Check This Out : Another Fun Print

To add to our small collection of bicycle themed art, I bought this yesterday.

My hubby, the cycling fanatic and twitter extraordinaire , sent me a tweet link to this print. With the power of Paypal, it is ordered.

Can't wait to add it to this:

I have plans for a gallery wall that is dedicated to bicycles in our family room. I am slowly collecting art and photographs. 

Here is a photo I took while thrifting with Carol from The Design Pages and with the power of Picnik I now have this:

On a side note, not bicycle related...

School is finally out and last night my husband and I put the three kids on a plane to visit their grandparents on their 350 acre farm.

Kid free for a WEEK!
{party in the house} 
So today I am painting...

And getting ready for the long weekend!

XO Barbara 

Re-painting Again

After moving my daughter into her current bedroom during the Great Switch, we painted the room the same lavender-gray, African Violet by Benjamin Moore, she had in her previous space. Her previous room was north facing with not a lot of natural light so the colour was quite muted. In her current room, we find the lavender really comes out with all the light that filters in. The walls especially read "purple" since we hung up the Roman blind. She really likes the vintagey look we are going for with her turquoise end table and diamond tufted headboard. The fabric we chose isnt working with the current wall colour so we will be re-painting again.

Fabrics:

The bottom fabric.

This photo is our inspiration for her back wall:

Source

So while the kids are off visiting their grandparents farm, I will be painting up a storm!

XO Barbara

So Canadian, eh? : Kelly James

My fabulous guest this week is a super savvy blogger who was one of my first followers when she was  partner of a fantastic design blog, Design Ties. Now she is the author behind the amazingly colourful and entertaining blog, Jax Does Design. Her love for art, her dogs, travel, everything design and Canada are evident in her blog.

Please welcome....

Kelly James.

She is

Kelly has been such an avid supporter of Canadian bloggers. I love reading her posts as she explores neighbourhoods in her town, travels to fabulous places, visits the Atlantic Coast seaside or just talks about art and design with such wit and charm.

As an Ottawa based designer,

she is not afraid to embrace colour and creates such amazing spaces.

My favourite is this gorgeous glamourous bedroom she designed.

A soothing bathroom.

Her amazing kitchen {what's for dinner Kelly?}

Her laundry room. Don't the tiles remind you of beach glass?

Her calming bedroom.

Her amazing office.

Photos courtesy of Kelly James

Tell us a bit about yourself? What is you background? Your education? Did you study art/design? Have you always wanted to be an interior designer?

I’m married to the ultimate “I can make that” guy, Brian. Only it takes him forever to actually make it! We have two dogs – a Black Lab named Squirt and a Catahoula Leopard Dog named Jackson. I have a BA in English from Concordia University in Montreal, and then I went back to school in1999 after I moved to Ottawa and got a technical writing diploma. Tech writing is boring, though – not nearly enough creativity, and it’s very repetitive. I never studied art or design. I really stink at drawing and painting – I have trouble drawing a stick figure ;-) But I’ve always been creative and I LOVE to write. Still trying to get published in a home décor magazine (hint, hint, House & Home and Style At Home!) I can’t remember exactly when I first became interested in interior decorating – definitely not till after we moved into our current house in 2001, based on what our previous house looked like! Actually, it was probably the move to our current house that inspired my desire to decorate.

What made you decide to start blogging?

My friend Victoria at Edin’s House suggested that we start a blog together. I actually had no idea what a blog was at the time, but I liked the idea of combining my passions for decorating and writing, so I said sure, why not. We launched DesignTies in January 2009, and then when Victoria needed to take a break from blogging in August 2010, I decided to start up my own blog, JAX does design.

What have you enjoyed about blogging and what has surprised you along the way?

The best part of blogging is meeting (both virtually and in real life) other design bloggers who have the same passion for decorating and design. I’ve made a great group of decorating friends here in Ottawa because of blogging – we call ourselves the TBBs, but if I tell you what that means I’ll have to kill you ;-)

What’s surprised me about blogging… I’d have to say it’s how much it can take over your life! I was spending so many hours searching the Net for pictures and researching post topics, I felt like I was glued to the computer. I’ve cut back on my computer time drastically over the last couple of months, which has reduced the amount of time I spend blogging. Now I’m writing about two posts a week.

Do you find having a blog has helped your design business?

I was hoping it would, but it hasn’t really. I did get a client in Calgary through my blog, and it’s directed more people to my web site (by more, I mean 6 a week instead of 0!) Oh well, good thing I have a day job that pays the bills!

Any tips for aspiring designers?

