GOLDILOCKS KNOWS WHAT SHE LIKES...
What women really, really want in a house
Luxury is OK, closets are good, but neighbourhood is best of all
By Joanne Lauciu
Ottawa Citizen
Canwest News Service
October 24, 2009
When my husband and I finished our new home, we held a party. I was proud of all the practical and luxurious touches I managed to squeeze in on our limited budget--the kitchen island with its own sink, the maple floors, the cast-iron tub and a pair of linen closets upstairs.
But cast-iron tubs and linen closets held little interest for guests of the male variety. One marched right through the kitchen without a glance and asked to see the basement.
If you're a woman, feel free to jump in and tell your own decorating story.
Women are all about the narrative, even when it comes to their feelings about their spaces.
Take the Heineken commercial that shows a pair of women swooning over a walk-in closet. There's cheering from the other side of the room as the men discover another closet that has been converted into a beer fridge.
Or the Ikea commercial about Trevor and Anne, who have achieved marital harmony thanks to Swedish closet organization ingenuity. Trevor is smiling, too, because Anne's 37 pairs of shoes are no longer falling on his head. It's unclear whether Anne has succeeded in training Trevor to scoop his stuff off the floor and into the storage cubbies.
A built-in beer fridge in the bedroom might thrill a man, but it's not going to sell a house to a woman. And just like the bumper sticker says: "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."
Men might still make more money, but when it comes to home buying, it's what appeals to women that clinches the sale.
"Men aren't motivated to buy homes that don't make their wives happy," says Bridget Brennan, the CEO of Female Factor, a company that develops sales strategies to appeal to women.
Most households are two-income families. And while women used to have informal purchasing power in the past, now that they make their own incomes, the effect is a one-two punch, says Brennan, also the author of Why She Buys.
Women tend to spearhead the home-search process after crunching the numbers, says Brennan. "When you make the women happy, you make the men happy."
Besides, when half of all marriages end in divorce and growing numbers of women are buying homes without men, the female mentality is something builders can't afford to ignore.
Last month, Ottawa-based developers Tartan and Tamarack hosted "Ladies Day"--an event that included cooking demonstrations, cake decorating, decorating seminars and complimentary manicures.
"Cars lined up around the block and people started arriving around 11:15 a.m. for our noon opening," says Tamarack's sales manager Debi Champagne.
These events give women a chance to network, gather ideas and visualize life in a different place, says Champagne.
It's all about the narrative -- something Ikea understands very well when it arranges furniture to form vignettes in its stores or runs a commercial about Anne and Trevor's organizational bliss.
"Storytelling is one of the most powerful techniques for creating an emotional connection with women," says Brennan.
Design firm Unique Spaces decorated Tartan's fancy single home, the Whitney, shown during ladies day. Co-owner Kelly Maiorano says the number one question asked was about paint colours.
"Women definitely notice the finer details, accessories, art, draperies, furnishings and colour," says Maiorano. "Men seem to be more interested in the construction details, and they always love the home electronic upgrades."
Women are also keenly aware of the practicalities, Brennan says. They want clear sight lines into the backyard and the family room so they can watch the children play or do their homework while Mom cooks and sorts out a crisis at work via BlackBerry.
"The search process is exciting. Women are all about imagining the possibilities of their new life."
While a spacious foyer might have a lot of design impact, women will notice if it doesn't have a closet, says Brennan.
"They know how their family is going to function. They are looking at the flow."
Women can be turned off by poor access to the backyard, and a lack of a decent mud room, adds Mary Taggart, editor-in-chief of Ottawa at Home magazine, who has decorated numerous homes for Tamarack.
"One aspect that was really important to me when building our new home was having direct access to the backyard from the kitchen. Incorporating that second cooking area was crucial and for people with smaller children, it is very appealing to be able to work in the kitchen and still watch your children playing outside."
The Canada Trust women and home ownership poll, released last March, concluded that women who independently buy a home are most interested in cost, neighbourhood and location and safety and security. Surprisingly, proximity to work and family was lower on the list.
Women looking at homes are buying into the whole neighbourhood, says Brennan.
"Women aren't just looking at the home. They're buying into the whole community--the schools, the stores, the restaurants. You don't live in a vacuum."
About 43 per cent of the female homeowners in the Canada Trust poll said financial security was the best thing about home ownership, followed by having a backyard and a quiet and private space for themselves.
