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We’ve Been Keeping A Secret…
Exciting news! Josh and I have been keeping a secret for a while. We’ve been working on something big and are finally ready to share.
Exciting news! Josh and I have been keeping a secret for a while. We’ve been working on something big and are finally ready to share that we have been featured in Reno + Decor’s December 2024 issue! In the article, we discuss home renovation trends and provide expert insight to help you achieve a timeless space and a seamless renovation experience.
Let’s work together!
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Let’s Get Cozy: Our Tips for Making Home Your Happy Place
We love cozying up at home and embracing the season ahead. Get inspired with some of our favourite tips for making your space a cozy sanctuary.
We love cozying up at home and embracing the season ahead. Get inspired with some of our favourite tips for making your space a cozy sanctuary.
CANDLES
We light candles all year round, but they are especially a non-negotiable in the fall and winter months.
Decorating with candles adds warmth to a room and makes it feel cozy and inviting. Candles are also a versatile decorating tool that smells amazing and adds character and style to any room in your home.
We love using candles with seasonal scents like deep reds and burnt oranges. If you’re more into neutrals, try incorporating candles with texture or experiment with candle holders in unique shapes.
Lastly, create an inviting space by adding taper candles to your tablescapes for social gatherings or use them in your entryway to greet guests upon arrival.
PILLOWS & THROWS
Textured pillows and throws in seasonal colours are the best way to bring all the cozy vibes to your space. Chunky knits and warm colours spark joy and bring a sense of comfort to your space.
DESIGN TIP:
Décor should be comfortable and functional, especially if you crave a soothing space to unwind in at the end of a busy day. If you have kids, look for textiles in performance fabrics that are easy to wipe clean or wash.
AMBIENT LIGHT
We focus on lighting in the upcoming seasons from a practical standpoint -especially because days are darker in Vancouver - but also because it’s a way to dial up the coziness, too.
Portable lamps are trending right now, with lots of brands offering their own iterations from luxury to budget-friendly options.
We are currently obsessed with table lamps—they are art and create design-led moments throughout your home. Try adding a small lamp or sconce to an unexpected place, like in the bathroom or kitchen to make it feel warmer, and to avoid the use of large, fluorescent ceiling lights.
DESIGN TIP:
Sometimes we use portable lamps on our dining table instead of candles to set the mood!
FOLIAGE
Nothing represents the changing of the seasons more than the summer blooms fading into rich fall foliage.
Bringing the beauty of the outdoors indoors is a quick and easy way to change up the look of a room and help to make it feel more cozy.
DESIGN TIP:
Shop your backyard with gardening shears! You will be surprised at what you will find. Choose large branches to bring a sculptural element to your décor. This can make for an eye-catching feature in the space; uplifting the area with natural texture and colour.
RUGS
If you only add one thing to your décor shopping list, make it an area rug!
One of the easiest ways to add warmth and texture to your room is to introduce a versatile rug. More flexible than a carpet or other forms of fixed floor coverings, rugs and runners are a great way to soften a hard stone, tiled, or wood floor, and can also be layered onto soft floors to provide extra interest or to define zones. They add a layer of personality to any room, even in the kitchen or entryway!
DESIGN TIP:
If you don’t have the budget or time to shop for a new rug, give your carpet a nice deep clean, or opt for a jute rug. Jute rugs are typically budget-friendly and introduce texture to any space.
Happy Cozy Season!
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Painting Your Home White With Benjamin Moore
One of the most common questions we get asked is about our favourite paint colours, specifically when it comes to whites. We know the amount of whites out there can feel overwhelming, so we’ve pulled our go-to white paints from Benjamin Moore.
One of the most common questions we get asked is about our favourite paint colours, specifically when it comes to whites. We know the amount of whites out there can feel overwhelming, so we’ve pulled our go-to white paints from Benjamin Moore. Let’s get into it!
CHANTILLY LACE (OC-65)
If you like a bright white vibe, this one’s for you. It’s the perfect white for a modern space, has no tint, and works well in high gloss or flat. We also love it for trims!
SWISS COFFEE (OC-45)
The most versatile white that works for modern, traditional, transitional, cottage-inspired, farmhouse spaces, and more. It’s not a cool or stark white, but rather warm with beige undertones.
WHITE DOVE (OC-17)
A clean and classic white with creamy undertones. It’s not stark or sterile, but incredibly livable.
OXFORD WHITE (CC-30)
This white is bright, sleek, and modern. It brings a polished look to any interior.