Make connections with other designers and aspiring designers in your city. It’s so important to have a support network, especially because many designers who are starting out work alone, often from their own home. My friend Donna at dh designs started up a group here in Ottawa called Ottawa Design Network Group. We meet about once every 6 weeks to discuss mainly the business side of design. It’s all about sharing the knowledge and providing ideas and support for each other. 

What do you like to do in your free time {that is if you have any}?

In the summer, I spend as much time as I can outside. I love to bike, garden, swim, kayak, canoe, walk the dogs… we eat outside on the back patio and BBQ a lot too. I just started playing the fiddle last September. Natalie MacMaster has nothing to worry about! I’ve been doing Ottawa Valley Step Dance for six years, and started Irish dance last September. I also play volleyball, but the last time I played I ended up with a broken finger that’s still in a splint. So I won’t be playing volleyball again any time soon! I also love to cook, and I’ve gotten hooked on a lot of Food Network shows. Maybe I’ll be an extreme cake decorator one day ;-)

Where do you go for inspiration for your blog, for your design work?

Most of my inspiration comes from other design blogs and décor magazines. I’m also often inspired by random items. For example, the design for our guest bedroom was inspired by two purple throw cushions that I picked up at HomeSense. Really, inspiration is all around us – sometimes it happens along at just the right time, and sometimes it hits you later.

You are a devoted pet lover and owner, what tips do you have in incorporating pets into a design scheme without sacrificing style?

The two most important things to remember are that nail scratches on hardwood flooring adds character and furballs have great insulating properties ;-) I look at it this way – a home is designed for living in, and my dogs are a part of my home and my life. If that means scratches on the hardwood and fur on the sofa and slobber on the windows, I can live with it J Living stylishly with dogs is a lot like living stylishly with kids – use sturdy fabrics that can stand up to wear & tear and dirt, because you know your dog is going to jump up on the sofa when you’re not looking! And don’t put cherished  breakable items on surfaces where a wagging tail could knock them onto the floor.

How would you describe your design style?

That’s a good question! I don’t think there’s a word to describe it – I like aspects of a lot of styles. I just read on a blog earlier today the term “vintage glam with spunk”, which inspired a name for my style - “Transitional Glam with a Twist” :-) My favourite rooms are ones that combine old and new with a touch of glam and something unexpected. I especially love the look of a crystal chandelier against an exposed brick wall and rustic wood mixed with metal.

     If you were given the opportunity to meet anyone, who would it be and why?

Ooooh, that’s a tough question! There are lots of people I’d love to meet and lots of things I’d love to do! Hmmmm… something that my hubby and I are hoping to do when we retire is live in different countries around the world for a year at a time. I think the best way to really experience the culture in another country is to actually live it. Some of the places I want to live in are Belgium (I adore Bruges), New Zealand, and Ireland. Canada will always be our home base and we’d come back here between stints abroad. I love Canada!

You live in our nation’s capitol; do you find the decor tastes of homeowners there differ from the rest of Canada? Are they influenced by the politics of the day, or is that a non-issue?

Ottawa has a reputation of being a conservative city, and I would say that there are homes here that reflect that conservative side. I wish Ottawa home owners would be more daring & adventurous with colour, especially on their front doors! But overall, I don’t think the politics of the day really have much impact on how people decorate their homes.

What are your views on the role Canadian design plays in the world design scene? Do you feel that Canadians have a unique sense of style and design, and if so, what is it that you think sets us apart?

Canadian designers are making names for themselves all around the world, which is fantastic! I really enjoy checking out Studio North at the Interior Design Show in Toronto – there are so many innovative up-and-coming designers in the Canada. One thing that stood out to me at this year’s IDS were the organic elements used by many of the designers – wood, paper, glass. One of my favourite designers in Studio North this year was Andrew Ooi – he creates beautiful light fixtures and artwork with paper.

In Canada, I think we’re drawn to designs that are natural and warm. When you live in a country where it’s cold and snowy for half the year, you have to enjoy nature when and however you can – being outdoors in the summer and bringing nature indoors in the winter. And when it’s cold outside, you want to be warm and cozy inside – Hudson Bay Point blankets, fireplaces, wood, warm paint colours, textural fabrics are elements that come to mind when I think about Canadian design. Although each person is unique and has his or her own unique sense of style and design.

Thanks Kelly! You are truly inspirational! Thanks for being one of my first followers and for sending such blog love my way.

Hugs.

