As it happens I have three projects that require a floor lamp…and since each space is completely different you would think I’d be looking at very different specimens…not so. In fact, I’m suggesting a really similar set of options to the Glam Downtown Apartment, the Eclectic Living Dining Room and the travel inspired Media Room. Who knew!
Here’s a look at the versatile lamps that I’m loving lately…And of course, I have to mention that I am a deal Hunter…if you hire me I won’t stop till I find the best piece at the best price. I promise:)
Lots of warm metals and similar styling…at least I’m consistent right!?!
What do you think of this pharmacy style lighting?
Contact me if you want some help making the place you live a place you love!
Read More →
Happy New Year Peeps! I’m ready to get the new year started and I’m so excited to share some new interior design client projects with you and some great plans for my own house too. Stay with me…it’s going to be a great year!
Refresh your memory, or check me out, by clicking any of the grid months highlighted below.
Fireplace remodel, One Room Challenge Master Bedroom, Kelowna Living and Dining Room, My first article on a local store called Trade Roots, One Room Challenge My Design Studio, My Etsy Pillow Launch, My Subway Sign DIY Workshop, My Subway Sign DIY, Beni Ourain DIY rug project.
Read More →
I have a serious crush on a few pieces at Chintz & Co right now. Which reminds me, did you know about the insane sale happening there right now? Walk don’t run peeps! serious! Check out these lovelies …. the tall dark and handsome Meurice Lamp and the Madison Console where I could mix up some mean holiday drinks! (Pic is the link as usual)
Anything you’re crushing on at the moment?
Read More →
Check out my latest design proposal for a basement project influenced by the clients love of South American Art and travelling. I hope they like it!
See you at my workshop this Sunday!!
Contact me if you would like some help making the place you live a place you love!
Read More →
Hi peeps. I’m so happy to direct you to a new post (hopefully a series) on the Amanda Forrest Design Group Blog! I’m taking incredible interiors and sourcing all the goodies here in Victoria and Vancouver just for you! Well, and me too. Hop over and show some love so maybe I can stick around for awhile!
Amanda Forrest Design Group is a Victoria based design firm providing outstanding Interior Design, Staging, Event Planning and Styling to clients in BC and across Canada. Her star is on the rise…and if she looks familiar it’s because you’ve seen her on the Marilyn Denis Show and all the promos are on right now for the new season. Check her out!
Read More →
Baby Mamma wants a little less Brown and Orange and a little more of the colour mix from the folded blankets pictured below. Just goes to show you that inspiration comes from anywhere! Requirement for this little dude’s room is still soft and mellow…we are gettin there!
Read More →
I have found that many folks appreciate eclectic style decor but once we start talking about it I realize that we have very different ideas of what it means..Indeed, there is a broad meaning to the term, and similarly a great deal of styles that are genuinely eclectic. So why not take some time and identify, deconstruct, analyze and illustrate the different types of eclectic design I see in my mind, and out there in the big old world.
ec·lec·tic/ iˈklektik/
adjective: Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
First Let’s Talk about Industrial Eclectic. Followed by some more posts illustrating modern, traditional and electric eclectic etc. Ok, not electric…just seeing if you were paying attention.
A cool modern interpretation of industrial eclectic from Apartment Therapy. The owners Jessica and Johnathan have taken some classic mid century chairs, lighting and teak dining furniture and added over sized industrial letters. Cool. A few stools that have an industrial edge guard the kitchen and the whole place has a youthful, playful vibe that would have read straight modern without the industrial elements. Very hip…Call this one. Hip eclectic
Next let’s contemplate a softer side…Country eclectic. Of course country style interiors wrote the book on vintage cool functional accessories. This urban farmhouse is an example of mixing eclectic vintage elements like an old coca cola sign into an interior punctuated by cheerful painted furnishings and softer lines. Lauren and Paul’s House Tour here.
Many eclectic interiors are home to a collector and the display of treasured items ultimately becomes the focal point. Take a look at Sheryl Crowe’s house featured in Elle Decor. Her Kitchen is all about industrial functionality and display.
What about the neutral side of eclectic? Is there anything out there for the greige crowd who want a little eclecticism in their lives but not too much flash? Heck ya! Check out what Jennifer has created at the Old Painted Cottage! The addition of this cart table and some other mixed era vintage pieces results in a soft industrial eclectic interior.
Some folks should just start out easy, like me and incorporate some awesome chairs into your space..it’ll up your cool factor like 10 points, instantly. I like this shot from Design Sponge of some Tolix chairs around an old table. It inspired me to get mine!
I think it is worthwhile to note that you certainly don’t have to live in a downtown loft in order to incorporate industrial touches into your home. Trip Haenisch artfully added industrial flavour to a residential home by adding a reading corner with some industrial style shelves and accessories.
Simply adding some interesting industrial style lighting can transform an area of your home.source
The architecture of a space can lend itself to the industrial eclectic look too. Consider these commercial style railings mixed into a traditional country style home. Great mix
So that’s a little peek into industrial eclectic. You can achieve it with accessories, furniture and, of course, architechture.
Come back again for more inspiring photos and discussion about other eclectic design styles.
If there is anything in particular you would like to see, drop me a line in the comments.
Well Looky at that! Desire to Inspire has some Industrial Goodness today too. Check it out here
Read More →
Here is an orange and brown nursery scheme I pitched for a hip new baby that’s almost here!!
Read More →
If you’re reading this … then we made it!