That can range from a cosy sitting area in the master bedroom to a luxurious ensuite bathroom, says Brennan.
For Taggart, that private space was a home office on the main floor with custom storage.
Her four children, who range from 12 to 22 in age, rarely enter her office and the television is small and hidden.
"It offers little entertainment value for the kids, but has lots of appeal to me," she says.
"I need to have some personal space. Our life is busy and our home is busy with four children and two dogs. There are times when I just need to retreat."
Taggart's office is decorated with velvet, paisley and family photos. It has a much more traditional feeling to it than the rest of the house, which has a contemporary style.
"I did it this way as I wanted to feel comfortable in the space and wanted to be able to personalize the space with photographs and samples of my work," she says.
"The space is much more a reflection of me personally than the rest of the house, which is more a reflection of my decorating style."
---------
CHECKLIST
It's a smart builder who knows what to promote when appealing to women buyers. Three experts share their top six deal clinchers for warming a woman's heart.
1. Cooking power: In the kitchen, pantries are big, says Mary Taggart, editor-in-chief of Ottawa at Home magazine.
"Luxury finishes are big, too, granite countertops, even if it is just done on the island," she says. "In my kitchen, having two ovens was a must. I love to entertain and am the one who wants to cook every holiday meal, so incorporating the extra cooking space was essential."
2. Sweet spas: Men see bathrooms as simply functional. Women want gorgeous bathtubs and a spa-like environment, says Taggart. "A bathroom is so much more of a retreat for women."
Luxurious finishes are appealing to women, but so are the small details. At a recent 'Ladies Day' event, decorator Kelly Maoirino got lots of enthusiasm over a small chandelier in an ensuite bathroom.
3. Mandatory options: Choosing options and upgrades is one of the most exciting aspects of home buying for women.
Builders who leave a bunch of samples lying around on a table in the garage of the model home are missing out on an important part of the buying experience, says marketing consultant Bridget Brennan.
4. Storage, storage, storage: In a bulk-buying world, women want to be sure there will be a place to stow the 28-roll package of toilet paper. "People are paying to outsource storage. That tells us that people are willing to pay for storage," says Brennan.
5. Security plus: Women want features that make them feel safe. That includes good street lighting and lighting around the entrance-way of the house.
6. Colour plus: Women have more confidence with colour than men. Brennan notes that the U.S. home-building giant Ryland embraces personalization to attract female buyers. Instead of offering three colours in a 100-house development, the company now typically offers nine to 15.
"Women see colour differently than men, but colour is a very personal thing, not necessarily a gender thing," adds Taggart.
"I do think women seek to personalize space with greater zest than men. Women will go to much greater effort to make a space stand out and showcase their personal taste with more strength than a man might."
Luxury is OK, closets are good, but neighbourhood is best of all
By Joanne Lauciu
Ottawa Citizen
Canwest News Service
October 24, 2009
When my husband and I finished our new home, we held a party. I was proud of all the practical and luxurious touches I managed to squeeze in on our limited budget--the kitchen island with its own sink, the maple floors, the cast-iron tub and a pair of linen closets upstairs.
But cast-iron tubs and linen closets held little interest for guests of the male variety. One marched right through the kitchen without a glance and asked to see the basement.
If you're a woman, feel free to jump in and tell your own decorating story.
Women are all about the narrative, even when it comes to their feelings about their spaces.
Take the Heineken commercial that shows a pair of women swooning over a walk-in closet. There's cheering from the other side of the room as the men discover another closet that has been converted into a beer fridge.
Or the Ikea commercial about Trevor and Anne, who have achieved marital harmony thanks to Swedish closet organization ingenuity. Trevor is smiling, too, because Anne's 37 pairs of shoes are no longer falling on his head. It's unclear whether Anne has succeeded in training Trevor to scoop his stuff off the floor and into the storage cubbies.
A built-in beer fridge in the bedroom might thrill a man, but it's not going to sell a house to a woman. And just like the bumper sticker says: "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."
Men might still make more money, but when it comes to home buying, it's what appeals to women that clinches the sale.
"Men aren't motivated to buy homes that don't make their wives happy," says Bridget Brennan, the CEO of Female Factor, a company that develops sales strategies to appeal to women.
Most households are two-income families. And while women used to have informal purchasing power in the past, now that they make their own incomes, the effect is a one-two punch, says Brennan, also the author of Why She Buys.
