Garland Around Mirror

Add some festive greenery to your bathroom mirrors this year. You can even incorporate details such as bells, lights, ribbons, holly and more!

Showcase a Vanity Vase

Don’t want to go all out with seasonal decoration but still want to do something? You can never go wrong with a simple vase. Pine branches, white bark or pinecones work great! Add a pop of colour with bulb ornaments and some ribbon, and you’re set!

Bring out the Festive Bath and Hand Towels

Nothing says holiday greetings like a pair of festive bath towels. No matter what you celebrate this time of year, selective holiday bath towels can add that magical charm to your bathroom.

Hang a Holiday Wreath

If photos in picture frames aren’t for you, think outside the box and try hanging a holiday wreath in your washroom. Places include the back of the door, on the mirror, or on the wall. This untraditional spot for a wreath might leave your guest speechless and will quickly become a showstopper for your bathroom décor.

Display Candles on the Vanity

Nothing says the holidays like the smells of the holidays. Scented candles are a must have for your bathroom this season. Vanilla, cranberry and so many more can decorate your bathroom vanity. Not only do candles look great! They also smell great!

Add a Miniature Christmas Tree

If you’re celebrating Christmas this year, bring out the miniature tree! Your Christmas tree doesn’t just need to be in your living room. We recommend placing it near your bathtub!

Types of Hardware

When it comes to your kitchen cupboards and the type of hardware you choose, it’s good to know that there aren’t any strict rules to follow. Pulls or knobs or even both can be used throughout your kitchen. It doesn’t have to be just one or the other. Across Canada is it normal to see pulls on all drawers and knobs for all doors.

Knobs are smaller than the pull handles and tend to be less expensive and easier to install with a simple screw. While pull handles are much larger and make more of a statement, they also come in an array of sizes. Pull handles also complement larger cabinets very well.

Pulls are much more comfortable when pulling open a drawer. It allows for your whole hand to grab a hold of the handle. Pull handles on drawers are usually more helpful as drawers tend to be heavier, filled with pots, pans, silverware, and other miscellaneous things. While knobs are usually good for doors as you only use a light touch with a few fingers

What’s Best for you

Once you have decided on the hardware type, look around your kitchen. It’s best to see the type of style your kitchen has, as this will come in handy when choosing the different shapes of knobs and pulls. Does your kitchen have any hard squares or curvy lines, and what type of hardware will look best with your cabinets?

When working with a modern kitchen it’s best to stay with smooth, clean lines that will make your kitchen cabinets appear sleek. Curvy or textured details on your hardware will work well with older and more traditional-inspired kitchens.

Stainless Steel, Brass, and Chrome

Brass and Chrome Kitchen cabinet hardware is very trendy right now, it has been in and out of style since 1980 and can be beautiful in small amounts. It’s one of the reasons why having brass or chrome accent colours do so well in homes, they make your space look classy and timeless. Brass and Chromes are very modernized now, but you can still find the metal hardware bouncing around in older homes. Not to mention, brass and chrome add a bit of flair and drama to your kitchen.

Stainless steel hardware matches just about any space and is corrosion resistant. Although stainless steel is very durable and will most likely last you a lifetime, polished stainless steel can show fingerprints. Lightly sanded stainless steel hardware is more popular in the modern home.

Unlacquered or Lacquered Finishes

With any kitchen hardware, you have options as well depending on the type of finish on the knobs and the pulls. There are so many different types of finishes such as polished lacquer, unlacquered, antiqued and sanded all to fit your lifestyle, and vision.

Polished hardware that is sealed with a lacquer coating will not age or tarnish and will give the appearance of a brand-new kitchen look even if it’s been a few years since your last reno. White lightly sanded hardware will not show fingerprints. Choosing the right finish can make your hardware stand out within your kitchen!

Put Down Rugs

Limiting high traffic wear and tear is very important with your hardwood flooring. Area rugs can help tremendously in protecting against potential scratches, spills, and everyday use. They also act as a barrier between your flooring and heavy furniture. When furniture is moved, it can cause deep scratches in the wood. You could use furniture pads to avoid this as well.

Take Off Your Shoes

Try to always remove shoes when entering your house and remind guests upon entry. Entrance rugs can be very handy and provides guests a place to wipe their shoes as well. Taking off shoes avoids water damage and tracking in particles like little rocks that could cause abrasions. This tip is essential in the sloppy winter months especially.

Trim Your Pets' Nails

Maintaining a short nail length on your furry family members will keep your hardwood looking new for longer. Trimming their nails frequently keeps them from scratching the surface. We recommend placing your area rugs in high traffic areas where your pets get most excited and likely do the most damage.

