Choosing the right paint colour is thrilling, but can also feel daunting at times. It sets the tone for an entire living space, influencing both mood and ambiance. One brand that has been a trusted companion during this decision-making process is Dulux, with select colours available at Empire’s Design Centre. Read on to explore the art of selecting the perfect paint colour and discover some popular Dulux shades that elevate all interior spaces.

Next, discover the best design apps to help you furnish your home and 6 reasons why laminate flooring is making a comeback.

Have you always harboured a desire to live by the water? Now, you can manifest that dream by crafting a home aesthetic infused with nautical touches, turning your living space into a serene coastal haven. Uncertain about where to begin? Draw inspiration from the Camrose model home at our Empire Canals community in Welland, ON. From a classic blue and white colour palette to water-inspired murals, shiplap wall details, light-toned wooden decor, and accent wallpaper with prints of leaves, here are five ways to transform your home into a coastal retreat.

Here are a few pieces to get your coastal retreat started.

Interested in replicating this coastal aesthetic? A new release of homes is coming to Canals in February 2024, providing you with the perfect opportunity to bring this design style to life.

Feeling inspired? Check out these tips to maximize every space in your home and learn how to style your fireplace and mantel like a designer.

Images courtesy of: Amazon (HB Velvet Pillow Covers — Blue); Structube (Rodney Lamp); Etsy (Humpback Whale Print); Wayfair (Louella Coffee Table, Hancock Upholstered Pouf); Houzz (Tropical Blue Palm Leaf Wallpaper Roll); Hovia (Whale Tale Mural Wallpaper); Anthropologie (Selena Rattan Shelving Unit).

Step inside the Alpine model at River Reserve in Greer, SC and be transported to an open and inviting space that feels like a breath of fresh air. Clean lines, crisp whites and tasteful pops of color bring this timeless look to life.

“Traditional patterns, furniture and artwork were incorporated in a contemporary way to make the house feel homey and collected, yet fresh for a new buyer,” says designer Risa Burke of Unscripted Interior Design. Read on to learn more about the design process and the must-have pieces needed to replicate this traditional contemporary design style.

The Alpine was inspired by the revitalized homey aesthetic that’s trending — one which we often see in the work of Amber Interiors or Studio McGee. Luxe finishes such as white shaker cabinets, quartzite countertops, and gold hardware were used to make this room look and feel sophisticated. A black faucet and stainless steel appliances contrast the other design choices, while arched hallways and vintage-looking oil paintings give off a European feel.

The dining room is a showstopper — its teal blue accent wall on the ceiling, wainscoting panels and curated collage of artwork makes for a unique dining experience with something new to admire each time. Gold accents are continued in this space for cohesion, while a rustic wooden table is the center of attention. Two patterned chairs are set on each end of the table to tie all of the colors together, while a neutral, muted rug grounds the room.

High ceilings make the living room feel spacious while multiple windows with white sheer drapes allow for an abundance of natural light. With two white couches, a textured rug, a cool-wood coffee table, and multi-colored pillows, the space feels polished, but well lived-in. A fireplace and wooden mantel warms up the neutral color scheme and adds a sense of ambience, with another located in the morning room.

What’s not to love about this oversized bedroom? A mix of woods is used throughout, with gold-colored metals and light-green accents, creating an eclectic feel. “While the large, emerald-green chaise at the foot of the bed adds a luxe feel and makes the room stand out, the wallpaper is the focal point of the suite and a favorited part of the house,” says Burke. For the final touches, plush neutral bedding was added to complement the woven headboard while plants were set on each side of the bed for some additional visual interest.

What’s great about the Alpine floor plan is that it can be customized to you. Utilize the home’s flexible spaces to create the home of your dreams — whether you use one of the room’s for home workouts, arts and crafts, or an additional bedroom. “For this model, we were able to create individual areas for hobbies, working from home, kids’ activities, exercise, and formal and casual dining spaces,” says Burke. “This home is perfect for that new normal of everyday living where people have outlets from their work life to spend time with family and take time for themselves, all under one roof.”

Now that you’ve learned how to get this traditional contemporary design style, check out this contemporary modern farmhouse in Gastonia and designer-approved tips to maximize every space in your home.

