Well, this holiday has definitely been life-changing and undeniably the BEST trip I’ve ever been on. Considering I’ve travelled to many places abroad over the years, including multiple city destinations in Europe, that is saying something!
Let’s start with some African interior design inspo, and what I especially loved about the 2 places we’ve stayed at so far: There has been no gray.
The decor has stayed true to the African culture with natural wood tones, organic materials and plenty of vibrant colours. Reds, oranges, greens and yellows are especially prevalent.
Hotel Accommodation
Our first Kenyan accommodation was at the Ole-Sereni Hotel in Nairobi. Below you can see the carpet stair runner in warm yellows and deep oranges with a runner rod made of golden arrows.
Carpet stair runner with gold arrow runner rod
Here’s a red feature wall with animal prints in black frames.
As an interior design professional, I would rearrange these photos to have the lion in the middle, the elephant on the far right and the rhino on the left. This way, the two images of side profiles would both be looking at the lion and that arrangement would also provide a nice symmetry.
Colour combination: Warm yellow and bright red.
Okay, so the blue-gray wall colour is the only gray paint I’ve seen so far.
Ole Sereni hotel room blue gray walls and orange tree decal
Next to the Ole Sereni hotel is the Emara. We were able to relax at the 10th-floor swimming pool here and enjoy a buffet dinner on our first official night with everyone on this safari.
Emara Hotel Pool overlooking Nairobi National Park Kenya
Emara pool red and white loungers Kenya
The grand entrance and lobby of this hotel was nothing short of spectacular!
Emara hotel lobby Nairobi with black accentsThe round walnut ceiling feature with gold lighting was fabulous!
I love how they repeated the circle shape of the round walnut ceiling feature on the black and gold design of the floor directly below.
This beautifully organic wall decor shown in the image below is the first thing you see as you exit the elevator on the 3rd floor of the Emara. The white wall colour and pretty tree design is similar to White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
Cheetah glass figure and white branch accent wall with blue birds
In the dining area, there were these striking metal branch inserts on the windows between the restaurant and the hallway.
Feature wall with beige marble tile and metal tree design
Below is a photo of a feature wall in the dining area that was very well designed. There are a variety of interest points in these built-ins that keep the eye moving, such as the multi-coloured backdrops in bright tones, mixed with mirrors that reflect light, as well as expand the look of the space.
Nairobi dining: Mirrored feature wall in walnut with bright colourful accents
Nairobi National Park
As you saw from the earlier photos in this post of the outdoor pool, we were staying right next to the Nairobi National Park. This is Chris and I with our new best friends, David & Kim, on our first game drive of the African Safari.
Our first morning game drive safari Nairobi National Park Kenya
I was given the task of keeping track of all the different animals and how many we saw of each, which became more difficult with each game drive because we saw so many!
On our first day alone I noted that we saw: 12 Southern White Rhinos, 3 Black Rhinos, 22 Massai Giraffes, 3 female lions, 1 Ostrich, 21 Zebras and many Impalas.
Claire Jefford excited to be so close to the Rhinos!
Impala, warm brown with black and white green background
A fierce and fabulous lioness in the tall, green grass, Nairobi National Park
Massai giraffe Nairobi National Park, Kenya
The colours captured in each of these photos could be used to create a gorgeous paint colour palette for your next decorating project!
Have you ever wondered why the white crane birds like to sit on a rhino’s back? I was told by our wonderful guide that they feed off the ticks and other insects on the rhino’s skin.
Southern white rhino with white Crane bird on back
Giraffe Centre
At the Giraffe Centre, we were able to get up close and personal with the Rothschild Giraffes.
Feeding giraffes Nairobi Giraffe Centre Kenya
Feeding a giraffe at Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre
Points of Interest
We stopped a this lookout in the remarkable Rift Valley as we left Nairobi to head to our first camp in Lake Nakuru.
Rift Valley Kenya
Have you ever seen a Facebook toilet? Do you even know what it is? Neither do I – and I never went in to find out. LOL
Facebook Toilet Rift Valley Kenya
Rift Valley restaurant Kenya
I am thrilled with this original piece of art we bought from one of the local markets. I look forward to custom framing it for my living room.
Pumba Warthog artwork colourful print
We going to replace our 3 dated pieces of artwork to the left of the TV with our new colourful and authentic African Pumba art piece. The colours in the painting work perfectly with the colour palette of my main floor which you can see more of here.
Finally, here’s something I never considered in my design business…I could start selling sofas as additional passenger seating for motorbikes.
Do you think this would fly here in North America? Nah, I don’t think so either, but we got a good chuckle out of it!
African Uber: Sofa on the back of a motorbike
Have you ever been to Africa? Is a Safari on your bucket list? Comment below and let me know.
Stay tuned, as I plan to share more stories and glorious photos from our incredible adventure in unforgettable Kenya.
Check out some of my Perfect Colour Palettes below with similar colours to the ones I mentioned before.
Not getting the sales you want in your interior design business?
Read on and watch the video further below to see how I share my vision for a newly designed space with clients & get more sales because of it.
If you’re getting frustrated in not ‘closing the sale’ with clients, let me show you exactly what to do to successfully sell clients on your vision for their home.
Mood Boards (sometimes referred to as concept boards) have been an invaluable interior design business tool that we leverage with great success.
