Home & Design
I’ve been down a long road of ups, downsm, and loop-de-loops. I want to share my story with you, to tell you all about how I got into the interior design field and where my inspiration lies. It all starts in Israel.
I was born some moons ago to my Russian mom and Egyptian father, but I actually spent a large chunk of my childhood in Belgium before we all upped and moved to Toronto, Canada. Since I was exposed to so much culture before I could even understand what that was, I think that gave me a better appreciation and understanding of the world of design. You can’t escape culture, and it definitely pushed me to explore the world around me a lot more. Inevitably, this seeped into my work ethic by expanding my capabilities as an artist and nurturing my thirst to achieve, learn, and develop my talent.
I began my design education at the University of Toronto from 1998-2001, majoring in Architecture and minoring in Fine Art History. For some, choosing a path in university can be daunting and even overwhelming, but to me it was obvious. I knew this was the path I was meant to take, and that proved to be right! Following UofT, I completed a Master of Science Degree in Interior Design at Pratt Institute in New York – another step in the right direction that felt second nature.
You don’t think of an interior designer getting their “big break”, but I got that – After my masters I began working for a handful of world-renown design firms in New York AND my chosen hometown of Toronto, before getting some big news: I was going to be on the design-based reality show “From the Ground-Up” with Debbie Travis. If that wasn’t all, not only did I beat out 9,000 applicants in the first place, but I competed against 14 other finalists – and won!
If I didn’t know it already, I did then. Design comes to me as naturally as breathing.
I became Debbie’s Chief Designer, and was awarded the opportunity of designing and developing ten show homes for Tribute Communities.
Following that success, I did what I had always wanted to do: I established my own design firm. I juggled this with being featured on various other design shows on HGTV. I was the guest designer on the Unsellables, Reno or Relocate, Downright Domestic, and even a regular designer and art director for 9 seasons of Income Property with Scott McGillivray.
My work is my first love, but it also gave me the ability to pour love into other passions: I had always been actively involved in various projects related to the design field, including everything from curating art exhibitions, to building homes in El Salvador for those in need and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
It all seems short and simple just writing it down here, but it took grit, passion, and more hard work than I can say. I love what I do, and I love bringing designs to life in real time. I was meant for this, and I couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to really have at it. It’s been a long road, and I can’t wait to discover what else is hiding behind the corner!
Are you looking to completely reno and transform your space? Ensure the careful smart planning you need from day one, and contact Dvira Interiors! We look forward to incorporating our vision, scope, technical expertise and industry connections to make your home’s design/build experience as positive and rewarding as possible.
The first thing on most clients’ mind during a renovation is usually to do with floors. This is probably by far the most frequent request I get, but it can add up really quickly when you get to the stairs. What’s more, they often end up mismatched with new floors anyway! Should we sand and stain and hope for the best? That’s not only costly, but it’s labor-intensive, and time-consuming all for a sub-par end product. How can we give stairs a fresh look to match our new floors WITHOUT breaking the bank?
All it takes is a designer worth their salt to show you a better way! Here is how I would advise a client who wants to get their stairs integrated into a space without spending too much money and time doing it!
Minimize your sanding
Sanding every part of your stairs in the hope that you’ll get it to go completely with your new flooring can be in vain, because totally accuracy is difficult. Color match your floors to your stairs’ tread, nosing, and landing (basically the edge and step itself), so that you can minimize sanding as much as possible! Where possible, avoid the extra time, money, and labor to save.
Painting
Remember to consider the material of the banisters and posts – replacing your floors can mean that it doesn’t match with all the other features in a space, and sanding down the pickets and handrail before staining it in the hope of a color match to floors can be, once again, in vain. It’s a lot of wood to get perfectly matched just by staining.
I opted to paint instead. For example in one project, I painted the pickets white then painted the handrails and post a stunning charcoal gray. It’s different from the floors but the overall design is still integrated and cohesive, adding dimension you wouldn’t get by sanding and staining in the hope that it’ll all match!
It can seem overwhelming, but that’s what I and other designers are here for: to break all those big questions (“to stain or not to stain?!”) into smaller, more manageable choices (“Choose a color for your gorgeous handrail!”)
Are you looking to completely reno and transform your space? Ensure the careful smart planning you need from day one, and contact Dvira Interiors! We look forward to incorporating our vision, scope, technical expertise and industry connections to make your home’s design/build experience as positive and rewarding as possible.
