All posts tagged design

before and after: remy’s room

remys-room-1Hi everyone! Well, like I posted earlier on Instagram- it only took 7 months and 3 houses, but we finally have a room for Remy!

I can’t believe that we went this long without having anywhere to put her things. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I remember going out for supper after my biweekly doctor appointments, and crying in the restaurant every time because I didn’t have a nursery for our baby-to-be. At the time, I felt like such a bad mother. While I hope to never relive that experience of being so pregnant and feeling so unprepared, I also realize that it really wasn’t the end of the world. However, I am so glad that she has a room of her own! Let’s begin the room tour.

before-roomAbove is what her room looked like when we first moved in. The walls were painted beige, and the ceiling had a cloud design on it. There was an old fixture, dirty blinds, and dated switch plates. (Please excuse the mess of boxes, I couldn’t put anything away until her room was painted.)

remys-room-2-2Geoffrey and I chose a basic white, zero VOC paint for her walls and ceiling. After two thick coats, we were ready to set up her room.

remys-room-4remys-room-11A week before Remy was born, I published a post on my nursery envy. The inspiration for Remy’s room largely came from this room. To me, its whimsical nature and somewhat chaotic state is exactly what I think of when I think of a fun and well-loved child’s room. Plus, I’m notorious for hanging crates as shelving. It was a perfect match.

remys-room-6The white rose was Remy’s baptismal flower, and the little black-eyed-Susan was the first flower that Remy ever picked for me.

remys-room-7remys-room-8Remember the post with her crib? It’s a Jenny Lind, and we made a road trip specifically to purchase one.

remys-room-9-2Her sonogram photos were a DIY project that I shared in November of last year.

remys-room-12Rather than buying a new light for her room, we removed the one in the hallway and turned it from brass to silver by spray painting it. We lucked out with the light, since I was having the worst time trying to find one that would suit a little girl’s room. This one even has flowers on it. I think that it’s so cute now.

remys-room-3We still need to replace the carpet with hardwood flooring, and change the colour of the baseboards. However, that will probably be in a few years from now. Until then, Remy (and whomever else may come along) can have the ugly but soft carpet to play on.

<3

Emory

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by Hello, Scarlett Blog on 10/18/2016  •  Permalink
Posted in baby, new home
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Posted by Hello, Scarlett Blog on 10/18/2016

https://helloscarlettblog.com/2016/10/18/before-and-after-remys-room/

let there be light! why your home needs more natural light

Natural light from the sun is something that many of us take for granted. But it’s something we cannot do without. It allows us to see clearly, which makes our homes safer and more comfortable for our families. The health benefits of natural light include boosting your immunity and strengthening your organs. It’s also been found to increase productivity and energy too. So if your home is not currently as well lit as you would like, you and your family could be missing out. To fill your property with more natural light, here are some improvement ideas you might want to consider.

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Tidy up your yard

It will be difficult for the light from the sun to reach your property if there are multiple obstacles in its way. These are often located within your yard and can include things like trees and hedges. The only way of dealing with these obstacles is to remove them. So assess your yard and start tidying it up. Cut back any tree branches or climbing plants which are blocking the sun. You should also reposition any ornaments or plants that are obstructing the light too. This will not only improve the look of your yard but will also encourage more light to enter your home.

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Install a roof window

The most obvious way of increasing your home’s natural light is by adding more windows to your property. While there are plenty to choose from, roof windows are often considered the most effective. They can help make even the darkest of rooms feel larger and more spacious. Roof windows come in an array of shapes, styles and sizes to suit any home. Glazing can also be added to them to make your home more cozy and energy efficient. If this sounds perfect for your home, search for roof window specialists online. Another addition you might want to add to your roof is solar panels. These panels can turn natural light into energy which can power your home in an eco-friendly way. For more information, see http://www.sempersolaris.com/.

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Use lighter colors when decorating

Redecorating your home is a simple but cost-effective way of boosting your property’s natural light. Using light colored paints and wallpapers can reflect the light that enters your home. This can make a room look instantly brighter, which can benefit your entire family. Paints with a metallic finish can also bounce more light around a room, making it feel larger. When painting your home, always make sure that there is plenty of ventilation. If you have young children, you should also check that your paint is safe to use. To learn more about toxic-free paints, visit http://www.popsugar.com/.

You should also use light colors when choosing which window treatments you wish to use. Dark and heavy curtains or blinds will absorb the light and prevent it from entering your home. Whereas thin and light options can maximize the light while still giving your family some privacy.

These ideas are just a handful of effective methods that can increase how much natural light enters your property. But there are plenty more. For further ideas and inspiration, visit  http://www.houzz.com/.

** This was a contributed post.

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by Hello, Scarlett Blog on 10/12/2016  •  Permalink
Posted in new home
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Posted by Hello, Scarlett Blog on 10/12/2016

https://helloscarlettblog.com/2016/10/12/let-there-be-light-why-your-home-needs-more-natural-light/

porch makeover: peony wallpaper

peony-wallpaper-diy-2When we bought our home, our back porch was designated as the family room. Yet, the set-up that they had felt off. The large living room was nearly empty, and the back family room felt small and disjointed from the rest of the house. I knew immediately that I would be combining our living room with the family room, and that the back room would become a porch.

peony-wallpaper-diy-1Before photo.

