Spring Trends & Spring DIY Decorating Seminars

April 20, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

Welcome spring! Are you itching to update your home for the new season? Ready to try the latest spring trends? Not only is there lots of inspiration below – but you’re invited to a free event on the latest DIY decorating ideas. 

Spring It Up - A Home Design & DIY Event

Spring It Up – A Home Design & DIY Event

Join us for an incredible design-focused evening including a Free Magnolia Home Gift for the First 100 People, Free 15 Minute Design Consultation with our Experts, Home-related Exhibitors and Free Seminars including:

Here are some of the season’s hottest trends – to fuel your imagination and kick start your planning! 

Fresh Season, Fresh Paint. Nothing reinvents a space like new colours. This spring is all about soft yet sophisticated pastels like palest pink, gentle blue, light taupe and of course, white. But there’s also more robust shades including lots of greys, especially tinted with mauves. 

Tropical Themes. Start with real plants; ivies and palms fit the bill. Then display art with jungle animals, even crocodiles. Add wallpaper with bold fronds and complete the look with tribal accessories. It’s adventurous for sure, but you need only do a little for a big impact. The tropical look is boho-inspired, with jewel tones, lots of green and vivid patterns and fabrics.

Vanna Collection

Vanna Collection

Glam. Velvet, mirrors, marble, gold and elegant furnishings are the hallmarks of the new glamourous look. There’s a touch of lavish old Hollywood that is alluring and timeless. Invest in a classic tufted, tuxedo back sofa in velvet or leather. So luxurious!

Copper. We’ve been mixing metallics for a few seasons now – and loving it! This spring, copper steps into the limelight, going way beyond kitchen cookware and into accessories throughout your home. Copper is warm and wonderful, an ideal complement to gold, nickel and silver tones. 

Geometrics. 1980s-inspired geometric prints are popular this season on furnishings, walls and accessories. The over-the-top 80s edginess is gone, replaced by a gentler interpretation that’s still funky, but more mainstream. Try some cushions or art to dabble in this trend. 

Don’ forget to RSVP for Spring It Up today! See you there!

 

Spring Outdoor Paint Projects & Spring Seminars to Help

April 18, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

Sunshine makes me want to paint! As soon as the weather warms up, I begin planning outdoor projects. Even before planting the garden, it’s great to start updating the exterior of your home for the season ahead. Below are some easy outdoor painting ideas for this summer. And for even more tips, you’re invited to our Free Home Design and DIY Event this April 27th with a Seminar on Colour and Your Home —plus many more inspirational ideas. 

Spring It Up - A Home Design & DIY Event

Spring It Up – A Home Design & DIY Event

Join us for an incredible design-focused evening including a Free Magnolia Home Gift for the First 100 People, Free 15 Minute Design Consultation with our Experts, Home-related Exhibitors and Free Seminars including:

 Can’t wait to get started? Rejuvenate the exterior of your home with these painting projects:

  • Front Door. A fresh coat of paint on your front door can change the personality of your home! Elegant black is perfect, but what about another neutral like charcoal grey or navy? For more impact try red, orange, cobalt blue or bright yellow.
  • Picnic Table. Make that tired picnic table look like new again with a coat of paint. Choose a neutral like black, white, taupe or grey to give it a hint of sophistication.
  • Window Boxes. Any bright colour is warm and cheerful, or how about matching the box to the flowers you plan to plant there for a monochromatic look?
  • Trellis. It doesn’t have to be white! Choose an unexpected jewel tone, pastel or even muted gold or silver for an antiqued look.
  • Terra Cotta Pots. Consider dressing up the humble terra cotta pot with paint. How about a solid colour – or apply a pattern – maybe stripes or polka dots?
  • Serving Trays. Paint a pattern on your wood or metal outdoor serving trays. Perhaps echo the pattern on your terra cotta pots or try something totally different. Maybe even paint on a saying or quote. I like this one by Charles Bowden: “Summertime is always the best of what might be.”

Don’t forget to RSVP to join us at Spring It Up! And have a happy spring!

