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12 quick-fixes for holiday decorating 12 quick-fixes for holiday decorating
12 quick-fixes for holiday decorating ofHoliday decorating tips 1 - 10 We love to entertain, particularly during the holidays. And for us, creating atmosphere is a critical starting point for everything that comes thereafter -- just try getting into the party mood if you haven't properly decked your halls. Try these 12 seasonal styling tips. Simple, but, hey, even at Christmas less is more!1 Nothing sets the scene better than sweet aromas wafting through the air. Try scented candles -- these days, even supermarkets sell an assortment of fabulous olfactory delights. Or, back in bonny Scotland, we have an old but favourite trick: chuck a couple of vanilla pods into your log fire to promote mood.2 As an alternative to standard name cards, tie Christmas gift tags displaying guests' names around the stems of wineglasses.3 Wrap oranges with a cross of red ribbon and stud the flesh with cloves. Instantly gorgeous, and they smell better each day. After Christmas, once the oranges are completely dry, pop some into the back of your wardrobe to freshen your clothes.4 Forget tradition -- indulge your senses with whatever colour combos you like. We're currently working on a festive aqua and silver living room and a marshmallow pink and duck-egg blue dining room.5 Use gold- or silver-ink pens to write guests' names on extra-large leaves like those from a castor oil plant, and use as chargers under side plates.6 Slip lottery tickets inside store-bought Christmas crackers as an extra surprise.7 Arrange a snaking line of brightly coloured votive holders (with flickering candles in each) down the centre of your dining table. Simple but very effective. 8 Arrange white Christmas lights in a favourite glass vase as an instant conversation starter. Simply switch on and let the twinkling begin!9 IKEA sells gorgeous glass prisms that will add sparkle to pretty much anything you like. Using fishing line, hang them from your tree or a light fixture, or arrange in an artistic grouping at your window. 10 To create a minimalist display, spray dried flowers white and silver, and arrange inside a large, clear tank vase filled with white pebbles. More holiday decorating tips 11 Fireplaces should make a statement when Santa's on his way. Cram your mantel with pinecones, greenery and flickering tea lights. Dress with clementines and cinnamon-stick bundles tied with ribbon.12 Our top Christmas shopping decor source? Dollar stores. We go wild in the aisles during the run up to the 25th. Candles, doilies, glassware -- the lot. Maybe it's the Scottish in us, but we love a bargain. Colin and Justin in the kitchen The boys share two recipes that are sure to fill your noses and tummies with Christmas cheer.Homemade potpourri Evoke mood and memories in even the most Scrooge-like guests with your own potpourri. It couldn't be easier. First, cut two oranges into thin slices and arrange on a broiling pan. Bake in a medium hot oven, turning occasionally until bone dry. Allow to cool and pop into a freezer bag. Break a couple of cinnamon sticks into the mix and add a few drops of rose oil or your favourite aromatic essence. Close the bag, shake lightly and leave overnight. Finally, arrange in an attractive bowl.Mulled wine For a good party, make sure you get the alcohol balance right. We're not saying you should get sloshed (mind you, it is Christmas!), but a wee, ahem, tincture makes all the difference. As guests arrive, serve them mulled wine in sparkly Moroccan tea glasses. Here's a tried- and- tested Colin and Justin recipe to bring even the dullest bottle of vin rouge to life: In a saucepan, bring a cup of lemonade to a boil. Stir in two tablespoons of honey, the juice of two oranges, six whole cloves and a couple of crumbled cinnamon sticks. Boil for five minutes. Add the wine, then simmer gently for another 10 minutes. Strain through a sieve, pour into glasses and be merry! -
Peek inside a stylish Hollywood home Peek inside a stylish Hollywood home
Peek inside a stylish Hollywood home ofHow Darren Star created his open-concept home Ross Clementi Hale Studios chose a clean, modern aesthetic to reflect both the existing house and the sophistictaed lifetsyle of Star. The architects wanted to open up spaces as much as possible, creating constant connections with the outdoors. Large glass walls, doors, and windows (some of them pivoting) contribute to dematerializing the boundaries between inside and out.Stylish. Modern. Fabulous. These words describe Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw and could just as easily fit the house that the show's creator and executive producer, Darren Star, lives in. But like Carrie, there is much more to this chic ultramodern house than meets the eye. "To execute something that looks deceptively simple is sometimes really hard and is very interesting to me," says Star. Much as he has done with the popular series he has created over the past decade (Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, and the aforementioned Sex and the City), Star has created a living space that is hard to forget once you experience it. With the help of architect Mark Rios of Rios Clementi Hale Studios, Star set about turning the house, designed in the 1950s by Hal Levitt, into an interesting multidimensional environment that hooks you the minute you walk up to it. The front entry of smooth concrete and frosted glass accented by concrete pavers and ironwood planks offers an entrance as sexy and theatrical as any of his shows.Since growing up in a very modern house, Star has always been drawn to contemporary architecture. He loves the work of the legendary modernist master Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Known for the dynamic sensual curves and "pavilion" feeling of his spaces, Niemeyer worked with Le Corbusier and Wallace Harrison on the United Nations headquarters in New York. Star wanted to incorporate both of these aspects of Niemeyer's work into his home. He is also a Richard Neutra fan, and lived in a house designed by the late famed L.A. modern architect Charles Kanner in Malibu prior to this residence. "Los Angeles is a city that is home to a lot of great modern architecture, but I wanted to do it in a comfortable way. Doing this house was a way to kind of explore that." In the modern den two Calder crème leather and chrome sofas by Minotti are paired with a custom-designed white lacquered oak coffee table. The curvy little peanut-shaped side table was made by Robert Kuo Designs, in hand-hammered bronze. Greeting visitors as they enter the home is Paint Chip Painting by Peter Wegner (visible near the door at left). Bigg Dipper by Ed Ruscha hangs on the wall at the right.To achieve this thoroughly modern -- and very L.A. -- aesthetic, Star and architect Mark Rios worked closely to open up the house by not only adding eight hundred square feet but also creating deliberate "constant connections with the outdoors." They had the landscaping completely redone to create a "wet outdoor living room," with a fourteen-by-thirty-five-foot swimming in the center. A submerged bench runs the spacious length of the pool, creating a unique space for Star and friends to enjoy a cosmopolitan or two. The back corner of the pool features a raised spa with two waterfalls, one spilling smoothly back into the pool and the other flowing into a sunken rock garden. On one side of the pool a long, rectangular ironwood deck holds sleek lounge chairs and planters of colorful native flora. Supported by thirteen caissons driven into the bedrock hillside, the deck extends the small yard by twelve feet. Star had the hedges torn down to extend the views from all sides. A bed of resilient, newly planted dichondra grass forms an ultra cool "outside" carpet between the house and the swimming pool.With its large glass walls, doors, and windows, the house offers the feeling of being inside and outside at the same time. "There are a lot of examples of these types of houses around the country; Philip Johnson's Glass House is probably the most well known, but [indoor/outdoor living] particularly works well in Los Angeles because of the weather. You are really able to have the experience all year round." Natural material elements that are used both indoors and outdoors also blur the boundaries and add to the sense of flow. Star has spent quite a bit of time in Indonesia and loves the fresh and modern feeling of the indigenous homes, especially in Bali. "They all have a lot of natural woods," he notes, and he wanted to incorporate a little bit of that feeling into the house. Star also had bamboo planted around the property's perimeter not only to maintain privacy but also to give the house a bit of that Eastern flavor. The all-ironwood decks extend into the addition in one place bringing the natural materials-elements directly inside.Excerpted from Hip Hollywood Homes by Sue Hostetler Copyright © 2006 by Sue Hostetler. Excerpted by permission of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Attention to all the details The guest bathroom, with its distinctive custom-designed mosaic mirror, reflects interior designer Milo Baglioni's attention to detail throughout the home. He found the Thor light fixtures at DIVA in Los Angeles and paired them with a Philippe Starck faucte and stainless-steel and wood sink.Star has been an avid modern art collector for a number of years, but with no great places in his former homes to hang the art. When thinking about the renovation of this new house, deciding where the art -- including a number of works he owns by Ed Ruscha -- should go in the space was the most fun for him. Star worked with interior designer Milo Baglioni to incorporate the art into the decor. "The house is very much about the art," he asserts. It was important that the balance of shapes and colors or the feeling or mood of the art could be seen or experienced from the best vantage point possible but also that the decor provided