The “tiny living” revolution is on the move and it is popping up through pocket size living across America. With a growing community of people awakening to and engaging in conversations about the environment, more and more people are looking to do their part by choosing to downsize the space they live in for a more simple and sustainable lifestyle. This has turned into a surge in demand for tiny houses and condo living — in some cases micro-condo living. While small homes are designed to minimize their impact on the environment, many assume this involves a compromise on style.

“Small doesn’t mean tasteless,”assures Sonia Lise Longchamp, Sklar’s Interior Design Director. “It can be very much luxurious.” What more interior designers are looking to prove to clients is more people would happily accept smaller spaces to live in if they are designed properly. Our award-winning design team are experts in creating a look that is uniquely you and know how to maximize your tiny space to showcase it to look its best.

“Designers are trained to think differently, knowing how to piece a room together,” says Sonia. And when there isn’t a big box solution to serve your compact needs, our designers have the options to work with our skilled team of subcontractors and custom build a piece for your special, tiny place.

While we don’t think tiny living is for everyone, there are lessons to be learned about minimizing one’s life and thinking about making more sustainable purchases. With a renaissance of interest in sustainability, Sklar Furnishings is proud to be a member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC); working with other high end furnishing companies that are taking immediate steps to minimize their carbon footprint.

Fortunately, it’s becoming more easy, affordable and accessible to update our practices for a more positive environmental outcome. Which also includes not having to compromise on quality and style.

The result of a beautiful space that is balanced in design and practical in function does not happen by chance. It is accomplished through careful exploration and planning by design professionals. For some, the idea of hiring a professional interior designer might seem intimidating or even unnecessary. This could be because you are unclear about the process of working with a designer, the potential costs or what knowledge and help they actually bring to a design project that’s in your space.

No matter the industry, if you scout a professional you’re going to get the results of a trained, qualified professional. And when it comes to your personal space, you do not want to risk not getting it right. Interior designers help you envision your room more clearly and see through a lens you may not be look through on a regular basis. Here are a few things that Interior Designer’s see and you don’t.

Scale And Proportion
Ever bought a piece of furniture that looked great in the store, but was too big once you got it home? If you’re on a tight budget, a designer is going to know how to get the best value out of what you can spend and will make sure it fits and flows in your space.

Color Mixes
Remember the time you had to paint your room three or four times before you found the right color palette? A trained pair of eyes will help you select a delicate balance of color hues that evokes the tone you want to convey in your space.

The Space As A Whole
Designers don’t just navigate furniture options one piece at a time, rather they know how the entire space as a whole will work. For example, proper outlet placement is going to depend on how you want your furniture placed. Issues like these need to be brought up to architects, contractors and building owners at the beginning, not the end of a project. Having the foresight before you start the project is essential.

Seamless Flow
Having continuous flow from room to room is not as easy as it sounds. With endless possibilities available, creating a natural flow that looks effortless requires strict aesthetic decisions.

Sklar’s award-winning interior designers are well trained and well versed in many different interior design styles. We respect that every home is unique with different spaces, tastes and lifestyles and our aim is to help find and create the best solution for you.

When conceiving the look of a space, lighting will often be the last thing on your mind. And yet, it has the power to be the star of your room—transforming the entire look and feel of the space. Chandeliers are a divine way to add elegance to a room or make a statement. So, why save all the sparkle for the living room or dining room? Consider the impact a little glamour can add to a girl’s room or bathroom. With the right design, there’s a place for a chandelier in every room of your home. Let’s explore 4 statement chandeliers that will surely bring the ‘wow’ factor to your design.

Jellyfish Chandelier – Cyan Designs
Cyan Design is the go-to source for unique decorative chandeliers, bringing vibrancy to any interior aesthetic. Your space will only be made better by the addition of the Cyan Design Jellyfish chandelier. The way the textured ribbons of glass unfurl from the centrally-located drum shade is eye-catching and intriguing. Artfully crafted, the Jellyfish Chandelier comes in three different sizes—small, medium and large—so you can find the one that fits your space the best. We recommend the bedroom!

Butterfly Chandelier – Giorgio Collection
Bring a dollop of delightful style to your space with this hand blown, glass venetian chandelier. A stunning work of art by Giorgio Soressi, Butterfly Chandelier is a piece that will captivate your guests over a few cocktails in the living room. Composed of 25 Venetian Murano clear-blown glass globes, the piece is truly one-of-a-kind.

Cosmos 28 Light Chandelier – Oggetti
Bring the night sky into your home and stargaze any time of the day. The 28 differently shaped, handmade globes add to the beauty of the Oggetti light collection. Each created with a spun glass interior, the lights are hung at various heights creating a “cosmos” of light in your space. No two glass shades are exactly alike and each features unique variations. Command attention in your entryway with this original work of art.

Bloom Pendant Light – Kartell
For a touch of elegance and dazzle, there’s the Bloom Pendant light. Perfect for both the home and public environments, these lights radiate beautiful beams of ambient light with a series of small light sources located within its flowery frame. Drawing inspiration from a delicate spring bouquet, Bloom lighting offers new and sophisticated multicolor nuances in Lavender and Mint or an elegant Transparent Crystal. Sure to compliment the décor of your daughter’s room.

