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Winner Announcement for the $150 RONA Gift Card

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 9:22am. 110 Views, 0 Comments.

Can you believe it’s already February? While it’s typically the coldest time of year, it is so mild right now that it’s the perfect time to get started on some home resolutions.

At the beginning of January, we launched a contest that was aimed at helping Calgarians kick-start their New Year’s Resolutions for their homes by giving away a $150 RONA gift card. We had a great response, and we also have a winner!

Kelly S., congratulations! You have won the gift card, and the opportunity to get started with your project of replacing “2 toilets with more efficient models.” Kelly was chosen via random.org.

To everyone who entered the contest, thank you for participating! This month we’ll be giving away five pairs of tickets to the Calgary Home & Garden Show, where…

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SCH Featured Post from Set Your Stage

Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 10:14am. 266 Views, 0 Comments.

Today's post is courtesy of Jennifer Campbell of Set Your Stage home staging. It was also a feature in our January 2012 edition of Smart Calgary Homes News! Check it out (and subscribe!) here.

As consumers, we are becoming more aware of the environment, home buyers are no different. According to Pantone's Home & Interior 2012 Trends, 2012's focus will be on highlighting nature and natural inspired decor.

Some very simple ways to incorporate this into your home are by adding plants. Mini-trees are a great way to draw the eye to a beautiful window/view and to bring the outdoors in. For accessories, keep an eye out for blues inspired by the ocean, greens inspired by foliage as well as oranges, yellows and reds inspired by the sunset.

Although the interior…

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SCH Featured Post from Conexia Mortgage

Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 9:58am. 573 Views, 0 Comments.

Today's post is courtesy of Tyler Tost, owner and broker at Conexia Mortgage. It was also a feature in our January 2012 edition of Smart Calgary Homes News! Check it out (and subscribe!) here.

conexia_logo_398_01
Currently, we are in a very low interest rate environment in Canada. Interest rates move in cycles, right now we are likely near the bottom of the interest rate cycle.


As we enter 2012, the economic forces that have kept our interest rates very low over the past few years will likely continue well into the year.  The factors that will have the strongest impact on our interest rates over this year are the ongoing European fiscal crisis, an election year in the US, and the rate of growth in the developing world.

According to the Bank of Canada, Canadian 5-year…

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6 simple ways to ditch the clutter and get organized

Friday, January 13th, 2012 at 9:57am. 652 Views, 0 Comments.

Reducing clutter in your house will not only help your home run a little more efficiently, but it is a great way to prepare for a move or a sale. Get started now, and move slowly from room to room; before you know it, you’ll be more organized than you knew you could be.

storage_457 Photo: Style at Home

Here are six simple tips and ideas to help you get organized:

1. Rid yourself of old books and magazines: If there’s no sentimental value in a book, or you don’t intend on reading it again, get rid of it. Drop off gently used books at senior centres (check first that they’ll accept them), shelters (like the Mustard Seed), or used book stores. If your books aren’t in great condition, drop them off at a recycling depot (check to see if your local one accepts them). As…

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New Contest: Making Your Home Resolutions a Reality

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 at 8:42am. 1768 Views, 0 Comments.

Last week we talked about resolutions for your home; whether it’s bringing a little colour into your décor, adding some natural materials (wood, slate, stone), or simply increasing the efficiency of your taps, it’s the perfect time to follow through with some much-needed home improvements.

So what do you resolve for your home? Something big (like renovating the kitchen), or something small (like replacing your old thermostat with a new, programmable one)? Will it help save you money in the future (like weather-stripping drafty doors and windows), or will it simply improve your well-being (like growing a little indoor garden)?

We, at Smart Calgary Homes, want to help you make your resolutions a reality, so we’re giving away a $150 gift card for RONA. To…

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New Year, New Resolutions for Your Home

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 at 9:40am. 896 Views, 0 Comments.

