We KNOW how much time it takes.  We do it everyday. But for those who aren’t so familiar with the process let us enlighten you a little. Let’s look at decorating a young lady’s bedroom, for instance.  The gorgeous room below didn’t just appear overnight.

Bedroom decor by Lumar Interiors

First we started with this…

Fabulous fabric selections

The wallpaper we selected for the focal wall was a wonderful deep charcoal with a hint of purple in it.  This girl wanted a glamorous look using velvets, silks and shimmer.  There were at least 5 fabric selections to be made just for the bed (comforter, skirt, pillows and headboard) and 2 more for the window coverings.    Then the fabrics had to be sent to 3 different workrooms:  one that specializes in the drapery, another that does bedding and the third does upholstery.

Here is a shot of the window treatment on one side of the room and the chairs that were reupholstered from another room and re-purposed in her room. Oh and that’s an additional fabric we had to choose for the upholstery.  After tearing apart the sample studio and narrowing it down for her we gave her a few fabrics to choose from for each element.

Reupholstered chairs and ottoman

Then we had to look for some nightstands and lamps.  Again, after narrowing it down to a couple, the client made her selection.

A beautiful bombe chest and crystal lamp for sparkle

Over on the other side of the room, the young lady needed a vanity table and chair and another window treatment.  Wood furniture was bought raw and was stained.  The furniture went from the vendor to the refinisher and then the chair went to the upholsterer to get covered.

custom chair for vanity

Co-ordination was then needed in getting furniture from upholsterers and vendors, and soft goods from drapery, bedding and upholstery workrooms.  Hardware to hang drapery had to be ordered and installers arranged.

Can you guess how many hours was spent

• pre-selecting things we liked
• co-ordinating
• finalizing decisions
• ordering
• phone calls/faxes/emails to workrooms to follow up with orders
• arranging installations, deliveries

Hope you already have the ‘perfect’ cocktail table for your living room….you will hopefully be putting it to good use this holiday season.  I don’t understand people who say they never use their living room, cause that’s one of my favourite rooms of the house.  Its the perfect quiet room for reading when everyone else is in the family room watching a sporting event, or a room to use when you have the ‘girls’ over.  So a must-have is a pretty cocktail table (scaled to the room of course) for drinks or magazines.

Have a look at these – too pretty, no?

The top left one is a classic LaBarge table in an antique brass finish (yes, notice all the tables we’ve selected are a gold or brass finish) with an eglomise mirror top.

Bottom left is a new one from Global Views.  It has a honed white marble top on an iron base also painted gold.  It has a fresh contemporary feel without feeling modern or trendy.

The top right table is a gorgeous statement maker from Maitland Smith.  Its a beautiful blend of straight lines and curvey lines.

And the bottom right is a stunning table from Christopher Guy currently in our showroom.  It has a black lacquer top (yes, lacquer is also back right along side golds!) on a beautiful gilded gold hand-carved wood base.

So, if you don’t have that ‘perfect’ table, give us a call, we have a couple on the floor and can order in almost anything your heart desires.

www.contactus@lumarinteriors.com

Don’t you find you crave simplicity more and more….?  Yet, the holidays seem to get busier and crazier.  So here are a few no-brainer ideas to decorate your home this season and get you and your family in the holiday spirit.

1.  Buy a few large statement pieces and just pull them out year after year.  

The trees below offer a lot of impact at about 30″ tall.

Family Room console in our 2012 Holiday Home

More trees in the dining room….

Trees on dining room sideboard of Holiday Home 2012

2.  Have some beautiful ornaments on hand to fill the EXISTING bowls around your home.

 Save them in separate bags at the end of the season and label them so you know where they belong the following year.  Or don’t label them and just rearrange the following year based on what feels right then.

Two large glittery pine cones fill existing living room bowl

Christmas balls in existing living room bowl

Existing hurricane lamp filled with Christmas cheer on family room ledge

3.  Use lots of pretty ribbon to make anything feel special

….like its all wrapped up!  You can tie ribbons around candlestick lamp posts, pillows on a hall bench, lanterns….