a clean, uncluttered, and comfortable environment in which to view it. Baglioni used contemporary furnishings in soft upholstery and neutral colors to create the desired effect.Star looks for the same qualities in interior design that he looks for in his art: specific and designed -- but not overtly so -- stylish, comfortable, and clean. Not very interested in narrative art, Star has much more of a minimalist sensibility: "I can appreciate a white painting." One of the reasons he is such a fan of Ruscha's is because at first glance, "the work seems very simple but as you look closely at the detail of brushstrokes and the variations of color, you see things that are not as simple as you thought." The physical interior of the house has very clean lines with no visible moldings. A lack of ornate decoration leaves the walls exposed in a way that allows one to notice the imperfections. "It is in the complication where you can hide imperfections. It's so much harder to make something simple than it is to make something complicated," says Star. Only the creator of Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, and Sex and the City could get away with an opulent faux ostrich leather and mahogany custom-made bed. The bed is framed by a pair of panneauz de verre mahogany side tables, emebellished with hand-painted glass panels and bronze bamboo motif. A retro Delaunay cord-colored leather and chrome chair is by Minotti, behind which hangs a piece by renowned Cuban artist Enrique Celaya.Though the house predictably has immense style, it has a lot of warmth in keeping with Star's wish that the house "feel like a home and not like a magazine layout." He thinks of it as a very comfortable, happy house. This "smart house" has great electronics built in and is exceptionally wired for music and television. Star installed a hidden projector in the living room; it was "the first thing I did in the house and it is my very favorite toy," he says. He loves watching movies there and lying on the couch in the glass walled addition, feeling surrounded by nature.Like the rest of the residence, the new pool room addition is almost seamlessly connected to the landscape. The ironwood from the outdoor deck reaches into the room, where it meets flush with the white terrazzo floor. Floor-to-ceiling steel and glass doors slide on tracks that extend beyond the house so the room can be opened to the outdoors. Star thought the space originally intended to be his workspace was too spectacular to use as "my big messy office" He admits that his office at home (he also has one on the Sony lot) has a much different feeling than the rest of the house. It may be one of the very few places that the clean and clutter-free aspect of his modern aesthetic goes astray. The space is darker than the rest of the house and scripts pile up on his desk. Above all of the clutter and organized chaos, however, hangs a painting of a simple question mark by Ed Ruscha, perhaps reminding Star that the disorder comes and goes, no matter how much you try to keep it at bay. Wherever there's an intentionally ordered, clean surface -- minimalist at its finest -- something big and creative is lurking nearby.Excerpted from Hip Hollywood Homes by Sue Hostetler Copyright © 2006 by Sue Hostetler. Excerpted by permission of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.- Credit
- Susan Hostetler
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Changing seasons Changing seasons
Changing seasons ofGet seasonal The seasons have a way of changing so suddenly, leaving us wondering what happened to the hot and humid days of June and July. As the weather changes outside your home, it's a great idea to make some changes inside your home. Here are some tips for inspired seasonal decorating. Rearrange your furniture Nothing's cosier than two chairs by a roaring fire in winter, but moving them to a screened window that catches breezes in the summer sure beats sitting around an empty hearth. Choose adjustable window coverings Strong summer rays need filtering, but scarce winter sun needs welcoming. Fabrics and shades that filter instead of block sunlight offer comfort levels appropriate to the conditions outside. Bamboo blinds, lightweight linen and adjustable wooden shutters, all accompanied by side draperies that shut out more light if necessary, are all easily adapted choices.Invest in slipcovers Dressing furniture in a seasonable wardrobe has long been a popular way to "summerize" a room. Though slipcovers are expensive, you don't need to cover a whole suite of furniture. Choose a base colour for the sofa and dress the smaller pieces in seasonal colours. Accessorize Since you need two sets, keep accessories simple. There are plenty of stores that offer moderately priced stylish accessories, and don't forget secondhand shops for one-of-a-kind bargains. Also inexpensive and even cheaper than flowers are bowls of seasonal fruit, such as strawberries in June and pomegranates in December, which instantly set a seasonal mood - and unlike flowers, you can eat them. Invest in a few choice year-round double-duty accessories that serve different functions winter and summer, such as a large good-quality basket for firewood in winter that holds your entire stack of must-read books in the summer.- Credit
- Kathleen Dore
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Lottery home makeover Lottery home makeover
Lottery home makeover ofliving room Big, bold pattern and vibrant colours make a splash in this contemporary White Rock, B.C., home by Sarah Richardson Design. The grand prize in the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery, it's the fourth big-give-away house Sarah has designed. "I really love doing the lottery homes," she says. "It's a world of make-believe, like a show home. They end up being the most revealing of what I'm in sync with in design." For Sarah, that means a house that's comfy and fun for a family, and ideal for entertaining. It's one that coddles its owners -- an escape that's about ease, indulgence and glamour, too. The bonus: this is style for a good cause.Kick-in-the-pants-purple walls add bold, bracing colour in the living room of this charity lottery home. Designer Sarah Richardson chose furniture with understated, tradtional lines as a backdrop for exciting elements like colour, pattern and texture.STYLE AT HOME The colours are quite vibrant. The living room is a huge surprise. Why did you go with purple on the walls?SARAH RICHARDSON It's a fairly regal purple, not aubergine. It's more like Concord grape. When everything was in the room -- furniture, accents, pillows -- I walked in and thought, "It needs a kick in the pants." That's how purple ended up on the walls -- as a fun experiment. I like to do something with strength, and using a hit of colour on the walls is easier to change than, say, a sofa, where I prefer a neutral like the soft grey we used here. You can change the two purple side chairs, but the sofa is the most expensive piece. dining room The glass dining room table doesn't visually consume too much space yet easily seats six to eight. A cream-and-indigo palette is carried through the silk drapery, cane-pattern fabric on the dining chairs, and two wall colours. The mirror has a strong geometric feel.S@H What was your inspiration for the home? SR Much of it came from the West Coast climate, which means lots of grey, foggy days. The popular palette there tends to be rustic, colours like subdued olives and mustards; I thought about what I'd want if I lived there, and I'd crave colour. It's also a contemporary house, and contemporary without colour can feel cold. page 3 A light-colour tile backsplash and CaesarStone countertops bring a cookies-and-cream feel to the dark-stained kitchen cabinetry. The check fabric on the bar stools adds a haberdashery element. The cooking area provides an all-encompassing view of multiple sitting areas. S@H Pattern is a huge story in this house, too. SR Pattern isn't something to shy away from. I personally prefer patterns with a modern sensibility -- large-scale and monochromatic. Then I'll use accent colours to create tension. I'm also really interested in the lives of young families, and I think their homes should have a certain sense of happiness and casual ease. Rooms with soft and serene palettes -- we've seen that, it's been done. That said, I also used tons of white and cream in this house to temper the bold patterns and colours. page 4 "The master bedroom works for me because it has a balance of elements," says Sarah. "The palette of smoky blues and greys is masculine, but the motifs and accessories infuse the room with femininity. The furniture is crisp and tailored, the bed is soft with fine linens, and the white glass chandelier is romantic, but I like romance that's sexy."S@H The bedrooms are pretty luxe.SR I'm a big believer that bedrooms are for escaping. We all need a place for that. Also, there should be a balance of masculine and feminine elements in master bedrooms. It's pretty awful what we did to men in the '80s; we subjected them to a lot of frou-frou. S@H How did you achieve a seamless feeling from room to room?SR I like a space that's done right down to the artwork and accessories, so I adopt a save-splurge mentality. I'd rather use an inexpensive fabric -- the master bedroom headboard is upholstered in a $15 per yard grey flannel -- and splurge on beautiful lamps and original art. I don't compromise on consistency. All the finishing details -- the accessories -- are complete and work with the look. Each room gets the golden touch. page 5 A subdued grey-and-white palette in the master ensuite is enlivened by multiple tile patterns. "I like to bring in dynamism and textural interest through materials," says Sarah. Carrara marble, a penny-round pattern on the wall behind the sink, and different patterns in the shower and on the floor make "your eye work a little harder to seek out the detail," she says. The oversize sconces create a statement. "They're not something you'd usually see in a bathroom.""Life is so busy and chaotic -- let's design homes that are a bit playful. Have some fun with decorating." - Sarah Richardson, designer- Credit
