4 DIY Solutions for Your Bathroom Space

Marci • July 5, 2016

All of us are looking for ways to make our living spaces more efficient whilst keeping the style intact; and certainly the bathroom space is no exception. The question becomes, “How do I do this without spending a small fortune on renovations and upgrades?” The answer is simple…You get creative!

The following are four stylish bathroom hacks that will help you declutter and organize, all for the cost of a few cups of coffee (or tea, if that’s your thing!)

Creative Shelving Units

The first (and most obvious) solution for getting your bathroom clutter organized is by way of conveniently placed, ideally designed, and most definitely inexpensive shelving units. This may sound daunting, especially if you, like me, lack meaningful shelves in any and all of your bathroom spaces. But never fear! There are easy and effective ways to make this happen!

Wicker baskets (and the like)

This image is from diyready.com and can be found here

Baskets (of various sizes) can be hung from any wall in your bathroom via a drywall anchor (or two) and a simple screw (or two). This technique will not only showcases a classic, rustic homestead piece (the basket); it will also give you ample room to store whatever it is that you need to store.

Obviously, if you don’t have baskets, other items can be utilized here. The key is the shape. If it’s deep enough to hold that which you need it to hold, and “the look” is there, than go for it!

The Hanging Shelf

Nothing beats the satisfaction of framing your own shelf. Now, before you get scared and run…relax. This job includes only a few tiny pieces of lumber, a small length of rope, a small can of wood stain, and a hanger (with another drywall anchor/screw combo). This piece can be easily hung over a toilet or on an empty wall. Plus, not only does it provide shelf options, you can beam with pride when you tell your guests that you fashioned it yourself, out of a tree that you found in the forest, and cut down, yourself…right? Too far?

Custom Towel Rack Solutions

Related to the shelving units, we find ideas related to hanging towels. Simply, you’d be mistaken if you stopped at the classic rack; because there’s a world of options out there for you to try out.

The Ladder Rack

An old wooden ladder, properly restored, can act as a great hanging rack for towels, face cloths and clothing items fresh out of the washer.

This image is from charmbraceletdiva.blogspot.ca  and can be found here

“His” and “Hers”

His and her towel racks are not only interesting design wise; they’re functional. No longer will your spouse have rights to your towel because he or she didn’t know that it was yours. Those days are over.

Wine Rack/Towel Rack

This image is from hubpages.com  and can be found here

Yes! The wine rack has uses for things other than wine. namely…towels! In all seriousness though, these racks can be very inexpensive and can hold several towels at a time; all the while looking classy, interesting and unique to boot! What’s not to like?

Vanity Organization

Most bathrooms that I’ve seen (and experienced) contain drawers that are simply overflowing with stuff. Avoid this travesty at all costs by dividing (and therefore conquering) the drawer’s contents. Kitchen utensil holders work fabulously here. These pieces are simple, functional, and nobody has to see them but you, so the questions surrounding kitchen organizational tools in your bathroom will be minimal.

Continue with your vanity realignment by adding some simple hanging shelves into the inside the cabinet door. A simple magazine rack can work well here, and can be attached via a couple small screws (just make sure you don’t go so far as to pierce the outer side of the door).

The Mason Jar (For all your hipster storage needs)

This image is from thediyplaybook.com  and can be found here

Mason jars are useful for lots of things: storing jams, holding pickled items and also dispensing soap…That’s right! Also (and perhaps a little more seriously), these jars can be formed into wonderful mini storage units. They look great, too!

There are obviously lots more ideas out there, but hopefully these few have gotten your creative juices flowing, and have ignited your imagination. There’s lots you can do; so what are you waiting for?

