Border City Living
1012 Drouillard Rd Windsor, ON, Canada

Your home is a stage that should be set for the way you want to live. So much so, that when others visit they may be able to learn something about who you are. Just listed in South Walkerville Visit Border City Living Real Estate Group - Selling Windsor & Essex-County for sales particulars or get in touch to book a private viewing.

Bored AF tonight? Us too! So we’ve got this deep cleaning lockdown survival tip in action... With the halt on new renovation projects in full-effect, prep your space by de-cluttering, organizing and cleaning. Tackle the ‘catch-all’ drawer in your kitchen, sort your sweatpants by colour or take this rare opportunity to organize your giant collection of @nudiejeans (seriously we have enough to fill a small boutique ) What weird thing does this stay at home order have you work...ing on? #thisisthenewnormal #partytime #husbandchores #donatedontdump #windsorontario #bordercityliving #stayhomestaysafe #bluejeans

Whether you happened to find an odd sense of peace during this time or are at your wits’ end with it all, is there anything more cathartic than expressing on canvas? We’re genuinely excited for the range of art made during this time, while forced to hunker down at home in our spaces. Our 8th lockdown survival tip is....... Equip yourself with some @beatnikartsupplies. Available via curbside and delivery, this wonderfully local shop is the perfect place to start any artistic endeavour! #createandbehappy #getartsy #paintsupplies #lockdownartclub #jacksonpollock #bordercityliving #exploreyou

#7 of our tips ‘n tricks for staying alive while locking it down.... Give your home a signature fragrance If you too are in home schooling mode, your house’s scent may have more in common with a glue stick than a ‘whispering pine forest’. Fix this funk immediately with locally made, pure beeswax candles from Aggregate... #curbsidepickup #allnatural #beeswaxcandles #smellgoodfeelgood #candlesofinstagram #locallymade #yqgbusiness #shopsmall #lockdownsurvival #bordercityliving

BCL tactic #5 for not going squirrelly during lockdown! .... Get zen on Zoom ... Stay committed to your practice or explore a new curiosity by joining others for virtual yoga. The Yoga House hosts live and on demand classes via the their online portal. Alie’s sparkly-yet-chill personality is likely to liven you up even on the greyest of days.

#forsale A moody and modern remodel in Walkerville. Head to Border City Living Real Estate Group - Selling Windsor & Essex-County for sales particulars.

It’s that time of year again folks!Register for our FREE limited 2021 #bcl calendar. The first spots are available through this link: https://hello014085.typeform.com/to/Q0xJMoMf Border City Living is an award-winning real estate and development team who is committed to making Windsor the best it can be. Each year we create this calendar (full of editorial photos by the BCL in-house photographer @emmadavidsonphoto) to spread the word about what we do and showcase our favouri...te local businesses. Visit (https://hello014085.typeform.com/to/Q0xJMoMf) to sign up for pre-order!! We absolutely love how this one turned out and can’t wait to share it with you! Hurry, hurry as copies are extremely limited

That’s a wrap! Our shoot days for the 2021 #bcl calendar are complete and we’ll be sharing the sign up link in the upcoming days! It’s so hard to believe this year is already coming to its end, and while it’s been difficult to say the least, we haven’t stopped adventuring and (safely) discovering new places to be inspired by. Surprisingly, this year’s calendar is our favourite one yet! A mix of interiors, businesses, families and destinations; it’s a yearly reminder of why it’s so great to live here and why we love encouraging people to grow roots here.

One of our favourite humans So happy to be sharing this amazing city with Sarah Cipkar. Full #bcl post on the project in the near future.

