~Don't Show This To My Husband~

As I was browsing through design*sponge this morning, I stumbled across this Toronto home. The home belongs to artist Courtenay Wotherspoon. What almost made me fall off the chair is this photo of her gorgeous entryway. 

I am married to a bike FANATIC, who cycles every chance he gets, collects bicycles to the point that one lives in my family room (it migrated from our bedroom). It is a bone of contention. He thinks I should incorporate it into our home design. 

This photo should NOT be shown to him!

source: HGTV Canada

I love Courtenay's quirky sense of style and her home. In this space, she successfully marries the heritage staircase with an Ikea console, vintage framed mirror, Starck ghost chair and the practical bicycle as art. Isn't the archway to die for?

LOVE it!

 (except we will still keep this photo away from my husband, this could help his cause)

  

Bedroom for your little baby girl !

Having a baby is probably the most wonderful news for the parents, and it comes with a lot of preparation and anticipation. I have some wonderful ideas for parents who would love to do up a room for their baby. Because the design and color of the room would be soo vastly different for a baby girl or boy, I am taking it in different posts.

In this post I bring to you some beautiful ways to do up the room. I have done a post before..check it here; here I am showing some designs for a baby GIRL :D They are so precious the little ones that any amount of trouble is still little compared to the joy they bring.

Design in pretty pink with flowers.

What more could be more girlie than pink and pretty flowers. This is so beautiful with butterfly and flowers and lovely shades of pink to it. Go all out and pick up the favourite bits of fabric and design your own room with a little inspiration for this.

Break the monotony with brown and green.

Since pink is a choice by default for all little girl's room. How about using some more colors for a different look. This design is just that with the brown color on furniture, the brown butterfly print shows up beautifully. The green is so refreshing . In all a beautiful way to do up a room for a little cutie.

Pale green with pink and white

How pretty can it get? Pale green to offset white and pink, and a dash of mellow yellow! The design is simple and pretty as it should be, for a little baby. Pink and green is used in various accents too. I love how the lamp shade has been customized. A great way to do up your own.

Too much pink ?

Pink can be a little too much, s how about ivory? or the palest shade of pink possible. This design is fun and cute and pretty and yet not too much of pink. The color red is dominant with a combination of green and blue. love the ruffles and the flowers on the wall.

A hint of Pink ?

Okay we might not like too much of pink maybe but a little hint of pink is still beautiful. This might be just the design for you. Its pretty and not too cluttered yet with the retro touch of circles and cute lamp,not to miss the adorable chair, this design does beg consideration. Love the almost zen affect in it.

Sheer purple with brown.

This might not be a conventional color combination for decorating a baby girl's room but beautiful it is. Purple and brown is a good combination for any area and here the detailing is such that it makes for a very attractive design. Love the itty bitty chandelier there, perfect for a little princess.

Having posted on ways to do up your little princess room I have to do another for the apple of your eye too; one for the little blue eyed boys :) Watch out for it.

~What's Your Style in One Picture Challenge~

I am a bit slow in writing up posts but this one challenge put out by Ally from The Right Bank had me thinking, how would I sum up my style in one photo? I was up for this challenge which had me browsing through my bookmarked images. It was a toss up between a few but this one speaks to me.

 My style is ever-evolving, a bit of a hodgepodge, hence the name of my blog. But I have always loved this photo. If I could sum up my style it would be seen in Margot Austin's kitchen. I love the simplicity of the space, the rustic chic elegance. 

What I love is the airiness of the space, the clean lines, the white, black and grey palette, the old world elements, the bare wood floors and the gorgeous carriage light. The only thing missing are some red elements, my favourite colour. 

Sigh....

~Flowers around the House and a Winner!~

I love fresh cut flowers around the house especially if they are from my garden. 

With all the crummy rainy weather we have been having, what better way to liven up damp spirits than to cut fresh flowers (in between rain showers) and place them in a vase for all to see and smell.

(ok - these aren't from my garden, my husband bought them for me)

We did have a few "visitors" come running out of the peonies, but a few whacks with a flip flop solved that problem!

Nothing like waking up to sweet smelling roses.



Also for those waiting and anticipating, sorry for the delay.....


The winner of the $40 gift certificate to CSN stores is.......

