EDMONTON EDITION
FEB 9 - MAR 9, 2018 | rentersguide.ca
Premium Living Rent one of our newly renovated suites today!
587.800.4055 bwalk.com
KITCHEN DESIGN WITH SARAH RICHARDSON
GET SET TO DISCOVER KNOTTWOOD
STUNNING, NEWLY RENOVATED SUITES
MOVE-IN READY Ask about our special incentives!
Viking Arms
Southgate Tower
Ermineskin Place
10615 – 47 Ave.
11020 - 53 Ave.
2421 – 104 St.
2 bedroom suites
3 bedroom penthouse suites
1 bedroom suites 2 bedroom bi-level suites
587.801.1309
Limited time offer. Limited suites.
587.801.5536
TELUS Internet & Optik TVTM included. Some conditions apply.
587.801.2041
bwalk.com
SOUTH EAST AVALON COURT – NEW RENTAL COMPLEX LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST EDMONTON. OUR INCENTIVES ARE THE BEST AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET – BUT ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME.
5008 4 Ave SW Edmonton, AB. 587-597-3577 AvalonCourt.ca
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
Free Telus cable and internet Heat and water are included in rent Option to upgrade to heated underground parking Insuite laundry + storage room Stainless Steel appliances Granite countertops New building – Condo-quality Underground parking available Large balconies Main floor and second floor are family-friendly Third floor and fourth floor are adult-only Cat-friendly building Easy access to Anthony Henday
FEB 9 - MAR 9, 2018 3
EDITOR’S NOTE
WHEN IT’S BROKEN WHO YOU GOING TO CALL? One of the great things about renting is not having to worry about maintenance. I consider myself pretty handy — I can unblock a simple clog in a toilet or drain, change light bulbs and hang pictures — but when it comes to malfunctioning appliances, heating or plumbing, I’m happy to have someone else fix the problem. A couple of months after I moved into the condo in which I live, the kitchen sink began to clog and the pipe under the sink started to leak. I emailed my landlord and within two days the problem was fixed. Easy-peasy. I didn’t have to go online to a DIY site to figure out how to change whatever type of pipe was under the sink, nor did I have to call in a plumber at my own expense. Having a maintenance problem looked after in your rental is as simple as calling the superintendent, landlord or property management company. Even with the call, you may also want to send your request out in an email. In a good rental, like mine, everything will be fixed for you without putting you out. It’s very liberating! If you are thinking about moving, we hope this issue of Renters Guide can help. Or check us out online at NextHome.ca, and get ready to find your next great living space.
MARLENE EISNER SENIOR EDITOR NextHome EMAIL: marlene.eisner@nexthome.ca
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Top five cleaning tips 11
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FEB 9 - MAR 9, 2018 | VOLUME 34 ISSUE 2
CONTENTS
VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF PUBLISHING OFFICER
Caroline Andrews PUBLISHER & GENERAL MANAGER
Shawn Woodford ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Anne-Marie Breen DIRECTOR, CONTENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jennifer Reynolds MANAGING EDITOR
Wayne Karl SENIOR EDITOR
Marlene Eisner ART DIRECTOR
Megan Pike CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Sonia Bell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Hellen Buttigieg, Sara Duck, Amy Hancock, Jackie Marchildon, Chuck Resnick, Gail Vaz-Oxlade MEDIA CONSULTANT
Heather Harke 780.456.1153 heather.harke@nexthome.ca
2 ON THE COVER:
BOARDWALK
SALES CO-ORDINATOR
Gary Chilvers
SENIOR MANAGER, DISTRIBUTION
Dwayne Rutherford NATIONAL CIRCULATION MANAGER
John Jenkins MANAGER OF PRODUCTION
Anthony Majetic GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Swinder Jodhka, Mike Terentiev
PREMIUM LIVING IN EVERY ISSUE
4 Editor's Note 7 Maps 18 What's Online
18 The Rentalist The pitfalls of apartment furniture BY JACKIE MARCHILDON
INSPIRATION
8 Design File ADVICE
10 Moving An easier moving process BY CHUCK RESNICK
For a resort-style kitchen design, it's all in the details
14 Marketplace Add a touch of Nordic-inspired kitchen essentials
11 Renters' Help Top five cleaning tips BY MOLLY MAID
12 Quick Tips The psychology of mess BY HELLEN BUTTIGIEG
16 Money Sense February is Make Do Month BY GAIL VAZ-OXLADE
NEIGHBOURHOOD PROFILE:
KNOTTWOOD
6
P.O. Box 458 Station Main, Edmonton, AB T5J 2K1 nexthome.ca ADVERTISING Call 416.626.4200 for advertising
rates and information. CIRCULATION Highly targeted, free distribution
system aimed at real estate buyers using street level boxes and racking, plus door-to-door insertions in key audience segments. Call 1-855826-4200 to discuss distribution opportunities. COPYRIGHT 2018 All rights reserved by Yellow
Pages Homes Limited. Reproduction in any form is prohibited. Contents of this publication are covered by copyright and offenders will be prosecuted under the law. TERMS Advertisers, editorial content and Renters
Guide are not responsible for typographical errors, mistakes or misprints. All prices are correct as of press time and are subject to change without notice. E. & O. E. EDITORIAL Submissions from interested parties will be considered. Email to marlene.eisner@ nexthome.ca. DISCLAIMER The views and data expressed by
columnists do not necessarily represent those of the publication.
