I value these things. I like to read up on these things. I aspire to these things, or at least some of them. (The hobbit hole?  That’s more Dave. I’m not sure I’m green enough to want to live, erm, underground. Even if the dwellings are kinda adorable.)

Hobbit hole: Photo courtesy of the fabulous Simon Dale blog

Then we went and bought an eighty-year-old house.

Even better, we went and bought an eighty-year-old house literally three days after the federal government’s sustainability rebate credit thingy closed.

Boo. Hiss.

There is little so green – especially from an energy perspective – as an eighty-year-old-house in a climate given to long winters. Especially in February.

Luckily, the house itself gave us clear notice of its miserable state of inefficiency with days of our arrival: the kitchen ceiling began to weep.

Yeh, I know that’s usually bad. Like, “scene from Poltergeist” bad. If the walls had started weeping blood, be assured, we’d have totally hightailed it outta here.

Instead we ended up reading up on ice dams.

Turns out, these climates given to long winters are going through more freeze and thaw cycles in recent years. Turns out, shingles and roofs aren’t made to handle that kind of melt, and ice backs up under shingles and starts leaking through into, oh, say, kitchens. Turns out our attic crawl space was so badly insulated it was about fifteen degrees Celsius up there, on a February night. Turns out that in a story-and-a-half house, that means all the snow melts off the top, slips halfway down the house until it hits the uninsulated spaces off the sides of the bedrooms, where the slopy ceilings come down to meet what are known as the kneewalls.

Knee Wall: Diagram courtesy of Natural Resources Canada. Our handy dandy government at work.

Then it freezes, and all hells breaks loose at the edges of the roof.

Goody.

Now I know why we burned oil like a Hummer in the first few drafty days we were here.

When I received the news that in order to rectify the dripping pot light over our sink – which was not, contrary to my hopes, helping with the dishes – we’d have to bust a hole into our newly painted bedroom wall, I did what any sane person would do.

I began to weep harder than the ceiling.

Dave, however, was less daunted.

Turns out, in addition to dreaming of living in a hobbit hole, Dave has – like, forEVER – aspired to having something like a grownup’s secret hideaway: a space in the house where he can, effectively, disappear. Like a man cave, perhaps, but without a door. A space, so to speak, not on the maps.

And so it transpired that yesterday I came upon this spectacle in the upstairs of my house, right under the little hole that leads to the attic.

That’s Dave, in his fetching insulation outfit. We may save it for Hallowe’en and he can go as a giant condom. Up on the ladder, just out of view, is his dad. Or rather, his dad’s legs.

They blew a boatload of insulation into the floor of our attic to stop the hot air going up and out and heating the outside.

They then cut a hole out of our (freshly painted) bedroom wall so as to access the crawl space behind. It was kind of unspeakable in there, by my standards, but they dried things out and added to the insulation and cleaned and tidied it up real nice, and Dave even varnished the floor.

Then they plugged up the hole with a rather elegant hand-made built-in which totally fits the Arts & Crafts style of the house. Like so.

Take that, ice dams!

(Okay, well, we’ll still have ice until spring, but it’s old ice, we think: no more damming should occur with the new insulation in both the attic and behind the knee wall. And we can pull the cabinet out any time and check and dry things out so as to avoid any further melt leaking around the newly-repainted kitchen ceiling (thanks, Dave’s mom!)

And we’ll save money and energy in the interim. Even in an eighty-year-old house.)

AND behind that cabinet, in fulfillment of his lifelong dream, Dave can, uh, disappear at will.

Don’t tell anybody. It’ll ruin his fun.

Design by Thomas Smythe, photograph by Michael Graydon, via Habitually Chic Blog

This weekend I’ve got a round up of art I’ve found on UsedEverywhere. Have you ever considered purchasing art from your local Used site?  There are so many reasons why you should: to support local artists, to snag a bargain, to find something unique or vintage, or to give old art a second life…

So, first up: How lovely is this pastel painting from UsedVancouver by Quebec artist Gilles Mailloux? And at $150 for a framed 22″x27″ piece, that’s pretty lovely too.

This next one is not cheap (yours for only $2500 bones), but I love it.  And graphic black and white art is reeeally hip these days.  (Am I not hip for using the term “hip”? Hmmm…)

Another trendy item to add to your art collection is a quirky portrait – maybe someone you know, or maybe some interesting unknown visage that you can imagine your own story for!

