Lisa Canning Creative Consulting

Mrs. Canning

2008-06-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

Hi friends,

So you know how I got married 6 months ago? I FINALLY got my act together and have changed my website, and blog to reflect my new marital status.

So please join me on my new blog,

http://lisacanning.blogspot.com

Thanks for all the support and see you on the other side!

Love Lisa C

Thanks HGTV

2008-06-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a great interview over breakfast (a sandwhich recipe consisting of brie, chocolate chips and basil- yum!)with HGTV's Vanessa Grant. She's doing a profile on me and my space for HGTV's on-line blog, Style Sheet. So much fun.

Click below for a feature they did on my DIY headboard:
http://www.hgtv.ca/blog/archive/2008/05/25/decorating-tip-on-the-cheap.aspx

Happy decorating, Lisa

Eat to the Beat Breast Cancer Event

2008-05-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

Eat To The Beat

wine, dine & design in support of Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada.

This coming September I'm so excited to be taking part in Eat to the Beat, a huge event in support of Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada. My mom is a survivor, so I am overjoyed to be designing a table setting for auction and to promote the event locally.

This year's chef spokesperson is Anna Olsen of Food Network's "Fresh with Anna Olsen" and "Sugar". I can't wait to meet her, I am a big fan.

For more details on the event and how you might be involved, take a look

http://www.eattothebeat.ca/

New Set for Slice Network

2008-05-20T08:05:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are more photos of a set I just completed for Slice network- it's going to be a HUGE show for Fall 08 (and you're seeing the set here first!)

Happy decorating,

Lisa

Want to be on HGTV? I need you!

2008-04-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

So I know most of you who read my blog are HGTV Savvy- well here is your chance if you want to be featured in a new show being developed for HGTV Canada!

I'm looking for men and women between the ages of 18 - 28 who have their own space and their own budget to spend on a room makeover.

Here's what you need:

- a fun photo of yourself

- a small bio about you & where you live

- a budget (can be small! $1000 for one room is okay!)

- a cool space- just move into a new loft, condo, apartment, house? send me a photo!

- willingness to work within a budget and get your hands dirty

You'll get:

- free design and contracting services

- the experience of working with a television crew

- be featured on a new show in development for HGTV Canada!

Post your photo and info here or send it to me at santos_lisa@hotmail.com Thanks!

Busy April

2008-04-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hey- sorry for my lack of posting lately, it was bit of a busy April!

I just finished working on a space for a new show for Slice network to be released for the fall- here's a taste until I get my photographer in the space to take proper pictures (camera phone doesn't really cut it in this case!)

More to come, stay tuned.

Episode 11- Basement

2008-03-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Even with the show in a second repeat, I still haven't seen this episode! You'll find below are the projects I think the show featured, otherwise you get a bonus!

Derek and Nessa gave me a challenge- transform which was once a scary, dirty dungeon to a warm and cozy, creative inspring space.

Honestly, I think this room ended up being my favourite room in the house. I know it sounds crazy, with the low duct hanging that ended up being a concussion hazard (there were several bruises on set!), but there is something charming about this room to me. Maybe because it was the last room we worked on I feel slightly nostalgic.

Take a look at this customized space for Derek and Vanessa- a creative room they could jam in, relax in and occasionally do laundry!

Episode 11- Basement Projects

2008-03-11T06:18:00.000-07:00

Painted frames above desk
Make a fun graphic statement with inexpensive frames and a can of paint.

Step 1: Procure several frames. Mine were all from a neighbour who was having a garage sale and was going to throw them out (aka free!) Look for different shapes, interesting textures- they by no means have to to all be rectangular.

Step 2: Prime and paint. If I learned anything from this show, it is the value of primer. You might think no one sees it and it's an unnecessary cost, but trust me, it will make all your painting look better in the long run. We picked a complimentary colour to the red- a pale green. It was so nice to have some fun with colour in the basement.

Step 4: Arrange on wall. You can make your composition symmetrical or slightly more random as I have here. I used masking tape on the wall to plan it out and change my mind before adding the nails.

Step 5: Ta da! A fun and inexpensive way to fill a lonely void on a wall!

