Address: 377 Madison Avenue, Penthouse 708
Neighbourhood: Casa Loma
Agent: Bruno Soares, Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd., Brokerage
Price: $2,795,000
A pristine two-level penthouse with Casa Loma views. The living area on the main floor has 11-foot-high ceilings and a balcony just above a tree canopy. The second level has a huge bedroom suite and a 1,200-square-foot terrace.
The owner has never actually lived here. The condo hasn’t registered yet, so this unit is being sold on assignment.
Here’s the kitchen and dining area:
A closer look at the kitchen:
The living room has a wall of wrap-around windows:
The main-floor bedroom:
And the balcony:
Both bedrooms are luxurious enough to be considered the master. Each has an ensuite bathroom, a walk-in closet and heated floors.
Here’s the upstairs bedroom, with its wall of windows:
The upstairs bathroom:
And the rooftop terrace:
There’s no separate office or den, which could make this place impractical for someone who works from home.
• $2,795,000
• 2,350 square feet
• $1,455 in monthly maintenance fees
• 1,200-square-foot rooftop terrace
• 270-square-foot balcony
• 3 bathrooms
• 2 bedrooms
• 2 parking spaces
• 1 wine fridge
• 1 locker
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Article source: http://torontolife.com/real-estate/condos/toronto-condo-for-sale-377-madison-avenue/
The buyers: Amanda Moskowitz, a 34-year-old stay-at-home mom; her husband, Adam, a 39-year-old auctioneer; and their three young children.
The story: Adam grew up vacationing on Lake Muskoka and wanted to continue the tradition with his wife and kids, but their existing cottage was too small for their growing family. It was time to trade up. Amanda was concerned about the kids’ safety: she wanted a place located on a bay, with minimal boat traffic and calm water. Their budget of $1.5 million needed to cover the purchase price as well as any renovations.
Lake Muskoka, Gravenhurst
This one-and-a-half-storey cottage had been vacant for about four years. The previous owners had started a reno but never followed through, leaving the interior gutted and ready for construction. Amanda and Adam loved the idea of having a blank canvas to renovate as they pleased, and the bay location meant tranquil water for the kids. They crunched the numbers and figured they could afford to finish the reno if they got the place for a little less than list price. There were no other bidders, so they were able to win out for $49,000 under asking. A year later, their renovation is almost complete.
Size: 2,800 square feet
Listed at: $949,000
Purchase price: $900,000
Lake frontage: 300 feet
Bedrooms: None
Bathrooms: None
Features: Renovation-ready
Here’s the view from the lake:
And the view of the lake:
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Article source: http://torontolife.com/real-estate/family-five-took-cottage-reno-project-gravenhurst/
Anthony Munk, senior managing director at investment giant Onex (and the son of Barrick Gold founder Peter Munk), appears to have had a change of heart about his palatial Rosedale pad.
After buying his modern home at 361 Inglewood Drive for $4.25 million in 2007 and fixing it up with a partial third-storey addition, Munk purchased the property next door, at 359 Inglewood—an older house, with a brick exterior. Munk evidently had no intention of living in it. Before closing on the home, he applied to the city for a permit to demolish it. In a letter to the city’s building department, Munk’s architect explained that Munk intended to use the spare land to build a two-storey extension on the west side of the house at 361 Inglewood, “in order to address the needs of his family.” The new wing would have given Munk an additional 3,300 square feet of floor area.
But the city never issued a demolition permit, and Munk’s application was cancelled in 2014. He sold the house at 359 Inglewood for $2.845 million in 2016. Now, 361 Inglewood is up for sale, too, with an asking price of $8.38 million.
Even without a west wing, 361 Inglewood is impressive. It sits on a ravine lot, and the living room has floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the lush tree canopy. The master bathroom has the same view, and the treetops serve as a natural privacy screen.
The house has four bedrooms, plus a chic office space on the third floor with a wood-burning fireplace and access to a rooftop deck. There’s a spa with a hot tub and sauna, and an in-ground pool in the backyard.
