TOP 3 FAVOURITE STRIPED RUGS

I definitely have a thing for striped rugs. I have a few in my own home, like the Draper Stripe from Dwell studio in the room above. It's 100% wool and in a neutral colour the stripe adds just enough pattern. A striped rug is a classic choice and they look good in bedrooms, hallways, entries – any room, really. I tend to move rugs around to see them in different spaces. It's a timeless pattern that lasts the test of time. There are skinny or wide stripes, and a full array of colours, some run horizontal and others run vertical. Here are my top 3 faves!

1. Draper stripe by Dwell Studio

2. Puhalo stripe by Capel

Here it is again by my back door:

3.  Vintage Indian Dhurrie by Madeline Weinrib

ASK DEB NELSON: TV SOLUTION FOR FAMILY ROOM

In my column, Ask Deb Nelson, a reader wrote in asking about where to place a TV in her open kitchen/family room – she didn't want to put it above her fireplace mantel. Obviously people need to go with a TV solution that works for them – it's a common question – where to put the TV?! But the reality is, for people with kids and an open concept family room, there is probably going to be a large TV in the room. At least the size of TV's has improved, these days most people have a thin plasma screen TV, so it can easily be wall mounted. One way to deal with the TV is to just put it out there on a stylish console (above image shows one from Westelm). I like the style of this console and depending on the room layout it would add some balance and symmetry to have two matching consoles on either side of the fireplace. The TV can be placed on the console and you can add a stack of books, or a few other items beside the TV. On the other side you could have a lamp and artwork behind it to balance out the room. The great thing about a closed door cabinet like this is that is also provides you with quite a bit of storage. It also is made for TV equipment, so the components can go inside and there are holes in the back for the wires. This can help cut down on the unsightly mass of cords.

Here are a few other ideas of great consoles for a TV. From Westelm:

From Restoration Hardware:

From Ikea:

From Westelm:

NARROW CONSOLE TABLE

Often people have small areas, like an entry, where they need a narrow piece of furniture. I find a narrow console table can work well in an entry, by a back door, or in unusual spaces where you can't fit an overly large table. I've had this white console table in my own home/s for about 8 years and I've used it in an entry, bedroom and now by the back door. Originally I painted it white, and it works well in many different areas because of the size – it's a very versatile piece of furniture. From time to time I think about selling it but then I realize how often I use it. Here it is now:

And here it is years ago in my house in Toronto:

A painted white console has a very specific look. I also really like the look of these two wooden consoles, both with a mid century modern vibe!

DIY: lamp for $9.99

This lamp underwent a dramatic transformation and cost less than $10. Back when I was doing a segment on CBC TV called, "Deb on a Dime", I was always looking for affordable and stylish DIY ideas. You can create some great looking lighting if you think outside the box and are willing to get your hands dirty. I picked up a pair of these lamps at a second hand store for $4.99 each. I liked them right away because of the shape and size. I used white primer spray paint to cover the colour and pattern, this gave them a perfect matte white finish. Here I am getting ready to spray:

Then I was able to pick up two shades in an 'as is' section of a big box store; each shade was $5.00, for a grand total of $9.99 for each lamp. I think they look pretty good considering the price tag.

Here's how the second lamp looked on the other end of the room.

Large greenery displays in decor

I always like branches, greenery and trees used in decor. Like in the image above, a pop of greenery in any room can really look amazing. I love the fiddle leaf fig tree in the large basket in the room above. At home it can be as simple as cutting large branches and putting them in a big vase – easy to do yourself. Here are a couple of more great examples.  If you're lucky enough to have branches with blossoms that looks even better.