Guest Bloggers

5 Amazing Dining Tables

5-amazing-dining-tables

We are so thrilled and happy to host a new guest blogger this week – Mark from Foosballzone.com

5 dining tables that are insanely awesome

A dining room is where the whole family sits and spends time together over lunch or supper so it is essential for them to feel good. With an astonishing dining table, you can make the whole space look amazing.  Due to that, I have made a rundown of 5 extremely stunning tables which will draw your family in the dining room. One thing you must keep an eye on is the fact that tables like those are not for everyone. Having an amazing table like that is a statement and you should be proud if you are looking to get one of the tables from the article:

Millenium Bontempi

The Millenium Bontempi is a dining table made for contemporary homes of individuals who value basic plan. Just by looking at the table you can see that it doesn’t have any excess decorations and it looks absolutely amazing. There are two shapes of the table; rectangular and roundabout shape so you can pick the table to fit your room. What I like the most is the fact that it is produced using one material. You can pick one from 3 materials: wood, glass and steel. The greatest highlights of the table are the legs. They aren’t in the corner of the table; they are in the middle of it.

Concrete table

The concrete table is a standout amongst the most fascinating dining tables on the market, but it comes with a catch.  It is challenging to locate the perfect one. The concrete table must be smooth, equally hued and with no breaks. That means that you don’t do that alone, you leave it for experts. The ideal blend you can discover that comes with a concrete tabletop is wooden legs. A table like that is impressive dining furniture and it is for a modern house.

Foosball dining table

Another dining table made for the bachelor’s apartment is a foosball dining table. Remember this isn’t just a foosball table with glass top, it is a table made to be a dining table. A table like that will leave an impact on everybody who comes into the room, including the ladies. A dining foosball table like this one has style and class. A tempered glass over the field is lifted because the height has to be like on the real dining table. The glass covers the rods so you won’t hit them while eating dinner.

Swing dining table

I can completely picture this table in a lunchroom in Google since it speaks to the casual environment you need to have in a lounge. It is made for individuals who are kids at heart and I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that this table will make you smile. Awesome for family dinners because it is a rare opportunity to see your grandmother in the swing! The table is completely safe and it has enough room between the swings so you won’t feel cramped.

Driftwood dining table

This table may not be modern, but it is absolutely amazing. A driftwood table is extraordinary furniture for any home since it tells to you its story. It would be a disgrace to put the driftwood table in little lounge area so I would propose putting it in an open space kitchen/lounge area. With tempered transparent glass on top a driftwood table, the extraordinary wood will be visible forever.

Author bio:

Mark is a blogger who has a blog about foosball tables. On his blog he shares all that one foosball player has to know, including the posts about various foosball tables like the one you can look at this link: http://www.foosballzone.com/sportcraft-foosball-table/

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HOLIDAYS

The Best Neutral Christmas Home Decor

best-neutral-christmas-home-decor

Christmas time is in full swing … but you say you don’t like colourful Christmas home decor. Well you are in luck, Christmas decor comes in all styles and ‘colours’ – let me show you some of the Best Neutral Christmas Home Decor …

Neutral Christmas Decor – white, gold and beige

Maybe not your typical colour scheme but this is just so elegant and chic.  Gold and white are a classic combination and by adding the beige and taupe tones – this room looks so rich! The white lights add some beautiful shine and the rustic touches like the deer head on the tree top add a woodland look which is very popular right now.

Photo credit: Kirklands

Neutral Christmas Decor – Silver, Green and White

I love Christmas decor that can really extend through the long winter months and when you opt for a neutral palette you definitely have that ability to keep up a lot of your decor through the winter.  This combination has a cool, outdoorsy vibe think evergreens, snow and ice….This beautiful staircase with evergreens and baubles is so seasonal and fresh looking!

Photo credit: Lowe’s

 

Neutral Christmas Decor – Brown and Gold

This combination of brown and gold is so rich and elegant. This tree has a traditional feel and the colours of brown and gold add drama and depth. Al of the the sparkle that contrasts with the more rugged textures like the burlap makes this tree make this tree one of a kind.