There’s special and then there’s our newest house tour 3680 Victoria Blvd. in Southlawn Gardens. This custom-designed ranch is a rare offering in one of Windsor’s most prestigious neighbourhoods. Completely remodelled in 2015 to exacting standards and with impeccable attention to detail. Clad with hand-carved limestone and surrounded by exposed aggregate, the home extends over 3200 SQ FT with 4+1 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Fitted with high-specification appliances and bespo...ke cabinets, the modern kitchen and adjoining dining/living areas have been well-designed in a striking contemporary aesthetic to serve both the practicalities of daily life and with entertaining in mind. Wide-board oak with under-floor heating extends throughout the whimsical bedrooms and dramatic light-filled spaces. In warmer months the courtyard area is the idyllic location for outdoor lunches by the salt water pool, surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds. With smart features galore, including irrigation system, audio, lighting, automatic blinds, heated porch and walkway this is an opportunity at $1,359,000 that won’t be seen again. Head over to Border City Living Real Estate Group - Selling Windsor & Essex-County for more listing details or to discuss a private showing. Emma Davidson Photography

Here’s a little local hocus pocus for you this Halloween! A little tour of Smudge Metaphysical boutique! Owned by the witch of Walkerville, Michelle Russell, Smudge has been a destination for all things magical since 2015. We were surprised to learn that Windsor has quite a large population of those interested in witchcraft, tarot, root magic, voodoo and spiritual energies. And, that people of all backgrounds and religious visit the shop from around the world.... They source and import herbs and oils from far away places like Venezuela and Cuba for products that are difficult to come by here. Their Californian sage is often something we like to gift to new home owners to rid a house of stale energy. We learned it’s important to take care when learning new practices as it can be dangerous and open you up to serious problems. Many people in this predicament find themselves in the shop to seek help from Michelle. Her beautiful boutique really is something to check out if you’re ever feeling curious! Happy Halloween Everyone!! Pics Emma Davidson Photographer

New blog feature! The Anchor Coffee House Swipe for more pics and visit the website for the full post (link in bio). . . ~ excerpt~ .... Having a sophisticated coffee experience in Windsor was almost unheard of before Anchor Coffee House opened up their first location on Huron Line in 2014. Their vision of offering expertly prepared, quality beans served with perfectly frothed milk and latte art, created a cozy community for coffee lovers in a city of drive-thrus and ‘double-doubles’. For far too many years Windsor’s coffee culture (or lack thereof) was based around which Timmy’s was the fastest on a hurried scoot to work. Visionaries and coffee-couple Rachel & Kyle Bondy knew that YQG deserved more than frozen fritters and preservative-laden beverages, so they partnered with their friend Ryan Larocque to create a café experience that would raise the bar and even turn the ol’ diehards into artisanal coffee lovers. Extensive travel to cafés throughout the world has helped the couple to hone in on their high bar for quality and precision. They quickly became passionate about the intricacies behind different coffee and baking practices found throughout Europe, Australia, and Toronto. Everything they offer is made in house, from scratch, with zero preservatives and often, hard-to-find, wait-listed ingredients like Australian Oat milk. Their Walkerville location remains open for pick-up, curbside and delivery. Emma Davidson Photographer

At the heart of it all, Border City Living is a Windsor-based real estate and photography group that helps people find beautiful and thoughtful places to live. When these two avid cyclists asked for our help relocating to Windsor, we took their lifestyle into account, knowing they needed to be in the heart of the city, living in a character-filled home with a big front porch. Beauty will be many things to different people, but we believe in the story of a house, and how that... house and its people are placed in the greater context of a neighbourhood. Of course a property is an investment and budget is usually the first thing we talk about with our clients, but good design and feeling part of a neighbourhood you love are two things that you shouldn’t be quick to give up. BCL photos Emma Davidson Photographer

Do you ever have those days when it feels like everyone around you is challenging you to give up, give in and sell out? Do you accept that notion that living in a blue collar city means we should all accept mediocrity and just do things the way they’ve always been done? Why build things to last when it’s cheaper to buy what’s fast and convenient? Why try to change the status quo?... We certainly have days where we KNOW we’re forcing ourselves to work harder and be more creative than others in order to achieve our goals (and we’re constantly being tested along the way, as many of you creatives and business owners are too). This little message today is for all of you who’ve taken the time and energy to do things the hard and long way, those who focus on people over profit, even through one of the toughest years yet you are the ones who are making this city a more inspiring, interesting and beautiful place for us all. Please don’t even think about giving up. @emmadavidsonphoto @michaeldifazio.reclaimartistry #windsorlove #makeitcount #peopleoverprofit #bluecollarworkers #creativelifehappylife #thinkoutsidethebox #wincity #windsoressex

