OUR BASEMENT RENO PROJECT PLANS – THE CONCEPTS
february 19, 2021
We are full steam ahead on our basement reno project right now and just like any home renovation that brings so many feelings of equals parts sheer excitement and pure overwhelming anticipation for the final product to be done. With any project I go over the endless opportunities to get creative and to bring some style to a space so the planning part of the project is where I thrive!
In my most recent blog post I talked to where to begin your redesign projects. From gathering inspiration to creating your mood boards, all of these elements help set the scene for your design vision. Above is what I put together for our basement project. My style inspiration (as seen with our whole home) comes from contemporary, classic with bohemian influence. I gravitate to tonal palettes with some rich colour infused in, while still feeling timeless and clean. I am bringing those same elements into our lower level renovation with every design element, including the architectural details and finishes.
Here is a quick look of what we are working with for our basement:
There are two words to describe our basement – dark and drab. The tan walls, wood paneled ceiling (which are very low) and green plush carpet on the stairs – it is all very minimizing for what really is a nice open space.
After gathering my inspiration and researching those key elements I am looking for for this space I produce digital concepts to provide a clear plan to the vision.
Note: When I produce digital concepts for a space I like to give the most accurate representation of the room as I can. This means incorporating the elements (furnishings, decor, textiles etc.) that are already existing in the space, as well as what the sourced items are to fit the: 1. Overall Design, 2. Coordination with Existing Items, 3. Functionality of the Space and 4. Project Budget. While I encourage getting creative with the vision of your space I believe in sticking to the parameters of the project when creating the concepts. Apply the inspiration in a strategic way to produce a realistic plan of action for executing the design at hand.
Concept #1 – The Living Space
Here’s what I have existing in the space:
1. IKEA Finnala Loveseat in Gunnard Beige – I love this loveseat! It is such a find from IKEA – with its contemporary shape, plush cushions and textured fabric, it’s an absolute winner. It is perfect for small spaces and for those living areas where you want curl up and watch a movie. I will note that this fabric colour is closer to a greige than a true beige.
2. IKEA Finnala Ottoman in Gunnard Beige – This is a perfect match to the loveseat and offers great space to layer a tray on top for added functionality. Speaking of functionality, this ottoman opens for added storage! SCORE!
3. Mid-Century Black Leather Bench – For all of those in Canada, I am sorry to say I bought this from Target a couple years back. It is a great piece for additional seating in a living space or hallway. If modern style is something you gravitate towards, the black leather detail is a really nice addition to separate, yet complement, the upholstered and wood seating typically used in living spaces.
4. Two Rattan Arm Chairs – These were given to me from my grandparents and had been in their home for decades. They are incredibly spacious armchairs with full seat cushions that I plan to reupholster in a softer, more classic fabric. You can’t go wrong with a ticking stripe fabric!
With those furnishings in mind I have applied the tonal colour palette to match and also flow from the rest of our home. There is Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore to refinish the wood paneling on the ceilings. This will help brighten the space, open it up and create the illusion of higher ceilings. Our wall colour will be Grey Owl by Benjamin Moore – another favourite of mine. It is a perfect greige tone that has some coolness to it to keep it crisp while still providing warmth. Lastly is Black Beauty by Benjamin Moore for our feature media wall. This will cover the built-in media credenza and full wall. This is where the “feature” comes into play. I gained inspiration from a number of sources but narrowed the concept down to this:
Incorporating vertical wood slats over the black wall will add some great contrast in tone and texture. It will also create that long line on the wall, adding to the illusion of a higher ceiling. This feature will run from ceiling to the top ledge of our media credenza. Here is the drawing I did up for this wall:
The media console built-in will be a project I am opting to save on by DIY-ing it versus going custom. I have sourced a natural pine cabinet (The IKEA Ivar) that I will wall-mount and add framing to give that custom built-in look.
What’s left to buy?
1. Area Rug – I want to highlight the overall design by choosing a Persian inspired rug to play on the wall tones, colours in the finishes and contemporary lines in the space.
2. Lighting – This is important for small spaces with limited natural light. Here the focus is down lighting with wall scones and small profile ceiling fixtures that provide sufficient ambient light. I want to introduce brass details here for added warmth and dimension.