Munk’s real estate agent, Corinne Kalles, couldn’t be reached for comment.
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Article source: http://torontolife.com/real-estate/houses/anthony-munk-selling-modern-rosedale-mansion/
Address: 1587 Dupont Street
Neighbourhood: Junction Triangle
Agent: Matt Manuel and Paul Johnston, Right at Home Realty Inc., Brokerage
Price: $2,395,000
Previously sold for: $425,000, in 2009, prior to a major renovation
A newly built home in the Junction Triangle, close to the Union Pearson Express and the West Toronto Railpath.
Once a storefront with a residence on top, the home was converted to a single-family dwelling by Soma Studio in 2010.
Here’s the entrance:
The dining area and kitchen:
A view into the living room and atrium:
The library:
There are two bedrooms on the second floor. This is the master:
The master ensuite. Don’t ask us what’s up with the bird (keep looking if you haven’t spotted it). We have no idea:
A rear view of the atrium:
The courtyard’s tall fences and newly planted trees create privacy while allowing light to stream into the two-storey living room and atrium:
Also, out back, a studio space atop the two-car garage has a bathroom and a roughed in kitchenette. It could be used as a gym space, home office, or in-law suite.
The home is a semi, which might be a deal breaker for anyone who expects a detached home in exchange for their $2.4-million outlay. But the property is, at least, on a 24.42-foot-wide lot, making this one of the wider semis in the west end.
• $2,395,000
• $6,130.16 in taxes (2017)
• 3,200 square feet
• 4 bathrooms
• 3 bedrooms
• 3 parking spots
• 1 fireplace
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Article source: http://torontolife.com/real-estate/houses/toronto-house-for-sale-1587-dupont-street/
This past year, CENTURY 21 Canada companies raised an incredible $704,152.19 for Easter Seals camps.
“The unconditional love of a pet makes it hard to place a value on a cute little puppy or kitten. But according to a recent RateSupermarket.ca study, the cost of a pet in its first 12 months of is approximately $2,600 for a puppy and $1,900 for a kitten.” https://www.ratesupermarket.ca/blog/the-cost-of-owning-a-pet-in-canada/
Get a dog, they said. It will be easy and not that expensive, they said. Just some food, treats, a leash and some shots right? The cost of pet ownership is a sneaky thing, so it’s important to budget and plan ahead for unforeseen expenses.
Here’s the breakdown of the unexpected costs for your first year of pet ownership:
Adopting/ Purchasing your pet
Training and licencing: $800.00 (average for a dog) $400.00 (for a cat)
Puppy classes can run anywhere from $100.00- $500.00 depending on the class and duration.
If you opt for pet insurance, budget approximately $500.00 per year for a puppy, and $357.11 for a kitten.
Essentials: $1000.00 (dog) $900.00 (cat)
Leashes, bowls, toys, crates, litter boxes, etc. can really add up. To keep costs low, try to find as much as you can from second hand stores before buying everything new.
Vaccines: $650.00 approximately (puppy and kittens)
The preliminary vaccines are very expensive but highly necessary. This cost includes microchips, getting them spayed or neutered and heartworm prevention.
Injuries/ Illnesses : $200.00-$800.00
As much as we all hope it never happens, it’s important to consider possible injuries and illnesses. A broken bone can cost a minimum $200.00 to fix it.
Chewed/ damaged furniture and clothes : $250.00- $500.00
Cheeky little puppies are very cute but can also be highly destructive. Try to puppy-proof as much of your house as possible before brining the pup home to avoid possible destruction. As much as we prepare, there will be messes and chewed up belongings. Hide all expensive bags and shoes so they will escape the innocent but deadly jaws of your pup. Oh the joys of pet ownership!
