Bay Street - The Ensuite revealed

As well as having a stunning timeless look, the ensuite in this home truly had all the comforts you could want.  To begin with the heated floor will keep those feet toasty and then the heated towel rack will keep you wrapped in warmth.   I am sure most of us would appreciate that, especially on those chilly winter mornings!

In this room I added to the black and white colour scheme with purple and silver. 

I used the purple sinnamay around the gifts in the free standing tub, and hung purple sparkly snowflakes from the ceiling to bring some more of the purple colour around eye level.  (again using the 3M command hooks)
I realize this is not a practical way to decorate a bathroom, but this idea could be used in a different place.  What about hanging some in a tall foyer that greet guests for a holiday dinner party?

 
Here is a close up of the large walk in shower, again not practical but pretty, dont you think?  This idea could also be used somewhere else - on a large mantle, or in that quiet corner as you go up the stairs.  The purple feather tree is from Bouclair, and the shower floor was done in buffalo snow, sinnamay and ornaments. 

 

A sparkly charcoal wreath was placed on the mirror, (gotta love those 3M hooks) and a few accessories were placed on the counter top.  Three trees in the left corner introduced some more textures and then the cracked mirror soap dispenser and tumbler (from Sue's Bed and Bath) repeated the sparkle.  Sue's Bed and Bath also loaned us the guest towels used on the counter.  Lastly, more penguins were added to continue that theme from the Master Bedroom and Walk in Closet. 

Hope you enjoyed the tour!  Questions and comments are welcome!
changesinteriordesign@gmail.com


Til next time...

Linda

Bay Street - The bedrom revealed....

That was a very busy Holiday House Tour!!  Thanks so much to everyone who came out to support the Junior League this year!  It certainly was a whirlwind of activity, but totally worth it. 
I have to give a HUGE thank you to Sue's Bed and Bath in Ancaster and Urban Barn (Burloak location) for lending many of the items I used in this room. 

I know you have all been waiting for the photos of the completed room, so lets get to it!  As you walked in the room, the focal point was the Christmas Tree on the left hand side:

Next you could peek into the man's walk in closet, with its unique balcony feature.

 

 

 

The Santa boots in front of the door were a hit, (found at Homesense) and many people liked the idea of the sinnamay (or decor mesh), ball garland and lights strung together on top of the built in. This is a great way to light up an otherwise dark corner or the top of cabinets.  Here is another take on the same idea, used on the shoe cabinet in the walk in.  You will notice many of the vignettes have included penguins....

 





Continuing around the master bedroom:  next you see the fireplace with seating area, and mirrored table to break up the other dark furniture pieces. 

Close up of the garland:

A word about the garland on the fireplace.  Don't avoid putting a garland up there because you are afraid of nail holes.  Here I used 3 of the 3M Command Hooks on the front face of the mantle to  hold it in place.  After the holiday season they can be removed with no damage to the surface underneath.  Mounting it this way also keeps the top surface free for other decorative items.  I assembled the garland using 2 green and one white snowball garland plus a string of 50 lights.   Adding lighting makes a huge difference and makes everything sparkle that much more. 

 

 

Sue's Bed and Bath provided the stunning duvet cover for the king size bed, as well many of the pillows. 

 

My next blog will show the bathroom in detail.  It is a beautiful room - simple but gorgeous, and has every feature you could think of - and then some! 

 

I have not listed the sources for all the items, as that list would be quite long.  If you have any questions as to where things were obtained, or how things were put together, please feel free to email me - I will be happy to answer.  (changesinteriordesign@gmail.com)

 

I hope you enjoyed the tour as much as I did.  It was great to work with the homeowners, junior league ladies and all the other volunteers who make this event possible.  I love seeing all the different  ideas the designers come up with for the spaces they are assigned.  I think this year was the best yet!

 

Happy Decorating!

 

Linda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Room Before......Holiday House Tour 2013

The 2013 Holiday House Tour has arrived!!  Support the Junior League this weekend by coming out to enjoy the holiday atmosphere at some (or all) of the 4 houses featured this year.   To those of you who have attended the tour in the past, you know its a great way to see what's new in holiday decorating.  Get a head start on the ideas, colours and themes for the coming season. 

I was so happy to be assigned to master bedroom and ensuite in the beautiful home located at 321 Bay Street South.  It is a century home that keeps the character of the era, but in a modern way.  It truly is a fantastic blend of old and new. 

