Tips & Ideas to Create Your Perfect Bedroom

July 22, 2016 by Stoney Creek Furniture

If ever there was a room that should be all about you, it’s your bedroom. Certainly if you have a partner the decisions are joint, but it’s still all about your comfort, your enjoyment and having a space where you can retreat to at the end of a long day. The most important rule for a bedroom is do what you love! Here are a few suggestions to help create your perfect bedroom:

Mont Blanc King Low Profile Bed

Mont Blanc Collection

Select the right end tables. Unless you’re able to live minimally, choose end tables that have room for storage. I prefer a drawer or two to tuck away books, tissues, etc. Don’t assume end tables have to match. As long as there’s a common element (colour or style) to unify, go for individual tables that suit each of your needs and taste. TIP: Keep them the same height.

Invest in a quality mattress. No matter how beautiful your bedroom, the most critical element is your mattress! A quality, supportive mattress is the key to a good night’s sleep. Do your homework. There are a huge number of options available – check them out thoroughly.

Choose a focal point. Oftentimes the bed is the focal point; if so make it glorious with a fabulous headboard and linens. Other great focal points include a fireplace or a spectacular armoire.

Palisade King Upholstered Shelter Bed

Palisade Collection

Make your room conducive to sleep. There are lots of ways to make your bedroom more sleep friendly. Skip the TV set (and all electronics!), ensure the room is very dark, don’t choose bright paint and try keeping a sachet of lavender near your bed.

Carve out a nook for reading. A bedroom should have a seat other than the bed. Some like a bench at the foot of the bed, but there’s nothing more cozy and luxurious than a special chair, chaise or loveseat designated for quiet reflection or reading. TIP: Keep the chair away from closets and drawers so it doesn’t become a clothes catch-all!

Go gender neutral. Women often crave feminine bedrooms, but the truth is, a room that reflects both his and her tastes is often more elegant. Neutral colours are always appropriate with perhaps a little pop of colour to keep it interesting. Keep pastels and florals in check; they are appealing in small amounts but too much makes the room pretty rather than chic.

Spencer Collection

Spencer Collection

Display lots of pillows. Mix up the sizes, shapes and textures of your bed cushions, but arrange them as a grouping, using colour as your anchor. There’s no magic number for bed pillows, but it should look comfortable, not contrived. However, you know you’ve gone too far when getting ready for bed is an undertaking!

Show your personality. You don’t have to bow to public opinion – this is your space. Showcase the things that matter to you: a collection, a photograph, a family heirloom. A touch of whimsy is fine, but of course, you still want the space to look cohesive and harmonious.

Bring back the desk! Bedroom desks have made a comeback, retro to the days when we sat and wrote letters! Today it’s more likely catching up on emails, but the appeal of a writing desk is timeless. TIP: Keep your laptop tucked away until you need it for a clean, classic look.

Sofia Collection

Sofia Collection

 

How to Achieve High End, Elegant Décor: 15 Easy Tips!

July 15, 2016 by Stoney Creek Furniture

Nothing is more enduring than traditional, elegant décor. Certainly today we insist on comfort as well as beauty, but quality furnishings, subtle accessories and classic good taste never go out of style. Here are 15 ideas to make your home look high end – and you look like a socialite!

Decor-Rest Sofa

Decor-Rest Sofa

  1. Choose neutrals. Neutral-coloured paints and fabrics exude timeless elegance. Touches of colour are welcome, but overall, stick to greys, taupes, beiges, browns, black and white.
  2. Add trim. Ceiling cornices look so polished and create a high-end look – as do pillars, seat rails, mouldings and other architectural details.
  3. Buy quality cushions. Make sure cushions are comfy, mouldable and covered in quality fabric. Don’t skimp here – spend a little more, it shows.
  4. Splurge on art. Consider limited edition prints, an original piece from a new artist or even your own black & white photos! Always frame simply.
  5. Use cloth napkins. Unless you’re serving potato chips, treat your guests to cloth napkins. Basic white is always perfect. Cloth napkins not only say elegance, they also say you care a little extra.
  6. Display fresh flowers. If your budget permits, display at least one bouquet of fresh flowers at all times. Daisies and carnations are long lasting, affordable and quite lovely.
  7. Indulge in the powder room. Offer your guests a soft, luxurious hand towel and fancy hand cream. Trust me, they’ll notice!
  8. Burn candle wicks. This is one of my favourite tips! Even if your candles are strictly for display, always burn the wick to give them a used look, rather than kept for occasions.
  9. Have a luxury focal point. Better to have fewer pieces of furniture than to buy low quality. Build your home around well-crafted pieces; even go opulent here and there with focal point furnishings that make a room extraordinary.
  10. Showcase your treasures. If you travel, display artifacts from your adventures – or fake it with the fabulous exotic accent pieces now available. Hobby displays like cameras also exude affluence.
  11. Pick tufted pieces. Tufted chairs, ottomans, headboards and sofas are very on trend right now but have been a staple in elegant homes for many years. So chic.
  12. Get a rug that fits. Too small rugs look scanty and sparse. Be sure at least the front legs of your furniture extend over the rug for a feeling of abundance.
  13. Move furniture from the walls. Even a small room looks more spacious (i.e. higher end) when the furnishings move forward. Create a conversation nook by bringing a chair or sofa inward.
  14. Go big with accessories. High-end homes have minimal clutter and trinkets. Choose statement accessories and wall hangings with impact. If you have smaller items, group them as a collection.
  15. Hang draperies generously. Elegant homes have draperies that look and feel ample and plentiful. Your draperies should be at least 3 times the width of the window and puddle slightly on the floor. Choose quality fabric.

Whatever your budget, you can achieve an elegant home that’s smart and sophisticated!

