Thoughts from Karen at Idealspace Design

Get Ready to Create: DIY Project Prep

2011-04-12T08:30:00.000-04:00

As promised, I will be writing about some simple DIY projects that are as close to no-fail as is possible. But whether you'll be creating based on my how-to's, from other websites or books, or from your own imagination, there are some things you'll need first.

Tools:
The basics are often enough to get you started on simple projects, and if you don't already own these items, many of them can be borrowed from a friend or neighbour, or purchased fairly inexpensively at any hardware store. The basic tools are:

a drill with a decent selection of bits and screwdriver bits (so you can use your drill as a power screwdriver, eliminating the need for an extra tool). Note that you will sometimes have to purchase a particular bit for a specific project as the same bit won't drill through both plywood and glass tile, for example.
a jigsaw with a couple of blades. Again, blades should be material-specific; there are different blades for metal and wood, as well as for different material thicknesses.
a level, at least 24-inches long
a good sturdy tape measure with clearly indicated markings
a couple of clamps for holding things together while you are waiting for glue to dry or lining things up to drill into
adhesives - it's really practical to have a selection of them on hand, including construction adhesive, wood glue, a hot glue gun and glue sticks, masking tape
a staple gun (does not have to be electric) and staples for it
an iron, yup the thing you use to press your clothes. But I strongly suggest you buy a cheap one to keep for creative projects and not use the one you use to press your work clothes near adhesives and paints. Just in case...
a basic set of screwdrivers (not electric)
a hammer, mid-sized with a decent weight to it is the most versatile

Time & patience: This may sound like a crazy thing to reiterate, but it has to be. Don't start a project that you figure requires 3 hours time when you know you have to go out in exactly 3 hours; projects always take a bit longer than you expect. Likewise, don't start a project when you would really rather be doing something else - you will try to rush, a step will be overlooked or not done with the care required and the outcome will be affected by this.

Work space: When possible, you will want to do certain tasks outside or in the garage with at least a window opened. Solvents, some adhesives, etc have pretty strong odors that you won't want wafting through your home and being inhaled by all. Tasks such as drilling and sawing create unbelievable quantities of sawdust that can be a respiratory irritant, irritate the eyes, and so on. Plus dust travels in mysterious ways and you don't want it ending up all over the place. If you don't have a garage and if weather doesn't permit outdoor work, close yourself in a room with open windows. Wherever you set up to work, make sure you have electrical outlets available to you (or a safe way to keep extension cords from tangling in power tools as you are working or from tripping you as you move about) and also make sure that you have the room you'll need to keep your tools and materials at hand but not crowding you as you work.

Check back soon for the first do-it-yourself project to be posted here!

Thursday's Thoughts: Design project spending patterns

2011-04-07T12:25:00.003-04:00

The spending habits of our clients have changed recently. While spending freely on decor and questioning the costs related to construction had been the way things were, there is now a noticeable swing in the opposite direction. People are understanding the importance of the "invisible stuff" (i.e.: electrical, insulation, etc...) and are looking for ways to make their spaces "look like a million dollars" for a fraction of that cost after the big stuff is done.

The best way to save on decor, and many of my clients are doing this, is to involve yourself in some DIY projects. Whether you are all thumbs, don't have a creative bone in your body, or just think you don't know how to make things, there are projects you can tackle that will cost you only 10% of what you would pay for a similar item in a store. The tricks to a successful DIY project?

Choose your projects carefully. Consider your experience & the complexity, your comfort level with the tools required, the amount of time required & the amount of time you have...
Read all tutorials, instructions, and materials lists before you begin.
Be organized and have everything on hand before you start.
Don't try improvising when you really shouldn't. If the instructions call for carpenter's glue, you should not have a Crayola glue stick in your hand.

In the upcoming weeks I will be writing about some easy, inexpensive, no-special-skills-required, do-it-yourself decor projects that will save you money, make you proud, and motivate you for your next projects!

