The Sparest of Spare Rooms

I used to love that line from Anne of Green Gables - "The sparest of spare rooms." There is something pretty wonderful about visiting a friend's house with a pimped out guest room.  I've been a fan of fully stocking a room with cool items for guests since viewing an episode of Oprah.  Don't get your hopes up - guests won't be leaving this room with a car but hopefully will find the decor leads to a restful evening.

The colour is called Diamond Dust - a grey/mauve that is accented with leaf green pictures on the walls. The room has to be multi-functional as well and house the computer.  Rather than using a computer desk - I opted to use an old antique cabinet and hide the desk chair on a hook on the back of the door.

The room is small and will only house a single bed but ensure the bedding is inviting and towels are plush can make a guest forget they are sleeping on a smaller mattress.

The pendant lamp was a very exciting find.  Home Depot sells this pendant for under $40 and has the option of extending the length to accommodate all ceiling heights.

This was a fun room to put together.  I even painted out a dresser (sad to say it was one that I sanded down in the 90s).  I've always been a fan of mixing antiques with modern - makes for a unique space.

Chair stored on back of door.

Pendant lamp

Grayscale Dreams

It has been soooo long since I've added a new posting and so much has happened.  I've literally painted all but one room in my sister's house.  I of course had to paint my temporary abode as well and I have to admit that it is one of my favourite bedrooms to date!  I like colour but in muted tones or little touches of bright accents but when it comes down to it - nothing calms me like shades of grey mixed with white and black accents.

Sounds boring I know but with the right accents and a fun damask patterned quilt - the result I think is quite lovely.

The ceiling light (very cost effective at Home Depot of all places) really brought everything together.  I never regret buying the circular Umbra mirror at the Umbra warehouse sale in Toronto.  I managed to find the only unbroken one in the bunch and it seems to go with any colour or theme.  The black pyramid shelf in the corner is something I normally use in my living room just as a book shelf but fits in nicely as book storage, picture display and media nook.

I borrowed the lovely bedside lamps from my sister - standard lamps from Ikea that have the wonderful telescopic bases allowing for extra height and making them anything but standard in appearance.  Finally - the curtains.  Lovely muted grey curtains with black-out material on the back which cost all of $15 a panel - thank you Giant Tiger!

My room is soothing and tranquil at the end of a long day.  Feminine but not girly which I love - all in all...I'm happy with the results.  Wish I had before pictures to show you but I got so excited to paint that I forgot to take pictures first.

Oh - the paint colour is Behr Silver Screen in an eggshell finish.  I didn't buy Behr paint though (sorry Behr but I hate how your paint goes on the wall).  My advice - go to Home Depot and buy Glidden paint and use a Behr colour.  Instead of $35-$40 a gallon, a can of Glidden paint costs $18 folks and I think goes on even better with less coats.  This is not a low viscosity paint so if you are sensitive to fumes, ask the person at the paint counter for the best brand.  I'd rather save a dollar and crack a window myself but I'm sure my lungs won't thank me for it.

An Ottoman For Jess

After

I am way overdue for an update and this isn't even a holiday edition.  Still - it was a really fun project that allowed me to take a break from packing (I recently moved away from Toronto to Ottawa - more on that in another entry).

So picture someone surrounded by boxes and packing tape, eagerly pulling material off an old ottoman  ONE WEEK before her movers are set to arrive.  Yep - that's me.

My friend Jess had this awesome ottoman that look deceivingly innocent but I've been told is a cherished piece by the family as there are so many memories associated with it but that there is every possibility that some famous feet that may have rested upon the material.  I can only speculate!

Before

The really neat part of this project was the material chosen to recover the old traditional brown floral that had seen much better days.  Jess found an amazing modern twist on an art deco patterned material and while I would have walked past the colourful bolt - her eye went to it immediately.  The result is a traditional piece of furniture with a colourful modern twist.  I'm so pleased overall with how this turned out.

The secret for this piece was to treat both the cushioning on top and the base as different parts - covering each piece first and then attaching the elements together afterwards.

