DEESIGNED

Interior Lighting, Simplified

2014-01-20T14:01:00.001-08:00

Arguably one of the most important aspects of an interior space, lighting should be part of the design process from the very beginning. As a design professional, I know that lighting can make or break a space because both function and form fail without proper lighting. And like colour (which doesn't exist without light), the quality of light also has both psychological AND physiological effects on human beings. For these reasons alone, I often tell clients never to go cheap on lighting - with some exceptions which I will address later on.

As you might already know, besides choosing light fixtures to reflect both a space's function and overall look, it's almost mandatory nowadays to incorporate energy efficiency into the lighting scheme.

Now, let's get some often-confused terminologies out of the way (in my opinion, you really only need to know the difference between these two terms):

wattage - the amount of electrical power required for a particular lamp to work. A light bulb with higher wattage usually produces more light output (lumens) compared to the same bulb with lower wattage.
lumens - the quantity of light that leaves the light bulb. Two compact fluorescent bulbs of the same wattage can have different lumen readings if one is more efficiently designed.

GENERAL/AMBIENT LIGHTING

The majority of lighting found in an interior falls in this category (ceiling fixtures, wall fixtures, lamps): They provide general illumination and creates ambience in a space. Due to the low levels of light required for this purpose, usually a single ceiling fixture is adequate however, a combination of more than two types of lights would provide more desirable results.

For general lighting in a bedroom, I usually prefer to make a statement with a special ceiling fixture (in this case, a DIY light made with a cord set and seashell-hanging-decoration-turned-light-shade,) and a couple of lamps (not shown)

In an office environment, one typically finds recessed fluorescent fixtures as the only light source. While these lights are adequate for general illumination purposes, they often create very cold-looking spaces and are neither flattering to the human complexion nor psyche. The solution? Simply add a nice lamp to your workspace!

A note on light bulbs for ambient lighting: I like to equip fixtures with Luminus CFL bulbs from Costco. I find these bulbs give out light with just the right colour temperature: not too cold like a standard 'daylight' bulb, and not too yellow like a 'soft white' bulb.

TASK LIGHTING

Reading, drawing, sewing, food preparation, applying make-up, detailed product inspecting (in a work environment,) are some of the tasks that require brighter, higher levels of light for safe and efficient results.

Please refer to http://www.leoindustries.com/light_level_recommendations.php for comprehensive charts on recommended light levels for common indoor activities.

The recommended light level for casual reading is 300-500 lumens/m2 so I equipped the floor lamp (beside chaise lounge) with a 13W CFL bulb, which checks in at around 800 lumens. As for the ceiling fixutre, note how something a little more special than a builder-standard 'boobie' fixture can elevate the look of an entire room.

ACCENT LIGHTING

The purpose of accent lighting is to spotlight (draw attention to) certain features such as a special picture, plants, sculpture, a display cabinet, or anything you might want to highlight.

Photo: Powell/Kleinschmidt, Inc.

I often end up using some sort of halogen or LED fixture for accent lighting as they add more sparkle and life to the subject being highlighted. As decorative a purpose as accent lighting might serve, it still needs to be considered early on in the lighting scheme for seamless wiring. One of my biggest pet peeves is to see exposed electrical wire all over an otherwise beautiful space.

LIGHTING ON A SHOESTRING

While I generally recommend clients to allocate a good portion of their budget on great lighting, some situations call for creative solutions - mainly due to budget constraints but sometimes to achieve a certain look or execute certain values (such as being environmentally friendly through re-use, re-purpose, & up-cycling.)

The cathedral entry (left) called for an oversized light fixture of at least 36" in order for the scale & proportion to work. I wanted to create a strong first impression (for a song) by fitting a 36" round Japanese paper lantern with a cord & double-socket set. The same trick was employed with the cluster of paper lanterns in this home office (right.) You can have an electrician assemble a cord set bought from hardware stores; or buy a plug-in one from Amazon or Ikea.

As you can see from the examples above, the options are limited only by your imagination when it comes to making your own light fixture: all you really need is a cord, a socket (most hardware stores have them readily available in an E26 medium base), a light bulb, a shade, and of course, an electrician!

Holiday Vignette in 3 Easy Steps

2013-11-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

I've never been one to indulge in excessive holiday decoration. I tend to like things simple and understated. No garlands. No tassels. No fuss. This also usually translates to easy clean up and storage after the season's over. My Christmas decoration usually involves just a simple and super tiny tree, a wreath at the front door, and a vignette over our buffet table. Today I'll share with you how easy it is to create that vignette, whether it be over a table, or fireplace mantel.

Step 1 - Hang a Wreath (Over the Mirror)

Hopefully you will have already decided on a colour scheme by now (if you need help, check out my post on Pick Colour Like A Pro.) In my case, it's gold, silver, and frosty blue. If you have trouble finding a wreath in the exact colour combination you're after, it's really simple to create one using a standard wreath, ribbons, and some glitter glue. And that's exactly what I did!

