Warm fall colours and cosy textures are great additions to take you from summer to winter. This doesn’t mean that your décor has to be dark and gloomy but think about switching out light, summer fabrics, such as curtains, for textural, medium- to dark-coloured fabrics on the windows and on furniture. Comfy furniture throws and toss cushions in rich, earthy tones will stave off those winter blues and create a cocoon of comfort on chilly days.

Change the bedding to reflect the colours of the season and also trade in the light blankets for comfy quilts, duvets and blankets. Flannel sheets are soft against the skin and offer comfort during the cold winter nights. Consider purchasing area rugs or throw rugs to stave off cold feet near the bed as well. A bedside basket filled with fuzzy slippers will be a welcome addition, especially in a guest room.

The feature photo has bedding in rich colours, layered with textural accent pillows and an area rug for warmth underfoot. These are all easy changes to make your room stylish and inviting.

Some fabrics to consider are knits, fleece, faux fur, suede, or tweed. Small touches of these fabrics in toss cushions or blankets are easy additions that can change each season. If you can find fabric remnants at the fabric store or thrift store you can use them to make simple cushions covers for your current toss cushions.

If you have artwork or pictures that are summery in feel consider switching them out for ones that will set the tone for the season. Black and white photos of winter scenes in black frames is a good start and is a fairly easy do-it-yourself project.

Summer accessories, like light wicker accents or seashells can be replaced with vintage, hardcover books, chunky candles, gourds and dried flowers or twigs in a decorative vase.

A fall/winter-inspired table runner is a great addition to the dining room. Set the table with stoneware, coloured dishes and large coffee mugs. Create a centrepiece with fall flora.

If you are up to painting you can make small changes using rich, warm colours on focal walls like the purple wall behind the bed in the photo. This adds instant warmth and richness to the room and is a small painting project. Other places where you can add a splash of colour are walls above a fireplace, small powder rooms, a niche in a dining room or a partial wall in an open-concept space.

You might also consider adding both colour and pattern by hanging wallpaper on these walls instead of painting.

Small changes and additions are all you need to make your home wonderfully warm and cosy for the long winter ahead.

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Textured wall treatments can bring a feeling of history, warmth and visual comfort to a space. Whether you find old barn board that has a history to it or use a man-made stone product, including texture and pattern can dramatically change the look of a plain room.

Choosing the right wall for the project is key. Too much of a good thing can be a reality so choose carefully. If you have a rectangular living room, consider treating one or both end walls rather than one of the long walls. The head of the bed is a good option, as you can see in the photo, but again, you don’t necessarily have to do the entire width of the wall. As in the photograph, the treatment is centred at the head of the bed and is framed by a charcoal paint colour.

A similar technique can be used to adorn the wall around a fireplace. Depending upon the style of fireplace, a brick-like wall treatment can give the fireplace the focus it deserves. For added drama, take the treatment to the ceiling. If you’re using any brick-like product (and even some woods) choose a wall with the least amount of electrical outlets that would have to be worked around. The final look will be more professional if you can cover a solid surface.

Another, less permanent option is a wall mural, and the graphics available today are wonderful. Something like a full wall of a world map can be great in a den or home office. There are lots of options and sizes available on the Internet so do some research and you’ll be surprised by the choices. Wall murals can also be customized for your specific size needs though the larger you go the pricier it gets. It can run into the high $100s. That’s a little steep but there are ways around this. For example, choose a rectangular design and use one or two panels to hang in place of an actual headboard. (In this case you wouldn’t go to the ceiling as you’re creating a faux headboard.) The options are endless. The murals are sold in single panels that you can multiply to cover the wall, so choosing a technique that uses less panels will be more affordable. The panels are not usually pre-pasted so you’ll have to use wallpaper paste to hang them, but often the murals are sold with paste included in the price.

Textured, paintable wallpaper may be another affordable option. Check out what’s available and decide if it will give you the look you’re after.

Old pallets, wood flooring, reclaimed brick or whatever you can find to use as a focal wall will bring much-needed warmth and texture to your room. The visual impact will be worth the search.

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Try a different look with a fresh coat of paint in a cheery new colour. You don’t necessarily have to paint the entire room to get the updated look you desire. You can paint just a focal wall or paint a band of the new colour on the wall near the ceiling. If you have a bank of cupboards with an open header then paint the wall behind the cupboards to make them stand out and place accessories along the top of the cupboard for a decorative display.

Create more drama by painting a design on a focal wall. A wall of wide stripes or a large geometric design might work.

Wallpaper is another option if you prefer not to paint. Wallpaper has come a long way and there are lots of great patterns, textures and designs available so keep your options open.

