interior decorating advice Archives

7 Tips to Protect Your Beautiful Home Interior

November 26, 2020

You’ve put a lot of time, effort, and creativity into creating a beautiful designer-style home interior. Just looking at the results gives you a good feeling, but now that interior decor has to stand up to its greatest test: the rough-and tumble of daily life. Keep it gorgeous for longer with these handy hints and tips.

1. Take Precautions Against Plumbing Mishaps

Running water is a wonderful thing – but not when it’s running through the ceiling and all over your stunning decor. Burst water pipes and water heater disasters can all-too easily turn your home into a flood zone causing untold damage to furniture, ceiling boards, and paint finishes. All in all, it’s best to avoid the nightmare altogether. In the first place, get expert advice on preventing burst pipes in your home. Even so, accidents can happen. If they do, it’s worth being aware that water damage restoration experts are out there. Call for help and see what can be saved or restored.

2. Protect Upholstery and Carpets From Mishaps

From careless kids to errant pets and those butterfingers moments when that glass of red wine slips through your fingers, it is possible to protect your carpets and upholstery from mishaps, thrills, and spills. Knowing that little accidents can be easily cleaned up will be a big stress-saver. When it comes to stain protection, Scotchguard is the big name that everyone knows and trusts – this is no sales pitch, but it has to be said. If you can find a good alternative, feel free! Either way, being able to relax and laugh off little slips that would otherwise cause costly damage is a plus that will make your and your family’s home life pleasanter.

3. Ensure that Wood Finishes Can’t Get Water Marks

If you feel the need to rush around with coasters before anyone rests a cup or glass on a wood surface, it’s time to think about protecting wood so that it can’t get unsightly water marks even when there’s an unnoticed spill. You don’t need to spoil that warm finish – it’s just a matter of finding the right product to repel moisture so that you and your guests can relax. There are plenty of options on the market. Enquire at your local hardware store, or look online to see what your options are.

4. Protect Walls From Scuffs and Scrapes

Presumably, you’ve taken the precaution of using high-quality wall-coatings that allow you to wash away the occasional grubby fingermark – but scuffs and scrapes are another matter. From bed headboards to doors that bang against walls when carelessly opened, it’s easy to spot the areas that are vulnerable. Protecting your interior wall finishes and maintaining those carefully chosen paint colors could be as easy as installing rubber stoppers in the right places. Look for possible problems areas and prevent damage before it can happen.

5. Invest In Sun Protection

Natural light is glorious, but the direct rays of the sun can fade fabrics and damage artworks faster than you might imagine. Keeping drapes closed spoils the feeling of airiness and freedom you get from having big windows that let the light shine in. Fortunately, there are many more ways to protect interiors against sun damage. These range from film coatings for windows to exterior awnings that let in the light but not the sunshine. While protecting your decor, they will also help to reduce your summer cooling bills.

Do you need this kind of protection? Pay extra attention to South-facing windows (or, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, North-facing windows) and see whether the sun’s rays pose a risk to the longevity of your interior decor investment.

6. Maintain Leather

Light-colored leather makes a great style statement, but it can stain quite easily. Once again, your answer lies in choosing the right products. Look out for leather furniture waxes and conditioners that help leather to shrug off stains. It’s not just a matter of spills. The dye from denim or the natural oils of skin and hair resting against surfaces can create ugly, dark marks. Choosing darker coloured leather helps, but if you’ve gone for light shades, do keep your preventative maintenance schedule up.

7. Hello Kitty

Most of the time, cats don’t actually damage furniture – but if they take to claw-sharpening on the corner of your expensive couch, the harmony between you and your feline companion will be short-lived. Scratching posts offer an alternative, but cats don’t necessarily feel the need to think the way we do. There are ways to train cats not to scratch furniture, but while you’re working on it, you might want to consider unobtrusive couch corner protectors or thick throws to protect that upholstery.

Nothing Lasts Forever: When it’s Time to Freshen Up your Interior

You’ll know when it’s time to freshen up, but do check out ways to refresh or restore items that are starting to look a little tired. In many instances, it is possible to give good quality furnishings a new lease of life. Consider doing a few simple repairs even if you want a complete change. The resale value of your furniture will be much better if it isn’t looking too tired – and the proceeds can go towards your next decorating project.

SHOP HOME DECOR NEUTRALS….

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7 secrets from an interior designer

May 20, 2020

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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HOME STYLING, INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS

What is e-decor?

July 15, 2017

So what is our e-decor service?

E-decor is an interior design service that we offer for clients who love our style but don’t live in our area or clients who don’t mind doing the leg work but don’t know where to start. The beauty of this service is you don’t need to live near by, we source items that you can purchase online and have delivered to your door and you can move at your pace as your timeline and budget allow…

How does the e-decor service work?