We include mood boards in all of our custom interior decorating presentations for our clients, who then continue with our services to see their project through to that exciting final reveal day!
Before I dive into why you need to be using interior design mood boards in your business, I want to touch briefly on what a mood board is, just in case you are not familiar with this term.
A mood board is like a vision board.
When you look at a mood board, it should tell a story or have a theme through a collage of ideas or your desires based on the images, colours, and text.
Although you can create physical mood boards with fabrics and various other samples, I’m referring to digital mood boards created on your computer.
Here are examples of mood boards we created for a client’s custom bedroom.
Mood Board Master Bedroom Design
The neutral paint colour we used for this entire Burlington condo project on the lakeshore was Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore.
4 Reasons To Use Interior Design Mood Boards
Reason #1 – Visualizing Made Easy
Interior design mood boards are essential to include in your presentations as they allow you to easily convey your design ideas to your clients.
This helps them to see and better understand the design concept you are proposing for their space.
Many clients hire an interior designer or certified decorator because they find it difficult and often impossible to visualize how something will look. In utilizing mood boards, your designs can come to life, enabling clients to understand your brilliant ideas.
Below are 2 more mood boards we designed for another client’s primary bedroom.
Reason #2 – Close The Sale
Now that clients can see your brilliant ideas for their home, you are much more likely to sell them on your vision. Clients can get excited about what the final outcome will be and how everything comes together so beautifully.
For the mood boards shown above, our clients loved everything we proposed. They were quick to make their decision and moved forward with our interior design proposal, purchasing everything we proposed for the space.
Here are some of the professional photographs so you can see how beautifully it turned out. Photo credit to Stephani Buchman.
Interior Design Mood Boards make it easier for you to keep client work organized.
We have a folder for each client where we keep all paperwork pertaining to their project. In addition to our interior design client presentations with mood boards, our client folders include email correspondence, spec sheets on items we’ve sourced, client contracts, etc.
This is important, and a smart business practice not only for you to be able to reference easily as needed, but also when you are meeting a trades person or supplier to discuss details of the design. Everything is easily to hand!
Leverage Mood Boards of previous projects as a helpful tool to show clients in the initial consultation meeting so they know exactly what to expect from your presentation.
Many clients may not know what a mood board is, so showing examples at this all-important first meeting will allow you to manage their expectations of what’s to come AND lead to the next phase of services.
Plus, they can start to get even more excited about their project and working with you!
Now you know why using mood boards in your client presentations is crucial for getting the sale, but what about how to present your interior design services and what rates you should be charging?
I’ve got a FREE download for you that lists different interior design services you can offer & estimated hours per design service to give you an idea of what to charge.
Click here to download this comprehensive 12-page Guide now.
Another High Point Furniture Market adventure is in the books!
Kathryn and I drove over 12 hours south of the border, from Toronto to North Carolina before meeting up with our design friends at an Air BNB located about 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle that is Highpoint Market.
The stunning, scenic landscape at this time of year always makes the drive more bearable and believe it or not, enjoyable!
Brilliant bright autumn foilage in the West Virginia Mountains
The abundance of warm colors we encountered in the autumn leaves, signaling the change of seasons in the West Virginia mountains, hinted at one of the most dominant and noticeable trends at this year’s Fall Furniture Market.
Before we dive into the latest interior design trends and plenty of eye candy to inspire ideas for your next decorating project, I want to give the following shout-out.
Thank You to Sarah Daniele from Mydoma, Maddie, and Jenny from IDS National for inviting me to speak on a panel, and to Unique Loom for hosting the event in their beautiful showroom.
It’s always a pleasure to share insights with others in the industry on the strategies I’ve learned and developed over the past 13 years of running a successful interior design firm.
This is also largely in part as to why I’ve been a business coach for nearly 8 years. I love teaching and empowering others!
While what we do may look like ‘fun’, (and make no mistake, at Market especially, we definitely have fun!) there’s a lot to know and so much that goes on behind the scenes of running an interior design firm that isn’t very glamorous.
If you are a designer or decorator, be sure to take advantage of the helpful, free business resources I have available here.
Maybe you have a passion for all things colour and design related and are considering a career in the interior design industry. Feel free to take a peek at my business blog articles here.
Goodbye Gray, Hello Warmth
Gray is officially stepping aside as warm, inviting hues make their return. Hooray!!
Trending colours at Highpoint Furniture Market 2025
I took the photo above with samples from my design studio to show a round-up of the main colours I saw in the showrooms at Highpoint.
Out of the bunch, the most popular color of the show by far, was a rich rust tone. It’s a slightly deeper and more moody take on the classic terracotta.
Living room with rust chairs and accessories
Rust coloured living room accents and curved white sofa
This color is a reflection of the changing shift toward earth tones, which are more grounding, and calming than the previously popular grays, bright whites, and cool blues we’ve seen so much of over the past 12 years.
It didn’t really take off then though, so it will be interesting to see if people warm to it more this time around.
I had our custom basement bar painted in a deep red tone by Farrow & Ball about 4 years ago and created a warm colour palette of greens and browns in the design.
I love the look, it’s a cozy space and great for entertaining guests. And, all these colours are what was trending at Highpoint.
