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28.9.10

Black and White vs Color and Pattern

BLACK AND WHITE:

Like jewelry for your door!

Meg Ryan's House on Martha's Vineyard


A simple arrangement of black and white objects give purpose to this work desk

beautiful details add a lady like charm. I love the pearling details of this silver tray.


These plate racks add to the traditional concept of the kitchen


A tall sink faucet like this allows for easy pot filling while adding elegant beauty with its long lines

Dark floors and countertops ground this kitchen and create dramatic tension and contrast


COLOR AND PATTERN:

having two of these chairs at the heads of the dining table would add just the right amount of impact and color. Fabric by DwellStudio

Just a few pops of these Florida colors can make a room come alive 

mixing these two bold colors can seem daunting but they really support and compliment each other to create a calm, cozy feeling atmosphere

Keep everything else simple with a fabulous background like this from Graham and Brown
Photo credit: Style at Home, Elle Decor

21.9.10

Pretty Things

I love prints, how cool is this paint pattern roller! (rollerwall.com) When you're bored with the pattern you can just paint over it.





Love these feminine and textured spaces:





Bold Color and Pattern:




13.9.10

Can I play too?

I have no kids at present and I don't plan on having kids for some time yet. You can bet that when the day comes, I will be enjoying the toys far more than the kids.

Ride-on Toys From Dwell Trade Show


Outdoor play structure featured in Interior Design Magazine.



Giraffes seem to be all the rage for children's rooms right now. I saw my first one of these stuffed guys this summer at a local toy store down the street, I couldn't really justify buying it for myself...

7.9.10

Design on a Small Budget

My Sister purchased a house in Lantzville, Vancouver Island. It was a disaster when we went to check it out. Behind all of the outdated furniture, dysfunctional kitchen and filthy carpet there had to be a gem.

BEFORE (Scary I know):




BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY (after):



The ½ acre property backed on to a farm. There were huge trees on the site and flower lined driveway. An adorable single story home sat at the back of the property with vaulted ceilings and two bedrooms, lots of windows and an open layout.

After a weekend full of ripping up carpet and scrubbing walls the space started to expose its potential. Fresh paint, laminate flooring, new trim, a brand new kitchen, a custom island and a lot of help from friends and family made this project a possibility.



AFTER:


THE DESIGN:

Heather prefers a low key, west coast feel to her home. We used some of her existing furniture and refinished some thrift store finds. We kept the color pallet warm and neutral to allow the space to flow from one room to the next. The simple interior draws the eye outdoors to the beautiful garden and large coniferous trees.


Kitchen: We removed the upper cabinets in the kitchen and replaced them with open shelving. The custom built island allows for storage of Heathers dishes, glasses and cookware. The opposing side has two stools tucked under a counter height bar for casual dining. Two glass pendant lights were hung above the island to provide task lighting and a pop of color!

Living and Dining Area: The areas flow seamlessly into one another with a consistent color pallet and visual style. The simple dining table finds its place in the centre of the home; it’s a place for family to gather for meals and conversation. The low hung, oversized pendant provides intimate lighting and grounds the table in the room. The Living Room shows off its high vaulted ceilings and plentiful windows and skylights by the painted wood clad wall. Large comfortable soft furnishings invite you to come in and snuggle up with a fire burning and a cozy fur blanket. The large informal coffee table is great for putting your feet up or setting a cup of hot chocolate down. The room is then grounded by a large Turkish rug for an injection of color.

Bed Rooms: Clean, simple and relaxing. That is what Heather wanted in these spaces. A pallet of grey blue on the beds is conducive to a restful sleep. Side lamps and whimsical art by Mary Touhey (www.touhey.net) add detail to this space. A cozy shag rug welcomes your toes as your climb into bed.

Office Nook: a small vanity desk purchased at a thrift shop acts as a home office desk. An indoor/outdoor rug as well as a large organized closet makes this space double as a functional mud room from the back entry.

This project was completed with a relatively small budget plus a great deal of elbow grease! I think it was worth the effort, this house really feels like a home.