Fall Fun Touches

I'll admit that I'm obsessed with Christmas but I'm not really one to decorate for any other season.  This year seems to be the exception as I stumbled on so many cute items for both Thanksgiving and Halloween alike.  I went to West Elm for the first time last week and discovered all sorts of fun Halloween items on for half price.  I indulged in a glittery bat garland and some cute (bordering on creepy) plates.

I'm really big on cards for Halloween for my family and friends and sometimes the selection for this season is even better then Christmas.

Oh - and don't forget a wreath for the door.  Regardless of the season - I always stick with themes that don't revolve around a single day celebration.  Rather than a Christmas wreath - I prefer a winter theme (ie. snow men, snowflakes etc).   Along these same lines, I opted to stick with leaves, wheat and multi coloured gourds to cover both Thanksgiving and Halloween.

For an extra Fall flair - why not add a dash of essential oil to the wreath.  I added a few drops of the Body Shop's Pumpkin Nectarine home fragrance oil to the wheat and the grapevine portion of the wreath.  Now each time I enter my home I get a very subtle scent that instantly reminds me of pumpkin pie and falling leaves.

Chandelier Revisited



After



I recently received a chandelier - complete with actual crystals from a friend of my mother's and instantly knew where to hang it. My kitchen. The issue - it was brass and a little scuffed from the travel to my house.  The solution...paint it!



Before



If you are planning on doing this with an old chandelier - here's a tip - make sure you take a photo before with all the crystals in their correct location because this isn't the easiest thing to reassemble once it is hanging from the ceiling and a picture takes out a lot of the guess work.

I used various shades of brown, burnt sienna and copper paint and stippled over the brass finish.  The effect blends in beautifully with my kitchen (and hopefully makes it a little less country - I'm not allowed to paint out the wood cabinets but if I were - they would be painted white so quickly your head would spin). 

I will admit that any type of electrical work scares the bejezus out of me but I haven't let that stop me yet.  The neat thing about this piece is that I can paint it again if I choose to move and have it go with another colour scheme.  One thing is for sure - it will never be brass again.

Confessions of a Nature Collector

Post number 23 and I have a confession - I'm loving specimen type decor right now.  No, I'm not referring to taxidermy or harboring any other type of dead animals in my house but I've slowly been collecting bell jars and pieces of nature for a display.

I had rocks and shells from my travels as well as iridescent striped feathers that my aunt would send me in letters from her farm.  When I found a beautiful display cabinet at Home Sense - all of these pieces came together in my mind to be collected in a nature table of a sort.

I also came across old fashion natural history template pages online that I incorporated into the display.  My one fake in the display are the blue robin's eggs - they aren't eggs at all but some high end soap I bought at Soap & Water in Oakville.  I had no idea when I bought the soap that I would be using them for display purposes but I think they fit in well.

These display cases are so inexpensive and can be used for a variety of projects from a collection of old keys or even a wonderful place to hang necklaces and other jewelry.

As for the bell jars - I have a collection of old clocks and books that nestled in nicely with these shiny glass domes on my coffee table.  In the tiny bell jar, I found a cute mini plant that seems to tie it all together.  To be honest, only the tall dome is a real bell jar - the wide one is a cake dome and the small version was a cupcake dome but I've repurposed them for non-baking display.

I also found these great vintage looking books at Home Sense.  They are hollow and fantastic for keeping items such as remote controls, coasters and other clutter that lives in the living room.    I think I'll need to stay away from that store for a while.

Dot Obsessed

No - I have not decorated a room in polka dots but believe me - right now that may have been better.  I've been progressively  working to lose weight and have noticed that I've replaced eating with shopping - so not good.  So when my friend Wendy let me know that she had started selling Stella and Dot jewelry, I didn't think that much of it at first and later thought I'd be a good friend, support her new venture and book a party.

I should have known better - the moment I received the catalogue, I was hooked.   I found myself wanting to create the most exciting party I could, helping my friend create interesting displays and wooing my friends with the promise of baked goods.

While I knew it would be great for my friend if people made purchases - I'll be honest that this wasn't my priority.  It was more fun to be creative, get together with a group of girls, open a bottle of wine on a Friday night and giddily try on piece after piece of fun jewelry.  I think this is what sets Stella and Dot apart from other home parties - there are no fancy speeches, no hard sells - it is about trying on pretty girl things, oohing and ahhing over the sparkle, and just plain having a good time.