3. Fine Details – Minimal artwork that adds scale to the space, classic patterns and textures from throws and pillows to round out the overall style and added surfaces for entertaining with a cocktail table and woven tray to set drinks and treats.
Concept #2 – The Bar Space
The bar space is a continuation of our lower level living space so the colour palette continues and our feature wall is still a key highlight in the sightline of this area.
hat are the existing items?
1. Rustic Console Table – Again, sorry to all the Canadians. I bought this from Hobby Lobby in the US. It is a really popular style that can be found through Amazon or Wayfair!
2. Teak Arm Chair – This was a score through Homesense that I love to layer a sheepskin throw and pillows on for added comfort. It is a nice way to add in seating bar side for someone to have a seat while you whip them up a cocktail.
3. Two IKEA Vittsjo Shelf Units – We currently have these units joined together for one long bar set up housing our scotch and whiskey collection along with a lot of our barware. We love to entertain and have a cheers with family and friends so a bar space was a must for us.
4. D̩cor РMost of the d̩cor and bar items I have included in the concept reflect pieces we already own. I want to make sure all the d̩cor I have for this space is able to be utilized and works within my design vision. For instance our engagement photos and my grandparents old rotary telephone are items that carry a lot of sentimental value and are important to remain in the overall concept.
Two areas of focus are the bar top wall and our empty wall niche. We have a long wall that connects the living and bar space that is ideal to have a built-in bar top with some additional seating. I am choosing to go more modern here to lend to the slim profile of the space, still allowing proper spacing in this walkway from point A to point B. Our inspiration is to keep this low profile with a slim and narrow top and create interest with wood seating and brass brackets.
For our wall niche, again we are thinking functionality by adding in more storage and opportunities for shelving. This niche is 3′ wide give us the ability to include some cabinetry along the bottom and open shelving along the top. An additional prep space at counter level will be beneficial as well for the bar set up. My inspiration for this is to highlight the niche by lining it entirely with wood and having this custom done to get the most out of this small niche.
Concept #3 – The Office/Gym
The last full room in our basement reno project is our office. We currently have an office on the upper level of our home, but we always knew this was a temporary space that would eventually be moved to the basement. We are also looking to get some multi-functionality from the room with adding in a small gym corner (for our new Peloton!!!). So we have almost all the décor and furnishings you see in the concept already and will simply be relocating them to this new space.
What we have already:
1. Wayfair Cletus L-Shaped Desk – I am not usually a fan of L-Shaped desks but I find the finish and detailing of this one is really nice and it works well with a number of different styles. It offers great desk space and incorporates a closed drawer for concealed storage.
2. Structube Stanley Black Arm Chair – I like an arm chair for a desk chair as it lends an added layer of comfort for a space that many are spending hours of their day working from. A cushion seat and back are ideal!
3. AllModern Hartman Dome Pendant – A beautiful contemporary pendant light that has a white interior finish that emits a lot of light for a workspace.
4. Floating Shelves – This is another HomeSense find that is almost a perfect match to the finish of the desk. It is a double shelf that also includes built-in hooks along the bottom. I love this for our gym area to hold water bottles, towels and light weights.
The main elements needed to finish this space are cosmetic (think art prints, décor), textiles (an area rug for under the desk) and storage (open shelving for a number of bins and boxes that we have and floating shelving for above our desk space).
I want to add another character element to this space as well with some modern molding and a rich influx of colour that draws your eye into the space from the hallway. The colour I am going with is Salamander by Benjamin Moore, which is a deep teal colour that is more on the green side. It is the same hue we used for our kitchen island and is a really nice focal point but coordinates for a timeless look with the tonal palette.
There is so much inspiration out there for modern trim walls that offer dimension to your feature walls. I have gravitated to a collaboration of styles to produce a more contemporary version of a traditional frame wall trim.
For our feature wall here is the plan that we are going to put into action very soon!
Concept #4 – The Hallway
The final space is the lower level hallway joining the office and living space. This is the first area you see when walking down our basement stairs, so I would like to layer in some fun and beautiful elements here.
What are the key elements?
1. Lighting – As I always say – lighting is the jewelry of the space and hallways are the perfect opportunity to bring more interest and character in from your lighting. The curved detail and brass finish of this fixture is one that not only lends to the collaboration of styles I have in our home and in the lower level plans, but it offers sufficient lighting for this stairway space.
