Making Your Guests Feel At Home

With the holidays around the corner it's that time of the year now when days are full with company parties, Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, decorating the house and making sure your home is clean and ready to receive guests. Out of town family and friends usually mean they will be staying overnight, so why not make their stay memorable by making a room for them that is comfortable and welcoming? Here is a guest bedroom I was asked to finish. We had to work with the existing colours, so the challenge was bringing together the yellow on the walls and the grayish purpley hue of the bed linens to make the colour combination more palatable.

Before

After

Before

After

How would you like to be a guest in this bedroom?

And, to help you with those little "extras," here is a checklist I took from realsimple.com  that you can follow to make your guests feel at home and well taken care of.

• Have a spare key made.Tell guests where it will be hidden (if they’ll arrive while you’re out) or hand it over when they get there, so they aren’t ringing the doorbell every time they return.

• Make the bed with clean sheets.If you have a guest room, freshen up its linens.

• Test the air mattress.If your “guest room” is a blow-up mattress in the living room, see that it’s in good condition. Inflate it to make sure there are no holes, and, if you have time, vacuum the surface so it’s free of dust.

• Gather extra pillows and blankets.Guests may be used to sleeping with two pillows, so an extra set (stored under the bed) is a good idea. Fold an extra blanket and lay it nearby in case guests get cold.

• Make room in a closet.If there’s a closet in your guest room, be sure that it isn’t stuffed with Christmas decorations and such. If there’s no guest room, clear a little space in your own closet for a suit jacket or dress that needs to be hung.

• Buy (or create) a suitcase stand.Clear off a storage trunk or have a folding stand ready for guests’ luggage. It will help them stay organized and keep the room neater.

• Have toiletries readily accessible.All of those mini bottles you've collected from hotels? Use them! Have shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, a bar of soap, and toothpaste in plain sight in the guest bathroom. If you’re sharing a bathroom, leave toiletries in a basket by the bed.

• Set out a spare towel.Consider offering one that’s a different color from your everyday towels, so a guest knows which is hers.

• Buy or make a few snacks.Have breakfast basics on hand: coffee, orange juice, fruit, granola, muffins. Small snacks for the afternoon will likely be appreciated too.

• Create a list of possible activities.Think about what guests might want to do when they visit, and know when shops or museums are open.

• Gather local magazines, brochures, and maps.If you’re heading to work instead of playing tour guide, have the local paper or magazines available with listings of attractions. Get a local bus or subway map, or provide directions if guests are driving.

• Put a few books near the bed.Give guests something to read before they go to sleep. If there’s an interesting book about your town, even better.

• Leave important phone numbers.Put together a list of emergency contacts in case something happens while you’re out. Give the name and number of a neighbor, family member, even a plumber (if you have tricky toilets)—anyone whom guests might need in a pinch.

• Write down household instructions.How does the remote control work? What’s the deal with that newfangled alarm system? Give guests some pointers in case they’re stumped while you’re gone.

Enjoy this time with your family and friends and may your home be filled with Christmas songs, cakes, candies and all the love that this festive season brings!

Lest We Forget

Today we are honouring Canadian men and woman who have served our country.  We are forever indebted to those who fought, and those who died, and those who continue to fight for our peace and our freedom.

Here are some interesting facts about the origin and history of Remembrance Day...

1. Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. It was originally called “Armistice Day” to commemorate armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.—on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
2. From 1921 to 1930, Armistice Day was held on the Monday of the week in which November 11 fell. In 1931, Alan Neill, Member of Parliament for Comox–Alberni, introduced a bill to observe Armistice Day only on November 11. Passed by the House of Commons, the bill also changed the name to “Remembrance Day”. The first Remembrance Day was observed on November 11, 1931.
3. Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a moment of silence to honour and remember the men and women who have served, and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict and peace. We remember the more than 1,500,000 Canadians who have served throughout our nation’s history and the more than 118,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice.
4. The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day. Replica poppies are sold by the Royal Canadian Legion to provide assistance to Veterans.
5. Remembrance Day is a federal statutory holiday in Canada. It is also a statutory holiday in three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut) and in six provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador).
6. The national ceremony is held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The Governor General of Canada presides over the ceremony. It is also attended by the Prime Minister, other government officials, representatives of Veterans’ organizations, diplomatic representatives, other dignitaries, Veterans as well as the general public.
7. In advance of the ceremony, long columns of Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP officers, and cadets march to the memorial lead by a pipe band and a colour guard. At the end of the ceremony, they march away to officially close the ceremony.
8. Some of the 54 Commonwealth member states, such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, observe the tradition of Remembrance Day on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Other nations observe a solemn day but at different dates. For example, ANZAC Day is observed in New Zealand on April 25. In South Africa, Poppy Day is marked on the Sunday that falls closest to November 11.
9. Many nations that are not members of the Commonwealth also observe Remembrance Day on November 11, including France, Belgium and Poland.
10. The United States used to commemorate Armistice Day on November 11. However, in 1954 they changed the name to Veterans Day.

From Veterans Affairs Canada- " 10 Quick Facts on... Remembrance Day."

Image: SantaBanta

Open House: My Sweet Paradise

Thank you, polar vortex...  first the ice storm, where we lost power for 2 days, and thank goodness we got it back in time for Christmas!  Now, we're hearing government agency warnings saying, "exposed skin may freeze in less than 5 minutes."  These crazy sub-zero temperatures we've been having make it hard to believe that we are only two weeks into winter!  To say it is "bone chilling" is not an exaggeration!  So now I am dreaming about living somewhere warmer and perhaps one day owning a house in Bermuda.  Given the restrictions the Bermuda Government has for buying property there, it is a plausible thought-- because my husband is Bermudian, born in Bermuda but raised in Canada. But is it possible?-- well, if you know anything about Bermuda, real estate is not cheap and neither is it cheap to live there... we'll need to start making a shitload more money! Anyway, a girl can dream... I found the perfect house and it's up for sale now listed by Sotheby's.

It is just over 2,500 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths.  Located in Pembroke, it is described as "the quintessential Bermuda house with panoramic views over the North Shore."  Have a look!....

It's picture perfect!

I am indifferent about the verandahs on the new homes being built in Toronto.
But here, it makes so much more sense.  I love this wrap-around verandah!

A gorgeous view of the Atlantic ocean.  Some beautiful sunsets can be watched here!

I would redecorate the principle rooms... make it lighter and fresher.

I'm picturing a colour scheme of pastel blues and greens... think Sarah Richardson style.

Aside from adding some accent pieces to tie in with my new colour scheme
for the house, I wouldn't change anything in this kitchen  I love it!

The master bedroom could use some tweaking.  Just some
cosmetic changes.

Isn't it pretty?  I love the shutters!

The million dollar view...

The price tag for this home is $1.85 million USD.  You can view the listing here.


For now, I will just imagine being in the warmer climate and reminisce our last vacation there.  Let me share the warmth....

And, yes, the water really is that blue! ....no filter.

Regards,

Imelda

We are currently booking stagings for January.

Please contact me at (416)464-1781 or imeldasmithhomestaging (at) gmail (dot) com

for a consultation if you plan to list your home in the near future.