let your creativity .... FLOW. stylings, findings and designs by jennifer lee

Holiday Update

2009-12-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas with friends and family - and planning for an even better New Years!

This Christmas, 2 of my favorite cousins got engaged with weddings planned for just around the corner in 2010. I'm so excited. I've never been so excited for a wedding in my life, but these two, I love them so much and I'm super stoked to see them both walk down the isle.

I'm not sure how you feel about the up coming new year, but 2010 is a big one for me. I have a lot of changes happening, which means a lot of expectations going into this year and therefore lot to look forward too.

So if I don't get to say it later this week... HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Christmas Madness...

2009-12-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

if you have young children, nephews or nieces - or friends with young kids, you know just by looking at the image above what a craze these little hamsters are! Zhu Zhu Pets are the world’s first innovative, realistic, interactive, plush, and artificially intelligent hamsters that talk and move around in their own play sets. they are the newest craze among kids and one of the most popular toys of the year!

we just spent a good hour waiting in line outside of toys r us before 8 am to just grab one of these guys. tickets were being handed out, security was on site and it was all for the new shipment of the new zhu zhu pets before Christmas since we missed the last batch ordered. insane doesn't begin to describe what we experienced this morning.

i don't ever remember my parents doing anything like this for me when i was a kid, but my nephew this year wants nothing more than one of these little hamsters - so being the great aunt & uncle we are, we waited - ran - grabbed and bought!

mission accomplished with all our fingers in tack!

Curtain Dividers

2009-12-15T07:05:00.000-08:00

I've always been fascinated with using curtains as a room divider but have never seen a space use it before live so I can't help but wonder how good it actually would look if ulitized. The concept is simple and great, but the error of making a space look separate yet chic instead of clinical and hospital like, I feel treads on a very thin line!

I'm trying to divide my bedroom into two separate sections and wanted to try out the curtain divider idea. Here are some of my inspirational images.

This room doesn't leave anything to the imagination. The curtains act as a backdrop but also a visual divider still sheer enough to see through. Its very soft and elegant.

This image isn't really of a draped room divider, rather to hide what's behind the drapes, the bookshelf. In this case, I love the color of the drapes and the mass size of it acting as a backdrop to the seating area.

What are your thoughts? Yay or nay on dividing a space using drapes???

Mellow Yellow

2009-12-05T06:19:00.000-08:00

my husband found a yellow Kitchen Aid Artisan 10 speed stand mixer and he's really wanting to have it, mainly because it's yellow.

Him: i want something yellow in the kitchen because it's so bright! it'll brighten up the space.
Me: yeah, but all our kitchen accessories are red.
Him: but there's nothing much we can get that's yellow otherwise.
Me: what do you mean, like home accessories.
Him: yes.

and so this blog is for my husband. there are so many great, wonderful yellow accessories you can add to your house, outside of the kitchen!

Banquette Dining

2009-12-04T05:19:00.000-08:00

There's something very warm and comfortable with banquette dining spaces. That one piece of furniture really brings the entire table together and acts as a binding agent to create comfort and unity. It doesn't matter the size, the look, or the style, the one common factor in banquette dining is a sense of comfort.

click on the images below for their links

Happy Friday Everyone!

Light It Up

2009-12-01T06:52:00.000-08:00

As someone who loves to spend most of my time in the kitchen, cooking, entertaining, eating and just experimenting on new ideas - lighting such a very very important part of the process.

Not only is lighting a necessity, but it's affects your mood and the feel and look of the space you're in. For the kitchen, I love bright lights, especially over working surfaces. Here are some fantastic examples of great kitchen lighting. I'm all about the rustic, industrial, hard looking light fixtures. Great for modern farm house kitchens.

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Modern Country

2009-11-30T06:33:00.000-08:00

I recently came across this great little shop on Queen East called Flik&Company owned by Stephen & Mario Howard. Owning their own retail store in one of Toronto’s trendiest shopping districts for home-décor was once only a dream for Stephan Howard. Today he and partner own two popular vintage-style shops, with plans of further expansion in progress.

Here are some examples of great pieces you can find at their shop...

Lately I've really been inspired by modern country. The blend of warm country home comfort with the luxury and chic style of modern design. If married well, it's the perfect blend.

This image is so great. The dining area has exposed wooden beams stained in a dark mahogany, but it's accented by a very modern chandelier and dining table/chairs. The entry way mimics the dark wood frame with a beautiful modified arch right into a stark white kitchen with stainless steel stools against the back drop of white wooden built ins.

I'm actually loving modern country so much that I want to rip everything in my house at this point and start all over again =)
Now if only I can win the lotto!

Happy Monday

Winter Bedroom

2009-11-27T07:03:00.001-08:00

My husband shocked me last night ...

Husband: "I think we should switch up our bedding"
Me: "how come?"
Husband: "It's winter now"
Me: ~~SHOCKED!~~
Husband: "We should use this bedding for the spring summer months and get new winter bedding to make the bedroom more cozy and warm"

If you know my husband, you know he's the last person to suggest anything on design or decor. He doesn't care what things look like, just wants it to be comfortable when he sits or sleeps in it. So the fact that he brought this up to my attention literally took me back a few steps. I must be rubbing off.

It started making me think, yes, we do need to warm up our bedroom a bit. So we're off to look for some bedding this weekend. In the meantime, I'll leave you with some great inspirational bedroom images.

Have a great weekend!

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Mirrors and Armoires and Chairs... Oh My

2009-11-25T13:55:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been a year now since we first moved into the condo. Down sizing is definitely hard - especially when space is a factor. We have 1 hall closet which barely holds anything with our washer and dryer ... that's it! Now I'm looking into getting an armoire. One for the bedroom and one for the livingroom. Along with that, a large mirror to open up the space a bit and chairs... oh chairs!

Here are some great inspiration photos I found. This armoire is very art deco, but I love how it works in the space. I would never think of putting something like that in an all white traditional space but it totally works.

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How about this mirror! Stunning against the beautifully paneled walls. Talk about a beautiful blend of modern and traditional.

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And this chair I just fell in love with.

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Now I need to go shopping.

Sun Room Dilemma

2009-11-20T07:44:00.000-08:00

dilemma dilemma...

i have a 5x16 rectangular sun room in our condo with floor to ceiling windows which we used to use as our "computer/office" area - but now that we got rid of our computer and we both work on laptops in the bedroom, this space has become somewhat barren.

now i'm thinking of transforming it into a reading/lounge area, and here are some inspirational images that caught my attention. i really like the idea of having a day bed in our sun room. a place were we can read and sit or just take a nap in.

this bookshelf and chair image is exactly what i'm thinking of. a big chair like that you can just snuggle into with a good book and a hot tea/coffee, whatever tickles your fancy.

i have some planning to do.
happy weekend everyone!

Wine Lovers

2009-11-12T05:11:00.001-08:00

When thinking of kitchen design, wine storage is something we need to keep in mind since we're huge wine lovers / collectors. So the minute I saw this, a light bulb went off in my head and I instantly fell in love.

Talk about a serious wine storage unit!

Getting Ready for Winter

2009-11-11T18:21:00.001-08:00

The perks of having a gay brother who works at BCBG Max Azria! :)
He just got me this great jacket to keep me warm all winter. So excited.

Now I just need to pick a good holiday party dress .... can't pick which one I want.

Happy Friday

2009-11-06T12:03:00.000-08:00

The one thing I hate about living in our condo is that there's a"no pets allowed" rule. For animal lovers like Ed and I, this is a huge heartache. So, I'll leave this week with a few fun and adorable images of pets I wish I had by some great pet photographers ....

click on the image for the source

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Happy Friday!

Gift Wrapping

2009-11-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

Every Christmas I make it a point to complete all my Christmas shopping before the end of November, but every year I've failed. This year, I'm determined to make this happen!

