How to Choose the Best Contractor for Your Renovation | Early fall is the best time to renovate. No inclement weather to worry about yet, ample daylight to extend work into the evenings, and more opportunities for a condensed timeline. Choosing the right contractor to make your home renovation dreams a reality, however, can present a challenge.

Google Deepens Investment in Toronto and Canada | Today, Google is pleased to announce the expansion of its presence in Canada with plans to build three new offices in Waterloo, Toronto and Montreal. By 2022, Google's Canadian offices will accommodate up to 5,000 employees. Google has a long history of investing north of the border. In 2001, Google opened its first Canadian office in Toronto with one employee. Nineteen years later, Google employs more than 1,500 people including engineers, game developers, sales leaders and AI researchers.

Market Watch | February 2020 - TRREB President Michael Collins announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 4,581 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in January 2020 – up by 15.4 per cent compared to January 2019. On a preliminary seasonally adjusted basis, sales were up by 4.8 per cent compared to December 2019.

Inside a Modern Spanish-Inspired Estate in the Hollywood Hills | Sweeping views and sophisticated style are hallmarks of this unique new estate in the Hollywood Hills. An effortless indoor-outdoor flow between the chic light-filled interiors and multiple alfresco living areas makes it a consummate setting for glamorous gatherings.

Brand Power | When it comes to branded residential developments, the name can make all the difference. “Luxury brands resonate with people,” says Deirdre O’Connell, chief executive officer for Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty in Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. “There’s a certain confidence customers enjoy when buying a luxury-branded product because the company’s reputation is based on it.”

According to Sotheby’s International Realty Canada’s 2019 Year-End Top-Tier Real Estate Report, Canada’s two largest top-tier metropolitan real estate markets rallied in 2019, gaining steady traction throughout the year. After a tentative start to 2019, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) led the country in top-tier real estate performance with consistent and confident increases in sales activity and pricing, bolstered by the region’s strong population gains, healthy economic growth and robust labour market. Vancouver overcame several years of uncertainty fostered by ongoing government and regulatory interventions to see revitalized confidence and activity in the $1 million-plus real estate market by the last half of 2019. Montreal’s luxury real estate market achieved notable milestones in its condominium sector in 2019, and the city set new records in top-tier market performance. Despite improvements in the market for real estate under $500,000, Calgary’s uneven economic performance and political turbulence dampened a top-tier market already burdened with supply; as a result, recovery continued to lag.

Creating Cozy Corners | There’s something about a snug little spot that evokes all the warm-and-cozies.

“There’s nothing that gives off a homey vibe like a cozy nook; it’s the perfect space to curl up with a cup of tea and read a book,” says Christine Markatos Lowe of Christine Markatos Design in Santa Monica, Calif.

“We find that it is the small cozy areas that end up being used the most,” says Emily Williams, co-founder of BradyWilliams, an interior-design studio in London.

4 Eco-Conscious Spring Home Trends | With fresh rains heralding the arrival of spring, renewed greenery and blooming trees remind us that our planet is filled with things worth protecting.

Eco-conscious trends in home design and construction highlight how we can tread lightly on the planet and blend in seamlessly with elegant, low-impact homes. From rainwater recovery to green roofs, here are some of this spring’s top eco solutions.

Unlocking the Power of Joyful Design | A Conversation with Ingrid Fetell Lee - We constantly receive advice on how we could be happier—cleanses, retreats, mindfulness—but according to industrial designer and author Ingrid Fetell Lee, the secret ingredients of joy may be found in our surroundings.

Lee has built a career studying the science of joy, and how everyday surroundings can engage us in ways that influence our emotional well-being. That’s the subject of her bestselling book Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness.

Full House | 6 Winning Game Rooms - From timeless Old World–inspired spaces with handsome woodwork to playful modern rooms with colorful décor, these stylish game rooms up the ante on form, function, and fun.

Rome’s Peak Neighbourhood | Monteverde Vecchio, perched atop Rome’s Gianicolo Hill, regally surveys the world over which it presides.

In the city of Seven Hills, Gianicolo (the English spelling is Janiculum) lays claim to No. 8. (Although it’s Rome’s second-tallest hill, it fell outside the boundaries of the ancient city when the seven were named.)

Marking a Grand Entrance | It’s often said that you only get one chance to make a first impression. Thankfully, there are many ways to impress when it comes to designing a compelling entryway. The first thing visitors see when they step inside your home, an inviting entry can set the tone for the rest of your décor and establish your aesthetic at a glance. Let these six elegant properties inspire your own grand entrance and make that first impression one worth capturing for posterity.

Market Report | December 2019 - Toronto Real Estate Board President Michael Collins announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,090 sales through TREB's MLS® System in November 2019 – a 14.2 per cent increase compared to November 2018. On a GTA-wide basis, sales were up year-over-year for all major market segments. Annual sales growth in ground oriented home types, including detached houses, led the way.

Charming Neighbourhoods in Oakville, Ontario | Cozy mansions nestle beneath lofty boughs, afternoons are lost to leisurely golf sessions, and former fishing villages now provide the perfect milieu for peaceful lakeside living. Close to the buzz of Toronto and growing rapidly, is it any wonder Oakville is one of the most sought-after communities for urbanites looking to get away without getting away? With convenient public transport to whisk you into the city, and a high-achieving public school system, it would be easy work to call Oakville home.

Milk Paint Endures | Maybe you can’t put a name on it, but undoubtedly you’re familiar with that timeworn, color-washed finish that makes every grain and beautiful imperfection come to life.

High-End Hospitality: Six Stylish Guesthouses | Whether in California, on the sugary sand in Palm Beach, or in the hills north of the historic Santa Fe Plaza, these welcoming guest houses allow visiting family and friends to unwind in style.

7 Stylish Dining Rooms That Are Feasts for the Eyes | Whether hosting a quiet, casual solo meal or a formal fête for a crowd, the dining room is an essential space in the welcoming modern home. From classical to contemporary, subtle to striking, these dining rooms invite everyone to gather ‘round the table – just in time for the Holiday Season!

Luxury Properties For Sale Over $37 Million | December 2019 - From a private mansion in Paris, France to the palatial Swan Lakes Castle in Granite Bay, California, these are this month’s four featured notable properties for sale over $37 million.

Market Watch | October 2019 - Toronto Real Estate Board President Michael Collins announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 8,491 residential sales through TREB's MLS® System in October 2019. This result represented a 14 per cent increase compared to 7,448 sales reported in October 2018. GTA-wide, sales were up on a year-over-year basis for all major home types.

Living the High Life | 6 Superior Penthouses - Perched on their buildings’ highest floors, these six sophisticated penthouses—in desirable locations from West Coast to East—benefit from privacy, views, style, and amenities that go above and beyond.