Summer Spaces

I'm off for a couple of days to a friend's cottage so I wanted to leave you with some beautiful summery spaces to enjoy while I'm away.  It's amazing how using the right white paint and lightweight fabrics like linen, raw silk, and cotton can freshen up a room and give it a calming and relaxing feeling.  These rooms are not spare or minimal, but adorned with just the right amount of decorative elements to enhance the casual mood and capture the essence of summer.

Badgely Mishka via Elle Decor

White is always so crisp and fresh against dark browns. 

The huge doors flood natural light into this room

via Architectural Digest

Architectural Digest

Kelly Wearstler

Kitchen designed for Something's Gotta Give - wasn't that a great movie?

next 3 photos via 1st option

Nothing completes a summer space like beautiful fresh-cut flowers.  Enjoy!

Shopping Heaven

I went to the annual Canadian Gift & Tableware Association (CGTA) trade show this week and it was just fabulous!  Thousands of unique and interesting products were being showcased by hundreds of exhibitors from across the country.  I was able to get in a few pictures with permission from the booth owners before Security caught me and asked me to stop!  How crazy is it that you can't take pics for your blog?

This selection is from  Colibri Art Design  based in Montreal.  The coffee table base and stools

are made from teak but the wood is chosen from under the ground where it doesn't darken

to produce the reddish-orange colour normally seen with teak.  You can really see the actual shape of the roots on the stool second from the right.  The square ottomans are covered in goat hair because they are made in India where cowhide is not allowed to be used.

Teak is used again on these uniquely shaped lamps.  The carved and curved wood is mounted

on a simple square base where the light is directed upwards to create a dazzling shadow 

on the wall and ceiling. Imagine a hallway lined with several of these organic pieces,

how stunning would that be?

Here another large lamp made of a single 6 foot piece of teak and

a more modern looking group of lamps made from capiz shells and bamboo inserts.

The organic styling continues with this oversized vertical lamp made of weaved

wood and stone pieces.  It's all made by hand - true craftsmanship!

These are vanity pedestals made of stone and pebbles, the sink base on

top is made of granite.  One of these would surely be a showstopper in 

any bathroom (hmm...something to consider for my powder room makeover!)

Now you don't have to hang your disco ball from the ceiling...it can sit on any surface

that is lacking some bling!  I do love the contrast of the sparkle against the

hardwood console and smooth white marble bust...and I do mean "bust"!

 

This had to be my favorite stop of the day!  Camilla House Imports, based in Mississauga

captured my attention even after hours of walking.  Their newest collection created by in house designer/owner features gorgeous works of art by mixing metals and natural materials for

spectacular furnishings that could work in any style room. 

Here we see an oversized square coffee table with a well-worn, barn-board top and huge

polished chrome legs.  On top of the table an ottoman made of pony hide with nail head

details and brushed stainless legs.  The chair is incredibly detailed and hand-sewn from

pieces of leather over a curvacious frame - love, love, and love it some more!!

Here's a closeup of the chair - isn't it sexy??

I'll have more pictures for you in another post.  Let me know what you think.

Swirls and Curls and Graphics, Oh My!

One sure way to add drama to any room is to add a bold statement wallpaper.  Used on a feature wall it can elevate any space from drab to fab instantly and even cover up imperfect walls.  If you cringe at the thought of using it because the walls at your grandma's house were covered in tiny faded floral prints or pink kitchen utensils, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how far they've come.  Here are some of the papers I'm pondering for my powder room makeover that I wrote about here.

Very soft and elegant, I could definitely build a scheme around this paper 

in black and white... maybe wrought iron sconces.

This is the print Candice Olson designed for York Wallcoverings Designer Series. 

If you watch Divine Design, you can see it on her office wall.

I love bold graphics when I'm doing a feature wall. 

But, this one would be way too much for me to use on all four walls.

You know somebody is gonna read in there, right? 

The muted colour and aged look is very charming. 

Miles Redd decorated this New York powder room covering all the walls

for a library setting.  What do you think?

Art-deco inspired ladies with wide brimmed hats

I'm just a sucker for anything with butterflies,

or as Colin & Justin like to call them, flutter-bys (so true!)

Graphic but understated and very elegant.  Bonus is that you can add virtually any

colour as an accent.  This sunny hue is perfect, and so is the vintage screen.

Very low-key but still graphic and modern.

This one packs a punch, love it!

This homage to Paris would leave me wishing for more than the few days I spent there a couple of years ago.  It also has an aged quality to it with the faded background. 

