By Yanic Simard
When it comes to fashion, patterns are mixed together all of the time. So, you shouldn’t be fearful of combining patterns in a room to make it come to life. The trick is to do it tastefully – without creating a décor disaster.
Here, I share my tips for combining patterns the right way:
Begin Bold Start with one strong pattern – strong could mean thick lines, a particularly busy pattern, or very saturated colours – and build upon it.
Balance of Scale The goal is for your patterns to complement one another, not work against one other; try to have an even mix of busy and subtle.
Soften Prints with Solids A fabric without a pattern acts as a staple to all schemes. It’s sort of like the bread to a sandwich – things won’t look (or taste) good without it.
One Colour, Different Shades A more simplified way of mixing patterns is to keep it monochromatic. Select patterns of one colour but choose varied shades (for example, light blue mixed with medium and dark blue).
Don’t over-coordinate You want to avoid having your fabrics too “matchy-matchy.” If you’re using the same or similar pattern in more than one area, limit it to two places and have them spread far enough apart.
My favourite patterns:
Gingham This printed or dyed fabric, which dates back to the 17th century, is known for its checked patterns of white and a single
bold colour (you’ll often catch me wearing this pattern). The size of the checks can vary in size, and the checks can appear in horizontal rows and vertical columns, or sometimes diagonally.
Pinstripe A classic pattern consisting of very thin stripes running in parallel. It is most recognized in men’s suits and is very striking in home décor.
Chevron A repetitive pattern comprised of sharp edges that look like the letter “V” (sometimes called herringbone or zigzag). This is on trend right now.
Textile Tips:
1 Choose soft furnishings that will work in any room of your home, so that when you’re ready to change up your décor you can swap pillows, throws, drapery, etc. from room to room.
2 If you’re just starting to re-decorate a room, a textile that you love is a great way to draw inspiration for the entire scheme. Pull the colours, lines, shapes and feel from the pattern on the fabric.
3 When selecting a fabric, keep its application in mind and consider these two important details:
›› Durability Look at the rub count – if the textile you’re considering is for upholstery and a piece that will be used often, the higher rub count the better. If it’s for drapery, a lesser rub count is suitable. Also, fabric with a higher thread count means a tighter weave, which is key to having fabric maintain its shape over time.
›› Clean-ability Fabrics made of natural fibres will absorb stains much quicker than man-made fabrics, and they will clean up better. Fabrics made with man-made fibres are typically soil-resistant but don’t clean up as well.
Yanic Simard
is the principal designer of the Toronto Interior Design Group. Specializing in residential and commercial projects, Simard often applies his signature high/low and old/new combination design techniques in developing unique designs. Simard has created designs for clients in Toronto, Montreal and Miami, and has appeared as a regular guest expert on Citytv’s CityLine. For more information visit tidg.ca.Yanic Simard
November 30, 2012
By Lisa Canning
Small spaces are more and more common with the increase in condo living, and making these spaces work can be a challenge. With careful space planning and ingenious multi-functional products, you can have all the function and style in any square footage.
TIP #1: START WITH A CONDO-SIZED SOFA
The sofa is often a great place to start when planning a small space, as it usually takes up the most mass, and it is also the easiest piece to purchase incorrectly. A sofa that is too large in a given space can feel cumbersome. Conversely, a sofa that is too small can feel like dollhouse furniture. Luckily, many retailers make it easier to make the right choice by carrying apartment-sized, or condo-appropriate pieces, which are often smaller-scale translations of their most popular lines. And of course, many condo-sized sofas can also be purchased with a sofa bed option to give you the flexibility of creating a guest room in your small space.
TIP #2: USE CLEAR FURNITURE
What’s great about furniture made out of glass, or acrylic, is that it doesn’t take up much visual space. A ghost chair or a waterfall table will give you an instant modern update and provide great function while keeping the space feeling light. In condos that have gorgeous large windows, place pieces that are clear directly in front, since they won’t obstruct the view.