Wreath, before and after the transformation.
Source: wreath, Urban Barn; ribbons, blue glitter glues, blue glitter gravel, Dollarama

Step 2 - Jars of Shiny Balls

In this step all you have to do is fill up 2 jars with glitter balls of various sizes in the same colour combination as the wreath. In my case, I simply switched out my every-day seashell display for the balls.

Jars, before and after.
Source: balls, Dollarama

Step 3 - Flickering Candles

Candles always add a welcoming glow to any event. For the holidays, I simply dress up my candle plate with some glitter gravel and you guessed it, more shiny balls!

Candles, before and after.
Source: glitter balls & gravel, Dollarama

Holiday Vignette

It doesn't take much to transform an every-day vignette into a holiday vignette!
It cost me just under $50 and 2 hours to complete this project!

My Kitchen

2013-08-31T12:42:00.001-07:00

If you look at the original layout of our house before the renovation, you can understand why a kitchen renovation turned into an entire ground floor overhaul. We felt the kitchen was much too small and the overall layout just didn't work for a young family with kids. A bigger kitchen and a more open layout where we would be able to keep an eye on the children at every angle, would serve our needs much better.

Original Layout

First order of business: we enlisted the services of a structural engineer to confirm which walls were structural and would need alternate framing prior to being demolished. It turned out both walls to the west and east of the original kitchen were load-bearing so the engineer came up with a post & beam design to replace those walls. In addition to that, all electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc. contained within those walls, had to be repositioned elsewhere. By the time we were complete practically all the trades were involved in our little renovation!

My favourite indulgences in our kitchen: having 2 sinks to keep food prepping away from the dish washing area; and the Electrolux modular fridge & freezer units

We developed the plans on AutoCAD and a 3-D software just to get the floor plan right and then focused on the kitchen cabinet details. It's a good idea to get all parties who use the kitchen to be involved in this process as a well-designed kitchen should be functional for all.

Concept #5: With the kitchen on the south-east corner, we get to keep the fireplace; however, the layout & flow is a little awkward for the seating area

The winning concept: we sacrificed the fireplace by situating the kitchen on the south-west corner but this layout is perfect for our lifestyle!

While waiting for the building permit to be issued, we began hiring contractors and had some fun shopping for appliances, fixtures, lighting & materials. If you have little experience in project management, it's a good idea to hire a general contractor to take charge of the entire project because this can prove to be an overwhelming task for those unfamiliar with the construction/renovation process.

Remember to spend the extra time doing your home work and research thoroughly before committing to buying anything. We were astonished at the excessive amount of home and kitchen products available on the market today - even though we were armed with the three knows:

Know the style or look you're after: This is straight forward since one can easily find visual inspirations from magazine clippings; or hire a designer to create that look uniquely yours.
Know your budget: You can browse the internet to get an idea of how much things cost and establish a budget from here (I just go to Amazon.com to price just about anything.) We used an Excel Spreadsheet to keep track of all this.
Know your time line: This is important so you can effectively coordinate everything from getting working drawings done for permit to scheduling the trades. Again, an Excel Spreadsheet proved indispensable in helping us stay organized and on top of things.

Fabric draperies add a much needed dose of colour and also serve to soften up all the hard edges typically present in a kitchen

The biggest thing I got out of this project? Never to live in the house while it's undergoing construction. We made the mistake of enduring all the noise and dust for 3 months! In the end, it was all worth it though. I'm in love with my kitchen everyday!

The Beautiful Edible Landscape: Final Steps

2013-08-07T21:12:00.002-07:00

The Boston ivy and silver lace vines are slowly making their way up the pergola!

As I wait patiently for my garden to become established in order that I can snap some great photos to round out The Beautiful Edible Landscape series, I realize summer is really moving along quickly! Although many of the plants will likely take a few seasons to begin to produce, we've been able to harvest a few vegetables, including lettuce and swiss chard, and a variety of herbs. It's been much more fun accessorizing the garden as one of the final finishing steps as opposed to the physical labour involved in the early construction stages. However, the most rewarding experience for me has been watching the numerous seeds sprout into tiny seedlings and then seeing them form into beautiful mature plants.

Yessss, plants! Finally! I've found that it's at this point where The Edible Landscape has really been the most helpful as it gets into greater details on plant selection and also goes into the specifics of the actual planting itself (whereas The Beautiful Edible Garden focuses more on overall garden design.) So, after we establish our Focal Points in the garden, it's now time to move on to next steps:

Position anchor plants: These provide structure and thus help to define the garden. My use of evergreens and perennials such as cedars and hydrangeas carefully positioned in strategic locations will serve to anchor the garden throughout the seasons. A number of fruit trees will also serve as anchors and I have left openings in order that we have room to plant a few next year.
Add plants for beauty and production: Next to go in were our favourite edibles such as blueberries, passion fruits, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, snow peas, kales, chards, lettuce, and herbs. I then mixed in some beautiful ornamentals such as hydrangeas, roses and peonies. After that I planted yarrow, bee's balm, alyssum, foxglove, lavender, agastache, and finally geraniums. The latter group attracts pollinators and other beneficial insects which ward off garden pests such as aphids and mites.
Fill it out with groundcovers and low-growing plants: Sweet potato vines, alyssum, and trailing petunias helped to fill in the few remaining empty spaces. I'm also planning to add some Japanese spurge, an evergreen which will eventually form a dense solid groundcover that should (hopefully) reduce weed infestation.

