READING THE SIGNS

Alberta housing market most affordable in Canada: RBC
Resale activity picking up in Calgary
By Mario Toneguzzi
Calgary Herald May 29, 2012

CALGARY — Housing market activity in Alberta is showing increasing signs of strength as it benefits from attractive affordability and nation-leading economic growth, according to the latest Housing Trends and Affordability Report released Tuesday by RBC Economics.

RBC’s housing affordability measures for Alberta, which capture the province’s proportion of pre-tax household income needed to service the costs of owning a home at market value, remained among the lowest, if not the lowest, in the country in the first quarter of this year.

And RBC said the “long-awaited resurgence” of the Calgary-housing market appears to have been launched in recent months as home resales advanced by a “sizable” 7.4 per cent in the first quarter relative to the fourth quarter of last year, and April activity showed even greater strength.

In fact, Calgary bucked the national trend and showed improved affordability in the first quarter.

“Homebuyers in the Calgary area are motivated by a booming provincial economy, strong job creation, and attractive housing affordability,” said the report. “Despite higher resales lately, home prices so far have remained flat for the most part, with some weakness observed in condominium apartments. This has kept housing affordability in check at some of the better levels among Canada’s largest cities.”

It said affordability improved modestly in the first quarter in Calgary. RBC housing affordability measures show the proportion of median pre-tax household income that would be required to service the cost of a mortgage payment. RBC said that in Calgary measures compared with a year ago edged lower for condominium apartments (0.4 per cent) and two-storey homes (0.3 per cent), and stayed unchanged for detached bungalows.

“We expect the market resurgence to continue for the remainder of this year,” it said.

According to the Calgary Real Estate Board, MLS sales in Calgary so far this month from May 1-28 are up 27.90 per cent from the same period a year ago with 2,104 transactions and the average residential sale price in the city has increased by 3.03 per cent to $445,120.

Ann-Marie Lurie, CREB’s chief economist, said the city has experienced positive economic growth with the expansion in jobs, full-time jobs in particular.

“And this really has encouraged some demand into housing. We’ve had low interest rates . . . We’ve had a signficantly strong spring season compared to other years,” she said. “It’s also important to note that we’ve been pretty slow to recover in the first place. So there was a lot of hesitation out there.

“But as things have started to improve in the economy, people are starting to re-invest.”

Lurie said she doesn’t expect to see any change in the demand for housing in the city in the near future.

Robert Hogue, senior economist with RBC, said attractive affordability and a strong provincial economy are playing significant roles in driving Alberta’s home resale activity, up 11.5 per cent year-over-year in the first quarter and showing no sign of easing in April.

“We expect that, going forward, Alberta’s housing market will remain on this bright path, particularly as the province continues to lead the country in economic growth,” he said.

The measure for benchmark detached bungalows in Alberta rose by 0.1 percentage points to 32.2 per cent, while the measure for condominium apartments marked a small improvement, decreasing 0.3 percentage points to 20.2 per cent. The two-storey home category was the only measure that remained unchanged at 35.3 per cent.

RBC’s housing affordability measure for the benchmark detached bungalow in Canada’s largest cities is as follows: Vancouver 88.9 per cent (up 3.1 percentage points from the previous quarter), Toronto 53.4 per cent (up 1.2 percentage points), Ottawa 41.8 per cent (up 0.9 percentage points), Montreal 41.4 per cent (up 1.2 percentage points), Calgary 36.7 per cent (unchanged) and Edmonton 32.4 per cent (down 0.4 percentage points).

The following are average prices in the first quarter of this year, affordability measure, and year-over-year change in the affordability measure:

Detached Bungalow

Canada, $360,500, 43.1 per cent, 1.5 per cent.

Alberta, $347,900, 32.2 per cent, 0.1 per cent.

Calgary, $423,000, 36.7 per cent, 0.2 per cent.

Standard Two-Storey

Canada, $403,600, 48.7 per cent, 1.2 per cent.

Alberta, $372,800, 35.3 per cent, 0.2 per cent.

Calgary, $418,200, 37.5 per cent, 0.1 per cent.

Standard Condominium

Canada, $235,800, 28.8 per cent, 0.3 per cent.

