Bring on the Rain!

Last week, I bought a new pair of summer shoes. Tan-leather strappy wedges. Excited to head to a patio this weekend sporting my new purchase, my plans were quickly halted with the monsoon that poured down on Toronto. My precious new shoes wouldn’t leave their box--and I felt a bit caged in inside my condo.

But then again, staying inside for a night isn’t so bad. Here are a few things to do on a rainy night in your condo.

Clean up. I know cleaning may not be the most exciting thing to do—but having a nice clean space will make the rest of the night more enjoyable and relaxing. Put on some fun tunes, grab the swiffer, and give your condo a blitz.

Re-decorate. When it’s rainy (and the subway is flooded!), it’s hard to come and visit us at Condobox to purchase a few new pieces or get some design advice. But, there are lots of ways to give your space new energy with things you already have. Swap over photographs in your picture frames; change the throw blanket on your sofa; throw away wilting flowers and replace them with new flowers or an accent piece, re-organize your closet and shoe rack.

Make dinner. I have a bit of a habit of eating out—and being very lazy about making food when I’m staying in (too many nights of munching on quick eats like salsa and dip). If you have the time, make something delicious. Take the time to cut up the ingredients with care and present your dish with style.

Get cozy. Light some candles. Snuggle up in your favorite pj’s. Paint your nails. Read that trashy magazine you picked up at the gym. Set up a pinterest account. Enjoy the slow pace of a rainy evening at home. 

Condobox - Winner of .CA Impact Award!

We are honoured and so excited to have received the.CA Impact Award for small business this year! Today, Joanna Kakkavas, the Founder and CEO of Condobox, received the award at the MESH conference in Toronto.

The .CA Impact Awards annually recognizes four organizations that use their .CA website to make a positive impact in their community. This year, over 800 applications for the award were received.

Custom Closets - one of the best investments in a small space

There’s nothing that depreciates a small room like clutter does!  Custom-made closets are one of the best investments in small spaces.  They provide storage and keep it organized!  This not only makes the room look better, it also makes it more functional.  See our tips on becomingclutter-free this spring, and come by our showroom to talk to a CX designer about custom closets to find the best option for you!

How can I make a small kitchen function best?

Christine, our first new Facebook 'like' won the opportunity to ask a CX Designer a question. Here is what she asked:

"How can I make a small kitchen function best?"

Many of our clients crave more counter space in their kitchens and an extendable dining room table that can comfortably sit 4-6 people. In cases like this we usually suggest two options.

1. A free standing island provides both casual seating with stools as well as extra counter space. When hosting a party, the island can also be transformed into a bar. A white lacquer island (like in the picture below) with clean lines will add a modern feel to your space.

Like us and ask a Design Question!

Curious about smart storage solutions for Condos? Need help with colours? 


CX Designers want you to hear from you!


The first 100 new people to LIKE us on Facebook have the opportunity to ask a CX Designer a tough design question. Questions can be e-mailed to bronwyn@condobox.ca. Answers will be posted to Facebook and Twitter - stay tuned!

Spring Cleaning: Clutter Free

As warmer weather rolls around, we’re all excited to get rid of heavy winter coats, clunky boots and hats, scarves, mittens that are so hard to keep track of.  Why not take it one step further and put your home through the spring filter as well?  So many things weigh us down and cause stress – it’s important to realize what they are and take the time to decide what’s worth it and what isn’t.  Something that can definitely help is going through your stuff to figure out what you should keep and what can go.  This is a great exercise to prepare you to tackle those tougher problems :)

Casa Condo: 430 sqft

Casa Condo

*Bachelor unit, 430 sqft.

*Client: 18 year old male student

*Budget: $15K

*This small bachelor unit was home to a young, male student, whose parents visited from Ottawa frequently. Instead of renting in student residence his parents thought it would be a much better idea to invest in a small unit downtown.  Because the space was so minimal we had to use a lot of multifunctional, custom furniture to suite all of his needs and keep it cost effective to come within budget.  

Look/style:

Sleek, clean and organized with a modern design and a neutral pallet.  Thinking of adding to the re-sale value in the future

Function:

Sleeping for up to 4 people, home office, expanded kitchen and eating space. Extra storage solutions.

