Room For Change - Time to Vote!

Well 5 weeks have flown by and each week ATB found a room to send to me that really needed advice.

I have seen shag carpets in bathrooms, totally green kitchens, more bad 1970's basements than I can care to admit and a backyard that really needs a re-do. Now the voting has begun. It is up to you to vote here for your favorite room. The best part is each vote you cast enters you to win an iPad Mini, I mean who doesn't want an iPad mini? You can only vote once a day but keep voting for your favorite space and stay tuned to hear who wins the grand prize of $10,000 and time with a designer to make their dream space become a reality.

Here are the 5 spaces I gave design advice on - I hope one of these deserving spaces wins I would love to be a part of the transformations!

Read my design advice  here

 

Read my design advice here

Read my design advice here

Read my design advice here

Read my design advice here

 

Exciting News and a chance to update a room in your house!

I've been waiting to share this news, today ATB launched an exciting contest called: Room For Change and I am apart of it! I have been chosen to be one of their two design experts.

Here is how it works:
If  you live in Alberta you can enter, send in pictures of your ugliest room or problem space. We want to see that paneling, faux brick and ugly wallpaper!

Each week between April 8th and May 13th ATB will choose two spaces that need the most help, and one of the two design experts will reply with tips and advice on how to transform the space. The lucky weekly winners get $250 to go towards fixing the space. If you are an ATB customer they double it and you get $500!

On May 15th ATB will post their 10 finalists and open it up to all Albertans to vote for the space they think deserves the $10,000. Voting ends on May 31st when ATB will announce the winner. The very lucky winner will be given $10,000 to renovate and redecorate their space with the help of one of the two experts!

I'm really looking forward to seeing all of your spaces and seeing the transformations. What is so great about this contest is that you will see real spaces and real budgets fix design problems that everyone is struggling with.

Sometimes a small tweak can make a huge difference to how you enjoy your space. Whether it is your forever home, your right now home or your first college rental don't hesitate to submit.

Click here to submit your photo through ATB. Or you can send it in via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.  Even if you don't have a space to share (lucky you) follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Dog lovers - this is the place for you!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a dog lover, I have three beautiful fur balls that I treat like the most valuable members of the household.

Case in point:
They get their haircut more often than I do
They eat organic by-product free food
They have an unlimited supply of treats
They have colour coordinated jackets, beds, you get the idea...I AM a dog person.

So when I come across a design story about dogs, I just have to share. Beware, if you are a dog person this story is going to make you want to shop for your pup!

Just because we are chatting about pups here is a montage of my puppies:

*Ruby*

*Ella*

*Lila*

I was getting my daily Design Sponge dose and they were explaing how to make your own dog bed. Even though I can't sew a button (don't judge) I read on keenly. At the end they wisely told the sewing impaired where to buy a stylish bed. An amazing website called Domestic Beast , they feature so many cute products that are not only super adorable but stylish. For all of your design obsessed people you know how hard it is to find a dog bed that works with your decor. Well this is the store for you!

I love this site, they sell hard to find products. For instance they sell these amazing covers to go over the interior cushions so when your pup has an accident (it happens I know) it doesnt seep through to the cushion! The best part is it is super reasonable at just $20.00!

*Domestic Beast*

*Liner*

 

They are all over the stripe trend popular this spring

 

How cute are these dog food scoops!

 

These Missoni inspired bowls are gorgeous!

 

Happy Shopping!

 

Small Spaces = Happy Spaces?

From the time most of us flee our parents nest and start out in our own place. An often itty bitty apartment (and at times cockroach infested - my first place in Sydney) we are striving for a bigger place. Maybe it's time to re-think that goal, actually I can attest to the fact that small/compact spaces can be fantastic. They take a bit more effort and ingenuity but they are worth it. Just think, less space to clean and less clutter!

I saw a segment on MSNBC about a millionaire who downsized his grand living to a compact 420 square foot apartment in NYC. His tiny place may be small on size but makes up for it in style and function. Not only does he have a home office but he can entertain up to 12 on a fold out dining table.

*Watch the segment here*

 

His space inspired me so I went in search of more small spaces that inspire. What do you think? Are you ready to downsize?

Smart bookcases that maximize your space

 

Small home office

 

Storage under the bed is always a wise solution in snug quarters, apartment therapy found the best of the best.

 

One of my favorite spaces features a 300 square foot condo in Austin Texas, small of size but big on style!

 

Luggage - Divine!

Our new arrivals from England have just arrived and I was inspired by a time when travel was an experience. It involved drama, style and not having to take your shoes off and walk through security.

Clearly luggage was not limited to one piece per person.

*Marlene Dietrich*



*Elizabeth Taylor*



*Marlene Dietrich* 

We have already sold a few trunks but we have my favorite one left:

This amazing leather steam trunk, is stunning. Clearly made custom for it's own with leather trim, heavy canvas and a padded interior I'm obsessed! Can you imagine this at the end of your bed?

*I love the makers mark, made in Bristol England*

*The padded interior, with straps*

Not to worry we have small ones too, these two lovely leather suitcases are a nice size. The top one is lined in satin and you would not believe how much it weighs!