My family and friends know me as the gift wrapper. I enjoy wrapping gifts and so every year they look forward to see my new creative designs. The challenge is always using new wrapping paper and coming up with new ideas on how to package everyones gifts individually.

I came across these new ideas and I think they're fantastic. I've never thought of putting names on gifts outside of tagging but here is a great idea on how to make things modern but also personalized.

click on image to see the source

Better yet, how about using a personalized wrapping paper? You can use fansy personalized wrapping paper, or for the same effect just get plain colored wrapping paper and write on it yourself.

click on image to see the source

I don't know about you, but receiving gifts from overseas is something I always look forward too. So why not use the same packaging idea of friends and family over the holidays.

click on image to see the source

This holiday season, think outside the box and make sure the gift you give has a bit of your personal touch on it :)

Colorful Doors

2009-11-05T06:52:00.001-08:00

click on image to see the source

What to add a little pzazz into your home without breaking the bank? A great way to add some spice is to paint your doors! There's so much character behind colorful doors, as seen here in these images. I mean, how can you be sad or angery standing in front of these doors?!

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Not only are they visually pleasing, but they're great conversational pieces!

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click on image to see the source

Pet Photography

2009-11-04T05:59:00.001-08:00

image from: Martha Stewart Living

I fell in love with the image above.
In my family, June, our princess maltese is as much a part of our family as my own brother or sister. So, the idea of not having an image of her on our wall doesn't make any sense to me. When I saw the photo above, it just brought an instant smile to my face. What a great way to capture your pet and also have it act as a piece of art in the house. It's modern, sleek and not to mention ubber cute!

The Attic

2009-11-03T15:33:00.000-08:00

In so many older homes the attic is the one space that gets no love. Whether it ends up being a storage unit or just dead space collecting cob webs, the one place in your home that is packed with potential but gets over looked is the attic.

The images and designs below are clear examples that the once scary attic can be a beautiful, usable space.

Image by: Home Interior Design Decorating

Image by: Splendia

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T08:24:00.000-07:00

Our friends got married last night on hallows eve and to tribute the nearing hallows night, they had a tim burton's corpse bride wedding cake! It's one of the most creative and well made cakes I've ever seen! Best part, it tasted great as well.

Happy Halloween!

French Country

2009-10-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

While Ed was away on a business trip this week, my girlfriend and I went out for dinner and stumbled across the topic of "if you could live a different life, what kind of life would you want to live". For some reason, I think I'd want to be a famous writer living a simple life surrounded by close friends and family on a country side farm. I don't think I'd want glitz and glam, rather a big land and a beautiful french inspired country farm house with animals. Not having to be dedicated to being a farmer, but living a farmers life with the ability to leave to the big city if I wanted whenever I wanted. Better yet - lets make that French country farm house on a winery with a beautiful quaint bistro restaurant that Ed and I would own. I'd still be a writer of course.

The idea of having a French inspired farm house is so desirable to me. The rustic, old-world, yet welcoming charm. Sunny yellow with soft golds, firey red and burnt rust, bright grass green and cobalt blue with soft ocean tones. Bright black and dull grays punctuate the bright colors. Raw wood distressed furniture, lighting fixtures, and furniture give warm color and wonderful lines. Natural materials, stained and full view of hefty beamed ceilings and stone fireplaces.

image by:Decor Pad

image by:Country Living

Typical of French Country interiors are pieces with contrasting texture and color. Pale plaster walls and ceilings are punctuated with dark rough wood beams. Colorful Provencal printed fabrics are set off against light-toned natural seating.

Deeply cut window sills hold tall, narrow windows. Shutters close to keep the hot sun out in the summer. Windows and doorways are encircled with wildly growing vines.

image by:Season All For At Home

image by:Apartment Therapy

C'est bon!

Where Do You Work?

2009-10-29T06:19:00.001-07:00

I'm working on putting together a work station next week and came across some great inspirational images from Molly Luetkemeyer from M Design LA.

This colorful office is full of great pieces. I love the bookshelf, the table lamp and the art piece in the back that totally make the room.

This office is so feminine. The organic shapes and the soft fem colors really brighten this office. That wall decal actually looks like it's swinging down from the ceiling. Very interesting.

Wall Decal - Yay or Nay?

2009-10-27T02:51:00.000-07:00

image from:apartment therapy

I have a love hate relationship with wall decals. Some of them like the image above are a really smart and fun alternative to traditional spaces. It creates conversational pieces and gives flat 1 dimentional art a three-dimensional quality. However, there are some that can come off very childish.

Here are some really clever ones that I think are particularly interesting...

image from:country living

putting vinyl on furniture gives new meaning to plain boring pieces. more than any other place, i think wall decal works wonders in nurseries or in childrens rooms. it gives the space some character and adds fun elements that is easily interchangeable.

Ultimately, I think the real answer to wall decals are how they're used and where you decide to use them.

what do you think? what are your views on wall decal??? yay or nay?

Brandon Barre

2009-10-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of Brandon Barre's photography so imagine my surprise when I see an email from him this afternoon with more fabulous shots of interiors created by designers such as Candice Olson, Jane Lockhart, Justin and Colin and many more ....

here are a few of my favorites.

Modern Baby

2009-10-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

This week is my nephews 2nd birthday and I'm racking my brain trying to think of what to get him. What do you get a boy that already has everything he could possibly wish for??? So I'm thinking of putting together a little gift box full of goodies for both him and his parents.

I recently came across Kids Haus who has tons of great ideas for kids. She recently posted on these fantastic porcelain baby bowls and cups from Hana Blomst.

How cute are these! They're porcelain mind you, but you can keep them as decor until the kids grow old enough not to throw their plates and cups. I wouldn't mind having those in my kitchen :)

They also have these great chairs for kids, I'm especially drawn to the rocking chair. But the funky blue capsule chairs are pretty cool too. Beats the plastic dollar store chair I used to have as a kid that broke on me one sad day.

I'm also a big fan of wooden toys. They're non toxic and sturdy. Check out some of my favorites from Coochicoos.

The band set is cool, but mommy and daddy would probably not appreciate this one too much!

After work tonight... time to go shopping!
Have a great weekend.

Dee Dee Taylor

2009-10-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

I've blogged on Dee Dee before, but after seeing new projects of hers I had to post again. Not only does she create amazing spaces, Hannah recently completed a line of jewellery entitled Maison de Blossoms with Myles Mindham who is a Canadian born jewellery designer.

Her designs are timeless. So lush and rich with exquisite attention to the smallest details. Master of meshing traditional pieces with modern pieces. I absolutely adore her work and am always proud to see young Canadian women making a difference in the world of architecture and design.

Play Me A Tune

2009-10-22T05:34:00.001-07:00

I first sat in front of a piano at my nannies house in preschool. I remember my fingers could barely reach from key to key but when they did, the sound of the strings would bring such a smile to my face.

After a week of begging for my very own piano, my mother put me in lessons. I loved it. Every week when I learnt a new song or a new scale I would show off every chance I had. By the age of 10, the passoin started to fade and when I hit 16 I no longer sat in front of my pinao. Now, more than 10 yrs later the only family love my pinao gets is from the photos that sit on top of it.

I must be turning a milestone because I've started to miss the touch of ivory against my fingers. I wonder if I can still play, not the chopsticks but Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21.

photo by: Susan Bacton Interiors

photo by: Ingrao

photo by: Bella Casa Design

Sit and Stay

2009-10-21T05:14:00.000-07:00

Ed and I have been house hunting for quite some time now. Unfortunately, we've had no luck in finding our perfect dream home. The biggest turn off for us - tiny entry ways.

For me, I love to enter and feel as if I stepped into a home, not a hallway or a landing strip between 2 flights of stairs. It's a pet peeve of mine that I can't look past.

