May 3, 2010
Bathroom Design Trends
Did you know that bathroom design is becoming grander and more sumptuous? “The bathroom has become a sanctuary for all the senses,” says designer Nelson Costa. Top design trends include: Natural leanings – More wood, often of exotic origin, is being used in bathroom furnishings while tubs and fixtures are appearing in softer more organic shapes. Baroque influences – Ornate patterns, elegant florals, embossed and hammered surfaces and even the odd chandelier are adding interest and depth. Faux textures – New tiles have the capacity to mimic lace, linen and even leather surfaces. Showy showers - Huge, walk-in showers feature grand waterworks and unlimited accessories.
April 19, 2010
Top Spring Design Trends
Did you know that spring design trends include a fascinating mix of styles, according to a trio of leading U.S. designers? Here are their favourites: Reclaimed wood – the ultimate ‘green’ choice is to use antique wood for counter tops, floors and trim. Mixing distressed wood into a modern space creates an interesting, layered style. French grey – this warm rich shade adds depth to any room. It changes hue with the lighting and offers a simple background from which bright accessories and furnishings really pop. Translucent furniture – the airy look of clear plastic furniture fits this age of downsizing with a minimalist statement. Bold accessories – accessories in eye-catching shades of yellow, green, purple and orange lift the spirits by bringing nature’s palette indoors.
March 17, 2010
Spruce Up Your Home for Spring
Did you know that there are many ways to spruce up your home for spring? The first place to start is with your outdoor urns. Replace the evergreens with an assortment of spring branches such as dogwood, pussy willows and forsythia. Inside, consider changing linens, draperies, accent pillows and throws to brighter, lighter fabrics. If you feel like painting, the experts say that this year’s hottest colours are deep red, sunny yellow, blueberry and a gorgeous tropical orange. Lastly, bring nature inside with birch bark candles, fresh flowers and huge bouquets of blooming branches.
January 11, 2010
Go “Canadiana” in Your Decor in 2010
Did you know that a very hot decorating design trend for 2010 is “Canadiana?” From the Vancouver Olympics to the G20 summit, the world’s eyes will be turned toward Canada this year, so expect to see “cool rusticity” dominate décor. Knotty pine, wood-burning fireplaces and stone mantels have a timeless and now trendy charm. The Bay’s recent collection includes everything from axes to canoe paddles! You may want to stop short of fashioning lamp bases from discarded hockey sticks, but what about candlesticks built from pebbles or a rustic driftwood mirror? (Both found at HomeSense.) If you are renovating, consider tongue and groove wainscotting or wide plank pine floors. And for the crowning glory, why not feature faux antler lumieres which you’ll find among other treasures at http://www.cdnantler.com!
January 1, 2010
Renovation Tax Credit Expires February 1
Did you know time is running out to qualify for Ottawa’s $1,350 home renovation tax credit, which expires on February 1, 2010? You must spend more than $1,000 and may claim up to $10,000 on qualifying items or work to earn the maximum credit. Qualifying expenditures include repairs, alterations and preventative maintenance for a home you own, including the cost of labour, materials and equipment rentals. Eligible expenses include renovating a kitchen, bath or basement; installing new carpet or hardwood floors; building an addition, garage or deck; re-shingling a roof; installing a new furnace, fireplace, water softener or hot water heater; or painting. Ineligible expenses include furniture, appliances, audio-visual systems, cleaning, maintenance and financing costs. The work can be done by a professional contractor or you can do it yourself. In the case of contract work, you can claim the value of the contract, whereas if you do it yourself, you can only claim materials, not your labour. Remember to keep your receipts!
November 30, 2009
Success Begins with Good Design
Did you know good design decisions underpin every successful renovation? According to Kelly Deck at the Globe & Mail, there are design no-no’s that should be avoided. Corner fireplaces are a problem because they place a natural focal point in an awkward location. This either leads to an off-kilter furniture arrangement or to visitor disorientation. Fireplaces are best located on the long run of a wall where they centre a room and act as an effortless focal point. Unless you live in a colonial mansion, you want to eschew the spiral staircase. It wedges a circular shape into a square space, creating odd angles and disrupting flow. Install French doors only where appropriate. They belong at the entrances to formal rooms, where they facilitate a view through to the lovely décor and enable the host to sweep open the double expanse of doors in a dramatic gesture. The bottom line? Choose features and finishes that complement the fundamental character of your home.
