Is Your Home Holiday-Ready? 10 Easy Ways to Get Prepared for the Festive Season!

December 6, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

As the holiday season approaches, we’re getting our homes ready with festive decor. But is your home truly guest ready? Now is a great time to make small changes with a big impact.

Here are a few ideas to make your home wonderfully welcoming for the season ahead:

Getting ready for the holidays!

  1. Do you have enough dining room seating? While you can buy a new dining room suite or a full complement of new chairs, how about simply adding a bench seat or two new featured chairs at either end of the table?
  2. Do you have enough living room seating? How about adding a few poufs? Not only are they fun and trendy, they’re portable too! Also consider a beautifully upholstered bench or a one-of-a-kind accent chair in a gorgeous colour or an ottoman that does double duty as a cocktail table. Be creative!
  3. Does your guest room need an update? If you’re having house guests during the holidays, be sure your guest room is freshened up for the season. How about a new upholstered headboard, a new throw, an accent chair in a bright hue or some new accessories? Let comfort and coziness be your guide!
  4. How about a freshly painted accent wall? It’s so easy to simply repaint one wall – and what a difference it makes! Charcoal grey adds contemporary drama. Red is rich (and festive!). Emerald green is organic and luxurious. Long after the holidays are over, you’ll love how a single accent wall transforms a room.
  5. Add texture with fabrics. Rugs. Draperies. Throws (even sheepskin!). Cushions. Table linens. The holidays are a perfect time to add new fabric accessories to your space. Choose something that will look great into the New Year and beyond. Stripes. Geometrics. Polka dots, Metallic accents. Faux fur. Almost-black neutrals. Saturated jewel tones. There’s so much to choose from!

    Getting ready for the Holidays!

    Getting ready for the Holidays! Shop the latest in accents and accessories at our Stoney Creek and Vaughan locations.

  6. Mirrors reflect light and open a space. I love how a mirror can reinvent a space. How about a large vertical mirror in your hallway? Or a horizontal mirror in your dining room? Or a round mirror over the dresser in the guest room? HINT: Mirrors are especially enchanting when reflecting holiday lights and candles.
  7. How about new dishware or flatware? Looking for a dramatic change without spending a lot? New dishes (even just serving dishes) can update a holiday table and create a whole new vibe. How about classic white or metallic-edged or something funky in a dark neutral? Try gold or gold-edged flatware to be ultra on trend.
  8. New lighting changes everything! Consider new lamps for the guest room, a chandelier for the foyer and sconces for the dining room. Lighting really modifies the mood of a room.
  9. Accent tables add personality and practicality. Accent tables are an ideal way to display bric-a-brac and festive treasures, but more importantly, they provide holiday guests with a place to rest a drink, hold a book or store their personal items. Choose an accent table in metallic gold, distressed grey wood or glass topped to be totally on trend.
  10. Don’t forget accessories! Of course your home is decorated for the holidays, but everyday accessories add charm and personality. Showcase a new piece of wall art, a new collection of family black & white photos or a terrarium with beautiful plant specimens. What makes your home unique makes it beautiful.

Christmas is just around the corner. With these easy changes, you’ll be guest ready in no time!

1 Comment / Tags: , , / Posted in Accents, Accessories, Design tips, Holidays, Tips

Grey Finished Furnishings: Going from Trendy to Timeless

November 27, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

We’re seeing more and more grey finished furnishings this season – in bedroom, dining room and accent pieces too. It’s an exciting trend. And while brown and blonde woods are timeless, grey finishes appear to be taking their own place as classics.