Other popular earth tones seen around the various Highpoint showrooms were deep shades of green, classic cognac, and various shades of deep yellows.
More trending furniture colours
The image below shows more muted tones of similar colours presented in a different, more classic design aesthetic.
Living room with muted tones
This was the first time that I can recall seeing so many similar colours at market to those announced as part of the recent Benjamin Moore‘s Colour Trends for 2025.
Benjamin Moore Colour Trends 2025
Just look at how the striped fabric on this chair showcases so many of these colours! And, don’t they look fantastic together?
Whether you agree or disagree, comment at the end of this post to share if you are happy to see the return of warm colours in interior design.
Bouclé, Black, and Gold
We continued to see a lot of white bouclé fabric used for many upholstered pieces like sofas and chairs.
Bouclé was the prominent fabric for many vendor displays a couple of years ago, it was everywhere -so much so that the trending hashtag for that Highpoint market was #boucléallday.
The same striped, velvet fabric from the chair shown above was also used on two of the accent pillows on this white bouclé sofa, with similar colours repeated in the artwork above.
White bouclé sofa
In the foreground of that living room display, you can see gold on the stems of the oversized apple accessories.
Below, there is a gold band on the bottom of the accent chair with the white bouclé backing and cognac suede seat.
Cognac leather chair with bouclé back and gold trim
Gold accents are still going strong and made a return at the same time I started my career as a Burlington Interior Decorator in 2011.
If you thought that soft gold finishes were a trend, I can assure you, they are not or else I wouldn’t have approved the hardware selection for this online client’s kitchen design.
Black accessories such as lamps and other light fixtures were also frequently featured in living room displays.
I am personally not a big fan of all-black accessories, especially since black is being overused everywhere in interior design at the minute.
Cognac sofa with black accessories
This artwork below is a perfect depiction of this fall market’s trending color palette in a single piece, including the black frame with gold nailheads.
Oh, dang, I never had a chance to tell you about the undeniable return of the nailheads yet!
We’ll save that for my next blog post where I focus on Design Trends from Highpoint. Stay tuned.
Until then, don’t be boring…
This wall mural shows more of the same trending colours
Are you loving the warmer earth tones and want to bring more of these colours into your home decor?
While a ‘Big Reveal’ is one of the best parts of what we do in our interior design business, it’s also ‘Big Work’!
In this blog post with video, join me and Kathryn as we take you behind the scenes of an exciting installation. These brilliant Burlington clients trusted us to custom furnish their entire main floor, with a family room that I’m willing to bet has the most colourful drapery fabric you’ve ever seen.
It was a busy afternoon, but the big reveal and all the hard work we do behind the scenes to get to this point, was well worth it when you see the final results.
The painting that inspired it all.
If you saw this WWWOW post, the piece of artwork above will look familiar to you.
We used this single piece of art that belonged to my client’s mother to pull together a striking colour palette and be our inspiration for the entire main floor design.
Watch our video to see just what an install day involves and how we brought our vision for these spaces to life for our wonderful Burlington clients.
From the Design Presentation
First, let’s take a look at the sitting area that is adjacent to the dining room. The image below is from our interior design presentation and shows the furnishings for the updated room.
This image was taken while we were still waiting for some final pieces, but you can see how it is coming together and how amazing it’s going to look when completed.
The Ripplefold draperies are up! Ripplefold refers to the header style and it is easily my favourite look. Plus, they glide so easily on the rod, which is also why we use this style in most of our designs.
The two beautiful custom chairs with a soft blue fabric that is as soft as butter to the touch, are also in place.
And how about that ottoman? What a statement piece!
Designed so that the fly and the ladybug would be visible on the top.
When covering furniture in a fabric such as this fun, colourful, large-scale pattern that we used on the ottoman, be sure to have discussions with the upholsterer if there is a specific part of the pattern you want to be featured or centered.
There are a lot more details that go into designing a carefully curated space than you might think, which is why our clients love to work with us.
We custom designed this round ottoman with a dark leg stain to match the dining room table, and gold castors to tie in with the other gold accents in this room – like the dining room light fixture you can just see in the background of this photo in the top left. This also makes it easier to move the ottoman about as needed.
Fabrics & Finishes
We include a ‘mood board’ or what is also referred to as a ‘concept board’ to show all the fabric samples, finishes and paint colours together.
If you are a designer or simply want to learn more about why we use mood boards in our interior design projects, and how the benefits of using them, this is a good post to read.
Here is a picture from our professional photo shoot after the big reveal
Here is a rendering of the ‘coffee barista’ area we designed where we had some fun with the colour of the floating shelves. We colour-matched and repeated the dark teal colour from the fabric in the ottoman, using Newburg Green by Benjamin Moore.
Here are the professional photos, including one with an open drawer so you can see how great the storage is for all the boxes of yummy coffee.
Moving into the living room, take a look at what it looked like when we first met with our clients.
As a side note, I can’t stand these type of window coverings you see in the before shot. We call them Califonia Shutters and unless you live in an extremely hot climate all year round, I highly recommend you never use this style of window treatment.
They are bulky, difficult to open fully and block out a massive amount of natural light. For the price, you are much better to invest in full functioning drapery.
Our client’s living room before we got our talented design hands on it.
Another before shot of the wall where the funky wallpaper and t.v. are going.