 

Photo credit: TrendyTree

 

Neutral Christmas Decor – Black, White and Wood

This combination is not your typical Christmas combination but it also has a great modern meets outdoors feel.  The mix of the Buffalo Check and the wood log chargers gives this Christmas table setting a relaxed and casual feel but still says Christmas.

Photo credit: HobbyCraft

Neutral Christmas Decor – Navy and Metallics

Navy Blue is a great way to add some depth and drama yet still keeping it classic with a winter feel and you can easily mix in some metallic tones like silver or gold (maybe even both).  Navy blue and white are also a great neutral combination for the season – a little unexpected but it works!

Photo credit: lushome

 

Neutral Christmas Decor – All White

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…..make your home a winter wonderland with layers of white on white Christmas decor. With these colour scheme you can remove the tree and keep other decorative touches up because the white decor is more seasonal and less holiday focused.

Photo credit: skimbacolifestyle

Remember, neutral decor is never boring mix it up with pattern and texture for everyday and for the holidays,


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HOLIDAYS

Christmas Decor Favourites

christmas-decor-favourites

Christmas time is here! and you know what that means…Christmas decor! I love any excuse to decorate but Christmas has to be my absolute favourite time of year – the cool air, the white fluffy snow, the music and the overall spirit of the season is just so warm and welcoming.  In my house we love to start decorating around the American Thanksgiving weekend – that way we can make the most of the season and really get into the spirit.

Over the years, my Christmas decor style has evolved and every year I add a few more pieces to the mix – here are just some of my favourite Christmas Decor items…

Christmas Decor Pillows

I love how simple these are to ad to an armchair or a sofa – plus these would look really cute in a guest bedroom (how welcoming).  This is such an easy piece to add to a room and what I really love about it, is it brings the holiday feel into all areas of the home.  You could either store away your ‘regular’ decor pillows or if you are short on space, get some Christmas pillow covers instead and zip them on for the season and zip them off at the end of the season.

This is a really cute and festive option from Wayfair…

Christmas Decor Canvas

One of the big holiday trends that we seeing a lot of this year and it is a bit of a nod to the whole farmhouse look is the canvas signs with sayings – I love the simplicity of the farmhouse style and adding in a great farmhouse sign with a Christmas feel is a great addition to a fireplace mantle, a gallery wall or a front foyer vignette.

This wrapped ‘Peace on Earth’ canvas from Wayfair – is not only a wonderful message but it comes in great neutral tones so it will work with most colour themes.

Christmas Decor Wreath

The Christmas wreath is a classic, we all know that but I am loving wreaths in vignettes, fireplace mantle styling and handing indoors.  I added a festive red and white one to my gallery wall in my family room and again I love how it brings the spirit of the season into all areas of my home.  I also love the look of a wreath hanging on the outside and the inside of a front door – so chic!

When it comes to a Christmas wreath – there is a style for everyone but in my home I tend to stick to the classics like this one….

Christmas Decor Candles

Candles are a great way to add some soft lighting – they also make a great gift.  This year I purchased some beautiful ‘Christmas scented’ candles for my kids’ teachers – I love the simple look of these ones in the mason jars – plus it is a ‘one size fits all’ gift.  Candles are great addition to a coffee table, console table or a fireplace mantle….

Christmas Decor Snowy Tree

This year, we finally purchased a new Christmas tree – we are a big fan of the artificial tree for a few reasons…it’s not as messy and high maintenance  as a real one and with 4 children under the age of 9 – we need to keep it simple.  Plus we used to travel quite a bit over the Christmas break and a real tree can lead to some real problem if it is not watered regularly, so a fake tree it is.  But there are so many beautiful options – like the one we just purchased.  I have been eying these snow flocked trees for a while and my husband surprised me with one this year and I LOVE IT! It is so pretty just on it’s own but once you add the white lights and all of the ornaments, it is just magic!