2. Stairway Finishes – Our basement stairs include a builder-grade railing and plush green carpeting. Not exactly ideal for my design vision. We wanted to keep the update here on the lower cost side, so I sourced our runner from IKEA and our railing from Amazon. Keep in mind ratings and reviews when looking at these lower cost items to make sure there is still a level of quality there.
3. Wall Art – I am going to include some digital prints here for the first look when heading down the stairs. I am loving matchbook inspired art that has that lounge-inspired feel for a entertaining space in the home. We have one larger open wall when heading into the office space and I am loving the concept of making this interactive with an oversized letterboard display. We can customize messages for each other and our guests for some added fun!
We are currently in the painting stage for our basement reno and in the coming days will be starting some of our feature wall projects. Follow along on social media to see our updates in real time!
CREATING A DESIGN – WHERE TO START IN A REDESIGN PROJECT
february 10, 2021
It can often be daunting to know where to begin with a redesign project. With so many options available for furniture and lighting – so many tasks to get done – where do you even start?! If you have been following my social stories you know I am in the midst of redoing our basement right now and it’s the perfect project to highlight the design process – whether you are taking on the project on your own or hiring the pros here are my tips on where to start.
1. Find Your Inspo
A great place to start is by doing the research. Save magazine clippings, read design books & blogs, start a Pinterest board – all these things are there to provide you inspiration. If you know exactly what you are looking for it can help organize the concept in a visual way to document everything you are wanting in a space. Save spaces, fixtures, textiles – all the elements of a space that speak to your style. That will help in defining what your overall aesthetic is. Look for common threads – styles, colours, textures, prints – that exist across all your findings and that will help ground you in your future home design planning. Another thing to consider is not only saving things you like but also things you know you definitely dislike. This too can help in your own personal planning or when working with a designer – to set very clear parameters around what your style choices are.
For our basement project I did just that – I starting pinning concepts and pieces I loved for my overall vision as well as noted ideas for the overall function of the space. Defining your style is important, but the actual purpose for the space is even more so. A thorough understanding of how you want the space to function for you and your family is an essential part to the design process and will be what makes your renovation last. (Some inspiration for our project below – we want extra storage, a designated media area and some great space for entertaining).
2. Set the Scene
Now that you have all of your inspiration gathered, have a clear understanding of your style(s) and know the direction you want to go for the space, you are ready to create a mood board. This is a tool that designers will use to best frame the textures, colours and overall feel that they want to achieve with a space. It is not an outright concept, but a really good representation of what the design of the space is going to become from an overall aesthetic. It’s a source you can use that is a great frame of reference when you are buying for your space – as I said, there are SO many options out there that sourcing furnishings and fixtures can be so overwhelming. Having a mood board with direct elements you want to stick to is a helpful guide to stay on track. It’s also something that if you find a piece you absolutely love and it doesn’t seem to fit your initial plan – you can tweak elements of the mood board to accommodate a new style choice. Design is fluid not rigid. If you love something that you didn’t expect to, don’t feel like you can’t change the room vision or plans. This is your home and it’s important you love it!
Note: If you are designing a space that is not the first in your home to be redone something to consider is flow. You don’t want a room or area in your home to feel out of place, you want it to lend to the overall style and design of your home. That doesn’t have to mean one colour for your whole home though! I suggest picking an overall palette for your home and applying that throughout. I like to stick to 2-3 neutrals and a couple complimentary colours that I vary in saturation.
For our basement I stuck to the colour palette that I created through our main upper level living space – beige-grey, white, black and green. The green and black being feature colours versus the base tones. While I want some dark colours to be used for focal walls in the basement I have to note I am doing this with a few things in mind: we have low ceilings and are dealing with smaller spaces with minimal natural light. To avoid the space feeling small and confined I am using those dark colours sparingly and paired with softer tones. Our green feature wall will be more textural and draw the eye into the space but the remaining walls will all be white to keep the room feeling spacious. Our black feature wall will be in the larger living space and incorporate natural slatted wood to give dimension and keep the space open.