Design by Joel Bray, photograph by John Cullen for Canadian House & Home

Like perhaps this saucy gypsy lady on UsedGatineau for $50:

Or if you prefer to know the story behind the people on your wall you could get this great portrait of the royal family.

Isn’t it sweet?  (Anyone else LOVE “The King’s Speech”?) It could look great in a new frame in an eclectic art arrangement, or alone on a small wall above an occasional chair.  But I want to buy it.  So if you’re thinking about it, you’d better move quickly.  (And if I get it first you could buy this one.)

This beautiful painting of poppies in Nepean, Ontarioreminds me of the one in this picture that looks so lovely in the arrangement:

Design by Amanda Johnson for "Here's Looking at Me Kid" Blog

A perfect piece of art to pick up before Remembrance Day, perhaps?

And speaking of Remembrance Day, I am a bit of a World War buff, love black and white photography, and think this old photograph of the Canadians on D-Day would be amazing to own:

I also love the look of collections of old oil paintings presented in a modern or eclectic way:

Design by Holly Becker and Joanna Copestick, photograph by Debi Treloar, via Style at Home

Some landscapes or a  floral still life like one of these would be perfect for such an arrangement:

"Coast of Oregon" by Robert Harrison

I’m also really into architectural art,

Moutarde Design, photograph by Jean Longpre for House & Home

so I really like this great engraving of the Paris Stock Exchange.

Another trend in art is using vintage maps.

Design by Steven Shailer, image from Elle Decor

They can be both subdued on your wall, and tell a neat story.  This one on UsedWinnipeg is gorgeous:

And if these are legit (I’d probably get an expert to check them out before purchasing for that price) I would love me some Group of Seven prints.

And I’d likely reframe this piece in something simpler – a black frame with a wide white mat – because the painting itself is so bright and dynamic and bold.

So those are just a few of the many beautiful things I found in my search. They may or may not be your cup of tea, but there was plenty of art out there that I passed over that might look perfect in your home. Go check it out! (Don’t forget to also look for alternative art: stained glass windows, vintage plates, or collections like Andrea’s beautiful antique keys!)

And if you want a bit more art inspiration you can check out my Pinterest board.  Happy weekend!

Some fabrics on my wish list from Fabric.com

If you’re hesitant about ordering online because you’re unable to touch the fabric, or see it with your own eyes, do not give up on online fabric shopping yet!  Most of these stores offer samples, so you can order those before committing to buying yards of a fabric, which is nice. (And I’ve outlined how these stores do that below.)

One thing to watch for when ordering online is shipping.  If you’re ordering from an American store shipping can be hefty, plus you should know if duty/taxes is included in that.  It may depend on how much you’re ordering, how good a deal you have, or how much you love the fabric to know if it’s worth it to order internationally.  If you’re ever unsure of the shipping, save your order and e-mail customer service to get a thorough quote.

Want some of these great fabrics from Tonic Living? Be sure to search for a discount code first!

One more hint for you – before you place an order do a Google search for coupons or discount codes.  Sometimes you can get an extra 10-20% off, which just might cover your shipping.

So here you go…

CANADIAN STORES:

Designer Fabrics Online - This is a fairly high end store out of Toronto.  They sell a large variety of upholstery weight and decor fabrics.  With DF you can borrow samples for free (up to eight samples) and pay the $6 shipping, then return your samples within three weeks.  I like this process so that you don’t have to pay for samples, but you can still look at and feel the fabrics in person.  There is a large selection with a wide variance in prices, so if the first fabric you see is $72/yard, don’t despair!  There is a lot of variety.  Because shipping is within Canada it is reasonable.  Customer service has always been very efficient any time I’ve ordered from this store.

A few favourite fabrics from Designer Fabrics Online

Tonic Living - This is one of my favourite stores.  They sell mostly upholstery weight fabrics and have a really trendy, cute selection.  You can order samples, which you pay a small price for and keep.  (And they’re pretty generous with the sample sizes, which is nice when a fabric has a larger print!)  The Toronto-based store is fairly small (though getting bigger), and the selection is small-ish, but lovely.  Shipping rates are good within Canada.  ALSO, they offer a service where you can order custom drapes, roman shades or pillows from their fabrics if you’re not so into the DIY thing.  And always search for discount codes before shopping here, because you can almost always get 5-10% off your order.

