Updating with Cushions

Many of us don't have the time or the money to invest in a complete overhaul of the living spaces in our homes and instead stick with what we've got until we can't take it anymore, or until there's enough money saved up for a major shopping spree.  Well this decorating mentality doesn't have to continue any longer!  Apart from my previous posts on introducing decorative objects and art into your space (which of course I approve of) a quick and easy way to not only inject some colour but to also transform your space is to change (or add) cushions.


I know you must be thinking "no way, it can't be that easy", but it is really that easy.  A simple decorators trick is to either add an array of cushions on the sofa, an armchair, the floor, the bed, etc or to simply change what already exists.  Many of us have purchased a sofa in our day and without a doubt that sofa came with coordinating or matching throw cushions, and yes, you're probably looking at your sofa right now and thinking "yeah, so what?"  well why not change those throw cushions to something different?  Either replace them altogether or give them a new cover.


I'll show you some examples of how easily you can update the look of your furniture and your room by introducing new cushions.  This concept can also be easily adopted for a transformation throughout the seasons.  This is a quick and easy trick to spruce up your place without breaking the bank, and yes, this trick can (and should) be applied to every room of your house.


Coordinating or Contrasting?


Now that you've decided to make the transition and change those throw cushions in your home you have to decide whether you want to make a coordinating or contrasting addition to what already exists.  This is where the task of selecting new cushions (or covers) can become overwhelming, but it really doesn't have to be.  The trick is to select cushions that  either complement what's already existing or create contrast, and by this I mean do you want your cushions to enhance or stand out.


Here's an example of coordinating vs. contrasting cushion selections for a basic white sofa:

Now I know that not everyone has a white or light coloured sofa in your homes but this is just to show how easily one can adopt the coordinating or contrasting colour scheme for the sofa (or furniture piece) that you have.


Here are some coordinating cushions for the white sofa above:

 As you can see from the pillows selected here they vary in neutral shades to complement the colour of the sofa but not so much so as to blend right in.  If you select cushions that match the sofa I recommend that you opt for only one or two amongst a group and that those matching cushions are textural, this way they don't get lost against the similar hue of the sofa.


Here are some contrasting cushions for the white sofa above:

The selection of the chartreuse and apple green really make for a dramatic pop against the white of the sofa and therefore constitute as a perfect contrast.  You could easily incorporate any colour with the white sofa as the backdrop and they would stand out predominately; colours such as pink, turquoise, lavender, canary yellow, etc. would make an impact statement on this type of sofa.

TIP: remember when selecting cushions opt for texture and pattern as they add depth and dimension.  Don't only stick to the traditional square pillow try cushions in varying heights, shapes and sizes as well.


Coloured Sofas and Furniture...what cushion do I pick?


Now if you're not the adventurous type and don't have a white sofa or white furniture in your home and instead have a coloured sofa (mainly to mask the wear and tear of the family) you're probably wondering what you can do to enhance your space with cushions.  Most of us have traditional brown or black sofas/furniture and every now and then red, yellow and green can be found in households - I personally have crimson, yellow and sage sofas in my home, which I know sounds horrifying but I assure you they're not all in the same room!


With this being said, as the majority of households have brown/camel/tan coloured sofas I will use this colour choice as my next example:

Here are some complementary cushions for the chocolate coloured sofa:

Metallics such as gold, copper and bronze work well against the dark chocolate colour of the sofa and introducing warmer colours such as yellow, camel and tan work to soften up the overall tone.


Here are some contrasting cushions for the chocolate coloured sofa:

As you can see the bright blue and purple hues create a lovely contrast to the grounded chocolate brown in the sofa.  The hits of green, orange and magenta create a sense playfulness and work together to create harmony and intrigue.  In this case I would recommend that you select the same brightness level for all your cushions i.e.  vibrant or muted.


TIP: Opt for different patterns when selecting your cushions, the trick is to select patterns that have similar colours found within and therefore, will all work together harmoniously.


The key to selecting cushions to update or revamp your space is to select colours that don't clash with the majority of the fabric/colour found in your furniture.  For example, if you are planning on selecting cushions for your sofa, keep in mind that your colour selection will be based on the overall colour of that sofa, similarly, if your cushions are meant for the bedroom, you should select based on your bedspread, etc.  So if you have a funky retro sofa in a tangerine colour try to stay away from cushions that are pinkish in hue overall.  If however, you select a cushion that has hits of pink but are comprised of other colours that work well with your tangerine sofa (such as yellow, red, medium blue, green, purple, etc.) I say go for it.  The overall key is to have fun with the selection of your cushions, because after all they are so easily removed, replaced or re-covered!


