Congratulations! You’ve found the perfect house or condo to purchase and you’re just finalizing the purchase agreement. From this point on, important design and decorating considerations have to be made. Here are some that you may not have thought of:

Before you sign the purchase agreement

Here’s your opportunity to negotiate for upgrades and design revisions with the builder. Hardwood flooring is an option that I highly recommend to my clients, especially in the living room and dining room, both for enjoyment and practicality. Regardless of how long you intend on living in your new home, hardwood floors add resale value when you do decide to sell.

Does the floor plan have walls that create rooms too small to be functional? Think about how each room will be used and determine whether spaces can be opened up or whether a doorway could be filled in so that furniture placement is simplified.

Ensuring that the appropriate amount of lighting is also important at this stage, especially for new condos where ceiling power boxes for lighting cannot be added post-construction. Adding pot lights in a house should also be considered at this time, especially in bathrooms, kitchens and rooms facing north or east. And don’t forget the overhead light in the shower, an option with some builders that many purchasers overlook.

At the Design Centre

First of all, come prepared for this meeting. Look at decorating magazines and cut out photos of what you like for bathroom and kitchen cabinets, backsplashes, countertops, tiles. Do you prefer warm colours (brown, beige) or cool colours (black, grey)? I always recommend to my clients that they choose a neutral palette and add colour into each room with fabric, accessories, art and paint or wall coverings.

Before you move in

Now is the time to decide what pieces of furniture are going to your new home. For this exercise, you really need a furniture layout based on your floor plan. Knowing the placement of electrical wall panels and bulkheads is very helpful. If you’re unable to sell any pieces that you decide don’t belong in your new home, check out www.furniturebank.org – a non-profit organization that distributes gently used, donated furniture to persons in need in Toronto. Your furniture will be put to good use and you receive a tax receipt for your donation.

Window treatments should be considered for each room based on privacy concerns and room darkening requirements. If possible, arrange for a site visit prior to the move-in date in order to bring the window covering supplier in for measurements. That way, installation can take place shortly after you move in. Otherwise, temporary paper coverings are available at home improvement retailers until your window shades and/or drapery treatments are ready to install. This site visit is also an ideal time to take measurements for custom closet shelving if you’ve decided to have them installed professionally. Having the closet organizers installed after you’ve moved in, but before you have to unpack, will save you time and energy.

After you move in

Most builders’ warranties for interior walls are nullified if they are painted before the first year anniversary is over. If that’s the case for you, take the year to learn about your space – how the light shines on a certain wall at different times of the day for example – so that when you do decide to paint, you’ll be able to better able to choose the right colours for your home.

The furniture is placed, the boxes are unpacked and your artwork is hung. Now you can add the final decorating touches, to transform your vision of how you want you home to look, into reality.

Faux painting is a fun-to-do activity, and with a little preparation, this can be undertaken as a DIY project. Faux painting, if done by the professional contractors, can add vitality and excitement to the interiors or the exteriors of your house, but if this project is undertaken as a DIY activity, to be completed with the help of the family members; faux painting turns out to become a family activity, akin to an outing.

This shared activity will add fun and strengthen the familial bond. The following tips will not only help provide steps for a fun family activity, it will also help achieve a great, attractive faux finish for the home. So, are you ready to undertake, your first DIY faux painting exercise?

DIY TIPS

1. Always begin a DIY project with preparing a list of things that you will need in order to successfully complete the project. This will save you from the 12th hour panic, due to the unavailability of critical items.

2. Arrange all the necessary things and keep all of them at an easily accessible place.

3. This DIY faux painting project begins with preparing the surface for faux painting. Masking tapes will be required to keep the surface neat and tidy. If you are applying faux finish on the wall or on the ceiling, use rough cloth to cover the floor. This cloth will prevent the spilled paints from making marks on the floor. Plastic should be avoided. Cloths are more absorptive than plastics; hence cloths will be less messy than plastic coverings.

4. Take a sample board and faux paint it, using the faux technique you are planning to apply when creating the faux finished wall.

5. If satisfied, move to the next step or else repeat the process over and over again, until the desired result is achieved. It’s better to use the sample board to create the sample of the finish intended for the actual finished product. Sample board can also be used to mix and match the shades. Think of this sample board as the rough paper we used in school to doodle our calculations on before writing the solution on a math exam.

6. Take a base paint; using water-based latex paint is advisable to get a good faux finish. Eggshell and satin colors can be used to topcoat the surface.

7. Apply the base coat, thoroughly, on the surface. No patches or corners should be left uncoated because the base coat will be visible through glaze and any patch on the surface. Improper application of base coat will ruin the effect of faux painting.

8. Leave the base coat to dry overnight.

9. Line your tray with plastic sheets. This will save time and energy from having to wash trays when mixing the glazes for the DIY project.

10. A correct proportion of paint and glaze should be maintained when mixing glazes. The standard practice is to use a 3:1 ratio of paint to glaze.

11. Mix the glaze in small quantities. This will minimize the wastage, if the resultant mixture isn’t satisfactory. You can even try this mixture on a sample board to see if you are getting the desired effect.

