Rambling Renovators

The Love List

2013-05-17T07:30:00.000-04:00

Serena's gorgeous farmhouse kitchen is almost done.

Videos not made for kids that the kids should see. I like the one about Oliver Jeffers and Chloe was fascinated by the one about balance.

A fascinating history of typography.

Free vintage posters, just the thing to brighten up that bare wall.

I bought this and its my new favourite outfit. I love one piece dressing.

The sweetest little nursery.

The most brilliant kitchen sink drawer.

I saw this bench at the West Elm summer preview. I think it would look so cute at the foot of Chloe's new bed.

This is my favourite part of Holly's latest house flip.

A Little Girl's Room {In Progress}

2013-05-16T07:20:00.000-04:00

Hopefully, that's what we'll have soon enough. We finally had the wallpaper installed in Chloe's bedroom and I love love love love it! I've been crushing on this Nina Campbell Swan Lake wallpaper for a long time but I didn't want to use it unless Chloe loved it as much as I did. Luckily, the girl shares mama's taste and picked it out of a pile of 20 wallpaper samples. That's my girl!

I really love this colourway. The trees and swans are a pale silver, their shimmery quality only visible when you see the wallpaper from an angle and light hits it.

We've paired the wallpaper with a light aqua paint on the other three walls. We had the paint from our bathroom colour matched and then made it 25% lighter so this is a custom colour. Depending on how the light hits, it can look more blue or a bit more green.

So a few things have to happen in this room. First, we need to deal with the radiator situation. As you know, HandyMan is pretty handy at building lovely little rad covers around our house (like this one and this one). Since this is a very small room (only 8'x11') we want to maximize use of the space. This is one of our ideas:

Just like in the nursery, we could build a small bench seat over the radiator. A narrow bookcase could fill in the space to the left of the window. To match the style of the bed, we would add turned feet to the bench. You'll notice that we "cheat" the space: the radiator cover extends further to the left than the actual radiator so we don't have to deal with building around the shutoff valve and it stops short on the right so we can fit in a post (to both hold in the bench cushion and to give the bench a finished look).

But this is just one idea. We'll probably come up with three or four more before we settle on a final solution! As for the rest of the room, I'm thinking it will look a little like this:

Chandelier | Pink polka dot sheets | Scallop drapery fabric | Thrifted paintings

Floral duvet | Geometric pillows | Rug

Chloe wants pink in the room so hopefully she'll be happy with the pops here and there. The mattress arrives tomorrow (we had the best sales experience ever at Sleep Country on Bayview Ave.) and hopefully we can get the rest done over the long weekend!

Relaxed Roman Blinds

2013-05-15T07:20:00.000-04:00

Do you ever have design roadblocks? With me, it's draperies. I love love love getting fabric samples and dreaming up looks... but when it comes time to actually decide on draperies, I can be so indecisive. Hence, that's why it has taken months for me to decide on window coverings for the basement.

I knew the feel I wanted - something more casual, relaxed. But our whitewashed plank walls are so neutral, I had limitless options: bold florals, geometrics, solids, striped. Most anything could work. It was like standing in the grocery aisle and trying to decide between 42 flavours of ice cream. Impossible!

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I finally did make a decision. I am really loving linen lately so I went with linen relaxed roman blinds from Tonic Living. The fabric is Brussels Washer Charcoal with a 1" band of Tuscany Linen Oyster on each side. It has a muslin lining which softly diffuses the light. I think the dark colour and lack of fussy details really suits our easy breezy basement.

We have other roman blinds in the house like this one in our upstairs bathroom which a seamstress simply made with the fabric attached to a piece of wood. I was impressed by the higher quality of these blinds from Tonic Living. The fabric is held to the wood with velcro and detaches for easy installation. The blind comes with instructions and all the hardware needed so we were able to install it in about 10 minutes. I quite like the little piping detail at the top of the blind. It really gives it a finished look.

