Friday, July 27, 2012

Loving.. this week.

Here are some of my favorite posts from around the blogosphere this week.

Nicole's bedrooom mini makeover at Making it Lovely. I love the soft coral with the charcoal grey plus the botanical print can come live at my house any time.


This Montreal apartment home tour, featured at Mix and Chic by designer Nicola Marc. I fell in love with this home when it was featured in Style at Home magazine.

Source: mixandchic.com via Jane on Pinterest

I love Emily Henderson's style, personality and wit. Her tip videos are no exception. This week's was about mixing patterns. I love that even her outfit in the video is a great mix of pattern!
   

If you missed her last video on mantel styling, you can check it out here.

I don't read a lot of fashion blogs but Kendi Everyday is a must read for me. Love her style and more than anything, I chuckle at each post. She cracks me up:) Still love colored jeans.. especially when paired with black and white.




How excited are you all for the Olympics!? I know from previous experience that I will have a hard time tearing myself away from the tv. I love it all and get completely wrapped up in it all! 
Love love love it! So pumped!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Stain and Vibrations.

It's official! After two afternoons of staining the walls of the deck and realizing I have many more to go... I loathe staining. Although, I'll admit it's looks pretty sharp! As you can tell, we added a few more pieces that need a coat of stain. Excuse the fuzzy iPhone photo, I'll post better ones when it is finished.


In other news, our street is getting a new sidewalk this week and my house is literally vibrating. A mirror seriously just fell off the wall! Just got back from a massage and poor Beaufort didn't hear me come in for all the noise! Sounds like a good day to escape to Charlottetown. 


Back soon!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Ellen's House.

This winter a new client, Ellen, invited me to visit her home to help her freshen it up a bit. A newer build, the home was bright, spacious and immaculate but perhaps lacking a bit of personality. The walls were a warm brown with dark finishes. I made a few suggestions of how she could lighten the palette.

A few months later, Ellen emailed me photos. I was shocked but how much she got done. She had the walls painted a soft grey, changed the hardware on her kitchen cupboards, purchased a new table and chairs, and a sectional.

However, the walls were bare, the windows naked and there were hardly any accessories. A busy mother of two, working full time and living out of town, Ellen felt she had no time to shop. This is where I came in. She asked me if I would be interested in being her personal shopper and style her home. Everything from shower curtains, plants, art, accessories, mirrors, window treatments.

Let me think for a second..

I get to shop?

For home stuff?

Decorate your house?

Let me think.. Yes!

It was a wonderful experience. Ellen put her trust in me and I went to work. Yesterday, I went to her home and got to work putting it all together. After 3 hours, I walked through the house smiling and wishing I could move right in. At the same time, I was holding my breath, hoping she would be happy with everything.

Thankfully, she loved it!

Here's a rather large peek, starting with a couple of before shots!

BEFORE:


AFTER:

Eight white frames are hung over the Karlstad sectional bearing black and white family photos. 
Lamps were a Winners find.



 Ikat pillow covers from my favorite ebay seller.




Three Ikea Lack shelves were hung in the empty space next to the TV console (a vintage find that got a coat of white paint). I had great fun shopping for accessories for the shelves. I left her a little space on the bottom to fill with her own finds.. I'm thinking vintage boxes or pretty books? 


Fresh flowers from her garden.





Of course I had to add an owl somewhere. Why not one that can have a flower head? :)



The windows in the kitchen (and powder room) have custom-made roman shades using a sophisticated black and white stripe fabric from Tonic Living. The center one was the wrong size so we are waiting on having it fixed up.




Still to come are some modern white bar stools which will tie in perfectly. Can't wait to see those!


Once again, a fantastic experience for me. I'm passionate about interior design and styling and love when I have opportunities like this. Thanks so much for allowing me to share with me readers Ellen! I hope you enjoy your "new" space!

Linking up to Serenity Now

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The Power of Teak.

Over the weekend, I used linseed oil to give our patio set a perk up. I am now a firm believer in the power of teak. Stephane bought this set in 1996! That's 16 years ago and it turned out amazing. We have left it outside, even over the winter and neglected it the last few years but a quick coat of linseed and it's good as new.

Here it is before. It's grey and weathered. I actually didn't mind the aged patina but it really needed some tlc.


Here is the set now. If I had know it would turn out so well, I wouldn't have waited so long to get it done! I still need to give the chairs a second coat but they are fine for now!



While we're at it, I thought I'd share more photos of how the deck is coming along. The upper deck is still in progress so I'll share those another day. But for now, here is the lower/main portion.


