Real Interiors

It's Been Awhile

2016-09-08T17:03:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone!!! Some of you may have noticed Real Interiors went on a long "break". Like an almost three year break. Which is super crazy when I think about what all has happened in that time.

I was really only not working at Real Interiors for about two and half years but took a break from the blog side of it for closer to three.
Some who don't know our family well might be wondering why such a long break, I'm sure. Well, long story short, we had a house fire and lost all of our personal belongings as well as all of my business equipment and samples. I tried to keep up with it for a few weeks afterwards but found dealing with our lives basically being turned upside down, a little much. Life took an even harder turn emotionally for us when we tragically lost an immediate family member just two months later.

Since then, life has been a lot of ups and downs. We've been settled in our new house for about a year now and just recently we finally finished the insurance process (thank goodness!). I've felt settled enough lately that I really realized how much I've missed my work at Real Interiors and allowed me enough time to start rebuilding.

So...Real Interiors is officially back in business! And I'm so excited!!!

P.S. check out the Portfolio page for some of my recent work and stay tuned! I'll be adding more soon!

DIY Nate Berkus Inspired Arrowhead Runner

2013-10-03T21:51:00.000-05:00

When I started working on my hallway I was envisioning a light bright space with a few fun details to keep it interesting but not overwhelming. I also didn't have a huge budget to work with but really, who wants to invest a bunch of money in a hallway?

I'd been really crushing on the Nate Berkus Arrowhead Runner from Target but after thinking it through it just wasn't an option. For one I would need two of them to run the full length of the hallway (it would've looked funny to have a runner that only went part way) meaning I would need to piece them together somehow, likely creating an odd joint in the middle. The hallway includes doors from the backyard, the bathroom and my two kids rooms. With all these doors I was concerned it might not hold up to outdoor footwear and it also had no sticky backside, making me nervous it would be slippery when the kids were running through there. Plus double the rugs = double the cost. At $70 a piece they were definitely out of the price range I wanted to spend on a hallway runner.

I was at the hardware store for some spray paint (for my giant $5 mirror you can see in the picture above) when I stumbled across the rolls of runners. While it wasn't wool like the Nate Berkus rugs the fuzzy charcoal was close enough that it reminded me of it. It had rubber backing so no slip and protection for the hardwood from wet shoes from the backyard. Hmmm, it could work with a little tweaking. I looked for the price...$2.75 a foot. The 14ft I needed would be under $40, $30 less than just one single Nate runner and $100 less than the cost of the two I would've needed...Sold!!!

A quick stop for a sponge on my way out and fifteen minutes later I was rolling out my runner and making a plan.

I started by cutting some triangle out of my sponge. The Nate runner triangles were smaller and more spaced out but I decided it would be faster and easier to make them a bit larger and line them up one right after another so I didn't have to worry about measuring spacing between.

Next I decided on my spacing between rows. I wanted five rows just because that's what I thought would look best so I found the center of the rug and stuck down a piece of painters tape to mark it. Then I did a little math to figure out the other rows. Since I wanted five lines I divided the width by 6 and marked the center line of each row that distance apart. I put the tape down so the left edge of each piece marked the center of the line where I would line up the center point of the triangle and about 2 inches down from the edge of the rug so there would be room for my first triangles.

I grabbed a paper plate and some regular white latex paint (some of my left over trim colour) and started dabbing. I didn't want a really white and solid triangle, I was going for a slightly more transparent look, so I dabbed off quite a bit of paint on the plate before I applied it.

I lined up the center point of the triangle with the left edge of the painters tape that marked the center of my lines. Once I had my first triangle I moved the tape down about half a foot and started working my way down stamping a few triangles in each row before moving the paint strips down. If you look closely you can see the runner had grooves in it which really helped when moving the tape. I could just run my finger down the groove and place the tape. They also helped when stamping for lining up your next stamp with the last one. I kept the tape though instead of relying only on the grooves because I found I started to drift a couple of times when I didn't line it up as close as I should have and the tape helped the find the center of the line again.

Once I got more comfortable with the process I got into a bit of a rhythm and it became much faster.

You can probably see a couple spots where my lines drifted a bit but I figured it added to the more authentic "hand woven" look I was trying to knockoff.

While I know it doesn't look like a hand woven wool rug I'm really happy with the end result and find it makes the hall feel a lot more put together. It feels nice underfoot (not really soft but not as rough as I thought it would be) and works better for my families needs and budget. I don't think I could've beat $40 for a 14ft runner. All said and done the painting took me about an hour and half and with the back door open it only took about an hour after I finished for it to be dry enough to walk on.

And just because I like a good before and after here's a picture of what we were working with before.

And a lot of sanding, painting and a little bit of accessorizing later. The after!

I know it's just a hallway but it's nice to have one more room knocked off the painting list and feeling more us!

Adding Spring to Your Home

2013-04-17T15:27:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you but this NEVER ENDING winter weather is really getting on my nerves. I think I have a bit of seasonal depression because of it.
I've never been more eager to have it warm up so I can open the doors and windows and get my spring cleaning done. When I'd come home from school and my mom would have everything wide open and airing out, and everything would be pulled off the shelves and walls to be wiped and vaccumed and washed, was always when I felt like spring had come. Life seems to be a bit stuck on winter mode until that happens for me.

So in an effort to throw off some of this "blahness" (I'm sure that isn't a word but I'm using it) I've been looking at some ways to quickly, easily, and cheaply add some of that spring feeling to my home in the mean time.

Flowers and greenery

Source: autumn-cashmere.tumblr.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Nothing brightens up a room like something living! Having a vase of flowers on your table or desk totally brightens that area. And if you want something that will last a lot longer, or if you're like me and have a black thumb, there are gorgeous faux flowers and greenery for very reasonable prices. Check out Ikea or I've even found beautiful fake orchids at Safeway for a good price.

