Sun Media

Countertops No Stranger to Controversy – House Proud, Sun Media

Frequent dinner-party guests know there are three topics to avoid if you want to have a pleasant evening: politics, religion and countertops. No matter what you prefer in a kitchen counter there will undoubtedly be someone who thinks you’re out of touch and can’t wait to explain why before they’ll pass you the rolls. …

Erotica Finds a Place in Design – Sun Media, June 7-9

One day you may find you need a little help in the bedroom and you know the only solution is to call in a specialist. You’ll need someone who’s sensitive yet knowledgeable and prepared to give you the straight goods without doing irreparable harm to your tender ego. Erotica Interiors offers niche decorating at its most intimate and personal.  …

House Proud – Wallpaper is Back in a Big Way, Sun Media

When you think of wallpaper, you might get a mental picture of a busy floral print that looks a lot like antique upholstery fabric. Perhaps the smell of lavender and musty books comes to mind with a musical accompaniment counted in by Lawrence Welk. Ah-one-anna, two-anna. Well it’s time to associate a new image with wallpaper because it’s back in a big way. …

House Proud – Anything Goes Underfoot, Sun Media, April 12 & 14

I let out a squeal of joy when hubby announced that his annual early-spring project would be replacing the tired living-room carpet with laminate. In my typical approach, I set out to view virtually every type of flooring available to mankind and along the way I discovered some unusual and funky designs that weren’t right for us, but beautiful to consider. Instead of merely supporting lovely furnishings, flooring is now making a statement of its own. …

House Proud – Without A Trace, Sun Media April 5 & 7

They prefer pinks, flouncy curtains and floral-patterned rugs. You like calm neutrals, soft lighting and the clean lines of wooden blinds. The only thing you have in common is that you both saw the same place as a space you could make into a home. They’ve moved out and now you’re moving in so it’s time to get rid of any trace of them and truly make the place your own.  …

Old Is New Again – House Proud, Sun Media

Ikea means different things to different people.  For some, it’s a place to stock up on inexpensive essentials for offspring leaving the nest.  For others, it’s the home of organizational inspiration for a closet or a room.  And still others see it as the preferred option for in-home kitchen design and installation. Its name conjures up an image as individual as the shopper who straps on a big blue bag and strolls through its Marketplace but there’s one irrefutable fact: Ikea has always first and foremost been about innovative product designs. It can’t be a coincidence that Ikea rhymes with idea. …

Great Design Moves Outdoors – House Proud, Toronto Sun

When I was a kid my parents had a patio set made of redwood.  It was heavy and expensive.  I remember dragging the pieces inside for the winter using my entire 10-year-old muscular prowess and running out to the yard to save the cushions from the rain. Over time, the wood faded in the sunlight and what didn’t fade tended to chip, requiring several touch-ups over the years.  My, it’s wonderful how outdoor furniture has evolved. …