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Remember when the perfect bathroom had the clinical sparkle of a hospital? Well, sparkle is still important, but now it's turning up in baths designed with a little self-indulgence in mind. If you want to give your bathroom a more luxurious look, but don't want to pull out the fixtures and start all over, why not add decorative wall-to-wall car- peting or area bathrugs? Bathrugs serve two purposes. The first is purely functional - they prevent slip- ping and sliding on wet floors or having to step out of the tub onto a cold, hard surface. Taking their cur from the fashion world, bathrug manufacturers are show- ing how to make a bathroom beautiful without sacrificing comfort and practical- ltY. The second purpose is aesthetic. Bathrugs can soften the look of the room and add a bit of "pizzaz". They allow you to change the entire look of your bath- room without a large investment. As consumers have begun to ask for more elegance in their bathrooms. the rules about decorating them have started to change. Pattems, both in bathrugs and towels, are gaining on traditional solid colors. As a result, the old rule that bathrugs and towels must be the same color is being disregarded. and co-ordinating colors of patterned fabrics are being used to bright- "This is an outstanding direct selling and networking opportunity," said Jenkins. "I urge all real estate profession- als to share in the success." The Oakville Real Estate Show is supported by a major advertising cam- paign consisting of print ads, radio spots, show flyers, posters, direct mail, news releases and exterior signage. In-show activities include live entertainment, free draws, contests, and a special appearance by Homer and Dorothy - the official show mascots. As an exhibitor in this show, your company will receive a professionally draped booth with electricity. 100 free show passes for prospective clients and access to a catered exhibitor lounge. “The Oakville Real Estate Show repre- sents an outstanding opportunity to talk one-to-one with homeowners and prospective property owners during an eventful three-day time period." Display spaces are available to all firms involved in the real estate industry including real estate omces, mortgage companies, banks. trust companies, financial advisers, insurance companies and builders. Anyone interested in the show should call 827-4732. Exhibitors outside the Oakville calling area can phone l-800-465- 1073 toll-free. "The combination is unbeatable" declared show organizer Dave Jenkins. "The Lifestyle Home Show has always been a success and I am cortndent the results will be similar with the Oakville Real Estate Show - our newest venture. “The Oakville Real Estate Show repre- An outstanding business opportunity in the heart of one of Ontario's most affluent markets - that probably best describes the Oakville Real Estate Show. This event will be held in con- junction with the fourth annual Oakville Real Estate exhibition continues Lifestyle Home Show at Glen Abbey Recreation Centreand run through through Sunday. April 18th. mating the perfect bathroom en up the room Solid colors are also changing. The bathrug best-sellers are appearing in many different, new and exciting shades. Textures are also coming into vogue, with manufacturers mixing different fibres and multicolored yarns to create a strong textured look. The most popular bathroom rugs are the high-pile saxonies, which look like a lot of the pile carpets made for the rest of the home. One of the current trends in bath rugs is to take them out of the bathroom and into the rest of the house. A few already on the market can be used in the bedroom as well as the bath. Bathrugs are also used to alter the appearance of the size of the room. If you have a small powder room or bathroom where too many colors would look busy or very bright colors would be over pow- ering, try the textured-look rugs to give the room a more airy feeling. Wall-to-wall bathroom carpeting vir- tually unheard of until a few years ago, is also good for giving a feeling of more space as well as a touch of luxury and elegance. You can use wall-to-wall carpeting alone or with area rugs over it. Solid col- ors or muted patterns with a contrasting border will give your bathroom a dramat- ic new look. Because moisture is ever-present in the bathroom, be sure you check the fibre content carefully when shopping for bathrugs. Nylon is the most popular bathrug fibre which gives bathrugs durability and resistance to mildew. Also check the backing: rugs with backs well-covered in latex will last and keep their floor-gripping properties longer. Armed with this information, explore the many beautiful styles and patterns on the market. The right bathrug will go a long way toward making your bathroom the beautiful and comfortable oasis you want.