Design Tip Tuesday - Artwork Arranging

When I'm styling a space and need some art to decorate with, I don't immediately turn to paintings or framed prints - I try to think outside the box as well as always keep in mind the client and what they're tastes are and what they enjoy doing (or have done).

Image Via abode love

Art can be a beautiful painting that speaks to you, a photo that takes you back to a certain place or an object that holds special meaning to you. Art is anything that makes you happy and stirs an emotion within. Keep an open mind about what art can be.

To me, a perfectly decorated room is one that tells the story about my client, and nothing does this better in a room than the accessories - artwork included. I often try to incorporate objects that are special to clients onto the wall ... perhaps I'll frame an object that has sentimental meaning to them or incorporate the object onto the wall even without being framed - a hat perhaps hanging on the wall. 

Whatever you decide to place on the wall, unless you have an entire wall dedicated as a gallery, you need to hang your art in relation to the room’s surroundings. You don't have to necessarily match art to your furnishings, but make sure they relate and create a connection - either by subject matter, style or colour to create a unity. 

Image via Brabourne

Match the shape of the art to the shape of a wall – hang vertical art and groupings on vertical wall spaces and horizontal art and groupings on horizontal wall spaces.

Image via Little Things

Art over the fireplace should be sized to fill from 2/3 to the full width of the mantel – do not extend mantel art beyond the mantel’s width and art less than 1/2 the width of the mantel will look too small proportionately.

Image via House and Home

Art should be no higher than 5″ to 9″ from the back of a sofa or chair or the top of a table in order for the furniture and art to read as a visual unit. A single piece of art or a grouping of art should ideally cover approximately 2/3 of the width of the furniture it hangs over. In order for the proportion of the art installation to work well with the furniture it should never be wider than the furniture and never less than half its width – aim for 2/3.

Hang art to increase the visual weight of a piece of furniture. If you have a bookshelf that is tall and a bit narrow, hang art on both sides to increase its visual width. If more height is needed on a wall, top a piece of furniture with a piece of art.

Image via decorpad

Create groupings in which the individual art pieces relate to one another in terms of subject, colour, material, or framing. For example, don’t mix colour and black and white photographs in the same grouping – stick with one or the other. If grouping floral images arrange them so the colour is balanced throughout the installation.

Image via time worn

When hanging multiple pieces make sure the frames are the same or complement each other well.

Image via ipo Pinterest

Hope these quick art tips inspire you to create some great 'art' walls in your homes!

Happy decorating!

Monday Muse - Grohe Ladylux Faucet

Being an interior design professional I'm constantly being asked about my favourite products, so I thought it would be a neat weekly feature - my weekly product muse if you will.

So, for my first Monday muse, I thought I would introduce you to my favourite faucet.

Meet LadyLux. 

Beautiful, yes. A work horse, yes.

Grohe as a name has been around for years - since 1911 as Berkenhoff & Paschedag and since 1936 as Grohe. And there is a reason this company has been around so long - quality. They put out a super product and a warranty that leaves you feeling confident in your purchase.

Made of professional quality stainless steel it looks and feels like a top of the line product - but to me the most impressive part of this faucet is the pullout hand spray that is weighty in hand and boasts a tension spring that allows the hose to glide smoothly and retract easily.

One of my pet peeves is a faucet that feels cheap - and the majority of the pull out sprays available at big box stores have a plastic hose pull out that is awkward to pull out and feed back. Who has time to fiddle with that?

The LadyLux is my personal favourite for kitchens. It's always at the top of my mind when I spec for a kitchen. The price tag may be a bit more than most are used to spending on a faucet - but its worth every penny. It always amazes me that clients will reno their kitchen to a cost of $50k plus and when it comes down to the faucets (usually at the end of a project when the budget has taken a bit of a beating) they try to cut corners. It's an instrument in your kitchen that will be used daily - many times a day - it needs to stand up to the wear and tear. If you cheap out, you'll be reminded of it every time you turn on that tap.