Our homes mean more to us than ever before. It’s not just where we eat, sleep and live, it’s become a workplace, playground, classroom and gym. With this in mind, Jane Lockhart, Principal Designer of Toronto design firm Jane Lockhart Design, shares how homeowners can make total use of their space by designing rooms to suit their needs.

What’s next? Learn more about the 10 decorating tips every design enthusiast should know; discover the best design apps to help you furnish your home; and jot down these 20 designer-approved ideas to refresh your home’s decor.

*Model home designed by Nancy Rae Interiors. Image courtesy of: Better Homes & Gardens (Shed Home Office).

Hosting a garage sale can be a fun way to declutter your home, make a little extra cash on the side, and meet members of your community. As a garage sale attendee, there’s nothing quite like the thrill or excitement of discovering something novel and new. As a host, it’s comforting to know that the pieces you once loved will finally get a new lease on life. Thinking about hosting a garage sale? Take some time to plan ahead to ensure things go smoothly.

There’s no denying that Sunday scaries can creep up on you after a fun-filled weekend, leaving you feeling unprepared for the week ahead. While Sunday is typically known as a day of rest, it can also be used as a day to plan, prep and get organized for the week ahead. Setting aside some time to get your affairs in order will make you feel more at ease by the time Monday rolls around. To help you get started, we’ve created a ‘Sunday Reset’ guide to keep you on track and get your week started right.

Looking for more ways to stay organized throughout the week? Check out the best cleaning style for your personality type and the ultimate key to a tidy home.

Preparing to sell your home can be quite the ordeal, and when you’re dealing with all the paperwork and open houses, it can feel like an absolute whirlwind. It’s easy to forget that with just a few small renovations, you can increase your home’s value exponentially. However, it’s important to note that not all renovations are created equally. Read on to discover which areas of your home you should invest in, and where it may be worth saving those extra dollars.

Selling your home can be a hassle, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Explore our guides on moving and decluttering that’ll make the entire process feel like an absolute breeze. 

This month, we collaborated with four designers in North Carolina to create two front porch displays that you can replicate during the spring season. With a few staple pieces, some greenery, and a pop of color or two, your front porch will become instantly refreshed and transform into an outdoor sanctuary that everyone can use. So without further ado, discover some of our favorite decorating ideas to help you showcase your design skills this season. Maestro, cue instant curb appeal.

Meet the Designers

Designers Sarah Howerton and Tiffany Page (pictured, above right) decorated the front porch of our Hadley model home at Empire Oldenburg, while April Gilmore and Amber Quarles (pictured, above left) were the forces behind the front porch design of the community’s Amherst model. We challenged these four designers to create two spring porch designs that homeowners can recreate themselves, and with a little imagination, they showed us how achievable these looks can be. Read on to hear what they had to say about their designs and what sparked their inspiration.

Pictured: The Amherst model home at Empire Oldenburg.

How can people use your ideas as inspiration and create something that reflects their personal style?

“Your design should reflect what you like. Find a palette that complements your overall design style and be confident in your decision making. Don’t be afraid to use bold colors, stripes, or patterns, and play with height too — each of these things can create a totally unique look.”

What are some simple, budget-friendly ways that homeowners can take their design from good to great?

“Identify what you want your front porch to look like and the colors that you want to use. You can always look to websites like Pinterest or take to Google to look up inspiration too. After you know what look you’re trying to achieve, you can source cost-effective furniture pieces from local or online stores. To add some extra pizazz, you can play with flowers, burlap, and ribbon which are budget-friendly additions.”

What’s your favorite spring accessory to use on the front porch of a home?

“We love using black and white stripes, just like we did when designing the front porch of the Amherst model home. We also gravitate to bold colours like pinks, purples, greens, and blues. By using black and white, you can incorporate new colors into your design every season. I have a small black and white rug on the front porch of my own home, and when it came time for the holidays, I mixed in some hints of red.”

Pictured: The Hadley model home at Empire Oldenburg.

How can people use your ideas as inspiration and create something that reflects their personal style?

