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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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! […]