Pinterest predicts Sage as the 2018 colour for Cabinets

Image via Pinterest. 

Is 2018 the year you want to Renovate your Kitchen? How do you go from a dream to making a New Kitchen happen? Some of us may be stuck in arguments, in trying to persuade your partner to undertake a Kitchen Reno...and you cannot get beyond the argument stage. How do you move onto the Planning and executing stage of a Kitchen Reno.? Persevere. Choose colours of cabinets, counters, walls and backsplash, and don't forget about Flooring. Price out your Renovation. Then start talking. It's easier to talk when you have estimated dollar costs down on paper.   If you have cabinets that are in good shape, perhaps Oak from 30 years ago, the most economical solution is to paint your Kitchen Cabinets. We sell Cottage Paint - Serenity - here at the Camellia. This is the perfect paint for your cabinets. You clean with our Cottage Paint cleaner, then follow up with 1 coat of paint, then a second coat of paint the next day, and you're done!

A Sage palette draws its inspiration from the green of air plants. 

The colour Sage can be found in succulent plants. 

Most cabinets are repainted with  White, Cottage White ( shown in above photo), Greys , greiges and blacks. Neutrals are always a safe choice for resale value. Do visit us here at The Camellia for help with picking colours for your Kitchen. Click on this link to see a selection of colours in #CottagePaint http://www.cottagepaint.com/50ColoursNC.html

Let's talk about  very Important things first - Cleaning your doors by spraying them with Cottage Paint Furniture Clean 'n Prep. Spray your door with Clean 'n Prep, leave for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then wipe with a clean, non-linting rag. Cleaning is extremely important as paint will not stick to a contaminated surface, and Kitchen cupboards take a lot of abuse on a daily basis. Check out the mess on the rag below. 

Here is a gallon of Cottage Paint Serenity. This amount is usually enough for most normal sized Kitchens. It is applied using a microfibre roller and a Cottage Paint brush. 

Here is a Kitchen (Oak) Renovation in progress. This is the stage where the homeowner is trying to decide on what colour to paint the cabinets. On the left is Black, on the right is a Maple door painted Beechwood. Visit The Camellia for help in painting your Kitchen or Bathroom cabinets. Buy Kitchen cabinet paint here http://www.thecamellia.com/painting-kitchen--bathroom-cabinets.html

The Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, Thunder Bay, On 

p (807)475-3551

How-to make Home Renovations happen in 2018.

Welcome 2018! It's a New Year, a time when we make plans for things we would like to accomplish in the New Year. Some of these plans may include Home Renos, which are long overdue. And for some of us, the New Year starts with a knock-them-down, full-out fight over Home Renos. Has this ever happened in your Home?

One partner has looked at paint swatches, pinned images on Pinterest, talked to a contractor and maybe has some Contractor estimates ($$$$) , while the other partner says, No! No home renos. are needed, let the next owner change everything! The battle is on, and it's not a pretty sight. The D-word gets thrown around as frustration mounts ( Divorce).

What is a person to do? Getting angry doesn't help. When you are trying to bring someone around to your way of thinking, it always helps to have your facts and figures in hand. Arguing or having a discussion ?.....it just goes better when you can pull out some statistics, price quotes, etc.

Start with each Room ...list what Renos. need to be done. Let's take a Basement, there is a Bar in a corner with mirrored tiles, and this bar dates the entire room! In 2018,  the trend is towards a family room with a central island with storage for games or crafts, maybe a coffee bar, a wine fridge, a TV viewing area, and so on. If it's dark and dingy down in the basement, then lighten up the walls, update lighting, replace the flooring. List all renos for that room, then the next step is sourcing out materials, and the next step is getting price quotes. What is the renovation for the basement going to cost? 

Where do you get ideas? Our favourite TV show is Fixer-Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines of #Magnolia Home. You can check out Joanna's blog for detailed information on past episodes of House remodels. https://magnoliamarket.com/blog/

Other places where we gather ideas from are HGTV, Canadian House & Home, Houzz.com, Scott Mcgillivray, Sarah Ricardson Design, Restoration Hardware, and Rachael Ashwell. 

Remember that the same things that are bugging you about your House, will most likely bug a prospective Buyer.

So go ahead and do this for every room that needs a Reno.

Next step, look at the Comps in your area. What have houses nearby sold for and what features do these Homes have? Most Real estate agents will know how to access this information. 

Look at your estimated Reno costs. Have a Real estate agent look at your Home and give an opinion on what your Home would be worth if you put it on the Market today, as is. Look at the costs of the Renos you want to do, and figure out your Return on Investment ( R.O.I).

Now you are much better equipped to figure out what Home Renos. need doing. You have a Plan, you have estimated costs, and you know whether these proposed Renos will bring you a better price for your Home when you are ready to sell.