If you know me you know that I'm a form girl - but function is never far from my mind. In some cases form takes the lead over function, but in the case of a faucet, function trumps form. It's much more important for this type of item to be functional rather than beautiful. But, luckily in this case, the form is quite appealing too!

Grohe sales offices can be found in throughout the world and production plants in Germany, Canada, 
Thailand and Portugal.

Do you have a favourite kitchen faucet?

Happy decorating!

Design Tip Tuesday - Tips for Fooling the Eye and Making a Room Look Bigger - Part Three, Clutter

Small rooms more than others need to be free of clutter. Keep it to a minimum. Small accent pieces on a shelf tend to look like clutter. Larger pieces make a statement and in fact help to make a room appear larger. With things neatly arranged and out of sight, the space that is in view will feel orderly and open. A cluttered room equals a smaller room.

Don’t clutter walls with a lot of pictures. One large painting works better than a group of small paintings.

Keep the floor as clear as possible. This is one of the most important ways of maintaining a sense of spaciousness. By removing area rugs, floor space reads larger, creating a larger feeling room.

Clear up some space on surfaces, walls and floors and you'll end up with a space that feels much larger!

Happy Decorating!

Lenore

(photo - stylehandler)

Design Tip Tuesday - Heavenly Ceilings!

I know I promised the next part to our series on small spaces, but I thought I'd do a quick tip this week on something I get asked about a lot and seems to scare and confuse a lot of homeowners ... painting the ceiling something other than white.

I have a three ways I like to handle ceilings and it depends on what look or mood I am trying to create in a space.

To create the illusion of space in a room, I will usually go with a cooler colour or tint the ceiling paint with the wall colour - a couple of shades lighter. This vertically elongates the room and adds a sense of spaciousness.

To create a more intimate feel in a room or to lower a high ceiling, I tend to go with a warmer tone on the ceiling or a dramatic darker colour. This brings the ceiling lower creating a more cosy environment.

To add some real drama to a space I will add a distinct colour to the ceiling - something that compliments the wall colour or adds to the theme of the room. Why not a gold washed ceiling in an elegant, dramatic deco inspired dining room.

Like these ideas but still aren't sure about painting that ceiling just yet? Well, another one of my tricks is to
wrap the trim colour (if there is crown molding) right up onto the ceiling. This gets rid of any harsh lines and creates a nice 'wrap' at the top of the room creating a softer ceiling.

Hope these ideas inspire you to get creative with your painting and add that fifth wall to the mix!

Happy decorating!
Lenore

(Images - top, bottom)

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Happy Decorating!
Lenore

Design Tip Tuesday - Tips for Fooling the Eye and Making a Room Look Bigger - Part Two, Furniture

Furniture choice is the second part of our series on enlarging a small space. Using furniture to expand your small space plays a key part in making a space feel bigger.

Furniture takes up a lot of space in a room, so it’s important to ensure that each piece is the right scale and proportion to the room. Overstuffed and boxy furniture isn’t recommended as it will make a small space feel cramped.

Select pieces that are streamlined. Clean lines and tailored sofas and chairs are important. Items with too many patterns, embellishments or weight create chaos and the sense of a cramped space. Ensure that pieces are elevated off the floor to create spaciousness. By doing this, the eye is able to travel through the room without being obstructed resulting in the feeling of space.

Furniture colour should blend into the walls to widen out the room and give the feeling of openness. The colour does not have to match the wall exactly. It can be a shade or two lighter or darker. The idea is to not have any harsh lines to stop the eye from travelling through the room.

Mirror top or glass top pieces provide surface area for day to day function while creating a sense of space. By choosing these lighter pieces, you can actually get away with more surface area than if you chose a heavier weighted piece such as wood.

With this additional tip I'm hoping all of you with smaller rooms will be inspired to create the illusion of space.

Coming up on part three in the series will be lighting tips for enlarging a space.

