For designer floor products, this airy, huge (4,000 sq feet, 30 ft ceiling) new carpet showroom has always been known by word of mouth – and that’s a good sign. For the past 49 years, this family-run business has been selling quality carpeting from major American and European mills.  It’s their hands-on personalized service which keeps everyone coming back.

Popular now, wood-like vinyl planking, wall-to- wall carpeting for movie rooms, and a large collection of carpet tiles are all here.  They also carry area rugs (contemporary, transitional, traditional, natural, custom), runners and exclusive designer carpet lines. For both carpeting and area rugs, they can do custom borders, add fringes, do finishings and also handle repairs and carpet cleaning. If you’re looking for entrance mats or even logo mats, just come here.

Since they buy in volume for their commercial sales, they can meet and beat the prices of their competitors. Commercial clients know to come here for carpet, tiles, and vinyl flooring.

Once you’ve entered, expect the friendly staff to give you an education on flooring. Their mission is to provide you with exceptional service and quality products, at the most affordable prices – and they meet these goals consistantly.

NEW Location: 2001 Rte Transcanadienne
corner: boul. des Sources
Tel: 514-421-1616
Hours (summer): Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5
www.normandycarpets.ca

I don’t need to use a steel wool pad very often for difficult clean-ups of pots and pans. It occurred to me that every time I used one, it would sit for awhile til the next use – and rust away.  So I’d throw it away. It seemed like you only got one use out of them.

Then the Eureka moment hit. I don’t really use the whole pad each time. So why not cut them in half? Half had enough thickness to scrub. This way I only throw away half when they rust. When I buy a new box, I take a scissors, cut all of them in half right away. So now when you need one (and are too lazy to cut it at that moment), they’re all ready to use.

When setting up a new house or apartment, why not buy quality products that the restauranteurs use so they last a long time? Head to the Marche Centrale area, to Tzanet, for restaurant grade quality equipment for cooking and baking. It has always been a popular shopping destination for hotels and restaurants, but you too can take advantage of their quality and variety.

All of your cooking and baking needs are met with name brands like Kitchen Aid, Cuisinart, Good Grips gadgets, a big selection of quality knives by Victorinox, a huge variety of dishes by Dudson from England, Arcopal from France and professional quality stainless steel pots and pans.

They sell Chicago Metallic Bakeware, a 100 year-old company which produces bakeware with a non-stick surface, which releases easily and clean-ups up effortlessly afterwards. Bakers and cake and cupcake decorators will also love the 50 ft. wall of Wilton products – and so will you.

Why not buy fast food trays or cutting boards in different colours to match any decor, 3′ pepper mills, tipped glass candy jars, call bells, oval stainless platters, cocktail shakers, oil table lamps, many sizes of pizza pans, strainers, whisks, a single serving teapot, booster seats or bamboo steamers? And if you need them, there’s a section of second-hand equipment like dishes, mixers, tables and chairs, etc.

Location: 1375 Louvain
corner: boul. l’Acadie
Tel: 514-383-0030
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5
Other Location: 710 rue Bouvier, Quebec G2J 1A7 (581-742-9876)
www.tzanet.ca

Morris Charney building inspections are so thorough, that he scares real estate brokers. Charney is good at finding defects. He does all kinds of buildings from single-family homesor or condos as well as commercial and industrial buildings.

Most inspectors when they find a defect will refer the matter to an expert. Mr. Charney is an expert, a member of two Québec Orders – ­ professional (practicing) architect and city planner.  He is a member of IHINA (Independent Home Inspectors of North America) based in Boston ­ and he happens to be a Harvard graduate.

Typical pre-purchase inspections run about $1500 + tax for a verbal report or you can buy a written one. Reference is made to current and past building codes. All reports are customized narratives, not computer-generated checklists -­ just the defects, clearly explained. The information provided in both the verbal and written reports are the same. His practice has included renovating many homes, offices and stores so he has a good idea of what things cost. You can check out his LinkedIn site which contains numerous up to date posts regarding typical defects that have been discovered.

Most consumers don’t realize that the “new” Civil Code of Québec [1994] deregulated building inspections so that anyone has a right to do them – even the purchasers themselves. The only stipulations are that it be done in a “prudent and diligent” manner, “without the need of expert assistance”.

Charney believes that a purchaser has the right to be properly informed of what it is they are buying.

Tel: 514-937-5100
Hours: by appointment
www.morrischarneyinspections.com, www.morrischarneyinspectionsfr.com
mcharney@videotron.ca

It’s time to fling open the windows and re-dress your bed and bath.  At Liquideco‘s fab sales you can save 80% off the necessities to spruce up your home.

We are so happy to look out of our windows at the happy Spring sunlight. That’s when we really notice our blinds and shades.

