Boys & Their Toys: A Boy's Bedroom

Boys & Their Toys: A Boy's Bedroom

Boys & Their Toys: A Boy's Bedroom

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 was to create a boy’s dream room, a space filled with super heroes and all the functional requirements. The “must have” list included a work space, storage systems, room to play, a place to read, and, of course, a sleep spot. His action figures and comic book collection provide my inspiration, and so I began with a brick wallpaper statement wall (picked up at www.homedepot.ca) and allowed it to set the mood.

First up – the bed! An elevated bunk bed provides additional floor space and what kids doesn’t love a bunk bed! I choose the Ikea Stuva loft bed, which incorporates a desk, book case and storage all in one. This style of bunk bed has the added bonus of freeing up floor space to allow for additional zones within the room.

 

Storage and more storage! The bed added a ton of storage options; however, we still needed more space for toys, clothes, and hiding everyday items. IKEA had an ideal white drawer unit and an awesome closet system to assist with ever growing collections and changing clothing styles. The multiple sized drawers are great for housing socks, folded clothes and even keeping toys organized. I added short bins within the unit to act as dividers and an organization system to help keep everything tidy, even the hidden items. The movable and changeable closet system is perfect for a young growing child since the levels can be moved to suit his clothing needs as he moves into his teen’s years, and larger sizes. 

 A reading zone. I wanted to add a zone where he could read, play games, hang out with friends, and act as an extra sleeping spot for guests, pending their age and size. The lounge chair was the perfect fit; it provided a relaxing spot to put your feet up, for reading alone or curling up with a parent. This chair’s purpose can be transformed as he grows up, and might even move out with him!

The colour scheme. I choose to work with a light grey paint from Para, knowing that this room will need to age well and be cool for many years to come. The natural grey is a colour that allows the room to feel warm but is not the focal point in the room. Using a lighter colour on the walls allows the pieces within to standout. As he grows and refines his tastes, these grey walls will coordinate with future room modifications.

Fun art wall. I love to bring colour and life into a room through artwork; it’s an easy way to update and refresh any space. It also adds a personal touch by including drawings and artwork created by the room owner. For kids who love to draw or paint, having a home for their masterpieces, and one that can be updated at whim, adds a touch of their own personality to their room. I used Ikea frames which come in all shapes, colours and sizes that are budget friendly for creating just such an art wall, and one that can expand as you desire or need.

 

I had so much fun getting into the mind of a kid who loves to get lost in comic books and super hero stories. Now that I have brought his dream room to life, my hope is that he can enjoy this space, grow with it, and return to his childhood whenever he wishes, no matter his age.

 

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!

Colour and Design Trends of 2015

Colour and Design Trends of 2015

Colour and Design Trends of 2015

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.

              
(Photo by- Miles Redd)

Marsala was named the Pantone colour of year for 2015, but finds its roots in the 60s. This rich and full-bodied red-brown provides depth and warmth to any room with a bit of a feminist twist.

According to Tucker &Negus, “Paint colours for the home still revolve around sophisticated basics with preference for cleaner whites, smokier neutrals and updated muted pastels. Feature walls are out, zone painting schemes are in and beige is a thing of the past.

 

So, what else is hot for 2015? Blue...in every possible shade! You can’t go wrong with introducing a bit of blue into your space; signs show this trend will be sticking around!

Want a fun and trendy way to add some blue to your space? Mix and match coloured bases with your choice of a marble top, like the Ynes coffee table from  from EQ3. For $599 you have the option to mix and match the coloured base with your choice of marble top

 

You can also choose furniture pieces to your space to add a pop of colour. Try mixing up your dressers with these fun blues from Ikea for www.ikea.ca

 

Onto metallic accents; make room for copper in your life! The copper penny might have disappeared but we are seeing copper and rose gold appearing in home accessories everywhere!   My Connecticut Collection by ArtcraftLighting.com found in independent lighting stores. JA802 $139.99 CDN

 

