PICK OF THE MONTH: THE 'PORTMAN'

It's that time again, the results are in! This week’s pick of the month is the 'Portman'-- a condos dream come true. This chic sectional is the solution to those condo/apartment owners that don't want to overcrowd their space, or buy a smaller sized sofa that they aren't in love with but have to make do with. It looks great and its design makes it perfect for smaller sized living rooms. If you're looking for something that isn't bulky, won't take up your whole living room but is still comfortable and stylish, the Portman is that go to sofa. Just because you don't have a lot of space to work with doesn't mean that you shouldn't be able to enjoy the place you spend so much time in. I love the sleek arms of the Portman; definitely adds an air of femininity but is still a sofa that both women and the man they love can agree on. The item has been a knockout and is almost sold out! We currently have Pistachio a beautiful spring colour mix of pale yellow and cream; another perfect choice for those with limited square feet.  Remember, you always want to go with lighter colours to give the appearance of a larger space. 

 

Make your home more spring like this March.  Start your spring cleaning early and get it out of the way and add new life by purchasing some accent items. If the Portman happens to one of those things, you're in luck because now until supplies last it's on sale for $399! 

 Spring is here to stay :) Enjoy.

HOT TOPICS: CAN YOU PULL OFF A RED SOFA ?

*This piece was taken from Style at Home Magazine (Page 74, April issue):

STYLE AT HOME: Wow! Red is a bold colour for a sofa.

                 TOMMY SMYTHE: Don't hate my sofa because it's beautiful or because it's red. A room without red is like a women without lipstick....unfinished! Admittedly, a sofa isn't an accent - it's a statement. I was drawn to a strong colour choice with modern, tailored lines and luxe fabric.

While reading April's issue of  Style at Home Magazine I came across Tommy Smythe article called 'MODERN SOFA.' Now under normal circumstances I am not a fan of the colour red at all, but this article caught my attention with its rich red sofa paired with simple white walls and an understated painting. It took this 'outrageous' loud colour to a livable, classy red. The designer displays his beautiful deep red modern sofa and talks about why he chose it and why it works for him. It's a short, sweet and Symthe's witty and straight to the point attitude makes the message loud and clear. Why wouldn't you own a red sofa? What do we have against red? Your sofa is meant to stand out not blend in. It is the most important feature that can make or break your living room. 

Whenever people come into the Modern Sensibility and decide to go with the red, I give them a slight eyebrow raise not because I'm thinking umm....what are they thinking? but because I am truly proud that they'd be so bold. It takes a big personality to pull off a red sofa. This person is definitely someone who has vision for design and that has to be commended. So, hats off to all you red sofa owners!

How bold are you ?  Do you think you could pull off a red sofa? Leave a comment or like us on facebook tell me what you think.

This is what I picture my home to look like if I were ever to get a red sofa. Something simple with browns, greens,and muted shades to tone down the overpower feeling of red. Share what you're red living room would look like @modsensibility

COLOUR 101: ALL WHITE EVERYTHING

101 Ideas: Colour by Vinny Lee says as a rule "...If you're using white, whether on hard or soft surfaces, you should make sure you keep it well maintained.  If a white surface becomes grubby or stained, it is instantly noticeable and will make the whole room look shabby.  Choose machine-washable white fabrics wherever possible so that you can easily keep them pristine and wipe marks off woodwork as soon as you see them."

How beautiful is an all white room?  Unless you live on your own completely free of mess, or in a mansion where the rooms are not lived in but used for pure admiration; having a white room is simply unrealistic. The upkeep and maintenance is simply not worth having such a room. Also, in order to prevent the all white room from the awful hospital feel, natural light must be in abundance to highlight all your white pieces. I love the way an all white room looks fresh and feels airy like a cool summer’s day. I always picture myself living in an all white home; I'm not talking about all the different shades of white either but that crisp fresh white with no undertones.  Then I think about dust, everyday dirt, accidents and spills and how upset I'd be when my crisp whites, look more like dingy greys. That's usually the thought that makes me quickly change my mind and think ummm, better stick to some colours!

I thought I'd let us enjoy some pictures and pretend if only for a moment that we live in such beautiful 'white' homes: 

 

COLOUR 101: IS GREY THE "NEW" BEIGE ?

“If I see everything in gray, and in gray all the colors which I experience and which I would like to reproduce, then why should I use any other color? I've tried doing so, for it was never my intention to paint only with gray. But in the course of my work I have eliminated one color after another, and what has remained is gray, gray, gray!” -- Alberto Giacomettii

Is grey really the new beige? I had to find out. I knew it was becoming an increasingly popular colour in home decor but would it really be replacing beige as the go to neutral? I wasn't too sure. Grey is usually associated with words like dingy, bland, boring, depressing; at least to me it was. These words are now replaced by words like welcoming, inviting, clean, elegant, sophisticated, and refined. I never thought of it as a truly exciting colour, matter of fact I never thought it was a colour that had much versatility to it at all. If you had told me a year ago that I would be writing about grey as this fabulous new colour, or that I'd consider owning a grey sofa I'd probably cry with laughter at how ridiculous the thought was.

Go figure! Since I am a huge fan of black and at one point felt strongly about accenting my black sofa with light blue.  That all changed recently, not because I'm a trend follower but simply because in the past couple of months grey has truly inspired me. I love the way it matches with both light and dark shades of colours and looks completely different from room to room depending on what it's matched with. I have become VERY fond of grey and lilac, grey and light green, or a combination of the three. It also matches well with reds, yellows, and blues. It’s a neutral colours so it will match well with any colour scheme you can think of. Due to the versatility of this colour it is even replacing brown as the go to colour for dining room tables, and sofas.

Is grey the new beige? I definitely think so. In my opinion it trumps beige on all fronts because of its ability to be a cool, understated colour or a deep dramatic colour. It coordinates well with any and every space from your living room to the bathroom and with virtually any accent colour to get the result you're looking for. Grey is without a doubt the go to neutral and I think it will stay that way for a long time.

"Gray is the color of intellect, knowledge, and wisdom. It is perceived as long-lasting, classic, and often as sleek or refined. It is a color that is dignified, conservative, and carries authority. Gray is controlled and inconspicuous and is considered a color of compromise, perhaps because it sits between the extremes of black and white. Gray is a perfect neutral, which is why designers often use it as a background color."  - Kate Smith from Sensational Color

Click Hereto read a fascinating description of what the 

colour grey represents.

Let me know what you think. Do you agree that grey is the new beige?