{giveaway: csn stores}

Having recently had a great shopping experience with CSN stores {a place to buy everything and anything, such as modern duvet covers, dog dishes, yes, even the kitchen sink}, I gladly accepted their offer of a $45 gift certificate to give away to one of my followers {I have almost 380!}

In August I won a $60 gift certificate to CSN stores and finally in early November I decided to purchase this gorgeous accent pillow from Dwell Studio.

 I had the item shipped to my mailbox in the US, as I wanted to avoid the hefty international/duty charges that CSN charges on orders to Canada. Excitedly I drove across the border to collect my much anticipated pillow, along with various items I had purchased online from other retailers. Having been charged a goods and service tax at the border I was even more dismayed when I came home to open my parcel from CSN to find this Dwell Studio pillow instead.

A nice pillow but not the one I ordered.

 Let's just say I was in a very bad mood that I was charged tax {in my 20 years crossing back and forth across the border I have NEVER been charged duty} and that I did not get the item I had ordered.

 Callng the customer service line {where they answered almost right away}, a nice young man, named Kyle {I think?} help sort out my shipping dilemma. After explaining my situation; that I had my item shipped to the US and that I was not about to cross the border again to pick up the right item, he realized it would be too expensive for CSN to have the wrong pillow shipped back. So not only did they send me the right pillow straight to my home within a week, I got to keep the wrongly shipped one as well! 

My daughter has claimed the silver pillow for her bed while my Dwell Studio chinoiserie long pillow

looks amazing with my West Elm square pin tuck duvet in white {one of the other items I had picked up on that fateful day}.

I am a happy customer!

So when CSN stores offered me a $45 gift certificate, I happily decided to share the love and give it away to one of my followers!

This giveaway is open to residents of US and Canada until midnight {PST} Sunday, February 6.

 I will announce the winner on Monday, February 7.

***Edited Monday, February 7, GIVEAWAY is CLOSED****

How to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog {I have to reward my loyal readers and followers!} for one entry.

2. Tweet and/or post on Facebook, for another one/two entries. {Send me the link in the comments}

3. Link to this giveaway on your sidebar for an additional entry.

Please leave a comment for each entry, letting me know what you did.

If you don't have an email linked up with your blogger profile, please include that in your comment.

Thanks to all who follow my blog, you make my day!

Here is a sneak peek at what I worked on this weekend:

and this:

xo Barbara

{i'm featured: diy club life and home ezine}

So excited that my "How to make a diamond tufted headboard" tutorial is published in The DIY Club: Life and Home ezine Winter 2011 issue!

Check out the latest issue chock full of organizational and DIY ideas!

Click to launch the full edition in a new window

Self Publishing with YUDU

{I'm on page 56}

{the great clean out}

Today I am participating in 10 Rooms' The Great Clean Out.

It is fitting as we just had The Great Switch at our house to start the new year of with an organizational bang.

 For those of you who don't know what I mean by that, we switched around 3 rooms upstairs in our home in order to create a space for the kids to hang out with their friends. My daughter moved out of the large room {which technically is a games/playroom} and moved into her brother's room. Her brother moved into what was the den. The den moved into the newly carved out games room. A switch of this magnitude required planning. My daughter and I drew up plans to make sure furniture fit in their new spaces. We had to switch the ownership of a few pieces, which are now waiting for an updated paint colour.

What I am focussing on for The Great Clean Out is the bookcase and closet in the new games room, since the room is not quite finished. 

What this great switch forced me to do was to finally go through all the boxes and books we stuffed into the bookcase and closet when we moved in 2 years ago. I failed to take a before picture but here is an in-the-middle of the switch picture.

After sorting, purging and re-organizing...

here is the after.

The bookcases are Billy bookcases from Ikea filled with the kids' books, photo albums {which I hope to either re-cover or replace}, photo boxes, a few mementos and reference books.

Using boxes from Michaels {only $2 each}, I was able to house all the photos {pre-digital days}we have that still need to be put into albums. The labels were just printed onto card stock. Some of the boxes house ipod cables, camera cables, and other small computer "stuff".

Baskets are used to corral other stuff that just don't really have a place.

Out came our "vintage" cameras to put on display. One is my dad's old camera from the early 70's that takes the most amazing photographs. The other was our last film camera. Something the kids probably don't remember using!

Using large canisters from Ikea, we were able to house and display our large collection of seashells from our trip to Florida.

Moving onto the closet...
Which is a work in progress.

The closet in this room is very generous and I was able to house all our boxes with files, momentos, games, my teaching binders, husband's coaching binders, and office supplies. I am still waiting for a wire shelf to come in at the local hardware store to fill in the blank space above the games. so some of the items that are stacked will head onto that shelf.

Into the closet I placed a small Billy bookcase we have had for 16 years. It didn't fit into my son's current space and fit perfectly into the closet! Now it houses, bins with crafts, beading supplies. paper, games, etc.

{sad blurry photo, still learning how to use our SLR}

This closet still has a way to go but I am happy with the progress thus far.

Can't wait for this room to be finished.

Being frugal and a procrastinator it is moving along slowly.

