I found this oversized gray painted willow wreath at winners the other day. I painted on a little glue here and there and sprinkled some glitter on it. I took three large rusty metal bells I had left over from a country style wreath I did last year for the coffee shop and dry brushed them with silver craft paint. Tied them with black sparkly ribbon at different heights and voila! Cheap cheerful and nowhere near traditional.
Read More →
I had some technical difficulties this week which has pushed up the release date on my new website. I hope you’ll continue to follow and be patient with me as I get it all up and running.
Read More →
If you’re like me you’re always thinking about how things could be improved…tweaked or re-arranged. I am usually happy with my creative results in terms of decorating…. but I am also always thinking and learning and being inspired by the world around me and the result is that I mess around with my own house ALLOT! At the moment I am preparing to re-do my bedroom. My basic scheme can be seen on the board below.
I’ll keep you posted over the next couple months as to how I’m doing. What projects are you working on?
Read More →
When my husband travels (like he is this week) I spend a little more time than usual at the old computer. Tonight I was checking out lighting at Home Depot and as usual I see things I think would look fab in my house and the homes of my friends and family…so what the heck…here are lights I think would be awesome in My Friends Foyer… and to keep it interesting they are all from Home Depot and are all under $200.
Angela – This awesome orb complements her new satin nickel kitchen lighting and strikes the right balance of traditional and contemporary styling for her home.
Sandy – This star would look terrific next to her black front door and the fixtures scale is perfect for the narrow front hall. It is appropriate to mention that she’s actually a super star…so it fits.
Jenn – has a retro modern space with an Orange accent wall to die for. Her space could easily handle this pop of colour that says WELCOME as soon as you enter. I have yet to see her place in person…but I’ll get there one day I promise:)
Kelly – Has a VERY Tall husband so a hanging fixture is not suitable for her place. This flush mount ties in the rubbed bronze of her dining room chandelier and the beveled glass will cast nice light and shadow at night time.
Jennifer – has an amazing foyer. It’s hard to find a light under $200 that can command such a space. But Ive been eying this little lantern and loving its simplicity.
Tracey – Loves all things design and I know she’s a huge fan of Sarah Richardson. This little cutie looks original and has so much style that I thought both Sarah and Tracey would love it as much as I do.
As for me, my kitchen is near the foyer so it makes sense for me to repeat my fixtures at the entry and in the hall. I am using schoolhouse pendants…now if I could just get around to installing them!
Read More →
Sorry I was away so long. I was Here…
I didn’t go because I love the winter driving…I went because I got to help design and decorate a Christmas tree for a charity auction! The original idea was a sugar plum theme but it ended up being a little more hip but still sweet and cheerful. Whoever bids and wins it this Friday night is VERY lucky.
We custom glittered most of the ornaments because the colours I wanted don’t exist in the stores. This crafty approach gives the tree a truly one of a kind look, and I hope it brings in lots of money at the charity dinner.
The boxes you see here and there will be filled with delicious and beautiful cupcakes made by my oh so talented sister Kelly. Super fun weekend…it went by too fast.
What is your tree going to look like this year?
Read More →
I’m knee deep in fabric and carpet research and I thought I’d share some of the pattern names with you. Before I began really immersing myself in design I would just wing it in the stores when describing what it was I wanted. “You know that squiggly line sorta thing intersected by the thing and the other thing.”
It’s a good thing I’m taking the time to learn, and of course I’ll share it with you, cause I’m nice like that 
May as well go alphabetical….. More of the alphabet to follow later this week.
The arabesque is a rhythmic linear pattern. Usually consists of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils or lines. Islamic in origin and featured in textiles and architectural decoration.
Block Print. The wood block is carefully prepared as a relief matrix, which means the areas to show ‘white’ are cut away with a knife, chisel, or sandpaper leaving the characters or image to show in ‘black’ at the original surface level.
Crewel Embroidery, or Crewelwork is a decorative surface embroidery pattern.
Damask weaves are commonly produced in monochromatic weaves in silk, and linen which feature patterns of flowers, fruit, and other designs. The long floats of satin-woven warp and weft threads cause soft highlights on the fabric which reflect light differently according to the position of the observer.
Flocking is the process of applying different types of fibers or materials that contain adhesive to other materials. In this example black flocking is applied to green velvet to create the raised floral pattern.
Greek key pattern is named for the square pieces sticking out in the pattern which look rather like a key. The pattern is also known as a meander or a Greek fret.
Herringbone describes a distinctive V-shaped weaving pattern . It is distinguished from a plain chevron by the break at reversal, which makes it resemble a broken zigzag. The pattern is called herringbone because it resembles the skeleton of a herring fish
Read More →
Example No. 3. Magnifying Wall Sconce
This magnifying wall sconce is a throw back to the days before electricity. They look cool and actually throw enough light to fill a small room. Imagine if the power went out or you were trying to create a “mood”…anyway this sconce was purchased at the Langford flea Market on Goldstream for $15 (pics are the links as usual)
And this one from Anthropologie is around $60
And his one from Pottery Barn is $63
Great Buy!
Read More →
Crispy Curried Chickpeas
This yummy recipe is from Covet Garden, one of my FAVOURITE design magazines and blogs. Make it this weekend! (Pic is the link as usual)
1 can (540 ml) chickpeas
2 cups sunflower oil for frying
3/4 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp cumin (ground)
1/2 tsp coriander (ground)
1/8 tsp masala
1 1/4 tsp Cajun spice mix
1/2 tsp salt
Rinse and drain chickpeas then pat dry with paper towel. In a medium sized sauce pan, heat oil on Med/High heat.
Fry Chick peas in three or four batches until golden brown and crispy (about 3 mins)
Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel.
Once each batch has been fried and blotted but are still warm, toss in a bowl with remaining ingredients.
Read More →
Friends of mine on the lower mainland were on a walk in the woods when they stumbled upon a large fallen tree that had been cut down and into several large stumps. They rescued two of them and added them to their mid century minimalist apartment and the results were amazing.
As a table or as a perch for conversation these stumps are great accessories to their modern decor. They placed them on hockey pucks to preserve their flooring and allow the wood to breathe/dry out.
We’ve all seen stump and tree trunk reproductions that sell for hundreds of dollars like this bronze number from Chintz & Co
Or the smaller side table version, like this one from West Elm
There are lots of tutorials online on “how to” do it yourself and get a rock’in stump for your space. Check it out…but whatever you do, don’t cut down a tree.
Read More →
Recent Comments