BEFORE & AFTER: A KITCHEN TRANSFORMED

The before pictures of this kitchen really say it all! Here are a couple of pictures of how the kitchen looked initially, it hadn't been changed in many years.

The plans were to gut this kitchen – remove the old cabinets and everything else in it. The layout stayed the same (roughly) but a new floor was put in and we also opened up a 'window' in the wall opposite the sink so the kitchen was brighter and more open to the living room.  This made a big change to the whole house. We added new cabinets, counters, all new appliances, new sink/faucet, hardware, lighting and backsplash. Pretty much everything! Here are the results.

DIY: CREATE A STYLISH PILLOW

A very simple, inexpensive DIY idea is to use a stencil and fabric screen printing ink to add some pattern to a solid piece of fabric. I happened to have some white cotton pillow covers, so I decided to add some colour and pattern. It's as easy as holding the stencil on the fabric and tapping on the ink. The great part is you could use this idea for just about anything: a table cloth, place mats, napkins, pillows, etc. There are lots of different stencils and ink colours, so the options are pretty endless. Here are the pictures of my progress right up to the pillow in my living room.

DESIGN INSPIRATION: ARTWORK BY THE ANIMAL PRINT SHOP

I was looking at Domaine Home and saw this room, with this adorable artwork on the wall of a baby nursery. This is a print called wolf pup, shown below.

I was intrigued by the wolf print and found that the credit was given to an online company called The Animal Print Shop. They sell adorable animal prints. I think they are a perfect fit for a child's room, but they show their prints in a variety of rooms. This is a great resource for interesting animal artwork. I also love them in the white frames, it provides a soft backdrop and lets the animal print be the focus.

Images from: The Animal Print Shop & Domaine Home (top image)

ROUND UP: VERSATILE OVERHEAD LIGHTING

I look at a lot of lighting and recently I've really been into the West Elm Arc Mid-Century chandelier. It's a stylish fixture that is at an incredible price point. Here it is on it's own.

It reminds me of another overhead fixture I've recommended for several clients; the Bryant chandelier from Circa Lighting shown below. It comes in a few different colours/finishes and 2 different sizes. It has a classic look that can fit work with many different styles.

I've always liked it in this room from Domino magazine, this looks like it is in the bronze finish.

Here is the fixture in the hand rubbed antique brass finish.

And now Circa has this version, called Farlane, which also has a similar look but is a higher price point.

ASK DEB NELSON: HOW TO DECORATE A MANTEL

A fireplace is often the focal point of a living room. I'm frequently asked about how to decorate the mantel. It usually requires one larger item, like artwork or a mirror to ground the whole area. Then from there it's all about experimenting with different heights and objects to get the right balanced look. Some mantels are more layered with items, while others are a bit more sparse. I always suggest checking some decor magazines, or looking online, for some inspiration of mantels you like and then try to recreate the look at your own house. Here is another of mine with a black mirror and some simple vases of shells and antique books.

This mantel from House Beautiful has always caught my eye, it's simple yet pretty and colourful. Also interesting to see a round mirror.

Another simple mantel from Elle Decor that looks great. This kind of looks like a chalkboard to me above the mantel but it may be art.

A more layered approach with a few pieces of art.