I came across these great entry ways, an inspirational jumping board for me to remember when looking at homes. The thing I love about them is the space, large enough to fit a seating area. Perfect for me, who takes 15 mins every day to put on my boots!

photo from an article in Louisiana Homes and Gardens taken from the blog of:Bayou Contessa

photo from:Sarah Richardson

photo from:Country Living

Francophile

2009-10-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

I was reading the Nov edition of House and Home when I came across an article on Luce Gayrard's house in downtown Montreal. It was love at first sight! the effortless mix of my hearts weakness, French Provincial furnishings meshed with the simplicity of modern 21st century designs. The images of red velvet Louis XV style dining chairs against soft upholstered white day beds, leather sofas lush with textured pillows. My heart skipped a beat or two.

What is it about the Marie Antoinettes of french antiques that captures my heart?

This French antique Corbeille bed upholstered in a Galicia fabric by Sanderson is...

This antique French Rococo style chair covered in bright stripy Ziva fabric from Harlequin .... speaking of which....

..... tomorrow I will reveal my next project. stay tuned!

Stocking Stuffers

2009-10-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

I'm back.

It's been quite the hiatus, but I'm finally back in full force ready to get my blog on again. I know we are now just cornering October and Halloween comes before Christmas, however this year I've made it a point to start and end all my Christmas shopping before the holiday rush. On my current list of "to get's" ... stocking stuffers!

Hanging stockings over the fireplace mantel, or on the stairs, in the bedroom or just over the living room sofas have been a family tradition in my home. Growing up, the goodies I found in my stockings on Christmas morning gave me more joy than opening up the gifts under the tree. It's the thoughts behind the little gifts, the creativity and the sheer joy of finding one, two .... three and then four gifts that turned my heart.

Choosing stocking stuffers can be really fun. A great way to come across gadgets and trinkets you've never seen before. The best way to choose stocking stuffers is to look for items that match the recipients hobbies or interests. Sometimes, the smallest gifts are the most delightful. A little creativity goes a long way toward finding the perfect stocking stuffers for everyone on your list. Here are a few of my finds this year....

For the entertainers like myself, unique kitchen gadgets or decorative serving utensils make fun stocking stuffers. Better yet, aprons and tea towels are great and easy to wrap up. Just roll and stuff!

Check these half aprons out at LAMARQUISEDESANGES

At Iconic, you'll find tons of little goodies, perfect for stocking stuffing. My personal favorites are ...

The dancing men ice maker. What a cute idea for punch bowls or fun drinks for the family. Kids love these!

The snowman kitchen timer. A fun little gadget to help you along your merry way in while preping those festive meals.

For friends or family in the office, the butt pad holder and pen holder. I don't think I need to express how cute and funny I think this is. Follow that up with the butt photo holder.

How about a toothbrush holder for the kids bathroom. Who am I kidding, I'd have this hanging on my bathroom mirror!

And my favorite, the tape holder man on the can ... perfect for all your Christmas gift wrapping!

These little trinkets just bring a smile to my face. If you're in the GTA, check out Iconic at BlueBanana in Kengsington Market.

Happy Easter Sunday

2009-04-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

the past month has been quite the roller coaster ride. i'll slowly update as the days go but for today i just wanted to wish you all a happy easter sunday! rejoice, today is the day the Lord has risen. i know easter doesn't really have anything to do with deocorated eggs, but i love decorating and i love eggs so here are some fantastic egg paintings!

these glazed ones look awesome. i love the shine!
next year, i plan on doing a few of these for myself :)

A look in the life of....

2009-03-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

my blogging hiatus is due to some significant milestones that have come up these past couple weeks.

i started going back to the doctors again as we're starting to try again for the family we've been dreaming of for so long now it seems. ed also got laid off from work and now we're really taking a good look at our lives and trying to evaluate what it is we want to do with our lives

my friend once said to me that milestones are necessary in life and without them change would take so much longer. i think we'll be moving again ... this time, out of the country ....

[to be continued...]

Fire It Up

2009-02-21T13:40:00.000-08:00

I love that anyone on any budget can create a warm inviting look by simply adding a fireplace. A great focal point which adds so much character and style.

With the many different styles, looks and types of fireplaces available now, anyone can create these looks. The best part, if it's a portable fireplace, you can just pick it up and move it around if you get tired of it down the road.

French Twist

2009-02-19T13:43:00.000-08:00

i'm so inspired by revived traditional furniture with a modern twist. it's one of my favorite things to do for myself, but also for my clients.

i love these chairs from moda are prefect examples of traditional with a modern twist. they're absolutely fun, whimsical yet extremely elegant!

here is a white on white sofa by sixinch

Red Rose Ruby

2009-02-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

I'm probably the only girl out there that doesn't really fancy purses ... don't get me wrong, I can appreciate a nice bag but put a Marc Jacobs bag or a Jimmy Choo shoe in front of me and I'm all over that foot decor!

So when I came across these hand made cluthes by Rowena I was shocked as to how much I loved the beautiful crafted handmade cluthes. She makes these by incorporating her own collage/photographic images onto the fabric which I feel adds a very distinct personal touch.

Very sexy, sleek and feminine ....

They're like beautiful pieces of art that you can walk around with. So stunning. There are so many cluthes, please take a peek on Rowena's site when you get a chance.

French Inspiration

2009-02-17T07:09:00.000-08:00

i know my husband would never go for a fem-french inspired bedroom so my dream is to have a guest house or a room all to myself that screams french romance!

a girl can dream can't she....

Styled by Georgia Cons

House to Home Magazine

Domino Magazine: Cathrine's Entry

Count down to spring....

2009-02-14T22:30:00.000-08:00

i can't help but feel as if spring is just around the corner, especially with +10 degree weather in the middle of february! and to me, nothing says spring more than cute, sexy and fem summer dresses. i believe it's time for me to stock up for the coming season ....

here are a few must haves on my shopping list:

Office Inspiration

2009-02-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

livingetc

i do a lot of my work from home, and ever since our move into the new place we haven't had time to fully set up my office space yet. however, i finally decieded to take the solarium as my office which will give me plenty of natural light which i love!

if you're like me and have to find inspiration in a small nook, how you set up your little inspirational nook is very important. it needs to speak to you and make you feel comfortable enough to truly be inspired. here are some great images of office spaces.

The Perfect Reading Nook

2009-02-07T07:47:00.001-08:00

I have yet to do anything with my dining living room walls. It's just a massive blank canvas that stretches over 16ft long on 3 sides of my house. Ideally, I'd love to combine creating a black and white family photo wall with a built in bookshelf but how to do it so it connects with the rest of the house and doesn't over power the dining area. Here are some really great inspirational images I used to jump start off of ....

I love the symmetry of this look. It seems off balance with the placement of the seating area but the bookshelf itself is perfect. The vertical strip across the bottom is a great touch to add more space.

A reading nook like this in a bedroom or in the corner of your house somewhere is ideal. It's cozy, warm and the bookshelf just connects everything together in the background.

Creating custom bookshelves around a doorway is very clever as that's usually space that goes unused. It adds drama and gives great visual impact. A great use of space.

all images are from Better Homes and Garden

ready to eat bowls

2009-02-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

have you ever had a meal so delicious, you wanted to eat the plate? well now you can thanks to the Better Baker Gourmet Bowl Maker!

This unique baking pan is designed for making edible bowls - from cornbread bowls to fill with hearty chili to brownie cups to load with fruits! You can also fill th epan with water and pop it in the freezer to make ice bowls for dips, shirmp cocktails or even a tea light candles.

i'm a sucker for tv products!

style on style

2009-01-30T08:04:00.000-08:00

i'm a pretty laid back girl. my favorite outfit is a pair of comfy jeans and a white sheer t-shirt. that's why i love this katie holmes look so much ...

she takes this comfy/sluggish look and turns it up a dial or two. the scarf around the kneck and puff sleeved cardigan is the perfect little dress up piece to take this up a notch without over overboard or making it look too plain jane. i'm not big into too many celebrity looks but katie holmes, after meeting tom has really caught my attention. i love her suttle sophisticated style. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! i want her stylist.

so chic!

