Beautiful Modern Contemporary House Elevation

thanks for the help....

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJ4WSYhBKHnWO8_xQkRPr9ZLH2UDyGsPeuBC21U3mShsun1qjBevwz2dVSaInDAxAfmgkozFtV5fAwrIPbxKONHKGZzJnF_QO3T-6dm3xkYyqNhbnry8ziqP06TS09yTqJPBTWxj_rO7d/s1600/wwww.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJ4WSYhBKHnWO8_xQkRPr9ZLH2UDyGsPeuBC21U3mShsun1qjBevwz2dVSaInDAxAfmgkozFtV5fAwrIPbxKONHKGZzJnF_QO3T-6dm3xkYyqNhbnry8ziqP06TS09yTqJPBTWxj_rO7d/s1600/wwww.jpg" /></a></div>I got a amazing feedback on where to find <a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2012/08/blue-and-white-pottery.html" target="_blank">blue & white pottery much like the ones I found antiquing in cottage country</a>. Shadi snapped a photo of a page from HGTV magazine (shown above) and it showed these<a href="http://www.cwonder.com/classic-ginger-jars-vase.html#" target="_blank"> Chinese Ginger Jars are from a shop CWonder.com</a>. (Thank you for taking that photo!) Robbin via the comments told me that <a href="http://bowring.com/d_products.asp?subcategory=15" target="_blank">Bowing having a collection</a> (and they are on sale!) and LouLou via the comments sent me a link to <a href="http://www.bombay.ca/home.php?cat=330" target="_blank">the Bombay Company's collection</a>. Of course, there is Chinatown which is actually where I did find one similar a year ago, but the pattern wasn't totally to my taste. But I should go back down for fun to search out more treasures. Anyhow, just wanted to say thanks for the help but also - pass along these links should you want to find some too! xo Linds<br /><br />

thanks for the help....

I got a amazing feedback on where to find blue & white pottery much like the ones I found antiquing in cottage country . Shadi snapped ...

11:39 AM

Strek Collective

Coup de coeur du jour: <a href="http://www.strekcollective.com/" target="_blank">Strek Collective</a>, une coopérative créative fondée par quatre jeunes designers norvégiens avec la volonté "d'explorer l'inconnu et améliorer le connu". Superbe!<br /><a href="http://www.strekcollective.com/ABOUT" target="_blank">Strek Collective </a>va aussi exposer à <a href="http://www.parisdesignweek.fr/" target="_blank">Paris Design Week</a> du 10-16 septembre :)<br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Today's crush: <a href="http://www.strekcollective.com/" target="_blank">Strek</a>, <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">a creative collective founded by four young Norwegian designers with a dedicated approach to "exploring the unknown and improving the known". Beautiful!</span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.strekcollective.com/ABOUT" target="_blank">Strek Collective</a> will also be exhibiting at <a href="http://www.parisdesignweek.fr/en/accueil/" target="_blank">Paris Design Week</a> on Sept 10-16 :)</span></i></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvNzoyIBStjF9g-RlvR-_qIqkRzQ6Pi2uooW0ELGQmMyIspJhu_gV-Sd5ZOuOIoOWt0P0oLvMYz7QE3ZOjnsncEfdIQzDcVixcFpK4sQRjYLmRDRtgiS0HV-g5cPWReu8QkmgBnqJomc/s1600/strek+collective.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvNzoyIBStjF9g-RlvR-_qIqkRzQ6Pi2uooW0ELGQmMyIspJhu_gV-Sd5ZOuOIoOWt0P0oLvMYz7QE3ZOjnsncEfdIQzDcVixcFpK4sQRjYLmRDRtgiS0HV-g5cPWReu8QkmgBnqJomc/s640/strek+collective.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix36eqDZV9IhiWTPR8KfM9ukzdMRzlgm85JWQEbEPr8DoI2BzYoWjZA0S0XWVCaNs7SerABGWM89hdG1RnRWk670MMXOdemE3mQeli0w3L7POqnCPj4qJlhhM1MDErHTVLo_XYSUoTI8A/s1600/strek+collective1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix36eqDZV9IhiWTPR8KfM9ukzdMRzlgm85JWQEbEPr8DoI2BzYoWjZA0S0XWVCaNs7SerABGWM89hdG1RnRWk670MMXOdemE3mQeli0w3L7POqnCPj4qJlhhM1MDErHTVLo_XYSUoTI8A/s640/strek+collective1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDTM5vttZDqgftSCbgmj7Q0hTG0K2UyWX85kyQMDxveWYWsYlrW8QjeLrtolqpK959mypoHeDDTYa7SBcg-2R6fEsy3-4Sw6vVAsAa0S77QUNMQPKswUiDZMUQDr8mKSd85GfpySwsvI/s1600/strek+collective2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDTM5vttZDqgftSCbgmj7Q0hTG0K2UyWX85kyQMDxveWYWsYlrW8QjeLrtolqpK959mypoHeDDTYa7SBcg-2R6fEsy3-4Sw6vVAsAa0S77QUNMQPKswUiDZMUQDr8mKSd85GfpySwsvI/s640/strek+collective2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBZcp35630ezoPOJNcNATk5sqpUcWh2S-NywC4SE-_oK0PrJUcf3x7NnOubd9uTmb1PCxNctGba5R12ZgnETgfFFzLKh8KzZWdWAuO00LUyyI7NJ3f9eyZsDp6j9sSeDvIP91rOcNF88/s1600/strek+collective3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBZcp35630ezoPOJNcNATk5sqpUcWh2S-NywC4SE-_oK0PrJUcf3x7NnOubd9uTmb1PCxNctGba5R12ZgnETgfFFzLKh8KzZWdWAuO00LUyyI7NJ3f9eyZsDp6j9sSeDvIP91rOcNF88/s640/strek+collective3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i style="text-align: center;">Photo <a href="http://www.strekcollective.com/" target="_blank">Strek Collective</a></i></div>