A rendering of the final look.
The BIG Reveal!
This is my favourite part of the living room design. I absolutely adore this colourful, fun fabric!
Drapery still wrapped up in its packaging.
We chose to use a ceiling-mounted rod in a black finish with end caps. Look how fabulous the Ripplefold header style is for this treatment.
Repeating the black and white speckled pattern from the wallpaper in the drapes was ideal. And the custom-made pillows with the brilliant coloured birds tie in so beautifully!
Such a bright and cheerful space.
Although there is a lot of colour used as accents in these rooms, the walls are all painted a soft neutral, Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore.
It’s possible to add brilliant colour to a neutral space and this project is a great example of that. See the entire project here in our portfolio.
What a day it was! I’m glad you could join us and experience a little of what it’s like on install day. Here’s the review our wonderful clients wrote for us:
Helpful Design Resources For Your Next Project
If you are planning a kitchen update or home renovation of any kind and want expert guidance at any stage of your project, I can help.
‘Here & Now’ Design & Colour Consultations
I now offer 1-hour online design and colour consultations for anyone outside of my local area. With over 13 years experience of running my award-winning interior design firm and working on hundreds of projects, I can provide professional guidance for any area of your home.
Learn more about this exciting new service and book your online appointment here. I can’t wait to e-meet you and help you with your project!
Local In-Person Design & Colour Consultations
If you are local to me either in Burlington, Ontario or around the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), I can come to you for a 2-hour in-home consultation.
Are you losing sleep and overthinking when it comes to choosing the perfect paint colours for your home? Don’t sweat it! I’m a Certified True Colour Expert and have instant advice to make it easier for you.
We have more than 50 Whole-Home Colour Palettes readily available for you to instantly download. All of the paint colours in each palette have been carefully selected by me personally. Plus, there’s you get tip sheets on lighting, paint sheens, how to create a gallery wall, a paint planning template, and more.
Today I’m thrilled to share a before and after transformation of a kitchen refresh I helped a homeowner in North Carolina with when she hired me for my online design consultation services.
Not every kitchen renovation has to be fully gutted and completely custom to make a powerful impact.
A smaller scale kitchen remodel is exactly what homeowner Stacey was planning, and she already had some rough design plans and estimates for work when she reached out for my professional help.
She and her husband wished for an updated look, and more functionality from the kitchen design. As this isn’t their forever home, she wanted to keep costs relatively conservative, while still creating something beautiful.
Behind The Design: Kitchen Refresh Video
Watch the recording of this live webinar that Stacey and I hosted, where we dished all of the design details that went into this kitchen refresh.
I also like to ask for any design plans or finishes one might be considering so that we can add these to a clients folder and be best prepared for our meeting.
First, we needed to address the layout of the kitchen.
A before photo of Stacey’s kitchen
As you can see from the before image, the layout had a ton of wasted space in the middle of the kitchen. A kitchen island was definitely at the top of the wishlist.
In addition, the pass-through into the dining room and the cabinetry you see in the image below were slated to go as well.
This cabinet is going and the pass-through will become an opening
The plan was to open up this area completely and eliminate the doorway to the left on that same wall, as that would become redundant once the pass through became a complete opening.
This door way will be eliminated
This would make for a better kitchen design layout overall, and allow for the necessary space to incorporate an island with ample room required for traffic flow.
Kitchen island drawing by client’s GC
Cabinetry & Flooring
To save money, they decided to keep and respray the perimeter cabinets, yet update all the doors and drawers. The new fronts were all to be a ‘shaker’ style.
This refacing update was key for modernizing the look of the kitchen. Arched details on cabinetry (like what they had) are typically indicative of an older, more traditional style of millwork.
White shaker style kitchen door front
Changing out the old vinyl flooring was also going to be a significant update. I assisted Stacey in finalizing a neutral floor tile that tied in with the other finishes, which you will see shortly in the ‘after’ photos.
Be patient, the exciting final reveal is coming 🙂
A neutral, non-patterned flooring would not only to update the look, but also takes the focus away from the busy, ‘dirty’ looking patterned flooring that was there before.
Design Tip:
We mainly specify hardwood flooring throughout a home when clients are undergoing an entire renovation. However, in a kitchen refresh like this, installing a tile is the better option because trying to match a new hardwood to a previously installed hardwood in other areas of the home is almost impossible.
Even if you manage to find the same species of hardwood from the original supplier, the hardwood that’s been in the home for a while will likely have changed colour over time and the differences will be evident.
Although we did manage to accomplish just that with the rich hardwood for this Burlington client’s project, it’s not typically the case.
In case you were wondering, even though we’ve seen this look for quite a few years now, blue and white is a classic colour combination that always looks fresh and inviting.
We selected Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy for the island colour, but only after the subway tile had been confirmed. More on that soon.
The quartz countertops are white with subtle gray veins. By carefully looking at the countertop selection, I specified Chantilly Lace for the perimeter cabinets and Classic Gray for the wall colour.
Choosing The Backsplash
Ah, the baffling backsplash debacle!
One of the biggest kitchen mistakes people make when it comes to selecting finishes, is to look at everything in isolation as opposed to how they should – by viewing all samples together.
The backsplash tends to be where the majority of homeowners get stuck.
