“Space Saving Designs” – Written By Yanna King

When my family and I moved to Victoria this summer, we downsized from a single family home to a townhouse. Consequently, we had to re-think the way we live. The new townhouse has 800 square feet less than our previous home, but this won’t stop me from making it a comfortable place to live.

Last week at the Interior Design Show in Vancouver, I found some wonderful multifunctional transforming furniture which I would like to share with you today. These pieces are smart, stylish and forward-thinking. Take a look at just how far the furniture industry has evolved. You are now able to convert your office or living room into a guest bedroom. You can turn your coffee table or console into a dining table. You can install a small workstation in your hallway, or fold up the kid’s bunk beds during the day to create more space for playing. The options are endless. Give us a call today and we will show you just how efficient your place can be!

“Closet Organization With Style In Mind” Written By Yanna King

It’s that time of year when we re-organize our closets. As you tackle this task, we would like to give you some tips on how to create a stylish and efficient wardrobe.

The best way to organize your closet is to create what designers call “collections”. A collection is a set of colour coordinated clothes that consists of six to twelve pieces. These pieces can be mixed and matched to create a number of different looks. If you create several collections that fit your lifestyle and a number of occasions, then getting ready quickly will always be a breeze.

Tips on how to create clusters:

1. Think About Your Lifestyle, Comfort and Personal Pizzazz
Create collections to match your daily activities and your personal style.

2. Think About What You Already Own
When trying on new clothes, think about the clothes you already have. How will this new ruby top look with your black skirt and emerald blazer?

3. Choose a Colour Scheme
Combine neutrals like white, blush tones, gray, black, navy or khaki with brighter shades like red, yellow, green or pink. Coordinate your accessories like scarves, jewellery and shoes and line them up in your closet to match the collections you have created. Stick a colour wheel on your closet door. This tool can help you understand which colours look great together.

4. Create a Collection
4 tops + 1 Sweater + 1 Jacket + 4 Bottoms (pants or skirts).
Add a dress or two for more options.

“Art As Inspiration” Written By Yanna King

Creating a Design Concept Based on a Piece of Art.
By Yanna King

A piece of art can be a fabulous spring board for creating a design concept. Here is an example of how a Lawrence Harris painting sparked the inspiration for the design of a family room.

The clean horizontal lines found in the furniture create a relaxed back drop for the dramatic Mount Robson painting. Some dynamic is added with smaller furniture pieces like the side table and console. Colourful accessories and fabrics are chosen to coordinate with the colours found in the painting.