Page 4 – Claire Jefford

The BIG reveal for this Coastal Living Room

Who doesn’t love a fresh white and blue colour palette for a living space?

This popular colour combination never goes out of style.

Check out the BIG reveal for this Coastal Living Room!

If you want to better understand the process of interior design and how we overcome various challenges when working on client projects, that’s exactly what I’m sharing with you today.

Let’s look at the details of this beautiful Great Room transformation, including before images, 3D drawings and our professional ‘after’ photos.

Project Location:

This was an older home in a beautiful mature neighbourhood known as Aldershot in my home town of Burlington, Ontario.

Client Wishlist

While they had an idea of what they desired to update and drastically improve this previously unused space, my clients sought professional guidance from us to make their dreams a reality.

Behind this wall was a very dated bathroom which was never used

To do this successfully, it was necessary to tear down a wall and remove an unused bathroom that would then allow enough room for everything on my client’s wish list, including an open floor plan between the kitchen and the new Great Room.

This rendering really helped the client see the potential of their space

In discussing the needs (and wants!) of our clients, we thoughtfully designed an entertaining area that the entire family could enjoy, a beautiful, coastal living room.

It was important for us to accentuate the great architectural features in this room, such as the tall slanted ceilings and abundant windows that provided a glorious view to the lush gardens in their backyard.

Custom entertainment centre built in – Cloud White by Benjamin Moore

Key Focal Points-Coastal Living Room

The main focus was the addition of a custom media wall unit and new fireplace that we designed using soft white shiplap and a small marble herringbone tile.

This rendering shows a sneak peak of the big reveal for this coastal living room.

All professional photos by Stephani Buchman Photography.

We were also really excited about the addition of a crafting area for the kids in the back corner by the windows!

Clients can easily see their homes transform with 3D renderings

The area rug and bench seat with pillows help to tie in the coastal blue colour scheme

This space used to house an old hot tub that the clients never used.

Check out the before image below.

Why keep what you aren’t using?

Wowzas! It’s incredible when you consider the possibilities of what you can do.

In my opinion, that’s one of the best parts of being an interior design professional. And making dreams come true too, of course. 🙂

With the additional sunlight that pours into this room from the skylights above, it was the perfect spot to create a cosy little nook.

The kids benefit from this renovation as well, with this gorgeous craft area.

The custom bench seat that sits perfectly within this bay window area not only looks great, but the drawers underneath for storage of colouring books, pencils, games and puzzles means that it’s super functional as well.

Colour Inspiration-Coastal Living Room

The client wanted a coastal design style, so we sourced fabrics in these great shades of blue.

For the colour palette I am often inspired by fabrics first.

Typically we use one or two swatches that become the ‘jumping-off point‘ for the entire design.

Blue and white is a great, ‘no fail’ colour combination.

From there we look at other decorative elements to support the design palette, mixing in some warm tones as well. You can see that reflected in the coffee table, walnut shelf on the media unit and console behind the sofa.

Wood console placed perfectly behind the sofa

Then we add in more layers such as the area rugs and accent cushions.

The wall colour is Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore.

There was an emphasis on creating a Coastal colour palette with nautical hints to complement the new shiplap fireplace.

You can see how we did that by using beautiful dark blue fabrics in the conversational seating area, as well as in the other blue tones incorporated into the children’s new crafting area by the windows.

The fireplace is a stunning addition to the big reveal of this coastal living room

More beautiful blue colour combinations can be found here.

You can also check out our coastal colour palettes by Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.

You may also like our blog all about Coastal Designs here.

Designer Secret…Sshhhh

Since it was important for the clients to open up this new space from the kitchen, in order to keep the eye moving you’ll see we used see-through acrylic panels by the stairs. Traditional railings can often distract the eye and look busy.

This is a clever design tip that makes for a seamless design that the client’s especially loved.

See-through acrylic panels give a more open look to the space

Fluffy seems to approve of the renovation updates too. LOL

We enjoyed working with these Burlington clients to redesign an area of their home that had previously not been used since they moved in.

Our job is most meaningful when clients trust us to create stunning and functioning spaces for gathering and making memories.

Plus, the return on investment for selling a property that has been thoughtfully designed and beautifully decorated is huge!

See their full project in our professional portfolio here.

Our clients reaction to the big reveal of their coastal living room:

From the colours to the fabrics, everything is perfect. We have had many compliments on our new space. Thank you for our beautiful room!

What design element did you like best?

Have a favourite part of this Great Room Makeover? Comment below to tell it was it was!

Colour Claire-ity

Do you know my 5 Steps on how to choose the right paint colour the first time?

Convenience At Your Finger tips

Check out my super helpful Perfect Colour Palettes. Find great colour combinations to inspire you for your next room design palette.

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

Convertible Fridge Drawers & More!

Have you ever been to Napa in California? It truly is one of the most beautiful places on earth with continuous rolling hills, endless exquisite vineyards and greenery as far as the eye can see.

This was my second trip to Napa with the SKS – Signature Kitchen Suite Designhounds Tour by Modenus and I was thrilled to be invited back!

I arrived a couple of days early to meet some of my closest design friends. We decided to treat ourselves and booked a trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train for Mother’s Day.

If you ever find yourself in Napa, I highly recommend you sign up for this one of a kind experience. It was fun, relaxing, and a magical memory I will never forget.

Me and my girl, fellow interior designer Jana Donohoe.

SKS Kitchen Appliances

Fun train trips and beautiful landscapes aside, the actual purpose of my business trip was to learn more about Signature Kitchen Suite appliances and take part in their one of a kind ‘True to Food’ experience.

The kitchen is referred to as the ‘Heart of the Home’ for a reason.

It’s where you spend the most time, preparing food, gathering with family and friends and making memories along the way.

Deciding on selections for your kitchen appliances is a major decision and one not to be taken lightly.

