Marcus Design

{fashion meets decor: palm pretty}

2013-05-17T00:30:00.000-07:00

Boy this week flew by, and it's a long weekend for us in Vancouver so I am beyond excited!! Here's a little fashion/decor mash-up to end off your week ... the leafy greens seem to be everywhere these days!

Love it!! Makes me want summer NOW!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend :)

{currently coveting: umbrella stands}

2013-05-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

Why do I not already own an umbrella stand? I live in Vancouver. For those of you across the globe from me - Vancouver rains. About 80% of our year is RAIN! Needless to say, I feel a little silly that I'm only now contemplating purchasing a stand! Here are a few lovely options at different price-points:

Lattice Umbrella Stand, Overstock, $108.00 | Blue and White Umbrella Stand, Overstock, $88.00 | Fornasetti Umbrella Stand, Farfetch, $993.59 | Moore Umbrella Stand, Ralph Lauren Home, $595.00 | Cane Umbrella Stand, The Well Appointed House, $178.00 | Crisscross Umbrella Stand, The Well Appointed House, $198.00 | Lacquer Umbrella Stand, Jonathan Adler, $295.00 | Zebra Umbrella Stand, Ballard Designs, $129.00

Ok, so I've come to the decision in my searching that I want to stick with blue and white. Classic & chic, right? There are 2 different patterns at a similar price that I just can't seem to choose between. They are very similar, they even have the same pattern around the top and bottom rim! Which would you choose?

The one with a bit of Chinoiserie flair or the classic floral pattern? I'm loving them equally, so if you could give me your vote I'll be ready to order away :) Thanks for your help!

{house tour: massucco warner miller}

2013-05-10T00:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone! I've got a lovely house tour for you to end off your week. We've seen this one before, the Pacific Heights residence designed by Massucco Warner Miller. I'm posting a repeat because the project has recently been added to the MWM website with more images & angles of the rooms. So many things to love!

The round {or in this case square!} settee in the entry is something on my dream-home MUST have list ...

The Fornasetti wallcovering is PERFECT for a chic powder room. Another one on my must-have list. I think if I ever get to use this paper in a powder room {my current home doesn't even have a powder room} I would do black panelling on the bottom 1/3rd of the wall. Wouldn't that be pretty?

Gah, that bedside table is delicious.

Quite the stunner isn't it? I love all of the unique furnishings, colors, and fabrics throughout. Hop over to visit MWM for more of their gorgeous projects.

{great gatsby & the roaring 20's}

2013-05-09T00:46:00.005-07:00

Are you heading to the movies for the opening of The Great Gatsby this weekend? I'm guessing many of you are! I was hoping to re-read the novel before seeing the film, but I never quite got the chance in the last few weeks. Do you typically like to read the book before seeing the movie? I'm totally one of those people. The penguin classic covers on the book are just lovely:

I'll bet they will be flying off the shelves after this weekend! And they say the set designs and costumes will surely not disappoint:

Ooh I'm excited! I love the vibe of the fashion & decor of the roaring twenties, all that art deco goodness! One of my favorite things about visiting New York was taking in all of the architectural details of that time period. Here's a little pre-movie inspiration:

Telephone / Sconce / Tufted sofa / Deco earrings / Custom deco address number

Are you off to indugle in a little 20's glitz and glamour this weekend? Do tell!

{dreamy kitchen built-in}

2013-05-08T00:14:00.000-07:00

The arched walnut built-in in an otherwise entirely-white kitchen just captivated me {click image to enlarge}:

Until upon further investigation, I realized there were TWO built-ins! Drool ...

I love that they break up all the white, and I love the impression that everything else was built around them. Such a nice detail.

Hope you are having a great week!

*photography by Andreas Trauttmansdorff

{laundry room heaven!}

2013-05-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Seriously? This is a laundry room. Imagine that, making your laundry room the masterpiece of the main-floor! This space, designed by Jamie MacLean and featured in the latest House & Home, caught my eye because it is the exact same layout of my laundry room. Mine however, is a major eye sore! We have yet to renovate in there but it's so nice to see the potential it could have.

