Merry Christmas!

Its certainly easy to get in the Christmas spirit now!  Look at the snow! 

Catherine and everyone at Kennedy Crawford Design would like to wish everyone a great holiday season, and all the best in 2014.

Inexpensive and Fun Christmas decorating ideas

How is everyone's Christmas shopping going? Are you all ready for the big day?  Please don't tell me that you are already finished! (and sorry to stress you out if your not).  KCD loves a great DIY project, and here are some of our festive favorites that can hopefully help you get into the holiday spirit.

Lighting Issues?

If you've already put up the Christmas lights outside and your yard still looks like it could uses a little more outdoor lighting, here are some simple idea's that can help transform your yard.

• Purchasing pre formed twig balls from your local craft store and tightly wrapping mini lights around the pre formed balls create a great accent piece.   These lit twig balls can be placed anywhere you would like to create interest, from hanging in a pre lit tree to empty planters.

• Now that tomato season is well behind us, flip your tomato planter cone upside down, and generously wrapping smaller lights around the perimeter of the planter cone.  - what a great idea.

Window Display

• This is easier than it looks. Thread transparent string (I used finishing line) with a pin and  knot where you would like the pom pom's to rest.  We suggest playing with the color and scale of the pom poms. Using white pom poms and knotting them at different lengths would really give the impression of snow gently drifting down, and the best part of this snow fall is that it won't effect your morning commute.

Let us know if  you've had a chance to try these ideas!

Fall Fun.

Well, its definitely a foggy day out there today but with the leaves changing and breaks of sunshine who couldn't love the beginning of this fall season!  I posed the question to the KCD staff, what is your favorite thing about fall and winter, here is what the crew said;

Julie our stylist can't get enough of cable knit! and who can blame her, "dusting off my boots and pulling out my scarves! Time to insert my cozy liners (yes, cable knit!) in my Hunter rain boots!!",

In addition to scarves and boot liners, Julie loves cable knit throw blankets and pillows, and always loves to decorate with seasonal things like gourds and white pumpkins.  Julie is not normally a fan of pies, but she really can't say enough about Savory Island Pie Company's, Chicken pot pie "its so warm and flakey, how can you not love it?".

Adam really enjoys when the weather changes, because as the weather changes so does Adams' eating habits," I love homely foods like Irish Stew." Having said that, Adam's favorite thing about Fall, is that it ultimately ushers in the ski season.   In case you haven't guessed it, Adam loves the great outdoors, "Vancouver is one of the most beautiful places in the world, wrap up in warm plaid clothes and get out there for a stroll around the city, walk around the seawall or go for a good hike."- good idea Adam! 

Katie who is basically the office's guru when in comes to fall items at Starbucks helped usher in the season a couple weeks ago with her first pumpkin spice latte coupled perfectly with a pumpkin scone, Katie loves scones! Apart from that Katie loves going for a run in the crisp weather while the fall leaves are falling on the ground, you'd never know she has a scone a day because she's actually very active.  Katie loves the fall because that means accessorizing her outfits with warm boots and comforting scarfs.  Katie's home likes to accessorize her home with fall type items, for example Katie did a small fall make over, "by buying small fall type accents and a nice cozy warm orange throw for my sectional, it totally transformed my living room."

Grace  has a go roasted butternut squash soup that she always uses when she wants to warm up, and its pretty simple, even I can do it.

• Core, peal and cube a medium butternut squash.  
• Core, peal and cube one apple
• Peal and cube one onion
• Roast all ingredients at 425 degrees for 40-45 mins.
• Once vegetables have finished roasted puree the roasted vegetables with an food processeor blender with Vegetable stock.
• Add one can of coconut milk to the pureed veggies and stock.
• Heat the soup so is warm throughout
• server with roasted pine nuts.

