10 Favorite Things for Spring 2012

We just had to provide a list of our 10 favorite thins this spring. Please check them out and let us know what you think!

1. Benjamin Moore's new "Colour Stories Collection" is amazing! The colour palette uses the full colour spectrum of natural light, with absolutely no traces of black, creating 240 rich and unique hues. Some of our favorites include CSP-100 Cosmopolitan, CSP 585- Subway Tile, CSP 10 Soho Loft and CSP 560 Nite Blue. Oh who are we kidding, there isn’t a colour in there we couldn’t use somewhere! If you are looking for some inspiration in the paint department, check out these gorgeous hues!! www.benjaminmoore.com

2. This season we are seeing colour blocking every where!! In the fashion industry and in housewares, so it only makes sense to see it being done with rugs too. We LOVE this Pixel Rug available for $399.

3. For years we have been used to choosing darker wood finishes in floors and furniture. However one of the latest trends is toward lighter flooring and furniture pieces such as these tables from Restoration Hardware. www.restorationhardware.com

4. What's new for spring in the flooring department? We adore this 1/4" thick concrete-composite tile that is to die for! It is created using molds taken from 17th century French and English castles and Chateaus. Don't let the size fool you, this tile is durable enough for commercial applications. Price point is $29/sq ft. www.kantelberg&co.com

5. Recently we have been asked to suggest different lighting stores for clients to browse. We have always suggested Restoration Hardware and Living Lighting and Furnishings, but lately we can't resist www.arteriorshome.com. You will need your patience to brows the multiple catalogues available on-line.

6. We can't decide between herringbone or chevron, the neat new boomerang. We say why not both??? Whether we are talking hardwood flooring, tiles, rugs or lamps, you will see these two patterns everywhere! Recently we discovered it in a shower curtain at West Elm, perfect for ANY bathroom. You may tire of these trends but they won't go out of style!

7. Giddy Up!!! Equestrian-chic is all the rage. You don’t need to own horses, you just need to LOVE them. We think this pony wallpaper is sweet and sophisticated enough for all ages.

For those who can’t live without their precious animals check out these little beds.

8. These new art glass mosaic tiles for backsplashes from Vancouver’s Edgewater Studio focus on simple design and colour combinations that reveal the inherent beauty of glass. Absolutely stunning collections!www.edgewaterstudio.com

9. Neon…. Ok! This is a trend people! Please remember everything in moderation is good. For example, if you were to dress using a little neon as a purse or fun t-shirt under a blazer, that is using this trend in a good way. We suggest you don’t go overboard. When considering using brightly coloured items in a room, we think less is more.

10. FLOWERS!!! It wouldn't be spring without fresh flowers. We like a fresh bouquet every week. They could be from your garden or someone elses. What are our favorite blooms you ask?

Donna- Zinnias, Zinnias, Zinnias!!

Amber- Daffodils. They are up early, infusing colour all over.

Kimberly- Pink peonies and white Annabelle hydrangea's!!

Spring tips....We are all excited that spring is finally here, but before you run outside to paint, please make sure the temperature stays at least above 5 degrees for 6 to 8 hours with good night time temperatures.

What gets your mojo going??

With respect to design, what get's your heart pumping??

We have taken some time to discuss this topic and have come up with these answers. We hope you enjoy them!

The other day, we were in Home Depot searching for lighting options for a different project, when we were stopped dead in our tracks when we saw the new cow hide rug in a palette of soft greys created in a contemporary linear pattern.

A rug can anchor a room or a sitting area, so can a gorgeous piece or original artwork. Take for example a beautiful watercoloured photo and stretch it onto canvas or better yet, create a wallpaper out of it. It's breathtaking! Black Crow Studios offers this service and we think it is wonderful! www.blackcrowstudios.com

Another concept that we are really loving is darker trim colours and doors.
Trim doesn't always have to be lighter than your walls. Experiment, it's only paint! Have you ever considered black? What if all your trim and doors were high gloss black instead of white? Or perhaps just the doors were charcoal grey, red or blue? Frame included or not, you decide. We love what this family decided to do in their home.

Stripes are a classic in any room, any time of the year. In this teenage boys room, they become a graphic back drop. Notice the effect it has when a thicker stripe is added a third of the way up the wall. Even the curtains are stripes! We imagine that he has a vibrant, fun loving personality!

