Debbie Travis's Blog

Ho Ho Ho everyone,

Still looking for the perfect holiday present for your partner, bestie or relative, or a special treat for yourself?  Well, I have a suggestion that will not disappoint. Join us here in Tuscany in 2025 for one of our Classic Car Rallies.

Our rallies are just like a perfect Christmas pudding – when all the right ingredients come together, they create magic – the rallies are like no other vacation you will ever have experienced.

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This five-star dish starts with a fleet of stunning, iconic sports cars of the 50s to the 80s, including XK and E-Type Jags, Mercedes cabriolets, Cobras, C1 Covetttes, Mustangs, Porsches, MG and Healey roadsters, and, of course, classic Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

Then, add a spash of luxury accommodation at the stunning Villa Reniella, located in a location that is so spectacular that it is a UNESCO Heritage site.

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Pamper yourself in our suites, each with its own private garden and entrance, stone floors, luxury bathrooms, the finest Italian linens, Frette towels, silent air conditioning and fast WIFI.

Next, add in gourmet meals in Michelin starred restaurants in castles and wine estates or with our own private chef at the villa paired with the very best Tuscan wines.

Blend in driving the most stunning roads in Tuscany with views that have not changed in centuries, and finally, stir in copious amounts of smiles, laughter and new friends telling tales of their experience of discovering Tuscany from behind the wheels of our magnificent cars.

The result is a unique five-star experience, a ‘trip of a lifetime’ – an adventure that will never be forgotten.

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Here are what some of our past guests have said.

“I have taken many trips to different parts of the world but nothing will ever come close to driving those classic cars around Tuscany and the new friends my wife and I made.”

“I came alone and had no idea what to expect – I left the villa a week later enlightened, happy and invigorated – I am grateful to the whole team at Villa Reniella for making me feel so special”.

“This was my husband’s birthday present from our family and I came along initially just for the ride. I fell in love with everything from Debbie and her stupendous team and Fabrice and all the French mechanics! It truly was the best vacation ever.”

“Words are not enough to describe the time I spent at Villa Reniella – our smiles say it all, thank you”.

“The last time the muscles ached in my face like this was on my wedding day from so much smiling – this week was the best.”

For a complete information package, please click here.  Each rally is limited to just 20 participants, some are already sold out, but we have spots left for the dates below:

TUSCAN CLASSIC CAR RALLY –  June 7 – 13, 2025TUSCAN CLASSIC CAR RALLY – June 20 – 26, 2025TUSCAN CLASSIC CAR RALLY – September 3 –  9, 2025TUSCAN CLASSIC CAR RALLY – September 14 – 20, 2025

Lots of love,
Debbie

The post VROOM – VROOM appeared first on Debbie Travis' Official Site.

Illustration by Lisa Brancatisano

DEBBIE TRAVIS’ ORGANIC, COLD PRESSED, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

‘The freshest oil you will ever taste’

Ciao Tutti,

As June comes to an end, they finally begin to appear – tiny, shiny, bright green olives the size of an eraser at the end of a pencil. By early September these superfruits, having soaked up the relentless Tuscan summer sun, have grown to the size of small grapes, plump and hard. Now, we wait for the late summer days of September to gift us with the occasional and much needed downpours, creating the ideal weather conditions for the upcoming October harvest.

Each year, many of you, our loyal customers, order the Organic, Cold-pressed, Extra Virgin Olive Oil that is produced from the olive trees on our land around Villa Reniella. There are numerous reasons for these regular annual orders, the main one being that our EVOO is truly authentic, organic and delicious. But, many of you come back each year because of the constant stories in the press about the health benefits of regularly consuming good quality extra virgin olive oil. And then, there are the more frightening stories – what exactly is in the olive oil bottles on the supermarket shelves?

One of my pet peeves is the omission of the harvest date on the label. If the harvest date is missing, best to leave the bottle on the shelf – yes, you will see a ‘sell by date’ or ‘best by’ or ‘expiry date’, but these dates just mean that the oil is safe for consumption, not the nutritional value. The oil can be two to five years old, which means that its health benefits and taste are drastically reduced. We recommend using EVOO within 18 months of harvest, and to store it in a cool, dark place until needed.

