The Most Livable Decor Trends for 2018: Part 1

January 2, 2018 by Stoney Creek Furniture

Ah, the excitement of a new year and new decor possibilities! But realistically, there are so many new decor trends every year and frankly, not all of them are practical or comfortable. So how do you keep your looking home fresh without it feeling like a cliché?

Here are a few of our favourite 2018 trends that look amazing AND are wonderfully livable:

Bellamy Home Office Collection

Lavender walls contrast the Bellamy Home Office Collection gorgeously.

Lavender. Pantone’s Colour of the Year is Ultra Violet – a mystical, evocative purple. It’s stunning, but for some people, perhaps a little too vibrant. Enter subtle lavender, a gentler version of purple that’s spiritual and calming, yet still flirty and fun. It’s this year’s millennial pink, showing up in fabrics, furnishings and accents everywhere. Lavender is versatile, partnering beautifully with neutrals, brights and other pastels (which are also making a comeback).

Bright Florals. 2018 is seeing a return to tradition and movement away from modern minimalism. Bold, high contrast florals and chintz suit the mood perfectly, bringing colour and joy to any space. To make this trend livable, think moderation. Curtains, pillows, throws, a bedspread – choose a few key elements to showcase your love of florals – or select a gorgeous focal point sofa or accent chair.

Tatum Sofa shown in velvet

The Tatum Sofa is shown in blue velvet 

Velvet. Sumptuous, regal and a hallmark of traditional décor, velvet has stepped back into the spotlight.  In fact, it’s been called the ‘IT’ fabric for 2018! Velvet is luxurious, yet still surprisingly livable. Modern velvets are often treated for durability and stain resistance. Choose a jewel tone to fully embrace the trend. How about a tufted emerald loveseat or a sapphire blue sofa?

Warmer Colours. After seasons of cooler palettes, 2018 is seeing the re-emergence of warmer hues. Look for tan, mustard, terra cotta, warm red and warm burgundy. Warmer colours are ultra livable – creating a comfortable, welcoming ambience. Pair with light neutrals – soft ivory is perfect. Especially trendy is warm colour in the kitchen and on floors and ceilings. (More on this trend next time!)

Morgan Sofa - coming soon.

Morgan Sofa – Coming Soon

Circles. Geometrics stay on trend in 2018. Again, as the focus shifts away from modern and toward traditional, sharp edges and straight lines are less popular, with the gentle roundness of circles the preferred shape. You’ll see circles on upholstery and echoed in the shape of tables, ottomans, etc. The curve of circles creates an open, friendly and very livable vibe.

Matte Metallics. Whether faucets, cabinet handles or accessories, matte metallics are everywhere this season! How to make them more livable? Mix them with the metallics you already have – brass, nickel and chrome are still trendy, as well as rosy metallic shades. An eclectic mix is welcome!

2018 promises to be an exciting year for home decor! Stay tuned for more livable decor trends next week!

White Glorious White: The Most Versatile and Beautiful Neutral

December 28, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

It could be the blanket of white snow in my backyard, or maybe it’s a reaction to the abundance of dark neutrals that are on trend now – but suddenly white decor is on my mind. The classic of all classics, white never lets us down; it’s always fresh, always serene and always stunning.

Modern Collection coming soon to our stores.

Modern Collection coming soon to our stores.

Let’s talk about the virtues of white – and how it can add pure joy to your home.

White creates a feeling of spaciousness. White creates a clean, open feeling. A room that’s primarily white almost seems to vibrate with light. At the same time, it’s calming and peaceful – such a rare combination.

White decor works with many styles. Whether you like shabby chic, glam, farmhouse, modern or another style, white is perfect! Cool whites are definitely more contemporary while antique whites are more rustic. Rough and rugged furnishings work as well as sleek glass and metallics. White is so versatile!

White makes colours pop. Touches of bright colours or jewel tones in a primarily white room take centre stage. The colours appear more vibrant – consider focal pieces of furniture or accessories in purples, greens or blues – blended with tone-on-tone hues of white.

Modern Collection coming soon to our stores.

Modern Collection coming soon to our stores.

White with black. The simplicity of white with black is very impactful. Adding black accent chairs, artwork, throws, pillows or even rugs can add punch to a room. Or take it one step further with black windows and doors, faucets, cupboards or patterned tile for a modern and edgy look.

White enhances texture. An all-white space needs texture for visual interest. In fact, texture stands out more in a white room. Consider nubby fabrics like silk, velvet or tweeds; leathers and suede; shag or jute rugs; and distressed floors and furnishings. Remember, tones of white combined with other soft neutrals bring the palette to life.

Modern Collection coming soon to our stores.

Modern Collection coming soon to our stores.

White awakens metallics. White makes metallics sparkle even more. Silver and gold look especially dazzling against white, but even more subdued metals like brass and pewter look richer in a white setting. Glass and mirrors are also spectacular in a white room. Consider a cocktail table with a glass top and metallic base or a large wall mirror trimmed in gold.

White goes beyond white. White has a range of shades – from blue white through to yellow white. Mixing shades of white creates depth and visual interest. As well, white looks fabulous as the base for an all-neutral space. Keep your palette warm or cold – for example, mix blue white with silvery greys and grey taupe. Combine soft and yellow white with ivory and beige taupe.