Christmas Decor Countdown

My kids are always asking me…”how many days until Santa?”.  It’s cute and I know they are SO excited! I saw this sign at one of my favourite stores, Urban Barn and I knew it had to come home with me this year.  I love the rustic farmhouse feel of the sign and of course, that chalkboard feature – Santa stops here in # days .  We have placed ours on our mantle (we have the height) but it is actually designed to stand on it’s own, it would be great by the fireplace or at the front entry – it’s a cute addition to family friendly Christmas decor….

Do you have any favourite Christmas decor pieces?

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TRENDS

2018 Colour of the year : Caliente!

2018-colour-of-the-year

It is that time of year where all of the fashion and home design experts are making their predictions for what will be the hot colour of the year…. Benjamin Moore has already announced their pick for colour of the year for 2018….Caliente – and just like the name suggests this colour is red hot.

More about the colour of the year….

This colour, Caliente, is hot, sexy and has lots of bold personality….this red hue has a touch of orange so it is a bit of a departure from the purple based wine tones. For anyone who is drawn to rich and warmer tones, caliente is Perfect!

Photo credit: Architectural Digest

 

The experts already were way ahead of this announcement and started to declare red as the new ‘millennial pink‘ over the summer months….

Red is a great next step from millennial pink….it is bold, a little unexpected in certain places (a red kitchen island….) . It can add a lot of richness to an exterior. It can be both feminine and masculine  depend on how you use it in your space.

How to decorate with the colour of the year…

This colour is so versatile … you can add this colour in a modern space that needs a colour injection but you can also make this work in a country or nautical inspired theme.  A Persian rug in this rich hue is another way to add this tone and some sophistication into any space.

Red Rug

This boho inspired room is so relaxed and the red makes a statement without taking over the space.  this room really combines a mix of styles like modern and traditional along with some great texture.

Photo credit: Havenly.com
 Add a touch of red with some pillows – a solid red pillow might be too much red so opt for some pattern … This living room styled by Pottery Barn has a great mix of boho and fresh coastal
Photo credit: Pottery Barn

 Red Furniture

 You can add a bold punch to your space with some red painted furniture.  This lake house bedroom is fresh and colourful with painted red twin beds…
Photo credit : Country Living
 

 Red sofa

Alright this is for someone who is really looking to e bold in their home decor.  A red sofa makes a statement but if you love colour…why not go bold? Red is a great colour for a major piece of furniture like a sofa because it really does work with a lot of other colours…

Photo credit : House of Turquoise

 Red accessories

Red is a great colour to accessorize with! Switching up your accessories along with new trends is an easy and affordable to change up the look of your decor…whether it’s pillows in a living room or bedroom or some kitchen items.

Photo credit: HGTV.com

 What do you think of Benjamin Moore’s Colour of the year?

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BATHROOMS, DIY, HOME DECOR

Room Reveal : Farmhouse Powder Room

room-reveal-farmhouse-powder-room

Well, my 4 weeks are up and it’s time to reveal my new farmhouse powder room!

It has been a busy 4 weeks – I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone and made a major transformation in my powder room. I love my farmhouse powder room and so have my friends and family.  The new look is truly incredible and I did not go over budget BONUS! Let me show what I did to create my farmhouse powder room….

A look back at my powder room…..

BEFORE

This powder room was dark and dull – the cabinets are right of out of 1981 and the whole room just looked blah…I really wanted to add a brighter colour, make the room fresh and have a farmhouse powder room.

My farmhouse powder room – what I did…

I knew I wanted a brighter and fresher feel in the room.  The big element here was paint.  I’m fortunate because I had almost a full can of a warm beige-y colour (it’s actually the same colour I have in my other 2 bathrooms) HUSH by Benjamin Moore This new colour on my walls has made a huge difference! The powder room looks so much bigger and brighter (honestly I still cannot get over how fresh it looks).  The next paint project was painting that vanity! I love the look of chalk paint and I thought to get the farmhouse look a chalk painted vanity would be perfect! I chose a great chalk paint colour from Rustoleum ‘Country Gray’ and I love it!!

