Poll: Electronics most worth the splurge

With the economy tanking, consumers need to be a little more cautious in their purchases. However, as Vicky Sanderson wrote last week, some products are more splurge-worthy than others. Her picks? Furniture and linens that will last forever.

Last week's poll asked Yourhomers what home products they'd be willing to splurge on in the current economy. The winner was electronics, with 23 per cent of the votes. This is not particularly surprising, considering the whole "anchoring" trend, and the miserable weather, is driving people indoors for entertainment. A few movie nights may be all it takes to decide it's time to upgrade to HDTV or Blu-ray.

Furniture came second in splurge-worthiness, with 16 per cent, and appliances close behind with 10 per cent.

Linens, at six per cent, tools with five per cent and wallpaper, with two per cent, rounded out the list.

The remaining nearly 40 per cent of voters said they wouldn't splurge on any of the listed items.

This week, the poll asks about the slightly less sexy, but more controversial, prospect of housing being included in tax harmonization. Read more about the topic in Stephen Dupuis' column. Should housing be exempt? Cast your votes on the homepage and I'll post the results next Saturday.

And, for more Saturday reading, I recommend checking out the story on Gordon Pinsent's Manhattan-style condo makeover, complete with slide show, Colin and Justin's beige and brown, but not blah, drawing room design and DecoRita's visit to West Elm.

Realtors get innovative

It seems like I'm posting a doom and gloom real estate market story almost every day. From news that the real estate boom is over to the roof caving in on housing starts, the depressing bits can get kind of overwhelming.

But, the good news is that tough times force people to innovate. And, according to a story in today's Globe, realtors are using social media to take home buying and selling to a new level.

From Twitter (you can follow me here) to Facebook, blogs, Kijiji and Craigslist, realtors are capitalizing on social networks to attract new buyers and sellers without all the traditional costs of printing cards and flyers.

I've certainly noticed this. My Twitter feed is full of realtors and interior designers, many who offer a mix of the personal and the professional in their tweets.

I've even been communicating regularly with two realtors through Twitter's direct messaging, asking questions and getting information for upcoming articles and personal use.

For consumers like me, this is a real boon. You're no longer constrained by trying to get that phone call in while they're still at the office, or stuck missing a call because you're trapped on the subway. You can send out a question on Twitter or Facebook and wait to see who replies at any time of day. You can reply to emails at midnight when you can't sleep, and sometimes you'll even get your answer back within minutes.

What do you think of this emerging real estate model? Do you think it will continue when the market rebounds?

And, for all you Friday afternoon procrastinators, read up on the latest news in Yourhome.ca's real estate section and catch up on Room for Improvement's office overhaul.

A marker for all wood tones

I, like many others, have relied on the standard black permanent marker for quick repairs.

From hiding a nick in my heel to discreetly covering up a scratch on my coffee table or a friend's leather sofa, a quick colouring job makes everything almost as good as new.

Now, Sharpie has stepped up its game with wood tone series. The Sharpie Touch-Up Permanent Marker has been advertised to "Touch up furniture, flooring, doors, cabinetry, wood trim and picture frames with a few quick strokes."

Available in light wood, medium wood and dark wood hues, you're likely to find a decent, if not perfect, match for your banged up armoire or table.

The company recommends starting with a lighter shade and moving to a darker one if required, and using a cloth immediately after colouring to remove extra ink, as allowing ink to sit longer before wiping will result in a darker colour — which may help with matching, or create an unsightly blight on grandma's dining table.

Sharpie says the markers are for use on pine, oak, cherry, walnut and mahogany surfaces.

I haven't tried it yet, but I will definitely pick up a pack when I see it in store. I may be moving in the not-too-distant future, and it never hurts to have a back up plan for all those scratches, dings and dents!

Do you use permanent markers for touch-ups, or other creative uses, at home?

Mandatory energy audits?

Under the proposed new Green Energy Act, Ontarians won't be able to sell their homes or condos without first getting an energy audit, which costs roughly $300. Audits should still qualify for the up to $150 subsidy under the Green Energy Act.

