Shades Of Grey Make for a Spectacular Room

Loved this dining room! The walls are a pale grey, love the combo with white. White chairs, white pictures, white chandelier offset by the silver mirror and candle stick holders

Doesn't the cow hide footstool just make the room?

The prints on the wall make this room. Also love the shape of the chandelier.

To see more visit and read about this home visit: http://j.mp/tG6TE9

Courtesy of Our Homes magazine

Big Impact. One Wall

I love the impact of one wall as a feature with wall paper. It turns a dull, uninspiring entryway into something with punch that you remember.  The room above has no real architectural charm, in fact imagine how it would look in off white, a standard apartment hallway. 


The other benefit to a one wall feature is it becomes manageble even for the tightest of budgets.  Maybe I some  Thibault wallpaper.......

Go Cheap and Don't Go Home

I was chatting with my editor Gina tonight over the bad case of home envy that we get on a regular basis. We were moaning about how costly but how beautiful so many of the items we see in homes and in stores are.  Of course we came up with a million reasons why we shouldn't spend the extra dollars. 

Then I started thinking back on all of the purchases that I had cheaped out on.  The couch that I bought because the kids were going to wreck it anyway, which had a split seam within 2 months.  Vs the one I bought almost 10 years ago that still looks great.  The dressers that my husband build out of pine for the kids (in our DIY phase- he had every tool imaginable).  They looked lovely but try opening and closing the drawers in different weather conditions.  "Mom,  I can't get my socks out of my drawers".  They ended up leaving the drawers open.

 This could easily translate to interior design

I am pretty sure if I counted up the real cost vs my perceived savings I could have some pretty extraordinary pieces in my home right now.  I think there are times when choosing a less expensive option is right but maybe not a cheap option.  Time to turn over a new leaf....(not a cheap leaf either)

Stylin' at Sea, I think not

I was so excited when I saw the photo of this Yacht.  I could only imagine how beautiful the interior was, particularly since it had been completely redone.  Origninally 60's yacht, redone!  Who would have thought the owners would be so attached to 60's style.  I will preface my response by saying I am not an interior designer, so what do I know but YUCK!

See more if you dare at Architectural Digest http://goo.gl/wmb2g

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Elegant Christmas Table Setting- On a Budget

There is nothing more beautiful then a table that is set and decorated at anytime of the year.  It is one of the things that we do on every photo shoot is ensure that the tables are beautifully set.  Sometimes it looks like it cost a fortune to set the table, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune.  I have posted some beautiful tables that utilized everyday home and decor items. 

The table above is just tea towels and candles. You can spray paint a square piece of cardboard gold to have a beautiful accent underneath the plates. 




Faux fruit can be a little on the pricey side and then you have to store them away.  Why not buy some silver and gold spray paint and go to town on real fruit?



Extra christmas tree ornaments? Combine them with some fruit for a lovely centerpiece.

Christmas crackers are often pricey and the gifts are cheesy.  Why not save gift opening until dinner and place a beautifully wrapped gift on everyone's plate.  Of course this won't work for playstations and barbie dream houses...




Drap a few extra decorations with ribbon on the back of each chair and voila you have some extra christmas spirit.  Happy Holidays!

www.ourhomesmagazine.com/oakville

Wow Factor in a Dinette

Is this a table set or a work of art?  It is really stunning although, it would be hard to dust ........

www.ourhomesmagazine.com/oakville

Bank on It! Banquettes

 

One of our feature homes in our Sept Issue had a beautiful banquette seat. It was not a built in, and it transformed a nice table into a feature.  I loved this tailored gray banquette, it could fit into so many decors and be the statement piece for the room.

Here are some other great examples and a link to our Sept Issue for a peak at our banquette: http://www.ourhomesmagazine.com/oakville/issue/?ID=147