Such a great video and it truly represents this brokerage - what they stand for, who they are and do for their clients...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uIBvXByy_4
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
New Paint Colours From Benjamin Moore
There is a new line of paint colours from Benjamin Moore called 'Colour Stories' - 240 different colours of paint. These colours are very saturated. Most methods for mixing paint use 3 pigments in this line they use 5 to 7 pigments for each colour.
I received my fan about a week ago and I must say I'm loving the rich and varied palette of neutrals. Looking for the right shade of grey or taupe - this line will have it!
Some of my favourite neutrals: Soho loft CSP-10, Upper West Side CSP-70, Urban sophisticate CSP-160, Rocky Beach CSP-190, Wicker Basket CSP-225 Shitake Mushroom CSP-1040and Royal flask CSP-315
There's a paint colour for every place....
Perfect for a little girls' room: Kept Love Letters CSP-425
Perfect for a little boys' room: Dusty Cornflower CSP-605 or Cable Knit Sweater CSP-650
Beach cottage or seaside home: French Toile CSP-595 or Cool Breeze SP-665
Exterior Door : After Midnight CSP-630, Espresso Bean CSP-30 or Velvet Cloak CSP-480
Bold but Feminine Accent wall : Berry Fizz CSP-440 or Elderberry Wine CSP-470
Sexy Master bedroom: Evening Skyline CSP-505
Soothing and Serene Bathroom: Through the Looking Glass CSP-495
I received my fan about a week ago and I must say I'm loving the rich and varied palette of neutrals. Looking for the right shade of grey or taupe - this line will have it!
Some of my favourite neutrals: Soho loft CSP-10, Upper West Side CSP-70, Urban sophisticate CSP-160, Rocky Beach CSP-190, Wicker Basket CSP-225 Shitake Mushroom CSP-1040and Royal flask CSP-315
There's a paint colour for every place....
Perfect for a little girls' room: Kept Love Letters CSP-425
Perfect for a little boys' room: Dusty Cornflower CSP-605 or Cable Knit Sweater CSP-650
Beach cottage or seaside home: French Toile CSP-595 or Cool Breeze SP-665
Exterior Door : After Midnight CSP-630, Espresso Bean CSP-30 or Velvet Cloak CSP-480
Bold but Feminine Accent wall : Berry Fizz CSP-440 or Elderberry Wine CSP-470
Sexy Master bedroom: Evening Skyline CSP-505
Soothing and Serene Bathroom: Through the Looking Glass CSP-495
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Front door - herb garden
I love this idea! And I plan to do this at home by my front door. I think it is so pretty, practical and I love welcoming guests with a fabulous fragrance as they come in to visit.
Use which ever herbs you like and are likely to use. Seen here: sage, thyme, chives, rosemary, oregano, basil and parsley. But keep in mind - if you want to plant mint just plant it all on it's own (in the top pot) because it grows very aggressively and will take over. But it is so great in tea and mojitos!
Buying fresh potted herbs from a nursery is super inexpensive. Plus they grow quickly and get really full and lush.
To get started, you will need:
- potting soil
- herbs (assorted and any you like)
- 5 terra-cotta pots (large, medium and small, see below)
1. Place the largest pot in the desired location. Next centre one smaller pot inside the large one and put it up side down. Fill the empty ring with soil
2. Repeat step 1 and follow the diagram
3. Once all layers are fill of potting soil, start planting your herbs and enjoy!
* a neat idea to keep your herbs labeled, you can use chalk board paint on the pots and use chalk to label.
**don't like the colour of terra-cotta? No problem, purchase a paint (spray can is easiest) and paint over that colour. You can get the look you want !
Use which ever herbs you like and are likely to use. Seen here: sage, thyme, chives, rosemary, oregano, basil and parsley. But keep in mind - if you want to plant mint just plant it all on it's own (in the top pot) because it grows very aggressively and will take over. But it is so great in tea and mojitos!
