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:

• Sofa, Article
• Coffee Table, Armchair, The Goods
• Baskets, Flamingo Pillow, Style in Form
• Wood Stool, Mercana
• Upholstered Stools, Navy Pillow, Tonic Living
• Rug, Yellow Pillow, Surya
• Chandelier, Litemode
• Wall Color, Pure White 7005, Sherwin Williams
• Clock, Vertuu Design
• Potted Tree, CB2
• Cable Knit Sham, Wayfair

​Happy Decorating!  If you need help completing your living room, I'd love to chat!

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  

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. ​

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!
​

Cooler Color Palettes

Many of the bedrooms featured in popular magazines, on TV, and in the movies demonstrate the extensive use of whites, grays, and light blues. All of these combine to form a cooler color palette for the bedroom than we’ve seen.

These colors go well with the minimalist look. If that appeals to you, this may be a trend you want to follow. Painting your walls is one easy way to change the tone of your room, but you can make your existing palette cooler by adding drapes, blankets, a bedspread, and more in your chosen cool colors.

A Relaxing Backdrop

We predict that empty minimalist walls are slowly going the way of the dinosaur. Not completely, of course! However, more and more featured bedrooms have one or two walls given over to some sort of nature scene. These can be painted on, printed on fabric and then hung, or brought in in the form of vinyl wall decals. No matter the method, bringing the outdoors into the bedroom is becoming more and more popular. ​

Wondering how to calculate which size of fan you need for your bathroom?  For a bathroom with a tub or shower, here's the magic ratio!

Calculate the volume of your bathroom:
Height of the room x length of room x width of the room = total volume.
ie. 8' high x 10' long x 6' wide room =  480 cubic feet.

Now divide the cubic feet by 7.5

480 divided by 7.5 = 64 cfm fan size.  Or select the closest available fan size, when in between sizes, always select the higher CFM fan.  Meaning, if there is a 50 CFM fan and a 75 CFM fan, select the 75 CFM fan.

There you go!

2. What was your biggest colour/design mistake? 

I work with a 15 Step Design System that doesn't leave room for mistakes, but sometimes it’s the little things that really make a room. I once decorated a client’s home, and it turned out beautifully. The client was thrilled, but the home didn’t have anything with 'meaning' in it. 

Now, I always try to add something that is personal to a client, such as a great, great grandmother’s silver cutlery (below). Our client had these beautiful heritage pieces , and now they are a wonderful conversation point – brilliant idea! 

We've been designing kitchens for years and our clients love us! Light and bright kitchens, that are functional and practical; rule today.  However when we arrive home at night, we encounter our own drab and dreary kitchen.   The designer who created this kitchen had unknowingly, selected competing undertones - orange floor, burgundy cabinets, black and PINK countertops and Tuscan gold backsplash. This is definitely not my style and I think it's time for a change!  Don't you?

I know - it's bad, right?  When designing kitchens for our clients, we start with choosing 2 items first.  The counter top and the kitchen sink!  
As I use Caesarstone almost exclusively (they have the best range of colours and patterns of quartz - in my opinion), I knew which counter top I wanted almost immediately. Frosty Carrina!  
It's a warm white, with subtle flecks and veining of light warm gray.  Giving almost a marble look, but without the hassle, upkeep, staining and etching of real marble.  Their quartz has antibacterial properties meaning there is no need to seal the counters - eliminating the maintenance that is needed every few years.    
Have a look at all the beautiful options from Caesarstone here! 

The next item I choose is the Kitchen sink.  Of course the size is dictated by any existing cabinetry, if you are starting from scratch, the world's your Oyster.   A favourite manufacture of mine is Blanco.  They sell amazing sinks of all different shapes and sizes.   Silgranit, Stainless steel, FireClay and more! Here's a cheat sheet on the great points.
Silgranit:

• Made in Canada
• 80% natural granite composite material
• Exceptional resistance to heat, stains, scratches and acids
• Non porous - dirt and bacteria cannot penetrate the surface of the sink
• Rear-positioned drain holes maximize usable bowl and cabinet storage space

Fireclay sinks:
Apron sink - who doesn't love apron sinks?
Centre drain location
3 1/2'' (90mm) stainless steel strainer included

Stay tuned!  Sneak peek photos coming up - we've just installed the gorgeous Caesarstone counter top and we are absolutely thrilled with it!
Stay tuned for more updates and tips and tricks!

Please click through to follow the link to my posting.  I hope you enjoy!

Jil Sonia Interior's post.
  

