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You can be forgiven for thinking that the only use of concrete for your Toronto home would be exterior and functional – nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, concrete is a very versatile and easy to use material that can be manipulated to fit whatever need you have with little fuss. The durable and solid material can be tinted, stamped, patterned and shaped to beautify your home and to provide you with custom creations that will lend your home a unique touch.
 
1. Conventional Uses
The most conventional uses for concrete include exterior applications. Concrete is great for driveways, walkways, patios and balconies. However, did you know that it can also be used for decorative outdoor touches? For instance, you can use concrete to create a “flagstone” walkway by simply buying the proper moulds. You can use it to create stepping stones for your garden. Concrete makes beautiful birdbaths and even whimsical sculptures – as long as you have the proper mould and the patience to cure it properly over a few days.
 
If used in driveways, pathways, etc… you can gussy up your concrete pad by stamping a pattern onto it. You can tint it to take on a more aesthetically pleasing hue and you can also paint it if you really want it fully covered.
 
2. Non-traditional uses
Concrete can also be used inside your home. Many lofts feature tinted concrete flooring, while concrete can also be used to create solid kitchen counters, attractive fireplace surrounds, and durable garage flooring.
 
Although heavy, it is a superb material that you can customize to suit your needs and your personality perfectly. It can impart any space with an authentic look unparalleled and not found elsewhere.
 
While concrete has been a material of choice in many European and Asian countries, it is only catching on as a viable decorative finish in North America. So, the next time you have a home renovation project – include concrete in your choices and you just might be pleasantly surprised by what you can get and what you can do with it.

Exposed beams in your Toronto home can be a spectacular way of increasing the character of your rooms. Whether you choose to place them in a principal living area, in a casual recreation room or in a bedroom, the one thing that an exposed beam can deliver is style!
 
The traditional look of an exposed beam is the natural wood. However, while that is a solid look that imparts plenty of cachet, new ways of including exposed beams include painting the beams either white or a contrasting colour to better highlight the ceiling.
 
Exposed beams don’t necessarily have to run from one end of a room to the other, either – they can be more structural and follow the shape of your ceiling to create something more detailed and visually stimulating.
 
Contrary to popular belief, many exposed beams are not actually structural and are purely there for aesthetic purposes. So, even if your Toronto home doesn’t currently have any exposed beams, you can definitely get that great look by simply adding beams to the ceiling of your existing space. A good designer could help you identify the best spot for the beams as well as the best kind of beams to include and an experienced contractor could add them for you.
 
Regardless of your existing ceiling, it is possible to get this great look in your home.

If you want each room in our Toronto home to stand out, you will have to find some kind of anchor or focal point that will attract attention and around which you can build the rest of your décor. Whether this element is something grand, such as a fireplace, or more of a background feature, such as wall treatment, it your choice, but such details can truly alter the appearance of any space.
 
Big Statements
Depending on the room that you which to jazz up, you will want to look at different options. After all, what works well in a formal living room won’t translate well in a casual family room. The same holds true for a master bedroom versus a guest bedroom. Naturally, big statement pieces are best reserved for the principal entertaining areas of your home. If you have a grand living room, then an ornate fireplace or a dazzling, crystal chandelier are terrific anchors. They can get the tone of your space whether it is formal and elegant or more modern and chic. Big statements can also be made with feature walls – where one wall of the room is given a textured finish or turned into a an art piece, a fish tank or any other element that would draw attention.
 
Small Statements
Smaller statements are best reserved for bedrooms, recreation areas and informal spaces. Smaller statement features can include lighting, wall covering or even a unique piece of furniture. An antique cupboard can look great in a kitchen or family room and lend it a rustic look while a more wood bookshelves could give the same spaces a completely different look and feel.
 
Designer Help
If you aren’t sure about how you can create drama and intrigue in your rooms, you might want to consider enlisting the help of an interior decorator. Decorators run the gamut in terms of cost and are versatile in that they can provide you with the breakdown of what would look good in your home based on your tastes and then let you find those items on your own – or they can redecorate for you entirely.
 
Using a room anchor is a good way of helping you decide on colour, texture and theme in your home. It will make your decorating life much easier!

Calling all home and garden enthusiasts! The big event everyone waits for will be starting up next week. The Toronto National Home Show will happen from March 10-19 at the Enercare Centre Exhibition Place. The week-long conference brings together 700 of the best that North America has to offer from every aspect of homeownership and maintenance. From real-estate agents to contractors to cabinet makers, all of your home needs are conveniently found under one roof.
 
