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Lottery home makeover Lottery home makeover
Lottery home makeover ofliving room Big, bold pattern and vibrant colours make a splash in this contemporary White Rock, B.C., home by Sarah Richardson Design. The grand prize in the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery, it's the fourth big-give-away house Sarah has designed. "I really love doing the lottery homes," she says. "It's a world of make-believe, like a show home. They end up being the most revealing of what I'm in sync with in design." For Sarah, that means a house that's comfy and fun for a family, and ideal for entertaining. It's one that coddles its owners -- an escape that's about ease, indulgence and glamour, too. The bonus: this is style for a good cause.Kick-in-the-pants-purple walls add bold, bracing colour in the living room of this charity lottery home. Designer Sarah Richardson chose furniture with understated, tradtional lines as a backdrop for exciting elements like colour, pattern and texture.STYLE AT HOME The colours are quite vibrant. The living room is a huge surprise. Why did you go with purple on the walls?SARAH RICHARDSON It's a fairly regal purple, not aubergine. It's more like Concord grape. When everything was in the room -- furniture, accents, pillows -- I walked in and thought, "It needs a kick in the pants." That's how purple ended up on the walls -- as a fun experiment. I like to do something with strength, and using a hit of colour on the walls is easier to change than, say, a sofa, where I prefer a neutral like the soft grey we used here. You can change the two purple side chairs, but the sofa is the most expensive piece. dining room The glass dining room table doesn't visually consume too much space yet easily seats six to eight. A cream-and-indigo palette is carried through the silk drapery, cane-pattern fabric on the dining chairs, and two wall colours. The mirror has a strong geometric feel.S@H What was your inspiration for the home? SR Much of it came from the West Coast climate, which means lots of grey, foggy days. The popular palette there tends to be rustic, colours like subdued olives and mustards; I thought about what I'd want if I lived there, and I'd crave colour. It's also a contemporary house, and contemporary without colour can feel cold. page 3 A light-colour tile backsplash and CaesarStone countertops bring a cookies-and-cream feel to the dark-stained kitchen cabinetry. The check fabric on the bar stools adds a haberdashery element. The cooking area provides an all-encompassing view of multiple sitting areas. S@H Pattern is a huge story in this house, too. SR Pattern isn't something to shy away from. I personally prefer patterns with a modern sensibility -- large-scale and monochromatic. Then I'll use accent colours to create tension. I'm also really interested in the lives of young families, and I think their homes should have a certain sense of happiness and casual ease. Rooms with soft and serene palettes -- we've seen that, it's been done. That said, I also used tons of white and cream in this house to temper the bold patterns and colours. page 4 "The master bedroom works for me because it has a balance of elements," says Sarah. "The palette of smoky blues and greys is masculine, but the motifs and accessories infuse the room with femininity. The furniture is crisp and tailored, the bed is soft with fine linens, and the white glass chandelier is romantic, but I like romance that's sexy."S@H The bedrooms are pretty luxe.SR I'm a big believer that bedrooms are for escaping. We all need a place for that. Also, there should be a balance of masculine and feminine elements in master bedrooms. It's pretty awful what we did to men in the '80s; we subjected them to a lot of frou-frou. S@H How did you achieve a seamless feeling from room to room?SR I like a space that's done right down to the artwork and accessories, so I adopt a save-splurge mentality. I'd rather use an inexpensive fabric -- the master bedroom headboard is upholstered in a $15 per yard grey flannel -- and splurge on beautiful lamps and original art. I don't compromise on consistency. All the finishing details -- the accessories -- are complete and work with the look. Each room gets the golden touch. page 5 A subdued grey-and-white palette in the master ensuite is enlivened by multiple tile patterns. "I like to bring in dynamism and textural interest through materials," says Sarah. Carrara marble, a penny-round pattern on the wall behind the sink, and different patterns in the shower and on the floor make "your eye work a little harder to seek out the detail," she says. The oversize sconces create a statement. "They're not something you'd usually see in a bathroom.""Life is so busy and chaotic -- let's design homes that are a bit playful. Have some fun with decorating." - Sarah Richardson, designer- Credit
- Kathleen Dore
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Home office decor: 10 creative alternatives Home office decor: 10 creative alternatives
Home office decor: 10 creative alternatives ofCreative solutions: 1 to 5 Sure, you can furnish and accessorize your home office with standard desks, magazine holders and letter trays from Staples or IKEA and be done with it, but why not treat your office to the same high decor standards as the rest of your home? Start with our top 10 creative alternatives as inspiration and then let your imagination fill in the blanks. 1 Anchor deskRather than the boring old melamine desk, look for a lightweight dining table that can later do double duty as, well, a dining table, if you ever need extra room for company. 2 Peripheral perfectionUsing furnishings that match your home's decor is a great way to incorporate your office into the overall scheme, especially if it's in a corner of a living room or kitchen. Try a side or end table with a drawer or shelf to hold your printer and paper, a large chest to hide files, or a coffee table with shelves and baskets for extra storage. 3 Pegboard pileupTake the pegboard out of the tool shed and into the office to hang all your essentials, from scissors to staplers. Paint the pegboard and hooks matching or complementary colours, according to your decor. 4 Shoe shineMaking use of vertical space will help keep your desk clear of non-essential items. Hang a shoe caddy on the back of your door and fill the slots with staples, wiring, CD-ROMs and more. Don't forget to label for easy retrieval. 5 Screen gemsReinvent a decorative screen by applying a cork board or chalkboard paint for an instant message centre. A screen is especially useful if your office shares space with a den or dining room. Creative solutions: 6 to 10 6 Local hangoutTo keep everyday items close at hand but off the desk, use a suspension rail with a cutlery basket for pens and pencils, and hooks for scissors and headphones. 7 Curtain callHang curtain wire and clips for note cards, messages and invitations, rather than tossing them in a letter tray and later having to dig through a large stack of paperwork.8 A tisket a tasketStore magazines, files, extra paper, mail and more in baskets of varying shapes and sizes hung along a wall. Baskets are available in a range of materials, from wicker to wire, so choose something that adds to your decor. 9 Tray chicKeep pens, pencils, markers and other writing instruments organized and out of the way in a utensil tray kept in your desk drawer. For smaller items, like pushpins and paper clips, use a tray with multiple compartments, such as a glass tealight holder or muffin tin. 10 Flower powerWho says planters are for plants? Bring your favourite planter, pot, tumbler or vase into your home office and put it to use as a pen and pencil holder. Of course, you could always arrange flowers in it as well -- even a home office needs some verdant vivacity. -
12 tips that will make your house shine 12 tips that will make your house shine
12 tips that will make your house shine ofGetting fresh: Tips 1 to 6 Sure, you vacuum and do laundry every week. Your tub never has a ring and your stovetop is always shiny. You're house proud, and why not? Guests always comment on how organized and clean your place is. But this summer, even you can take it up a notch. Here are 12 easy chores that'll make your home shine. 1 Clean lampshades. Disconnect the lamp and remove the shade. If your shades are simple -- no decorations -- just use a damp cloth to gently wipe the inside and outside. If there are embellishments that need extra attention, use an old toothbrush to get them clean. Wipe down the lamp base and give the cord a once-over, too.2 Wash draperies. For fabric panels: Some can go into the washer; others (like silks and fine fabrics) can be gently vacuumed, brought to the dry cleaner or washed by hand in the sink or tub. For mini-blinds: Cover your hands in a pair of cotton socks. Dip them in warm soapy water and wipe each of the slats clean.3 Clean ceiling fan blades. Climb a ladder and dust ceiling fan blades with a feather duster.4 Dust the baseboards. If a simple dusting doesn't suffice to remove gathered dust on your baseboards, use a toothbrush to gently scrub them clean. Be careful not to damage the painted walls above. 5 Wipe and disinfect all your doorknobs, light-switch plates and telephones with a damp cloth. Use a damp paintbrush on stereo knobs and to dust its crevices. You can do the same for your remote control. 6 Wash all inside and outside doors with soapy water, remembering to wipe the top edge of the frame. Getting fresh: Tips 7 to 12 7 Clean window screens by removing them and laying them on the ground in the yard. Spray with the garden hose, wipe with a soapy cloth and rinse with the hose. 8 Clean shower curtains. Cloth curtains: Take them down and wash them in the washing machine, then hang them outside to dry. Before hanging them back up in the shower, soak them in salt water to prevent mildew. Plastic curtains: Leave them hanging in the shower and spray the top with your favourite cleaner, letting it run down to cover the entire curtain. Allow cleaner to sit for a few minutes, then rinse with the showerhead or wipe with a sponge.9 Clean drains. Nothing says summer like a fresh-smelling home, and stale drains can sometimes give off a subtle odour. In the kitchen and bathroom drains, pour about half a box of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain with a small plate or bowl for a few minutes. Complete the process by running the cold-water tap for a few minutes.10 Clean all filters. Your dehumidifier may be getting a workout this season, as will your central air conditioner and air-purifier unit. Remove each of those filters and screens, submerge them in water and gently brush with a cloth. Let stand outside to dry before reattaching.11 Disinfect all your garbage cans and recycling bins. Take them outside and douse them with cleaner. Grab a tall, cool drink and call your best friend. When you get off the phone, attack garbage cans with the garden hose. Leave them upside down on the deck and put your feet up until they drip-dry.12 Clean out the kitty litter box. Those plastic buckets, domes, houses and other containers are indestructible, it's true -- but that doesn't mean they don't get filthy. Take the litter box out to the backyard and hose it down. Soap and water will work wonders.- Credit