Accessories

Source: bhg.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Recover some throw pillows and add a light throw or a fun rug in a bright colour. Add a new vase or lamp or even pull books with bright covers off the shelf and use them in a more obvious place. All inexpensive ways to switch things up a bit. Switching out some of your accessories for something in a bright hue adds colour and make the space feel new and exciting again.

Paint

Source: turningpoint2.tumblr.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Source: brightbazaarblog.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Painting a wall or a piece of furniture can totally change and brighten a space on a budget. You can even make an old lamp or vase new for the cost of a can of spray paint. I like this because if you want to switch it up in the fall you can without feeling too bad.

Windows

Source: interiorsbystudiom.com via Michelle Jennings Wiebe on Pinterest

Part of that spring feeling is adding more light to your space. Cleaning your windows (when you can finally get out to do that) will instantly make your room brighter. It's amazing how dingy they get over the winter! If you have heavy curtains that aren't used for privacy or light control reasons you could consider changing them out with something lighter for the spring/summer seasons. This will allow more light into your room and the light fabric will lend a light and airy feel to the whole room.

Declutter

Source: jutehome.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Clear out all that clutter that's gathered over the winter. Every once in awhile, usually at the change to spring or fall for me, I like to clear all the little stuff out of the space leaving only the furniture. It gives me a chance to look at everything I've accumulated all laid out and decide what I really like and what is working and what might just be adding to a cluttered or unharmonious look. I can clean off all the surfaces and items properly and place them where they will look best. A bonus of this for me (I seem to get tired of things quickly and crave change) is that I end up with a bit different look without spending any money.

And someday, whenever it may come, I will throw open my doors and windows and do a thorough clean and it will truly be spring for me!

Looking for a change this spring or summer? I'd love to help! Contact me at realinteriors@hotmail.com !

Chair Recovered

2013-04-10T22:32:00.000-05:00

I had been thinking about getting a pair of chairs to flank my fireplace when we eventually mount the tv over it. Since what I had my eye on wasn't at all in my budget right now, I jumped at an inexpensive stand in when it came up.

I got two of these chairs for cheap...$10 cheap...so right in my budget! They were simple, sturdy, comfortable, and I liked that they were kind of mid century modern which is the era my house was built in so I thought they'd fit the style.

Here's a couple of before and after shots!

Before

And After

I'll hopefully get a tutorial up in the next couple of day. I've been very busy with clients and life these days so the blog has been a little neglected, sorry! I've also been working on a little makeover for my living room so most of my "free time" has been going into that. But on the bright side I'll have some new pictures and maybe a couple of tutorial posts from it soon! Stay tuned!

Not so Neutral Neutrals

2013-03-28T16:55:00.002-05:00

Wow it's been crazy around here! SO this will be a quick post on something I've noticed on several projects lately. I wonder if maybe you have too at some point but couldn't put your finger on it.

You walk into a newly built house or a new renovated space and think, this is nice enough but something isn't quite right. You just can't put your finger on it. Some how things don't quite flow together.

If you've felt this way then there's a good chance that space had conflicting neutrals.
But aren't neutrals neutral? Yes and no. Black, white, grey, and brown are supposed to be neutral but there's kind of a catch.

You choose a beige sofa, chairs, walls, and rug, altogether they should create a nice neutral backdrop, right? Not necessarily. This picture is a prime example. While it's definitely not the ugliest room ever, it definitely feels "off".

Unless a neutral is in it's basest form they have added other colours to it. So why is that a problem and why does it look off?  Conflicting undertones.

For example beige comes in several undertones. You may have chosen some nice brown/beige tile for your backsplash and decided to keep things neutral you'd go with a beige wall colour too. But when you get it up there it just doesn't look right. The wall colour looks blah. Is something wrong with the paint?
Most likely it's because your tiles are yellow beige and your walls are pink beige.  Pink beige will look dirty next to yellow beige.

Just check out this paint chip.  A light brown/beige (Lennox Tan BM).

When you put it next to a yellow beige...kinda dirty and blah.

You can see the same thing with these couches and chairs. The pinky beige sofas looks kind of dull next to the yellow beige chairs.

Source: mariakillam.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

The same thing will happen with your finishes.

So when you're picking finshes please keep undertones in mind. Just because you're picking all brown or gray stuff it won't aways go together.

If you're picking finishes and on the fence about hiring a decorator, just remember a consultation or two with me is much cheaper than ripping out and replacing flooring or furniture that looks off in your room.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend everyone!!!

Inconvenient Built Ins - Working With What You Have

2013-03-13T14:58:00.000-05:00

Emily A Clark is having a link up party today where bloggers can show off and share some of the projects they've done where they worked with what they had. She's had posts on this topic for a few months, showing ways she and some of her readers have worked with things like beat up hardwood floors, less than desirable furniture, long narrow living rooms, etc.

So todays post is was a last minute throw together of a project where I worked with what I had. When we redecorated our office/guest room into a nursery for our little girl we were faced with a bit of a challenge. While the room was larger than the nursery in our old house this room had lots of "things" in it. Three windows in the corner, a closet door in the middle of one wall, the door on another, and built ins.

We have a lot of built ins in this house. A doctor had this house custom made back in the fifties (so I'm told) and just about every room on the main floor has some kind of built ins. While some are nice, others are pretty inconveniently placed and make furniture placement difficult. That was the case in the nursery. I loved the bookshelf and drawers in the corner but didn't love the desk that was attached to it.

I wish I had a before picture of the actual desk but I didn't think ahead at the time and was just eager to get rid of it. When we started the room my plan was to remove the desk altogether. It was covered in a peeling shiny (but scratched up) black laminate and constructed of ugly pine. It even had one of those slide out keyboard shelf things. I wanted it gone!

