Welcome to Custom Home Decor

Submitted by Catherine Goslan, Comfort & Joy Interiors

Photo Credits:  Photo:  Agatha Bak, Design:  Studio H

On behalf of the GTA West Chapter, I would like to welcome Custom Home Decor as a new Affiliate Member of CDECA.  They are a to-the-trade workroom based in Oakville, and I have had great experiences working with them on several projects, so I welcome the opportunity to share information about this valuable resource with our members.  Agatha Bak and her team at Custom Home Decor consistently deliver high quality results and unparalleled customer service.  Agatha approaches working with design professionals as a creative artistic joint venture.  She is involved in all phases of the process, from check measure to installation, and always strives to make us look good in the eyes of our clients.    

Agatha is a young, modern-minded entrepreneur who keeps up with the latest trends, but she is also passionate about traditional couture sewing techniques, and preserving the artistry of those skills.  She sought out and completed training in Europe to hone her skills, and in turn, trains her staff to meet her exacting standards.  Custom Home Decor offers a range of unique, truly custom options in the work they do, such as:

• Swarovski crystal accents
• Hand beading
• Hand painting on fabrics
• Embroidery
• Silk screening
• Silk pleating to create custom trim

While you would expect their premium quality to come at a premium price, happily that is not the case with Custom Home Decor.  I have found their pricing to be quite reasonable, and they do not have surcharges that a lot of other workrooms have, such as surcharges for working with silk or velvet, or surcharges for inspecting fabric for flaws, etc.  Their prices for window treatment fabrication also include supplying the lining (and interlining when required for the application).  For coordinating toss cushions, they offer good quality feather inserts at a price point that rivals lower quality products available elsewhere.

Custom Home Decor continues to grow & expand the products and services they provide, which now includes:

·       Fabrics, with lines not available through other trade suppliers in the GTA West area, such as:

o   Designer’s Guild

o   Schumacher

o   Osborne & Little

o   Casadeco

o   Telio

o   Romo Fabrics

o   Unique Fine Fabrics

o   Kravet (who has a Mississauga showroom, but Oakville may be more convenient for some)

·       The following lines of window treatment hardware:

o   Connexions

o   Joanne

o   Kravet

o   Trax

o   Paris Texas

o   Deco & Deco

o   Kirsch

o   Canadian Drapery Hardware

o   Robert Allen

o   KScope

·       Custom lampshades

·       Upholstery & re-upholstery, including marine applications and re-touching & re-finishing wood components.

·       Slipcovers

Custom Home Decor has new offerings planned, which include:

·       Seminars

·       Newsletter

·       A new drapery program with a pre-selected set of fabrics to choose from at 4 price points, which reduces fabric sourcing time and ensures that you can have custom made drapes in 2 weeks!

If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, or be informed about the seminars & drapery program when they become available, please send an email to sew@customhomedecor.ca.

How do Interior Decorators Create that perfect space?

There are many variables involved – the correct use of colour, textures, lighting along with space planning and creative furniture placement, in order to maximize rooms to their best potential. 

Colour and lighting; whether natural or artificial can impact on how we feel in the space.  By using cool or warm hues we create a feeling for the space.  A variety of textures add interest and depth to the space.  There is no right or wrong opinion about neutrals vs. colour; it’s all a matter of applying the colour in an appropriate manner.

Decorators are able to create functional yet fabulous designs, both being equally important.  A decorator can lend that polished look, with attention to details, creative lighting, custom millwork and window treatments.

A decorator creates innovative designs, manipulating the scale of furnishings and prioritizing features for both function and style, especially in small spaces.  A decorator can transform your space into the dream you have always envisioned. A decorator can take your ideas, make suggestions and in the end transform them into a perfect space.

An Interior Decorator can offer a full range of residential design options such as Color Consultations, Space Planning, Furniture Selection, Custom Draperies and Soft Furnishings, Flooring, Wall Coverings, Kitchen and Bath Planning, New home specifications and preparing the home for Resale, as well as Selection of Artwork and Accessories.  A decorator can assist in the Refreshing of a room by Repurposing and Repositioning pieces to create a new look.

There is great deal of flexibility when working with an Interior Decorator.

A decorator will work with you to develop a decorating plan and establish a realistic budget.  Any project can be broken down into manageable pieces to be completed at a later date.

Ultimately an Interior Decorator’s job is to add the icing to the cake.

Written by Jeannette Wisby

Design Savvy

Why hire an Interior Decorator?    Why Not………….

By: Jeannette Wisby

Hiring an Interior Decorator can be one of the most practical things you do in your home. 

An Interior Decorator will work with you, the client, to solve decorating dilemmas and challenges to bring out the home’s potential and best features while creating a unique, innovative and livable space which reflects your individual taste, personality and style.

