Furnish Your Home for Less

Furnish Your Home For Less

Starting out with a "blank slate" can be both a blessing and a curse. The blessing comes if you have enough money to furnish your home with whatever you want from wherever you choose. Furnishing a home on a shoestring, though, takes creativity, an eye for a good value, and possibly some elbow grease.
While some discount stores, such as Ikea, sell inexpensive new furnishings, careful shoppers can find better quality for less money with used furnishings. Here are a few ideas for getting what you need at discounted prices.

Inspiration

Whether you are furnishing one room or a whole house, it's important to have an idea of how you want the room to look before you go shopping. Once you have the design in mind, it's easier to shop for the components.
Model homes in new home communities are great places to get decorating ideas. These homes are carefully decorated to appeal to a broad range of home buyers. Colour schemes, accessories, furniture choice and placement all play to the shopper's emotions.
Interior design and decorating websites may also be good sources of inspiration. Check out Better Homes and Gardens, HGTV or Houzz, for project ideas to get your household furnished for less.

Used is Good

One of the hardest things to learn is how to look beyond the obvious wear and tear to the actual "bones" of used furniture.  Look beyond the fact that the upholstery is ratty or the legs are scuffed – look at style.
If you like the lines of the coffee table, buy it. Scratches and dings are easy to fix. Hate the ugly green upholstery on the otherwise perfect Chesterfield-style sofa? Buy it. Have it recovered in a yummy fabric of your choice.
Once you've mastered the technique of not judging furniture by its cover, it's time to go shopping.

Garage and Estate Sales

Yes, there are differences between garage sales and estate sales. The latter is the disposition of goods of a person's estate. The garage sale, on the other hand, is the sale of a person's extra belongings or things they no longer need. Both sales offer used items, but estate sales typically have a better variety, and the items are usually in better condition.
Expect to pay more for estate sale items than garage sale items, and prices are typically not negotiable. In both cases you'll need to supply your own moving labor and transportation, so factor that cost into the cost of the items you want to purchase.
You can find garage and estate sales advertised in newspaper classified ads, and by following directional signs in neighbourhoods.

Consignment Stores

Furniture prices tend to be a bit higher in consignment stores than if you were to purchase the items directly from the owner's home, but you can occasionally find some bargains.

Thrift Stores

Salvation Army and Goodwill thrift stores are sources of deeply discounted used household items. Finding something decent is a bit challenging, but once in a while you'll find just the piece you've been searching for, so don't disregard these sources.

Online Shopping

Kijiji is the best online site for inexpensive home furnishings – mainly because it's local. The first place to navigate once you arrive on your local Kijiji page is the Browse Categories section, where you'll find a link named "Free." Everybody loves free, right? Within this category you'll see ads that contain free items available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Join the freecycling group in your area at Freecycle.org. Membership is free, and so are all the items posted.

Shopping frugally allows you to make big, dramatic changes to your home decor without breaking the bank.


Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record
Colleen Thyssen, Sales Representative
Cell: 519-495-1541
email: rthyssen@rogers.com
www.thyssengroup.com

How To Design A Kid-Friendly Backyard

How To Design A Kid-Friendly Backyard

One of the pleasures of having a home is the space that a backyard provides for activities with family and friends. A backyard can be a great place for kids to burn off energy, explore the outdoors, and simply relax.
When children are small, care should also be taken to ensure their safety. The following are things you can do to design a kid-friendly backyard that is both fun and safe.

Maximize Exercise Space

It's tough these days for children to get enough exercise, but an area dedicated to lawn makes a more kid-friendly backyard. Provide enough space to run around, play tag, or throw a ball. The shrubs around this activity area should be tough, thorn-free, and able to withstand occasional abuse from balls or kids running into the beds.

Plant Fruits and Vegetables

Getting kids to eat their fruits and vegetables can also be a challenge. Why not make eating colorful, nutritious food more interesting by letting children grow their own fruits and vegetables? Tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, raspberries, and blueberries are all easy to grow. When children see fruits and vegetables go from seed to plate, they are more likely to eat them.

Create Interesting Garden Spaces

Is there anyone who hasn't played hide-and-seek? Providing a lawn isn't the only way to ignite a child's sense of play and creativity. Gardens can be divided into "garden rooms." Think of the lawn as the living room of the backyard, but you can also create a cozy nook with a bench surrounded by shrubs. This kind of space might provide a great kid-friendly place to read a book or the perfect hiding place for that next game of hide-and-seek.

