Articles written in the category : Do it yourself

For that personal touch in baby’s room… create a mobile!

By Gabrielle Howard - 22 March 2013 - No comments on this post

Preparing a warm and cozy room for a soon-to-arrive newborn – whether it’s your own baby, a grandchild, a niece or nephew, or even a godchild or a friend’s baby – is an especially magical moment! Adding something personal to this warm, snug space is quite often the final touch! You could write baby’s name on a wall or hang a picture that you create… or why not make a mobile?

Mobiles are always a nice addition to baby’s room – they’re a great source of entertainment and visual stimulation for the little one. People generally choose to buy a musical motorized mobile that they place over baby’s crib. If you already have one there, dare to be different: Install a second mobile, in the same colour theme as the first, above the changing table. Your baby will spend a lot of time, while on that table, gazing upwards!

Materials needed:

- Steel wire (must be strong enough to hold a certain shape)

- Thread (must be stouter than sewing thread) in a shade that goes with the mobile’s colours

- Cardboard of various hues

- One thumbtack (or a darning needle)

- A small jar of acrylic paint that matches the colours of the mobile.

Do something new with the old, part 3

By Gabrielle Howard - 7 March 2013 - No comments on this post

As described in the previous two blog posts, breathing new life into your furniture by giving it that personal touch is quite a simple process. Changing the handles or applying stickers can be done fairly quickly. Our final suggestion, though, takes a little more time!

If your furniture just “doesn’t do it for you” anymore and changing handles or applying stickers is also unappealing, why not go with a colour change? Yes, that’s right – give your furniture a brand-new colour!

Changing the colour of your furniture can really impact how you use it! Take a look at the before/after images below – clearly, a little girl’s chest of drawers can easily be transformed into something for a little boy, and vice versa.

5-Drawer Chest from our Summer Breeze Collection

4-Drawer Chest from our Logik Collection

Here’s what you need:

- An electric sander (or just some sandpaper). Both coarse and finer sandpaper (to create a nice, smooth surface for priming)

- Primer (same as the type used on walls)

- Paint (in a colour of your choice, same as the type used on interior walls)

- A brush

- A small roller

#1: Start off by thoroughly sanding the surface you intend to paint.

Do something new with the old, part 2

By Annie Lavigne - 2 March 2013 - No comments on this post

You’re probably familiar with wall stickers – those increasingly popular accents for various types of décor. Did you know that you can also apply them to furniture? Give your pieces a whole new look – you can opt for classical, zany or colourful.

Sources: Mondrian style furniture, clothe stickers on dresser.

We tried out the concept for you using two of our chests – one each from the Logik and Summer Breeze collections. All you need to do is visit an arts and crafts store, or any other big box retailer, and buy some stickers based on a theme that interests your child.

Note that some stickers, depending on their quality, are not very adhesive – so you have to make the right choice.

Another thing to keep in mind if you’re about to discard the piece of furniture in question: Some stickers, once applied, will not come off. Be forewarned!

Wall stickers are often easier to remove, whereas stickers created for no specific purpose other than to decorate your child’s diary, for example, are hard to take off and leave traces of glue behind… in some cases, they won’t come off at all!

Measure the flat surface of each drawer and divide the sticker using this dimension.

Do something new with the old

By Sophie Drouin - 22 February 2013 - No comments on this post

Are you bored with your furniture or do you have to switch it from one room to another and think it won’t go? Hold on! Before you decide to donate or toss, there is one easy and affordable thing to try and that is: replace the handles.

I’ve done a few tests to illustrate what I mean. For example on the left side, you can see a 4-drawer chest rather contemporary with linear handles in an antique Pewter finish for a little boy’s look. On the right side, I replaced the handles for new ones featuring a chic design and a curve in the middle in a shiny finish. This subtle change gives it a feminine and refined look.

The 4-drawer chest in your son’s room can then become a storage piece in the hallway or vice-versa. The change could also be more drastic, it depends what your needs are.

Here’s another example, it is a 5-drawer chest with a White distressed finish with wooden knobs, which give it a country style. And yet, this same chest can also borrow transitional lines if we add delicate metal pulls. We could also change for flower metal knobs for a young girl or colorful plastic knobs for a younger child.

The art of hosting for Christmas!

By Annie Lavigne - 19 December 2012 - No comments on this post

The holiday season is always a little stressful for the person hosting the family Christmas dinner – and I speak from experience! Although you’re in the company of people you know and love, you want them to like what you serve and to have a good time, which is completely understandable!

Here are a few simple ideas that will help you avoid extra stress and ensure that you enjoy yourself too!

Decorations

Your table doesn’t have to be excessively ornate! Gather together a few Christmas ornaments that you find particularly attractive, such as those made from glass and embellished with a lot of detail, and group them – along with a few candles or flowers, perhaps – into a centrepiece. You can use the white monochrome concept, as shown in the image below, or add a touch of colour in the form of green or red place mats or other decorations!

Aperitif

Serving an aperitif beforehand will help keep your guests occupied while you put the final touches to the meal. It also gives everyone enough time to arrive, while creating a relaxed atmosphere.

Main course

If you have your heart set on cooking, consider preparing a dish that’s within your capabilities and, if possible, that you can partly make ahead.