Poll: The office wins!

Last week's poll asked readers what project Room for Improvement should tackle next — catch up on the possibilities here and here.

The home office project started off strong and held the position, closing with just over half the votes at 51 per cent.

Their daughter's bedroom, while a sentimental favourite for Denise, came a distant second in the poll, with only 29 per cent. The stairway placed third with 20 per cent.

Stay tuned Wednesday to hear Room for Improvement's plans and, in the meantime, check out some of the great home office inspiration here on Yourhome.ca, including a rundown of office essentials, simple crafts to make your office more homey and great tips from Colin and Justin and Debbie Travis.

Advertising as home decor?

This tasty-looking bench is actually an advertisement by London, U.K., agency JWT.

While KitKat doesn't rank among my favourite chocolate bars (it doesn't even break the top 10 list), I still think this is awfully cute!

And, unlike a real chocolate bar, it would hold up really well to a warm sunny day. 

I think would be a great conversation starter for a chocoholic's back deck or patio. 

And, while I normally avoid things emblazoned with logos and ads, I think I can safely say I'd be happy to "Have a break" on this bench!

What do you think? Would you incorporate a piece of advertising into your home decor?

Found via 2modern. Read about more quirky products in Vicky Sanderson's Conversation Piece.

New reno tax credit a money-maker?

Yesterday's budget announcement (get the full details here) included a few incentives for first-time home buyers and renovators.

If the budget passes, first-time buyers will be eligible for a 15 per cent tax credit to help with closing costs — such as legal fees and land-transfer taxes. The credit will apply to up to $5,000 in costs, and, to a maximum of $750, will come off of taxes owing. Additionally, first-time buyers can borrow up to $25,000 per person from a RRSP without paying tax or interest if the money is repaid over 15 years.

Much is being made of the temporary reno tax credit. (Government details on the credit are here.) Homeowners (renters aren't eligible) can get a 15 per cent tax credit — up to $1,350 in tax relief — on projects completed by Feb. 1, 2010.

Not all projects are eligible — that new home theatre system for the Super Bowl just won't cut it, nor will routine repairs and maintenance. The credit would apply to improvements such as kitchen, bathroom or basement renovations or building an addition or deck.

In an interesting twist, the Star's Ellen Roseman writes in her column that the reno tax credit will "be a money-maker for the federal government."

She writes that the government could gain tax revenue and a paper trail for home improvements that were previously done under-the-table. To qualify for the tax credit, homeowners must supply receipts for the work done.

She also writes that the credit is unlikely to spur major spending, saying it is unlikely to encourage new projects among people concerned about job security. Rather, she says, it will likely only speed up projects that were already planned.

On thestar.com, 62 per cent of respondents said the credit won't persuade them to fix up their home. Thirty-two per cent said it would spur home improvements.

What do you think? Will the tax credit encourage you to take on a new project? Could this become a government money-maker?

One week until I fail my resolution ...

Ever notice how New Year's resolutions, much like to-do lists, tend to get usurped by more pressing matters? Working out three times a week gets knocked away by a nasty flu bug or the desperate need to buy groceries before the store closes for the night, making you miss the last set at the gym. Getting more sleep comes in second to the latest America's Next Top Model marathon.

And, in my case, unpacking those lingering, seemingly unnecessary, boxes (updates here and here) has been trumped by (much-appreciated) extra shifts at work, visiting with family and friends and even just doing laundry and catching up on the latest Grey's drama. (Is he a ghost? Is it a tumour? Just tell me already!)

I've certainly made progress, but I am coming dangerously close to not making my self-imposed deadline. But, I won't call failure just yet. We'll wait until Saturday for that.

I have, however, decided what I want to do with the space when this is all done: nerd it out,
buy a new desk (I promise not to shop until the cleaning is done. Although, I've been eyeing something along the lines of this or this) and then enjoy my new office/guest space.

POLL: Disclosure agreements

Last week's poll asked if the builder in Bob Aaron's column should have disclosed to the purchaser that a suicide occurred in the house just before the sale closed. Under Ontario law, the builder isn't obligated to disclose the event, and so it didn't.

More than half — 54 per cent — of the readers who voted in last week's poll said they felt the builder should have told the purchaser about the incident, in which someone had broken into a property under construction and committed suicide.

Just over a third — 35 per cent — said they agreed with the builder, who did not disclose the incident to the purchaser or the real estate agent.

Eleven per cent of those who voted said they didn't know what the appropriate response in this case would be.