Source: https://www.ratesupermarket.ca/blog/the-cost-of-owning-a-pet-in-canada/
« Non seulement le surcyclage bénéficie l’environnement, il alimente l’économie en favorisant de nouveaux processus de fabrication novateurs et ouvre de nouveaux marchés ». — Surcyclage : de déchet à trésor
Vous connaissez sans doute le dicton « les vidanges des uns sont les trésors des autres ». Dans ce blogue, il ne s’agit pas de transformer les déchets proprement dits en trésor, mais plutôt de réadapter de vieux meubles négligés. Avez-vous des meubles qui accumulent de la poussière chez vous? Voici trois façons inventives de les transformer :
1. Transformation de table d’appoint en pouf :
Avez-vous une vieille table d’appoint rangée dans un coin oublié de la maison? Vous pouvez la transformer en un beau pouf fonctionnel! Voici comment faire :
Matériaux :
— table d’appoint
— mousse
— couteau tout usage
— scie
— tissu
— pistolet agrafeur
Instructions :
Mesurez et coupez la mousse
Après avoir mesuré la table, trouvez un morceau de mousse pour poser sur le dessus de la table. À l’aide du couteau, coupez la mousse pour correspondre aux dimensions de la table.
Ajustez la hauteur du pouf en coupant les pieds de la table
Comment déterminer la hauteur d’un pouf? Asseyez-vous sur le divan, étirez vos jambes et demandez à quelqu’un de mesurer la distance entre vos jambes et le plancher; ce chiffre représente la hauteur approximative du pouf. À l’aide d’une scie, coupez les pieds de la table pour obtenir la hauteur désirée. Et n’oubliez pas de couper uniformément!
Apposez-y du tissu
Coupez un morceau de tissu un peu plus grand que les dimensions de la mousse. Apposez le tissu sur la mousse, agrafez le tissu à la table et taillez le tissu restant. Voilà, vous avez un super meuble pour reposer vos pieds!
2. Vieillissement des meubles
Bien que cela puisse sembler contre-intuitif, vous pouvez donner un aspect moderne à un meuble en le vieillissant. Pour les meubles qui ne respectent plus le style de décoration de votre habitation, il existe d’innombrables façons de les réadapter. Voici une méthode simple ainsi que les matériaux requis :
Matériaux :
— papier abrasif
— peinture
— pinceau
— diluant pour peinture
— paille de fer
— teinture (facultative)
— toile de peintre/papier journal
Instructions :
Dégagez un espace de travail
Nous vous recommandons de faire ce travail à l’extérieur, dans la mesure du possible. Si vous ne pouvez pas le faire à l’extérieur, préparez un espace de travail à l’intérieur. Posez des toiles de peintre et retirez tout objet ou meuble qui peut être endommagé pendant les travaux.
Peignez le meuble et vieillissez-le à l’aide du papier abrasif et de la paille de fer
Vous pouvez ajouter une deuxième couche de peinture si vous voulez un style bicolore (la première couche se fera découvrir à mesure que vous vieillissez les meubles). Peignez le meuble et laissez-le sécher pendant la nuit. Maintenant, passons à la partie la plus amusante! Prenez la paille de fer et le papier abrasif, et frottez à cœur joie! Frottez autant que vous voulez selon le niveau de vieillissement désiré.
Touches finales
Ajoutez de la teinture si vous voulez un style classique. Lorsque vous êtes satisfait de votre travail, appliquez un revêtement au polyuréthane pour sceller le meuble et protéger la couleur. Laissez-le sécher et attendez les éloges de vos amis!
3. Transformation de miroir en tableau noir
Les tableaux noirs sont très utiles. Vous pouvez faire votre propre tableau noir à l’aide d’un vieux miroir et de la peinture de tableau noir. Voici comment faire :
Matériaux :
— miroir
— nettoyeur de verre
— chiffon en microfibre
— ruban de peintre
— apprêt en aérosol
— peinture en bombe pour tableau noir
— papier journal
Nettoyez et apprêtez le miroir
Utilisez un chiffon en microfibre pour nettoyer la surface et séchez bien. Couvrez les parties du cadre apparentes avec du papier journal ou de serviettes en papier et fixez le cadre. Apportez le miroir à l’extérieur, posez-le sur du papier journal et couvrez les parties du miroir que vous ne voulez pas peindre. Ensuite, appliquez l’apprêt au miroir.
