How to Transform Your Backyard and be the Envy of Your Neighbours

Canadians love to entertain all year round, and nothing can keep Canadian’s inside during the summer months! With summer weather now in full swing, we are not only enjoying the gorgeous weather but are entertaining our friends and family in our outdoor living spaces. We continue to see the trend of bringing the indoors outside, but outdoor entertainers also crave convenience. This means that they want to have everything that they need at their fingertips – for serving food, storing drinks, and whatever else they need. This means that portability, durability, and weather resistance are a must. Not only that, we want these items to be attractive, and really make a statement.

There is no better product for achieving all of this than the CANVAS Vik Outdoor Fire Table. This stunning table creates a warm and comforting atmosphere in the form of a very versatile, and functional, statement piece. Featuring a unique design to help to keep beverages cool in the pull out ice bucket drawer, this piece provides additional table top space as well as the warmth and ambiance of a fire as night falls. It screams function, convenience and style!

When it comes to outdoor furniture, the trend is much sleeker and more elegant looking than ever before with lighter coloured furniture really making its mark. The CANVAS Clarkson Teak Dining Table is classic and chic, and pairs perfectly with the comfortable rounded back and tapered legs of the CANVAS Seabrooke Wicker Patio Dining Chairs. Not only does this table provide seating for up to 8 people, but it adds a unique and stylish touch to any outdoor dining space.

We just can’t get enough of this year’s on-trend outdoor décor colour of blue, whether it’s with a pop of navy, Mediterranean, or Cobalt, accent any outdoor space through your accessories and linens. The striking patterns on these accent pillows, like the CANVAS Porto Toss Cushion with Tripel and CANVAS Indigo Toss Cushion, really elevate the space and bring in the comfort of indoor living with a durable fabric and with high quality fill that holds its shape.

Anchor your outside space with a durable outdoor carpet that has loads of style. The CANVAS Melita Outdoor Rug boasts a contemporary design that adds texture, colour, and personality to your outdoor space.

Setting your outdoor table with CANVAS Faux Marble plates and bowls add a modern elegance and, while marble is nothing new, the smooth textures and swirly natural designs in a durable outdoor place setting, looks as elegant as our best indoor place setting. The CANVAS Round Marble & Acacia Wood Board is ideal for serving everything from appetizers to desserts, pairs beautifully with this place setting.

As the sun sets, lighting extends our time outside and adds an elegant ambiance. This year, lanterns are the statement pieces that not only provide light but add a level of sophistication. Check out the detail of the CANVAS Souk Patio Lantern and whimsy of the CANVAS Black Rope Solar Powered Lantern, which as the name indicates, has the added convenience of being solar powered.

Most importantly, have fun with your outdoor spaces. This is a great way to bring in some edgy and fun décor, and let your personality shine through.

Click here to see Shauna Lynn discuss the CANVA line with Lindsay Morrison on CTV Kitchener.

Light It Up!

By Jen MacEwen

Light it up, make the switch!

How many times have you noticed those (ahem…) beautiful builders choice old-school ceiling lights in hallways, equally questionable pendants above a kitchen island, and/or an underwhelming dining room chandelier?

I’ve been there, I’ve lived with these lighting selections for a time, but once I settled into my space and got a feel for how I lived and worked in it, I formulated a design plan, and finally upgraded!

Lighting has come a long way in affordability and design in the last few years. The wide assortment of styles and equally attractive price points has made switching out to upgraded lighting an easy choice.

In the past, lighting was viewed as more utilitarian than an integral part of a design plan. For me, lighting is the icing on the cake, the cherry on the sundae… well, you get it! I love great lighting and take joy in selecting the perfect pieces to add that little bit of interest, bling, whimsy, whatever that space is calling for!

While there has always been a wide variety of beautiful selections at your local lighting stores, price points were usually pretty intimidating. If you were looking to add a light as a focal point, it was more likely for a formal dining room where you needed a bit more drama. These days, however, look no further than your local home improvement store for current, and affordably priced selections for all areas of your home, as shown below:

Consider looking for a fixture that adds and serves double duty by adding pattern to your ceiling and walls when lit. The pattern projected from this kind of light (whether intentionally or otherwise) can serve as a beautiful focal point as shown on the ceiling below. A few years ago, I purchased a large pendant light from a popular furniture store that I lovingly referred to as my “dandelion light.” To my surprise, when turned on, the light reflected through the large flower-shaped ends, making the walls display a wallpaper-like pattern. This was simply a happy accident, but any quality lighting store will be able to assist you in finding such a showstopper!

