Calgary
DECOR
Fall ReFresh
Autumn 2015
PhOtO COuRtEsy DECORAtING DEN
AUTUMN 2015
On the cover Whether you’re planning a major renovation, or just adding a fabulous area rug, fall is a great time to re-imagine your home. Calgary
DECOR
Ed Huculak Regional Director of Advertising Dal Lewis Assistant Director, Advertising Kathleen Robinson Special Sections Editor For advertising inquiries, call Dal Lewis (403) 250-4220
Autumn 2015
is published by The Calgary Sun 2615 12 St. N.E. Calgary, AB, T2E 7W9 403-410-1010
DECOR 3
Fall refresh inspiration While the new year officially begins in January, for many, fall will always be a time for new beginnings. Harkening back to all those years of heading back to school every September, the fall signals an opportunity for a fresh start. Whether it’s simply tackling some clutter and outdated decor or finally making plans for a major renovation, there’s no time like the present. While the thought of renovations may seem daunting, consider it short-term inconvenience for long-term gain. A recent TD survey reveals three main reasons people renovate — the main one being to increase property value. Fifty-nine per cent of survey respondents say they want to renovate to upgrade their home’s look and feel, while 48 per cent renovate to improve home efficiency, such as by installing a new furnace. Renovations have even become a federal election issue, with the Conservatives pledging to
re-establish a permanent Home Renovation Tax Credit if re-elected. With cooler weather on its way, we’ll be spending more time indoors, which makes fall the perfect time to embark on a renovation. Adding a family room to an unfinished basement or updating one that’s no longer inviting makes a home feel bigger. Updating and adding functionality to your kitchen makes it easier to entertain during the winter months. If you already have the home of your dreams, brighten your space with contrasting metallic accessories. This fall, home decor is bursting with metallics in everything from throw pillows to glassware. Golds and silvers work in harmony with any colour palette, making it super easy to incorporate into existing decor for a modern look. From accent pieces and trends in paint colours to complete room overhauls, we hope these pages will provide inspiration for a fall refresh.
— Carrie Kelly
Fall ReFresh
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4 DECOR
AUTUMN 2015
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Heart of the home deserves a great reno CARRIE KELLY Special to the Calgary Sun
KITchEns
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PhOtOs COuRtEsY DECORAtIng DEn
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Life at home is so much better with an exquisite, functional kitchen. As the heart of your home, a successful kitchen makeover requires detailed thought and planning. While it may be the biggest undertaking of any room renovation project, the payoff is the greatest, thanks to how frequently you use the space and the return on investment. Katie Rioux, owner of Calgary’s Decorating Den, has breathed new life into many kitchens and says the process doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If the current layout works well and you don’t have the budget to start from scratch, a fresh colour on the walls, new backsplash, gorgeous new faucet and countertop refinishing are a great alternative. Professional cabinet refacing is much less expensive than a tear-out, with results no less stunning. “Changing your hardware can also make a huge difference,” Rioux says. Home improvement stores have an endless array of drawer and cabinet pulls to instantly refresh your space. If you decide to do a full tear-out, the options become limitless. Most homeowners opt for an island, expanding or reconfiguring one already there or adding one. People want counter space, Rioux says, and one of the best ways to gain counter space is to have a kitchen island that’s all one level. “I prefer a sink in the island, rather than a stove. It’s very kid friendly,” Rioux says. An island gets a lot of use because it can serve so many different purposes — a place for additional storage and even replacing a kitchen table. Islands help make kitchens look great and function well. “You want your kitchen to be beautiful, but you also want it to actually work,” Rioux says. Lighting is important. Upgrading from a lone ceiling light to additional sources lets you see into deep cabinets and visually expands space in a small kitchen. A built-in coffee bar is a sought-after feature in new kitchens, as are pot filler faucets near the stove, double-door fridges, double ovens and built-in refrigerators hidden behind cabinetry for a seamless look. “In a lot of new kitchens now we’re seeing really deep drawers and a lot of divided storage,” Rioux says. “Pullout drawers in the pantry make it easier to access items.” Deep drawers in close proximity to the stove are perfect for storing large pots and pans. When selecting design elements, consider how well they’ll stand the test of time. “You invest a lot of money in a kitchen renovation, so you don’t want to have to redo it in five years,” says Rioux. White is timeless for cabinetry, as are Shaker-style cabinets, subway tiles and hardwood floors.
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AUTUMN 2015
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CARRIE KELLY Special to the Calgary Sun
Built-in Beautiful Before Photos CouRtEsY dECoRAtIng dEn
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If your home is feeling cluttered, the problem may not be having too much stuff, but not having the proper framework to keep organized. Built-ins quickly transform a room and can be instrumental in taking it from topsy-turvy to tidy. If you’ve ever lived in a home that lacks good storage, you know how indispensible it is. Having a place for everything and everything in its place makes life more simple and efficient. We tend to accumulate a lot of “things” over the years and not all of it needs to be purged. The items we choose to store or display give our homes personality, such as photographs, books and keepsakes from a treasured trip. Built-in shelving in a living room creates a beautiful backdrop for everything from your television to a bright bouquet of flowers. “It’s a great way to bring in colours and accessories and add interest to a room,” says Katie Rioux, owner of Calgary’s Decorating Den. Custom built-ins can be created in any corner of the house, for almost any purpose. The empty space on either side of a fireplace is an obvious place for built-ins, but they also transform a half bath, spare bedroom, playroom, entryway or otherwise wasted space under the staircase. “If you think outside the box, you can do some really cool stuff,” Rioux says. In a home that lacked great closet space, she turned a spare bedroom into a walk-in closet with customized built-ins. A home office is another room that becomes much more functional with a builtin desk, shelving and cabinets. Built-in desks are also great for kids rooms, providing a designated and inviting homework space. Professional built-ins, rather than readymade shelving, offer the benefit of being able to hold more weight and fitting perfectly even in a uniquely shaped room or a narrow space. “They create a concise, clean look,” Rioux says. “Sometimes if you do ready-made, it can really look do-it-yourself. It’s an investment in your home.” She suggests having built-ins made in white or matched to your home’s trim.