If making the most of your kitchen is important to you, (which it absolutely should be!) then how the appliances you choose will look and function is a major consideration.

Your kitchen appliances are also a big investment, so you want to be sure to choose wisely.

Extra Large Capacity Columns

Let’s start with refrigeration. In this image above, taken at the SKS 24,000 square foot Experience Design Centre, you can see a full wall of panelled wall fridges/ freezers with glass wine columns on each end.

The extra-large capacity fridge columns preserve the integrity of your fresh food. There has been so much innovation and engineering put into the integrated 30-inch refrigerator and 18-inch freezer columns-both with one of the largest capacities in their class.

While it’s imperative to have ample storage, just as important is the ability to ensure the freshness of the food you purchase – especially with the increased prices for produce and all of our groceries these days.

Wine Cave Technology

It’s hard to imagine a more perfect partner for good food than wine. Am I right?! 🙂

That’s why the wine column refrigerators – shown on each end of the panelled fridge wall below – were developed with exclusive Wine Cave Technology. It actually mimics the ideal environment of historic Old World wine caves.

This protects wine against its four biggest enemies: vibration, light, and variations in temperature and humidity. And when you open the glass door, the light inside automatically comes on so you can easily select the best pairing of wine to go with your meal.

Panelled fridge/freezer wall with wine columns at each end from Signature Kitchen Suite.

Undercounter Convertible Fridge/Freezer Drawers

These are becoming increasingly popular because of their versatility and they look fabulous as well!

This is the only built-in under-counter refrigeration unit in its class with dual drawers and Multi-Temp Settings.

Both kitchen drawers offer a selection of six temperature zones:

Pantry
Fridge
Bar
Seafood
Meat
Freezer

Yes, you read that right! If you require extra freezer space, you can drop the temperature all the way down to make either (or both drawers) a freezer.

How cool is that? And yes, that pun was intended.

A look at both drawers open

And a birds-eye view from above

On a side note, the base shaker cabinets in this kitchen look like the colour Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore. Blue is always in style in interior design.

Craft Ice Balls

Am I the only person who has never heard of these before?

Apparently, they are super sophisticated, maybe that’s why I never knew about them before…HAHA!

LG is connected to Signature Kitchen Suite and they have ‘Craft Ice’ refrigerators. These refrigerators deliver slow-melting ice for the best-tasting beverages.

LG Craft Ice™

Steam-Combi Convection Oven

See all the wall oven options from Signature Kitchen Suite here

While I’m not an avid cook, I can still appreciate the need for speed when preparing meals.

My interior design friend Jana and I had the opportunity to try out the Signature Kitchen Suite Steam-Combi convection oven.

This combines steam and convection cooking for gourmet results. The convection system cooks food quickly and evenly while steam helps to preserve texture, appearance and taste.

We made the cute mini ‘jacket potatoes’ that you see below on the plate of deliciousness.

All food prepared with Signature Kitchen Suite luxury appliances!

You can see more of that fun cooking experience here in one of my first Instagram Reels published from this event.

As well, I created a highlight here on my Instagram profile that captures all of the beautiful views, hands-on learning experiences and shenanigans that I got up to with my fellow Designhounds on this unforgettable adventure.

Which appliance from SKS excites you the most?

Comment below to share.

I am definitely partial to the convertible drawer fridge/freezer combination!

Find your perfect colour palette!

Have you done my colour quiz yet? You can take it here to find your perfect colour palette with décor inspiration for your next kitchen design, interior design or decorating project.

Perfect Colour Palettes

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!

Convenience at your fingertips

I have created Paint Colour Palettes for some of the most popular colours from three of the leading paint companies, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.

Our Perfect Colour Palettes help you confidently select the best colour for your home, and see which trim, ceiling, and accent colours pair well with your selected colour.

Until next time, cheers!

Design Style – Boho Casual

Boho Casual is featured as the fourth and final interior look in this initial Design Style series.

Bohemian, as it’s also known, is the least structured of all the Interior Design Styles we’ve covered – Farmhouse, Coastal and Mid Century Modern, being the other three.

There are no hard and fast rules for this freer style that uses layers of colour, texture and pattern to create an eclectic and highly individualized look.

Boho Casual Colours

Boho Casual design style has a range of distinct colours that assist in curating this look.

Let me share three inspiring Bohemian colours that will give you a great starting point if you are considering this interior design style for your own home.

Farrow & Ball – Green Smoke No.47

Green Smoke by Sherwin Williams

A gorgeous green, Green Smoke lends itself so well to the Boho look.

As you’ll see and read later, botanicals are a big feature of Bohemian design style. Green Smoke is the perfect colour to convey this look in a paint colour.

Green Smoke living area and fireplace wall – image by Farrow & Ball

This is a favourite green of mine, one that I even used in my own recent basement renovation.

Below are my custom shaker style laundry cabinets painted in Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball.

This green works so beautifully with the nature-inspired bird and branch wallpaper, which has subtle dark blues, similar toned green and warm beiges in it.

You know that my family and I are bird-nerds, right? 😉

Green Smoke cabinetry in my basement laundry room

If you love green too, I have created a Green Smoke Perfect Colour Palette that offers 10 colours to pair with Green Smoke, a fabulous decorating resource to inspire your next interior design project.

Benjamin Moore – Wild Flower 2290-40

Benjamin Moore’s Wild Flower

Not quite a terracotta, Wild Flower is a slightly brighter tone, a beautiful combination of pink, orange and red. It’s the perfect colour to pull off a casual Bohemian look.

This is a very on-trend colour and was featured in Benjamin Moore’s Colour of the Year palette for 2022.

It was also a colour that was seen in nearly every single showroom at the spring and fall Highpoint Furniture Market in North Carolina.

Wild Flower dining room wall – image by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore – Mascarpone AF-20

Mascarpone by Benjamin Moore

Most styles do well with a neutral colour to anchor the look and Mascarpone is a great choice for this Boho palette. It’s soft and creamy and let’s the richer colours really shine.

