Silver Room Design - Trends

2011-10-14T13:24:00.002-04:00

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Great idea, especially in chidren's rooms where their decor grows and changes as they do...

Toronto Gift Show

2011-02-03T14:10:00.007-05:00

Just back from the winter Gift Show hosted by the Canadian Gift & Tableware Association (CGTA) at the Toronto International Centre. With over 1,000 exhibitors and almost 17,000 retail buyers in attendance, it's Canada's largest, one-stop business buying event. Thank goodness for comfortable shoes! Featuring tons of great new home decor, tabletop, housewares, gourmet food, garden accessories, collectibles, stationery, bed and linen products, there is literally, something for everyone. Lots of fresh inspiration served daily at the show - and in line with fashion trends, it was so nice to see so much more colour this year, taking over the usual black and white, silver and bling schemes of past shows.

Special features of the show include the New Product Galleries show, showcasing everything from everyday essentials to trendy new products, the Kitchen Spotlight, a demo kitchen of new housewares and tabletop items, and Showcase Canada, a collection of Canadian designed and manufactured products. The show also offers business seminars and workshops hosted by industry experts. From business strategies and trade secrets, to merchandising tips for the upcoming season, it was great show all around.

Dazzled at the IDS

2011-02-01T22:19:00.002-05:00

The Interior Design Show (IDS) in Toronto has become one of the must-see events of the year. Running January 28th to January 30th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this year, it was buzzing with excitement. This design fair, intended for trade originally, but appealing to the masses, never disappoints, and this year being the 13th, was no exception. With a wide array of amazing local and international design personalities in attendance, and show-stopping design displays by local retailers, international and independent brands, I only wish I had more time to hang out, and take it all in.... check it out

Canadian ReDesigners Association Conference

2010-10-27T11:20:00.005-04:00

I had the pleasure of participating in the three-day conference with the Canadian Re Designers Association (CRDA) for certified Re Designers and Home Stagers. Interior Re Design is a term that refers to re-using and rearranging your existing furnishings to dramatically transform your home or space, in just one day. Re Design is an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional interior design. Re Designers have the know-how to “pull it all together” using the same design principles as traditional interior design. Home staging is a real estate marketing tool, basically used to prepare your home or merchandise it for sale. Home stagers can help sellers do everything from de-cluttering, packing, and referring trades for minor fix-its’ or major Reno’s, to as little as simply providing design consulting services for depersonalizing and rearranging for better flow in the home, creating broader appeal to a greater amount of potential buyers walking through a home. It’s all about the psychology of buying a home and the emotional connection people make with the home in order to influence them to purchase. Industry statistics show that home staging typically sells a home for approximately 7% higher and in approximately half the amount of time than a non-staged home (often times, even faster), therefore providing a huge competitive advantage for realtors and home owners. Both are relatively new, up and coming industries currently experiencing a huge growth in demand from the real estate community, renovation and design community, and the general public, as more TV and mass media influences how we put together and decorate our homes and spaces, in affordable and eco-friendly ways. Educated consumers are starting to become better aware of common practices thanks to the design community and great association’s like the CRDA.

The conference this year was excellent, an invaluable, well-rounded source of information provided by various industry experts and leaders. Here’s an overview of the guests and speakers in attendance at this year’s conference:

General Paint Certified Colour Consultation Training session provided by Amanda Drenth of Design Interventions.

Marissa McTasney, Founder and CEO of Moxie Trades Ltd. as seen on the Dragon's Den speaking on her business start-up, and transformation of work gear for the working woman in the trades.

Lisa Kember of Constant Contact, speaking on the power of email and social media marketing.

Paula Hope, President of the Referral Institute Halton-Peel, speaking on networking and referral marketing strategies.

Real estate photographer Carla Johnson and Royal LePage realtor Tracie Giesbrecht, speaking on real estate photography and working with realtors.

Expert ReDesign and Staging panel, including Victoria Riley Keyes of Red Coats Moving Solutions, Karen Kostyshyn of House to Home Interiors and partner in Beyond the Basics , Anna Jacoby a ReDesign and Staging Specialist with Anna Jacoby Interiors of California, and redesign instructor with the IRIS Organization.

