In last week’s blog post I shared tips for buying area rugs for the various spaces around your home and included some ideas for where to place the rugs relative to furniture in the bedroom and dining room. This week I want to share ideas for furniture placement versus area rugs in the living room. The same ideas and tips will work for area rugs in your family room as well.
Read moreTips for Choosing an Area Rug
I have found that there are some misconceptions about area rug size which often results in a less than comfortable, put together space. In fact, the biggest mistake I see with respect to size is buying an area rug that is too small for the room. This makes the space appear unbalanced and awkward, like the rug was an afterthought.
Read on for tips to help when choosing an area rug that will be perfect for your space.
Read moreTips for Well Placed Art Work
Deciding what to hang and where, how to balance the spaces with the art work, etc. can be fun but its placement is often a struggle for us and it can really make or break a space! I say placement because not all art work has to be hung. Pieces of art leaning against the wall whether on a mantel, shelf or even the floor adds a casual, informal vibe to a space and brings an element of the unexpected to the room. Read on for tips to ensure your artwork is well placed and complements your rooms.
Read more5 Tips for Accessorizing Your Space
Decor accessorizing is one of my fave things about interior design and decor; it’s like a treasure hunt and I do like a good bargain, as well as the fun and challenge of using items for purposes other than their intended use. This week I share tips for accessorizing as the final touch to updating and refreshing your spaces. Read on for guidance!
Read more5 Steps for Creating a Colour Palette
This week I share simple steps for creating a colour palette for the space or spaces you want to update that extends beyond the paint colour.
Read more2019 Home Decor Trends Guaranteed to Inspire You
I recently had the opportunity to attend the 2019 Interior Design Show in Toronto, Canada – this is one of the not to be missed shows for designers and decorators from around the world. A wide range of product companies descend on Toronto to showcase new products and discuss trends and new developments. While I strolled the trade floor and chatted with the company reps, I noticed a number of trends that will be informing design and decor in the coming months and years ahead. I want to share these trends to inspire you as you contemplate spring updates to your abode. Read on!
Read more5 Tips for Picking Colour
When you consider updates such as paint and décor, to our homes I know many of you are afraid of colour. Facing the wall of colour chips in your local home improvement or paint store is intimidating and can have your pulse raising, your eyes glazing over and your mind racing. How do you ever decide what is best for that room we’re making over?! Read on for tips that will boost your colour confidence!
Read moreEasy Decor Updates for Spring
Hello and happy spring! Who hasn’t been enjoying this glorious sun and longer days?! All this extra light brings more energy and puts a smile on everyone’s face – have you noticed that when you’re out and about? I don’t know about you, but this change of seasons and increased energy make me want to make some changes from my transitional winter decor to a more spring-like look. Read on for some easy updates.
Read morePaint Finish Cheat Sheet
Perhaps it may not feel like it but Spring will arrive soon and when it does, we want to throw open the windows to the fresh air, embrace the longer days and refresh and update our homes. Many of you may have painting on your list of spring updates and it truly is an economical and relatively easy way to update and refresh your homes. The following info will help you plan for and make decisions about the type of paint you need and what works best in each room in your home. Read on for time saving tips!
Read more3 Steps for Finding the Perfect Paint Colour
Raise your hand if you have ever picked the perfect paint colour off a paint chip only to get the room completely done and realized it isn’t going to work. Yep! My hand is up! All that time, effort and money invested in the room, not to mention the ‘discussions’ with your significant other or the dog and you are soooo disappointed. Read on for 5 tips that will save you not only time, money and aggravation but result in a colour and ambience that you are much happier with.
Read more3 Decor Updates You Can Complete This Weekend
I know you are often looking for ways to update and refresh your spaces but feel decor updates will be expensive or you’re overwhelmed by the prospect of starting a project. This week I am sharing 3 decor updates that you can complete this weekend – yes, you can finish 1 but all 3 are possible, trust me - without breaking the bank. Read on for tips and motivation.
Read more5 Ideas for Transitional Decor
At this time of year, we often look forward to calmer, clearer spaces in our homes. Read on for simple ideas and suggestions for transitional decor.
Read more5 Tips for Styling Your Christmas Mantel
This week I share 5 easy steps for decorating your Christmas mantel; if you don’t have a mantel, this approach works well for a coffee or sofa table display, or the top of a hutch or sideboard as well.
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 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 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 more