Illusion of space
Colours can serve to alter the apparent dimensions of a room. Warm colours (those with a yellow tint) make surfaces appear closer together, while cool ones (with a blue tint) seem to spread them apart. Bright colours make a room look bigger, while dark ones seem to shrink it. Here are a few examples of how this principle can be applied to interior design.
Light colours increase luminosity and make a room seem bigger. This effect is further enhanced by the use of cool colours. Select light, soft colours like off-whites and pastels to give a breezier, more spacious finish to a room.
You can make the ceiling appear higher by painting it a lighter colour than that of the walls.
To make the ceiling appear lower, apply a darker colour than that of the walls. You can also achieve this effect by painting the top few inches of the wall the same colour as the ceiling.
For more designer tips visit http://www.sico.ca/
October 18, 2011
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Colour Blocking.......
Colour blocking is the hottest trend right now as it opens up a whole new perspective about colour in a space.
If you’re hesitant about taking the plunge to paint your rooms or even one wall with a vibrant hue, colour blocking – painting one or two colours in varying-sized ‘blocks’ on a wall – offers you a safe option. The technique is commonly referred to as adding a “punch” colour because of its ability to bring an extreme colour spark to your décor without being overwhelming.
Also, you can create horizontal movement by painting the base of a wall a different colour. Or extend the line of a low table by painting a different colour zone from the top of the table up to the ceiling. With the right combination of colours, colour zoning can even take the place of artwork. Let your imagination run wild; the possibilities of colour zoning are endless!
September 20, 2011
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Are you shy?
You may not be shy, but your decorating might be, if you tend to be "colour" shy. Over the last decade, we have embraced the neutral palette in our decorating. Shy and retiring rooms are safe. In my job, I tour a lot of rooms and often my reaction is, “This room could be great if they just took a chance and made a commitment to colour.” This doesn’t mean that you have to go crazy. When shopping for a home, buyers love the public rooms (i.e. foyers, living and dining rooms, etc.) to be neutral. Neutral colours enable the buyer to see their furniture in your space but let’s not be boring! Commit to adding one accent colour and repeat it at least twice in the space. For example, add toss cushions to your sofa and repeat the same accent colour in a new area rug or artwork. This photo is from the 2010 Princess Margaret Showhome in Toronto. The bones of this family room are neutral yet it's anything but shy.
Makeover in a Day!
Some say that staging is all about decluttering and depersonalizing your home.
Any home owner can do that and should do the basics before listing their house.
The true magic happens when you redesign the space but that often takes a professional eye.
A makeover can happen quicker than you think! My goal is to use your existing furniture and accessories
to make your house look its best. Most people have great things, but have trouble knowing how to display them. Properly placed furniture and artwork can instantly transform a room. My job is to re-arrange and place key pieces for the most impact and edit where necessary. Sometimes we can add to your décor by shopping with you to select small items to complete the makeover and make your house picture perfect. Believe it or not, this can all happen within a few short hours.
January 25, 2011
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Room by Room Resolutions
I'm not one for making fancy New Year's resolutions but this year I made one. My goal is to declutter my life, one baby step at a time. I don't consider myself a hoarder but there are items here and there throughout the house that really serve no purpose, dust collectors, occupying valuable shelf space, items rarely used, etc. So my resolution this year is to give away (or toss) one item everyday or 7 items every Saturday. It seems doable. It could be as simple as going through a few books on your bookcase and offering them to a friend, or looking at the items in your pantry while making dinner and tossing anything that has expired. One small item at a time - declutter and organize. What a great idea, especially if you are considering a move in 2011. Start now...one small step at a time can greatly help down the road when you are getting your home ready for the market...or just getting your life a little more organized.
January 6, 2011
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Christmas starts with a walk in the park…
As December approaches something inside of me starts to dread pulling out all the Christmas decorations. Don’t get me wrong, I love the holiday season and a house filled with Christmas décor. But let’s face it - the tree lights are a hassle, little helpers pull the Christmas ornaments out all at once, and before you know it, there is general chaos with ornaments and storage boxes everywhere. By December 31st all the eager helpers disappear, leaving you to the lonely task of packing everything up and dragging the boxes back to the crawl space. Hey, I’m just telling it like it is!Last year I decided on a slightly different approach. I started my decorating with a walk in the park. It was the day after one of our infamous northwest wind storms and the ground was littered with fallen branches - beautiful evergreen boughs. What a gift! I got inspired and collected an armful of branches, pinecones and added to my collection by cutting more from my own backyard. At home, I placed greenery everywhere – on top of the mantel which creating an instant garland, small sprigs around the base of candles (the battery operated candles available at HomeSense are a safe option), etc. What’s Christmas without a little snow? I added “fake” snow (available at Pottery Barn) to the bottom of a glass vase, placing pinecones and a little greenery on top. To a glass hurricane lantern I added snow plus a twig with red berries.
Of course the family favorite decorations were unpacked in the days that followed but the tired, dated decorations were left in storage. We enjoyed Christmas with the fresh scent of evergreen filling the house. A refreshing change and it was quick, easy, inexpensive, and totally charming.
Dec 1/2010
____________When was the last time you changed your sheets?
Nov 1/2010
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Are you tired of your dining room?