- Carmen Taylor
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15 ways to show off your collection 15 ways to show off your collection
15 ways to show off your collection ofTry layering and arranging items in odd numbers Designers and stylists often group objects in uneven numbers for a better look. Arrange a collection in clusters of three, five, seven or any odd number you like.2 Build a spaceIf you're the proud owner of a treasured collection, build a dedicated spot for it. Adding a shelf above your headboard, filling an awkward nook or building storage along a hallway are clever ways to claim space. Install overhead spotlights to create a museum-like look.3 Pile it highNever mind what minimalists say -- abundance is cheerful and also completely chic. To keep a big dishware or linen collection casually sophisticated, stack similar items together on open shelving.4 Elevate the everydayA beautiful vignette isn't restricted to precious collectibles; feel free to exalt everyday items to star status. For instance, display a selection of sun hats that guests and family alike can pick from on summery days.5 Move things aroundDon't just plunk it down. To create an artful display, tweak it: nudge items an inch here or there, for instance, or hang them just a little lower -- until you're delighted with the results.6 Build layersLayering items -- pillows propped in front of pillows, a stack of small books in front of a stack of larger books -- will give oomph to a smaller collection by creating the appearance of depth and density.7 Take a pictureWhen in doubt, take a snapshot; it will help you see with fresh eyes the mantel or bookcase arrangement you've been fussing over. Digital cameras are especially handy for a quick look.8 Give it a new lifeSome textiles are too charming to hide in a drawer, like lusciously printed scarves, a few yards of leftover fabric, even vintage tea towels. Repurpose them as a set of pillow covers, placemats or drapes. More tips: use light and colour to their best advantage 9 Stagger heightsMatching kitchen canisters, Russian dolls, nested mixing bowls: no need to line them up tallest to shortest; instead, arrange them like a family photo, casually gathered around one another.10 Light it rightExperiment with lighting to make your treasures shine. Low-wattage incandescent lights cast a warm glow, halogen sparkles like sunlight, and energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs have come a long way. And, of course, nothing can top the beauty of natural light.11 Find a spotAlmost any bare surface could be a canvas for a lovely display; unlikely spots make for a nice surprise. Try the side of a kitchen cabinet, a windowsill, or the inside of an unused fireplace.12 Unify dissimilar itemsHow do you make memorabilia of different shapes, varying sizes and a range of colours resemble a well-edited collection rather than unrelated items strewn about? It's easy: display them in frames of identical colours, including shadow-box frames for three-dimensional items.13 Coordinate coloursDon't stress about colour. Coordinate a palette the way you love best: all white is understated, all black is sophisticated; a rainbow of jewel tones is delightful, while soft pastels are restful.14 Give small objects groundingIf a grouping of tiny items -- antique perfume bottles, salt and pepper shakers, glass paperweights -- isn't making a big impact, ground it by arranging the items on a plate or tray, or in a shallow basket of a contrasting colour.15 Do some researchStuck for ideas? Peruse books for tips and pics on how to display your collections. These are some of our favourites.• Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers and Ali Hanan (Ryland Peters & Small, 2005)• Home Rules by Nate Berkus (Hyperion, 2005)• Pottery Barn Storage & Display (Oxmoor House, 2004)- Credit
- Helen Racanelli
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Clutter control Clutter control
Clutter control of1-2-3: Get organized! Flip through any design magazine and you'll notice the rooms are flawless. Remote controls, shampoo bottles and newspapers are nowhere to be seen. And generally, neither are people. While these houses might not appear lived in, it's really just creative clutter-solutions at work. And it is attainable -- you can achieve this look without throwing away all of life's "stuff" by effectively managing your belongings.Where to startBegin by taking photos of every room in your house. Resist the urge to straighten up beforehand. The first step to creating a home that always looks tidy is identifying the problem areas.Study the photos with an objective eye. Is the entranceway littered with jackets, shoes and bags? Does the fridge boast ratty paperwork, coupons and magnets from your local real estate agent?Once you've identified the problem areas, here are a few ideas to help you successfully manage your mess.Behind closed doorsIt wasn't until her kitchen was being overtaken by notes, bills, and postcards, that Gail White, an executive assistant in Calgary, finally discovered a way to control the clutter by utilizing an out-of-sight surface -- her pantry door."I did the garage sale circuit one Saturday and found a few cheap bulletin boards," she says. "I secured them to the inside of the pantry door, and pinned everything up in there. Everything is out of sight, and my kitchen seems much larger." In other rooms, hang large hooks on the back of your closet doors for clothing, and small hooks on the back of the medicine-cabinet door for necklaces. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn. Stylish storage Out of season, out of sightIf it's not in season, hide it. Winter jackets and shoes can be moved to your basement or attic during the summer to make room in the closet for your everyday wear. When there's space in the closet, your family will be much more inclined to tuck their belongings away.Beautiful basketsLidded baskets provide stylish storage in your living room, bathroom, and bedroom. They offer convenient hiding places for magazines and books, bath products, slippers, and other daily use items that aren't part of the décor, but a necessary part of life. Baskets can be purchased at discount stores or craft stores and can make an inexpensive and attractive addition to any room. MaintenanceNow that you've discovered a few ways to manage your clutter, be sure to maintain your new style. Continue to look for new ways to store, display, or hide your belongings, and you'll find your home looks larger, cleaner and more stylish. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn.- Credit
- Sarah Deveau
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Decorating with white Decorating with white
Decorating with white ofHow to bring white into your home With its high-ceilinged rooms, handsome French doors and elegant woodwork, the McLean family's rambling country house in the hills of Caledon, Ont., could have been built a hundred years ago. But although its design was inspired by the family's previous weekend retreat – a nearby century-old farmhouse – the new year-round home is only a few years old. The secret of its timeless, dreamy mood – old-fashioned and romantic, yes, but also pulled together and breezily up-to-date – is in the liberal use of white by homeowner Linda McLean and architect-designer Dee Dee Taylor Hannah.One thing that Linda, her husband, Jim, and their daughters, Stephanie, Jennifer and Krista, loved about their old house was its orderly progression of rooms, and in particular the two fireplaces directly facing one another in the rooms to the left and right of the front hall. “As you entered, there was a wonderful feeling of welcome when both the fireplaces were lit,” says Dee Dee. So in the new house, they began with the same main-floor layout and embellished it by widening the entry hall and doorways, enlarging rooms and adding a spacious main-floor bedroom suite for Stephanie, who uses a wheelchair.Welcome in the sunshineTo flood the interior with light and open it up to stunning views, regular windows were replaced with either French windows or French doors. The end result is a spacious, airy scheme where both the interior and exterior landscapes are visible all around.For the decor, Linda wanted a monochromatic palette based on white – a smart choice since a unified scheme created a visual link among the main rooms, most of which are visible from each other. The decision was also surprisingly liberating, says Dee Dee: varying tints, textures, sheen levels and materials kept things interesting without destroying the overall harmony. Hints of blue and pink soften some of the ceilings and walls, and upholstered furniture is covered in light-colour fabrics. Some wood pieces are painted white, and throughout the space, the same dark-stained hardwood floors unify and ground the lighter-than-air look.Photography by Ted Yarwood Sunny images of white light With the sunlight pouring in, the rolling Ontario landscape outside the windows and the airy decor, there truly is a friendly, old-house feel to the home. “There's a certain fluidity, a soothing continuity among rooms,” says Linda, “a sense that it all connects.” Photography by Ted Yarwood- Credit
- Martha Uniacke Breen