However when it came time to take it out it wasn't just some boards attached to the side of the bookcase and mounted on the wall, it was literally part of both. If we were going to take it out it would've been major surgery and left the side of the bookcase marred and meant a lot of patching and possibly drywalling the wall behind it. Since that work wasn't in the timeline or budget we decided the best route was to try and spruce it up a bit. We tore off the laminate, removed the keyboard shelf, and sanded everything really well. A few coats of primer and paint later we had what would be our baby's change table.

It actually ended up being a perfect length for the change pad and had enough room behind it for all of the diapers, wipes, lotions, etc. to sit conveniently and space underneath for the laundry basket. It was one less piece of furniture to try and fit in (since our change table was too large to fit in that space anyways) and when she no longer needs a change table we can take the pad off and bring a chair up so it can be a desk again.

I can't wait to see her sitting there drawing masterpieces... or doing homework!

Check out the link up party!

Using a Decorator on a Budget - One Idea

2013-03-12T17:07:00.000-05:00

It's quite common for decorators to be called in half way through a project when a the client gets stuck. As a decorator I have no problem coming and helping at whatever stage they need me at, however, projects like these are often more challenging. Why? Often clients have made quite a few decisions, made several purchases, already had their trades out to do some of the work, and the decorator comes into a "hodge podge" of decorating, so to say.

Source: mcmillinhomes.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Probably the biggest challenge for a decorator when coming into half done projects is that quite often one or two (or several) of the purchases or decisions made by the client really don't work and we are asked to try to salvage the pieces. This usually results in more cost for the client (having to repurchase items or get trades out to fix problems) and/or a less than beautiful result (and who really wants that after they've spent all the money and time on it) If they had had a decorator out before making purchases or starting work they would have had the finished product they wanted for less money.

One way I have found that may save money for some people, and avoid the "hodge podge" rescue, is to do the leg work yourself!

Decorators charge for their time and mileage. Gathering all of the samples and pictures they bring you to look at takes a lot of hours and leg work. So if you're willing to do the running around you may be able to save some dough.

Source: bhg.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

My suggestion is, if you're thinking about doing some redecorating, before you start anything, think about what you really want and what you really like. Fill your pinterest board, your houzz ideabook, or a binder with clippings and pictures of things you like. This way when you meet with your decorator s/he can much easier see what your style is and what you want your project to feel like. (If you have no idea what you like then that's a whole other story and you'll probably need some help figuring that out) When you've got a collection together have your decorator out for a consultation.

Most decorators offer a one or two hour consultation for a fairly reasonable rate and you'd be surprised what you can get accomplished in a short amount of time.

Source: ej-fransen.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Tell them up front that you're on a budget and want to do the shopping around yourself but you need to know what to look for and what to avoid. When you've shown your decorator your ideas ask them what you will need to get the look you're after. They should be able to give you a good idea of what to look for and possibly even the best places to find it. Make sure you take notes and ask lots of questions!

Source: peeltile.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Once you have that information start your window shopping and sample gathering. Go to stores and get sample and good quality pictures of all of the options you find. Make sure you get prices, sizes and all the information you can on all of the items you're looking at. Don't forget to check prices at different places. Don't buy anything yet!!!

With all of your samples and pictures together have your decorator out for another consultation. Using everything you gathered they should be able to help you choose what will work together and get you closer to the desired look the first time around.

Source: southernliving.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

I think that extra hour or two at the start of the project is well worth it! Often when I add up the extra money clients end up spending fixing mistakes or the headache and disappointment living with those mistakes (which they will probably get fed up with after a year or two and redo anyways) my fee for that hour or two at the start of the project would have been covered many times over.

If you're starting a project and need a little guidance I'd love to help! If you have any questions about my services and how I might be able to help you, contact me at realinteriors@hotmail.com!

What's Old is New

2013-03-06T11:38:00.001-06:00

I was visiting my mom last week and was browsing through an old binder she'd kept of decorating ideas clipped and ripped out of magazines and books. How she managed to organize anything like this when she had four young kids I have no idea! Most of the clippings were from the late 80's and early 90's and I couldn't believe how many of the ideas I loved and were things I'd seen all over pinterest, blogs and magazines. So I took a few pictures with my phone to bring home and share with you guys just for kicks!

Here's some of the retro pictures followed by a current one. Take a few of the dated decor items out of the retro pictures and they would almost pass as the current (besides the fact you can tell I took a picture of a picture with my phone of course,lol) Enjoy :)

Black Painted Trim

Source: meghancarter.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Classic Furniture In Modern Patterns

Source: vanessaandvalentine.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Geometric Floors

Source: theenchantedhome.blogspot.ca via Kirsten on Pinterest

Dark Painted Cabintery

Source: lonny.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Rustic Wood Tables

Source: thebooandtheboy.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Geometric Rugs

Source: insideavenue.polyvore.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Cool Kids Storage and Stencilling

Source: picnic.typepad.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Mixing Modern and Traditional

Source: bhg.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Ethnic Rugs and Mixing Industrial/Modern with Warm Woods

Source: houzz.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Chevron

Source: etsy.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

And just for fun...

I remember doing aerobics with my mom and the ladies on the videos wearing these outfits,lol

What trends have you noticed from back in the day making a return? I'd love to hear about some of your favorite returning trends! Or maybe some you wished weren't back?

Tips For Furniture Buying - Think Outside the Set

2013-02-28T15:09:00.001-06:00

I mentioned once or twice in the last post how the "set" of furniture at the store isn't always your best choice. In fact it quite often isn't.

Source: bhg.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

When you go furniture shopping you see a bed you love and it comes with a dresser, mirror, chest of drawers and bedside table. The sales person tells you he'll give you a great deal to buy them all and it's pretty hard to turn down. Or you need a new sofa and you think you might as well get the loveseat and oversized chair since they all go together. I get it! I've been there. But believe me when I say you may have a headache to deal with when you get home and can't fit all those things in your room or you're now completely bound to one awkward arrangement because that's the only way those piece fit in the room.