Nothing is more satisfying than to watch plants grow from vegetative to flowering, then fruiting stage: I can't help but care for them just like my own children!

A hydrangea anchors this garden bed while a mix of ornamentals and edibles (peonies, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, cucumbers, flowering kale) provide a fine balance between beauty and production. The empty spaces here will be filled with Japanese spurge.

I found that family and friends were really helpful at this planting stage. I was always on the look out for what was in their garden and they were more than happy to provide me with cuttings and plant divisions to make use of. Don't hesitate to try this yourself..all you have to do is ask! I'm sure when they see the beautiful masterpiece in your back yard, they will certainly be asking for you to return the favour.

The final step: Furnish and accessorize your garden with a nice patio set and some well-placed hanging plants. No garden is complete without a few lanterns to highlight your plants so they can be enjoyed while sitting out on those warm summer evenings. Now you're ready for some stylish outdoor living!

My inspiration board for outdoor accessories

Patio view from deck: the Moroccan lantern grouping (above table) adds an exotic flare to the space

A Luxurious Reception Area

2013-06-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

I was commissioned to come up with a few concepts for a real estate broker's new reception area. They wanted to welcome guests with a luxurious & classy reception that's not too over-the-top. The reception work area also needs to be large enough to accommodate up to three receptionists.

Floor Plan - Concept 1

The 4.5" Caesastone waterfall counter seems a bit bulky to me but the male partner wanted that look. The facing material here is crocodile skin wallpaper in charcoal gray

Floor Plan - Concept 1a

A thinner waterfall countertop gives a more delicate look, coupled with brown crocodile skin wallpaper facings

Floor Plan - Concept 2

The most costly option: back-lit onyx counter with smooth leather facings. This layout provokes an Art Deco feel.

Same concept with different flooring and signage treatments

Putting budget constraints aside, which concept or combinations do you like best?

Simple Tree Branch Decor

2013-06-18T14:52:00.001-07:00

I spotted a fallen tree branch in an alleyway one morning this past May and for some reason the shape of it caught my eye. Then I realized that it would be a perfect fit for that odd space created by the interior curve of our stairwell in the front foyer. I hauled it home, gave it a little TLC, found a nice container to sit in and voila! I had an instant (one of a kind) sculpture, fitted to this curved space and to be enjoyed by all who come through our door.

Here's the DIY how-to: Once you have selected your container, you can keep a branch upright by filling the container with gravel, river rock or any other supporting material that you find aesthetically pleasing. In my case, I happened to have some extra Rapidpost cement kicking around so I just mixed and placed it in a small plastic container. When it had set, I popped it inside my decorative container and topped it up with river rocks for the finishing touch.

If you have kids around, be sure to choose materials that are kids-safe (i.e. stones large enough not be a choking- hazard)

In my previous residence we had a birch branch adjacent to that curved entrance stair. I ended up gifting this to a close friend because I thought it was a match made in heaven for her curved stairway. In any case, the tree branch is one of the easiest DIY projects anyone can make to complement any interior.

Perch your branch container on an attractive side table for added height and grandeur

This was one of those simple and satisfying projects that I enjoy taking on from time to time. I hadn't even considered publishing anything about it on DEESIGNED until recently when I read a happy post by Holly Becker over at Decor8. Holly was sharing how she had a craving for some wild cut flowers and coincidentally stumbled upon a lady selling lilacs cut from her own backyard. Holly emphasized the fact that special moments in life can come from the "easiest and most simple things." I agree completely and this inspired me to share with you the story of my tree branch.

By the way, don't limit your branch to a stairway. They can look great anywhere! And besides my DIY story there are countless other things one can do with a simple branch. Check out this page on Pinterest for more inspirations. A word of caution: too much of anything is not good so limit your branch applications to no more than 3 throughout your home or office.

So next time you're out walking be on the lookout. If you happen to come across a fallen tree branch that captures your interest, go ahead and pick it up!

An Historical Facelift

2013-06-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

We have recently completed a project to restore the facade of a century and a half-old building on the south side of Broadway, the main street in Orangeville. Our client was the current owner of the building originally built and operated as the Queen's Hotel. We began this project in 2011 and completed it in January of this year and while this project was not what we would term 'large', it definitely captured our interest. The reason for this was that it involved 're-claiming' a piece of Orangeville history. The original hotel was constructed in the early 1870's and has undergone many changes in its lifetime. We always love to 'breathe new life' into an old, tired structure and this building was no exception.

