Full-overlay Rustic Beech cabinets in the "Charleston" door style and "Briarwood" finish. Village Home Stores
Example of a large mountain style kitchen design in Chicago

PEACOCK FANTASY - Custom Designed Peacock Wall Mural in brilliant colors. Notice how it has just the right amount of color | Have a custom mosaic idea? We can help, with our brilliant Italian-trained mosaicists and easy-to-install tiled masterpieces. Worldwide shipping available on the complete range of quality handcrafted marble & glass mosaic products. For inquires and more info, contact us: http://mecartworks.com

Example of a huge trendy metal floating open staircase design in Minneapolis

There are not many things better than a room full of your favourite people. As you gather you smell dinner cooking in the kitchen and music playing in the background, as joyful conversation and laughter fill the room. I feel so grateful that we are inching our way back to these days. How about you? The project I’m sharing with you today has beautiful moments like these at its heart. Spaces that invite people in, foster connection, and make everyday living so simple that it’s impossible not to enjoy... Meet our Delightful Clients: The family behind this 1950s North Vancouver home transformation enjoy entertaining friends just as much as cosying up to watch a movie together. A professional couple (I'll call them Jon and Anna) with two elementary school-aged sons, Anna and Jon approached us with the task of furnishing the main floor living spaces and the basement of their family home. Anna is a busy lawyer who is now working almost full time from home, and Jon works in the film industry. With full careers, two active boys, and a love of gathering, they craved a home that could support their everyday lifestyle. Design and Lifestyle Goals: Our central goal for this project was simple: to uncover the hidden potential in their home and create a family-friendly space that functioned well and flowed seamlessly. On the main floor, our clients tasked us with creating an area for the family to relax and entertain, along with crafting a work and play space for the boys. They also dreamed of a more functional and bright basement, which they envisioned as a dual purpose family room and home office for Anna. Reveal: Comfortable and Welcoming Entryway & Living Room: Imagine you are coming home, and you walk through a bright, sunny front door like this one. You are met by this entryway of calming earth and sea tones, paired with warm, natural wood flooring. You feel instantly welcomed and eager to venture further inside... The same is now true for our clients! The simple details in their entryway are thoughtfully arranged with clean lines and colourful art as the focal point, achieving a timeless and friendly aesthetic. Dried wheat brings movement into the space and plays up the beauty of nature, while the vibrant yet warm colours and textures evoke feelings of comfort and homecoming. The entry flows seamlessly into this connected living area, which is adorned with ample seating strategically arranged to host and accommodate joyful conversations. With the fireplace and wood mantel as the focal point, these natural elements and hues warm up the room to make it feel beautifully lived-in (not like an untouchable museum). Another colourful work of art graces the space above Jon’s and Anna’s sofa, and we used decorative pillows and a throw blanket to tempt those colours into the rest of the room. A simply styled coffee table keeps the space feeling open and engaged. Reading material, anyone? Just beyond this living area, you get a glimpse of the second space our clients requested on their main floor... A Collected Space for Children to Work + Play: When Jon and Anna realised that their formal dining area wasn’t being used to its full potential, they imagined creating a work and play space for their boys instead. We came up with a plan to create a shared desk area with plentiful storage. This timeless natural wood desk was the perfect way to maximise surface area and give the boys plenty of space to do homework during the school year, or spend time crafting or building LEGOs during the summers. The drawers provide storage for all the wonderful items that fuel their productivity or creativity. Or both. I also love how the white floating shelves display a collection of nostalgic toys, providing just the right amount of childhood endearment to this sophisticated and functional space. This workspace now has endless possibilities for the boys, and it helps Jon and Anna keep their minds and spaces clear, too. Which brings us to... Basement Family Room & Home Office: In general, we knew we had to maximise surface area in this ‘50s home, and this was especially true for our clients’ basement. I’m happy to say that we designed an effortlessly comfortable space that focuses on family and makes it simple to settle in and work… or leave the workday behind. Welcome to this dual-function office and family room. Toward the back of the room, we strategically positioned Anna’s wraparound desk facing out into the room and gave her a wallpaper-and-art backdrop for stunning Zoom calls (she has already received glowing compliments). There is plenty of storage for easy organization including a space to store the family’s shared printer near the door… so they don’t have to interrupt “Mom” to get to it. Anna also wanted the freedom to be able to relax in this space with her family and turn her back on the work day — quite literally! The sofa is perfectly positioned backing onto the desk allowing her to do just that. We relocated an existing mustard yellow chair and used pops of the same colour to integrate it into the overall scheme. The wood armrests on this modular sectional provide surfaces for snacks and drinks where there was no room for an end table. The walnut finish carries the theme of natural comfort from the upstairs spaces down into the family room. The view from the sectional is less business and more pleasure, featuring cosy seating and throw pillows in cheerful colours and patterns. The highlight of this space? A wallpapered accent wall where we were able to achieve the high-end feel of custom built-in shelving with a simple IKEA hack. The shelves and cabinetry around the television offer plenty of much needed storage space to house family games and movies at a budget price point. This fun room is the perfect balance of work and play, accommodating and supporting our clients’ daily family adventures. What Our Clients Had to Say... Our clients could not be happier with their warm yet functional new rooms. With thoughtful consideration and a plan of action, we were able to transform two areas of their home into spaces that function well and feel good. In fact, they had this to say: “Lori and her team were everything we were looking for: great listeners, wonderfully creative and highly professional. We couldn't be happier with our interior makeover.” — Clients That is why we do what we do. If you're ready to start your redesign project, we would love to help. Reach out to us here, and let's get to know more about each other.