Overall my aesthetic for our basement space is classic and cool. The classic being represented in the more traditional furnishings and textiles that provide a more lived in comfort that you want from a lounge space. We are incorporating an office space into our basement as well and with that want to be mindful of keeping it calm and neutral Рfor a mindful workspace Рwith pieces that allow for inspiration. The cool side is where some of my contemporary and boho d̩cor and feature elements will come into play. I want the space to feel young and fresh but also timeless. A tricky balance to achieve, but with careful consideration to detail can definitely be pulled off.
3. Draft a Concept
Now is when you Рor your designer Рcan pull together pieces that tie in your inspiration and vision and apply them to an overall concept for your space. Build all the elements on a page in order to best plan out what your end result is for the space. Label your choices for your flooring, paint colours, and inspiration for core elements, and then layer in your d̩cor, furnishings and textiles. You can be as detailed as you want here РI often bring in even minor details when I work with clients to provide concepts because it can help provide the full scope of the design vision.
Here is an example of a digital concept that I put together for our basement living space. I included examples of the finishes including the colours, flooring and different feature elements. These help to best frame the bare bones of the room and direct some of the other sourcing decisions to be made.
The launch point I used for this concept was my colour palette. Much of our home is already done and this is a space we want to be a continuation of that style. I have noted items that I have already purchased and want to fit in the space – the loveseat, ottoman, rattan arm chairs and mid-century bench. With those pieces in mind I layered in my design inspiration for elements such as the built-in credenza for out media wall, and the white paneled ceiling to brighten the space. The lighting is crucial, especially for spaces with minimal natural light – determine which kinds of fixtures you need and apply the style set in your mood board to source the best options. For us we have many sconce and ceiling light options to source for. With that I chose options that are minimal in size to best fit the layout and offered effective down-lighting. Then come the textural details – such as pillows, area rugs, fabric for upholstery – these provide much needed warmth, character and interest to the space. Lastly are the finer details to round out the concept – for instance the small drink table for the bench seating area, the woven tray for setting items on the ottoman and leather-brass pulls for the media credenza to provide contrast and texture to the black finish of the unit. No detail too small!
I will share more on the concepts I have created for our basement project in my next blog post so you can see how I have taken these points above and planned out multiple spaces for our entire lower level. Once the base work is done, the plans are made and the vision is ready – then comes the fun of getting the project going. I am going to share these processes each step of the way to best help you in prepping for your redesign projects or to simply better understand what information you need to best equip your designer in bringing your vision to life. Now what are you waiting for – get planning!
TOP 12 FLUSH MOUNT LIGHTS UNDER $300 FOR ANY STYLE
january 29, 2021
Let’s talk lighting. In my opinion, lighting is the most important (and most fun) piece to choose for a space. It can be a great launch point to a design if you are loving a statement fixture, or could be that perfect element to bring the entire space together. There is a lot to consider when it comes to lighting – what is the purpose of the fixture? Is it the main source of ambient light? Is it required for a specific task? Is it simply decorative? For the case of this blog post we are looking specifically at a form of ambient lighting – the flush mount.
If you have been following my Instagram stories you know that right now I am in planning mode for our basement remodel. We have a beautiful open living space that we will set up for all things entertainment. There will be a seating area with media console, as well as a bar area with lots of room for mingling and entertaining. We have a second space in the basement that will be used for a joint office and gym area. All of these spaces have one thing in common though – the dreaded “boob” light. This is that inexpensive, builder-grade flush mount that fills many rooms and hallways in homes everywhere. Swapping these fixtures out for pendants, pot lights or flush mounts are a great way to add more personality and style to your space.
Flush mount fixtures offer a great solution for low ceiling areas where pendants may not be feasible and offer elevated style to bring together the overall design story versus pot lights. For our basement that is exactly what we are looking for, so I have been on the hunt for something fresh, classic and still contemporary. I have compiled my top 12 favourite flush mount fixtures that are great for those on a budget. Often times there are “boob” lights all throughout the home, so finding great lighting at great prices is ideal. All of these fixtures are under $300!
one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten | eleven | twelve
Here is a closer look:
$50-$100
1. IKEA KATTARP Ceiling Lamp – $39.99: This fixture is such a great find. This style is extremely popular on the market right now and can come with hefty price tags, so this option is great for those on a budget! The subtle industrial styling lends well to contemporary and modern farmhouse designs.