If you have ever been to Orangeville you most likely would have passed by the historic downtown area which is defined by the charming shops and landmarks along Broadway. We had such a great time delving back in history as we undertook our research in preparation for the conceptual work related to this project. With the help of Steve Brown the archivist at the Dufferin County Museum & Archives we were able to unearth some rarely seen photos along with enough chronological information to piece together the history of our client's building. Without making this sound too much like a history lesson, here are some images and facts related to the life of our building that you might find fascinating. (Photos courtesy of Dufferin County Museum & Archives)

Queen's Hotel ca. 1900 with arched carriage passage (already filled in) and balconies above main entrance. Note: The original unpainted brick facade.

Queen's Hotel ca. 1910 showing whitewashed facade.

Queen's Hotel ca. 1922 showing 2nd floor balcony removed and painted window detailing

Queen's Hotel ca. 1942 showing 2nd floor balcony reinstated. Note: painted window and cornice details.

In the late 1960's it was renamed the Chappel Building (named after its owner) and was converted to commercial units on the main floor, offices on the second and third floors. Later the third floor was converted to apartment units. As evident in the above photo taken in 2010 (before the facelift), the building facade had deteriorated and lacked any of its original splendour.

We spent a lot of time exploring options to restore the original brick facade but subsequent renovations which involved infilling many of the beautiful arched windows using unmatched brick, combined with one hundred years of whitewash and paint made this option unfeasible. After exploring different facing options and constrained with a limited overall budget, an acrylic stucco facade was selected to give us the flexibility to re-introduce some of the fine detailing which once existed. Included in our budget were exterior and interior upgrades to the storefronts and entrances and the installation of new windows and signage. Due to the commercial usage of the ground floor level it was futile to attempt to re-introduce the arched windows which originally existed as they would not be suitable for the commercial tenants. It was agreed that detailing of this level would be reflective of the already upgraded storefronts located along the north side of Broadway. The balconies which provided character and relief to the otherwise historically flat facade would also be re-introduced, albeit shallower and purely cosmetic in nature. The fine arched detail of the original carriage tunnel at the east end would also be taken into consideration in our design.

Having gathered all our research it was time to put it into action. We decided to produce three concepts for presentation to the Heritage Committee in order to provide options showing the building at various stages in its history as well as one option which would be more in keeping with the adjacent brick building to the west.

Concept 1 - Awning Rendering (based on a photograph in the early 1900's showing awnings present on the buildings facade).

Concept 2 - Arch Rendering (based on the photograph ca. 1942 showing the painted arched windows and cornice).

Concept 3 - Banding Rendering (based on brick banding details found on adjacent buildings).

Concept 4 - Final Arch Rendering (based on comments received from the Heritage Committee incorporating details found within the other initial concepts).

The concepts were generally well received and the Heritage Committee made a number of suggestions based on the three initial designs. Concept Two was chosen as a basis for moving forward. It provided an attractive colour scheme and reflected our attempt at re-introducing the arched window detailing evident in the photo taken in the early 1940's. An additional band was provided below the cornice in order to ease the transition from acrylic stucco to the existing brick detailing directly above. It was agreed that the carriage tunnel would be featured by incorporating a glazed, arched window at its original location.

After obtaining the necessary approvals, construction commenced in September of 2012. The work was undertaken by Millcreek Builders. Bob Marfleet of Millcreek Builders is the type of contractor who pays close attention to construction details and the quality of the finished product. These traits would prove to be important on a project such as this one. While weather was a continual factor work proceeded and was completed in January of 2013. Our client was extremely pleased with the results and appreciated that the work was completed within the established construction budget. The south side of Broadway has received a much needed upgrade which also serves as a attractive reminder of Orangeville's rich heritage.

The finished facade for 162 Broadway, Orangeville

The Beautiful Edible Landscape: Focal Points

2013-05-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

Before we move on to discuss the next step in designing the beautiful edible landscape, let me give you an update on the patio and pergola project we talked about in the last post, The Beautiful Edible Landscape: Permanent Elements.

Herringbone interlocking in progress

The paving contractors are making good progress and it is looking great. They compacted another 4"-5" of limestone screening onto the base we had already laid down last summer. This should certainly provide a really solid and well-drained foundation. One item of note...if you intend on having your interlocking pattern laid on a diagonal or have designed curves into the edge pattern, it will require significantly more cutting so be prepared to pay a little extra in the labour costs. I had chosen the herringbone pattern in order to provide a subtle design link to the herringbone pattern of tile we had installed inside the house throughout the entrance hall and Kitchen.

Not only does cedar look good & last forever, it smells very nice too!

