by MeCC Interiors

If you’re a trend watcher and can’t wait to know what’s on the design horizon for 2012, here are a few of the evolving shifts occurring within Canada and the US pertaining to home design, which are making our living spaces more practical than aspirational.  These trends apply not only to new homes, but more extensive renovation projects.

Open Concept Living and Family space (photo by homeaway.com)

Then: Formal Living Room.  Now: Open Family Room.

The first is nothing new and will certainly come as no surprise: formal living rooms are a thing of the past, with a preference towards open rooms that encourage family gathering.  Interior walls continue to be torn down or opened up to expand views and make interiors feel more spacious and connected.  Just be sure you’re not tearing down a load bearing wall if you’re removing anything.

Then: Second Staircase.  Now: An Elevator.

RAM residential elevator

Rather than making room for that second staircase, keep an area reserved for that future elevator!  With aging populations, this luxury will become more commonplace as multiple floors become more difficult to manoeuver.  Though definitely more expensive than your standard kitchen or bathroom renovation, sizes and interior finishes vary considerably, making them available in a wide price range.

Then: Soaker Tubs.  Now: Steam Showers.

Showpiece bathrooms almost always feature a standalone tub, though a shocking number of homeowners say they never use the tubs to soak in.  For those with more limited space, tubs are being replaced with steam showers, which are fabulous year round and not as drying to the skin as saunas.  In homes with more space, many feature full steam rooms, often in the basement near the gym.

Then: Dad’s Office.  Now: Lifestyle Centres.

The panelled office that doubled as dad’s retreat are disappearing in favour of “lifestyle centres.”  Most homes feature wireless computing, so a fulltime desk is not even necessarily part of the equation.  They tend to allow for flexibility and togetherness and may act as home office, homework centre, craft station, or something else entirely, but they are included within the main, open space and keep users connected with others in the house, rather than segregated.

Outdoor Firepit and Conversation area by insideoutpatio.ca

Then: Breakfast Nook.  Now: Outdoor Spaces.

Kitchen sizes have changed substantially over the years, with many now being the hub of the home and opening onto the family room.  (Many also contain the home’s “lifestyle centre.”)  Instead of breakfast nooks, they feature a bar area and stools.  During the same time, outdoor kitchens have seen a dramatic rise and many would prefer to spend time outdoors when the weather is nice, and so the outdoor room continues to trend upwards.  It includes more than just a dining table and a few chairs, though.  Separate seating areas with a fire pit, for example, will grow in popularity as they help extend the outdoor season.

Then: Grand Foyer.  Now: “Drop Zones.”

The double story entrance foyer is seen by many as a waste of space and is often terribly energy-inefficient. “Drop zones,” however, are functional spaces that help keep everyone organize.  Most feature a place to store coats and footwear, as well as backpacks or briefcases, whether on hooks or cubbies or within a closet.  They also provide a place to drop and sort the mail, set the house keys, and other things of that nature.  Larger zones also store sports equipment or feature a place to store Fido’s leash and accessories.  Depending on the layout of the home, it may be at the front door, or off a more commonly used side or back entrance.

Bayou Cottage Laundry / Craft / Drop Zone

by Nicola Winters

When choosing a roller blind to feature in your newly decorated room or home, it is important to choose a style which you will be happy with and that compliments the rest of your interior décor. The amount of variety available in fabrics, colours and designs, makes it relatively easy to find the perfect window treatment to compliment your room. However, if mainstream designs and patterns are not for you then why not create your own roller blinds? This will, not only incorporate character, individuality and personality into your home, but also offer an inexpensive alternative the next time your blinds are in need of replacing or sprucing up.

Firstly, a plain roller blind will need to be purchased to act as the base of your design. Choose a colour that matches your room and also suits the pattern or design you wish to apply to it. DIY kits for roller blinds can also be purchased, complete with instructions of how to attach your appliques.

