(Courtesy of Belinda Albo)

Lighting is a surefire way to add excitement to an interior. Proper lighting affects a room’s mood—and yours. Here are a few illuminating ideas to brighten up your room’s dark corners.

When choosing the appropriate lamp for a room, you must first determine the purpose of the lamp. Does it need to provide the main, general light for the room, or is it just used for task and ambient purposes? (For instance, reading or for adding soft light in dark corners).

Different lights offer various intensities of light power. Some lamps are tri-lights, which give you three different levels of light to choose from. The light can be very bright or adjusted to give off a soft glow.

Choosing a Lamp

The shade and style of the lamp should also reflect the decor. Modern interiors look best with silver/chrome finishes and white cotton unpleated shades. More traditional rooms set the stage for antique gold finishes or vase-shaped bases that have a pleated or bell-shaped shade.

(Courtesy of Belinda Albo)

If you are looking for a lamp to place on a low side table by a sofa or chair for reading, a longer neck variety works best. This way the light can shine down onto your reading surface. For table lamps, a good rule to follow is: the distance from the bottom of the shade to the floor should be anywhere from 36” to 42” off the ground. The total size of the light should also compliment the room in scale. If the side table is small, use a smaller scale lamp, or use wall surface lights.

Lamps that have a shorter neck or body work best if you are placing it on a higher surface that is 48” off the ground or more. If the lamp stem is too long, you will be looking directly underneath the shade, which is what you want to avoid.

Bella Design Tips (Lighting)

Chandeliers

The recommended height when installing a chandelier over a table in the dining room or breakfast area (assuming the ceiling is 8’ high) is to hang the fixture 30” higher for every additional foot.

The dimensions of the fixture are also important to examine. A quick way to select a suitable diameter of a chandelier is take the width of the room in feet, double this figure and call it inches. Bear in mind, the diameter of the chandelier should be no greater than the width of your table.

Table Lamps

Make sure that the lampshade width is no bigger than the table it sits on. Otherwise, it is easy to knock the lamp off the table. For a bedroom side table, the bottom of the lampshade should be even with your shoulder when you are sitting up in bed. The shade should be approximately 20” from the top of the mattress.

Floor Lamps

A floor lamp is known as the room’s exclamation point. The taller the lamp the more space it needs around it.

The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Napkin rings fashioned from old jewellery. (CHT Media)

Dear Marc:
I clip and save your column from the newspaper each week. I have old earrings in various styles that I don’t wear anymore. Could I repurpose these in a design project?
Kim

Dear Kim:
Jewellery makes a great supply for repurposing projects. Whether it’s your old “hoop” earrings or a broach, these can be used in building fantastic napkin rings for those posh summer dinner parties you have been itching to plan.

I’m currently in the process of planning a beautiful garden party and I can assure you that such an event doesn’t have to break the bank.

For instance, does your patio furniture look like it’s in need of a little TLC or a swift kick to the curb? Not a problem. For the table, cover it up with a nice table cloth, and put solid-coloured pillowcases on the chairs. To make great pillowcase chair covers, simply slip the pillowcase over the back of the chair, scrunch the material mid-back, and clip a broach or large-scale earring in the middle of the chair’s back.

Now come the finishing touches. Let’s create some fabulous napkin rings for the table setting.

Supplies:
-- Metal hoop earrings
-- Large-scale round or square solid earrings
-- Hot glue gun
-- Pliers
-- Rubbing Alcohol

Step 2: Apply glue to the back of the large earring and adhere it to the hoop earring. (CHT Media)

Step 1: Wash the earrings in rubbing alcohol. Remove the “pin” from the back of the large earring.

Step 2: Apply glue to the back of the large earring and adhere it to the hoop earring.

Marc Atiyolil is a celebrity designer, the Editor-in-Chief of Home Trends Magazine, a design expert on CTV, and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm. To submit a question, visit www.MarcAtiyolil.com

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- Marc Atiyolil Media Inc.

Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show at Royal Hospital Chelsea on May 21, in London. (Lefteris Pitarakis/WPA Pool /Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth II wore her characteristic broad smile as she previewed the 99th annual Chelsea Flower Show in London on Monday, May 21.

Wearing a lilac coat, pearl jewellery, and a tulle headpiece with a black flower motif, she beamed at the lush colours of the varied gardens and display stands that were vying for the judges’ medals on the following day.

Also pursuing future medals were Olympic fencers James Honeybone and Alex O’Connell, who demonstrated their skills for the Queen in full Team GB fencing kit with masks striped with the red, white, and blue of the UK flag.

After smiling at their cut and thrust routine, the Queen talked to the athletes.

The Daily Mail reported O’Connell, 24, to have said: “She asked whether it got hot and whether it was hard work.

“She spoke about the flower show and said she had heard that fencing was up and coming.

“She also said for the girls it was quite a ladylike sport and made a little fencing gesture with her hand.”

It is the first time that fencing has been in Ranelagh Gardens for 70 years, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

The fencers were sparring in an exhibit entitled “Duel and Crown” by Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centre from the South of England.

Hillier Nurseries won gold on Tuesday for the 67th year in a row.

The Nurseries have another connection with the Olympics as the company has supplied nearly 4,000 British-grown trees to the Olympic Park for London 2012.

Their Chelsea Flower Show display was one of a number of exhibits referring to the Queen’s patronage of the show run by the RHS -- and to the celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, which will take place around the extended weekend of June 2nd-5th.

There was an exhibit from the Parish of St Helier Gardens in Jersey displaying the words THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE in capitals in shades of green. On top was a four-sided revolving facsimile of the £2 Jersey stamp showing the Queen’s profile.

There was also a shrub rose called “Royal Jubilee” (“Ausparade”), which the RHS website states has thornless stems and “produces rounded, globular, deep-pink blooms in large clusters which, when fully open, display golden stamens in the centre of the flower. Fragrance is fruity, resembling blackcurrant tea.”

As Patron of the RHS, the Queen has attended previews regularly for over 40 years.
The Press Day on the first Monday is followed by two private views for RHS members. It is open to the public until Saturday, May 26, when bargains can be had as many participants begin to dismantle their exhibits.

The aim of the exhibitions is “to encourage amateur gardeners of all standards to try to achieve similar displays in their own gardens”, according to the British Monarchy website.

Many exhibits cost thousands of pounds and are sponsored by various companies like insurers Beazley, which sponsors the British Fencing team and has operations in Europe, the United States, Asia, and Australia.

The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

You need to consider a typical work day in the kitchen.

Map out the activities and tasks you do and plan accordingly. The key is to design your kitchen to work for you on a day-to-day basis.

Determine your needs and make a wish list of considerations. Organize and write it out so you don’t forget anything.

The Plan for Action

You need to be aware of the physical limitations and restraints of the existing space.

Look carefully at the room to see how it functions and what is behind the walls.

You might find that the adjacent room will provide you with better planning potential. Moving a wall a few feet out can make a big difference. By simply repositioning some items like an air register, plumbing, or a window, the needed space may now be made available.

If you have limited storage space, have your cabinets installed to the ceiling. As a rule of thumb, if you can’t build out, build up.

 Keep Your Cool

The fridge and pantry are your main storage areas and are typically located at the end of a counter run and near the eating area.

Tall units such as a pantry, a wall oven cabinet, or fridge should never be placed in the middle of a counter run because it interrupts a functional continuous work surface.

Allow a minimum of 15” of space on the hinge side of the fridge.

A well-planned storage area keeps countertops clutter-free and manageable.

The Cleaning Factor

This area consists of your sink, dishwasher, and trash locations. You need an area for stacking dishes and cups so cleaning will be a breeze.

Since the sink is the most used appliance in the kitchen, consider the view and try to allow at least 18” of counter space on both sides.

To make your kitchen function smoothly, try to minimize the distance between the sink and the cooking area. If you have the space, a second sink can be a big help.

To cut down on costs, avoid complicated or long plumbing lines.

Plan Your Appliances

Once you have laid out a plan with convenient locations for appliances, consider the position of the hinge side of the appliances.

Test door and cupboard swings as well as the opening of your fridge, stove, and dishwasher to see if you have allowed enough space. You don’t want your oven door to bang into your island.

The Basic Ingredients

Once you are closer to completing a plan that works for you, consider some accessory options like a wine fridge, slide-out shelves, spice inserts, deep pot drawers, adjustable interior shelves, plate racks, and appliance garage, just to name a few.

A wine rack above the fridge or in a small corner is a great way to maximize on hard-to-reach places, while a movable island is great if floor space is tight.

These sample 1/4-inch scale templates can help you explore endless layout possibilities so you can turn your kitchen plans into reality.

To try one, contact Design Studio today!

BELINDA ALBO of Design Studio Inc. is a professional interior designer with over 14 years experience in both residential and commercial design. She is the author of “Home Furniture Planner” and “Kitchen and Bathroom Planner” and the design editor of “The Home Advisor.” Design Studio is a full-service interior design agency that produces permit drawings and specifications for the entire home.

The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

A vintage chair upgraded to a modern eclectic piece of furniture. (CHT Media)

Dear Marc:
Is it possible to modernize a French Provincial chair so that it fits into a more contemporary setting? We’re debating whether we should throw away this old chair and upgrade our furniture to something that better fits our room design.
Angela

Dear Angela:
I’m fascinated with the modernization of vintage furniture pieces. The first year I attended the design show I gazed at everything in sight, as if each piece held a secret waiting to be discovered. The damsel of the ball that caught my attention was a vintage armchair, with a twist. It had a traditional front, although the back of the chair was upholstered in a modern and funky pattern. It was a classic piece mixed with modern elements. Absolutely stunning!

I struck up a conversation with the manufacturer of these fabulous chairs. I was inspired by his sketching process. It seemed after many years of working in the industry, the spark that fuelled his passion was still alive. I remember leaving that day and telling myself, “We’ll work together someday.” Today, we collaborate on many projects and they have been faithful clients of ours for many years. Funny how long-term relationships can start from a single “hello.”

Last Saturday, I came across a vintage chair at a flea market. I work on a tight budget, therefore price was the mitigating factor in deciding whether this chair was coming home with me. I looked at the tag and saw it was priced at $25.00. I couldn’t believe it! I purchased the piece and did what can only be described as the “clown car effect” while trying to get the chair in my car. I drive a very small sports car, the type of car that one wonders where you would place the second bag of groceries when shopping. After much effort, I managed to get the chair into the car and we were off. A DIY project was about to be born!

Back of vintage chair with stenciling. (CHT Media)

Supplies:
-- Vintage chair
-- Stud upholstery nails
-- Black and chocolate brown scrapbook ink pads
-- Stencil of your preference
-- Hammer
-- Black paint (General Paint – Crow’s Head (CL 3167N))

Step 1: Sand and paint the chair legs in black (General Paint -- Crow’s Head (CL 3167N)).

Step 2: Hammer the nail studs—leaving an inch between each stud—into the lower front of the chair. Then hammer nail studs into the upper back of the chair following the upholstery seam.

Step 4: Remove the stencil and Voila! You now have a modernized vintage piece that fits into an eclectic design style.

Marc Atiyolil is a celebrity designer, the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, a design expert on CTV and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm. To submit a question, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- Marc Atiyolil Media Inc.

In this article Alan Battersby of the Ashbrook Garden Centre gives a few tips on how to ensure you reap a full crop

The popularity of maintaining a vegetable patch has really exploded over the last couple of years. People now like to grow their own. It has also become very popular among young families. 

Being green, and organic is very fashionable these days so that is also driving the trend. It’s a combination of many things, but there is no doubt that it is a healthy pastime.

The best time to start a vegetable patch is February. Start working on it and dig farmyard manure into it. Use the frost to break down the soil and the farmyard manure so that the worms can start working on it. As the saying goes “the early bird catches the worm”, the earlier you start in the year the better. 

Getting good quality farmyard manure was at one stage only something gardeners who lived near a farm could get. Now we sell well-rotted manure in the Garden Centre and it does the job perfectly. It is actually better than getting it from the farmyard because it doesn’t have all the acids in it.

There is not that much work involved in starting a vegetable patch. Obviously it depends on the size, but there is a starting point for everyone. The first thing is to prepare the soil. Then make sure to have your seeds sown in by April and you are ready to go. Strawberries, potatoes, and other vegetables can all go into the soil around April. 

The easiest vegetables to start with for the complete beginner are lettuce, scallion and radish. Vegetables that go nice in a salad are the easiest thing to start with. Also, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli may not be too challenging for beginners. 

If you are really enthusiastic and you have a tunnel in your vegetable patch you can start growing the seeds in February, and then in April they will be ready to plant in the open air. An Alternative is to buy the plants ready to be planted from the Garden Centre in April and just place them in the soil, it just depends on what level you are at and how confident you feel.

There are many young families in the area that have little experience in gardening and they would like to cultivate a vegetable patch with their children, this is definitely something they should jump right into. If you have any questions just drop in to the Garden Centre and we will answer them for you; at one stage I was growing 30 million vegetable plants a year. I have a huge amount of experience that I enjoy sharing with people.

For those who started a vegetable patch last year, you should try to have some rotation between the plants that you are growing. A professional grower would always rotate his crops because plants can get certain diseases that are soil born, and rotating them prevents that. As an alternative, if you have a new vegetable patch dig some of the soil out, bring in new top soil for a new bed. You can get two or three years of growing in the same soil but it would be preferable to change the vegetables around every year.

There is a method you can use if you want to stagger when the crops will ripen to ensure a longer harvest. For example you can buy a tray of ten broccoli plants, plant two or three this week, leave it for a week and then plant another two or three, then another two or three the week after. The plants will be fine in the trays that you buy them in. 

For other crops like cabbage, it may be okay for a week or two in the soil. Broccoli and cauliflower are two vegetables that need to be harvested as soon as they are fit. The best way to do it is to widen out the planting period.

If you have any questions about your vegetable patch please get in touch.

A decorative wall mural or design piece is a quick, cost-effective way to add life and personality to a bedroom, living room, family room, or office. (Photos.com)

From warm woods and creative colors to memorable murals and tailored textures, interior designers and industry experts say this year offers a multitude of options for those interested in giving their homes a fresh look. Even better for today’s cost-conscious consumers is that many of the trends are easy and inexpensive.

The Facts about Furniture

According to Emmy Award-winning home design expert, author, and TV/radio personality Christopher Lowell, upholstered furniture coverings are being driven more by texture and less by prints. Yesterday’s bulky, stationary pit sofa will be replaced by lower backs and seats along with smaller “footprint” pieces clustered into conversation groups for more flexibility and ease of interaction.

