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Charlotte's Place
Landscape & Interior Decor Consultant
"a work in progress"
making home your favorite place to be
someone else's
renovation
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS and what you can expect from them...
Learn how to create an urban oasis from a landscaper and professional gardener. Using perennials, shrubs and trees, make home your favorite place to be. Perennial gardening is not as complicated or as high maintenance as is typically inferred. It is not surprising the most common landscape design questions heard are "Where do I begin?", "How do I create a design?" and "Aren't perennials expensive?" By incorporating basic landscape design principles and interesting hardscapes, along with shrubs and/or trees (the architectural bones of a garden) and allowing for multiple access points into the space so may be viewed as a 3-dimesional entity, your newly designed or redesigned garden will become an area filled with movement, grace, bewitching foliage and exquisite combinations of foliage, petals, shapes and scents.
Landscape design is not unlike interior design. The ceiling is sky and tree canopies, the walls the structure of trees and shrubs on your, and neighboring properties from next door to blocks away (often referenced to as ‘borrowed scenery’). The floor is the plant material and the hardscaping, walkways, foot paths or grass affording access to your garden.
As you spend more time observing and less time and thought on weeding and maintenance, your garden will teach you what it needs to stay healthy and lovely. A well designed garden has depth and multiple vantage points from which to observe and enjoy. A healthy garden is one that works with the existing conditions in your yard so you are not turning the space upside down in an effort to have a “full sun garden” when light and soil stipulate “cool and wet”. Each style of garden can offer endless delights and as you’re not working against “Nature”, low maintenance is an achievable goal.
This style of garden design will continually provide lovely views and remind you, even during our toughest winter, spring is but a season away and so is the haven just outside your door.
Trees, shrubs and Perennials; how to develop a low maintenance, low water requirement garden that works for you and not vice versa. With changes in the weather affecting our climate, and whether it’s Nature giving us a wake up call or Nature just being the force she is, we need to pay more attention to what, where and why we plant and use our yards differently than in past. The expression “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” apply here: there are changes that can be made without disturbing the existing soils in your yard, which contain some of the best nutrients in this country, and yes I mean Gumbo. No-till or low-till practices will help you introduce elements to the soil to make it more friable while keeping that impenetrable goop as an ultimate destination for the roots of the permanent plants you will install in your garden. That stuff is magic!
From a landscape designer and professional gardener, you will learn to work with existing soil, light and drainage conditions and make a garden of your dreams out of the ‘waste land’, or unworkable space that is currently your property.
Using proven plants, trees, and shrubs and doing all that can be done to accommodate and establish them as permanent structures in your yard, this garden will give you year round pleasure, moments of utter joy and a place to spend your time away from home without leaving the yard. “Staycation” from spring through fall and discover the beauty of a functioning garden that will invite you in, mesmerize you while you absently pull a few weeds, until minutes, even hours have passed and you’ve been dallying with a grin on your face doing next to nothing at all but enjoying yourself.
Trees, shrubs and winding paths provide mystery suggesting not everything can be seen at a glance. They beckon you turn a corner to see what may lie beyond. With the planting of the woody, more architectural elements you save money (they take up more space), have 4 season interest and will have created a small bird sanctuary in the process. Whether you choose to never plant a single flower, using just structural plantings, or wish to have blossoms throughout the entire season, your garden will be an endless source of delight and a cathartic place to de-stress. It is a continuously vibrant space, ever changing, while providing beauty and enjoyment through winter. This style of garden design will continually provide lovely views and remind you that, even through our toughest winter, spring is but a season away and so is the haven just outside your door.
Drowning in Clutter? Take back your home. De-cluttering your schedule and surroundings will create time and space for you to enjoy life and do more of the things you love. Find out how to control the clutter in your home, where to start and organizational skills that will stop you from going back to that place again. By committing to a system and practicing it, you get to reward yourself whenever another freed space is checked off your list. It isn’t easy, but the perk of an EMPTY space, where stuff lived and drove you crazy can find you smiling at absolutely NOTHING AT ALL, while knowing you’ll keep it that way.