FEB 9 - MAR 9, 2018 5
NEIGHBOURHOOD PROFILE
+MORE PHOTOS AND STATS ONLINE: nexthome.ca/knottwood
KNOTTWOOD A QUIET FAMILY COMMUNITY
AMY HANCOCK Knottwood is a community located in Millwoods in southeast Edmonton. It consists of three neighbourhoods: Ekota, Satoo and Menisa. It’s between 66th street and South Edmonton Common, with 23rd avenue bordering the north and Anthony Henday to the south. It’s a quiet neighbourhood with many schools and parks, with the convenience of having major amenities and services close by. The average income is higher in Knottwood compared to other Millwoods neighbourhoods, according to Census of Canada figures. Residents live comfortably, 6
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in older but well-cared-for family dwellings. More than 85 per cent of houses in Satoo and Menisa are owner-occupied and many of those have children at home. There are three large parks, several playgrounds and schools in Knottwood. If you’re walking down the curving residential streets, you’ll be sure to hear the sounds of children playing at recess or pass a group of teens riding home on their bikes. It feels comfortable here, though the main drags can get a little busy, and it’s obviously a family neighbourhood. South Edmonton Common, which is Edmonton’s largest boxstore shopping centre, is right next door. Cinemas, restaurants, shopping, groceries and other services are all here. Schools, medical centres, churches and
parks are right in Knottwood and the Grey Nuns Community Hospital is close by. You can also do some shopping at the less busy Millwoods Town Centre. Millwoods Road South intersects the community, taking you to 66th towards Whitemud Drive or 91st street to the Anthony Henday Ring Road. Travel down 23rd Avenue to get to South Edmonton Common, or to make your way south of the city via the Queen Elizabeth Hwy. II or north to Whyte Avenue and downtown on Gateway Boulevard. Bus routes follow the same roads, intersecting with the Millwoods Transit Centre. Amy is a freelance writer and communications professional. Her insights and extensive familiarity with Edmonton make her a great guide for getting to know local communities.
EDMONTON
2 RENTERS GUIDE IS ORGANIZED GEOGRAPHICALLY: NORTH WEST, NORTH CENTRAL, NORTH EAST, SOUTHWEST, SOUTH CENTRAL, SOUTH EAST, WEST AND SURROUNDING AREA. THE TABS AT THE TOP OF EACH PAGE IDENTIFY THE AREA IN WHICH YOU ARE SEARCHING AND THE TYPE OF ACCOMMODATIONS.
NORTH WEST
NORTH EAST
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16
NORTH CENTRAL
WEST
2
216
SOUTH CENTRAL
14 216
SOUTH WEST
SOUTH EAST
2 NORTH WEST Athlone Calder Carlisle Carlton Glenora
Hudson Inglewood Mayfield Oxford Wellington
NORTH CENTRAL Glenora Westmount Boyle Street McCauley
Downtown Oliver Queen Mary Park McQueen
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SOUTH WEST
SOUTH CENTRAL
Allendale Bearspaw Brookside Duggan Hodgson
Lansdowne McKernan Pleasantview Twin Brooks Windsor Park
Spruce Avenue Forest Heights Fulton Place Windsor Park
Holyrod Ottewell McKernan Strathcona
NORTH EAST Abbottsfield Balwin Canon Ridge Glengarry Highlands
Kildare McLeod Newton Sifton Park York
SOUTH EAST Avonmore Cloverdale Forest Heights Kenilworth Maple Ridge
Mill Woods Summerside Tamarack Walker Wild Rose
PAGE 3
WEST Aldergrove Crestwood Granville Lynnwood Parkview
Sherwood Summerlea The Hamptons Thorncliff Westridge
SURROUNDING AREA Gibbons St. Albert Spruce Grove Devon Calmar
Fort Sask. Sherwood Park Beaumont Leduc Morinville
PAGE 11
HOW TO ADVERTISE PLACE YOUR DISPLAY AD… HEATHER HARKE MEDIA CONSULTANT 780.456.1153 heather.harke@nexthome.ca
+ FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ADVERTISING PLEASE CALL 780.456.1153 FEB 9 - MAR 9, 2018 7
INSPIRATION | STYLE FILE
Oversized lighting in the kitchen, like this mid-century modern fixture, is a big trend for 2018.