My articles in print in a real estate magazine

2011-04-06T10:35:00.000-04:00

The local real estate magazine Homes & Land (Demeures et Domaines in French), which encompasses Montreal, the Eastern Townships, and the Laurentians, is publishing some of my articles. A couple of articles will be those previously published in their magazine, but most will be new content.

The current issue (Volume 4, Issue 7) is available in various locations around the city if you would prefer a print copy rather than flipping through on-line. "Planning the Ideal Kitchen Layout" appears on page 16.

Homes & Land Montreal-Tremblant

Upcoming all new articles to appear in the magazine will include one about designing sun rooms and solariums, and how to properly develop a colour scheme that will work throughout your whole home, to name a couple.

Happy reading!

Thursday's Thoughts: Managing Time

2011-03-31T17:37:00.000-04:00

A little bit of irony: We are all often worrying about using time efficiently and having enough time to do everything that must be done. Most people have said "if only there were another 2 hours in each day!" at least a few times in their lives. Finding ways to be more efficient just makes sense.

I wonder how many hours most people have lost to reading about time management habits and methods? I got hooked by a fantastic write-up about an article on just this topic; after 15 minutes of reading I realized that:

The author was saying nothing that I didn't already know, plus he repeated everything in at least 3 different ways - he certainly didn't use his time wisely either, as it takes longer to do the same thing multiple times but with variation.
Reading about managing time is about as effective as reading about exercising is to losing weight.
The 15 minutes I gave to this article could have accomplished something.

But I shouldn't complain... I did gain something: a topic for today's Thursday's Thoughts!

Thursday's Thoughts: Inspirations

2011-03-11T08:18:00.000-05:00

Maybe they are in fact inspirations, but sometimes it seems like they are fixations, fascinations, or even random things that just have to somehow work their way out of our systems... We all have them -these little things that get into our minds and we feel that we absolutely must feed them one way or another.

Glass countertop in the kitchen

There are two materials that I have been desperately wanting to incorporate into designs recently (but certainly not together!): burlap and glass counter tops. Glass countertops have always appealed to me, as long as I am not responsible to keep them smudge-free, but recently I find that I have to hold back from suggesting them to clients who I know won't ever be persuaded in that direction.

Burlap from Designer Fabrics Online

Burlap??? It's a texture thing; I've done the leather, the silk, the faux-fur... (All make great contrasts with burlap, by the way.) Burlap makes for great accents and can be worked into any style, not just rustic.

Bold and dramatic for a dining room

There are also a couple of very specific projects I have been itching to do: a plum-purple-coloured dining room and a mechanic's place. Yup, the usually neglected place where you have to sit to wait while your car is being serviced. And I don't mean a nice fancy car dealership, I really do mean a typical little mechanic's shop.

What ideas are stuck in your head at the moment?

The Trends for 2011 - Beyond Colour

2011-03-02T15:21:00.000-05:00

I find that in recent years the trends for interior design have been making a gradual transition rather than anything drastic suddenly appearing on the market.

Pottery Barn's knit throws

We are continuing to see hand-made, or hand-made-looking, items and I predict (very happily) that this is a trend that will continue; the ever-growing success of websites such as Etsy and Artfire are testament to this fact. Traditional folk art is a big influence (tole painting, embroidery, metal arts...), and quilting, knitted and crocheted items, and bead work are going to be seen everywhere and in all sorts of surprising combinations.

Restauration Hardware's Aviator Chair

Pottery Barn Kids crystal dream catcher

Texture, and the contrast of textures, is still playing a major role in design and decor, both for residential and commercial applications. Hammered metal with wood and glass. Crystal with feathers and mirror. And texture can easily be used to set the tone of a room - see how the Aviator Chair can instantly infuse a space with a retro / vintage look.

