Before and afters...get on it!

This is a note to myself. I worked on some great projects this year and a couple I will get professionally photographed and others I need to share! Doing design was a love, that became a hobby, that became what I feel meant to do. Even though part of my background is in Public Relations, I'm finding getting all set up on the back end more of the challenging part and would just like to work on projects. That being said I'm determined to start 2014 feeling 'happy' with the back end processes, social media etc.

 Please stick with me as I may show a few grainy photos, post things I will regret later and fumble my way around but sometimes you just got to do it (as Nike tells me?).

So...here is a before photo of a living room I worked on in Vancouver. Beautiful old home with a traditional feel. Here is the design board and yes, a grainy (getting close) to being an after shot. The client is going to redo the fireplace and then the styling will start. Enjoy!

The Before

The "almost" after

The Design Board

Thinking Fall Fashion

I know, lots of people get excited over fall. The change of season, leaves falling, blah, blah, blah. I'm not one of those people. I actually get very bummed that summer is over and I find the change of season and shorter days challenging.

But...there are 2 things that excite me. Fall TV and fashion! With limited time and limited closet space I need to be more thoughtful with what I buy and my goal is to love every piece of clothing I own. Lofty goal :-). So when looking for fall inspiration here are things I dream about and things I'm obsessing about right now.

First up, is Smythe jackets. I dream of owning one. I first saw them years ago when Sarah Richardson wore them on her show and now they keep popping up in my life taunting me. I think I'm going to make it a goal to own one this year. The quality, fit and style are timeless. And now to my obsessing. I'm kinda in love with Zoe Karssen t-shirts. So soft, comfy and cute. I've been starting a mini collection this summer. Enjoy...

An Emotional Cleansing followed by some Inspiration...

Well, we moved. And let me just say...moving sucks! No matter how organized you are it is still an emotionally, physically and I'll go as for to say spiritually draining process. To top it off me and the girlies all got the stomach flu at the same time. Not fun. Okay, enough of negative nelly and onto the real goods. We are back near our old neighbourhood in Vancouver and we are in love. Everything is at our finger tips and so many fun things I can walk to with the girls. And, I won't say we're out of boxes but for being here about 10 days we're doing pretty good.

I have also discovered I may have a new talent. I'm becoming a storage solution master. Moving from a big home to a small bungalow has it's space challenges. My hubby has been hard at work putting together many a unit so we can live comfortably. The irony is, we feel more organized then we ever have. How is this possible? It's been a 15 year cleansing (which is still happening) and we are trying to live only with what we: LOVE, NEED, USE. I have been wanting to do this for a long time and it feels like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders (and I'm hoping that will translate into a 5 pound weight loss for me too...ha, ha).

So, here are a few pics of inspiration that I have had for our new little love home and when I get this place a little more spruced up I'd love to share photos and tips as I learn.

First tip: if you have natural light - paint white. I painted the main floor (which is basically where we do all our living) a warm white and it created flow, light and airiness where every person who has come in has said how open and light it feels...music to my design obsessed ears!

Enjoy...

My desk area is across from the kitchen and love the storage and feel of this one. via style at home

Looking at this picture again I realize my bedroom does reflect some of this. Wall sconces, light bedding, texture.

Obsessed with this picture. This is basically my colour palette. Via Etsy

I kept my tulip table and Louis style chairs but know deep down this scale of chair is right and I love the cowhide
via Pinterest (sorry, link was broken to original source?)

I have a little galley kitchen as well. Mine is more cream but I'm lusting after these stools I must find and dreaming of that floor one day too. Via my idol - Kelly Deck

New House and Flamingos?

Finally! Almost 9 months and 71 showings and our home has sold! Anyone thinking of selling in a down market, you may want to think again. That being said, we are so excited to sell and move back to the city.  With 4 weeks to move we were looking for a rental and by fluke called on a house in a neighbourhood we've been lusting over. The open house had been packed and we were sure this house was gone for a ridiculous price over list. Well, it was available! We threw in an offer and it's ours. A cute little 'cream puff' bungalow in the city.

So, this means you get to come on my decorating journey. Whether you like it or not :). The house is half the size of our current home and we may rent out part of the basement which means an even smaller space. We have sold most of our furniture and I'm excited about creating a space where we must use all it's square footage. Time to get a little creative.

First up - the girls room. They will be sharing a room until they are old enough to move to into their own rooms in the basement. My 5 year old is beyond excited about the idea of bunk beds. Our inspiration for the room...flamingos! They love flamingos and luckily West Elm had the most adorable print which is our jumping off point. Here are a few more ideas. Enjoy...

Our new digs!

The adorable inspiration for the girls room

Still love this idea....