We are always talking about accent walls. So, when we saw this photo of a mudroom, we knew it was worth mentioning. We love the use of the orange as an accent colour in the space. What a perfect place to use an unexpected bold colour, but it is the doggie's "den" that is truly brilliant! Wouldn't you agree?

Here is another idea for an accent wall. Use tiles all the way up the wall instead of just around the sink. This provides a stunning focal point you can enjoy from any angle in the room.

We have saved the best for last. If you find yourself in need of some inspiration and you don't want to leave the comfort of your home, make yourself a coffee or tea and relax while you surf this website, www.houzz.com . We should probably warn you in advance, this site can be completely addictive!!We find it hard to stop clicking the 'next' button!!

Happy New Year!!!

Please excuse our delay in blogging...we have been busy house cleaning! Valley Design Co. has taken some time to reinvent ourselves and put together a plan for our interior and exterior shop renovations. The expansion of our design studio will add two island spaces to the main floor and give us more room for paint products! Both will come in really handy for serving our customers better! All of this will coincide with the grand opening of the Farmer's Market (across the street) on May 12th and we still have lots of exciting work to do.

Our biggest change yet, is our store hours. We are now open 9am to 5pm Monday through Saturday. We are pleased to announce that Mr. Warren Robillard has joined the Valley Design Co. team, bringing ten more years of experience with him. Now that we have more hands on staff we should be able to handle more decorating, and paint mixing:) Bring it on!

Last year we had a few projects on the go that didn't get completed before the Christmas season hit. We are happy to announce that most have been completed and we have photos to prove it!!

Remeber these???


Kim's garage sale find....

after....

Kim's ottoman before...

Amber's chair before... Unfortunately, Amber has a difficult time remembering the "before picture" part for A LOT of projects, this one included. She found this chair in her neighbours garage while helping clean it out. It had sat there for more that 20 years and had sat in her Great Aunt's garage prior to that, for just as long. The lines where beautiful, but the seat had served as a nice, warm bed for mice for a long time!! The legs were refinished and the back and seat rebuilt...the end result is remarkable. You'll have to take our word for it!


after...

The new year wouldn't be the same without mentioning the Interior Design Show that took place in Toronto January 26th -29th. Some of our favourite from the show are listed below. Take some time to check out the links.

Loved this cradle design - www.so-ro.com













Need a new Radio? We could not resist this radio. It is just so cute!

www.modernrevision.com














If you are in need of a new headboard consider this option, having a digital photo you love printed on a headboard!

www.digitalprintsspecialties.com











Ok, these chairs are just too fun! They make you want to be little again! For tight spaces try these chairs that fold up like an envelope! www.fluxchairs.com

These vanities are awesome! Artisan crafted, eco-conscious furnishings and fixtures. www.nativetrails.net

We have saved the best for last. This company designs multi-purpose furniture. Please check out this video, it is so exciting! www.resourcefurniture.com

Don't forget to visit us in May, see the changes we have made and walk across to the Farmers Market for fresh produce and baked goods!

Well we couldn't let the week go buy with out talking about the new IKEA in Ottawa!! AMAZINGLY BRILLIANT is how we would like to describe the place. It took a couple of hours, some comfortable shoes and a latte to take in at least 55 new rooms.

The concept of being able to have a stylish home no matter the size was really well executed with three different spaces of different sizes displayed. One of our favorites fit a kitchen,living room, bedroom (with closet) and bathroom into 376 square feet.....BOGGLES THE MIND!!

IKEA has done a great job with their kitchen sections, they show off a new line of mahogany cupboards and beautiful traditional hardware upon entering the store. Multiple kitchens to browse for inspiration throughout the store. So many options available and lots of computers to create your own look right there in the store. We are seeing lots of tiled walls in the kitchens. Yes the entire wall not just the backsplash. Lots of fabulous new appliances for the kitchen created especially for IKEA. So essentially you can design, purchase and accessorize everything you need for your entire kitchen reno right at IKEA.

Other favorites included the bedroom section with so many different bedding choices available it was hard to focus!! For the girly girl, lots of pink and purple and for the masculine side some greys, tans or bold colour choices. There was something for everyone no matter what the age

How many of you knew, IKEA now carries fabric by the bolt at extremely low prices starting from $1.99 per metre!!! Let that resinate for a minute... and so many pillows, throws and rugs! Leather couches and chairs at reasonable prices, and side tables galore. Check out this side table. The top opens up so you can keep your remotes tucked away.

