I’ve always been a little proud of my toolbox which contains an assortment of tools that I have purchased, but more notably, tools given to me by my dad over the years.

So when my parents came for a visit this spring, it was time to bring out the toolbox because I had a roller shade installation project waiting for my dad to help me with.

Now for my clients’ window covering installations, I employ my professional blind installer to do the installation, as they can do the job faster and more efficiently. But since this was just one roller shade for my laundry room, I figured my dad and I could tackle this together.

This is how the installation process happened:

Before we drilled any holes in the wall, I held up the shade to mark where I wanted the top of the shade to be since it was going to be installed outside of the window frame. We then held the brackets in place and made marks where we needed to pre-drill the holes for the brackets.

Here my dad is drilling the holes for the valance brackets. The brackets for the roller shade are attached to the valance.

Top view of bracket for valance

Test fitting the roller shade

Now the roller shade can be inserted into the brackets that are attached to the valance. It was a bit of a tight fit when trying to affix the end of the shade into the rotator-side bracket but after some grunts and “ows” from pinched fingers, I was able to rotate the T-hook into the closed position. This keeps the shade in place when it is being raised and lowered.

Next, the front panel of the valance needs to be attached to the returns on the valance. There is adhesive on the plastic L return and the front panel adheres to that, which makes the corners of the valance join together almost seamlessly.

And here is the finished look! What a difference this now makes on a window that did not have a wood trim casing. Thanks Dad!

If you would like information on roller shades for your home, contact me here for a consultation.

To see more Hunter Douglas window covering products, click on this link.

Here is a small selection of furniture that outdoor entertainers, loungers and diners can be enjoying this summer:

PVC wicker lounge set with Sunbrella fabric – Villa Cabana.

This curved love seat with a ledge for books or an umbrella drink is the perfect furniture piece for any patio. The PVC wicker is lightweight and durable. But really when you’re curled up and engrossed in your summer novel, those two details are the last things on your mind.

Steel frame dining set with all-weather Olefin fabric.

Gluckstein dining set - Tudor

This type of dining set is easy to maintain and will not get blown over in sudden summer wind storm. The neutral colour of the seat cushions is the perfect backdrop for any touches of colour in your accent pillows, table accessories or flowers from your garden.

Aluminium and faux wood 

CB2

CB2

Funky plastic stackable chairs like these from the Italian furniture company Calligaris. Of course this may not be everyone’s style of outdoor furniture, but for those of you who love a modern chair, you certainly do not have to compromise here. Both of these chairs come in bright colours (the new fashion trend right now) such as fuchsia, green, red, orange and white.

Area 51 Chair by Calligaris

Hero chair by Calligaris

And as a decorator, I would be remiss not to point out a few outdoor accessories to complement your new furniture.

1) Stylish accessories. Entertaining is a big part of our time outdoors during the warmer months. So not only do we need to have comfortable seating, but we also want functional, stylish accessories like these colour dishes from Brian Gluckstein that can be found at The Bay, Pier1 Imports and Pottery Barn. Colour is the new trend for outdoor dinnerware.

Pottery Barn

2) Outdoor area carpets. You can have style and function when it comes to outdoor carpets. Most of these carpets can easily be hosed off and hung over the fence to dry.

Surya

3) Umbrellas. This cheerful red two-tiered umbrella is from Pier1 Imports. It’s a great way to add colour to your patio.

This modern parasol is the perfect sun shade but even in the evening, it can give you shelter from the elements while giving you overhead lighting.

Kosmos Parasol from Living Space

4) Ambient Lighting. Real and flame-less candles encased in any of these pretty candelabras will cast a beautiful light to an evening outdoor party .

Gluckstein Lanterns

Oil Lamp from Inform Interiors

I just love these LED light planters. They add ambient light with style and function. You can use them as a planter or as a cooler for your summertime drinks.

Right now retailers and wholesalers are promoting their outdoor furniture, and its a good time to start thinking about the kind of furniture you might enjoy so you’ll be able to purchase it before they are sold out.

What will you be sitting on when you are spending time in your outdoor area?

If you would like help styling your outdoor space, click here to send me an email.