Ribbon-tied favour boxes on our Holiday 2012 dining room table

A beautiful bow and christmas balls add holiday cheer to existing family room lantern

4.  Use lots of fresh Christmas greens

Use leftover branches of greens from your Christmas tree or front door swags and fill a vase.  Or, you can buy fresh greens now at most large grocery stores.

Battery packed candles (LOVE) sitting on living room ledge with a few fresh green branches and Christmas baubles

Fill an existing vase with fresh holiday greens and add some magnolia leaves to a bowl of Christmas balls

Once you have a tree, some bowls filled with Christmas balls and pinecones,  and some greenery you are pretty much done.

Now remember to take the time to sit and enjoy it – yes, your home, where true relaxation begins and the luxury of comfort belongs.

Love the feel of this home – right from the long driveway leading up to this custom built house – down to the stunning light fixtures.  It sweeps you away to a grand home in the country but one that is warm and lived in.  The patina on the walls give the impression this new structure has been here for quite a while…. But, stop!  We can’t say anymore.  It is due to be published in the January issue of Chloe Magazine.  Look for it!

Front Entry to King City Project

So excited to be part of this great magazine again.  Chloe Magazine is available in your local Indigo/Chapters stores.  It celebrates women:  its full of fashion, decor and interesting lives.  Next issue will be on the newsstands by mid-January.

To die for!  That’s all I can say about this paper.

And expensive.  No nicer way to say it…

But there is nothing out there that compares.  We’ve looked.  This is a textured linen fabric on paper with a slightly metallic damask printed on top.  Thibaut is the supplier.  Established in 1886, this is the oldest continuously operating wallcovering company in the United States!  We love Thibaut’s enduring classic styling and the way they always infuse something fresh and  on trend for a new look. We’ve loved them for years!

So we are hoping to get the final blessing from the client to go ahead with this.  This paper would be used on key feature hall walls.  One wall will have 4 of these gorgeous black/white/cream botanicals (from Soicher Marin – our  new love for artwork).

 Look at the closeup to appreciate the linen texture.  Can you catch the slight gold metallic on the top right hand corner?

It also has a plain co-ordinate.  It is the same linen paper without the damask print.  Our original proposal was to use this on the other adjoining walls.  But we may have to opt for a beautiful paint colour to co-ordinate with the damask paper.  We can live with that.

What do you think?  Beautiful, yes?  A  unique take on classic, yes?

We’ll keep you posted and hopefully show you a professional ‘after’ photo (pending the client’s blessing:)

I love artwork.

Whether it be a poster, a painting, a lithograph or photography, it can add so much to a space even changing the feel or mood.

It can add colour like it did in this Aurora home we did last year.  The neutral warm furnishings was punctuated by the pillows, carpet and art!

Family Room by Lumar Interiors

Or in this Richmond Hill home, the otherwise quiet mood of the space was given a real lift by the beautiful art that you can enjoy from both the living and dining rooms.

Living/Dining room by Lumar Interiors

It can complement a soothing, calm space.  The pair over the sofa pulled the soft colour palette together.

Living Room by Lumar Interiors

It can add a touch of whimsy.  In this dressing/makeup space the homeowner got a real feminine feel.

Dressing Area by Lumar Interiors

And it can add drama to a monochromatic space like it did in this luxurious marble ensuite bath.

Ensuite Bath by Lumar Interiors

Or sometimes, a grouping is needed to fill a space and add interest.

Living Room by Lumar Interiors

And then there is Mona.  Now she falls into that moody, mysterious place.

Mona Lisa at the Louvre, Paris

What an honour to have seen her at the Louvre in Paris this past summer.  I never really quite ‘got’ her until I saw her in person:   a captivating masterpiece.

Though art is such a personal thing, you may want help in selecting some for your home.  Most people know the type of subject matter they like (landscapes vs figurative…etc) but need help sourcing it and finding the right size.  With over 20 years in the business Lumar Interiors has found some fabulous sources….give us a call or contactus@lumarinteriors.com

Apparently both.

