Uncle Chris's Loft

It's my last 'unofficial' day at work.  Today has been filled with me emailing all of my clients, running around and feeling a bit sad but very excited.  It's so strange to think that after next Wednesday morning I will be done work for a year.  Next week I'll only work a few hours in the morning Monday through Wednesday to train the new hire.  It will be strange to say the least...

I promised you pictures of the items we purchased for my Uncle Chris' loft.  We went to CasaLife in liberty village and went nuts.  He's a typical man - shop at one store for everything!  I have at least convinced him to look elsewhere for a rug and lighting.  :)  Hopefully I'll be able to help with those purchases before JB arrives. 

We debated about this mirror for behind the sofa, facing the windows or for the front entrance.  Haven't purchased it yet but I think it would look great in the loft.  It comes in various sizes - taller or wider. 

This sofa was purchased. 

As well as this coffee table but in a different size.  We went with a longer skinner version. 

Since my uncle hopes to sell his loft in the next year or two we decided not to put the tv on the wall but attach it to this lovely contraption.  We'll also be able to hide his speakers and iTV within the cupboards because each window comes with either the glass or mesh which looks great and is highly functional. 

The desk and chair were purchased.  We may go back for the table lamp because I love it's sleek masculine design. 

We bought two of these mirrors.  Love them!

Next week will be much easier to post.  I will have the afternoons to catch up on all the blogs I love and miss and to research my own posts.  We'll also have the baby's room almost complete.  The chair and glider have arrived.  Woo hoo!!  Now we wait for baby JB to arrive in 4 weeks.  :)

Have a great weekend.  xo

Powder Room Update

Well, my last full week of work is finally here!  :)  I'm so excited to wake up on the 23rd knowing that I won't have to go back to work until January 2012.  A full year with our son or daughter.  :)  I need the next few weeks to relax and rest up though.

The weekend was a busy one.  I got a lot accomplished.  My uncle and I picked out most of his living room furniture.  I'll feature the items tomorrow or Wednesday.  Now we need to pick the paint, hire a painter, purchase lighting and a rug. 

I don't think I've showcased our powder room.  I'm very happy with the colour and look of it so far.  Next year I hope to frame the mirror and add roman shades.  Ryan spray painted the blinds white a month or so ago.  It looks much better than the beige blinds that hung there before.  Now everything ties in together. 

The before shot is on my computer at home.  I'll try and add it tonight.

Now, you'll notice I added a few red berry branches for a holiday touch.  The only other holiday decor is in the living room.  It looks pretty but is quite minimal.  The baby prep and pregnancy have taken over and made it difficult for me to decorate the house for Christmas.  Next year I'll go all out. 

Have a great evening everyone!  xo

I'm still here!

Hi!  I have no excuse other than I have had no inspiration this week.  I would start a post and then get frustrated and scrap it.  It's been one of those weeks where I can't make up my mind, feel slow, tired, uncomfortable and a bit cranky to be honest.  Thank goodness for weekends where I can reenergize.  My mom and grandma are visiting tonight.  I can't wait to show grandma our home and host both of them for the night.  Ryan is making cookies as we speak.  There is nothing like greeting guests with freshly baked goodies.  We'll spend the evening catching up and maybe watch a movie.  Tomorrow, breakfast and then they are off to spend the rest of the weekend with my mom's siblings.  I get to meet up with Paula to shop for fabric.  We have chosen red as the accent colour in the living room.  I can't wait to see what our options are for cushions, throws and drapes. 

Saturday night will be a blast!!  I'm headed to the Toronto blogger party.  I won't lie, I'm a wee bit nervous to meet the friends I've made over the internet and those who I admire from afar. 

Today I leave you with these rooms from Jeffrey Bilhuber.   I'm amazed at this first room with what looks like nail head trim against either wall paper or fabric.  Either way I love it!!  The precision in putting this together is mind boggling. 

...again dying with the details on the walls!

Love the drapes, especially the colour and the artwork above the sofa.  It's so different!  

A chandelier in the shape of a ship, brilliant and totally unexpected!

