/Design

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE AN IKEA KITCHEN | DESIGN LESSONS FROM THE TEAM AT CANADIAN HOUSE & HOME MAGAZINE

Photo via Global News

As a designer, I head to the Interior Design Show Trade Day every year for three main reasons:

ONE to see what new products and innovations are being introduced, TWO to get inspired, and THREE to connect with really great people in my industry.

This year, to my pleasant surprise, I found all three needs met in one place at House & Home‘s IKEA kitchen display. Setting the creative team at Canadian House & Home Magazine to the design challenge of customizing an IKEA kitchen – alongside the team at Style At Home who also designed a beautiful space – was a brilliant way for IKEA to introduce their new Sektion line of kitchen cabinetry to the Canadian market.

INNOVATION IS ON THE INSIDE

The new line is a huge move for IKEA in transitioning away from their popular Akurum line of kitchen cabinetry. From the little that I was able to see past the throngs of people in the booth, it’s the “guts” of the Sektion line that make it most exciting, with lots of highly customizable options and extremely functional inserts. {I caught a glimpse of a drawer with a tiered sliding spice rack in it that was truly fab!} The new door profiles and colour options are very current and on-trend with what’s happening in kitchen design right now.

Unfortunately for those who already have an Akurum kitchen, it appears as though the dimensions of the two lines are different, so you won’t be able to retrofit your Akurum with these enviable Sektion upgrades without a total kitchen redo. That said, they are still honouring their amazing 25 year warranty on the Akurum, so all is not lost.

The House & Home kitchen really felt like an English fitted kitchen to me, with an abundance of design details to surprise and delight. In addition to the herringbone wood floors you can see in the photo above {they had me at herringbone!}, they showcased a few of my favourite timeless design trends in this beautiful space. Take a peek at some of the design lessons we can learn from Suzanne Dimma and Sarah Harthill – the senior designers leading the team on this kitchen design on behalf of Canadian House & Home Magazine.

LESSON ONE: CREATE ARCHITECTURAL INTEREST

Image via Margot Austin on Pinterest

Let’s be honest, turning a basic convention-style booth into a quietly luxurious custom fitted kitchen is not for the faint of heart. Like a real home renovation or a new build, the task requires heaps of design vision and the courage to be unique. The first thing I loved is the way Suzanne and Sarah made the kitchen feel totally custom with the use of paneling.

Paneling, as I’m sure you know, is one of my timeless favourites. In fact, there are very few design projects I’ve done over the years that have not wound up with paneling in at least one room of the house. Why? It adds instant character and the kind of architectural interest that grounds the space and gives it a sense of history. Good bones, as we say. Always start with good bones.

The way Suzanne and Sarah integrated the simple, modern, box-style range hood into the paneling and wrapped the paneling around the room is brilliant. It truly connects both sides of the kitchen with the pantry that flanks the end wall, and it complements the raised paneling on the IKEA cabinetry Suzanne and Sarah chose without feeling too “matchy matchy.”

LESSON TWO: PLAY WITH PATTERN + COLOUR

If I could have secretly stuffed this stunning Martyn Lawrence Bullard for Ann Sacks tile into my handbag to use in my yet-to-be-reno’d laundry room without creating a scene, I would have done it in a heartbeat. Delicious. I love how this tile creates a sense of history while being extremely current. Think Paris bistro floors or an English hand-painted backsplash.

I also love the dove grey cabinets Suzanne and Sarah chose {this door style is called Bodbyn and will be available February 2nd} and how they contrasted the softness of the grey with the deep peacock colour on the paneling and range hood. The art of the mix is as much about creative contrast as it is about a mix of materials.

LESSON THREE: CREATE MOMENTS of DISCOVERY

Needless to say, my photo does not do this stunning little pantry justice. Mark my words, though. When the professional photos are released, people are going to be pinning the you-know-what out of this little space on Pinterest. Beyond the charming sense of organization {which makes me want to hire Suzanne and Sarah just to bring that kind of zen into my own real-life-with-kids…even if only in my pantry! It would become my little in-home European retreat…}, it’s the Peacock Garden wallpaper by Zoffany and the iron-framed French doors with egg-shaped brass knobs that make this pantry sing. I mean, who expects to see such a fantasy-world-come-to-life in the pantry? It’s delightfully unexpected. This kind of “discovery moment” as I like to call it makes you bite your lip and inhale quickly when you come upon it. Just the sort of thing to make a kitchen feel entirely bespoke and utterly special.

