Happy Holidays and Festive Dining!

Wandering through the stores this time of year often makes us overwhelmed with all the holiday items we need to purchase. Your holiday dinner table isn’t immune from it either. There must be a million different ways to decorate centerpieces and dinner plates. There are table linens, napkin rings, holiday-themed dinnerware, table runners, candlesticks and chair covers. It’s a lot to store in the basement that’s for sure!

Take a look at some of our current listing’s gorgeous dining rooms. These areas can quickly be turned into festive dinner parties for the holidays! Here are some simple ideas to give your dining room an atmosphere where you will feel comfortable sitting around the table in good company and create lasting memories.

1. Start Neutral: Take a neutral dining room, add in a few basic furnishings (white, beige, or wooden tables and chairs), and take this room to holiday levels by layering in bright accents, textured accessories, and various textiles from around your home.

2. Embrace Vintage Pieces: If you have Grandma’s wedding china, go ahead and embrace these vintage pieces. A pop of color from a vintage plate can make a stunning and inexpensive centerpiece.

3. Add Silver and Gold: Silver and gold touches from ribbons add shimmer and sparkle to your holiday table. Metallic shades can heighten drama and turn basic whites into a glamorous statement.

4. Go Outside: Grab some greenery from the great outdoors (pine cones, evergreen branches, flowers) and turn them into holiday decorations with a little wire and ribbon. Easy to make decorations from nature can bring a fresh, organic vibe to your dinner table.

5. Use Ornaments: Colorful baubles and glass Christmas tree decorations can have a place at your table. Pick a single color, or make it vibrant and colourful for the kids.

Look past the so-called traditional holiday trappings by exploring your home for colorful everyday pieces that can be spun into a festive feel. Open your kitchen cabinets, peek into your linen closet, and rummage through the storage room! Now that you’ve got your holiday goods, it’s time to turn them into something special.


Featured Dining Rooms;
Left: Frank Lostracco, Sales Representative. 9860 #20 Highway, Grimsby. View Property.
Top Right: John Stewart Allan, Sales Representative. 420 Rossmore Boulevard, Burlington. View Property.
Bottom Left: Vincent R. Formosi, Broker. 132 O'Leary Drive, Ancaster. View Property

Re-Posted from RE/MAX Escarpment ( www.remaxescarpment.com ) with permission.

Fireplaces - Stay cozy, warm and trendy!

If someone was asked to describe the perfect winter scene, it's likely that a cozy room with a warm fireplace would be mentioned. It’s a place to gather with friends or family and enjoy the season.

In addition to providing warmth, fireplaces these days have become a fashion statement. The emphasis is not merely on functionality but more on form and expression. In this blog, we feature beautiful and trendy fireplace designs from some of our agents current listings.

Whether it’s a new build and you are starting from scratch, or an older home with a fireplace in need of some updating, a fireplace is often a strong focal point in a space! One of the first things to do, is assess the style of the rest of the room and the direction you want the it to go. There are so many options these days, that any style will work if done correctly. You have choices of what is inside your fireplaces, such as traditional logs, rocks, crystals or just simple flames. You can do tile surrounds, mantles, hearths, or a clean modern look with just a simple trim kit. Even if you don’t currently have a fireplace, there are electric fireplaces that can be hung like art.

Once you know the type of mantel that will suit your home, you can go ahead with the artwork and the color scheme. The design and artwork depend on the material used for construction.

Fireplaces are often built from iron, bricks, marble or stone. Black or iron fireplaces are an excellent way to express different patterns and colors. The black backdrop becomes an almost blank canvas to build on. A red vase will pop on top of a black mantelpiece. Brick patterns, which usually include red, grey and white tones can have a very rustic feel. If you want to liven up the colors, add reds and yellows to make the existing brick color stand out. If you are working with a marble or stone fireplace, neutral colors and warm tones can add a spa feel to your surrounding space.

The color scheme should complement the interior design of your house. You can opt for either light shades (blue, rose, off white, etc ) or bold shades that would blend well with the material of the fireplace mantel. A pure white mantel built with marble looks brilliant, or try modern hues of poppy orange, muted green and saffron. Ethnic crafts, artifacts, travel souvenirs, wall sconces, mirrors, framed family portraits and of course the flat screen tv, look wonderful on a mantel! Don’t forget to dress your mantel up for each season! It’s a fun and easy way to alter your decor!



Featured Fireplaces:

Left: Doug Folsetter, Sales Representative. 2 Cottage Avenue, Hamilton. View Property.
Top Right: Lori Bolton, Sales Representative. 27 Playfair Court, Ancaster. View Property.Middle Right: Abby Ozaltug, Sales Representative. 4205 Fuller Crescent, Burlington. View Property.
Bottom Right: Pat & Karen Lilja, Sales Representatives. 77 Creighton Road, Dundas. View Property.
Re-Posted from RE/MAX Escarpment ( http://www.remaxescarpment.com ) with permission.