After installing one of the blinds, I instagrammed a photo like the one above. Janine from Tonic Living saw my photo and asked if I had considered installing the blind flush with the frame. No, we hadn't! Pre-renovation, our basement bathroom had a deep window just like this with the blind installed up against the window so I guess I thought it was the norm. But we decided to try the drape flush with the frame...

and it looked much better (although you still notice the junk under the back deck through this window, ha!)

We have three blinds in the basement. Most of the time, I'll keep them half open because I like to let in some natural light. I could have gone with faux romans but I wanted the option to keep the blinds closed in the wintertime. Who needs to see all that snow anyway!

Do you have design roadblocks? Any design decisions you're procrastinating on? Tell me I'm not the only one!

What To Wear For A Family Photo

2013-05-13T11:30:00.000-04:00

Did all you moms have a good Mother's Day? I was spoiled with a delicious breakfast and a sweet paper mache bowl and hand-drawn card. Melt my heart it did! So fun too to see everyone's Mother's Day photos on my instagram feed.

In my old apartment, I used to have photos displayed everywhere. Maybe it was because I was living alone at the time, but I loved being surrounded by photos of family and friends and special moments, in frames on shelves or hung on the walls. But in this house, we have very few photos. The ones we do have are mostly of Chloe and hardly any of us as a family.

We're finally having some family photos taken and I think I'd like to have one for the bare wall in the basement. I've been thinking about what to wear for a family photo and have looked at Design Mom's photos for inspiration.

Photo via Design Mom

Do you notice that their clothes don't "match" but they "go"? To get me in that mindset, I've pulled a few looks together:

1. Gathered Dress 2. Floral Print Dress 3. Slim-Fit Chambray 4. Button Front Skirt 5. Striped Combination Dress 6. Custom Fit Check Shirt 7. Roll Tab Colourblock Dress 8. Striped Bow Dress 9. Non Iron Bold Plaid Shirt 10. Printed Blouse 11. Contrast Eyelet Dress 12. Pique Blazer

Much like decorating, I think the key is to repeat colours and stick to similar textures or materials. I'm going to be using our existing wardrobe so hopefully I can find something that coordinates! As for the photos themselves, you're never sure what you're going to get when kids are involved but I hope the photographer will be able to capture us naturally and not look too posed. This photo I took on the weekend, with Chloe hiding behind her dad's leg, kinda feels like that.

Like a stolen moment. Love that!

Have you had professional family photos taken? Any tips to share with me?

All Kinds of Mothers

2013-05-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

This post is a little more personal. Feel free to skip it.

I've had this post rolling around in my head for a while now and when these thoughts and ideas linger, you need to let them out, right? On Mother's Day, we celebrate our mothers, and rightly so. They are the ones who wiped our noses, who kissed our boo-boos. The ones who stayed up late at night sewing us costumes for the school play, who would let us sleep us in their beds when the monsters got the best of us. Mom was there at the first gymnastics competition and the last day of University. One day is not enough to be thankful for all the things mom has done.

And now that I've become a mother, I look back at those days in a new light. As a kid, everything was roses and sunshine and happiness but now I understand there were challenges and sadness, impatience and struggles as well in the day to day life of being mom. Its a gift, this new understanding and in a way, it makes me appreciate not only my own mother more but all women too.

I've learned there is more than one definition of Mother. I see it in my older sister who taught me how to tie my shoes when I was 4 and whose shoulder I cried on when I was 24. It's in Ashleigh, Natalie, FC, Shannon, and Kate, women who across the distance show me many ways to love a child. She's there at daycare, in the teacher taking care of my daughter like she was her own. And as a woman struggling with infertility, I see it in the faces of other women at the clinic, women whose hearts and bodies are raw with the desire to hold a precious child. There is Mother in them too.

