Old meets New

This is an interesting time in home decor and design. It seems as though the times of buying all new furniture because you have moved into a larger or smaller home have gone by the wayside. People are way more aware of waste and are embracing the idea of recycling, reusing and re-purposing - and I love it! Not just from an environmental stand but from a design perspective. When people can be creative with their existing pieces whether it's refinishing instead of tossing them out, or using a piece in a different room than intended I think it really shows personal style and innovation. I have seen a lot of designers embracing this concept too which I personally feel is a part of their role - being creative! It's too easy to just wipe the slate clean and start from scratch and we can't do that in this economy. I know my clients are looking for great ideas to reuse their prized pieces and that's one of the many reasons why they hire me.

Usually model homes are a proponent of the concept of completely starting a new but there is a model condo suite at QWest in Westboro that is totally refreshing!! I love what the designers did (and no it is not my design). The crew from 2H Interiors mastered mixing old with new in this suite. They re-purposed some pieces and made them fresh but then added splashes of glam and modern. You will notice streamlined pieces mixed with more elegant and ornate items. An antique China cabinet in the office/den and a bedroom dresser as a hutch/storage piece in the living/dining space. I know this may sound very strange to some or perhaps many of you but I think it is genius and really reflects of where design is going due to the economic and environmental climate in 2011.

Old and New can work together to create a truly beautiful and unique space. I think it is not only important to express your personal flare but to be smart about it too. If there is nothing wrong with your pieces, do they need to be replaced? Make it work!

Design shouldn't just look good....

Ultimately the the main goal of design is the esthetics - it should look good, but it is also very important to think about the practicality. Yes, being practical is not exactly glamorous or sexy but taking your lifestyle into account will save you some time, energy and hassle.

I remember when my husband and I moved into our first home, a designer friend of mine (yes, I do ask for second opinions) did a walk through and made some suggestions. One of her suggestions sounded like a great idea, at the time - she wanted us to remove the door from our front foyer closet and have a dramatic curtain installed instead, "this would add a real rich feel at the front door" she said - it was a unique idea but when I sat down and thought about it...custom curtains are expensive, at the front door it would get awfully dirty from salt, snow, mud etc...from front door traffic, my dogs would have a field day running their hairy bodies up against it and it would have to be out for dry cleaning constantly to maintain that beautiful look (which is both time consuming and expensive). I suppose we could put police tape around it to protect it from all of the above ....but that's not practical! In the end, we opted for the traditional door for the front foyer closet.

What I am trying to say from my personal experience is that design needs to look great and fit into your lifestyle. And, it is absolutely possible to have both style and smarts!

Right now, white furniture is really en vogue. Personally, I would love to have a living room with dark hardwood floors, a white shag area rug and a white sectional couch - but when I think about my life right now (2 dogs, a baby, a husband, nieces and nephews, and a revolving door of family and friends). A white couch would just be a target waiting to be hit, with wine, juice, spit up - you name it! So we came up with an alternative, a compromise if you will - we went with the dark hardwood, we still have a sectional couch and a shag area rug but in a mid colour tone (a cappuccino colour instead), our decor pillows are not custom made but are slip covered in a washable fabric (with spares, if I am not totally up to speed on my laundry duty). The look is still there, it is still a fantastic entertaining space for everyone to share and it is low maintenance.

Still longing for that white couch? Think about the fabric - leather is a great option for people who need to wipe up messes (from kids, pets and even husbands). Hardwood is easy to clean and practical for anyone with allergies. For decor pillows and throws look into washable fabrics.

Some great ideas for when you purchase furniture - look for easy clean fabrics like micro suede or leather, look for items that have storage (ottomans, side tables, dining tables, even sofas), take safety into account (mainly if you have children) look for pieces that do not have sharp edges, a large upholstered ottoman is a great alternative to a coffee table, colour (light and dark hues often show stains and pet hair, mid tones or small patterns are the best camouflage) and look for items that are durable.

When you do meet with a designer or a salesperson be sure to let them know about your lifestyle - it is really important - otherwise you could end up making a costly mistake!