How to Make Guests Comfortable in your Home - Part One

If you love to have houseguests, you want to make sure they have a great experience so that they will visit again. An important part of providing that great experience is making sure the guest room is comfortable.

When you plan your guest room design it can help to imagine what you would want to see in a nice hotel room. You might not have a lot of money for guest room decorating, but there are some things that are priority for your money spending, and other things you can add that don't cost too much.

First of all, you want to make sure your guest bed is comfortable. If you can feel the springs or it is too hard, you may be able to get a simple egg crate pad to put on top, or a feather mattress topper if you can spend a little more. If your bed is just too saggy, you could consider an air mattress on top of a box spring instead, or even on the floor. It is also important to supply several different types of pillows, so the guests can choose one like they are used to. Attractive bedding can add a lot of appeal. You can iron the bedding to add a little extra appeal. Providing an extra blanket or two is a nice touch. It is also a good idea to have an extra set of sheets on hand, in case a guest needs to change them for some reason.

Check back tomorrow for part two!

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Decorating with White Walls

People often struggle to decorate with plain white walls, but in rentals painting is usually not an option. Fortunately, there are things you can do to make your home look good even if you are stuck with white walls.
One way to make white walls look good is to use colorful rugs and accessories. This route is easy, movable, and cheap. Plus, if you just get colorful accessories, pillows, and rugs, you don't have to commit to a colorful couch. A plain couch in a neutral color will be easy to incorporate in your decorating scheme no matter what color the walls are. You can also buy colorful slip covers for you couch if you really want a bolder look. It is easy to add color with window treatments, and you can always change these easily if you tire of them. Modern art is another easy way to add a splash of color.
In your kitchen you can buy new door hardware, keeping the old to put back when you move out. Even just adding colorful kitchen chairs can jazz up an otherwise plain kitchen.
You might also consider asking your landlord permission to paint one or two accent walls in your rental. This way, you won't have too much painting to do in order to get the place back to white. If you are going to paint just one wall, you might want to think about going with a bold color.
Colorful bedding is a good way to dress up your bedroom. Choose bedding with different colored sheets and pillows for a more varied look. You can even cover your headboard in fabric that matches your theme.

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Meet Peter Fallico...!!!

all photos: HGTV.ca

Peter Fallico is the designer who defies all designer stereotypes. He is unpretentious, a do-it-yourselfer, seems to actually know what a realistic budget is, and can deftly put his hammer where his mouth is. Not only that, Peter Fallico is sweet. I mean, really, really nice. Not that I've met him of course, but as one of the loyal fans of all his television shows (past and present), I have certainly got a good idea of who the real person is after the camera stops rolling. Not only does Peter Fallico quickly put his clients at ease and involve them in projects as much or as little as they wish - but he genuinely seems just as excited as they are about the beautiful spaces he and his team create.

Even though he is the star of the show, he eagerly seeks out the opinions of the designers and head carpenter on his design team... even letting them seemingly lead the way at times. This speaks to his modesty; and yet we, the viewers, all know that the outcome is exactly as he envisioned. Peter definitely has a modern, hip vibe, yet he respectfully carries out more traditional styles with ease. His projects always seem easy and doable, and you get the feeling he would thumb his nose at swank, all the while balancing the fine line between elegance and comfort.

More prominent Canadian designers (think Sarah Richardson and Debbie Travis) seem to steal most of the media limelight. Not fair, I say. In fact, if you google Peter Fallico's name, it is difficult to get a more detailed synopsis of Peter`s career history. Of course, HGTV offers up the perfunctory rundown on Peter's shows and credentials, but if you want to know more, check out this link (which also provides details about his new, upcoming show, Home to Flip): http://www.celebrityeventsnetwork.ca/cgi-bin/front/daytimeenterprises.cgi?display_page=yes&page_id=24 . Peter is incredibly successful, yet we hear more of the Sarah Richardsons and Linda Reeves of the industry, who, talented as they are, aren't the only successful Canadian designers. True to his nature, I doubt the lesser media accolades concern Peter...