If you’re hesitant about the colours in this combination for the Boho Design Style, check out my Mascarpone Perfect Colour Palette which gives you 10 colours to mix and match with this pretty, light neutral.

Green Smoke, Wild Flower and Mascarpone

Boho Casual Design Style Colour Palette

A bold colour palette speaks to the Boho look completely.

Design Details

What are some of the signature details of the Boho Casual design style?

There are so many, let me touch on some of them here.

Natural / Light Wood Tones

Light wood tones and woods that are closer to their natural state in appearance work amazingly with the Boho Design Style.

The light pine flooring below has a very natural look, as does the bed frame and side table, even though they are a bit darker in tone.

Light toned, natural wood flooring in this Boho inspired bedroom

An even lighter flooring as seen in the image below allows the other elements in this Boho styled bedroom to stand out more. But still in a very calm and casual way.

Boho Casual bedroom with light flooring and other natural and light-toned elements.

Organic Forms / Shapes

Softer shaped and less rigid forms are indicative of a Boho Casual design style. This style tends to incorporate more smooth, curved and rounded shapes into its look.

And look how gorgeous this room image is below with the contrasting, dark navy wall as a backdrop that really makes the natural woods stand out.

Orangic feel to this Boho inspired bedroom with furniture with no hard lines or corners

The image below exhibits brilliantly the less structured shapes and lines that you will often see in Boho Casual design style.

Curved and flowing elements contribute to the overall unstructured and freer Boho feel.

Plus, do you notice the colour palette? Yup, it’s displaying similar tones to my recommended 3 Boho colours!

Soft / Flowing Drapery

Beautiful layered drapery fabrics on windows and bed canopy

Fabrics & Textures

Rattan/Cane/Wicker

These natural and manmade materials are so versatile they are a common feature in many design styles.

In the Boho Casual look, they are often curved and have a very gentle appeal about them.

Rattan chair and table, wicker baskets

Large cane/wicker storage trunks, black and natural wicker basket

Macramé

Macrame is huge when creating an interior design with that relaxed Bohemian look and feel.

It’s everywhere, from wall art, and plant holders and is even being incorporated into some alternative furniture designs.

Macramé wall art

Bedroom with macramé over the bed, from a Design trip in LA I attended in 2018

Macramé wind catchers and wall art

Macramé hanging light fixture and plant holder

Tassels & Fringes

Tassel and fringed natural fabrics are perfect to get the Boho Casual look

Area rug with large tassels, along with floor cushion and pillows on sofa

Large and small tassels on decorative pillows in this boho-casual bedroom

No place tassels can’t go in Boho Design Style – plant pots embellished with tassels

Boho Casual Decor

Hats

Hanging hats on the wall, a simple way to get a bit of that Boho feel

A vignette from Fall Highpoint Furniture Market with hats over the bed

Grasses and Dried Flowers

Woven grasses wall art

Dried flower arrangement including palm fronds

Botanicals

Adding living plants, and plenty of them is probably one of the easiest ways to achieve a more boho-inspired aesthetic.

Include different sized, shaped and textured plants in a variety of containers made of wicker, macrame and wood and you’ll be on your way to getting that Boho style.

Beautiful Peacock chair and vibrant greenery

Robust array of plants of different sizes and textures and containers and Papasan chair

Boho Casual Design Style

If you prefer a design style that does not require you to adhere to specific rules, Boho Casual might be a great one for you to try out.

It can still be purposeful but it is not so obvious in its execution.

Layering is key but how you mix and match colour, patterns, and textures is what gives the Boho Casual look its unique and personalized aesthetic.

Boho Casual Perfect Colour Palettes

Loving the look of the Boho Casual design style?

Let me help you achieve this sophisticated yet relaxed feel with my Perfect Colour Palettes which provide 10 fabulous colour combinations in order to pull off a gorgeous Bohemian inspired interior.

Sherwin Williams Boho Casual palette

Sherwin Williams Boho Casual Perfect Colour Palette – 10 colours

Benjamin Moore Boho Casual palette

10 Boho Casual colours by Benjamin Moore

Farrow & Ball Boho Casual palette

10 complementary Boho Colours by Farrow & Ball

Green smoke

Mascarpone

Colour Quiz

Now that we’ve reviewed all the Design Styles featured in my updated colour quiz, find your Perfect Colour Palette to see which style best suits you!

Perfect For Pinning

Design Style – Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern style has been revived over the last 5 years in a BIG WAY!

Personally, I love this style. Our 3 bedroom bungalow was built in 1967 and the architecture of the home with the angled roofline definitely has a look reminiscent of designs by Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Mid-Century Modern, aka MCM, design style had its beginnings in the middle of the 20th century. Post-WWII, people were looking for a more uncomplicated design style.

Focus had changed from the ornate to a less frilly, less embellished look in architecture and furniture.

Mid-Century Modern Colours

Mid-Century Modern design style has a range of distinct colours that assist in curating this look.

Let me share three inspiring MCM colours that will give you a great starting point if you are considering this design style for your own home.

Sherwin Williams – Earthen Jug 7703

Earthen Jug by Sherwin Williams

After seeing the latest images on social media from showrooms at High Point Spring Market in North Carolina, the warm Terracotta tones are still trending in a big way.

You may recall reading about the popularity of this shade in this previous colour trends post from the fall.

Farrow & Ball – India Yellow No.66

Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow

A rich mustard yellow, India Yellow is a colour indicative of this period of design. Paired with the right colour combinations it can deliver the MCM look down to a tee.

Learn more about this gorgeous deep yellow by Farrow and Ball here in my colour review.

See 10 stunning colours that complement India Yellow in my Perfect Colour Palette.

India Yellow walls and sofa

Benjamin Moore – Hale Navy HC-154

Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore

One of Benjamin Moore’s most popular blues, Hale Navy works so well in a Mid Century Modern colour palette.