Happy Decorating,

Lenore

(Image: elledecor)

Design Tip Tuesday - Tips for Fooling the Eye and Making a Room Look Bigger - Part One, Colour

Hi guys! Sorry for missing the last ‘Design Tip Tuesday’ post - things have been humming around here lately! But I have a new tip for you this week which is actually part one in the series on the topic of small spaces!
For those of us living in Toronto, small rooms are all too common and one of the things clients discuss with me often is how to make them seem larger.
Well, as a decorator, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that help solve that problem without tearing down any walls. I utilize certain design concepts that fool the eye and make spaces seem much bigger and spacious. Things like colour techniques, furniture scale, reflective surfaces and lighting considerations can achieve the look of space.
These are too many techniques for one post, so what I’ve decided to do is create a three part series on this topic starting with colour.

Colour is important for any room, but especially for small rooms. Cream colours and icy blues are just a few of the colour combinations that can really open up a small space. Cool colours expand a space while warm colours tend to create a smaller, cozier feel to a room. Light and brightly coloured walls are more reflective making a space feel open and airy, which will help to maximize the effect created by natural light.
Continuing a single colour theme in two connecting rooms is a good way to help dissolve the lines between the two rooms and open them up to each other. This technique however, is only effective when used for adjoining rooms that fall in the same line of sight.
When deciding on colour for a room, contrast is an important factor to consider when trying to make a space feel larger. It’s more the contrast level in a room than the actual colour on the walls that can create the sense of space or lack thereof.
Contrast should be kept to a minimum in a small space. Ultimately it isn’t just about the colour on your walls, but also the pieces in the room. If furniture is darker than the walls, contrast will be created which will make a room feel smaller. By keeping contrast to a minimum, even a darker colour on the wall can enlarge a space as long as the pieces in that room are similar in tone and colour.
Hopefully this has brought you a bit of insight into creating a sense of space in a small room though the use of colour. But I have more tricks up my sleeve, so stay tuned for the next ‘Design Tip Tuesday’ post!
Happy Decorating!
Lenore

(Image: Elle Decor)

Design Tip Tuesday - Furniture Arranging

Furniture arranging doesn’t have to be complicated. By following just a few simple steps, you can have your rooms flowing and functioning the way you desire.

Start Out Big | Place the largest piece of furniture in the room first. Quite often this is the sofa or bed and will define the bedroom or family room. This piece is best suited to face a point of interest - a fireplace, a television set, etc. and in many cases becomes the focal point. Keep in mind that focal points should be seen as soon as you enter a space.

Work Your Way Down | Place other furniture in relation to your main piece - such as a pair of chairs to create a conversation grouping by the couch.

Think Function | In the dining room, the positioning of sideboards or china cabinets requires consideration for ease of entering and exiting the dining area, along with pulling out of chairs and placement of serving dishes.

Accent Furniture | These pieces are the last to go in and should do just that - accent furniture, add colour and decoration, with a dash of function for multi-tasking. An ottoman that can double as seating with additional storage capabilities is a great piece for many rooms.

Walk Through | Now that the furniture is arranged, take a break and try it out. Make sure all the pieces can be used easily.
Is there plenty of room to get past the couch to the pair of chairs? Is there enough seating? Can everyone access a table to place their drink? Can everyone see the television or fireplace? For the bedroom, is the bed accessible from both sides?

Taking a practical approach to arranging furniture is the first step, but remember to mix style and form to get the look of a professionally decorated space.

Happy decorating!

Lenore

(Image: elledecor)

Design Tip Tuesday - Puddled Draperies

The over-puddled draperies may not be for every one and some may even say passe, but, a more tailored approach has been taken and the effect is still very luxurious.

Today, drapery puddles are refined and can be incorporated in many styles of decorating. Most popularly used in dining rooms, they create a formal and elegant look.

Puddled draperies are beautiful but require maintenance. They are best suited to stationery panels and require the occasional fluffing or folding to ensure a tailored look. Lighter coloured fabrics will tend to get dirty more and require much more upkeep in terms of cleaning due to it's resting on the floor.

