Chalkboards used to just be a thing of schoolrooms,our teachers tapping their white chalk along the board's smooth green surface, erasing in a frenzy to make space for our next lesson... But a strange thing has been happening lately, chalkboard paint has been lending its erasable power to walls all across North America, including some of the trendiest interior design magazines, businesses, lofts, nurseries... And now, chalkboard paint could be bringing the magic to you! Right? Maybe? Well, keep reading and find out at least 5 cool ways you can use chalkboard paint to make chalky fun like never before. (We've included chalkboard painting tips for residential and commercial design.)

Ah the sun is shining in Vancouver! The summer sprawls ahead and everywhere I go there is light, light, light! Now that I can properly inspect the paint colour on my interior walls in this brilliant spring light – I crave a sunny palate of paint colours to match my shinny mood! Why so enthusiastic over good-fresh-happy paint colour you might ask? They say colour has a strong influence over mood - but I say mood has a strong influence over colour! I want my interior walls to act like a mood ring - signalling through saturating, gorgeous colour exactly the emotion I feel. And the emotion I feel right now is shouting for joy that finally the long, hibernating, gray winter is over! I'm now ready to chill out, BBQ, have a glass of vino (or a pint of ale), and just watch the clouds go by. So this leads me to my current paint colour investigation - what exactly are my best colour options for painting right now, for summer 2010?!

You know what they say, April Showers Bring May Flowers! And that is exactly what spring cleaning is about too. Before the shine comes the grind, and the greater the cleaning effort the more satisfying the results are.

But we know... we know... cleaning can seem oh so much like an awful chore. So we put together 10 simple suggestions for making your spring cleaning more like basking in the sun than struggling through the rain. With these helpful hints for spring cleaning fun you will come out as radiant as a bright new blossom.

Want to explore industry breakthroughs and be in the know on the latest trends for design, environment and construction? Attend an upcoming spring 2010 trade show in Vancouver and find your mind buzzing with the most exciting ideas. You will discover new, eco-friendly products and sustainable methods, be wowed by cutting edge interior design, and learn what technologies are causing breakthroughs in architecture and construction. The world flocks the Vancouver to join in these industry expos and stay ahead of the curve- so check it out, have a blast and pass it on!

Design

Painting wood furniture is a great way to transform your interior design. The possibilities for painting wood surfaces in your residence or business includes an endless variety of paint colours for your cupboards, headboards, shelves, tables, chairs, dressers, armoires and more. While in this article we will talk mainly about painting furniture, keep in mind that the needs for staining wood furniture differ from treatments for other wood surfaces in and around your residence such as floors, doors, panels, decks, fences, etc. (Mainly, exterior painting requires specific treatments for weather proofing.) When painting any kind of wood surfaces, do keep in mind that like brick,once wood has been painted it is very difficult if not impossible to reverse. If you are unsure of your painting choice try consulting a local professional painting contractor or interior design for feedback.

Your infant's nursery and your young child's room share similar qualities and should be functional and inspiring -- a place of nurturing, rest, stimulation, and wellbeing. Safety is one of the major objectives of a child and infant friendly room. Creating a risk free nursery and child's room includes, to name a few tips: covering electrical outlets, choosing age appropriate bed and toys, and keeping a clean, organized, and barrier free space. Over and above the common safety tips, we are happy to report that more than ever, creating an eco-friendly kid's room or nursery is now at the top of the agenda for modern families.

After the jump, we lay out some strategies you can take, as well as a few links to great Vancouver stores and other tips that you can check out.

The experts on interior painting and design are all predicting that 2010 kicks off a new decade with an infusion of the stuff of dreams. From pure comfort to pure fancy, the focus is onwards and upwards with trendy painting styles making a comeback.  People are regaining confidence in their finances and some of the inclinations of the past few years to make safe decisions are going to the wind as fun steps it up a notch. 'Why not live a little' could easily be the motto for painting in 2010. Design will be more light-hearted and hopeful. Never the less, the classic beauty of simple, neutral paint colours for interior painting are also more of a staple then ever.

And of course, eco-friendly paints are no longer going to be viewed as a new trend, but as an absolute necessity.

Here is how we would define the three major moods of paint colours for 2010:

And the Award for BC’s Best Buildings, Renovation & Design Goes to…

Have you heard about the Canadian Home Builders Association of BC’s prestigious Georgie Awards yet? The CHBA BC is an association committed to excellence in residential construction and residential building developments.

Georgie Awards have been given to recipients in categories such as Best Single Family Detached Home, Best Kitchen Renovation, Best Multi-Family Development and more since 1992. Greater Vancouver’s top politicians and dignitaries, designers, residential developers and home owners gather each year for a celebration of the previous year’s award winners. The 2009 Georgie Award Winners will be presented on March 13, 2010 at the Vancouver Westin Bayshore.

According to a recent blog on News 1130, Vancouver BC ranks extremely high for our excess 'Christmas' waste. Now, anybody who lives in Metro Vancouver knows that indulging in Holiday spirit helps to counter the gloominess of dark and rainy days. This got us thinking, how can we have an eco-friendly Christmas while still making sure it stays Merry & Bright? The good news is there are a ton of little and large ways that we can make a difference this year, so we put together some of our favourite eco-friendly tips and links for the holidays.

When it Rains, it Pours

Here on the Wet -- er… West Coast we all know a thing or two about keeping dry during the rainy season. Bring on the rain boots, ponchos and umbrellas right? Well, what about protecting the exterior of your homes from the rain? Did you know that the right application of exterior paint to your home or business can act just like a good rain coat? Makes sense!

Proper exterior painting can prevent the moisture that causes damage and mold from seeping through the walls of your home. Climate attuned paint can even help insulate your home -- saving you money on electrical bills and helping protect our environment (reduced energy waste/lower carbon footprint).

With Greater Vancouver BC having heavy rain warnings all month (November and December average 160mm/month yearly in rainfall in Vancouver, BC) now is the time to start considering the importance of exterior paint in weather proofing. We have put together a little info to help you get ahead in the battle against water. After all, we live in a rainforest so we can't pretend like the rain isn't going to pour!