We have spent some time lately visiting a few other inspirational stores we think are worth mentioning.
First, the Carleton Place Nursery has a little Christmas store we would argue is the best place to purchase something new to update your holiday decor, get some decorating ideas or buy some new ornaments for family and friends.www.carletonplace.com

Doree's Habit is an adorable new store located on Mill Street, Almonte. We especially like the clothing racks that are old chairs that have been affixed to the walls and clothes hang off them. Genius!! We love the exposed brick wall and the chandelier of hangers in the ceiling above. The owner Brodie O'Connor, is fabulous and the customer service rocks! With everything from jewellry, clothes, purses and accessories there is something there for every female on your list.

Squished in between Doree's Habit and Kentfield Kids is the Tin Barn Market. This cute but tiny store is filled to the brim with new and vintage items. It has a country feel and offers very unique items for purchase. Everything from bedding to broaches and anything else you can think of like beds, furniture, etc. www.tinbarnmarket.blogspot.com

Although new to Carleton Place, Valley Granite and Tile is quickly becoming one of the best places to sources granite, marble and tile. The selection is out of this world. We are particularily fond of the line called Skyline in from New York City and only available at VGT. Finally, we LOVE how they decorated their bathroom!! It gets three thumbs up from us!www.valleygraniteandtile.ca

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Deck the Halls!!

Fall is the time of year when every one is busy cleaning up after summer, putting away outdoor furniture, repairing and painting areas that need attention before the snow flies. Now that we have finished all that, we are ready for the snow and all that comes with it! The first thing that comes to mind is Christmas and then the traditional snow ball fight.

Let's talk about preparing your home for the holiday season! This is the time of year to show your true personal spirit. Let your sense of style guide you and reflect in your decorating. If you have a country home, opt for skies with ribbon on them, or a pair of skates at the front door, a country bench and lots of pine sprigs. If you are more traditional, shine up your door hardware, add some cedar and a fancy ribbon to your wreath. For the modernist, keep it simple, maybe a white fur wreath with ribbon

The front entry. This is the space that sets the tone for your guests. Decorate those planters and add a wreath to the front door. Some of our favorite planter ideas this year include adding white birch limbs, boxwood and magnolia leaves to the planters. Try to incorporate something from the planters into your wreath on the front door. Maybe the wreath is faux feathers with a gorgeous large ribbon holding it up. Peacock feathers are EVERY where this season! Add them to your wreath and your mantel!
Open the door and invite your guests in.

Add some Holiday balls and ribbon or suspend some stars at different lengths from the ceiling in an unexpected way.


Just make sure there is something there to greet you when you walk in. Pay attention to where your eye goes first, then add a little Holiday spirit to that area. Railing are always beautiful when decked with fresh cedar, balls and ribbon. If you don't have fresh, "spruce" up the synthetic garland with fresh cedar and pine. If you wish to forego the garland, add holiday balls instead. Tie them with ribbon and let them dangle down the side. Railings are a perfect space to express yourself in an unexpected way. We suggest picking a colour scheme and sticking to it. Spread the colours every where.

If you have a mantel, opt to use fresh cedar and place larger balls on the boughs. Candles or magnolia leaves are a perfect way to add texture and colour. For a modern feel keep the mantel simple, add a glass "Frosty the Snowman" and some crystal or chrome balls. Why not add sparkle to every room.

As for trees....anything you can imagine is available today. You could do a single colour scheme, dual or multi-coloured...whatever your heart desires. It has never been so exciting!!! Some of our favorites include taking family photos and hole punching them to hang with ribbon from a tree, adding feathers to the boughs on the tree or adding Sinamay or "mesh" to the tree to fill up those bare spots instead of or in addition to ribbon!!! With respect to balls, they could be vintage or hand-made, as long as they reflect who you are. Maybe they aren't balls at all but rather birds that clip on to the tree or pinecones that are painted your favorite colour. Don't forget the bottom of the tree, you can always wrap it with a plaid blanket and a ribbon or you could add a decorative skirt. When it comes to presents add some colour there as well. Perhaps use a complimentary colour for the wrapping and accent with the ribbon or simply use white paper and add a red or black ribbon. The wrapping should be as heartfelt as the gift.

Adding the Holiday spirit to your home could be as simple as adding a new set of red dish towels to the stove or a cinnamon candle with a bowl of coloured balls to the powder room vanity. Christmas is about family and spending time together with loved ones, so get the kids involved and have them make ornaments or string popcorn to make ribbon for the tree. Cut out words that reflect the season and hang them on a mirror with string or ribbon. Cut some boughs from the trees outside and spray them gold or silver to add to the holiday look you are going for.