- Kathleen Dore
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Home office decor: 10 creative alternatives Home office decor: 10 creative alternatives
Home office decor: 10 creative alternatives ofCreative solutions: 1 to 5 Sure, you can furnish and accessorize your home office with standard desks, magazine holders and letter trays from Staples or IKEA and be done with it, but why not treat your office to the same high decor standards as the rest of your home? Start with our top 10 creative alternatives as inspiration and then let your imagination fill in the blanks. 1 Anchor deskRather than the boring old melamine desk, look for a lightweight dining table that can later do double duty as, well, a dining table, if you ever need extra room for company. 2 Peripheral perfectionUsing furnishings that match your home's decor is a great way to incorporate your office into the overall scheme, especially if it's in a corner of a living room or kitchen. Try a side or end table with a drawer or shelf to hold your printer and paper, a large chest to hide files, or a coffee table with shelves and baskets for extra storage. 3 Pegboard pileupTake the pegboard out of the tool shed and into the office to hang all your essentials, from scissors to staplers. Paint the pegboard and hooks matching or complementary colours, according to your decor. 4 Shoe shineMaking use of vertical space will help keep your desk clear of non-essential items. Hang a shoe caddy on the back of your door and fill the slots with staples, wiring, CD-ROMs and more. Don't forget to label for easy retrieval. 5 Screen gemsReinvent a decorative screen by applying a cork board or chalkboard paint for an instant message centre. A screen is especially useful if your office shares space with a den or dining room. Creative solutions: 6 to 10 6 Local hangoutTo keep everyday items close at hand but off the desk, use a suspension rail with a cutlery basket for pens and pencils, and hooks for scissors and headphones. 7 Curtain callHang curtain wire and clips for note cards, messages and invitations, rather than tossing them in a letter tray and later having to dig through a large stack of paperwork.8 A tisket a tasketStore magazines, files, extra paper, mail and more in baskets of varying shapes and sizes hung along a wall. Baskets are available in a range of materials, from wicker to wire, so choose something that adds to your decor. 9 Tray chicKeep pens, pencils, markers and other writing instruments organized and out of the way in a utensil tray kept in your desk drawer. For smaller items, like pushpins and paper clips, use a tray with multiple compartments, such as a glass tealight holder or muffin tin. 10 Flower powerWho says planters are for plants? Bring your favourite planter, pot, tumbler or vase into your home office and put it to use as a pen and pencil holder. Of course, you could always arrange flowers in it as well -- even a home office needs some verdant vivacity. -
Dream master bedroom suite: Where to find it Dream master bedroom suite: Where to find it
Dream master bedroom suite: Where to find it ofpage 1 SUITE DREAMSIn creating the luxurious Dream Master Bedroom Suite for the STYLE AT HOME Show (October 17 –19 at Toronto's Direct Energy Centre), Style at Home's design team made fantasy reality. Complete with top on-trend ideas and indulgences, such as an espresso station, fireside lounge, and a mix of modern and traditional elements for timeless appeal, the suite was an inspirational retreat and the focal point of the three days of style, shopping and seminars. The ultimate private escape, the suite offered tips and tricks on arranging furniture in large spaces, mixing colours and patterns, dressing a bed so it's luxe and inviting, and creating dreamy his-and-hers closets.Here's where you can find everything we used:Throughout1 carpet, cork flooring (bathroom), tile (shower): Carpet One Floor & Home, carpetone.ca 2 drapery, hardware, installation: Invu Drapery Company, invudraperyco.com3 blinds, shutters: Shade-O-Matic, shade-o-matic.com4 wallpaper: Graham & Brown, grahamandbrown.com5 paint: Natural Linen (bedroom trim), Citrine (bathroom and dressing room walls), Trillium (bathroom, dressing room and exterior trim), Twine (exterior walls), Beauti-Tone, homehardware.ca6 floral arrangements: GLP Event Decor & Florals, glpevents.caBedroom1 fabric for upholstered furniture, stool slipcovers, Euroshams, accent cushions, coverlet, table skirt, trims: through designers, Robert Allen, robertallendesign.com2 custom sewing and design for Euroshams, accent cushions, coverlet, table skirt, stool slipcovers: MacFab Fabrics, macfabfabrics.com3 custom upholstered sofa, armchairs, ottoman, slipcovered stools: Sarah Richardson Design, sarahrichardsondesign.com 4 mattress set, mattress pad, pillows, duvet, duvet cover, console tables, X stools, round skirted table, white picture frames, palm plant, orchids, orchid pots, basket planter, pink and yellow vases, rug: IKEA, ikea.ca 5 tester bed frame, desk, floor lamps, circle table lamps, black side tables, slipper chair: DeBoer's, deboers.com6 bedside chests: Constantine, 866-929-11777 fireplace mantel: The Salvage Shop, 866-825-29608 LG Scarlet 47" LCD TV: LG Electronics, ca.lge.com9 duvet cover, sheets, pillowcases, shams, trays, brown throw, ceramic drum stools: Elte, elte.com10 pendant light, brass desk lamp, magnifying glass: Universal Lamp, greatlighting.com11 glass console tops: Adanac Glass, adanacglass.com12 wallpaper on console tops: Crown Wallpaper Fabrics, 800-268-130013 desk chair, green throw, dark brown throw, alarm clock: Boj Décor, 416-545-008814 chinoiserie cabinet, brass urn lamps, sunburst mirror, gold wall decor, Chippendale prints: ChairTableLamp, 416-934-1021 15 bird plates, ceramic jars, botanical prints, gold mercury glass lamp, hurricane candleholders: Invu Drapery Company, invudraperyco.com16 cream lacquered boxes: Home Outfitters, homeoutfitters.com 17 cream ceramic lamps and vase, brown cushions, wastebasket, pink and silver picture frames, water carafe set, Venetian-style mirrors, basket: HomeSense, homesense.caBathroom1 shower enclosure: Designer Glass Company, designerglasscompany.com2 custom sink console, mirror: The Salvage Shop, 866-825-29603 tub, sinks, toilet: Canaroma Bath and Tile, canaroma.ca4 tub filler, faucets, shower system, bath hardware: Axor Hansgrohe, hansgrohe-usa.com5 cabinet: DeBoer's, deboers.com6 chair, brass trolley: ChairTableLamp, 416-934-10217 stool: West Elm, westelm.com8 white towels, robes: Londen, londeninc.com9 white baskets, yellow towels: IKEA, ikea.ca10 decorative bath accessories: Abbott, abbottcollection.com11 chandelier, sea life ceramic jar, black mirrors: Invu Drapery Company, invudraperyco.com12 sconces: Universal Lamp, greatlighting.com13 black candleholders: Bronze Home Decor, 416-913-6545Dressing room1 wardrobes and kitchen cabinetry and fittings, design and installation, chaises, mirrors, chandeliers, sink, faucet, countertop, dinnerware: IKEA, ikea.ca2 grasscloth wallpaper: Crown Wallpaper Fabrics, 800-268-13003 coffee maker: Krups, krups.ca4 wine fridge: Electrolux, electrolux.ca5 apparel: Joe Fresh, joe.ca6 steamer: Rowenta, rowenta.caExterior1 lanterns: ChairTableLamp, 416-934-10212 window boxes, urns, plants: The Home Depot, homedepot.ca- Credit
- styleathome.com
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15 ways to add autumn to your home 15 ways to add autumn to your home
15 ways to add autumn to your home ofIn the living room In the summer, our natural instinct is to lighten everything up - paler colours, more visual white space and a decidedly pared down environment. Things change. "Fall is about layering up and creating warmth," says Sally Healy, of Calgary-based Sally Healy Design. It's true that warmer, richer colours signify the season naturally, "but I can take any palette and make it look like fall," says Sally. "It's about the texture and fabric. At this time of year, [fabrics] should be more lush (think velvet) and ribbed and nubbly."Here are some of Sally's other ideas for injecting that fall feeling into your home decor. In the living roomAdd area rugs. But remember that nothing looks worse than a rug that's too small for a room – it makes the space look busy. To welcome fall, lay a Buffalo or cowhide on top of sisal or another tight rug.Things don't have to be precious to be special. Cut down branches from your yard and put them in a vase that's filled with leaves and pinecones. It's cheap and fabulous. Add a beautiful throw to the sofa (wool or fur, preferably) and change the pillows (try chenille, mohair or thick port au soie satin). Hang more drapery, specifically woolen panels. They're classic and make a space feel comfy. For a less expensive option, you could just hang side panels for anther layer over your existing window treatment.Warm up your space with painted glass in oxblood red on the back of bookshelves. The reflective sheets are exquisite and cheap. In the dining room, bedroom and bathroom In the dining roomIf there's a lot of wood and hard surfaces, soften things up by slip covering the end chairs or using upholstered end banquettes. On the table, mix things up with coloured crystal, chargers and decorative plates. Cut coloured crystal and Moroccan tea glasses – they have a richness that just feels like fall.Put bowls of coconuts on the table. The texture is perfect for this time of year, especially with a layer of baby pinecones or moss.In the bedroomLayer up the bed with a quilted blanket in satin or velvet. Upholster the headboard. Replace white lampshades with black or something lined with gold or silver. In the bathroomHang floating shelves to store books and candles and soaps. Get a long wooden tray for the counter and place vases filled with sea corals on it. Add little lamps to the vanity. If you have the room, slip cover a chair and ottoman in a warm-coloured terry cloth and a wool runner.- Credit
