Blogs for August 2012

3 Ways to Decorate a Room with Black Furniture

By Sophie Drouin - 29 August 2012 - No comments on this post

They are widespread and versatile, which is why we can use them anywhere in the house; Black furniture pieces (or Ebony) are hot in the bedroom, the home office or the living room.  We used to buy Black furniture to create some drama or a techno look, but fortunately designers have found other vocations for them over time.

Available in the traditional, country, transitional and contemporary styles, Black furniture have something for many people. However it is important to be careful; even in a small size Black furniture is visually imposing and may give the impression a room is smaller than it really is.  Black furniture may also feel cold if not paired with the right colors.

But the right color should always be the one you like above all. You must find a fabric that inspires you and in this fabric you will find the wall colo rand the accent colors for deco.  That being said, not all colors have the same «magic». Here are some examples to illustrate my point.

3 options with Black furniture

3 options with Black furniture

If you have Black furniture and feel like a sober & classic décor, you can go with greys on the walls; it’s trendy and it is easy to add touches of pink, red, yellow, orange, lime green or turquoise (everything is possible, it depends on the chosen fabrics).

Making an “enlightened” choice in window coverings

By Gabrielle Howard - 14 August 2012 - No comments on this post

Decorating a room can be as simple as adding an attractive vase, a stylized area rug or even a beautiful piece of art. We tend to forget, however, that window coverings can also be a little “extra” that’s very easy to fit into your décor – even more so since they’re an essential addition most of the time.

Let’s start with the basics: How do you choose the right window covering?

  • You first need to decide on the style you would like for your room: contemporary, country, traditional or eclectic*?
    *Eclectic: A room done in eclectic style is a combination of various décors.
  • Decide what you need based on factors like privacy, lighting, the existing décor, etc.
  • Next, find the window covering that works best for you.

Traditional blinds

These are often under-estimated, since we think of the old aluminium blinds that used to be all the rage many years ago! Today, however, wooden blinds definitely have a decorative appeal that shouldn’t be dismissed. They’re just the thing for complete privacy with no light or for some privacy with the light from outdoors filtering into the room. Blinds are highly versatile and practical, since they go well with any style.

A do-it-yourself “hidey-hole”

By Caroline White - 8 August 2012 - No comments on this post

Here’s a new project for you: Set up an under-the-bed hiding-place as part of the IMAGINE Collection (see also the IMAGINE Collection in white!).

To start off, close your eyes and go back to when you were 5 years old. Are you there yet?

Now imagine that you have an ultra-secret hiding-place for yourself and your friends. Doesn’t this make you jump for joy?

Children love to have a little space all their own – which is why I promise you, this little hideaway under a loft bed will be an instant success. And best of all, it should take you no more than 30 minutes to set it up once you have everything you need.

View the step-by-step presentation for completing this fun project, below. Once it’s done, you can sit back and enjoy a great coffee while your child has fun in this new “secret” hiding-place!

South Shore mini-decorating project: An IMAGINE bed with a hiding-place underneath

The Imagine Collection
The Imagine Collection - Pure White

The Imagine Collection – Pure White

The Imagine Collection - Morgan Cherry

The Imagine Collection – Morgan Cherry

The ABC’s of Playroom Organization

By Alain Juneau - 1 August 2012 - No comments on this post

Toys everywhere, pieces of crayons on the floor, missing game parts: that’s the image that comes to mind when we think of playrooms. With the following advice, you won’t have to resist the urge to run away from home the next time you have to clean this kiddy haven.

A playroom

A playroom

Start by sorting

This is a crucial prelude to the process. Determine which toys will stay and which will go. If your child refuses to let go of any itemsthat you know are no longer played with, place them in a box and store this “treasure chest” elsewhere. Over time, you will eventually be able to bring the toys to their final rest. While you’re at it, you might as well throw out the old worn down sofa to free up some room.

Create distinct play areas

Divide the space into 2 or 3 different activity zones and store the objects in their corresponding area. For example:

Playroom Olympics

This is where all the noise happens! Start by defining floor surface on which your little athletes can run, jump, dance and roll their trucks. If you have a closet near this area, use it to store bulky items. Bins on wheels are useful for storing different sizes of balls.