The Reno Project(s)

Inspiration for 2016

2016-01-04T12:20:00.000-05:00

Happy 2016! A new year is upon us and that means a whole whack of resolutions, goals and hopes for the year. As a ritual, Nick and I write down our goals for the year, both professionally and personally. When I reviewed 2015's list, some goals were ticked off, and some weren't. This year, I am determined to not let any of the items remain outstanding. I was sure this year's goals reasonably attainable to be sure that I can complete my list by the year's end. Here's hoping!

I wanted to start 2016 off with some interior inspiration. It's Monday, the first day back to reality from holidays and we all just need to see some pretty and inspiring images to distract us from work or whatever it is you are doing. Am I right? :D

Okay... here goes...

I love the mix of materials in this space. And the massive bookshelf surrounding the
sliding doors.
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Still can't get over how beautiful this wallpaper is.
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All this mid century modern goodness in one space. And the mirrors create
the illusion of a window.
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Although for a restaurant, this could bring some inspiration to a small space.
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I love the use of chalkboard paint on the closet doors. Cool room, dude!
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Let's a swoon over this railing.
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A pantry we can all dream about.
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Small but mighty.
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One cool exterior.
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Okay, how was that for getting your design juices flowing?

Christmas Ornaments and Tree Traditions

2015-12-15T10:33:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, my husband and I joined the inlaws for the annual holiday tradition of cutting down the Christmas tree. It's an event Nick and his family has been holding since he was young, and to be honest, it has started to become one of my favorite events of the season. With no snow on the ground during this year's trip, we still made the best of it, goofing around, picking out "the perfect one" and then shopping at the gift shop after the tree is all wrapped up and ready to take home.

Tree train!

I can't believe I am saying this but this is our first year with a tree in our home. In the past, the effort of taking down the tree post Christmas seemed overwhelming, as we are usually off to a warm climate for New Years Eve. This will mark the first year (in a long time) that we will be home for the entire festive season, so it seemed fitting to get ourselves a tree.

It may not be Pinterest worthy, but it's full of love.

Once the furniture was rearranged, and the tree was up, I began to open up the boxes that my mom had given me a few years prior which were filled with all of my ornaments from her tree. My mom had a small tradition that she still holds up; she buys all of us one ornament each year. It sounds very simple, and it is, but it's amazing the emotion surge I experienced last night while uncovering those ornaments. It was like a timeline of my life in a way. Each ornament had a memory and some with a date stamp reminding me how old it was and how many times my mother packed it away after each holiday season. As I hung each ornament up, I was able to explain to Nick it's story. I have come to realize how thoughtful and touching a small gift such as an ornament can be at Christmas time. It is a sentimental gift that only comes out once a year to be enjoyed.

I now have adopted this tradition and give Nick and loved ones ornaments so that at each tree trimming, they can pull out the ornament and remember it's story.

Family Room Tweaking

2015-11-10T17:38:00.001-05:00

That's right, I said tweaking. The reason I have titled this post in such a way is because that was truly my role in this family room design; to give it a tweak! The homeowners had recently completed a renovation and liked all their choices such as wall colour and trims but felt that the furniture layout and storage was lacking in a major way. Insert my expertise and we came up with a plan!

BEFORE

My client expressed that their sofa was too small, particularly when they entertained. They wanted something that was cozy, spacious and most of all durable. They have a French Bulldog, a four year old and a new born, which means easy clean ability was a must have. We decided on some practical and comfortable furniture pieces for the living space. The next query was the issue of storage. They felt over run with electronics, toys and the fact that there was no places for things to go. We decided to make use of the vertical space in the room with some custom made built ins to create a home for all of the books, toys and smaller items that need to just go away. These built ins were to hug the existing brick fireplace, as it was a feature the homeowners loved about this room.

Here is the plan I came up with...a large sectional for seating (and also blocks the kids toy area), a snuggle chair for reading/TV watching, an area for the kids to play and keep all their larger toys, a console with cubbies for toys to be put away and custom built ins that matched the style and time period of the house.

And here is what it looks like now. It's 90% finished, just a few items are missing in the styling process but they will come with time and when the kids are older and don't grab/pull/crawl on everything.

Behind the sectional hides storage for all the toys.

Everything now has it's place.

The original fireplace is now seamlessly integrated into this feature wall.
Cabinetry created by Hamilton Holmes Woodworking and Design.
Cloud White CC-40 with wood counter tops.

The far back corner is left open for the kids to scatter and get creative!

The large sectional was custom made with residential grade Sunbrella fabric to accommodate the need for durability and ease to clean.

