Kitchen backsplash: bold or bland?

This patterned backsplash at Kitchen Gallery becomes

very "livable" thanks to the otherwise monochromatic

colour scheme, and streamlined cabinetry.

 

 

 

Should a kitchen backsplash make a statement, or is it better to play it safe? At Kitchen Gallery in North Bay, the trend is definitely in favour of statement backsplashes. "We are seeing more pattern and boldness", says Kristin Lowe, the Kitchen Gallery's owner and designer. She credits that fact to the vast selection of materials that's available now.

The offer in Kristin's store includes lots of natural stone such as marble, travertine and slate; blends of materials like glass/marble; and backsplashes featuring metals and other reflective materials.



Whether to go bold or not on the backsplash depends largely on the style of the surrounding cabinetry and the overall colour scheme in the room, explains Kristin. "It's a way to inject pattern and texture in a monochromatic space. What makes it successful is the natural beauty of the stone."

White kitchen by Kitchen Gallery's Aimée Cazabon.

For those homeowners who still want to play it safe, a white subway tile and long, narrow, all-stone tiles are good alternatives. They are also best-sellers in Kristin's Fisher Street store.

What's your backsplash preference, bold or bland?

 



 

 

 

Trend predictions for 2014

Brass pendants warm up this grey-and-white

kitchen, and mix well with the stainless steel

appliances.

2014 is here and it's covered in gold, at least as far as design goes. Brass and gold are definitely hot-hot-hot. They are used in faucets, lighting and accessories, and are often mixed with other metals.

At the upcoming IDS show in Toronto next week, I expect to see lots of warm, golden metals, along with... 














... abundant shades of rich and deep blues, especially navy blue, and...

Kitchen from Kelly Deck Design.

Blue-and-white dishware, like this from Crate&Barrel,

is making a comeback.

Jonathan Adler Ipanema Multi-bloom pendant.

... many interesting displays of big, sculptural light fixtures, plus...




... numerous geometric patterns.

Pillow from West Elm.

 







Check out my trend report after the show to see if I'm right!

At the same time, across the pond, trend watchers in Scandinavia anticipate these four design streams for the next two years:

Marble and brass are big in the "Pure classics" style.

1) “Pure classics” - an elegant and sophisticated style mixing old and new, and pastel colours with grey. Great for older homes with architectural interest, it’s a trend that highlights “modern luxury”, marble, gold, brass and crystal.

2) “Secret garden” combines “rustic retro” and "modern romantic". Second-hand finds and lots of green plants are important ingredients of this trend, that also highlights bright colours and botanical prints.

3) "Natural elements", features rustic, natural materials like stone, wood, glass and leather, and also includes washed linen, and furniture with patina.

4) The fourth style, "Aqua marine" is all about water. It favours stripes and white and grey-washed furniture. Blue, combined with white is predicted to be "next summer's strongest combination" within this trend.

Colour palette for the "Aqua marine" style.

Here at home, northern Ontarians have certainly embraced the grey trend. So many walls in the homes I visit are grey, as opposed to the taupey-browns that used to be so popular. 

Target's Beaver Collection.

In our local stores, I’m happy to see more natural fibres and materials. I’m thinking of the increased selection of wool rugs at Home Depot, and many wicker and wooden pieces in Target’s Beaver collection. 

Home Depot sells Lanart's wool rugs.

 Homeowners are asking for calm, neutral and uncluttered rooms, but are also desperately craving colour, which is introduced through accent walls and accessories. 

On its way out?

While leather is still a popular choice, more people now want less slippery, and warmer, upholstered pieces, and many are looking for a less bulky appearance.

This being said, here's my ultimate prediction, and not-so-secret wish, for 2014: it will be the year when chocolate brown leather couches finally fall from the top position in living rooms across northern Ontario. 

What do you think? Will I be right?

Happy New Design Year!

IDS is the gathering place for design enthusiasts.

If you like design and have a home project on the go, here's a tip to get your design year off to an inspiring start: The annual Interior Design Show, or IDS for short, which takes place in Toronto on January 23 to 26. 