You’re not alone. Clutter robs people of precious time and energy that cannot be replaced and we waste 150 hours per year looking for lost and misplaced items. Getting rid of excess clutter eliminates approximately 40 percent of the housework. Learn how to take control, defeat chaos and take back your home and when you’re there.
You’ll also develop some basic interior design techniques to assist you in developing your newly discovered space into functioning, balanced and useful areas that will add to the value and beauty of your home.
Redecorating – Learn to refresh your homes interior without taking down the walls. The principles of redesign will explain how to rework, rearrange and update a room you’re tired of or a space that simply doesn't work into the room you’d only dare imagine. Quite simply, the principles of redecorating are based on working with what you have. Interior redesign has become the focus of many current decorating shows, books and magazines where the basic rule is "use what is already there". Rearranging, rethinking and repurposing furniture and accessories is an efficient use of space and money. True redesign means purchasing only what is absolutely necessary to achieve the look and function of a room and understanding that a thorough edit, more often than not, is the best place to begin. Glean some industry tips on how to 'stage your own home' for yourself, the do's and ‘what not to do's’ to help you change your space into the place you love to come home to.
Basic decluttering and design principles will be explained so you understand spatial constraints and work WITH, not against them as well as how to choose paint colors, what it’s important to understand the affects of natural of light through your home beforehand and techniques that will turn a series of disconnected spaces into a cohesive room with flow, balance and harmony.
It’s time to stop wishing your house were something different and make what is there into something you love being in. The tiniest and the strangest shaped rooms are a redesign away from being functional, beautiful and most importantly, personalized living spaces created by you.
Open concept, or tiny kitchens force you to edit (we ALL need to edit), tidiness is crutial and time spent looking for the elusive objects lost in the depths of lower cabinets are now easily found by simply opening giant, organized drawers that allow you to have everything in its place and a place for everything that you actually need.
Never mind open concept, even in more confined kitchens, lack of storage and the need to keep extraneous stuff at bay, more and more designers and DIY-er's are creating open shelving in their kitchens which forces tidiness and allows you to focus on kitchen stuff as kitchen art. It can make a tear down kitchen project an affordable do-over without the incredible expense. Add drawers where doors where lower cabinets were before and you have an ENORMOUS amout of unencumbered space, EASY access AND have saved on reno-costs by reducing labor and installation time, the cost of the product, and ultimately it's done faster. The "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" slogan works here. Tearing down my uppers which were not in bad shape would have created such an "issue", my entire budget for the kitchen would have been spent repairing walls, ceiling, etc. It wasn't worth the hassle or the cost and the kitchen still olds the charm of the 40's while functioning beautifully in Twenty Ten!
Give yourself a realistic budget (always with some contingency/there's is going to be some surprise no one could have anticipated) and don't let high end magazines, designers or carpenters trying to make it a larger job talk you into something until you've researched it and deem it absolutely necessary. Get more than one estimate and don't be afraid to ask to see that work, or request phone numbers from past clients to confirm the job was well done.
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FLE4 - 09
Take a step outside of your 'comfort zone'; look at other spaces. Whether a friends', a room you've found on the net, or just walking into a store specific to a style you couldn't imagine fitting into your home. If you are open minded and tired of the rut you've created for yourself, it may surprise how many looks, styles and designs appeal to your more receptive mind. For example, unless you're buying on Ebay, your bathroom is modern even if you've chosen period reproductions. Since truly buying modern, consider incorporating something less "period" in design into that room and find yourself rethinking, or even reinventing your spaces all over again. Just because it was purchased for the living room doesn't mean it has to stay there forever. The quest for more multi-functional furniture has designers reviewing and revamping furniture that can function on many levels. Look through the many styles shown above and consider moving your toe over the line that defines. Eclectic does not mean you you're indecisive; in fact far from it. Life is short so even if the only adventure you have is inside the walls of your house and the property lines of your yard, do something different. Make yourself smile!
Trust that little voice in your head that says
"Wouldn't it be interesting if.."; and then do it.