Grace's selection of scarves comes out when the temperature drops, "my selection of scarves vary in texture and color, they provide a complimentary piece to my fall outfits." 
Grace's holiday  trick of the trade is to update high traffic areas such as her main entrance, "I feel by updating the entrance it creates a warm inviting feeling to my guests."  Grace suggests a seasonal wreath or a nice planter with seasonal vegetation, keeping the decorations in high traffic areas makes it seem like there are more decorations then there actually are.  

James  loves all the same things that have been mentioned, but with the cooler temperatures James loves an excuse to display his vast collection of sweaters and cardigans.  "I like to bring in seasonal colors and bulkier the sweater the better!"  As much as I love the change in weather and being outside with the cooler temperature I also really like coming home to 

Catherine, "I love the chill in the air, leaves changing color and a hot latte in my hand.  In terms of yummy autumn eats, what would fall be without the pumpkin scones and muffins from the Bakehouse. Gotta order them with the spiced cream cheese icing ... to die for!  As for fall fashion, bringing out those warm wool coats, love the ones that tie tightly around the waist and button up the neck...so cozy and stylish, Also you can't head into fall without riding boots and colorful and cozy scarves. As much as I love this time of year for how it kicks off the "seasons of entertaining," it also tends to be a time to really enjoy your home.  Cozy up and "celebrate the great indoors" . . . I love a yummy comfort food dinner and a cozy night by the fire with a glass of red wine.  Perfecto!

Don't forget to keep checking back to the blog and don't forget to "like us" on Facbook and you'll be entered to win a "KCD Favorite Items gift basket", valued at 500.00!- more details to come, we will keep you posted. 

Fun facts about some of our very own KCD team members.

Hope everyone is looking forward to the long weekend that is quickly approaching, and has plans filled with turkey and gravy and the subsequent naps.

As we are closing many of our on going projects, we've realized that Kennedy Crawford has worked and continues to work with a very diverse and interesting group of people.

- For example, one of our custom furniture manufactures is a PROFESSIONAL Poker Player. In fact he is currently preparing himself for a tournament in Monte Carlo!  In addition to a great furniture manufacturer he is an amazing baker. He's treated KCD with the most amazing shortbread, we are all eagerly anticipating the holiday season! *hint hint*.  His nick name to us (feel free to use if you figure out who he is), is "The Most Interesting Man in the World."

 

- Our residential kitchen planner, has had experience as a professional chef and has worked in some of Vancouver's premiere restaurants.  With out giving away our designers secret identity, this master chef and master designer also has the worlds shortest last name!

 

 

- Our resident architect hasn't always had his nose in his building code book, he's also modeled for Hollister! and he doesn't like brag, but he's often mistaken for a famous vampire * cough cough.*



- Although our senior designer doesn't get to do it too much out on the wet coast, but jumps at the chance to get out and surf, when she's back down south. Surfs up!

Everyone at KCD would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!



Pure Bread ... Pure Gold.

Well, that was definitely a wet weekend!  When the weather turns it really makes me want to bake, unfortunately, with all raining this weekend it also makes me want to hibernate.  Instead of productively baking I went to a bakery.  PURE BREAD in Whistler is a small artisan style bakery offering great freshly made bread, and some of the most delicious looking and tasting treats you'll ever find.  KCD discovered this sweet tooth's gem while finishing up a job in whistler, and the entire team fell in love with their baked goods. We suggest the drool worthy salted caramel shortbread bar!, its as good as it sounds, shortbread base, with salted caramel center with a dark chocolate top!  So before you head home after a day of skiing make a point of stopping in function junction and load up for the trip home.  

One of each please.

freshly made granola

I don't know what a Pudgie Pie is... but I want one.

Pure Bread has two locations in Whistler

Function Junction
1-1040 Millar Creek Road
Open: 9 am - 5 pm

or  in the Village;
122-4338 Main Street
Open: 8:30 am - 7 pm-ish.

Both locations are open Monday through Sunday.

N 1B

1-1040 Millar Creek Road

Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B

Cead Mile Failte

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall (I can't believe its fall either), weather.  Here are some pictures of our latest project that just wrapped.  Extra points to whoever can decipher whats on our cake (no googling now!)