Unlikely inspiration?

Design mags claim that anything — from a clipping from a book or TV show to matchbooks and childhood toys — can become a source of inspiration.

My latest "AHA" moment came with a new pair of shoes. And, of course, since it is me, it's a purple pair.

They're similar to those shown at  right, but with a little more purple and black.

Looking at these paint-splattered style pumps (which I promptly tried on and purchased) had me dreaming of how I could incorporate a similar style at home.

A bedroom with a black wall, creamy white upholstered headboard and purple throw?

An office with a striking black leather chair and a fluffy white pillow set against a fab purple wall?

Or maybe a living room set up with a purple velvet sofa against a white wall, with high-gloss black side tables?

The possibilities are endless. Sadly, none of these projects are within my current budget, but a girl can dream, dream and dream some more. All while wearing fabulous shoes.

Where do you get your inspiration for your home decor?

Shopping for jeans or lamps?

For me, the question of shopping for clothing or home decor is an easy one.

I’ve been losing my clothes shopping mojo lately (though success in shoe shopping is still going strong!) after a series of run-ins with clothes that are too small, too big and just plain wrong for me left me feeling like I’m destined to wear pjs everywhere.

Home decor, on the other hand, always fits (well, unless you forget to measure and your sofa/bed/mattress/armoire doesn’t make it through your door. You should always measure).

While questions of scale still matter, odds are that gorgeous lamp — unlike that oh-so-sumptious cashmere sweater that fails to hang quite right — will find the perfect spot to shine somewhere in your home decor. Ditto for throw cushions, picture frames, vases, etc.

While zealous shopping in both cases can result in stuffed closets, lately I’m finding the search for the ideal picture frame far less soul-crushing than the quest for flattering jeans.

Hopefully the tides will turn, at least slightly, before I run out of wall space and am forced to start wearing pyjamas everywhere.

I can has Cheezburger?

With this bed, you can "has cheezburger." (If you don't get the reference, read up on I Can Has Cheezburger and Lolcats here).

This bed, called the "Hamburger Bed", even though the mattress topper is cheese, also includes an oversized bun duvet and lettuce sheet, tomato and pickle pillows and a meat patty mattress.

I can't promise comfort, but this quirky bed has been popping up all over the blogosphere, and even has its own website and fan group on Facebook.

Would you sleep on this bed? (And maybe add a french fry container dresser to polish off the look?)

Found via jars of cute.

I dream in black and pac-man...

As my box-room project slowly starts to chug along, I'm seeing more and more of the nautically-inspired blue walls, which, sadly, just don't float my boat.

So, my husband and I have been daydreaming about what we can do to create the perfect working space and guest room environment, while still remaining landlord-friendly.

My favourite idea so far is to do a black feature wall (Benjamin Moore has a totally brill shade called Black Satin) and then stick on some of these ever-so-trendy decals from Gecko (you'll find some serious eye-candy on their site, and yes, they ship to Canada!) for a fun and fresh look.

My husband and I love the 25-piece "Pac Pocket" set (pictured), due to its retro, playful vibe and the fact that we're huge video game nerds. (It even comes in purple! But Mr. Speedy is partial to the authentic yellow...)

I know this would make me smile every time I settled into the desk for a long evening of work.

At least this would let us embrace our geekiness in style? Maybe?

Time to shop for an emergency kit?

Thankfully, I was not among the thousands who lost electricity on Thursday night. But the prospect of 24 hours without power in this freezing cold has certainly made me question whether I'm prepared for such an unfortunate event — and the answer is no.

I have a handful of tealights around my apartment, and, if hard pressed, I could perhaps find some matches.

I know I own a flashlight. I have no idea where it is.

I have a feeling that's not really sufficient to keep me warm and light my way in the event of an extended power outage.

As for food and water, the pitcher in the fridge may not be enough to hold us over, and a half-eaten box of crackers is the only snack not requiring some degree of preparation currently available in my pantry.

Had I been in the east end, I would have had minimal light (unless I happened upon my elusive flashlight) and little food that didn't require preparation. Not good.

So, I'm going to take this outage as a wake-up call and finally stock a proper emergency kit, starting with proper candles, matches and snacks like granola bars. At least I already have the blankets and playing cards!

Check out tips for on surviving without electricity in our power outage primer.

Do you keep an emergency preparedness kit? What do you think a good kit should contain?

What tips do you have for staying safe (and entertained) during a blackout?

(Shutterstock image).