Beautiful custom runner to match the unique measurements of this staircase.
Small wooden curved staircase photo in Minneapolis with wooden risers

The Pros and Cons of Fix and Flip Real Estate Investment Last week, we covered The Pros and Cons of Buy and Hold Real Estate Investment for rental property investors. This week, we want to talk about the other most common type of real estate investment: “fix and flip.” The Appeal of House Flipping We all love the house flipping shows on HGTV and other reality channels. They’re great and they make the prospect of buying, renovating and flipping homes for big profits seem super sexy and fun. However, any experienced real estate investor will tell you it’s not quite as easy as they make it look. There’s a lot of work that goes into a successful fix and flip investment. The basic premise of a fix and flip investment is pretty simple. You buy a property, usually one that needs some work and is available at a great price. You renovate the property, making the necessary repairs and upgrades to maximize its resale value. Then, you sell the property on the open market for the highest possible price. You get in and out as quickly as possible. Full-time flippers will move from property to property or will have multiple properties being worked on at the same time. Rather than the “buy and hold” strategy where you keep the house while earning rental income and equity over time, you are looking for the quick sale to earn your profits. If you are going to explore house flipping—whether as a full-time career or just a side hustle—you will want to know exactly what you are getting into. That is why we are going to cover the pros and cons of fix and flip real estate investment in this article. The Pros of Fix and Flip Here are some of the pros of fix and flip investing: Faster Return on Investment—The biggest appeal of fix and flip investing is that it gives you a quicker return on investment. Buy and hold will take you longer to see your ROI. House flipping allows you to see your full profit (hopefully) as soon as the house sells. The average house flip for an experienced investor is around six months. It may take longer for a first-timer who is just learning how to do certain things. Fairly Safe Investment—As long as you do all your projections and calculations carefully and avoid any major problems along the way, house flipping is a relatively safe investment strategy compared to something as turbulent as the stock market. Real estate markets are generally predictable and the short time frame of a flip helps you avoid losses if the property happens to depreciate over a longer period of time. Exciting—There is a reason why there are so many reality shows based around flipping and none based on buy and hold investing. It’s an exciting process to buy a home, gut it and completely renovate it. Then, you get the ultimate reward of selling it and collecting the profits—as long as you do things right. The Cons of Fix and Flip Here are some of the cons of fix and flip investing: Upfront Expenses—A house flip will require a lot of upfront expenses. We’re not only talking about financing the house itself, but all the renovation costs and other expenses involved in the flip. You are laying out all that money at the beginning and only seeing your returns when the property sells. This can create cash flow issues and stress if you fall being schedule or go above your initial budget. Taxes—House flips will usually create dramatic swings in income year over year, and that can increase your tax bill. You have to pace things correctly to take advantage of specific capital gains tax rules. Capital gains taxes are higher on any property owned less than a year, so you have to find that balance of how long you own any specific investment properties and how long it takes to complete the renovation and sale. Before you get too deep into fix and flip investing, you will want to talk with your tax advisor to make sure you have the right plan in place. Surprises—All real estate investment is susceptible to surprises. You don’t always know what lies behind the walls until you start the renovation process. You cannot plan for everything as a real estate investor, but you have to be prepared for anything. It is a good idea to add some wiggle room in your budget and overestimate your renovation expenses/timeline to cover any surprises that may come up. These are some of the biggest pros and cons of fix and flip real estate investment. Of course, there are other things you need to know as an investor, so be sure and do your homework in order to get the most out of your investment portfolio. Both fix and flip and buy and hold strategies can be highly lucrative if you do things right. There are no wrong answers, but there are wrong ways of doing things if you truly want to be successful in this field. If you are looking for great investment properties to fix and flip, join the exclusive PropertyLark home buyers’ network. If you qualify, you’ll have access to our exclusive off-market deals and analytics tools that will help you identify the best investments and get the highest possible ROI. Fill out the contact form and questionnaire on the PropertyLark buyer’s site to apply!