Yummy

2009-01-30T07:34:00.000-08:00

Funky Aprons

2009-01-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

I received an email from Jessica the other week from Domistyle with their new catalog and fun new products added to their line! I don't know about you, but if you're a host like me and love to spend your hours in the kitchen, an apron is a must. These aprons are just fantastic. Modern, chic, fem and totally cute!

Postcups

2009-01-17T06:33:00.002-08:00

I saw these on desire to inspire's blog and just fell in love with them. What is this you ask .... well see for yourself....

bailey doesnt bark has custom postcups you can have personal messages writen on! How cute is that?! I think I just might get one for my husband for v-day. Something he can keep with him throughout the day at work to remind him of my love for him :) *SAPPY*

Re Jin Lee is the founder and designer of Bailey Doesn’t Bark, a contemporary wares, textiles and paper goods company. See below...

These ants on my____ cups / spoons are kind of creepy when you see how realistic the ants actually look but it's definitely creative and quite amusing.

tea anyone??? :)

Vday from Olive Rue

2009-01-17T06:33:00.001-08:00

this is the prize I'm aiming at!

Olive Rue has started her 1st Annual Valentine's Day Giveaway and I've entered my ballot. All you have to do is leave her a comment detailing the best Valentine's Day you have ever had. Based on the comment-ee she will have someone draw a name to pick a winner on Feb 7th :)

I have entered with my best valentines day details, but here it is for all of you to read as well.

Flash Back To Valentines Day 2003
My best vday didn't actually fall on Feb 14th. If it did, it would have been too obvious. Instead, after work on a Thurday evening (the 13th) my then boyfriend, now husband, picked me up at the Eaton Center (Toronto's largest Mall downtown Toronto). I worked a few minutes away from there and we had planned to meet after work to subway home together. As much as I could of caught on, I didn't suspect anything because we had made vday plans for the next day. So, we meet and he tells me that he has to go pick something up from a friend of his who just happens to be in town for the weekend at the Sheridan Hotel across the street.

We go - he walks us up to a room and as soon as he opens the door I notice a row of rose petals leading into the room. Now I realize what has just happened. The room was decked out with all my favorite flowers (tulips, daisies, gerbras and so many more), on the bed was a basket full of my favorite things, books i haven't had time to read, chocolates, teas, etc....

This was my vday weekend. We played hookie the next day from work and stayed over at the hotel for the next 2 days just reading, cooking, walking around town, talking, laughing ... one of the best qualitiy times ever. I'm not big on big expensive feats but the kicker is, his friend actually was in town that weekend and he had vouchers for the Sheridan which he used for our hotel stay. We ate and cooked in the hotel together and all my flowers he got for my aunts florist for cost!

This was my best vday because it was the only day that lasted an entire weekend with the one person I love the most in my life. Quality time we never had time for. But aside from that, my husband is the most non-romantic person in the world with no imagination or creative bone in his business minded body. So the fact that he went to all the trouble of putting this together for me really showed me that he cared and that he went out of his comfort zone put me first. I love him!

Day Beds

2009-01-17T06:33:00.000-08:00

I'm all about functionality and practicality, and to me, "day beds" yell out practical and functional!

I've been wanting to invest in a good day bed for awhile now but never got around to doing it until we moved into a space with a solarium. What better than a beautiful day bed in the sun filled solarium where we can sit and read, have guests sleep in or just a lounge out area.

Here are just a few day bed ideas for you to consider:

1.Seating
Day beds are great for extra seating or a seating alternative in a small space, great for bedrooms. It's deep enough to fill up with pillows and use as a sofa or as a guest bed for guests or a simple afternoon nap. Not only that, but snuggle up on a day bed while watching a movie, it's one of the most comfy, romantic things!

2.Outdoors
Day beds are also great outdoor eye candy. Whether on a porch, backporch, back yard or just smack dab in the center of the yard, it's luxury magnified. Can't you just imagine a good girlfriend talk over coffee outside on a day bed???

3.Storage/A side thought
Day beds are also great if you have space underneath for extra storage and an afterthought in a space. Extra seating in a living room or family room where you can dress up but also leave aside as an accessory to the space.

here are some more great day bed images!
all images from pottery barn

The Perfect Yard

2009-01-17T06:14:00.000-08:00

all images from my home ideas

My idea of the perfect backyard would be a place for outdoor dining, relaxing, entertaining, gardening and play. The designer's solution for the image above was to prune back the hedges to open up the yard to light and create a series of sunny living spaces. What I personally love most about this yard is that it has designated spaces for everything in an enclosed private yet open space.

Another thing, I've always wanted a guest house in my back yard. A place where I can go to relax or a place we can put guests in without feeling as if we constantly have someone in our own house. It gives them their privacy and us ours. The above image really incorporates everything I want in a yard, therefore it's the perfect yard in my books!

Imagine waking up to this view?! It's -35 today so all I can do is imagine.

A Hairy Mess

2009-01-15T17:35:00.001-08:00

i'm at a stage in my life where my hair is neither here nor there. a chin length bob that's trying so desperately to pass that "will i curl in or will i curl out" stage which is the hardest stage for me to get over. i always give in and end up cutting my hair around this stage but... i'm trying to grow it out.

for my wedding i grew my hair pretty long. but i quickly got tired of it soon after the wedding and cut it all off when we got back from our honeymoon.

now i want my long hair back. it's been 2+ years and i'm dying to have my locks back. i was even thinking of getting extensions to help with the grow out process but i've heard so many horror stories. so now i'm left with this hairy little mess.

my ideal hair....

i love the soft natural looking curls, i'd kill for those curls.

Baby Bash

2009-01-14T17:59:00.000-08:00

within the past 2 weeks i've received word from 4 girlfriends that they're expecting this year! i'm telling you, it's a domino effect. once 1 girl gets knocked up, there goes a whole handful all together. so the baby room conversations started up again and i'm so anxious and excited to help them all.... :)

here are a few tips i like to give soon to be mothers.

1. PLAN AHEAD
whether you have a room set aside for the new addition or have to settle with creating a separate area for the baby in an already occupied space, plan ahead. get a good idea of where the baby's space will be and make sure you have enough space for everything you'll need. a baby may be small but they require a lot of "stuff" so plan ahead!

2. KNOW YOUR MUST HAVES
like i said, babies may be tiny little humans but they have some must have requirements. when i create baby rooms, i always keep in mind these must have items: storage. storage is a must and should always be calculated as a priorty when planning a nursery. for diapers, clothes, blankets, accessories, lotions etc... babies require a lot of changing of all kinds so easily accessible storage is a must have.

3. ROCKING CHAIR
when you're child is crying at 3am and you require to feed them every 2 hours there after, a comfortable chair by the baby crib is a luxury you'll not soon forget. make sure the chair is first and foremost comfortable with an arm rest which helps when you craddle your child in your arms for breastfeeding and secondly, i recommend rocking chairs as the slight rocking motion helps when you're half asleep trying to get your baby to fall asleep.

4. DON'T DO THEMEY
i'm not one for theme rooms and as cute as it may be for kids, they grow up real fast. unless you want to be re-decorating your childs room every few months or years, keep to a neutral room that your kids can grow up in. i create baby rooms for the parents, i mean the baby's not going to appreciate anything in there so really it's for the comfort, style and preference of the parents. however, you want a space that you can change and adjust real quickly without too much effort for your child so keep the room neutrally grown up.

