Basement update!
Carpet installed today, tiled shower is awesome and I am looking forward to decorating my new basement, thanks for sticking with me through this renovation – I promise to return the favour through your next project.
Clients are always asking me what the ‘trend’ is.
What is current and trendy and how do I get a piece of the current style? The truth about trends is, they are meant to be short-lived and seasonal. Translate this definition to a home project and it eliminates most home interior products. When you are considering flooring, furniture, window fashions or kitchen items it may be a good idea to look at them based on your personal needs instead of trends.
When choosing long-lasting items for your home the trend is – what do YOU need?
More and more clients are basing choices on their needs rather than their wants. Sure, there will always be eye-catching, blingy sexy accessories you can buy for your home but the carpet that goes down in the family room is a far more careful decision to make. Just as you can make a simple black dress look haute with the right shoes and accessories, you can make a room look as trendy as you desire by careful accessory choices.
So decorate to your NEEDS content, put the stain resistant carpet or durable laminate in your home. Top it off with a durable leather couch and kitchen chairs covered with bullet proof fabric and then start to have fun! My sofa is gorgeous leather which is easily wiped if, let’s say, someone accidentally drops a glass of chocolate milk. My delicate goose down satin covered toss cushions – not so much. Do I stress? Not really as my cushions are an inexpensive top off to a well put together, practical living room.
You may desire the Elizabeth Taylor inspired white shag wall to wall carpet in your boudoir yet you have the long haired white cat who tosses up hairballs on a regular basis – what is a girl to do? A practical girl installs glamorous white polished porcelain tile with a reasonably priced, white accent carpet. The diva in her tops it off with sumptuous cashmere or mohair pillows and pillar candles built out of reflective crystals. The practical Diva knows that if Muffy upchucks on an inexpensive area rug it is much easier to replace than an entire room of white carpet yet her boudoir still looks absolutely glamtastic because of the beautiful eye-distracting accessories.
So max out on your needs and choose those items which make your wish list something you can actually live with…not wish that you hadn’t picked them!
Do you love hardwood but dread the thought of scratches and dents due to your active family? Then laminate or vinyl planking may be the ‘look’ which gives you your want/wish without the maintenance or stress. Why should you put a product in your home that causes you stress and makes you yell at the kids for tracking dirt through the house? Why should you cringe when the dog slides towards the front door in response to the doorbell (or the doorbell on TV)?
Put practical on the floor and fantasy on the walls and shelves of your home, away from hairball producing cats and children with dark sticky beverages – your fantastic home awaits and your stress level has diminished.
Kim Meckler is an interior designer in Red Deer with Carpet Colour Centre.
