The end of the road...

photo: Pottery Barn

I think I bit off more than I can chew with this alphabet thing. I just have the hard ones left, so here goes...

Q is for quoi...as in that certain je ne sais quoi. You know what I mean...it's that bit of style that someone gives to their home that is hard to put your finger on. I think it is basically their personality coming through. Their love of nature reflected in a piece of driftwood, their cheerfulness that can be compared to their detailed pillows or artwork, their memorabilia that tells you that they have travelled...basically just that element that sets them apart. Not all of us have it on display but it's there if we tap into it...

photo: Ralph Lauren Home

R is for rugs (or flooring, carpets, etc.). Choosing a great rug to ground and "finish" off a room can be very difficult...especially if you want it to work if you change your decor with the seasons. In fact, I am in the process of finding a great rug for my living room. Alas, I am having absolutely no luck. Maybe I need to take another trip south of the border...

(For my dream rug...and chairs...see top photo)

S is for shades...Lamp shades, that is. Choose shades in the right proportion to the lamp you will be using (a guide will often be on the lamp tag itself when you purchase it). My favourite shade of the moment is the drum shade. In fact, I am on the lookout for a big one for a ceiling light I want to make. Another really nice variation is a black shade. This looks very rich and classy and can offer a modern touch as well.

T is for treasures... We all have them, we just have to figure out the best way and places to display them. I love to use shadow boxes and mirrored trays to showcase small treasures. Giving them prominence elevates their importance and reminds us of why we consider them treasures. Dig your treasures out from their hiding spaces. If they were important enough to keep, then they are important enough to show off.


U is for up-lighting...(I know, I'm grasping at straws here). But up-lighting is a great tool to use in the garden, especially. I love to uplight the large birch tree in my front yard, especially at Halloween and Christmas. It can give an eery or magical impression to the tree and showcases its magnificent beauty.


V is for vintage...You had to know I was going to choose that!! In my book, vintage anything is basically a great choice. I love incorporating old decorative items and furniture. It gives a home a sense of history, even a new home. I also live knowing that someone else used and loved items now in my possession. It is the best form of decorative recycling. What's old is new again...!!


W is for windows... Great windows are the crowning touch to any home...it is so important to not scrimp when picking out new windows!! When purchasing windows I fall back on one of my favourite sayings, "It is what it is." Windows are expensive, but such is life. You need them and they might as well be pretty, because no matter how beautiful your view from the inside of your home, it will backfire if you cheap out on selecting the windows of your home!! You mustn't forget the view from the street...your home!! Add mullions/grills, beautiful trim, and the creme de la creme of all windows...transoms. Nothing says heritage home like some beautiful transoms topping your windows. So buy the best you can afford..you won't regret it!!


X is for...x is for...x is for...x is for... sorry I can't think of a single thing!!!!!!!


Y is for yellow... one of the best "neutral" paint colours I can think of. Yellow can be creamy, buttery, sunny, earthy (think maize), happy, calm, or vibrant. And you know how I love a yellow house...

Z is for zzzzz's...what I should be catching right now...I have a big organization job in the morning and I need to get myself organized!!!
By the way, if you thought of something for the letter X, tell me!! I hereby X-tend my apologies and can offer no X-cuse for my lack of creativity!!!

HIJKLMNOP...

Don't you love that song?? Every toddler warbles the words (and letters) out in such a sweet way, all the while learning their alphabet!! Well, on with my version...the decorating ABC's!

H is for hardware...No, not hardware stores (although they can be a treasure trove), but hardware as in door knobs, cabinetry pulls, handles and knobs, even plumbing fixtures...the mechanics of the home that disguise themselves as jewellry. I hate going into a new home where the contractor has chosen everything, and the "jewellry" is missing. It seems like they either cheap out, or just don't have any style sense. Either way, it's up to us to tweak what needs tweaking and add our own jewellry. Nowadays, you can have your pick from vintage/reproduction style hardware in milk glass, antique metals, glass knobs... to the other end of the spectrum: modern finishes and styles. All can add up to a cheap, easy way to update and beautify doors, cabinets, bathroom fittings, and more.

I is for inspiration...Find a look, object, piece of art or even a colour that you find inspiring and let it be a jump-off point for everything else. Take the best from your inspirational item and make sure that when you choose something for your home because of it, the new item should make you feel as good as the inspirational piece. J is for journey... Decorating is a process and should be fun and drawn out. There are those who can afford to pay people to make everything come together at once. All is completed and perfect and they can purchase all the "right" pieces as soon as the want enters their mind. While I am prone to a bit of envy towards those folks, I would not choose that route for the interior of my home. My style is constantly evolving. It is like a puzzle...I find something I like and it either fits or it doesn't. If it doesn't, I move on to something that "fits" better and I know that something better WILL always come along. I enjoy this journey as I create a space that I love... that isn't impulsive or just in vogue at the moment. I don't have the luxury of an unlimited budget, but I do have the luxury of an unlimited imagination, as do you. I dream it and try and find a way to create it on my budget. And if it doesn't happen, then it wasn't meant to be...and I move on to another piece of my puzzle. Let your home evolve. Your style will have more longevity that way...

