Thank you to the Neighbors

My neighborhood is very generous with what it gets rid of.  Someone in my building rescued a gorgeous solid wood fireplace mantle and I have gotten a few wood chairs in need of a very little bit of TLC.  I always feel so conspicuous when I pull things from the curb.  I've lost out on some key pieces because someone on the street might "See Me" taking from the trash.  I know I'm not the only one on the street that feels this way.  I've seen so many of my neighbors circling items that were left on the curb and quickly looking up and down the street to see who was watching before they nabbed their treasure. 

I always seem to be on my way to work - weighing the pros and cons of being late in order to haul something back to my house.  I've literally done the dance where I've walked back to the piece and then walked away only to walk towards the item again and finally run from the item towards the bus stop while agonizing over my decision.  If this golden treasure just happens to be there on my return trip home (which it never is - let's be real people) I gleefully haul it back with me. 

So imagine my pure and utter joy when I discovered one half of an old wooden ladder.  I had no idea what I was going to do with this and thought maybe it would be something fun to hang on the wall.  It turned into the best paperback bookshelf imaginable - taking up minimum space while holding quite of few of my favourite books.  If you ask my sister - I have this weird habit of rereading certain books over and over again like I watching certain movies over and over again.  This is weird to her but just another one of my quirky tendencies but I digress - I found the perfect piece to store my hoard of much loved books.

I will probably add another piece of wood for additional shelving at some point but as you can see - a simple white wash over the old wood brought what was thought of as garbage to become a new and useful addition to my home.  So thank you neighbor that ditched the old ladder on your front lawn.  I am grateful!

5 O'Clock at the Oasis - Balcony Makeover

Okay setting up my balcony for summer is almost as fun as setting up my Christmas tree.  Almost.

I love my balcony but the funny thing is that for years I didn't use it - two words - direct sunlight!  Your feet would burn on the wood after a few minutes of being out there.  There used to be some shade provide by a tree close by however this bit the dust in one big storm.

Meanwhile - I had a 10x10 gazebo tent that was lounging in my closet from a previous dwelling.  I was irked that no one had created a balcony sized version of these inexpensive outdoor tents when it hit me - the poles could simply be cut with a pole cutter and the tent could be sewn smaller.

I have to admit - this was one of those projects that I was surprised it actually worked.

I purchased an inexpensive bistro set and a very inexpensive lounger but I did spend money on the lounger cushion to cover the (let's say it) cheap lounger and you would never know what was underneath. It is really difficult to find outdoor cushions in one colour.  Most are covered in obnoxious tropical fabric.  As I don't live on an island and am surrounded by evergreen trees - I was pleased to find a nice neutral cushion. I would also recommend an outdoor rug - whether you have a wood deck or cement, a rug really warms up the space..

For the past few years I've been purchasing small trees to and potting them to enjoy year over year rather than only relying on annuals that need to be replaced at the end of the season.

It makes for a magical start to the day - fresh air surrounded by annuals in bloom and my potted trees.  The lilac tree finally bloomed along with the cherry tree.

I will be spending as much time as possible out here - especially on the weekends.  It is a perfect place to curl up with a book or enjoy a morning coffee.  Hopefully the rain will hold off for the next few days.

The final touch - a star embellished musquito netting and mini outdoor chandelier make for a dreamy space inspired by the fantastic tent in the movie The Holiday.

From the film The Holiday

From the film The Holiday

Cupcakes Anyone?

Last week I tried a new twist on an old favourite for a birthday party - I attempted to stencil designs on cupcakes with food colouring.  I was able to do so on fondant and was so excited when I was able to find tiffany blue fondant at Bulk Barn.

Needless to say - I was really happy with how they turned out.  Simple stencils from the dollar store, black food colouring, fondant and vanilla macaroons were all the supplies needed.    I will say that if anyone attempts this themselves to have very little food colouring on your brush - it has a tendency to leak under the stencil.  Happy baking!

Paris Framed

I've had this old wooden bed frame for quite some time and although it wasn't my favourite, it certainly served its purpose until I found what I was really looking for.  The biggest problem is that I know what style of bed frame I want - it just isn't sold in Canada. In the mean time - this old frame is chipped and looking more ragged by the day.

My solution...come up with a new way to refresh the frame beyond a simple paint job. I'm actually quite happy with how this project turned out and it inspired smaller projects along a similar theme.

