Swanky Digs

The Uptown

2012-01-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

Images by Judith Umbach via Calgary Public Library

The cover article from the latest issue of Swerve is one that really resonated with me. Written by Jeremy Klaszus, the article is about the hard times that have fallen on Calgary's first skyscraper, the Barron Building, and the Uptown Theatre. This great building and its equally great theatre are stuck in the middle of a messy court case. The Uptown has had to close its doors, and its future is uncertain. (You can find out more by reading the Swerve article for yourself right here.)

I loved the Uptown. It was my favorite movie theatre in the city. I loved the character and history of the place. Its grandeur may have been slightly faded, maybe a little rough around the edges, but that only added to its charm. I'd rather see a movie in that great old theatre than some shiny new megaplex any day. I have great memories of seeing great films with great friends in that theatre. I hope I will be able to again someday. A Facebook page, Save the Uptown, has been set up. If you feel like I do, maybe you should check it out.

Nurseries On the Brain

2012-01-13T22:21:00.021-07:00

Babay's Room 2 by tara771 on polyvore.com

Blissliving Home "Kew" Green Shower Curtain
$100 - bloomingdales.com

knitted pool pouf in ottomans, benches | CB2
$90 - cb2.com

knitted camo pouf in ottomans, benches | CB2
$90 - cb2.com

Skip Hop Treetop Friends 4-piece Set - Best Price
$10 - diapers.com

Reversible Persimmon Round Bath Rug
$9.95 - crateandbarrel.com

Bungalow Rocker by Nurseryworks, Chairs & Rockers,Playroom Furniture,...
$800 - rosenberryrooms.com

No, no, no, I am NOT pregnant. But my little sister is!!! (Congrats Christie & Mark!) I am so excited. And of course Auntie Tara is itching to decorate "Wee Annett's" room. That may pose a bit of a challenge given that I'm in Alberta and my sister lives in Ontario. But we have our ways. What did we do before the Internet?

Mom & Dad to-be have decided to keep baby's gender a surprise, so we are going to have to keep it fairly neutral. (Although I personally find the whole pink is for girls and blue is for boys idea rather outdated. As a friend of mine once declared in defence of his new pink T shirt, "Kanye West wears pink". And I'm a girl who loves my blues. But just for the record, I would never in a million years name my daughter after said color. Just sayin'.)

My sister sent me a link to some crib bedding she really likes, so I went on Polyvore to see what I could put together with it. This is already Version 2. I'm sure there will only be about 50 more. Oh and Sister, if you are reading this, I paid absolutely no attention to how much any of this stuff costs. But Mark won't care, right?

I'm just not sure how I feel about this...

2012-01-06T23:44:00.000-07:00

So you know those toilet paper roll covers that Cottonelle has been advertising? I have to say that I really thought this was a dumb idea and a lame marketing ploy - this whole "respect the role" thing. I honestly didn't think people were going to seriously buy these things. Then I'm watching TV yesterday, and there is a new Cottonelle commercial advertising these TP covers designed by... Jonathan Adler!? I. Just. I mean. What? I like Jonathan Adler. I think he is a talented designer - bright, cheery, and fun. But licensing his patterns for toilet paper covers? Really? Is J.A. just in it for the money or is he really a supporter of roll covering? Maybe this is just his sense of humor. Or maybe I just need a better one.

Showhome!

2011-11-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

I just realized it's been a while since I've posted any pics of my work. (Well, yes, it's been a while since I've posted anything at all, I know.) This is a duplex showhome I did earlier this year. It's kind of sparkly and glam - what with the sequined pillows, crystal light fixtures, zebra prints and what have you. Not necessarily my personal style, but it was fun. Decent photos too, right? Yeah, that's because I didn't take them. They are the professional photos that were shot for the company's website.

Oh Ikea, why do you torture me this way?

2011-08-29T21:16:00.000-06:00

I need counter stools. And I want red ones. So when I stumbled upon these red Ikea stools while surfing the net I was so excited. They would be perfect. Except there's no sign of them on the Ikea website. I'm pretty sure they've stopped carrying them. I might cry.

There is progress!

2011-08-15T21:24:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I finally have some pics to show of my place. (Sorry about the quality. Too much coffee = jittery hands = slightly blurry photos.) But look! Pretty decent, right? In case you've forgotten what it looked like before I bought it, here's a reminder:

So what have I done? Had the walls repainted, replaced the appliances, painted the cabinets and bought new cabinet hardware. Painted the countertops (with melamine paint that is holding up not too badly. This was really meant to be a temporary fix until I can afford new counters.) I covered the chipped white backsplash tiles with mosaic Smart Tiles. So easy - just cut, peel & stick! Other than the appliances, I didn't spend much money. Some paint, inexpensive cabinet hardware from Ikea, Smart Tiles from Home Depot, and a few inexpensive plates on the wall to add a bit of color. (Really inexpensive - the red & white one was $2 at Home Sense.) Has my fresh new kitchen inspired me to cook more? One step at a time people, one step at a time.

Of course I squeezed in some shopping!

2011-06-11T22:54:00.002-06:00

There wasn't a lot of time to shop on the trip, but I did manage to pick up this amazing cushion cover in Budapest. There was this lovely little shop called Folkart Craftsman's House that sells original Hungarian handicraft products. This felt piece is embroidered with a traditional applique design. I'm rather in love with it.

Vacation Photos!!!

2011-06-03T21:39:00.025-06:00

So I'm back from my trip to Hungary! I didn't mention before that I was going cuz it's probably not the best idea to advertise on the internet that your home's going to be empty for a while... It was a family vacation - my sister, brother-in-law and I took my Dad to see the country his family came from. It's been a lifelong dream of his to see where his parents grew up, and I'm so glad we were finally able to make it happen. This also happened to be my first trip to Europe! It kind of blew my mind a little ;) The pics above were all taken in Budapest. Such a beautiful city with so much history. I was taking pictures like a crazy person. Here are a few. I'm still trying to organize them so I'll share more later.

