2019 Princess Margaret Show Home - A Few of My Favourite Details

It's that time of year again! The $6 Million Dollar Grand Prize Oakville Showhome is up for grabs, and I couldn't be more thrilled. As a Designer, I always get excited to see what Brian Gluckstein has come up with year after year. I love scanning each image, relishing in every detail most people wouldn't even notice. Gluckstein Design creates spaces where you lose yourself in imagining your new extravagant life, relaxing and enjoying these beautifully-designed rooms.

Today I'm going to share just a few of my favourite areas in the Oakville Showhome, and highlight some of the gorgeous design details that just cannot go unnoticed!

Stair Hall

This is a gallery wall-lovers dream! My black and white obsessed heart just sings when I see this photo. Each frame is meticulously placed on this curved, grandiose wall. I absolutely love the natural light pouring into this stairwell, an area that oftentimes gets neglected with light.

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Contrast Door Trim

What an absolutely brilliant way to highlight each entry into every room. I love the high contrast between the walls and door trim, and I especially love how the baseboards and crown remained light. I really hope to see more of this detail, it's just so sophisticated.

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A Great, Great Room

Let's be real here, I chose this space for its lack of colour. This whole room speaks to me. I'm a neutralist at heart and I am not afraid to admit that. I also adore the traditional paneling in conjunction with the sleek lines of the furniture, the separate conversation areas but also how he married the two spaces together with the same sofas for continuity.

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Stepped Kitchen Island

These Dekton countertops are stunning. I love the simple stepped profile and of course the waterfall detail on the sides. The table-height eating area is a little unexpected twist, and makes the island a little more visually appealing rather than one big piece of stone. This is such a smart way to incorporate Kitchen dining without a physical table impeding on the space.

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Principal Bathroom

This Master Ensuite has such an understated quality to it, while still packing a lot of style. The added texture of the vanity doors, the interesting tile inlay, the stone picture ledge and of course, those stunning mirrored closets just reflect all the beauty of this space. The decorating & styling of this Bathroom is simplistic yet significant all at the same time.

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An In-Home Spa Retreat It's not every day when you can say you're going downstairs to your Spa. But in this home, you can. Situated off the Home Gym, this space is a retreat like no other. Whether you hire a private masseuse, or simply use this space to hide from your children, this is an area of the showhome that is truly so unique.

And lastly. a spa isn't complete without a full steam shower, sauna and an Ensuite which is larger than most Toronto single bedroom condos. I love the curbless design, which allows the floor tile to run right through both the sauna & shower. This creates a truly seamless look.

Have you seen the Oakville Showhome yet? If so, what was your favourite space? Make sure to buy your ticket for a chance to win this beauty! The draw is on November 28th!

Thank you so much for reading and make sure to follow me on Instagram to see the latest in my design life!

Millwork Moment: Home Offices That Inspire

As many of you know, I've built my career designing millwork for several homes throughout the city. I have designed custom kitchens, baths & other various areas of millwork with budgets of all sizes. But there is just something about the Home Office, a place where we both live and work that always leaves me inspired. Whether they are a dedicated space or a little nook in your Bedroom, I love being able to carve out spaces for designated work areas. Today I'm going to share some of my favourite spaces both large and small that are both beautiful and practical.

1. Check Your Heights

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I just love this neutral space created by Collective Studio here in Toronto. Rather than dropping the desk portion lower, which can instantly date the space - they carried the heights through for a consistent look. I love how there is dedicated shelving space for both books & decor, yet the area remains practical with proper lighting and ample desk space for a laptop.

2. Mixing Materials

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I love the organic vibe of this space by Fraher Architects. The natural elements play so nicely against the softness of the pale grey paint. The desk portion is actually a live-edge piece of wood which integrates with the square panelling so beautifully. This is a perfect example of how to think outside of the traditional box when it comes to desk materials!

3. Double Purpose

This is actually a space I helped design last year, for Jessica Kelly Design. The client needed this room to serve two things: A home office and a bedroom for his son when he's in town. We suggested doing a murphy bed as it would serve both purposes. When not in use, the desk legs fold up and the bed comes down. It was the perfect solution for this tiny condo bedroom!

4. Hide It Away

If you find it difficult to keep a tidy & orderly desk, then perhaps concealing your office nook completely is a good solution. I love that by simply closing the folding doors, the entire workspace is out of sight, out of mind.