Buying term papers from academic writing services and freelance writers is becoming a popular deal. Therefore, former and current professors are entering this industry to write papers for money more and more often. Such services as CourseworkService.com are becoming popular among students all over the world. An interesting fact is that they hire not only former graduates but also out-of-work academics. When professors find a compromise about cheating Jennifer Sunseri, a former assistant professor, lost her job in 2009. She has been looking for a job for almost three years. At long last, she had abandoned all hope of finding a new job and started working as an academic writing service creating papers for college students. Jenifer says, “I realize that it is legal, but highly unethical especially regarding the fact that I am a former professor. For me this is an equivalent of prostitution. But I have been living in a tight situation for years without an opportunity to visit a doctor or pay my bills. I am 53, and I have no kids to help me when I am out-of-work.” She has been a tutor in Texas Tech since 1998, where she established a Slavic folklore course. Jenifer didn’t have any publications during her working years at Texas Tech, so when the time has come to apply for a venture, she realized that she has no chances and left. She moved to her sister and her mom and now she is living in her studio apartment with her two cats. Sunseri was worried when she lost her job even though she has master’s degrees in Slavic linguistics and technical communications. “I thought that my educator’s and writer’s skills will be useful,” she said. “However, I was shocked at the quantity of applications for an instructor at the local college, as well as for the office manager, or an adjunct at the local institution. Even an effort to apply for a substitute teacher failed. I cannot believe that those who have academic background, experience and a degree are in less demand than those have not.” When Ph.D. and master’s degrees lose their magical power, people with academic background have no choice but to start their term paper writing career. Once professors become unemployed, one may say that they feel themselves like high school graduates looking for a part-time job. However, you will be surprised, but according to statistics sometimes those with high school or college diplomas are more welcome than people with higher education. The reason is that a lot of new job places in America were created at times of economic recovery and, therefore, they are low-paying and require specialists with lower skills. It turns to be that it is much easier to learn a less-educated worker and train him/her in a particular way suitable for a certain company or service than to teach a higher-educated worker all over again. In addition, higher educated job candidates are more selective about their choice. How to become a ghostwriter if you have been punishing others for paper cheating Jenifer was not fastidious. She was looking for a job that would correspond her skills and finally decided to try herself as an online editor. While searching for an editing job, she ran against term paper writing service. This company asked her to send examples of her works and complete a test task. She has been accepted as a ghostwriter. In fact, term paper writing services gladly accept people with higher education and offer them to write papers of all kinds for money. Jenifer says that her first assignments for sale included a 5-page paper on public debt, 10-page paper on linguistics, and an editing work of someone else’s 20-page paper. All these assignments brought her about $150. Jenifer reports that it is possible to turn a useful penny by writing academic papers. Jenifer realized that ghostwriting is a good source of income after she read an article about an anonymous academic writer who earned almost $70,000 a year writing papers for high school and college students. “Currently this business becomes more and more popular. During finals and midterms, we have a lot of work to do since there are a lot of students ready to pay for a custom paper and submit it as their own,” he says. “It is no wonder that students use writing services. I have seen a lot of their writings, and I realize why they are so desperate about writing their assignments. Some of them are unable to compose a grocery list without additional help. They really need it. We help them pass a course, that’s all.” Jenifer says that this work helped her be on form and develop her core skills like writing and researching all the time. She was unemployed for a long time and was afraid that her skills might become lower due to a lack of practice. However, at a writing company she never stops practicing. She claims that this is a hard work mostly because you have to be meet urgent deadlines. The other challenge was a paper that she couldn’t complete once. The problem was not in a lack of competency, but in ethics. She discovered that it was an order for a student from her former place of work, Tech University. She says that she felt weird about completing this work and refused to write it. “I became angry when I realized that I am going to serve a kid who is partying in Florida, while being a former faculty member of the university he is attending.” Currently, Jenifer is working as a Russian translator. However, she is not abandoning academic writing industry even though she feels a little awkward about helping students to cheat. It is not that bad that unemployable professors have an opportunity to earn for living being ghostwriters even though it is not very ethical. Ironically, a place of work like academic writing company that makes out-of-job educators feel that they are performing a crime assisting students in cheating seems to be the only place in the job market that values their experience in the sphere of education.