Our e-decor service is so easy! First, we do need to know which room or rooms you want to design and decorate, we love to know a bit more about your taste and style (sending us photos of rooms you like is perfect!), we need a rough budget to work with (we all have a budget and we believe that style doesn’t come with a price tag), photos and dimensions of your room(s) (in the case of a property under construction, a floor plan is perfect), and we also want to know what purpose you want the rooms to serve, for example – TV room, guest bedroom / home office etc…

Next, we prepare a quote for you and once approved we get started! Depending on the size of the project this could take anywhere from 2-4 weeks. We send you a vision board with the furniture, art and accessories – you have the opportunity to then critique and we make the changes to produce the final concept. We also provide a sketch with furniture placement and a series of styling tips (for example art placement)

E-decor is perfect for someone moving into a new home or space, some one who is short on time and someone who wants a designer space but doesn’t know where to start. E-decor is a great gift too! We love to work with clients and make their spaces come to life so they can enjoy life and their space without the stress that can come with it!

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INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS, OUR FAVOURITES

Connect the Dots – Decorating with Polka Dots!

April 20, 2017

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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INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS

How Paint Transforms A Room

April 6, 2017

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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OUR FAVOURITES, WE ANSWER WEDNESDAY

We Answer Wednesday – 6 Best White Paint Colour for Trim

January 11, 2017

“My house needs a fresh paint job. I feel good about picking a wall colour but do you have any suggestions for the perfect white trim paint colour?”

You are so right, picking the right white can be tricky. The look of a fresh coat of paint is spectacular and painting that trim really completes the feel. But like every other colour – there are many whites to choose from. Not knowing which paint colour you will choose, your safest best is you use a pure and true white tone, you can’t go wrong with that. We have a few favourites to share with you.

Simply White by Benjamin Moore – this was BM colour of the year for 2016.

Cloud White by Benjamin Moore – this is a designer (and painter) go-to.

Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore -just like the name, it is a decorator’s (and painter’s) favourite. It’s clean and crisp.

Ultra Pure White by BEHR – so clean and so crisp -this is one of the purest whites you will see.

Extra White by Sherwin-Williams – a great white trim choice, bright white!

All White by Farrow & Ball – a perfect white

Other trim painting tips:

Caulking – be sure that before you start painting that trim to caulk any gaps

Order – paint the trim first and then the walls

Finish – be sure to use a semi-gloss when it comes to choosing a finish for your trim. A semi-gloss adds even more brightness but also when it comes to cleaning, the dust doesn’t stick!

I hope these tips and suggestions on finding the ‘perfect’ shade of white work for you,

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HOME DECOR, INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS

How To Update My Dining room

June 24, 2015

“I know my dining room is in need of an update. I do have a beautiful wood table with matching chairs that my husband would just die if I threw out or painted!! Any ideas how I could update my dining room and include my furniture?”

A great question for a common dilemma. Many down sizers go through this exact same issue. What to keep, what to toss, what to donate….you want a current look in your space but your existing pieces were expensive, high quality, in good condition – what to do?

Well, you do have a number of options that won’t involve altering your wood furniture.

An all wood furniture set can make a room feel dark and heavy especially if you do not have much light in the room. So how about brightening up the space with colour and light? Try updating your chandelier for a more current look and more light. A great, versatile option is a lantern style – it works with traditional furniture and farmhouse styles but it can also transtion well with other styles too.

You can also add light with table lamps on your buffet piece. Look for shades that will allow light through – white, cream or beige are best. We also like these table lamps that have a traditional vase shape but in glass so they don’t add bulk.

If you have a china cabinet that you don’t want to part with or separate – try wall sconces for additional light. They won’t add an abundance of light but they will help with mood lighting for dinner parties. This images shows off sconces with multiple heads flanking the china cabinet.

Mirrors are also great because they allow light to bounce around the room making the room feel brighter and larger. Mirrored furniture or accessories like decorative bowls, frames or vases can add some brightness to the room too. This image shows how the combination of mirrors and glass make a bulky piece look lighter.

Try switching up your wall paint. The colour on the walls could also make the room feel dark and heavy.
Wood furniture has a weight to it already so if it is in a smaller room without much light, the room will look dark so try lighter tones on the wall for a fresh update. Soft creams, beiges and greys are timeless and won’t take away from your furniture or art.

If that isn’t adventurous enough for you – you can certainly add colour on the walls just be sure to balance it out with some other lighter items. This dining room is a mix of classic traditional and contemporary elements. The dark wood furniture and floors and the navy wall paint together would normally be too dark but paired with the light beige upholstery and textiles, white trim and wainscoting, lighting and the decorative plate wall – there is the right amount of balance in this dramatic dining room.