Get the Look: Marilyn Denis Set

Who doesn't love the Marilyn Denis Show? Her snappy, bright sense of humor and big heart can keep me entertained for hours! And who doesn't love her stylish set-design? This morning, I noticed that many of the pieces on her set are available at Condobox. Here are a few that really stood out:

This Season's Colour: Orange

We already told you pastels are in this year, which is why we painted our showroom wall a gorgeous mint.  Another colour you can add to your summer is orange!  This fun, bright hue always reminds me of being outdoors, enjoying the sun.  And the best part  - it goes so well with blue mint!  Here, I've put together a retro mint and orange office:

All products are available at Condobox (Macbook excluded)!

Mad Men Makeover!

Have you been watching the 5th season? I have been. I can't say I'm super struck by this season's plot-line - but I do love that distinct 1960's style.

Rugs under $600!

The rugs separate the living and dining space in this open concept condo.

Rugs are used to pull a room together, give comfort to bare feet or create visual impact.  They get a lot of wear-and-tear, however, which is why many find it difficult to spend a lot of money on them. At the same time, they can make or break a room, so you want to be careful of the one you choose.  We've put together a collection of quality rugs for under $600.  Don't worry, these are not tiny - they are all 5' x 8'.  The rugs come in different colours and sizes, so if you like one but are looking for another colour or size, we can find it for you!

Shades + Surroundings | Colour Part 2

A couple of terms:

Tone: how light or dark a colour is

Shade: different shades of the same colour occur because of the variety of ways a colour can be mixed (i.e. some blues are mixed with a touch of red, while other 'shades' of blue are not).

Complimentary Colours: these are colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel.

There are millions and zillions of colours!

We need only to open our eyes to confirm that yes, there are many colours out there! Within each colour of the rainbow, there are vast options for how that colour can be expressed. The shade of a colour is determined by the specific mixture of colours that create its colour composition. A yellow paint colour, for example, can be made by mixing cadmium yellow + a dash of burnt umbra + white. This will look much different than pure cadmium yellow.

Colour: Part 1

Colour is everywhere. It adds vibrancy to our lives, it is used as a tool to grab our attention and to sooth our nervous system. Each colour and the many hues within a colour, affect our perception of the coloured object or place; and react with and inform the other colours in which it is among.

For the next few weeks, once a week, I will be writing about all things colour. Today, let’s get to the basics and discuss what colour is and the colours of the rainbow.

Get the Look: Sophisticated Bedroom

Condobox can make this sophisticated bedroom yours! A white palette is warmed up with black and gold details, creating a very sleek look.  Just add a pretty puppy and a LV keepall, and the look is yours.

Our custom Nicole storage bed can be create in double, queen or king.  Add a soft rug, barely-there side tables and accessories that pop.

Patio Season!

The sun is shining! The weather has been fantastic. All I can think about is how much I want to be out on my patio with a well mixed drink and a magazine.

Are you looking to upgrade your beach chairs to something a little more sophisticated and modern? With the right patio furniture, you can create a beautiful outdoor setting to relax in, dine, or socialize with friends.

Here are a few of our favorite pieces:

This collection, Capacabana, is available in a variety of different colours and shapes (a large sectional is available). The blue adds a fun splash of colour.

Get the Look: Swedish Attic Apartment

This stylish living room is located in a Stockholm attic, but any loft space can easily get the same look. White, grey and brown create a timeless colour pallette that opens the space up and gives a seamless look.  The bookshelf makes great use of a large wall and the sectional and two chairs give lots of seating space.

All the above pieces are available at Condobox. The shelf is a custom design, built and designed according to your specific dimensions and specifications, and available in the finish of your choice.  The sofa has various fabric and leg options, as do the chairs.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

In celebration of St. Patrick's day, I decided to pull out some photographs of green furniture and accessories that we carry. However, most of our furniture comes in a variety of fabrics and finishes - so if green is your colour this year, we have lots of options for you!

How could I not include the clover? The most perfect ottoman to sit on today!

Signs of Spring...

The weather has been absolutely beautiful in Toronto! Everyone seems to be walking a little taller and smiling a little brighter as they take in the afternoon sunlight. This season, lots of products are adorning butterflies - and what a perfect icon to ring in the spring with!

Here are some of our favorite butterfly themed pieces that you can pick up at our showroom!

The butterflies look hand drawn on the pillowcase.

Butterfly bedding.

"Soaring" butterfly artwork.

Do you see the butterfly?

