Zoe Clark

Summer in Canada has almost come and in Calgary the season can be a short one. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t have beautiful, elegant and usable outdoor space to make the most of the sunny summer days and nights.

Whether you have a large yard, wood deck, stone patio or balcony, consider what you really want to be doing in that space. Is it for entertaining, playtime with the kids, feet up with book in hand or all of the above.

Outdoor Furniture

Gone are the days of the simple white plastic lawn chair. Today’s choices for outdoor dining and seating are limitless. From wood to fabric, consider your needs and how much maintenance you are willing to put into your purchase.

Any type of patio furniture will last longer with routine care. During cold weather seasons, when the patio is no longer in use, store your patio furniture in a garage, basement or garden shed. If you don’t have a place to store your patio furniture over the winter use a cover or tarp. It will make it last longer as the elements will damage it over time. Calgary winters will not be kind to furniture left to the elements.

During warm weather, wash seat cushions once a month with one part bleach to 10 parts warm water. And a few drops of dish detergent to the mix and let sun dry if possible. If you have wrought iron, wash and wax it a few times a year. For wood, use a gentle solution like Murphy’s Wood Soap to keep clean then oil if necessary.

If you plan on buying cushions for your outdoor furniture set also make sure that they have a high UV rating and ventilation slits to avoid sun and moisture damage. Mildew-resistant acrylic fabric is long-lasting.

Outdoor Cooking

The backyard barbeque that your Dad used to grill bratwurst and steak has had a major upgrade. Old black charcoal blocks have been replaced with clean lines, sleek looks and superior aesthetics.

Barbeques are no longer just for cooking. Just as kitchen appliances are now more than utilitarian devices, the barbeque can add a great deal to the look and aesthetics of you outdoor space. So, with the seemingly endless options for grills don’t forget to incorporate one early on in your backyard planning.

And go from this:

To this:

Outdoor Accents

And just because it’s the great outdoors doesn’t mean you can’t add beautiful accents and art to make your space even more beautiful. Hang some art. Add some decorative touches. There doesn’t need to be a distinction between inside and outside elegance.

Author bio:

Ana Cummings, of ANA Interiors is the only IDRC and CDECA multiple award winning show home designer in Calgary. Her work is internationally published and her studio offers full service interior design and decorating that specializes in original unable-to-leave spaces. Ana is a graduate of Mount Royal University, a member of the Calgary Design Group (CDG), Interior Décor Resources Canada (IDRC), and interim President of the Canadian Decorators’ Association Alberta Chapter (CDECA).

Feature image source: Belderbos.co.uk

Flipping Real Estate Is a Second Career for These Celebrities

June 10, 2016

Who would have thought that some of the brightest stars of the celebrity heaven sometimes need an additional income? It is not like they need a side hustle to pay the bills. As it turns out, these celebrities are quite handy businessmen, earning money not just for need but for having some side savings. Some of the successful celebrity flippers can make more money for one house sale than for a leading role in a major blockbuster, for instance. So, let us see who those wise money makers are and how that second career is working for them.

Courteney Cox

Turns out that Monica from “Friends” is very proficient in making her earnings from buying and then reselling houses. We can even call her one of the most successful celebrity real estate flippers. Cox is not only buying plane houses and then selling to the best bitter. She is purchasing serious pieces of architecture and investing in their renovation without destroying the present historic qualities. For instance, back in 2004 she purchased a house in the Trousdale Estates for $5.45 million, added a few features and sold it for almost five times larger sum.

Jeremy Renner

When he is not busy saving the world as Hawkeye, Jeremy Renner is flipping houses. Joining forces with his friend Kristoffer Winters, he is flipping everything from a Nichols Canyon home to a Hollywood located house formerly owned by legendary filmmaker Preston Sturges. Renner himself claims that he has actually earned more money from flipping real estate than from acting.

Jennifer Aniston

Another member of the “Friends” team finds her extra income in flipping real estate. One could say that as always she is following the footsteps of her more responsible friend, Monica (Courtney Cox). In fact, the actress’s house flipping career is equally as bright as her on-screen one – if we might add. Back in 2011, Jen sold her Beverly Hills mansion for $38 million and a year after she purchased a $21 million Bel Air mansion.

