Showing posts with label guest blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guest blogging. Show all posts

Friday, October 28, 2011

Thank-you



A big thank-you..

 to Style At Home for asking me to participate in Blogger's Halloween Tricks and Treats!

It was fun to put together my little "bit".
Loved that they asked me to be part of this article!




And while you are there you can read other fabulous Canadian bloggers' Halloween Tricks and Treats!



Today I am busy hanging up drapes, spray painting a few projects and sewing more pillows!

XO Barbara 

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Today I Am At...


Today I am manning my blogging friend's Alissa from 33 Shades of Green blog while she is away on a sunny vacation.



I have "known" Alissa for almost as long as I have been blogging. Sometimes I wonder if we were separated at birth or something. We both have such similar interests. Through email we have helped each other with a few projects, she with my roman blinds and I encouraged her walk on the wild side and try sewing an invisible zipper. 
We are such crazy gals.

If you haven't been to Alissa's blog you are truly missing out. Not only is she an interior designer, she can cook {check out her Tasty Tuesdays, yesterday was shrimp tacos}, knit, sew, paint and DIY like nobody's business.



And she takes the most amazing photographs. I am so envious of her photography skills.


So if you want to know what I am sharing today at 33 Shades of Green, hop on over.

XO Barbara

Friday, August 19, 2011

Guest Posting at Living Savvy & My First Client


On Wednesday I participated in Living Savvy's Spay Painters Anonymous, finally coming to to terms with my addiction to spray paint. The first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem, right? 


Head over to Living Savvy to see what project I shared! Tiffany, the beautiful author has me envious of her upholstery talent. She recently re-upholstered a wing back chair. Check out this drool worthy makeover:


And yesterday I met with my first design client. My friend asked me to help her re-design her teen daughter's bedroom. They sold all her furniture and we are pretty much starting with with a clean slate. We are working with a very small budget, so I am up for the challenge of creating a space she can enjoy!

Here is the space I am working with:




We have a very generous time schedule so it is something we will slowly work on for the next month. This room is getting a fresh coat of paint, maybe some pattern? She also needs a bed, dresser, night table, bedding, and window coverings. I smell a trip to Ikea!

Can't wait to share my adventure along with way!

Have a fabulous weekend! 

XO Barbara

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Guest Posting at The Crafty Bee


Today you can find me sharing a never-before-been-published pillow tutorial at The Crafty Bee.


You might remember The Crafty Bee generously offered up two of her subway prints for a giveaway! Beatrice is a relatively new blogger who is such a sweetheart and talented! She is always creating amazing things for her home.

Check out her Colette bed knock-off:






Most recently she acquired a sewing machine, so I shared my how-to's with her!

Head over if you want to learn how to make an envelope back enclosed pillow.


Next week I will show you how to sew a pillow with an invisible zipper.

XO Barbara



Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Wednesday Happenings


There is a lot of exciting things happening here....


Tonight I have been invited by some fabulous local bloggers and vintage home shop owners, Lily and Rachel, from Birch and Bird, to be a judge for their upcoming Fieldstone Market. I get to go to a soiree tonight for some wine tasting at the EcoDairy and help choose which vendors will participate in this fabulous market!

Not only to I get to mingle with Lily and Rachel, but my pal Victoria Lambert will be there and I get to meet Janis Nicolay {her photographs frequent Canadian House and Home and Style at Home }



The fun doesn't stop here.
On Thursday I am meeting my first client. That client is a friend of mine who has asked me to help re-design her teen daughter's space!

Quite excited to design someone else's space!

AND last night this baby came home with me 
{Husband rolled his eyes when he opened the garage, actually his exact words were "What is that?}


$45!!!!! It was an estate sale find and in fantastic shape!
Now to decide what colour to paint it.

Hmm...


The fun never stops!

XO Barbara

Friday, August 12, 2011

Guest Post : Design Shuffle

While I am away on yet another vacation with the family. Design Shuffle has offered to write a guest post for my blog! Today's post is about Black and White decor, if you know my at all, you know I love black and white palette!

Hi all! I'm Jennifer and I write for Design Shuffle, a social media site that chronicles the work of top interior designers around the world. I've been writing about home decor since graduating university and have loved it ever since. I'm addicted to patterned fabrics, Jonathan Adler, chaise lounges, old doors, milk glass jars, antiques, and more. I feel honoured to be back sharing with readers a few rooms that have black and white palettes with a dash of fun color.

Many homeowners with black and white decor want decorating ideas to add a little color to their spaces. While a monochromatic palette can be incredibly visually appealing in bathroom designs, kitchen designs, living room designs, and more, a touch of red, blue or yellow can up the style factor tenfold - there's no shortage of color options when black and white provides such a neutral backdrop.


Black birds via homeindo

A cozy kitchenette, with a dramatic accent wall imprinted with birds, looks more organic with a vase budding with freshly-cut herbs and red table linens.


Butter me up via Better Home And Garden


One bedroom design idea that is heavenly is to mix punches of black and white with a hit of yellow - the contrast is simply lovely.



An apple a day via home INTERIOR gallery

One of the yummiest colors to add to a black and white scheme is apple green - the cushions in this casual eating area are just what the style doctor ordered.


A splash or orange and green via Revolution Church

A black and white tween's bedroom design gets a good dose of color with some orange and green touches on the walls and bedding.


A melange of color via BeInteriorDecorator

A long entryway in stark black and white is visually appealing because of a few flecks of color, like the red jacket and throw blanket as well as the green framed print.


A room with edge via Fixture-World.com

Most people would never dare to paint their bedroom walls black, but it's not nearly as startling with small coloured paintings that break up the infinite darkness.


Red roses via Best House Design

Red is one of those optimal complimentary colours that meshes perfectly with black and white - it's an interior design idea that works well in modern kitchen.