TIP #3: WALL-MOUNTED LIGHTING
A layered lighting plan is something I always recommend to clients, but in a small space this approach is especially advantageous. Rather than opting for a floor lamp with mass, weight and that takes up floor area, sconces give you ambient lighting while saving space. I love the architectural detail sconces provide and often use them on either end of a gallery wall or sofa.
TIP #4: WORK WITH PIECES THAT ARE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL
In a space that might be too small for a home office, or a formal dining room, I have some great innovative products to share. The first is the Functional Coffee Table from BoConcept. At first glance, it looks like a sleek, minimal coffee table. But with an easy lift, it reveals a desk-height table and ample storage. Storage will always be an issue in small spaces, so anything that will serve a function and provide storage is a great addition. Another incredible product on the market is the Lacuna table by VNO Designs. This innovative product begins as a piece of customizable art on the wall. With the release of a latch, the art piece lowers to reveal a concealed leg and becomes a dining table for five. For people who don’t formally entertain often, or for those living in really limited space, this is a unique space-saving solution.
TIP #5: WORK WITH SMART STORAGE SYSTEMS
Great interior storage is just as important as utilizing multi-functional storage. Drawer dividers, shelf dividers and small storage boxes are great tools to use to increase your storage space. The more levels you can create within a drawer, the more items can be stored and easily found. I love using small stackable, acrylic storage compartments to divide my drawers. Style doesn’t stop at the exterior of a piece – allow your furniture to function at its best by investing in interior organization.
LISA CANNING
Lisa Canning is a designer and owner of Lisa Canning Interiors. lisacanning.ca, 416.587.9780
June 16, 2012
By Yanic Simard
Pendant fixtures are an all-time favourite because they can be installed in any room of the home. They can be casual or formal – dressed up or dressed down. The challenge most people face is deciding at what height to hang them.
Here are some tips to help guide you:
Hallway/Entry Especially in your entry, your pendant light should make some sort of statement since not much is going on in this area of the home. This can be one of the most difficult places to determine how high to hang the light since there probably isn’t a piece of furniture underneath to help judge the distance. A general rule of thumb to follow is to hang it at least eight feet above the floor. If you have doors that swing out toward the fixture, make sure you take note of them so you leave the appropriate spacing for this also.
Staircase If you’re looking to add drama and interest to your staircase, hanging a light fixture is the perfect way to do just that. Having plenty of clearance for walking up the stairs is ultimately all that needs to be considered when installing a pendant here.
Over a Table 28 to 32 inches above the tabletop is where this light fixture will usually hang, though it can be hung lower or higher, it’s more of a personal preference. Keep in mind for conversation, and for serving and passing food, you don’t want it to hang right in your face while seated. Consider mounting two or three pendants above the table for added light and visual appeal.
Above the Kitchen Island Whether it’s an area for cooking or an area for sitting and watching someone cook, kitchen pendant lights are normally hung 28 to 35 inches over the island. It really depends on the function of the island, how the area will be used most often and what you’re comfortable with. Again, hanging two or three pendants in a row can look quite beautiful.
Bathroom Instead of traditional sconces, hanging two pendants on either side of a mirror looks stunning. Choosing a fixture with clear glass will offer more light which is good for makeup and getting ready, while a diffused shade offers a more ambient feel. The middle of the light component of the pendant should hang at where the middle of the mirror is placed, close enough to the wall so no one will bump into it, but not touching the wall itself. If you’re just hanging one in the centre of the room, you again want to make sure it clears the door.
Middle of the Living Room With furniture underneath the pendant, such as a sofa or coffee table, don’t be afraid to hang your light fairly low. Usually the light will be hung over a seating area, which is usually an area for conversation, a spot for reading, watching television or resting – so you want to make sure it’s well lit but not overly bright. I would suggest having this light installed on a dimmer switch so that you have the luxury of setting your own tone of brightness.
Above the bed A pendant light hung above the bed can serve as a lovely focal point for any bedroom. Fixtures here are usually hung rather high so that you don’t end up hitting it in the middle of the night tossing and turning or when you jump out of bed because you’re late for work. Also keep in mind the sight line – if you have a television on the wall in front of your bed, you’ll want to hang it high enough so it doesn’t obstruct your view.
