Picture this: you’ve been saving up for years to purchase your first Edmonton home, and you finally found a house that checks all the boxes. You put an offer on it, and after some negotiations, it gets accepted—score! You complete all the paperwork and you get possession in four weeks. Wait… hold up! You now have the dream house, but what about the furniture that goes inside of it? It can often take months, even years, to fully furnish your home to completion! Good quality furniture and decor is not only expensive, but it’s hard to come by. But… it doesn’t have to be. Here in Edmonton, we have a lot of second-hand furniture stores that have one-of-a-kind pieces that will fit in your budget. Here they are:

More Than A Fad

This thrift store carries everything, from clothing to furniture to wall art to jewelry. This shop carries everything—from clothing to children’s toys to decor to kitchen supplies. And of course, a lot of furniture! Not only is this thrift shop good for your wallet, but it’s also good for Edmonton’s economy, as all profits directly support the Adeara Recovery Centre—an addiction recovery centre for women and their children in Edmonton. More Than A Fad has two locations: one in Argyll and another near Kingsway Mall!

Find

Another store that positively impacts the Edmonton economy is Find. Find has two goals: to provide essential furnishings free of charge to individuals and families who are moving out of homelessness, and to supply low-cost, quality furniture and housewares for sale to the public.

Old Strathcona Antique Mall 

Owned by a mother-daughter duo, the Old Strathcona Antique Mall is filled with unique pieces of furniture and decor that you won’t find anywhere else in Edmonton. This shop has over 300 booths of unique vintage & antique treasures, and is Western Canada’s largest antique mall!

Habitat ReStore

Yet another Edmonton thrift store that is helpful for our community! Owned by Habitat for Humanity, the Habitat ReStore sells new and gently-used items like appliances and furniture—all at incredible prices. All the profits help Habitat Edmonton provide affordable home ownership to families in our community. The Habitat ReStore has 5 locations total: South Edmonton, North Edmonton, West Edmonton, Sherwood Park and Grand Prairie.

The second-hand furniture stores definitely don’t stop there, but the ones mentioned above always have a lot of stock and a lot of selection. They’re staples in Edmonton, and we’re proud that they chose our city to operate in. We hope this is helpful!

Featured Guest Blogger:

Alli Harrison is an Edmonton-based marketing & communications professional with extensive experience working with small businesses. Learn all about her by visiting her Instagram, Twitter & LinkedIn.

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Some Fun Ways To Celebrate In 2021 Mother’s Day In YEG

For most of us, mothers are the backbone of our lives—and because last year’s Mother’s Day was less than ideal due to the early stages of the pandemic, it’s time to go all out for Mother’s Day 2021. Though we still need to celebrate safely, we thought we’d put together a list of ways you can treat your mom (or mother figure!) this upcoming Mother’s Day weekend.

Plan A Staycation

Fairmont Mother’s Day Bed & Brunch

It’s been a weird year, so we’re sure both you and your mom could use a 24 hour getaway—and we’ve got the perfect thing just for you. The Fairmont is offering a weekend with luxury accommodations and a Sunday Brunch! Should dine-in restrictions continue in Alberta, brunch will be replaced with contactless in-room dining.

Grab Some Food

Mother’s Day High Tea at The Butternut Tree

The Butternut Tree is a staple in Edmonton, with a unique focus on replacing global sources of familiar flavour with unique ingredients from our home and native land. Though you can’t go wrong with eating off its main menu, the restaurant is also offering a Mother’s Day High Tea—and if dine-in isn’t permitted, the reservation will be offered as pick-up.

Ohana Donuts

It’s no secret that Ohana Donuts sells some of the best donuts in our city! Not only does Ohana Donuts have specialty donuts for every occasion, they also offer letter donuts and individually packaged donuts to promote safe social distancing. If you ask us, the classic cinnamon covered Malasadas with a custard filling is always a win.

The Workshop Eatery’s HenHouse

Is your mom a meat lover? Then HenHouse located in Summerside might be perfect for your Mother’s Day dinner! Depending on the restrictions, the HenHouse might only be available for takeout. But if the weather permits, the patio might also be an option! Be sure to check out its delicious menu and order in advance.

The Moth Cafe

On the flip side, if your mom is the opposite of a meat lover (AKA a vegetarian or vegan), there are still a lot of food options available. Located Downtown, The Moth Cafe was founded by a mother and her two daughters that provide healthy and nutritious food and drinks. What’s more—when restrictions permit, it’s also a place that houses community events such as plant swaps, craft workshops, vinyl brunches and poetry nights!

Send Her Flowers

Best Buds

Located in downtown Edmonton, Best Buds is offering a $25 flower arrangement for Mother’s Day that includes a personalized message and the option to add on a crocheted stuffed animal. And if you’re unable to pick them up, they offer a flat $15 delivery in Edmonton, St. Albert and Sherwood Park!

