Like many aspects of design and decor, there are lighting “rules of thumb” to ensure rooms are comfortable and functional. These 3 tips will help you ensure the correct type and level of lighting in every room.
Read moreMetallic Finish DIY
You will no doubt have noticed the trend in metallic finishes with gold, silver, bronze and platinum leading the pack. But metallic finishes are now available in a whole range of other colours! Think metallic and pearlescent finishes in various shades of blue, yellow, red and green.
Read more2019 Colour Trends
I love this time of year and wait eagerly for the announcements to see what colours are going to inform paint, furnishings and decor accessories.
Read moreFall Decor Around the House
I have finished adding a few touches and displays to my own home and these fall styled vignettes will work well until it’s time to decorate for the holidays – my fav decorating time of the year!
Read moreFall Decor in the Dining Room
What I love about this centrepiece is that it’s small enough that it does not need to be removed when the table is being set for dinner and the colours work beautifully with my dishes and linens so I have a coordinated look with little time and effort.
Read moreDecor Doesn't Take a Holiday
I have been very fortunate this summer to have escaped not once but twice to cottages. Nothing like a change of scenery and pace to make you truly appreciate down time and summer!
The cottages we rented were beautiful and well equipped which made our stays comfortable, with lots of seating areas perfect for a calm cuppa in the a.m. or a peaceful sip of something delish late in the afternoon. The serenity is addictive and it’s always so hard to leave these places!
Read moreSummer Refresh for Your Mantel
If you’re like me, at this point in the season (any season) you get restless and tired of your decor and want to hit reset. This week I did just that!
Read moreWhimsical Decor for Every Style
I am so excited to share my July Guest Blogger post with you. As with so many of us, Kim Converse is a creative who has always pursued her artistic side but as a hobby. She is now able to do what she loves full time but her current creations are quite diverse from her original textile artistic productions.
Read moreCarved Additions to Interior Decor
The weather is perfect and the salt air is rejuvenating and crisp. The location is a perfect backdrop for this month’s guest blogger, an artist from Cape Cod who came to carving from a very different first career.
Read moreSimply Swank Decor Blog: The Year to Date
The talent and creativity of people never ceases to amaze and impress me and stay tuned for June’s guest blog post that will be out next Wednesday – I am totally IN LOVE with my guest’s creations!!!
Read moreSummer in the Dining Room
While we are anxious to spend as much time as possible outdoors we still want the inside of our homes to look stylish but desire decor that is simple and easy to maintain.
Read moreAdd Emotion and Depth to Your Decor With Art Work
As with so many of us, pursuing her creative passion is an encore career for Mary. Read on to learn more and be sure to check out her website.
Read moreSpring Decor Updates in the Bedroom
Along with the arrival of spring and a change of season comes the motivation to make updates to our homes. I’m not talking major renos, although I know some of you are doing that, but rather simple, easy updates that will make your home feel lighter and brighter just like the weather outside.
Read moreThe Synergy of Design and Fine Art Photography
Elizabeth Hesp of Elizabeth Hesp Fine Art, like many of us, is pursuing her passion after working in an unrelated career. And we are glad she is! Enjoy the interview with Elizabeth and I know you are going to be captivated by her work.
Read morePaint Finish Cheat Sheet
I know a number of you plan to paint and it truly is a quick, economical and relatively easy way to update and refresh your homes.
I say relatively easy as a trip to the local home improvement store for paint can mean you are faced with A LOT of questions and decisions. The first involves the type of finish you want: matte, eggshell or semi-gloss? Next is the type of paint: alkyd, latex, oil? Read on for time saving tips.
Read moreDecor Updates for Spring
I love this time of year when we transition to spring decor. With a few simple and easy changes to your rooms, you can have a fresh new look that will take you well into the next season. Read on for some ideas and tips for updating and refreshing your rooms.
Read moreInterior Decor With Lift
This month’s guest blogger is a unique company that not only produces furniture and decor that are works of art but that bring a whole new meaning to ‘upcycle and repurpose’. Mike and Carolynn at Craviations, use repurposed helicopter parts to create designs that “reflect your love of aviation and showcase your sense of adventure.” (www.craviations.ca)
Read moreEasy Update With DIY Decor
Not sure if it was the weather or the time of year when we’ve been indoors A LOT and look around our homes and think, “Yep! It’s looking tired, time for an update.” Whatever the reason, they got me motivated and energized to make some small updates to my home too.
Read more7 Reasons to Hire an Interior Designer
Many people I talk to feel that hiring an Interior Designer is an indulgence they can ill afford. While it does add to the overall cost of a project, it’s not as expensive as you might think. When planning an update to your home, consider the following reasons for hiring an Interior Designer.
Read moreDesign Informs Art
In my interior design biz I have come across a number of fascinating, unique and interesting artists, ‘creatives’ and designers. These are folks who are pursuing their passions and sharing the results with a broader audience in a number of different ways.
They have caught my eye and attention as their creations align with my aesthetic that design and decor should be comfortable and livable, simple not complicated and include a touch of whimsy – a necessary element to any design.
Read more