Happy Shopping!


Courtesy of:
Crate and Barrel
Structube 

Mid-February Blues

I apologize for not updating my blog in quite some time.  Things got rather hectic and sadly took up all of my time and energy!  I will try my best to keep updated with various topics this year and hope that you'll continue to follow me.


Mid-February Blues


Earlier this month good 'ol Wiarton Willie and Punxsutawney Phil (both groundhogs) shared the news with us that winter is going to be over sooner than we expected and I could not have been happier to hear this.  I'm not sure where you reside, but here in Canada the winters are cold, long and dreary so any sign that they'll be over is one to celebrated!


Because our winters are not the most pleasant many of us begin to suffer from the "February Blues".  Seas of people dressed in black and grey match what the weather's like outside and the moods are quite low because of this.  Everyone by this point in the season just really wants to sun to start shining and the snow to melt; but we don't need to wait for those sunnier days to inject some colour and pizazz into our wardrobes!  Let's break out of this dreary cycle of black/grey ensembles and throw some caution to the wind (oh that blasted wind-chill) with some much-needed and well-deserved colour!


Pastel vs. Saturated Colours


You might think I would say "who cares, colour is colour so wear those pastels!", well not this time.  The reason for me saying "not this time" is due to the season we're in, Winter. Pastels in my opinion are reserved for the warmer months and for when we actually do break out of this season and well into Spring.  Washed out colours in the Winter such as pastels don't work well with many skin tones that lose some pigment when the temperatures plummet; these colours lend themselves to washing out the skin tone as it is and we don't really want to draw attention to how sallow our skin is looking this time of the year especially!  Even if you have darker skin (I'm envious) I would stay away from pastels in the Winter months, they really don't have a place during this season and as such you should be wary - that is unless you live in a very sunny/warm climate then by all means go for it!


Darker more saturated colours is where it's at.  These are the colours you should select when trying to break out of the February-blues.  Regal blues and purples, reds, pinks, greens and mustard should all be considered in your Winter colour-breakthrough ensemble.  Winter white (not to be mistaken for the summer-whites which have a blue undertone and are sharp in their colouring; winter whites are a creamier off-white) is also a good addition and will brighten up your wardrobe.


Here are some saturated colours to consider:

As you can see from the colours illustrated above that the hues really run the gamut.  So don't get stuck on one saturated colour, play around with the richness of the saturated shades and let them enhance your wardrobe.


Outerwear


A brightly coloured (or even just coloured) jacket or coat lends itself to standing out in a crowd.  While everyone else is wearing their black and grey winter coats you can stand out  in the drab sea with a red, magenta, blue or green coat.  This is a wonderful way to inject colour into your everyday by sporting a beautiful coloured coat, it'll take some work locating one but once you do you'll regret not having done this sooner!


Here are some ideas:

As you can see above these winter coats vary from red, purple, olive green, sapphire blue, camel, magenta, winter white, multi-coloured and chocolate brown.  The options are endless and the beauty of it is that none of these coats are in black or grey! 


Menswear


Now for you guys in my audience.  I know it's so easy to get stuck in your comfortable zone and reach for that white shirt in your closet - after all any tie you select will work well with it right, but why settle?  I hate to break it to you but even fellas suffer from the February-blues and I see it all the time.  


Guys you can get away with injecting some colour into your wardrobe (on average) and what better way than by selecting dress shirts in saturated shades like those shown above.  Deep, rich shades that enhance your skin tone paired with a funky tie in a complementary or contrasting shade will work wonders for your ensemble and your overall general feeling - I know, here I go talking about "feelings" - But trust me on this one, there will be a change in your attitude when you decide to take my advice, go out on a limb and break out of this rut.


Here are some ideas:

As you can see above the deep saturated ruby red, magenta, teal, grape and blue topaz shades in the dress shirts are vibrant and captivating.  While the complementary and contrasting tone of the ties really make these bad-boy combinations pop.  The options are endless and you'll really begin to appreciate how many options there are out there for making a colour statement!


...And something for the Ladies


It's so easy to want to throw on a comfy pair of pj's and lounge around the house on cold, windy winter days and it gets even harder to pick something to wear to work especially when you just want to hibernate indoors.  A common trend is to throw on a pair of pants and a sweater and rush out the door braving the wintery blast that hits you as soon as you step outside, but every now and then when the mercury rises to just around the freezing mark why not throw on a dress instead in a luscious saturated shade. 