EVOO is the key ingredient of the Mediterranean diet, known for its anti-inflammatory properties. EVOO is said to improve cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol levels and its high polyphenol count even slows down the aging process, as we can witness every day in our local village here in Tuscany which is teaming with octogenarians, nonagenarians and centenarians. New research is even talking about the link between the consumption of olive oil and reducing the risk of dementia.

If you have visited us here at Villa Reniella, then you know how passionate I am about EVOO. My greatest joy is watching friends and guests try real extra virgin olive oil for the first time. Pure delight. We take a teaspoon of our extra virgin olive oil every morning with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper. Later in the day, we slather it on salads, toast and grilled vegetables. We grill, fry and bake with it. I even remove my mascara with our oil. I rub it over dry arms and legs, leaving me silky and smooth!

But not all olive oil is created equal. The growing popularity of this superfood has, of course, prompted the food giants to see this product as a phenomenal money maker. According to Tom Mueller, the author of Extra Virginity, a really great eye-opening book about the olive oil business, there is more money being made from fraudulent olive oil than from trafficking cocaine, and selling corrupt olive oil is less dangerous than selling drugs. Please read the labels before buying– most olive oil in the grocery store is a mix of oils from many countries, which is not necessarily bad, but often coloring and flavoring is added to resemble the contents to authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. A good bottle of EVOO should only contain olive oil – nothing else. I hope that you found this information useful for making informed EVOO buying decisions.

But back to the olives on our farm….they will keep on growing until sometime in October, Mother Nature decides the exact date and we pick all 4000 trees – by hand. The harvested olives are taken at the end of the day to a local olive press, which deals only with organic farmers (so there is no chemical residue contaminating our oil) and the next day the EVOO is filtered, which removes tiny olive particles that can turn the oil bitter, then it is bottled and packaged, ready for shipment directly to your door. For logistics reasons, we sell our EVOO only in boxes of twelve 500ml bottles, but a bottle of EVOO makes for a unique holiday gift, or you can share a box with a friend. Even better, don’t share, but savour each bottle throughout the year. All EVOO mellows over time, but stored in a cool, dark place, it can be safely consumed within 18 months.

To order our 2024 harvest EVOO, please click this link, which takes you to our EVOO online store. Do not wait too long as we do sell out pretty quickly. Oh, and if you would like to see a stunning video my youngest produced about our first harvest here at the villa – click this link.

For more news on everything happening at Villa Reniella, Where Is Debbie? and the escapades of Billie the Border Collie:

debbietravis.com

@debbie_travis

@tuscangetaway

@thetrustmepod

Wishing you much health and happiness,

A presto and hope to see you at one of our retreats.

Baci e abbracci

Debbie

The post Fat & Juicy
~
It’s Almost
Olive Harvest Time appeared first on Debbie Travis' Official Site.

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the summer.

Earlier this year, we made the decision to take a sabbatical from offering our Tuscan Girls’ Getaways in 2025 and concentrate on our Tuscan Classic Car Rallies. As we had been hosting the Girls Getaways since 2009, we thought that it was time for us to take a little breather.

We received so many messages of disappointment – we felt terrible. So we listened to you all and have now added three Tuscan Girls’ Getaways in 2025, with one already sold out.

[image error]These are extraordinary retreats that put women from all walks of life, different countries, and a variety of ages together. There is nothing quite like the camaraderie of women and when you add in the experts such as mindfulness and meditation teachers, nutritional therapists, yoga instructors and forest bathing, hiking and biking alongside superb fresh organic food from our local farms, copious amounts of delicious Tuscan wine and sumptuous luxury accommodation – well, magic happens under these Tuscan skies.

Oh, and a location that is so stunning that it is a UNESCO Heritage site.

The Villa Reniella estate is perched on its own hill below a 13th century medieval village and looks out over olive groves and vineyards, a view that has not changed in many centuries. Our little corner of paradise will not only revitalise the soul, but time spent here creates clarity for that next chapter and brings joy to all.

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[image error]Our 100 acres of chestnut forest, olive groves and vineyards are yours to explore and to discover. You will find plenty of quiet places to rest, think and plan, go for walks on curated paths, or sit with new friends and enjoy a chat and drink while admiring the Tuscan sunset.

There is a wonderful story in Toronto Life magazine this month about life at Villa Reniella and our dream of taking on the challenge of renovating an ancient ruin. Here is a link to the story.