Alberta, $212,300, 20.2 per cent, — 0.6 per cent.

Calgary, $248,100, 22.2 per cent, — 0.4 per cent.

Photo By: woody1778a

MAY it be a GREAT YEAR!

May MLS sales in Calgary up substantially
Calgary Herald
May 29, 2012

It’s been a good spring so far for the local real estate industry with sales moving ahead of last year’s pace at a good clip.

And so far in May sales have continued to be quite healthy.

According to the Calgary Real Estate Board, from May 1-28, there have been 2,104 MLS residential sales in the city, up 27.90 per cent from the same period last year and the average sale price has increased by 3.03 per cent to $445,120.

The single-family home market has seen year-over-year growth of 26.52 per cent in sales to 1,503 with the average price rising by 3.12 per cent to $503,694.

That average sale price is flirting with the all-time monthly record of $505,920 set in July 2007.

In the condo apartment category, sales of 345 are up 31.18 per cent from last year and the average price has risen by 4.03 per cent to $275,382.

Also, in the condo townhouse category, sales in May are up 31.96 per cent from last year to 256 transactions and the price has increased by 5.29 per cent to $329,969.

Find Local Classifieds Easily and Conveniently

Your decision to use local classified to find a product for sale seemingly can be considered as one of your best decisions since it allows you to find a product for sale more easily and faster. As you certainly have known, products for sale that are available on internet are millions. It is surely time and energy consuming if you have to surf the web and check all products one by one. In this situation, local classifieds can become a perfect help as it allows you to find a prodtct for sale fast. What you need to do is only to find a classified that explicitly informs that it provides a product you are looking for.

Since there are many Baltimore classifieds, you might feel daunting or overwhelming to make a search. As you surely can imagine, it is daunting to search among millions of local classifieds. Even though you make a search over the web, you will need a long time and much energy to make a search. This is absolutely not a perfect solution to find a local classified. In such situation, you will need to have a better way to find a local classified that sells the product you are looking for.

However, with the help of a classifieds search engine, you will be able to find a local classified more easily and more conveniently. As if you want to find Sacramento classifieds that sells used mobile homes or a used doll, you can simply use a classifieds search engine. You just need to search your desired classified by a product category or a price category and within seconds after you hit the search button, you can have a list of classifieds that meet your requirements. This is absolutely a perfect solution for you who want to find a local classified easily and conveniently. Therefore, anytime you need to find a classified, you should not forget to use a classified search engine.

Modern Ceramics in the Kitchen

home is where the staple of every person with a modern kitchen ceramic, the design of the kitchen itself as a modern kitchen inspiration that has been explained in previous articles, the same concept in the containers with minimalist and modern kitchen into something that is beyond plain of the interior design of an architecture of the house.

If the concept of minimalist design kichen is not perfect because its design is less, with attention to the parts of the kitchen itself, the design will house complete with beautiful ceramic presence and looks elegant, a blend of minimalist and modern concept of the furniture is not complete if there is one one less, for the design of the kitchen if you use the ceramic wall of the house interior design equate emotion in color, shape and size,

Below are some of the collection and overview of some of the tiles with a special combination of concepts.
if you are in your apartment at the best facilities to show the back room of the kitchen, the concept and design is very different from the typical household is very luxurious and magnificent though, because the purpose of the design and it's very different, let's consider some of the design of modern kitchen tile design, may be useful for an architecture that would develop the concept to another, thank you

Latest Modern Sofa

Interior home the need for furniture that can be complementary, with the presence of a Modern Sofa latest in the world of home interior design will inspire the hearts of the inpirator and developers who can develop a beautiful house design, comfortable and inspiring course.

With the concept of making sofas and modern interior home design combine a high value, by placing furniture next to the sofa when viewed with the eye will be the heart.
house with a wall of glass make the interior design features in the house was filled with more imagination and a beautiful picture.

Color design is also an influence on the appearance of the design of the house itself as a portrait and represent characteristics of an owner, in choosing the sofa with the latest design concept must be the same as for the existing interior to match the design of the house.