Michael Del Piero

2009-01-11T20:26:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce you to designer Michael Del Piero whose work I recently fell in love with. She has an amazing ability to create sophisticated interiors with clean lines and a refined palette paralleled by an expert approach to creating textural richness. Michael's unique gift for infusing her sophisticated compositions with carefully curated, personally sourced exotic finds from around the globe results in inviting and unpredictable interiors with a careful balance of elements.

Stunning.

Bungalows

2009-01-11T17:18:00.001-08:00

it finally stopped snowing this afternoon. surprisingly, most of the snow has melted off the ground and the snow trucks have piled the remaining slush up onto the curbs leaving a streak of shining black concreate in a midst of white.

the non stop down pour of white this winter has me missing green and all the wonderful lush beauties that come with the crisp spring air. here is a great image of a beautiful garden and home i covet.

a country bungalow home in the beautiful northern city of Chiangmai, Thailand complete with its own private pool and lush tropical garden.

New start new life

2009-01-10T06:02:00.000-08:00

a friend and i were talking yesterday about the current state of our economy when we stumbled unto the real estate market and how for the right person, this would be the most ideal time to purchase. very little to no interest rates, dropping property costs and tons of homes for sale. as sad and unfortunate the market is right now for some, for others it's prime time.

a dream of mine has been to flip homes. i've slowly but surely been building a team of reliable partners to start this venture with and in toronto, flipping homes hasn't been that big of a sport. for me though, flipping isn't about make a buck. flipping is for me about turning old unwanted houses into beautiful homes that people can love once again. that's what design means to me, a being a part of someones soul, a reflection of themselves and a place or a thing they can personally connect too. so i'm moving on up from reviving furniture, i want to start reviving homes!

for example, older condos which are getting less and less attention these days with all our super modern condos rising every day, have great potentional to be extraordinary. they have great structural backbone, great space compared to the new condos and every potential in the world to be fantastic!

just some thoughts while sitting here on a saturday morning.
here are some great design inspirations of mine from all around the globe at shoot factory...

talk about open concept. brings new light to the word.

this gorgeous raw space from south africa.

or this fantastic clean white space from singapore.

design is universal and translates perfectly in any language.

Paulette's a tase of heaven .... Mmmm...Macarons

2009-01-08T05:23:00.000-08:00

my husband edward and i are both foodies and one of our passions is finding new and exciting gems of food joints in and or around the city all over the world. to this day, there's one thing we say that sets apart good joints to great joints, its perfection in what they create. in other words, do 1 thing and do it well. that's why i feel in love with Paulette.

i fell in love with the concept behind Paulette – a French bakery serving ONLY macarons. if you don't know what a macaron is, its essentially almond cookie filled with delectable ganache. its a marriage of cookie, cake, pastry and mousse.

Paulette macarons is named after its owner, Paulette. this was her favorite cookie when she was growing up. so she collaborated with award winning French pastry chef Christoph Michalak to open the first bakery in Beverly Hills offering pure, freshly made Parisian macarons.

now only if i can have a little taste of heaven here in toronto!

The Sultan's Tent

2009-01-07T17:34:00.000-08:00

i'm planning a moroccan 30th birthday bash for my girlfriend next weekend at The Sultan's Tent with her husband who is absolutely clueless when it comes to throwing a party. we met up this evening over mocca's at a cafe and brainstormed a whole bunch of ideas which led me to this moroccan themed post today.

i've always loved moroccan designs. the bold colors, layered textures on textures and the fantastically intricate designs and patterns. it just takes my breath away. if i was daring enough, i would love to incorporate this into my place.

can't wait for The Sultan's Tent. ed and i have been dying to check this place out. and the place, it comes fully equipped with none other than our very own belly dancers! whoot!

Just a hop skip and a plane away

2009-01-06T19:55:00.000-08:00

many people have images of their family, loved ones and or friends hanging on and or over their desks at work but me, i have this image. a photo i took of the pier on our honeymoon resort 2 years ago. it's one of my favorite photos. it makes me smile.

since last year we didn't take a single vacation day, this year we're planning a trip for our birthdays in late feb early march. i'm so excited. the best part, reviewing the many millions of all inclusive resorts scattered around the globe. with yummy enticing photos like such....

how can i not get excited. especially when i look out the window and see a foot of snow along with a fury of a snow storm in full force!

Movie of the year 08

2009-01-03T07:13:00.000-08:00

we originally wanted to watch Slumdog Millionaire at the Toronto Film Festival but didn't get a chance until just last week over the holidays. the audience gave it a well deserved standing ovation. this factual story turned into a novel now a movie was told seamlessly. the revealing look into the life of Mumbai's slum is just one of the terrifying story lines intertwined with a beautiful young love story. by far my favorite movie of the year.

if you get a chance, check it out. i admit, it's not a movie for everyone as it depicts children in very disturbing ways but if this movie doesn't pull at your heart strings i don't know what will. there's a lot of controversary with this movie being a twisted north american version of what the division in Mumbai between muslims have caused but regardless, it's an eye opening movie that makes you appreciate your blessed life here in north america.

happy 2009

2009-01-01T16:01:00.000-08:00

"we are all small and appear to be the same, but as we grow older our true beauty shows, like the butterfly. like a butterfly, we are all different, and beautiful in our own way. in the Christian religion, the metamorphosis a butterfly undergoes is symbolic of the spiritual evolution all Christains go through. in ancient mythology, the butterfly stands for wisdom and everlating knowledge. in Asian culture, the butterfly represents re-birth or a new beginning"

i've been reading 08 updates from many who have only great memories of the past year, unfortunately i can't say the same. this is my butterfly year.
happy 2009 everyone!

the bigger the better

2008-12-30T19:59:00.000-08:00

i came across this photo on jasmine star's blog and fell in love with the ladies large beaded necklace. i'm not big on jewels but man do i love these! the long summer dress and large beaded necklace combo is such eye candy. yum. and that's when i came across these from overstock.com

.

here is a great summer dress, we're planning a vaca in feb/march so i might just pick this number up for our trip!

i think i love this marc jacobs sara stripe patchwork dress

for the love of all things eames

2008-12-30T05:48:00.000-08:00

when i started discussing baby room options for my pregnant girlfriend, the eames rocker came up and of course this lead to a whole gushing of eames love. she knows i've been dying to pick up an eames lounger after our move. my husband works right in the heart of toronto and at the bottom of his building is a furniture store where lies a classic eames chair currently on sale for the holidays.

we've been coveting but have been trying to be reasonable with our finances as we just moved into a new place and we're trying to hold tight on our wallet reins. but boy do i love the eames.

jenn: "i couldn't think of a better place to put an eames rocker than in a babies room"
friend: "...tell ed (my husband) to convince dennis that i need one pls! after all, it's for the baby!"

the work room

2008-12-29T16:33:00.000-08:00

my girlfriend steph and i walked up and down queen west looking for fun and unique fabrics for cushions and floor pillows but came up empty after the one store we really wanted to visit, we were greeted by a big "closed" signed. the work room is Toronto's first sew and craft by the hour space!

steph introduced me to this place last month and ever since i've been dying to drop by. they have a growing collection of colourful printed cotton fabrics. the entire Denyse Schmidt "Katie Jump Rope" collection, many prints from her "Fleamarket Fancy" collection, cute Heather Ross prints, and Lecien from Japan. Finally, you can shop locally for all those gorgeous printed fabrics. This is just the beginning, they are expecting many more fabrics including Joel Dewberry, Echino and Kokka from Japan.

the next time i drop by i'll make sure it's not a monday and i'll be sure to show you all the lovely prints i pick up.