The built ins provide a place for display, storage and houses the TV and electronics.
(Cabinetry created by Hamilton Holmes Woodworking and Design)

The Snuggle chair fits perfectly in the bay window! It was also custom made with Sunbrella fabric to ensure longevity from the sun's UV rays.

Isn't it amazing how a few small changes can make such a huge impact? The only items added were a well thought out sectional, the snuggle chair, a rug and the custom built ins which made the a world of difference for this room. This goes to show that it doesn't have to be an all or nothing approach when it comes to design. Often, it's just about having the right pieces for the space.

What's Been Happening?

2015-11-05T10:19:00.001-05:00

Hello! Wow. What a break I have taken. The days seem to be whizzing by. How is it that it's November? How is it that Christmas is just a mere 7 weeks away!? Day light savings time has really got me this year. I still feel shocked about how early the darkness rolls around once the work day is almost complete. I mean, it's not like it doesn't happen each year, but we always seem to forget, right?

So we have some catching up to do. I have been working hard, but away from the blog, so I do apologize. I often think, I should tell my readers about this topic and then the next thing I know weeks have past and I forget what my brilliant topic was. But here we are... and here is what has happened over the past few months...

The long short of it is that I have been working on some awesome projects, some which you may have caught on my Instagram. Most of them are renovations to old homes that need updating but there have been a few new builds too. I have been blessed with wonderful clients and a schedule that has been chocked full of meetings, sourcing and executing. Let me share some of the site visit photos and such that I have been snapping along the way...

This modern house is far beyond the framing now (Nick is actually installing cabinetry today!).

A photo captured by my client. This was just days before they moved in. I love the repetition of the lights. Pots lights are not always the answer :)

As per my previous post, you know all about this reno but we got a feature in The Hamilton Spec on this one. Isn't that exciting?

A Lakeshore condo is about to go contemporary. The home owner is down sizing and changing gears from their old traditional style.

This kids bath is really sweet! And all the tile is in stock. An easy way to save a few bucks on the overall reno costs.

Nick is showing off our design for a mudroom coat rack.

We took a few days off with the family and went down to Florida. That was fun!

An addition is being added to a century home. You will not believe how amazing this looks now. We are currently waiting for the kitchen counters to be installed!

Thanks to CDECA, I was able to listen to Suzanne Dimma, of House and Home Magazine, discuss the ins and outs of getting on to their pages!

And speaking of magazines, Our Homes Hamilton gave me a nice shout out in this article. A big thanks to the clients as well!

Some awesomeness happening here. Reinstalling the old border pattern that has existed for many years.

Have you seen this year's Princess Margaret Lottery Home? If not, you should. Inspiring with so many different ideas. For example, this simple theatre room. A spot for everyone!

I also loved the front window!

Oh yes! I painted my dining room... it use to be gray. I will post about this soon.

This is from a condo downtown Hamilton. My clients are very traditional (think antiques and handwoven rugs). Nick and I designed some cabinetry to fit their style.

A beautiful herringbone tiled floor.

We just came back from enjoying Calabogie Lake.

As I sit and write, now my mind is flooded with new ideas to share with you. I knew they would all come back to me. I hope you are all well and have had a great couple of months. By the looks of things, I sure have!

Before and After: Downtown Hamilton Century Home

2015-08-12T16:06:00.005-04:00

It's been a long time coming for this project to come to a close. Sometimes, I wait to order pieces of furniture to make sure it's the right fit for the home once all the renovations are complete. The open bookcase from Crate and Barrel seemed to be on back order forever (no surprise in this industry...everything always seems to be on back order!), but it was certainly worth the wait. I love the contrast of the dark wood next to the white cabinetry. Anyways, I am ready to do some show and tell from this project which we started this past January.

My clients had already hired Fergus MacLaren (you know, the contractor from Love It or List It) to do all their renovations. I was very excited to be a part of this project, not only to work beside Fergus but also because I live right next door. Talk about a great commute! Being that I had renovated my century home years prior, I was able to lend some of my experience to this project. And Fergus is extremely knowledgeable about century homes and their character. This house is the oldest on the street. It's was built in 1901 and had some of its original elements, but not many. Since it's existence, it has seen a few changes and most of them weren't great. Insert Krista and Fergus and we were about to change all that.

Here is what was on the wish list for the renovation:
- open concept
- more functional kitchen
- create more storage
- increase size of kitchen window
- new flooring, lighting (the usual updates to an old home)
- a fireplace, as the old existing one was tucked in behind the walls and was a coal burner
- a home that is comfortable and classic

Seems easy enough... so we got to work...

Here is what we started with...

And as the demo began and the work progressed, we found interesting things behind the walls, such as the old fireplace and you know, asbestos, but we took care of that.