The pergola is now complete and I'm thrilled at the way it turned out. The end cut details on the beams and joists really add a finer touch to what would otherwise be a pretty simple and straightforward structure. As Mies Van Der Rohe once said...'God is in the details...'. The neighbour's lilac blooms are peeking over the fence behind, adding a little colour and charm to this focal point. Soon we will add some creeping, flowering vines to climb all over the pergola and we'll have some much needed colour within the yard, even at this early stage of development.

The pergola containing the outdoor dining space has clearly become a focal point as was intended in the design. But we don't intend to stop there! I will explain a little more about this important design aspect below.

STEP 3: ESTABLISHING FOCAL POINTS

We've been careful to establish focal points right from the planning stage, but with a limited size of yard we don't want to overdo it. So we've chosen to limit the number to three or four strong elements. Another important focal point would be the placement of an imported tree at the back corner of the yard which would include the placement of an attractive bench right underneath the canopy. I've been studying native trees and have discovered that there's not an overwhelming amount of choices. Of primary importance to us would be a fast-growing species that's fairly hardy, attractive and which doesn't shed waste material in such a way as to destroy any grass below the canopy. My first thought was a maple tree. It would certainly fit our criteria, but there is already a dearth of maples in our area and I wanted something, well, different! According to The Beautiful Edible Garden..."the key, is that your focal point must be something permanent that is special or beautiful...". My personal choice would be a birch tree because I truly love the look. The problem is two-fold, they are slow growing and shed a lot of material, so that's out. I've been told by friends that a Swat Magret purple beech tree (Fagus Sylvatica "Swat Magret") would be perfect, and after a few visits to the local nurseries, I am seriously considering it. My other choice right now is a Yoshino cherry tree (Prunus x yedoenis). The reason for this is to honor my mother who's been in love with cherry trees and their beautiful blossoms ever since we took her to the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., a few years ago. Unfortunately, the Yoshino is not a native tree and therefore isn't as hardy. It may be more disease-prone as well, but I'm willing to put in the TLC it might require to grow up healthy. I truly believe that adding an emotional element to selecting the proper tree is important. I feel it's worth it to have something to look out at that would bring back fond memories. Not to mention that my mom would be so happy seeing it grow and flourish every time she visits. So I have a decision to make. Before I do, I've decided to try a little design experiment to see how these two choices would stack up against each other...

Back corner with a purple beech tree - the logical choice

Back corner with a Yoshino cherry tree - the emotional choice

Hmm.. Tough decision.. It really is! I even consulted with my 'CFO' but he left the decision up to me. Which one would you choose if I told you that they were basically at the same price point? Decisions, decisions...

The third focal point element I've identified is our existing deck. I plan on creating a feature on one side by sprucing it up with some hanging plants and balcony containers similar to this lovely illustration shown in The Edible Landscape book:

A picnic on the balcony looks oh so beautifully delicious!

We may need to provide some additional structure to the railing in case it cannot handle the load of so many planters, but I'm already excited about the fact that no digging is required for this "picnic on the balcony"! Did I mention that all we have is clay as a sub-soil in our gardens around the house? That means additional digging and topsoil is going to be required in preparation for the garden beds. I haven't figured out how to get rid of the excess clay yet, but I'm hoping to come up with something. I always knew gardening was hard work - it's just that I had never really gotten the real 'dirt' on it until now!

It's been fun implementing our design ideas and we've learned a lot as we've progressed. Stay tuned as we approach the final steps of creating a beautiful edible landscape. Glorious plants, here we come!

The Beautiful Edible Landscape: Permanent Elements

2013-05-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Now that the planning stage for our edible garden is done, it's time for the next step - arranging permanent elements such as patios, pergolas or arbours, fountains, garden sheds, and pathways. As suggested by the books I've been reading it makes sense to locate these features first, as they will be of a permanent nature serving to better define the space. From a practical standpoint it just seems prudent to install these elements at the earliest stage due to the fact that their construction often results in significant disruption to the surrounding area. This is where a lot of blood, sweat and tears are shed because it often requires major digging and some heavy lifting.

Happily, we had already done most of the subgrade improvements for the gravel pathways and patio area last summer. The major elements we had to concern ourselves with this year were the shed installation, laying of the interlocking stone and pergola construction. While we have yet to choose a suitable shed, we've taken delivery of the stone pavers and have begun construction on the foundations and support posts for the pergola.

Pergola - Plan.

Even for something as simple as a pergola, it's a great idea to have a working [architectural] drawing done to make sure that (a) it gets built properly and (b) you can undertake an accurate estimate of materials. A certain amount of pre-planning is also necessary on your part if you've chosen to do the work yourself. Make sure to allow enough time (at least 2 weeks) for materials to arrive as certain sizes and types of lumber and anchor hardware may not be in stock and may need to be special ordered. For example, the Simpson-Strongtie post brackets specified required 2-3 week lead time. Finally, make sure to always order extra lumber just in case...mistakes are not always preventable!