The journey to becoming a mother doesn't start that day when a baby is born. It doesn't end when an adult moves out on their own. I think of it like a slow blinking light, deep inside the core of all women. Some nurture it, stroking it with every kind word to a child, every game of peek-a-boo played with a baby. Others let it fade. Whether that light blazes bright or dies into an ember, I think at some point we all wonder Should I? Can I? Do I Dare... to be a mother?

I never understood the immensity of that question until I answered it for myself. So to all mothers I've encountered throughout my life, Happy Mother's Day. You've helped me become the mother I am today.

The Love List

2013-05-10T07:30:00.000-04:00

A pretty spring rain.

An interesting way to get a (hidden) message across.

Can someone make me this for Mother's Day please?

Are you a blogger? You won't want to miss this. And if you're looking to monetize, you'll want to read this.

What do you hope your kids pack in their suitcase?

One more thing I love... my mom. Happy Mother's Day!

A Tweet, Oprah, and Teenage Dreams

2013-05-08T07:30:00.000-04:00

Back in the early 1990's, I used to watch a daytime talk show called CityLine. My older sister and I always vowed that we'd go watch a live taping of the show. We wanted to be sitting in that audience on Fashion Friday and maybe be one of the lucky ones who gets a makeover. Fast forward 20+ years and CityLine is still on the air and I actually ended up appearing on the show - but I still had yet to experience what it would be like to be in the audience.

Then a few weeks ago, I saw a tweet about the chance to win tickets to Chatelaine magazine's 85th Anniversary Extraordinary Moments Show on CityLine. I'm a big fan of the editor-in-chief, Jane Francisco, and think she's done a great job in revitalizing the magazine into an appealing mix of health, food, fashion, and decor. And the fact that they were smart to bring my friend Emma on board as the new Home Editor makes me love them even more. So I tweeted back, and through the power of social media, that is how my teenage dreams came true and my sister and I ended up sitting front row at CityLine yesterday morning.

I got to quickly catch up with Tracey Moore, the fittest host on television. She is just as energetic and enthusiastic as she appears on TV.

We witnessed the behind the scenes magic, seeing the set changes, the cameramen moving cumbersome equipment about with ease, segment after segment going off without a hitch...

And we listened to the experts like Claire Tansey, Tyler Franch and Samantha Pynn share how what's old is new again in food, home, and fashion. But to be an "extraordinary" show, Chatelaine had to bring along some extraordinary surprises and that they did...

Channeling Oprah, they gave each of us in the audience that "You get a prize! You get a prize! And you get a prize!" moment. They gifted us with champagne flutes and a sweet ring embedded with a tiny diamond, a leather handbag and intimate fashions, treats and more treats. And two plane tickets anywhere Porter Airlines flies. It was awesome.

But I didn't write this post to tell you about the fabulous swag. I think what struck me most is how powerful social media is. Twenty years ago, my best hope for getting a ticket to the show was calling in months ahead to book a reservation. It was a distant dream. Today, connecting is a click away. A tweet, post, pin or instagram can bind you to friends, strangers, brands, celebrities - in an instant. I think that is pretty darn cool. Heavy thoughts for a Tuesday!

Have you ever felt the power of social media in your life?

***

Chatelaine is kicking off 85 days of celebrating with more giveaways. I wasn't compensated to mention this, though I think it would great if some of you readers won some awesome prizes too.

Desperately Seeking A Small Sofa

2013-05-06T07:20:00.000-04:00

That post title sums up how I was feeling a few weeks ago. One of the final pieces we had to find for the basement was a sofa. A small sofa. Make that a VERY small sofa. As with most basements, we had a narrow stairwell to maneuver a sofa through. That passage was made smaller as we had new drywall installed right on top of the old textured plastered walls (you can see them here at the bottom of the mini mudroom post), leaving only a 28" wide stairwell.

I searched high and low for a sofa that could fit - maybe one with a low back or removable feet, anything to save a few precious inches. Finally, thanks to Ikea, I found the one: the Karlstad sofa in Isunda Gray.

