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interior design tips

7-secrets-from-an-interior-designer

In the digital age, it’s easier than ever to design a well-organized, cohesive decor scheme. With some internet inspiration and a few simple guidelines, you can make your home look like you hired an interior designer.

Here are some helpful tips to guide the process.

Plan Ahead

One of the key elements of stunning interior design is planning out the various components before getting started. You can do this by spending an afternoon looking at design magazines and clipping images that inspire you. You can also use tools like Pinterest to create a vision board. 

Outlining the design features of your room will also help you develop a shopping list and budget. Give yourself time to shop around and compare prices. 

Choose Statement Pieces

Generally speaking, an interior designer will incorporate one or two statement pieces into each room. These pieces become the focal point of the design scheme with the room working around it. A statement piece could be anything from an ultra-modern couch to an elaborate chandelier. 

Remember that statement pieces are meant to stand out, rather than to blend into the background, so leave your preconceived notions about matching at the door. While the piece should fit into the overall decor, use a pattern, shape, or color contrast to help it stand out.

Keep the Layout Simple 

When it comes to interior design, less is more. Having too much in one area makes the room look smaller and cluttered. Everything in your room should be functional as well as fashionable.

Take some time to declutter and experiment with the room layout. You can use a room planning app to see how everything will fit before making any significant changes.

Focus on the Finer Details

It’s the finer details that make the most impact when trying to make your home look professionally designed. For example, adding custom hardware to RTA cabinets in the kitchen completely changes the look of the room (check out RTA Cabinet Reviews). In a living room, the pattern on throw pillows can take the room from mediocre to luxurious. It’s all about the little touches.

Build Over Time

Don’t feel as though you need to handle your design project all at once. You can make small changes over time to fit your budgetary needs and overall vision. This approach is great if you’re waiting to find that perfect finishing piece for your room as well.

Building over time will also help you create a unique look as trends continue to change. By doing so, your room will look less cookie-cutter and more professionally planned. 

Use a Color Wheel

A color wheel is both the simple and most powerful tool to have on hand when creating a designer-inspired room. This device can help you find contrasting and complementary colors that you might not have considered. If you have a favorite color in mind, this tool can help you build around it without risking clashing or being too matchy.

There are plenty of apps and websites online that replace the handheld color wheel, and can even print paint codes for you to take to your preferred paint store. 

Prioritize Lighting

Lighting is the element that brings a room to life. Don’t just focus on the colors and patterns; consider how you’ll set the ambiance. Getting as much natural light as possible is a must. Many designers will use mirrors and reflective surfaces to improve light distribution.

Light fixtures also play into the overall look of a room. Choosing warm lighting that reduces hard shadows can make the room look more welcoming.

With these tips, you can create a house that looks as though it was put together by an interior designer. Get organized, be creative, and add a unique flair that sets it apart.

SHOP HOME DECOR….

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timberwood-towns-get-look

What is TimberWood Towns? Well if you have been following us on Facebook or Instagram – you have seen this amazing project that we have spent the last 6 weeks of our lives working on…It’s been a while since we have posted anything new but we hope this makes the wait worth while…..

TimberWood Towns is a new townhome community here in Ottawa and we had the amazing opportunity to design the sales center, the model and select all of the finishes top to bottom – it was an incredible experience, we learned a lot and created something beautiful!

It was a full 6 weeks – of selecting all the finishes for this project from flooring to paint to plumbing and lighting and everything in between. When you work with such a tight timeline you learn a lot about working together as a team, you also learn a lot about working with items that are in stock! We wouldn’t have been able to get this done without the pure magic of online shopping! Stores like Wayfair, Amazon, and Bouclair really came to the rescue! We have some amazing ‘friends’ at Urban Barn and they really pulled though with large and small purchases for this project! And of course, Home Sense (to our US readers, this gem is coming to the States soon and you will love it!)

