When it comes to a more budget conscious, yet highly effective means to re-vamp a home and entice potential buyers, home-staging is a fantastic option. As we will see with this month’s Makeover, Accent on Design Inc. re-styled several utilitarian rooms and transformed them into inviting and luxurious spaces certain to lure hungry home hunters.

Before

The owners were putting up their one bedroom, downtown condo for sale and wanted to add much needed personality and depth to this large master bedroom.

After

Such a cosmopolitan property is likely to appeal to the young professional.  With that in mind, a low-key sensibility with a touch of masculine edge was created. Updating with new bedroom accents in monochromatic tones and lush fabrics (bedding, pillows, lamps from HomeSense, ottoman from Chintzes, fur from Urban Barn).

Before

Another master bedroom of a similar background - young urban professionals with no kids - needed a serious overhaul.  The room was disorganized and lacking in any style.  The owners gave a budget of $4000, left to the designer’s devices.

After

To add colour through accessories, as painting was not an option, an area rug (not seen) was used to select the colour scheme.  Also crucial to the entire room was the light coloured and soft textured headboard.  It acts to anchor the bedding and unify the warm corals of the room (lamps from HomeSense and reversible bedding is Cushy Life).

Before

This bare bones cabin bathroom - of exterior log walls and a drywall interior - was in the process of surpassing it’s rustic looks.

After

This luxurious bathtub built with materials of a classic and timeless look, elevates, yet co-ordinates with the pastoral structure.

Before

The original white amenity with fake marble of this bathroom was bland and needed some serious reworking as the owner, a single male, wanted to put it up for sale.

After

Bold red paint (Benjamin Moore Sundried Tomato) and rubbed bronzed features completely transforms the room, leaving a strong, masculine, Neo-classic presence. Rich colours and new fixtures (Cartwright Lighting for fixture; faucets and hardware, Home Depot) along with artwork to soften the red, makes memories of the bathroom’s former artificial 80’s guise, disappear.

The next 3 rooms belong to the same house where the owner was looking to update the kitchen, living room, and bathroom.

Before

The kitchen was deemed too dark, which did not allow the colours to come out.

After

To create a streamlined, classic look, the slate was replaced with subway tiles. It’s a simple but effective change that brightens up the area and does brings emphasis to the lovely rich wood of the cabinets.

Before

The column projected over the fireplace was odd and a solution to making the whole column flush would be to make built-in woodwork.

After

A woodworker was brought in who used the existing mantle and wood to make it flush. It is a vast improvement over the piece of drywall in the middle of the fireplace. The covering wood along with installed lights truly put the owner’s travel treasured pieces on display, and it brings added prominence to the fireplace.

Before

The owners wanted this bath to be a powder room but it had a shower. The cabinet over the toilet was also too high and clearly not in line with the mirror, leaving an unbalanced looking gap.

After

To eliminate the look of a shower, a narrower curtain rod was brought in so that it no longer projected into the bathroom area. More dramatically, the cabinet was removed and replaced with a pedestal sink. The original mirror was cut down and a tile-setter was instructed to use the same two-inch subway tile as in the kitchen to frame the mirror – creating an element of glamour.

Before

The owners set a $10,000 budget for this 900 sq ft condo and wanted built-in units on either side of the fireplace and retaining the flooring.

After

Deeper coloured walls (Tempura by C2), original artwork from Masters Gallery, custom made drapery, well-paired area rug (House of Persia) and plush sofa (Country Furniture) all create a plush and welcoming space. The light is capped as this room would not be used as a dining area and swivel chairs are used to avoid crowding of the bistro table (not shown). The owners wanted a stereo and TV in the room, and in the end result figure visibly.

Before

This bedroom of a condo, over looking a golf course belonged to an older couple, who, set a budget of $3000 was set to work with. Other restrictions included: retaining the original carpet and not re-painting.

After

The shift of the cost was put towards more lasting elements such as the furniture. The original leather and wood trim headboard are complemented by neutral colours were selected to match the tone of the walls (bedding, pillows, lamps and artwork from HomeSense). Of note is the cute little chenille chair (Urban Barn) that is perfect for the bedroom, providing both form and function.

Before

This bedroom was a case of just bringing it all together. The homeowner had purchased the bedding but just didn’t know how to make it work.

