Wow wow wow I have to start this post with a great big thank you for the love and warm wishes on my video collaboration with Style At Home. If you're just joining me, I recently completed a renovation of my Toronto semi-detached home which took so long I had not one, but TWO babies in the process. And we filmed it, just to add to the general chaos. You can also check out the other videos in the series here and here.
There were 2 aspects I found really difficult while renovating:
1. Indecision. I had paralysis about EVERYTHING, for fear of making the wrong decision. I over thought every single decision and carried around finishes in my purse everywhere I went. It was terrible. If I were to do it again I would have tried to be a bit more objective and treat myself like I would a client.
2. Exhaustion. Partially from the decision making, and partially from the regular displacement and lack of routine that can come from living through a major reno.
But we made it- and the bathroom in particular really helps our family to thrive. Using a barn door and a wider than normal door opening allows us to make the hallway feel like the bathroom, giving us the extra space a family of 5 kids desperately needs.
I've seen it with countless parents as clients- and we were exactly the same- parents often put themselves last. The master bedroom is way too often where stuff gets dumped. And as you'll see in the video our closet was a literal avalanche of crap. I'll let you in on a secret- the film guys asked if we made it look that messy on purpose cause we were filming. NOPE! THAT IS JUST HOW GROSS WE WERE!!!!!
You can watch the transformation below or click here.
I hope this video has given you some inspiration to put yourself first and tackle your own little oasis.
To help get you started I’ve compiled all the items used in my house, PLUS a fun PDF on how to survive a renovation with kids to jump start your plans.
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Over the last 8 weeks I’ve been traveling around the Greater Toronto Area on a fun tour with CIL Paints and the Home Depot. During #CILontheroad, experts have been in cities across Canada giving paint and decor advice every Thursday evening. It has been great fun and super insightful. While selecting a paint colour can be overwhelming, it can also be very simple. Here are my top tips for picking the perfect paint colour.
1. THERE IS NO “PERFECT” COLOUR FOR A KITCHEN- BUT THERE IS A PERFECT COLOUR FOR YOU
The most common question I was asked on the tour was “what is the perfect colour for my kitchen / living room / bathroom.” What the actual question should be- is what is the perfect paint colour for me! I would love for people to approach selecting their paint from a more personal point of view. What is the unique look I want for my space? What style am I trying to acheive? If you need help discerning this, pour through images of spaces that resonate with you. Look through magazines, pin things on Pinterest, and try to see common patterns and elements that emerge. Build your scheme around the unique space you are creating for you and your family. I often begin a decor scheme with a piece of fabric, rug, or artwork- and let all the paint colours, other fabrics and finishes be drawn out of one grounding pattern.
2. TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE- EVERYHING MUST WORK IN HARMONY
I had a lovely lady visit me twice on the tour- and as per my note above, she was so prepared. On her first visit she came with a gorgeous patterned pillow, and on her second, she brough along a floor tile I had suggested she try. We picked a perfect warm white, with just a hint of sherbert yellow, that picked up on the tones in the tile and accents in the pillow perfectly. Everything- including your paint- should coordinate in some coherent way.
3. PICK PAINT LAST
After you have picked all your finishes- your flooring, wallpaper, fabrics, light fixtures, other finishes- then pick your paint. Rather than committing to a paint colour first, commit to all your other items. It is much easier to customize your paint to your scheme than the other way around.
4. CUSTOMIZE YOUR COLOUR
In my own house, I brought my wallpaper to the paint counter and had them custom match the EXACT grey in the paper for the paint on all the adjacent walls. You can do this with almost anything- fabric, a paint chip, an old paint can- anything with a 1″ x 1″ area of colour that the scanner can read. This allows you to create a completely custom colour to suit your decor needs.
5. WHEN IN DOUBT GO WITH A NEUTRAL
I am a BIG fan of saturated colour and pattern on walls- but I acknowledge it is not for everyone. I would say 75% of the people I assisted in picking a paint colour ended up with a neutral colour. While paint is a simple, and relatively inexpensive thing to change- it does takes some effort to change. So if you are unsure, a neutral paint will allow you the flexibility to be bold in your decor choices and change palettes up with some flexibility.
Finally, I’ll leave you with the most popular paint colours that came up for me during my #CILontheroad tour. Are you more neautral, or do you love to be bold on your walls? Love to know in the comments below.
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