Strek Collective

Coup de coeur du jour: Strek Collective , une coopérative créative fondée par quatre jeunes designers norvégiens avec la volonté "d...

8:37 AM

grouting surprises

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULiYv-jirKrUUcGMZCt1HTq5X9Qi7CNEC7f6PPcdT2bnup3W-GzO41lk8MOqVJxmdcmGbt9yi45XaoypvcRV1eGoIxwZGM3Wh9Rv5IYY-BKoKCjypoihxjsJUHYcgiGjmxWDNw-eluZCS/s1600/IMG_6849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULiYv-jirKrUUcGMZCt1HTq5X9Qi7CNEC7f6PPcdT2bnup3W-GzO41lk8MOqVJxmdcmGbt9yi45XaoypvcRV1eGoIxwZGM3Wh9Rv5IYY-BKoKCjypoihxjsJUHYcgiGjmxWDNw-eluZCS/s1600/IMG_6849.jpg" /></a></div><br />Grouting the kitchen backsplash is complete. :)  We had a little surprise when the grouting was done - Although <a href="http://www.homedepot.ca/product/381-bright-white-pre-mixed-grout-39l/921882" target="_blank">the container from Home Depot said "Bright White"</a> as you can see in the image below, it definitely <em>isn't</em> bright white. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpYlLSt_kVeP1ccI8_R2iyjvObIYVNm9QYgWoIm8THwfSQXHbYiuk6vUWgOKVNRZbjAMXFExBSEfDUBOGjlxnr_v8nqckjQq6PG9RkDHeGy4NmIBlcXdeoraHNtinJ-nJHXn7ERSIswIa/s1600/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpYlLSt_kVeP1ccI8_R2iyjvObIYVNm9QYgWoIm8THwfSQXHbYiuk6vUWgOKVNRZbjAMXFExBSEfDUBOGjlxnr_v8nqckjQq6PG9RkDHeGy4NmIBlcXdeoraHNtinJ-nJHXn7ERSIswIa/s1600/015.jpg" /></a></div><br />It's kind of gray .... no?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOcmF4rz2PrRbRILpda3bY9SfyNenOC3GRG6mlFOMBb5sQ2rVZYz2FeJMBMoufQNNW0-DOl6Wjik9t-TCntebHXe0-G2pagbkJj4YV1-86a0a4J5uFZ1MsDJO79gcB3wkqCyNkeJ-ugYI/s1600/IMG_6846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOcmF4rz2PrRbRILpda3bY9SfyNenOC3GRG6mlFOMBb5sQ2rVZYz2FeJMBMoufQNNW0-DOl6Wjik9t-TCntebHXe0-G2pagbkJj4YV1-86a0a4J5uFZ1MsDJO79gcB3wkqCyNkeJ-ugYI/s1600/IMG_6846.jpg" /></a></div><br />Thankfully it was a happy surprise. For the longest time our kitchen was being used without grout and the spacing between the tiles made it look like we had done gray grouting. The look was growing on me and I was nervous to go completely white with the grout. But we did - partially because I like to play it safe. When Aubrey was done the grouting I said to him cautiously - "It looks kind of gray doesn't it?" He agreed, but then we kind of moved on because we both liked the look. It also plays well with the <a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2012/07/countertop-selection-tips.html" target="_blank">Caesarstone Misty Carrara countertop</a>. <br /><br />So conclusion to the pre-mixed grout? Awesome as there is little cleanup and you can use what you need, and put the rest away. Downside - the colour was a wee-bit off from the label. ;-)

grouting surprises

Grouting the kitchen backsplash is complete. :) We had a little surprise when the grouting was done - Although the container from Home Depo...