Provide Protective Fencing

Designing a kid-friendly backyard is also about safety. When young children are present, it's important to provide protective fencing that not only keeps them from wandering off, but also keeps strangers and stray pets from coming into the backyard.

Don't Plant Poisonous Plants

Babies and toddlers are always putting things in their mouths. Leaves, bark, colorful flowers, and berries can all look very enticing to curious, young children. Before planting any plant in your backyard, do a little research. Look the plant up in a plant encyclopedia or online and see if it is poisonous. Some very common plants are poisonous: daffodils, daphne, foxgloves, and rhododendrons, just to name a few.

Don't Allow Unrestricted Access to Pools and Water Features

Babies and small children can drown in a surprisingly small amount of water. Therefore, it's important to supervise children around swimming pools, hot tubs, fountains, and water features. These water-based amenities can provide hours of enjoyment, but their location and access to them should be carefully planned to prevent accidental drowning. Provide locked doors or gates where appropriate to prevent small children from playing in water unsupervised.


Designing a kid-friendly backyard involves finding ways to inspire creativity and play within a safe environment. It's as easy as that. Now go outside and play!

Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record
Colleen Thyssen, Sales Representative
Cell: 519-495-1541
email: rthyssen@rogers.com
web: www.thyssengroup.com

Designing a Great Water Feature

Designing A Great Water Feature

Water features come in all shapes and sizes, from tabletop fountains to powerful, towering jets. Obviously, the construction of large water features is best left to the professionals, but for smaller projects, it's possible to design a great water feature in a single afternoon.

Style and Materials

The materials you use for your water feature should complement the materials and style of your home and garden. For example, if your home is formal, symmetry, formal shapes, then classic materials such as concrete basins will look best in your garden.
If your home is more rustic or located in a more natural setting, a water feature made to look like a natural creek bed may be more fitting.

Scale and Proportion

How much space do you have for your water feature? How will the water feature be viewed, and what kind of statement do you want to make? For example, if you live in an apartment or condo and you want to build a water feature for your balcony, the space may be tight, and you could probably create a great water feature using a couple of small, ceramic or concrete pots. However, in the same space, you may want to make a grand statement and construct a taller wall fountain instead. The scale and proportions should be in keeping with the feeling and aesthetic you are trying to create.
When thinking about scale and proportion, also think about how the water feature will be viewed in relationship to your home. You don't want the water feature or your house to look too big or too small when seen together.
Also consider how the water feature will be viewed. Will it be seen from a few feet away or 50 feet away? Obviously, a water feature that is farther away will need to be larger or it may not have the visual impact it needs. It would be a shame to spend time building a water feature and then realize that it's too small to get any attention.

Basins and Pools

Water features can be constructed using a variety of materials. A simple water feature can be constructed using a ceramic pot and a bamboo spigot. Concrete or ceramic pots are one option. Formed concrete basins can be built for larger projects. These can be left unfinished, finished with ceramic tiles, or colored using stains. For natural-looking, pond and creek bed designs, you will need a flexible pond liner. Whatever material you choose, your pond needs to be as watertight as possible.

Water Volume and Pumps

Just like the pumps in a fish tank, the pump you use in your water feature will be submerged in water. Typically, the pump is located in the lowest basin of water. For example, if you create a basin with a tiered fountain, the pump will sit in the basin at the bottom and pump water up to the top tier. The water then falls down over the tiers simply through the force of gravity.
The pump for your water feature needs to be the appropriate size. Fountain pumps come in different sizes and usually have a small knob on the top or side that allows you to adjust the flow of water.

Planting Around Your Water Feature

Finally, depending on the style and location of your water feature, you may want to plant around the edges. This is especially important if you have constructed a natural, creek bed water feature. A water feature of this type should be planted with native plants from your area. In general, it is best to use plants that like moisture. Although you have done your best to make your water feature watertight, it will lose a bit of water every day from splashing and evaporation. Plant a combination of shrubs, trees, and perennials that will not be adversely affected by this additional water.

The sound of water in the garden can soothe the nerves and block unwanted neighbouring noises.