Stacy Garcia of Stacy Garcia Design Studio sees a movement of woods from very dark mahogany and espresso to lighter and mid-toned woods, with raw, natural walnut, cherry, and white oak being especially prevalent.

Make a Statement

For homeowners interested in adding life and personality to a bedroom, living room, family room, or office, a decorative wall mural is a quick, cost-effective way to go, says Todd Imholte, president of Murals Your Way, whose products have been featured on the TODAY show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Divine Design, Man Caves, and Moving Up.

The Right Touch

According to Lori Dennis, interior designer, author, and upcoming star of HGTV’s new show The Real Designing Women, next year’s textures and fabrics will include iridescent metallic woven within fabric, strong patterns, bold prints, and modern floral. It may also include tailored woven fabrics like tweed, herringbone, plaid, hounds tooth, velvet/velour, sumptuous dupioni silk, and faux fur.

Natural fibers such as bamboo, jute, eucalyptus, cotton, silk, wool, and cork will remain popular, says DeAnna Radaj of Bante Design LLC.

A Splash of Color

Deborah Wecselman of DWD Inc. suggests starting with neutral hues of taupe, beige, cream, grey, black and white, and then adding unexpected pops of color with bold accessories from bright yellow paintings to royal blue vases. Dennis echoes this vibrant color spectrum, with rich jewel tones like emerald, amethyst, sapphire, ruby, garnet, and citrine along with deep teal, fuchsia, honeysuckle, coffee, and gold.

Light up Your Life

According to Bradburn design team manager Martin Lucki, lighting options will include linen shades with clean tailored lines and a play toward texture. Lamp bodies will be made of carved reclaimed woods deftly finished in soft, neutral tones that showcase the natural wood grain.

Beverly Hills designer Christopher Grubb of Arch-Interiors Design Group, considers decorative lighting “the piece of jewelry in a room” and recommends architectural sconces for applying makeup or shaving to avoid the shadows cast by overhead lighting.

Please Tread on Me

Kitchen designer/blogger Susan Serra sees a renewed interest in woven or knotted textures on rugs with “back to basics” motifs that harken back to simpler times. These rugs are easy and cheerful to live with, make a design statement, and serve as interesting foundations for rooms with upholstered or casework furnishings most often seen in neutral colors.

Lowell also sees a trend toward investment area rugs on tiled floors or those resurfaced with wood or faux wood veneers for better wear and tear and a greater perceived home value.

Decorating on a Dime

According to artist/designer/author Pablo Solomon, people will continue to look for unique, cost-effective ways to improve their homes. They’ll buy and restore secondhand furniture, swap artwork and accessories with friends, and use yard sale proceeds to purchase new items for their homes.

Consignment stores and estate sales will be hot in 2012, adds best-selling author and home design expert Lauri Ward of Redecorate.com, with people discovering the benefits of buying older, distressed pieces that are well-made and affordable. Chairs and sofas that can be reupholstered or slip-covered, and cabinets for storage, will be sought for their quality as well as the aesthetic interest they add to modern rooms.

Be creative and make your heart in contrasting colours. (Mary Cann/The Epoch Times)

As people rediscover their roots in traditional skills they are making more meaningful tokens and giving them as gifts. Riding the crest of this creative wave, I recently revived two simple embroidery stitches (blanket stitch and chain stitch) and a few other elementary sewing skills taught to me by my mother. With these I made a felt heart and gave it as a heart-felt symbol to a much-loved daughter for doing well at school. You can make one too and this is how:

Materials:
Two 25 cm felt squares in contrasting colours
Embroidery thread in a complementary colour (six-strand skeins need to be divided into threes before use)
30 cm ribbon in one or a mixture of the same colours
4-6 buttons, beads, or bows of choice
Flock for stuffing 

Equipment:
Sharp paper scissors
Sharp cloth scissors
Pinking shears
Japanese scissors 
Medium gauge sharp sewing needle
Needle-threader
Stiff card to make heart template
Silver metallic pen
Sewing pins

Decorate your heart with items that mean something to the recipient. (Mary Cann/The Epoch Times)

To Make:
1. Make two cardboard heart templates, one 10 cm by 10.5 cm across at its widest point and the other 12 cm by 12.5 cm across. To do this, draw the heart shapes freehand on the card, cut them out, and fold them down the vertical axis so that the open edges meet to form a half-heart shape. Trim and neaten with sharp paper scissors. Your hearts will be completely symmetrical when unfolded.

2. Working on a hard, flat surface, place the larger template on one of your felt squares and draw around it with a metallic silver pen. Don’t worry, this line will disappear as you work the piece. Repeat and cut each heart out carefully with sharp cloth scissors.

3. Repeat Step 2 with the small template on the remaining felt square in the contrasting colour, but this time cut the heart shapes out with pinking shears to form a pretty serrated edge. You now have two larger hearts in one colour and two smaller hearts in the other colour.

4. Place a small heart in the centre of a large heart, adjust carefully and pin to secure. Pin on the slant to prevent bunching and to keep your work flat.

Basic chain stitch is an easy-to-learn building block of embroidery. (By Grace Christie/via Wikimedia Commons)

5. Using the silver metallic pen, trace a line of dots approximately 4 mm apart, 6 mm from the inner edge of the small heart to mark out the line for your chain stitches.

6. Thread your sewing needle using a needle threader to ensure all three strands are threaded properly. Using the embroidery thread, attach the small heart to the large heart with chain stitch. Neaten ends then snip closely with Japanese scissors.

7. Repeat steps 4, 5, and 6 using the two remaining heart shapes. You now have both sides of your felt heart.

8. Placing wrong side to wrong side, pin heart shapes together. Trace stitch line 6 mm from the edge with the metallic pen and secure the two sides together with blanket stitch, but leaving a 2 cm gap. Through this gap, fill the heart with flock using the reverse end of your silver pen to ensure uniformity of stuffing then continue with blanket stitch to close the gap.

9. Attach a 30 cm loop of ribbon at the apex of the heart with small stitches and hide ends on each side with a bow, bead or button.

Blanket stitch has variations. The Merrow rolled type is pictured. (Wikimedia Commons)

10. Attach bead or button of choice to centre of heart on each side, drawing the stitches tight to form a dimple in the centre to accentuate the characteristic heart shape.

When making your heart, select the favourite colours of its recipient and use something to decorate it that reminds you specifically of them. For example, I used the remnant of a childhood bracelet for the one pictured that I made for my daughter. Also I am planning one in blue, red, and white with re-cycled buttons and ribbon with an anchor motif for a friend who loves all things nautical.

Making things instead of buying them off the shelf is contemplative, economical, and produces meaningful, high quality items. It also improves your concentration and motor skills as well as preserving those precious, traditional skills.

To really wow the lucky recipient, wrap your heart in cellophane, tie it with a ribbon, and finish off with a personal message on a home-made gift tag.

With a bit of creativity, a plain old dresser can be transformed into a trendy piece of furniture. (CHT Media)

Dear Marc:
Do you have ideas for refinishing an old bedroom dresser? It’s a low, two-drawer dresser with a honey wood finish. I like the piece of furniture, but I want to “glam it up.” Help!
Darlene

Dear Darlene:
The other day I was sitting with friends and family in my sister’s dining room when I got this fab idea for a dresser project. The conversation turned to my fiancée’s engagement ring. It’s a vintage white gold ring sporting princess cut diamonds—delicate, yet glamorous. I started to admire how the piece had just the right amount of white gold complementing its neighbouring diamonds, thus balancing the glitz and glam of the piece. As I love to draw inspiration in all things around me, my mind started racing and, eureka, I had a project idea!

The next day I found the ugliest dresser, and I mean ugly—the type of dresser even a thrift store wouldn’t accept as a donation. I imagined this dresser having great potential, so I set out on a journey to transform this ugly duckling into a beautiful swan!

Supplies:
-- Dresser with two drawers
-- Sanding block
-- Primer
-- Krylon silver aerosol paint
-- Grout
-- Scraper
-- Mirror tiles
-- Hammer
-- Drill with drill bit
-- 2 knob handles
-- Adhesive compound for the mirror
-- Safety glasses
-- Gloves

Step 1: Sand, prime, and spray the entire dresser with silver paint.

Step 2: Remove a drawer from the dresser. Put on safety glasses and gloves. Smash mirror tiles in a box to create small, manageable pieces.

Step 3: Glue small pieces of mirror onto the face of the drawer to create a mosaic pattern.

Step 4: Grout between the mirror pieces. Wipe off excess grout with a damp cloth. Let dry.

Step 5: Repeat steps two to four for the second drawer.

Step 7: Place the drawers back in the dresser and voila, a glamorous ready-to-use dresser.

Marc Atiyolil is a celebrity designer, the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, a design expert on CTV and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm. To submit a question, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com.

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- Marc Atiyolil Media Inc

A repurposed table makes a unique wedding gift. (CHT Media)

Dear Marc:
My best girlfriend is getting married. As her bridesmaid, I’d like to give her something special for her wedding day. I think a repurposed piece of furniture might be a nice gesture. The couple is moving into a new house in the coming months. They want to acquire some new furniture for their living room and, as a gift, I am hoping to refinish a piece for them. Any fab ideas?
Teresa

Dear Teresa,
I remember my grandfather telling me that it’s the little things that count for women rather than extravagant gestures. Now I don’t claim to know any more about women than any other man out there, but I do follow this philosophy. Besides, my grandfather was married for 60 years, so I think he was onto something.

Going along with this philosophy, we can probably predict that a gift with a personal touch will get the best response from your best friend. A response that leads to what I like to call, “happy tears.”

A carefully chosen accessory or small piece of furniture makes a great wedding gift! Although, when I say small, I do mean small. There is nothing worse than getting an incredibly large “furniture gift” that doesn’t match anything in the space.

For my honey’s bridal shower, I had a small nesting table (one of two) passed around with a black sharpie. Each of her family and friends signed the table. The reason I chose nesting tables is for the sole purpose of having a matching table passed around on our wedding day, as to mimic the same look. This will create a matching set. Oh, the things we think about between midnight and one in the morning.

Supplies:
-- Side table
-- White Paint (Para Paints -- Whitewash White -- P2089-00)
-- Krylon black aerosol paint
-- Sanding block
-- Black fine-tip marker
-- Clear aerosol finish

Step 1: Choose a side table with fabulous lines.

Step 2: Sand the entire table prime and paint it in Para’s Whitewash White, eggshell finish. Two coats of paint are required for a nice finish.

Step 3: Using black aerosol paint, spray the tips of the table legs and let dry.

Step 4: Write a special message on the table top. In this case, I wrote “With Love, From Friends and Family.”

Image Sourcing:
Chair
Chair Source
www.chairsource.ca

Accent Pillow, Painting & Table
Marc Atiyolil Designs
www.ShopMarcDesigns.com

Marc Atiyolil is a celebrity designer, the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, a design expert on CTV and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm. To submit a question, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- Marc Atiyolil Media Inc.

A designer pillow repurposed from an old handbag. (CHT Media)

There’s no need to take on a complicated project in order to create chic accent pillows. Believe it or not, slight alterations to a handbag can create the perfect accent pillow!

My fiancé’s accessory closet gave me inspiration for this project. She, like many other women, has an entire shelf of cherished purses in her closet. Each represents a memory or coordination with her wardrobe, but there were a few bags which she hadn’t used in a while.

I’m a firm believer that one person’s unused accessory can be another person’s treasured designer find. Therefore, with a little determination I set out to repurpose her old handbags into pillows for her seating area.

But prior to attacking them with a pair of scissors, I asked her which ones she could live without. I’m adventurous, not crazy. Guy tip: Don’t try this at home without supervision from the Mrs.

Supplies:
-- Square or rectangular cloth handbag with zipper
-- Scissors
-- Needle and thread (If handbag needs alterations or doesn’t have a zipper)
-- Pillow batting
-- Fabric paint (optional)

Original handbag. (CHT Media)

Step 1: Choose a handbag that has great potential for a pillow. Square and rectangular bags with a zippered top are best as they allow you to skip over steps three to five.

Step 2: Cut the straps off the handbag.

Step 3: In this case, the bag needs to be altered in shape to create a perfect rectangle. To do so, cut the lining of the bag and remove the thread from the area that requires alteration. Also remove any cardboard holding the bottom of the handbag in place.

Step 4: Sew the opening using a slip stitch technique. This involves sewing from the outside of the bag in a straight line with the incisions being an eighth of an inch apart.

Step 5: Repeat steps three and four for the opposing end of the bag.

Step 7: Fill the bag with batting and zip it up.

Step 8: Your handbag has been transformed into a designer pillow and is now ready to showcase on your sofa.

Marc Atiyolil is a celebrity designer, the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, a design expert on CTV, and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm. To submit a question, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- Marc Atiyolil Media Inc.

The next time you are redecorating, why not consider an aquarium? With colourful coral, a variety of aquatic plants, and the graceful movement of the fish as they glide through the water, an aquarium can make a room come alive and add a new dimension. You can have an underwater marvel right in your living room. (Photos.com)

Now that spring is here, it’s time to get outdoor areas spruced up and ready for warm weather fun. (ARA)

If the warmer temperatures, bright sunshine, and greening of spring give you the urge to clean, you’re not alone. If you want to make spring cleaning easier, especially outdoor spring cleaning, a little planning will save lots of elbow grease.

Make outdoor spring cleaning a breeze with these four simple tips to ensure that you’re ready for warm weather fun:

1. Get the grill ready. Barbecues and picnics are as much a part of summer as baseball and trips to the beach. Your grill is central to the fun when you’re cooking and dining outdoors, so get it ready with a good cleaning. If you were diligent about cleaning the grill after every use last year, a good cleaning with a wire brush may be all the cooking grates need. If your grates have a lot of build-up and burnt-on food, remove and soak them in warm soapy water to loosen the debris. Use a wire brush and a little soapy water to clean out the inside surfaces of your grill, including the inside of the lid. Check the hose connection for the propane tank and repair or replace it if needed.

2. Clean outdoor surfaces without scrubbing. Over time, wood and composite decks, concrete, railings, awnings and outdoor furniture can accumulate mould, moss, mildew and algae. An environmentally-sensitive mould and mildew cleaner like Wet & Forget works over time to gently remove outdoor stains on virtually any exterior surface without scrubbing. Perfect for mildew and mould removal, the non-caustic, non-acidic and bleach-free, biodegradable formula can be easily applied with a pump garden sprayer instead of a more labour-intense power washer. The multi-surface outdoor cleaner reduces water usage and is designed for use around landscaping plants.