Source: calllmeclassy.tumblr.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

My challenge to you is to think outside the box a little when it comes time to buy your next piece of furniture. Don't feel bound to the "set"! It does take a little more work and thought to pick pieces individually but in the end you have a room full of pieces of furniture you love, that function well in the room, and a look that's unique.

Source: housebeautiful.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

The living room above is a great example of picking pieces that work together to create the best floorplan possible. Instead of just buying the matching loveseat and chair with the sofa (which would've meant several less seats and an awkward arrangement) they took full advantage of the room and bought two of the same sofa, two of the same chairs, plus the tables match as well. Now you have lots of seating, nice flow, and a unique room. The two chairs in front of the window take advantage of the light and view. I imagine they would be a great spot for reading or a more intimate area to host a friend for coffee. The couches are perfect for larger gatherings and the chairs are still close enough to be included in the group.

Source: designmaze-tim.blogspot.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

In fact if you look at your favorite magazine or decorating website you'll probably notice there are lots of matching pieces of furniture, in that they often use two of the same piece, but I can't remember the last time I saw a room featured in a magazine that had a matching couch, loveseat, and chair. Most decorators and designers realize "sets" don't take best advantage of most floorplans plus they just don't love the look. If we have the option of starting from scratch it's doubtful your decorator will ever choose a "set" for you.

Instead of a loveseat, if you have room, get another couch. If you don't have room, two chairs are much more flexible and most guests enjoy having their own seat as opposed to having to snuggle up beside another guest on the loveseat.

I could go on and on but the point is, when you're thinking about getting some new furniture and you're in the planning stage, don't feel bound to another "set". Really think about what would fit comfortably and what would best meet your needs. The bonus is you'll end up with a much more custom look than your neighbour that will function better for your family.

Need some help making the right choice? I'd love to hear from you! realinteriors@hotmail.com

Tips for Furniture Buying -Planning

2013-02-25T13:44:00.002-06:00

Source: centsationalgirl.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Buying a piece of furniture isn't as simple as going to the store and picking out what you like. I can't tell you how often I have been in a home or hear of someone buying a piece of furniture and bringing it home to find, it doesn't fit in the door, it barely fits in the room, or it doesn't relate to any of the other furniture.

Source: interiordesignhq.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

I'm sure we've all seen the room where they marched off to the store, bought the whole set (because it all goes together and it's such a good price) and brought it home to cram in their tiny room.

Source: pearlhomedesign.blogspot.ca via Kirsten on Pinterest

PLEASE stop doing that! Before you even set foot in a furniture store you need to measure your room. Get out a tape measure and a piece of paper and draw your room labeled with your measurements. If you happen to have a piece of graph paper, even better. Draw your room to scale (every box = 1 sq ft). Also measure the doors into your house and the room your furniture will go. Can you actually fit that king mattress around all those tight corners, down the cramped hall and into your 10 by 10 bedroom?

Once you have all of your measurements think about what your needs are for the room. A living room for example. Do you host a lot of people in that room or is it just for you and your family? If you host a lot of cocktail type parties in that room your needs will be very different than if it's just you and your family of four watcing movies.

Based on your needs make a list. Seating for 8. Storage for 150 movies. Side tables large enough to hold table lamps. etc

Now if you want you can make a first trip to the store to get some ideas and measurements or take a look at some furniture store sites to get measurements. With those ideas and measurements cut out some "furniture" to move around the picture of the room you drew. You could also make giant cut outs with craft paper to use in the actual room or make outlines on your floor with painters tape but I find the drawing method much easier. Don't make your floorplan based on a "set" of furniture (couch, loveseat, and chair for example) make it based on your needs.

Source: the-house-plans-guide.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Once you've come up with a floor plan that best suits your needs and you can see what comfortably fits in your room (and what size of furniture you can get through your door) then it's time to go to the store and actually start shopping. Remember to take your tape measure along to double check sizes.

Source: southshoredecoratingblog.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

I'll have some more tips in my next post!

If that's more work than you're wanting to put in or you think you'd like some assistance making the right choice, I'd be happy to come help! Email me realinteriors@hotmail.com

Black and White Rooms

2013-02-22T17:12:00.004-06:00

I find I've been attracted to really dark wall colours lately and on that note I've been contemplating a change for my living room.

Source: housetweaking.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

I really like the colour of the dark blue feature wall that's in there but I've had the blue grey that was on the rest of the walls for awhile and I'm ready for a change.

Plus when we mount the tv above the fireplace it leaves the feature wall in the wrong spot. I'd be highlighting a wall that really isn't where the focus of the room is.

So if I don't change my mind before I get a chance to do the painting ;) Then I'm thinking the fireplace wall will become the feature wall in a dark charcoal. I'll keep the fireplace, trim, and built ins all the white they already are and probably do the rest of the walls white to balance the dark. I've also noticed a lot of my pins lately have bright white walls (white walls are popular again!).

I love the black and white with a hit of a warm wood or leather and I think my orange brown sofas would look really nice with the white and charcoal. I scored a couple of metal frame chairs to recover for either side of the fireplace for dirt cheap so I need to pick some fabric too!

Here's a few of my charcoal/black and white pins that are my inspiration!

Source: desiretoinspire.net via Kirsten on Pinterest

Source: blueprintbliss.blogspot.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Source: lifeingraceblog.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Source: gallery.apartmenttherapy.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Source: norskeinteriorblogger.no via Kirsten on Pinterest

Source: incend-io.tumblr.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Source: onehour.tumblr.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Anyone else enjoying the classic black and white scheme lately?

