Cool colour combos

Summer is the time to experiment with colour. You only need a few colourful splashes for a huge impact. Try these feisty combinations on placemats, napkins, runners or pillows:

                                     Chartreuse and turquoise:

  

Pink/fuchsia and orange:

                                        Purple and yellow:

  

Bring on the bling

Make space for some glamour! As the saying goes: a little bling makes a room sing.

Light fixtures are ideal for introducing sparkle in your space, and they come in a wide range of styles and sizes. Be inspired by these shiny examples available at Howe's Lighting and Pixies Discount Cash and Carry in North Bay:

How about this fixture from Artcraft

over your dining table?

Another light fixture from Artcraft. 

This one would be appropriate in a

staircase or to light up a dark corner.

Showstopper piece from Feiss.

A more traditional fixture from Feiss. 

This light could also work in a 

contemporary or "shabby chic" space. 

Use this fixture from Kichler over

an island or a long, rectangular dining

table.

DVI Lighting makes this gorgeous

semi-flush mount.

Another stunning fixture from

DVI Lighting.

Curb appeal 101

First impressions are important, and that also applies to your home. At a recent consultation, the owners of a 1919 brick house wanted to improve the appearance of their home. Here are some of the curb appeal essentials I shared with them:

1) Unify with colours. Make sure your exterior colour scheme doesn't include too many colours. This is especially true if your home has had additions throughout the years.

2) Plant a tree. Whether its a low, flowering bush or a tree with lush, heavy greenery, this is a fool-proof way to enhance your home's curb appeal. Try planting the tree close to one of the front corners of the house.

3) Have fun with the front door. There shouldn't be any doubt about where the main entrance is. Paint the front door a bold, welcoming colour that complements the rest of the house. Flank it with flower pots and make sure it is well lit.

4) Update your mailbox and house numbers. This is a relatively easy one!

5) Review surrounding flower beds. Is there a nice mix of textures, sizes and heights? Let the plants in your flower beds reflect the colour of the front door.

Voilà! Your home will have made a 365 degree curb appeal turn!

From the outside in

This is the time of year we long for in the winter. The lilacs are in bloom, the trees are full of fresh leaves and the lupins have just started to open. Make sure you bring some of the life, scents and colours in from the outside! One tall, single maple branch in a transparent vase on the floor adds vertical interest to any corner and can almost look sculpture-like. A few lilies-of-the-valley on your night table will make you wake up smiling every morning. And a bouquet of lilacs in your living room is your ultimate, natural air freshener.

What did you bring in from the outside today?

Colour me healthy

As soon as I entered Dr. André Hasspieler's Family Practice in North Bay my lingering cough and sore throat were no longer on top of my mind. How could they be, in this vibrant environment? Everything, from the glass pendant and modern swivel chairs in the reception, to the brightly painted wall sections, supports feelings of life and happiness. No wonder many patients comment that they feel less sick when visiting the Practice!

Most of all, though, it's the big, colourful paintings that contribute to the welcoming and personal atmosphere. The artist behind the brave brush strokes is Linda Wilson of Art Moves Me. Linda is also the interior designer of the Practice. Her imaginative paintings are scattered throughout the rooms, giving patients something interesting to look at in every direction. In this space, being sick becomes a little more bearable. Look for yourselves!

Couch upholstery: breaking the rules

"Go with a neutral couch and leave the colour to the accents!" The old design mantra completely makes sense; a couch is an investment and you want to enjoy it for years. But what if we challenge the rules and have some fun imagining a certain sofa in a patterned, colourful upholstery? It could actually be that statement piece that makes a whole room! Just have a look at these examples, as seen at Home Furniture in North Bay.

Start with a streamlined couch with simple lines.

A love seat is the ideal size for an attention-grabbing 

upholstery. The statement shouldn't be too big, just 

big enough. Keep the rest of the décor toned down.

Big, white hydrangeas on a soft yellow background 

will give the room a quiet punch. It's contemporary 

and sophisticated at the same time. 

A graphic trellis pattern is a bolder choice.

Match with sculptural side tables.

A subtler option that works in both a traditional

and a more modern setting. How about light blue

or cream walls with this upholstery? 

This lush, dark purple upholstery lends itself to an 

intimate setting. Enhance the feeling with purple 

and pink accent pillows in velvet.

An eclectic art collection, all framed in black, above 

a love seat with this upholstery would look stunning. 

Add a round, bright yellow side table for a fun, ultra 

modern vibe.

This soft and elegant upholstery can read both 

as traditional and contemporary. 

Another graphic option with lots of contrast.

Finally, here's a great, neutral couch from Home Furniture

if you want to play it safe. Do you?

All wired up for spring

Brighten up your beige, brown or grey outdoor furniture with some happy, carefree furniture and accessories this spring! These colourful, easy-going pieces from Winners in North Bay are a good start:

Wired accent tables in fresh, summer 

colours. 

A quirky, wired chair for that special

place in your backyard.

Not all your outdoor furniture has

be beige! This bright red bistro set 

will turn up the patio temperature 

a notch.

The red in the pillow really jumps out!

Stylish spring pillows for your four-legged friend.

Chartreuse is that greenish-yellow colour that 

adds a brave punch to any interior and that feels 

so right for spring. Here combined with turquoise, 

black and grey. Yes!

What says spring more than birds and light green

foliage?

And now to my absolute favourites. These fun and

funky area rugs in 100% cotton measure 30"x50"

and cost only $19.99! Big, contemporary impact 

for a small investment. Because of their thin profile,

you can also use them as a decorative throw in your

couch.

A flexible approach to art

As seen at the upscale Toronto 

store Elte's display at the Interior 

Design Show earlier this year: At 

a first glance, this piece of art

looks like a graphic, small-print 

drawing ...

Almost anything can be turned into art; old record covers, a colourful scarf, your children's drawings, vintage postcards, or even tear sheets from a magazine. Give the piece importance by framing it with a white, wide matting and group it with other personal objects. Look for used frames at thrift stores if your budget is tight. If you are a musical family, why not frame your favourite piece of music?

You want your walls to tell a story, of who you are, of how you live, and maybe even of what music you like to listen to...

Do you have any other decorative tips for walls?

...get closer and you'll see that it's actually

framed music. Take out your clarinet and

give it a try!

If music is not your forte, you 

might want to frame some math

and chemistry posters instead.

Your imagination is the limit when deciding 

what you can turn into art!