4. Taking care of your tools. Yard work and gardening are realities of warm weather. All your landscaping maintenance chores will be easier if your tools are clean and in good repair. Unload the tool shed or garage of all the equipment you’ll use this summer—from rakes and hoes to lawn mowers and trimmers. While you probably cleaned your garden tools before you stored them for winter, they’ll still have accumulated dust—and possibly rust—from sitting idle for so many months. Clean rust spots and dirt from metal tools, and use a coating of mineral oil to ensure the rust doesn’t return. Clean lawn mower and trimmer blades, and replace the line on string trimmers. Get blades sharpened if necessary, and run through all the maintenance tasks recommended in the manufacturer’s handbook for your power equipment.

— ARA

When taking on a new project, it’s good to get several professional opinions before going shopping.(Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

It’s not uncommon that I will get asked about the difference between an interior designer and a decorator. Some people use the terms interchangeably, thinking it’s a case of “you say tomayto, and I say tomahto.” Alas, there is a difference between the services that are provided, and in some cases, you may need to hire a true professional to get a job done.

Interior designers are people who are educated about the practice of design and can make recommendations on things that influence the health, safety, and welfare of people and property. For instance, a designer should know which wall is load-bearing and which isn’t. A designer is qualified to make structural changes to your property that may be necessitated by the remodeling of kitchens, bathrooms, and much more.

If you just need to have colors selected, furniture purchased, and basic oversight of furniture installation, then a decorator may be all you need. A decorator is often a person with great taste, no formal training, and who may selectively bring in other professionals for more complicated aspects of a project. Decorators are usually quite a bit less in cost to work with.

In Manhattan, it’s not uncommon for some of the best designers to refer to themselves as decorators and do massive projects and charge heaps of money!

So you may ask yourself, why is this being brought up now? Well, as people start to emerge from their winter stupors and figure out what to spend their bonuses on, property tends to get improved. As such, there are many professional options.

As we have learned above, something simple may only require a decorator, whereas something more complicated may require an interior designer. Moreover, certain architectural improvements may frequently be drawn by an interior designer and then later stamped for approval by a licensed architect, thereby saving money for a client.

If a project requires major architectural work, it’s not uncommon to go to an architect just for that, and then work with a designer or decorator for the interiors.

Not all architects want to do, or can do, interior design. The skills do not always go hand-in-hand. Confused? Don’t be, there is only one more facet to this process: design build, or the “master builder” concept. If there are interior or exterior improvements that need to be made, a licensed contractor will probably be involved.

What most people do not know is that the “master builder,” the single point of contact for design and build, has been used for almost four millennia! So, if you are just thinking of having your kitchen spruced up, you might just go to a design build firm that can do the design and implementation for you, all in one stop.

A good rule of thumb is to hire the firm that has a portfolio and demonstrated experience in the type of project you want to complete. Don’t let anyone use you for an experiment in design!

Lloyd Princeton is the managing partner of iMatchDesigners LLC, a matchmaking company for architects, interior designers, and landscape professionals, matching professionals to projects of all types, anywhere in the world. You can find more information about iMatchDesigners at www.imatchdesigners.com

A recovered, distressed dining room chair in a staged setting. (CHT Media)

Have you ever walked into a home and thought to yourself “I love that chair, but what is going on with the rest of the room?” My years of flipping through portfolios of renowned designers while sitting behind an Editor’s desk at Canadian Home Trends Magazine has clearly evolved my standpoint on design. Design should be fun, creative, and a personal experience. It is much more than buying furniture and placing it in a room. It involves following your gut instinct, and at times, throwing the instruction book out the window.

Just as big hair and Led Zeppelin T-shirts had their day in the limelight, there was an era where “matchy, matchy” was the in thing. Today, eclecticism has resurrected and furniture stores are now offering dining room table sets with accent chairs and living room vignettes made of furniture of varying lines, textures, and patterns. Therefore, throw that old instruction book out the window and have a little fun with this project! Let’s take a simple dining room chair and turn it into a beautiful accent chair that can be displayed in a living room or bedroom.

Material List:
-- Wooden chair with fabric seat
-- Scraper
-- Utility knife
-- Old blouse or a yard of fabric
-- Stapler
-- Needle nose pliers
-- Flat screwdriver
-- Paisley stencil
-- Krylon gold leafing pen
-- Sanding block
-- Scissors

Step 1: Remove the fabric seat from the wooden frame.

Step 2: Flip the seat cover upside down and remove the staples that hold the fabric to the wood. Needle nose pliers and a flat screwdriver will come in handy for the removal process. Lay the fabric flat on a surface, then place the foam and seat atop the fabric. Leave a few inches of fabric on each side of the seat and cut the piece of fabric. Staple the fabric to one side of the seat then stretch it to the opposite end and staple that end as well. Repeat the same process for all sides.

The dining room chair before transformation. (CHT Media)

Step 3: Scratch the wood frame in a vertical fashion with the tip of a scraper. This will create a nice multi-tone look for the chair.

Step 4: Following the wood grain, cut multiple parallel lines 5 mm (1/4-inch) into the wood. This will create the illusion of wood grain under an aged stain.

Step 5: Paint a paisley in the middle of the chair’s back using a stencil and gold leafing pen.

Marc Atiyolil is a celebrity designer, the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, a design expert on CTV, and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm. To submit a question, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com.

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- Marc Atiyolil Media Inc

The easiest way for children to begin to learn about finances is to talk about real life examples. (ARA)

Even though financial education courses for children are proven to contribute to improved savings rates and other financial measures, only 12 states require a personal finance course for high school graduation, according to the Council for Economic Education’s 2011 Survey of the States.

In classrooms, studies show teachers want to provide personal finance instruction, but only 20 percent believe they have the capability to teach the subject, according to a study by the National Endowment for Financial Education. The benefits to students are real: Treasury Department research shows that high school graduates in states that mandate financial education have higher savings rates and a greater net worth than graduates from states without financial education.

As a result of the growing awareness about the importance of financial education, more resources are becoming available to teachers and parents. To help with funding for schools, a program called Pathway to Financial Success (www.PathwaytoFinancialSuccess.org), from Discover Financial Services, recently announced thousands of dollars in grants to public high schools to implement financial education curriculum and test students to make sure they are learning the content. Schools can apply for the grants via the website, and Discover will fund the grants up to a total of $2 million annually. Additionally, nonprofits like The Council for Economic Education are training teachers around the country, helping them teach children from kindergarten through high school about personal finance topics, such as saving and investing.

At home, parents can help reinforce what children learn about money. Unfortunately, these conversations are often not happening, as experts say parents are often more comfortable talking about many other sensitive topics than they are about money -- usually because parents do not trust their own financial acumen.

Indeed, it can be an awkward conversation, as the issue of money raises other concerns and priorities. But a number of resources are available to help parents talk to their children about money, such as the Jump$tart Coalition (www.jumpstart.org).

Pathway to Financial Success also offers an online resource center for parents, providing tips on how to talk to their kids about how to manage money effectively. Additionally, through the site parents can identify their school district contacts and find resources to reach out to their school administrators and teachers about bringing financial education into their children’s classrooms.

For teachers, PathwaytoFinancialSuccess.org also provides sample lesson plans and other resources they can use in their classrooms.

Parents can start helping ensure their children are financially savvy by talking to their kids about money using a few simple steps at home:

* Use everyday experiences to talk about money. With tax season around the corner, talk to kids about the process, or engage them in the discussion of purchasing a large item and weighing the “wants” versus “needs” of the purchase.

* Talk to your kids about saving for a special purchase, and set small, manageable goals for them to reach.

* Be honest about your financial situation or poor financial decisions you have made in the past, and then talk to your kids about how you could have handled the situation differently.

* Make it fun by playing online games that teach common lessons of budgeting and saving.

The finished table staged in a room setting. (CHT Media)

Dear Marc:
While shopping, I often notice many Union Jack and London designs that look hot! It seems that this is a big trend for 2012. I’ve just recently decorated, so I’m not prepared to spend a lot of money on buying new furniture with the Union Jack motif on it, but it would be nice to refinish one of my side tables in a Union Jack design. I want to make sure that I do it right so that I don’t wreck my table. Do you have a quick and easy step-by-step project for a London side table?
Vivian

Dear Vivian:
I’ve been following the London trend like white on rice! My obsession started when I ran into two beautiful fire truck red traditional chairs that were sporting the Union Jack pattern on both the back and arms. It was love at first sight and I had to have them.

I had them shipped from halfway across the country in preparation for a segment for CTV. On a sunny Friday morning, the phone rang. It was the shipping company. The truck carrying the shipment had been in an accident! My heart stopped. “How are the chairs?” I inquired in a quivering voice. The dispatcher sighed, “They didn’t make it”. At that moment, I swallowed what felt like my heart. It was the death of my Union Jack chairs.

After a few days of mourning, I picked myself up by my bootstraps. I decided take my passion for Union Jack into my own hands and a vision for a table was born. My vision became a reality when I took an ordinary side table and turned it into a London-inspired dream.

The following supplies are required for this Union Jack Side Table Project.

- Table
-- Chrome Paint
-- Black semi-gloss paint
-- White semi-gloss paint
-- Golden scrapbook distress ink
-- Brown scrapbook distress ink
-- Scraper
-- Painter’s tape
-- Paint brush
-- Sponge
-- Sandpaper

Step 1: Sand the table. Paint the legs chrome and the surface black. Wait until the paint dries before continuing to the next step.

Step 2: Create the Union Jack logo with painter’s tape. Paint the small side triangles using white and the cross using black.

Paint the Union Jack logo onto the top of the table. (CHT Media)

Step 3: Once the paint dries, distress the Union Jack pattern using scrapbook ink. Apply sporadic layers of black, brown and gold distress ink to the edges of the pattern.

Step 4: Distress the legs using a scraper. Scratch all of the table edges to create wear and tear. Scrape the paint in a vertical fashion.

Step 6: The Union Jack table is born and the piece is ready to integrate into your home design.

Marc Atiyolil is a celebrity designer, the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, a design expert on CTV, and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm.

To submit a question, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- CHT Media

This carton of garden “hatchlings” will deliver fresh herbs all year. (Taylor Cole Miller)

Spring is a celebration of birth and renewal. This small gift combines two symbols of this hopeful season and is a neat way to turn empty eggshells into a mini indoor herb garden.

You will need:
• 1 dozen eggs
• Thin towel
• Organic planting mix
• Tweezers
• Seeds (any veggie or herb will work; check seed packet instructions)
• Aluminum foil
• Misting bottle
• A little sunshine

1. Tap around the circumference of the small end of an egg with a spoon to crack it. Remove top and empty egg. Clean shells with hot water (no soap), air dry, and place in egg carton. Repeat with the rest of the eggs. (Save the white and yolk to make omelettes later.)

2. To reduce mess, cover egg carton beneath shells with a thin towel while adding the soil. Scoop planting mix into eggshells. A funnel made from a piece of scrap paper will neatly guide the soil.

3. When the egg is nearly full of soil, use tweezers to gently place a seed or seeds in the centre just below soil surface. When all seeds are “planted,” remove the towel.

4. Cover carton holding shells with aluminum foil to protect it from watering mist. Place in a sunny, warm window and gently mist daily. Remove foil before displaying or gifting the starts.

Tip: Don’t colour the eggshells; dyes could harm the seedlings. Paint the carton or add printed tags to the eggshells instead.

Soil alternative

Rather than planting mix, you can use dry, lightweight compost or garden soil for this project. If your soil or compost is dense, lighten it with a little sawdust. If it’s damp, spread on a newspaper indoors for a few days to dry.

Excerpted from Natural Home, a national magazine that provides practical ideas, inspiring examples and expert opinions about healthy, ecologically sound, beautiful homes. To read more articles from Natural Home, please visit www.NaturalHomeMagazine.com or call 800-340-5846 to subscribe. Copyright 2012 by Ogden Publications Inc.

Even if it is not yet time to plant, planning ahead is the key to creating a great outdoor living space for the summer. (RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images)

For many people who live on the East Coast, this has been a mild winter, to say the least. There has been lower-than-average snowfall and weather has regularly been in the 50s. Who says global warming is all bad? Seriously, as people are starting to look at their outdoor spaces—whether a terrace in Manhattan or acreage elsewhere—and fantasize about their first summer barbeque, it’s probably time for a primer on landscape and garden design.

The first question that comes to mind is: When is it time to start planning for summer fun? Depending upon what you want to accomplish, the answer could be January! Design and planning takes time and if you need to build something—say a pool or a pergola, or perhaps lay down that tennis court you’ve been dreaming of—a landscape architect needs time to design and draw it. Then they have to get it approved by you, probably get your local jurisdiction to approve the designs, and so on.

According to Connecticut-based Janice Parker, the first optimal planting season after winter is from April 1 through the end of May, and then again from the day after Labor Day through November. These are relatively short windows in which to work and it takes time to decide what is going to be planted. Then it has to be purchased, and then it has to be planted. And guess what? There are a lot of other people who are trying to accomplish the same thing with a limited supply of professional talent to do it.

Moreover, I learned from Mario Nievera, who has offices in New York and Florida, that certain “perennials need a full winter (dormancy) before they look full and healthy”—so that means a year of planning!

As a side note for our West Coast readers who enjoy lots of sunshine and no winter freezing, it’s not always roses for you! According to John Feldman in Santa Monica, Calif., where you are located may have other implications. “Some regions affected by rain may also be impaired when it comes to other aspects of site work. Soil type may play into this, with everything from sandy soils at the beach to silty soils in hillsides may become saturated and unstable for construction during months of high precipitation.”

For those of you who are living high in the clouds of your fantastic co-op apartment building, perhaps in San Francisco or New York, you may have summer restrictions as well, says Stephen Suzman in San Francisco, with some buildings only allowing for installation in the summer.

“Customers only begin to think about their gardens in spring and have the fantasy that their garden will be ready by Memorial Day or by the 4th of July at the latest! They have no idea about the complexity of garden design, the availability of installers, of materials or the length of time an approval process might take.” So, no matter where you live, advance planning is a must!

When you are working on a new project, it is easy to leave the exterior for last, but perhaps not the wisest thing to do. John Feldman suggests that, “Landscape architects can, depending on the topography of a site, help the architect to site a home and other structures on a property to maximize the site’s potential including views and solar aspects. They can shape the budget early so that a proper expectation is held by all involved and so that amenities and/or materials are not compromised later.” Certainly, budget is a factor too, and that is always part of the planning process.

So whether you are preparing your terrace or your riding trails, you’d better pick up the phone and get some help if you want to be enjoying your new pool for the summer of 2013!

