Hello all,
I am so glad to be looking out my window at blue sky while I write this; let the summer fun finally begin!
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting up with a dear friend and amazing interior designer, Laura Fenniak, who has LF Design and was formerly a lead designer at Smith and Co Studio. After a good catch up, we got down to business to chat about the current trends in interior design. Obviously, this is a topic that comes up a lot for my clients. Often when making a house purchase, we have to look beyond the current decor and even the layout to see what can be possible in their new space. Some people have the knack for being able to see the forest for the trees, but this can be very challenging for many. If you are in the latter camp I would always recommend getting the opinion of a professional interior designer. I know first hand the difference that this can make in making a space work for an individual (or family), and how they can quickly figure out how a space can work best with your own personal style. Incorporating your own personal style was one of the messages that kept coming up while we chatted. Be true to your own personal style while going through the redesign of your space. Sometimes you may need guidance figuring out exactly how to define the style that will really work for you. It is amazing how a great professional can help you get on track with this by asking the right questions and listening to figure out themes and styles that will work well for you. Getting this guidance can save you time and keep you from making costly errors. The result will end be creating a space that you will truly love and will stand the test of time.
As for trends? Here's a brief overview of some things that are hot:
- It seems like whites and light colours are going to stick around for a while longer, but perhaps with more colour blocked areas and accents.
- Large scale designs in wall coverings, such as murals, ombre wall paper, etc. An amazing example of where the trends in wall coverings are heading can be seen in this photo of a condo lobby space recently designed by Smith and Co Studio. Look at the tile continuing from the floor to the wall and on the other wall the large print wallpaper. As you can see here the hexagon shape is back in a big way (it has certainly stood the test of time).
- Lastly, when looking at designing your space, Laura explained that we all should be trying to find "hygge", (pronounced "hooga)". I said, "Pardon?" Laura explained that one of her students at MRU (yes, this amazing woman also teaches in the interior design program at MRU) recently incorporated the Danish concept of Hygge into a project. Hygge relates to the feeling of creating a cozy and comfortable environment, although there are no direct translations of the word in the English language.
I will feature other tips from Laura in the future and I plan on delving into this 'Hygge" thing more in the future. If you feel you could use some amazing interior design advice, Laura can be reached at lfenniakdesign@gmail.com.
Now, as promised, I will segway into beer. It is summer after all, we can save the rest of the cozy talk until winter arrives (like in September).
About a year ago, a new and wonderful business opened its doors in Avenida. We became quick fans after hearing about it from a good friend. I am talking about Collective - A Craft Beer Shop. It was opened by a husband and wife team before the Avendia Food Hall was ever officially planned to be right next door to them. How fortunate for all of us that live close by that they landed there. Collective has 20 rotating taps featuring craft beer with a focus on Alberta brewers. You can fill a 32 oz gold can, 32 oz glass howler or a 64 oz glass growler. In addition to the 20 rotating taps, Collective sells bottles and cans of beer, cider, and mead. All products are sold in single cans so you don't have to commit to a 4 or 6 pack without knowing if you like it or not. The owners, Andrew and Stacey, are a pleasure to meet and they are very helpful if you are looking for suggestions on what to try based on what you would typically enjoy. In addition to all of this, the store is also dog-friendly as long as Fido is on a leash and has good doggy manners. Our pooch now knows the routine and Stacey even provides a drink of water for him on hot days. Nobody leaves thirsty :)
Want more info? They are on Facebook and Instagram @collectivecraftbeershop
As always, I love to hear from you and I am here to help. Please don't hesitate to reach out. If you have a topic that you would like me to discuss in a future blog, I would love to hear about that too!
Cheers!