Vignette

January 22nd, 2012

I am going to try to post some vignette photos as often as I can.  This is where people seem to have the most difficulty when decorating.  Its all about the scale, feel and theme.

v collage

I change mine constantly.  Actually…thats a problem for me.  Too many ideas. Too small a house.

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Candle Collection

I have recently discovered electric candles with a remote! I love remotes. For the TV the stereo, my lights especially. They have remote plugins for your table lamps at Home Hardware!  Put them on all your table and floor lamps. They really do make your life easier.  Sounds silly-try it!

w budd

Here are some of my thoughts on 2012 Trends..

My Top Favourite things for 2012

TEXTURE

Tufted Sofa or Ottoman

Colours:
Grey & green- in the green or brown families Benjamin Moore HC 48

from off white greys to deep brown grey and all things grey green Painted Cupboards! Boo to wood.
Metals – industrial or Chrome
Textiles: linen, nubby silk, weaves , velvet -texture!

Silk Faux Pleated Floor Length Drapes Textured walls in Natural Hues-vintage Plaster

Countertops: Quartz
or the opposite,
-Honed veined granite that looks like leather or petrified wood

Punch colours-Soft Black (Vintage or whitewashed)
Wood: textured, whitewashed and worn looking
All things reclaimed … antiques @ oversize dining tables-mix with clean simple decor Large Large dramatic artwork
In short everything textured! from walls to floors to fabrics. Elegant but easy and lived in.

2012 card

Faux Finishes and Textures

January 22nd, 2012

old worldHere are a few photos of some faux finishes and textures!

ragThe Textures are dimensional while the faux’s just appear that way!

blue faux

Gold or Metallics are best used under Glazes

gold

Country or Modern – Faux works with it all!

fres

country

Warm Colour can change the whole feel of a room.

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The Possibilities are Endless

orient collage

Warning! Faux is addictive!

wall

Fresco is our most popular finish…

fresco

The Kids Have all the Fun

January 22nd, 2012

I have done a lot of Childrens Rooms in the past.  Many before my computer days…so I have only a couple to show here.  But it seems as though we have gotten very sophisticated with our children.  We do ’safe’ rooms a lot of the time.  I say ‘let them have fun’!olyphantWhen I was little my mother always let me pick the colours and decor for my bedroom.  It was the 60’s so you can imagine.  But she never held me back. I still have a soft spot for orange!

metrowallThis was a teens room I did a few years ago.  We continued the ‘painted’ valance across the window..

giraffeI did this room as a ‘while you were out’ with Kim Haight.  I drank a lot of coffee that day!

baby's room 011This is still one of my favourites!  I think I can still recite most of this book!

girlsbedstripeflowerI love to make retail bedding look more custom by putting the details on the wall.

The Great Chair Event

January 22nd, 2012

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boss chrsIMG00456-20110823-1150
I’ve spent the last year having fun with chairs.  I discovered along the way that it was not so much about reusing and saving money as it was about creating a unique treasure. I am happy to say that many of my clients have felt the same way and have expressed their joy at having something that speaks to them in a very personal way. Here are just a few of the creations from 2011..DSCF0114
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blk satin
cane before
cane after
chair pics

Save Your Quality Wood Cupboards!

September 2nd, 2010

We bring the Fantastic and Fresh look back to your kitchen!

oak beforePainting your kitchen cabinetry is not only far more economical than replace/reface but far more appealing and often better quality than what is available today.

Established since 1995, Karen Murray Painting is renowned for skill and talent when it comes to painting kitchen cabinets as well as walls, colour selection and specialty faux/texture finishes.

Regarless, if your kitchen is large or small, modern or rustic Karen Murray Painting can make your kitchen cabinetry shine with new pride.
There is now a way to ReNew your existing cabinets, don’t discard them or reface them with plastic doors. Your older cabinets are probably better quality than anything out there today! Karen Murray can update them without compromising quality.

arl after

We use only the finest quality materials. All of which are Enviro-Friendly Products.

Make an appointment for a free estimate and see samples  demonstrating gorgeous results!

Email for your info package or call to make an appointment today!

519-749-8791

Pickled Oak

This kitchen needed some major updating but the cupboards are solid wood.

Why replace them when you can do this?

pickled oak AFTER

laura beforeEven an old kitchen can transform!

Just look below…

laura after2Yes! Believe it or not! That is the same kitchen!

Quick Fix

September 20th, 2009

I loved this Oriental Cabinet but it got lost in this room. So Meryl let me fix it…

Fasten Your Seatbelts!

Fasten Your Seatbelts! BEFORE PHOTO

Curl up with a Book

Curl up with a Book AFTER!

Kitchen Wow

September 20th, 2009

Changes are afoot for Darlene, who loves to cook!  A budget reno with remarkable results!  Thanks to Steve Dyet’s remarkable abilities in putting our vision into place!

before

before

Granite counters paired with a budget Ikea kitchen and cupboards to the ceiling give Darlene more storage and working space! New neutral ceramic tiles throughout the kitchen and entry made a huge difference too.  The Murano glass pendant lights weren’t in yet but its looking good so far!

Visual Mapping Helps

Visual Mapping Helps

We added a little detailing at the door on the tiles with a mosaic.

Detail at Front Door

Detail at Front Door

And Voila!

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Fantastic Difference!

Bath -from Pale to Warm

September 20th, 2009

In the bath below Sherry  wanted to update everything without taking out the vanity base or large fixtures.  So we put in new tile, lighting and a counter top.  We created a warmer palette throughout the house and the  transformation was dramatically represented in this space!100_0925

Dramatic Changes100_1439

New Ways with Old Styles

September 20th, 2009

I am so excited about the new furniture venture for many reasons.  Besides helping our environment by reusing this process encourages a more creative approach to decorating and is just plain fun.  The pieces I will present, I hope, with make us smile and encourage a free spirit  in your decorating.picture-150Bold colours can enliven otherwise sedate rooms. Vibrant colours will offer the unexpected-which is really the point to decorating our homes isn’t it? Just check out the photo above.

MIX MASTERING

Can pieces be mixed? Yes!  Especially if you think of it as Art rather than furniture.  A little diversity is what makes your rooms look like it has a story to tell, rather than a staged ‘decorated’ look.

Join me on this adventure into the mix master of singular art and furniture!

Revived Furniture

September 20th, 2009

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