Draperies with a bit of a puddle are a great trick for dealing with floors that are unlevel. They camouflage this issue easily and provide visual interest.

How much is enough?

1” Puddle: Also called a break or “trouser” break. 1” puddling provides a clean look where the draperies just rest on the floor.

2-4” Puddle: The most popular puddle today. The drapes have adequate length to spill nicely onto the floor but still not a large puddle.

6-8” Puddle: A true puddle. There is enough extra length to fan the draperies out onto the floor.

Happy Decorating!

Lenore

(Image: pinterest, drape98)

Behind the Scenes II - Stripes!

So my clients powder room is coming along nicely ... everything is just about ready to be installed ... so it's time to get painting.
We're going for a dramatic pallet in this space, so immediately I'm thinking dark - and luckily my client is on board. We're looking for a dramatic colour that is still a neutral - we don't want to be pegged into a coloured wall, because we want flexibility with the space as well as ensure it works with the rest of the home which is done is neutral tones with pops of colour.
We've decided on brown - a dark toned brown with a lot of grey to balance well with the floor and other fixed elements in the space.
So done, a dark wall ... no, not just a dark wall. We want to add dimension to the space and a great way to do that is by playing up the finish of the paint. As a designer, my first choice is always matte - love the Benjamin Moore Ultimatte paint - goes on like a dream. So how do I add dimension with a matte paint? Add some bold stripes in a high gloss finish.
So I mapped out on my computer the number of stripes as well as the height - oh, and did I mention we're taking those stripes horizontally? My plan is to use the high gloss area as a backsplash - since matte paint isn't the best at hiding splashes. I measured the height of the vanity and knew I needed my first gloss stripe to start about here. Then I played around with the heights of the other stripes and ended up as you see in the drawing. So, in the end I decided on two gloss stripes - and the final result is five stripes - three matte and two gloss which makes it an odd number and things are much more pleasing to the eye this way.
And before I forget, we painted the wall the main matte brown and taped out the areas to be gloss and applied a high gloss water based varathane - clear - to achieve the gloss stripes.
It adds a lot of dimension to the room and helps to enlarge the space.
It's looking good ... time to get the plumber setting up the vanity area and style this space.
Happy decorating!
Lenore

Behind the Scenes II - Powder Room Vanity

Powder rooms are a wonderful opportunity to go a bit higher end without really hurting your budget too much. We're going for a statement piece as the vanity (I've blogged about this piece before it - I love it!) and we're layering it with a custom marble top and stone sink with luxe faucet.

Because we actually don't need too many elements in this room, we can splurge a bit. The counter top is a beautiful calcutta marble - a bit like carrera marble, but with a warmer brown veining in it. This will work nicely with the existing limestone floor in a grey and beige colouration and keep things from feeling too cold.

With a counter like that, we couldn't go for any old sink - we went for stone. Again in a white but with a bit of grey to tie into the other elements.

Now that these elements have been selected, it's time to find just the right faucet - the right style and the right height!

Happy decorating!

Lenore

(Image: Sink, vanity)

Design Tip Tuesday - Choosing the Right Dining Table

The dining room table is the setting where many special moments are celebrated and many a special meal is shared. With a few easy tips, you’ll be able to find a table that is perfect for all these occasions.

Space - Start the process by measuring your dining room to gain a sense of what size table may best fit the space. If you have a sideboard, curio cabinet or other pieces you wish to place in the room, you must factor their impact on the table’s size into your decision process. Accessibility to these pieces and ease of family and guests to navigate the room, are essential influences on table selection.Size -

After the measurement process is complete, selecting a table that reflects the room’s scale and your family’s needs is next. If your dining room is smaller, make sure not to buy an oversize table as movement will be restricted and cumbersome to family and guests. If your room is large, select a table is not dwarfed by the surroundings or the room will feel impersonal and lack a sense of warmth and comfort. Remember, choose a table that reflects its intended usage and serves your family’s needs first.

