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Budget Decorating
Glamour Friday: How to create a Glamorous Dressing Area under $1000.00
September 28, 2012
Do you have one of these? A blank wall in your bedroom?
This blank space once hosted a playpen. I’m embarrassed to say that the playpen was there for over 3 1/2 years….and my youngest is now 5 years old. It’s not like I put her in it still….I just ended up using it as a dumping ground to hang my clothes on each night. And since I didn’t quite know what I wanted to do with this blank wall, the playpen became a fixture of my bedroom. See, even interior decorators struggle with what to do in their own homes!
Over the summer I donated the playpen and while shopping at Homesense one afternoon I found this absolutely fabulous mirror!! I love the ornateness of this mirror. I have been looking for a rococo style mirror for the longest time (but wasn’t willing to spend over $1000 for one) and when I saw this one, I had to snap it up…..and of course the price was right!!!!
So now I had a vision for my blank wall. I was going to create my own little glamorous dressing room area. And this mirror was going to be the focal point!
I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on this area since I already have a vanity in the master bedroom which I use to apply my makeup every morning. Therefore, the objective of this dressing area was more to display pretty accessories and jewellery.
My hubby hung up the mirror & picture frames for me this week so its finally finished. Voila, below is my fabulous and oh so glam dressing table!!!! High style for a fashionista on a frugelista budget!
Another angle…..
I am soooo in love with my dressing table vignette. It is exactly how I envisioned it and to me, it is utterly glamorous….and totally finishes this last bit of naked space in the master bedroom. And guess what! It cost under $1000.00 to put this little space together. It’s a mixture of hi & low pieces. Here is a breakdown of how I put it together.
The dressing table is from Ikea. It’s the Malm Dressing Table and costs only $129.00!! The furry little stool to the right is from Homesense and was a steal at only $49.99. The sheepskin fur rug on my Victoria Ghost chair is only $39.99 at Ikea. The only piece that was over $300.00 was my Philippe Starck Victoria Ghost chair which cost approximately $365.00 4 years ago.
If a authentic Ghost Chair is still beyond your budget, luckily many stores now sell similar or`fake`ghost chairs for under $150.00.
This chic little stool is the perfect spot to display the Chanel purse my husband bought me 2 years ago in San Francisco. Isn’t it gorgeous?? And yes, my purse is an investment piece that will one day be passed down to one of my daughters.
A dressing table is the perfect place to showcase all your pretty accessories and jewellery, and displaying them in little bowls and trays is key to keeping the table neat and tidy.
I wear Allure by Chanel perfume everyday. So be sure to surround yourself by beautiful things that make you happy. 
I love these Kvill frames I found at Ikea also and how they continue my rococo theme on the wall beside the mirror. And they were only $6.99 each. I bought 8 for a really simple DIY project.
Two of my fashion icons are Coco Chanel and Marilyn Monroe!
I cut out pictures from these 2 coffee table books that I display on my ottoman in the family room. Two of my favourite fashion designers are Louis Vuitton and of course, Coco Chanel. 
Fashion is one of my passions that I adore so why not display something you love (other than your family) in picture frames, especially if it is going to be in your private space.
So let`s take a look at what I spent on my glamorous dressing table vignette:
A stunning look for under $800.00!! Now that`s a Glam Slam budget!! Of course, this doesn’t include the price of all my costume jewellery and accessories….because all of that is priceless! 
But now I have a little dilemma…and I need your input. My good friend and fellow designer Ana from Second Wind Interiors had a bench with Lucite legs that a client changed her mind about. If you know me well, then you know that I absolutely love anything in Lucite. So I bought it from her today because I thought it would look fabulous in front of the dressing table. What do you think?
I placed the ghost chair to the left and it actually fills that space nicely.
Should I keep the bench as my primary seating area as in this picture or keep my Ghost chair. Hit the comment button below and give me your point of view!! And this my dear readers is my glamorous dressing area on a very chic budget!!
If you are looking to give yourself a little glamorous space on a chic budget this fall, then call me at (416) 859-5082 or send me an email here so I can help!!
