Online inspiration for your projects

    To travel can also be a big source of 

    inspiration. I always bring my camera 

    wherever I go. Often I don't have to 

    travel far. This gallery of art tiles, for 

    example, is from a store in Huntsville. 

    It reminds me that there is strength 

    in numbers and that you can mix motifs 

    pretty liberally as long as there is one or 

    two unifying features; in this case the size 

    and shape of the tiles.

Don't fret about summer soon being over. Start planning some fun interior design projects for your home instead! These sites will help you turn your interior dreams into a reality:

Houzz features over 150,000 inspiring photos of environments created by design professionals. Search by category and start putting together your own ideabooks. 

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that lets you save decorating ideas, recipies and beautiful things that you find on the web. It’s also helpful if you’re planning a major event which you want input from friends and family on.

Evernote allows you to save pages and images from internet, your own photos and written notes. You can add tags to easily identify trends within your choices.

Mydeco has a free 3D design software program, and tools to help you create moodboards, bookmark images from the web and decorate a photo.

Shabby chic in Bracebridge

Introduce colour by painting the drawers 

of an old dresser in contrasting hues. 

Simply Cottage.

Make sure to stop in Bracebridge the next time you're heading south. This quaint little summer city in the heart of Muskoka, offers both beautiful views and interesting stores. Lovers of the shabby chic look will discover a mecca in Simply Cottage. Here you'll find a mix of casual cottage chic and Canadiana. Two floors are loaded with slip-covered sofas and chairs, heirloom pieces, painted wood furniture and funky accessories. Everything with tons of style! Another must on Bracebridge's main street (actually Manitoba Street) is Your Home Interiors. This store is filled with French-inspired antique-style furniture and home décor with lots of charm. Don't miss it! Check out some of the highlights from my explorations in Bracebridge.

Slip-covered dining chair in a pale,

light-blue shade at Simply Cottage. 

Look how well the slipcover works 

with the white table. Isn't the turned 

leg on the table absolutely gorgeous?

Here is the pale blue again, this time striped on a cozy

couch. Simply Cottage.

How unique; the top of this table resembles 

a flower. Simply Cottage.

These fun storage bags come in a wide

range of fabric options.

A new use for old board games: 

display a collection of them on the 

wall for a cheery pop of colour. 

Simply Cottage.

Red side table with a folkloric vibe.
Simply Cottage.

Find your perfect sign at Simply Cottage.

And below are some images from Your

Home Interiors. Make sure to check out

the store's Facebook page for more 

beautiful pics.

The intricate ornamentation makes this piece a 

showstopper. Your Home Interiors.

Beautifully carved fireplace mantel. 

See detail below.

A vignette filled with shapes; the chunky 

candleholders and sculptural vases contrast 

nicely with the more delicate table.

Shiny tin vases for some bling. 

McQueen's Furniture - a family affair

Furniture runs in the family! This is certainly true for the owners of this family-owned and operated store. With over 135 years of combined experience in the furniture business, the owners of McQueen's Furniture are clearly veterans. In addition to furniture, you'll also find accessories, bedding, fireplaces and appliances in any of McQueen's stores in Sudbury, North Bay and Espanola. Have a look at some of my favourites from the North Bay store:

This mirror rocks! It has

everything going for it:

the size, the shape and

the bling! And the mirror

frame is so slick - see 

below.

The frame consists of small, pebble-shaped 

mirrors that provide additional interest and

reflection. 

I like the shape and wooden texture

on these candleholders. Grouped in

three they make for an interesting,

decorative vignette.

Sturdy wooden bowls with a beautiful, clean

design.

As with the wooden candleholders above, 

your stoneware should also be displayed 

in groups of three or more for maximum 

impact. These pieces have a rustic appeal.

Dramatic, yet peaceful artwork.

I'm very fond of sculptural

lamps like these two...

...and how about this one?

It will reflect light both 

from the inside and the 

outside.

Try banquettes around the dinner table!

Combined with chairs, they look elegant 

and sleek.