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Get the movie look: The Break-Up Get the movie look: The Break-Up
Get the movie look: The Break-Up ofLiving room style; walls & flooring Is it possible to love your home more than your spouse? In the movie, The Break-Up, a dissolved relationship did nothing to move either Gary (Vince Vaughan) or Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) out of their luxurious condo. In fact, territorial lines grew deeper and things got uglier as this unhappy couple tried everything to squeeze each other out. Observing the condo itself, it's no stretch to see how they based an entire film around this upscale dwelling. While the balance between his-and-her decor styles is a hard line to find, this chic condo hit the mark with an expert mix of hard and soft accents. The lookCarmen Wageman, designer and owner of Stage-Right Interiors in Toronto, explains this condo does more than just mix his-and-her things together. "This room features a wide assortment of styles, including retro, contemporary and traditional. When combined in this way, this style is known as 'Transitional' -- a style that is classic and timeless, simple and sophisticated."She says a "Transitional" look offers a warm and serene atmosphere through a mix of fabrics (from leather to vintage), sleek-lined furnishings and earthy green-coloured walls. Carmen recommends this living room for homeowners who value serenity and relaxation. "If you are looking to create a living room setting that invites your guests to kick up their feet and relax for a time, then this is the style you're looking for," she says. Copy the lookTo recreate the look of this condo in your own living room, Carmen suggests the following accents and furniture pieces: 1 WallsA warm, muddy undertone colour is a great backdrop for abstract art.• Try Benjamin Moore's Brandon Beige, CC-5302 FloorsA cream coloured rug with simple lines and leafy accents lends a calm, casual, peaceful look.Movie stills courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For more information on The Break-Up on DVD, visit UDVD.caCarmen Wageman's Stage Right Interiors has grown to become Toronto's largest full-service staging company. Carmen and her team can supply this look from The Break-Up as part of their "in-home" design service. Sofas, windows, tables, chairs 3 SofasWhite sofaStraight-line style with tufted back creates a mix of traditional and contemporary. This look is great if a Transitional room is what you're after. Purchased in a cream coloured ultra-suede will give you an extra modern lift with the bonus of the ultra-suede stain-resistant durability.Couch: Stylus Style: Haro Fabric: Endurance Bone Visit stylussofas.com for dealer information.Leather sofaA dark brown leather couch that sits beside a modern style couch relaxes the mood and sets the tone for lingering.Couch: Stylus Style: KylaFabric: Dark Brown LeatherVisit stylussofas.com for dealer information.4 Tables -- clean linesThe glamour of retro can be seen in this simple, edgy coffee and matching end table. The mix of wood and glass keeps this look contemporary and light.Coffee Table and End Table: Elite Style: ChelseaVisit elitedesignfurn.com for dealer information. 5 Chairs -- retro flairAdd a little whimsy to a Transitional space with a couple of retro pattern chairs. This will add colour and style to an otherwise plain pallet. This chair is a balance between masculine and feminine, soft curves and hard lines, and is a must-have for this style of room. Chair: Rowe Style: MarcelVisit rowefurniture.com for dealer information.6 WindowsA window which combines both dark wood blinds and fabric panels is rich with colour, texture and luxury. Keeping it simple is the key. Limit the pattern and keep the colour of the curtain panels lighter than the walls for a casual urban look. Panels: Sears Whole Home® 'Rio Grande' Pintuck Tab-top PanelColour: Putty Blinds: Sears Whole Home® 'Palma' Roman-style Bamboo Shade Colour:Walnut Movie stills courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For more information on The Break-Up on DVD, visit UDVD.ca- Credit
- Colleen Tully
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15 ways to add autumn to your home 15 ways to add autumn to your home
15 ways to add autumn to your home ofIn the living room In the summer, our natural instinct is to lighten everything up - paler colours, more visual white space and a decidedly pared down environment. Things change. "Fall is about layering up and creating warmth," says Sally Healy, of Calgary-based Sally Healy Design. It's true that warmer, richer colours signify the season naturally, "but I can take any palette and make it look like fall," says Sally. "It's about the texture and fabric. At this time of year, [fabrics] should be more lush (think velvet) and ribbed and nubbly."Here are some of Sally's other ideas for injecting that fall feeling into your home decor. In the living roomAdd area rugs. But remember that nothing looks worse than a rug that's too small for a room – it makes the space look busy. To welcome fall, lay a Buffalo or cowhide on top of sisal or another tight rug.Things don't have to be precious to be special. Cut down branches from your yard and put them in a vase that's filled with leaves and pinecones. It's cheap and fabulous. Add a beautiful throw to the sofa (wool or fur, preferably) and change the pillows (try chenille, mohair or thick port au soie satin). Hang more drapery, specifically woolen panels. They're classic and make a space feel comfy. For a less expensive option, you could just hang side panels for anther layer over your existing window treatment.Warm up your space with painted glass in oxblood red on the back of bookshelves. The reflective sheets are exquisite and cheap. In the dining room, bedroom and bathroom In the dining roomIf there's a lot of wood and hard surfaces, soften things up by slip covering the end chairs or using upholstered end banquettes. On the table, mix things up with coloured crystal, chargers and decorative plates. Cut coloured crystal and Moroccan tea glasses – they have a richness that just feels like fall.Put bowls of coconuts on the table. The texture is perfect for this time of year, especially with a layer of baby pinecones or moss.In the bedroomLayer up the bed with a quilted blanket in satin or velvet. Upholster the headboard. Replace white lampshades with black or something lined with gold or silver. In the bathroomHang floating shelves to store books and candles and soaps. Get a long wooden tray for the counter and place vases filled with sea corals on it. Add little lamps to the vanity. If you have the room, slip cover a chair and ottoman in a warm-coloured terry cloth and a wool runner.- Credit
- Jasmine Miller
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Domestic giants Domestic giants
Domestic giants ofThe designers talk about their new collection Whether you've been loyal to Steve and Chris via their long-standing hit TV show Designer Guys or have become a more recent fan of their latest series So Chic with Steven and Chris, you know that the pair's decorating mantra is all about embracing personal style. With years of experience under their Gucci belts and an infectious passion for solving design dilemmas, it really comes as no surprise that this spring saw the launch of their own line of home furnishings, accessories and area rugs. We sat down with the pair to discuss the inspiration behind their oh-so-chic collection and why affordable luxury is the next big thing in home decor. Styleathome.com: What inspired you to create your own home decor collection?Steven Sabados: On our television shows we custom made furniture for our clients all of the time and we had many requests for these pieces from our viewers. Until now, these pieces were one-of-a-kind and not available to the public. We also wanted to give people exciting and stylish accessories at an affordable cost so re-creating a new look in your home wouldn't break your bank. We're inspired by our many travels: trips to New York, our hunting in beiges, browns, coppers, the classic black-and-white combination. Our style is not fussy or complicated. SAH.com: You mention that the furniture collection has many "luxury features". What does this mean?CH: We have upholstered sofas, loveseats, ottomans and headboards available in over 70 fabrics and 60 leathers. By luxury, we offer that custom-made feel. You can choose your fabric, skirt or wood leg trim as well as the base. That way, you can feel as though you own a piece that is exclusive to you. All frames have a lifetime warranty and all of our accent cushions are natural feather-filled. We designed the seating of this collection with very generous proportions. Again, we wanted our pieces to be comfortable. SAH.com: With the growth of luxury products, why make the collection more budget-conscious?CH: You should be proud of your living space and we feel that affordable designer collections are important because, more often than not, designer brands are overpriced and therefore inaccessible to so many people. We still wanted to have the look and feel of more expensive furniture but also make pieces that were durable enough to withstand everyday living. The talented duos fave pieces SAH.com: What are some of your absolute favourite pieces in the S&C line?SS: We love the Irene Chair because of its versatility. Because of the tufting, it has a very lavish feel and isn't too large that it couldn't fit into a certain room in your home. It could be placed in your bedroom, as a foyer chair, head chairs in a dining room or paired up in a living room. One chair can easily travel around the house from room to room. Experimenting with your aesthetic is what it's all about. SAH.com: What are some of the big trends for fall 2007?SS: The biggest word in decorating for fall 2007 (and hopefully forever!) is 'green'. Collectively, we have to be conscious of the world we live in. We are seeing recycled materials being used to create everything from fabrics to durable carpets and decorative accessories. So this fall when decorating, go green! SAH.com: Whose home would you love to redecorate if you could?SS: I would love to decorate Drew Barrymore's house. I have loved her for years and I think she is just a down-to-earth kind of girl. It would be so fun!CH: I would love to decorate Monique Imes' house (actress from the BET television show The Parkers.). I love her sense of humour and I think she would be a riot to hang out with!The S&C line of upholstery pieces and accessories are available at over 200 retail locations across Canada. Visit stevenandchris.com for more information.- Credit