On either side of the bed In place of table lamps, I love the idea of hanging a pendant above each side table. Just like in the bathroom, you want it to be hung close enough to the wall so you don’t hit it, but not so it’s actually touching the wall. I would leave about 12 to 20 inches above the bottom of the side table so that you have room for accessories and books.
Side notes
› Rules are meant to be broken – common sense sometimes overpowers any guidelines, so feel free to follow your own gut instinct when hanging your pendant light!
› It’s a smart idea to consult your certified electrician before hanging any light fixture. There are codes and standards that are required to be met for safety reasons.
Yanic Simard
Yanic is the design editor of New Condo Guide and principal designer of Toronto Interior Design Group. Specializing in residential and commercial projects, Yanic often applies his signature high/low and old/new combination techniques in developing his unique designs. He has created designs for clients in Toronto, Montreal and Miami, and appears as a regular guest expert on Citytv’s CityLine. tidg.ca • facebook.com/yanic.simard • twitter.com/yanicsimard
June 1, 2012
By Silvana Longo & Lydia McNutt
Jane Lockhart talks colour
Jane Lockhart, Interior Designer, janelockhart.com
Though not a common item on your shopping list, colour is the most basic décor essential.
A room’s colour sets the tone for the look and feel of the space, and it affects all the other rooms that surround it. Most importantly, colour is a reflection of your personal style. Shopping for colour can be daunting, so colour expert Jane Lockhart offers her expert tips on how to choose the right hue.
Consult an expert. Interior designers and decorators are worth their weight in gold and can save you a lot of stress, anxiety and money by using their vast experience to help you choose the perfect palette.
Infuse some personality and function. A colour can speak volumes in a room and directly influence the ambiance and personality
of the space. Choose colours based on how you want the room to feel and work. Light affects colour, so be aware of how light moves through your house.
Consider your furnishings. Draw inspiration for a colour scheme from your existing furnishings – an upholstered sofa, an oriental rug or favorite piece of art. It’s easier to match a colour to something you love than to find something to complement a new wall colour!
Get inspired. Peruse glossy décor magazines and designers’ websites for ideas. Pay attention to furniture styles, colour schemes and architectural elements. Your colour choices should enhance and complement your style and period elements. Make note of the featured brand and colour number, or take a photo, clip a magazine article or bring a piece of fabric to a reputable paint store to have it professionally colour matched to any brand.
Choose the right finish. Typically, home interior paint comes in satin finish, semi-gloss, high gloss and flat finishes. Semi-gloss and high gloss paints are more durable and easier to clean, making them ideal finishes for mouldings and kitchen and baths. Flat and satin finishes lend a soft, elegant look to living rooms, bedrooms and family rooms.
JANE’S TOP SHOPS
1. Crate & Barrel
crateandbarrel.ca
cb2
651 Queen St. W., Toronto
cb2.com
2. Elte
80 Ronald Ave.,
Toronto
elte.com
3. windergarden
664 Annette St., Toronto
windergarden.com
4. Union Lighting
& Furnishings
1491 Castlefield Ave., Toronto
unionlightingandfurnishings.com
5. Speers Road Broadloom
400 Speers Rd., Oakville
speersroadbroadloom.com
Hellen Buttigieg keeps it clean
Hellen Buttigieg, Professional Organizer weorganizeu.com
Assign a home. Before buying anything, determine where it will live. To keep your space organized, every item needs a home. Save steps and time by storing items in the area where they will be used. This increases the likelihood that they’ll be returned to that spot after use. Items used together should be stored together. Create ‘kits’ for regular tasks like sewing, gardening, or washing the car.
Use bins and baskets to hide a multitude of sins, but always store like with like. Choose containers that suit your décor and organizing style. If the bins aren’t clear, make sure you label them. To maximize space, choose containers that stack. Square is better than round, as you can stash more inside. Keep similar items together to make it easier to find what you need. Before you set foot in a store to buy any containers, declutter first – you’ll have a better idea of what you actually need (size, style and quantity).
