Posts by imraja

In the world of interior design, floral patterns have an often dubious reputation. Conjuring up images reminiscent of the waiting room in a retirement home, recent trends in home decor have bucked the stodgy traditionalism of the floral pattern.  Revamped and redesigned, floral pattern wall coverings are now chicly in vogue- a stylish addition to…

With summers getting hotter and longer, heat-weary Montrealers can be seen frequently reaching for their air conditioner’s remote control, blasting the cool air consistently between mid-May and late September. Of course, that cool air can almost instantly turn hot again once the electricity bill comes in, as keeping the house cool in the summer is…

One of the first things potential buyers look for in a new home is a nice, sizable bathroom. Often called the master bathroom, this room is usually spacious and carries many creature comforts, such as a huge standing shower, double sinks and basins, and a large bathtub or hot tub. More often than not, the…

Summer is slowly fading away and with the explosion of Halloween displays in stores and pumpkin spice lattes in cafés, autumn will soon be upon us. But for many, decorating their homes with fake skeletons and witch displays for Halloween is only a warm up for the BIG project: Christmas decorating! Aside from the requisite…

Having a space in your home where the whole family can relax, socialize, and be entertained is absolutely crucial for a healthy and happy family life. Similarly, having an open and comfortable space where you can receive guests for a pleasant evening of wine and conversation is also crucial. In many homes, the functions of…

You rest in your bedroom and relax in your living room, but in many ways your kitchen is for more than just cooking. There’s just something about a kitchen that breeds both familiarity and conversation, as if the act of food preparation creates a perimeter of intimacy that people get sucked into. After all, think…

Aside from the evident trauma of living through a global pandemic, there have been some positive trends and practices emerging from COVID-19. For one, work and work meetings have been facilitated in part by online conferencing platforms like Zoom, allowing people more time for self-care. And in terms of self-care, people have learned how to…

The laundry room is usually the last place people think of to decorate, if they even decorate it at all. Relegated to the status of a glorified closet, most laundry room decor consists of a tattered old t-shirt hanging precariously from an oddly placed towel rack in a barely-lit room. Yet, whether we care to…

Whether of the feline or canine persuasion, there’s no denying that our beloved four-legged fur babies add a quality of warmth, comfort, and calm to our lives that is often sorely needed. Still, life with pets can be somewhat difficult, especially for those with an eye for neatness and beauty in their home. The most…

Attending your home décor is important in every room, but perhaps no more so than in the bedroom, where a feeling of calm comfort is absolutely necessary. After all, your bedroom is the primary place you retreat to for sleep and rest, and it needs to be absolutely snug and pleasant in terms of fabric…

In many ways, home decor is a delicate mixture of artistic creativity and practical science. On the one hand, you get to express your personal aesthetic with an inspired synthesis of colors, fabrics, and materials. On the other, you are taking precise measurements and checking fabrics and materials for durability, functionality and cost. Navigating the…

Envisioning velvet fabrics may bring to mind images of long, flowing, and regal purple robes, swashbuckling pompadoured musketeers, and elegantly cushioned thrones best left to a romantically idealized past. Aside from some more opulent and traditionally-minded Eastern European interior designers, velvet textiles have no place in contemporary residential, commercial, or hospitality decor, right? Not necessarily…

The lazy, hazy days of summer may be waning, but that doesn’t mean your outdoor furniture won’t be seeing anymore use. Aside from enjoying the few remaining weeks of warm and sunny September weather, curling up by the outdoor fire pit with a blanket, book, and some wine in the early evenings of October is…

One of the more vexing decisions you’ll have to make is whether to install curtains or blinds on your windows. On the one hand, curtains are more varied in color and pattern and are highly aesthetically pleasing, but oftentimes do not provide sufficient cover from the sunlight. On the other hand, blinds block the sun…

If you follow the latest trends in home decor and design, then you know that having a welcoming home – i.e. one that is pet-friendly, family-friendly, and is both stylishly beautiful and made of durable materials – is all the rage. This may be, in part, due to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.…

In searching for the perfect colors, fabrics, and furniture pieces for your home decor project, many a night may be spent staring out of a window, looking up at the stars, desperately searching for inspiration or a way to slip off to sleep. When either finally comes, don’t resist the urge to thank your lucky…

As the lazy, hazy days of summer come to an end, the window of time in which bright blue skies and luminous sunlight permeates our everyday lives will get incrementally smaller with winter’s impending arrival. However, rather than spiral into a pit of depression at the thought of the imminent shorter days, colder weather, and…

