a perfect home

Creating Cozy Spaces On Large Decks

~ Naomi Pederson

I always dreamed of having a large deck to entertain on.  I thought of all the parties I could throw and all the people that would fit on my large deck.  Finally, I was able to get a home that had a large deck off the kitchen.  I was delighted but soon realized that sometimes decorating a large space can be harder than decorating a small space.

At Showhome furniture we know that it important to balance things out, pick good furniture and define spaces in order to create the maximum entertaining space for your time and money.

deck furniture layout ideas

When I designed my deck, I found it easier to break my space up into different zones.  I had the eating zone and the sit back and chill with friends zone.  Sticking to just two different zones allowed me to also have enough room to move around and look out at the view even when there were many guests over.

For my eating zone, I opted for a gazebo kit to frame in and shade my guests while we ate and conversed.  If you live in a very windy location like a few of my sisters, you might not be able to get away with a box kit and may have to hire someone to come and build you a permanent structure that is windproof.

I learned the hard way when I lived in Southern Alberta near the foothills, that you must build according to the needs of your location.

For the visiting area, I just got a good quality sectional, a rug and a coffee table.

No living space inside or out is complete without accessories, and since we were creating an outdoor living space, I made sure that my deck was loaded with plants or different shapes and colors.

One thing I did not do, but many have is to add a fireplace or fire bowl because even though my deck was large, I wanted to leave lots of space for mingling guests and running children (who are often in large numbers at our gatherings).

What I did do though was add a lot of different candles and lighting to my space.  The mixed lights let me enjoy our deck even when the evening grows long and dark.

Whatever your deck size, decorating it properly is a must in order to realize it full entertaining potential.

 

TIPS FOR AN AMAZING KIDS PLAYROOM

~ Showhome Furniture ~ 5 Comments

TIPS FOR AN AMAZING KIDS PLAYROOM

TIPS FOR DESIGNING AN AMAZING KIDS GAME ROOM OR PLAYROOM - Calgary Furniture Stores

Photo Credit: http://scottmcgillivray.com

Raising six beautiful girls in our home, our family’s gotten a lot of practice planning a kid’s game or play room.

Unlike other rooms in the house, decorating for kids can be even more challenging because you need to design a space that suits their personality now but won’t be something they will outgrow too quickly. In addition, the room needs to flow with the rest of your house and not stick out like a sore thumb.

We get inspiration from several design “miracle workers” (many of which you may recognize from HGTV). Here are a few of our favourite design inspirations that mix style, practicality and fun!

“THE MAGNOLIA STORY” BY JOANNA GAINES

When customers come into our Calgary furniture stores asking for ideas on how to create a practical game or playroom for their kids we often recommend they check out, “The Magnolia Story” by Joanna Gaines. Aside from sharing her family’s amazing story she does an amazing job describing how she carefully plans space(s) in her home for her kids.

Often times, we make the mistake of worrying too much about the design of the room and less about the functionality and true purpose of a playroom. On page 130 of her book she talks about the playroom for her kids and says:

“The whole place needed to be practical and functional for them so they could have fun and be themselves. It’s about children feeling that they can be at home”.

It’s important to remember to keep the design simple, functional, and fun! Check out the Joanna Gaines inspired space for kids below.

DO’S AND DON’TS FROM ELIZABETH MAYHEW

Another great resource is lifestyle expert, Elizabeth Mayhew, who understands the challenges and needs of decorating kids’ rooms. I recently came across an article she wrote for thestar.com and how you can spend time at your computer searching for some great ideas online to put your child’s room together efficiently and in a budget-friendly way! In her article about “Do’s and Don’ts for Decorating Kids’ Rooms” she also cautions against following current fads, designing the space to meet your personal needs, and keeping the design simple and uncluttered (for example, she advises narrowing down your fabric or furniture choices to two or three colours).

STORAGE SOLUTIONS BY SCOTT MCGILLIVRAY

One of the most common questions we get asked from our customers when designing their kid’s rooms is, “Can you help me with storage ideas”. The space is where kids will want to have access to toys, arts and crafts, electronics and books. Without creative storage options to keep all of these things neat and tidy, yet easily accessible, the room could get out of control in no time!