{And I was actually kind of serious about the pantry retreat thing. I can totally see myself hiding away and sipping tea in here whilst imagining myself on a European vacation. This is either a seriously sad statement about my need for a vacation or an incredible credit to my vivid imagination.}

You’ll have to wait for this kitchen to be featured in the magazine to see all of the delicious details that were so thoughtfully designed in this space. Watch for it in an upcoming issue of House & Home, where no doubt the source guide and the gorgeous photos will be worth the wait.

xo
s.

By |January 28th, 2015|7 Comments

HOW TO RENOVATE YOUR LIFE LIKE YOU WOULD RENOVATE YOUR HOME | CHOOSING TO DO LESS WITH MORE

Photos by Gabriela Hansen

As designers, we’ve all encountered more than a few clients who have a case of budget blindness. They’ve worked really hard and dreamed forever about what they would like to do with their house. They’ve saved and they’ve saved and they are finally in a place where they are ready to pull the trigger and SPEND on their space. And because those dollars are hard come by, they might as well be millions.

But the thing is, most often they’re not.

And when the budget blindness leaves you feeling like the WORTH of what you’ve got to spend exceeds the actual VALUE of what you’ve got to spend, well, you can be tempted to spread it out thinly like the last bit of peanut butter from the bottom of the jar onto a piece of dry toast. Never pretty. Never satisfying.

I’ve had this conversation many-a-time with clients over the years, though never quite like I’ve expressed it here. It usually begins with understanding the project scope, then understanding the allotted budget, then gently helping them align their budget reality with the work they can actually get done.

DO LESS WITH MORE

One of the things I always tell a client suffering from budget blindness is that they’ll never be satisfied doing a partial job on all the rooms in their house. Better to focus on one space and do it well and then save to do the next one. It may seem counterintuitive, but do less with more, I always say.

It’s in part a psychological thing: the finished space brings such clarity, beauty and inspiration that it fuels the process of getting the next one done.

It’s in part a legacy thing: a good quality renovation will outlast any design smoke and mirrors you might try to pull off cheaply.

And it’s also a sanity thing: it saves you from the mega-stress of getting midway into your project and hitting the inevitable “surprise” without the cash-in-hand required to fix the problem. It’s always best to leave margin. Order more tile than you need. Plan for it to take longer than anyone says it will. Budget for 10-15% overage on costs. And expect the unexpected.

AS WITH DESIGN, SO TOO WITH LIFE


Photo by Gabriela Hansen

Here’s the thing: I’ve secretly had a kind of budget blindness of my own for many years. Not as it relates to renovating my house, but as it relates to renovating my life. I’ve wanted for far too long to be all things to all people: a loving and supportive wife, an amazing mama, a really great friend, a successful entrepreneur, a creative, a maker, an innovator, a world traveler, a fit, healthy, happy, beautiful, spiritually mature, compassionate and inspiring woman.

Oh yes, and balanced.

I mean, it’s kind of funny when you read that last word, isn’t it? But it’s sincerely and earnestly been on my list, precariously perched at the top of my pile of goals like a pile of rocks that have truthfully been ready to topple over at any moment.

I want to do it all. I want to be it all. But what I am realizing is that this is really just a serious case of budget blindness with my life. As they say, you can do it all…just not all at once.

OK, so let’s get really real here for a hot minute. I’m not in a position where I can just stop being a wife and mama and contributor to the world and do nothing but focus on my own personal development for six months to a year {although we all fantasize about that sometimes, don’t we? My version would definitely involve time on a vineyard in France somewhere. Because wine.}. I mean, it would make for a quirky narrative, but real life doesn’t work like that.

Still, I don’t want to do a partial job on all of the many rooms in my life at the sacrifice of excellence and true beauty. So how can I do such an inspiring job in each of the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical spaces of my life that it fuels me to dive head first – with passion and purpose – into the next one, knowing that I can accomplish something profoundly beautiful if I allot the right budget and time to it?

START WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION


Photo by Gabriela Hansen

Perhaps it’s less about renovating and more about laying a great foundation like you would with a new house. When I know that my health and key relationships are in a happy place, I can increase my capacity to take on more knowing I’m on solid ground.

Like my design clients, I’m learning that my time and energy budget – though hard come by – is smaller than I’d like it to be. I can try to fight it all I want, but I’m still just one woman with boundaries and limitations. The best thing I can do is learn not to spread myself out like remnant scraps of peanut butter desperately trying to cling to the edges of my proverbial piece of toast. I’m learning that sometimes I have to take it one life project at a time by laying a great foundation and then building into the other rooms of my proverbial house from there.

