Wall to Wall Creativity

With lead times for furniture and accessories stretching further and further out – and with HomeSense being hit or miss, The Richards Group’s design team has had to get creative when it comes to transforming client homes.

Agent Jenny Simon and design manager, Samantha Davies, share their tips on giving your home that all-too-valuable ‘it factor’ without breaking the bank. The best part? All of these ideas can be done over a weekend!

Find Your Feature Wall

Find Your Feature Wall

“It never ceases to amaze me, the power of a feature wall,” says Jenny. “Don’t buy into the adage that dark or bold colours can make a room feel smaller. The effect is always transformational!”

Instead of painting a primary wall, consider painting nooks, inset walls, doors, and fireplace mantels. Always get a sample pot and test the colour before you paint.

To ensure your feature wall stands out, source accessories in the opposite colour family. “If your feature wall is navy, go for paler, peach-based ceramics,” says Samantha. “Or if you have dark green, find vases in mustard yellow.” Our favourite feature wall colours:

BENJAMIN MOORE BLACK BEAUTY 2128-20

BENJAMIN MOORE HALE NAVY HC-154

BENJAMIN MOORE RAINY AFTERNOON 1575

SAVE AT NABOR’S PAINT! Bring your copy of East TO Magazine to Nabor’s Paint, 2184 Queen Street East, @naborspaint and save 20%!

Add Dimension

Add Dimension

Wainscot, panels, mouldings, and other elements instantly add character and warmth.

“Shiplap is an easy way to add texture,” says Samantha. “Depending on how handy you are, you can DIY it or snag your closest handyman to install.”

Look Up!

Look Up!

“An often ‘overlooked’ opportunity for impact and glam is the ceiling,” says Jenny. Have coffered ceilings? Even better!

And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, Samatha suggests wallpapering your ceiling for maximum impact. “Dark, light, or colourful, you can’t go wrong!” Our favourite ceiling colours:

BENJAMIN MOORE MAUVE DESERT 2113-50

BENJAMIN MOORE VELVET CLOAK CSP 480

Curate Creative Appeal

Curate Creative Appeal

The photo wall is a surefire way to add warmth and charm to a home. For the greatest impact, Samantha suggests thinking beyond the gallery wall and filling your wall edge-to-edge and top-to-bottom. “A photo wall is a great excuse to check out your local vintage stores in East TO – but you can also shop your home and repurpose art and wall decor to fill your wall. Don’t overthink or worry about things matching. The more eclectic, the better!”

To start, measure your walls and outline the space you have to work with on the floor using masking tape. This gives you an easy place to lay out your art before you install your selections.

These East Toronto vintage shops are always a source of great finds!

Guff Furniture, 1 Davies Ave. gufffurniture.com

Vintage and Antiques, 1462 Kingston Rd.

Bronze Home Decor, 1120 Queen St. E.

The Leslieville Flea, Ashbridge Estate and Jimmie Simpson Community Rec Centre - leslievilleflea.com