Interior Decorating

Disney & the Princesses!

March 11, 2012

Hi everyone
I’m at Disney world this week trying to blog from my iPhone, so I hope this works! Posts will be light, but here are some pics of my view from my hotel, The Contemporary and our room decor.
Have a great March break!

Posted in Interior Decorating |

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Purple Passion Wednesday: Glamorous Living Room

November 9, 2011

Wow, what’s not to love in this glamorous & gorgeous living room!

Source

It’s got all the elements required to make it a Glam Slam!!

- High ceilings painted in aubergine

- Tall windows with purple drapery

- A grandiose ornate mirror over the fireplace

- My favourite: the over scale lilac tufted ottoman

- Velvet sofa in a plum fabric

- A variety of toss cushions in varying shades of purple!

Stunning!! What do you think?

If you are looking to create a glamorous living room in your home, then call or email me.

Glamorously yours,

Christine xoxo

Posted in Accessories, Colour, Glam Blog, Glam Slam, Glamorous Decor, Interior Decorating, interior design, Living Rooms, Purple Passion |

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Christine’s Rewind: What happened in September!

November 2, 2011

Hi! I’ve decided to start a new series today on The Glam Blog called “Christine’s Rewind.” Sometimes I get so busy with client projects or my column for Dabble Magazine that I don’t get to blog about things that are happening in my world. Than weeks go by and all of sudden it feels like the moment was missed to blog about it. So this new series will highlight what happened in the month previous that I never got to share with you. So here goes my September’s rewind – hope you enjoy it!

So did you catch my second appearance on Cityline? If not, than click on the picture with Dina Pugliese and I talking about how to incorporate the pattern Chevron into your home decor.

Start at the 1:28 minute mark if you want. (Cityline Chic Chevron segment)

My client Natalie’s fireplace got installed….so exciting. Can’t wait to show you the final reveal for her dining room! Yup, the fireplace is in her dining room.

And the custom area rug and sofa that I designed for her got delivered! What do you think? Stay tuned for final reveal. We had some issues with fabric availability for the two occasional chairs so they are delayed at this point.

And here is a sneak peek into my other client, Cindy’s new dining room. Once we finish accessorizing the room I will dedicate a post to her living room and dining room. It’s a total revamp from what she had before!!

I also attended the Korhani Rug Media Breakfast at Holt Renfrew. Fashion and rugs…what more could a girl want!!

Aren’t these rugs stunning and oh so glam!! You can order these gorgeous limited rugs on Korhani’s website.

All photo rights reserved by Brill Communications

Here I am with Kirsten Korhani, the Creative Director, her husband and 3 special ladies I met that morning over breakfast.

The last week of September I was invited to attend the She’s Connected Conference. In a room with 200 digitally connected women and 10 Corporations. It was a very informative 2 days.

Picture courtesy of She’s Connected

Fun with Tamara (wondermoms) Laurel (Opti-mom) and Wendy (mapsgirl)

Laurel and Shannon from Her Blossoming Self

Yes, it was a busy month. Hope you enjoyed my September Rewind !! Stay tuned for my October rewind!

Glamorously yours,

Christine xoxo

Posted in Accessories, Celebrities, Christine's Rewind, Design Shows, Digital Women, Fashion, Glam Blog, Glamorous Decor, Interior Decorating, interior design, Living Rooms, Online Magazines, Runway to Home, She's Connected |

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Happy Glamorous Halloween!!

October 31, 2011

Saturday night I was at a Halloween party with some friends and thought I would share some pics of us in costume!

I decided to go as “Harrietta” Potter while my husband dressed as one of Lord Voldemort’s Death Eaters (insert evil laugh here)

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My friends Fiona & Chuck – fun loving hippies!!

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Cindy & Mark, a Greek Goddess and Jesus

SONY DSC

Below is how I decorated my front foyer for Halloween — similar to last year’s theme which is always Halloween Glam!!

This year I added some bleeding candles and some body parts in a martini glass.

Hope you and your family have a safe and happy Halloween!