Maximize vertical space. Using vertical space frees up horizontal space, which is more limited. Add shelves above existing ones, over doorframes and as a border just below the ceiling. Purchase the tallest bookcases and wardrobes that your space will accommodate, and add bins or baskets on top for additional storage. Use over-the-door hangers, hooks, and pegboards. Mount small appliances under cabinets.
Think outside the storage box. Just because an item is designed for one purpose doesn’t mean you can’t use it for something different. Get creative. An over-the-door shoe holder can be used in the bathroom to house hair products, makeup and facial wipes in the pockets. A framed cork board with push pins can be a fun way to display costume jewelry – cover it with pretty fabric to complement your decor. Stash cherished mementos in vintage suitcases – stack several and use as a side table.
Use the ‘One-In One-Out’ rule. When you purchase one item, it should replace another similar item. This rule will not only keep you organized almost effortlessly – it will make you think twice before you hand over your hard-earned cash.
HELLEN’S TOP SHOPS
1. Binz
1934 Queen St. E., Toronto
binz.ca
2. Solutions
2329 Yonge St., Toronto
solutions-stores.ca
3. Pottery Barn
100 Bloor St. W., Toronto
potterybarn.ca
4. Bed, Bath and Beyond
200 North Service Rd. W., Oakville
bedbathandbeyond.ca
5. IKEA
ikea.com/ca
Neat
6. 628 Queen St. W., Toronto
neatspace.ca
Lisa Canning on small spaces
Lisa Canning, Interior Stylist, lisacanning.ca
Plan. Big or small, a well-designed space begins with a good plan. Measure your space, taking note of electrical outlets, light fixtures and structural obstructions like bulkheads and columns. Take these measurements and input them into an online planning tool like Icovia (icovia.com). This tool allows you to insert furnishings, change their sizes and generate a shopping list with exact measurements. Keep proportions in mind when planning the layout of your furniture and don’t be shy to take painter’s tape to the floor to visually block out how your furniture will fit.
Furniture with function. In a booming condo market, innovative retailers have understood the need for multi-functional pieces to help small-space dwellers lead more functional and stylish lives. Available through VNO Designs, the Lacuna table begins as a customizable piece of wall art and drops down to reveal a functional dining table for five. At BoConcept, a sleek coffee table reveals hidden compartments with functional storage. Crate & Barrel’s Willow Twin Sleeper Sofa is a compact overstuffed chair that unfolds for your unexpected overnight guest. These double-duty pieces not only work hard for you but look great too.
Don’t be afraid of pattern. I am often asked if a small space can handle a bold wallpaper – and my answer is a vehement “yes!” A patterned wallpaper in a small space can lend itself to a cosy, intimate atmosphere. But do watch scale. A wallpaper with an oversized print may feel too overpowering in a small space. To keep the look cohesive, draw your colour palette from the wallpaper. Add throw pillows in a coordinating colour or paint adjacent walls to complement.
The 70-5-25 rule. A challenge with small spaces is that you can often see the entire room at first glance. This means that creating harmony and balance is important to ensure the room does not feel disjointed or cluttered. I find an easy principle to employ to achieve this is a rule of 70-25-5: 70 per cent of a main colour, 25 per cent of a secondary colour and five per cent of a “surprise” colour. For example, light grey walls and a dark grey sofa could be the dominant colour, a black coffee table as the secondary colour, and throw pillows in a punch of lime green as the pop of colour. I find using this principle allows me to achieve big impact, especially in small spaces.
Three things not to forget. If you are looking to start somewhere, begin with these three elements: paint, light fixtures and window treatments. Even if you have great furniture in a space, I find a home doesn’t feel “lived in” until these items are in place. I often recommend that clients tackle these often-neglected areas before they buy furniture so they do not get put on the decorating back burner.