Our beautiful butterflies from The Butterfly People in Puerto Rice. They add a soft, delicate touch to any space 

CX Packages

Buying a new condo? Living in a condo that needs to be furnished and designed?

Let us take all the stress out of furnishing your space. Work with a CX designer and effortlessly

build your dream home.

At Condobox, we sell CX Packages for Condo Owners. They start at 15K and include all your furniture and complimentary interior design services. Its a great way to get high-quality and condo-sized furniture that fits and suites your space and lifestyle.

What does the 15K cover? Our packages start at 15K and are for condos up to 600 sqft. The 15K covers the cost of furniture for a living room, dining room, bedroom and den. You also receive 10 hours of complimentary interior design services. 

• 20K for 600-800sqft includes 15hrs complimentary design services
• 25K for 800sqft+ includes 20hrs complimentary design services

So, I'm interested, whats next? After you have a complimentary consultation with one of designers to make sure a CX Package is right for you, our designers will begin making floorplans of your space and picking our furniture and colours that will suit you style and lifestyle. CX designers will work with you from concept, to design, to delivery and installation. You can be involved as little or as much as you like.

Here are some pictures of recent CX Packages:

This is an example of one of our custom wardrobes--great for keeping your wardrobe organized.

Our designers can design a beautiful, comfortable bedroom for any size space. This bed is one of our storage beds, helping to maximize storage in small spaces.

This sofa has a double-sized pull out bed as well as storage.

Call us at 416.203.6813 or e-mail info@condobox.ca to learn more about our services and set up your complimentary consultation.

Get the Look: Barcelona Condo with Orange Accents

This colourful small condo is nestled in Barcelona, Spain. I love the bright orange accent chair. This is a great picture to use as inspiration to design your own space, with furniture from Condobox.

All of these pieces are available at Condobox. 

The Rebecca Swivel Chair is available in a variety of fabrics and colours. 

The media unit is a custom piece by the Condobox and can be design to suit your space.

The Scene Stealer

We recently brought a new addition to our showroom - a piano! We’ve never had one before, and it is definitely getting attention!  Even pedestrians on the street are stopping to peek into the showroom to get a better look at it. 

Manufactured by Lomence, the company works with some of Europe’s finest piano manufacturers and sources the best materials from Germany, Japan, Canada and China.

Not only practical as an instrument, the piano brings style into a room and its sleek, fresh look is perfect for today’s modern spaces.  Ours is white, but the line offers six exciting colours, including lavender, red and blue.

Light it Up

While it’s so easy to pick lighting based on the aesthetic of the piece, there is so much more to bringing light into a room.  This is one of the most important elements of design.  How light enters and fills a room is what creates the atmosphere and the mood of the room.   A poorly lit room has a heavy, dreary feeling and can give a person a headache or tire them out. Likewise, a very bright room can cause a headache and create a stark feeling in the space.  Ever noticed how those florescent lights in schools, offices, hospitals and conference centers feel invasive? Soft, yellow light bulbs are much more inviting.

There is a comfortable balance between too much and not enough light and this can be found based on the utility of the room.  Brighter light is used in the kitchen, living room, foyer and dim lighting is usually found in dining rooms, family rooms and bedrooms.  It’s great to have the option of changing the amount of light in a room with a dimmer switch for artificial light and window covering for natural light.  Placement of lights is just as important – what’s the use of a reading lamp if its position creates a shadow over your book? 

There are five general types of light, and every room should incorporate between 3-5:

1. Natural light – through windows and skylights, this is the most pleasant type
2. Overhead light – pot lights and bright pendant lights
3. Accent light – used to highlight books, artwork or displays
4. Task light – for reading, cooking, working etc
5. Decorative light – doesn't provide much light for the room, but looks pretty (such as candles)

This condo has lots of natural light flowing in to the dining and living rooms

Left: overhead lighting; right: accent lighting on the stairs

Floor lamp with adjustable head - great for task lighting

Wall sconce with mirrored ribbons doesn't provide much light but is great decoration

How can you instantly expand your space?

...with mirrors!

Mirrors are like decorative windows—they bring light into a room and create depth. In our clients small condos, mirrors are great tools for making a space feel more expansive, airy, and open.

Come and see this mirror for yourself in our showroom!

Mirrors can also be placed to emphasize colours in a room by reflecting a painting, a fabric, or a wall colour.

CX design project.