Buying fresh potted herbs from a nursery is super inexpensive. Plus they grow quickly and get really full and lush.
To get started, you will need:
- potting soil
- herbs (assorted and any you like)
- 5 terra-cotta pots (large, medium and small, see below)
1. Place the largest pot in the desired location. Next centre one smaller pot inside the large one and put it up side down. Fill the empty ring with soil
2. Repeat step 1 and follow the diagram
3. Once all layers are fill of potting soil, start planting your herbs and enjoy!
* a neat idea to keep your herbs labeled, you can use chalk board paint on the pots and use chalk to label.
**don't like the colour of terra-cotta? No problem, purchase a paint (spray can is easiest) and paint over that colour. You can get the look you want !
Monday, April 22, 2013
Go Green!!
Happy Earth Day! And in celebration of Earth Day (not to mention, it is finally feeling and looking like Spring is ACTUALLY here!) why not add some touches of Green in your home decor ? Emerald Green is one of the Hottest colours in 2013.
There are so many hues of green but this year Pantone has selected Emerald Green as one of the hot colours for 2013. I love green it looks great with neutrals and I love the way it brings some of nature' s beauty inside. It is calming but full of life, too!
A great and easy way to bring some green into your decor scheme is plants but if you don't have a green thumb...why not try these alternatives
1 - Glass vases. Remember accessories should be in sets of three. They do not have to match either - different shapes, heights and even tones are super stylish! Look at garage sales of other home decor stores. See below, these vases are from Pottery Barn and have a bit of a vintage look but Emerald green also looks great in a more contemporary style, too.
2 - Decor Pillows. I Love green and white in any type of pattern - herringbone, lattice, stripe I just think it is so fresh and fun - perfect for spring! I love this Ikat decor pillow from Etsy
3- Paintings. I love how art can totally transform a space and really set the tone. Any art piece using this gorgeous green will make a room feel calming and elegant at the same time. This colour has so much range and so do art styles - you can lean toward a more traditional look or go bolder with a more modern style. this piece by Jillian David is available at Art.com
4 - Bed Linens. Add some colour to your bedroom this spring and bring in the green! It will make your bedroom feel and look tranquil and soothing with a splash of fun!
5 - Area rugs. Another way to add some colour in your room is with area rugs. You can add colour, pattern and texture with just one rug. even if everything else in the space is neutral this is a great way to add some real colour pop. One of my favourite on line stores for rugs is Homesav.com
6 - A chair or stool. Some times you just need a cool and funky piece and preferably something with function, too. this cartoon-like stool is really fun and would work very well in a family room.
There are so many hues of green but this year Pantone has selected Emerald Green as one of the hot colours for 2013. I love green it looks great with neutrals and I love the way it brings some of nature' s beauty inside. It is calming but full of life, too!
A great and easy way to bring some green into your decor scheme is plants but if you don't have a green thumb...why not try these alternatives
1 - Glass vases. Remember accessories should be in sets of three. They do not have to match either - different shapes, heights and even tones are super stylish! Look at garage sales of other home decor stores. See below, these vases are from Pottery Barn and have a bit of a vintage look but Emerald green also looks great in a more contemporary style, too.
2 - Decor Pillows. I Love green and white in any type of pattern - herringbone, lattice, stripe I just think it is so fresh and fun - perfect for spring! I love this Ikat decor pillow from Etsy
3- Paintings. I love how art can totally transform a space and really set the tone. Any art piece using this gorgeous green will make a room feel calming and elegant at the same time. This colour has so much range and so do art styles - you can lean toward a more traditional look or go bolder with a more modern style. this piece by Jillian David is available at Art.com
4 - Bed Linens. Add some colour to your bedroom this spring and bring in the green! It will make your bedroom feel and look tranquil and soothing with a splash of fun!