The legislation won't require sellers to take any action on the audit results, it's merely intended to inform potential buyers of the property's energy efficiency, and create some more jobs in the energy auditing field.

As the proposal is being debated and fine-tuned, Energy Minister George Smitherman has also hinted that buyers may end up footing the audit bill.

As a prospective buyer, and someone with a bit of a green tilt, I think mandatory audits, regardless of who pays for them, would be a great move. I'd prefer to have a picture of my energy costs and know what work would need to be done to cut my bills before making an offer on a property.

But critics, and there are many, share a different view. They argue the audits are just a thinly disguised new tax in an already overtaxed industry, and that this measure would further drive down prices at a time when many homeowners are already feeling squeezed.

What do you think? Is this a positive step in a green direction, or another stress on the real estate market? Or is it both?

Read more on this topic:
Green audits have critics seeing red
Home sellers face $300 'green audit

More Toronto design blogs I love

In January, I shared one of the newest Toronto-based additions to my Google blog reader: KitKa design toronto. Of course, I still check in on them every single day (check out this super cool product to solve the icky dishcloth over the sink dilemma. I'm totally buying one as soon as they get a Canadian distributor), but they're not the only blog on my daily, must-read list.

Of course, being in the media, I follow a lot of websites, blogs and magazines. But, to keep this post at least somewhat short and snappy, here are three more of my favourite Toronto-based bloggers:

Arren Williams, who you've likely seen in the National Post or on CityLine, has a delightful daily blog filled with fab products, projects and photos. He also has been doing some serious home renovations, and is nice enough to share his progress and design inspiration with the blogosphere.

YDF (which means Your Designer Friend), is written by Melissa Davis. She has 13 years experience designing commercial, hospitality, residential and retail interiors, and uses her blog to share resources, inspirations and photos of gorgeous homes. I was recently hooked after reading how she uses Ikea products in projects, sprucing them up with fabulous (and pricier) accessories.

Lisa Canning, who some of you may know from the first season of HGTV's Marriage Under Construction, also maintains a blog sharing finished projects and cool products. While not updated daily (she's getting ready to move and is expecting a baby, so she deserves a break!), it's still definitely worth checking! Yesterday, she featured how to get the look from the interiors in He's Just Not That Into You, even if you're not the type to wait by the phone!

So, that's some of the blogs that I can't start my day without checking. What about you? What blogs can't you do without?

And, if you're looking for further reading on Yourhome today, check out the fabulous custom sinks Vicky Sanderson found, how to stream iPod videos on your TV and learn about the Green Energy Act, which proposes sellers need to do a home energy audit before selling their home or condo.

Gadgets and the geeks who love them

Electronics are quickly becoming the cornerstone of our homes. From flat-panel TVs hung as the focal point in the living room, enormous home theatre set-ups and universal remotes to monitors checking your power consumption and scheduling when your lights turn off and on, today's home relies heavily on technology.

It's very true for my own home. I use the PS3 and Xbox 360 to stream videos from our desktop, our Wii as a replacement for a traditional scale and Mr. Speedy's iPod touch to play vids from the iTunes store in full size. Add in actually playing the video games, the DVD, tape, VHS, CD and record players, and I spend most of my time planted in front of our home entertainment centre. Without it, I don't know how I'd pass these miserable Toronto winters!

Thankfully, with all this reliance on technology, companies are also stepping up to make products that complement your home decor. Brack Electronics makes a beautiful iPod dock, Tivoli has stunning radios, there are scores of TVs on the market that could double as art and my Apple desktop truly is a thing of beauty. I could go on and on with the drool-worthy design rolled out by electronics manufacturers over the past few years.

As you can probably tell, I love my gadgets. So I'm happy to announce a new column all about having fun with your home electronics, called Play@Home. This week, we learn how to make your iPod and TV play nice. Stay tuned as JD Speedy tackles a new home entertainment topic every second week!

And, if all those cables, buttons and functions are just too much to handle, Rob Wright helps solve your electronic problems in Your Wired Home.

A money-back guarantee incentive to buy?

