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23| O akville B eaver | T hursday,A ugust 2,2018 insidehalton.com Sales Representatives: Abraham Azraq, Ahmad Shehab-Eldin, Alvin Tung, Ben Sadeg, Bill McFarland, Bruno Gomes, Ciro Napolitano, Craig Yaffe, Fadi Abou-Chalha, Francis Zuccarelli, Helen O'Brecht, Isaiah Bayley-Hay, James Watt, John Athanasiou, Julie Jones, Kayla Ie, Leanne Binsell, Lisa Lee, Maggie Ribeiro, Marcello Marchese, Mark Powell, Marwa Nadr, Maryam Kermani, Marzena Ciecielag, Mase Rasti, Michelle Delemos, Mike Azraq, Mona Azraq, Norm Wilkie, Obie Khwaja, RJ Shahi, Roman Damavandi, Sam McDadi, Sara Azraq, Sean Johnny, Shannon Bowen, Tom Gusić, Tracy Nguyen, Vinci Leong, Zaheer Shaw, Zareer Divecha. Brokers: Ashkan Khaleghi, Harry Nanda, Jim Yurchuk, Leonard Howell, Sabrina Nagar. mcdadi.ca/351l Old Oakville. Designed by Bill Hicks.Approx 7,000 sq ft. 5 bedrooms, 8 baths. Finished basement. $3,500,000 mcdadi.ca/1423c $1,798,800 5 beds. 5 baths. Completely renovated. Designer show- case interior.case interior.case interior Gourmet kitchen. WoodWoodW & iron staircase. Fully renovated waterfront bungalow. Incredible lake views. Custom kitchen. Professionally landscaped. mcdadi.ca/62s $1,299,900 Completely renovated. Designer showcase interior. Gorgeous gourmet kitchen. Prof landscaped lot. mcdadi.ca/3153l $1,898,000 Steps to the lake. 4 beds. 4 baths. To be built. Buyer may customize colours, finishes & floor plans. mcdadi.ca/1154t $1,999,000 Westmount. 4+1 beds.Westmount. 4+1 beds.W 4 baths. Updated kitchen. Prof finished basement. In-ground salt water pool. mcdadi.ca/2299m $1,499,888 1 bed. 1 bath. Open concept. Modern kitchen. Engi- neered hardwood. Lots of natural light. mcdadi.ca/65712s $389,990 mcdadi.ca/1069r 4+1 beds. 7 baths. Custom. Exquisite luxury. Large gas fireplace. Custom kitchen. Concrete pool/waterfall. $3,450,000 CALL TEAM MCDADI TO LEARN HOW OUR VALUE ADDED SERVICES WILL YIELD YOU THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULTS! 905.502.1500 ARE YOU THINKINGOF BUYINGOR SELLING YOUR HOME? Siding onto ravine. 3 beds. 4 baths. Ravine views from every room. Upgraded kitchen & bathrooms. mcdadi.ca/250w $879,000 2 beds. 2 baths. Kerr Village. Builder upgrades. Mod- ern kitchen. Engineered hardware flooring. mcdadi.ca/55403s $596,500 mcdadi.ca/2442t $2,160,000 Joshua Creek. 5 + 1 beds. Ensuites in every bdrm. Beautifully renovated lower level. Open concept kitchen. mcdadi.ca/428s 4 beds. 4 baths. 10ft ceilings. Modern kitchen. Hardwood throughout. Gas fireplace. $2,398,800 mcdadi.ca/459c Custom. 4+1 beds. 6 baths. Over 6,000 sq ft. Design- er kitchen. Coffered ceilings. Heated floors in ensuite. $3,350,000 3 beds. 3 baths. Gourmet kitchen. Gas fireplace. Wood & iron staircase. Maintenance free lifestyle. mcdadi.ca/3165r $1,150,000 Advertorial Add quirks to your backyard with fun decor pieces Dear Debbie, I was recently at a good friend's for dining al fresco. His garden is a tiny perfect oasis of odd plants and herbs he has salvaged from neglected gardens or that were donated by folks who understand his talent for resur-donated by folks who understand his talent for resur-donated by folks who understand his talent for resur recting all growing things. He has a wicked sense of hu- mour and steered me to 'funny plants and gardens' on Facebook. Thought you'd find some decorating tips that will make you smile. Eileen Dear Eileen, I have noticed that people who have a quirky interior decorating style will also infuse their outdoor spaces with touches of surprise and humour. On the site you suggested I did see an upended umbrella full of flow- ering plants, a bird bath that is actually a miniature bathtub attached to a backsplash, and a big old purse planted with succulents hanging from a tree branch. I like the attitude 'what's good for this could also be good for that'. Rather than planning on creating some- thing humorous, it is often the case that imagination leads us an offbeat direction while we are thinking straight ahead. For those who are searching for a little garden sur- prise, I found a collection of animated frog statuettes at frontgate.com. I wish I could strike a yoga pose as gracefully as these froggies. They are 13" and 16" high, crafted from powder coated aluminum for all- weather protection with a handpainted Verdigris finish. They also show frogs in a Spring Dance, and a Balanc- ing Frog Table with a lily pad for the tray. That's a side table or plant stand that will make you smile. Dear Debbie, We are thinking of building a Zen garden in our back-We are thinking of building a Zen garden in our back-We are thinking of building a Zen garden in our back yard. Our children want to help. Have you any tips? Are they difficult to keep up? Anthony Dear Anthony, This is a a very doable family project. Explain the philosophy behind the garden, which is a dry garden arranged with specific elements in such a way as to still the mind. It is a pensive place that can be created and recreated by each family member in a way that speaks to them. Zen gardens can be any size, from small desktop models to expansive outdoor plots. For your backyard, choose a size that is manageable and build a mould or frame using 2x4s, barnwood or railway ties. Lay down a plastic weed barrier inside the frame to stop weeds from growing. Fill with sand or gravel that you can find at landscapers or ask at your garden center. The elements that are placed in the garden are meant to symbolize nature and peace of mind. Moss, mossy twigs, pebbles and rocks, pruned miniature trees and bushes tell a story. A small water feature and animal statuettes are common. Make an arrangement but keep it simple. Over- crowding defeats the purpose. Rake the garden using curving lines that swirl like moving water. The lines move smoothly around your elements. Maintenance is important for any garden. Zen gardens must be clean and cleared of falling leaves and garden debris. The act of preparing and maintaining such a garden teaches restraint and promotes quiet thoughtfulness. Your children are fortunate to have this opportunity. Written by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email decorating questions to house- 2home@debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie at insta- gram.com/debbie_travis, facebook.com/thedebbi-gram.com/debbie_travis, facebook.com/thedebbi-gram.com/debbie_travis, facebook.com/thedebbi etravis, debbietravis.com.