Pretty, fresh fabrics from Tonic Living

AMERICAN STORES:

Purl Soho - This is where my love of fabric and ordering it online all began for me.  This gorgeous little store out of NYC is lovingly run, and full of unique and quirky fabrics (both lightweight cottons and some decor weight), as well as yarns, sewing notions, patterns, sewing books, etc.  They have wonderful customer service.  Prices range from average to high.  Watch their sales, though… you can find some gems!

A selection of fabrics from Purl Soho

Fabric.com - If you’re looking for deals, you can find some here – particularly on upholstery weight fabrics.  This discount store is LARGE and so is the selection.  It can feel like it’s a bit of work to wade through it all, sometimes.  They offer upholstery fabric, quilting cottons, apparel fabrics, sewing notions, and various other craft supplies.  There is a wide variety in fabric quality as well, so it pays to know which brands are always good (like Duralee, Amy Butler, Waverly, Robert Allen, Richloom, etc.), and which ones you might want to order a sample from first (any one you’ve never heard of).  Shipping is usually ridiculously fast (sometimes mere days), but depending on how much you’re ordering the cost of shipping may outweigh the discounts on your fabric once you’ve factored in duty/taxes/international rates.  (Order with a friend, if you can!)  They also have a design board feature where you can save your fabrics and look at them together, which is neat.  Always search for online coupons before you order because they almost always have some discount code offered.

Some gorgeous patterns available from Fabric.com

So those are my sources.  Do you have any online spots you order fabric from?  Any hints for fabric buying?  Do share!

Amazing sto-mo animation via University of Saskatchewans’s The Shlog

Thanks to that cute little ground hog named Phil, we’re supposed to be getting an early spring this year. So, I’ve decided to take this opportunity to start my spring cleaning early and the first items on my list?  The dreaded freezers!!!

I absolutely love having a deep freeze and a top freezer in my fridge as it allows me to stock up on many food items which saves us lots of money throughout the year. The problem is that I have absolutely no idea what is actually in my deep freeze right now as it is literally overflowing with food stacked from floor to lid! It’s like playing Jenga every time I need to pull something out…”you take a frozen chicken from the bottom and you put it on top, you take a roast from the middle and you put it on top.” Not to mention, the three dozen frozen bananas I have stored in there for when I decide to bake those 100 banana muffins I’ve been saying I’d make for the last year.

I’ve also been wanting to make weekly meal plans but it’s hard to do when you have no idea what is actually available to you in the freezer. ”Hmmmm, so we’ll have steak on Monday if there is steak in the freezer, and ham on Tuesday if I manage to find the time to spend 30 minutes digging to the bottom of the freezer to find it.” Doesn’t work. Clearly something had to be done.

So, this weekend I learned about what kind of “freezer person” I am by facing and defeating my mortal enemies (the freezers) with a few simple ideas to help maximize and organize them both.

1. Make an itemized list of everything in your deep freeze.  When I open up my deep freeze, I can see that I have some ribs, a few pizza crusts, and a bag of beans but what the heck is three feet below these things?

View when I open up my deep freeze. Where's the rest of it?

I don’t have the time to lug out 100 pounds of frozen food every time I need to see what I need to add to my grocery list. And I can’t tell you how many times I have gone out to buy a ham or chicken at full price only to discover the following week that I had two of them buried at the bottom of my freezer!  So I pulled out everything made a list of what was in my freezer. That way, if I am making my weekly meal plan or grocery list, I simply look at the list taped to the deep freeze and I know exactly what I have . If I use something in the freezer, I simply white it out and if I buy something, I just add it to the list. I’m still waiting for someone to invent a see-through deep freeze… Hmm, maybe I should just go on Dragon’s Den with this great concept minus a prototype, blue print or sales… Think they’ll invest?  Tee-hee.

2. Turn those bread end pieces into breadcrumbs. Okay, so I know that most people never eat the end pieces of bread and my mother taught me years ago that the best way to use these end pieces is to throw them in the freezer and then use them to make bread crumbs later.  The problem with this is that over time, those end pieces are forgotten and accumulate, ending up taking up precious room in your freezer. So I came up with a solution:  Make the bread crumbs with the end pieces BEFORE you throw them in the freezer.  That way they are ready to use when you need them and they take up a fraction of the space.  As I had found about 12 bags of end pieces this weekend, I pulled out the food processor and made one big bag of bread crumbs that I then put back in the freezer, saving me tons of room and hassle.