I wish you all a very good weekend.  See you next week!  xo

Rustic Living

These two rooms by Kathleen Rivers have been filed under 'future country home' or 'future ski lodge'.  My love list: grey doors and balconies flanking the fireplace, Circa Lighting pendant, double height ceiling, wood beams, canvas above the fireplace in spring colours, french doors and harvest table with comfortable chairs.  I want to buy this place and plop it down in Whistler.  I guess I'll also need a jet to take me to and from as often as I want.  A few million in the bank would also help with this pipe dream! 

House Beautiful

Have a great day!  xoxo

A Vision of Lime Green & Blue

Good morning!  I could not be happier that it's Friday.  My weeks are going by fast but they are packed full and the to-do list keeps growing.  Hopefully I'll get a lot completed this weekend.  On my list of things to do - purchase/order crib mattress, glider, and rug; meet my uncle to go over the sofa, rug and lighting selections for his loft; sketch the horizontal lines on the nursery wall (painting will wait until next week most likely!); purchase white lamp shade for nursery lamp; sand down nursery closet door (it won't shut); dismantle current useless shelf in the same closet to prepare for a paint job and new metal shelves fit for kids.  Some of this will obviously be done by Ryan.  Thanks lovie!  :)

Sunday is my first baby shower hosted by my sister-in-law Aaren and my mother-in-law.  I'm so excited and grateful to both of them for organizing it. 

The weather is cold, grey and wet today in Toronto.  I think this is a great room to inspire us.  I can't get enough of tufted sofas like this one.  I especially love the colour!  The other furniture is kept neutral to balance the sofa colour.  You can barely see the back of the shelves but what you do see reveals the same soft lime green as the sofa.  Symmetry is key to balancing a room. 

Sarah Dorio Photography

I have a very busy work day ahead and then we're dining at my Aunt Karen's place.  I can't wait to see it set up because the last time we were there was move in day.  Have a great weekend folks!  xo

Checkerboard Gallery Wall

We are halfway through the week! Woo Hoo!!  

I love the way this checkerboard gallery wall looks and how the colours of the room are picked up in the art.  Hanging the pictures from the top of the sofa to the ceiling also emphasizes the height of the room.  The look is streamlined and has a big impact!  

via Decorpad

Have a great day!!  It's going to be another tough one at our office but I'm just going keep my head down and work hard. 

Ashley Goforth Design

Yeah it's Friday!!  I have no official plans this weekend other than brunch with a friend tomorrow.  I'll shop for furniture (my place, the uncle's and P&J's), invite Ryan's sister and husband for dinner and take it easy!  And of course we can't forget handing out candy on Halloween to the adorable kids in our neighbourhood.  I can't wait to see all the costumes. 

I gave you a teaser of Ashley Goforth Design yesterday.  Today I'm featuring a selection of her work within dining, living and bedrooms.  I love her use of neutral paint, neutral fabric, down-filled cushions, comfortable furniture and modern lighting!  She knows the perfect mix of modern and classic design. 

Enjoy!  xo

Chocolate Brown Living

I discovered Elaine Griffin through Erika Ward at BluLabel Bungalow.  Here portfolio is filled with gorgeous liveable rooms!  I especially fell for this small chocolate brown living room/office.  I LOVE everything about it.  The walls wrap around you like a warm blanket, the window covering combination is streamlined and lets in a lot of light, the neutral pallet of chocolate brown, caramel, cream and a hit of orange is sophisticated and cozy, and the curves of the sofa and chair are classic!  It's my new favourite room. 

All photos Elaine Griffin Interior Design

Today is a special day!  It's by 31st birthday.  :)  It feels a bit more special this year (even though I'm not doing anything spectacular) because I know in just 12 weeks I'll be a mom to Jelly Bean.  Carrying JB has been a gift that I cherrish everyday.  Even those times when it feels like JB is trying to burst out through my skin (his/her movements are very strong!).  haha! 

Have a great day! 

Elte Clearance

If you live in Toronto or anywhere near Toronto then you need to go and check out Elte's NEW Clearance section.  A friend and I had a lot of success shopping at this store on Saturday for her home.  This hide rug pictured below was found in the bedroom section at ridiculous price but we fell hard for it!  Or at least I did.  Then we headed to the clearance section and saw the same rug but slightly smaller for thousands less!!!    My eyes almost popped out of their sockets.  No damage, no real reason other than they have new stock and wanted to get rid of the old stock.  WOOHOO!!!  Needless to say you'll see it featured in a living room I'm working on shortly.  And sadly not my own.  My rug is berber nothingness but it fits the purpose.