Popular motifs are birds, especially owls, postage, and anything in silhouette. Silhouettes are versatile - depending on the design they can have a Victorian feel to them (think of old cameo brooches), a fun almost child-like appeal, or a very style-neutral way to introduce a motif.

Niki Jones' Twitwoo owl cushion

Cottage and Vine's silhouette dishtowels

Crate and Barrel's Marimekko bathroom set

Mobilia's Executive pillow is made of recycled ties!

The natural element is proving to be at least as much about the environment as about aesthetics, and is evolving to also include recycled or re-purposed materials.


Crate and Barrel's Maganda vase

Hopefully I won't start sounding too repetitive, but select the items that you love. Trends aren't only about specific materials, individual colours, or the shape of something; trends are about the finished space when the different pieces are put together.

Thursday's Thoughts (running really late)

2011-02-04T20:34:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm getting my "Thursday Thoughts" out there in time for the weekend at least...

If you are like most people, you have one area in your home (or in your workplace) that is a work in progress. Either you never really decided on a specific decor or even colour scheme, or it is just lacking something to have that finished feeling. For these spaces, we tend to make purchases on impulse and often end up owning something that either isn't quite the right shade of red (or green, or beige, or...), doesn't fill a certain space quite like we had imagined, or is otherwise not quite perfect. And of course we don't return these things because we figure that for now having something is better than having nothing. A very wrong attitude, by the way.

Avoid poor purchase decisions by keeping photos and even samples from this room or area in your purse or car, or even on your iPad or other similar device that is usually with you. Paint swatches, a little piece of fabric, a couple of photos, and you've got enough to make sure you're looking at the right colours, and you have enough visuals with you for sales staff to be able to guide you in your shopping.

Thursday's Thoughts

2011-01-20T17:25:00.000-05:00

Many furniture stores have a "no photos" policy because they don't want shoppers snapping pics then looking for better prices from their competitors. That's somewhat understandable, sort of. But lots of us need pictures - either we want to show the photo to our significant other before making the purchase, or we want to see a picture of the item while standing in our own home looking at the things the new item will coexist with before committing to it.

So what do you do?

Ask for a brochure or pamphlet depicting the item. If one isn't available, find out which company manufactures the item and then find their website and you will have access to photos and most often detailed information including dimensions, colour choices, and more.

Thursday's Thoughts

2011-01-13T13:27:00.000-05:00

Thursday's Thoughts is a new feature I decided to add. Thursday's Thoughts will appear, you guessed it, every Thursday; the topic will always be somehow design-related, and it will literally just be a thought, not a full-length article. A point to ponder. A couple of words of wisdom. Maybe a photo with a sentence or two sometimes...

And here's today's thought:

Planning to renovate? Or even just dreaming about a specific project? It's never too early to start a "style file" - collect photos of things you love from brochures, magazines, websites, etc. Even start keeping a list of names of designers, contractors and other industry professionals who have been recommended by friends or family. This will start you (or your designer or contractor) off with an organized visual idea of the direction your project will take when the time comes.

Colour Trends for 2011

2011-01-11T16:39:00.000-05:00

Trends are an interesting thing. First of all there are two kinds of trends: 1) those established by industry-related organizations, and 2) those based on consumer behaviour. Secondly, there are two kinds of people: 1) those who follow the trends as closely as possible, and 2) those who know what they like irrespective of the trend du jour.

And interestingly, the colour trends shown for 2011, for the most part anyway, seem to be allowing for everyone's preferences to still be "trendy".

Azko Nobel's "The Colors of 2011"

Yolo Colorhouse's "Color Trends 2011"

Pantone continues to release a colour of the year, and this year's is as bright as last year's turquoise, but unfortunately less likely to find its way into as many people's homes: Honeysuckle.

ICI Dulux (an Akzo Nobel company) released a lemon-lime sort of shade of citrus yellow as their colour of the year, and Benjamin Moore's 2011 colour of the year is called "Vintage Wine" - by their own description it is a "rich hue with a deep brown base and a hint of smoky violet".