Wipe Up Spills

Always make sure to clean any spills right away and ensure the area is completely dry afterwards. Leaving liquid on hardwood for long amounts of time can cause extreme damage including discoloration and warping of the wood.

Keep a Regular Cleaning Schedule

Maintaining clean wood floors is the most effective way to extend their lifeline. We recommend sweeping each day to get all the dirt, dust, food etc. picked up from daily activities. You could use a dust mop for a quick and easy sweep! Investing in a good quality mop and vacuum will add to the longevity of your hardwood. High traffic areas should be mopped about once a week. This also goes for the products that go along with the mop and water. Typically, these higher quality products will work easier with less wear and tear to the floors.

Prevent Sun Damage

Sunshine can cause discoloration over time by lightening the shade of your hardwood. There are a few ways to prevent this including installing window treatments, applying films to the windows or a wood floor finish to help block the UV rays.

Keep it Light

From wall colour to the furniture it's best to keep it light and stay away from dark colours. Dark colours in a small space often appear cave-like and can confine your space even more. Light hues such as soft greys, frost blues, taupe, bright white, and light green are all very popular small bathroom colours. Furnishings should also be within the same hue family. By sticking with light hues from the same family you avoid overly strong colour contrasts that leave your small bathroom appearing even smaller than it is. 

Add in a Walk-in Shower 

Adding in a walk-in shower opens your space. By adding a walk-in shower with a glass shower door, you have a perfect upgrade to any small bathroom. This allows for light to flow throughout the whole bathroom and adds an extension to the rest of the bathroom. Traditional soak baths, on the other hand, cut off the light flow in your bathroom by adding a curtain/half wall and a tub.  

Storage and Cleaning

Limited counter space and storage space are an ongoing problem in any small bathroom. Tidying up and putting things away, and keeping only the essentials in your bathroom sink cabinet, will turn your home bathroom into a showroom. When selecting the appropriate sink cabinet with enough storage, it is always important that you find one that best suits your needs and what you plan to store in it. Using storage organization in unique ways will also help improve the overall look of your space. For instance, saying goodbye to towel rails and implementing towel hooks! This look opens wall space and extends the height of the bathroom. 

Mirrors

There is an old saying that if you must put a mirror on a wall, select the largest that will fit. Mirrors are great for bouncing the light around your bathroom, and the bigger the mirror the better the illusion that the room is bigger! You may not realize it but when a mirror is placed in a small room, it draws your eyes upward and reflects off surfaces across from it making the room feel more spacious. Large mirrors are a must need for any small bathroom!

Add Some Colour

While the walls and the furnishings are light, this doesn’t mean your bathroom has to be dull and that you have to settle for the absence of colour and character. Adding a pop of colour into your bathroom will give it that spice it needs. Bright yellow towels and accessories will add to your bathroom without exhausting it. Colour strategy is personal and fun! Not to mention it is easy to switch out down the road if you ever grow tired of it. 

Open shelves

These open shelves are very trendy right now. They allow for storage and decoration, while making great use of otherwise wasted wall space! You can find them in any material, size, or colour to match your current kitchen style.

Pull-out shelves

Easily access your pots, pans, bowls and more without the hassle or frustration! We’ve all been there. This also allows for more storage in those hard-to-reach areas at the back.

Pet bowls

Pets are such an important part of many people’s lives, so these built-in dog or cat bowls are a great up and coming kitchen feature. They can be built into an island or under cabinets to get them out of the way for good.

Spice storage

This handy spice pull-out and cabinet rack design is beyond practical. Avoid pulling out all spices to find what you’re looking for!

Appliance garage

Everyone wants a clutter-free countertop! Appliance garages are a great way to keep those unsightly tools hidden until you need them.

Pull-out trash cans

Hide the unattractive bins and free up your floor space with a pull-out trash bin. The side nook can hold garbage bags and ties.

Under-sink drawer

The deep cabinet under the sink can seem like a bottomless pit; this drawer keeps your cleaning supplies visible and organized.

Utensil drawer

Keep your serveware and silverware conveniently in check. The vertical hanging style is becoming more common than the horizontal drawer organizers. Even store cutting boards and knives here!

Contact us today or get some more kitchen inspiration here!

Pick a summer colour or theme.

While doing so, keep in mind that room colours can affect our moods and emotions. Warm tones can raise the energy level in the room, and they result in an uplifting environment. Oppositely, cool hues are calming, soothing, and relaxing, perfect if you dream of immersing yourself in bubble baths often. Neutral colors, such as white or gray, will never fall out of style! Some themes to consider include floral, cottage chic, nautical and tropical. You spend a lot of time in this room so make sure you’re choosing a colour that makes you feel good.

Switch up your hardware.

