Curtain Calls

This was a good week. I was able to concentrate and catch up on a lot of work, both paperwork and project work. There's something to be said for getting caught up and leaving the office late on a Friday night knowing that you've made some major accomplishments. Especially when you know you are leaving the office for another week of trade show shopping.

The most marvelous part of my week occurred yesterday. Yesterday was the day I have been waiting for for the past couple of months. Are you in deep suspense now? Most unlikely but I'll go on...

One of the projects Moving Designz has had on the go was the completion of custom window treatments for an entire house. Yes, every single room. Half of this project was ready just before Christmas and the remainder was finished early this week. With everything complete we did the installation on Thursday. Installing always worries me. Why? Really it shouldn't but as I've come to learn nothing goes as smoothly as you assume it will. One of my personal mantras is, everything always takes longer than you think it will and always expect the unexpected. The other part of the worry equation is ... when you are working with hundreds or in this case thousands of dollars you want it(need it) to be perfect for your clients. Happy clients and making people happy is what it's all about.

In this case I need not have worried, everything went great. Our installer did a wonderful job of hanging all the rods to the perfect size and the perfect height. Our seamstress, as usual, did an amazing job. The fabrics looked oh so perfect.... there's just something about custom windows. I guess the word custom speaks for itself.

I really like using draperies as they add that final dimension of style, panache and texture. Drapery and window treatments should be considered the finishing touches to any room. They are just as important as your artwork, furniture and accessories as they set the tone of the room. No doubt they can be expensive but it's always well worth the money. Custom window treatments are always an important investment pieces in your living space.

There are quite a few things to carefully consider when choosing window treatments; privacy, light control, the architecture of your windows and the overall feel of your space. Do you want formal, graceful, or light and airy perhaps? It's all about enhancing what you already have.

It always depends on the space when I am helping clients choose what will look best. A few of my favorite options are french pleated side panels at full length. I like the curtains to hang an inch off the floor and I like to have the rods hung midway between the ceiling and the top of the molding. There is just something so polished about having nice panels hanging gracefully. Some people like to have the excess fabric dragging or puddling on the floor but not me I like to have them just grazing the floor. I find it a much cleaner look.

Another of my favorite window treatments are custom roller blinds. These are especially great in rooms where you need to control light, privacy and the heat of the sun. They can be measured to fit inside most any general window frame and can be customized with so many choices of fabric. They are especially great in bathrooms and sunrooms.

I've used custom fitted lined bamboo roman style blinds in quite a few of the more casual spaces we've decorated. I love the texture and the natual element of nature they bring to a space. I also love the fact that they are lined. This allows complete privacy and light control.

While I like roman blinds I only really use them when they are to be up most of the time. They tend to be a bit fussy and take time to train them to sit properly so lowering them on a regular basis can be work.

In more modern spaces I like using grommeted panels. They slide wonderfully across the rod and when opened take up very little stacking space. In designer speak stacking is the width of fabric you are left with when the drapes are opened fully.

I know my next comments may offend some people but I couldn't end this post without addressing some of my least liked window treatments and I'm using the term "least liked" loosely here. Sorry people.

Top of list: Scarf valances- you know those lengths of fabric people hang on poles and rods and even worse over drapes. They don't look good EVER. Next on chopping block, netted curtains, lace curtains, etc... - maybe (and I prefer not) at grammas place, they are so old school. White flat metal curtain rods, you know the kind. Cheap, cheap, cheap, 'nough said. Coloured, plastic mini blinds- when you can get white 2" faux wood slats for pennies more, why would anyone?

I am sure I could go on but I feel I've covered the most offensive of the bunch. Tomorrow I am off to the CGTA show in Toronto and looking forward to shopping 'til I drop and bringing back all kinds of goodies for the store. My next post should be a good one.

Susan

What's Hot

Well, it certainly isn't the weather. Today we suffered through another bitterly cold day here on PEI. Last week it was snow storms and this week it is too cold to snow. In fact, it's too cold to do much of anything except bolt from house to car, car to work and then car to house. Hopefully it won't last too much longer...

