80 - Friday. Novemher 20, 1998 — North Shore News ~ Designing your own healthy interior Deana Lancaster News Reporter deana@nsnews.com PLANNING a facelift or redesign in your home can be over- whelming. Without training, it canbe difficult to figure eut what works, how to make the most of your furnishings and add fresh touches that you're com: fortable with. Healthy Home: A practical guide to making vour own home Sit for body, mind and spirit, written by Englishwoman Jill Blake is just the thing for homeowners looking for a place to start. Rather than looking at the interior design of your iome from a “what’s in style” point of view, the book focuses on creating a balance of space, colour, energy and light thar is comfortable for you. It also includes practical advice on planning for storage, and detailed information on energy efficiency, recycling, eco-fntendly products and nat- ural materials. The book is divided into two major sections. Creating a Harmonious Home includes tips on organizing space for healthy living, enhancing vour home with scents and sound and even the “Health-giving value of plants and living things.” Part Two, Creating an Eco-friendly Home, contains information on healing a home, or rid- HEALTHY Home, by Jill Blake, offers readers a prac- tical guide to freshening their home with a balance of space, colour, energy and light. ding it of harmful pollutants. Throughout the book, Blake refers to the practices of Feng Shui, the ancient art of place- ment which is used to enhance well-being. The book is available at local book stores for $36.95. Tips for first home buyers A home may be the biggest purchase you'll ever make so it’s espe- cially important to be an informed consumer. When buving a home, the tint thing to keep in nund ys that it’s nora simple propost dion, Not only de vou nved to consider vour budget, litestwle and location, vou need to Jouk atthe many housing and Mortgage opnons. You must decide if vou want anew home ora resale property, if van want vour mortyage to be epen oor closed, fived rate or variable; and whether vou need mort- gage insurance. You must: also determine What to expect trom your real tor, dender, fawver, home inspector and: builder. Sound contusing? Tn can be. But by Going vour home work and: carcrully: weighing all of your options, vou can make an intarmed: decision about peme ownership ‘Te get vou started, here are some basic Tas tor home buyers BB Don't be atraid to ask ques tons —as the only wav te get answers B knew exactly how much vou can spend on your dream home by apphing tor a pre- approved mortgage. W Make a fist of the features vour new home must have and those it would be nice to have. Take the Ist wih vou when von go house hunting. BVist the home at least anc vonce dunng the dav and ence apanght @ Cheek with a lawer io emsure sour legal interests are bemg protected: before pro ceeding with amy mayor dee ATUHS, While approving vour mort gage, the fender will check sour credit raung. Check vour rating in advance te avoid any unwanted surprises, For more detailed advice on buving a home, contact the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) at 1-800-263-0231], or visit its web site at wwewcba.ca and ask for a copy of Mortqage Wise. Have a safely lit Christmas BEFORE you start sketching out the pat- terns and colours of your Christmas light display, think about how much energy you'll be using. With the festive season fast approaching, BC Hydro is reminding its customers to consider having a) Power Smart holiday. Power Smart) Christmas lights, which are endorsed by BC Hydro, are manufactured by Alderbrook Noma and Canadian Tire. The lights use only five watts of energy — 29% less than traditional Christmas lights, and are available in - To create an extraordinary home, you start with an extraordinary address. BAYSHORE TUESDAY. 5:50 PM. strings of 25 and 30 light bulbs. A timer or a photocell is also a smart addition to a Christmas lighting system. These energy-saving devices can be programmed to turn lights on at dusk and off at a scheduled time. Timers should be manufactured to operate at the correct wattage required. Here are a few electrical safety tips to keep in mind when creating your outdoor light display: B Ensure all cords, plugs and sockets are weather-proof, @ Turn off all Christmas lights before going to bed and when away from home. @ Ensure circuits carry no more than 1,500 warts. @ Repair or replace light Strolling a waterfront pathway, vou are surrounded by the scent of roses. And you smile, knowing this is your garden at The Waterfront Residences at Bayshore, Where 1,700 to 6000 square foot homes overlook unlimited splendor. Where the privileges of the Westin Boyshore Hotel await, And evcey path leads to the time of your Ife. Most suites priced from $500,000 to $5 million. Presentation Centre, Suite 1550 - 1500 West Georgia. Open 12-5 pm Monday - Saturday. For a private appointment call Evelyn Froese (604) 688-1710 or Toll Free: 1-800-477-1766. Exclusively marketed by Royal LePage. Developed by Bayshore Gardens Developments Ltd. strings which have breaks, show signs of insulation dete- rioration, or have frayed cords or loose connections. @ Keep electrical connections off the ground. & Keep wiring clear of drain pipes and railings to prevent any risk of shock. Bi Avoid using extension cords by installing a separate weath- er-proof circuit. B Do not use indoor lighting equipment outside. @ Use insulated staples rather than nails or tacks to hoid light strings in place. For more information about Power Smart Christmas Lights, call BC Hydro at 540- 8883. Or visit the company’s web site at ewww behydro.com>. wit R The Waterfront Residences. Mh he BAYSHORE DRIVE