Women tend to spearhead the home-search process after crunching the numbers, says Brennan. "When you make the women happy, you make the men happy."
Besides, when half of all marriages end in divorce and growing numbers of women are buying homes without men, the female mentality is something builders can't afford to ignore.
Last month, Ottawa-based developers Tartan and Tamarack hosted "Ladies Day"--an event that included cooking demonstrations, cake decorating, decorating seminars and complimentary manicures.
"Cars lined up around the block and people started arriving around 11:15 a.m. for our noon opening," says Tamarack's sales manager Debi Champagne.
These events give women a chance to network, gather ideas and visualize life in a different place, says Champagne.
It's all about the narrative -- something Ikea understands very well when it arranges furniture to form vignettes in its stores or runs a commercial about Anne and Trevor's organizational bliss.
"Storytelling is one of the most powerful techniques for creating an emotional connection with women," says Brennan.
Design firm Unique Spaces decorated Tartan's fancy single home, the Whitney, shown during ladies day. Co-owner Kelly Maiorano says the number one question asked was about paint colours.
"Women definitely notice the finer details, accessories, art, draperies, furnishings and colour," says Maiorano. "Men seem to be more interested in the construction details, and they always love the home electronic upgrades."
Women are also keenly aware of the practicalities, Brennan says. They want clear sight lines into the backyard and the family room so they can watch the children play or do their homework while Mom cooks and sorts out a crisis at work via BlackBerry.
"The search process is exciting. Women are all about imagining the possibilities of their new life."
While a spacious foyer might have a lot of design impact, women will notice if it doesn't have a closet, says Brennan.
"They know how their family is going to function. They are looking at the flow."
Women can be turned off by poor access to the backyard, and a lack of a decent mud room, adds Mary Taggart, editor-in-chief of Ottawa at Home magazine, who has decorated numerous homes for Tamarack.
"One aspect that was really important to me when building our new home was having direct access to the backyard from the kitchen. Incorporating that second cooking area was crucial and for people with smaller children, it is very appealing to be able to work in the kitchen and still watch your children playing outside."
The Canada Trust women and home ownership poll, released last March, concluded that women who independently buy a home are most interested in cost, neighbourhood and location and safety and security. Surprisingly, proximity to work and family was lower on the list.
Women looking at homes are buying into the whole neighbourhood, says Brennan.
"Women aren't just looking at the home. They're buying into the whole community--the schools, the stores, the restaurants. You don't live in a vacuum."
About 43 per cent of the female homeowners in the Canada Trust poll said financial security was the best thing about home ownership, followed by having a backyard and a quiet and private space for themselves.
That can range from a cosy sitting area in the master bedroom to a luxurious ensuite bathroom, says Brennan.
For Taggart, that private space was a home office on the main floor with custom storage.
Her four children, who range from 12 to 22 in age, rarely enter her office and the television is small and hidden.
"It offers little entertainment value for the kids, but has lots of appeal to me," she says.
"I need to have some personal space. Our life is busy and our home is busy with four children and two dogs. There are times when I just need to retreat."
Taggart's office is decorated with velvet, paisley and family photos. It has a much more traditional feeling to it than the rest of the house, which has a contemporary style.
"I did it this way as I wanted to feel comfortable in the space and wanted to be able to personalize the space with photographs and samples of my work," she says.
"The space is much more a reflection of me personally than the rest of the house, which is more a reflection of my decorating style."
---------
CHECKLIST
It's a smart builder who knows what to promote when appealing to women buyers. Three experts share their top six deal clinchers for warming a woman's heart.
1. Cooking power: In the kitchen, pantries are big, says Mary Taggart, editor-in-chief of Ottawa at Home magazine.
"Luxury finishes are big, too, granite countertops, even if it is just done on the island," she says. "In my kitchen, having two ovens was a must. I love to entertain and am the one who wants to cook every holiday meal, so incorporating the extra cooking space was essential."
2. Sweet spas: Men see bathrooms as simply functional. Women want gorgeous bathtubs and a spa-like environment, says Taggart. "A bathroom is so much more of a retreat for women."
Luxurious finishes are appealing to women, but so are the small details. At a recent 'Ladies Day' event, decorator Kelly Maoirino got lots of enthusiasm over a small chandelier in an ensuite bathroom.
3. Mandatory options: Choosing options and upgrades is one of the most exciting aspects of home buying for women.
Builders who leave a bunch of samples lying around on a table in the garage of the model home are missing out on an important part of the buying experience, says marketing consultant Bridget Brennan.