I'm getting in the spring mode now even though it doesn't feel like spring I know it's coming. This weekend I'm off to Toronto to buy spring and summer accessories and home decor for the store. I'm really excited about this show and crossing my fingers that this year we will find colourful accessories. If you read my blog after last years show you'll know most booths were filled with black and white. I love black and white but I also like things in moderation.

I've already had the chance to preview some of the 2008 spring lines with some of our reps and they're looking pretty good. I thought I might list some of the what's hot in home accessories for 2008.

Hot:

Green everything

Useful luxury items

Sophisticated ethnic accessories

Bamboo

Nature

Birds

Large scale accessories

Candles - they never seem to leave any list

Brown plus any colour for accenting

Blue, Yellow

Spheres and balls

Chandeliers

Architectural mirrors/oversize mirrors/mirrored surfaces

Seashells and coastal inspired accessories

Reeds and willow

Natural fibres

Neutrals

Feather throw pillows

Large scale and graphic prints

Tone on tone wallpaper mixing matt with flat

Consoles for flat screen TV's

Glass objets and pretty containers

Spicy reds and burnished gold tones

Clean lined small scale furniture

Round tables

Aged, comfortable upholstery

Exposed wood legs

Orchids

Pretty bedside clocks

Clear glass lamps and fixtures

Functional and good looking storage containers

Canvas prints

Dimensional artwork

Ahhhh, five days of shopping bliss. And with any luck the weather might be a tad warmer. One can always hope.

Susan

Furnishing your Nest

I am in a very good mood today. Although I am housebound due to another PEI snowstorm it is allowing me time to post another blog entry.

I'm recently back from the yearly Canadian Home Furnishings Show held in Toronto. I did see plenty of lovely things. The product selection is enormous to say the least and a delight for your eyes and senses. Display after display of lovely furnishings for your home. From carefully crafted solid wood pieces to lighting dripping with crystals to modern sleek furniture to comfy sofas and chairs and pretty accessories.

Does it get overwhelming? Yes, when you are faced with so many choices it can be difficult to stay focused but as mentioned in previous entries a good plan is essential. I had a wish list which included pieces needed to enhance our spring inventory and, as well, to complete current and upcoming design projects. A second set of eyes is also important. Stacy was with me for this trip which was awesome. Having her experience from being at many of these shows in the past was helpful and besides who likes to travel alone?

Shopping for store inventory is not a lot different than completing your home or even shopping for wardrobe pieces. You have to make sure you get the basics first. These are your investment pieces. Once these are purchased you can start mixing other pieces that work well with them. I would guess that this would be why they hold the furniture show first and then follow it up a few weeks later with the gift and accessory show.

Here are a few tips I've come up with to help you when furnishing your homes.

Define your project. It's important to do this so your spaces will come out as you like. The reward will be a more consistent and cohesive look and feel to your home.

Identify your personal style. Know what you like and what is beautiful to you. Consider the function of your lifestyle and keep in mind the overall aesthetic of your home. What might look nice in a 10th floor condominium may not necessarily work in a century home. The best interiors are those which capture a mix of various styles resulting in a look which is far more pleasing to the eye.

Invest in quality over quantity. Don't be tempted to purchase from stores that offer poor quality goods at bargain basement prices. Everybody likes to stay on budget but investing in good pieces pays off in the long run. This may cost you a bit more in the beginning but will repay itself in longer lasting furnishings. The old adage you get what you pay for is so true.

Don't settle. In any well designed space accessories and decorative elements are just as important as furniture. Don't ever buy something that doesn't convince you or you don't love just because it's the right size or you can afford it. If you can't afford to buy the objects you love, it's worthwhile to wait. Temporarily empty walls or rooms are a small price to pay for obtaining the ideal living spaces.

Be colourful. If you love colour inject it in your house through your wall colours, furnishings and accessories. Think about colours that you look good in and that make you happy. Afterall if you look good in them they are bound to be just as great when you surround yourself with them. If you can't commit to colour on your walls go neutral and use it boldly in your accessories.