Wall decals are another décor item that might suit your kitchen. I found a new product at sears.ca called Snap — decals that can be repositioned, which is great because they can be easily removed. You can purchase anything from letters and sayings to graphics like coffee cups. They could even be used to update kitchen cabinets doors.

Cabinets

Along with the above-mentioned wall decals, you can update your cabinets with paint or other self-adhesive products. Painting the cupboards inside and out is definitely not a quick weekend job but you can update just the doors, which will give the kitchen a lift.

Changing the hardware can make a huge difference as well. Keep in mind that all of the hardware doesn’t have to match. Upper cabinets can be different from lower cabinets. Keep the finishes the same but change up the actual designs, or go eclectic and mix it all up. You may find a clearance bin full of glass knobs in various colours and sizes, for example. This could work to your advantage if you have a brave design spirit. The thing you want to keep in mind is the size of the spacing of the holes in your existing hardware. Bring the old hardware with you when you shop and ask for advice before you buy. This will keep you from having to drill new holes or fill old holes in your cabinets.

You can update your current hardware by painting it with the proper metal paint in a new colour or finish. It’s best to remove the hardware before you paint it so the job will be clean and neat. Ask your paint supplier for advice on the right paint for the job. Again, it’s a good idea to bring a piece of the hardware with you to the store when seeking advice.

Furniture

An eat-in kitchen is a great family gathering spot. If you have wooden furniture, consider giving it a lift with some paint. Two-toned dining sets are popular and might just be what the kitchen needs to give it a fresh appearance. If your eating area is crowded, consider replacing the table with a snack bar, installed along one wall and bar stools that can be tucked beneath when not in use.

If not paint, then new table linens are definitely an easy option. Chair covers, a new tablecloth and placemats in a new colour palette can bring much needed cheer to a dreary kitchen. Co-ordinate kitchen towels, oven mitts and dishcloths to complete the new look.

Windows

Create a little drama with a new kitchen window treatment. Consider using kitchen linens to make café curtains or toppers that will co-ordinate with your table. Simple café curtains made from tea towels can be quaint. Use clip-on café rings for a no-sew treatment that can be updated with ease.

Create a mini herb garden on a windowsill to add some greenery to the space, or hang colourful suncatchers to the windowpane to take advantage of natural light.

Have some fun

Add some whimsy to the kitchen by including unusual items to the décor. A vintage mailbox might be fun to hold cookbooks, for instance. Small birdhouses or birdcages are charming touches. Use items like cookie cutters, jelly moulds and serving platters as wall ornaments.

Simple but effective changes

Declutter a crowded kitchen to give yourself breathing space. Hang items that might otherwise fill up a countertop. Create a hanging pot display to free up cupboard space and give your kitchen a professional chef’s touch.

Replace a dated ceiling fixture with a dramatic new one. Replace old switch plate covers with something more decorative. Sometimes, buying something like a new cutting board can give the kitchen a lift. Install a magnetic knife rack to free up drawer space and keep the knives within easy reach. (Hanging knives versus housing them together in a drawer helps protect the knives from dents and dings and keeps them sharp.)

What bugs you?

Have a look around the kitchen. What is the one thing that bugs you about it? Is it the dripping faucet? Then replace it with something new and sleek. Is it too dark? Perhaps a new light fixture and removal of the heavy window treatment is needed. Is the room crowded? Use some of the tips above to declutter the space. Do you find the room stark and cold? Add some whimsical touches to warm it up a bit. There’s usually a solution to every problem. Sometimes just identifying the problem is the answer.

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The faux finish craze of the past has faded away for the most part, but textured and mottled paint treatments can still be stylish if not overdone.

The bedroom in the photo has an Old World appeal and charm, mainly due to the lovely, dappled paint finish. The treatment provides depth and pattern and the warm gold and honey tones are perfect for this room.

I have to wonder if the design idea for this space came from the lampshade to the right of the bed, as it has a very similar palette and style. Inspiration can come in many different forms even something as simple as a lampshade.

The black accents in the room are very effective against the wall treatment. The black bed, which could be visually overpowering, is softened by the light-coloured bedding (mixed in with a few black toss cushions).

OTHER EFFECTIVE TOUCHES

Lampshades are fun to play with when it comes to adding spice to your space. The lamp mentioned above may have had a solid shade (like the floor lamp) and was treated with a decoupage effect to replicate the wall treatment. If you re concerned about ruining your lampshade because you haven t done this kind of project in the past, pick up a bunch of cheap shades from a thrift store and practise different finishes before you tackle your own lamp. You can paint them with craft paint, use a decoupage treatment, stencil them, glue fabric or wallpaper on them, add beads, ribbon or decorative trim to accent any space. It can be a great way to add your personal touch to your space.