Ok seriously, let's talk details here. Marble counters, Calcatta marble herringbone tile floor {die!!}, lucite pulls on the traditional white cabinetry, salvaged white glass panels for architectural details, and those legs on the cabinetry to make it look like furniture! I wish we could see into the little powder room, I want to see what's going on with the details on the floor, and it looks so chic with all that panelling and beautiful sink.

Kohler faucet / School House lights / Crate and Barrel basket / Lucite and brass pulls

Lavender laundry soap / Marble herringbone tile

I'm keeping this one in the dream home file for sure. I don't think we will do that big of a reno in our current laundry room, we anticipate moving in the next few years and it might not be in the cards for this place. But believe me, I'll have a HUGE file full of inspiration when I get my hands on my next place!! Happy weekend everyone :)

{hello may + spring florals}

2013-05-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

A new month! I'm excited to welcome May, one of my favorite month's. It brings longer days, beautiful sunshine, renewed energy, and gorgeous blossoming spring flowers:

Let's open up those windows and air out our winter-laden homes!!

9to5chic

It's no wonder florals are a staple spring inspiration in decor and fashion, just look at all those gorgeous bright colors! Here are two must-have spring looks I'd love to be sporting this spring, both incorporating florals:

Celine sunglasses / J Crew Etta pumps / H&M floral pants {sold out but I just scored a pair on eBay! Woot!}

J Crew sweater / Clare Vivier clutch

Burberry trench / Kate Spade studs / TopShop floral dress {I'm itching to order one!}

Chanel Mademoiselle perfume / Gladiator sandals

Are you as excited as I am to get into some pretty and colorful florals? You know how the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers ... bring it on May!!

{lusting: leopard pillows ... }

2013-04-29T00:13:00.001-07:00

A dash of leopard always makes me happy ... and what's more chic than leopard print pillows?

via little green notebook

Raiana Schwenker

Sally Wheat

Katie Armour

via Lonny

I think the evidence is clear! I particularly love the pairing of the grosgrain ribbon bordered white pillows above with the leopard, yum. Arianna Belle's pillow shop is a great source for both!

Yep, I think if my home had a separate living room {as opposed to tv room}, I'd go with an ivory sofa and pillows like these. I love the look! Any of you sporting a touch of leopard in your home?

{a spring picnic ... }

2013-04-26T00:30:00.000-07:00

It's been gorgeously sunny here in Vancouver, and I'm dreaming of a pretty afternoon picnic complete with cucumber sandwiches & raspberry macaroons. Definitely on my list for this season! Here's some lovely inspiration:

Kate Spade earrings; Butter nail lacquer; J Crew skirt; J Crew sandals;

Loewe Picnic Basket; Kate Spade champagne holder

That's my take on a fabulous & preppy spring picnic, isn't the J Crew silk skirt gorg? Pink and green has to be my favorite color combo. Hope it's sunny where you are, have the loveliest weekend everyone!

{currently coveting: black matting}

2013-04-24T00:32:00.001-07:00

So I've come to realize that I have been saving several images of frames with black matting. I think the look is super chic, especially combined with gold of course:

via Lonny

via Little Green Notebook

I'm completely decided that black matting has to happen somewhere in my home. A black mat amongst all-white in a gallery wall adds a perfect pop, I think that will be my plan:

via this is glamorous

Love it!!! Are you as smitten with this look as much as I am??

{neutrals, neutrals, neutrals ... }

2013-04-19T00:30:00.000-07:00

I always love seeing projects with a dash of color, BUT truth be told, my heart seriously sings when I lay my eyes on fabulous neutral spaces like these ones below. With a totally neutral palette, all of the shapes, materials, textures, and furnishings take center stage. Jamie Herzlinger is the talented lady behind all of these fab spaces, you can see these and more spaces recently added to her personal portfolio board on Pinterest.

Seriously good stuff. That last bathroom with the amazing tile laid in a herringbone pattern on the floor and placed on the lower half of the walls makes me very happy. That's the most unique use of stone I've seen in a long while.

Don't forget you can shop Jamie's style over on JAMIESHOP, home to over 400 of the top "to the trade only" manufacturers. Have a wonderful weekend!

