Guest Bloggers, OUR FAVOURITES

The 5 Best Houseplants to Grow Indoors

5-best-houseplants-grow-indoors

We are so thrilled to welcome our Guest Blogger – Marnie Bennett!

Houseplants are a great way to improve the look of any room in your home. They add a bit of nature to your indoor space and can make a room feel warm and inviting. There are also health benefits to incorporating plants into your house; they can remove toxins from the air and help protect you against allergens. If you’re a recent first-time home buyer or live in a condo in a busy Ottawa neighbourhood, you may not have the time or adequate space to grow an entire outdoor garden.

In this case, houseplants are a nice alternative. They allow you to satisfy your green thumb and still explore the benefits of home gardening without demanding all of your free time. These five plants are ideal for smaller spaces like apartments and condos where natural sunlight is often limited. They are hardy and difficult to kill which is perfect if you don’t have the time to care for a large outdoor garden or if you are new to home gardening and aren’t quite sure where to start.

  1. ZZ plant-

     

    The ZZ plant is a great choice if your new Ottawa condo doesn’t get a lot of sunlight. It can thrive in indirect light and only needs to be watered three times a month. It grows slowly so you don’t have to worry about it claiming a space for its own. It doesn’t attract pests which is a concern for a lot of first-time home buyers; after finally establishing yourself as a homeowner, the last thing you want is for pests to move in with you! The ZZ plant is stylish and exotic looking with beautiful glossy green leaves that will brighten up any room in your house.

  2. Snake Plant –

    The snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is a very popular plant for those who have the tendency to unwillingly neglect their indoor plants. These plants are extremely tolerant and forgiving. Snake plants do best in the sun, but they can also survive quite well in the shade. They need to be watered every two weeks and prefer under-watering to over-watering. Many people choose this plant for its sculptural appearance and long, green leaves. As an added bonus, the snake plant converts CO2 at night so it’s the ideal plant for a bedroom. It has other health benefits as well such as removing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the air.

  3. Pothos –

    Many first-time homebuyers who quickly realize they have a less-than-green thumb opt for the pothos plant, also known as Devil’s Ivy. It is easy to care for and adds a warm, welcoming touch to any room. It is also adept at purifying the air from harmful toxins. It can thrive in low light and does well with a weekly watering. Pothos plants are ideal for hanging because they are a trailing vine that can grow up to six feet indoors. However, you can prune it to your desired length and shape if you prefer a smaller, more robust-looking plant. It adds a beautiful touch of lush greenery to your home and can be a great accent piece to your new Ottawa condo or house.

  4. Lucky Bamboo –

    According to Feng Shui advocates, a lucky bamboo plant has the power to bring peace, strength, and luck into a home (a great combination for first-time home buyers!). It’s an inexpensive plant and very easy to care for. It prefers low light or shade and you simply have to change the water once every two weeks for it to survive. If you notice the leaves losing their vibrant green colour, it may be getting too much sunlight. It adds a modern look to your house and an element of architectural design. With all of these benefits plus the power to remove negative energy from your home, the lucky bamboo plant is the perfect choice to explore your interest in home gardening.

  5. Peace Lily –

    If you want some flowers mixed in with your foliage, consider adding a peace lily plant to your home. This plant has long, dark leaves and elegant white flowers. Its compact size is a perfect fit for small spaces and it doesn’t require too much sun. If its leaves turn yellow, it’s best to move it farther away from the window. It also doesn’t need to be watered frequently and it will tell you when it needs re-hydration by bending its leaves downward. With its ability to purify the air, the peace lily plant is another great option for improving indoor air quality.

    With all of these great options, there’s no reason why you can’t cultivate a home garden in your new house. Even if you don’t have the space, time, or expertise to grow an outdoor garden, you can enjoy all of the benefits of adding greenery to your home with some hardy indoor plants.

    Have fun experimenting and enjoy your new indoor garden!

    Read more of Marnie’s blog here

SHOP PLANTS, POTS AND PLANTERS….

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INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS, OUR FAVOURITES

Connect the Dots – Decorating with Polka Dots!

connect-dots-decorating-polka-dots

We love a Polka Dot print! Polka Dots are a fun print to decorate with – they add a touch of whimsy and a bit of a retro vibe to a space.