These are the new retreat dates for 2025 and more information can be found on our website www.tuscangetaway.com. Each retreat has a maximum of only18 participants and sells out quickly.

Retreat Dates for 2025TUSCAN GIRLS’ GETAWAY MAY 17 – 24, 2025 SOLD OUTTUSCAN GIRLS’ GETAWAY May 28 – June 3, 2025 JUST ADDEDTUSCAN CLASSIC CAR RALLY June 7 – 13, 2025TUSCAN CLASSIC CAR RALLY June 20 – 26, 2025TUSCAN GIRLS’ GETAWAY July 1 – 7, 2025 JUST ADDEDTUSCAN CLASSIC CAR RALLY September 3 – 9 LIMITED SPACESTUSCAN CLASSIC CAR RALLY September 14 – 20 LIMITED SPACESTUSCAN CLASSIC CAR RALLY September 28 – October 04 SOLD OUT

Lots of love,
Debbie

The post SOME FABULOUS NEWS appeared first on Debbie Travis' Official Site.

Ciao tutti,

This year it seems that each conversation begins or ends with “I hope that you are staying safe, wear your mask and what a crazy year.” It is a time that will go down in the history books, one which we will never forget. For those who got sick and for those who lost loved ones, the pain has been immeasurable, and my heart goes out to you.

But, for this blog I would like to give you a wee update on coping with Covid at Villa Reniella and a shoutout to entrepreneurs coping with Covid in general, but more particularly to a few entrepreneurs with a Tuscan connection. Covid has forced us all into thinking of new business scenarios, from those with the painful mantra of “what a f*%#@%ing year to start a new business” to “how on earth do we stay open”? It is hard enough launching a new venture in the best of times, but 2020 gave entrepreneurs an even steeper uphill challenge. “Can I open? Sorry we are closed. Oh, back open. I just don’t know what is going on!” Certainly the COVID crisis has made us more creative, nimbler and relentlessly looking for the silver lining amongst the storm clouds. As we crawl through the last few weeks of this year with the holidays in sight, I would like to give a shout-out to a few small local businesses with a personal connection, whom I support as they produce gifts that tell a story and are joyfully different.

AOB

Let me begin with something I am sure all of us can identify with – hair. What a year this has been for our luscious locks. We have hacked away, self-dyed our roots and bribed our hairdressers to fit us in when each lockdown was lifted. I have listened to my Irish-Toronto-based friend Aaron O’Bryan for years as he excitedly shared ideas for his own brand of hair products. His enthusiasm never waned whether in his salon in Toronto or behind the scenes at the Marilyn Denis Show where he made us all look fabulous for the telly. His ideas I have to say are genius. Aaron has revolutionized hair care with a plant-based line of products that come in recyclable, flexible bags. Gone are the glass bottles or rigid containers. Being a thrifty Brit, I love the concept of being able to squeeze every last drop from the bag. Aaron was all ready for his big product launch when Covid hit, his salons closed, and the launch events had to be cancelled. But with the luck of the Irish, his cheeky grin and tons of tenacity he went on-line. We are all desperate for silky, healthy hair, so what better Christmas present than fabulous hair products? Let’s support him.
Thank you, Aaron

www.aobproducts.ca

Il Casale

And now for something completely different. Creating a beautiful book is not easy – the writing, the photography, the layouts and the publishing is a true labour of love. Then 2020 comes along, it is your publishing debut and like the air expelled from your tires, it leaves you standing at the side of the road exasperated. Let me explain. Fifteen minutes from my house in Tuscany is a very special place. Podere Il Casale is an organic, bio dynamic farm founded by a Swiss family, Sandra and Ulisse and their five sons. Thirty years ago they had what was then a radical idea – living and working an organic lifestyle. This dynamic couple left the wild world of Zurich’s punk rock scene and went back to the land, transforming a rundown, ancient farm surrounded by breathtaking views into a sheep farm specializing in the area’s famous Pecorino cheese. They built vast vegetable gardens, raised livestock and opened an onsite restaurant that is now a destination for locals, ex-pats and a must-visit for anyone holidaying in this part Tuscany. What makes Il Casale so unique is the experience of dining at a Tuscan farm where every morsel on the table comes from their land: the wine, the meat, the cheese, the veggies, the bread, the water and of course the pizza. This is a true Kilometer Zero, farm-to-table experience. In fact, many times the farm’s animal residents wander between the tables as you are tucking in. Peacocks will display their feathered glory while you munch on homemade ravioli. Guests such as Pink, Shakira, Conan O’Brian and Giada de Laurentiis have been upstaged by runaway piglets or dancing goats. But it is the owners’ story, one of resilience, rebellion and sheer determination that resonates with so many of us, as our own thoughts have turned towards the possibility of living a rural lifestyle. Sandra and Ulisse had been working on their book, part history, part cookbook for years, with a self-publishing launch scheduled for, yes you guessed it, 2020. What a year to launch a book, but they did it anyhow – a book to inspire us with simple Tuscan recipes and heartwarming stories, but above all, the motivation to keep moving forward. What an unexpected gift for someone you love. Thank you Il Casale, for sharing your journey.