Using an Interior Decorator does not have to be costly, in fact using a decorator can stop costly mistakes. And in the long run, clients can end up saving money and time.  In summary – You don’t need a big budget to hire a decorator or to have a beautiful home.

The secret to creating a high end look without the price tag is to combine a few less expensive materials with one extravagant accent.

Most people have good taste, but are too busy, with little time, to source exactly what they would love for their home.  They are limited to resources available to the public only. Using a decorator enables clients to have access to products not available to the general public, have one of a kind design and a custom look. Decorators have access to hundreds of choices in all areas of home décor which in turn offers the client unique and exclusive design. Decorators have the technical knowledge required to bring about great design.  It is extremely important for clients to be informed about the products they select with respect to care required or the ease of use .

With so much variety these days, the search for anything new can become very daunting and in the end the client can just “settle” for something as they are frustrated with the amount of “foot work” involved to select the perfect products.  A decorator works in partnership with the client to offer innovative and desirable results suited to the client and to maximize the home’s potential.  A decorator gives guidance,  and the services provided can offer little involvement or total involvement on the client’s part as desired.  

A decorator has no emotional tie to the home; allowing for objectivity when making decorating choices. A decorator meets with the client, gets to know the type of style they want; their likes and dislikes in home décor and their lifestyle, by asking detailed questions; and then responds to their needs by beginning to source the products to present.  Usually there are several choices and finally the client along with the decorator will zero in on the look they want.  The decorator continues to source the selections can arrange for trades people and do the overall project management of the redecorating or redesign required.

Up coming Pd Day- June 5, 2014

Register now for GTA West Professional Development Day! This event will be packed with information and inspiration! Thursday June 5, 2014 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Willis Corporate Office 1149 Pioneer Road Burlington, Ontario L7M 1K5 Registration is $25 + HST = $28.25 Registration is also open for our Annual Summer Luncheon Thursday June 5, 2014 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the Millcroft Golf Club and the opportunity to network with colleagues. 2155 Country Club Drive, Burlington, Ontario ON L7M 4A8 www.millcroftgolfclub.com We will have private use of the club’s dining room, where a buffet lunch will be served that includes: Mixed Greens w/ assorted dressings Caesar Salad Assorted Gourmet Sandwiches Fruit Platter Assorted Bakery Items for Dessert Tea & Coffee Registration is $17 + 15% gratuity ($2.55) + HST ($2.21) = $21.76 Wine, beer & spirits will be available at additional cost Click here to register for the PD event in the morning, or luncheon in the afternoon, or both! Registration for these events is first come, first served, and non-refundable. Last date to register for PD event:  Tuesday, June 3, 2014 Last date to register for Luncheon:  Friday, May 30, 2014 Follow our GTA West blog for the latest information on these events: http://cdecagtawest.blogspot.ca/

November Event

Join us on November 21st atVifloor- 417 Horner Ave. Etobicoke- close to Sherway

10 am- coffee, tea and pastries will be served- there will be a presentation on rugs, customization and maximizing profit.
All accredited members and students are invited to attend

email helena@meiinteriors.com if you are attending.

Looking forward to seeing you there- here is a link to a map:

https://mts0.google.com/vt/lyrs=m@240039547&hl=en&src=app&x=18286&s=&y=23929&z=16&s=Gal

GTA Wester's hit the big city for a showroom haunt

Recently our group of CDECA Interior Decorators visited several great showrooms in Toronto along King St. East.  Our first stop was the fantastic Cambria Studio on Parliament Street. We then proceeded to visit Roche Bobois; Jamie Alexander's Showrooms - Alexander Interiors &; Inspired Interiors;  Studio Bulthaup; Luxe Thermador and finally back to Cambria Studio for a tour and lunch.

Every showroom that we visited welcomed us with goodies and gift bags with information we can take back to ensure we are completely informed about their product lines which in turn works to the advantage of our clients.

It was a fabulous day and even the weather looked favourably on us and remained warm and sunny.  Perfect!

Margaret Macdonald of Cambria welcomed us to their beautiful showroom

  

Stop #2 was Roche Bobois

This table opens to a large size when necessary.  The actual workings are visible.  Quite unique and a conversation starter!

 

Stop #3 - Studio Bulthaup

Offering complete kitchens with very streamlined, high end cabinetry and from Germany

Stop #4 - Jamie Alexander's Showrooms - Alexander Interiors and Inspired Interiors

Stop #5 Luxe Thermador

Lovely Luxure appliances, featuring Thermador, Gaggenau, Bosch

Last Stop - Back to Cambria for another fantastic lunch

Thanks to all for a great day!