2. IKEA ATTERSKEN Ceiling Lamp – $49.99: Another fixture from IKEA (gotta love it!). This light I particularly love with its’ milk glass finish and brass detailing (if you know me, you know I love brass). The white finish on the glass and the soft curves lend really well to transitional and traditional styling.
3. Ivy Terrace 1-Light Globe Flush Mount – $97.28: Globe style fixtures are extremely versatile. They are a go-to for simple coordination to bring that final touch to a space. The clear glass allows you to add additional flair with your preferred Edison bulb shape. This light comes in matte black, polished chrome and brushed brass.
$100-$200
4. AllModern 1-Light Semi Flush Mount – $119: Love the subtle detailing of this fixture. The play on lines and curves lends well to modern and contemporary spaces (I myself am thinking I need this one!). Don’t skimp on the bulb for this fixture since it’s on full display.
5. Union Lighting Octagonal Integrated Flush Mount – $149.99: My favourite part of this fixture is the oxidized finish. It adds a beautiful element of texture and quality to the fixture for some added luxury. It is offered in black, gold and a gorgeous rose finish!
6. AllModern Humboldt Semi Flush Mount – $166: It’s all about the details in this fixture. The brass disc, the black marble base, and the frosted globe. It’s honestly perfection!
7. Union Lighting Ribbed Plate and Globe Flush Mount – $169.99: This beauty is like a little piece of art for your ceiling. I love how it feels delicate yet has such clean lines. I love this for a bohemian inspired space or a feminine forward design.
8. AllModern Colvin Globe Semi Flush Mount – $182: I have a love for this one for sure since I have the pendant version over our kitchen island. It feels like it is a refreshed take on a retro style. A fun option for adding some bold styling to a hallway.
9. AllModern Alastair Bowl Flush Mount – $195: From traditional to contemporary this fixture can do it all. The heritage brass finish is truly timeless and the opal bowl shade allows for perfect ambience.
$200-$300
10. PotteryBarn Classic Schoolhouse Glass Flush Mount – $278: I love a good schoolhouse fixture. They can often be a bit pricy, so when I came across this version I knew it was a find! It has gorgeous shaped details and brings some classic 20th century inspiration to a space.
11. CB2 Mavis Alabaster Flush Mount – $279: The step detailing, the square design, the alabaster!!!! This fixture screams luxury – I can’t believe the price – what a steal!
12. Union Lighting Trapezoid Shaded Flush Mount – $279.99: A new found favourite is this flared drum shade fixture. You really can’t go wrong with this style, whether it’s a pendant or a flush mount, large or tapered, it just works! 10 out of 10!
What lighting fixtures are inspiring you for an upgrade?
OUR KITHEN RENOVATION &
THE TOP PIECES TO SHOP
january 22, 2021
Being first time home owners we were eager to make our house a home (especially being an Interior Decorator, I was itching to get started) when we moved in September of 2019. For our first project we had our sights on the kitchen. We were working with a lot of builder-grade finishes – laminate countertops, outdated tile flooring, awful flushmount lighting. But the piece that frustrated us the most was the layout. I am a big baker and cook and with a cramped kitchen, it makes it so difficult to enjoy those elements of everyday life.
With small spaces it is essential to try and squeeze as much function out of it as possible and that’s where strategic space planning comes into play. We originally had a dividing wall between our kitchen and living room that served really no purpose on the living room side and on the kitchen side had our fridge and some cabinets on it. With significant space extending beyond the existing cabinetry and us knowing we would not need a dining table in the kitchen (we have a formal dining room on the same floor and prefer counter seating for our dining) we planned to move everything from that dividing wall and install on the far side of the kitchen. Even in doing that we would have additional space for additional shelving/storage (bar cart!!).
So that was the first plan of action – remove that wall, open up the space, and extend our kitchen cabinetry. We missed out on the timing to do this in 2019 as cold weather approached and we decided to wait until the Spring. Fast-forward to Spring 2020 and COVID posed bigger delays. All in all our kitchen renovation was about a year in the making (no small feat!). During that down time though we were able to really plan out what we wanted, what we needed and incorporate elements we really loved.
