{ Dining Room DIY Dish-Up }

One of the easiest and fastest ways to change the look of a room is to change the colours. This is a great reason to invest in neutral pieces when big-ticket items such as dining table sets are purchased. This will allow you to do a weekend makeover, like the below sample, with more ease.

It’s not always easy to incorporate colour. When in doubt, go with what you LOVE. I usually start by making a folder of images, fabrics, and paint chips which appeal to me. Then I lay out all the images and look for similar themes and colours. Most of the time an obvious pattern emerges.

With new paint colours and a couple key accessory purchases, an entirely new look can be achieved. As an example, a simple dining room makeover can usually be done in a weekend.

Here’s my virtual DIY makeover to inspire you. Hopefully you’ll be so inspired by this that you’ll embark on a real-life makeover this weekend!

paint

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lighting

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dining-ware

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Get the Look LOCALLY

Paint – Benjamin Moore House of Colour
Chandelier - Try The Light House for something similar
Dining-ware – Mixed set shown here from Otter’s Kitchen Cove

Happy Decorating!

{ Playroom – Parent Approved Style }

We received a fantastic e-mail from a parent in the Comox Valley inquiring about how to create a children’s space within their home. Great question! Here’s what I think you should do….

Inspirational Photos from our Houzz.com Ideabook

~Storage is a major issue we all face when dealing with a playroom.   Understandably there is a need for easy access to a host of toys and activities to keep up with the little ones ever changing minds.  Having an assortment of things to play with is crucial for healthy developmental in children, so there’s no way around it, we need storage!  The first photo shows a great built-in banquet with storage below to tuck away items not in use.  This also allows for a comfy reading spot to sit and snuggle up with a great book, and the modern design will appeal to the adults.  If a built-in banquet is not in the budget, you can achieve a similar look by using a second hand bench with baskets below.  That is what we use in my house, and it works like a charm!  These solutions help to keep the room clutter free, and maintain a look that everyone can enjoy.

~Next we need to get organized.  Try setting up work stations around the room so that the children can easily identify what activity is offered within that space.  This will allow the child to go directly to the station of their choice to play, and when they are done, they can tidy and move on to the next station.  By adopting the “clean as you go” philosophy, the room should stay in a fairly good state of repair.  Also, try finding furnishings that are miniature versions of pieces that you would use in other areas of the house.  The chairs in the first photo are a great example of “designer” kid furniture that is available.

~Now it’s time to create a colour pallet!  If you are in a rental, or painting the room is not an option, try using wall decals with inspirational words or images to add some interest to the space.  These are extremely easy to apply, and equally easy to remove when necessary.  Primary colours don’t always have to be used for kid friendly rooms,  in fact I like to use colours that are softer, creamier, and less intense to help create a space that is more soothing.  The colour pallets in the photos above are a great example of using a colours that are stimulating but calming and not necessarily gender specific, which a will appeal to all of the family members.

~Finally, it’s time to fill the space with learning and love.  There are so many great accessories and educational materials available for kid-friendly homes that it’s hard to know where to begin!  We are so lucky to have so many lovely shops here in the Valley which offer great selections of items to inspire everyone.

~k

Firefly New Beginnings on 5th street is one of our favorite shops. They offer a modern spin on toy shopping… I love the Ugly Dolls…so funny!

Red Living on Cliffe Ave.  A great place to shop for furniture for a kid-friendly space. Items are usually budget-friendly and the likelihood of finding bright, funky and fun pieces is really good!

Duduza is a new store in downtown Comox that carries lovely children’s bedding and bedroom accents, as well as other fantastic vibrant accessories for the home.

{ Plastics and Alternatives in Today’s Renovations }

I am currently a full-time student at NIC studying for my Drafting certificate. Our class is only just starting to explore different aspects of building and engineering. Our first step is to explore building materials. Last week, we began our study on plastics.

