Make your room a sleep haven!

The feeling of waking up refreshed and ready to start the day is usually just in movies or a dream. We usually wake up tired and not wanting to start anything. Scientists tell us, and we know from experience, that sleep refreshes us, helps us perform better, and contributes significantly to health and happiness. And yet, there are millions of us suffering from ongoing shortage of sleep. A restful sleep should be a reachable goal, with just a few helpful changes in the mix I believe it can.

Online Link http://www.bttoronto.ca/videos/2779617439001/

Special Thanks to:

Target www.target.ca 

Smart Silk www.smartsilk.com

Pascoflair www.passion-flower.ca

Aerobed  www.aerobed.com

Wardrobe provided by www.Jacob.ca

Now that it is getting dark earlier and the time change is coming

up here are some of my tips to help you get the perfect night sleep!

1. Select your bedding carefully a good pillow can make all the difference when trying to fall asleep.  Great sheets and perfect comforter are not only visually stunning, but they also instantly put you in the mood to curl up and drift away. Smartsilk is a great Canadian company that offers silk filled bedding. Silk has a natural property of being a temperature regulator, so you stay comfortable all night long. Not only do they have sheets but they also have pillows, pillow protectors, mattress protectors and comforters.

2. Keep your bedroom cool, quiet and dark Blackout drapes are the perfect answer for an undisturbed sleep. Oversize them to help stop light from creeping through the sides as you don't want to disturb your beauty sleep.

3. Get a little help from a friendly herb. When your mind wont shut off with all you to do lists, try passion flower. I am speaking from experience. As a designer I often jump into bed exhausted and ready to sleep. I close my eyes and mind has a different plan for me. It keeps designing and planning for the next day. Recently I discovered Pascoflair, a natural herb made from a Passion Flower that I like to call y miracle pill. It literally turns my brain off, so I call fall asleep.

4. Dress it up. Spruce up your room with décor that makes you feel tranquil and at peace every time you enter the room. We all know that feeling when we see a comfy bed and a beautiful bedroom. we want to dive right in and sleep for days!  I recently discovered Nate Berkus' and Beaver Canoe's new line at Target and feel in love. Add some great accent lighting and a pair it with a dimming light bulb to set the mood, A trendy end table with lots of space is the ideal spot to stack you favorite magazines and books.

5. Bedroom Essentials. Here are a few of my personal tricks and tips. I like to keep a pen and notepad on my bedside table to jot down notes, sketches and any other to dos that come to my mind late at night. Caffeine is not always you friend. I try not drink caffeine after dinner. And my favorite is to curl up in a cozy bedding, grab my favourite book and read until my eyes get heavy.

Sweet Dreams everyone!

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!

DIY Chevron Wall Project

Want to know how to get this look?

Celebrity Painter Jim Connelly gives us the break down so you can achieve the trending look:

Chevron wall mural by Jim Connelly

Step 1: Make a Chevron template using cardboard making a three repeat image. An 18 inch in depth chevron was designed for the scale of our wall. Draw chevron template onto cardboard and cut out with a utility knife.

            

Step 2: Measure from ceiling the base line for first chevron, using a spirit level repeat four times.

                   

 

Step 3: Tape off base lines to position chevron template on a straight line.

                  

 Step 4: Measure center line on wall and trace the chevrons using a pencil working from left to right.

Step 5: Remove base line tape.

 Step 6: Tape off chevron image and use plastic spatula to smooth down the tape to good adhesion to wall.

 

Step 7: Using small roller, tray and paint apply thin coat of paint let dry and apply second coat.

                           

Step 8: Remove blue tape.

                           

Step 9: VOILA!

 

Thanks Jim!! For more information contact Jim @ http://www.jimconnellystudio.com/
(Paint by Para Paint)

Ceiling: JoJo Whitewash

Trim:  JoJo Whitewash
Walls: P-5164-34 Object of Desire
Accent Wall (ZigZag):  P-5164-44  Brunch with Friends
Zig Zag:  JoJo Whitewash

 

Happy Painting everyone!

 

Until next time,

                         w&c designer girl!                         

Savvy Multifunctional Pieces for Small Spaces!

