I am here to tell you it can be!  This blog will show you a number of ways to make it so.

My whole design philosophy is that all spaces should not only be beautiful, but functional and organized as well.  The laundry room can often be the most chaotic, disorganized area in your house with a hundred mismatched socks floating around, detergent grains spilled all over the place, and lint balls creating their own colony in the corners.

The first thing you need to do is invest in some gorgeous new FRONT LOADING washers and dryers.  The reason I am so focussed on front loading is that if they are both on the ground it gives you a huge new space ABOVE them that you can now use for storage, counter space for folding and sorting – whatever your heart desires!

Front Loading Washer/Dryers

Sick of playing around with ironing boards and drying racks?  Build them into your laundry room so that all you have to do is pull them down (from the cupboard/wall) or pull them out (from a drawer)

Pull Out Drying Rack

Drop Down Ironing Board

Pull Out Ironing Board

I am all for a white laundry room (with white marble or porcelain tiles) with accents of colour to increase that crisp and clean feeling. However, if you want to integrate that cozy homey feeling from the rest of the house into the laundry room check out wood tiles! These are actually porcelain tiles that are made to look like wood. They will give you that cozy, non-sterile feel while still being completely functional if there are water or soap spills.
There are tiles out there now that would even fool the most discerning designer.  Check out Cera Gres for some great options.   http://ceragres.ca

Laundry Room With “Wood” Tiled Floor

Invest in a farmer sink! These wonderful porcelain or fireclay ‘apron’ sinks are not only huge and practical, but they are stunning as well! Because they were widely used in the 1800’s they have that wonderful vintage look that is so much more appealing than the typical industrial sink.

Farmer Sink

For that pretty and sweet look, utilize differing sizes and shapes of apothecary jars to store items like detergent, dryer sheets and clothing pins. These can be displayed on your new counter!
If you have room add a large central high table with stools. This can be an extra area for folding, sorting and mending.

Laundry Room with Apothecary Jar Storage and Central High Table

What about adding something that will help you keep entertained while ironing? Add an ipod docking station! We can even go one step further and have it built into the tiled wall.

Built-in iPod Docking Station

This laundry room is enough to make me smile for a week. It is so crisp, beautiful and loaded with stunning design features!
The crowning glory of this space though is definitely the salvaged windows. This only goes to show that even a laundry room can be a gorgeous place that you won’t have any problem spending time in – despite its less than wonderful purpose.

A wonderful way to brighten up a space in an elegant way is to include reflective surfaces into your design. You can do this with mirror, different metals, mercury glass, nail details on furniture or a touch of crystal in a contemporary chandelier. This way the sparkle actually comes out in the form of reflected light. It is also a perfect way to add an air of luxury to your space. There is something about a bit of glitz that screams a feel of ‘riche’. Please keep in mind that this does not mean to deck out every surface in your room with mirror glass and crystal. It is the small understated touches that count.

Check out these fun and innovative ways to add a touch of sparkle into your space!

Wall of Mirrors

I think this is such a wonderful use of new tradtional design. Instead of doing a full wall of mirror they use mirror ‘tiles’ recessed with mouldings to create a reflective wall. Not over the top and creates a work of art!

Crystal and Mirror Bathroom

This bathroom is the epitome of luxury and it is done just with mirror and a bit of crystal! The beaded vertical mirrors add a wonderful, reflective elongation to the room and the crystal chandelier adds an extra touch of glitz that is just fabulous.

Nail Detail

This is by far my new favourite use of nail detailing. It not only adds a unique flavour to this kitchen, but by adding a relfective material it also gives it a luxurious look! I will definitely be using this as soon as possible.

A Touch of Mercury Glass

Now this is probably the simplest way to increase light and sparkle into the room, but imagine the room without the mercury glass candle sticks – drab right?? They instantly (and inexpensively!) add that touch of luxury to this living room.

Metal Slipper Bathtub

This metal based bathtub is so fabulous I can hardly believe my eyes! What a perfect way to add that different and unique touch to a bathroom.