Vintage T-shirt Pillows
Pay tribute to your favourite bands with a comfy space to curl up.

Step 1: Shop for t-shirts (my favourite part!). I visited Black Market in Toronto. Because the basement is so saturated in colour already, I stuck with pillows with a lot of black and white.

Step 2: Cut the fabric for the pillow. Lay the t-shirt on a flat surface. Try to centre the graphic or image you want on your pillow. Using your pillow as a guide (filler pillows can be purchased inexpensively at Designer Fabrics or other fabric stores, or use one you already own) measure an extra inch for seam allowance. Cut through both pieces of fabric.

Step 3: Turn the t-shirt pieces over so the good sides are facing in. Sew along three edges of the square, insert pillow, and finish the rest by hand. If you are really fancy, you can add a Velcro or button or zipper closure.

Chimney flew side tables
An unusual use for a piece of building material becomes a funky end table configuration.

These low to the ground, stackable end tables were made by priming and painting chimney flews. These terra cotta rectangles are traditionally used to create the base of a chimney. I saw these used in a prayer service called Taize, and I thought they looked so nice with candles lit within.

Chimney flews can be purchased at select building supply centres and range from $7 - $15. It was great fun showing up to a building supply yard in my high heels! Should have got a picture of that : )

For the love of shopping

2008-03-06T11:17:00.000-08:00

For those of you who loved the graphic print in Derek and Nessa's "cloffice," you can have your own copy in note card form on my new on-line store!

Visit www.cafepress.com/lisacanning for fresh and fun items for your home and personal style. Stay tuned for new items to be added soon!

Enjoy! Love Lisa

Mr. and Mrs. Surf: my first Vancouver clients

2008-03-03T19:56:00.001-08:00

So I've just finished working with my first Vancouver clients, Kim & Kevin. They have built an amazing home in Kelowna, BC and after watching MUC, Kim commissioned me to paint something as a gift to her husband. The painting is of Kevin and Kim, running with their surfboards to the Pacific Ocean Park Pier, a location very nostalgic to skate and surf fans alike. (What a sweet present- and a total surprise! Good job Kim for hiding it so well, I'm horrible at keeping secrets from Josh!)

It was a great experience to dust off the fine art paintbrushes and create a custom piece for this couple. If you'd like to have something very you and can't find it in the stores, consider hiring an artist or designer to bring it to life. (Thanks Kim for the great reaction shots of Kevin!)

This whole project took about three weeks as Kim wanted to have the painting ready for Kevin's birthday Feb 29. Thank goodness for FedEx overnight delivery! Kim was kind enough to send photos of the painting hanging in their Kelowna home.

Spelling Bee fun

2008-02-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

I was so pleased to see my buddy Vanessa Ray (the bubbly blonde on HGTV's Marriage Under Construction) while she was in town recently. She got an amazing job playing the role of Olive in DanCap's production of the 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee.

She was AMAZING! And like a real life groupie, I waited by the stage door for her (sans flowers, Nessa, I still owe you those!). She introduced me to her fellow cast members, Dana Steingold and Andrew Keenan-Bolger. You can read more about what hapens while on a national tour of The Bee on Andrew's blog (far more technological than mine and warning, his videos are slightly addictive) http://keenanblogger.blogspot.com/

Nathalie's Hallway

2008-02-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

I just completed a web consultation with my first customer in Montreal! I sent her a big package with sketches and suggestions. It was fun as it allowed me to practice my graphic design abilities that I worked so hard on through four years of school.

One challenge she faced was her hallway and how to hang picture frames. She already owns a great collection of art pieces, and working within a budget, did not want to go out and buy all new pieces. But she was bored with her current configuration.

I suggested to hang the art in a random cluster, not being afraid to mix rectangles, squares, even ovals and circles in a pleasing combination. Aim for the centre of the composition to sit at around eye level (I always just use my eye as a guide, no need to bring out the measuring tape) and play with your existing frames until you are happy. Using masking tape on the wall in the shape of your frames as a test before you go poking holes (especially in wallpaper!) may be helpful.

