Resolve to LOVE your home in 2017

Are you having a difficult time finding a New Years Resolution that you know you can stick with? One that won't be forgotten by January 15th?  If this is the case....I'm here to help!!

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Let's all resolve to LOVE our homes in 2017!  Many of my clients ask me what they can do to fall in love with their home again.  They have been in the house for several years and the magic is no longer there....it feels dated and cluttered.  Here are a few tips I can give you to fall back in love with your home.



1.  DECLUTTER

This is a big one to start with, but it is essential to PURGE your home before you can make it pretty and functional.  It will feel overwhelming at first, but take it one room at a time.  One week at a time, one month at a time.  Try starting with the kitchen and the main living area. Go through every drawer, cabinet, shelf in the room.  The best thing to do is to empty the room completely.....and go through objects one by one.  Decide if you will donate, trash or keep the item. A rule of thumb....if you haven't used something in the past year, it should be gone (in most situations). Once those spaces are complete, head into the bathrooms and bedrooms.  Leave unused areas till last....this allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment right away.



2. PAINT

Paint is the one thing I always suggest to clients when they are craving a change.  Its amazing how this simple change can transform a room immediately......and for not a lot of money.  9 times out of 10, I will suggest my client go a few shades lighter than what they currently have on the walls. Dark walls are great in certain areas of the home, but lighter, brighter colours bring life back into the kitchen and living areas.  And no, it doesn't have to be white....but a neutral colour is recommended.


3. BE INSPIRED

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Where do I start when I want to start decorating my home?  First things first....find inspiration!  This is the first thing I ask my clients to do before we meet up.  I ask them to go through magazines, Pinterest, google images, facebook and design blogs (like mine ).....anywhere they may find inspiration.  Inspiration is not only found in home and garden magazines either....inspiration can be found in clothing, architecture, garden magazines,  tv shows or movies.   Having a jumping off point is the first step to figuring out your colour scheme and overall style.


I guarantee that if you follow these steps, you will be well on your way to LOVING your home again. Lets do this!!

Nicole

Happy Friday!  Well.....I made it through the first full week of 2017....yay! We are definitely easing into the new year over here...just the way I like it. The girls are back in school and we are back to some form of routine. 

I am a HUGE goal-setting girl.  I force it on my family as well....I'm sure they will appreciate it one day. Ha!  In keeping with the goals/resolutions for January, I thought I would focus on storage ideas for the first Friday Favourites of the year.  Many resolutions consist of some form of organization goals....mine included.  Pop on over to the online shop to check out more storage ideas.

steel console | 2 drawer grey cabinet | buffet  | bookcase |  dresser 

A few other things that caught my eye this week.....

I love Gretchen Rubin's new book Better than Before.....her interview with Goop is really great. Making-Keeping Resolutions.....Habits!!!

I love reading new decorating blogs.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Nicole 

Deer Ridge Kitchen Renovation

We are just finishing up on an amazing kitchen renovation this week....and I am sooooo excited to show you the before/after.  Who doesn't love a good before and after?!

I initially met with these clients back in May to start the design process.  I took cues from their existing style, as I had worked on other decorating projects with them in the past.  The demo started the first week of November with the intention of having it complete before Christmas....and we made it!

This was the BEFORE....

The cabinets were dated and the layout wasn't functional.  We had originally wanted to add an island, but as you can see, there was little room in the existing U-shaped layout.

And these are the AFTER!

Amazing change!  Brighter space and more functional storage.  Way more counter space......and we even managed to incorporate a peninsula.

It turned out so well....and the clients are super happy!  

Nicole