Bryan Bauemler of Bauemler Quality Construction and TV personality from HGTV's DIY Disasters and House of Bryan, along with his gorgeous, barely-showing-almost-fully-baked wife Sarah, who is due in just a few weeks (best of luck with baby number 3 guys!) talking about some of his renovation experiences with his shows and retail construction life.

A CRDA initiative, the Havens for Healing Boutique fundraiser raised money and awareness in support of Ovarian Cancer Canada.

Donna Cambell and Kerri Lewin, both professional organizers with Organizing Boot Camp giving an overview of organizing styles and strategies for clients.

Small Business Basics with Audrey Macdonald of AM Creative Interiors.

Nashly Mathews of Puh-Nash Inc. with a session on dressing for success in the business world.

Check out the CRDA website to find a local certified Re Design and Staging specialist in your area today!

At the ICFF in New York City

2010-05-19T17:46:00.004-04:00

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the 22nd annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and view the incredible global display of what’s new in design. This event draws the world’s best in-the-know design professionals, and explores cutting edge designs in furniture. The over-riding theme for this year’s event, not surprisingly, was Reclaim, Reuse, Recycle! Fantastic array of the world’s finest and most creative reclaimed woodwork, recycled paper masterpieces, and generally, reused materials of all kinds (including old, plastic, newspaper vending boxes turned dishwasher and wine cooler). From interior designers, architects, retailers, and developers, to manufacturers, distributors and vendors of everything from seating, carpets, flooring, kitchen and bath designs, outdoor and indoor furniture, accessories and textiles, the creative genius of the show blew us away! With representatives from all corners of the earth, including, Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Vietnam, it was sheer pleasure to speak with some of the most creative design minds of our time. This may just become an annual event for me : )

Staging Your Greatest Asset

2010-04-17T18:21:00.002-04:00

Recently I had an opportunity to attend several workshops on Home Staging offered by local, Oakville real estate agents and staging professionals. Home Staging and Redesign is an interior decorating technique used to show off your home's best features, making it more attractive for a potential buyer when selling your home. It can boost your home’s selling price, as well as shorten the amount of time the home stays on the market. Home staging is a crucial and strategic marketing step every homeowner needs to consider before listing their home. On average, a staged home may sell for approximately 7-10% more, and sells in half the time of a comparable home that is not staged.

The Home Stagers provided some real valuable information about important steps to take in preparing a home for sale. They offered basic strategies that not only applied to staging or styling a home for resale, but also for generally maintaining your home’s value through simple updating and de-cluttering, on a regular basis. Your home is your greatest asset and most significant financial investment. It’s therefore crucial to preserve your equity with regular maintenance and updating.

What tends to happen is the longer we live in a space, the more we get used to and overlook the flaws or dysfunctional areas in the home. Daily routines take over. We become complacent to our surroundings. This leads to clutter, disorganization, dated, mismatched belongings, and generally, stressful environment. However, just as we take time to care for our personal appearance by buying a new outfit, getting a new haircut or trying a new shade of lipstick every once and a while, we need to update our homes, as well. Staging a home allows it to almost sell itself by making a great first impression, showcasing the house in the best possible light to a potential buyer, and allows them to visualize themselves living in that home.

Home improvement projects can have a major impact on the value of your resale home. But if you’re not prepared to invest dollars on a renovation just yet, here are some tips to consider in your annual maintenance checklist - whether you’re deciding to sell your home, or just tidy up a few things.

1. Spruce up your curb appeal and landscaping:
Healthy, neat, and trimmed yards and flower beds is the first step in getting potential buyers to want to walk up to the front door. The last thing they want to see is your "stuff" all around the yard, so make sure toys, gardening tools and garbage bins are put away. A well maintained exterior planter or fresh sod in the front yard can make a world of difference.

2. Thorough cleaning and fixing of visible repairs in all areas of the home, especially the kitchen, bathrooms, floors and closets:
A dirty house or broken door knob is an immediate turn-off. The two most important areas are the kitchen and bathrooms. If you have not deep cleaned all counter and tile surfaces to a spotless condition, you stand the chance of losing the buyer. Another critical area is the closets and your floors (especially older carpets and rugs). Closets should be well organized and not jammed pack. Take the time to go through them, and purge or store some things which you don’t use on the regular basis. Without question, spotty carpets are a total turn-off, and leave people wondering what caused the original stain in the first place. Steam cleaners do wonders!

