Dream Room Project is Back Again!!!

I'm happy to announce that for the 3rd year in a row, Designers Unlimited's dream room makeover project is ready to go! 

Last year's room for Sarah Valade turned out so well, her mom is joining us to work on this year's room, which is awesome!

This year's room is being designed for Alexander Chevrier, a 5 year old boy with Muscular Dystrophy. Planning is underway and over the next few months we'll be gathering materials and donations to put together a fresh new space for him. So far our paint has been donated by Timmins Decorating Centre - we're off to a great start!

Here are a few before shots:

I can't wait to get started - this is my absolute favourite project of the year!!

Manic Monday at Wilde Designs

Happy Monday!! 

I'm super excited to be featured over on the Wilde Designs blog today...go check it out (and enter the giveaway while you're there!!).

Manic Monday at Wilde Designs

Check out the rest of Beth's blog while you're there - lots of great stuff! 

Over the Top Kid Bedrooms

I just came across an article online about parents who go overboard decorating their children's bedrooms - some spending a year's worth of college tuition (one room was $75000 - crazy!).

Seriously, what child needs a $7000 light fixture?

After watching the video, I think the parents have a few issues...

You can check the article out here : Over the top kid rooms

Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments!

Outdoor Decorating Mistakes - Part 3 & 4

Third on the "outdoor decor mistakes" list is ignoring the landscaping. A little bit of landscaping can go a long way toward giving your home curb appeal. You don't necessarily need a huge garden full of a variety of flowers - if you don't have a green thumb, an urn on either side of the door adds colour without taking a lot of work. Hanging baskets of flowers can be another low-hassle option. Stones and shrubbery can look great as well. A small fence can also add curb appeal - as long as you choose a paint or stain colour that works with the rest of the house. And the last mistake, on the opposite side of the spectrum - excessive lawn ornaments! While one or 2 decorative items can add a bit of pizazz to your yard, an entire family of gnomes paired with a well (or 2!), a collection of pots, wooden cutouts, and multiple sets of windchimes detract from your home's look. A smaller number of well-chosen items will have more impact.

Outdoor Decorating Mistakes - Part 2

Another outdoor-decor problem? Not considering the more permanent fixtures when choosing a decor scheme.  I've been watching a home reno near my mother's house with interest - the owner chose a stucco colour that they thought would be a neutral: grey. Undertones are a tricky thing, though - the grey chosen has very strong purple undertones, which are brought out even more by the sun (the way your house faces has a big effect!)...so the house actually looks purple. Not necessarily a problem, and it can actually look great depending on what you put with it...but this particular house has a warm brown roof, and this particular roof does not work with the shade of purple on the house. The already-there colour of something permanent like a roof (which is generally not changed for years) needs to be taken into consideration when choosing everything else.  Aside from the roof, pay attention to brick, stone and siding colours.

Biggest Decorating Mistakes - Outdoor Edition!

A while back I talked about the most common decorating mistakes people make (if you missed it you can read the article online here). Now that the warmer weather is here (I think!), it's time to focus on the outside of the home too.  Many people focus on their home's interior and ignore the outside - but it's the first thing people see. And unlike the interior, everyone can see it, not just the people who come inside. The most common outdoor decorating mistake starts at one of the most important areas in terms of making your home look attractive - the front door.  Many people either ignore it or paint it a colour that does nothing for their curb appeal (or worse, works against it!). The front door is a big part of how your house looks. For such a small surface area, it has a huge effect! The wrong colour on the main door makes the colour of the house look "off". The right front door colour can pull everything together and make your home look inviting.  You want to choose a colour that stands out but that works with the rest of the home - brick, stone, trim, accents, etc. (And this colour is very rarely, if ever, white - don't be afraid of colour here!) Take into account the different colours found in the brick, whether the colours are warm/cool, dull/fresh, etc.  A small can of paint and a few hours will make a huge difference in the look of your home!

Product Review: DIF Wallpaper Removal Gel

Sad confession: I'm starting to get used to the smell of wet wallpaper. Special thanks go to the previous owners who wallpapered my dining room ceiling over the years...I guess I should be glad they stopped at 6 layers, right? DIF gel wallpaper remover to the rescue!  Over the past few years, we've used a number of wallpaper-removal methods...different chemicals, fabric softener, steam, and a variety of tools. This one is by far the best we've found. Just spray it on, scrape it off. It's a no-drip gel, so even on the ceiling it doesn't make a mess.  Wallpaper removal still won't be a fun job, but it will definitely be less hassle!