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5. Hallway Pass-Through

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Do you have some dead space between rooms? Why not incorporate some desk storage that serves as the family 'command centre'. This is a great space to file away some mail or check a quick email. Extra storage above allows for all of the unsightly things to be stored away, but the open shelving still allows you to quickly find the important stuff (ie; school permission slips!).

So there you have it! Those are just a few workspaces that have been inspiring me lately. They just go to show you that you often don't need a big dedicated room for an entire home office. A little planning and good design go a long way!

Tell me, do you have a small area in your home dedicated to work? Comment down below to share how you keep it all organized!

Thanks for reading!

10 Things I No Longer Buy As A Minimalist

It's no secret that the state of our environment is in danger these days. The stats are fairly scary and make me want to hide in a corner. However, I have made a conscious effort this year to reduce the waste in our home, reuse as much as I can and refrain from buying unnecessary things. Here are a few things I've completely cut out of our home this year, and some small changes which have made a great impact on our lives!

1. Paper Towels

This was an easy one to cut out. I was noticing we were hardly buying paper towels, and when we would run out we would do just fine without them. Ultimately, I just donated our paper towel holder and cut the stuff cold turkey. If there's a spill, we use tea towels. Are they all ragged and stained? Absolutely. But I'd rather have 10 ratchet tea towels than hundreds of single-use paper towels in my garbage!

2. Makeup Pads & Wipes

Kick it old school and use a washcloth. Much better results and way less impact on the environment. I also ordered THESE reusable makeup pads to remove nail polish and eye makeup. Simply throw in the wash and use time and time again.

3. Shampoo / Conditioner in bottles

You don't realize just how much plastic you use until you look around your shower and see the various bottles for shampoo, conditioner, leave-in treatments, body washes & scrubs. Typically I am pretty good with finishing what I have before purchasing new products, so when I finished my last bottle of shampoo I knew I wanted to try something different. I was introduced to the Unwrapped Life shampoo & conditioner bars through Instagram and immediately placed an order. I was a little skeptical at first but the reviews were promising! I am currently on my fourth order of these and let me tell you, I am not going back to plastic bottles ever again! I'm actually upset I did not discover these sooner.

4. Dryer sheets Again, this was a fairly easy swap out as I didn't really purchase dryer sheets on a regular basis. But as a new mom, I do a small load of laundry every day and need quick dry times. I made the switch to THESE wool dryer balls and they have been a total game-changer. I have specific ones I add essential oils to, for my bedsheets and towels. They are certainly an investment upfront, but they have dramatically cut down my drying times - saving both time and energy.

5. Plastic Scrubbing Sponges So often when our old Kitchen sponges go fowl, we throw them out without any second thought. Out of sight, out of mind. But a lot of the sponges on the market these days are plastic and will take years to break down. THESE walnut shell scour sponges are all-natural and actually work!

6. Tin Foil Gone are the days when you're scrambling around your kitchen, ready to roast some veggies but you're out of tin foil. I recently purchased THESE silicone mats and they have been a life-saver. They are insanely easy to wash and make the perfect gift for someone who has everything.

7. Produce bags Stop using plastic produce bags at the grocery store. Just stop it. And while I'm lecturing you, stop putting your bananas and oranges in these bags, too. They're already wrapped in their own skins! With so many mesh produce bags on the market, there just isn't a need for these plastic baggies anymore. So ditch the trash and make a conscious effort!

8. Request no plastic cutlery or napkins in your takeout order. This one is ridiculously easy to do. When you're placing your order online, simply request no napkins, plastic cutlery nor straws in the instructions of your order. Write it in caps lock if you must! If everyone did this, restaurants will clue in and start giving less and less.

9. All-Purpose cleaners. I didn't realize just how easy and effective making your own cleaning solutions was until I started doing it this year. Vinegar is my #1 go-to and I mix it with anything. Add in some essential oils, baking soda, and lemon juice and you've got the perfect bathroom cleaner! And best of all, no chemicals! I love the blog Clean Mama for simplified cleaning solutions!

10. Bottled water. This one boggles my mind. I absolutely cringe when I see people in line at the grocery store with cart full of cases of bottled water. STOP IT RIGHT NOW. We have the cleanest tap water at our disposal, free for our consumption and there are people out there literally paying for water?! I carry a Swell water bottle around everywhere I go. I prefer metal over plastic, as it keeps my water at the perfect temperature all day.

Are you ready to make these changes? I know some of them do require an investment up front, but they will pay themselves off in the long run! Tell me, what small changes have you made around your home to reduce your impact on the environment?

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Thank you so much for reading!