Stamping, painting and double sided iron on appliques can all be used to create the design you want. Appliques can be purchased readily made or you can make them yourself using separate fabric from the roller blind. Simply iron the appliques onto a piece of fabric, cut out interesting motifs and iron carefully iron them onto the roller blind. Alternatively, stamps can be used to achieve similar results. These, again, can be readily made and purchased from decorating or craft stores or made from scratch using everyday household objects such as wood, soap or even potatoes. By dipping them in the paint of your choice and pressing them firmly onto the blind, an instant pattern or design can be created.

A third option is to paint them manually. The perfect plan for the artistic and creative; this method is particularly rewarding when completed.

IDEAS

Kitchen and Living room

There are already plenty of designs, styles and fabrics available to buy in roller blinds and attempting to be creative is harder than most think. Take a look around your home and garden and be inspired by shapes, objects and patterns that you see. A particular favourite amongst homeowners is the use of flowers. These can be either painted, stamped or ironed on using fabric motifs and add instant character to your, seemingly, dull window treatments. Leaves are another favourite that also brightens up any room or area within the home. By using a thin paintbrush, stems and vines can be drawn around the shapes to create extra imagery. This is also a great way of covering up any mistakes or drips that have occurred when stamping.

Bathroom

Blues and whites are typically seen in bathrooms and blinds can be very limited when offering patterned designs to suit this type of room with the home. However, by using fabric appliques to create waves, dolphins, splashes or shapes, a bathroom’s window treatment can be transformed into a centre piece.

Bedrooms

The new fashion in home furnishing and decoration is the use of ornaments and pictures in the shape of single words. Words such as love, peace, home and relax can create a certain mood or feel within a room. Stencils can be bought which spell out single words or even phrases which can be added to blinds within the bedroom to add a warm, cosy yet modern feel to the area.

Children

When decorating children’s bedrooms, it’s a great idea to get them involved in the action. If children are actively involved in the creation of something, they are much less likely to damage it. Finger painting and hand stamping is a particular favourite activity amongst young children so why not incorporate it into the designing of their roller blinds. Not only will it be a lovely touch but can also be saved and stored, so in years to come, you can remember the time when you both actively engaged in a fun activity that brightened the home up.

by Lorena Benchis

The modern passion for interior decorating and contemporary design means that it has never been easier to find items for your home to create the look you want.

Contemporary interior design has changed the way we decorate our homes and allowed us to express ourselves through interior design in a way that reflects style and class, without spending a fortune.

For our grandparents’ generation, it was the case that the more ‘stuff’ we had, the better! Living rooms cluttered with a million and one items, and bedrooms decorated with chintz and flowers galore were the norm.

Thank goodness times have changed! Nowadays, the minimalist look is favoured, and homes reflect a more pared back approach to design.

To create a contemporary and modern look in your bedroom, choose the right key pieces of furniture and don’t over-clutter. Double beds in sleek and sharp designs make the ideal central focal point for the bedroom and you can find a wide range of fabulous modern designs at Bensons. Take your time to choose the right bed for you and this can be your springboard for the rest of the room.

Once you have found the right bed, consider the rest of the bedroom, and in particular the bedroom furniture. Choose wardrobes, dressers, chests of drawers and bedside tables in clean, modern shapes and styles. If you’re going for a contemporary look you obviously don’t want to go for anything vintage or with an antique feel.

The colours you choose to decorate your bedroom with once you have found your furniture will really finish off the look of your room. For a contemporary look, think blocks of colour as opposed to lots of patterns. Simple is the key, so flowery or chintzy wallpaper is out! Finish off the look with a well chosen piece of modern art hanging on the wall.

When designing a room it is essential to pay attention to the lighting. Both the quantity and quality of light can have a dramatic effect on how the room will appear. Quantity is fairly simple, the more light you have the brighter the room. It also helps the room to feel larger. For example a bedroom with small windows will be very dark and close. The same room with larger windows will feel much less intimidating and gloomy. The quantity will be affected by how large your windows are and what artificial lights you have available.

