Courtesy of Carla Sinclair

Compliments of

REALTOR®, Paralegal

East Kootenay Realty Independently Owned & Operated 25 - 10th Ave South Cranbrook BC V1C 2M9

DIRECTOR’S PLATINUM AWARD

VOLUME 34 ISSUE 2

3 LAUNDRY ROOM DESIGN IDEAS Gone are the days when a laundry room in a dark corner of the basement was a thing. Homeowners now want a space that is just as beautiful as it is functional. But say that your laundry room is indeed in a dark corner of the basement, how can you liven it up without spending a fortune? Start with making it feel cozy; if your basement is unfinished and you have concrete floors, add a large neutral rug in front of the washer and dryer. Just make sure not to choose something that can’t get wet – because overflows do happen. Next, add some shelving and line it with woven baskets; not only will this give you tons of storage space, the baskets will add style and warmth. Lastly, put up a cool light fixture. Just because it’s a laundry room doesn’t mean it should have plain old pot lights or a bare bulb. Pick a fixture that hangs down a bit so it catches the eye. Choose something woven to play off the baskets or a matte black fixture to give your laundry room more of an industrial style.

STUFFED PEPPER SOUP RECIPE

Courtesy of www.ehow.com

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice 3 tablespoons fresh parsley Oil DIRECTIONS:

INGREDIENTS: 1 pound ground beef, chicken or turkey 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed 1 small white onion, diced 2 bell peppers, deseeded and diced (any color) 1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic (or 3 fresh cloves, minced) 28 ounces diced tomatoes, undrained 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce) 4 to 6 cups low-sodium beef broth 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon salt

1. If you're using extra-lean ground beef, chicken or turkey, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of oil to a large pot. Warm over medium heat. Add the ground meat and sausage until brown, breaking it apart with a spatula. 2. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, mixing frequently to evenly cook the vegetables. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. 3. Add the diced and crushed tomatoes, along with the broth. Mix well, bring to a boil then reduce the heat. Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bell peppers are tender. 4. Add the cooked rice and mix well. Simmer for 5 minutes. 5. Spoon into bowls, top with fresh parsley and serve with toasted bread.

CHOOSING A KITCHEN SINK Whether you’re renovating your kitchen for yourself or for resale, something you’ll need to consider is your sink. Size, material, location – there’s a lot to decide. First off, where you put the sink is a big decision and one that hinges on several factors. If your kitchen reno is more cosmetic and isn’t going to involve any plumbing changes, then the sink will have to stay in its original location. However, if you’re installing new countertops then you can play with the size a bit. If you’re gutting your kitchen then you have a lot more options. Some homeowners love to have their sink in the kitchen island. Others prefer to have it under a window so they can look outside while they do dishes. Whichever you choose, make sure you consider the pros and cons thoroughly first as it isn’t something you can easily change later. Next up – size. While it’s still most common to install a double sink, some homeowners are opting for a single bowl. Proponents of this option say it gives them more room to wash large pots and pans. It also may be an aesthetic choice as a single bowl sink has more of a farmhouse or industrial feel to it. And last of all, but certainly just as important, is the material you choose. Of course, stainless steel is classic and extremely low maintenance, but homeowners are opting for everything from ceramic to copper to granite to cast iron. Again, make sure you research all the pros and cons of each material before choosing your sink. It takes a bit of up front work, but it’s more than worth it in the long run.

FOUR FEBRUARY FACTS If you were born in February, you probably know that your birthstone is an amethyst, but did you know your flower is a primrose? And sure, February has either 28 or 29 days – depending on whether it’s a leap year, but over the centuries the length of February kept changing. At one point, it had as little as 23 days! Also, in the Northern Hemisphere, February is the third month of winter, meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere, February is the last month of summer. Lastly, the name February comes from the Latin word “februum”, which means purification. Courtesy of www.thefactsite.com