We undertake a DIY project because we want to have fun during the process of creation. The end result is not necessarily the most important aspect. Keep this in mind. Have fun, enjoy the company of your family and create whatever faux finish you want to, using which ever technique you wish. In faux painting, there is no right or wrong way of doing things. There are just beautiful results.

Looking to spread some holiday cheer with an updated decor this season? Start by decking the walls of your home with a fresh coat of paint, even if it means a break with tradition, says leading architectural paint brand PARA Paints.

“Unexpected colour combinations are the current trend, and the holiday season is no exception”, says Melanie Rice, Colour Advisor for PARA Paints and a member of the Virginia-based international colour forecaster, Color Marketing Group. “The holidays are an occasion to spread joy, and an effective way of doing so is through colour. There’s no such thing as the word ‘no’ when selecting a palette at this time of year, so why not try something different”, she adds.

While anything ‘festive’ goes for the holiday season, hot colour combinations for decorating include dark browns mixed with deep purple, turquoise blue, raspberry or gold, vibrant greens paired with bright citrus yellows, and dark blues coupled with grays and highlighted with shimmery metallic tones of gold, silver, pewter, iron or brass. Also popular are medium browns and earth-based oranges combined with reds, mauvy-pinks, creams and ivory.

An increase in globalization has created broader exposure to the colours of the world, particularly when it comes to fashion, says Rice, leading to colour choices that are predominantly rich and saturated, and as diverse as the cultures they represent.

Don’t know what colour scheme to choose for your own decor? Consider these tips from PARA for inspiration:

Study your ornaments. You initially chose them for the good feelings they evoked, and continue to haul them out year after year. Now, consider using your holiday decorations as the basis for a colour scheme. Choose favourite family ornaments, linens or seasonal collectibles and work from there. Any colour can serve as a backdrop to silver, gold and metallic decorations, while brown or ivory goes well with traditional red and green. Purple and green offset blue nicely, and deep red, mustard or grey are a good match for green and white. With a little creativity, the possibilities are endless.

Turn back the clock. Fond childhood memories can serve as inspiration for a holiday colour palette. If gingerbread houses come to mind, choose brown as your main colour and pair it with bright, candy-coloured accents. If it’s tinsel or snowflakes that give you good feelings, try a shimmery theme based on silver metallic tones, with pink or blue as accents. Warm memories of bowls full of cranberries, beaded fruits and pine cones, can be translated into a natural decor of earth tones combined with navy, burgundy or green.

Create a “presents”. Some of the best colour combinations can be found in holiday gift wrap. Visit your local store to select a few patterns that most appeal to you. Even ribbons and bows can provide fresh ideas for combining colours. Select your favourite colour from your choices for the dominant wall colour of your room, and one or two secondary colours to use as accents, either painted on one wall only, or on frames, trim and doors.

Go for shock value. If you want to have some fun this holiday season, try choosing a colour scheme that contrasts with your home decor. Combining bold and brilliant colours on opposite ends of the colour wheel, such as deep purple and burnt orange, brown and pink, or blue and gold, can be striking and are sure to make your guests smile.

When making your colour selections, remember most colours will mix well as long as they are of equal depth and intensity. Pastels like mint green, soft blue or baby pink, blend nicely with other pastels, while deep jewel tones such as ruby red, forest green and navy blue also combine well. “If you’re ready to express your festive side, go ahead and do it with colour”, says Rice, noting that even a freshly painted accent wall or piece of furniture will make a difference.

Most new houses today come with a good kitchen plan, but you may to add, change or in some cases, re-do the whole plan of your kitchen to more closely suite your personal needs. However, before you start, you may want to keep in mind some or all of the following guidelines:

Always have the plan of your kitchen with you.

When you go to pick your cabinetry and meet the kitchen sales person you should always have your plan with you. The more information you include on your plan the better. You want to make sure that the overall size; window and door openings, switches outlets and existing plumbing are all noted. You may also want to take note of ceiling heights and any alcoves or difficult corners you may have.

*In most cases, you should call ahead and make an appointment before hand or else you may end up waiting a while.

Always have a budget in mind

It is quite important that you have a ballpark figure of what you intend to spend on your kitchen. Keep in mind that any upgrades may impact your budget. This will help to determine the direction to go that will best suit your needs. This may mean different hardware choices, wood types, style of door etc… This will also save a lot of valuable time for everybody.

Check the doors for craftsmanship

Is there any cracks or chips, spaces or gaps in the doors? Are they all lined up properly or are some uneven. Can you see streaks in the finish? This can all be a sign of a quality control problem and you should be concerned.

Check to see what type of design service is available

Look through their portfolio of previous kitchens they have done. Do they offer a design service and ideas, or do you tell them exactly what you want. If this is the case you may want to have some assistance in the design process.

What does the Quote include?

Does it include hardware, counter-tops, & installation? Sometimes when there is extra cabinetry involved there may be an extra installation charge (I strongly recommend having the cabinets installed by the kitchen company. Even if you have a very skilled carpenter, If a cabinet does not fit, or gets dropped, this is the companies responsibility and will be replaced as opposed to you having to replace it). The quote will generally include these things discussed above but will not generally include things like tile backsplash, electrical or plumbing services or appliances.