Diane Keaton

The Oscar winner and Hollywood royalty has a very lucrative side gig purchasing, fixing up and selling properties. She has undertaken several renovations of historic houses in California and flipped some of them with great gains. Her latest project is listed for listed for $6.995 million was purchased in 2012 for $5.6 million. Therefore, the actress stands to profit $1.395 million. Not bad at all, right?

Meryl Streep

“Here, hold my Oscar, let me sell this house” – Meryl Streep. No, the famous lady did not actually pronounced these words, but we wonder how does she find time to buy, renovate and sell houses, when she is constantly being busy getting herself showered in Oscars. To be honest, her flipping career is not as bright as her acting, but it works. She and her husband might have hoped for larger profit when they listed their house for $6.75 million, but they did still earned $300, 000. Better luck next time Meryl.

Michael C. Hall

The star is surely not as cold hearted as his alter ego Dexter, but he does know how to think straight and use his head to earn some money on the side. And it seems that just as with his movies and TV career, Michael has a killer career on the horizon – no pun intended. The “Dexter” and “Six Feet Under” star has sold a Los Angeles house in 2013 after owning it for just one month. True, the profit was not large, but it is a start. Now, he has listed his California home for $4.85 million, and it is expected to profit almost $700, 000.

These celebrities are a clear proof that everyone needs a side gig sometimes and an extra cash influx has never been a bad thing.

Feature image source: Hauteresidence.com

Inspiration

Top 10 Strangest Buildings In The World

November 10, 2015

Architecture can amaze you in many ways. There are buildings which beauty leaves you breathless, as well as those that seem strange and sometimes even ridiculous. These structures cause you to look at them from different angles and are bound to leave anyone in awe.

The Dancing House – Prague, Czech Republic

The Dancing House, or Fred and Ginger, was designed by Vlado Milunić and Frank Gehry. Its common nickname given by the citizens is ‘Drunken House’. It was built from 1994 to 1996 on the Vltava River, at the site of the building that was destroyed during the bombing of Prague in 1945. Its unusual appearance initially provoked controversial reactions and opinions of not only experts, but the local population as well. The former Czech President Vaclav Havel, who from childhood lived in a neighboring building, supported its construction, in the hope that it will become a center of cultural events, and he wasn’t wrong.

The Crooked House – Sopot, Poland

Crooked House was built by the design studio ‘Sotinská and Zaleski’ in 2004 in Sopot. Zaleski found the inspiration for this unusual structure while flipping through children’s picture books. Some describe it as a ‘tired’ building, while others say it looks as if it is melting. This house is a must-see tourist destination, and therefore it is not surprising that it is the most photographed building in Poland. In this three-story house there are pubs, restaurants and a few shops.

The Corpus Museum – Netherlands

Enormous human body – The Corpus museum is undoubtedly one of the strangest buildings in the Netherlands. It is located near the highway linking Amsterdam and The Hague, and was opened by Dutch Queen Beatrix in 2008. The building actually consists of 35-meter high transparent structure that represents a portrait of a man in a sitting position. Inside it was used fiberglass, in order to more realistically display the insides of the human body and its functions. Visit to this unusual museum is primarily the educational journey, during which, among other things, people can find out why we sleep and what happens when we sneeze.

The Hole House – Houston, USA

Houston residents were stunned when in the summer of 2005 they saw the consequences of the strong tornado that swept through their town. The storm passed through a house, and a strong wind made the swirl hole that only apparently acts as a horizontal chimney. The hole, later decorated with graffiti, can be seen clearly on the front of the house. Dan Havel and Dean Ruck have made it public artwork. It is a unique architectural project ‘Inversion’, which unusual optical illusion attracted many visitors not only from the US but also from around the world.

Hotel ‘Marqués de Riscal’ – Elciego, Spain

Hotel “Marqués de Riscal” was made by design of Frank Gehry, one of the most successful American architects of all time. It was built in the area where the wine growing is a tradition, with the aim of attracting tourists. Rather than fitting it into the existing environment, Gehry wanted an unusual appearance. The structure consists of elements made of steel covered with huge panels of titanium, gold and steel. Each room in this hotel is different and has a view of the vineyard, so staying in it is a unique pleasure.