KEEPING YOUR HARDWOOD CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL Much like a kitchen reno pays for itself in resale value, so too do hardwood floors. Of course, in order for your hardwood to wow when the day comes to sell, it needs to be taken care of. And the way that your hardwood is finished – not the type of wood – will determine how it should be cleaned. The most common hardwood finish is a polyurethane that is either water based, oil based, acid cured or moisture cured. If your home is older and has hardwood from before 1970, it may have a varnish, wax or shellac finish. No matter the finish – don’t use cleaning products specifically made for vinyl or tile flooring, as they may damage your hardwood. Also, wet mopping is not recommended as standing water can discolour the finish. For polyurethane treated floors, damp mopping is the way to go. Either lightly spray the floor and wipe immediately or wet your mop and wring it out completely. For older, wax or shellac treated hardwood – never mop or wipe with water. Simply vacuum and sweep regularly and enjoy the beauty of your vintage floor!

CARING FOR HOUSEPLANTS IN WINTER Low light, dry air, and plain old forgetfulness are three common causes of a houseplant not making it through winter. Sometimes it feels easier to care for your indoor plant babies when the sun is shining and the weather is warm because they’re just an extension of your outdoor plants. But it’s during the winter that indoor plants need a little extra love and care. Here are four tips for doing just that. • Knowwhich plants go dormant in the winter. If you have a plant that’s typically meant to be outside, it may go dormant when the weather turns. Meanwhile, tropical indoor plants tend to not go into dormancy as long as the conditions they were used to in the summer continue. If you do have plants that go to sleep during the winter, make sure to ease back on the watering. And don’t panic if they stop growing or even lose a few leaves. That’s just nature doing its thing. • Give your plants a shower. Yup – plants need showers too. Especially those with large leaves that collect a lot of dust. Too much dust buildup can actually hamper the plants ability to take in light. If you have plants that are too heavy to move to your tub, periodically wipe their leaves down with a damp cloth. • Move them to a sunnier location. How the sun comes into your home will change during thewintermonths. Some of your plantsmay need to be relocated to a sunnier, warmer spot. Be wary of windowsills though. Depending how well your windows keep out the cold, a sunny sill may look welcoming, but if there’s a draft your plant may not like it there. • Keep them away from radiators and air vents. You may think that plants would like it near a nice warm heater, but most of them don’t. The extra air circulation dries them out quicker and the warmth can be too intense for their roots and leaves.

LOVE LAUGHS

In honour of Valentine’s Day, here are five jokes about the greatest of all things – love. How did the telephone propose to its girlfriend? He gave her a ring. Knock, knock. Who’s there? Olive. Olive, who? Olive you, and I don’t care who knows it.

Why should you never break up with a goalie? Because he’s a keeper. What did one boat say to the other? Are you up for a little row- mance? Do you have a date for Valentine’s Day? Yes, it is February 14th.

Courtesy of www.rd.com

WHAT INTERIOR DESIGNERS WANT YOU TO KNOW

Most people likely feel they have a good idea of what interior designers do for a living. Yet, the designers themselves still feel there are a lot of common misconceptions about their job description. If you’re thinking of hiring an interior designer – or just want to learn more about what exactly they do – read on. More than paint colours. If you think an interior designer spends most of their time picking out paint colours – think again. Certainly, the colour that ends up on a client’s walls is an important part of the design puzzle, but it’s just that – a part. Designers work on everything from ensuring homes are built and renovated to meet building code regulations, to sourcing unique items from around the globe. Virtual design is an option. There was a time when a designer had to live in the same city as their client, but that day is long gone. Thanks to technology, some designers work virtually just as much as in person. And some designers even work online exclusively. Help you visualize. Nowadays, interior designers have access to some pretty amazing tools to help you envision your finished space. Want to see an interactive 3D rendering of your redesigned living room? They can do that! Save you money. Can hiring an interior designer be expensive? Yes. Does it have to be? No. In fact, because designers have so many connections in their field, they often receive steep discounts on items – which they then pass on to their clients. Work with your budget. On the topic of money, interior designers know how to work within the budget they’re given. If you can only afford to modestly redesign one room of your home – that’s what they’ll help you do.

PUZZLE - COLOUR BY NUMBERS

Courtesy of www.printactivities.com

SOLUTION:

It’s a sun and a tree.

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