Paint above: Benjamin Moore Welcome to the new age of design. As the new generation starts to move into their new homes, condos, apartments and swanky lofts, they long for something different than what they grew up with. They want to spread their fashion wings, and let their individuality shine. We spent most of the 80s and 90s saturating homes in greens and burgundies. One of my first jobs, as a designer, was to help a client who spent a fortune on a turquoise leather sofa in the late 80s. Yes, you just read that. The millennium arrived, and as my amazing faux finisher/decorative painter Suzanne Pratt of Venetian Studios rants, “boring, blah, beige, took over!” So here we are. Most of us, are sickened at the thought of hunter green and deep wine, and bored with white and beige. So, in efforts to help us out, the world of design is giving us BLUE! And, just in time for summer! Blue, as a “staple” colour, is a leap for most people. A blue sofa? A blue dresser? A blue rug? Really? It’s not just an accent colour? NO! If you are one of those people who has been […]
Any designer will tell you, they have a secret obsession with the accent chair. Accent chairs offer us easy and fun ways to fill little empty spaces, create punch in an otherwise boring room, use our favourite fabrics, indulge in a sculptural piece, or repurpose the cutest, sweetest, possibly not even usable, old chair that we can live without. But the insistence that every chair in your house must serve as seating holds us back. As does the misconception that your chairs must “match” your sofa, or your entire dining set. Think of it this way. An accent chair can be purposeful or just visual, funky or vintage, cheap and cheerful or expensive and luxurious. Here are some of my top picks for this season! Define your space: A living room does not have to conform to a sofa, loveseat and wing chair combination. Creativity is paramount when defining space. Remember too, when company is over, people would prefer to sit in a chair, than be the person in the middle seat on a sofa. Here, you see the building of the rooms character with two bold green chairs, and two fantastic printed chairs. The conversation area is defined, […]
The sun has finally decided to rear its beautiful head. The snow is GONE (if you live here in Toronto, this might be the happiest day of your life)!! And, I don’t know about you, but my deck has been torn apart! It came with the house. It’s rotting. Not very safe. Not our style. So, my husband and I are getting the back yard ‘decked out’ for a summer of fun. And what better time than to start right now? Before the warmest part of our year starts, so we haven’t wasted any precious summer time? Above: My husband ripping out the old, rotten deck. But alas, with the deck coming out, come many zillions of questions my dear husband wants answered. How many people in the new hot tub? What type of wood on the deck? Composite or real? Stain colours? Pergola? Planter boxes? Furniture? I wasn’t truly prepared for the barrage of questions. Nor was I really sure of what I wanted? I know I want the words Cabana, Beach and Zen to come to mind when I’m out there. And maybe a bit Party too, but how do I accomplish that? And, let’s face it, I […]
Figuring out what size your area rug should be is a question we get quite often. Clients have an old rug that was passed on from their mother, or grandmother, and they really want to use it, but does it fit? And now that you have all of this lovely hardwood flooring, do you really have to cover it up? The honest answer is no. If you want your hardwood to shine, then just leave the rug out. But if the comfort and ‘look’ of a rug is something that you are after, go big or go home. Rule #1: The living room rug There are three approaches to the living room rug: All legs on: The standard rule is that, in a living room, your furniture should be completely sitting on the rug. This creates a “dedicated space” for your living room furniture, and a cozier atmosphere. Leave about 8” or so as a border around the rug, so your lovely hardwood can show through, and it doesn’t feel like broadloom. Photo/Design: Monaco Interiors Front legs on: Sometimes you find the perfect rug, in an imperfect size. It is important, then, that all your legs fit onto the rug. […]
How to choose the RIGHT blinds for your home?? Often, as the sun FINALLY emerges after the long winter months, it blares its rays into our homes. Aside from the obviously wonderful emotional benefits, there are a few drawbacks to its intrusive behaviour. Rooms warm up, more than we want them to and watching our televisions with the intense glare becomes impossible. We worry about our wood floors fading, our silk drapery rotting and our precious early hours of sleep. While sheers can act as a barrier, true control is measured by the hard working blind. And all the while, we really don’t want that pesky blind interrupting our hard laboured décor. Here are some different blind options, and the pros and cons related to their functions. Horizontal Shades Royal Wood Shutters By Elite WF available through Monaco Interiors Pros: 1. You can purchase most with a privacy feature, which lessens light coming into the room 2. There is this great wand or rope that allows you to “turn” them and move them up or down, to your preferred level of light control 3. Relatively inexpensive, unless you move into the real wood zone 4. The aluminum ones are fairly […]