Get the lighting right. Great spaces need great lighting. In fact, in many projects it's the lighting that makes all the difference. Overhead lighting is harsh. Use a variety of lighting fixtures, table lamps, floor lamps, sconces and pot lights in conjunction with your main lighting source. And don't forget to add dimmers to your overheads this will allow you to control the intensity of light.

Window treatments. They don't call them treatments for nothing. Consider your privacy needs first and then follow through with coverings to meet those needs. Adding drapery is a great way to add interest and depth to your space. Keeping them in a classic style will allow them to look great for years.

Think texture. Nothing makes a room more livable and pulled together than mixing various elements of texture. Use various sheens and fabrics, surface finishes, and natural elements throughout your rooms to add texture.

Go with the flow. Keeping to one colour scheme and using different variations of those colours throughout your home will result in a harmonious and well designed home. Nobody wants their rooms to clash so carefully consider the overall look and feel of your home and stick with it.

Thanks for reading. Happy 2008.
Susan

My Favorite Things

Just in time for New Years my version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic... something light to hum about.

Neutrals on sofas and rich hardwood flooring
Stainless steel fridges and granite topped islands
Beautiful lighting dripping with crystals
These are a few of my favorite things...

Fresh cut bouquets and tables of whiteware
Flat screen tv's and black and white artwork
Plump downy cushions in designer fabrics
These are a few of my favorite things...

Hotel chic bedding and feather bed toppers
French pleated panels and white pillar candles
Glass topped tables with naguchi bases
These are a few of my favorite things...

When the room bites
When there's no bling
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things....
and then I don't feel so bad

Soft muted walls and bright coloured accents
Five paneled doors with brushed nickel hardware
Beadboard wainscotting all trimmed in cloud white
These are a few of my favorite things...

Warm cotton throws and button tufted headboards
Bowls filled with seashells and stacks of design books
Wicker baskets that contain all the clutter
These are a few of my favorite things...

When the room bites
When there's no bling
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad.

Contained Christmas Decorating

The snow has finally made an appearance here on PEI and from my contacts with people across Canada, it seems to be everywhere and all at once. Canada, winter, the two go hand in hand. Except Vancouver, we had a sales rep in the store today who just got back and said the weather on the other side of the coast was wonderful.

I have to say I'm like most people and not a big fan of cold weather. In fact, I caught myself saying, out loud today, that I hate winter. It was so cold and windy here today, minus minus minus. How cold did it get? I'm not sure but let me check the weather channel. ... TV on, select channel. (does your tv say hello to your when you turn it on?) Ok, it says minus 7 but I'm not buying it. It has to be minus 20... brrrr

The one thing about this kind of weather is it really gets people in the mood for Christmas, decorating, shopping and entertaining. I had the opportunity to do a seminar on Christmas decorating a couple of weeks ago , which was really fun. I thought I would share some of my ideas with you.

Here are a few tips and things that I like to do with containers, glassware, dishes and bowls to keep things simple and stress free.

Glassware: It isn't just for flowers. I love and I mean love using glass vessels, whether they be vases, hurricane lanterns or bowls and filling them with Christmas ornaments. This is so easy to do. Take any vase and just load it up with colourful balls, shiny, matte or glossy, they just look good. Other things I like to do. Load up your vases with pinecones and perhaps a ball or 3 and again, voila instant arrangement. How about a taper candles tied with a pretty ribbon and just laid inside or on top of a glass dish. I also like to pour some sand inside and then add a pillar candle and a wee tiny ornament for colour. Has anyone ever used epson salts inside vases. It looks like crystals of snow and again just add a candle as above and you get another new look.