Duane Michals
Redecorating, or redesigning is learning to utilize what you have before buying something new, IF the 'something' is still in good condition. Repurpose it. It may no longer be apparent what it was, yet it will serve a useful purpose. For example, I slip-covered my husband's very expensive, highly treasured, GIANT wooden 1960's Karmann Ghia speakers. He was no more ready to give them up than I was to have two HUGE chunks of wood with nylon faces as part of my living space. They still produce incredible sound but go unnoticed. They provide me with horizontal surfaces sorely needed in such a tight area. So, whether renovating, redesigning or redecorating, remember we come upon many things that make us say, or think, "I love that piece" and if you don't lock yourself into a very specific period regarding your home's furnishings, it's likely it will work. However, if you are mid-century-modern throughout and you find yourself at an antique auction, you may have to sit through it, enjoying the experience because it's unlikely you'll find anything you can 'fit in'! Eclectic or transitional interiors can still lean in a 'specific direction' but are open enough to allow yet another style to be introduced without knocking the overall flow of your space out of whack. The credenza is back, if it ever truly left us, and whether vintage or brand new, floating or standing on the floor, it's a wonderfully functional piece of furniture befitting any style or need. As is or altered to make them work with any period piece, you can't go wrong.
With winter here, our thoughts about what's inside aren't always good ones. A kitchen renovation isn't a cheap thing. If you do a renovation, will it pay you back when it comes to re-sale? Fortunately, kitchens are one of the best investments. According to a Royal LePage Renovations and Returns Survey, renovating a kitchen gives you one of the best ROI (return on interest). While you may spend $12,000 to $15,000 or much more depending on your budget, the approximate ROI is 75 to 100 per cent. It's still a LOT of money. Renovating a bathroom is another good investment. Spend $5,000 - the return on your investment is about 75 to 100% ROI . The biggest return is when you add a main floor bath . Invest under $5,000 and you can recoup 80 to 100% ROI . There are many renos and DIY projects which also give good returns. The top "DIY" reno, for well under $5,000, include replacing knobs and hardware (a return of 75 to 100 %), new light fixtures (60 to 70%). Painting the interior is another investment returning 50 to 100 % ROI. Replacing carpets with affordable laminate or hardwood, updating the entryway or building a deck can all generate an ROI of 50 to 75 % and the government will pay us a tax credit of up to $1500.00 if done before the February 1, 2010. Retain receipts as you may qualify to benefit from the Federal Home Renovation Tax Credit this year. Any new renovations or new construction) from Jan. 27, 2009, to Feb. 1, 2010, is eligible. Just keep your receipts and use them to file this year.
Note there are previously unmentioned guide lines: Only "X" number of Canadians will receive this credit, it will be based on your current income, how many tax dollars you've paid in recent years (retirees/it doesn't look good), and although it got the economy booming, this little cherry may turn out to be the pits.
Whatever you do, don't let the this or the economy stop you from revitalizing a living space. $50 (a gallon of paint, a roller and a brush) can do wonders in any room.
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Back to the garden and AFTER the '09 WORKSHOP,
thanks to everyone who helped out. I can't say how appreciative I am!
In spring (2010), I plan to run an on-site 4-season workshop and give new and seasoned gardeners alike, a chance to see how good, but not necessarily the most expensive products on the market can really turn a garden into a wonder, once green. So early spring, late spring, mid-summer and autumn are when the workshops will be held. Take away what you can in knowledge and design ideas and perhaps understand better; a garden that isn't full of flowers is no less lovely a space.
I want to thank you for the Saturday workshop. You inspired me and I went home determined to build a berm. As I drove down my street I noticed my neighbors had removed the bricks from the front of their house. I spoke with them later and they invited me to take them away. The neighbor's kid delivers flyers and had a huge pile of extras. By Sunday afternoon I had the bricks and newspaper laid out, and by Wed the earth was delivered and it is now planted with the plants from your garden and mine! Thanks again! Margie
Hi Charlotte, I just wanted to thank you for holding the "event" on Saturday - I learned a lot, got a workout, enjoyed the great company and the great weather, and was inspired to go home and plant your give-a-ways as well as do some pruning and dividing of my own. Next up - I am taking on those slugs!!! I am also interested in your "spring" workshop.
Thanks again. Marylea
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Whatever the style, or multiples of styles typically called "transitional", there is always room to borrow from some of the best in the world, and sometimes to wonder "what were they thinking, but when said and done, with a few rules for continuity and flow, those amazing spaces can be yours, just on a smaller scale.