- Jasmine Miller
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Get the movie look: The Break-Up Get the movie look: The Break-Up
Get the movie look: The Break-Up ofLiving room style; walls & flooring Is it possible to love your home more than your spouse? In the movie, The Break-Up, a dissolved relationship did nothing to move either Gary (Vince Vaughan) or Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) out of their luxurious condo. In fact, territorial lines grew deeper and things got uglier as this unhappy couple tried everything to squeeze each other out. Observing the condo itself, it's no stretch to see how they based an entire film around this upscale dwelling. While the balance between his-and-her decor styles is a hard line to find, this chic condo hit the mark with an expert mix of hard and soft accents. The lookCarmen Wageman, designer and owner of Stage-Right Interiors in Toronto, explains this condo does more than just mix his-and-her things together. "This room features a wide assortment of styles, including retro, contemporary and traditional. When combined in this way, this style is known as 'Transitional' -- a style that is classic and timeless, simple and sophisticated."She says a "Transitional" look offers a warm and serene atmosphere through a mix of fabrics (from leather to vintage), sleek-lined furnishings and earthy green-coloured walls. Carmen recommends this living room for homeowners who value serenity and relaxation. "If you are looking to create a living room setting that invites your guests to kick up their feet and relax for a time, then this is the style you're looking for," she says. Copy the lookTo recreate the look of this condo in your own living room, Carmen suggests the following accents and furniture pieces: 1 WallsA warm, muddy undertone colour is a great backdrop for abstract art.• Try Benjamin Moore's Brandon Beige, CC-5302 FloorsA cream coloured rug with simple lines and leafy accents lends a calm, casual, peaceful look.Movie stills courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For more information on The Break-Up on DVD, visit UDVD.caCarmen Wageman's Stage Right Interiors has grown to become Toronto's largest full-service staging company. Carmen and her team can supply this look from The Break-Up as part of their "in-home" design service. Sofas, windows, tables, chairs 3 SofasWhite sofaStraight-line style with tufted back creates a mix of traditional and contemporary. This look is great if a Transitional room is what you're after. Purchased in a cream coloured ultra-suede will give you an extra modern lift with the bonus of the ultra-suede stain-resistant durability.Couch: Stylus Style: Haro Fabric: Endurance Bone Visit stylussofas.com for dealer information.Leather sofaA dark brown leather couch that sits beside a modern style couch relaxes the mood and sets the tone for lingering.Couch: Stylus Style: KylaFabric: Dark Brown LeatherVisit stylussofas.com for dealer information.4 Tables -- clean linesThe glamour of retro can be seen in this simple, edgy coffee and matching end table. The mix of wood and glass keeps this look contemporary and light.Coffee Table and End Table: Elite Style: ChelseaVisit elitedesignfurn.com for dealer information. 5 Chairs -- retro flairAdd a little whimsy to a Transitional space with a couple of retro pattern chairs. This will add colour and style to an otherwise plain pallet. This chair is a balance between masculine and feminine, soft curves and hard lines, and is a must-have for this style of room. Chair: Rowe Style: MarcelVisit rowefurniture.com for dealer information.6 WindowsA window which combines both dark wood blinds and fabric panels is rich with colour, texture and luxury. Keeping it simple is the key. Limit the pattern and keep the colour of the curtain panels lighter than the walls for a casual urban look. Panels: Sears Whole Home® 'Rio Grande' Pintuck Tab-top PanelColour: Putty Blinds: Sears Whole Home® 'Palma' Roman-style Bamboo Shade Colour:Walnut Movie stills courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For more information on The Break-Up on DVD, visit UDVD.ca- Credit
- Colleen Tully
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Domestic giants Domestic giants
Domestic giants ofThe designers talk about their new collection Whether you've been loyal to Steve and Chris via their long-standing hit TV show Designer Guys or have become a more recent fan of their latest series So Chic with Steven and Chris, you know that the pair's decorating mantra is all about embracing personal style. With years of experience under their Gucci belts and an infectious passion for solving design dilemmas, it really comes as no surprise that this spring saw the launch of their own line of home furnishings, accessories and area rugs. We sat down with the pair to discuss the inspiration behind their oh-so-chic collection and why affordable luxury is the next big thing in home decor. Styleathome.com: What inspired you to create your own home decor collection?Steven Sabados: On our television shows we custom made furniture for our clients all of the time and we had many requests for these pieces from our viewers. Until now, these pieces were one-of-a-kind and not available to the public. We also wanted to give people exciting and stylish accessories at an affordable cost so re-creating a new look in your home wouldn't break your bank. We're inspired by our many travels: trips to New York, our hunting in beiges, browns, coppers, the classic black-and-white combination. Our style is not fussy or complicated. SAH.com: You mention that the furniture collection has many "luxury features". What does this mean?CH: We have upholstered sofas, loveseats, ottomans and headboards available in over 70 fabrics and 60 leathers. By luxury, we offer that custom-made feel. You can choose your fabric, skirt or wood leg trim as well as the base. That way, you can feel as though you own a piece that is exclusive to you. All frames have a lifetime warranty and all of our accent cushions are natural feather-filled. We designed the seating of this collection with very generous proportions. Again, we wanted our pieces to be comfortable. SAH.com: With the growth of luxury products, why make the collection more budget-conscious?CH: You should be proud of your living space and we feel that affordable designer collections are important because, more often than not, designer brands are overpriced and therefore inaccessible to so many people. We still wanted to have the look and feel of more expensive furniture but also make pieces that were durable enough to withstand everyday living. The talented duos fave pieces SAH.com: What are some of your absolute favourite pieces in the S&C line?SS: We love the Irene Chair because of its versatility. Because of the tufting, it has a very lavish feel and isn't too large that it couldn't fit into a certain room in your home. It could be placed in your bedroom, as a foyer chair, head chairs in a dining room or paired up in a living room. One chair can easily travel around the house from room to room. Experimenting with your aesthetic is what it's all about. SAH.com: What are some of the big trends for fall 2007?SS: The biggest word in decorating for fall 2007 (and hopefully forever!) is 'green'. Collectively, we have to be conscious of the world we live in. We are seeing recycled materials being used to create everything from fabrics to durable carpets and decorative accessories. So this fall when decorating, go green! SAH.com: Whose home would you love to redecorate if you could?SS: I would love to decorate Drew Barrymore's house. I have loved her for years and I think she is just a down-to-earth kind of girl. It would be so fun!CH: I would love to decorate Monique Imes' house (actress from the BET television show The Parkers.). I love her sense of humour and I think she would be a riot to hang out with!The S&C line of upholstery pieces and accessories are available at over 200 retail locations across Canada. Visit stevenandchris.com for more information.- Credit
- Lara Ceroni
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12 tips that will make your house shine 12 tips that will make your house shine
12 tips that will make your house shine ofGetting fresh: Tips 1 to 6 Sure, you vacuum and do laundry every week. Your tub never has a ring and your stovetop is always shiny. You're house proud, and why not? Guests always comment on how organized and clean your place is. But this summer, even you can take it up a notch. Here are 12 easy chores that'll make your home shine. 1 Clean lampshades. Disconnect the lamp and remove the shade. If your shades are simple -- no decorations -- just use a damp cloth to gently wipe the inside and outside. If there are embellishments that need extra attention, use an old toothbrush to get them clean. Wipe down the lamp base and give the cord a once-over, too.2 Wash draperies. For fabric panels: Some can go into the washer; others (like silks and fine fabrics) can be gently vacuumed, brought to the dry cleaner or washed by hand in the sink or tub. For mini-blinds: Cover your hands in a pair of cotton socks. Dip them in warm soapy water and wipe each of the slats clean.3 Clean ceiling fan blades. Climb a ladder and dust ceiling fan blades with a feather duster.4 Dust the baseboards. If a simple dusting doesn't suffice to remove gathered dust on your baseboards, use a toothbrush to gently scrub them clean. Be careful not to damage the painted walls above. 5 Wipe and disinfect all your doorknobs, light-switch plates and telephones with a damp cloth. Use a damp paintbrush on stereo knobs and to dust its crevices. You can do the same for your remote control. 