Something to inspire you with:

I know I've been on and on about wearing some colour during the colder more dreary months of the year and I'm certainly not saying you need to deck out from head to toe, but one way to inject some colour is by sporting a dress (sweater or otherwise) in a more saturated shade.  The dresses above are in grape, plum, cobalt blue, navy, emerald green, pink and red and are all good examples of dresses you could wear to work or on the town.  Just be sure to dress warmly and wear tights/pantyhose!


Get out there and shop for some deeply saturated shades to add to your wintery wardrobe to help beat those winter-blues, trust me on this one, you'll thank me when you do!


Happy Shopping!


Courtesy of:
Le Chateau
BCBG Max Azria
Banana Republic
Mango
Macys
Old Navy
Geoffrey Beene
Danier
Anthropologie

New Post...Coming Soon!

Happy New Year everyone!!  


I apologize for not having submitted a post for quite some time, things have been rather hectic at my other job...I promise to have a new post up soon and this isn't a New Year's resolution that I plan on breaking ;)

The Christmas Table

There are only 19 days left until Christmas, now don't panic just yet, that's still plenty of time to think about setting your holiday table with all the festive fixings - and I'm not just talking about the turkey!


The holidays are a time for extravagance and luxury so don't skimp on the table setting.  Beef up your holiday table with layers of richly coloured fabrics and settings that sparkle and shine.  Don't stop at your usual go-to for the holidays, really deck the halls and your table to help induce the magic that comes when the family is seated all around the table laughing and eating and being merry.


To help ease the burden of having to run from shop to shop, here are some ideas for one-stop shopping for your festive settings, all the way from the side plates to the centerpiece:


Kitchen Stuff Plus
I've paired charger plates with coordinating or contrasting table runners to provide a bit of opulence for your place setting.  I like to use table runners as opposed to a full table cloth on occasion to allow the beauty of a wood table to be incorporated into the design.  Instead of running the runner the length of the table, try layering them over the sides.  Because the foundation of the table is rich, you should keep the dinnerware simple with white.  I chose stemware that was simple clear glass but if you have stems that are gold or silver, those could easily be introduced into the place setting.  


If you're so inclined, I've also included silver and gold name card holders, but there are many different options available for you to mix and match.  The apothecary jars filled with ornaments (minus the tree shown) would make a lovely centerpiece for your table with the wall mirrors placed underneath to create a bit of sparkle.  There are also lovely glass candle holder sets in red and gold that could be used as centerpieces, you just need to use your imagination.

West Elm
Using the same principals as above with the Kitchen Stuff Plus items, here are some ideas from West Elm.  Now I know I mentioned above that using table runners as opposed to full table cloths was a good idea and one I prefer, but I would like to state that I am not opposed to using a full table cloth and in fact it can be a easier option to utilize than perhaps 4-6 table runners. Especially if you plan on using dinnerware that has a pattern incorporated into it.  A solid colour table cloth in this instance would be one that I would select and try to opt for one that picks up on one of the colours in your place setting or centerpiece.


I've selected some whimsical options West Elm which I adored and which also lend to a less formal setting for your guests.  The dinner plates, dessert plates and serving platters are simple and easily blend into your holiday setting.  I selected napkins and placemats that are fun and relaxed.


The centerpiece options are limitless and what you'll see below that I've selected are some ideas that take you away from the traditional floral arrangements that we're used to seeing this time of year.  The scalloped trees intermixed with the mercury glass filled with ornaments and candles will reflect a soft glow and shimmer across your table.  The option of also using the clear glass hurricanes and ice bucket will provide ambiance and a clear view across to your guests.


The glassware I opted for has an etching of a tree and would make for a nice addition to standard plain glasses.  I also enjoyed the hammered look of the entertainment ware that West Elm offered and I could see stacks of candles mixed with ornaments used as a centerpiece.  But in all reality, the options are limitless so don't be afraid to mix and mingle your place setting and serving ware options.

Pier 1
Holidays at Pier 1 are always a special event, the stores are decked out with the most fabulous items, so this should be anyone's stop on their holiday list.  It is so easy to get kitschy over the holidays because everything is just so darn adorable, but I try to keep the table setting a bit more sophisticated.  Fun whimsical plates are fine, but I stay away from plates shaped like gingerbread people or Christmas trees for the formal table setting.


