globeandmail.com: Real Estate

RENOVATION

Making use of wasted space

A 1927 Georgian home in Lawrence Park endured a rehash in the nineties in which the living areas were cut up into unusable chunks. Its new residents have spent $850,000 to put things right 16/05/08 12:00 AM

In Pictures: Fixing a poorly planned reno

INTERIORS

Cooking up the country look

It's not all gingham and rush-back chairs. Today's rural-style kitchen is influenced by a rich combination of traditions and cultures 16/05/08 11:51 AM

RESTORATION

A new legacy carved in stone

The Flack Block's stunning new doorway arch is a sign, developer Robert Fung hopes, that the area around Cambie and Hastings is on the threshold of a new era 16/05/08 12:30 PM

ACCESSIBILITY

On Lion's Head, the livin' is easy

Cottage owners like John and Deb Douma are wise to design their getaway homes with their future needs in mind, experts say 16/05/08 12:00 PM

In Pictures: A getaway for the future

DWELLING

New Urbanism's Moses comes to Tsawwassen5

My own view is that history will regard New Urbanism as a last-gasp attempt to reform suburbanism from within, before high energy prices and new respect for land compels much denser development. 16/05/08 12:37 PM 5

RENO ADVENTURES

The laws of renovation are similar to Murphy's Law

Elizabeth Rand-Watkinson

A guide to the seven stages of renovating 16/05/08 12:00 AM

MAKE IT RIGHT

For outside painting jobs, choose a tidy pro

Mike Holmes

If he looks sloppy, he will work sloppy. 16/05/08 12:00 AM

NEW DIGS

Super luxury condo projects1

Derek Raymaker

High-end builders catering to millionaires' pent-up demands 16/05/08 12:00 AM 1

THE PERFECT HOUSE

Buildings designed to feed life into the city

John Bentley Mays

Amacon brings in Larry Beasley to give the heart of suburban Mississauga a jolt 16/05/08 12:00 AM

THE ARCHITOURIST

Once revolutionary, now 'disappointing'

Dave LeBlanc

After 40 years, two architects assess the effects of bad decisions and changing habits on one of the city's first mixed-use buildings 16/05/08 12:00 AM

In Pictures: The Towne, then and now

Find property values in the GTA for new and resale homes.

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DONE DEALS TORONTO


YONGE AND WELLESLEY: Perfect 812 sq. ft. downtown condo for a first-time buyer


NORTH YORK: A high-demand area near Earl Haig school


SPADINA AND KING: 1,400-square feet of space, close to Rogers Centre and shops on King and Queen streets.


AVENUE AND EGLINTON: The Allenby school is visible from an enclosed sun porch


BAYVIEW AND SHEPPARD: A two-storey foyer and floating staircase give a sense of spaciousness


QUEEN AND SPADINA: More than $50,000 was put into renovating this one-bedroom, 578-square-foot condo


WINDERMERE AND THE QUEENSWAY: Close to shops, bakeries, caf?s on Bloor Street and High Park


DIXON AND ROYAL YORK: A pet-friendly property with lots of outdoor space to roam


BROADVIEW AND GERRARD: 1906 cottage has a rare double-hipped roof and a wide porch


KING AND STRACHEN: A chance to get into the real estate market at an affordable price


SWANSEA: Renovated inside and out, making good use of the space


RUNNYMEDE AND BLOOR: The above-ground basement has a recreation room with a Murphy bed, office, and a rear walk-out

From the archives

For all Done Deals click here

DONE DEALS VANCOUVER


SHAUGHNESSY: A gourmet kitchen, four-car garage, home theatre and air conditioning


DUNBAR: The Citation kitchen has a Nathan Allan glass backsplash, granite countertops, and a Dacor gas cook-top


UBC: Traditional appeal and every modern amenity


SHAUGHNESSY: Surrounded by designer gardens which include a waterfall


SOUTHLANDS: 1922 home was recently renovated while retaining original character


MOUNT PLEASANT: The dining room opens to a southern balcony via French doors.


LADNER: 892-square-foot suite has seen numerous renovations in the past five years


MARPOLE: New wood floors, new appliances and soaker tubs


KERRISDALE: Because of the size of this lot, there was a lot of interest from developers


">COAL HARBOUR: The building is a "contemporary masterpiece"


UBC: The Bristol is surrounded by Pacific Spirit Park, golf courses, beaches and UBC amenities.