International design celebrity
IT’S ALL IN THE by SARA DUCK
DESIGN DARLING SARAH RICHARDSON COLLABORATED WITH PROFESSIONAL KITCHEN APPLIANCE BRAND MONOGRAM CANADA AT THIS YEAR’S TORONTO INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW, TO CREATE A RESORT-INSPIRED KITCHEN WITH AMAZING DETAILS. 8
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We can’t get enough of Sarah’s latest wallpaper design, which launches in May 2018. Wallpaper in the kitchen is unexpected but a great way to bring colour and pattern to your space.
Sarah’s design highlights the Monogram Columns refrigeration; customizable integrated refrigeration for a truly seamless look.
Display your beautiful pots. A set of copper pots will add a pop of shine to any kitchen.
Beautiful woven details on these chairs give this kitchen a beachy feel, with a hint of sophistication.
PHOTOS: MONOGRAM CANADA AND STACEY BRANDFORD INTERIORS
Sarah used millennial pink paired with grey and copper details for a warm, dreamy, getaway look.
Succulents and big tropical leaves add to the resort feel, but can easily be adapted to fit any kitchen style.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PROFESSIONAL STYLE APPLIANCES BY MONOGRAM CANADA, VISIT MONOGRAM.CA SEE MORE DESIGN INSPIRATION AT SARAHRICHARDSONDESIGN.COM FEB 9 - MAR 9, 2018 9
ADVICE | MOVING
PACKING UP FOR A MOVE: BREAKING DOWN THE PROCESS
CHUCK RESNICK Moving homes or offices can feel like an overwhelming task, with packing up all your belongings being the first major challenge. With a few deep breaths and these packing tips, though, you can conquer the move without losing your mind. • BEFORE PACKING: You want to reserve your movers or moving company at least eight weeks prior to your move during busy periods to guarantee availability on moving day. Once you have your movers selected, you can start to pack up your belongings in anticipation of their arrival. Some moving companies will even pack for you (for an extra charge), simplifying and streamlining the moving process. • START PACKING: Once you have determined your moving date, start packing. Box up belongings that you don’t use often and store them somewhere out of the way. Attics and basements are usually good places to start because they are not high-traffic areas in the house. If you have kitchen supplies or dishware like fine china or blenders that go unused on a daily basis, carefully pack them away a few weeks before the move. Make sure to use packing paper or bubble wrap to protect fragile belongings. Newsprint from newspapers can be messy to 10
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clean. Keep a record of what goes into which box so you can find what you need instantly when it comes time to unpack. • KEEP PACKING: If you stand back and look at everything you need to pack, you’ll be overwhelmed. Just start. If you start early enough, you can break up the packing process into a more gradual and less stressful experience. Save the items that you use daily to pack last and make sure to label each box. Avoid packing items from different rooms in the same box to prevent confusion when unpacking.
More than just a moving company, we are customer service specialists equipped with the skill and experience to help you move.
Chuck Resnick is vice-president Marketing and Operations for Two Men And a Truck - Canada, a division of Heron Capital Corporation. Visit twomen.ca
+MORE ADVICE ONLINE nexthome.ca/news/advice
a pa rtm en ts
Completely renovated Backs on to walking trails Rents from $895 Professional on-site Staff Close to several schools Family living at its best DATS Friendly Wheelchair friendly Cat friendly Gym onsite
609 King Street, Spruce Grove
Telus
package & rent incentives Reduced security deposit
780.960.0065
Accredited Management Organization (AMO)
1 & 2 bedrooms available
www. AyreOxford.com
ADVICE | RENTERS’ HELP
MOLLY MAID’S
TOP 5 CLEANING TIPS 1. SIMPLIFY YOUR CLEANING
5. DE-SCALE THE KETTLE
PRODUCTS
Limit cleaning products to a quality window/glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, tile/grout cleaner and a toilet bowl cleaner. 2. DUST FIRST, VACUUM SECOND
Any bits of dust or dirt that fall to the floor as you’re dusting will be picked up by the vacuum cleaner.
damp cloth on the end of a mop handle to reach the narrow space between appliances.
