 Provided by our friends at Houzz.com, see below for your September to-do checklist.
From the first days, which probably still feel like summer, to the last, when you may notice that first chill in the air, September is a time of transition. Get your home ready for the season ahead by ticking off these to-dos, from adding cozy layers to scheduling necessary maintenance — and then curl up in your favorite chair and savor the comforts of home. Things to Check Off Your List in an Hour or Less 1. Cozy up with warm layers. Have you felt that first nip in the air yet? When you do, think about swapping out lighter-weight bedding for flannel sheets and fluffy duvets. Bring added warmth to the other rooms in your house with throws and pillows in rich fabrics like wool, velvet or faux fur. Thicker area rugs and curtains not only feel cozier, but they also can actually help your home feel warmer — and cut down on your energy bills. 2. Check safety devices. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries as needed. Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace if needed. 3. Set up a homework or project area. Encourage kids to get their work done with an area that is comfortable, attractive and well-organized. Ideally, make available a large surface for spreading out big or messy projects. The dining table can work, but if you have the room, consider adding a dedicated project table and keep all the necessary supplies at hand. Tackle These Tasks Over a Weekend 4. Clean leather furniture. It’s important to know whether your leather furniture has a finish before treating it with any products, so check labels or look up the item on the retailer’s or manufacturer’s website before you begin.
6. Inspect the roof and gutters. It’s generally fine to wait until most of the leaves have fallen in autumn to clean out the gutters and downspouts, but giving these areas a quick visual inspection now is a good idea. Pull out any sticks or other debris blocking the gutters, and make note of any worn-out seals around vent pipes and chimneys. If you do not feel comfortable on a ladder, or have a home of two or more stories, hire someone to do a quick inspection for you. Schedule any needed repairs now so that your home will be buttoned up for winter. 7. Schedule chimney and furnace maintenance. Make sure your fireplace and heating system are clean, safe and ready to go by having a pro look at them now. Having your chimney cleaned will also ensure that you don’t try to start a fire when an animal family (or an old nest) is inside. And if you don’t have a chimney cap yet, speak with your chimney sweep about adding a one. The metal cap with screened sides can prevent critters from getting in and helps protect your roof from burning embers. 8. Maintain the washer and dryer. Cleaning out the dryer vents can be a DIY job, but if you don’t feel comfortable doing so (or if you’ve been putting it off), you may want to hire a pro to do washer and dryer maintenance for you. Washing-machine hoses need to be replaced from time to time, and a cracked hose can cause a leak — which can mean costly damage to your home. Clean dryer vents and hoses will help your machine work more efficiently and reduce the risk of fire.
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 It is officially Canada Day long weekend and there are so many exciting things happening in the Okanagan. So if you're staying local this year, make sure to check out some of these amazing events and activities.