Cranberries: Don't just save them for turkey dinner. Cranberries placed in vessels with or without water and a candle makes a nice colourful arrangement. Amazingly they last for weeks. One of my favorite cranberry recipes goes like this... Get a tall open mouthed vase out of the cupboard, add some cranberries, then some water so they float, add a bunch of willow branches in the center and finish off by adding 3 stems (or more) of white lilies. I'm no florist but hey, I can pull this one off in my sleep. The lilies give you beautiful fragrance and the berries add a nice splash of colour. Depending on how fresh you can get your flowers this should last about a week. Once the flowers have seen better days throw them out, change the water and replace the lilies. A word on lilies. The stamens need to be picked off just as they begin to open. If you do this regularly you will not end up with the orangey stains they can leave behind on anything which touches up against them. I usually put a kleenex in my hand and pick them off with this as they stain like crazy.

Candles: Everyone loves candlelight. Flat dishes, trays or flat bottomed bowls are great for making terrific looking candle arrangements. Pillars set on flat surfaces surrounded with cones, sand, salts, little ornaments or balls set the mood. To get a nice burn trim your wicks to about half of their original height. Design tip: Use candles in odd numbers, 3, 5 or 7 etc... and either use all the same height or stagger them with varying heights.


Flowers: Spring bulbs aren't just for spring. Pick up spring bulbs from the garden center in the fall. Instead of putting them in the ground in the fall place them in your fridges crisper. Leave them there for at least 8 weeks and make sure they have holes in the bag so they don't go moldy. After 8 weeks take them out and plant them in a container as follows; Add some river rock to the bottom of your container then fill with water just up to the level of the rocks. Place your bulb or multiple bulbs with the root sides down. Now place them in a bright location for another few weeks and after that a sunny spot. Keep on with the water just to the root level. Within a few weeks the roots will sprout and then the flowers will explode. This is actually a very simple thing to do to have flowers throughout the dreary winter days. Bulbs that work best include, paperwhites, amarylis, hyacinths and muscari. They also smell terrific!

Fruit: So good for you to eat and so good to decorate with. Citrus colours are in. The bright yellow of lemon, the warmth of orange or the bright green in limes look stunning in glass bowls. Vitamin C never looked so good. Granny Smith or Red Delicious Apples in ample amounts set about in bowls add to the feast of Christmas. Go for real or go for faux, fill a bowl and add instant colour.

I could likely write on and on but these ideas are hopefully a good start to easy Christmas decorating with everyday items.

Susan

Island Living

Just today the newest issue of Island Living Magazine arrived in the store. Moving Designz work was featured in this, the Christmas edition. The feature was a pictorial on the condo we decorated for Christmas in Harbour Terrace Condominiums. The beautiful condo is located upstairs in the same building as our store.

Kudos to Karla Kordyban, publisher, (and her husband Ralph) for her tremendous drive and spirit for starting such a magazine. I hope that many of you reading this blog will support the magazine and buy issues. The articles, writing and photography truly show a representation of what PEI is all about. I'm thrilled to be part of the magazine since its inception just this past June.

It's pretty amazing to pick up a magazine and read about people you know and others you may not know but have interesting stories to share.

A few months ago I received my 20th anniversay issue of Canadian House & Home magazine in which they tell their story of how they began, the struggles they faced and how they persevered to become a leader in Canadian publishing. Hopefully, in 20 years we will all look back at Island Living magazine and remember how they have grown from such humble beginnings.

Congratulations to Karla and all her hard working associates, writers, photographers and designers in bringing this magazine to PEI newsstands. If you haven't seen the magazine yet I encourage you to go out and buy it. Find out where at www.islandlivingpei.com

Bringing out your Inner Designer

Whether you are renovating or starting a room from scratch you need a good plan can help you to get the look you want. I thought I would list some tips that we designers use on a constant basis.

