16 - Friday, June 9, 1989 - North Shore News LIFESTYLES} Hol VJ F } A Stacked laundry equipment ideal where space is limited NEARLY A quarter of Canadian consumers are 55 or oider. And, while over-55 consumers share many of the same concerns that motivate their younger counterparts, they have begun to recognize some special needs of their own, including changed lifestyles. Many consumers age 55 or over, for instance, have successfully raised families, then moved to smaller homes or remodeled cur- Tent homes tc meet revised needs. Moving or remodeling provides a perfect opportunity to take stock of new n ienced homeowners may find that tighter space require- ment, a desire for convenience and a reduced willingness to climb stairs often motivate them to locate the laundry area on the main floor. But such a decision presents consumers with some questions: Will the laundry area take up too much room? Will a first-floor in- stallation require extensive piumb- ing and rewiring costs? Is laundry equipment: that is both attractive and easy to use available? According to Doug Ringger, manager of product testing for a large appliance manufacturer, quality laundry equipment that fills these requirements is avail- able. “Almost half of the modern laundry equipment that is sold to- day is used in a first-floor loca- tion,’’ he said, ‘‘so it is designed to be attractive as well as func- tional.’’ Stacked laundry equipment, for instance, is ideal where floor space is at a premium. Requiring only about five square feet of floor space, full-size stacked units take half the space of a conventional laundry pair. And, not only does this stacked unit save floor space, it also offers sleek styling and easy-to-use touch-controls that eliminate bending and stooping. One retired couple, for instance, nestled 2. stacked unit into their apartment’s former bathroom linen closet and enclosed it with louvred doors. By converting the closet to a space-saving laundry area, the couple also eliminated the troublesome necessity of climbing up and down steps te a central laundry room. And, with carefui planning, homeowners can install a _first- floor laundry area without break- ing the budget. By designing an area in or adjacent to the kitchen or bath, homeowners can take ad- vantage of existing plumbing lines Container gardens offer versatility AS GARDENING continues to in- . crease in popularity, people look for new ways to enjoy this hobby. Container gardening offers the perfect answer. Your creativity and artistic touch come forth to decorate both “the inside and outside of your home. With the variety of planters available, it’s easy io set up gardens with your personal touch, * in any location. “Container gardening offers op- tions not available to the tradi- tional gardener,”’ says Richard E. Husby, vice-president of marketing for a planterware firm. “Whether they are used in apartments, condominiums, or on decks and patios, they allow for limited time and space, and recognize no seasonality. Roses or cucumbers: in December are a distinct possibility.”’ Another advantage to working with containers is the physical ease Let’s Sell REAL ESTATE Home 926-1952 ate aeatah dale ww ee Harley McDougall List with me — be WORRYFREE ! “Serving the whole North Shore’’ CREE WESTERN REALTY “I make my commissions the old fashioned way, 1 earn them.* allowed. The gardener need not stoop or work on the ground. By raising the pianters to table level, one can work while standing or sitting, making it a perfect hob- by for those who are wheelchair- bound. Setting up a container gardei: is simple. First, buy the plants or seeds. Sizes and styles can be chosen to complement each room’s decor. If buying plants, check the leaves. Make sure they are evenly colored (no light leaves along the bottom of the plant), and have no brown edges. Also check the light and water requirements for each plant. Plants with similar require- ments can be attractively arranged together. The next step is finding ap- propriate containers. When selec- ting planters, think of practicality See Experiment Page 20 Office 922-6166 and nearby sink. Proper grecunding, circuitry, outlets and venting will also be more readily available or easy to install in these areas. op WHOLESALE? SA PRICES SAVE UP 10 $1000 : # POOL & SPA CHEMICALS 0 * with this ‘90 % OFF coupon cho) bartle & \.~/gibson co. ltd. 399 Mountain Highway (2 blocks off Mountain Hwy) Sen eB oe ewe we ee we ee el HIGHEST OVERAI.L EFFICIENT NON-CATALYTIC WOODSTOVE (72.3% EFFICIENCY) *Certitied Installer GRAD RUGS DIRECT IMPORTER OF PERSIAN AND ORIENTAL RUGS 0%... ON CLEANING AND REPAIR WITH THIS AD @ HAND CLEANING ¢ UNDERPADS # RESTORATION e HANDSTICH BINDING © APPR? TOP TRADE-IN ALLOWANCE ‘3: OLD PERSIAN & ORIENTAL RUGS 320 EAST ESPLANADE, N.VAN. 988-1109 Th ultimate laundry STACKED PAIR FULL SIZE WASHER/DRYER « Exclusive computer control panei operates both units. © Only 27% inches wide e Full size top loading washer and on top dryer ° First in preference (based on a national survey asking consumers which brand d they’ q like to. own) SPECIAL PRICING ON SELECTED MODELS.