What’s the History of the Polka Dot?

The Polka Dot is a print that really became popular in the US in the mid 1920s.  America’s love affair with the polka dot began, perhaps, in 1926, when Miss America was photographed in a polka dot swimsuit. Shortly after, in 1928, Disney introduced its cartoon darling Minnie Mouse wearing a red polka dot dress and matching bow. Throughout the 1930s, polka dot dresses appeared in stores, the fabric suddenly subversive, nipped in by ribbons and accentuated with bows. In the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe was famously photographed in a polka dot bikini. And of course, the famous 1960’s hit song “Itsy Bitsy Polka Dot Bikini“.

 

 

The Polka Dot pattern is a series of circles that are evenly spaced and of the same size.  A spot print isn’t necessarily consistent in spacing or size

The Polka Dot definitely has a retro feel but also a feminine one.  The Polka Dot has mostly been used in women’s fashion but it definitely makes a statement in home decor.

Ways to decorate with Polka Dots

A nursery –

we love the fun and whimsy that polka dots add to a bedroom.  We love this accent wall – it really adds visual interest to the room without using old colour and this can easily transition into a toddler room (and a little girl’s room and a teenagers bedroom)

 

Polka Dot Furniture –

try re-upholstering a simple piece of furniture with a polka dot fabric – this will add a fun element into any room and it will turn a simple piece into a statement piece.  It’s a great addition to any room! This chair is an example of a spot print but isn’t it great?!

 

 

Polka Dot drapery and window treatments –

we love a patterned window treatment – it adds a nice contrast to the room against a solid wall and it’s a perfect addition to a room that doesn’t have wall space for art!

 

 

Polka Dot Pillows –

A polka dot pillow is another great way to keep a room from looking too serious.  Polka dot prints comes in all colours – so you have a lot of options! We love different sizes and scales of polka dot prints,  too. Plus polka dots are fun to mix with other prints!

 

Polka Dots in the bedroom –

Polka dot bedding can be used in so many ways on a bed.  Just the pillows, bed sheets or the duvet cover.  Mixing the polka dots with solids and other prints makes any bedroom unique.  We love this bed set in white and gold with polka dots and stripes.

 

 

There are so many fun ways to decorate with this retro print – which is your favourite?

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KITCHENS, TRENDS

Kitchen Design Trends for 2017

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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INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS, OUR FAVOURITES

My 5 Favourite Paint Colours (Right now….)

5-favourite-paint-colours-right-now

If you have been reading our blog (thank you!) you have noticed that I have recently posted some amazing before and after photos of a paint transformation.  The right paint colour truly make a huge difference! 

Paint is your backdrop, your canvas and with paint you can really set the tone for your decor style.  Like all designers and decorators I definitely have our favourite paint colours but it really does depend on your light, existing finishes and the mood you want to set .  I want to share with you our 5 favourite paint colours (and in no particular order)

Here are my 5 favourite paint colours (right now)…

#1. Paint – Classic Gray:

Benjamin Moore ‘Classic Gray’ is a soft and light grey tone .  It is on the warm side. It is a favourite of mine – I have used it with my investment clients – to give their rental properties a current and fresh look but still bright and clean.  I am also using this in one of our ‘sample board’ projects for a townhome community in the city!

This stunning living room, designed by Studio McGee, is a great example of ‘Classic Gray’ walls – see how light and warm it is! Even Jillian Harris did a Home tour video of the home she just sold as was talking about her love of Benjamin Moore’s ‘Classic Gray’. These 2 amazing designers can’t be wrong!

#2. Paint – Stonington Gray:

Benjamin Moore’s ‘Stonington Gray’ This is a true grey tone that I have used a number of times. It’s a medium tone grey that looks great in space where you want to add just a touch a depth. It’s still very fresh and clean looking too! It’s from the Historical collection and works nicely with exteriors too. Take the tour of the Stittsville Walk model home and see how I used Stonington Grey in this space. 

Stonington Gray looks great in this eat-in kitchen space! It makes the space look fresh and current and with all the big windows and natural light this colour adds depth without making the space feel dark. The white light shade, trim and chairs are a nice contrast to the grey wall paint.