4. Storage, storage, storage: In a bulk-buying world, women want to be sure there will be a place to stow the 28-roll package of toilet paper. "People are paying to outsource storage. That tells us that people are willing to pay for storage," says Brennan.
5. Security plus: Women want features that make them feel safe. That includes good street lighting and lighting around the entrance-way of the house.
6. Colour plus: Women have more confidence with colour than men. Brennan notes that the U.S. home-building giant Ryland embraces personalization to attract female buyers. Instead of offering three colours in a 100-house development, the company now typically offers nine to 15.
"Women see colour differently than men, but colour is a very personal thing, not necessarily a gender thing," adds Taggart.
"I do think women seek to personalize space with greater zest than men. Women will go to much greater effort to make a space stand out and showcase their personal taste with more strength than a man might."
Decorating For Little Boys
boys love sports of all kinds, and this makes for an easy decorating idea to use in their bedrooms. Some boys prefer one type of sport over another others just love any kind of sports. decorating their bedroom with a sports related very happy!
room will depend choose to do your redecorating project. cases, once a boy reaches about decorating his room with sports related accents and accessories because redecorated again for 10-15 years.
decorating the room for loves a particular sport, then try to go with that as your primary theme.
If he loves football for example, creating a football decorating bedroom.prefers basketball, course want to decorate in that theme instead.fairly young though, favorite sport. then the safest move is to sprinkle a little bit of a few common ones into the theme.
Here are some simple, easy ways to turn nicely decorated bedroom with sports as the primary theme:
simply buying extra pillows shaped as footballs, soccer balls, and basketballs gamut and get him and entire bedding set complete with sheets, comforter bedding sets come with multiple sports plenty which are sport specific too.
bedroom into a sports themed area is to simply put down an area floor rug look like a basketball court for instance, and others which look like miniature football or soccer fields too.
Buying new table lamps, floor lamps with sports related themes is quite easy to do, because these are very popular with grown boys. Alternatively lampshades to put on the existing lamps e room.
decorating love having sports related decals and stickers all around his room. place using simple cling decals that sports related wall border in place specific sport or athlete though, then another excellent way to decorate his room is by hanging up photos or posters.
decorating the room for loves a particular sport, then try to go with that as your primary theme.
If he loves football for example, creating a football decorating bedroom.prefers basketball, course want to decorate in that theme instead.fairly young though, favorite sport. then the safest move is to sprinkle a little bit of a few common ones into the theme.
Here are some simple, easy ways to turn nicely decorated bedroom with sports as the primary theme:
simply buying extra pillows shaped as footballs, soccer balls, and basketballs gamut and get him and entire bedding set complete with sheets, comforter bedding sets come with multiple sports plenty which are sport specific too.
bedroom into a sports themed area is to simply put down an area floor rug look like a basketball court for instance, and others which look like miniature football or soccer fields too.
Buying new table lamps, floor lamps with sports related themes is quite easy to do, because these are very popular with grown boys. Alternatively lampshades to put on the existing lamps e room.
decorating love having sports related decals and stickers all around his room. place using simple cling decals that sports related wall border in place specific sport or athlete though, then another excellent way to decorate his room is by hanging up photos or posters.
Bedroom Design Ideas
bedroom, wanted to just crawl back in and pull the blankets back not alone. common for most of us to constantly want to decorate and design favorite living spaces and bedrooms place we want to re-design the most.
redesign the bedroom is probably because the bedroom morning when we wake up, and the last thing we see each night too. become tired seeing decide we want a new design style, or we get sick of seeing a certain color, or maybe we decide around way too long.
start dreaming of new bedroom design styles themes. Planning wonderful stylish changes we could make. Then we remember: Creating bedroom cheap. When this thought though, take heart. Sprucing bedroom design style fortune. heap and easy things reinvigorate your own bedroom design.
quickest, easiest, and least expensive ways bedroom is to simply change the walls. paint, try a new color. major change, take a look at covering the entire wall with wallpaper. changes try putting a new coat of paint in place and then adding a wallpaper border instead.
painting designs on the wall, using stencils or geometric shapes. walls in the picture at the left painted with different colored stripes.
bedroom, change the entire look of the room changing what you have on your bed. Putting pretty pillows in place makes a dramatic and immediate difference inexpensive to buy a few pillows that compliment each other in either style or color.
