Designing Your Bedroom Oasis to Fit Your Style

Many design enthusiasts just like you, are struggling with trying to figure out exactly what to do with the master bedroom retreat in their home.   I’ve combed the web looking for ideas to help you transform your master bedroom into a restful and relaxing adult space.

Bedrooms come in all styles, shapes and sizes. Your bedroom should create the look and feel of your own personality. Some like the calm oasis with thoughts of sleeping peacefully, while others desire crazy wild and vibrant wake- me- up kind of colours to represent their personality in their space. Regardless of your choice it should fit YOU, your life and your needs. It’s entirely personal when it comes to designing the ‘boudoir’.

So here are a few of my own suggestions;

Nothing completes a room, in my opinion, better than adding fabric. Let’s face it, a bedroom is nothing but a bed and a dresser(s) without the fabric. Once you add the pillow covers, shams, bedding, draperies, throws, lampshades, rugs, etc. the room is virtually complete! Select a few solid pieces of well made Canadian furniture in dark espresso brown, ivory or black and you can’t go wrong.

So what are the rules for decorating with fabric? Famous British designer Kathryn Ireland, believes you can mix brights with muted, florals with plaid, velvets with linens. It’s all in how you throw them together! I personally enjoy combining textures for interest. The French influence in linens is gaining popularity with bright, bold patterns and geometric prints. Whatever suits your mood, it is important to find fabulous FABRICS.

A furniture question for the bedroom; do your bedside tables need to match?

The debate continues. You’ve no doubt heard the warning “you don’t want to be too matchy- matchy” by a knowledgeable friend or designer. Many decorators like to mix it up, creating a more interesting bedroom scheme by coordinating pieces rather than repeating pieces.

If you are fond of antique/ vintage décor, you will most likely choose 2 different end tables and possibly a 3^rd style for the dresser, as matching pieces are typically not an option. If this is the case my advice would be, choose same or similar stain colours to pull off the look. Or match stained pieces with painted pieces. If you are more into an orderly and symmetrical space such as in a condo or contemporary space, then keep in mind the bed is your focal point and should be highlighted as such.

There is no right or wrong here, pick a style or theme and stick to it.

Finally in deciding on your perfect bedroom décor accessory ask yourself this very important question before you start and make sure you incorporate the answer in your master bedroom. Here it is…

I never feel at home without ________________.

Happy decorating!

-Susan Fenn
www.parkviewhomes.ca

I’m visiting a new home sales office, what should I expect?

The thought of owning a brand new home is very exciting to a lot of people, however some may feel intimidated walking into a New Home Sales Office or Model Home. During my 7 years of tenure as Director of Sales and Marketing for Parkview Homes, I have had the pleasure of meeting the hundreds of people who have walked through my Sales Office doors. With this much experience, I understand how it feels to walk into a sales office and can relate to the apprehension and hesitation that some people may have.

Prior to a visitor walking into my Sales Centre I always try and put myself in their shoes. I make a conscious effort to make the initial greeting as friendly and relaxed as possible. I feel it is important to be very personable, put people at ease immediately and be an active listener to make our guests feel at home within just a few seconds. My Sales Team and myself are not advocates of a “hard” sales approach and my Sales Team does not subscribe to this selling style. When walking into a Sales Centre,  my team and myself consistently create a warm, friendly and relaxed environment, conducive to open dialogue and make the initial visit a positive experience.

I feel a sense of accomplishment when my visitor departs, in knowing they have all of the information they require to assist them in making a purchase decision. Often, the initial meeting will lead to a second and occasionally a third meeting, depending on the needs and requirements of my purchaser(s).

For more information about purchasing a Brand New Home, Townhome or Condominium, kindly contact me at 705 748 4663. I would be delighted to meet with you and your family and discuss the exciting option of brand new home ownership.

Rick Phillips

Director of Sales and Marketing

The First Time Home Buyer Blog: Visiting the Kitchen Designer

Howdy! And Welcome back to my First Time Home Buyer Blog in this edition I am going to expand on my experience of visiting the professional kitchen designer as part of my Design Studio Selections process.

If this is the first time you are checking in with me, here are the links to the previous blogs you have missed:

·        First Time Home Buyer Blog

·       First Time Home Buyer Blog – Personalizing My Floor Plan!

·        First Time Home Buyer Blog – Design Studio – Part 1

·       First Time Home Buyer Blog – Design Studio – Part 2

So just a little insider knowledge before I dive into my experience. Every purchaser of a brand new Parkview home gets to go through the Design Studio Selection process to select the finishes for their new home, and that includes the opportunity to meet with Debbie from AYA Kitchens. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to meet with Debbie she is super nice, highly professional and has the expertise to provide amazing suggestions to make your kitchen, your dream kitchen, while working inside even the most limited of budgets.

Initially I wasn’t planning on visiting with Debbie because of my restricted budget. I figured I would be able to pick out everything that I needed from the standard and upgrades available at the Design Studio, but when I wanted a different kind of cabinet in my powder room I booked an appointment to visit with Debbie and discuss my options.

