After 21 years we still get excited seeing beautiful swatches of fabrics transform into a magnificent room.  I guess its true love for us.   The room usually starts with the fabrics and colours and then the ‘pretty’ happens.

In this King City project, the homeowners wanted an elegant, romantic and slightly formal feeling bedroom to retreat to.  It was a large room so a large plush upholstered headboard was the perfect solution.  We combined that with chenilles and silks in varying neutral shades.  This gave an understated but elegant feel to the room – a true reflection of the client.

 

 

The combination of gorgeous textures from velvets to silks (if you look closely the Maxwell floral striped silk even has some crystal bling on it) fulfilled our clients’ wish.  In order to give the neutral colour scheme lots of interest we combined paisleys with stripes and solids and florals….

 

Want a close up of some of the ‘pretty’ in the room?

Screens are particularly wonderful in large rooms.  They can be hung on a wall or rest on the floor.  They anchor a space that can otherwise seem to be floating away.

 

This lovely cabinet is on the far left wall which you can’t see in the photo.  The beautiful lines of the grill work repeat the curves of the paisley bedding and the pattern on the rug.

Oh and there is some beautiful upholstery in the other corner.  We reupholstered the customer’s existing pieces to work with the new home.

There you have an understated and elegant room to reflect our busy clients and give them a restful retreat to come home to.  A room that’s ‘done’ for life, really.

At Lumar Interiors we feel that true relaxation begins at home and that’s where the ultimate comforts belong.  For more information on how we can enhance your home and your life give us a call or visit us at www.lumarinteriors.com

 

I believe some people call it celebrating successes.  I prefer to call it celebrating gratefulness.  In this busy, success-driven world we tend to forget about all the things to be grateful for.  We should definitely be grateful for our successes (big or small) but also for a lot of other good things that happen throughout the year.  Sometimes the not-so-good things seem to stand out.  So when I came across this idea I thought it was brilliant!

Place a clear jar or vase in a visible area.  I chose my home desk cause I go there every morning and every evening.  Here you will drop notes documenting great things that happen to you throughout the year. (I was contemplating a beautifully decorated vessel but then realized I wouldn’t be focussing on the ‘gratefulness’ part of the exercise.  So make sure its clear so you can see your notes build!)

 

I encouraged my kids to do the same (they are a little older than that picture on the desk….).  And as I explained it to them, the notes can be about anything that you are thankful for:  a cup of coffee that a friend buys you, a school test you do well on, exercise goals that we achieve, fantastic dinners that we cook, a super client that we are working with, a great trip that we go on, an understanding spouse, a child who makes you laugh, a cozy home to come home to ….. It could be a daily ritual or whenever it strikes your fancy.  Just watch your gratefulness grow!

Then, on New Year’s Eve 2013, we can open up our container full of notes and remind ourselves of all the great things that happened throughout the year:  all the things we should be grateful for and the many little things that are easy to forget.

Wishing you  loads of things to be grateful for in 2013!

Her first collection for Kravet was good – but the consensus in our office is this second one is GORGEOUS!

 

You may have heard a lot of talk about colour being ‘back’ lately.  Well it is.  Colour is out in full force.   However, we tend to be forgetful of pattern and texture. These two elements is what complements everyone’s style and is essential for interest and depth in a space.  So if you prefer neutrals with a hint of colour you will love Candice’s new collection!

 

 

Candice Olsen’s new line of fabrics allows for a comfortable and durable home as well as an elegant and tasteful one.  The collection  includes soft textured solids, damasks, velvets, stripes, geometrics  and some glitter!  That’s what Candice is all about:  mixing matte and shiny, old and new…

Call us if you’d like to get a better look at it or contactus@lumarinteriors.com

 

It’s a way of life.

I’m no expert on Parisian style.  We were only there 10 days, but in my humble opinion Parisian chic prevailed wherever we went.  It might have been in different flavours from one neighbourhood to another but it was always about lifestyle, not just what they are wearing.  (though  that wasn’t too shabby as you can imagine)

…the way they love their cafes.…I mean everywhere.  And they were filled with  the locals leisurely reading their papers or engaged in conversation.  (Come to think of it….I don’t think I saw anyone sitting there with their Ipads or computers…hmmm?)

 

.…the way they love their books….there was a bookstore on every block: mostly used ones and in French, of course.  What a shame!  I would have been in heaven if I could read them.  Though the young ladies we were with managed to find the famous Shakespeare & Co Store.

Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore

 

….and the way they do food...lunch is light and fresh.  Dinner is richer with sauces, but no worries, the wine dilutes it all!  Loved dinners in the Latin Quarters…full of life and locals.

 

.…the way they love good quality.  They just don’t do  ’cheap’ in Paris.  And I’m not referring to pricing.  I mean even the very modest shops had well made clothing or shoes etc.  They take such pride in the curation and display of their merchandise.  It was early August when we were there and all the store fronts had their little signs out  announcing ‘Newest Fall Collection”.

Beautiful Displays

 

...the way they love their leisure time in the parkettes and gardens catching up on their daily reads.

Luxembourg Gardens

 

…the way their morning croissants are melt in your mouth.  I just can’t bring myself to have one here yet.  The memory has to become more distant.

 

 

...the way they do pretty….

Lauduree Paris

 

…and the way they do history…well, what can I say.

Palace of Versailles

 

I now understand why everyone I talked to before I went to Paris seemed to have been there more than once.  It is definitely a place to go back to. There are too many beautiful sights to explore all in one take.  I believe in addition to their beautiful products and architecture, its their way of life that keeps people going back.  It is inspirational.   They love to be proper, do things beautifully and live in the moment to enjoy life.

And for Parisians if that means closing your shop down for the month of August, so be it…

 

 

 

 

 

 

A while back I posted that ‘chairs are like shoes’.  So shoes and jewellery are my favourite things….I guess that means I love chairs and lamps!

What gives the outfit the final touch, the wow, the feelings you want to exude?  The jewellery or the lamps, of course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whether its elegance or manliness or colour or panache….lamps can add any of  that to a room.

If you need help finding the right lamp for the feeling you are after…we’re good listeners, give us a call or check us out at www.lumarinteriors.com

 

 

Why do we love and appreciate comfortable and luxurious accomodations in hotel rooms and yet not give them nearly as much importance in our own homes?

True, we generally want to get the  main living areas done first and then the kids’ rooms take priority  and by that point you need a new roof or furnace….you get the picture.  Life happens and the bedroom is often last on the totem pole.

The talk of late seems to be about how ‘experiences’ bring you more happiness rather than ‘things’. Then how about a beautiful bedroom to retreat to at night?  Why do we ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over a beautiful bed in a hotel room?  One with amazing duvets and pillows and sheets, so smooth and soft….oh, and we love the throw at the foot of the bed that ties in with the drapery?….Maybe part of the wonderful experience of going away is enjoying the lovely accomodations.

So, perhaps, we don’t quite need a bedroom like the the Four Seasons des Bergues in Geneva……

 

But, here are our top picks to make your bedroom a wonderful experience:

1. Gorgeous bedding – whether simple or lavish but made to look pulled together (like a well-appointed hotel room)

 

2.  Dreamy Window Treatments – what’s the first thing you do when you enter a hotel room?  I go to the window, look out, make adjustments, let light in or black out the room….but not only are they so practical for a good night’s rest, they can dress up the room and totally add to the mood or feeling you want to create.  Custom window treatments offer the best of both: perfect function and beautiful fit.

 

3.  Beautiful lighting – lamps on the bedside tables for reading, please, and perhaps a pretty chandelier that makes you smile when you walk in.

 

 

 

4. Sparkling mirrors - imagine being  in a hotel room without one?  Make them practical and stunning…they add a little sparkle to a room.  And they don’t have to ‘match’ your dresser.

5. Pretty art – to accessorize the room (besides your traditional wedding portrait that found its way there?)

 

6. And finally, how about some sumptuous furniture to sit or lie on if you want to get away from everyone else?

 

 

So, wouldn’t it be lovely to spend a few hours  in this room?  You might even say it would be a beautiful experience…rather than a week or two a year, you can have it 365 days of the year….

 

If you would love some help in pulling together a beautiful bedroom, give Lumar Interiors a call.  We can co-ordinate and provide you with custom bedding, window coverings, furniture, accessories, lighting….everything you need to pull together a room of your dreams. www.lumarinteriors.com

 

I wish it was like HGTV and it could all be  done in one day.

The reality is it takes months to put together a room, let alone a few rooms.  It starts with the planning:   floor planning, furniture selections, colour selections, fabric selections, accessories and lighting, area rugs……this alone could take months.