Once we had moved in and I had turned the space into a porch/dog room/office, my next task was to make the room look nicer. With its grey carpets, low ceilings, and dirty white walls, the room felt more like a messy dorm than a nice area to study and a cozy space for the dogs to hang out. Sure, it didn’t need to be gorgeous. It did need to be different, though. I just didn’t know how.

peony-wallpaper-diy-4One thing about still having to get up in the middle of the night to nurse Remy is that I do all of my best internet searches then. After perusing Pinterest one night, I found the prettiest back porch. The layout from the kitchen to the back living space was almost identical to our home, it was actually quite startling. The only difference was that the Pinterest room had wallpaper. I knew that I was going to have to buy some as well.

peony-wallpaper-diy-6I lucked out by stumbling across nearly identical wallpaper at HomeSense. I didn’t even know that they sold it there, so it was quite a happy accident. It was so easy to install! I’m going to be returning to the store to get more (but different looking) wallpaper for our bathroom. However, one room at a time.

peony-wallpaper-diy-7We really only have a few hours each weekend to do renovations and DIYs, but I’m kind of enjoying slowly setting up the rooms. I definitely feel less pressure to have a perfect home, this time around. I’m thankful for that.

<3

Emory

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by Hello, Scarlett Blog on 10/05/2016  •  Permalink
Posted in new home
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Posted by Hello, Scarlett Blog on 10/05/2016

https://helloscarlettblog.com/2016/10/05/porch-makeover-peony-wallpaper/

what does it take to give a new home that personal feel?

If you follow my blog on a regular basis, then you will know that recently my family and I moved to a new home. Anyone who’s ever moved house knows just how strange it is moving into somewhere new. It’s all yours, and yet, it doesn’t always feel like that at first. Despite having a new place to call home, your old house still feels more like home, as such.

The good news is that making your new property feel more personal doesn’t have to be a struggle. It’s just a case of making it look and feel more appealing to you and your family. To help you do that, below I thought I would share some ideas to inspire you.

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Image source: Pixabay

Get creative and don’t be afraid to dream big

Think of your new home as a blank canvas. There is no limit to what you can do with the space. So before you start doing this, that and the other, sit down and think about what you want it to be like. Draw up a plan of how you would like your new home to be, taking into account the time and budget that you have to transform it. Your new home should be a space that you and your family love, so don’t rush the planning process. Get inspired and don’t be afraid to be creative and dream big.

Start with the walls

The best place to start is with the walls. What you are able to do with them will depend on the time that you have and the size of your budget. If you only have a small amount of time and no budget to work with, your best option is using wall art to change how they look. However, if time and money aren’t issues, then you could choose to repaint or hang new wallpaper on them. If this is the case, before you go DIY with this update, think about whether you have the skill to do so. Sometimes it’s best to use a professional service like PaintZen, to ensure that the work looks smart and professional. After all, there’s nothing worse than a slapdash paint job.

Incorporate the features that remind you of home

Is there a piece of wall art that always makes you feel at home or a clock that whenever you look at you feel safe? Whatever features make you feel safe and at home, make sure to incorporate into your new home. Whether it’s pieces of furniture, accessories, or anything else for that matter, make sure to incorporate them into your new home. If a piece doesn’t match the style, consider revamping it to make it match. Something that a lot of us overlook but can make a real difference to how at home we feel are scents. This might sound odd, but if there’s a certain scented candle or diffuser that you always have, getting one for your new home may make you feel more at ease.

So there you have it, the best ways to make your new home feel like the personal sanctuary that it should be.

** This was a contributed post.

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by Hello, Scarlett Blog on 10/03/2016  •  Permalink
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Posted by Hello, Scarlett Blog on 10/03/2016

https://helloscarlettblog.com/2016/10/03/what-does-it-take-to-give-a-new-home-that-personal-feel/

a new mailbox for a new home

century-old-homeHi everyone! It’s been two and a half weeks since my last blog post. How are you? I truly do miss you all.

Life has been very hectic here on the prairies. We have since moved into our new home, and I have begun my master’s program. My schooling is pretty intense right now, and I find that I have to turn my phone off during the day just so I don’t have any distractions. It’s the only way that I can get my schoolwork done and take good care of Remy. I’ve certainly been running on fumes over these last few weeks. However, it’s for a good cause, and so I really shouldn’t complain. :-)))

Processed with VSCO with a4 presetWe’ve had our share of ups and downs at our new home. Perhaps I should call it our old home though, given that it’s over one hundred years old. I love its size, its character, the fact that every room needs to be renovated (some of which we’ve already started), the neighbourhood, and so many other features. I mostly love how we can grow into it over the years. Moreover, Remy finally has a bedroom!

Processed with VSCO with se3 preset Processed with VSCO with a4 presetI thought that I would introduce our new home with something so simple like the purchase of a new mailbox. Boring, I know. However, it focuses on the front of the house, which is fitting for an initial post.

Processed with VSCO with se3 preset Processed with VSCO with a4 presetReally, I just wanted to check in with all of you, and to show to Big Green as well. Maybe next year we’ll be calling it Big White With The Metal Roof And Red Door. Who knows?

See you soon!

<3

Emory

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by Hello, Scarlett Blog on 09/12/2016  •  Permalink
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Posted by Hello, Scarlett Blog on 09/12/2016

https://helloscarlettblog.com/2016/09/12/a-new-mailbox-for-a-new-home/

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  • Hello! My name is Emory. I am a wife, mother of four (three on earth in heaven). This is our life on the Canadian prairies.
    email: helloscarlettblog@outlook.com

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