The Blur Building – Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland

Located near Neuchâtel Lake in Yverdon-les-Ben, this hotel is built as an exhibition pavilion of the Swiss Fair in 2002. The modern meteorological system monitors the shift of climate changes in temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, and sends the data to central computer that regulates the pressure of the water that creates the mist. Immediately upon entering, the ‘fog’ and all the visual and sound elements disappear, leaving the optical ‘white noise’ of pulsing nozzles.

Hotel Tianzi – Hebei, China

Hotel Tianzi immediately after construction (2000-01) entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest image-building in the world. The building, 41.6 meters high, represents Fu Lu Shaw, a deity that brings good luck, prosperity and longevity. The official name of the hotel is Tianzi, but the locals call it the The Emperor Hotel and Son of Heaven Hotel.

Hospedería del Errante (Errante apartments) – Chile

This unique structures apparently looks as a dilapidated building that will collapse in any moment. Most of the guests thought at first that it was shaped by a hurricane or an earthquake, and its sloping surfaces are a noticeable tourist attraction.

National Architects Union Headquarters – Bucharest, Romania

The structure of this unusual building, situated in Bucharest, combines the old building, which is linked to the restored modern glass building. It was built in the second half of the 19th century for politicians, and it quickly became the center of the intellectual elite of the time. The building was destroyed in the fire during the anti-communist revolution in 1989. Although dilapidated, over the next ten years it was a symbol of the Democratic victory, later to be altered by the best Romanian architects.

The House Attack – Vienna, Austria

The renowned Austrian artist Erwin Wurm made in 2008. ‘House attack’ – the installation of the house hanging upside down from the Museum of Modern Art. According to him, this work symbolizes the families that are faced with problems and challenges.

A few hundred years ago it was easy to list the most beautiful buildings in the world; there had to be the Parthenon, the Hagia Sophia, the Taj Mahal, etc. Now it’s much harder to find architectural universality – buildings that tourists will surely visit for years to come.

Interior Décor

4 Tips on Animal Inspired Design

October 20, 2015

With the ménage of animals that our world provides us, there are great opportunities to using these precious creatures in our home design. Animal inspired design is eclectic, subtle and sometimes inspiring. Showcasing a love for a particular animal or a region of animals gives visitors a view into your personality. Here are four tips on how you can incorporate animals in your home’s design and décor.

1. Focus on a Particular Animal Type

Deciding on a particular animal that will suit your current home design is one way to get the process started. If you have warm tones in your home, maybe using ranch style animals like horses or cows can bring in a classic animal design to your room. Warm tones might also give a cabin a rustic feel with moose, wolves, elk, deer and other native animals to a specific region that creates a specific style. Or maybe your home is brighter in nature and you want to bring sea animals or exotic animals into the design. Something that will stand out and get noticed when people enter your home, something like a penguin, a tiger or giraffes. Another option is to choose your favorite animal or pet and design your space around this specific creature.

2. Determine Your Color Palette

Once you have decided on your which animal is best suited for your home, now it is time to focus on what color palette best suits your home, your style and your favorite critter. Neutrals tones can add an elegance to a room and bring in classic pieces to support your style. Animals with brown or gray tones like seals, whales, lions or gazelles can enhance a room yet create this style of elegance. While bold colors like red and black could suit a striking animal like a zebra or a specific type bird like a toucan. Even adding colorful prints of your own pets can bring a room to life. A color palette will also help you create a sense of how you are going to add animals to your design. Too many neutral tones like brown and gray may not work well with sea creatures of a similar color as these animals may get washed out due to the very neutral on neutral color palette.

3. How Much Animal to Add to Your Space

Now that you know which animal family you want to incorporate in your room and what your color palette is, how much of the animal do you want in the room? Are you looking for one print on a specific wall to highlight the animal? Or are you looking for prints, throw pillows, accessories and table pieces to bring the glory of the animal into the room so that everyone knows this room represents one of your favorite living creatures? The animal you choose may keep you limited to your approach of how much animal décor to incorporate. Using the dramatic coloring of a panda may encourage you to keep the use of the black and white to a minimum. But the gentler palettes of a snow owl or a rabbit may give you more flexibility on how much of these animals to add to a room. The other task you will encounter will be how can you find pieces that suit your home’s style and yet add these animals to your space.