Have a fabulous weekend!!
Glamorously yours,
Christine xoxo
Posted in Accessories, Bedrooms, Budget Decorating, Fashion, Glam Slam, Glamour, Glamour Fridays | 
No Comments »
Project Bunkie: Decor Inspiration Part 2
August 20, 2012
I can’t believe how fast August is flying by….and before you know it — Labour Day Weekend will be upon us!! Tick Tock, Tick Tock!! Arrrrrrrghhhhhhhh!!!!
Yes, I’m panicking because our original deadline was to have the Bunkie fully finished – inside & out – for the Aug 25th weekend….but sadly that is not happening. Sometimes you just can’t control Mother Nature – all that rain we got last week delayed our plan for staining the exterior. This past weekend we worked on the interior of the Bunkie and will work our way outside by the end of this weekend. So our little “guest cottage” will have to be unveiled over the long weekend.
In the meantime, let me show you some more great photos I found on Pinterest that is inspiring my decor theme and colour palette for the Bunkie. Photos from Sarah’s Cottage have definitely influenced my colour scheme…and really all because of the drapery in this photo.
I currently have similar striped sunbrella fabric drapery in my gazebo up at the “glamper”. I have since taken them down to be laundered and eventually hung up on the 2 windows inside the Bunkie. And voila, my colour palette has been born: Blue, lot of White, with hints of pale yellow and green! I want it to have a bit of a “vintage – beachy – glam” vibe to it. So you better believe it’s going to have a chandelier in it!
These following pictures also inspired my floor plan for this 10 x 12 space:
The main goal of getting our Bunkie was to create a little guest cottage that could comfortably sleep a family of four when friends come to visit. So having a double bed and bunk beds is a must. Similar to the Bunkie above.
Love the whole look and feel of this bunk bed with a lower double bed.
I also really like the beachy vibe I get from this cute little Bunkie.
We are installing bead board panels on the walls and will be staining it white — so it will look similar to this picture. So excited to show you the final result!!
Pinned via web from Source
These quilts are super fun…but unfortunately I don’t have any and neither does my mom. Hoping to find some while I scour some antique markets in the next few weeks.
And last but not least is the floor plan I created that should fit a family of 4 comfortably. I will get into more detail about the floor plan in my next blog post along with pictures of the cutest little Bunkie you ever saw!! (but I’m biased of course!) 
Casa Da Costa – Seaton will soon be open!!
If you missed my Part one of my Project Bunkie series, you can read it here.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on Project Bunkie so far…..so click away in the comments section below!!
Glamorously yours,
Christine xoxo
Posted in Budget Decorating, Decorating Ideas, Floor plans, Glam Blog, Interior Decor, Pinterest | 1 Comment »
Sarah 101 is back for Season 2
May 28, 2012
Hey all you Sarah & Tommy fans out there…exciting news!! Sarah 101 starts its second season this Tuesday, May 29th on HGTV Canada. The show will air back to back episodes starting at p.m..
Once again, Sarah teaches viewers the fundamentals of design for your home!! So will you be watching??
Glamorously yours,
Christine xoxo
Project Orange & Pink: Homework Room Vision Board
January 12, 2012
If you read my 2012 personal decorating project list in my Jan 4th post (click here to read it) then you know that I am converting my daughters’ playroom into a homework room.
I’m just finishing up the layout and elevations but I wanted to show you my vision board for the homework room that I designed on Olioboard.
The colour palette is orange and pink and this gorgeous contemporary floral wallpaper is the inspiration for the room!
The wallpaper is from Printers Guild Productions. My 2 girls have given me the go ahead so I will be purchasing this stunner next week!!
Most of the furniture will be coming from IKEA and if you want to see the list of furniture for the homework room, just click on my Olioboard here for the details. I want to keep this room on a tight budget but my one splurge will be the wallpaper!!
I’m getting really excited about this room….can’t wait to show you some little surprises I have in store. Until then, Happy Decorating!!