Modern sofa and the very latest in search and in the interest of a person because desainya classic and has a unique and particular characteristics of the furniture is all the fans are very happy with the look and shape of the sofa.

hopefully new and classy modern sofa is inspired from the fans of furniture, there are several forms and concepts of this modern sofa as below

Photos courtesy of Roche Bobois

Home Design Software

Autodesk Homestyler, formerly known as Autodesk design software FreeBSD online at Home Design. This free home online software 2D and 3D design that can help homeowners and design professionals to create Home Design and drawings that reflect budget constraints while adding his personal touch in every design.

"More than one million people experienced Autodesk Homestyler during preview of the technology, create more than 45,000 designs saved and what is one of the fastest upward, no tools for 3D home design," said Jeff Wright, director of Autodesk Content Network. "We are proud to partner with some of the leading manufacturers in the industry to Autodesk Homestyler new audiences and help millions of homeowners with their decorating and remodeling projects."

Meanwhile, Auto Homestyler home design line pack content is generic and branded as appliances, furniture and other building products from Dacor, DuPont, FLOR, Inc., Kohler, Merillat, Sherwin-Williams and other leading manufacturers. With these large furniture items and information of the textures, homeowners can explore and experiment with different brands, styles, colors and designs before starting a home design or project plan, which increases confidence in their decisions and Ultimately, your satisfaction with the outcome.

In addition, Autodesk Homestyler makes it fun to plan and anticipate actually changes in design of your home. All drawings and design home design can be done from the web browser within minutes. on one occasion you start Homestyler AutoDesk, starting with a blank drawing canvas in the basic structure in 2D space. Then you can add the object of your home interior design of rooms trawl doors and furniture, easily experiment with finishes and visualize design ideas in 3D with a single click, and easily share designs with friends, family and professionals to get their feedback. And all these designer furniture for the Home Design or object can be resized, so everything in the drawing is in proportion.

Choose the Most Stylish Bathroom Vanity for Your Outstanding Bathroom

As a home owner, you seemingly have been clear with the facts that the condition of your bathroom will give significant effect to your home. If your bathroom looks old fashioned, your home will feel less comfortable. Because of this fact, home owners become highly motivated to change the performance of their bathroom once they figure out that their bathroom look old fashioned. In their attempt to change the look of their bathroom, many home owners choose to change their bathroom vanities because bathroom vanities have crucial influences in determining the look of a bathroom.

Since bathroom vanities have crucial influences in determining the look and performance of your bathroom, you have to choose bathroom vanities carefully and considerably. As if you want to give a spacious effect to your bathroom, a double sink bathroom vanity can become your choice. Basically, in choosing bathroom vanities, there are two things to consider. The first thing to consider is your personal style. You surely have known that different person has different style. Even though some pdople might share similar favorite interior design, each person surely has specific style. Then, the second thing to consider is the current trend. Trend of bathroom vanities might change over time. If you want to keep your bathroom outstanding, you might need to include the latest trend of bathroom vanities into your consideration.

To have an outstanding bathroom that can fill your heart, you have to combine both your style and the latest trend. For this purpose, you will need to shop around to find the most suitable bathroom vanities. In this case, you don’t need to worry because there are many suppliers of bathroom vanities on internet. Therefore, you just need to go online when you want to buy bathroom vanities that best suit your style and the latest trend.

The Best Place to Buy Discount Bathroom Vanity Online

Replacing your old bathroom vanities can become an instant solution to change the interior of your bathroom. As you know, changing your bathroom interior is one of attempts to make your bathroom look more stylish. Since buying bathroom vanities in this bad economic condition need lots of money, many people become highly motivated to find a cost effective solution that enables them to buy bathroom vanities more affordable. It is a clear fact that all people have to spend their money smartly otherwise they might experience cash shortage in the middle of the month. If this happens, they usually will become stressful.

Actually, to save money on bathroom vanities, you can simply consider buying discount bathroom vanity on internet. As you know, buying discount products in this economic enables you to save lots of money because discount products are cheap. There are many stores that can provide bathroom vanities at discounted products but since different store has different service quality, you should be really careful in buying bathroom vanities online. Basically, there are three important things that you have to consider in finding a store to buy bathroom vanities online. Those three important things are website security, customer support, and website navigation.

