Applying wood stain and a light varnish is a beautiful way to refinish furniture that enhances the original aesthetic of the wood. You can refresh one piece of furniture at a time to ameliorate signs of wear and tear. Or, you can refinish several pieces of furniture from different designers and manufacturers with the same…
Author: Mir Martz
Puppy decor: space for a new puppy
Setting up an inviting sleep-and play space for a new puppy is easy if you think from the puppy’s point of view. Dogs need furnishings and toys that are washable and replaceable. If you have a young puppy that hasn’t finished teething, they also need to be able to chew on everything without hurting a…
#LKRB principle of design: love before you buy
The most important reason to purchase inexpensive furniture as a young adult isn’t to save money, but rather to make sure that when you do buy high quality furniture, you love what you buy. Shopping for antiques and custom-made decor takes patience and persistence. If you don’t hire an interior designer to do your shopping…
Custom decor: better than a corkboard
Thanks to the proliferation of do-it-yourself crafters, there are a lot of bulletin board alternatives today that are visually appealing. The custom-made rattan board in the picture supports clips or pegs that can be permanently attached and won’t fall to the floor. I added this rattan board to the wall next to my front door…
Furniture shopping: storage the family will love
When you have a growing family, choosing furniture for storage can seem like a game of musical chairs. Rearranging belongings for young children and pets that get bigger every day, while prioritizing safety and trying to make everything visually appealing, doesn’t require being a natural-born Marie Kondo. With young children or pets, you may find…
Furniture shopping: creating an easy workspace
You can easily create a workspace anywhere in your home with nothing but a mini desk and chair. Home offices can feel overly secluded and take up a lot of space, while a mini workspace can be set up with only a few square feet. I created the workspace in the picture for guests to…
Decorating 101: how to use Google Image Search
Shopping online for furniture and decor with a specific aesthetic is easy thanks to visual search tools like Pinterest and Google Image Search. Let’s dive into how to use Google Image Search to find the aesthetic you want at the quality and price point that matches your needs. Selecting inspiration photos for furniture and decor…
Custom decor: make your own tavern sign
You can make your own custom decor that is authentic and one-of-a-kind without spending a lot of money. A tavern sign like the one I’ve rendered in Runway in the picture can be made for $20 to 50. The centuries-old logo from a family brewery makes it meaningful to me. At-home bars have surged in…
Professional design: biophilia to lift your mood
One of my favorite design philosophies to enhance the mood of a space is biophilic design. “Biophilia” is a word that means “love of living things” and biophilic design incorporates natural elements into your home. Making use of biophilic elements in your home boosts your emotional well-being by bringing the psychological benefits of time spent…
Colour basics: how to budget for interior paint
Making a budget for home upgrades like interior paint is an important part of shopping for any new home, whether you’re renting or buying. How much you need to budget for interior paint depends on the size of your home. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to count the number of “standard rooms” in…