Nearly 60 per cent of Yourhomers say a money-back guarantee wouldn't spur them to buy in this grim economic climate.

The deal from the Brownstone Group of Companies offers prospective buyers their money back, plus interest, if they lose their jobs.

Fifty-nine per cent of the respondents in last week's poll said this offer wouldn't be enough to sway their opinions on the market, while nine per cent said they didn't know.

About a third (32 per cent) of those who voted said the offer would tempt them to open their wallets.

This week, we ask about splurging and saving. With the current economic gloom and doom, are there any home products that you'd be willing to splurge on? If so, what are they? Read Vicky Sanderson's tips on when to splurge and when to save, then cast your ballot.

I'll pass on the results next Saturday, and let you know what's at the top of my list!

And, for some Saturday morning reading, I recommend Colin and Justin's latest bedroom makeover and Sonia Day's tips for bringing spring inside by forcing branches.

Pimp my shelf

Today, I'm daydreaming about pimping my shelf. An Ikea EXPEDIT bookcase, to be precise. And not in the whole bling and lowering kits kind of way.

Blogger Kim Vallee posted earlier today about Ikea hacks, and my imagination has been running wild ever since.

Kim featured a shelf hack from the Netherlands-based the Yvestown blog, where Yvonne Eikkendujin pinned wallpaper on the back of her EXPEDIT shelf for a fun and colourful backdrop along with an idea from Super*Junk, who put coloured paper on some of the cubes and lit them from the inside.

I'm inspired to try this lighting idea myself, as it transforms the bookcase from a (relatively) sturdy storage solution to the perfect display for cherished swag. Maybe I'll even add some cool shots of colour in a bold, graphic wallpaper?

Inspired, I then surfed on over to Ikea hacker, where there are a million more ways to transform your ho-hum purchases from the yellow and blue into stunning centrepieces, including a super cool, and colourful, transformation of an EXPEDIT shelf into a vinyl station.

I foresee many a project in Mr. Speedy's future — now I just need to decide where to start!

Have you, successfully or not, hacked any Ikea furniture? Comment below or email me to share your projects and photos. I'll post any responses next week.

For more creative uses of Ikea goods, check out Colin and Justin's sleek and sexy kitchen makeover

Let your imagination soar ...

OK, I admit, it's a weak title. But, it's hard not to have your head in the clouds (I promise, that will be my last lame pun for this post!) when you're admiring a desk created by up-cycling an airplane wing.

This desk is created by Reestore, which takes "everyday waste objects and cheekily turn[s] them into charming yet functional pieces of furniture and accessories."

"Deborah" was created by adding stainless steel legs and toughened glass to an aluminum airplane wing.

It would certainly make a statement in any office!

According to Inhabitat, the piece was originally created as a custom piece for entrepreneur Theo Pahphitis, known for his role in the UK's Dragons' Den.

Reestore is now making them to order, so you can have your own Deborah for £2800, which converts to slightly more than $5,000.

Reestore offers other eco-cool products, too, including Max, a bathtub turned chaise, and Annie, a shopping trolley turned chair.

Check out more quirky products in Vicky Sanderson's Conversation Piece column.

Have a cuppa with ... ants?

"Aw," "cute," and "oooh" are my normal reactions while browsing the fabulous jars of cute blog, whose motto is "stylish cute things bottled daily."

But one of today's goodies was met with a sharp inhale and an "Ewww."

The "Ants on my ..." series, by New York-based Bailey doesn't bark, while appropriately quirky and perfectly crafted, just makes me feel crawly.

Founder Re Jin Lee individually hand painted these tiny ants then transferred them on to decal paper to create the pretty, but creepy crawly, spoons, creamers and the cup and saucer, shown.

There's also an even more disturbing (but still oddly beautiful) "roaches on my cup and saucer" variety.

Perhaps it's still lingering discomfort from an enormous spider jumping into my hair while I was brushing my teeth Monday night (I've been warily peering into corners ever since), but I don't think I'd be able to enjoy my afternoon cuppa in this mug.

I would, however, enjoy serving it to guests and watching their reaction.

Would you use this cup and saucer set?