Crafty Christmas Creations

Berries framed in ice. Pour water in a shallow pan and leave

outside in freezing conditions. Loosen carefully and stick in the 

snow. To achieve a crystal clear, transparent surface, the ice 

should form as slowly as possible, i.e. not in extremely cold 

temperatures. In the freezer, the ice often turns frosty, not 

clear.

The countdown for Christmas has begun; only a few more weeks to go! Out comes the box with decorations (it's a pretty big box), and along with it, my special collection of holiday DIY objects. These projects are all simple, unique and beautiful - exactly what I wish for the season. They often also involve an activity that can be shared with others. So, double the fun! After all, isn't that what this time of year is all about?

I'd love to hear about your favourite Christmas project! What's cooking in your own DIY workshop?

You'll need a heart-shaped cookie cutter, 

a flower bud and thin wire to make

this adorable outdoor decoration. Put the

flower bud in the cookie cutter, shape the

the wire as a loop. Add water, making

sure the wire is immersed in water. Freeze.

Hold the heart in your hands for awhile and 

it will come out from the cookie cutter and

will be ready to hang.

Who doesn't like ginger cookies?

Not only do they taste good, they 

also look fabulous in the Christmas

tree!

More ginger cookies, this time made of felted wool. 

Paperwhites are the ultimate Christmas flower. 

Delicate, proud and sweet.

Plant them in a tall glass

container to enhance the

vertical shape. The visible

root system adds texture

and interest.

A creative spin on the traditional wreath.

This one is made of recycled sweaters, 

yes sweaters, cut in squares and triangles.

I saw it in Chatelaine last year and thought

it was ingenious! You'll need thick-gauge

wire, 3 to 5 old sweaters, good fabric scissors

and ribbon. Bend the wire into the shape of a 

wreath with a loop at one end. Thread the

knitted squares onto the wire, until 1 inch of the

wire remains. Feed the wire end through the loop

and twist to close. Finish off with a large bow.

Another stunning wreath from Chatelaine, this

one made from pot scrubbers!

Apples double as candle holders. 

Natural and simple.

Favourite fireplaces

Noll ClimateCare's product range includes fireplaces from Regency 

Fireplace Products and Napoleon Quality Fireplaces.This beautiful 

contemporary gas fireplace is from Regency.

Fireplaces are hot this time of year, in more than one way. I visited one of our local suppliers, Noll ClimateCare, to learn about the latest trends and highlights. Here they are:

1) Fireplaces are taking centre stage in our homes, with a prime location and dramatic flames. Gas options continue to be a popular choice, and contemporary lines are more and more in demand. The shape is often horizontal, with inner, reflective panels that amplify the appearance of the fire.

Crystal firebeds add sparkle

and interest.

2) Firebeds can be so much more than traditional logs, whether real or ceramic. Contemporary alternatives include multi-coloured crystals, ceramic spa stones and river pebbles. These options will intensify the sparkle and provide additional reflection.

3) When buying a new fireplace, be clear about where it's going and what its purpose will be. Will it be the sole heat source in the house, will it supplement other heat sources, or do you want it solely for aesthetic reasons? This will determine the size and the heat output you should look for.

4) Be true to the style of your home when choosing a fireplace. To help you visualize how a certain fireplace will look in your own room, visit the Regency Fireplace Design Centre.

Electric fireplace from Napoleon Quality Fireplaces.

5) Today there is a great deal of flexibility when it comes to the installation of a gas fireplace; it does not necessarily have to be close to an outside wall. Electric fireplaces can be installed basically anywhere, whereas wood and pellet stoves are more limited when it comes to their location.

6) We used to relate "high definition" to audio and visual devices, now it's also the name of a fireplace. And speaking of high definition, if you just want the sound and image of a fire, there are many videos with sparkling fires that you can download online and show on your TV screen. If you can't make it, fake it! This said though, nothing beats the real thing. Just take a look at these inspiring environments with "real" flames:

Gas fireplace from Regency.

Direct vent gas fireplace from Napoleon.

Three-sided gas fireplace from Regency.

Vent-free gas fireplace from Napoleon.

Focus on dining rooms

What is the focus of this room? Ask yourself that question in every room. The focus will most often relate to the main activity that will take place in that space. So in a bedroom, the focal point will be the bed; in a library, it will be the bookshelves and so on. Make these areas the shining stars of your décor! In the dining room, it's the dining table that should be highlighted and embellished. Here are five tips to get it right:

            Highlight the dining area by placing

            tall objects below the light fixture.

            Photo: Crate & Barrel.

1) Place the dining table right in the centre of the room.
2) Make sure your dining room has a stunning light fixture. Bigger is better than smaller!
3) Place decorative objects that reach up from the table to the light fixture. It can be a bouquet of flowers, some candlesticks or a beautiful bowl. This way you create an axis from floor to ceiling that the eye will be drawn to.
4) Add interest to the side walls surrounding the dining table. A sideboard with a framed mirror and a pair of wall sconces might be a choice for one of the walls, while the opposite wall is adorned with a group of paintings. Now you have further enhanced the floor-to-ceiling axis. There is no question about what the main feature of the room is.
5) Dress your table in a table cloth that complements the colours and textures of the space, take out your best china and cutlery and let the entertaining begin!

Turn up the heat!

Nothing beats the deep, generous flame of a see-through 

fireplace if you have a big space and want to maintain an 

airy feeling. The enclosing stonework provides texture and

contrasting colour.