XO Barbara

Friday Musings

With the school year winding down {only 3 more days!}, our family is getting excited for summer! Actually, summer here on the "wet" coast feels more like fall. The sun makes a rare appearance every few days and the air is chilly. Coldest spring on record. They say, the lovely weather forecasters, that we are going to have a dry warm summer, hmm...wonder when that is going to happen?

But I managed to pick these from the garden:

{I am also having fun practicing with our SLR, with the power of You Tube, I finally am out of auto mode!}

On Tuesday night, when I came home from the IDS West Preview evening, I found a package waiting for me!
A package in the mail, with Canada Post on strike?
 Lucky for me, this company used a courier service.

Just what this fabricaholic needs, a fabric fix. You'll have to come back and see what I make with these gorgeous fabrics.

Also a big thank-you to two wonderful Canadian bloggers who featured me on their blogs today!

Thanks to Kerry from First Time Fancy.

I guess she wasn't scared away by my Roman blind tutorial.

And another big thanks to Lisa from Weird and Wicked, for featuring my blog along with some other amazing superstar Canadian blogs, which, I am so honoured to be featured on the same page as them!

Tomorrow I am heading to South Surrey, two local bloggers have organized a fantastic market, Ivory Vintage Market featuring some amazing vendors!

Hoping I can find something unique for our house.

Fri AM Update: Our hot water tank decided to spring a huge leak. What we thought was a faulty valve a week ago was actually a huge crack in the bottom, didn't notice until last night when I asked, "Why does it sound like a waterfall running in the house?" Yup, water gushing out. Lucky for us the crack was at the bottom and there is an overflow pipe that leads to the outside. No water damage!

So my projects scheduled for today are on hold. Our lovely handyman is here replacing the tank.

Dishes have piled up. Hair needs to be shampooed and laundry washed. That about sums up my Friday afternoon.

What are you up to this weekend?

XO Barbara

IDS West Preview Night

On Tuesday night I had the privilege of attending the IDS West Media Preview night. I went with Rosa from flutter flutter, she was perfect company, loved getting to know another amazing blogger with such fantastic talent! But I am a bad blogger and forgot my camera, so I am borrowing Rosa's photos she kindly emailed me!

The highlight was the L41 Ultra compact 275 sq ft  modular home designed by architect Michael Katz and design Janet Corne.

source

Everything in this kitchen was compact and streamlined. 

 The washing machine is also a dryer!

Despite the small size the whole house felt light and airy. There were windows on all sides that helped bring the outside in and visually expand the space. Despite the flat cabinetry, it was designed to be streamlined with a gloss finish that helped bounce light that was abound in the space to create a sense of space.

Also featured were these gorgeous Etch Brass pendants by Tom Dixon. Notice the chairs in the previous photo? They are the Peg Chair Fluoro chair also by Tom Dixon. You must check out their site, all their pieces are so sculptural. Their lighting collection is my absolute favourite.

These fabulous Geodisc ceramic bowls by Sarah Peloquin Ladany were stunning. I loved the juxtaposition of the shapes, the round mixed with triangles to create a functional piece that would be fabulous in any decor.

Another one-of-a-kind piece was this whimsical hollow chair by local artisan and furniture designer, Judson Beaumont from Straight Line Designs.

Would be fabulous if you are tight on space, look at all the storage underneath. I can see a stash of decor magazines piled up!

To finish off a splendid evening Rosa and I enjoyed a glass of wine and some delicious freshly made tacos by TacoFino

 Now we are looking forward to the IDS West show that will be held in Vancouver from September 29 to October 2!

XO Barbara

Frustrated

This will be a pictureless post as Blogger won't let me post photos today. I was hoping to share my evening at the IDS West preview night last night! If you are dying to read about it today, head over to Rosa's blog, flutter flutter, where she has done a fabulous write-up about our evening last night. Hopefully I can put up photos up later today or tomorrow!

Sometimes I want to just scream at Blogger.

AND....

 I  came from my evening out and I found a package waiting for me. 

I got MORE fabric in the mail! I am such a fabric addict and online fabric stores are SUCH a temptation. 

XO Barbara

Guest Posting at House of Fifty

I am thrilled to be sharing an abridged version of my "How to Make a Diamond Tufted" tutorial at House of Fifty blog today. 

House of Fifty blog is a blog offshoot from the House of Fifty ezine created by the amazing Janell Beals from Isabella and Max Rooms. Janell is one of my most favourite bloggers and a DIY queen. Everything she touches turns to gold, making the ordinary extraordinary! 

{The cover photo is that of Janell's home, where she made over the console and stencilled the wall, her creativity never ceases to amaze me}

Make sure you come over and visit to see how I made not only one but TWO diamond tufted headboards!

