Architecture and Design Content You Need to Watch (and Listen To and Read).

Feel like you’ve watched every piece of content available on Netflix, and Disney+, Crave, Hulu, or whatever streaming services you use? I feel the same way.  I’m currently rewatching Friends for the millionth time and reciting lines that I didn’t even know I had memorized.

Sifting through vintage stores, furniture and design shops, and flea markets is normally an activity that I partake of weekly. Not being able to do that (I’m not complaining here – I am fully in favour of being safe and staying home) has left a hole in the creative and curious chunk of my brain.

If you’re like me, here are some architecture and design gems to satisfy your creative desires.

THE CUT – ESPECIALLY, AMY SEDARIS’S HOME TOUR

One of a kind crafts handmade by artist friends and family members,  hair lampshades (that frizz in humidity), colour coordinated bookshelves, two-way folk-ish bedspreads, fake foods, and of course, live animals. Amy Sedaris’s apartment tour is like nothing you have seen before. It’s a collection of memories and artifacts. Learn how to properly style a bulletin board, and the logistical problems associated with colour coordinating your books. Nothing matches but everything works. This video is sure to bring a smile to your face and will make you question everything you know about design.

99% INVISIBLE PODCAST – THE SUNSHINE HOTEL & GAME OVER

The Sunshine Hotel   Game Over

Hosted by the infamously smooth-spoken Roman Mars, 99% PI is a podcast for people who love not only architecture and design but the oddities and curiosities hiding in plain sight. I have several favourite episodes (if you want the full list, DM me on Instagram @everydayallergenfree) but these two are in the top spots. The Sunshine Hotel is a “guest” podcast, pulled from archives not produced by 99% PI, so it’s a little different. Learn about the people who inhabited a hotel in New York’s Bowery district decades ago. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least. And Game Over, even though it may be an episode about The SIMS Online, is yet again an emotional journey that will suck you in. What happens when a multiplayer website dies? A lot of sadness. Not to bring you down during an already difficult time in the world, but I always find this episode very grounding.

MY HOUZZ – KRISTEN BELL’S SURPRISE RENOVATION FOR HER SISTER

Let’s brighten things up now. My Houzz hosts a delightful home makeover show where beloved actors and celebs work with a designer to renovate a family member’s home. They consult with the family member about their design taste (it’s not a surprise makeover) and things they like or that are important to them. Then they kick them out and set to work on reimagining the space, usually enlisting the help of a spouse or parent for a sentimental project. This all leads up to the grand finale where the inhabitant of the home is brought back, and the new space is revealed. Expect tears of joy.

DECOR HARDCORE FOR GUCCI

Decor Hardcore will suck you in. It will show you design never before imagined. It will convince you of your love for 70’s retro, no princess pink or nymph in fairyland, in every photo. It will, in short, rock your world. The photography is brilliant, the design often bursting with colour and texture. It’s extremely imaginative. I have no idea from which archives they source their incredible photos but it must be one that no one else is able to access because you’ll never see anything else like it. Check out this smaller collection they put together for Gucci, and head to their Instagram page for more.

INK FORAGING IN CENTRAL PARK, FROM THE NEW YORKER

New Yorker

Did you know that natural colours and dyes can be made from found objects, like pennies, flowers, sumac, and acorns? Reading this article from The New Yorker is like an instant shot of relaxation and gratification. It follows a group of ink enthusiasts (yes, this is a thing) as they walk around New York City collecting items to create their own dyes. The patience, focus, and passion of the leader, Jason Logan, rises off the page.

Be sure to check out other episodes and articles from the above sources for more design inspiration.

Ultimate Checklist for Selling Your Home.

Selling your home can be an extremely stressful experience. Between thinking about moving logistics and financials, it’s easy to miss the small details in between the process.

With that in mind, we’ve built this checklist for selling your home to help you keep track of the things that will get a potential buyer interested. Turns out, it’s not as simple as just fluffing pillows or doing a light dusting. “Put your buyer’s hat on and walk through your home like it is the first time,” Marilou Young, an Accredited Staging Professional and an Associate Broker with Virtual Properties Realty in the metropolitan Atlanta area, told Forbes.

Below is the ultimate checklist for selling your home.

GET FAMILIAR WITH THE PAPERWORK 

For home sellers interested in the history of the house, make sure you’ve got all the information handy; this can include paperwork on renovations, property tax receipts, deeds and transferable warranties.

GETTING THE PRICE RIGHT

According to HGTV, it can be helpful to do some market research on what homes in your area are selling for- then shave 15 to 20 percent off that. This way, you attract multiple buyers who can end up outbidding each other and bringing up the price. While that can seem like a risky move, it could work in the competitive markets of big Canadian cities.

DEPERSONALIZE AND DECLUTTER

You want potential buyers to see themselves in the space, which is hard to do if you have family photos on the wall or personal items around. This would be a good time to start putting items in storage or try to keep your personal items out of sight. At the same time, you’re also ensuring that you’re keeping your house tidy—a must if you want to make your home sellable. Check around the house for dirt, stains or small cracks you might be able to fix. And if you have pets, make sure their litter boxes and play areas are also clean and odour-free.

FIND A QUALIFIED REALTOR

Realtors can be helpful to take some of the processes off your plate, including marketing your home and arranging open houses. If you do go this route, none of this list will matter if you decide to work with a realtor that doesn’t know the market inside out. You can search their name on the Real Estate Institute of Canada to ensure that they’re qualified, and meet with them to see if you mesh and understand how they price your unit. At Proptalk, we also have this handy guide for more details.

DON’T SKIP THE HOME INSPECTION

While presenting an unconditional offer may win you the home of your dreams, it can also end up costing you more than you expected. If you’re mortgaged to the max, you can’t afford surprises like repairs or replacements that you haven’t already budgeted for. Consider a Home Protection Plan that includes an 18-month warranty and up to $20,000 in warranty coverage for major household features such as foundation, roof, heating and cooling.