P.S. Jet lag sucks.

Mothers' Day

2011-05-06T22:28:00.007-06:00

My Mom & Me - 1977

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Work has been beyond busy and I just haven't had the time. With Mothers' Day coming up this Sunday, I did want to take a moment to pay tribute to my amazing mother I lost seven months ago. My wonderful sister beat me to it with a lovely tribute on her new blog. She expressed everything I wanted to say so beautifully that I decided to link to her post instead. If you are fortunate enough to have a great mom who is still with us this Mothers' Day, be thankful. And TELL her you're thankful! Go call your mom, peeps.

Tea Time

2011-04-22T22:11:00.003-06:00

image via Anthropologie

I was checking out the Anthropologie website the other day and came across these Six Sister Spoons. This colorful set of six teaspoons are made from laser-cut acrylic. Aren't they just so pretty? I think they'd look really cute mounted in a shadow box-type frame -- wall art for the kitchen or dining room. Just a thought.

Oooooooh.

2011-04-11T20:55:00.001-06:00

I saw these India Mahdavi stools in a Ralph Pucci add in Elle Decor. Aren't they just glorious? That's really about all I have to say.

My New "Dresser"

2011-04-04T21:39:00.002-06:00

The doors before

I drilled holes in the middle and added cabinet knobs. Then I used contact cement to attach ceiling medallions and added a bead of caulking around the edges to fill in any gaps. (The knobs and ceiling medallions I got at Home Depot.)

The finished product

My bedroom isn't really what you would call spacious. I like to think of it as cozy. I needed a dresser, but placing one in front of my baseboard heaters would take up too much space. I found these wall cabinets at Ikea and mounted two of them above the baseboards. The doors needed a little something, so I added cabinet knobs and attached ceiling medallions to dress them up. Now I just need to tweak what's going on above the cabinets. I think I might repaint the mirror again. I just need to decide on a color...

Now that is one heck of a DIY.

2011-03-30T22:42:00.003-06:00

image via Remodelista

I came across this pic on Remodelista the other day. The house, designed by architects Anderson Anderson, was first featured in Dwell. Check out the chandelier. It's "made from tree branches wrapped with crystals and light strands." Amazing, right? Wonder if it was inspired by this...

Spring has sprung... well, indoors it has anyway.

2011-03-26T21:41:00.011-06:00

The weather here has been sucking. Gray and snowy. Boo. So it was nice to come across some spring-like color when running errands at Superstore today. They had these fun bath accessories in such great colors. Towels, bath mats, and rubber-finish bath accessories. And did you notice the prices? Along with the bath stuff there were sheet sets, too. I know the mirrors aren't colorful, but I couldn't resist snapping a pick. I thought they were a pretty good find for $49.00.

Pretty Pretty Rugs

2011-03-24T21:20:00.003-06:00

Find all images here

Randall Gallant over at Shaun Ford Design was good enough to let me know about this fantastic product line they are carrying from Belgium called Limited Edition. SFD has some pics on their Facebook page, but you really need to check out the website, too. How beautiful are these rugs? I'm not sure how I'd feel about hiding any of the gorgeousness under furniture. (Oh, and SFD has an authentic refurbished Turkish rug - and samples - in their showroom.) Randall also sent me a link to EDITION Magazine. I haven't really read any of it yet cuz I was too busy looking at the great photos. Us designers, so easily distracted by pretty pictures :)

Thanks for the tip Randall!

I sooooooo need to get one of these!

2011-03-18T22:29:00.023-06:00

image via Gizmine

I saw these fantastic humidifiers on the Nate Berkus show. They so don't look like humidifiers! They're stylish! And they come in pretty colors! How great is this? Especially for a designer living in crazy dry Calgary who gave away her humidifier because it was ugly? (That would be me.)

Yes, Yes, Yes.

2011-03-12T23:16:00.007-07:00

image via Lonny

I was just looking at the most recent issue of Lonny and came across this pic. The grasscloth wallpaper is a lot like the stuff I put in my bedroom, and the plan has been to get an upholstered headboard as soon as finances allow. This is one for the inspiration file...

Condo Update

2011-02-18T20:17:00.017-07:00

So here's a little preview of how the condo's coming along. The table is from Ikea. It extends to seat four people. There are three other chairs. The seats on the chairs used to be brown, but the wrong brown to match the table. (Oh and the table is the same color as the pantry you see in the background.) I was planning to paint the chair seats and I maybe still will. Eventually. The thing is, the melamine paint I planned to use really stinks, and it's a tad cold out to open windows. So... I kinda cheated. I painted the edges with white acrylic paint and covered the tops with white contact paper. I may end up painting the green knick knack thingies too, but I haven't picked a color yet. The teapot painting (which I did a while ago for my old place) is covering up the ugly old intercom that doesn't work anymore. Notice the red 'S'? Yes, it's this one I blogged about. Turns out having a blog is a great way of inadvertently giving your friends Christmas gift suggestions ;)

Shiny, Happy Colors

2011-02-10T20:49:00.026-07:00

The Style at Home/Home Hardware/Home Furniture Booth

The Style at Home Booth - wall mural by Alanna Cavanagh

Modern Weave Rugs

New Caribbean Design Guyana

Planters at the Urban Mode Booth

It was warm here today. It's supposed to be warm for the next several days, actually. Things are thawing. Stuff's melting. I know winter isn't over, but it's a little reminder that spring will arrive eventually. Which has me thinking about bright, cheery colors. There were some great pops of color on display at IDS. No, I'm not done milking it yet. There was a lot of stuff there, okay?

Not a gig for the claustrophobic.

2011-02-04T21:16:00.021-07:00

There was a model in here, but she snuck out the back.

