Convenience and security are just two of the reasons that buyers look to purchase airport property. In addition to offering peace of mind, owning a home with a private aircraft hangar allows you to jet off to other parts of the country whenever you like—with no frustrating waits at a commercial airport. If you have a passion for flight, then you owe it to yourself to check out the amazing airport properties just outside Calgary.

Privately owned and operated, the Okotoks Air Ranch Certified Airport has a 3,100 foot runway (paved in 1999) that is set in 32 acres of lush green space that runs through the neighbourhood. The runway places you on the doorstep from the moment you touch down. The nearest commercial air service is provided at the Calgary International Airport, located 64 km north of Okotoks. The nearest air freight facilities are also at Calgary International Airport. Transport Canada classifies the Okotoks Air Ranch as a certified airport/registered aerodrome with aircraft parking, storage tie-down and plug-in facilities. At the heart of it all, Sky Wings Aviation Academy, one of more than 20 flight schools in the province, runs out of a small building adjacent to the runway.

Building your custom new home in Air Ranch will allow you to enjoy tapered streets and oversized lots (500 when all phases of this community become available) create a sense of space and plenty of privacy between neighbors. Almost 30 of the largest lots are big enough to accommodate your own private airplane hangar. Yet beneath the silver-spoon veneer is an inclusive community composed of empty nesters, retirees and young working families. In amongst those mansions and three-car garages are decidedly more modest yet unique single-family homes as well as stunning villa-style units.

Okotoks is also committed to keeping urban forest and green spaces as vital and respected parts of the community. An example of this is can be found in Air Ranch. The homes in this very special neighborhood not only have access to a private grass runway and their own airplane hangars, but they’re also surrounded by an abundance of open space and a 23-acre reserve of protected land. Frequented by deer, coyotes and waterfowl nestled between a row of houses and a shorn parcel of land that is being prepped for a soccer field and baseball diamond.

This wonderful Community is conveniently located just minutes from schools, shopping, and the Okotoks downtown core. A short drive across the new 32nd Street bridge gives you easy access to Costco, Canadian Tire, and other big retailers. Located on the northern limits of Okotoks, Ranchers’ Rise allows for convenience when traveling into the city of Calgary and its businesses, shopping, and entertainment. Need to get out and play? Within minutes of Ranchers’ Rise is the community recreation centre and curling rink. The Crystal Ridge golf course is in your backyard, not to mention D’Arcy Ranch and River’s Edge golf courses which are also nearby.

With all of these amenities located so close, the community of Ranchers’ Rise in Air Ranch is a perfect spot to live, with the space and tranquility of the small town, together with the nearby convenience of big city living.

There are thousands of builders in Canada, ranging from small companies building a few houses a year to large builder-developers constructing thousands of homes annually. Whether you live in a large urban area or a smaller community, you will have a number of builders to choose from. Each company may offer a different selection of home style, size and details. Some may focus on specific market segments or neighborhoods. Others may specialize in particular types of homes or have certain distinctive expertise, such as adult lifestyle design or energy efficiency. Remember, every company does business in its own unique way.

One suggestion in discovering the right builder is to start with the searching the Internet to save yourself a lot of legwork. Quality builders proudly showcase their creations on the web with a mixture of fine photography, detailed floor plans and informative content. So let your fingers do the walking. When you find a builder online that particularly interests you, take a visit to that builder’s show homes. Walk through each home with an open and inquisitive mind, keep notes and photographs of floor plans, features and details that appeal to you and why. Take time to look closely at the craftsmanship and consider the thought and function of the design. Always try to imagine actually living in the home to see if it really will work for you. Don’t be shy or intimidated by show home hosts, they are there to help you. Seek them out and ask them for a guided tour with explanations of plan features and design details. Observe and evaluate their professionalism, friendliness and customer service as this is indicative of the builder’s commitment to customer service. If you can visit show homes mid-week you will find them to be less busy but check ahead to ensure they are open.

Some questions you might want to consider asking the Builder or Builder’s Reprehensive are as follows:

• If the company offers standard plans, how much change is allowed? How flexible is the company? Will the builder modify the floor plans to your needs? Can you change some of the finishes? Add more features?

• If you are dealing with a small or custom builder, does the company have experience with the type of home you are contemplating? Can they design a home for you, or recommend a designer or architect?

• Will you get a written contract? (If the answer is “no”, look for another builder.) Could you see a blank copy of the company’s Agreement of Purchase and Sale form (i.e. the contract)?

• What are the standard features included in the basic price of the home?

 • Does the builder offer a selection of standard finishing products, such as flooring and tiles, and can you have a look? Does the builder offer upgrades and options, and what do they cost?