Acanthus and Vine

When tapestries weave their way on to the fashion runways of top designers, you know they are going to be big in home decor too.  The two industries are more closely related than ever with trends in each almost occurring simultaneously now.  (check out one of our favourite websites to follow www.fashiondecor.com)

Not that this classic art form hasn’t been around forever; its just hitting an on-trend vibe right now.  The November issue of Elle Decor  states in its ‘Trend Alert’ page, “The art form that was all the rage in the 16th century is having a moment in the 21st, weaving its spell for a new generation”.

Trend Alert in November issue of Elle Decor

And indeed an art form it is.  On our recent trip to Paris a new appreciation of this Old World medium was formed.  Seeing these magnificent story telling pieces was awe-inspiring.  In its hey day they were used for both aesthetic and practical reasons.  The huge tapestries were easily rolled up and travelled with kings and nobleman as they moved from one residence to another.  They were draped on the walls of castles for warmth in the winter and were lavished with decorative motifs and stories.  Sometimes they had family emblems and coat of arms woven in; other times they recounted stories of war and conquer; and yet other times stories of romance.  The phrase, ‘the tapestry of life’ has much more colourful meaning now.

The Five Queen’s Bedroom in Chateau de Chenonceau, France

The oversized tapestry in the room setting below creates a dramatic backdrop for the gorgeous red Kravet sofa.  Not quite the scale of the tapestries in the bedroom Catherine DeMedici designed for her daughters above, yet show-stopping in this contemporary room.  Its old-world feel warms up the space and yet works wonderfully with the more contemporary accents in the room.

Old World Tapestry in New World Decor

Some might call the tapestry in the room above an element of surprise.  We just think it adds another layer of interest to the tapestry of life.

Call Lumar Interiors to find out how we can enrichen your living space or contactus@lumarinteriors.com

Fashionistas and decoristas love it!

Chinoiserie is a french term used to describe an eastern influence on decoration.  This style entered the European scene in the mid 17th century when French Kings adorned their country homes with it.   Today with an ever-increasing trend towards globalization it has become fashionably chic to include it in our homes.  It has been used on porcelain, wallpapers and fabrics, furniture and gardens.  Motifs include garden scenery, human figures, pagodas, intricate lattices, exotic birds and flowers.

Over the centuries many well appointed rooms have included at least touches of it.

The October 2012 issue of Architectural Digest which features the homes of ‘Fashion Insiders’ is a great example of this style.  Though Valentino’s French estate is over the top Asian in feel, a more imaginable  example might be Marc Jacobs president Robert Duffy’s Greenwich village townhouse.  His library features a beautiful hand-painted chinoiserie wall mural.  And mixed with what seems like a raw silk on the windows….the result is gorgeous:  exotic but understated.

Library featuring a hand-painted chinoiserie wall mural via Architectural Digest

The interiors of the late iconic  Canadian decorator Ray Staples always had a flair for the exotic.  Elements of surprise was her trademark.  She mixed styles and colours like no other, always balancing it for a timeless look.  In the October issue of Style at Home magazine a home that Ray did 30 years ago was featured as a tribute to her.    Though I’m sure it was re-styled for the photo shoot, the bones of it remain the same and still beautiful all these years.  The grass cloth and chinese chippendale chairs have survived the test of time – as a well-appointed room should.

Room by Canadian design icon Ray Staples

In a recent project by Lumar Interiors, the dining room walls were painted with a delicate chinoiserie mural by the talented Anthony Valin.  We incorporated branches, flowers and birds in the design.  The blue/white porcelain was also used in the room to add to the chinoiserie chic feeling.

For more information on how we can incorporate some ‘Chinoiserie Chic’ into your home, please give us a call to discuss or contactus@lumarinteriors.com

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

Stunning Collection from Candice Olson

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 fabrics on furniture

Stunning fabrics add texture and warmth!

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?)

Hubbies enjoying the life!

.…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.

Latin Quarters night life

.…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.

Pain au chocolat

...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…