The quality of the light is such factors as the colour and intensity. Both artificial and natural light can affect this. A classic example of different quality lights would be mood lighting as compared to spot lighting. A more subtle example is the effect that the direction that natural light comes from can have:

• North facing rooms will only get reflected sunlight meaning that light often has a cold flattening quality caused by the large amount of blue light reflected into the room.
• East facing rooms get direct light in the morning as the sun rises but far less light in the evening.
• South facing rooms get the benefits of direct sunlight on them for most of the day making them warmer and better lit than others.
• West facing rooms will be dark in the morning but brighten up as the sun moves to the west. They will often get the most heat as not only does the early afternoon sun tends to be the warmest but the setting sun will often shine directly into them. Wooden Venetian blinds offer a great way of preventing glare whilst still allowing light in.

When deciding how to light a room you should consider its size and shape as well as the amount of natural light available. For example a square room will have a different pattern of light and shadow compared to an L shaped or rectangular room. In general the larger the room the more ambient lighting you will need. Ambient lighting is the light we use just to see and perform standard tasks. It can easily be provided by the natural light available during the day as well as a few lamps or ceiling lights.

Rooms like a kitchen or study will benefit from task lighting that allows specific tasks to be performed. For example if you are drawing or painting then having a bright task lamp such as an Anglepoise can be a huge help by providing light exactly where you need it. A similar example is lights fitted so that they shine directly on your oven hobs so that you can see what you are cooking.

The last type of lighting to consider is accent and mood lighting, which can be used to highlight artwork and other decorations. The typical example of this would be a small bulb in recess directly above or below a work of art. However you could also include candles and Christmas tree lights within this.

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This is a guest post on behalf of Wooden Blinds Direct, online suppliers of quality blinds at discount prices.

by Guest

When moving into a new home or redecorating a room in your existing home, the decorating can be a big job. In a new construction home, most often, the walls will be white or very neutral. Painting and new furniture pieces are staples when it comes to decorating and redecorating, but one of the biggest stumbling blocks that new home owners often come across is how to decorate the windows. Wrought iron curtain rods are a fantastic solution. Wrought iron is a nice neutral that will coordinate well with many decor styles and because it has that hand crafted appeal to it, they are a great way to warm up and complete any design.

There are so many varieties out there that you will need to narrow down your options, especially for your decorative curtain rods. Figure out the types of window treatments that you will just never be comfortable with and rule those out first. If you don’t have your room’s design completely nailed down, then try to pick out window treatments that will fit into many different types of decor. If you already have the crux of the design determined you can look for window treatments that fit the design. Either way, try to be flexible with your choices, window treatments can live through many design iterations, so look for something that can work with a variety of design aesthetics. Wrought Iron Curtain Rods are an extremely flexible window treatment.

Iron curtain rods will enhance almost any decorating style. They will not only complete your window treatments but they will add the finishing touch to your view. Wrought Iron Curtain Rods can be used in decorating with a modern flare, shabby chic or even the ultra minimalist style. Rod finials can also change the look of your entire room. A simple ball can be changed to an intricate scroll design, taking your room from simple to elegant in a short time frame.

The types of drapery that can be hung on wrought iron curtain rods are as varied as the iron curtain rods themselves. An inexpensive piece of fabric can be fixed up with an elegant curtain rod and make it look like you have paid a large amount of money for it. With the right decorative touches you can make your home feel like a place of comfort and peace. You can create an environment that you feel comfortable in. The little pieces, like your window treatments, will enhance how much you enjoy your home.

This article has been provided by Julia Ritzenthaler, owner and founder of several online boutique home furnishing stores including http://www.UniqueLightFixture.com/ visit or call 1-866-526-1843 for more information.

by Guest

If you have a dark room that you are trying to light, you probably already know that it isn’t an easy task to accomplish. It’s important to understand how different light fixtures illuminate a space differently. This way you are sure to get the right lighting combination for your needs.

Some things to consider when choosing your lighting…

Paint and furniture color: If your room has very little natural light, you may want to choose a lighter color for the walls since they will reflect the light from the light fixtures better. To bring warmth into the room, and to help offset the brightness of the wall color, consider using furniture or carpeting with warmer tones.