• Does the company have someone on staff who can help you coordinate the final look of your home? Do they have a separate design centre where you can browse around and make your choices with expert assistance?

• Beyond the basic price of the home and any upgrades or extras that you choose, what other building or closing costs will the builder charge you for, if any? (This could include a second coating of asphalt on the driveway, the cost of the new home warranty, the fee for the builder’s lawyer to transfer title or adjustments on utility bills, to mention a few items.)

• Is GST/HST as well as the GST/HST New Housing Rebate included in the price quoted to you?

• Does the builder offer a mortgage? How does it compare to the financing offered by your own lender? What’s involved in getting approved? What are the processing costs to you?

• What’s the payment schedule? What size or percentage of deposit is required, will it be placed in trust and is it insured? Does the builder require construction draws, i.e. payment at various stages during construction?

• When will the builder be able to start construction on your home? What would be the completion date?

 • Will there be a pre-construction meeting to review everything before starting construction, to make sure every last detail is clearly understood?

 • Will you be able to visit your home during construction? Are there any restrictions, such as number of visits or who can accompany you? What’s the procedure for arranging visits?

 • Will you get regular updates during construction, and will the company appoint a contact person that you can easily reach, if needed?

• What is the builder’s policy on change orders? Will you be able to make changes after construction begins?

• If the builder has to make alterations to the plans or specifications for any reason during construction, will you be advised and how? A builder’s contract may include a provision dealing with minor changes and modifications.

 • Will your home be covered by a third-party new home warranty?

 • What happens if construction falls behind schedule? Does the company have a clear process in place for dealing with delays, including informing you within a reasonable timeframe?

• Will the builder conduct a pre-delivery inspection of the home with you before you take possession, to verify that things are done as agreed and to identify any outstanding items to be completed? Can you bring others to this inspection, such as a family member or a professional home inspector?

• Does the company have any written information, e.g. a brochure or manual that explains the buying and construction process step by step?

Throughout the discussions, also note the following:

 • How well does the builder listen?

• Are your questions answered clearly and fully?

• Does the builder seem knowledgeable and able to offer suggestions or alternatives to meet your needs and preferences?

• Are you treated with respect?

It can take several visits and a number of conversations before you have covered everything to your satisfaction and feel that you are ready to make a decision. Don’t rush. Take your time and make sure that you have a good sense of each company that you may be considering. As you get ready to make the final decision, carefully look over all the information you have collected and compare builders to determine who offers the greatest overall value for your investment. There are a number of areas to consider:

Quality construction, attention to details, the use of brand-name materials and products, and good before-and after-sales service come at a cost — it may not be wise to select a home based on its price alone. Quality Compare the quality of the labor and materials from one builder to another. Is the construction quality satisfactory? How does the finishing compare? Does a builder use standard products and finishes of a good quality, or do you have to upgrade many items to reach the level of quality you’d like? Are you comfortable with the brands used by a builder, are they warranted and for how long? Also consider the quality of the “living environment” that each builder offers. Are their designs attractive, and will the layouts work well for your household? Are they paying careful attention to light, heating, cooling and ventilation — in other words, creating a healthy, comfortable place for you to live?

Compare the builders’ warranties. Do they all offer a third-party warranty on their homes? If not, you could find yourself without protection if something goes wrong before, during or after construction of your home. At the same time, not all new home warranties are the same; in provinces with several warranty providers, you may need to compare different warranty programs offered by different builders.

After-sales service Part of the confidence of buying a home from a reputable builder comes from knowing that you can rely on the company to continue to provide service after you have moved into your new home. This could mean dealing with warranty items, responding to your concerns or just staying in touch with you to make sure you are enjoying your new home. Compare: does a builder have a clear after-sales service process that’s written down, with milestone check-ups? Do they have a separate service department that can assist with concerns?

Personal comfort Last but not least, you need to select a company you feel comfortable with. The “personal fit” between you and your builder, or the builder’s representative, should be an important part of your decision. You may respect a builder’s credentials and appreciate the quality of their homes. You may learn that a builder is highly valued and recommended by past customers. This doesn’t automatically mean that this is the right builder for you. A satisfying home buying experience depends on open communication, a good working relationship and mutual trust. Consider what it would be like to build your home with each company and compare. Does the company’s approach to the buying and building process work well for you? Will you be able to work well with the people in the company throughout it all? Does the company offer the kinds of information, assistance and reassurance that you want? Are there any restrictions that you would have difficulty with? Do you feel confident that they will deliver the home you want?