Breakfast Nook on a Budget - Spring Inspired

2013-02-12T16:56:00.000-06:00

Since the groundhog said it would be an early spring, and it's such a gorgeous day out there, I felt like doing something fun, bright, and inpired by the (hopefully) soon to be here spring season.
I have a breakfast nook that's looking pretty sad right now. Actually my entire kitchen is, but that's a whole other post. Anyways, we tend to eat there more in the spring and summer for some reason, so I thought I'd give it an imaginary makeover for a spring time breakfast!

So here is my spring inspired breakfast nook on a budget!

Spring time breakfast nook by kirstenmp on Polyvore

1. Chairs - both from Ikea 2@$60 and 2@$80 2. Rug - RugsUSA $130 (50% off) 3. Table -Walmart $150 4. Bowls -Target $10 (set of 4) 5. Coffee Press - Target $19 6. Fabric for napkins and runner - Fabric.com $11/y 7. Dishes - Target $35/set 8. Toast Rack - Amazon.com $10

9. Flatware - Target $30/set

= a total of $675 for my spring inspired makeover

I decided to go with two different styles of chairs, it lends a more collected and casual feel. I liked the modern style of the white chair and the warmth and texture of the woven one. I think they pair nicely.

The table is super simple and clean lined. So it goes well with the modern chairs but I like the dark colour to help ground the space and the light colourful dishes would pop on it.

The rug is just sooo fun! The colour and pattern are great and as a bonus it's polyester so it should clean up fairly easily.

I couldn't find any cute table linens I liked in my price range so instead I found a yard of fun indoor outdoor fabric to make into napkins and a small runner. Being indoor/outdoor fabric they will clean very easily but still be soft enough to feel nice.

The dishes, flatware and coffee press are all from target so of course they are reasonably priced. I love the bright colours of the dishes! And the coffee press and flatware are both simple and clean lined in keeping with the modern elements.

I think a toast rack is really cute! I don't own one...yet. But if you're someone who likes to do a big weekend breakfast it would make your table feel just a bit more special.

And to finish off the table just add some tulips from your spring garden! Ah, can't wait for spring!!!

The whole nook furnished and table set for $675 sound pretty good to me!

Anyone else getting excited for spring??

Do's and Don'ts for Choosing a Paint Colour

2013-02-08T12:13:00.002-06:00

Choosing the perfect paint colour isn't as simple as going to the paint store and choosing a chip you like (as I'm sure you've figured out if you've tried this). It's can be a bit of a process but if you take the time to follow some of these do's and don'ts your chances of finding the right colour will improve dramatically!

DON'T pick your colour at the store! The store has much different lighting than your home and it doesn't have your furniture, flooring or trim to check the colour against. Colours can look totally different in different lighting and when surrounded by your stuff.

Source: dreambroadcasting.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

DO think about what you want the feeling or mood of the room to be. Different colours are associated with different feels and moods. If you want your childs room to be a stimulating play area then consider a bright colour but if you want it to be condusive to relaxing for nap time, a vibrant orange might not be the best choice.

Source: farm7.staticflickr.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Different colours create totally different feels in this room.

DON'T choose a colour from a magazine or paint store ad without testing it. Most ads and magazines enhance their pictures so the room looks "perfect". In other words it isn't a true likeness of the colour, it's often much lighter and brighter than reality. If you love the colour get a tester and try it out.

Source: turningpoint2.tumblr.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

DO test your colours in your room, with your stuff, before buying. I know this isn't always possible (like when you're building and have to paint before you move in) but if you can get a test pot and paint a piece of poster board. You can stick it up beside your trim, baseboards, flooring, behind your couch, etc. so you can see how it will look in relation. That gray that looks perfect in the store may look mauve or baby blue when you get it in your room. Save yourself some money and work by testing first!

Source: mariakillam.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

DO consider adjoining rooms. If you can see another room from the one your painting (and vise versa) you need to make sure those colours will look nice together (flow) or it will really take away from your room. If you've picked out a colour but it looks terrible with the one in the next room you may want to consider a different colour or repainting the adjoining room.

Source: southshoredecoratingblog.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

DON'T ignore your furniture and fixed elements (trim, fireplace brick. etc). Unless you are planning on changing those things in the near future you want to make sure the colour works with what's in your room. Ignoring those elements will probably lead to a less than satisfactory look in the end. Something will always look off.

Source: houzz.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

DO take undertones into consideration. You may think you're just picking a neutral colour (like a grey or beige) but every paint colour is made by mixing several different colours to acheive the one on the paint chip. This creates "undertones". There are very few neutral neutrals. For example, most greys have a purple, blue or green undertone.

Source: southshoredecoratingblog.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

DO remember that most colours will look lighter and brighter up on the wall. Decorators often have to convince clients to use a darker or more muted ("greyed") version of the colour they think they want. We do that because the blue they thought would be nice in their living room would look more nursery baby blue on the wall.

Source: southshoredecoratingblog.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

If you'd like help choosing the right colour I'd love to help! A quick one or two hour consultation is usually enough to work out a colour scheme for several rooms! Contact me at (204)747-4480 or realinteriors@hotmail.com.

Custom Window Coverings

2013-02-05T14:01:00.003-06:00

Real Interiors is now accepting bookings for In Home Consultations for Custom Window Coverings from Graber Blinds!

We're offering an amazing kick off sale! You can upgrade your blinds to 'top down bottom up'* for FREE! Plus an additional 25% off on top of that.

Book now while the sale lasts!!! realinteriors@hotmail.com or call (204)747-4480

Check out the Custom Window Coverings page or contact me for more information.

*on blind styles compatible with this function. If the style you want aren't compatible we'll give you 30% off your entire order!

