All Things Marble

Those of you that know me well (or have said hello to me in passing on the street) know that I am desperately obsessed with marble. All things marble can cause my eyes to glaze over in a strange, euphoric manner. My husband is well aware of this phenomenon, and has been given approval on numerous requests by simply letting me pass by the marble tile section at Home Depot.

There is no specific things that creates this obsession in me for the beautiful natural stone – but instead many small things that I appreciate in it. The smooth polished texture, the cool feel, the light colours available, and the fact that I think it is the most extravagant item I will ever own. And boy, will I own a lot of it.

Good Deals - They Are Out There!

HomeDepot.Ca: Chandelier CC1168BN, $146.00

It's true that you can still get amazing products from big box stores. This candelier, available only online at www.homedepot.ca , is a steal at $146.00. Because of it's sleek lines, and feminine curves, this fixture will make people marvel like it is from a custom light shop, but will keep you out of the poor house.

I am a firm believer that when decorating that you should spend money on some items, and save on others. This way you get a custom look, but don't break the bank. This candelier gives you the best of both worlds.

My New Favorite Website!

I am all about my new favorite website: http://www.cercantile.com/

They have the most amazing tiles (especially marble!) that I have ever seen. Better yet, you order from Cercan Tile through Hourigan's (http://www.hourigans.com/)!

The above photo is a basket weave marble (in my favorite: Ming Green). I must have it.

Kid's Rooms - Part 3 Girls Rooms

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1. AllPosters.ca: Angelique Tulips I, $284.99
2. Home Depot: 5 Light Chrome Chandelier, $169.00
3. Fabric.com: Summerlin Geranium, $10.98/yard
4. Fabric.com: Randy Geranium, $10.98/yard
5. Heirloom Linens: Alto Cotton Quilt, $129.99/queen
6. Ikea: Birkeland Queen Bed Frame, $389.99
7. CanadaFlowers.ca: Pink And White Tulips, $65.00
8. Ikea: Utsira Mirror, $24.99

As always, I started this room with a sensational fabric (see Item #3), which gave me the perfect jumping off point for this room’s design. When using such a bold coloured fabric, it is important to keep everything else in the room neutral, light and airy. This is why I choose a dreamy white bedspread (see Item #5) and a chandelier fit for a princess (see Item#2).

Choosing long lasting ‘bones’ for a room will allow the room to have enduring appeal to your little diva, but have fun with adding bright, bold fabrics to spice it up. Pillow covers can be easily switched, but it is expensive to change a ‘Strawberry Shortcake’ bed frame.

And, as with most women, girls love feeling like…well...girls! Add some tasteful painting of flowers or some real flowers if they are easy to come by, and make sure to always throw in a few items that sparkle for some instant whimsy. Shinny mirrors, chrome lamps and airy bedding – that’s enough to make any girl smile!

Kid's Rooms - Part 2 Boys Rooms

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1. Fabric.com: Ele Village Brown White, $6.98/yard
2. Fabric.com: Hooty Owl Village, $6.98/yard
3. Fabric.com: Fancy Dot Mist Putty, $6.98/yard
4. Sears: Circular Mirror With Silver Frame, $319.99
5. Ikea: Hemnes Storage Bench, $129.99
6. Map Town Ltd: Cranbrook Globe, $120.00
7. Ikea: Dekad Clock, $8.99
8. AllPosters.ca: Mountain Meadow Farm, $84.99

Whenever faced with decorating a child’s room, I love creating a whimsical room that the child can grow up in. Keeping more permanent pieces neutral will allow the room to grow with the child, and there are many ways of adding whimsy with less permanent items.

For me, choosing fabrics is usually a jumping off place for a room’s design – and this couldn’t be truer than with children’s rooms. Finding a few fun fabrics will allow you to spice up a boys room, without being stuck with permanent juvenile fixtures (‘Toy Story’ carpet? I think not.). Use the fabrics for things like bedspreads or toss pillows – things that can be changed easy (and cheaply) once your child out grows his love of elephants.

The biggest thing to consider when designing a child’s bedroom is storage – especially with a little boy. Boys seem to be collector’s of things – little trinkets that mean the world to them. Store these little treasures in wicker or fabric baskets, placed on book shelves. This way they are easy for your little one to reach and play with, but still hidden from Mommy’s design eye. Small benches that double as storage containers are also a great way to hide sports gear or ‘stuffies’.

The number one thing to remember when decorating a little boy’s room is: he is a little boy. All he wants is a durable room that will be able to keep up with his rough-and-tumble life style (and sticky little jam-hands!). Choose items for lasting resilience and you will have a room that will be able to grow with your little man.

Kid's Rooms - Part 1 Baby Rooms

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1. AllPosters: Fern Collection 1, $164.99
2. Trans Globe Lighting: Resin Bird Hand Painted Table Lamp, $54.08
3. Ikea: Bastis Hook, $2.99
4. Fabric.Com: Waverly Lovely Lattice Citrine Fabric, $10.98 yard
5. Fabric.Com: Waverly Harmony Spa Fabric, $16.98 yard
6. Fabric.Com: Premier Prints Spirodots Chocolate Natural Fabric, $6.98 yard
7. Da Vinci: Kalani Crib, $248.98
8. AllPosters: Petite Southern Maidenhair Ferns, $124.99

Today, I am starting a series of ‘how-to’ articles for decorating kid’s rooms. I do this not just because I have talked with a few moms (and mommy-to-bes) who are lost on how to decorate their child’s room, but also because I have seen so many kid’s rooms that make my skin crawl. I am in favor of decorating in a quirky, endearing style – but I think that this is usually a missed opportunity to reflect the overall style of the rest of your home.

I have never been a big fan of heavily themed rooms, and this goes for baby’s rooms as well. I love when a small accent is done tastefully, but it can be a slippery slope if you don’t keep in mind that ‘less is more’. I also firmly believe that a baby’s room should reflect some of the parent’s taste. Your 5 month old will not notice that their room is not daffodil yellow, but more of a smoky blue. Remember that YOU have to spend a lot of hours in this room (sometimes at very distasteful times of the night), and you want something that you find relaxing. I also believe in using more mature colour scheme so that your baby will be able to grow into the room, not grow out of it.

I love gender-neutral colours in a baby’s room. Not only am I pro not knowing the sex of a baby (there are few surprises left in life, and this is one of my favorites), but what about the second baby? Will you really have the time and funds to re decorate the nursery if the second baby is a different gender? What about the third? Or forth (if you’re really a trouper!). I love light, smoky blues, and I believe that with the right accents this colour can look very neutral. Look for lots of whites, ivorys, and taupes – this will tone down the boyish brand of the blues.

Babies are so innocent and natural, that I feel their room should reflect that. Use accents with leaves, ferns, and other natural elements to get a whimsical design. Those of you that know me well, know that I am all for patterns. I love polka dots and paisley, and can often be seen fondling the bold striped fabrics at our local fabric store (www.clothcastle.com). Use lots of different patterned fabrics, in a similar colour scheme, and you won’t be disappointed.

A Change of Scenery

After 3 years working for the Provincial Government, I have decided to leave and move to the private sector (gasp!). I now work for Hourigan’s (www.hourigans.com), a local flooring company, working in on their insurance claim flooring jobs. If you have a flood or fire in lower Vancouver Island, you will probably talk to me at some point.

This was a tough decision for me to make, but I am already happy with how much interior design work I get to do! You know how much I like spending other peoples’ money!