It's a jungle out there!

The month of March has been an absolute whirlwind and now it's almost over! In like a lion and out like a lamb...they say! Speaking of animals, I have been fortunate enough to travel to both Montreal and Toronto this past week and have been checking out some design trends in these cities as well as my own, Ottawa, and I have seen so many 'animal inspired' elements in home decor. Lots and lots of animal prints in upholstery - pillows, area rugs and throw blankets. Leopard, snake skin, tiger and giraffe, oh my! What is great about animal print is that although bold it is classic and seems to never go out of style. It is a great colour palette to work off of and offers a great splash of visual interest. Don't think you can go that bold? Start small with a faux fur pillow in a bedroom or on an occasional chair. Integrate a few animal prints that are in a tone on tone colour wave to your living room space. Don't like earth tones? We are seeing animal prints is many different colour waves including turquoise and magenta!The boldness of the animal print pattern is so engaging and interesting. Other great ways to integrate nature into your home

- check out driftwood, it is organic and naturally sculptural

- add some bamboo to a bathroom, greenery makes any and every space feel alive

- check out bits and bobbles with natural inspiration on a coffee table or any showcase area, a small display of little birds, shells or starfish add serenity and simplicity to any space

- framed artwork with animals, birds and flowers can look very traditional but many stores have a more modern take on nature inspired art pieces.

- animal prints are not the only way to integrate animals and textiles into a space, many stores offer options with a softer approach with colours from nature like green, blue and yellow or look for floral and fauna prints.

Take a close look at the image above, they have embraced the elements of nature biut still have a contemporary style. The wallpaper has a leaf motif, the zebra print area rug is bold, the framed artwork is various shapes and sizes of leaves, a few collectibles of coral and shells are on display and of course, some greenery.

Bringing the outdoors inside can make every space feel relaxed and comfortable yet still stylish. Nature never goes out of style!

Hot Spring Trends For Your Home

The month of March is upon us and hopefully the warm spring weather will soon be too....To celebrate the season why not spruce up your home decor? Take a look at these hot trends for your home this spring.

- think pink! add this colour to brighten up your space and add some life! you can do this in so many ways and in so many shades. a bold paint choice for a bedroom, some fresh cut flowers in your living space or exterior, some pink pillows or throw blanket on a neutral sofa or chair...

- let there be light! add some interesting light fixtures and lamps to your space and think of the lighting factor as a design factor. there are so many fabulous light fixtures that can add some unique visual interest to any space... george kovacs is one of my favourite designers in the lighting and lamp industry

- mix it up! have some fun with fabric and pattern. mix up pattern both big and bold in rugs, drapes, pillows and more but keep a consistent thread and don't let them compete they need to compliment each other.

- go for the gold! bring gold back into your wardrobe and into your home decor. gold is warm and elegant it also adds richness and sophistication but keep it in small doses.

Look for these hot trends in any home decor store and embrace something new this season!

Clean your carpets, naturally...

Canada is such a wonderful place to live but the changing seasons can really take its toll on our surroundings. Your flooring sees some of the worst of it! Mud in the spring, salt in the winter and so much more. Not to mention everyday living - dust mites, spills and other particles in the air get into our carpets as well. Got kids? Got pets? Either of those factors can amplify the odours and dirt in your carpets.

I make a point every spring to include a professional carpet cleaning in my home. It is amazing! You can feel the difference in the air and under your feet. It makes the entire space look and feel better plus it lengthens the life of my floor coverings. With two kids, two dogs and the two of us a professional cleaning is a must! I don't have wall-to-wall carpet but area rugs in the bedrooms and living room. We walk, play and live on these floor coverings everyday so each and every spring they are due for a good clean.

I know many people are fearful with the idea of 'professional carpet cleaning', they think high cost and high chemicals but carpet cleaning has come a long way. Chem Dry Ottawa is just one of many professional floor cleaning companies that specializes in cleaning your grout, tiles, carpet, upholstery and leather plus specializing in the removal of urine and pet odours with products straight from mother nature.

Spring is right around the corner, try adding professional carpet cleaning to your "to-do" list - you will not only see but you will feel the difference too!