If you want to buy bathroom vanities at discounted products, you had better buy them from an online store that has a secured website because such online store can protect your personal identity from identity thefts. You surely have known that identity thefts can be really harmful. Then, you should shop at an online store that has dedicated customer support as you need to have comprehensive support anytime you face problems. Lastly, you have to manage to shop at an online store that has an easy to navigate website in order to be able to find product, check out products, and make payment easily.

Amazing Kitchen - Amazing Kitchen Designs

Amazing Kitchen. In many societies & in many homes, the kitchen is that the purpose of interest of relatives living. many time is spent around & within the kitchen, from sitting at the bar or table, speaking over how the day visited cooking & cleaning along. once you take a look at the approach you reside your life, seeing the kitchen because the purpose of interest of your home, would like|you would like|you wish} everything to appear nice & having your custom kitchen designed with touches like copper kitchen sinks that you simply need there makes it a real place to be. you do not ought to spare something within the kitchen in case you've got place within the work & time to own everything else the approach you wish in your home.

Amazing Kitchen Designs

And that's why stainless-steel appliances are thus common. you've got looked till you found precisely the right color of wood for the cupboards. Hours were spent taking a glance at countertops & materials. You took a protracted time choosing the tile pattern. Meticulous attention was given to the wall color. you've got even selected what you wished for the window treatments. you'd solely be following that special attention to detail by finding that ideal kitchen sink. you recognize you wish the correct sink & you wish it mounted in a very specific place & approach. & there is some nice selections for custom kitchen sinks.

amazing kitchen tools

Approach is to match the sink with the appliances. though stainless-steel sinks are straightforward to neat & forever look nice, a surprising plan for a modify would be to own a sink welded in to a stainless-steel countertop or have a custom sink sort of a farm sink put in. The artistry of the styles obtainable is essentially unbelievable & they useful further. you will ought to go along with a copper sink if the colours you've got selected do not work well with a stainless sink. Copper sinks add a level of inventive beauty & vogue to a kitchen in ways that no alternative quite sink will. though copper isn't the primary issue you're thinking that of, you can't deny the visual impact a copper sink provides.

JUST LIKE A HEATWAVE

Condo pace picks up steam in city
By Claire Young
Calgary Herald May 18, 2012

Compared to the last three months of 2011, resale condos sold faster from Jan. 1 to the end of March in three of four quadrants of the city, says the Calgary Real Estate Board.

All of the board’s zones except for Zone A — which roughly corresponds to the city’s northwest — sold more quickly than during October to December.

In Zone A, condos took an average of 58 days to sell — three more than during the last quarter.

Condos in Zone B, which roughly consists of northeast Calgary, averaged 58 days on market, down from 64 in the first quarter.

Meanwhile, Zone C — roughly southwest Calgary — saw the hottest sales with an average of 49 days on market, down from 60.

And Zone D, which is roughly consists of southeast Calgary, saw a six-day drop to an average of 50 days on market.

The new year brought many more listings for condos.

From Jan. 1 to the end of March, there were 2,702 new listings in the city compared with 1,644 during October to December.

The bulk of the new listings were in Zone C, with 1,492 added. This zone also saw the most sales at 783, up again from last quarter’s 612.

The only neighbourhood to hit triple-digit sales in 2012’s first quarter was Connaught in Zone C, which saw a tidy 100 sales averaging $309,451.

Other neighbourhoods in Zone C that sold well were Victoria Park with 48 sales averaging $351,754, and Bankview with 32 sales averaging $262,512.

The most expensive neighbourhood from Jan. 1 to the end of March was Varsity Estates in Zone A, which had two sales averaging $598,750.

The most affordable neighbourhood was also in Zone A — Highland Park, which had one sale for $79,000.

During the first three months of 2012, the average sale price increased in all zones except Zone D — where this quarter’s average sale of $259,768 marked a decline from last quarter’s $268,998.

Zone C had the highest average sales at $307,822, an increase from $298,960.

Zone A’s average sale was $281,193, up almost $10,000, while Zone B was up a little more than $4,000, with an average sale of $173,544.

