Re-Thinking B's Room

One of the hardest things I find about designing a space for my own home is that I am so indecisive. I think it's because we, as designers are exposed to so much & the options are endless, so it makes it hard to choose sometimes. For a client I have the main direction pretty much set from the get go & stick very close to it but, when it comes to my own home, I flip flop like a fish out of water. 

I began pulling together all of the pieces for B's room & found myself questioning the plan. So, I went back to the drawing board as they say & I have come up with something even better. There is no turning back cuz stuff has been purchased/ordered.

In recently months I have painted my Intertwine pattern as drapery for clients, if your unfarmiliar it looks like this - KW inspired.

As I'm painting away B always says how much she likes it, but she would choose pink instead, Benjamin Moore Deep Carnation to be exact! So creamy white linen drapery with pink lines, was my new jumping off point.

The walls are getting some surface applied mouldings and EVERYTHING is being painted Benjamin Moore Oxford White.

Gold polka dots will adorn the ceiling.

These 2 fun prints will get large white mattings & satin gold frames.

This faux bamboo Pagoda lovlieness will hang from the ceiling

I also hope to paint a small round table & 2 chairs that are currently in the playroom, so she can enjoy tea parties in her room & they will get painted Benjamin Moore Whirlpool CC-910

We are one step closer to getting all of the components for the closet transformation, when it's complete it will look something like this.

Brass rods will happen but, do I do crystal pulls or sleek satin gold pulls? 

I will spend tomorrow painting the drapery fabric, so Monday I will give a little sneak peek. 

Monday is also Canada Day, so in honour of this fine Country I will highlight some Canadian goodness.

Have lovely weekend friends:)

Designer Spotlight - J.D. IRELAND

Today's Designer Spotlight is on

& it's amazing duo

Joe Ireland and Julie Weber, principal owners, are both native Washingtonians. They met for the first time in 1991 and, after discovering a shared passion for design and a similar aesthetic, decided to combine their talents into what is now J.D. Ireland. The firm has been spotlighted in The Washington Post, exclusive magazines, and featured on local and national TV programs, including HGTV’s “Curb Appeal.”

Take a look at some of their work.

The ceiling detail & colour

Industrial meets classic

Simplicity & a great way to address an odd window

easy & lived in- great wall shelving too

sleek & welcoming with separation from the kitchen

Amazing way to deal with the underside & the area under the stairs

Warm family feeling

Classic details with modern day feel

To learn more about Julie & Joe, & to see more amazing design click here.

See you tomorrow.

65% Off Now at Pillotopia!!!

The Pillotopia Sale is still happening but only until July 15th. There is still a few items remaining and has all be further reduced to 65% OFF - no further reductions will be made.

So now is the perfect time to pick up something like this,

Use coupon code CLEAROUT65 at the checkout.

See you back here tomorrow with a Designer Spotlight!

25 Things You Don't Know About Me #3 - Sarah From Prairie Perch

The 3rd instalment of "25 Thing" is Sarah from

I began reading Prairie Perch about 6 months ago, it's on daily rotation & is a real winner in my books. Always full of awesome images & inspiration, I look forward to Sarah's Top 5 Series too. Let me just say that this girl from the Canadain Prairie's knows good style.

25 things about little ol' me. (In no particular order.)

1. As a teenager I took riding lessons and competed here and there in equestrian competitions. 

2. Mice terrify me.

3. I want to eat chocolate every day. 

4. My husband is my best friend. Married 7 years.

5. 1,600 people live in my small town. 

6. I can't decide on one favourite colour but pink and blue are definitely favourites.

7. I've run a marathon. Never again. 

8. I like to cook (mostly because I like to eat). 

9. Are we there yet? 25 is a lot! 

10. I'm not that interesting. 

11. I chase after 2 little kids all day, and for some reason, I'm thinking I want to add another little one to the tribe. 

12. I sew curtains and pillows. Once upon a time I sewed a dress, and that will not likely happen again.

13. I teach piano lessons. 

14. I homeschool my kids. 

15. I'm growing my first garden this summer. 

16. 30 is happening in August. Yikes! 

17. Being under water is one of my favourite places to be (until I run out of air of course). 

18. I wore braces as a teenager but ever body seems to these days.

19. I like white. 

20. We don't own a tv. Netflix is my friend. 

21. I live in jeans. 

22. I'm a wanna be artist.

23. I clear my throat a lot. 

24. I live with the grammer police. 

25. Coffee is a necessity.

There you have it! If you've not read Sarah's blog before start now by clicking here.

I'm off to a preschool graduation. Have a great Tuesday!

My Latest & Favorite Pins

Happy Monday!

I find Pinterest is a big time suck. I do mean that in a great way.
You can get completely lost in pin after pin and before you know it and hour or two has come & gone.  I try to limit it to 30 minutes a day, give or take. So, in my allotted 3.5 hours last week that I was pinning, here are my top 5 faves.

Art. Lighting. Orange.

I'm dying iver the magenta painted millwork and the wallpapered on the backs of the shelves.

The headboard, wall colour and fabrics are fresh

Everything about this office space is perfection!