 

Then the ordering.  For a single room, say a family room, you may need to contact 15 suppliers, workrooms, tradespeople etc… You do the math.

• 6 fabrics (sofas, 2 chairs, pillows, drapery)
• drapery workroom
• drapery hardware
• window blinds
• upholstery manufacturer
• 2 casegoods suppliers (cocktail table, 3 end tables, console, tv credenza)
• area rug supplier
• delivery company
• drapery/blind installer

Now multiply that by 4 rooms.  That is a lot of co-ordinating, emailing and phone calling.  (Yes, I’m not sure if my love of wine has evolved cause of the teenagers or the job…..hmmm, maybe a little of both).

That is not including the calls in between from suppliers that tell you fabrics are on back order, trades that can’t do the work when you’d like, and manufacturers that tell you the furniture you’re waiting for is on a slow ship on the ocean!   And don’t bother ordering anything late July early August from overseas cause that’s just not going to happen.  Summer holidays are taken very seriously in Europe and in the far east and well, you’ll just have to wait for September before they even look into it!

So, day 1 of move in arrives.  Some of the furniture arrives:  family room casegoods, hall pieces, kitchen dining furniture, bedroom furniture.  A piece for the hall came in sooner than you expected.  (I guess that was an express ship).  And the sofas, well, they’re not ready.  (This took about 3 hours of set up)

 

Day 2.  The electrician puts up the fixtures that have come in.  A few crystals missing and one broken-nothing surprising.  A call to the supplier and they’ll get replaced (with time).  Hmmm….the little chandelier in the powder room looks like it will interfere with the door opening and closing.  Wow, 1/2″ to spare …pray for no earthquakes….we can’t afford any movement here.  (These fixtures took about 5 hours to hang with me unwrapping and handing the electrician all the crystals).

 

Day 3.  Blinds go up and kitchen and family room drapery are hung.  Dining room and bedroom drapery fabric is still on back order.  (Did I mention it is so nice to have wonderful, understanding  clients?)  (This installation took about 4 hours)

 

 

Day 4.  Ahh…the sofas and chairs arrive.  Now the clients have somewhere to sit other than a kitchen chair or bed!  We spend a little time deciding how we like the furniture arranged best.  We had two possible options using the same number of pieces…so time to play a little.  Finally, got it right.  Then rearranged the accent pillows to put the colour where it was needed.  We always make a couple of ‘drool’ cushions (ones the family can actually lie down on, fall asleep and well, you know, drool) and a set of ‘pretty’ ones which are not for sweaty, tired heads.  (Yes, they are to be used, just with more care)  Wait till you see them!

 

Day 5.  TV console arrives (now client can set up his 60″ TV) and a couple more chandeliers arrive.  The crate that  is holding the hall chandelier looks like its a cage that would normally hold  a couple of guerillas.  Good thing there was room in the garage to store it until we can get the scaffolding arranged to hang it.  I’ve had a sofa not fit through an entry before but never a chandelier crate.  21 years later and there are always ‘firsts’ in this business.  You gotta love it!

So, we’re still waiting for all the bedroom bedding and drapery, the dining room drapery and dining room furniture.  We haven’t started on the area rugs, accessories and art.

 

Four rooms, not quite finished and three months later.  No worries, we’ll get it done  before the holidays.  So much for a day in the life of a decorator…..but this is true reality.  Four rooms that need to be fully furnished and decorated takes time.  And sometimes the big ‘reveal’ can’t be done all in one day.  It logistically just can’t work.

This client was living in a rental for a year until this new home was built.  We wanted to make her and her family as comfortable as possible as quickly as we could.  Within a week, the home was totally liveable.  Nowhere near fully decorated-just liveable. Major pieces of furniture in place, windows covered (to an extent), most boxes unpacked… It is so nice having clients that understand the process takes time and has its glitches along the way.  But it’s all worth it.  Especially if you believe, like Lumar, that your home is where true relaxation begins and  the ultimate comforts belong.

We’ll be sure to post some of the ‘afters’ of this lovely couples’ home in Aurora, Ontario.

If you would like some help in making your home your haven contactus@lumarinteriors.com.

 

 

 

There is something authentic and stylish about that.