Newport style defined: classic design that lends its origins to Newport, Rhode Island, a seaside city along the east coast of the United States. The city boasts beautiful sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean, and is well known as a summer resort destination. Not as beachy as Cape Cod, or neon as Miami, Newport has its own niche style. A style that has been coveted by today’s homeowner. But it’s not super easy to create a space, in Canada, that reflects the vibe of this lovely city, while not looking like you’re trying too hard. Design that looks too conspired never truly feels like a comfy home. And if nothing else, Newport style is comfy, calm, organic and natural. Maybe even a little, teensy bit, Ralph Lauren. Trying to recreate this style, a few degrees north, isn’t very complicated, but it’s a commitment. You can’t just do it “a little”, you’ve got to be all in. I personally love the look. It’s pretty timeless, and easily acquired if you stick to the design ethic, and promise not to use boat rope to wrap a light fixture or table base. Try sticking to three or four colours. Maybe go with a […]
It’s back! It’s been back for quite a while, and although most of us associate wallpaper with the 1970s velvet flocked granny papers, modern times have propelled wallpapers into the future. No matter your design ethic, wallpaper can add anything from some simple texture, a splash of colour or an artistic element. Use it to complete your design, add sophistication or even frame it as an inexpensive, yet unique, piece of art. Super thank you to Joanne Fabrics (www.joannefabrics.com) for these great wallpapers, and for providing Monaco Interiors will all the books for our clients!! Let’s look at different styles and how wallpaper can be used to enhance a space. Cottage/Vintage Chic Pretty wallpaper, in either a neutral as shown, or a lovely shade of your favorite vintage inspired colour, can really create the look you are after by acting as your jumping off point. Here we can see that the paper used initiates the colour palette, and instantly gives the homeowner that cottage chic, almost French inspired look. Add some feminine furnishings, and there you go. Design done. Un fait acompli! (means job well done) Hollywood Glam Going black and white is a classic, Hollywood inspired design concept. […]
What’s your personality? Laid-back? Super-charged? Fun and vibrant? Zen? Are you sure? Is that how others would describe you, or is it what you wish to be? It’s just like your clothing. You know, how some people always look so perfectly styled? And it’s never the typical stuff that we all shop for. It’s always bohemian chic, or classic tailored or the like. Those people have already figured out what their story is, or at least, what they want you to believe it is. Filling your home with furniture, splashing paint on the walls, throwing down a rug…it can all be so scary. But if you take some time, and figure out who you are, what you really do like, and how you want to feel, narrowing things down can be a lot easier. Hiring a designer should be something you do once you’ve done that homework. That way, when they leave, your home actually feels like your home. Here’s some inspiration thanks to Maxwell Fabrics. The Neutral Zen-Type This palette is definitely great for someone who is laid back, and maybe wants to feel calm and natural at home. The trick is texture. Lots of shades of neutrals, with […]
The colour trend Guru of the design world is Pantone, a company offering up their “decision” of colour trends for the year to designers of fashion, interiors, textiles, accessories and so on. We, like bees to coveted honey, lie in wait until the big announcement. So, in the very end, what, exactly does this mean for you, our clients? Well… Let’s examine the last two years of trends announced by Pantone. In 2012, it was Tangerine. I seem to remember everything being turquoise. Ah…maybe with a hit of Tangerine. In 2013, it was Emerald. Things were still turquoise. Maybe with a hit of Emerald? This year, the big announcement came with a very exotic name: Radiant Orchid. Ooh la la! But it you go shopping, guess what? Things are still all watery blues! Check out Pottery Barn’s website! Indigo Blue, colour of the season. Well, talk about rebellious! SO let’s mix it all up! For those of you who are heart-felt trendies, let’s use Radiant Orchid, and maybe mix it up a bit with some of our leftover Emeralds and Tangerines? Try incorporating some of that fantastic Orchid into your accessories. Some ideas might be a great […]
Toronto Furniture Show 2 Chairs! They are often so expensive, and are an often overlooked opportunity for true design fun. Pairing modern, fun chairs, with traditional dining tables is a great way to turn something old and dated (like your grandmother’s dining table), into something contemporary and chic. Who made that rule that everything has to be all matchy matchy and boring? Designers know that when you spice things up with some daring buys, your home can go from blah to fantastic! Zuo Modern Furniture understands today’s consumer needs for affordable pieces to compliment the big purchases. I found some super fun pieces, that won’t break the bank, but will add some serious punch! And their “designer knock-offs” make the look attainable for anyone who wants that oh la la look. I took a corner at the show, and came face to face with this fun, plastic and floral fabric chair. It turned on my happy switch. How could you not smile when seeing such a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy space? Although a bit on the feminine side…who’s kidding…it is super girly, but at about $300 each, this chair can add some serious pizazz to a bachelorette […]