The eclectic mix of furniture styles works well in the room. Hanging the casual drapery rod below the window arches allows the room s strongest feature to be visible when the drapes are closed. You probably can t determine the pattern on the draperies from the photo but there is a Greek Key pattern to them which supports the Old World charm of the room.

The Tuscan flavour is supported by the three large ceramic urns at the end of the bed, and the two Oriental trunks stacked on top of each other create a unique bedside table even though their style is quite different from the other furniture in the room. The reason that they work is because they are aged, have similar warm tones to the wall treatment and are adorned with black accents. The dresser on the left holds a unique display of various sizes of clear vases and wineglasses filled with small stones and seashells topped with dried green flora. The decorative box, covered with tiny seashells, may have been the inspiration for that. This is definitely a use what you have idea. Who doesn t have a cupboard filled with mismatched glasses and vases somewhere in the house? This display can also be changed seasonally simply by changing the colours of the dried flora, or changed completely by filling the vases with other things like coloured water with floating candles, river rock, fresh flowers and so on.

When choosing a paint treatment there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, can you achieve the look you want? Practise your chosen treatment on a test wall or a piece of wallboard before you start a difficult wall finish. When deciding on paint colours, keep in mind the colour of the flooring and other items like furniture upholstery colours. Try to keep all of the colours in either a warm or cool palette. In our feature room the warm paint colours work well with a honeycoloured wood flooring. If the room had wall-to-wall carpeting in a cool grey, the yellow wall colour wouldn t have been a good choice. Ensure that the faux treatment is not too busy, especially in a bedroom. Tone-on- tone finishes are soothing yet stylish but if a paint treatment is too busy it will be visually overwhelming.

So go ahead and try new things. With a little practice you ll be ready to do some different techniques and make some changes.

Connie Oliver is an interior designer from Winnipeg

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So, bundled up next to the fireplace with a steaming cup of tea and two pairs of socks on my feet, I begin to flip through a pile of decorating magazines for inspiration. And then I see it. That inexpensive and very expressive headboard will make a big impact in my preteen daughter’s bedroom.

I get right to work, first making sure I have all my supplies. Paintable wallpaper? Check. Paint and rollers? Check. Trimboard to frame in the headboard? Check. Willing husband to nail in the trim-board? Check!

This is a great bonding experience, as together, my daughter and I carefully measure and cut the wallpaper and rub out the air bubbles as we position it on the wall. After the paper is dry it’s on to the paint. The magenta colour looks amazing.

The post Time For A Change? appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Here’s some easy projects using items that you most likely have on hand. Look around the house for things that can be used. I’m sure you’ll find enough stuff to complete at least one of the projects. Update your lampshades. I know you’ve heard this one before but have you actually tried it? Simple craft paint can be used to either change the entire colour of the shade (black is stunning) or to add a design to it. Use a hole punch to create a line of holes along the top or bottom (or both) of a lampshade and string ribbon, leather ties or what have you, through the holes to create a decorative border. Simple beaded bathtub chain can be hot glued onto a lampshade to create an interesting border or design as can vintage necklaces, beads or buttons.

Rearrange the furniture. You may have done this several times but did you consider switching items from other rooms? If you have, consider placing your furniture on an angle for a new look.

Open shelving or cabinets can be transformed by treating the back of the open shelf with wallpaper, paint or even mirrored tiles. Use a bright colour to give your space oomph then arrange items on the shelves in a pleasing display.

Create a photo or plate shelf using a length of crown moulding (at least four inches deep) and installing it at the head of the bed or in a hallway. You can create a tower of shelves by varying the lengths to create a triangle display of three shelves or more. Paint the shelves in a complimentary colour. You may have to glue a small plate stop to the top of the shelf to keep the plates from slipping off. A simple piece of wooden dowel and a little hot glue will do. If you don’t have a piece of dowel, just run a thick bead of hot glue along the top of the shelf to act as a plate stopper. Once it dries it will do the trick. You can even paint over the hot glue when painting the shelf to make it less noticeable.

Rearrange tabletop displays. Get rid of the clutter and use height and scale to create drama.

Remove upper cabinet doors in the kitchen to create open shelving. Consider painting the backs of the open shelves with a vibrant colour which will make your display really pop.