If you fail to Plan, you plan to fail. Having a Renovation Plan going into 2018 will ensure that your Renovations will happen, and not stay in the Dream it...stage.

For help in Planning Home and Kitchen Renos. with Cottage Paint, visit The Camellia, at 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay, Slate River, Ontario.

p (807)475-3551

www.thecamellia.com

Holiday hours at The Camellia, Thunder Bay, On

Hello there! You will find us taking a much-needed break, and we will reopen here at The Camellia on Friday, January 12th. 2018. 

In the meantime, stop and smell the Flowers, and we will see you again in January 2018!. 

www.thecamellia.com

p (807)475-3551

December musings from The Camellia, Thunder Bay.

It's December already, and as you turn the page over on your Calendar, you wonder how did it get to be December, where does the time go? December means Christmas, and putting up a Tree, and decorating, and baking, along with entertaining, and let's not forget Gift Buying. This year, we've been contemplating ( dare I say it? ) not putting up a Tree at all. Scaling back to a " Less is more " look, or maybe even a Coastal Caribbean look year-round. Perhaps a twig Birch tree with lights and some seashells and starfish. It all stems from a desire to carve out a sliver of time to just sit, and do nothing.

Then there is the Gift Buying for people who have everything. Flowers and fresh arrangements make a perfect Gift for the whole family. Here is a long lasting vase of fresh magnolia leaves, red huck twig

and faux magnolia blooms. Call us at (8070475-3551 or toll-free at 1-877-523-7444 to order. Don't leave ordering until the last week as it becomes difficult to arrange deliveries. ( everyone is out trying to do their own last-minutes! )

Fresh cedar, magnolia leaves, white tulips, and white amaryllis blooms. 

We have fresh Wreaths made from local Evergreens, these smell wonderful and are long-lasting.

Our favourite long-lasting flower is Star of Bethelem, it's the white spike flower in above photo, and the bloom lasts for a few weeks. 

Stop by and Visit at The Camellia for all your Gift Giving needs, or phone us and we can deliver. Gift certificates are available also. We are Open Wed. through Sunday.

30, Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, On . p 9807)475-3551

"Magic" Tablecloths, getting ready for Holiday Entertaining, The Camellia.

Are you getting ready for the Holiday season?  Try our 'Magic' Tablecloths. What makes them Magic? They are water-repellent and stain-resistant, which comes in handy when you are entertaining. Spills inevitably happen. You can buy these Tablecloths at The Camellia. 

Read on below to see our FQA's for these "Magic" Tablecloths. 

Pattern shown : Tropicana. 

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING is coming up... Family Gatherings, Turkey roasting in the oven, meals eaten together, and yes, there's always a messy table at the end of the meal, and a wine spill (or two). Have you tried our Tablecloths? ( we call them 'magic cloths'), they are water repellent and stain resistant, they come in many patterns and colours, and are very affordable. ( $25.00 and up).  FQA's ( frequently asked questions)  about our Tablecloths:  What size do I need? How many people will be sitting at your table?  4 to 6, you need the 58"x78" rectangle. 6-8 people, you need the 58"x94". 8 to 10 people, you need the 58"x108". 10 to 12 people, you need the 58"x126". There is a 70" round, a 70" square, and no oval. Generally, you need an 11"overhang around your table.  What sizes do we stock?  Mostly 58"x78, and 58"x94". We are just putting an order in, so if you need a bigger size, let us know by  phoning 475-3551.  Do customers buy more than 1 Tablecloth? On average, most customers will buy a few for their Home, for Camp, and for their holiday homes.  Are they washable? Yes.   We invite you to our Winter Open House which is on now.  There is nothing cozier than sitting by a warm fire, watching the snow falling outside. Come and see our favourite finds for this joyous season - warm throws, comfy cushions, stars, ornaments, Cottage Paint, and fabulous Gift ideas for everyone on your Christmas list. Do bring your colour swatches and fabric samples, and if you need help with updating with Christmas decor, lay everything out and take some photos. We have faux Wreaths and garlands, and fresh evergreen Wreaths for sale.      Rustic Pinterest-inspired Wooden Tree $50.85 Do you love looking on Pinterest for ideas, but you never get around to actually making it?  Then this class is for you, you will be painting a  wooden tree ( the cutting and assembling has all been done for you), with Cottage Paint. You can paint your Tree in  Red, or Green, or White. You will then be doing a dry-brushing technique, and finish with a Varnish. This Tree is approx. 32" high, and can be used outdoors or indoors. Price includes hst. and all paints.   Date: Sunday, Nov. 19th. 1-3p.

