Top Nursery Designs

Having a baby is one of the most joyous occasions and designing the perfect nursery can be a daunting task! Here are some beautifully designed spaces that can transition through the years of newborn to toddler without having to create a brand new look.

Think playful and whimsical and forget the matching furniture sets! This amazing rug brings texture to the floors in soft pink and neutral hues.

Use bold coloured accessories with soft neutrals. Spend your money on versatile furniture that can be used for the years to come and does not scream baby nursery!

White subtle walls with accents of warm wood tones allows this transitional nursery to sooth any newborn.

How stunning is this soft, billowing fabric lining the ceiling and draping onto the wall? Do not be afraid to create a bold feature wall. This design is so successful due to its soft neutral and unisex pallet.

Light fixtures are another easy way to add style and flair to your nursery. I love seeing the baby's name in lights!

Model Home - Village on the Grand

Village on the Grand, built by Kingwood Homes, features 95 luxury, two story town homes, with spectacular views of the Grand River, in the heart of Paris, Ontario. Fully designed, with every detail in  mind, I wanted to capture the essence of the nature that surrounds the home but also balance it out with highlights of contemporary finishes. 

Design Timeline

Are you building a new home or are you renovating your existing home? Here are some great tips on selecting your finishes in sequence to ensure a cohesive overall design in an organized manner.

1. Exterior Finishes

When selecting your exterior finishes first think about the overall look you would like to achieve. Select your brick, stone, stucco, siding or a combination of these, then decide on a colour schemes for your window trim, soffit, shakes and shingles to compliment the main features of your home. 

A Traditional Exterior with board & batton, stone accents and
contrasting windows, trim and soffits.

2. Select your appliances

When designing your kitchen cabinetry exact sizes of appliances are needed in determining the perfect, functional space. Whether designing a modern kitchen with a stainless steel hood or a professional kitchen with a 60" wide refrigerator and range, all of these decisions need to be made before moving forward with cabinetry design.

3. Cabinetry Design

Whether designing custom cabinetry or standard box cabinetry there are many options and it may be an overwhelming process. I suggest searching for some inspiration photos and pick some elements that you love and the design style that works best for you and your home. Cabinetry for your kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room should all coordinate throughout but may have different finishes.
Countertops and backsplashes should also be selected at this point.

A farmhouse kitchen design with crisp white cabinets, white subways
tile backsplash & granite countertops 

4. Flooring

Once the cabinetry is determined it now time to move onto the flooring selections throughout your home. This would include hardwood, carpet, tiles and wall tiles for your bathrooms. Create a unique tile look in your ensuite shower by combining standard rectangular tiles infused with a mosaic design.

5. Doors & Trim

There are many different styles and finishes of interior doors and trim. Select a style and finish to best suite the rest of your selections thus far and that will coordinate with the overall design style of your home.

6. Paint Selections

At this point selecting your paint colours for each room becomes easier when most of your finishes have already been determined. I suggest only choosing 3-4 colours to carry through your entire home to allow a proper flow from room to room.

7. Lighting

Determine the amount of light that is needed for each space and select statement fixtures that add interest and style. There is an abundance amount of lighting fixtures available that it may be an overwhelming task to select for your entire house. Stay tuned for an informational post on everything lighting.

Standard lighting options are not always the best choice. I love the chandelier in the middle of the ensuite and two sconces flanking the mirror.

  8. Bathroom & Kitchen Fixtures

When selecting fixtures for your bathrooms and kitchens make sure the finishes coordinate with all of the hardware on the cabinetry that has already been selected. Remember to never forget the details such as a great shower head, hand held shower fixtures and unique faucets.

9. Furniture

Furniture throughout your home can be a very personal thing. By this point in the process the design style should already be determined and by carrying this style through in the furniture will allow the entire home to look cohesive and flow together nicely. Arrange your furniture in a functional way and select larger pieces that are neutral that will withstand the test of time.

10. Window Treatments

In keeping with the design style of your home choose a window treatment that is again neutral in colour and timeless. Determine the amount of light that you would prefer to allow into the room and the amount of privacy needed for the space. Drapery panels in a pattern are a fun way to add personality and design to a room and are easy and cost efficient to change out.

Building and renovating a home can be extremely stressful and overwhelming. If you require professional interior design assistance to create a stunning home please contact me today to set up an initial consultation. 

DESIGN OF THE WEEK...

My recent trip to Los Cabos, Mexico has been a major inspiration in the way of outdoor living. This stunning outdoor dining area reflects a casual yet elegant oasis to entertain guests. The tall stone walls and flowing white draperies add to the intimacy of the space.

houzz.com

Creating Privacy in your backyard

Privacy in your backyard is very important when you live in close proximity to your neighbors. These easy ways to create a private entertaining space are
essential for every backyard.

Outdoor curtains

Hanging simple outdoor curtains not only make your space very private but they give a soft whimsy to your backyard. To save money on pre-made outdoor panels, simply buy painter's canvas drop clothes from your local hardware store and attach grommets to the top. They have a beautiful linen look for a fraction of the price.

Greenery Screens

A screen is one of the best ways in giving privacy to your backyard. A horizontal, linear screen adds a modern touch or build a classic lattice screen for a traditional entertaining space. A leafy vine growing up these screens not only adds more privacy but brings natural greenery.

 

 A Classic Pergola

A well built pergola adds definition to an outdoor space, privacy and shelter from the rays. There are many different styles of pergolas so make sure you have the perfect one built to suite your overall look for your backyard. I love placing a dining table underneath the structure and hanging some beautiful lanterns and twinkle lights to really set an intimate mood for your dinners with family and friends. Growing vines up the columns and top boards give even more privacy and shade to your backyard.

 

Cedar Trees

Having a fully landscaped backyard can be fairly expensive and may take a few years to really grow to the size. Adding a perimeter of cedar trees, to your backyard, instantly adds the privacy we all desire. They are fairly dense, grow to be tall and best of all maintenance free, which are some of the great features of this tree.






All of these options offer an abundance of privacy and will allow you to feel comfortable entertaining your guests for summers to come!