I have until mid this week to decide what I want to purchase and narrowing down the list will be difficult but I'm up to the challenge and will wait eagerly for my order to arrive in the fun multicolored packaging!

A huge thanks to everyone who came out - especially to my girlfriends who hung out until 1:00 am, chatting philosophically about the world and families - that is another blog entry for another day.

Tempted to purchase something yourself - by all means - click here but I warn you that the site and its contents are addictive!

Summer Flowers

I really love this time of year - fresh fruit, seasonal vegetables and the flowers!  Even my discount grocery store carries a wide variety at this time of year for a few dollars a bundle.  I see this as an opportunity to bring the summer inside, filling as many vases as possible while they last.

 If I find that I don't have enough filler for the arrangement or the size of the vase, I've been known to raid my garden for leafy stocks and additional flowers. This arrangement (left) for my bathroom was a combination of flowers that cost under $20 from the local grocer and a vase I had rescued from Value Village for very little money.

I'm also lucky to have a flower shop that sells wholesale flowers by the bundle near my home.  The pre-arrange flowers tend to be quite costly but if you are willing to take a chance and build your own arrangement, I've found that I walk away with a more flowers for less money.

I have to admit that there are some flowers that I'm not partial too.  Carnations bug me to no end - mainly what is done with them - everything from being dyed weird colours or mixed with baby's breath and other in expensive filler.  The only exception I've seen where carnations work was a creation I saw the real Martha create - all one colour, all bundled together and no other flowers or greenery added.  Beautiful.

I do hate waste and many of the bundles that come from the grocery store tend to have cheap fillers such as purple statice or baby's breath.  Rather than throw these away, I like to fill small vases with these as well as flowers that may have been damaged and cut short during the journey home.  These are great for putting on the bedside table in guest rooms or to add a little colour to any corner in your home.  Happy arranging!

Chair Days

Solid wooden furniture is a thing of the past - unless it is made by a professional carpenter in which case you are paying a great deal for the privilege.  Even the most high-end stores use particle board as the backing for drawers or on the underside of chairs.

  

That's why when you find a well-made piece of furniture at a second hand store - you grab it and run.

I was excited to find this old chair for a mere $20 at a local second hand shop and was thrilled to get started on applying many coats of white paint and a material swatch I had found at a textile sale.

The finished product turned out well and I thought it would be a nice piece for my bathroom although I really do visualize it with a nice desk one day (solid wood desk that is).  Let's hope I find that some day soon. 

Before

After

Whimsy and Cinderella for Juliet

Before

My niece is turning 3 this year and is ready for a "big girl" bed.  When her mom asked what type of bed she wanted, Juliet quickly replied "A Cinderella bed...with glass slippers."  It is incredible that one little sentence from one little girl could cause such a tornado of activity - mostly caused by her crazy aunts who immediatly charged into action when they were asked for help.

So how does one go about creating a "Cinderella" bed without purchasing all the lovely crap items that a certain mouse lead conglomerate produces on a regular basis?  We opted to stick to a royal theme and added elements from the movie to create a little whimsy and elegance perfect for a little lady.

 We started with the crown - a beautiful focal piece from a local antique shop in Toronto to anchor the room and have white tulle curtains dreamily flow down to the bed.  As the crown was not meant to be mounted to a wall - I was ever so grateful for my brother's mad design skills and the fantastic wooden mount he was able to create.

We choose beautiful Michael Miller fabric in glittery damask and crown patterns, added little mice from Ikea and of course, glass slippers!

And the whimsey - we added hand made blue birds to hold back the netting, similar to the blue birds  that hold up Cinderella's veil at the end of the film.

My sister-in-law accessorized the room with a beautiful mirror, hung at toddler height for a cozy costume nook and added some vintage flair in the form of an antique lamp and her Cinderella storybook that belonged to her when she was young.

The addition of crystal knobs to the existing dresser and new blue-stripped curtains added to the overal royal theme.

I know a big question is coming to mind - where was my niece when all of this was going down?  We enlisted my mother to keep her busy in the backyard and kept the door closed in time for a big reveal!

So it does take a village - but was so worth the effort as you can see from the reaction below.

Crown Hardware