Showhome furniture

7 Ways To Bring Add Coastal Decor To Your Home

~ Naomi Pederson

I was born on Vancouver Island.  When I was 13 my parents took all their kids (eight in total) on to a boat and we sailed to the South Pacific, living there for four years.  I graduated high school and went to a small University in Hawaii.  You could say that the ocean is a little bit in my blood.

I love Calgary.  I love the busy energy, the different people from all around the world and all the fun things there is to do in Calgary.  I love working at Showhome Furniture with it’s diverse customer base, and city vibe.  Sometimes, however, I do miss coast and so with this in mind, I thought I would share with you are few things that I like to do to add abit of the Coastal vibe into my home, no matter where I live.

First, I look at the furniture I have.  The coastal look usually involved softer colors and worn out beach looking furniture.  If you have an older piece of furniture that could use a new life, now is the time to bring out you paint brush.  A few quick coats of white paint can drastically change your furniture into a brand new item.

Second look at your walls.  Repainting your walls is easy and very affordable.  It is truly amazing how just a change in paint color can alter the feeling of a whole room. 

Remember that just because you are doing a beach theme, it does not mean you have to be shy about color.  There are plenty of bright beach theme idea’s.

After you have chosen your wall color, and also whether you are going to go bright colors or light colors, now is the time to add any new piece of furniture that you might need.  You do not need to replace all your furniture.  At Showhome in Calgary we have a ton of gorgeous furniture pieces that would go perfectly with the coastal theme.  We love the weathered, loved, and well built look and tend to bring them in when ever we can.

The great thing about a beach theme is that it ties in many different kinds of furniture nicely together.  Just assess what furniture you already have, and what if anything you could get to really make your room special.

Get a Rug!  Some people do not realize the importance of a rug.  A rug has a way of holding all the furniture in place.  It is a way of making your room feel lived in, loved, and inviting.

The fifth thing you can do to help tie in the coastal theme is add pictures on the wall or maybe highlight a wall with pallets.  The weathered wood look is very coastal.Next, look for a few light colored, or shell inspired decor items.  A chandelier is a perfect place to tie in the beach theme.   Lastly, accessorize.  Add curtains if you want to, or pillows on the couch to help tie in all the colors and add to the them.  Don’t over do it.  You want your place to feel well dressed but not cluttered. 

Shells and colored glass jars are great accessories.  So are items such as driftwood, or stones.  At Showhome Furniture, we have a whole assortment of different accessories that will help you add those important finishing touches to your rooms.

Do you have a favorite tip for bringing a little bit of the beach into your home?

6 Steps To Bringing Your Room Together

~ Naomi Pederson

Bringing all your furniture together to make room work can be difficult to do at times.  At Showhome Furniture in Calgary we have to deal with this issue all the time.  We bring in furniture from all around the world and specialize in Canadian made product as well.  With all these different kinds of furniture to work with, we have a ton of experience in creating the perfect space for every room of your house.

Realizing that others might struggle with this concept, we have asked some of our designers what they thought was the easiest and most efficient way to bring a room together.  One of the top suggestions that they made was to find the perfect rug.  A rug can add warmth and coziness to any room, no matter how big the room is.  A rug also has the ability to help bring a room together in a way that is completely unique.

First you need to consider the size of rug you need.  There really are not rules as to what is the perfect size of rug for a room.  

Some people like to make sure that a rug is big enough for the front feet of the furniture to sit on it, and others like it to be a pretty island in the middle of a room or at the end of a bed.  You need to just try and experiment to see what works best for you.Next you need to consider what color would work best with the furniture you have.  If there is already a lot of color in your room, you may want to just pick one color to match the rug with, or go completely neutral so that your rug does not compete with the furniture.

If you you don’t have a lot of color in your room, you need to choose a rug that has colors and patterns that work with what items you already have.  

You may need to adjust a few items like curtains or pillows, but those are usually quite easy to do, and you will have a ton of options.  You need to make sure that your rug works with your wall color and flooring.

At Showhome, we are constantly switching up our pillows and rugs to help people see how different furniture can work well in many different rooms.

If you ever need any help or inspiration of your own, come down to Calgary’s Showhome Furniture and ask our designers what they would do.  They are experts in this area and are always happy to help you find the perfect way to tie all your furniture together in a beautiful way.

 

5 Amazing Statement Ceilings That Anyone Can Do

~ Naomi Pederson

If you have been prowling pinterest, or checking out the web, you will see a ton of posts and picture on “Statement Ceilings”!  In the past people used to do ‘statement walls’ but this year we are all setting our sights higher!!

At Showhome Furniture we totally understand the new excitement for creating a ceiling that people can not easily forget.  After all, once the ceiling is done, you don’t have to worry about washing it (at least not too often), having it get banged up or scratched.  Unfortunately some of those ceilings, as cool as they look, are not realistic for the majority of us to pull off.

 

After spending a ton of time researching, we came up with 5 amazing Statement Ceilings that anyone can do.

The first is painting your ceiling one color (besides white).  This is by far the simplest way of adding an extra “Wow” to your room.  It makes people look up and feel as if they are in a whole new world, instead of just a normal room with a white ceiling.

Painting the ceiling one color is great and fairly uncomplicated, but if you want to go a step further, consider painting the ceiling in more than one color.  You can do a simple pattern or more complex stenciling.  Remember that you are painting a ceiling so everything you do is going to be harder than if you were doing it on a wall.

If painting isn’t your thing, you can always wallpaper the ceiling!

If you choose to wallpaper you are lucky because there are so many different kinds of wallpaper that the possibilities are endless.

If you are not afraid of doing some simple cuts with wood, covering your ceiling with either weathered barn wood, or new pine is simple, and stunning.

The last idea to add more interest to your ceiling is stick-on ceiling tiles.  They can be pricey, but are so easy to use. 

All you need is an x-atco knife, a measuring tape and the tiles.  They are usually made out of light thin plastic that has a sticky back.  My sister did this in a small dining area she had and looked fabulous!

5 Ways Of Creating The Craft Room Of Your Dreams

~ Naomi Pederson

Creating something new is such an exciting event.  With new creations, comes new vista’s and new ways of doing things.  Sometimes it is hard to remember how great creating is when we are spending all day at work.  Much research has been done on the benefits of having a hobby.  Whether you collect insects, or like to sew in your spare time, having a room to contain your hobby is a great bonus.

At Showhome Furniture, we try to help each of our customers pick out the perfect furniture for each of the rooms in their homes because we know that the right furniture can make all the difference.

At Showhome, we are excited about letting our children explore their passions, interests and crazy crafty side.  Many years ago, we decided to homeschool our kids in order to help tailor their education to their strengths.  Home schooling 6 girls definitely has it’s challenges, but looking at my 16 year old daughter I can honestly say that it has been worth all the challenges.

First decide where to do your hobby.  Is it an outside hobby or an inside one.  Most crafters would appreciate a room with lots of space to keep their supplies and allow them room to work.  A good desk or table is invaluable.

My sister has a 10+ year old kitchen table we gave her.  It is gigantic and has room for all the kids to work on their projects together.  It was one of the earliest furniture pieces that Showhome used to carry and even after 11 kids using it regularly it is in incredible shape.  We joke that well made furniture like her table will outlast everyone in the family!

A great craft room will have a lot of storage and room to contain all their mess.  This lets you work on a project for a few hours and then leave it without being in your way for the rest of the time.  Some key elements in a successful craft room is organization.  Having great bookcases, dressers to hold pens and paper, and adequate storage units are a must.

Third, make sure your craft room is inspiring.  We love a room that is painted in bright colors and full of windows.  We have found that not only does natural light make a room look great, it also is a great way to feel naturally happier.

Forth, a comfortable place to sit is a must.  A nest chair or a comfy couch is perfect for a craft room.

Lastly, accessorize your craft room to make learning funner. I love a craft room that is accessorized with useful looking product.  A gorgeous clock wall (that you can set to different places in the world) antique globes, and wall maps add an exciting feel to creating.

We all know that hobbies are fun, at Showhome Furniture we believe that great creation are made in great spaces.

 

 

Super Easy DIY Serving Platters Under 10.00

~ Naomi Pederson

 At Showhome furniture we are always arranging and rearranging our tables to help showcase their beauty.

I am always on the outlook for some new unique accessory or furniture to bring into our store.Recently I was visiting my mother showed me an easy way of creating my own unique but gorgeous serving dishes.  These serving trays are the perfect thing for even a beginner do-it-yourselfer to try.All you need are some dishes, candle sticks, spray paint, and E 600 glass glue.I am using a large dinner plate and a bowl on top.  This is perfect for veggies and dip, or a fancy fruit platter.  I am also doing one platter that has a large plate on the bottom and a smaller plate on the top.  I bought all my dishes and candle sticks at the local thrift store.  The glue and spray paint I bought at my local craft store.  It would have been cheaper if I did not spray paint my candle sticks but have left them clear-which looks pretty as well.

First, spray paint your candle sticks all the same color (or you can skip this step if you want)Next, turn the largest plate over and glue the base on to the large plate.  I used smaller candle holders for one base, a shot glass for another and an used ceramic vase for the last.  Make sure your base is centered in the middle of you plate.  Leave and let dry for 24 hours.When your plate is dry, flip your plate over and glue one candle stick into the middle of the plate.  Carefully glue the bowl or smaller plate onto the top of the candlestick.  Let dry for 24 hours.Once your serving platter has dried for 24 hours you can use it like any other serving platter.  You can hand wash it, but be careful when you do so.  Make sure you used indoor/outdoor spray paint so that the spray paint does not wash off.So for under 10.00 and with very little skill, you can create your own gorgeous serving platter that will surely wow your friends.

 

Last Day To Win A Nest Chair And 10 Awesome Home and Decor Trends We Love!!

~ Naomi Pederson

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!!!

To celebrate this wonderful holiday of Love, we have put together 12 awesome trends that Showhome Furniture loves and an opportunity to win an incredible nest chair of your own!!!

To have a chance of winning your own nest chair, all you have to do is comment on our Nest Chair post by the end of today.  Winners will be picked at 7:00 tonight!!!  Hurry and participate, these nest chairs are seriously the best!!!  We love them so much that they are our most purchased item, and the item we give away the most at Showhome Furniture.

With our nest chair, we also love the new and unique furniture we bring in daily and the amazing 5 year warranty that you can get with each and every piece you purchase from us.  We love hunting out the deals and bringing in one of a kind furniture for every room of your home and want to make sure your furniture is protected against accidents!  Many of furniture pieces can be customized for a small fee.

We LOVE the amazing new lights and chandeliers we have been getting in recently.  The right light makes all the difference in a home.  At Showhome Furniture we make sure that the lights we bring in are of the highest quality.

We love the new trending colors, especially black!  I recently painted one of my dining room wall a nice solid black.  I was worried at first it would be too intense but was delighted by the results.  The cherry red, ultra violet and pinks are a fun addition to the decorating world.  The thing we love about these new colors is the way they encourage us to be bolder in our decorating.  There is no holding us back this year!!!

Talking about not being held back-what about the new ‘feature ceiling’ trend?  It is about time that ceilings got more attentions!  This year feature ceilings are a totally in thing and after browsing the internet for ideas it is easy to see why!  Seriously, why have we not paid more attention to our ceilings before???  From wallpapering to beaming your ceiling, the sky is the limit on what you can do!

With six girls in our home, it is no wonder we adore cuddly couches and chairs (hence our love for our nest chair).  Our basic leather couches continue to sell our at Showhome furniture.  They come in so many different styles, and truly hold up to the test of time, kids, and lots of use (plus, if you get the 5 year warranty, you are even protected against stains).

Also with so many daughters, we have to admit that we all love our pillows!!!  They are the perfect accessory to dress up a living room when you have kids.  They are virtually unbreakable, you don’t have to worry about dropping them, they add color easily to your furniture instantly updating them and they are great for having pillow fights with!  Well, at our home I discourage the pillow fights, but my husband. . . well let’s just say that he is always up for anything that seems fun!The seventh thing we love at Showhome Furniture in Calgary is extra large accessories like this awesome clock!!!  There is something impressive about being big!We also are still loving our cow carpet!  How can something so light weight make such a big statement?  I don’t know why, but no matter the color or the pattern, we have found a hundred different ways incorporate a cow carpet into our decorating.

We love our awesome line of solid wood furniture.  With so many colors to choose from,so many different finishes and just as many different designs, every house needs a piece or two of some solid wood furniture.

Some things always stays on our “Love List” and white furniture is one of those.  We love our whites.  We love colors, and decorate boldly, but we also love to use our classic whites.  They are fresh, inviting and never go out of style.

Last but not least, we love our line of tuft furniture!  Many pieces are custom made and every piece adds a sense of elegance to whatever room they grace.What is your favorite decorating trend?

 

 

 

 

 

7 Fun Ways To Get Ready For Valentines Day

~ Naomi Pederson

I ran into the store to grab some food for my kids and my eye caught a bright red heart that was for sale.  It caught me by surprise, with Christmas just being over, and then I remembered Valentines Day!

I love Valentines Day.  With six daughters, love, romance, pink and candy is definitely something that our family goes all out for!

Not everyone is wanting to add streamers and hearts to their kids doors, but even those who are a little less outrageous with their decorations can prepare for this special day.

Here are seven simple ways to bring Valentines Day into your decor.  When done properly, you may not want to take them down when February 14th is over.

First, add a comfortable chair to your living room.  Everyone should have one in their living room anyways, but if by chance you do not have one, this is the time to get one.   At Showhome Furniture our number one selling chair is our nest chair, and it is a perfect addition to any room.  If you don’t have a comfy chair to cuddle up to and can’t get one at this time, don’t despair, our next suggestions do not require any such large purchases.  If you do get our nest chair, remember to get our hassle free 5 year no hassle warranty.  Also, remember to check out our facebook page regularly, as we love to give nest chairs away!!

The easiest thing is to do to add love into you living room is to grab some pink, red or gold pillows for the couch.  Be bold and go for the extra soft pillows, after all this is the season of love, laughter and cuddles.  Remember, Valentine pillows do not have to be hearts.  The idea is just to add a bit of pink or red into your existing decor.

Next grab a soft luxurious blanket.  It doesn’t have to be bright pink if it doesn’t match your decor, go for something more subtle.

Valentines Day is the perfect excuse to buy a delightful soft rug that you can use all year round.

Once you have a few special pillows, a cozy blanket, a thick rug, it is time to bring in some flowers.  Flowers are beautiful any time of the year, but sometimes we forget this.  Our Showhome Furniture tip, buy the flowers a week before the big day since flower bought on Valentines day are going to be double the price come February 14th.

The next tip for celebrating Valentines Day is something my kids LOVE!!!  It is the Hot Cocoa Bar!!!!!  Who doesn’t love an excuse to make themselves a sweet drink, and there is something about sipping cocoa that makes us slow down and savor the moments, and after all that is what Valentines Day is really about, savoring the amazing people you love in your life.

Lastly, add in some hearts and candy!!!

What are your favorite ways of celebrating Valentines Day?

Design Help For Free At Showhome Furniture Calgary!!!

~ Naomi Pederson

Have you ever looked at one of the rooms in your house and just didn’t know what to do with it?  Maybe every room confuses you and you just want someone to come and help walk you through how to make it beautiful and functional for you and your family.

This is very normal when buying furniture and trying to plan out your dream house.  For some people it is just a room or two that confuse them, for others it is the whole house-and either way we are here to help.

At Showhome Furniture in Calgary, we understand that struggle.  Every day our furniture stock changes.  Things move so quickly in our store that we are constantly re-arranging furniture, changing looks and figuring out how to tie different furniture pieces together.

We pride ourselves on finding the best quality and most unique furniture for our customers. This means we need to constantly be on our toes design-wise.

Because we realize the importance of people being able to come into our store and visualize their furniture in a home setting, we employ some of the top designers to work for us.  Each day their jobs are to use the furniture at hand to design a stunning area that inspires our customers.

At Showhome Furniture we also realize that not all of our clients have the same skill and expertise as our talented designers and so, as an added benefit for being part of our Showhome Furniture family, we offer free design advice.  This is just one of the things we do at Showhome Furniture to help our customers get the best deal that they can possibly get.

Just come into any of our stores in Calgary and let our friendly staff know what you are struggling with.  We suggest you bringing some pictures with you so that our designers can understand your space better.  For no charge at all, we encourage our clients to take time to really think their space out and get advice from our designers who do this kind of thing all day long.  You are welcome to bring a friend to help you decide what it is that you like best, you will be happy that you did!

With our professional help, and a little experimenting on your part, you are sure to have a home that is beautiful and functions well for your family.

Creating Retreat Room For Her In 5 Simple Steps

~ Naomi Pederson

Have you ever read Ann Morrow Linberg’s classic book “Gifts From The Sea”?

It is a great book and is the jumping off place for Showhome furnitures latest design challenge!
 In it she writes ““Women need solitude in order to find again the true essence of themselves.” This is an intriguing idea because women tend to be more social than men are on average.  At Showhome furniture we believe that furniture has to be beautiful, good quality and should function well.
So with thing thoughts mulling around our Showhome design brains, we have come up with 5 things we feel is essential in creating a space to enjoy that ‘solitude’ regularly within your own home.
 First find a room that you can claim as your own.  It can even be a nook if a room isn’t available.  Sunrooms, spare bedrooms, and even a shed can provide that perfect place to retreat.  We have found that when ‘retreating’ having a large room is not as important as having a ‘private’ room or spot.
Once you have a room paint it a color that soothes your soul.  At Showhome Furniture, we have found that light colors are the best for calming one’s self and creating a beautiful spot.
Next pick your furniture.  Make sure it is comfortable and is beautiful to you!  Because this is a place that only a few will enjoy, feel free to get creative and buy some pieces that more beautiful and have more details than you normally would.
 Add accessories.  Find things that compliment the colors of the wall.  Put a picture of your family up, or a favorite quote.  Make the room yours by adding things that mean things to you!  A cupboard full of delicious chocolate (a locked cupboard if you are married or have kids) is the right thing to add to your seclusion (just be sure they are the high quality indulgent kind).
Lastly, add a book case and a sound system.
You may not like reading, but having a good book near by is something everyone should have.  You never know when a book can inspire you to do that one thing that really will change your life.  Consider skipping stocking the shelves with junky books, those brain candy books are easy to read at night or in the bathroom.  If you fill your bookcase with inspiring books, you will be more likely to read them when are alone.
 The bookcase can also house tools that you may need to work on a hobby, whether that is sewing, drawing, knitting or doing puzzles.  This room is created solely to help you unwind, find peace and be able to balance all the demands on your life.  It will work best if you are thoughtful about each thing you bring in.
The sound system is so you can enjoy beautiful music.  Everyone has different tastes in what they find beautiful and that is fine.  Just find music that helps you reflect.
These are the top idea’s that came to us at Showhome Furniture.  If you have any other suggestions, please let us know. 