Unless someone is working with a designer, this integral part of the overall design is the most common piece of the puzzle to get left until the very end.
Should you go bold?
Should you make it the same material as the countertop?
What about doing a contrasting grout?
Would creating a focal point over the oven be a good idea?
So many questions, right? I get it!!
That is just one reason why hiring an interior design professional is well worth the investment.
Often it’s not until the renovation is underway that you realize just how many decisions you have to make and how stressful it can be.
All you have to do is make one mistake for the entire kitchen design is compromised.
There is no turning back once everything is installed. You will have to live with that mistake for many years because it’s too expensive to redo.
While this post about kitchen cabinetry companies was meant for Interior Designers only, what I share is eye-opening and mostly unknown to most homeowners. If you have a minute, it’s worth the read and may suprise you.
For this kitchen design, when it came to the backsplash, here’s the advice I gave Stacey when she sent me the 4 options shown in the image below:
Glossy, bumpy subway tile: Too shiny, and highly reflective
Matte, picket fence tile: Bold and sophisticated
Glossy standard subway tile: A nice option
Glossy beveled longer subway tile: Too shiny, and will be very busy once installed
I found this photo below of a similar tile to the fourth option to show Stacey exactly what I meant by it being too shiny and very busy looking when it’s installed, especially with a white grout.
Once I shared my feedback on all the options that she provided, she didn’t hesitate to go with my top choice: #2.
This rich looking, matte picket fence tile was to be installed horizontally in a stacked pattern. YAY!
Once we landed on the blue picket fence backsplash tile, we colour matched it to confirm the best blue for the island cabinetry. The best choice was Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore.
During one of our Zoom Consultation Calls, Stacey said, “My husband wants to go with black handles for the cabinetry, even though we both really like the gold look that’s trending right now.”
Let me tell you what you need to know about the warm gold finishes we are seeing today in interior design. The gold tone made a comeback the year I began my business in 2011, and while I thought it was going to be a ‘flash in the pan’, all these years later, it’s still going strong.
Golden finishes are NOT trendy, it’s black finishes that are trending currently.
I immediately said NO to the black hardware and sent her a photo similar to the one below to illustrate why.
Black hardware looks harsh against a white backdrop
Despite the serene wall colour, the white subway tile, and the neutral countertop in the photo, notice how your eye is instantly drawn to the black hardware?
All of these harsh black ‘bits’ dotted throughout a kitchen with a backdrop of white cabinetry takes away from the fresh, serene look one is hoping to achieve in this type of kitchen palette design style.
This is just one of the massive mistakes many homeowners are making right now, which is understandable when you consider that everyone loves to hear about what’s trending in kitchen design.
But, once you see it, you cannot unsee it!
When I brought it to her attention, Stacey and her husband agreed it was best to move in a different direction.
There have only been a handful of times I’ve specified black hardware for cabinetry which is either:
When the cabinetry is black like in my bathroom here (please don’t judge me when you see the gross before images on that post)
The hardware decision alone is another perfect example of how one mistake, one single decision that may seem minor, can compromise the entire design.
That type of disaster is what I want to help you to avoid and why I offer my ‘Here & Now’ Online Consultations for instant, expert advice.
After our discussion and my recommendation, they went with the classy, warm champagne hardware finish and repeated that finish in the 3 glass pendants above the island.
The Reveal
Here’s the after photo Stacey sent to me. What an incredible transformation, now so fresh and fabulous!
After photo of blue and white kitchen refresh project
Final Design Inspiration
I always like to show clients how all the finishes for their project look when put together, and add additional inspiration pieces like I did in the image below.
I pulled the beautiful wallpaper sample you see and some fabrics from my interior design studio library.
We love to create dynamite designs and well put-together spaces by layering in beautiful decorative elements. Strategically repeating colours are key to a successful design and for creating flow.
Stacey ended up purchasing that exact wallpaper for her dining room and is currently waiting for it to be installed. I can’t wait to see the final result!
When pulling together a colour palette and overall design style for your next project, be sure to look at the bigger picture and consider all the details.
Here are the before and after images together.
For this specific project, Stacey hired me for a total of 3 ‘Here & Now’ Consultation Zoom calls.
My professional guidance and keen eye for colour were exactly what she was looking for to feel confident in her decisions and to ensure she avoided making costly mistakes.
I was able to help her create a brilliant kitchen design refresh without a full-on renovation.
Stacey was great to work with and quick to follow my advice.
Thank you Stacey for trusting me to help you make your dreams for your home a reality. I’m thrilled you and your entire family love your new kitchen design!
What’s your favourite part of this kitchen refresh project?
For me, while I love it all, if you forced me to choose just one design element, it would be the backsplash.
Comment below to share your thoughts on this kitchen transformation.
Helpful Design Resources For Your Next Project
If you are planning a kitchen update or home renovation of any kind and want expert guidance at any stage of your project, I can help.
Here & Now Design & Colour Consultations
I now offer 1-hour online design and colour consultations for anyone outside of my local area.
With over 13 years experience of running my own interior design firm and working on hundreds of projects, I can provide professional guidance in any area of your home.
I can’t wait to e-meet you and help you with your project!
Local In-Person Design & Colour Consultations
If you are local to me either in Burlington, Ontario or around the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), I would love to come to your home for a 2-hour in-home consultation.