4. Whimsical or Stylish

When adding animals to a room by all means, have fun! Some rooms can inspire whimsy like dressing a children’s room with animals. Adding animal themes can add excitement to a child’s room. Using contemporary representation of animals on walls like white ceramic animal heads or octopus vases throughout the space can also add a whimsical touch to the room. Using a stylish and elegant approach in a main room can add a touch of regality to a room. Like adding champion horse prints to walls or a subtle throw rug to highlight a favorite animal using a unique print can create a stylish look.

Animals are some of the most beautiful creatures we have on earth and incorporating them into your home’s design can be a treat for all the animal lovers out there. For more animal inspired décor visit us at the HomeZada Pinterest site.

About the author: Elizabeth Dodson is the co-founder of HomeZada, a cloud-based home improvement and organizational software tool. HomeZada strives to educate and provide resources for homeowners in all areas of home management, including home improvement and design, home maintenance, home inventory, and property information.

Interior Décor

Wes Anderson Inspired Home Décor

September 25, 2015

It is now possible to buy L’ Air de Panache perfume. That is the exact same perfume that Mister Gustave H from the Grand Budapest Hotel uses daily. That is one of the ways to pepper your life with details from the Anderson’s movies. If the perfume is not enough, you can use Anderson’s movies and decorate your entire home in the same style. Here are some useful tips on how to use décor from three major Anderson’s movies and implement it in your home.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Choose the color pallet that includes pink and blue, red and purple and black and brown. There are many ways that you can use these color combinations in your home. For example, purple and red can be a color pattern on your carpets. Pink and blue can find their way into your kitchen. Black and brown are easy enough to implement anywhere.
Combine patterns. You can combine floral patterns with stripes, just like in Agatha’s room. Less is more in this case. Combined patterns will work better on details than on entire walls or floors.
Drapes and wallpapers are present throughout the movie. The drapes are heavy and the wallpapers have floral patterns. Besides wallpapers, some of the walls are decorated with animal trophies. Now you can find fake animal trophies or eco-leather animal masks.

Moonrise Kingdom

Plaid pattern is all over the Moonrise Kingdom. While you don’t want it on your shirts, some plaid curtains for your kitchen can work perfectly.

Brown and ochre are the colors you should choose to make your home resemble Moonrise Kingdom. Dark red is also important in this movie. You can use it in the combination with white. It will work perfectly for linens, pillow cases and bed covers.

Records and the record player, round crocheted rug and the sailboat pattern are movie décor details that you can use in your home. Also, anything related to the wilderness or scouts is essential for this look.

The Royal Tenenbaums

The movie switches from warm tones: red, yellow and ochre brown, to cool tones: blue, teal and white. That is what you need to do if you want to mime The Royal Tenenbaums color pallet.

A vintage sofa with floral pattern in warm tones would be a nice touch. Also, lampshades in the corner of your room would make it seem like a place from this movie. Patchwork duvet covers are an inexpensive way to do this, as well.

Throughout the movie, there are many scenes that feature collections of different sorts: books, board games and vintage frames for kids’ drawings. This means that this is the perfect moment to display your collections. And basically – the 60’s and early 70’s inspiration is the way to go here and throughout most of Wes’s movies.

It is fun to get inspired by movies when it comes to decorating your own home. This doesn’t mean that you need to copy the exact pieces of furniture, wallpapers or colors. Using similar color patterns, styles and ideas and tailoring them to suit your taste and your home will be just enough. You will get a dash of the atmosphere from the movie and still keep your personal touch to your home.

Interior Décor

Vintage and Romantic : Shabby Chic Home Decor Ideas

September 11, 2015

An interior design trend gaining popularity fast, Shabby Chic is characterized by vintage and antique furniture, accessories and extras arranged to create an opulent, yet comfy ambiance. Sometimes marked by an intentionally affected note to distinguish it from the genuine era décor, the shabby chic style plays well with most classic designs and decorative touches, such as floral details, pastel tones and wooden elements. To achieve a shabby chic feel in your home, consider one of these design ideas– we guarantee you’ll fall in love with your new home groove!

Antique-looking art frames: Chic shows in outlines too

Lavish frames and mirrors with ornate frame details and elements occupy an imposing place on shabby chic walls and add a dash of opulence to the room. For best visual impressions, you can pick up a stylish frame at the antique store or even local flea market, sand it, repaint it and hang it over a group of chairs, sofas or the mantelpiece.