Source: graberblinds.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Graber Samples

2013-02-01T15:33:00.003-06:00

My samples are in!!! What got me really excited about Graber in the first place was their samples so, now that mine are here, I had to share my excitement! They have sooo many options there truly is something for everyone. From traditional to modern, and everything in between, there are endless choices.

(sorry for my poor lighting! I was so excited I had to show you some of my books!)

~Real, faux wood or composite shades and shutters
~Cellulars
~Pleated shades
~Romans
~Roller shades
~Verticals
~Solar shades
~Natural woven shades
~Sliding panels

These are some of the styles I'll be offering and all of them have books full of material and fabric options.
Plus there are lots of ways to customize them to your needs and decor! Top down bottom up, motorized lifts, cordless, liners, valances, trim, tapes and wood stain matching to name a few.

If you're in the market for new blinds, shades or shutters you can have a interior decorator come to your home and help you choose the right style and materials, measure your windows, order and install everything for you! Talk about efforless!!

Source: graberblinds.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

What you have on your windows can make a huge difference to how the room looks. Just check out my Living Room Reveal. It's kind of hard to see in the before but they had plastic verticals on their window and it was really contributing to the dated feel of the room. Changing the blinds alone updated the room in a huge way!

The best way to choose blinds is in your home. It's kind of like paint colours. Any decorator will say that if at all possible you should take your samples home and see them in your room, with your stuff and the lighting in your room to get the best results. The same applies to window coverings. Seeing samples in your home will give you the best idea what will work with your decor, wall colours, and light control needs so you know when you make the investment they will be exactly what you wanted.

If you're interested in an in home consultation I would love to come out and look through samples with you! Call me at (204)747-4480 or email me at realinteriors@hotmail.com for more information.

And just FYI I will be offering some great introductory discounts and freebies!!! So book soon to get in on them!

DIY Upholstered Headboard Tutorial

2013-01-31T17:09:00.000-06:00

As promised here is my how to for the upholstered headboard I made this week!

Building Materials & Tools:
old headboard
foam mattress topper (I used a twin, measure your headboard and get the appropraite size you need)
electric knife or bread knife
spray adhesive
fabric of your choice (just make sure it is heavy enough for upholstery)
scissors
staple gun and staples
nail head trim (the ones I got from the hardware store were called upholstery tacks)
hammer
strip of duct tape
ruler

Mounting:
flush mount wall hangers
cordless drill
measuring tape

Step 1:

Lay your headboard down front side up and lay your foam on top. I used my bread knife (but I've heard electric knifes work well too) to cut out the shape of the headboard, following along the edge.
I wanted nailhead trim which can be difficult to nail in through foam (if it's too thick you won't even be able to get them to stay in) and my headboard has a nice rounded, thick edge that I knew would look fine without the foam, so I actually cut my foam a few inches smaller than the headboard.

You could also trace the headboard and cut it out along your trace line. You might end up with more even edges than I did. (I'm tend to be a bit of a short cuts person when I do projects for myelf)

Step 2:

My headboard had depressed areas. To level it out I filled in those areas with the scraps of foam I had left over.

Once they were filled in I used spray adhesive to attach the large piece directly to the headboard, which also did the job of keeping the "filler" pieces in place. I just sprayed it on the wood and laid the foam on top, then pressed the foam down firmly and let it dry for a few minutes.

Step 3:

Once the foam was dried enough I knew it wouldn't fall off I laid out the material, pattern side down, on the floor and laid the headboard, foam side down, on top of it. Make sure the fabric is as smooth as possible under the headboard.

My fabric had a pattern so I had to center the headboard on the fabric both side to side and top to bottom so in the end the pattern would be even. If you had solid material all you should have to worry about is having enough material on each side that you can pull it around to the back and staple it down.

(centered on the fabric)

Once it's where you want it you can start cutting. If you wanted you could measure it all out and draw an outline and cut along that but as long as you make sure you're leaving yourself with plenty to pull around and staple down you can just eyeball it. It doesn't have to be perfect!

Step 4:

Next get out your stapler (heavy duty, not just your paper stapler :D in case you're new to the upholstery thing) and starting in the middle of the top pull your fabric over and pull it snug before you staple it down. Next go the the middle of the bottom and pulling the fabric as tight as possible do the same. The key to a professional look is pulling your fabric as tight as possible before stapling it down, so you need the staple on the bottom to hold the fabric in place and give you something to pull against.

Working from the center of the top work your way to the outside pulling firmly and stapling every two or three inches (or even less along curved areas) to help keep it as flat and snug as possible. Around curves and dips there were times where I had to cut small v's into the edge of the material to get around them.
Because of the shape of my headboard I went from the center all the way down to the bottom corner on one side then from the center down to the other. Last I did the bottom workng from the center out.

Again, I stress, make sure you are pulling the material as snug as possible every time before you staple it down. It gets to be hard on the arms but worth it!

Lift it up and check out your handiwork so far!

Step 5:

I only had access to a few boxes of nail head trim so I ended up having to space mine out to make it all the way around the edge. That meant I had to measure betweent the tacks as well as from the edge, to make sure they were evenly spaced and followed the edge evenly too. If you had more than I did you could do them side by side the whole way around.

Since I was spacing mine I started in the middle of the top and worked my way out so they would be centered. They say to use a rubber mallet to protect the nails finish but I heard they were really difficult to do with a rubber mallet and sticking a piece of duct tape on your hammer head would help protect the finish but would be easier to work with. I thought it worked well.

The back of the package had a little measuring tape on it that ended up being handy. Nailhead trim can be a little hard to keep straight when eye balling so just use a ruler or by a nailhead setting tool if you can find one. You can also buy strips where there are faux nailheads and only every fifth one is a real nailhead. I've never tried it and I'm not sure what it would be like for going around curves but would probably save a lot of work on straight edges.