TOP CONDO SALE IN CALGARY!

Luxury Elbow River condo sells for almost $9 million, sets Calgary real estate record
Tops $8.3 million sale earlier in the year
By Mario Toneguzzi
Calgary Herald May 24, 2012

CALGARY — A luxury condominium in the new The River project has sold for a record $8.99 million, the most expensive sale ever in the Calgary market for a condo.

The penthouse unit is 5,626 square feet with 2,950 square feet in additional outdoor space.

Earlier this year, a 5,260-square-foot condo covering the entire 12th floor of the 15-storey tower, to be located on 26th Avenue S.W., along the Elbow River, sold for $8.3 million.

“The River not only offers its owners an unsurpassable location but also redefines condo living in Calgary,” said Chris Bourassa, chief operating officer of 26th Avenue River Investments Inc. “The development presents living spaces that do not compromise quality or size, and offers a premium lifestyle not yet seen in the city.”

The development will have a total of 38 residences — 27 units in the tower and 11 town houses. There have also been four sales so far of more than $5 million each.

The project is being developed by 26th Avenue River Investments Inc., an affiliate of Ledcor Properties Inc.

Bourassa said the development is projected to start construction late this year with completion in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Bourassa said a key to the project’s success is that it is offering a product that’s never been offered in the Calgary market.

“If you look at other industries, whether they be cars or single-family homes, large homes and the acreages, the luxury market was being served,” he said. “But once those buyers were sort of done with families, done with acreages, wanted to travel more, wanted a place that they could have the space to stretch out in a condo and be able to turn the lock and leave for months at a time, it didn’t exist. Not with the whole building being of like-minded people.”

He said many of the buyers are business leaders who have vision and can see the economy moving in the right direction.

“Calgary is very strong and they can just foresee that now is the time to move on some of these things,” added Bourassa.

Of the 38 residences, 14 have been sold and several are conditionally sold, he said.

Recently, a report by RE/MAX said growing confidence in Calgary’s residential housing market has spilled over into luxury properties with first-quarter sales over the $1-million price point, the best on record since 2007.

The Upper-End Market Trends 2012 report said 115 homes changed hands in the first quarter, up from 106 during the same period in 2011, 67 in 2010, 35 in 2009, and 86 in 2008.

Only 2007 posted greater sales activity in the top end, with 124 sales priced over $1 million, said RE/MAX.

“Locals are primarily behind the push, trading up to larger homes or lot sizes, taking advantage of today’s low interest rates and more affordable housing values,” said the report.

“Movement back into Calgary — in the form of transfers from international corporations — is also a trend worth noting.”

YOU'RE HOT & YOU'RE COLD!

Hot Toronto, cold Vancouver have competing effects on Canadian housing market
By Sunny Freeman
CANADIAN PRESS May 15, 2012

TORONTO – The Canadian housing market gained momentum in April as strong sales in the Toronto offset weakness in Vancouver, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Tuesday.

April seasonally adjusted home sales on CREA’s Multiple Listing Service gained 0.8 per cent compared with March.

On a year-over-year basis, the association said there were 49,480 homes sold in April, up 11.5 per cent from 44,370 a year ago, when sales slowed following a tightening of mortgage lending rules including the elimination of 35-year amortizations came into effect in March 2011.

Two of Canada’s largest markets are having opposite effects on the national average, with slowing sales and falling prices in Vancouver dragging, and soaring sales and prices in Toronto exerting upward pressure.

The average home price in Canada in April was up 0.9 per cent from a year ago at $375,810.

“It bears repeating that the national average price was skewed higher last spring by record level high-end home sales in Vancouver’s priciest neighbourhoods, and that a replay of this phenomenon was not expected this year,” said Gregory Klump, CREA’s chief economist.

The average selling price in Vancouver was down 9.8 per cent compared with a year ago at $735,315, while the average price in Toronto was up 8.4 per cent at $517,556. April sales in Vancouver slid 13.2 per cent while Toronto sales picked up 14.5 per cent compared to a year ago.