The Karlstad is a popular sofa in blog land. John and Sherry have it in a sectional and so does Cassie. Anna has the sofa and Heidi has the sofa bed. And though I have been known to jump on a blog trend or two, the reason we got this particular sofa was that it was the only one that combined both fit and style.

I had originally wanted a sofa with chaise but the dimensions were too big and the chaise part felt like it might close off the "entertainment zone" from the rest of the basement. So we opted for the simple sofa. It has a nice low back and clean lines and it doesn't impede sightlines when you come down the stairs. Our basement isn't that big so we wanted to keep the furniture as light and leggy as possible.

I've paired the sofa with the Star Trellis rug from Rugs USA. I really love the vibrant colours and graphic punch of this rug. The rest of the basement is kind of beachy and relaxed but the rug adds an element of fun.

The Isunda Gray slipcover has a really nice texture and looks almost like suiting fabric. I didn't want to get a slipcover that was too dark or the sofa would look too big and heavy in the airy basement. You need to put the slipcover on before you assemble the sofa. I was surprised by how nice and tight it fit! I sewed the two pillow covers and the throw is the Threshold organic blanket from Target. It has a fun herringbone pattern and the throw is the perfect size - its not one of those skimpy blankets that are too short to cover your feet. This sofa has quickly become my favourite place to have a nap.

The wicker ottomans are from President's Choice Home. We've had these sitting in storage for almost two years so it felt great to finally get them into the room. They're storage ottomans and currently hold my hoard of magazines. I'm really loving their rough texture. The light colour picks up on the wood legs of the Karlstad too.

We've solved the sofa dilemma but I still haven't figured out what to put on the walls. I'd like to do a gallery wall but HandyMan is a little bored of the look (there's one in Chloe's old room and we had one in the old office too). Maybe our old school map might work here?

The Love List

2013-05-03T07:30:00.000-04:00

I love what Amy did with her bedroom.

Seriously the coolest app I have seen in along time. Let your inner Picasso out!

I dig pinch pleats. Here's an easy no-sew DIY version.

We had this for dinner last night. So good and easy!

Freshen up your desktop.

Another IKEA Rast hack? This one's pink and gold and pretty.

My favourite pin of the week. Functional and interesting.

AT 4

2013-05-02T07:30:00.000-04:00

I did this last year and thought I would do it again this year. Its fun to see what has changed and what parts of her personality have stayed the same.

Can we stop time now please? She's growing up way too fast.

Pretty Pelmets

2013-05-01T07:20:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking about window coverings for Chloe's new bedroom and want to do something fun and eye-catching with the window above the radiator. When it was an office, we treated the window like this:

A single rod spanned the full wall and we hung short curtains above the desk. I found the bold pattern on the curtains really drew your eyes toward the window so Chloe's new draperies might have a fun pattern too. But her room will lean towards the traditional side (this is her bed but in white) so adding a pelmet or cornice board will bring a bit of that trad detail in. Here's some inspiration I've found:

Cassie created a sophisticated pelmet for her daughter's room complete with monogram and ribbon trim.

This one by Bailey Quin has a really interesting shape accentuated by the contrasting trim. I like how the angular pelmet is paired with a simple roller shade.

I love these white pelmets with striped fabric by Nicky Halsam. The curve of the pelmet keeps things from feeling too rigid.

Danielle used different fabrics with her pelmet and drapes. Another great idea which I think would look really cute in a kid's room.

Then there's this room, one of my favourites from Domino magazine. The pelmets here are clean-lined and narrow, the fabric a shade lighter than the drapes.

And how sweet is this pelmet by Elizabeth Dinkel Design? I quite like it paired with an outside-mount roman blind.

Do you have any pelmets over your windows? There are lots of DIY tutorials out there so it seems fairly to make one.

