Haven’t we all been there when there is that one empty wall in our space that does need some attention but we really have no clue what to do with it?!
Lets be excited about it and see it as a great opportunity for more.
I got you 5 tricks to fill your wall beautifully
First of (w)all, think of the wall becoming functional in your day to day life. Are you in need of more storage space? Could that wall possibly hold some shelves that can be used as an extra storage space? Depending on your area and if you like the wall to be not only beautifully decorated but also functional, this might be a win-win situation. Or go totally nuts on plants. Plants are always a good ideas š Please see blow jungle.
Shelf Accents
Wallpaper – There are lot of patterns out there that blow my mind. Plus, you don’t have to go the big way – You can easily order some self adhesive paper online for example from Walmart or Amazon. It’s less expensive, easy to apply and will be save to your walls (in case its a rental). Find below some of my fave patterns that are available online.
Paint – If you are not the “pattern” or “wallpaper” type of person, pick a colour that fits to your space and adds to your cohesive style. I personally stick to light and bright colours, but some of the dark navy blue and dark grey tones are moody chic and have drown my attention lately.
Wall Sculptures – I personally love wall sculptures. If not with a paint colour or wallpaper print, a wall sculptures can do the difference. My top favourite and timeless wall decor are the Muuto Dots. They are functional (great hangers for bags, hats and more) as well as they look funky and fresh. They come in different colours, finishes and sizes.
Mirrors – Mirrors are always a good idea, but in some spots they aren’t at all. I am totally agreeing to it, if there was a window across the spot showcasing a green scenery. Its a great thing having the mirror reflecting the woods or other green sceneries that are calm and something that you would like to see inside your home. However,Ā I won’t recommend a mirror, if it reflects anyĀ sort of bad āFormsā outside the window. With āFormsā I’d include an electric pole, electric wires, pipes and others. A mirror could bring those negative energies inside.
As most of you know, we moved into our sweet new home in December and we are still landscaping & building the driveway. Where the money goes right now is very clear. Not into my “little” interior design projects.
This said, I am super keen on decorating the space on a lower budget and one of my main go-to’s are Amazon & Wayfair at the moment (besides thrifting here and there downtown).
Let me show you below 5 decor pieces that I have found online (and some of them already purchased) that are under CDN$50.00 this week.
The Antique Gold Hands Bookends –> For only $43 you can tidy up your books and use them to add some sophisticated look to your room. Chic and useful.
2. The Abstract White Human Figure –> I love Abstract. Posters, Sculptures… anything that adds glam to my home. I cannot forget this super chic abstract white human figure. God forgive me if I have to place another order soon. š This figure is only $28.99 (and patiently sitting in my checkout)
Tip: Pair it up with some abstract posters. See below some pictures of the posters and the sculpture. Match Match. #3.
3. Desenio Posters –> Desenio has currently a Poster SALE. I placed already an order, but I could find more blank walls in our new home to find a reason to get more to be honest. The abstract posters caught my eyes, but to stick to the rule “bringing the nature into our home” I added an abstract poster and a whale poster that adds some dramatic. Please see my last choice of posters below. Why the whale? Try to stick with something you love. Whale wahle, my man love whales, so it’s basically a win-win.
Tip: Use my code “Sinamolnar” to get extra 15% off at your checkout.
4. The Umbra Trigg Hanging Planter –> Who doesn’t know umbra? I love the brand. A Set of two Hanging Planters for only $16.00. I ordered them a couple weeks ago and I use them for my small snake plants – you can use them for basically anything that is small and needs to be stored. I love the white and gold look but they are available as well in brass, if that fits better to your style.
5. The Gold Geometric Candle Holder –> Another item patiently sitting in my checkout ready to come home. Available in Gold, Black or Rose Gold. A great small accent that shows off big times – only $7.99
I hope you liked my finds of the week. They are all online available. Btw, I do not get any credits for amazon purchases.
Leave a comment! Thank you and have a wonderful long weekend.
The day has finally come and you bought your dream house that needs to be furnished or you finally have enough money and time to renovate your bathroom, but… where do you start? After reviewing many options and possibilities and many many many ideas on Pinterest and IG, you can get very fast and easy simply overwhelmed.
