Home should feel good.
Let’s transform your home into the comfortable, functional, and beautiful place it should be.
And hey, let’s do it on a budget!
In this post, we review the five main categories of mattresses (innerspring, hybrid, memory foam, latex foam, and alternative) to help you decide which mattress is right for you!
If you’re considering a vaca to the Dutch Caribbean, here are some things you’ll want to know-before-you-go! These tips and recommendations are a compellation of my and my sister’s reading, YouTubing, and experiences of the island, and I’ve shared several tips we WISH we’d known!
Front doors are meant to be colourful! See how a pretty coral front door breathes new life into this historical lake-front cottage.
If you need a new sofa but don’t know where to start, this post covers 9 important things to consider as you’re looking for your new furniture.
Have you ever wondered which paint colours most closely match the JH Statement Collection colours? Or are you planning to install HardiePlank but can’t decide on a colour? This post lists the Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams colours that most closely match the standard JH colours so you can sample before you decide!
Redoing your home’s exterior can be a daunting process. If you’re considering HardiePlank, read on for an overview of the best standard colours from James Hardie’s Statement Collection, and some thoughts on which ones to avoid!
When I’m not pouring over space plans or shuffling paint chips, you can often find me experimenting in the kitchen 👩🍳. I’m going to start sharing some of my culinary creations, starting with this amazing gluten-free scone recipe I’ve been developing for months! Made with almond flour as the base and a few strategic binders, you’ll never guess these delicious, high-protein sconces are gluten free.
If you have a stretch of wall that needs some love, or if you already have a sideboard and don’t know how to style it, these few rules of thumb can help guide your affordable decorating project! Find out how Caitie created this sideboard vignette for under $300.
As is often the case in design, there is a bit of a formula for creating a great bedroom. Whether you’re sprucing up your own room or decorating a guest space, use these 10 tips to design a bedroom you’ll love!
Are you reluctant to purchase home decor online, worried it might not turn out as expected? We’ve all be burned by a bad online purchase, but online shopping majorly broadens your design horizons and there ARE a few ways to dramatically increase your chances of success!
Are you wondering how to update your bedroom for under $1000?This may sound like a lot of money, but new bedding alone can cost upwards of $200, most rugs are in the $300-$400 range, and the minute you say “window treatments,” well, that’s another few hundred right there. But with a little patience, persistence, luck, and creativity you can stretch your budget a long way and create a whole new feel!
There are many ways to build a colour scheme depending on where you’re at in your decorating journey. Are you starting from scratch? Are you working around existing pieces? Do you have a piece you LOVE and want to incorporate? Each approach shares parts of the method, but in this article, we focus on how to create a colour palette from the ground up!
Open TV stands are gorgeous in theory, but an eyesore in reality. Housing a menagerie of books, games, cords and accessories, media units should definitely have doors! Find out how a couple of IKEA Rodeby armrest trays became some (very) simple doors using just finishing nails, super glue, and leftover door pulls.
If you live in a small home or apartment, multi-functional furniture can really help stretch your living space. In our inexpensive living room, we incorporated a sleeper sofa, lift-top coffee table, and hidden clothes line to maximize the use of our space! Read on for some budget-friendly ideas on how to get the most out of your small living room.
Are you wondering where you can find affordable art BESIDES IKEA? Well, I have good news! Digital, printable artwork has opened up a whole new world of affordable decor, making wall art more versatile and accessible than ever! You can get beautiful results at a FRACTION of the price you’d otherwise pay. Seriously, digital printable art is a TOTAL game changer!
Artwork is one of the best ways to add colour to your home, pull a room together, and fill an empty wall, but it’s also one of the easiest things to get wrong! This post reviews sizing, spacing, heights, framing, and colours to help you choose and hang your art correctly!
Do you have a big blank wall that needs some sprucing up? Are you stumped on what to do with that barren expanse behind the couch, above the bed, or in your dining room? There are a ton of great ways to decorate walls from coatings, to shelving, to hangings, and more. These 13 ideas will help you fill all the empty walls in your home!
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between beadboard, board & batten, shiplap, panel moulding (aka picture moulding!), and wainscoting!? Wooden wall treatments are one of the easiest ways to elevate and customize a room, so in this post, we’re looking at the five most popular wood wall treatments!
Do you want to cut down on clutter and purge your home but don’t know where to start? Performing big cleanouts is a daunting task, but it CAN be done methodically and successfully! This post breaks down the purging process to help you declutter and organize your home - the foundational first step of good interior design.
Home organization revolves around one simple commitment: specify a place for everything, and keep it there. Many articles online discuss how to keep a clean home, which is related but different. Getting organized comes first, so if you’re ready to take the plunge, follow these three steps to help you GET and STAY organized!
Is your tupperware drawer a chaotic mess? Would you like to transform it into an organized storage experience!? In this post, we discuss how to improve and maintain your food storage situation by purging, refreshing, and properly organizing your containers and lids.
Wall sconces are one of the best ways to diversify your lighting, adding mood & atmosphere to your rooms. They lend a flare that makes any space feel special, and thanks to a growing number of affordable plug-in options, sconces are more DIY- and renter-friendly than ever! Read on for a list of gorgeous and affordable plug-in sconces that are available in Canada.
This post explains how to optimize your home work space, whether it be a makeshift office or a random stretch of wall! By defining the space, investing in ergonomic equipment, and incorporating functional styling, even your small apartment or condo can have a comfortable, functional, and beautiful-ish work space!