LIMITED SPACE...well Jo has some clever solutions for

your small space!

 

If you miss it watch ONLINE, http://www.bttoronto.ca/videos/2674779234001/

 

Products from:

BoConcept www.boconcept.com / 

http://furniture-stores-toronto.ca

Resource Furniture http://www.resourcefurniture.com/

Gliding Shelf Solutions http://www.glidingshelf.ca/

 

Multifunctional pieces are a key component in small space design. Even though you don't feel you have the room for certain pieces, you would be amazed that you do once you see how compact furniture pieces can be! Just because you have a small space doesn't mean you won't be able to entertain anymore. Its all about pieces that can transform when needed.

Take a peek at these well planned/designed multifunctional pieces that can be introduced in many small spaces:

Would you ever think that this console table could turn into this?

 

Check out the video to see how easy how it transforms:

http://www.resourcefurniture.com/space-savers/space-saving-tables/goliath 

Seating for five anyone??
Check out the video to see how easy it transforms:

http://www.resourcefurniture.com/space-savers/space-saving-essentials/cubista

How many off you either don't have room for a dining table or just prefer to eat in front of the TV? Then you need this . . .

Offers more storage within a room plus table space just at the right height to enjoy your meal while relaxing on your sofa. Also great for the kids doing homework, or activities.
 When your not using it for the tabletop option it is a sleek and stylish coffee table!
 Comes is three the colours.

http://www.boconcept.com/en-ca/furniture/living/coffee-tables/8922/functional-coffee-table-with-storage

Stylish folding chairs is a great solution for those times of entertaining!

http://www.boconcept.com/en-ca/furniture/dining/dining-chairs/5752/oslo-folding-chair

When it comes to small spaces who couldn't use more storage?!
Custom built in shelving is more affordable then you think and utilizes the wasted cupboard space that you are given. It can be made to fit in any existing cupboard, cabinet or closet. And it is Canadian Made!!

http://www.glidingshelf.ca/pull-out-shelf-style.html

So don't get frustrated over your small space, you would be amazed on how many design options are available to make your size challenged rooms work for you!!

Until next time,
w&c design girl!!

How to decorate your home office - Chatelaine Magazine

Make sure to pick up Chatelaine's October issue to see Jo's clients home office!  We are pretty excited to be apart of their How to decorate every room (with tips from designers!)
Let us know what you think??




Check out the full online story at: http://www.chatelaine.com/home-decor/room-inspiration-how-to-decorate-every-room-in-your-house-with-tips-from-designers/?gallery_page=11#gallery_top

Product companies involved:
Para Paint, Harkel Office Furniture, Bouclair Home, and painting done by Jim Connelly!

Until next time,
w&c designer girl!

Back to School Decor with Jo on BT

If you miss the show Monday morning, watch it online @ http://www.bttoronto.ca/videos/2629853478001/

 

 

Products From:

Staples www.staples.ca

HomeOutfitters www.homeoutfitters.com

The most wonderful time of the year!

Inspire your kids to do work and get a head with stylish working and study areas.

It’s a great idea to start to teach them how to be organized now so when they do go off to college they have the right skills to succeed away from home. For those going off to school here are some cool way to stay organized!

 

It’s a great idea to start to teach them how to be organized now so when they do go off to college they have the right skills to succeed away from home. Staples is a great one stop shop for all their school essentials and electronics for a great price!

Just like buying back to school clothes you should also spruce up their working areas to get them excited to work as well.

1) Home Outfitters is Canada’s largest kitchen, bed and bath superstore – which means the best selection across the country.

2) "We understand student budgets…  Home Outfitters 2013 Back to Dorm Collection is not only stylish but affordable – everything is under $99!"

3) For your chance to stock up on all these Back to Dorm essentials, be sure to visit homeoutfitters.com and enter to win $1000 Home Outfitters Gift Card.

https://www.facebook.com/HomeOutfitters

Have fun and jazz up their working spaces with bright and motivating colours. Happy back to school shopping everyone!!

 

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!

The Front Door with a GREEN approach!

With Fall approaching it is that time of the year to start preparing your home for the colder months and what a better place to start then with your front door!! Angelo DiGangi is our guest blogger this month and he going to enlighten us on how to be GREEN when choosing the right doors!!


