Britain has been the focus of so much attention recently, what with the royal wedding last spring and the continuing popularity of the glamorous newlyweds. Now with the Olympics taking place in London this summer along with the Queens 60th Jubilee celebrations, the hype shows no signs of slowing down. With all this excitement around the U.K it’s no wonder that there is a huge trend towards all things British in home décor. I particularly like the modern urban look. It’s bold, a little bit cheeky and undeniably stylish.

If you would like to incorporate a little bit of jolly old England into your space you need look no further than POSHSHOP at Morgan Crossing. They have a nice assortment of accessories at every price point that will work with every décor.

Probably the most identifiably English symbol is the Union Jack flag. If you are looking to make a big statement with a piece of British themed furniture, POSHSHOP carries a fabulous Union Jack side table. They also have a beautiful framed Union Jack flag painted on paper dating from the 1800’s. With the high quality workmanship on vintage paper the result is a piece of art. Besides this flag they have an equally stunning London Underground sign created using the same process.

If you are looking for a smaller version of the flag you can find lightweight wooden wall blocks in two sizes and this fantastic denim Union Jack pillow in shades of blue.

What could be more British than the Beatles - the perpetrators of the first “British Invasion”? With a nod to that famous musical group, the store sells graphic black and white wall signs featuring lyrics from the group’s most popular songs. You can find “It’s Been a Hard Day’s Night”, “I Get by with a Little Help from my Friends” and “All You Need is Love”. 
 
If you are looking for a sign with quintessentially English sayings you will enjoy the “Mind the Gap” sign and the famous “Keep Calm and Carry On”.

Finally, if you are looking for small queenly touches you can you can find decorative crowns and silver crown napkin rings.

Hopefully you get the chance to visit the store and see for yourself how charming and fun British themed décor can be. Now does any one fancy a spot of tea?

by Christina Kristensen
Stimuli Magagzine Contributor

You knew the day would come but as usual it arrived much faster than you ever thought it would. Your son is now a teenager and has outgrown his “little boy” room. After the shock of this sinks in you realize now that the next thing on your list of home projects is going to have to be redecorating his room and turning it into a cool space he can be proud of. As much as you and he would like to get started right away there is a lot of background work that needs to be done in order for this room make over to be a real success.

Before doing anything you will both need to establish the goals of the project. His goals will probably include a new king size bed, a large flat screen television and a fridge. I’m guessing your budget probably won’t allow for the things on his list so, after a reality check and some laughs, you’ll probably agree on the following: the room needs to function well, it should be a reflection of him and lastly, it has to be a comfortable place to sleep, hang out and study.

More than anything the room needs to function well. You will   need to come up with a layout that makes the most of his space. It can be helpful to do a mock up of the room to scale on cardboard and then use paper cutout furniture to experiment with possible furniture lay outs. During this process you may discover that you can edit some furniture. For example you might discover that your son can do without a dresser if you put in a well thought out closet organizer and use the under bed storage that used to hold his toys. Also, when rethinking the layout, it might become clear to you that you really need to exchange an existing piece of furniture with one of a different scale to accommodate something new. For example: if you purchase a small corner desk that takes up less real estate you’ll have room for that bean bag chair.

Of course these things don’t have to be done all at once, but it really helps to set a plan in place so you can keep an eye out on Craigslist and for any future sales.          

As you know, teenagers spend an inordinate amount of time in their room - all the more reason for it to be a comfortable place he loves being in. The room should be a reflection of him and his taste so you are really going to need his input when it comes to decorating. The communication required for this part of the project has the potential to be the biggest challenge you’ll face. There are a few things that you can do to make this easier. First, don’t drag him to the paint store to look at paint and wallpaper samples. I can almost guarantee it will not be a fun outing for either of you. I’ve tried it.  I speak from experience. Secondly, ask questions but not too many. Sometimes it’s more productive to get him involved in the process by looking at décor and design on the internet. You can get a pretty good idea about what styles and colors appeal to him by going on Google Images. In fact, getting him to download his favourite images and icons could very possibly be the springboard for the rest of the room’s décor.   

Last but not least, he needs to feel really comfortable in his room. Of course a good layout and lots of storage will provide more breathing space and that’s a great starting place, but perhaps another important thing to consider is investing in a really comfortable desk chair. I know the amount of time kids spend in front of a computer. Having a chair with great support would make a huge difference to the comfort of any avid computer user.
If part of the redecorating involves new bedding for him he needs to be a part of the process because texture and the way the fabric feels really is everything. Believe it or not, some teenage boys know and really care about thread count! Well, maybe that’s just my son.