Here is a sneak peak at the inside of those rooms - this is what I walked into this past summer.  The ceiling is painted in an unexpected black, making the those architectual details really stand out.
 

The bedroom is a study of contrasts, which continues with the white fireplace and the dark hardwood floor.  

The ensuite shares the same colour story, including the matching chandelier hung above the streamlined free standing tub. 

Of course I cannot give away what it looks like this weekend - you will have to come and see that for yourself!  After the show is over, I will share some of the ideas on my blog, and where I obtained some of the most coveted items.  Feel free to email and ask questions about specific items.  I will be happy to assist. 

I hope to see some of you there this weekend - you will leave this tour with lots of inspiration!

Linda

The Backyard Edition

Until now, I've talked about changing and improving the inside of your home.  But your "world" includes the exterior of your home as well.   Now that we finally have better weather, I thought it about time I share some interesting ideas that can be used outdoors. 

Whether you use your backyard for relaxing, entertaining, gardening or playing with the kids, its an extension of your home - it should be functional and attractive.  

How about adding some interest to your backyard seating area through backdrops that can double as a privacy screen?  I found a few examples that are easy to do but have great impact. 

This first one I found on lowes.ca.  Installing some posts topped with solar lights and outdoor fabric hung on rods in between make a fabulous atmosphere for a dinner party or drinks with friends. 

lowes.ca

If you want to use more natural elements, branches hung horizontally in sections such as in the photo below is another option.  You could leave them untreated for a weathered look, or paint them to co-ordinate with the rest of your backyard.

freshhomeideas

If you like the idea of upcycling, repaint some old doors, and attach using decorative hinges.   You can place them in a corner or arrange them in a zigzag pattern.  It could be a fabulous backdrop for your patio table or a reading nook for your lounger. 

 

For those of you who have young kids, this may be an effective combination for your yard.  The kids have a playhouse and you have a charming place to keep all your garden tools organized.      

 

shed958

 

 

Having a comfortable place to relax by the pool sounds pretty inviting.  I found this DIY outdoor canopy bed and just had to share it.  It is the perfect way to reuse an old twin size mattress.  This is one project I will be definitely be adding to my yard. 

 

 

ana-white.com

 

 

What could be better than enjoying this shady little oasis to use for reading a book or watching my daughters in the pool?   Once its complete, maybe I will post a few photos.....

 

Enjoy the sunshine while it is here!

 

 

Bathroom Makeover - A Dramatic Difference

As I have said before, powder rooms are one of the best places to really push the decorating envelope.  This is one area that dark colours or bold patterns won't overwhelm - since its a room you spend minimal time in.    If you want to try something drastic, this is the place to do it!

Tackling this latest project was a lot of fun.  It was a tired little room that was just screaming for a makeover.  A  new clean  modern look was the way to go. 

Here are a few of the before photos:



"Alexandria Tan" was covered with a
bolder colour.

Now for the New Look! 

 
The desired look would ideally have a larger colour contrast and mix simple lines with the some unexpected textures.   The colour scheme we used was white, espresso, silver and a beautiful blue-grey tone by Benjamin Moore called "Evening Dove".

Crown moulding was installed to evoke a timeless appeal and the traditional vanity with toe kick was swapped out for a free standing furniture style cabinet.  A white rectangular undermount sink was set into the all white countertop. 

The marble bullet backsplash was extended behind the toilet as well.  Not only does it look seamless, but you will never have to paint behind the toilet again!    This backsplash was chosen due to its varying textures.  The majority are smooth tiles, with some rough ones interjected. 

A word about the new lighting - you will notice this fixture is not as wide as the previous one. A vanity light should never be as wide or wider than the cabinets below, as it will look too top heavy.  

Some natural textures were incorporated in this space, such as the barnboard frame for the print and the birch wrapped candles. Using these items emphasize the differences even more when set against the smooth counter and shiny chrome tap. 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this bathroom makeover as much as I enjoyed creating it!  If you have any questions regarding these "before and afters" or you would like some assistance with your next decorating project, send me an email  - changesinteriordesign@gmail.com.

Thanks for visiting!

Beautiful Barnboard - where have you used it?

There are so many ways to use this naturally beautiful weathered wood.  Not only does it add a rustic element into a country look, it also works well in many other decorating styles.  Using barnboard is also a great way to reuse and recycle.  

Its greyish, textured finish compliments a shabby chic look as well as being a nice contrast in a modern setting.  I have seen this worn wood being used in headboards, bed frames, shelving, tables, accent walls and frames.  

