Realestock Blog

Disclaimer: by redecorate I don’t mean throw everything out and buy thousands of dollars worth of furniture and accessories. I mean take a step back, asses your space, re-organize, edit, re-paint, change accent colours… just try something new. Who truly says “my home is perfect just the way it is” anyhow?!

1. Winter’s got you depressed enough already – this will take your mind off it.
2. It’s the perfect excuse to purge clutter.
3. Your space doesn’t seem to work right – it’s not inviting/clean/functional enough.
4. You loved those totally on trend grey walls for about 2 weeks, but now you’re regretting them intensely.
5. You’ve recently gotten a new pet/baby/roommate.
6. You’ve outgrown your action figure collection… maybe it’s not something you want to display so prominently anymore.
7. You’re going stir crazy and you’ve got cabin fever. Redecorating the cabin might help…
8. Moving furniture is great exercise for the mind and body – you use spatial planning abilities to determine where it should go and you get a great workout lugging it around.
9. You’ve been dying to try bringing a pop of colour into your space.
10. Too many things you own are neither beautiful, nor useful.
11. You’re eyeing some new home accessories, but you follow the strict 1 in, 1 out policy. Things need to go before more stuff comes in.
12. New year, new look!
13. You’re moving – you can reassess your style and start fresh at your new home.
14. Your space lacks a strong focal point.
15. Your space just doesn’t make you happy when you’re in it.
16. Your house doesn’t feel like a home.
17. You’re constantly reading design and real estate blogs plotting ways to improve your home – you’re probably full of great ideas!

Photo credit: Matt Hutchinson

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Interior design can be very, very boring. I’ve spent many hours trolling home design websites and I’ve seen countless posts and comments advising people to hide action figure collections and children’s toys. Everyone is embracing grey, mid-century lines and  ultra-modern designs... The only problem with this? It’s totally boring!

While I’m a fan of clean lines and a clutter free environment, I hate, hate, hate it when everyone is telling you to make your house look the same - cold, sterile and too modern. Where’s the personality? Where’s the sense of fun? Shouldn’t design be for the people who live there, not the people who just visit?

Basically, I want some whimsy and creativity to come back into our homes, and it looks like British Architect Ab Rogers has answered my call.

He’s designed what he calls The Rainbow House. It’s a West London Townhouse with some actual personality - a rainbow of colours, secret passages, rotating beds and even a secret slide to take you from the master bedroom to the living room in a “blast of joy”. It’s a dream come true for kids and adults who still think like kids. The Sunday Times called it “a playground for adults”, and I can’t think of a better description.

As you can see from the picture, it's bright, but not insane. The colourful blasts of the house are counterbalanced by lots of white, lots of crisp design and a fairly good dose of minimalism. It's the restraint that really helps the colours and the crazy design stand out and it's a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Great design that's not afraid to have fun, take risks and do things that are a little bit weird. We need more of this in my opinion.  

Of course, talking about The Rainbow house doesn't do it much justice - watch the video at Plastolux, or read the original Sunday Times article here.

So, while your cup of tea might not be ultra clean design broken up by delightful pops of powerful colour, I assure you, that some of us in the world - who still appreciate a little whimsy in our lives, are head over heels in love with the Rainbow House.

If you do think you’re brave enough to embrace the Rainbow, the townhouse can be rented for the princely sum of £3,500 a week. Not cheap, but isn’t it a small price to pay to re-capture some of the thrill of childhood?

Picture: The Sunday Times

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Everywhere you look online, there are Christmas decorating ideas, top five gift lists, and dozens and dozens of other people’s homes decorated up to the nines to make you feel back about your own home. If you’re feeling tired, overworked, under-rested and downright uninspired to do anything resembling creativity, don’t despair – I was feeling the same way. Rather than write another generic holiday to-do list blog post (because nothing will get you out of a funk faster than a list of MORE CHORES...) I thought I would curate a list of inspiring Christmas ideas. Take them, leave them, search for more. These pretty things and ideas might just snap you out of your holiday malaise.

Make your own holiday gift boxes by using colourful die-cut paper.

Apartment Therapy to the rescue with some classy gift ideas.

Nothing says festive like one strong, bold colour choice according to Martha Stewart.

Make your own modern, homey stockings with some felt and simple sewing.

White porcelain branch candle holders are a modern take on a seasonal tradition.