Lots of words are being thrown around too including: humble, simplicity, refresh, collective, magic... But the truth is that they likely bring different colours to your mind than to mine because we all associate different things, different experiences and slightly different qualities to each of those words.

Azko Nobel has created a ColourFutures International Colour Trends 2011 notebook available for download. It combines a magazine style with a picture book style, and is worth a quick flip through. Click here to go to the download page.

My next post (later this week) will be about the trends beyond colour - pattern and motif, texture, shape and form, mood and ambiance...

Store-bought or hand-made, cozy up with knits at home

2010-12-15T10:51:00.000-05:00

Knitting is one of my favorite hobbies; I love watching the yarn transform into wonderfully textured pieces to then become clothes, stuffed animals, or whatever the project of the moment is. I have joked that I would surround myself with all things knitting if I could - and now I know that I don't have to say that jokingly anymore.

Couture Deco's knit-look wallpaper has me wishing that my crafts room was due for a make-over. Although this wallpaper can work just as well as an accent wall in a bedroom or living room, in a den, or even in a hallway.

If knits for home decor appeal to you - and why shouldn't they? They are so cozy! - you'll be happy to know that knitting, and all things knitted, are continuing to grow in popularity and trendiness.

Of course there are the usual throws and pillows (like these cushions from Pottery Barn), but there are also more unusual pieces out there like knit vases from Ferm Living.

Better yet, visit the Etsy website to support artists and artisans by purchasing knitted items that are hand-made. Choose by category, search by item, narrow your search by location or by colour...

Or pick up a pair of knitting needles and watch a skein of yarn turn into something fantastic!

A picture may say 1000 words but not a complete story

2010-11-23T10:17:00.000-05:00

Have you ever seen an amazing-looking promotional photo for something on sale at a store, and then when you went to see it in person you were terribly disappointed? If you answered yes, then you'll certainly understand what I am going on about.

I was recently criticized for taking on a certain project (still in progress). Someone saw the "before" photos and told me I should be ashamed that I am involved in tearing out a beautiful, new-looking bathroom; the terms "wasteful", "environmentally and economically irresponsible", as well as a few others were harshly directed at me.

(The businesswoman in me maintains that even if this project was purely frivolous, if not me then some other designer would have the contract. But that is not the point...)

In a luxury home, does it make sense to have only a small en-suite bathroom with a tiny shower when there is room for significant enlargement? In a luxury home, does it make sense to have an en-suite washroom outfitted with mediocre quality finishes and fixtures? Does it make sense for the owner to want to invest a bit to increase the property value?

Yes, the bathroom looked lovely as it had been - if it were in an average home. But where it was is comparable to placing a thrift-shop futon in a room with an Austrian crystal chandelier, a hand-woven silk rug, and museum-quality original art.

So although a picture can say a thousand words, make sure they are the right ones before jumping to conclusions.

The boards that make me moody

2010-10-08T12:12:00.000-04:00

Grade 7 Home Ec class... The teacher assigned a project that we each had to create a collage of pictures of things we would want in our first place and write a paragraph or two about how we imagine our first home away from our parents.

Now these collages are being called "vision boards", or more commonly, "mood boards". And they are being touted as a tool of the professional interior designer. Entire books have been written on the subject of mood boards, and there are now numerous websites that allow the user to create their own mood boards, save them, share them...

As an interior designer, I take issue with mood boards. A mood board is nothing more than a visual wish list of sorts. So what is my issue with mood boards? A client presented me with one she had evidently spent hours making; it was a melange of images taken from cheap big-box furntiture stores, uber-expensive hand-crafted items from Europe, several pieces from manufacturers not locally available... And she expected me to use this as a shopping list of sorts for her project, with little care that several of the items really didn't work well together, that the proportions of different pieces made them incompatible. On the website where she created this mood board, other users gave it a 4-star rating, so it must be me who is wrong in finding fault with her selections!