I have gathered a collection of some of my favourite looks, which one is yours?



I love the look of this bed!  It gives a more refined expression of the weathered wood. 


Here is another way to use barnboard in an unexpected way.  This clean light look is broken up nicely by the addition of a chunky aged wood staircase. 



pinterest

Talk about adding lots of differing textures!  Compare the sleek appliances, the shiny backsplash, filmy drapes and the timeworn island.  Lots of things to keep the eye moving around the room.



decorpad

Can't you just picture these reclaimed wood cabinets in the bathroom of an old farmhouse?  It would be a fabulous way to add character and continue the look of the time period in which the house was built.  



houzz
 

Of course, frames are always a nice way to add barnboard into a room without having it "take over."  Have a look at these examples: 

What is your favourite way to use barnboard in your decor?  I'd love to hear your comments!

Bathroom Trends for 2013

So what can we see in bathrooms for the coming year? 


Free Standing Tubs are still  a popular choice going forward.  Mixing vintage and modern elements was prevalent at the design show.  Wouldn't this tub make a stunning focal point in an ensuite?

Sinks

Vessel sinks were everywhere, the majority in white, but also in hammered copper, like the one shown below from Native Trails.  The finish on this is a brushed nickel. 

Many sinks were shallow, but shapes varied from oval and round to rectangular.  As long as they had clean, simple lines, they had a place in the new line up for 2013. 



elitesinks.com

thebathdepot.com

White, White and more White.....Tiles

You can never go wrong with white tiles in a bathroom.  The difference now is the addition of new shapes such as hexagons or diamonds. 



uuldesign.com

Keeping the bathroom one colour, but varying the patterns used on different surfaces is aesthetically pleasing and still evokes that clean look.

hgtv.com

 

Lighting

There are many more lighting options available for bathrooms, including adding light in unexpected places, such as in the photo I posted in my last blog:

Indirect lighting adds a nice relaxing touch to a bathroom.  Other ideas included having the light come out from behind a mirror, or below a medicine cabinet.

A Last Detail....

If you are installing one of the larger showers, adding one of these long drains continues the modern look of the bathroom.  Its a nice alternative to the smaller round drains in the center. 

If you are tackling a bathroom remodel, and need some help, I would be happy to assist you.  Contact me at:  changesinteriordesign@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's new for '13??

Wow - its February already!  January just flew by and I apologize for not having kept up with my posts!

I always look forward to the attending the Interior Design Show at the end of January and this year was no different.  I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and of course I came home all fired up about the newest trends in home decor. 

NOTABLES

I'm just going to share with you some of the booths I found memorable at the show.  Every year it seems to get better and better with the integration of really smart, thoughtful design.  One such booth was one by AYA Kitchens.  

The design I am referring to is pictured below.  I love the way the dining table swings out from inside the island.  It also shows the stainless steel cover that slides to hide the cooktop.  The injection of a chunky wood table in the almost all white kitchen keeps this island simple and modern but not stark.   

canada.com

Another display that comes to mind is the medicine cabinet pictured below.  It is a nice change from the traditional way they open.  This particular design can be opened manually or at the touch of a button. 

 

ECO

Naturally, the push to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle was still apparent. If you have been on pinterest lately you may have noticed the trend of using pallets to construct a large selection of different items - headboards, platform beds, shelves, end tables etc. 

To show the versatility of this most basic item,  "Pop up Office" presented a unique idea - creating a flexible compact workspace using reclaimed wood palette boards.  A mobile , functional workplace without all the frills, it comes in sections that fit together.  All work surfaces are sanded down and completely smooth.  Areas such as the floor have only a rough sanding since skin would not come in direct contact with it.   

TILES

I am always eager to see what the new trends in tiles are.  I came across the Creekside Tile Company's beautiful display and saw that although the square and subway tiles are still around, there are more choices available in other shapes.

These tiles would be a stunning focal point on their own,

but if you look closely you can pick out one other detail in this one that really sets it apart. 

Yes, the grout used has sparkles mixed in!  This photo doesnt do it justice - but it really is wonderful.  It would also look great if you are using an all white focal wall in a bathroom, it adds that extra bit of sparkle without being "in your face". 

So there you have a few tidbits, in my next post I will discuss more about the trends in bathrooms.  Whats up and coming for bathtubs, sinks, and fixtures?

Check out next weeks post to find out!

Have a great week and thanks for visiting!