{make a statement ... }

2013-04-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday everyone! Hope your week is well thus far. Now, I know I'm not bringing you any groundbreaking news from the fashion world by saying this - but statement necklaces are one of my current favorite ways to take an outfit to the next level. I LOVE how it just sets off any ensemble:

Seriously, the evidence is clear isn't it? So when you are wanting to add a little 'oomph' to an outfit, add a statement necklace! And I think it's good to have a few with color, but at least one without color so you could literally wear it with anything. Here are a few of my current favs:

1 - Design Darling 2 - Loren Hope 3 - Banana Republic 4 - J Crew

5 - J Crew 6 - J Crew 7 - Loren Hope 8 - Design Darling

I adore each of these, especially #1, the nantucket necklace (only $32!!) and #3, the neutral colors are stunning. Do you have a favorite source for statement necklaces?

{lusting: beautiful archways ... }

2013-04-15T00:46:00.003-07:00

I am constantly pinning architectural details to my millwork & mouldings pin board! It's all in the details, and I have big dreams for a 'dream home' one day :) Today I am inspired by beautiful archways; whether on doors, cabinets, windows, or in hallways, they add so much to a space. Here is a round up of some of my favorite examples:

Aren't they all so lovely? Dreamy spaces indeed, and all of the architectural details takes these rooms to the next level. I think if I had to choose just one, I'd love to have that black arched front door between the flanking topiaries. Hey, a girl can dream right??

Have a great Monday!

{current obsession: beni ourain rugs}

2013-04-10T00:30:00.000-07:00

Palmer Weiss

Ok, so if you happened to see my post yesterday and were trying to guess what item in the room I was drooling over ... it was the RUG! I've had Beni Ourain-style rugs on the brain lately, they just seem to work so well in sooo many different spaces. It's likely that you've seen these rugs pop up just about everywhere lately, but in case you are curious, they originate from the Atlas mountains in Morocco where the Beni Ourain tribe handmade them from lush wool trimmed from the sheep they raised. These Moroccan rugs lack color, and instead it's their geometric black and cream patterns that take center stage. Originally, Beni Ourain rugs were used as blankets, but here in the Western world their main use has been as floor coverings. Let's take a look at a few more examples:

Lonny

Barrie Benson

source unknown

Madeline Weinrib

left unknown; right A House in the Hills

left Small Shop; right Jenna Lyons

source unknown

Lonny

Now the real deal can set you back several thousand dollars, but those of us on a tight decorating budget can rejoice with all the Beni-style rugs out there these days. Below are my favorites from Rugs USA, some are beni-inspired rugs, some are legit, all at a range of prices:

Berber Beni Ourain / Moroccan Izdhi Berber

Marrakesh Shag / Tuscan Moroccan Shag

Moroccan Israa Berber / Moroccan Khadijia

I'm pretty head over heels for the Tuscan Moroccan Shag, and right now it's on sale for 50%! And considering that this little girl has been fully house-trained for some time now ....

I think it might just be time for a new living room rug! ;)

{soft & pretty living space}

2013-04-09T00:04:00.004-07:00

Hi all! I've been kinda crazy busy this week, it's midterm time and I'm pretty sure I'm developing carpal tunnel syndrome from all the exams I've had to type up in the last 48 or so hours. I'm almost through, but for today my apologies on the short & sweet post. I just recieved the latest House & Home magazine and one room really popped off the pages:

Pretty right? I love that there is so much white happening. And the windows! All that natural light is so good. But there is one particular piece that I am SWOONING over, I've been obsessing over it for a while now. Any guesses? Full post on this current obsession tomorrow, I promise!

P.S. If you're head over heels for the fiddle leaf fig tree pictured above, Christine mentioned they can be found at IKEA right now, only $14!

{happy friday + delighted mag}

2013-04-05T00:30:00.000-07:00

Happy weekend everyone! If you need some lovely reading material for your days off, do take a peek at Delighted Magazine, a recent addition to our online resources. It's filled with goodies; fab DIYs, beautiful photography, recipes, and home decor.

And I'm pretty honored to be a part of their 4th issue, hop over to read my answers to questions like what I think we should splurge vs. save on when it comes to home decor, and my short list of favorite shops!