So yes, I am drawing a comparison between these mood boards and my grade 7 Home Ec project - a wish-list collage.

Mood boards do have a purpose: they allow you to combine different pieces, styles, colours, even textures, and provide you with an idea of how different things can look together. But they have their limitations. If used as a tool to help create a starting point for a decor, they can be a great help, and really fun to make. Just remember that a mood board is not a specifications manual, and it certainly cannot replace a professional interior designer.

Meet Marie - In Marie's own words...

2010-09-11T18:50:00.000-04:00

Written by Marie LeRiche

In July, as I was graduating from Inter-Dec College, I was put in touch with Karen through a classmate. The next thing I knew, Karen took me under her wing and is showing me the ropes of interior design outside of the classroom while having me work on all aspects of projects alongside her.

While still in elementary school, my dream was to become an architect. Later I became interested in the design aspect of spaces - aesthetics, form, colour, etc. At 19 I discovered interior design, which combines the architectural elements with the aesthetic design side of things. I sometimes feel like the profession was created for me!

I enjoy being busy. I enjoy having an over-filled agenda, and I like to take on challenges, some of which completely break out of my day-to-day routine. When I was 16 I made the split-second decision to join the army reserves. I chose one of the hardest jobs simply because I thought it would be a cool experience. I learned a lot about myself, I have grown stronger as a person, and I believe that my life would be very different without these experiences. This is something I plan to continue doing and being a part of. Needless to say, the bond created with the people I work alongside is like no other.

I am looking forward to further developing my design skills and my own style while working my way up as a part of Idealspace Design.

Transitions - Summer 2010

2010-09-08T08:57:00.001-04:00

In design terms, transitions exist between exterior and interior spaces, between rooms, while undergoing a renovation, while changing the old for the new... But they also exist at every milestone in life.

Transition, like change, can be seen as something to be overcome, or as upheaval of a sort. Or it can be welcomed as a new beginning, an opportunity, or a place to move forward from. If seasons in our lives had themes, this summer for me would certainly be labeled "transitions", both personally and professionally.

On the personal side, the big transition - my new beginning - is that on August 20th I married the most wonderful man. Our wedding was like a fairy-tale, and took place on a stunning beach in Mexico, followed by celebrations in Montreal. Part of this transition includes me going from being Karen S. Weiner to Karen Weiner-Mayar; the Internet cannot make this transition as easily as I did, so I will continue to be known as both for the next while.

Professionally there are some transitions too: Idealspace Design is proud to welcome Marie LeRiche. Marie, a talented and enthusiastic junior designer, started in July and will be working with me on current and upcoming projects.

Free Design Seminars - a part of LG's Home Appliance Days events

2010-07-24T09:58:00.000-04:00

We've been busy at Idealspace Design. Aside from designing homes and businesses for our clients, we were approached to design and present mini-seminars for LG in and around Montreal.

If you are interested in doing renovations at home, you should come visit us at one of the locations. The mini-seminars (being presented in English and French) cover the topics of:

Environmentally-friendly renovations
Laundry room design
Kitchen planning

Each mini-seminar runs about 15 minutes, and we are also offering short free consultations on-site. Bring photos of your space to redesign, and bring your questions that you'd like answered. Demonstrations of LG's new steam washer and dryer are also being done.

And while you're there, also ask Jack (the guy in the LG shirt) about the contest - you can win one of 3 prizes in "The LG Designer Contest" - you could win interior design services for your upcoming project.

The events are taking place from 12:30 to 2:30 at the following venues:

Saturday, July 24th at Corbeil in St-Leonard. 6725 rue Jean-Talon East
Sunday, July 25th at Corbeil in Longueuil. 3595 rue de Chambly
Saturday, July 31st at The Bay in Montreal. 585 rue Ste-Catherine West
Sunday, August 1st at The Bay in Anjou. Galeries d'Anjou 7895 boulevard Les Galeries d'Anjou.