Make sure you check out the other bloggers participating at 10 Rooms The Great Clean Out!



xo Barbara

{thrift store chair}

My giveaway has been postponed until next week{fingers crossed} because a special one came along just few days ago, so I'll put off the other one for a later date. Just waiting for a few details to be ironed out.
I need to celebrate 354 followers! 

 So today I bring you my thrift store chair.

{Sad before photo -but aren't before makeover photos supposed to be blah?}

 This beauty I found back in November while shopping with 2 local bloggers, Nancy from Marcus Design and Victoria {formerly from Design Ties} now starting her own blog, Edin's House.

For $50 I couldn't resist.

My plans are to re-cover it in a black and white strip fabric from Ikea, to look like this inspiration photo that Victoria sent me.

{source unknown}

A few versions of my chair has popped up on the internet. One version is owned by my garden plot neighbour {we watered each others plots all summer but never met} who has started a fantastic blog, Simply Inspired Home {still haven't met}.

Here is another from Restoration Hardware, look familiar?

{18th Century French Burlap Chair: Restoration Hardware}

Hmm..$1295 {on sale}

Mine....$50

I have put off re-doing the chair as I am not quite sure how to upholster it, have never done anything like that before, shocking, I know...

My dilemma is whether or not to paint the arms and legs of the chair or to leave them the lovely mahogany stain the currently wear. They have such a lovely patina.

What do you think?


xo Barbara

{art wall: inspiration}

One plan for the games room is to create an art wall, where the television will be incorporated into the art all, such as my inspirational photo from Emily A. Clark.

{Emily A. Clark}

I will be using photos, posters and artwork of and by my children to fill the space.

But the fun won't stop there, 

I also plan on using their artwork mixed in with family photos to run up the stairwell.

Here are some gallery walls I just love:

{Pure Style Home}

{decorpad}

{decorpad}

{Steven Gambrel via House and Home}

This staircase art wall in the home of Emily Norris, a Style at Home editor, is one of my favourites. It is a kid friendly wall with so much for the eyes to take in, an eclectic mix of children's artwork, posters, art and photographs. This is the look I hope to achieve!

{Just wish the landlords would let me paint the railings on our staircase}

{style at home}

This is another favourite from the home of Joseph and Kimberly Mimram, a Canadian dynamic design duo.

I especially love the mix of graphic elements such as typography with art and photographs.

 {via House and Home}

My love for gallery art walls runs deep, maybe because they remind me of the amazing museums that I have visited, full of curated treasures. Our gallery wall would be our family's story running along the wall.

 Hoping to accomplish that not only in our newly created family games room {which is at a stand still because my trip to Ikea was postponed due to the stomach flu making it's debut at our home } but up the stairwell as well. 

Hoping to get to it soon as I have been stock piling frames and art work, where I almost have enough to hang up!

XO Barbara

{thanks}

Many thanks to:

Tip Junkie for featuring my diamond tufted headboard in How to Make a Headboard and my silver leaf Ikea Rast dresser hack in Repainting Ikea Furniture.

and to 

where Maria listed my Silver leaf Ikea Rast dresser hack in her 10 Interesting Posts post.

Thanks Maria! 

Today I am off to Ikea to source and price out a few things for our newly appointed games room.

Hoping to find something to sit and curl up on, like this:

Ektorp loveseat

and maybe something for a media centre like this:

PS cabinet

Hoping to get the ball rolling on finishing the space as ...

next week I am participating in 10 Rooms 

Also later this week I am hosting a giveaway to celebrate almost 350 followers!

Happy Monday

XO Barbara

{welcome}

Welcome!

or 

should I say... 

Bienvenue!

{since we are a bilingual country}

Let's just say I was giddy with excitement when my husband informed me early yesterday morning. 

XO Barbara

Living room : Reading corner designs

One of the best activity on dull winter days is to catch up on reading. Cozy living room with a comfortable reading spot is just the perfect idea !! A cozy room, good lightning and a comfortable seating, all of them are integral for a perfect corner to enjoy some time with a good book.

All of us have a favorite spot in the home, this could be your chance to make the most of it and get a special treat for yourself. A nook that is personal, comfortable, warm, relaxing and a perfect place to relax. Here are some beautiful designs to inspire you to create a perfect reading corner.

Beautiful beachy look !! Love the colors here..only thing missing is the sound of waves. Beautiful inspiration for a rustic and elegant living room.

Elegant and stylish. This corner has all the heat and oomph :) The fire burning and cozy seating, perfect corner to catch up on some reading. An inspiring design.

Cool and organised, if that is your personality this design is just for you. Beautiful and elegant, a comfortable haven to put your foot up and relax.

Sophisticated and masculine. This black and white look is great for a bachelor pad or a loft. Absolutely stunning!

This corner is so Zen ! Love the soothing colors, and the window seat is so inviting. A beautiful way to transform an interesting window into an awesome seating.

Rustic design for a stunning living room. The unique mix of furniture and interesting accents. Perfect for an evening to catch up on some reading.

Beautiful way to transform a window seat for comfortable reading and a small book case. A very efficient and cool design. Perfect escape!

These designs are simple and easy ways to redecorate your favorite spot. It may be the view, the comfortable seating or the lovely lighting, that draws you to it. Make it comfortable and inviting,a great stress buster and a beautiful place to spend some time with yourself.