While I’ve been known to break a few rules, these are some great guidelines for proper lighting placement (unless you prefer to not see the person across the table!) Generally, chandeliers should be 30 – 40 inches above your dining table, approx. 12 inches narrower than the table and always centered in the middle of the table… oh, my OCD! Lastly, if your ceiling is over 8 ft tall, add 3 inches to the hanging height per additional foot of ceiling height.

If we need to get into the nitty gritty of the way lighting affects the feel of a room, another design tip is to add three layers of lighting; ambient, accent, and task. Let’s clarify these three types specifically…

Ambient refers to general lighting, mainly ceiling type lighting, that work to serve as the main lighting for a room and more of a utilitarian application. Secondly, accent lighting refers to fixtures that provide that extra bit of warmth to a space by adding an extra layer of light (specifically, floor and table lamps), it also can serve other purposes such as highlighting art, accessories, or other room features. This is my favorite type of lighting, as this layer makes things feel that much more cozy and inviting while also bringing the design to another level (and/or allows the clients own design personality to come through). Lastly, task lighting is the final layer that serves the specific duty of offering additional light needed for completing tasks such as kitchen prep or homework. This type of focused lighting can be provided as under cabinet lighting and desk lamps. All three of these layers serve specific purposes and are equally important in good design.

Dimmer switches are another great way to add interest to a room. They can help to control the intensity of a light, allowing you to adjust it as needed, whether dimmed for a romantic dinner, or full wattage for the best visibility during cleaning. This simple adjustment can make a big difference in the ambiance of your home and can work wonders by adding a touch of warmth when needed.

I couldn’t complete this blog without mentioning a specific part of lighting that has recently been a point of contention between the masses (well, maybe only us designers). The energy saving, eye fatiguing, cold feel of energy efficient bulbs compared to the less environmentally friendly, warm glow of the incandescent lightbulb. There's nothing worse than a beautiful lighting plan complete with the blue light of an energy efficient bulb! Luckily, advancements are being made with these bulbs and the way they light, and I'm happy to say I have stopped stockpiling the old incandescent kind (my closet is full!).

So take a look at your homes fixtures. Perhaps it’s time to for an upgrade?

For more information regarding our residential design services, contact us today!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

Your BTSH Team: Jennifer Roth

Meet Jennifer Roth, BTSH’s Professional Home Stager! Jennifer and Shauna Lynn met through the local RESA chapter and found a connection right away. They often met outside of chapter meetings and quickly discovered they worked well together. So well, in fact, that Jennifer often helped out with BTSH vacant staging jobs. They ultimately decided that it made sense to combine their efforts, and Jennifer officially joined the BTSH team in May 2014.

Jennifer was one of the first certified Real Estate Staging Professionals (RESP). With a diploma in Interior Design from Sheridan College, she has been preparing homes for sale since 2011 and was named one of RESA’s Top 10 Rising Star Home Stagers in North America in 2013. Jennifer is also skilled in interior design and decorating, new home construction, real estate, and advertising and marketing. “I just love being able to take a room and transform it into something beautiful,” said Jennifer.

Prior to working at BTSH, Jennifer worked as a deal secretary with RE/MAX, where she processed offers on real estate transactions. She also worked at Peak Realty, where she acted as a personal assistant to a group of six realtors. “Everyone said I should be a realtor. I thought about it, and loved the industry, but wanted to use my creative side more,” said Jennifer. She credits a realtor with bringing home staging to her attention, and as a result, Jennifer started Home Selling Edge in 2011. She worked there until she merged with BTSH in 2014.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT JENNIFER
Favourite part of her job:
    Finding solutions to help sellers live in staged homes, and seeing the reactions of homeowners who see the transformation after a vacant stage.
Favourite TV show:
    House Hunters
    Love It or List It
Favourite stager:
    Karen Otto
    Red Barrinuevo
Favourite upcoming trend:
    Gold is coming back! Especially in fixtures. Furs are also becoming more popular again!

Jennifer loves contemporary designs like light fabrics, soft textures, clean lines, and metallics. She also appreciates all other design styles, and prides herself on being able to visualize different styles in all kinds of homes, whether it’s traditional, rustic, vintage, contemporary, or more!

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

Setting The Table - BTSH Around The House Tip of the Week

Over the last few weeks, I have shown you how to create an advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas, how to dress up your home for the holidays, and the best gift ideas for the person who has everything. With the holidays just around the corner now there are parties that need a-hosting, and tables that need a-setting. I love to host gatherings with my friends, from simple cocktail parties to extravagant bashes, and of course, dinner parties with my closest friends are always a holiday favourite.