This can drastically change the look of your sink without the big task of replacing it. Gold is sleek and bright for summer! Alternatively black serves as a great contrast when pairing with white or light vanities. You can also choose from shiny or matte finishes to achieve the look you love.

Add color with dose of flowers.

Accentuate your bathroom with fresh, dried or faux flowers for a refreshing vibe. Greenery is another great option, whether you have a green thumb or not. There are some real looking fake plants and succulents are very low maintenance!

Swap out your towels.

Sprinkle in fresh white linens for a crisp and breezy look. You’ll be amazed how much of a difference this will make.

Declutter!

Find new storage places for all your unsightly bathroom items. If you don’t have drawers or cabinets, try looking for cute bins or baskets to hide your tools. Summer is the time to organize and do any of the projects you’ve been putting off all winter. You’ll feel so much better spending time in your bathroom with this minimalist, clean look.

Incorporate a stool or ladder.

This is the perfect place for keeping towels or anything else you don’t have space for. While adding dimension, a stool can be handy and make your space cozier.

Rethink your wall or floor tiles.

New backsplash for your vanity, tub or shower area can give your bathroom a complete makeover without the large renovation costs. You can keep the classic look with working with one colour or use multiple to create more of a fun design. Featured here are tiles from Euro Tile and Stone, magma wall in black, white, pink and grey!

Contact us today or get some more bathroom inspiration here!

Go Green

Environment-friendly flooring options that are made from natural, renewable, and recyclable materials are getting more popular. It is cost-competitive to choose eco-friendly flooring when your old floors need upgrading. An eco-friendly home is only going to be more desirable over time as home buyers seek out greener homes.

Natural linoleum floors are hypo-allergenic and biodegradable, while cork and bamboo are excellent alternatives to solid hardwood flooring. Both cork and bamboo are highly renewable. Cork also has insulation value; it is antibacterial and is fire resistant.

If you still want solid hardwood flooring, try reclaimed wood. Oak and old growth pine are some of the more popular reclaimed wood varieties you will find. Always try to recycle any raw materials like logs and timbers from old buildings can be milled and used again.

Another renewable flooring option is concrete, which has started to become a popular choice for kitchen countertops and as flooring option which should easily last a lifetime.

Waterproof Wonders

Everyone wants a beautiful, low-maintenance floor that resists water damage. There are waterproof options for vinyl, laminate, engineered hardwood, and even carpet. This affordable flooring will soon be a trend of the future for decades to come due to its convenience of repelling moisture. Ideal for bathrooms!

Ceramic Tiles

Large, glossy ceramic tiles are very popular. The marble look is sleek and sophisticated. We’re also seeing a lot of neutral and light tones being used throughout the kitchen and living room areas. These tiles will instantly modernize the look of your space. Statement rugs work well with this glossy flooring.

Statement Carpets

Incorporate a bold, textured rug into your décor. They look great over monochrome glossy tiles or any hardwood styles. This is a great opportunity to add colour and life to any room. Plus, it’s simple enough to switch it up when you’re ready for a new look!

Layout Fun

Get creative with your flooring ideas. The world is your oyster with so many shapes and sizes of tiles to choose from. Explore layouts such as herringbone, diagonal, chevron, and hexagon. Featured here is the chevron shape by Euro Tile & Stone in the colour Byron.

Colours and Textures

This year’s trending flooring colours include whitewashed, gray, light brown, two-tone combinations, and darker cool shades.

Gray flooring looks chic and trendy in contemporary spaces. The cool tone gives you a neutral backdrop for decorating with virtually any colour. Gray flooring, particularly gray wood, has grown exponentially over the last decade. Although gray tiles, particularly in stone looks, are also very popular.

More homeowners are embracing the light, airy feel in their homes, you will see a huge resurgence in blonde wood (and wood-look) floors. Blonde flooring can give you that light, timeless feel. Meanwhile, white flooring will make your home look brighter, bigger, and more relaxed.

Texture has played a significant role in 2021 flooring trends. Higher colour variations create a more natural, rustic look. The inconsistent colours replicate effects in nature like stone and wood that aren’t uniform. The more texture the better.

The timeless hardwood flooring isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. As a go-to classic, it is still trending along with the other newer options.

DIY Flooring

Peel and stick vinyl tiles are great DIY flooring idea when you want to add quick accents to a room or give a space a quick flooring makeover.

Manufacturers have come up with innovative tile flooring that you can easily install on your own with no professional help needed. Tile is durable, easy to clean, and comes with the most style options of any other flooring. Planks offer highly realistic wood visuals and textures at a lower cost. Let us help with your next project!