If you want to know how to decorate your home for 2012, then contact me online or via twitter…I’d love to help!
Glamorously yours,
Christine xoxo
BTW: This vision board is the first one I have completed and then published on Olioboard. If creating vision boards for rooms is something you think you would enjoy doing then head over to their site and register your profile. And I warn you…it can get addictive!!
Posted in Budget Decorating, Colour, Glam Blog, Home Decor, Interior Decor, Kids rooms | No Comments »
One of a Kind Christmas Show – My favourite Gift Finds!!
November 29, 2011
Last week I attended the Media Breakfast for the One of a Kind Christmas Show and had the opportunity to walk around the show and visit the booths of Canada’s most talented artisans. Below are some of favourite gift finds!! (It’s a long post….but mostly filled with beautiful pictures of lots of good stuff!!)
Now that my daughter is talking horse back riding I’m automatically drawn to anything with horses. Danielle Hession used mixed media and custom art to create her wonderfully creative artwork.
She uses old photographs and then creates these pieces of artwork.
Kailey Hawthorn had the cutest clocks and cushions in bright colours and amazing prints.
Fluf once again had adorable bags and cushions in original hand-printed designs.
And new this year was this very cute wall art – perfect for a child’s bedroom.
Owls are still a hot decorative accessory item….so if you don’t have any owls in your home than you better get some!!! STAT!! These are by Hilary Cosgrove:
And look at these adorable owls and accessories from Heidi Van Veen:
Loving that chevron owl!!! What a cutie!!
These custom personalized blankets are a perfect gift for a new baby from Admiral Road.
Canadian artist Blake Richardson creates these one of a kind pieces out of bark and stone. Fabulous!!
I also found some truly unique furniture pieces for the home that will be sure to be conversations starters!! The Recycler literally recycled old bike parts into pieces of furniture. For the avid cyclist in your family, this is a perfect gift item!!
Philippe and Anne Palafray of Quebec create gorgeous one of kind pieces of furniture….I want this antler console table!!!
The drawers are old library pull-out drawers!!
Wood also continues to be hot!! In its natural raw from or laminate!!! Check out these pieces from Kino Guerin:
I want this chalkboard!!!
And some stunning pieces from Urban Tree Salvage:
These fabulous vases from Leclisse would make a perfect gift for the person who has everything.
For the chef in your life, how about these fun peppermills from Tremblay:
How about these charming paint chip table linens from Avril Loreti:
Here’s a perfect gift for the boss!!! These magnificent “morph” note pads are from Schleeh Design
And last but not least, I could NOT resist these cute Sock Monkeys from RoRoArt.
Soooooooo adorable!!
Have a super day!! And Happy Shopping!!
Glamorously yours,
Christine xoxo
Posted in Budget Decorating, Design Shows, Fashion, Home Decor, Seasonal Decor Trends, Shopping | 4 Comments »
Sarah’s House is Back!!!!
October 11, 2011
A new season of Sarah’s House begins on Tuesday, October 18th!! I had a chance to walk through the house that Sarah and Tommy transformed…and it was absolutely stunning!!
Also, Sarah Richardson is seeking lucky homeowners for Season 2 of Sarah 101. Check out the details below:
Ever dreamed of inviting Sarah into your home and having her re-imagine a room in her signature style? Well, this just might be your chance! Sarah is currently seeking spaces in need of a high style makeover for her hit series, Sarah 101. Is this your dream come true? Here’s how it works:
- We are seeking motivated individuals who will receive a decorating/design makeover from HGTV’s top design talent, Sarah Richardson and her partner in design, Tommy Smythe.
- Each makeover will have an approximate value of $10,000 in product and over $15,000 in design services, and will be conducted in a short period of time depending on the scope of work (approx. 2-4 weeks).
- We are seeking dramatic “befores” as the backdrop for magazine-worthy “afters.”
- We are looking for adventurous, excited homeowners (or renters with permission from the landlord) who are willing to open their door and invite in one of Canada’s best design teams to treat their home as a blank canvas.