Here’s why we love grey finishes:

Grey suits many décor styles. Sleek and smooth or weathered and distressed, what’s your favourite finish for grey furniture? Whether your style is modern, country chic, or something in between, grey works. Consider the bedroom featured below. It’s contemporary, yet has a rustic touch. The weathered gray showcases the grains of the oak veneers, for a distinctive ‘old means new feeling’ that’s works perfectly for a transitional space.

grey finished furnishings

Belize Bedroom Collection Coming Soon

Grey adds texture and dimension to furniture. Grey brings the nuances of furniture forward, highlighting the details of the wood. The neutrality of grey makes the colour recede and the character of the wood emerge. It’s subtle, yet spectacular.

Grey looks amazing with black, today’s hippest neutral. Whether on walls, appliances or accessories, black is definitely this season’s ‘it’ neutral. But grey continues to dominate. A gentler neutral, grey furniture is less extreme than black – and will stand the test of time in your home.

grey finished furnishings

Proximity Heights Collection Coming Soon

Grey awakens metallics. Grey complements metallics, whether silver and pewter or brass and copper. The quiet neutrality of grey showcases the shimmer of metallics, whereas more dramatic colours would compete for attention.

Grey is diverse. Don’t limit your thinking about grey! It’s a surprisingly diverse colour, going from very warm to cool, from very light to dramatically dark. The mood and experience you want to create will determine your ideal shade of grey for furnishings and beyond. For example, look at the gorgeous bedroom featured with the lush smoky finish. It’s Asian influenced, clean, tailored and sleek. It creates a modern, glamourous feeling.

grey finished furnishings

Proximity Heights Collection Coming Soon

Grey is versatile. Grey furnishings blend well with almost any décor palette, softening brights, complementing other neutrals, grounding jewel tones and enriching pastels. Some may even say that grey furnishings are more versatile than traditional woods! Grey adds instant sophistication to any shade.

Grey links other colours. Think of grey like a palate cleanse for your home! It creates a bridge between brighter colours, a welcome sigh for your senses. Grey brings disparate shades together with its sophisticated neutrality. It creates a pedestal of sorts to display other colours and more vibrant pieces, allowing them to take centre stage while it anchors the space beautifully.

If you’re considering new furniture for your bedroom, dining room – or just an accent console or cocktail table – consider grey finished furnishings. It’s a fresh alternative that will look great year after year.

1 Comment / Tags: , , , , , / Posted in Accents, Bedroom, Decor, Design tips, Furniture, Trends

How to Make a Small Space Feel Bigger (and Look Luxurious!)

November 21, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

Many of us are adopting a ‘less is more’ attitude – suddenly it’s not only practical to have a small space, it’s downright trendy! While living within a smaller footprint has many advantages, nobody wants to feel cramped or inconvenienced (or to sacrifice luxury!).

Here are a few ways you can make your smaller space look amazing and function beautifully:

9670 Collection

9670 Collection

Follow the 3 Rs and the 3 Ds. A smaller space does mean evaluating and editing your possessions. Reduce, reuse and recycle wherever you can, but also donate, de-clutter and downsize. Be ruthless. If you can’t repurpose an item effectively, give it away or find a smaller version.

Place Furniture Properly. Intuitively, you may want to push furniture against the walls to reveal more floor space, but actually, bringing furnishings in from the walls creates the illusion of space – and makes for better conversation flow.

Cocktail Ottoman with tufting

Cocktail Ottoman with tufting

Consider Multi-Purpose Furnishings. Choose an ottoman as your cocktail table that also functions as a seat. Or a cocktail table with storage. Or a dining room table with leaves. Explore. There are lots of options available.

Go Neutral or Monochromatic. Neutrals are ideal in small spaces. Inherently classic, they recede rather than stand out, creating a feeling of timeless luxury. Another fabulous option is to choose multiple shades of the same colour for walls, trim and ceiling. HINT: A piece or two of furniture that matches the shade of your walls is a great blending idea.

Devon Collection

Devon Collection

Go Light….Maybe! We’ve all heard that light colours open up a space and of course that’s true. But what if you love the drama and intimacy of darker walls, not to mention that they are on trend? Honestly, go for it – but follow a few guidelines. Perhaps choose a dark accent wall rather than a whole room; choose lighter floors and furnishings and don’t break the line of the colour i.e. always take the colour all the way to the ceiling.

