Source: seaofshoes.typepad.com via Drummond on Pinterest
I don’t know about you, but I always have the best of intentions to store all of my ideas. File folders, scrapbooks and a huge archive of bookmarked websites. Backtracking through my links would sometimes require a psychic medium and no one in the household enjoys magazines with pages missing. Because most publications have some or all of their content online as well, I highly recommend that you investigate Pinterest… As a “virtual scrapbook” It is a beautiful way of keeping a visual breadcrumb trail back to the original articles you found the pictures on and provides the flexibility to create “boards” of ideas for specific room ideas and more. As you visit sites with bathrooms, cabinetry, accessories, etc., you’ll be able to get back to the images without having to print them.
There are so many decisions when building a home – the latest building materials, selecting cabinets, colours and hardware. If you don’t have a cadre of designers at your disposal (and with budgeting for a new build, hiring a home-stylist may take a back seat in your priorities), you may need to rely on publications and online resources. While there are many publications which cater to the US market, Canadian sources are more in tune with Canadian trends and available products.
There are a number of Canadian publications that you can subscribe to, or if you are looking for a greener solution, we’ve included links to the online resources that these publications provide as well.
Once you have selected your DrummondHousePlan, it is time to start visualizing your new decor…
Where to begin?
If you have no idea of where to get started decorating your new house Canada’s Style at Home is a great starting point. The magazine editors bill themselves as “Canada’s top resource for fabulous decorating, design and entertaining ideas” . Articles written in a friendly and informative tone present decorating ideas in layman’s terms. Even the most design-challenged individual will find value here. Each month they feature articles about interior design, home decorating projects, outdoor living and entertaining.
Canada’s Style at Home Online: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest
Get Inspired
Canadian House & Home is all about design and decorating. Each monthly issue takes you on virtual tours of the most unique and beautiful homes across Canada, providing inspiration and professional articles to help you create the home of your dreams. Each issue features dramatic makeovers, the latest furniture and accessories, renovation tips, and ideas for organizing and entertaining.
Canadian House & Home Online: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Video | Pinterest
For the DIY’er
Many individuals want to take a more “personal” approach to decorating. Canadian Home Workshop has been the go-to publication on home improvement and woodworking for over three decades. In this magazine, you’ll discover articles on project ideas, design techniques, practical renovation information and even home maintenance advice.
Canadian Home Workshop Online: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Make your home functional…
A home is about more than just decor, it needs to be liveable as well. Canadian Living is a magazine that provides daily living tips spanning recipes, household tips and ideas, fashion, crafts and even health and family advice.
Canadian Living Online: Blogs | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest
Make sure your outdoor spaces are enjoyable too!
Few things create a stronger impression than a bit of outdoor curb appeal but many new homeowners are intimidated by a blank landscape canvas. Canadian Gardening is an excellent information source for gardening techniques, recipes, projects and design ideas. The magazine also takes into account the vast differences in Canadian climate and features essential regional information to ensure great curb appeal in all regions of Canada.
Canadian Gardening Online: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Planning your new home can be overwhelming but take it one step at a time and you’ll be fine. Be sure to savour the experience of planning your home and let us know if there are any articles that may help you in this exciting process!
Thank you for the article – love the idea of a virtual scrapbook – fantastic !
Thanks for your comment Donna! I have to add one caveat… Pinning is addictive! With that being said, it is also extremely functional. I love the fact that you have visual references to all of your favourite things on the web. Happy Pinning!
I am dreading going through the process of starting construction on our new house… We haven’t even begun researching what to look for in a quality constructor without breaking the bank. Any tips??
As far as inspiration for the interior design, I totally agree! Pinterest is so useful. It is a bit overwhelming though but so much easier than ripping out pages haha
Thanks for sharing!
Judy
Hi Judy!
Thanks for your comments and your question. Building a home is an exciting process and there is no need for dread. A bit of homework and choosing the right contractor will start you off on the right foot. There are some good guidelines in our blog under our Contractor section. Your relationship with your contractor will be a long one and you really want to choose someone you will be comfortable with!
A couple of practical tips:
– Be sure to get referrals and follow up on them and get everything in writing and be sure that you know what you want before your build begins. Change orders can really add up in expended time and cash.
– Insulation may not be visible but there is no better time to ensure great insulation than during your build. An energy-efficient home will save money on ongoing expenses and some banks even have special rates or incentives for energy-efficient homes.
– Be objective when looking at house plans. You may be able to have some rooms serve double-duty, like a home office with a Murphy Bed.
Knowledge is power. Industry associations like the National Association of Home Builders (US) and the Canadian Home Builder’s Association have numberous articles on current technologies and lists of professionals in your area.
Please feel free to share your progress and enjoy this exciting time! Also stay tuned to this blog as your questions are great inspiration for some new posts!
Thank you for the tips!
We submitted our house plans to the city back November and are waiting to get it “approved.” So pretty much, we haven’t started our search for our contractor until the plans are approved. A good excuse to procrastinate…
Our house plans were heavily based on feng shui. If you are not familiar with it, basically, there are certain directions where everything must be to maximize the “chi” of the house (tailored to each person in the household and based on the house’s old layout). The better the energy flow, the better our life will be (ideally). So it really made our house plans very limited to say the least! For example, we can’t use the area where the old bathroom is located for everyday living, especially not a dining room. We can’t place any room above the kitchen. And many many constraints and rules!
Anyway, I’ll be coming back to your site as everything progresses because I’m sure you have great blog posts that I could read 🙂
Thanks again!
Judy
Hi Judy!
I am familiar with the art of feng shui. Many rules, many considerations. There are a number of practitioners that we follow and have shared some of their advice in our social media. With it being such a precise art, we leave the full-on planning to the pros! With that being said, much of the philosophy of feng shui is about balance, harmony and energy so I have to give you a friendly nudge. Good contractors get booked up early so the sooner you start your homework, the more likely you will find the right person for the job.
Do keep us posted and we’ll try to live up to your expectations! 😉
Best regards,
Vivian