After

Extra throw pillows (Pier 1), some funky lamps and art (HomeSense) all in coppery rich, fall colours were easy to use accents that really warmed as well as spruced up the room.

Before

Balance is crucial when considering aesthetics. Scale is everything; as evident in this room where the large headboard is flanked awkwardly by scrawny little lamps.

After

The addition of the art piece - whimsically hung horizontally instead of vertically as intended – with it’s great colours is the solid base desperately needed bring together the furniture and headboard. The lamps and pillows (HomeSense) add flare to the backdrop of neutral walls (Calihari by C2).

Accent on Design is the CONSUMERS AWARD CHOICE WINNER for Calgary Interior Decorators that specializes in complete room redesign, colour selection, and Real Estate Staging and shopping tailored to the home. Accent on Design, through the creative rearrangement of existing furniture, art and accessories, transforms the everyday room into a warm and inviting space. For more information, visit www.accentondesigninc.ca.

Painting your home interior may be as easy as paint by numbers for some, but for those uninitiated yet willing to give it a go (and save hundreds of dollars), having a bit of background knowledge is a boon.  This past weekend I painted my entire apartment.  It’s pretty small - only 3 rooms - so, I figured it would be a breeze.  Wrong.  I’m sure that as with most other people, the assumption may be that painting is a no-brainer and hey with a roller, fast too.  While it isn’t rocket science, there are a few pointers that can be very helpful (which I now wish I’d had before hand) for first timers.

I suppose you might want to start out with how to pick colours.  Although I flirted with some ideas of setting a Mediterranean Island feel/California terra-cotta look, in the end I went with a light cream to open up the rooms which had been previously coloured light olive, mauve, and yellow - all hideous shades.

If you’re not sure about which colours you’d like, or even where to begin, you can watch Mag Ruffman’s video tips or read the article. She basically recommends using more than an itty bitty paint chip as a reference.  For further reiteration Style at Home’s article also suggests viewing your chosen hue in different lighting.

Now that you’re sure about the colour(s), what other tools do you need?

1. masking tape

2. drop cloth

3. wall brush & trim and sash brush

4. roller

5. painting paint

6. cleaning supplies

Perusing a number of articles, I was surprised to learn that a number of professionals suggest washing your walls first.  Or, if the existing paint is glossy, you might have to wash with a special solution or else the new paint may not even adhere properly.

I also asked around and the general consensus was to cover everything of importance with a plastic drop cloth, cover edges with masking tape, cut the edges (line with paint) and then fill in the rest with a roller.

I thought this was all I needed to know.  Instead this is what happened …

Top 5 things I learned about painting:

1.  Make sure you have enough paint.

Seems obvious right?  Well, you might not want to end up with a bathroom door and one bedroom wall baby blue as I did.

2. Go towards the light:

Daylight reveals imperfections that are hidden in dim lighting that you’ll be quick to want to correct.

3. Tape the edges:

It will actually save you time in the long run.  I thought that painting the baseboards would be easy since as a fine art painter, I can draw straight lines on canvas no problem.  But as I cut across the baseboards, the effort it took to wipe up dribbles each time it happened collectively took longer than the couple of minutes it would have taken to put down tape in the first place.

4. Don’t overload the roller

Dipping your roller where the paint starts to pool in your paint tray and rolling it until the paint covers it thinly and evenly, tip it so that joint where it attaches is pointing to the ceiling as this will help to avoid gobs on the floor.

5. Start from the Middle

When applying paint with a roller, start about midway on the wall, roll upwards first, then pull down - this way the paint has less of a chance of running onto the floor.

Looking for more detailed instructions? One of my go-to sites - sort of like an online Dummies equivalant - HowStuffWorks.com has a great section on various aspects of painting.

For a host of painting tips, paint decor ideas, the low down on paint, materials, accessories and more, the Home Renovation Guide’s article library painting section is chock full of useful information; from the difference between Latex vs. Elastomeric Paint or the secrets to How to Make a Room Look Larger with Paint.

I wish I had been armed with all of this information, so I hope this post will help out others out there with the determination to beautify their space with paint.  When all is said and done, next time, I’d seriously consider just hiring a professional.

Last week I wrote about Elizabeth Turnbull’s experiment in green homebuilding on the Yale University campus, her tiny abode sharply contrasting the behemoth student dorms typical to most college campuses. Well, as it turns out, Turnbull isn’t the only one interested in small homes.