3. DAMP MOP
4. MICROWAVE SPATTERS
First sweep or vacuum floors to collect crumbs and dirt. Then start washing the floor in the farthest corner of the room and work your way towards the door. Use a
Fill a cup with water and microwave on high for a few minutes. The steam will loosen any baked-on food so you can easily wipe it clean.
Fill the kettle half-and-half with white vinegar and water and leave it to soak overnight. Using an old toothbrush, dislodge any stubborn bits of lime scale. Rinse out thoroughly a couple of times and then boil some water to eliminate any odour of vinegar. For more information visit mollymaid.ca
+MORE ADVICE ONLINE nexthome.ca/news/advice
FEB 9 - MAR 9, 2018 11
SPRUCE GOOVE
Amberwynd
ADVICE | QUICK TIPS
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MESS: LITTLE ADJUSTMENTS TO REDUCE THE CLUTTER
HELLEN BUTTIGIEG We all have spots that are magnets for clutter, usually because they provide a convenient, empty flat surface to pile things on. Walk around your home to determine where the clutter hot spots are, then remove the clutter (toss it in a box or laundry basket for now) and put something beautiful in its place, like a vase or a sculpture. If it’s the dining room table, set it as if you were having a dinner party. This will deter you from using it as a drop zone. KEEP YOUR PANTRY DECLUTTERED
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shuffling through papers? Get into the habit of thinking twice before bringing home any piece of paper or printing a page. Ask yourself whether you have a specific use for it, and if you don’t have a clear answer, leave it behind. Be realistic about what you’ll actually have time to read. Paper hoarding is a habit that you can break, and doing so will save you time and energy.
Most people can’t resist buying items that are on sale. But when it comes to food, buying too much and neglecting to use it before the expiry date will cost you more in the long run. It’s easy to forget what you have on hand when things build up. Whether you keep your food in the kitchen cupboards or a large pantry, keeping these areas streamlined and organized will save you time, money and frustration. Before going grocery shopping, take an inventory of everything you have and plan the meals for the upcoming week with an eye toward incorporating these items. Once you’ve used up the excess, get in the habit of planning your weekly meals in advance. You will avoid over-buying and will always know what’s for dinner.
CREATE AN IN/OUT ZONE Set up a small container for each family member on a table or a small bookcase by the door as a place to hold keys and wallets. It can also act as a landing spot for briefcases and backpacks. In addition to providing a home for those items when you walk in the door, it also gives you a consistent spot to place things you’ll need to take with you when you go out again.
STOP PAPERS FROM PILING UP
ARE YOU BEING HELD HOSTAGE
Are you wasting your valuable time
BY YOUR STUFF? If you are
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PURCHASE FURNITURE THAT
reluctant to get rid of certain items because they were expensive, think about how much it’s costing you to keep them. The more possessions you have, the more time it takes to care for them and the more space it takes to store them. Although it may be difficult to let go of things that no longer serve you, the payoff is well worth it: you’ll have more free time in your day and be more relaxed in your home.
DOES DOUBLE-DUTY Consider
purchasing a few multi-functional furnishings such as an upholstered ottoman that not only provides a place to put your feet up, but also offers additional seating, doubles as a coffee table and opens up to reveal hidden storage.
FEELING STUCK If you find yourself backsliding when it comes to maintaining your organizing systems, don’t berate yourself, as this will sap your energy and prevent you from doing anything about it. Rather than dwelling on what went wrong, focus instead on what needs to be done. Just say “oops” and move on to taking action. Hellen Buttigieg, is a Certified Professional Organizer, life coach, TV Host and owner of We Organize U. To contact Hellen or for information on hiring a We Organize U organizing specialist, call 905.829.2219 or e-mail info@WeOrganizeU.com
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NORTH WEST
MOVE IN THIS WINTER!
See Show Suite for WINTER
BUILDING
PROMOS!
OVER 90% LEASED!
