Parliament Hill

Perhaps the most iconic attraction of Ottawa, Parliament hill is worth a visit just for it’s beautiful architecture, greenery, and view overlooking the Ottawa river.  Due to its scenery it can be easy to forget this 150-year-old structure houses the federal government of Canada.  Luckily for you there are free tours available year round where you can see firsthand where our federal government resides.  The parliament buildings are aesthetically and functionally essential to Canada’s culture and definitely worth a visit.

ByWard Market

A key cultural hub in Ottawa, the Byword market has something for everybody.  From unique restaurants to farmer’s markets bars to beavertails, it will leave you wanting more.  The market is bustling 24/7 all seasons of the year and is a must-visit for anyone who lives in Ottawa.

Royal Canadian Mint

Ever wonder where the change in your pocket was made? Well… it used to be made in The Royal Canadian Mint.  Now they focus on specialized coins (which if anything is cooler), made from gold silver and other precious materials these coins are beautiful, limited, and represent a part of Canadian Culture.  If you ever felt like holding 28 pounds of gold or seeing the world’s largest gold coin, the mint will give you unique opportunities not available anywhere else in Canada.  Go for a tour of The Mint, learn the history of it and how the coins are made then at the end of the tour you have a chance to purchase a coin for yourself.

The post Explore Your City: Ottawa appeared first on Realstar Blog.

1. Clean your bathroom:
First, remove all products from the bathroom sink and bathtub. Sterilize the countertop and bathtub to remove any build up and residue. If your shower curtain is plastic or has a plastic interior liner – either toss it in the laundry or (depending on the damage) throw it out and invest in a new one. After all, Spring Cleaning only happens once a year!

2. Deep clean your floors:
Most people sweep the floors weekly, some probably get to it on a daily basis. For a deep clean, it’s time to get out the old pale and mop (Swiffer Wet Jet works great too!) and give the floor a good scrub. This task will include a bit of heavy lifting, as it’s important to clean under tables and couches – let’s face it, if we’re going to clean, let’s do it right!

3. Clean out your fridge:
I attempt cleaning out my fridge before every grocery run. Those who don’t may find a few surprises hiding in the back of their fridge (Ew!). Start by taking every item out, wipe down the interior shelves, walls, and door and then put everything back in an organized manner. Keep condiments to one side, produce to other, and everything you are not going to eat – throw it out.

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But first, what is sub-metering? Sub-metering is a way to measure gas, water, electricity, and/or other utilities in each apartment suite in a building. By installing these devices, residents have the ability to understand how much energy, water or gas they use. For anyone who has a passion for green-thumb initiatives, sub-metering is one of the most effective resource for apartment living!

Advantages of sub-metering include insight into real-time usage in your own apartment home and the ability to compare usage over time. With a sub metering device, you can see your usage and make informed decisions that optimize and conserve your use. Average electricity use is reduced by 27-34%* when sub-metering is used lessening our impact on the environment.

*https://www.reminetwork.com/articles/cut-energy-consumption-with-sub-metering/

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Motivation: Motivating yourself to tackle a dirty room can be a daunting task, so use little tricks to inspire you. Maybe listen to music while you clean to pump yourself up or perhaps reward yourself when the task is done with a shopping trip, meal out etc. For some people the simple joy of scribbling something off a to-do list is all the motivation they need.

Create a routine: Doing a little tidying each day is so much easier than allowing a room to get messy over time and then facing a big clean up challenge. To avoid this, consistency is key. Assign a set amount of time each evening (even if it’s only a little). Tackle the living room and kitchen each night while attacking bedrooms once or twice a week depending on how messy they get should drastically cut down big clean up tasks. Get into the habit of cleaning all dishes before you go to bed, preventing dishes building up and let’s face it no one wants to face a sink full of dirty dishes first thing in the morning.

Empty bins regularly: Don’t allow bins to overflow, or for cardboard boxes or jar/ bottles to gather around bins. Have assigned recycling bins; an untidy bin area will create a messy impression no matter how clean the rest of the home is, and can soon spread to create an untidy room, then an untidy house.

The post Keeping Your Home Tidy appeared first on Realstar Blog.

1. By all means seek out all the art magazines and blogs you like for inspiration and tips, but also remember art is very personal, so when it comes to picking the right piece there are no real wrong choices as long as it makes you happy and you feel it reflects your personality.
    
2. Decide on the most important and visible walls in your home, the places that would allow people to best appreciate your chosen pieces. It's best to know in advance what size artwork would be best suited to each wall.
    