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Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Sept 17th, 2025

By Marci Deane • September 17, 2025
Bank of Canada lowers policy rate to 2½%.  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Relations Ottawa, Ontario September 17, 2025 The Bank of Canada today reduced its target for the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 2.5%, with the Bank Rate at 2.75% and the deposit rate at 2.45%. After remaining resilient to sharply higher US tariffs and ongoing uncertainty, global economic growth is showing signs of slowing. In the United States, business investment has been strong but consumers are cautious and employment gains have slowed. US inflation has picked up in recent months as businesses appear to be passing on some tariff costs to consumer prices. Growth in the euro area has moderated as US tariffs affect trade. China’s economy held up in the first half of the year but growth appears to be softening as investment weakens. Global oil prices are close to their levels assumed in the July Monetary Policy Report (MPR). Financial conditions have eased further, with higher equity prices and lower bond yields. Canada’s exchange rate has been stable relative to the US dollar. Canada’s GDP declined by about 1½% in the second quarter, as expected, with tariffs and trade uncertainty weighing heavily on economic activity. Exports fell by 27% in the second quarter, a sharp reversal from first-quarter gains when companies were rushing orders to get ahead of tariffs. Business investment also declined in the second quarter. Consumption and housing activity both grew at a healthy pace. In the months ahead, slow population growth and the weakness in the labour market will likely weigh on household spending. Employment has declined in the past two months since the Bank’s July MPR was published. Job losses have largely been concentrated in trade-sensitive sectors, while employment growth in the rest of the economy has slowed, reflecting weak hiring intentions. The unemployment rate has moved up since March, hitting 7.1% in August, and wage growth has continued to ease. CPI inflation was 1.9% in August, the same as at the time of the July MPR. Excluding taxes, inflation was 2.4%. Preferred measures of core inflation have been around 3% in recent months, but on a monthly basis the upward momentum seen earlier this year has dissipated. A broader range of indicators, including alternative measures of core inflation and the distribution of price changes across CPI components, continue to suggest underlying inflation is running around 2½%. The federal government’s recent decision to remove most retaliatory tariffs on imported goods from the US will mean less upward pressure on the prices of these goods going forward. With a weaker economy and less upside risk to inflation, Governing Council judged that a reduction in the policy rate was appropriate to better balance the risks. Looking ahead, the disruptive effects of shifts in trade will continue to add costs even as they weigh on economic activity. Governing Council is proceeding carefully, with particular attention to the risks and uncertainties. Governing Council will be assessing how exports evolve in the face of US tariffs and changing trade relationships; how much this spills over into business investment, employment, and household spending; how the cost effects of trade disruptions and reconfigured supply chains are passed on to consumer prices; and how inflation expectations evolve. The Bank is focused on ensuring that Canadians continue to have confidence in price stability through this period of global upheaval. We will support economic growth while ensuring inflation remains well controlled. Information note The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is October 29, 2025. The Bank’s October Monetary Policy Report will be released at the same time.

Down Payment Options for Canadian Homebuyers

By Marci Deane • September 10, 2025
For most Canadians, the down payment is the biggest hurdle to homeownership. A down payment is the initial amount you contribute toward your property purchase, while the lender covers the rest through a mortgage. By law, Canadian lenders can only finance up to 95% of a property’s value, which means you’ll need at least 5% down to qualify. If you’re putting down less than 20%, your mortgage must be insured through one of Canada’s three default insurance providers— CMHC, Sagen (formerly Genworth), or Canada Guaranty . This insurance comes at a cost, but it can be rolled into your mortgage amount. The less you put down, the higher the premium. Since saving a down payment can feel overwhelming, it helps to know the different sources you can draw from. Here are the most common options available to Canadian homebuyers: 1. Savings & Personal Resources The most straightforward source is your own savings. Lenders will ask to see a 90-day history of the funds in your account. Any large deposits outside of regular payroll must be explained with documentation—such as the sale of a vehicle or a transfer from an investment account. This requirement isn’t just red tape; it’s part of Canada’s anti-money laundering rules. 2. Proceeds from the Sale of a Property If you’ve recently sold another home, you can use the proceeds as a down payment on your new purchase. Proof of the sale—such as the final statement of adjustments from your lawyer—will be required. 3. RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) First-time buyers can withdraw up to $35,000 each (or $70,000 as a couple) from their RRSPs to put toward a down payment under the federal Home Buyers’ Plan . The funds are withdrawn tax-free, but they must be repaid over a 15-year period. This is a popular option for buyers who have been steadily contributing to their retirement savings. 4. Gifted Down Payment With today’s housing prices, many buyers turn to family for help. A parent or immediate family member can provide a gift that makes up part—or even all—of the required down payment. The lender will require a signed gift letter confirming that the money is a true gift (with no repayment expected) and proof that the funds have been deposited into your account. 5. Borrowed Down Payment In some cases, you may be able to borrow your down payment. This option is usually available only if you have strong credit and sufficient income. The payments on the borrowed funds are factored into your debt service ratios, so affordability is key. Lenders typically use 3% of the outstanding balance when calculating the additional payment. The Bottom Line A down payment doesn’t have to come from just one source—it can be a combination of savings, gifted funds, RRSPs, or other resources. What matters most is being able to show where the money came from and that it meets lender requirements. If you’d like to explore your options or learn how much you might qualify for, it’s never too early to start the conversation. Connect with us today—we’d be happy to help you create a plan and take the first steps toward homeownership.