When you have found a builder and community that seems to be the right mix it’s time to get down to business and start talking with a builder’s representative working in that particular community. Make an appointment to meet so the builder’s representative can schedule adequate time to give you full attention. Gather up all your notes, budget calculations, photographs and brochures and present yourselves as the informed and prepared customers that you have now become. Take the time to express your dreams and go through your now refined list of needs and wants. A professional builder’s rep will listen carefully to all you have to say and will then begin to guide you through the process of choosing your new home, selecting a building lot and deciding on the features and details you would like, all while working within your available budget. You will have a close relationship with the rep during the months ahead as you finalize your purchase and watch your new home being built, so take the opportunity to make sure that he or she is someone you are happy to work with and who you feel you can trust for information and guidance.

As you start to work more closely with your builder there is still an important piece of the puzzle that you should obtain and that is “due diligence”. You want to be satisfied that you are working with a builder of good standing, proven track record, longevity in the market and solid reputation who will deliver a quality home to you in reasonable time with attentive service during and after the process. A reputable builder will be well prepared and proud to give you information of this nature. Check that the builder is part of a new home warranty program, become familiar with the protections and standards of that program and find out how long the builder has been a member and what their standing is within it. Another place to seek information is the Better Business Bureau which can provide valuable information about customer experiences. Talk to people in the community and ask around your friends and work colleagues for their insights. Calgary has experienced a volatile real estate market over the years so a builder that has been around for a long time and which has provided consistent customer satisfaction, quality and service through all the market ups and downs is a builder that you can trust to do the job right.

Choosing and building your new home is an exciting time filled with dreams, hopes details and visions for the future. It is a time when you will learn a lot about yourself and your family. You will set the stage for many of the great family moments to come in the years ahead. Selecting your builder is a vital part of that process. So last but not least, take your time, have fun and enjoy the journey. Years from now you can fondly look back on this as one of the greatly rewarding and enjoyable experiences of your life.

Location, Location, Location

Like the Realtors’ adage, location matters when it comes to selecting paint color. Rooms facing south generally receive more natural light and are able to withstand deeper, more saturated tones. “Use mid- to dark-toned colors,” advises Lee Snijders, host of HGTV’s Design on a Dime. “Prime the wall with a general purpose, water-based primer and then use a flat or satin paint so that the walls absorb color to give the room more depth.”

On the other hand, a room on the north side of the house may cry out for lightness. Color is a reflection of light if you use white; you assume it will always look the same. But in a north-facing room with few lights, it can look grayish. Adding cream to any white will increase the warm the room by enhancing the color. In addition, consider using light- to mid-tones in a north room and use satin or semi-gloss paint.  This will help reflect light around the room.

Another creative option would be to dramatize a north-facing room by accenting a focal window, painting the surrounding wall a darker shade. If you have a window framed by a dark color, you’ll look through it. The color will draw your eye to the window.

Using color to define living spaces is another tick of the trade. Defining living areas in today’s open floor plans can be quite a challenge. Do you paint each area a different color, or opt for one color fits all? The law is that everything has to have a link and a flow. There’s a main color and then lighter shades. A rule of thumb is the 60:30:10 rule. Use 60 percent of one color, 30 percent of another and 10 percent of an accent color.  Choose one color for the most public spaces and alter the shades in adjacent areas. Keep the hallways and stairs one shade and only totally change color if you have good cut-off points like a soffit or a door between the living and dining rooms. 

Color Reflects Function

Believe it or not, color can enhance the function of a room. Research has shown a blind person entering a red room will feel warmer there than in a white room – even if it’s the same temperature. People feel the color in a room. For example many restaurants are painted warm tones, such as spicy reds and toasty yellows. Red stimulates conversation and appetite whereas blue in a dining room decreases the appetite. If you want to elevate concentration in an office or a corner where the kids do homework, choose yellow.

Where there’s a lot of traffic, keep the area light and breezy. Some experts recommend painting family rooms deep cozy shades, such as cocoa or loden green. Kitchens are perfect spots for color to reflect some of the amazing food being prepared, such as butter yellow or deep merlot.

Since master baths are meant to be relaxing, private retreats, choose paint that is cool, water-related colors such as blue, silver or green. However, in a downstairs powder room you can use more dramatic colors. Consider a half bath with a red wall and darkened the ceiling to a dark chocolate. With white fixtures, absolutely stunning and think of all the amazing accessories you can use.

Ceilings, White, Light or Dark?

A ceiling is part of your horizon; paint it a lighter shade of the wall color rather than stark white, especially in the kitchen. It looks disconnected to have a strip of color above the cabinets and then a white ceiling. For a really high ceiling, where you feel lost in the room, contemplate using a color slightly darker than the wall color.