bed comforter or duvet cover is another style of your bedroom. color like the one shown in the photo, bedroom’s new color scheme and design style.
greatest things about decorating the interior windows is that there lacy fabric artfully over a stylish curtain fledged designer curtain system. The interior house windows look their best designed as room accents though, experiment with different ways windows in the bedroom. surprised at how stylish the final results look.
redesign the bedroom is probably because the bedroom morning when we wake up, and the last thing we see each night too. become tired seeing decide we want a new design style, or we get sick of seeing a certain color, or maybe we decide around way too long.
start dreaming of new bedroom design styles themes. Planning wonderful stylish changes we could make. Then we remember: Creating bedroom cheap. When this thought though, take heart. Sprucing bedroom design style fortune. heap and easy things reinvigorate your own bedroom design.
quickest, easiest, and least expensive ways bedroom is to simply change the walls. paint, try a new color. major change, take a look at covering the entire wall with wallpaper. changes try putting a new coat of paint in place and then adding a wallpaper border instead.
painting designs on the wall, using stencils or geometric shapes. walls in the picture at the left painted with different colored stripes.
bed comforter or duvet cover is another style of your bedroom. color like the one shown in the photo, bedroom’s new color scheme and design style.
greatest things about decorating the interior windows is that there lacy fabric artfully over a stylish curtain fledged designer curtain system. The interior house windows look their best designed as room accents though, experiment with different ways windows in the bedroom. surprised at how stylish the final results look.
Home Design Ideas
Have you ever woken up in the morning, looked around your bedroom crawl back in and pull the blankets back common for most of us to constantly want to decorate and design our favorite living spaces and bedrooms seem to be the place we
bedroom is probably because the bedroom last thing we see each night too. become tired of it or find it boring after seeing design style, or we get sick of seeing a certain color, around way too long.dreaming of new bedroom design styles and themes. Planning in our minds wonderful stylish changes we could make. remember: Creating bedroom always heart. Sprucing bedroom design style cheap and easy things you can do to reinvigorate your own bedroom quickest, easiest, and least expensive ways to update bedroom is to simply change the change, take a look at covering the entire wall with wallpaper. putting a new coat of paint in place and then adding a wallpaper border instead.
Home Decor Windows
Home Decor Windows, you can get a lot of scope to experiment with the designs of the home decor windows select a design for this home decor windows way that it reflects the personality of its occupants.
home decor windowslooking for a sober lively atmosphere in your home decor windows colors like light
Interior Design Tips for Small Space
Interior Design Tips for Small Space
Furniture on wheels is easy to move out of they way or use in another room.
Keep your furniture away from the walls even in small spaces.
Find creative ways to divide spaces. Dining Room
Don't skimp on light fixtures. They finish a room, draw your eye up and make a room feellarger. dining room living room
Buy the right sized furniture for the space. Not too big not to small, just right. Accessoaries
Keep accessories neat and organized and if you rent remember that when you design with accessories you can take them with you when you go.General Interior Design and Decotation Tips
If you just bought a new house and will start decorating, keep the walls simple and majority of the walls plain especially if you are the typical Filipino who keeps accumulating things over the years and can't throw away anything because of sentimental reasons. So that when you move in your furniture, wall decors and accessories, the rooms will not look cluttered.
● It is also a good idea to put gravel near windows so you (or your dog) can hear if somebody is trying to peek inside.
● Lights are deterrent to thieves. Light your house exterior more than the inside of your house when going to bed.
● In designing, the overall look of your home is paramount. From your furniture, wall colors, to lighting fixtures, everything should be proportional, balanced and harmonious. A small and delicately carved side table may be beautiful as a piece of f urniture but it may not blend well next to a bulky and oversized living room set. Always consider other elements in a room when choosing your furniture, drapes, etc. Ask yourself it is the right size & scale, color and style. If the answer is yes, go ahead and trust your instincts.
images: homedecoratingideas4all
● Your home should reflect your personality. You can hire an interior designer or decorator, but in the end it should be you and your family's character that should reflect in your home. Go along only with suggestions that is pleasing to you. Remember that a beautiful home is a home that is beautiful to it's owner.
● If you are buying new furniture, measure your room and the furniture. Scale the room & furniture on cutout newspaper: 1 feet = 1 inch and see if the furniture are proportionate to the room. Make sure there are ample spaces to walk around your furniture.
