Sprucing up your bathroom

Make your fireplace the centre of attention with two decor tricks – contrast and drama. For contrast, paint the fireplace either lighter or darker than your walls, to help to draw the eye. For drama, lean a large mirror on your mantel or hang it above. Make sure the mirror has a heavy frame to balance the size of the fireplace and the height of the walls (at least four- to five-feet wide).

For carpets to survive in a basement, you need to install a subfloor. But if you're looking for laminate, you're in luck. Supra Floors now sells Subflor Supreme, a two-in-one subfloor and laminate product which comes in a choice of two finishes. Each snap-together plank is finished on the underside with corrugated plastic sheeting that provides a layer of insulation from the concrete and stops moisture from seeping through, so your tootsies will stay warm and dry.

There's a great Canadian alternative to all those cookie-cutter appliances that should really suit your style. Elmira Stove Works makes antique-style ranges that look as though they're from the late 19th century. Their line includes matching fridges and microwaves and is available in many colours with trim choices such as nickel or copper.

Small rooms – and especially bathrooms – lend themselves to a bit of drama. Have fun with the paint colour and go with something really flamboyant. Try a delicious red such as Sico's Pomodoro, which comes in a durable finish called Chamois.

Small rooms – and especially bathrooms – lend themselves to a bit of drama. Have fun with the paint colour and go with something really flamboyant. Try a delicious red such as Sico's Pomodoro, which comes in a durable finish called Chamois.

Small rooms – and especially bathrooms – lend themselves to a bit of drama. Have fun with the paint colour and go with something really flamboyant. Try a delicious red such as Sico's Pomodoro, which comes in a durable finish called Chamois.

Come back next Monday for another decor problem solved!