3. De-clutter your entire home:
Clutter, both inside and outside your home makes it extremely hard for the buyers to visualize moving into your home. It leaves them feeling like your home is too much work! The disorganization will distract the buyer’s ability to focus on your space and they will overlook your best selling features. Also, clutter makes your home appear smaller than it is. At the end of the day, people are buying “space” – that’s generally why they’re looking to move in the first place.

4. De-personalize your entire home:
Your home is your comfort zone and is filled with all of your personal treasures, pictures, and memories – another huge distraction when selling your home. The way we live day to day, and how we merchandise a house, are two different things. People are generally curious, and when you really want them to notice the beautiful entranceway, they may be focused on all the family pictures on the shelves, or the "stuff" all over your refrigerator. Your objective is to change the view of your home from "lived in" to "ready to move in”. You want to turn it into a commodity by neutralizing the decor, and generally making it look like an easy move for the buyer.

5. Updating paint colours inside and out:
While your favourite colours may be a reflection of your style, your choices may cause a buyer to lose interest because it evokes a certain feeling in that room. Or your favourite wall paper may not be in the buyer’s taste. The best way to present a home is for the wall colours to be painted a neutral color. This goes for the outside as well – a loud or non-neutral colour may just keep the buyers from even stopping to see the inside. Instead, choose bold or trendy colours in your accessories.

6. Make pet’s and children’s toys disappear:
Let’s face it, children’s and pet’s things can take over your house. The presence of food, toys, books, and boxes are generally a turn-off. They should really be contained in principle rooms of the house, so buyers are not distracted from the prime objective – viewing your home in the best possible light.

Hope that’s a start. Good luck with your home staging projects this spring.

Office Design & Your Productivity

2009-06-10T12:58:00.006-04:00

My husband recently mentioned that his company was moving into their new office soon, and that he needed to plan his new office work space. A plant, good chair, some light, maybe a picture or two, water cooler....it got me thinking about just how important your work environment really is. A poor workplace costs businesses millions each year in lost productivity. And nowadays, the average worker spends about 45 hours a week at work, most of that time sitting in their own office. You want happy and productive employees? Make their work space comfortable!

There's many social distractions at the office that cut down productivity numbers, for sure. Good design and function only helps lead to better overall performance and happier employees. So what aspects of office design are most important? The most obvious is clutter. Many people waste valuable time just searching for papers, phone numbers, invoices, or resources they need. That clutter is likely also slow down your mental energy and makes it more difficult to focus. Try to keep only the necessities on your desk, and put everything else into drawers, shelves, organizers and cabinets. Colour-coded file folders and multiple to-do lists is my secret for keeping all projects and papers in order, whether at work or in my personal life.
The layout and set-up of your office is also important. Make sure you can easily reach things you use most often, like your phone, stapler or a reference binder. If you have to get up every few minutes to reach for them you’ve already broken your concentration and lost time. Equally, if your chair is uncomfortable and you keep getting up to stretch out, your body will eventually start to feel it.

The décor in your office can have a major impact on your mood or energy levels. I’ve talked about the impact of colour before, but I can’t stress enough how really important it is in your working environment. Cool or neutral tones are calming, and earth tones or warm colours can help those creative juices. Also, inspirational photos, plants, personal items or books, natural light from large windows (versus just fluorescent overhead lights) can also inspire, and boost your energy and productivity.

The more you create a work environment that matches your personality and makes you feel at ease, the happier and more productive you’ll be getting the job done!

Blah, Spring-Weather Feeling? Colour to the Rescue

2009-03-26T12:57:00.005-04:00

Weather outside is a ‘lil bit winter, ‘lil bit spring, and a lot BLAH. After a long, cold winter, we can all use some warming up, some fresh colour in our lives. And that led me to think about the colours around me, and thinking back to my school days of colour theory.