XO Barbara

So Canadian, eh? : Jessica Waks

My guest this week has impeccable taste and style. Her apartment recently graced the pages of one of my favourite Canadian design magazines, Style at Home. 

Please give a warm 

welcome to

Jessica Waks, 

she is...

Jessica Waks is the author and decorista extraordinaire from the blog The World According to Jessica Claire. 

Most recently she landed the coveted position of design editor at Style at Home. {I am so jealous!} and can be seen as an occasional guest on Cityline, a fabulous lifestyle TV show filmed in Toronto.

Jessica's talent in design is evident in the way she decorated her boring beige rental apartment {before photos here} with Craigslist finds and a splash of glossy black paint highlighted by gold accents, creating a glamourous retreat. She has also had the wonderful opportunity to hone her skills by working for one of my favourite Canadian designers, Dee Dee Hannah Taylor Eustace, and is now involved in filming a new HGTV show called, "The Real Designing Women" {That will be exciting to watch!}

Check out her apartment, even her cats are stylish!

Photos courtesy of Style at Home

Tell us a bit about yourself? What is your education, your background? Have you always loved design?

I was born and raised in Toronto and graduated from the Media Information and Technoculture program at the University of Western Ontario. I always enjoyed writing and while at Western I contributed to the daily student newspaper and interned at a couple of different publications. The design element didn’t kick in until more recently in the past five years. Throughout my life, I have always had a passion for beautiful things and appreciated the finer details- but I was definitely not one of those people who would go to someone’s house and rearrange their furniture. It all changed when I began to update my childhood bedroom after returning home from university and my design research just totally consumed me. I was so enthralled with the various layers that went into creating a beautiful interior and I began to look at my surroundings in a whole new light. That curiosity and zeal for decorating snowballed into creating my blog, getting a job with a design firm and then deciding to pursue my interior decorating certificate at George Brown.

Why did you decide to start blogging?

I began my blog in January 2008 when I was working in PR and needed a creative outlet – somewhere to write and catalogue all of my favourite finds, ideas and projects. When I find something I love, I get really excited about it and want to share! It’s also really helpful because I can easily direct people to my blog and share a bit of “my world” every time they ask me for suggestions of where to shop for furniture or for a recipe and entertaining idea.

How did you get your big break landing the position for design editor for Style at Home?

Becoming a design editor at STYLE AT HOME is one of those pinch me deals where the comets aligned… I still can’t believe I ended up with my dream job at such a fantastic Canadian design institution! I had always been a fan of STYLE AT HOME, so when Margot Austin, senior design editor extraordinaire, scouted my apartment and shot it for the magazine, I was over the moon and a half. A couple of months after the shoot, news of the posting for Design Editor came my way via twitter (go social media!)and when I read the job description I was taken aback at how perfect the gig was for me. Here was a job that combined my love of media with my love of design! The opportunity also came at the right time, because after working at a high end design firm for three years, I was getting burnt out by unruly clients and was open to a change. The design media community in Canada is quite small, so I am honoured to be included in such talented and accomplished company.

Tell us what a typical day as a design editor looks like?

Your day is never the same, but it generally consists of pow-wowing with the other editorial staff, researching and sourcing the market for interesting new finds, gathering product and props for photo shoots and produced stories, scouting interiors, prepping for and executing media appearances, such as CityLine, and attending media events and launches amongst other things. My car is usually full of flowers, cushions and other props and I am mastering the art of the shlep.

What did you do before Style at Home?

My media studies, journalism and PR background have provided a solid foundation for working at STYLE AT HOME but I owe my design education to Dee Dee Taylor Eustace and the staff at Taylor Hannah Architect Inc. I started helping out with sourcing and media relations at THA and quickly developed into a junior designer with my own clients and multiple projects that I am very proud of. I launched the Design Online service and worked on industry events, such as IDS and the Junior League of Toronto Showhouse of Toronto and even participated in a reality TV production for HGTV. I have definitely learned a lot of useful skills in my studies at George Brown as well, but no classroom experience can ever mimic what it is like to watch someone like Dee Dee in action. I absorbed a lot from her and her senior staff and am grateful for the time I spent there.

You are a DIY diva with such an eye for detail and have amazing taste, what tips do you have to add some style to your home without spending tons of cash?

First off- thanks for the kind words! I do enjoy DIY projects but I fully admit I leave all the serious upholstering and hard core refinishing to the pros!

My best advice for people looking for style on a budget is the 2 c’s: craigslist and consignment. You have to be patient and willing to put in the time and effort, but you can find great deals and great prices. If you have imagination and either the skills or good trades you can trust to transform your finds, the sky is the limit!