A Mint + Pink + Gold Mother's Day

2013-04-29T07:15:00.000-04:00

What a beautiful weekend it was. Spring is my favourite time of the year... I love days when mornings are crisp and you still need to wear a jacket and afternoons are bright and warm. I'm in the mood to refresh my wardrobe and with Mother's Day coming up, I'd be happy if one or a few of these things made their way home to me (ahem, HandyMan!). There's so much prettiness out there and I'm more than a little enamored with mint and pink and gold these days...

1. I'd pair this Missing You Bow Tie Top with a pair of skinny pants and flats to feel instantly dressed up.
2. Take this Heart Print Tote anywhere from the bookstore to the beach
3. This Lola Wallet is just what I like: zippered, slim, and pretty.
4. This Nautical Knots Ring Set with three different knots couldn't be any cuter.
5. Stila is one of my favourite cosmetic brands. Love the palette of the Boutique L.A. Lady Set
6. I desperately need a new iPhone case. The Botanical Rose iPhone Case is one of the prettiest I've seen.
7. I like my sandals to have a bit of a heel. These Tipsy Glitter Sandals have a bit of shimmer too!
8. Dots & gold, how sweet is this Wink and a Style Top
9. My mom looks 20 years younger than she is so this Thanks For The Mom Genes Card would be perfect for her.

10. I need more florals in my wardrobe, like this stunning ASOS Petite Pencil Skirt
11. Love the bold fresh pattern in this Fiddle Leaf Fig Pillow
12. Oh, Michael. You always put me in a happy singing mood. Michael Buble To Be Loved

Disclosure: Affiliate links in post.

The Love List

2013-04-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

I love this whole house. So much texture! I just want to walk around barefoot on those sisal rugs.

Can't commit to wallpaper? I love these removable wall decals and these ones too.

This song made me.... zzzzzz

I need this for my desk. I need this for my laundry.

Ontario antiquing season starts this weekend! But I'm saving my ~~pennies~~ dimes for this show.

The chance to hog the remote control and gobble all the goodies in the mini bar is definitely why I attend conferences. *Insert sarcasm font*

Looking for art on Etsy? Here's a place to start.

My favourite pin of the week.

My Wedding Dress

2013-04-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm not one to enter giveaways much. But Emma was hosting a giveaway that I hoped I would win - a custom painting by Toronto based illustrator and filmmaker Sarah Lazarovic. That is how I came to own this beautiful reminder of my wedding day.

In 2012, Sarah went on a shopping diet and instead of purchasing all the beautiful shoes and dresses she coveted, she painted them.

I asked Sarah to paint the dress that I loved most, my wedding dress. I still have the dress. Its stuffed in a box along with my DIY dyed blue crinoline. My memories of that day are stuffed in there too, gathering dust, small moments forgotten.

What I haven't forgotten is how beautiful I felt in that dress. I hadn't always felt that way, even when I bought it. I had no overwhelming confidence that this was "the dress" that most brides to be do. But on my wedding day, from the moment I slipped it on... felt the lace layers weigh heavy upon me... the satin ribbon run the length of my back... it suddenly felt right.

I'm amazed that Sarah was able to capture my feelings in her painting. I look at her interpretation of my dress and remember the happiness of that love-filled day. I remember how Sean looked when he saw me in that dress.

And now I can enjoy that feeling every day. What's your most treasured item of clothing?

Closet Envy

2013-04-22T07:15:00.000-04:00

Slowly, Chloe's new bedroom is coming together. One thing we managed to get organized was her new closet. For the longest time, we've lived with this ridiculous tiny closet:

There was actually closet space behind the wall where the chair is so when we had the doors installed in the basement, we opened up this wall and had our contractor install more functional double-doors in this room:

Already much better! The doors are 24" shaker doors from Central Fairbank. As we do with all our shaker doors, HandyMan added an inset panel trim to the recess to give them a bit more detail which fits with our more traditional house.