5 Steps To Create The Perfect Man Cave–Going Beyond The Big Screen!!!

~ Naomi Pederson
Show Home Furniture knows that whether you are a guy or a girl, life can be busy sometimes and having a place to go to refresh one’s self is a vital part of life.  For me, I love to find rejuvenation in nature when ever I can.  For my husband, he loves to hit the gym-any gym for a good game of ball or join me for a long family hike.
Unfortunately, in Canada, thanks to the weather, going outside is not always an option, and for most men, hanging out with the guys every night is not an option either.  This is why Show Home Furniture believes that creating a place of relaxation for both men and women is very important.
Today, Showhome Furniture is going to help you create the perfect “Man Cave”.
Often, when people hear ‘Man Cave’ they think of a dark place where a huge TV screen is set up with a ton of loud speakers and maybe the latest video games. There is nothing wrong with these types of rooms.  And when used properly, they can be a great place for a guy to escape the worries of the day.  At Show Home Furniture though, we believe the perfect man cave can be so much more than just a place to escape.  We believe that when properly designed, a “Man Cave” can be a place where men truly can connect, and renew theirselves, thus becoming more efficient, healthy and successful in all area’s of their lives.
Recently we were reading an article about some “Man Sheds” (similar idea to a man cave), where a town created a community ‘shed’ for men to come, hang out, talk about their lives, connect, and get support all while building something.  The effects were wonderful and this model has been re-created all around the world, helping men combat depression, become more successful at work, and generally happier.
With these idea’s running through our head, our team at Showhome Furniture design team has come up with 5 essential things needed to bring the stereotypical ‘Man Cave’ into one of the best places in the house!
First, you need a room!  It really doesn’t matter what size of room you have, any size is good.
With all rooms, think about what is the main purpose of your room.  Is it just to be used as an escape?  Do you want to include tools to work on a hobby?  What about some book shelves for reading?
If using your Man Cave as just a movie watching place then obviously your main focus of the room will the TV.  If you want your room to be more than a quiet place to zone out, then you get to be creative.
Second, get the best furniture you can.
At Showhome Furniture, we love comfortable, well built, easy to care for furniture.   That is the first thing we always start with because if you are not comfortable then how can you enjoy your own space?  Look for furniture that will stand up to a bunch of guys lounging around.  In the middle of a rousing game of ‘Settlers of Catan’ or lively debate you do not want to have to worry about your furniture.  Your furniture are the pillars of your room.  They are there to hold the whole room together and make if function well.
 
Most men (and women) do not like spending a lot of time cleaning and so when designing a “Man Cave” we leaned towards furniture that have clean simple lines.  Clean lines makes it easier to clean, and helps a room feel less cluttered.
You want to be able to relax in your cave, and so making sure that the furniture is well-built is a must.  At Showhome, we believe that being well-built is better than being trendy (even though we carry a ton of trending styles at all times).  Another great place to buy well built furniture is your local thrift store or a garage sale.  Those loved pieces might need a good make-over before they fit their role, but if you are discerning you are bound to get a deal!!!!
 
We prefer furniture that have less sharp edges and are a bit softer because I hate bumping into the edge of a pointy table and getting bruised.
Third, if you buy your furniture new, make sure you have a protection plan on it.  There is nothing as depressing as spending hard earned money on a new furniture, just to have someone spill some juice on it in the first month and have it ruined.  Our protection plan is affordable and easy to use.  It will make owning new furniture a lot more peaceful because you know that if anything happens, we are there for you.  This is one step you should not overlook!
 
Besides couches, the perfect man cave should have a coffee table to hold drinks and play cards on.   A small bar, with a mini fridge is perfect for storing your favorite drinks and snacks.  If you have kids, be sure to lock them up (or have a lock for your whole room-just make sure your wife has a key) because nothing is so fun for kids as finding their dad’s snacks!!!
No room is complete without a bookshelf.  Even if you are not a big reader, it is a good thing to always have a handful of great books to read.  Reading is becoming a lost art, but it is essential to being able to keep your mind sharp.
Fourth, do you have a favorite hobby or a skill you want to work on?  Maybe it is leather carving, playing golf or puzzle making.  Whatever it is, try to make room for at least part of it in your cave.  This is supposed to be a place where the best of you can be nurtured.  There is no point spending on money that is just going to tempt you to waste your time.  You want to be improving all the time (and yes, watching Lord of Rings for the 10th time could be the perfect thing you need at that moment to be a better person!!).
Lastly, think about your friends, and wife (yes she should definitely be one of the first people invited into your cave!).  What do they like doing?  What do you like doing together.  For too long, our society has neglected acknowledging the fact that men need connection just as much as women.  Sure they do it differently, sometimes all they need is a good game of ball, but regardless of how they do it, men needs friends too!!!  So don’t neglect this aspect of your “Man Cave”.  Yes get an extra set of controls for your buddies, but think higher than just gaming.  Staring at a screen is rarely as bonding as actually doing something.  Get a stash of cards, board games, darts or whatever you enjoy.  Be bold and initiate a book club.  Girls do it all the time, why let them have all the fun?  There really is something awesome about a group of guys around a table of yummy food debating their latest read!!!
These are just a few suggestions and things for you to think about as you design your own “Man Cave”.   As you think about creating a Man Cave that goes beyond the big TV you will find that the possibilities are endless!!