Source: ificandoitsocouldyou.blogspot.ca via Kirsten on Pinterest

Source: upcycledhomeblog.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Step 6:

I'm going to admit now that I have not yet done this step, lol! My local hardare store didn't have the flushmount hardware I needed and I haven't had a chance to get to a Home Depot and get one. This is what they look like.

Source: hpponline.co.uk via Kirsten on Pinterest

One gets screwed to your headboard and the other to the wall (into a stud if possible). They fit into one another so your headboard can hang on the wall without leaving a big gap behind it. Besides a bit of measuring, I don't think this will be a difficult step but I'll update you when I've done it.

Cost:
Headboard - $20
Foam - $15
Fabric - $22
Nailhead trim - $6
Total - $63

I already had everything else I needed (except I still need to buy the mounting hardware but I think I've read they're about $8, I'll update when I have them)

Far less expensive than any of the other upholstered headboards I've seen, starting around the $150 -$200 area, and only took about 3 hours!

Hope this inspires you to do your own!

Need some help making your bedroom a restful escape? I'd love to hear from you! realinteriors@hotmail.com

DIY Upholstered Headboard -Reveal

2013-01-28T15:22:00.000-06:00

Last week I picked up this headboard second hand for $20 and showed you some of my inspirational pictures for what I kind of wanted it to look like in the end.

I bought it because I liked the shape, it was in great condition, the price was right, and it would save me buying a piece of plywood and having to cut it out myself (which is a common way to do DIY upholstered headboards).

I found some fabric I loved, bought a cheap foam mattress topper for a little padding, borrowed a staple gun (thanks L!), added some nailhead trim and this is what I ended up with!

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I could only get a few packs of the nailhead trim so I had to improvise and space them out a bit. I figured if I can get my hands on more later I can fill in the spaces if/when I feel like it.

It took me about 3 hours start to finish to put it together. The stapling and trim were by far the majority of the work. I'll be sure to post a tutorial soon with all the steps, materials and cost breakdown. But my arms are a like jelly right now so I think I'm going to stop typing!

I love it but makes me realize I really need to paint and maybe get a new lamp shade. But one step at a time :) What do you think?

Have a lovely day!!!

Emily A Clark - Kitchen Organization Tips

2013-01-24T09:10:00.001-06:00

I'm very excited and honoured that my name is appearing on one of my favorite blogs! If you're not familiar with Emily A Clark you need to check out her beautiful house! Her post today is her favorite kitchen tips from her readers and my little tip is one of the ones featured. Thank you Emily! Everyone make sure you click the link button below to check out her amazing blog and my tip!
Have a great morning!

DIY Upholstered Headboard

2013-01-22T20:30:00.000-06:00

I made a little trip today to pick up this beauty!

I know it doesn't look like much right now but sometimes you have to imagine the potential. I like the shape of it and with some padding and fabric I think I could have a smokin' hot headboard on my hands! Here are a few of my inspiration pics.

Source: thisthatandlife.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

I love the navy and the nailhead trim!

Source: bhg.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

White is gorgeous too! Censational Girl did a great job with this one! This shape and height is a little closer to mine.

Source: blog.hgtv.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Sarah Richardson must have seen the future when she made this Emeral Green jewel.

Source: blogs.babble.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

I really like this fabric! But I can't decide whether I should keep it neutral or do something fun?!

Source: designsponge.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

That ones so much fun! I wouldn't go that bold for mine, plus mine isn't that high, but I think that would be awesome in a teenager or little girls bedroom! Very graphic!

Those were all DIY headboards that turned out really nice (IMHO) and cost far less than you could buy it for. Now I just have to find the perfect fabric!

Which is your favorite??

Gallery Wall

2013-01-21T13:56:00.001-06:00

I mentioned I was working on a gallery wall for my living room. I've been a little slow in getting it together but it's as complete as it's going to get for now (I can't guarantee I won't tweak it in the future, cuz that's just me). So I'm sharing the pics I promised!

I have a few projects planned for my living room but I'm waiting for a bit more budget before I start and most of the other projects are waiting on the ones that are waiting on budget,lol. So the living room is in a bit of a transition right now. I really made this gallery wall to fill the wall that had the tv before. The tv is now on the wall beside the fireplace, until I get the mirror removed from above the fireplace, build a mantle and mount the tv over the fireplace. And that's just one of several projects in waiting, so you get a sense of what I mean by in transition. Because this gallery wall is just a filler until I get all the other projects done I wanted to spend as little as possible.

Most of the items I used were things I already had. The large canvas was one I had in my basement storage. It was painted in colour blocks before. I had used it in a different house but it didn't really work in here. I spent an hour one evening repainting it as an abstract in colours that go with the living room. Cost was nothing!

The white frames were from a garage sale freebie pile last summer. They were golden oak before so I gave them a couple of coats of my trim colour. They also cost me nothing!

The framed pictures were just family pictures from around the house. Also cost me nothing!

The canvas painting of the beach scene was a souvenir from a trip to Cuba many years ago. I've always loved the colours in it and thought they worked well here. Cost? Zippo!

The chalk board canvas was a canvas from the dollar store ($2) and I bought a small tub of chalk board from Walmart ($8). I just used a small amount of the paint, probably a dollars worth, so I still have lots left for other little projects down the road. So if you count the whole tub of paint it cost $10 total if you just counted what I used it was really only about $3 of materials.

If you can't read my chalk board and curious, it's a saying I found on pinterest.

'It is not happy people who are thankful, it is thankful people who are happy.'

We've been trying to practice thankfulness lately so it was fitting. I'm looking forward to changing it out whenever I want. I'll definitely be putting up a sweet saying with some cute hearts for Valentines in a few weeks!

As a place filler till the other projects start happening, I think it turned out pretty well and only cost a few bucks.