Marketed as "the total design experience", it's a great opportunity to see new products, learn about up-and-coming designers and run into your favourite HGTV stars. 


 

In preparation for the show, my next post will look at some of the styles and design concepts that seem to be getting a lot of buzz right now, in Canada, across the pond, and even here in northern Ontario. Stay tuned!

 

 





The Finnish design house Marimekko is one of the international companies that will be represented at the show.

Practical holiday entertaining

Photo: Bengt & Lotta.

Only a couple of days to Christmas! Some of us will host large groups during the holidays, and that puts extra demands on the logistics of our homes.

Here are five easy ways to create practical flow and stylish organization when entertaining this Christmas:

1) Place an inexpensive shelving unit at the front door, where guests can put their snowy boots. It looks so much better than a jumble of footwear around the door.

2) In the living room, replace a big coffee table with multiple smaller tables that can be easily moved.

3) Use trays to organize your kitchen counters. Glasses on one tray, different kinds of beverages on another.

4) Convert a dresser or side table in the living room into a beverage refill station. It will reduce the traffic to the kitchen.

5) Remove small area rugs and runners. They can be tripping hazards when many people are moving around in the house.

Have a wonderful Christmas! Happy entertaining, and enjoy the fact that from now on the days are getting longer!

Fun and funky upholstered finds

I love the wave print and channel tufting

on this old-meets-new, stately chair.

 

 

 

It's the creativity that Bonnie Bonell loves the most about her job. With skilled hands and TLC, she gives new life to tired quality pieces, transforming them into one-of-a-kind furniture that will be used and loved for many more years to come.

Bonnie's company, Bonell's Upholstery, celebrates 40 years in business this year, and recently hosted a well-attended anniversary show and sale for the occasion.

Among the pieces for sale were funky chairs, fun ottomans and colourful pillows. Dressed in updated fabrics and with details such as piping and nailheads, they looked current and fresh - totally prepared to give personality and flair to any home. What a great idea for a Christmas!

Here are some of my favourites:

Upholstered in a rich purple velvet and with details in

a contrasting fabric, this chair looks sumptuous and

somewhat decadent. It's the perfect statement chair

for an entrance, bedroom, living room, or creative office. 

A high-gloss black gives this cane chair a modern
expression. The contrasting fabrics add interest.

The vintage needlepoint flower print is a perfect choice

for this curvy bench. Ideal for a "shabby chic" or French

country interior, it's a practical piece for a front hall or at

the foot of a bed.

Bonnie turned a vintage patchwork fabric into a groovy pillow,

with leather on the back. Love it!

A small footstool or ottoman can be that single,

special item that give a whole room a certain mood

and personality.

The fabric on this chair is hand-painted and stencilled by Bonnie.

Contrasting purple velvet on the back. Cute!

Three hot colours for 2014

Radiant Orchid is PANTONE's colour for 2014 and
"encourages expanded creativity and originality".

A soft blue, a luminous purple and a mellow yellow. These are the colours we should use in our homes next year, if we are to follow the advice from three big paint companies. 

The first two colours are cool, whereas the yellow has a warm glow to it. The purple stands out in this crowd because of its vibrancy.

CIL's Creamy, described as a “soft,

buttery colour that emits a feeling

of calm, tranquility and renewal.”

I would use the purple as an accent colour in accessories, and possibly a focal wall, but can't really see it on all the walls of a room. Can you? 

The pastel blue I'll keep as a contender for a bedroom or a bathroom. 

The yellow will cheer up any room. It's the most versatile of the three. Paired with black and grey, it feels fresh and more contemporary than the French country style that this hue is often associated with.

What do you think, will you try any of these colours next year?



Benjamin Moore's Breath of Fresh Air 806 is
described as a "new neutral", that works in
several different environments.

CIL's "Creamy" paired with greys, whites and black.