Here are my ideas for creating that presence:

1)      Create a soothing atmosphere. This can be done to fit anyone’s budget by painting your walls a soothing colour – one that you love and find relaxing. It might be a sky blue like Benjamin Moore’s Whispering Spring 2136-70. Complete the look by painting your cabinet and trim in a soft white or linen colour like Ivory White CC 130.

Source

2)      Take it up a notch. Upgrade your counter top to a white quartz or marble for a clean, opulent look.  An added upgrade that can be DIY is to change up your cabinet hardware with a new style ranging from whimsical, to round glass knobs to shiny chrome square pulls.

3)      Trade up. Replacing your taps and faucet can bring your bathroom from the late 90’s to the current decade. A bathroom fixture manufacturer like Dornbracht has clean, soft geometrical shaped fixtures that will certainly make your bathroom feel stylized with luxury in mind.

Dornbracht

4)       Introduce texture. If you are doing a complete renovation in your bathroom, I recommend spending a decent amount of your budget on quality, neutral materials that will not date in style or durability. Within that neutral palette, allow yourself some play with texture and pattern when planning your floor and wall tile layout.

Avalon Interiors

5)      Personalize your reflection by customizing your vanity mirror or mirrors. You can frame your existing mirror with crown moulding or replace it with a mirror in a decorative frame. A designer tip is to go tall and narrow with the mirror shape so you heighten the look of the room.

6)      Light it up. Add LED strip lighting on the toe kick of your bathroom cabinet so you can have ambient lighting while soaking in the bath.

7)      Accessorize! If you have space, add a furniture item like a chair or a stool to bring softness and comfort into your hard surfaced bathroom. And other accoutrements like candles, framed art, matching baskets, potted plants and window dressings will add finishing touches to transform your bathroom from blah and boring to a personalized charming retreat.

Following these decorator tips will make the function of your bathroom be the highlight of your home with it’s appearance of comfort, style and calming emotion.

If you are thinking of renovating your bathroom and are feeling overwhelmed with the multitude of choices, consider hiring a professional to help you with your planning and design.

Contact us here for our fee schedule and design services.

I like what Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®, says about this year’s color:  “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

So should a report like this be the reason why you will rush to your local paint store to purchase gallons of this paint colour or why you might order new living room drapes in this colour? I mean, don’t the decorating magazines tell us not to decorate our homes in “short shelf life” trendy ways?

Well, I think there are ways to incorporate trendy colours into our home without making a huge commitment to the trend (unless of course, you just LOVE this trendy colour and you want to enjoy throughout your home).

It is important to know what the latest trends are because truthfully, we all want to be stylish in one way or another.  We all desire the hottest digital item or the newest spring fashion shoes. Even though we know that something better is going to come along in a year or two, we still rush out to buy the hot, right-this-minute item. It’s just our human nature. So why do we deny ourselves the latest trendy style in home decorating?  Trends can become timeless so if you love it, why not use it?

To help you find ways to incorporate this punchy, exotic and energizing colour into your home décor, I’ve found a collection of photos that show off this colour in various room settings and products.

BM sitting room

Kate Spade Bathroom

Bamboo bowl

West Elm nightstand

Kate Spade dining room

Orange accents

And this last photo is from a bed & breakfast that I stayed at when I was in the Netherlands this fall. The wall colour in most of the homes we were in were white or off white and the trim, doors and accents were in a bright or deep colour.  It looked colourful, fresh and novel.

Photo by Nancy DeVries

But  if you’re not ready to bring it into your home, you can try it on at your local Superstore.

Latest fashion from Joe at your local Superstore

“Tangerine Tango is a fun, sassy color for 2012! I suggest bringing it into your home first with accessories – such as pillows, warm winter throws, lamp shades, or other decorative accessories. If you love the color and you are ready to take the plunge, I suggest pairing it with colors such as navy blue, white, black, taupe, beige and even purple! You can create your own wallpaper effect with Tangerine Tango by creating a wall stencil, then using the color to create a bold, unique pattern on your wall.”  David Bromstad - host of HGTV Color Splash

So how will you use Tangerine Tango this year?

If you would like help with your colour selections, click here to book your appointment with Nancy.

Here is one example of a small urn that I put together in a very short amount of time. I took photos of the process.

1.Gather from your garden (or local nursery) some cedar branches, huckleberry or boxwood branches along with some decorative ornaments.