If you are at this stage of life I hope you have a lot of fun redecorating. It will not be without its challenges, but I think you will find out a lot about your son and who he wants to be and the experience of you celebrating his growth in this way will score you some cool mom points!  

by Christina Kristensen
Stimuli Magazine Contributor

Photo Credits

Top: Metro Creative
Middle:    home-designing.com
Bottom: design-decor-staging.com
 

The allure of collecting is in the thrill of the hunt, the joy of acquiring and when you get home, finding the perfect spot for your treasure. If you have a large collection, or collections, you have probably experienced large decorating dilemmas as well. Where do you put all of your collectables? How can you keep things looking uncluttered and organized? Is it possible to have everything in your collection displayed at once or do you need to edit? The answers to these questions and many more are answered in the Better Homes and Garden book, Collector’s Style. How your pieces are grouped together and how they are displayed plays a huge role in whether your collection has a cohesive look or whether it will be at odds with rest of your décor. Editing will also show your treasures off to their best advantage and if you rotate your collection you also have the advantage of significantly changing your décor on a whim without spending any money.

In Collector’s Style they advise us to corral like objects in their own special places instead of letting them wander all over the house. Secondly, they advise that one should group objects that are essentially different by colour. They use the example of displaying pottery and suggest using groupings in a single colour family for an ordered look.  In the book, which showcases homes of design savvy collectors, it was amazing to see how the homeowners displayed vast quantities of collectables and yet their interiors still managed to feel airy. The secret was that they all employed the above mentioned tips.

Here is an example of how you can display a collection of patterned pottery pieces with patterned furniture and still avoid it looking too busy. Even though the pottery displayed in the built-ins and the chair placed in front are both patterned, it works because everything is in the same colour family. The result is very pleasing to the eye. The authors of Collector’s Style invite us to think of our collections as art. This beautiful collection of bowls and pitchers really are “framed” within the shelf.

It is especially important to frame and contain your large collections of smaller items that can quickly get out of control and take over a space. This is especially applicable to kids with their collections of match box cars, marbles, playing cards, PEZ dispensers, etc. If we can turn their collections into art we are honoring their significance to our child with the added benefit that their stuff is organized and out of the way, thus making that particular collection a lot easier to live with.

Do you have a large collection of cars? If you use magnetic knife holders like these to hold the cars  in place, they are easily accessible and they look pretty cool! What boy wouldn’t want a car wall in his room?

The same can hold true for a more grown up collection of small items like the shells shown in the top photo. By framing them and containing them they make one big statement and provide a sense of order.

So you see by following the simple rules of grouping like objects together and organizing disparate items by color and treating your collections like art you can easily blend your collections into your décor without the clutter! Have fun and keep collecting!  

by Christina Kristensen
Stimuli Magazine Contributor



Photo credits:
Top Image: décor.pad.com
Middle: ohdeedoh.com
Bottom: thedecorologist.com

We‘ve all seen those elaborately decorated dining tables on the pages of magazines and in the department stores. They really are gorgeous and dazzling but when you think about it, how practical are they? Seriously, where are you supposed to put the food? More important than having a front cover worthy holiday table is having guests who feel comfortable, relaxed and welcome. For example, your guests are not going to feel comfortable if they can’t see who they are speaking to because the flower arrangement is in their way. They are not going to feel relaxed if they feel like they are going through an obstacle course each time they pass the gravy because of all the candlesticks and ornaments on the table.  
 
Marnie Jameson, a famous home design columnist from the United States, has six simple “rules” she thinks we should follow when setting the holiday table. The “rules” are as follows:

1. Don’t make centerpieces too big.
2. Keep festive touches simple.
3. Use something old and something new.
4. Light candles.
5. Don’t overachieve.
6. Use common sense.