Posh pink via The Glam Lamb

There's something so divine about black and white spaces with pink - a pale pink wall creates the prettiest of backdrops for a white couch and black silhouette framed pictures.

This post comes courtesy of Design Shuffle, where you can find top tier interior designs from around the world ñ from New York interior designers, San Francisco interior designers, and more, check out the latest at Design Shuffle.

Thanks for that! 

Don't forget to enter my giveaway

My daughter has opened up an Etsy shop and has generously donated a painting to giveaway!

XO Barbara

Friday, July 22, 2011

Guest Posting at Vintique Object


Today I am guest posting at Vintique Object, a blog I stumbled across recently and hit it off with Camille, the author! 

You can find me sharing my two bits in Camille's series: Stylish Living with Kids and Pets!


We both are renters and trying to beautify our homes while under the restraints of renting. She convinced her landlords to let her paint the kitchen cabinets.

These cabinets were a blah before. Now they are fabulous!

{I am hoping I can use these photos to help me convince my landlords to let me do the same!}

But I love her living room!


Hope you hop on over to visit!

Don't forget on Sunday I have another installment in my "So Canadian, eh?" series where another fabulous Canadian stops by!

Come back Monday and I will share how I recovered the bulletin board!

XO Barbara

Monday, June 20, 2011

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

Monday, June 13, 2011

Guest Posting at Remodelaholic


Today you can find me sharing my diamond tufted headboard tutorial at Remodelaholic


Remodelaholic is chock full of tutorials and informative posts.



XO Barbara

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Guest Posting at Marcus Design



Today you can find me at my wonderful friend Nancy from Marcus Design's blog! 

I am participating in her 



Since we are not living in our dream home but renting, I am always dreaming about what I would want if we were to finally find our dream home!


Nancy has such a pretty blog.
She is just as sweet in person!

 I have had the wonderful privilege to have met her for several lunch and shopping dates as she is one of the coordinators of the Canadian Design and Lifestyle Bloggers West network.

BTW: For those of you following my Roman blind saga. I put the finishing touches on it tonight while the Stanley Cup finals were on. I am pleased to say, they are DONE!

Stay tuned for photos....

Go Canucks!
**update: that was a really SAD game. We are holding our heads in shame. 


XO Barbara

Friday, May 13, 2011

My Master Bedroom



**Due to technical difficulty with Blogger this post ended up back in the draft folder, so I am reposting it again!***


I am having a really busy week thus far {took a teaching job for a few days}, so sewing has been set aside. I did finish one pillow that took 3 days of patience! Another one is almost done, using some of my chiang mai dragon fabric - such juicy fabric! Hopefully I can have something to share mid-week. 


Here is a post I am sharing that I wrote a few weeks ago for Adventures In Renovating a Brooklyn Limestone about my favourite nook in my house: my master bedroom.

 We have moved many times, but every time I try to create a space for just for my husband and I. There is a little bit of me and a little bit of my husband in our room. He thinks knows feng shui so he has his ideas on how and what should be in a room. So it takes some compromise.

Since we are renting and still hunting for our perfect home, I can't change carpets, etc but the room has good bones, an arched window with plantation shutters and crown moulding. This is what the room looked like when we moved in:


This is what is looks now:



Come on in, I'll show you around...




I have tweaked things along the way. The furniture is all from Ikea, the bed was an As-Is find about 7 years ago for $110. The rest my husband went out and bought after he was frustrated waiting for me to choose furniture! I do regret the "matchy-matchy" look and hope to change it one day.  The walls are painted a soothing blue-green by Benjamin Moore called Gray Whisp. My husband was a bit skeptical of the colour since we live on the west coast of Canada where it can rain, a lot. But the colour is so refreshing and calming, perfect for our oasis away from the hustle and bustle of parenthood and life.


My latest  purchase for this room is the white organic cotton pin-tuck duvet cover from West Elm. We don't have a West Elm here in Vancouver and they don't ship to Canada, so I had to order online, have it shipped to my US mailbox, drive across the border, and ended up paying taxes because of a grumpy border guard but now it sits on my bed, making me happy every time I crawl under the covers. I love the crumply, smooched in, lived-in look of the duvet cover. It is one of my favourite items in this room. A few weeks ago I was sick in bed all day, the snow was falling and my kids brought me breakfast in bed.
It was pure heaven laying under such a wonderful duvet.




Another favourite in our room are the photos on our walls. The black and white photos on the wall by our bed were taken by my college friend. They are our engagement photos and wedding photos. They remind me of how far we have come from our college days{almost 20 years and 3 kids later!}





The others photos are family photos and my favourite from our wedding. Propped on the wall is a chart of the Napoleonic War by Charles Joseph Minard I bought for my husband. Behind is a framed poster he bought of one the first Tour de France races, as a die-hard cyclist who competes himself, it is his added touch to our room. Well, sometimes his racing bike resides in our room as well! Better that than his stinky hockey gear :)






Hope you enjoyed the tour of my favourite nook. 
Y a w n.....I'm suddenly feeling a bit sleepy. 

XO Barbara

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Guest Posting at Brooklyn Limestone

Today you can find me sharing my favourite nook at Adventures in Renovating  Brooklyn Limestone.



Come and stop by to see the room that makes my heart sing!

XO Barbara


Tuesday, March 22, 2011

{guest posting at Staci Edwards Design}





Want to know what it is? 

A little hint: One of my favourite Canadian designers.


XO Barbara

Monday, February 28, 2011

{guest posting: chic modern vintage}


Today you can find me at..... 



where I am participating in Moonlite Monday!

Hop on over and say hello!

I am currently nursing the flu and hope to be back on my feet tomorrow with a peek at another project on the go and another great giveaway!

xo Barbara