Interior Design Blog — interior design

What do you do when you have dated finishes you can't tear out? Here's how to work around them and give your space a lift on a budget.  Looking at the picture above, what did you notice first? The sculptural deer head? The vases? The lamp? The toss cushions? The throw? What about the dated, 1980s seafoam carpet?  Yup, it's there, but it probably isn't where your eye when first. I am going to share with you the formula to work around a challenging colour in your space. I am using the example of flooring and seafoam as the colour,...

Tired of hand turkeys and dried corn? Here's a unique table setting for you and your guest to enjoy.  This tablescape is all about the harvest and takes its dramatic look and palate from Flemish paintings that celebrated nature's abundance. The colour scheme is unexpected and the elements are natural and sophisticated, but this is a look that is easy and inexpensive to put together.  We start with a paper runner for the tabletop rather than linen. I used black wrapping paper and this is especially handy if you find you are pushing tables together for a large group. Running...

If you have a favourite travel destination, why not bring it home with you through your interior design?  This can be done in a way that isn't too "theme-y" by toning things down, and considering what the textures, design elements and mood of that place are. OK, you really might not be able to tone it down too much if your favourite travel destination is Vegas, but I am guessing if it is, you might just want your space to feel more dynamic anyway.  I worked with a client who loved visiting North Africa and she and I started talking...

I had a chance to look beyond Calgary for bathroom design inspiration on a recent trip to Chicago. Many were beautiful rooms with roots in the 1920s that incorporate modern conveniences. Merchandise Mart in Chicago: There is no comparable design centre in Calgary, or probably anywhere else in North America. It was once the largest commercial office building in the United States and for many years it was a dedicated space for designers to source products for their clients. The main floor is open to the public and several floors above are open to the trade only. Besides amazing furniture,...

Dark rooms can be fantastic, but how can you correct an over-dark space to make it feel light and inviting? My clients contacted me with a problem. They have a beautiful, craftsman-style home with an eccentric kitchen that was so dark as to be almost non-functional. The kitchen had a lot going for it, so we started there. The layout was pretty good overall, professional range and the cabinetry was in keeping with the style of the home. There was some natural light, but it was being mostly lost and there were a few missing opportunities for storage that needed...