https://podereilcasale.com/

Tutti Matti

This year has hit the restaurant business drastically. The forever changing rules and the inability to function normally have left owners and staff reeling. They need all the help they can get in order to stay afloat. I love Tuscan fare and when I am in Toronto my favorite go-to place is Tutti Matti, run by owner and chef, Alida. Her wood-fired oven and seasonal fresh ingredients is the next best thing to tucking in like a Tuscan. 2020 was meant to be a big successful year for Alida. After training in Tuscany in my neck of the woods (actually Montalcino, home of the Brunello wines), she built her restaurant from scratch and finally she was able to take on a brand new, massive renovation in time for a big 2020 season. Of course, the rest is history. A year of struggles, yes, but she is a survivor and a talented Tuscan chef. So why not gift a meal or a gift certificate to someone you love, living in or planning to visit Toronto – what a yummy, unique gift.
Thank you Tutti Matti.

http://tuttimatti.com/

Covid has put visiting Villa Reniella in Tuscany on hold for now, but we will be back with all our retreats before you can say ‘ravioli.’ As I mentioned before, the challenges that the Covid restrictions and lockdowns have presented made us more creative, our team being no exception, and we have something incredible up our sleeve. Since you can’t come to us, we will bring Tuscany home to you. The ultimate gift to yourself, a beloved friend or family member. Over a weekend in early January, we will be holding a VIRTUAL HAPPINESS RETREAT. Together we will celebrate a New Year and a New You by life-streaming a packed weekend of pure joy from Villa Reniella. There will be yoga, meditation, nutrition classes, Tuscan cooking lessons, trips and inspirational interviews. And, if you can’t make it for the full weekend, we will be recording the life-stream and it is yours to enjoy over the next six months. I will be announcing full details very soon on my social media channels and my websites debbietravis.com and tuscangetaway.com. Now that is a gift worth giving.

These are just some local, small businesses that I am supporting, and I hope that you can too. Wherever you live, there are plenty of local entrepreneurs that need help. So, let us support local, because we need them as much as they need us.

Debbie and the Tribe at Villa Reniella

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In preparation for the impending, madly important November date, I am speaking of course of the start of Season 4 of The Crown, I decided to re-watch some prior episodes to get me ready for the thrills that are to come. Watching the episode about the epic moon landing brought back nostalgic memories, that left me with mixed emotions and thinking about our future.

In July 1969 the entire world was glued to their televisions as we watched with fascination and excitement Neil Armstrong take the first steps on the moon. This momentous moment in our history occurred around 3am in England and was broadcast by the BBC without a break throughout the night. My family, like so many others, only had a black and white television, so me and my dad walked in the dead of night to the main street of our town. Here, Ramsbottom’s Television shop had every television in its display window turned on in colour to entertain the crowd who had gathered outside, many still wearing pajamas under their coats. I remember the electric atmosphere as we witnessed history in the making. My father hauled me up onto his boney shoulders for a better view of the bank of TV screens. I could feel his sense of wonder through the fibers of his sweater. His anticipation was palatable as the mesmerizing scene unfolded before us. My dad was a young man, tall, handsome and very thin. He was dying. I was only a little girl and I was unaware of the severity of his illness, but I knew he wasn’t well. There were constant hospital visits and he no longer went to work. I was far too busy with my toys and my friends to be truly conscious of the perils of the grownups. As the historic event drew to a close and people wandered home, he lowered me to the ground and we walked back up the hill towards home. He soon became tired, so we sat for a while on a bench at the side of the road. He talked about what we had just seen and how important it was to mankind. I didn’t really understand but as the eldest in a large family I was just thrilled to have him all to myself. But his words stayed with me forever. He said this. “Apart from our beliefs, our ages and our sex we are all united on this earth. This event has brought us all together however far apart we may seem at times. This is called the human spirit.” He smiled his beautiful smile, “can you imagine a man just walked on the moon?” We both looked up as if expecting to see the astronauts waving down at us from the silvery moon. I was too young to take in his words but he wrote them down in a letter, one of my most precious possessions. My dad died four months later, a once robust father of four, a thirty-nine year old man robbed of his youth by cancer.