Get Your Butt Into It

2008-12-29T07:36:00.000-08:00

sure, we have a living room full of furniture, but you don't have to be a kid to enjoy just sprawling out on the floor sometimes. whether you want to lie in a sunbeam to read a book or get a good view of the television for a movie, there are plenty of reasons to floor lounge once in a while.

image by blissliving

i think i'll be dropping by the fabric store today :)

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

Planting indoors

2008-12-18T08:20:00.000-08:00

image by hgtv

i have a delema, we have this great open solarium with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city at 14 storeys above ground. it's fantastic. the solarium connects to our gallery kitchen on one end and to our living room on the other. it's also one of the first spaces you see when you walk in the door as it's an extension to our living space. so my delema, i want to use the solarium as extra seating, like a reading room or just a lounge but i want to incorporate greens!

i love nature and anyway i can incorporate mother nature into my interiors i'm all for it. but how... i don't have much of a green thumb and i have no idea where to start when trying to bring green into a space. i'm green dumb!

i love the look of this planter box. it's so chic.

2008-11-30T07:45:00.000-08:00

by karenfaulknerart

new home

2008-10-22T16:06:00.000-07:00

image from livemodern.com

we're moving november 1st.
ed has given me free range over the design of our condo - however, we're on a very tight budget and whatever i decide to do can not be a permanent thing. we're only going to be here for a couple of years but as i see it, for those years i want to live in a space that i find comfort and relaxation in. i want it to be a home. our home.

so this will be my first "rental" budget re-design. i plan on using our space to get more low budget clients and even clients living in rental units for fast and quick fix-me-ups. after all every challenge is an opportunity.

there are 2 things i definitely want to incorporate in the space. first, a black wall and second a white fireplace mantel. the black wall i'm thinking of putting up in our dining area. we have 1 large wall in the dining room which is hidden from the rest of the house unless you walk into the dining area that i would love to paint black against a row of black and white photographs. the white manel fireplace i want to fill with chopped wood and place on one of the walls in the living room which filters into a sun room which is surrounded by floor to ceiling windows which makes the entire space feel very much like a loft.

image from housetohome.co.uk.com

one of my passions when it comes to designing is mixing vintage with modern. luckly i've been able to work with clients who have the same love of design as myself.

Baby Mommy

2008-10-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be a mommy!!!

74. For the love of BLACK

2008-09-19T07:22:00.000-07:00

black and be a daunting color to work with, especially on walls but for some reason I've always been drawn to the dark allure of black interiors. it's sexy, dramatic and so out of the norm.

so you can imagine my excitement when my client mentioned last night that she wanted to incorporate some sort of black in her space! at first i thought she meant black furnishings but when i realized she wanted more - on the walls, on the floors, on the stairs or where ever my heart desired, my eyes widen and my heart started skipping beats ... could i be hearing this right? I have the opportunity to live out my black interior dreams through her? and so start my quest to find the most inspiring black spaces.

72. Stylings

2008-09-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

if i were a bachelorette, i think i would do a vintage, fem - french country style living space. the elegance and dainty touches bring such joy to me. however, at this stage of my life, i think my husband would have a heart attack if i dressed the house in lace and floral designs!

images by stylist lucyina moodie

71. TIFF

2008-09-10T06:24:00.001-07:00

TIFF(Toronto International Film Festival) is currently red hot in Toronto right now, we had ticket's to watch "Miracle at St.Anna's" on Sunday and the Q&A with Spike Lee but I came down with a horrific flu that rendered me bedridden so the tickets went to friends of ours. However, I did have a little run in with a celeb ... non other than, actor Viggo Mortensen! He was chilling out, having a smoke in front of his hotel with his friend when Ed and I happened to walk by.

As much as I hate being the star struck fan, we had to stop and talk to him. With a cig in one hand he brought out his other to shake ours and we stood for a good few minutes just standing around chatting it up as if he wasn't one of my favorite actors of all time!!!

I know I won't be able to watch anymore movies this week, but man does the city start buzzing when TIFF starts up. Anyone else have any encounters with celebs this week???

70. UW Studios

2008-09-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

UW Design Inc. is a Toronto based progressive, multidisciplinary design studio who combines innovative, original thought with an understanding of commercial/residential and practical realities.

I personally love their range of diverse style. Every space they create has a unique feel to them unknown to the others. A true design firm that really caters to the clients.

69. Fall into Fall

2008-09-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

i love autumn!
its my favorite season of the year... mother nature just transforms into a dynamic blend of colors and shades that bring a smile to my face. it's the only season when our family gets together - for thanksgiving and then for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch right before the end of october. this season, i'm going in for my surgery the day after thanksgiving so i have a lot to be thankful for!

and while i'm laying in the hospital bed i will be dreaming of fall decor i can start working on while i recover!

68. Chair Flaire

2008-09-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

i saw this image on design corner and had myself a good laugh. the point behind this hilarious chair pad is to transform your generic seating environment into a very modern blast from the past, with prints from antique chairs to classic Eames chairs at an affordable price. "If ya can’t afford an Eames, just make it like you have one."

the creator of this chair pad Chenhhui Su states "it not only transforms our generic seating objects, but also creates personal spaces in the public environment. It changes the environment immediately and temporarily, which in turn brings us an instant pleasure in daily life."

i couldn't agree with him more!
i personally love chairs. they serve so many purposes, from being a functional object to visually captivating objects, conversation starters. but most importantly, chairs can immediately transform a space. taking old, antique chairs and transforming them into beautiful, modern peices of art is what i love to do. here are a few of my favorite chair images.

image from fresh home

image by madison mag

image by homes & garden

67. hi ho, hi ho, it's house hunting we go

2008-08-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

image from house and garden

i've always wanted my own place, but now that we're actually looking to purchase, i never dreamed that the whole process could be so hard. it's so different designing for others and designing for yourself, especially when my husbands idea of good design is an old lazy boy and a 72" flat screen! needless to say, our ideas clash - however he's been one of my biggest fans and has given me full reign over the design process of our future home. the hardest part for me is picking a style of home i like, because i just love so many different styles ... i love the metropolitan feel to lofts, the openness and raw architectural details, but i also have a passion for modern country that brings a sense of warmth and serenity to a space. vintage furnishings, lots of textiles and layers on layers of umph oh, what about small space condos for simple living, or ... the list goes on. i can't seem to decide. i'm hoping when i see THE space i will know it and love it.

condos, single detached homes, lofts, town homes .... there's just so much out there.

66. Summer Hiatus Is Over

2008-08-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

my summer hiatus is officially over ...
what a crazy roller coaster ride of a summer i had this year. from having to attend 8 weddings, shooting 1, being in 2 and attending all the other 5 (and i have 2 more in september) i had a hard time balancing work with my design with weekend excursions to weddings and on top of all that, i just found out i'll be having to go in for surgery thanksgiving weekend (in canada that's in october for all you americans). needless to say, i've been busy.

did i mention, we're looking to purchase our first home??? well, we are!
this is an exceptionally exciting time for me, being that i've never been a home owner - but as a designer, it's an opportunity for me to really sink my teeth in my own space from start to finish. color me giddy with excitement!

i'm so excited to catch up on all your fantastic blogs!
thanks for all of you who dropped by to share your thoughts and greetings during my absence. it was very much appreciated!

65. Summer Camping

2008-06-24T07:20:00.001-07:00

i love camping!

nothing feels better than waking up in the middle of mother natures wonderous creation outdoors on a hot summer day with nothing but fresh air all around you... but as much as i'm a nature girl, i love to curl up into a comfy warm bed at night and to a hot cup of tea that i can drink in my favorite oversized mug i don't like to keep anywhere else but out of harms way. things i would have never brought to a camp ground before i saw this.

the Air Stream

this wonderful creation will allow any nature lover to enbrace their wild carefree side while allowing those who appreciate stove top kitchens and warm comfy beds over rocky floors and a sleeping bag to join in on the action.

this is perfect for my husband and i. i being the one who loves dirty floors and rocks in my back and my husband who prefers homecooked meals and a flushable bathroom.

