As mortgage rates increase, some of you are choosing to renovate your home and add a furnished income suite (sometimes known as an in-law suite) to offset housing costs. Builders and contractors write plenty of articles about building these independent rental units. They include lots of valuable information for you to consider. For example, Bob … Read more
Choosing cabinet hardware is like accessorizing your outfit with the right jewellery. Whether repainting a chest of drawers or building a new kitchen, the hardware can make or break a piece or the entire space, so choose thoughtfully and carefully. Repurposing Furniture I love nothing better than reusing a piece of furniture for a different … Read more
A recent vacation at the Iberostar Grand Bavaro Hotel in Punta Cana, featuring photo-worthy Greco-Roman design, inspired me to write about repeating elements in design. I also became slightly obsessed with the gorgeous limestone walkways and iridescent tile surrounding us in this beautiful resort. That was most likely because those are elements that we cannot … Read more
Who knew there was so much to learn about lighting? What does that have to do with organizing and design, you might ask? A lot, actually! Proper thought, planning, and choosing the right lights and lamps can make or break your space. You know how much I love lists, so here are ten tips for … Read more
I have just finished reading the most fascinating book simply entitled The Kitchen by John Ota. The book is a series of stories about the authors’ tour of kitchens across Canada and America not only in search of design ideas but also to fulfill his love of cooking. As an architect he has a keen … Read more
One piece of advice I always give anyone who is planning to organize and/or redesign a space is, “store and organize things the way you use them”. Think about the things you use most often and store them in the most accessible spot. The goal is to find what you need and put it away … Read more
I have worked on dozens of kitchen renovations over the last ten years. Some involved a complete demo and replace and some just a “refresh”. With a couple of smaller kitchen projects just completed and a couple of larger ones about to begin, it seems to me like a good time to share a few … Read more
This blog post was inspired by a conversation I had with a client a few days ago. She and her husband have been working on a DIY reno of their house for months and months and months . . . However, they did hire a cabinet company to design and install their kitchen. Good news. … Read more