Clean window blinds and shades will brighten up any room decor.  Fenetre Deco does ultrasonic cleaning and repairs of all types of blinds, from 1″ aluminum horizontals to the higher end Silhouettes and Luminettes, and has one of the most extensive blind parts inventories in greater Montreal.

Ultrasonic cleaning is one of the safest and most thorough cleaning processes used in the cleaning industry today. The blinds are placed with a cleaning solution in large water-filled tanks, which use vibrating sound waves to loosen the dirt. Prices start at $15 per blind, and there is a minimum of $75 for a service call. Regular ultrasonic cleaning also helps improve the indoor air quality of offices and homes for a healthier environment.

They also sell many types of blinds and drapery and provide shop-at-home service for Hunter Douglas, Shad-o-matic, Sol-r, Levolor, Altex, wooden and PVC shutters, Sohji panels, roller shades, etc. Who better to suggest which blinds to purchase than the company which not only knows what new blinds look like, but also observes how they endure 2, 5 and 10 years later.

Keep your blinds and other window coverings in tip-top condition by having them serviced by the reliable experts at Fenetre Deco.

Tel: 514-364-2020
Hours: by appt
fenetredeco.com
Email: info@fenetredeco.com

You need to know where to go when it’s that special time for communion, confirmation or baptism. Lingerie Pina & Carmelo Sacco has been the go to place for generations.

If you have a wedding planned this year, the Mother of the Bride could find an outfit, the bridal party too and you can even get bonbonnieres made-to-order and wrapped.  They offer a Bridal Registry and there are gifts galore.

The name  clearly does not define this family business as you’ll find and housewares galore: silverware, china, toasters and meat slicers. If you are looking for ecological cookware, they sell Cool Kitchen which has no PTFE, no PFOA and can be used for induction cooking. The Italian community knows to come here for Pizzel machines for cookies and Cavetelli machines for gnocchi, Those who like collectibles will find: Precious Moments, Walt Disney Collection and Disney Traditions by Jim Shore.

Designers are here to help you with curtains (free installation), and they have the exclusive Hunter Douglas Alustra line with copper and chrome headers. If you need them, there’s carpet runners by the yard.

Do you know where else to buy  housecoats or cotton handkerchiefs?

Location: 8365 boul. Viau, St-Leonard QC H1R 2T6
corner: boul. Robert
Tel: 514-323-0427
Hours: Mon-Wed 9-6, Thurs & Fri 9-7:30, Sat 9-5. Open Sunday 10-5 from Labor Day – June 1st

With Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, gifts for teachers, engagement parties, and all sorts of events coming up on the horizon, it pays to wander the aisles of Le Panier to buy everything you need for any occasion in one place and get the job done.

Le Panier won the title of best gift store in Canada so this store worth a trip from anywhere. The huge shop is chock full of gourmet food, kitchenware,  and gifts at prices mostly under $25. You will not walk out empty-handed when you can choose amongst the jewelry, jams, hot sauces, kitchen gadgets, wearables and much, much more

If you can’t decide, there are ready-made gift baskets or custom-made ones too.

Here’s some ideas:

You can carry wine in an insulated pretty Wine Bag tote handbags. Michael Designs shea butter soaps, handwash and lotions,  For chocolate lovers there’s Louis Sherry New York chocolates in beautiful keepsake metallic tin boxes. I just love the Mighty Mug which won’t fall over – EVER; You can have your coffee near a keyboard without worries ($19.99). Grumpy Butcher’s Maple Bacon is hand-made here in Montreal in small batches from local Quebec pork farmers

For years people have been buying Mike’s Hot Honey which spice up all kinds of food ($14.99). Wrendale pottery makes adorable mugs with kittens, owls, ducks and there also a big selection of teapots. Willow Tree Figurines are popular too.    

For anyone, a cool gift might be the “upside-down” umbrella which closes without water dripping on you. There’s a big display of everything lavender. You can always buy Montreal’s favorite humbugs (now in different flavors), or someone might enjoy their own 5-year-old cheddar or their homemade fudge.

Location: 274 Bord du Lac, Pointe Claire
corner: de Lourdes
Tel: 514-695-7038
Hours: Regular plus Sun 10-5
www.thepanier.com

Cameo opened up here in Montreal in 1960 as a sofa and sofa-bed manufacturer. The family-owned business gained success and notoriety through their superior quality sofa-beds. Now with a new family at its helm, Cameo Collection is a one-stop furniture showroom featuring trendy and innovative pieces and accessories. Today, you can plan your whole layout with sofas, sectionals, chairs, kitchen benches, headboards, bunk beds or wall beds, and then select finishing touches such as tables, lamps, artwork and vases.