6:07 AM

Dubai ,Sharja , Oman Commercial office 3D

Dubai ,Sharja , Oman Commercial office 3D

5:36 AM

By Nord AW2012

Jolie inspiration de la part de <a href="http://www.bynord.com/" target="_blank">By Nord</a> pour cet automne-hiver.<br /><br /><i>Beautiful inspiration from <a href="http://www.bynord.com/" target="_blank">By Nord</a> for this autumn-winter.</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1XfihzDzphVx0OjiSXD8c5k6UF159Wb5P4ALU72bmtvynuNqnMt6o2masN_FOg6Lw9KnKk-zji-AxKLlupsbetr6aUgpF0rmoHpO5Ugt7TXsguvPSNjvGcuTri91WwYLjxryPNAz1Qk/s1600/untitled+25551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1XfihzDzphVx0OjiSXD8c5k6UF159Wb5P4ALU72bmtvynuNqnMt6o2masN_FOg6Lw9KnKk-zji-AxKLlupsbetr6aUgpF0rmoHpO5Ugt7TXsguvPSNjvGcuTri91WwYLjxryPNAz1Qk/s640/untitled+25551.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZUgnoojYX6GrWA6HYNh8CMeKCLdewfZFmJHKuJqqM8mfjaNiKL9sZTxgpvkhOn8H9v-JP0aeSehNZt0wm3W_XrnBGCuQHHuVtFPslGQ6EGrCkZnugicDXA1jWzkZmPF2rit9K_ICkUo/s1600/untitled+25410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZUgnoojYX6GrWA6HYNh8CMeKCLdewfZFmJHKuJqqM8mfjaNiKL9sZTxgpvkhOn8H9v-JP0aeSehNZt0wm3W_XrnBGCuQHHuVtFPslGQ6EGrCkZnugicDXA1jWzkZmPF2rit9K_ICkUo/s640/untitled+25410.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fFHYk6NMbEP2vUkHlBS8emMFvm8xad0re0qOWuM12Leec113uDJwIL1TiETUu1JSRzZqJj2jOJZO-yDn7zkbPqmA1MvMUnxu6pFJUeRJll4tQhZEehZW3L4YBE5w7losHYXM7xUInyo/s1600/untitled+25420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fFHYk6NMbEP2vUkHlBS8emMFvm8xad0re0qOWuM12Leec113uDJwIL1TiETUu1JSRzZqJj2jOJZO-yDn7zkbPqmA1MvMUnxu6pFJUeRJll4tQhZEehZW3L4YBE5w7losHYXM7xUInyo/s640/untitled+25420.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb05kwVatZ-b_6ThMNvD2rfbXWdoEYy_LHgNJyCfSg-08hpUPxaj1Ei0rCLi5l2OgN4ybcHM0qVahM2BnFL4Td32GZDo8gNlwlqL3A14_s0059aoD6TMvr6EgSVougW8tVL8jLbuQSXG4/s1600/untitled+25376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb05kwVatZ-b_6ThMNvD2rfbXWdoEYy_LHgNJyCfSg-08hpUPxaj1Ei0rCLi5l2OgN4ybcHM0qVahM2BnFL4Td32GZDo8gNlwlqL3A14_s0059aoD6TMvr6EgSVougW8tVL8jLbuQSXG4/s640/untitled+25376.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3X244trnjnHrDcHX09lhVjWRDVyzgaY4Qtv-qFQRkR2xM-wGuTJLDI4Y7jB9kcuWwP5DSYhvqgNxxjufqToGgs68ugCvIoz-Er7Anc8tcP96IyfY85fd60dItp96Yb6vPdMoERs_3m0/s1600/untitled+25359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3X244trnjnHrDcHX09lhVjWRDVyzgaY4Qtv-qFQRkR2xM-wGuTJLDI4Y7jB9kcuWwP5DSYhvqgNxxjufqToGgs68ugCvIoz-Er7Anc8tcP96IyfY85fd60dItp96Yb6vPdMoERs_3m0/s640/untitled+25359.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLgl8W88nH3Igr5umX5xAswy50blmbRNLi36wIJ6jfOx0oIRgelJlLZDr9v-reAG0cKZO1a3lqvwbrBUkkLT33hwJ6MOeFKraSZ1GIC0_PMMl2jLZ0dZ0BKLmXti_KsIjgY_di-oDWaA/s1600/untitled+25433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLgl8W88nH3Igr5umX5xAswy50blmbRNLi36wIJ6jfOx0oIRgelJlLZDr9v-reAG0cKZO1a3lqvwbrBUkkLT33hwJ6MOeFKraSZ1GIC0_PMMl2jLZ0dZ0BKLmXti_KsIjgY_di-oDWaA/s640/untitled+25433.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ArqkOO9Xz9cqHKWKi896OHrSsgL0Ok8NaETmQV29rrq88OfOccQJWIINrDdV3K3Q0rZWIyS9odAzKX3YEyCbvJBieW3GaRPVYP22_PbLWPo6ag7FMeXLAq13T66TcLqgXjWJeXVGEoQ/s1600/untitled+25466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ArqkOO9Xz9cqHKWKi896OHrSsgL0Ok8NaETmQV29rrq88OfOccQJWIINrDdV3K3Q0rZWIyS9odAzKX3YEyCbvJBieW3GaRPVYP22_PbLWPo6ag7FMeXLAq13T66TcLqgXjWJeXVGEoQ/s640/untitled+25466.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Photo <a href="http://www.bynord.com/" target="_blank">By Nord</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Vous trouverez aussi <a href="http://www.lamaisondannag.com/fr/3_by-nord" target="_blank">une sélection By Nord dans ma boutique</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>You can also find <a href="http://www.lamaisondannag.com/fr/3_by-nord" target="_blank">a selection from By Nord in my shop</a>.</i></div>