I was going to paint my existing hardware but after doing some looking around – I found these bar pulls in an oil rubbed bronze – they have a more modern look than my old ones, they are a great price and I had room in my budget so it was perfect! I did have the brushed nickle in my cart but I then realized with my existing hinges (and limited budget) I should stick with the oil rubbed bronze – I love how this vanity looks like a piece of furniture with the new paint and hardware. These bar pulls make a big difference in updating my farmhouse powder room.

 

I have always wanted to do something with my window but I never really figured out what – I found an awesome tutorial for a new-sew window valance and that was the plan but then I found this valance at Target – it fit in my budget and the colour is perfect! The rod was a great deal, too!

 

What I didn’t get done…

I purchased some spray paint that was supposed to be used for my counter tops – it has not yet arrived so this did not get done during the challenge.  I’m a bit disappointed as I was really looking forward to changing it but now that everything else has been painted – I’m not sure that I need to paint it! I’ve asked friends and family what they think and it’s a 50/50 split of whether to paint or not – let me know what you think I should do, I’d love to hear your thoughts…..

 

Styling my farmhouse powder room….

I lucked out with some art from my sister that she was no longer using.  I also have this old wood ‘mailbox’ piece that I purchased years ago and I have always loved it but never found a home for it – it has been sitting in my office collecting dust for about 6 years – it is a great piece that works with the farmhouse look I am after so I was super happy to give it a ‘home’. I used this amazing product called ‘Gorilla Hooks’ to hang it – so easy!

I also had some decor items here that were just sort of extras like the wicker basket with my ‘guest towels’, the large mason jar with some faux greenery that I took from an arrangement in my dining room (just two branches), I had the ‘iron’ owls from my family room.

 

I used some white bar towels for my guest towels and rolled them up and put them in the basket -so simple – but that’s what farmhouse is all about, right?

My towel bar, lighting and mirror were there before – but with the new paint they kind of look new, too!

Get a farmhouse powder room with only $100

So here’s my budget breakdown …

Chalk Paint                                        $24.64

New cabinet pulls                             $4.79 (x4)

Paint starter kit                                 $8.00

Curtain rod                                         $3.99

Curtain Valance                                 $10.99

Spray paint                                         $30.05

Mirror                                                  already had

Wall paint                                           used left over from my other 2 bathrooms

Art                                                        already had

Decor accessories and towels         already had

Gorilla hooks                                     already had

Total spent                                          $96.83

Even though I have not yet used or received my counter top spray paint I still included it in my budget – without it I would have only spent $66.78 !

Farmhouse powder room photos

 

 

 

I still cannot believe that this is the same room – the transformation is just incredible! I feel great about the end results and I feel great about all of the painting that I took on – there’s a first time for everything! When you ‘shop your home’ it is really amazing what you can find and what you can give new life…

Be sure to check out the other participants in this round of the $100 Room challenge – it is reveal week and there are so many amazing projects in this challenge –


 

 

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BATHROOMS, DIY

$100 Room challenge: Week 3 – powder room

100-room-challenge-week-3-powder-room

3 weeks into this round of the $100 room challenge and I’m happy with the progress in my powder room….I am still amazed by the power of paint and how it can completely transform any room….take a look at how my powder room looked 3 weeks ago…

BEFORE

This is my second round of this challenge and it is so much fun! I love how it keeps me on track with my budget and focused on getting the project finished.  It is also really inspiring to see what other bloggers and IGers are doing. Did you catch Erin on the Rachael Ray Show? So many great ideas from Erin and all the other bloggers in this challenge – it is really fun to see how others stretch their budget and creativity! I have to say that this round I have ‘stepped it up’ from my first challenge.

Powder Room progress ….

Last week, I tackled painting the walls of the powder room and I’m loving the difference this ‘new’ colour has made so far.  I used paint from another project in my home and the colour is making such a difference already! I had to paint a second coat of paint on the powder room walls and if I am being honest – I wasn’t overly motivated to stay inside and paint.  Not because I’m not happy with how it is looking (quite the opposite) but….it seems like summer has finally arrived here and the weather outside is hot and sunny, so I really want to enjoy that while I can!

