DECOR ADVICE

Top 5 Design Trends of the Season 2009 National Dream Home’s Interior Stylist Janette Ewen 1. Casino Chic: Inspired by the casino's of the 1950's with a touch of Miami Scarface style, this trend really touched on the masculine version of ornate. This look combines a palette of red (or deep purple), crisp white, gold and black. The accessories are a combination of Rococo decorative with Miami Beach minimalism. This look has been brought to life at the new Ganesvoort South Hotel in Miami. www.gansevoortsouth.com 2. The New NeoClassical: A blast from the past. Traditional lines, decorative Grecian busts and a sharp black and white colour palette define this look. Ideal for an entryway or dining room, this formal look is not for the faint of heart. 3. Well-Traveled Luxury: Imagine a home filled with eclectic antiques and collectables from around the world. Throw in a myriad of luxurious textiles, topped with rich green indoor plants and you have a look that captures the new well-traveled luxury. Add deep wooden or bold gold accessories to finish the look. 4. Modern Prep: With "preppy" TV shows like Gossip Girls reaching #1 the new prep look is making its way into everything from fashion to home décor. Bold lines and bright pastels define this style that is a modern take on classic prep. More Palm Beach than polo club, modern preppy is the mark of the good life and all things fresh, clean and crisp. This design trend is an ideal fit for a teenage gals room or family playroom. 5. Art Nouveau: French for New Art, Art Nouveau was a style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that peaked in popularity at the turn of the 20th century (1890–1905). This flowing, organic look is back in a big way and works well in bedrooms and bathrooms. Gold and turquoise are essential colours when putting together an Art Nouveau room. DIY PROJECTS WITH JANETTE EWEN ° Create a simple and pretty flower arrangement.  Watch here. ° Make your own pillows to freshen up your living room.  Watch here. ° Take a lamp from blah to WOW!  Watch here. Visit Janette Ewen on the web at www.janetteewen.com.

Robert & Darren's Top 10 Design Trends 2009 National Dream Home Designers Robert Sennett & Darren Sanger-Smith 1. Metal Roofs  Environmentally friendly, clean and adds a new/different texture to the roofs…whether used as the whole roof or as accents. 2. Dark Trim Colors  These colors can give a real punch to the façade of your home.  This allows the house to blend with the landscaping, picture frames openings and highlights glazing shapes as proportional architectural features. 3. Front Porches Not necessarily interpreted as covered porches, but those are always great, but a front yard sitting area, whether a bench, porch or patio, this space adds connectivity to the home and offers a sense of community when utilized as an outdoor space for congregation and socializing. 4. Indoor/Outdoor Landscaping Let the landscaping reflect the architecture and vice versa…ie, using similar stone on the front porch as it carries into the front foyer or back eating area, carrying trim details on the house into elements within the landscaping like a fence, arbor or gazebo heralds back to such Architects as Frank Lloyd Wright and his concept of “organic” architecture. 5. Brick  With the numerous styles, shapes and colors of brick out there now from many of the different companies, both in Canada and the U.S., brick is making a nice comeback and can give some real depth to the character of the home. 6. Stucco as an Accent Covering a large 2 storey façade with one material such as stucco, has the potential to create a very flat and boring façade.  Use stucco as an accent and combine it with other building materials.  Think about the 1/3 2/3 rule when looking at your home…a two storey home…the top 1/3 in stucco with the bottom 2/3’sin a heavier contrasting material like brick. 7. Green Design What everyone is talking about…we know!  But even some of the smallest things can be done to your home to make it greener.  It is time we all made minor contributions to the longevity of our own micro-environment let alone the planet.  The thought process and awareness is overdue.  There are a myriad of “simple habits” to practice as well as practical applications that can be designed into any level of construction project being considered. 8. Ceilings When laying out your space for your new home or addition, think how the space is laid out when looking at the ceiling.  Are there nice squared off spaces?  Does the ceiling layout cleanly for lights, etc?  Think about these ideas when designing your spaces and don’t be afraid to add a bulkhead here or there to allow for nice clean lines in your ceiling.  Accent them after, with box beams, crown molding and pot lights.  The ceiling is just as important as the floor and the right ceiling can create a sense of volume change and an emotion within any given space that would otherwise be lost.  9. Water Features We can be overwhelmed with the senses as we enter a home, whether it is the smell of cooking or candles burning, the site of a fireplace or beautiful piece of art or the sound of soft music in the background.  Your senses react to the space.  An interior water feature can add to the space as a beautiful piece of artwork with a calming sound that can enhance any space. 10. Sound/Music/Media The big rage right now is for that big screen TV or the “media centre” in your home.  Think about how you are going to use this space and for what purposes.  There are amazing products out there for this feature for your home and combining it with a well thought out wall unit or room layout can only enhance the space.