● Feel free to mix and match different styles of stuff, like contemporary furniture with oriental pieces. Just don't over do it. Make sure they blend together.
● One way to beautify a room even if the walls are plain white is by putting moldings or cornice on the ceiling edge and baseboards.
● If you want to make a room look bigger, use mirrors. they give you an illusion of more space. Colors too affect the illusion of space. A monochromatic color scheme (one/similar color with different shades) like off whites, cream & beige will give you an appearance of more space while warm colors like red and yellow will give an impression of a smaller space. On the other hand cool colors like blue and green will give an openness appearance.
● When choosing a new color for a wall, paint a section of the wall and observe it for a few days at different times. It is a good idea to paint one shade lighter than your sample swatch. Almost always, the color on your sample will look brighter on a big wall than on a small swatch.
● Don't use gloss paint on ceilings, they will show imperfections specially at night when you open the lights.
● It is advised that you don't use strong colors on areas that you frequently use. But you can be more daring with colors on hallways and staircases where you just pass by and don't really stay as often like your bedroom.
● Install your picture frames on eye level, putting them high on the wall makes your ceiling seem lower. Aside from the fact that people will have to gaze up to look at your picture.
● If your floor is made of concrete, tiles or any stone material, put area rugs to make your room cozy and rotate your rug /carpet once in a while to even out the wear and tear.
● Use inexpensive garden pots as indoor planter by painting and decorating them.
● Your garden affects a great deal in beautifying your home but be cautious with big plants, shrubs and trees. They can be hiding places for burglars.
● It is also a good idea to put gravel near windows so you (or your dog) can hear if somebody is trying to peek inside.
● Lights are deterrent to thieves. Light your house exterior more than the inside of your house when going to bed.
● In designing, the overall look of your home is paramount. From your furniture, wall colors, to lighting fixtures, everything should be proportional, balanced and harmonious. A small and delicately carved side table may be beautiful as a piece of f urniture but it may not blend well next to a bulky and oversized living room set. Always consider other elements in a room when choosing your furniture, drapes, etc. Ask yourself it is the right size & scale, color and style. If the answer is yes, go ahead and trust your instincts.
images: homedecoratingideas4allGROWTH IN 2010
Alberta's economy to rebound, grow by 3.1% in 2010: Scotiabank
By Mario Toneguzzi
Calgary Herald
October 22, 2009
CALGARY - Alberta's economic recovery in 2010 will be bolstered by continued price appreciation for commodities, strengthening non-residential construction and buoyant infrastructure investments.
In a report released today, Scotiabank said the province will likely see a 3.1 per cent growth in GDP in 2010 following a 2.5 per cent loss this year during the economic recession.
The report said fixed capital investment amounts to almost 30 per cent of Alberta's GDP.
"Though the capital project base eroded considerably over the past year, a turnaround is already underway," said the report. "Lower construction costs, combined with favourable lending rates have put a number of projects back on track. The province has seen a multitude of oil and gas mergers and acquisitions — leading most jurisdictions in 2009 year-to-date — that have consolidated the industry and a number of projects.
"This trend is expected to continue into next year as foreign interest increases. A number of high profile energy projects will be gaining momentum going into 2010."
The report also said that housing construction has picked up in recent months, though the overall level of activity remains well short of activity in recent years.
"Crude oil exports should post a large rebound in 2010 as production increases and prices appreciate. However, a strong Canadian dollar will temper earnings," said Scotiabank. "While environmental concerns over the oilsands remain a top concern, an increase in public and private spending for carbon-capture sequestration projects is a positive sign.
"The province’s natural gas industry will likely experience a more difficult year as prices—though higher—are expected to hover around break-even levels for most of the province’s producers. The industry will be pressured by burgeoning shale plays in the United States and British Columbia and the province’s royalty and incentive frameworks will remain key issues."
Scotiabank also said manufacturing should rebound and the petrochemical industry has started to stabilize. Food manufacturers should also see some growth.
"The once overheated labour market is cooling down, but hours are being cut as opposed to widespread layoffs. Employment should improve next year with a service sector rebound and a modest recovery in drilling activity. Retail sales will likely show modest gains after a significant drop this year, as housing prices have stabilized and inflation pressures have moderated for the first time in years."
By Mario Toneguzzi
Calgary Herald
October 22, 2009
CALGARY - Alberta's economic recovery in 2010 will be bolstered by continued price appreciation for commodities, strengthening non-residential construction and buoyant infrastructure investments.