Are you losing sleep and overthinking when it comes to choosing the perfect paint colours for your home? Don’t sweat it!
As a Certified True Colour Expert I have instant advice to make it easier for you.
We have more than 50 Whole-Home Colour Palettes readily available for you to instantly download. All of the paint colours in each palette have been carefully selected by me personally.
Plus, there’s you get tip sheets on lighting, paint sheens, how to create a gallery wall, a paint planning template, and more.
Today’s review is of Benjamin Moore’s Woodlawn Blue. It is a lovely subtle shade of blue-green from their Historical Collection.
This beautiful tone would add a wonderful bit of colour to a mostly neutral home or look super in a luxurious spa-like bathroom.
In this colour review video of Woodlawn Blue by Benjamin Moore, I share:
The undertone
Colour comparisons to easily see the different undertones
Best white paint colours for the trim and ceilings
Beautiful colour combinations to inspire you for your decorating project
After you watch the video if you would like all this information conveniently laid out for you in one place with even more paint colour combinations to use, take a look at my Woodlawn Blue Perfect Colour Palette.
A must-have digital download for any colour enthusiast or design professional.
As a Certified True Colour Expert and an award-winning interior design professional, I’ve worked with many homeowners on various residential design projects.
I want to give you the confidence to make educated decisions about your own paint choices.
Let’s do this!
Undertone: blue/green
Woodlawn Blue may lean more towards blue or green in colour depending on the lighting and what other decorative elements you pair with it in your interior decorating project.
Looking at the colour comparisons below will help give you a better idea of where Woodlawn Blue fits between two similar shades, one that is more green and the other that is bluer.
Colour Comparisons
Smoky Green CC-700 & Gossamer Blue 2123-40
I always love to compare a paint colour so you can clearly see the true tones. It’s often not until you have a colour side by side with similar shades that the tones become obvious. Don’t miss this step when selecting your paint colours.
During a colour consultation, I always make sure to show my large paint boards against different elements such as flooring, tile, and fabrics.
I swap them out to show my client just how different similar colours can look next to their existing finishes.
Best Whites To Pair With Woodlawn Blue
Chantilly Lace OC-65 By Benjamin Moore
Simply White OC-117 By Benjamin Moore
White Dove OC-17 By Benjamin Moore
If you want to learn more about one of the most popular whites, check out my review of White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
I tend to have around 10 white paint colours that are my best whites for trim and ceilings. You don’t need to look at the thousands of whites available to find the right one and you definitely don’t need to mix two different whites or use only a certain percentage of paint colour to get the right one for you.
We used Woodlawn Blue for a custom vanity in a client’s powder room we redesigned. It was the perfect colour to pair with the calming blue-green tones in the bold and beautiful wallpaper we selected.
We took the photo ourselves, so while it’s not a professional photograph, hopefully, you can still see how lovely it all came together for this interior design project. (And how fabulous is that back-lit mirror?!)
I am always curious to hear what you think of the colours I review. I have not yet had the opportunity to use Woodlawn Blue in a project, have you? Please comment below.
I’ve printed all of mine and they have proved to be a very helpful resource for consultations and client projects.
If you want to get all my Benjamin Moore colour guides in one place, look no further than my Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection. All 20 of my Benjamin Moore palettes in one handy collection.
Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!
There are some exciting trends in sofa designs that I want to share with you. Interestingly, all of the living room sofas I’m showing you here on the blog today have one thing in common: large chaises.
Yes, sofas and sectionals with large chaises are currently trending in upholstered living room furniture. I’ve got six different looks and styles to share with you that are in the showroom of my local decorating centre.
Plus, we’ve compiled a few sofas’ with chaises to share with you that we’ve used in recent interior design projects.
1. Super Casual and Comfy
This first style is incredibly casual and comfy, perfect for lounging. It’s not the best choice for someone who prefers a more tailored look or likes to sit up straight.
I see this fitting beautifully in a cottage or as the main seating in a basement living area.
2. Modern Elegance
Next up is a sofa with a modern feel, featuring a slightly curved arm detail that adds an elevated touch.
This style merges contemporary design with subtle sophistication, making it a versatile sofa with chaise for various living room aesthetics.
3. Perfect for Cuddling
This sofa features a chaise that matches the width of the adjacent sofa cushion, making it ideal for two people to cuddle up on.
Notice how the back cushions are smaller than the large seat cushions, offering different configurations for seating and back support.
While I’m not a fan of the skinny chrome legs, they do provide a streamlined look that some people prefer.
Overall though, the narrow chrome legs are too small for the scale of this sofa. And while in this photo the rug is not under the leg shown on the right side, you always want both front legs of your sofa to be on the area rug. This helps to create a ‘vignette’ and bring the entire sitting area together.
While this video is older, it’s still a great example of what you want to consider for choosing the best size area rug for your living room design.
4. Bulkier Comfort
The fourth sofa is similar to the previous one but with much bulkier seat cushions and a more substantial frame. Surprisingly, it also features small, dainty chrome legs.
Given the larger scale of the cushions, I feel that chunkier legs would be more appropriate.
5. Spacious Sectionals
Sectionals with chaises are hugely popular for those large living spaces.