1. Make a list of your furniture and accessories wants and needs.
2. Once you make the list prioritize, based on your budget. Consider the rooms function and what pieces are essential for comfort, function, and beauty.
3. Draw a floor plan of your room. Make it detailed to include doorways, windows and any architectural features. Include the sizes of your windows for reference when sourcing window treatments. Taking a few digital pictures is also a great idea.
4. Layout your furniture. All rooms need a strong focal point whether it is a fireplace or a view, arrange your furniture around your focal point to visually ground the room.
5. Identify what style you prefer. You can easily do this by flipping through magazines or surfing the internet to find what really appeals to you and your lifestyle.
6. When buying furniture purchase the large pieces first. These pieces will be your guide when choosing smaller pieces. Take your colour cue from these large pieces. Bring your floorplan and colour palette with you when shopping.
7. Vary the heights of objects within a room. When it comes to accessorizing create interest by using tall, medium and short items.
8. Display accessories in uneven numbers. Asymmetry is interesting to the eye.
9. Leave some space around objects and furniture. We refer to this as white space, it's the space that lets your eyes wander from one object to another without being overwhelmed. Furniture placement is crucial when creating a comfortable look and feel to your rooms.
10. Keep a file of your upholstery swatches and paint chips. I find a large ziplock baggy very handy for this. Keep it in the glove box or trunk of your car. This way when you are shopping it is always available.
11. Hang artwork at standing eye level. Use a small piece of double sided tape on the back to keep it level.
12. Changing out your accessories seasonally will keep your room feeling fresh.
13. If you are struggling or unsure consulting with a designer may be just what you need to pull your look together.

Project Renovation

Recently I have been working with a couple on their 4 year old house. What started as a consult on a new colour scheme and ideas to update thier home turned into an entire cosmetic renovation. The couple had found after living in their new home it wasn't meeting their expections.

I hadn't realized the scope of work they had in mind until after we met at the house. After meeting with them and discussing their needs and wants it quickly became evident that they had put some careful thought into just how they wanted the house to suit their lifestyle. What they needed was some direction and a concrete action plan to breathe new life into their space.

The real challenge became thier timeline, they wanted the project completed by Christmas so that they could enjoy the holidays with their family and friends. I should say our initial meeting took place just 5 shorts weeks ago. The home was your average 2 story with basic builder finishes. What we planned was a complete change in the colour scheme to lighter and airier colours and upgrades to all the finishes.

One thing about renovating is you need to have a solid budget, which they did. Which leads me to another fact about renovating ... people generally get on a roll and this often leads to more work and thus more expense. With my experience I have come to realize that most renovations will end up costing more and it is wise to know beforehand that your budget will likely be stretched an additional 10-25%.

In this case I would have to say that we have exceeded this figure. My clients decided after starting that they wanted to do more. Instead of just focusing on the main floor they decided they wanted to have the lower floor redone while we were at it. We're still working out those details and waiting for new flooring.

In the past 5 weeks we have had the original kitchen cabinets painted white, added a quartz countertop, a new tile backsplash and cabinet hardware, painted each and every single room in the house, revised the lighting plan and installed new light fittings and potlights throughout the home, changed the original entry floor plan and staircase, added wainscotting, installed a new fireplace, custom bookshelves, and a built in seating bench in the dinette, retiled the entry and the kitchen, changed carpets. Truly there has not been a surface that hasn't been changed.

One of the hardest things we had to do was to rip up hardwood flooring that was in the kitchen and adjoining dining area. The family's dog had ruined the floor with claw marks and nothing could be done to save it or revive it. It is heartbreaking to rip up a 4 year old floor but now that it is replaced with tiles it is far more functional and durable.

Some things still remain on the to do list but much has been accomplished in such a short time. This case is unusual, normally with this scope of work it can take months to complete. Luckily my clients are in the building trade and could round up contractors and finish carpenters to get the job done. As with any job you can expect things to go wrong, they will and it's nobody's fault it just happens. The quartz countertop arrived ahead of schedule but it wasn't theirs. It was the right countertop but the wrong house. So we wait for that ...

I was at the house just yesterday and the results are amazing to say the least. The rooms are barely recognizable as the same house. I will be posting the renovation before and after pictures on my website in the new year.

Here are a few tips on the renovation process:

Establish a budget with extra reserves to fall back on.
Develop a clear plan to meet your needs.
Realize that you will be living in a mess short term and the results will be worth the effort and wait.
Expect the unexpected. Nothing will ever go along smoothly.
Consult professionals for guidance and advice.
Communicate with your contractors on a daily basis.
The choice and quality of finishes will affect your budget. Upgrades in finishes will increase the long term value of your home.