November 26, 2013

A designated Family Room creates the perfect place for the children to play and watch TV. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

It is often thought to be impossible to keep your home neat and tidy and stylish once the children arrive. Images of all the toys and clutter associated with children come to mind. However, if planned correctly, it can be possible to have both a chic, beautiful home and a big family to live in it. You just need to adopt family-friendly design concepts to accommodate your growing family as you create the style of your dreams.

Key points to remember for family-friendly design: You can always create separate spaces for the children and adults to entertain or hangout. A third floor family room gives the children a place to watch TV and listen to music, while a master suite can create a calming space for parents to relax in. Use kid-friendly fabrics and furniture that can be easily cleaned. This does not mean you have to settle for childish patterns. A bold, green, vinyl wallcovering with assorted vintage letters adds interest and warmth to the room for both adults and children. It also creates a modern space you can be proud of. Storage is another important factor as children come with a lot of stuff. You need to find ways to store their toys and books in a manner that adds to the design of the room. Use storage and shelving that makes everything easily accessible, but can hide the more unsightly clutter. A contemporary, white gloss cabinet with a mix of open shelves and closed cupboards does just that, for example. Lastly, you should simultaneously incorporate the personalities of the children and create a room that they can grow with, so you don’t need to re-do the rooms every couple of years. A client’s son had an interest in collecting toy cars, and we found an antique glass cabinet and created custom, steel shelves to display them. These pieces will remain classic bedroom pieces that he can grow with and they add sophistication to the room, while the collection of toys brings the fun of childhood.

This cozy banquette provides additional space for the client's teenagers to hangout. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — This cozy banquette provides additional space for the client's teenagers to hangout. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Master Suite with fireplace, seating area and spa-like washroom for parents of three to retreat to. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — Master Suite with fireplace, seating area and spa-like washroom for parents of three to retreat to. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Two Storey "Great Room" fit for family as well as catered business functions with its separate pantry. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — Two Storey "Great Room" fit for family as well as catered business functions with its separate pantry. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Kid-Friendly wallpaper with assorted vintage letters that adds interest to the room. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon) — Kid-Friendly wallpaper with assorted vintage letters that adds interest to the room. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon)

These polkda dot shower curtains enhance the design while adding a fun element to the bathroom. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — These polkda dot shower curtains enhance the design while adding a fun element to the bathroom. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Contemporary, white gloss cabinet that is perfect for storage. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon) — Contemporary, white gloss cabinet that is perfect for storage. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon)

Side Mud Room with cubby storage for the whole family. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — Side Mud Room with cubby storage for the whole family. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Antique, glass cabinet and steel shelving to  display our client's son's toy car collection. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — Antique, glass cabinet and steel shelving to display our client's son's toy car collection. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Bedroom that plays off of our client's daughter's fashion interests. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — Bedroom that plays off of our client's daughter's fashion interests. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

A bathroom created for a teenage girl that will grow with her. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — A bathroom created for a teenage girl that will grow with her. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

PostedNovember 26, 2013

AuthorTheresa Casey

CategoriesInterior, The Design Process

TagsWallpaper, Bathroom, Bedroom, Master Ensuite, Living Room, Kitchen, Storage

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November 19, 2013

Red and Orange Textured, Linen Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — Red and Orange Textured, Linen Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Before I started working at Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. as the social media coordinator, I thought of wallpaper as a trend of the past. I recalled my grandmother’s house or my family’s kitchen and the flower bud wallpaper that was such a pain to take down when we decided it had seen its last day. Little did I know that wallpaper had made a huge comeback…

The reinvention of wallpaper has made it a new modernizing tool for interior designers around the world. It can be used to add colour, texture, and depth; effects that no amount of paint can achieve. Here are some inventive examples of how we have used wallpaper for our clients: A bold, red and orange circled, linen wallpaper is used to make a statement in this entryway. A nature-inspired wallpaper creates a calming atmosphere for a master bedroom. A Toile wallpaper creates an Old World, French style for a powder room that looks as if it belongs in a chateau. Theresa and the team at Casey Design Group have never been afraid to use wallpaper creatively, and now neither will I!

Nature-Inspired Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon) — Nature-Inspired Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon)

French-Inspired, Toile Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — French-Inspired, Toile Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Baroque Flocked, Velvet Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — Baroque Flocked, Velvet Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Kid-Friendly, Vinyl Wallcovering (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon) — Kid-Friendly, Vinyl Wallcovering (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon)

Bookcase lined with Delicate Floral Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Donna Griffith) — Bookcase lined with Delicate Floral Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Donna Griffith)

Dramatic, Raw Linen Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon) — Dramatic, Raw Linen Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon)

PostedNovember 19, 2013

AuthorTheresa Casey

CategoriesColour, Design Tool, Interior

TagsWallpaper, Bedroom, Washroom, Texture

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November 8, 2013

A day at Casey Design/Planning Group Inc.

