Lovely Places to Stay

Danielle Oakey, author of Danielle Oakey Interiorsblog, found inspiration the other day at her local Gap store. She asked where do we find inspiration?

It got me thinking how this past summer we stayed in two fabulous hotels that were such a design inspiration. I realized I forgot to share those photos.


Where has the time gone?

Our first hotel, The Intercontinental in San Francisco, we reserved through Hotwire {have you ever tried Hotwire? Smoking deal we got in this place} was decorated with such a modern vibe.

I couldn't help but ooh and ahh around every corner. My family was quite annoyed.

I did manage to snap a few photos.

{This one is from the hotel site} Loved the floor to ceiling wall of windows.
Dreamy looking over the Bay.

The rest are mine ...

I loved the end tables in the lounge area. There was also a grand piano. Whenever I see a grand piano I feel the urge to lay across the top and just start singing show tunes. 

{Ack! Did I just say that out loud??}

The service at this hotel was superb as was the buffet breakfast! My son was told to not piles heaps of food on his plate, so instead he went and half-filled 3 plates!

********

In Santa Monica was stayed at the Sheraton Delfina Hotel.

It was situated a few blocks from the beach and next to what I thought was odd, a derilict old motel. Made the Sheraton feel out of place.

But the interior was so up my alley!

I couldn't help but take photos. 

My only complaint was the lighting was too dim, reminded me of the Hollister store {if you have teenage daughters, you can't avoid going into that store - which drives me crazy, all dark and over perfumed}

The outdoor lounge area.

A gorgeous tufted leather sofa. And looking down to the lobby from the 3rd floor

I want a convex mirror.

My favourite vignette was this fabulous gallery wall!

{Lovin' the Ikat and the gold trimmed end table}

Hoping to utilize my tall wall up my stairwell by creating a gallery wall like this!

I just love staying at beautifully designed hotels! Sure was a treat after having to sleep one night in our car. Yes. That is another story for another time.

This weekend I need to get my butt in gear and finish some projects. My daughters' room is at a standstill until I can get to Ikea. If you live in the Lower Mainland you will understand why I would procrastinate driving to Ikea on our "forever-under-construction-always-crazy-traffic-freeway."


What is up with all of you this weekend?

XO Barbara

{my weekend}

My sweet sister managed to get us some really cheap tickets to the BC Home and Garden show that took place this past weekend at the Vancouver Convention Center. We were privileged to have received tickets from these two talented ladies, Pam and Elke from Botanus, who sit on our community garden board with my sister. It is the same garden where I met Jodi of Simply Inspired Home! 

The BC Home and Garden show was a bit disappointing. I had hoped for more designers, home furnishings, etc. It really catered to the man of the home with lots of trades selling their roofing supplies, paving stones, greenhouses, hot tubs, flooring, builders, with a few small eco friendly sellers mixed in.

As we were wandering around I heard some familiar voices and as we headed toward the main stage, we came upon Colin and Justin, the Scottish dynamic design duo that are currently living in Canada. They are the hosts and designers behind the design show on HGTV Canada "Colin and Justin's Home Heist" where they makeover homes desperate for a new look with flair and a budget that the average person can handle.

They were hilarious, talking about their spray tan fiasco, how they met Debbie Travis, making fun of Canadian underground basements, our love of big freezers and hideous appliances! They showed amazing before and after photos of a few projects they tackled on their show and gave tips on how to re-do a space without spending a fortune.

After walking around a bit more, enjoying the garden booths I decided to drag my sister to meet Colin and Justin. We were lucky as we were the last 2 people that got to meet them! They were just as funny in person.

{my cute pregnant sister}

{The debonair duo}

With the exception of my painting projects going wrong, I had an exciting and busy weekend.

How about you?

XO Barbara

{games room: inspirational photos}

 My attempt is to create the room on a very strict budget. So far I have only purchased paint, the best money spent so far. For only $45, the room changed dramatically. It went from a gray-lavender to a serene watery blue, Woodlawn Blue, a perfect backdrop for this space. On Wednesday I shared with you the fabric that is inspiring the colour scheme of the space.

 Currently we have a wall of Billy bookcases in a dark stain to house the kids books, photo albums and other reference books along with our ugly computer desk, which is now too big for the space. Hopefully I can source a desk, sofa, side table and TV console/sideboard/bookcase for the room.

Want to see the photos I hope will inspired the design direction of the room?

The first is one of my favourites!

source: Emily A. Clark

What great idea Emily had using a circa 70's sideboard Craigslist find as a TV console. Perfect for storage as well, I could get our crafts and games to fit into a piece of furniture like that, freeing up space in the closet. We have the same television and I love she incorporated it into a gallery wall. This really de-emphasizs the television, creating a more visual pleasing wall.

Or I am thinking of lower bookshelves to run along the wall with the TV mounted on the wall surrounded by larger scale art such as this basement room in the 2010 Princess Margaret Hospital Lottery home designed by Canadian House and Home.

 Don't the sofas just call out to you, "sit down, curl up"? They are the Ektorp sofa from Ikea, I am thinking they would work perfect in our space. 

Priced right and kid friendly.

source: House and Home

The newly created games room will have have a office/computer zone in the corner, I love how this is a stylish yet compact office space.

 Perfect for our room!

source: Rate My Space

This is one of my favourite playroom photos.

What a comfortable, casual and colourful space, perfect for a family to hang out, something I hope to create in our room. 

via: Desire to Decorate

I guess you would all like to see photos of the room?