A DIY designer spotlight tripod lamp. (CHT Media)

Dear Marc:
I look forward to your column every week. I’m always amazed at how you create such cool projects. I’m writing to you as I have a challenge for you: I want to make a spotlight floor lamp. This lamp first caught my eye at a design show and I desperately want one for my living room. The lamp is a little on the pricey side so I wanted to see if you could show me how to build one myself.
Kristen

Dear Kristen,
Spotlight lamps are some of the most stunning light fixtures on the market today. They have a mysterious look and incorporate a mixture of industrial, nautical and modernism, making them truly unique. They are a statement piece; some might say the Gucci of home design.

I often catch myself drooling over such a statement piece and wonder if it is possible to recreate a spotlight lamp on a budget. Some have said it is impossible, although I believe anything is possible with a little elbow grease.

In this project, a tripod and an empty can of paint will be transformed into a stunning spotlight.

The following supplies are required for this DIY Spotlight Project.

- Metal tripod
-- Empty paint can
-- Heat-resistant paint
-- Scrapbook distressing ink
-- Krylon gold leafing pen
-- Lamp light kit
-- Drill and appropriate size bit
-- 2 nuts and bolts that correspond with the tripod
-- Sponge

Step 1: Creating the spotlight.
Remove the paint can label and wash the inside of the empty can. Be sure to thoroughly remove any paint residue. Dry the can with a cloth. Once dry, paint the inside of the can with heat-resistant paint.

Step 2: Flip the can upside down and drill a hole on the bottom. This hole will be used to hold the light socket in place within the can.

Step 3: Wire the light socket from a light kit into the bottom of the can. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions for the kit. Caution: For those with limited knowledge of electrical components, seek professional help for this step.

Step 4: Drill two holes on one side of the can. Use the nuts and bolts to secure the can to the tripod mount. Place the mount, which is now adhered to the can, on top of the tripod.

Step 5: The finishing touches.
Using a leafing pen, cover the plastic joints of the tripod with a beautiful layer of gold metallic paint.

Step 6: Depending on the look desired, use scrapbook distress ink to age the metal tripod. Smudge a variety of black, bronze, and brown inks in a vertical fashion on the tripod legs.

Step 8: Place a low wattage bulb in the socket and turn on the lamp. You now have your very own designer spotlight lamp!

Warning: Use caution when placing lamps beside drapes and combustible materials as they can be a fire hazard.

Marc Atiyolil is a celebrity designer, the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, a design expert on CTV, and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm. To submit a question, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- Marc Atiyolil Media Inc

Raised garden beds are extremely functional and can add style to your yard and garden. (ARA)

When it comes to home improvement, most of us have two “to-do” lists: the things we need to do, such as paint the shutters and clean out gutters, and the list of those we want to do, like fun and easy projects that add visual interest or practical enhancements to the outdoors.

Since our budgets for both lists are usually limited, it makes sense to seek out projects that are easy, affordable, and that create the most impact in a short amount of time.

Spring outdoor projects often show up on both lists. Upgrades can provide a welcoming retreat for your family, or can improve your home’s marketability and appeal to potential buyers when it comes time to sell. Fortunately, it’s easy to find simple projects that take only a weekend and a modest budget to accomplish.

“Adding elements like planter boxes and raised garden beds is a great way of creating impact without a huge commitment of time,” says home improvement expert Mark Clement, co-host of “My Fix it Up Life” which airs nationally, on iTunes, Blog Talk Radio and at MyFixitUpLife.com

Clement offers some easy tips to help guide weekend projects that anyone can build:

Raised bed gardens

Some of the most abundant vegetable, herb, and cut-flower gardens grow exceptionally well in raised beds because there is less soil compaction and they allow for excellent drainage. While raised beds are extremely functional, they can also add style to your yard and garden. Their organized appearance lends a structural element, particularly if you construct them with quality materials like cedar.

“By carefully selecting the right materials, your garden bed will last longer and look better. Western Red Cedar is a good choice because it is easy to work with, rot-resistant, and it ages beautifully and maintains its shape and strength over the years, even when exposed to extreme weather,” Clement says.

Window and planter boxes

An easy and fun green project, wood planter boxes can be built in an afternoon. Whether arranged in a group or hung as window boxes, they instantly add a warm texture and welcoming touch to your front porch or backyard deck when filled with foliage. This project allows do-it-yourselfers to inject some personality that transforms the look from simple to elaborate and tie into the character and style of your home.

“Even if you’ve never built a box, you can create a classic look by adding a bit of thin trim to the top and bottom of the box,” Clement says. “You can also buy wooden brackets to support the window box for a more traditional look.”

Simple structures

For those looking to tackle a bigger project, invite friends over and make it a do-it-yourself project party. From small decks to barbeque platforms, or front door arbors to backyard gazebos, gather friends to help assemble projects that create new spaces and places to entertain or dress up your outdoors.

“I love to make things that give my yard and home a finished touch,” Clement says. “And making something as a project makes it truly yours and a part of your home—something you can be proud of and really enjoy.”

“If used properly, it will brighten up the space like you wouldn’t believe,” he adds. “If you’re really ambitious, add a clear finish or dark-coloured stain to your wood deck and the neighbours will think it’s brand new.”

Finally, Clement’s top tip this spring is simple: Have fun, and share your experience and project photo with friends and family via Real Cedar’s Facebook page.

For detailed steps on how to construct these projects, visit: www.youtube.com/user/WRCLA/featured.

— ARA

You would probably never consider taking shortcuts in other aspects of your life, from car maintenance to paying your taxes. But when it comes to do-it-yourself home improvement and decorating projects, there’s no shame in “cheating”—and a lot to be gained by doing it.

Decorator touches like crown moulding that requires no mitering and no-sew window treatments can give your home an instant visual upgrade for a fraction of the cost of having those jobs done professionally.

Here are four DIY “cheats” that will save you time and money—and yield professional results that look like you spent a bundle.

Crown moulding

Few design touches do more to dress up a room than adding crown moulding. But traditionally, crown moulding has been a job best left to professionals or DIYers with a lot more time and ambition than most. Adding crown molding the old-fashioned way requires expertise—like knowing how to properly cut and finish each piece—and tools that most homeowners simply don’t have.

Fortunately, there’s an easy alternative: Moulding Mates is a crown moulding installation system that requires no specialized tools or skills. You don’t even need to miter cut corners. Simply pre-finish the polyurethane moulding (which is available in a wide range of styles), attach the patented Quick Clips to the wall where you want to place the moulding, and pop the moulding lengths into place on the clips.

Corner pieces and connector blocks cover ends and seams, eliminating the need to miter ends and patch or touch up the long pieces. You can easily install the entire system using a screw drill and a saw. You can learn more and browse products at www.focalpointproducts.com.

Carpet tiles

New carpeting is a much-desired upgrade. As anyone who’s ever bought carpet can tell you, the cost of installation can be prohibitive, yet properly installing wall-to-wall carpet requires specialized skills and tools that most DIYers don’t have. Carpet tiles can be a great alternative.

Installing carpet tiles is well within the abilities of most homeowners. Because they’re a smaller, more manageable size, carpet tiles are easier to install than a large piece of carpet. They require fewer cuts and no stretching. They also deliver enhanced design capabilities; it’s easy to create a unique pattern using different coloured tiles.

Mirror framing systems

A frame around a bathroom mirror can give the entire room a more luxurious, upscale feel. Yet, like traditional crown moulding, conventional framing requires knowledge of mitering. Fortunately, a simple online search will yield plenty of easier options, including framing systems that provide a custom look with pre-cut (and mitered) frame pieces.

The systems require no more expertise to install than being able to follow measuring directions and apply adhesive to a mirror. Available in a wide array of designs and colours, these systems make it possible to frame a mirror to match virtually any design theme.

No-sew window treatments

When it comes to do-it-yourself home improvement and decorating, don’t be a hero. A little “cheating” can save you time and money, and make creating your dream home fast, easy, and rewarding.

— ARA

An old cookie sheet is transformed into a chic serving tray. (CHT Media)

Dear Marc:
I’m planning a formal get-together with family and friends. I’m jazzing up my dining room for the affair. I have a beautiful hutch in my dining room that looks very bare. I’ve heard magazine editors often use serving trays when staging a room for a photo shoot. I visited a few boutique shops looking for the perfect tray to use on my hutch, but I didn’t find what I was looking for. I want a rustic, rugged serving tray that will fit well with my branch base, glass-top table. Do you have a fabulous project for creating a DIY tray?
Jenna

Dear Jenna:
Rustic weathered woods and wrought iron paired with sleek modern touches are very popular in design! This look is reminiscent of the olden days when these types of woods and iron pieces were found in our grandfathers’ workshops.

Today, this look is classified as chic and is sought after by designers. Thus, these pieces are usually found in high-end boutiques with a price tag that makes one wonder if the tray is in fact gold plated.

For the bakers among us, the supplies needed for this project will be found in our cupboards. For all others, simply visit a friend and borrow a cookie sheet as you’ll need it for this project. As you say your goodbyes, mention to them that you’ll bring them a fabulous rustic serving tray on your next visit.

In this project, we’ll transform an old cookie sheet into a designer serving tray using a few craft and hardware supplies.

The following supplies are required for this DIY Serving Tray project.

- Weathered cookie sheet
-- Self adhesive black board
-- 2 handles
-- Square chrome studs
-- Craft distress ink
-- Sponge
-- Glue gun
-- Utility Knife
-- Drill with bit
-- Gold leafing pen

Step 1: Apply the self-adhesive blackboard to the inside bottom of the cookie sheet. Using a utility knife, cut any excess material.

Step 2: Using distress ink pads and a sponge, apply layers of ink to the side lips of the tray. Allow drying time before continuing to the next step. This will create the desired “weathered look.”

Step 3: Measure the middle of the side lips of the cookie sheet. Drill two holes on each side and install the handles.

Glue three square studs onto the tray for detail. (CHT Media)

Step 4: Glue three square studs below the tray’s handle using a glue gun. Leave 1 cm (1/2-inch) between each stud.

Step 5: Using the gold leafing pen, draw a line around the lip of the cookie sheet.

Marc Atiyolil, celebrity designer and home trend expert is the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, regular contributor to CTV, and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm.

To submit a question for Marc, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- CHT Media

The success of selling your own home varies across the country. (NC)

Do you know which Canadian province has the most selling-savvy residents? What community has bought and sold the most homes? When it comes to real estate know-how, a recent survey by Kijiji Canada reveals interesting differences from coast-to-coast:

• British Columbians are savvy salespeople. More than one-third of B.C. residents have completed a home sale on their own—a statistic higher than any other province. B.C. also has the highest percentage of residents—17 percent—reporting that they plan to sell their house within the next year.

• Sellers in Alberta are most likely to stage a home on their own. Nearly 40 percent have done it in the past, versus their Saskatchewan neighbours who self-stage the least, at 14 percent.

• Ontario residents seem to have the least trouble getting rid of items before selling, while Quebeckers have the hardest time (37 versus 19 percent).

• Who renovates the most in preparation for sale? Sellers in Atlantic Canada appear to be the most adept with 20 percent of survey respondents claiming they “complete their own renovations.”

• Atlantic Canadians are least happy with the final sale price of their home, with 27 percent of sellers reporting that their home sold for less than market value.

According to Zachary Candelario, the general manager for Kijiji Canada, their online classified site has seen an increase of more than 37 percent in traffic to the Housing category. Furthermore, compared with the previous year, in 2011 nearly twice as many housing properties were posted for sale.

www.newscanada.com

Ever since I was little, I can remember wanting to create unique and meaningful traditions in my family.

My family celebrated the traditional Western holidays like Halloween and the secular version of Christmas, but I never felt a connection to these holidays. They seemed trite to me, and the meanings that were supposed to be associated with them seemed out of alignment with the way people actually celebrated them.

Every once in a while I would hear about the way ancient cultures celebrated rites of passage. Or, I’d read a story about how a family shares experiences through their own personal traditions.

These feelings were very powerful and moving for me, and made life feel more sacred. I felt connected to all of humanity when I read them. Hoping to add more of this sacredness to my everyday life, I pledged to find ways to create and share in these traditions one day in the future.

Now that I have a family of my own, I have found that starting a tradition was more difficult than I imagined it would be. I had no idea how exhausting and overwhelming having children could actually be, and how long it would be before they’d be old enough to really appreciate these activities. But I was determined to find a way to manifest this in our family. I watched and waited, looking for an opportunity.

As a parent, you constantly hear about how important it is for your children to have consistency, especially when it comes to their sleeping patterns and wakefulness.

My daughters were six months and two years of age when I started an experiment. I decided to create a sort of tradition around going to bed. I used to get very little sleep at first. My youngest daughter would wake up multiple times throughout the night—every night. She went to bed late and woke up late. My older daughter did the opposite.

I tried everything I could think of to get them on the same schedule, but the youngest wouldn’t go to sleep on her own. She would cry and cry, and it made me feel terrible. I’d always give in and let her go to bed with me, or just let her play until she passed out on the floor. I knew there had to be a better way.

I decided that I’d try to create a peaceful state that would allow them to get ready for bed without resistance or disappointment. There were certain steps that seemed obvious and useful, such as reading books, putting on pajamas, brushing teeth, and taking a bath. Also, I know that using a noise machine and dark curtains really help me sleep, and so I set these things up in the kid’s room as well.

Then I thought about what I could add to these familiar habits to make bedtime into our own special family routine. I really enjoy memorizing and reciting poetry and both of my daughters really enjoy music.

Most of the advice that I read said that they had to go to bed at 7pm. I tried to do this and they would just stay awake and cry until 9pm no matter what I did.

The youngest did have a couple of rough nights when I started being consistent. I was loving, but firm. By day three, my youngest started to get in her bed all on her own, and she would just go to sleep, or play for a few minutes and then get back into bed. I couldn’t believe the shift in her behavior. I was so grateful for the peace of mind and the sleep that this consistency finally brought to our family.

I usually start the routine right after we clean up from dinner, so that it doesn’t get put off too long or forgotten. First I put the girls in the bath tub and brush their teeth. We play with toys, get clean, and I recite poetry to them.

After the bath we put on pajamas. While I dress them we talk about all the things we are grateful for that happened that day, and things we are grateful for on a larger scale too. Then we read three baby books, including one sing-a-long book.

After this the girls usually have some more time to play before bedtime. But right before nine o’ clock each night, we all go to the bedroom and get cozy and tucked in and I sing them their favorite song. Then we give kisses and say goodnight, and I shut their door.

With this tradition in place, I feel satisfied that my girls always get to bed feeling loved. I love making sure that I get this time with them each day. No matter what else is going on, I’ve always made it a priority to maintain this tradition.

Things got really hard when their dad left early last year. Even on the most difficult days surrounding that change, we have this routine, and we have the togetherness and sacredness that it creates in our lives.