Jeff & Mira's bedroom

2008-01-28T07:24:00.000-08:00

I've just finished consulting with one of my first clients Jeff & Mira (check out the digital sketch I gave them as suggestions for starting off). Jeff & Mira just purchased their first home near Liberty Village. They have a lot of hopes and dreams for their first home together, but needed some help for their small (but beautiful!) master bedroom.

Here are some tips when working with a small bedroom:

Be smart with storage. Mira and Jeff purchased a bed from SPACE, that has storage up the wazoo! Utilizing drawers under the bed allows you to keep the bedroom peaceful and clutter free- because we all know that at the end of a long day the last thing we want to look at is yesterday's laundry on the floor! If you have a spot for everything, clutter won't accumulate.

Use colour carefully. Jeff and Mira love intense colour (their living room is a lovely bright red!) but intense may not exactly be the mood for snuggling and sleep. Instead, take the colour you love and go a few shades lighter on the same paint chip so the colour is less saturated. Also, I am a big believer in testing a colour on the wall to see if you love it as much in the day as you do at bedtime.

Think about scale. Sometimes less really is more (although I usually end up with the mentality of more is more, especially when it comes to shoes and purses) but edit well in a small space so pieces become focal points.

What do you think? Love to know your small spaces solutions!

I couldn't resist

2008-01-09T08:27:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsB0CSZhae4&feature=related

I'm a Canning now- which means I'm Irish. Which also means that we had an Irish Caller at our wedding. Click above for a sample. I'm the girl dressed in white.

My friends were kind to post other videos from the ceremony:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if21egGs4ts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnMRj-ecpSc

Have a great day, Lisa

Lisa Canning Creative Consulting

2008-01-06T13:32:00.000-08:00

Since HGTV's show Marriage Under Construction began airing on Monday nights, I've been very flattered and slightly overwhelmed by the e-mails and phone calls from viewers interested in my ideas for adding personality and fresh design to their home.

So in the coming weeks I'll be meeting with new clients, blogging about the process, launching my new website and discovering what it's like to be miss entrepreneur (or mrs. entrepreneur!). In the meantime, feel free to check out http://www.lisasantos.ca/

Thank you so much for your e-mails and compliments. And for watching the marathon that aired while I was on honeymoon! It's kinda weird that I've now officially been part of a marathon- and to those who continue to watch, thank you!

Lisa and Josh Tied the Knot!

2008-01-06T12:20:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I begin 2008 with many new additions: a new apartment and a new last name!

I am happy to announce that on December 8th, 2007 Josh and I were married at the Newman Centre Catholic Chapel. We dined in style at The Capitol Event Theatre and danced to the sounds of the Dick Felix jazz trio and live band Soular. We began our adventure as a married couple in sunny Costa Rica among monkeys, toucans and cups of the best coffee I have ever tasted.

So I begin 2008 as Lisa Canning.

My first mission: decorating 850 square feet of our 1930's midtown apartment. Sharing photos with you will be a veritable joy- can't wait until you see them!

Second mission: learn how to cook edible food...

His and hers decorating styles

2007-11-27T15:19:00.000-08:00

"Marriage Under Construction..." The irony in the show name is that in a mere two weeks, I'm getting married! My fiance Josh Canning and I have found an amazing little apartment, complete with a 1930's porcelain sink and original hardwood floors. But decorating a space with someone you love can be a challenging feat. Here are some tips to avoid domestic decorating disputes!

TIP 1: The woman is always right. JUST KIDDING! But agreeing on a design style does require a lot of communication. I recommend sitting down and looking through design magazines together and tagging items that you like and you absolutely don't like. Compare and contrast and see if you can find a few words that define your style: contemporary, colourful, minimal, vintage, traditional, modern. If these words don't seem to vibe with you, look to retailers for inspiration- are you a Pottery Barn fanatic or is Urban Outfitters more up your alley? If you totally cannot agree, see if there are any elements of each style that you can get on board with.

TIP 2: Make a design board. Take these images and glue them on a board, or store them in a folder where you can go back to for reference. As you are around town, keep these references in mind. You have a collective of both of your tastes.