So this year, I’m committing to renovating my life like I would renovate my house. I’m going to spend my “money” on paper before I spend it in real life. I’m making realistic time and energy budgets and getting super clear about what resources I actually have to spend before I commit to spending them. And I’m getting really focused and honest about which “rooms” of my house need the most attention. I’m also intentionally leaving margin for the unexpected so it doesn’t take me down when it happens. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last several years, it’s that the unexpected is going to happen.

HOW “NO” CAN LEAD TO “YES”


Photo by Gabriela Hansen

Interestingly enough, this has already meant getting way better at saying “no.” In fact, I’ve already turned down three really big and very exciting opportunities in 2015. Guys, it was hard. They were totally opportunities that I would have said “yes” to if I wasn’t being really honest about my time and energy budget and my commitment to renovating my life with excellence.

AS WITH LIFE, SO TOO WITH DESIGN

Renovating, building, designing and decorating all require a solid “no” to get to a great “YES!,” don’t they? Without the ability to say “no,” our houses and our lives would both lack a focal point. What we edit out in design is just as important as what remains. Beautifully designed rooms have a clear focal point, and the same goes for life.

I’d love to keep letting you in on my renos as they unfold – the figurative and the literal ones. And in the meantime, I’d love to hear from you! Do you suffer from budget blindness – with your home or with your life? I’d love to hear about how you’ve been taking your blinders off and completing amazing renovations by choosing to do less with more.

xo
s.

By |January 26th, 2015|8 Comments

Gifts With Heart: Your Curated Gift Guide to a Compassionate Christmas | The Citizenry

You know that moment when you feel like you’ve found your people? They share the same love languages, the same aesthetic, they’re passionate about the same things you are, and when you look at what they are all about you keep saying “Me too!” Yeah. That.

The folks at The Citizenry are my people.

A brilliant marriage of beautiful design and compassionate purpose, with The Citizenry‘s collection, neither is compromised. Each makes the other more beautiful. And together, they leave you utterly inspired. That’s why I am beyond excited to feature them as a part of my Gift Guides for a Compassionate Christmas.

By personally traveling to each artisan country and using only local materials, the team at The Citizenry has created sustainable relationships with their artisans. And by selling directly online, they’re able to offer handmade goods – crafted with the highest quality materials – at more reasonable prices than traditional luxury boutiques.

I love the philosophy behind their name: THE CITIZENRY.

“We set out to build a company that celebrates the people behind our products. Our name is a reflection of the collective of individuals – artisans, designers, and dreamers – who rally together across cultures and continents to craft our collections. The Citizenry is our way of sharing these stories and products with you.”

The designs are so beautiful that you’d love them without that backstory, but knowing the beautiful process behind the products makes them the kind of treasures you can happily share stories about at dinner parties for, like, ever.

As a designer, I’m in love with the entire collection. The modern aesthetic and their use of wood alone had me at hello. And that butterfly chair with the copper frame? Come. On. Needless to say, you will not go wrong in choosing a gift for the design lover in your life from their collection.

To sweeten the deal, they’ve offered a couple of lovely little perks for my readers:

1) They always offer free shipping within the continental US, but they have happily offered a code for free international shipping on all orders (including rugs and chairs!!) for my fellow Canadians. Use code: FIRSTCLASSTICKET

2) Free gift wrapping on an unlimited number of items. Click here to add gift wrapping, and then use code WRAPPEDWITHLOVE at checkout and the $5/package gift wrapping costs will be removed! Easy peasy and delivered right to your door with the proverbial bow on top.

I hope this makes giving gifts with heart a little easier for you this year! I truly believe the most beautiful gifts are ones that don’t compromise on either the process or the product.

xo
s.

P.S. A little shipping/shopping nitty gritty for you below:

USA, to deliver on or before Wed, Dec 24… 
Standard/free: Order by Sun, Dec 21 (midnight CST)
Express 2-day: Order by Mon, Dec 22 (midnight CST)
INTERNATIONAL, to deliver on or before Wed, Dec 24…
Standard for all countries, excluding Canada and Mexico: Order by Sun, Dec 14 (midnight CST)
Standard for Canada and Mexico: Order by Wed, Dec 17 (midnight CST)

Express: contact support@the-citizenry.com
By |December 9th, 2014|1 Comment