When painting a room in your home, it’s important to consider the mood it will create and the emotions it will evoke. Our design team shares their designer tips for choosing a color to create a mood for your space.

1. Designer Michele says one of the easiest ways to bring a plain room to life, making it feel fresh and airy, is by adding plants. ‘Plants provide not only life, but color to a space!’
2. Design Consultant Mae agrees and adds, ‘nature indoors brings soothing vibrations and a mood of peace and calm.’ Wherever possible, she likes to integrate interior spaces with the outdoors; a potted plant, a seashell collection, a small indoor fountain or a delicate rock scape are all great options. There are also many wallpapers and wall murals of outdoor scenes that can add a feeling of tranquility to your space.
3. ‘I use color as a way to create an atmosphere of someplace the client would like to be’ says Andres. Recently, he designed a living room with Sherwin Williams color SW 6477 which is a beautiful aqua. ‘The room felt like you were in the Florida Keys from the moment you stepped in!’ It’s true that humans feel connected and soothed when in contact with nature. Using colors that create a sense of sky opens the boundaries of confined wall spaces.
4. With over 25 years experience, when choosing a palette for your living room and wanting to introduce bold colors, Designer Kathy suggests limiting your selection to three. ‘This will keep the palette pleasing to the eye without being overwhelming.’
5. If bold is an area you’d like to try, Design Consultant Marina proposes an accent wall. ‘An accent wall that uses textured wallpaper or a bright paint color is a great way to add a distinct, daring feature to a space without overdoing it.’
6. ‘Wall color is the backdrop to everything that’s going on in a space.’ says Mae. ‘Whether it’s the furniture, the art, the wall color or the view, these are all focal points. It all depends on what you want people to see when they walk in the door.’
7. If you don’t want to commit to a bold wall color, Bianca suggests it’s better to pick a neutral wall color and instead use colorful accents. ‘Pillows, art and rugs can be easily swapped when you want a fresh change and a new tone for the space.’

Leather is one of the most widely traded commodities in the world. A dominant player in the world’s economy, it’s estimated global trade value is above $100 billion USD per year. In order to obtain ‘leather’ as a product, the hide has to undergo a process called “tanning”. During this process, the hide is treated in a way that permanently alters the protein structure of the skin—making it more durable and less susceptible to decomposition. Historically, the leather tanning industry was characterized by small or medium-size family businesses, but today the manufacturing of leather products has moved to places where labor is cheapest. As a result, the leather is often produced using toxic chemicals which include heavy metals like chromium salts which have a large negative impact on the planet and our health.

The good news is there are home furnishing companies actively working to change the structure of their business in order to reduce their carbon footprint. The Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) is a useful website to locate manufacturers, retailers and designers who are using environmentally sustainable practices. Sklar Furnishings is a proud member of SFC, and we’re very selective about carrying sustainable furniture and brands that benefit the local environment and the planet as a whole. One of the brands we’re proud to carry and that’s making a major change in the leather tanning process is Gamma.

Gamma sources all its leather from Dani—the first tannery in the world environmentally friendly enough to achieve Carbon Footprint certification. Its leather is free of chrome and heavy metals, and each square metre of leather produced releases a relatively low 10kg of CO2. From Gamma we carry the Splendido Sofa and Windsor Sofa —both available in sustainable leather.

SFC currently has over 400 members. Discover which other companies are making ‘reducing environmental impact’ a priority.

The last thing you want to do is commit to the big buy—the sofa—only to discover it doesn’t fit in your space, it limits the arrangement options or it doesn’t support your intention for the room. If you don’t want to be stuck with the tuxedo-style, formal sofa when what you really wanted was the casual sectional, read through our interior designer tips and learn how to pick the right sofa for your space.

1. Your vision. No matter your design style, it’s important to envision what you see yourself doing in the room. If you’re remodeling a living room and consider having a space to lounge, nap, or watch TV a priority, then a sectional – like the Kendall sofa – is a versatile, practical piece for your space. Or maybe you’re looking to create a stylish, trendy spot for occasional entertaining? Then something more sleek and clean like the Travis stand-alone sofa would be best. Either way, consider what activities you plan to do in your space.
2. Plan it out. Once you have your vision, use painter’s tape to “sketch out” where you might like the sofa to sit. This is a great way to get the dimensions of the space on the floor, see location options, and plan how much room you have between the sofa and other fixed objects in the room. Also, this would be a great time to measure your doorways and halls – especially if you live in an apartment or a home with small passageways.
3. You’ve envisioned the space, took measurements, now it’s time to go shopping, right? Before you hit the stores, think about who else lives in your space: Toddlers? Pets? Unless you’re going custom, fabric and pattern are a significant consideration. Patterns and dark colors are good for stain-camouflaging. Leather cleans up easy, while cotton-velvet is plush and wears well. Don’t risk getting attached to a sofa that doesn’t offer a finish that supports your family’s needs.
4. Small living space? No problem. Multifunctional sofas are great to have on hand. We love American Leather’s Breckin Comfort Sleeper. It maximizes living space with great style and offers a unique, flexible solution when guests spend the night.
5. Know your style. While function is the main attribute, you want the piece to reflect your personality and unique style. Some designers suggest keeping the big purchases simple and basic, and use accessories to expose your character. While others say let your décor style float through all features in the room. If you’re not sure what your style is or how to bring your ideas together, consider an interior designer. Not only will they help you identify your style, but they’ll make sure the design of the room connects with the rest of the house.