The general attitude these days towards plastics is not a positive one. We’ve all heard the scary stories of leaching and off-gassing. When people think of “healthy homes” or “green homes” careful consideration regarding the use of plastics is common. Yes, plastics are created from toxic components. However, most common plastics are also safe to use once in their final state.

Plastics play a major role in construction, including renovations. There are plastic components in the majority of the modern products commonly used in today’s renovations. Not sure which products contain plastic? Well, it’s not always obvious because of the fancy names things are given these days.

Here is a sample list I’ve compiled of common renovation products that contain plastic:

- laminate countertops
- laminate flooring
- mdf baseboards
- vinyl renovation windows
- carpet
- latex paint

I’m learning that all building products are compared using rating systems for their Mechanical Properties. Plastics have some major benefits when compared to other materials.

Ironically, these beneficial Mechanical Properties have a lot to do with the health and safety of a home. For example, the Electicial properties of plastics are advantageous for safety reasons when compared to other products. Factors such as heat resistance and arc resistance make plastics the ideal product to use for the majority of electrical systems today. Another example of plastic being a healthy choice for construction would be the use of vapour barrier plastics in construction. We’ve all heard about the ‘leaky condo’ issue in BC which resulted in scary unhealthy mold situations; Installing the right kind of plastic vapour barier prevents newer homes from going through this same issue. Or, how about engineered wood? Engineered beams are commonly used in construction now. Tree huggers can be torn between moral grounds on this one: Is an engineered beam constructed with plastic resins a better choice than a beam derived from a beautiful old growth tree?

This debate is not black and white.

I have a huge interest in Green Building. During my research I have observed that plastics play a main role in Green Building too.

For example, SIP (Structurally Insulated Panel) construction can result in an extremely energy efficient home. In addition to the energy savings, homes constructed with SIPS take up less of our precious forests because there is less conventional lumber used in the frame. SIPS have a fancy name, but basically they are two sheets of OSB (plastic product) with Polyurethane foam (plastic product) packed between them like a sandwich. SIPs are plastic. SIPs are also Green.

Confused yet?

Regardless of what side of the fence one sits on when it comes to plastics in home construction, a wise choice can be made. Here are some examples of local businesses offering either cutting edge plastic products for home renovations, or plastic alternatives.

1. List of local beneficial plastic related products and services:

EcoSIP Industries (Duncan) – SIP Construction
(extremely energy efficient, saves time and trees in home construction)

Van Isle Windows – Energy Saving Vinyl Windows
(old wood or aluminium windows can be the biggest energy drain in a home)

House of Colour- Low VOC Latex Paint – Benjamin Moore
(a non-toxic latex paint)

2. List of local plastic alternatives:

Nutmeg Homes - Concrete Homes
(Comparable to SIPs in relation to insulating properties and overall strength)

Liquid Stone Studios (Ladysmith) – Concrete Countertops
(Comparable to high-end Laminate Countertops)

Central Home Builders- Hardie Plank Siding
(Comparable to Vinyl Siding for low-maintenance and weather proofing qualities)

Woodland Flooring - Reclaimed & Beetle Pine Flooring
(a wonderful alternative to laminates and engineered hardwoods)

Over to you now:
How do you feel about plastics when it comes to home renovations?
Can you suggest other products/services that fit into either of the above lists?

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Last Week’s Contest Winner:
Congratulations Signi! We’ll contact you with the details :)

{ 1929 }

Today we’re doing something a little different with our regular Home Tour feature…

Here in the Comox Valley we have some lovely historical architecture. I’m not sure about you, but one of my favorite things to do is drive around and gaze at some of the classic old timers. Old orchard area in Courtenay, or downtown Cumberland are two of my favorite spots for this.

In Comox sits one beautiful historical gem of a home. You’ve probably seen it: The Filberg Lodge located at the Filbeg Park.

This home was supposed to be the guest house for the Filberg family. Construction started in 1929 and by 1935 the family loved it so much that they decided to make it their own.

Kari’s here to give us a few historical design lessons circa 1929.

Enjoy!

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