Peignez le miroir
Laissez sécher l’apprêt; ensuite peignez-le avec la peinture en bombe pour tableau noir. Utilisez deux couches et laissez-les sécher.
Amusez-vous!
Laissez sécher la peinture pendant 24 heures avant d’utiliser le tableau noir! Il ne reste plus que d’écrire votre liste de choses à faire!
“In Canada, the peak times for colds are at the start of school in the fall, in mid-winter, and again in early spring. Adults catch approximately 2 to 4 colds a year, and children catch even more.”
Coughing, sneezing and fevers- oh my! ‘Tis the season to get sick, no matter how hard you try to prevent it, the winter cold takes no mercy. Between chugging cough syrup to eating nothing but lozenges it can feel like nothing will work. Ready to try something a little different? Take a world tour of some weird and wacky cold remedies from around the globe.
Snail Syrup, Germany 🇩🇪
A little different to maple syrup, snail syrup is used in Germany to soothe sore throats. The syrup is made of snail extract (not the whole snail), just the slime from the trail. You’ll never know if it works if you don’t try!
Raw Garlic, Russia 🇷🇺
If you are about to go on a date, then maybe don’t try this one! Eating raw garlic or having plates of chopped garlic around the house is a common cold remedy in Russia. Parents will put garlic cloves in their children’s pockets to fend off colds (and vampires, of course).
Salty Liquorice, Netherlands 🇳🇱
The Dutch have a special salty treat called “salmiak liquorice” which has surprising healing powers. The salt and the liquorice root mix together to make a soothing throat lozenge. Plus, if you like liquorice then you’re basically just eating candy while curing your cold!
Dried lizard soup, Hong Kong 🇭🇰
What do you get when you mix dried lizards, yams and dates? You get a popular cure for the common cold in Hong Kong. The catch is you have to both genders of lizard in one soup for it to work. Would you give this a try?
Turmeric Milk, India 🇮🇳
This is like hot cocoa but different in almost every way. Add turmeric, ginger, honey and peppercorns to some warm milk and say bye-bye to your cold. Turmeric is a super food so if you like the taste sprinkle it on pretty much everything (maybe not ice cream but you get the idea).
“According to a recent Ipsos poll only three in 10 Canadians will set a New Year’s resolution, and of those, 73 per cent eventually break them.”*
Every year it’s always the same struggle of setting goals, losing motivation and then inevitably your goals slip by the wayside. If you set goals, the best way to achieve them is to make small changes over time to ease into your new healthier lifestyle. Stay on track by planning, prepping and cooking meals for the week.
Follow these 3 step recipes for healthy and quick dinners that everyone has time to make.
Veggie Tacos
No one can say no to tacos! These healthy tacos are packed with all the good stuff to keep you looking and feeling good!
Prep Time: 10 mins Cooking time: 40 mins
Ingredients (4 servings):
Garnish: avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, shredded cheese (anything else your heart desires)
Directions:
1. Cook sweet potatoes in the oven at 425°until they are soft and cooked.
2. Fry onions and mix in beans and sweet potato
3. Serve in taco shells and garnish as you wish
Turmeric Chicken Salad
Turmeric is a superfood that will keep your immune system up this winter. So shake a load of it on your chicken and fight those colds!
Prep Time: 10 mins Cooking time: 15 mins
Ingredients (serves 4):
Salad Dressing:
Directions
Portobello Mushroom Burger
Show off to your family and friends with this healthy twist on a classic!
Prep Time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 4):
Garnishes: lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cheese (anything else your heart desires)
Directions:
*Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/2429731/less-than-a-third-of-canadians-make-new-years-resolutions
Get creative this Christmas and try making your own holiday decor/gifts. These three DIYs are easy and quick to make, plus they will make you look a Pinterest master! Are you ready to impress your friends and family? Let’s get started!