(once again, couldn't embed random number generator- anyone know how?)

 Donna @ dh designs said...

I would use the GC towards some baby goodies for my first grandchild who will arrive in September :)!

Thanks for hosting!

And please drop by my blog to enter my giveaway - my very first one!!!

www.dh-designs.blogspot.com

Congratulations Donna!

Ahem....maybe I'll win your first giveaway, I am wanting those earrings!

Enjoy spending your $40 and spoiling your new grandchild!

Home Accents: Reusing buttons for interesting accent

There is something so satisfying about being crafty and using our skills and creativity to decorate our homes. Upcycling/recycling has forever been my favourite craft, and I am on a constant look out for new ideas. Thanks to so many crafty people across the globe, I have a selection of really awesome ways to use your stash of vintage or new buttons.

Take a look and if you have a bunch of random buttons lying around, take up a project and see how pleased it will leave you at the end of the day !

Decorate your curtains at no cost at all !

Just a cute bunch of buttons and a simple curtain can be transformed into  work of art. I love how little effort it takes to achieve such a beautiful result. Cost effective and easy to do :)

Planters from recyclables

I thought this was  just too good to miss, cans and corrugated sheets (salvaged maybe) and a handful of buttons to achieve this beautiful summery look, pick your bunch of wild flowers or throw in some seeds for your own garden. Redo your window sill maybe ?

Flowers that wont die on you ?

From interesting planters to flowers made with buttons. How much cuter can it get ? Simple do make and will leave you with a smile every time.

Wreath of buttons for the shabby chic !

This is surprising simple and leaves a great impact. Some beautiful mix of buttons, same shade or fun with colored ones, glue gun and a cardboard ! All these come together for this stylish decoration. Go raid your drawers now :)

All buttoned up frames ;-)

This is an easy craft for teens. Just paint the frame with the same color as the buttons you would like to use. Very forgiving in case you leave gaps or you might like to really do it up with loads of them in layers. Use white glue and I am sure lots of compliments will come for your little ones.

Napkin rings too!

Add a dash of cheer to your table setting as well. Scraps of fabric in pretty colors, a few buttons and you can have a interesting set of napkin holders. Great ideas for your picnic or summer party too.

Chic and stylish coasters.

Did you come cross a bag of buttons in a thrift shop or just a little too many left over from a previous project? This is a great way of salvaging ! The colors shades of thread gives it the uber chic look and you will leave your guest gushing over your craftiness.

Curtain holders the diy way.

Easy peasy !! Just a beautiful shade of ribbon to compliment your curtains, some buttons to sew on and you have this beautiful curtain holder all custom made ;)  If you have been looking for a set of curtain holder and not been able to make up your mind use this idea to make some yourself.

Crafty kids at home ?

If you have kids who love to do craft, this would surely leave them pleased. With minimum investment what a beautiful set of decoration. Cute as only buttons can be I am sure this is a set of simple yet gorgeous center pieces.

Jewelry for the funky !

Now that summer is here don your own creations and enjoy all the compliments that come your way. Old neck chain, some jump rings and a selection of button. Search online for your stash of buttons if you do not have it yet. They are cheap and with so many ways to use them you will end up only making loads of craft. Use them for earrings or make a locket with a bunch of them on a large jump ring.

With so many ways of using buttons I am going buttons myself :P So get your creative juices flowing and hunt for interesting buttons to make your own set of decorations. Easy and cost effective way of doing up your place.

P.S : If you have pictures to share of your craft, send me a message nd I would love to post it here.

~A Giveaway From CSN~

Life has been quite busy around here.... 

not much excitement 

but full of end of school events, music recitals, projects, final exams, bike races and work. All my projects are at a stand still and I am hoping as the school year winds down I will find more time to tackle my to-do list. 

One exciting event did happen a few weeks back, I finally won a giveaway!

 Yipee! 

I won a $40 gift certificate from a wonderfully creative esty seller and I will write up a feature and share when I get my package. It is now sitting in a post office in Blaine Washington as it cost millions and trillions to ship things to the Great White North. I am visiting the US for a Target fix (and to watch my daughter play in a soccer tournament - but even she is more excited about shopping) and to pick up my parcel, when I find all is intact I will share!