Pergola - West/East Elevation (For illustration purpose only)

Pergola - North/South Elevation (For illustration purpose only)

Decorative beam/joist end cut detail (variation of the cyma recta profile)
Right click on image to download template

To build any solid structure like a pergola, we needed to dig at least 4 ft. deep for the four concrete sonotube foundations into which the post anchors were set. (For Canadian climates, we must go down a minimum of 4 ft. to make sure the foundation is below the frost line where the soil remains inert.) On the first day of work the four post holes were dug, sonotubes placed, concrete poured and post anchors set.

A number of measurements were taken to ensure the posts were squared and true

Like any good construction manager, to save a little time, I had my carpenter working on the joists and beams while the digging team augered the holes, with the objective of having the pergola finished by the end of the next day. Lo and behold, the carpenter received a pretty serious bee sting and was unable to make it on day two. However, he promised to resume work in a few days, but I'm not sure how it's gonna work out as the weatherman is calling for rainy weather so progress may suffer a bit!

The Beautiful Edible Landscape: Planning

2013-04-21T17:26:00.001-07:00

Having grown tired of spending a big chunk of our monthly budget on overpriced organic groceries, I decided to explore growing our own organic vegetables and herbs. I'd made my mind up a few years back about taking this step but was somewhat reluctant to begin this process because I was actually worried about the appearance of the garden. It's an 'occupational hazard' but I can't help it: I'm fussy about the look of everything and I'd always believed that it was an either/or situation when it comes to gardens: a beautiful garden that wasn't edible or an edible garden that was...well...not so beautiful.

Then I came across The Beautiful Edible Garden. It is chock full of great tips and instructive dialogue on achieving that elusive beautiful, edible garden. I also ordered The Edible Landscape (by Emily Tepe) which I'm hoping will offer a different perspective and also help to make sure I'm not missing out on anything. I'm still waiting on this book to arrive (I've ordered it from Chapters Indigo which simply cannot beat Amazon in terms of price and delivery speed, but I think it's great to support a Canadian company.)

I've discovered that many of the principles behind garden design really don't differ much from those in interior design. With my design skills already in hand I'm going to focus on understanding the gardening discipline itself which should be enough of an undertaking, having never planted anything edible before. The good news here is that the actual planting takes place in the final step, so hopefully I'll have familiarized myself with the art and science of edible gardening by then.

FIRST STEP - PLANNING

The previous owners lived here for 25 years and did little to improve the existing yard which works to our advantage in terms of having a 'clean slate' to work with. Placement of trees and structures can be at my discretion whereas many properties often have mature trees which would need to be either eliminated or incorporated into a plan. The obvious drawback is that unless we import mature trees (which can prove costly) we will need to wait for young trees to mature and provide that beautiful summer shade!

Here's a picture of what our backyard looks like now:

Now, my first step was to come up with a master plan of the "what-where-when-and-how." My master plan: to turn the backyard into an oasis with beautiful edible landscaping, an outdoor entertaining space and a safe place for the kids to run around in (of course we will need to train them to be 'garden-friendly' by then!) I'm going to approach the overall design in phases for a number of reasons which I'll explain.

Setting about physically drawing a plan forced me to to think through many of the potential usage scenarios in order to minimize any surprises or disappointment when it comes to the implementation stage. For example, I plan to fill the space outside the rear windows with a container garden instead of a garden bed (even though that would be the best spot for many edible fruits and vegetables due to its southern exposure.) The chief reason for this is that we are considering putting a rear addition on this house at some point in time in the future.

The plan shown here represents 'Phase 1' which is still far from my dream garden (where the landscaping has more vegetation than lawn) but it should serve our purpose for the next 10 years or so. The west side location of the arbour is based primarily on two factors; first, to have a relatively secluded area centrally located within the overall space in order to maximize enjoyment and second, to take advantage of two large existing shade trees, located in the neighbours yard, as a means of protection from the western sun in the afternoon and evening. It made sense to have the shed tucked in behind the arbour away from the house and screened with vegetation to minimize visibility. The treeline along the back (south side) of the property is meant to provide a buffer from the adjacent arterial road while softening the overall look, partially obscuring the rear wood fence and giving a sense of depth to the far end of the yard. The large tree is placed to obscure the large commercial building beyond while providing a remote, restful, shady out-of-the-way area. Finally, the easterly garden will provide a suitable location for sun-loving plants of both the edible and ornamental variety.

Future backyard, looking from deck.

Future view of the outdoor dining space c/w herringbone interlocking and cedar arbour

Phase II will involve the potential house addition along with placement of the permanent garden beds and any usage changes resulting from the kids growing older. I can't wait to enjoy many wonderful dining experiences out here while we consume our own organic produce. But we have a lot of work ahead of us before that dream can be realized. Where is my copy of The Edible Landscape book!?! It's time to start reading because we are undertaking the next step very soon!
If you need some help planning your garden, I found Sheridan Nurseries to be quite helpful (although expensive) and they offer decent landscape plans that you can download and adapt to suit your own needs.

