Toronto Condo and Real Estate Blog

Pier 1 Imports has undergone a radical makeover with the introduction of a new line of streamlined, contemporary furnishings and accessories.When Pier 1 revealed its fresh face, it displayed merchandise designed to appeal to changing consumer tastes.

One of North America’s largest retailers of imported decorative home furnishings, Pier 1 supplants the characteristic handicraft-style merchandise for which it’s been known with a product lineup featuring furniture, accessories and decorative items with clean lines, architectural shapes, larger-scale proportions and a more sophisticated colour palette, according to a company news release.

“We’re not abandoning wicker or unique stemware,” stresses company spokesperson Misty Otto. “We’re offering an updated, fresher look but it still has a specialty feel, that hand-touched international look.”

The Texas-based firm will continue the practice of changing up to three-quarters of store merchandise annually, says Otto, and its 1,300 outlets will have fresh Modern Craftsman-style pieces every season.

Its research showed that because consumers lead increasingly hectic lives they’re looking for products that help simplify their surroundings at home.”They want (to create) a haven at home so it’s less cluttered, more organized and, therefore, more relaxing,” she explains.

Jay Jacobs, the company’s executive vice-president of merchandising, says one way people can de-clutter is by replacing a multitude of less-important decorative items with one or two statement pieces that make a dramatic change in their living spaces.

Pier 1 lost its traditional niche as competition intensified in recent years. Retailers such as Wal-Mart came on the market with similar products at a lower price point, for example, while Pottery Barn also introduced higher-priced merchandise in comparable styles.

In an effort to offer customers something unique, Pier 1 staffers collaborated with vendors in 50 countries to develop one-of-a-kind merchandise under the Modern Craftsman umbrella, Otto says.

The new merchandise includes cubic white dinnerware, camelback sofas, upholstered slipper chairs in “neo-retro” fabrics and wicker fashioned into modern shapes for indoor and outdoor use.

Jacobs says the Pier 1 stores have also been revamped to be more streamlined and reflect the Modern Craftsman no-clutter look. Aisles are wider, displays offer fewer but more focused collections and co-ordinated vignettes show customers how pieces might look in their homes.

Whether you’re moving into your first home and have chosen to start off with a brand new condo or downtown loft, or you’re downsizing from a larger family home to a chic uptown suite, you’re on the threshold of an exiting new beginning. And what better way to celebrate than with a selection of fresh, upbeat and affordable furniture that can be designed to fit your own personal space and lifestyle.

Many new condo owners face the same situation — what to do with the thoughtful floor plan to maintain the integrity of design and also allow for the assortment of personal belongings everyone has — be it a prized book collection, Venetian art glass, or an assembly of family photos too precious to hide away. The designers at Neoset Canada will come to your rescue with a variety of ideas to integrate your present furnishings and decor pieces with custom-made as well as readily available items to create just the right look for you.

When it comes to total home furnishing solutions, Neoset has options for every room in your condo. For instance, maybe you’re starting out in a small bachelor pad where you hope to conserve space and still maintain comfort and appearance. In this case, a bed with built-in storage like the Alba bed is ideal. Equally efficient is the Flexi Table that converts from a coffee table to a dining table.

Perhaps you have an expansive loft-style wall that calls out for an extensive system of shelves and display niches. For this luxurious dilemma there are unlimited solutions and design concepts.

Will you be setting up a home office in your new condo? Plot out ahead of time the static considerations such as where you prefer the drawers on your desk, left or right. How much shelving do you need? How much worktop space? Consulting with a Neoset designer will also help you configure a work area into a pleasing environment in which to spend quality time. With the computer hutch unit you can slide down the cover when you’re through work for the day, and you have another sleek contemporary home furnishing solution.

When it comes to children and their personal space, something you may not have thought about is whether cupboards should be connected to the bed of a rambunctious toddler. Or not! Again, this is the sort of decision that an experienced professional can help guide you through.

As you sit with a Neoset designer you’ll be prompted to examine what is important to you in your new condo: where you want to conceal storage areas; how large an entertainment centre you can accommodate, and how you can showcase all of your new electronics wisely; and what you can do to maximize your space to become not just practical, but a true expression of your own style.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information

By Denise Lash

Are you excited about the prospect of buying your first new home? Perhaps you’re considering buying a new condominium townhome or a loft. With so many options, where do you start?

Most importantly, take the time to look around. Find a good real estate agent who is experienced in the condominium market and familiar with the area in which you hope to buy. You can check on a builder by contacting Tarion (www.tarion.com). They will have information on the company’s history and past projects.

Once you’re comfortable with your builder, the next step is to review the condominium documentation and find out exactly what you are purchasing. What are the restrictions imposed in the documentation? What are the extra costs? What about the closing date? What will the completed unit look like?

If you are purchasing a new condominium, you will be presented with an agreement (the Agreement of Purchase and Sale), as well as the condominium documentation. From the date that the Agreement of Purchase and Sale has been signed you and your lawyer will have 10 days to review the documentation. Here are a few points to consider:

Are there other charges besides the purchase price?

Yes, and some of those charges are negotiable. A few additional expenses you can anticipate are the Land Transfer Tax, the Tarion enrolment fee, the Law Society fee, utility meter hookup charges, development charges, upfront contribution to the reserve fund, and GST if you are purchasing the condominium as an investment and not occupying the unit personally.

What will the unit look like?

You may not get what you think you are getting. It is extremely important for you and your lawyer to review the Agreement of Purchase and Sale to ensure you have the protection you need. The dimensions and ceiling height should be clearly dealt with in your Agreement of Purchase and Sale so you can determine the size of the unit and the individual rooms. Finishes and features may also be specified and may be subject to substitutions. Items that you want to ensure you have in your unit should be brought to the attention of your lawyer at the time of review.

What are the restrictions?

Do you have a pet? Do you intend to use window coverings that are not white in colour? Or do you require hardwood flooring throughout your unit? Check these items in the condominium documentation to see what the restrictions are. It may be that no pets are allowed, that there are restrictions on the number or type of pets, or there may be a weight restriction for your pet.

Another common restriction is that floors need to be covered with carpeting. If you want that beautiful hardwood throughout the unit, check to see if you have to cover a certain percentage of your floor area with carpeting or rugs.

If your window coverings are not white or off-white in colour — beware. The condominium documentation may specify that any window coverings appearing from the exterior of the building must be a certain colour or type of covering.

All of these restrictions and others are contained in the condominium documentation. They should be reviewed in detail so that once you become an owner, you are aware of what you can do within your unit.

What else are you getting besides the unit?

Lockers and parking are often included with the purchase of your condominium unit, but you should confirm that they are included. The location of your parking space may be critical to you, or perhaps you need a certain size of locker. If these items are important to you, then you may want to specify those details in your Agreement of Purchase and Sale. Also, check to see if you are purchasing your locker or parking space as separate “units” to which you hold separate legal title with separate common expenses, or whether they are “exclusive use” which do not have separate expenses and are allocated specifically to your condominium unit.

Expect delays

It is common for closing dates, which are specified in your Agreement of Purchase and Sale, to be extended because of delays, such as construction difficulties, that may be beyond the control of the vendor. Be prepared for extensions in closing dates, and make prior arrangements for accommodation and storage just in case your move-in date changes. Obtaining this information and negotiating these terms early on will assist you in understanding what you are buying, and will make the process of purchasing a condominium less stressful.

Denise Lash is a condo lawyer at Miller Thomson LLP and co-founder of MondoCondo.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information