Monday, February 5, 2024

INTERIOR DESIGN & DECOR TRENDS FOR 2024

I thought I would do a simple list of what we will be seeing this year.

    A return to the Art Deco look with rounded shapes, curvy pieces,                         details and sculptural moulding, saturated colour in some                                    cases, i.e. accessories

    Earth tones, natural looking spaces, clay pottery, organic materials,                      warmer

    Clean look.  Using a stacked tile design rather than a brick pattern

    Deep colours, bold, jewell especially for accessories. Blue is still                            very popular especially Cobalt blue

    Overstuffed and comfortable upholstered furniture.  Still many toss                       cushions and many with patterns

    Patterns in fabric, wallpaper, tiles, carpet

    We will still see neutral hues in the big ticket items like sofas and                          carpet.  The fun comes with the accessories.

    Colourful Portuguese pottery will be seen more

    Wood ceilings

    Biophilia which is the human connection to nature.  We are drawn to                  living  things especially plants. Plants are known to be beneficial to our                 mental health and our inside environment

    Open plan living is losing it's appeal and we want individual spaces

    The all white kitchen is not as popular these days.  We want to                             see more colour

    Texture everywhere.  Boucle, wood

wood ceiling

wallpaper


biophilia

cobalt blue

rounded furnishings


soft, comfy and rounded

wallpaper

wood ceiling

texture


wallpaper

stacked wall tile

soft and rounded


art deco colour

Friday, January 26, 2024

Welcome to 2024 ....

Hi everyone ...


It's here; another year.  I always do a post on the Pantone colour of the year and Trends for the year.  Every paint company selects their own colour of the year which has nothing to do with the Pantone colour.  This year Pantone has selected "Peach Fuzz" a warm and cozy hue. Well it certainly has the feeling of spring which we are waiting for.

Here are some images of how we will see it this year.










Thursday, January 18, 2024

Jingle Bells, jingle all the way oopps into - Happy New Years!!! ✨✨

Well here we are,December 31st and I didn't get around to posting some Christmas Decor ideas.

That tells how my time this past fall was. Things are looking up as far as how my time will be.  I hope to get back into keeping this blog up to date with interesting posts. 

Since I didn't post Christmas Decor I decided to make a short video of my home decorated for the holidays. I have never really done this before.  I recall about 15 years ago I did a couple of U-Tube posts but I don't  remember how I managed it?  Anyway I gave it a try this year to highlight my decor in my new home in Dundas, ON.  For some reason it wont load here so if you want to see it go to my facebook page.

My next post will be Trends for 2024



Monday, August 7, 2023

Summertime and The Living is Easy

Yes, its here and came in with a wallop and continues.  We have had hotter days and more rain this year than in past years.  I do love summer.  I have been a little remiss on this post since we are now into August but you still might enjoy it.

It is time to get outdoors ready for some relaxing and entertaining in the coming months.  Whether you have a small balcony, a deck, patio, pool or complete oasis you can take some inspiration from the photos below to bring some excitement into your own space.

Summer is such a colourful and for the most part a happy time.  We tend to be more relaxed and get together with friends and family more than in winter. 

When planning your outdoor space keep in mind how you want to use it.  There are so many factors involved to give the most enjoyment.  I attended a wonderful seminar a few years ago and it really spoke to everything you should consider.  I will add that information in another post.

This being a blog about design and decor, I should share some of the fabulous products that help us enjoy summer.
















Sunday, June 18, 2023

POWDER ROOMS in 2023

Powder rooms are an opportunity to have a little more fun and step out of your comfort zone. This can be the little jewel box of the home, a perfect space to use  your creativity. Tile can be installed on the walls of a bathroom in place of paint or wallpaper. I worked on a powder room with a client and we put tile on the wall  behind the sink.  It looks beautiful.  Textured, decorative tile is likely to gain popularity in 2023. The shapes add decorative interest, dimension and artistry to a space, particularly for hand-crafted or highly detailed tiles. 