Don't let your freezer look like one at the actual grocery store!

3. Don’t overstock your freezer. Only store food items in your top freezer that you plan on using in the next three months.  Turns out those fridge freezers do not keep food frozen as long as deep freezers do. In fact, they only keep food for about three months compared to a deep freeze that can keep food for close to a year. So make sure to store the freezer food you use on a regular basis in the top fridge freezer and keep the larger and less used items in the deep freeze.  For instance, I kept the frozen turkey and big box of chicken in the deep freeze and moved my steaks, sausage and salmon portions as well as frozen vegetables into the top fridge freezer because we create meals out of these on a regular basis. Note:  if you really want to maximize your deep freeze capacity, DO NOT buy two large turkeys just because they are on sale!  I did this last Thanksgiving thinking I would make them in the next couple of months and guess what…they are still in my freezer!  I’ve since realized that there are several opportunities to get cheap turkeys through the year…Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter…so there is no need to stock up on them unless you really plan on using them soon!

Sadly this is what I had to throw away this weekend! Poor freezer burnt leftovers.

4. Don’t freeze food items unless you’re really going to use them!  I don’t know how many times I’ve made dinner and had plenty of leftovers and so, instead of just planning to eat them over the next couple of days, I have packaged them up and thrown them in the freezer thinking to myself, “Great.  I will simply pull these out later and use them for another dinner. How smart am I?” Answer: Not very smart!

There are some smart people out there who have the memory and diligence to make food, freeze it and then pull it out later for dinner … I am not one of these people!  I thought I was until I went through my freezers, only to discover Tupperware containers filled with lasagne, chilli and spaghetti that I think I made about 2 years ago!  So,be honest with yourself and, if you are like me, don’t freeze your leftovers as they will only end up wastefully thrown in the garbage. (Sorry Mr. Landfill…I promise to eat my leftovers from now on!)

Deep freezers and fridge freezer are wonderful creations but only if you know how to use them properly based on what kind of person you are. For those of you like me who really haven’t been using them properly, I hope some of these tips will help you de-clutter and make better use of your freezers.  If you have any other freezer tips, I would love to hear them.

Coupon Tip of the Week:  Following the theme of freezers, it can be very economical to stock up on meat items when they’re on sale but make sure to only buy what you will use in the next 2-3 months. Otherwise, you run the risk of buying too much and having that meat get freezer burned and going bad before you get a chance to use it.  Remember, there are always sales going on each month so you don’t have to worry that you didn’t buy enough chicken breasts just when they were on for such a good price because they will be on sale again next month!

Our rule is this: From Boxing Day until the end of February, we restrict our purchases to the bare necessities; groceries/consumables, gas, basic hygiene (shampoo, soap, but not cosmetics), medicine and essential clothing.

That means… no spontaneous purchases of lip gloss (my personal weakness), video games (my husband’s) and a wealth of other non-essential items that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

You can read more about our Shopping Embargo here.

The hardest part about it is probably determining the difference between needs and wants. Everyone has different priorities, and frankly, it’s easy to persuade yourself that a want is really a need. It became an annual debate with my blog readers. One year I felt that I needed a housecoat. I didn’t actually own a housecoat. So was this a want or a need? You can argue the finer points until the cows come home.

One of the items we tussled about was decorative containers for the bathroom, you know, the things that hold cotton balls and cotton swabs. Are these a want or a need? I’d argue that it’s a “want” because you can technically keep the extra Q-tips its original box under the sink. The whole issue of having decorative bathroom containers seems like such a first world problem, doesn’t it? Well, you can avoid all that by making your own.

Easy peasy.

• Take two matching jars (these are relish jars), soak off the labels and wash them out thoroughly.
•  Find some pretty paper and trace the lids. Cut the paper out and glue onto the lids.

That’s it! You have your own customized containers for bathroom supplies! And you didn’t need to break the bank (or your Shopping Embargo).

How many 1980's trends can you find in this recently designed room by Sarah Richardson?

Everything old is new again.  And that’s good for thrifty design junkies.

In interior design the 1980′s are back.  Eep.  It sounds bad.  And sometimes it is.  But it doesn’t mean your home needs to look like an episode of Miami Vice or Dallas. Or 90% of doctor’s offices.  At least I hope it doesn’t!

