How to Use Interior Design to Create Long-Lasting Family Traditions
A home is the backdrop for many treasured family traditions. A home’s design isn’t all about making a beautiful space but creating an atmosphere to grow these traditions year after year. From the spaces you create to how the home feels, there are many ways to leverage design to create memories that will last a lifetime. Here are some ways to use interior design to create long-lasting family traditions. Create a Game RoomHaving a game room in your home is one way to have a spot for the family to gather for regular or impromptu game nights. Transforming an area of your home into a game room, with a table, enough chairs, and easily accessible storage to house the games, can give your household a spot to gather and connect (and have a screen-free zone). Consider the Kitchen IslandKitchen islands are more than a place to prepare food. They often become a home’s central gathering spot, from having coffee in the morning, after-school snacks in the afternoon, an evening glass of wine, and a palace where many meaningful conversations occur. Comfortable counter stools will provide a place to sit back, relax and gather. Or, building a banquette off the island will create a cozy gathering spot right in the middle of the kitchen action. Build a Pizza OvenIf your family is a group of pizza connoisseurs, installing an outdoor pizza oven can take your Friday night tradition to the next level. It’s a place you can gather around as you cook, eat, and enjoy your homemade pie. Facilitate Movie NightsWhether in a home theater or a family room filled with an oversized sectional for gathering, family movie nights aren’t complete without plenty of blankets, a place to set your snacks and beverages, fresh popcorn, and good views of the screen. Honor Your Family HeritageIncorporating elements of your family heritage throughout the home can help your family feel connected to previous generations. Weaving in old family photographs and pieces that honor your family’s heritage, such as textiles, art, or mementos, can bridge the gaps between generations. Consider the BackyardSome of the best family nights are spent gathered outside. Creating an outdoor living room for your family is a palace where you can connect outdoors, whether making s’mores around an outdoor fireplace, having family movie nights under the stars, or having an annual summer yard game day. Cooking NightsIf your family loves to cook together, having a kitchen that accommodates multiple cooks in the kitchen will create a space for everyone to enjoy. Ample walkways, plenty of counter space, comfortable stools, and easily accessible utensils will give everyone a chance to contribute. Family traditions are important because they strengthen family bonds and create long-lasting happy memories.
3 Small Design Strategies That Make a Big Impact
If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s interior design, it may surprise you to know that it doesn’t necessarily require investing in new furniture or installing new flooring. In fact, according to the home design editors at Real Simple, focusing on a few key details is often all it takes to upgrade your home’s overall design. Here are three easy and relatively inexpensive steps you can take to instantly elevate your home decor. 1. Restain wooden furniture. A new coat of stain can make a piece of furniture go from old and shabby to brand new and dazzling. The key to success, however, is selecting the right shade, as the stain you choose will either enhance the existing undertones of the wood, or make the wood tones appear warmer or cooler. This is why the editors say it’s critical to test any stain before you proceed with your project. You’ll also need to take opacity into consideration—some stains allow more of the wood grain to shine through, while others provide a denser coverage. Do your research and test! 2. Replacing light-switch covers. You probably don’t give your white plastic switch plates a second thought. But once you upgrade them, you won’t believe the difference it makes in your home’s overall look and feel. There’s a plethora of options to choose from, too, in a variety of shapes, colors and patterns. The editors advise that just switching from standard builder’s grade to chrome or brass covers will instantly add some luxe to your home. 3. Getting serious about lighting. No matter the quality or design factor of an existing room, when it’s strategically lit, everything looks more stylish. Editors recommend taking a layered approach to lighting, providing a variety of options within a room, from small task lighting to tabletop lamps to overhead lights. Editors also advise taking your lighting a step further by adding a few statement pieces to a room, such as a vintage table lamp or stylish wall sconces. The bottom line? There’s no need to wait until you’ve saved enough money for that statement couch. Focus on a few, key details and start enjoying an elevated interior decor.