We all remember the colour wheel from our early school days; red, yellow and blue primary colours mixed, creates the secondary colours; orange, green and purple. Then blending of these colours creates various hues of colours (blue-green, or turquoise), and adding white or black, creates shades of colours (pink or gray). Sounds very elementary, but did you ever stop and think how these colours affect you every day? Or how some hues affect our moods, emotions, productivity, and even our buying habits? It’s true, colour is the basic essence of what attracts us to anything the human eye can see. What’s pleasing to the eye, whether you realize it or not, affects our moods and in some cases, our well-being. Ever wonder why the doctor’s office uses pail shades of green, blues, or brown, versus crimson red or orange? Colour engages people, and creates an inner sense of order by defining a space. It gives us organization. Generally, people are comfortable with and wear colours that remind them of similar things, like the greens or browns in nature, or the yellow-orange warmth of the sun. Colours are references or ‘brands‘ of cultural and environmental elements, like primary colours of a particular country’s flag, red and green used at Christmas time, or symbols of green, meaning money or growth. Take red on its own, and it conveys a feeling of energy or strength, but add a little white, and it becomes soft and gentle. Dark or navy blue can stand for a formal high rank or royalty; add some white, and it becomes tranquil and relaxed; add some black, and it becomes icy. Blue is also known to suppress your appetite (paint your kitchen blue and use blue dishes if you want to lose a few pounds ;). Colour use is a basic rule of good visual merchandising for stores and websites, and specifically used to excite or stimulate customers to look at more and stay longer. And the same applies in Home Staging, or merchandising of a home for sale. First thing that will impact a buyer is the colour, or the mood that house conveys. In today’s market, the only key to competing is to make an emotional impact on the potential buyers, and the strongest way to do that is by choosing the right colours.

So what colour reflects your personality (as I sit here looking at my blue jeans and red sweater)? How does colour impact you? See if you can spot the colour clues next time you’re shopping, or out, dining at your fav restaurant.

Invest in the Nest

2009-01-29T11:37:00.005-05:00

So everywhere you turn, there are signs of a slowing economy. All authorities say that the next 12 months will be uncertain. My visit to the Spring Canadian Giftware and Tableware Association Show definitely showed signs of the slowdown. It’s Canada’s premiere retail trade event of the year, showcasing 1.3 million square feet of innovative house wares, tabletop, home decor and accessories, handmade items, collectibles, and more. But with obvious lower than usual attendance, and smaller new product displays by many suppliers, it was clear that many are being cautious.

Strangely enough, talking to some revealed that not all areas of consumer spending are down. What do people do when they don’t have the cash to spend on outside entertainment and big luxuries? They spend more time at home with family and friends. Our home is our greatest and most stable long-term asset, so putting money into it is always a good idea. What better time to be talking to people about investing in their nest!

The term ‘cocooning’ was first introduced during the recessionary times (along with things the VCR and microwave popcorn). And this time around, some experts are calling it ‘anchoring’, but it's all the same. It’s about taking shelter...or making your place cozy and comfortable with things of great comfort and quality. And that's exactly what I saw at the gift show. Many things inspired comfort, quality, natural warmth, and just a little luxury and sparkle.

Furniture and accessories are looking woodsy, natural, grainy, and even rustic. Re-claimed wood, metals, and glass appeared throughout, and seemed to be the overall theme in many of the displays. It's apparent that all the talk about the importance of going GREEN has finally resonated with manufacturers. A lot of metallics were muted, not as glossy. Less mirrored furniture pieces (that was so strong last year) and more tailored, industrial, kinda masculine-meets-Asian-lines. Another hot trend I noticed throughout was lacquered pieces like trays, Buddha’s, sculptures, vases, boxes and general accent pieces, in vibrant and bold colours. Warm Asian-inspired colours like reds, purples, yellows, turquoise, and "friendly" grays. These bright jewels of colour sitting on rustic, natural wood grain tables looked amazing, and I have to say, inspiring! Good to see colour it back!

If you’re looking to update and invest in your home, but can't afford to do the big stuff for now, try some lower cost options:

- repaint your rooms, or colour block a focal wall with a hit of a hot, trendy colour
- splurge on smaller home accessories, like a lacquered box set, vase, or sculpture
- disguise older, warn out looking bedroom furniture or sofas by investing in a new accents pillows and matching throws
- buy sexy new lamps - or even just new lamp shades to change the mood
- try rearranging your furniture or move things to different room, and you'll be surprised at how it instantly looks new again

Here's hoping for a healthy and prosperous year for all!

What's your resolution?