OK, here is what the room looked like on Tuesday.

Scary, 
I know.

You'll have to wait until next week to see the current state of chaos the room is in {if you dare}.

XO Barbara

{the great switch: part II}

The walls are painted in 2 of the 3 rooms.

My amazing daughter {she is the youngest, of the two girls, almost 15} helped me paint all day Monday; she is the one who got the whole switch process going by helping draft out floor plans for the rooms on the weekend.

Yesterday I moved the contents of 3 closets and then decided to purge. Its amazing how easily a family can accumulate junk stuff that just takes up space! Feels good to sort and organize, except my back and hands are sore. Moving furniture, boxes and painting can be a real workout.

 Hmmm... think I need to start running again.

The games room is still in disarray but it feels good to finally get things somewhat under control.

Some furniture needs to be re-painted and sourced, I am always looking for an excuse to hit Ikea, furniture, fabric and thrift shops.  

Let me show you the fabric that is inspiring the colour scheme of our newly carved out games room space. I am hoping to create a cozy, vibrant, family friendly space. This colour scheme is a brave attempt away from my usual black and white. My resolution this year is to inject some colour and to play with patterns. The games room is a perfect laboratory to experiment in!

Pulling colours out of the fabric I chose to paint the walls Woodlawn Blue, a Benjamin Moore colour that I had colour matched using Behr paint with built-in primer. This paint goes on so smoothly and has fantastic coverage, not to mention it is low VOC, so it has minimal "paint" smell.

I am also loving Raspberry Truffle as a great red accent for the room, maybe a side table in this colour?

The fabric was purchased in November on sale for $7/m! I only bought 2 meters and wish I had purchased more. I am hoping the fabric store will get more in, then I might buy more to make drapes or recover a chair? {Taking a cue from Sarah 101 yesterday where she suggested using a large floral print on an accent chair}

I am going to have fun with this space!

Now if I could only win the lottery, then I could go really crazy!

{dreamy kitchens}

I love kitchens. 

 I dream of having the perfect kitchen {one day}as it is the heart of our home.

We are currently renting our home while we wait to find our perfect home, in the meantime I have serious kitchen envy. 

I am not saying that our current kitchen is bad, I have seen worse. It is just stuck in a 90's oak time warp. It has great bones, solid oak cabinets, lots of counter space and tons of storage. It has so much potential. But...

I don't think the owners of the home would appreciate me painting their cabinets, they are of the "never-paint-perfectly-great-wood"generation.

So instead I dream.......{and wait}

source: Canadian House and Home

to have a kitchen like this one day.

 This kitchen by fabulous Canadian designer, Tommy Smythe has to be one of my favourites. It is in my {dream} kitchen file. The mix of black, white, stainless steel, marble and rustic elements makes it an absolute dream.

Another fantastic kitchen in my {dream} kitchen file is Margot Austin's kitchen. Margot is the senior design editor at one of my favourite Canadian decor magazines, Style at Home. If you think you have seen this kitchen before on my blog, you have. It took part of a What's Your Style in One Picture challenge From The Right Bank

Lastly, this gorgeous kitchen from the January 2010 issue of Style At Home, has also made it into the {dream} kitchen file. Even the stools are fantastically glamourous with their nailhead trim.

So while I cook and bake in my not-so-glamourous-oak-with-mismatched-appliances kitchen I will {dream} of one day washing dishes in my gleaming farmhouse sink while tap dancing on hardwood floors, rummaging for canned goods behind white cabinet doors, rolling out cookie dough on marble counters and whipping up a Kraft gourmet dinner on a shiny stainless steel stove.

~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)

  

~An Afternoon Tea with Good Company~

This past weekend I had the most wonderful afternoon with good company. Victoria, a very friendly, talented designer and blogger and one of my biggest supporters organized a tea for local bloggers at a quaint cafe, The Little White House Salon Cafe in historic Fort Langley, BC. 

source: Marcus Design

Source: Design Ties

I was honoured to be included in the group that is full of amazing talent. While relishing the tiny sandwiches, savouries, desserts and petit fours we enjoyed great conversation, getting to know one another a little bit better. 

Source: The Little White House

source: The Little White House

It was delightful  to meet in person the ever talented women behind inspirational local blogs. Among the group was ( from left to right), Nancy from Marcus Design, Maria from Colour Me Happy, Victoria from Design Ties, myself, Tracy from My House of Giggles, Catherine from peace love sweater, and Karla  from Kerrisdale Design.  

Myself, Victoria, Karla and Nancy

Source: Marcus Design

Karla, myself, Catherine, Nancy and Maria

We enjoyed wandering around the The Little White House, the furniture, accessories and clothing shop owned by Cheryl Krecsy, whose home and this shop has been featured in various publications such as Style at Home and Canadian House and Home. The shop and cafe is situated inside a historical home, The Marr House. 

The shop is loaded with gorgeous furnishings, antiques, luxurious linens, one of a kind clothing, lighting and accessories. Everywhere you looked there was a feast for the eyes.

source: The Little White House

Source: Marcus Design

I love the rustic elegance of the cafe, the mix of crystal chandeliers, ornate mirrors, white furniture and the rustic barn board walls.

source: Marcus Design

 I love this chandelier, it reminds me of a cluster of grapes. I love how it casts a unique shadow on the ceiling. 

Thank-you Victoria from Design Ties for organizing the get together. We all look forward to more!