Whatever your reasons for constructing a great water feature, this should give you some ideas to get started.

Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record
email: rthyssen@rogers.com
web: www.thyssengroup.com

Designing with Your Teen: Bedroom Decor

It's time to put away the beloved character comforters and sheets - your little girl or boy is no longer a child. The switch from cartoon characters to a more mature bedroom decor can be a smooth experience for both parent and child.
When tweens enter the full-fledged teen years they yearn for independence. They want control and decision-making privileges. It might be scary to imagine teenagers choosing their own paint colors, furniture, and decorations, but with a strong design plan this process doesn't have to be intimidating.

Get Inspired With a Design Board

Teen bedrooms can be mature but still have an element of fun. Their decor can reflect their interests in sports and hobbies in a stylish, organized way. Creating a design or inspiration board is the perfect way to find a happy medium between what parents want and what teenagers want. Choosing the perfect design elements will create a space that fosters confidence and self-expression while avoiding clutter.
The design board should include everything that will go into the bedroom. Not only should it have pictures of furniture and paint and fabric swatches, it should also include details like lighting fixtures and accessories. One way to create the board is to cut out pictures from magazines and glue them to a paper poster board. Your teens can also search online for pictures that can be printed out and affixed to the board. Another option is to copy and paste pictures from websites like Pinterest to a blank document on your computer. Once the design board is made, parents and teens can go over it together to be sure both parties agree on the design plan.

Choosing Colors

Don't be caught off guard if your teen chooses an outrageous color like bright pink or black. Bold, funky colors can be a fantastic outlet for their personalities. If you can't deal with all the walls being drenched in an over-the-top color, use the wild color as an accent on a single wall, a border, or as a pattern throughout the room. Another option is to use a more subtle color for the walls and brighter or bolder fabrics and accessories throughout the room.

Bedroom Furniture

Beds, dressers, entertainment centers, desks, nightstands and bookcases are often part of a teen's bedroom decor. If all of these pieces are too much for the size of the space, then consider picking dual-purpose furniture, like a work space that includes shelving or an entertainment center that houses a television and has shelves for books and accessories. You may want to forego the dressers for under-bed drawers to keep clothing neatly stored. Installing a closet organization system is another way to store everything from clothes to shoes, bags, coats, and accessories.
One thing you don't want to skimp on is shelf space. Shelves are great places to display books, but they are also perfect for displaying trophies, photo frames, and more. When purchasing basic furniture like the bed and nightstand, consider the future use of each piece. Will the furniture be staying long after your teen graduates from college, or will your child be using the furniture to fill a college dorm or first apartment? This will help you decide how much money to invest in the furniture as well as what style options are most appropriate.

Lighting and Accessories

Overhead lights and lamps come in every style imaginable. A simple overhead ceiling fan with lights can provide circulation and bright light when needed. Matching or coordinating small lamps are good for desk areas and nightstands.

Framed wall art can give teen rooms a grown up appeal without going overboard. Buying art from a local artist or encouraging your teen to create their own art can make these accessories affordable. Words and geometric designs that adhere to the walls are fun ways to allow teens to express themselves without ruining wall paint.



Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record
Colleen Thyssen, Sales Representative
office: 519-438-8000
cell: 519-495-1541
email: rthyssen@rogers.com
www.thyssengroup.com

4 Level Backsplit in Westminster Park Area, London, ON

Looking for a 4 level backsplit home in the Westminster Park Area?  19 Adswood Place is your stop! This home is all dressed up & ready to GO!!!  A spacious home offering 3+1 bedrooms in a convenient location.  Designed for the family and in a convenient location that offers schools and playgrounds.  Inside this 4 level backsplit home are many appealing features including a family room with gas fireplace, hardwood floors and oak trim. The furnace & central air has been replaced in 2008.  There are some newer windows and ceramic tile floor in the updated eat in kitchen offering a sundeck. The backyard is a gardener’s delight and offers a private patio to enjoy the natural surroundings!
See more homes for sale in London Ontario or for your private viewing contact Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record 519-495-1541

How to be a Savvy Home Viewer

How to Be a Savvy Home Viewer

If you're planning on finding your next dream home, then you're probably
going to view several homes on the market that meet your criteria.
You will want to make the right purchasing decision for you and your family.
So, it's wise to be savvy when viewing properties for sale. Here are some
ideas on how to be a savvy home viewer.