- Lara Ceroni
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The peaceful nursery The peaceful nursery
The peaceful nursery ofAt home At homeHome is as much a feeling as it is a physical place. “It's good to be home,” “home sweet home,” and “welcome home” are all expressions that strike a deep emotional chord. “Feeling at home” is synonymous with feeling content, comfortable, and secure. It is important to your health and happiness that the physical space you call home provides you with this sense of comfort and security. Creating a home-and more specifically, a special place for your baby-that will give both you and your child this sense of peace is essential.There is no better time to create a home that supports and nourishes you and your family than when preparing for the birth of a baby. The transition into parenthood can be one of the most extraordinary, yet also demanding, times in your life. As you adjust to your new role as a mother or father, your home can become a great source of support. An organized, healthy home and a peaceful, beautiful, comfortable nursery can help you function with ease and grace. In addition, as you design the nursery and make space for your new baby, you will also take an inner journey that will prepare you for parenthood: as you change your home, you too will change. Your home will become a vehicle for becoming more conscious about who you are, what your priorities are, what kind of parent you want to be, and what kind of children you want to raise.For a newborn, the significance of the nursery is even more profound: the nursery is your baby's next womb. An enchanted, peaceful, and cozy nursery will give your baby the security and comfort to thrive. Some of your baby's first interactions with you and the world will take place in this room. By creating a nursery filled with healthy, happy, and loving energy, you're building the foundation for a healthy, happy, and loving relationship with your baby.Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids. You and your home You and your homeYour home has an enormous influence on your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. An organized, beautiful, and toxin-free environment can boost your energy, promote good health, and support your dreams, while a disorganized, cluttered, and uncomfortable space can deplete your energy, undermine your ability to succeed, and dampen your spirits.Your home tells the story of who you are, what you enjoy doing, how you are feeling, and who you spend your time with. Your surroundings are an outward manifestation of your inner experience. Your home is a reflection of you. For example, if you're feeling a little down, you might find yourself unconsciously creating a gloomy environment by shutting the curtains or allowing your home to become messy. On the other hand, if you come back from a vacation reenergized and with a “new outlook on life,” you may choose to reflect your new state of mind by displaying souvenirs or photographs from your vacation. The pictures on your wall, the food in your refrigerator, the objects you have stored in your closet, how you decorate (or don't decorate) are all things that can tell you something about yourself. What story is your home telling about you? Take a moment to “read” your home by observing your surroundings. Do the objects you have chosen to surround yourself with reflect your interests, hobbies, and habits? If the answer is yes, then go one step further and ask yourself if you are happy with that reflection. If the answer is no, ask yourself why not?Being conscious of your environment is so important because your surroundings have the ability to influence your life. For instance, a clean, clutter-free desk may help you pay your bills on time, which may in turn affect your finances. A comfortable dining area may encourage more family meals, thereby shaping a closer relationship with your family. A restful, quiet nursery will help your baby sleep, allowing you to also get more rest, which will then affect your family's health and happiness. What's in your home and how it's arranged can affect some of the most important aspects of your life.Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids Designing your life Designing your lifeOnce you appreciate the power of the connection between your surroundings and your life, you can use this new understanding to organize and decorate your home so that it supports you in building the life you desire. As you design your home, you have the opportunity to design your life. What better time than when preparing to welcome a new baby to create the life you envision for yourself and your new family?The most effective changes in your home will result not only in the physical transformation of your surroundings, but also in a transformation of your mind, body, and spirit. Your home offers an opportunity for change because it is a tangible reflection of your innermost feelings, yet it is separate enough that you can step back and be objective. It is often easier to address the state of one's home than one's state of being. For example, a disorganized home may be easier to identify and change than a disorganized life.It is easy to only focus on the big events-such as holidays, celebrations, or entertaining out-of-town guests-yet it is the small everyday moments that make up the majority of your life. What seem like tiny annoyances or disturbances in your home can actually affect your well-being in much greater ways. Clutter on the kitchen counter may prevent you from cooking nutritious meals, which over time could affect your health. Searching frantically for your keys each morning might make you consistently late for work, which could then affect your career. Your home should nurture you by supporting your daily rituals. Your living room should be comfortable and lively so that your friends feel welcome. Your bedroom should promote peaceful sleep so that your immune system has time to recoup and your health is maintained.Designing your home is both an inner and outer process. By making changes in your outer surroundings, you are supporting a change on the inside. If you want to bring more serenity into your life, you'll want to bring objects, colors, and art into your home that are relaxing. You could bring in a small fountain if you are calmed by the sound of water, or light candles if watching the flicker of a flame brings you a sense of tranquility. Whatever you choose to "do" or “bring” to your home you are also "doing" and "bringing" to yourself. To further achieve your goal of bringing more peace into your life, think about the changes you'd like to make within yourself, such as reducing stress, maintaining a positive outlook, or seeking clarity about personal issues. Perhaps you will choose to meditate each day, or to start each morning writing down everything that is "on your mind" to help you feel more at peace. As you bring peace and harmony into your home you are simultaneously fostering inner peace and harmony. As your environment becomes more and more a reflection of who you are, your state of mind and physical surroundings seem to blend. The more aligned your inner and outer world, the more you feel "at home."Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids Feng shui Feng shuiMany cultures recognize the link between your home and your life. In India, the five-thousand-year-old Hindu design practice called Vastu holds that you must first create harmony in your environments in order to experience harmony within yourself. Many Native American rituals revolve around connecting to the land and giving thanks to Mother Earth. In Germany, Bau-biologie, the study of how your environment and the materials in your homes and office affect your health, holds that you must live in healthy buildings in order to experience optimal health. Feng Shui is the three-thousand-year-old Chinese practice of making positive changes in your environment to produce positive changes in your life. All of these practices have evolved similar holistic approaches to design, the core of which acknowledges the connection between one's environment and one's well-being.Feng Shui revolves around the universal principle that everything is made up of energy, including your body, your thoughts, and the empty space surrounding you. Even objects you may consider inanimate, such as a table or a rock, are made up of moving molecules and send out their own unique vibration. Your own energy is affected by all the energy that surrounds you. The goal is to help positive energy flow through your home in a way that enhances your life. Feng Shui embraces the idea that, just as different pressure points in acupuncture correspond to specific parts of the body, different areas of your home are associated with different areas of your life. These areas include health, family, love, relationships, career, wealth, fame, helpful people, children, creativity, knowledge, and self-cultivation. So when you improve the energy in part of your home, you're also improving part of your life.Although Feng Shui may seem complex, its philosophy includes commonsense practices and simple suggestions such as keeping your environment clean and organized, clearing clutter, arranging furniture so you can move easily from room to room, surrounding yourself with things you love that reflect and support your goals, and putting safety and comfort first by making sure your home is healthy and functional as well as beautiful. Fundamentally, Feng Shui is about making a home that you thoroughly enjoy-a home that supports your dreams and nurtures your mind, body, and spirit.Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids. Healthy home Healthy homeA basic tenet of Feng Shui holds that your physical environment is in essence an extension of your body and therefore how you care for your home is just as important as how you care for yourself. Think of all the care women put into nurturing their bodies while pregnant. You need to give the nursery the same kind of consideration. Just as a woman does not put toxins, such as alcohol and cigarette smoke, into her body during pregnancy, you should not put anything toxic in the nursery. With all the best intentions, many parents buy all new furnishings for the nursery, furnishings that contain chemicals that, especially when new, may release unhealthy fumes into the air of the nursery.Paying attention to air quality and the chemicals found in your home is particularly important when preparing for a new baby. Babies' immature organs are less able to cope with the toxins in their environment than those of adults. Children enjoy touching everything around them; eventually either their hands or random objects wind up in their mouths, exposing them to even more chemicals.People are becoming increasingly aware of the numerous chemicals in the environment. Many people know that most produce is treated with pesticides that remain on the food all the way to the kitchen. As a result, many people wash their fruits and vegetables and are becoming more conscious of the importance of buying organic food. People are also more aware than ever that industrial pollutants and pesticides from farm fields can contaminate water supplies, to the point where drinking bottled water and using water filtration systems in homes is commonplace. In today's world you also need to pay as close attention to the materials that you use to build, decorate, and clean your home as you do to the food you eat and the water you drink.Taking small steps to create a healthy home will make a big difference, so don't worry if you can't make big changes in your home today -- do what you can. Even small changes in your environment can significantly impact your life. You may even decide to just start with one room; and what better room than the nursery where your baby will spend more than a third of his or her early life?Excerpted from The Peaceful Nursery by Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes Copyright © 2006 by Alison Forbes. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids. -
Design wars Design wars
Design wars ofCouple style problems Style At Home associate Art Director Karen Williams and her boyfriend, Eric, rarely disagree. They've been together for seven years and it's a comfortable match, so they're not afraid of moving in together. In fact, they fell in love with some floor plans last year; their first home will be finished around Thanksgiving. Since the house is being built from scratch, the young couple has had to decide on everything from floor finishes to appliances, not to mention the number of pot lights, style of medicine cabinet and shape of vanity. They navigated those minefields well – for the most part they agreed and where they couldn't, they compromised. But now they're on furniture. No fights have broken out, but suddenly compromise isn't as easy as it was. According to Toronto designer Lara Neal, this kind of merging can be an emotional, sometimes painful, process, “but that's part of moving in together,” she says. “You open yourself up to someone else critiquing your wares.”The solution? You'll have to give in on some choices. There could be one item that one of you absolutely has to have and which is horrifying to the other person: a big bulky Lazy-Boy or fancy frilly antique heirloom, for example. You can't completely eliminate your partner's past or their stuff, so don't try. Here are Lara's tips for keeping the design wars at bay:Take inventory of everythingEach of you needs to review, assess and evaluate all your possessions with an eye to making every room in your new home functional. Edit what you have and be as honest as you can. Often couples have twice the furniture they need, so get rid of pieces that are damaged and not terribly valuable. If his things are in better shape than yours, perhaps you need to get rid of yours. Couple style solutions Be prepared to mix and match different styles and periodsKaren wants fabric to reign in the living room and Eric wants leather. No problem: get a sofa in fabric and two leather club chairs or a leather ottoman. There's nothing wrong with mixing materials if that meets both tastes.Re-jig, re-use, re-paintIf, between the two of you, there are a number of disparate pieces, you can unify them by painting them the same colour or reupholstering them with the same fabric. Maybe you don't like his dresser; update it with a coat of paint or new hardware. Pick your battlesRemember: unless it's a family heirloom, it's just furniture. Don't let it ruin your relationship. Use pieces in places you wouldn't usually think to: If he really prefers his bedroom dresser to yours, put yours in the front hall as a place to throw keys, store gloves and scarves and other off-season necessities.Think about scaleJust because your nine-person sectional (clad in butter-soft Italian leather and boasting hand-crafted springs) is a showstopper, his velour covered three-seater might actually fit your new square living room better. Consider a proIn the battle of the sexes, I recommend couples handle disagreements through a designer. He or she can mediate the relationship and create a harmonious look in the home. Being a designer is about understanding his tastes and her tastes and merging the two so in the end there's a cohesive look and each person feels represented. Finally, hope your dream home has a basement where you can store things out of sight!- Credit
- Jasmine Miller
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Wallpaper on a whim Wallpaper on a whim
Wallpaper on a whim ofWallpaper on a whim Wallpaper is a great way to show off your sense of style. Why not display your do-it-yourself talent, as well?Paper trailFirst-timers should work with a durable, DIY-friendly paper such as vinyl, says Jerry Aleksic, owner of Artistic Design Decorators in Toronto. According to Jerry, striped wallpaper is best avoided, as separate pieces can be difficult to match. Plain paper, or paper with a busy pattern can be more forgiving. To determine the amount of wallpaper you'll need, add the lengths of all your walls and multiply by the single height. Subtract door and window areas, then add an emergency 15 per cent to the total.Hang timeAfter cleaning, spackling, sanding and priming the walls, it's time to begin. "The first sheet you put up is going to be your worst one," says Jerry. "By the time you get to that focal point you want to have some experience." First, start in an inconspicuous spot, like behind a door or in a corner. Find the centre of that wall and draw a straight "plumb line" from the ceiling to the baseboard, against which you'll hang the paper. Mark off the rest of the wallpaper-width. Cut strips to the height of your wall plus four to six inches for overhang, ensuring that the pattern of your wallpaper aligns. Roll the paste evenly and thoroughly on the back of the paper, beginning from its centre. Fold -- without flattening -- the top and bottom edges into the middle, pasted sides in and ensure the edges are aligned. This process, known as booking, allows the adhesive to penetrate the paper and keeps it wet until needed. Unfold the top half of the strip and align with the plumb lines and with the ceiling, leaving a couple of inches for trimming. Work out air bubbles or wrinkles with a smoothing brush. Be as precise as possible with the first sheet. "If your first sheet is not put on straight, it's only going to get worse and worse," warns Jerry. If you come across any problems, pull the paper off the wall without sliding it around. Wipe off any excess paste with a damp sponge, then continue with the bottom half of the strip. For strip number two, align without overlapping the pattern starting from the ceiling. "Once you've matched the top two feet, everything will fall into place," says Jerry. Smooth out the paper and roll the seam 10 minutes later. With a few strips completed, use a broadknife or scraper to crease the ceiling line and the line at the baseboards. Holding the broadknife in place, use a utility knife to trim the excess paper.Tough spot: WindowsCut the overlapping paper along the sills. Press the paper against the left and right casings and trim excess. Paste matching paper, with half an inch overhang, over the top and bottom casings and tuck the overlap underneath the corners of the facing walls.Now stand back and admire your handiwork. If only you could wrap gifts with such finesse.- Credit
- Heather Camlot
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Our favourite movie sets Our favourite movie sets
Our favourite movie sets ofMatch Point, The Sound of Music, The Thin Man, The Little Princess Match PointI just saw Woody Allen's Match Point and was blown away by the lead couple's Thamesfront loft. It's not palatial -- in fact, it's a fairly minimalist space dotted with a handful of striking modern art pieces, but it boasts one particularly amazing feature -- the jaw-dropper of a location. A panoramic glass wall offers a breathtaking view across the river to the Houses of Parliament and the city skyline. Makes me want to drop everything and catch the next flight into Heathrow.-- Brett Walther, Assistant Design EditorThe Sound of Music and The Thin ManThe Sound of Music has been a favourite movie since I was a child, and I would listen to the soundtrack over and over on my grandma's hi-fi. I love the grand staircase from which the children sing their goodnight. But the best features of the Von Trapp home are the terrace and the gazebo -- lovely outdoor spaces and oh so romantic! As well, my friend Tracy and I agree that any set with a martini cart -- like The Thin Man -- is at the top of our list. We wish we hadn't missed out on the age of cocktails and art deco furniture!-- Julia ArmstrongThe Little PrincessThis movie for adults and kids features traditional and exotic decors (haute Raj), as well as humour and suspense -- in other words, something for everyone.-- Denise Barnard, Senior Editor The Shining, De-Lovely, Pride and Prejudice, Ocean's Twelve The ShiningThis might sound a bit strange, but some of the décor and architecture in The Shining is totally amazing. Mostly, you see the hotel in its splendour at the beginning of the movie. Just goes to show what's on my mind -- Jack Nicholson is slowly going crazy and I'm wondering who designed the carpet.-- Tamara Robbins, Associate Design Editor, Style at HomeDe-LovelyThis Cole Porter bio-pic has delicious sets. In real life, some of Porter's homes were decorated by Billy Baldwin, and American designer who's a legend in the biz -- and someone whom I worship. I have Billy Baldwin's book that features the Cole Porter New York apartment so seeing the movie was like seeing the look come to life. Baldwin's character is even introduced toward the end of the movie.Pride and PrejudiceThis new edition of the movie features some of the most gorgeous estates in England, including Chatsworth. The scene when Elizabeth Bennet rushes in to interrupt the breakfast of Miss Bingly and Mr. Darcy is incredible. That room's architecture makes my heart skip a beat. But even the Bennett home is fabulous -- especially the scenes when the whole family is seated around the table eating breakfast.-- Margot Austin, Senior Design EditorOcean's TwelveI recently saw Ocean's Twelve. The renowned and talented thief Francois Toulour lives in a magnificent villa on Italy's Lake Como. I daydreamed about the centuries-old architecture and the breathtaking view of this villa for days after I saw the film. Ah, la bella vita!-- Natalie Bahadur, Online Editor- Credit