However, think of the return of these 80′s trends in the past few years: grey is the go-to neutral.  But not the cool dull greys of the 80′s, rather a warmer more dynamic grey.  Wallpaper’s been back for a while now, but in modern graphic patterns – no fruit bowls, ivy borders, or horses, please.  Patterns in textiles are recalling the trends of wide stripes, big florals, paisleys, navajo-inspired patterns… all popular in the 1980′s.  And peach and mint green are back – they’re just calling themselves “coral” and “turquoise” these days.

The key to using these 80′s revivals is to not use them the same way you did in 1984 (well, I didn’t use any design rules back then.  I was busy being born and stuff.)  Instead of everything being match-matchy use elements of these trends in a more modern and eclectic way.

Design by Lauren Gold, from Lonny Magazine ...Notice the southwest patterned pillow? Brass coffee table? Cheetah-print bench? Eeeightieees...

One trend I’m liking is the return of warm metal tones after years of brushed nickel.  Gold, copper, bronze, and brass are all big.

Design by Emily Henderson

In the 80′s you may have installed gold bathroom faucets.  Don’t do that.  But do bring in these warm metal tones in changeable accessories like lamps, picture frames, candlesticks… or side tables!

Design by Angie Hranowsky in Lonny Magazine

I’m on a mission to do just this.  I want to find old brass side tables on UsedRegina to add to our living room.  They still need be solid and well designed.  And whether they stay brass or not will depend on the finish (I want brass that has a depth of colour and patina – not too shiny or yellowy).

So in my search for 80′s brass side tables I collected a round up of some of the great brass finds on UsedRegina:

My first find is perfect for a game I call “Awesome or Awful”.  Quick.  Grab a friend, spouse, or roommate.  Now show them this picture.  What do you think these tables are, Awful or Awesome?  Does your partner agree?

Marble and brass side tables for $80 on UsedRegina.

Well, I vote awesome.  Unfortunately my husband votes awful.  The intricate brass bases and marble tops may be a bit over-the-top for some, but I think they’re great!  (AND they’d fit in our living room.  Boo.  Shouldn’t have let him vote…)

A classic, the brass bed never goes out of style.  I can usually find a variety on UsedRegina. This one is particularly great with its clean lines and cannonball finials.

A classic brass bed for $250 on UsedRegina

And brass candlesticks are a great way to bring warm metal tones into your decorating without any long term commitment.  Not to mention they’re perfect for Christmas!

An assortment of brass candleholders for only $5!

I’m trying to think where I might need a floor lamp in my house, because updating the lampshade on this great swivel-arm lamp would look fabulous!

All this $10 brass floor lamp needs is a new shade.

(That’s another returning 80′s trend, actually: tapered lamp shades.  But not pleated teal lampshades.  Sorry 80′s, you can keep this one.)

Here’s another round of “Awesome or Awful”:

A circular brass coffee table for $75 on UsedRegina... Awesome or awful?

That’s right.  I vote “awesome”.  My husband doesn’t get a vote this time.  However to keep this table current it’ll need to be surrounded by more contemporary design.  Say good by to the pink carpet, brass, you’re not allowed to be together anymore.

What trends are you seeing for the second (or third) time around?  Which ones are you happy to see return, and which ones should go back in the time capsule?  Anyone out there have some awesome brass side tables hiding in your basement for me?

Helmets

With any personal safety item, you have to consider its history. If the foam inside of a helmet is damaged, it needs to be replaced (and that won’t be visible to the new owner). The helmet doesn’t even have had to be an accident to be unsafe. If it’s been dropped or thrown, it can be damaged. So, while it’s a perfectly good idea to buy a used bike/motorcycle or skateboard, buying a new helmet would be a safer bet!

Make-Up

Even make-up that has only been used a few times can be a breeding ground for bacteria. In general, it’s not a good idea to share make-up (even with your closest friends) because you could expose yourself to pink eye or cold sores. If cost is an issue, there are a lot of websites that will teach you how to make your own beauty products. So unless the ad specifies that the products are new or unopened, used make-up is just not worth the risk.

Laptops

Buying electronics second-hand is a great idea, but you want to exercise caution. You have to be especially careful with laptops given their purpose (they are built to be transported). As a consumer, you have no idea how that used laptop has been treated in the past (was it bumped around or did the previous owner allow it to overheat?) Computers can also contain of a lot of sensitive information, so as a seller, you’d want to be 100% certain that your information had been completely wiped. If you’re really lucky, some used laptops are still under warranty. If not, take some time to get to know the seller. Ask lots of questions, and if you feel uncertain, walk away.