Hiring a Designer is a great idea when it comes to renovations, staging and simply creating a space you feel 100% comfortable and yourself. A Designer knows trades, has experience and gets sometimes incredible designer discounts working close with dealerships and manufactures.
I bet that Google will spit you a dozen designers and some of them are even just in the same town as you are. Great! But, which designer is your designer? Pick out 3 designers, book a consultation and start asking questions.
6 Questions to ask a Designer before you hire one
This article is made for everyone who is looking for a designer and don’t know where to start. I recently had written a full article about how to master the initial interior design consultation, which was giving tips to designers in first place, but can be inspiring for clients as well.
Would you mind walking me through your portfolioplease? There are many many designers with a great portfolio and some of them showcasing a lot of pictures, but not so much of an explanation how they got there. It’s very helpful to understand the designer’s thought and see it through their eyes. The best way to get to know the designer is through his/her past projects and finish/colour/product choices. You will learn very quickly if the designer is on the same page as you, style wise and character wise.
What brands and manufacturers do you admire and work with most? This question is very interesting as there are many many many manufacturers and possible trades out there. You would like to make sure that your designer has the right relationships with the manufacturers and trades that provide the products you a) love and b) actually afford. Choosing a designer with the right relationships to manufacturers and product experience is necessary.
Do you understand what I want? Good Design means mainly problem solving. Hiring the right person will help you solve the problems. Good design is only possible if the Designer understands the client’s needs and ideas. To verify that you have been understood 100% by your designer is nothing to be ashamed of. Also, give your designer as much as information as you can, weather it is something you like or really don’t like, to create a solution much faster and based on your desire.
How does a design process with you look like? This question is very important and should be asked to clarify the whole design process in the very beginning. Hiring a Designer means putting a lot of trust in one person. The bathroom renovation or the big purchase for a new home is a big chapter for you and should be as clear as possible throughout the whole process. The best way to understand the process is having it written out. I call it agreement, some call it contract. It outlines every single step as detailed as possible where the designer will guide you through the process and where he/she wouldn’t. Make sure that you understand the agreement before signing.
What’s the timeframe for this project? Agreed, it’s not easy to set a firm time frame for an interior design project, but an estimated time frame shall be possible. This should be usually outlined in the agreement as well.
Is there anything else I should know about you as a designer or about the way you work? Round up the questionnaire with an open and simple question. Is the designer excited about the opportunity to give more information? are you important to her/him? If the designer is willing to give more insights about the way he/she works and puts effort in to make you understand his/her way of working with clients, you will quick realize if you guys are on the same page. I personally take as much as time as I can during my first consultation. This way it shows potential clients that I am open and listening and giving as much as information as they need to hear to feel 100% comfortable.
I hope this article helped in choosing the right designer for your project. If you are interested in meeting me and asking all those questions š please send me an email, call or comment below. I offer free design consultations on site or at your nearest coffee shop location within Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler.
Isn’t storage always something we need? Especially when it comes to clothes and shoes? I DO need lots storage, but I am also kind of looking for extra storage that blends into my bedroom, doesn’t take too much space and that looks super chic. To much to ask? No! Keep it simple with chic & clean lines.
6 Tips to achieve the ultimate chic extra storage look:
I am not a huuuge IKEA fan but I love the Malm Dresser. I don’t care if everyone has them. I have them and I have them my way. š When it comes to a simple dresser with lots room, I am still going for it. Why not? The great thing is, the dresser comes in different sizes. I added two 4-Drawer Chests in white together to make it bigger.
Add Greens. To add a bit more personality I picked two snake plants that join me in my bedroom. One 6″ Pot that goes perfectly on the middle of both Dressers and one 10″ Pot besides the dresser to round up the space between dresser and bed. As already explained in my previous blog post, snake plants are an absolute MUST in any bedroom. Why? Read here more. If you’re interested in plants, please feel free to visit my website www.vanteriorplants.com
Candles. To give your bedroom a cozy flair candles are the easiest choice. You can get them in any size and any shape for any budget. I picked mine from CB2 in Vancouver. I love the “Brass Candle Bowl” for only $20. This candle brings coziness, but also the glam glam effect into my bedroom.
