There are few things more welcoming in spring than waking up to sunny skies after a long, dark Canadian winter. But as the sun peeks through your window ever earlier, you’d be forgiven for wishing you had darker shades to catch a few extra ZZZZZs. It’s one of many reasons you may consider updating the window coverings in your home. Snooze strategies aside, the right window covering can refresh a room’s decor, offer privacy and help manage a home’s temperature. 

“Window coverings are instantly noticeable in a room,” says Sarah Love of PM Wyre in Burlington. “Older curtains and blinds can make homes look dated and old-fashioned. New window coverings can modernize a more traditional home or soften the look of a modern home.” 

If you’re in the market to replace those circa 1980s vertical blinds, there are plenty of styles and automation options to match your personal taste. When selecting the right window covering, Love suggests that several factors

should be taken into account, including light control, privacy, room function, desired aesthetic and energy efficiency.

“In rooms with beautiful views and expansive windows, select window coverings that maximize the view while controlling the natural light,” says Love. If it’s for a bathroom, privacy takes precedence and blinds should be made of materials that can handle the room’s extra moisture and heat, advises Love.  

Today’s trends lean toward automated roller shades in lieu of those dated vertical blinds – once the go-to solution for condominiums and patio doors. While there are hundreds of fabrics to choose from, materials made with natural fibres and organic textures, as well as neutral colours are most popular, according to Love. 

Remember those strings and chains to adjust your blinds? Today’s automation does away with them, making today’s window covering easier to use, safer for kids and in tune with your home’s lighting and climate needs. Just about any window covering can be automated, says Love. “We can set them on a schedule based on the sun’s position, and then forget about them. They’re just always in the right position!”

Window coverings are an important investment in your home that can last many years, so relying on a professional for guidance is key. Love finds it best to visit the client’s space in order to determine their needs and the technical aspects of the installation. 

With the return of warm sunny days, now may be an ideal time to revisit your blinds and curtains. The right window coverings are an easy way to refresh your space and help optimize the comfort in your home.  

Originating in the post-World War II era, spanning from around the 1940s to the 1960s, the mid-century modern design movement embraced simplicity, clean lines and functional elegance. This timeless aesthetic continues to influence modern interior design today.

Mid-century modern design is defined by clear straight lines and gentle curves. This style embraces minimalism, avoiding excessive ornamentation or clutter and blends a variety of materials including wood, metal, glass and plastic to create visual interest and add texture. 

“One of my favourite things that defines mid-century design is its integration with nature,” says Shawnna Truelove, Principal Designer/Owner of Truelove Designs. “Large windows and open floor plans are common in mid-century architecture, allowing for a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.”

Mid-century modern is a design that can complement many other styles, making it an aesthetic that continues to be popular today. “The simple details and organic shapes appeal to a lot of people,” says Ashley Bonello, who co-owns Rume Design Inc. with Michelène Segodnia. She says many modern furniture companies have incorporated mid-century modern in their designs.   

“It’s one of those that can complement so many other styles,” says Truelove. “If you like modern, Art Deco, even traditional, you can  seamlessly mix some mid-century in there, resulting in a space that will appeal to a wide range of tastes and preferences,” she says.

While mid-century modern maintains its core principles, it has evolved to reflect changing tastes, lifestyles and advancements in design and technology, such as using reclaimed wood, recycled metals and eco-friendly upholstery fabrics in response to the trend in sustainability. While traditional mid-century furniture was known for incorporating bold, vibrant hues such as mustard yellow, burnt orange and avocado green, Truelove says the style has adapted to incorporate more muted hues, pastels and neutral tones, to match the latest trends in home design.

Incorporate Mid-century Modern into Your Home

To bring the timeless elegance of mid-century modern design into your home, consider these tips:

Furniture Selection: Look for pieces with clean lines, such as a statement lounge chair or minimalist dining table. The one staple mid-century piece of furniture Truelove and Segodnia agree can make or break a space is an accent chair. Iconic mid-century modern chairs such as the Eames Lounge Chair or Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair are great options. “Look for chairs with organic shapes, tapered legs, and upholstery in bold colours or textured fabrics like tweed or leather,” says Truelove. “No matter what style you’re trying to accomplish in your home, a good mid-century chair can bring lots of character and might just be the wow piece your design is looking for,” she says.