Notice how the feet of this sofa are almost invisible due to its proximity to the ground. This might pose a challenge for vacuuming underneath, which is important to keep in mind if you’re obsessed with vacuuming as much as I am!
6. Long Chaise with Ottoman
Lastly, we have a sofa with a long chaise and an ottoman-type table in the middle.
This configuration is fantastic for a custom living room design setup. The ‘bump-out ottoman’ offers a convenient spot to perch or place snacks, and it also maintains a clear view of focal points like a fireplace.
In one of our most recent living room designs, we created a custom sofa that had a ‘cut out’. This means, it had no back cushion by the section in front of the fireplace, so not to obstruct the view of that feature wall. Below is the 3D rendering.
3D Rendering of our Burlington Client’s living room design
Our Interior Design Projects
Now let’s take a look at interior design projects that we here at Claire Jefford Inc., have created for our fabulous clients.
First, we have this contemporary, tailored sofa with chaise in a light gray fabric.
Designed by Claire Jefford Inc. All professional photos by Stephanie Buchman Interiors.
What you need to know:
The sofa is opposite to the media wall with a TV
The chaise is oriented on the right side because opposite on the left side, there is a swing door that opens into the room
The gray fabric has blue undertones which work beautifully with the other soft, blue accents in the room. We love blue colour combinations!
The family fights over who gets the comfy chaise section 😉
The wall colour is Collingwood by Benjamin Moore, which is the same colour as my updated main floor – well, at least the ones that aren’t covered in wallpaper
We called this project Collingwood Casual & Manhattan Blues because the artwork behind the sofa is a map of New York City, where our clients loved to vacation. It is separated into 3 pieces which we had custom framed.
Next up is a project we called Marina Gray & Rich Woods and the sofa with chaise has similar chrome legs that we saw in some of the trending sofas from my decorating centre.
Light gray living room with statement coffee table
What you need to know:
There are 2 back pillows and one longer bench cushion, instead of a ‘2 and 2’ configuration
The chaise is on the side with the door to the patio, which we measured carefully to ensure there was enough clearance with no obstruction
I would have loved to include drapery panels to add another element of softness and a pattern. However, there was not enough room for a ‘stack back’ since the windows were so close to the walls, therefore, we felt having good light was more important
Fun Fact:
This was the first (and last) project where I never actually met the clients until the day of the photoshoot. My design assistant at the time led the entire project while I oversaw and approved all plans before she presented them to our clients. (they were lovely BTW!)
Conversational living room in neutral tones
The third project I’m sharing a sofa with chaise may very well be an example of the biggest sofa we’ve ever worked with in a living room. It is a light cream sofa which our clients purchased themselves for this large living room.
Large living room, creamy sectional with chaise
What you need to know:
These clients have five children, which meant they needed an overscale couch to ensure all seven of them could gather here comfortably to watch TV together
The room was so long that we divided it into 3 different spaces – the far end with a console and extra cube seating to be used as needed, the TV viewing area, and the opposite end with 2 accent chairs
The wall colour is Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore, but the kitchen was painted Stonington Gray which is why we named the project as we did (see below)
Living room design with Edgecomb Gray walls by Benjamin Moore
Fun Fact:
For this Stonington Gray & Gold Treasures project, clients worked with us using our Designer By Your Side Services. Since that meant that we weren’t designing the entire room in one go, the large 3-piece artwork set with the gold leaves was one of the final pieces of the puzzle to this room design.
The name of our project reflects these ‘Gold Treasures’ and you can see the finish repeated in the round mirror at the opposite end of the room, in the accent pieces by the two patterned chairs, and the framed colourful artwork above the striped bench seat.
Patterned accent chairs with a backdrop of custom, color blocked drapery
Do you have a sofa with a chaise? Or if you were going to invest in one for a living space in your home, which style do you like best?
I recently used this neutral Benjamin Moore paint colour on a client’s main floor project and to say we are thrilled with the results is an understatement.
I’ve heard great feedback from those who have painted with Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore. If you’ve used it, please comment below to share your experience. Do you love it as much as I do?
As with each of my colour review posts, you can expect me to share with you:
The undertone of my featured colour
Colour comparisons to easily see the different colour tones
Client design projects where I used Pale Oak
Best white paint colours for the trim and ceilings
Beautiful colour combinations to inspire you for your decorating project
After you watch the video, if you would like all this information conveniently laid out for you in one place and have even more paint colour combinations to use with this popular neutral paint colour by Benjamin Moore, be sure to check out my Pale Oak Perfect Colour Palette.
These PDF download colour guides provide details you need to know before you choose a paint colour, as well as inspiration for your next decorating project with my carefully curated whole-home paint palette collection included.
Pale Oak Benjamin Moore Paint Guide
Below is the video of my Pale Oak Colour Review.
Undertones: Taupe Greige
Colour Comparisons
Stonehearth CC-490 and Cedar Key OC-16
With Pale Oak in the middle, you can see how it’s more of a greige and less beige when compared to the other two colours. That’s how it also appears in our client project shown below.
A client project with Pale Oak
A project where we used Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore for the wall colour was in our Burlington clients’ custom living and dining room design.
