June 4, 2018

Where to Splurge and Where to Save: Outdoor & Patio Spaces

When it comes to making your house a home, it can take time and effort to get it juuuuuust right. It can also take a big budget. Good news though, because I am here to help trim that budget and ensure you’re investing in the quality pieces your home deserves with our new series: Where to splurge vs. where to save. In each series post, I’ll focus on one room or space and help showcase just how easy it is to have a beautiful home without breaking the bank.

And since it’s the start of a beautiful Canadian summer, what better ‘room’ to focus on for the first post in the series than every Canadian’s favourite summer hangout: the patio, deck, yard, and outdoor hangout space.

Where to Splurge

Quality Seating

The key to spending time outside is being comfortable. When it comes to investing in your outdoor space, whether it is an outdoor living room, patio, deck, or dock, quality seating is your number one item.

Think about how many people will enjoy this outdoor space on the regular and ensure there is enough sturdy, comfortable seating for everyone. For a family of four or five who enjoys reading or iPad time outside, this might mean a pair of outdoor chairs, a lovely outdoor sofa or loveseat, and some outdoor cushions. Or, if enjoying games night and a great meal together are more for your family, a quality table and chairs will have you enjoying your meal al fresco any night nice enough to sit outside.

Source: Johnson Design Inc. on Houzz

Don’t worry about not having quality seating for all the extended family members who arrive for a long weekend barbecue. A few quality seats (like your outdoor sofa) reserved for grandma and other important guests will do, along with some indoor accent chairs dragged outside, and a mishmash of folding chairs.

When it comes to your outdoor space, splurging on quality seating enhances your everyday outdoor time and gives you the perfect place to park special guests during family gatherings.

Where to Save

Lighting: There are countless examples of incredible outdoor lighting fixtures, and if budget is not one of your constraints I encourage you to splurge away and light it up! However, for the budget-minded buyer, there are lots of great ways to achieve great lighting and atmosphere in your outdoor space without spending much.

String up some white Christmas lights or Edison bulbs.

Source: Chelsea Construction Corporation on Houzz

Or try popping battery operated tea lights into wine glasses and old mason jars.

Source: James Martin Associates on Houzz

Other outdoor inspiration:

When it comes to saving without sacrificing style or enjoyment, give your outdoor lighting a “DIY-style” solution and save.

Rebecca, Your Furniture Expert

May 24, 2018

Outdoor Living (Rooms): Here to Stay!

No matter how short our Canadian summers are, one hot summer trend that isn’t going anywhere is the outdoor living room. No longer just a picnic table and uncomfortable folding chairs we pull from the spider-web shed, today’s outdoor living rooms are chic and functional.

Want to step up your outdoor decorating game this year? Here are the four essentials for any great Canadian outdoor living space.

1) Say ‘Welcome’ from the Outside

From a fresh spring welcome mat at the front door to a bright floral wreath, the quickest way to step up your outdoor décor game is to decorate your home from the outside in.

2) Comfortable, Convertible, and Ample Seating for Family and Friends

Patio tables and chairs, outdoor sofas, sectionals, and ottomans, are all great (and comfortable) ways to ensure you and your guests have a soft spot to land after some fun in the sun. With bright coloured cushions, umbrellas, and throws for cooler evenings make your yard just as cozy as your living room with plenty of pillows and places for quiet retreat.

3) Personal Touches like a DIY Side Table or Planters

We all want our spaces to be a reflection of who we are, so show your colours and add some personal touches to your outdoor space. Grab some spray paint and jazz up some planters or add some stripes to a side table/extra guest perch.

Canadian blogger Ariel added some great personal touches to her outdoor pillows and planters, such creativity!

4) Greenery

Plants, grasses, and veggies galore! While the summer may be short, the ultimate celebration of summer is sipping a hard earned beverage outside (on your comfy outdoor sofa with bright cushions of course!) next to a small planter filled with herbs while looking at your garden growing.

If this summer is the summer your outdoor space is really going to shine, remember this: make it comfortable, make it yours, and you’ll make it memorable!

Rebecca, Your Furniture Expert

May 23, 2018

Curb Appeal: Prettying Up Your Porch

Spring is the perfect time to up your home’s curb appeal. Of course, there’s the usual round of yard work, repairs, and other necessary tasks that need to get done, but this year you can reward yourself (and your home!) by prettying up your porch.

A welcoming porch sets the tone for your guests before they even enter. We’ve rounded up our top three ways to make your porch pop this Spring.

1) Fresh Front Door

Source: post Architecture on Houzz

Make your entrance pop with a fresh coat of colour. Country Living magazine has their top 10 colour trends for doors, and boy are they bright! A cheerful statement for sure and one we don’t see slowing down any time soon.