LISA’S TOP SHOPS
1. BoConcept Furniture
230 Adelaide St. E., Toronto
boconcept.com
2. Design Republic
639 Queen St. W., Toronto
mydesignrepublic.com
3. Elte 2nd Floor
80 Ronald Ave., Toronto
elte.com
4. inVU Drapery Co.
2784 Yonge St., Toronto
invudraperyco.com
5. West Elm
109 Atlantic Ave., Toronto
westelm.com
Yanic Simard designs with black
Yanic Simard, Principal Designer, Design Editor for New Condo Guide, tidg.ca
Finding your inspiration. The thought of designing with black and only black might seem a little intimidating, so finding inspiration first to give you some ideas and some confidence is the perfect way to start. Inspiration can stem from anywhere. Watching movies is a great source for me – I get a lot of creative ideas from the sets. Looking through design magazines and watching home décor shows are evidently an ideal way, but even just looking through Benjamin Moore’s Paint Deck – they actually have 52 different shades of black!
The idea of layering. The key to designing with black is to avoid having it fall flat. Adding different levels of the colour adds interest and depth, such as having one area rug lay on top of another. A beautiful 8×10 or 9×12 black rug with a subtle tone on tone pattern looks amazing with a silky jet black cowhide diagonally positioned over it. Another way to layer is with toss cushions – mixing and matching different materials such as silk, cotton, leather and velvet all in the colour black looks very sharp.
Adding a mix of finishes. You need to add a bit of contrast with your black scheme so things don’t begin to disappear into one another. Introducing elements of chrome, marble and glass will inject some punch and life into the setting.
Treating your walls. Painting walls and trim black is bold, dramatic and sure to make a statement; especially when you experiment and go out on a limb with the sheen. Try painting your doors and trim out in a satin or a semi-gloss and painting the ceiling and all of the walls in flat. You can add even more personality with a black-on-black wallpaper. Graham and Brown has some remarkable and trendy wall coverings that definitely fit the bill, including one of my personal favourites “Braille Chester” in Noir by Marcel Wanders which we will actually be installing in our design studio.
Injecting some warmth. Incorporating different shades of black can be a nice way of doing this (some blacks are greyer, more purple, greener, lighter, darker, etc.) but if you’re still hesitant on the idea of designing with black and only black, bringing in a hint of colour might make you ease up a bit. Navy blue or deep rusty red looks really elegant and classy paired with the true dark hue.
YANIC’S TOP SHOPS
1. 1212 Décor
1212 Yonge Street, Toronto
http://1212decor.com
2. Graham & Brown
grahambrown.ca
3. Design Solutions
143 King Street E Toronto
designsolutionsinc.ca
4. Cocoon
2640 Bristol Circle,
Suite 200 Oakville
cocoonfurnishings.ca
5. 507 Antiques
50 Carroll St, Toronto
507antiques.com
Glen Peloso accessorizes
Glen Peloso, Principal Designer, Design Editor at HD&R, glenpelosointeriors.com
Accessories in a room are like the accessories of an outfit. They can change an outfit from a strict business suit to something a little gentler, simply by adding a ruffle or a soft scarf. The same is true of the accessories of a room. Based on the layout and feel of your furniture and fabrics, you can decide if you want the room to feel masculine or more feminine. There is no right or wrong, it is really a matter of preference. I always think it is best to decide on a direction for the accessories before you set out to shop. There are a variety of directions, but in general you can divide into “shiny” which would be glass, chrome, mirror and high gloss, “natural” which would be reclaimed woods, leather, ceramics and hand-made items, “antique” which is self explanatory, or “eclectic” which would contain a selection of all of the above. Again no direction is wrong for a room, however it will change the way the room feels.
Ensure accessories “pull the room together” in a feel and colour scheme you like. When you look at the throw pillows of a well-coordinated room you will see that colours from the drapery have been repeated in the cushions, or colours or fabrics from the sofa have been used to repeat the colour in another area of the room.
Remember that “art” isn’t considered an “accessory” but is its own category. The art doesn’t have to match anything in the room. A very modern piece would be very happy in a very traditional room. The only requirement of the art is that you like it. The frame may want to complement the room but even that isn’t essential. I rarely – if ever – advise clients on the selection, but have opinions when it comes to size and placement in the room.
