Seasonal Hours

Nola's Home Decor seasonal hours of operation will be as follows:

December 24: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
December 25: Closed
December 26: Closed
December 27: Closed
December 28: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
December 29: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
December 30: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
December 31: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
January 1: Closed
January 2: Closed
January 3: normal hours resume
(Monday to Friday 8:30 - 5:30; Saturday 8:30 - 3:00; Other times by appointment)

We wish all of our loyal and potential customers a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you throughout 2012!

Christmas Decorating

It's not hard to tell that Christmas is on the way. It seems to come earlier every year! Now is the time for a little 'Christmas decorating' before the tinsel and lights go up. A fresh coat of paint on the walls, new draperies or shades on the windows - what is it that would make your home glow with fresh appeal this Christmas?

Brrrrr...

Fall is definitely upon us. The leaves are falling, the temperatures are falling. No wonder no one calls it autumn!

So what's happening in the decorating world? Think insulation...

From now to Dec. 16th, 2011, you could be eligible for the following rebates:

• Receive a $200 Manufacturer’s Rebate with a minimum purchase of
4 Silhouette® window shadings and $50 for each additional unit.

• Receive a $100 Manufacturer’s Rebate with a minimum purchase of
4 Duette® Architella® honeycomb shades and $25 for each additional unit.

Silhouette® and Duette® Architella® are excellent insulators. They are simply beautiful and beautifully simple. A soft, uncluttered look for many different decorating styles. Perfect on their own or dress them up with draperies to add to the warmth.

Or if you purchase Eclipse shutters to cover your two largest windows, then you get a third shutter at no charge. If all shutters are the same size, it would be comparable to getting 33% off MSRP.

Call Nola for your free in home consultation in the Four Counties area.

Coupon 'Clipping' is easy

If you can access this blog, you can access a $5 coupon offer from Benjamin Moore. You've got until October 15th to take advantage of this deal. Just go to the Benjamin Moore website (there's a link in the column on the right) and click on the appropriate links to print a coupon. You can do this three times for three separate purchases of Aura, Ben, or Arborcoat, all available here at Nola's Home Decor.

Back to fall fairs for a moment....I'm sure the Alvinston and Wallacetown organizers are pleased with the weather today. The predictions weren't very pleasant but the sun is shining and it's a great day to check out the activities and displays at these local fairs.

Fall Fair Time

It's time to celebrate country living with local fall fairs. Glencoe is hoping for good weather this weekend for all the outdoor activities associated with their fair - the midway, Saturday's parade, all the 4H animal shows, the grandstand shows, and Sunday's Demolition Derby. Check out their website for details at www.glencoefair.ca.

It is one of the best small fairs around and well worth the drive to check out the exhibits as well as the activities. And while you're in Glencoe come and visit our store!

If you can't make it to Glencoe this weekend, try Alvinston next weekend or any of the many fairs taking place this time of year.

Where did the summer go?

How many times have you heard that question followed by a wistful sigh? The kids are back to school, the bathing suits are packed away and there's a definite coolness in the air.

The time for outdoor activities, including painting, is now limited. The new Aura Exterior Paints do give you a little extra time since they allow painting in temperatures as cool as 4.4 degrees Celsius, but don't leave it too long.

You may notice a new link in the column to the right. The Nola's Home Decor website is up and running. Please check it out.

And now you can email me at info@nolashomedecor.com if you have questions or comments. I look forward to hearing from you.

Time Flies

Wow! Another week gone by! Did you get everything done that you planned to do? I know it hasn't been a very good week for painting outdoors.

According to the Benjamin Moore 'Deck Care Planner', when you're staining a deck you achieve best results if the relative humidity is between 40 and 70% and no rain, dew, or frost is expected within the next 2 - 3 days. Perhaps July and August will give us longer 'best results' windows.

One of the most misunderstood parts of staining decks is mill glaze. This is the glossy surface resulting from the planing process of new milled lumber and it must be removed for the stain to penetrate and adhere properly. It can be removed by using Benjamin Moore BRIGHTEN Brightener and Neutralizer and sanding in the direction of the grain with 80 grit sandpaper.

And if you're stuck inside looking out, you can improve the view with new Silhouette shadings from Hunter Douglas. From May 1st to August 31st, 2011, you will receive a $275 Rebate with the minimum purchase of 4 Silhouette® window shadings with UltraGlide® and receive $60 for each additional unit purchased.

For more information check the links to Benjamin Moore and Hunter Douglas in the side bar. Meanwhile, have a good week!

Housecleaning

I need your help! I've got new products coming in and nowhere to put them. If you're interested in saving money you can help me out. Discontinued paints, primers, and stains are priced at 30 - 50% off retail or less. Get a gallon of exterior stain in your favourite colour for as little as $15! It's bargain hunters' heaven!

Colours

People have asked the name of the colour of my door, so I thought perhaps I should include that information here. The door is AF-355 Etruscan and the trim is AF-380 Coastal Path. Both of these are from the Affinity Colours from Benjamin Moore, the newest of the thousands of colours available.

If you take the virtual tour of my store you will also see AF-420 Agave on the walls, AF-365 Amulet on the ceiling and door, AF-220 Masada as an accent wall and cove molding, and AF-655 Silhouette in the windows. Oh, and the display units are 2067-20 Starry Night Blue. These aren't colours that you might set out to put together, but I love the way they work together here.

And in case you hadn't figured it out, that's me at the counter. I hope you enjoy the tour! Of course, meeting you in person would be fun, too.

It worked!

The rain did go away and we have had a beautiful sunny week! Time now for some outdoor work. I've just received a truckload of Benjamin Moore AURA Exterior Paint and now I have to make room for it. So if you're looking for a bargain... I've got paints, stains, and primers that have to go!

There have been some new fabric samples come in as well. Some gorgeous cotton prints and silky checks. I'm sure you'll want to check them out.

Meanwhile, enjoy this weather!

Rain, rain go away!

Are you tired of the rainy weather we're having? A little sunshine will do us all good, I think. Did you know that we tend to pick different colours in different seasons? Brighter, warmer colours in winter and during rainy springs like the one we're having, and cooler, more neutral hues when it gets brighter and hotter outside.

If you're making a colour change a good place to start is with the elements in the room that aren't changing. And you will want to pull colours from adjacent rooms into the room you're redecorating. That in a nutshell is how to create 'flow' from room to room.

It's a New Year!

Welcome to 2011! What's new? The magazines are showing colour and pattern on walls and windows. Wallpaper is still very much in vogue with some smaller contemporary and floral prints. Windows are sporting patterned draperies and tailored valances.

We can help you with all of these new looks. Call Nola today or drop in to the store for design ideas and advice.