Introducting LO LO

2008-06-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

a friend of mine Lori recently decided to go all out and start her own crafts online store. you can check her out here at Hand Crafted Toppers.

she makes and sells toppers that can be used in scrapbooks, photo albums, cards and any other place you could think of. she also takes requests so if you have something in mind that you would like made please, simply send her a message and she will do her best to make your custom order toppers.

i started scrap booking a while ago but never really finished any one book with my busy schedule. but for sure, when kids come along it's something i want to do again.
hey Lori - we should start a scrapbooking club/gathering! haha.....

63. Diane & Peter

2008-06-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

saturday diane & peter drove down to toronto from windsor and we spent the entire afternoon driving around town taking pre-2nd wedding reception photos.

diane & peter got married last year in vietnam and for their 1 yr anniversary they're celebrating again by holding another wedding reception here for their friends and family who couldn't attend their orignal wedding in vietnam. they're an awesome couple and i had such a great time!

i'll be in windsor on the 21st shooting the reception as well :)

62. My favorite chair

2008-05-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

i've been talking about this chair for awhile now and finally i've managed to upload images of it. this is what it looked like when i purchased it...

and this is what it looks like now

i just love this chair to death!!!

61. Happy Victoria (May 24) Day!

2008-05-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

image by Lone Primate

happy may 24 weekend - victoria day

i'm finally back on this thing, trying to get my head around the blogs i've been missing so very much. i'm finishing up my project this coming weekend and starting the retail project in june. i have so many things on the go right now that everything seems to be a blur to me. i guess for a work-a-holic like myself it's a good thing, but my husband and i are definitely in need of some serious vacation time.

we're driving around town today for may 24, shooting the city of toronto for a client project i have.

i hope everyone has been doing well and i can't wait to start blogging again! pictures will be up shortly!!!!

60. New Project

2008-04-18T05:20:00.000-07:00

image by Harry Allen

i tend to stay away from retail projects mainly because there's just too much involved legally and logistically, however when i met with my parents leasing manager this month to renew their lease on their retail store, they made it very clear that the lease wouldn't be renewed unless they moved locations. my parents work in a big mall - they've been there for over 20+ years and this is their 4th time moving locations within the mall. the only difference this time around is that they're actually putting up some money to do some major renovations to the new space as they would like to expand their business and make it appeal more to the younger / modern generation. how could i not help them out.

the move starts the end of May which fits nicely with my schedule being that the finishing deadline for my project right now is mid May. one right into another. i came across designer Harry Allen and was really impressed with his work. great use of architectual details in a suttle yet striking way. no fuss, no mess, just simple and to the point.

59. Pink

2008-04-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

while shopping around Home Outfitters this past weekend, i came across these really cute breast cancer ribbon sprinkles and instantly purchased a handful for cupcakes that i'm baking for my girlfriends bridal shower next month. her mother passed away from breast cancer a few years ago and her wedding colors pink & brown were decided upon as a memorial for her mother. i couldn't resist these ...

so i'm thinking of baking vanilla cupcakes with these cute ribbon sprinkles on them for all the guests to take home as part of their gift bag :)

58. Fabric Hunt

2008-04-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

i've been searching high and low for fabric like this one but can't seem to find it anywhere! HELP!

does anyone know of any good farbic stores in the GTA?
i've been to BB Bargoons, Designer Fabric and a variety of little stores on Queen St.

57. Work Work Work

2008-04-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

sorry for the lack of updates lately, just been swamped with work these days. i'm in mid construction on one of my projects and just starting another so i will update with photos by the end of the month!

hope all you guys are well.

jenn

56. Jennifer Worts Design

2008-03-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

Jennifer’s design philosophy is that spaces should be created which speak to her clients’ very specific needs and desires – always reflecting their personal styles and tastes.

for more on Jennifer Worts, check out her website at Jennifer Worts Design.

55. Taylor Hannah Architect

2008-03-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Dee Dee Taylor Hannah
There are not very many women I admire, so when I come across one that I do - I want everyone to know who she is and what she does that makes her stand out from a crowd. Let me introduce you to Dee Dee. In 1992, Dee Dee established her own practice specializing in high-end residential Architecture and Interior Design. She is also the co-owner of a successful construction and project management company and is able to offer clients a full service design house, from conception to construction complete with custom furnishings and accessories. Mind you, her design/architectural firm is composed of ALL WOMEN! Yes - powerful women in a mans world.

As a mother of two, things were already busy when Dee Dee was approached to co-host a new interior design program for HGTV, “Love by Design”. Dee Dee can now be seen by over 80 million viewers in both Canada and the US making over spaces with innovation and elegance. Recently a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dee Dee again showed her talents to North America in her swift and amazing ability to transform spaces from the average to the spectacular.

Dee Dee has been nominated for both the Top 40 Under 40, and the Top 100 Business Women of Canada proving that it is possible to balance her business with her family and community obligations. She continues to grow her business and participate in her charitable organizations.

54. Motherhood

2008-03-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

i just celebrated my 28th birthday. i know i may seem young to some but for as long as i can remember, i thought at this age i would be married with a great job carrying around 1 or 2 kids. 2-3 isn't that bad...

we've been trying for a little over a year now with no luck. we're making an appointment with our doc this week to see if there's anything wrong with either of us, fingers crossed that it's just a matter of time and nothing serious. even if we can't have children of our own, we've always talked about adopting so all is not lost. but i would love to experience being a mother, carrying a child and giving birth to new life...

53. Coffinier Ku Design

2008-03-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

A new found respect for....

Coffinier Ku Design, Ltd. was founded in 1998 as Etienne Coffinier Design to bring a French-trained expertise in architecture and interior design to the United States market. The firm specializes in high-end residential and restaurant projects primarily in the greater New York area. Designs is based in the classicism of French design but with surprising contemporary influences and concentrates strongly on custom design both architecturally as well as in all furnishings.

I absolutely adore the window treatment, the soft puddling on the ground luminated by a glow from above from the coved inset along the window frame. Sheer elegance!

This kitchen is not only my favorite color - white, but it also has great banquette seating tucked away off to the side.

52. Love to write

2008-03-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

my first year in law school i worked part time for a great criminal lawyer in the heart of toronto's downtown core. it was my first time working downtown and more than anything i was excited to work in a modern toronto office, so you can imagine my surprise when my new part time boss sat me down in front of an antique type writer instead of the latest mac laptop and told me that this would be my new desk.

my love for our legal system soon faded, but my passion for antiques and that typewriter stayed. in fact, it started to grow and branch out like a wild weed in furtile soil. i had a new passion.

my part time boss had a good reason for sitting me in front of this type writer. it taught me how to be patient with my writings, to think before i acted, control, time management but the most important thing i took from it, it taught me how to appreciate the beauty, style and importance of doing things at my own pace. how rushing or slacking can ruin a great piece of writing - it taught me how to find myself within my writings.

now - almost 7 yrs after the fact, i desire to have a type writer of my own. a writing table in the corner of the room with nothing but my thoughts and an old type writer.

51. Designer Ghislaine Vinas

2008-03-06T06:11:00.000-08:00

i keep hearing, "spring is in the air" but my reality is another foot of snow by end of week!! i needed something to pick me up and bring some light back into my world ...

who better than designer Ghislaine Vinas.

full of bold vibrant colors, spunky unique textures and lots oh lots oh style!

"Color excites me. As a child, I would feel a rush of excitement when opening a box of crayons and seeing all the colors interact and relate. I still feel the same excitement when I see colors come together in a room." - GV

i feel the same way when i see her interiors, i don't know very many people who can use and create spectacular interiors like her using such bold vibrant colors! the key when using colors, a little goes a long way!

