Inspiring Bathroom Colours!
Thinking about updating your home in 2019? Now is the time to cast a critical eye through all the rooms in your home to determine if a ‘refresh’ is needed. An oft-overlooked space in many homes, the bathroom, is a room that benefits from both bold colour palettes and delicate neutral tones. Design experts recognize that colour can reflect and impact the way we live.
As our daily lives become more immersed in the digital realm, design trends lean towards either electric shades that mimic this engagement, or those that allow us to escape from it, acting as a grounding reminder of life beyond the screen. Earthy tones are mindful and allow a more nature-based approach to design, while vibrant, eclectic colors are playful and invigorating. No matter your mood or lifestyle, take this dichotomy as a cue to give your bathroom a refresh with some of 2019’s best hues!
Soft Pastels & Whites
Let your bathroom become a space for creative expression with the use of pastels, whites and creams. Nothing says “it’s time for a change” like subtle colours employed in an unexpected way. Soft creams and pastels have the ability to feel both fresh and timeless. Used alongside neutral detailing like cream textiles or sleek, modern hardware, pastel hues can also feel contemporary and polished. Featured above is the absolutely stunning master ensuite of our listing at 63 Second Street in Oakville.
Hazy Blues
Think early morning fog or the colour of Paris in the rain. Misty, soft blues are calming and encourage feelings of serenity, allowing you to transform your bathroom into a space that promotes tranquility. Select hues along the gray spectrum to keep it cool or add hints of purple to produce a digitally-inspired glow. You can also bypass paint entirely and evoke the look with concrete design details. The above photo is of one of the five ensuite bathrooms in our listing at 63 Second Street in Old Oakville.
Vibrant Corals
Take a cue from Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2019 and paint your bathroom in Living Coral. Warm but lively, coral tones are chameleons of the color scale, invoking different moods depending on how they’re used. Evocative of the sublimity of deep sea coral reefs, the shade is dynamic and invites lightheartedness. If you’re not ready to take the plunge with painted walls, introduce splashes of coral through design details like textiles or reimagined tilework—coral lives harmoniously with more neutral tones like sand or olive.
Minimalist Neutrals
If it’s serenity you seek, neutral shades of cloud white, cream, and sand bring a quiet calmness to any bathroom. Neutrals are ideal for reinvigorating neglected bathrooms, bringing a sense of freshness to any space. Complement cream tones with organic textures like woven baskets and plants and install copper hardware for a minimal, industrial aesthetic. Cream and white shades are often chosen for their simplicity as well as their ability to play well with other colors—don’t hesitate to use this opportunity to introduce small design elements in bolder, brighter shades. Depicted above is the master ensuite of a Sotheby’s Muskoka listing, Bellevue Estate, which overlooks Lake Rosseau.
Earthy Terracotta
Sherwin Williams 2019 Colour of the Year is Cavern Clay, a warm terracotta colour with ancient, elemental roots. Inspired by the desert, baked clay pottery, and well-worn leather, earthy shades of terracotta invoke naturalist tendencies. The hue plays well with mid-century modern design styles, as well as Southwestern elements such as chevron-patterned detailing.
Let your bathroom lead the way into a new, exciting year full of inspired design and transformed spaces. Keep rooted and grounded with earthy tones or dip into the unknown with unexpected washes of colour—either way, you won’t be looking back.
Perhaps the above photos will inspire your bathroom renovation in 2019!
Thanks for reading!
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FALL MARKET KICKOFF: September 2025 Real Estate Market Update
As summer winds down, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) real estate market is shifting once again—this time with an important boost from the Bank of Canada’s recent interest rate cut. On September 17, 2025, the Bank lowered its policy interest rate to 2.5%, marking a significant move that is expected to reinvigorate buying activity across the region.
Market Snapshot: August 2025 (TRREB) 
According to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), August brought encouraging signs of stability:
- Sales: 6,232 transactions across the GTA, a 4.6% increase from August 2024.
- New Listings: 13,119, down slightly year-over-year, helping balance supply.
- Average Selling Price: $982,880, nearly flat compared to last year (+0.4%).
- Trend: Balanced conditions are giving both buyers and sellers room to maneuver, with the recent rate cut expected to stimulate fall demand.
