LoveMyPlace.com - Renovation, Design, Real Estate

This year, Home Depot will sell some seven million compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to Canadians, proving just how popular this household item has become. But there’s always been the pesky question of recycling the bulbs, which contain small amounts of mercury. To deal with the disposal issue, the giant retailer is launching a free instore bulb recycling program at all 160 of its locations across the country. As of Nov. 22, Canadians can bring in their used CFLs to any Home Depot, where they’ll find a CFL recycling unit located at the entrance by the special services desk. There, shoppers can place the expired CFLs in a plastic bags provided by HD and deposit it a bin. When the bin is full, the contents are sent to Fluorescent Lamp Recyclers Inc., in Ayr, Ont. IKEA Canada has been recycling CFLs and used batteries through its “Free Take Back” program since 2001.The programs are directed at the 98% of Canadians who, according to a recent poll conducted by Angus Reid for IKEA Canada, do not recycle their CFLs.  

A clever idea that looks great and makes sense. Removable peel and stick chalkboard panels! Perfect for use in kids’ rooms, workrooms, and the kitchen - anywhere you want a surface on which to make quick reminder notes and lists, or give children their very own small place to scribble and play. Available in black, purple or green. The same company that makes these also sells wall tattoos in the shape of flowers, butterflies and trees. For more information, go to http://www.wallies.com/ 

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Time management - the notion itself is somewhat ludicrous. None of us can actually manage time. In fact, time more often than it not manages us. But author Stephen Rechtschaffen has proposed a new way of looking at time in his book Time Shifting. Instead of emphasizing how we can squeeze more into our already full lives, he suggests we stop doing in order to live more fully.

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Label it!

Most households receive a large quantity of address labels from charitable organizations. In the age of email what can we do with all those labels! Here are a few time-saving tips for making good use of them. When filling out forms, use them instead of hand-writing your contact information. When lending a book, place a label on the inside of the dust jacket or inside front cover. When bringing food to a pot luck dinner, put a label on the bottom of your Tupperware container. Carry some in your wallet- affix one to the order form for having film developed. The possibilities are endless!

Remember that to-do list you made in January? The one that’s turning yellow on the fridge door? Well, time is running out to get to those tasks before the calendar changes for the last time this year. If you need some motivation, imagine yourself making a spanking new list of chores for 2008 on a pristine piece of paper.  If that doesn’t work, try treating yourself to a cool new tool as an incentive. Here are a few that might help you get to the bottom of your chore list. Read the rest of this entry »

When LMP Design Editor William MacDonald was preparing his talk on trends for the 2007 Creativfestival, held recently at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto, we took notes. That’s because we know that if trendmeister William says a colour, look or theme is about to appear on the scene, it’s on the way. Here’s the short list of what William says will be hot in 2008. Look for more news from him on LMP.com in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can catch him on Slice TV’s Three Takes, and his luscious work in the pages of the November issue of Canadian House and Home.

William MacDonald’s Top Trends for 2008

Desert tones
Chindia (influence of China/India)
Veggie Dye colours
The French Riviera
World textiles
Jewel tones
Equestrian Themes
Big Art

There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. Those words were written at least 100 years ago by American writer Henry James, a decided Anglophile and an avid tea drinker who loved the convention of an English High Tea. Read the rest of this entry »

On Saturday, Nov. 3rd and Sunday, Nov. 4th, consumers can bring in a string of incandescent Christmas lights to any Home Depot store in Ontario and get a discount on new LED lights, which use 80 to 90 per cent less energy than traditional light sets. There are lots of stores launching similar programs, so ask your local hardware dealer if he/she has anything similar in the works.