5 - Area rugs. Another way to add some colour in your room is with area rugs. You can add colour, pattern and texture with just one rug. even if everything else in the space is neutral this is a great way to add some real colour pop. One of my favourite on line stores for rugs is Homesav.com
6 - A chair or stool. Some times you just need a cool and funky piece and preferably something with function, too. this cartoon-like stool is really fun and would work very well in a family room.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Hello, Colour!
Spring is here! And if you are looking to give your home a little makeover, have you thought about something as easy as your front door colour? Such any easy fix and now that the weather is getting warmer and drier (very soon) it's the perfect time!
So what colour to choose? Here's a few great ideas...from Beauti-tone Paints
1- Beauti-Tone Wet Sands 3H2-7 a beautiful golden orange tone.
So what colour to choose? Here's a few great ideas...from Beauti-tone Paints
1- Beauti-Tone Wet Sands 3H2-7 a beautiful golden orange tone.
2 - Beauti-Tone Green Conifer Hills 5141EC a classic and tradition colour but if you are a fan of green but want to stay understated this is mixed with black so it isn't too green
3 - Beauti-Tone Earthenware 3E1-8 I love a red door but finding the right red it tricky. I also love an orange too but sometimes it can look too much like it's a Halloween decoration. So this colour is perfect!
4 - Beauti-tone Direct Line 436 Purple is a great colour choice for an exterior door. I've selected a variety of purple hues for condos and single family homes. This purple is rich and regal but would also work well in contemporary design
5 - Beauti-Tone Grey Eyeshadow SC047 A great grey option, looks great in traditional or contemporary style door. If you find black too intense this is a great alternative.
6 - Beauti-Tone Loving it 3C2-8 I love a red door, very classic and yet still fun! This is the perfect red door shade.
7- Beauti-Tone Hidden Mountains 5135EC Aubergine is a great alternative to Cranberry which was so popular. this is rich, sophisticated but a bit different.
Other elements to consider when you are changing you door colour.
- Think about your trim, if you really want the door to stand out go with a lighter trim like white or cream. Keeping the trim darker is a more modern look and really look at the age/style of the home to see if modernizing it is the way you want to go.
- Update your grip set too. That should include the knocker, kick plate, numbers (address plate) and mail slot or mail box.
- a good cleaning maybe even power washing is a good idea too
- How about the exterior lighting? It should match the grip set. So if the grip set is black so should the other accessories be.
- I love to see some greenery around an exterior entry. Planters, natural wreath, there are so many possibilities
Friday, April 12, 2013
A woman's touch....
can do wonders! When decorating a home and especially if you are looking to sell said home, it is really important to have a balance of masculinity and femininity.
When it comes to selecting interior finishes and materials, Men have a tendency to go with dark colours and hard materials. Whereas women tend to lean towards lighter tones and they like to include softer textures.
Recently, we staged a condo in Ottawa and it was a stunning space with over sized windows and sophisticated finishes but the whole space was very hard and dark - it was obvious that it was a total bachelor pad.
So we added so colour, so lighter tones but neutral furniture, a mix of textures and artwork to help down play the darker colour palette.
If you feel like your home could use a woman's touch, here are a few elements you can add that will help:
1- Simple colour palette. Dark colours re fine in fact they can help define and anchor a space but too many make a space feel dark and cave like, add some lighter tones light white, cream, ivory even pale grey and silver are good options to lighten and brighten the colour palette. It could be wall paint or tiles, stone counter top or cabinetry.
2 - Fabric choice. Men tend to lean to leather when it comes to furniture and it is a good choice because it ages well and it is easy to care for. But try added some more textures like wool, fur (faux), mirror, glass, marble and silk/satin. If your furniture is leather, think about adding some throw pillows and a blanket, an area rug and maybe a glass or marble coffee table. The mix of textures help create a warm and inviting space.
3. Open shelving. Is a great way to store items you would still like to display perhaps a collection or some pottery. Because the shelving is open it has a lighter and airy feeling.
4. Sparkle and shine. Add some bling to the room (just like a woman would add jewellery to her outfit). On the coffee table group some silver decor items together (groups of 3 and look for a variety of heights).