- We are seeking interesting spaces with loads of character and “great bones”, which can be transformed through re-decoration or light renovation (no extensive structural work), and homeowners willing to share their design adventure on camera.
- The team will consider your taste and style notes when designing your room, but you may not be consulted on the actual plan or design, so being a fan of Sarah’s style is imperative. Visit www.hgtv.ca/sarah101 to see the spaces transformed in Season 1.
- The television production will contribute a retail value of $10,000 to your project, and any expenses above the allowed budget will be the responsibility of the homeowner.
- The TV crew needs to have full, unsupervised access to the room throughout the duration of the project and full co-operation of the homeowner.
Interested? Please fill out an application form at http://www1.primevista.com/submissions/casting-call. We look forward to receiving your application – and don’t forget to attach the pictures! We appreciate all applications but only suitable candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.
Enjoy!!
Christine xoxo
Posted in Budget Decorating, Celebrities, Design Shows, Interior Decorating, Renovations | No Comments »
Lee Ann’s Kitchen Reno: Part 6 – Adding Femininity via Up-cycling!
June 22, 2011
I will be revealing Lee Ann’s kitchen reno next week with the granite and backsplash installed, along with the awesome faucet Delta Canada provided for Lee Ann. In the meantime, I wanted to show you a little up-cycling project I just completed for Lee Ann’s kitchen.
With all the hard lines of black, white and grey going on in Lee Ann’s kitchen, I really wanted to add some softness and texture to her kitchen. And the easiest way to achieve softness is through fabric. But since our budget was practically depleted, I decided to find a used chair in great condition for her small desk area.
If you are in the Toronto area, than you have probably heard of Moveline Hotel Liquidators – their products originate mainly from major hotel chains across North America. Quality furnishings at fantastic prices. This is the chair I purchased for Lee Ann.
This is the fabric we chose to update the chair through Crown Wallpaper & Fabrics. What do you think??
In addition, the legs of the chair were pretty banged up so I had them sanded down and painted a high gloss black.
And this is now the $55.00 chair!!!
I adore it and so does my client!! I think it’s very glam,chic and feminine! What do you think?
All that’s left is window treatments for the window by the sink to complete this kitchen reno. Anyway, stay tuned for a look at the completed kitchen reno next week…..and my dilemma with this chair.
If your kitchen is craving a glamorous makeover, then contact me online or in person! I’d love to help!
Glamorously yours,
Christine xo
Posted in Accessories, Budget Decorating, DIY, Glamorous Decor, Kitchens, Renovations | 4 Comments »
Lee Ann’s Kitchen Reno: Part 5 – The Kitchen begins to take life!!
June 17, 2011
It’s been a white since I’ve updated you on Lee Ann’s Kitchen reno and lots has been happening!!
If you recall, Lee Ann donated her kitchen to our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. You can read the post here as a refresher.
Once the kitchen was cleared, my contractor came in and started rebuilding the walls and removing useless bulkheads on the ceiling.
Lee Ann also desperately needed proper lighting in her new kitchen so a new lighting plan was created. We added 10 pot lights to her new kitchen layout.
And a few days later, this naked kitchen slowly started to get clothed with a fabulous new floor!!
The flooring goes out into the hallway all the way to the front door. I’m so happy the way it turned out. But that’s not all…..a few days later my contractor came in and installed all the upper & lower cabinets!! Soooo exciting!! Are you ready!!!!
I love how the uppers go all all the way to the ceiling finished with a lovely crown moulding. Cupboards were painted in Benjamin Moore’s CC-80 Grey Mist.
If you remember from Lee Ann’s old kitchen (click here for a refresher) her stove used to be right by the doorway into the kitchen. Now we have the stove framed by 2 sets of mini pot drawers. What a huge difference!! And so much more functional with lots more storage!!
And I turned Lee Ann’s old eating area into a more functional space by adding in a much needed pantry and a new desk area for Lee Ann to check her email or pay bills. And how apropos is it that her new desk is adjacent to her new wine fridge. 
See that box on the floor above – inside is the gorgeous new faucet that the folks at Delta generously supplied to Lee Ann!!