For the interior, we really wanted to maximize storage. This room is small (8"x11")and we have no space for a dresser so the closet fittings would need to have a mix of closed, open, and hanging storage. We found these closet towers on sale and bought two of them:

But you know we couldn't just leave them looking 'off the shelf' ;) We had to pull the units about 5" from the left wall so that the open drawers would clear the door. HandyMan filled in the gap with some prefinished MDF we had lying around and even added a "lip" at the top to be consistent with the tops of the towers.

On the right side, we added two rods. We didn't think the drywall on the far right would be strong enough to support a rod full with clothes, so we added some MDF cleats along the back and right side wall. To make full use of the space, we added shelves above the rod. I have a similar shelf in my closet. Its a great place to store shoes and purses.

With the doors painted and everything looking so pretty (the closet was painted with leftover paint from #RockTheRental), I got to organizing:

All her clothes fit and there's room to grow. Hooray! Chloe only wants to wear dresses every.single.day so those are on the lower rod for easy access. The drawers hold all her t-shirts, underwear, and pajamas. Side note: Is your toddler as particular about her pajamas as mine is? I need to get backups for when her favourite ballerina pajamas are in the wash!

I gave Chloe a little tour of her new closet tonight and asked her to pick her outfit for tomorrow. I hope having everything organized and visible now will help avoid the morning scramble.

At least this part is done. Now onto more painting, wallpaper, custom millwork...

The Love List

2013-04-19T07:30:00.000-04:00

Joni has created an incredible nursery for baby Brigette. I love it just as much as Vivi's.

Are you more beautiful than you think you are?

If Heaven was a craft room, this is what it would look like.

I've been wanting to add something mint to my wardrobe. So I bought this. (On a side note: Am I the only one who consults Pinterest on how to style their clothes?)

I want to leave my mark here.

Sometimes, the little guys win.

Outdoor Living

2013-04-18T09:49:00.001-04:00

Now that we've finally hit double digit temperatures around here, my thoughts are turning to all things outdoors. Okay, maybe not all things. I'm a horrible gardener and HandyMan takes care of the lawn, so when I think outdoors I mean lounging outside on our deck and using the barbeque.

I was recently invited to the Home Depot Spring Preview and a few things caught my eye. Like these outdoor rugs:

Many of the rugs are reversible and they've got some really fun patterns. I'll have to check out the second one, the sisal-looking one with the Moor-ish pattern, in store. It would look great in my my outdoor office.

I thought this was really fun too. If we had more room in our backyard, I'd put one of these adjustable tables on the stone patio. It instantly transforms from a coffee table into a dining table and the middle part can also be an ice bucket. Summertime dining at its best.

What I was really checking out though were the barbeques. Back in September, our BBQ caught fire and the dials literally melted off. Very scary stuff. HandyMan actually didn't tell me about it until weeks later because, you know, your wife can freak out when she learns her husband had to reach past the flames to turn off the propane tank. Aghhh! Super scary.

So this BBQ is too small for our family but it is ELECTRIC. How awesome is that. I totally could have used this when I lived back in my condo and a tiny 5' long patio to my name.

But really, I know nothing about buying a barbeque. What features should I be looking for? Some of them have accessories to turn the grill into a pizza stone or griddle; others have rotisserie rods. Do any of you actually use those features? Any brands you recommend??

Our last (melted) barbeque was a cheap one we got through using our Airmiles and we know how that ended... I'd like to get something a bit more substantial this time so I'd love to hear your advice!

Note: I was not compensated for this post. I just wanted to share some of the cool things I saw at the preview.

Light

2013-04-16T12:45:00.000-04:00

Thanks for all the kind words on yesterday's post. I feel like I need to be somewhat apologetic when I put up posts like that. I know that many parents don't have the time or the inclination to throw elaborate parties like we do - we just show our affection in different ways. There is a whole competitive mommy thing out there in the interwebs and I'd hate to have any of posts make my readers feel 'less than' or less stellar than who they are. We're all just trying to love our kids, right.