And finally, here is the open concept home that the clients were hoping for...

Mirror & Rug West Elm || Console Ikea || Rug West Elm || Hooks EQ3 || Pendant
Home Lighting Burlington

Sectional Custom Brentwood Classics || Chair Custom Van Gogh Furn || Coffee Table & Dresser West Elm ||
Carpet Hellenic Carpets

Stools West Elm || Bookcase Crate and Barrel || Lighting Home Lighting Burlington

Dresser West Elm || Art Work Hamilton Holmes || Pillows Custom

Cabinetry Hamilton Holmes Woodworking and Design || Counters Cambria Bellingham || Drapery Custom ||
Sink Blanco || Faucet Hansgrohe

Accessories Home Sense || Cabinetry Hamilton Holmes Woodworking and Design ||
Counters Cambria Bellingham ||

Lights Home Lighting Burlington

Accessories Home Sense || Cabinetry Hamilton Holmes Woodworking and Design ||
Counters Cambria Bellingham || Stools West Elm

This was truly a great project to be a part of. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is seeing how far we have come since the beginning and this house did not disappoint. I am so blessed to have wonderful clients and team to make this all happen! To my clients, I hope this house suits your needs for years to come. Thanks for letting us be a part of this process :)

Sources:

Wall colour - Benjamin Moore Revere Petwer
Fireplace colour - Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray
Trim/Cabinetry/Mantle - Benjamin Moore Cloud White
Door Colour - Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain

Apartment Therapy Feature

2015-05-27T16:44:00.001-04:00

To me, there is few things more satisfying that a good "before and after" photo comparison. This would be right up there with cocktails by the beach, sleeping in or indulging in any sort of bad food I know I shouldn't be eating. I have had to drill it into my head to always take photos even if I think it's not worthy. More often than not, I end up back at the beginning of a project and swoon over how far a project has come since its beginning.

This week, I was able to have some office down time and submitted a project to the ever so popular design blog, Apartment Therapy. It was a mission of mine, when I set out on my design journey, to make on to the pages (or, um, feeds) of blogs and magazines such as these and alas, my mission has been accomplished. Apartment Therapy featured a project that I am in the midst of finishing up. One day, I casually snapped the "after" photo, as noticed how the sun and lighting made the room glow at that particular moment. I think it speaks of exactly how the room feels.

For the full blog post from Apartment Therapy, please click HERE.

Our Backyard: Phase 2

2015-05-19T10:46:00.001-04:00

I hope everyone had a great long weekend. I sure did. I was oddly productive and I am kind of proud of myself for it. Traditionally, a long weekend means escaping from the city and connecting with the outdoors, but lately, I seem to be happy at home with no plans. My way of connecting with nature this weekend was being in my yard.

I can't believe it has been two years since I wrote about our yard. For a refresher, you can find it HERE. Man, time flies! This first phase took so much time, effort and man power that we were so pleased once it was finished. At least, this part of the project.

2013 Yard Reveal

Last summer was crazy, as we got married and so did many others we know. It was a summer of being away, enjoying family, friends and socializing, which means little work was done on Phase 2. This year, we promised ourselves that we would get the yard to where we want it to be and hopefully just maintain it from here on in.

So, what's on the bill for this year? Here is where we are at currently...

Our furniture layout for now...

It looks crowded right now, and we know it. There is a lot going on with the space as we are in the middle of a transition. In the top photo, you can see that we built a raised veggie garden. We were lucky enough to have this last year but learned our lesson that less is more when planning out how many plants to put in each box. We overcrowded the garden which meant less fruit. This year, we have kept it simple and focused on only lettuce, kale, tomatoes, zucchini and peppers.

Beyond the garden is the shed. This is a big project. Essentially we are building a small house. Nick has been working on it since last fall and now is focused to finish it up within the next few weeks. Inside the shed, we finally have space to house our garden tools, bikes and seasonal furniture for the winter. We are finishing it with the same siding as the house and will put some planter boxes under the windows.

As a wedding gift, we purchased this wonderful sectional from Pier One. Although it seems to be blocking the yard off, it's actually not it in it's planned position. As you can see, we have two BBQs that are taking up much of the patio real estate, but not to worry, I have a plan for this. If you see the ladder behind the right BBQ, that's where a deck is going to be built. It will be tucked away to the side of the house so we can move the BBQs and put the back of the sectional against the trees, thus opening up the space to the dining table. I am really anxious for this project to be complete so I can then buy some additional chairs to go with our set.

And finally, we plan to build a long cedar step under the patio door. The cement one that is only there for function and I, well, hate it. The new step will provide an additional seating space and overall, look nicer than what we have now.