The possibilities are endless...we are only here to get you started.

On the Road Again…

This past weekend we decided not to let the rain and cold weather get to you. Instead, we headed indoors for the Ottawa Home Show and made some new discoveries.

We saw lots of hard surface inspiration. Counter tops, custom hand crafted, gorgeous doors and windows and bathroom vanities. New in the bathroom world is a cool unit by Mondeau, the “You” bathroom set. It had a drawer base unit and trough sink with a slim mirrored cabinet above, that lifts up to reveal more storage.

The base unit attaches to the wall so it left lots of space underneath for additional storage!! Storage, storage, storage!!! Who doesn't want more storage...

A favorite was the "Pillow Cabinet" from Laurysen Kitchens, as seen below. We loved the way the edges of the cabinet roll to a finish, giving a hard surface and soft look.

We discovered SGO Designer Glass, who provide custom stain and leaded glass for any window or door. Check out their photo gallery at www.sgodesignerglass.com

We visited the Wicker Emporium booth. Boy, did we get a surprise!! They have very comfortable chairs and all kinds of furniture. These wing backs made of bonded leather were $145 per chair!

The sale is on until the end of October. Check out what they have to offer at www.wickeremporium.ca and no it doesn’t just carry wicker furniture!!!

After the show we wondered downtown to the market to check out Urban Barn and Zone. Two of our favorite stores.

Zone Maison is always a pleasure to visit and definitely worth the drive. The selection of lighting, for this size of a store, is amazing. There is always lots to fall in love with, like this handmade wood Noisette Pendant. Courtesy of la Belle Provence, Quebec.

From lighting to furniture, curtains, accessories and dream kitchen items, this store allows you to drift away for a while. We can't decide what we like better....

the ball leaf pendants,

wicked (in a good way) contemporary console table.

or these gear clocks. We loved these!:)

There were great sales at Urban Barn too! We were pleasantly surprised to find a mix of contemporary, traditional and antique reproduction items. And lots of accessories to sort through. We LOVED this bench!

We couldn't pass up these adorable book ends and umbrella holder!

Oh! Since winter is coming, we scooped up this 100% wool carpet for about $150 dollars! Our feet will be warm and definitely not bored!!

Although we like to promote shopping locale, a trip to the market is always worth while. You'll need a latte pick-me-up or a great lunch and there is plenty of to choose from. But that's another topic!!

Fresh Start

With the cool wind blowing in and beautiful fall colours all around us, it feels like time for a fresh start! We thought now would be a good time to bring you fall trends. What's new and exciting for colours? Let's look at some of our favorites from Benjamin Moore and Para Paints .

Benjamin Moore
Listed below are the inspirational colour trends for 2012. Take a look and see why we like them!
Click this link to upload your own room photos and try out the new colours!!

Farm Fresh AF-360
Minbus Gray 2131-50
White Dove Oc-17
Gypsy Love 2085-30
Stardust 2108-40
Persimmon 2088-40
Refined AF-75
French Press AF-170
Revere Pewter HC-172
Amethyst Shawdow CC930


PARA PAINTS- choose a room from the list below that reflects both you and your home.

REVIVE-Trendy, Dramatic, Edgy and Energetic. This room is filled with colour, perfect for non-neutral zones! This space is a true reflection of the vibrant homeowner. There are hits of colour at every interval with only some gray to ground the space. It is definitely unconventional, so throw the rules out the window!!

Bean Bag Toss P5049-42
Church Tops P5007-62D
Garden Plum P5096-85
Candied Apple P5042-83D
Guys Night P5248-73

RENEW- Think contemporary yet warm and inviting. White sofas and warm wall colour with beautiful art work and a cow hide rug. Soothing, like a warm fire on a cool day, yet fresh and modern.

Golden Rod P5058-83D
Headboard P5237-85D
Northern Exposure P5230-51
Rocky Crest P-5104-72

REFRESH- Upcycle! All things old are new again! There is no denying that recycling is HOT!!!HOT!!!! HOT!!!! In this room, smooth urban grey is the neutral paired with gorgeous blues or stunning purples. (stay tuned to see what we have been up to with respect to upcycling:)

Fashion Girl P5194-63
Assert Yourself P5080-63
Mountain of Toys P5161-41
Boys will be Boys P5248-850
Loft Space P5248-44D

RETRO CHIC-This room has colourful, bold walls and funky or clean lined furniture positioned in front of it. Solid and geometric patterns. Lots of texture and anything that is a reflection of what you love!!