Similar events are also happening in Toronto, so if that is closer to home for you:

Saturday, July 24th at Tasco in Mississauga at 2111 Dunwin Drive, unit 11
Sunday, July 25th at Tasco in Toronto at 3041 Dufferin Street
Saturday, July 31st at The Bay in North York at 3401 Dufferin Street at Highway 401
Sunday, August 1st at The Bay in the Eaton Center in Toronto at 176 Yonge Street.

Save Vs. Spend

2010-05-25T14:43:00.000-04:00

When Doug Larson said, "What some people mistake for the high cost of living is really the cost of living high." he couldn't have been more right. There is necessary, or justified, spending, and then there is spending just because... either on impulse, for convenience, or from limited knowledge.

There are some design, decor, or construction elements that come only in your choice of "cheap and crappy" or "expensive and worth it" but most are available in a wide range of prices. I like to focus on those that are in the middle, and when I use the word "save" it means to find reasonable quality at the lowest price; "spend" means that quality is really worth some extra spending.

Save on these items:

Decorative accessories (bedding, artwork, rugs...) for kids rooms. Children grow up so quickly that spending significant amounts of money to please their tastes of today is going to be regretted quickly because before you know it, they'll be wanting to replace all the farm animals with guitars.
Interior door handles. You can easily find these for around $50 each - or in a "builder's package" with multiples in a box for around $25 each. Often they are the exact same just with less appealing packaging!
Rugs or carpets for dining rooms. Even if you don't have children, your dining room flooring is never safe from spills. Instead of grape juice it may be red wine and instead of pureed carrots it may be a plate of spaghetti. Accidents happen. And if your carpet gets a stain and has to be replaced, let it be something that you haven't spent a fortune on. Although do look for washability, colorfastness, and other features that improve the durability and longevity of the rug.
Light fixtures in bedrooms. Especially now that the trend is to put more decorative, chandelier-like lighting in the bedroom, it isn't necessarily where you want to go all-out with crystal or designer labels - leave that for the dining room and other areas that guests see and that are less likely to have a dramatic style change every few years.
Closet organizer systems. Whether custom-made or bought from a big-box store, these come with both expensive and affordable options. Explore your options and really assess your needs because changing them later tends to be costly.

Spend on these items:

Chairs. You're going to sit on them routinely, so the last thing you need is a wobble developing within months, or fabric starting to look twice its age.
Recessed "pot" lighting. These aren't a do-it-yourself installation for most people, and even changing the bulbs can be a challenge depending on your ceiling height. Most have built-in transformers and other parts that affect the quality and longevity of the fixture itself as well as of the bulb. Look for good quality - if you have to change the bulbs half as often you will quickly save your money back.
Flooring for kitchens and entrance ways. The kitchen floor is subject to spills, fairly heavy traffic usually, and chairs scraping along it. If an accidentally dropped pot will damage multiple tiles, it won't be long before you'll be looking for a new floor. In the entryway, depending on your location, your shoes and boots bring in salt, sand, water, mud, oily dirt, and who-knows-what else. The flooring should be able to withstand all that and more for at least several years.
Toilets. Again, not a D.I.Y project to replace one for most people, and they get a lot of use. Nothing is more annoying than the constant sound of running water in a toilet tank, or having to explain to guests: "um... you'll have to flush twice, and hold the handle for a few seconds." Look for a model that has a dual flush feature to save water, and a decent manufacturer's warranty.
Paints, especially for washrooms and kitchens. The humidity and odors both in the washroom and from cooking can penetrate right into the paint and cause discoloration, staining, and even bubbling. Opt for 100% acrylic paint for both of these rooms - it is mold and mildew resistant, has a stain resistance to it, and is washable.

