by lisa@lisacanning.ca | Nov 6, 2015 | Interior Design
So excited to share my completed #CILPremiumBeauty bathroom! But first, HUGE congratulations to the TWO winners of the $250 Home Depot gift cards courtesy of CIL Paints, @aliasmith06 and @jemsw16!! Please email me your address via my contact form so we can get those over to you.
After what felt like an eternity agonizing over what colour to do, I finally committed and went white on the walls with CIL White Wisteria.
I'm so happy with the results. I decided on white as the bathroom is super small, and while I am a huge fan of dark colours (my bedroom is a deep indigo blue!), in this space with the lack of natural light I felt like white was the best choice.
Going white on the walls allowed me to paint the shelves black for some high contrast drama – and I love the polished pop that occurs when there's a strong juxtaposition of black and white. This is where I think throwing in an accent colour can be really successful – highlighting architectural elements through a contrast paint brings attention to these design details.
Using black and white as a design scheme in a bathroom can lend a modern edge. With metal shelving and industrial lighting, a black and white palette can be fresh and fun.
While my paint paralysis is now over (finally!) I want to know about yours. I've partnered with CIL Paints on a fun contest to get you in the redesign mindset.
The Beauty on a Small Budget contest challenges Canadians to make a room beautiful on a small budget using CIL Premium paint. So pick your space – paint out the fireplace, change up your favourite accent chair, or tackle the walls- and simply post a photo of your completed space on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the paint can in the photo (remember to look for CIL Premium specifically) and the hashtag #CILPremiumBeauty.
The grand prize will consist of a two-hour home design consultation with either myself, style-maven Erica Cook, or editor-extraordinaires Earl Einarson and Jan Halvarson from Poppytalk (pending location of winner) and (HELLO!) $5,000 CDN in The Home Depot gift cards.
The contest closes on November 29, 2015- just one month to enter to win! You can enter as many home projects as you like – just be sure to include the hashtag #CILPremiumBeauty and a can of CIL Premium paint in your images. The more projects you tackle, the better your odds! Can't wait to see your projects!
Photos by Larry Arnal.
by lisa@lisacanning.ca | Oct 23, 2015 | Lifestyle Design
Hello friends- so excited to be sharing another installment of the One Room Challenge, where designers and bloggers are challenged to completely design and renovate and style a room in SIX WEEKS. Crazy, I know. But let me tell you it was incredibly motivating last time around when I completed my laundry room so I am thrilled to be doing it again. It's pretty awesome when you can take a space and be motivated to make changes that will bring so much good to your family.
The room we are tackling this time around is my home gym. It kinda became a glorified storage room with an expensive treadmill in it. With newfound goals to be more healthy and try and get into some sort of physical shape after having 5 kids I really am motivated to get this room done and make it a really inspiring and beautiful space to work out in.
However, right now beautiful and inspiring it is not. I have to admit every time I go in there my heart sinks, I close the door and I procrastinate making the decisions that need to get done.
This is why deadlines are so great. They force you to stay on track even when you don't want to.
I am pretty excited about a home gym but I am honestly equally excited to de-clutter my house even further. Right now the contents of my gym, which was FULL OF CRAP, are strewn around my basement, making it basically impossible for me to relax. But it's week 3, so the end is near- which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time.
If you too are knee deep in clutter here are 3 super quick wins to make it more manageable:
1) SET A TIMER: Literally set the timer on your phone, or put a 20 minute TV show on for the kids on Netflix. Just sort through and put in the garbage or donate pile what you can in that amount of time and don't worry about the rest. It is not insurmountable! De-cluttering is literally done one item at a time.
2) CALL JUST JUNK: I recently helped a family sort through 7 years of accumulated clutter and we strategically booked Just Junk in the middle of the day to take away what we had sorted. Just Junk will literally lift, carry, dispose of, and donate all this stuff. For a pretty reasonable fee you're given the physical support to really conquer your clutter.
3) PICTURE THE END RESULT: When I get overwhelmed (which has been daily my friends) I just try and picture what my gym and the rest of my basement will look like when this is done. Keep your eye on the prize!!! The hard work is worth it!!!!
There are some pretty amazing participants in the ORC this year. Check out the featured 20 designers here and the rest of the guest participants here.
by lisa@lisacanning.ca | Oct 9, 2015 | Interior Design
Fall is probably my favourite time of the year. Sweaters, cozy comforts, and of course all things pumpkin spice. But fall also makes me nervous- knowing we're moving into colder temperatures, shorter days and more time cooped up indoors makes me think about the list of projects I still have to finish around the house! Although we went through a massive renovation for basically all of 2014, there are still lots of neglected areas I want to finish- holes to patch, unpainted trim, products that still have stickers on them, boxes that still need to be donated, a million paint touch ups- and I don't want to look at all that chaos while cozied up at home all through the winter. It would be amazing to feel like I can just enjoy my house for a while (at least until the next urge to redecorate perks up!)