Apparently Lee Ann couldn’t wait for the kitchen to be finished….she went right ahead and started displaying her wine glasses. My kinda gal!!
You may have noticed that the countertop and backsplash are still missing. Well, you’ll have to come back next week to see it all installed!! I’m also going to share the fabulous faucet that Delta provided for Lee Ann’s new kitchen and the old chair I “up-cycled” into total feminine kitchen glam!!
If your kitchen is craving a glamorous makeover, then contact me online or in person! I’d love to help!
Glamorously yours,
Christine xo
Posted in Budget Decorating, Colour, DIY, Glamorous Decor, Interior Decorating, Kitchens, Renovations | 1 Comment »
Decorate As You Dress!! My Summer White Toy Watch!
June 13, 2011
Wow……it’s certainly been a while since I posted a Decorate as you dress blog posting. My sister was visiting from British Columbia so we spent some quality time together and I’ve been crazy busy with decorating projects for clients – which I can’t wait to share with you.
But now let’s get to my most favourite fashion accessory of the moment: my gorgeous white Toy Watch!! It’s such a fun accessory and every time I look at that huge white face I just think of beautiful layers of white drapery billowing in the wind.
![3611-2T[1]](http://decorbychristine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/3611-2T1.jpg "3611-2T[1]")
So when I saw this all white home in Style at Home Magazine designed by design editor Ann Marie Favot , it so reminded me of my Toy Watch!!
(all photography by Stacey van Berkel-Haines)
So crisp and clean….like my watch!!
Love this vignette!! And the hit of colour through pretty flowers in a small vase!
What a pretty mudroom.
I’m so in love with all white kitchens…I can’t wait to reveal Lee Ann’s Kitchen reno to you all!!
How gorgeous is that hanging light fixture……a perfect example of mid-century modern lighting.
How glam is this bedroom??? Ohhh yes, it’s a GLAM SLAM!!! This room almost makes me want to switch my bedroom over to an all-white colour scheme.
Love her creative use of IKEA chests placed together at different heights. What a lovely dressing/vanity area.
Hope my White Toy Watch inspired you as much as it inspired me!!
If your home is craving some all-white glamour, then contact me online or in person! I’d love to help!
Glamorously yours,
Christine xo
Lee Ann’s Kitchen Reno: The Demolition!!
May 26, 2011
Hi everybody, are you ready for another update on Lee Ann’s kitchen reno? So let’s talk demolition!! Out with the old and in with the new 
.
Although Lee Ann’s kitchen looked like an 80’s nightmare gone bad, the cupboards and countertop were still in good condition. And as every good designer knows – you should always offer up a few different design options to your client. One of the options to update her kitchen was to keep her current cupboards and paint them out in a more classic & modern colour and get a new countertop.
Here’s a reminder of how they looked.
But Lee Ann quickly shot down that option…..she wanted an entirely new kitchen…and really who could blame her. But since her kitchen was still in good shape, I thought let’s at least donate the cupboards and countertop to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore.
And that’s what we did. The process was simple enough. A representative from the ReStore came over to the house to review the kitchen and ensure that it would be salvageable. Once that was determined, a day was scheduled for the demolition!
A A group of 8 volunteers basically tore the kitchen apart and packed it up into their truck. It was an amazing process to watch.
And in less than 2 hours the kitchen was empty. They even took her old stove and dishwasher away.
Donating to your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a win-win for everyone involved. The ReStore gets cupboards and countertops in good condition to sell to someone who can use them AND Lee Ann receives a tax receipt for any of her kitchen items sold. Like I said, a win-win!!
If you live in the western region of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) than you can get more information at http://www.habitathalton.ca/ and you can follow them on Twitter at @HabitatHalton.
If your kitchen is craving some glamour, then contact me online or in person! I’d love to help!
Glamorously yours,
Christine xo
Posted in Budget Decorating, Glam Blog, Glamorous Decor, Interior Decorating, Kitchens, Renovations | 2 Comments »
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