Fabric options

Pillow fabric

Some shabby chic bedding

Love this idea of a big photo of the girls in their room

My Dream Home

Moving is on my mind...a lot! Even though the move has not happened, I dream of the decorating. I have also realized how much my style has changed when I notice what I gravitate towards now. Much more clean lines, modern and simple. I still like 'stuff' but I do have a goal to live with less of it and in a simpler way to enjoy my family.

One of my dream places was a the home of designer Nancy Riesco feautured in the June issue of House and Home magazine. Love all the natural light, the airy-ness and whimsy to this home. Now, realistically with house prices in Vancouver I might end up living in a shed somewhere but a girl can dream. Enjoy!

Master Bedroom Inspiration

Hello blog world...I'm back! While I've still been actively reading blogs I have ignored this little baby for a while. Truth be told with our house still for sale, working on a few exciting decorating projects and my 21 month old daughter literally sucking every ounce of energy out of me something had to give.

One of the projects I've been working on is a living room, dining room and master bedroom. The master bedroom is one of my favourites as it's always a room that gets left until the end but is so important! I did up a couple design boards for my client and I really like the direction we're going with landing on a mix of the two boards. I'm a huge fan of white bedding. You just can't go wrong. We tried to carefully do a combination of masculine and feminine elements in this room. Love to hear which one is your favourite?

Enjoy!

One of my favourite elements of this room is the white cowhide rug. Love! 

This light fixture was the perfect hit of masculine for the room - perhaps to offset those feminine mirrored bedside tables :-)

Small Changes = Big Impact!

I recently worked with a catering company in Vancouver - A Taste To Savour on adding a few touches to their retail space. We did a little painting, a few accessories and some art and wow, what a change.

To start they had a fresh colour palette of white, green and brown with a pear being their logo. One of the most exciting finds was when I walked into the local Marimekko store in Vancouver and found the perfect print of a big pear canvas that you see when you walk in the front door. Speaking of Marimekko, I think they have some really fun prints right now that would make fantastic pillows for a fun, fresh spring update.

The client sent me some progress of her store. Very happy with how it's comin along. I thought this might provide some good inspiration that with a little, paint, art, pillows etc you can make an impactful change to your place. Enjoy...

Some inspiration for the client

There is the Marimekko Pear - love. We also painted that back wall white.

Added a bar area. New white stools and fun planters on the wall to come.

Striped cushions added to existing chairs

Using a picture frame to highlight the menu

Stay tuned for some fun outdoor changes this summer!

Traditional Feminine!

I had the pleasure of meeting with a great new client a few weeks ago. She has a fantastic heritage home in Vancouver and is looking to re-vamp her living room. I love older homes with character. Let's be honest - anything you put in them looks good. Maybe I shouldn't say that as it makes it seem like I'm of no value:-) To be more honest, every time I see one of these houses I want one. Sure there's something nice about new, but you just can't beat character.

Her style is more on the traditional side...I'd say 'Traditional Feminine.' I'm liking this idea of naming peoples style as it makes it easier when choosing items of what to say yes and no to. And, I just think it's sort of fun to do.

I sent her a couple mood boards, and she loves a lot of it...woot, woot (or is it whoop, whoop - someone please tell me!). We are meeting tomorrow to review and get it all going. I'm excited as I think this space has some wow potential. Here are the mood boards and already I've changed quite a few things for our review session tomorrow but the feel is staying the same. 

I'll keep you posted how it goes. Enjoy...

Fabric on furniture will change. I'd like to do those cubes in the pattern fabric and match her end dining chairs in the same. The desk chair is from CB2 - one of my faves right now.

Decided not to go with the safari rug (though I LOVE it). Greys, whites, creams with pops of chartreuse. The reading chair in the corner is Restoration Hardware - they actually have some great prices on furniture which I know is kinda shocking!

A Little Mood Board Action...

I created this mood board a couple months ago and had the opportunity to pop by this glamour space this week to see how it's all rolling along. I LOVE it! My girlfriend has great style and likes a bit of glam and sparkle in her life. It's been so fun working on this space together and she's been open to trying out new things. I'm looking forward to having our first cocktail in her new pad next week. Items have changed since this mood board but here is the original vision. After looking around my very messy (and not so glamorous) house this morning I kinda want to move in! Enjoy!

Spa Updates

This project is right up my alley - I'm working on some updates to a spa! In my 'research' of the spa experience, I like an atmosphere that feels fresh, airy and calming. The main floor of the spa has been painted and wow - what a difference paint can make! I'll share some photos soon. We went from yellow to a fresh white and blue palette. Here is the mood board and I kept everything to simple changes all from Ikea and Urban Barn to keep it accessible. I think it's time for me to book a facial as part of my further 'research' to this project. Enjoy...