Care to share where you go to get your amazing finds?

Some of my favourite consignment shops are Of Things Past, FOC IT, Around the Block and The Elegant Garage Sale. If we’re not talking budget than take me to ELTE, 1212, 507 Antiques or Ribbehege & Azevedo any day! {Toronto area shops}

What do you like to do in your free time?

The life of a design editor is pretty hectic with a lot of running around, so I love to relax in my apartment with my fiancé David and our two kittens, Little Edie and Lucille II. I also love to cook and entertain, go on walks in Toronto’s urban nature trails and listen to music.

What hopes and dreams do you have? Where do you hope your newest job with Style At Home will lead?

I hope to be able to pick up some more of my decorating work once I settle into my gig at STYLE AT HOME. There is such a thrill when you put together a space from scratch and create a mood and feeling within a space, but I still get to do that at the magazine, so I’d be hard pressed to think of something bigger and better! I have always loved the idea of opening a little shop where I could sell well-edited collections of my favourite products and some of my made-over vintage pieces but that’s just me thinking out loud, haha

If you could meet anyone who would it be and why?

There are so many talented people out there right now who I’d love to sit down with and rack their brain, but I can’t seem to get one particular lady out of my head. I visited Rough Point, the Newport mansion of the late Doris Duke, last summer in Rhode Island and I am still obsessed with the eclectic blend of styles that the fashion-forward Duke displayed in her home. I would love to go back in time and have tea with her in her music room with its antique Chinese wallpapered walls and gilded French furniture.

What is your view on the role Canadian design play in the world design scene? Do you think that Canadians have a unique design sense? If so what is it that sets us apart?

I definitely think Canadians have a style signature – I think many of us are more approachable than our American counterparts and are perhaps more in tune and aware of the natural world around us as well. Both coasts have such unique styles and execute them so well. Vancouver if often more restrained, neutral and modern while Toronto and Montreal are often more colourful, layered and traditional. There are of course lots of talents who mix it up, but I like how the two sides of Canada can represent such varied facets of design on the international stage.

Jessica, thanks for participating in my series! I absolutely adore your home, you are a design star! 

Wishing you all the best in your new adventure at the magazine, I can't wait to see you work your magic! You are embarking on what is going to be such a fantastic career!

XO Barbara

Inspiration : 4th Of July decor!

4th of July is coming soon. The long weekend means having friends over, waiting for the parade and staying up night to watch the fireworks. The day is special and there are a lot of ideas and crafty stuff floating around. Hosting a picnic or a barbecue, having loved ones over, give them a surprise and do something special. There are lots of ideas here which are easy and fun!

The colors for the day are Blue and Red. Most of the ideas here are from Martha Stewart's. Check out some really cool holiday ideas at her site. The simple flags, buntings and paper lanterns are easy crafty for kids and you. Get into the spirit of the occasion and decorate the frills and flags.

Super cute red & blue garland for July 4th. Folded fans put up as bunting to ring in the festive air.

 Such an inviting gazebo decorated for the July 4th celebration.  Imagine spending summer afternoon here and then watching the fireworks at night. I love it!

 Excited kids waiting for the Independence day celebration? Imagine how cool this would look! Picture your kids squealing with delight yet :)

 Super easy and pretty stars fluttering in the wind. How cute is that! check out Martha Stewart for instructions.

 Paper lanterns on a garland. Pretty decoration to hang over the garden for a festive look. Super darling!

 Really darling holiday wreath. Fold lots of paper stars and pinning them together on a round base.

Yummy treats on a hot summer afternoon. Beautiful tricolor Popsicle for the special July 4th holiday.

 Blue and red prevail!! The fans are functional as well as decorative. Try it as a fun party favor.

Another good idea for table setting. Recycle and reuse. Fold a pretty cap/crown and decorate with red and blue :-)

 Fireworks in the night on 4th oh July is known. How about fireworks on the lunch table too! Pretty cool huh?

 Table setting for the occasion. Simple stars theme with blue and red details. Super pretty 4th of July.

 Easy peasy impressive centerpieces. Colored sand in wine glasses make super stylish votive holders. Love!

 Drinks so inviting after a day out watching parade or spending time barbecuing outside. Love the sparkling colors!!

 July 4th, beautiful picnic inspiration. Red, blue, and the beautiful setting. Awesome idea for day out.

Try out some of these craft ideas, make a little effort and you will love the compliments and admiration. Kids specially love holidays and crafts are a good way to keep them occupied. Build memories they will cherish forever!