White camouflages flaws. ‘Paint it white’ is one of my mottos. If you have an old piece of furniture or a distressed wood floor or a brick wall with wear – paint it white and watch it transform into a thing of beauty. White reflects light, giving the appearance of perfection. How wonderful is that?

I love the simplicity, purity and timelessness of white decor – try it in your space!

The Joy of Giving Back During the Holidays…and Beyond!

December 20, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

With Christmas just days away, I wonder if you’re like me and still rushing around – decorating, last minute gift shopping and getting your home ready for holiday get-togethers. My partner belongs to an organization that is helping serve Christmas dinner to the less fortunate on December 23rd. He asked me to join him and my first thought was – I just don’t have time. But you know, I think I will make the time. At the end of the day, isn’t love and goodwill what Christmas is all about?

Give a Little of Yourself

Twice in the last week, strangers offered to help me in small but meaningful ways. Once when I had to add windshield washer fluid to my car on a bone chilling night and again when I was carrying a large package into the post office. Little things yes, but they made me smile – and they’ve inspired me to pay it forward this holiday season. Do you feel the same way? Here are some things you can do:

  • Volunteer at a hospital, hospice or nursing home
  • Get involved with a food bank
  • Foster a cat or dog needing a temporary home
  • Shovel snow for a neighbour
  • Run errands for an elderly neighbour
  • Bring soup or a casserole to a sick friend
  • Surprise a work colleague by cleaning snow off their car

It’s easy to think of other ideas when you start feeling the genuine joy it brings to help others!

Giving Back at Stoney Creek Furniture

I’m proud to say that community involvement and caring is a way of life at Stoney Creek Furniture. Here are a couple of highlights:

Have you been to the ‘Giving Back Corner’?

At the Stoney Creek store location, select pieces of furniture are offered at great savings. Full proceeds from all items sold go to one of three local charities: Food4Kids, Hamilton Food Share or Hamilton/Burlington SPCA. Drop by and have a look! The area is restocked often with fantastic new deals!

Wrap It Up Event

Wrap it Up

L-R: Celeste Taylor, Hamilton Food Share; Jim Fee, Stoney Creek Furniture; Joanne Santucci, Hamilton Food Share; Aileen Hynes, Stoney Creek Furniture

Stoney Creek Furniture’s 3rd annual ‘Wrap It Up’ event in November was a great success! About 300 people attended, raising $18,600 for Hamilton Food Share through ticket sales, silent auction and raffle tickets. With Hamilton Food Share’s buying power of every $1 generating $5 worth of food, this equates to $93,000 of food for the Hamilton community!

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy festive season!

5 Tips to Decorate Your Space with Ultra Violet, the 2018 Pantone Colour of the Year

December 14, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

Some are saying that Prince and David Bowie inspired Ultra Violet as Pantone’s 2018 Colour of the Year. Certainly, purple is associated with both of these legendary performers as it is with imagination, originality and artistry. Violet is even considered mystical, bringing to mind night skies, visionary thinking and spirituality.antone colour of the year 2018

The experts at Pantone say that Ultra Violet ‘lights the way to what is yet to come’ and is ‘a reflection of what’s needed in our world today’. Dramatic? Perhaps. But Ultra Violet is not your run of the mill colour. It’s a complex shade and even a bit of a décor challenge – but when used just right – Ultra Violet is truly magical.

Here are 5 tips to expertly illuminate your home with Ultra Violet:

  1. Blend with neutrals or pastels. The intensity of Ultra Violet is part of its allure, but it can be overwhelming in large doses. Use it with quiet neutrals like ivory, light taupe or dove grey to keep your space grounded and aesthetically calming. Pastels are also a beautiful complement to Ultra Violet – choose pale mauve/lilac, blush or very light blue. The effect is serene.
  2. Embrace the drama. If you love strong colours, instead of softening Ultra Violet, maximize its impact by pairing it with dark colours like charcoal or navy, bring in jewel tones and metallics and create a space that’s sophisticated and opulent. Violet is regal and rich – glam it up even more in velvets and silks to create a one-of-a-kind old world escape.

    The Graduate lounge chair in gorgeous violet.

  3. Use it as an accent. Accessories are the easiest way to bring the Ultra Violet trend into your home. What’s more, you need very few violet accessories to make a stunning statement. Try some throw pillows, a duvet, an ottoman, a vase, a side chair, glassware, linens, artwork, or even a kettle.
  4. Choose it for a focal point. You’ll see many pieces of furniture in violet this year. Pick something gorgeous and shape a room around it – a headboard, a tufted sofa or a hall chest. Even a single rug or abstract painting in Ultra Violet can set the tone for a space. The vibrancy of violet brings it forward to dominate a space. Keep the items around it more subtle.

    pantone colour of the year

    Only looking to add a hint of ultra violet to your home? Try some throw pillows.

  5. Add natural violet florals. There are many stunning house plants in shades of purple – Purple Passion, Coleus, Lavender, Wandering Jew and everybody’s favourite, African Violet. Fresh cut irises, hydrangea or springtime lilacs are also purple – and bring the shade to life beautifully in any home. Floral prints in violet for wallpaper and upholstery will be on trend in 2018 too. It’s fresh and fun!