Fun in Niagara on the Lake

Cooking class with Jason Parsons

 Wine Tasting - Yum!

 Ice Room at Pellar Estates Winery

SOFA - Universal Design

1. "Universal design makes things more accessible, safer, and convenient for everyone. Also called "Design for All" or "Inclusive Design," it is a philosophy that can be applied to policy, design and other practices to make products, environments and systems function better for a wider range of people. It developed in response to the diversity of human populations, their abilities and their needs." - The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access   www.universaaldesign.com
2. "Universal Design ("UD") increases usability, safety and health of environments, products and systems in response to the diversity of people and abilities. With attention focused on the changing demographics, differences in functional ability and preferences are part of everyday life experience. UD represents a paradigm for design of the built environment and products to address this diversity and increase use by all by introducing flexibility, choice and accommodating features to the physical world and business practices." - ThUniversal Design is an evolving concept, and as such, different people have slightly different definitions. We gather here some definitions from leading Universal Design experts and organizations. e Global Universal Design Commission

The 7 Principles of Universal Design were developed in 1997 by a working group of architects, product designers, engineers and environmental design researchers, led by the late Ronald Mace in the North Carolina State University.The purpose of the Principles is to guide the design of environments, products and communications. According to the Center for Universal Design in NCSU, the Principles "may be applied to evaluate existing designs, guide the design process and educate both designers and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments."  

The seven principles of Universal Design are as follows:

1. Equitable Use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
2. Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
3. Simple and Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
4. Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
5. Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
6. Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably with minimum fatigue.
7. Size and Space for Approach and Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.

Principle 1: Equitable Use
The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.

Guidelines:

1a. Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.

1b. Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.

1c. Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available to all users.

1d. Make the design appealing to all users.

Principle 2: Flexibility in Use
The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.

Guidelines:

2a. Provide choice in methods of use.

2b. Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.

2c. Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision.

2d. Provide adaptability to the user's pace.

Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive Use
Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

Guidelines:

3a. Eliminate unnecessary complexity.

3b. Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.

3c. Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.

3d. Arrange information consistent with its importance.

3e. Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion.

Principle 4: Perceptible Information
The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.

Guidelines:

4a. Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.

4b. Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.

4c. Maximize "legibility" of essential information.

4d. Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).

4e. Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations.

Principle 5: Tolerance for Error
The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

Guidelines:

5a. Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.

5b. Provide warnings of hazards and errors.

5c. Provide fail safe features.

5d. Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.

Principle 6: Low Physical Effort
The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.

Guidelines:

6a. Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.

6b. Use reasonable operating forces.

6c. Minimize repetitive actions.

6d. Minimize sustained physical effort.

Principle 7: Size and Space for Approach and Use
Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.

Guidelines:

7a. Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user.

7b. Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.

7c. Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.

7d. Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.   http://universaldesign.ie/What-is-Universal-Design/The-7-Principles/

Great Kitchens....

Love these kitchens from Atlanta Homes Magazine

Transitional

Traditional

Contemporary

Pantonne Colour of the Year 2016

It's that time of year again when the Pantonne Colour of the Year is introduced.by the Colour Marketing Group. www.colormarketing.org/  This year, a softer take on color for 2016: For the first time, the blending of two shades – Rose Quartz and Serenity are chosen as the PANTONE Color of the Year

Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate a balance - the warmer Rose Quartz and the cooler Serenity for a soothing look  I like these colours as they envoke a feeling of spring and are easier to live with than some of the previous Colours of the year..

Gracious Dining

Love this dining room by Barbara Westbrook

Chandeliers for the New Year.....

http://www.deringhall.com/daily-features/contributors/dering-hall/10-chandeliers-inspired-by-the-new-years-eve-ball-drop

Home Bars

Check out Derring hall for some great bar for the home.....

http://www.deringhall.com/daily-features/contributors/dering-hall/9-home-bars-to-inspire-your-new-years-eve-celebration

Traditional Kitchens

Check out these beautiful kitchens from house and home.....

http://houseandhome.com/gallery/top-10-traditional-kitchens-with-timeless-appeal/

A few upcoming trends

1. Brown Furniture is Back

Some might argue that brown furniture never went away, but I disagree.  There was certainly a period of time where designers eschewed traditional brown furniture forms for lighter finishes, and most antique dealers will tell you that the market for early English and American antiques grew soft.  That time has past.

2. Lucite, Glass and Brass

Tempering all that dark wood were pieces light as air.  Lucite was everywhere and was used most effectively when accented in brass. Bernhardt’s modern four poster bed was a showstopper.

3. Handcrafted Materials

From small markers to large corporations, I saw a resurgent interest in featuring handcrafted materials.  Tent London was filled with examples, including this very handsome lighting in hand tooled leather.

4. Nature as Muse

Lamps with feather shades and bases crafted to mimic birds legs?

5. Wallpaper As Art

My spin around design events this fall also suggests that wallpaper might be the only art you ever need.  It certainly is not going away, and the days of considering a wallpapered room as too “granny” are long gone.

At Tent London, U.K. designer Deborah Bowness introduced a highly colorful paper that called to mind a super-sized artist palette.   It would make a fine focal point.

from an article by Lynn Byrne.  For images and more information check out this post

http://www.decorartsnow.com/trends-that-will-endure/

Kitchen Trends 2016

Kitchen Confidential: 9 Trends to Watch for in 2016