TIP 3: Start with paint. If you love bold and he loves boring (just kidding, again!) compromise and go with a neutral colour on the wall and use the bold colours in pieces of art, throw pillows and accessories. This way you can always change it up as your tastes (and family!) grow.

TIP 4: Similar to paint, pick out pieces you both love in the staples of your room ie. you bed, sofa, dining table. With these to anchor the room, you can add drama and flair in other areas.

TIP 5: Shop smart and often! Be very aware of sales and new stores that turn up. My favourite shopping spots include: boutiques on Queen West, boutiques on King East, big mega stores including The Brick Factory Outlet in North York, idomo, and of course, IKEA. However- be wary of purchasing everything from the same store so your space is also a reflection of you and not necessarily a show room copy cat.

TIP 6: Compromise accessorize. Here is where a lot of compromise can happen. He loves his sports memorabilia? You love your teddy bear collection? By pairing down to one or few of each (think EDIT) you can still have your favourites without making the whole place over-girly or testosterone filled. The idea is to make it look intentional, and not haphazard.

TIP 7: Hire a designer. When in doubt, involve a moderator! They will help you find common ground. They also often have inside scoops and deals with vendors. Plus, their experience will ensure your design ends with a happily ever after. And we all want that!

Love to hear your stories,

Lisa (soon to be) Canning

Episode 9- Master bedroom

2007-11-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

This is my favourite room in Derek and Vanessa's house. I think it's my favourite because it really feels like an oasis. I love it so much that I decided to go with a similar colour scheme for my own master bedroom!

Some fun things to mention:

We shopped till we dropped at Union Lighting in Toronto. Union Lighting holds a cornucopia of lighting, bedding, chairs, accessories and more. There really is something for everyone there- and Derek and Nessa fell in love with a beige ultra suede chair- it cost 2/3 of their $1500 budget but was worth the price. A tip- always ask if you can buy the floor model.

We saved a lot of money by making things ourselves- the headboard, a side table and recovering cushions for the window seat.

We further saved money by shopping at another one of my favourite retailers- Dollarama. Gotta love volume prices. They have picture frames, candles, trays, plates that with the right pairings, can look priceless. We also shopped at stores that you wouldn't think have a large variety of home goods. Zellers is my new secret treasure to share with you. The Alfred Sung line is fabulous- the bedding and side tables are Alfred Sung Home.

Read below on other ways you can add value, personality and character to your home. Love to hear about your own projects!

Episode 9- Custom Side Table

2007-11-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

After some budgeting, Vanessa was able to purchase a beautiful mirrored side table from Union Lighting. However, this left little money for Derek's side table. So I came up with a creative use for an old kitchen cabinet.

Step 1: Find your table top. A friend was redoing her kitchen and gave me her old cabinet door (still looks great!). I also find a lot of my treasures at the handy person's corner at the AS IS department of IKEA.

Step 2: Find your legs. My silver legs, used to complement the reflective surfaces in Vanessa's side table, were taken again from AS IS at IKEA. You can also purchase legs in many forms at a hardware store.

Step 3: Attach the legs. To do this, we purchased small kits ($1.99 each!) that include the plate and screws. For this to work, your legs must have a metal part that will fit into the plate. Ask your friendly associates at your local hardware store for help in this area.

Step 4: Attach the plates to your tale top and screw your legs in. Ta da! Simple bedside table solution.

Episode 9- DIY Headboard

2007-11-27T13:49:00.000-08:00

A wallpaper headboard? Think I'm nuts? So did my clients- but Derek and Vanessa's headboard turned out gorgeous, is completely custom and extremely cost effective. There is a lot of flexibility in this project for some very creative approaches!

Step 1: Measure the space for your headboard. I used a large piece of craft paper to help me to visualize it around the bed. Scale is important here- you want to ensure that it is a few inches wider than your mattress. In terms of height, customarily your side tables are the height of your mattress and the headboard the height of your lamps. But I went big for more drama- that is the beauty of using the craft paper, you can guess and test until you are happy. You may also consider experimenting with an arc or wavy lines.