Shape - A room’s shape will help to determine an appropriate table. A room with equal proportions (square) benefits greatly from a round or square table. A room with uneven proportions may benefit more from a rectangular or oblong table.

Material - There are many materials to choose from. Wood, veneer, iron, glass, etc. When deciding on a material, consider the size of the room, the amount of use as well as the decor throughout your home. Glass is a low maintenance, easy clean up surface whereas wood offers a luxurious look but is higher maintenance and will benefit from a table pad to prevent any markings from hot serving dishes.

Wood, veneer, iron, and glass are some of the materials to choose from with each adding its own personalty and character to a room. Wood is luxurious and rich while glass can appear open and airy. Consider the other pieces you may be pairing the table with along with the forecasted maintenance of the piece.

Design - The dining room is an extension of other rooms within your home and should reflect the design features found throughout. Choose a table that best matches your home’s character and the room will come to life.

Dining room furniture is an investment.. Ensure that you plan well from the beginning and you will succeed in creating a space that you will enjoy for years to come.

Happy Decorating!

Lenore

(Image: Table)

Design Tip Tuesday - Choosing the Right Dining Chairs

Choosing the right dining chair.

Sounds easy right? Well, this is one of those decisions that my clients struggle with a lot. Dining chairs are an investment - each chair can cost anywhere from $200 to $1,200 plus, making the selection process an overwhelming endeavour.

A few key items to consider are:

Size - Nowadays the trend is to purchase your table and chairs separately. Gone are the days of matching suites so it’s imperative to take measurements of your table to ensure you choose chairs that fit properly. Consider width, height and depth for both sitting comfort and table placement with an eye on chairs that are too narrow and rickety..

Style - Observe the shapes and features of your existing table and support pieces. Wood tones, finishes and hardware are all factors to consider when properly integrating a chair into the scheme.

Comfort - This is an important one! If you don’t entertain often and tend to eat your meals in a different room, then you could choose an all wood chair - not the most comfortable, but can look beautiful.However; if you entertain and spend many evenings dining with friends and engaging in conversation, a wood chair isn’t ideal and will have your guests fidgeting five minutes into the meal. Instead, consider an upholstered chair.

Upholstered chairs provide softness, a sumptuous look and yield an opportunity to introduce colour and pattern into the room. An added benefit of upholstered chairs is their ability to be easily pulled into a living room as additional seating.


Some other things to keep in mind when purchasing dining chairs is their weight, , arms or no arms and of course, maintenance. -If you have children, leather or durable fabrics are advisable choices.

Take the time to visit furniture showrooms and sit in various styles and sizes - it’s definitely the best way to understand what you like and don’t like. and ensures your comfort for years to come!

Happy Decorating!
Lenore

(Image: Chair)

Behind the Scenes - The Big Reveal!

Our cosy family room design is finally complete and I can see lots of afternoon chats and evening movie watching happening in this space!

It was lots of fun working on this project - Joe and Lidia enjoy!

Happy Decorating!

Lenore

Design Tip Tuesday - How to Choose the Right Lamp Shades

Lampshades are an important part of any rooms decor. They should compliment not only the style of the lamp on which they perch, but should also compliment the function of the lamp as a light source as well.

Choosing the right lampshade is easy if you just follow these simple tips!

1 Lampshades should be one to two-thirds the height of the lamp.

2 Consider the lamps location. If sitting on a table, you don’t want it to overhang as it could be easily knocked. Usually the widest part of the lampshade should be no more than two inches wider or two inches narrower in diameter than the widest part of the lamp base.

3 You want the shape of the lampshade to compliment the shape of the lamp. If the lamp has a round base, then choose a round shade, and if its base is square then something more angular would work well.

4 The lampshade colour and fabric should be chosen to match your decor. Howerver, consider that opaque shades give off significantly less light. If the lamp is being used at a reading area, perhaps a translucent shade would be more appropriate.