Cambria quartz had a rather creative display idea at their IDS booth - designed by Ramsin Khachi. They had four little room "exhibits" behind glass, complete with live models. It was kind of like interior design show meets natural history museum. Sorry the pics are so crappy. Combine my mad-dashing with zero photography skills and reflective glass, and well...

My whirlwind trip to IDS

2011-02-02T22:00:00.027-07:00

So I just got back last night from my work trip to Toronto. It was mostly a buying trip (Toronto Gift Show), but we managed to get in a quick tour of IDS 2011. Yeah, it was really quick. I was snapping as many photos as I could while trying to keep up with my speed walking boss :) In the end I managed to take over a hundred photos. As I weed through 'em I'll post the goodies. These are a little taste from the Snob booth. I'm planning a new showhome with black, white and gold accents (paired with gray), so this display really grabbed my attention. I love the combination of modern and ethnic pieces. Does that make me a snob?

Sometimes being a homeowner totally blows.

2011-01-20T20:21:00.017-07:00

Image via LG

So I buy a condo. Replace all the crappy old appliances except the stacking washer/dryer because it's slightly less old and slightly less crappy. Three months later the washer and dryer crap out. Find out the reason old dryer hose emptied into a bucket instead of being vented is not because old owner was lazy, but because condo board won't allow dryer vents to be installed. Just ordered this ventless washer/dryer combo unit that cost more than all my other new appliances combined.

It's Yellow. I like yellow.

2011-01-14T15:51:00.001-07:00

image via Crate & Barrel

This birdcage is cute. And since I have a couple of Crate & Barrel gift cards burning a hole in my pocket, I may just have to bring it home. If I can think of a place to put it...

Maybe one day...

2011-01-10T22:10:00.010-07:00

All images via Apartment Therapy

I came across this post the other day on Apartment Therapy about organizing your craft room. It is just the inspiration I need. My spare bedroom is going to be my office/craft room. I say "going to be" because right now it's a place of total chaos - where I stash all the stuff I haven't found a place for yet. That, and boxes I haven't gotten around to unpacking yet. Sad. But someday (hopefully sooner rather than later) I am going to tackle this mess and turn it into a functional space. I hope I can make it look as pretty as all of these examples. Oh... big job. Kinda scared.

Well this place is pretty swanky.

2010-12-30T22:52:00.001-07:00

All images via Fabulous House Designs

I came across these pics of actor Joel McHales' Hollywood Hills home when I was flipping through my sister's InStyle magazine the other day. It's got a glam, Hollywood regency thing going on that's very cool. Joel's wife is a designer who used to work for Kelly Wearstler, which doesn't come as a surprise when you see this house. The hexagonal dining table reminds me of the hexagonal coffee table my parents bought in the 70's. I never cared for it much as a kid, but I wish I had that table now. Actually, the sideboard in the photo also kind of reminds me of the doors on the side tables that went with that coffee table. Damn.

Yay new rug!

2010-12-27T19:41:00.008-07:00

My new Dash & Albert area rug arrived the other day. I'm pretty happy with it. I quite like how my coffee table looks on it. I'm not showing you the rest of the room yet because it's not even close to being done. You can catch a little glimpse of my charcoal sofa in the bottom corner. Now that I've got the neutrals down, it's time to get some pops of color going. Right now all that includes is my pink Christmas poinsettia. That and the great yellow cover of the hilarious Amy Sedaris book Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People (an Xmas present from my sister).

Lamp Fix

2010-12-14T21:20:00.006-07:00

$23 Home Sense lamp with cheap looking orange shade + a bottle of matte black fabric paint = new bedside lamp. Yay.

This post brought to you by the letter S

2010-12-09T19:43:00.014-07:00

image via Hindsvik's Etsy shop

I have had this long running obsession with the idea of having a big ass piece of font. Do you know what I mean? Like when someone salvages a huge letter from an old neon sign and turns it into a piece of art. I know I've seen some cool examples in the past, but it was before my blogging days and I never thought to bookmark them. Anyway... I came across this Etsy shop via Design Sponge today, and I so want this red S for my new place! How cool is that? Actually, they have a lot of great stuff. I could get into a lot of trouble. They have some other letters too, but both my parents' names happen to start with this particular letter, so I think this would be a nice little homage to Steve & Suzanne :)

Great Photos

2010-12-07T21:38:00.001-07:00

all photos via Door Sixteen

I am really into these pics taken by Anna over at Door Sixteen. I'm always intrigued by roadside architecture and great old signs like these. I often think I should hop in my car with my camera one day and snap some pics of the ones I've spotted around town - before they're gone - cuz I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Maybe this is the inspiration I need to finally do it. In the spring. When it's warm. And the roads are clear. And it's still light out after 4pm.

A House in Texas

2010-12-03T22:33:00.016-07:00

Just wanted to share some pics from a house tour I found over at Martha Stewart. This is the family home of designer Kimberly Renner. I especially enjoy the DIY elements she's incorporated. The ceiling installation at the top of the stairs is made from fishing line and vintage postcards, and there are bookcases in the dining room made from cinderblocks. I also love her sons' bathroom with the black rubber floors and tiled red cross. But the orange steel vanity in the master bath is giving me flashbacks to my days working at Home Depot. You know, the orange steel racking? Just me?

Bah, Humbug.

2010-11-25T20:26:00.008-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. Really. But I was assigned to showhome tree-decorating duty at work this week, and I'm a little treed out. This is the fourth tree in two days. At least this one was pre-lit. The two yesterday were not. The box of decorations assigned to this tree were all silver and red. Since there are blue accents in this house, I bought some teal blue ornaments to throw into the mix. (There I go with the blue again!)

I know! Why don't I spend another weekend painting!?

