Room Candy

June 23, 2013

Its All In The Numbers!!

I read an article recently by HGTV's Vern Yip...he shared his cheat sheet on all the little measurements that we need to know when we are hanging, installing and placing...

Everyone asks us these measurements over and over so here they are in general.

Most definitely worth sharing and saving :) You should too!

Best coffee table height 16-20" the most comfortable height for putting up your feet based on standard 18-22" sofas !

Dining Room fixture 66" from the floor. This won't block sight lines of your seated guests but will give adequate light. Again, as it is with all design - it has to do with the scale of the piece so go with your gut and err on the low side!

Pendant lighting over an island should be 30-36" from the counter.

Best distance for TV viewing....72" from TV to sofa or chair. The exception to that rule is if you have a high def TV take the diagonal measurement and x1.5 for the optimal viewing distance. I measured my family room TV (shown here) and its 112" - oops! even with the HD factor its a little far....

The most pleasing pleasing height for art and mirrors is 60" to the centre of the piece from the floor.

** I always eyeball...it really does depend on the piece and the location. Go with what feels best. I really go crazy when I see art hung almost to the ceiling!!!!!

1-2" is a good distance between pictures when hanging more than one. The tight grouping keeps the look cohesive.

Chair rail height can range from 32"-40" from the floor. As a general rule the chair rail defines the lower third of the wall.

Counter top height standard is 36". This is a comfortable work height and also allows for standard appliances to fit underneath.

Ideal back splash height is 16-18" between top of counters and bottom of cabinets.

We just worked on this one - a beauty...custom glass backsplash created by glass artist Rick Silas

Bathroom towel bar should be 48" from the floor...this allows easy reach from the tub or shower . The toilet paper holder should be installed 26-28" from the floor.

Here's one I never really have thought of: 2" is the best distance between a bed and a nightstand. Close enough for easy reach but far enough to not appear crowed with the bed.

Area rugs: 12-18" from at least one wall...this stops the floating island look as well as the opposite where it may appear that the wall to wall carpet just didn't quite make it. I love this "rule" . The foot and a half is perfect!

These are obviously general measurements...but will work in most homes. If you have really unique elements in your space then you should call in an expert!

Any other necessary measurements your have discovered in your living spaces?

Good luck!

~Tracey

June 17, 2013

Patio Reimagined!

So I have lived in my home for just over a year now. We love it...all good except we were missing some storage space ( a workshop) for my hubby and the backyard was only half finished. The patio had a great start so we decided to jump in last fall and build a third garage and finish the off the backyard completely.

Small construction projects can take just as long as large ones...you need the same trades its just harder to get them to squeeze in your little bits! Our little endeavour was no exception. After almost 10 months we finally have a finished garage ( workshop) and a great storage area for Stacey and my staging inventory . YAY! Local contractor Steve Copp Construction did all of the garage work. New Heights Contracting did all the exterior painting . Thanks guys!

Outside in the back was another whole giant project ....excavating, rock walls, shed building, BBQ cover building. Ask my husband how his back is after wheelbarrowing tons and tons of rock to fill the beds for a lower maintenance alternative to more plants!
Nothing to it ! ....ya right.

Anyways here's the end result and I am really happy with the way it turned out. We have lots of great storage and an awesome patio that is really usable to relax entertain and BBQ even in our sometimes(!) rainy Victoria weather! Sadly I don't have any before pics ( dang!)

The cool BBQ area was designed and built by super creative finishing contractor Ben from Beneficial Exteriors Inc (beneficialx@gmail.com) All newly milled cedar posts and beams joined without fasteners using mortise and tenon only. COOL!

You remember this sad little sidewalk cast off I found? Looks pretty in this new seating area! Price was right...a little spray paint and new chain and bulbs. I hope to change the the bulbs to some cool retro filament ones when I can find the right size! Hoping my honeysuckle and kiwi vines grow up and along the trellis fast!!

I also finally used the stumps I have had stored for a while..one is lacquered for a little side table and the other painted white and movable now with new castors.

Stacey and I also found two of these water pipe fittings at a salvage yard in Coombs. We were planning ( and maybe still will) a coffee table but discovered that moving them is not only really hard and heavy but we are a little afraid of floor damage. So for now its a planter :) - funky though and certainly worth

some more thought.

Finally enjoying some patio time and nice late spring weather. Work is really keeping us busy (no complaints!) so I'll have to squeeze in any moment that I can....tall cool one in hand! Oh ya that and a small exterior cabin reno on the go...stay tuned!

Enjoy your outside spaces...whatever size or shape they come in!

~Tracey

May 14, 2013

Ladies: Whats in your DIY Tool Kit?

The Stylists Tool Kit Essentials:

...Nothing gets a guy off the couch faster than a girl with a drill and a shelf in hand !!

As much as that's true, we are pretty adept with the basics. Hammer screwdriver drill.... we do most of the installation work required in a styling or staging job.

*However MUST say this...
DO NOT attempt jobs requiring experts unless you are an expert!
ie: no electrical/ plumbing etc...Call in the pros for the big stuff .
It will save you time and money in the long run.

As Stylists we stock our kits , ready for any basic DIY challenge! Lately we have had many projects on the go so my kit is looking a little sparse ( and messy). Time for a refill!!

A rolling compartment kit is great as well but hard to get up/ down stairs.
Bigger is not always better ...just heavier.

