Stunning Basement Renovation not to be Missed!

I like to think that I have great vision for seeing the potential of unfinished spaces & visualising the final look of projects I embark upon. But once all is said and done and a job is complete, I am still amazed at just how much more stunning the result is is than I thought it would be. 

My basement renovation is no exception and I am thrilled to share these photographs with you.

Custom built ins designed by me and built by my talented husband Chris and our good friend Jeff.

 The rug is from HomeSense as are many of the accessories on display in the built in cabinet. The pot lights in the shelving are on dimmers and really highlight the accessories as well as adding ambiance.

Mirrored doors add sophistication and help to brighten up the space.

The mirrored doors were custom made and then sprayed by Paint It Like New in Benjamin Moore's Willow - CC542 - the same colour as the built ins. (Mirrors were sealed in after the paint had cured) I had the doors sprayed in a slightly higher sheen and opted not to add hardware.  The doors open easily enough and in my opinion adding handles would have been too busy with the mirrored inserts.

The other side of our basement is the dining/gaming area & is painted Wilmington Tan by BM.  

  Complimentary Colours - I love the purple hued drapery against the buttery yellow walls. 

The silk and polyester blend draperies add warmth and elegance to the space. I loved the Maxwell fabric that I used for this Living Room Makeover so much that I bought extra to use for the cornices (the fabric boxes over the curtains) and accent cushions on the sectional. 

The chalk board is a re-purposed item that I altered to be more functional.  Originally it hung horizontally and had a wire basket attached to the bottom.  I removed the basket, turned it vertically and super glued the small shelf under the board so the chalk would have a home.  We've already played darts and for the first time in ages I beat Chris, maybe the newly renovated space inspired my game!!

The various styled picture frames are unified by the same mat colour - Marshland - CC512 by Benjamin Moore.

Most of the frames I nicked from my Mom's inventory for the Aberfoyle Market - thanks Mom!  The photographs are from our travels across Europe and a few from Chris's time spent in Australia and Singapore. 

And do you recognise the buffet pictured above??  In this post I told you about my new (but old) piece of furniture and now you can see it completely transformed within my new space.  I love it!

It's been a very long journey but now when we sit back, relax and watch a movie - (I haven't even touched on the incredible surround sound system!) - we can really enjoy what we've accomplished.

'It's been a long time coming..it's well worth the wait' ~ Gord Downie, Tragically Hip

For more pictures please visit my updated website at www.creatingcontrastdesigns.com.  If you are thinking of starting renovations and need some guidance, please contact me and I can help you make your dreams for your home a reality.

New Years Resolutions for my Home Decor

Happy 2012 to you! 

January is a time to reflect on the past year, look forward to a promising future and set goals for the year ahead.  My personal goals are pretty standard - eat better, lose weight, exercise more and continue to focus on building my business. 

We all have the pieces to get to where we want to be, we just have to put them in place.

Soon I will be publishing a post called 'Renovate or Relocate'.  This is a topic my husband and I have been wrestling with over the past few years.  This year we are seriously contemplating a move and need to start thinking about what projects to focus on in the house to make it more 'sellable'.  Therefore, I have made a second list of New Years' Resolutions for improving my homes' decor.

In my post about  Home Staging I addressed the importance of having your house appeal to potential home buyers and some of the key elements that should be looked at prior to placing your home on the market.  I know the earlier I start getting things organised the less stressed I will be when the right house comes along and we want to put the 'For Sale' sign on our front lawn.

#1-  Complete the basement renovations.

My husband is doing a great job creating these built ins that I designed.

The other half of the basement is as good as finished but is unlivable until the other side is completed.

We are lucky that our basement is so large and I am confident that it will be a great selling feature.  Once it's finished we may change our minds about moving, because I know it will look fantastic and function much better than it did before.

#2.  Placing hardwood on the stairs.

As we live in a Bungalow, the only stairs we have lead to the basement.  Despite having the carpet professionally cleaned, over the years you can see where the dirt has set in.  Pulling up the carpet and staining the natural hardwood will make them more hygienic, practical and pretty.

#3.  Tiling the floor in the bathroom.

If you are not prepared to go all the way, sometimes you have to do your best to work with what you've got

It's no secret that bathrooms and kitchens sell a house.  Since moving here seven years ago, we have done some major renovations including the kitchen and a full bathroom in the basement.  Although we did do some updates to the main floor bathroom, we never got around to completely gutting and redoing it.  In my opinion, the best thing we can do now is simply re-tile the floor.  Currently the floor has those nasty and cheap stick on linoleum tiles. By updating the floor this will be a fairly easy and inexpensive way to improve the overall look of the bathroom. 