2010-11-22T18:30:00.002-07:00

Yeah, so after I repainted all my cabinets the countertops really looked like crap. I was hoping to replace them, but if I want money left to, you know, like, feed myself and stuff, it just isn't an option right now. So.... I took the plunge and painted them, too. I know that painting countertops seems like a risky undertaking, but according to numerous websites it's doable. I used the same melamine paint I used on the cabinets, and so far it seems to have worked. I'm showing you the bathroom, but I did the same in the kitchen. Not the most durable option in the world, but I don't cut on my counters or anything. And if I'm really being honest, I don't even really cook. They don't have to last forever, just until I can afford to replace them. And it really does look way better than the speckled gray laminate that was there before. The solid white does show everything, but it's actually a good motivator for me to keep them clean.

What I've been up to.

2010-11-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

So, I've been spending a lot of my time working on the new place. I'll try to start posting on a more regular basis so I can keep you fine people up to speed. One of the first tasks was painting my cabinets. A rather tedious process, but I'm pretty happy with the result. The white melamine doors were awful - the edges were all yellowed and starting to peel. It really is amazing the difference some paint and new hardware can make. After ordering new appliances the budget was pretty tight, so this really freshened things up without costing a fortune. It's all looking a bit grayish right now, I know, but I'm not done yet! And don't worry, the back splash isn't staying! I'll post pics of the completed kitchen once it's, well, complete. Or at least a little closer to it.

My Mom

2010-11-13T20:02:00.008-07:00

Mom, my sister & I on my sister's wedding day.

This is an incredibly difficult post for me to write. On September 25, my mother passed away after a 13 year struggle with kidney disease. Suzanne Audrey Pallay was the most amazing, kind, courageous, and loving woman I have ever known. She was an extraordinary person and she was dearly loved by so many. She was just the best.

I am so thankful to have an incredible family and wonderful friends to lean on during this difficult time. One friend sent me this lovely message:

"Remember, in most ways we represent the best in our parents. You are a reflection of her - kindness, generosity, caring and grace are all found within you, gifts your mother gave you. Always be the woman your mother helped you become and you will continue to honor her life... P.S. also lots of style as well but I’m not sure if that’s your mother's doing or just something you got on your own."

If I do manage to display any of these characteristics to any degree, it is without a doubt because of my mother. She possessed all of these qualities in spades. Our personal styles may have differed in many ways, but I can certainly count her as one of my biggest influences - whether consciously or not. I love to use the color blue. In fact, I have had my hand slapped at work for using it too often. Blue was my mom's favorite color. We also shared an appreciation for antiques. I remember a family vacation several years ago when we took a detour through New England on our way to Mom's home province of Prince Edward Island. We made my poor father pull over at pretty much every antique store we passed. I have so many great memories of my mom, and I am so thankful for every moment we had together. I just wish there could have been many, many more. I will miss her every day.

My mom was able to see my new condo a couple of times. She was so supportive and encouraging about me buying it. She kept telling me, "I really think you're going to be happy there." As I work at making my house a home, I keep reminding myself of that. All she ever wanted was for her family to be happy, and I want to create a happy home not only for myself but to honor her.

I love you Mom.

It's like design fate.

2010-07-19T22:06:00.016-06:00

I've been considering wallpapering my bedroom in my new place, and I've been agonizing over what wallpaper to use. I've seen a ton of patterns I like, but nothing seemed quite right. After a long evening of scouring the web, I started thinking that maybe I should go for something textural, like a grasscloth, instead of something with a bold pattern.

So, I'm at work the next day when I get an email from my sister. It said "I don't really know what grasscloth is exactly, but I thought of you", and it was a message from her office asking if anyone would be interested in buying four rolls of gray-blue grasscloth that was left over from a recent reno. Seriously? What are the odds of this? Oh, and did I mention they were half price? Clearly this must be a sign from the decorating gods that I am meant to have this wallpaper. Search over.

Yes, I am still alive.

2010-06-29T21:53:00.015-06:00

This is not my stuff - these are the MLS pics.

Had you given up on me? Things are just kind of crazy busy for me these days. My sister's wedding is quickly approaching (I throw her a shower next Sunday. Eeek! Not quite ready) and... I bought a new condo! Okay. not a new condo, but new to me! These are some pics above. It could use a little TLC, but I think I'm up for the challenge. It's a cute little place with a good layout and loads of storage (very important when you own as many shoes as I do). I don't move in until the end of August, but I'll be sure to document the reno process once it begins. Oooooh, a new project!

The Lotto Home

2010-04-30T21:59:00.031-06:00

The Boy's Room

Boy's room again

Playroom. Pretend there's a big screen TV on the wall.

Here they are - the wallpaper animals I wrote about a while ago

It's the playroom again.

Window seat in the playroom. Sorry the picture sucks.

The Children's Hospital lottery house I've been working on opened today. (If you're in Calgary and want to take a tour it's up in Panorama.) I'm pretty happy with how my two rooms turned out. I just wish I'd known not to order a pillow top mattress - it makes the bed look crazy high next to the low nightstand. Oh well. Live and learn. As my co-worker said while I agonized about it: "people will walk in, think 'fun colors', turn around, and walk out." Good point.

Doesn't your yard look like this?

2010-04-22T23:30:00.013-06:00

The Restoration Hardware Garden catalogue arrived in the mail the other day. Now, I must admit I'm really more of an indoor girl (I am an interior designer after all), but the amazing settings in this catalogue are making me wish I had a yard. Well, maybe not just any yard, but one that looks like this. Perhaps with a grand chateau to go along with it...

Get yourself down to The Bay

2010-04-15T21:37:00.011-06:00

image via teakpepper.com

These beautiful salt & pepper mills were designed by Jens Quistgaard in the 1960's for Dansk. Their names (from left to right) are: Rosie, Jane, Hank, Audrey, and Jack. I even love the names! The good news is that Dansk has just reissued them. And according to Canadian House & Home, they are available at The Bay.

Chirp Chirp

2010-04-08T21:10:00.002-06:00

Image via Bed, Bath & Beyond

Image via Macy's

I have admired the Chirp dinnerware collection from Lenox for a while now, but I'm not really in the market for fine china. How did I not know there is also a bath collection? Way to pay attention Tara.

