All about Kitchens with Margaret Macdonald

Another great event at SOFA....

Last week I, along with many others in the design & decorating business attended a seminar by Margaret MacDonald all about  "What makes a Great Kitchen" from a  functional design perspective.  Margaret is a name known as a Kitchen Designer for the past 18 years and has worked with some of the top kitchen & bath manufacturers.

I have written about the types of kitchens we want, however this seminar went deeper into the framework of designing a great kitchen.  So many tips on the key elements of great design were shared, but keeping function and safety in the forefront were extremely important.  One can have a 'pretty or beautiful' kitchen, but if it doesn't function properly or there are safety hazards then it is not a great kitchen.  You must adhere to building code at all times.  This is something designers and decorators who are experienced in kitchen design will know and this is why it is important to work with one.  Margaret gave us a refresher on this by showing photos of the 'blunders' that can occur. We also took a step down memory lane to kitchens of the past and saw how far we have come to today's fabulous kitchens. What a great way to either learn or be reminded of the importance of the design process.

Thanks to SOFA, www.visitsofa.com and AGA/Marvel, www.agamarvel.com who co-sponsored the event.

Below are a few examples of well designed kitchens and not so well designed.  It is not always possible to have the 'perfect' kitchen layout depending on your space restrictions, however keeping a few safety and functional tips in mind will help with the overall success of a kitchen design.

The kitchen below is very nice, however the wooden

columns sitting directly on the counter and beside the

cook top are not to code and could be a safety hazard 

as well as they cut off easy access to the counter beside

This kitchen has the required space beside the

cook top.  The dishwasher are located across

from each other however it appears there is

enough room to open both within the space,            

especially with the over being higher off the

ground but it could be a little problematic if both

were being opened at the same time.

This kitchen has ample counter space on each

side of the range and the cabinetry does not 

go down to the counter, thus meeting code and

still looking beautiful

I love Christmas.....

I know we live in a time where all "Holiday" celebrations seem to fall under the umbrella of "Holidays" which is fine, but I celebrate Christmas and,  of course it is a religious day, but it is also a time for fun, friends, family, great food, gifts, and DECORATING.  I have enough Christmas decorations stored in my basement that I could have a little store.  I am trying to control my purchases in this area but not too successfully.  I know one should 'purge' something when bringing a little something new into the house but I am not so good at that when it comes to Christmas.  Other times, I do well at purging but definitely not Christmas.

Over the past couple of years I have decided to take photos of some of my Christmas Decorating ideas just so I can look back and see what I have done and how I have changed or progressed.  I have written articles on Christmas Decorating for a local newspaper and recently myself and 2 colleagues did a demo at Sheridan Nurseries for a Holiday Centrepiece where we took one tray and decorated it 3 different ways depending on your personal taste and style.  I usually keep a general theme and colour scheme going but do vary a little depending on the room.  Below are some of my past years of decorating.  I have many new ones for this year so stay tuned and I may get them photographed in time to post this year.  I made a little video rather than post tons of photos.....

Getting Ready for Winter & the Holiday Season with Sheridan Nurseries

There was a large crowd of designers, decorators and other professionals at SoFA, www.visitsofa.com today for the Sheridan Nurseries, www.sheridannurseries.com Presentation of Winter & Holiday Planters.  WOW!!  How inspiring.  We all wanted to rush over to Sheridan and pick up our supplies and then home to make our own creations.

One of the recent new companies to join The Marketplace at SoFA is Gardenflame,  www.mygardenflame.com,  who offer concrete fire pits and other decor items, made with a special concrete, thus making them much less heavy than regular concrete.  They use gas or propane and come in many different styles. They have a showroom in Burlington, ON as well.   Thank you to Gardenflame who sponsored our lunch and the speakers at our event.

Introducing the floral designers from Sheridan Nurseries, is Linda Kafka, Director of Marketing for SoFA.

There were several styles created and displayed.  For more great arrangements and holiday decorations, visit a Sheridan Nursery near you.

Just a few of the many styles available

Most decorators and designers who live and work in the GTA and surrounding area are well aware of SOFA, located at the International Centre in Mississauga, www.visitsofa.com and what a treasure trove it is,  carrying everything you require to create beautiful interiors under one roof.

This one stop Design Resource Centre for designers & decorators offers the highest quality and variety of products with so many options you feel like a kid in a candy store. There are over 30 showrooms offering everything;  including rugs, lighting, mirrors, accessories, art, furniture, kitchen appliances like you have never seen, luxury linen, tableware and much more.  This Resource Centre has grown in leaps and bounds from its early beginnings, especially under the direction of the current Director of Marketing, Linda Kafka. This can be credited to the fact that she is always obtaining input from the very people who will be utilizing their services - the designers & decorators and trying to make our jobs easier.  This makes for very efficient sourcing!!

