A rich alternative

I'm always on the look out for what's new in colour schemes (knowing full well that there's nothing new , only recycled, slightly adjusted past trends).  I recently read an interesting post on Color Sizzle  titled Tiger's Eye; the name immediately brought a range of colours to mind.  Intrigued, I read on.  Just as I expected, Kelly was referring to those golden amber to honey brown colours suggesting that "if you've been looking for a neutral other than gray or beige, tiger-eye is a great alternative that creates a warm backdrop for many different colors and wood finishes" ...

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Lighting your dining table

 The right lighting can make a room sing, but right now most of my rooms are off key.  It's time for a lighting change in my home.  photo: M RyallI love my new fixture for the kitchen and I'm currently thinking about changing the one in my dining room.  When you're buying lighting to hang over a table you should consider several factors including:  Height of ceiling- taller ceilings demand larger fixtures; many new home builds in my area now have 9 foot ceilings. Size and shape of table: Your fixture should complement not overpower your table.  You can also have...

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Take one roller shade and...

Do you want a WOW treatment for your window? Here are easy window treatments that won't set you back a week's pay, but are sure to be noticed.  All you need is a simple roller shade and a little time.  Perhaps these ideas will inspire new creations in your hands. Take one roller shade and .......paint it.Better Homes and GardensA simple, large scale design and a vibrant colour create quite an impact.  All you need is a white roller shade, a pencil and acrylic paint.  When you've finished painting and everything is fully dried, use hot glue to attach a strip of contrasting ribbon...

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Red makes the heart sing

 We all have colours we are attracted to or not so fond of.  Sometimes we like colours in one application and not in another.  That is the fate of red in my life.  I love splashes of red in clothing  and textiles, but it is  never a colour that pops into my head  when I think about colours I love for walls or furniture. Red is so difficult to ignore because of its warmth and saturation, it doesn't fit with my need for calmness and relaxation in my home. While there's no red where I live, I've developed colour schemes around it for clients. There's nothing like...

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Consider yellow and pink

It's a cold winter day in St John's and  I'm always  thinking about warmth in colour. Northern climates definitely affect our colour choices.  Here's a blast of sunshine today for all of you who need a lift. Yellow and pink is an energetic colour combination, but I predict you won't be seeing it in every second home you visit. I can tell it is a rare combination because it was difficult to find support images to illustrate my ideas for this post.  It's good to know there are still  fresh and daring colour schemes that haven't been overdone. Style at HomeHouse to HomeThe...

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Accessories inspired by nature

When you are looking for accessories for your home, choose products that you have a personal connection to.  You may like it because  it could be a favourite colour; a reminder of your travels; a texture or shape you love; a reminder of your childhood, etc.   Twigs, branches, and  trees appeal to a lot of people- me included - because they reference the outdoors, and almost everyone has experienced trees in their lives. The branching effect of  trees is visually stimulating and plays nicely with the more static horizontal and vertical lines in a home. sourceStencils...

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