K is for kitchen... I love a good kitchen. It is the first room I click on when I am perusing real-estate online. If the kitchen is good, I know the rest will also be good. Renovating a kitchen can be hugely expensive, so that is where your creativity comes in. Let paint, hardware, accessories, and lighting be your friend. One of the most creative fixes in a kitchen was done by Cindy at Romantic Home. Pure genius at work...and a great way to beautify on a budget! I forget where I found this kitchen (below), but it is a great example of the homeowner choosing longevity over trends... beautiful!!

L is for lighting...I've droned on and on about my love of lighting and the absolute necessity of not overlooking its importance. It truly doesn't have to be expensive. Think classic good looks combined with a bit of the unexpected. You really do deserve a chandelier in your bathroom or bedroom, and exterior lighting is not meant to be solely used outside. Select only lights that you love and you will elevate your home to a new level.

M is for mouldings... I am talking about not only trim, but wainscotting, beadboard, raised and recessed panelling, etc. Especially in new homes, this brings an element of architecture to rooms. Wide baseboards and deep window headers are particularily beautiful and will add real style to your home.

N is for natural... Decorate in YOUR style. It's okay to get inspiration from a magazine or design book, but when you find yourself obsessed about replicating every detail in the photo, then you know you have lost your way. Your house won't feel like yours if you strip away your treasured belongings just because they don't fit in perfectly with your desired decorating scheme. Show a little of yourself...be inspired by others but don't be a copy-cat. This leads to my next point...

O is for originality... I have two things to say about that. Inject some originality into your space...but don't believe your hype. While others may tell you that you are the most creative person on the planet, and you likely are extremely creative, we all have to own up to the fact that we've likely seen the idea elsewhere. Whether it be at someone else's home, in a magazine, on HGTV, or some other random spot. We may not consciously recall where the idea originated, but very likely someone, somewhere has had the idea first...albeit perhaps way down the creative ladder.

I know of someone who would spot a great idea in a newly released magazine and announce that they were going to do "this, this, that and this". Therefore, the rest of the world who would have purchased the magazine would be copying if they decided to carry out the ideas as well (I bet you're nodding in agreement...we all know someone like that!). Remember, it is easy to recreate a great look, but to truly make it your own and even better than the original, infuse some of your own personal style and belongings into the look.

P is for paint!! The dreaded decision...which colour to paint our rooms can drive us all batty. We are so scared to make a bad colour choice...or even worse, to make a mediocre choice that we will live with because it isn't offensive; but we hate it all the same because we're angry at ourselves for playing it safe. If you want my advice on selecting paint colour, check out this old post about choosing colour wisely.

I've got some tough letters up ahead...Q and U and X and Z...I better go ask my kids for some advice on what starts with those letters. I'm pretty sure I can't convince you to hang X-ray photos up on your wall and you certainly can't place a vase on an Xylophone...Aagh!! I'll see what I can some up with!!

The ABC's of decorating...verse 1

photo: poshchicago.com

Well, I hope I don't get you humming the ABC song, 'cause that's where I'm going with this. I'm going to do that crazy word association game in the form of a decorating lesson, so hum along with me...if you know your ABC's that is...

A is for accessories...you know what a sucker I am for those. It's so important to have just enough, but not too many. And please, make them mean something to you. Don't buy something because you should, but because you can't live without it. In other words, choose love (or looks ) over money. Just because it costs a a lot, doesn't mean it's great.

B is for bed... We finally invested in a good quality mattress and my back thanks me for it everyday. This is an example of pro-rating at its best. The mattress may be a good chunk of change, but divided over the life of the bed, it's an outright bargain! And you know how much I love a bargain... Oh, and don't forget to buy pretty, soft sheets. Stay away from the 180-thread counts...unless you want to feel like you've just gone to bed on a loofah... You will feel pampered if your bed is pretty and comfy. You're worth it...I know you are!!

C is for chairs. I think I've said enough on that topic...just promise me you won't settle for ugly/ quality. I did that with mine...but that's an old story!!

(oops, I forgot...C is also for Chandelier...an absolute must have...the sparklier the better!!)

photo: Design inc.ca

D is for drapery (although I prefer to call them curtains, or window treatments) Lighten up on these...they should enhance the window, not overwhelm it. And unless you need sheers in the same way your mother needs a slip, forgo them. Let the light in and enjoy your view!

photo: Cottage Chic store

E is for exterior decorating. Don't forget curb appeal. The outside of your home should entice people to cross the threshold. Spruce up your entrance, open your curtains, put out a nice welcome mat, and hang a pretty wreath on the door. Reveal some of who you are on the outside of your home...

F is for fireplace. If you have one and you don't love it...give it a makeover! Resurface the front of it, change your mantel decor with the seasons, and clean out the firebox. Soot and grime do not make for a "smokin" look!! Don't forget, F is also for focal point...something your fireplace should be!

G is for garage door. Please, oh please, don't paint your garage door a crazy colour or make it stand out from outer space. It should recede...blend in...or if you really lucky, treat yourself to one that has a heritage feel. There are some beautiful options out there. Choose beauty and function!!

Well, tomorrow will be brought to you by the letters HIJKLMNOP . Bet you don't know what comes after that!!