My main inspiration came from painted letters you would find on food or potato sacks.  Burlap wasn't going to work in my room so I opted for some soft grey canvas that just happened to be on sale (I love the buy 1 metre get 2 metres free sale)!

I found an address in Paris to use as for the design framed by olive leaves and created my own stencil.

Stencils are so easy to create yourself.  Simply print the word, saying or design out as large as you like on a standard piece of paper. Before you cut out your design - put a layer of clear packing tape over it so your stencil becomes hardier and won't be destroyed when you apply the paint on to it.

I ended up replicating a portion of the pattern on to lampshades and simple white pillow cases.  The overall effect is quite nice and cost me all of $14 for fabric.  I'm never sure when I start these projects if they will actually turn out but luckily this one did.

Magnetic Medicine Cabinet

What started out as a weekend project that I've been putting off for some time turned into a bit of inspiration on a lazy Sunday.

My medicine cabinet was clearly made in the 70s - the inside was a strange orange metal that was begging to be painted.  Having had way too much coffee I opted to choose today to paint it the same colour as my walls.

I was trying to come up with interesting containers to hold my everyday supplies when I remembered seeing an interesting idea someone had posted on Pinterest which suggested gluing magnets to old tins to use as containers.

As my cabinet is completely metal, I  suddenly wanted to glue magnets to all sorts of items...the result is below.

The fresh paint and seaside theme of my bathroom lead me to use river rocks and sand dollars as magnets.  A little hot glue goes a long way.  

The overall effect is fun and quirky.

Adding magnets to containers allows me to store additional items beyond what can fit on the shelves.  Like this idea but don't have any metal in your cabinet?  No worries - simply buy some magnet paint either online or at your local Home Depot.  Happy gluing!

A Red Velvet Cake for Anne

Last week I mentioned going to my first wedding shower of the season.  It was a great success and I was happy to be able to make the cake for the event. This cake may look impressive but really - it was quite easy to put together.

The key is rolled fondant - purchased in a tub from Bulk Barn.  Simply roll out the fondant as you would  cookie dough and place it over your layers of cake.  This cake was two layers of red velvet cake and one layer of vanilla with cream cheese icing in between layers and iced on top to ensure the red from the cake doesn't seep through the fondant.  Purchase some satin ribbon and fresh flowers to decorate.  A simple frame with the letter of the person's name is an easy and classic cake top.

Red velvet cake is becoming more popular in Canada.  A Southern U.S. tradition, this cake came about during WWII when a shortage of cocoa and sugar led to some creative substitutions.  The unique cake combines a small amount of cocoa mixed with buttermilk and red food dye to produce this colouring.  Traditionally, this cake is iced with cream cheese icing, producing a flavour all of its own.  Red food dye is certainly not always the best dietary choice as it can have health ramifications in large doses however I've tried recipes that use anything from beets to strawberry juice but the effect is not the same.  So - everything in moderation as they say.

If you are looking to purchase rolled fondant rather than making it yourself, I would recommend staying away from the Wilton fondant and spending the extra $5 on Liberty Virgin Ice White Fondant that comes in a 4lbs tub.  The Wilton fondant dries out rather quickly and becomes hard as a rock so if you don't use all of it in one go - you are out of luck.  The Liberty version keeps for a long time and is easy to mould.  It comes in a variety of colours as well.  Happy decorating!

Spring Showers

Tomorrow marks the first of the wedding showers that I will be attending this year.  This time last year, I was planning a wedding shower for my good friend at my home.

I love planning for these events although it had its harrowing moments.  My house is a decent size however I was on edge each time someone agreed to attend as I was worried about the space at the table.  I was determined that everyone who attended this celebratory brunch would sit down together at one table to eat and chat rather than having guests milling about in separate rooms.

I had hoped to also have it outside but this is always problematic in Toronto - too hot, too much rain - not worth the risk so indoors with the air conditioning was the way to go.

I borrowed chairs from all my friends and purchased tables that filled my now empty living.  Simple flowers in whites and violets filled many different sized vases which decorated the table along with hand made place cards and individual party gifts with matching purple ribbon greeted the guests (the bride likes purple).

I was excited to use all my serving dishes for the quiche and sweet treats.