Holiday decorations don't have to be all glitz and glamour. A little DIY TLC can set the mood.

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With property prices going up and the push to denser, more urban living, the baby boomer dream of living in a sprawling suburban rancher is not only out of date, it’s undesirable for many people. Small space living has many benefits – less cleaning, cozier, more intimate spaces and central locations, but it can have many drawbacks too. Too much stuff can make a home look cluttered, overstuffed, dark and messy, but not everyone wants to live in a sparse, ultramodern condo where the only “colour” is grey. Small spaces don’t need to be empty, they just need to be organized!If you’re blessed with a small space, there are plenty of resources online to help you create a home that’s harmonious, well decorated and inspiring. We’ve compiled the ultimate list of small space tips that will help inspire you, no matter what your personal taste might be. 

1. Lighting REALLY Matters:

A dark room can be cosy – or it can be claustrophobic. When you have small rooms to work with, bringing in light can really open them up. Soft light from lamps (keep your shades scaled to the room) and windows can fill a room with light, and recessed and track lighting makes the most of limited space. 

2. Colour:

Many people will say dark colours are totally inappropriate for small spaces, but for everyone who tells you not to go bold in a small space, there are two examples that will refute that rule. The important thing to remember in a small space is that a little goes a LONG way, and no matter how you decorate, and what colours you choose, the look should be consistent throughout the space – this tricks the eye by making all the spaces blend together, giving the impression of one larger space, rather than many small ones. While dark colours and intricate designs can overpower a small wall, a large bold piece of artwork, or bright accents on pillows and rugs can make a room pop and add much needed personality and visual interest. A house of white and cream may look larger, but it won’t be very interesting to many people.

3. Kill your Clutter:

As a person on a one-lady quest against needless clutter, this is a personal topic for me. Too many small things crammed into a space makes you think that the room just can’t hold everything in it. Cutting clutter doesn’t mean you can’t display the things you love – it just might mean you can’t do it all at once. Try:

o Rotating you collections. Change up what you have displayed according to the season, or even your moodso Storing out of site. A neatly labeled box holds DVDs and video games just as well as a shelf. Bonus – storage doesn’t have to be plain – choose bright boxes to inject fun and colour into your décor.

o Edit! Consider replacing three small knickknacks with one large décor piece. There’s nothing wrong with only keeping pieces your really love for your small space! Even if your aunt did give you an expensive (but not particularly nice vase for Christmas) there’s no reason to display it if you don’t actually like it.

o Review all your possessions twice a year to make sure you’re only holding onto the things that you actually use or love. There is no shame with selling unwanted things on craigslist or donating them to a charity if you want them out of your house.

o Ditch artificial flowers. They look tacky, they pick up dust and are better replaced with real plants or flowers.

o Say goodbye to having too much stuff! Cramming too much furniture into a small space can make it seem like a storage area instead of a home. Remember that stuff is just stuff – it’s not memories. Evaluate everything you have in your home and see if you could possibly live without it. Chances are you could!

4. Create Openness:

Many small apartments maximize space by having large mirrors on the walls. They reflect light and create an illusion of a much more open, much bigger space. Consider splurging on some mirrors for your own space to copy this effect. If you can, remove doors you rarely or never need to close – the door itself takes up space, and cuts the flow of the room. Something as simple as replacing heavy curtains with lighter ones in the spring and summer can make a room look lighter and more open.

5. Learn to Love Double Duty Furniture:

Small spaces mean that rooms have to serve double, or even triple purpose. Consider a sofa that pulls out so your living room can double as a guest bedroom. Use a vintage sideboard for an entertainment unit and use the drawers to store media and other items you don’t need to use every day.  Create a bench with storage underneath to double as seating and storage.

6. Maximize what you have:

Instead of filling your house with 6 small bookshelves, consider taking an entire wall and turning into into a storage area with floor to ceiling bookshelves, cubbyholes and places for everything. You’ll get rid of unnecessary furniture, and create more space for the things you want to hold on to.  Go vertical by putting up high shelves to store books and items you don’t need often.

7. Scale Furniture and Appliances appropriately:

Not enough space in your tiny kitchen? Consider buying a small fridge or stove, or even ditching the microwave to open up space. Bigger isn’t always better in a small space – furniture that’s too big or crammed into too small an area just looks muddled and hinders your ability to physically move around it.

Photos & Inspiration: Apartment Therapy; Re-Nest

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