When designing a child’s room, you need to consider the room’s required furniture, plus storage and organizing systems. Add in a touch of fun design that the child can grow with, and you will have a room you’ll both love! It’s also great to include artwork they love or (even better!) have made themselves.  My most recent makeover project ...

Colour. It’s a hot topic every year – what colours are in, what colours to paint, what colours to accessorize with. And what will be around today and tomorrow. The 2015 runways are filled with colours reminiscent of the 1960s – shades such as warm olive and rich orange are being given new life, while some colour trends continue to be popular. ...

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the laundry room must be the liver. The laundry room cycles through messy household clothing and towels, and cleans them up time and time again.  In addition to being the place to do laundry and store cleaning supplies, many households also have their laundry room act as a mudroom; a place to drop off ...

With the holidays just around the corner, so grows the list of “to do’s” within the home. Spending too much time inside makes you realize how many little projects you need to get done or want to do to jazz up your space.  Not every project has to be a big one: you can make just as much of an impact in a space with little effort. These project...

With the holiday gift giving season upon us, our stress levels rise as we try to decide upon ideal gifts for our loved ones. Whomever you are shopping for this holiday season, we have five great options that are suitable for anyone (and everyone!) on your list.   On first day of Christmas I bought an Oster Versa 1400 High Performanc...

City living may mean limited space, but you don’t have to sacrifice functionality. I was recently challenged to find a clever way to maximize a space. All of the bedrooms were occupied, but the home lacked a guest room, plus a more efficient workspace and storage in their walkout basement. This is how I created a dual-purpose room. An effic...

{Full article in this Friday's Toronto Sun!}You spend a third of your day in your bedroom. It should be a relaxing place you enjoy spending time. Here’s how you can create a beautiful, comfortable bedroom retreat on any budget. Cool Color Palette. I’ve had red bedrooms and I’ve had pale blue rooms. I can honestly say colour psychology is real...

Need Paint Advice? How about overall Decorating/Design Help? But can't afford a design consultation fee? Well you are in luck CIL has teamed up with a number of Design Experts across Canada assisting you once a week at a Home Depot near you for a limited time offer. Come out from 6 to 8pm at one of the locations below to meet with me for...

With our short Canadian summer, more and more people are buying all-season cottages or winterizing their existing cottages to make a year-round retreat. People want to enjoy a get away not only in the summer but also in the cooler Canadian months too. I recently took the design challenge of styling my client’s all-season cottage.  Decoratin...

Who says you have to sacrifice fashion for function? For my latest makeover project, I wanted to strike a balance between style and organization to create the perfect walk-in closet. I called in organizing guru Clare Kumar to help with a closet makeover to make sure we ended up with a space that was functional and looked fantastic.  I love ...

If you missed Jo's segment on Small Space Patio Décor on the Global Noon show no worries watch online: http://globalnews.ca/video/1401909/jo-alcorn/ Special Thanks to Home Depot for the products.  Have fun dressing you outdoor space this summer!  Until next time, w&c designer girl! ...

During the warm summer months, we tend to spend a lot more time outside, so it’s time to design or re-design your area to create a cosy ambiance that will encourage you to spend more time in the great outdoors. So for those of you who are seeking inspiration to spruce up your small patio or balcony space, I have some fabulous design tips to help y...

Quick Paint Tips / Projects

Quick Paint Tips / Projects

With the holidays just around the corner, so grows the list of to dos within the home. Spending too much time inside makes you realize how many little projects you need to get done or want to do to jazz up your space.  Not every project has to be a big one: you can make just as much of an impact in a space with little effort. These projects can change your space completely with just a little elbow grease and paint! Need extra encouragement to take on a quick & easy DIY project? CIL Paint Testers are on sale at Home Depot for only $3.97 until December 20th!

Here are few small painting projects that make a big impact:

Accent Walls can play a huge role in any space! Only have a short amount of time? Try just a few stripes on a smaller wall


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Paint a Window or an Interior Door in a striking colour for a major change within any space with minimal effort.
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Change picture frame colours for a whole new look.
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Add some colour to your kitchen accessories and be the envy of the town and your holiday guests.
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Whatever project you tackle this holiday season, have fun with it. Paint goes along way on a budget and if you dont like it down the road paint over it!  It is a great solution to keeping your items around forever and giving it a whole new look with a little facelift over the years. Dont feel like you need to buy new stuff all the time - just add a DIY paint project to your to do list. Your wallet will love you and your home will look spectacular!

 
Until next time,
Jo Alcorn

5 Days of Christmas Gift Guide!

5 Days of Christmas Gift Guide!

With the holiday gift giving season upon us, our stress levels rise as we try to decide upon ideal gifts for our loved ones. Whomever you are shopping for this holiday season, we have five great options that are suitable for anyone (and everyone!) on your list. 

 On first day of Christmas I bought an Oster Versa 1400 High Performance Blender. With so many choices available in blenders, the Versa differentiates itself by being just as powerful as comparable models but at a fraction of the price ($250).
With the bonus of its attractive red hue, this gift can spice up any countertop! http://www.oster.ca/



 On the second day of Christmas I snuggled up with a Sunbeam Cuddle Up Heated Throw.  As we brace ourselves to see what Mother Nature has in store for us this year, staying warm cannot be overlooked. To fend off the elements and chase chills away, snuggle up with a Sunbeam Heated Throw that has three heat settings and an automatic on/off function. Available in 22 assorted patterns, you’re sure to find one that appeals to everyone on your shopping list. My favourite this Christmas? The Holiday Deer throw! www.sunbeam.ca 

*A side note:Sunbeam is proud to launch Supports with Warmth, an awareness and fundraising campaign in support of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope transportation program.www.sunbeam.ca/supportswithwarmth
 




On the third day of Christmas a Martello Café Stilista Lattelux made its way into my kitchen. It’s an at-home espresso based capsule brewing system that’s small on size but big on style. Compact appliances like the Martello Café Stilista Lattelux are perfect when kitchen counter real estate is at a premium, or you just want a fantastic unit with a small footprint. But foregoing a large unit does not mean giving up on taste! This unit brews authentic Italian-roasted espresso and comes with an automatic milk frother to create macchiatos, cappuccinos and lattes at home. Great for impressing holiday guests, but even better for eliminating the stress of morning line-ups at the coffee shop all year long. www.martellocafe.ca

 The fourth day of Christmas I found myself at Artemano to find unique serving bowls and gifts for friends and family. All their items are made from recycled materials and 100% unique. I purchased several great tea light holders and serving trays for myself, and to use as hostess gifts. When you want to delight a friend, family member or hostess with an original gift, you cannot go wrong shopping at Artemano. http://www.artemano.ca/

 And on the fifth day of Christmas I wrapped up my shopping with a Sonos Wi-Fi speaker. Sonos is a smart system of wireless Hi-Fi speakers and audio components. You can play all the music on Earth and control it all with one easy to navigate app on your phone, tablet or computer. The best part is you can play a different song on every speaker! I love this system for holiday entertaining or even as a luxury gift for a loved one.
http://www.sonos.com/
 
Happy Gift Giving Season!!
 
Until next time,
w&c girl!
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