by Mecc Interiors

The Margaux Valet, K-16257

Though it would seem that Kohler’s Margaux collection is not new, the first time I was introduced to the fabulous valet was at this year’s K|BIS show.   I thought that it was perhaps new to Canada, but it seems that valets simply aren’t popular enough to warrant being pointed out.

One of the things I love about the Margaux, aside from the absolute simplicity, is the functionality.  The hanger portion lifts off, making it moveable, while the base remains in place as an extra wall hook!  So one could install multiple valets in various areas, such as one (1) in the laundry room for steaming clothes, another in the bathroom, and as many as desired within the closet.

Margaux in action.

Though it is designed as a bathroom item, I know I certainly have clients who have wanted valets in their closets but didn’t have room for a complete system.  This eliminates that problem completely.

The styling is classic and the valet comes in five (5) standard finishes.

by MeCC Interiors

For some crazy reason, thoughts of selling homes and moving elsewhere tend to go hand-in-hand with the warmer summer months. If you are contemplating selling your home, here are some things to evaluate around your home and consider doing to improve the overall appearance so as to maximize your sell price. The changes are quick and simple and will not break the bank.

Paint!

A fresh coat of paint always does wonders for a space! It hides wear marks and scuffs and instantly freshens rooms. It is also one of the fastest, easiest ways to change the visual appearance of a space. For resale, you’re best to keep it more neutral and move-in ready if you want to appeal to the masses.

De-clutter

What seems cozy or eclectic to you may scare others away; the more “stuff” cluttering your space, the smaller it looks and feels. So be selective and increase the visual impact and “wow!” factor by creating a focal point. If you love and cherish your things, pare down and start packing the excess to minimize what is on display. This applies not only to collectibles, but clothes, shoes, toys, books, old furnishings… anything that accumulates and takes up space. Don’t forget about countertops and kitchen and bathroom cabinets during this process.

Freshen up your Bathrooms

Everyone loves a nice bathroom. But this doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul. Scour the tiles and fixtures so they look like new, re-paint the walls, and update the lighting. If the bathroom features an enclosed tub, hang a neutral shower curtain and ensure your towels are clean and neatly folded or hung. Clear the clutter from the top of the vanity and within the tub/shower area and organize the contents of the vanity to show off the great storage potential of the space.

Improve the Lighting

Dated fixtures – ones which just look old and worn which are neither vintage nor antique – should be replaced with new. Local box stores have some great affordable options! If you have ceiling fixtures or sconces, remove the covers and wash them to remove any layers of dust. This will help make your spaces look brighter and cleaner!

Add Mirrors

Mirrors are a great décor trick – they give the illusion of brightening and enlarging spaces. There are well-priced options for all budgets and styles and all you need to do is hang them.

Window Treatments

If your window treatments are dated, it is better to take them down and leave your windows bare than to keep them up. Simply freshen up the exposed trim with a fresh coat of paint so it looks brand new. Or buy simple, classic draperies from your favourite box store or retailer to replace the old. Remember to open the window treatments for viewings to maximize the natural light.

Curb Appeal

Don’t neglect the exterior of your home – it’s the first thing a potential buyer will see. Update the door hardware and appearance if it is looking dated or worn. This includes the doorbell, mailbox, and house numbers. Upgrade the lighting to coordinate with the new hardware and ensure the space is well-lit. Tidy up the yard – both front and back – removing dead plants and trees, clearing walkways, creating a focal point with planters and seasonal arrangements, etc. Make people feel at home before they even reach the front door.

by MeCC Interiors

Is your space less than the stylish haven you want it to be?  Does your budget prevent you from transforming it into your ideal space?  Consider any or all of these simple, inexpensive décor tricks to instantly transform the look and feel of your room or home.