I did find that painting the second coat seemed to go much faster than the first coat – now maybe that is just me being motivated to get out and soak up some great weather!

I have also painted the vanity in this amazing shade of ‘country grey’ in a chalk paint! So exciting!! Originally, I planned on using a deeper charcoal tone for the vanity but my husband talked me into this mid-tone grey….I admit – this colour is a good choice – there is still contrast in the room and with this tone my new hardware pulls will stand out more!

I was going to recycle my handles (see below) but it was almost the same cost as buying new handles, so I purchased 4 new pulls instead.  The new ones are cleaner looking and still in the oil rubbed bronze finish (to match the existing hinges).  The new handles (although there are only 4) will give the vanity a fresh new look – I’m dying to install them!

 

‘Powder Room project’ confession time….

There have been a number of firsts for me on this project and I’m almost embarrassed to tell you but here goes….this my first time painting a room. ( Erin was completely honest about her DIY experience so I feel I should be, too.) Yep! I have painted my fireplace and a front door but never an entire room! I’m happy with how it turned out!

Something else I learned…how to patch the holes in my cabinets – this tutorial from Rainonatinroof.com is amazing and so simple….

Another first….I have never used chalk paint! I have to say I love chalk paint and I’m already trying to figure out what I can paint in chalk paint next! I was a bit nervous about it but it goes on so smoothly, the coverage is great and I love the super matte finish.  This has given my vanity new life! The image below shows off the new wall colour and 2 coats of chalk paint on the vanity – what do you think?

Yes, my doors are still attached to the ‘box’ of the vanity and I know the doors should be removed, painted and once complete, re-attached.  I didn’t realize the condition of my vanity until I started painting it this weekend – it is about 35 years old and it’s showing it’s age….I was worried that I may not be able to re-attach them. So I kept them on and painting them that way – not ideal but I’m making it work.

Counter tops…

Many of you have asked and comments about painting my counter tops. I am really excited (and a bit nervous) about painting my counter tops.  The paint has been ordered – I had to order online since all of the local stores were SOLD OUT! The paint has not arrived yet and it is cutting it close! I checked my order and it is supposed to arrive between Sept 20 (that’s today) and Oct 2…..so I may not get these counter tops painted before the 1 month timeline of this challenge is up….Well if I don’t get it on time – I will be sure to have a new post dedicated to painting my counter tops!

And I have to admit with all the fresh paint in this space – my counter tops that were already looking dated and dull look even more so….

 

Powder room to-do list:

  • prep and paint the walls of the powder room
  • paint or purchase 4 new cabinet hardware pulls
  • start (and finish) painting the vanity in chalk paint
  • install new cabinet hardware
  • hang up window treatment
  • touch up paint
  • paint counter top (waiting patiently for paint to arrive….)
  • hang up mirror and art
  • style the space with towels and greenery

The remaining items on my to-do list seem lengthy but it’s a lot of small jobs and I’m so excited to finish up this powder room, motivation will be driving me to get this done!

Budget so far….

4 new bar pulls for vanity ($4.79 each)

Chalk paint for vanity ($24.64 on sale!)

paint brush, roller and tray starter kit ($8.00)

counter top spray paint ($30.05)

curtain rod ($3.99)

I found a pre-made curtain valance for $10.99 at target so I purchased that instead of making my own but I want to try this DIY valance by 12 devonshire in my family room!

95.84 is the total spent!! Maybe I can find a cheap greenery piece at the dollar store!

Be sure to check out the other bloggers participating in the $100 room challenge…


Every time I pop into my powder room I just can’t get over the difference already – so I cannot wait to get this makeover done !

Next week is the room reveal….so exciting!

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HOME STAGING

Staging tips for Selling your Home in the Fall Months

staging-tips-for-selling-your-home-in

It is now mid-September, soon we will have had frost warnings, the leaves on trees are turning colour and falling, and fireplaces will soon find themselves useful. While most of us are excited for this amazing season, people in the real estate are preparing themselves because once the cold sets in, the number of buyers out there will start to sink.