Before you set foot in a store, know what areas of the room you want to accessorize. All too often people shop on the “isn’t that cute” rule, however, and the items selected end up being the wrong proportions or they don’t coordinate with each other. Go with specifics. Know that you are looking for something that is eight inches high, 14 inches across, for example, and that you would like it to be something “natural” in style or colour. To assist you in making that determination, one good way to think about it is in triangles. Accessories tend to look best when they create a triangle either with the peak being far to the right or left or in the centre, so think “group of three.”
Accessories are the one element of a room that can be changed seasonally or every couple of years. They tend to be the least expensive part of the décor, so changing them from time to time won’t break the bank – but may deposit some big smiles when you are relaxing in the room and enjoying the finished product.
GLEN’S TOP SHOPS
1. Sun-Brite Drapery
7695 Jane St., Unit 11, Concord
sunbritedrapery.com
2. Crate & Barrel
crateandbarrel.ca
Visit the website for a location
near you
3. HomeSense
homesense.ca
4. Julien Armand
416.534.5665
julienarmand.ca
5. Smash
2880 Dundas St. W., Toronto
416.762.3113
smash.to
Heather Segreti sizes it up
Heather Segreti, Interior Designer, segretidesign.com
A floor plan drawn to scale is always the best way to ensure proper placement. With that being said, putting the pieces of furniture on a plan will only work if you know what the standard guidelines for placement are. Yes, there are standard and – more importantly – minimum clearances that will facilitate optimal traffic flow through your space. The best resource for this information would be Wiley’s Publication – Architectural Graphic Standards – Interior Graphic Standards edition. After 75 years of continuous publication, Architectural Graphic Standards is one of the most trusted and relied-upon architectural references in the design and construction industries.
Get out the masking tape. You can use low-tack painters or masking tape to essentially draw the footprint of your desired purchase on the floor. For example, if the sofa you are considering purchasing is 72 inches long and 40 inches deep, then use your measuring tape to locate this rectangular shape on the floor and then outline the shape with your tape. This is a great way to visualize the piece and see its proportions in relation to your existing pieces of furniture. This technique also works for artwork and large mirrors. For example if you are looking to create a feature wall with multiple frames in all different sizes, you can tape these shapes on the wall accordingly, record the sizes and feel confident when you purchase.
The tablet trend. Have your iPad on hand. A digital camera is a given, but the new trend in tablets has taken shopping to a new level. Pre-shoot the spaces in your home and literally bring your room with you to every retailer you visit. The advantage of the large screen and lightweight tablet is easy access. I have used this technique when purchasing carpets for clients’ spaces, and it also works wonderfully when purchasing artwork and accessories. This really allows you to envision the showroom item in your home and make a decision on the spot.
Don’t be overwhelmed by a brilliant display in a showroom, this may not have the same effect in your space. Try not to stray from your original design style. Just because it looks great in the showroom doesn’t mean it will look great in your space. Remember, all retail stores are set up to catch your eye and get you to buy! Impulse is a great business for retailers, so stick to your design style.
If you question the purchase more than once, it’s not for you! If you really want to be certain, take a photo, walk away and then see if you are drawn back. Go home and measure, tape
and look at the photo in your own space. Instinct can be your greatest ally!
HEATHER’S TOP SHOPS
1. Zilli Home
672 Chrislea Rd., Woodbridge
zillihome.com
2. Prima Lighting
255 Bass Pro Mills Dr., Thornhill
primalighting.com
3. Au Lit Fine Linens
2045 Yonge St., Toronto
aulitfinelinens.com
4. Home Couture by Maria
And Baby Décor
2104 Hwy. 7 West, Unit 19, Concord
babydecor.ca
5. Teatro Verde
98 Yorkville, Toronto
teatroverde.com
6. Restoration Hardware
2901 Bayview Ave., North York
restorationhardware.com
May 22, 2012