How to Create a Light and Airy Bedroom

April 13, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

With warm breezes gently blowing, we’re opening our windows and welcoming the new season. Now is the ideal time to update your bedroom to make it as light and fresh as the outdoors. Long after the warm weather is over, you’ll still enjoy the airy simplicity of your new room. Let’s get started with some tips and easy-to-implement ideas:

Minimalism

Keeping it simple is a must for a light, airy feeling. Don’t cover the walls full of art or your shelves in accessories. There should be lots of empty wall space and large statement pieces on display rather than multiple tiny items. Furnishings should also be kept to a minimum, with everything you need of course. Less is more.

Décor Style

A light, airy bedroom doesn’t necessarily mean contemporary. All styles work within this look, as long as it’s never crowded or overdone. So go ahead – embrace transitional, modern, rustic, farmhouse or anything in between!

Savona Collection

Savona Collection

Colour Palettes

Light colours are essential for this look. A warm white is perfect, as are pale neutrals like grey, cream or soft taupe. If you crave colour, try palest blue, mint green, or aqua. White trim is the best choice. HINT: If you must have a pop of colour, consider a more vibrant shade of a hue already in your soft palette.

Modern Loft Collection

Modern Loft Collection

Draperies & Bedding

Again, keep it light. If you like pattern, be sure it’s subtle. White, quality bedding create an instant air of luxury. Top it off with lots of pillows, but again, blended rather than contrasting. Cotton, linen and lace are gorgeous fabric choices for bed coverings and draperies. Ensure they are generous – the look should be abundant while still utterly simple.

Flooring

Rich, dark hardwood complements a light, airy room beautifully, providing a solid, natural foundation. Lighter wood is very modern and fresh. If you prefer carpeting, go for a light to medium neutral.

Nest Theory Collection

Heron Tufted Upholstered Bed

Furnishings

When choosing furnishings, dark or light woods work, but clean lines are a must. Look for streamlined versus ornate. Distressed, ivory or white woods look great, and dark woods are a classic alternative. Don’t forget metallic accents – they reflect light and naturally open a space. One of our favourite ways to lighten up a bedroom is with an upholstered headboard.

Natural Elements

There’s no better way to create natural beauty than by bringing nature inside. Green plants are the perfect choice – tropical floor plants, succulents or whatever else you choose!

Smooth vs. Textured

While a little texture creates visual interest, a light, airy space should be overall more smooth than textured—the look is fresher and cleaner aesthetically. Try a sisal rug or nubby throw to add touches of subtle texture.

Create your light and airy sanctuary and then relax. Whatever the weather, it will be like enjoying a southern holiday!

Is Your Dining Room Ready for Easter?

April 6, 2017 by Stoney Creek Furniture

Easter is just around the corner. Your guests have been invited and the menu is set, but are all the finishing touches in place? Easter is synonymous with spring – so it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate the beauty of the season.

Here are a few ideas to make your Easter dinner table extra special:

Air Loft Dining Room

Air Loft Dining Room

Choose a fresh palette for your table. Pastels are classic and always appropriate – pink, yellow or mauve, paired with ivory, white or grey. But how about pink with brown? Or maybe vibrant orange with pale green? One of my favourite choices is Pantone’s colour of the year, Greenery, an incredibly fresh shade that brings the outdoors inside.

Last minute furnishings. Did your guest list get bigger? No worries. Add a beautiful bench seat to your dining room setting and a bar stand so guests can serve themselves a beverage. If you want to reinvigorate your dining room ensemble, consider buying new matching end chairs in an unexpected shade.

Serving space. Do you need more counterspace to present your Easter feast? A chest or buffet is the perfect solution. Plus, it provides bonus storage for your serving platters and extra dishes.

Go rustic. While Easter is usually traditional and pretty, rustic is very trendy and wonderfully earthy. How about twigs in a crystal vase or skipping the linens and eating off a beautiful bare distressed table?

Natural Easter CentrepieceNot-so-traditional Easter eggs. Create a natural table arrangement using natural materials. Use small twigs to create a bowl, and wrap eggs with twine, string and burlap. Both plain white and coloured eggs look great!

Treat your guests. Place a tiny bud vase by each place setting with a single flower for each guest. Daisies are lovely, or if you want to indulge, yellow roses smell and look gorgeous. HINT: You can get inexpensive bud vases at a discount store and let your guests take them home.

Make a wall hanging. If you have a spare frame, take out the existing picture and replace with a Happy Easter message to display prominently. There are plenty available online – or even better – have your children draw one!

However you celebrate, have a very Happy Easter with your friends and family!