According to HGTV :
" Peter Fallico is a familiar face to home decorating enthusiasts in both Canada and the USA. His decorative home projects have appeared in Canadian Select Homes and Style at Home magazines and on City-TV’s Cityline. Peter is the DIY guy on HGTV’s This Small Space and the host of Home to Go. This fall Peter is hosting a brand new show for first time homeowners called Home to Stay. Home to Stay picks up where Home to Go left off as Peter helps first time homeowners make the right budget conscious renovating and design decisions about making their very first home look amazing...

...A renovator and furniture design graduate, Peter has quickly become a television and magazine personality best known for his simple easy-to–do projects that not only look great but are practical as well. Peter’s approachable personality and easy to understand project instructions make him a sought out favourite for presentations at home shows and conferences."

Indeed, check out the website and have a look at some of Peter's completed spaces. If you like a good hands-on project, check out this shortlist of some of his inspiring do-it-yourself projects: http://www.hgtv.ca/hometostay/hts_project_plans.aspx

Most importantly, check out his shows and watch out for his name. Peter Fallico`s design skills may be rocketing him to stardom, but it's his down-to-earth, easy going personality that will keep him there!!

How to Organize with Style

Those who live in small apartments need all the space they can get. Here are some tips on attractive ways to organize your home in creative ways.

• Cover tables with cloth. This way, you can use the space underneath for extra storage. Also, if you choose a pattern that goes along with your theme, you can use the material to add style to your home, especially if you aren't able to paint the walls.
• If you can't paint your walls, add color with rugs, accessories, and colorful furniture.
• You can store neat looking boxes underneath a simple table in your entryway. You can alternate the colors of the boxes for a more interesting look. Often, you can find boxes that are the right size for files, and this option is much more appealing to the eye than file cabinets are.

• Shelving can look very nice when organized and accessorized properly. You can group books and dishes by size and color. If you have mismatched books or stacks of CDs, you can get several matching boxes to put these in and then arrange them on the shelves. Sometimes it comes in handy to label what is in the boxes on the back sides to make it easier to find things in them. Consider what is on the shelves at eye level, since this is what most people will see first. Make sure you don't have you shelves too full, this will look busy. Add personal photos and decorations throughout. You can also add shelving near the ceiling in kitchens to store glass items without looking too busy.
• If you don't have enough counter space or cabinet space in your kitchen you can always add a cart.

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Lazy, quiet days of summer...

photo: Deborah Whitlaw Llewelyn

I like summer. I like the slower pace, the activities, the flowers, and the trips. I don't like the solitude of it, though. Sure, we get together with friends and family for barbeques, campfires, and so on, but I have always found it to be the time when I see people the least. Everyone is on their own, unique schedules. Vacations are planned around work schedules, and it is odd for your "time-off" to match your friend's "time-off". At times, I can actually find summer quite lonely.

My work schedule in the summer slows down considerably. People are more inclined to be doing yard projects and gardening, rather than taking on renovations and interior projects. Summer is for building decks, landscaping, making walkways and trellises, and more. Our children, however, are in full vacation mode, and having fun is always on the agenda! Bedtimes are erratic, at best; and days spent keeping on top of housework and mountainous loads of laundry; watering and dead-heading flowers; life-guarding and schlepping kids to various activities leaves me too tired at the end of the day to read even a page of a book. Days pile onto each other some weeks, with little to set them apart. Big decisions are few and far between: should we grill chicken or beef tonight...should I water the grass, or will it rain? Earth-shattering, mind-bending decisions they are not. Of course, if your job changes little in the summer, then this staleness never overcomes your brain - but for those of us at home tending the fort, this silence can sometimes be deafening.