Ambient Lighting: To be sure you have adequate overall lighting in the room; it’s good to install overhead lighting—for example, flush mount fixtures, track lighting, recessed lighting, etc. These lights can be hooked up to a dimmer switch so that they can be used brightly for tasks and entertaining, as well as dimmed for a more relaxed setting.

Accent Lighting: For when overhead lights aren’t enough, or maybe aren’t needed, we turn to Accent Lighting. Whether you are ready to settle in for the night, or want to highlight a certain part of your room, I suggest strategically placing Accent Lighting in your space. Many types of lighting fixtures can be used for Accent Lighting, depending on your needs. To highlight a picture, or maybe a shelving unit—wall lighting or picture lighting might be what you are looking for. For something more task-oriented like extra light for reading—you may consider table/floor Lamps or wall lighting.

Task Lighting: Sometimes the overhead lights and accent lighting aren’t enough. Instead, you need some lights that directly illuminate a workspace. This is especially useful in a kitchen, over a counter space, or in an office at the desk and computer. Under-Cabinet Lighting could be what you need. These lights are usually small, and can be unseen, and are very useful in illuminating a space directly. You could also use a desk lamp or pendant lighting for this purpose. It depends on the room you are working in and which fixture would make the most sense for the activity.

As you can see, lighting a room is not as easy as buying a lamp and plugging it in—especially if your space is dark. To lighten the room, you can start by picking well-illuminating paint and furniture, but it doesn’t stop there. You need to use different lighting for different activities. If paired together properly, you will have taken a dark space and will have made it a very functional, well-lit space instead.

Bellacor is a one-stop showroom that promises a new way to shop the entire lighting and home furnishings industry from the comfort of your home by providing superior personal service and access to the largest collection of lighting and home furnishings on the web. Bellacor offers access to over 500,000 products from 700 manufacturers. http://www.bellacor.com.

image from www.ceilume.com

Want to leave your old tiles in place, but have a whole new look?

There is no quicker, easier, DIY room makeover than replacing your old suspended ceiling tiles, and Ceilume’s 60 second videos show you exactly how.

Visit Ceilume’s Customer Photo Gallery to see these smart ceiling tiles in action and hear from the customers who installed them, and for the DIY nitty-gritty, be sure to visit the their blog.

Ever wonder what interior design work garners the laurels? Here’s a look at the fabulous winners of the Canadian Decorator’s Association (CDECA) awards. According to the judges, entrants for 2009 were of an impressively high caliber all around — as evidenced by the tie in one category, an unexpected occurrence for this event. Very contemporary styles with modern clean lines were dominant this year. If you happen to be a fan of home magazines, the overall themes may look familiar to you – updated, yet classic and enduring. However, the judges weren’t merely scoring on looks alone as eco-friendly and sustainability factors of the projects were equally important considerations.

A small warning before you proceed — these before and afters may inspire the urge to update your decor, or even more so, make one desirous of hiring professional talent. Much appreciation to Tobi Brockway, CDECA Director of Marketing, for providing the details and images.

Awards Ceremony (and winners) images by Dana St. Louis Photography.

Category: Renovation

1st Valerie Rowley Schomberg, Ontario (pictured with presenter Tim Craik)

Bedroom Before

Bedroom After

Bedroom Before

Bedroom After

Ensuite Bathroom Before

Ensuite Bathroom After

2nd (Tie) Sharyn Kastelic North York, Ontario

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

2nd (Tie) Camille Savage Vancouver, BC

Dining Room Before

Dining Room after

Category: New Construction

1st Lisa Geisler North Bay, Ontario (with presenter Marianne Fenniger)

The Winning Loft

2nd Christina Mogk Etobicoke, Ontario

Studio Before

Studio After

Category: Interior Decoration < $25,000

1st Victoria McKenney Vancouver, BC (pictured with presenters Laila Radage at left, and Sara Nadeau)

bedroom before

Bedroom After

2nd Elizabeth Metcalfe Caledon, Ontario

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Category: Interior Decoration > $25,000

1st Lisa Geisler, North Bay

hobby room before                                                               hobby room after

2nd Christina Mogk Etobicoke, Ontario

bar before                                                                    bar after

About CDECA

The Canadian Decorators’ Association (CDECA) is a professional not-for-profit association representing both Student and Accredited decorators and designers, and Affiliate businesses across Canada. Its goal is to foster the growth of the decorating industry in Canada; provide advocacy respecting policy matters; promote a positive image of the industry through proactive activities and events; and offer its members continuous upgrading of skills and knowledge. Visit www.cdeca.com.

