Ikea's good art

Everyone knows that designing a house and making it feel like a home takes many long and exhausting months, if not years.  So when I realized that I would only have two months to plan, design, execute, anticipate the smallest details and to think about what we might be needing in the future, I know that in order to not go insanely crazy, I had to rely on things that were not too expensive and too valuable but still good looking.  I don't know much about Sao Paulo yet, but I know that things tend to cost three times more.  So where did I go to for basic things? right!  Ikea.  I was planning to buy things such as a mattress for our little one, a foot step for his sink  and so on.  Imagine my surprise when walking around I found very good looking prints!  God, was I glad, there are an awful lot of empty walls in this house that will need to be filled. We got the top one by Deborah Azzopardi for Lucas's room, of which I will only tell you that it will have a bunch of stripes.  Yeah!

 The top is a motif by Amelia Lancaster.  Bellow, Ikea's selection of Matisse motifs.   We also got one or two of those.

Monday Meandering

Happy Civic Holiday to my fellow Canadians.  Hope everyone is having a beautiful long weekend!

1)  The latest issue of House of Fifty is out and I’m loving the cover - well the whole issue really.  My friend Christine wrote the most insightful article on How to Build an Eclectic Space.  If this doesn’t stop you from “buying the set",” I don’t know what will!  Click here to read.



2) Recently stumbled upon this site. Love the photos pairing unlikely celebs like this one of Mick and Dolly.



3) I’m loving some of the new pieces in West Elm’s Fall preview.  You can see them here.

  

4)  Ikea will introduce some new products in mid-August.  Vibrant textiles, vintage boxes and magazine holders and life-size (to a toddler) fabric dolls which make me smile are just a few items that caught my eye.

(told you, didn’t these dolls make you smile?)

5) This post on ottomans was one of my first and I need to write an updated one as I am still a huge fan.
Sneak peek:  I picked up this ottoman and stuffed all 60” of it into my car to deliver to a client (the things we do!)  Isn’t it beautiful?  I custom designed it using a Thom Felicia for Kravet fabric.  My upholsterer did an amazing job on the diamond tufting.  It softens all of the leather furniture my client has (and wants to keep) and means that everyone can put their feet up while watching the tele!

Have a wonderful week!

If you need decorating help, I’m just an email away!  Please contact me at vanessa@vanessafrancis.com. 

Client Project: Dream Kitchen on a Budget

In a previous post, I spoke of my love of Ikea kitchens. I also have mentioned, just a few times, the classic appeal of white kitchens. This client wanted not only to update her small kitchen but also make it more functional.

The only change to the layout was to move the refrigerator to the opposite wall with a narrow pantry for all her food items. This gave her a 5’ run of counter space for food prep where previously she only had about 2’ to the right of the sink. We also saved on counter space by installing a new microwave above the range.

We gained additional storage space by extending the cabinets to the ceiling. This also gives the impression that the ceiling is higher than it is.

We added symmetry to the room by installing glass front cabinets on either side of the window. The client can display her pretty dishes. A new white subway tile backsplash is timeless and works well with the white cabinetry.

My favourite part is the counter which is a quartz in a beautiful grey brown colour (it’s not quite grey, yet not quite brown). We replaced the dated, small ceramic floor tiles with cork which is environmentally sustainable as well as soft on the feet and legs.

We replaced the lighting with an inexpensive pendant from Home Depot and one of my favourite ceiling fixtures from Robert Abbey. My client says it looks like a cake! We painted the walls a soft blue grey.

I loved working with this client and she LOVES the transformation of her kitchen from boring beige to classic white. (I will add additional “after” photos once I receive them from the photography student who took this one.)

I’m taking part in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch and The Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming. Head on over to see some great Before and Afters.

If you need help with a kitchen reno or any other design project, please contact me at vanessa@vanessafrancis.com.

Ikea Kitchens: Budget friendly and stylish

I love Ikea. I love their furniture styles, accessories and price point. And I love their kitchens. You can’t beat their pricing and 25 year warranty. I recently completed a small kitchen reno for a client using Ikea cabinetry and it turned out beautifully. Stay tuned!

On Sarah’s House 3 which is currently airing, Sarah Richardson installed an Ikea kitchen and painted the upper cabinets, lower cabinets and island three different colours. I thought it looked great especially the sunny yellow on the island. This country kitchen is fresh and current.

 

This kitchen is from Sarah’s House 2 and again she used paint to transform these Ikea cabinets. 

I think that one of the reasons why design shows choose to use Ikea cabinetry, other than their great price point, is their quick availability.

On Colin and Justin’s Home Heist, Ikea cabinetry was used more often than not. Check out their site for the unbelievable before and afters. I really don’t know how they managed to find these homes but the transformations are brilliant! This first one with Ikea cabinets painted a beautiful turquoise is my favourite.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Design Editor Cameron MacNeil’s Ikea kitchen is featured in a House and Home video:

This is the winner of Ikea’s $25,000 Kitchen Makeover contest. You can view a video at House and Home. Notice the fabric on the chairs? They used Ikea drapery panels – genius!

This is one of the finalists in House and Home’s reader design contest.

And one last simply beautiful Ikea kitchen from House and Home.

There is no excuse not to have a beautiful kitchen. Get it done now before Ontario’s HST comes in July 1st! Stay tuned for a kitchen before and after by Vanessa Francis Design.