I did this.

2010-03-29T20:30:00.000-06:00

living room

Nook. Excuse the boxes - appliances not installed yet.

Kitchen. Again, try to ignore the boxes and imagine stainless appliances.

Master Bedroom. Is the stag head thing over? If this stag head over the bed is wrong then I don't want to be right.

Boy's room. Like the robot painting? I did that.

Main Bath. I found these little duckies at Micheals. I think they were like $1.50 or something.

I know I've been M.I.A. for a while. Work has just been crazy busy. One of the things I've been so busy working on is this showhome. Above are some not so good pics I took in a hurry. There will be professional ones taken - I'll post those later. Overall, I don't hate this one. I hated the last one I did so this is a step in the right direction. Showhomes are what I like to call "crap-shoot decorating". A lot of the time you're re-using furniture from other showhomes and you only have a photo to go by. You don't get to actually see it until the day it's moved in - and then it's usually too late to do anything about it. Yeah. Fun times. (Well, actually, it can be fun... when it all comes together the way you thought - and hoped - it would.)

They're here!

2010-03-04T20:30:00.013-07:00

image via Romp

I ordered these wallpaper animals for the playroom in the lotto home I'm working on. They're made by artist Inke Heiland in the Netherlands. And they are so cute! I suspect they may end up being my favorite thing in the whole room...

Great house. Great read.

2010-02-26T19:58:00.020-07:00

all images via Dwell

As I think I've confessed before, I spend more time looking at the pictures in design mags and on blogs than I do actually reading them. (I know. Shame, shame.) But I did actually read the entire article on this San Francisco home over at Dwell. And I am pleased to report that I enjoyed it as much as the excellent photos. It was written by Deborah Bishop, who lives here with her husband and two children. You can read it for yourself here.

Save a tree - wipe your face with one of these.

2010-02-23T20:21:00.017-07:00

Plus they're just so darn nice looking. All via Etsy.

It was all good.

2010-02-19T21:48:00.001-07:00

Soooooo, last night was the Speed Design event. I would love to show you some swell photos from the evening, but as I've mentioned before I'm a crap photographer and I won't assault your eyes with my lame attempts. For the inaugural evening it all seemed to go pretty smoothly and the turnout was quite good. The general concensus from everyone I spoke to was that it's a brilliant idea, and both the designers and attendees were excited to be a part of it.

As I wandered around and maybe ever so slightly evesdropped on the occasional consultation, I could see the attendees were making the absolute most of their 45 minutes. (They each got three 15 minute consults). We're talking folders full of photos and drawings and swatches. These people weren't messing around. But it certainly looked like the designers were ready for them.

The BoConcept store looks great, too. Neutral furnishings punctuated by pops of vibrant color in the art and accessories. Lots of black stained wood, which is a refreshing alternative to all the espresso we've been seeing for so long, and some great walnut pieces too. I'm a total sucker for walnut.

If you didn't make it out last night but you're thinking "hey, I'm intrigued by this Speed Design thing. How can I learn more?" Then you may like to know that at next weekend's Home & Garden Show there will be a Speed Design feature on the HGTV main stage - Saturday at 4pm. You're welcome.

Lamp Love

2010-02-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

Mitchell Gold + Bob William's Nola Lamp

I just saw this lamp in the March issue of Lucky. I love this lamp. Yes, yes, I do. Really a lot.

Be There

2010-02-15T20:42:00.002-07:00

image via BoConcept

Have you been to the new BoConcept store in Calgary? I must admit I haven't had a chance yet - but that will change this Thursday. The store will be hosting Avenue Magazine's Speed Design event. (I wrote about it not too long ago, remember?) I'm gonna be there! I've been invited to scope it out and dish the details on this little 'ol blog of mine. So have you got your ticket? C'mon, we can all pull ourselves away from Olympic coverage for one night, can't we?

How have I not blogged about this show before?

2010-02-09T19:43:00.021-07:00

Pure Design is a great show on HGTV that happens to be Canadian. Host Samantha Pynn is fantastic. I love everything she does. I also love that she focuses on green, sustainable design. Not that you would ever really know it by looking at her work - she manages to pull it off without ever sacrificing on style. It also makes me so happy to see how she reuses existing kitchen cabinets. Yes, even really bad cabinets circa 1980! Proof that you don't have to gut your entire kitchen and spend a fortune on new cabinetry to have a fresh new space. One example is Olivia & John's new kitchen (episode 8) above. She also used the existing cabs in Colleen's kitchen reno (episode 11). You can find more examples of Samantha's stellar work here.

20x200

2010-02-02T22:14:00.002-07:00

The Emptiness Left by a Denial of the Use for which it was Intended by Colin Blakely

Untitled (Let's Get Lost) by Shaun Sundholm

132 Birds Leaving AMNH (Response to Jason Polan) by Jane Mount

Untitled (Santa Barbara) (2008) by Liz Kuball

Photographer's Dilemma by Tatsuro Kiuchi

Kind Intruder by Michelle Arcila

(limited editions x low prices) + the internet = art for everyone

This is the formula Jen Beckman uses to make art accessible to the masses on her great site 20x200. Every week two new pieces of art are introduced in three sizes at three price points - the lowest price being $20! I love this idea so much. Above are a few of my faves.

Little Gem

2010-01-25T21:12:00.001-07:00

I'm going to be moving later this year, so I've become rather obsessed with MLS. This place really caught my eye. How cute is this? So refreshing to see someone put so much care into making a very basic apartment into a lovely little home. I especially like the front hall - what a great color on the front door! Nice work MLS #C3407461... whoever you are...

