Colourful creatures to inspire your home decor

The other day my 8 year old son was on the computer downloading pictures and organising them into folders of his favourite animals.  I asked him if I could see which ones he'd saved so far and it gave me an idea for a new posting - suprise suprise!

Instead of the usual fashion comparisons, why not get inspiration from wildly colourful creatures for your home decor?  I am going to have some fun here & I hope you enjoy what I've come up with!

what a cute little chameleon!

Vivid colours on this chameleon could be used for a fun palette resembling something like this.....

Casual and colourful cottage living room

The colours on this lovely 'Yellowtail' fish with deep purple and yellow markings are intense.

More blue violet in other pictures I viewed, but very sharp all the same

Complimentary colours are always a hit when used together

This furry friend has great colour and I actually found 2 rooms that he could have inspired.

Source

First is a lovely bedroom with many natural characteristics....

I love the bird cage decals over the bed

And here is a lively dining room, complete with aviary accessories!

This fun bright accent wall reminds me of Benjamin Moore colour 'Grape Green' 2027-40

This frog is probably poisonous and meaner than he looks, but great inspiration all the same!

Black and yellow offer fantastic contrast

Clean and bright bathroom with tufted fauteuil accent chair.

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You can find your jumping off point almost anywhere.  Choose something you absolutely love and go from there.  If you want some help pulling your space together flawlessly, contact me and I can help make your dreams for your home a reality.  http://www.creatingcontrastdesigns.com/ 

Owls and Birds of Prey

Today is my sons 8th birthday - where does the time go?!  Yesterday we went to Mountsberg Conservation Area and booked a private 'Raptor Encounter' with the birds of prey.  It is amazing to see these beautiful birds up close & personal,  I highly recommend visiting the area if you can.

Octavious, the stunning Great Horned Owl.  Just look at those eyes!

Owls have been prominent over the past few years in home decor with many furnishings such as accessories and accent cushions adorning these incredible creatures.  When I organise the children's rooms this spring I would like to incorporate some of the nature pictures we've taken over the past few years because it is such a big part of what they love about life.

Ellie the turkey vulture (pictured above) is over 21 years old.  We have met her many times and often  see these types of birds in the wild soaring on the thermals by the escarpment.  Ellie will have to make the 'Wall of Fame' too as she is one of Adley's favourites.

This is Pawgwa, a juvenille bald eagle

These amazing photos of the eagles are courtesy of spracklin photography

If your child is passionate about nature, science, sports or something else why not  include items or photos of what they love in their bedroom to personalise their space?  They will feel special and be excited to show off their rooms to guests if it reflects who they are and what they love.  

Happy Birthday Adley, this post is for you!!

Nature Inspired ideas to decorate for the Holidays

I frequently talk about upcycling and bringing the 'outdoors in'.  This is not only because there is something spectacular about natural beauty that I believe cannot be surpassed by anything else, but it is also the way of the future.  In order to save on our resources we need to work with what we already have so items are not being unnecessarily produced.

I took this photo, sorry for the glaring reflection of the dull sky!

This window display at Centro Garden on Brant Street in Burlington showcases the simplicity of natural elements.  There was a similar display at one of the en suite bathrooms at the Holiday House Tours with birds perched upon the branches, but unfortunately I was unable to take pictures so I cannot show you. grrr...

These would look sweet next to a fireplace

Last year I used these thicker birch branches in my outdoor display but decided on tiny, thinner branches for my plants this year instead.  It all depends on how you feel at the time and how you want your planters to look.

My birch branches are actually black with silver sparkles, but from the photos you can't see that.  In the evening we have blue and green spotlights on them which really show the shimmery silver.  My candy canes in the right planter appear to be lost, I prefer the larger ball ornaments but thought I would try something different.  Next time I will also use larger ornaments.

I bought one bunch of greenery from Holland Park but for the rest I managed to find for free in my own yard.  There were large pine branches that had fallen out of tall trees with all the wind we had a few weeks ago.  The cedar fillers came from my own backyard where my cedars needed a trimming anyway, so they were relatively inexpensive to make.  Next year I may add little white lights to really make them shine!

Bringing the outdoors in. A bit busy for my liking, but I like the idea.

I found these photographs on my search for birch branches and thought they were different.  What do you think of the picture on the right with the natural wood branches hanging from the ceiling?  I think this fixture is very cool.

Look at the rugged texture provided by these natural vases

This will probably be my last posting before Christmas as we are all busy seeing friends and family over the holidays.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and ask that you be safe, especially when driving.  I don't know about you, but I love a white Christmas and am worried that its not looking hopeful at this point.  I will put a polite request in to Santa when I see him next and keep my fingers crossed!  All the best to you and your families this holiday season and thanks for reading.

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.