It was quite a journey to find the routine that worked for our family, but it was worth it. The success started when I stopped trying to fit into the box of what other people told me to do, and instead I honored my own children’s specific needs, and the things that make our family special.

From there everything started to fall into place, and now we have a very special tradition that I hope my children will carry forward and use with their own one day.

Fae Frazier Price is the mother of three children. As a stay-at-home mom and avid writer, she spends her days changing diapers and penning prose. You can follow her writing at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fae-Frazier-Price-author/291960120853806.

Too many choices can bewilder and confuse consumers and make it more difficult to make good purchasing decisions. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

We live in an age of choices. When you go into a grocery store, you have multiple varieties of all of your favorite foods, cleaning supplies, vitamins, you name it! There are selections based on flavor, quantity, age, and gender. There are choices that appeal to every person and animal in your household.

Frankly, I think we have too many choices! The level of indecision that having so many choices creates for both the consumer (and the manufacturers) results in excessive time we have to take in order to research our choices and then hope we made the right one, and often results in no choice at all, or starting a project only to stall out quickly after.

When we have too much to choose from, sometimes the safest choice is not to buy anything. Alas, this is not exclusive to supermarkets, but exists in just about every category of consumer goods from cars to phones to restaurant menus. And it is especially apparent in a New York diner!

This selection conundrum is something that I am seeing regularly in the design industry. There is a great deal of talent to choose from, especially in design centers like New York and Los Angeles, and I know that people are concerned about hiring the right firm for their project. This is probably more so than with smaller purchases since often times, a great deal of money is at stake.

What I want to address is the protocol that I think should be observed when interviewing anybody for anything. The protocol is very simple and is summed up in one word: respect. When you decide to start the search for a design professional to work on your project, you must realize that you are dealing with entrepreneurs and people who have to sell themselves for a living.

The operative word is “sell” and once that door is opened, a chain of reactions occurs and people begin to take steps to present themselves and their firms for your review. At this point, you are obliged to give honest feedback about yourself and your project, so that the firm(s) you are appealing to know how much energy to put into the sales process and whether or not you are a viable client for them. If you cut through the indecision before you begin the interview process, it will save time and resources for both you and the professional.

When you have done some research about your project, and you have some clear ideas about what you are and are not looking for, this enables you to find a good match for your project. When you open the door to hire a professional, you are getting people excited. You called them, and it is your needs that they are trying to meet. If you are clear and candid, and maintain clear, open channels of communication with the design professionals you are considering hiring, everyone benefits.

Whether it is a professional you want to work with, or one that you decide does not fit your project, this honest communication and respect helps everyone work well together and get what they need.

Everyone deserves an equal amount of respect and honesty. If you want someone to be transparent with you, then you need to do the same. When we work with others, we are dealing with people, not numbers or letters and inanimate objects. If you know what you want up front, ask for it, are clear if you are just gather information or you are ready to start your project and give feedback to the person you are working with it helps everyone work together successfully.

Lloyd Princeton is the managing partner of iMatchDesigners LLC, a matchmaking company for architects, interior designers, and landscape professionals, matching professionals to projects of all types, anywhere in the world. You can find more information about iMatchDesigners at www.imatchdesigners.com

Purchase a box big enough to hold all your tools.(CHT Media)

Dear Marc:
I’ve heard designers say that it’s good to have some basic tools around the house, but I don’t have a lot of storage in my condo. My closet space is full of clothes and shoes, so I don’t know where to store my tools. I bought a basic tool set and it came with a tool box. Since I don’t have a place to store the tool box, it just sits in my living room. Do you have any ideas as to how I can camouflage my tool box?
Margaret

Dear Margaret:
Storage is a rare commodity in some older homes and condos. Saturday morning cartoons have built up our hopes that we can stuff all our extra belongings into a single, tiny closet. Then one day, the door opens and everything pours out onto the floor. Of course in reality, the “clown car effect” doesn’t work for closet space. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to maximize storage space within unconventional items such as furniture and accessories.

Multi-functional furniture like sofas and ottomans with built-in storage bins are a perfect way to maximize storage capacity. Another great tip to camouflage the storage of excess items is to repurpose boxes. For instance, traditional tool boxes are usually awful looking bright-coloured, plastic or metal containers that rarely fit into a designer space. But not to worry, there are creative ways to transform designer tool boxes by taking vintage boxes and repurposing them. Once refurbished, the box can be placed as an accessory in any room.

This project will transform a vintage black reptile print, 8-track tape box into a designer tool box using a few supplies.

Supplies needed for the Vintage Tool Box Project:
-- Old box (any finish and size)
-- Earrings
-- Glue gun
-- Sheets of scrapbook paper
-- Scrapbook double-sided tape

Step 1: Look for the perfect box to repurpose into a designer tool box. Flea markets and goodwill stores are great spots to locate supplies for repurposing projects. Marc’s Tip: Be sure to purchase a box in an appropriate size so that your tools will fit nicely inside.

Step 2: Once a box has been selected, remove any separators found inside. We selected a vintage black reptile print 8-track tape box and by removing all separators, we created a large open area.

Step 3: Cut pieces of scrapbook paper to the size needed to refinish the inside of the box. Use double-sided tape to glue the paper to the box.

Step 5: Voila, you now have a designer tool box that can be stored in any room without anyone ever knowing.

Marc Atiyolil, celebrity designer and home trend expert is the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, a regular contributor to CTV and the host of the “Marc Atiyolil Show” on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm.

To submit a question for Marc, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- CHT Media

Co-ordinate bold beautiful colours with accessories, art and fabric. (NC)

For a long time, bold colours seemed too juvenile to use in abundance, too boisterous to let loose in a sophisticated setting. Now, designers say, they are the essential ingredient in even the most timid colour schemes.

For example, in Deco Candy, one of the PPG Pittsburgh Paints trends palettes for 2012, the colours are clean and energetic. Kids would happily use any or all of them in a single room.

But bold and bright colours are not just for kids. Here are the strategies for grown-ups:

Ease out of neutral. If you are not accustomed to having them around, your psyche may need to ease into bold colours. Build up your colour tolerance by introducing them into your neutral space one wall or colour block at a time.

Take their temperature. Deco Candy’s bright hues look beautiful with neutrals, as do all bold colours. Just be sure to put warm ones (red, orange, or yellow-based colours) with warm neutrals, and put cool ones (blues, greens, and violets) with cool neutrals.

If you are not sure what you have, use a grey like Turtle Dove (511-4) as the main colour for wall and trim. It goes with everything. It will still work if you exchange your bold accent for another or decide to expand your accent colour to more of the room. Grey is easy to get along with.

Bright hues look beautiful with neutrals. (NC)

Get rid of white. Colour is softened by reducing dark-light contrasts. White trim interrupts a colour scheme. Instead of white, match the trim to the walls, or use a lighter or darker version of the wall colour.

If you really must have contrasting trim then tone it down to off-white (Mountain Gray, 416-1), or tan (Toasted Almond, 414-3) or the grey, Turtle Dove, all from PPG’s Voice of Colour palette. Make ceilings a lighter version of the wall colour or a lighter coordinating colour—but banish white.

Don’t back off. Don’t trade the colour you love for the one that is two chips above on the stripe card. That colour is not the one you fell for at all. Instead, start small and ease in.

Reduce colour clutter. Bits and pieces of colour create a busy room. Discipline your colour palette by coordinating the accessories, art and fabrics. Or, bring in one bold, beautiful colour in a big way. As counterintuitive as that may seem, the magic of bold colour is the calm it creates. Like a magnet, it pulls forward all the variations of itself from random coloured objects, and makes all the colours sing in harmony.

www.newscanada.com

Although the tree shown in the picture is growing well and is biologically strong, the close up view on the right shows its structural weakness.(Brad Gurr)

The concept that trees exist in two realms—one biological and the second one the structural—is not new. In nature it is not unusual to see a tree that is growing vigorously yet is in danger of crashing to the ground because its structural stability has been compromised. Conversely you can see trees that are on their last legs biologically, but are structurally solid.

Trees are long-lived organisms that are completely immobile in their environment. As the environment changes, trees adapt, grow, decline, and eventually die. This can take place over a matter of years or centuries. We, as stewards of the trees’ environment, can do a lot to help balance the equation and extend the life of these immobile giants.

Construction and grade changes play a major factor in the decline of many trees. If you are contemplating construction—from a simple fence, to the largest additions—contact your local arborist to discuss the building plans before you break ground. A preservation plan is always simpler and more effective than a recovery plan.

Root damage is the most common effect of construction and is difficult and time-consuming to correct. While you are working to improve the root condition of a construction-damaged tree, you must also consider insects and diseases. These secondary pathogens will be drawn to stressed trees. The presence of human activity always has a stressful impact on tree growth and survival.

Trees grown in forests have very different growth conditions—light, soil moisture, nutrient availability—than trees grown in open areas like yards and city parks. Trees have evolved to take advantage of the benefits of increased light, and many will grow wide, broad crowns that may lead to instability. Instability can lead to wind throw or sudden branch drop. If you examine trees after a major ice or wind storm, these over-extended branches may be the ones most damaged.

Pruning, crown reduction, and thinning can carefully reduce the size of a tree. Careful pruning will extend the life of a tree in open areas and greatly reduced spaces. Tree pruning is an art that is backed up by science. Knowing when to prune and how much is a skill that experienced arborists train for years to develop. Knowing when and what not to prune is also vital to the outcome of any pruning project.

Brad Gurr is an ISA-certified arborist and plant health care specialist dedicated to the care and preservation of trees. For more information on this subject or any plant health care related questions, please feel free to contact him online at http://www.savatree.com/duchess-county-tree-service.html

Toxic process of clothes and textile manufacture can effect our health. (The Epoch Times)

Fungicides, chemical dyes, fixers, stain resistors and fire retardants make up the toxic cocktail present in the clothes we buy. These unnatural additives to the textiles are poisonous to both us and to the environment; there is little information on the label to warn us about the effects of exposure.

Once cotton is harvested, it begins its first incarnation in the textile factory, where it may or may not be blended with synthetics, nylon or polyester. In the process of its manufacture it is often treated with chemicals, which make the item more appealing to the buyer, such as an anti-wrinkle treatment or deodorising agents. These additives allow the piece of clothing to look and hang better on the rack in order to catch the eye of the consumer. Synthetic plasticisers offer ease of wear, making the item feel softer and wrinkle free. However, these man-made chemicals could be affecting our health in ways we are not yet aware of.

Chemicals in Our Clothes, and All Around

Since the industrial revolution, dangerous chemicals have been part of our life. We begin to be exposed to them from the time we are in the womb, so isolating the source of the chemical causing us harm can be a difficult task. This is one of the reasons why there is not strict legislation in place to ban the use of such chemicals in the clothing industry. We are thus hard pressed proving that the poison which is causing us damage is found only in our clothes.

Author of Chemical Free Kids, Dr Lantz brings light to the sheer amount of new chemicals created each year for our ever-expanding industrial needs that we are either directly or indirectly exposed to. In her blog, Dr Lantz writes: “Over 80,000 chemicals are now registered for use in Australia (40,000 industrial chemicals) and accessed via everyday consumer products ranging from foods and food packaging, clothing, building materials, water, cleaning products, personal care products. Yet 75 per cent of these have never been tested for their toxicity on the human body or the environment.”

In the textile industry, formaldehyde is used as a pre-shrinking treatment and to fix dyes and pigments. Some other poisons commonly used are Phthalates, which are also toxic and widely used for softening textiles. Lead interferes with the developing nervous systems of children and lowers IQ, yet it is used to stabilise colour pigments in PVC. Cadmium also stabilises pigments and it has been classified as carcinogenic or cancer forming by the US department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS 2000 and IARC 1994).

Babies and Children’s Wear

We would never knowingly allow our young ones to be exposed to poisonous chemicals found in our laundry cupboard and around the home, yet children’s clothing is a culprit for hidden dangerous chemicals. Another worrying factor involved is that children are more susceptible than adults to toxic exposure because of thinner, more permeable skin, as well as having a less developed detoxification system.

When a pyjama tag states that the garment is “fire resistant”, we may feel more at ease as we think we are making a safer choice. Fire-resistant however, means it has been treated with fire-retardant chemicals such as chlorine, bromine and phosphate based compounds. Fire retardants, like all fabric finishes, are absorbed into the body either through the skin or breathed in through the gas they give off.

A Safer Alternative

A good alternative to buying “fire-resistant” chemical treated pyjamas is buying snug fitting body suits for children under nine months old. The tighter fitting clothing will not pose as much as a threat when a fire is present, as looser fitting garments are more likely to catch fire. This is a recommendation made by the US consumer product safety commission in 1997.

Another solution is to look for natural fibre clothes made from organic cotton, wool, bamboo, nettle and hemp. Ecological clothing such as these, are not chemically treated during the growing of the crop or in the manufacture of the fabric. Having the ‘Organic’ label does make them more expensive because they are niche market and are up against a perilously tough market of super-cheap clothing, made by cheap labour. However, they will have a long life if treated well and washed according to the makers’ recommendations. Hemp and bamboo are especially tough and hard wearing, yet are surprisingly soft to the touch.

Another tip is to wash new clothes a few times before wearing to reduce any chemical and pesticide residue still imbedded in the cotton. The “wash before wear” appearing on the tag is a warning that the item contains chemicals which could irritate the skin, so it’s best to heed this warning, especially for children.

Buying second hand clothes from the local opp shop is another way of reducing the amount of chemicals in the clothes as they are well worn and have been washed many times, making them a safer, cheaper option and decreasing our carbon footprint on our earth at the same time.

For the new flower-beds gardeners should start digging over the soil and mixing in some manure, for older flower-beds gardeners should mix in some chicken manure around it which is available in pellet form. When the growth then comes in a month or so the garden will be ready to kick off. 

Some people think that you need to live in the countryside in order to use these products but both are readily available in the garden centre.

For those who want colour in the flowerbeds and borders, now is a good time to plant primroses, or you could buy grown daffodils or Tête-á-Tête.

If you have a vegetable patch in your garden, now is a good time to dig it over and dig in the farmyard manure and compost. If you do it now the vegetable patch will have time to break it down before the spring hits. 

For the garden roses now is the time to feed them to ensure that they reach their full potential later in the year. There is a special type of plant food available for them that ensures they have all the nutrients they need to reach their full potential. If you haven’t pruned them yet, I would still hold off and wait until the first week in March. This is just in case we get a late frost that could damage the rose.

It is very unusual for this time of year, but at the moment some weeds are appearing in gardens. The reason is the very mild weather has encouraged growth. It is a good idea to dig them out or spray them with weed killer.