The Source Of Your Downpayment Matters

By Marci Deane • September 3, 2025
If you’re looking to purchase a property, although you might not think it matters too much, the source of your downpayment means a great deal to the lender. Let’s discuss the lender requirements, what your downpayment tells the lender about your financial situation, a how downpayment helps establish the mortgage loan to value. Anti-money laundering Lenders care about your downpayment source because, legally, they have to. To prevent money laundering, lenders have to document the source of the downpayment on every home purchase. Acceptable forms of downpayment are money from your resources, borrowed funds through an insured program called the FlexDown, or money you receive as a gift from an immediate family member. To prove the funds are from your resources and not laundered money from the proceeds of crime, you’ll be required to provide bank statements showing the money has been in your account for at least 90 days or that you’ve accumulated the funds through payroll deposits or other acceptable means. Now, if you’re borrowing all or part of your downpayment, you’ll need to include the costs of carrying the payments on the borrowed downpayment in your debt service ratios. If you’re the recipient of a gift from a direct family member, you’ll need to provide a signed gift letter indicating that the funds are a true gift and have no schedule for repayment. From there, you’ll need to show the money deposit into your account. Financial suitability Lenders care about the source of the downpayment because it is an indicator that you are financially able to purchase the property. Showing the lender that your downpayment is coming from your resources is the best. This demonstrates that you have positive cash flow and that you’re able to save money and manage your finances in a way that indicates you’ll most likely make your mortgage payments on time. If your downpayment is borrowed or from a gift, there’s a chance that they’ll want to scrutinize the rest of your application more closely. The bigger your downpayment, the better, well, as far as the lender is concerned. The way they see it, there is a direct correlation between how much money you have as equity to the likelihood you will or won’t default on their mortgage. Essentially, the more equity you have, the less likely you will walk away from the mortgage, which lessens their risk. Downpayment establishes the loan to value (LTV) Thirdly, your downpayment establishes the loan to value ratio. The loan to value ratio or LTV is the percentage of the property’s value compared to the mortgage amount. In Canada, a lender cannot lend more than 95% of a property’s value. So, if you’re buying a home for $400k, the lender can lend $380k, and you’re responsible for coming up with 5%, $ 20k in this situation. But you might be asking yourself, how does the source of the downpayment impact LTV? Great question, and to answer this, we have to look at how to establish property value. Simply put, something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it and what someone is willing to sell it for. Of course, within reason, having no external factors coming into play. When dealing with real estate, an appraisal of the property will include comparisons of what other people have agreed to pay for similar properties in the past. You’ll often hear of situations where buyers and sellers try to inflate the sale price to help finalize the transaction artificially. Any scenario where the buyer isn’t coming up with all of the money for the downpayment, independent of the seller, impacts the LTV. All details of a real estate transaction purchase and sale have to be disclosed to the lender. If there’s any money transferring behind the scenes, this impacts the LTV, and the lender won’t proceed with financing. Non-disclosure to the lender is mortgage fraud. So there you have it; hopefully, this provides context to why lenders ask for documents to prove the source of your downpayment. If you’d like to talk about mortgage financing, please connect anytime; it would be a pleasure to work with you.