What's a girl to do? Sure, inviting friends over, getting out for a walk, telephoning family...they all spring to mind. But, what happens when all you get is answering machines, kids needing "one more thing" from us, or get-togethers mean heaps of kids to add to your own brood? Still, I love seeing my children soaking up the goodness of summer with friends. My kids appease the isolation that comes from being out of my routine, and remind me that summer is more than just a season, but is actually a season of our life.Summer 2006

The slow tempo, chaos, noise, planned togetherness is all part and parcel of what summer is. I look forward to visits from family and friends, stolen moments at an outdoor cafe sipping coffee with my husband, and poolside (or beachside) chats with good friends... and, of course, camping. The key is making those connections and treasuring them when you have them. No sense rushing the season just to get back to feeling busy and reconnected with the world. This, too, shall pass...too quickly.

Sitting Pretty...

After finally painting my dining table and chairs last summer (from an ugly honey stain to a fresh cream shade), I began the seemingly fruitless search for pretty and unique chair pads. I wrestled with the idea of paying someone to make them, but the cost of paying for foam, fabric, notions, and labour seemed not a whole lot cheaper. Since I'm fairly frugal with regards to some things, I decided to just wait it out and see if I could find something pretty in the stores. Those who know me well, know that patience is not a virtue of mine. But, there is something about keeping to a decorating budget that reins me in when we're talking the larger purchases...

A temporary fix until I found what I wanted...a vintage apron from my collection... as a seat skirt.

I just got back from visiting my family, kids in tow, and had barely a chance to pop in to a home decor store or two. I did get a quick moment to check out Homesense/Winners, and really didn't see anything I wanted or "needed". I think my poor mother was a bit taken aback that I was exercising so much restraint! Considering I usually fill my shopping cart with everything I love in my price range, and then weed through it as I get closer to the checkouts, leaving empty-handed from one of my favourite stores surprised even me! I lamented that perhaps I am done: that I have filled up the lonely crevices of my home and really cannot justify any more purchases. She agreed. She, too, was at a bit of a shopping stalemate and really was on the lookout for only a few bits and bobs to make her feel as though she is finished decorating. Her comment found me nodding in agreement. I knew what I was looking for (the chair pads), but the search had turned up nothing.

We took a quick run into Pier 1, which is not a place I usually visit. I do, however, love their summer stock, so in we went. On my last leg of the tour, I spied these pretty seat cushions. Perfect! Thay have the skirted feature I had been wanting, and the piping makes them seem less factory finished. I had wanted a floral print, and this pattern has a juicy orange shade running through it to offer me up a new accent colour. Their only drawback is that they have so much yellow in the skirt, and I have nary a yellow item in my whole kitchen. A sheer, gauzy skirt would have been ideal, but who knows? Maybe I'll try making some to replace the existing skirts someday. Yeah, someday...

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I love the mongrammed look, so I used these glittery scrapbooking letters to personalize each chair at my dining table. I love the quirkiness of them, and I don't have to commit or paint!!

Calling all pool owners!!

photo above: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

my pool

I love my pool. It is a 21 ft round, above-ground pool and it is all our family could possibly need. I don't know if it is because we had an above-ground model when I was young, but I can honestly say I have never coveted an in-ground one. Absolutely, an in-ground pool is the "gold standard" of pools. But, after house sitting/renting a home with one, I was completely overwhelmed with how difficult it is to vacuum it!! So... that and the obvious (money!), means I am perfectly content with my 48" deep model.

Have you ever noticed how rare it is to see photos or websites featuring images of pool areas centered around above-ground pools? There are plenty of inspiration photos of in-ground pools...but if you want decorating ideas for basic pool decks with more modest pools for more modest people, you might meet with some difficulty.

Decorating a pool deck is a lot of fun, and you can certainly create your own private oasis quite easily. Do you want proof? Well, I'd love you to send me your pool area photos - especially those of you with above-ground pools! Send me pictures of fun changing areas, poolside bars and lounging spots, themes you have gone with, and more! I will post all the photos and we will have a great opportunity to glean inspiration for our own (existing and future) pool areas. Don't be shy: no pool is too small to include. Even children's pools that have been set up with care and a little bit of colour will be fun to see!!

I have reposted some of the photos of my pool area. Now...send me yours!!

email: linda@restyledhome.ca