6 Wash all inside and outside doors with soapy water, remembering to wipe the top edge of the frame. Getting fresh: Tips 7 to 12 7 Clean window screens by removing them and laying them on the ground in the yard. Spray with the garden hose, wipe with a soapy cloth and rinse with the hose. 8 Clean shower curtains. Cloth curtains: Take them down and wash them in the washing machine, then hang them outside to dry. Before hanging them back up in the shower, soak them in salt water to prevent mildew. Plastic curtains: Leave them hanging in the shower and spray the top with your favourite cleaner, letting it run down to cover the entire curtain. Allow cleaner to sit for a few minutes, then rinse with the showerhead or wipe with a sponge.9 Clean drains. Nothing says summer like a fresh-smelling home, and stale drains can sometimes give off a subtle odour. In the kitchen and bathroom drains, pour about half a box of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain with a small plate or bowl for a few minutes. Complete the process by running the cold-water tap for a few minutes.10 Clean all filters. Your dehumidifier may be getting a workout this season, as will your central air conditioner and air-purifier unit. Remove each of those filters and screens, submerge them in water and gently brush with a cloth. Let stand outside to dry before reattaching.11 Disinfect all your garbage cans and recycling bins. Take them outside and douse them with cleaner. Grab a tall, cool drink and call your best friend. When you get off the phone, attack garbage cans with the garden hose. Leave them upside down on the deck and put your feet up until they drip-dry.12 Clean out the kitty litter box. Those plastic buckets, domes, houses and other containers are indestructible, it's true -- but that doesn't mean they don't get filthy. Take the litter box out to the backyard and hose it down. Soap and water will work wonders.- Credit
- Carmen Taylor
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15 ways to show off your collection 15 ways to show off your collection
15 ways to show off your collection ofTry layering and arranging items in odd numbers Designers and stylists often group objects in uneven numbers for a better look. Arrange a collection in clusters of three, five, seven or any odd number you like.2 Build a spaceIf you're the proud owner of a treasured collection, build a dedicated spot for it. Adding a shelf above your headboard, filling an awkward nook or building storage along a hallway are clever ways to claim space. Install overhead spotlights to create a museum-like look.3 Pile it highNever mind what minimalists say -- abundance is cheerful and also completely chic. To keep a big dishware or linen collection casually sophisticated, stack similar items together on open shelving.4 Elevate the everydayA beautiful vignette isn't restricted to precious collectibles; feel free to exalt everyday items to star status. For instance, display a selection of sun hats that guests and family alike can pick from on summery days.5 Move things aroundDon't just plunk it down. To create an artful display, tweak it: nudge items an inch here or there, for instance, or hang them just a little lower -- until you're delighted with the results.6 Build layersLayering items -- pillows propped in front of pillows, a stack of small books in front of a stack of larger books -- will give oomph to a smaller collection by creating the appearance of depth and density.7 Take a pictureWhen in doubt, take a snapshot; it will help you see with fresh eyes the mantel or bookcase arrangement you've been fussing over. Digital cameras are especially handy for a quick look.8 Give it a new lifeSome textiles are too charming to hide in a drawer, like lusciously printed scarves, a few yards of leftover fabric, even vintage tea towels. Repurpose them as a set of pillow covers, placemats or drapes. More tips: use light and colour to their best advantage 9 Stagger heightsMatching kitchen canisters, Russian dolls, nested mixing bowls: no need to line them up tallest to shortest; instead, arrange them like a family photo, casually gathered around one another.10 Light it rightExperiment with lighting to make your treasures shine. Low-wattage incandescent lights cast a warm glow, halogen sparkles like sunlight, and energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs have come a long way. And, of course, nothing can top the beauty of natural light.11 Find a spotAlmost any bare surface could be a canvas for a lovely display; unlikely spots make for a nice surprise. Try the side of a kitchen cabinet, a windowsill, or the inside of an unused fireplace.12 Unify dissimilar itemsHow do you make memorabilia of different shapes, varying sizes and a range of colours resemble a well-edited collection rather than unrelated items strewn about? It's easy: display them in frames of identical colours, including shadow-box frames for three-dimensional items.13 Coordinate coloursDon't stress about colour. Coordinate a palette the way you love best: all white is understated, all black is sophisticated; a rainbow of jewel tones is delightful, while soft pastels are restful.14 Give small objects groundingIf a grouping of tiny items -- antique perfume bottles, salt and pepper shakers, glass paperweights -- isn't making a big impact, ground it by arranging the items on a plate or tray, or in a shallow basket of a contrasting colour.15 Do some researchStuck for ideas? Peruse books for tips and pics on how to display your collections. These are some of our favourites.• Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers and Ali Hanan (Ryland Peters & Small, 2005)• Home Rules by Nate Berkus (Hyperion, 2005)• Pottery Barn Storage & Display (Oxmoor House, 2004)- Credit
- Helen Racanelli
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Clutter control Clutter control
Clutter control of1-2-3: Get organized! Flip through any design magazine and you'll notice the rooms are flawless. Remote controls, shampoo bottles and newspapers are nowhere to be seen. And generally, neither are people. While these houses might not appear lived in, it's really just creative clutter-solutions at work. And it is attainable -- you can achieve this look without throwing away all of life's "stuff" by effectively managing your belongings.Where to startBegin by taking photos of every room in your house. Resist the urge to straighten up beforehand. The first step to creating a home that always looks tidy is identifying the problem areas.Study the photos with an objective eye. Is the entranceway littered with jackets, shoes and bags? Does the fridge boast ratty paperwork, coupons and magnets from your local real estate agent?Once you've identified the problem areas, here are a few ideas to help you successfully manage your mess.Behind closed doorsIt wasn't until her kitchen was being overtaken by notes, bills, and postcards, that Gail White, an executive assistant in Calgary, finally discovered a way to control the clutter by utilizing an out-of-sight surface -- her pantry door."I did the garage sale circuit one Saturday and found a few cheap bulletin boards," she says. "I secured them to the inside of the pantry door, and pinned everything up in there. Everything is out of sight, and my kitchen seems much larger." In other rooms, hang large hooks on the back of your closet doors for clothing, and small hooks on the back of the medicine-cabinet door for necklaces. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn. Stylish storage Out of season, out of sightIf it's not in season, hide it. Winter jackets and shoes can be moved to your basement or attic during the summer to make room in the closet for your everyday wear. When there's space in the closet, your family will be much more inclined to tuck their belongings away.Beautiful basketsLidded baskets provide stylish storage in your living room, bathroom, and bedroom. They offer convenient hiding places for magazines and books, bath products, slippers, and other daily use items that aren't part of the décor, but a necessary part of life. Baskets can be purchased at discount stores or craft stores and can make an inexpensive and attractive addition to any room. MaintenanceNow that you've discovered a few ways to manage your clutter, be sure to maintain your new style. Continue to look for new ways to store, display, or hide your belongings, and you'll find your home looks larger, cleaner and more stylish. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn.- Credit
- Sarah Deveau
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Decorating with white Decorating with white
Decorating with white ofHow to bring white into your home With its high-ceilinged rooms, handsome French doors and elegant woodwork, the McLean family's rambling country house in the hills of Caledon, Ont., could have been built a hundred years ago. But although its design was inspired by the family's previous weekend retreat – a nearby century-old farmhouse – the new year-round home is only a few years old. The secret of its timeless, dreamy mood – old-fashioned and romantic, yes, but also pulled together and breezily up-to-date – is in the liberal use of white by homeowner Linda McLean and architect-designer Dee Dee Taylor Hannah.One thing that Linda, her husband, Jim, and their daughters, Stephanie, Jennifer and Krista, loved about their old house was its orderly progression of rooms, and in particular the two fireplaces directly facing one another in the rooms to the left and right of the front hall. “As you entered, there was a wonderful feeling of welcome when both the fireplaces were lit,” says Dee Dee. So in the new house, they began with the same main-floor layout and embellished it by widening the entry hall and doorways, enlarging rooms and adding a spacious main-floor bedroom suite for Stephanie, who uses a wheelchair.Welcome in the sunshineTo flood the interior with light and open it up to stunning views, regular windows were replaced with either French windows or French doors. The end result is a spacious, airy scheme where both the interior and exterior landscapes are visible all around.For the decor, Linda wanted a monochromatic palette based on white – a smart choice since a unified scheme created a visual link among the main rooms, most of which are visible from each other. The decision was also surprisingly liberating, says Dee Dee: varying tints, textures, sheen levels and materials kept things interesting without destroying the overall harmony. Hints of blue and pink soften some of the ceilings and walls, and upholstered furniture is covered in light-colour fabrics. Some wood pieces are painted white, and throughout the space, the same dark-stained hardwood floors unify and ground the lighter-than-air look.Photography by Ted Yarwood Sunny images of white light With the sunlight pouring in, the rolling Ontario landscape outside the windows and the airy decor, there truly is a friendly, old-house feel to the home. “There's a certain fluidity, a soothing continuity among rooms,” says Linda, “a sense that it all connects.” Photography by Ted Yarwood- Credit