Ceiling color can make a room unique. A client once painted a living room ceiling and one wall a chocolate color that nearly matched the carpeting, and then painted the other three walls cream. This created an illusion that the wall and ceiling were encasing you like a clamshell. They took the square out of the square to create a different, modern feel. Dare to be different whenever you can.

Coordinating with Hardwood Flooring

Just as you’d consider the color of carpet when choosing paint color, it’s important to think about hardwood flooring as well. You have to look at the root of the color. If you have a red wood, you have to match it. Most wood flooring has yellow tones, so lean toward warmer colors. For darker woods, such as dark cherry, cooler tones are the answer. There is also a bleached oak currently popular that has a lot of pink in it. When you put something yellow beside it, it clashes. Take into account, hardwood doesn’t always go with everything.

Low-sheen paint is another good idea in kitchens with cherry cabinets. You don’t want to compete with them so choose a color that has the strength to stand up to that cherry, something with a boldness of its own.

Dealing with “Problem” Areas

If you have a hexagon or unique shaped dining room, consider yourself lucky. You can be very adventurous and playful in color choices. Odd-shaped dining rooms are perfect for dramatic use of color. Wall color should help set off the colors of the food. A deep chocolate burgundy, golden honey yellow or dark burnt sienna, accented with cream woodwork and an off-white ceiling, can accentuate the unique room shape and make a statement to those entering.

Here is a little tip for making a small space look larger – use different shades of the same color. For example, paint opposite walls a shade lighter or darker than the adjacent walls to give the room a sense of depth.

When painting over a dark wall, use a tinted primer with a color a few shades lighter than your new topcoat color. This will help ensure a perfect finish and ultimately help you save money because you’ll need less topcoat to take your walls from one color to the next.

Color choice in hallways comes down to what feeling you want to create. A dark color will bring the walls closer, but that may be what you are seeking, as if you’re emerging from a tunnel that opens to a large room. To create that feel, use a light color at the end.

More often, people want the space to look bigger, so a lighter color is preferred. Consider contrasting the lighter walls in the hall by using a mid to dark color at the end of the hallway and placing a piece of artwork there. The accessory will draw you down the hallway to explore.

Trimming the Room

You want to be your own general contractor and hire the subcontractors, set the schedules, coordinate with inspectors and suppliers and buy some or all of the materials. Maybe you should think about it some more and put forth these considerations before you pick up that hammer. No easy answer but it will be the largest shopping experience you will ever go on in your life. Examining all of the facets of a construction project can be compared to a puzzle, with some of the pieces not quite fitting correctly, but finding a way to jam them together to result in a complete home.

Acting as your own general contractor works best if you’re highly organized, detail-oriented and have a clear idea of what you want in your home.Everything in construction starts somewhere maybe, an idea. That idea is transformed into the thought process that starts the engines of design. This is where the manual is created to carry-out your ideas to become a reality. No one comes up with a perfect design on the first shot, so working with experience professional that can assist you is the key and will allow for a clear, laid out plan.

Now the complexities of Engineering starts and where a major part of the coordination issues arise, remember,  keep the dialog simple; you are merely looking a layout of walls and electric to ensure that all of your walls, down lights, electrical receptacles are where you want them. Later in the design, you will get into the details: cabinets, tiles, wall finish, roof finish, etc…

What do you want? Before you build anything, you need a clear picture in your own mind. Tour homes. Read books and magazines. Look at floor plans. Start a scrapbook with information and notes on all the details you want to include before sitting with your Architect.

This also is when you want to learn about the building process. Study up on the latest materials and supplies, as well as what goes in when. Building a house is like reciting the alphabet, and the order of the steps is just about as immutable. When you feel ready, draw up a plan of action that includes each step in the process, storyboard the process out.

On other strong suggestion is hire a good Architect! One of the most knowledgeable people on your team is your Architect and many Architectural firms are now offering construction services and will work with your selected sub-contractors. An architect will be more conscience of detail and quality i.e. how the project is being built.  Whereas a contractor will at times make the mistake first and then call the Architect after a failed inspection to find a resolve. Engage an architect to draw up a complete set of plans. Make all the changes you want on paper, even the smallest changes can cost you a fortune.

Once the plans are complete the municipal review starts and depending on the city or county this process varies. So allow enough time to obtain a permit and once that’s issued the fun starts. I would, however, offer a piece of information: when you are assembling a table, if the instructions don’t offer a clear description of the installation; it will make it difficult to assemble. Well, the same goes with construction, the better the quality of the construction drawings, the less anxiety during construction process. This also might be the time to weigh hiring a building professional, under a management contract, to help you. This person would cost less than a general contractor, and could walk you through parts of the project where you feel inexperienced.

