A little hint of what's to come

Here is just a little hint of what's to come at HouseWarmings.

The new Cobistyle furniture and accessories line is fabulous!! Custom made furniture from Decorest, which is made in Canada, that can be ordered in gorgeous brights or beautiful neutrals. Here are a few pictures of what will be arriving at HouseWarmings very soon.

Stay tuned for spring... It's going to be colorful

What is triple milled soap?

The process of milling soap entails shredding the soap apart with rollers and then putting it back together again in a high pressure press. In a triple milled soap the soap has gone through this milling process three times. This process makes the soap much stronger and distributes any added fragrance more thoroughly.If you have never tried this soap you will be amazed at how long it lasts especially in the shower.Here at HouseWarmings we are having a special on our 100 gram size of triple milled soaps. They are 3 for $15 and come in a great variety of fragrances  as well. 

Yes We Can!

Are you having a difficult time finding a piece of furniture that looks right in your space? You might not know this but we can have custom wooden furniture made for you. If you go to the Suppliers heading on our Webpage you can look up Florio Woodworking and see some of the pieces that can be made. For some of us space in our homes is at a premium. Having properly scaled furniture can make a huge difference not only to the feel of your space but also to its functionality. For example you might have a tight diningroom where a regular sideboard won't fit. If you have a custom table built at half depth you will now have a place to rest your extra dishes. You might even have enough room for a couple of small lamps giving you some extra lighting!Custom furniture is not as expensive as you might think and in this case improving the functionality of your diningroom so markedly is worth every penny.

After much thought and inspiration at design shows Briar, the owner of HouseWarmings, has decided that the look she wants for the store will be "Urban Romance". What is Urban Romance? Well it certainly isn't frou frou.

To create the Urban Romance look you must keep your bigger pieces like the sofa in neutral colours with classic lines. It is with the accessories that you add the romance and a pop of colour. In store for example we have gorgeous cuddly Tibetan Lambswool toss cushions that are the perfect Urban Romance accessory. They come in fun bright colours like hot pink, teal blue, bright purple, and also in neutrals like black cream and grey. If you add to a traditional neutral sofa any toss cushions or throw with a romantic pattern, a fun print or an interesting texture you will have arrived at Urban Romance. 

Besides the new accessories that add that Urban Romance look we have a new line of nesting and coffee tables made by Style in Form. To Briar they are the epitomy of our look - soft yet sophisticated.

Cobi Style Accessories Have Arrived!!

Well, I have to say that all the new accessories from Cobi Style have arrived and are even more fantastic than anticipated!

Last week Cobi Ladner and her fantastic line of furniture and accessories was featured on Cityline.  This entire line has wonderful hues of blues, vibrant oranges and greens and powerful pinks and fushias.  If you are adventurous and mix all the colors together for a vibrant cornucopia of design or mix and match 2 colors for a vivid pop of color.  Either way, this fabulous addition of color will make you and your gorgeous home the envy of the neighbourhood.

All about Candles

I used to think candles were something I could cheap out on because a candle is a candle right? My thought was why spend more when I can get the look for less. Well in the case of candles paying less is definately not "more" when you consider the toxins that are being brought into your home. Most candles are made from a petroleum based wax which is a by product of fuel refining and the smoke from these candles contains up to eleven carcinogenic compounds! Thank goodness there are healthier options out there. Simplicity makes a vegesoy candle that is very clean burning. These candles are 100% biodegradable. The Simplicity candles are not available in colours. They are limited to white. This is because they do not use dyes making them 100% natural. Simplicity candles might be a little pricier than dollar store candles but you can feel good knowing that you have made a natural and environmentally friendly choice. Beeswax candles are another healthy option.Beeswax candles are non-toxic, non-allergenic and non-carcinogenic. Burning a beeswax candle produces negative ions which clean the air of dust ,odours,toxins,pollen, mould, dustmite feces and viruses.The use of beeswax candles have been found to help people with allergies, asthma and environmental sensitivities. Now that I know what I know about candles I don't just think about candles as decoration. I think about them more as something either harmful or beneficial to me and my family and I am willing to pay a little more for peace of mind.

Furnishing an awkward layout

So as I have mentioned before I am a design student. And being a student, I am currently working on furniture arrangments for awkwardly laid out rooms. This can be quite a challenge for some as not everyone has the "eye" to visualize. The trick to a harmonious layout is balance. If you divided your room into quadrants, then each section should be equally balanced, meaning NOT to pile all your fabulous furniture into one quarter of the room. 

Almost all homes have a least one room or area in their home that is has either an odd angled wall or too many doorways. The solution.... Try drawing out different plans. Once you have decided on an acceptable floorplan, one that allows for traffic flow and function, try placing your furniture into the floorplan. If new furniture is in your future plan then now would be a great time to start shopping around.  

If all else fails, ask a friend or neighbour to take a look. Sometimes all you need is a second opinion. They may see something you dont. Good luck:)