Thanksgiving has come and gone here in Canada and while most of the country nurses a turkey and pie hangover, I’m back at it with a fall inspired colour crush: terracotta and navy.
If you read my post on transitioning your space for fall, you know that I am not one to decorate with traditional colours like red, yellow and orange. Favouring instead textures and layers to create a cozy space to welcome cooler temps.
If you’re on a budget, the thought of upgrading your home in any significant way, may seem like an impossible dream. What if I told you there was an easy (like, you could do it in a couple hours) and inexpensive update you could make that would instantly increase the value of your home? Any guesses?
As the warm summer days transition to the cool and crisp days of fall, it’s the perfect time to cozy up our interiors. But just like you wouldn’t completely overhaul your wardrobe with the season, transitioning your space for fall doesn’t require a total overhaul either. Instead it’s about smart additions and working with what you have.
If I had my way, I’d paint every client’s walls white, or an ever so soft grey. Perhaps in a moment of daring, a deep saturated blue. If you’re not ready to commit to painting an entire room, how about just one wall? Or more specifically, the fifth wall?
That’s right, one of the easiest ways to make a statement and add drama to a space is to paint the ceiling. Too much? Stick around and I promise I’ll have you reconsidering by the end of this post.
While the thought of open shelving in kitchens may make you nervous, it’s an interior trend that just doesn’t want to let up. From open pipe to floating to built ins, they are everywhere. And yes, no one wants their messy life out on display for everyone to see, but open shelving in kitchens creates the illusion of more space and allows for creativity and artist expression.
Creativity and artistic expression? That’s right. When styled right, they not only allow easy access to all your everyday essentials, but offer a space to share a bit of who you are, in a room that can sometimes lack personality.
It’s back to school time (can you believe it?!), for some it’s a time for excitement (hello parents 😉 ) and for others there’s sadness and a longing for summer to last just a little while longer (hello students!). While I would never wish summer away, I do love this time of year, the crispness in the air, the return to routine and new beginnings, creates an energy and sense of excitement that I just adore.
There’s no question I like a white and bright space. Nothing offers a better backdrop for design. But sometimes, a saturated colour is just the thing to add some wow and interest to a space. In those instances, there are few tried and true colours I turn to, my favourite saturated paint colours.
Like the famous Peter Allen song, Everything Old is New Again, things have a way of coming back into style. We see it in fashion and home decor all the time, but it happens in the way we live as well – record players are hip and outdoor movie theaters are the all rage. From drive-ins to backyard viewing, watching movies outdoors is a major summer-time phenomenon.
But if like me you lack a backyard or yard space of any kind, the thought of creating an outdoor movie night might seem unlikely. If you read my post on inner city outdoor entertaining, you know that I’m all about embracing our spaces and making the most of them. With a little creativity and friends who are always willing to play along (#blessed) I created a Moroccan inspired outdoor movie night in the courtyard of a friend’s condo complex.
Summer is all about dining al fresco. And there is nothing more I love than hosting friends for a casual and laid back summer meal. But with only a small, seven feet by eleven feet inner city balcony, creating an inspiring place to host my dearest required some creativity. Today I’m sharing the tricks I used to create an enchanted inner city outdoor entertaining space for anyone with a small, perhaps uninspired patio or balcony.
My personal design esthetic definitely leans towards traditional lines with a touch of glam and thoughtful pops of colour. But I must say, there is something beautiful and elegant about a room layered in neutrals. They are fresh and crisp, creating a relaxed and comfortable vibe. But without careful intention, it’s easy to slip into ho-hum beige on cream on beige. So I’m sharing three keys to creating a captivating neutral interior.