The Cocktail Party
When hosting a cocktail party, while you may not have place settings, you will certainly need to set out food and drinks buffet style. First, re-arrange your furniture to accommodate your guests and allow them to mingle. It’s best to set up a table for serving against a large wall in the room, instead of in the middle of the room. Set up a pitcher or punch bowl with a non-alcoholic beverage with some highball glasses, a bucket of ice, and some lemons and limes for garnishes. Set out wine glasses, as well as an uncorked bottle of red and white (don’t open too many bottles right away, as your guests may bring you a bottle as well, and it is best to offer to serve their wine first). Serve finger foods that are easy to eat and don’t require utensils, and be sure to provide lots of side dishes and napkins.

The Dinner Party
When hosting a dinner party, how you choose to dress up your table is up to you. Whether it be simple and elegant, or festive, or even themed, have fun with it. Be sure to set the table before your guests arrive. It will help to set the tone for the evening, and avoid the chaos of trying to get it done while entertaining your guests. Set out hand-written place cards for a personal touch, and that way you can choose the seat that you want that will allow you the most flexibility to balance serving with entertaining.

The Black Tie Themed Party
If you are hosting a formal, black tie style party, why not set your table in a black tie theme? Choose a black linen tablecloth, and crisp white linen napkins, with black and white dishware. Compliment with some shimmer, such as silver candlesticks, or a centerpiece of silver and gold ornaments. Add a splash of colour by using a single colour accent, such as red or purple, both hot colours this season.

The Festive Party
If you want to keep it festive, compliment your holiday decorations and set the table with the festive colours that you have chosen for your home. Create a feeling of warmth with candles, and bring out the holiday spirit with pinecone and holly accents.

If you’re attending a hosted party this season, avoid showing up empty handed. While most hosts will appreciate a contribution to the beverage bar, such as a bottle of wine or after dinner liqueur, feel free to bring something more personal instead, something that they can keep and enjoy after the party (see last week’s ATH for some great ideas).

Written by Shauna Lynn, Beyond The Stage Homes
www.beyondthestagehomes.com

Big City Shopping Close to Home - BTSH Around The House Tip of the Week

Think you have to head to a big city to get great home décor? You might be surprised at what you can find in your own backyard. If you’re looking for something original and different, check out these stores that rank in my favourites for local shopping.

Conestogo Mercantile
Conestogo Mercantile is NOT your average home store. If you live in the Waterloo-Wellington region, and haven’t been to check out their store, drop what you’re doing, and GO! Located at 1857 Sawmill Road #2 in Conestogo, they have been told for years that they’re different, and they love it. Everything they carry is fun, and somehow they manage to always keep ahead of the trends. In addition to home décor, they also carry a variety of handbags and fashion accessories, as well as many unique baby items. I simply can’t say enough good things about this store. Looking for a great centrepiece for the holiday season? Get one your guests will admire and talk about at Conestogo Mercantile. Don’t forget to check the name board while you’re there—it is located behind the checkout counter, and if your first name matches a name on the board, you’ll receive 10% off your purchase!

Paula White Diamond Art Gallery + Design Studio
Dress your walls in unique, original art from PWD. Located in St. Jacobs, the Paula White Diamond gallery represents both established, and emerging artists in a variety of media, styles, and prices. The best part? Approximately 80% of the artists are local! The owner, Paula White-Diamond, is also the in-residence artist, and produces original large scale oils, acrylics and mixed media works to residential and corporate clients. PWD Art Gallery also offers sculpture, original works on paper, and limited and open edition prints. The gallery is currently located at 1369 King Street North, Upper Level, in the Sampson’s Building, with plans to move to the new Bauer building on King Street in Kitchener soon. For more information, visit them online at www.paulawhitediamond.com.

Structube
Located at 4585 King St E (near Sportsworld), this store has everything you need for your home, at great prices. Their funky, unique products are displayed in their large showroom, and everything that it not a part of the structure is for sale. Structube started as a family business in Quebec 31 years ago, and has since grown to 20 stores throughout Quebec and Ontario. Their store in Kitchener opened in January of this year, and they have seen great success so far. This is the kind of store that Kitchener has been waiting for. Contemporary and modern, great quality products, at prices lower than you would expect.

Written by Shauna Lynn, Beyond The Stage Homes
www.beyondthestagehomes.com