As the contractor, a big responsibility is hiring the subcontractors who will do the work. You on the other hand will start with the usual suspects. Who do you know who had some work done on their house? Who did they use? Was it done on time and within budget? Talk to subcontractors you’ve already vetted. If your carpenter recommends an electrician he works with frequently (and it’s not his ne’er-do-well brother-in-law), that’s a solid lead. Once you get names, you want to learn all you can. Google them. Get a long list of references and talk to them. Examine past work in person. Arrange to meet them on a current job site. If you’re using a project manager, have him help you. Once you get a handful of subcontractors you like (three to five), start penciling in what your picks will charge to do each job. And remember that the low bidder doesn’t necessarily do the best work.

One wrinkle to consider: The builder’s crew normally does the framing. But since you’re the builder, you have to find a subcontractor who will do it for you. Another point to consider: Do you want subcontractors to buy the supplies or do you want to do it yourself? There is no set answer, and the standard practice can vary with the professional, the trade and even the area of the country.

Who’s best for the job? This is will be the most important part of this passage. Getting the most out of your money, having the least amount of headaches and having all your sanity intact by the end of your construction project is the common goal.

Building your home or remodeling project is not easy. “Everybody can do it, but not everybody wants to,” says Carl Heldmann, author of “Be Your Own House Contractor.”

C. Kent Conine, immediate past president of the National Association of Home Builders, is not a fan of the practice. “There are just so many pitfalls that come up in the middle of the process of constructing a home,” he says. “It’s not a perfect science. “You don’t have to know how to put the shingles on the roof or tape out the drywall if you know how to manage the crew that’s doing it,” says R. Dodge Woodson, a professional builder who also wrote Build Your Dream Home for Less.

Professionals also disagree on how much you stand to save. While some claim you can cut as much as 40 percent of the cost of your home (especially if you do some of the work yourself, too), others believe 10 to 20 percent is more realistic.  No matter how organized you are, some glitches will delay your progress and increase your costs. Figure on running at least 10 percent over budget, according to several pros.

Bottom line: When you act as your own general contractor, there are no guarantees. And no matter how carefully you shop, things can and do go wrong. Subcontractors disappear. The price of materials goes up. A company you’ve paid in advance folds. And then there’s the weather. How much time will you spend on site? There’s no telling. You have to be available when you’re needed, and nobody knows when that will be. Once construction begins, it’s a good idea to visit the site every day. There can be complications on your side, too, from changing financial situations to changing careers.

So why do it? The chance to save some money, the opportunity to get exactly what you want and “the joy of doing it,” says Irwin. “You really get a sense of accomplishing something. Everyone should do it just once in their life.”

Here are some suggestions to keep you, your family, and your things safe around your acreage. These are as ‘old-school’ and time-tested as a dog roaming the property or as high-tech as the newest alarm systems and timers for your lights. 

No matter if someone is home or not, it should at least appear that someone is. You can use timers for lights, radios, TVs. Just remember to switch up the pattern on occasion; burglars can figure out a pattern just as easily as anyone else if they’re paying attention. You can also hire a house sitter or talk one of your neighbors into spending some time at your place so it really is occupied, especially for longer durations of time away from the home. It’s also a good idea to let a trusted neighbor or two know that you’re going out of town and who, if anyone should be stopping by. These people will know your routine better than most as well as what vehicles are normally around the same area. Make sure you return the favor when these same neighbors need you to keep an eye on their place, too.    

 We all look forward to getting away from home once in a while. With the advent and rise in popularity of multi media websites where you can change your ‘status’ every 5 minutes if you choose, many people don’t think much about posting something like, ‘I can’t wait for my vacation to Hawaii…leaving this weekend!’ Burglars can access the Internet too, and this can alert them to a point in time they KNOW you will not be around to thwart them. Unless you have a house sitter coming it’s best to play this kind of thing close to the vest on your social networking sites (at least where everyone can see things). You also might want to wait and post any pictures from your vacation until you return home. If anyone can see pictures of you by an outdoor pool or ocean in February and you live in Alberta, it’s a safe bet that you’re nowhere near home.

 One of the simplest ways to protect your property is to have a four-legged sentry on duty. A dog outside will signal to anyone passing by that you don’t plan on being gone for too long if you’re away, and if you are home you have an alarm system that is not dependent on a power grid. A thief will have no clue whether your dog(s) is/are friendly or mean and they probably won’t take a huge risk to find out for sure. 