While you still have time to prepare for the cold season, don’t waste these days and take advantage before the winter season sets in. Remember that no one would want to go home shopping when it’s freezing cold and everything is covered in snow!

One of the essential strategies to get a sale before the holidays is home staging, regardless if you’re using the help of a real estate agent or selling the house by yourself.

Here are a few tips to make your home look perfect this fall –

 

Maintain your yard

Rake leaves, trim bushes, and use seasonal flowers -Keep the house looking fresh! Always remember that the curb appeal is as important as the interior. It’s the first thing that your potential buyers will see. This about an inviting front door vignette with a wreath and maybe some pumpkins or a bench with some pillows.

Control back to school clutter

Back to school season can create clutter in your entry. Make sure to have a place for your backpacks, shoes and other items the kids need to grab before catching the bus. This can even give the new homeowners some great ideas too!

 

Keep it neat and simple

While Halloween and Thanksgiving are not religious specific, too much decorating can distract buyers. Remember less is more. This can be tough with children so don’t eliminate it completely but keep it subtle and stay away from the gore,  keep it cute and have it is specific areas and not every square inch of the house.

 

Use home decor that takes a cue from nature

Rather than ghosts, scary monsters or turkeys display pumpkins, hay and flowers. Nothing can scare away potential buyers like handmade scarecrows or frighteningly realistic gory Halloween decorations. A simple bowl of fresh apples or mini pumpkins as a dining centerpiece is simple but effective.  An empty corner that looks odd can easily be filled with a tall glass vases filled with tall sticks.  A door looks more welcoming when it is dressed up a bit too

 

 

Turn your fireplace on for showings to set the mood

A little warmth emanating from the fireplace evokes a welcoming atmosphere. A crackling fire says “welcome home”, as well as well-placed candles to complete that warm, snug room.  And in cooler months a fireplace will be on the minds of buyers, so make sure they can’t help but notice it!

 

Add pillows

Use furry throws pillows and texture in your home decor to create a cozy feel. Or, think about adding a splash of colour with pillows in fall inspired colours, warm colours can make any space look and feel inviting. Pillows are inexpensive additions to your home and knowing how to use them will surely bring a big difference.

 

The cinnamon effect

Remember to use candles, incense and other oils to infuse fall scents, like vanilla or apple cinnamon. No, you don’t need to bake a bunch of sugar cookies before the showing, but investing in a tasteful, subtle scented autumn candle will do just fine in eliciting that cozy feeling buyers want to experience when they walk into their future house.

 

Some simple fall decor ideas to stage your home for the season:

This wreath from Wayfair is a lovely addition to a front door or a front entry vignette – adding some seasonal colour and texture but still very simple.

Add a simple sign with a big message to your kitchen or fireplace mantle – this handmade sign from Roman Valley Farm is perfect!

An instant fall refresh to your living room with a set of 4 orange pillows – add some the sofa and accent chair (maybe even one on your bed)

Adding a landscape art piece is one of our home staging recommendations – it is calm and soothing and adds decor to the space.  This framed country side print from Minted is perfect for a living room or bedroom.

 

The fall is a beautiful time of year and buyers are still out there looking so be sure to take advantage of nature’s beauty and the feeling of the season to help sell your home!

 

 

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BATHROOMS, DIY

$100 room challenge: week 2 – powder room

100-room-challenge-week-2-powder-room

It is week 2 of this $100 room design challenge and let me tell you about the progress so far….

But first, let me bring you up to speed on the challenge –

I decided that my room that needed an update (that was over looked when we did some renos 6 years ago) is our powder room.  Our powder room like most other homes is a high traffic room with lots of visitors ranging from family to friends.  The room was dark brown with cabinets right out of the 1980’s (when our home was built) and some laminate counters.  With this challenge I decided to really focus on giving this powder room a fresh look with a bit of a farmhouse look.