Cameo is special in this city because you (or with the guidance of an in-house interior designer) can design your own pieces without restrictions. You can modify both depth and height to fit your body type along with your preferred cushion comfort level – from hard to soft. Clients can choose between regular foam, foam wrapped with dacron for more comfort, velva foam or feathers and down. The sofa backs are well stuffed, using either poly fiber fill or feathers and down or, for a sleek look, a foam back.

Next up, enter their fabric and leather gallery where they offer over 5,000 choices of high quality fabrics (Robert Allen, Kravit, JF, Duralee, Avant Garde, Schumacher). Select your stitching (French stitching or piping) and lastly, you can pick the colour and type of foot – wood or metal.

The advantages of ordering from a local family business are timing, pricing and local employment. Whether it is a custom or standard piece, it can be delivered in 3-4 weeks. Besides the pride you feel keeping jobs here in our city, you get the huge added benefit of only having to pay manufacturer rates and not retail prices.

Their furniture manufacturing quality includes:

– complete kiln dried solid hardwood frame: birch or maple
– assembled with countersink screws and glue for added durability (not staples)
– collapse resistant quality polyurethane foam cushioning and padding
– a tight heavy-gauge spring support system
– commercial quality 299 coil 4 1/2″ high mattress or an upgradable 299 coil with a 1” memory foam top for an even firmer sleep
– zippered cushions, seats and backs for easy care and maintenance
– well stuffed backs
– fitted arm caps
– custom tailoring and stitching

Cameo sofas are  creatively built with removable backs to fit through any doorway. Deliveries are made by knowledgeable and reputable staff who can remove and re-install the backs on site and position the new piece in your room.

Sofa-beds come in singles, jr. doubles, doubles or queen size beds. You can also order kangaroo beds (with under mattress storage), European chair-beds, wall-beds with soft self-opening movement and upholstered headboards. Loved the couch which popped up into sturdy bunk beds.

They do offer re-upholstering for older Cameo couches you may have. Custom-made sofa-bed sheets and mattress covers are also available. Ask about their Crypton treatment for fabrics which repels all stains.

Cameo just keeps improving by integrating high quality materials and craftsmanship coupled with individualized customer service.

Location: 7955 Transcanadienne, Ville St-Laurent
corner: Cote Vertu
Tel: 514-337-2933
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5
www.cameo-sofa.com

Now that the warmer months are on our doorstep, it would be prudent to make sure that your home, both indoors and outdoors, adjusts to the change of seasons. Inspectopro’s Allan White says “Being pro-active is the goal in protecting your home and its contents against the most common invader – water.”

Some easy things to look for:
1. Make sure that runoff from melting ice and snow has somewhere to go; ideally a catch basin or storm drain
2. If you can, shovel salt-laden snow left by your snow-clearing contractor or the city off your front lawn, since the salt will upset the pH balance of the soil and make it difficult for grass to grow.
3. Be sure that your home’s drainage system is functioning. If you have a flat roof, be sure that meltwater can reach the roof drain. If the perimeter of the drain is blocked with leaves (or any other vegetable matter) from last fall, clean away a small portion so that the water can gently flow into the drain. Never unblock it all at once, otherwise the pressure of all that inflowing water could cause it to spew up from the basement
4. If you have a shingled roof, be sure that ice and snow does not accumulate excessively at the eaves and valleys. Back-ups of ice and snow can cause water to penetrate the roof and leak into the attic
5. Check the eavestroughs (“gutters”) for physical damage which might have been caused by winter ice dam and icicle formation
6. Watch for water infiltration in the basement from window wells which may be blocked, or from a failed or poorly functioning foundation drain (also known as a French drain), or from cracks.
7. If your home is equipped with backwater traps for the wastewater and drainage system, verify that they are functional.
8. Now is a good time to check the condition of your roof. Once the snow is gone, there is a demand for roofer sand you wouldn’t want to be caught waiting for months.
9. Remember that at areas where water penetrates and stagnates, mold can grow.
10. If the outdoor temperature is above 10ºc (50ºF), you can check the functionality of your air conditioning system. Better to find out now it is faulty than during the heat of summer
11. Check that your window screens are in a state of good repair and ready for re-installation
12. If you have an air exchanger, it can soon be turned off (remember that such systems draw outdoor air into the home in order to reduce the home’s humidity level; in the heat of summer, you will be drawing warm, humid air rather than cool, dry air into the home if the system is still in use)
13. Keep an eye out for burrowing animals which may have hibernated through the winter beneath your front porch, rear sun deck, garden shed, etc.

If you want to make sure your house is in tip top shape (not just when you are buying or selling), here’s my advice, call Inspectopro .

Tel: 514-696-6685
http://www.inspectopro.com