This Or That: Retro Bedrooms

Many home design styles are influenced by popular fashion trends, which means the current prevalence of and appreciation for counter culture is having an impact on our interiors. Translation: hipster homes. Artfully-waxed facial hair, thick-rimmed glasses, and plaid shirts are popularizing eclectic decor. Where many opt to wear clothing reminiscent of the past, similar motifs are expressed in the way homes are being decorated – we’re adopting older styles and making them cool again.

Check out the two vintage bedrooms below and let us know which you prefer: Option A’s casual cottage chic? Or option B’s bold flavor? Where would you love to read Bukowski and listen to music we probably don’t know about?

Option A

Image via Lonny

Option B

Image via Lonny

Our Choice:

While each room has its own merits, we prefer Option B. We find Option A’s antique lighting, bedside table, and portrait make it a bit more dated than we enjoy. It evokes the 1920s where Option B has more of a 1960s feel. The fun colors and bright patterns are balanced by the hardwood floor and white accent pieces. All in all we think it’s a nice mix of modern and classic with some playful touches (we love the faux skin rug). 

Funky wallpaper is gaining in popularity, so we have to ask: what do you think of this trend? Are you excited to put a fun pattern on your walls, or do you think this is one revived decor style that should have stayed buried? Let us know below!  

And of course, for more bedroom advice and inspiration make sure to check out the Marketplace Events home show nearest you. Check out the home shows coming up in your area - US shows & Canadian shows. 

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Wallpaper Wonderment: 10 Ideas

Remember the days when wallpaper was almost a bad word?  People used to shriek at the thought of using wallpaper instead of paint.  But nowadays, a combination of the two is where it's at!  Think of wallpaper as art, it's great for adding a decor element to any space.  While there are still some scary patterns out there, you'll find that wallpaper has become a lot more modern.  Check out our examples below!

10 Ways To Use Wallpaper   

1. Opt for a floral feature wall in the bathroom.  

Image via House to Home

2. Keep it subtle and tie in bolder colors with other pieces.  

Image via Lonny

3. Wallpaper to create a feature headboard. 

Image via House to Home

4. Introduce real life silhouettes. 

Image via Lonny

5. Paper the back of your cabinets or shelves.  

Image via House & Home

6. Create an interesting feature wall in the powder room. 

Image via Lonny

7. Use a subtle geometric pattern to introduce a new color.  

Image via House & Home

8. Make your room look taller with vertical stripes. 

Image via House to Home

9. Go big and bold! Feel free to paper the door. 

Image via House & Home

10. Frame your bathroom window! 

Image via House to Home

What do you think of wallpaper? Leave us a comment and let us know! 

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How to turn ho-hum walls into eye-catching accents!

Don’t risk committing an interior design crime by leaving your walls blank forever! From shelving to decals to mirrors, there are countless ways to turn your walls into eye candy. Just follow these three simple tips from the experts appearing at the Vancouver Home + Design Show to turn your walls from snooze-worthy to stunning.

1. Magical Mirrors 

Mirrors automatically make a space appear bigger and brighter. Christine Friend, owner of the Friendly Decorator, believes you don’t always have to shell out big bucks for a great mirror to freshen up your home. She suggests stopping by Homesense to find a mirror that doubles as a piece of art and light reflector. Feel free to splurge on a large, ornate piece or opt for an assortment of smaller ones to group together.

Catch Christine on the HGTV Main Stage at the Vancouver Home + Design Show on Friday Oct. 18 at 3PM, Saturday Oct. 19 at 12PM and Sunday Oct. 20 at 3PM.

2. Paint Perfect

There’s more to an accent wall than decorative accessories. Annie Sloan, painter and author, believes a room can be transformed with a simple can paint. Choose a single surface as your feature wall, then select a colour that is different yet complimentary to the rest of the walls in the room, and go wild! Annie recommends a bold statement hue, such as bright blue.

Learn more from the painting expert when she appears on the HGTV Main Stage at the Vancouver Home + Design Show on Saturday Oct. 19 at 11AM and again at 5PM.

3. Wallpaper Whimsy

Design duo Jennifer Scott and Megan Baker, designers at A Good Chick To Know, tells all their clients to allocate a good portion of their budgets towards sofas, beds and wallpaper. Wallpaper is a great way to create a feature wall and incorporate home décor trends into a space. Plaid is the popular pattern du jour, try it in a muted hue to add interest to the wall behind your bed. If you aren’t ready to commit to wallpaper, try playing with wall decals instead. Most can be easily applied and removed, leaving you stress-free when you are ready for something new!

For more design tips, don’t miss Jennifer at the Vancouver Home + Design Show. She will be on the HGTV Main Stage with Megan on Friday Oct. 18 at 2PM, Saturday Oct. 19 at 6PM and Sunday Oct. 20 at 1PM.

What wall design trick will you be incorporating into your home?

FOR 2-FOR-1 TICKETS TO THE SHOW CLICK HERE & SAVE! 

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The Space Above The Sofa

Today I'd like to share some design and decor inspiration. for your living room.  Most of us have a sofa that is placed up against a wall, however, my questions has always been...what should you put above that wall? Well..here are some great ideas!

Decor Ideas, Above the Sofa

Image via Homedit

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