Room Candy

April 25, 2013

Living Room Face Lift!

Here's a recent living room redesign ... a room that started off ...well honestly, not too bad! The bones of the room were awesome...big open space, hardwood floors, fab fireplace, creamy linen drapery and roman shades,  white slip covered sectional and chairs
  and 3 tall black bookcases. 

Our client called us with her dilemma...its all there but its just not completely working. Hmmm..we have definitely heard that before. Great furniture is one thing but what really makes a room feel pulled together is the layers that come after the furniture....

Here is our first look at the space.



Great bits to play with but the layout is not working - abit of a floating carpet island with furniture on all corners!
  The dark walls are closing in the space and there is no rhythm
 to the art and accessories. .


So here's what we did ....


Painted out the space ( and also a connecting foyer and dining room) 
This was the clients pick as she had just painted out her bedroom in this colour and it felt warm and inviting and really works with all of the rooms in the house.
Thanks New Heights Contracting!



Lighter and brighter :)


One week after our initial look, painting was complete and we did some retail sourcing for some new pieces to fix that "not working" dilemma. Layers layers layers!

Here's the haul...we also shopped for her master bedroom too so extra bits are shown in this photo. We always try to use as much of the clients things as possible.
 It has to feel like their home not a show home! There are no budget breakers here...just beautiful pieces that work together seamlessly.




First thing on styling day is clear the room.





We added in the new area rug and reworked the furniture layout.


Stacey cleans...I take photos :)


This layout fits the beautiful bay window and fully functions for conversation
 as well as focusing on the great fireplace and mantel .
But its not there yet...


Work in the accent lighting 



Eye level lighting is so important for room ambiance. 
Two table lamps and a floor lamp were added to the space.


Bring in the art and mirrors.






Layer the accessories and soft finishes ( pillows!) and style the bookshelves.

ReMarkable ReDesign living room makeover after

ReMarkable ReDesign living room makeover after

Now its working....



The final result at the end of the day  -  a really beautiful, pulled together space that is super cozy , great for family, conversation, entertaining and is most definitely "working".


Remarkable ReDesign Living room makeover after

ReMarkable ReDesign living room makeover after

ReMarkable ReDesign living room makeover after


Here's what our delighted homeowner had to say when she came home from work
 and saw her space....
"You two are miracle workers!!!!!!! I absolutely love everything!!! Thank you! I am ready to keep going. I should have had your help years ago. I have wasted so much time and money and still could not make it as beautiful as you have made it." ~CB

LOVE LOVE LOVE our happy clients!! Who are the lucky ones...them or us!?!

Enjoy!
 ~ Tracey and Stacey 



April 15, 2013

Room Candy's Top IKEA Hacks!

We live on an Island (which we LOVE)...  but shopping Victoria can be difficult at times. We all, at one time or another pile into pick up trucks and vans and head over on the ferry to Vancouver to access stores like IKEA ,
 Restoration Hardware , Crate and Barrel , CB2 , West Elm...
3 different friends - completely unrelated (including Stacey) were on the loose this weekend at IKEA. That got me thinking of A: what I "need" (read: want) and B: how can I  upcycle an IKEA piece into something different?!

The answer is that I really  "need" nothing (nor another project!) so my friend order list was disappointingly small. We all accept and even <3 IKEA - standard living essentials! 
But many of us do wish to make IKEA pieces uniquely ours....
 thus the IKEA HACK has evolved! 

Here's some ( of millions ) of the hacks that have caught my eye. Try one and show us!




 The custom BILLY built-in hack :
Always a favourite because it functions, costs barely anything and looks super rich.
BILLY bookcases together with some molding... Nice!

Ikea hacks- billy bookshelves




Restoration Hardware rope mirror inspired  GRUNDTAL hack:

I have 2 faux RH rope mirrors bought from Homesense for $60 & $80 each, but this GRUNDTAL hack is great and even more budget friendly ( $30) !!

              Rope mirrors

Ikea hacks rope mirror

                                                                Apartment Therapy






EASY! EXPEDIT old wood box hack:

Ikea hack- expedit shelf cube with old wood

EXPEDIT  shelf box covered and glued with any reclaimed wood and a cool pull...DONE!





Wow..creative people...<3 your ingenuity! Look at this INGO ($69!) table hack:


                                             Some dowling glue and 1x2. Brilliant update .


Ikea hack-ingo table update





More shelving...the sky is the limit here because its just SPRAY PAINT!!!

 VITTSJO hack:


Ikea hack- vittsjo shelving refresh with paint





RAST 3 drawer chest transformed! ( $35 unfinished)




Ikea hack-rast chest makeover

                     

Paint + Campaign style pulls and flat brass corners COMPLETELY change the look of these dressers!


Also O'verlays is a unique decorative fretwork panel that is glued onto any flat drawer surface . Tons of designs to choose from . Cool!