While a client can visualize what they want in a space, a designer knows which actions need to be taken in order to bring those visions to life. Interior designers have a broad range of knowledge, skills and connections that will save you from being overwhelmed or paying more for a design project.

Knowledge
They are educated in the history of design, the structural integrity of buildings, ergonomics, building codes, spatial concepts, psychology, computer-aided drawing and much more. If you’re planning a major renovation where walls have to be moved and lighting fixtures need to be replaced, then you’ll definitely need professional help.

Skills
Designers are used to working with builders and architects. A jack of all trades, they have an awareness about contractor work and can plan for those ahead of time providing the client with a detailed plan of the design process and an accurate budget.

Connections
Interior designers have connections and can offer certain advantages that can’t be obtained in other ways. Solid relationships with select vendors means they can access resources, discounts and merchandise that otherwise aren’t available.

Beyond planning a project and having their vast design knowledge, an interior designer purchases furniture, schedules delivery and coordinates installation. A major responsibility includes taking measurements to make sure appliances, work desks, light fixtures, decorative furnishings, televisions and other accessories fit in the space.

For you to remedy a problem is much more difficult than for a designer, who frequently faces these issues. A professional interior designer  encounters many challenges every day and has lots of tricks up their sleeve

Eclectic style is a combination of different directions – freedom, imagination, creativity – that is brought together through the use of color, texture and shape to create an original décor. When mixing multiple styles, there is a risk of creating chaotic clutter instead of an interior that goes beyond the usual.

Knowing how to pull off mixing rustic antiques and modern pieces in order to curate an interesting space that’s balanced can be tricky. An overflow mishmash of eccentric pieces run the risk of making your space feel more like a flea market than a fresh, inspired room. As such, it’s important not to flood your space with aged and rough textures but balance the worn with slick and shiny surfaces in order to strike the right equilibrium. Here are some pieces we suggest to support your eclectic interior design.

The River Sideboard has a beautiful lacquered finish to its unique design and will surely make a harmonious splash in any space. Elegant lines, soft geometries and abstract elements combined create the luxurious Textura Area Rug. The diverse variety of patterns and colors no doubt reflect its artisan vibe. With a stunning line of luminous glass globes configured in delicate, airy compositions, the Bubbles Pendant Chandelier provides ambient, diffused illumination in any eclectic décor.

Eclectic interior style is great for modern people who wish to create a space that displays their courage and stretches beyond the ordinary. Explore your eclectic style.

When it comes down to who to hire for a design project, many people are unsure whether to hire an architect or an interior designer. It’s true that many interior designers have some knowledge and training in architecture, similarly, many architects have knowledge and training in interior design; however, each professional comes with their own level of expertise and skills.

At Sklar Furnishings, we don’t necessarily believe in hiring one over the other because we view their roles inextricably intertwined. The exterior design and massing of a building cannot be separated from that of its interior. As such, there remain some skills that necessitate the hiring of both professionals.

Sklar has a strong history of architects working closely with our interior design team, and producing extraordinary results. The success of our design projects stem from the fact that many architects find working with our Director of Design—who is licensed in the state of Florida—very easy. In addition, our interior designers specialized knowledge of ergonomics, furniture, materials and finishes are what give the architects insight which then encourages an exchange of ideas that allows us as a team to create projects that not only work for clients but are exceptional in design and function.

If you’re an architect and want to learn more about what promotions and benefits are available to you and your clients, or how we could together serve a client’s vision, contact us  and we’ll happily get in touch.

We are passionate about design and have the ability and resources to create anything you can dream up! With our expertise and your ideas, our designers can help you bring your interior design visions to life. Together we can create a CAD (computer-aided design) and have it custom made by one of our trusted and experienced craftsmen. Our talented design team is happy to guide you through the process of exploring the endless custom options available to you.

Thinking cabinetry? Why not add that unique, finishing touch to your space with a custom cabinet unit. Explore some of our favorite units customizable to different degrees depending on your preference.

Jesse Open Wall Unit
In tune with a contemporary conception of furniture, the Jesse Open Wall Unit is truly one-of-a-kind. Made in Italy by Jesse Furniture, this unit comes from their Open Collection. The unit has a flexible range of wall unit designs to accommodate and store all your entertainment, books and media equipment with handy cabling ducts to hide away cables.

The Mobican Cassia Unit
This wall unit system is stunning in design and modern in style. With different combinations of panel modules and functional inserts available, the unit comes in a number of veneer finishes and colours. You have a choice from all the factory’s natural or stained Oaks and Walnuts. Not to mention the ingenious wire management system will impress you, as will its ease of assembly. Made in Canada by North America’s top manufacturer, this unit can last you a lifetime.