By Nord AW2012

Jolie inspiration de la part de By Nord pour cet automne-hiver. Beautiful inspiration from By Nord for this autumn-winter. Photo By Nord ...

12:24 PM

Making Ikea cabinets look custom

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnpzJzc9DH5tPnk2685F1yzsdZw40h53A-R3O23OYCfKIn9d_FzLsGhuepNWC1aONczHwmOqZFHySwI3bZGdv6hO8KU4Z9aTUyhxEW3cqIxGKaE_lY5u9psA5jWDhZM8bfU_J1PUc-PBA/s1600/crown+moulding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnpzJzc9DH5tPnk2685F1yzsdZw40h53A-R3O23OYCfKIn9d_FzLsGhuepNWC1aONczHwmOqZFHySwI3bZGdv6hO8KU4Z9aTUyhxEW3cqIxGKaE_lY5u9psA5jWDhZM8bfU_J1PUc-PBA/s1600/crown+moulding.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXcRhegPHHGck4ARaBep8EeJ5qwdVTrQ8-ZbInmYAil20gDZISJ0GbwUETSGc3Bo9_MlHzBzOuf_BsKJNOZekW5q5iHz7bY2Gp1iKxF57vI-8KH_tEIeA7lYJOt6-a9MS5szuuQvXZWjW/s1600/IMG_6836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXcRhegPHHGck4ARaBep8EeJ5qwdVTrQ8-ZbInmYAil20gDZISJ0GbwUETSGc3Bo9_MlHzBzOuf_BsKJNOZekW5q5iHz7bY2Gp1iKxF57vI-8KH_tEIeA7lYJOt6-a9MS5szuuQvXZWjW/s1600/IMG_6836.jpg" /></a></div><br />I have always loved the look of crown moulding around kitchen cabinetry, especially when you're using "Big Box Store" cabinets. I think it's one of the key elements in making something out of a flat packed box look custom. (See<a href="http://carolreeddesign.blogspot.ca/2009/10/why-i-love-ikea-kitchens.html" target="_blank"> Carol Reed's blog</a> for inspiration on ways to make Ikea kitchens look custom) Early in the design process we accounted for having crown moulding above the cabinets. <br /><br />First thing - we went with the tallest Ikea cabinets possible. After accounting for the space between the counter and bottom of the cabinets (18") we were left with enough for a 2" crown moulding. Prior to installing the crown moulding, I painted it in Benjamin Moore's Paper Mache. Because we're working with a lot of whites, it was important to match the Ikea doors. <br /><br />If you're going to do the same - make a note of the fact that <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/papermache" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore's Paper Mache</a> is a perfect match for <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30080364/" target="_blank">Ikea's Adel Doors</a>. Ikea Adel doors are <em>not white - t</em>hey are a creamy tone. I fretted about this originally, but I'll tell you now that the cabinets are <em>gorgeous</em> and I love the tone. I think if they were any whiter they would look <em>too</em> white. You can see in the photos above the crown moulding against the ceiling colour (bright white). The cabinets are definitely cream. By painting the crown moulding the same colour as the doors it makes the entire upper cabinetry look built in. Best decision. <br /><br />Almost there! We really have only one thing left to do.....<br /><br />Ps., Thanks to <a href="http://www.citytv.com/cityline/personalities/95694--leigh-ann-allaire-perrault" target="_blank">Leigh-Ann</a> for helping me figure out the paint colour for the doors! If you don't have a friend that is a part of the Benjamin Moore Design Team then do what I also did and bring an Ikea door with you to your paint store and start pulling out paint swatches to try to match. (I did this to double check that we were going with the right tone)<br /><br />