Phew. Lots of work ahead, right? After this weekend of enjoying the weather and having friends over, it's still a great space, although not completely finished yet. We also tended to the garden this weekend. We added annuals and are excited to watch it fill in.

A Renovation with Ashton Kutcher & Houzz

2015-05-06T10:16:00.001-04:00

Houzz has taken the design world by storm, allowing homeowners to dream big and see their visions come to life. I am so delighted that this type of app was created as it makes my job easier, expands my creativity and allows me to show examples to my clients of what I am envisioning. What I also love about Houzz is that they did this sweet renovation with Ashton Kutcher to show the power of the use of the site. Well done, Houzz! And while we are at it, check out my Houzz profile :)

For all 4 episodes, click HERE!

Powder Room: Industrial Chic

2015-04-28T08:01:00.003-04:00

I have decided, since most of my personal reno projects are still on hold/aren't completed/not photo worthy yet, it's time to talk about what's been going on with my client projects. These projects are always so much fun and I get to be really creative, so I figured, why not? After all, that's what this blog is all about....

Currently, I am working with a young family on renovating their entire home. They want to get rid of the '70s style, gut the entire place and start from scratch. Demo is scheduled for mid May so I have been designing my butt off, trying to get my head wrapped around the style and approach to the new spaces. I have been redesigning and selecting everything for a few weeks now, so I am starting to see how the place is going to come together.

First, I want to focus on the powder room because I am REALLY excited about it. My clients haven't seen my concept yet, but I am too excited to keep this design to me-self.

This is what we are starting with...

This is your standard powder room, with a retro '70s scalloped sink and all. It's all going. The size of the room is remaining the same, as it functions well at this size. Instead, we are going to give it some life and style, as all powder rooms should have some punch to it, as that's a room guests visit.

My vision for the space is this:

* Small vanity to fit the space that is rustic/industrial in style

* Swap out knobs and fixture for a warmer look...brass!

* Use a 3 pendant industrial style light to create the continuity and the juxtaposition between the wallpaper

* Cover the walls in the nature themed wall paper

* Use strong crown mouldings on the ceiling and paint a dark, cozy gray to make the room feel intimate

* Flooring will be a light concrete, slate style to bring in the industrial/natural feel (not shown here).

Lighting || Wallpaper || Vanity || Faucet || Toilet || Accessories || Paint colour

Throwback Thursday: My Childhood Living Room

2015-04-23T09:57:00.004-04:00

In honour of Throwback Thursdays (aka #tbt), I thought I would share a photo from one of my childhood homes, circa the '80s. For those who don't know what #tbt is, it's a social media thing. People post old photos from the past, and usually it's to laugh at themselves. Similarly, I laughed at this photo when I came across it.

My childhood home's living room, circa 1985.

I find this entire room very humorous. Likely because I find myself designing in this similar aesthetic now. The old adage, what was old is new again. A saying I have heard all my life, but now, living through 3.3 decades, I am starting to see trends resurface. Let's talk about this...

The Sectional: Sectionals have been back in a major way for many years now. They are family friendly and extremely cozy. The one my parents chose above is a bit bolder than what we would likely commit to today, as we are more safe with pattern and like to keep it neutral. I love that Mom opted for this crazy pattern and chaise lounge end.

A version of today's sectional via Brentwood Classics.

The Wainscoting: Traditionally speaking, this is real wainscoting in the photo. It is wood, applied to the interior wall, versus what we are seeing today, known as paneling. Paneling is wood treatments or trims adhered to the drywall and then painted or stained, depending on the look one is trying to achieve. Nevertheless, this is extremely popular in today's design. One catch, it seems that white is the way to go, colourwise,versus a dark wood colour.

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The Built Ins: This is a trend that hasn't lost it's steam, and I don't think it ever will. With open bookshelves on the top, and storage below, it's a organizer's dream to be able to have "a place for everything, and everything has it's place". The same rings true for the colour choice, as above. We are seeing more lightly lacquered built ins versus wood.

KMSalter Design uses built ins in this family home.
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The Accessories: Can we please touch on the hanging plants, the cafe curtain drapery and the animal skin rug by the fireplace in the '80s living room? I think that the curtains and animal skin rug have had their time and place, and haven't ever really left the design world, but the hanging plants? Now that is something that gets me. I feel like Jonathon Adler helped push this one back into mainstream with his love of Macrame but regardless of who made this cool again, it's back. Here is a link from Urban Outfitters to get your very own hanging planter pot if you wish. Or better yet, maybe my mom still has some kicking around...

Urban Outfitters Hanging Pots

If Betty Draper Had An Office...