It also looks amazing in other styles of interiors, like this gorgeous dining room we designed for clients in Toronto.

Hale Navy dining room nook and ceiling, White Dove walls.

Get more colour inspiration and what you need to know about using this popular Navy in my Perfect Colour Palette.

Earthen Jug, India Yellow and Hale Navy

Mid-Century Modern Design Style Colour Palette

What a vibrant and contrasting palette that highlights the look and feel of the Mid-Century Modern design style.

Design Details

What are some of the signature details of the Mid-Century Modern design style? Let’s take a look!

Dark Wood Tones

Teak is probably the best known of the dark woods prominent in Mid-Century Modern furniture.

Teak double shelved coffee table

There are many others that were used in furniture making during this dynamic period including Rosewood and Walnut.

Walnut is one of my personal favourites and I believe it is a warm wood that never goes out of style.

Dark toned wood shelving units, desk and chair

Tufting

Tufted blue velvet sofa with tapered wood legs

Tapered Legs

Coffee table, chair and floor lamp all with tapered legs. And notice the tufting on this gorgeous sofa!

Tapered legs are everywhere in Mid-Century Modern furniture design!!

Fabrics & Textures

Velvet

Colourful velvet accent pillows on a blue (tufted!) velvet sofa

Rich green velvet love seat and yellow armchair

Rattan/Cane/Wicker

Cane panelled sideboard

These design elements can be used in a variety of design styles, including Farmhouse and Coastal.

Leather

Simple MCM leather chair with tapered legs

Dark brown leather traditionally styled mcm walnut armchair

This sofa has it all: Leather in an earthy tone, tufting details and tapered legs.

Mid-Century Decor

Geometrics

Geometric area rug

Simple and bright, mid-century modern artwork brings a space to life

Hexagon shaped tiles and shelf boxes

Ceramics & Glass

Glass and ceramic smooth curved vases and vessels

Ceramic vases – popular decor elements in any MCM interior space

MCM Ceramic lamp with diamond pattern

Star Burst

Coloured ball clock

Starburst wall decor

Starburst mirror

And although the basement with pool table shown below is not Mid-Century Style, you can see that we used a colourful clock similar to the starburst style in this games room area.

The colourful clock is reminiscent of the ‘starburst’ seen in MCM design style

You can check out the entire 3000 square foot basement design here…it even has a hidden door in a bookcase that leads to the very cool and secret Xbox room with a graffiti wall!

Remember, just because you may not be decorating an entire room in one specific design style, doesn’t mean you can’t mix in various elements of style.

In fact, I encourage it to achieve a layered and interesting room design!

Mid-Century Modern Perfect Colour Palettes

Loving the look of the Mid-Century Modern design style?

Let me help you achieve this sophisticated yet relaxed feel with my Perfect Colour Palettes which provide 10 fabulous colour combinations in order to pull off a gorgeous MCM interior.

Sherwin Williams Mid-Century Modern palette

Sherwin Williams MCM Perfect Colour Palette – 10 colours

Benjamin Moore Mid-Century Modern palette

10 MCM colours by Benjamin Moore

Farrow & Ball Mid-Century Modern palette

10 complementary MCM Colour by Farrow & Ball

India Yellow Perfect Colour Palette

Hale Navy Perfect Colour Palette

Colour Quiz

Take my revamped colour quiz to find your Perfect Colour Palette.

Perfect For Pinning

Design Style – Coastal

Coastal Design Style

When I think of Coastal design style, an abundance of natural light and an airy relaxed look is what comes to mind.

You do not have to live by the coast or even near it to enjoy a beautiful Coastal design style.

The coastal aesthetic is common for properties in close proximity to the water, whether it be the ocean, lakeside house or cottage on a river.

But it can also be in an urban environment with a backyard oasis that exudes a similar feeling. That’s kind of the best of both worlds!

Coastal Colours

As with any design style, Coastal has a range of distinct colours that help create this look.

Let me share three inspiring Coastal colours that will give you a great starting point if you are considering this design style for your own home.

Sherwin Williams – Sea Salt 6204

This is a lovely and subtle green with a slight blue undertone. The colour it appears can change depending on lighting and other elements, just like the sea itself.

This is one of the most popular colours from Sherwin Williams and I did a colour review of Sea Salt that you can read here.

Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams

If this colour speaks to you, I have created an entire colour palette for it that you can check out.

My Sea Salt Perfect Colour Palette provides decorating inspiration and colour combinations if you are considering this calming colour for an upcoming home project.

Benjamin Moore – Van Deusen Blue HC-156

No colour says coastal more than blue and Van Deusen Blue is a great choice. This deep blue is clean, crisp and rich! It looks amazing as part of a coastal palette.

Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore

Get more helpful and inspiring information from my Van Deusen Blue colour review here.

Look how great Van Deusen Blue looks on the vanity in this bathroom makeover!

We kept the original quartz counter, the flooring, mirror and sconces for this ‘refresh’ design.

Van Deusen blue bathroom vanity. Photo by Stephani Buchman

The vessel sink also stayed and that was where the inspiration came for the vanity colour and overall palette.

We then repeated the blues in the artwork and Roman blind which add a bit of that coastal feel to this urban home.

The paint colour, Natural Linen CC -90 by Benjamin Moore was thoughtfully selected after looking at the tones in the countertop.

See this entire Burlington client project here which also includes a stunning new home office as well as a casual, yet classy, living room.

In another project that we refer to as ‘Gray Owl and Coastal Cozy’ in our portfolio, you can see this deep blue colour on the fabric of the accent chairs.

Sherwin Williams – Extra White 7006

No coastal palette is complete without a great white – not shark, but paint colour that is! Sherwin Williams has a perfect one, Extra White.

Extra White

Being a true white it pairs wonderfully with Sea Salt and Van Deusen Blue to bring a cohesive coastal colour palette into your home.