Of course, Beaufort had to make an appearance. This is his happy place!


I'm very anxious for the plants and shrubs to grow. When I look back at photos from when we planted them, they certainly have but I want it to feel lush... next year or even the year after, I suppose. Patience!


We still want to plant a few trees as well. I'm thinking a dwarf Japanese Maple and some weeping pea shrubs. It will feel a bit more private and add to that lush feeling that I'm after. Again, patience, Jane.


The catwalk is my favorite part. The only thing I requested, when we started planning, were long steps that could be used for seating and laying in the sun. I'm not a fan of narrow steep steps. He came through on that request.. that's a long step! I love it.


We plan to work on the upper deck a little more this week so I'll be back to share it soon. 

Hope the sun is shining where you are!

Friday, July 13, 2012

New Rug.

If you follow my Facebook page, you saw that I got a rug for the living room. I ordered it from RugsUSA during their July 4th 75% off sale. Can't beat that! They now ship free to Canada and it arrived in a week. I was little concerned what I'd pay in duty but it was very little. I'll definitely be ordering again.


Check it out!


It works well with the wallpaper in the room. I worried about that a bit. As much as I adore the color and pattern on the wallpaper in the living room, it has been a limiting factor when choosing decor for the room. Something to think about if you are putting up wallpaper!

I think that it works here because the colors are similar and the scale of the chevron is much larger than the pattern on the wallpaper.


The rug is 100% wool and the quality is actually superior to what I was expecting. It is quite beautiful in person. I'm very surprised that I went with chevron. I have been feeling "over it" for quite some time now. However, it seems less severe/busy than most chevron prints, if that makes any sense? Plus, the muted colors soften it a a bit.


I'd show you a shot of the rug in the whole room but I'm changing things up a bit. I've had the soft serene look in the living room for a while and I'm craving some color and pattern! The rug is a stepping stone toward the new look. You'll have to wait and see!

Happy Friday!



Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Bedroom Reveal.

I've been poking away at this bedroom here and there for a while now. Finally, I feel like it's time to share it with you. There are a few little things to do but for now, it's finished.


The duvet cover was picked up at Winners. I love the pretty ruffles and the cotton is very soft and washes well. I should have ironed it a bit for the photos but hey, it's summer I'm lazy.. The pillows were made using fabric from Tonic Living and Spoonflower.
  

The dresser was a diy refinishing project we tackled in the spring. A lot of work but we are very happy with how it turned out and looks great in the room.


The curtains are the Ritva panels from Ikea. I really like them but a couple of warnings. They are more cream than white and they shrank a 3-4 inches when I washed them. It drives me bonkers that they are a tad too short now. I may add some trim at some point.



I'm still unsure about what to do with the window over the bed. I love the light it lets in the room and the window itself is pretty but I wonder if I should put a roman shade of some sort or a bamboo blind like in the other window. I'd love your thoughts on this.


The headboard was a diy project as well. I still plan to add some nailhead trim detailing. The side table is in need of a paint job. I'm thinking of going with a darker grey. These projects are on the never ending to do list, of course.
  



So that's it.. a mostly finished, happy for now bedroom!
Have a great day!

Linked up to Serenity Now.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Summer Living.

Oh summer! I have such plans for you each year. Project lists a mile long and a sparkling clean house. Then your sun shines and I can't bear to be indoors and suddenly all those ideas some how disappear. I'm certainly not complaining! The weather has been fantastic. I've spent lots of time with my sister, who is home visiting. In fact, today we are heading up to the Eastern part of the island to visit my sweet 98 year old grandmother.

Nothing says summer like fresh flowers. I took Beaufort up to my brother's house in the country to play some frisbee and there were bushes full of peonies. Since he is away working, I clipped them and took them all home. No one there to enjoy them!


Unfortunately, they only lasted a couple of days. I also clipped some little flowers from my garden to put in the sweet bud vase I picked up at Cottage Industry this week. I set it in a round wicker basket on the dining table with my deer antlers. A sweet simple centerpiece.



I picked up some new pillows for the chairs in the front porch. I love them with the green front door. We don't seem to sit out there very often with the new deck in the back. Since it's covered, it's fun to sit there and watch the rain but as long as the sun is shining the back yard is where it's at these days!


Speaking of the back deck. Steph has started the wall project that we had planned for the small deck. It's only part way but I like it already. It really feels more finished, plus it's going to cover the siding that was melted by the barbeque! oops:) We have plans for this part and I can't wait to share it!


Well, off to Souris then a nice supper out with my sister and parents. Have a great day everyone!