Overlays for ikea hacks






 BEKVAM kitchen cart  hack:


Ikea hack- bekvam kitchen cart  -bathroom vanity makeover


                                                                           Love this...
             I need a new sink and vanity in my micro bathroom at our cabin....hmmmm?!!!
                                                      



DALSELV bed -----> headboard hack: 
Honestly using these easy steps you could do this update with pretty much any headboard configuration. 
Trim top corner bit. 
fibre board cut to fit headboard frame attach with screws
spray glue layer of dense foam
cover and staple with FAB fabric !! 
Ikea hack- dalselv headboard redo






ERSLEY 100% cotton painted rug hack:



 latex paint and tape.....YES YOU CAN!!


  

Ikea hacks- painted Ersley rug


Enjoy! Tell us your IKEA stories :)

Happy Hacking!

~Tracey

PS...if you need IKEA delivered to Victoria give Rosie at Add2Cart a call ! 
great service - small cost!








April 04, 2013

Holly House Makeover...VISSR's version of "Move That Bus!"



So after months of planning, begging, pounding on doors at local retailers and trades we were finally able to give our friends at Holly House a home makeover they so needed and very much deserve.

Victoria's VISSR group ( Vancouver Island Stagers Stylists & ReDesigners) of which Stacey and I are active members - coordinate and implement a "Hands Up" project every year. This year we chose Threshold Society's Holly House....a house for young women ( ages 15-21) who are in transition from homelessness. Threshold and Holly House provide a safe home environment for these girls to find and develop life skills to get them on their feet all while being mentored in a loving and safe space they can call their own. There is also a house for young men in Victoria - Mitchell House. WOW!!! High Five to Threshold!!

The non structural makeover was such a great fit with our group of stylists. The house needed some TLC and no budget whatsoever to implement any upgrades. It was so important for us to make the common areas of the house feel like HOME. Using most of their existing furniture we were able to transform the space! ( this is called redesign folks...and yep we did this in one day- with exception of paint and flooring)

All trade labour , goods, and financial support was donated by fabulous Victoria community companies and local retailers. ( see list at end of this post) We are beyond grateful for this support!

Here's a small project snapshot of the before and afters....




This is what they had going on for a dining room/craft space. No plan in place and no focus.

After the all of the main common areas were painted and refreshed with a creamy white, we flipped the dining and living rooms..Surprise!

AFTER!!!



Same furniture pieces..some refreshed with paint, some re purposed. The addition of a new area rug, blinds, drapes and throw pillows ...WOW!

The Tapestry is the Threshold symbol and a jumping off point for the orange pop of colour throughout the space.






What was the living room /TV area was converted back to a functioning dining area .
What a difference!

Before...



Paint, new blinds, area rug and some decluttering

 Dining Room After !




Kitchen eating area before...


The really awful commercial carpet was replaced with engineered hardwood
 ( product and installation labour donated xoxox!!) 

The pine dinette was transformed with a durable spray lacquer!
New seating ( donated as well!) and this kitchen eating area is now fresh and so inviting!



Stylist/Stager Pauline created this amazing art collage with photo prints taken by one of the young ladies living at Holly House .


The cluttered and dreary entry was cleaned up with the addition of these glass panels, painted and re purposed into functioning "whiteboards"!! Fresh and fun as you walk into the house.






Outside...the front garden was completely over grown...Curt jumped in and cleaned out the space..so pretty...and useable!


In the morning...just starting...


...after a day of weeding trimming and mulching!


Beautiful curb appeal...welcome HOME.

*Note-  Garden City Landscapers did a great patio and backyard clean up at Mitchell House.
 Thank you!!



Brian (with Hanks help!) painted and delivered the newly sprayed furniture!





All these amazing  women with power tools at work :)
 ( thanks Valerie and Diana!) 


With a little (!) help from Handy Mur !!

 Pauline ( our VISSR speaker rep) being interviewed by Shaw TV... I will link the video asap! The video will show the B/A transformation as well. There were so many more bits that we added or transformed (the craft/sewing/yoga room upstairs , new hardware on the kitchen cupboards) - this post could go on for ever :) 


Here is the reveal to Holly House resident mentor and counsellor Rebekah ... her reaction and the reaction of the Director of Threshold was...well...PRICELESS!

There was so much more accomplished than I can show in these photos and SO MANY more people working behind the scenes! We are truley grateful for all of the support for this project and look forward to being involved with many more in the future.


Our amazing VISSR crew that participated on this project ( <3 you all )
( top to bottom: Tracey Stacey Pauline Dana Melanie Josee Diana and Valerie)

Please please please take a moment to look at the trades and sponsors of this project.
 Click for their links and use their services!!

C&T Squared Contracting



So much fun and so rewarding....cant wait to tackle another project:)

~Tracey

****FOOTNOTE
Here is a great post from Threshold Society on our project . NICE!!