When you want to transform a space, getting started is the hardest part. Defining your personal style can feel overwhelming. With the overwhelming magazines and Pinterest boards. Where do you even begin?
I want to walk you through what I do when I sit down with first time clients, breaking down the process with them so that we can pinpoint their individual style. This is a little guide with some tips and tricks thrown in to make the whole process a little less stressful.
Find Order
Begin by breaking down what you’re looking at. When you sift through the magazines and Pinterest boards, what are the specific elements of each picture that attract you, or put you off? What do you like about specific colours, hate about certain fabrics? What do you think of that architectural detail, that floorboard?
Get into the nitty gritty and out it together to get a bigger picture of what you prefer in a space.
Let Your Lifestyle do the Talking
Consider what you want to USE your space for, and figure out what your long term intentions for a room are. Is it an area used to host, is it more casual? Will it always be used as one kind of space, or could it change later on?
Consider these different factors as you consider elements of style that might play into your lifestyle!
Talk the Talk
Terms can be thrown around a lot so it’s good to have a clear idea of what exactly people mean with these three big words: Modern, contemporary, and traditional.
If you’re a minimalist, no clutter design is something you envision for your space, you probably have modern taste. There’s a lot of openness, and airiness to this style.
If you lean more towards the classic furniture outlines with less minimalism and a lot more moldings and wall fixtures, you probably have more traditional style. This feels a lot more old-world.
If you think you sit somewhere in between these two extremes, you have a more contemporary style. This is like a sandwich between the modern and the traditional, where there is more added warmth.
That being said, there are tons of sub-categories flying in between these three general terms, so find your niche! Does farmhouse chic attract you, or retro, or even French country? Find your niche and run with it – and make it yours!
Finding your style will give you a lot more peace than frustration during the design process, even with all the information overload. Take a deep breath, delve into madness, and pay attention to what tickles your fancy! Design is all about freedom and creativity, so run wild, and don’t stress too much!
Are you looking to completely reno and transform your space? Ensure the careful smart planning you need from day one, and contact Dvira Interiors! We look forward to incorporating our vision, scope, technical expertise and industry connections to make your home’s design/build experience as positive and rewarding as possible.
A designer’s job is to serve your needs, and that includes sticking to a budget. Luckily, us designers have a knack for saving money, because during something as big as a renovation, every penny counts! Here’s three things you can salvage in your kitchen to get all the bang out of your buck:
Countertop
I’ve talked about using leftover counter-top slabs to DIY other pieces for around the house before, like making a cutting slab or even side tables! I want to focus on the existing countertop you might find, like with an island or breakfast bar. Save it and use it elsewhere in the house, like in the bathroom or for a chic coffee table!
Backsplash
It may seem like redoing backsplash is an inexpensive fix, but it adds up. Consider salvaging the backsplash that comes with a kitchen or bathroom. If not, be sure to opt for a material that lasts and is a lot more durable, like ceramic or porcelain! It’s more long term, so you’re saving when you don’t have to take care of constant fixes and updates!
Sinks and Faucets
Don’t get rid of old faucets and sinks – keep it and use it elsewhere in the house! Not only are you adding character to your house by reusing old bits and pieces, you are reusing and minimizing your eco footprint! It’s a win-win solution.
You’ll be surprised just how much we can reuse from a kitchen renovation, and it saves a TON of money in the long haul. A designer is there to make sure that not only are you making smart investments, but that your design choices will fit in with your lifestyle ????
Are you looking to completely reno and transform your space? Ensure the careful smart planning you need from day one, and contact Dvira Interiors! We look forward to incorporating our vision, scope, technical expertise and industry connections to make your home’s design/build experience as positive and rewarding as possible.
Material is one of those things in furniture that feels personal to the homeowner, especially when it comes to a material as controversial as leather. Many are moving away from leather because of its association with the meat industry. Many people think faux leather, however, is a faux pas.
I want to talk about the pros and cons of both real and faux leather, so that you can make a well-informed decision for your home.
Let’s get started!
What is real, what is faux?
Leather is made from animal hide through the process of tanning, while faux leather is made of synthetic materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, or polyamide microfiber. Faux leather is usually made up of plastic, then other materials are mixed in with it.
Texture wise real leather goes softer with time, and attains a “lived-in” look. Faux leather tends to crack, due to a high plastic content. That being said, maintenance is a big factor for both. Leather cannot dry out so one must use a special moisturizing cleaner, for it to last long. Faux leather can crack within months, but if you use a faux leather conditioner, some faux leathers can last for decades!