Overall - the shower was a success with just the right amount of people attending.  Best advice I can offer - have a family member help (special thanks to my sister) and book a long holiday afterwards.  Sitting lakeside at the cottage was heaven!

Winter Closet Makeover

I get antsy in the winter.  I'm not one for outdoor sports in the cold so tend to hibernate until the weather picks up.  That  being said, I tend to start jobs that I've put off in better weather.  Take my broom closet for instance.  This triangular shaped storage space is a catch all in my house for everything from laundry products to left over paint.  One of those doors you loathe to open as something always flies out to attack you.

This is the before...

This is the after...

A fresh coat of paint on the walls was a necessary start along with baskets to house the many cleaning products.  I used mason jars in various sizes to store left over paint (as seen on top left shelf).  I used an old flower pot to store dust cloths and grouped like products together.  And voila - a closet that isn't on the attack any longer.

It Turned Into A Bathroom Blitz

I love my bathroom however the sink area always bothered me as I found it didn't match the rest of the suite.  There is no storage and this odd floating wood column underneath always bugged me.

I have been wanting to try this project for such a long time but wasn't sure it was worth the investment.  I also wasn't sure exactly how I was going to even construct it.

It all came together when I found these wooden shelves (at Dollarama of all places) that resembled really nice feet you'd use on a cabinet.  As to what I would use to construct the shelves - I looked at Ikea and thought of walking to my local Home Depot but didn't want to haul a huge load of lumber back with me.

The solution - an old and very ugly bookcase I was eventually going to leave on the curb.  Win - win in that I did not have to spend a dime on the materials and I won't be adding to a landfill.

I had my concerns that this project was not going to work but it actually turned out so well especially after adding a fresh coat of white paint and accessories.  I really had forgotten how fun it is to use a jig saw! Here's to winter projects.

What's in an Office?

If you know me, you'll know that I believe decor and design are really integral to boosting a person's mood - especially in an office where the majority of us spend at least 40 hours a week.  The saddest thing is most people have offices or cubicles that have a few personal items combined with their binder and paper covered desks.  It makes for an uninspiring if not somewhat depressing atmosphere to trudge into on a daily basis.

I work for a not-for-profit so the furniture that is available to us is often second hand.  Whenever someone leaves their job - many lobby for the furniture that those employees leave behind.  It's hilarious.

I really feel that it doesn't take a lot to make one's space both personal and emotive.  Whether you want a relaxing, energizing or creative space that inspires - a few little changes can make all the difference for very little money.  Take my space - the pictures on the wall are from a discount dollar store mixed with a few gifts and personal pieces like flowers and candles.

One project that made a huge difference where the pair of high back chairs that I begged my HR department to be allowed to use. These were originally covered in ugly red and green faux leather.  It was a simple matter of recovering both of them in matching damask fabric that I had found on sale.  It is amazing the difference a staple gun and 4 metres of fabric can make.  Thankfully my boss at the time was so used to my creative outbursts that she merely shook her head and laughed after finding me on my office floor, staple gun in hand.  All in all, I've spent only $30 on my space.  But lets be real - the decor is not what makes my space relaxing.   The secret to an amazing space that is relaxing and inspires creativity is to ensure there is a LACK OF OFFICE CLUTTER!

You know what I'm talking about - binders, in-boxes and stands that hold file folders.  WHY DO WE DISPLAY THESE.  It is just as easy to open a drawer or go to a book case to grab these reference items.  Cork boards covered in telephone directories are not wall art!!   Wouldn't it be nice to come in to your work space each day to a clean slate.  I simply shove everything into my drawers at the end of the day and no one is the wiser!

So here are my key tips for an amazing office:

1 -  Get rid of the clutter.


2-   Art it up - go to second hand stores Ikea for frames and fill them with personal pictures for your desk and beautiful photography for the walls (calendars are perfect for this or frame your child's paintings)


3 - Add little touches - polished rocks in a dish, flowers in a vase, one small plant (stay away from fussy spider plants - stick to succulents)


4 - Scrounge for spare furniture - even the ugliest chairs can either be painted or recovered


5 - Change the lighting - Florescent lights suck - I had some of the lights above my desk removed and instead have a floor lamp from Ikea that was left behind.  I love when people have desk lamps as well - it instantly feels more warm and cosy.

Even if all you do is reduce your clutter and add a few touches - it will make all the difference.  Give it a try - you deserve it!