Bunches Flower Co

With an array of options available, Bunches Flower Co is an obvious choice when choosing flowers for your mother to enjoy. Of course, they also offer local deliver for $14—and offer a number of different ways to customize your bouquet!

Gift Her Something Local

The Maker’s Keep

A local shop founded by Edmontonians, The Maker’s Keep features a large assortment of local goodies that your mom will love. The Maker’s Keep has three locations in our city, and sells everything from clothing, jewelry, home decor, crafts and DIYs, health and wellness, bath and body… you name it!

Meuwly’s Secret Meat Club

Available for delivery for pick-up, Muewly’s Secret (shhh!) Meat Club allows you to give a gift that just keeps on giving. The Secret Meat Club is a monthly subscription package featuring a variety of gourmet meat products, pickles, condiments, and preserves. Subscribe your mom up for as little or as long as you want, and spend as little as $20 per month or as much as $65 per month—you choose!

Biera Box

A different box each month, the Biera Box features a selection of treats from Biera and Blind Enthusiasm. There’s a limited number of boxes per month, so be sure to order yours early to ensure you get one in time for Mother’s Day! What’s more—each Biera Box allows you to add on additional goodies from local vendors, including speciality cocktails from Above Average Drinks. Yum!

The Artworks

Founded in 1982, this local boutique shop features high-end products that your mom will be sure to appreciate. The Artworks sells beautiful flower bouquets, as well as jewelry, fine pens, home decor and much, much more. Grab something fun for your mother figure, or make a day out of it and bring her to the area to shop! Be sure to grab a coffee and a treat from Rosewood Foods while you’re there.

Give Her An Experience 

Prairie Gardens

With COVID screening and sanitation protocols in process, the Prairie Gardens is ready for your visit! Say hello to the animals, get a farm tour, partake in succulent planting workshops, and purchase goodies from the shop—all while creating lasting memories with your mom.

Miller Crossing Mothers Day Market

Located inside the Kingsway Royal Canadian Legion, the Miller Crossing Mother’s Day Market will be open from 12-5 PM on Saturday, May 8, 2021. This market will be selling a variety of different things, including homemade food & baking plus fish, meat, eggs, honey, pickled goods, coffee, jewelry and crafts.

Downtown Farmer’s Market

Take a walk Downtown and visit the Downtown Farmer’s Market while you’re there! Though this market is active every Saturday and Sunday, it’s a perfect pitstop to grab some fresh, local food and take it back home for a safe visit. We suggest grabbing some fresh pasta and sauce from Pasta Delight—we promise you will never go back to dried pasta again.

True North Picnic

True North Picnic is a boutique catering company specializing in one-of-a-kind picnic experiences in Edmonton public parks. Pick a time and a place, and True North Picnic does the heavy lifting (like styling, coordinating and food) for you. Though this experience is available starting May 15th, you can save this experience for a later date. We know your mom will absolutely love this!

We’d love to hear what you get up to this Mother’s Day 2021—feel free to send us a message if there’s anything we should be adding to our list. We hope you have a safe and memorable Mother’s Day this year! 

No home is perfect the moment you purchase it—that is, unless you built and designed it yourself. Home design trends change so quickly, so chances are that your new Edmonton home can stand for a few upgrades. Renovating your home can not only be costly, but it can be time consuming. And if you just purchased your home, it’s likely that it’ll take some time to save up for your larger home renovations, or even some new appliances. But don’t fret—there are plenty of ways that you can jazz your Edmonton home up quickly & easily!

Upgrade Your Lighting

Though it’s not often that you’ll be staring at your ceiling, proper lighting can really light up your room (literally). Swap out your dated track lighting for pot lights. And that circular lamp that you just can’t stand? Purchase a modern looking chandelier to replace it with! Of course, lighting can be expensive, but thrift stores like More Than A Fad or the ReStore have an overstock of new or lightly-used pieces that will definitely amp up your space.

Swap Out The Hardware

Sure, your kitchen may need some new counters and cabinets. Most kitchens do! But we all know that kitchen renos can cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars. So, in the meantime, replace your cabinet’s hardware! Trust us—replacing handles goes a long way, and this goes for bathroom and closet hardware, too.

Paint Your Walls 

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but there’s a lot of unique ways to jazz up your home by using a $50 can of paint. Instead of painting your walls all one colour, consider painting a single bright accent wall, or paint arches to accentuate a piece of furniture. And even if you already like the colour of your non-feature walls, giving it a coat of fresh paint is bound to brighten and clean up the space.

Add A Textured Feature Wall

We’ve seen this done first-hand, and adding some texting to your walls certainly elevates the area. Take this for an example! The best part of doing a project like this is that all you need is some polyurethane adhesive and a small step ladder, and you’ll be finished in no time.