SOFA offers many different events with prominent speakers and educational seminars throughout the year so that the designers and decorators are always up on the latest offerings they can pass along to their clients.

This is a trade only business but clients are always welcomed when accompanied with their designer/decorator. The extremely professional staff in all of the various showrooms are very efficient & knowledgeable about everything in their showroom and will bend over backwards to obtain any information required. That being said, SOFA still maintains a casual and welcoming nature that makes everyone who enters feel comfortable and glad they stopped in.

Check out a recent video made to highlight the greatness of SOFA with prominent designers and,  yours truly got to be an 'extra'.  Lots of fun.

Sheridan Nurseries Charity Event....

A couple of weeks ago, there was a great event held at Sheridan Nurseries, www.sheridannurseries.com on Southdown Road, in Mississauga.  It was "ladies night out" and along with many other businesses,  myself and two other decorators were there to do a decor presentation.  We chose holiday table centrepieces for our presentation and our theme was "one tray, three ways"  We wanted to appeal to every one's taste and style so we did a "Glitz & Glam", a "Refined Rustic" and a "Traditional Elegance".

We had a great time and all of the money raised was going to the Children's Wish www.childrenswish.ca

Here we are getting ready for our presentation.  Not sure why I look so serious??

Again I am so serious?? Must be concentrating on not breaking anything

All completed and looking very festive....

Traditional Elegance

Refined Rustic

Glitz & Glam

Cambria Quartz

Last week CHUM FM did an advertisement mentioning my name and that of my colleague which was a nice surprise. We spent a few hours at the gorgeous Cambria Showroom,  www.cambriacanada.com on Parliament St., in Toronto doing complimentary Consultations as part of their "Stylemaker Saturdays".  Just being in that showroom surrounded by the many lovely samples of quartz along with the designed spaces gets the creativity flowing.  I met some very nice people and enjoyed assisting with their new kitchen designs.

SOFA Video.....

I was asked to be an "extra" in another video recently and had some fun and met some great people.  This is a video about SOFA - Source of Furniture and Accessories, www.visitsofa.com  who deal with design professionals.  It is an amazing place and I am up there fairly regularly for seminars, trade events, sourcing for clients or working on the CDECA Window.  Great people to deal with. 

Check out the video and think of SOFA the next time  you want something fantastic.  It is open to trade only, HOWEVER, if you are working with a decorator or designer you are most welcome.  Just drop by and view the amazing showrooms but remember to bring  your designer or decorator when you want to make your purchases.

Check out the video.  I am in it about 3 times.  Here is the link.  Hope I did this right!

 

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzPZr5nsGto&feature=colike

Electric Fireplaces have come a long way.......

This is a guest post from Jeanne Grier, Design Consultant, Stylish Fireplaces, www.stylishfireplaces.ca  by Huntington Lodge.  With the colder weather approaching I thought it was a timely article to add to my blog and Jeanne agreed .  Many of us remember the electric fireplaces of back in the day that were not so great looking nor efficient.  Well, they have come a long way and are a great addition to any space especially when you may wish to change the location, something you cannot do with wood burning or gas. Electric Fireplaces offer so much more flexibility in placement as well as they look great these days.  Please enjoy the article..... and for more information and ideas click on the link provided at the end of the post.

What’s New with Electric Fireplaces?
Today’s electric fireplaces are more stylish and realistic than ever, offering homeowners, and their builders and designers, a wealth of options for every lifestyle.  Before I share some of the latest designs, let’s review the basic features and benefits of an electric fireplace: 

• Zero-clearance design allows installation into, or on, any material.  This means that you do not need to have a fire-proof surround, because there is nothing burning inside an electric fireplace.  If you wish to install in drywall or wood cabinetry, you may do so.
• No combustion means no venting required.  Because there is nothing burning inside an electric fireplace, there is no need to vent it as you would with gas or wood fireplaces.  This means that you do not need to limit installation to an outside wall.
• Plugging into a regular 120 volt outlet means easy installation.  There is no special connection required, and some models offer the option for direct-wired installation and 240 volt connections, for added flexibility.
• Operation with or without heat means a more comfortable environment.  The flame effect in an electric fireplace may be operated with or without heat, as the heater is a separate element that does not have to be turned on when the flames are turned on.  This means that you don’t have to turn off your fireplace because the room is too hot; you simply turn off the heater and continue to enjoy your fire. 
• Flame generation by light bulbs means greater efficiency.  The flame effect in an electric fireplace is created with light bulbs, either incandescent or LED.  It costs from less than a penny an hour, up to 3 cents per hour, to operate an electric flame without the heater.  With the heater turned on, an electric fireplace will use a maximum of only about 18 cents per hour, far less than a gas fireplace.  Plus, there is no standing pilot light required in an electric fireplace, for even greater savings. 