The first item on Jameson’s list is self explanatory, but some of the other ones I will elaborate on. In order to keep things from looking too fussy or looking like you have tried too hard, is to keep things simple. A simple, low-lying centerpiece, place cards or small embellishments at each setting is all you need. Each of your guests will feel special that you took this effort but won’t feel like you’ve overdone it. By combining old and new you achieve a nice layering effect. Instead of everything matching and looking like you bought it all at the same store, you get more of a warm eclectic look. Lighting candles always adds so much to the ambience and festive feel of the occasion. Not only does candlelight make you look better, it makes the food look better too!  For the “don’t overachieve” rule, Jameson reminds us that this is not a competition and that our job is to provide the backdrop to a warm, memorable holiday.

Lastly, for the “use common sense” rule, she refers to an incident where she read that sprinkling cranberries along the table runner was a fantastic look for the holiday table. What ended up happening was her kids proceeded to play a marble-like game with them. Inevitably some cranberries landed on the floor. Some of these stained the carpet and the others were eaten by the dog thus making him sick. The point is, just because someone says something is great idea doesn’t mean it is a good idea for you. It’s very important to always remember who is eating at your table as well.

These six guidelines are easy to follow and by reminding us not to get too uptight about it some of the pressure is taken off. Remember the largest focus should be on a memorable holiday meal with your loved ones.

by Christian Kristensen
Stimuli Magazine Contributor



 

    
Top Image: weddingaces.com
Middle : kec-contentedme.blogspot.com

It is Christmas time and we all want to have festive homes with dazzling decorations. We want to use pretty wrapping for our gifts and surround ourselves with things that add to the ambience like candles and scents. In the past not much consideration went into either the production or consumption of all things Christmas, but now we are much more aware and concerned about how our choices affect our health and the health of the planet.  Today there is a real desire to make healthy, eco-friendly choices. The great news is you don’t have to give up an ounce of style when you go green. Here are three great ways to go green with style this Christmas!    


Healthy All Natural Candles           
Organic and natural items are sometimes more expensive than the alternative. This is the case with candles. Soy candles and Beeswax candles are the natural alternative to regular candles. Initially the cost could be a deterrent, but when you know the facts about regular candles the benefits of going natural far outweigh any extra cost. For example most candles are made from a petroleum based wax which is a byproduct of fuel refining. The smoke from these candles contain up to eleven known carcinogenic compounds.

There is a brand of Soy candles out there called Simplicity. They are amazingly clean burning and come in many beautiful scents. You can find Simplicity candles at the HouseWarmings store located at Grandview Corners. Beeswax candles too are a much healthier option. They are non-toxic, non-allergenic and non-carcinogenic and can be found in many natural food and health stores.

Repurposed Wrapping Paper
We always hear the mantra, “Re-use Reduce Re-cycle.” I think more and more people are doing that when it comes to wrapping presents. A new green concept might be to repurpose the paper you use for gift wrapping. For the traveller or wannabe traveller in your life you could wrap their gift in a map. For the musician/music lover in your life try wrapping their gift with old sheet music or an old band poster. On top of this being a thrifty and eco friendly idea it is also a great way to personalize your gifts. This thoughtful touch is sure to be noticed and appreciated. 

Natural Decorations and Scents
There is nothing like bringing fresh boughs of greenery indoors. Besides smelling wonderful and looking fabulous, you’ll have the peace of mind that when Christmas is over the boughs will totally breakdown without having any lasting negative effect on the environment. If you are worried about scratching up your mantle or having a mess with needles, here is a fantastic way to avoid both of those things. All you need is a length of wood, the proper depth and length for your mantle and a staple gun. Just arrange the boughs and staple them onto your piece of wood. You’ll be able to take it on and off the mantle easily without any scratching. To eliminate the possibility of dropping needles you can keep your arrangement outdoors until a few days before Christmas so your greenery is as fresh as possible. At the first signs of drying you can remove the greenery and leave it outside. 

Another beautiful green idea is to use nuts, cranberries and oranges in your decorating. Not only are they beautiful, they are completely biodegradable and economical. You can enjoy the glorious smells of Christmas naturally by studding oranges with cloves and or simmering apple cider with mulling spices on the stove top. If you haven’t already discovered how amazing mulled hot apple cider tastes and smells when you make it at home I hope you give it a try this season.

When you go green you don’t have to give up a thing when it comes to style. Your home will look and smell just as wonderful as any other Christmas but you will have the added benefit of experiencing the amazing feeling that comes from celebrating the season with mindfulness.  

by Christina Kristensen
Stimuli Magazine Contributor

Photo Credits:
applestonecottage.blogspot.com
countryliving.com