Mixing Wood Tones

Ask a Designer : Q&A 

Design Dilemma : 

I recently had a client that just purchased a new home, open concept living/dining/kitchen space. The floors were like a warm Maple with some variation of a chestnut brown, the cupboards were a yellowish Oak, there were storage built-ins that were painted black, the island was a light natural wood colour. Her question for me was : What dining table (she prefers wood)  should I get to go with all these crazy different wood tones?! 

Designer Solution : 

1. First things first, if you do not have the budget or desire to replace or paint all the cabinetry and your preferred dining table material is wood, the easiest solution is to look for one with several variations of wood tones in it. Here are a few examples: 

  

2. Or, one of the following choices : Solid/Glass/Marble Dining Tables : 

If you have a design dilemma, let me know about it :) 

Marsala. Greys. Rose Gold. Emerald.

Every once in a while I will come across one piece that I obsess over... This week, it's all about an emerald green leather tufted chesterfield. So, naturally, I decided to mess around with how I would style this gorgeous piece of furniture. With such a classic piece, my go to Designer for all that is classic and elegant is Ralph Lauren. The gorgeous grey/white area rug is a modern take on traditional, paired with a unique high gloss black arm chair with a marsala velvet upholstery added a modern elegance to the chesterfield. The Art is made by Renwill, coffee table and lamp by Sunpan to complete the look. I love this rich, dark colour palette & modern take on traditional! 

Home Staging Tips

                                                        Home Staging Tips

Your home is a reflection of your personality & style…. And now you are trying to sell your home to someone with their own unique personality & style…. How do you make your home desirable to a wide range of different personalities? The answer is…. Keep…it…SIMPLE. Here are some tips :

1.    

            Keep it Neutral – Go for paint colors that are light, and will work with any décor.

   Designer picks :

2.       De-clutter - Imagine walking into a furniture store, take a look at how they set up one of their vignettes – That’s how every room in your home should be set up. No magazines, no Kleenex boxes, no magazines, no mail, hide your remotes and family pictures.

3.       Keep it clean – Imagine the queen or your celeb crush could drop in at any moment…. And clean accordingly.

4.       Avoid Art work & wall stickers – The only thing that should be on your walls are mirrors. Artwork showcases your personal style, and make it more difficult for a buyer to envision themselves in that home if all of your personal touches are everywhere.

5.       Common-scents – Avoid strong scented chemical air fresheners, some buyers can be really sensitive. Use natural scents like fresh flowers, some essential oils, and if you want to go the extra mile… bake something yummy before you have a viewing!

Designer Tip : Try this homemade all natural stovetop potpourri recipe :

1Cup water

2 Cinnamon sticks

1-2 Vanilla Bean

Citrus peel  

Simmer on stovetop on low.

6.       Invest in a Decorator – A decorator knows how to make the space look beautiful and function to it’s full potential.

                                                                                    

                                

Neutrals

Achromatic