- Vanessa Milne
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Upholstery cleaning tips Upholstery cleaning tips
Upholstery cleaning tips ofPreventative measures and first-aid for stains There's nothing like new upholstery to freshen up your fave soft furnishing for spring. A few yards of fun and flirty fabric can certainly breathe new life into a timeworn treasure, but how long it remains looking crisp and clean is entirely up to you. Follow our three-prong strategy to keeping soft furnishings looking fab year-round.Step one: Preventative measures• Vacuums ain't just for floors and those intimidating attachments they come with can actually prolong the life of your furniture. Use the upholstery attachment to vacuum soft furnishings on a weekly basis. The angle-tipped crevice tool is great for reaching sneaky areas where the evidence of daily use - dirt and oils - like to set up shop: namely, creases, fabric folds and tufted areas.• Once a month, take cushions outside and beat them by hand. This will help prevent dust from settling into the fibres. When replacing cushions, rotate and flip them as you would a mattress to ensure even wear.• Granny was on to something with the "no eating the living room" rule. If you've the stamina to enforce a ban on food, drink and pets on the furniture, you'll avoid worry - and work - down the road. Take care with other less obvious sources of stains, too: even newsprint inks can bleed easily onto fabric.Step two: First-aid for stains• The first rule of tending to a spill? Get to it quickly before it has time to set. Use a blotting motion with either a paper towel or clean white cloth. Rubbing can smudge the spill into a larger stain - an effect that upholstery cleaning pros call "blossoming". Work from the outside of the spot towards the centre. Blot dry.• If blotting hasn't done the trick and a cleaning solution is required, take a moment to examine the manufacturer's care label, usually located under the chair seat or inside a cushion cover. Here, you'll find instructions as to which types of products can be used in the cleaning of the fabric: W for water-based cleaners, S for solvents, WS for either, and X for none of the above - in which case, vacuuming is your only option. Note that many grease or oil-based stains (gravy, butter, cosmetics) are only treatable with dry cleaning solvents. Deep cleaning Step two continued• Before applying a cleaning solution of any kind, it's a good idea to test the colourfastness of the fabric on an inconspicuous patch of the furnishing. Apply the solution to a clean white cloth, and press against the test area firmly for 30 seconds. Examine the cloth for evidence of colour transfer. • Whether spot cleaning with a pH-balanced (neutral) detergent in a 1:20 water mixture or a commercial dry cleaning solution, where appropriate, finish by blotting with clean water.• Never overwet the fabric. Applying too much water or cleaning solution can spread the stain and saturate the padding underneath the upholstery, creating the perfect haven for mould, mildew and bacteria – all of which are far worse than a surface stain. Don't try to speed up the drying time with a hot-air dryer, either – heat merely sets the stain. Instead, merely blot the area dry.Step three: The deep clean• Once a year, schedule your soft furnishings for a deep cleaning treatment. • If your cushion covers are removable and machine washable (again, check that handy manufacturer's care label), it's still best to turn them inside out and wash in cold water to prevent fading. They're also likely ineligible for machine drying, so this is something to add to your fair-weather to-do list. • If removable covers are dry clean only, strongly consider getting them all covers professionally cleaned at the same time, even if only one is particularly soiled. This will ensure any fading or colour variation after cleaning with be consistent across all matching fabrics.• When in doubt, or if removing the upholstery isn't an option, don't hesitate to consult a professional. Professional cleaning is also in order if there's been a large-volume spill. Underneath that surface discoloration, the stain penetrating the padding may be three to four times as large.- Credit
- Brett Walther
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Urban renovation Urban renovation
Urban renovation ofBuy & Rebuild The light-as-air look of wire dining chairs and a Philippe Starck Louis Ghost chair offset the visual heft of the rosewood table, while a triptych by Yves Gaucher supports the symmetry of the windows. Floral arrangements throughout by Emblem, Toronto.Inject punches of colour into your decor with artwork. To mix things up, switch or rotate pieces seasonally. High-voltage colour is a great way to take the edge off coolly contemporary homes. Primary hues, in particular, add playfulness to otherwise austere environs.Renovating was the last thing the owners of this midsize, midtown Toronto home wanted to tackle. But their initial house-hunting efforts proved fruitless. Undaunted, they decided that if they couldn’t find their dream home, they’d just have to buy and rebuild. To do that, they persuaded Alan Tregebov of AJ Tregebov Architect to make room in his mainly commercial practice for their residential job. It took communication, imagination and the doggedness of contractor Michael Sullivan of Immaculate Construction, but nine long months later their dream came true. Surface Route In the office, sleek custom built-ins maximize storage space and keep the room uncluttered and clean. Q: What were your primary goals when you gutted and rebuilt your house?Homeowner: We wanted an airy, open home that had a very modern feel. We accomplished that by relying on four contemporary elements: stone, wood, glass and steel. Whenever we hit a crossroad and weren’t sure which way to go, we’d go back to those basic materials. Kitchen Reflective surfaces make the kitchen nearly glow: glass tiles cover the walls, while stainless steel adds shine to countertops and appliances.Q: How is this house different from other modern homes?Alan Tregebov: We used exotic woods throughout the home. The floors are jatoba, a rainforest wood that darkens as it ages. And two steel posts in the kitchen are wrapped in zebra wood, which has a very multifaceted face. In this house, you’ll also see a recurring L motif. The frosted-glass wall in the kitchen doesn’t just disguise the stairs leading to the basement, it forms an L-shape. Similarly, the glass windows across the back of the house wrap around to create another intriguing L.Homeowner: We chose to accent with splashes of brilliant colour. By keeping with typically modern wood, slate, glass and steel, we created a neutral backdropagainst which any colour pops. I was inspired to go with cobalt lacquered kitchen cabinets when I discovered that deep, luxurious blue inside a high-end gas range. Living Room Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Vases, throws and pillows are an easy way to add a hit of colour without commitment.The rich jatoba flooring runs in the same direction throughout the house, giving the space a cozy, cohesive feeling. Glass on two walls opens up sightlines to the garden – landscaped by architect Alan Tregebov – creating the illusion of more space.Q: Having gone through a long renovation, what did you learn?Homeowner: Most people begin an architectural or design project by creating an inspiration folder of images they love, but we also put together a folder of things we just hated, that we didn’t ever want to see in our house. It saved us a lot of time and grief. We also realized that bigger is not always better. We set out looking for a 3,000-square-foot-plus house and ended up with only 2,400 square feet. But by having less square footage, we were able to put more money into the finishes, which I think really makes the house special. Chaise Consider introducing colour – and texture – with fabric. Upholster an accent piece in a vibrant hue or, if you’re colour shy, go for easy-to-change bedding.A cobalt chaise brings the boldness of blue from the first floor to the second, while the cowhide adds earthiness. Inspired by Christo’s The Gates art installation in Central Park, the demure saffron raw silk drapes add texture without stealing the limelight from the chaise. Bathroom In the bath, taupe walls mimic the neutral tone of the travertine floor. With such a monochromatic palette, accents like the round, adjustable mirror stand out.An arrangement of salmon-colour roses provides the only splash of colour in the muted bathroom. Bedroom Glass doors in the bedroom repeat the light-filled theme of the main-floor living area. Artwork by Simpson from Art Interiors hangs above the bed.“The homeowners wanted something different, something fun. And they were willing to entertain novel approaches, which makes my job much moreenjoyable” ALAN TREGEBOV, ARCHITECT“From the outset, I had a great respect for the magnitude of the architect’s job. I knew when to step up with an opinion and when to defer” HOMEOWNER- Credit