Built for Speed

2010-01-20T21:40:00.000-07:00

Do you live in Calgary? Could you really use some help from one of the city's top designers? Are you a little short on cash to hire one of them? What if I told you that for a mere 89 bucks you could have one evening to pick the brain of a number of hot shot designers? No, no, my dear readers, this is no fantasy. This is Speed Design - a genius idea from the peeps over at Avenue Magazine. It's like speed dating - except you'll go home happy and inspired instead of depressed and craving cookie dough ice cream. Get yourself a ticket and you'll have the chance to spend 10-15 minutes each with some of Calgary's biggest design talents. Oh yeah, there's also free stuff. And wine. Need I say more? For more info and to purchase tickets, click here.

Home Sweet Home

2010-01-16T23:07:00.000-07:00

It's been a rather stressful week. I have not just one, but three spectacular leaks in my ceiling. There are buckets and towels all over my kitchen - a room I haven't really been able to use since Sunday. My ceiling is damaged, as are my walls, baseboards, and floor. The roofer's previous patch attempts have clearly failed, and while it's the responsibility of our condo company to handle the repairs, I worry about how long it's going to take and what kind of ordeal it will be. Fun times. But as upsetting as it is, I know it could be much, much worse. As my best friend reminds me, at least I have a roof over my head (albeit a leaky one). Yes, I have to remember all those in Haiti who have lost their homes - and sadly, many have lost much more than that. So I'm going to keep things in perspective and make a donation to the Red Cross to help those whose problems are so much more real than mine. I suggest everyone reading this do the same.

They make me so happy.

2010-01-14T20:25:00.010-07:00

These are my new boots. I have wanted a pair of boots like these for a long time - I just never found the right ones. Until I spotted these. And they fit my not-so-slender calves. And they cost too much. At least until after Christmas when they went on sale for HALF PRICE with FREE SHIPPING! (Well, they were half price - the price appears to have gone up again.) I love them so much, I have a hard time not staring at my feet all day. I swear I'm really not as shallow as this makes me sound...

Unexpected Inspiration

2010-01-06T21:30:00.002-07:00

A few weeks ago at work I was assigned a new showhome - and it's contemporary. Yay! That night I was hanging out at my friends' house watching Funny People, and something about this apartment kind of inspired me. I liked the green-gray wall with the brown, the warm wood and the retro feel. It's quite masculine, but not so masculine that women would hate it. I think I may do a similar color scheme in my showhome - but maybe a more teal-ish green. (For the record: I have my doubts that three struggling male comics would ever actually live in an apartment this nice. Or this tidy.)

Wait! Don't toss your tree yet!

2010-01-01T14:06:00.001-07:00

image via Readymade

If you had a real tree this Christmas, how 'bout turning it into this funky coat rack? I like - but I admit I'm not crazy about the tree stand at the bottom. I'm thinking there's probably a better way to do it. So somebody try it and let me know. (I didn't have a real tree - fire hazard when you live in an apartment building.)

Pretty.

2009-12-28T22:22:00.006-07:00

image from Lonny via Desire to Inspire

Do you think it's possible to wake up in this room every morning and not be in a good mood? Oh, and did I mention it's in Paris?

I love this idea.

2009-12-22T21:40:00.001-07:00

image via Apartment Therapy

I've finally got some time off. Which means I finally have some time to relax. Which means I've been indulging in a little more wine than usual. Which means when I was going through my bookmarked DIY project ideas and came across this one from Readymade via Apartment Therapy I was rather intrigued. How smart is this? And if you're over the whole chalkboard thing you could do cork or wallpaper or just about anything else you can think of.

Xmas at Ikea

2009-12-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

image via Ikea

I like checking out the holiday decorations at Ikea every year. The stuff is at least a little different and less predictable than the usual Christmas knick knacks out there. Some of it you could almost use the rest of the year... Is that wrong?

They're just so pretty!

2009-12-09T21:38:00.002-07:00

J. Crew's Ella Satin Peep Toes

I haven't even started shopping for a dress for my sister's wedding, but I really think it should be something that will go with these...

I think my next place should have a fireplace.

2009-12-04T22:59:00.022-07:00

image via flickr

It's really snowy in Calgary right now - we're talking Blizzard here people - and no I am not exaggerating. It's the kind of weather that really makes me wish I had a fireplace to curl up in front of. Guess I'll just have to wait a couple of weeks for the Christmas Yule log to start playing on the local cable channel. At least then curling up in front of my tv will be a bit cozier... okay, not so much.

Toys that aren't tacky.

2009-12-01T22:23:00.002-07:00

image via Etsy

If you have little ones to shop for you may have noticed there are a lot of cheap, badly made, and not so nice looking toys out there. These - all from Etsy - are nice and simple old-school wooden toys. Hand made, durable, and they look good - in case they maybe don't end up back in the toy box all the time.

Wow.

2009-11-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

images via Atelier Abigail Ahern

How crazy beautiful is this Neo Baroque Chandelier? Oh yeah, it's crazy expensive too. I'm thinking that designer Abigail Ahern's book A Girl's Guide to Decorating is more within my budget - or perhaps the budget of a friend or family member wondering what to get me for Christmas. Of course, if they'd rather get me the chandelier, I'm cool with that.

I'm dreaming of a new sofa.

2009-11-12T19:55:00.036-07:00

Crate & Barrel's Rachel Sofa

Crate & Barrel's Azure Sofa

Crate & Barrel's The Nines Sofa

EQ3's Byrd Sofa

EQ3's Tavern Sofa

I may possibly need to get a new sofa next year. (If my sister and the fiance need ours I've told them they can have it. Aren't I so nice?) Sooooo.... if I do need one, it has to be a good blend of practicality, durability, affordability and comfort - while still being stylish, of course. These could all be contenders I think.

Lovely Rita

2009-11-10T20:54:00.012-07:00

image via Apartment Therapy

image via NY Times

I loved the stuff Rita Konig used to do for Domino. So nice to see she's now blogging for The New York Times. Do check it out here. (Oh, and how cute is her car?)

I never thought I could get this excited over a drywall hook.