It’s that time of year again, the time where we all make resolutions to improve our lives – get fit and healthy, go further in our careers, spend more quality time with friends and family – but it’s also the time to make resolutions for our homes. Here are five simple resolutions that will improve both the look and function of your home:

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Photo: TheKitchenModel.com

Add a little colour: The colour of the year for 2012 is Tangerine Tango, a “vivacious and appealing reddish orange” that will add both depth and warmth to any room in your home. If you’re worried about committing to paint, incorporate the colour with decorative pillows, paintings, or even curtains. Don’t wait until the summer to bring it in, do it now and ward off the post-holiday winter…

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Holiday Shopping Guide Part 3: Last-Minute Gifts

Friday, December 16th, 2011 at 12:47pm. 309 Views, 0 Comments.

We’ve all experienced this: a last-minute guest shows up, a neighbor comes to the door, a co-worker pops by your desk – with a gift. It’s not an ideal situation, but if you’re prepared, you’ll be ready for any unexpected gift-giver.

Here are 5 inexpensive, good for anyone gifts that will make sure the only surprises this holiday season are good ones.

purdys_chocolates_250 Photo: Purdy's Chocolates



1. PURDY’S CHOCOLATES: You can’t go wrong with chocolate! Just make sure you get the good ones; head to Purdy’s and pick up a few boxes of assorted filled chocolates or truffles (or keep it classic with Hedgehogs). They range greatly in price (from about $10-75), so they won’t break the bank. FIND THEM: locations at www.purdys.com

ornament_240
Photo: Pier 1



2. ORNAMENTS:
Both Urban Barn…

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Holiday Shopping Guide: Part 2

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 at 9:40am. 732 Views, 0 Comments.

There’s still a little more time to finish up your Christmas shopping, but there are also, undoubtedly, a few people on your list that you can’t seem to find anything for. Here are a few suggestions for everyone in your family that will suit any budget.

antique_owl_340 Antique Owl, $15, indigo.ca

For Him:
Aldo Valeray Scarf:
$25, aldoshoes.com
Grid It Ultimate Organizer: $10-$15, thinkgeek.com
The Oxford Companion to Beer: $41, amazon.ca

For Her:
Adele: Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD & CD Collection: $23, indigo.ca
Aldo Rabon Hat: $25, aldoshoes.com
Viscose Blend Shawl Collar Sweater: $50, lechateau.com

For Grandma and Grandpa:
Bed Buddy Warming Footies with Aromatherapy:
$14, bedbathandbeyond.ca
Keurig Coffee Maker: $99, amazon.ca
Antique Owl Globe: $15, indigo.ca

For the…

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And the winner is...

Monday, December 5th, 2011 at 7:48am. 171 Views, 0 Comments.

Through the month of November, Smart Calgary Homes ran a “Contest for the Kind at Heart” – a contest that aimed to reward those who give back to the community during the holiday season. After many great entries, we’ve got a winner!

Congratulations, Jessica! You’ve won a $200 shop! card! This gift card is valid at any Cadillac Fairview shopping centre, including Calgary’s Chinook Centre and Market Mall.

Jessica was chosen via Random Number Generator, and will receive the gift card shortly. Stay tuned, Calgary, we’ve got more exciting contests coming up!

 

 

shop_card_252  

 

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Holiday Shopping Guide: Part 1

Monday, November 28th, 2011 at 9:11am. 1194 Views, 0 Comments.

Having a tough time with your holiday shopping? There are always a people on your list that are harder to shop for than others. Have no fear! Here are five picks for five tough people on your list:

kindle_500
Photo: amazon.ca

FOR THE BOOK LOVER: The new Amazon Kindle is the perfect gift for anyone looking to make their way through the bestseller list. It’s small, portable, and lightweight, and at around $100, it’s a pretty affordable option – especially in the long run. The best part? No dealing with long library wait lists, out of stock notifications at the bookstore or online, or shipping. The Kindle has built in wi-fi, so new books are available in mere seconds. PRICE: $109.00 WHERE TO GET IT: amazon.ca

FOR THE TECHIE:
The late Steve Jobs made a huge impact in the…

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