Get more information on this trending white by Sherwin Williams from my colour review here.

See below for how fresh this colour combination looks when they are all put together.

Coastal Design Style Colour Palette

Such a stunning combination, you can almost smell the sun and hear the waves gently lapping against the shoreline.

Aaahh, can you tell it’s been way too long since I’ve been on a beach holiday?!

Design Details

What are some of the signature details of the Coastal aesthetic? Let’s take a look.

White Oak Flooring

Such a durable wood, white oak is also more resistant to water and rot than most other species.

It must be as it was used for shipbuilding and whiskey barrel making. And now it’s being used to create beautiful spaces in homes looking for an airy and natural coastal look.

White Oak Flooring By Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring

White Oak can come in so many colours. A more natural, organic colour as seen above or the popular whitewashed which will help reflect light and keep your interior nice and bright.

Hakwood White Oak flooring

Shiplap

Shiplap can be used in both Coastal décor as well as Farmhouse design.

Both interior design styles can be achieved, depending on the other decorative elements you combine with the shiplap within a space.

Shiplap wall in a mudroom that leans a little more to the ‘Farmhouse’ look

Another image from our Gray Owl and Coastal Cozy project is seen below with the shiplap fireplace to accentuate the high ceilings of this Great Room.

Photo by Stephani Buchman. Design by Claire Jefford Inc.

If you love the soft blue-green wall colour Gray Owl, then be sure to read my review of this popular Benjamin Moore colour.

Another Coastal inspired project featuring shiplap

Another Burlington client project of an entire home we have redesigned is currently underway.

My client is a sailing enthusiast so it wasn’t a surprise she was drawn to a coastal vibe.

She owns a beautiful piece of custom artwork that we used as the jumping-off point for the living room design!

You can see below in the design of the asymmetrical custom built-in media unit, we are using a vertical shiplap on the fireplace. The entire unit is Cloud White by Benjamin Moore.

Rendering of client’s new living room space with vertical shiplap on fireplace design

White or cream are the ‘traditional’ tones we are used to seeing shiplap done in, but it doesn’t have to be this way all the time.

Don’t be afraid to add colour!

If you read my blog post with the latest 2022 interior design trends from the Kitchen and Bath Show, you may recall this image below with the warm, clay coloured vertical shiplap as a backdrop to a bathroom vanity vignette.

Vertical shiplap in warm terracotta colour

Another outstanding example of using colour on your shiplap can be seen here in a coastal-inspired kitchen island in River Blue 2057-10 by Benjamin Moore.

I also love how In Detail Interiors repeated this rich teal tone in the light pendants above. Exquisite design!

Kitchen island with shiplap in River Blue by Benjamin Moore, Design by In Detail Interiors

If you are looking for a slightly deeper shade of blue, try looking at Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball.

Casual Furniture

There shouldn’t be anything pretentious in coastal design. The goal is to be super relaxed and comfortable. The furniture you select should only add to the chill, clean vibe of the Coastal design.

Casual furniture helps with the laid back coastal vibe

While I’m not loving the backdrop of the gray paint colour on the walls in this image below, if you swapped it out with a fresh paint colour like Sea Salt and added some blue pillows, it would definitely come to life and be more indicative of Coastal design.

The accessories on the bookshelves, the rattan furniture and sisal rug are all fitting for a coastal feel.

Super comfy sofa and lots of natural wood tones

Fabrics & Textures

Linen

Always a classic material and often seen used in coastal design, linen is the perfect fabric for drapery and accents like tea towels in the kitchen.

Its natural look and lightweight makes linen the ideal fabric to use, making a home inviting as well as relaxed.

Lightweight and natural – linen is a perfect fabric for Coastal interiors

Jute

Organic in feel and colour, Jute is frequently used in coastal designs for accessories and rugs.

Indigo striped jute rug – LD Shoppe

Jute and cotton rope baskets

Loose Looped Pile Rugs

Berber style rugs are soft to the touch and often seen with a subtle variation of other colours mixed in.

But I will say, after having had wall to wall looped rugs such as this in my basement for over 10 years, they do go flat after a while. Something to consider if you are thinking of purchasing this style of rug.

Loose looped pile

Loose Looped pile rug

Coastal Decor

There are many fantastic décor items that really lend themselves to the Coastal design style, too many to mention all of them here.

But let’s discuss a couple.

Artwork depicting water scenery

Vertical framed art with waves in a dining room design by Claire Jefford Inc.

A client’s beautiful sailboat painting was the inspiration for this living room design (3D rendering)

Clocks and Stripes

Coastal inspired kitchen design by Claire Jefford Inc

Rope style clock close up

See more of this Burlington interior design project we called Ocean Blue and Sterling Stripes in our portfolio.

Striped Roman blinds add coastal appeal to this kitchen design

In addition to the striped roman blinds shown in the kitchen design mentioned above, striped pillows are also a sure hit for coastal-inspired homes.

Coastal Perfect Colour Palettes

Loving the look of the Coastal design style?

Let me help you achieve this relaxing feel with my Perfect Colour Palettes to give you all the colours you need to pull off a gorgeous Coastal interior.

Sherwin Williams Coastal palette

Sherwin Williams Coastal Perfect Colour Palette – 10 colours

Benjamin Moore Coastal palette

10 Coastal colours by Benjamin Moore

Farrow & Ball Coastal palette

10 complementary Coastal Colour by Farrow & Ball

Sea Salt Perfect Colour Palette

Van Deusen Blue Perfect Colour Palette

Extra White Perfect Colour Palette

Gray Owl Perfect Colour Palette

Hague Blue Perfect Colour Palette

Colour Quiz

Take my revamped colour quiz to find your Perfect Colour Palette.

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Design Styles – Farmhouse

Welcome to the first post in my new Design Styles Series!

Having run my own interior decorating business for over 11 years I’ve learned that for many homeowners, identifying specific interior design styles can be tricky.