2008-12-31T08:56:00.004-05:00

It's New Year's Eve! Time to drop the ball and set those New Year´s Resolutions for 2009. Whether they are in the areas of career, health and fitness, or your home to-do project lists, it's sometimes difficult to actually keep on track. Make this the year to finish those remodelling and redecorating projects. With so many diverse and interesting design trends in the horizon for 2009, how can you not! There is a design style trend for everyone - Parisian Apartment, Safari Chic, Asian and Globally Inspired. Too many to list. As you pack away those Christmas decorations and pull out your usual room decor, take a look around. Remember style is what you make it, what inspires you. Whether contemporary or traditional.

Stay tuned for more trend talk just around the corner in January, from the Spring 2009 CGTA Gift Show, the largest gift and décor retail event of its kind in North America. Sure to find new, niche products, hot-sellers, and everything new in all product categories from around the world. Also coming up in February is the coveted Interior Design Show. It's design seminars feature some of Canada's more talented design teams, and this year discuss the latest trends in colour, lighting and green design.

Want inspiration and motivation to stay on track of your decorating resolutions. Stay tuned.....

Buon anno!

Fresh Fall Inspirations

2008-09-25T14:13:00.007-04:00

Fall is upon us. One of my most fav times of the year. Though you wouldn't know it from standing outside the last few days, colder weather is just around the corner. I thought I would share some tips on enhancing that delicious, crisp, cool, fall weather feeling, indoors.

1. When tidying up the landscape and leaves around the house, don't just throw away all the coloured leaves, pine cones, twigs and stones. Add them to a wonderful vase or dish in your front hallway to welcome guests.

3. Choose full draperies and rich pillows, in deep earth tones like moss green, birch brown or red maple, to add warm layers to your rooms.

4. Make the most of the warm sun as our daylight gets shorter. Add accessories with a reflective quality, like glistening chrome or nickel, polished silver or bronze, and crystal or glass.

5. Bring the beautiful harvest colours from the yard indoors by placing a mirror adjacent to a window.

6. Proper lighting can also add warm layering to a room. Ambient lighting (like pot lights) allows you to move through the space easily. Task lighting (like table lamps) is essential in living, family and bedrooms. Throw a dark shade on, versus a bright white shade, and instinct drama is achieved.

Have fun decorating your place for fall. Before you know it, the winter season will be here.

Make a Grand Entrance

2008-08-19T00:16:00.002-04:00

Your entryway is the first impression people get of your home. In terms of décor, you can change things up for the seasons, which adds great style, but there are certain common elements every foyer should have. Here are some designer essentials for every entry:

Console table- Not only for a great look, but also helpful in that it provides extra storage. Label a basket for each person in the household and place them just underneath your console. You can also use the drawers for hiding-away sorted mail with an in-box and an out-box.

Change/key holder- Every man loves to unload his pockets of loose change when coming through the door. Why not display an elegant tray or a clever storage box to collect the coins, keys, and mobile devices.

Fresh flowers- Always a nice greeting and great way to bring the outdoors in.

Mirrors- For last minute checks as you run out that door…..and a smart way to reflect the natural light coming from your front doorway into the hallway.

Coat rack- Functional and sculptural, all in one. There are many unique ones available to suit all décor tastes. The alternative when you don’t have the space for a rack is wall hooks. Just remember to try to keep them clutter-free.

Benches- A bench provides an area to tie shoes or place bags and groceries when you're coming in the door. Inside, you can put smaller items, like towels for after dog walking, or extra scarves and mittens.

Umbrella stand- If you don't have closet space to hide them, an umbrella stand can stand umbrellas or canes, even rolled up newspapers, very elegantly.

Extra baskets on shelves- Use these for seasonal or less used items. A shelf and mirror cabinet is great for really small spaces, when you have no room for a console tables.

Until next time......

Big Ideas for Small Spaces

2008-04-15T11:59:00.000-04:00

Bigger is not always better. It’s what you put into your place and how your arrange things that creates balance, harmony, even luxury into the smallest of homes. Many design ideas and inspiration for small spaces come from Europe where the average living space is a quarter of what we’re used to in North America.