Upholstered chairs are perfect for lingering dinner

parties. This set has a simple, yet sophisticated 

design. It was perhaps not the intention of the

showroom designer, but I actually think the two

upholstery options can be combined around the

same table. Especially if you want a fun, modern 

feel, and if the colours of the fabrics are repeated 

elsewhere in the room.

Avoid sharp corners with a round coffee table.

Consider one with a glass top - such as this 

one - if your space is tight and otherwise filled 

with heavier pieces. 

Lovers of black-and-white will probably find this 

dresser quite effective. They might also like the 

glass vase below.

Summer sauna taking shape

Our long-awaited sauna is complete - at least on paper! With careful preparation and lots of work, it will hopefully be ready by the end of the summer. Tucked away between pine trees and with a prime view of the lake, it will be a desired place for late summer evenings. Designing a sauna is a bit like designing the interior of a boat; a lot of function has to fit into a limited space. Challenging! And while the actual sauna leaves little room for decorative embellishments, the adjacent change room is more flexible in this regard. This, of course, triggers the imagination of a design enthusiast like myself; I can already envision the room's white-washed walls, blue towels neatly piled up on a shelf, and little lantern in the window, telling visitors that the heat is on...

Stay tuned for pictures and stories as the building takes shape!

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.

Kitchen design: what's cooking?

Pizo Industries, Powassan.

Thinking of redoing your kitchen? Summer is actually the perfect time for it, with barbecuing and outdoor dining being so easy and desirable. What style are you going for? If you still haven't made up your mind, you'll be interested in hearing from two of our local kitchen suppliers. This is what they have to say about "what's cooking":


Geoff Miller, Pizo Industries, Powassan: 
1. People are asking for clean lines and flat cabinetry panels these days. 
2. Wide-grain wood patterns are in demand. People tend to choose them for the warm feel they give to a contemporary kitchen. Walnut, South American and Asian wood species are especially popular. 
3. We see a lot of high-gloss finishes.

Kitchen Gallery, North Bay.

Kristin Lowe, Kitchen Gallery, North Bay:

1. As far as cabinetry goes, wood has taken a back seat to lacquer. The lightness and velvety texture of lacquer are a desirable look right now. The lacquer can be custom coloured to match any colour.  

2. For countertops, engineered stone is increasingly popular. Granite Transformations Engineered Stone is incredibly durable and resistant, and it's sealed permanently.  

3. There is a focus on quality. People today live in a more open concept with large open kitchens and islands. Therefore, if the kitchen has fewer cabinets, every other cabinet has to be that much better!  


Make sure to look for more kitchen design tips and trends in future postings! 

Old is new at Manchester's Sleep Centre

It's not just the Fischer Street location that is new for Manchester's Sleep Centre & Spas. The store is also introducing a number of new, interesting products. The John Michael Originals, for example, is a line of hand-crafted furniture made from salvaged wood. Each piece is unique and uses mantels, flooring, porch posts and other details from 150-year-old homes in southern United States. The elaborate, salvaged components give the pieces personality, history and style. Precisely what we yearn for! I like how this rustic furniture line lends itself both to traditional country-style homes and to more modern cottage environments.
Take a look at the pieces here below, along with some of Manchester's Sleep Centre & Spas' fancy accessories.

This is a nice mix of old and new; the kitchen island 

is made from salvaged pieces and combines very 

well with the modern line of the bar stools. Island,

on sale for $2295, stools $299.

Detail from the kitchen island.

White cabinet, on sale

for $1599.

Details like these (above and below) add charm

and interest to a functional piece of furniture, 

such as the white cabinet above. Decorative tin 

(below) covers the back of the cabinet.

This cabinet provides tons of 

storage and plenty of country 

flair. On sale for $769.

Harvest table, bench and chairs, all on sale for

$2395, $649 and $199 respectively.

This gorgeous pillow is made from soft jute.

Can't get enough of royalty? Try these fun pillows

for a touch of glamour.

Some rooms call for calm patterns, such as this

botanical motif...

... other rooms need drama and contrast, and will

look vibrant with a pillow like this.

"Leila" is a new bed set for 2011 at Manchester's 

Sleep Centre & Spa and looks pretty in purple!

Want to show off something 

really beautiful in your home?

Give it extra exposure with a 

mirror! $400.