This basement suite is in a new infill duplex and we got really lucky in terms of timing. The City of Edmonton had only approved legal secondary suites to be built in duplex residences a few weeks prior to our development permit application! The homeowners originally brought me on to consult on their build in terms of layout and finishing. Once it was built and the builder handed over the keys, we got right to work designing the basement suite.

The basis of my design process is to create spaces that make my clients feel a certain way. Sometimes that’s creating spaces that make them feel welcomed or cozy. It might be a space for them to feel invigorated or creative in. And while there are so many aspects of the design process that work to build that feeling, one of the easiest ways to start creating your own desired feelings is through essential oils. The focus of today’s post is on your morning routine, specifically ways to utilize essential oils in your washroom to feel more lively, with greater mental clarity, and also to achieve a sense of grounding.

One aspect of design that seems to always stump my clients is how to put together a gallery wall - especially one with different sized items. So here are the two approaches I take and additional tips on pulling it all together. And of course, like so many aspects of design these guidelines are just that. There are always ways to break the rules that still results in a great visual.

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this kitchen! When friends of ours purchased this home in the neighbourhood of Gariepy in Edmonton my brain was already thinking about the future of the home. Many years later, I finally got the opportunity to put those thoughts into a design plan and then into a finished, beautiful kitchen. This renovation, like always, wasn’t without a few surprises and a few hiccups. And for me, there was the added stress that the homeowners are also friends.

You know what makes me sad? Walking into a home and seeing furniture that doesn’t fit the space. Often it’s a case of the furniture being too large for the space and every so often, it’s too small. I’m even more shocked to hear how many homeowners buy their furniture without taking any measurements or having a plan. It hurts to hear them say they’ve been living in a space they don’t like because they spent all that money on the furniture and can’t part with it because it was an investment. Please don’t make this mistake.

I want to share a bit more about my Petit Design Concept offering so that it’s super clear what it involves. It is one of the easiest ways to work with me at a lower investment point. And you don’t just have to be in Edmonton to purchase this offering because the whole thing is done digitally. So let’s dive in!

I recommend this hack when you’re wanting to get a custom look for pieces of art or photographs that don’t need professional framing. So maybe you have an odd-shaped print that you want to frame but it doesn’t fit a standard off-the-shelf frame. Or it’s a collection of photographs or postcards that you want a custom look for but can’t afford to go custom.

Very excited to be sharing this guest post by Edmonton photographer, Kelly Marleau, of Fiddle Leaf Photography. Both of us believe that we need to actually print those amazing images that we have so that they can truly be enjoyed on a regular basis. One of my favourite ways to have physical copies of my photos is to create photo books. I have one for each trip we’ve taken and it’s so nice to flip through them and relive our adventures. Take a read below for her tips for printing and displaying your photos!

It’s time for another full transformation! This was one of my own projects - an investment I took on with my friend Edward last year in the Edmonton neighbourhood of West Jasper Place. This condo had great bones and a lovely layout (there really is something to be said about a boring rectangle for space planning purposes). The purchase was quite stressful (multiple offer situation and then an issue with the accuracy of the listing), but it was meant to be and we’re both so happy with what we created!

Choosing a designer is a big decision and I want to give you my recommendations and tips for making the right choice for you and your home. There are so many amazing and talented interior designers in Edmonton, you just have to know what to look for!

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Juli Wenger late last year to talk about the importance of having a home that we love on The Becoming Ourselves Podcast.

I have this thing for homes with internal courtyards. So when I got the call to come and see this new build in the Laurier / Valleyview neighbourhood of Edmonton, I was super excited!

This is a truly special home. Not only is it an amazing location in the city but the energy of this space is beautiful. So much natural light, an overall zen feel and unique features!

Staging for this home was almost more important because it is a unique home. It becomes a bit more difficult for buyers to make sense of a home that isn’t a traditional layout if they can’t see it in action.

Well, it’s that time of year again! And I thought I’d have a bit of fun and do up 3 Festive Place Settings for a bit of inspiration. Instead of going all out, each design is kept minimal in its overall aesthetic but still achieves the desired festive look depending on your taste!

I was absolutely ecstatic when one of my clients reached out about working with her boys to redesign their rooms (and to do a bit of updating around the rest of the home too)! It was so much fun to sit down with each of her sons and discuss how they wanted to feel in their rooms. And now, I may not be a parent, but I think it was such a great experience for them to sit down with a professional and be able to communicate what they wanted in a room, have a full say in the process and then see their vision come to life. And I was just blown away by the amount of thought they put into it. The only request from mom and dad was that I ensured it stayed on budget and their designs worked with the rest of the home.

One of the services I offer is a Pre-Sale Consultation for Edmonton and area homeowners. It’s important to get an unbiased opinion on your home so that you can prep it to be the most appealing to potential buyers. Here are the top 3 things I almost always share with homeowners to do before listing…

If you’ve ever bought or sold a house, the topic of staging likely came up. There are several reasons why I almost always recommend that a house be staged before it’s put on the market and I will share those with you here. I’ll also share some before and after photos of a home we recently staged.

And you know what, within 48 hours of it being listed, it already had 5 showings.

It’s rare that a property we work on needs to be staged for longer than 4 weeks (unless it’s a very specific home or it isn’t priced properly). It’s usually snapped up well before then.

Today we are talking all about Essential Oils in the Home with Ardelle Viau of Aromas and Avocados, who is also based in Edmonton. She has been instrumental in my own education and use of Essential Oils and I wanted to share a bit of that magic with you all. You can read the interview below, or watch here. And at the end, we’re talking about Ardelle’s new 12 week program Arise that I would highly recommend!