Making Ikea cabinets look custom

I have always loved the look of crown moulding around kitchen cabinetry, especially when you're using "Big Box Store" cabinets...

6:13 AM

The All-White Color Palette -- Is It Alright for Staging?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/whitebedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/whitebedroom.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><span id="goog_277998738"></span><span id="goog_277998739"></span>Color is a powerful tool. You can use it to draw people in, relax them, excite them, or -- heaven forbid -- send them packing.<br /><br />What color scheme will you use to stage your home?<br /><br />I've blogged about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-choose-paint-color-easy-way.html" target="_blank">choosing a paint color </a>and I've blogged about different colors like <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/pick-paint-color-with-personality.html" target="_blank">periwinkle</a> and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-cyan-could-be-your-go-to-color-for.html" target="_blank">cyan</a>, and about specific color schemes like <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/ebony-and-ivory-ultimate-color-scheme.html" target="_blank">black and white</a>, and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/never-fail-color-scheme-blue-and-white.html" target="_blank">blue and white</a>.<br /><br />But we haven't chatted about the all-white palette.<br /><br />Does the idea of decorating your home in whites sound crazy impractical or totally boring?<br /><br />Let's look at whether the color white could be the smart choice or the dumb choice for your home.<br /><br />White's not really a color. It's actually the absence of pigment. Nevertheless, most white paints and white fabrics have some color cast. There are warm whites like cream, ivory, and sandy whites. And there are the cool whites that are very slightly tinted with mauves and blues. The color experts recommend staying in one family -- either the whites with cool undertones, or the whites with warm undertones.<br /><br />My favorite color consultant Maria Killam goes even further and distinguishes between beige <a href="http://www.mariakillam.com/category/understanding-undertones" target="_blank">undertones </a>and yellow undertones and pink undertones. If you read <a href="http://www.mariakillam.com/" target="_blank">her blog,</a> you know that when you get it right, the room looks perfect!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img4-2.coastalliving.timeinc.net/i/2011/02/white-products/sofa-paint-table-l.jpg?400:400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img4-2.coastalliving.timeinc.net/i/2011/02/white-products/sofa-paint-table-l.jpg?400:400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Coastal Living Photo: David Hillegas. Styling: Heather Chadduck.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The photo on the right shows a room decorated with warm whites. The whites in the carpet and the table have brown undertones. The gray/white of the pillows is a warm grey. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Styles that Call For White Decor</span></b><br /><br />Certain architectural styles and certain locales traditionally depend on white furnishings and paint for their uniqueness. <br /><br />How chic would urban chic be without stark white walls? <br /><br />How charming would coastal cottages be without whitewashed floors and white fluffy pillows? <br /><br />How classic would country homes be without those white picket fences? And what shabby chic room is complete without its chippy white furniture?<br /><br />If your home falls into any of these categories, you'll want to make white an important part of your decorating. Still sound boring? A professionally decorated room is never all white-white. You'll see different hues of white and different textures to keep things lively.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/08/12/db328c3b8f75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/08/12/db328c3b8f75.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">There's no shortage of textures in this mostly white room by Roughan Interior Design. <br />A faux fur throw contrasts with the sleek white seating, glass shelves, and silver drum shades.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What's Great About White</span></b><br /><br /><strong>WHITE'S HANDY.</strong> The decorators who love white love it because it's a blank slate, a marvelous foundation for what's to come -- all the fascinating furnishings they can pile on, knowing that white is The Great Unifer. You can use white this way when you are staging your home. If your furniture is a collection of thrift store bargains and hand me downs, painting them white is one simple way to make them match.<br /><br /><strong>WHITE'S TIMELY.</strong> White is never dated. White will never go out of style. White will work with all other colors. Simplifies things, doesn't it?<br /><br /><strong>WHITE'S BRIGHT.</strong> All white paints (and many pastels) have a high light reflectance value (LRV), which means simply that they reflect more light than darker paints, and that translates into rooms that look larger and brighter. When you put your home on the market, you can paint your rooms that are too dark or too small with a bright white paint and they will appear lighter and larger.