2009-11-03T21:28:00.016-07:00

Image via DrywallHooks.com

I've been super busy setting up a showhome this week. (I may post pics when it's done - if I decide I like it. Right now it's got me feeling kind of ...meh.) Anyway, I've been using some of these drywall hooks to hang pictures. I got mine at Michaels, but you may recall the Hercules Hook infomercials? (R.I.P. Billy Mays.) These things are just so freaking genius. And they hold so much weight! The ones I got hold 50 lbs, which was all I needed, but the Hercules Hooks supposedly hold up to 150 lbs. Just so darn handy.

Living Etc Strikes Again

2009-10-27T22:56:00.016-06:00

All images via Living Etc

There's a feature on the Living Etc site of "Modern Romantic" rooms. Oooooooh.... pretty.

I guess it's called Ace for a reason.

2009-10-20T20:49:00.015-06:00

image via Casa Sugar

I just came across this photo of the Ace Hotel in Portland in the November issue of Lucky. I pretty much love everything about it. Kinda quirky, kinda retro, very cool.

Damn that's a nice dresser.

2009-10-12T20:26:00.013-06:00

image via i suwannee

As much as I love this wallpaper, I feel like it's maybe becoming a little over-used. Having said that, I can't help but fall completely in love with how it looks on this dresser!

What I like about this hotel:

2009-10-01T19:52:00.005-06:00

The suspended glass globes. You could probably do something similar with Christmas ornaments.

Tufted leather sofa as banquette

Who wouldn't want to look at John, Paul, George and Ringo while they brush their teeth in the morning?

Pics are all from the Hotel Felix in Chicago.

Wallpaper. And some other good stuff.

2009-09-29T22:12:00.009-06:00

images via Style at Home

This is the loft of designer Tamara Robbins Griffith and her husband. They've managed to take a very typical condo and make it very interesting. I especially like the textured wallpaper in the living room. It looks kinda like grasscloth maybe? I have had an ongoing fascination with grasscloth for several years now. Haven't actually used it yet - maybe I need to so I can get it out of my system. Or maybe it will become a bigger obsession. I guess we'll see.

Floor!

2009-09-28T09:24:00.000-06:00

image via Apartment Therapy

This is Haus Interior in New York. I love the use of color and pattern - especially the floor! I LOVE that floor!

Marie Claire Maison

2009-09-23T22:15:00.001-06:00

all images via Marie Claire Maison

The article is of course in French, so I don't know anything about this place. But it looks to me like a real place where a real person lives - a real, and chic, and French person.

Etsy Goodness

2009-09-21T21:46:00.000-06:00

So these pillows by hazel & hunter not only look good, they are good - hand made "from a natural cotton-hemp fabric and hand-printed with water-based color." (And the fact they're made in Canada makes them even better in my books.)

1987 called. They want their stuff back.

2009-09-15T22:25:00.009-06:00

Okay, so this is kind of catty, but look at this condo I just saw on MLS! Um, really? This is a penthouse with two balconies in a popular inner city neighbourhood. I hope someone can see past the bad furniture and dated fixtures to the hidden potential. If not, I might know a designer who could help... please let me help. I feel it's my duty.

Lighting for Big Kids

2009-09-14T22:00:00.001-06:00

I saw one like this in an antique shop. It cost a lot more.

these table lamps won't be going in my "traditional" showhome.

this one also comes in orange.

I was on The Land of Nod website looking for inspiration for the kids' bedrooms in the showhome I'm working on. Turns out they have some great lighting that's very affordable and could certainly work for us adults, too. Okay, yes, that chandelier is perhaps not the most mature choice, but it's fun and it's pretty! (Good luck girls if there's a dude living in your house.)

It's been a long week and I'm very sleepy.

2009-09-11T23:46:00.017-06:00

Which has me thinking about bedrooms.

like this one

or maybe this one

oh and this one, too. I think I should go to bed now.

More than just cool radios.

2009-09-08T21:45:00.007-06:00

I was just checking out the Areaware catalogue. They have some very cool stuff - like this radio - and they've shot it in such a cool way. Problem is, my computer skills suck, and I can't figure out how to post any of said photos. So go check them out.

I'm a bad, bad blogger.

2009-09-03T22:53:00.008-06:00

I know, I know, I haven't been so reliable with the posts lately. Work has been crazy busy. But I'm taking a four day weekend starting tomorrow. Yay! Off to Montana with the best friend. Her parents are lending us their place near Whitefish - a place with a hot tub, baby! And cheap grocery store booze, and a TARGET! When you're Canadian, Target trips are a novelty. Maybe I'll come home with some cute finds like these. That is if I come home. Lori may not be able to get me out of the hot tub.

Canadians Kick Ass

2009-08-31T22:02:00.019-06:00

images via The New York Times

Evidence: Douglas Coupland's house. (As spotted over at Please Sir.)

So Very Cute

2009-08-26T21:40:00.002-06:00

images via Bake It Pretty

I first saw these baking cups over at I Suwannee. My sister is considering cupcakes for her wedding, and I just think these would be adorable.

Loft Love

2009-08-24T22:15:00.001-06:00

images via Canadian House & Home, August 2009

This is Sabrina Linn's Toronto loft. It's pretty fantastic. My favorite part is her bathroom. The cabinet hardware, the mirrored toe kick, that rug. It's totally girly and glam and I love it.

So True

2009-08-20T22:20:00.009-06:00

This one made me laugh

Did you know about this blog, Quotes on Design? So much fun to read. Some quotes are inspiring, some thought provoking, some just make me laugh (or cry, depending on the kind of day I'm having).

Hitting the road in style.

2009-08-19T20:32:00.001-06:00

images via DWR

Someday I would love to have an Airstream trailer. I would probably buy an older one and fix it up, because I can't quite imagine spending $49,066 on this one from DWR. Perfect accommodations for those summer music festivals, right?