Step 2: Choose your wallpaper. I picked a beige wallpaper that has a tone on tone design. What I like most about the colour is that is a similar value to the blue- so the two are quite harmonious. Wallpaper, which is a huge trend in home design right now, comes in a rainbow of colours, textures and prints. Since you are only using a small amount, you may consider purchasing one panel of a more expensive paper for drama.

Step 3: Using your craft paper and a level, give yourself small guidelines with pencil on your wall. This will help you line up the wallpaper and ensure it is perfectly in place!

Step 4: Wallpaper. I have NEVER wallpapered and was completely scared of the experience. So I purchased a beginners set from The Home Depot, which came complete with a tray and all tools.

Wallpaper these days comes with the adhesive already applied- so no goopy scary stuff! So I followed the instructions on the package which included cutting the paper to size, giving it a little bath in the tray for 5 minutes, and applying it to the wall.

If you are using a pattern, take care to ensure the pattern lines up!

Step 5: Squeeze! Using sponges and tools provided, remove all excess water and air bubbles, leaving a perfectly smooth finish.

Step 6: Apply decorative trim if desired. We used a decorative wood trim, cut on 45 degree angles around the paper. I think it gives it a very professional finish!

Happy reading

2007-11-23T10:50:00.001-08:00

http://www.thestar.com/living/article/272437

An article on the show in the Toronto Star.

A first time for everything...

2007-11-21T08:02:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! A small recap in case you are stumbling upon my page (welcome, by the way!). I recently made the move into interiors from the world of fashion and designed my first house this summer for a young couple, Derek and Vanessa. God has a funny sense of humour as He thought it might be fun to feature my first time designing a house every Monday night at 9:30 on HGTV's Marriage Under Construction (aah!). Needless to say, it was an amazing experience and one I am happy to share.

My clients had a very limited budget that had to accommodate a renovation as well, so I had to be VERY creative to stretch their minuscule budget. So I learned how to upholster chairs myself, sew my own pillows, create new furniture out of items they already had and shop very smart. I had an amazing time working on the house and on the show. Derek and Vanessa were a joy to work with. We laughed a lot, we all learned a lot and they were very willing to jump in, get their hands dirty and learn by trial and error.

Having a sense of humour about things was important in such an (at times) arduous process of renovating. Vincenzo Sica, our contractor extraordinaire, had a great sense of humour and was very patient with my ignorance to the world of construction (he has a vault of classic things I did / asked before I got schooled on power tools). His team was equally fabulous and bailed me out of many situations (Sean, Nathan and Jesse). Thanks boys! I now feel like I fit in at Home Depot.

On top of designing for my very first clients, the whole process was captured on camera. This involved (attempting) to look like a pulled together grown-up every day, being articulate and again having a sense of humour about things. I must say, I loved the crew, and we became our own little (at times dysfunctional!) family. When you spend as much time together with people as you do when you create a television show, you get a little attached. I admittedly am in withdrawal and miss the MUC crew (Directors: Richard, Vinny; Production Coordinators/assistants: Dan, Triton, Alex, Ashlee; Camera operators: Matt, Matt, Jeffers, Andrew; Sound: Mikey, Bart(s), Kuba)

I had so much fun working with Derek and Vanessa I have decided to launch my own business- I'm currently working with a creative design firm to launch my website and my logo. I can't wait for you all to see it!

Do-it-yourself upholstery

2007-11-21T07:31:00.000-08:00

On the small budget that Derek and Vanessa had, it was imperative to think outside the box- and one way was attempting to re-upholster furniture myself. Caution- this is not a project for the faint of heart, I practiced several times before I was happy with the result, but it did save me several hundreds of dollars!

Another note of caution: while I love to reclaim, I think it is important to invest in show stopper pieces. Going to a professional upholsterer may be an investment, but you will be extremely happy with the results. A transformed piece of furniture is a great way to secure originality in your home and create a cohesive colour scheme!

But for a temporary or price conscious alternative for the brave, read on!

Step 1- Find your furniture. I purchased tub chairs from Goodwill for $5 each! They were a maroon colour and very badly stained.