S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Decor) Challenges

2010-04-27T18:02:00.000-04:00

Usually at this time of year people are looking at their homes with an eye on how to bring the outside in, how to make the warmth and colours of the season appreciated inside, and how to make the time stuck indoors seem more pleasant. That's how I was feeling too - as recently as yesterday. I was thinking about buying a couple of new houseplants, putting away the winter stuff... We are at the end of April after all.

And today I am thinking about extra blankets, plush rugs underfoot, good lighting, and window treatments that can block out the view. The finally-budding trees (not to mention my car) are buried under more than an inch of snow and more is still falling. And today is April 27th.

Somehow I cannot get myself to focus on designing a client's sun-room when hot chocolate seems so much more appropriate than iced tea, a fireplace more appealing than a lawn chair, and summer feels as far away as Christmas.

Facebook won

2010-03-12T16:43:00.000-05:00

After resisting for so long, I finally set up a Facebook profile, and a page for Idealspace Design. Over the upcoming days I will start adding photos and more information to it.

So when you have a minute, take a look and become a fan of Idealspace Design.

Borrowing vs. Stealing in Design

2010-02-15T15:07:00.001-05:00

Design influences come from all over: a visit to someone's home; a hotel you stayed at; an era; a culture... Most commonly though, they come from things we've seen on a website or in a design or decor magazine. There's nothing wrong with seeing a space designed by someone else and saying, "That is fantastic! I want a room like that." I often have clients hand me pages from magazines requesting the same. But I explain to clients that there is a difference between stealing and borrowing, and that they would be happier with something influenced by the photo, rather than reproduced from it. You have to make it your own; put your own mark on it.

This washroom, designed by architect and interior designer Charles C. Almonte (www.charlesalmonte.com) of Maryland, is clean, timeless, and approachable. Who wouldn't want something like it in their own home?

Use photos as a starting point instead of as a "how to". Figure out what it is that appeals to you and focus on that instead of on the whole.

Stagger your tiles vertically instead to emphasize height. Put towels on the shelf and frame the art in stainless steel and hang them on the wall above. Opt for a bowl or vessel sink with a wall-mount faucet on a wall-mounted cabinet. Choose a wallpaper that speaks to you, maybe something a bit more modern, or a bit more geometric. The overall feel of a decor can be reproduced without having to seek out exact replicas of the materials used.

When Shakespeare said, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be" he certainly wasn't talking about design concepts. Borrowing is almost unavoidable, and if you are in a position to "lend" a design idea then you should be proud. But thievery is quite another matter, and morals aside, you won't be happy with something intended for someone else.

D.I.Y. Project Attitude

2010-02-09T16:58:00.000-05:00

The term "do-it-yourself" either makes people cringe or gets them excited. Those who enjoy a good D.I.Y project may look at it from a financial point of view (who doesn't like to save the $70 a plumber charges to change a faucet?), or they take pride in being able to say: "Look what I did!", or they simply enjoy working with their hands and have some confidence in their abilities. Most who frown upon all manual labor are scared of the outcome or of failure. I'll be the first to confess that there are few feelings worse than the one you get after having spent an entire weekend on a D.I.Y project just to finally admit defeat and have to call in a pro on Monday morning - hopefully before too many people see your meager attempt.

It's all about attitude. If you set out expecting professional-looking results in half the time that the contractor would need, you're going to be disappointed. The same is true if you have the belief that the project is going to be easy. Every project requires 10% more material than expected, 20% more time than anticipated, and will leave you 30% more tired than you figured.

Again, it's all about attitude. If you start off with a reasonable sized project and make it fun, it can be a huge success. Involve the family. Blast the stereo. Invite friends over to help and order a pizza. Take pride in your work and be willing to laugh at your own trial-and-error learning. You're doing it for yourself - enjoy it!

My fiance made the most of the tedious job of repainting my hobby room, and made me smile in the process. Although I wouldn't appreciate this type of non-professional painting method from a contractor, it made our D.I.Y project something to remember.