I hope these images help you realize the power of a bit of sparkle! Brightening up a room doesn’t always mean splashing sunflower yellow on the wall.

Recently, I have been scouting out small, yet interesting ways to integrate functionality so that the daily use of the family space is easier and less chaotic.
Check out my finds and ideas below – I know you’ll like them!

Kitchen Pot Storage System

Integrated Laundry Drying Rack

Paper Towel Cubby

The kitchen and laundry rooms are usually the most messy and chaotic spaces in the whole house. These ideas keep things neat and compact – great design!

Dish Towel Holder Tile

Ipod Docking Station in Kitchen Backsplash

Pots and Hook Ledge TIles

These integrated design ideas show how easy it is to make tiles for backsplashes functional! From tiles with pots for kitchen herbs, to iPod docking stations, there are always great new ideas to make everyday life a tad easier!

For me a house or apartment just isn’t a home if it is a cold square box with no textures, shapes or character. (This is especially true for the new, ultra contemporary condos). In my opinion the best way to add these traits to your space is to improve the structure and bones of the space. An easy way to do this is to put up moulding. Crowns, Baseboards, Wainscot etc. Not only will it add texture, shape and character but it will also improve the finished look of your space.

The Guidelines

I have also had clients tell me they tried to put up mouldings, but they didn’t know what size, or what was too much or too little.

It really is very simple but if you don’t have the confidence in what looks right then it can be quite daunting. To make it easier I will provide you with some guidelines to get you started.

Baseboards: Follow the rule of seven. For ex: if you have 8 ft ceilings then your
baseboards can be up to or around 7% of 8ft. 7% of 8ft is approx. a 7” baseboard.
If your space is very contemporary then go for a lower baseboard (4”-5”)

Window & Door Casing: General rule of thumb is your casings should be approx. 50% of your baseboard height.

Chair Rail: Chair rails and or wainscoting should be 1/3 the height of your ceiling.
Or you could just go by what chair rails were originally designed for. They were to protect the walls from chairs! So for example: in a dining room, if your chair is pushed up against the wall, mark off where your chair comes into contact with the wall. This is where your chair rail should be.

Crown: The main fear with crown moulding is if your crown is too wide it will make the room look smaller. I personally LOVE big crown mouldings. To me it gives a space an amazing luxurious feel to it. But for those of you who aren’t too sure here are some guidelines.
Up to 8 feet: 3” – 5 1/4”
From 9 feet to 10 feet: 5 1/4” – 7”
From 10 feet and higher: 7”+

The Tricks

As a designer the best part of designing moulding for a space is getting creative with it.

After choosing a crown or baseboard many think that that’s it, time to put it up. But there is so much more you can do with it to make it more interesting! There are tons of smaller trims that can complement and enhance larger mouldings. You can make crowns and baseboards more luxurious and you can also make it look like you have huge crown mouldings or baseboards just with a few deception tricks!

Tricks like the ones below are a much cheaper way to get a more luxurious look.

7″ Crown Moulding

7″ Crown Moulding with a 1.5″ trim added to the base

The addition of the 1.5″ trim completely transforms this crown. It adds even more depth and luxury.

For those of you who want mouldings but don’t have the extra money for it, then these two tricks are for you!

First Step: Put up trim

Step 2: Paint over trim and wall beneath chair rail

Simply adhere the decorative elements (for example a wainscot) directly to the wall. Paint over the small trims and the wall below the chair rail and presto! You have a gorgeous wainscot for a fraction of the cost.

Baseboard moulding trick

For this trick all you have to do is add a small 1.5″-2.5″ trim about 2″-3″ above your baseboard. Then paint the gap in between the two the colour of the trim! You automatically have the look of a large, luxurious baseboard for the cost of paint!

I hope this has quelled your fears and inspired you to have some fun with mouldings! I promise you will instantly feel more cozy and at home once they’re up.

Here is another secret – many photographers will include a free engagement shoot if you book them for your wedding.

There are so many photographers out there. You may laugh, but I found mine from an add on facebook! (another hint, change your relationship status to engaged and you will see new adds for wedding suppliers in your area everyday!)