This post explains how to make the most of your teeny tiny entryway with a focus on shoe storage, vertical storage, and functional styling.
Learn how to make the most of that dead-end wall in your small galley kitchen by turning it into an artistic moment, a storage opportunity, or something in between!
Learn how an underutilized storage shed was turned into a comfortable, functional sleeping space at the lake! This budget makeover took advantage of existing, pre-owned, and discounted items, resulting in a simple and affordable transformation in just one afternoon.
Does your little kitchen not have enough counterspace? Learn how to extend your kitchen by adding another work surface, utilizing vertical storage, and maximizing your additional storage space!
Learn how to make the MOST of your small kitchen, by purging what you don’t need, utilizing vertical storage, and extending your usable counter space. These simple design ideas can help improve the functionality of any little kitchen!
This post explains how to extend your little eating area for guests by utilizing convertible furniture. Turn a table for two into a dinner for four in just a few simple steps!
On the Blog
About
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Hey there! I’m Caitie, and I’ve loved interior design since the moment 7-yr-old me discovered HGTV.
I never thought I could do this for a living, so I studied History & Philosophy at university, then worked several jobs in Law & Policy, and even began a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management before finally accepting I was meant to be a designer!
Now you can find me happily shuffling paint chips, pouring over space plans, and roaming the aisles of HomeSense — when I’m not roaming the beautiful trails of North Vancouver!
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I believe good design should be comfortable, functional, practical, resourceful, creative, affordable, and beautiful. Even if you don’t have a lot of time or money, it’s still really important to feel good in your home!
I don’t always deliver gorgeous, high-end, Instagrammable designs, but I CAN help make your home the best it can be.
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I’m passionate about small space design, home optimization, functional styling, thoughtful lighting; and I always strive to create comfortable, ergonomic and beautiful spaces.
Most people don’t have the time or money for a dream home, but proper space planning, thoughtful furniture arrangement, and coordinated colour palettes can make a HUGE difference!
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After earning a BA from SFU and working for a few years in law & policy, I returned to school at the British Columbia Institute of Technology where I earned a diploma in Interior Design.
I developed an interest in sustainable design, so I also trained as a LEED Green Associate, a TRUE Zero Waste Advisor, and I interned with the Green Buildings Dep’t at the City of Vancouver.
I’ve completed extensive additional colour training including the Colour Strategist course by Lori Sawaya, the True Colour Expert course by Maria Killam, and the Colourful Language Master Class by Kylie Mawdsley — all internationally recognized colour experts.
Learning about all these different design and colour perspectives has enhanced my knowledge, observations and insights, helping me become a logical, resourceful, and well-rounded designer!
What People are Saying
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“We found "the one"! In a single consultation, Caitie gave us a boatload of ideas for improvements to our place. We loved that they were a mix of practical, aesthetic and money saving ideas - all to suit apartment living. These suggestions were all written up after the session and emailed to us, along with links to specific products. We could tell from the start that Caitie has great taste and she demonstrated her ability to flex along the style spectrum to suit our preferences. We look forward to continuing to work with Caitie!”
~ Clea W.
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“Caitie helped reorganize and declutter our basement suite, and we could not be happier with the results. She was very attentive to my concerns and questions and gave me ideas I would have never considered on my own. She improved the flow of the home which has made daily life much easier. She also provided simple solutions such as changing out lightbulbs and adding lamps to create a more cohesive and cozy space. I would confidently recommend Design by Caitie to anyone - the help I received literally changed my life!”
~ Taryn I.
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“I was struggling to design my dream park model until Caitie came on board and facilitated the whole process with such professionalism and ease. She listened to all my needs and designed a plan that exceeded my expectations. Caitie takes the time to ensure your space is optimized for efficient living. My husband and I now have a living space that works for our lifestyle and our budget.”
~ Laura K.
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“Caitie sees colour in a way I can’t. She pinpoints undertones and explains the entire process so I can follow along and contribute. She pulled together a beautiful palette for my living room which had some really challenging finishes to work with. I could not have done it without her help and can’t wait to see it all come together!”
~ Jennifer H.
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“I love the colours and design ideas that Caitie suggested for me. She is so professional and knowledgeable and also a pleasure to work with. She was able to coordinate the existing furniture/flooring in my home with new/on trend colours...beautiful!! Thank you Caitie.”
~ Gaye D.
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“Caitie helped me design a new home office during the pandemic. I felt the space was small space and had way too much furniture. She developed four layouts and I was blown away by how she had considered both the function and aesthetic of the room. Caitie combines creativity with the ability to understand how people will actually use the space. Her beautiful designs were so functional and maximized the use of my space! If you are seeking a communicator and collaborator for your project, look no further than Design by Caitie!
~ Emily B.
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"Working with Caitie was an amazing experience. Her design suggestions were practical, functionality-focused, and timeless. She helped select our whole-home paint colour for a tricky layout and she made the process easy and intuitive! She sent large paint samples straight to my address, and having the large samples was a game changer in being able to visualize the outcome."
~ Kelsey W.
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“Caitie's expertise was a real asset. She offered excellent lighting advice that I hadn't even thought of when I hired her to help with our home. Caitie even helped with purchasing the best possible items with the best price, it made everything seamless. Would highly recommend if you are thinking you need a change or help and don't know where to start.”
~ Sukhia B.
If you run an Airbnb, Vrbo, or other short-term / long-term furnished rental, here are 8 easy and affordable ways to improve your space and boost your reviews!