Let us breakdown what we did in the space to create this industrial farmhouse look…

Reclaimed Wood Accents:

The look at TimberWood Towns is industrial farmhouse.  We mixed a lot of great texture in the finishes but also the furniture and accessories.  We found so many amazing pieces that really pulled this whole look together.  Our construction team found an old barn (a little over an hour’s drive out of the city) which is where we found all of this reclaimed barn wood for the accent wall in the den and to create these beams (which are included in every one of these townhomes, what a great architectural feature!)

Creating contrast:

A big part of this look was to create contrast so that the wood was a highlight but the the white walls and lighter furniture pieces really added to the feel.  You can definitely get contrast with colour but you can also get contrast with textures.  We needed to balance out the hard and rough texture of the wood with some softer elements – like these white linen chairs, leather sofa and lots of pillows. We added some rope texture to the space too – the pouf, the rope on the large clock and even some photo frames with a rope accent. Another great texture in this space is the cowhide ottoman.

Lighting :

We all know that lighting can totally transform the look of any home and this project was no exception! We needed some great lighting that would really help set the tone of this industrial farmhouse look – we found some amazing pendant for the kitchens (that’s right, we have 2 kitchens in this sales center) and bathroom. We used aged bronze finishes for the lighting as they really add a rustic touch to the space.

More TimberWood Towns …

TimberWood Towns Shopping list:

If you like this industrial farmhouse look – you are in luck! We have a list of the items we purchased for this beautiful showroom.

These are just some of the amazing pieces we used in this project – we love to mix styles but also price points. when you mix styles and price points, you end up with final product that is truly one of a kind. We love how all of these items come together in a cohesive and unique way…

Let us know which piece is your favourite, we can’t decide!

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kitchen-design-trends-2017

The kitchen is the heart of the home and whether you are a gourmet or not, you want your kitchen to look stunning! If a kitchen renovation is on your to-do list, take note of the hot kitchen design trends for 2017.

Grey in the Kitchen:

Although white is still a top choice for homeowners, grey is a close (very close 2nd).  We started seeing this trend about 3 years ago in the trade shows but now the grey kitchen cabinet is much more mainstream. If you are a bit hesitant, opt for a soft and warm grey tone for the kitchen cabinets. It’s still timeless and neutral but it’s a great alternative to white.

Farmhouse kitchen sink:

Also known as an apron sink.  This sink style has been around for a long time but it has really gained popularity with the whole revival of the ‘farmhouse look’ trend.  This style of sink comes in all sizes and configurations (single bowl, double bowl…) but it comes in other colours and materials.  Plus you don’t have to necessarily have the farmhouse look in your kitchen – you can have a clean contemporary style or an industrial style kitchen – it is a very transitional sink.

Tuxedo kitchen:

We are seeing a lot of tuxedo kitchens in 2017.  Not familiar with this term? A tuxedo kitchen is a kitchen with dark lower cabinets and kitchen island cabinets (in a black like a tuxedo but we are seeing lots of variations like navy, dark stained wood and charcoal grey) and white upper cabinets.  This adds some visual interest to a kitchen and in our opinion looks best in larger kitchens. 

Bold Kitchen Light Fixtures:

Statement lighting is everywhere and we mean in every room in the house and the kitchen is no exception.  We are seeing lots of larger and more interesting light fixtures in the kitchen – over the island, the eat-in area and in the kitchen itself.  There are so many styles of lighting – so there is something for everyone! Get creative with colour, size and shape – we love this classic lantern pendant in pink and gold – so unique!

Mixing kitchen counter tops:

We are seeing clients get more and more adventurous when it comes to making selections in the kitchen.  It can be tough to narrow down your selections – so don’t! Opt to have 2 different counter tops in your kitchen – 2 different stones, a stone one and concrete one, a stone and wood one….the combinations are endless.  This is a great way to really make your personality shine in your kitchen!