Make a list

Be sure to be clear about what you want.
Make a list that includes: what type of storage do you want (glass shelves, pantries, drawers, pots and pans, 30″ or 40″ high upper cabinets etc…) Read more…

For some growing old is a difficult part of life. As mobility becomes an increasingly pressing issue there are certain things that can be done to the home to help it become a more manageable and liveable space.

For many old people the biggest problem is the size of the house they live in. Houses with many stairlifts and floors often present a problem in that to access certain parts of the house becomes a physical effort and one that can also create stress.

One obvious solution to getting around this problem is installing stairlifts throughout the house. Obviously stairlifts get rid of the problem of floors but they can also be installed horizontally transporting people around there whole house. Many people are put off stairlifts as they believe them to be extremely expensive to purchase and install. One thing people don’t understand is that reconditioned stairlifts dramatically reduce the cost of purchase and installation. Certain manufacturers such as bison bede are renouned for having high quality reconditioned stairlifts.

The style and design of stairlifts is also something that has improved in recent years. Bison bede stairlfts have particularly sleek and tasteful designs and their stairlfts are also relatively cheap considering the quality of the design and the stairlifts performance.

When it comes to renovating the home, most homeowners often have difficulty describing the style that they want. With the amount of jargon it takes and the subtle difference between the styles, you’d have to be an architecture historian to tell them apart. The following are brief descriptions of the most popular interior design styles meant to give you an edge in choosing and talking about the styles you like.

Modern

Modernist designs are known for their purist sensibilities including clean lines, spaciousness, and efficiency. It is a very popular style in Europe and North American condo living due to the spaciousness that it emphasizes. You see few historical architectural elements in a modern home and none in an ultra-modern style. There are no moldings, no corbels, very subtle textures, and nothing that creates a busy look. Style is reflected through technological materials such as stainless steel, glass, plastic, smooth wood veneers and other sleek materials. Since there are fewer details, colour and texture plays a very important role. In modern kitchens for example, cabinet doors that are simpler in design such as the slab door. With fewer elements to distract your eyes, when compared to traditional styles, modern design quality is reflected by the details of craftsmanship and intrinsic beauty in materials used. High-gloss lacquer finishes, exotic wood veneers, and stainless steel accents create a high-tech look.

Contemporary

Contemporary kitchens have some of the high-tech look and functionality of a modern space, but are not purist in style and design vocabulary. Often different styles are mixed together to give this style of space a unique emotional connection to its occupants. In a contemporary space, it’s common to find a juxtaposition of styles such as an antique rug or historic wood table used with an ultra-modern sofa in a streamlined and technologically advanced space.

Classic (Traditional)

The advantage of having a traditional design is that it may never go out of style. Ornamental elements such as moldings and posts are commonly used in a traditional design to reflect timeless elegance and sophistication. The classical style is most obvious when looking at the kitchen – crown moldings, light valences, raised panel doors, columns with ornaments, hardwood flooring, and rich materials such as tumbled marble.

Cabinets in cherry wood or off white finishes topped with granite countertops are a popular direction for most homeowners. This would be a good choice of style if you are the type of person who likes to redecorate often without spending a lot of money, because wood finishes and white cabinetry match nearly any fabric and trend. A traditional space also makes clutter not as noticeable compared to a modern style. This is due to the abundance of textures and variation within different elements.

Modern Classic

The modern classic style is a streamlined version of the traditional style. It has modernist sensibilities with its clean lines and spacious feel. Classic elements that are presented in a modern classic design is often more subtle, such as like moldings without extra ornamentations for example. The overall impression that you would get by looking at a classic modern space is that the room would appear to be cleaner as all classic elements are reduced to form only or totally removed.

In a modern classic kitchen, you would still be able to find elements that are presented in a traditional kitchen such as crown moldings, light valences, and raised panel cabinet doors but you would find these elements to have less details in them or streamlined to be more technological in style. Instead of tumbled marble flooring, a honed and cross cut travertine would be used to purify the style. A common feature of the classic modern style is extra-wide drawer cabinets that you’d see in ultra-modern designs, turned into a timeless piece of furniture for all times.

Country

The country style is a casual version of the traditional style. Materials that are hand made or have a hand made look are preferred and have more variation. Worn and weathered items are celebrated and remove formality for a space. It’s all about comfort.

Old World

The old world style perhaps may be the most ornamented and sophisticated of the styles outlined here. Inspired by history, they are Baroque, Neo-classical, Tuscan, Renaissance, and English style interiors that conjure up imagery of castles in Europe. Elements such as corbels, appliques, crown moldings, spindle columns, canopies, and complex hand-made architectural features are common. Antiqued or hand-made iron work and hand-dragged finishes, elaborate chandelier in the dinning room and the foyer, and grand scales distinguish an old world interior.

These are six of the most common styles that we see in homes nowadays. Knowing these styles will give you an advantage in coordinating the elements that you need to create an exquisite interior that reflects your tastes. It is also useful in helping you to discuss elements and styles that you like with your designer, a part of a healthy two-way design process which is the key to making your dream space a reality.