#3. Paint – Swiss Coffee:

Benjamin Moore’s ‘Swiss Coffee‘ not a new colour but a new favourite of mine! It’s rich and creamy warm white and it’s amazing with the whole Farmhouse style.  It’s so clean and crisp and looks great as a canvas for artwork and other decor pieces. I am using this in a model that I am working on right now – that’s launching in early June (stay tuned…)

This living room designed by Onekindesign.com – it’s incredible!! So now that you have taken in the beauty of this room, here’s why we love this paint colour.  It really allows the other elements in the room to be the star and it pulls everything together. The wood and the stone really stand out and give the room a big WOW factor but that paint compliments and adds a subtle warmth to the room.

#4. Paint – Revere Pewter:

Benjamin Moore’s ‘Revere Pewter’  This is another paint colour from the Benjamin Moore Historical collection.  This is a great colour for anyone who is a bit hesitant to jump into a gray paint colour.  This is more a member of the taupe family or a warm grey.

You can see here, in the image above, how soft, neutral and warmth this paint colour is! It’s enough pigment on the walls but not too deep or intense.  It is a great neutral taupe-y tone without any yellow under tones. It’s great for gender neutral space or even a boy’s bedroom – you can all the accessories and colours you want and they will work!

#5. Paint – Wedgewood gray:

Benjamin Moore’s ‘Wedgewood gray’ is a beautiful shade of blue.  Typically I am a big fan of neutral walls but if I had to pick a colour it would be something in a shade of blue. This is a great colour for certain areas of the home that you want to bring colour into with art and accessories so for instance a mudroom or front entry. There’s usually a lot of trim, flooring and other hard textures, so a bit of colour on the wall breaks it up a bit.

So here’s an entry painted out in Wedgewood Gray – it’s such a fresh and clean colour.  The white trim and wall paneling really pop too.  The hall tree is painted in Kendall Charcoal – both Benjamin Moore colours – it’s a great colour combination with the white and blue.

So these are my 5 favourite paint colours right now….what do you think?

SHOP FARMHOUSE FAVOURITES …

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HOME STAGING

Does Home Staging Really Make a Difference?

home-staging-really-make-difference

Home Staging ….we have all seen it on the TV shows and heard our realtor friends and family talk about home staging!

What is Home Staging and does it really work?

I’ve been staging homes for for about 10 years, and yes – it really does work!

The concept seems strange and I still have people ask for clarification….”So the furniture that was there is removed and then you move furniture back in?” In a nutshell, yes but there is much more involved than just furniture. Cleaning, de-cluttering, repairs, updates, de-personalizing and then the staging / styling – it’s all a part of the process!

 

Home Staging is all about the present the home in it’s best light and setting the scene to attract the buyer. Home staging involves a number of steps to get the property looking it’s best and every house has different needs. Many think that a vacant home allows buyers to see how big the space is, how they can use it and visualize how they want to paint, furnish etc…

 

 

When we stage homes, we also get some ideas from the realtor about the buying demographic and target group – this really help us find a focus for the decor style, colours and also staging the property with the lifestyle in mind.  A young newlywed couple would live differently that a busy family of 4 or 5! So we take that into consideration.

But that’s not the case – an empty home looks cold and uninviting plus it doesn’t present well in photographs, which is how most buyers will see their home for the first time.  Buying a home is an emotional experience – the buyers connect with the home and an empty one is just that, empty and you can’t connect with empty!

So this is what Home Staging does…

Home Staging is about setting the scene so buyers can visualize living in their dream home.  They can see how you can live in the space. The furniture and styling add warmth and help plant ideas of lifestyle and usability of the space and layout. The proper scale and amount of furniture balance out the room and allow buyers to ‘mentally move-in’. 

 

 

Can you believe this is the same room?

This before and after is incredible (photos above).  We did a few things to make this home look it’s best.  For starters, take a look at the drapery.  That heavy espresso brown panel drapery was replaced with some much lighter – look at the difference in the room – it looks open, bright and airy!  We also moved the fireplace (it was an electrical fireplace, so it could be moved). The original placement made the room look long and skinny (almost like a hallway). By moving the fireplace, we have created two spaces.  A living room with fireplace and potentially a wall mount TV and the other end of the room, we staged as a seating area for reading and a small work space.We were careful to pick furniture that was of the correct size and scale. We kept the tones light and airy (see that pop of yellow, a staging favourite).  We have some simple accessories that really complete the look and add warmth to the space.  The art, pillows, plant…they all make a difference in the presentation.