Jewelry Box. Sort out the jewelry you’re not wearing. Sell them on Marketplace, exchange them in a clothing swap or simply give them away. Pick a jewelry box that fits all your jewelry that’s left, but also suits your style. I picked a mirrored jewelry box that doesn’t take too much space on my dresser, but fits all my fave pieces. I got it a long time ago from Winners, but if you’re looking for something similar chic, I’d recommend the “Oro Champagne Gold Box” from Cb2 as well as the “Small White Marble Box“. Yes, I do love Cb2, but there is also others that caught my eye such as “Abbey Collection Jewelry Box” from Amazon for only $30.00. Chic Chic.
Pictures / Posters. I love the Desenio posters. I am obsessed with their minimal abstract posters and I just can’t get enough. Check out their website and comment below your thoughts. Which ones are your favourites? Please find below some of my fave pieces from Desenio.
Color scheme. Go with a color scheme that you can find within your whole bedroom first of all. I love white furniture with black, rose and gold accents and I sticked to it throughout my whole bedroom design. It looks very glamorous, but still bold. The white dresser doesn’t seem to take away too much room compared to if it was Walnut or anything similar in a darker finish. I’d recommend to stick to white furniture as you can always pop it up with accents in the end (and it’s much more cost effective to changeup the accessories instead the furniture pieces).
Please find some of my fave Desenio pictures on the left for your inspiration:
Thank you for dropping by. I hope you guys got inspired. Have a great week.
I am a big plant lover. I love being surrounded by those lovely creatures anytime anywhere. Nature is a big part of my life and inspires me every time I am hiking backcountry.
So, we know that we like to have plants around us, but can we have them in our bedroom? Many of my clients asked me this question and my answer is yes everytime!
Many plants are harmful, but some of the plants are absolute helpful and you should consider having those in your bedroom for a better & healthier sleep.
Please find below a list of plants that are more then welcome to accompany your beauty sleep.
The Snake Plant
The Snake Plant is an absolute special plant and one of my favourites. And not only mine. NASA believes in the snake plant and list it on the top 10-air-purifying plants. One big reason is that the snake plant converts CO2 into 02 at night. Most of the plants only do so during the day.
Lavender
You may already know that Lavender is one of the best-known natural remedy for sleep and relaxation. Due to a lot of research, studies investigated that lavender odor improved sleep quality in a wide array of study participants.
English Ivy
Back to NASA’s list: The English Ivy. It reduced airborne particles of fecal matter by an average of more then 94% over 12 hours and levels of mold in the air went down by 78.5%. Heads up: If you have pets – keep it out of their reach.
Orchids, Succulents and Bromeliads
Those lovely plants are increasing the air quality at night. Most plants are absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide at night, but those wonders are rebellious and take in carbon diocese and release oxygen during the p.m. hours. The air is kept fresh at night. Who doesn’t want little working minions at night while sleeping?
In my opinion, mother’s nature is an absolute amazing and inspiring system. I can’t read enough about it and I hope this little introduction to plants was informative for you.
Please comment below if you have any questions or if you like to add another fave bedroom plant to the list?
If you are located in Squamish, B.C. Canada, Whistler or Vancouver, please feel free to visit me at my Home Studio. I am happy to show you around and introduce you to many plants that are looking for a home. š
Move your Rug: This is very important if you do have a rug in your living room. This is why I bring it up in the very beginning. I recommend to ensure your rug is located correctly and speaks positively with the rest of your surrounding furniture and decor. Have the rug sliding at least 10″ below the sofa and/or your lounge chairs. A rug creates a cozy area and is a beautiful statement, but it also can tore apart the area if it is “floating” between furniture and doesn’t have it’s “destination”. See below two examples how a rug can be placed.
How to do it:
How not to do it:
Tip: You may have noticed that in order to be able to move your rug into the right position, the rug shall be big enough for your room in first place. Big rugs make the room feel bigger, even though they may take much more space.
Warm Lighting: Lighting in general is essential to set the ambient in a room. To cozy up on a nice evening without having the full light blasting a light warm lighting fixture is the answer. If you are about to go and get yourself a side table lamp next to your couch, get a dimmable lighting fixture. It will make your life so much easier. Trust me. If you already have your side table lamp, check the base of the bulb how much wattage it takes max. Go and buy a warm light bulb. It makes a huge difference. If it requires an LED bulb, go with flower kelvin number. This means the light will appear more yellow then white or blue.