Who doesn’t love a bargain?  I don’t mean a bargain on junk but on good quality items.  Decorators ‘get’ it; you’ll find lots of ‘bargains’ in my home right along side the $$$$ down-filled sofa.  It usually isn’t just about the great price (although that really makes you feel like you’ve scored);  its usually something that catches your eye in the first place.  And you’ve got to seize the opportunity when faced with it or it will be gone before you know it.  So, you say you haven’t got the trained eye to make those quick decisions.  I say some practice helps but if you get things you love, it’ll always express YOU and you’ll find a place for it.  That’s what makes it authentic.  You’re not just going after the latest trends but reflecting what YOU like and what looks good in your mind.

 

This mirror over the sofa has had a few different homes within my home.  I bought it from the Bombay company on clearance over 20 years ago for about $75.  And that was before my eye became better trained.  I just loved it, so I bought it.  It sits over my beautiful, down-filled sofa and adds some glitter to the room.

Speaking of luxury, that raspberry coloured chair and pouf in my living room were also a great bargain find.  I was in the Brunswig and Fils showroom a few years ago and the shape and colour of this chair just caught my eye.  Then they told me they were clearing the furniture on the floor for half off my cost! Well, it wasn’t even a pattern I would have remotely considered had I done this from scratch.  But I kind of liked the element of surprise it gave to my otherwise traditional room. To this day it makes me smile when I look at it.  Totally unexpected – luxury at a bargain price!

I remember coming to a screeching halt on a quiet street in Richmond Hill as I passed a yard sale a few years ago.  This green chair caught my eye.  I was on my way to a client appointment.  I had to make a quick decision (as I was running late!).  For $40 how could I go wrong and I just loved the carving and it was done up  in one of my favourite colours – didn’t even need reupholstering!  Now it sits in my front hall under a light fixture that costs probably 6X the chair.  Luxury meets bargain….

Talk about luck – a few years before that I was driving along a major street in Richmond Hill where an upholsterer was clearing out his basement ‘leftover’ pieces.  I picked up these two chairs for my bedroom at $60 each.  They also didn’t need reupholstering.  And a charming antique slipper chair for my daughter’s room for $10.   Busy street – had to make quick decisions here too.

Oh, and that chandelier…came from my good neighbour’s mother’s estate all the way from Montreal. Another $100 steal!  Didn’t need it for my dining room so I put it in my bedroom.  I removed 3/4 of the crystals just to lighten it up a bit and voila! a luxurious look for my bedroom.  (Made me giggle every time I entered it at first)

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I’m not an impulsive buyer at all.  Nor am I a bargain shopper.  (You probably don’t believe me)  Really, I just love beautiful things.  Sometimes we get caught up in waiting for the ‘perfect’ thing.  Sometimes, ‘perfect’ doesn’t exist.  Something better will always come along.  I say if you love it, buy it and get on with it.

That’s what makes it authentically you and stylish too!

SO,  HOW WOULD YOU LIKE A GREAT DEAL ON A PAIR OF LAMPS???

These are from Decorative Crafts. You may have seen this company advertised in Architectural Digest and Veranda.  They carry very high end product mostly from Italy and France.  These lamps originally sold for close to $900 each.  They are solid antiqued brass and cut crystal.  They only had a few left so we got an unbelievable price! Available through Lumar Interiors, these heirloom pieces cost $270! Contact us if you’re interested.  This is truly luxury meets bargain finds…..Stay tuned for more…..

 

There’s no place like home.

Don’t you find that even after a great vacation it feels so good to turn on to your street and approach your house?  Whether you were on a wonderful European vacation or a short stay at a Caribbean resort, there’s nothing like opening up that front door.  That’s because it’s more than just a building, it’s your home.  And there’s no place like it.

                                          

It’s your place to cuddle or nap and your place to eat (even if youorder in); it’s your place to read, watch TV or surf the net;  it’s your place to have people over (some might call it entertaining); and it’s your safe haven that holds a lot of memories.

Like many of us, I’ll never forget September 11, 2001.  We were with our American associates at a mini conference by the Toronto airport.  Needless to say, the conference was cut short and off to ‘home’ we went.  Not only do I remember where I was that day, I’ll never forget how I felt and what I did.  I had this compelling feeling to tidy up our ‘nest’:  fluff pillows, fold throws, put away toys and cook a nice dinner.  Yes, CNN was on in the family room with minute-by-minute updates, but I was getting my safe haven ready for my family to come home to.

