Q: I’ve decided to go with artificial plants for the deck (too expensive to renew the planters every summer) and hoping you could help narrow my search for such. I don’t mind paying more to get quality. Would appreciate any help you can provide. Thank You for your time.

A: Try Calfolia, 1250 Beaulac, VSL: As you walk into this jungle, you too can imagine a Tahitian getaway in your home with the help of a personal floral designer to customize arrangements. You can buy (at 50%-70% off) anything off the floor from the 12,000 dozen high quality silk plants, flowers and trees – from bonzai to palm trees.

For a wedding, they can help you (rental too) with silk flowers, arches, vases, roseballs or trees. Centerpieces can be made for you (and guest can keep them for memories) or they can teach you how to make them yourself, and after the wedding they can re-arrange the flowers to fit in your home. There’s a huge selection of indoor and outdoor flowers, vases, pottery and planters.    www.calfolia.com

Stock up on Liquideco’s great savings on towels, placemats, dishcloths, oven mitts, mattress covers (3 types), shower curtains, rugs, bath rug sets, etc. They offer great deals like cushions for $5, curtain panels for $5, twin comforters starting at $15 or bed-in-a-bag sets from 4-7 pieces starting at $20.
Head to their manufacturer’s warehouse sale in the east end. It will only be held for 2 days, so make your list and be sure to get extras of everything at these prices.
Free parking available and the sale is only till stock lasts.

Location: 8566 Boul. Pie-IX
corner: Boul. Robert
Dates: March 20 & 21
Times: Fri 10-6, Sat 8-3
www.liquideco.com

Q: Is there a place for “awnings” in Lasalle, Quebec? I remember you mentioning this one time but because I didn’t need one then did pay much attention.

However, now I need an outdoor balcony awning. If you know of other ones that have good deals I would also like to know these.

A: Well you certainly have a good memory. There is a place that sells awning fabric in LaSalle. However, I don’t believe they make awnings. But they must know who makes them in your neighborhood as they sell to so many companies. Lascan, 9001 Elmslie, Lasalle Tel: 514-366-2800

Q: Heard you CJAD today ! I was so excited to know that I might finally get help to salvage a silverware set. given to me by my mother. It’s a lovely silver coffee set (tray, coffee/ tea pot , milk and sugar bowls. ) Unfortunately, it’s so tarnished (turned black/ blue ) that I wonder if I could ever get it polished enough to reveal its beauty.

That being said , I wish to have it professionally cleaned . Could you please let me know if anything can be done to save this set. There is no way that I can clean it myself. I’ll go anywhere on the island of Montreal ! Thank – you for your input .

A: Well these type of repairmen are dying off quickly. The only one I have left is Barocco Tel: 514-866-7205. He’s a 2nd generation silversmith and loves his work. I know he makes silver pieces, just don’t know if he cleans them. And then there’s Birks…

Q: The spring lifting mechanism of my Murphy bed will no longer keep the bed in it’s upright position when closed. Is there anybody in Montreal that offers this type of repair service? I am having a hard time locating someone. Whatever info you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

A: I’m not sure which type of Murphy bed you have but there are a few places in my Smart Shopping Montreal book (look under wall beds) which sell them. Perhaps these businesses may know where you can get parts or have someone who can do the repair:

Li-Muro says they carry the Murphy line wall bed. Tel: 514-845-0308, 4823 St-Denis

B.O.F.F. in Laval, has their own Canadian designed mechanism Tel: 450-978-2444,  1778 le Corbusier

Stil Design in Pointe Claire used to be a Murphy bed dealer and they still have wall beds but mostly do closet design now. Tel: 514-697-3128, 870 Ellington

Stock up on Liquideco’s great savings on bedding, curtains, comforters, pillows, shower curtains, bath towels, mats, dishcloths, oven mitts, mattress covers, etc. They offer great deals like cushions for $3, curtains for $5 and comforters starting at $15.

Head to their manufacturer’s warehouse sale in the east end. It will only be held for 2 days, so make your list and be sure to get extras of everything at these prices.

This is a cash only sale.

Location: 8566 Boul. Pie X
corner: Boul. Robert
Dates: Feb. 27 & 28
Times: Fri 10-6, Sat 8-3
www.liquideco.com

Q: I have an old Brother Activator 800T portable typewriter. I would like to either sell it or give it to someone who would use it. Do you have any suggestions?

