I'm Alive!

Yes, I'm alive. And I've horribly neglected my blog. Sads, I know. But not without just cause of course. To make a long story short I've a.) Gotten a new job b.) Studied for and written an industry exam to become licensed in my new field and c.) Got a new condo that I'm preparing to move into next week.

Once I get settled into my new job and condo I'll pick up blogging again. In the mean time the following mash-up are my plans the new master bedroom.




And best of all the balcony doors from the master bedroom and living room have this amazing view. I'm looking forward to looking out my window and seeing no signs of civilization.

Day Dreaming

A soft and pretty day dream of a bedroom would be a lovely retreat at the end of a long day. And a pleasant beginning to every day.

I love this dresser, and I'd love to see someone use this beauty in their home. 

Curtains and valence like the canopy on this bed would be Devine. And of course a nook to sit.

Phillip Gorrivan for Highland Court

This ad here lead me down the rabbit hole...

To photo's of this room here...

(Via)

(Via)

Which left me wanting to see more of Phillip Gorrivan's fabrics...

(Source)

(Source)

And finally to here...

(Via)

(Via)

It's not too often I come across a fabric book that I love nearly every single fabric and pattern. Now, I'm off to explore more of Phillip Gorrivan's work.

Calming Retreat

There's been a few changes in my plans for the apartment since my ginga ninja decided he really likes the black in the living room. But all plans are no on hold... My sweet sweet kitty Squeaky has severe dental disease and is need of many extractions and much dental cleaning. Breaks my heart that she's in pain. 

So I'll be channeling all my creativity into my clients homes for now. Here's a bedroom I've put together that I would love to see happen in someone's home.

Calming palette of cream, white, and a touch of blue. 

A Nook for Reading

My thoughts for the day…

Everyone needs a reading/relaxing nook! I would love to have one in a quiet corner of the bedroom.

Where is your reading nook?

Cole and Son Love Fest

Maybe I should start watching TV (aside from Criminal Minds for Shemar Moore's handsomeness). I was at friends last night admiring her newly installed wallpaper and 2 Broke Girls was playing in the background. I nearly fell over during the scene in the restaurant restroom... behold the Cole and Son Lily wallpaper! And the gorgeous Hicks Grand wallpaper in the main dining area (also Cole and Son). And the Orchid wallpapered panels behind the Lucite piano (again Cole and Son)! Talk about a Cole and son love fest.

Here is the Lily wallpaper in action in a bedroom

The Hicks Grand...

(Via)

Love the hexagon tile mirroring the wallpaper above.

And the Orchid wallpaper...

So tell me, what else am I missing by not watching the tele? Are there any shows whose sets inspire you?

The Return of Pretty

There's been a noticeable shift in the design world towards 'pretty' spaces which Stacy Bewkes of quintessence blog has discussed in this post. For me this means a shift away from ugly on purpose furnishings and fabric (sorry Kelly Wearstler,  but I do still love your Katana fabric which I've recently ordered). Along with pretty comes 'matchy' which is still considered a curse word to many. But I see it happening in an updated modern way with repeating fabric and colours throughout a room. Look at these 'pretty' slightly 'matchy' rooms...

And my take on 'pretty'...

What do you think of the return of 'pretty'?

Amy Judd

Take a look at these oil on canvas works from Amy Judd…

So dramatic! 

Timeless Style

Before the holidays I found this treasure trover of beautiful homes designed by Suzanne Kasler at Winners. 

I've since sat down with it several times and find her work inspiring me to create a more timeless style in all my work. The image below inspired me to pair Louis XVI square back chairs with a dining table I'm designing for a lovely couple who are aiming to have a dining room they will cherish for many years.

(Veranda)

Suzanne Kasler designed this stunning dining space (and the rest of the home) for a young couple with three kids. She created character and a sense of grandeur not often found in newly built homes or expected of a young family. Suzanne fuses a fun vibrant colour with a timeless look that respects the architecture of the house.

What I love best about this dining room is that it's the perfect example of what I like to call "forever decorating". This is not a trend driven home that will  become dated in just a few short years. If in time the couple tires of the turquoise all that is required to create a whole new look is a paint job, new piping on the dining chairs, and reupholstering the settee. No furnishings will need to be replaced. 

Blushing

Being a woman I have the right to change my mind AGAIN, right? I have to admit that the black living room is just not doing it for me. It could never be as glorious as my previous black bedroom. So I've been waiting until inspiration hit… and it did.

Only I'd choose an oval or rectangular linen ottoman rather than round. And I'll use my DIY skills to make this blush Thesis wallpaper from Cavern happen.

A little test…

Yes, it's on a darker pink… it's what I had on hand when the impulse struck. A Blush paint, a level, and a coloured pencil… yup I'ma gonna do it!

Now I just need to figure out where to fit these Tigre velvet pillows into my budget. 

 My apologies for the prolonged absence! A slow internet connection, lack of inspiration, and non-existent budget has kept me from keeping up with my favourite blogs or making progress in my sparsely furnished home. 

BUT I did pick up a few paint samples!

Top and bottom swatches are both All-A-Blaze, center left is Passion Fruit, and center right is Tomato Cream Soup. All are from Benjamin Moore. 

Darn iPhone makes them appear darker. And I'm missing a swatch of Pink Flamingo… my price conscious Ginga' Ninja assumed that I'd be unwilling to "splurge" on the full spectrum paint. I do have a large paint card for comparison though.

 

So far Passion Fruit is competing with Tomato in my paint race…

with Passion Fruit pulling ahead! (Go banana! for all those die hard Simpsons fans)

Perfect at night… may be slightly too orange in daylight. If I had access to Fine Paints of Europe I'd try Colonial Rose.

Maybe I'm splitting hairs here?

This is what I'm aiming for. 

Bedding has yet to be decided.

LOVE that secretary desk, would jump through hoops for it. But it's a vintage piece not likely to be found again. So I'm considering this local Kijiji find…

Styled up like this beauty...

So what do you, my lovely readers think?

Snow Day

Snow Day!

There's a bridge and harbour over there somewhere...

So I'm staying in and warm with these…

Found these at work the other day among many others, thought I'd borrow them. Ohhhhh it was like being a kid in a candy store!

What else would I do on a storm day but absorb all this design goodness?

New Year Re-organization

With the New Year comes the renewed need for organization. It's a phenomenon felt by not just me but by most of the population. Well, I assume so anyway… based on the number of retailers putting out organizational items this time of year. The Home Depot in particular. Thanks to the sale they recently had on clear shoe boxes ($ .87 each!) I was able to get a start on my closet clean-up. 

This is an in-progress photo I'd like to share with you…

Much better than the mess that previously inhabited the top shelf. And as you can see I truly do stick to black, white, and navy with pops of red, pink, and leopard. Now to dream up something as fabulous as the closet make-over featured on The Aestate… feast your eyes on this loveliness!

Ahhhh it reignites my love of "the black wall". And I'd really like to thank my lovely readers for the kind words and reassurance on my last post regarding my black walled living room. You've all encouraged me to go out and pick up another gallon of matte black and complete the paint job. 

Progress

Here's a photo of the most recent paint job. Although I like it… I don't love it. You see, I've had a black bedroom in a previous apartment. It had large mouldings that I painted white as well as the floor and the ceiling was also painted black. It was glorious. 

(This a little bedside table I created by removing the glass topped swirly iron design and welding a piece of sheet metal to before painted black, another Kijiji make-over)

Maybe I should have gone with the veuve clicquot orange I used in a previous mood board…

I really don't mind the trial and error though… I see it as a form of education.