So when CSN contacted me about doing another giveaway I said, "Why not?" 

I am in a giving mood. 

One lucky winner will recieve a $40 gift certificate to buy something from one of CSN 200+ online stores. 

What could you buy?

 You could put your money towards a purchase of a new bathroom vanity?

How about a dog bed for Fido?

A ultra cool mirror to gaze at yourself?

BBQ tools for whip up some amazing summer dinners?

Lovely pillows to adorn your sofa?

Or a Eames chair? ( I'll take two in white)

The giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents. 

How to enter:

1. For one entry: visit a CSN store and leave me a comment what you would like to buy with $40 if you won.

2. For a second entry: become a follower of my blog through Google Connect, if you are let me know in another comment.

3. For a third entry: add a link to this giveaway in your sidebar or blog about the giveway and let me know.

The giveaway will close on Sunday, June 20, 7 AM PST.  I will try to get my act together and announce the winner that day!

If your email is not on your blog, please provide one, so I can contact you if you won.

 Also, please note that there may be shipping costs involved that can be above your $40.

Good luck!

Dining room ideas in Yellow !

As said, after doing up living room in yellow I am back with some lovely ideas to use yellow in the most loved space in your home. Yellow is such a vibrant and fun color that using in any room brings in lots warmth and cheer. It blends beautifully with white and a whole range of colors to be among some very versatile. Use it a little or oodles of it, go for the perfect balance for yourself.

Dining room designs in Yellow !

This is for someone who loves to build memories piece by piece with lots of love and memories for posterity. Its lovely in the way the sunlight filters through the window lightning the whole room with white popping againt the pale yellow. I have said before and this bears again how yellow fits in so well with so many colors, the right shade of yellow is the biggest decision you may have to make.

I love the popping pink in the room with dashes of green.So fresh and lovely !

This dining room is in ivory and yellow, with red and green accents thrown in. totally love the hardware on the hutch and the beautiful porcelain. If you really wish to use yellow to its best affect use it in a sunny room, its just to amazing how the room looks to cheerful and fun with light shining in.

This look is specially cool because the walls are a neutral ivory shade and yellow is used only on one piece of furniture. This leaves a lot of scope for redoing the room in other shades as your heart wills, without the pain of repainting the walls.

Yet another dining room which is super elegant and stylish. Everything in this room is hand picked with care and goes to add to the complete effect of the room. The dashes of black in the ivory and pale yellow is the defining factor, see how the black crystal chandelier immediately draws attention.

The shabby chic table among all the beautiful pieces is such an interesting choice and it blends in so beautifully.

After the expensive look above, this look so much more cheerful and fun :) I am soo partial to this ! The vintage looking chairs and milk glass lamp with retro china and glass, I could snag all of them if I could. The look is simple and has a lot of impact. It is carefully chosen and each piece is radiating with positive energy.

I would absolutely love to do up my room like this if there was enough sunlight streaming in.

If painting furniture or wall in yellow is too difficult a decision to make, try with simple elements. How about a table setting in yellow to see if you fall in love with it? As I have said before, yellow is very versatile and a lot of colors go with it beautifully. Choose your shade carefully and you will love it !

If there are any other color you would love to see home design in, leave me a message and I would love to do it too !

Living room ideas in Yellow !

I am so in love with yellow with summer around. Bright and sunny with lots of energy and positive vibe! How about a good look at different ways you can use yellow in your homes, I came across some beautiful designs for all different rooms which beg to be shared :)

Yellow is my favourite specially because it uplifts my mood immediately, who can resist the charm of  sunlight and the immediate warmth (a brighter shade) to the cool lemony. With a hint of green, white or even black (!) give yourself a chance to experience the beautiful color. I here present to you my pick of home ideas in yellow.

Living room designs in Yellow

I like this arrangement for the beautiful mix of colors and the elegance in it. With yellow as the dominant color there is an eclectic mix of red, green, blue, pink and even the golden from the mirror frame. This just goes to show how well yellow allows accent colors to play up. The room looks beautiful with white and yellow and the natural light streaming in.