Darker colours are coming back. You'll notice richer, warmer wood tones paired with dark, more saturated finishes. Lots of textures will be showing up in all ways. Saturated colour is really happening now. I love to do a super moody powder room and paint the trim, ceiling, and wall all one color. A deep jewel-tone green or blue is stunning for this. Wallpaper in a bold, fun pattern or wainscoting throughout the room work well too. In my last home I painted my powder room black.  It was very dramatic.

Clients are typically more willing to go darker and stronger in a powder room space and take chances with wall colours. We don't spend much time in a powder room so it is easy to accept something a little more daring.

The modern powder room for 2023 is packed with glamour.  We are seeing powder rooms loaded with extra thick floating countertops and fluted walls in gorgeous marble accented by anything from intensely patterned wallpaper to super subtle grasscloths, and always a dose of statement lighting.

Additionally, adding some nice art really raises the bar and of course lighting which I will touch on in a future post. You will notice that the mirrors and lighting are like jewellery in the room.

Here are some gorgeous powder rooms -                            



    













 

 


Tuesday, June 13, 2023

BATHROOMS FOR 2023

 2023 Bathrooms

We are really bringing bathrooms to a whole new level by creating tranquil, peaceful, luxurious spaces that are both functional and a relaxing with a spa feel. We now want to utilize our bathroom as a place to get away from it all.  Today’s homeowners are seeking bathroom designs that make them feel perfectly pampered exceptional spaces that exude luxury and unique flair.

The focus on wellness and wellness technology in the bathroom is being considered these days.  Extras – heated floors, steam shower, shower rooms, aromatherapy, high quality lighting, towel warmers, special makeup mirrors, large format tiles, well organized storage solutions are in demand.

Freestanding tubs have been around for a few years but now they are replacing drop in tubs. There are so many styles to choose from.  The bathtub is naturally one of the centerpieces of a spa-like bath. For that reason, we have seen an increased desire for freestanding tubs, particularly ones with a view. Combining the bathtub and shower as a wet room is becoming more popular.

I think Carrara marble with chrome metal accents will always be timeless because it is a clean and simplistic look that still feels chic and luxurious. I also love a herringbone pattern and don’t see that going out of style.”   It is important to use honed floor tiles to reduce slipping.  Beautiful stone like marble or marble look a-likes in porcelain which is more affordable and easier to maintain.

Black, white and gray is the most tried-and-true color combination of all time. With that simple, reduced color palette, you can go in so many different directions and still have an abundance of drama with linens and accessories in different colour schemes.

Blue and white palettes are gaining more popularity.  This can be done with wallpaper, wainscoting, window treatments and tile. In thinking of wallpaper, it has come a long way from the 80’s and is gaining more popularity. The most important thing to consider is a wallpaper that can exist in a moist area.

The other option we see is texture,  which provides the warmth in a room made up of hard surfaces that people are currently looking for in their homes.”

Custom Showers

The Schluter system, Kerdi Base, Kerdi Drain and Kerdi Waterproofing. However there are other ways of preparing a room for a custom shower. The base can be made out of cement as well. Walls can be protected with water resistant drywall, cement board or Denz-Sheild.  Glass doors are double swing allowing for easier access to the shower.  Curbless showers with same flooring as main bathroom area are being used more.  Having no curb offers a safety affect in that there is no tripping and if someone needed to bring a mobility piece it can move easily.

Heated Floors

The price for heated floors depends on the size and shape of a room. The two popular brands are Flextherm and NuHeat. Flextherm is a cable that is ran over your sub floor around cable holders provided by the flextherm company. Nuheat is a mat that comes in certain sizes and can be custom made to fit a particular room; however the custom mats can be much more expensive. This is secured to the sub floor with a Thinset cement. Both types of heated floors would then be covered with self leveling cement and then the tile is installed over top.

 One of the most important items is the lighting. We will see more pendants and sconces as well as ceiling chandeliers.  When talking about chandeliers in a bathroom code dictates that they cannot be hung over the bathtub.  This is a safety concern. There are so many beautiful lighting that are both functional and create a soothing atmosphere. 

The white spa look has always been popular over recent years but the use of more wood or wood look elements is becoming more popular for a moody look.

Here are some gorgeous bathrooms.  It is a good way to see what you like or not and pick some of the elements from each bathroom that could be used in your next reno.