If your garden did not live up to your expectations last year then now would be a good time to do a soil test to find out what was missing and how to compensate for it. Some gardens may need magnesium, calcium or perhaps lime to compensate for deficiencies in the soil. The test kits are easy to use and you can tell by what colour it turns what exactly your garden needs to ensure it reaches its potential this year. Now is the best time to do the test because you have time to fix any problems that exist.

Now is also a good time to seek advice and start planning if you have a large garden project that you intend to complete this year. Over the next few months there will be more products, and plants that will become available to fill your new garden. 

I recommend that gardeners visit a garden centre at least four times a year so that they can see different plants in flower at different times of the year and get inspired with ideas for their own garden. Sometimes it’s a good idea to plant in sections so that different flowers are mature at different stages giving a wide variety to the garden.

Some people lead very busy lifestyles and don’t have the time to do the gardening themselves. In Ashbrook Gardening and Landscaping we also have a landscaping service and now is the best time to start the work, so that you can enjoy it in the Spring and Summer. We offer the full service including decking and paving, and we can build the garden around that. We encourage people to pick a focal point for the garden, and we then build around this focal point.

Many garden enthusiasts took special notice of the birds in their gardens last year because the winter was so cold. This allowed them to explore the full range of bird foods, and see what type of birds it would attract into the garden. In Ireland, the tradition has always been to feed the birds nuts, however, nuts only attract certain types of bird and it can be more expensive. For example, meal worms attract the robins, meal/fruit mix attracts the song birds, and niger and thistle attract the finch.

From fresh and airy to initmate and cosy. lighting sets the tone of a room and should be an integral part of it's design and layout. (Photos.com)

Ever wonder how designers make the rooms you see in magazines or on decorating shows look so good? It doesn’t always depend on paint colours or fabric choices. From fresh and airy to intimate and cozy—and everything in between—lighting sets the tone of a room and should be an integral part of its design and layout. And you can make dramatic changes by doing something as easy as switching out a light bulb.

So if you want to give a room a makeover, or just freshen it up a bit, use these tips from the lighting pros at Sylvania to brighten things up.

Types of lighting

Not only does a good lighting plan make a room more inviting, it also makes it more functional. To create a good lighting plan, you’ll need different kinds of light:
• Ambient—Provides overall illumination and a comfortable level of brightness, allowing people to see and move around safely and easily.
• Task—Helps you perform a specific activity, such as reading or playing games, by concentrating light in a particular place.
• Accent—Sets the mood and highlights certain areas and objects, such as paintings, walls and collectibles.
• Decorative—Fixtures become an element of the space themselves, such as chandeliers or pendants.

The type of light bulbs you use matter as well. Due to the EISA Act of 2007, traditional incandescent light bulbs will eventually be phased out; however there are several energy-efficient options, ranging from CFLs to halogen or LED light bulbs. No matter what room you’re looking to improve, there is an energy-efficient light option that will be a perfect fit.

Dining room

• Using dimmers and layering with light gives you flexibility for different occasions.
• For an elegant look, blend low levels of light sources throughout the room.
• When installing light over the dining room table, be careful not to create shadows on the faces of your guests. Placing additional light sources elsewhere in the room helps to balance the light.
• Use adjustable accent lamps with halogen bulbs to highlight plants, artwork, or special furniture pieces. These bulbs are fully dimmable and use between 22 and 33 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.

Living room

• For general lighting, use fixtures with a dimmer. The light source is concealed, and with dimming capabilities you can change the lighting of the room for various activities from reading to movie watching. A good choice for these fixtures would be the Sylvania Ultra A-Line 12-watt LED bulbs. They’re the brightest replacement for the typical 60-watt incandescent bulbs, while using 80 percent less energy. They also last 25 times longer.

• Wall sconces and floor lamps are good sources of task lighting for reading or playing games, while track fixtures can be used to highlight art work or unique wall treatments such as wall washing or glazing.
• Place light sources at various heights within the room to add visual interest.
• Use translucent shades on table lamps to contribute to the ambient light level.

Bedrooms

For more lighting tips and information about energy-efficient bulbs, visit www.sylvania.com or www.youtube.com/sylvanialight.

Article courtesy of Family Features Editorial Syndicate

Tangerine orange was announced by Pantone, a leader in colour forecasting, as the colour of the year for 2012. (CHT MEDIA)

With the new year off to a good start, the question on our minds is “What’s coming up for 2012 design trends?”

When it comes to colour, tangerine orange was announced by Pantone, a leader in colour forecasting, as the colour of the year. Para Paints, a Canadian paint manufacturer teamed up with four Canadian designers: Glenn Dixon, Ambrose Price, Elizabeth Wharnsby and yours truly to help forecast the colours of the year.

My colour scheme, Rhythm, showcases a beautiful tangerine orange (Para Paints, Sweet & Juicy, P5072-85) in an exotic worldly design featuring a patterned, gold Italian sofa contrasted against a zesty wall colour. Just like our country’s “melting pot” effect, the space is infused by Asian, African, and Canadian influences and melded together to create a true Canadian design.

With the world at our finger tips, it is much easier to import treasures. Designing with influences from foreign countries has become a hot trend utilized by Canadian designers. Although, we must not forget that our Canadian heritage is rich in history and has a lot to offer.

Patriotism is another trend emerging in the design market place. In 2012, patriotic design elements will make their way into our homes. Gwen Prince of General Paint notes that during her visit to the annual Colour Marketing Group, she saw a lot of new trends regarding the colour, red.

Although, the new shade of red is quite different from the bright reds seen in earlier years, this year’s red is deeper, like the one showcased on many national flags, thus promoting patriotism. (General Paint, Rare Sensibility, 132)

Other noteworthy trends making an appearance in 2012 include repurposed furniture and accessories. Unique pieces are being repurposed into non-traditional uses such as old belt straps forming the arms of a wooden or chrome chair and tree stumps made into coffee tables.

Natural woods will also continue to segue into our homes. With the “eco” movement taking design by storm, expect to see nature-inspired elements pop up on retail shelves. Whether the object is made out of eco material or showcasing a nature-inspired pattern, Mother Nature has influenced this year’s design trends.

This year, patterns in wallpaper and fabrics will feature feathers, birds, and animal prints. These patterns will be complemented by exotic textures such as the ones introduced in wallpapers. As for fabrics, expect funky materials, such as horse hair, to appear on design boards across the country. As usual, these luxuries are used in moderation so that designer spaces offer visual interest without overwhelming the eye.

2012 has an exciting compilation of design trends giving you all the tools to create the perfect designer space!

Marc Atiyolil, celebrity designer and home trend expert is the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, regular contributor to CTV and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm.
To submit a question for Marc Atiyolil, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com

COPYRIGHT 2012 -- CHT Media

Featured in The Decorative Carpet by Alix G. Perrachon (The Monacelli Press), a small contemporary living room by designer Jiun Ho is warmed by its mellow hardwood floors and cooled by steel-gray on the walls and a Tibetan area rug. (ARA)

The American home may be shrinking, but not the Great American Dream. Americans are still living large, just doing so in smaller spaces.

To some trend-watchers, the downscaling of the American home comes as good news. Architects, designers, and social observers say our willingness to resize our floor space means we Americans are rethinking the way we really live and how we use whatever space we do have. Home, they say, has become less about impressing others and more about making ourselves happy. And since we are mostly baby boomers—that tidal wave of Americans born between 1946 and 1964, who have long been accustomed to getting what we want—happiness is often defined in terms of luxuries and personal amenities.

“Natural materials like American hardwoods are redefining the word ‘luxury,’” says Linda Jovanovich of the American Hardwood Information Center. “Hardwoods bring richness and warmth to even small rooms, whether it’s used on the floors and walls, or crafted into built-ins. Custom hardwood furnishings like bookcases and cabinets make a home personal, yours alone, and isn’t that the ultimate luxury?”

This new definition of luxury—top-quality, mostly natural materials, and careful attention to architectural details like natural wood window frames and moldings—is one that architect and author Sarah Susanka agrees with. And what Susanka thinks matters.

In 1998, her professional hunch launched what has become the “build-better-not-bigger” movement, when she published the first in her best-selling series of books titled The Not So Big House.

Her mantra is indeed, think smaller, and she also believes that “luxury comes from the materials we surround ourselves with. Beauty comes from natural materials. You can see where they come from—in the grain, the veining. The more natural the materials, like real hardwoods and granite, the more content you are. There’s a quality you can’t name, but you can feel it.”

Gale Steves, author, editor, and design industry consultant sums up a similar concept in her book about Right-Sizing Your Home. According to Steves, “Right-sizing is about making the best use of the spaces you have for the way you live.” She suggests the following ways to best enjoy the shrinking and changing American home:

* “Create a room within a room,” Steves advises. Her ideas begin at floor-level. Install hardwood flooring throughout to unify the spaces and make them look larger, then use area rugs to define separate areas. Lay hardwood on the diagonal to set off special architectural features. Create a “rug” under a dining table with an inset frame of contrasting hardwood. Or outline an entire room with two courses of contrasting hardwood.

* More ideas: Use a sectional sofa to delineate an intimate seating area within an open floor plan. And—of special interest to the many boomers who are eschewing retirement—find a standing wood-panel screen to create privacy or isolate a work space, say, in a bedroom office area.

* And don’t forget to make it sustainable. Living green is a high priority for the anti-McMansion generation. As Susanka sees it, we should think of the 21st-century house as “a well-tailored suit: you use less material, but it fits you perfectly.”

For more information on American Hardwoods, visit www.HardwoodInfo.com.

When approaching any kind of design project, there are obvious considerations in choosing the right design talent, including scope of services, budget, timeline, and aesthetic. In the case of scope of services, you need to know what you want to do in order to find a firm that has the capacity to do what is required.

For instance, if you are dealing with construction or anything that requires permitting or a license, you will require a firm that has specific training, accreditation, and experience, and you will have to pay for it. However, if you are just doing simple décor, you might be able to get away with a decorator and possibly save money.

The same thing holds true for budget and timeline. Depending upon the size of your budget, there are certain firms you may not be able to work with because you do not fit in with their business model—in other words, you are not spending enough for them to be profitable with your project.

Conversely, the same firm that works with larger budgets may be ideally suited to assisting you with a quick turnaround project, since they may have the needed resources to devote without having to spend time finding help and/or trying to do it on their own. Naturally, having staff readily available costs money, and you the client pay for it.

Interestingly, most people seem to gravitate towards aesthetic first. Frankly, I think this is the least of the considerations since most firms have a broad training in many aesthetics and frequently find inspiration from materials that are available to the public including books, magazines, and existing spaces. And yet, most people believe that the only firm that can do what they like is a firm that has already done it. Not so.

Ok, so what about personality? Well, it’s key in most respects and here’s the moral to this story: If you take the time to find the right-size firm that you can afford and that has a portfolio you really like, it is possible to have an unsatisfactory outcome if you don’t get along (read, if you don’t like each other).

Design is as much a process as it is an artistic endeavor, and usually, things just take time. As such, you really want to work with someone you enjoy from the onset and that you can relate to. When the chips are down, this is the person who will be there on your side, and who you will be glad is on your side.

Lloyd Princeton is the managing partner of iMatchDesigners LLC, a matchmaking company for architects, interior designers, and landscape professionals, matching professionals to projects of all types, anywhere in the world. You can find more information about iMatchDesigners at www.imatchdesigners.com

(Courtesy of Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes )

When faced with the design dilemma of decorating my bedroom when I was a teenager, my mother called in an interior designer for help. The designer suggested painting one of my bedroom walls an “accent color” and before I knew it, a deep tangerine color had been painted on one of the walls. I loved it! Decades later, and after painting more accent walls than I can count, I find myself often being asked by my interior design and home-staging clients if they should add an accent wall into their design mix.

My answer is, it depends. As an ASID interior designer, I use “accent colors” for a specific purpose: to incorporate a bold color into a space without “overdoing it” by painting every wall.

A tangerine color painted on one wall adds the right amount of personality to a room without overpowering the eye with color. (Courtesy of Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes)

Accent colors not only add interest, but can also help to define a space architecturally. Accent colors can also highlight particular features of a space and serve as the foundation of a color palette.

As part of the 3-day Certified Staging Professionals (CSP) certification course, of which I am one of their national instructors, we teach a color method for achieving the correct color balance in home staging involving the proper use of a primary, secondary, and accent colors.

As home staging is about selling a property and having it appeal to the largest number of potential buyers as possible, it is essential when using color that the colors don’t come across as too “personalized.” Using an accent wall serves as a wonderful home-staging technique and painting solution because it is merely an accent. One wall painted a single color as opposed to a whole room painted a color that may offend.

Five-time Emmy award-winning television personality Cathy Hobbs is the founder of Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes™, a New York City-based firm specializing in interior design and home staging. A nationally known design expert, Cathy was a finalist on Season 6 of HGTV’s hit reality series Design Star. Cathy is currently traveling around the country as an instructor for Certified Staging Professionals, teaching their prestigious 3-day certification course. www.cathyhobbs.com.

The primary purpose of any household item is to break down, and when we successfully repair one item, we gain the confidence to tackle the next. (Steve Henderson)

Every time I flush the downstairs toilet, I think affectionately of my husband (the Norwegian artist).

It’s not that he’s getting into installation art or anything, it’s that he knows the basics of fixing a toilet, which, while it may not rank with six-pack abs or rippling biceps on the attractiveness thermometer, it’s way up there on the real-life scale.

The initial fix, after the handle broke off, involved fluorescent orange cord wrapped around one of the toddler’s plastic blocks, creating a one-of-a-kind pull toy until we got it through to the toddler that this was not a porcelain product for her playtime use.

Then something happened with the inner sanctum of plastic and metal parts, resulting in a stream of living water that flowed into the holding tank and out of the holding tank but never into the bowl itself.

A temporary fix was attained by removing the tank top so that we could manually adjust the parts, but I assure you that, while the Norwegian hoped that this would be a long-term temporary solution, I emphasized the temporary over the long-term aspect.

While the next step, replacing the entire toilet with a shiny new one, should be the simplest and most obvious, complications arose because the Norwegian eventually wants to move the toilet to the opposite corner where the claw-foot bathtub now is, which will then move to where the towel and toiletries unit now stands.

It’s okay because the Norwegian will tear that out and build a new, smaller one where the corner shower is, because the corner shower will take the sink’s place, and the sink will rest in the toilet’s old spot. So, replacing the toilet isn’t that simple.

You know, there’s no use having color-coded towels and pretty soap in a bathroom whose toilet screams at every visitor, “Look inside!” While my love for the Norwegian Artist did not falter, the sigh I discharged upon entering the bathroom must have increased in forcefulness, because eventually he disappeared to the workshop, found an extra toilet, gutted its inner parts, then performed reconstructive surgery on the lavatory chinaware.