Heck, I’ve even seen in Facebook groups exclusively for interior designers where someone will post an image of a room and there will be various interpretations of what the specific design style is called.

If we interior design professionals have different names for the same design style, then it’s no wonder homeowners struggle with this as well.

Let me do my best to make it easy for you.

Through this Design Style series, I want to help you to identify specific décor and interior design elements that are indicative of certain interior design styles.

But First, A NEW QUIZ!

Kicking off this series also coincides with the launch of my new Design Style Colour Quiz.

Psst!! Even if you took my quiz before, it’s been totally revamped now with different Design Styles and NEW colour palettes. I just know you are going to love it.

Design Style Perfect Palettes

And because I am obsessed with simplifying your life when it comes to choosing the right paint colours for your home and have an addiction to creating fabulous paint colour combinations, I’m also excited to announce the release of my new Design Style Perfect Colour Palettes.

Immediate design inspiration is what you get with these digital downloads.

There are three different paint suppliers to choose from, depending on your preference: Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.

Design Styles included (so far!) are Farmhouse, Coastal, Mid Century Modern and Boho Casual.

They all tie in with my new quiz and as Farmhouse seems to be the most loved design style currently, that’s our focus of today’s post.

Design Style – FARMHOUSE

Farmhouse design style is synonymous with relaxed and casual living with a touch of that rustic country feel.

You certainly do not have to live rural to enjoy a beautiful farmhouse style interior.

Modern farmhouse is hugely popular and is a common look you see in suburban and urban homes as well as in the rolling hills of the countryside.

Farmhouse Colours

As with any design style, Farmhouse has a range of distinct colours that help create this look.

Let me share three inspiring Farmhouse colours that will certainly give you a starting point if you are considering this design style for your own home.

Benjamin Moore – October Mist CC-550

This soft green was Benjamin Moore’s Colour of the Year for 2022 and suits the Farmhouse look so well.

October Mist

It evokes nature and open fields and looks amazing with the next two colours.

Sherwin Williams – Moroccan Spice SW 6060

Terracotta is a super trendy colour this year and Moroccan Spice is a perfect example of this earthy colour.

Moroccan Spice

Benjamin Moore – Pale Oak OC-20

Such a versatile colour, Pale Oak is the perfect neutral backdrop for a Farmhouse Design Style.

Pale Oak

It also works great in other interior styles. I’ve used it for a recent Burlington client project in a more modern and vibrant renovation.

An always popular neutral, Pale Oak, complements October Mist and Moroccan Spice to create a perfect Farmhouse Palette.

Farmhouse Colour Palette

Design Styles – Farmhouse

Design Details

What are some of the signature details of the Farmhouse and Modern Farmhouse look?

Character grade hardwood is a staple of the farmhouse aesthetic.

Natural character and whitewashed hardwood flooring.

Species such as maple and oak are great for whitewashing which adds lovely rustic appeal.

These woods also offer lots of natural characteristics such as visible grain, knots and other imperfections that add to the charm of the farmhouse expression.

Shiplap is a common design detail that is often seen in farmhouse interiors. This refers to the off white wood panelling you see behind the vignette below.

Shiplap wall – great design detail for Farmhouse look.

Apron sinks and farmhouse sinks are obvious choices for creating a rustic or modern farmhouse interior.

We incorporated a white apron sink in this Burlington project, which actually had more of a coastal vibe with the blue backsplash.

This is a good example of how the same interior design elements can be utilized within different design styles.

Gorgeous apron sink, an ideal farmhouse design feature

The final design detail we’ll touch on is skirted sofas. Casual and comfortable!

These comfy and practical pieces are an ideal addition to any interior where you are aiming for a farmhouse look and feel.

If you have an older sofa or loveseat but you no longer like the colour of its fabric, consider getting a cream or white slipcover if you want to tie it in with a new Farmhouse feel for your home.

Skirted sofa – adds rustic and cosy farmhouse appeal

Design Styles – Farmhouse

Fabrics & Textures

Let’s take a look at some of the best-known fabrics for achieving the farmhouse look.

Linen

Simple linen drapery, white and light is always in style

Jute

Organic and natural

Plaid and Striped Patterns

Cosy plaid pillows are a staple of farmhouse decor

Contrasting plaid pillows with gray plaid ottoman

And pillows that have an organic feel in neutral tones.

Slipcovers

In addition to the skirted sofa mentioned above in the Design Details section, don’t forget that you can also add slipcovers to chairs.

Slipcovered chair with plaid throw – two popular farmhouse features

Slipcovered Loveseat with natural wood flooring and other nature-inspired accents

Design Styles – Farmhouse

Decor

Wall Art Ideas

There are many fantastic décor items that really lend themselves to the farmhouse design style.

I can’t lie. Some of the wall art that is indicative of the farmhouse style has been overdone. The clock below is a prime example of this.

But, I can’t talk about farmhouse design and not mention the clocks!

Clocks in a wood and metal finish – farmhouse interior

A great example of a farmhouse living room

As you can see from these images below, some of the wall art ideas can lean towards being either more rustic, vintage or modern.

Rustic Farmhouse

Vintage farmhouse gallery wall

This weathered barn wall art is a perfect piece for a Modern farmhouse design

Other decorative elements such as vintage jugs and vases with fresh or dried flowers are also great accessories to style your home in if you want the farmhouse look.

Fresh flowers in vintage milk can

Rustic decor with milk jug and lavender

Farmhouse Perfect Colour Palettes

Look no further than my Farmhouse Perfect Colour Palettes to give you all the colours you need to pull off a gorgeous Farmhouse interior.

Benjamin Moore Farmhouse palette

10 Farmhouse colours by Benjamin Moore

Sherwin Williams Farmhouse palette

Sherwin Williams Farmhouse Perfect Colour Palette – 10 colours

Farrow & Ball Farmhouse palette

10 complimentary Farmhouse Colour by Farrow & Ball

October Mist

Pale Oak

Design Style Colour Quiz

Don’t forget to take my revamped colour quiz to find the Perfect Colour Palette for your favourite Design Style!