What were the must haves:
1) An island for additional prep space, entertaining and dining
2) New flooring for a cohesive flow throughout the main floor
3) New lighting to replace existing and for over the island
4) Fresh paint and hardware to better blend into our home and style
Let’s talk budget (always plan out your budget before any project) – this project was a tight budget for us so we very definitively knew where our splurges and saves were and stuck to it (DIY where you can and if you have family or friends that are willing to help, take them up on it – supply them with all the drinks and food!). The key is setting the budget per each item you know you are going to need, down to the parts, allow for a contingency for some additional spending and track, track, track! With every purchase we tracked the dollars as soon as the payment was made.
What were the splurges & the saves:
1) Splurge – Custom island
2) Save – New flooring
3) Splurge – Lighting
4) Save – Cabinets
5) Splurge – Quartz Counters
6) Keep – Appliances and backsplash
7) Invest – Pros (leave the engineering, major installs, plumbing and electrical to the professionals!)
8) DIY – Painting (cut costs by painting walls, trim and/or cabinets)
Our first splurge item was the island. It is the focal point of not just the kitchen, but of this whole open living space. So we worked with a local custom millwork company to bring our vision to life. Shaker detailing for a classic look, two extra wide drawers for our plates and many utensils, deep cabinet storage for all my serveware and baking pieces and a butcher block top, mainly for my love of wood details. A hub for all things prep! With this concept in mind we picked our colour palette for the space.
Fitting with the aesthetic we have built in our home so far we kept our walls very soft with Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. We have this running through most of our home and in my opinion this is the perfect white – incredibly versatile! For our cabinets we went with Benjamin Moor Grey Owl – another favourite of mine. It can honestly lend to warm or cool spaces, but in the case of our kitchen adds a really nice subtle contrast to the white walls, while pairing well with the warmth of the finishes. Lastly is Benjamin Moore Salamander for the island. From the get go I knew I needed some green in this kitchen and what better spot than the island for a statement. This hue is part of the teal family, but definitely is stronger on the green side, it can sometimes read black it is so dark. I am a strong believer that neutral doesn’t need to mean boring and definitely doesn’t need to mean tonal. Lots of colours provide depth and a bold richness to a space and still function as a neutral – this being one of them!
With this palette being the forefront of the design aesthetic, we went on to source flooring – a wide plank, luxury vinyl in a beautiful washed oak finish. This floor was perfect because it had all the right tones – there are dark and light greys, white, tan – all work with each space on our main floor. I have been asked before about the difference in hardwood and vinyl/laminate and the answer is both have positives and negatives. For us we wanted a budget-friendly option that would withstand our dog and eventually kids. The luxury vinyl was the perfect choice for these reasons.
The next splurge was lighting. Lighting in my opinion is an essential element in any space. It helps tell the design story, adds function, and adds dimension. My favourite design element to play with when it comes to lighting is scale. While there are rules when it comes to lighting sizes, you can challenge that and use scale to your advantage to deliver something unique yet still intentional. For our island pendants I went with a fixture larger in scale for our 5×3 island to increase the “wow factor” of this focal point in our home. The brass, cage detailing lends a modern flair to a retro-style fixture – perfect blending of the styles in our home. Another piece we invested in was all new LED pot lights for our kitchen and living room, each on dimmers. This gives us far more control on the lighting levels in these spaces and are far more energy-efficient.
When it came to the core functional areas of the kitchen we opted to save by keeping all of our existing appliances (for now!), our existing backsplash (which worked with our colour palette and style choices) and refinish our existing cabinetry. The great thing about the cabinetry we have is that it is a great quality that will last. Simply updating the paint and hardware instantly gives it a facelift without the hefty price tag. We chose beautiful brushed knobs for our cabinetry and in the same finish chose something more geometric for our island (all about those bold details here).
We did however splurge on new quartz countertops. We were upgrading our upper level bathroom at the same time so financially it made sense to invest in these slabs together and incur the install cost as a one time deal (definitely recommend going this way if you are looking to save some money in the long run). By upgrading the countertops not only are you finishing an overall look, but you are adding real value to your home.
Our kitchen has definitely been the space I get asked about most and generated the most buzz on my social channels. It was a long time in the making so it is lovely to know that so many found inspiration in the design of this space. We enjoy it every single day – it is 100% the heart of our home and where we spend majority of our time. I am counting down the days to when we can host parties and I can play hostess again!