 

                   

 

Home staging sets you apart from the rest.

When your home looks good , buyers (and their agents) take notice! We had a recent property sell in under a week for more than asking (and they weren’t in a multiple offer situation).  The agent said to the buyers “give them an offer they can’t refuse, or you will lose this house”. So they did! Good looking properties look great in photos, these photos are seeing online, then the showings start to happen, lots of showing traffic means good (some times many) strong offers and next thing you know – your house is sold.

Home staging is a MUST – Home staging gets properties SOLD!

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INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS

How Paint Transforms A Room

paint-transforms-room

Paint really transforms any space! when you have been living in your home for some time you really to get used to your surroundings  and often you don’t even notice your space anymore. When we meet home staging and interior decorating clients – we always bring up, paint! Why? Well paint can totally and completely transform the look of any room. 

Paint can do so much for a space – make it appear – brighter, bigger, cleaner and fresher! Undertaking the job yourself can be a bit daunting so don’t hesitate to contact a professional painter…it will certainly save you time and you will love the results.

Let us tell you about a recent paint transformation…

Our client moved to a new city and a new part of the country – her husband had a new job and her kids were starting at new schools.  they didn’t know anyone and they had a lot on their plate.  They moved from a new build open concept, classic contemporary home into a much older, more traditional and slightly dated home. 

She did her best (and a good job) setting up their space but she knew the house needed something.  That’s when we entered her life!

Our first suggestion was paint! Why? To get the fresh and more modern look she craved, the gold yellow sunflower walls weren’t working.

We worked with the furniture pieces and her art pieces along with the natural light to find the best paint colours for her. 

Check out the difference paint can make!

 

So what did we do?

There are only a few changes in this room but what a difference! Paint was the big change…We selected an accent wall for the fireplace – Sherwin Williams ‘ Acier’ and the rest of the house (you can see the dining room to the left) in Sherwin-Williams ‘Mindful Gray’

 

                 

We also swapped out the old and more traditional looking lamp shades for some simple white drum shades.  You may not have noticed this subtle change but take another look – the shades are brighter and so much fresher.

We also played around with the art placement and looked through the pieces that she had still packed. 

We also sourced out some new and more current wall sconces, again ones with those fresh and bright white shades!

We would say this room has come a long way! We are still working on some accessories but already this room (and this house) looks so much fresher and cleaner.

A little paint can go a long way…

 
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LIGHTING, OUR FAVOURITES, TRENDS

Our favourite : Industrial Lighting

favourite-industrial-lighting

I love the look of Industrial Lighting! There is a certain authenticity to it and a simplicity, too! I love how Industrial lighting transforms the look of a space and it adds instant cool factor! Plus you can really merge it with so many other styles – it’s pretty versatile!

I have to share with you this amazing Industrial light fixture – we installed in my brother’s house – it’s fantastic! When I first showed it to him, he had his doubts but then he realized that he trusts me and I would never lead him astray. And of course, he’s getting tons of compliments….

 

So this light fixture is basically so black electrical wire that you ‘swag’ on the ceiling and you add you bulbs – that’s it! You can play around with the placement of the small hooks on the ceiling and the length of the hanging wire.  And the light comes in different sizes too (more wires and therefore more bulbs in the larger version). We played around with some vintage light bulbs – it’s hard to tell in this photo but we have 3 different shapes of vintage bulbs and we installed them at random (which is bit tougher than you would think as we naturally opt for a pattern). The vintage bulbs really add more character to the industrial look.

If you love this Industrial Light fixture as much as we do – you can buy one for under $100! Click HERE

Here are some more of our favourite Industrial Light Fixtures for under $100.00

This Industrial Pendant light with rope detail is simple yet still interesting. This would add a great industrial touch to a kitchen island.

So this is just like my brother’s light fixture in his living room.  He doesn’t have a dining light fixture which is why we did a WOW statement light fixture in his living room.  This unique piece would be amazing in a living room, dining room or even a bedroom. I love it with the vintage bulbs!