Taking a cue from coffee cups and Smurf Village, a Japanese designer-builder is marketing small, Styrofoam prefab houses that look like mammoth mushrooms. Each house is made from 100 per cent expanded polystyrene foam, which, unlike wood and metal, does not rust, rot or attract bugs. Oh, and each home can be assembled in a few hours—not bad for homeowners on the go.

While you likely won’t see these domed domiciles in your community anytime soon, polystyrene foam is becoming a popular building material in regular-looking homes.

Polystyrene foam is an excellent insulation material, which is why green-minded builders are turning to insulated concrete forms (ICFs, as they’re commonly known) for exterior foundations. The forms look like pieces of foam that come when you buy a fridge or TV, but when put together and filled with concrete, the forms provide a strong, rot-resistant, energy-efficient insulating base for exterior walls and foundations.

There are many ICF brands for foam insulation, some more suitable depending on the application. And while it tends to be slightly more expensive to build with, ICFs provide long-term savings when it comes to heating and cooling and rot-resistance.

My friend Antony and I often joke about the pleasant feeling evoked by a “Canadian Basement.” You know what I mean: dark, wood panelling, old curtains, shag rugs and often a hint of brown-orange-yellow. Step downstairs and it’s 1976.

Yes, some nostalgia is fine, but when your whole house starts reeking of a bygone era, it might be time for an overhaul into the new century.

The fine folks over at One Project Closer, a blog co-written by two married couples from Baltimore County, Maryland, tackled this very subject in a post about sanding away stipple ceilings.

Stipple ceilings were very popular in the late 1970s and 1980s as a simple, cheap way for homebuilders and cutoff jeans–wearing DIYers to finish a drywall or sheetrock ceiling without having to mud or sand the drywall joints. Often confused with popcorn or spray-on ceilings, stipple ceilings are renowned for great acoustic properties (they reduce room echo) but the porous, crater-like texture looks dated, too space-like, too 1970s, too, well, I hate to use this word, groovy.

If your home was built before 1990, chances are it’s still got some outdated designs. While my heart belongs to wood paneling, some people—most people—aren’t keen on the dark, dingy look, so the panels are the first to go, replaced by drywall or painted over.

Next stop, bathrooms with outdated bulky cabinets and enough sinks to please the Solid Gold Dancers. As a general rule, getting rid of a cluttered look with big drawers is Step 1 in any bathroom update.

Of course, ceilings and counters aren’t the only parts of your home that can quickly look dated. Walls, especially wallpaper-covered ones, can look out of style before the glue dries. But then again, recovering walls with paint or paper is also the quickest way to bring something from 1978 to 2008 in a weekend.

So now that your home is completely up-to-date, ever wonder which of its features will look dated in 10 years?

Last week Toronto hosted the Green Living Show, a consumer show featuring everything from greywater irrigation systems to renewable energy (solar, wind, water) to food made from organic ingredients. In other words, everything you need to live the eco existence, including a keynote address by none other than Bill Clinton, who headlined with top tips for living green.

Mixed in with the usual contenders—chemical-free cleaning supplies, organic sauces served up with pretzels (what show would be complete without these freebie stalls?), the seemingly un-ironic car companies touting their hybrid vehicles—was a single vendor selling a basic, low-tech idea: The Living Wall.

Like any wall system, The Living Wall acts as both a privacy screen and a noise dampener, except instead of being built out of synthetic materials (brick, steel, iron) this wall is made from willow shrubs that grow quickly, is easy to maintain (the stalks keep their shape and don’t require special watering) and are hardy enough to survive the both the heat of Houston and the frigid wrath of Winnipeg.

The concept behind The Living Wall is quite old, derived from the basic recipe of combining two-year-old willows with wooden posts, which provide stability and force the shoots to project upward and straight. The Wall can be as long as you want, planted as a single line or in rows for added privacy, or in combination with other organic wall systems (see more pictures here). Willows have a lifespan of about 30 to 40 years, so replanting is necessary; other than that, the only maintenance required is gentle trimming.

Completely organic and graffiti-proof, this carbon-dioxide absorber establishes itself quickly, blends in with nature and is cheap to build and maintain—clearly a winning combination when it comes to landscaping.

Are you feeling uninspired by your boudoir? Is your bedroom more reminiscent of grandma’s abode than the romantic getaway you envisioned? Then it’s time to turn up the heat by introducing some spicy decor elements into your nest.