Buying term papers from academic writing services and freelance writers is becoming a popular deal. Therefore, former and current professors are entering this industry to write papers for money more and more often. Such services as CourseworkService.com are becoming popular among students all over the world. An interesting fact is that they hire not only former graduates but also out-of-work academics. When professors find a compromise about cheating Jennifer Sunseri, a former assistant professor, lost her job in 2009. She has been looking for a job for almost three years. At long last, she had abandoned all hope of finding a new job and started working as an academic writing service creating papers for college students. Jenifer says, “I realize that it is legal, but highly unethical especially regarding the fact that I am a former professor. For me this is an equivalent of prostitution. But I have been living in a tight situation for years without an opportunity to visit a doctor or pay my bills. I am 53, and I have no kids to help me when I am out-of-work.” She has been a tutor in Texas Tech since 1998, where she established a Slavic folklore course. Jenifer didn’t have any publications during her working years at Texas Tech, so when the time has come to apply for a venture, she realized that she has no chances and left. She moved to her sister and her mom and now she is living in her studio apartment with her two cats. Sunseri was worried when she lost her job even though she has master’s degrees in Slavic linguistics and technical communications. “I thought that my educator’s and writer’s skills will be useful,” she said. “However, I was shocked at the quantity of applications for an instructor at the local college, as well as for the office manager, or an adjunct at the local institution. Even an effort to apply for a substitute teacher failed. I cannot believe that those who have academic background, experience and a degree are in less demand than those have not.” When Ph.D. and master’s degrees lose their magical power, people with academic background have no choice but to start their term paper writing career. Once professors become unemployed, one may say that they feel themselves like high school graduates looking for a part-time job. However, you will be surprised, but according to statistics sometimes those with high school or college diplomas are more welcome than people with higher education. The reason is that a lot of new job places in America were created at times of economic recovery and, therefore, they are low-paying and require specialists with lower skills. It turns to be that it is much easier to learn a less-educated worker and train him/her in a particular way suitable for a certain company or service than to teach a higher-educated worker all over again. In addition, higher educated job candidates are more selective about their choice. How to become a ghostwriter if you have been punishing others for paper cheating Jenifer was not fastidious. She was looking for a job that would correspond her skills and finally decided to try herself as an online editor. While searching for an editing job, she ran against term paper writing service. This company asked her to send examples of her works and complete a test task. She has been accepted as a ghostwriter. In fact, term paper writing services gladly accept people with higher education and offer them to write papers of all kinds for money. Jenifer says that her first assignments for sale included a 5-page paper on public debt, 10-page paper on linguistics, and an editing work of someone else’s 20-page paper. All these assignments brought her about $150. Jenifer reports that it is possible to turn a useful penny by writing academic papers. Jenifer realized that ghostwriting is a good source of income after she read an article about an anonymous academic writer who earned almost $70,000 a year writing papers for high school and college students. “Currently this business becomes more and more popular. During finals and midterms, we have a lot of work to do since there are a lot of students ready to pay for a custom paper and submit it as their own,” he says. “It is no wonder that students use writing services. I have seen a lot of their writings, and I realize why they are so desperate about writing their assignments. Some of them are unable to compose a grocery list without additional help. They really need it. We help them pass a course, that’s all.” Jenifer says that this work helped her be on form and develop her core skills like writing and researching all the time. She was unemployed for a long time and was afraid that her skills might become lower due to a lack of practice. However, at a writing company she never stops practicing. She claims that this is a hard work mostly because you have to be meet urgent deadlines. The other challenge was a paper that she couldn’t complete once. The problem was not in a lack of competency, but in ethics. She discovered that it was an order for a student from her former place of work, Tech University. She says that she felt weird about completing this work and refused to write it. “I became angry when I realized that I am going to serve a kid who is partying in Florida, while being a former faculty member of the university he is attending.” Currently, Jenifer is working as a Russian translator. However, she is not abandoning academic writing industry even though she feels a little awkward about helping students to cheat. It is not that bad that unemployable professors have an opportunity to earn for living being ghostwriters even though it is not very ethical. Ironically, a place of work like academic writing company that makes out-of-job educators feel that they are performing a crime assisting students in cheating seems to be the only place in the job market that values their experience in the sphere of education.