PREMIUM CONDO SUITES, NOW RENTING 10 MINUTES TO DOWNTOWN, MINUTES TO THE ANTHONY HENDAY & ALBANY MARKET SQUARE! One bedrooms from $1,250 monthly One plus dens from $1,375 monthly Two bedrooms from $1,500 monthly Two plus dens - FULLY RENTED
· underground heated parking · heat and water included · air conditioning · window coverings included · quartz countertops in kitchen · stainless steel appliances
· in–suite laundry · small pets allowed w/ approval · no smoking allowed · carwash bay · secure building w/ keyfob entry
Email: info@thesilhouette.ca Phone: 780.478.0352 Monday to Thursday 2pm–6pm, Saturday 1pm–5pm, Friday, Sunday & Holidays Closed
www.thesilhouette.ca
FEB 9 - MAR 9, 2018 13
INSPIRATION | MARKETPLACE
THINK MONOCHROMATIC, NATURAL TOUCHES AND STREAMLINED DESIGN FOR A QUINTESSENTIAL SCANDINAVIAN LOOK. by SARA DUCK
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1 | Artisan soup bowl. $12. Indigo.ca 2 | Aero black 5-piece flatware place setting. $90. Crateandbarrel.com 3 | ABC porcelain plates by Arne Jacobsen for Design Letters. $49. Themodernshop.com 4 | Kobenstyle casserole 4-quart in black by Dansk. $215. Amazon.ca 5 | Alfredo egg cups. $45. Torpinc.com
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6 | 13 oz Edge mug in graphite by Artisanal Kitchen Supply. $6. Bedbathandbeyond.ca 7 | Alfredo glass 1L carafe by Georg Jensen. $98. Themodernshop.com 8 | Collar espresso maker by Stelton. $135. Themodernshop.com 9 | Marta double old-fashioned glasses. $20 for set of eight. Cb2.com 10 | Stemmed wine glass. $13. Hm.com
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11 | Alfredo peppermill in oak by Georg Jensen. $173. Torpinc.com 12 | Barbry tray by Georg Jensen. $173. Torpinc.com 13 | Mud pie slate and wood board. $30. Indigo.ca 14 | The burbs wood salad serving set by Dansk. $47. Amazon.ca 15 | Rundling serving bowl. $15. Ikea.com
FEB 9 - MAR 9, 2018 15
ADVICE | MONEY MATTERS
FEBRUARY IS
“MAKE DO” MONTH GAIL VAZ-OXLADE
If there’s any month when you’re most likely to wonder if all the bills will get paid, it’s February. After the dust has settled in January, the feverish rush of the holidays and all the unexpected expenses that popped up become realities and no doubt, things will be a little tight. Add the extra cost of heating and the jump in “fresh” food prices and you’ll be looking for ways to trim back. Enter Make Do Month. This is the month when you stretch everything a little farther so you spend a lot less. If you get invited to a party, you don’t rush out and buy something new to wear, you get creative and shop from your closet. And if you need a little something different, you shop from a friend’s closet. Or hold a clothing exchange. What you don’t do is spend money! When the weather is warm, it’s easy to do lots of free things. When it’s cold, entertainment gets more expensive. Sure there’s that great movie you’d love to take the family to for a night out of the house. For a family of four, you’re probably looking at $100 or more with popcorn and drinks. Recycle a movie you already own, do a movie swap with friends or have a Netflix movie or series binge night, add some home-made popcorn and a 12-pack of pop and you can probably do it for $10. Now that’s making do! Make Do Month is also a good 16
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time to experiment with a new routine. If you’re used to buying coffee every day, brew your own at home or work and save money big-time. If you regularly go out for lunch, pack one from home for four out of every five days and not only will you drop those holiday pounds, you’ll be able to pay off that holiday debt. But what if you have family or friends whose birthday falls in February? You’ll have to buy something, right? No you don’t. You can give something of yourself instead of something purchased. Make their favourite cookies, offer to cook them a meal or a bunch of meals for the freezer for those extra busy workdays, or create a coupon for three nights of free babysitting. Maybe you’re a computer genius and can offer to do maintenance or repairs. Perhaps you’re a mechanic and can offer a tune-up. Substitute your energy and expertise for spending money. After the buzz of the holidays, not to mention the intense cold, you were probably happy to stay home for the first couple of weeks. But now you’re starting to feel
itchy. You’ve got to get out. You can feel the walls closing in. Time to hit that great new restaurant that just opened up or head out to the clubs. Wait a minute. This is Make Do Month. Call up a couple of friends and throw a pot-luck game night instead. See if you can do it at their house this time. Start a tradition of once-a-month games or poker nights and rotate from one friend’s home to another. No one says you can’t have fun in Make Do Month. You just can’t spend gobs of money. Make Do Month is a conscious decision to stretch every dollar as far as it will go. Try it and see if just becoming conscious saves you money. I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Gail Vaz-Oxlade is the host of Til Debt Do Us Part and author of Debt Free Forever, and she blogs daily at gailvazoxlade.com. Follow Gail on Twitter at Twitter.com/GailVazOxlade