Modern country or old, mid century modern, minimalist, art deco, or just over the top. With a few guide lines and learning how to borrow the look without coveting the home the pictures are taken from, you can have that something call out and welcome you home.
Center photos were previous years, left and right, 09. Of course it will never be done but I think it and I will happily coexist indefinitely!!!
The fridge blocked the light and the 'stuff' in front of the window took away more light. With the stuff gone and fridge & stove switched , the room is easily twice as bright and easily, half as cluttered. As often as not, it's not what you have, it's what you do with what you have that makes a difference!
...and then there was light!
Here are a few tips to help simplify your space and make the focal points pop, and your essentials will work with the general flow we all want in our homes' decor.
White is an amazing neutral. In the bedroom, white bedding means you can focus on accessorizing because you aren't competing against it. Your bedding all matches so buying extra pillow cases is easy. Homesense is a great source. The same goes for kitchen dishes. If you've been thinking about buying new ones, consider going all white. They quietly blend into the background; you can add all sorts of extras because they only need be white. The rest of your kitchen can shine in all the colors you want.
Keep the essentials simple and you can redesign your space all the time. It makes dusting a lot more fun.
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CONTINUING ED COURSES 2010
West Kildonan Collegiate - Tuesdays
John Taylor Collegiate - Wednesdays
Louis Riel S.D. - Mondays
Robby Bend School, Stonewall - Thursdays
15 years has brought a lot of change to the plain jane house I now share with my husband Will. It's been quite the learning experience but the BIGGEST change has come in 2009. We renovated a 1942 kitchen and brought it into the current decade without spending anything near a fortune. Bits were done over those 15 years but the new coat of paint, and the long-lived-with-before KNOWING-it-was-the-right-choice-color choice was all but magic. Understanding how much the natural light can affect your paint choices was a lesson I learned the hard way and despite still loving the color it 'was', the color it is makes the difference between night and day. The entire space appears larger and it looks as if we added 20 sq.ft. to the kitchen, which in fact, is technically smaller than when we started. Design is all about "illusion".
The Seven Oaks School Division
West Kildonan Collegiate
101 Ridgecrest Avenue just off Main St.
Ph: (204) 338-4031
Urban Oasis
St. James-Assiniboia School Division
John Taylor Collegiate * 470 Hamilton Ave
Ph: (204) 832-9637
Urban Oasis - Wednesdays Mar 10-31
6:30-9:30 - Room 114
**March 31 class will be rescheduled;
schools are in "SPRING BREAK"
see bottom of page for additonal classes
Louis Riel School Division
Louis Riel Arts & Technology Centre
5 de Bourmont Avenue
Ph: (204) 237-8951
Urban Oasis
4 Mondays starting March 1, 6:30 - 9pm
****
The Interlake School Division
Robby Bend School, Stonewall, Manitoba.
Redesign your Home
2 Thursdays March 11-18, 6:30-9pm
The kitchen reno led to rethinking every 'plan' I had burned in my brain, ellaborated on with myriad drawings so when going to buy the cabinetry, the floor and the counter tops, all on different days, I saw something that completely set me off on a new concept and I have to say; it's far more than it would have been
and stopped playing it "safe"!
Click he xt. The St. James- Assiniboia School Division
John Taylor Collegiate * 470 Hamilton Avenue
Ph: (204) 832-9637
Landscape Design: Urban Oasis
4 Wednesdays April 14 to May 5
6:30-9:30pm
Interior Decorating:
The Art of Refreshing your Home
4 Wednesdays May 19 to June 9
6-9:30 pm
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Seven Oaks School Division
West Kildonan Collegiate
101 Ridgecrest Avenue just off Main St.
Ph: (204) 338-4031
Drowning in Clutter - Take back your House
2 Tuesdays April 13 and 20th
6-9:30 pm - Room 114
Landscape Design: Urban Oasis
3 Tuesdays April 27 - May 11
6-9:30 pm - Room 114
Trees, Shrubs and Perennials
What to plant and why
3 Tuesdays May 18 to June 1
6-9:30 pm - Room 114
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