~ Bring a notepad. Take notes, not only of the home's characteristics,
but also of how you feel. For example, can you imagine yourself
happily cooking up a storm in the kitchen? Do you see yourself
entertaining family on the back deck?

~ Bring a measuring tape. Will the furniture you plan to bring fit? Your
dining room suite? Your home fitness equipment?

~ Ask about maintenance. Is the property in a good state of repair?
Will anything need to be replaced soon, such as the windows?

~ Bring a camera. Take lots of pictures of the home's exterior
features. Don't make the mistake of thinking you'll remember how
everything looked.

~ Check out the area. Do other homeowners take good care of their
properties? This shows pride of ownership. How is the noise level? Is
there a playground, or another area feature nearby?

~ Make a list of compromises. For example, are there only two
bathrooms instead of three and, if so, can you live with that?

~ Make a list of bonuses. What features does the home have that, are
not a necessity, but would be nice to have? For example, an
entertainment bar in the basement recreation room.

~ Remember your budget. Is the price within your range? Can you
afford to buy this home?

The savvier you are when viewing properties on the market, the more likely
you will be to find your next dream home.

Let us help you find yours!

Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record
Direct - 519-495-1541
email: rthyssen@rogers.com
www.thyssengroup.com

Creating an Eco-Friendly Landscape Design

Is Your Garden Really Green? Creating an Eco-Friendly Landscape Design

You may have the greenest lawn on the block, but is your garden really "green," meaning ecologically friendly? Often the answer is a resounding "NO."

Just the fact that you have a lawn at all can be an indicator that your landscape is not as green as it could be. Lawns generally need more water and fertilizers than other plantings. Plus, they need to be mowed approximately once per week in the summertime, and if you don't have an electric or push mower, you're burning fossil fuels every time you mow.

What are some ways you can create a garden that is really green? How can you create an eco-friendly landscape design?

 Be Water-Wise

When it comes to an eco-friendly landscape, being water-wise means not only reducing the amount of water you use, but also managing stormwater - water that falls during a rainstorm.  It is possible to capture it, store it, and redistribute it to be used again. For example, direct the downspout from your rain gutters to a rain barrel and then use the captured water to irrigate your landscape.

Use Drought-Tolerant Plants

This tip is related to being water-wise. If you want to create an eco-friendly landscape design, use drought tolerant plants.

Go Native

Native plants are well-adapted to live in the area in which you live. Plus, they typically will provide a food source or some sort of ecological input that supports local insect and animal species.

Build and Protect the Soil

In most suburban and urban areas, the soil is terribly depleted of minerals and nutrients. By amending the soil with organic fertilizers and compost, you can support an eco-friendly landscape design and help protect the soil structure. This creates a more nutrient-rich soil in which your plants can grow.

Grow Your Own Food

From farming methods to transporting food, we rely on fossil fuels to feed everyone in Canada. You can do your part to reduce the use of fossil fuels, reduce food miles, and provide nutrient-rich vegetables to your family by growing your own food. You can grow a surprising amount of food in a small space, and wouldn't it be nice if you could simply walk out your back door and harvest some lettuce for dinner?

Get to Know Beneficial Insects

Many gardeners mistakenly think all insects are bad. If they don't recognize a particular insect, they go get the sprayer and shoot the insect with a chemical pesticide until it dies. This is one of the worst things you can do. Why? There are many insects in the garden that help keep the "bad bugs" in check.

Have you ever noticed a rose bush covered in ladybugs? They're probably there because they're eating the aphids. If you look closely you'll see them. However, if you see the ladybugs, mistakenly think they are hurting your roses, and decide to kill them with pesticides, you're actually creating more work for yourself. The next time the aphids come, and they will, there will not be ladybugs there to defend your roses. You have just inherited the ladybugs' job. To create an eco-friendly landscape design, you must understand your ecosystem. That means getting to know the beneficial insects in your garden and learning how to support them in their work of defending your garden.

These are just a few of the many ways in which you can create an eco-friendly landscape design. The bottom line is that you must work with nature, not against it.

Happy gardening!

Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record

Cell: 519-495-1541

email: rthyssen@rogers.com

www.thyssengroup.com