A big thanks for including me, Delighted Mag! Oh, and before I sign off for the weekend, I'll leave you with another link. My latest installment of 'Dissecting the Details,' over on La Dolce Vita looks at how one of my favorite designers, Brian Gluckstein, uses book displays in unique placements:

Hop over to see the post. And as always, thank you for visiting me here! x

{current obsession: marble coffee tables}

2013-04-04T02:43:00.000-07:00

Caitlin Wilson

Lately I'm being particularly drawn to images of living rooms with marble coffee tables. I adore the look of marble, the way it brightens a space, and in our current home it isn't gonna happen in our kitchen or bathrooms! So I'm thinking about adding a small dose through a table:

Now please correct me if I'm wrong, but with a bit of research I'm seeming to find that there aren't a ton of options out there! Here are a few beautiful ones I came across:

1 - Grace silver leaf and marble table $1884

2 - smart round marble top table $329

3 - Athena marble table $1390

4 - Gold leaf and white marble table $2198

The catch is I don't have a huge budget for a new table, and honestly our current table is a great size, shape & in good condition. That CB2 table above (#2) for $329 is a steal, BUT the dimensions are all wrong for our room and our needs, it's pretty low and small. So my wheels are turning, should I add a piece of marble to my existing table? It would be something like this:

What do you think? I'm going to get a quote on a piece of marble and see if it's worth it. It would probably be a more economic option than a whole new table. Any experiences with adding marble to an existing piece? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

{you need to know about: j crew factory}

2013-04-02T00:30:00.000-07:00

Another 'must check out' site for you today! I know we all adore J Crew, I'd be preaching to the choir if I told you to go check out all their goodies, right? BUT have you shopped J Crew Factory yet??

Yep, you heard right, an online source with all the sleek and cute styles we covet at lower price points. Canadian friends: they will ship to your door-step for a $9.95 flat rate, you can't beat that. Here are just a few of my current favorite pieces:

I just purchased the crystal statement necklace, it's great because without color it can go with ANYTHING in my wardrobe. Hope over to check out more, and right now you can use the code MOREPLEASE for an extra 30% off!

{designer profile: lynn morgan design}

2013-04-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

Another week, another fabulous designer to share with you! New York based designer Lynn Morgan has been recognized as having one of America's top design firms by House Beautiful magazine. Her work is bright and cheery, luxe yet streamlined at the same time. Have a little looky:

So many gorgeous projects! And believe it or not that is only a small sampling, you can see more over on Lynn Morgan Design. Have a great Monday!

{happy easter weekend ... }

2013-03-29T00:30:00.000-07:00

{easter egg inspiration ... }

2013-03-27T00:30:00.000-07:00

Easter is nearly upon us! Do you have plans? A big dinner perhaps? We always do church of course, and lots of family time. And Good Friday happens to fall on my brother's birthday this year so we are going to head to our favorite Greek restaurant, yum can't wait already!

Well if you've got time this coming long weekend you could attempt one of these fabulous Easter egg projects! I've rounded up inspiration from all over the interwebs:

Love the idea of pasting faux flower petals for a delicate & pretty look. I'm still inspired by Kelly's fabulous gold-dipped eggs from last year!

Martha Stewart show us how to get the perfect glittered eggs; water-colored eggs would be fun and easy!

Ombre, such a pretty effect! And all you would have to do is slowly keep increasing the amount of dye; I love blue & white and this assortment makes me swoon.

A marbled effect, follow these suprisingly easy steps with gold leaf. And this cheeky reference to Pantone colors is so clever!

Elastic bands can create an artisitc striped effect; or cover your egg in glue and simply roll in pastel-hued sprinkles.

Chalk board paint ... I adore the idea of writing messages on the eggs. And here's a fun little tip I found via Pinterest, use a whisk for easy dipping while dying!

So much inspiration, people are so creative! Doesn't it get you itching to tackle an egg project? Have a wonderful Wednesday!

{you need to know about: rugs usa}

2013-03-25T00:44:00.002-07:00

Happy new week everyone! Hope you had a nice & restful weekend.