Step 2- Purchase desired fabric. At Designer Fabrics (perhaps one of the greatest fabric stores in Toronto) the knowledgeable and courteous staff help you determine how much fabric to buy as long as you have rough measurements of your piece. Keep in mind that it has to be a durable fabric if it is for something with high traffic like a sofa or chair. Save the silks for decorative pillows.

Step 3: Use the original fabric on the chair as your pattern. Carefully remove the pieces from your furniture. They are most likely stapled and glued securely. My chair came apart in 6 clearly defined pieces, plus the seat cushion.

Lay the original fabric pieces on your new fabric and trace a generous seam allowance of 2-3". Cut our your pieces and sew together, following the pattern of your original pieces.

Step 4: Staple and sew. You should now have large pieces that resemble the old fabric that you removed. If you're lucky, you may be able to just fit the fabric over like a traditional slipcover (kind of like a tight fitting pillow case). In my case, I had to push the fabric into crevices in the chair and using a heavy duty staple gun, secure them in place.

This is the trial and error portion. I had to fidget with the seam allowance and with stapling until I was happy with the outcome- but it was very manageable, it just required a little patience.

Step 5: Piping and decorative details. My chair originally came with piping, which covered the staple marks. Covering the piping in my new fabric, using an industrial glue gun I glued the piping in place.

Upholstery gives any piece of furniture a face lift! If you are interested in learning how to re-upholster yourself, there are classes you can take where they provide you with all the tools- you just bring your furniture and creative spirit along with you.

Episode 8- You might even call me a bargainista

2007-11-20T13:43:00.000-08:00

I love the word bargain. For Derek and Nessa's living room and dining room I was able to score several. Here are a couple of way to save money/add originality in your living / dining room:

COUCH- We were able to get an "AS-IS" couch from IKEA for several hundred dollars. I have seen some as low as $500, originally marked at $1200. If you don't mind a few minor scuffs (that can be covered with new slipcovers), be dilligent in shopping their AS IS department.

CHAIRS- I bought their chairs for $5 each at Goodwill (yes! $5!!!!!). With new fabric and a little ingeniuity (and trial and error) I recovered them myself. For a quick how-to, read my post on do-it-yourself upholstering. A much less expensive alternative, even if you do get them covered professionaly.

CHANDELIER- At first, we were going to make a custom lampshade. But while shopping at Romancing the Home on the Danforth, I found an AMAZING crystal chandelier. What I love about the chandelier is that is has both masculine and feminine appeal. And as a plus, you can alter how many crystals hang from it. While I love reclaiming things, I think it is important to invest money and treat yourself to showstopper pieces.

TYPEWRITER- old typewriter + cute lovenotes= unique message centre. I found the typewriter for $10 at Double Take on Gerrard. (I have another in my garage that I found at Goodwill for $5). I was lucky- it was still operational, an Derek and Nessa use it to leave each other a string of messages. Plus, it's vintage appeal acts as a conversation starter.

Love to hear about your own unique finds- please feel free to post your own tips.

Episode 8- Living Room Window Treatment

2007-11-19T22:25:00.000-08:00

Nessa and Derek have a wonderful large window in their living room- as a unique treatment for privacy and decor, here is how to create your own decorative window screen:

1) Find a frame- I again used a window that came from the extension on the back of the house. A wood frame such as one used for an artist canvas or a picture frame could also work!

2) Play designer! Play around with shapes, patterns, words- using adhesive paper (purchased from DeSerres art supply store for $24.99 for a large roll) cut out your desired shapes.

3) Place the adhesive shapes on a piece of vellum paper. Vellum is a specialty paper that is transulscent (ie. allows light to shine through) and the opaque pieces of sticker will block the light allowing for interesting patterns to shine through.

4) Staple the paper (carefully!) to the backside of your frame. Tip: try your best to keep the staples neat as you'll be able to see them on the other side of the window! (Alternatively, you could trip out the edges in a ribbon or paper trim).

5) Hang the frame. We used chain and eye hooks to allow the treatment to hang in the middle of the window!

Enjoy!