Pick Colour Like A Pro

2013-04-12T22:48:00.000-07:00

Picking colours...those two words that can make one shudder!

I can't begin to tell you how many people I've come across who are intimidated when it comes to picking colours for their home or office.

I truly believe that there are really no rules when it comes to colour. In spite of some scary colour combinations many of us have experienced at one time or another, I'm of the opinion that there is really no 'right or wrong'. Colour selection is a personal thing and people should be able to surround themselves with the hues they love. Many try to do just that, but the end result may often be nothing like what they initially envisioned.

The key to pulling together a cohesive colour scheme in an interior is understanding the logistics of the decorating process.
Typically the process involves applying paint to all the required surfaces (walls, ceilings, doors, trim, etc.,) laying out furniture & rugs, hanging window treatment and artwork and then filling the space with accessories. Most people make the common mistake of visiting the paint store first, sorting through thousands of paint chips in all shades and tones and then taking those select few samples home, hoping that the finished area looks like what they'd pictured in their mind from that tiny chip. The search then continues for fabrics and accessories to match your paint. Good luck with that. My suggestion is to try a little different approach...but where to start? (Here's a hint: you don't need to know colour theory for this approach, because good colour combinations have already been worked out for you!)

What you need is a jumping-off point - a colour source! I find most successful spaces can often begin with a fabric as a colour source. This could be the fabric you're using for window coverings, toss cushions, bed linens, etc. Paint colour, accent fabrics and accessories can then be 'pulled' from your source fabric. You can also extract colour from your favourite artwork, rug, wallpaper, article of clothing, stationery, surrounding nature, or any possession that inspires you. Note: for a kitchen, where most materials are hard surfaces such as tiles and stones, I might opt to pull colours from a fabulous backsplash or countertop. This usually results in a more or less neutral kitchen, where I'd then introduce colour via a rug, window coverings, accessories, or tea towels that tie in with the rest of the scheme.

Foursquare, New York, via Office Design Gallery

The Klimt painting was the jumping-off point or this bedroom

Once you have selected the shades you like from your colour source, take samples of these to the paint store with you and begin the paint selection process. If you cannot find that specific paint chip matching your sample don't hesitate to ask if that store has the capability of providing a specific colour-match service. This is available in many stores today. Once you've narrowed down your choice don't commit to buying ten gallons just yet!

Instead, select three shades of the same colour in sample-sized containers and test them on your walls. Make sure to view the samples during different times of the day under different lighting conditions as different light sources/levels can really change the look of a colour. I learned this the hard way (in my early days) when a beige colour I had chosen for a room turned lilac under artificial lighting. Keep in mind also that different sun exposures can have a different effect on colours, most notably from northerly and southerly locations. Rooms with northern exposure generally feel cooler, so cool colour combinations here can intensify the cold effect and conversely warmer colour combinations can help make the space feel warmer. The opposite effect takes place for the southern exposure; warmer is intensified and the use of cooler colours acts to reduce this effect.

Source: House to Home

Source: Style at Home

Source: House to Home

If your house or office is large enough you can try painting rooms with different colours but pulling them together with a common accent colour throughout. Don't forget that similar themed accessories can also achieve this 'pulled-together' effect. For smaller spaces or rooms that open through to one another it can be a bit tricky as you run the risk of making it look choppy [by painting rooms in different colours.] Unless you’re a seasoned decorator, it is often best to carry through a common element on prominent surfaces such as using one flooring material or a single colour on the walls.

One of the best-kept designer secrets: ceilings. Treat the ceiling as the fifth wall and you've just created another surface for pulling together a colour scheme! Note that you need to provide extra lighting in spaces with ceilings painted a colour other than white, as other colours reflect less light into the area. Source: Tradional Home

In my own practice, I tend to use neutral colours on the walls and on large investment pieces and let them be the backdrop to colours found in accents and accessories. The reasoning is quite logical: we can grow tired of a colour scheme from time to time; and it can be a pain having to repaint an entire space or replacing those expensive sofas. Accents and accessories can be switched out for a relatively small cost (and barely any effort) while allowing you to achieve a completely different look.

Are you colour shy? A black and white combination is always a safe bet! Photography by Jonathan Calvert

Want to understand a little more on colour theory and colour psychology? Check out these interesting articles, Colour Your World Happy from Style at Home, and What Your Paint Colour Says About You from Real Simple.

Warning: Colour does not exist without light and a brilliant colour scheme can only be appreciated with great lighting. Indicentally, I happen to have a great article on this subject, called Interior Lighting, Simplified.

Layout Matters: A Small Space

2013-04-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

Space, space, space...is always at a premium when you live in a small high-rise unit. I was always grateful to find incredible tips and ideas out there in the blogosphere and so this is my contribution to the world of Apartment Therapy worshippers!