Create A Gallery Wall

Gallery walls are in—and they’re here to stay. Though art can often be costly, there are many ways to get your dream gallery wall for cheap. Firstly, check out your local thrift stores—there will be tons of beautiful frames just waiting to be scooped up! If you’re lucky, you might even like the art that’s already inside it. If not, go garage sale hunting, support local artists or find downloadable art on Etsy.

Leverage Stick-On Tile

Another way to spice up your kitchen or bathroom on a budget is to purchase stick-on tile. Not only do you not have to purchase expensive ceramic tile, but you also won’t have to hire anyone to do it for you! Peel-and-stick tile is incredibly easy to install—no tile cutters required.

Purchase Some Area Rugs

You probably know this already, but flooring is expensive. But even if your home’s current floors aren’t up to par, there are still ways to camouflage it in the meantime. Area rugs draw your attention away from any flooring imperfections. And what’s more—placing an area rug overtop of carpet is the easiest way to add some punch to your home without spending hundreds of dollars replacing carpet!

Plants. Lots Of Plants

Though purchasing plants isn’t necessarily a home “fix”, adding some greenery to your living area is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to spruce up your home. Houseplants are proven to improve moods, reduce fatigue, lower stress and improve air quality. So, when in doubt, purchase a plant or two (or ten). Or better yet, ask your friend for a clipping of their plant—that way, it’s free!

We hope our suggestions above help you renovate your space on a budget. And if you have any other ideas, we’d love to hear them! 

So, you’ve made the decision to move to Edmonton—or maybe you’re already a Yegger and just looking to switch things up. Either way, that’s great! We’re here to help you find the right Edmonton neighbourhood for you. Follow along to see what we think the best neighbourhoods in Edmonton for 20-somethings (or beyond) are. And don’t worry, we’ll ensure our choices are activity and budget friendly.

Oliver

For those already living in Edmonton, Oliver is an obvious spot. Located a short walk away from MacEwan University, several grocery stores and various restaurants and pubs, Oliver is a highly desired area in our city. Though it’s only a 10-20-minute talk to the Downtown core, Oliver is filled with towering trees, beautiful parks, and even a large community garden. And if you are planning on having a family, Oliver is home to several day cares, Oliver Elementary School and even has a public swimming pool—perfect for hot summer days! Explore all Oliver Homes for sale here. 

Ottewell

An up-and-coming neighbourhood, Ottewell is a large residential neighbourhood located East-central Edmonton. It’s a short bus ride to the University of Alberta and is filled with parks, long streets (perfect for the avid runner), and even an outdoor skating rink. Not to mention—Anvil Coffee House is a neighbourhood favourite. If you’re looking to purchase your first home, Ottewell is filled with perfect starter bungalows at an affordable cost. Discover all Ottewell Homes for sale here.

Downtown

Depending on your interests, the obvious location of Downtown Edmonton might be perfect for you. In non-pandemic times, Downtown is the hustling and bustling centre of our city, filled with many local eats (like Rosewood Foods and Tiffin), cocktails around every corner (shoutout to The Bower and Woodwork) and is home to Churchill Square—where most of Edmonton’s iconic summer festivals are held. So, if you’re working in one of the Downtown towers and are child-free, you’ll likely love Downtown. Though rent and mortgages tend to be higher, you’ll save a lot of money on transportation and parking if you simply set up fort in the core. Explore all Downtown Edmonton homes for sale. 

Summerside

We understand that not all 20-somethings want to be close to the downtown core. Sometimes we just want an affordable home in a beautiful neighbourhood! In Summerside, you’ll get exactly that. Filled with all the essentials, you’ll never have to leave Summerside. In this newer Edmonton neighbourhood, you’ll find large homes, walkable paths, and both chain & local restaurants. And what’s more, you’ll even find Lake Summerside—a 13-hectare and 28-foot-deep lake where you can swim, fish and even go to unique workshops at! Discover all Summerside Homes for sale.

Ritchie

Ritchie is known for being home to a variety of demographics—the long-time homeowners, the roommates and the young families. With a strong sense of community, you can’t go wrong with choosing a home in Ritchie. If you want to support local, you won’t have any troubles doing that in Ritchie as it’s home to favourites like Farrow, ACE Coffee, La Boule and Maven and Grace. And as an added bonus, this eclectic neighbourhood also has three parks and lots of family-friendly activities within a short reach. Explore all Ritchie Homes for sale. 

Woodcroft

And for our final recommendation, we’re bringing you Woodcroft. Woodcroft is the perfect mix of homey residential, heritage and convenience. A neighbourhood built in the 1950s, you’ll find lived-in homes, a roomy park and an abundance of furry friends. And if you’re looking to stay long-term, this neighbourhood is home to Woodcroft Primary School and Ross Shepherd High School. Be sure to check out all Woodcroft homes for sale. 

So, have we convinced you to call Edmonton home yet? The list of incredible Edmonton neighbourhoods doesn’t end here, and we’re happy to talk more with you to find out what area of our city best suites you and your lifestyle. Contact us today to chat about your Edmonton real estate needs.