So right now (RIGHT NOW!) is the perfect time to get a few things done on your punch out list. Cross them off, get them done and get ready to enjoy and bask in your completed space.
If you need a little motivation to help you out, I've partnered with CIL Paint on a fun contest that will absolutely help you towards the goal of a beautiful home. Getting there doesn't have to cost a lot- sometimes a can of paint is really all you need.
The Beauty on a Small Budget contest challenges Canadians to make a room beautiful on a small budget using CIL Premium paint. So pick your space- paint out the fireplace, change up your favourite accent chair, or tackle the walls- and simply post a photo of your completed space on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the paint can in the photo and the hashtag #CILPremiumBeauty.
The grand prize will consist of a two-hour home design consultation with either myself, style-maven Erica Cook, or editor-extrordinaires Earl Einarson and Jan Halvarson from Poppytalk (pending location of winner) and (HELLO!) $5,000 CDN in The Home Depot gift cards.
CIL Premium paint can be purchased exclusively at The Home Depot and costs just $29 for a 3.78 L can. I've used the paint throughout my entire home and I can tell you from experience a little bit goes a long way. As a busy mom of 5 I am in love with the fact that it is paint and primer in one- streamlines the process and makes things go faster : )
In addition to being a paint and primer in one, CIL Premium paint is also:
• Free of VOCs before adding colourant
• Washable & durable
• Virtually odourless
• Easy to apply
So get your creative juices flowing and figure out what your project will be! The contest begins October 13, 2015 and closes on November 29, 2015. You can enter as many home projects as you like- just be sure to include the hashtag #CILPremiumBeauty and a can of paint in your images. The more projects you tackle, the better your odds!
Now wait for it- if that wasn't sweet enough I am making it even easier for you- I am giving away a $250 Home Depot gift card so you can take part in the CIL Beauty on a Small Budget contest. To enter, 1) share this blog post on Twitter and tag me @lisa_canning and the hashtag #CILPremiumBeauty 2) tell me what paint project you'll be undertaking. That's it!
I'll be selecting the winner this Friday October 16, 2015 at 9am. Contest is open to Canadian residents. Winner will be randomly selected and gift card will be delivered via courier to the winner.
As for my house, here's what I need to tackle with paint:
Pink walls be gone- we basically half completed this bathroom and then never finished! It's time!!!!
These shelves are going to get a fun accent colour of some kind…
And all these marks on the walls will finally disappear!
I hope you'll join me in this challenge- excited to see what you might tackle : )
by lisa@lisacanning.ca | Mar 4, 2015 | Interior Design
When I put up the wallpaper in my living room I did it with a baby on my back (lol, I was determined):
And when it came time to tackle the basement, baby was big enough to leave on the floor beside me, so no baby wearing necessary : )
It started like this:
And ended like this:
I love wallpaper for the vitality and instant energy a pattern like this will add to a space- love this Kelly Hoppen ikat by Graham and Brown. This print is just so happy! I feel so wonderful when I go down to my basement surrounded by this energy.
I truthfully don't recommend installing wallpaper yourself UNLESS you are willing to "practice" first. Meaning, you're OK that the first few times you do it it might not be 100% perfect.
If you're going to attempt to install wallpaper, here are my tips for awesome installation.
1. WORK WITH 2 PEOPLE
If you're a beginner I highly recommend working with 2 people. One person can hold the paper while the other pastes the wall. It is a bit of a physical gymnastics if you are not used to it as the paper can fall on your head, be cumbersome to work with. So if you have a friend who can help it will make the leaning curve faster.
2. BE PATIENT
You really cannot rush wallpaper installation. To line up patterns there really is no secret trick- use a level to make sure the pattern is straight but it really is just an exercise of patience. Go slowly, breath and be patient. The results are so worth it.
3. USE THE SHARPEST KNIFE AND CORRECT TOOLS
I don't use any special kits or fancy tools- but what I have learned from experience is to change your blade consistently and make sure it is sharp at all times- you'll get a cleaner edge and avoid frustration. What I also find really helpful is a large table nearby to lay out your wallpaper lengths and keep them organized and in order. Essential tools include:
- large clean table to lay out strips
- knife that you can consistently change the blade on
- level
- plastic smoothing tool to get out air bubbles
- wallpaper paste, paint tray, liner, roller and cage to apply the paste
- small sponge to pick up extra wallpaper paste
4. HIRE IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME
So if you think this is ambitious and you don't have the time to PATIENTLY apply paper- I recommend you hire. Wallpaper is very delicate. If you rip it- there goes $$$$. And while I think it is a skill that can be learned with experience, it is not an easy skill. It really is worth every penny you will pay an experienced installer for professional looking installation.
Have you got any tricks (other than hiring!) for awesome wallpaper installation? Love to know in the comments below.
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