 If only you knew how someone was planning to break into your house, you would have a better chance of stopping them, right? Well you never know with 100% certainty, but one way to ‘practice’ is to think how you would burglarize yourself or have a neighbor tell you how they would break in. Where do you see ‘weak’ or ‘blind’ spots on your property where someone could sneak by? Do you have a key in a flowerpot by the front door in case you lock yourself out? If you can think of these possibilities, chances are a thief has processed them, too. Discuss with your neighbors what you know about each other’s properties and you can all be better protected.

Some things to watch out for might be: Wiring that can be easily cut from outside (alarms, security cameras, timers, etc. are no good without power), broken or incomplete fences where someone could sneak through undetected, broken locks (or locks that can be opened with a credit card), easily found spare keys, doors without deadbolt locks, and trees near the house that might make it easy for someone to climb in an upstairs window. You should also take into account any landscaping that might make it easy for someone to hide behind, like stone walls or think bushes. If you have a sliding door to your deck or patio, you can place a block of wood or a piece of metal pipe in the bottom track so the door cannot slide for someone trying to open it from the outside. 

 Let’s say someone gets past these barriers and gets inside your house. Do you want jewelry, guns, antiques, family heirlooms, or important documents with your social security and other personal information in the open? Of course not. Purchase a safe and make the combination something you can remember easily, but not your birthday or something a thief could easily figure out with the right information.

 This is another reason we all have home insurance. When you list valuables in your policy, make sure you mention what’s in your safe, what you keep in garages or outbuildings, EVERYTHING. I’m sure you’d much rather write a couple extra things down on your insurance policy than realize you had them after a burglary with no record of ever possessing them except your memory. 
 

Technology is great for security situations. Today in addition to alarms on your house doors and garage doors, you can purchase security cameras or even a driveway alarm that will beep inside your home when someone pulls in. 

 If you’re planning to do any new landscaping, keep the security of your property in mind. Features like outdoor lighting not only improve your homestead visually, but they improve its security, too. The same applies for your outbuildings – most thieves wouldn’t be so bold as to try and steal large equipment, but for all you know they could have a flatbed truck or semi at their disposal. For things people could carry off (tools for instance) make them easily identifiable to you by writing your initials somewhere or painting the handles of everything a certain color.

This is definitely one of those situations where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Protecting yourself from theft or vandalism of your property will cost far less and cause less stress than being forced to make a call to your home/farm insurance company. There are a multitude of everyday precautions we can take to ensure that our acreage isn’t the one missing things unexpectedly and help you sleep better at night and relax when you’re away from home.

When looking to purchase a new kitchen table some things to consider besides the cost, include the tables shape and size. Kitchen furniture comes in all shapes and sizes, materials and styles. The most commonly known as the best discussion tables are round or oval, which promotes eye contact and conversation among those sitting around it. Pull up a chair, and you can likely easily see everyone around table. Furniture that is round or oval, makes it easier to squeeze more people around to create an intimate setting.

Rectangular kitchen table furniture is likely the most common in a kitchen, as it fits in well with the proportions of most rooms. Large families generally favor long tables, as do families with a clear hierarchy of parents on the ends (or “head” of the table) and kids along the sides. Unfortunately, the long, straight nature of these tables makes conversation difficult between people at either end.

Square tables are a distinctive choice when the room proportions are also square. A square table can also double as a game table and it promotes conversation among all those sitting at the kitchen table. Another great benefit of square kitchen table furniture is for smaller households — those with one to three members. Unlike a larger rectangular table, a square table is cozy and doesn’t feel as empty when only a few people are sitting at it.

 Sometimes, the kitchen counter or raised breakfast bar serves as a substitute for a formal table. For tiny kitchens, this may be the only choice; it can still provide a cozy space for two or three people. However, if there is room for a small table and chairs, I always recommend them. Kitchen counters don’t promote lingering and conversation the way a table does.  Choose a table to go with the design of your kitchen. Set up seating around the island, or create a separate dining area.

 Of course, we need to sit down at our tables. Kitchen chairs are likely the most worn items of furniture in our homes. Purchase the best, most durable and most affordable to fit your budget. Kitchen seating should be comfortable, sturdy and cleanable. But chairs aren’t our only choices for seating around the kitchen table. A built-in banquette can be a great choice when space is limited, as can a sunny window seat. Just pull the table up and add some chairs on the other side and you’ve got a cozy, space-saving nook. Other unique seating can include simple wooden benches (not overly comfortable, but cute and timeless nonetheless) or stools that can be pushed fully under the table for saving space. On the other extreme is a comfortable sofa. A small sofa with a firm seat and back pillows can be a wonderful choice for sitting at a kitchen table. Cover the sofa in a cleanable fabric and you have a stylish and comfy place to enjoy a leisurely meal and conversation with family and friends.