The trick to accomplishing this is to creatively mix open and closed storage options to keep a space open and organized, too. For example, having shelving with closed doors and areas for wicker baskets to keep toys and art supplies easily accessible.

Scott McGillvray, real estate investor, skilled contractor, and award-winning HGTV series host, certainly knows about planning and putting together a kids playroom or game room that you will be proud to show off and that your kids will love to spend hours in every day. Check out the article on “Smart Playroom Storage Tips” at www.scottmcgillivray.com for more ideas.

ACTIVE PLAY FOR KIDS AT HOME

ACTIVE PLAY FOR KIDS AT HOME - Calgary Furniture Stores

Photo Credit: http://sifu.thezoolegacy.com

Depending on where you live, the winters can be cold and stretch out for several months, keeping families indoors where it is safe and warm. This is the case for us here in Calgary, Alberta. Although it’s easy for kids to stretch and move outdoors in the summer time, where playgrounds and recreation areas are accessible, this is not always the case at home. If you have the space, putting a swing, small trampoline or climbing structure in the room is a great way to keep the kids active all year long.

We adore the four small structures in the picture below. They are creative, fun and add flair to any space!

 

Photo Credit: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com

HOURS OF FUN AND CREATIVITY – A CHALKBOARD WALL

In my opinion, every playroom needs a chalkboard wall. It gives your children a large area to be creative and let their minds explore through chalk (which is easy to clean and safe to use). In addition, chalkboard paint is inexpensive and offers hours of endless possibilities to let kids use their imagination. This helps to truly let your children be a part of designing out there space and keeping the area fresh and new, too! The best thing is, when your kids outgrow the chalkboard wall, you just paint over it!

Check out some of the ideas below from www.scottmcgillivray.com.

 

Photo Credit: http://scottmcgillivray.com

Photo Credit: https://julieloveshome.wordpress.com

KIDS GAME ROOM AND PLAYROOM – FINAL THOUGHTS

Hopefully this gives you some insight and helps to provide some useful direction as you are planning out your kids game room or playroom. Just remember that the key to designing the space is to keep it simple, let it be a space that will evolve and grow with your kids … and be a place for the whole family to be proud of and enjoy!

Master Bedroom Design Ideas

~ Showhome Furniture

Whether you are staging, your home for sale or simply decorating for you and your family, one of the most important rooms you can focus on is the master bedroom. A retreat a relaxing peaceful place to begin and end your wonderful day! Sometimes we put this room at the end of our to-do list, concentrating on the public spaces of our home first.   But our souls crave an area of beauty and order.

By making your master bedroom a priority, you give yourself an oasis – just the tool you need to finish the other parts of your home. As the inner sanctuary of your home, your bedroom and should be a place of peace and rejuvenation. In the relaxing atmosphere of a well-designed bedroom, you can reconnect with who and what matters the most.  You can recharge and refresh.

Your bed should be cozy and well-structured to give you the night’s sleep you need to handle your busy days.  Enticing, easy-care bedding helps, as does a well-structured mattress big enough for you and your partner (and whatever little people might make their way to your room in the night).   If possible, there should be plenty of natural light, and adequate artificial lighting, too.  Even if you like waking up to a darkened room, there is nothing quite like the lift you get from opening blinds or curtains and letting sunlight flood your space.

 Master Bedroom Design Ideas

Furnishing your bedroom should be fun and purposeful.  For your furniture,  rather than simply utilizing castoffs from other places in the home, choose pieces that are both beautiful and practical, ones that will not only help maintain order but will tell some of your story.  Once the main items are in place, consider choosing accessories, maybe whimsical and playful, that delight you and that you want to wake up to each morning.


Properly designed and decorated, your bedroom should remind you daily of the things that are really important in life and offer you a place of refreshment, a place that will welcome you at the end of the day.  By investing time to create a space where you can rest, dream, plan, giggle together and create bonds, you will enjoy your bedroom more and feel more connected to it.

You deserve to have a beautiful space!  We hope you have fun creating and styling your masterbedroom and transforming it into a place of rest!  We would love to see a pic of what you you done with your space.