“First, nail down a general color scheme and then mix in different materials or things that speak to your unique design style. For example, decor pieces like vessels and vases can add texture and volume to a space, while giving off some personal flavor.”

Share some DIY decorating tips that make it easy for someone to stay within their budget?

“Take a simple, decor piece and make it your own. When designing the Hadley model home, we wanted to achieve more of a custom look for one of the terracotta pots we used. Since we had a lot of different textures and materials incorporated into our design, we wanted to create something with more of a geometric look so we bought painters tape and some craft paint — which was less than $2 — and created a handmade design.”

How did you achieve the look that you wanted while staying within budget? Talk through your decorating process.

“We came up with our inspiration, and then we gathered even more ideas while we started pricing decor pieces out. We tried to purchase items that were at lower price points, but with today’s supply chain issues, it created more of a challenge. By purchasing from stores like Target, At Home, and Lowe’s Home Improvement, we were able to stick to the initial design themes we had in mind and stay within our budget.”

Next, learn how Empire’s designers decorated some of our front porches for fall or discover designer-worthy entryway inspiration for your home.

When it comes time to design your home, there’s a lot to decide between — enough decisions to rack anyone’s brain. Which look are you trying to achieve? How about colour schemes? And what’s the best way to lay out your furniture pieces? Some people may turn to the expert opinions of interior designers, but if you’d rather spearhead the design process on your own, there are tools that can assist you with a variety of needs. Design apps are especially handy because you can access them on your mobile or desktop devices, and you can virtually design each room before making any physical changes in your home. Read on to discover our top picks for the best design apps to help furnish your home.

Next, check out these 20 designer-approved ideas to refresh your home’s decor and 8 of the best neutral paint colours for every room.

Photos courtesy of: YouTube (magicplan); IKEA (IKEA Place); Of Mountains and Earth (Havenly); Twitter (Planner 5D).

Courtney Collins — Empire’s Director of Design — shares her top three stores to shop for vintage decor in Atlanta, GA.

So it’s come time to decorate your home, but what look are you going for? Perhaps you want your home to have more of an industrial feel or you’re gravitating toward a mid-century modern look instead. It doesn’t matter which design style you choose, only that your home is a true reflection of you. And while our expert team of designers will ensure just that, who says that you’re forced to stay within the parameters of that style?

One of the best parts of designing your home is making it your own, and that includes sourcing unique decor pieces for each room. What we love about shopping for vintage items or antiques is that no two items are the same — even if they’re identical in their natural form, they have their own story and soul. “Don’t be afraid to combine antique pieces with more modern interiors,” says Courtney Collins — Empire’s Director of Design. “The juxtaposition between old and new is one of my favorite design techniques — making the decor feel collected, as if it’s been acquired over time.” Here are her top three picks for the best vintage and antique stores in Atlanta, GA.

Located close to the Dekalb Farmers’ Market, Kudzu Antiques is the perfect storefront to visit on the weekend. This family-owned business has been providing vintage pieces and antiques to Atlanta locals for over 35 years, and has been a source for TV, movie and photography rentals as well. It’s been consistently voted “Atlanta’s Best Antique Store” since 1979.

If mid-century modern is the design style you’re trying to achieve, it’s time that you check out Atlanta Used Furniture whose social following has grown to over 70,000 since they launched on Instagram in 2015. Their brick and mortar warehouse in South Atlanta is full of incredibly unique, retro pieces. Although it may be tempting, “don’t feel like you have to fill every wall or space of your home immediately upon moving in,” says Courtney. “Be willing and open to waiting for that special piece to come along.”

“One of my personal favorite stores for treasure hunting is Scott Antique Market,” says Courtney. This indoor and outdoor market makes its way to Atlanta every month on one special weekend, showcasing vintage pieces from every era you can think of. During the summer and fall seasons, Courtney enjoys spending time exploring what Scott Antique Market has to offer, seeing what unique items she can find for Empire’s models or for her own home. In fact, one of her favorite candelabras and bathroom vanities is said to have come from the vendors at Scott’s.

Next, discover the best neutral paint colors for any room or these designer-approved ideas to refresh your home’s decor. While you’re at it, check out what our design team wants you to know prior to starting a home renovation.