- Martha Uniacke Breen
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The peaceful nursery The peaceful nursery
The peaceful nursery ofAt home At homeHome is as much a feeling as it is a physical place. “It's good to be home,” “home sweet home,” and “welcome home” are all expressions that strike a deep emotional chord. “Feeling at home” is synonymous with feeling content, comfortable, and secure. It is important to your health and happiness that the physical space you call home provides you with this sense of comfort and security. Creating a home-and more specifically, a special place for your baby-that will give both you and your child this sense of peace is essential.There is no better time to create a home that supports and nourishes you and your family than when preparing for the birth of a baby. The transition into parenthood can be one of the most extraordinary, yet also demanding, times in your life. As you adjust to your new role as a mother or father, your home can become a great source of support. An organized, healthy home and a peaceful, beautiful, comfortable nursery can help you function with ease and grace. In addition, as you design the nursery and make space for your new baby, you will also take an inner journey that will prepare you for parenthood: as you change your home, you too will change. Your home will become a vehicle for becoming more conscious about who you are, what your priorities are, what kind of parent you want to be, and what kind of children you want to raise.For a newborn, the significance of the nursery is even more profound: the nursery is your baby's next womb. An enchanted, peaceful, and cozy nursery will give your baby the security and comfort to thrive. Some of your baby's first interactions with you and the world will take place in this room. By creating a nursery filled with healthy, happy, and loving energy, you're building the foundation for a healthy, happy, and loving relationship with your baby.Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids. You and your home You and your homeYour home has an enormous influence on your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. An organized, beautiful, and toxin-free environment can boost your energy, promote good health, and support your dreams, while a disorganized, cluttered, and uncomfortable space can deplete your energy, undermine your ability to succeed, and dampen your spirits.Your home tells the story of who you are, what you enjoy doing, how you are feeling, and who you spend your time with. Your surroundings are an outward manifestation of your inner experience. Your home is a reflection of you. For example, if you're feeling a little down, you might find yourself unconsciously creating a gloomy environment by shutting the curtains or allowing your home to become messy. On the other hand, if you come back from a vacation reenergized and with a “new outlook on life,” you may choose to reflect your new state of mind by displaying souvenirs or photographs from your vacation. The pictures on your wall, the food in your refrigerator, the objects you have stored in your closet, how you decorate (or don't decorate) are all things that can tell you something about yourself. What story is your home telling about you? Take a moment to “read” your home by observing your surroundings. Do the objects you have chosen to surround yourself with reflect your interests, hobbies, and habits? If the answer is yes, then go one step further and ask yourself if you are happy with that reflection. If the answer is no, ask yourself why not?Being conscious of your environment is so important because your surroundings have the ability to influence your life. For instance, a clean, clutter-free desk may help you pay your bills on time, which may in turn affect your finances. A comfortable dining area may encourage more family meals, thereby shaping a closer relationship with your family. A restful, quiet nursery will help your baby sleep, allowing you to also get more rest, which will then affect your family's health and happiness. What's in your home and how it's arranged can affect some of the most important aspects of your life.Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids Designing your life Designing your lifeOnce you appreciate the power of the connection between your surroundings and your life, you can use this new understanding to organize and decorate your home so that it supports you in building the life you desire. As you design your home, you have the opportunity to design your life. What better time than when preparing to welcome a new baby to create the life you envision for yourself and your new family?The most effective changes in your home will result not only in the physical transformation of your surroundings, but also in a transformation of your mind, body, and spirit. Your home offers an opportunity for change because it is a tangible reflection of your innermost feelings, yet it is separate enough that you can step back and be objective. It is often easier to address the state of one's home than one's state of being. For example, a disorganized home may be easier to identify and change than a disorganized life.It is easy to only focus on the big events-such as holidays, celebrations, or entertaining out-of-town guests-yet it is the small everyday moments that make up the majority of your life. What seem like tiny annoyances or disturbances in your home can actually affect your well-being in much greater ways. Clutter on the kitchen counter may prevent you from cooking nutritious meals, which over time could affect your health. Searching frantically for your keys each morning might make you consistently late for work, which could then affect your career. Your home should nurture you by supporting your daily rituals. Your living room should be comfortable and lively so that your friends feel welcome. Your bedroom should promote peaceful sleep so that your immune system has time to recoup and your health is maintained.Designing your home is both an inner and outer process. By making changes in your outer surroundings, you are supporting a change on the inside. If you want to bring more serenity into your life, you'll want to bring objects, colors, and art into your home that are relaxing. You could bring in a small fountain if you are calmed by the sound of water, or light candles if watching the flicker of a flame brings you a sense of tranquility. Whatever you choose to "do" or “bring” to your home you are also "doing" and "bringing" to yourself. To further achieve your goal of bringing more peace into your life, think about the changes you'd like to make within yourself, such as reducing stress, maintaining a positive outlook, or seeking clarity about personal issues. Perhaps you will choose to meditate each day, or to start each morning writing down everything that is "on your mind" to help you feel more at peace. As you bring peace and harmony into your home you are simultaneously fostering inner peace and harmony. As your environment becomes more and more a reflection of who you are, your state of mind and physical surroundings seem to blend. The more aligned your inner and outer world, the more you feel "at home."Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids Feng shui Feng shuiMany cultures recognize the link between your home and your life. In India, the five-thousand-year-old Hindu design practice called Vastu holds that you must first create harmony in your environments in order to experience harmony within yourself. Many Native American rituals revolve around connecting to the land and giving thanks to Mother Earth. In Germany, Bau-biologie, the study of how your environment and the materials in your homes and office affect your health, holds that you must live in healthy buildings in order to experience optimal health. Feng Shui is the three-thousand-year-old Chinese practice of making positive changes in your environment to produce positive changes in your life. All of these practices have evolved similar holistic approaches to design, the core of which acknowledges the connection between one's environment and one's well-being.Feng Shui revolves around the universal principle that everything is made up of energy, including your body, your thoughts, and the empty space surrounding you. Even objects you may consider inanimate, such as a table or a rock, are made up of moving molecules and send out their own unique vibration. Your own energy is affected by all the energy that surrounds you. The goal is to help positive energy flow through your home in a way that enhances your life. Feng Shui embraces the idea that, just as different pressure points in acupuncture correspond to specific parts of the body, different areas of your home are associated with different areas of your life. These areas include health, family, love, relationships, career, wealth, fame, helpful people, children, creativity, knowledge, and self-cultivation. So when you improve the energy in part of your home, you're also improving part of your life.Although Feng Shui may seem complex, its philosophy includes commonsense practices and simple suggestions such as keeping your environment clean and organized, clearing clutter, arranging furniture so you can move easily from room to room, surrounding yourself with things you love that reflect and support your goals, and putting safety and comfort first by making sure your home is healthy and functional as well as beautiful. Fundamentally, Feng Shui is about making a home that you thoroughly enjoy-a home that supports your dreams and nurtures your mind, body, and spirit.Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids. Healthy home Healthy homeA basic tenet of Feng Shui holds that your physical environment is in essence an extension of your body and therefore how you care for your home is just as important as how you care for yourself. Think of all the care women put into nurturing their bodies while pregnant. You need to give the nursery the same kind of consideration. Just as a woman does not put toxins, such as alcohol and cigarette smoke, into her body during pregnancy, you should not put anything toxic in the nursery. With all the best intentions, many parents buy all new furnishings for the nursery, furnishings that contain chemicals that, especially when new, may release unhealthy fumes into the air of the nursery.Paying attention to air quality and the chemicals found in your home is particularly important when preparing for a new baby. Babies' immature organs are less able to cope with the toxins in their environment than those of adults. Children enjoy touching everything around them; eventually either their hands or random objects wind up in their mouths, exposing them to even more chemicals.People are becoming increasingly aware of the numerous chemicals in the environment. Many people know that most produce is treated with pesticides that remain on the food all the way to the kitchen. As a result, many people wash their fruits and vegetables and are becoming more conscious of the importance of buying organic food. People are also more aware than ever that industrial pollutants and pesticides from farm fields can contaminate water supplies, to the point where drinking bottled water and using water filtration systems in homes is commonplace. In today's world you also need to pay as close attention to the materials that you use to build, decorate, and clean your home as you do to the food you eat and the water you drink.Taking small steps to create a healthy home will make a big difference, so don't worry if you can't make big changes in your home today -- do what you can. Even small changes in your environment can significantly impact your life. You may even decide to just start with one room; and what better room than the nursery where your baby will spend more than a third of his or her early life?Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids. -
Wallpaper on a whim Wallpaper on a whim
Wallpaper on a whim ofWallpaper on a whim Wallpaper is a great way to show off your sense of style. Why not display your do-it-yourself talent, as well?Paper trailFirst-timers should work with a durable, DIY-friendly paper such as vinyl, says Jerry Aleksic, owner of Artistic Design Decorators in Toronto. According to Jerry, striped wallpaper is best avoided, as separate pieces can be difficult to match. Plain paper, or paper with a busy pattern can be more forgiving. To determine the amount of wallpaper you'll need, add the lengths of all your walls and multiply by the single height. Subtract door and window areas, then add an emergency 15 per cent to the total.Hang timeAfter cleaning, spackling, sanding and priming the walls, it's time to begin. "The first sheet you put up is going to be your worst one," says Jerry. "By the time you get to that focal point you want to have some experience." First, start in an inconspicuous spot, like behind a door or in a corner. Find the centre of that wall and draw a straight "plumb line" from the ceiling to the baseboard, against which you'll hang the paper. Mark off the rest of the wallpaper-width. Cut strips to the height of your wall plus four to six inches for overhang, ensuring that the pattern of your wallpaper aligns. Roll the paste evenly and thoroughly on the back of the paper, beginning from its centre. Fold -- without flattening -- the top and bottom edges into the middle, pasted sides in and ensure the edges are aligned. This process, known as booking, allows the adhesive to penetrate the paper and keeps it wet until needed. Unfold the top half of the strip and align with the plumb lines and with the ceiling, leaving a couple of inches for trimming. Work out air bubbles or wrinkles with a smoothing brush. Be as precise as possible with the first sheet. "If your first sheet is not put on straight, it's only going to get worse and worse," warns Jerry. If you come across any problems, pull the paper off the wall without sliding it around. Wipe off any excess paste with a damp sponge, then continue with the bottom half of the strip. For strip number two, align without overlapping the pattern starting from the ceiling. "Once you've matched the top two feet, everything will fall into place," says Jerry. Smooth out the paper and roll the seam 10 minutes later. With a few strips completed, use a broadknife or scraper to crease the ceiling line and the line at the baseboards. Holding the broadknife in place, use a utility knife to trim the excess paper.Tough spot: WindowsCut the overlapping paper along the sills. Press the paper against the left and right casings and trim excess. Paste matching paper, with half an inch overhang, over the top and bottom casings and tuck the overlap underneath the corners of the facing walls.Now stand back and admire your handiwork. If only you could wrap gifts with such finesse.- Credit
- Heather Camlot
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Design wars Design wars
Design wars ofCouple style problems Style At Home associate Art Director Karen Williams and her boyfriend, Eric, rarely disagree. They've been together for seven years and it's a comfortable match, so they're not afraid of moving in together. In fact, they fell in love with some floor plans last year; their first home will be finished around Thanksgiving. Since the house is being built from scratch, the young couple has had to decide on everything from floor finishes to appliances, not to mention the number of pot lights, style of medicine cabinet and shape of vanity. They navigated those minefields well – for the most part they agreed and where they couldn't, they compromised. But now they're on furniture. No fights have broken out, but suddenly compromise isn't as easy as it was. According to Toronto designer Lara Neal, this kind of merging can be an emotional, sometimes painful, process, “but that's part of moving in together,” she says. “You open yourself up to someone else critiquing your wares.”The solution? You'll have to give in on some choices. There could be one item that one of you absolutely has to have and which is horrifying to the other person: a big bulky Lazy-Boy or fancy frilly antique heirloom, for example. You can't completely eliminate your partner's past or their stuff, so don't try. Here are Lara's tips for keeping the design wars at bay:Take inventory of everythingEach of you needs to review, assess and evaluate all your possessions with an eye to making every room in your new home functional. Edit what you have and be as honest as you can. Often couples have twice the furniture they need, so get rid of pieces that are damaged and not terribly valuable. If his things are in better shape than yours, perhaps you need to get rid of yours. Couple style solutions Be prepared to mix and match different styles and periodsKaren wants fabric to reign in the living room and Eric wants leather. No problem: get a sofa in fabric and two leather club chairs or a leather ottoman. There's nothing wrong with mixing materials if that meets both tastes.Re-jig, re-use, re-paintIf, between the two of you, there are a number of disparate pieces, you can unify them by painting them the same colour or reupholstering them with the same fabric. Maybe you don't like his dresser; update it with a coat of paint or new hardware. Pick your battlesRemember: unless it's a family heirloom, it's just furniture. Don't let it ruin your relationship. Use pieces in places you wouldn't usually think to: If he really prefers his bedroom dresser to yours, put yours in the front hall as a place to throw keys, store gloves and scarves and other off-season necessities.Think about scaleJust because your nine-person sectional (clad in butter-soft Italian leather and boasting hand-crafted springs) is a showstopper, his velour covered three-seater might actually fit your new square living room better. Consider a proIn the battle of the sexes, I recommend couples handle disagreements through a designer. He or she can mediate the relationship and create a harmonious look in the home. Being a designer is about understanding his tastes and her tastes and merging the two so in the end there's a cohesive look and each person feels represented. Finally, hope your dream home has a basement where you can store things out of sight!- Credit
- Jasmine Miller
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Upholstery cleaning tips Upholstery cleaning tips