“Trends in Vancouver and Toronto continue to diverge. These two housing markets have an obvious influence on national statistics and a high profile, but Canada is a big place,” said Wayne Moen, CREA President.

Excluding Toronto and Vancouver, the average price in Canada was up 3.1 per cent from a year ago.

Gains in Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, as well as London and St. Thomas, Ont., also contributed to the increased sales, offsetting declines in Ottawa, Windsor-Essex, Quebec City, the Fraser Valley, and Vancouver.

Continued strength in the housing market, largely due to the staying power of low interest rates, has led some economists to warn the market is overvalued. That could make homeowners vulnerable to a downturn, especially those who have used low interest rates to borrow more than they could otherwise afford.

TD Bank estimates Canadian home prices are 10 to 15 per cent overvalued, with the excess most evident in Toronto and Vancouver, said TD economist Diana Petramala.

“With mortgage rates still at rock bottom through the early part of this year and job creation heating up through March and April, it’s not that surprising to see continued growth in Canadian home sales,” she said.

“Still, growth in home prices and sales will likely be limited as the overvaluation has led to a deterioration in affordability. Overall, we anticipate the Canadian housing market to remain relatively flat in the coming year with home prices to rise just another two per cent this year, following gains of seven per cent in each of the last two years.”

The number of newly listed homes pared back 0.2 per cent from March to April, which, combined with slightly higher sales resulted in a tighter national housing market, but remains firmly entrenched in balanced market territory,” CREA said in a release.

A total of 157,804 homes have traded hands so far this year, up 6.4 per cent from levels reported in the first four months of 2011.

That’s also about four per cent higher than both the five- and 10-year averages for sales during the first third of the year.

Sales on CREA’s Multiple Listing Service was either up or held steady in half of all local markets, with Toronto and Calgary posting the biggest monthly increases for the second consecutive month.

Toronto home sales in 2012 have been particularly strong, up 9.5 per cent from year ago levels at 31,639 homes sold so far this year. But sales in Vancouver, a market that was bustling with high-end home purchases last year, are down 19.9 per cent so far this year at 9,935 homes sold.

“While these two cities are garnering most of the attention, Calgary is quietly becoming a market to watch,” said BMO economist Robert Kavcic, adding that sales in the city jumped 30 per cent year-over-year in April.

“If oil prices remain high enough to continue supporting strong economic growth and migration flows, Calgary could again become Canada’s real estate hot spot in short order.”

GO BIG & GO HOME!

Canadians want more luxury homes, Re/Max says
By Canadian Press May 16, 2012

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The Re/Max real-estate sales organization says demand for high-priced housing was strong in most Canadian markets in the first months of this year, with records set in 10 of the 16 markets it tracks.

Vancouver was one of the six markets where the luxury market has cooled off after an especially hot period last year but demand in Toronto remained high.

The organization says the price of luxury housing depends on the market, from a low of $500,000 in such mid-sized cities as St. John’s, N.L., and Halifax to a high of $2 million in the Vancouver area.

In the case of Regina, which had the biggest increase in luxury sales this year, there was a 56 per cent more sales of at least $500,000.

In Canada’s most expensive market, Vancouver, there was a 31-per-cent decline from last year’s peak with 393 luxury homes sold in the first quarter.

By contrast, Toronto’s market has been hotter than last year, with 412 homes sold for at least $1.5 million each – a 49-per-cent increase from early 2011.

Modern Sofa for Living Room

House beautiful design is the desire of every inhabitant of the house, with elegant design and high-value modern design sofa for the living room is perfect for those of you who have busy in the daily example in cleaning the interior of your home is very easy to clean with a cleanser in the is sufficient.
With a variety of furniture to complement the sofa in the living room should be in place that matches the atmosphere in your home and do not forget to put flowers on the side of the couch because it makes your home special and different designs of houses in around you.

Concept of a manifold loads then you can with a design that can make your home comfortable and if you choose a sofa then you should consider color, size and shape of the modern sofa for the living room because it influences the look and the guests who will visit your home if you can attach decorative lights that can make a beautiful atmosphere and guests are welcome to stay in your home, please prove it.