50. Michael Robinson Photography

2008-03-06T05:56:00.000-08:00

Michael Robinson has a great eye for capturing spaces at a great angle. very rhythmic and bold.

49. The Kingsway

2008-02-29T07:40:00.000-08:00

Edward and I used to live in Etobicoke, just minutes away from The Kingsway before we moved out into the burbs. We would drive down the old neighbourhood and just stare at the fantastic homes standing along the side of the roads. I lived my whole life in Toronto but never have I been so drawn to a specific neighbourhood. We would park on Bloor St and walk around the town pick up the best croissants at the local french bakery, fruits from the vendors and sipping on a star bucks coffee we decided one day that this would be our future neighbourhood - the neighbourhood we would raise our kids in.

So, recently I started doing a little research on The Kingsway.
The Kingsway is situated on former Clergy Reserve lands that were deeded to the Church of England in the early 1800s. The church leased this property to farmers until 1908 when it was acquired by Robert Home Smith, the visionary who planned The Kingsway neighbourhood.

Home Smith and Company began marketing this subdivision in 1912. However the sale of homes in The Kingsway was stalled by the outbreak of World War I.
Home Smith's motto for The Kingsway was "a little bit of England far from England". His lofty ideal was to establish an English-style garden suburb of the highest integrity and beauty. It is Robert Home Smith's legacy that The Kingsway endures today as one Toronto's finest neighbourhoods.

This well planned community was designed for families. The houses and properties are a good size, the streets are pedestrian friendly, and the schools, shopping, churches, and recreation are all within walking distance. These houses were built between 1924 and 1947 and include some of the finest examples of Old English classical and vernacular architecture in Toronto.

Many houses in The Kingway feature handsome stone exteriors, intricate tapestry brick patterns, and elaborate stucco and half timbering designs. These homes also feature solid oak doors, leaded glass windows, fanciful bay and oriel windows, and decorative wrought iron railings and porch lamps.

Now that I just gave you an entire history lesson on The Kingsway, there are the great original English style homes built by Robert Home Smith that we fell in love with!

images by Ettml

48. Happy Birthday Husband

2008-02-29T06:26:00.000-08:00

like many women, my husband has a shoe fetish. but unlike many women, his passion for shoes does not come from the specific shade of red or the height of the heels and tag that lies inside, rather his passion falls on high top, limited edition air force ones!

for his 33rd birthday yesterday, i managed to pull myself together to purchase him this CB25 limited edition $300 shoes that i know he will never wear! why would i do such a think you might ask yourself - simply because i love him and he would never expect a cheap arsh like myself to ever put down that kind of money for something that will never be utilized! so this post goes out to my husband...

happy birthday baby

47. Hand Grown Pottery

2008-02-27T07:13:00.000-08:00

i came across Leesa Brinkley on Etsy and fell in love with her hand grown pottery collection.

they are just adorable - walking into a room and seeing something like this would just make me smile!

46. Delft Blauw

2008-02-27T06:25:00.000-08:00

Danielle from Style Files posted an inspirational blog on delfts blauw and i was so taken aback (i just love the pottery) i had to do my own post on it. Danielle mentions in her post that designers are being inspired by this blue/white combination and so i find it holds true...

45. Next Project - Live In Work In Space!

2008-02-26T08:06:00.000-08:00

my next project starting up at the end of spring is a live in / work in space.
my client is starting up a new business and he wants to convert his loft space into his home office, but he also plans to continue living there as well. the space isn't very big, and it's completely open concept so my biggest challenge is making the space functional as both a home & office where clients will be visiting and meeting.

so i started looking around for some great inspirational images and here is what i came up with ...

image by accor hotels

image by Violet designs

image by imedagoze

44. Eco Style

2008-02-26T06:33:00.000-08:00

everyone should be living GREEN these days.

here are some great eco style's from LivingEtc

Recycle, Reduce, Reuse... currently my garbage bin, recycling bin and food composte bin are all outside in the garage. I would love something like this inside without it being too distracting.

If you're a big wine drinker like myself, you probably have a case full of empty wine bottles that you've been storing for some extra cash, well what a great idea to turn some of them into pieces of art or decor. Old wine bottles, painted in black gloss and black matt spray paint, or chalk board paint and you can write on them, use them as center pieces or just dramatic eye candy! this is definitely a project i want to try out.

43. Driving & Venting

2008-02-25T07:36:00.000-08:00

photo from flickr, by JennyCornation Park, Oakville

edward & i went for a long drive out of town yesterday to clear our heads and to soak in some good fresh ideas for the upcoming month. we'll both be celebrating our birthdays in a few days and as much as i love to idea of birthdays, i don't like them being mine!

he asked me a question, "what would make you happy right now...?" to which i couldn't give an answer right away. i thought about it for awhile and now that question has consumed my entire body.

what would make me happy? ....

driving around town made me happy. visiting new and exciting places i've never seen before. i started to jot down intersections, addresses, locations and side notes of all the fantastic spots along the way as reference points to where i would want to come back to if i had a photoshoot or a set design. i was able to think freely without any boundries of client requests or budgets, for the first time in a very long time i felt free to do what i wanted to do and it felt great.

42. ISD08

2008-02-24T08:32:00.000-08:00

edward and i went to the Interior Design Show 2008 this past saturday like many others and i always say this but next year i'm not going on a "public's" night. man was it crowded! i don't do well in crowds.

i had to work and couldn't make trades night on thursday so a few of my fellow designers and i trecked down to check out the show over the weekend. needless to say, there were many great exhibits, but many of the same faces, same booths and names we all love and know.

if you had a chance to go, i would love to hear what you all thought of the show.

41. To Purchase Or Not To Purchase.... That Is My Question!

2008-02-20T12:44:00.000-08:00

see this lovely writing desk and upholstered stool...
i want it. i want to strip it, paint it white and reupholster the stool with a lovely textured pattern but i don't know if it's worth $200 up front.

should i? should i not?

it's going to cost me another $300 just to get it looking pretty!
suggestions???

40. Happy Family Day Torontonians!

2008-02-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

Family Day: The holiday that isn't really a holiday

for all of us in toronto, ontario, today is a holiday that isn't really a holiday. our very first family day, stat holiday.
i'm sitting in front of my laptop at home today with my husband on one computer and my brother on another looking for books to start our book club off with. beats sitting in the office anyday! but it's too bad that this holiday has already taken on a bit of tarnish. as stated in the Star today ...

"Family Day is turning out to be a logistical nightmare for many, and it isn't even panning out as a universal holiday for everyone in Ontario.

Instead of a province at leisure, as Premier Dalton McGuinty promised during the provincial election campaign last fall, an estimated 40 per cent of us will be reporting to work first thing Monday morning, trudging through more snow and sleet while the other 60 per cent, including our neighbours and friends, stay home in their flannel pyjamas doing battle with their kids for time on the computer.

But as McGuinty himself noted, it is our first Family Day holiday, and perhaps there are a few wrinkles that still need ironing out.

wrinkle out the bumps Premier, i'm going to enjoy my day at home and i suggest you all do the same too torontonians! Happy Family Day!

39. Clarie Richardson Photography

2008-02-17T07:32:00.000-08:00

photography by claire richardson, photographer of the new book French Home by Josephine Ryan.

38. Que Stien Company

2008-02-16T08:06:00.000-08:00

Emma from Que Stien Company was kind enough to leave me a message the other day and upon visiting her site, I was completely taken aback. The Que Stien Collection is in their words "romantic and elegant, modern and playful, created to enhance the most ancient and intimate art form, written communication." i love how they worded that...

They offer everything from stationaries, wedding invitations to paper envelopes and even ribbions! yes ribbons!

here's a sneak peak...

if you get a chance, definitely check her stuff out at Que Stien Company.