I've never been so impressed with a blog article, that I've contacted the author, and asked for his authorization, so that I can post that article in my blog before.  I've found this posting so insightful and specific, that I've asked Matt Astrella from Alglo Engineering, if I could re-post his blog.  He said yes,  and I truly hope that you find it as helpful as I have.  

(Alglo Engineering has also come up with an unique tool that can help all interior designers, stay tuned to hear more about this new tool, below!)

What Is Color Temperature?

Color temperature is mostly a measurement of the amount of yellow or blue white a light is comprised of and is measured in degrees Kelvin (K). The term ‘temperature’ is used because designers often describe how warm or cool light appears, the more orange and yellow light is the warmer and the more white and blue, the cooler.

How Is Color Temperature Measured?

Color temperature is measured by a unit called the Kelvin (K). The Kelvin thermodynamic temperature scale is defined so that absolute zero is 0 kelvins (K). The measurement of color temperature follows similarly the color changes a piece of metal would experience as heat is applied to it. At first, the metal would glow a deep orange-red and then become more yellow-white and finally move to the blue spectrum. The lower numbers on the light temperature scale (2700K is usually the base) contain a more yellow-orange color, the middle of the scale are white and the top of the scale (often ends at 6500K) you get very bright white to blue color.

How Do I Choose Which Temperature to Use?

The color temperature you want to use to illuminate your room depends mostly on the mood you are looking to create. If you are using warm furniture colors such as rich dark woods, reds in oriental rugs, and wall paint, 2700K to 3000K bulbs will bring out those colors more. For rooms with light woods, whites, grays, and blues, and lighter wall colors such as lighter shades of purple and blue the 3500K and even up to 5000K bulbs will compliment best.

Interior designers can swap out light bulbs or use an LED Design Kit to show how different materials will look under the different temperatures.

Another tip is to base it on what the dwellers are using the room for. For example, many people will find a formal dining room more appealing with warmer light, while for a large, open-plan office neutral to cool white light is the better choice. Offices often use 5000K fluorescent lighting that creates a cool white light that has been said to keep people alert and awake.

It can also be aligned with how much natural light the room gets and whether you want to keep that same feeling through dusk and into the night or if you want to switch it up come dark. A room in full sunlight during the middle of the day will be a bright, blue white (around 5500K) while horizontal daylight is near 5000K, daylight on an overcast day is more blue (6500K), and during sunrise and sunset you get extremely warm light close to 1800K.

What Products Fall Into The Different Temperature Ranges?

You can purchase LED products in any temperature between 2700K and 6500K. Solid State Lighting makes it easy to adjust color with dyes.

Metal Hallide and Fluorescent products can also be found in different ranges across the spectrum.

• < 2700K – Warmest: These light temperatures are produced by fire and the sun!
  
  
• 2700K – Warm Light: Most incandescent light bulbs produce warm light which is why they are often used in restaurants and dining rooms to create a warm, comfortable environment. Halogen lighting is also in this range.
  
  
• 3000 - 4000K – Soft, Neutral Bright Light: Light within this range still has a little warmth to it but is fairly neutral. A lot of LED products and some soft/warm CFL bulbs fall in this range for use around homes to create a large amount of useful light.
  
  
• 5000-6500K – Bright White/Daylight: Fluorescent lighting and most CFLs fall within this range and is used in applications where natural light is desired.

Matt Astrella

Editor's note:  Please click on this link, to see the Interior Designer's Light kit, that helps show how different lighting can widely change the colours of the item.  I can imagine this tool being helpful when out at various showrooms, you could bring the light tool with you, take the item aside, then shine the light on the item, to show how it looks with the client's own lighting.  Saving many costly mistakes.

Did you hear?  The 60s inspired TV series Mad Men, is in it's final season.  Bad news for this wildly popular show, I know.  

But to hold us over just a little longer, I created an interior design mood board based on my personal favourite style - Mid Century Modern.  This MCM style, features clean  lines, attention to subtle detail, simple forms; with a nod to entertaining.  Here's a photo of Roger Sterling's Office below.

When choosing my inspiration furniture, I went to the ever popular furniture online store called Charish.  This store accepts furniture from all over the continental USA, posts great photos of the pieces, then offers them for sale.  They take great care to only sell amazing furniture.  

I especially love the great search options.  You can search by Style, Colour, Price point, Category, Location etc.  Which makes selecting the perfect item a breeze!  Have a look at what I have created.  
All items from Charish.    

If you want to check out their direct link to their MCM furniture please click here, I promise you'll love it!

Thanks for indulging my zest for Mid-Century modern design! 

Being an interior designer, my home and surroundings highly affect how I feel.  I have a beautiful new home, but as I did not select the finishes; they are not what I would have chosen .   At all.

I have conflicting undertones everywhere and dated finishes, even though the house is just 7 years old.  

What's bothered me the most is my hardwood flooring.  It's orange, VERY orange, red oak solid hardwood.  (And burgundy cabinets, and gold backspash, and black and PINK granite - but that's another story!)

I've decided to bite the bullet and take you on this journey with me.  Pardon the dust!

1.  First step is to hire someone you trust.  I have a brilliant contractor who doesn't specialize in flooring, but he's done great jobs refinishing my client's floors.  I trust him.

2. Determine the amount of time this will take, I budgeted 3 weeks, but I'd suggest longer.

3. Determine where you are going to live, whilst your floors are going to be sanded.  We live in a large home, so we decided to take over the basement.  BUT, the kitchen is among the rooms being sanded, so that will be out of commission for a while.  We moved the toaster, Microwave, blender and paper plates and cups downstairs.  The fridge ended up on the deck, along with the stove and dishwasher.  We've had a very mild winter, so it wasn't a problem to plug in the fridge outside.

4.  Next we put poly plastic sheets over everything, the cabinets, counters, railings, fireplace, lighting, stairwell, and entrance to the foyer.  

5.  My contractor started with a 100 grit sander, and worked about 6 hours and finished a spot only  10 ft x 4 ft.  It seems every flooring finish is different, and this finish was EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to remove.  To make a long story short, we ended up going with a drum roller with 36 grit paper.  And the dust started to fly!   We also found out the guest bed was very uncomfortable.  Karma I guess.

 It took him 4 days to remove 600 sq. ft of finishing and get the wood down to bare wood.  We selected the perfect stain colour - not too dark, no red and NO ORANGE undertones. Varathane wood stain in Espresso    We applied it, looked great,  did the second coat the next day, then were told to wait 24 hours, but waited 72 hours and applied the top coat.  Everything looked good, so after 2 days we applied the second top coat and left it to dry overnight.

The next morning the flooring looked good but a little different. That night I noticed white patches appearing on top of certain boards.  We left it another day and yup... it looked worse.  

I went on every online site, talked to all sorts of professionals that I could find, to research the cause of these random white patches.  It looked like someone had poured milk on the wood and let it dry, leaving a dry powdery white coating on about 25% of the boards.  No one knew what to do so we.......    resanded the whole bloody thing again!  

4 more days of sanding - and dust.  Aggh...


We vacuumed the walls, windows, floors and everything else again - and started all over....
To be continued in Part 2 of 3 refinishing your Red Oak hardwood floor.

I am happy to announce, my 12 page spread (6 double pages) in the Prestigious Canadian Home Trends Magazine.......  Yippee!

I was over the moon happy to receive a letter from Canadian Home Trends magazine, mentioning that they saw my profile on Houzz and that they'd love to feature me in their Spring 2014 print and online magazine!

​This prestigious magazine is the most helpful and innovative magazine I've ever seen.  If you subscribe to their online magazine (which offers 168 pages!), you will see they've added special effects to the photos - such as the fireplace has a crackling sound, the photos change from the before to after right in front of your eyes.  Amazing!  Otherwise their print magazine is gorgeous as well.  Who doesn't like to curl up with a nice glass of wine and a great magazine?

My client, was an absolute dream to work with.  She completely trusted me to lead the way to make her dreams a reality.

Here's a photo of her kitchen before...

...and  below, the after.  We removed 2 and a 1/2 walls to open up this floor plan and allow more light to spread through the home.  I simply can't believe the difference.

I always, always, always start with my counter top selection.  My go to source is  Caesarstone, they have such a lovely, well priced selection.  We selected this gorgeous white and gray mixed engineered quartz, called London Gray.  This was the inspiration for the whole kitchen renovation.  

​Our Client is an avid cook and I wanted to create a beautiful kitchen where she could work away to her hearts content - yet be able to clean up easily and quickly.

​One of my favorite things about this magazine, is that the interview questions were very detailed, it took me three hours to fill out the forms as I wanted to share everything,  I find people are so interested in tips and tricks to make their own home more beautiful.

I made a special point of mentioning and thanking my suppliers whom did an amazing job!  One of the top reasons client's hire me, is that I know the best suppliers and tradespeople to work with.  I'd like to make special mention to Warline Painting and Julie Bolton (window treatments) for their attention to detail and professional work.  To top it all off, I loved the stunning Robert Allen fabric that I used.  It helped tie the whole room together!

​Thanks so much for allowing me to share this exciting post.  I don't know of too many interior designers who get a 12 page spread and I'm truly grateful!