November 16, 2009
Buying a Sofa Is an Important Decision
Did you know when buying a sofa it is important to first decide what functionality you want it to provide? Do you want to sit and chat? Curl up and read? Sprawl out and watch movies? Common criteria are comfort, durability, appearance and quality. While price is a factor, it should not be decisive, because a sofa is a long-term investment and it defines your space. If your sofa is primarily for socializing, it should seat either two or four: three people in a row are never going to have an easy conversation. More formal sofas can be deep—as long as they are low enough to perch on demurely at the start of the party and nestle into when the ice has broken. With TV sofas, you need somewhere to put your feet - either enough seat to stretch out on, or a footstool at matching height. For comfort, the deeper the sofa, the better. As for design fundamentals, sofa designer Russel Pinch says, “A solid hardwood frame is absolutely paramount, to provide horizontal rigidity, plus longevity. Also, all seats must have an inward rake on them, or the cushions will tip forward.”
September 21, 2009
Fall Decorating Trends See Red!
Did you know that fiery reds and soft grays are popular colour choices this fall? Red is popping up in furniture and accessories, while many pundits are calling gray the “new neutral.” The practice of mixing fabric patterns, such as stripes + houndstooth, is fashionable. People are gravitating toward more eclectic looks, combining vintage pieces with antiques and contemporary styles. No longer do we say, “Out with the old and in the with new,” but rather, “How might we combine old and new in interesting ways?” Maybe it’s time to look around your home, basement and attic with fresh eyes!
September 1, 2009
Tips on Selecting Art for your Home
Did you know that selecting artwork for your home can be a fun and exciting project, and a personal reflection of yourself and your home?
Designer Tara Dalla-Nora from innerluxe.ca shares these tips:
– Look for a wall that you would like to turn into a focal point of the room. The selected wall should be well lit with natural light and/or directional pot lights.
– Long, narrow hallways can be transformed into a gallery of photos or small paintings.
– Make sure your artwork is proportionate to the wall space. If it is too small for the space, it will not make the desired visual impact.
– If showcasing a grouping of wall panels, configure them close to each other in order to form a combined unit.
– Artwork should be hung at an approximate eye level from a standing position.
April 28, 2009
New Bathroom Installations Feature Showers More Than Tubs
Did you know that the environmentally-friendly shower has replaced bath tubs as the first choice of homeowners and hoteliers alike? When Hyatt Regency took over the former Holiday Inn on King Street, it got rid of most of the tubs in a massive remodeling effort. Why? People don’t want to spend the time it takes to have a bath. In terms of the environmental impact, showers use about one-third of the water of a bath. Shower design has improved and now people can get benefits such as ‘full body massages’ from nozzles located in ceilings and walls. Canada’s ageing boomers are also installing large showers with built-in seating when renovating their bathrooms. Convenience and safety are the main reasons.
April 6, 2009
The Personal Music Stylist Enters the Home Decor Scene
Did you know that a new type of designer has entered the scene? Some people are hiring personal music stylists to create custom playlists to complement their home environment and lifestyle. “Hearing the wrong music in an environment can be disorienting,” said Coleman Feltes, a music stylist in New York. He creates custom playlists and divides them to match specific activities, times of day, and areas in the home. “When someone walks in and hears great music, it’s like looking at a wonderful painting on the wall that gives you certain emotions,” says a client. Daniel J. Levitin, the author of “This Is Your Brain on Music” says background music can not only change the way people see their environment, it can profoundly affect their mood. Pleasurable music leads to the release of “feel-good hormones” like dopamine, he says.
February 23, 2009
New Home Renovation Tax Credit for 2009
Did You Know any Canadian who spends money on home renovations will be eligible to receive up to $1,350 in tax relief thanks to the new Home Renovation Tax Credit? The Home Renovation Tax Credit will provide a one-year, temporary 15% income tax credit on eligible home renovation from January 29, 2009 to February 1, 2010. The credit may be claimed on eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000 but no more than $10,000. Home owners will be able to claim expenditures for renovations and related costs including permits, professional services, materials and equipment rentals. Excluded items include furniture, appliances, property maintenance and building tools.