Perfect for Pinning

The Perfect Interior Design Client Questionnaire

Interior design questionnaire: Get the answers you need from clients.

Why is an interior design client questionnaire important?

What questions should you ask to better understand your interior design clients’ needs & their wish list for their project?

Here in my latest video, you’ll learn my reasons for sending out a client questionnaire & what types of questions I ask to ensure I get the answers I need.

If you have been thinking about using a client questionnaire, or you already use one in your client on-boarding process but your clients don’t always complete it, then by the end of the video you’ll know how to effectively get the answers you need before your initial consultation appointment.

I can confidently say this because I have successfully been using my client questionnaire since the very beginning of my career and 95% of clients complete it before we meet at the initial consultation meeting.

#1 The Client Questionnaire is an Important Part of Your On-boarding Process

One of your first points of contacts with a new interior design client is on the discovery call.

It’s here where you will ask specific questions in order to get a feel for what your potential clients’ needs are. Then once they book an initial consultation meeting with you, you’ll need to find out more about your new clients before you meet.

Plus, it’s important for them to consider different aspects of a project that they may not have thought about already, but that your questionnaire prompts them to think about ahead of time.

The client questionnaire allows you to get to know more about your new clients and to dig deeper into their reasons for wanting a change.

Although they may have been dreaming about renovating or decorating their home for some time, they probably haven’t considered some key questions. This is where I find the client questionnaire to be extremely helpful.

#2 The Types of Questions You Should Ask

Now let’s look at what type of questions you should ask in your client questionnaire. Here’s one question that I like to ask first:

I start by requesting each family member’s name and their age. I want to know how many people live in the home and how old they are.

This is important to keep in mind not only as you are creating their design and selecting finishes and furnishings, but I also like to know this for when I first walk in the door.

Maybe I’ll be greeted by the entire family and if so I can say to the kids “Hey, you must be Toby and Angela.” This shows clients that you are detail-oriented and cared enough to take the time to review their responses.

Getting personal and showing you care is important.

#3 Getting Clients to Complete and Return the Questionnaire

Lastly, how do you get clients to complete and return your questionnaire before you meet?

This is what I say on the discovery call:

“In order to be best prepared for our meeting, we send you a questionnaire ahead of time and ask that you complete it and send it back to us 48 hours prior to the date of our appointment.

Two hours may seem like a long time together, but it goes by pretty quick and I want to be as efficient as I can be with the time that we have, making sure we address your biggest pain points and top priorities.”

Who doesn’t love hearing that we want to make the most efficient use of our time together?

To actually see me on a discovery call and in a consultation meeting, check out the incredible offer below!

Need a Questionnaire & 15+ More Template Downloads?

To learn more and buy now, click here.

Get my ‘already done for you’ interior design client questionnaire along with many more templates, checklists, and email drafts so you can be super organized and confident with your clients.

All of this and so much more is included as part of my ROCK the Initial Consultation Processes package, which is available for purchase now and is one of my biggest sellers for a reason.

(Here’s my top selling designer resource, all bundled up for an even better price, if you are interested.)

I wish I had something like these available to me when I first started my business. They are carefully thought out and will save you a ton of time, giving you the confidence to hit the ground running with your clients.

To see what other helpful resources I have for you to succeed in your interior design business, click here.

As an Interior Design Business Coach, my passion is to share what I’ve learned and help you achieve great success as well. xo

Do you use a client questionnaire?

Comment below and share your experience with having clients complete your questionnaire.

Kitchen Trends 2022

What a few days it was at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show!

It’s been nearly 2 years since I last travelled for work and KBIS 2022 did not disappoint.

Seeing the exquisite displays on the showroom floor and also getting an invitation to the New American Home, was just what I needed to refuel my inspiration for upcoming interior design projects.

In this post, I share some of the best new products and displays from the show, plus, stick around to the end of the post where I show you THE MOST RIDICULOUS DESIGN DETAIL that I saw.

What was popular at KBIS 2022

Black and White

Black cabinetry, black toilets, black and white wallpaper, as well as bold contrasting patterns in tiles and fabrics were all on show at both KBIS and in the New American Home.

A mod living space in the New American Home.

A funky and functional laundry room in the New American Home.

If you love black and white wallpaper, and lots of pattern, don’t miss the living room we designed for our clients in this exciting interior design project we had photographed last year.

A shiny black toilet by Kohler.

Could you do a black toilet? This was just one of the many Kohler displays.

We have a black sink in our main floor bathroom, but I don’t think that I could do a black toilet!

Kitchen display by Cafe, Distinct by Design

This black and white wallpaper adds a ton of interest to this kitchen. But for this to function properly, you need to have a solid piece of stone or glass on part of the back wall to avoid spilling water down the back of the cabinetry.

Warm Terracottas

You know that warm tones are back right? Well, here in one of the Kohler bathroom vignettes is a backdrop of the popular shiplap in a terracotta tone.

A trending terracotta-coloured bathroom

If you remember in my Colour Trends 2022 post published at the end of last year, my good friend Maria Killam predicted Foxy Brown by Benjamin Moore to be a trending colour in 2022.

Although Foxy Brown is more pink than a terracotta or Cavern Clay by Sherwin Williams, these warmer colours are indeed back!

Thompson Traders sinks are always on trend!

Notice the gorgeous hammered sink in the kitchen display above?

This is an beautiful sink designed by the fabulous Thompson Traders.

You can catch a glimpse of my Thompson Traders copper sink in the 3D drawing of my new kitchen design shown in this post about my new dishwasher.

And, a quick detour here while I’m mentioning Thompson Traders. I wanted to include a photo of their show-stopping, larger than life, tortoise inspired hood and sink in a brass finish.