- Liza Finlay
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How to make your home cool How to make your home cool
How to make your home cool ofChoose the unexpected Fashionable, sophisticated and filled with unexpected choices, this Toronto home exudes a cool that’s contagious. “My clients really wanted cutting edge,” says designer Jeffrey Douglas. He definitely delivered. Love the look? Here's how to get it.Go for the unexpectedWhat makes this home ultrahip? Can't quite put your finger on it? Look closely – it's all about singular choices, unified by a restrained colour palette. In the ensuite, you'll find a deep soaker tub, not tucked into a corner but prominently displayed. Restaurant-style and pot-filler faucets in the kitchen are eminently practical, fun to use and far from commonplace. Within view, you'll also find grey Womb chairs by Eero Saarinen, which are a surprise departure from the tailored sofa or Barcelona chairs so often seen in modern interiors. And you probably wouldn't guess this seating area is where the homeowners' teenagers love to plunk down knapsacks and kick back after school (though on spotting the plasma TV, perhaps you would!). Get the look by going for sculptural, unusual pieces you haven't seen everywhere, but keep it more fashionista than funky by sticking to one colour. For example, designer Jeffrey Douglas of Douglas Design Studio and the homeowners went for off-the-beaten-path furnishings like Brno dining chairs and the plastic spherical pendant light above the bathtub, but kept them to minimal white. Jeffrey avoided the obvious in the master bedroom, too. Instead of pulling one of the colours in the wall-length Chinese panel for the bed and bedding, he bucked the expected by using all white. Take a leap of faith Get edgyYou have to be brave to inject cool into your home: it's all about taking a leap of faith. Here, the homeowners have countertops in an unusual material, a freestanding bathtub, and lots of pristine white and dusty grey. Theirs is a busy household; they could have gone more traditional but dared to go chic. “They wanted a big departure from their previous, traditional family home,” Jeffrey says. The result is triumphantly au courant. Those kitchen counters we mentioned – they're made of a material called mini-crystal. Composed of compressed glass, it wears like granite and costs about the same. Front and centre in the seating area by the kitchen, a wall-mounted plasma TV not only looks techno-chic but also does wonders to free up floor space. And on-trend touches like see-through furnishings and a zebra-print rug keep the look fun. “My clients are well travelled and fashion oriented,” says Jeffrey. “This house is a stylish reflection of them.” Cool, yes … Frosty, no“Nothing can be 'precious' in this home,” the chatelaine of the house says. “Everything has to be user friendly because we have teenagers who like to put their feet up.” Following that dictum, the striking Victorian-era house is cool yet never cold or fragile. Walls are painted in softened whites: Benjamin Moore's Distant Gray in the kitchen, and Seashell in the living room and master bedroom. Throughout the home, wide-plank ipé flooring is warm, tough and, fittingly, not a run-of-the-mill selection. In the living room, the Montauk sofas fall under the definition of clean-lined; however, they're deep and cushy – perfect for chilling out.A generous bergère matched with a zebra-print rug underfoot is mod but comfy for the homeowners and their three teens. Clear furniture, like the curved glass coffee table in the living room, has become a true hipster fave (and suits almost any decor). The Womb chairs seem to be straight out of a MoMa installation yet had to pass the homeowner's comfort test. “They're inviting and different,” she says. “You can sink right into them.” Bring this hip style home by “punctuating your space with sculptural pieces,” suggests Jeffrey, and test for cosiness, too. There's nothing cool about being uncomfortable!- Credit
- Helen Racanelli
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Freshen up for spring Freshen up for spring
Freshen up for spring ofFresh ideas for your home These sharp shooti' spray bottles are must-haves in any housecleaning arsenal. Perfect for your home-made cleaning concoctions, mix up two teaspoons of tea tree oil with two cups of water to make mould and mildew history. Fire away with this awesome antifungal agent and don't worry about rinsing – the strong scent of the oil will dissipate in a day or so. Vildbar spray bottles, assorted colours, $1.50 each, IKEA, 866-866-4532 or ikea.ca for stores and to order.Has your car been muscled out of the garage by a growing collection of clutter? Strong enough to support up to 100 kilograms, and resistant to damp, IKEA's heavy-duty Broder storage system optimizes organization – even outdoors. Starting from $11 per post, IKEA, 866-866-4532 or ikea.ca for stores and to order.Give soft furnishings a spring update with crisply-striped slipcovers inspired by retro Swedish style. For a perfect fit, try Bemz – the company that manufactures washable slipcovers specifically for IKEA's most popular armchairs and sofas. 100 per cent cotton Prisma stripe in Moss Green for IKEA's Jennylund armchair, Metropolis Collection, $99.20, Bemz, bemz.com to order.Banish a bland wall in a matter of minutes with Blik's peel-and-stick decals. It's a no-commitment colour fix that you can rearrange or remove at any time. Blik Bamboo wall graphics, $43 per pack of 22 decals, The Home Depot, 800-628-0525 or homedepot.ca for stores and to order.Informal table settings are on the menu for spring's more relaxed approach to entertaining. Lose heavy tablecloths for casual placemats, and experiment with colour by mixing-and-matching dishware in pretty patterns. Harlequin Collection (from top) Butterfly, Polka Dot, Deco and Ribbon & Rose pattern teacups and saucers, $90 per box set of one teacup and saucer, Waterford Wedgwood, 800-668-7585 for retailers; waterfordwedgwood.com. More fresh ideas for your house and home This spring, raw wood is good, but faux bois is even better. Made from Plynyl – a highly durable and easy-to-clean vinyl – this woodgrain pattern floormat makes for a fantastic first impression in the foyer. Chilewich floormats, from $132 per two-foot-two-inch-by-three feet, Elte, 888-276-3583; Toronto, 416-785-7885; elte.com. Photography by Victor Schrager.Everything looks better bathed in soft spring sunshine, so make the most of natural light with mirrored surfaces. The ornate detail and grey- and gold-patina reminiscent of a French antique adds heaps of handsome form to this mirror's handy brightness-boosting function. Orinda 24-by-18-inch rectangular mirror, $148 US, Anthropologie, 800-309-2500 or anthropologie.com to order.Bedecked in the designer's signature playful prints of polka dots and archive-inspired florals, Cath Kidston's Dream Home Journal may be all you need to keep your spring redecorating plans in order. With fill-in sections for each room of the house, along with pockets to store inspiration tears (from STYLE AT HOME, of course!), fabric swatches and paint chips, this is a must-have manual for organizing a May makeover. $17, HomeSense, 866-466-3707 or homesense.ca for stores. Photography by Nina Teixeira.A scandalous splash of bright green elevates the Chinoiserie-inspired structure of these planters from trad to rad. Suitable for use both indoors and out, think outside the box – pardon the pun – and repurpose this stunner as a coffee table remote caddy, or even a hot home office inbox. Pop Asia Planters, from $35 for 11.5-by-17-by-5 inch planter, Teatro Verde, 888-483-2876, Toronto, 416-966-2227 or teatroverde.com to order. So, how clean IS your house? British housekeeping guru Kim Woodburn knows, and she's arrived on Canadian soil to teach the messiest and most disorganized families the importance of tidiness and manners in the new series, Kim's Rude Awakenings. Because nothing's more reassuring than taking a peek into houses that are more chaotic than yours. Kim's Rude Awakenings, Tuesdays at 9:00PM, W Network; wnetwork.com for schedule.- Credit
- Brett Walther
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21 ways to bring spring into your home 21 ways to bring spring into your home
21 ways to bring spring into your home ofFreshen up: Tips 1 - 8 1. The pared-down simplicity of blossoming backyard clippings captures the casual vitality of spring.• WINDHAM WRITING DESK IN WHITE, $249 US, TIVOLI CHAIR IN WHITE, $139 US, CRATE & BARREL. 2. The superhero of the mud room, a coat rack with a built-in brolly stand single-handedly brings order to chaos while taking up minimal space in this high-traffic area. • POPPINS COAT RACK, $150, ACCENTS DE VILLE.3. Don't leave exterior painting for the hot, humid, hazy days of summer. Para Paints advises tackling an outdoor paint update after a minimum 24-hour period of temperatures between 15 and 25 C.4. It's estimated a household of four consumes approximately 108,000 gallons of water per year – enough to fill a bathtub more than 2,500 times. The green solution? Go low flow! Install a Moen Flow Optimized Aerator in your Moen faucets (excluding pullouts) for a water-usage reduction of 30%. • $5, MOEN. 5. Wood-handled flatware packs a picnic-casual punch, whether you're dining indoors or alfresco. • RUSTIK BEECH-HANDLED 20-PIECE CUTLERY SET WITH PINE TRAY, $50, IKEA. 6. Don't just spring clean: spring edit. Get top dollar for your unwanted, gently used housewares on eBay – the hassle-free alternative to the garage sale.7. Got vinegar? Then you've also got a DIY all-purpose cleaner. