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facebook readers share their around-the-house resolutions for 2012
- by Natalie Bahadur
- Jan 11, 2012
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The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to resolve to make changes around the house. Here at Style at Home, we have our own list of promises we plan to keep when it comes to our homes. Check out our around-the-house resolutions for the year. Plus, we asked our Facebook readers for their at-home resolutions and here’s what they had to say:
Looking to decorate your home?
Always dreamed of being an interior designer?
Then head to Pottery Barn!
Two months ago, I set out with a mission to makeover my former condo’s bathroom with a barely there budget of under a thousand dollars. 1k may seem like a lot, but it’s amazing how quickly paint, flooring and plumbing can eat away at that stash of cash. A charming concept image inspired the classic meets mod-industrial aesthetic I was envisioning for my drab and dated bathroom. Here’s a look at the before:
I’ve always loved paneling, especially grid paneling. It seems to elevate a home by adding depth, class and interest. But as many of us already know, it can be pricey!
Lately, I’ve been inspired by so many beautiful rooms out there that I had to try it myself. But to do it in a way that would cut the cost, not the impact! Here’s what I came up with.
One of our Fall 2011 trends is wood, but would you install a wood ceiling?
What do you think? Is wallpaper in the kitchen a do or a don’t?
Kitchen Utensils with Ovals in Teal, Salmon & Lime on White (KB8583) from Bistro 750 by York Wallcoverings, $42.99 per single roll; yorkwall.com or 1-800-375-9675.
Read the rest of this entry »
When I was designing my nursery I came across Monte, a Canadian manufacturer who makes gliders that fit into more modern home decor. It was refreshing to know that there were companies out there that took modern approaches to baby items. Although we didn’t get our glider from them, we bought our son Oscar this little Cubino chair from them for our TV room. Oscar is already in love (see him pictured above in it!)
I fell in love with the the charcoal and green colour combo as it was soft and soothing and went with the rest of the decor in our house.
Monte Cubino Chair, $109 + shipping.
Lindsay Stephenson is one of our guest bloggers, who has her eye on all things fabulous in Toronto. When not scouting out the coolest stores and the fabbest finds in the city, Lindsay runs a stationery business (Penny People Designs) and blogs about her life and home decorating projects on Aubrey & Lindsay’s Little House Blog.
As fun as soaking up the sun can be in the summer, it’s less than ideal for an entertainer, their guests, or their food to roast in the heat. Whether you’re entertaining or unwinding with a book in the backyard, it’s always a good idea to have a place where you can escape the elements – rain or shine!
A sheltered nook creates the perfect retreat to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. There are numerous ways to create a chilled outdoor oasis. So don’t sweat it… we’ve got three tips to keep you cool:
1 Umbrellas
Both classic and timeless, umbrellas are a great option to create shade during the summer. Instead of being confined to putting your umbrella in the middle of your table or lounge area, explore the use of cantilever umbrellas. Using two square 10’ x 10’ umbrellas, side by side, looks very chic and maximizes your shade area, while making a strong presence.
2 Pavilion
Pavilions are a great option for creating shade if you have the space. Ideal for defining an outdoor area, pavilions create an intimate environment for outdoor entertaining or provide protection from the sun for your family to play under. Combined with a comfortable sectional and low table, a pavilion creates a perfect backyard retreat.
3 Awning
An awning is a great space saving alternative to traditional shade products. When you don’t have a lot of room, an awning gives you the freedom to have shade and shelter when you please, at the twist of a handle.
Designer and entertaining expert Andrew Bockner is the owner of Andrew Richard Designs, a Canadian luxury furniture brand celebrated for its materials and designs. Andrew Bockner creates custom, unique experiences to enhance both the space and lifestyle of his customers.
As a long time reader of STYLE AT HOME prior to joining the editorial team, I always wondered how on earth high+low was pulled off. How could the spaces look so similar at such different price points?
Well my dears, after watching senior design editor Margot Austin in action I can tell you it is no easy feat! You have to have the eyes of a hawk, the memory of an elephant and the endurance of a racehorse.
Animal allusions aside, you truly do require a mental catalogue of the retail design market indexed in your head and the energy and passion to hunt down matches, organize them all into a single studio space, and then whip up two nearly identical interiors.
Phew- even writing that has me exhausted…
As a high+low rookie, I was keen to observe how a cozy nook was created out of a blank canvas of studio space. Photographer extraordinaire Nina Teixeira was a superstar, helping put up wallpaper, creating a window where there wasn’t one, and unpacking and unwrapping boxes and bags of furniture and accessories like it was no one’s business! (And that’s on top of her amazing photography skills of course!)
Starting by laying down floating flooring, we layered the big furniture elements with accessories and human touches, such as a glass of sparkling rose, to make the space come alive and feel like a real interior.
Of course there were bumps in the road, like when we realized the wrong colour rug had been delivered for our “high” and in our excitement of the proper white one arriving, put it down in the incorrect “low” setting we were shooting first– oops!
Another memorable moment was taking a 15-minute breather to catch the final minutes of Oprah’s last show while commenting on how her coral ombre L’Wren Scott ensemble totally complemented our set. O, you are always right on trend!
All of the insanity that goes into creating high+low is worth its weight in gold though, because it shows that you can mix and match items at different price points and choose to invest in some pieces, and save on others – but still have a fabulous home!
I also love how the feature explains reasons for the price disparity, for example, for this High/Low we explain that the white chest we used in our “high” is finished by hand in a high gloss enamel, which requires hours of work to achieve, as opposed to the “low” which is simply a matte finish.
It’s not just about the different numbers, it’s about “the why” too- knowledge is power!
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