Thompson Traders: Fab products & a wonderful family-owned company

Forgive me, my photo does not do this justice!

Green With Envy

The colour of the year for Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams was green.

Perhaps the most breathtaking display at the entire show was this monochromatic green kitchen design in the Monogram booth.

Monogram kitchen display, Kitchen & Bath Industry Show 2022

Dark green cabinets, green and black backsplash, ombre stone hood in shades of greens and the addition of green plants to add even more life to this display.

Is it too much for you or could you be this bold?

That gas stovetop is impressive and I especially love the copper knobs.

I adore green which is why I painted my basement walls and laundry room cabinets Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball but I think even for me, this kitchen is a bit too much.

Love the drama though and it definitely got people talking!

Purple clawfoot tub by Kholer

Me in the purple clawfoot tub! It’s my favourite colour, how could I not hop in?!

More inspiration from KBIS 2022

Fluted Millwork

This is a nice design detail that we’ve been seeing a lot over the last few years, but a bugger to dust and keep clean. We saw lots of this type of millwork in the 2020 Princess Margaret Lottery Home.

Archways

Archways are super popular at the moment, we see Studio McGee using these often in doorways for their Modern Farmhouse designs.

Statement Lighting

The lighting fixtures and details in the New American Home were indeed out of this world. Here are just a couple of examples that I especially loved.

The Most Ridiculous Design Detail

Lastly, I wanted to share this dishwasher design detail shown in the Monogram booth.

While this type of natural-toned caning is definitely trending, as it is shown here, it is completely impractical.

Could you imagine the drips down the front and trying to get out any bits of food that will inevitably get stuck in there?

Sorry, but at some point, you really have to think about what looks good and what is good design.

Anything surprise you from what I shared here today?

Share your thoughts below, kitchens and baths are always a hot topic.

Speaking of hot topics…have you taken my colour quiz yet?

Take my Quiz and find your perfect colour palette with décor inspiration for your next interior design or decorating project.

Perfect Colour Palettes

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!

Convenience at your fingertips

I have created Paint Colour Palettes for some of the most popular colours from three of the leading paint companies, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.

Our Perfect Colour Palettes help you confidently select the best colour for your home, and see which trim, ceiling, and accent colours pair well with your selected colour.

Perfect for Pinning!

Benjamin Moore – Glass Slipper

Glass Slipper 1632 by Benjamin Moore

Blue, still on-trend and when paired with white, is as popular a design style as ever. This combo is hot and I really think sticking around for a long while yet.

Glass Slipper is a soft pale blue that can be used in so many areas of your home.

If you are familiar with my blog and have seen my other colour reviews, you’ll know that in the colour review video of Glass Slipper by Benjamin Moore, I share:

The undertone
Colour comparisons in order to easily see the different colour tone(s)
Best white paint colours for the trim and ceilings
Beautiful colour combinations to inspire you for your next decorating project

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 Glass Slipper by Benjamin Moore, take a look at my new Perfect Colour Palette.

A must-have for any colour enthusiast or interior designer!

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!

Glass Slipper Colour Review Video

Undertone: soft blue

A gorgeous soft blue, Glass Slipper may look different in your space depending on the lighting and what other decorative elements you pair with it in your interior decorating project.

Colour Comparisons

By comparing Glass Slipper to other similar colours, we can more clearly see the true tone.

Gray Sky 2131-70 & Smoky Green CC-700

Definitely not as green as Smoky Green, but I would actually say Gray Sky is more of a baby blue than Glass Slipper when you put them side by side.

Best Whites To Pair With Glass Slipper

Cloud White CC-40 By Benjamin Moore

White Dove OC-17 By Benjamin Moore

White Dove is undoubtedly one of the most popular white paints from Benjamin Moore. You can see my colour review of this gorgeous off-white here.

Decorator’s White CC-20 By Benjamin Moore

I have around 10 white paint colours that are my best whites for trim and ceilings.

You don’t need all of the thousands of whites available to you to get 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.

I can assure you that the best colour for your project already exists! If you need some guidance, grab my 5 Steps on how to choose the right paint colour the first time.

Fabulous Colour Combinations

Glass Slipper with Collingwood, Gray Owl & Wind’s Breath

Collingwood OC-28 By Benjamin Moore

Below is an image of one of our latest projects where we used Collingwood on the walls with blue and gray accents. Isn’t this a lovely colour?! So pretty.

See the full project here including a stunning home office design.

Gray Owl OC-52 By Benjamin Moore

Below is a project where we used Gray Owl on the walls in a coastal-inspired project. See the entire room here in our portfolio.

Gray Owl walls in Coastal Inspired design

Wind’s Breath OC-24 By Benjamin Moore

I used my Perfect Colour Palette for Glass Slipper to put together this lovely, calm palette you see below. Then I paired it with a couple of fabrics and a gorgeous flooring sample I had.

Calming Colour Palette for Glass Slipper

The idea here is to use the palette to put together a beautiful aesthetic for an entire room or floor of a house.

It’s not to say all colours need to be used in paint form but can be incorporated into tile, flooring, fabric and other hard furnishings and accents. My goal is to inspire you for your next interior decorating project!

Convenience At Your Fingertips

All of the colour combinations shown above (and more!) are included in my Perfect Colour Palette for Glass Slipper.

My Perfect Colour Palette library is expanding and I now have 50 paint colours to select from. Click here to see all of my newly updated Perfect Colour Palettes.

Glass Slipper is also included in my Benjamin Moore Grays & Blue-Greens Collection. A collection of 10 of Benjamin Moore’s most popular Grays and Blue-Greens!

I’ve also created a Benjamin Moore collection showcasing Whites & Neutrals.

And for those who love to have everything all in one place, there’s the Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection. That is where you will find all 20 of my Benjamin Moore Perfect Colour Palettes in one convenient place.

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!