When thinking of WHERE to hold your shoot you’ll want to consider a few things.
Find a place that is beautiful, creative and will produce interesting and lovely shots.
A place that is important to you
A place that gets good light

You’ll also want to consider what you want the photos to look like:
- Do you want to look bridal? (i.e. where a cute cream cocktail dress)
Hint: Dress in appropriate clothing (for the weather) and choose an outfit that flatters you and is slimming.
- Do you want to have any cute props? A favorite pet, book, a birdcage, a sign ( For example: You could hold a sign that says “She said yes” while he’s kissing your cheek)
- If you’ve thought about it enough in advance, your prop could even be a hint to what your wedding motif or theme will be!

There is lots to think of, but if you spend a little time on it you will never regret it. These photos are for life. You can show your grandkids, use it as your newspaper announcement, have them framed at your engagement party, use them as Christmas gifts to family members etc. etc. etc.

I promise you the uses are endless and you’ll love them forever.

Our photos were taken in Paris, France in and around Places des Vosges, Le Marais, Notre Dame and Ile de la Cite.

Place Des Vosges

Place Des Vosge

On the Pont Marie

Ille de la Cite

Notre Dame

We all know you can now get them in a variety of colours, finishes such as chrome, brushed nickel and even copper if you want to splurge a bit.
But sometimes you just want them to disappear. There are occasions where they can really destroy the fluid look of a scheme.
This is usually in smaller spaces such as powder rooms or when the genius who built the place stuck one in the middle of no where just for the sake of having another outlet.

How do you get around it? By making them blend in of course!

Did you know that you can now get outlet and switch plates in marble? This way they can blend in with your tiled wall or blacksplash. They no longer have to be so blindingly apparent!

Marble Outlet Plate

You can also bring out those DIY skills if you don’t want to spend the extra money for a special finish.
Have a wallpapered wall? Mount some extra scrap pieces onto the switchboard plate. Or use scrapbook paper that is in a similar print or colour to help blend the plates in with the wall.

Wallpapered Outlet Plates

Scrapbook Papered Outlet Plate

There are always creative ways to fix the tiny yet annoying problems in your home.
It’s the simple touches that count!

A girlfriend of mine (who just happened to be my maid of honour) got engaged at an old park in the city. They both have a love of the history of Toronto so what was their theme? Vintage Toronto of course! Complete with vintage streetcar motifs, a beautiful old Torontonian building for the venue, and invitations inspired by 1940’s posters for Exhibition Place.

Inspiration can come from all over – how you felt on the day of your engagement, where you were and what you did. Blend that all together with things you love and your theme will present itself! You just have to keep an eye out for it.

View from our Engagement Site

Engaged at Versailles

View from our Engagement Site

My Grandmother’s silver BIRKS Engagement Ring Box

The Engagement Ring

I am talking about shades of gray. Elegant, refined, timeless grey. Gray doesn’t just have to be different shades of black. If you add grey to any colour it will subdue the brightness and make it automatically more user friendly. Gray adds softness, makes a colour more peaceful, and turns down the loud characteristics that turn off so many.

By using shades of grey it makes adding colour to a space much easier and more acceptable to most people. To all of my readers out there who love black, white and taupe or to those of you who are afraid of the brighter edges of the colour wheel – here is your chance to finally use some colour! Grays are classic and they will stand the test of time.

Here are some of my favorite shades of gray from Benjamin Moore. Get inspired and enjoy!

Sidewalk Gray

Pike’s Peak Gray

Dior Gray

Marina Gray

Bunny Gray

Touch of Gray

Bathroom using Bunny Gray

Planning your wedding is supposed to be fun! After reading this blog and picking up my pointers, tips and advice, I guarantee that any doubts you have about being able to plan this momentous occasion will be dashed and you will come out on top as being a bride with elegance and poise – able to deal with anything!
So lets gets started and hopefully I’ll be able to decrease any mounting stress that’s burdening your busy schedule.

-The Valiant Bride

- Valiant Design Co.