OPEN: Wed. 11-5, Thurs. 12-6. Friday 11-5,  Sat. 11-5 . Sun. 12-5 HOURS:   Visit our website for information at http://www.thecamellia.com    Twitter Website Email Come Visit The Camellia.   How do I get there?   We are 10 mins. from the Thunder Bay Airport, heading south on Hwy. 61. Turn left onto Hacquoil Rd. We are 1.6km. on the left.    Phone 807) 475-3551.  Look on Google maps for directions.     Shop online at http://www.thecamellia.com Visit our blogs at https://fromnaturetohome.blogspot.ca/ http://camelliasdreamweddings.blogspot.ca/​http://opaovermeersfarmgoods.blogspot.ca/​ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Camellia-From-Nature-to-Home/145600168837975 http://pinterest.com/thecamellia/boards/

Winter Open House at The Camellia, Artisans Northwest 2017.

Winter...It is certainly a magical world after a fresh snowfall. Everything is white and pristine and beautiful. We invite you to our WInter Open house which is on this Saturday (11-5p) and Sunday (12-5p). There is nothing cozier than sitting by a warm fire, watching the snow falling outside. 

Come and see our favourite finds for this joyous season- warm throws, comfy cushions, stars, ornaments, Cottage Paint, and fabulous Gift ideas for everyone on your Christmas list. 

If you need help with updating your Winter decor, take all your Christmas decorations out, and take photos of them. Then head to The Camellia, at 30, Hacquoil Rd. and we can suggest some updates. We have real-looking, faux evergreen Wreaths and garlands. Fresh Wreaths, made mostly with greenery from our own forest,  are being made. Ask about our large Wreaths for commercial decor. 

Note that we are not exhibiting at the Artisans Northwest 2017 Show at Valhalla Inn. You can easily visit us at our store at 30, Hacquoil Rd. which is 10 minutes south of Thunder Bay Airport.

If you need information on Artisans Northwest Show 2017, click on this link:  https://www.facebook.com/ArtisansNorthwestsince1975/

Cotton Farmhouse teatowels, pair up with some home-baked goodies, and you have a perfect Gift for the Foodie on your list. 

Deer are having a moment in Winter decor, even though they are a huge nuisance in our Gardens. These are woven tapestry cushions, and are an easy way to add Winter to your decor. 

The above 2 photos are examples of our Christmas painting classes. 

Snowy twig Wreaths are perfect for Winter decor. 

Just arrived - a collection of Clutch handbags. 

Custom floral Faux Wreaths - these are made here at The Camellia, and are perfect if you don't want to fuss with fresh greenery. 

Our signature Evergreen and Magnolia Wreaths - these should be ordered ahead of time, call (807) 475-3551. 

Here is our store, nestled against the mountains, We would look forward to seeing you! 

The Camellia, 30 Hacquoil Rd. Salte River, On

p (807)475-3551.

www.thecamellia.com

Finding Just the Right Purse, New Purse and Cozy Wrap arrivals at The Camellia

Finding the right Purse is quite a task. Purses that look good are often not practical. We love to look fashionable, but the day-to-day reality when you have kids, jobs, run a business, and so on, may mean that you have barely have time to comb your hair. Here at #TheCamellia, we are excited about our new Purse arrivals, and warm, cozy wraps. 

Fall is a great time to wear wraps, we have warm, vibrant colours like the wraps in the photo above, warm oranges, browns, and navy with reds. Pair them with our fleece leggings, and you have a quick, fashionable look which is easy to wear and looks fabulous. 

Sometimes one purse is not enough. Let's say you're running into the grocery store to grab a few things, and you just need something to hold your wallet and phone. This pair of purses above is ideal for that. You can keep your essentials in the smaller one, and the rest of your stuff in the bigger one. The smaller purse actually fits inside the bigger one. You can see these fab purses in our store, at 30, Hacquoil Rd. These colours go with anything, neutral with a splash of colour. 

This navy and red wrap would look great with blue jeans, add this red Purse, and you will head out the door in style. Perfect for any occasion. 

This handbag is a wonderful shade of brown, conjuring up images of melted caramel, and fallen leaves dancing along the ground. Perfect shape for throwing over your shoulder.

Throw a burnt orange wrap on. Goes wonderfully with this caramel purse.  Our wraps are priced at $19.95 and up. Most of these purses have organizers, and pockets to hold all of your belongings. Sometimes it feels like you have everything but the kitchen sink with you!

Black is the mainstay of the world in North America, and black goes with everything. These wraps have some glitz and shimmer when you move. Sequins are sewn into the yarn so they will not fall off. 

Clutches are timeless, and these are so stylish! Visit The Camellia at 30, Hacquoil Rd. for stylish Handbags, wraps, and Fleece leggings.
Open Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. And Sunday.
p (807) 475-3551