Oh baby it's cold outside! Well, not so much this weekend. But colder days are definitely approaching, and more than ever we want our homes to feel warm, inviting and attractive. The solution? A strategically located fireplace! Not only does it provide heat, it also functions as a focal point and light source that will energize the most tired of rooms. That was exactly what happened in my own living room. It felt and looked cold. Something was missing. It wasn't until we installed our contemporary pellet stove that we started to spend time in this room, and today it's our favourite hang-out spot. (Knowing that the stove saves us over $1,000 per year in fuel costs also helps!). So look around your home and see where you can introduce an element of fire. There are so many alternatives today; ventless gel fireplaces, electric, gas... Or for an easier solution: group several candles on a beautiful tray and let the light and warmth fill the room. Snuggle up!

What's hot in hardwood floors?

   For a classic, elegant look, choose a mid-tone 

   wood floor, which will never go out of style.

   Photo: Floor Muffler.

Dark, dark shades, wide planks and matt finishes. According to retailers in town, that’s what most buyers of hardwood floors ask for these days. On the other end of the spectrum is natural maple, which also continues to be a popular choice. So it’s either very dark, or very light. A mid tone colour is a safer choice though, if you're thinking of the resale value of your home. 

Another trend is the increased interest in floating floors with interlocking edges that snap together. This “click-in-place” product needs no glue or nails, which makes it a great choice for apartments. A floor muffler underneath the boards reduces noise traveling through, promoting good neighbourly relations.

How about an animal-print floor like the middle one,

which I saw at the IDS show in Toronto in January? 

You'd better love it! It's extravagant and quite a

commitment.

Drum up some drama!

This huge wall clock from Winners in

North Bay is sure to make a statement. 

It reminds me of the big clock Sarah 

Richardson added to the wall of a big 

box kitchen in one of her shows (see 

below).

"All large rooms need something tall", says a designer in my latest House Beautiful magazine. Similarly, big spaces also need one or two very large pieces. If everything is moderately sized in a big room, it will feel too broken up and lacking a "wow" factor. An oversized piece on the other hand, whether it's a large mirror, a huge painting or a big armoire, will anchor and add interest to the space. And it will provide some drama!

Oversized pieces can also work in smaller spaces, but make sure the rest of the furniture or accessories in the room are kept to a minimum. Let the big piece do all the dramatic talking and be the focal point of the room.

Do you have a favourite, oversized piece, that you already own or have on your wish list?

Six and the city

Are you a slave to design trends? I'm guessing not, unless you have limitless resources and storage space. But you have to agree that trends are fun and inspirational! During a visit to some of Toronto's fanciest design stores a few weeks ago, I saw a number of design solutions repeated over and over again... Here are my favourite six trends:






1) Forget dining sets with identical chairs; mixing and matching is the name of the game. Combine wooden benches with upholstered, high-backed chairs or banquettes. This "casual-meets-elegant" mix is a winner!












2) Weathered wood with a distressed look continues to be hot, especially when combined with shiny chrome or leather.












3) Upholstered ottomans are a practical substitution for a coffee table. Simply put a beautiful tray on the ottoman whenever you need a flat surface. If you are re-upholstering an old ottoman, think outside the traditional fabric option; thin rugs, such as kelims or dhurries, can be used as upholstery material.

4) Oversized light fixtures create drama and draws attention to the focal point in a room, whether it is the couch and seating area of a living room, the table in a dining room or the bed in a bedroom.















5) Big headboards enhance the beauty of a bed. Be creative when it comes to headboards. Screens and fabrics can act as headboards. You can also paint the wall at the head of the bed in a different colour, or make it stand out in any other way, like the brick wall in the photo.

6) Zig-zag patterns are in...on rugs, drapes or pillow cases. They make quite a graphic statement in any room.


What do you think. are any of these trends for you?

Thanksgiving dinner for the senses

I hope you're enjoying this warm and sunny Thanksgiving weekend! I had the luxury of celebrating my holiday dinner at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville yesterday. Feasting on all the wonderful goodies, it struck me that food presentation and design have a great deal in common. More than anything, it's about achieving an interesting mix of colours, textures and shapes. Throw in some intriguing scents, sounds and flavours and you have a feast for the senses, a winning combination. As with the perfect recipe, it takes some trial-and-error to get it right. But thankfully, the journey is often as pleasant as the result. Happy Thanksgiving and keep experimenting!

Creating happy rooms for kids

Make your kids' room a happy place, one they will want to spend a lot of time in. Focus on soft, light wall colours, lots of baskets and storage for all their projects and toys, and a desk for school work. Try wallpaper or a mural on one accent wall for a splash of colour. These cheery motifs are from the company 4walls' kids' portfolio, carried by Stewart's in North Bay. They are sure to trigger the imagination and up the fun factor for young family members!

More bright lighting ideas

Did you know this about lighting?

• Lighting is the ultimate space enlarger. A narrow hallway or small nook will feel more spacious and inviting with the right lighting.
• If a room is poorly lit, it will never look as good as it will under proper lighting, no matter how beautiful your materials and colours are.
• Strive for three points of light in every room, and actually turn them on. Dimmers help you regulate the intensity of each light, and and are a great tool to achieve a balance between the different light sources.

Below are some good-looking fixtures that I’ve come across in North Bay: 

The mix of clear and frosted glass

makes this cone-shaped pendant

a stylish choice for your kitchen

island. Hang it in groups of three

for more impact. Discount Cash 

and Carry, North Bay.

This is a modern take on the classic chandelier.

Chandeliers have become increasingly popular

and are no longer reserved for the traditional 

home.

Round ceiling fixture with lots of pizazz. 

Howe's Lighting and Fan Co.

Retro-style ceiling fixture. Dicount Cash and Carry.

Clean and simple lines on this ceiling fixture with

frosted glass. Howe's Lighting and Fan Co.

Lots of bling and a gorgeous light is reflected off

this show stopper from Discount Cash and Carry.

If you're looking for affordable, stylish table fixtures,

the ones below from Walmart are worth having

a look at. They are all below $20: