Hi! I'm thrilled to be featured in Canadian Home Trends magazine for January 2020. There is a contest with great prizes to be won! More and more of my interior design clients are wanting Navy couches and sectionals. It's a timeless classic colour, but still feels fresh! I've added this rug and beautiful gold lighting and accents to make it pop! Lots of fun pillows just add to the charm! Wicker baskets hold cozy throw blankets and the wood toned end table and chair create a warm look! So honoured to be able to compete. The other designer created a beautiful mood board, soft pinks and whites in a beautiful bedroom. See the whole article here :) https://canadianhometrends.com/ultimate-design-challenge-2020-color-favorites/ Sources:
Happy Decorating! If you need help completing your living room, I'd love to chat!
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For the majority of modern households, investing in home security is a bigger priority than it has ever been in the past. With many of our homes now full of expensive items, from TVs to tablets, games consoles to laptops, it’s no wonder we’re more conscious of protecting the place where we live than ever before. But while security systems in the past have been unaffordable, bulky and frankly quite ugly to have around the home, new options are less obtrusive and smaller than ever before – not to mention far more affordable. With so many new security and home safety systems appearing on the market every day, it’s difficult to know which option the right fit for you is. But never fear – we look at some of the top options on the market to find out which home security systems are the top of their game and would be the ideal addition to your home. Read on to find out more: Secure doorbells are one of the most recent additions to the roster of home security systems, but it doesn’t make then any less valid. Building from the concept of gateway entry systems often found on high-end properties, Bluetooth doorbell systems allow for that same safety from within the comfort of your home. Home security has evolved from the older wired systems, with the development of Bluetooth and wireless technology allowing for more affordable and useable options on the market. Devices like Ring enable users to access video feeds of their front door whether they’re at home or work, and are both sleek and unobtrusive, making them ideal additions to the house without the bulk of more traditional options. Home cameras come in many different forms these days, and they are entirely different from the bulky CCTV cameras and setups we associate with supermarkets and corner shops. Instead, these in-house camera systems are designed to be simple, barely visible and highly connected – with many options allowing for direct viewing of cameras via mobile. Google’s Nest Cam system offers all the convenience of a connected service with multiple camera options, from affordable indoor cameras to more robust outdoor options. The benefit is a system that’s wholly connected in one place, allowing for fast and easy monitoring without the use of multiple systems. If you’re looking for a home system that does it all, Nest is an excellent place to start. Homeowners often think of alarm systems as relatively outdated, requiring intensive wiring as well as a large, unattractive control panel in the home to function correctly. But as alarm system technology has evolved, so have the options available to homeowners. Modern alarm systems are capable of monitoring windows, doors and even identify the difference between intruders and pets with ease. Verisure’s system is one example of an excellent alarm system, with a 3G panel included instead of the more old-fashioned bulky wall-based system. Wireless has revolutionised how alarm systems work and picking one that has it all is your ideal choice.
Picking the right home security system for you is entirely subjective. By having a better idea of what level of security you need, and when and where you need it, it’s possible to tailor a security system into something ideally suited for your purposes. Don’t be afraid to expand your system or reduce it depending on your requirements over time; security is a personal thing and finding the one that’s right for you is vital to its long-term success. Sustainability is a growing trend – and it's here to stay. There are many ways you can embrace sustainability. You can buy less, recycle more – and make a commitment to use renewable energy sources wherever possible. But why should you? If you're not convinced about the importance of living a more sustainable life, here are six reasons why you should be: 1. To reduce the impact of climate change. You can't deny the impact our lifestyles are having on our environment. Despite an overwhelming body of science that confirms the damage we're causing, the situation continues to get worse. In fact, leading scientists claim that – if we do nothing to prevent it the world could experience irreparable damage by 2050. Do you want to be part of the climate change problem – or do you want to be part of the solution? The World Health Organisation (WHO) lists air pollution as one of the biggest threats to our health. This is an invisible threat – we can't see it, but we also can't escape it. It's all around us, in the air we breathe. According to the WHO, 91% of the global population lives in an area where air pollution exceeds acceptable limits, causing 4.2 million deaths each year. When you make a commitment to living more sustainably, you reduce your impact on air pollution – playing your part in reducing the impact it has in our communities. 3. To keep wildlife safe. A 2018 report from the WWF claims humans wiped out 60% of the world's wildlife between 1970 and 2014. The evidence is pretty clear. The way we live is not sustainable – and it's harming species that do not have a say in the matter. When we live more sustainably, we're able to reduce the threat that still exists to animals across the world. For example, when we commit to buying products without palm oil, we're doing our bit to reduce the impact of deforestation. This deforestation currently affects already-endangered species across the globe, including chimpanzees, tigers and African elephants. When we buy sustainably, we also need to make sure the products we buy are not tested on animals. Around 75,000 animals are still killed in laboratories each year. 4. To protect the world's resources. The world's resources are not infinite. The majority of households still use non-renewable sources of energy to fuel their homes and cars. This will not – and can not – last forever. Sooner or later, these valuable resources will be gone forever, and we will be forced to move onto renewable sources of energy. Why not make the change now, and protect the world's resources instead of depleting them? 5. To save money. When you live a more sustainable lifestyle, you are likely to save money in the long-run. Sustainability involves switching to reusable products wherever possible - which means you no longer need to purchase their disposable alternatives. For example, if you have a baby, using reusable diapers can save over $2,500 between birth and potty training. 6. To reduce the need for landfill sites. Despite government efforts to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill, we are still relying on them to take the majority of our waste each year. And, in 2016, Canadians had a total of 24,940,747 tonnes to dispose of. Recycling is not enough. If we want to reduce the impact we're having on the environment, we also need to look at how we can reduce our overall waste - and ensure that the waste we do have, is being disposed of in a sustainable way.
Well, can you imagine my surprise and utter joy to receive an email from HGTV yesterday? I'm honoured and absolutely thrilled to be featured as one of their Interior Design Professionals. I'd love to have you check out two of the rooms I recently completed for a fabulous client of mine in Surrey, BC.
Just click either of the Room photos above, and join the fun! Jil Sonia McDonald is an interior designer working in the Lower Mainland, and Fraser Valley, BC. Please contact her at info@jilsoniainteriors.com Ready for the last post outlining the 15 Essential Steps to Design your Dream Home? Here we go! First, let’s review, we’ve looked at steps 1-12 so far: 15 Essential Steps to design your dream home Part 1 of 5 1. Selecting your perfect structure 2. Floor plans and elevations 3. Function 15 Essential Steps to design your dream home Part 2 of 5 4. Budget 5. Mood and Style 6. Overall design 15 Essential Steps to design your dream home Part 3 of 5 7. Bathroom and Kitchen design 8. Furniture Plan 9. Lighting plan 15 Essential Steps to design your dream home Part 4 of 5 10. Window covering 11. Fabric 12. Wall colour Now... we move on to the last 3 steps Part 5/5 Steps 13, 14 and 15 ! 13. Styling: Now that you have a complete plan, exterior colours, roofing, windows etc, you can shop! Now it's time for accessories. For rhythm, you need objects that repeat. Instead of one candlestick on your sideboard in your dining room, what about 3 of the same? This way our accessories have more of an impact. Ask yourself repeatedly through this process -- are my choices consistent with my commitment to the desired ambience? If not go back through a few steps. You cannot compromise here and get the room of your dreams. Continuously keep the mood of your room in mind. Try to do all your accessorizing and styling within a short period of time in order to keep to one style. Note: 80 percent of the design of a room should be in one focused style and 20 percent can vary. This 20 percent will certainly stand out. Every room needs some bling unless it's a Farm home pictured below. Fully complete one room, before moving onto the next. 14. Edit your choices: Keep the concepts of harmony and balance in mind when editing your ideas. I find this stage often takes the most time. Your final choices should please your eye, feel balanced, and create your desired mood. Our eyes need to rest so don't be afraid to have a little bare space, that helps make everything else pop. Line the items up along a wall to see what you are working with. What works, what doesn't? 15. Finally - Relax: Designing a home is not easy. There are important choices to be made and made quickly. Having a game plan and following it does ease the stress. Now we're all done, kick back, relax and enjoy your beautiful new home! OK, are we ready? Questions? I'd love to help!
It's always nice to be featured in different publications and magazines! Beckenstein Fabrics was kind enough to ask me to present my recent projects. I was happy to be featured with 2 other amazing interior designers.
Feel free to read more here https://www.beckensteinfabrics.com/3-talented-interior-designers-share-the-projects-they-completed-this-past-summer/ Thank you so much Beckenstein for your kind words and for featuring our designs! Here's a few quick tips on lighting placement for your dining room chandelier or pendant. Specifically, how high do we hang the bottom of our pendant or chandeliers, above our dining room tables? Well, this depends upon the height of the room.
Here's a few quick examples: 8' high ceiling - hang the bottom of the light, 32 - 36" off of the table. 9' high ceiling - hang the bottom of the light, 36 - 40" off of the table. 10' high ceiling - hang the bottom of the light, 40 - 44" off of the table. Hope this quick tip helps! In the work of any Interior Designer you have clients all along the spectrum of available budgets. You have the young couples who may be newly married involved in a first purchase of a home with a limited budget, getting their proverbial feet wet in the real estate market and trying to better themselves. You may also have others who are at mid points in their real estate journey whom are looking to upgrade with family in mind, spaces to plan and a budget designed with a growing family. You may have empty nesters who are in a flux looking to downsize after previously owning a larger home who need a new workable space and are involved in budgeting based on a possible retirement funds. All these and more showcase the strong necessity to work within a defined client's budget. One might argue that the Interior Designer might also be strongly involved in assisting the client on setting a reasonable budget that does not strain a client's potential funds and allows for the design project to be be completed and successful. As a preface I would like to mention that in my life i have had the good fortune of a lovely father who raised me with the sincerest of business ideal, particularly that of being customer service oriented. As a former dental corps officer in the WWII he was responsible supplying many necessary things while stationed in England. Upon returning home to the west coast of Vancouver area he was immediately involved in sales, firstly in furniture retail then moved to real estate. This was where his strong integrity in working within the means of his clients. Later his work would bring him to starting his own Commercial Real Estate company. This is where I gleaned a strong customer service ethic and as well as taste for modernism, mid-century aesthetic and interior design while personally spending some 20 years in the Vancouver residential and commercial real estate field. It is very client budget based. Throughout the years and with that ethic I have found that client's budgets are a very personal thing. They are tied to various emotions depending upon their financial means. It is always a sensitive topic and needs to be dealt with in a very careful manner. For that reason, my business model does not use pressure to have clients overextend themselves in their design. If client - designer relationship is key to a good Interior Design business, then exerting financial pressures to achieve a particular design project is not what I would consider good "customer service". In fact some may argue that it would be rude.
That in mind it would be safe to say that in the long run clients, who may not be able to afford a more pricey design, and whom have had a good experience with you as a designer, more trusting of your capability and relationship style. After all being personable and reasonable within client budgets goes a long way into creating possible repeat clients and also great referrals and even repeat business. Here's to creating great happy design relationships one budget at a time! Who has heard of the rule of thirds? This important rule says that most designs can be made more interesting by visually dividing a wall or a photo into thirds vertically and/or horizontally; and placing our most important elements within those thirds. If you have a fireplace on a 12' wide wall, and perhaps the fireplace is 4' wide, well, you'd place the fireplace in the centre, leaving a 4' patch of wall on each side. Thereby dividing that wall in thirds. Another important design concept is Visual Center and Balance. Placing important elements or the focal point of the design within the visual center of a piece is another design trick. We all know the actual centre of a photo is right in the middle of the shot. But, did you know the visual center is slightly to the right of and above the actual center of the photo? This is the area that our eyes are drawn to immediately. This "rule" originally was developed by photographers to ensure every shot looks great. Don't we as designers, or homeowners want that as well? Basically when you are composing a photograph, or a wall, imagine two vertical lines and two horizontal lines dissecting your image into nine squares as shown below. Placing your most important elements at one or more of the four intersections of those lines, helps create interesting photos or design. Most balanced designs (and even unbalanced ones) rely on a grid. This invisible structure helps ensure that all the elements are placed in the right location, thereby achieving balance as well as helping with continuity and consistency of design. These are design principles that help the professional designer achieve visual balance.
If you'd like more info, please visit this great site at Photographytalk.com If you'd love to have a visually balanced room, one that is truly pleasing to the eye, please email me at info@jilsoniainteriors.com Mother's day is fast approaching.
Wondering what to get her for a gift? She's got perfume and scarves galore. Judging from what my interior design clients say - most women want their home to look like THEY live there, not someone else! We can provide the perfect paint colour, select the furniture that is just right - or simply answer all her interior design questions! We're here to help! Click here to book now, and I can email you a beautiful gift certificate that you can slip into her Mother's Day card. Dear Interior Design friends and enthusiasts - Easter is upon us and we are celebrating by offering Interior Design Consultation vouchers for your loved ones. Show someone you care by purchasing a design consultation. We look forward to hearing from you. HAVE A HAPPY EASTER!
Contact us at info@jilsoniainteriors.com
Let me introduce you to my new e-Design platform! We provide interior decor services for all rooms of your home, including paint, furniture, tiles, flooring and more.
We'd love to help you, please click below! I am beyond thrilled to announce that I have won the coveted "Best of Houzz 2018" award!
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