Benefits of Minimalist Decorating

Over the past year or so, I have embraced a more minimalist lifestyle.  And this has definitely made its way into my decorating. Lets be clear here... Minimalism does not have to be an empty room with white walls. Minimalist decorating is the idea of quality over quantity.  Decorating your space with items that have meaning to you, rather than many items that simply fill the space.

A minimalist space does not need to feel cold and sparse...using texture and natural materials can give a minimalist room a cosy comfort.


Benefits of Minimalist Decorating:

CALMING, LESS STRESSFUL
Leaving empty spaces on the walls, in the corners of the room and on surfaces around your home naturally brings a sense of calm.  Visual clutter is stressful to the mind and soul.

EASIER TO CLEAN
Choosing to decorate with fewer furniture pieces and accessories covering every space in the house, makes it so much easier to keep a clean home.  Knick knacks and extra furniture pieces collect dust, which affects our health....and lets be honest, the thought of dusting and vacuuming around a room full of stuff can be overwhelming.

sarahshermansamuel.com

SPACE 
Minimalist spaces often feel larger and more open because the focus is on the important design aspects of the room rather than overwhelming with clutter.  A simple artistic vase on a coffee table vs stacks of books, magazines and trinkets speaks to the design of the overall space.  Less stuff makes a space more inviting.

josephdirand.com

Minimalist decorating often enhances the functionality of a space with the added benefit of a calming and decluttered haven.  Have you thought about minimizing your decorating?

Love your home,

Nicole

Monday Inspiration

Happy Monday!  Its nice to be back blogging....I took last week off to spend time with the kiddos on their first week of summer break.  So much inspiration this week....


Would love to start and end my day at this dining space....




This kitchen is absolutely stunning...love the wall of stone with the simple modern black cabinets.

The addition of velvet ochre pillows in this neutral bedroom is perfection...adds a touch of warmth.

I like how the grey on the floor was mirrored on the ceiling in this modern bathroom.

Remember, inspiration is everywhere!

Love your home,

Nicole

Friday Favourites | From the Shop

Happy Friday!  It is officially summer break for my girlies today and we are sooooo excited for some rest and relaxation!  I am also excited to show you some of the new pieces in the shop.  Drool worthy, aren't they?!

sofa | vase | side table | pillow | cabinet 

Enjoy your weekend!

love your home,

Nicole

Design Board | Living Room

I LOVE sourcing furniture and accessories.....it really is one of my favourite things to do. I like to play around any chance I get with different rooms.  I thought it might be fun to share some of my design boards every week.  Hope you enjoy!

chair | sofa | coffee tables | sconce | art | rug 

love your home,

Nicole

Decorating tips for the Ultimate Bedroom Retreat

For most of us, our bedroom becomes our retreat at the end of a long day.  So, with this in mind, we want the space to be calming and uncluttered.  I suggest to "under decorate".....meaning, don't make the space too busy.  "Less is more" in your bedroom sanctuary.


Purge!
As always, before I decorate a space, I purge.  Start with a clean slate.  Your bedroom should not be a dumping ground for old clothes waiting to go to goodwill or stacks of bills or loads of unfolded laundry.  Make your bedroom a clutter-free zone.

PAINT

Choose a paint colour that is calming and not too dramatic.  I like to stick to light neutral colours. Let the bedding and accessories do the heavy lifting!

MIX IT UP

Choose furniture pieces from different collections. For instance, the dresser/nightstands can be a different material than the bed frame, as in the photo below.  It adds layers to the design of the room.

TEXTURE

Instead of bright, bold bedding and drapery, keep to neutrals with an added textural interest.  All white bedding doesn't have to be stark if it is layered with a wool blanket and faux fur pillows. Texture adds the cosy factor!

PERSONALIZE

We are aiming for a santuary.....not a hotel room.  Make sure to add some personal touches.  A great way to accomplish this is with artwork.  Choose pieces that have meaning to you.  A particular painting or artist that you like.....or maybe a gallery wall of family photos.  This is where you can get a little creative.

A bedroom retreat is the ultimate in luxury.....enjoy your personal get away.

love your home,

Nicole

Monday Design Inspiration

Hello Monday!  So nice to see you again.  Join me as I share my favourite pins from the past week.....

This light fixture definitely makes a statement!  This understated colour palette speaks to me!

Love the detail on this wall...so simple but packs a huge design punch!

This mirror is perfection!  Love the storage detail for a small bathroom.

The large scale floral blinds are amazing with the grey walls, marble tub surround and brass details.

Remember....inspiration is everywhere!

love your home,

Nicole

Monday | Pinterest Inspiration

Its Monday and I am ready for a brand new week!  Love getting my week started with some major design inspiration from Pinterest.  Here are a few of my favourites over the past week.

Love the art work in this room.....I think this would be a great DIY project.  The daybed is killer too!





I am on the hunt for a screen in my backyard and I love the different width of boards on this one.




Think outside of the box when adding art on a large wall....Love this idea.




Wallpaper on the stair risers....Genius!





Have you come across anything that has inspired you this week?!  Would love to hear!
Nicole

Friday Favourites....Outdoor decorating

Its Friday and the countdown is on till summer holidays!  We have had some wet weather this week which has delayed some of our outdoor yard work, but hopefully this weekend we will get a few things cleaned up.

You'll notice from my friday favourites that I have outdoor decorating on the brain....

I love these easy DIY garden projects using sticks and twigs....something you could could put together in an afternoon.

Looking for outdoor furniture and came across this sofa....perfect for a small area.

These hanging chairs, which my girls would love, are on sale!

Super simple log rack to make stacking wood much more organized.