Christine xoxo

Posted in Accessories, Foyers, Glam Blog, Glamorous Decor, Interior Decorating, Parties, Seasonal Decor Trends |

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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 |

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Cityline & Dabble Day: Tips on Styling an Étagère

July 14, 2011

WOW! What a fantastic week it has been for me professionally and personally!

1) The Dabble Magazine Day show on Cityline aired on Tuesday, July 12th!!

2) I had a group of great women join me for breakfast that morning with lots of champagne and OJ to watch and celebrate my debut on Cityline!

3) I’ve had wonderful feedback and comments from many, many people on Facebook and Twitter!. So thank you very much!

So if you didn’t get a chance to watch it live, then you can click on the link to see it via the Cityline website.

Oh, and this really excited me also!!

It may seem insignificant to some but it’s a big deal to me – especially when you are trying to build up your business –- my name and company name was on the website as a Guest Expert!! Whooo Hooo!

So just to quickly summarize the styling tips I shared in this segment:

· Think in layers when placing items on the bookshelf and in different heights (i.e.: glass bowls layered in front of the picture.)

· When selecting objects, be aware of the scale and color. Objects shouldn’t blend in or get lost on the shelves. Beware of adding too small decorative items that will just end up looking like clutter

· Books are wonderful home accessories, so showcase the most beautiful ones in your collection.

· You can arrange the books by size, subject and color. And don’t forget to place books horizontally as well as vertically – it adds a nice rhythmic pattern to the shelf

· Most people love symmetry when styling their shelves….it provides some structure and balance to the room…especially if the rest of the room has more chaos – like kids toys, etc. – this can be accomplished through matching book ends

· When grouping objects together – just remember the basic rule of threes — objects tend to look better when gathered in odd numbers, like 3s or 5s

· Adding objects such as shapely ceramics, decorative boxes, small sculptures, family photos and original artwork makes your bookcase more visually appealing and personal.

And because I was so nervous I totally forgot this last point I wanted to mention which was:

· Don’t forget about the background of your shelf….in this case; the shelves are open so you can see the dramatic painted dark wall…which helps your decorative pieces stand out stand out.

· Or you can paint or wallpaper the back of bookshelves to add a pop of colour and really bring the shelf to life

Well I hope you enjoyed watching this Cityline/Dabble Mag segment as much as I enjoyed taping it. Have a lovely weekend!! Cheers!

Christine x0x0

Posted in Accessories, Dabble Magazine, Design Shows, DIY, Food, Glamorous Decor, Home Decor, Interior Decorating, Interviews, Online Magazines |

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Dabble Magazine, Cityline and ME!!

July 11, 2011

What are you doing tomorrow at 9am – that would be Tuesday, July 12th at 9am or if you prefer afternoons…than how about 2:00pm?

Why you ask? Because one of my career aspirations is coming true tomorrow!! I’m appearing in a design segment with other fabulous Food & Design contributors from Dabble Magazine on Cityline.

It’s an action packed hour with Kimberley Seldon and her daughter Raleigh on stilts!! yes, that’s right – stilts!! Dabble Chef Corey James Burgan prepares a Caesar Salad to die for and great tips for having a great picnic!

In this photo: , Corey James Burgan, Raleigh Gilliam Seldon, Nicholas Rosaci (photos), Christine Da Costa (Erin Mercer

Dabble’s DIY guy AKA Mr. Chic-ster Nicolas shows everyone how to create a funky étagère

And I get to provide tips on styling a modern informal étagère versus a formal more traditional étagère.

Do not ask me what Tracy and I were laughing about after my segment….I swear to god it is all a blur to me right now. When I watch the episode tomorrow it is going to be totally new to me also!!

In this segment Nicholas and I were teamed against Kimberley and Tracy and Corey and Raleigh to see who could set up a picnic table the fastest.

I won’t tell you which team won!!

Then we showed Tracy what each of our favourite item was to bring to a picnic!!

A great pic of Dabble contributors, Kimberley and Tracy

End of the show Kimberley and I were all smiles!!