Shop Till You Drop in Toronto (without breaking the bank)

2007-11-16T06:14:00.001-08:00

I recently went on a scour of the city looking for some cheap thrills (of the discounted merchandise kind!) and found a few great places I'd love to share:

1. UpCountry (310 King St E)- Sadly, I must report that one of my favourite retail outlets, UpCountry has gone bankrupt. Good news for us is that they are are selling off all of their merchandise at their King Street location. I just purchased a $500 8' x 5' area rug for $100 that will look fabulous in my new apartment. There was a chaise lounger originally priced close to $5000 on sale for $1100 and an AMAZING Steelcase vintage desk that I am hoping to nab for a client (so hands off- just kidding).

For an article on the downfall of UpCountry (so sad!) http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/266484

2. urban essential (175 King St E)- Also in the King E neighbourhood, urban essential boasts adorable accessories and a plethora of quality pieces at great price points. I found a chaise lounger I'm going to pitch to a client because its full of whimsy ($915), a beautiful bench that I'm trying to convince my fiance is worth the money they're asking for ($215) and some beautiful decorative plates ($5 - $45) good for a housewarming gift.

3. The Brick Clearance Centre (4250 Dufferin Street)- Hello amazing deals, well worth the drive. The Brick has moderate prices already, so you can imagine what its Clearance Centre is like. They had Parsons chairs for $100, sofas in the $500 - $600 range and best of all- if you are into "reclaimed chic" here are some amazing deals:

dining table tops- $49. Attach legs you can purchase from Rona or Home Depot and you've got a custom table.
table bases- $19. They are currently selling sleek metal bases to coffee and side tables (you get three table bases for $19!!!!!). I can picture either an amazing tray or a piece of wood that you tile in a mosaic pattern acting as an amazing table top. Again, a completely unique table with your signature on it.
damaged items- Because it is the clearance outlet, you can find items that are lightly bruised for a fraction of the retail cost. I found a beautiful ladder shelf, lightly scratched for $98. Another find was a gorgeous lamp with a small nick on the side for $29. Nothing a black sharpie marker can't disguise.

Happy shopping- feel free to post your own finds!

Episode 7- "Cloffice"

2007-11-12T22:52:00.001-08:00

When Derek and Vanessa approached me about creating a walk-in closet / office, I thought 1) fun and 2) Nessa has the perfect husband.

All kidding aside, it was a great project to work on as we were able to create a custom graphic on the wall and highlight "reclaimed chic" at its best. Read below for a step by step how-to on some of our projects

Episode 7- Office Organizer

2007-11-12T22:30:00.001-08:00

I created a space for Derek and Nessa to organize their office supplies (pens, paper, paper clips etc.) using a window frame that Vincenzo saved after they tore down the old extension on the back of the house.

1) Carefully remove the glass from the window frame (thanks to Sean, Vincenzo's assistant for that)- I actually liked it unfinished, and left it the way it was with cracking paint. However, you could sand and paint it your desired colour.

2) Purchase wire mesh and using wire cutters, cut to fit the frame.

3) Reclaim items to use as storage containers and paint them your desired colour. I reclaimed soup cans, water bottles, pop cans- my favourite was reusing the Sherwin Williams paint jugs. I had Vincenzo cut them in half, they were quite handy for large storage.

4) Using an awl (sharp object to create holes) make small holes at the edges of your storage units.

5) Thread wire through the holes and attach it to the wire mesh.

6) Fill with your favourite pens, markers and stationary for a very personal work station!

Episode 7- Reclaimed Accessory Wall

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This accessory wall was one of my favourite projects. Vanessa loves it as it is a great way for her to organize and showcase her purses, scarves and other accessories.

1) Be brave and find material to reclaim. I went to the front yard where Vincenzo had been disposing of excess material and other items from the house (some call it garbage, I call it treasure). I found old baseboards and wood pieces.

2) Purchase (or reclaim) hooks and knobs. I purchased many from my local hardware store for very little (6 for $1.99) and reclaimed more unique knobs from old dresser drawers and junk boxes at antique stores.

3) Fasten the hooks and knobs at your desired spacing on your reclaimed wood. I spaced them about a foot apart from each other.

