The Barrie Examiner - Thursday April 26, 2012 klintner@sympatico.ca y o u r 2 0 1 2 g u i d e f o r S P r i N g H o m e i m P r o v e m e N t COLDWELL BANKER THE REAL ESTATE CENTRE INC. KATHRYN LINTNER SALES REPRESENTATIVE Cell 705-722-8191 Mobile: 705-794-6498 Fax: 705-722-8147 284 Dunlop Street West Barrie, ON L4N 1B9 Independently Owned and Operated CALL ME TODAY TO BUY OR SELL! Keeping a Well Kept Home The very latest in interior decorating, a freshly coated paint on the walls, a garden that is the envy of the neighbourhood, a home that doesn't show it's age or wear... Keeping up with this combination of factors could lead to considerable increase in your personal happiness and the value of your home and property. The usual up keep in your home often just involves small seasonal mondifications and a few minor repairs. A neat exterior, well pruned hedges, materials in a good state of repair, and a clear unimpeded view of the home, all add up to a well maintained property and a proud ...

The Barrie Examiner - Thursday April 26, 2012 SS-2 Sunrooms Awnings Replacem ent &New Construction Windows y o u r 2 0 1 2 g u i d e f o r S P r i N g H o m e i m P r o v e m e N t NORTHERN COMFORT WINDOWS &DOORS LTD Voted BEST Window Company TOP CHOICE AWARD WINNING COMPANY 5 YEARS IN A ROW!! Front Garden DoorDoors Systems Shaped Bow Windows Our Windows &Doors are Energy Star Approved BARRIE SHOWROOM 556 Bryne Dr.Unit 7 705.733.9600 Warm up ultimate in performance with using our our BEST GLASS Double Spr ng Low-E Glass Double Sale 40 R8.2 Ener gy Rating as high as forMaximum Heat Savings Promo Code: BE-HW FREE * ultimate in performance Argon Gas OR Choose CentreGlass Warmth Triple Glass 20%Upgrade off OR QUALIFIES FOR ALL INCLUDING THE COLDEST ENERGY STAR CLIMATE ZONE ABCD 25% OFF 0%(Comforter Window Only) O.A.C, HIGH PERFORMANCE Make 36 Equal INSTALLED ENERGY STAR WINDOWS AND DOORS Payments Interest Free 888-220-2221 Bay Windows Front Door Systems BONUS 1/2 PRICE PATIO DOOR Scan forWeb ...

The Barrie Examiner - Thursday April 26, 2012 SS-3 tips for family-friendly decorating A glass coffee table, white leather sofa and expensive ceramic statues are popular and attractive design options. But such items are often impractical for a household with an active family. Decorating when there are one or more kids residing in a home doesn't have to mean vinyl furniture you hose down or plastic on the sofa. But smart choices can make rooms look beautiful and be functional. In the not-so-distant past, many homeowners kept a "display living room." It was the room in the house that had expensive breakables and white carpeting perfectly vacuumed into a footprint-free pattern. This was an off-limits room reserved only for special occasions. The children of the house were often forbidden to step foot inside. Today, many people have revised their thoughts on rooms of the house -- preferring all rooms be used even if it means modifying the decor to do so. Active families will require a desi ...

The Barrie Examiner - Thursday April 26, 2012 SS-4 should falls occur. Consider an upholstered ottoman to serve as a coffee table instead of something wood or metal. Not only will it be soft, many ottomans have flip-up covers where toys or extra pillows and such can be stowed away. They also double as extra seating when guests come around. Rustic, weathered design styles often fit in well with active families. That's because, should a scratch or gouge occur, it blends in with the design. Avoid frilly fabrics in lieu of simple, streamlined designs. This reduces the dirt and dust accumulation that's common with kids and pets in the home. Don't overload furniture and shelving with a ton of knick-knacks. It gives you more work in dusting and cleaning and give kids a greater number of things to touch and potentially break. Consider hardwood floors or tile. Should spills or accidents occur, they can be mopped up rather easily. This way you don't have to contend with or worry about damaged an ...

The Barrie Examiner - Thursday April 26, 2012 SS-5 y o u r 2 0 1 2 g u i d e f o r S P r i N g H o m e i m P r o v e m e N t How to Prevent Lawn damage Many homeowners aspire toward a pristine and lush lawn. For some a nice lawn gives them feelings of pride. Others believe a perfect lawn enables them to have the best-looking house in the neighborhood. Many homeowners spend hours outdoors perfecting their lawns or spend a good deal of money hiring professionals to make their lawn more appealing. But just because a lawn looks good now doesn't mean it will look good later. That's because delicate grass can be damaged by a number of different factors. Grubs Grubs are not very lawn-friendly. Grubs are actually the larval stage of different types of large beetles. These worm-like creatures feed on the roots of grass and are able to kill large sections of the lawn in a relatively short amount of time. It can sometimes be difficult to discern whether grubs, drought or another other pest has da ...