French Chic Living Room

Before taking the photos you see below, this room was anything but chic. Simply put, it was bare and boring! A wooden table set, brown sofa, and two chairs consisted of the decor. The client wanted a feminine touch on a limited budget. You would be surprised what a difference the little things can do in transforming the look of the space! We added luscious velvet drapery panels to a bare window that overlooks tall trees in the backyard. Homemade art work above the sofa was easy and tied in the brass, silver, and black and white accents in the room. Silk pillows in grey/blue complemented the soft blue/grey wall colour and a pop of pink was an unexpected touch. Crystal candle sticks was something that the homeowner had stashed away, with nowhere to show them off… until now! Tall painted branches adds interest to a tucked away side table. An old vintage polka-dotted and striped box is great for storage and adds a fun touch while adding a splash of colour. French accents like the art work, and Eiffel tower statue adds a feminine touch!

This was a very small space, but with this decor it makes it more warm and comfortable. After giving this living room a facelift, the homeowner had a Fifth Avenue jewellery party to celebrate and socialize and it was a complete success! She said that all the ladies LOVED the space and it went into the evening as everyone was so comfortable in the newly decorated living room. I was thrilled that everyone loved it, and most importantly that the homeowner loved these simple transformations that changed the look and feel of the room.

DIY old mirror into personalized wall art

My mom had an old mirror that her dad gave her. It is very old and similar styles are being replicated and very popular right now. The mirror was cracked, but we both didn’t have the heart to throw it out so I decided a DIY project was just what this mirror needed! If you have an old mirror and you love the frame try removing the mirror and replacing it with decorative wall paper.

What you need:

• screw driver
• scissors
• marker or pencil
• decorative wallpaper
• old mirror
• hanging nails and hammer

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Un screw the nails from the back of the mirror and carefully remove the mirror

2. Trace your wallpaper with the back of the frame as a guide.

3. Cut the wallpaper with scissors and place it in the front of the frame. Screw the backing to the frame.

4. Voila! Finished product and ready to be hung!

Dinner Party Tips

If you are hosting a dinner party or special event; decor can set the look, but music sets the tone. Here are a few CDs that are my favourite for dinner and lounge music. Whether it’s a party for two or you are entertaining for big crowds, you can’t go wrong with beautiful decor, amazing music, and good company! Cheers!

Michael Buble: Call Me Irresponsible (2007), Crazy Love (2009)

Billie Holiday Collection Vol. 3

Very Best of Frank Sinatra

Notebook Soundtrack CD

Sarah McLachlan: Loving you is easy

La vie Parisienne: Great French Stars of the 30s and 40s

John Mayer: Continuum CD (2010)

Corrine Baily Rae: The Sea (2010)

Two and a Half Men: New Set Design

We all have our favourite shows… the ones we tune into every week or PVR and watch at our leisure. I have been getting into Two and a Half Men and I’m really loving the new season with Ashton Kutcher playing Walden. One thing that really caught my attention is when Walden hires a decorator and completely changes the look of the set! A new show with out Charlie Harper definitely needs a new look too. I personally love, love, love the new scheme they went for. Any good designer knows that if you are decorating a home it should have a lot of personality based on who lives there. When I see this new space I give kudos to the set designer, as they have truly captured Walden’s nerdy and tree hugging personality! I have some tips on achieving Walden’s new look.

• To his track pants to his tailored suits, Walden wears a lot of grey! The living room is in a warm grey and the kitchen has soft grey sub way tiles as the back-splash. The kitchen dining set was upgraded to a steel base table and matching steel and wooden chairs.
• Walden ditched Charlie’s grand piano and went with a modern and high-tech office space
• Natural drift wood on metal stands make dramatic and organic pieces of art that make a statement!
• The dark wood was replaced with bleached oak for a lighter and airy feel
• Adding accent colours in green and orange, gives the space a fresh and lively feel
• Roman blinds and sheer drapery adds a warm touch

BEFORE PICTURES

AFTER PICTURES

Romantic Interiors

This Valentine’s day has inspired my late night post of romantic interiors. Be inspired by these photos  and take notes on how to make your interior a little more romantic this season! I love rooms like these, where they seem to tell a story. These interiors are filled with warmth and a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ . You can’t help but want to curl up with your special someone in these rooms!

How to get this look:

• Use dusty pinks and soft purple as your colour scheme
• Light and airy accents in Benjamin Moore Cloud White
• Decadent wallpaper
• Mirror and glass surfaces
• Thick crown moulding
• Sparkling chandeliers
• Old and rustic picture frames
• Re purposed furniture

My top 5 DIY headboards

A headboard really frames your bed and sets the tone for your bedroom. Some headboards end up costing you more than what you paid for your mattress and can be a bit pricey! I’ve come up with some budget friendly ideas while making your own custom headboard. Breaking your piggy bank is not a pre requisite for stylish interiors!

1. Recycle old wood and nail them together. Exposing the nails is an eclectic touch! Add some flair with a painted inspirational word or favourite song lyric. If you are religious, you could even paint your favourite passage like “John 3:16”. If you are a romantic you could get your partner in on the fun and have them paint a cute message or some xoxo’s.

2. Who knew tin could look so chic? All you need to do is get some recycled tin that they use for houses and draw out a stencil of the shape you want it. Have a professional welder cut it to be percise… and safe.

3. Shutters can add a quick fix to a boring bedroom. Keep it rustic like this picture or paint it in a high gloss colour like hot pink, rose, or teal!

4. French inspired bedrooms often have a lot of charm and character. Try reclaimed wood doors in their natural form. The raw element adds a romantic touch! Add oversized Euro sham pillows and a lace or cotton  bed skirt. Keep all in earth tones and fresh linen white. Gorgeous!!

5. For a fun approach, try salvaging an old convenience sign! With a bit of a clean and maybe a touch up of paint on the letters, this vintage sign will soon be the life of your bedroom!

Small space with a grand scheme

This picture I found really caught my eye. I was drawn to the oversized items in this room as if there were no limitations for this design scheme. Clearly it’s a small space, but that didn’t stop them from creating a grand scheme. I love the thick black and white striped wing backed chairs; it adds a bold touch to the space. Every accessory in this space is over sized and it really works! The trick is to have a neutral back drop with accents in similar wood tones and punches of bold pattern or colour in selected areas. If you have a small space but love this look try it! Don’t set limitations for creativity.

Piero Lissoni’s Lounge: From Italy to Toronto

I had the privilege of meeting Piero Lissoni’s business partner Nicoletta and her right hand lady Carin Scheve. We met prior to the Interior Design Show at SNOB in Toronto to discuss design plans for their lounge at the show. Piero Lissoni Associati is a design company that is very inspiring to designers everywhere. Nicoletta and Piero’s son was a guest speaker at IDS and their booth was one of the highlights at the show. The style was minimalistic without being cold; with warm accents in plum and textured accessories like artifacts and architectural poles. The furniture was low to the ground and added a casual feel, while the white marble coffee table and side table adds a bit of sophistication. It was the perfect mix!

This is my picture with the lovely Carin and Nicoletta, all the way from Italy.

Here are pictures of Piero Lissoni’s lounge.