Real Estate Blog - diy

Get Creative with a DIY Wooden Laundry Countertop

Walk into your typical Canadian household laundry room and you’re likely to find a high-efficiency (HE) front-loading washing machine. It only seems fitting these laundry station spaces be used in a similarly efficient way, which leads us to a great intermediate DIY opportunity—a laundry room countertop! Let’s run through key considerations, steps, and hacks that’ll get you all set up to build and install your own beautifully functional laundry counter.

Using your machine tops as a make-shift counter may be fine for the short term, but a purpose-built countertop ensures more space and stability–so you can avoid items vibrating off during wash cycles. A countertop provides a sturdy surface to separate, fold, and steam your laundry without having to…

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10 Important Questions to Ask Your Contractor

Working with a contractor, in lieu of DIY, can be the difference between a successful home renovation or repair and a botched project. Yet, finding a contractor for your home can be easier said than done. You want to make sure the person you hire has adequate experience, can give you the best value for your buck, and communicates in a clear and transparent way. 

How can you ensure you’re making the right choice when hiring your next contractor? 

We’ve outlined 10 questions you should ask to make sure you’re finding the best person or company for the job, helping you avoid any unpleasant surprises that may affect your wallet and leave you dissatisfied.

1. Ask yourself: How do I know a repair or renovation is…

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DIY Mistakes You Can Avoid

Thanks to social media platforms like YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram, there’s an almost infinite amount of DIY inspiration out there. However, before you tackle that built-in bookcase or refresh your home with paint, you should know the DIY world is full of common—but thankfully avoidable—mistakes. To help you navigate your next DIY project, we spoke with three local home-owning DIY pros about the most common mistakes that are made.

Not doing enough research beforehand 

When renovating her home, Tobie (@tobesgoesdiy) says she didn’t do enough research on installing tongue and groove laminate flooring and ended up installing it backwards. Similarly, in one of her first tiling projects, Dalyn…

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Here are 4 DIY Built-ins You Can Do This Weekend!

Built-ins are showstoppers in any room. Whether used to surround a fireplace, turn a window into a cozy reading nook, add extra storage to an otherwise underused wall, or create the home library of your dreams, built-ins bring the grandeur.  

But that grandeur can come with a grand price if you order custom built-ins. Luckily, they’re not the only option. DIY built-ins don’t have to be expensive, require a full renovation, or take longer than a weekend to complete. Paint, moulding and prefabricated bookcases, wardrobes, and cabinetry are all you’ll need to create the classy, custom looking built-ins of your dreams.

The secret to DIY built-ins is paint and trim. To make your project look like custom work, paint the built-ins to match your room…

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5 Ways to Transform Your Kitchen Island

Kitchens aren’t just for cooking and eating; they’re gathering places, homework stations, and the spot where parties always end up. This room always tops homeowners’ remodelling wish lists, but if a major overhaul isn’t in your budget this year, there’s another way to maximize your space, while adding style and function: install a kitchen island or elevate the one you already have.

Islands provide more storage and prep space, extra seating, and they add character and a focal point to your kitchen. We asked a design expert for creative, affordable hacks to create fabulous kitchen islands.

1. Repurpose what you can 

When Halifax-based interior design consultant and TV host Rebekah Higgs—also known as DIY Mom—began…

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4 DIY Ways To Step Up Your Staircase

When you think about home makeovers, what comes to mind first? Kitchen? Bathroom? Basement? You’ve probably thought of everything but the stairs. Updating a staircase is rarely top of mind, even though it’s one of the most noticeable elements of a home. The process may seem like an intimidating undertaking, but you can opt for easy DIY techniques that will make your staircase a charming functional focal point. All you’ll need is some inspiration to get started—we’ve got you covered—and a can-do attitude. These ideas are budget-friendly, too!

Risers over runners 

If you have wood stairs, don’t settle for a basic carpet runner. Zhush up your stairs by drawing all attention to the risers (the vertical area under each step). Go for bold paint…

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