With the chaos and clutter finally cleared away (okay, maybe the dining room streamers are still up), I was craving some lightness and peace. This little vignette on my dresser is just the airy feeling I needed. The painting is from here and the old star is from here, two of my favourite stores in the city to look for vintage treasures.

And, breathe.

A Princess Birthday Party

2013-04-15T07:20:00.000-04:00

On the weekend, we threw a party for a princess. Our little Chloe turned 4 and ten little princesses from across the land donned their prettiest princess gowns for the occasion. They had to visit the castle, after all.

We started with some crafts. The new basement provided ample space for merriment. There was a colouring table and a crown making station...

and we played a game of Snow White's Poison Apple (aka hot potato). The girls paid a visit to Cinderella's Beauty Salon...

Stick-on earrings, tattoos, candy necklaces, blingy rings and nail polish... we had everything needed to accessorize the girls' royal attire.

Even Chloe's magnetic wall got the party treatment. I found these magnetic dress-up Cinderella and Belle dolls at the Dollar Store (as I did most of the party supplies).

And with crowns on their heads and pink glittery nails all dried, the girls hopped into their carriages and took a trip to visit Princess Chloe's castle...

Chloe's new bedroom is still being renovated and painted so we had the chance to use the whole room as castle central. In the days leading up to the party, we embellished the cardboard boxes a little more - and then a little bit more. The paper covered floor got the addition of a fun stone walkway and the princesses had to crawl across the drawbridge to avoid being snapped by the crocodile in the moat!

But princesses get tired from all their royal duties so we headed down for the feast...

And the Princess was presented with the ruffliest pink cake ever, topped with more dollar store princesses and washi tape bunting.

And all the ladies in the land wished our big girl a Happy 4th Birthday. That tiny wee baby...

had now grown into a true princess.

We love you Chloe!

xo,
Mom & Dad

The Love List

2013-04-12T07:30:00.000-04:00

Autumn certainly has a way with tile. I love her ingenious mix of tile from Home Depot and cut slate.

It's American National Architecture Week. She's got a fun roundup of posts. Craving more? You can always buy this book and this book which HandyMan and I wrote together.

Suzanne is renovating her basement and you know its going to be good - I mean, you have seen her cottage, right?

My cousin Peter uploaded this video that his co-worker's wife filmed. And it went viral.

Black and white never looked so good.

No room for a craft area? Sure you do.

Everything you ever wanted to know about blogging. Grab a coffee. This will take a while.

IKEA, you do vintage well. The industrial Fabrikor cabinet should be popping up at your local store soon.

Goodie, Goodie

2013-04-10T21:37:00.000-04:00

I love a good goodie bag. I don't remember getting them at parties when I was a kid (are they a relatively new thing?) but I love putting them together for Chloe's parties. Maybe its because everything's mini. Miniature treats are always more fun.

For Chloe's Princess Party this weekend, I put together some things that say "princess", without having Cinderella's face or Disney's logo emblazoned all over them. I couldn't resist these fairy tale fingerpuppets. I put them in these wee bags (I use these bags for everything) and closed them with a home-made tag.

Add some bubbles, a glittery wand, and chocolate coins (royal treasure!) and you have a goodie bag fit for a Queen. Or a princess.

Get The Look: Modern Graphic Bedroom

2013-04-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

Its really starting to feel like spring around here and this fresh and modern bedroom is perfect for the mood I'm in! I love the clean, crisp feel of this room and thought I'd share ideas on how to Get The Look for less.

The most striking thing about this bedroom is the expert mix of pattern and colour. I'm always intimidated by mixing patterns but there are a few standard rules I've learned to make it easier: vary the scale of patterns, pick two or three colours and repeat them throughout. I'd start with a modern rug with a simple and open pattern, like this one from RugsUSA. Its 50% off right now so really an inexpensive way to add some bold pattern.