Firstly, an evaluation of your furniture and decor are in order. If your furniture and accessories are hand-me-downs, or look as if they are ready to be read their last rites, then it’s time to cast them away to your local charitable organization and go shopping for some newer and more attractive counterparts. When selecting new furniture, ensure these pieces reflect your aesthetic style, are well-built, provide ample storage and suit the scale of your room. Always purchase the best quality that you can afford.

The most notable focal point in any bedroom is, and should be, the bed. So consider painting the wall behind the bed a tint or tone of red as a dramatic counterpoint. Red is the colour of love and energy, and its use in a couple’s bedroom is perfect, provided that it is used judiciously (a little goes a long way). The rest of the walls should be painted in softer hues, such as sandy brown, mushroom grey or butter cream.

Selecting a bed must reflect your style, budget and suit the scale of your room (no king size beds in a small room). For a contemporary look, consider a padded headboard in a luxurious fabric. It will offer you comfort, style and texture. Imperative for any bed is purchasing the best quality mattress and box spring that your budget can allow. Pillow top mattresses are wonderfully comfortable and can make your bedtimes truly ethereal. Of course, buying the best quality linens you can afford is essential. Egyptian cotton sheets in thread counts upwards of 350 are fit for a king and queen and as this is your palatial suite, spoil yourselves and you’ll be thankful you did. Also, buy the best quality feather pillows in either natural feathers or synthetic (if one is sensitive to allergens). Finally, no bed is complete without a beautiful duvet and coordinating shams in the best quality cotton. Incorporate some cushions in silk, and voila! A beautiful bed that will beckon you to stay the night!

Overhead lighting should always be controlled by a dimmer switch. This allows you to set the mood and feel of the room. Task lighting is equally important; these would be the lamps that flank your bed on the night tables. Consider purchasing tri-lights, as they too allow more flexibility with the quantity of light. And lastly, nothing is more romantic than the addition of candle light. The flicker of candle flames cast a glow that is warm and inviting, but make sure that these are contained within glass lanterns. An unexpected fire is not the kind of excitement one desires in any room.

The rest is in the details. The right accessories will transform your space into a truly beautiful and inviting room. Incorporate elements that appeal to all the senses. We’ve already spoken of the addition of candles, and luxurious linens. Next add some wonderful artwork to your walls, a crystal vase for sparkle, and fill it with some beautiful fuchsia roses and tiger lilies for romance and fragrance. Add some mirrored objects for interest and lastly turn on some music and treat yourselves to a box of champagne truffles. Enjoy!

Article Provided By:
Margarida Oliveira from Chic Decor 905 337 8463 http://www.chicdecordesign.com
Posted By:
Nikki Rollins nrollins@homerenovationguide.com

Painting Like the Pros: Interior

If you proceed logically through the steps below, soon you will be painting like the pros. Be sure to read the instructions on the paint can label for information specific to the product you are using. Your retailer also has a product manual with complete specifications.

Start out the easy way
Always start with the ceiling. Follow with the walls, then the windows, trim and doors.

Begin brushing
Dip bristles one third of their length into the paint and tap gently against the inside edge of can or pail to release excess. Try not to drag the brush across edge of can. Holding the brush near the ferrule, use light strokes with slight pressure from your fingertips. This helps eliminate lap marks. Always use a quality brush designed for the type of paint you are using.

Rolling
Work paint into the roller by moving it back and forth in the deep end of the tray. Make sure it is distributed evenly and remove excess by rolling lightly across ridges at shallow end of tray. Work the roller in slow, smooth strokes to prevent bubbles or spattering.

Ceiling
Begin by brushing a hand-wide strip around the perimeter of the room where the walls meet the ceiling. Then roll paint in one-metre strips across the shortest width of the ceiling. Avoid lapping by maintaining a wet edge. Here is how: when reapplying a loaded roller to a surface, first place it on an unpainted area of the strip. Then work backwards into the strip of wet paint. This will eliminate the risk of seeing lines where one strip ends and the next begins.

Wall to wall
Work in approximately one metre segments from the top down. When using a roller, lay initial paint on in a broad M pattern starting at the bottom of the letter. Then even out by rolling lightly with horizontal strokes followed by vertical strokes.

Windows
Open slightly at top and bottom and paint inner sash. Finish with frame and sill.