Thanks so much to Kimberley for this great opportunity and to everyone at Cityline for making my first time on Cityline so much fun!

Hope you will be watching tomorrow!!

Christine xoxo

Posted in Dabble Magazine, Design Shows, DIY, Food, Glamorous Decor, Interior Decorating, Online Magazines, Seasonal Decor Trends |

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Dabble Magazine & Cityline

July 8, 2011

Hey, did you catch the latest summer issue of Dabble Magazine? It’s full of amazing design, travel and food. If you have never been to Seattle, then this issue is a must read!!

Now turn to page 14 – 15 to see what Dabble contributors are up to. Do you see or read anything that catches your eye?

Ok…maybe it’s too small to read….so here’s a bigger snapshot!

Now can you read it!! Yes, that’s right I will be appearing on Cityline next Tuesday, July 12th for Cityline’s first Dabble Day!!

Whoo Hooo!! So please watch it or PVR it. And don’t worry, I will l send you a reminder blog post on Monday!!

Have a super weekend!!

Christine xo

Posted in Dabble Magazine, Design Shows, Glam Blog, Interior Decorating |

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Glamour Friday: Big Brother 13 House Revealed

July 8, 2011

Are you one of those people who readily admit to watching Big Brother each summer or are you too embarrassed to admit it? I’m the former and have been watching Big Brother since the first season. Yea, I know….I’m hanging my head a bit sheepishly…but hey, it makes for great mindless entertainment! (insert irritating Rachel laugh here!)

So besides irritating houseguests and good strategic game, I do look forward to seeing how the producers change up the house decor each year.

This year the theme of the house is Venice Beach complete with fortune tellers, skateboards, graffiti and lots of bright bold colours. If you didn’t watch the first episode last night, here’s a peek into the house.

The kitchen: I love the butcher block countertop mixed in with a stainless steel countertop in the breakfast bar area. You can see surfboards sticking out of the walls high above the sliding door. And of course the large round dining table where many meals and nominations will take place. Note the bikes…very Venice beach….now we just need a board walk!

And of course, the BB13 living room where 2 guests to be nominated for eviction each week will sit. They definitely brought the outside into the inside this season – note the outdoor furniture!

Big Brother 13 house – living room

I’m loving the colours of the lounge or parlour room (as CBS calls it). A bold colour combination of purple and black and the checkerboard floors. The large daybed will be perfect for strategizing against other players. Oh, and the fortune teller is in the bottom left corner – very spooky!

Co-ed bathroom have never been my thing. Just thinking of all those prying eyes on you makes me want to gag. But I love the colour scheme and the flooring.

The HOH bedroom has a circular bed this year…very glam!!! And I continue to adore the pairing of turquoise blue and orange in anything!! I see a lot of West Elm and Crate And Barrel with smidges of Jonathan Adler’s ceramic animals in here.

Love the trellis-style wallpaper in the HOH bathroom – it’s much more striking in blue then it is in the brown in the photo above. And I want that elephant!!

Wow…every time I look at this bedroom on the main floor I begin craving ice cream and dancing to Katy Perry’s hit song ‘California Girls’ — not surprising that it has been nicknamed the Katy Perry bedroom!

This other bedroom featuring 3 twin beds with stunning bent brushed steel was inspired by architect Frank Gehry. Amazing…I love it!

The outside lounge area has gorgeous pops of colour – so vibrant and full of energy – perfect for dissing another housemate! And it looks like they brought the inside furniture outside in this case.

The Venice Beach inspired graffiti wall.

Big Brother 13 House

All pictures courtesy of CBS/Sonja Flemming

So what do you think of the BB13’s House decor this year? Will you be watching?

If your home is craving some glamour, then contact me online or in person! I’d love to help!

Glamorously yours,

Christine xo

Posted in Bathrooms, Bedrooms, Colour, Glam Blog, Glamorous Decor, Glamour Fridays, Home Decor, Interior Decorating, Kitchens, Living Rooms |

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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 |

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