Shiloh Cabinetry. Polar White, Inset
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Manchester with white cabinets, beaded inset cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Modern luxury meets warm farmhouse in this Southampton home! Scandinavian inspired furnishings and light fixtures create a clean and tailored look, while the natural materials found in accent walls, casegoods, the staircase, and home decor hone in on a homey feel. An open-concept interior that proves less can be more is how we’d explain this interior. By accentuating the “negative space,” we’ve allowed the carefully chosen furnishings and artwork to steal the show, while the crisp whites and abundance of natural light create a rejuvenated and refreshed interior. This sprawling 5,000 square foot home includes a salon, ballet room, two media rooms, a conference room, multifunctional study, and, lastly, a guest house (which is a mini version of the main house).

There are not many things better than a room full of your favourite people. As you gather you smell dinner cooking in the kitchen and music playing in the background, as joyful conversation and laughter fill the room. I feel so grateful that we are inching our way back to these days. How about you? The project I’m sharing with you today has beautiful moments like these at its heart. Spaces that invite people in, foster connection, and make everyday living so simple that it’s impossible not to enjoy... Meet our Delightful Clients: The family behind this 1950s North Vancouver home transformation enjoy entertaining friends just as much as cosying up to watch a movie together. A professional couple (I'll call them Jon and Anna) with two elementary school-aged sons, Anna and Jon approached us with the task of furnishing the main floor living spaces and the basement of their family home. Anna is a busy lawyer who is now working almost full time from home, and Jon works in the film industry. With full careers, two active boys, and a love of gathering, they craved a home that could support their everyday lifestyle. Design and Lifestyle Goals: Our central goal for this project was simple: to uncover the hidden potential in their home and create a family-friendly space that functioned well and flowed seamlessly. On the main floor, our clients tasked us with creating an area for the family to relax and entertain, along with crafting a work and play space for the boys. They also dreamed of a more functional and bright basement, which they envisioned as a dual purpose family room and home office for Anna. Reveal: Comfortable and Welcoming Entryway & Living Room: Imagine you are coming home, and you walk through a bright, sunny front door like this one. You are met by this entryway of calming earth and sea tones, paired with warm, natural wood flooring. You feel instantly welcomed and eager to venture further inside... The same is now true for our clients! The simple details in their entryway are thoughtfully arranged with clean lines and colourful art as the focal point, achieving a timeless and friendly aesthetic. Dried wheat brings movement into the space and plays up the beauty of nature, while the vibrant yet warm colours and textures evoke feelings of comfort and homecoming. The entry flows seamlessly into this connected living area, which is adorned with ample seating strategically arranged to host and accommodate joyful conversations. With the fireplace and wood mantel as the focal point, these natural elements and hues warm up the room to make it feel beautifully lived-in (not like an untouchable museum). Another colourful work of art graces the space above Jon’s and Anna’s sofa, and we used decorative pillows and a throw blanket to tempt those colours into the rest of the room. A simply styled coffee table keeps the space feeling open and engaged. Reading material, anyone? Just beyond this living area, you get a glimpse of the second space our clients requested on their main floor... A Collected Space for Children to Work + Play: When Jon and Anna realised that their formal dining area wasn’t being used to its full potential, they imagined creating a work and play space for their boys instead. We came up with a plan to create a shared desk area with plentiful storage. This timeless natural wood desk was the perfect way to maximise surface area and give the boys plenty of space to do homework during the school year, or spend time crafting or building LEGOs during the summers. The drawers provide storage for all the wonderful items that fuel their productivity or creativity. Or both. I also love how the white floating shelves display a collection of nostalgic toys, providing just the right amount of childhood endearment to this sophisticated and functional space. This workspace now has endless possibilities for the boys, and it helps Jon and Anna keep their minds and spaces clear, too. Which brings us to... Basement Family Room & Home Office: In general, we knew we had to maximise surface area in this ‘50s home, and this was especially true for our clients’ basement. I’m happy to say that we designed an effortlessly comfortable space that focuses on family and makes it simple to settle in and work… or leave the workday behind. Welcome to this dual-function office and family room. Toward the back of the room, we strategically positioned Anna’s wraparound desk facing out into the room and gave her a wallpaper-and-art backdrop for stunning Zoom calls (she has already received glowing compliments). There is plenty of storage for easy organization including a space to store the family’s shared printer near the door… so they don’t have to interrupt “Mom” to get to it. Anna also wanted the freedom to be able to relax in this space with her family and turn her back on the work day — quite literally! The sofa is perfectly positioned backing onto the desk allowing her to do just that. We relocated an existing mustard yellow chair and used pops of the same colour to integrate it into the overall scheme. The wood armrests on this modular sectional provide surfaces for snacks and drinks where there was no room for an end table. The walnut finish carries the theme of natural comfort from the upstairs spaces down into the family room. The view from the sectional is less business and more pleasure, featuring cosy seating and throw pillows in cheerful colours and patterns. The highlight of this space? A wallpapered accent wall where we were able to achieve the high-end feel of custom built-in shelving with a simple IKEA hack. The shelves and cabinetry around the television offer plenty of much needed storage space to house family games and movies at a budget price point. This fun room is the perfect balance of work and play, accommodating and supporting our clients’ daily family adventures. What Our Clients Had to Say... Our clients could not be happier with their warm yet functional new rooms. With thoughtful consideration and a plan of action, we were able to transform two areas of their home into spaces that function well and feel good. In fact, they had this to say: “Lori and her team were everything we were looking for: great listeners, wonderfully creative and highly professional. We couldn't be happier with our interior makeover.” — Clients That is why we do what we do. If you're ready to start your redesign project, we would love to help. Reach out to us here, and let's get to know more about each other.