Then layer in other patterns and textures, picking up on the colours and shapes in the rug:

- The rug has a Moorish shape and I'd echo that motif with this really interesting chandelier. Its large but since it has an open design, it still feels light and airy.
- For the windows, curtains made in this small scale pattern fabric would be fun
- A classic upholstered headboard in a light solid cream provides a place for your eye to rest. This one's a great price at less than $200.
- The inspiration photo shows a patterned throw over a neutral quilt. You can save a few dollars by instead using solid white sheets and then have a patterned duvet cover which you fold at the end of the bed. This one has a slightly organic and random feel which works nicely the more rigid geometric patterns.
- I love the look of mirrors over beds, and especially round mirrors over angular headboards. This one is curvy and feminine and the warm metal tones are similar to the chandelier
- instead of two stools, get the same look less expensively by using a single bench. The velvet and luxe details like nailhead trim and upholstered legs really help to make the room feel glamorous

A room can feel a little boring though when its all too monochromatic or similar so I'd introduce a shot of colour. An original painting like this one over a side table would be just enough to keep things interesting.

Are you refreshing your interiors for spring? This has me itching to introduce a bit of coral into my bedroom.

Disclosure: Affiliate links used in this post.

Little Wire Basket

2013-04-08T07:30:00.000-04:00

I'm having a bit of an obsession with wire baskets lately. I have them around the house holding magazines, fabric, papers, and wayward toys. I came across this basket when I was tidying up my accessory drawer. (Do you have one of those drawers, where you store seasonal and spare accessories? I'm thrilled I have space for one now in the basement.)

The basket had a fabric liner that was stained and worn so I tossed the liner and instead filled it with some bars of soap wrapped in scrap fabric and twine. A bit of a country touch and some needed colour in the basement bathroom.

I love these beefed up shelves that HandyMan built. They're wide enough for my vintagey label holders. I just have to figure out what labels to put now!

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Speaking of fabric, the Tonic Living coupon code mentioned in my sidebar (use RAMBLING for 10% off your order) will expire at the end of this month. Use it while you can!

The Love List

2013-04-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm loving the modern rustic mix in this Hollywood couple's beach house

Who says you shouldn't play with your food? Found via Anthology magazine.

Be epic, bloggers.

I like what he wears.

I bought this for Chloe today. Maybe I get a grown-up version for me?

An unexpected mix of colours but it works.

Disclosure: Affiliate links used in this post.

Announcing BlogPodium 2013

2013-04-04T07:15:00.000-04:00

I have some exciting news to share friends! You've asked and asked... and I'm thrilled to announce the date for the next BlogPodium conference:

What is BlogPodium? BlogPodium is a conference for design and lifestyle bloggers, premier brands, and the design industry to talk about all things social media. This is a different kind of conference: bloggers, brands, and design insiders sit at the same tables, participate on panels, and learn from each other. Conversation. Collaboration. Connection. That's what we're about.

Whether you're just thinking about starting a blog or are a seasoned blogger, you'll find inspiration and take away practical tips and know how. If you're a PR pro, you'll gain insider knowledge on how to develop relationships with influential bloggers. And with an accessible design community right here in Toronto - shelter magazines, media, and lifestyle brands - you'll be hearing from these experts too.

BlogPodium is a place to make connections and jump start collaborations - there is magic that happens when you bring people who share the same passions together! Together with my team, I will be bringing you our biggest conference to date, with more speakers, opportunities to network, and (new this year) hands-on workshops. It is going to be amazing.

Tickets will go on sale at 10am EST on May 8th on the BlogPodium website. We always sell out so mark your calendars if you want to snag a ticket. I hope you can join us!

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As a conference created by bloggers and run by bloggers, there is huge opportunity for YOU to be involved. Do you have an inspiring story or expertise to share? Have you learned lessons that can help your your fellow bloggers build their blogs and communities? Why not be a speaker at BlogPodium?

We are accepting proposals for presentation topics and panel speakers relevant to the design and lifestyle community. Please send your submissions to info@blogpodium.com by April 30th.