I am showcasing below 3 of the lighting fixtures I adore by Muuto. A scandinavian brand so simple but WOW. And of course, they are all dimmable.
Decorative Items: Be creative with decorative items. Some items might not be as “decorative” as for others. Once myself, I framed an old napkin or a receipt out of an old receipt book and put it on my self. Simple and cheap, but not everyone is the same. Find your simple & cheap decor that pops up your living room and underlines your stye. I’d recommend to visit a thrift store to get ideas and get inspired. It always works for me and while being there, you might find some good old gem.
Tip: If you don’t want to find yourself in the next thrift store close by you, take one of your old books and place them on your coffee table. A candle on top of 3-4 stacked books will do it as well. Books are interesting to open conversations but also a great way to decorate your space.
Plants make a difference: Plants make a huge difference if you ask me. They are not only beautiful and some of them are flowering here and then, they also clean the air for you. I love plants and I can’t get enough of sake plants, fiddle leaf fig trees and cacti. If you feel like you are in need of a plant, but you are scarred to kill them, go with the one and only: the Snake Plant. It comes in different varieties and sizes and it’s super hard to kill. It doesn’t need much love and is one of the best plants cleaning your air. Feel free and check out my plant store in Squamish or online at:
Frame Pictures: We all know that feeling, having hundreds of pictures of the last vacation on the phone, but we never really have time to look at them, while they droning after hundreds of new pictures that have been taken the following day. Show your pictures. Share your story. And I don’t mean tattoo your story on your body, simply get a frame (thrift store? Facebook Market place?) and print your favourit pictures. Pictures that make you smile and take you back will bring good feelings in you and they look pretty on your sideboard. They can be a reason to start a good conversation as well.
Wallpaper up your room: I know what you’re thinking: “This can’t be done. I live in a rental space.” Or “this is way too much work”. No! I know an easy & cheap way that requires only a bit of creativity. I love the Amazon Adhesive golden Tape (see link and picture below) that I can simply stick to any wall without damaging it. My next project is the powder room. Stay tuned.
Pillow Party Paradise: You may know that I am obsessed with pillows. If not, now you know š I love this cozy and comfy type of accessory that does not only bring you comfort and invites you to rest, but pillows also can be the highlight in your living room on your sofa, window sill or anywhere else you like to be comfortable. Pick a fun colour! Go bold! Or go with a seasonal style.
Nobody said it would be easy to become your own boss and especially working as your own boss. Besides the marketing, accounting and fun projects, there are first of all those design consultations to succeed to get a job.
How to master the initial interior design consultation?
Set up a meeting.
For a design consultation it’s best to set up a meeting. Once you called your client back, make sure you get the correct address and an overall idea of what the job is about. The worst is to step into a meeting and having no idea what it’s going to be about. It doesn’t hurt to ask a couple more questions beforehand. If you client feels uncomfortable to talk about the budget over the phone, fee that question for the meeting.
Send a follow up.
Once you set up an appointment, make sure that you follow up with your client about the meeting. This can be right after the phone conversation or the day before. This way, you make sure that the meeting day and time is understood on both sides. It’s also important to follow up with your client after the meeting. Guide your client what he/she will expect and what will be done next during your design consultation, but it doesn’t hurt to outline that in an email again.
Prepare.
Most important, for any meeting, be prepared. Make a list of things you need for a design consultation if you attend to forget things. I have 3 most important things: My phone, something to write and sketch and my measurement tape. It will help you being prepared for any questions your client may have.
Be yourself.
Don’t try to be someone else. Be true to yourself. Your client hired you because he/she is interested in YOU and your design, not someone else’s. With your own energy and drive you will succeed and the client will be more then happy to have met you.
Guide your client.
Guide your client wherever you can. This meeting might be your client’s first design consultation and might not have the same experience as you do. Everything that seem very usual to you, might not seem usual to your client. Guiding your client includes as well making sure that the whole design process is understood and agreed. In lots of cases the designer has a certain way of design process, which might not be the perfect way for all potential clients. Which make me switch to our next and last point below.