How is it possible that our latest project is already wrapped up!? Once again our team came together to showcase another very special Essex County property. Thanks to some staging, another set of gorgeous photos and our little ‘Selling Sunset’ video, we set another record-breaking price for our friends and clients in LaSalle. Overall this was a bit of a weird year for BCL. We weren’t able to feature as many business as we normally would have (Covid) or hang out as buds as... much as we usually do, but thankfully our real estate and photography businesses bounced back with a vengeance and projects like this one on Bechard Beach allowed us to stay creative through all the madness. Like many of you, we’ll be here doing our best to get through the rest of 2020 while we scheme and plan for total domination next year! #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #friendswhoworktogetherstaytogether #realestatewithstyle #sellingrealestate #businessladies #fuckcovid19

One real plus to doing this whole community-based blogging thing is having the chance to meet and brainstorm with stellar people like Sarah Cipkar. You may know her as an elected school board trustee or perhaps you saw her portrait on page 3 of the Windsor Star this past week. She’s an urban development consultant and has recently launched a blog that aims to change the narrative around development in our city (www.cipkar.com) What we admire most is that she’s taking ris...ks and putting her money where it really counts - our downtown core. Her ‘gentlefication’ project begins in her own backyard, where she just broke ground on a tiny cottage behind her home on Bruce St. We could go on-and-on about why we love this project so much (which we will do when we reveal the AFTER photos on the blog) but it boils down to the hopeful beginning of a city-wide trend towards thoughtful density and small-scale development. Stay tuned for the full feature on her super sweet property and project, but in the meantime if you’re interested in finding out more about the ins and outs of additional dwelling units DM us! Before’s by Emma Davidson Photographer

Has anyone else been having a real hankering for fresh oysters, (like all the time) this summer? Perhaps it’s the pandemic that makes a fresh Oxley Estate Winery lunch with fiends feel so special... or maybe it was just always this good. An Essex County summer isn’t complete without a trip to our favourite winery. They’re currently open for lunch Thursday-Monday 12-4 and Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12-6.

If you’re gearing up for a patio-filled, social, summer weekend, Maiden Lane Wine & Spirits is a must visit! Here’s why you should spend more time downtown! Now that the pandemic has thrown us into a world with limited choices for entertainment, we’re more grateful than ever to have this fantastic option that caters to working professionals, like the three of us. Together with Sommelier co-owner, Sarah Dewar, Mark Dutka has crafted an experience inspired by the regimented ...and precise, Japanese-style cocktail culture, with a carefully selected list of wines that can’t be found at any LCBO. The concept of a craft cocktail bar seemed far-fetched to those who remembered downtown solely for kiddy bars, vodka cransand Sweet Home Alabama. Thankfully these owners knew we all deserved something better, and if Windsorites will happily walk downtown Detroit, our residents should understand (after a small mental shift) that population density is what downtown needs when you want a city to change, spend more time in urban areas, at special places like this! Mark’s commitment to his elevated standards is as permanent as his ‘Death Before Sour Mix’ tattoo. We actually had no idea how deep this subculture runs until our afternoon chat with Mark. For example, we now know that a ‘bartender’s handshake’ is an unspoken ritual of many a hospitality industry vet: a revered go-to drink from one barkeep to another. It’s equal parts secret password, insider’s wink, and sign of solidarity. In Windsor you’ll end up with a shot of Fernet Branca, and pre-covid they were going through about a bottle a day. Their commitment to excellence doesn’t stop at their cocktails and higher-end wine, either. They cure their own meats and stock a healthy supply of tinned seafood from Spain (among many other local and exotic treats). Their patio is open weekly, seats 20-30 people and as of now no reservations are required. They also have a great selection of non-alcoholic cocktails too! Read the full post here! https://www.bordercityliving.com//maiden-lane-wine-spirits/