Many wood furniture sets are lacking in ‘punch’ meaning they are very tone on tone. Lots of browns in the stains but often in the upholstery. Why not re-upholster your chairs for a fresh look? The possibilities are endless and it makes a huge impact without even touching the wood! We have done this with a number of clients and they love the look and the price point. It is way more cost effective and your set will look new!

You can opt for something neutral with a subtle pattern for some visual interest.

You can stay pretty neutral but then go bolder with captain’s chairs

Or make a statement with colour and pattern.

If you are really looking to make a big leap outside of the box, try some new chairs all together and opt for something modern to really update your space. This farmhouse dining room looks updated with these Eiffel dining chairs in cream – they fit with the colour scheme but they are totally unexpected. By adding modern chairs to a traditional table you get a more casual feel.

Other updates…..

Try adding some bold art – something big, bold and graphic really updates any space plus it is an easy addition. Look at arranging your current art collection in a modern gallery style.

Try an accent wall with wall paper. Another way to add visual interest to the room using pattern. We used to see rooms with wall to wall wallpaper and that can be overwhelming and even stuffy but just one wall is fabulous. We also love to see another statement piece like art, photography or a mirror hung on that accent wall.

Try a bold area rug. Make a statement on your floor with a bold area rug – it’s like art on the floor. This image shows how the area rug can be the centerpiece of a room – the colour scheme revolves around this rug. A classic colour combo but a big statement.

What ever you do make a plan. For instance if you decide you want to paint, re-upholster and add a new light fixture be sure those elements work cohesively that way the whole room update will look spectacular!

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INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS

Interior Decorating – Do’s and Don’ts

March 2, 2015

We all want our homes to look their best – so we have a list of the Do’s and Don’ts of Interior Decorating

Don’t: Use White Decor If You Have Kids or Pets

If you have pets or children, white rugs and upholstery are just not in the cards. People love the way they look but never realize that you have to hermetically seal your household to keep them clean.

Do: Find Inspiration in Your Travels

Travel as much as you can, and stay on the alert for inspiration wherever you go — you could find a great floor plan in a museum’s period room, or a color in a painting. And don’t just rely on your camera. If you draw something, you’ll really absorb the detail. Or just amazing pieces that you love, display them in an artful way – this is such a great way to show off your style and surround yourself with what you love. After all your home should reflect who you are and what you love.

Don’t: Forget About Seating

Today everyone likes rooms sparse, but for a living room, you need the sorts of chairs people can pull up together, so that they want to come into the room and sit down and chat. Think about pieces that can do double duty (especially for smaller spaces) like drum stools, cubes, ottomans – they can act as seating when needs or surface space, plus this is a great way to add colour and texture to the space.

Do: Use Dramatic Color in a Small Space

Color is best used in small spaces that you pass through. A dramatic color in a room where you’re going to be spending a lot of time might feel too heavy or dark, but if you use it in a foyer or pantry, it makes the whole house feel colorful. It also makes the house feel bigger, because it turns a space you might not notice into one that catches your attention. Plus if you are toying with the idea of bold colours in your home, a small room is a great place to start to see if you like it and can live with it…

Don’t: Be Afraid to Splurge on Great Pieces

Invest in one great-quality piece. It sometimes hurts in the beginning, but you end up having that piece forever, and it can really carry a room, or even an entire house.

Do: Test Paint Colors in a Big Way

When you test paint colors in a room, make big patches so that you can really see if you need to go darker or lighter, or if it is the right colour for that room depending on light and the other elements in the room like the flooring. Paint in the store can look completely different in your home and can look completely different room to room. Also take a look at the paint at different times of the day.

Don’t: Ignore Architectural Details

Respect the architecture of a space. That’s not to say you can’t be surprising — I might use period furniture in a modern room, but I’ll make sure the lines and silhouettes are appropriate. The whole room has to hang together.

Do: Trust Your Instincts

‘Be true to yourself, and trust your instincts.’ We all have different points of view — that’s what makes each of us special — and our rooms should be a reflection of that. But if something looks off, it probably is. We all have a natural inclination towards symmetry and balance

Don’t: Make a Room Too Formulaic

Start a room with a classic furniture layout that’s functional, then add in funky pieces to loosen it up, relax it, and keep it from feeling too formulaic. With the trend continuing toward open concept living in small spaces but with functional floor plans, it is important to have a cohesive look but add unexpected elements to make it fun and not formal.

Do: Draw the Eye With an Interesting Piece

A photographer I worked with taught me the importance of the axial view. When you’re looking down a corridor, you want a wonderful object at the end of it to draw you forward — a sculpture, a chandelier, anything to define the space and pull you in.

But what is always a do…DO incorporate the pieces you love and DON’T worry if they are ‘in style’ or ‘trending’ …always DO follow your decorating instinct!

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