Drop formal seating. A shabby chic lounging area

If you’re looking to transform your dining or living room into a piece of shabby chic bliss, consider regrouping your seating area and swapping mainstream formal chairs and sofas for style reproductions and replicas evocative of the bygone eras. If you can’t afford a major investment in new classy furnishings, you can always grab some fancy pieces at a garage sale or antiques store, or find items in your attic or basement which you’ll be able to overhaul with vintage-looking touches like rich fabrics in neutral tones and fresh paint coats.

Chase away darkness: Add a chic chandelier to the room

Every room needs decent lighting to be comfortable, cozy and pleasing to all senses, and in shabby chic, illumination options go hand in hand with style and elegance. For the vital touch of light to ward off the darkness, get a modern chandelier reproduction or find a true blue vintage piece in your attic, basement or local store with used or overhauled furnishings. A carefully selected chandelier may as well make up the visual class for other slight oversights in terms of accessories and colors of your furniture.

Tableware in retro style: Linen napkins for neatness

Linen napkins and similar fine dining accessories will perfectly supplement your shabby chic tableware and bring back the spirit of classy candlelit dinners. If you don’t have linen napkins, you can always redo old tablecloths into a matching napkin set – these will go perfectly with vintage silverware.

The trademark airs of chic: Airy, graceful bedroom ambiance

Make your bedroom a place of shabby chic comfort with the help of some white linens, pastel or white furnishing accessories like framed needlework and tapestries. Also, add soft cushions with floral designs, vintage patterns and a touch of color to liven up the atmosphere and make it gracefully chic.

Shabby chic outdoors: Garden furniture with a retro feel

In case your outdoor furnishings have gone faded and worn-out due to exposure to the elements, they will be excellent supplements to a shabby chic garden. For a snug yet chic feel in your garden, try using wicker pieces and furniture in white and pastel tones. Iron also fits the shabby chic bill well, so consider getting some elegant iron chairs for your modish backyard.

Storage a la shabby chic: Elegance and functionality meet

For a fresh decorative touch, try using worn-out dressers and similar storage furnishings to pack your gear around your home or office. From bedrooms and living rooms to halls and dining areas, old dressers and chests with sanded-out surface will prove both functional and charmingly stylish.

A vintage kitchen: Shabby chic china and kitchenware

Retro china teacups and trays go well with the shabby chic style. For a seamless stylistic impression, go with mismatched cups and saucers placed next to bonbon trays and cute tea candles – your guests will just love the idea!

Garden

Backyard Barbecue Ideas for 2015

August 7, 2015

Whether you decide to build a barbecue in the garden or get any of prefabricated models, it is important to consider the part of the backyard where you will accommodate your barbecue. And in order to maintain the functionality of the space, the dimensions of the grill should be adapted to the size of the yard where it is placed. Besides choosing the appropriate size, as well as various supporting elements, you can choose the visual style of backyard barbecue in order to better fit the ambience.

1. Outdoors Kitchen Design

This is a spectacular outdoor kitchen with character that will turn your garden into a place of art thanks to its modern design. Cast iron grills have an antioxidant treatment for haute cuisine and are designed to the smallest detail. In addition to the barbecue area, this model has an area with granite wash utensils.

2. Design for Large Spaces

This is pretty much the same model as the one before, but it has a towel handle, which many people may find quite useful. Now, isn’t that a cool idea?

3. Ode to the Torch

Now, this shows an innovative and original design. This barbecue evokes the symbolism of the torch and brings it to your backyard. In form and materials, this design is quite aesthetic. It provides excellent conditions for a quality barbecue while incorporating a convenient place to store firewood.

4. Steel Barbecue

Barbecues can be built with different materials, and depending on the material you choose they will be simpler or more complex. The advantage of steel barbecues is that they can be moved from one place to another quickly and easily. In addition, the maintenance of this type of barbecue is usually very easy.

5. Stone Barbecue

When choosing a barbecue model you must take into account several factors: the available space, materials, and of course the budget. In addition, you can choose from wood or charcoal barbecues, gas or electric barbecues. This is a barbecue made of stone. Its rounded roof and the sundial on the fire area make it a very original piece.

