A sacred space  can be a place to help us realign with higher consciousness whenever we lose touch. Creating a special place to meditate, pray and connect to the divine can be one of the greatest gifts we ever give ourselves. 
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Select a room, corner, or just a box if that's all you have. Any place can be spiritual if you decorate with intention. ​

 Here are a few tips to get you started then.

Once you have selected a quiet space in your home you will probably need to clear some clutter. Clutter can be distracting and  is not suitable for a spiritual room.  It's the number one thing that blocks useful energy. 





Photo: Denisekarmie.com

Start by creating your focal point. Depending on your religious or spiritual beliefs set up an altar with spiritual objects that are meaningful to you.  Add holy texts, mala beads, statues, crystals, and incense. 

Once you start to  personalize your space, only add those things which help nourish your soul. This is how you begin to put spirituality into form.  Decorate with objects and colours that are meaningful to you.  Some people find a neutral colour palette calming while others find bold colours help raise their vibration. Choose colours and objects that inspire you to meditate, create, pray, do yoga or any other sacred practice. 

Some people enjoy praying or meditating in a comfy chair in a sunny and cheerful room. Others might feel more comfortable in a dimly lit room and surrounded by burning candles and oodles of floor pillows when connecting to source. ​Listening to yourself is an important part of choosing  just the right objects. Use the power of your intuition when decorating.  This is your space, what motivates you, inspires you? 
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Holistic  practitioners  tell us that when our 5 senses are being nourished we are more likely to feel healthier in mind and body.

VISION - Select colours for your space that make you feel happy and not dull or depressed. Colour impacts people differently so it is very important that you pay attention to how colour impacts you personally.  

SOUND - I love music, it can really lift my mood in just a matter of minutes.  According to some studies music and certain frequencies can help change your emotional state . Incorporate soothing or uplifting music depending on your mood.

SMELL - Smell holds such a healing power. Essential oils and fragrances can help energize, relieve depression, or just take you back to that happy place. :)

TOUCH - When designing around the sense of touch really think about what sensations you would like to transmit.  

By being in tune with nature we align ourselves with the inherent wisdom that is within us all. Enhance your spirituality by connecting with nature, even indoors.  Why not create your sacred space outside if you have a lovely garden or peaceful backyard. 
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​Add peace and tranquility to your sacred space by adding a beautiful water feature.  ​I have a water fountain in the store. The sound of running water is so soothing and helps alleviate stress during my work day. ​

​Not only are plants aesthetically pleasing, they help purify the air we breathe. I have a couple at the store, only wish I had room for a jungle! 
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 Decorating with intention helps create a more comfortable and authentic space. Purposeful well
thought out décor makes you feel inspired, more creative, and safe from all the chaos in the world. Enjoy your Inner Haven. 

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Firmly established in Paris, the Paris Deco Off 2018 honors the most prestigious international brand designers of fabrics, trimmings, furniture and lighting, and once again proves that Paris is the capital of creation and decoration. In parallel with the grand event of Maison & Objet 2018 I can only imagine  how animated and illuminated the streets of Paris must be this time of year. 

I may not have had the opportunity to wander the streets of Paris this week, but a list of participants' websites has kept me thoroughly entertained, so here are some of my top picks for Paris Deco Off 2018.

For nearly two centuries, Christian Fischbacher has been at the heart of the textile industry. A family-owned company with headquarters in St. Gallen Switzerland, a centre for the textile industry since the 13th century. 

Jakob Schlaepfer has been enriching the world with fabrics for more than 100 years. Jakob Schlaepfer is an inspiration to couturiers, architects and fabric enthusiasts all around the world. 

From its origin in 1950 as a project to revitalize the art of silk weaving, Jim Thompson Fabrics has evolved into a maker of a complete breadth of premium textiles for interior decoration, created by some of today’s most influential designers. As the world’s largest producer of hand-woven fabrics, Jim Thompson is especially known for its legendary Thai silks.

An Italian fabric manufacturer of top quality luxury Venetian handmade fabrics for furnishing, interiors and upholstery. The velvets are to die for...

Founded in 1999 by Lee & Emma Clarke, Clarke & Clarke has established itself as one of the global leaders in the home furnishings market. What an absolutely invigorating 2018 collection, a must see!

Arte is the  most recent line of high-end  wallcoverings that we have started to carry at Inner Haven, they are a passionate designer & manufacturer of sophisticated wallcoverings. The company, owned by the family Desart, has been in play since 1981. Arte wallcoverings adorn the walls of both residential homes and project interiors in over 80 countries worldwide.

Design now is about celebrating everyday luxuries and no fabric does that better than velvet.  A classic, it never really goes out of style and for those of you who are obsessed with the cozy, luxurious textile,  well this is your year to shine.

While pure cotton velvet can stain easily unless stain-guarded, new poly-blend velvets have a lush, luxe feel that are childproof but still as elegant.

This year we are expecting to see this trend on the edges of toss cushions, draping over lamps, weaving its way into upholstery, and even showing up in some other unusual places. 

 Despite the recent rise of minimal, modern, and Scandinavian influences in decor, many signs point to traditional décor making a comeback in 2018.  We are even seeing a blending of these styles to create some really interesting spaces. Nothing seems more far from Scandinavian minimalism than Bohemian eclectic design but the trendiest interior style at present is actually a mix of these two beautiful decorating styles.

So what do you do when you are  buying a new home, renovating or just giving a room a facelift? My recommendation is stay true to your style.