Another successful One Room Challenge under the old suspenders. I’m proud (am I proud? yeah I guess I am) to introduce you to my new design studio / office. In the past six weeks (thanks to Linda from My Crafty Home Life and the 18 other participating bloggers) I got the nudge to transform a literal junk room in my basement into a cool space to meet up and talk turkey… complete with the unintentional smattering of accessories in this years “colour of the year” Tangerine Tango.
Three words to describe my One Room Challenge? Re-purposed, Inexpensive and Awesome. Let me show you around…
First up a gigantic recycled glass vase and fallen branches from nearby mountain trail…
Handsome Homesense Cubby filled with my paint supplies and accessories…
Desk (was an old table) from Craiglist that got a makeover here and my lovely Tolix Chairs from Trade Roots in Victoria that I blogged about here.
My Vintage poster that I matted and framed myself takes center stage and can be seen from the adjacent room. I love it. And yes, I hung those cool wood frames from Chintz & Co on the wall but I haven’t found just the right pieces to insert yet. oops!
Ahh… my DIY marble sewing surface. I’m gonna start my pillow empire form this very spot so watch out sistas!
Here’s a shot of my line of pillows that I will start officially selling in September via Etsy. So purdyI’ll have a hard time letting them go!
I created a little Photo Booth area to take shots of my pillows…so if you see my funkadelic stool on Etsy you’ll know it’s one of my creations!And yes, the trim still needs to be installed…ran outa steam for that project before the deadline.
A little styling action to check out…
And last but not least is the full shot which is hard to capture but oh so necessary. I ended up getting the chandelier at McLarens after trying a few options. I swapped the traditional bulbs for something a little different and now it suits me just fine! I love my new office..hope you liked it too! 
I couldn’t end this post without thanking Linda from My Crafty Home Life for all her hard work and encouragement throughout these last 6 weeks (and beyond). Thank you for including me in what has undoubtedly become an internet sensation! I’m excited to see what the future holds for you and the One Room Challenge and wanted you to know it has given my blog, and me!, a wonderful boost from a humble island beginning even waaaayy up here in Canada. Thank you Linda! I hope we continue to stay in touch.
I also wanted to give one more thanks to Emily A. Clark for her oh so fab dining room / office makeover which was my initial inspiration for the bookcase. Thanks Emily!
For good measure here is a shot of my room before (ahh my eyes!!)
Oh The Horror!!
And my inspiration Board from 6 weeks ago…I nailed it! Oh and if you want to play catch up you can see my Week1, week 2, week3, week 4, and week 5 here.
…now go and check out the other challengers and see their rooms!
Jessie – Mix & Chic – Master Bedroom
Linda – My Crafty Home Life – Master Bedroom
Danylle – Nana Moon – Master Bathroom
Jennifer – The Pink Pagoda – Family Room
Lindsay – The Pursuit of Style – Stairway
Emily – Rue de Emily – Living Room
Lindsay – Sadie + Stella – Office
Lisa – Trapped in North Jersey – Living Room
Read More →
My lovely and talented friend Jenn is renovating her house in Whitehorse and has posted on her blog that she and the mister are in a dilemma. They love bold bright designs but they are having trouble pulling the trigger and painting their wood stairs. Below is the inspiration pic they both loved and their actual staircase (avec chien).
Jenn’s Inspiration The World of InteriorsJuly 2009
Jenn’s Actual Stairs
There is a case to be made for the colourful stairway. However, I think the verdict might be that it works better outside in the bright colour palettes shown here.
Nice open spaces and large scale walls help these steps take a cheerful tone rather than a jarring one.
So what to do? You want some colour, but maybe don’t want the forever commitment that comes with painting your stairs. A couple of options include:
- Paint the Risers Only (Less commitment – still keeping some of the wood tones).
- Stain the wood, or bleach it so you still have the wood look but a totally different feel.
- Add carpet strips or runner to get pop of colour without painting.
- Paint or wallpaper the walls with light and bright colours and patterns and leave the steps wood.
Lets go through the options:
1. Paint Risers Only. I like this idea. White is a classic choice. … (side note their home is influenced my mid century design and they love white)
Houzz
Although you could go with a colour, a combo of colours, or even an ombre graduation of colour as shown here. Tip: use a semi gloss or gloss paint. No eggshell for this treatment.
Pinterest
2. Stain Dark or Bleach for an all over non-colour change. Keep in mind that stain is not just light or dark brown anymore. There are some new gray stains that look very cool and create almost a barn board effect. (may look awesome on that beadboard I see at the landing.)
Both from Houzz
3. Carpet Strips or runner for hit of colour?
Pinterest
Tip: My dog is getting older and having trouble with our wood stairs so instead of a full runner, I bought three of the same rug from Winners and sliced them to the depth of each step. After cutting I zig zagged the edges with my sewing machine so they would not fray. Ikea has some great options that are inexpensive so you wont feel bad cutting them up..And the third one…well its just pretty and I like it, but I would not slice and dice it.
4. Paint or wall paper treatment on the wall without painting the stairs. How about these from Marimekko? Or any number of stripe or chevron patterns you can dream up with paint!
I also love this wall panel set by Keith Haring
So there are a few options to bring in some bright happy shapes and colours into your stairway. If you were to ask me…my vote would be for white risers stained tops and a graphic wall treatment.
Hope this helps Jenn! I have to get to your house soon!! I already love it!
Anyone else have any thoughts on treatments for stairs?? What do you like best?
Read More →
Recent Comments