Placement of furniture in the living room is very important as an example of putting a fish tank with no guests are coming in your house will be amazed at the beauty and grace will be there in the interior of your home, below are some of the concepts and types of the sofa please develop itself and may be useful.

Office Design

Office design gallery is here to bring you a collection of office design from around the globe. Office designers have to change their thinking away from traditional office designs and towards current trend. A modern and innovative office design will increase workplace productivity. An efficient office design takes into account lots of factors like layouts, furnishings, office accessories ... When you're planning to improve your Office Design it is usually fairly problematic on occasion. If you're considering office refurbishment, use the expertise of interior fit out professionals.

Greetings dear bloggers! Hope all is well and you've been having a lovely spring.

I haven't posted in a bit (as usual). So sorry about that. Time, life, procrastination, what can i say? Mostly, I feel like I should post something helpful in a problem solving sense, or, useful in a tutorial sense. Well my darlings, today is not one of those posts lol, but I promise, loads of fabulous photos.

Starting around the age of 5, one of my favorite past-times was to sneak into my mother's stash of shelter magazines (of which she had many), and while away many hours absorbing each and every delightful page. I was more interested in decorating Barbie's house instead of playing with the doll. Though I must confess, fashion magazines ran a close 2nd.

Anyway, after oodles of delightful hours and years and years of pouring over shelter magazines, "my style" developed into a very broad and diverse range. It is what's generally defined as "eclectic". Always makes me wince a bit to hear or say that word..."ecelectic".

Personally, I like to think of my style as...timeless. I am passionate about pieces that have a timelessness about them. That wonderful quality that blends seamlessly with a broad range of styles.

Today I am sharing my passion for one that was previously thought of as modern or art deco, and now, blends well in any decor style. Being more versitle than in the past, they can stand on their own, or add funtion without adding visual clutter.



Did you notice the acrylic end tables? No? look again.

As I said, almost invisible but adding function.

Acrylic furnishings can also command center stage...



Jamie Drake Designs

love, love, love that desk!

Some call it Lucite and others Plexiglass. In truth, those are trademarked names and both are acrylic. Today, manufacturers offer many new designs and even a wide array of colors, as in these Louis XV Ghost chairs by Kartell ...



Or offer color via upholstery, as in these Bella chairs by Spectrum-Ltd



A recent obsession is over this Lucite cube from anthropologie....



Charming...yes? Unfortunately, no longer available. Here is a pair used in a more traditional living room grouping.



Again, they add function without clutter or distraction, yet such an integral piece in pulling the design together.

On a larger scale, this trunk by Serge de Troyer is so fabulous and expensive ($2,950.00)!



Not only does it holds it's own atop this black and white chevron rug, it adds that "je ne sais quoi" to the decor.



There is a less expensive 24"x24"x16" trunk offered by Plexi-Craft for around $396.00 with brass hardware or spend an additional $50.00 for chrome. They also offer custom sizes for an additional price; and monogramming.



Imagine that fabulous trunk in a more shabby/romantic setting displaying a vintage quilt collection (whilst adding additional storage...win win!).

While we are on the subject of a more soft, romantic, sophisticated feel, how about this charming table and chair pairing (I'm imagining the walls the palest of pink)...



The chair is the George II by Plexi-Craft, I adore the tuffted seat. Did you notice the scalloped apron of the table?

Here is a closer look at one...



So sweet and charming! I crave that table!

The next two photos probably look very familar to you as this bedroom been all over the blogosphere and web. It's one of my most favorite bedrooms!



Phoebe Howard Designs



Pink perfection personified!

Did you know that bedroom has a sitting area?



So charming! Mrs. Howard used the Lucite coffee table to seamlessly blend in. It adds such glam and shine without clutter or distraction, so brilliant! (pun included lol)

Here are a few other examples that have been added to my inspiration file (and my pinterest!)











Last but not least, this darling swivel acrylic chair...



The next time you have a "problem" space, perhaps an acrylic piece will give your decor that "je ne sais quois" you've been seeking! Then of course, you'll have rendered this post to being informative, inspirational, and helpful! *cheeky grin*

I hope you have enjoyed your visit and thank you for taking the time to leave me your sweet thoughts and comments!

Be well!

Cheers!