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Advice for Homeowners

A Perfect Example of how Complex Colour Works

03/02/2012
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Annie sent me this photo and with a question, ‘Are my sofa’s pink beige?’. She said in her current house (2nd photo) they looked yellow and in her last house (photo below) they looked pink. And she was absolutely right. The reason why complex neutrals are so complicated is because they change depending on which colours are beside them.

The wall colour below is BM HC-105 Rockport Gray (the whole room is the same colour but the light coming in from the left makes it look lighter in the photo) which has a green undertone. This pulls out the pink in her sofas.

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4 Best Colours to Paint a Rental

02/20/2012
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I recently consulted with a client who was fixing up a rental property and we had to choose one colour to go throughout the entire house. So here are my hot tips on the best colour to paint a rental and also a good guide if you are starting with an empty house and moving…

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Vancouver Interior Designer: Four Ways to Decorate for Your Next House

01/20/2012
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Recently a client asked if the chaise lounge chairs we were considering for her den could be designed so that they matched her living room furniture in the event she were to move. Another couple is redecorating their living room but they want to make sure that the furniture they select now will potentially fit into a condo when they downsize.

What about if you rent? That’s when a lot of people are even more inclined to wait until own before they purchase ‘custom’ furniture specifically for the rental they live in.

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What NOT to Do with Your Kitchen Island Design

12/05/2011
22 Comments

So just to be clear, I am not a kitchen designer. In other words, if you need a new footprint, or you need someone to design your cabinetry, where your spices and cookie sheets will be stored, well I am not that person. source However, which colour? Which countertop? Floor? Which backsplash goes with granite?…

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Should you buy a Sofa in Microsuede? Yay or Nay

08/01/2011
69 Comments

I received this question today;  “We are thinking of buying two sofas in microsuede and was shocked to read in your blog that you are very critical of Microsuede. What is the best fabric (not leather, my husband hates it) for households that have animals but want elegant sofas?” source So I replied “I prefer sunbrella…

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The Best Trim For Bathrooms; Not Cloud White

06/28/2011
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I always have to include Cloud White in posts I write about trim because it’s too commonly used as a go-to, fix-all, no-questions-asked solution.  A client emailed me today with a great question: Is it okay to have a warmer, off white trim throughout the house but use a brighter white in the bathroom to…

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Here’s a way to make your Bookshelf Beautiful

08/04/2010
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When I was debating which bookshelves to buy for my living room I did a search for Billy Bookcases and found some very cool examples of ways to make them look more colourful and custom.  House & Home Magazine   You may or may not know this but what makes a custom bookshelf different from…

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Styling Tricks of the Trade from David Jimenez

07/20/2010
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All photos courtesy of David Jimenez A couple months ago, David emailed me and asked if I would contribute a quote on an article he was working on for Spaces Magazine in Kansas City. Here’s mine, at the top of the first page: Since I first discovered design blogs I have been a huge fan…

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