A day in the life of an interior designer is very hectic and crammed with multiple duties and responsibilities. As a designer, Theresa Casey ends up wearing many different hats. That is to say she plays many roles for her clients in her day-to-day working life. She can be a space planner, a floral designer, a photo-shoot stylist, a personal shopper and so much more. She is always moving, always going and always thinking about the clients and their projects. These are just a few of the hats she wears:

Drawings. It should be no surprise that as a designer Theresa has to continuously channel her inner artist and bring her creative ideas and designs to life by putting pen to paper and proofing CAD drawings. However, there are many different pur… — **Drawings**. It should be no surprise that as a designer Theresa has to continuously channel her inner artist and bring her creative ideas and designs to life by putting pen to paper and proofing CAD drawings. However, there are many different purposes to the drawings. She may review and create design concepts for a client’s space. Or she works on drawings for contractors in order to relay the design ideas she and her clients have developed. She also works directly with suppliers to design and produce custom pieces.

Site Visits. Once plans have been drawn and construction begins, Theresa makes a point of frequently stopping by the sites to ensure that everything is going to plan. That means she is checking to ensure that the client’s drawings are being adh… — **Site Visits.** Once plans have been drawn and construction begins, Theresa makes a point of frequently stopping by the sites to ensure that everything is going to plan. That means she is checking to ensure that the client’s drawings are being adhered to, as well as answering any questions the general contractors may have. And much like her digital tools, Theresa has a troubleshoot button too. When any issue arises on site, Theresa is there to creatively solve them.

Decal Installs. As you can tell, Theresa is very hands on in everything she does from start to finish, and everything in between. This, for example, might include a decal wall installation. With the help of her intermediate designer, Kari … — **Decal Installs.** As you can tell, Theresa is very hands on in everything she does from start to finish, and everything in between. This, for example, might include a decal wall installation. With the help of her intermediate designer, Kari Serrao, Theresa laid out the design of a tree decal for a client’s nursery - a very detail-oriented but ultimately satisfying process.

Model Houses. The ultimate time-consuming process is that of building a new home from scratch, and Theresa works through every phase to see it to completion. Model making usually begins with massing concepts and building forms to conceptualize … — **Model Houses.** The ultimate time-consuming process is that of building a new home from scratch, and Theresa works through every phase to see it to completion. Model making usually begins with massing concepts and building forms to conceptualize the structure and begin space planning. Senior designer, James Janz, ably helps her wear this hat.

Sourcing. While shopping sounds like more fun than many of her other duties, it is not a task that Theresa takes lightly. She always diligently searches Designer’s Walk and other design venues for the furniture, lighting, fabric etc. that will … — **Sourcing.** While shopping sounds like more fun than many of her other duties, it is not a task that Theresa takes lightly. She always diligently searches Designer’s Walk and other design venues for the furniture, lighting, fabric etc. that will suit her clients’ needs. She ensures that anything bought will not only match the client’s styles, but also their budgets and overall design concepts. All the different aspects that go into every purchase make this a challenging task. Last week, for example, Theresa explored the Primavera showroom hunting for the perfect striped fabric for a client’s nursery to match the existing furniture, wall colour and newly installed tree decal.

It is very interesting to watch Theresa work, as she is always taking on something new and exciting. I always wonder what hat she’ll put on next!

PostedNovember 8, 2013

AuthorTheresa Casey

CategoriesTheresa Casey, The Design Process

TagsDecal, Fabric

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November 2, 2013

Bedroom with eye catching elements (Photo by Michael Graydon)

The Globe and Mail’s Deirdre Kelly speaks with clients, Kim Hannaford and Jeff Yuill, to discuss their favourite room in their newly revitalized home. The room was designed by Theresa Casey and capitalizes on texture, colour and wow factor.

PostedNovember 2, 2013

AuthorTheresa Casey

CategoriesBedroom, Colour

TagsBedroom, Wallpaper, Texture

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October 29, 2013

Blue Velvet Banquette (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood) — Blue Velvet Banquette (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Colour is the single most powerful tool in the interior designer’s toolbox that makes the most impact for the least amount of money. For the cost of a can of paint, you can transform the atmosphere of your space, and if you hate it, it’s only another can of paint. Hopefully though, you get it right by doing large samples on the wall - something I do on all my projects.

The biggest key to picking a successful colour is to ask yourself what kind of atmosphere you want the space to have. A good way to figure this out is to ask yourself what spaces that you have been in that have made you feel invigorated. You may want different moods for different spaces, i.e. you may want a cozy feeling dining room or restorative spa atmosphere for your bathroom. You may be someone who loves fresh pure colours, or soft neutrals, or jewel box gem colours. Whatever your preferences, start with some images that you can use as your visual reference and pick your colours with these images in mind. I love the variety and scope that can be achieved with a simple can of paint. See some examples of the spaces I have designed with these ideas in mind.