Navy in the kitchen:

Navy in the kitchen right now is where grey was about 3-4 years ago – just emerging – but we are seeing it more and more in magazines and TV shows, so it is only a matter of time until the navy kitchen is the new grey kitchen! We love it mixed with brass or gold hardware (which is also starting to catch on).  A navy kitchen looks incredible with just a simple shaker style door – because the colour is so deep and rich you really don’t need a lot of detail. 

Interesting Kitchen Backsplash:

For a while it was all about the glass tile mosaic back splash and then more recently the subway tile but now we are seeing all different shapes and colours – even patterned tiles! We are definitely seeing people take more ‘risks’ this year when it comes to tile.  Whether it is a herringbone layout, a hexagon shape or a pattern tile – back splashes are a lot more interesting this year! (We are seeing this trend in bathrooms, too)

What do you think of these kitchen design trends ?

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our-top-10-kitchen-islands

The kitchen island is almost an essential part of a kitchen these days.  We see them in kitchens of all sizes and styles.  They are so practical plus we love they way they look – they offer us storage options, serving and prepping space and even a dining area.

Here are some of our favourite kitchen islands:

We love any over sized kitchen island – it is perfect for anyone who loves to cook and entertain.  This is also a beautiful piece  in this kitchen.  Look at the seating for 4 and those lantern pendants really make this island look and feel like a dining space.  The sink makes this island a great working area too. We love the storage and the serving space this island offers. This is a perfect addition to a dream kitchen!

Pot and pan drawers are a must in your kitchen island.  Look at all of this storage! This oversized island is almost a complete kitchen it’s self.  Storage for days, prep space, cooking space a sink and so much more.

Just because something serves a purpose doesn’t mean it can’t also look good! We love a pop of colour so why not add one to your kitchen? When your kitchen island is in a different stain or paint colour it really looks custom and it looks like a piece of furniture.  This island offers so much closed storage but it’s a great hang out with 2 stools at the end plus it’s just perfect for serving an prepping look at the over sized flat surface.

Looking to make a statement with your kitchen island? Think about going ‘live edge’. This live-edge walnut kitchen island counter top is a show stopper! It adds an organic element to this sleek and streamlined modern kitchen.  We love the wood grain and knots – so much character and uniqueness.

We love a butcher block kitchen island but how cute is this dog bowl feature? If you have dogs at home incorporate them into your decor and design.  These stainless steel bowls can be removed for easy cleaning but when in place they are out of the way with no risk of being knocked over and making a mess.

We love the rustic look of this farmhouse kitchen island.  The grey stain softens the look of the wood plus it works with the veining in the marble back splash.  The open shelving is very convenient when plating and we like the look of these clean, smooth white dishes (and white cabinets) with the rustic wood grain – we love the mix of textures.  This island has so much character!

We love this ‘beverage station’ in this kitchen island – it’s perfect if you love to entertain! A wine rack, ice maker and beer/soda fridge in the island is such a great idea! Easy access and it won’t take up space in your main fridge.  With it tucked away in the island it won’t take away from the beauty of your kitchen.

We don’t see this often – but we love it!  A round kitchen island : this is perfect for a smaller kitchen -the circular shape really softens up the look in a kitchen and appears to not take up as much space; a circular shape offers great flow (that’s why a circular table is often a great choice for a small space). This still has great storage a surface space.  We also love the soft tones in this kitchen – the cream, taupe and wood – timeless with a bit of a country feel.

This island has it all –  seating, storage, open shelving, surface space and a stove top.  this modern sleek look kitchen island offers so much for this kitchen design. We love the mix of black, wood and grey waterfall quartz counter top.  The pendant lighting is beautiful and we love how the hood fan is built in so it doesn’t visually block in the kitchen and obstruct the view.

Take some inspiration from this kitchen with a commercial restaurant design.  This T-shaped island is perfect for parties – so much space for prepping, serving and let your guests watch while you create! the mix of stainless steel and wood grain is a great balance of modern and organic, warm and cool.  So clean and streamlined in every way.

Which kitchen island is your favourite?

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