 The kitchen table tells the story of its owners and guests with every scratch and mark. Embrace the wear and tear and signs of use: These are sure to remind you of the good times your family and loved ones had gathered round the kitchen table.

Even with limited space you and your palate can reap the benefits of having a few dozen bottles of wine on hand at home. You can enjoy the advantages of cellaring wine weather you live in a large scale home or in a small apartment. Even for short term cellaring there are many pluses.

Wine cellars have the following benefits:

• You will have a wine on hand that will work with that quick dinner you whipped up when, having rushed home late from work, you didn’t have time to hit the local wine store.

• You will have a selection of wine on hand that will accompany a selection of varying cuisines.

• You will have a wine that has had some thought put into it – not a quick grab at the end of a long week. You will have on hand a wine you know you enjoy.

• You will have a selection of wine available when those unexpected visitors drop in – no having to high-tail it to the local wine store!

• You will more than likely pay less for your wine. By doing a bit of research on the varieties you enjoy and buying in dozen or half dozen lots, rather than the quick grab on the run, you are sure to receive a discount from your wine merchant.

You will now have a place to start collecting various wine from places you may travel, wineries you may have visited or bottles given as gifts.

• You may be pleasantly surprised – or not! So you have put away six bottles of that Melbec you really enjoyed to find that six months later that, it is not only enjoyable, it’s absolutely gorgeous drinking!

Furthermore, you will derive far greater drinking pleasure than with an eleventh hour wine purchase. The wine will have been patiently sitting – still and at a decent temperature – waiting for you. It won’t have been shaking around in your bag on the bus or in your car on the way home. Wine does not like being ‘all shook up.’ All wines from my experience, red wine in particular and wines with a bit of age, don’t like being manhandled too much before drinking.

Try this experiment: Buy a bottle of red wine. Take it home and put in the cupboard, under the bed, under the house, buried in the backyard – this is probably not an option, but could work, I will look into it – just as long as it’s in a relatively cool spot. Leave it for a couple of weeks, then go back and purchase another bottle of the same wine. Take it home, open immediately along with the bottle you have had tucked away. Pour into separate glasses (stating the bleeding obvious) and taste. You will no doubt find the wine you’ve had salted away for a few weeks displays more fruit on the nose and palate and have superior mouth feel with the flavors far more integrated than the “new arrival.”

So How Do You Start a Wine Cellar?

Now with the advent of the screw cap, bottles do not need the humidity that wine sealed by cork requires to prevent the cork from drying out. Nor do screw cap bottles need to be laid down. So if you are cellaring short term and forgo wine with cork closure the requirement for appropriate humidity need not be a consideration. You only have to worry about the other golden rules: light, vibration and temperature.

A place in the home where the temperature is constantly cool (around 15 degrees Celsius is optimum) where there is no direct light and minimal vibration is all that is needed. The styrene wine boxes used for wine shipping/postage are a great way to insulate and keep the light off wine with the added bonus that they stack well. A cupboard or wardrobe on a south wall (in the southern hemisphere) away from any heat source would be suitable. Put your wines in the styrene boxes and you have a pretty darn good cellar!

There is also a multitude of wine fridges/cabinets out there that can handle anything from small quantities to a good deal of wine. You do not need hundreds of bottles to get enjoyment out of a cellar. In every over-stocked cellar I have ever been in, without exception there is a very high percentage of wines that get “lost in the crowd,” wines that should have, could have, but were not consumed when they should have been and thus wasted down the sink.

If you stick to wines with screw caps there is another alternative for storing your wine: old fridge conversions. You can jig the thermostat and by getting the temperature to around 15 degrees Celsius wine can be stored in them. And for a very small outlay compared to the purpose built models! My only concern with this solution is the potential problem with vibration but presumably with a well sealed fridge the motor would not kick in at the temperature required as often as it would for a fridge used in a domestic kitchen. Nor would the door be opened as often. There are numerous articles on the how to of this on the web.

Custom Home wine cellars are easy to set up and the benefits are numerous. Do try to store away at least a few mixed cases of wine so you have different varieties available and make your drinking more exciting and pleasurable.

Most land developers and contractors embrace the “cookie-cutter” house due to the simple fact that they can buy the building materials in bulk; therefore receiving discounts to keep the overall cost of the home affordable. The bigger the bulk purchase, the bigger the discount. Another reason is typically only two or three architectural renditions need to purchased, that are then used for the development of several homes with some variations. This, of course, also saves money. In theory, all of these discounts or savings are then passed on to the customer and hence an individual can obtain what seems like “more house” for their dollar.