We were recently contacted with further information to provide homeowners with facts about the 2009 Home Renovation Tax Credit. Great timing since there have been many interesting questions about what projects, materials, or labour are applicable for this credit.

Image provided by Sico Paints

To view the webpages, visit:   http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/hrtc/

Below, is the FAQ page content, which hopefully will answer some of your questions about how you can benefit from this tax credit.

Here is the link of the page: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/bdgt/2009/fqhmrnvtn-eng.html

FAQS

1. What is the Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC)?

The proposed HRTC is a non-refundable tax credit for work performed or goods acquired in respect of an eligible dwelling.

2. What is meant by eligible dwelling?

An eligible dwelling is a housing unit that is eligible to be an individual’s principal residence or that of one or more of their family members, at any time between January 27, 2009 and February 1, 2010. In general, a housing unit is considered eligible to be an individual’s principal residence where it is owned by the individual and ordinarily inhabited by the individual, the individual’s spouse or common-law partner, or their children. This means that any dwelling that you own and use personally could qualify, including your home or your cottage.

3. What is the eligibility period?

The credit will be based on eligible expenditures for work performed or goods acquired after January 27, 2009, and before February 1, 2010. Expenditures incurred pursuant to an agreement that was entered into before January 28, 2009, will not be eligible for the credit.

4. Who will be eligible for the credit?

Eligibility for the HRTC will be family based. A family will generally be considered to consist of an individual or an individual and his or her spouse or common-law partner, including children who will be under 18 years of age, at the end of 2009. A family will be allowed a single credit that may be shared within the family.

If two or more families share the ownership of an eligible dwelling, each family will be eligible for their own separate credit (i.e. each up to $1,350) that will be calculated on their respective eligible expenditures.

5. How will the credit be calculated?

The credit will only be available for the 2009 tax year and applies to eligible expenditures of more than $1,000, but not more than $10,000, resulting in a maximum credit of $1,350 ($9,000 x 15%).

6. What are eligible expenditures?

To be eligible, expenditures incurred in relation to a renovation or alteration to an eligible dwelling (or the land that forms part of the eligible dwelling) must be of an enduring nature and integral to the dwelling, and includes the cost of labour and professional services, building materials, fixtures, rentals, and permits.

Eligible expenditures must be supported by acceptable documentation.

7. What does the CRA consider to be acceptable documentation?

Documentation, such as agreements, invoices, and receipts, must clearly identify the type and quantity of goods purchased or services provided, including, but not limited to, the following information:

• information that clearly identifies the vendor/contractor, their business address and, if applicable, the GST/HST registration number;
• a description of the goods and the date when the goods were purchased;
• The date when the goods were delivered (keep your delivery slip as proof) and/or when the work or services were performed;
• A description of the work performed including the address where the work was performed;
• the amount of the invoice; and
• proof of payment.  Receipts or invoices must indicate paid in full or be accompanied by other proof of payment, such as a credit card slip or cancelled cheque.

Please consult our Underground Economy Web page, for tips to protect yourself when hiring a contractor.

To verify whether someone is registered for GST/HST, please consult the GST/HST Registry.

8. If I own both a house and a cottage and incur eligible expenditures for both, are both sets of expenditures eligible for the HRTC?

If you own and use your home and cottage personally, eligible expenditures incurred for both properties will normally qualify for the HRTC. Please note that the maximum amount of eligible expenditures you can claim in respect of the HRTC is $10,000 per family.

9. I am planning to replace my windows in 2009: can I hire my brother-in-law to help me out and still be eligible?

It depends. Expenditures will not be eligible if the related goods or services are provided by a person not dealing at arm’s length with the individual, unless that person is registered for the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax under the Excise Tax Act. So, in your case, if your brother-in-law is registered for GST/HST and if all other conditions are met, the expenditure will be eligible for the credit.