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2013 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic living room remodel in New York

Riad Tile
Bathroom - contemporary cement tile floor and pink floor bathroom idea in Santa Barbara

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary porcelain tile and multicolored floor hallway remodel in Vancouver with beige walls

Corbin Henry
Example of a tuscan family room design in Sacramento

There are not many things better than a room full of your favourite people. As you gather you smell dinner cooking in the kitchen and music playing in the background, as joyful conversation and laughter fill the room. I feel so grateful that we are inching our way back to these days. How about you? The project I’m sharing with you today has beautiful moments like these at its heart. Spaces that invite people in, foster connection, and make everyday living so simple that it’s impossible not to enjoy... Meet our Delightful Clients: The family behind this 1950s North Vancouver home transformation enjoy entertaining friends just as much as cosying up to watch a movie together. A professional couple (I'll call them Jon and Anna) with two elementary school-aged sons, Anna and Jon approached us with the task of furnishing the main floor living spaces and the basement of their family home. Anna is a busy lawyer who is now working almost full time from home, and Jon works in the film industry. With full careers, two active boys, and a love of gathering, they craved a home that could support their everyday lifestyle. Design and Lifestyle Goals: Our central goal for this project was simple: to uncover the hidden potential in their home and create a family-friendly space that functioned well and flowed seamlessly. On the main floor, our clients tasked us with creating an area for the family to relax and entertain, along with crafting a work and play space for the boys. They also dreamed of a more functional and bright basement, which they envisioned as a dual purpose family room and home office for Anna. Reveal: Comfortable and Welcoming Entryway & Living Room: Imagine you are coming home, and you walk through a bright, sunny front door like this one. You are met by this entryway of calming earth and sea tones, paired with warm, natural wood flooring. You feel instantly welcomed and eager to venture further inside... The same is now true for our clients! The simple details in their entryway are thoughtfully arranged with clean lines and colourful art as the focal point, achieving a timeless and friendly aesthetic. Dried wheat brings movement into the space and plays up the beauty of nature, while the vibrant yet warm colours and textures evoke feelings of comfort and homecoming. The entry flows seamlessly into this connected living area, which is adorned with ample seating strategically arranged to host and accommodate joyful conversations. With the fireplace and wood mantel as the focal point, these natural elements and hues warm up the room to make it feel beautifully lived-in (not like an untouchable museum). Another colourful work of art graces the space above Jon’s and Anna’s sofa, and we used decorative pillows and a throw blanket to tempt those colours into the rest of the room. A simply styled coffee table keeps the space feeling open and engaged. Reading material, anyone? Just beyond this living area, you get a glimpse of the second space our clients requested on their main floor... A Collected Space for Children to Work + Play: When Jon and Anna realised that their formal dining area wasn’t being used to its full potential, they imagined creating a work and play space for their boys instead. We came up with a plan to create a shared desk area with plentiful storage. This timeless natural wood desk was the perfect way to maximise surface area and give the boys plenty of space to do homework during the school year, or spend time crafting or