Today I think of his wise words as this virus stunts our lives, kills so many and changes the way we live in a way that was unimaginable a year ago. He was right, it is the human spirit that will see us through these miserable times. The effects of Covid-19 is one of the worst challenges to mankind, but it too can bring us together and change us for the good. It will be a tough winter for each and everyone of us, but take in the silence and use the quiet times to dream, plot and plan. Set intentions every day and each new week. Set the tone and the pace of the months ahead and hopefully we will all emerge more engaged and more understanding to one another.

The post Musings appeared first on Debbie Travis' Official Site.

Hi everyone,

We all have images in our minds that tell us it’s Autumn – walking amongst trees flaming in vibrant colours, jumping in huge piles of crispy leaves, watching smoke rising lazily from a chimney or tucking into bowls of steaming hot soup. For our family, the distinct reminder that it is fall happens early in October, when we gather in the kitchen. We are pensive, even subdued. We’re aware of what’s coming, rather like an exam result when you know you have not studied. We gather around the table and place one white (it must be white) plate in front of us. It is the beginning of this year’s harvest, the first cassettes (crates) of olives have been driven to the olive mill to be pressed, and we are about to taste the very first bottle of our new olive oil.

Every year for the last decade, we have gone through the same ritual. Our 2000 olive trees are tough, but fickle.

Sometimes the taste takes your breath away but the yield is small, some years we have an abundance of olives, but the flavour is mild and several times the trees had been infected by a bug which caused the oil to be gelatinous and tasteless, and we painfully had to abandon the harvest.

The reason it is a white plate is so that we can see the true colour of the oil. Emotions run high – our hearts beat fast. With baited breath we unscrew the cap and pour the glistening nectar onto the plate. We grin with joy – the oil is a rich emerald green. We hand around small chunks of plain, unsalted Tuscan bread (perfect for the task) and we dip, soaking up the oil. The bread transforms itself; we pop the jewels into our mouths – we smile again. OMG, it is off the scale in flavour. We can taste the grass that grows around the olive trees, a hint of wild asparagus, even the oregano that carpets the fields. Then we cough. It takes about three seconds until the peppery tones tickle the back of our throats. We nod to eachother, wipe the plate clean and pour again.

Well, yesterday, we tasted our first oil and this year is, without doubt, our premier harvest. Covid may have made us all miserable in 2020, but nature has enjoyed the reprieve and gifted us with the best of the best. The picking and pressing will continue for a few more weeks and then we will be ready to ship this elixir of love to you – harvested by my family and enjoyed by yours. The very best Organic, Cold Pressed, Extra Virgin Tuscan Olive straight off our trees.

If you would like to order a case of our oil, please click on this link – once we have sold our last bottle, that is it, until next year. We ship to you within 30 days by Express Courier directly to your door. Your order usually arrives by the end of November to mid-December. This way you get to taste the most delicious olive oil, fresh from the olive groves and have bottles to gift over the holidays.

In the meantime, here are some tips for what to look for when buying the best quality, nutritious oil.

Olive oil is at the core of the benefits of the nutritious Mediterranean diet, but please be careful when chosing an oil as not all olive oil is created equal. It is an extremely slippery business, pun intended. Scandal and fraud may not be the words that come to mind when you toss your salad with extra virgin olive oil or drizzle some over grilled veggies. As more and more scientists and nutritionists promote the merits of this super food, the more the demand grows, causing unscrupulous food companies to take advantage. So how are they doing this? Well, consumers are looking for pure olive oil for the benefits of its antioxidants, and the word “pure” is one of the most misused terms in the food industry.