Layer Textures: Layering materials and textures can add contrast, depth and visual interest. “Layering of fabrics, jutes, linens and faux leathers all sustainably sourced are great ways to incorporate (mid-century modern design),” says Segodnia. 

Natural Elements: Incorporate natural materials such as wood, leather and stone to add warmth and texture to your space. Plants are another great way to bring nature indoors. “Add indoor plants in sleek, minimalist planters made of materials like ceramic, fibreglass or metal,” suggests Truelove.  

Minimalist Decor: Keep decor minimal and purposeful, showcasing a few statement art pieces, geometric rugs and iconic lighting fixtures. “Don’t be afraid of colour, especially in art,” says Bonello. “Bold, dramatic art is classic when we design mid-century style.” When adding decor pieces, Truelove advises being selective to stick with the minimalist appeal of the design style, choosing decor pieces with clean lines. “Sculptural figurines featuring abstract or geometric forms are reminiscent of mid-century design aesthetics,” she says. 

Lighting: “I call it the jewelry of the home,” says Truelove, when talking about lighting. Look for pendant lights or floor lamps with clean lines and geometric shapes, such as globe or cone shapes. “Sputnik chandeliers are also a classic mid-century modern lighting option, featuring a burst of metal rods reminiscent of a satellite,” says Truelove.

By infusing your home with mid-century modern design elements, you can create a space that celebrates the timeless elegance and functionality of this iconic design era. 

WHERE TO SHOP

Filter
271 Ottawa St North, Hamilton
filter.design

Joshua Creek Furniture
1029 Speers Road, Oakville
joshuacreekfurniture.com

Anderson’s Interiors
686 Guelph Line, Burlington
andersonsinteriors.ca

Elizabeth Interiors
3225 Fairview Street, Burlington
elizabethinteriors.com

Bungalo Beach
297 Dundas St East, Waterdown
bungalobeach.ca

When Oscar Arboleda, founder & CEO of Forest Kitchen & Cabinetry walked into the 1870s Dundas farmhouse, he knew this might be the biggest kitchen transformation he’d ever done. The vintage kitchen had minimal cabinetry and a tiny corner sink. “It was original to the house and not at all functional,” he says. But the homeowners and Arboleda could see the potential of the space. “We started playing with the space and started from scratch,” says Arboleda.

The homeowners wanted a modern kitchen, but didn’t want to lose the character of the vintage barn home. “As much as we wanted to build something modern, we didn’t want to put in something that didn’t go with the house,” says Arboleda.  

The designers faced another challenge. The kitchen area had a lot of space but there were two huge windows and a sliding glass door, leaving minimal wall space to work with to build cabinetry. The homeowners didn’t want to lose the natural light that the windows brought into the kitchen, so closing off the windows was not an option. 

Using the three corners of the kitchen, Arboleda built two cabinet towers in opposite corners, and used the third for the range hood. “When you’re building a kitchen and you don’t have the walls to fill it out, you have to be strategic with lower cabinets with pull out drawers so you utilize every single inch of the cabinet,” says Arboleda. A large island provided additional prep space and storage, adding functionality to the kitchen without taking away from the natural light the windows brought in. 

Finding just the right combination of function and style took some work. “We went through easily 10 to 12 designs until we got the right one,” says Arboleda. 

MIXING STYLES 

Initially when selecting cabinet doors, the homeowners wanted a conservative shaker style that was modern but not too much of a contrast to the older style home. During the renovation, they decided to put a more modern spin on the kitchen and changed the drawers to flat doors, keeping the cabinet doors as shakers. This was a first for Arboleda who had never designed a kitchen with two door styles in the same space. “It turned out amazing!” 

ISLAND

A large island was key to adding workspace and functionality to the kitchen. “We wanted to make the countertop on the island as big as possible,” says Arboleda. The homeowners chose Carrara marble from Custom Granite in Stoney Creek to complete the look. 

MAINTAIN ORIGINAL CHARM 

The homeowners were concerned with maintaining the original charm of the 1870s home. A farmhouse sink kept some of the home’s rustic charm, and an original piece of stained glass was incorporated into the kitchen design, maintaining the home’s character and charm.