What are the top pieces I get asked about, I recommend or suggest for recreating this space (each product name is linked!):
1) Colvin 1-Light Globe Pendant on Wayfair (I have the 11.5″ option in Heritage Brass)
2) Emmory Counter Stools from Urban Barn (I can’t say enough about these stools – I recommend them constantly!)
3) Essence Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet from GROHE (The Brushed Cool Sunrise finish is so sleek and timeless)
4) Smeg 4-Slice Toaster from Williams Sonoma (If you frequently use your toaster and leave it on your counter, the Smeg toaster is like jewelry for your countertop. Side note: The white colour is only available at Williams Sonoma!)
5) Mid-Century Bar Cart from West Elm (If you are a cocktail fan like we are then a bar setup in the kitchen is a must!)
6) KitchenAid Pro Stand Mixer in Milkshake (Another must if you are a baker. The matte Milkshake colour cleans like a dream and is a nice change from the stainless or chrome options)
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT UNION GROVE DESIGN – WELCOME!
december 31, 2020
7 years ago I launched Union Grove Design to be a creative outlet for people to get inspired by all things beautiful. It could be a styled space in the home or a well planned outfit – it was about bringing beauty into your everyday life.
So much has changed over those last 7 years and with those changes in the world, in my life and in the everyday, so too has Union Grove. With a new year ahead (please be a good one 2021!!) there is so much to be excited for and my aim is to bring that beauty back into daily living, not just for myself, but for all of you.
Union Grove Design is about Style – Design – Living. Bringing style inspiration from my home to yours and giving you the “why” behind that process to a design project. When I studied Visual Design and Decorating, I wasn’t just drawn to it for an ability to create beautiful spaces, it was also to the impact that design can have on the psychological. Theory shows how colour can impact moods or mental reactions in a space, and how lighting or scale can cause optical illusions, but there is something to also be said about how design can impact overall wellness. To create a home, a sanctuary, a place that provides comfort, joy, and all the feelings of positivity that contribute to a positive mindset. That is what brought me down the path of Interior Design and is the reason it is so important to me. I aim to create spaces that are built for making memories, that are designed to provide relaxation and inspiration and that make you feel good to be home!
Now more than ever, it is an important time to invest in the home for a few reasons:
- We are spending more time at home than ever before – Now, hopefully we won’t be dealing with lockdowns too much this year, but I think it is safe to say that working from home will be a reality for many for the foreseeable future. In this time, it is likely that all those little flaws in the home, whether its aesthetically or functionally, are probably becoming very clear. 2020 was a big year for DIY projects and home renovations and I don’t see that letting up anytime soon. While large scale renos may not be an option for most, a new layout or carefully selected furnishings may be the solution to bringing a whole new perspective to an outdated space.
- Mental health is becoming a larger concern – With all the time being spent at home and away from loved ones, it can have a negative effect on mental health. It is not easy to be secluded, to be a front-line worker or face so much uncertainty everyday. I myself have struggled with this over the last year but have found comfort by incorporating design moments in the home that can create positive memories, feelings or opportunities for relaxing moments.
- It’s becoming easier to do – Technology really is a beautiful thing. You can get so much information and inspiration at the click of a button. With Union Grove Design I aim to do two things – one, bring inspiration to your social feeds and computer screens that either bring some beauty to your days or inspire you to create in your homes. And two, to make design accessible. There is a common misconception that hiring a designer has to be an arm and a leg, so it is out of reach. If this last year has taught me anything it’s that this is not true. I have been able to work with clients virtually and provide them source lists to support online shopping for bringing their concepts to life. The virtual process of E-Design has been adopted over the last year by many since it was a safe way to renovate their homes, but it is also a great solution for those on a budget. Definitely an important factor for so many right now!
Interior Design is such a fascinating thing to me – that it is possible to
change someone’s life for the better, in more ways than one, by simply updating
the home. Connecting the functional and the stylish with lifestyle and personal
expression is something I love and hope to bring to your homes (and continue in
my own home).
If you love design as much as I do, love to be inspired, are looking for fun ways to be creative, then follow along on our social channels and on the blog. If you are interested in partnering up on a project or looking for help finishing a space in your home, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for following along so far and cheers to an exciting year ahead <3