Here are some big ideas for creating beautiful design in your smaller rooms:

Mirrors & reflective materials – add instant square footage by adding mirrors to your walls or art with reflective, metallic materials, like nickel, chrome, bronze and gold. Not only are they one of the hottest design trends (still going strong after many seasons), but they add a little luxury and depth to your space. Strategically placed across a lighting source or window, and watch your room explode.

Lighting – table lamps, floor lamps, overhead pot lights, pendant lights, wall sconces, chandeliers or plain natural sunlight from windows all help to create layers of lighting in a room, which in the end, helps achieve the feeling of greater space.

Consider colour – not only does paint colour create a mood for a room, it can also give the feeling of more space. Generally, the less intense shades of colours add space and airiness. Monochromatic colour schemes have the same effect. Keep brighter, contrasting colour schemes for rooms that have lots of natural light.

Scale & Placement – the size or arrangement of furniture and decorative items you place in your rooms also make a world of difference. A collection of small vases, knick knacks and frames covering your mantel or tiny console table only creates repetition and clutter for the eye. Whereas going with one larger scale vase or candleholder on that same surface, creates visual space or pause between larger items, naturally creating the illusion of a bigger room. Another neat trick is to place your furniture on angels in a room. This leads your eye along the diagonal of the room, which tends to be the longer distance (rather than along a shorter wall).

Spring maintenance is in the air.

2008-03-18T13:48:00.000-04:00

Whether you have Spring cleaning in mind, are getting ready to sell your house, or just need to refresh after a long, cold winter, here’s a plan to put new life back into your home.

Clean like a machine!
Wash your walls, baseboards, floors, windows, and inside the stove, fridge, and cupboards. Clean your curtains and window frames to bring in clear, warm sunlight.

De-clutter.
Remove cluttered family or personal photos, paperwork, and knick-knacks. Opt for larger pieces of artwork and display items, in small vignettes around your space.

Sort your stuff.
Organize your closets and cupboards. Now is the time to throw away those half-full moisturizer containers and bulky sweats, sitting in your cupboards since the 90’s!

Scents make sense.
You may have become immune to the pet, cigarette or cooking odours in your home. It’s important to air out your house, thoroughly. Use sprays, scented candles or some old-fashioned white vinegar in a dish to absorb all lingering odours. Or give your whole home the scent of a warm, Parisian bakery, and bake some fresh croissants or apple pie in the oven.

Do small repairs.
Patch up walls, re-grout tiles and replace damaged flooring. Professionally cleaned carpets could also do wonders to a room.

Paint.
A fresh coat of paint is the easiest and most inexpensive way to give your home a facelift. Try colour blocking, by painting only a few feature walls.

Don’t forget the garage.
Organize your garage, as much as possible. Built-in cabinets or big storage tubs can hide everything from tools to toys.

Bring the outdoors in.
Nothing says Spring like fresh flowers and plants. They always bring new life in to any room. A really hot accessory this season is wall or table top lanterns. What was traditionally seen only outdoors in Moroccan or Asian inspired settings, is now an indoor accent, as well.

Inspiration at the Toronto Interior Design Show

2008-03-02T10:52:00.000-05:00

Held at the Exhibition Place in Toronto, this year’s IDS08 was a true hit for those in search of new products, ideas and inspiration.

This year's show highlighted the latest and greatest in Canadian and international furnishings, fixtures and accessories for home design. Everything from appliances and home theatre technology, to pillows and wall coverings, the show had it all. Also exciting were the outstanding LIVE design spaces created by hot, celebrity design teams, Brian Gluckstein, Sarah Richardson, Lynda Reeves and Designer Guys, Allen Chan, Anwar Mukhayesh and Matt Davis. Gluckstein Design group featured his signature luxury home style, while both Sarah Richardson and Lynda Reeves had more of Canadian and international comforts in mind. The Designer Guys pulled off an ultra modern but warm great room, which included a “plasma” wall. Super room of the future!

Check out some of our pics from the show.

Your Hotel Suite for Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T10:44:00.000-05:00

Set the scene for Valentine’s Day! Here are some easy tips you can use to add romance in the design of your bedroom:

Lighting - Soft lighting is essential for a romantic mood. Candles are great for romance, just be extra careful near your flowing fabrics. Use light sources from all directions. Side table lamps soften lighting with lampshades. Or put your overhead lights on dimmers.

