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RE6 - The Canadian Champion, Tueaday, February 10, 1998 Sprucing up your home helps beat the February 'blahs' Spning is stili a few months away. faîl is long ter. It can be a bit messy, but can be completed started on an in-Iaw apartment, the winter offers decade or so. It would certainly help during gone and summer is just a distant memory. room by room in a fairly short period. a chunk of time that could be put to good use. spring cleaning when you need somewhere to Guess what? You're stuck smack dab in the Bedrooms, dens and especially dning roomn are Apart from laying concrete floors, just about put ail the boxes of winter stuff middle of winter and you've gol the February excellent candidates for sprucing up. anything is possible including putting up walls Don't let the February blalîs get the better of blahs' T his i's the une ut ycar whien Untarto homec owners go a bit stir crazy and need some relief 10 get over the 'hump'. Well, why not put the mid-winter blahs to good use and tackle some of those interior renovations and decorating jobs you've been putting off? Now is a perfect time 10 take a look insidé your home and get a head start on those upgrades that neyer seem to get done when the weather is nice. Things like carpeting. wallpa- pering, painting, adding new lighting. or even kitchen, bathroom and basement renovations can easily be accomplished right now while you have the time. Your main consideration is to assess how much a job will disrupt the household. In win- ter, family members don't have the option of spending time outside during extensive renova- tions, so a job such as installing hardwood floors would be dificult. As well, moat major painting jobs need to be undertaken in the sum- mer when ventilation is possible. On the other hand, many home improvements make ideal winter jobs. Installing new carpets is an extremely popular winter upgrade for many homeowners. Redoing a den, rec room or bed- room will flot only add spice, but give greater corofort and warmth. You shouldn't be concemned about replacing every carpel in your home, because slush and snow are bound 10 be tracked throughoul. A ~ goodmove would be 10 delay re-carpeting your Xngroom or front hallway until the weather imoproves. Anything else is fair game. Wallpapering is a chore ideally suited 10 win- Papering your dining room cao be accom- plished with minimal fuss. and hright new papering job on a child's bedroomn can do won- ders 10 make the winter easier to take. Lighting is anoîher item Ihal can make your winîer more palatable. Replacing the chandelier in your dining roomn can be a real winner, and for an added twist, you could install rack lighl- ing in your living room or den. Don't forget hallways - an antique lamp picked up at a curio shop can greatly improve the ambience. The above suggestions could ail be consîd- ered cosmetie in nature, but you shouldn't dis- count the value of undertaking more major upgrades during the winter. Functional improvements such as kitchen and bathroomn renovations are among the most like- ly 10 increase the net worlh of your home. Surveys have shown that most prospective buy- ers rate these above a new pool, deck or exten- sive landscaping. In addition, most conîractors are busiest in the spring and summer, 50 you stand a good chance of getting a favourable rate if professionals are involved. Adding new kitchen cuphoards is a fairly workable upgrade. The kitchen can still be used for food preparation during construction and meals could be taken in the dining roomn or den. If you're lucky enough 10 have two or even three bathrooms, why flot select one of themn for renovation? Again, contractors May work for less during the winter, s0 you may come out ahead of the gamne. Another excellent opportunily for improve- ment exisîs in your basement. If you've been thinking about adding a new rec'roomn or getting and ceilings, or laying carpet. While you're atiti, you eould take a look at your cellar or garage and build that shelving you've been promising yourself for the Iast lhem. The winter months otter a great chance 10 get 'sone ut'those upgrades and îiproveniefis over with now so, you'll have more lime to enjoy the summer when it finally arrives! mal i-w i - goalere. 1aITIG IlNTYN CONR LVN 1 lic SIGN THAT SELLS L 1