Many brides may think this is not important, but there is much more to a wedding than just picking colours for bridesmaid dresses and flowers. If you want your wedding to be personal, you must create a feel to your wedding that is uniquely you. Many guests told me afterwards that they could see my […]
This will take a lot of research unless you’ve been pining over one specific place for ages. I had a vision in my head of exactly what I wanted. The only problem was it was not a place that could be found anywhere near Toronto. Honestly I would have died and gone to heaven if […]
As many people often use wallpaper in their bedrooms it is important to understand the toxic chemicals that accompany the installation of typical wallpaper. Many wallpapers are made from vinyl and coated with PVC. These contain pthalates, a known endocrine disruptor so it is extremely important to avoid exposure in pregnant women, babies and young […]
When you watch one of these wedding dress shows like “Say Yes To The Dress” I am always in awe with how many girls just seem to find their dresses on the third or fourth try. I was definitely not like that. I had been looking for my dress since I was a teenager and […]
If you are anything like me (an OCD, organizational freak) the chaos of planning a wedding is daunting until you get organized. This doesn’t only mean getting a file or binder prepared to get contracts, brochures and menus in order – it also means getting your thoughts in order. If you’ve ever dreamed of your […]
This one may come as a shock to many of you – it certainly was for me! Most upholstered furniture contains many harmful chemicals that can cause reproductive and developmental disorders as well as certain types of cancer. This is because most upholstered furniture is treated with flame retardants (Perfluorinated Compounds – PFCs, Brominated Flame […]
The biggest secret in design is that the majority of what you bring into your home to make it stylish can actually be very very bad for you. The sad part is, that companies do not disclose this type of information and you have to do quite a lot of research to find out for […]
Traditionally the Engagement party is an event used to introduce friends and family of the bride and groom who have not already met. It can be as elaborate or as simple as you would like, but should not be more than 6 months after your engagement. I tend to lean in favor of this ‘rule’ […]
When I first started planning my wedding (and yes, I WAS one of those girls who was planning many, many years before being engaged) I always thought that a wedding website sounded so tacky and provincial. However, with my wedding in 2012 I had to face the facts that the internet was one of the […]
For me, just the idea of wrestling with the ironing board is enough to put me off even starting a load of laundry. What if doing laundry was no longer a tiresome, irritating chore? What if your laundry room was easy to clean, perfectly organized, and was actually a place that you WANTED to spend […]
Lately, I have had a number of clients wanting to brighten up their rooms in an elegant manner, but they don’t want glaring colours or all white interiors. My answer? Add some sparkle. A wonderful way to brighten up a space in an elegant way is to include reflective surfaces into your design. You can […]
As a designer, it is such fun to choose fabrics, accessories and furniture to make a timeless, and beautiful space for my clients. But the most rewarding aspect of creating designed spaces is making them more useful and functional as well. When I create a space that I know will make my client’s lives easier […]
When meeting new clients I am constantly met with the phrase “I want to make my house more ‘homey’ I just don’t know how to do it”. 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 […]
If there is one thing I can recommend it would be to have professional engagement photos taken. It is a lovely way to formalize your engagement, and the photos are such a wonderful keepsake from one of the best times in your life! I’m sure many of you are thinking splurging on professional photos […]
Is anyone else tired of those plain jane, white plastic outlet and switch plates? 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 […]
The Engagement is a great place to start with when determining the look, feel and/or theme of your wedding. Where did you get engaged? In a park? At a vineyard? On a holiday? The location can always give you a few hints as to what you might be able to include in your wedding. I […]
There is a time for bold, electric colours like kelly green and tangerine orange. Any designer would be lying if they said they didn’t get excited at the thought of using them. But the truth of the matter is that daring colours like these are not always a realistic design solution for most clients. People […]
Hi! My name is Sarah Valiant. I am an interior designer and a former event planner. While planning my wedding, I realized how many girls don’t know where to start the planning process for their own weddings, and also how many don’t know the ins and outs as well as the dos and don’ts. The […]
At Valiant Design Co. discovering new advances in design and brainstorming new ideas propels us forward and inspires our newest creations. We want this blog to inspire you and the ideas you have for your own home from tips and tricks for home renos, furniture design, stories from the trade and even holiday decor ideas! […]
