Monthly Archives: August 2012
Long and Winding Road …
On a recent drive up north I took a bunch of photos out the car window and played with the image settings. I was with a couple of girlfriends and it was nice to sit in the passenger seat and not have to be the snack lady to the three hungry boys in the back!
I get inspired by car rides. I am able to think clearer and get the ideas out of my head and on paper. I love staring at the shapes of the clouds, the curve in the road and the colour of the green fields against a blue sky.
There is something about driving on a road that you’ve been along more times than you can count but seeing it with fresh eyes. Here’s a taste of what I saw …
Are you ever inspired by car rides?
Potty Talk: Wall Hung Toilets
Yes, I’m talking toilets today. Not exactly the prettiest thing in a bathroom to be sure but it is certainly the most functional and, well … you get the point!
I am working on a project right now where the architect specified a wall hung toilet for the powder room. It is the first time I have come across a wall hung toilet in a residential application so I thought I would share with you a little about wall hung toilets.
Wall hung toilets are a practical choice when space is an issue. They can save you anywhere from 7″ – 9″ inside the room as the tank is housed in the wall instead of sitting on the floor. The particular space I am working with is a powder room that has been created out of an otherwise dead space under the stairs.
In addition to the space saving advantages wall hung toilets can create a modern look to a bathroom.
Duravit carries wall hung toilets and Toto has a wall hung toilet as well.
While wall hung toilets have a very practical application they do come with a higher price tag and are more labour intensive to install. There can also be challenges when plumbing repairs might be required as the tank is built into the wall and not always easily accessed.
Despite the disadvantages, wall hung toilets can make an otherwise ordinary bath fixture come to life.
What do you think? Do you have a wall hung toilet in your house?
A Neutral Palette Mixed with Colour
I love to create a neutral canvas to start in a home and then add accents of colour throughout. This Atlanta home featured in this month’s edition of House Beautiful is a stunning example of how a neutral backdrop can sing when you add colour to it.
Check it out:
Colour is not the only element that makes this space special. The designer, Kay Douglass, plays with scale and proportion particularly in the light fixtures and furnishings. Attention to the architectural details is also shown in the ceilings and windows.
How do you like colour in your home? Do you use it as a dominant feature or as an accent in a neutral space?
photos via House Beautiful
Going Home … What it Means to Me
One of my blogger friends Lisa writes a fantastic blog called Wicked & Weird. She has been away this month visiting her parents in New Brunswick and asked me to write a guest post on what Going Home means to me. Take a minute to check it out!
What does Going Home mean to you?
Feeling Kinda Fernney
Is “Fernney” even a word? Me thinks no. But here’s the deal …
I love having fresh flowers and greenery on my front porch. It just finishes the house. Back in May I bought two beautiful baskets to hang. They were stunners … I had neighbours asking me where I got them they were so fabulous. Then it got hot and we were on holidays and, up until this morning, I had this hanging:
Aren’t they sad little things?
So I popped by one of my favourite flower markets today to see what was there. I’m not ready to make the full transition to fall flowers and it seemed silly to be buying summer flowers at this point in the season so I came up with a compromise …
A little leafy, Fernney goodness! Check it out:
Ferns! Aren’t they pretty?!
What do you do when you are in need of a fresh look and it is between seasons?
A Kitchen: From Dated to Ahhhhhh
I have been working with a client on their kitchen renovation and I am pleased to say it is now complete!
Previously, the kitchen had an awkward layout with sizable counter returns making it difficult for two people to cook together. It also had some lovely wallpaper that had to go. Here’s a peek of what we started with:
We opened the space up to create two long counter runs and stretched the cabinetry from end to end of the kitchen. This created tons of storage and eliminated awkward corner cupboards. At one end of the kitchen will be a small desk space. The other end will be a small sitting space but could also be turned into a breakfast area in the future.
As with anything the devil is in the details. My client has an impeccable sense of style and knows what she likes. I loved it!
The cabinet profile, the cabinet hardware, sink and backsplash all had very clean lines. This was contrasted by the waterfall-like movement of the glass in the cabinet doors, the curve of the faucet and the pattern in the wallpaper.
We went with a 4×12 white backsplash, stacked the tile and used a darker grout. Classic with a twist.
The wallpaper turned out beautifully (it had just been hung when I took this picture so is still a bit wet).
Delta Faucets very kindly provided the faucet for this project. It’s the Delta Pilar in arctic stainless finish. The curve of the faucet contrasts the more linear elements in the kitchen. It had the Touch 2.0 technology which takes some getting used to if you haven’t had it before but is a handy feature.
We replaced the old ceiling fan with a contemporary, quieter and more powerful fan.
The kitchen floor had new hardwood installed and stained on site to match the existing floor in the living and dining room areas. The front hall tile was also replaced with a hexagon shaped tile – simple yet elegant.
The TV was mounted on the wall and can be viewed from either the kitchen or the sitting area – planning ahead on where your cabling will run and how your components are housed is a must.
My clients are very pleased with the result – as am I! Here is another shot for your viewing pleasure …
If you would like help creating the kitchen of your dreams give me a call!
Shadow Dancing Anyone?
Things have been a little hairy this week so no blog posts 😦
Gonna do some shadow dancing to rev myself up again. Be back next week!!
Catalogue Love: Dwell Studio
Ever want to live in a catalogue? I used to feel that way about the J Crew catalogue – I could picture myself in the clothes, staring off into the distance with a gorgeous man on my arm … I (clearly!) digress.
This week, I received the summer catalogue for Dwell Studio and loved the spaces shown. Dwell Studio is based in New York and run by Christaine Lemieux, a Canadian ex-pat. I might be a little obsessed with the fabrics and love their furniture line!
Here are some of the rooms I’d like to live in if I lived in the Dwell Studio catalogue:
Could you live here?
all images via the Dwell Studio Summer Catalogue
New Blinds for the Kids – Finally!
Remember ages ago when I posted about fabrics I was considering for the my kids rooms? Well, I finally made a decision and lordy-be – installed the blinds! I had Roman blinds made because I like how they sit flush with the window. I also had blackout lining added to darken the room (as they get the bright morning sun) and to prevent damage to the fabric from harmful UV rays.
I’m not sure it’s helping the kids sleep any later in the morning but they sure do look pretty!
Here is room #1:
and up close!
And in room #2 …
I love how well they turned out! They were made by Tonic Living and were super easy to install too!
I’m a huge fan of Roman blinds. What about you?
ReDesigning Sarah 