Whether you’re looking for a roomy and spacious aesthetic for dinner parties, or a warm and cozy atmosphere for intimate dinners for two, creating the perfect ambiance for your dining room is an important consideration for any homeowner. There are two important points to consider when designing your aesthetic: 1) that the look and style…

Choosing a style of window dressing that matches your personal taste is difficult enough, but can be more complicated when the choice falls between blackout drapery and sheer curtains. Between these two options, you have to ask yourself what type of person you are: one who likes complete darkness when the curtains are drawn, or…

For many, the idea of using wallpaper in their home décor is a relic of a bygone era, where platform shoes, discos, and rollerskates dominated cultural fashion. Yet, like most fashion trends of the past few decades, what once was popular and considered “funky fresh” can return to public consciousness with renewed vigour. Wallpaper is…

Decorating a house can be a complex and daunting task, especially if you have no clue where to start. Do you go with something trendy and contemporary or classic and quaint? Sharp lines and spartan furnishings in a minimalist design or something more frilly and ornate with a rustic feel? Finding your own distinct style…

Whether due to damage, age, or the simple desire to alter the look of your home decor, deciding to change a piece of furniture like a couch, chair or loveseat need not require a new purchase. A simple reupholstery will cover up any stains, rips, and faded or outdated patterns, breathing new life into an…

So you’ve moved into a new home or are urgently wanting to redecorate your current one. Hankering for a new and innovative look or desperately seeking to tweak your current one, you scour the internet looking for inspiration from the muses of home decor. However, you could save yourself some time, effort and frustration by…

With summer in full swing, your outdoor furniture will be seeing much more use. Despite the good times that come with pool parties, BBQ’s and late night lounging, the wear and tear of those activities, as well as the effect of heat, direct sunlight, rain, and wind, may have your outdoor furniture looking ragged and…

In an increasingly stressful world, it is more essential than ever to have a zen space in your home; an area where you can sit, relax, and regain a sense of inner peace. Whichever room in your house that happens to be, nothing will ruin that zen effect more than having it cluttered, either with…

Long before the immediacy of the internet and prevalence of social media networks, the latest trends in interior design, fabrics, and home decor were transmitted through old-fashioned means: word of mouth, in-person viewing, or reading the latest industry-centered magazine. Though flipping through the pages of a magazine to keep abreast of new techniques and developments…

With a seemingly infinite amount of choices in fabrics, colors, textures, and designs, settling on one style of curtains, window treatments, or drapery can seem near impossible. Luckily, C&M Textiles’ extensive experience in the field has narrowed down the factors that should be considered when making your decision: 1. Function Obviously, choosing to install curtains,…

It can literally ruin your day in the blink of an eye. There you are, having a nice glass of wine or feeding junior on your living room couch when one slight movement or errant hiccup can leave a huge and unsightly stain on the upholstery. Even without a catastrophic accident like this, a living…

For many, the words “redecorating” or “renovation” can be panic-inducing, conjuring up images of long hours in front of catalogs and swatches as your bank account slowly depletes. Yet, not all home decor changes need to be laborious and expensive. Sometimes, even the smallest of changes can reshape the look of a room, saving you…

You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy the colorful simplicity of a plaid pattern on anything from your curtains to the upholstery on your living room furniture. Yet, chances are the image of the particular pattern and color you had when you went to buy the fabric was markedly different from what you found…

Whether you’ve bought a new home or are looking to revamp an old one, deciding how to decorate your living space can be a daunting task. From curtains to couches and everything in between, finding the right fabrics for your home decor is a delicate balance of color, patterns, textures, and styles. Additionally, your choices…

All furniture, despite being durably constructed, is subject to the wear and tear of everyday use. This is especially true for often used pieces like sofas, chairs, and love seats, which are utilized for everything from morning coffee and the newspaper to sick days watching The Price is Right to Super Bowl parties and evening…

Large or stacked windows (ones that run from the floor to the ceiling) are stunning features in a home, opening up the space and letting copious amounts of light in for sun-starved Canadians. Unfortunately, unless you’re an exhibitionist with a flair for overtime, large or stacked windows can leave you exposed to your neighbours or…

As the summer heats up that means only one thing for winter-weary Canadians: more time outdoors. Whether you’re soaking up the sun’s rays on a tanning chair in your backyard or sitting around on patio furniture hosting a BBQ for friends and family, your outdoor furniture becomes more important than you realize. Not only does…

Anyone will tell you that when it comes to home decor, style matters just as much as function. Ideally, you’d like every piece of furniture or home accessory to fulfill the purpose for which it was designed, but you’d also like it to match your vision and personal aesthetic. This is especially true when it…