Now that you understand how easy it is to work with an electric fireplace, let’s take a look at the newest innovations.   
The latest Optimyst insert from Dimplex, shown here in the Thompson mantel, uses ultrasonic technology to turn cool water into mist.  When light hits the mist, it creates a realistic burning effect unequalled in the industry.  This insert is designed to fit into existing wood-burning fireplace openings, so you can easily retrofit almost any fireplace.

 

The fastest growing category in electric fireplaces is wall-mounted. These fireplaces are contemporary in styling, and are designed to mount on the surface of the wall, rather than mounting into the wall. This model, with a curved glass front, is from Amantii. It comes with crystals in multiple colours, as well as white stones, so you can style it to suit your décor. It has the option for heat, as with most electric fireplaces.

 

 

Linear fireplaces have become extremely popular over the past few years, perhaps in answer to the popularity of wide, wall-mounted TV’s. Very wide designs are popular in the wall-mounted category, as well as for in-wall models. This Synergy fireplace, from Dimplex, is currently the widest electric fireplace capable of being flush-mounted into all wall, while still offering a heat option. It is 50” wide by 20” high, and fits into 2x8 construction. 

Because of their zero-clearance design, electric fireplaces lend themselves to media cabinets. With a place for the TV and its components, as well as storage for DVD’s, these cabinets offer an all-in-one solution for many family rooms and basements. They come in a host of wood finishes; only this one, the Portobello from Dimplex, comes in a light painted finish. The heat from the fireplace is blown out the front vent, and will not affect the TV above. 

Presented by Jeanne Grier, Design Consultant, Stylish Fireplaces by Huntington Lodge
jgrier@stylishfireplaces.ca
www.stylishfireplaces.ca

 

Top Trends from Highpoint Market.......

High Point Market is the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world, bringing more than 85,000 people to High Point every six months. Serious retail home furnishings buyers can be found in High Point twice a year because if you can't find it in High Point, it probably doesn't exist.  I wasn't able to attend the recent show, however was lucky enough to attend a local seminar at SOFA, www.visitsofa.com presented by well known Interior Designer, Furniture Designer & Retailer, Educator and Presenter, Jamie Alexander, www.jamiealexander.com

Jamie's topic was quite multi faceted touching on how we, as decorators and designers can improve our connections with U.S. furniture makers and getting the products to Canada with some great tips on working with the sales reps; ways to save on shipping; how many custom items are now being stocked and available immediately with shorter lead times and so much more great information.  He also shared that many manufacturers are now listening to what Designers & Decorators ask for and we have become a driving force, inspiring furniture makers.

Jamie spoke about the connection between fashion and furniture and which came first.  It's still up for debate but what isn't is the great information he shared with us on the latest trends coming out of the Highpoint Market, www.highpointmarket.org .  To enhance his talk were the great photos and his wonderful sense of humour.   He is a really fun guy!!

I will share some of the 'trends' -

• Mixing finishes - metals the golds and silvers. 
• Duller finishes - brushed
• Crinkled finishes
• Rounder lines
• Layering
• Accessorizing Walls with items other than Art
• Clocks - big both on walls and tabletop.  A wall of many clocks is a current trend
• Vintage - reclaimed but not necessarily greyed - they are doing a reclaimed look
• Retro, metal
• 'Fashionista' style with curved legs, seats and 'details'
• Lots of patterns and colour
• Wings on upholstered Headboards
• Lots of tufting on upholstered pieces and in places like the sides of the arms, not just the backs
• Rolled arms are much smaller
• Mixing different styled dining chairs but keeping the same finish and fabric for interest
• COLOUR  - very big   Blue, Orange, Purple, Neutral and so on.......

Here is a photo of one of the winners of the showroom design competition - Berhnhardt

More of what was shown at Highpoint



 

Did I Mention Colour.....

 

Yours truly and Jamie posing in the Van Gough Showroom, www.vangoughdesigns.com  who were the sponsors of this event along with offering us a lovely lunch.

 

Many thanks to Linda, Klara, Bernadette, Jamie and everyone else for this great event.

The GTA West Chapter ladies go shopping & sourcing.....

A little retail therapy is always a nice change for us in our busy lives.  In our professions as Decorators and Designers, we get to shop a lot when sourcing for clients but this king of shopping was just for us!!   Clothes, jewellery, accessories, what could be more fun.   The ladies took St. Jacobs and Elmira by storm last Friday and what a time we had.  Nothing could stop us, even the horrible rainy weather.

We met, at a bakery, (of course) and enjoyed some morning treats then hit the streets.  Such a great variety of clothing stores.  We all came away with some great items including including meat, cheese and sweets from the local shopkeepers as well as clothes.    I think we will be going back again sometime soon.  We also had the opportunity to check out some of the antiques, and artifacts offered so that we were keeping up for our clients.

We did break for a monthly meeting and lunch and welcomed some new members to the group.  A great time was had by all.