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Three families give up their sprawling suburban homes for a more compact urban life

RELOCATING

Turning their backs on suburbia

Three couples give up their sprawling 905 homes for a more compact urban life. While they each have less space in the city, the lifestyle changes have made the transition worthwhile.


Sarah's House

SARAH STYLE

What on earth was I thinking?

Sarah Richardson takes on another extreme reno challenge: a 60s "Brady Bunch" bungalow is set to be re-imagined. This gem in Toronto's Don Mills neighbourhood was in original condition, awaiting a designer's touch.


WEST COAST STYLE

A heritage home pays its way

What started out as a search for a modest apartment turned into the purchase of a 10-bedroom Edwardian mansion for Candace Cooperrider and Ted Gornall. 20 years later, their bed-and-breakfast is still going strong.


The High Life

Downtown East in spotlight

Long known for its pawn shops, strip clubs and seedy rooming houses, the area between Church Street and Don River in Toronto lures buyers once again. It's the second-hottest area for condo construction and sales in the Greater Toronto Area.

RENO ADVENTURES

Once again, prepping the house for sale

Elizabeth Rand-Watkinson

"Real estate junkies" get their latest home ready for its close-up


THE ARCHITOURIST

Let's find a condo lexicon of our own

Dave LeBlanc

No need to conjure up allusions to faraway places - there's plenty to drawn right at home


THE PERFECT HOUSE

John Bentley Mays

Next-gen builders push the envelope

The children of the developers who built suburbia are now coming to the fore, with a new emphasis on green design


NEW DIGS

Where low-rise green projects took root

Derek Raymaker

Three years ago, this York Region town laid down the law on energy-efficient homes. Developers fell in line


The West Coast Way

Some sofas just don't sit well

It dominates any living room, great room or family room. Make sure you choose the right one, and be sure to avoid these three.

 

News 

Real estate: Housing market shows more signs of weakness

Building permits plunge 13.5 per cent in August, largely because of slump in multi-family homes

U.S. home prices continue to fall

Prices tumble 16 per cent, the fastest annual pace on record, but rate of decline slowing

Housing market could soften more but not crash: CIBC

Protracted U.S. recession would hurt Canadian real estate, but full-scale collapse not in the cards, economist says

HOME VALUE SURVEY: The market crosses a line

'Prices have run smack into the affordability wall,' says one analyst. For the first time in more than a decade, the average house price in Toronto has declined.

New economic climate puts chill on Toronto real-estate prices

The country's largest housing market is slowing

Canada could face housing woes, Merrill warns

Absence of Canadian crunch may be ‘cause for concern, not comfort,' economists say; Harper pours cold water on report

U.S. new homes' prices, sales plummet

Sales dive to lowest in more than 17 years in August

Luxury home sales will slow

After months of outperforming other segments, high-end homes feel the pinch


Home of the Week 

6 Parson Court, Toronto

Welcome to the clubhouse

A home built for entertaining has a salt water pool, tennis court and even a tree house. The property once belonged to the Timothy Eaton estate before sections were severed off and sold.


Make it Right 

Mike Holmes

MIKE HOLMES: How green is your reno?

Going green usually costs more upfront in a renovation, but you save money over the long run. And, if you are staying in your home, that money will be returned to you.


Design and Decor 

candice olson

DIVINE DESIGN: Cleaning out the frat house

Getting urban townhouse ready for Mom & Dad starts with evicting the kids and updating the kitchen

INTERIORS: It's hip to be square

Forget the curves. The lines in this house are straight, crisp and clean. From one room to the next, the linearity of this architecturally driven interior becomes as clear as crystal — that is, of the Michael Lee-Chin variety.

DECOR: Multi-functional furniture, paint job among ways to spice up home for fall

A smaller-scale dresser that's fairly low can go many places in a home, and depending on the style that you like, then you can choose something that will hopefully last you a long time and suit your aesthetic taste.

