Here’s some of the decorating projects and products used in this room…
Products: Annie Sloan Chalk Paints from French Vanilla and French Touch on Oak Bay Ave; Stool – IKEA; Pillow Inserts and Duvet – IKEA; Fabrics – contact me if you would like a colour story of fabrics developed for your project; Large clothes Pins – Michaels; Bed and Desk – Used Victoria $20 and $75 respectively; Hardware – Lee Valley; Lamp – Wal-Mart; Accessories – Clients
If you would like some help making the place you live a place you love, Contact me! I can help.
Read More →
OK Peeps,
Last Chance to register for my Subway Sign class this Saturday at Trade Roots. Come join us and check out all the cool new things in the store! All the details here.
Some of our participants are using street names from foreign countries they have visited, and some are using a meaningful mix of street names from Vancouver and Victoria! Some are making baby and anniversary gifts using the dates, names and special places – what a great keepsake! What are you going to make?? Contact me or register here…I’ll accept late name submissions cause I’m nice like that:)
Speaking of Vintage Art…Look what is being stuck in a tube and shipped to me right now! It’s officially time to get a little less serious around these parts…It’s giant (as it should be) and I’m slightly worried about it and slightly crazy in love with it at the same time.
If you want some help making the place you live a place you love contact me, I can help!
Read More →
So I have finished my concepts for the two rooms and my fabric order has been placed. yay! One room is a little more bright, and the other a little more pink. To save money I have used some of the same fabrics in both spaces, and we are using the same chalk paint but on different pieces. If you’ve ever had two little girls, you must know the importance of having everything equal, but different….it’s not easy. But I think I accomplished it. Painting furniture this weekend!! Keep following along with the progress and email me if you have any questions!
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 →
This weekend as I browsed some of my favorite blogs I came across one of the talented Emily Henderson’s latest projects. It’s a colourful, cheerful and collected space that I just adore. Take a look! What do you think?
I would love to have a client that loves this as much as I do. Anyone want help creating a hip / collected vibe like this? Contact Me. I can help! Come back again later this week, I’m creating a shop list to recreate this look and feel.
Read More →
This week I was searching on Used Victoria for ALLOT of different things for clients. But the one item I keep coming back to is for little old me. I am so drawn to this painting. I wonder if the Mister will give it the thumbs up? I do have a birthday coming up:)
Read More →
I have a new project, a home office, so I’ve been trolling Used Victoria allot lately. I saw this and had a flashback of making my pottery barn knockoff desk a couple years ago. I can’t use it in my job…but maybe you can? This one is really similar to what I used and since there’s just one, this is how I would suggest it could be used to make a great desk. (Pics are the links as usual)
You can click on this pic of my desk below to see how I did it.
I’m also going to start posting items on Tuesday that people are looking for. So if that’s you…let’s say you want a specific thing but don’t have time or luck on Used Victoria, Shoot me an email…I might find it! This one is for my dear Sheila.
Read More →
I was browsing online this weekend and Emily A Clark featured a website that offers free Hi Res Vintage Posters. Yeah, you read it right! Free! I downloaded a couple cuz I’m thinking about re-jigging one of my gallery walls soon. You should check this out! I think this ca 1918 WWI propaganda poster one is my fave so far…
It was cool to see this on a vintage poster site, but I wouldn’t be a very good historian if I didn’t also point you to a huge stash of Wartime poster art (including this one) available in the National Archives of Canada. Check here although I must admit downloading a Hi Resolution pic is easier than traveling to Ottawa and digging through dusty boxes. It depends what you’re into I guess 
Can you guess which way I lean?
Read More →
OK, if you know me you know that I’m a hound for a deal…lucky for me my good friends suffer from the same affliction and this week my amazing girlfriend Sandy escorted me to a newish thrift store downtown on Blanshard and Fisgard. It was pouring rain like nobody’s business….and since the world is busy buying last minute xmas gifts we had the whole crazy packed and eclectic place all to ourselves!