Which one is environmentally friendly and the healthy choice?
Out of the different types of faux leather, PVC is notoriously bad for the environment AND your health, due to the chemicals used to make it. Other types of faux leather are more greener (and better for your health), as some manufacturers use mixed fibres made of plastic mixed with another synthetic or natural fiber. As long as you steer clear of PVC, your footprint will be much reduced.
It has been argued that real leather is better for the environment, since it doesn’t use as many chemicals as faux leathers, but this is ignoring the fact that tanning still uses a good amount of harmful chemicals just as some faux leathers do.
As mentioned, PVC uses chemicals that are infamously bad for your health, but otherwise, faux fur is generally safe. However, if you find yourself having a much longer allergy season around faux leather, real leather may be the antidote, because it’s hypoallergic! Faux leather has an unfortunate habit of collecting dust mites.
What about my family?
If you have kids, you need to consider what their habits are before you invest in either material. Consider that real leather is considerably more expensive than faux, due to its lack of mass production and that every hide is different! If you have kids that gravitate towards sharpies or have an edge for clumsiness, faux leather is probably a more cost-effective choice.
That being said, leather is harder to stain and more adaptive with time, so as long as you can trust your kids – or pets – to more or less behave around the leather, investing in real leather might be the better long-term option!
Leather, real or not, is a beautiful style choice and really elevates class and style. There are pros and cons to both sides, so it’s up to what you value in your lifestyle to choose! I can only hope that either way, your furniture makes your space come together, and you a lot happier.
Are you looking to completely transform your space? Ensure the careful smart planning you need from day one, and contact Dvira Interiors! We look forward to incorporating our vision, scope, technical expertise and industry connections to make your home’s design/build experience as positive and rewarding as possible.
5 Reasons Why You Should Absolutely Hire an Interior Designer During Construction
Designing your dream house is all fun and games until last minute changes, back order panics, and construction delays get in the way of your vision. A designer will ensure you get the home you picture in your head when it counts: from day one all while saving you lots of time and money during the process. Here’s how!
Designers See the Blueprint Differently
Overcoming Restrictions
From immovable walls to support columns, the designer knows physical limitations better than anyone. They also know how to compromise instead of sacrifice by turning restrictions into opportunities.
Embracing Functional Living
A designer’s specialty is ensuring that a space works optimally for the people who actually have to live there once it’s over. Everything from where the furniture will go to where the outlets and lights are placed, the designer guarantees it.
Designers Plan EVERYTHING
Save Time
Time is money and a designer’s guidance will save you thousands. Forget about the delays and last-minute change of heart. A designer is there to ensure that the process runs smooth and on schedule.
Forget Regrets
Remember all those hard to describe details? Designers know all the nitty and the gritty. You can forget about doubting your vision, because the designer will understand and execute your dream better than anyone!
Enhance Your Dream
Designers see potential, like how that kitchen renovation can increase the value of your home by a couple thousand. Plan for the far away future too!
Designers Know the Best of the Best
Trust Your Team
Designers will have relationships with the best contractors, subcontractors and vendors in the business, so they have the best referrals right up their sleeve. Get top-quality craftsmanship every step of the way. No flaky or negligent contractors here!
Save Money and Get Quality
Designers establish partnerships with artisans and vendors that don’t need heavy marketing to convince you they’re the best. Designers get solid discounts! This results in more affordable prices for highly customized work.
Designers PREVENT Problems Before They Need Fixing
Don’t Pay for Your Mistakes
Did you know that one of the most expensive parts of building or remodelling can be all of the delays and re-dos? Designers make sure that things are designed right the first time. Anything that doesn’t seem quite right is corrected before it requires significant effort to reverse or change it.
Have an Advocate for YOUR Vision
A designer is YOUR advocate. They know how to balance aesthetic and function better than anyone, so negotiating with construction is as easy as 1, 2, 3! You need someone who knows your taste and translates it into a home that is functional and comfortable as it is attractive.
Don’t just picture your dream, live it. Hiring a designer in the construction phase of renovation will ensure not only what you want, but what you need.
Ready to get started on your dream home design? Contact Dvira Interiors. We look forward to incorporating our vision, scope, technical expertise and industry connections to make your home’s design/build experience as positive and rewarding as possible.