We’re always here to help you find the right vibe for your space. Whether you need support creating a whole-house colour palette or selecting paint colours for a single room, we offer colour consultation sessions for every type of space.
Let’s work together:
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Our Favourite Spicy Spritzer Recipe
Hello friends! Patio season is well underway, so we thought we’d share one of our favourite cocktail recipes. If you know us, you know we love rosé and jalapeño—we grow jalapeños in our garden every year! This is a refreshing easy spritzer recipe that’s always a home run. The best part is, with or without the added spice, it tastes great!
Hello friends! Patio season is well underway, so we thought we’d share one of our favourite cocktail recipes. If you know us, you know we love rosé and jalapeño—we grow jalapeños in our garden every year! This is a refreshing easy spritzer recipe that’s always a home run. The best part is, with or without the added spice, it tastes great!
If you like extra spice, you can always muddle more jalapeño in the bottom of your glass before you add the rest of the ingredients. For a more mild bevvy, add fewer slices here or skip the muddling altogether. You can also make a carafe of these ahead of time for a party and wait to add the sparkling water right before serving.
Ingredients
1-2 jalapeños, thinly sliced
1 - 750ml bottle of dry rosé, chilled
8 lime wedges
1 - 16oz bottle of sparkling water
scoop of ice
Preparation
Muddle some jalapeño slices in the glass for extra spice (optional).
Add ice to each glass.
Pour 3 ounces of rosé into each glass, add a squeeze of lime and top it off with a splash of sparkling water
Garnish with 2-3 jalapeño slices.
Caution: They go down fast so be prepared to enjoy a couple ;)
Bottoms up!
Here are some of our favourite items for hosting and sharing this cocktail :)
Stainless Steel Muddler
Our Favourite Wine Glasses
Perfect Carafe Set for Hosting
No Mess Citrus Press
Cutting Board With Built-In Knife
Cute Cocktail Napkins
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Ready to Refresh Your Space With New Hardware?
Clients often come to us wanting to refresh their space cost-effectively and sustainably. Updating hardware is an easy way to update your home and give it new life—whether you’re looking to refresh kitchen cabinets or give your bathroom a new look. We love working with Plank Hardware, an innovative and creative hardware company that continuously provides our clients with quality designs and products that suit their needs.
Clients often come to us wanting to refresh their space cost-effectively and sustainably. Updating hardware is an easy way to update your home and give it new life—whether you’re looking to refresh kitchen cabinets or give your bathroom a new look. We love working with Plank Hardware, an innovative and creative hardware company that continuously provides our clients with quality designs and products that suit their needs.
With endless options, it can be hard to pick hardware that’s right for you and your home. Keep reading for our hardware style guide—pick your vibe and check out our favourites from Plank!
MINIMALIST
TRADITIONAL
STATEMENT
Ready to refresh your space with new hardware? LET’S WORK TOGETHER to find the right hardware and style for your space.
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Design Meets Function: Ashley’s Family-Friendly Design Faves
As a mom of two, I know the struggle of wanting to maintain a stylish vibe in my space that still functions for my family. When working with clients who have kids, I always prioritize finding pieces that fit their aesthetic, maximize space and make their lives easier. Here are a few of my go-to kid-friendly decor pieces.
As a mom of two, I know the struggle of wanting to maintain a stylish vibe in my space that still functions for my family. When working with clients who have kids, I always prioritize finding pieces that fit their aesthetic, maximize space and make their lives easier. Here are a few of my go-to kid-friendly decor pieces.
STEP STOOL
Say goodbye to plastic stools, mini tables and chairs—these two products are a must in a family home. The Step On Me Stool from Sundays Furniture is a multipurpose piece that elevates your space. Place it in the bathroom for teeth brushing or use it in the kitchen when you want to cook with your little helper—it’s durable and most importantly, it looks good.
FLIP DESK
Living in the city, we have to be selective with what we bring into our space. We don’t have room for endless baskets, tables and chairs, so the Flip Desk from Sundays Furniture is another awesome option. It’s a great spot for your kids to play and get creative, but it’s easy to tuck away when playtime is over. It’s cute with a capital C!
STORAGE OTTOMAN
When designing a space that kids will live in, lids are your best friend. I often suggest built-in storage or custom millwork to clients with kiddos - which we offer - but, if you’re looking for functional furniture this is it! This Storage Ottoman from Article can stash toys and is easy to wipe down if (let’s be real - when) there are spills! These come in a range of sizes to fit any space or storage need.