The problem with this approach is that homes lose their uniqueness, and flare for individual personality. Don’t we as humans possess an innate desire for individuality and self-expression?. For most people this expression of individuality is manifested in external items such as homes, automobiles and recreational vehicles. A home typically is the biggest financial purchase of one’s life. With this being said, why would the buyer not want every detail to be customized to their individual lifestyle, unique and still affordable?

Another issue has to do with diminished land. Many of the developed areas with “cookie-cutter” homes have the actual structure situated within feet of the neighboring property and very little land. Developers/contractors do this so they can squeeze more homes into tighter areas thereby maximizing the profits derived from the land itself. Many younger families cringe at the idea of yard work because most people simply don’t have the time. Therefore, less property translates to less maintenance. However, reduced yards can have a negative impact on the overall development of children.

I believe that the key is balance. Land developers and contractors ought to be developing communities with a multitude of architectural designs and unique attributes for the high-end buyer, as well as develop the “cookie-cutter” developments for the first-time buyer. However, as it stands, we have copious developments of “cookie-cutter” homes that are being erected with very few (if any) developments of architecturally unique homes with personality and flare. If this trend continues, the result could very well be a glut of undesirable homes in the future.

The idea of living in a cul-de-sac subdivision with lookalike houses is not anything I’d purposely do every day, not even to save money. Which is why, we at Wolverine believe we offer a superior solution to this housing tragedy.

Wolverine Homes is an established luxury home builder specializing in custom homes in Calgary, Okotoks, surrounding areas and acreages. Every detail in a Wolverine home is custom built to fit you and your lifestyle.  We possess the flexibility and experience to build and style a home from traditional to the more contemporary floor plan with very little overhead.  We offer sophisticated details, luxurious features and finishes, and services personalized to your needs that are in many cases beyond what customers expect for the price.

As one of the leading builders of custom homes in and around Calgary, we offer you customized service that extends beyond the sale. Helping us to provide this distinct high standard of service is our Team of experienced industry professionals who are dedicated to you and your needs. We secure the most prestigious lot locations, use the best materials, utilize new building technologies and draw from years of experience in the home construction industry to build custom homes with low overhead that command a high resale value and have a lasting appeal. A wolverine home is the hallmark of functionally and craftsmanship at a comfortable price.

So the answer is clear, you really can bring custom back into a community with individual function, personality and without having to break the bank.

A mud room is usually a transitional space between an entryway and the rest of the home, which often acts as a storage area for unsightly outdoor articles and sporting goods. And even though this is a great place to stockpile your coats and hats, your ski poles and snowshoes, and your tools and dirty boots, this area doesn’t have to be something hidden away from the rest of the home.

Since most people probably enter your house through this area, and since first impressions are the most important, why not make the space attractive as well as functional?

Many times a mud room is located near the kitchen and an entry way from the garage. This space will act as a holding area that keeps clutter and dirt from reaching into more habitable parts of the house. But since this storage room is used so often, why not make it as livable as possible by utilizing the space with some simple remodeling tips and by adding a few organizational tools? In other words, transform this buffer zone into a useful room by redefining its purpose.

When you, garden or your kids play outside, more than just your feet get muddy. Add a small utility sink in this room so you can also wash the dirt off your hands and face.  This can also be a great place to keep your litter box, pet dishes, or big bags of dog food. These items will now be out of sight but still within reach. If you often keep this area closed off in order to save on heating expenses, then you’ll possibly want to add a pet door so your cat or dog can access this area at their leisure.

Adding a few items so this area will become (and stay) more organized and functional. Instead of throwing coats anywhere, give your family a placed to hang their outdoor clothes by adding some hooks. If you have kids, make a separate row at their level so that they learn how to properly put away and respect their property. Also, hooks are a great place to hang your car keys so they’ll never be lost again. Consider adding a bench so you have a place to sit while taking off your dirty shoes. Some even come with lift-up tops so that these benches can also serve as another storage space for scarves, gloves, or hats. Many high end homes are now featuring individual lockers and shoe racks, a footwear pile-up can now be avoided not to mention outdoor wear can now be hidden behind a locker door.

Although these are easy organizational tools, you can also add some pictures, a mirror, baskets or a small table to make this area stylish as well as efficient. Also, make sure you put down rugs to avoid any slipping or tripping. And if you invest in some sturdy rubber mats, cleaning up this room becomes a breeze. Just make sure that once you’ve re-decorated your mud room that you revisit it occasionally (every seasonal changeover) to make sure it stays clean and orderly.