August 26, 2013

Edmonton Interior Decorator | How to Decorate if You Live in a Small Place

We don't all get to live in sprawling mansions and palatial paradises. So what's the average person to do when confronted with confined quarters?

Here are my top 10 tips for decorating small spaces:

 1. No room for end tables? Use wall space.


2. No room for dressers? Use a storage bed/ or under bed storage.


3. Break the rules! Take the door off. Paint horizontal stripes on the wall. Turn the bed into a day bed. Use creative storage solutions.


4. No room for an office? Turn your closet into a functional and fabulous work space.


5. Not one square inch to spare? Make your kitchen or dining room do double duty.


6. Want to make your mall space oh so chic? Don't be afraid of luxurious touches.


7. Have a puny powder room? Be bold! Just be mindful of the scale of things.


8. No formal entry way? Make one! A bench seat and a mirror will create a well defined space.


9. Low ceilings or small windows? Hang your curtains high! You can even do it in your bathroom.


10. Running out of places to sit? Cube or storage ottomans do double duty. Tuck them under a table when not in use.


Still have questions on how to spacify your small place? I'm available for both local and long distanct clients. Drop me a line or give me a call. :)
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August 16, 2013

Edmonton Interior Decorator | How to Decorate if you Hate to Clean

How to Decorate Your House if you Hate to Clean

There's some people that get joy in tending to smudges, dust bunnies and finger prints. And then, there's the rest of us. Here are my top 10 house hold finishes to avoid if you hate to clean.



Avoid: Shiny stainless steel appliances
Why: Finger prints, finger prints, finger prints!
Opt for: Smudge free stainless steel or black appliances

Avoid: Marble counter tops
Why:  Potential to etch and stain if not properly cared for.
Opt for: Engineered Stone or Corian

Avoid: White cupboards
Why: Just like white pants -- they offer not camouflage.
Opt for: Light to medium wood tone cupboards

Avoid: White grout
Why: It won't stay white for long. Absolutely unforgiving on floors.
Opt for: Putty or sand coloured grout
 
Avoid: Wall to wall carpet
Why: Potential for staining and major dust collector.
Opt for: Laminate, tile, hardwood or area rugs

Avoid: Dark laminate or dark hardwood flooring
Why: Every speck of dust will stand out. Expect to clean daily.
Opt for: Light to medium toned laminate or hardwood flooring

Avoid: White or light coloured upholstered or leather furniture
Why: Potential for staining.
Opt for: Mid to dark toned fabric or leather. Microfiber also makes for easy cleanup.

Avoid: Horizontal blinds
Why: Dust collectors! Takes a lot of patience to clean.
Opt for: Roller shades and/or curtains

Avoid: Small floor tiles
Why: Smaller tiles = more grout lines. Therefore, more cleaning.
Opt for:  Large floor tiles, and don't forget -- no white grout!

Avoid: Tiled shower stall
Why: Lots of scrubbing to keep the tiles and grout looking spotless.
Opt for: Acrylic shower stall

So there you go! Happy decorating and enjoy not cleaning (as much).
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August 7, 2013

Edmonton Interior Decorator | All Aboard | Nautical Style Decor

I don't know if it's the rainy weather, but I've got the ocean on my mind. When I think of nautical inspired decor, immediately the classic combo of navy blue & white comes to mind. Then you add in wonderful rope accents, porthole mirrors, stripes, canvas and brass. All aboard the "I Love It Boat"!

If you like this post, you're going to love:













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July 13, 2013

Edmonton Interior Decorator | Colour Trends | English Yellow

The sun'll come out tomorrow, So ya gotta hang on 'til tomorrow.Come what may..."

Yes, this weather has me singing the Annie anthem. To combat these gray skies and puddles, I'm looking towards my new colour obsession: English Yellow.

Here are a dozen rays of sunshine to chase away the gray!













Bonus: It's also a hot colour for fashion too! 



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July 5, 2013

Edmonton Interior Decorator | My Favourite Art | Pre-Raphaelite to Art Deco

My Top 10 Favourite Pieces of Art

I love artwork, and never seem to have enough wall space to hang the pieces I love. But, my tastes have evolved over the years, so the pieces I do like, have changed somewhat in nature.

When I was younger, I was enamoured with very "romantic" style paintings; from the Pre-Raphaelite and Renaissance era. Then, my focus shifted towards the Art Deco era. Which, still seems timeless to me.

And now, I'm finding myself drawn to more contemporary styles. But what remains constant throughout my life, is my subject of choice. I'm repeatedly drawn to human subjects (particularly the face) and architecture.

What kind of art inspires you?

The Abduction of Psyche -
William Adolphe Bouguereau



Flaming June - Frederic Leighton



Jeune Fille Vert - Tamara de Lempicka




Printemps - Tamara De Lempicka



Arums I - Tamara De Lempicka



Trust Yourself - Pa Pa Ya Art



Eye - Pavel Guzenko
Source: tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest



Unknown



Unknown - zhuzhu



Unknown



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June 25, 2013

Edmonton Interior Decorator | Top 5 DIY Projects

Whether it's about getting the "look for less" or pride in creating something with your own two hands, do-it-yourself projects are a fun way to add custom pieces to your home decor. They're also great for rainy days. And I don't know about you, but we've been getting a LOT of rain in my neck of the woods lately.

I scoured Pinterest and rounded up my top 5 DIY projects that I can't wait to try! (Click the images to take you directly to the how-to.)

DIY Mercury Glass

DIY Spray Painted Lamps

DIY Framed Wallpaper

DIY IKEA Custom Overlays

DIY Custom Headboard



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June 17, 2013

Edmonton Interior Decorator | Paint Choices | 15 Great Designer Colours

Choosing a wall colour can be so difficult. Paint chips are painfully small and don't give the idea of what the whole wall/room will look like finished in that colour. That's why I LOVE websites that post the finished product along with the paint colour and brand. Thanks to www.favoritepaintcolorsblog.com for putting them all together in one place!

Here are my Top 15 Designer Paint Colour Choices

Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore


Tidewater by Sherwin Williams


Rainwashed by Sherwin Williams


Plumage by Martha Stewart


Stunning by Benjamin Moore


Graphite by Benjamin Moore


Deep Caviar by Benjamin Moore


Nantucket White by Ralph Lauren


Classy by Valspar


Friendly Yellow by Sherwin Williams


Belgian Waffle by Pittsburgh Paint


French Pale Gold by Behr


Cape May Cobblestone by Benjamin


Antique Tin by Behr Paint



James River Gray by Benjamin Moore -


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