Geranium is offering a new release of lots at award-winning Courts of Canterbury
September heralds the arrival of an entirely new offering of spectacular designs at Geranium‘s highly desirable adult-lifestyle community steps to Lake Scugog in Port Perry. Nestled into Canterbury Common, an established and sought-after community, Courts of Canterbury will soon offer a brand new release of 42- and 50-ft. lots. Inquire today and discover an amazing selection of fresh new bungalow and bungalow-loft designs in this ideal location.
Courts of Canterbury bungalows and bungalows with lofts have modern, open-concept designs featuring main-floor master bedrooms and deluxe ensuite bathrooms. High-end finishes include nine-ft. ceiling heights and soaring windows on the main floor; kitchens with beautiful cabinetry and elegant granite or quartz stone countertops; and contemporary ceramic tile and pre-finished and highly durable laminate flooring. Plus, homeowners enjoy the long-lasting and energy-saving advantages of Geranium’s stringent construction methods and materials that exceed Ontario’s Building Code.
Courts of Canterbury’s imaginative designs offer flexible living and entertaining. Home choices will range in size from 1,423 to more than 2,400 sq. ft., with two-, three- and four-bedroom layouts available, all with convenient main floor laundry and a double-car garage. Prices will start from the mid $700,000s.
Cradled in an established, mature setting, Courts of Canterbury homeowners have access to the residents-only Canterbury Common clubhouse dubbed the “The Centre.” Here, owners can swim laps in the outdoor pool, participate in a multitude of social and fitness activities, and join planned excursions. From this neighbourhood, it is just a short walk or bike ride to historic Downtown Port Perry with its array of shops, services and dining establishments. Port Perry’s Hospital, a Lakeridge Health Hospital, provides excellent and friendly personal care. With a population of slightly more than 9,500, Port Perry is small town living with the amenities of a much larger town or city and is midway between Toronto and cottage country.
Looking at the big picture, this is an ideal location for right-sizing buyers looking to simplify life, live in comfort and interact with like-minded neighbours. Homebuyers will also have peace-of-mind knowing that they are purchasing from a builder that has a well-earned reputation. Since 1977, Geranium has welcomed more than 8,200 families to its new home communities.
There are two professionally designed and furnished model homes to tour. Register online today or call (905.982.2649) to schedule an appointment. 52 Coulter St., Port Perry, open Monday to Wednesday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday by appointment.
As the pace of life quickens and our homes shrink in size, the outdoors is literally the last frontier – and the reason why we're spending so much more on making the backyard, or deck or balcony a destination oasis.
Out with the white plastic chairs and plexiglass tables, in with the fire pits and heaters giving us a much longer outdoor season, deep-seated sectional sofas, teak dining tables and chairs, and strings of lights. Outdoor furniture manufacturers have been eager to meet our need to linger outside with a wider range of furniture, with longer lasting frames, fabrics that retain their shape and water resistance, and cushion foam that stays comfortable.
Here's what you need to know:
1) Plan out your space according to how you intend to use the deck. If you are a big reader or sun worshipper, but don't like eating al fresco, set up your space with more living room type furnishings, and tuck a small dining table off to the side and out of the way.
2) Check materials carefully. There's teak, treated pine, metal mixed with wood, solid aluminum, stainless and wrought iron. Of these, teak and aluminum last the longest, and are probably the most expensive. Teak you need to baby a bit, while aluminum just wipes clean.
3) Consider modular furniture – pieces that fit together as a sectional or stand alone as chairs – for flexibility. You can change the seating arrangement to suit the occasion or your mood.
4) Decks aren't just for daytime. Small white lights are magical when strung from house to tree. Add candles around the edges of your deck or patio – flameless ones are safer. An ethanol fire pit not only creates mood, but keeps feet warm and can easily be moved around.
5) Music really adds to the ambience – not so loud that your guests can't hear each other or the neighbours complain, but as background.
6) As for styles, the sky's the limit, and they can reflect your dream destinations, or they can reflect the decor of your home. Fancy a week in the Hamptons? Check out sectionals in whitewashed and weathered greys – made from resin wicker – with East Coast fabrics such as navy and white stripes (in water repellant fabrics). Prefer life in a Park Avenue brownstone? Then wrought iron with deep charcoal cushions set amidst a row of boxwoods might be better for you.