This week I'm starting a new little series entitled, 'You need to know about ...' where I will highlight online shops that are an excellent source of home decor or fashion items. For the first installment, an online shop that I think is going to very quickly become my go-to source: Rugs USA.

Trellis rug / Cowhide white rug / Overdyed violet rug

Overdyed Moroccan trellis rug / Cowhide chevron rug / Moroccan berber rug

Ok, so it's likely that you are familiar with their fabulous rugs. The prices are AMAZING and there always seems to be a sale going on. I promise you won't be able to shop elsewhere for rugs after sifting through their enormous selection and low price points. BUT, did you know they also carry an extensive collection of furniture? Take a peek:

Tufted French linen chair / White desk / Polished aluminum lamp / Moroccan pouf

Inlay side table / French linen armchair / Inlay mirror / Gold mirror / Himalaya mirror

LOVE all of these fabulous pieces! And seriously, a bone-inlay mirror for $170 US? So good.

And just recently they began shipping to Canada, excellent new for my fellow Canadian peeps! They are alwayyyyys getting in new fun product as well, everything from high end vintage rugs to contemporary trellis prints. One warning however ... once you hop over to the site you may be there for quite some time, there is so much goodness to search through!

{fashion meets decor: blue & white}

2013-03-21T01:25:00.001-07:00

You all know by now my love for all things blue & white; the past couple of years I've been trying to start my own little blue & white ginger jar collection and I've got 5 pieces so far! I'm hoping for a couple of larger sized jars so that I can create a collection display on my dining room table similar to these I posted about a while back.

While surfing Pinterest the other night I came across this fab dress:

The pattern reminds me soo much of my favorite ginger jar which currently sits pretty on my living room shelf:

And it got me thinking how much I love blue & white in home decor and in fashion!

Colleen McGill

So pretty! Anything you collect? I'd love to hear!

Have a wonderful Thursday :)

{jamie herzlinger & jamieshop}

2013-03-18T02:27:00.001-07:00

Jamie Herzlinger is truly one of my favorite designers, and I've featured her projects several times here. Named one of the Top 20 Interior Designers by Traditional Home, her style oozes luxury and sophistication. So today I'm pretty thrilled to introduce Jamie's recent venture, JAMIESHOP.COM as my newest sponsor. First let's have a little look through her extensive & impressive portfolio:

Serious glamour or what? I guarantee that you've drooled over more than one of those spaces before! In addition to running her design firm, Jamie also publishes Jamie Loves, a monthly magazine filled with her current must-haves & she writes a lovely decor blog.

It's clear Jamie has impeccable taste. That's where JAMIESHOP comes in; the designer is revolutionizing the industry by bringing access to purchase luxury furniture from 400 'to the trade' manufacturers through her online buying service, and at discounts up to 50% off retail!

It's an easy and free service, simply sign up and peruse through all the luxurious brands we all swoon over. You can request a quote for any item that catches your eye, and within 48 hours Jamie will send a quote back to you. This is a fabulous resource for those who want to spearhead their own design projects or who may not have the budget to bring on an interior designer for a full-scale project, as there are no contracts or hourly fees attached. And with brands like Hickory Chair, Schumacher, and Circa Lighting, I guarantee you'll find yourself spending a bit of time on her fabulous site!

{happy sunday + classic stripes ...}

2013-03-17T03:27:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love most about all the inspiration we gain from blogs, magazines, and Pinterest is how we are being exposed to the classics. Sure, we see a ton of trends that come and go quicker than you can say chevron! But we are also bombarded with design that has standed the test of time. One small example: the nautical striped sweater.

The fabulous Audrey Hepburn, pictured here circa 1960, sporting a look that you could completely replicate today, head to toe! The nautical tee isn't going anywhere. Banana Republic has a great sale on (up to 50% off - ending today!), I snatched up their version of the striped sweater:

One more thing! Several of you have emailed and left comments about the end of Google Reader. If you were checking in and reading this blog through Google Reader you can still stay in the loop via Bloglovin'. Bloglovin' has a widget that will import your Google Reader list, and you can follow Marcus Design here. Have a wonderful Sunday!