Upholstery cleaning tips ofPreventative measures and first-aid for stains There's nothing like new upholstery to freshen up your fave soft furnishing for spring. A few yards of fun and flirty fabric can certainly breathe new life into a timeworn treasure, but how long it remains looking crisp and clean is entirely up to you. Follow our three-prong strategy to keeping soft furnishings looking fab year-round.Step one: Preventative measures• Vacuums ain't just for floors and those intimidating attachments they come with can actually prolong the life of your furniture. Use the upholstery attachment to vacuum soft furnishings on a weekly basis. The angle-tipped crevice tool is great for reaching sneaky areas where the evidence of daily use - dirt and oils - like to set up shop: namely, creases, fabric folds and tufted areas.• Once a month, take cushions outside and beat them by hand. This will help prevent dust from settling into the fibres. When replacing cushions, rotate and flip them as you would a mattress to ensure even wear.• Granny was on to something with the "no eating the living room" rule. If you've the stamina to enforce a ban on food, drink and pets on the furniture, you'll avoid worry - and work - down the road. Take care with other less obvious sources of stains, too: even newsprint inks can bleed easily onto fabric.Step two: First-aid for stains• The first rule of tending to a spill? Get to it quickly before it has time to set. Use a blotting motion with either a paper towel or clean white cloth. Rubbing can smudge the spill into a larger stain - an effect that upholstery cleaning pros call "blossoming". Work from the outside of the spot towards the centre. Blot dry.• If blotting hasn't done the trick and a cleaning solution is required, take a moment to examine the manufacturer's care label, usually located under the chair seat or inside a cushion cover. Here, you'll find instructions as to which types of products can be used in the cleaning of the fabric: W for water-based cleaners, S for solvents, WS for either, and X for none of the above - in which case, vacuuming is your only option. Note that many grease or oil-based stains (gravy, butter, cosmetics) are only treatable with dry cleaning solvents. Deep cleaning Step two continued• Before applying a cleaning solution of any kind, it's a good idea to test the colourfastness of the fabric on an inconspicuous patch of the furnishing. Apply the solution to a clean white cloth, and press against the test area firmly for 30 seconds. Examine the cloth for evidence of colour transfer. • Whether spot cleaning with a pH-balanced (neutral) detergent in a 1:20 water mixture or a commercial dry cleaning solution, where appropriate, finish by blotting with clean water.• Never overwet the fabric. Applying too much water or cleaning solution can spread the stain and saturate the padding underneath the upholstery, creating the perfect haven for mould, mildew and bacteria – all of which are far worse than a surface stain. Don't try to speed up the drying time with a hot-air dryer, either – heat merely sets the stain. Instead, merely blot the area dry.Step three: The deep clean• Once a year, schedule your soft furnishings for a deep cleaning treatment. • If your cushion covers are removable and machine washable (again, check that handy manufacturer's care label), it's still best to turn them inside out and wash in cold water to prevent fading. They're also likely ineligible for machine drying, so this is something to add to your fair-weather to-do list. • If removable covers are dry clean only, strongly consider getting them all covers professionally cleaned at the same time, even if only one is particularly soiled. This will ensure any fading or colour variation after cleaning with be consistent across all matching fabrics.• When in doubt, or if removing the upholstery isn't an option, don't hesitate to consult a professional. Professional cleaning is also in order if there's been a large-volume spill. Underneath that surface discoloration, the stain penetrating the padding may be three to four times as large.- Credit
- Brett Walther
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Our favourite movie sets Our favourite movie sets
Our favourite movie sets ofMatch Point, The Sound of Music, The Thin Man, The Little Princess Match PointI just saw Woody Allen's Match Point and was blown away by the lead couple's Thamesfront loft. It's not palatial -- in fact, it's a fairly minimalist space dotted with a handful of striking modern art pieces, but it boasts one particularly amazing feature -- the jaw-dropper of a location. A panoramic glass wall offers a breathtaking view across the river to the Houses of Parliament and the city skyline. Makes me want to drop everything and catch the next flight into Heathrow.-- Brett Walther, Assistant Design EditorThe Sound of Music and The Thin ManThe Sound of Music has been a favourite movie since I was a child, and I would listen to the soundtrack over and over on my grandma's hi-fi. I love the grand staircase from which the children sing their goodnight. But the best features of the Von Trapp home are the terrace and the gazebo -- lovely outdoor spaces and oh so romantic! As well, my friend Tracy and I agree that any set with a martini cart -- like The Thin Man -- is at the top of our list. We wish we hadn't missed out on the age of cocktails and art deco furniture!-- Julia ArmstrongThe Little PrincessThis movie for adults and kids features traditional and exotic decors (haute Raj), as well as humour and suspense -- in other words, something for everyone.-- Denise Barnard, Senior Editor The Shining, De-Lovely, Pride and Prejudice, Ocean's Twelve The ShiningThis might sound a bit strange, but some of the décor and architecture in The Shining is totally amazing. Mostly, you see the hotel in its splendour at the beginning of the movie. Just goes to show what's on my mind -- Jack Nicholson is slowly going crazy and I'm wondering who designed the carpet.-- Tamara Robbins, Associate Design Editor, Style at HomeDe-LovelyThis Cole Porter bio-pic has delicious sets. In real life, some of Porter's homes were decorated by Billy Baldwin, and American designer who's a legend in the biz -- and someone whom I worship. I have Billy Baldwin's book that features the Cole Porter New York apartment so seeing the movie was like seeing the look come to life. Baldwin's character is even introduced toward the end of the movie.Pride and PrejudiceThis new edition of the movie features some of the most gorgeous estates in England, including Chatsworth. The scene when Elizabeth Bennet rushes in to interrupt the breakfast of Miss Bingly and Mr. Darcy is incredible. That room's architecture makes my heart skip a beat. But even the Bennett home is fabulous -- especially the scenes when the whole family is seated around the table eating breakfast.-- Margot Austin, Senior Design EditorOcean's TwelveI recently saw Ocean's Twelve. The renowned and talented thief Francois Toulour lives in a magnificent villa on Italy's Lake Como. I daydreamed about the centuries-old architecture and the breathtaking view of this villa for days after I saw the film. Ah, la bella vita!-- Natalie Bahadur, Online Editor- Credit
- Vanessa Milne
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of2008-06-23 2010-07-15 decor cottage summer lake ontario style home heather camlot robin stubbert slideshow lakeside living susan neilson and her husband terry who owns software company bought their hodgepodge house overlooking 1986 they have since redone its entirety inside out the result sanctuary city that allows breathtaking views shine 1986 img photos biz lakeside1-thumb jpg lakeside1-main online 2008-06-23 2008-07-23- Credit
- Heather Camlot
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of2008-06-02 art into your home decor style artful toronto design christy wright slideshow bringing img photos biz artisticlicence2-thumb jpg artistic-licence-1 online 2008-06-02 2008-08-13- Credit
- Christy Wright
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of2008-05-26 2010-07-20 cream and white home decor decorating rooms style naturally serene martha uniacke breen img photos biz naturallyserene-thumb jpg online 2008-05-26 2008-08-13 slideshow- Credit
- Martha Uniacke Breen
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Urban renovation Urban renovation
Urban renovation ofBuy & Rebuild The light-as-air look of wire dining chairs and a Philippe Starck Louis Ghost chair offset the visual heft of the rosewood table, while a triptych by Yves Gaucher supports the symmetry of the windows. Floral arrangements throughout by Emblem, Toronto.Inject punches of colour into your decor with artwork. To mix things up, switch or rotate pieces seasonally. High-voltage colour is a great way to take the edge off coolly contemporary homes. Primary hues, in particular, add playfulness to otherwise austere environs.Renovating was the last thing the owners of this midsize, midtown Toronto home wanted to tackle. But their initial house-hunting efforts proved fruitless. Undaunted, they decided that if they couldn’t find their dream home, they’d just have to buy and rebuild. To do that, they persuaded Alan Tregebov of AJ Tregebov Architect to make room in his mainly commercial practice for their residential job. It took communication, imagination and the doggedness of contractor Michael Sullivan of Immaculate Construction, but nine long months later their dream came true. Surface Route In the office, sleek custom built-ins maximize storage space and keep the room uncluttered and clean. Q: What were your primary goals when you gutted and rebuilt your house?Homeowner: We wanted an airy, open home that had a very modern feel. We accomplished that by relying on four contemporary elements: stone, wood, glass and steel. Whenever we hit a crossroad and weren’t sure which way to go, we’d go back to those basic materials. Kitchen Reflective surfaces make the kitchen nearly glow: glass tiles cover the walls, while stainless steel adds shine to countertops and appliances.Q: How is this house different from other modern homes?Alan Tregebov: We used exotic woods throughout the home. The floors are jatoba, a rainforest wood that darkens as it ages. And two steel posts in the kitchen are wrapped in zebra wood, which has a very multifaceted face. In this house, you’ll also see a recurring L motif. The frosted-glass wall in the kitchen doesn’t just disguise the stairs leading to the basement, it forms an L-shape. Similarly, the glass windows across the back of the house wrap around to create another intriguing L.Homeowner: We chose to accent with splashes of brilliant colour. By keeping with typically modern wood, slate, glass and steel, we created a neutral backdropagainst which any colour pops. I was inspired to go with cobalt lacquered kitchen cabinets when I discovered that deep,