Fabulous fall fabrics

Dwell Studio fabrics for the modern home. 

Be inspired by fabrics this fall! They are ideal as jumping-off points for a complete colour scheme. Or they can serve as a bold statement in an otherwise neutral environment. My hunt for inspiring fall fabrics took me to Stewart's Decorating Centre in North Bay. When browsing through their recently arrived product line from Dwell Studio, I knew I had to look no further. These fabrics make me happy! Dwell Studio has teamed up with Robert Allen on a line of modern and elegant fabrics that will breathe new life into any space. Just have a look at the beauties below. You can buy them by the yard (minimum half a yard) at Stewart's. And yes, there’s a lot of mustard this season.

This graphic print almost looks three
dimensional.. Check out the pillow below.
The print comes in a range of colours.

Botanical print in muted colours.

Another fantastic print from Dwell,
available at Stewart's.

Why not frame a piece of this big

print and use it as artwork?

Depending on what you combine this

print with, it can read as either traditional

or modern.

Black and white prints make a strong, modern statement. How do you like these?

Dwell Studio for Robert Allen. Also

available in grey.

Robert Allen Home.

Dwell Studio for Robert Allen.

A rich violet velvet gives a cozy, warm

feeling. Perfect for the fall! Robert Allen

Home.

Lush velvet in grey from Dwell Studio's 

collection. 

Striped fabrics works for every season. 

They lend a slightly casual feel and are 

clean and elegant at the same time. Nautica 

collection from Robert Allen Home.

Trellis prints are another beautiful classic. This

one comes in a range of colour options. Robert

Allen Home.

Celebrating your cottage in style

White plank floors and walls provide a fresh
and clean base for your decor. Red and white
is a classic summer combination. Be consistent
and stick to the colour scheme also in the
smallest details (note the red geranium plant!).

Summer time, cottage time. Easy living is the order of the day, and that also applies to how you organize your summer home. Ideally, it has to stand up to sandy feet and dripping bathing suites; it has to accommodate visiting relatives and improvised corn-on-the-cob dinners with friends; and it has to invite you to crawl up and finally read that treasured book. All this and you still want it to look stylish! How do you achieve it? My solution includes a crisp, white base which you combine with one major accent colour, natural textures and accessories, and an effort to always try to limit your furniture and things in general to the essentials. I hope these pictures will inspire you to create your own easy, breezy summer haven!

A white-and-blue floral slipcover is

quintessentially cottage! Seek out 

local thrift stores for old tables that

you can refinish.

Enjoy a peaceful breakfast surrounded 

by stripes - a safe summer choice for
upholstery and cushions.

New and old - furniture as well as guests -

typically share the space around the summer 

table. The bright red mirror and chairs give

the room some needed punch - and tons of 

style! 

And here are a few accessories - all found in North Bay stores - which will complete your home's summer look:

Pot from Stewart's Decorating

Centre.

Lanterns from Winners.

Weathered mirrors from Winners.

White table from Manchester's 
Sleep Centre and Spas.

Wicker stool from Vested Interest and sisal rug from Stradwick's Carpet One.

Nursery essentials

All mothers and soon-to-be moms: this posting is for you. What an exciting and life-changing time! To help you in your transition to motherhood, here are a few tips for the nursery:

Furniture: Let safety be your guide in all purchase decisions. In addition to a crib, you will need a comfy chair or love seat in the nursery, for late night feedings. If space is tight, leave the change table and dresser in the bathroom. Maybe you have a counter in the bathroom that can act as a change table for a few years? If that is the case, securely install a smooth board along the counter edge, to prevent your little one from rolling off.

Colour: Rather than preparing a room that your child can "grow into", think about what you want for your baby right now. There will undoubtedly be scratches, wear and tear, and by the time your little one is about to start school, his/her room will need an update anyways. For now, think soft colours. Avoid bright red and orange walls, they are too intense and energizing for a baby's room. I would also stay away from dark blues and greens, brown and black. You want to create a space where your child can flourish and grow, so opt for lighter colours. If you want gender-neutral walls, buttery and creamy hues are good choices. Combine them with colourful drapes, patterned nursery sets and fun artwork.

Window treatment: A roll-down, black-out blind is highly recommended and will help your little one sleep during daytime naps.

Flooring: You and your child will spend a lot of time playing on the floor, so invest in a warm and soft area rug.

Artwork: Suspend any of these cute fabrics on a wooden frame and mount on the wall. Or simply hem the edges and tack to the wall:

This fabric would be beautiful on soft green, 

cream, or light blue walls. Three Gables Studio,

North Bay.

Would look sharp in a pink or light green

room. Three Gables Studio.

This fabric would be a good choice for a 

room with soft, buttery, creamy or light

green walls. Three Gables Studio.

Detail from "Boys will be boys".

More elephants and monkeys, this time

on a fabric from Stewart's Deccorating. 

Would look crisp with a neutral or light

blue wall colour.

Why not combine this "Alphabet soup" fabric with

lime green? Stewart's. 

Also at Stewart's, this animal fabric would go well

with creamy walls.

Happy Mothers Day!

Papers with punch

My heart skipped a beat and I felt completely exhilarated when I stumbled upon Amy Butler’s inspiring wallpapers at Stewart’s Decorating. How contemporary, lighthearted and fun! Yes, they are bold (too bold some of you might say). But sometimes bold is exactly what a room needs. Put it in the front hallway for a cheery welcome to visiting friends. Or use it to add drama in an otherwise neutral space. Since the patterns are big and colourful, one wall with any of these papers is often enough. Keep the rest of the décor simple and clean, without any competing patterns. Match the papers with white or any of the colours represented in the patterns. I feel happy just thinking about it. How about you?

Look for this wallpaper book at Stewart's Decorating. It contains a happy treasure. Read more about Amy Butler at http://www.amybutlerdesign.com and see her complete wallpaper collection at http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/wallpaper_detail.php.

Accent pillows with attitude

Learn from the pros: the choice of bright green 

apples in front of this cozy couch corner at the 

Great Room is no coincidence.

Have fun with accent pillows! They are your chance to be bold and adventurous.

At a minimal cost, accent pillows can really change the mood of a space. Why not have different sets for different seasons? You can use them to highlight a colour, or to pick up a pattern from elsewhere in the room.

There are lots of wonderful fabrics out there which, fairly easily, can be transformed into gorgeous pillow covers (see some of my blogs on "fabulous fabrics"). Easier, of course, is to buy the pillows already made. Check out these for example. They will make any space sing!

The bird application on this accent pillow is so sweet! Stewart's Decorating.

More birds at Stewart's.

What says spring more than flowers? Stewart's.

Bright red with golden circles at the Great Room.

This is a good example of an accessory with lots of texture. I would probably buy this now but hang on to it until the winter, because of its wooly, warm feel. Stewart's Decorating.