The darkest days of the pandemic are behind us. Our homes continue to evolve and they are no longer just for shelter. Now they support our newly formed routines of day-to-day life in 2024. Hybrid work and video calls are now part of home life, alongside a constant stream of online deliveries, home entertaining, and visits from friends and family. As life has changed, home décor has evolved to accommodate this new reality. What’s next in home décor? Modern farmhouse has been the most popular style in recent years, including during the pandemic. It offers relaxed living with the warmth of wood ..read more

Most design styles never really go away, they just reinvent themselves.  I bet you never thought honey oak floors, cabinets, or ceilings would be waking from the dead in 2023. Perhaps you were hoping (or praying) they would remain buried, never to be seen again? My apologies to diehard lovers of neutral wood tones like grey or taupe, but it’s true! Honey oak wood is quietly re-entering the design scene. Perhaps this once popular colour of the 90s never left your house, so rejoice in the comeback of décor dominated by this golden-hued wood. Honey oak, also called golden, red, blonde, or ye ..read more

White continues to be a top choice for paint colours. Picking the right white for your house might look easy, but with so many different whites out there, it can get pretty tricky.  Four shades of white People usually think of white paint as one simple colour. It actually comes in a range of shades, each with its own unique look and feel. These shades can be divided into four main categories: neutral bright cool warm It’s important to understand these categories to find the perfect white paint that matches the style of your space and reflects your personal taste. Here are my favourite w ..read more

Earlier this month I had the privilege to attend the 2023 Decorative Surfaces Conference in Toronto, where I was invited to deliver the keynote presentation. This international conference is hosted annually, bringing together manufacturers, suppliers and designers from around the world to discuss the latest trends and insights in this industry. Decorative surfaces and interior design As a keynote speaker, I had the opportunity to speak about the role decorative surfaces plays in interior design, the current industry trends in commercial and residential (including the most popular wall surface ..read more

On Friday, June 9th, Marilyn Denis signs off the airwaves with the final episode of The Marilyn Denis Show. Guest experts were invited back for one last hurrah as a surprise to thank Marilyn for all she has given to so many through the show. Here are some thoughts and behind-the-scenes photos from that last show. On a personal note I have been a guest on TV with Marilyn Denis for about 30 years. I really can’t believe how fortunate I have been to meet and work with this amazing woman. I remember my first day on Cityline with Marilyn, around 1994 when Benjamin Moore asked me to take Leslie Har ..read more

When designing a home, I explore the look and feel my clients are hoping to achieve in their personal space. Often, the goal is to create a modern interior, but not everyone is entirely sure what this means. The true definition of modern design refers to “a sleek and uncluttered style that began in the late 19th century. In its purest form, modernism reflects a fuss-free approach to life. As a result, designers kept décor minimal while emphasizing industrial materials.” Modern design developed post-WWI and WWII, when public and domestic life changed drastically following a devastating war – an ..read more

Today, home is more than a place to gather with family and friends, get a good night’s sleep or stash beloved items. It’s truly possible to make your home a haven for wellness. As a designer specializing in residential and commercial interiors for 30 years, here is what I have observed when it comes to creating a healthy home. While it’s not an absolute science, it is very interesting to consider and might be something you can implement in your own house! Eating better at home Clients with smaller pantries and less food in sight tell me they tend to be less inclined to snack. Avoid making room ..read more

We often describe neutral paint colours as plain white, boring beige, or drab gray – colours that don’t enrich a space. This is no longer the case. Over the last 20 years, I’ve learned that neutral paint colour can be the colour used in the largest proportion of a space. It doesn’t have to pop and draw attention to itself. Other hues in the room can do that. Neutral paint can add subtle energy to the colour scheme of a space. By looking at neutral paint in this way, any dominant paint colour needs to contribute to a space’s character, even if it’s subtle. Gone are the days of non-colours ..read more

Want to take the perfect shelf-ie? 1. Start fresh Lay everything out in front of you. This will be easier to visualize and create a cohesive palette, instead of fighting with a shelf that already has stuff on it. It always helps to begin with a clear mind and a blank canvas. 2. Ensure your shelf has grounding pieces Start with your largest items to create focal points to style around. Follow the rule of thirds. Objects grouped in threes appeal to us visually, especially if they vary in height, size and/or texture. Rule of three makes styling much easier. Each shelf has its own light. The li ..read more

For most of us, the kitchen is where we entertain, spend time with family and friends, and get creative. When it’s time to redesign the kitchen, where do you start? As a designer for 30 years, I tell clients to begin with what they love to do in the kitchen and then follow these 6 steps. 1. Make a kitchen activities wish list Make a list of everything you love to do (or must do) in the kitchen. Envision the things that really matter to you for this room as you write this list. It will be important later in the process. This list could include: fancy pastry baking if that’s your absolute favo ..read more