Nine years ago, when I first moved to the lovely Okanagan, I bought the most beautiful ultra-modern loft right in the heart of downtown Kelowna. I left all my cozy décor and furniture behind me and started with a clean slate.  All my friends and family were in awe when they came to visit, but it never really felt like my own little haven. As a designer I can appreciate most styles, I am very eclectic at heart when it comes to decorating. It's really difficult for me to stick to just one style, I love them all-just not the super modern. I think the simplicity in adornment and embellishments of a modern home just didn't cut it for me, it felt too darn cold! Oh how I longed for all the amazing things I had collected over the years and left behind in Edmonton.​

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​So what wisdom can I pass on from that experience? As you decorate your home, the goal should not be about sticking to trends and what everybody else is doing. It should be about creating a space that fills your soul and nourishes your spirit. Only fill your home with the things you love. Make your home a sanctuary that you enjoy coming home to each evening.  I'm not saying don't be bold and try something new. Take a look at contemporary design trends and adapt a bit of what you like to your own décor.  I find that most people tend to gravitate to either a warm or cool colour palette. So if you really want to incorporate some of today’s contemporary colours into your home like grey and you lean to warmer palettes then stick to a warmer shade of it. Paint one room, you might then find that grey just isn't your colour. Personally I can't live with grey, it reminds me of cold and hard concrete no matter what the shade. 

Now how do you find your personal style you might ask? Ever been invited into other people's homes and felt that genuine sense of warmth that is expressed by that person and their home? Your home should be an expression of yourself. Fill it with unique pieces that inspire you and make you feel good, like funky artwork or accessories you just brought back from recent travels. What about a quirky grouping of fabrics you love that just sing  Fabulous. You don't have to have a name for your style, just acquire the things that set your soul on fire and display them. Trust me, they will tell the story.  We are all inspired by trending styles, fabrics and colours in life but you really shouldn't let that drown out your personal individuality. Decorating is truly about creating an expression of you, so let yourself SHINE! 

​Patterns, colors, and textures are very limited with ready-made products. When choosing custom you have endless choices of fabrics, trims & design. You aren’t limited to 10 fabrics and 1 or 2 styles. Do you need an exact shade of fabric to match or compliment your furnishings and accessories? Looking for an exclusive print and something unique? Your selection is limited with box stores, but not when custom ordering. No one wants a copy-cat of what half the people in town already have.

Most important of all is QUALITY! The quality of fabrication is always missing when selecting store bought draperies. The hems show the stitching to the face. That is a big no-no in the custom drapery world. Often you see puckering at the side hem or the lower hem, that should not happen either. Retailers import their drapes from overseas. In a manufacturing plant panels are produced so quickly that little time is taken to ensure accuracy and quality. When window treatments are made in professional workrooms not only is your construction superior, but your materials are as well.

​​Linings play an important role in the overall look of window treatments. Your drapes hang more beautifully with the body and substance that liners provide. With custom drapery you can choose from a variety of lining options to protect fabric from outside elements, regulate the light, and insulate your windows. So the quality of the lining and outer fabric is superior with custom drapes, they also look fuller and thicker, as opposed to cheaper versions that may hang flat.

Think of window dressing like choosing an outfit. If your clothes are not the right fit or made from poor quality material, the finished look won't be flattering.

For a free consultation please call 250 769 8585 or pop on into the store on Byland Road!

Another Best of Houzz service award!

I am pleased to announce that we have once again been voted winners of best in service by Houzz.
http://www.houzz.com/…/innerhavendec…/inner-haven-decorating

The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 40 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2016. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award. A “Best Of Houzz 2017” badge will appear on winners’ profiles, as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.

I just adore creative people so I had to share this amazing artist with you guys! How absolutely fabulous is her work?  Do enjoy...

This shimmering installation titled Unwoven Light by Soo Sunny Park is comprised of some 37 sections of chain-link fence embedded with translucent sections of Plexiglas. The suspended waveforms capture and reflect nearly every light source in the gallery creating a fractalized rainbow of color that changes quality depending on the time of day.

The film covers the installation period and opening of Park’s chain-link fence installation and you learn quite a bit more about the artist’s process and intent behind her imaginative, surreal artwork.

Grey looks good with almost any colour and ranges from cool to warm. Use it as a neutral to let a bright colour shine or do a whole room in grey for a sleek contemporary look.

With a grey scheme you can easily add color with art, pillows, rugs or throw blankets. It’s a no brainer when it comes to designing your home.

When diving into a monochromatic colour scheme with grey it can be just dynamic when all the right textures, patterns and different shades of grey are combined properly.

Warm greys play surprisingly well with a variety of wood tones. They can add a really organic vibe to a space, especially when paired with natural materials such as wood and stone.

Designers are using metallics in clothing, shoes and jewellery and the trend toward the use of metallic finishes has translated effortlessly into home décor.  I really don't think any other colour paired with metallics packs as much of a punch as grey does!

The light grey walls above have a yellow undertone that warms up the room. Grey doesn’t have to be a cool color. There are both warm and cool greys.

Even small amounts of colour pop when used with grey.

In conclusion, with so many warm and cool greys available today, there’s a shade of grey certain to please everyone’s palate. Whether your style is classic, eclectic, modern or traditional there’s a shade for you.

Let your décor tell the story, not your wall colour.

Unless otherwise stated, I do not claim ownership of any of the images or work posted here.