The Value of a Floor Plan

2010-02-01T14:11:00.001-05:00

Most often, floor plans, or layout plans, are used for renovation purposes and people don't generally think to make one, or have one made, for any other reason. Having floor plans can be beneficial to residential and commercial property owners, as well as to tenants, in many ways:

Take it with you when you go shopping for new furniture to eliminate the guess-work about the right size desk, table or sofa to buy.
Use it as a sales tool to help sell your property or to find the right tenant. It can be put on-line with the property listing (see the photo section of this property listing) or a paper copy can be given to potential purchasers or tenants.
Make furniture pieces for your floor plan so you can rearrange as often as necessary until you find the right layout without hurting your back or damaging the floors.
Start to visualize renovation options before calling in a designer, architect or contractor. On paper you will see your space very differently.

If you are going to make your own floor plan, the easiest way is to use graph paper. Figure out a reasonable scale based on the size of your graph paper and the size of the space you are going to be drawing; while a single room can be drawn with 4 squares representing one foot (or 1 square = 3 inches), an entire building would have to be drawn at a smaller scale, such as 1 square = 1 foot.

Having a floor plan done professionally is quick and simple. Depending on the space, it may take anywhere from an hour to several hours for a pro to measure the space including doors, windows, and so on. Within 10 days you should have the completed floor plan. Costs for professionally drawn floor plans vary depending both on the professional you hire and on the size of the space to be measured and drawn, but for a small average home you should expect to pay approximately $240.

And the colour of the year for 2010 is...

2009-12-17T18:25:00.015-05:00

According to those who determine the colour trends of the year, 2010's colour is turquoise. Not a simple colour to work with if you aren't either very brave or experienced with colour work.

Pantone's Turquoise: the "colour of the year" for 2010

Difficulties aside, turquoise makes a great accent colour for a black and white decor, and also for a dark brown and beige decor. It compliments well with various shades of dark blue and with soft yellows too. With some caution, it can be paired quite successfully with pink.

For inspiration to introduce turquoise into your decor, look at the Arts & Crafts movement, most notably motifs by William Morris; Moorish and Mediterranean decor, especially the tiles and inlaid work; and c. 1950's accessories to name a few.

Measure twice, cut once isn't always the solution

2009-12-03T10:51:00.007-05:00

It's true that certain renovation or home-improvement tasks are not difficult to do without the help of a pro. Sometimes though, things don't go quite as we expected.

Interior design vs. interior decor

2009-04-08T09:44:00.001-04:00

It seems that the designer vs. decorator topic is one I have to confront daily. Most recently it was with a decorator; she approached me with two issues: 1) her client hired her to redo the kitchen and she can't do floor plans and other drawings and didn't know how to proceed (she was considering having a big-box hardware store do the kitchen drawings), and 2) she doesn't like the fact that we have to compete at a professional level. Whoa! Back up a minute!!

Maybe I was rude to her. Ok, maybe it was intentional. I asked her what her educational background is. None relevant - she worked in human resources for an automotive company for a few years. I asked her about her professional liability insurance. None; she didn't think she needs it and didn't think that decorators can get any. I asked her about licenses, memberships with professional orders or associations. Again, none. I answered the same questions I asked her then asked her if she really sees herself as my "professional" competition.

The truth is that I have nothing against decorators, and I have employed a couple of them over the years when I have been too involved with design work to be able to also properly handle the decor side of projects. Decorating, or achieving good decor anyway, requires a lot of patience; strong knowledge and understanding of materials, colour theory, and pattern use; a good rapport with local suppliers; respect of clients' budgets; and a good eye combined with common sense mixed with the ability to vary from one's own tastes.

So, no offense meant to decorators in general, but it's important that we all realize and recognize that there are different professionals to hire for different jobs. And yes, some decorators truly are decor professionals. For more on this topic, see my article "Who To Hire" on the Articles page of Idealspace Design's website.