2.       Fill your urn with water and place the cedar branches inside, arranging them to hang over the edge of your urn.

3. Place about 3 twigs of huckleberry or boxwood (which you can spray paint to add colour or sparkle) among the cedar branches near the back.

4. Place an oversized ornament (or lichen ball as shown) in the centre of the branches to weigh them down to keep them in place.

5. Add other decorative ornaments or ribbons to your arrangement for the finishing touch.

Now wasn’t that easy?

If you have any quick holiday decorating ideas, share it with us and leave a comment!

Why? Well a symmetrical display of two identical items is a balanced look that is pleasant to the eye.

If there are more than two items and they are different colours and sizes of the same shape, a small cluster can be a more interesting focal point. For example, an artist might use three focal points in a painting because it creates more interest instead of having just one or two focal points. The irregular visual causes the viewer to look longer as they try to find the main focal point. People are naturally drawn to visually balanced displays, so when artists and decorators add a twist by creating balance in an odd numbered collection, it is sure to get the viewer’s attention.

Source

In many ways the variety of shapes and heights in a collection is more important than the number of objects in it. I think the photo below of a window from a home in Kinderdijk, Netherlands shows this example beautifully.

Everything is balanced using the rule of reflection symmetry.

So what is your preference? Do you like the pleasant balance of displays with an even number of items? Or do you prefer the dramatic effect of offset, odd number items?

House & Home

If you would like help with styling your home, contact me for a professional decorating consultation.

The design of this contemporary
desk makes it the perfect workstation for a workspace where the furniture is
visible from all sides. The floating cabinets and glass top give it an airy
look with style. And the best part is that it’s designed and made in Canada.

Hendrix Desk

I think this desk is a one-of-a-kind. It has a rustic and contemporary style because it blends a reclaimed wood façade with a clean black walnut frame and top. And it’s all held up by the “M” shaped, black finished metal legs. My favourite is the offset drawers which gives it just a touch of whimsy.

Trestle Table

This modern desk has a mid-century
style that makes it the perfect choice to blend new modern with traditional
styling. It shows off clean lines with its exposed hardwood legs while
discretely highlighting its storage drawers. It’s perfect as a desk or console table.

Bedford Secretary

This dresser from Crate and Barrel combines storage and a writing surface.  It’s made from reclaimed pine from old buildings. The top of the cabinet flips down, giving you an optional writing surface at the tip of your fingers.

Whitney Corner Desk

And finally, this one is for those
of us who prefer more storage drawers in our workstations. This work zone
cabinet features two wood finishes, shuttered drawer fronts and decorative bun feet, making it look just a bit more like a piece of furniture.

So which desk is your favourite?

Updating your house numbers and mailbox is one thing, but why not make them a matching set? And to make sure that your house numbers are visible from the road, step across the street to confirm that they are easily spotted. 

7. Add a bench or chair to your entry.

Having a place to rest your bags - or yourself! - when you get home after a long day is the nicest way to come home. Dress up the chair or bench with colourful toss or seat cushions that should coordinate with the colours of your home.

8. “Spit and shine” your door hardware.

Door hardware is a very important décor feature of your door. Consider matching the metal of the hardware to your mailbox and house numbers. You can also add a matching metal door kick plate which can add a look of elegance to your home. If you have brass door hardware and it’s looking a little worn, check out this link on how to spruce it back to a shiny finish.

9. Accessorize your front porch.

There are lots of great outdoor accessories like glass lanterns filled with sand & candles, welcome signs, baskets with flowers, colourful toss cushions, decorative outdoor area rugs or decorative stone pots. But remember, less is more!

10. Make sure your doorbell works as it announces your guests.

The doorbell is the first piece of hardware your guests notice when visiting your home.  Make a memorable first impression with a high quality and unique doorbell.

How to make the best first impression of your home. Part 1

1. Paint your front door a dramatic colour.

Giving your front door a new look is a quick project that will enhance the look of your home. When choosing a colour, keep in mind the brick colour, what’s on the front steps, and the style of your home. Don’t be afraid to go bold! If you are choosing a whole new colour palette for the exterior, hire a colour professional like myself. I will help you choose the right colour combination that suits your home and neighbourhood.

go bold!   

