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Giving you a tour of what is making Susan feel right at home, right now, in the interior design world.

Monthly Archives: August 2012

carving out a home office

[POSTED BY: Toronto Designers | 28 Aug 2012 | No Comment | 889 views]

A home office or desk area is a must these days. If you think you don’t have room for a personal space of your own, maybe these creative ideas can help.

I love how this desk sits under the counter to be rolled in and out as needed.

This is a clever way to hide your desk when not in use – especially good for those that like to keep a messy desk.

A slightly wider than standard sofa table behind a sofa is a perfect spot to do your computer work.

pretty milk glass

[POSTED BY: Toronto Designers | 24 Aug 2012 | No Comment | 437 views]

Inexpensive and always pretty in white, milk glass is the perfect accessory for any decor. It adds great texture and the variety of pieces out there lend themselves to so many uses.

Set up a small display almost anywhere, or use them for practical purposes too. I love finding these everywhere I travel to to add to my small collection.

reupholstering a chair with trendy fabric

[POSTED BY: Toronto Designers | 21 Aug 2012 | No Comment | 657 views]

If you’re going to reupholster a quality chair, be sure to get quality fabric. I recommend a minimum of 50,000 double rubs, but keep looking as some have over 200,000 double rubs! That means that you can rub the fabric back and forth that many times before you see wear. Consider about 3,000 double rubs per average use in a year.

Once you’ve determined that you are only looking at fabrics that will last, then consider design. If you are doing a single chair in a space, consider making it a focal point, if everything else is neutral, and go crazy! It’s just a chair after all, which can go from room to room if you got the flow of your house right.

Here are a few great chairs for inspiration.

dining al fresco

[POSTED BY: Toronto Designers | 15 Aug 2012 | No Comment | 536 views]

Don’t delay dining al fresco as our summer comes near an end. Just be sure to light those citronella candles and the outside will be all yours.

These all gave me an ‘ah’ moment! Hope it does for you too and gives you the inspiration to do the same.

turn your living room into your dining room

[POSTED BY: Toronto Designers | 12 Aug 2012 | No Comment | 624 views]

Why not turn your living room into your dining room?

Inspired by my client yesterday living in a typical early 1980s suburban home, with a need for a larger kitchen and less formal space, we decided that the formal living room at the front of the house would be best turned into her formal dining room instead! Then her kitchen, which is small and needs renovating anyway, can incorporate the current, also small, dining room, ultimately using her square footage much more wisely for her current needs.

I like to call this ‘Freedom from your Unused Formal Living Room’.

Check out these great examples from around the globe where this exact idea was put into play.

shopcastr – making shopping on-line super easy

[POSTED BY: Toronto Designers | 8 Aug 2012 | No Comment | 828 views]

Shopcastr is a place to discover Toronto stores that are hidden gems. The small independent store takes centre stage here, showing off their goods and introducing themselves to the public that may not otherwise be frequenting their neighbourhood.

I love to give independent stores my business. It feels good to recognize a local spot and to help them make a living. But sometimes the stores I have discovered on Shopcastr are far from me, or are far from each other, making it difficult to visit them all. So I’m happy to report the team at Shopcastr have now decided to up the value of their site and include the ‘buy now’ option! For a mere $5 delivery, you can order anything from the site that has the orange ‘buy now’ sign, and it’s in your hands within two business days, if not the next! Awesome!!

I have already bought a great mattress ticking pillow from La Merceria. And a rooster dish from Even & Odd that I plan to use as my new butter dish (see my butter dish blog… I finally found my own perfect dish!).

Check it out yourself. It’s an awesome way to get the perfect gift for a dinner party, or even the perfect outfit to wear to it!*

*check their site for further details about returns or any other queries you may have

hiking in Flam Norway – breathtaking!

[POSTED BY: Toronto Designers | 5 Aug 2012 | No Comment | 371 views]

The natural roofs in Norway are abundant, and with the rain they get it is easy to maintain.
While hiking in Flam, Norway, we came across a goat farm. It took my breath away – such a beautiful moment!And naturally, I had to visit a hotel or two while there, just to see how they decorate. Quite charming, don’t you think?So relaxed, it could be someone’s living room – very welcoming!

delightful Alesund, Norway

[POSTED BY: Toronto Designers | 1 Aug 2012 | No Comment | 403 views]

Oh the things you can see when you climb a few (hundred) steps in Alesund, Norway.… or you stay down belowor you let your camera do the zooming… cute little red house, right?
or you visit a great little hotel with so much charm! Alesund was delightful!