3. Mirror the shape of the wall, if long and narrow, choose a long narrow piece. Accentuating the shape and size the wall makes the room feel larger and more open.
    
4. Don’t be afraid to take inspiration from anywhere. A TV show, a magazine, even a dentists waiting room could give inspiration to a type of image or style you’d like in your home.
    
5. The right frame is important. Not only can the correct frame enhance your artwork but if chosen with the style of the furniture in the room in mind can have the effect of bridging the painting with the over-all décor.
    
6. While colour shouldn’t be your guiding factor in picking your artwork, it is important to keep in mind the colour scheme of the room the piece is going into. Aim to create a balance of colour and tone in the room.
    

The post Choosing The Right Art For Your Home appeared first on Realstar Blog.

First, make sure to close your windows, and cover any unsecured window panes that may be leaking air. In older apartments, it’s important to ensure your windows are fully closed, especially during the low negative weather. Although it can be good to have your window open during the mild winter days for fresh air, it’s recommended to close them at night so that you don’t wake up with a sore throat or stuffy nose.

Second, remember to keep your radiator clear of objects. It’s important keep large items away from your furnace to avoid heat being absorbed by your furniture. By clearing the area around your furnace, you are letting heat cover the surface area of your apartment – creating a warm and toasty home!  Also, make sure to keep your furnace well cleaned; if your furnace is dirty, heat will be absorbed into dust particles. This will not only keep heat from escaping properly, but could also be a health risk!
 

Lastly, try baking something! Pies, soups and casseroles are all warm foods to eat during the winter season. This will help keep your apartment warm, as they bake on low temperatures for long periods of time! Therefore, the oven is another source of heat that will help keep you cozy throughout the cold months. Multiple batches of chocolate chip cookies work too!

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• Lighting is an easy way to update your home. Replace standard lights and choose the wattage of your bulbs that suits your needs. Use a mixture of table lamps and floor lamps to illuminate and personalize your space. A bonus is that if you are to move again you can take your lighting with you.

• Use curtains to spruce up your space. Choose from a variety of textures and patterns for a pair that suits your style.

• Unpack all your items. It can be easy to let your stuff stay in boxes for a while but unpacking all of your items upon arrival will help you settle into your home faster.

• Add fresh flowers and plants. Cacti and succulents are budget friendly options that are also low-maintenance. Grab a bouquet of your favourite flowers from the local grocery store to instantly brighten up your home. Tip: to keep your flowers fresh, store them in the refrigerator overnight

• Throw on a stylish rug that will add low-commitment pattern and texture to your space while adding some personality. Rugs also help to break up the room into different sections.

Inject some liveliness into all-white/neutral bathrooms by adding decorative items with some personality. Pick up a bold shower curtain and bath mat to keep things fun.

The post How To Make Your Rental Feel Like Home appeared first on Realstar Blog.

Let your furniture pull a double-duty – When you have limited space, getting the most out of your furniture by letting it do double duty is vital. Use under-bed storage containers, bedside tables and bookshelves as nightstands, or coffee tables with hidden storage capabilities.

Declutter your space by storing items out of sight – Every inch counts in a small home. Hidden storage is the perfect way to combat clutter, tuck away those items you don’t often reach for.

Put away your clothes – trying to find the perfect outfit in the morning can be quite disastrous for your closet, but it doesn’t have to be. After rummaging through your closet, hang back the items instead of letting them amass into an ever-growing pile. While you’re at it, why not make your bed as well.

Let natural light in – light not only brightens up your space but it also helps to enlarge it. So draw open those curtains and let some sun in.

Add mirrors to help your space feel bigger and brighter – mirrors reflect light and make an otherwise small room look larger.

Let it go – Living in a small space means having to part with things that you haven’t used in years. Make sure everything in your home has both a purpose and place.

Keep it clean – Clutter accumulates almost instantaneously in a small home so be proactive and keep a schedule when it comes to cleaning and tidying up. This will keep your space feeling fresh and spacious.

The post Making The Most of a Small Space appeared first on Realstar Blog.

Realstar was honored to take home the award for Best Suite Renovation over $10,000. The improvements and upgrades completed at 57 Widdicombe Hill Boulevard in Toronto enhanced the overall appeal and attractiveness. Brand new flooring and appliances created a modern and efficient design. Accepting this award was Widdicombe’s very own Betty Giaschi, Resident Manager of the winning property, as well as Eric Khan, District Manager at Realstar.

Our mission here at Realstar is to set and maintain the highest standards in Canadian rental housing. The creative and efficient use of space improved functionality and appearance of the unit, making this a winning submission. Congratulations to everyone involved in this year’s award-winning suite renovation!

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