Dining room in Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore
RefinedLiving Room with Pale Oak Walls
Paired perfectly with moody blues and light green
Designed by Claire Jefford Inc., Photo by Stephani Buchman Interiors
Their main floor was already painted Shaker Beige by Benjamin Moore and our clients wished for that to remain unchanged if possible.
Shaker Beige has a pink undertone and pairs very nicely with Pale Oak. As you can see in the image below of the custom bench seat with the artwork above, we added artwork and pillows to this front foyer vignette which worked fabulously with the overall colour palette.
Foyer Bench Seat With Pillows and Shaker Beige Walls
You can see the full project here, as we also redesigned this client’s Great Room where we used White Down on the fireplace shiplap and custom cabinetry.
If you want to get all my Benjamin Moore colour guides in one place, look no further than my Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection. All 20 of my Benjamin Moore guides in one handy collection.
Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!
Perfect For Pinning
Take my Colour Quiz and discover your Perfect Colour Palette.
This question was asked in my private free Facebook group for interior designers, Interior Design Business Strategies.
If you’ve ever wondered what the best way to respond confidently to this type of question is, you’ll want to read this post.
From what I understand and based on what I’ve been told by designers who work at Kitchen & Bath showrooms, they are hired to ‘sell boxes’. Their goal is to sell as many boxes as they can, because that is where these showrooms make the most profit.
Design by Claire Jefford Inc.
I always thought it was so bizarre when I would have clients hire me to help them select their kitchen finishes, even though they were working with a Kitchen company.
However, that’s because many of those designers don’t get paid for the designs, nor do they get paid to select finishes. They are paid based on cabinetry sales and only get their money after a kitchen has been installed.
So how can you confidently answer the question of ‘Why hire an interior designer as opposed to a kitchen design company?’ the next time a new lead or client asks this of you?
Read on, because in this post I’m sharing 4 ways that you can market this service and important details you should be discussing with potential clients to promote your kitchen design services.
1. The bigger picture
When we create main floor concept designs for clients, our professional advice is based on what we think would function best for the way they live.
We also take into consideration many other design elements when it comes to the overall aesthetic and character of the home to ensure there is not a disconnect and that there is a meaningful flow throughout.
Below is a kitchen rendering option that we designed for a client. And below that image is another 3D render of the great room that is open to the kitchen.
Not only does the blue and white colour scheme continue into the living space, but so do the soft wood tones we incorporated as well.
In my own home design, you’ll see how I repeated the blue tone of the Benjamin Moore Kensington Blue kitchen cabinetry in the living room with the slightly textured blue wallpaper and custom swivel chairs.
You’ll notice that the upholstered pink-coloured ottoman is also intentional, as this relates to the decorative details in the kitchen such as the wall plates, accent wallpaper by the floating shelf, and the window treatment. This repetition creates flow within the design.
Design by Claire Jefford Inc.
Wall plates with pretty botanicals
Wallpaper pattern with the same fun colours repeated throughout the home
By the way, if you are still not feeling confident about how to market your design services to your clients and effectively communicate to them the value of your work, my comprehensive Rock the Initial Consultation process package will make you feel supported and in control of every step of the process.
2. Our cabinetry is custom
Although most of the general public thinks that they are, most cabinet lines sold by kitchen companies are typically standard sizes and often built off-site.
Our cabinets are 100% custom and my cabinet maker builds everything within his local shop just outside my hometown of Burlington, Ontario. We can easily integrate smart storage solutions and use every inch to maximize space as well as function.
Custom broom closet designed by Claire Jefford Inc.
Custom pull-out cabinet with Haefele oil racks
For smart kitchen storage solutions, take a look at my kitchen here.
3. I am not invested in ‘selling boxes’
We create a vision with the best solutions for the client being top of mind.
We are not swayed by commissions on sales of cabinetry or countertops. Our GC manages the renovations and collects payment for everything except soft furnishings, while we bill for our professional interior design services.
So, the idea of ‘a free’ kitchen design from these showrooms, can come at a cost of compromising what is best for the client.
Design by Claire Jefford Inc.
In addition, the drawings a homeowner receives from a Kitchen company will often only be basic and in black and white.
We, on the other hand, are selling a ‘vision’ and want to get our clients excited about their projects!
Often we will provide 2 options for layout where it makes sense to do so and can easily upload different finishes and cabinetry colours to convey the possibilities for their new space.
This was an alternate option for my kitchen colour scheme – fun, eh?!
4. We can help select all the finishes
As an independent interior designer, you can get more involved in the project to ensure other finishes are specified for a cohesive design.
This means, we are a ‘one-stop-shop’ and can assist with other design elements such as counters, backsplash, cabinetry colours, and hardware, in addition to decorative elements like kitchen island stools, window treatments, lighting, and artwork.
We don’t just create the layout design for the kitchen, we bring all of the design elements together beautifully.
Design by Claire Jefford Inc. Most photos were by Stephani Buchman.
If you love hearing about the latest trends in kitchen and bath design, read this post from one of my trips to the Kitchen & Bath show in Las Vegas.
What about you? How do you sell clients on hiring your interior design firm over a showroom for kitchen design services?
For more helpful resources to push your business to the next level, see my shop page here.
My helpful resources will help you to get organized and gain more confidence in the way you run your interior design business!
Claire's Guide to Services & Pricing
FREE DOWNLOAD:
Interior Design Services and Rates Guide
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