Flamboyant P5191-63
Fireside P5076-63
Cotton Sweater P5177-41
No Win Situation P5111-41
Starless Sky P5155-62

Let some of these trends inspire you to make a fresh change in your home this fall. Perhaps painting an old dining room buffet a new colour or brightening up your bedroom walls before the snow flies. Whatever you decide, have fun!!

A World of Boxes?

We put Grandma's silverware or Sally's christening dress in a shadow box to preserve it. The favorite 40s print in a gorgeous frame. You start with an imaginary frame on the wall when doing a grouping of framed pictures. Take your old passport and frame it, or your favorite tickets from that spectactular summer concert.

Why are we talking about frames? Because, they are like a box. And thinking in terms of boxes is a common problem.

We've noticed this frame of mind needs adjusting. It's called instant gratification. What's wrong with this? We are stuck in that box! That same big box mentality is crippling our imagination. So, what other approach is there?

The common approach to all projects, which is 'the box' mentality is rarely right. A project which is perfectly orchestrated must be fine tuned to personal specifications. The "pick it up quick", "readily available" approach is fraught with multiple errors.

Instant gratification is not always gratifiying. Quality design simply takes time. A cheap price does not always reflect a job well done. We love the tag line for AMP Construction. Owner, Adam Powell believes "the bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten."

Consumers now expect a knock off to be just like the real thing, in more than just looks. The problem with this mentality? You get what you pay for. It's cheaper because,...it's cheaper!! When it falls apart, you have no customer service line you can call and you have lost your investment. Or, you have a service line, but you may never speak to the same person twice. There is no accountability. And if it can be returned, you will only get the same product again. It creates a society where everything is disposable and value is no longer appreciated.

You pay more, you get more. The real true sweet deal lies in quality product and customer service. A manufacturer or service provider that cares.

You get what you pay for, quality and service cost something.

Donna - Buys quality clothing because it lasts a life time.

Amber - Buys quality products like her bike....research pays off!

Kim -Believes in quality workmanship because it lasts a lifetime and looks beautiful.

Make your life sweet...get out of the box!

Favorites...

3 Beautiful women, 3 different personalites, 3 different favorites....

Donna

Drink: White wine spritzers on the porch.
Food: Any salad, there are millions of combinations!
What would you want if you could have anything?
The opportunity to have dinner with friends.
Latest obsession: Finding interesting items on the side of the road and seeing something new in them.
Favorite past times:
Gardening and being able to see the results of all that work.
Bonfires (can't right now because of the ban), but anticipation and great memories, suffice.
What do you love right now? Peoples happy attitude because its summer. There are still lots of golden long days left to come.
Dream: Tuscany any time of the year:)

Technology want list: A telephone that attaches to a wall!! LOL!


Amber

Food: A BBQ steak with montreal steak spice on it, served with avocado, tomatoe, grilled asparagus, mushrooms, onions and peppers.
What would you want if you could have anything?

Tag Heuer Aquaracer watch and a GIANT AVAIL 2 road bike!(I have this!)
Favorite past time?
Soakin'up the rays and watching the sun go down on the dock at Crow Lake
Latest Obsession:
Riding the Spragg's long board behind the boat or ATVing the trails at Quinn Lake
What do you love right now? My vintage Bonfire Sweater and my breedlove acoustic/electric guitar (I can play like Clapton!!:))
Dream: The Dock at Crow Lake for a week in August and Climbing Kilimanjaro, someday:)
Technology want list: IPAD, oh wait...I already have one!!! Ha ha!
Drink:Having a pint with all the above!!!!

Kimberly

Drink: Vodka and soda on ice with fresh lemon or my morning Starbucks
Food: The Works-The Royal Runner-Organic Burger sans tomatoe add avocado.
What would you want if you could have anything?
Michael Kors watch
Latest Obsession: Yogalosophy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aygqNQXFdFo ,
Neon pink nail polish on my toes, Stila eyeliner and Fresh cut flowers all one colour, preferably white.
Favorite Past Time?
Sun tanning at the cottage on the dock, swimming, biking,running, badminton competitions and slip and slide fun!