Doors
Paint frame first, then top and side edges. On panelled doors, paint mouldings and panels starting at the top and working across and down sequentially. Finish by painting areas surrounding panels from the top down. Treat flush doors the same as walls.

Trim
Gloss and semi-gloss paints require less brush pressure than flat paints. Complete small areas at a time, brush with even strokes. Never try to touch up a spot that has begun to set. A plastic shield for the floor or wall is handy when painting trim. Remember, if you are not sure how to paint a particular area, your Benjamin Moore Retailer would be more than happy to answer your questions.

**Courtesy of Benjamin Moore Paints - www.benjaminmoore.ca

Kitchens

The kitchen is a room you will tend to spend a lot of time in, especially if you are the main chef in your household. Make sure you are comfortable with your chosen colour scheme, as you will probably spend a significant amount of time surrounded by it. Bright, invigorating colour schemes can boost energy levels when you have a lot of cooking and cleaning to get through.

As kitchen walls tend to be dominated by cabinetry, benches and the floor, treat these elements as the starting point for your colour scheme.

The appearance of colours in the kitchen will depend on the properties and textures of each of the surfaces. Glossy surfaces, such as Melteca cabinetry, will reflect more light and look different than low-sheen painted walls, so it is important to be careful when trying to match colours in different materials. Sometimes it is better to select a tone lighter or darker, rather than trying to create an exact colour match.

Remember no matter what room you are decorating, artificial lighting can be used very successfully to complement your colour scheme and it is worth reviewing your lighting plan prior to painting.

Living Rooms
Today’s living rooms are often open spaces that link through to dining and kitchen areas. Knowing where to start and finish the colour scheme between each part of an open plan space can be very difficult. There are two techniques that you can use:

Paint a feature wall in an area between the two adjoining rooms/spaces to create a natural colour break.

Use a progression of colours, then paint a unifying colour throughout the spaces and accent with the other progressional colours.

Living rooms are the ideal place to create focal points or feature walls. Traditionally fireplaces act as the focal point of most living rooms. If you don’t have a fireplace, select a focal point for your room and decorate around that. The focal point may be a feature wall, lounge suite or something similar.

As living rooms are usually subjected to less wear and tear than family rooms, you can choose light and dark colours if desired.

Bedrooms
When selecting colours for bedrooms, it is important to choose colours that are conducive to sleeping. You are also likely to spend more time looking at the ceiling than you would in other rooms.

As a general rule, you should avoid using very bright colours here and save them for other parts of your home. Most light and pastel shades are ideal for bedrooms. Blue is a popular colour choice for bedrooms because of its soothing qualities. However, if you have trouble getting up in the morning, you may wish to add an invigorating accent to get you out of bed.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are one of the smallest rooms in the house and are generally cluttered with towel rails, basins and showers/baths. While this can make them a decorator’s nightmare, it also means you can afford to be a little more courageous with colour. If your original colour choice doesn’t work, you can always repaint a small bathroom quickly.

Chris Paulsen cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com

One of the biggest problems found to when roofs leak, and walls and basements overflow is the fact the people neglect their gutters. Leafs, dirt and small branches clog up eaves troughs and downspouts, which prevents water from flowing through them. This build-up tends to overflow, often damaging a person’s home.

Here are some simple instructions on how to clean your own gutters;

1. Use a ladder to access the gutters, and make sure you have another person to keep the ladder in place and spot you. Bring along an empty bucket with rope tied to it, so you can dispose of the debris in the gutter safely, rather then dropping it all to the ground and having to do a second clean up. You can use the rope to lower the bucket down to your partner, who can empty it when it’s full and you can safely pull it back up. Also, do not rest the ladder up against any gutters as they will bend and cause damage to them.

2. Use a small gardening shovel to scoop the debris into your bucket. You might also want to bring along your garden hose to spray out small dirt.

3. Using the garden hose, spray the opening portions of your down spouts to ensure that they are clear and clean. You can also use a Shop-Vac at the bottom to help suck out any loose debris.

Using a mesh cover over your gutters will help block out 90% of falling leafs and twigs, and also allows a clean rain flow off of your roof. This is especially important in the winter, as the gunk in your eaves troughs will block water, which will freeze and weigh down your gutters, causing considerable damage.

The debris from your gutters also makes excellent compost, so use it to your advantage, rather then tossing it in a garbage bag and putting it on the curb.