2015-04-11T13:24:00.000-04:00

I am not much of a TV buff, but since my husband and I got Netflix, game over! We now understand the whole notion of binge watching, which I can't decide if this is a good or bad thing. Our first experience with this was Mad Men. I find this series so intriguing. It transports us into a time that we didn't experience and can barely comprehend. The series takes place in the 50's, 60's and 70's and candidly portrays the female role, the way business was conducted, and how excessive drinking and smoking use to be. We got really caught up in the characters, clothing and of course, the decor. So when Chairish asked me to do a post for their Mad Men series, I was delighted! And, in case you didn't know, Chairish is a great resource for Mid-Century Modern furniture. You can find their entire line, HERE.

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I decided I wanted to put Betty Draper into an office environment with the rest of the characters. I wondered, what if Betty was more like Joan and she had her own place to work? What would that look like? I imagine it to be uber feminine, well put together and pretty, just like Betty. It would be striking in appearance but underneath it all, it would be womanly and soft. And of course, have an astray and bar just like the rest of them.

Lounge Chair || Stool || Desk || Desk Chair || Side Board || Decanter || Painting || Sofa || Side Chairs || Desk Lamp || Floor Lamp || Decanter || Coffee Table || Smoking Stand Magazine Holder || Etagere

Coloured Doors with Light Trim

2015-04-06T11:07:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned on my Instagram over the weekend, I have started to notice a trend in my designs; painting interior doors. And not just the back side of the front doors, as I commented on a few years ago in THIS post, but all the doors in the space.

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Commonly, I ask clients if they would consider painting their "man doors" (the ones we use to walk through) an alternate colour from the trim. I find that in this new all-white, netural trend we are experiencing in design as of late, it's a nice change from the monochromatic colour palette. Changing up your door colour also creates a graphic effect and let's the trim work stand out to be more architectural which I adore.

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Sunbrella: Not Just Outdoor Fabrics Anymore

2015-03-12T09:42:00.002-04:00

Sunbrella been around since the 60's and has been changing the textile industry since their beginning. Sunbrella's fabrics would be described as performance fabric. What do I mean by that? Let this video be an example what Sunbrella performance fabric can do. You may be shocked when you see the video takes place indoors. This innovative company has branched out from their outdoor fabric line and created an overall product that is suitable for both interiors and exteriors. These fabrics are so beautifully crafted that you would never know that they were almost bullet proof...

Sunbrella fabrics are all performance fabrics. All of their products are guaranteed to not fade, deteriorate or change in any way for 10 years. That's right! A decade! Sunbrella puts their fabrics to the test in real life "labs" (and when I say labs, I mean large fields filled with stretched fabric canvases). Now you may ask, how can this be? What makes Sunbrella so different from other fabrics? In short, Sunbrella uses acrylic fibres, which are best for longevity in textiles. They have a dying process that creates yarns that are 100% coloured from the inside out, which aids in the long lasting colour. They create fabrics with a high quality construction which provides the end user with the best fabrics possible for any application. No longer do you have to worry about a white sofa getting dirty from dogs or kids. Sunbrella has the answer for that. Click on this LINK to review Sunbrella's cleaning instructions. It shows that it's simple to treat unwanted stains or even mould.

The images below display the variety of materials Sunbrella makes, from the carpets to the pillows. It's all Sunbrella, baby!

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Graffiti and Interiors

2015-02-02T10:37:00.001-05:00

It's no longer a surprise to anyone that most major cities are filled with street art. It can be terrible, awesome, amateur or professional. In Buenos Aires, the paintings were inspiring, proof that graffiti is a great outlet for a city to gain some character. There were so many pieces with skill, thoughtfulness and creativity and I found myself naturally drawn to the great art as we walked the streets of Palermo (a neighborhood in Buenos Aires). The colours and life of the art really made the streets come alive!

In the last 10 years graffiti has turned the corner of public opinion. It has changed from neighborhood blight, to neighborhood charm. As a result of its popularity in urban culture, the aesthetics of graffiti are being transferred to interiors. Think: eclectic mixes of furniture that range from different periods of time, colourful murals in bedrooms, or an openness to modern art that challenges traditional ideas of 'what's good'.

In many ways graffiti has broken open the doors of what interiors should be. Sure, we still need to pay attention to colour choices, space design and what 'works' but the rules have loosened; and I think we can thank Graffiti for that push.