Paint small furniture items to give them new life. Our feature photograph shows how an old vintage display unit can be transformed with paint and wallpaper. New paint and new seat fabric on dated dining room chairs can transform them into something beautiful. If you don’t have enough fabric remnants to match, use co-ordinating remnants to create an eclectic look.

Gather all of the framed family photos scattered about the house and create one large display as a focal wall. This will have much more impact. The frames don’t have to match. Play with the various shapes and sizes on the floor until you come up with a great layout then transfer that to the wall.

Paint the inside of a dark entry door and frame in white to brighten up the foyer and give it new life. Painting the inside of closet doors can help brighten up a gloomy closet as well.

Rehang your artwork to create a fresh new display. Bring in items from other rooms and mix things up a bit. Paint or replace dated frames.

Make decorative containers from old cardboard gift boxes by covering them in fabric or wallpaper. Use them on top of the dresser or in the bathroom to create hidden storage for small items.

Use leftover wallpaper to create large cut-outs for a nursery wall or child’s room. Geometric shapes, cartoon characters or large letters can be cut out of wallpaper and easily applied (and removed in future) to create a cheerful space.

Sometimes a change is as good as a rest. Check around your home for small items that could offer a big change for your décor.

– Connie Oliver is an interior designer from Winnipeg

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CONNIE OLIVERAround theHouse

The post Quick Decorating Projects appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Be f o r e calling for help, consider renting equipment to get the job done fast and affordably. Items that you may never have imagined renting are accessible to every handyman and woman.

Wallpaper Steamer: Although it is possible to remove wallpaper using household techniques, renting a wallpaper steamer will make the job easier. Steam one corner and pull. The paper tears off with little effort. Wallpaper steamers work best if the wall has old wallpaper or paint underneath the top layer.

Sewer Auger/Toilet Snake/ Drain Cleaner: Drop something down the toilet and everything is plugged up? The toilet snake will reach in and grab the object. This appliance works much like a fishhook to draw out the culprit.

Appliance Dolly: Save your back, knees and shoulders by picking up this item for a day or two. The dolly has “walking wheels” making it easy to transport appliances up and down stairs or from room to room.

Mosquito Fogger: What will you do this summer when company is on the way over for a barbecue, and the mosquitoes are already partying? The mosquito fogger allows you to spray prior to the evening activities, creating a fog that detracts mosquitoes and allows your guests to sit outside without being “bugged.”

Floor Sanders: Many homes have beautiful hardwood flooring that needs to be maintained. When preparing hardwood floors for refinishing, start by sanding the floors to create a smooth, even layer of flooring before applying the finish.

Texturing Machine: Whether your home is new or old you may choose to texture the ceiling, either to hide uneven areas or for the esthetic appeal. The texturing machine creates a nice finish to most ceilings.

Tip: Paint sprayers are also available and less awkward than using brushes and rollers. Use a paint sprayer to apply primer as well as topcoats.

Electric Pressure Washer: When you begin to spring clean, you might as well have a blast. The electric pressure washer is great for cleaning: decks, siding, cement pads etc.

Extension Cords: Many people attach one cord on to another in order to achieve the length they need to carry out a project. The disadvantage is that by linking cords together, machines tend to lose power. Heavy-duty extension cords make jobs easier by using one proper cord, as opposed to several. Great for hedge and grass trimmers, chainsaws etc.

Magnetic Sweeper: This tool will be your best friend after completing a shingling project. The sweeper picks up nails and screws off of the ground to help you avoid stepping on sharp objects.

Tip: Metal detectors are also available for finding lost keys, cellphones, property stakes, rings etc.

Ladders: Using the proper tool for any job is the key to home improvement safety and satisfaction. Multi ladders/stair ladders are used in place of scaffolding. Rent extension or step ladders depending on the requirements of the job.

Carpet Dryer: This efficient piece of equipment may be used in conjunction with commercial dehumidifiers. The advantage of a carpet dryer is that it can fit into tight spaces (i. e. crawl space, basements) and works well to dry underneath rugs.

Log Splitters: Wood stoves have gained in popularity over the past years and purchasing uncut eight-foot wood logs is more affordable than pre-cut wood. Cut the wood with a chainsaw and then use the log splitter to “split” to desired length.

Drywall Lift: If you are hanging drywall by yourself, consider a drywall lift because it allows one person to hang and fasten drywall without assistance. This handy-dandy helper also folds down for transport inside car trunks.

Wood Chipper: Tow a gas-powered wood chipper behind your truck and use it to turn limbs/ branches into one-to two-inch usable wood chips (not potato chips unfortunately). Free wood chips in minutes – what could be better?