Dreaming of a white Christmas

Tulips in December? That's an early start, but I'll
take it, thanks to the Metro store in North Bay

and my thoughtful husband. Whether we'll have
a white Christmas or not, I know my home will
be partly dressed in white for the holidays.

Winter is off to a flying start! At the rate we're going, there's a good chance we'll have a white Christmas.

Will that be true also for the interiors of our homes? Not so sure; the traditional red and green, gold, silver, and to some extent icy blue, continue to be the go-to colours this time of the year. 

I have always liked the idea of a white Christmas. I know, it's not warm and cozy, and it doesn't fit all interiors. But paired with the greenery of the tree, pine cones and wood, it feels so airy, fluffy and light - just like snow. And: it's hard to get tired of!

The colour injection can come from other things, such as food, beverages, porcelain and napkins.

Be inspired by these white Christmas interiors from the company Bemz:

 

Simply Christmas

Christmas is in full swing - at least in our stores and decorating magazines.

It's easy to get stressed out about the holidays, but my advice is: don't fret it! After all, much more  important than "the perfectly decorated home" - if there is such thing - is the opportunity to enjoy the season with family and friends. Really!

As a tribute to my relaxed, "simply Christmas" philosophy, here are a few easy decorating ideas, done with a twinkle in the eye.

Photo: Roomservice.blogg.se





Photo: Houzz. Other Metro Media &

Bloggers Kootut murut

.



Areaware's Infinite tree stands 17" high and can

take on three cool looks.

 

 

Photo: Sköna Hem. "New take" on the traditional

Poinsettia. This is an easy one to copy!

 

A 3D Christmas calendar, with a surprise for every day.

Photo: IKEA. Livet hemma.

    

Photo: Houzz. Photographers Rikki Snyder.

 



Photo: Houzz. Planet Fur.

 

Bright ideas for lighting

Soon our homes will be filled with sparkling, light-filled Christmas trees, soft candles and illuminated decorations. The additional light sources will give our homes a layered, cozy feeling that is easily missed once the holidays are over.

But what if we apply some of the principles of Christmas decorating, in particular those that pertain to lighting, also the rest of the year? Here are three ways to do exactly that:

1) Assess the light bulbs in your existing fixtures. Do they give off a cool white or a warm yellow light? You can drastically change the whole appearance and feeling of a room by replacing a whitish bulb with a warmer, yellower version. As clients of mine have experienced, it can save you from having to repaint the room, or having to change upholstery and area rugs.

2) A layered lighting scheme is based on variation in the height and direction of the light sources. You can achieve amazing improvements simply by replacing a floor lamp by a table lamp, or by using pendant lights as reading lamps next to the bed, instead of the more typical wall sconces. Whether it'll work or not, depends on the height of the surrounding furniture and on the other light sources in the room.

3) Christmas lights are all about low-intensity accent lighting. Get the same result the rest of the year by having dimmers on the main light sources; by using products such as LED strips for in-cabinet and under-cabinet lighting; and by illuminating interesting features in your home. When buying light bulbs, make sure they are actually dimmable - not all of them are.

With these easy and affordable measures, our homes will feel warm and inviting all year round. Isn't that a bright idea?

Break the chair monopoly

Photo: Architectural Digest.

Are you happy with your dining room furniture? I find that many homeowners aren't, and that the problem often is the setup. There are simply too many chairs around the table, and they all look the same. The result can feel static and sometimes boring.

If this is your situation, and if you have a rectangular table, then try this: rather than changing all the chairs, switch out only the end chairs. It will instantly bring new life into your dining room. 

For example, you can mix up your row of upholstered chairs with a more sculptural, airy style like in the photo on the left. Or you can have slipcovers made for your existing end chairs, and introduce some variety that way.

Photo: House Beautiful

Another popular solution is to mix benches and banquettes with the chairs, for a flexible and relaxed vibe. I'm pretty sure our dining rooms would be used a lot more if we lost a bit of their formality. What do you think?

Remember my special price of $25 for a one-hour appointment in November? Book your appointment now if you too want to feel good every time you walk into your space.