Lingerie

Given lingerie is such a personal/intimate purchase I would steer clear of buying used. While lingerie can be washed, many pieces are made of delicate materials and heavy duty washing (hot, soapy) is not recommended. Size is also a potential issue (we all know that there is no such thing as a standard size). And then there is the hygiene concern. You do not know the past of the used item and whether it has been cared for to your standards.

 Car Seats

There have been new regulations published by Transport Canada updating the safety standards for car seats and booster seats bought and sold in Canada. Check out our blog post with more information or you can review the regulations on the Transport Canada website and by calling Health Canada 1-866-662-0666.

Do you feel there are other products you should avoid buying used?

The New Year isn’t so new and fresh, anymore. The Valentine’s chocolate is (mostly) eaten. But no matter what the groundhog proclaimed about spring a few weeks back, where I live we’re just settling into the real endurance run: another month, if not two, of cold, slushy, unpredictable weather.

I call it the long tail of winter.

Now, if you happen to live in Victoria, or even Vancouver, you may be wondering what on earth I’m talking about. The cherry blossoms are out on YOUR trees. Gloat your heart out: you deserve to. Our trees, out here in the Atlantic, won’t see buds ’til May. Our shoveling season is just getting started.

Sigh.

I love where I live: it is my home, and my roots go deep here. I lived elsewhere – on both the west and Arctic coasts of Canada, in Asia and Europe and in other parts of the Maritimes – for fifteen years. By the time I moved back to PEI seven years ago, I was more than ready to appreciate all the familiar quirks the Island had to offer. But every February for the past seven years, as the winter drags on longer than is civilized, I’ve had a fleeting moment of wondering what the heck I was ON when I packed my bags and hightailed it home.

It’s lovely in Thailand this time of year. Just sayin’.

If, however, you – like me – do not have the travel budget for a respite from winter, I offer some relatively green and inexpensive suggestions to warm you, heart and soul, while the snow still howls.

1. If you can’t beat it, join it. Go sledding.

Photo credit: www.flickr.com/photos/caseycanada/4314851216/

Yes, I realize the snow is chilly. And wet. And dries out the skin. And that none of these things is particularly pleasant, in and of itself. Strangely, though, getting outside on a sparkling winter day can actually be quite exhilarating. Add to that the high speed, I-could-expire-at-any-moment thrill of careening down a hill on a tube/crazy carpet/meal hall tray (ahem) and the rosy cheeks from chugging back UP said hill in the cold, and you have good clean classic Canadian winter fun.

2. Have a hibernation party.

Photo credit: www.flickr.com/photos/jenkim/4230741504/

If the days are gray and slushy, sledding may not sound like such an entertaining prospect. Those of us more inclined towards indoor pursuits in the first place have an advantage, in winter: our hibernatory tendencies become more socially acceptable. But you don’t have to hole up alone: invite friends over for a cozy afternoon or evening of totally, shamelessly sedentary amusements. Play poker. Break out the old crokinole board. Walk on the wild side and convince people to try a round of charades: in short, do things that people did for generations before TV and social media and hyperscheduling made our winters not entirely socially distinguishable from summer.

3. Purge the winter flab of your living space.
I know, this one may not exactly sound like the equivalent of a beach vacation. And no, housecleaning isn’t entirely my idea of a great time. But as somebody wise once said about writing, I don’t like the writing, I like having written. Me, I like having housecleaned, especially on a scale grand enough to clear out a previously unusable corner of my home. A new perspective – even on the mundanity of, say, your sock drawer, really perks things up, and when better to achieve that than when the long tail of winter has you stuck inside anyhow? Plus you can list the things you’ve outgrown on, say, your local usedeverywhere site! And save the profits towards a winter vacation NEXT year!

You can thank me with a postcard.

4. Cozy up with a hot drink.

Photo credit (replete with recipe): The Kitchn’s hot apple ginger toddy: perfection.

There’s nothing lovelier than a nice hot mug cupped between chapped and chilly fingers, and a wintertime drink warming your belly. Summertime can keep its gimlets and its iced tea: I’ll take something toasty anyday. Especially if there’s a fire to curl up in front of, while sipping.

There are creative and delicious hot drinks for almost any palate: I happen to love Celestial Seasonings’ Bengal Spice tea, Korean yu ja cha, and this recipe for bittersweet hot chocolate. Don’t be stingy with the citrus. Or the whipping cream. Whatever fits.