Technology want list: White MAC PC with a pink cover oh ya and an IPAD so Amber doesn't have to share hers anymore!
Dream:My dreams come true everytime one of my visions comes to fruition or when my kids and husband are happy!

What Time Is It???

Magazines, Movies, Television Shows, Newspapers and Computers, we are constantly bombarded by images of the New Perfect Design Idea. Whether it be the white washed, frescoed, well worn look of Southern France or the leather, metal and shiny new surfaces of downtown Manhattan, there are endless possibilites available for every budget today. But some ideas just do not fit some lifestyles. Why? Bescause it is the wrong time.

Each of us goes through periods of lifestyle change. The time to experiment with style never stops, however the time when you can actually make certain styles work relies on timing.

What does this mean for today's interiors? Well, take a look at some sample rooms. Do large dogs, babies and tightly scheduled busy moms and dads fit on an all white, fussy, expensively furnished home? Not if you want ease of living.

To respect time guidelines is a must in interior design. One can give a nod to a certain style but it must be interpreted in the appropriate time frame.

Take for instance you have a desire to live in a condo with two bedrooms and have six kids. Perhaps in a few years, when they grow up that condo could meet your needs better. This is a key phrase. Meeting your needs.

Think about what you need first. Think function first. Begin with direct necessary requirements, before your desires and wants and then adapt. That white fabric on the sofa? Perhaps it should be a washable, slipcover. The solution will only be correct for your lifestyle if you start with a PRACTICAL APPROACH.

What time is it in your life?

What's Your Style?

Often we talk to couples and one is traditional and one is contemporary. Some people say, they don't have a style but what they really mean is that they aren't sure how to articulate their style. And even if you did know your style, how would you communicate it?

How does it adapt to your interiors?

Why do people always feel like it might not be "right" so they don't express it? Style is not 'right' or 'wrong' but rather a personal expression. Style shouldn't rule you. You rule. So often working with people, we spend a great deal of time helping them express their likes and dislikes and before you know it they are telling us what we already knew; they have a direction, which a good designer knows how to interpret.

Take your grandmother's hat or something you really love. Look at your favorite object, there is a whole lot of information in there. First, the shape, there is scale, there is texture, era, colour just to start. The terminology of interior design is a language that exists in the fashion world as well. So let's start there. The different eras of the object tells you what eras you may like. For instance, the top hat or the fascinator. The world is now aware that our beautiful modern first princess of the monarchy has shown us with her style choices that a period piece like her iconic hat is new again. The very distant past styles still influence us today. She is today's style icon, the trend setter. What would Catherine's room look like? It would be simple.

The stage is set in a simple farmer's cottage possibly in the Lake District of England. Her drawing room is a timeless, piece of architectural finesse with large floor to ceiling windows, plaster cast walls, beautiful wide plank floors, and high lofted ceilings. The furniture is the epitome of tailored with a casual welcoming essence. There are touches around the room of personal momentos of her and her beloved husbands journeys abroad. There seems to be an appeal of deep affection for family. The colour is a wispy light sky blue effected by the soft gossamer billowing of cotton lawn on the windows. She took the simplest and oldest of furniture and slip covered each piece to create a brand new look. So you see some of the world's weathiest people still know style is about themselves not about what the world expects from them.

"Fashions fade. Style is eternal!" Yves Saint Laurent

Aah! Summer...

Time to relax and enjoy what is the most beautiful season of the year. But can we relax? With the temperature rising and the outdoors beckoning, sometimes things just seem to get more hectic. We see lots of people rushing about with a million things on their minds, blackberrys in hand. Relaxing seems impossible.

The "to do" list is getting longer with outdoor projects added to the other list of ideas you are working on for the indoors. How can you focus on relaxing? Why not try to imagine your favorite place? Is it by the water, at the cottage or campground? Could it be your backyard oasis? Think about what you love about this place and focus on one item which delights your senses. Perhaps a flower colour could be used in the new laundry room. Or could a bouquet of flowers substitute for a time until the next project.

Look around you. Find inpiration in the blue sky, the sunshine and gorgeous sunset. Bring some outdoors inside. A bowl of pinecones and seashells. Change up the sofa with a new light throw, toss in some pretty throw pillows. Open the curtains and blinds, let the breeze blow through your home. Take a photo of play by the water and add it to your decor.

Be adventerous and enjoy a summer long vacation in your home. Marvel at the beauty of nature. Relax, rejeuvinate and have fun!

Forget Me Not....