1. Homemade wrapping paper
With wrapping paper this cute, you could wrap up a lump of coal and people will still love it!
Materials:
Directions:
(Image: https://blog.etsy.com/en/make-your-own-potato-stamp-gift-wrap/)
2. Mitten Advent Calendar
How is it that, by the end of winter, you somehow end up with at least 5 mismatched mittens? This idea let you take all these sad, single mittens and put them to good use.
Directions:
(Image: https://www.rhbabyandchild.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=rhbc_prod482007)
3. Wine Bottle Holiday Lights
This cute wine bottle light makes for a beautiful decoration– plus it is a great excuse to drink wine!
Directions:
(Image: Image by Tim Mary Vidra)
Week One:
The countdown is on and this week is all about prep! The more you can do to prep for the holidays the more you can sit back, relax and enjoy time with your family.
Send out Cards/gifts: Before everything gets too crazy, send your holidays cards out to tick one thing off your to-do list. Prioritize which gifts to send off based on how far away they are, send out all international gifts this week to make sure they arrive on time.
Food Prep: Save yourself a lot of stress and plan your meals for the next few weeks. Plan meals that can be made ahead of time and can be frozen for a few weeks. Then all you have to do is thaw, reheat and enjoy, giving you more time to binge on Christmas movies!
Festive Finishing Touches: The time has come to deck those halls and get your house looking holiday ready. Dig out those dusty decorations from last year and get everything set up just how you want it before the guests pour in!
Week Two
There’s two weeks left until the holidays, it’s time to get your house ready for guests and all the holiday madness.
Cleaning: Although this might not sound like the most glamourous part of the holidays it is integral and your future self will thank you. Prioritize the big projects like the oven and the fridge, these will both get a lot of use over the holidays so give them a deep clean before you start your cooking and cleaning.
Guests: Get all your guest bedrooms organized with extra towels and bedding so you don’t have to rush around finding everything when the extended family arrives. You and your guests will feel much more relaxed!
The arrival of kids: Be prepared this Christmas by buying extra batteries for kids toys so there won’t be any disappointed kids who can’t play with their new toys.
Week Three
It’s only crunch time if you haven’t been following our Holiday Chore Countdown. This week all you need to do is set the table, right? Gifts are wrapped, cookies are baked, and halls are decked! Enjoy this wonderful time of year.
Set the table: Check to make sure you have enough place settings for everyone at the table. Get the little ones to help with making a centrepiece for the table. Many hands make light work!
Post-Holiday
Clean, nap, repeat! After all the gifts have been opened and before falling into a chocolate infused coma, get everyone to spend 10 minutes cleaning up. Wash all dishes after each meal so they don’t pile up and leave you feeling overwhelmed. When the time comes to pack up decorations, go through any that broke during the season. Take the time to put away the decorations properly and label boxes to make decorating next year a piece of cake!
“An estimated 2% to 3% of the general population suffers from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that seems to be related to the amount of sunlight that you are exposed to. An extreme form of the “winter blues,” SAD is worst for most people in the fall and winter.” – Body and Health Canada
1. Host a backyard bonfire
Just because summer is over doesn’t mean that bonfire season is done! Put on your big sweaters, bring out the blankets and have a cozy fall bonfire. Hot apple cider anyone?
2. Have a movie night
Let’s be real, this is the time to cruise through all the must-see movies and catch up on the summer blockbusters. Plus, it’s November so we wouldn’t judge you if threw in the occasional holiday movie in there.
3. Learn a new skill
Have you always wanted to play guitar but could never find the time? Schedule a few nights a week to practice—even if it’s just for an hour. By next summer, your skills will be much better and you’ll be campfire sing-along ready.
4. Go hiking
With the cooler weather, you can hit the trails that were too hard to hike on those hot summer days. Look at the hikes in your area and get out there before the snow comes!
5. Make your own candles
Warm your house and feel like a craft pro by making homemade candles. These also double as great holiday gifts because although it might seem crazy, winter holidays are just around the corner.