Happy Decorating!
Lenore

(Image: Lamp)

Behind the Scenes - Sneak Peek!

Hi everyone!

Its starting to come together ... here's a quick peek!
Happy decorating!
Lenore

Design Tip Tuesday - Colour and its Meaning

Wondering about colour and it's meaning. Looking for a colour for your space and want it to convey a message? Read about each colour below and gain insight into what colour is really saying about you!

Red
Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.
Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. It has very high visibility, which is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are usually painted red. In heraldry, red is used to indicate courage.

Orange
Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.
To the human eye, orange is a very hot color, so it gives the sensation of heat. Nevertheless, orange is not as aggressive as red. Orange increases oxygen supply to the brain, produces an invigorating effect, and stimulates mental activity. As a citrus color, orange is associated with healthy food and stimulates appetite.

Yellow
Yellow is the color of sunshine. It's associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.
Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy. Yellow is often associated with food.

Green
Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety.
Green has great healing power. It is the most restful color for the human eye; it can improve vision. Green suggests stability and endurance.

Blue
Blue is the color of the sky and sea. It is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven.
Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect.

Purple
Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. It is associated with royalty, wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance.

Black
Black is associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery.
Black is a mysterious color associated with fear and the unknown. It denotes strength and authority; it is considered to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious color.

White
White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and cleanliness. It is considered to be the color of perfection.
As opposed to black, white usually has a positive connotation. White can represent a successful beginning.

Happy Decorating!
Lenore

(Image: Colours)

Behind the Scenes - Coffee Table and Sides

Coffee tables are a piece of furniture that a lot of people struggle with. I can't tell you how many consultations I do where the coffee table is too small or simply the wrong shape for the room.  It's a piece that will get used a lot, so it needs to be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.

In our scheme, given that the sofas have dark legs and are more square in its design with a bit of curve, and the room itself is more of a square shape it seems only fitting that the coffee table be round. 

When I design rooms, I always try and include a 'special' piece - something sculptural that will be a feature in the room. The space we are designing is small and doesn't leave a lot of room for this 'special' piece, so we are going to make it the coffee table. During one of my shopping adventures I came across the above glass top coffee table with this rounded, sculptural base - the moment I saw it I knew it was the piece for our room.

Having chosen the table, it's on to the side tables. Given that they are tucked away and not too visible in the space, a simple shape with a glass top for lightness does the trick. The wood tone works well with everything else in the room without being an exact match.

Time to pick up these special pieces and get the room styled!

Happy decorating!

Lenore

(Images: table)

Design Tip Tuesday - Accessories

The interior of your home speaks volumes about your personality. Home decorating doesn't have to be an expensive undertaking - simply by adding attractive and functional accessories; your home can evolve into a true reflection of yourself.

When accessorizing your space, consider the following;

Repeat a chosen colour at least three times in a room.

Ground the space with a beautiful area rug

Place artwork, in a spatially correct manner, above existing furniture and try to position it at eye-level.

Vary the height of table top accessories to create interest and balance

Custom frame your art so that it is co-ordinated with the overall decor of the room

Decorate your sofa and accent chairs with a mixture of pillows and throws

Layer furniture and accessories in your room

Fill blank walls with more than just artwork - consider accent chairs and accent tables to help fill in space

And finally, incorporate special items that tell a story and have meaning to you in your space to create a truly personalized space.

Happy Decorating!

Lenore

(Image: room)

Behind the Scenes - Sofa Delivery!

The two pieces we've patiently been waiting for have arrived! Our delivery service did a great job and carefully unwrapped the pieces, cover the stairs with drop cloths and finessed the sofas down the stairs and into the family room.
When having things delivered, choose your delivery service carefully. After all, they are the ones that will be handling the furniture that you just spent your hard earned money on - so it's not the area to cheapen out on. Also, a good service will remove the wrapping and take it off your hands.
Now it's time to bring in the other pieces and style and close this room!
Happy Decorating!
Lenore