Decorating Tips

Sharon is personally available @ Upstage to answer any questions re: decorating & re-design in store or via this website or phone.

• Fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference in a room, and is one of the more reasonably priced ways of updating a look. Check the brochures at your local paint store for ideas on colour and types of applications. If you love a particular company's paint chip but can't afford their paint, take the chip to another dealer and they will match the paint colour for you. Paul's Paintin' Place, Sechelt is a great resource for paint colour advice and other design products.
  Helpful site: www.colourtherapyhealing.com/colour/colour_in_the_home.php
• Kitchen or bathroom cupboards in good condition can be up-dated inexpensively in a number of ways: with a coat of paint; antiquing; new pulls or handles; or replace the doors only; add an attractive material curtain on the bottom cupboards below the sink; or have open shelving for a fresh, uncluttered look on upper shelves.
• No need to go with all cabinets when re-designing your kitchen. This charming yellow shelf unit was waiting for me at The Swallow's Nest, Gibsons, when I wanted a different look for a kitchen re-design. This outlet is a great source of the latest trends in furniture, lighting, and decor items.
• Baskets are an attractive way to store groups of items and reduce clutter. Reasonably priced and readily available, they look good on counters, under tables, in bathrooms — wherever. Available locally at many retailers, including dollar stores and Thrift shops; and off the Coast at Pier 1, Home Sense.
• Fresh flowers: We are blessed to be able to have fresh flowers in our homes year round. They are available at local grocery stores, florists, PETALS, and many roadside stands along the Coast.
• Lighting: can update with new lampshades, or you can replace old ceiling fixtures with chandeliers for a "classy" look at very reasonable prices. Locally check out UPSTAGE, Mosaic Market, Redfish, Swallow's Nest, Arbutus Interiors, KISS, Re-Decor, Canadian Tire and Home Hardware. On the Mainland, I have sourced out great finds for my clients at Lighting Warehouse, Richmond, as well as at Home Depot.
• UPSTAGE, Mosaic Market, Habitat Re-Store, and even our local Salvation Army and Auxiliary stores are excellent sources for pieces of furniture which can easily be up-dated with paint, new handles or new upholstery. Or think outside of the box and re-invent the piece of furniture — use it in a different way or place it in a different location.
• If large bathroom mirrors are difficult to remove, they can be up-dated by gluing a moulding of your choice onto the mirror. Replace "Hollywood lights" with a more current lighting fixture in a finish which complements the other bathroom fixtures. The choices are endless now.
• If you don't sew, bamboo blinds and ready-made valances and curtains are available at reasonable prices and at a variety of locations. Arbutus Interiors is a great local resource for material samples and ideas, along with a very nice selection of small furniture and decor items.
• Remember to take 'before' and 'after' pictures beginning with the purchase of your house. They make an invaluable tool for you or your realtor to use when selling: the pictures are proof of the loving care the house received.

iron balustrade, designed by Pete Unger of Ironworks in Halfmoon Bay

“My husband and I decided to renovate our kitchen and hired a local kitchen designer, paid our down-payment and waited and waited. Months later, we were still waiting and Sharon came to our rescue. She referred us to one of her dependable kitchen contractors, BRUADAIR KITCHENS, and provided advice on how to proceed with our dream renovation. She also referred us to some of her sources for wholesale plumbing fixtures, tiles and counter materials.
We cannot thank her enough for assisting us in realizing our dream kitchen.”
— Linda & John Duff, Sechelt

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