Just paint it white, like the trim. We seem to hear that a lot. We have noticed that the ceiling seems to be getting left out of the plan, forgotten or not considered as part of the room. We would like to suggest treating it like a fifth wall. When planning your room look at the entire space including the ceiling. Consider different options for the ceiling to compliment the rest of the design.

What about adding wallpaper, moulding, trim or crown to the ceiling.

When choosing your paint colours consider a complimentary colour for the ceiling. Perhaps a lighter version of the wall colour or the lightest background colour in the fabric of choice for the room. If you have very high ceilings and you feel lost in your space, paint the ceiling a darker colour to help bring it down a little and warm up the space. If you feel closed in and you want an airy feel lighten up the ceiling colour. Remember, dark colours can be beautiful on the ceiling in any room. It's a reflection of your taste.

Consider having the ceiling colour come down the wall 15" to 24". You could add moulding along that line and change the wall colour below. Or why couldn't the ceiling be the accent wall? You could choose a vibrant colour from your bedding and paint the ceiling this colour. Leave the other walls a creamy light colour. Voila!! Instant drama!

If you are looking for some inspiration, go visit some museums,older homes, town halls, any historical building and make sure you look up!!!

To DRESS or NOT to DRESS????

Not clothes…windows!!

The mere thought of an improperly dressed window offends us! This may help you find the right attire. A room is like an outfit. The window dressings are like the shoes. Window dressings complete a room just like shoes do an outfit. They draw attention to it, frame it, make it look pretty and also function to protect the room.

Now, some exceptions would apply to any rule. For instance, on the beach you can kick off your shoes and run around barefoot. Just like if you had a view in the woods set on 100 acres with a private lake, you may opt to take the barefoot route. Windows are as personal as your outfit.

So how do you dress a window? First decide what is the function of that window. Do you need to block the sun from heating up the house? Do you need privacy? If so, consider at least adding blinds to the inside frame of the window. This helps keep the house cool so your hydro bills aren’t out of control and your flooring doesn’t discolour. Consider if someone is sleeping in this room. If so, the blinds may be mounted on the exterior portion of the mouldings so that the light is completely blocked. There are so many options for blinds!

Then the draperies. They are functional and so much more. They add personality. Even simple side panels adding some width and height to the room can give a major lift to it's ambiance. Add a little drama!

Is the window the first thing you see when you walk in? Does it have a bench, table or couch in front of it? Choose a style of drapery that suits your window. This is where you are going to need some help! That's what sets custom draperies apart from ready mades. Okay now we are getting excited!

There are many looks. Contemporary, traditional, modern, formal or casual. Sometimes a combination of two or three of these can create a beautiful tension in the room. That's what you are looking for. A look that is uniquely yours. Should they graze the floor or puddle? Too short isn’t a good thing when talking curtains! Capris are one thing curtains are another!!!

No matter which style you choose the fabric is the key. Custom draperies are tailored to the size of the window. You wouldn't put a size four on a size eight frame! The volume of fabric allows a fullness even when the curtains are drawn. They shouldn't look like they stretch to close and barely make it!! Usually this is roughly three times the width of the window.

Remember. What does the window looks like from the outside of the home? What is the lining on the back of the curtain? Does it need to be room darkening? No matter what type of fabric or style you choose, it should always have a backing to help block the sun and protect the fabric.

So, if we asked the question again, to dress or not to dress??

The answer is always dress and dress to impress!!!

Wallpaper Boogeyman?

When the subject of wallpaper comes up we have noticed people either love it or hate it. No in between, just one side or the other. So we ask the question, is wallpaper the Boogeyman?

Today, wallpaper is making a huge comeback. It has been reborn with a vengeance due to new technology making it easier to remove. Those who have not yet used the application are loving it and others who have had a history of scraping it off walls have unkind words to describe it. Thus goes the debate, which side are you on?

For years we have used wallpaper for various applications. Here you can see wallpaper used in the closet for a lovely surprise.

You could also create a simple but dramatic headboard using a wallpaper and some trim pieces. Think of how many times you could change your mind! Or wallpaper the ceiling in your room so when you lie in bed it is pretty to look at any time of day. Wallpaper in the bathroom, why not!

No matter the application, wallpaper should make a statement!! Otherwise, what is the point??? This week we all decided to choose our own latest obsessions. Funny, apparently we are all obsessed with floral textured paper!! LOL! So in the end we aren't afraid of the Boogeyman are you???