1. Organize.  Organize.  Organize.  Clearing the clutter from your home will make a world of difference
2. Rearrange what you already have.  Move existing furniture and accessories to new places within a room or elsewhere in the house to create a whole new look and feel.
3. Use fresh eyes.  Step back and take a look at your space as if you were looking at someone else’s home.  Or have a friend come in to be critical for you.
4. Re-purpose existing pieces.  A fresh coat of paint or stain can change the look and feel of an item in an instant.
5. Add a great wallpaper or mirror to the inside back section of book shelves or open cabinets.
6. Update cabinets, dressers, or storage units by changing the hardware – add new knobs or pulls.
7. Never buy just to fill up space or because the price of something fits within your budget.  Buy what you love and need.
8. Repaint and the entire space will be instantly updated and refreshed.
9. Create an accent or feature wall to bring new perspective to a space.
10. Bring the outdoors in.  Take advantage of the season and fill your space with fresh flowers for an instant hit of happy.

by Daniel Nicklin

DIY can be a great way to make repairs or improvements to your home. Not only do you avoid the expense of hiring a contractor, but nothing can match the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve created something lasting and durable with your own hands. However, even though DIY is an inexpensive alternative, costs can still add up. By following these tips, however, you can cut down on some of the major expenses.

Proper Planning
Unexpected difficulties are a major source of cost overruns. The key to avoiding these unanticipated challenges is a detailed plan. Make sure that you know the materials you’ll need for your project as well as all the key measurements. Prepare a contingency plan, taking into account possible dangers. Knowing what projects you’ll be undertaking in advance allows you to save money in other ways; many of the other tips on this list relay on good advance planning.

The Right Tools for the Job
A good tool set is a vital resource for any DIY enthusiast, but not even the most prepared DIYer can have the right tool for every job. If you have a need for a specific piece of equipment, consider contacting a tool hire company rather than purchasing it. Specialised tools are unlikely to come in handy for more than one task, and are often expensive compared to tools with a broader range of applications. If you only need a tool for one job, hiring can save you both money and storage space.

Economies of Scale
Long-term planning can help save you money over multiple DIY projects. Many items are more affordable when you buy them in bulk. If you need to buy wood, fasteners, paint or other necessary supplies, buying enough for several projects at once can cut down on your expenses. Storing supplies can be challenging if your available space is limited, but otherwise buying in bulk is a good way to keep costs down.

Shopping Around
Comparison shopping for materials is a great way to find bargains. Prices for DIY materials can fluctuate over time and between retailers, allowing an alert shopper to acquire necessary supplies at low prices. Don’t confuse saving money with buying cheap materials; buying low-quality items can prove to be a false economy, leading to additional expense in the future. If you keep your eyes open and plan in advance, however, you can find quality material at low prices.

Getting Help 
The essence of DIY is, of course, doing your home repairs by yourself. In fact, however, not every task is suitable for home repair. If your plan indicates that a mistake on a project will require costly repairs, you might want to consider hiring a specialist contractor. Although a qualified contractor can be expensive compared to doing a job yourself, getting a job right the first time is always a more economical option than having to do it twice.

by Vicky Sanderson

A little imagination - and a lick of paint - goes a long way. Good tape is critical for getting sharp lines, so stick to a good name brand, like ScotchBlue

We’re glad to report that the old, restrictive rules of decorating, including such gems as “always stick to one style or era in a room to achieve a consistent look”  have gone the way of the Dodo. Now, it’s all about layering an interesting mix of old and new and blending a variety of textures and finishes to create spaces that are highly personal and delightfully eclectic.

Happily, getting the look can be both economical and eco-friendly. Our suggestion? Individualize your décor by finding inexpensive, unassuming pieces on classified sites like Kijiji www.kijiji.ca. Then, with a lick of paint, and a little TLC, transform them into one-of-a-kind décor.

Recently, I created several home décor gems out of gently-used items easily found on Kijiji, which has recently added outdoor items, appliances and reno materials as distinct categories, making searching even easier. If you can’t immediately find what you’re looking for, sign up for an alert when an item that matches your search term comes online.

