Have you walked into a lighting store recently? As a designer I have gotten so weary of doing the lighting rounds when sourcing for a new client. Why? BECAUSE EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME. Every store seems to have the same buyer, because they are all stocked with lights I have seen a thousand times. Maybe […]
I often have new clients mentioning to me that they want to use green finishes throughout their space. When I reply with “would you also like them to be toxic free?” I usually get a blank look on their face in response. This is because most people usually believe “Green” and “Toxic Free” are interchangeable. […]
I have had quite a few questions after my last blog such as “how exactly do you recycle parts of your house”? Where do you go? What can really be recycled? It really is easier than it sounds and certainly doesn’t have to be a daunting task…….as long as you’re willing to put in the […]
Did you know that 75-95% of a house to be demolished can actually be recycled by dismantling it instead?? The salvaged pieces can be sold to scrap yards, donated to Habitat for Humanity (in exchange for a tax receipt) or given to various construction recycling programs. This means that you can prevent a huge amount […]
As a designer, it is the greatest thrill when you have a client come to you with a blank slate. It gives your creativity free reign to design a beautiful, interesting space. When I decided to buy a home I was determined to go all in and buy a property where a new build was […]
Lounge areas have become very popular at weddings. Creating another little area for your guests to chat and enjoy themselves is really a great addition. However, with event rental companies, there seems to be the generic furniture that everyone uses. Don’t let this opportunity to create something spectacular go to waste! In keeping with my […]
When it came to deciding on what to choose for a recessional sendoff I was faced with a plethora of options. Lavender, rose petals, confetti, balloons, the list goes on and on! I definitely narrowed in on the dried lavender (which would be filled in pretty cones) but lavender is quite costly and I didn’t […]
Your menu cards should be lovely and descriptive enough that upon reading it, your guests’ mouths are watering in anticipation of the arrival of the first course. If you were anything like me you will work tirelessly with the venue/caterer to ensure the menu at your wedding was perfect and reflected your refined foodie tastes. […]
As many of you know Valiant Design Co. has recently released an Organic and Toxic free line of cushions under the name Healthy Home. As my prior blogs would suggest, I am very concerned with the direction our interior decoration is going. The majority of what we bring into our homes is replete with Formaldehyde, […]
I have mentioned many times throughout this blog that personalization of your wedding is so important. For those of you who think I am talking about expensive monogrammed napkins and professionally framed, blow up photos of your engagement shots – that couldn’t be further from the truth. I am talking about simple, thoughtful elements that […]
With a number of friends who will be having babies in the coming year I thought I should talk a bit about the options out there for non-toxic baby furniture. Nursery design is one of my most favourite design projects to take on because it is always a blank canvas. This new little person isn’t […]
The possibilities are endless when it comes to escort cards. I am sure you have all seen the stunning and gorgeous ideas on Pinterest, Martha Stewart, Wedluxe etc. All I knew was that I wanted it to be gorgeous and at least a bit original (It was definitely not going to be just a list […]
Stationery is a huge part of the wedding. From the invitations to the escort cards to the place settings, the stationery is where you can tie in your motif to create a personal, unique look for your wedding. As I have mentioned in past blogs, stationery does not have to be expensive. It is very […]
Flowers create the perfect romantic feeling for a wedding. They add whimsy and create a fantasy land for the most important day of your life. I certainly wanted a lot of flowers to help create the romantic french garden look I wanted, but there were ways to do it with out completely blowing the budget. […]
With so many questions from readers about the “Where to Shop” list, I thought I better get this blog out sooner rather than later! As I mentioned in my last blog, there certainly are toxic-free options for your home, they are just a little more difficult to find. There are also not many located in […]
Over the last few months it has become blazingly apparent to me that the chemicals we are bringing into our home through furniture, decor, wallpaper etc is slowly killing us. I have been reading article after article, study after study and book after book as to why this is the case. So why is change […]
Flowers, flowers, flowers! If you are anything like me you want that overflowing luxurious look of flowers everywhere. Thankfully there are definitely ways to give you that look without spending a fortune! Here’s how we transformed our wedding into a fairytale french garden without breaking the bank. First and foremost – choose flowers that are […]
As I mentioned previously, the save-the-dates are a great way to give your guests hints of the look and style of your wedding. The invitations can go that much further to really show just how incredible the wedding will be. You can use motifs, borders, and images that you will use for all of your […]
After just having completed a girl’s bedroom using a bold shade of raspberry, I thought it might be helpful to discuss how I used it. I always have clients and friends asking me how they can add punches of colour as they are afraid they will apply it incorrectly. Check out the following below as […]
Sending Save-The-Dates is the perfect way to ensure that your guests reserve the date for your wedding in their calendars. They can also be used as a way to send out a ‘teaser’ of how gorgeous and amazing your wedding is going to be. For those of you who are undecided on sending a save-the-date, […]