STORAGE BASKET
Hidden storage is my favourite kind of storage. That’s why I LOVE Lidded Baskets from West Elm. When you need the toys out of sight, throw them in one of these and zen out. These are perfect for laundry, shoes and blankets too! Sometimes you can get lucky and find a dupe at HomeSense—if you do, buy them all! You’ll thank me.
WALL HOOKS
Hooks are a lifesaver! Not only are they functional, but you can find ones that look like art when there’s nothing hung on them. We have the Muuto Hooks from Vancouver Special in a variety of sizes in our home entry and love mixing and matching the different colour options. Use these in your entryway, kids’ bedrooms or anywhere you want stuff off the floor!
Need more ideas on how to create a functional family home that still has style? We got you!
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Allow Us To Reintroduce Ourselves
Welcome to the JMS Blog! We’re going to be sharing a little bit of everything here - from highlights of some of our favourite projects to design and project tips, local business features, and more.
Meet Josh & Ashley, the Team Behind JMS Projects & Design
Welcome to the JMS Blog! We’re going to be sharing a little bit of everything here - from highlights of some of our favourite projects to design and project tips, local business features and more. To kick things off, we thought we’d share some fun facts about ourselves and our approach to design and renovations. Let’s get into it!
HOW WE MET:
We met thirteen years ago at a mutual friend’s birthday party at Pierre’s Champagne Bar in Yaletown—because we’re fancy like that. Two kids, a chihuahua and business later, and here we are!
OUR GO-TO DATE NIGHT SPOT IN VANCOUVER:
We live in Mount Pleasant and love supporting all the local businesses in our neighbourhood. From a nice dinner at Savio Volpe to playing pool at Hero’s and crushing some tacos and margaritas at El Caminos—there are so many amazing options just outside our front door. We also like to switch it up and keep things fresh with cooking classes or concerts. This city has so much to offer and we like to take full advantage!
WE COLLECT:
Vinyls! Since we started dating, we have always loved going to the record store and picking out albums for our home. Dance parties are a regular occurrence in our living room with our kids and guests. We love hosting and always let our guests play DJ. Whenever we’re travelling or at a concert, we always pick up a record for our collection. Music connects us to these special memories.
THE BEST TRIP WE’VE EVER BEEN ON:
We loved Bali and Paris. We went to Bali before we had our daughter, and Paris for our honeymoon. We love to travel and explore new places!
THE TRUE STORY OF WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE IN BUSINESS WITH YOUR SPOUSE:
It’s fun to get to see each other in our skill sets, collaborate and celebrate work successes together. It’s tough to set boundaries and turn off the “talking shop.” There are all kinds of challenges but we’re proud of everything we’ve accomplished together.
OUR CURRENT DESIGN CRUSH:
Athena Calerdone & Studio Mcgee
Shifting gears into the business side of things…
OUR CLIENTS CAN COUNT ON US FOR:
We are a one-stop-shop for design, contracting, project management and more. JMS takes a customized approach with projects of all sizes. We invest in building long-term relationships with our clients so they can come back to us when they are looking for anything from a design refresh to a full-scale renovation!
We ask a lot of questions when working with our clients to learn more about their vision and budget. Our goal is to provide our clients with a high-quality guarantee for projects of all scales. We’re always working to create spaces that are both functional and beautiful.
BEFORE TAKING ON A PROJECT, CLIENTS SHOULD THINK ABOUT:
Choosing the right design and build team. This hinges on finding partners you trust that can give honest feedback. Forging a strong working relationship leads to a higher quality of work and project results that all parties are stoked about!
THE KIND OF PROJECTS WE’RE MOST EXCITED TO TAKE ON:
We love kitchen and bathroom design. Custom millwork projects are always a favourite because they help us build functionality into our clients’ spaces.
IN THE FUTURE, WE’D LIKE TO DO MORE:
Full-service design projects that involve helping clients create a cohesive design aesthetic through their home or business. We are also always looking to build long-term relationships with clients.
RENOVATION PROJECTS SHOULD BE:
Easy & Delightful! We want customers to feel at ease and inspired while they are working with us. From spending time in their homes and helping them make big decisions about their space or business, we’re present for some major moments in their lives so we prioritize creating authentic relationships and building trust.
There are lots more exciting things to come from us and the JMS Blog—stay tuned and get excited!
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