How to create an eclectic kitchen that puts the fun in functionality!

July 7, 2016 by Stoney Creek Furniture

Before we discuss style, first and foremost, a kitchen needs to be practical. Often the hub of a home, your kitchen must weather the storms of cooking, entertaining and whatever family life throws at it. But don’t despair…functional doesn’t have to mean boring! Meet the eclectic kitchen, one of the hottest trends for 2016. Say hello to a stylish, playful and one-of-a-kind style.

At the heart of eclectic décor are contrast, diversity and variety. Treat that as your mantra – but don’t go to excess. In fact, the hardest part of achieving an eclectic look is showing restraint. Here are some ideas to help you create the eclectic kitchen you crave, while maintaining harmony and cohesion:

Inject whimsy and personal touches. An eclectic kitchen should make you and your guests smile. Add art, collections and pieces that reflect who you are and what you love. Artifacts from travel are a great idea as is a dishware display in a beautiful colour, theme or motif.

Mix materials. This is essential to eclectic décor. Consider marble countertops with distressed wood cabinets or industrial metal chairs around a classic wooden table. Throughout the room, mix textures and finishes. TIP: Mix cabinets top and bottom – for example, white on top and black on bottom, or traditional wood grain on top with a sleek grey finish on bottom. Very on-trend right now.

Metalworks Kitchen Island

Metalworks Kitchen Island

Give a nod to past, present and future. Mix periods for a truly gorgeous effect – high tech with rustic, and traditional with industrial, for example. Victorian tufted chairs around a modern table would be stunning.

Brighten your palette. Kitchens are typically decorated in neutral colours. But when you choose eclectic, typical goes out the window. Integrate pops of colour into your kitchen in accessories and art, but also in unexpected places like breakfast nook chairs in a bright colour or half your cabinets painted in aqua.

Largo Rustic Collectibles Collection

Largo Rustic Collectibles Collection

Think way outside the box. There’s a little of the fun in eclectic. If you fall in love with a pick refrigerator, buy it. If you want a glam crystal chandelier over your eating area, go ahead. If you think a whole wall made of chalkboard would be fun, do it.

Consider cottage chic. Eclectic welcomes a little homespun charm. Features like harvest tables with bench seating, open shelves for display/storage and a skirt tail cover to replace under the sink doors are spectacular in juxtaposition to urban styling.

Don’t overlook lighting and ceilings. In an eclectic kitchen, lighting can be deliberately mismatched, unified by the same material or colour – for example, several clear glass pendants featuring traditional, retro and modern styling. And what about a ceiling with wallpaper or painted pale sky blue?

Lighting options available at Stoney Creek Furniture

Lighting options available at Stoney Creek Furniture

Always have an anchor. While diversity is your mantra, you need an anchor to prevent an eclectic space from looking messy. An eclectic kitchen must have a foundation that brings it together – ideas include a common accent colour, matching stainless steel appliances, or a reclaimed wood floor under all elements.

What makes eclectic décor so popular is that it throws out the rules and lets you express your style. But do remember that your space should look intentionally mismatched and beautifully random, never chaotic.

 

Decorating with Red: Tips and Ideas to Bring this Vibrant Colour to Your Home

June 29, 2016 by Stoney Creek Furniture

With Canada Day as inspiration, what could be a better time to add a little red to your home? Red is the colour of passion, excitement and of course for Canadians, the colour of patriotism. So hang your Maple Leaf flag proudly over your front door and inject a little red into your living space. Long after Canada Day is over, you’ll enjoy the rich beauty of red. Here are a few suggestions on how to decorate with red!

Use Red Sparingly. Red is a very intense colour, so use it discriminately. Too much red will make a room feel restless rather than relaxed. Go subtle. Maybe an accent wall versus a whole room of red. Maybe a single red armchair versus a whole living room suite.

Experiment with Shades of Red. Bright cherry red, orange red, burgundy red, pink red – there’s a red for every taste and home. Modern homes are often better suited to vivid jolts of red, while traditional homes work well with muted shades – but really, it’s all in the balance and in choosing a red you love.

Layla Collection

Layla Collection

Try Red Outside. A garden filled with red flowers is nothing short of joyous. Paired with a bright red front door, the welcome is both beautiful and dramatic. TIP: Try painting a cast iron bench red!

Add Red Accessories. Choose red home accessories for a pop of colour! There are the tried and true options like bed linens, draperies and cushions, but how about something unique like red candles, red lamp bases or small red appliances?

IMG Divani Relaxer

IMG Divani Relaxer

Consider Red Furniture. A few statement furnishings in red add glamour to a home. Choose a gorgeous red chest of drawers, an accent chair or recliner, an ottoman or even a red bench at the base of your bed. Quality, well crafted red furnishings have timeless appeal.

Pair Red with Neutrals. To keep red toned down, pair it with neutrals like grey, beige and taupe. Black and white may be a little harsh unless you like a very contemporary vibe. TIP: Chocolate brown looks incredible with some reds.

Mélange Semblance Red Chest

Mélange Semblance Red Chest

Pair Red with Natural Materials. Red contrasts elegantly with natural materials and textures like wood floors, stone/brick walls and metallics. Used judiciously, the result is sensual and sophisticated.

Define a Space with Red. Because of its ability to draw the eye, red is an excellent way to define or divide a space. For example, red backs on bookcases highlight the contents; a single red wall can mark a new room in an open floor plan; a red rug delineates a conversation space. TIP: Hang black and white photos on a red accent wall.

Choose Red Patterns. Red doesn’t always have to be used as a solid colour. Red florals and chintzes are on trend while red stripes have classic appeal. Perhaps the most famous red pattern is gingham, still charming and popular.

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day!