I selected a primarily red and gold palate from Pier 1, this is one of my favourite holiday colour combinations, but you could easily select other colour palates from the many options available at Pier 1 (or other stores).  I enjoyed the green and red bird patterned plates combined with the plain white porcelain to give the place setting a pop.  The gold or green table runners look very festive and each lend themselves to a different type of table setting in both appearance and overall feeling.  I also found the doily plates to add texture and interest to the place setting if you wanted to opt for strictly white dinnerware.  Even the star-burst patterned setting would look festive and provide a more cohesive look.


The stemware in champagne and gold tones I found to warm up the overall appearance but you could easily incorporate plain clear glass, I found cracked glass stemware below which adds texture and overall interest to the table.


The gold lacquer tray with rows of candles and ornaments could act as your centerpiece or you could opt for the red wreath (if your table is large enough) with the gold and red flameless luminaries protruding from the center instead.  The red and gold bowl filled with ornaments could also pose as a centerpiece if your table is smaller.  Pier 1 is filled with ideas so be sure to scour the shelves for other fun ideas.

Crate and Barrel
I really like the selection at Crate and Barrel so it was only natural to include them in our one-stop shopping for the holiday table.  The items that I selected are again based on the traditional red, green and gold colour scheme, but they do have non-traditional colour schemes available (as do many of the other shops mentioned above).  The red and gold chargers paired with the delicate gold leaf patterned dinnerware are stunning and you could either go with all gold or mix in the red.  


I really enjoy the Marimekko gold and white botanical table cloth which again would look stunning with the gold chargers and either the gold leaf or gold and silver patterned dinnerware.  The green solid coloured tablecloth would look lovely paired with the red dinnerware, Christmas tree themed name card holders and adorable flatware stocking holders for a very festive table.  I threw in a couple of table runners in silver and gold and you can see how easily the gold and silver or gold leaf patterned dinnerware work together.


For a festive centerpiece and in keeping with the woodsy-like theme (with the Marimekko table cloth and gold leaf patterned dinnerware) I thought the bone china and gold pine cones mixed together in the footed glass dish (or dishes) with the white and gold leaves scattered across the table would look lovely along with the delicate snowflake candleholders.  To give a rustic warmth to the whole table.

So as you can see from the various options above that the choices are endless.  You could either stick to one shop and get everything you need, or you can build your collection from various locations to create that beautiful holiday table that your friends and family will covet!


Happy Shopping!

Dressing for the Holidays

Now that the cold weather is finally upon us (boo!) it's time to start thinking about all those holiday parties we're going to be attending over the season.  The big questions on everyone's mind are: "what on earth do I wear??" & "how much is it going to cost?!?".  We all know that the holidays can put a huge strain on our wallets so without breaking the bank here are some ideas to get you through the holidays with little stress and money still left in your wallet!


The Ever Elusive Office Party
We all know that in there comes that time in the year when a memo goes around inviting everyone to the famed (or infamous) office holiday party.  We also know that there are many of us who absolutely dread it (myself included).  Without going into office party etiquette, I would like to share with you some ideas for wowing your co-workers without having your image posted all over the internet in a less-than-fabulous light.


During Office Hours
Typically these dos occur within the operating day and as such we need to be mindful of what we sport to such an event, and as such you should consider separates or a work appropriate dress.  Here are some ideas from Ricki's:

Separates

Accessories

Work Appropriate Dresses

Key to Wearing the During Office Hours Separates:

The tops can be worn with the skirts shown (or with pants, of course) and you can either wear a blazer or opt to show some skin.  If your top has a jeweled neckline it is not necessary to wear a necklace, instead wear some drop or chandelier earrings, a cocktail ring and even some bracelets.

Price Points for the items shown:

$12.50 - $129.50 CAD

After-work Office Functions

There are the rare occasions when the office holiday function is held after-work (in the evening) or on the weekends.  For these functions it is recommended that you glam it up, so here are some glitzy holiday ideas from Le Chateau:

LBDs

Festive Dresses

Pant and Suit Options

Key to wearing LBDs and Festive Dresses:

You can either spice up your dress by wearing estate-style jewelery or keep the jewels understated.  If you don't want to show too much skin opt for a wrap; but if you do remember to wear a clutch because the last thing you want to be doing all night is fidgeting with your bag and your wrap.

Price Points for Items Shown:
$130 - $324.87+ CAD

The beauty about the Le Chateau website is that you can "Shop the Look", which means that every item shown, from pantyhose to earrings are priced out for you.  This makes it easy to shop for exactly what you want and leave out what you don't.