Take a look at week 1 , HERE

BEFORE

 

BEFORE

Design challenge decisions…

I knew that this room needed paint – and pretty much everywhere. With a budget of only $100 I didn’t want to just spend that money on paint – this room needs so new decor accessories, maybe some towels too. Sticking to the budget and making a big change is really the premise of this design challenge. So for my wall colour –  I knew I had some paint from other painting projects in my house.  I had 2 cans of paint that were almost full – so I had to decide which of those two colours I liked best for the space.

Paint option #1 – Benjamin Moore ‘HUSH’ AF-95  This is a great warm neutral (my other 2 bathrooms are this colour, too) I’m not why I have almost a full can left but I did!

Paint option #2 – Benjamin Moore ‘JUTE’ AF-80 This is the colour seen in the main part of my home.  It’s a soft neutral a bit on the cooler side compared to HUSH.

I compared both colours in the powder room and decided on HUSH.  I like the warmth and the JUTE hue was looking a bit green and I’m really trying to downplay the green tones in my floor tile.

Now that my colour was selected, I was ready to start painting except I could not find my paint brushes ANYWHERE….I looked all over my house – the basement, the garage etc…no luck. So I had to buy some new brushes, I really did not want to spend any money from my budget on brushes but I really had no choice. I lucked out and found this great little ‘starter’ kit at Wal-Mart.  maybe not the best quality of brushes but this handy little kit had 2 rollers (one large, one small), a brush, drop cloth and the tray for $8.00

Time to get started on the challenge….

Paint colour is picked and now it’s time to start.  I wanted to get the paint colour on the walls first for a few reasons….1 – I wanted to see the colour on the walls since I was undecided on what colour I want to paint my vanity. 2 – The walls are the biggest painting job, so I wanted to get it out of the way.  3 – With the walls being so dark, I knew I needed to tackle those first as they would probably need the most paint and …4. I had the supplies on hand.

And so far, so good….

Already the difference is incredible…..

The first coat is done and I need another coat for sure but the difference is amazing.  The bathroom is SO much brighter and clean looking, too! My husband is loving it, too (usually he doesn’t say much when it comes to home decor)

Check out the other room makeovers in this challenge….


Next up…..

2nd coat of paint (possibly a third but only if necessary).

Painting of the vanity is next – I’m thinking a charcoal chalk paint….

Painting the counter tops (so excited to see how that turns out!!)

I like my vanity light and mirror – so those will stay …

I have some ‘new’ art from my sister (she always has decor stuff lying around…)

If my budget allows, I’m hoping to find some greenery (faux) to add some freshness to the bathroom

The budget so far is not blown so hopefully I can stay on track with the workload and budget…fingers crossed!

Let me know what you think of the change in my powder room so far….

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HOME DECOR, HOME TOUR

Home Tour : Champagne Avenue Condo

home-tour-champagne-condo

Take the home tour of this Champagne Avenue condo!

The condo …

It’s always fun to start with a blank canvas – the couple moving into this condo did not have any furniture – so we had a lot of planning to do and of course, a budget to work within. We had 2 bedrooms and an open concept living room space with a kitchen. The colour palette of this condo is a blend of white and shades of grey, so very ‘on trend’ and great neutrals to work with!

The look…

This space was a fun one that really challenged us – why? Well, the couple had a totally empty condo with some pretty contemporary finishes like the high gloss white kitchen, the grey glass tile back splash, all white walls, grey floors plus tons of huge windows.  But their style is more rustic meets industrial … they love reclaimed wood, Industrial lighting, lots of texture and not a lot of colour.  We had to bring all of these styles together in this small-ish space and although a blank canvas is fun it can be hard to know where exactly to start. We started with the master bedroom – not a huge room but it was a great place to start with the furniture and of course the styling. And once we had the look of that bedroom we used that inspiration to move into the main living space….

The secondary bedroom is a smaller room and since they didn’t need another full-time bedroom, we turned this room into a small work space / den to be used if they needed some quiet space to work or extra room to host over night guests.

 

Take the condo tour….

To blend the more contemporary finishes with the tastes of the new owners we decided to work with neutrals as our colour palette and add lots of textures that would create contrast – that way there is ‘common thread’ with the colour palette and introducing the rustic and industrial elements with texture.