10. Will expenditures for the common areas of condominiums and co-operative housing corporations qualify for the credit?

In the case of condominiums and co-operative housing corporations, the individual’s share of the cost of eligible expenditures for common areas will qualify.

11. I rent out my basement. If I renovate the basement for my tenant, will I be allowed to claim the credit?

No. Individuals who earn business or rental income from part of their principal residence will be allowed to claim the credit only for expenditures made for the personal-use areas of the residence.

For expenditures made for common areas or that benefit the housing unit as a whole (such as re-shingling a roof), you must divide the expense between personal use and income-earning use. For further information, please consult the Business and Professional Income Guide or the Rental Income Guide, as applicable.

12. If an eligible expenditure also qualifies for the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC), will I be allowed to claim both the HRTC and METC?

Yes. Where an eligible expenditure qualifies for the METC the individual will be permitted to claim both the METC and the HRTC for that expenditure.

13. Will the credit be reduced by other government grants or credits that I may receive for the same expenditures?

No. Eligible expenditures will not be reduced by other government tax credits or grants that the individual may be entitled to.

14. Does work performed by electricians, plumbers, carpenters, architects, etc. qualify?

Generally, work performed by electricians, plumbers, carpenters, architects, etc. in respect of an eligible expenditure will qualify. See below for examples of eligible expenditures. If you’re planning on hiring a contractor to do construction, renovation, or repair work on your home, the Get it in Writing! Web site has information that will help you.

15. Could you provide me with some examples of eligible and ineligible expenditures?

Yes, some examples are:

16. What types of expenditures will not qualify?

The following expenditures will not be eligible for the HRTC:

• the cost of routine repairs and maintenance normally performed on an annual or more frequent basis;
• expenditures that are not integral to the dwelling, and other indirect expenditures that retain a value independent of the renovation;
• expenditures for appliances and audio-visual electronics; and
• financing costs.

17. Do I have to submit any supporting documents with my income tax return?

No. However, you must ensure that this information is available, should it be requested by the CRA.

18. How will I claim the HRTC?

A new line will be incorporated in the 2009 personal income tax return to allow you to claim the credit.

19. Where can I get more information about this new tax credit?

Additional information will be posted on the CRA’s Web site as it becomes available. In the meantime, please see the Department of Finance’s Budget 2009 documents for details.

20. The Budget also mentions the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes grant. What is it and how can I obtain more information?

The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes grant is administered by Natural Resources Canada. The grant applies to a host of measures that reduce energy consumption and provide for a cleaner environment. Home and property owners could be eligible for federal grants of up to $5,000 to offset the cost of making energy efficiency improvements to their home or property. Most provinces and territories have complementary programs that offer additional financial assistance based on the results of the ecoENERGY Retrofit evaluation. For information on how you can qualify, please consult the ecoACTION Web site.

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An online pamphlet will soon be available.

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Planning on some home improvements? What project ideas do you have that fits in the $1000-$10,000 range? Does the HRTC give you the incentive to renovate this year?

Many people have been wondering about the home renovation tax credit and just what exactly it entails.  Information is now available on the Canadian government website, including a pamplet with further details.

Below is a break down of the main points of interest:

What is the time frame during which the credit can be applied?

“…after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010, pursuant to agreements entered into after January 27, 2009.”

For work completed and some necessarily obtained goods!  This credit is for new renovations and ongoing improvements on the residential structure itself, as well as the land it sits on.

What exactly can I get back?

It’s a 15%  credit which can be claimed on an amount which is more than $1000 and under $10,000. The maximum credit that you can obtain is $1350.

What Dwellings are eligible?

* houses

* cottages

* condo units

(must be inhabited or used by the owner)

What Types of expenses can be considered?

* projects (ie: finishing your basement or re-doing the kitchen)

* “associated expenses” (permits, rentals, labour, etc.)

Who is eligible to claim it?

“Taxpayers can claim the HRTC when filing their 2009 tax return…. Family members will be able to share the credit.”