 

We are seeing some great merging of Industrial with mid century modern design.  This sputnik light fixture in the gunmetal finish with vintage bulbs works well in a modern space or an Industrial one. This looks amazing in a dining room.

This looks like Industrial lighting you might see on a construction site or old warehouse – well that’s the idea! This 5 pendant chandelier with vintage bulbs adds character and a ‘loft look’ to any space.

This is my absolute hands-down favourite Industrial Pendant light – it’s perfect and so transitional! I love the simplicity of this fixture – you can appreciate the glass but also the vintage light bulb. Love how these look over a kitchen island (and the price is incredible!)

Simple, metal sphere with one vintage bulb is a perfect example of industrial lighting! This would add a ton of rustic and industrial character to a kitchen . This pendant is a great example of industrial lighting.

Industrial lighting can really add so much character to your home decor and it works with so many different styles.

Lighting fixtures totally transform the look of any room….

 

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HOME STAGING, WE ANSWER WEDNESDAY

Home Staging Advice

home-staging-advice

“I’m in need of some Home Staging Advice. I know I need to stage my home but where do I start and what do I need to do?”

Home Staging Advice is my speciality! I love staging homes and I love helping sellers get their home ready for the resale market.  It’s amazing to hear everyone’s Home Staging success stories!

When it comes to home staging every property has different needs but the basics that you need to address are the same. Your relationship with your real estate agent (if you are using one) is also really important.  You want to make sure that your agent understands your competition in the market place and that your home is positioned in a competitive way.

 

My Home Staging Advice is to address theses 7 basics:

  1. CLEAN AND DECLUTTER
  2. MAINTAIN
  3. REPAIR
  4. DE-PERSONALIZE
  5. NEUTRAL
  6. UPDATE
  7. STYLE

Start at the top of this list and work your way down.

Let’s start with Clean and Declutter –

Give the house a really good up and down thorough cleaning.  This is a good start.  A clean house feels amazing and everyone loves the feeling of a clean house.  You can do this yourself or hire a professional.  But this is a must! Go through all of your junk – old clothes, old boxes of random things, books and more….unload what you no longer need – this will lighten up the feeling in your space (and your mind, too – clutter is a source of stress), make moving easier and less expensive and the overall look of your home and storage spaces will improve (buyers are looking for storage so you don’t want the closets to be chaotic!)

 

Maintain

This is important because a maintained house is a house that has been cared for. When a house is cared for buyers sense that and they have some real peace of mind. So start with small things like leaky faucets, loose door knobs, burnt out light bulbs….Go through your house (or ask a close friend or a professional home stager) with a fine tooth comb and tackle those details!

Repair

So this falls under the same umbrella as ‘maintain’ but this is for larger issues like a broken appliance, a cracked floor tile, electrical outlets that don’t work.  A home in disrepair tells buyers that this home is a mess and needs attention (and if there is an offer, it won’t be a good one). So be sure to take on those repairs before hitting the real estate market!

De-personalize

By removing your personal items, memorabilia and style from the house – this really allows buyers to ‘mentally move in’.  You will be taking your personal items like family photos, religious pieces and collectables with you anyway…so think of this as a pre-pack. You don’t want buyers to feel like visitors during a private viewing or open house, you want them to feel at home.

Neutral

This is closely connected to De-personalizing the space.  When we move into our home we get creative with colours, wall paper and other decorative elements but when it comes to home staging you really need to tone that all down and go neutral. Especially on the walls! Paint makes a huge impact on the look (and feel of a house) so a fresh paint job in a neutral tone is a great idea (and a good investment).

 

Update

Please don’t be thrown off by this….update doesn’t mean renovate. Small updates can make a whole home feel fresh and new again. How many updates and what you update- well that’s a conversation to have with your real estate agent. Remember what we said about being competitive? Your real estate agent can let you know what your competition is offering in the price point, so certain updates may or may not being worth it. Changing up light fixtures can make a huge difference in a home, new hardware in the kitchen and bathrooms, new carpet (or professionally cleaned carpet), stone counter tops….be sure to have a chat with your agent so you are competitive!