Food product labelling can be confusing, often on purpose, so let me explain what to look for when buying olive oil. If the label states “Extra Virgin”, then this is supposed to mean that the fruit was pressed, and the resulting oil was filled into the glass bottle or tin (avoid plastic) without further processing – this is the first pressing of the olives. The best oils are also labelled “Cold Pressed”, meaning that the olives were not heated above 27 degrees Celsius during the pressing process, retaining all their flavour, aroma, and nutritional values while keeping the acidity low. Heating the olives will result in higher yields but will also diminish the quality drastically. Any label that does not state “Extra Virgin” denotes a lower quality oil extracted by chemical processes, as it becomes 2nd and 3rd and even 4thgeneration, as well as blends of various other less nutritious oils. Such oils have little to no healthy properties. But it gets worse, I am afraid. Look at the bottles of olive oil on a supermarket shelf and you will see many descriptions such as “classic”, “light” or “pure” and sometimes photos of your favorite celebrity chef on the cover. Please don’t be fooled. Many of these oils have seen very few olives and are often produced from flavoured and coloured low-grade oils to imitate extra virgin olive oil.

Olives are grown all over the world; Italy (I am biased and I think that Tuscan oil is the best), Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, New Zealand, Australia and California. Flavours change with the terroir, varietal and climate, so you need to experiment a bit to find your favourite oil. As long as you are buying “Organic Extra Virgin” with a harvest date within the last 18 months, you are buying a quality product. This can be hard to find in a general supermarket, so where on earth do you go to find the best olive oils? Well, if you visit a local Italian, Greek, Portuguese etc. neighbourhood, you can usually find the real deal. The other way of purchasing the very best olive oil is directly from the grower. You may have visited a farm on holiday or heard of a consortium (word of mouth is the best,) this is where the farm sells directly to the consumer. This is what we do here at Villa Reniella with our Certified Organic, Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Olive Oil. I promise you that once you have the tasted real fresh organic extra virgin oil, you cannot go back to the industrialized supermarket brands.

So yes, the olive oil harvest is a labour of love, but we are proud of our ten years of harvesting olives from these magnificent trees, some of which are over 700 hundred years old.

Enjoy.

Cheers and stay safe everyone

Debbie and the Tribe at The Tuscan Getaways

The post Our Olive Oil Harvest has Started appeared first on Debbie Travis' Official Site.

A warm, dark paint shade transforms this spacious room from a cool setting into a welcoming home.The power of blue resonates in a home office that is all business.Dear Debbie;

Our home is a mix of traditional and contemporary styling with long, open spaces and lots of light. I am drawn to some of the rich, dark paint shades and wonder if they would work in the living/dining area. The walls call out for some kind of warmth. Also are there any tips for painting with dark colours. Thank you for your ideas.
— Lorenzo

Dear Lorenzo;

Choosing from a dark palette can be intimidating. It’s natural to think that the room will feel heavy or somber. But this is not the case. There are so many glorious dark paint colours. They are expressive and intriguing and spell drama in both large and small rooms. When colour shopping think about dark coffee and deep browns. Perfect for traditional and country rooms, both wood and metal furnishings complement the mood. For a luxurious backdrop silver grey walls shimmer with purpose. Deep blues and blue/greens are reminiscent of the myriad colours found in the sea or lake and bring that essence into your space. It sounds to me like you have a few favourites. In a large room such as the one seen here the long stretch of windows ensures that the room is filled with light. Warm blue grey walls add warmth and contrast in this monochrome scheme with hints of colour pulled from the artwork and textiles showing up on cushions. The grain of the wood floor contributes nature’s abundant texture that livens up any style. When evening comes, spots along the ceiling and grey shaded pendants over the dining table take over. The space will always feel welcome.

There are a few tips to keep in mind when painting with dark colours. It’s tempting to apply the paint in a thick coat to make sure you get full coverage in one go, but it is difficult to get the pigment distributed evenly and you’ll end up with a blotchy job. Dark colours show up more defects (small holes and bumps on the wall), so fill and sand. The primer step is key to a good result. Tint the primer with black paint — your paint store will do this for you. Apply the tinted primer and let dry. Now paint your walls. Expect at least two coats over a tinted primer for full coverage. Without the darkened primer it will take three or four.