Grey is not only a colour – it’s a must have! Some say there are more than 50 shades of grey; in terms of colour trends, it’s a great time for the movie to come out since 2015 is all about mixing grey shades into your interiors. Pillows, baskets and throws are just a few easy ways to add grey to your interior. These baskets from Bouclair are great storage items that fit the trend and retail at great prices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly, colour is cropping up in unexpected, stylish ways. A hot trend in furniture is placing a statement sideboard in the foyer, dining room, or in the family room as a TV stand. What makes these pieces unique are their interesting materials, textures and colours. Showcasing the beauty of raw, natural wood, these pieces can be used in any space to add a natural grounding to a room enveloped in the colour trends of 2015. Aretemano has great options. This sideboard is make of metal and wood from old fishing boats and retails for $2695.

 

Happy 2015 everyone, wishing a great year ahead!

Until next time,
w&c girl!

Laundry in style – create a functional and fashionable laundry room

Laundry in style – create a functional and fashionable laundry room

Laundry in style – create a functional and fashionable laundry room

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 school bags, shoes, and jackets.  The laundry room gets a lot of wear-and-tear, but is often the most neglected room, design-wise! For my latest project, I wanted to showcase the laundry room, and how it can be designed as a functional and fashionable space.

 

Clean, simple colours. I chose washable gloss white cabinets and applied a coat of CIL Wexford Fogon the walls. The simple colour palette created a calming effect in a usually chaotic room. I added in greys and stainless steel touches throughout the room for a more unisex overture. The laundry room isn’t just the woman’s domain!

Who doesn’t need more storage?
I turned to Cutler Kitchen and Bath, a company that makes cabinetry in Canada and sells through Lowes stores  (www.cutlerkitchenandbath.com/)  I added tall pantry storage to one side of the room which enabled me to store laundry baskets, kids boots and bins for mittens, hats and scarves, keeping everything organized and easy to find for winter. Upper cabinets are used to store and hide away detergents, extra towels and cleaning supplies, keeping the space organized.  Using storage baskets from Bouclair Home helps the kids to put away their mitts and hats each day, keeping the room tidy with the bonus of reducing morning chaos when everyone can find their belongings on their way out the door.

 

Make room for countertop space. Don’t overlook counter space! Make sure you have enough room to deposit dirty clothes, apply stain treatments and fold clothes. Choose a countertop that will hide dust and dirt; I used one from Belanger Laminates, a Canadian company who creates laminates that mimic raw stone. Multiple flecks of colour help hide messes and add an industrial element to the room. Laminate has come a long way in recent years; it’s stunning how you can now get it to look almost identical to stone, but at a fraction of the price.

                                                                                   

A well-oiled machine needs a good engine. What is a laundry room without gorgeous appliances? For this makeover I chose Whirlpool Duet Steam Front Loaders in Chrome Shadow. Not only are they stunning, they are also a homeowner’s dream. They keep clothes looking newer longer and have amazing features that make caring for clothing simple.  This washing machine does all the work for you, determining your load size, adding the right amount of detergent, even steaming and removing wrinkles.

 

Laundry sinks can be stylish!  Don’t forget about the sink, which is an integral part of any working laundry room. I wanted to find a faucet that was both stylish and that makes life easier.  I chose a Delta faucet where you can simply touch anywhere on the spout or handle of the faucet with your hand, wrist or forearm to start and stop the flow of water.  If your space doubles as a mudroom, this sleek faucet is not only visually appealing, it is also a great solution to easily clean up  muddy hands after gardening or washing up when arriving home from school, work, sports or  after taking the dog for a walk.

 The little touches. The laundry room doesn’t have to be a room you dread heading into. I wanted to make it a place that was functional and stylish and with a few touches from Bouclair Home the look was achieved – I added a great piece of artwork, a bowl for keys, and a multitude of great baskets to keep the room in tip top shape. Everything is out of sight and organized but very easy to access.

 

Make sure you give your laundry room some love to create a room that works for your entire family. Who knows, you just might enjoy doing the laundry.

 

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!