Monmouth Road is an area of the city that we frequently write about. It's a street that buzzes with the energy of those it tends to attract; lovers of historical townhomes, city dwellers, walkers, bikers and creatives who have a penchant for urban living, culture and design. Another thing we love about it is the mix of price points the homes range from affordable (like this starter for $199,900) to more executive levels up the street. So if you’re just starting out, you may... be interested to know that this newly restyled listing is ready for a #BCL first look! Together with the homeowner's thrift Queen sensibilities, her commitment to the labour and restoration and our ‘restyling’ approach to staging, we were able to hone in on the spirit of the space and accentuate some truly refreshing retro vibes. Follow the links to see more photos or reach out to us to get more information!

Happy to announce that we'll be speaking as a panelist for this wonderful event today!

These before and afters of this little cutie on California are proof that ‘development’ doesn’t have to be big and fancy to be effective. It would be nice to have an extra dollar for every time people told us this rehab project was impossible or a waste of time in a ‘bad neighbourhood’. Well, we proved them wrong and saved this solid 1920’s bungalow from the wrecking ball while giving the city something sustainable and beautiful to look at. It was so fun to get creative with second hand materials while designing this project but selling these homes to you guys is our favourite part of the revitalization process because it shows us just how many people in this city appreciate uniqueness and natural materials, even in our core neighbourhoods.

Until we can safely get back out there and feature our favourite Windsor & Essex things again, we’re just going to share a bit about our vision for this region with you folks for those who haven’t had lengthy conversations with us about urban planning, why we love character homes and walkable neighbourhoods (many of you probably have though because we talk about this A LOT) The Border City Living project, all centres around our passion for human-scale neighbourhoods. Togeth...er, by featuring and photographing our favourite businesses, people and interiors, we help to curate a place for people to live with intention. Our approach to development as a real estate and photography team is one that aims to strengthen the city we love for generations to come. Over the next few weeks we’re going to share some of the ways we go about this and how we can work together to make our neighbourhoods more sustainable! And we have a pretty exciting new project coming up.... more on that soon too!

Today we (Stephanie & Deidre) are taking over the #bcl insta to send 10 million birthday wishes to the most beautiful and talented, hardest working, creative, artsy lady we know, #bcl photographer Emma Davidson We’ve always known how essential she is as a friend and business partner but being socially distant has made it more obvious than ever, just how and lucky we are to be able to ‘create’ with such a true artist. Thank you Emma for being our partner, even when your kids a...re going a mile a minute or you’re swamped editing a season of weddings. Missing our afternoon getaways, exploring the city, more than ever!! If you folks don’t already follow this beauty on her other socials, then head on over to Emma Davidson Photographer

As part of the economy prepares to open its doors for business this week, we are committing, more than ever, to shopping and supporting local. Not just because these local business owners, like Mark at The Walkerville Optical are our friends and partners but because, in the current climate we personally feel more safe in smaller boutiques with one-on-one appointments. Whatever your take on the inevitable decisions that will bring more essential people back to work, remember ...that we get some of our best service at our independent shops. Mark has close to 20 years experience fitting and adjusting glasses (not something you’ll find with those working at the mega stores). Plus, it’s just calm and pretty in there, with really great lighting. Stay home, but if you (like us) are really starting to need stuff, shop local. by Emma Davidson Photographer @ The Walkerville Optical

It’s a gorgeous day out there today folks! Finally!!! Days like these are made for enjoying our local crops and supporting our farmers. Luckily for us all, the The Fruit Wagon has announced that it’s open for the season (with some social distancing measures in place, of course). There’s no better way to take advantage of a slower schedule than a beautiful county drive. summery memories like these brought to you by Emma Davidson Photography The Fruit Wagon

