Professional design: making an interior healthy

Healthful living starts with a healthy interior environment. Before undertaking an interior decorating project, it’s helpful to review your built environment against healthy building standards. For example, upgrades to paint colours and lighting will not have the desired impact on your wellbeing if your space doesn’t have thoughtfully installed windows. As an athletic young woman…

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Decorating 101: attractive and colourful linens

When introducing colour into your home, purchasing colourful linens is a great way to test how different colours attract positive energy to your environment. Colourful curtains, pillows, throws, towels and bedding can all enhance the ambience of a room without the permanence of investing in colourful paint or furniture. Linens typically last for about 5…

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#LKRB principle of design: waste not, want not

With a no-waste approach to interior decorating, environmental sustainability and financial sustainability go hand in hand. One of the primary reasons that glamorous historical properties are sold into trusts is because they were built without an eye to maintenance costs. A low-key luxury living space gives thought not only to day-to-day contemporary living, but also…

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Furniture mods: upholstering like an expert

Upholstering your furniture with professional results does not require extensive interior design expertise. The papasan chair in the picture was transformed from a modern vibe to a rustic lodge aesthetic with a natural wool pillow cover. I used a wool wash with lanolin to soften the cover for an extra-cozy touch. Pillow covers versus upholstering…

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Make it for the gram: easy gingerbread lattes

Gingerbread lattes are subtly sweet with a little tingle of extra warmth that’s perfect for the darkest time of year. Making Insta-worthy hot chocolate and lattes is easy to do with the right kitchen setup. I like to keep my pantry stocked with a hot drink bar all winter long, especially during the holiday season….

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Holiday decor: how to make gorgeous stockings

You don’t need to be a Martha Stewart to decorate your home with gorgeous, handmade stockings. Bucilla stockings are a beautiful do-it-yourself option that anyone can assemble. And, if you don’t want to DIY, there are a lot of mom-and-pop shops that will make custom stockings for you. When I was little, my mom hand…

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Holiday decor: how to pick Christmas tree fence

Picking out a simple Christmas tree fence or collar can make it practical to set up a real tree that toddlers and puppies can enjoy. A little fence won’t stop anyone from munching on pine needles entirely, but it will make playtime near the tree a lot easier to supervise. There are a few pre-made…

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Furniture mods: how to stain wood

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…

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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…

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#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…

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