4) Adhere the wood pieces to the wall. If you are planning on hanging heavy items, ensure you attach the pieces of wood to a stud.

There you have it, a unique and fun way to reuse material and give you practical wall storage.

Episode 7- CLOFFICE GRAPHIC

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Wallpaper is a great way to add colour, texture and pattern to a room- but it can be quite costly. I gave Derek and Vanessa a wall treatment that is completely unique to them- it is entirely one of a kind, designed with Derek and Nessa in mind.

A closet, powder room, or other small space is ideal for a treatment like this as it's a small space, and one where you can make a lot of impact without feeling entirely overwhelmed by the pattern.

Here's how we did it:

1) Design your graphic. It can be something as simple as a series of shapes, random letters, or in our case, birds and trees. While my design may look complicated, it is essentially a series of long simple twig shapes and circles. The love birds (of course inspired by Derek and Nessa) were the most complicated element.

2) Cut the graphic out of contact paper. I used a roll of white adhesive paper, purchased from an art supply store. I got a large roll for $24.99, I used not even 1/4 of a roll for this project. Ensure you use something with low tack, otherwise you risk damaging the wall when you remove it.

3) Apply it to the wall in your desired pattern, try to ensure all the air bubbles are out. You are creating a mask that will reveal the original colour of your wall after painting. A pass with a clean roller will get your stickers as flat as possible. (A note before you start: you may also want to clean or prime your wall first, depending on its condition.)

4) Paint! We used a fun, bold colour. Again, a small space can be an opportunity to experiment with bold colours that you might shy away from in other areas of the house.

5) Remove the adhesive to reveal the original colour of the wall.

A note of caution- I might recommend trying this on a smaller scale first, like on an artist canvas or on a section of a wall. There was definitely a learning curve when I did it (this was the first time I've ever attempted something like this)- but it was a great experiment, with a fun result.

Episode 6- Guest Bedroom

2007-11-12T21:53:00.001-08:00

My first room at Derek and Vanessa's house. Vanessa and I had a lot of fun, here are some practical tips on designing on a budget!

Episode 6- Guest Bedroom Bench

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MULTI-PURPOSE BENCH

A bench looks great at the end of the bed, plus it's a practical place to change your shoes or fold laundry- but they can run you $$$. We made one for cheap!

1) Find a bench. We purchased ours at Goodwill, and it cost $7.50 on Goodwill's 1/2 price day (yes, even Goodwill has sales, you just have to ask when)

2) Cut a piece of high density upholstery foam to fit. This can be purchased at some fabric stores or upholstery centres. You can save money by cutting it yourself using (brace yourself) an electric turkey carver.

3) Cover with fabric. Measure the surfaces of the foam, including a 1" seam allowance. Cut fabric and sew, leaving one end open in order to fit the foam. As an extra bonus, I added a piping detail in the same fabric as the chair that we made. Piping is easier to do than I thought, but does require some sewing experience. Close the foam end by stitching by hand and voila- a custom cushion for your bench that coordinates perfectly with your room.

Episode 6- Guest Room Chair Project

2007-11-12T21:48:00.001-08:00

FREE CHAIR
I found a chair on the side of the road that was in great condition. You want to be careful and check out the item for water damage or structural damage that could be dangerous when in use (you don't your chair to break under you!)

What this chair needed was a face lift so we recovered it in a few easy steps:

1) separate the seat from the chair frame by removing the screws underneath

2) using fabric of choice (you can use a remnant and pay very little for it) cut out an area about 3" larger than the actual surface area

3) wrap the chair seat (snug!) and with a staple gun, staple the fabric to the underside of the seat

4) reattach the chair seat to the frame

5) relish at your chair, newly made over!

Ta da!

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Due to the popularity of HGTV's Marriage Under Construction (Monday nights at 9:30) I've decided to start my own blog dedicated to providing fun, fresh, creative solutions for home & personal style. I'll be posting info about how we made things on the show, tips for shopping smart and ways to add personal touches to your home.

Thanks to Tanja Tiziana and Peter Bagnall for photos.

I welcome your questions and comments! Happy reading!