It is finally sunny in Toronto!!  I'm still very tired but at least the sun is out providing vitamin D.  Jelly Bean has been moving around a lot this morning.  Sometimes I think I have a mini boxer in my tummy.  What will he or she be like?  I'm so excited to find out.  :)

Have a lovely day! xo

Decor Progress at P&J's House

Morning readers!  It's another grey day in Toronto.  I think we're all going to go nuts if we don't see the sun soon.  So to cheer us up I thought I would let you in on the progress we are making at my friends P&J's house.  We are working on the decor of the family (tv) room, living room, dining room and master bedroom.  It's a big project and it's going very well! 

The family room is almost complete.  Here is a selection of what has been purchased.  All we have left to do is organize and arrange the shelving units and add accessories. 

This isn't the exact sectional but it's very similar.  Picture it without the lounge chair. 

Crate & Barrel

Urban Barn

Urban Barn

Pottery Barn

Elte

Pottery Barn

Crate & Barrel

Urban Barn

Pottery Barn

What do you think so far?  We haven't determined the accent colours but now that I see the red throw I think that could be a great idea.  I can't wait to take pictures of the finished project and share them with you.

Have a great day!! xo

Fresh Start - Purple Obsession and a Multi-use Room

Good morning!  I have the most inspiring images from one of the tiniest apartments I've ever seen.  This East Village (NY) apartment is designed and lived in by David Kaihoi, his wife and daughter.  The main room is 8' x 8'.  You read that correctly!  My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I read it.  Even though its extremely small they the room doesn't feel closter phobic to me but looks as if it would wrap around you like a cozy blanket.  The purple walls, painted wood floors (love the design), gorgeous chandelier, and multi-purpose furniture are simply divine!  Not to mention who doesn't love a wall of books!  The owners added antique doors and mouldings to give this once stark white box a prewar feeling. 

This room serves as the foyer, living, dining and study.  How many of us can say the same about the various room functions in our house?  It definitely makes you think that the way most North Americans live is overdone.  Do we really need 4,000 square foot houses or larger? 

All images David Kaihoi from House Beautiful

What do you think?  Could you downsize?  I'm not sure I could live in a home smaller than our current house of 1,500 square feet (not including the basement).  I will however take the multi-purpose functions of this room, the colours, richness and elegant feel of this home and try to apply it to mine.  Would love to have a chandelier like the above in our bedroom!  I love the drama!

Have a great day and a great week!! xo

A Beautiful Nest!

I came across these images from Nest Dallas Design.  I love the feel of each room.  Clean lines, neutral with hits of colour hear and there, great lighting, simple roman shades, not a lot of trinkets lying around.  It's exactly how I like to live.  The prints on the wall of the first room are from the Crate & Barrel.  They work really well against the grey paint.  The colours in this room are not what I would normally think to pair but they work really well together.  The floor lamps remind me of my grandparents old lamps with the tray attached.  I love how they have been modernized with a large barrel shade featuring silver metallic inside.

This is one of my favourite bedrooms.  It has character without the fuss - clean lines, neutral backdrop, pops of green and purple (my favourite fall colour).  I could easily do this in our bedroom.  Now I just have to convince Ryan that puple isn't too girlie (even though he already cut it from the choice). 

Dark grey walls, a lighter grey ceiling, marble surround fireplace, medium toned wood floors - perfection!!  Seriously, if I could paint every ceiling in my house I would!  It would involve way too much work though because we have the god awful speckled ceiling. 

Honestly, the ceiling fans are awesome!  Chocolate brown, light grey and white are such a classic combination that will always remain fresh. 

Ryan is taking me away for the weekend (Sat/Sun) to a surprise destination.  I have no idea and it's very exciting!  Tonight we'll meet our nephew for the first time.  He was born this morning weighing 8lbs 12oz and a full head of hair!  I can't wait to meet this little guy. 

We hope to stop by Babies Fine Furniture on Sunday afternoon to check out some nursery furniture.  We'll see if that happens.  I think I would prefer this weekend to be free of any house duties, errands or decorating.  We need a break. 

Oh, our powder room is looking fantastic!!!  Seriously the colour is gorgeous!

Have a great weekend!  xo