White as a Base

All white everything is the latest trend in homes. If you have white as a base, you can easily change up the look of a room at any time. This gives such a clean, modern vibe and homeowners are loving it. White inspires feelings of joy, happiness, and lightness. It can also make your kitchen look bigger!

On a real estate note, white kitchens are timeless. They are easier to stage then any current trendy colour PLUS homebuyers respond more positively to it.

The possibilities with white are endless! Works well with any paint colour, countertops or appliances.

White sinks are also becoming quite popular. Check out this NEW Smart Touch Technology faucet by Jason Wu for Brizo that will be available soon. So cool!

Add Contrast

Okay- so now that you have your white base, you want to add some contract with your sink or your hardware! This is sure to spruce things up and add a little something to the look of your kitchen.

The sink featured above is from Blanco’s Vintera Collection. Vintage meets modern with this timeless farmhouse collection by Blanco. This sink is spacious and functional as a single or double bowl model. This collection also features two installation options: flushmount and undermount. Find your perfect match with one of the various colours available. Concrete grey is so chic!

Pop of Colour

Incorporate some colour with a fun backsplash or paint. This is your chance to truly personalize your space and make it your own. Try adding some painted furniture for more character!

Keep it Minimal

Clear areas create a sense of calmness. Less is more- even in the kitchen. Keep as much as you can in your cupboards and drawers. If you are renovating, consider a preparation station to keep your space need and organized.

The above is from Zomodo, the Panama Slim Prep Station. Call us today for more information!

Incorporate Texture

If you are looking to spice up your kitchen, we recommend adding texture! Tiled backsplash or a textured sink are great choices. They provide visual interest and enhance the neutral tones you have.

This hammered finish sink shown in Nickel above is from Native Trails. This culinary classic also comes in Copper. Crafted with high quality recycled metal. This curved apron front sink comes with effortless maintenance. A huge plus!

Add Greenery

Who doesn’t love plants? They add life and beauty to any room while also improving the air quality. The best part is how simple it is to add some greenery to your kitchen. Incorporate this easy update in your home and see how it makes you feel!

Play with Lighting

Last but not least, have fun with your kitchen lighting! There are so many different styles, sizes and colours for you to choose from. Pull all these ideas together and you will have one slick looking kitchen.

Let us know when you try them out, we would love to see your before and after photos!

Space-Savvy Soaking Tubs

These freestanding, flat bottomed tubs are getting more and more popular over the years. This pandemic only has homeowners searching for more relaxation and rest. These simple white styled tubs work well in any bathroom design. Have some fun with it and bring the room together with some funky art floor tiles!

Millennial Pink

This image incorporates a few current trends in one! People are loving the soft, warm pink hue and are adding this to their ensuite or powder rooms. It is a calming shade that works perfectly in this type of space. Go all out with this or integrate small hints to achieve your desired ambiance.

Tiled backdrops are also very popular. You can use them as an accent wall or behind your vanity area. Here is to replacing wallpaper in a very modern and sleek way! Add an asymmetrical sink for that extra WOW factor.

Floating Vanities

Aside from the very contemporary look that these wall mounted vanities have, there are other benefits if you are considering this upgrade. As space-saving alternatives, there are many possibilities for customization. Find more options than ever before; with sinks, faucets, and hardware to fit any style.

Dark Fixtures

One of the biggest bathroom trends in 2021 has been matte black hardware. These fixtures look exceptional when contrasted on a white or marble vanity. Create a bold look in your bathroom this year!

Bright Colours

Add a pop of colour to your space to completely change up the look. This is a quick and affordable upgrade that will be sure to brighten your mood! If you try this with your vanity, work in a dark backdrop to really enhance the hue of your vanity.

Cabinets

Cabinets are a high impact element of design with potential to anchor a space. They will end up taking up one-third of a renovation budget on average. When working with a  a tight budget or a quick upgrade changing out hardware can be an instant game changer. Quick upgrades like handles or drawer pull can completely alter the look of drawers or cupboards. 

Layout

A more open plan, or one with a built-in eating area, can transform your kitchen and the way you interact with your loved ones at home. 

Lighting

A light, bright room feels bigger so painting the walls or replacing lighting elements is an inexpensive way to make a high-impact change.

Replace Your Countertops

Another pricey element but  area where an investment will pay out in the long run. A range of alternative materials are available including wood, cork, concrete and laminates. 

Green

Plants evoke a sense of calm and health. Plant some herbs and keep them in pretty pots so that your plants are functional as well.

Backsplash

The backsplash serves as focal point of a kitchen as well as important practical functions. Installing a tile backsplash adds lasting beauty to the home.

Kitchen Sinks & Faucets

When it comes to selecting these fixtures style is sectionary. The goal is to select a sink and faucet that will work well and withstand years of daily use.