5. Window dressing. Yes, blinds are super practical and there is nothing wrong with having blind but to add some softness to the room or rooms, add some drapes to frame the window, it just completes the window and if done properly can make a window look even bigger.
When it comes to selecting interior finishes and materials, Men have a tendency to go with dark colours and hard materials. Whereas women tend to lean towards lighter tones and they like to include softer textures.
Recently, we staged a condo in Ottawa and it was a stunning space with over sized windows and sophisticated finishes but the whole space was very hard and dark - it was obvious that it was a total bachelor pad.
So we added so colour, so lighter tones but neutral furniture, a mix of textures and artwork to help down play the darker colour palette.
If you feel like your home could use a woman's touch, here are a few elements you can add that will help:
1- Simple colour palette. Dark colours re fine in fact they can help define and anchor a space but too many make a space feel dark and cave like, add some lighter tones light white, cream, ivory even pale grey and silver are good options to lighten and brighten the colour palette. It could be wall paint or tiles, stone counter top or cabinetry.
2 - Fabric choice. Men tend to lean to leather when it comes to furniture and it is a good choice because it ages well and it is easy to care for. But try added some more textures like wool, fur (faux), mirror, glass, marble and silk/satin. If your furniture is leather, think about adding some throw pillows and a blanket, an area rug and maybe a glass or marble coffee table. The mix of textures help create a warm and inviting space.
3. Open shelving. Is a great way to store items you would still like to display perhaps a collection or some pottery. Because the shelving is open it has a lighter and airy feeling.
4. Sparkle and shine. Add some bling to the room (just like a woman would add jewellery to her outfit). On the coffee table group some silver decor items together (groups of 3 and look for a variety of heights).
5. Window dressing. Yes, blinds are super practical and there is nothing wrong with having blind but to add some softness to the room or rooms, add some drapes to frame the window, it just completes the window and if done properly can make a window look even bigger.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Celebrity Style at Home : Reese Witherspoon
Home is where you can kick back and relax and where you can truly be yourself! The same goes for celebrities. A style and look of a home really reflects who we are.
When I saw these stunning photos of Reese Witherspoon's Ranch Retreat in Ojai - I felt I saw a different side to her. Relaxed, cozy and laid back - personally I love it!
The whole surrounding just have a tranquil look and feel. And, the landscaping different from what I'm used to living in but I love the raw and organic beauty of the desert.
This is also the home that Robert Pattison was rumoured to be saying in after his girlfriend, Kristen Stewart was outed for cheating on him. I must say looks like a peaceful place to hide and re-group.
In the living room, I love the mix of textures and tones. The dark and rustic texture and tone of the wood against the white walls offers contrasting without being too sharp.
The designer was Kristen Buckingham and I love how she still kept the home family friendly. this kitchen is so perfect for relaxed and easy entertaining with friends and family.
A soothing space for a candlelit bath any night of the week. I love when bathrooms are decorated in light and layered tones.
This home is also the site of Reese's wedding to Jim Toth
When I saw these stunning photos of Reese Witherspoon's Ranch Retreat in Ojai - I felt I saw a different side to her. Relaxed, cozy and laid back - personally I love it!
The whole surrounding just have a tranquil look and feel. And, the landscaping different from what I'm used to living in but I love the raw and organic beauty of the desert.
This is also the home that Robert Pattison was rumoured to be saying in after his girlfriend, Kristen Stewart was outed for cheating on him. I must say looks like a peaceful place to hide and re-group.
In the living room, I love the mix of textures and tones. The dark and rustic texture and tone of the wood against the white walls offers contrasting without being too sharp.
The designer was Kristen Buckingham and I love how she still kept the home family friendly. this kitchen is so perfect for relaxed and easy entertaining with friends and family.
A soothing space for a candlelit bath any night of the week. I love when bathrooms are decorated in light and layered tones.
This home is also the site of Reese's wedding to Jim Toth
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