Work Magic with Mirrors. You can totally change the vibe of a room with mirrors. Not only do they dramatically open a space, they also reflect light. Choose larger mirrors; vertical is perfect.

Look Up! Drawing the eye upward makes a room appear higher. Choose vertical furnishings like armoires and bookcases. They also provide valuable storage space. And don’t forget the ceiling. Paint the ceiling a bright colour that pops; again, the eye is drawn upwards.

Choose Appropriately-Sized Furniture. You’ll often read that smaller-scaled furnishings are better for small spaces. We disagree! While there’s no need to choose incredibly large pieces, go full size for comfort. The trick is to have fewer pieces to keep the space open. HINT: Furniture with longer legs rather than solid to the floor looks less bulky.

Follow these tips and your smaller space will feel and look expansive!

1 Comment / Tags: , , , / Posted in Design tips, small spaces

What Does Every Room Need? Read on and Find out!

November 13, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

We often talk about how details make the difference in decorating, but what about the big picture? What does every room need? When you’re planning a room refresh, keep this checklist in mind. It will help make your space aesthetically pleasing and welcoming.

Colour

Even if you love a neutral palette, every room needs at least a little colour to bring it to life. Maybe it’s as subtle as a pastel throw and pillows or perhaps a statement chest in a rich jewel tone or a bolder touch with an accent wall. Colour brings joy to a space.

Kelsey Collection

Kelsey Collection

Texture

A room that’s too smooth or too ‘even’ lacks tactile interest – a vital part of fully enjoying a space. If your room has plenty of colour, you need less texture; the more neutral, the more texture you should incorporate. Choose upholstery with ‘feeling’, rugs with depth, distressed leathers, rugged floors – your sense of touch will thank you!

Starlite Collection

Starlite Collection

Art that You Love

Whether it’s an original oil painting, a limited edition print or simply a black and white photo of your family, choose art that speaks to you. It may be a beautiful mirror, a piece of driftwood or a huge abstract mural – whatever you love!

Flowers or Plants

Every space needs a touch of nature. Maybe it’s a trendy terrarium, a collection of cacti, a palm in the dining room or a Boston fern in the bathroom. Plants bring Zen to a room. HINT: Fresh cut flowers are a beautiful choice too!

Wood

Even an ultra modern space needs some wood for warmth. Whether its furniture, floors, accessories or architectural details, wood brings nature inside. With so many choices – from polished to distressed, mahogany to pine – there’s a wood finish to accent your décor style.

Easton & Griffith now available.

Easton & Griffith Collection

A Statement Piece of Furniture

A beautiful leather sectional, a gorgeous armoire, a stand out cocktail table, a spectacular headboard – as with art, choose furniture you love that gives your room personality!

Nest Theory Collection

Nest Theory Collection

Metal

Metallics are like jewellery for a room! They add visual interest and reflect light for added dimension. Do you like bright gold and brass? Sophisticated pewter? Gleaming copper? Or perhaps a mix of metals? Either way, metal adds glamour and elegance, whether in accessories, fabrics or furnishings.

Comfort

Some rooms look ‘perfect’ but they simply don’t invite you to sit and enjoy. Add throws, cushions, rugs, an ottoman, accent tables and accessories to ‘fill’ a room and make it more welcoming. HINT: Arrange furniture in a U or L for conversation and bring it in from the walls to encourage intimacy.

A Touch of Your Personality

Like you, your home is one-of-a-kind. Be sure your personality shows! Showcase collections. Display family heirlooms. Let your whimsical side show. Don’t hide your books, photos and treasures from your travels – they make your home interesting and unique!

Make your home beautifully yours with these tips!

1 Comment / Tags: , , / Posted in Decor, Design tips, Tips, Trends

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