And just ignore the programable thermostat that's stuck in there. Like I said it's just a temporary solution, so I'm choosing to pretend it isn't there ;)

What do you think of my place filler gallery?

Custom Window Coverings - Graber Blinds

2013-01-20T20:29:00.000-06:00

I'm really excited to soon be expanding Real Interiors by offering in home custom window covering consultations!

It will be a few weeks till I have my samples but I was so excited I couldn't wait! The company I will be teaming up with is Springs Window Fashions, specifically the Graber brand. They are gorgeous!!!
Graber offers a huge selection of styles, all of which have tons of choices in materials, colours and customization options. All these come right to your door so you can see all the options in your home, with your decor, and know you're making the right choice.

Check out some of these designs!

Source: graberblinds.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

I love how many styles and materials there are! As a decorator the ability to offer so many options in window covering, that work for any need but also look incredible, is really exciting!

If you're looking for custom window covering or have any questions please feel free to contact me! realinteriors@hotmail.com I'll be announcing a date to begin in home consultations and more info on this amazing product in the next few weeks.

Candice Olson Family Spaces- Book Review

2013-01-17T15:06:00.001-06:00

I don't typically buy many design books because there are so many on line sources for inspirational images and information but when I saw Candice Olson's book featuring family rooms on sale I thought I'd check it out.

Source: whitcoulls.co.nz via Kirsten on Pinterest

The book is set up so that each room starts with a before picture and a paragraph about the challenges she faced in the redesign.
I liked that the before pictures are actually in colour and large enough to see what they looked like before. That's kind of a pet peeve of mine in magazines and books when they have teenie tiny black and white before pictures and you really can't see anything.
Also with the before is a mood board of the materials and colours they used, a colour floorplan and then an after picture showcasing the big change. And the rest of the rooms' pages are more afters, a paragraph on the solutions to the design challenges and a paragraph on how she added style to the room.

All the rooms were set up this way so you had lots of information about each room and piles of really great pictures from all different angles.

Source: pichomez.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

What I loved about this book:

~There was a really good mix of styles and functions; from modern to traditional and adult spaces to children spaces.
This was really nice as a decorator to see how she handled different rooms in different situations, because that's exactly what I have to do everyday.

~Not every room was a complete gut job. Many books, shows, magazines, etc. feature overhauls where they completely tear everything back to the studs and start from scratch. These usually finish with gorgeous shots but as a decorator, I know the majority of people can't do that. So it was really refreshing to see how she used the old stone fireplace, the big green sectional, or painted out the stucco and paneling and still got incredible results.

Source: pichomez.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

~I loved how much function she managed to fit into one space. She's excellent at dividing the room into areas that work for different activities but still flow together really well. You could tell these were spaces for real families and would be used in real life, which is what Real Interiors is all about ;)

~Style wise I've always thought Candice Olson is fantastic at lighting rooms and it showed in this book. I think that's a really big area of decorating that often people forget. She added pot lights but she also puts in sconces, pendants, lamps, puck lights and under cabinet lighting to get really amazing results. The right things are highlighted and it feels warm and comfortable.

~She's also great at mixing colours and fabrics and materials. The end result is a room that feels very collected and natural (not stuffy).

Source: flickr.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

(I love the dark moody walls in this room and how lighting and adding white balanced it out to create a really warm and cozy space.)

What I didn't like:

~There were a few design choices I didn't love (such as a silver vinyl couch or a white fabric couch in a family room with kids) but I'm sure she consulted with the families and they were happy with the idea or it wouldn't have been in the room.

~The only other thing I might have liked to have seen is a budget for the rooms but understandably it would probably be hard to find that many people willing to share what they spent on their room.

Source: worthingcourt.blogspot.ca via Kirsten on Pinterest

Overall:

I flew through it! I think it was a great book with lots of beautiful pictures and great ideas. I'm glad I have it in my library!

Source: amazon.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Redoing your basement or family room and need some help? I'd love to hear from you! Contact me at realinteriors@hotmail.com Have a great day!

Follow Me

2013-01-10T13:26:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone,
I have been blogging for a few months now and while I have a subscribe by email, it was brought to my attention I didn't have a 'Google- Join This Site' option. So I've added it. Feel free to join and get in on the action ;) And as before feel free to subscribe by email too! Always happy to have more followers!
Have a great day! I'm off to put another coat on some of my gallery wall items. Hopefully some pictures will be coming soon!

Bedding Sales

2013-01-09T14:54:00.000-06:00

I'm working on a clients master bedroom and she expressed she loves white bedding and would like to have some. So I've been shopping around online and there happens to be some great sales on! This is the sample board of some different styles of white bedding I made up for her but if you aren't into white there are some other really gorgeous options!

White Bedding Samples by kirstenmp on Polyvore

Source: westelm.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

I'm seriously in love with these stripes!!! They look so crisp and clean but casaul.

Source: potterybarn.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

This updated floral looks like spring time. This would be great summer bedding in a country style room. It reminds me of a really pretty B&B I stayed in once.

Source: westelm.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

I really like all of these sets! Such pretty colours and fun patterns at West Elm. They're having 50% off shipping and 20% off the bedding itself.

Need some help updating your bedroom? Email me at realinteriors@hotmail.com or call (204)747-4480.

Target's Modern Cottage Collection

2013-01-08T20:44:00.000-06:00

I love Target! When it comes to accent pieces I like to keep things inexpensive because I know I'll want to change the look up before too long. Like I've advised before, don't invest a bunch of money on trendy items you'll want to switch out for the new trend in a year or two. Save your money for that great couch or table! Target is great for finding on trend items at a very affordable price. Check out their Modern Cottage Collection available right now!

Source: target.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

Can't wait for my next trip to Target to snatch up some of these beauties!!!

Need some help making your house feel like a home you love? Email me at realinteriors@hotmail.com or call (204)747-4480.