What do you think of the look of these cabinets? The pairing of two tones gives a modern, minimalist look to the kitchen. Here, white is paired with a dark wood-tone, but wood cabinets next to black are stunning too. Melamine with stainless steel also creates a big impact.

[caption id="attachment_491" align="aligncenter" width="486"]Cuisine Horizon Armoires ISTOCKPHOTO decoration source: iStockphoto[/caption]

Did you notice the many drawers in the lower cabinets? The European trend toward horizontal lines is increasingly popular in Quebec. There are more drawers for storage, whether as cabinets or inside a pantry. This increases storage and provides access to the drawer’s contents at a single glance. No more looking for a plastic container lid in a low cabinet. Your back and your knees will thank you!  [……]

Read more

AD

[caption id="attachment_463" align="alignright" width="339"]renovation_avril_2013 Source: iStockphoto LP[/caption]

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of pre-finished panelling are the brown-groove imitation-wood panels that still cover many walls. Vestige of a bygone era? What do you do with it? Remove it? Reuse it?

Walls that are finished with this material use grooves, wood or plastic baseboards and door and window frames.

If you want to reuse this panelling, be careful when removing the nails (dry wood breaks easily). Then it’s up to you to decide if you want to reuse them in a pantry or other fairly hidden space.[……]

Read more

What are your childhood memories about wallpaper? Maybe you remember your grandmother’s living room walls with gigantic pink and red roses. Perhaps you also remember wallpaper that buckled, peeled and yellowed.

Today, in addition to higher quality wallpaper, the choice of patterns and textures is e[……]

Read more

[caption id="attachment_461" align="alignright" width="338"]finance_avril_2013 Source: iStockphoto LP[/caption]

The construction of intergenerational homes has not experienced its expected popularity. Condominiums have mesmerized investors in recent years, at the expense of rental properties. However, senior citizens are omnipresent, and numerous. And do you know what? Their numbers are increasing every year. We haven’t seen anything yet.

Are you thinking of investing in real estate? The senior citizen housing market is a prime category. But you have to know the preferences of retirees and future retirees and how to adapt to them.[……]

Read more

In Bora Bora, you take a nap listening to the ocean murmur under the floor. In Kenya, you lounge in your hotel room while lions, buffalo, cheetahs, hyenas and other wild animals walk under your feet. From time to time you take a look outside:  Look over there—it’s a giraffe!

All of that thanks to construction on stilts (piles).

Carole and her daughter Catherine, a future anthropologist, returned from their trip to Kenya totally amazed. They brought back this photo of Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge where they stayed during their trip to Africa. Do you know who built this unusual hotel? Hilton International—back in 1972!

Built on wood piles, the hotel allows tourists to observe the comings-and-goings of African animals without having to go on safari. The animals come to drink from a source located nearby. No harm is caused to the wildlife because the hotel does not block the natural migration routes.

[caption id="attachment_462" align="aligncenter" width="540"]inusite_avril_2013 Source: Casarazzi[/caption]

[……]

Read more

[caption id="attachment_414" align="alignright" width="360" caption="George Harrison. Photo : Steve Mathieson (Wikipedia)"][/caption]

We’ve often heard of filmmakers and producers who mortgage their homes to complete their oft-dreamed-about movie. Financing is a chronic problem in the art world. But for a musician to mortgage his home to see a movie that an experienced producer declares a big risk? Pretty rare indeed!

Here’s the story.

Perhaps you recognized him.  It’s George Harrison, of the Beatles.[……]

Read more

[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignright" width="383" caption="Source: iStockphoto LP"][/caption]

In one of the older rooms of your house, you may have 12 in. x 12 in. acoustic tiles (pressed cardboard) as a ceiling. These tiles were ultra popular in basements in the 70s.

You’ve decided to cover the ceiling with drywall panels (plasterboard), but your curious nature leads you to ask if the original ceiling would be recoverable.

And you find a tongue and groove plank ceiling. Good news: it’s in good shape.

So what can you do to give it a second life?[……]

Read more