Trying to find a colour that speaks to you? The DIY Network has 28 ideas for inviting doors.

2) A Porch Perch

Source: Evergreen Interior Designs on Houzz

If your front porch is big enough to accommodate a pair of comfortable outdoor chairs or small bench or sofa, make it happen. If you’ve never experienced the joy of reading on your porch watching the world go by, you won’t regret this discovery. Not only will you get to know your neighbourhood a little bit better, but you’ll also help your house say “come on in”. I mean, don’t you just want to meet the people who have these nice rockers on their porch? They seem like nice people.

Source: Highland Homes, Inc. on Houzz

3) It’s the Little Things

A fresh planter, fresh numbers on the house, a floral wreath, or vintage finds, small details make all the difference. Canadian blogger Laurie decorates her porch seasonally, adding personal touches and little details that make her porch uniquely welcoming.

The outdoor rug and small decorative birds make this porch pop.

Source: Everything Home on Houzz

Incredibly minimalist, yet the overflowing greenery from the planters is the small personal touch this porch needed to seem welcoming rather than cold.

Source: Wendy O’Brien Interior Planning & Design on Houzz

This seaside-inspired porch would not have been complete without the seashells by the door.

Source: The Cottage Building Company by Houzz

We hope you’re inspired to make your porch pop this summer.

Alex, Your Furniture Expert

December 4, 2017

Steps to Follow for an Expanding Family

You’ve been living in an apartment for quite some time now and have always been comfortable with the space you have. Recently, you’ve put serious thought into expanding your family, but worried at the prospect of little children running around in a small apartment. (more…)

October 2, 2017

Choosing New Upholstery? We’ve Got You Covered!

So, you’ve decided it’s time to redecorate! You’re excited but also a little nervous. Let’s face it, selecting new upholstery can be somewhat intimidating in terms of exactly how to go about changing your decor, and then, of course, there’s the cost. (more…)

September 28, 2017

Barstools: Thinking Beyond the Bar

There are some rules you follow, like finding the perfect height for your bar stool, and some you can break, like where bar stools can go.

It’s time to think beyond the bar and get creative with this fun and functional décor item in your home. For lots of fun ways to use a bar stool beyond the bar, I turned to some talented bloggers to help gather some inspiration for you.

A Stool as a Bedside Table

We love this repurposed stool turned bedside table from blogger Alicia at Thriftyandchic.com. She uses a black bar stool and some sisal to make a rustic and functional nightstand. Check out the full project here.

Source: Trifty & Chic

A Stool as a Plant Stand

Nothing gets lost in translation for this beautiful piano stool plant stand idea from Danish blogger Ronja at Nur Noch. The adjustable height of the piano stool makes this not only a versatile tool around the house, but allows you to adjust the plant in the sun too. Check out the full post here for more beautiful photos.

Source: Nur noch

Additional Bathroom Storage with a Stool

Cut the legs off a stool to shorten it or make your own mini stool for easy bathroom storage like blogger Sara from Sincerely Sara D did here.

Source: Sincerely Sara D

Create Something

Don’t need your bar stools anymore? Why not turn them into something else by repurposing them, like this project incorporating two stools into a new desk. See the full How To here.

Source: Shanty 2 Chic

Has this inspired you to think beyond the bar for the humble bar stool? Now, it’s your turn to let your creative juices flow!

Rebecca, Your Furniture Expert

Main image from bobvila.com.

September 22, 2017

How To Plan the Perfect Living Room

Whether you’ve just moved into your dream home, decided to remodel, or simply need a change and want to buy a couple of new pieces and rearrange the rest, the most comfortable and functional living rooms start with a plan. (more…)

September 20, 2017

6 Advantages of Custom Dining From Canadel

Are you thinking of changing your dining room set, but cannot find exactly what you are looking for? I just might have the perfect solution for you: a custom dining set that will match exactly all of your décor, space and family needs. (more…)

August 29, 2017

Tasteful Master Bedrooms

A master bedroom is a sanctuary, a place where we cozy up under comforting sheets during the long winter nights but also a place we retreat to when we need to relax during the day. If you don’t feel this way about your master bedroom, I strongly recommend that you redecorate or reorganize it to fully enjoy the benefits of this beautiful space. (more…)

August 28, 2017

Canadel – A Lifestyle Brand to Fall in Love With

Let’s face it. The kitchen is the heart of the home. You want it to function well in addition to being beautiful and inviting. Whether the table and chairs are all inside an enlarged kitchen or part of a separate space, it is essential that it works for your family. (more…)

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