By the way parents, this is a great reason to encourage your children to play with blocks. It may look like they’re not doing much of anything now, but the skills they pick up will be invaluable to a future spouse.

While I recognize that most people don’t have spare toilets in the workshop, we have spare everything in ours.

Many men have more ingenuity than they think, and if using a spare part weren’t an option, they, like the Norwegian, would raid more of the Toddler’s toys or the kitchen drawers to find what they needed to do to effect the repair.

“It’s a different world nowadays,” my mother likes to say, but in many ways, despite the smartphones, the notepads, and the Bluetooths that she doesn’t even bother to understand, we are finding ourselves back in a time that was familiar to her—the 1930s with its Great Depression, the 1940s with its wartime scarcity of resources, and the 1950s with its confidence to do the things that needed to be done.

Whether or not our Great Recession is officially over, and this depends upon what the pundits and the media want us to feel and believe, a lot of people are living on less these days, whether it’s because they’ve lost their job or whether it’s because what money they do have sure doesn’t buy as much as it used to.

Carolyn Henderson is a freelance author and writer of the blog Middle Aged Plague.  In addition to looking at modern life’s oddities and ends, Carolyn is the manager of Steve Henderson Fine Art , which features the paintings of her husband, a Norwegian artist.

Courtesy of CHT MEDIA

Dear Marc:

I love your projects! They are so much fun. I have an old kids’ lamp that I found in the attic. Years ago, it sat on my son’s dresser when he was a toddler. He is now grown up and has moved out on his own. The house seems empty without him around so I’m turning his spare room into a guest bedroom. The lamp is still in good shape although the shade is childlike. How can I create a new shade for this lamp?

Yvonne

Dear Yvonne:

The best cure for “empty nest” syndrome is to keep busy. Many are accustomed to living their lives around the energy that children bring to a household. As the kids grow up and move out on their own, the house may feel empty, and somber.

Redesigning a room is a great way to cure “empty nest” syndrome. Small decorating projects, depending on what they entail, can be quick and easy and bring new life to a home. A well designed home should reflect the personality of the homeowner.

Every quarter of the house should have a different mandate. The common living quarters are to reflect the overall design style of the homeowners with pops of societal influences. Guest living areas, whether they are a guest house or guest room, should reflect a neutralized design style. For instance, nobody wants to stay in a guest bedroom filled with the homeowner’s puppet collection contrasted against lime green walls.

A wonderful theme for a guest bedroom is an oasis where a guest may rejuvenate after a long trip and feel at home. The amazing thing about redesigning a room is that one doesn’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to achieve a designer look. I love taking unused items from a childhood bedroom and making them appear new again. Today, we will revitalize a lamp shade using inexpensive scrapbook paper to replace the childlike lamp shade.

The following materials will be needed for this DIY Scrapbook Paper Lamp project:

- Two sheets of graphic scrapbook paper
-- Two sheets of neutral coloured patterned scrapbook paper
-- Scrapbook knife
-- Surface protector
-- Ribbon
-- Scissors
-- Scrapbook quality double-sided tape
-- Hot glue gun

Step 1: Remove the plastic shade covering the lamp.

Step 2: Measure the lamp’s height where the old shade sat. Layer one sheet of each scrapbook paper over the surface protector. Cut the scrapbook paper to the length measured. Apply double-sided tape to the back of the first sheet of scrapbook paper and adhere it to the second sheet of paper.

Step 3: Measure the width of the scrapbook paper and cut two pieces of ribbon to the length measured.

Step 4: To cover the seams between the papers, apply doubled-sided tape to the back of the ribbon and glue it to the scrapbook paper.

Step 5: Using a hot glue gun, place a bead of glue in the joint where the shade meets the lamp. Gently place the new scrapbook paper shade in the joint. Repeat the same process on the opposing end.

Step 6: Repeat Steps 2 to 5 on the other side of the lamp.

Step 7: This childlike lamp has been transformed into a mature looking decorative accessory that fits perfectly in a guest bedroom oasis.

From rocks in the garden to rocks in the living room, nature’s influence can be found both indoors and out. (ARA)

In today’s world where news travels at an instant, people are searching for balance and purpose, and are tapping into the power of plants to cultivate the “new good life.”

“Plants are powerful,” says Eric Liskey, deputy garden editor for Better Homes and Gardens magazine. “Whether it’s enjoying garden-to-table meals or sharing great new plant finds, people are naturally drawn to plants.”

Besides beautifying our homes and gardens, plants play a vital role in our health and well-being. They elicit powerful positive emotions, revive neighborhoods, and influence everything from what we eat to life’s milestones.

“Plants are no longer a luxury, but a necessity for our lives,” says Susan McCoy, trendspotter and outdoor living expert. “Plants can live without us, but we can’t live without plants.”

The power of plants. For a growing army of eco-conscious Generation Xs and Ys, recycling, repurposing, and upcycling is now a lifestyle.

Dr. Charlie Hall, professor of horticulture at Texas A&M, says, “Gen Ys are embracing a connection with plants based on economics, environmental impact, health, and wellness.”

These rural and urban curators are planting home and community gardens, and renewing urban spaces with an eye toward functionality and artistic design.

Rich, gem colors create your own personal piece of paradise. (ADA)

Here’s what McCoy and her team of Garden Media Group trendspotters see for gardening in 2012:

Urban Knights

A growing army of ‘urban knights’ are creating oases wherever they can find a patch of earth. They’re planting shrubs, flowers, edibles, and pop-up gardens on balconies, in alley ways—even in abandoned buildings.

From yard-sharing and raising chickens to step-gardening and harvesting rainwater, urban knights are finding a “new good life” by getting grounded with the Earth.

Ecoscaping

From rocks in the garden to rocks in the living room, nature’s influence can be found both indoors and out.

“Borders are blurring between indoors and out as nature becomes more important in our lives,” says Bobbie Schwartz, president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. “Many people want their gardens and their homes to be sanctuaries of tranquility, reflecting their ideal concept of nature.”

Beauty and sustainability are key. Liskey says that people want the beauty and romance of a garden with less work. “Gardeners want easy, low-maintenance plants that give plenty of color.”

“Herbs are popular as cooking shows and healthy eating habits grow,” says Briscoe White, head herb farmer at The Growers Exchange. “It’s easy to pot up herbs indoors and out for fresh ingredients year-round.” He recommends planting containers of herbes de Provence for beauty and cooking, or edging a landscape border with lavender.

Continued: Occupy Local …

Product removal services, like the one shown here, remove things that are part of a demolition or remodel including ceramics, kitchen cabinets, wood flooring, etc., at no cost to the owner. (Courtesy of www.greendemolitions.com)

Sustainability has been widely discussed and written about for many years now. The subject is usually in tandem with global warming and the sometimes disastrous effects that populations experience around the world. Yet, in spite of all of this coverage, much of it excoriating us to be better stewards of our planet’s resources for future generations.

I see a surprisingly limited interest in “green design” or consumer products. The reality is that sustainability is still not appealing enough or a painful enough need for it to be mandated by the consumer. Until this happens, it will continue to be relegated to the back burner unless it’s convenient or on price parity with less sustainable options.

However, I am pleased to say that there are some immediate alternatives that people don’t always consider when remodeling or redesigning interior spaces. For one, a new look can often be achieved by having furniture refinished and/or recovered in a new fabric.

Consulting professionals can help keep you abreast of which products and services use locally produced/manufactured goods or those from recycled materials. (Courtesy of www.greendemolitions.com)

If furniture is quality, then it can be rearticulated with a new color, texture, textile, or even crystals. Not only will this keep a piece of furniture from taking up landfill space, but it will probably be much less expensive than purchasing new quality pieces.

A service I’ve become aware of includes product removal. This may include things that are part of a demolition or remodel including ceramics (toilets, sinks), kitchen cabinets, wood flooring, and so on, at no cost to the owner. It’s then rehabilitated and resold. The original owner can then receive a tax credit for the donation.

In the area of interior design or remodeling, consult the professionals. They know what resources are available to you for your project. They’re able to source products or services locally and they know what products are made from recycled materials, or recycled components.

We may live in the land of plenty, but once we run out of something, we’re out! Save money and save the planet—it’s a win-win scenario!

Venting electric skylights admit natural light and fresh air while bringing decorating drama to a space.(ARA)

Enlightenment isn’t just a state of mind, it can also be an important energy-saving state of being for your home’s roof. By “enlightening” your roof, you can use less energy, save money, and dress up the interior of your home at the same time.

All roofs protect us and the interiors of our homes, but they can do so much more. They can be the collection and distribution point for an inexhaustible supply of free natural light and energy.

A roof that uses Energy Star-qualified venting skylights, for instance, admits healthful natural light while providing passive ventilation through the natural “chimney effect” of rising air. This is not an insignificant consideration, especially in kitchens and baths that have higher moisture and humidity levels than other areas of the home.

Another specific issue, pertaining to kitchens and bathrooms, that skylights help address is the need for privacy. Many modern homes are built on small lots, in very close proximity to neighboring houses. “Light from windows is rarely enough, especially in places where lot sizes are small,” says Jennifer Powers of design firm Scott-Ulmann.

Areas of the home where traditional skylights with blinds might not work, such as hallways, closets, and small interior baths, can still admit natural light through less expensive tubular skylights. And optional light kits turn these units into 24-hour sources of light. Low-profile flat glass models that blend unobtrusively with the roof, and domed models, all offer a fast, easy, less expensive way to transform a home with natural light.

In addition to light and ventilation from above, if you add an Energy Star-qualified solar water heating system, your roof will work even harder for you. And, in addition to monthly power bill savings, these solar thermal systems qualify for tax credits and other savings that significantly reduce the payback time it takes to recover the initial cost.

Solar power attic fans are also a cost-effective roof addition that help to reduce mechanical cooling costs while removing damaging moisture from the home.

A skylight with a colorful blind adds flair to the bedroom while providing natural light, ventilation, and privacy.(ARA)

In addition to the functional qualities these and other roof improvements offer, there are also aesthetic considerations.

Skylights offer room-changing drama and decorating flair while adding natural light from above. And skylight blinds are now available in colors and pattern choices to mix and match with room decor giving homeowners another interior design tool. Blinds not only dress up a room but also provide light control while increasing the energy efficiency and usefulness of skylights.

According to skylight manufacturer Velux America, the addition of blinds can increase the overall energy efficiency of the units by 37 percent. They recommend closing the blinds on high heat/sun days in the summer to reduce potential solar heat gain and, on cold winter nights, closing them to provide an extra layer of thermal insulation to keep warm air indoors. Skylight blinds, as well as the units themselves, can be controlled manually or with a remote.

For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency, visit energystar.gov, and for independent agency information, visit nfrc.org or efficientwindows.org. For remodeling information, visit nahb.org/remodel or greenhomeguide.org.

Hooks have been transformed into vintage shower curtain hooks. (Courtesy of CHT Media)

Dear Marc: I’m redecorating my bathroom and I’m on the lookout for chic finds. I have an antique claw foot tub that doubles as a shower. I just bought the most beautiful shower curtain. It’s a blend of black and white mixed with different shades of grey. However, I haven’t been able to locate any shower curtain hooks that I like. I’m looking for something unique, chic, and classy. I am starting to think it would be easier to make my own hooks but I’m not sure how to do so. Can you help?

Dear Heather: Isn’t it wonderful how antiques have stood the test of time? When designing with an antique, it is of utmost importance that its surroundings are kept in that same classic era. Flea markets are a great way to find suitable attire for antiques, and they are often filled with furniture and accessories from a variety of eras.
Since the era of the bathroom fixtures brings an antique feel to the space, the integration of vintage pieces is an integral part of this design. For inspiration, browse through old family albums and look for antiques that can be repurposed for this project.
A favourite item to use in vintage projects is grandma’s old brooches. With the use of these brooches, vintage shower curtain hooks will be created out of dated ceramic curtain hooks.

The following materials are required for this shower curtain hook project:
• Flat surfaced shower curtain hooks
• Brooches
• Hot glue gun
• Black or white paint
• Parchment paper

Step 1: Prepare the work area. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a flat surface.
Step 2: Take a shower curtain hook and carefully dip it into the paint can. Marc’s Tip: When dipping the shower curtain hook, hold the hook and dip only the ceramic surface. This will leave the chrome hook free of paint.
Step 3: Place the hook side up on the parchment paper and let dry.
Step 4: Apply hot glue to the back of a brooch and adhere it to the painted ceramic surface.
Step 5: Repeat steps 2 to 4 for all remaining shower curtain hooks.
Step 6: Voila, old hooks have been transformed into vintage shower curtain hooks. Hang them on your shower rod and draw yourself a bath. As you soak in the tub, admire the beautiful pieces of family history hung atop your claw foot tub.

Marc Atiyolil, celebrity designer and home trend expert is the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, a regular contributor to CTV, and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm.

In organizing your home office, a few simple steps can make a major difference. (Photos.com)

With New Year’s resolutions upon us, being organized is an ideal goal. For the 50 percent of working Canadians who work from home at least occasionally, or maintain a home office, organization is especially important.

Being productive is a direct result of being organized, but the thought of where to start and how to go about it may be overwhelming. The good news is, a few simple steps can make a major difference.

Clear the Clutter

Being organized starts with cutting out the clutter. Too often our offices are crammed with machines, supplies, and pieces of paper, making our workstations seem completely dysfunctional. When it comes to paperwork, limit the documents you keep in hard copy. Scan your documents and store them on your computer’s hard drive. Shredding the hard copies will make an immediate difference in the amount of space you have. Multifunction centres such as Brother MFC machines can help you do this. They are versatile, easy to use, and compact.

Label and File

Once you decide what documents you need to keep in hard copy, make sure they have a designated place. To achieve this, an effective labelling system is a no-brainer. Colour code and label your files so everything is clearly identified and easily accessible. Assign a colour category to your files, such as green for financial documents, and blue for personal papers. Organization also extends to how you manage your contacts. If you tend to do a lot of mailings, investing in a label printer with software that allows you to save your contacts is the way to go. There are some great electronic labellers on the market that can be purchased in most office supply stores or online on websites like brother.ca.

Establish Office Routines and Stick to Them

An organized mind is a productive mind. At the end of the day, make a to-do list for the next day and set it out on your desk so it’s ready when you come in. Not only will this help you be more efficient, it will help de-clutter your mind so when you leave the office you can focus on things other than work.

— www.newscanada.com

Remodeling during a slow housing market gives you better value for your dollar. (Lori Falk)

Here’s why now is a great opportunity to remodel or build, despite the economy.