Andeluna: Wine and Atmosphere Heaven

2015-01-29T11:34:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year. I know I am late on the delivery for New Years wishes, but better late than never? My 2015 has really rocked thus far. After being away for a month long, belated honeymoon to Argentina, my energy stores are full, creative juices are flowing and am riding high on Vitamin D from the sun and fun. It really was a trip of a life time. If you have the chance to head down to Argentina, I strongly suggest it. There is beautiful architecture nestled in busy city streets, lots of wonderful restaurants and sights to see, nature to be explored and the food and wine...don't get me started! Everyone warned us that their beef and wine is out of this world, and I would have to say, I agree.

Wine tasting at The Vines of Mendoza

So let's talk wine for a second. Well, perhaps more specifically, a winery. Nick and I traveled to Mendoza and decided to visit some wineries while we were there. I mean, it would be silly not it. It's like being in Napa Valley and missing out on wine tastings. You just don't do that. We chose Andeluna Cellars based on a review I read from this blog post (Thank you Rebecca!). We decided we wanted the best atmosphere because we are into interiors and stuff (duh). We booked a tour (in English, of course) and a 3 course tasting menu which did not disappoint. Also, Rebecca was right; the atmosphere at this winery was wonderful. It was as though I was visiting someone's home, who invited us for a fancy lunch and wine. We were able to relax all day long, and if you were like me, had a brief snooze on the sofas. It was wonderful and the interiors were beautiful. A must go if you are tour the Uco Valley and wine touring.

Pantone's Colour of 2015: Marsala

2014-12-05T08:45:00.001-05:00

If you follow my Instagram, you will have noticed that I posted Pantone's colour of the year, Marsala. Apparently, this colour has been causing quite a stir since it's announcement. I found an article that explained people's reactions to the colour, which seemed to lean on the negative side of what this colour evokes (click HERE). Personally, I like the colour. I am surprised I like it. Maybe it's because I found last year's colour, Radiant Orchid, too bright for me to apply to interior colour schemes. In the case of Marsala, I think it can be a complimentary colour and I may actually use it.

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Pantone has expressed this colour to be grounding, earthly, luxurious and reminiscent of wine. I agree. I think that it is a classic colour; not a red, not a brown, but instead, a mixture of the two. I see rust, garnet and maroon in the colour, which I think can be paired well the ever so popular rustic-industrial look we keep seeing on Pinterest and magazines.

Marsala coincides with the popularity of gem stone colours. Remember, Emerald was reigned the "it" colour in 2013. We are still seeing these tones splashed on the runways and in stores. If the fashion world is still holding on to these tones, interiors will always tag along with them.

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Toronto Family Home: Before and Afters

2014-12-02T14:13:00.000-05:00

It's almost Christmas. I am not sure how this has happened. Time is flying by or maybe more like whizzing by. I can't believe how quickly Fall came and went, and now I have to pull out my Christmas decor, get ready for snow, eating and festivities. Man! I still can't believe I am saying that...

I just realized the other day when I was emailing back and forth with my uber awesome website maintainer (that's you, Jeff!), that I haven't posted about this great renovation I designed earlier this year. It has been in the back of my mind to gloat about it, but I truly thought, it hasn't been that long since we were done... or has it? We are going on almost 6 months after completion, so I think it's time to share the beautiful space.

This job was such a please to work on. Not only were my clients so warm, open minded and a joy to work with, the project went according to plan and turned out better than we could have imagined. It was your usual dated, small roomed house. The goal was to open up the space, make it family friendly, warm, inviting and filled with light. I think we accomplished all of that and much more. The basement is not part of this post, as it's a work in progress, furniture wise. However, you can only imagine how much better it is based on the results of the upstairs.

Sources:

KITCHEN

Kitchen Cabinetry colour; Benjamin Moore Clay Beige

Kitchen Hardware: Berenson

Appliances: Goemans

Counter tops: Cambria, Buckingham

Wall Colours: Benjamin Moore, Ranchwood

Trim Colour: Benjamin Moore, Cloud White

Lighting: Union Lighting

Dining Table: Naked Furniture

MAIN BATH

Tiles: Eden Tile

Bathroom Fixtures: Barton Discount Centre

Counter tops: Caesarstone, Ginger

Cabinetry Colour: Benjamin Moore, Dove White

Hardware: Richelieu

Lighting: Home Depot

BASEMENT BATH

Tiles: Eden Tile

Bathroom Fixtures: Barton Discount Centre

Counter tops: Cambria, Sanford

Cabinetry Colour: Custom Stain

Hardware: Richelieu

Lighting: Home Depot

Bill Cunningham's Street Style Inspirations

2014-10-30T11:23:00.000-04:00

A few weeks back, I spent a weekend away with one of my oldest best friends. We have been friends since we were 12 years old, which impresses me even to think that I am old enough to have had a friend for over 20 years (but that's a whole other blog post). During my visit to Jess' humble abode in Sudbury, we tucked in with tea, Woodrow Fox (her adorable 2 year old) and some good chats. One night, we decided it was a wine and movie kinda night. Jess' sister-in-law recommended the documentary about Bill Cunningham, the NY street style photographer. It was a great recommendation (search his name on Netflix). He is an interesting man, who's life's work was primarily focused on street style photographs for his New York Times column. He inspired me. He reminded me to get back to my blog and continue to compare fashion to interiors (which is one of my favourite series I write about). I thoroughly enjoy both worlds but often forget to merge the two together to inspire my readers and myself. Today's post is a compilation of some of Bill's photographs, taken from the streets of NY and interiors that I have compiled on my Pineterest board, which inspire me.

Here is Bill doing his thing!
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Oatmeals and Navy Blues

2014-09-30T15:40:00.002-04:00

Oatmeal and Navy Blue. It almost sounds nautical, doesn't it? A bit classic, yet current? The trick with this colour palette is to keep both colours on the warm side. This will help you keep clear of the theme-like nautical look. Instead, lean towards beige that has cream undertones, and blues that have some warm gray in it (this will ensure it's not purple!). Here is a colour palette I have been working on for a client with these colour tones...

The lovely part about this colour combination is that it will stand the test of time (a.k.a. it's not a trend!). By steering away from the gray hues and not entering into a colour that is too "hot" right now, this colour duo should keep you and yours happy for years to come. Not only is it classic but it's also warm and inviting. Try this palette in any space in your house. It will work in any space, no matter how big or small. It's a winner in my books!

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Princess Margaret Show Home 2014: Behind The Scenes

2014-09-16T16:49:00.001-04:00

I get excited when the Princess Margaret Lottery Home is finally finished and opened to the public. For one, I dream of winning but I guess that's the purpose of this entire lottery. Once again, Brian Gluckstein has designed this year's home, and from what I can see from the final House & Home video, he did not under deliver. As in Gluckstein's style, the house is monochromatic, classic and subtle. His design sense allows the viewer to see themselves in the space by creating a blank canvas for the new homeowner to work with. Personally, I love all the windows, the kitchen, the double sided fireplace in the foyer and the facade of the house. Here is a sneak peak behind the scene video, displaying that it really takes hundreds of people to make an event like this take shape. Now, I am off to go and buy myself a ticket!

EQ3: Warming Up The Modern

2014-09-11T09:16:00.000-04:00

Generally, when I think of EQ3, I associate their products with a certain style; modern, steam line, no fuss and no warmth. If I was designing a condo for a downtown dwelling, I would likely look to EQ3 as a resource, as it often fits the style. However, after a design seminar at their Burlington store, I have changed my mindset about their products. The store has been renovated and now appears to be more open, allowing stages for multiple vignettes to display how their furniture can be used. There is a strong sense of modernity that still remains but with the transition of wood stains becoming lighter and more rustic, it adds a sense of imperfection, which is unusual with modern furniture. They have added a softer colour palette to their rugs and have some great home accents that could work in any space. Also, EQ3 has teamed up with Herman Miller, so for those mid century modern enthusiasts, you don't have to go into Toronto's city centre to find the real deal.

Here are a few of my favorite things from my visit yesterday at their store:

I love the light fixture, made with strips of fabric above the table.

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How cute are these? They could be used in a front hall, kid's room,
bathroom or just about any where.
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For an accent, art piece, you can design your own clock.
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All I can say is colour! Here is a great accent piece that you can add to you
space to add colour but without the major commitment.

Need some organization? The small panels adhere to the wall
and the containers are all magnetic and customized for your needs.
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Furniture Planning For Your Home Office

2014-08-21T09:19:00.001-04:00

Space planning can be a tricky thing. Often, people design spaces in their heads, move the furniture in and realize.. oops! This happens because furniture pieces are too big for a small space, or they do not consider how they would actually function in the room. That is why pre planning will save you time and aggravation.

If you want your home office to resemble the beauty below, keep reading.

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When planning a space, and particularly an office, it's all about the flow. You want to be the most efficient and organized, as possible. What is that saying? A clutter space, a cluttered head? Think about how you will function in the room; How much space will you need to sit comfortably at your desk or how far out your file drawers will open. The illustration below demonstrates the basic principles on how to set up your furniture in your home office.

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The office depicted is a small space, but allows for all your office needs. There is file storage, bookshelves, a good size floating desk (I suggest one with drawers for smaller stationary items) and two chairs for potential meetings. The floating desk avoids having your back to the door or staring at a wall. I would ideally keep at least 30" on either side of the desk for walkways and chair space.

