Fall in Love with Your Walls Again!

There is a trend among us and it's ever growing in popularity.
If you don't like to deal with wallpaper or the thought of taking it down when you grow tired of it or if sifting through thousands of paint colours doesn't appeal to you this product may work for you.

When it comes to the actual wood products the selection is not enormous however the best colours in home decor are covered with the naturals and greys.  The product is kiln dried eastern pine and Canadian manufactured.  Being a light weight wood the installation is a breeze and the manufacturer's even go as far as saying double sided adhesive tape will do the trick, however, in our experience we still recommend using finishing nails or a brad nailer. Installation is still quick and easy with most of the time consuming part being the artistic design of lining up the boards to create a stunning random 3D look.

The board widths are 6" to 8" depending on the product and limited to 5 collections.  Wall Concepts Nature, Elevation, Lounge Series, Navarro and a more pronounced 3D Wood Collection.

Lounge Series - shown in Chrome Colour

You can also now use laminate flooring as wall décor. This affordable, trend-setting look can transform any wall to create a unique visual statement. The laminate option provides more styles to choose from so your design possibilities are endless.  Armstrong laminate is particularly set up for this with their Architectural Remnants collection.

Laminate used as wainscoting with matching trim pieces for a great finish.

This collection offers a mid-century design trend of ground-breaking visuals showcasing unexpected materials. Armstrong's technology captures the authenticity of rustic barn wood, weathered concrete, reclaimed metals and other natural features in durable laminate flooring creating dramatic accents anywhere in your home.

For more inspiration visit our Wall Designs on Pinterest.

What to Know Before Buying a Sectional?

Want some great advice on what to look for when shopping for a sectional, click here to find out what the experts at Brandsource Canada have to say.

Engineered Hardwood: Trends of Pale Colours

The Trendiness of Pale Colours

We’ve already talked about the trendiness of the Scandinavian aesthetic on this blog. A big component of this style is light-colored floors. They offer a simple, yet sophisticated canvas for a décor that’s airy, natural and warm. Whether your hard surface flooring is blonde, whitewashed or light grey, it will help give a cool vibe to your home. Get inspired by the following ideas to create a décor you will like. First and foremost, wisely choose your wall color. Engineered hardwood floorings vary in tone, depending on the wood species, stain and finish. Figuring out if your flooring is tinted with warm or cool undertones is a great place to start. You will then be able to pick a paint color that has the same undertone in order to avoid a faux pas. Usually, warm colors include red, orange and yellow undertones while cool colors' are rather grey, blue or taupe. Moreover, a light-colored flooring is easier to coordinate with darker walls. You can either go for dimension and structure with dark walls or for calmness and nature with pale walls. It’s really up to you! In the picture shown below, the Barn Board style of Beaulieu’s engineered hardwood flooring was paired with a crisp white wall to create a calm and luminous baby room. Light-colored floors and neutral wall colors are a great starting point to add texture to your décor. Cushions, throws and carpets will help warm up and personalize your space. To stay consistent with the Nordic-inspired look, choose natural textiles such as wool, cotton,  linen or leather. If you want to create a more modern style, opt for fabrics with a sheen, geometric patterns and bold colors. The living room showcased here combines Beaulieu’s Clean Approach blonde engineered hardwood flooring with white walls and is a great example of how accessories can cozy up a place. Choosing a light-colored engineered hardwood flooring and keeping your walls neutral will help your rooms feel bigger and brighter. On the other hand, light-colored floors and walls, bare windows, uncluttered space and functional furniture might make a home seem cold. To counter this, use colorful accessories. Bright cushions, a patterned sofa or a vivid painting are all interesting options. The color accents in this picture bring warmth to Beaulieu’s Mountain Mist engineered hardwood flooring. Another perk of light-coloured floors is that they leave all the space for your statement furniture. According to Houzz: “When you have a piece of furniture you want to spotlight, light floors and neutral walls are the perfect canvas. Go for shapes and colours that don’t blend into the background.” This master bedroom is the perfect example of this trend. The majestic upholstered headboard is framed by beige walls and River’s Edge engineered hardwood flooring from Beaulieu. Finally, light-colored floorings also have the benefits of showing less dirt than dark-colored  ones. All floors eventually dent and scratch, but we tend to see the scratches more on dark-coloured ones. The primary reason for this is that most wood species are naturally light-colored and if you scratch through the dark-colored stain, it shows the contrast between the stain and the natural wood. In the end, light-coloured floorings are a great option for active families and households with pets, in addition to being very trendy. Click here to learn more about Beaulieu's engineered hardwood floor coverings. September 1st 2016 - Posted from Beaulieu Canada

2016 Home Furnishing Trends

Designer, Kelli Ellis, recently attended the High Point Market -- the largest industry-only home furnishings trade show in the world. We asked Kelli to report back to us what she saw, and luckily, she graciously agreed to do so. From our 2016 Design Trends Issue of Beautiful Design Made Simple, Kelli speaks about the wide reaching trends that were highlighted during the market.

"... it appeared trends were all over the place for 2016. For me, that is a great thing because as designers and consumers we want what we like in our homes, not just trends. When we can hit on both though, it's a plus. Here's what I saw..."

1.Deep blue cabinetry via HGTV  2.Gold accents via RenewRedo  3.Mixed media acrylic chairs via Horchow  4.Dark accent wall, Lisa Petrole Photography via Houzz  5.Large-scale floral throw pillow via Etsy

BLUE

Blue was a hit this market. I'm obsessed with dark teal blue, navy and any variation there of. From high gloss cabinetry to walls, I was in heaven with all the blue. Using it in several of my current projects, I was drawn to it, of course.

GOLD

Of course, gold is still going strong. My rule of thumb is to not use one metallic exclusively, but mix within the room, so you have flexibility in your look. Showcased here in the Emporium home and Noir showroom. Copper and rose gold are popular too, but since they are more difficult to match, they will be less of a trend. Even some manufacturers that are notoriously colorful and bright, moved to some modern metallics.

MIXED MEDIA

As always acrylic is popular and always a show stopper (under the best lighting it is breathtaking!) The pairing of eye-popping velvet with acrylic traditional, was a stunner. Rustic woods, fur and subtle shine blend beautifully in the Bernhardt Showroom.

DARK SIDE

Seen in many of the showrooms like Noir, Berhardt, Emporium Home and Koket, black, navy and plum walls, set off the furnishings and lighting beautifully.

FLORALS

Not Granny's florals, but larger, over-scale beautiful florals with birds, keeps the perfect season in sight all-year-round.

 In closing, a message from Kelli to the readers of Beautiful Design Made Simple magazine:

"Remember, trends come and go, so design with your heart in mind. Choose what you love first then find a unifying color to build upon. Designing your ultimate home can be less daunting when you do some homework and identify what styles make you smile. Happy Designing in 2016!"

Kelli Ellis, interior designer and lifelong traveler, represents the epitome of livable luxury and casual international style. Her celebrity and discerning clientele benefit from her extensive world travels, which bring pieces of exquisite furniture, dramatic artwork and unique accessories used to create thoughtful havens. Learn more about Kelli and her interior design work by visiting her website at kelliellis.com.