At this year’s edition, you’ll find the Future Dream Home, the Lowe’s DIY centre and the Unilock Celebrity Stage. Crazy for camping? Find out why people are lining up for a dose of “Glamping” – the civilized answer to sleeping outdoors. Best Buy will also be hosting a smart home exhibition while those looking to lower their energy costs will find great tips and tricks at the Home Energy Efficiency Centre.
 
If you are only interested in gardening and/or landscaping, the show has plenty to offer you as well. Put on in conjunction with Canada Blooms, you can soak up the gardening how-tos at the Garden Marplace Stage or simply talk to the various landscaping exhibitors who take part in the show every year.
 
For more information on the show, visit their website at https://nationalhomeshow.com/.
 
See you there!

Window treatments can really change the look and feel of a room in your Toronto home. Depending on your choice of covering it can either increase its formality, add glamour and glitz or impart a laid-back bohemian feel to your setting. What you decide on will greatly be influenced by your overall design theme.
 
Regardless of what you go with, whether blinds or curtain, there is no shortage of styles, materials and textures from which to choose. Let’s take a look at what’s available.
 
Blinds
Hard vertical or horizontal slats are very convenient window treatments as they are easy to install, provide good coverage and take up little space. Such blinds are usually made of plastic, wood or aluminium. Horizontal slats, otherwise known as Venetian blinds, are ideal for smaller windows while the larger vertical slats are more commonly used for walkouts and much larger windows. Slats are practical window treatments that offer the largest degree of control over how much light filters in and also come in a very wide selection of colours and patterns. However, they are also high maintenance as they tend to accumulate dust and they are also prone to bending and breaking easily. Lastly, they are not as efficient at insulating a room as curtains.
 
Curtains
Curtains are very versatile and easy to clean and are excellent insulators. They also frame windows really well and can provide a “look” to a space instead of just covering your windows. However, they do take up a lot more space than blinds and when used in kitchens or bathroom could risk developing mould unless dried properly after any steamy showers.
 
Roman blinds
Roman blinds are a hybrid of blinds and curtains. Usually made from a fabric that you can roll up and down, they are easily adjustable, provide excellent black-out features if coated with a black out material and add a nice ambiance to a room. If you choose to go with Roman blinds just make sure that they have a plasticized finish so that you can easily wipe them clean – otherwise cleaning them can be a bit challenging.

Choosing a wall covering for your Toronto home can be a tough decision. Do you paint? Do you wallpaper? Do you add mouldings? A chair rail? The choice of what you can do with walls is endless and limited only by your imagination. Some executive homes boast full murals reminiscent of European palaces while textured wall papers are always a rich complement to formal settings. Deciding on what you will use in your own home will be based on several factors.
 
Your personal sense of style
Your budget
How conservative or daring you are
What appeals to you
Convenience
 
Your personal sense of style will heavily dictated the kind of colours, textures and/or fabrics and finishes you choose for your wall coverings. Paint is the most commonly used cover as it is easy to apply, easily replaced and easy to maintain. Plus paint comes in a multitude of shades and varieties making it simple to get exactly what you want. The one thing to remember about paint is that quality counts. It is better to invest in a good quality paint that will require just one coat instead of spending less on a paint that will require four or five coats for the same kind of finish.
 
Wallpapers are beautiful and can add a real statement to any setting. However, they are trickier to install and can be difficult to source unless you go to a specialty store, order them online or custom order them. However, what you can do with wallpaper is wonderfully varied and can really dress up a room. Heavier, brocade wallpapers are great for formal settings while lighter more whimsical designs and textures can be used anywhere. You can even get full wall coverings of just one picture – these are more expensive but can really create a special mood or ambiance in your space.
 
Adding mouldings or railings to your walls can also create a lovely textured look that can be further emphasized by painting the mouldings a different colour from the walls for a bold look and feel.
 
If you are truly adventurous and want to personalize your space entirely, then a custom mural can be a lot of fun. Whether it is a serious work of art depicting a hunt in your wine cellar or a silly underwater season for a child’s bedroom, custom murals come in all shapes and sizes.
 
Lastly, remember that whatever you choose to put on your walls will have to live up to everyday wear and tear. If it is just you or you and your partner then fancier, more costly wall coverings are worth it. However, if you have a large family with young children then thinking about durability and easy-clean up options are definitely worth your time.