One of the most frustrating things about my commitment to bargain hunting for my projects is the fact that I encounter limited quantities and discontinued items all the time. Sure, I tell you about my awesome scores and highlights. But truth is, since I shop in the clearance and sale sections allot, I tend to choose items that are on the verge of being eliminated… So…. Sometimes I win and I get a great piece for a client at a great price (happy dance followed by glowing blog post) …and sometimes I lose … like this week, a hat trick of discontinued items for the basement project. Hmmpf. I’m really pissed about that under the TV piece…Like I might not get over it for a long time…Help me recover with your tales of tough retail love.
Don’t worry about me, I’ll recover. The worst thing is that I go back to the drawing board, and that’s not so bad at all. I’m truly to committed to finding beautiful quality pieces for less, and I won’t stop till we’re both happy!
If you want some help making the place you live a place you love...Contact Me, I can help!
Read More →
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So here’s a shop list for those of you #yyj mid century loving decoristas who want to create this Em Henderson look locally for…ehem…ALLOT less. See below for the thrifty shop list (cause that’s how I roll) and a single shot of the inspiration pic again cause it’s just that cool..
Shop List
- Blue Couch – Full House Modern
- Gold Cocktail Table – West Elm
- Colourful Assortment of pillows – Etsy
- A La Plage, A La Piscine collection by – The House of Gray
- Antique Brass Bar Cart – Crate and Barrel
- Flying Pig – Urban Barn
- MCM Leather chair – Used Victoria
- MCM Dining chairs – Used Victoria
- Blue Lamp – Target (or a can of spray paint)
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree – Garden Centre
- Leather Pouff – The Cross
- Light Fixture - CB2
- Ben Ourain Rug – West Elm - or see my DIY tutorial here
Inspiration: Emily Henderson’s recent LA Project.
Read More →
Is it really almost over? Yep, the most recent One Room Challenge Spring 2013 edition is almost complete. What is it? The One Room Challenge is 20 rooms & 20 Design Bloggers kicking butt and taking names in 6 short weeks. This is week six so I’m showing you the final touches on the Girl Glam Apartment I’ve been working on in Downtown Victoria and next week is the big TA DA! If you want to catch up with my project from the start it’s all here.
Here’s what I’ve been up to this week…
We ordered these awesome nesting tables from overstock.com (who now deliver to Canada)…..LOVE!
And I scored an antique brass floor lamp for $69 at Home Sense / Home Goods…Score!
My client purchased a couple new pieces of art via Etsy during this whole process and we re-used and re-purposed several items she already had (as I love to do) in order to create this gallery wall behind the couch…SUPER AWESOME!
Another Home Sense / Home Goods purchase was this handsome hammered little buddy…SO CUTE!
A few more details… I made her a pillow in the same fabric as the dining room chairs, and found a mercury glass bowl at winners and a crystal polar bear at the Da Vinci Flea Market for a little bling bling…Polar Bear is My FAVE!
Another update was a new lampshade. Old style to drum style shade…but obviously the base was already cool 
I also did a small DIY project using some vintage postcards and some grass-cloth wallpaper. The budget has run out, but my client had a few more gold frames that were unused and I had a few vintage postcards and a remnant roll of grass-cloth. We put our stuff and our heads together and simply cut the grass-cloth to size and stuck the postcards on top, cleaned the old glass and voila! Free and Fabulous. The postcards depict the Empress CP Hotel and the BC Provincial Legislature…the two most iconic buildings in our beautiful city of Victoria BC.
So that’s it. I was creative and used what she had and made thoughtful classic purchases within a very tight budget. Check back next week to see my final photographs!
I wonder how the other ladies are doing?? Click below to check them out!
Read More →
I’m supposed to be writing… but I had to take a break to source some lights for a pretty Paris inspired home office project I’m working on. Undaunted by a tight budget I knew overstock.com would come through…and boy did they. Check out these lovelies dancing around the $200 limit. Sometimes I soooo wish I was a girly girl.
If you need help making the place you live a place you love Contact me…I can help!
Read More →
I’ve been looking for two light fixtures for my basement and got totally distracted by these glamorous Harlow beauties at local lighting mecca McLaren Lighting… I don’t have the ceiling height down there for the chandeliers but the sconces are definitely going to be part of the design. LOVE [Pics are the links as usual]
Read More →
It’s a glorious long weekend in British Columbia…The first annual “Family Day” to be exact. And to celebrate I spent a great deal of time with family on Overstock.com developing an unhealthy obsession. Here’s the result of an hour wasted of research. See you Tuesday…
Read More →
Unless you’ve been under a rock lately, you know that Target stores across Canada are getting ready to open their doors and with that some big announcements were made this week to create even more anticipation among the masses. Target’s marketing is no joke, I mean who can forget the Jason Wu collaboration or the Missoni frenzy from a year ago…they love them some buzz and they’re good at it!
Hey…I’m not above any of it…and I admit I was happy to hear the news that Target Canada will be selling the home decor line assembled by cutie pie dream boat / celebrity Interior Designer Nate Berkus! It wont be long until we can go shopping here in Victoria with the Tillicum location set to open this spring and the Hillside location is expected to open in Spring 2014. If you live elsewhere in Canada, here’s a list of the store openings and their expected dates.
I’m looking forward to checking it out. Target has some great affordable options for the home and you can bet the bargain hunter and the decorator in me are ready to go. Start the Car!…contact me, we’ll go shopping:) Pics are the links as usual
Nate Berkus Collection for Target
Read More →
I just discovered the most amazing table, called the molecule table by casamidy…have you ever?
So new, and cool and different I had to share…
If you want to visit their site. Check it out
Read More →
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 →
Here’s how my day is supposed to shape up in a nutshell. But we all know how plans can go 
How was yours?
Update: I KNEW IT!! Freezing rain and snow in Vancouver today…the sea planes can’t go.
Read More →
Recent Comments