The homeowners were thrilled with their new kitchen.  It’s bright and airy, with tons of storage space, and it achieves exactly what they were looking for combining the original charm with modern functionality. 

From buying second hand to avoiding takeout, choosing organic to driving electric, there are countless ways to tackle climate change and help make the Earth a better place. But the reality is, changing habits can be hard for everyone, even with the best of intentions (remember those New Year’s resolutions?)

One easy and rewarding way to make a difference is to cut our household waste – especially the amount of plastics we toss. Got a full recycling bin every week? Unfortunately, only a small percentage of those plastics actually get recycled (around nine per cent based on Canada’s latest research). In fact, across the globe, less than one-third of plastics labelled ‘1’ or ‘2’ on the bottom of containers are recycled. And, numbers ‘3’ through ‘7’ are much more difficult to repurpose. This means cutting waste means more than eliminating garbage and single use plastics, we need to cut all those plastic containers we toss into the blue bin, too. Not so easy, right?  

Inspired by this year’s Earth Day theme, Planet vs. Plastics, we asked three local eco-friendly stores to help. They recommend top products to help families curb plastic waste and adopt a more sustainable household. 

Christine Kempf is the co-founder of Mrs. Greenway which specializes in products for a low-waste lifestyle with locations in Dundas, Grimsby and Elora. “We always tell people that even one eco-friendly change makes a difference. Many of these choices end up with cost savings as well.” 

Kempf recommends “unpaper towels” by Cheeks Ahoy to replace paper towels and napkins. Made from 100 per cent recycled cotton flannel, they can be washed and reused hundreds of times before being replaced. Bonus: you can use them to shield splatter in the microwave. “Reusable paper towels means you no longer have to purchase rolls and rolls of disposable ones, saving you money in the long run,” she says. 

The bathroom is another major source of plastic waste. Did you know billions of toothbrushes end up in landfills and oceans each year? The Nada is an aluminum toothbrush with a removable brush head that’s recyclable. Its metal handle will last a lifetime, making this an ideal alternative to the conventional toothbrush that’s not recyclable in municipal programs. 

Oakville-based Maison Apothecare develops its own line of eco-friendly refillable products for the home, from cleaning formulas to skincare. Founder Natacha Rey is passionate about holistic sustainability which she says is “the practice of being intentional with all we do. Our work at Maison expresses this through our ingredients, community and impact on the planet.” 

She recommends adopting refillable formulas for the typical household duties. The store’s lineup includes an all-surface cleaner, floor cleaner, kitchen hand wash, dish liquid, laundry detergent and toilet bowl cleaner – all made with ingredients that are not tested on animals, are biodegradable, septic tank safe and do not contain hormone disruptors.  

“By purchasing refills, you actively participate in reducing waste and minimizing your carbon footprint,” says Rey. You can refill bottles on-site or purchase a five-litre refill box. “For the month of March bring back your empty bottles and get a free refill!” 

A Greener Place is a zero waste online store and refillery based in Waterdown offering an array of products to level up your sustainable lifestyle. Founder Victoria Garofalo recommends two of the store’s bestsellers to help transition to low waste living. 

Ditching the shampoo bottles that collect in the bathrooms is a great start, making shampoo bars a perfect replacement. “They’re great for traveling and they last 50 to 75 washes per bar, plus they work so well,” says Garofalo. 

Cut back on kitchen waste with Swedish sponge cloths that can be composted when done. These popular products can be thrown in the dishwasher or laundry and usually last more than six months. They come in some pretty funky designs, to boot.  

Collectively, we can make a huge difference as more individuals intentionally choose to help heal the Earth through thoughtful shopping and incremental changes in our daily routines. 

“We have seen a huge increase of people interested in making more planet-friendly choices over the last five years,” says Kempf. “When we first opened we had 10 products and a handful of people refilling. Today we have almost 100 refillable products and we see hundreds of people in each week between our three stores!” 

Local Links

A Greener Place
Online only, Waterdown-based
agreenerplace.ca

Mrs. Greenway
2 King Street West, Dundas
mrsgreenway.ca

Maison Apothecare
1173 North Service Road West,
Oakville
maisonapothecare.ca

Simply Green Baby
67 Bronte Road, Oakville
simplygreenbaby.com


Refillery Market
Online only, Burlington-based
refillerymarket.ca