Naturally, these options can easily be worked into your friend & family gatherings, so be sure to get into the holiday spirit while out shopping for your next great holiday ensemble and the beauty of shopping for your festive soiree is that these pieces can easily take you into the New Year and beyond!

Happy Shopping!

Other Places to Consider:

Suzy Shier

H&M

Jacob

Mexx

Dynamite

Mango

RW&Co

BCBG

Denise

...+ Many, Many more!

Is it November already? The Christmas Countdown begins...

It's hard to believe that Halloween was 5 days ago and already the shops are packed with holiday trimmings.  I could've sworn I starting seeing hints of Christmas creeping in slowly by the time the school year started back in September; but sure enough it wasn't even the end of October and the stores were already packed with everything festive.  Now don't get me wrong, Christmas for me is a magical time of year and by far one of my most favourite holidays so I guess it's no surprise that I'm going to be dedicating a few posts on this very topic.


In anticipation of Jolly 'ol St. Nick
If you're like me, you're already thinking ahead about trimming the house with all the festive fixings; hanging the lights, setting up the tree, decorating the banister and mantle, sending out Christmas cards, buying presents..etc.  But for some of us, decorating for the holidays is a chore and not a joy.  And I can fully understand why, the amount of holiday ornaments to adorn your home and your tree with are overwhelming at best. So a quick way to begin thinking about what you would like your house to look and feel like during the holidays is to think in themes, in particular colour themes.  I know, it sounds kitschy and a bit hokey, but trust me thinking in themes is the easiest way to keep on track and deck out your halls.


I'll have a Blue Christmas...
One of the first tricks to thinking about holiday themes is to think in colours.  Monochromatic and Multi-Coloured themes work best if you take into consideration your existing space and make sure that you don't go overboard.  Here are some tips and examples:


Monochromatic Theme:
If your home is already adorned with soft shades of cream and white you could easily stick with the same colour theme and deck out all your holiday decor in these same shades.  Likewise, you could easily introduce variations on shades of blue or green or red solely into your holiday decor.  Here are a few examples:

Multi-Coloured Theme:

If your home has many shades or even if it consists of only one or two, nothing should stop you from incorporating a multi-coloured holiday theme.  The trick when considering a multi-colour theme is to stick with two or three colours at most.  The more colours you introduce, the harder it will be to tie them together.  For example, red and green are always safe bets and work very nicely together; red and gold are other good contenders.  Blue, white and gold make a nice combination for a more modern look & Purple, pink and turquoise make for a festive Mardi-Gras look.  A tip for making the most of the multi-theme look is to build in shades of the two or three colours you select.  This will give the theme more depth and interest.  Here are some examples:

Holiday decorating is a lot of fun once you take the chore out of it.  So get out there and start thinking about the colour theme you'd like to bring into your home and start building on your collection, trust me all the fun is in the hunt and in setting it all up!

Places to consider:

Crate and Barrel

West Elm

Pottery Barn

Pier 1

BouClair

Homesense

...and just about anywhere!

Happy Shopping!

Cocktail Rings...Not Just for Happy Hour!

Well I don't know about you gals, but I'm a HUGE fan of cocktail rings.  The bigger the better in my opinion, but what I've found is that there is a common misnomer about them; women seem to think that cocktail rings are only meant to be worn with a cocktail dress or on special occasions. Well, I say that's nothing but poppycock!


Cocktail rings (or big chunky rings) are meant to be worn otherwise why design them?!  I personally like to wear one everyday, whether it's during the workweek, out and about shopping or even on the weekends.  I like to wear a complementary or contrasting stone with my outfits to create a bit of panache.  The size of cocktail rings can vary from small-medium to large-extra-large and they come in an amazing selection of stones, metals, colours, styles and shapes.


The trick to wearing a cocktail ring is to keep the remaining jewelery selection minimal; that is unless you're going for the complete "estate" look (wearing your best jewels at once, all the while keeping it classy!), or for an eclectic/artsy feel.  As mentioned above, one of the easiest ways of wearing a cocktail ring is to select a stone with a complementary, similar or contrasting colour.  For example, if your outfit has a lot of brown you can choose a stone in either brown, gold/yellow or orange to complement the outfit.  If you want your ring to stand out, select a stone in either red or blue, and so on.  The options are limitless, and when in doubt clear stones are always a safe bet!  


So get out there and start your very own collection of cocktail rings, trust me you'll wish you did this a lot sooner!  Happy Shopping!


Here are some examples to get you inspired:

Courtesy of:
The Shopping Channel