Dear Debbie;

I want my home office to look and feel like a professional business space that doesn’t do double duty as a guest room or den. I was thinking about choosing a dark paint colour but don’t want glum. Ideas?
— Antonia

Dear Antonia;

A dark-toned monotone palette will set the right mood, especially if you go all out. Walls, filing cabinets, desk, chairs will blend seamlessly together with no big contrasts to interrupt the flow. Look for a colour that resonates. How about a medium blue? The varying textures of paint, metal, upholstery and fabric all in the same shade will read differently due to the reaction of light on their surfaces. This brings the room alive. Add some plants at the window and perhaps one on your desk to strike a balance and keep you in touch with the gentler, natural side of life and business.

The post Welcome to the dark side appeared first on Debbie Travis' Official Site.

A well-designed kitchen sink and arched faucet are perfect complements for the ardent chef.Update your kitchen lighting with stylish pendants for a bright new look.An eclectic collection of floor tiles provides a powerful lift in this narrow kitchen.

It is a key goal to feel comfortable and at ease at home, to have rooms designed to work with you, play with you and relax with you. Take the kitchen for example. It’s possible to work around some basic flaws when you’re busy prepping meals. But is the overall ambiance something to think about? If you are finding your kitchen totally uninspiring right now, why not treat yourself to an upgrade. No, I’m not talking about a complete kitchen renovation. You can turn up the style with one or two changes. I think of it as therapy provided by ‘one new thing’.

The kitchen sink sees action like no other. So perhaps this could be your choice. Look for a shape and design that offers you the space you need to multi-prep like a pro. Kohler’s Prolific workstation sink features three graduated ledges in the basin so that you can place a cutting board, racks, a colander and washbin together. To complete the lux look and appeal, their Purist faucet has a triple function pull-down spray head and comes in 4 finishes including matte black and polished nickel. Switching up the kitchen sink might just mean a new countertop to adjust to the size. That’s two new things. I’ve just gone over budget. Moving on.

The right lights promise instant gratification. Task lights help you work more efficiently, but what about a new ceiling light or some contemporary or industrial style pendants hung over the island or kitchen table? A fresh style will capture your attention and give you a boost the minute you flick the switch.

Put your best foot forward with a new floor. Wide wood planks offer rustic appeal, a black floor is a stunning style point, and patterned floor tiles create instant visual interest. Tiles also come in shapes including hexagonal, which give you design flexibility. The colour and shading in multi-tone tiles warms up an all-white contemporary kitchen. Engineered floors are super popular now due to the wide choice in laminate finishes. The boards are less prone to expand due to heat than hardwood and softer to stand on than ceramic tile. However, laminates cannot be sanded down when it’s time to refinish, so for the long term, hardwood is the more sustainable choice.

Here’s a small new thing. Think about how you could arrange your kitchen tools and accessories. Add a row of pegs along the backsplash to hang your favourite cutting boards, measuring spoons, sieves, mixing spoons and mugs. These items are decorative as well as functional and it’s helpful for them to be easy to reach, but not sitting on the counter. Extra counter and storage space are always in demand. If you have any extra space invest in a kitchen trolley. Tucked away in a corner, you can wheel it up to the sink, over to the dining table, or beside the stove. Set up the cart as a bar and hors d’oeuvres display for serving guests away from the kitchen.

The post One new thing appeared first on Debbie Travis' Official Site.

Layering richly textured fabrics creates a welcome home vibe.Display items that share a rustic handmade appeal.Raise the focus on your open plan living room space by constructing a solid platformDear Debbie;

During the pandemic we have been spending a great deal more time as a family in the living room. It’s feeling a bit tired and I’d like to make the room welcoming and special, What can I do?
— Henri

Dear Henri;

I was intrigued, but not surprised, to discover that the space thought by many to be the “heart of the home” is now predominantly the living room. I’ve been writing about busy kitchen life and the many ways to create clever designs that handle everything from cooking to noshing with guests, overseeing homework and handling personal emails and business transaction. Everybody gravitated to the kitchen. But life changes. Daily routines change. The object of good design is to accommodate what you require in your home in a way that elevates your lifestyle. So it’s off to the living room and some ideas to make it special.

The landing spots. The sofa and easy chairs must be comfortable; they should look as good as they feel. Investing in these seating mainstays is money well spent. Opt for rugged upholstery in a colour or pattern that’s easy to care for, and layer with pillows and blankets. Bring in seasonal colours and motifs. Golden ocher and mustard are rich sunny yellows, perfect for autumn.