CREB® Calgary housing market sees shifts
Housing activity continues to move away from the extreme sellers’ market conditions experienced throughout the spring. Easing sales, combined with gains in supply, pushed the months of supply above two months in August, a level not seen since the end of 2022. “As expected, rising new home construction and gains in new listings are starting to support a better-supplied housing market,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB®. “This trend is expected to continue throughout the remainder of the year, but it’s important to note that supply levels remain low, especially for lower-priced properties. It will take time for supply levels to return to those that support more balanced conditions.”Inventory levels in August reached 4,487 units, 37 per cent higher than last August but nearly 25 per cent lower than long-term trends for the month. Higher-priced properties mostly drove the supply gains, as the most affordable homes in each property type continued to report supply declines.The supply gains were made possible by both an increase in new listings in August and a pullback in sales activity. There were 2,186 sales in August, representing a 20 per cent decline from last year's record high but still 17 per cent higher than long-term averages for the month. The sales declines were driven by homes priced below $600,000.Following stronger-than-expected gains earlier in the year, the pace of price growth is starting to slow. In August, the total unadjusted residential benchmark price was $601,800, six per cent higher than last year and just slightly lower than last month. Year-to-date, the average benchmark price rose by nine per cent. Detached Detached home sales fell by 14 per cent compared to last year, as gains in homes priced above $600,000 were not enough to offset declines in the lower price ranges, which continue to struggle with low supply levels. In August, there were 2,011 detached homes available in inventory, with over 85 per cent priced above $600,000. The improving higher-end supply compared to sales helped push the months of supply up to nearly two months. While market conditions are still tight, this is a significant improvement from the under-one-month supply experienced in the spring. Shifting conditions are relieving some pressure on home prices. In August, the unadjusted detached benchmark price was $762,600, slightly lower than last month but still over nine per cent higher than last year. Semi-Detached With 297 new listings and 172 sales, the sales-to-new-listings ratio in August dropped to 58 per cent, which is more consistent with pre-pandemic levels. This shift supported a rise in inventory levels, and the months of supply rose to nearly two months. While conditions remain relatively tight, the boost in new listings has helped ease some of the pressure on prices. In August, the unadjusted benchmark price was $681,200, a decline from last month but nearly 10 per cent higher than last year. Row New listings row for homes priced above $400,000, contributing to year-to-date growth of nearly 16 per cent. At the same time, slower sales over the past three months have contributed to inventory gains. In August, there were 660 units available, a 75 per cent increase over the exceptionally low levels reported last year. While inventories are still low by historical standards, as with other property types, this shift is helping ease pressure on home prices. The unadjusted benchmark price in August was $461,700, slightly lower than last month but over 12 per cent higher than last August. Monthly adjustments were not consistent across districts, with adjustments in the City Centre, North West, North, and West districts mostly driving monthly declines. Despite the monthly adjustments, year-over-year prices remain higher than last year across all districts and range from a low of 10 per cent in the City Centre to a high of 26 per cent in the East district. Apartment Condominium New listings in August reached 1,001 units, a record high for the month. The gains in new listings were met with a pullback in sales, causing the sales-to-new-listings ratio to drop to 60 per cent and inventories to rise to 1,476 units. Unlike other property types, overall condominium inventory levels were relatively consistent with longer-term trends for the month. Rising inventory and easing sales caused the months of supply to increase to nearly two and a half months, not as high as levels seen before the pandemic but an improvement over the extremely tight conditions seen over the past 18 months. In August, the unadjusted benchmark price was $346,500, similar to last month and nearly 16 per cent higher than last year’s prices. REGIONAL MARKET FACTS Airdrie New listings in Airdrie continued to rise this month compared to last year. However, with 242 new listings and 172 sales, the sales-to-new-listings ratio remained relatively high at 71 per cent. This prevented a stronger gain in inventory levels and kept the months of supply below two months. The tightest conditions in the market continue to be in the lower price ranges of each property type. While conditions continue to favour the seller, they are not as tight as during the spring months, taking some pressure off home prices. In August, the unadjusted benchmark price was $553,300, similar to last month and nearly eight per cent higher than last year. Cochrane August reported 81 sales and 109 new listings, keeping the sales-to-new-listings ratio elevated at 74 per cent, enough to prevent any gain in inventory levels. With 144 units available, inventory levels are nearly 42 per cent below long-term trends for the month. Persistently tight conditions continue to drive further price growth in the town. In August, the unadjusted benchmark price was $578,600, slightly higher than last month and over eight per cent higher than last year’s levels. Prices have risen across all property types, with the largest gains occurring for apartment-style properties. Okotoks A boost in detached sales supported the rise in August sales compared to last year. The 67 sales in August were met with 84 new listings, pushing the sales-to-new-listings ratio near 80 per cent. This prevented any significant shift in inventory levels, which remain nearly 47 per cent lower than long-term trends. With just over one month of supply, conditions remain relatively tight. The unadjusted benchmark price in August was $622,700, similar to last month and over seven per cent higher than last August.
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