The West Coast Way: Shopping without dropping

90 per cent of successful decorating is about being decisive and methodically seeing your project through from start to finish, clipboard in hand

FABRICS: Choosing patterns is a delicate balancing act

Whether you choose to bring it into your space through the use of wallpaper, faux paint techniques, upholstery or window treatments, pattern can turn an adequate space into something that's quite dramatic.

DIVINE DESIGN: Setting the stage for a relaxing retreat

Two bars, a fireplace and a luxurious place to watch big-screen TV is the perfect getaway for a busy comedian and guests

DECOR: Yellow is the new orange

The last few years have seen greens and oranges in the home decor spotlight, but that's about to change, as blue and yellow muscle back into the forefront.

INTERIORS: Tricks to make small spaces seem bigger

Living within tighter confines doesn't need to feel suffocating. Experts say little extras from storage to shelving and even a new paint job are among the ways to spruce up and get settled in less spacious surroundings.


Tips & Tricks 

Personal finance: What's the best strategy as mortgage rates rise?

As lenders stop offering variable-rate terms with a discount, it's still best to shop around

THE FIX: Putting the pool into storage for the winter season

It's important to fine tune the chemistry by monitoring and adjusting the pH level before cutting all the lines

RECYCLING: Renovator adds flair by reusing materials

A $15,000 marble fireplace mantle for $1,500; a $100,000 kitchen for $40,000 — deals like that stretch a building budget a long way

DUE DILLIGENCE: Key questions to ask before buying a condo

The biggest single mistake that people tend to make is to think that buying a condo is just a less expensive way of buying a house and not really understanding that it's shared ownership, which is a lot different.

BOARDERS: Your house, their temporary digs

Homeowners who rent out rooms to students often get more out of the experience than just extra money. "The students I have had have tremendous respect for others and are very gracious and generous." -- Homeowner Sheryl Cobban

Relocating: It's moving season and getting organized is job one

August is usually the high season for moving. One of the first decisions to make is whether to hire a moving company. If you do, here are some suggestions for making the experience a smooth one

A $700,000 house (happily) divided

Can't afford a house on your own? Try splitting one down the middle


Renovations 

INFILL HOMES: Bringing the neighbours along for the ride

Building a house that's strikingly different from the others on the block means always having to explain yourself

HOUSE PROUD: A home with art in its bones

A couple fall head over heels for a rundown bungalow, learning of its cultural significance only later on

THE ARCHITOURIST: A design-lover's reno, done piecemeal

Jennifer Flores and Sean Stanwick, authors of Design City Toronto, take on their own design project — a bit at a time

CONDOS: Lake-view loft has good karma

Randy Stieben has spent years renovating his 5,000-square-foot condo to reflect his Tantra-inspired lifestyle. "I was never happier than when building this condo with my own hands. And now I want to build something else."

KITCHENS: The heart of a restored farmhouse

The spacious kitchen is designed to be harmonious with the rest of the 19th-century house, while hiding modern amenities. A restored 1820 cupboard was the design cue for the entire space.


Gadgets 

LIVING SMALL: The next little thing?

Small-house advocates believe in minimizing their footprints — structural as well as carbon — by living in spaces that are less than 1,000 square feet, and in some cases, less than 100

Smart homes get sexier, cheaper

No residence is complete without a toilet that tests urine for sugar levels — then sends the results to your doctor


On Site - Greater Toronto Area 

DOWNTOWN: Penthouse, townhouses round out Distillery development

The developers of the third and last residential tower within the historic Distillery District have unveiled the final elements in the project: the penthouse and townhouse collection.

NORTH YORK: Massive project set for Sheppard/Don Mills

Community will eventually grow to six towers across from Fairview Mall. The complex will house 2,200 condo suites, including 464 units in a 36-storey tower that will hit the market first.

BLOOR WEST: Davenport high-rise aims for affordability

The new tower will add 297 units to the project that the developers say will ultimately total more than 3,000 dwellings on former brownfield sites between Davenport Road and Bl