Here is my office. You will see that I have followed these principles.

For more on my office (unofficial) reveal, click here. I am still working on making this place photo worthy.

Tackling the "To-Do" List

2014-08-11T15:02:00.004-04:00

Oh, hey! Have you been enjoying the summer? I sure have been! I have been up to all sorts of things, but mainly tackling some of the items on my "to-do" list. There were some pretty major things on the list. See HERE if you can't recall them. And now, I am happy to show some of my handy work that has kept me so focused, so here goes!

1. I got married!!

(As seen from my Instagram account)

This was the most amazing experience and day of my life! I cannot express how special the time leading up to the wedding was, and how much love and joy I felt on this day. It was more than I had hoped for, beyond expectation and full of surprises. I was surprised at how relaxed I felt, how well the day went, how perfect my dress fit, how wonderful the dancing, food and drinking was, and how my love grow more for my, now, husband. It is an out of body experience; one I wish I could experience again (really, just so I can wear my dress!). For those of you planning a wedding, remember...don't sweat the small things (no one notices!) and be yourself on your day. Don't worry about who you should talk to or what people are expecting of you... just be you and it will be the best day.

I guess that wasn't really much of a "task", but anyone who has planned a wedding knows the time and effort it takes to make the day possible. I will post more photos once my amazing photographer, Elizabeth In Love, has them ready.

2. A Cleaner, Tidier Basement and Laundry Room.

Being that we have done so much work to the main and upper floors of the house, we have decided that finishing the entire basement would not give us a return on our money (or time). We made the executive decision to just clean up the basement, make it functional and not be obsessed with making it perfect (that last statement was directed more at me). Instead, we made due with what we had an made it work.

Before....

We painted the floor to seal the concrete. It always had a dusty, chalky feel on your feet.

We moved everything out of the room for Nick to build the storage shelves.

This is what we ended up with...

The appliances are now at the proper height and tucked over
top of the concrete footing to add extra room.

A cabinet was installed to house all of our laundry/cleaning needs.

Although the pink insulation and tuck tape is not the prettiest, you can still see it functions well.
(The cabinets are the old ones from the old kitchen.)

Nick built storage shelves, which are being well used. He also built a shop in the basement
so sometimes the wood spills out into the common area.

Extra storage was added under the stairs to make a spot for our
wine fridge and smaller items.

3. Decorating in Florida.

This winter, I was lucky enough to get out of the frigid cold, and jet set down to Naples, Florida to help my parents update their new vacation home. I mean, twist my arm! If I must come down and work with Mom to get their place back in order, I guuueeessss I will go. We haven't completely finished yet, as it's a work in progress, but I will just give you a sneak peak at one room that has changed a bit. More to come when I return in November.

Before

After

A Reno Project - Creating A Grand Entrance

2014-06-23T12:45:00.002-04:00

I am lucky to be a part of this renovation. It's a beautiful lake side home that is stuck in the 80's and needs some serious improvement. My client called me in after he started to demo the house because he just could not stand it any longer. This house is typical of many in this particular area; the property is incredible, but the house does not represent what a lakeside property should encompass. The house was tired and provided no major impact anywhere. We decided together, we would change that. The first place we started was the foyer.

(Please excuse my poor photos. I wasn't able to get great angles because of the vastness of the space and I didn't expect the demo to be complete when I popped on site last week.)

BEFORE

As you can see, the foyer has a low ceiling and underwhelming entrance. (This was pre-renovation. Clearly this is also not so pretty either). Because this house has a large lower level, a bedroom on the main floor (although is used as an office) and has 4 large bedrooms on the main floor, it was decided that we could lose one of the bedrooms upstairs. In doing so, the two story entry became grand and impressive ...or at least, it will be.

AFTER removing the upstairs bedroom.

If you have the opportunity to open up the entrance of your home, you can see how much light is let in with the second window from the old bedroom. It will make an incredible difference! Now, larger windows, doors and a fantastic chandelier can be installed to create the "wow factor" we are looking for. I am really excited to see how this turns out. Stay tuned for the results.

Architectural Digest Feature: Malibu Modern

2014-06-19T10:10:00.002-04:00

More often than not, I get some serious house envy when I flip through the many pages of the interior magazines I receive each month. I find I switch my interior style, depending on the house I am swooning over. However, there was this one article in particular that really got me. I have some serious house envy over this place, featured in Architectural Digest this month. Seriously. It is so stunning, simple, minimal yet powerful. I love the combination of the earthy elements, mixed in with modern angles and a touch of traditional flare. After seeing this, I had to share it with you. Tell me... isn't this house just amazing!?

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