Here the 'best practice' that I've come across in the last few years is placing the hatch in the door swing space of  a bedroom.    This does several good things; 1.                         It gets it out of tight closets that are difficult to position ladders in. 2.                         It does not require the emptying of shelves to gain access to the hatch.  3.                         Opening the hatch does not cause loose insulation or other attic debris to rain down on the clothes in the closet.  4.                         Positioning in the swing area of the doorway ensures that there will never be any furniture in the way. 5.                         It can be sized adequately, usually 24" by 30 ", as it is not limited to closet dimensions. It is more visible but; ·      Newer ... 03/12/2011

  My dilema...we are about to stage a beautiful home. However the homeowner won't let us paint this stairwell. It might be hard to see but the paint is textured in a dijon sort of yellow with copper veins painted in by hand as well as the rest of the paint technique that was applied.  The challenge I have is trying to get the rest of the house to flow when this one, and major area, I can't change. (Funny how these challenges come about... this is the one area I really really wanted to paint...to tone down...to calm down...   We are allowed to have the orange painted away. Lots of oak. Green ceramic floors also untouchable...I need something soothing and elegant....           Please...any suggestions you have will be welcome. Louise suggested the Benjamin Moore Tiramisu (CC 486 I think)... 02/07/2010

Yes, that's what I said: According to Warren Beatty, I'm successful in my field. Did he tell me that over drinks?  No. While discussing my business plan?  Um, no. While lounging with me in a bubble bath, overlooking the Pacific ocean? Yes! Okay, maybe not. Did he ever tell me that?  Well, no. His exact words were: "You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what you're doing is work or play." Those are the first words in Chapter Four of Jennifer Allan's "If You're Not Having Fun Selling Real Estate, You're Not Doing It Right."  Great book.  Great philosophy.  A common-sensical approach to doing anything (not just real estate): Be yourself, be very good at what you do, and have fun. I'm loving the book. But this post isn't about that. Back to Warren Beatty...and hi... 01/19/2010

I once had this kitchen. You've seen it before, haven't you? Or was it just a Montreal home-builder's brainchild? You know, that beautiful (?) almond-coloured melamine cabinetry and then, for a pinch of the organic, a strip of oak at the bottom of each upper cabinet door and at the top of each lower door and drawer. Beautiful? Ummmm, how can I say this ... NO. Dated? Just by about two decades. I don't think anything screams 'late 1980s' more to a home buyer than this kitchen. What to do, what to do, what to do? Here's an idea that worked well for me: paint out all of the oak strips in the same colour as the cabinetry and then install beautiful hardware on the doors and drawers. Et voilà! You've just been teleported out of the late '80s and into the new millenium - not quite 2008 but clo... 02/16/2008

Hi there AR members. I'm new to Active Rain and to blogging in general, but I do love to write and to share ideas so here goes. On a recent staging job here in Montreal, Canada, an ordinary dining table went from good to great with the injection of a bowl of real, live fruit. Unfortunately, the cat found the new all-you-can-eat buffet atop the table simply irresistible. And somehow, while strawberries with little chunks taken out of them might qualify as "art nouveau" to some, it's just plain creepy to most.On my next shopping trip, I went to Pier I and found really great fake fruit: green apples, red apples, red and green apples, amber pears, green pears and lemons. They were quite pricey ($4 each) but apparently each piece is hand-painted so that they don't all look the same. And they... 02/15/2008

Well, make yourself comfortable.  I hope you enjoy yourself here and learn a little bit about Real Estate and all it's wonderful aspects.  I intend to post up here from time to time with valuable information for those of you who are interested in real estate.  Check back often and tell your friends to come to get the most up-to-date info and tips about Real Estate. 03/10/2007