<br /><br />However, if your home has interesting architectural features, use a gray-white paint to finish your walls and trim because gray-white paints (like Sherwin Williams Lattice or Moderne White, and Benjamin Moore's Paper White) cast shadows to emphasize the details built into a room. Grays eat up light instead of bouncing it back. Bounced light makes details disappear.<br /><br /><strong>WHITE'S CLEAN.</strong> White works well for home sellers also because it reads as a clean color. White is reassuring to people touring your home. White builds trust the way a doctor or pharmacist's jacket does. Bakeries and ice cream parlours, seafood stores and butcher shops typically have white walls. It's the hygiene thing.<br /><br /><strong>WHITE'S BENIGN.</strong> White's also a good home staging color because buyers can't be offended by it. They probably won't say, "Too bad they painted the walls white.We'll have to paint them over before we can move in." More than likely they will say, "Our furniture will work with the wall color.We won't have to paint right away."<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1010576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1010576.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Buyers expect an almost sanitized look in bathrooms, so staging a bath with white<br />towels and toiletries is a natural. Go for a variety of textures and off-whites. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/07/30/98a98f1b2c8b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/07/30/98a98f1b2c8b.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">White decorating accessories are easy to find, both in stores and in nature. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">If you don't have an assortment of white props, paint can change that. Kristen Hutchins Design.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What's the Bad News?</span></b><br /><br /><strong>IS IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN? </strong>The most common argument I hear against using white for decorating is... well, kids, husbands and dogs. Although I have lived with white walls, white carpeting, white tile flooring, white bed covers, and white painted furniture, I have never lived with white slipcovers. But my friend Kristi has, and she swears that <a href="http://www.pinkandpolkadot.net/2010/03/living-with-white-slipcovers.html#.UDXXQMFlSZY" target="_blank">washable white slipcovers are easier to maintain</a> than anyone imagines.<br /><br />If you think white shows the dirt, compare it to dark colors. Have you ever worn your little black dress to a dinner party where the hostess owned white, long haired dogs? Or tried to maintain a spotless look on dark wood floors?<br /><br />Unlike dark or brightly colored furniture, white painted furniture seems to eat dust. It's very forgiving. Trust me on this.<br /><br /><strong>IS IT TOO STERILE?</strong> The other argument I hear about white decor is that white rooms look antiseptic. That's a possibility, but there are easy solutions to the problem. Soft textures, rustic touches, furnishings with patina, distressed furniture finishes, green plants, or spots of color -- any of these additions will minimize or eliminate the sterility of an all-white room.   <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/05/01/f28ef0986191.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/05/01/f28ef0986191.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This kitchen 's white has a cool cast. The stainless appliances, the metal countertop <br />and the black shelves are a perfect fit for cool whites. Photo: Aidan Gray Home.</span></i><br /><div align="left"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-size: small;">As you can probably detect, I'm partial to whites in staged homes. I don't suggest installing pure </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">white wall-to-wall carpeting in order to market your home better, but I can see the value of injecting </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">more white into a decorating plan, and possibly staging one bedroom as a white-on-white, show-</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">stopper retreat. Yummy! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">There are times when an all-white color scheme just isn't right. An historic home like a Craftsman or </span><span style="font-size: small;">a Victorian begs for colors appropriate to the style. A cookie cutter condo or new starter home might </span><span style="font-size: small;">look more interesting with some distinctive color on the walls. You'll be the judge. But don't be afraid </span><span style="font-size: small;">of white!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Staging a home around a white palette is very effective. And it's easy. You can find more easy tips</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">and tutorials in my $5 <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook,</a> <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i></i>You can download it now and start staging today. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Top Photo: Slettvoll via DecorPad.</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />

The All-White Color Palette -- Is It Alright for Staging?

Color is a powerful tool. You can use it to draw people in, relax them, excite them, or -- heaven forbid -- send them packing. What color sc...

2:00 AM