I say that often.  Each and every time we complete a redesign, in fact.  The client's reaction reinforces the feeling: 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I can't tell you enough how absolutely thrilled I am with my new space. I love the basement with my two leather pieces down there. I can actually see myself spending time down there, now that it's so inviting and comfortable.

It looks amazing! I can't believe what you and your team did with my living room and dining room. Throughout the past few years my best friend and I have rearranged my furniture on numerous occasions and we both take pride in our decorating savvy. I have to tell you, we would never have come up with the ideas you did for placement of my furniture, lights, pictures etc. It feels so much lighter and I actually feel like I've gained square footage.  You've made my living space look larger, I never thought that could be accomplished!

Thank you again Sandi, it was great to meet you and I will definitely be recommending you to anyone I know that's thinking they'd like a redesign of their home.

Heather

A few helpful reminders when showing your home in the winter season.

The impact of redesign on a client is worth noting.  My October graduates made a dramatic difference to a living / dining room for a client and this is what she said:

When I came home on Friday, opened the front door and saw the transformation of our living room/dining room, I said WOW!!!!  And then I just stood there taking it all in.  Not only did it look great, it exuded calmness and my husband said "Now I can breathe!"

I was amazed at how well our furniture worked with the pieces I brought back from Sweden after my mother's passing. I am now eager to entertain again!

The rooms certainly did excude a sense of calm, compared to the evening a few weeks prior when I first met with my client.  The rooms were crowded and felt oppressive.  I wondered to myself what we would be able to accomplish.

And congratulations to my team of professionals - six talented women who now join the CRDA.

It's time to get warm and cosy. It's time to settle in and prepare your home for the approaching winter season. The nights are definitely cooler and darkness comes far too soon.

But these tips are sure to help you enjoy the season.

- add a heavier drapery panel over your sheers
- use fabrics like cashmere, ultra-suede, velvets, velours and wool blends
- add jewel toned pillows for elegance
- add faux fur throws for a touch of luxury
- layer your lighting too; group small lamps and lanterns together to warm a dark corner
- include natural elements from the outdoors

The 6th Annual CRDA Conference took place in Toronto over the weekend (October 17-19th).  It was wonderful to see familiar faces from the west coast and the east!  We also opened the Conference to new students who had registered for courses later this month and they were so inspired they just can't wait to get started.

Kudos to Sandra MacLennan and Amanda Drenth for organizing this event without losing their sanity.

Several of our speakers were CRDA members themselves, and I'm simply blown away by the talent among us.

Thanks to General Paint, one of our business partners, for sponsoring our wine & cheese night.

Our new Board of Directors ...

left to right - Lynne McQueen (Treasurer), Nikki Lindsay (Secretary), Amanda Drenth (Membership Director), Sandi Gerrard (President), Cyrese Samuel (Vice President), Michelle Brann (Regional Director), Lynn Lennox (Marketing Director)

The time has come for CRDA to shine in the media spotlight ! In partnership with eRenovate (CasaGuru), our TV segment on REDESIGN aired on Global TV Saturday September 13, 2008. For those that missed it, here is a link

http://www.realinvestmentstv.com/videos/view/472/

Congratulations to my fellow CRDA members Karen Kostyshyn, Sandra MacLennan and Cyrese Samuel for pulling this beautiful room together - three talented women that I am proud to call my friends.

I'm very pleased to report that I was recently quoted (along with one of my CRDA colleagues - Susan Brown), in mainstream media.

The article, entitled "Tricks to make small spaces seem bigger", appeared in the Globe and Mail Real Estate Section, on August 22, 2008.

Again, thanks to Sandra MacLennan for noticing it.  I had forgotten all about my telephone interview with the reporter (Lauren La Rose) from Canadian Press !!

The Winners Walk of Hope in support of Ovarian Cancer takes place in cities across Canada on Sunday, September 7th. 

As mentioned in one of my earlier blog posts, the Canadian ReDesigners Association (CRDA) has partnered with the Ovarian Cancer Canada (OCC) to ensure that women currently in treatment for ovarian cancer have a comfortable and harmonious room in their home in which to focus on rest and wellness.  ReDesigners across Canada are volunteering their time and talent to create "Havens for Healing".  Our American counterparts (IRIS) are doing the same across the U.S. by supporting their national Ovarian Cancer organization.

Studies have shown that a positive physical environment can help speed the healing process and offer a sense of well-being.

We want to help educate women about this disease as the symptoms are so vague they often go unnoticed.  For more information on Ovarian Cancer please visit the OCC website www.ovariancancer.org

If you are, or know of, a woman undergoing treatment, please contact OCC toll-free at 1.877.413.7970
to find out how you can benefit.

Back to School & Back to Work  

For many, the month of September is a time for new beginnings and fresh ideas, getting organized and settling in.   But the weather is still nice so continue to enjoy your outdoor spaces while you reflect upon memories made during the summer holidays.

Did YOU have a good summer?  A lot of photos, shells found on the beach and a couple of cute souveniers?  How best to remember the fun and reflect on time well spent?  Narrow floating shelves in a hallway, shadow boxes, and multi-matte frames are a great way to capture it all in one place so it doesn't look like forgotten clutter.  You can even change your display seasonally - the look is versatile and it will certainly showcase your personality.

When dealing with a small space, such as a student dorm, first apartment or tiny condo you must effectively utilize your vertical living space. Shelving and storage will be your new best friends.  Also be sure to look for pieces that are small scale, streamlined and multi-functional.

This can be a fun undertaking for someone moving out on their own for the first time - especially if mom and dad are footing the bill.  We all know that Ikea works well for this scenario.

But if you have already acquired a lifetime of furnishings and possessions, downsizing is a daunting task at the best of times.  Add to that the stresses or traumas that face us in the latter stages of life and it's difficult to know where or how to begin.  Always keep your favorite things - a skilled redesigner can easily incorporate what's necessary and knows how to mix & match the most unusual combinations.

To help with the adjustment, think "Less is More".  Downsizing is basically simplifying your life and that in itself can reap huge benefits.

Embrace the intimacy of your small space!