KITSILANO: The master bedroom has a private patio with Inotek French doors and a spa-styled ensuite. 1

Celebrity watch

Second homes of the stars1

Home of the Week

Carpenter crafts a one-of-a-kind loft

Vacation Property

It's a good year to take on a vineyard in Argentina

Marketplace

In Depth

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News Digests

News

Surprise rebound in U.S. housing, but outlook still shaky9

Housing starts posted their biggest increase in two years in April 16/05/08 11:39 AM 9

Priced out of paradise195

Long-time cottagers have tolerated the invasion of monster homes, golf courses, float planes and power boats, but skyrocketing property value assessments are proving to be the tipping point 16/05/08 9:01 AM 195

Homes market flooded by sellers72

April resale listings rise to record across Canada, with biggest surges in Saskatoon and Toronto 14/05/08 4:23 PM 72

U.S foreclosure filings surge 65% in April, home values slide15

Combination of weak housing sales, falling home values, tighter mortgage lending criteria and a slowing U.S. economy has left financially strapped homeowners with fewer options to avoid foreclosure 14/05/08 9:52 AM 15

New home prices show signs market is cooling19

Prices for new homes in Canada rose 0.2 per cent in March from a month earlier, and 6.1 per cent over the past year 12/05/08 8:56 AM 19

Toronto Market

Earlier discussion: Is Toronto's housing boom over?

CONDO BUYER'S PRIMER: Condo life comes with strings attached3

If you can handle the rules, says one first-time buyer, a 10-minute walk to work beats hours of commuting each day. 25/04/08 12:00 AM 3

BUYING STRATEGY: How to win a bidding war44

For every offer made on a property, add $10,000 to the list price, one agent suggests. 25/04/08 12:00 AM 44

Homefront

HOMEFRONT: POOLS: For backyard swimmers, the tide is changing

Installers say pool buyers are choosing salt water over chlorine 9 to 1. The days of stinging eyes and rotting swimsuits may be over... 09/05/08 12:00 AM

Recreational Properties

RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES: Popping the cork on retirement1

After wrapping up a career as an airline pilot, Bill Harkley decided to launch a second career on terra firma, by starting a vineyard on Salt Spring Island. Now, five years on, Bill's ready for career No. 3 09/05/08 12:00 AM 1

Hot spots: Canada's top second-home locations2

COTTAGE RENTALS: Still time to find spot for summer getaway

Would-be renters troll the Net, talk to friends and turn to agencies to find perfect vacation spot. But it's a hot market 02/05/08 1:25 PM

Renovations

SARAH STYLE: Here's a fresh idea: Liven up the laundry

After loathing her neglected laundry room for years, Sarah Richardson is planning to tackle her troublesome "fluff 'n' fold" and create something more stylish. 02/05/08 12:00 AM

Toronto Open Houses

OPEN HOUSE OF THE WEEK: Just a little more off the top2

Makeover from duplex to stellar reno a joy for Ray Civello. 12:00 AM 2

Open House: For those on the go, a perfect rest stop2

Chaplin Estates is the perfect enclave for upwardly mobile professionals 10/05/08 12:00 AM 2

On Site - Greater Toronto Area

PICKERING: Project near conservation lands more than half sold

This project, near Brock and Rossland roads and called the Ravines of Buckingham Gate, will encompass treed streets and 53 residences on lots that are 48, 50 and 60 feet wide and from 110 to 130 feet deep. 16/05/08 10:58 AM

QUEEN WEST: A new addition to a thriving arts community

The project — situated on former rail lands — is steps from trendy bars, restaurants and the popular Drake and Gladstone hotels, all of which have helped revitalize the neighbourhood. 16/05/08 11:00 AM

On Site - Vancouver

DOWNTOWN: A city rarity — new high-end rental units

The project contains 92 live-work lofts, town homes and "one-of-a-kind sky flats." The rental homes sit atop retail space and are garnished with a 25,000-square-foot green roof, communal gardens and a fitness centre. 16/05/08 12:49 PM

SURREY: An anchor project for a sustainable community

Waterstone combines residential with luxury resort in an effort to attract home buyers to East Clayton, a neighbourhood that the City of Surrey has designated its first sustainable community. 16/05/08 12:51 PM

Vacation Properties

France: Seventeenth-century chateau, just steps from chapel

PANAMA: A house once occupied by banana-company elite

This 1940s banana plantation home in western Panama near the Pacific coast was originally built to house upper-level managers of United Fruit Co. 02/05/08 12:00 AM