#4.  New Window Treatments in the Kitchen.

In this post I asked if you were making the mistake of not incorporating the cost of window treatments into your budget when re-decorating.  I have to confess that I have not updated all of my own window treatments, but always try to leave room in the budget for draperies or blinds when working with a client.  Window treatments really are a necessity for giving a room its 'finishing touch'.  I am leaning towards the idea of fabric roman blinds like the one in the picture below to update and add softness to my kitchen space. 

I may go with a patterned fabric but need it to be transitional in style

#5.  Continue to purge and keep things tidy.

This makes me feel happy

Keeping storage areas like closets, drawers and even kitchen cabinets organised is essential to ensure these spaces remain neat and de-cluttered.  When potential home buyers walk through your home you can bet they sneak a peek behind these closed doors and it's not  just to be nosey.  They are also looking to see what storage space is available for their things - so the more effective you utilise these spaces the better.

Although there are many more ideas that I have and could do in the house, I must stay focused on these top 5 as a priority.  Being passionate about interior decorating can be a curse when the ideas just keep on coming, just ask my husband!  

If you are thinking of doing any renovations this New Year and would like professional advice, please contact me.   I offer a free initial consultation and would be more than happy to help make your dreams for your home a reality.  You can e-mail me at the following address to make an appointment:  claire@creatingcontrastdesigns.com.

Are you making this mistake when decorating?

When most people begin a renovation project there are so many elements to think about that window treatments are often one of the last considerations.  For some reason, window coverings tend to get overlooked and may only be an after thought if there is enough money left in the budget. 

The slightly darker marks on these blinds add interest and texture

 There are numerous style variations and endless fabrics to choose from that curtains and blinds can add so much to a room’s design.  They also play a very important role in providing privacy as well as protection for your flooring and furniture.  Often windows take up so much space you could make the draperies the focal point of the room.  However, you want to ensure their style is versatile as you are unlikely to change them for at least another 10 years.   

I love the way this ghost table lets you see the drapery all the way to the floor

 For added texture as well as from a functional point of view you may want to use both blinds and curtains.  This enables you to filter the light more efficiently while adding layers and changing both the interior and exterior view.

A green monochromatic colour palette with funky patterns

Make sure you think about not only the style of the window treatment but also the design of the window itself.  Depending on how or even if the window opens can put limitations on the style you choose.  Some blinds can be altered to slide down at the top and be lifted up from the bottom to maximize the control of light and privacy.  

A cordless option is the only way to go for kids rooms

Long cords can be a safety hazard for children, but blinds are available in ‘cordless’ or are remote controlled so there is less chance of accidents. A remote controlled window treatment can be a great feature not only for safety reasons but they are also fun for gadget lovers.  The devices can usually be set on timers as well; perfect if you are going on holiday but still want the house to look occupied.    

Be creative and think outside the box

Beaded trim; tasselled trim; ribbons and braids; fabric tie backs; hold-backs; rods and finials, so much to consider when choosing window treatments.  There are many ways to personalise and glam up your draperies that you'll be spoiled for choice!  Obviously the details should be chosen carefully as they need to tie in with the room's overall look, but remember to have fun with it.

When reviewing the budget for your next decor project, please don’t forget about the added value of window treatments!  I will tell you now, you will never sit and look at the window coverings and wonder why you bothered.  You'll wonder why you never bothered before!

If you are overwhelmed by the thought of choosing your own window coverings and would like some advice, I'd be  happy to help.   Contact me at 905-599-2588 or e-mail me at:

claire@creatingcontrastdesigns.com

Change your seasonal décor without breaking the bank

Change is good.  Change allows us to move with the times and explore different things that life has to offer.   Without change, life would be boring and uneventful.

My favourite time of year

As we enter a new season, why not try making subtle changes to your homes’ décor to keep your look current. Here are a few ideas that allow you to easily create a fresh feel without costing a lot of money.

 

Linens and Curtains

Daniel Stuart Bedding

In the fall and winter seasons, replace light and airy curtains with more full bodied window treatments that will add warmth and depth to your bedroom. A duvet cover with warm hues will help you feel extra cosy when crawling into bed on a cool autumn evening. Be sure to change up accent cushions to compliment your duvet cover and finish off the look in the bedroom. 

Floral Displays

Beautiful table setting

Although I am not a big fan of faux flowers, I understand that it may not always be feasible to keep real plants in certain living spaces. (Or if you are like me, you just can’t keep a plant alive) When done properly, artificial floral displays can look life like and add colour and softness to a room. 

So simple yet very effective and pretty.