building LEGOs during the summers. The drawers provide storage for all the wonderful items that fuel their productivity or creativity. Or both. I also love how the white floating shelves display a collection of nostalgic toys, providing just the right amount of childhood endearment to this sophisticated and functional space. This workspace now has endless possibilities for the boys, and it helps Jon and Anna keep their minds and spaces clear, too. Which brings us to... Basement Family Room & Home Office: In general, we knew we had to maximise surface area in this ‘50s home, and this was especially true for our clients’ basement. I’m happy to say that we designed an effortlessly comfortable space that focuses on family and makes it simple to settle in and work… or leave the workday behind. Welcome to this dual-function office and family room. Toward the back of the room, we strategically positioned Anna’s wraparound desk facing out into the room and gave her a wallpaper-and-art backdrop for stunning Zoom calls (she has already received glowing compliments). There is plenty of storage for easy organization including a space to store the family’s shared printer near the door… so they don’t have to interrupt “Mom” to get to it. Anna also wanted the freedom to be able to relax in this space with her family and turn her back on the work day — quite literally! The sofa is perfectly positioned backing onto the desk allowing her to do just that. We relocated an existing mustard yellow chair and used pops of the same colour to integrate it into the overall scheme. The wood armrests on this modular sectional provide surfaces for snacks and drinks where there was no room for an end table. The walnut finish carries the theme of natural comfort from the upstairs spaces down into the family room. The view from the sectional is less business and more pleasure, featuring cosy seating and throw pillows in cheerful colours and patterns. The highlight of this space? A wallpapered accent wall where we were able to achieve the high-end feel of custom built-in shelving with a simple IKEA hack. The shelves and cabinetry around the television offer plenty of much needed storage space to house family games and movies at a budget price point. This fun room is the perfect balance of work and play, accommodating and supporting our clients’ daily family adventures. What Our Clients Had to Say... Our clients could not be happier with their warm yet functional new rooms. With thoughtful consideration and a plan of action, we were able to transform two areas of their home into spaces that function well and feel good. In fact, they had this to say: “Lori and her team were everything we were looking for: great listeners, wonderfully creative and highly professional. We couldn't be happier with our interior makeover.” — Clients That is why we do what we do. If you're ready to start your redesign project, we would love to help. Reach out to us here, and let's get to know more about each other.

Detail of LED wall sconce with white glass tile background
Inspiration for a small contemporary kids' white tile and glass tile porcelain tile and gray floor alcove bathtub remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, green walls and an integrated sink

This home office was designed to act as both a serene guest room and a home office with work space for two people. Both the husband and wife work from home, so two desk spaces were a must. We were working with a somewhat small footprint, so we opted for a daybed that can pull out to become a king bed for guests. We brought in soft mint touches with rustic, industrial twists. Designed by Sara Barney’s BANDD DESIGN, who are based in Austin, Texas and serving throughout Round Rock, Lake Travis, West Lake Hills, and Tarrytown. For more about BANDD DESIGN, click here: https://bandddesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://bandddesign.com/austin-home-office/