Style

This is a the pretty part and it makes a huge difference it how the house present in your photos. A house without any style or decoration just looks sad. You want your buyers to feel happy when they are walking in the property. So proper scale and positioning of furniture is important and then add a little something.  For some of my favourite Home Staging props, Click here.  But add some accent pillows to the sofa (new ones that you can use at your new place!), a few decor items on coffee tables and/ or fireplace mantle, art and fresh flowers and/ or bowl of fruit.  And be sure to always make the bed.  You don’t need all new furniture or decorative accents to make your home look it’s best, just follow our home staging advice.

 

Remember that home buying is an emotional experience so make buyers feel at home and at ease. Let them mentally move-in … Home Staging shows off the potential of the home and helps your property stand out from the rest. A staged home never sits for long! 

Good luck,

 


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TRENDS

What is ‘Shibori’?

what-is-shibori

Shibori – have you heard this term before? Do you know what it is? If you haven’t, don’t worry…you are not alone. But if you are paying attention to home decor trends you will be seeing a lot of Shibori very soon!

So what is Shibori?

Well it is a Japanese dyeing technique that involves folding. twisting, bunching and pleating cloth, binding it and then dipping it in indigo. Usually the cloth is a natural fiber like cotton, hem or even silk. Basically it is a form of tie-dye that results in these amazing and totally unique blue and white prints – so stunning! There are countless patterns that you can create – so each and every Shibori design is complete one-of-a-kind!

Shibori seems to be having a bit of a moment…

Right now Shibori is a bit of a trend.  In my opinion, the reason for this is that the blue and white motif is a classic and it’s not going ‘out’ anytime soon but this technique makes these incredible patterns perfect for summer – they have a relaxed feel and look so perfect for outdoor patio pieces. And with summer right around the corner – we all have the carefree summer days and night on our minds….We love shibori for pillows or throws but you could get really adventurous and use it for upholstery fabric.

 

Shibori works well with the ‘beach’ look….

Because of the blue and white tones and the free spirited pattern of this technique every piece is completely different and no two are identical so Shibori really pairs well with other natural materials like sisal and driftwood – there’s a common organic thread with this tie-dye technique and nature. We love it in a space that has a nautical or coastal feel – it plays well with that theme without being literal.

 

Perfect for the DIY-er….

If you love to create and love this technique, with the right materials you can create your own Shibori designs.

Click HERE for a great and easy to follow step-by-step Shibori DIY that demonstrates 4 different designs.

 

What do you think of Shibori? Do you see yourself using this anywhere in your home? Personally I love it for my patio – it’s fresh and fun just like the summer!

 

 

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INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS, WE ANSWER WEDNESDAY

We Answer Wednesday – What is Chalk Paint?

answer-wednesday-chalk-paint

“What is chalk paint? I have heard people talking about it. “

Yes – chalk paint is a term we are hearing a lot …so here are the details.

What is Chalk paint?

Chalk paint is an actual brand of paint – Annie Sloan has trademarked the brand (but there are other similar paints by other companies). But it is a paint used mostly on furniture.  The paint has a flat and chalk like finish and is used to create an aged finish on furniture pieces.  Plus you can distress the finish as well (very easily).

With the popularity of the Farmhouse look in home decor – chalk paint is being used a lot. To update great garage sale finds or transform pieces to give them a rustic, shabby chic or country look. Don’t you just love the charm that the chalk like finish adds to decor pieces and furniture?

Get creative with Chalk Paint:

Frames:

Chalk painting your photo frames or even old frames that you often see at yard sales or online – look so chippy and vintage with a spot of chalk paint.  These look great in a gallery wall

Storage furniture:

Adding chalk paint to a large piece of furniture transforms the look of the room.  This dresser looks aged and adds a romantic look and feel in the bedroom.

Vases:

Trying painting your mason jars . This is a great idea for a center piece, spring decor, weddings and Easter – the finish of the paint and the tones are perfect for the spring season!

Chairs:

I love these chairs – they look like an old vintage find from an old cafe and that robin’s egg blue really adds some personality in the space.

Chalk paint allows for you to get create with some old furniture items, garage sale finds or just updating your space! We all know what a difference fresh paint can make in a space so why not try something new!

It’s only paint…

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