So next time you're struggling with paint colours, go have a look at the wallpaper books.

You just might find your inspiration for a whole room, right there. 

Au revoir mes amis!

via Osborne & Little, York Wallcoverings, and Designer Wallcoverings (trade only)

Small Space Love

This month's issue of House and Home featured some amazing small spaces and how great design transcends square footage short falls.  I have always found that the smaller the room, the more creative you are forced to be in order to max out the functional capacity of the room.  I absolutely fell in love with the beachy glamorous 828 sq. ft. condo in Vancouver owned by Leah Balderson, co-owner of Peridot a home decor store with designer Tamara Wouters.

How gorgeous is that artwork hanging on the back wall?  I'm not normally a fan of light wood floors, but these bleached hardwood floors are the perfect backdrop for the oyster palette chosen by Leah along with the complimentary fireplace surround, vintage chair and accessories.

White faux fur, ornate bed and mirror, gold Moroccan light fixture, and pillows made of sari fabric give the room a luxurious and glamorous feeling.  It seems like your moving through a dream with all the soft whites, creams, glass and sprinkles of sparkle.  I'm  thinking that no man was asked for permission to have such an ornate bed or "disco ball" glitter bust on the night stand.  I love it!! 

By the way, many of the items came from her store if you're ever home shopping in Vancouver.

Luxe Lighting

Staying on the topic of powder rooms, I'm now looking at lighting options.  Based on some of the gorgeous fixtures I've been finding I may just have to build a design scheme around the lighting style!  I love all of these and they each lend a distinctively different mood to the space

Classic and Elegant with a nautical feeling

Modern and Sleek with a zen appeal

Ultra Glamorous

Retro inspired but still classic

Art Deco feel & fun

Hmmm....this is going to be tough!  It's always harder when YOU are the client.

Maybe I should pick out the wallpaper first?

Do you have a sconce you like best?

Powder Room Redesign

I've been thinking about redecorating my powder room lately.  It currently has deep red walls with paint left over from the dining room project and I added burnished-gold metallic streaks throughout for a dramatic look which I love in powder rooms, but now I'm ready to lighten it up! 

It may be the beautiful summer weather we've been having or my need to constantly simplify that I'm now thinking of creating a more tranquil space, despite my love of jewel-box powder rooms.  Here are some inspiration shots I've been pondering:

I love the earthy stone basin and pedestal with a tiled wall and the water spout

coming right out of the mirror.  It's a simple design and yet so sensational at the same time. 

via Colorado Homes Magazine.

Another room with similar concept but the steel basin adds an industrial quality

by Faith Sheridan

Frosted glass floating counter top keeps this powder room streamlined and spacious

photo via igougo

This powder room by Charlotte Moss makes quite the statement emphasizing the height

of the room with oversized artwork hung to the ceiling and tiles on every wall including

the ceiling (or the "5th wall" as designers like to call it).  The select decorative accessories

and lighting blend seamlessly while the very unique, egg-shaped basin against the

dark counter top take centre stage.

Nothing's more classic and contemporary than black & white. 

A gorgeous marble tiled wall sets the tone for the quietly lavish space while contrasting 

metal vanity with rectangular sink keep it streamlined.  Not crazy about the wall sconces,

but that discussion is for another post.

via Traditional Home

Chic Modern Vintage Blog

I don't normally do posts on fashion but I found a new blog this weekend and I couldn't resist.  This post by Chic Modern Vintage was irresistibly me and I so want this dress and that ring.  You must check out the blog for great info about fashion, decor, and lifestyle tidbits.

I love chunky vintage jewellery and when I'm out at flea markets looking for furniture and accessories, I can't resist checking out the bling too.  I recently bought this piece at the annual Christie Antique show which I also blogged about here and here.

I've worn it with a crisp white shirt for a client meeting, a low-cut black dress for evening cocktails, and with a slate-grey t-shirt and jeans for dinner out with friends - and every time I wear it, someone inevitably asks "Where did you get that fabulous necklace?".   I always tell them to get out of the city and go hunting for unique pieces in the quaint shops found only in rural small town settings... and that it only cost me $25!

 

I also love this mother of pearl compact that I found years ago.  It has a lipstick holder and the inside has two compartments for face powder and perhaps a piece of paper to write a phone number?  As well as a good size mirror - no space for a blackberry though, which is why I mainly just display it in a tray on my dresser.

Do you have a great find you'd like to share?