I love the hood, floor and the black subway wall tile.

Follow my on Pinterest and I will follow you back. Just click on the Pinterest button on the left.

Powder Room Redo

Good Morning.

Sorry for the lack of post yesterday time got away from me. It's hard to believe that this current school year is almost over. Today is B & O's last day of preschool ever! It makes me both happy & sad all at the same time. I don't understand where the last 4 1/2 years have gone; it would be so nice to have a little one in the house again.

Besides babies, I've been thinking about the possibilities for my main floor powder room. When we first moved in 9 years ago it was looking really great, but now the wallpaper seams are starting to peel back & O got his hands on something pointy & began hitting the walls and left a lovely cluster of holes! 

Over the years it got a few minor tweaks - drapery panels & the ceiling, trim & door getting a coat of glossy black. Now with 2 kids who use this washroom for brushing teeth it needs to be a bit more piratical - we need better lighting, storage for all their stuff, extra towels, soaps & toilet paper.

Here is how the room looks now.

Here is what my wish is for the powder room looks like.

wallpaper

sconces

ceiling fixture

vanity

faucet

art

mirror

The existing slate floor has to stay as well as the drapery panels, but the blind will be replaced, maybe in a colour pulled out from the art work, not quite sure yet. I'm not expecting to do this anytime in the near future, perhaps in the new year.

First up will B's room - go here to see the befores and my plan - I have had a change of heart on the drapery and cushions, but when I make a final decision I will share it. This will all happen & be completed when she is gone to the cottage for a week with my Mom.

Don't forget that Pillotopia is currently offering 50% off everything listed 

- use coupon code CLEAROUT50 -  

The new shop will relaunch with some fab stuff August 1st.

Interested in working together or sponsorship? Leave me a comment!

25 Things You Don't Know about Me - #2 MFAMB

For today's 25 Things I've got someone you all know, or you should get to know now.
It's Jenny from MFAMB.

If you don't already read Jenny's exploits of hilarity you must, she's the only person who can talk about poop and toots and be so cool about it! The writer behind this great blog is also an actress, a kick ass artist & has a keen eye for interiors too!

So with out further ado, Heeerrrreee's JENNY! (try to imagine that in Ed McMahon's voice)

~~~~~~~~~~

1. i am a sagittarius

2. i had sex with 80's asshole heart-throb, craig sheffer.  he stuck it in my butt.

3. i have only had butt sex 1 time.

4. i hate cheese.

5. i am an actress first and foremost. a painter second.

6. i like cats the best. 

7. i want to live on a farm. with lots of cats. 

8. my favorite foreign city is london.

9. the only foreign country i've been to is england.

10. i don't go a lot of places.

11. i hate people who are late all the time.  seriously, if you are late a lot and were wondering if i hated you.  you wondered correct. 

12. i did improv comedy for 15 years.

13. i love wes anderson films more than all those people who say they love wes anderson films.

14. i would have voted for jimmy carter if i could have voted back then. 

15. i am a weak atheist. 

16. i eat puffed rice cereal with agave and coconut milk before bed every day.

17. i love to clean my ears out with qtips. i go deep. i can't hear very well in my left ear. do you think this is the reason? 

18. i can watch hot fuzz any time. it doesn't even matter what's happening. i will stop that shit immediately to watch. 

20. i love gardening.  but it's hard.

21. i can't wait to drink my coffee every morning. in fact i really can't wait to go to sleep at night just so i can wake up and drink my coffee.

22. you might be still wondering if #2 is even true. it is. and so is #3.

23. i am in love with my tv.

24. i like wine a lot. one of my dreams is to drink and eat my way through france. i intend to get gout as a result.

25. my daughter is the love of my life. 

~~~~~~~~~~

When I first asked Jenny to participate in this new & fun series, her reaction went like this
"yes! believe it or not i LIVE for those gay ass (i mean that in the best way possible) questionnaire things. count me in! So I knew with that response that she would come up some goodies.


If you want to read "25 Things You don't Know About Me #1 - Hollie from TPZ"- click here

Have a wicked day kids!

Week End Round Up & Sara Wilde Photography

I hope you had a nice weekend. Mine was very nice, thank you. My hubby & I attended the wedding of his friends on Saturday and it was so simple, personable & a ton of fun! It took place at the Enoch Turner School House in Toronto, an old school house that has been turned into an event space. The couple really ran with the whole school house theme, books, lined paper, typewrite font, library cards & date stamps.

A stack of vintage school books were the perfect base for the collection of
mismatched glass vases that held an assortment of colourful flowers.

The place cards were library cards.

Each table was called up to the buffet when their song played. The song related to the guests at the table.

The front of the ceremony space was so simple. Vintage letters, representing the first names of the bride & groom. More collected glass vases held clusters of colourful blooms & the only source of light in the room was 4 strings of vintage bulbs.

The take aways were home made apple jam - delicious!

The photography for the event was taken by Sara Wilde Photography. 

I could just tell that this gal was getting some great pics, so I perused out her portfolio and by golly, she's good! So much so that we are planning a little photo session for ourselves. Check out he amazingness by Sara.

To see more of Sara click here.

Later Gators!