June 29th Kelowna Farmers' & Crafters' Market is an outdoor market held at the corner of Dilworth & Springfield Road. Tour the variety of local produce and artwork between 8am to 1pm. Enjoy fantastic family fun at the Penticton Rotary Ribfest held at Okanagan Lake Park. Champion barbecue teams from across Canada will compete for best ribs! You’ll also find music on our main stage, entertainment and activities for children and youth, as well as a beverage garden and loads of vendors.a June 30th Art in the Park pairs some of the best artists and food artisans in the Okanagan Valley. Hosted by Grizzli Winery, locally inspired creations will be displayed with the backdrop of the vineyards. Take a drive to the countryside on a Sunday to the East Kelowna Market. With a rotating roster of vendors each week, they offer a variety of local creative high end; artists, crafters, food and wine vendors, along with local talented musicians that perform in our Community Café. July 1st Canada Day Festival is a free community event held in Waterfront Park, Jim Stuart Park, Kelly Park, as well as Prospera Place. Explore tons of activities and performances at this family friend all day event. Canada Day in Lake Country is a full-day celebration held at Swalwell Park. Beginning at 8 a.m. with a traditional pancake breakfast, enjoy stage entertainment and tent exhibits all day long, and end the night off with a movie in the park. Canada Day in Peachland will have activities held throughout Peachland. Don't miss the annual Peachland Beach Run, pancake breakfast, entertainment, cake cutting, children's activities, and O' Canada ceremony. The parade starts at 5 p.m. and fireworks are at 10:30 p.m. at the Day Wharf area. Have a great Canada Day Kelowna from the team at Gibson.  Choosing out of the thousand of colour swatches available for you to paint the walls in your home can seem like a daunting task. After all, a color you love in a stunning photo may not be a color you will love to see on your walls every day. With that in mind, here are some tips for choosing a paint color you’ll enjoy in real life.  Don't choose the first paint colour that catches your eye. It’s important when you begin the process of selecting a paint color to start with a wide palette of options. When you go to a paint store, don’t worry about choosing the best possible color while you’re in the shop. Your goal should be to arm yourself with a variety of options so you can make the best possible choice later. This usually means pulling more swatches than you think you need — and even colors you don’t think you will want. Choosing subtle colors, as opposed to bold and saturated hues, can be the trickiest, as the more subdued the tones in the paint, the harder they will be to see in a paint sample. For this reason it is wise to grab some paint samples that are similar to the color you think you want, but a bit off. Grab the paint samples that appeals to you at first glance, but also take two swatches on either side of it for variety.  When you go to the paint store, don’t go empty-handed. Bringing a piece of art or fabric as color inspiration can be useful. In the store, a pale color may look virtually white, but in your home it will likely be contrasted by some bright white elements such as the ceiling, trim or even something as simple as a switch plate or lampshade, rendering the color much more noticeable. It’s usually recommended to choose colors that are a bit lighter or toned down from the true hues from your inspiration piece, so they are not too saturated for a full wall.  Once you have your paint swatches home, that is when you can truly decide which colors will work. Colors can look quite different in your real-life lighting than in the bright fluorescent lighting of a store. It’s also important to consider that colors will look different relative to other hues in the room, different positions (on a wall versus on the ceiling, for example) and at different times of the day. Tape paint chips to the wall where they will be applied, and view them during the time of day you will be in the room the most (for example, in the morning or evening for your bedroom). Take your time to do this with individual color swatches on their own, so each color swatch isn’t visually competing with a rainbow of other options.  Paint will look quite different during the painting process, and it is very important not to judge the color until it has been properly applied in the necessary number of coats — at least two, but often three or more, depending on the product and shade. This is especially true with darker shades, which will visually shrink the space in a way you will need a little time to get used to. Still unsure of what paint color to choose? Luckily at Gibson, we work closely with the experienced team at Mudita Designs, who will assist you to pick out paint colours that will accent all aspects of your home.
 Something about an organized pantry gets us really excited. So, if you just moved in or have been meaning to organize your pantry for years, here are a few helpful tips to give your pantry a spring cleaning.
FROM SCRATCH - Even if it seems overwhelming, clear every last item out of the pantry. This will allow you to take stock of what you have so you can toss out any expired goods or donate any food no one in your home eats. SORT - As tempting and exciting as it is to purchase a bunch of special organizational containers, you need to sort and categorize according to your family's needs first. In order to make this not only an aesthetically pleasing room, you need to make sure your pantry fits your lifestyle. CONTAINERS - Now you can go shopping! With clear categories like baking ingredients and kids' snacks, it is time to repurpose containers already in your home or purchase new ones. Combining textures like baskets with glass or plastic containers can create a functional and pretty pantry. Glass jars with airtight lids are the perfect way to condense boxes and bags into uniform food storage. Wicker baskets & bins are great for storing potatoes, onions, bagged items, and cutting boards. It’s also easy to grab what you need quickly. LOCATION - When placing items back into your pantry, make sure to keep in mind how often you access these items. The baskets or containers holding kids' snacks may be better suited on a higher shelf so that the kiddos can't just help themselves. While the top shelves that are harder to reach would be great for miscellaneous kitchen items such as special occasion bowls or plates. DECOR - Bring your home decor into the pantry and add a little charm. If you have wall space, you can hang a decorative blackboard showcasing this week's dinner menu or a hook to hang an apron. We hope these little tips help you to get that functional and charming pantry you always wanted.  Spring is in the air! Flowers are blooming, grass is growing, bees are buzzing, white wine is replacing red - okay maybe not replacing, but definitely being added to the mix.