2. Put down a new front door mat.

Whether you prefer functional or whimsical, refresh your entry with a colourful, humourous or just a plain new doormat that makes you smile when you get to your door.

 3. Brighten up your entryway with a new light.

There is a good selection of affordable outdoor light fixtures in various styles.  Choose a fixture that matches the architectural style of your home.  Some lights are motion sensitive, while others can be put on dimmers, allowing you to control the mood lighting so you can enjoy your front porch at night without feeling like you are in a spot light.

Restoration Hardware

  4. Seasonal plants in a stylish planter.

If you are not a green thumb kind of person, you can purchase beautiful premade planters and hanging baskets at your local garden centre or grocery store. For those who love playing in the dirt, get creative with your planters and recycle unused items such as old watering cans or teapots.   

 5. Match all your front facing window coverings.

This is one decorating must-do to make your home look put together from the curb. When all your windows are dressed the same, your home will look uniform.

 Silhouette Window Shadings

These sheer shades are one of my favourite window coverings. The soft fabric vane fused between sheer panels can be tilted to give daylight privacy while allowing natural daylight to come through. Silhouette shades provide ultraviolet protection and reflect solar heat without compromising your view outside. I recommend these blinds in rooms with a view like your living room or family room.

Silhouette Shades by Hunter Douglas

 Vignette Modern Roman Shades

These shades either roll up or stack like a custom Roman shade but done with the mechanisms of a blind. There is a wide selection of 100% polyester modern fabrics, textures and colours in 3 fold sizes (3″, 4″, 6″ flat folds) and 3 opacity options (semi sheer to opaque). They have superior sound absorption, excellent energy efficiency and this product has met the stringent indoor quality guidelines from GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. These shades are great for bedrooms.

Vignette by Hunter Douglas

Duette Honeycomb Shades

Duette shades were first on the market 25 years ago. That’s a long time for it to prove itself as one of the top window coverings. With 4 different operating options, 5 light and privacy fabric options, numerous shape and design options, over 400 material and colour choices, Duette honeycomb blinds are the blind that will give you the best customized options for your lifestyle. These blinds are great for wide windows and rooms where you want to block out the daylight.

Duette Honeycomb Shades by Hunter Douglas

Designer Screen and Roller Shades

Roller shades aren’t what they used to be. The fabric choices range from natural grass cloth, silk like design, or screens which you can see through. They are a stylish, cost effective choice for any room in your home. These shades are great for offices and on windows where you want to diffuse the sunlight but not the view.

Designer screen shades by Hunter Douglas

Luminette Privacy Sheers and Modern Draperies

Covering your patio doors or wide windows has never been more beautiful. The sheer vertical folds look like traditional draperies but with a lighter feel. The soft fabric vanes attached to the sheer in front can be tilted for privacy and light control.  The sheer face fabric protects your room from harmful UV rays when open and blocks 99% UV rays when tilted closed. The latest design feature is the Manhattan Decorative Hardware traversing rod with 3 finial options which can be used with all Luminette privacy sheers and Luminette modern drapery fabrics.  

Luminette Sheers with decorative rod

Motorization Accessories

Not only has Hunter Douglas made motorized window coverings easy to use and install, they have made it easier for clients to control how and when these blinds operate. The three new accessories are Platinum Solar Energy Sensor, RF (radio frequency) Adapter and LCD Timer.

The Solar Sensor will open and close your window covering automatically during the day to optimize energy efficiency. The RF Adapter can be plugged into your electrical outlet which is controlled by your light switch so you can open and close your blinds just by using your light switch.  This can also be plugged into a light timer. The LCD Timer will allow you to set the times for your blinds to move, even when you are not there. It’s a perfect solution for people who are away for long periods of time.

 For more information on Motorization click on this link.

And here’s the special offer! Hunter Douglas is offering a promotion from May 1st to August 31st, 2011, where consumers will receive a $275 Rebate with the minimum purchase of 4 Silhouette® window shadings with UltraGlide®.  In addition to this offer, Urban Aesthetics will offer $60.00 off any Hunter Douglas window covering purchased with the Motorized Platinum 2.0 lifting system to the first 3 customers who mention this special blog/newsletter offer. So call now for an estimate!