Just because we’re hunkering down at home (again!), that doesn’t mean we aren’t wishing we could do a little at-home rearranging. It seems that with all the time spent at home, folks everywhere have taken on design projects both small and full-scale. If you’re looking for easy ways to change up your space, then look no further than these pro tips from President and Principal Designer of Ali Budd Interiors, Ali Budd.
In addition to Ali’s brilliant tips, she’s also sharing some of her past kitchen design projects and offering some insight into the whole entire process.
Reach For Art Supplies
Spray paints are your friends (or any art supplies you may have laying around the house); you can modernize and customize already owned furniture whilst enjoying a fun DIY activity at home.
Mix & Match
I love mixing heights and colours of different candles to create elegant decors, perfect for the holidays
Shop your home!
Play around and move different furniture, accessories and artworks from different rooms and spaces. The simple act of just moving around already owned pieces could make them feel new again.
Maximize Natural Lighting
With the sun setting so early, it’s really time to rethink our windows and get as much sunshine as possible. Little things like making sure your sofa isn’t blocking the windows, or have your curtains tied back would go a long way…
Don’t Be Afraid To Switch Things Up
Rearrange! Really zone it out and keep in mind the items you use every day vs. items you barely reach for to maximize the space you’re in.
Think Virtually
Given that most of our holiday celebrations are going to be done via video calls this year, keep your surroundings in mind and test run your video before going live to ensure all the messies are out of frame.
See below for some insight into Ali’s design process…
Kitchens have traditionally been a space where it was locked away, and hidden in the home– we believe that kitchens should be celebrated. It’s the place where a lot of the family magic happens and now it’s a space where everyone hangs out– so creating beautiful, yet functional kitchens is very important to us. As a firm, it really feeds and pushes us to truly bring our clients’ visions to life and create unique spaces. When we take on a project, the whole kitchen is custom designed by Ali Budds Interiors, we’re very hands-on and do not work with external kitchen companies. We always tell our clients that they don’t live in museums, therefore we’re not going to build museums. As a mother of three myself, I understand the balance of wanting a beautiful space, yet having a space that is sustainable to upkeep.
Old Forest Hill:
This kitchen is my version of a “white kitchen”- clean, yet not boring. We worked with Brenda Izen, from Izen Architecture on this project. As our clients were looking to put in a pool in the backyard, we strategically moved the kitchen to the back of the home so they have full visibility of their kids while in the kitchen. Just envisioning kids wet bums running around, we went with marble tiles that are easy for cleanup. We also had the opportunity to raise the roof, so we installed transom windows to invite more light into the space.
Roxborough:
We created this beautiful open-concept kitchen with the clients’ young kids top of mind. As a mother of three, I know how important it is to have your eyes on the kids at all times. The family wanted a sophisticated, chic, and modern home in Toronto’s prestigious Rosedale Area – but one practical and functional enough to handle anything their four young children could throw at it. This kitchen was created with a mix of different materials, and not just sticking to the traditional white kitchen. Not everything is symmetrical, and really a testament that you can do something edgy and cool, but still remain timeless.
Davisville:
Whilst showcasing our client’s personality, smart space planning was key in creating this kitchen. We worked hard on getting rid of dead space and creating meaningful storage spaces with the bottom cabinets. We used a mix of different materials, patterns and colours to create a kitchen that felt different and cool. The tiles in this kitchen are notable and really brings edginess to this kitchen.
All photo: Ali Budd Interiors