While many people focus on staging their home interior, the exterior usually gets less attention - even in the beautiful Okanagan. Here are a few tips to up your curb appeal game to get the fanciest yard on the block. 1. Okanagan Specific Landscaping If this is the year of completing your landscaping, try to choose plants that flourish well in the Okanagan. The Okanagan supports a wide variety of ornamental and native plants - so you have lots of options! Perennials such as Sempervivum and Sedum come in over 100 varieties and they are drought resistant, which is helpful for life in Kelowna. With so many varieties to choose from, no two gardens in Kelowna will be the same. Your unique color preferences and tastes can shine through in your plant choices.  After months of cold weather, it is beginning to warm up for pool season.
Here are a few helpful tips to make sure your pool goes from winter chilling to summer party. 1. Clean any debris that has gathered on top of your winter pool cover, before you remove it. After you’ve removed the cover, hose it off and let it dry completely before storing it in a cool, dry location. 2. Use a garden hose to fill the water level in your pool back to its normal level. This is typically around the middle of the skimmer opening or halfway up the tile. 3. If you prepared your pool for freezing temperatures over the winter, you will want to reconnect all the pool equipment. This includes reconnecting your filter, pump, heater, and anything else. 4. Once the circulation system has run for several hours, you will want to test your pool water for pH, Total Alkalinity, and Chlorine levels using a good test kit. 5. Last step would be cleaning any debris in your pool, paying extra attention to stairs and steps. In additon, shock your pool to eliminate nearly all the remaining bacteria and contaminants in your water after the winter offseason. Don’t have a pool but you’ve been dreaming of luxurious lounging and crystal blue water for the summer? It isn’t to late to schedule your pool to get installed so you’re floating with a margarita for the next long weekend. Gibson can help you make those dreams into a reality.  Even though it doesn't look like it yet in the Okanagan, spring is officially only 6 days away. With Spring fast approaching we want to help make sure your home is spring ready.
Here are a few spring maintenance tips to get your home over the winter blues:
While completing your spring maintenance remember to always put safety first. Many home maintenance tasks are better left to the professionals so be sure to hire a contractor or technician if you are not able to handle the task on your own. Happy Almost Spring Okanagan. Don’t Currently Live Locally, But Still Want A Great Building Experience? Gibson Has You Covered.2/21/2019  In addition to our amazing local clients, in recent years we’ve had many out of province and even out of country clients. Regardless where our clients live, at Gibson you still receive the same personalized and professional experience.
From the budget creation to design selections, our team at Gibson maintains consistent communication via phone calls, FaceTime, and email. We strongly believe that the custom home building experience should be the same transparent and efficient process wherever you happen to be during the course of your new home construction. As such, other than communication methods, Gibson’s process remains the same during the construction of your home.  The most romantic day of the year is almost here. Whether your single and ready to mingle or coupled up for Valentine’s Day, here are some fun ideas from your friendly neighbourhood builder, Gibson Contracting, to spend your Valentine’s evening at home with your significant other or Tinder swipe.
Happy love day from the Gibson Team.  The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in homes. When Gibson clients are planning their new kitchen layout we recommend these 7 features to make the most out of your space.
1. Storage, storage and more storage If you want your kitchen to be functional, one of the most important elements to consider is ample storage space. Think carefully about what you need to keep in your kitchen, and choose cabinetry to accommodate design selections such as pull-out spice racks, drawers on both sides of the island, and tall wall units. |
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