Ask your Designer, Question number 1.

Wow! thanks for the great response in regards to our "ask your designer" section!  There were some really great questions, we really had to put on our thinking caps.  Our first question comes from Beth S. from North Vancouver, she writes;

"My house has been on the market for the past few weeks without any attention.  Can you give me some points to attract potential home buyers."

Here are our top three tips to encourage a quick sale for any house on the real estate market;

1. A Fresh coat of paint!- Try painting the interior of your house with a great neutral color.  We really like to use Benjamin Moore's Winds Breath or Classic Grey .

Neutrals are safe bets as they rarely offend potential buyers, try to avoid vibrant, shocking colors.

2.  Fight your instinct in making your space feel personal - removing any personal items allows potential buyers to picture themselves in the space. Arranging furniture to highlight any architectural pieces, (eg. fireplaces, built in book shelves),  will add visual interest to the space, and help fill the void left by omitting personal items.

Remember - your staging for others, not yourself.

3. Consider hiring a Designer for an in home consultation.  A good Designer will be able to give you advice such as which furniture pieces would work, and can provide cost effective advice which will ensure a quick sale.

Here is recent staging work that we've completed:

What's up Buttercup?

We've been doing a lot of sourcing for the various projects we have on the go, and we've recently rekindled our love for one our favorite state side design stores, BUTTERCUP HD.  Stepping into Buttercup is like stepping into an eclectic world market, as Buttercup sources many of their items internationally. Buttercup's style as a mix of contemporary, industrial and transitional pieces which really compliment each other, especially if your going for an eclectic modern look.   Celebrities such as Catherine Brown, Gwen Stefani, and TV Designer, Jeff Lewis have been known to pick up items for their very own homes.  Here are a few of our favorite items that can be found at Buttercup....oh yes, they also ship internationally, so get your credit card ready!  Feel free to visit their website at: http://www.hdbuttercup.com/

 

Welcome Katie to the team!

In honor of Katie's first official week at KCD we wanted everyone to get to know her a little better.  So we initiated her into the KCD team by asking her what her 10 most important design related items were. Her is what she said;

1. Coffee to start the day

2. Pilot V5 Hi-Techpoint pens

3.InspirationalWebsites (houzz, Pinterest, Remodelista, designsponge) and of course KCD's website

4. Iphone, currently I don't have one.  Life would be easier with on

5. A trusty notepad

6. A sense of humor

7. A good tape measurer

8. A comfortable car for those long days of driving

9. Walnut and Marble

10. Color

Importance of Interior Design

When I tell people that I am an Interior Designer I'm usually asked, "oh what's your favorite design show?"  We all have our favorites (FYI, mine is Candice Olsen) and as entertaining as they are, I feel they produce an unrealistic representation of what actually happens.  Interior Designers do much more than pick paint colors or decide which toss cushion works best.   Every project is different, but when an Interior Designer is hired, his or her responsibilities typically include carefully budgeting the expenses, finding the right contractors for the job, and basically diffusing the stress of an renovation from the client by successfully project managing the overall project.

The most important task is making sure that the client's expectations of the project are met.  Interiors Designers have the ability to manipulate interior spaces to help increase functionality which in turn would make for a pleasing environment. 

If you want to talk dollars and cents, Interior Designers help provide a greater return on investment on one of life's biggest purchases.  When and if you decide to sell your house, a well designed house will sell faster than a poorly designed one.  

Interior Designer have the experience necessary to make concise and price effective decisions which are essential in facilitating a stress free renovation.  Interior Design is our passion and working with clients to help them achieve their dreams a rewarding experience which at KCD we thoroughly enjoy.

Before and After 2

 We hope everyone had a great weekend!  Here is small renovation and staging we did for a client who is about to put the house on the market.  The house has a great Ocean view and beautifully landscaped yard, and located in pristine Lions Bay.   Be sure to check back as there will be more photo's to follow.