Capturing colour

Dear Debbie;

I don’t have a lot of money to spend on art but do love to take photographs of my garden and the budding cherry blossom trees in our back yard. How would you suggest framing them? I’m not interested in those cheap black plastic frames. Thanks for your ideas.
— Penny

Dear Penny;

Smooth as silk

Step by steps

Plaster walls are no longer common in today’s homes due to the rise in cost of building materials and labour. If you live in a home built before 1940 you will most likely have plaster walls and they have many good features. You might notice that older homes are quieter than new builds. That’s because plaster walls are thicker and help with soundproofing.

Make It a Feature

Dear Debbie;

In a corner of my condo is a cement pole, part of the condo building structure. I’ve painted it the same colour as the walls, but it needs more interest. I have no artistic ability, but I was thinking of stenciling. However, I cannot find ones large enough to do the job. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Always In Style

Dear Debbie;

I’d like to try a paint effect for the walls in our living room, but I am concerned that it will become out of date and be difficult to cover up. I have heard you joking about sponging, which I did in our nursery years ago. Actually it still looks good, but the colours are all wrong now.

Go Graffiti

Dear Debbie;

My teenage kids want to decorate the basement, which is their hangout, and do not want any input from me. We gave them a small budget to cover the cost of paint and a few necessities such as oversized cushions. I remember you did a graffiti wall on one of your television shows and would love to show them that I can be fun.

The Quick Fix

“Wow, you look great,” exclaims a friend you haven’t seen for a while. “What have you done? Lost weight, joined a gym, got a new boyfriend?” she continues looking you up and down. Trying not to feel insulted, as these revelations seem to indicate that I wasn’t looking so good the last time we met, I reply that I’m not doing anything special but … I did get my hair cut.

Early spring notes

Dear Debbie;

When is it too early to bring out the spring décor? I crave the first brave blooms that shoot through the snow and feel it is time to fold away the woolies and breath in the fresh air.
— Penny

Dear Penny;

Winter has its glorious moments with a gleaming palette of white snow against black bark and moody skies that threaten a cold blast offset by the brilliant winter sun.

How to create an inspiring vignette

When you walk into a room, what is it that makes it feel like home to you? The furniture pieces are familiar, there is the lingering scent of a spicy candle, a photograph that smiles back at you. Memories make it special and mark the space as yours. Why not take the next step and create a vignette in an unused corner or on a bookshelf that showcases a selection of items that might not otherwise be on display?

The third dimension

Dear Debbie;

We have recently removed some cheap paneling from our den and the walls are a mess. I’ve seen some textured wallpaper that I like, which would help cover up the scrapes. But a friend is keen on a 3D wall panel product that is awesome to look at. Is this a good idea?
— Leon

Dear Leon:

Although heavy wallpapers and panels will hide imperfect walls,