Staceys kit...much tidier and more organised than mine ... ALWAYS :)

Here are some of our recommended essentials for the home decor enthusiast :

Tools:

hammer
screwdrivers (all bit types)
pliers
wire cutters
tape measure ( self centering ones are great!)
level small and large
Allen keys (IKEA anyone :)
container with nails, screws, wall anchors
utility knife

Power Tools:

laser level
drill and bits with extra battery ( go lightweight small duty otherwise its really heavy)
Stud finder ...always working on this one !

Movers:
furniture sliders - a stylists most valued investment!! We can not do what we do with out these small plastic wonders!

These are what they look like and be purchased at most department or DIY type stores.

Be assured , this is what we are doing...

and not this...although maybe we should be...hmmmm!

We actually have moved a piano down two steps to a sunken family room using sliders and our full body weight pushing and pulling ..don't recommend that....it was tiny bit risky in hindsight!

Art Hangers:
A lock tight kit with compartments to house hanging hooks in various sizes
(based on weight) and Shepard hanging hooks, d-rings, hook and eyes,
Always check the weight ratio on the hooks. It usually says to NOT wire art and mirrors but we do that a lot . You just have to watch the weight and be very thorough with the wiring.

These are my fav hooks! ( sorta sad that that gets me excited! )

Other good to haves...

cleaning supplies / glass cleaner/ all purpose cleaner
Mr Clean Magic Eraser
wall filler
sand paper
putty knife
pencils
black and brown markers
wood floor crayons
Goo Gone ( another ESSENTIAL!)
Glue gun/glue sticks
Iron
lint roller
extension cords
tape: packing/ painters/duct
scissors
Art wall bumpers nubs
light bulbs
zip ties
furniture levelling shims
felt pad floor protectors for chair and furniture legs
black and white spray paint
step stool

There you go...tool kit list ready for action! Let us know if there is a must have in your kit!

~Enjoy

Tracey & Stacey

April 25, 2013

Living Room Face Lift!

Here's a recent living room redesign ... a room that started off ...well honestly, not too bad! The bones of the room were awesome...big open space, hardwood floors, fab fireplace, creamy linen drapery and roman shades, white slip covered sectional and chairs
and 3 tall black bookcases.

Our client called us with her dilemma...its all there but its just not completely working. Hmmm..we have definitely heard that before. Great furniture is one thing but what really makes a room feel pulled together is the layers that come after the furniture....

Here is our first look at the space.

Great bits to play with but the layout is not working - abit of a floating carpet island with furniture on all corners!

The dark walls are closing in the space and there is no rhythm

to the art and accessories. .

So here's what we did ....

Painted out the space ( and also a connecting foyer and dining room)

- a warm beige ( Benjamin Moore HC - 45 Shaker Beige)

This was the clients pick as she had just painted out her bedroom in this colour and it felt warm and inviting and really works with all of the rooms in the house.
Thanks New Heights Contracting!

Lighter and brighter :)

One week after our initial look, painting was complete and we did some retail sourcing for some new pieces to fix that "not working" dilemma. Layers layers layers!

Here's the haul...we also shopped for her master bedroom too so extra bits are shown in this photo. We always try to use as much of the clients things as possible.

It has to feel like their home not a show home! There are no budget breakers here...just beautiful pieces that work together seamlessly.

First thing on styling day is clear the room.

We added in the new area rug and reworked the furniture layout.

Stacey cleans...I take photos :)

This layout fits the beautiful bay window and fully functions for conversation

as well as focusing on the great fireplace and mantel .

But its not there yet...

Work in the accent lighting

Eye level lighting is so important for room ambiance.

Two table lamps and a floor lamp were added to the space.

Bring in the art and mirrors.

Layer the accessories and soft finishes ( pillows!) and style the bookshelves.

ReMarkable ReDesign living room makeover after

Now its working....

The final result at the end of the day - a really beautiful, pulled together space that is super cozy , great for family, conversation, entertaining and is most definitely "working".

Here's what our delighted homeowner had to say when she came home from work

and saw her space....

"You two are miracle workers!!!!!!! I absolutely love everything!!! Thank you! I am ready to keep going. I should have had your help years ago. I have wasted so much time and money and still could not make it as beautiful as you have made it." ~CB

LOVE LOVE LOVE our happy clients!! Who are the lucky ones...them or us!?!

Enjoy!

~ Tracey and Stacey

April 15, 2013

Room Candy's Top IKEA Hacks!

We live on an Island (which we LOVE)... but shopping Victoria can be difficult at times. We all, at one time or another pile into pick up trucks and vans and head over on the ferry to Vancouver to access stores like IKEA ,

Restoration Hardware , Crate and Barrel , CB2 , West Elm...

3 different friends - completely unrelated (including Stacey) were on the loose this weekend at IKEA. That got me thinking of A: what I "need" (read: want) and B: how can I upcycle an IKEA piece into something different?!

The answer is that I really "need" nothing (nor another project!) so my friend order list was disappointingly small. We all accept and even <3 IKEA - standard living essentials!
But many of us do wish to make IKEA pieces uniquely ours....

thus the IKEA HACK has evolved!

Here's some ( of millions ) of the hacks that have caught my eye. Try one and show us!

The custom BILLY built-in hack :
Always a favourite because it functions, costs barely anything and looks super rich.
BILLY bookcases together with some molding... Nice!