Here are a couple of projects that I hope inspire you to reduce, reuse and redecorate.

An old plate becomes a distinctive time piece

Individual plates make great wall clocks.  All you need is a plate, along with clocks hands (they come in cute shapes, such as knives and forks, hammers and screwdrivers or fishing rods) and a movement, both of which are available for less than $10 from Lee Valley www.leevalley.com , which also carries adhesive-backed numbers and dots.

To make, slowly and carefully drill a small hole in the centre of the plate. Place a piece of tape over the drill spot to keep it from cracking and added a few drops of water as you go along to keep the drill bit cool and lubricated (mineral oil works for that, too.). Then attach the movement and hands.

Check out the fabric section, too, and don’t discount linen tablecloths just because it has a tear or stain. Use still-good stuff into pillow shams, napkins, or tea and guest towels.

All it tooks was ScotchBlue tape and a daub of paint to create a one of a kind pilow to match other decor pieces

Plain pillow shams can be dressed up with fabric paint. I tried two methods. One was to simply tape straight lines with Scotch Blue tape www.scotchblue.com along a pillow and paint it out in cheery colours. For another pillow, I made my own stencil by hanging a length of the tape from a doorway and, using hole-punchers with two different sizes of holes, randomly punching a pattern. You can also get special edger punches with various designs. Remember to wipe excess paint from a small brush and brush lightly on the fabric (better here to do a couple of light coats than one thick one.)The same technique works on a glass vase. For a subtle effect, Krylon’s frosted glass spray www.krylon.com.

A bit of paint, and some good tape - try ScotchBlue - and you have a one of a kind pilow to match your other decor pieces

Paint out the messy bits on old pieces - and leave the rest as is

And don’t forget that painting stripes or patterns on a wall is an easy way to pump up the look of an entire room.

Not all pieces need to be entirely made over. I had no interest in stripping or painting the ornate legs on another older end table, but the top of it was damaged. I cleaned and oiled the legs before sanding the top and smoothing out dents with wood filler. On went a coat of primer (don’t skip this step!) and then a layer of Jute from Pittsburgh Paints and a narrow trim with Farrow and Ball’s Blazer — a warm, orangey-red. (Ahem – the ScotchBlue tape came in handy here as well – because my hand is not that steady.) I’ve since discovered that mixing original finishes with freshly painted surfaces is a trend that’s turning up in décor mags and on hip design blogs. Which makes me, of course, one of the cool kids. Better late than never, I guess!

For those of you who like to roll up your sleeves and get down to business, there are many resources you can utilize. With more and more people turning to DIY options tons of websites and resources have popped up in the past few years. Don’t know where to get started? Check out some of our tips below.

Pinterest
The newest social media craze these days is Pinterest. If you aren’t familiar, Pinterest is a virtual pin board filled with millions of great ideas. Whether you are looking for the perfect home décor idea or a great DIY project, Pinterest has got you covered. This site is a perfect way to keep new ideas organized and in one location. You do need an invite to join the site, but don’t fret—it’s easy to get one. You can either request an invite (usually takes a week max to receive) or you can find a friend to invite you. Pinterest surpassed LinkedIn this week as the third most used social media site so chances are you know someone who is on it.

DIY Network
This is a great resource, and we can also lump HGTV and Better Homes and Garden into this section as well. All of these publications have TONS of resources and ideas for the DIY reno at heart. With no end in sight for the economy to pick up, more and more people are turning to DIY options for home renovation. Making resources easier to find.

There’s an App for That
Between tablets and smart phones you can hold a great amount of information in your hands. Stylelist has come up with a list of 21 apps to take advantage of. Some apps include:

• Photo Measures—Allows you to talk a picture of an object and write the measurements down on the photo. Making it easier to find those notes you took.
• inchCalc—Converts measurements into decimals for you.
• iHandy Level—This app is a digital level and works great on your smartphone.