Textural elements. We feel with our eyes and well as touch. Knitted fabrics, velvets and fat ribbed corduroy are inviting. The grain in a wood floor, a patterned carpet, a metallic lamp shade each serve to develop the room’s character. They highlight what you like to have around you. Plants, as always, invigorate with natural grace.

Personal collections. Are there handcrafts or other particulars that your family would like to showcase? Set up a table with an artisan exhibit of items you have made or bought. This personal showcase can change with the seasons keeping current with what you are doing.

Dear Debbie;

In our open plan loft the floor space is expansive. We have divided the area into zones with our furniture, but I am trying to come up with ways to make the living room more inviting. Thanks.
— Donald

Dear Donald;

With open plan living you see the whole space when you enter. This multi-functional design became popular when many businesses sold out to people loving the idea of a bright, airy space. Even tiny lofts felt roomy. But this contemporary style does have its drawbacks. Why not build a platform and set up your living room within its dimensions? It will become the go-to spot, the friendly space that draws you in. Its importance in your design scheme is punctuated by raising the floor. The big screen TV is a focal point when turned on but have plenty of other views to enjoy when not pursuing screen time. Choose a stylish floor lamp, a table or cabinet for books and games, and an oversized plant to demarcate corners. Layer on colours and images of the season. Bring the high ceiling down to scale with artwork hung at a height that is people-friendly. Wall hangings such as woven carpets are an excellent option for producing more vertical texture and will embellish the entire room.

The post Where life happens appeared first on Debbie Travis' Official Site.

From plain to poetic, this whimsical cabinet makeover will hold pride of place in a living room or bedroom.Repurposed spice racks make pint-size bookshelves for young readers.Add some atmosphere with a dab of paint inside this globe lamp.

Shelving and cabinetry are among the first items you opt for when setting up a new home. A common choice is to go for flat pack furniture as it is affordable, functional and easy to find. There is a trend out there that has been growing with faithful followers of IKEA that takes their clean-lined, Scandi designs and transforms them by decoration and/or use. IKEA hacks are all the rage … they have even got a website devoted to them.

Wow, what a bit of imagination and some hands-on artistic applications can do to a simple cabinet. The flat faces on IKEA’s IVAR cabinetry perform like a blank canvas, ready for whatever decorative treatment you can dream up. For a basic colour transformation chalk type paints can be applied over laminate without applying a primer. (Always check the product you are using for instructions.) An excellent option is Fusion Mineral Paint that is not porous, which means it is waterproof and stain proof without the addition of a topcoat. Once painted, decorative decoupage was utilized to turn the cabinet shown here into a vibrant work of art. A little practice with cut and paste application style and any surface takes on fresh depth and tells a story. The oversized handles are fun and complete the camouflage.

There is such a gorgeous choice of regular and peel and stick wallpapers available and they give you a full range of style and design options. Metallics, grasscloth textures, wood lookalikes, they are not just for walls, These papers transform cabinetry inside and out as well as all types of shelving. When you are ready for a change simply peel off the paper. This is a good hack for covering up old surfaces but remember any dents will show through the paper. Fill the gouges and sand. Depending on the wallpaper you choose, apply a wallpaper primer first so the paper will peel off easily when you decide to make a change.

Another option, cabinet doors can be partially cut open to reveal the interior, a hack that allows you to show off part of what’s inside. Play with contrasting colours, organize the interior to suit your needs with a combination of pegs, hangers and shelves. Hang a mirror on the back interior wall that you can see without opening the door.

To make a floating makeup stand start with the ALEX add-on unit, originally designed to sit on a desk. It’s comprised of two small drawers and a top. Shop for decorative brackets. They range in materials from wood to metal, plaster and plastic, all styles. Paint the brackets to coordinate with the top, attach brackets to the wall at your chosen height, which is determined by whether you like to stand or sit when getting ready for the day. Place the unit on the brackets and you’ve successfully completed another hack.

The BEKRAM spice rack works wonders as a bookshelf in the kids’ room. Just the right size for children’s stories and can be mounted at any level for young hands to reach. You decide whether to leave the racks natural or paint them up.

There’s lots you can do with lighting. Again, the advent of paints that cover slippery surfaces such as laminates, metal and glass provide an easy fix. The FADO globe lamp can be painted to look like the moon. Shown here, the light bulb housing is easily removed while you work. Grey acrylic paint has been rubbed around the inside of the globe using a paper towel.

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