Author page: Nancy DeVries

Fireplace Renovation with a New Custom Cabinet and Floating Shelves; Before and After

Fireplace Renovation with a New Custom Cabinet and Floating Shelves; Before and After

My client’s family room had a red brick fireplace that dominated the space and she wanted a change. Because of the odd size and the lack of a mantel, the fireplace seemed out of place and unfinished. And since the client wanted to upgrade to a remote-controlled energy-efficient gas insert, this was the perfect time to redesign the fireplace surround.…

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Renovation Story: How My Husband and I Transformed our Vintage 60’s Bathroom into a Modern Spa

Renovation Story: How My Husband and I Transformed our Vintage 60’s Bathroom into a Modern Spa

My husband and I moved into our rancher home 8 years ago—and while it had good bones and character, it was in need of some serious updates and modernization. Before the Reno: A Tired and Out-of-Style Bathroom The original 56 square foot ensuite built in the 60’s included a lilac coloured sink, bathtub and toilet. The grout and tiles on…

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Q&A: How to Cover Angle-Shaped Windows Without Blocking all the Light.

Q&A: How to Cover Angle-Shaped Windows Without Blocking all the Light.

NOTE: In May 2022, new government regulations in Canada came into effect regarding exposed cords on window coverings. As a result of these regulations, a number of blind manufacturers discontinued production of operable shades on specialty shaped windows.  Non-operable, stationary shades can be made to fit specialty shaped windows. Depending on the chosen fabric, light can still come through the…

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Use wallpaper to add style to your home; Before and After

Use wallpaper to add style to your home; Before and After

Wallpaper today is not your grandma’s wallpaper. Not only is it trendy, but it’s very popular to use wallpaper as a way to add style to your home in a way that’s unique and pretty cool. Add stylish patterns to your plain walls Recently I helped a client find wallpaper for their downtown Vancouver condo. The boring builder’s white walls…

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Smaller With Style – A Bathroom Renovation

For the last year, my husband and I have been immersed in a large-scale renovation on our ranch-style home. It all started with the removal of our carport, and it progressed into the addition of an attached two-car garage, mudroom/laundry room, kitchen addition and bathroom renovation. In this post I will share with you the progress and completion of the…

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Seven Stylish Treatments for your Kitchen Sink Window

In my childhood house, the kitchen sink had no window over it, only a mirror. Even at a young age, I imagined how much better it would be to have a window with a view, providing a distraction from the daily drudgery that is dishwashing. Clients usually ask me for ideas for their kitchen window coverings that have unpleasant aspects…

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PowerView Motorization – coming soon to a window near you

The next step in the window covering motorization technology is coming soon to a window near you. It’s called PowerView by Hunter Douglas and it’s all about two-way communication between you and your window coverings. More details will come in July when it launches in Canada, but yesterday, along with other authorized dealers, I saw a preview of how it works and…

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Hire a professional to help you deal with an unexpected mishap in your home

There’s no such thing as a good time for a burst pipe or any other unexpected disastrous mishap in your home, but when you hire a professional decorator to help and assist in the recovery process, you can save time and stress! Let me give you an example: Recently, a long-time client of mine woke up to flooding caused by a…

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