Idealspace Design

Designing ideal spaces since 1997

Telephone: 514-620-9040 or 514-262-1540

E-mail: info@idealspacedesign.com

 

Design info: Articles & Q+A section

Written by Karen S. Weiner

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Featured article:

 

 

 

Karen has recently been writing articles appearing in HOMES & LAND Montreal to Mont-Tremblant magazine. They include:

 

Treat Your Home With the Right Window Treatments

 

One Fireplace, Three Looks

 

Living With Art

 

Improving Relationships... Between Rooms That Is

 

Planning the Ideal Kitchen Layout

 

 

Click here to visit Karen's blog

 

 

 

If you find yourself as busy as we are, you might want to take a look at these books:

     The Personal Efficiency Program        The Time Trap: The Classic Book on Time Management       60-second Organizer      The One-Minute Organizer to Unclutter Your Mind

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reader's question & our answer:

 

Q:

After 20 years of living with the same furniture in most of our home, we are finally getting new furniture and redecorating. We will be repainting the house, changing the pictures on the walls, getting some new curtains, and other things too. I want to create a decor that can be changed seasonally or for different purposes without spending too much extra. Any suggestions?

 

A:

Choose your accessories with your wish for frequent change in mind. If you can't find ready-made throw cushions with one fabric on the front and a second on the back, have some made; these are great as all you have to do is reverse them for a new look. Look for light fixtures for which you can purchase a couple of different models or colours of shades, or if you are creative you can make a couple of decorative bands that can be slipped onto a simple shade - use beads, fabric trim, and whatever else catches your eye. It would also be beneficial to have a colour scheme that flows or at least a couple of colours that work as accent colours in a couple of rooms so you can move decorative pieces from one room to the other for an instant new look without having to figure out where to store extras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other articles by Karen (click to read):

Going Green Made Simple

Environmentally-friendly does not mean high costs or fewer choices.

Working With a Designer and a Budget

Questions about the fees involved with hiring an interior designer are not easily answered; each project, client, and designer is different. But you can learn how to estimate the design fees a bit.

A Misunderstood Profession: Interior Design

Most careers can be defined with only a few words: a doctor diagnoses and treats ailments, a police officer upholds the law and investigates crimes... How can interior design be summarized in one sentence?

Who to Hire?

When it's time to do work in your home who should you contact for help, or even to handle the project completely? Some projects are better suited to one professional than the other, and sometimes it's not clear-cut who you should be involving.

Learn Your Way to a Successful Project

Good ideas, knowing where to shop, and a good eye aren’t enough to guarantee you a successful reno. Knowledge is the key, and your knowledge has to extend beyond the “stuff” that goes into an interior.

Redesign Your Home Into Your Dream Home

Take a look at large scale redesign and renovation projects. From budgeting to implications and the effect on the value of your home, you have to be well-prepared to commit yourself to a major project.

Design Your Kitchen For Your Budget

Kitchen cabinets can be designed to be low-budget, middle-, or high-end. There are factors that can push a low-budget project into a higher range. Learn the answers to, "How come it costs that much?"

Using Less to Create the Feel of More

A fresh look at the "less is more" topic. Karen offers wonderful tricks and tips to visually expand and open the spaces in your home, as well some surprising ways to hide the clutter.

Entryways: Make a Great First Impression

Welcome visitors with style -- your style. Learn some great tips and ideas for creating an inviting and eye-catching entry into your home.

Children's Rooms You'll Love Too

This article offers some tricks-of-the-trade that will help transform a child's room into a space Mom and Dad will enjoy too. Whether your child is 3 or 13, this is a must-read before you head out shopping.

4-Part Series On Home Office Design:

        Interior Design for the Home Office

        Interior Layout and Set-Up

        Design Style and Colour Use

        Lighting and Window Treatments

 

 

E-mail us your design questions, or any topics you would like to read about in an article.