Real Estate Blog - home design

Chic on the Cheap: 5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Update Your Home with Style!

Looking to update your home on a budget? You're in luck because we've got some fun ideas to spruce up your space without breaking the bank!

Paint a Room

Painting is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to give a room a fresh new look. Choose a color that complements your existing furniture and décor, or go bold with a pop of color that adds personality and flair to your space. Don't forget to use drop cloths and painter's tape to protect your floors and trim.

Upcycle Furniture

Instead of buying new furniture, consider upcycling what you already have. Sand down an old wooden dresser and paint it a fun color, or reupholster a tired old chair with a bold patterned fabric. With a little creativity and elbow grease, you can transform…

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Kitchen Trends to Watch for in 2023

1. Closed-off floorplans

While an open floorplan is practical for some, 2023 is looking to be the year of privacy. The traditional style of kitchen is making a comeback, four walls and all, according to Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck Design in an interview with Forbes. Whether it be glass partitions, movable dividers, unique built-in shelving, decorative pillars, or simply a wall, the broken floorplan helps to compartmentalize your spaces, offering up privacy when you need it. When considering a broken floorplan for your kitchen, ensure accessibility and moveability is at the forefront of your design. While things might be closed off, you’ll still need to ensure there are open and clear pathways.

2. Revamped kitchen islands

Kitchen…

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Chalet-Inspired Design

While it’s 6,154 kilometers from Parliament Hill to the Matterhorn on the Swiss-Italian border, the Alpine design influence is much closer, given the highlands, mountains and winter climates shared between regions. Likewise, there’s a shared rustic sensibility about architecture and design that suits the rugged surroundings found in abundance in these locales. It’s no wonder the steep-roofed A-frame style pops up all over Canada, along with cozy interiors aimed at warming the soul as much as the body. 

Alpine design style (known also as Swiss chalet style in places where the phrase doesn’t conjure thoughts of rotisserie chicken) has much in common with Canadiana as well as the Canuck tendencies toward timber frame and log cabin construction. 

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Design Trends to Watch Out for in 2023

Looking to update your home’s interior style in 2023? If you’re thinking about sprucing up your home décor, you might be paying attention to what’s in and what’s out. 

Each of the following design trends provides an opportunity for you to explore what décor is most in line with your own style. Trends are a great way to glean inspiration, not necessarily dictate your entire home design. From dark and moody colours to bold marble and curves, learn more about some of the trends that are predicted to dominate 2023.

Moody jewel tones

Interior design is all about creating a certain feeling in a space. One of the quickest ways to do that is through the use of colour. According to HGTV, there are some dark, moody colours trending for 2023 that…

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Why You Should Live in Your Home Before Renovating it

Buying a new home is exciting, but depending on where you are on the property ladder, you may not be getting a move-in ready property. Although it can be tempting to jump right in to transform your space, it’s not always a good idea to rip down walls as soon as you close the sale. Here’s why you should put down that sledgehammer and take your time instead. 

1. You’ll learn about your home and its pain points

Whether you buy a total fixer-upper, an older home that needs minor updates, or a newly built place you want to personalize, it’s smart to play the waiting game before embarking on major renovations, says David Stevens, a REALTOR® in Victoria, British Columbia.

“I tell my purchasers I’d like to see them in the house for 12 months…

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5 Trading Spaces Room Makeovers That Missed the Mark

As the 1990s and 2000s make a comeback in the form of TV, film, and fashion, we can’t help but be nostalgic about original home improvement shows that paved the way for so many of today’s reality home shows. 

The most notable of these classic shows is TLC’s Trading Spaces. The premise is simple: two sets of neighbours swap homes and transform a room in two days with a budget of $1,000 using the help of expert designers. This format made the show, which ran from 2000 to 2009 before its 2018 reboot, a huge hit. 

Trading Spaces’ successful results inspired a generation of reno enthusiasts to try their hand at updating their own spaces, but sometimes left homeowners shocked and even in tears. 

While it may seem like these things were done…

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5 Design Trends on Their Way Out for 2023

With 2023 just around the corner, many of us are beginning to think of what to bring into the new year and what to leave behind. This applies to our homes as well. When all of the holiday décor comes down, it’s a good time to consider what sort of design elements in your home are in need of a shakeup. By nature, home décor trends come and go, but there are a few making their way out as we usher in the new year. From all-white minimalism to modern farmhouse, read more to find out what experts say should be left behind in 2022.

1. Modern farmhouse

Modern farmhouse has really had its moment. Starting in the mid 2010s, the design was revered for its homey vibes and was hailed as a way to bring bits of rural life…

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What to Keep In Mind When Choosing Your Living Room Aesthetics

Often considered one of the most important spaces in a home, the living room is a place to embody the perfect design that allows you to seamlessly relax, socialize, and enjoy entertainment with family or guests. Whether you enjoy hosting, using the living room as more of a quiet space, or you’re looking for a cozy, comfortable space decked out with the latest smart tech, we’re here to walk you through the process of how to go about choosing design features for your living room. 

Start with functionality

While there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all when it comes to designing and decorating your living room, there are some key elements of design that can be emphasized once you establish its function.…

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