Famous People's Places

2009-08-17T21:09:00.020-06:00

Sarah Jessica Parker's Dining Room

Cynthia Rowley's Living Room

Nanette Lapore's Bedroom

Candace Bushnell's Living Room

This post started with me looking for the top pic of Sarah Jessica Parker's weekend home. It was in Elle Decor a few years ago, and I have always quite liked it - especially the mismatched dining chairs all painted black. I found the pic as part of a slideshow of Elle Decor's Stylemakers. These other rooms I thought were rather lovely too. They say money can't buy taste, so either these ladies already had it or they're handsomely paying someone who does.

So Cute

2009-08-14T19:48:00.010-06:00

images via Design Sponge

Gosh I love these "tini tables"! I just spotted them over at Design Sponge. Good little side tables like these aren't always easy to find, I find. They are made by a company called oomph and they come in a few shapes and 15 colors. Fun Fun.

Nice Gifts + Bad Pottery

2009-08-13T18:47:00.000-06:00

My sister bought me this little tray in London. I found the perfect spot for it on my dresser. And the wooden box was my Mom's when she was a kid. The ceramic bowl is one of my sad attempts from the pottery class my best friend and I took a few years ago. She was a much better pot-thrower than I was. She'll try to deny it but it's true.

Stoke Place

2009-08-11T20:45:00.016-06:00

image via Living Etc

Stoke Place is the "Hotel of the Month" over at Living Etc. I can understand why. The decor is kinda edgy and quirky, but in a homey, cozy kind of way you don't see in a lot of boutique hotels. As the article says, you'll be "busy stealing the rest of the hotel's style." I concur.

How cute is this place?

2009-08-10T21:21:00.001-06:00

images via The Moment Blog (NY Times)

Cupcake Royale is an adorable little bakery-cafe in Seattle I just read about here. I don't have any trips to Seattle planned, but if you do it certainly looks worth checking out, don't ya think?

Oh how I want.

2009-08-06T22:07:00.002-06:00

I consider myself a pretty crafty girl. So this craft/tool station from Craftynest has me drooling. I could be so organized if I had a station like this. If only I had space for a station like this.

Small Spaces

2009-08-04T21:29:00.009-06:00

Canadian House & Home has a photo gallery of small space solutions on their website. These pics are my favorite of the bunch. Check out the rest here.

Ahhhhhhh

2009-08-03T20:22:00.015-06:00

image via Yolksy

I'm not really a bath person, but if I had this bathroom and that tub I think I could become one. Easily.

Tape Crazy

2009-08-01T22:50:00.010-06:00

images via happy tape

Just look at all this tape! I knew this solid colored stuff existed, but I had no idea there were so many fun patterns too! Where was this stuff back in the day when I used to make bikinis for my Barbies out of duct tape? I have always had a thing for tape - I don't really know why. So this makes me very happy! Get it here.

I couldn't help myself.

2009-07-30T20:56:00.004-06:00

It's getting kinda late and I didn't know what to post, so I thought I'd share this pic of my best friend's boys on their summer vacation. How can you not smile at that? I'm such a sucker for these two little monkeys.

Going Trad

2009-07-29T21:17:00.016-06:00

image via Otis & Frank

image via Living Etc

image via Flickr

image via Apartment Therapy

I found out at work today that the showhome I'm about to start working on has to be "traditional". If I were to describe my personal style preferences, traditional is not a word I would use. So I looked through some of my bookmarked pics tonight for a little inspiration. Now for my new mantra: I can do trad, I can do trad...

A little gin with that tonic would be good, too.

2009-07-27T21:07:00.001-06:00

All images via Tonic Living

Tonic Living is a Canadian company with a website full of fun and colorful fabrics. They also have great pillows and futon covers. I am not the biggest fan of futons, but if you've got to have one these will certainly help you make it more stylish. Their prices seem pretty reasonable, too.

And in the "Why didn't I think of that?" category...

2009-07-24T22:06:00.008-06:00

Image via Point Click Home

Check out this nifty little cell phone holder. It comes in a whack of fun colors and it's only $5.75. A small price to pay for something so damn useful. Learn more about it here.

I may never get over it...

2009-07-23T20:55:00.016-06:00

Pic is from here.

I used to work for a great furniture store here in Calgary called Ellipses Design. It is the only store in town that carries the Beijing Cabinet. It is beautiful. This pic doesn't really do it justice. The design and proportions are taken directly from a traditional Chinese cabinet and recreated in polished stainless steel. I used to drool over it daily. I will likely never be able to afford it in this lifetime. Maybe I should stop by the store to visit it. Did I mention it's so big I could even store my vacuum cleaner and ironing board in it?

Blogging Martha

2009-07-21T20:45:00.026-06:00

images via Martha Stewart

Suzanna Bierwirth's Lincoln Park row house is featured on the Martha Stewart site, but I think it originally ran in Blueprint. (All the good design mags biting the dust... sigh.) Her place is just so lovely. Great use of color, don't you think?

Hall storage for the spacious and not so much.

2009-07-20T21:32:00.005-06:00

This is the Aaron Storage Table from Wintercheck Factory. As it suggests on their website, you can combine multiple tables to make a bench. Great storage idea if you have an entryway large enough for a bench. (Perfect for stashing shoes and stuff.) I like the that they're individual boxes so you can separate or reconfigure them. So simple, so clever.

If your hall is too narrow for a bench, the Arthur Coat Rack is another option. I like that you can store coat, bag, shoes, and keys all together. You'll be in and out in no time.

Amy Butler is all over the place.

2009-07-17T23:27:00.002-06:00

images via Bed, Bath & Beyond

I discovered on Decor8 the other day that Amy Butler has a new line of bedding at Bed, Bath & Beyond. This is exciting news because I am a big fan of Amy Butler AND we are getting a Bed, Bath & Beyond here next month! A full set might be a little too girly even for me, but I think it could be fun mixed and unmatched with other bedding. Then, I see on Arren Williams Design Lab that Amy Butler is coming out with a line of wallpaper for Graham & Brown! Nice.