City & Regional Highlights
Toronto 
Toronto continues to see steady demand for condos and townhomes, appealing to buyers looking for affordability in the core. Detached homes are moving more cautiously, but price stability suggests confidence returning to the market.
Mississauga 
Mississauga remains a buyer-friendly market, especially in the detached and semi-detached segments. With borrowing costs easing, families upsizing or relocating may find strong value in the fall.
Oakville 
Luxury demand in Oakville is regaining traction. The combination of limited inventory and lower financing costs positions this market for an active fall season, especially for executive homes and lakefront properties.
Burlington 
Burlington continues to attract buyers migrating west from Toronto. The city’s blend of affordability, lifestyle, and community feel has kept prices steady and competitive.
Muskoka 
Cottage country remains strong, with buyers eyeing investment properties and second homes. While activity softened slightly through the summer, the rate drop could encourage more buyers to act before year-end.
What This Means for Buyers & Sellers
With interest rates now at their lowest level in two years, affordability is improving across the GTA and Muskoka. Buyers who were waiting on the sidelines are expected to re-enter the market this fall, while sellers may benefit from increased competition for well-priced homes.
At Regan Irish & Associates, we specialize in helping clients navigate market shifts with confidence. Whether you’re buying a luxury home, selling a family property, or investing in Muskoka, our market insight and negotiation expertise ensure you get the best results.
1320 Cornwall Rd Unit 103, Oakville, ON L6J 7W5
905.842.7677
Visit reganirish.com——
August 2025 GTA Real Estate Market Update | Regan Irish
The August 2025 GTA Real Estate Market Update reflects renewed momentum and affordability in Toronto, Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington, and Muskoka. Thanks to steady interest rates and appealing home prices, July proved surprisingly dynamic. Let’s dig into the numbers and what they mean for you.
Interest Rates Remain Stable — Affordability Fueling Activity
In July 2025, the Bank of Canada maintained its key rate at 2.75%, its third consecutive pause. With lower borrowing costs now more accessible, affordability is encouraging a wave of renewed buyer activity.
GTA Market Overview: Sales Surge, Prices Slightly Dip
- Home Sales: 6,100+ transactions region-wide, marking a 10.9% increase YoY and the strongest July since 2021.
- Month-over-Month: Seasonally adjusted sales rose 13% from June to approximately 5,744 units, the biggest monthly gain in nine months.
- New Listings: Up 5.7% YoY, totaling 17,613 new offers.
- Price Trends:
- The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark fell 5.4% YoY.
- The average GTA selling price dropped 5.5% YoY to around $1,051,719.
- Word on the street indicates the HPI drifted slightly lower—about $979,000, down 0.2% from June.
What It Adds Up To: Buyers are back in force—sales are outpacing new listings while prices softened, creating renewed market opportunities.
City Highlights
Toronto
A more balanced landscape—but some segments remain soft. Condos and detached homes see inventory rising; semis are steadier.
Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington & Muskoka
While TRREB doesn’t break down by city in these reports, regional trends suggest:
- Mississauga & Burlington: Strong rise in listings and dipping average prices give buyers leverage.
- Oakville: Stability in demand for luxury keeps discounts modest.
- Muskoka: Continued strong interest in sub-$2M waterfront properties should benefit from broader GTA momentum.
What This Means for You
- For Buyers:
Renewed affordability, rising inventory, and favorable interest rates make August a prime time to move. - For Sellers:
A more balanced market—strategic pricing and quick response will be key to success. - For Investors & Cottage Buyers:
Strong July sales in the GTA point to increasing investor interest; Muskoka remains a high-value lifestyle and investment destination.
Work With the GTA Real Estate Experts
Whether you’re planning to buy a Muskoka cottage, invest in a luxurious Oakville property, or explore options across Toronto, Mississauga, or Burlington, now is the time to act.
Regan Irish & Associates specializes in luxury, resale, and investment properties across the GTA and Muskoka. Our market insight and negotiation skills help you get the best results—whether buying, selling, or investing.
1320 Cornwall Rd Unit 103, Oakville, ON L6J 7W5
905.842.7677
Visit reganirish.com
Let’s make today’s market your opportunity—contact us today!
