Design Crew

Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don't know what to do? You're not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you .... that's you lot ... the readers! This week's problem is from Alev who has made a great start (and sent lots of photos) but she needs help taking the next step.

I bought the ap. almost a year ago and I really tried to make it feel like home. I'm always wondering what it is I can do to make it look more original (and maybe add some more colors?) I feel like I haven't finished the decorating yet - I actually think I will never be satisfied when it comes to decorating - it's always keeping my mind busy. I never knew I would be interested in furniture and decoration. It kinda happened when I made the move.

Half of the things I own are from second hand shops (really the only place I can find furniture I feel connected to). My bed, my dining table, my sofa, the little cute chairs and all of the bigger peaces I have managed to find in outlet stores at reasonable prices (which I am very thankful for cause I love them). The drawings are made by myself. I've been drawing since I was a little girl and for the first time I decided to hang some of them up.

I would appreciate it if you could give me some tips to make my home look more lively and colorful and original.

Alev's lovely bedroom is after the jump.

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Reader's home - Shirley's not-your-average B&B

We received an email from Shirley who wanted to share her home with us: I am an artist but my husband and I are semi retired and just opened a Bed and Breakfast between Montreal and Ottawa in L'Orignal about 1.5 years ago. We bought a house that was unoccupied for more then 2 years and completely renovated it and I got all my artistic juices going to pretend I am an interior designer LOL ….. But we are both quite happy with the result and so far our guests are very taken by its ambiance too. I love that it's not your traditional granny-decorated B&B - and it's close to Ottawa so book me a room Shirley!

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Reader's home - Kathleen's mid-century home in Belgium

I've got a reader's home to share with you today, thanks to Kathleen: I am a painter and interior design student from Leuven, Belgium and I love all vintage and retro things. I am a big fan of the Brussels flee markets and thrift stores and furnished almost all my house with it. I live for 15 years in my house now - a 1930's midterraced, 2 storey house in the university town of Leuven. My painting and windows are on: kathleenmineetalage.weebly.com. I'm a big fan of mid-century decor, and Kathleen's home has lots of cool vintage MCM pieces such as a Bertoia chair, West German pottery, teak Danish chairs and OMG fab leather sofa! 

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Reader's home - Fiona's kitchen and bathroom redo

Fiona sent us an email about her bathroom and kitchen renovations that she did on a budget. She even included a breakdown of costs and the after photos are a big improvement, particularly the bathroom which you'llsee after the jump. First up, Fiona's kitchen. 

I couldn't afford $20-$25K for a brand new kitchen, so I spruced up what I already had. My blue laminate bench top was covered with 12mm thick stone (fitted in a few hours), the kitchen splashback tiles were removed & the same stone was fixed to the walls. I had an overhead cupboard made which included a hidden under cupboard range hood. I scoured Google images to find a design I liked and had it made by a cabinet maker. I had the floor tiles replaced (and extended to include the dining & entrance way). Finally, I had my oven and cook top professionally cleaned to fit in with my 'new' kitchen. I kept all my appliances and existing sink with mixer to keep costs low. My price breakdown was:-

* Kitchen, entrance & dining floor tile removal & laying $1950
* Kitchen floor tiles & grout $1012
* Range hood including ducting kit $442
* Stone bench top & splashback $3830
* Floating cabinet $3500 (included installation of cabinet, installation of range hood & removal, patching & painting of old ceiling fan)
* Kitchen wall tile removal $400

BEFORE

AFTER

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Reader's home - Linn's mom's sunroom and patio

I've got one last reader's home to share this week. It's actually a reader's mom's home. We received this email from Linn: I recently came back after visiting family in Sweden. My mom lives on the Baltic island of Gotland where she lives in a picturesque house, and the sunroom and patio in particular are just lovely. In the sunroom there is plenty of light and she has a huge dining table with room for many, classic Swedish rag rugs on the floor as well as other comfortable furniture and nice details. The sunroom leads directly out to a stone patio where there is a cement wall with real windows that block the wind, lots of candles and lanterns, and a great view. All in all, this space is just so charming and comfortable to spend time in, I'm beyond jealous myself! I'm jealous too! I am especially fond of the huge patio with the walls that make it look like another room of the home. I would spend every moment of decent weather out there. And it's extra gorgeous with the candles and string of lights.

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