A Green Welcome

The front door. It's our welcome home, the first impression given to visitors, a quick glimpse into our aesthetic personality. So why shouldn't it also be one of the first places we turn when considering ways to give our homes a green makeover? Rather than simply pass through the front door's embrace on our way in or out, let's take a moment to really consider how to boost the eco-friendliness of this architectural punctuation mark. We'll begin with the door itself:

The longer a door can stand proud in its place, the less stress placed on the environment, so it's important to seek one that's been engineered with durability in mind. I favor two avenues above all the rest when it comes to selecting an enduring door.

Behind door number one: 
Steel doors are some of the strongest and longest-lasting options on the market, since they resist rust and corrosion. For this reason, they're ideal for homes located in areas of the country subject to harsh weather like tornadoes and hurricanes. And even though you're making a safe choice when it comes to materials, you can certainly take style risks with a steel door, as most come ready to paint in any bold color you'd like and feature panel embossing for a bit of definition. Just beware that steel doors may easily dent and can heat up easily if facing direct sun.

Behind door number two: 
While real wood appeals to many homeowners' traditional tastes, wood doors tend to warp and crack over time and require a great deal of maintenance to ensure a long life. For a harder-wearing option with a similar look, opt for a fiberglass door that boasts a wood-like grain texture and traditional panel detailing while resisting splitting, cracking, and rotting. And unlike the steel doors mentioned above, a fiberglass front door can withstand corrosion, rust, and dings from everyday use. With finishes to mimic mahogany, oak, cherry, and more, these wood lookalikes fit nicely with craftsman, cottage, and colonial house styles. (If you do still choose real wood, be sure that the timber comes from a sustainable, managed forest.)

In addition to paintable surfaces, both steel and fiberglass doors offer homeowners a great number of design opportunities, including grand heights up to ten feet tall and period-appropriate decorative glass -- including transoms and sidelights -- to complement a home's architectural style and maximize natural light (an eco-friendly perk).

To be sure that your door will perform smartly over its long life, stick to those that have earned an Energy Star rating -- you can be certain these doors have excellent weather-stripping to prevent air seepage; core materials, such as fiberglass, wood fiber, and polyurethane foam, that will provide superior insulation; and double- or triple-paned windows that keep outside heat at bay. (*A note about polyurethane foam: In order to create products that are both cleaner and safer, many manufacturers have turned to foam that doesn't contain hydro chlorofluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, or formaldehyde.)

Want to up your green factor even more? Here are five additional things you can do to bolster the efficiency and environmental friendliness of your entryway:

1. Add weather stripping. A tight seal around the frame of your front door helps to minimize air and heat leakage. If you can see daylight squeezing in around the edges of your door or you feel a draft when standing in your foyer, then you should install weather stripping around the frame to create a snug seal. A door draft stopper can also be laid at the base of the door.

2. Install a storm door. This secondary door adds another layer of protection and insulation to your home while also allowing you to take advantage of milder temperatures (with screen inserts) and natural light.

3. Cover your front porch. A portico or awning above your front door adds depth and dimension to your home's façade while also reducing the amount of heat from the sun that enters these windows. And by shading the front door, a roof can also extend the life of the door and help cool your house.

4. Lay out a doormat. One of the simplest steps you can take to green your home is to set out a good doormat, which works to capture pesticides, fertilizers, oil and gasoline, and other contaminants from shoes before they cross your threshold.

5. Introduce potted plants. Nurture a bit of nature with potted plants situated beside your front door. These easy-to-maintain accessories add texture, life, and a breath of fresh air to your entry.

Angelo DiGangi is a Home Depot sales associate in the Chicago suburbs and is a frequent contributor on doors and windows for Home Depot's website. Angelo's interests include providing tips on color, materials and insulation.

Thanks so much Angelo for the tips, now off to Home Depot to shop!!

Until next time,
w&c designer girl!

Unexpected Uses for Tile

It is always fun to use materials or products in unexpected ways in design... well on Pinterest I came across some fun tile uses!!











For more check out http://www.remodelista.com/posts/10-unexpected-ways-to-use-tile

Until next time,
w&c designer girl!!