There are not many things better than a room full of your favourite people. As you gather you smell dinner cooking in the kitchen and music playing in the background, as joyful conversation and laughter fill the room. I feel so grateful that we are inching our way back to these days. How about you? The project I’m sharing with you today has beautiful moments like these at its heart. Spaces that invite people in, foster connection, and make everyday living so simple that it’s impossible not to enjoy... Meet our Delightful Clients: The family behind this 1950s North Vancouver home transformation enjoy entertaining friends just as much as cosying up to watch a movie together. A professional couple (I'll call them Jon and Anna) with two elementary school-aged sons, Anna and Jon approached us with the task of furnishing the main floor living spaces and the basement of their family home. Anna is a busy lawyer who is now working almost full time from home, and Jon works in the film industry. With full careers, two active boys, and a love of gathering, they craved a home that could support their everyday lifestyle. Design and Lifestyle Goals: Our central goal for this project was simple: to uncover the hidden potential in their home and create a family-friendly space that functioned well and flowed seamlessly. On the main floor, our clients tasked us with creating an area for the family to relax and entertain, along with crafting a work and play space for the boys. They also dreamed of a more functional and bright basement, which they envisioned as a dual purpose family room and home office for Anna. Reveal: Comfortable and Welcoming Entryway & Living Room: Imagine you are coming home, and you walk through a bright, sunny front door like this one. You are met by this entryway of calming earth and sea tones, paired with warm, natural wood flooring. You feel instantly welcomed and eager to venture further inside... The same is now true for our clients! The simple details in their entryway are thoughtfully arranged with clean lines and colourful art as the focal point, achieving a timeless and friendly aesthetic. Dried wheat brings movement into the space and plays up the beauty of nature, while the vibrant yet warm colours and textures evoke feelings of comfort and homecoming. The entry flows seamlessly into this connected living area, which is adorned with ample seating strategically arranged to host and accommodate joyful conversations. With the fireplace and wood mantel as the focal point, these natural elements and hues warm up the room to make it feel beautifully lived-in (not like an untouchable museum). Another colourful work of art graces the space above Jon’s and Anna’s sofa, and we used decorative pillows and a throw blanket to tempt those colours into the rest of the room. A simply styled coffee table keeps the space feeling open and engaged. Reading material, anyone? Just beyond this living area, you get a glimpse of the second space our clients requested on their main floor... A Collected Space for Children to Work + Play: When Jon and Anna realised that their formal dining area wasn’t being used to its full potential, they imagined creating a work and play space for their boys instead. We came up with a plan to create a shared desk area with plentiful storage. This timeless natural wood desk was the perfect way to maximise surface area and give the boys plenty of space to do homework during the school year, or spend time crafting or building LEGOs during the summers. The drawers provide storage for all the wonderful items that fuel their productivity or creativity. Or both. I also love how the white floating shelves display a collection of nostalgic toys, providing just the right amount of childhood endearment to this sophisticated and functional space. This workspace now has endless possibilities for the boys, and it helps Jon and Anna keep their minds and spaces clear, too. Which brings us to... Basement Family Room & Home Office: In general, we knew we had to maximise surface area in this ‘50s home, and this was especially true for our clients’ basement. I’m happy to say that we designed an effortlessly comfortable space that focuses on family and makes it simple to settle in and work… or leave the workday behind. Welcome to this dual-function office and family room. Toward the back of the room, we strategically positioned Anna’s wraparound desk facing out into the room and gave her a wallpaper-and-art backdrop for stunning Zoom calls (she has already received glowing compliments). There is plenty of storage for easy organization including a space to store the family’s shared printer near the door… so they don’t have to interrupt “Mom” to get to it. Anna also wanted the freedom to be able to relax in this space with her family and turn her back on the work day — quite literally! The sofa is perfectly positioned backing onto the desk allowing her to do just that. We relocated an existing mustard yellow chair and used pops of the same colour to integrate it into the overall scheme. The wood armrests on this modular sectional provide surfaces for snacks and drinks where there was no room for an end table. The walnut finish carries the theme of natural comfort from the upstairs spaces down into the family room. The view from the sectional is less business and more pleasure, featuring cosy seating and throw pillows in cheerful colours and patterns. The highlight of this space? A wallpapered accent wall where we were able to achieve the high-end feel of custom built-in shelving with a simple IKEA hack. The shelves and cabinetry around the television offer plenty of much needed storage space to house family games and movies at a budget price point. This fun room is the perfect balance of work and play, accommodating and supporting our clients’ daily family adventures. What Our Clients Had to Say... Our clients could not be happier with their warm yet functional new rooms. With thoughtful consideration and a plan of action, we were able to transform two areas of their home into spaces that function well and feel good. In fact, they had this to say: “Lori and her team were everything we were looking for: great listeners, wonderfully creative and highly professional. We couldn't be happier with our interior makeover.” — Clients That is why we do what we do. If you're ready to start your redesign project, we would love to help. Reach out to us here, and let's get to know more about each other.