Perfect outdoor coffee table.....

Mother's Day Gift Guide.

Mother's Day is fast approaching!  I have rounded up a few last minute gift ideas...because she deserves a little something nice.  Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!

water bottle  | square stoneware |  infuser |  wireless charging station | throw pillows | serving pieces

Outdoor Dining

Its May!! Time to start spending more time in the backyard now that the snow has finally melted.  I have been scouring the stores for weeks to find the perfect outdoor furniture/accessories.  I'm excited to show you everything once we get it all set up. In the meantime, I have gathered up a few combinations for outdoor dining furniture for you to use in your own backyard.

But first, a few tips when shopping for outdoor furniture:

1.  Pay close attention to the details.....some furniture is labelled "outdoor" but is best kept covered or away from inclement weather. Make sure it states specifics like temperature and UV protection.
2.  Make sure you cover your furniture when not in use...this will definitely increase the lifetime of your furniture.
3. Outdoor fabrics have come soooooo far in the past few years.  There are many more colours and fabrics to choose from and the prices are way more affordable than they once were. Get creative!

chair one  | table one | chair two | table two | chair three | table three | chair four | table four

Staging Your Home for Resale

We are coming up on the busiest time of  the year in the Real Estate business....Spring!  You may be thinking of listing your home in the next few weeks but are overwhelmed with the idea of getting it ready for show.


Why Stage your Home?

There are overwhelming statistics that confirm homes that are staged/styled sell faster and for a higher price.  Home Staging gives you a competitive edge in a market full of potential buyers. It makes it easier to visualize the property as their future home.....and a potential buyer is more willing to walk through a home viewed on-line that has already been staged.

amberinteriordesign.com

What are the most important areas to stage?

The most important areas of the home to stage are the living room, kitchen, master bedroom and bathrooms.  These are the spaces that potential buyers look at most closely when deciding to purchase a home.

What to concentrate on when staging your home.

The 5 most important steps towards staging your home are:

1. Purging and Depersonalizing... clear out all of the clutter from each room and take down any personal pictures and memorabilia.  Potential buyers want to imagine themselves living in the home.

2. Repaint the home in a neutral light colour palette.  You want to appeal to a wider group of people.

3. Deep clean and fix up small issues in the home, focusing on the kitchen and bathroom.

4. Organize and focus on your storage space....potential buyers are always looking for more storage.

5. Update flooring in the main areas if the existing flooring is in poor condition.


If you are feeling like you need a hand, CONTACT ME and we can set up a consultation to discuss areas you can concentrate on to get your home ready to sell.  I love helping people get the most for their homes.


Nicole

Outdoor Planters

Its that time of year when we can start planning our outdoor landscaping!! In our neck of the woods, "planning" is the key word since we are still dealing with snow. Ugh!

I personally love the ease of planting flowers in pots around our backyard.  I have rounded up some of my favourite planters  from around the web.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Front Entry Makeover

Our front entry has had many different looks since we moved into this house 13 years ago.  Its latest design has brought much more light into a space that was once very dark and dismal.  We have painted the walls bright white, replaced the old 1970s metal bifold doors, changed the baseboards and trim and also replaced the front door with one that has a large window.  All of these small details have made such a huge impact!

This is what the entry way looked like when we first toured through the house in 2003.  Eeeek!  The wallpaper and flooring were quickly replaced.

I don't have a lot of pictures of the space immediately after the first big change, but for many years, this is what it looked like.  I LOVED this paint colour...Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray.  But it did make the space still very dark.  We replaced the front door a few years ago, which definitely brightened the area.

Over the past few years, my personal decorating style has really changed.  I am drawn to more minimalist, bright spaces which are now reflected in our home.  I also love reusing old furniture pieces as you can see in this photo.....we cut the legs off the old IKEA sofa table (circa 1996 which was sanded and repainted).

I feel like I need to add something to this wall, but haven't quite decided what yet...

I also love these satin nickel knobs...they are really clean and simple.

We are so happy with how everything turned out.  On to the next space!

Nicole

Green with Envy.

Happy St Patrick's Day!  I hope you all have your favourite green outfit on today!  Green can also look really great in your home.  You can simply add a few of your favourite house plants or you can take it up a notch and go for a beautiful green sofa!  Here a few stylish homes incorporating the colour green.....

Have fun celebrating tonight!

Nicole

Decor Inspiration: Wallpaper Murals

If you are looking for something bold on your walls....such as a full wall art installation....look no further than wallpaper murals.  They are stunning and will steal the show in any room you choose to hang them.

anewall.com

makerista.com

Anewall.com  has the best selection of murals....and they are all self adhesive and can be respositioned. Along with the very first floral image I posted, here are some of my favourites....

Another place you can find great murals are Walls Republic and they will even make a mural out of pictures you find on Shutterstock.  Very cool!!

Off to find the perfect mural....

Nicole

Small Bathroom Reno: Sinks

So glad its Friday....its been a great week, but we have had some really cold, snowy weather which I'm happy to say is leaving us this weekend!!

I am just starting the process of sourcing fixtures for a very small bathroom renovation we are undertaking this year.  We live in a small house which means small bathrooms.  So, I will have to get creative with the size of fixtures and also storage ideas.

Today I thought I would tackle bathroom sinks.  The bathroom is teeny tiny and will not have the room for a large storage vanity.  I am working with a maximum depth of 18" which probably means a wall mounted sink and faucet.  There is a possibility of restructuring the layout, but I am going to try to stick with these measurements for now.

studio-mcgee.com

sarahshermansamuel.com

little green notebook

Which do you prefer?  Do you have any experience renovating a tiny bathroom?

Have a great weekend,

Nicole