In a report released today, Scotiabank said the province will likely see a 3.1 per cent growth in GDP in 2010 following a 2.5 per cent loss this year during the economic recession.
The report said fixed capital investment amounts to almost 30 per cent of Alberta's GDP.
"Though the capital project base eroded considerably over the past year, a turnaround is already underway," said the report. "Lower construction costs, combined with favourable lending rates have put a number of projects back on track. The province has seen a multitude of oil and gas mergers and acquisitions — leading most jurisdictions in 2009 year-to-date — that have consolidated the industry and a number of projects.
"This trend is expected to continue into next year as foreign interest increases. A number of high profile energy projects will be gaining momentum going into 2010."
The report also said that housing construction has picked up in recent months, though the overall level of activity remains well short of activity in recent years.
"Crude oil exports should post a large rebound in 2010 as production increases and prices appreciate. However, a strong Canadian dollar will temper earnings," said Scotiabank. "While environmental concerns over the oilsands remain a top concern, an increase in public and private spending for carbon-capture sequestration projects is a positive sign.
"The province’s natural gas industry will likely experience a more difficult year as prices—though higher—are expected to hover around break-even levels for most of the province’s producers. The industry will be pressured by burgeoning shale plays in the United States and British Columbia and the province’s royalty and incentive frameworks will remain key issues."
Scotiabank also said manufacturing should rebound and the petrochemical industry has started to stabilize. Food manufacturers should also see some growth.
"The once overheated labour market is cooling down, but hours are being cut as opposed to widespread layoffs. Employment should improve next year with a service sector rebound and a modest recovery in drilling activity. Retail sales will likely show modest gains after a significant drop this year, as housing prices have stabilized and inflation pressures have moderated for the first time in years."
Interior and Exterior Doors
home needs always the ultimate touch. Oikos Tekno collection exterior doors just brings that. These doors are high performance armored doors which would provide family with peace of mind and a good night sleep. being safe and secure are very colorful and fashionable too. The entire doors is a mixture of special glass, steel and aluminum.
Hollywood Actress Home Decoration
Looking at homes of celebrities will always leave one in awe. American actress famous Hollywood actresses, this house shown below belongs intricately designed by her. Looking at the design apart from being an excellent actress. This house is located in Townhouse tastes in interiors and designs reflect in the way she has got the decor of her house done.
Julianne Moore Luxury Apartment Study Room Design
Julianne Moore Luxury Apartment Passageway Design
Julianne Moore Luxury Apartment Bathroom Design
Julianne Moore Luxury Apartment Bed Room Design
Julianne Moore Luxury Apartment Kitchen Design
Julianne Moore Luxury Apartment Study Room Design
Julianne Moore Luxury Apartment Passageway Design
Julianne Moore Luxury Apartment Bathroom Design
Julianne Moore Luxury Apartment Bed Room Design
Julianne Moore Luxury Apartment Kitchen Design
Roof Top Beach House
house is an example of a one with simple design but yet the most expensive interiors.exteriors you would realize it has very simple shapes smart features like rooftop garden, swimming pool visibility the part of the house, the materials superior quality. From the first floor there is easy access to the outdoor spaces like kitchen, living room and roof top. The house facing side of the house made entirely of glass. This design is by Original Vision designers.
Attractive Designer Bedrooms
bedroom designs from various well knows designers and manufacturers of bedroom furniture. The idea is to display various designs from various designers what type of designer would you want to choose for designing your bedroom. inspirational and beautiful bedroom designs which could interest you in making or designing bedroom. designers across the united states and if you are interested in any special design
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Wall Paintings
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Water Tub
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Purple Feminine Touch
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Soft Fresh And Classic Look
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Modern Lighting
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Orintal Flavour
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Wall Paintings
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Water Tub
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Purple Feminine Touch
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Soft Fresh And Classic Look
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Modern Lighting
Attractive Designer Bedroom With Orintal Flavour
Walnut Bathroom Furniture
charming bathroom furniture collections could entirely furnish your bathroom with this collection, because it includes all items of bathroom design. bathroom set is fashionable combination of pure white and wooden elements. solution makes a very contemporary natural and calm look. The cabinets of the collection different finishes. Glossy or matt lacquered cabinet, which consist of several sections, perfectly fits to walnut colour washstand with rounded corners storage necessary bathroom things.
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