When I arrived at AYA, Debbie was there ready to work one on one with me, discuss my kitchen and bathrooms options and offer up suggestions to make my life easier. She provided me with simple solutions such as adding a corner folding cabinet and a cabinet opposite my sink to optimize the storage space in my kitchen, adding an extended cabinet over my fridge so the cabinet wasn’t set back and under cabinet light valance for better lighting. She was also ready with suggestions to meet my personal style such as changing my standard oak cabinets to maple and changing my door hardware for a smoother, sleeker look.

She also listened to my thoughts and wishes for my kitchen and offered suggestions on how we could accomplish what I was looking to do. I had some extra space in my breakfast area, that I gained when I customized my plan, so I wanted to see if I could extend my kitchen into that area. I also wasn’t excited about the location of my main bank of drawers so I wanted to see if I could move it closer to the sink. And lastly, I wanted to see about changing the cabinet in my powder room to white, in a sleek and modern style.

In the end I decided that my kitchen needed the extra space, the moved bank of drawers, the corner folding cabinet and the cabinet on the opposite side of the sink and the maple upgrade. I also added the maple upgrade to my bathrooms for consistency throughout my home. 

When I got the drawings to sign off on I was blown away and I knew it was my kitchen! I can’t wait to move in so I can start cooking and baking in it!

Here is a sneak peek at my future kitchen:

In conclusion I LOVED MY KITCHEN DESIGNER EXPERIENCE! I was blown away by Debbie’s attentiveness to me and my needs, even though I didn’t have a big budget to spend. She made the experience 100% valuable and amazing, and made me so happy that I made the decision to go see her. I am having difficulty putting into words how excited this experience made me for my new home and how appreciative I am for knowing that my kitchen will be just perfect because of Debbie’s help.

It is spring now so my new home should be getting started any day now! When that shovel hits the dirt you know I will be peeking around the corner getting some pictures. Stay tuned for progress blogs and pictures!

Talk to you soon,

Alyssa :)

Here is more information about AYA Kitchens and the Parkview Homes Design Studio!

(Also, there are fantastic videos on this page that will show you the Design Studio and explain the Design Studio (Colour) Selection process!)

Outdoor Rooms

This is the time of year where we begin to start living outside. After an extremely long and cold winter, there is nothing more pleasurable than finding a comfy seat in the backyard with an ice tea in hand or relaxing with a good book or simply perusing the fruits of your labour in your gardens.

If you are lucky enough to have a covered deck, porch or veranda, this would undoubtedly be your favourite room in the home from now until October!  Why not create your own outdoor room?! This has become a very popular trend in recent years and a wonderful extension to your home. It can be as simple as setting up a fire pit surrounded by lawn chairs ready to make smores or as elaborate as a salvaged wood dining table dressed up with colourful linens, acrylic glassware and bright patterned bowls/plates nestled under a candlelit chandelier carefully placed on the branch of a tree above.

A great way to illustrate casual, comfortable outdoor dining is shown in the photo above, featured in House Beautiful magazine. A selection of furniture pieces, possibly found in the cellar, set up outside for Alfresco dining under century old oak trees is the perfect way to celebrate a spring/summer day. Note the furniture can be mismatched and still add character to an outdoor setting by tossing colourful bright cusions and throws in happy hues. An assortment of fresh flowers on the table in any type of container or vase adds romantic and eclectic charm.

As far as colour schemes that work outside, I recommend aqua blues, tangerine orange, fusia and deep purples, but having said that, really anything goes. Slate blue/gray and ivory colour palette also works well outdoors.

The most important part of spring/summer is that we are outdoors, watching the new growth on the trees, smelling the fresh green grass and enjoying what nature has to offer us this time of year.

I hope this inspires you to create your own back yard relaxation room and that you enjoy the fresh air, great books and backyard bbqs with family and friends all summer long.

Susan Fenn

ParkviewHomes Design Studio

Interior Designer, Manager

The Economic Factor of New Homes

As I speak to several potential clients who tour our model homes every week, many are having the age old debate of purchasing new versus used.  Factors such as location, price, lot size, warranty, availability and energy savings are all important variables people consider with such a major purchase. However, one factor that rarely comes up is the economic advantage to the surrounding community when buying new. 

When purchasing a used home there is a very short list of financial benefactors: You typically have a real estate agent(s), a lawyer and a home inspector that will receive some economic benefit from the transaction. When purchasing a new home there is a long list of people involved in the process:

•       A building company such as Parkview Homes with a staff of 25+ employees
•        Trades: 
• sales people, excavators, footing and foundation formers, framers, plumbers, electricians, roofers, brick layers and siding installers, flooring installers, drywallers, painters, trim carpenters, cabinetry installers, HVAC contractors, cleaning crews, etc.
•        Manufacturing companies and building supply stores
•        Government employees: 
• city planning department staff, building inspectors, health and safety inspectors, Tarion employees (warranty company), etc.
•        Development charges: development charges are built into the purchase price of every new home and are used to help finance city infrastructure

So when you are going through the debate of new versus used, not only will you receive a clean, energy efficient new home, personalized to your families individual taste, it is worth considering the strong economic factor that goes hand in hand with new home construction! 

- Paul, New Home Specialist (Sales Representative)