Which chair would you choose?
At times, something as simple as choosing a chair can be a real challenge. On a recent makeover of my daughter’s bedroom there were three chairs that I liked. I couldn’t decide which one to choose, so I asked for your opinion on Facebook. The options were blue, white or wood. I knew there was no wrong answer, since it’s all a matter of personal style, but I wanted to get your opinions....
What to hang in a dining room
A dining room is the perfect place to hang art. There’s usually at least one long wall to hang a piece or a group of pieces to create the right dining ambience. Since it’s a place for your family and guests to gather to share a meal together, hang something interesting that will spark a conversation and that’s enjoyable to look at too. Here are some ideas for what to...
H&M’s new Home collection – affordable & stylish
For those of you who have not had a chance to visit one of H&M’s new Home stores, I have you covered. I recently shopped at one and loved the company’s new home décor accessories. If you like H&M’s clothing, there’s a good chance you’ll like their stylish Home collection. Just like their clothes and accessories, their home products are reasonably priced and fashionable. This window display showcases some of...
Got a product idea? Watch the movie Joy
If you have a product idea and don’t know what to do with it, you must watch the movie Joy. 20th Century Fox This is the true story of Joy Mangano (Jennifer Lawrence) who invents the Miracle Mop. The life of inventor Joy Mangano’s path to success was paved with roadblocks both inside and outside of the family. Despite all the obstacles, she managed to carry through and created her own...
Movie set design inspiration
Some movies are best remembered for what’s happening in them while others are remembered more for their soundtrack, costumes or set design. For me it’s all about design. With the Academy Awards just a couple of days away, I’ve been thinking about the set design of The Intern, which is to-die-for gorgeous. If you want to find out about all the latest trends in design, they’re all in the movie. Absolutely worth...
House tour: The Calgary Trend House
If you’re a fan of mid-century modern homes you’ll love Mike and Jennifer’s house. Their home isn’t just about the furnishings and the interior, it’s the whole package. Their bungalow was built in 1954, one of the first mid-century houses built in the city of Calgary, and has now been designated as a Historic Municipal Resource, which means it is protects and can never be torn down. The TV show Mad Men...
Creating a gallery on a small wall space
This narrow wall in my daughter’s bedroom was begging for attention. It looked bare and unfinished compared to the rest of the room. Although it’s a small wall space, it was a challenging one to style. The wall is narrow, sandwiched between two doors and has two light switches and an electrical outlet. I tried placing a small dresser against the wall to cover up the switches, but it felt...
How to hang a group of mirrors in a bedroom
I love symmetry, but when I was hanging these funky little mirrors, symmetry was not the answer. Because of their round shape, an uneven fluid display was my choice to soften the square headboard and create a fun focal point for the room. Here’s how I hung them. This is my daughter’s bedroom that I recently re-decorated. Finding something fun and interesting to hang above a headboard can be a...
Make sure your Valentine doesn’t forget about Valentine’s Day!
Here’s my way of dropping subtle hints to my partner that Valentine’s Day is only a few days away. I know, it’s not so subtle, is it? Well, at least it’s fun. Some couples like to surprise each other on Love Day, I’m more from the school of ….Chérie, what should we do for Valentine’s Day? So ladies, gents too, if you feel that the 14th should be celebrated...
5-step bedroom refresh
Sometimes all a room needs is a fresh coat of paint to bring it to life. Ladies, think of it as a new outfit for a room. Add new bed sheets, art on the wall, rearrange the furniture and it feels like we have a brand new room. Here are 5 easy décor updates I did to freshen up my daughter’s bedroom. This bedroom worked really well originally, but when my daughter...
Wood ceiling: to paint or not to paint?
Our contractor thought I had completely lost my mind when I said I wanted to paint EVERYTHING white in our cottage’s main living space. Everything, including the ceiling, walls and all the trim. Some say that painting a cedar ceiling white is a no-no because the wood adds charm and character to a space. But I had other plans for our old cottage, and charming was not what I was going for. So...
Drab to fab: powder room makeover
We gave a basic builder grade powder room some much needed love. It used to be dark and sad looking. We brought it to life with some bright floral wallpaper, a pretty light fixture and a glossy white ornate mirror. We did all of that with a minimal budget. The room couldn’t have been any more basic. It had a standard pedestal sink, brass and nickel faucets, a bevelled oval...