We added lots of galvanized metal detail like the kitchen counter height stools.  The coffee table is a painted metal piece, metal antlers and the metal frames on those round mirrors in the master bedroom. We also added textures like rope and reclaimed wood.

You will notice that we angled the rugs in both the living room and den – these rooms are a bit on the long side so by angling the rugs the room appears a bit wider and not just long.  We played with with wall space as much as we could – we think art is a great way to show off your personality and style plus it helps pull a look together. We have some unique pieces in different sizes which keeps the space interesting.

So this is the secondary bedroom, since they didn’t need (or want) another fully dedicated bedroom in their condo – we needed to create a multi-purpose space that was still clean in design.  So we added a small work space – neither of them needed a full home office. And this pull out sofa is perfect for another seating space for reading and a private sleeping area for guests.  We added some poufs as foot stools instead of a coffee table – we didn’t need the bulk and we love the texture of these rope poufs! This art piece is huge and we love it! It really shows off the couple’s fun personality!

So this master bedroom, was where we started with the design….the leather headboard was a great deal and it’s super versatile.  We kept the room looking fresh and bright with the pin tuck white bedding, it’s adds some femininity to the space as well. We love these round mirrors with rope detail but wall space in this condo was pretty limited so we decided to add them on either side of the bed over the reclaimed wood night stands – they look great and they make the room look a bit bigger, too!

Shop the look ….

Love the rustic and simple design of these round mirrors from Wayfair with the rope detail (they are so easy to hang, too)

 

These rope poufs are great foot stools or extra seating when you need it! We love the texture of these poufs – they really work well with the industrial or rustic look.

These metal stools were just one of the metal details we added to the space.  These stools have an industrial look (they are pretty comfortable, too) and easy to store – you can stack them!

This all white pin-tuck duvet added another detail and a feminine touch to the masted bedroom – we love how it looks with contrasting textures like brick and reclaimed wood.

You absolutely mix styles and textures to create a space that is all yours – that’s what personal style is all about,

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SHOPPING FINDS, TRENDS

5 Best Scandinavian Rugs

scandinavian-rugs

Scandinavian Rugs…

If you have been following home decor trends no doubt you have come across Scandinavian inspired rugs.  Typically they are black and white and with some type of ‘tribal’ pattern.  The shapes and patterns look almost hand drawn. Many of these rugs have a shaggy texture adding to the character of this trend.

Photo credit : 79ideas.org

This hand woven rug is a great example of the Scandinavian rugs that are trending now.  These rugs add a bold pop of pattern in a space so for those of your that like a clean and minimal look but worry that it might be boring – this is a perfect option!

These rugs are versatile

Scandinavian inspired rugs also work well with industrial style – they are neutral, they add some texture and print into an industrial space plus the ‘hand drawn’ designs work with the imperfect nature of industrial style. The blend of minimal and clean Scandinavian style and the raw material industrial look have created a look known as Scandi-industrial

Photo credit : Kathy Kuo Home

Scandinavian rugs also work well with modern farmhouse – the subtle and neutral designs add visual interest to this farmhouse look –  we used a Scandinavian inspired rug in one of our recent model home designs – we love the subtle and soft pattern in the space.  The mix of textures and patterns in this room make this space interesting and deep.

Shop Scandinavian Rugs…

Love the look of these neutral pattern rugs? So do we! Here are some of our favourite Scandinavian inspired rugs …

This rug is a great find on amazon – we love the black and white motif and the pattern is visually interesting and has a ‘tribal’ inspired feel.

This rug is very similar to the one we used in our recent model home project.  This pattern is very subtle and the cool combination of grey and white is very one trend.

This rug is a great deal on Amazon (8 x 10 for under $300!) – has a bit more contrast with the ivory and charcoal tone and the pattern is so unique -which is why we love it!

More black and white …. the diamond pattern is popular in these Scandinavian rugs and this one has some amazing shaggy textures which brings some texture to the room.

This rug has such a unique pattern (imagine this paired with some reclaimed wood) – it’s like art on the floor!

We love what area rugs can do for a room…don’t you?

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