What’s Hot in Home Decor: Nixon End Tables, Chalk Paint and Baobab Rugs

Credit: Anthony Tesselaar Plants

Tesselaar’s Tropicanna Black cannas will add a flare of colour to your home

Freshen up your home decor with Tangerine Tango, chalk paint, baobab rugs and more

Chalk Paint

Have you ever seen a perfectly antiqued dresser or table and thought, “I could do that?” Well, now you can! Langley’s The Passionate Home recently became B.C.’s first retail distributor of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

This low-VOC paint (available in 24 colours) is all you need to breathe new life into your old furniture with a French Country, Shabby Chic or distressed look. Forget stripping, sanding and priming before you even start. Chalk paint can be applied directly onto old varnishes for beautiful updated pieces without all that tedious prep work, making it a hit with busy decorators and designers alike.

Best of all, the flexibility of the paint gives you a range of ways to get creative. Stick with the soft natural finish; add some sophisticated sheen with a topcoat of wax; or us as a veneer by adding water.

For inspiration and artistic expertise check out the Passionate Home’s chalk paint workshops, hosted by the store’s owner Carrie Thachuk. 20506 Fraser Hwy, Langley, 604-532-5931

Baobab Rugs

Renowned New York designer maylene b found the inspiration for her Baobab rug during her first visit to Gambia. There she encountered the baobab tree, which has the unusual ability to store water in its thick trunk and spindly branches. The nomadic people who drink from this unique plant call it the “tree of life”, so bring some life to your living space with this dramatic take on African nature. Call for pricing/8 by 10 ft; Colin Campbell

Top Tables

Design company Jonathan Adler is dedicated to “bringing style, craft, joy and a general feeling of grooviness to your home” and they definitely hit the mark with these chic side tables. The round Nixon end table pairs perforated nickel or brass with sleek marble for some modern glam, while the Laquer Nesting Cubes are saturated with 12 layers of laquer for a luxuriously rich colour and can be stacked or stowed to accentuate any space. Mint Interiors, 1805 Fir Street, Vancouver, 604-568-3430

Tesselaar’s Tropicanna Black Cannas

Global colour authority, Pantone LLC, has named the vibrant “Tangerine Tango” as the 2012 Colour of the Year. This radiant reddish orange is perfect for adding some dramatic flare to your home, especially in the garden. Try filling planters with Tesselaar’s stunning Tropicanna Black cannas for a backyard-brightening burst of colour, or highlight your existing foliage with pots and accents in this show-stopping hue. 5151 152 St., Surrey, 604-576-8641

Originally published in BC Home magazine. For updates, subscribe to the free Home e-newsletter, or purchase a subscription to the bi-monthly magazine.