7) Don't forget the floor – wood flooring tiles are easy to install, and create an immediate room setting, especially with the concrete of a condo balcony. Add an outdoor rug to pull it all together.
8) There's nothing like dining al fresco, and if you're the type who likes tons of people over, an expandable table might be the best choice. Classic wrought iron tables look great and last forever but are pricey. There's always teak, but it's pricey, too, so check out budget-friendly teak alternatives that work equally well. If your deck is on the small side, go for stackable dining chairs.
9) Stow outdoor dining essentials – bright coloured table mats and napkins, covered lanterns or candle holders – near the back door or in a waterproof storage bench. Make sure to keep throws handy to ward off the evening chill.
10) An umbrella will shade the table from the sun and rain; one with a tilt arm that can be adjusted to follow the sun all day. The new pergolas do the same and more, especially when fitted with a retractable canopy system or screen to protect against bugs.
11) For privacy, especially on a condo balcony, you can create a privacy wall by positioning a row of evergreens in matching containers along the edges of your deck. Erect lattice or bamboo screening, then add wall mounted planters and a water feature for an instant retreat.
12) Depending on the space you have, hammocks are well worthwhile for the downtime they afford – snoozing or watching the stars. Add colourful pillows and a sea of planters for a cosy destination.
13) Containers are the way to go for gardening. They come in all shapes and sizes and materials (remember that resin is lighter and therefore easier to move). Depending on the direction they face, condo balconies are ideal for herbs and tomatoes, but they need a lot of water, so make sure you have proper drainage. Tropical plants love sun and add a festive air to your deck – you can also bring them in come fall. If you have less direct sunlight, fill tall tapered containers with ornamental grasses for a clean, modern and minimalist look.
14) Just like inside, the deck is made livelier with the addition of some artwork, such as wrought iron grills, architectural salvage, window frames (with or without mirrored glass).
In the end, if you choose any of these tips, who needs a cottage?
Once completed, Brightwater (master plan designed by Giannone Petricone Associates and Urban Strategies) will offer 2,995 new residences through a mix of condos and townhomes, as well as 150 affordable housing units. Brightwater I and Brightwater II, both designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects (DSA), are part of the first phase of the project.
Brightwater I is a five-storey boutique building, with a modern village aesthetic that pays homage to the heritage charm of Port Credit. Standing at 14 storeys, Brightwater II will contrast its sister building with a series of balconies that create a facade that embodies the movement of water, featuring a modern white cladding. The building is tiered and continues to lower in height at its edges, with a base of two-storey townhouses that visually echo the character of the existing neighbourhood.
Both Brightwater I and II's interiors are designed by Truong Ly Design and were inspired by the interaction between light and water and Port Credit's history. Inside the lobbies, architectural wood structures mimic the movement of water, with details carved of natural stone native to the area. Amenities will include a co-working space that opens onto a landscaped terrace, a state-of-the-art fitness studio, entertaining spaces and more. Residents will also benefit from a series of smart home features including a virtual concierge, unlimited internet data, master lighting control, WiFi through amenity spaces, keyless entry, programmable thermostats, a community app and more.
At the centre of Brightwater I and Brightwater II will be a single-storey retail building designed by DSA, featuring a heavy-timber design. Together, all three buildings will be connected by an expansive outdoor Brightwater Village Square, a grand public space which will transform the pedestrian experience. Framed by beautiful trees and outdoor seating, it will provide the perfect setting for everything from farmers' markets to pop-up celebrations. The Square is just one aspect of the 18 acres of new greenspace coming to the community, including a new nine-plus acre waterfront park, walking and cycling promenades, pedestrian mews and public plazas.
A wide array of urban and community amenities is also on the way, with more than 300,000 sq. ft. of retail (including an LCBO and modern grocer as anchors, designed by Turner Fleischer architects), restaurants, office space, and a future new elementary school and proposed community centre.
Even before launching, Brightwater was nominated for a BILD Award for Best New Community Planned/Under Development, and it has already won the prestigious Award of Merit for Healthy Communities by the Canadian Institute of Planners, for a master plan that includes features such as the bioswale system it will introduce, one of the first in Canada. Designed by landscape architect Public Work, the bioswales are a resiliency feature to decrease stormwater runoff while simultaneously nourishing neighbourhood trees. Additional resiliency features will support the biodiversity in the area and contribute to a healthy shoreline, lake and river.
For more information about the new Brightwater master-planned community and to register, visit 
