{ Posts Tagged ‘budget’ }

great outdoors with arren williams

Looks like I’m not the only one with a major crush on the outdoor offerings from HomeSense this summer!

Toronto-based style and design expert Arren Williams has put a fresh spin on outdoor decor (no tiki torches allowed!) with the latest and greatest from HomeSense. (You’ll even recognize a few pieces that I brought with me for my HomeSense vignette on Tuesday’s CityLine!)

madeintheshade great outdoors with arren williamsArren’s got repurposing down to an art. That cute, thick-striped canopy over the Lutyens-style teak bench is actually a hammock ($35)! And this chic shade couldn’t be easier to make. “With a quick and easy stitch, create a pocket in the centre of the hammock to insert your dowel and form your canopy’s peak,” Arren says. “Using eye hooks and cord, anchor your new awning to the wall or fence and watch your outdoor space turn into a place.” Arren rounds out the vignette with a delightful mix-and-match array of floral patterned pillows.

gardengallery great outdoors with arren williamsThis is what I mean when I describe something as “Trad Rad”: a traditional decorating idea turned on its head in a completely radical way. Substitute alfresco-fabulous melamine dinnerware for granny’s china, and the facade of your house for the kitchen wall, and you’ve got a stunning summer look. “These melamine plates and platters ($3 to $7 each) in complementary shades of mod blues and greens are bold, graphic and so much fun,” Arren says. “I loaded up on different shapes and sizes, then planned out a symmetrical pattern on the floor before attaching each to the wall with plate hangers and screws to create this striking garden gallery effect.”

verticallyinclined great outdoors with arren williams

No place to grow but up? Consider stacking lightweight (and incredibly inexpensive!) planters. “When building a vertical garden, use a range of planter sizes to stack and create varying heights,” Arren suggests. “Make it look like you have a well-practiced green thumb by overplanting your pots with a mix of lush greenery — adding instant impact to your high-rise patio or back porch.” Here, Arren’s arranged fibreglass planters (from $30 each) top-to-bottom to achieve a striking architectural effect.

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cityline – backyard benches… on a budget!

Doesn’t it look like I’m getting in trouble here?

cityline cityline backyard benches... on a budget!

I had a BLAST pulling together three style-for-less vignettes for yesterday’s episode of CityLine… Watch the video clip of my outdoor rooms crafted from the best budget finds at IKEA, Canadian Tire and HomeSense by clicking here!

Which budget bench from the vignettes best suits your backyard?

Malaro acacia wood folding bench, $80, IKEA

ikea cityline backyard benches... on a budget!

Hudson resin-wicker weave loveseat, $230, Canadian Tire

canadiantire cityline backyard benches... on a budget!

Lutyens-style green lacquer, $250, HomeSense

homesense cityline backyard benches... on a budget!

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fabulous home decor finds under $25

There’s no question that Christmas can put a strain on the purse strings. From the food and drinks for parties to Christmas gifts big and small (and maybe a new dress for the many events you’re attending), the holidays seem to come with a cost, despite even the best efforts to be festive but frugal. And it’s always nice to update your home decor with beautiful things as you prepare to throw open your doors to friends and family. So we’ve rounded up 10 fabulous home decor finds, all under $25. Adding style to your home doesn’t have to cost a bundle. Below is one of our favourite finds, a gorgeous blanket from etsy.com. Check out the full story: 10 home decor finds under $25.

blanket etsy fabulous home decor finds under $25

designed to sell

Today`s real estate market is proving stressful for home buyers and sellers. How do you know when to buy and when to wait? What upgrades are worth the investment to attract potential buyers? What are the key considerations you should keep in mind before you buy or sell? styleathome.com checked in with Linda Turner, a real estate agent with Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty in Mississauga, Ont. and she revealed some secrets that will help you make the most of your move and get the most bang for your buck. Read the full story here: 10 secrets from a real estate agent. Plus, check out these gorgeous photos (below) of a Surrey, B.C. home that was designed on a budget to sell. You`ll want to check out those great ideas, too! Read the full story here: Sell this house: Budget-friendly decorating ideas

P.S. For more great decorating and design ideas, follow me on Twitter!

house1 designed to sell
house2 designed to sell
house3 designed to sell
house4 designed to sell
house5 designed to sell

get the look of a hotel terrace

hotelterrace get the look of a hotel terrace

Let’s face it — we’re more inclined to be pulling the “staycation” this summer. Instead of flying to some far-flung, sun-drenched vacation resort, we’re going to invest in our own nest and hunker down in our own private havens.

But that doesn’t mean abandoning glamour, of course. Even in the depths of a gloomy economy, you can bring the look of a haute hotel terrace home with a few well-chosen bargains from HomeSense. Yes, ladies and gents — that vignette above is strictly style-for-less stuff, pulled together entirely from HomeSense!

Here’s the lowdown on those low-priced, high-style outdoor essentials:

1daybed get the look of a hotel terraceOutdoor daybed, $1,300

 

5pillows get the look of a hotel terraceMetallic cushions, from $20 – $35 each

 

4glassvases get the look of a hotel terraceDecorative handblown glass vases, from $10 – $15 each

 

3icebucket get the look of a hotel terraceGlass ice bucket, $50

 

Coming soon to a HomeSense near you!

 

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