Communicate with your client.
Figure out what exactly your client’s needs are while you are on site. This is the moment, where you can throw every single question in space and hopefully get your information you need. This is very important to get to know your client and his goals. Your goal is your client’s goal and a smooth process without any discrepancy. Make sure you and your client are on one page before your start the design process.
Write up an agreement.
After your consultation and a follow up email it’s important to write out all the goals and statements in an agreement, that have been discussed. That agreement will be a guidance for your client and yourself. It includes a description of the design process, how much work and hours you will apply to that job and your wage. This needs to be agreed and best signed by your client, before your design process starts.
I hope you enjoyed my little statement. Comment below if you have any questions or anything to add? Thank you.
The Muuto Control Lamp comes with the E27 makes bulb. Fantastic is the dial to alter the light. It’s a high quality technology manufactured in simple design in different colours. Dusty Red, White, Black and Grey.
The Muuto FiberĀ Side, Stool andĀ ArmĀ Chair
The Seat is a Shell that comes in different colour variations and the legs are available in wood or metal. Personally I love the Oak Wood Legs the best, but I see the perfection in all of them. Are you more into wood or metal legs? Btw the Stools are available with a short back ,too.
The Muuto Outline Sofa adds new perspectives to the classic Scandinavian design sofas of the 1960’s, marrying the ideals of simplicity and function into one.
Super handy in every Office or Entry Way. I personally use them in my Office and I cannot be happier. All my paperwork, books and other things I want keep handy, are nicely tucked away hanging on the wall – and looking gorgeous.
The Muuto Dots
And last but not least – my absolute favourite accessory: The Muuto Dots. They come in Metal or first class Oiled Oak and Ash Wood. I love them. They are so handy, playful and useful in so many ways. I am about to order them for the Entry way, the Hallway upstairs and the walk in closet. It’s overdue. I will place the order this week. Anyone wants to join an order as well? – so I won’t feel so guilty? š
I hope you enjoyed my blog post today. Happy Tuesday! Cheers, Sina
Guess where I spent some time this weekend on? AMAZON. That’s right. Who doesn’t love good deals and fast shipping. Well I do. A lot. I usually spend every second day checking out deals on Amazon.
And basically, I order on amazon weekly. Mostly decorative items.
Keeping all my finds? Nope!
I basically change my decor a lot around the house. Not only seasonal, but monthly. It’s fun and what’s fun shouldn’t be too hard on your budget, right? What I don’t like anymore or needs a change goes on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. An absolute great way to exchange decor, besides Amazon.
Below You can find links to (6) Modern Chic Home Decor under $25.00 that is easy accessible on Amazon.
Cheap and Cheerful Amazon
Crystal Candle Holder – Get cozy with this chic Vincigant Gold Hollow Crystal Tealight Candle Holder. This candle holder is not only glamorous, but it’s setting a cozy mood and is a must in every living room.
Marble Tray – excellent decor for your Guest Bathroom / Powder Room. Weather you use it for Towels or other bathroom supplies, your articles are presented in a fashionable way and will leave an elegant statement with your guests. The tray is currently on this list as it just hits the budget of CDN$25.02. What a deal!
Light a Jar Candle – The Chesapeake Bay Candle burns approx. 50 hours. The natural wooden lids add a special touch to the jar candles and the sofa coloured frosted jar candles allow the light of the flam to shine through when burning. Those candles are a practical solutions for bathrooms and hallways. Overall a great gift for only CDN$16.90
The Pineapple – One of my favourite accessories that never gets old – Get stylish and make a point with the Bloomingville White & Gold Ceramic Pineapple for only CDN$28.77 (originally CDN$41.42). Measurements: 3.5L x 9.4H x 3.5W
Laptop sleeve Bag – A stunning marble laptop sleeve bag in a marble look is just the right accessory to store your laptop on the go and at home. I just placed the order for one for myself and I cannot wait to carry my laptop around in this chic designed bag, especially when visiting clients. Hell ya, first impression is everything.
Of course you can find my links updated as well on my “Treasure Tuesday” Page as always. Sign up with your email and don’t miss any Tuesday Treasures ever again.