Popular tool rentals for winter months include heaters and tarps, and in the summer, tillers and lawn rakes. Also available are: air compressors, air tools, tile cutters, carpet cleaners, cement mixers, insulation blowers, drills, digging and fencing equipment, leaf Special thanks to Brad Penner at Penn-Co Tool Rentals, Blumenort, Manitoba.

I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming!

Check out my website: www.householdsolutions.org.

Reena Nerbas is a professional speaker and the author of three national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions,

Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets and Household

Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives. Books and

Household Solutions 1, 2 and 3 Cooking/Cleaning Gift Packs are

available online or by calling: 204-320-2757.

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CONNIE OLIVER AROUND THE HOUSE

The economy is on everyone’s mind these days. The more you hear about the recession the more you think twice about spending money on unnecessary i t ems . Ev e n the home décor industry, which is usually considered recession-proof, is noticing a slowdown. The recession is also seeing consumers spending more time at home rather than going out for entertainment. To that end we should not forgo maintaining a décor that is vibrant and enjoyable.

Now more than ever it’s important to use your money wisely when updating your rooms. Using what you have to its fullest advantage is one way to keep the budget in check. Paint and wallpaper are also good budget-friendly revivers that can be used to help keep your space up to date. There are a few dollar-stretching tricks to follow that may help you keep your interior projects on target.

Our feature bathroom, courtesy of Benjamin Moore, has more than one money-saving decorating trick up its sleeve. This bathroom is a great example of how just a little bit of paint can create a huge impact. The striped-wall design, gleaned from the upholstery fabric on the back of the antique chair, is an easy but effective update that anyone can do. The vibrant colours in the Benjamin Moore palette are what make this room pop. You could easily purchase a few sample pots to get a similar look which is easier on the budget than having to purchase paint for an entire room redo. You may even have some leftover interior latex paint that could be used to transform a room in your home. You don’t have to have a full gallon of paint to make a décor change. Stripes, large geometric colour splashes, focal walls and so on can all be used to update any room in your home without much cost or time involved. Painting an entire room takes a few days to complete whereas a focal wall of colour may take only a day over the weekend. I personally love quick projects that can be done on a whim. I hope I’m motivating you to check out those half-empty cans of paint. You could do a quick update today!

Another money-saving idea from our feature photograph is the use of small bits of upholstery fabric on the antique chair. If you can find remnant pieces of great fabric, you can recover a small piece inexpensively. In this case, the use of three different but co-ordinating fabrics make the traditional chair eclectic and fun. If you are considering reupholstering any furniture, another money-saving idea is to choose a solid colour or a smaller pattern. Larger patterns have to be matched and as a result there is a lot more wasted fabric that you have to pay for.

The simple window treatments in this room are made more interesting by the way they are hung to create a balloon/swag effect. Adorning inexpensive window panels is another way to save money but still update your décor. Again, smaller fabric remnants along with decorative accents like braided trim can be sewn together to create a unique look. If you need a curtain rod consider using inexpensive PVC tubing, copper piping (I saw a length of it on the clearance table at Canadian Tire recently) or even a piece of decorative driftwood. These items can be covered in fabric or painted to create a finished look.

FOLLOW THE DEALS

I often let the deal decide change in my space. If you want to do this as well you’ll have to keep your mind open to the possibilities. For example, if your kitchen cabinets need an overhaul you can update them with paint of course, but also consider mixing up the hardware for a casual look. You can often find deals on a few great drawer pulls or knobs so scoop them up if you like them. Don’t assume that you have to purchase matching hardware. One style for the drawer handles and another for the cabinet knobs can make for an interesting look. If you don’t have enough paint to make the cabinets a uniform colour then paint the top and bottom cabinets in co-ordinating colours, or paint the drawer fronts a different colour from the door fronts. There are no hard-and-fast rules anymore. Create your own style.

Here are some decorating ideas that will help you save money: use mismatched ceramic tiles to create a mosaic backsplash or tabletop; one discounted roll of wallpaper can be used to create a focal wall in a small bathroom or can be used to create a focal point at the head of the bed; exchange leftover paint and/or décor items with friends – they may have colours that you like and vice versa; hold a decorating swap meet for family and friends and exchange unwanted décor items; look for deals on mistinted paint or discontinued wallpaper; create your own artwork by framing black and white photographs, copyright-free images from the Internet or paint a canvas yourself with leftover paint; use leftover fabric or great remnants to update small furniture; create toss pillows or even to frame as art.

Don’t automatically pull out the catalogue when you need or want a change. Look at what you have and update it to create a new look in your space.

– Connie Oliver is an interior designer from Winnipeg

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