I also have a portable sewing machine Singer model F9708385 in a wooden case. It doesn’t work but could probably be repaired. It has a handle to turn to make it work. I think it was bought in about 1932 in England or Belgium. Do you know anyone who might be interested in it.

A: Take photos of them and take them to: Marche aux Puces St-Michel at 7707 Shelley just south of the Metropolitain at boul. St-Michel. It is  open Fri-Sun. There are 2 floors of flea market dealers and someone there either wants them or can tell you who might.
– You can always post it on Kijijji and try to sell it that way too.
– Or give it away at https://groups.freecycle.org/freecyclemontreal

How tempting does this sale sound? With authorization from the management, you can name your own price of your purchase. With an idea like that, you can just buy more and more.

With the choice of items that Ove Decors are offering, you will be sure to find something that suits your taste and budget.

Select amongst cabinets, backsplashes, sinks, faucets, baths, showers, shower columns, toilets, vanities, complete kitchens, side units, counters, conversation sets, lounge chairs, bistro sets, dining sets, sectionals, accessories and more.

They will be selling floor models, samples, ends of lines and overstock. They offer design and installation services by specialists.

The rules are simple – only 3 small steps
1. Come in and choose what you like
2. Make an offer
3. Leave happy

Locations: 2001 Transcanadienne O. Dorval H9P 1J1 east of boul des Sources exit (1-855-624-5959 X8211); 2800 Etienne-Lenoir Laval QC H7R 0A3 (450-624-5959 x 61)
Hours: Mon-Wed 9-5, Thurs & Fri 9-6, Sat & Sun 10-5
Dates: Feb 24-March 8
www.ovedecors.com
https://www.facebook.com/ovedecors

Q: I have bought your books in the past and read your newspaper articles. We finished renovating our basement and we have medium size walk in closet that needs shelving, rods to hang clothes and shoe rack. Do you know of a reasonable handyman that does this type of work or specializes in this. Thank you very much and have a healthy summer. You are very informative for people on a budget.

A: You might try Arrange Spaces Tel: 514-339-1111 or Glenn Robertson Closet Design  Tel: 514-425-6738

Steel furniture has made a huge resurgence in the decor scene due to its good clean lines and durability.

We all remember those enamel-painted pieces of office furniture that lurked in our elementary schools or in our parents’ basements. They were heavy, utilitarian, and usually painted a neutral almond, taupe or (heaven forbid) olive green. Yes they were very durable, but ugly and terribly un-cool. Aside from throwing it out, or sending it to the basement to store your now useless record collection, there didn’t seem to be much to do with it.

On that point, archMontreal has a different take on it. Ignoring the terrible mid-century paint jobs and the laminate tops, these pieces usually have very good, clean lines, harking back to the beginning of industrial design and the adage that form follows function. They have several of these pieces, salvaged from their own workshop, and decided to try to make them usable again.

One of the easiest fixes is to get rid of the paint and get back to the old, bare metal, which they did using the services of a local sand-blaster. The next step was to replace the laminate tops with made-to-measure maple or oak counter tops, tapping into the current trend to mix industrial metal and wood for a chic, urban loft look. You can see the transformation in the accompanying photos – the before and after pictures of the metal cabinets that were sandblasted.

Originally used in a Montreal industrial shop, the cabinets now could be re-purposed as storage armoires, book shelves or even mud room furniture. If you can stretch your mind enough, the sky’s the limit for what these pieces could become.

archMontreal is proud to make re-purposing and re-using salvaged materials and furniture their main mandate. It’s the best sort of recycling – instead of destroying pieces of our industrial heritage, they make sure they can lead new lives as something else.

Visitors to the shop will find plenty of furniture ready to be re-purposed or in the process of finding a new existence. They are happy to provide unaltered pieces for those who want DIY projects or to help you along your path to a unique, custom piece.

Visit them right away (before the pieces are sold!) to see the cabinets and more, or follow their Facebook page [/archmontreal] or their Instagram [@arc_montreal] to see their new arrivals.

5524A rue St-Patrick, suite 202 Montreal, QC, H4E 1A8
corner: boul Monk
Tel: 514-788-6007
Hours Tues-Fri 9-5, Sat 11-4 Please call before going to make sure the doors are opened
Station de l’eglise / Station Vendome