January 30, 2013
Short on floor space? Here are four fabulous bookcases that take up very little room.
DESIGN WISE | Those of us living in condos and townhomes are forever on the lookout for ways to save on space. One way to do this where books are concerned is to store them horizontally in a vertical bookcase that climbs up the wall rather than in one with a more conventional shape that gobbles up a larger floor area.
Vertical spine book towers can hold lots of books in a vertical stack. Here are four of our favourite models. Get the whole story »
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January 21, 2013
Add rich colour to plain, old clear glass vases by using this simple painting technique.
DO IT YOURSELF | Clear glass vases are the classic and obvious choice for displaying flowers and branches, which is why most of us have probably collected a few extra ones over the years. Many of these are no doubt tucked away in the dark reaches of rarely opened cupboards. Why not bring these dusty specimens back into the light and turn them into something different and original by painting their insides with coloured enamel.
This technique has been a design trick for years on sheet glass (to create lustrous walls) or as ornamental glass insets in furniture. Get the whole story »
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January 7, 2013
So much to do, so little time. Get organized with a clock that is also a blackboard.
DO IT YOURSELF | When schedules clash and you just can’t connect, timing is everything. Leaving notes has become part of our regular routine. This make-it-yourself message board is one place you are bound to look. Get the whole story »
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November 5, 2012
This tough, classic linoleum that resists grease, acid and heat takes its place at the table.
CREATIVE SOLUTION | Eco-friendly Marmoleum is a fashionable finishing material that doesn’t end up only on the floor. I’ve seen innovative applications on kitchen countertops and work surfaces such as desks and coffee tables. It’s extremely durable, non allergenic and comes in every colour imaginable. Here I’ve used it for placemats in simple patterns. Get the whole story »
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September 3, 2012
Fed up with soaring energy bills? These stylish well-priced alternatives to triple-thick bath sheets could lead to savings.
SHOPPING AROUND | Leave it to sophisticated Europeans to promote a stylish/ecofriendly way to dry your body after bathing. Flip through any of their high-style décor magazines and you’ll run into references to both linen and flat cotton towels, which are a true and viable alternative to those triple-thick terrycloth bath sheets we North Americans appear to prize—a choice that has our dryers set on overtime and our energy bills on the rise. Get the whole story »
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August 1, 2012
Who knew the garden could be an endless, free source of gorgeous bookmarks and gift tags.
CREATIVE SOLUTION | We’ve all seen dried or preserved foliage—tired, dusty, brittle arrangements begging to thrown out. Preserving leaves in glycerin not only keeps them supple but makes them as tough as leather. Keep a bunch on hand for ready bookmarks or, if you now read all your novels on an electronic device, label them with metallic ink to use as place cards or gift tags. Get the whole story »
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June 20, 2012
Printed sheers make stylish window covers. If you already have drapes, try slipcovering cushions in brightly patterned sheers.
CREATIVE SOLUTION | I was never a big fan of anything stencilled until I tried stenciling on sheer fabric. Printed sheers are fashionable, make great curtains and are easy to customize on your own. Get the whole story »
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May 14, 2012
Design junkies would never miss this one: Inform Interiors’ annual warehouse sale.
SALES WE LOVE | If we were to make a list of our all-time favourite not-to-be-missed Vancouver sales, the Inform Interiors warehouse blowout, which takes place June 1 and JUNE 2, would be on it for sure. Get the whole story »
April 11, 2012
Contemporary bed making requires a skill practiced by the military and hospital and hotel staff. Here’s how to do it right the right way.
DO IT RIGHT | The wedding cake bed—you know, the ultrafeminine one (pictured here) with a frothy meringue of duvet, pleated bed skirt and rows of European shams racked up against the headboard—may not be passé, but it is not what’s currently hot in bedding. What’s in fashion in bedding right now is a tailored, masculine effect, characterized by lean, clean lines and multiple layers of fitted sheets and flat covers drawn in tight to the bed frame. Get the whole story »
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