Pick Your Friends and Family’s Brain’s
Collaboration is a great thing. The more you talk about your home renovation plans, the more people are going to start talking about their experiences. You never know what kind of tips you can get. Friends and family are a great place to get a wealth of information quickly.

Are you a DIYer? Give us your tips in the comments below.

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Courtesy guest post by Frank Merryman and Protex Pest Control providing expert pest control service and Houston pest control protection since 1978.

by Ann Nguyen

Image from Decoist.com of Interior Design by Summer Thorton

It started in the eighties and nineties and it’s still going on today – the craze of stripping down old wooden furniture and restoring it to its former glory. This can be a great way to add your personal stamp on a home, and it can be a real source of satisfaction to pick up something cheap and grotty from a second hand sale and transform it into a beautiful piece of furniture.

It needn’t be too much hard work, either. If you enjoy rooting around at car boots and flea markets, you’ll soon find an occasional table or chest of drawers to test out your renovating skills on. You don’t need too much equipment. Pop down to your local DIY merchant for some advice and some product, or you can use store cupboard ingredients. To strip grease and dirt from a piece of wooden furniture, you need a simple mix of olive oil and white vinegar (a cup of the oil and quarter the amount of vinegar). Mix the two together in a spray bottle and apply to the furniture. Then simply work the mixture in with a clean cotton rag. As you work over the surface, the rag will get black with the grease and dirt that the vinegar lifts out. At the same time, the oil will nourish the wood, helping to bring it back to a shine.

As you’ll have to do this a number of times, this kind of project will take you a few days – store the item in the garage so it’s out of the way when you’re not working on it.

You’ll get a lot of satisfaction admiring your handiwork when the restored furniture is in your home – much more than if you’d bought it from the local furniture sale. Of course, it might not be how you’d choose to furnish your whole home, and in fact, it can look even better if you have some new furniture to go alongside the older items. For instance, you might pick up a cheap dining table and chairs made of metal and glass that look great next to an old fashioned sideboard that you’ve restored yourself.

by Nisha Sharma

The iPhone is a revolutionary device that does more than allow people to communicate with each other. One of the popular features of the iPhone is its applications. There is an app for everything from cooking to spiral staircases to learning a new language. For people interested in interior design and remodelling, there are iPhone apps that can help you redesign your home.

Dream Home Free allows users to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in home design. There are many pictures that feature design styles from around the world to help home owners find their inspiration. This app is searchable by seasons, styles, areas of the house and colour. It features a great slide show, offline viewing and the ability to save design styles into folders. There is a limited version of the app available for a free download.

Colour Capture by Benjamin Moore lets people take pictures of any colour scheme and instantly matches it to the 3,300 paint hues. This app has a variety of features that includes custom colour creation and the ability to share colours using Twitter, Facebook and e-mail. The app also uses the phone’s location services to find the closest Benjamin Moore retailer. The app is a free download.

Anyone interested in beginning a home design project should consult Handy Man DIY. This home improvement manager provides information needed to finish a new project. The application helps to create shopping lists, descriptions on how to undertake a task and video tutorials.

Mark on Call is like having an interior designer without the restrictive costs. This app lets people who like to remodel spaces themselves a place to design, preview and realize their home improvement visions. The app includes the ability for users to customize the size of rooms and place of room elements to produce a realistic looking virtual environment. The program allows users to take pictures with their iPhone place them on any surface in the room to help with the visualization of a design. Other unique features include the ability to instantly measure a room with the cross-hair measure tool.

Anyone interested in home design should look no further than their iPhone. The array home improvement and redecorating apps cover everything from paint colours to furniture arrangements. Using these apps can help save time, money and makes redecorating as easy as a push of a button.

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About the Contributor

My name is Nisha Sharma, I am the Editor for LoftCentre.co.uk. I offer parenting advice and tips for designing and decorating the home.