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water for a window and surface cleaner with both disinfectant and deodorizing properties (just don't use it on marble or grout, which could be damaged by the acid).8. Crisp white cotton slipcovers give soft furnishings an instant low-maintenance May makeover (this one's machine washable). Underfoot, swap out heavy oriental and wool rugs for a breezy variation on the traditional rag rug. • BAYSIDE SWIVEL GLIDER WITH WHITE COTTON SKIRTED SLIPCOVER, $999 US, WINDHAM BOOKCASE IN WHITE, $299 US, MERRIMAC FOUR- BY SIX-FOOT COTTON RUG IN BLUE, $80 US, CRATE & BARREL. Freshen up: Tips 9 - 21 9. Nothing says "spring fresh" like natural materials. Grasscloth wallcoverings, rattan storage boxes, natural-fibre mats like sisal and coir, and raw, unfinished wooden frames blur the distinction between indoors and out. • DRIFTWOOD MIRROR, $120, ACCENTS DE VILLE10. The hurricane vase, that old standby, is swept away this spring by the hurricane lantern. As a showcase for natural treasures like shells and pebbles, as a terrarium or simply as an intimate light source that's perfectly portable from the table to after-dinner drinks on the patio, it's a bright decor detail that's sure to delight. • CHROME-AND-GLASS LANTERNS, $60 (LARGE), $30 (SMALL), HOMESENSE.11. As the final step to your spring window-washing routine, a quick polish with a clean chalkboard brush leaves a dazzling shine. 12. Add scintillating scent to drawers, chests, closets and armoires with pretty, perfumed paper liners. • NANTUCKET BRIAR SCENTED DRAWER PAPERS, $25 PER BOX OF SIX 12- BY 36-INCH SHEETS, CRABTREE & EVELYN. 13. Referred to as a garden stool but equally at home indoors, this ceramic drum doubles as a posh perch or sexy side table. • CHINESE CERAMIC GARDEN STOOL, $60, HOMESENSE. 14. Bananas: rich in potassium and...plant polish? Gently run the inside of a banana peel along the tops and undersides of leaves for an all-natural clean and polish. Clean, healthy plants breathe better and are more adept at absorbing household carbon dioxide and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).15. White-finish frames take traditional furniture forms into spring-trend territory. • ITALIAN UPHOLSTERED ARMCHAIR IN WHITE, FROM $549 (FABRIC NOT INCLUDED), CHAIR SOURCE.16. Keep your collections clutter-free. Pare down the presentation to a few fave pieces, put the rest in storage and rotate seasonally. • VICTORIA RIBBON-TIE PIERCED PORCELAIN PLATES BY TWO'S COMPANY, $150 PER SET OF NINE, SCANTRADE INTERNATIONAL.17. Let that fresh air in! Ensure smooth-sliding windows and patio doors by running a bar of soap along the tracks. 18. Detox your cleaning bucket with the latest additions to Method's eco-friendly housecleaning arsenal. • LE SCRUB NONTOXIC BATHROOM CLEANER IN EUCALYPTUS MINT, $6 EACH, LIL' BOWL BLU NONTOXIC TOILET BOWL CLEANER IN EUCALYPTUS MINT, $6, METHOD.19. In a steam iron or a spray bottle, fragrant water adds a crisp and comforting edge to freshly laundered linens. • GREEN TEA LINEN WATER, $22 PER 0NE-LITRE BOTTLE, LOTHANTIQUE.20. Fridge-freshening zeolite – an all-natural deodorizer – is a must-have appliance ornament when housed in a French antique-inspired ceramic holder. • FROM APPROX. $16, THE CALDREA COMPANY.21. Add potager to your design dictionary and windowsill. The French term refers to a kitchen garden: the perfect way to harvest your own herbs – always fresh and within reach.- Credit
- Brett Walther
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Spring cleaning guide Spring cleaning guide
Spring cleaning guide ofSpring cleaning guide Home organization 101: Spring cleaning'Tis the season to give your home the clean sweep and get on top of you home organizing. 10 spring cleaning tipsRevitalize your hibernating home with simple suggestions. Bathroom cleaning checklistDaily, weekly and seasonal cleaning tips. Spring clean your gardenTaking the time to spruce up your garden in the spring will pay off later in the season. Freshen up!Get warm weather-ready with 12 tips that'll make your house shine. Breathe easySimple ways to combat common household allergens.- Credit
- styleathome.com
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How to: Prevent home burglaries How to: Prevent home burglaries
How to: Prevent home burglaries ofMid-range alarm systems After a Saturday night out with friends, Michael and Erica O'Keeffe returned to their west end Toronto home to discover that it had been burglarized. “When we opened the front door there were coats and stuff all over the floor and we realized that somebody had been in the house,” says Michael O'Keeffe. The thieves had forced the rear door open and made off with “basically anything they could carry out” including irreplaceable jewellery, watches, a digital camera, and a bottle of Scotch that had been sitting on a counter by the door (the latter item leading police to believe that the crooks were likely kids). That night the O'Keeffe's joined the unwitting ranks of roughly 150,000 other Canadian families who experience a home burglary every year. And the following week, they joined countless others who have installed home alarm systems.Mid-range systems The most-basic home alarm system is just that: an alarm. If someone tries to enter your home through a window or door while the system is armed, a high pitched siren goes off alerting you – and most of the neighbourhood – to the break-in. With a typical system, you'll have contacts on the exterior doors and basement and ground-floor windows connected (wired or wireless) to a central control panel. More sophisticated set-ups can include interior motion detectors, noise sensors – to detect, for example, breaking glass – and security cameras.You can hire a home security company to install a system or buy the components at the hardware store and install them yourself. You can pick up individual window and door alarms for $10 to $25, motion detectors for $30. Whole-house packages start at $250. While a piercing siren will be of obvious benefit if someone tries to break in while you sleep, they're largely ineffective when you're not home. As a rep from one alarm company put it, “When's the last time you did anything about a car alarm going off?” Monitored alarm systems Monitored alarm systems Monitored systems use essentially the same sensors and equipment as a standard alarm but, instead of having to rely on your neighbours to investigate or call the police, you pay a monthly fee for 24-hour-a-day monitoring. Because the security needs for each home and homeowner will vary, most monitoring companies send a sales rep to do an on-site assessment to determine how much and what type of equipment you'll need. Equipment and installation charges range from free (provided you sign up for a multi-year contract) to in excess of $1,000, depending on the security company and package you choose, with monthly fees of $30 to $50 on top of that. When the alarm is set off, there are a number of variables for what can happen next. Bell, for example, has recently introduced a wireless system that you install and monitor yourself. If the alarm is tripped, an alarm sounds and you will be notified via phone, email, or text message. Others, like Alarm- Force, use a “two-way wireless voice communication system” through which an operator can listen to and communicate with anyone in the house. If the occupant can't (or won't) provide the correct password, police are notified of a burglary in progress. Other companies send a private security service to investigate alarms before contacting the police.With monitored systems, you can add on a variety of other features including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, sensors that detect basement flooding or temperature-drops – indicating the furnace has shut down – for peace of mind while you're on vacation, and even medical alarms, with personal distress buttons for seniors living on their own.As you would with any home renovation, get at least three different estimates and ask each sales rep why their system costs more (or less) than the competition. Be sure to inquire about backup power supplies and, since most systems rely on the phone line for communications, ask about what sort of fail-safe measures there are if the line is cut. Low-budget options, burglar-proofing your home Low-budget options Of course, the oldest – and often most effective – alarm system works for kibble and the odd scratch behind the ear: the family dog. And while your toy poodle isn't likely to frighten off career criminals, even the most harmless dog's yapping can alert sleeping occupants to an in-progress break-in. Another no-budget option is to put stickers up warning that your house has an alarm system, even if it doesn't.Professional thieves will likely recognize and ignore the fakes, but they can often be enough to deter would-be amateur burglars.“Partly what you're trying to do [by installing an alarm] is say, ‘Don't pick our house, it's going to be more of a hassle. Pick one of the others,' '' points out Michael O'Keeffe. And anything you can do to deter crooks from getting into your home certainly beats the hassle of filing an insurance claim. Burglar-proofing your home No system will make your home completely secure. But there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood that you'll be victimized, and reduce your losses if you are.Don't leave a spare key under the mat, on top of the doorframe, or hidden in a fake rock: Burglars know all the usual hiding places.Lock your front door when you're in the house or working in the backyard, and make sure all windows and doors are locked every time you leave.Don't hang your car keys in a visible spot by the door: Many burglars break into homes just to get the keys to bypass car alarms on many high-end vehicles.Don't keep valuables in an obvious spot like a jewellery box on top of the dresser. Store them in a safe or safety deposit box.Join Neighbourhood Watch and/or work with your neighbours to keep an eye on each other's homes.When on vacation have a neighbour or friend collect your mail and newspapers and get them to shovel the snow or mow the lawn as required.Take photos and keep a detailed list, including serial numbers, of all your valuables to provide to the police and your insurance company in the event of a break-in.- Credit
- Allan Britnell
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Home by numbers Home by numbers
Home by numbers ofHome measures - In the dark about illumination? Each square foot of space in a living or dining room should be matched by two watts of incandescent light.- Mixing and matching dining room furniture? There should be about eight inches between the tabletop and the seat of the dining chair.- Flowers in a tall arrangement should be two times the height of the vase. But if you're creating a centrepiece, keep the arrangement two inches lower than the eye level of seated guests.- Multiply the