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Page 18, Whîtby Free Press, Wednesday. March 10, 1993 A HOME DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT FEATURE What are Canada's true home colours#m Want te know Canadiens' favourite colours. According te Sears, when it comes te draperies, soft colours; shados of rose and blue are most popular. Green is a strong accent coour folowed by accents of purple termes and teai in high fashion. And where carpeting ie concerned, groy and beige are the classic, practical choice. When choosing upholstery, custemers are apt te ho more adventurous. They like sofas in any number of shades of green. Where eather furniture ie concerned, thoy liko a high tech look, with black as first choit white as second. Each night Canadians cic drapes or blinda that are 'mosi neutral in colour. And they3 been stepping eut of the bath ar wrapping themselves in emeri If you're planning a get-away kIduring March break,.- yeu're probably concentrating soieiy on your trip, planning what te take and what te beave ho-hind. But before you cram that lest bottie of suntan lotion into your suitese, take a moment te think about al the othor preparations yeu shouid bo making -- tho ones that will keep your home seund and securo. Don't lot your vacation be ruîned by nagging doubts such as, "Did I romomber te turn down the thermostat?" Or, "Did I cancel delivery of tho newspaper?" NC A littbe foresight and orgamization eheed of timo can give yeu complote peace of mind and keep your house sefe and problem-free until your return. > To malce sure you take cere of ail these details, start by making a dotajled checklist of everything you muet do before departing -- don't entruet it ail te memery, or [CO, yure liable te forget something. Kep. a separate let of 050 household.releted tasice. stly rive 7id -ald or forest green toweis. What's up in the near future? Trend watchers at Sears predict that Canadiens may ho ooing at mauve as a new upholstery coleur. Bright, hot colours are expectod in the bath this faîl, and in spring '93, Canadiens will ho looking et lilac, violet and purpbe tewels. Arrange periodic chécks It's a good idea te arrange te, have a neighbour check on your home two or three times a week, te make sure your heating system is operating properly and that there are ne mechanical probleme with any otlier items. Thawing ice and snow erounîd the house cen sometimes resuit in fleeding of the besement and water damage je one of the lest things you want te came home te. You may aise want te blave a .......g..h.d. oo : k 'sth im t; 4 Children seem te grow and change in a blink of an oye. Sa give your child a reom te remember. To keep it simple and long-lesting, censider penting the room and adding a whimsical wallpaper border. Borders can ho easily changed as yaur child graws from tot te teen. To give yaur child a more elaborate look, the sky's the limit. Croate a circus environment by tenting lots of fabric frem the ceiling, or a jungle look with a wild animal mural painted an the walls. And lot your budding artist ho the creetivo ono. Combine blackboard and corkboard squares on the wall. The blacichoard' allows your youngster to draw on the walls and the corichoard can display precious artwork and other goodies. Use accessorios ta make a youthful statement. If your child lices sports, 'ry tying tab draperies on a basebali bat instead cf a ypical drapery rod. Use an oid tennis shoe as a planter or sewe a favourite t-shirt inte a pillow for your littie one te onjay. The ideas are endiess. list of appliance or maintenance repair people behind whom yeur neighbeur or heuse sitter can contact in case of an emergency. You should aiso leave phono numbers where you can be contacted if a major probbom arises. If you don't have a noighbour or friend who je able te check on your house, you may want te consider hiring a bonded, proessional house sitter te either stay in yeur house or make periodic checks while you're away. This also helps te croate the illusion that somoone je at home. To find eut who te call, check the yellow pages of your telophono book. Ask about the full range of services they previde. You may want them te water your plants or even take care of your pets. Othor items on your checkist shouid include an exemination of the buildup of snow and ice on yeur roof. Excessive weight or buildup can ieed te probleme, perticularly if you have an older roof which is susceptible te leaks. It's aise a geod idea te check your furnace weIl in advance of your vacation, te make sure overything je in proper working erdor. If it hasn't beon serviced fer a while, yeu may want te arrange for a cleaning te insuro that everything je in tep-top shape. (If you have an oil-fired furnace or bouler, you should make sure there je adequate ofi in your tank bofore yeu beave.) YoulI1 aise probabiy want te turn down the thermostat a bit Just prier te departing; otherwise, oull ho paying te heat an empty home. Many homeowners like te beave their thermostats set at 66 dogmees Fahrenheit. This keeps the heuse reesonably warm and ensures that pipes won't freeze. (Ites certainly net advisablo te turn your heat off.) As woll, it's important te remember net te beave appliances liko the washer, diehwasher or dryer in operetion when you beave. However, you may want te beave a emali radio connected te a timer e that it will turn on and off throughout the day, helping te croate the illusion that semeone ie at home. You should aise secure ail points of ontry toyour haine. Are ail the windows and doors locked? Have you Ioft an adequate number of lights on timers in verious rooms? Most timers cen ho progremmed te turn on and off several tirnes per day. You may aiso want te purchase outdoor lights that are motion, light or sound-sonsitive. These will cortainiy surprise and doter anywould-bo intruders. Be sure te cancel the home delivery of any newspapere for the duration of your vacation. A home with newspapers piied up in front is an open invitation te vandale and burgiars. Mail is another concern. Have it held for you at yeur post office, or asic a neighbour te collect it. If you plan te be away for more than a week or two, you may want te have ail your mail forwerded te you. A buildup of advertising flyere can bo a nuisance as well. Make arrangements for aý friend or neighbour - te promptly diseardý thèse fb you. You khouid aise arrange 'te, have a friend, neighbour or house sitter shovel the snow off your drivewey and sidewa]k while you're away. This sonda eut a etrong signal that someone je at home. If you're driving te your holiday destination, you may want te beave a second car in the driveway. If you do, make sure someone keepe the snow brusheci off it te make it look like youlre home. You may aiso want te invite a friend or neighbour te park in your- drivoway while youre away. As well, you should make sure that the pereon looking after your house knows how te operate your security system, if you have one. This article is prouided by local realtora and t/w Ontario Real Estate Associat ion (OREA) for the benefit of consumerar in the real estate market. Keep your home secure during March break getaway