Whether you’re a dog mom, a kid mom, plant mom, cat mom or the mom of rock’n’roll, we’re hoping all the Border City Mama’s out there had an easy loving, worry-free kind of day

Any of you wondering what the state of Windsor real estate is looking like in a Covid-19 world? Well, our followers will be getting a dose of statistics in their inbox this morning. While we wait for things to head towards a new normal (and dream of Detroit brunch and lattes that we don’t have to make for ourselves) we’re focusing on business topics and our commitment to setting Windsorites and their neighbourhoods up for long-term, sustainable success. If you want to sign-up... for updates follow us at Border City Living Real Estate Group - Selling Windsor & Essex-County and send us a DM with your email addy! We miss you all - stay safe!! *Can't wait to get back to our renovation projects and photo shoots like these with Emma Davidson Photographer!*

Just over here enjoying this smile from the past as we look for a little bit of sunshine on this gloomy ‘rona kind of day. How’s everyone doing out there? We’re missing all the pleasantries with the peoples from some of our favourite local joints, like from this day, waaaay back when we could actually leave the house to indulge in all the goods from Ochre Bakery just North of the border in Core City, Detroit. Anyone predicting what things might look like when the border ...opens back up and the travel ban is lifted? Please, send the good news!! by Emma Davidson Photographer See more

This Earth Day, we’re celebrating all of the ways we do our part to have a more sustainable future, because no one is too small to make a big difference @gretathunberg Happy Earth Day and thanks to all we’ve met across Windsor Essex County who are doing their part to take care of the only home we’ve got #earthday

We know what we’re doing this weekend!! Send us a pic of your haul! We’ll be posting as soon as we get ours

For us, the arts have always been a great comfort. They serve as a bridge between cultures and are a fundamental component of a healthy community and a city without them would be unimaginably boring. Thankfully, Trudeau announced a $500 million emergency support fund for culture and heritage that will support local business and not-for-profits. The funding recognizes the tremendous value that local champions such as the Windsor Symphony Orchestra bring to our community. But... while this is a start, all of us will need to rally and support those things that are important to us, however that looks in our new ‘normal’. The Symphony has already saved one of our most most important buildings, the Capitol so we know they’ll persevere... but not without our support! We love these Emma Davidson Photographer photos from our backstage visit, but right now they serve as a reminder of how much closer together the arts can bring us.

#tbt to that time we went out to learn about farming with Lee and Maria's Thanks Emma Davidson Photographer for the pic but still not sure if farming looks good on me Who else is insanely grateful for incredibly professional local businesses like theirs right about now?... We made tomato soup and borscht from scratch this week with their locally sourced ingredients and it was goooood! But seriously, thanks to them for making our quarantine a little bit healthier and more delicious. #staysafe #stayhome #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocal #sendrecipes #farmerlife #backtobasics #cookingfromscratch #essexcounty #inthistogether @ Lee and Maria's

Do you know what day it is? It’s Phog Lounge poutine Friday! Head on over to their account for ordering details and to schedule pick ups between 4-7pm! Sort of odd how the simplest things make all the difference when you’re forced to be a loner

#tbt to a time with wine filled afternoons in Detroit at @theroycedetroit. Wishing everyone a happy Easter weekend from our little business family to yours. We’ll get through this together! #smallbusiness #bettertøgether #bordercityliving #facetimewine #pajamasallday #socialdistancing2020 #communitylove

In light of the current climate out there, we’re taking extra precautions as we present our newest Walkerville listing (and video version of a cute house tour). We usually have professionals for this! But, luckily this one EVEN looks great with our limited technology skills Thinking we might still need to get Emma Davidson Photographer in here to do her thing once we're out of quarantine because it’s truly one of a kind. Message us for more info! Many of our listings and a...ll investment property activity will be suspended during this time as we socially distance ourselves but these amazing people have a unique reason for moving and we're relying on our fantastic community to help them out! Coming to the MLS for $349,900 very soon.