My favourite are the lovely yellow patterned cushion on the love seat and chair, instant makeover for any room :)

Yellow is a versatile color and blends beautifully with white and black and looks stunning if the mix is right. With just two colors (white and black) this room looks uncluttered yet a very polished and elegant. The white just pops out against the walls while the black adds the sense of drama to  it.

This is a look which is so easy to achieve, keep this as your reference for a stunning look for your living room.

Another layout and expansive room but the color mix remains the same. White and yellow,with a little of back/brown for accent. Simple and clutter free. It has a zen affect. The accents, bottles and vase and the painting all of them mimic the yin and yang with yellow as a muted background.

A unique living room with very interesting elements here.

This next picture is one of my fav for the lovely shades of yellow in it. The pale muted yellow on the wall which shines with style, and the retro whimsical cage light. I love the whole look including the chair which is absolutely gorgeous with the multicolor swirl cushion on it.

The accents are just too cute and I love it !!

A dash of yellow can cheer up any room, from warm to elegant and the numerous shades of it, its just up to your creativity to make it your own. This sunny color goes well with almost all colors , from royal blue to lovely green to pale pink and the dramatic black and white.

I shall bring to you (next post) some designs for Dining room/space. This color is absolutely fantastic for this special space which holds warmth and some of the most beautiful memories for any family.

P.S : Do leave some love and let me know if you have any feedback and requests :)

~The Keefer and Chinatown~

A few days ago I chaperoned my son's grade six class trip to Chinatown. Vancouver has a thriving and vibrant Asian community and Chinatown is a feast for the eyes and nose. I have always been fascinated with Asian food, decor and architecture. One of my best friends growing up was Asian and I loved eating at her house. It is because of her family and extended family's hospitality that I love Asian food and have developed an appreciation for Asian decor and architecture.


 While touring the Dr. Sun Yet-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens I could of snapped so many photos but I forgot my camera that day! The garden embodies the Asian philosophy of ying and yang, the mix of opposites. For example, the round opening and the graphic square pattern in the gate. The garden evoked a feeling of peace and calm. Even all 70 students managed to be somewhat calm and orderly in the garden! What a beautiful place to wander through and see the koi and turtles swim in the lily filled pond, the naturally acid-etched rocks that were imported from China mixed with bright peony bushes, weeping willows and sculptural trees.

source: The Seattle Times

source: Flickr

source: Classical Garden visit


 My goal is to take my kids back this summer to nibble on apple tarts and steamed pork buns at the New Town bakery, to visit the herbalist shops, to buy more Asian pottery and lanterns (cheap!) and enjoy some traditional Cantonese cooking at Foos Ho Ho's. 

source: Urban Spoon

While we were having a tour of the historic buildings of Chinatown our guide brought us to a beautifully renovated building that has been converted to a gorgeous boutique hotel called "The Keefer." The graphite painted exterior beckoned a look inside. Because I had 6 children in my charge I decided against going inside, but instead enjoyed the view from the outside. We could see the rooftop patio from the street and I had fun that evening going through their photo gallery on their website. I think my husband needs to take me there for one night for our upcoming 19th anniversary. I want to have a martini in their bar, dinner at Bao Bei and then stroll the street at night and hit the Chinese night market. 

Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie

Who wouldn't want to eat here? I love the chintz covered industrial bar stools, the worn out leather chair in the corner, the mix of old world, Asian and modern elements.

The Keefer Hotel is a beautifully decorated building. Each suite is gorgeous and has a mix of Asian and modern styles. I couldn't copy the images from their website but found these at Expedia. 


Update: Tara from The Cinnamon Post (another fab Canadian blog) informed me that The Keefer's interior was designed by Wendy Williams Watt, the doyenne of style, former owner and founder of Vancouver's Liberty furnishings and now owner/designer behind her latest endeavour, Grace studio. Another juicy tidbit, her ex-husband is the owner of The Keefer.

Love the mix of the Asian lantern, French country armoire, modern mirrored night table and old world charm of the ceiling.

Love the Asian drum stool in the shower - I could see myself soaking in the tub with a glass of wine.

A glass bottom pool on the roof top with gorgeous city and mountain views. I think I could move in.

Ehem.... hubby are you reading this? Hint....hint.....wink....wink....

All images of The Keefer Hotel: Expedia