Investment

As we scramble to find investments that work in this economy, many are finding this to be the time to invest in your home. Remodeling, especially kitchens and baths, have very high returns on investment. Not only do you get to enjoy your newly designed space and all its benefits, by updating and upgrading your property you also increase its value and your net worth.

Value

When business is hot, finding professional and qualified businesses to work with is more difficult. There also tend to be longer timelines and increased pricing according to workload as a result. Because in today’s economy, however, people are being cautious, remodeling and building professionals need more work. Businesses are also hungry to keep their people working so they price projects more competitively.

Timeline

With people concentrating on fewer projects, they can devote more time to you, meaning projects move more quickly and efficiently. With greater availability of professionals to choose from, there is usually a smoother process with less downtime and timely completions.

Remodeling during a slow housing market gives you better value for your dollar. Lori Falk

Quality

When given the proper amount of time and sequence of scheduling, the professionals can deliver higher quality with less possibility of damage to work already completed. I have experienced more problems or lack of quality because people are working within too short a timeline or are trying to work on several projects simultaneously. This is especially so for artisans and craftsman because they need to get to the next project. Today’s lower demand means more time and attention for your project.

Product

Many manufacturers have held prices low, but as soon as the economy picks up prices will rise. With pricing being held the last few years, many manufacturers have absorbed cost increases to keep products moving and inventory low. Lower pricing means a higher return on your investment.

Lori Falk, ASID, CID, combines her love for travel, food, and wellness with over 25 years in design, personalizing functionality to blend with your lifestyle. More information about Lori’s work can be found at: www.indesignbylori.net

A dead lawn and a for-sale sign is seen in front of a home in Antioch, Calif. Giving the outside of your home a sprucing up can make all the difference. After all, first impressions are lasting. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

What is curb appeal, and does it really matter? The answer is, yes! Emphatically, YES! Curb appeal does matter and in a big way. So what exactly is curb appeal anyway? Well, let’s talk about curb appeal because curb appeal could help bring you that top-dollar offer you are looking for.

Curb appeal is the way your home is presented from the exterior—everything from your lawn, your trees and shrubs, your flower beds, your exterior paint, etc. Basically, curb appeal is what people see when they first drive up to your home, that instant impression they get, and that instant decision in the back of their minds before they even see the inside of your home. Remember what they say about first impressions!

Here are a few quick tips you can use to instantly improve the curb appeal of your home:

• Weed and feed your lawn and keep it watered.
• Make sure your shrubs and trees are trimmed and well-manicured.
• Purchase some flowers or plants that are compatible with the time of the year.
• Remove all personal items such as shoes, toys, etc.
• Replace your front doormat. A crisp fresh doormat makes a great first impression.
• Remove any clutter that may be lying around your home’s exterior—things such as old hoses laying on the ground, old flower boxes or cracked pots, etc.
• Look at your outdoor furniture. Is it old, worn, and outdated? If so, remove it.
• Do you have any exterior faucets that are leaking? If so, get them fixed.
• Check your gutters. Are they hanging or in disrepair? If so, fix them.
• Clean your windows and screens, you will be surprised what a difference this makes.
• Do you have a wooden patio or deck? If it needs repaired, then repair it—and it wouldn’t hurt to give it a fresh coat of paint or stain to make it more appealing.
• Do you have any old worn out bird feeders? If so, remove them.
• Check your bird baths. Make sure the bird bath is clean and has fresh water.
• You may want to consider removing any outdoor decor that reflects too much of your personal style. Of course, a nice bench or flower pot is generally acceptable.
• Remove any tree swings that are made of plastic or tires and remove all traces of the old rope as well.
• If you have a children’s inflatable or plastic pool, remove it.
• Remove all traces of anything having to do with your pet (as much as possible), such as old bones, dog togs, chewed anything, etc.
• How does your fence look? Do you have any loose pickets or areas that could be easily fixed to reflect a well kept home?

Millie Gil has been a successful licensed real estate agent for over 25 years in Florida. Millie is vice president of Bold Real Estate Group, a boutique agency.

Some examples of designing with color. Staged and styled by Cathy Hobbs.

Pick the number one fear factor of many homeowners and it is often the dreaded five-letter word c-o-l-o-r. I am not quite sure why this is, but so many people are simply terrified to stir the brush in that good old can of paint and actually put color on the walls! Although I am huge fan of painting walls with color, whether accent walls or throughout, I am often asked to design leaving the walls of a space stark white. 

White walls, long considered to be a design faux pas, is in many ways a terrific design tool. Instead of ignoring white and treating it like the “elephant in the room,” I embrace it as a color and incorporate it into my color palette. 

White literally serves as the foundation for my “blank canvas” and the color strokes begin from there. In designing and staging a glorious 16th-floor penthouse on 30th Street for power broker Scott Harris of Brown Harris Stevens and marketing guru Hunter Frick of Halstead Property, I decided to infuse a menagerie of orange, mustard, turquoise, and chocolate into the four-level penthouse without painting a single wall. 

American Development Group, LLC, which developed the condominium tower where the penthouse is located, did an exquisite job with the construction and design, but the property truly came alive through the vibrant use of color. Color was the driving inspiration, from my selection of a canvas triptych with oranges, yellows, and grays for the living room, to minute details such as the color of the jackets on the coffee table books.

When I design or stage residences for my clients who include real estate brokers, developers, and home sellers, I often use neutral colored upholstery pieces, such as sofas and chairs, and add loads of color through the use of accents such as toss pillows, artwork, vases, and even rugs. Using a technique called “color mapping” (created by home staging authority Certified Staging Professionals) I create a scheme using 3–4 colors then pull the color throughout an entire space. 

Making smart investments in improving your home sometimes means paying a higher initial price, enjoying living with them at a lower long-term cost, plus getting your money back if you sell. (Lloyd Princeton)

In his seminal work “Selling Retail,” John Lawhon talks about the different approaches to working with the retail consumer and ultimately selling them something. One of my favorite things he discusses is the difference between the price and cost of something. This sounds like the same thing—just “semantic fencing” as we used to say back in school—doesn’t it? According to Mr. Lawhon, there is a huge difference.

Here’s an example: If you buy a sport coat for $300, the price of the coat is $300. Let’s assume it is not that great a piece, either because of style or craftsmanship, but it serves a need right now and lasts for two years. The cost of the coat is $150 per year. The cost is the price amortized over the lifetime of its use. 

If you extrapolate this to more expensive products, say a $1200 sport coat, that you keep for eight to 10 years, then the cost of that item is $150–$120 per year, respectively. So, you have a lower cost than the cheaper jacket plus a major added benefit—the pride of ownership that comes with having a more luxurious product to enjoy and wear for many years. 

This same example applies to any other product, from cars and homes to the home furnishings that go into them. This is where I come in, since the architecture and design field is my domain! 

I have observed many people who are on the fence about proceeding with design projects for their homes or offices. And if they do proceed, they are selecting much less expensive products and services instead of buying the better or best product that they can afford. 

This same price versus cost rule applies here. More importantly, there is another significant aspect. In most circumstances, money invested into a home does not depreciate, but will increase its value and/or aid in more expedient selling. Moreover, exceptionally crafted furniture is often not replaced; instead, it’s updated over the years with different fabrics or finishes, making it last much longer than a product bought off the shelf at a mass retailer. 

When you make smart investments in improving your home, you often get the enjoyment of living with them at a lower cost and getting your money back if you sell.

There is no certainty in the world and we don’t know what 2012 will bring, particularly for the things over which we have no control. But we do know that our lives will move forward, that we will still raise our families, entertain our friends and colleagues, and that we need to live and enjoy our environments. 

Lloyd Princeton is the Managing Partner of iMatchDesigners LLC, a matchmaking company for architects, interior designers, and landscape professionals, matching professionals to projects of all types, anywhere in the world. You can find more information about iMatchDesigners at www.imatchdesigners.com

My boyfriend and I get along amazingly well. He’s the most kind, patient, forgiving man I’ve ever met. However, we still struggle with a communication issue that causes conflict sometimes. Even when we work together to try to get to the bottom of things and reconcile them, we often find ourselves unable to come to a resolution. I was hoping you could help me with this.

The issue seems to be that I hear things differently than my boyfriend says them. I grew up in a very critical environment where nothing I did was ever good enough and I felt constantly teased and put down. I continued this pattern as an adult, seeking out equally critical partners that constantly found fault. Because of this, I seem to always assume my boyfriend is going to criticize me, jump down my throat, or blow up at me.

I know in my heart he is safe, but I still seem to unconsciously brace myself for the worst when he talks to me, infer criticism when there isn’t any, and often feel shamed by things he says. For example, he asked me if I could go to the grocery store because he was busy with work. To him, it was a simple, efficient request. But I heard, “You are obviously sitting around doing nothing while I work really hard. I’m so disgusted with your laziness that I am going to give you something useful to do.”

I know this thought process is ridiculous, but this really is how I hear what he says. And oftentimes, even when he tells me he didn’t mean it personally, I just cannot see any other way to take it, and I can’t see it from his point of view. I read into his actions as well, and always assume I am annoying him, I did something wrong, or that he doesn’t want me around. I try to be aware that I do this, and to dispel my untrue thoughts and feelings as they come up, but it is so hard. Any advice on releasing this past conditioning?

Ashamed in California

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Dear Ashamed,

Diagnosing the problem is half the solution, and you’ve done a great job! You are aware that your critical home environment as a child affects your current adult relationships. You understand that there is a clear connection between your previous gravitation toward critical partners and your past role as a target of criticism as a child.

Armed with this insight and the knowledge that you deserve better, you have chosen to create a meaningful relationship with a good, caring man. Though you are presently hearing criticism from your boyfriend’s mouth, where none exists, you are fully cognizant that the distortion is in your emotional realm.

Despite your traumatic childhood, you do not adopt a victim mentality. Rather, you take responsibility for your part of the communication problem. You are halfway to healing already, and you don’t even realize it.

Firstly, if you have not already done so, arrange some private time with your boyfriend and tell him in vivid detail what your childhood was like for you. He is part of the solution and, therefore, needs to know what you are struggling with. Secondly, I suggest you make a list of every person who has used words hurtfully toward you throughout your life. Then, write a personal letter to each of them. In these letters, explain very specifically how each one respectively wounded you, the negative effects their hurtful words have had on your life, and what you want from them at this juncture.

Give yourself as much time as you need to write these letters. It may take you weeks, or even months, to write them all. When you have completed each letter, put it away in a private place. When you feel truly emotionally ready, read them all and then hold a ceremony in which you destroy them. You can choose to include whomever you are comfortable sharing this ceremony with, or do it alone, however you are most comfortable.

Healing will come as you process your past hurts, acknowledge the negative effects they have had on your life, and subsequently release them. Most importantly, give yourself the requisite emotional time and space to experience the pain. This is a long process, not a quick fix. It will take time for you to hear your boyfriend’s words as he intends them. It is likely you will feel worse before you feel better and you may repeatedly take two steps forward, only to take one step back.

Be patient and compassionate with yourself. Be the loving, empathic mentor to the hurting little girl inside you. Don’t worry, you’ll get there eventually. Consciously replace that shame residue from your childhood with the compassion for yourself that you need to fully heal. I look forward to hearing your update, soon-to-be Victorious in California!

Until Monday,
Kathy

Katherine H. Smith combines her 46 years of life experience, 18 years of marriage, and raising 5 children, with an M.S.Ed in guidance and counseling and an M.A. in marriage and family therapy, to answer your questions. You can send letters with your questions to askKathy@epochtimes.com. Please include a contact phone number and e-mail address.

Information provided in this column is not intended to be used as a substitute for specific medical or psychological advice.

A living room in 1935 at Christmas Past at the Geffrye Museum, London (Steve Speller/Geffrye Museum)

In a week that has seen the multi-millionaire collector of contemporary art, Charles Saatchi, denounce the art world he helped to create, it is a welcome escape from the backbiting sphere of art to find some real Christmas spirit. Ironically the best place to do this is in Hoxton, a corner of London most closely associated with the very art we thought Saatchi liked. Within a stone’s throw of numerous trendy artists’ haunts sits the Geffrye Museum, where they have made a special virtue out of celebrating Christmas.

The Geffrye is one of those curious small museums. Like the Watts Gallery in Guildford or Dulwich Picture Gallery in south London, it has a fanatically devoted following. And like its peers too it manages to punch well above its weight in terms of the national media coverage it garners.

This is partly because it fills a specific niche in our cultural life by servicing the desire to have the everyday lives of people like ourselves recorded. While millions of us might watch the aristocratic shenanigans of Downton Abbey on Sunday night television, we also want some acknowledgement that our ordinary lives, in our ordinary homes, also have a meaning.

The Geffrye does this by recreating a series of ordinary middle class living rooms from the 1600s to the present day. The curators might not like me for suggesting this, but in effect the museum is a kind of folk museum, but without the 19th century cliche of the “folk” meaning peasants who knit their own houses or dibble the earth with unfathomable farm implements. As a folk museum the Geffrye reminds us that the folk are not some alien species from a mythical past. They were, and are, people like us.

A drawing room in 1870 at Christmas Past at the Geffrye Museum, London (Jayne Lloyd/Geffrye Museum)

Christmas is one of the best times to visit the Geffrye as the museum decorates its historic rooms to show how the inhabitants would have celebrated Christmas. This ranges from the festoons of holly and ivy that were brought into homes in early 17th century Britain, in the last vestiges of an elaborate mediaeval celebration of Christmas, through to the somewhat less natural decorations of the late 20th century.

In a fascinating journey we see Christmas decline under the Puritans, who banned Christmas decorations in the 1640s. Then there is another near-death experience for Christmas in the 18th century from a surfeit of polite manners. And finally Christmas emerges, reinvigorated, in the late 19th century as the festival we know today.

Geffrye Museum exterior, London (David Clarke and Marcus Leith/Geffrye Museum)

As every schoolboy knows, Prince Albert introduced Britain to the German idea of bringing a Christmas tree into the home, ousting the British tradition of the Yule log. Meanwhile Charles Dickens almost single-handedly created the sentimental idea of Christmas as a time for family and especially children, a theme that becomes more prominent as the rooms move forward in time.

Inevitably, displays like this evoke elements of nostalgia, at least for older visitors looking at the later rooms. But that seems eminently permissible when it comes to Christmas. And if I was a little disturbed to find my early Christmas memories best served by the 1930s and 1960s rooms, both from before I was born, I did at least leave the Geffrye with something like the spirit of Christmas in my bones. In times like these it is well worth a visit just for that.

Michael Paraskos is a writer living in London