Colours - When you think of love, you probably think of red. Red does increase your heart rate, but a room that is all red can also make you feel agitated – not great feelings for igniting romance. So use red sparingly, as accents in the bedroom. The most romantic and soothing color is pink, but it’s probably the least preferred colour with men. Shades close to pink, like mauve or lavender, are nice compromises that evoke romantic feelings in both women and men. Soft blues with creams are very soothing and romantic, and because they slow your heart rate, they can help you get a great night’s sleep too!

Fabrics - Create the ultimate Four Seasons Hotel luxury with luxurious, sensual fabrics in rich textures like silk, satin, chenille, and linens. Make up your bed in high thread-count cotton sheets, a full, down-filled comforter, and piles of fluffy pillows. Cover your windows with neutral-coloured, sheer fabric panels that appear to be blowing in the breeze.

Entice all your senses - Set the perfect romantic mood with soft music, scented candles and fresh flowers. Or really spoil them with a romantic breakfast or treat in bed - a large bowl of plump strawberries and chocolate should do the trick!

The next time you think about adding more romance in your bedroom, do it through a little redecorating. Have fun with it!

Trend Watch at the Canadian Gift & Tableware Association Show

2008-02-06T10:27:00.000-05:00

Our recent visit to the Toronto Canadian Gift and Tableware Association tradeshow brought to light a wide spectrum of innovative international trends. The CGTA Show is Canada's biggest and best gift show, displaying the most comprehensive selection of gifts, tableware, bed, bath, linens, decorative accessories and occassional furniture.

Amidst the hundreds of vendors and importers from around the world, one commonality remains when selecting your signature style preference - choose classic neutrals for your basic, larger pieces (ie. couches, chairs, dining furniture, flooring), and top off with hits of trendy accessories that can be replaced by season (ie. pillows, vases, decorative display pieces, occassional chairs).

Some of the trends that were large at the show:
- Overscaled patterns - Damask still lives, but also look for organic, leafy patterns to be bold.
- Global influences - French-country is fading, British-colonial is alive.
- Wood tones and all things 'green' - slightly lighter tones of wood like ash and elm, or white-washed natural wood. Organically produced fabrics, carpets and furniture were seen like never before.
-"Miami Vice" colours - as interior designer, TV celeb and producer Sarah Richardson mentioned in her trendwatch seminar, and vendor's booths consistently showed throughout the show, the return of pale colours like robbins egg blue, sky gray, lemon yellow, apricot and others we saw in the '80's, will be big in the upcoming seasons.

Whatever you choose, create balance and dimension in your home by mixing up from your favourite trends. Mix old and new. Create groupings to achieve eclectic modern. Most importantly, have fun with your place! It's your greatest reflection of yourself.

Trends & Tips for 2008

2008-01-09T18:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another new year! In with the good and out with the bad, as they say. The same applies with your home décor. Now is a better time then ever to re-look at your decorating and design style, clear the clutter, and regroup your things. If you have design on your mind, here’s some inspiration for what’s hot and coming this year:

Basic black and white, al la 1930’s Hollywood glamour is the in-bling-thing. Metallic finishes and glassware is still very hot this year. Gray is the new neutral. Look to see less and less of boring beige’s and taupe’s in the upcoming seasons. Earthy tones is another way to go. Go green and brown, or sky blues and grays with your colour schemes, and bring a little of the outdoors in. Organic is not just for food but in design styles, as well. Fluid, organic patterns are being matched up with tailored, graphic prints, as seen in many pillows, ceramics patterns, drapery and wallpapers. Stripes, stripes, stripes as far as the eye can see! Linear patterns make a strong comeback in fabrics, as well. Mixing eras of style from the epitome of modern architecture, like a Barcelona chair, paired with a true classic French Louis XV style coffee table. Stone flooring like granite, marble and slate are becoming popular options for kitchen and baths. While cork tiling and hardwood flooring are hot and enviro-friendly for kitchens, as well. Another big influence this year is Asian or India with bright hits of red, magenta, purple, pumpkin or turquoise in the mix. Set off a neutral room with a red accent pillow or throw, and impress like the real designers!

Remember that interior design trends follow fashion trends, and vice versa. So if you’re ever stuck, check out the latest fashion magazines to see what’s happening on the runways of Paris. Find your style.

Happy decorating to all and to all a good year!