” The Right Price” opened about 3 months ago and carries a seriously eclectic selection of Asian, Indian, South American and western furniture and decor. They are currently working on getting a website up so on days like today when you can’t bear to leave the house…you can still get your shop on. My favourite piece of the day was this coffee table…
I took some more hopeless iphone shots in my latte fueled excitement…
It was a great store. I bought some apothecary jars and I will definitely bring clients here when we are looking for bargains, DIY projects and ethnic treasures. There are many! The store will be open Boxing day and they are planning a sale so keep it in mind if you are a die hard vintage freak like me!
Have you been to this place? What did you think? What did you buy?
Read More →
My dear readers, I know you’re wondering where’s tUSEDay VICTORIA? It’s here, just a little ways down, mixed into all this vintage industrial chic. Stay with me. It’s cool.
You’ve all heard about Pop-Up shops right? It’s a temporary shop that pops up to sell a discrete collection of goods for a short period of time. Victoria’s newest, and arguably coolest, pop-up shop is located inside the Trade Roots Home Decor and Furniture store on Herald Street in the Design District. The shop is curated by the mysterious and worldly Marco who has a true passion for industrial vintage and a great eye for styling and interior design.
I had an opportunity recently to talk to Marco about the shop and all his STUFF. This is what he had to say…
- I wanted to know (and I’m sure you do too) where he get’s all this great stuff… he told me most of it is from summer road trips in his VW bus into the states, some is from trips overseas and a significant, and increasing, amount is sourced locally. I forgave him right away for not divulging all his secret sources…he’s charming like that…grrrr….I guess we just let him do the leg work and buy stuff in his shop. Solved:) One tip he gave is that he’s going to shop the American heartland next. That’s a pretty big area but a tip nonetheless. BTW his VW Bus trips are chronicled here.
- Finding vintage industrial pieces in working order is tricky, but Marco is very handy and works on every piece whether it be simply polishing, to full scale repair. He aims to sell only goods that are ready to use or display and offers custom solutions and installations for clients who want it.
- Obviously, he’s a collector and he hinted at the treasure trove in his private home. Oy! Can you imagine:) The pop up shop features a great cross section of his collection of industrial vintage signs, lighting, boxes, books and vessels. Cool accessories too, such as antlers, globes, maps, telephones and the like. You can spend awhile in this tiny space just taking it all in.
- Although it’s totally mean and horrible to make a collector choose a favourite piece…I did….and he pointed to this large tin enamel sign for Three Stars. The product advertised is unknown (we both think it was a Chicago tobacco company) but the graphic image, the size and beautifully preserved colours make it an easy choice for a fave! I love it!
- If you are looking for a cool pendant light or lamp that is an authentic vintage piece… This is your chance. I love hearing the provenance of vintage decor and Marco has the stories for each great item.
- I asked him if he had any advice for people scouting for their own vintage treasures. He said be “open minded, be eclectic in tastes, and if you love it, buy it without question now to avoid disappointment later.” Amen.
- You should come down and see what the shop has in store. Marco himself is there on Saturdays and you can usually catch him there during the week working on projects in the back. Store hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10:30-5pm and Sunday 11-4. Located at 545 Herald St.
These are two of the pendants Marco has for sale online. Click the Images below for links to Used Victoria.
- What’s Next for Marco? Well, this Renaissance man has resisted opening a shop or online store because he is a traveler to the core and doesn’t want to be tied down. However, he has committed to additional pop up shops in Victoria, Vancouver and Washington next summer and seems to be making the gradual shift from collecting to selling. Wherever his future shop lands is a lucky place!
- I’m sure we will all be hearing more from Marco in the future as this local boy makes it big. His latest project, a school bus conversion…yes yellow school bus, is so fantastic it is being featured in Australia’s Vogue Living Magazine….yes Vogue.
Neat guy, great vintage industrial collection! Check it out
Read More →
Recent Comments