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NORTH CENTRAL
RENT
INCENTIVES WITH 1 YEAR RENTAL AGREEMENT
TheAlbany
Please Call For Your Appointment
90 St NW
96 Ave NW
10155 - 116 ST., EDMONTON
780-488-6060
95 Ave NW
87 St NW
BACHELORS $950 1 BEDROOMS $1050 2 BEDROOMS $1300
• Newly renovated • Hardwood floors • Cover and open parking • Adult building • Exercise room, pool table, dart board • Excellent downtown location • Heat, power and water included in rent • Quiet, secure building • Cat friendly upon approval
WHAT’S ONLINE
TRENDING NOW THE LATEST RENTAL INSIGHTS FROM ACROSS CANADA
PRODUCTS TO STRETCH YOUR SMALL SPACE
TOP 4 TIPS FOR NEW RENTERS
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ADVICE | THE RENTALIST
FURNITURE FAILS THE PITFALLS OF APARTMENT FURNITURE
JACKIE MARCHILDON Chances are, at some point in your renting life, your place was filled with hand-me-down furniture. Some of it you probably loved, some of it you probably hated. Antique stuff from grandma’s place will always be cool — I’ve got a retro chair we picked up from my boyfriend’s grandparents. However, there are hand-medown pieces, like sofas, that tend to be less convenient to hold onto as you become a more established apartment dweller. If you live in a condo, small apartment or genuinely oddshaped space, apartment- or condo-sized furniture is your best bet. The upside to this kind of furniture is that it was designed with small spaces in mind — think CB2 or EQ3. These days, you can always find suitable furniture options…but they tend to bring with them a few pitfalls. SIZE VERSUS COMFORT VERSUS STYLE
Sometimes finding the appropriate furniture set for your tiny apartment means compromising on comfort. That’s not to say that you can’t find comfy sets that will fit in your unit, it just means that you’ll need to give a little to get a little. For instance, if you want something with big, cozy cushions, you might decide to go with a big love seat and chair, instead of a full sofa. If a matching sofa set is important, searching for a sleeker, smaller sofa and chair might be 18 RentersGuide.ca
best — but sometimes that means losing the comfort of big cushions, or the overall choice in style. When it comes down to it, you might even think that apartment-sized furniture is just too small. Having said all that, there are some great options out there, but that brings me to our next pitfall... AFFORDABLE OPTIONS ARE LIMITED
If you’re trying to buy small-space furniture on a budget, it can get tricky. A quick search will tell you that the average small sofa is more than 80 inches long. Stores that create custom-sized furniture are great for avoiding that comfort versus size compromise, but they tend to be pricey. I managed to buy the smallest, most affordable (and nicest) sofa and chair for $1,200 during a sale (and the first movers originally refused to move the furniture in because they were convinced the sofa would not fit). I like our sofa and chair, but we really only had a few options
in that price range when it came down to style, colour and comfort. YOU WILL NEED TO BUY A NEW SET IF YOU GIVE UP APARTMENT LIFE
This won’t apply to everyone, because a lot of people living in apartments enjoy it and don’t plan to move any time soon, but some might eventually move into a larger unit, home or building. When that happens, the perfectly sized furniture you bought for your small space won’t work as well in a larger place. And then begins the fun but frustrating — and expensive — search for furniture all over again. Jackie Marchildon is a bilingual writer and editor. She spends her time searching for hidden gems across the city, whether it’s new neighbourhoods and restaurants or upcoming trends in real estate and home decor.
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Comfortable Senior Living Providing a caring environment that enriches the lives of our Senior Resident Members.
Boardwalk Retirement Community 10531 – 90 St. • Comfortable spacious bachelor, 1 & 2 bedroom suites • Beautiful fireplace lounge with big screen television • Weekly housekeeping and linen service • Secure outdoor walking area • Onsite security • Games and craft areas • Affordable rates • Squash and racquetball courts for our active Resident Members • 24-hour emergency call centre • Two delicious and nutritious meals per day • Spectacular views and private balconies • Indoor swimming pool
587.414.5506 TELUS Internet & Optik TVTM included. Some conditions apply.
bwalk.com