A basement is a bonus space for many homeowners. And what better use for extra room than something fun and entertaining? If you’re looking for ways to create a lively basement, check out this countdown of the most-saved basement photos uploaded to Houzz in 2021. You’ll find ideas for watching movies with the family, playing table tennis or pool, hosting a Scrabble match or even teeing off for a round of virtual golf.

Design Therapy LLC 10. Textural Treat

Wavy 3D wall panels add texture near an indoor pool in this luxe Toronto basement by Design Therapy. An eclectic mix of fabrics punches up a low-slung sectional sofa, while a circular coffee table picks up on the movement in the wall panels.

Jan Gleysteen…

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DECEMBER 18, 2021

Canada’s population growth came to a halt during the start of the pandemic, but it’s back with a fury.  Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows population growth had the second biggest quarter ever in Q4 2021. Estimates are now back to pre-pandemic levels, as backlogs begin to clear. Most of this growth was concentrated in two provinces, BC and Ontario. 

Canada’s Population Growth Was The Second Highest Ever

Canada’s population growth has exploded higher in the latest estimates. There are an estimated 38.44 million people in Canada in Q4 2021, up 0.5% (190,339) from the previous quarter. Annual growth has reached an estimated 1.1% (403,433) people. As mentioned above, the quarter was the second biggest in Canada’s…

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There are many ways to design a living room. But if you’re looking for a shortcut to a stylish and comfortable space, take a few cues from this countdown of the most-saved living room photos uploaded to Houzz in 2021. You’ll find approaches that succeed by mixing colors and materials, offering plenty of seating, adding some display space and leaning heavily on a palette of white and wood.

TVL Creative Ltd.

10. Bold Black Touches

Rather than trying to hide the black void of the TV in this Denver living room, interior design firm TVL Creative celebrated it with a recessed niche and shiplap siding. Black window frames, ceiling trim and other black details complement the TV, making it feel like part of the design.

A perfectly sized sectional,…

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There’s nothing like hunkering down for the winter to get you noticing all the odd jobs that need to be done around the house. If you’re going to be inside anyway, why not tackle some fun and creative projects to beautify and simplify your life? Here are a few DIY projects you can tackle this weekend, with options the whole family can get in on.

Accentuate the positive 

Are your four walls starting to look a little too familiar? With not a lot of supplies, time or money, you can get creative with your space’s existing features and breathe new life into your surroundings. Painting window trims, accent walls, or cabinets are low commitment ways to try on a new aesthetic. You could even tackle a full wall mural to help liven up the kids’…

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Canada’s oldest bank has a warning for homebuyers — prices don’t always rise. The uncharacteristic message came from BMO‘s chief economist Douglas Porter. Canada has seen few home price corrections, causing homebuyers to think of it as “risk-free.” Not just in Toronto or Vancouver, but virtually every market in the country, all simultaneously. BMO wants you to know that’s not always the case, and risks rise the longer home prices avoid a correction. 

Canadian Real Estate Prices Climbed Despite A Decade Of Warnings

Canadian real estate has faced “bubble” warnings for nearly a decade that have not come true. Some dudes named Poloz and Macklem were even ranting about it back in 2013 but have since come around. Justified or not, listening…

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DECEMBER 11, 2021

One of Canada’s “Big Six” banks is declaring next year to be “The Year of The Hike.” National Bank of Canada (NBC) chief strategist (and poet-in-residence) Warren Lovely is calling the first interest rate hike in just a few months. He sees the Bank of Canada (BoC) making its hike in March, way ahead of schedule. Over the next year, the overnight rate is forecast to recoup much of the ground lost during the pandemic. However, Canada’s real estate bubble will prevent it from going much further. Since the country went all-in on housing, it can’t pursue more aggressive policies like healthier economies. 

The Bank Of Canada Will Hike Rates In March

Canada is expected to wind up its overly easy monetary policy pretty fast.…

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A stylish and well-designed bathroom will help you start your day off right and finish it with ease. The following countdown of the 10 most popular bathroom photos uploaded to Houzz in 2021 offers ideas for fitting tubs and showers into tight spaces, maximizing storage with custom vanities, using wood-look tiles to add warmth and durability, and much more.


Nandco Construction

10. Herringbone Hero

This Los Angeles bathroom by Nandco Construction features a pair of glass shower partitions with an opening between them. The design lets the homeowner walk directly into the wet area, where two shower heads and a deep soaking tub beckon.

The gray elongated porcelain floor tile is laid in a herringbone pattern that adds visual texture to the…

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Photo: Spiroview Inc. / Adobe Stock

Canada’s youngest generation of potential homebuyers say they are pretty optimistic about owning a home at some point in their life, but others have moved on from the prospects of ever possessing a single-family property.

According to a new report released today by Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, 75 per cent of Generation Z urban adults (those born between 1993 and 2011) are likely to buy and own a primary residence in their lifetime. A little under half (49 per cent) of respondents said that they “very likely” to do so, with 11 per cent stating that they already own a home.

The report, which was conducted by Mustel Group, surveyed 1,502 Gen Z Canadians who are located in the Vancouver, Calgary,…

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Photo: Spiroview Inc. / Adobe Stock

Home prices in prominent Canadian markets ramped up last month, but the acceleration we’re seeing now is expected to ease off by the second half of next year as these markets become more balanced.

In an RBC Economics Thought Leadership report published this week, senior RBC economist Robert Hogue said that property prices “reaccelerated further” in major markets during November thanks to strong demand and dwindling inventories.

In the Greater Toronto Area, “aggressive” bidding drove the composite MLS Home Price Index (HPI) up 3.9 per cent from October to $1,173,000. Over the past two months, GTA prices have climbed 2.2 per cent and 4.3 percent, resulting in a $114,000 increase over a three-month period.…

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There are three types of people in this world: those who hate cleaning, those who pretend they enjoy the process, and those who have mastered enough house cleaning hacks so they can do the job efficiently and effortlessly.  

Temina McCormack, owner of Ottawa-based Temina and the Cleanas, belongs to that third group. Luckily for everyone else, she loves sharing the knowledge she’s accumulated over the years. The expert is here to answer your questions and share her cleaning tips––from getting rid of pet hair off your furniture to removing tough stains from your kitchen walls. Check out Temina’s answers below, and remember to send your cleaning questions to crea-comms@crea.ca to be featured in an upcoming article.

My kitchen walls are covered…

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