Doors Open Ontario Hits Ottawa

 The word ‘heritage’ has been a regular part of my vocabulary since the age of five. I grew up in Markham Heritage Estates, a neighbourhood in Markham, Ontario, dedicated to preserving heritage houses. I call an 1871 Gothic Revival farmhouse ‘home,’ even though my friends say it resembles more of

John’s Reno Tips: Giving Your Bathroom A Makeover

 Photo above: © Sylvain Lalande Remodelling the bathroom is no small task and if not properly planned, mistakes can be catastrophic. Before getting started, here are a few reno tips from John Gordon, owner of Your Reno Guys. Q How do heating systems for tile floors work and will they

Ontario’s Newest Folk Star

 Fiddler, singer, and step dancer April Verch is emerging into Ontario’s music spotlight! Recognized for her blissful voice, lively dancing and striking performances, her upcoming appearance at the National Arts Centre (NAC) is not one to miss! With impressive reviews coming from newspapers like the Huffington Post and Toronto Star, there

Must Read: The Thin Black Line by Simon Gervais

 Prepare for a whirlwind of a read. Simon Gervais’ newly released debut novel The Thin Black Line, is a must-read thriller based right here in Canada’s capital city. A first time novelist, Gervais delivers a heart-pumping, nerve-racking story with a climactic ending you won’t see coming. In The Thin Black

Taxidermy Trend

 The resurgence of taxidermy as a desirable element of home décor is something to be embraced. Over the past several years, we have witnessed the design trend incorporated into commercial spaces and it finally is making a dramatic appearance in homes. With animal pelts, skulls and heads plastered on the

A Cave No Longer

 Doors, Floors and Garages Like You’ve Never Imagined. When you think of a garage, does disorganized, dark and dirty spring to mind? What if it could be transformed into a clean, warm, bright and organized space? That’s what the professionals at The Floor Company can do. The start to any garage

Let It All Hang Out

 Exposed wooden beams are growing in popularity with the massive prevalence of using reclaimed wood in modern décor. Within this dated mid-century space, the design stage boasts minimalism and functionality, yet the homeowner desired elements of traditional adornment, so our beams are the perfect complement to the dramatic fireplace. Our

Do’s and Don’ts for Choosing a Contractor

 How to go about choosing a contractor is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly but it doesn’t have to be an intimidating one. By arming yourself with a plan, you can be sure to land the perfect contractor to execute your type of renovation. Don’t simply rely on one

Beauty Beneath

 To the average person, Tornillo, Sapelle, Marupa and Ipe might seem like the names European soccer players. However, they are actually the names of art materials to Frank Diaz, owner of Buena Vista Flooring. “When you’re working with wood, stain, colours and custom designs, you can do anything. When the

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile: Daniel Igali

 2015 marks the Year of Sport and the 60th anniversary of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. In recognition of these important milestones, OLM will be featuring Honoured Members of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in a weekly Profile piece. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame aims to share the stories and

3D Printing the Future

 Photo credit: www.decisionsdurables.com It has been over a year since I talked about 3D printers on this blog, but the innovators who are focusing on this technology have been far from idle. Progress is constantly being made in this field and some recent headlines have perfectly highlighted some of the

Older adults living with mental illness need specialized housing

 New Calgary report warns more homeless seniors a real possibility By Pat Cashion and Lee Tunstall Older adults living with mental illness often face a double stigma in our society—both from aging and from mental illness. They are some of the most invisible and most vulnerable individuals in our communities,

Better Health Together – How Technology is Transforming Health Care

 Dr. Ewan Affleck is a physician practicing in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The remoteness of communities, the vast distances and the inhospitable climate all make health care access a special challenge there. “Last year we moved 27 per cent of our patients for health-care purposes,” he says. “The question is, can

Fatigue on the Job is a Killer

 It has been known for decades, probably centuries, that working while tired can impair productivity, and that working in dangerous occupations like driving, loading or handling heavy equipment should not be done while tired. So why do railway companies seem determined to risk so many of their assets by asking

Drab to Fab–Six Easy Steps

 1. Select a Monochromatic Colour Scheme  Select a light, monochromatic colour scheme of cool hues. It will make the space appear more expansive while incorporating an element of serenity. Painting everything a unifying colour will make the space visually expand. This reduces the number of transitions, creating a more expansive feel

Style Profile: You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression

 Brandelyn Cameron’s Style Profile focuses on local Ottawa Experts. Nicole Rosenfeldt shares why Home Staging is essential for a memorable first impression in Real Estate. In today's world, competition is fierce. Selling a home is no longer about hiring a Sales Representative and installing a sign on your front lawn.

Timeraiser: A Win-Win-Win Situation

 Going once, twice and sold, for volunteer work! Timeraiser is far from the standard silent auction: It matches people with volunteer organizations, finds non-profits eager help and supports visual artists. Coming to the Canadian Museum of History on November 8, attendees will pledge volunteer hours instead of money for artwork. “This

The Devil is in the Details

 How to finish your new build with “builder-included” finishes It’s beautiful! I love it and it’s reasonably priced, so I’ll take it. But wait…what do you mean? I have to invest an additional how much in upgraded features so it looks like this? It does come with doors right? Sound

Customize Your Clothing: Fiore Apparel

 Screen printing, custom clothing and embroidery—the options are endless at Fiore Apparel. The quality custom-made clothing Fiore is known for tells clients, “You design it, we will create it!” Edy Alan, manager at Fiore Apparel, started customizing clothes many years ago from home. “He had about ten sewing machines in

An Impromptu Q&A with OLM’s DesignerDIY

 This past weekend I was invited to be a speaker at the Ottawa Home and Design Show at the EY Centre. Despite a few technical glitches, we managed our way through with creative enthusiasm. Since challenges are merely opportunities in disguise, I decided to scrap the presentation and join the crowd to

Gorilla Doctors: A Brief History

 In conjunction with the Canadian Museum of Nature's screening of Gorilla Doctors, OLM will be publishing a three-part series written by the documentary cinematographer Michael Boland. The screening takes place Thursday, October 9.  Part One: A Brief History The Virunga Massif, in Africa, is the home to approximately 880 mountain

The DIY Backsplash

 There are several affordable ways you can incorporate some design wow into your interior space. One of those ways is with the kitchen backsplash. Not only will this protect your walls and add visual appeal, but it will also add architectural depth to the space. I still remember the completion

A Kitchen Catastrophe – Greasy Granite

 So…who knew that a butter blob could wreak such havoc on my new granite counter tops? Yes, I know I should have sealed them, but figured…meh…what’s the worst that could happen? Well, let me tell you what I came home to today….an ENORMOUS greasy butter blob stain smack dab in the

The Hidden World of the First World War

 Imagine exploring the French countryside only to discover underground cities belonging to the soldiers of the First World War. Well that is exactly the situation Jeffrey Gusky, American doctor, artist and explorer, found himself in—and now he is sharing it with you! In conjunction with National Geographic, Gusky shows his

Hot Summer Projects: It’s a Shore Thing

 Beauti-Tone brings lakefront style without the cottage commute Ahh Summer. Sandy beaches, pristine lakes, warm winds and long days. Want to create the carefree and relaxing charm of a summer getaway year-round in your home (without the blackflies)? Beauti-Tone has created a collection of projects, many using colours from the Colour