6. Barrel Barbecue

Would you like a barrel barbecue? Do you know that barrels can be restored as furniture? You can find abundant raw material suitable for installation, and at a bargain price in any junkyard or even your own garage.

7. Barbecue Plate

You do not have the time required for a barbecue, or enough space to place it? No problem, this version works just as well, it is mounted in no time and fits in anywhere: the barbecue plate.

8. Balcony Barbecue

In case you live in an apartment or simply don’t have enough space in your yard, but still want a relaxing afternoon with your friends around a barbecue, this balcony barbecue can come in handy for an urban summer party.

9. Portable Barbecue

Outdoor kitchen, terrace, garden, or anywhere you want to go, now can become a place for barbecue. This portable barbecue has compact design, it’s cheerful with summery colors, and most importantly, it is very practical.

10. Barbecue Hearth

Sit around a ‘camp’ fire or barbecue yourself some tasty food, it’s all up to you. Every garden needs a lot of work, and you can get the best of both worlds with this barbecue hearth.

The summer may have already started, but it’s never too late to redesign your barbecue space. Choose something that will suit your taste, and enjoy nice weather and good food with your family and friends.

Inspiration

Mid-Century for a new Century: Short Guide

July 24, 2015

2 Comments

Mid-century modern was a style in architecture, interior and graphic design from the mid 1930s – 1960s. The style developed from Bauhaus and Scandinavian modern in America, since many architects and industrial designers from Germany and Scandinavia migrated to the USA during the Second World War. After the war, there was an expansion of cities and suburbs, as well as the appearance of new technologies and new materials which combined into the new mid-century modern which explored new forms, textures and colors.

mid-century modern architecture — Image source: www.dwell.com

This style is recognizable by a simple, understated look, clean lines and geometric forms. It is uncluttered and functionality is a priority. Plastic entered the world of interior design with mid-century modern, and materials like wood, metal, stone, glass, vinyl and plywood were also commonly used. Colors were bold as well as neutral, but there was no excess of ornamentation.

Mid-century modern never went out of fashion, and in recent years its popularity has been growing even more. In this article we give you a few ideas on how to achieve a mid-century modern look in your house without changing all of your furniture or traveling back in time.

Furniture

You can look for original pieces in antique shops, but this can get rather pricy. If you already have some furniture of this style, it is possible to repair and refinish it. There are still some companies that produce and sell mid-century modern pieces, like Knoll, Vitra, 2Modern, Artek and DWR, to name just a few. You don’t need to go for an exact replica of those times, iconic pieces have been copied endlessly and something resembling an original can fully fit your needs. Also, you might only need a few pieces of mid-century modern furniture to nicely set the tone of your space, try not to go overboard with bold colors and patterns, stay in one color range and one pattern. Some sculptural, curved central pieces like armchairs and chairs, especially if made of molded plywood, or fiberglass will make a big design statement in your living room.

Accessories

Mid-century modern interiors are minimal but can speak loudly and boldly with stand-out wallpapers, bright textured rugs or curtains, colored glassware, designer lamps and modern artwork framed simply. For example, design mirrors are a perfect accessory, like the famous sunburst mirror from this era. Wallpapers with bold graphic prints were popular at this time, but if you wouldn’t dare go that far, you could try decorating only one wall with it. It is important not to clutter the walls with artwork; one or two bold high-end pieces of art will be enough. They can be abstract art, pattern prints, metallic wall plaques or large oil on canvases.

mid-century modern living room — Image source: www.household-decoration.com

Colors and finishes

The color palette was eclectic: red, yellow, blue, pink, aqua, orange and purple were frequently used, as well as muted colors like grey, olive green and brown. These were combined with the white walls and wooden ceilings. Timber stains were light, tables and chairs featured warm stains, such as golden chestnut or the classic walnut finish. Ceilings and walls were plain, without decorations. Floors were made of polished timber, concrete and stone and were carpeted. It was important there was a lot of natural light indoors and glass walls were not uncommon.

Whether you live in a new building, or are remodeling your old home, mid-century modern is proving to be a timeless way to design your space well in terms of both aesthetics and functionality.

Inspiration

Story About Colours Of Your Home

March 3, 2015