inspiration Columns

Quick Fixes, New Life
March 4, 2013
Debbie Travis column: Quick fixes add new life to home decor

There are many ways to freshen up your home without going all out with a major renovation. Perhaps it’s the weather that is making your rooms feel tired or boring, which can happen when we spend more time inside. Seasonal, festive decorations are down, and somehow everyone’s energy droops a little. Now is the time to make a few changes that will add new zest to your surroundings. Take a look at the three spaces that have the most impact on your mood — the entranceway, the family/living room and the bedroom. Here are some inspiring ideas that are guaranteed to juice things up. ...(read more)

Big Beautiful Books
December 10, 2012
An inviting peak into Ralph Kylloe’s newest book, Rustic Living, shows the many artful faces of wood.
Debbie Travis: Big beautiful books are always in fashion
I have always loved coffee table books that specialize in oversized photography of luxurious interiors, divine takes on colour, furnishings and styles from all eras. They are one of my favourite gifts to give and receive.

These days, everyone is living on their computers and iPads, using them to source everything from toys to bed linens to flooring. The way we shop has undergone a monumental shift, but there will always be a place for big beautiful books that send us to those special places we dream about. ...(read more)

Cinema Style
September 17, 2012
Stunning interiors spotted in movies, such as this bedroom suite at Borgo Scopeto, were galvanizing moments for my career “playing with paint.”
Debbie Travis: Cinema style comes alive

 I love movies and I love interior design. Throughout history, movies have not only inspired us on ways to decorate our homes, they have also created trends. So many films have brilliantly incorporated a historically famous style and in return showed us, the viewing public, how to use these looks in our own homes.

One of my favorites is Wall Street with Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen. This was about the opulence of the ’80s, and the quick money that these guys on Wall Street were raking in. Their greed and yearning for the high life was depicted in the character of Oliver Stone and his office. It was opulent with textures of metal, leather and rich deep colours, but it was the paint finishes that had me on the edge of my seat. Surfaces were painted to emulate the luxury of velvet, the coldest of steel and the warmth of leather. I was hooked!
...(read more)