You see, before we’d entered family life and the world of the detached single-family dwelling, we were the proud owners of a small condominium unit measuring in at just over 1000 square feet. While the overall layout was perfectly acceptable, there were a few things that simply didn't work.

Floor Plan - Before

The first challenge was where to place the 50" TV.
The ideal location would be opposite the sofa, but lo and behold there was a large opening in that wall for access to the Den. Placing it in the small angled wall was out of the question so our answer was to simply close up the wall opening. This ultimately cut off direct access between the Den and the main Living Area, but we gained a perfect spot for the big screen and the second bedroom gained its own private Den. In small units like this one, the battle between circulation space (wall openings, doors, traffic areas, etc.) and wall space is paramount. This was a classic example where the developer had to choose accessibility over available wall space...we felt differently and modified it accordingly.

After filling in the opening, we had a perfect TV nook!

Our second challenge involved the Entry area in the unit. Cramped, tight, claustrophobic, call it what you will, there was certainly no room for placing any kind of furniture or even for a seat to put on your shoes! This was especially frustrating for this pregnant girl who happened to be in her third trimester! The wall to the Kitchen defined one side while a set of double sliding doors (to a typical coat closet) comprised the opposite side. While storage space cannot be understated, to have this much in this location meant we had to re-think this. So, out went the sliding doors and voila, we gained over 10 square feet of much needed space...with room to move! With this newly gained space I could have done any number of things...a built-in bench for storage, or a nice entry console table (c/w mirror and a beautiful vignette) with a sexy stool tucked underneath, I could go on...however, we decided to stick with the original plan of functionality...okay, with a little flair. We placed a wooden bench high enough to sit on with storage cubes for shoes below and wall hooks for hanging coats. We retained the existing closet shelf and neatly lined up storage baskets on it for our out-of-season items. Next we treated the wall with a fabulous graphic wallpaper called Kamini Adriatic in Starfruit (Tiku collection) from Villa Nova and added some sexy new overhead lights which completely transformed the Entry from blah to breathtaking. (Lighting is undeniably one of the most important design elements as it can make or break a space: interested to learn a little more about it? Please refer to Interior Lighting, Simplified.)
But I wasn't finished yet! I had a deep cabinet in the Kitchen which was never used to its full potential. The reason...I simply couldn't reach back that far! So I had that cabinet modified to half its original depth and created a new cabinet accessible from the Entry. By placing a mirrored door for that important 'final check' before heading out, this cabinet provided that perfect little space to hide those knick knacks such as keys, scarves, hats, etc. out of sight.

Floor Plan - After

Entry - Before

Entry - After

Please note that no photos existed of this area so the above images were created from 3-D software.

Interested in more small-space ideas? Check out these brilliant solutions for extremely small spaces, written by Meredith Stebbins for Elle Decor, on Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Real Solutions. You can also check out my post on opening up spaces without demolishing walls.

Opening Up Spaces Without Demolishing Walls

2013-03-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to a space and thought to yourself, "this place would be perfect if we could just knock down that wall!" Well, as it turns out, that's a big "if" once you investigate what this task entails.

I have found myself in this situation in the past when I've wanted to make changes to our existing home or when we've been shopping for a new home. As I learned long ago from Joel, the location of a wall is determined by a number of factors in addition to defining the space.
Walls may be structural in nature [load bearing wall] or constructed to enclose ducts, plumbing, wiring, posts or columns. Making modifications to the structure of the house or relocating some or all of those items can prove to be an expensive proposition costing in the thousands of dollars by the time it's all "said and done."

With such a potentially high price tag, I decided that I needed to come up with a creative and relatively inexpensive solution for that "unwanted" wall in our last home. At the time, it just didn't make sense for us to invest a lot of money into a home in which we knew we would not be going to remain in for long. The wall in question made the two adjacent rooms appear dark, gloomy and small. In addition to that, we wanted increased visibility for the kids from all vantage points.
Having consulted a structural engineer it was determined that the wall in question was loadbearing and could not be removed without a costly expense. Undeterred, I still wanted to do something with it, so after some minor exploration behind the drywall we discovered that it was free of ducts and had only a few wires which could be easily accommodated. With the right placement of structural blocking between the studs, we had it...my interior window! The end result gave us much brighter, more integrated rooms with better sightlines...and the bonus was that the entire project cost less than a fraction of what it would have been to remove it completely!

As you can see here, I have four spaces between the wall studs opened up to give that "window" look. The decorative fretwork panel inserts were a great find from HomeSense, which I thought were perfect for my new "window." However, it turned out to be a bit of a challenge for my trusted contractor at SBI Woodworking as they were made from a brittle, composite material which was quite difficult to work with. I think he did a fantastic job!

For more ideas on opening up spaces without removing walls, be sure to check out this great article, 9 Small-Space Solutions, from This Old House.

If you have a great idea to share, I invite you to submit a guest post through myblogguest or simply email me at deehuynh[AT]deesigned[DOT]ca!

Legal

2013-03-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

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