Switch your delicate spring coloured florals to plants that more suitably reflect the current season. If your colour palette is such that you can incorporate deep oranges and dark reds, this will help you feel as though you are bringing some of the outdoors in.   Or go against the norm and add deep purples and apple greens to your decor!

Shower Curtains and Towels

A bit bizarre, but I like it!

Shower curtains are an easy and inexpensive way to add colour to your bathroom.  As there are so many styles and colours to choose from, you will have no problem finding suitable towels to match.  If you can, buy towels when they are on sale.  I find that the Bay and Sears have great sales throughout the year and I even purchased my last towels at 75% off the retail price.  I was stoked!

Entrance Mats
 

So many colours to choose from

Chances are your foyer or mud room mats take a beating, especially if you have children.  If you are diligent at keeping these mats clean and they are washable, you could get 2 years out of them.  Mats can be a great way to introduce a new colour to your space, just be sure to repeat the colour at least two more times in the room to ensure flow and harmony.

Pictures/Photographs

My 2 kiddies at the pumpkin patch

We all take photos throughout the year, but the downside of digital is that we are less likely to print them nowadays.  My advice is if you have personal photographs around the house update them with more recent pictures.  These can be photographs of anything that interests you - nature, animals or family photos.       

Serene and stunning

Once you have these alternate seasonal accessories you will be less likely to tire of your homes décor.  If you can do this twice a year, each season will feel like a fresh start.  By the time you are longing for change, spring will roll around and you can revive your décor again with your lighter, brighter and whiter soft furnishings.  Embrace change, I promise you won’t regret it!

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Looking for professional help with your home decor?  Please contact me and I will be happy to help you fall in love with your home again.  E-mail me at: claire@creatingcontrastdesigns.com.

Where to start?

No matter what the task, starting something new can be a daunting experience if you are not sure where to begin.  Whether it is a decorating project, pursuing a new career or making any change to your lifestyle, knowing where to start and making a plan can make things a lot less intimidating.

Source

For those of you thinking of re-decorating, allow me to provide you with some considerations and advice to ease you into your project.  However, be forewarned!  As with anything in life, there are no guarantees that everything will go according to plan.  Obstacles that you least expect are bound to pop up, but being prepared for these road blocks will help you adapt and cope with them more easily.  Never forget, that you are embarking on this project to make your space more enjoyable and functional, so it will all be worth it in the end.

 Pottery Barn

Prior to commencing work with any client, I discuss with them in detail what it is that they ultimately hope to achieve by changing their space and how they want their surroundings to look and feel.  If you haven’t yet talked your other half into hiring me as your interior decorator, then you can start on your own by thinking through answers to the following questions.

FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE STARTING YOUR DECORATING PROJECT

*Why have you chosen this room to re-decorate?

- Understanding why you want to change the look or function of a room is important and will help you determine what your priorities are for making the space work for you.

*What are the hobbies/interests of the people using this space?

- Furniture requirements, lighting, and adequate storage are just some of the things to take into account when asking yourself this question.

Martha Stewart Craft Room

 *What is the sun exposure & when is the room occupied most?

- Sun exposure can be tricky and I could do 100 posts on this topic alone! When deciding on a paint colour, remember that a south facing room gets a lot of sun and a north facing room will always feel that little bit cooler due to the lack of sunlight.  Careful consideration should be taken when choosing your window treatments as well, as these can play a critical role in protecting your flooring and furniture and filtering the light as necessary.  If the room is used mainly in the evening, think about on-looking neighbours or the view from the outside to make sure you have enough privacy.

Hunter Douglas Window Treatments



*What items do you have that could be used in this space? 

- Re-evaluate the furniture and accessories you currently have and only keep items that you love and that are functional for the activities taking place in the room.  If you have pieces that you can re-work, it can free up some money to put into another item that may desperately need replacing.  

Beautiful Bright Floral Pattern for a Nursery

* What is your budget & when do you hope to finish the project? 

-Ah, the question of money rears its ugly head!!  Take a moment to sit down and think realistically about your budget.  If you are making any structural changes, be prepared to spend some extra money especially if you are not doing the work yourself.  And although we all want things done yesterday, you need to be practical about the length of time it will take you to complete your renovations.  Forget about the shows you see on HGTV and how they transform a space in one week or less.  You need to think about when the best time is to undergo your project and whether you want to do it in stages or all at once.

Ralph Lauren

If you get really stuck, I am always here to help.   I can be your guide for the initial steps to get you on your way or you can count on me to lead the project and see it through to completion.  Either way think about the big picture before making decisions, choose pieces that you absolutely love and have fun! 

You can e-mail me at: claire@creatingcontrastdesigns.com.  It will all come together in the end, it’s just knowing where to start.