As I look back on that day, I realize that our job as interior decorators is actually not all fluff and frivolity.  The concept of ‘making’ a home has deep meaning.  Four walls and a roof is a house or apartment.  To make a house a home you need people (at lease one), and some comforts to cover our needs (basic for some, luxurious for others).  Furthermore, our dwellings reflect who we are to some degree (at least as much as our canvas tote or our Louis Vuitton bag and probably more) and they can influence our behaviours and emotions.  So to help someone make their house a home is a great privilege.  We can help them express themselves and help them make their home function better.

In this fast paced world that we find ourselves in, I believe that your home should be where true relaxation begins and all the comforts belong.  Aside from vacation time, we are in it 48-50 weeks a year.  When you walk in that front door, whether after a vacation or after a day at work, you want to be able to smile. 

                                                                 

                                                                

An interior decorator’s job is to help you create that feeling.  The art of interior decoration can take hours /days/weeks or months to execute depending on the task at hand.  It is really an on-going project.    Sometimes you are working on a whole room;  sometimes just some accessories or sometimes major maintenance or renovation.  Having a decorator help you should ease the burden of making so many decisions.  The process should be an enjoyable one like planning a vacation or a wedding. Yes, it can get hectic.  And the fact that there are so many choices available can actually make it harder.  You may have an idea of what your needs are (furniture to sit on, window coverings for privacy…etc).  You just need someone to help you make the best choices.  You can hide a dress that doesn’t quite fit in the back of a closet, but it’s hard to hide a sofa that doesn’t fit the room properly.  A decorator should help you achieve the proper function and desired feel of the space you love.

So next time someone suggests that decorating your home is frivolous, ask them how much time they spend there.  I think it makes sense to give it some attention,  cause there’s no place like it.

Just ask Dorothy.

Stay tuned for our future post series on “What every home needs” according to Lumar Interiors.  We would love to hear from you.  What makes your home, where true relaxation begins and all the comforts belong?

After 21 years in the decorating business, why start a blog?

Malcolm Gladwell made famous the concept of needing 10,000 hours in a given field to be considered an expert. Well, I’ve done over 40,000 in interior decorating and combined with my business partner, Luisa, we’ve done over 80,000 hours. Not only have we been around the block a few times, we’ve hit many dead ends, and went down a few wrong alleys. We’ve learned a lot.

So, I thought we’d have a ton of ‘stuff’ to share: lessons learned, decorating tips, favourite decorator finds, funny stories about life in the decorating world, and perhaps a little design philosophy while we’re at it. (for the closet philosopher in me). Now that the kids are a little older (15, 18 and 22), they are not so receptive to my dinner time stories recounting my day (as I notice their eyes roll back…); so I need a new audience!

We’ve been blessed with meeting so many different people and visiting many places through our work. Truly, I know I’ve been exposed to more than I ever would have in my previous work. (Did I mention I came from an accounting background and Luisa from social work? Probably explains how we’ve made it this long in this business. But that’s a story for another time.) We’ve met all kinds, seen all kinds and been inspired by many.

Life is full of inspiration! The people, places and things that cross our paths in life touch us and help form us whether we’re aware of it or not. The many clients we’ve had over the years have inspired us to be better at both our work and our personal lives. We’ve learned to appreciate and embrace different styles, different cuisines, and different cultures. Like I constantly remind my kids, ‘what a dull place this world would be if everyone were like me’. (….funny, I never seem to get an argument from them on this point….hmmm) Our work has expanded our personal potential: what a great reward!

As a ‘younger’ lady I always loved to window shop and browse through mountains of magazines. I still have a few copies of Vogue and Glamour magazines from the early 80′s.
I have always loved to look at beautiful things, to spot emerging trends and, really, there has been no better education. So, when I discovered the world of blogs through Canadian House and Home Magazine a few months ago, specifically, the blog Habitually Chic (Ok, so I missed the boat on this trend by a few years), well….I quickly became addicted to a new love. I now follow a dozen different blogs which I will share with you. I hope to get your feedback. I would LOVE to hear about what YOU love!

 

So to answer the opening question:  we’ve got a few hours under out belt, a few stories to share, tips to give and hopefully, some inspiration to offer. Even if all it does is make you smile that day, then we feel it’s been worth it.

And truthfully, we always said we’d write a book one day about all our experiences and finally get rich….so maybe this is a start.