5. Get some light.
Many of us struggle during these long winters because our bodies simply don’t get enough Vitamin D. Supplements don’t necessarily cut it: it’s light that seems to have a positive impact on the aptly named Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. My practice: when there’s light, I get in it. I take a short walk, or I sit near the window, sunning myself like a cat.

Then I eat the dregs of the Valentine’s chocolate. That helps too.

Still, winter gets loooooong. Sometimes none of these efforts quite succeeds in beating back the winter blues and blahs.

If all of the above should fail, I have one final weapon in my arsenal.

It’s for special circumstances only. It’s not for the faint of heart. But it works.

When it all gets too cold for comfort, I remind myself of the inevitability of spring by singing. Specifically, by singing the last verse of my very favourite never-fail campy classic, the under-rated Bette Midler inspirational hymn, The Rose.

Very loudly. Also, off-key.

When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been too long
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong
Just remember, in the winter, far beneath the winter snows
Lies the seed, that with the sun’s love, in the spring becomes the Rose.
(Songwriting credit: Amanda McBroom)

Try it. Guaranteed you’ll either believe it by the end, or you’ll be laughing so hard you’ll feel better ’til March.

Master bedroom from "Sarah's House 3"

I love this room – it’s vibrant, pattern-filled, cozy, and quirky.  But Sarah’s budget and my budget are not really on the same planet, and chances are you may feel the same way.

So let’s surf UsedEverywhere to find some of these elements to create our own cheerful farmhouse bedroom, shall we?

Let’s start from the ground up and search for a Persian rug. How about this one on UsedRegina for $50?  Yes please.

Persian rug on Used Regina for $50

This bed isn’t exactly the same, but it’s gorgeous, has a similar four-poster feel and it’s a lot less than the 3 grand Sarah dropped on her antique bed:

A queen size brass four poster bed on UsedRegina for $650

And this chandelier may be a bit smaller in scale, but that’s probably a good thing if you don’t have the same soaring ceilings.  (If you do, hang the chandelier a bit closer and lower over the bed, or hang it over a different area, like over the pair of chairs.)

A great chandelier selling for $25 on UsedRegina

Design by Sarah Richardson

And if you have the room, you could easily install an electric fireplace for a quick dose of character.  Electric fireplaces have come a long way since the tissue paper and fan fireplace we had when I was a kid.  For starters, how about this mantel for $30?  You could buy a firebox, or just fill it full of candles or firewood.

$30 Fireplace Mantel on UsedRegina

And some brass candlesticks for the mantel, just like in the inspiration picture:

Brass candle holders on UsedRegina for $5

Did you notice that interesting woodbox for holding firewood?  You could replicate the look by painting this plant stand in orange or another kicky colour, and storing logs in it.

An antique plant stand on UsedRegina for $50

Design by Sarah Richardson

In my humble opinion I find the side tables a little too midcentury modern for the room, but you could acheive a similar open look with a couple of side tables like these:

Antique demi-lune table for $50 on UsedRegina

A curvy old oak side table on UsedRegina for $90

And this phone is black, but just as charming as the one atop the side table… and it works!

$80 Antique phone on UsedRegina

And for bedside light you can look for some shapely lamps that can be spray painted in any colour you like, similar to the orange ones seen in the inspiration picture.  (Or, if you find a pair of vases you like, you could follow my lamp DIY and convert a vase into a table lamp!)

Bedside lamps for $10 each on UsedRegina

Design by Sarah Richardson

This wooden dresser is perfect, and just needs some new hardware.  (You could add white knobs like the dresser in the inspiration picture)

Antique dresser on UsedRegina for $125

And a simple mirror, a pretty little tea set, and a crystal lamp should be easy enough to find on UsedEverywhere or a thrift store.

Design by Sarah Richardson

This pair of wingback chairs on UsedRegina may not fit with the room yet – but they’re FREE, so why not buy some of this colourful floral fabric

"Wonderland" fabric from Designer Fabrics Online

and have them reupholstered or slipcovered?

Can't argue with free chairs on UsedRegina

And how about this great vintage lamp for $25

1950's brass lamp for $25 on UsedRegina

perched atop one of these tables

Two round side tables for $10 on UsedRegina

between the chairs to recreate the look of the seating area in Sarah’s room?

And a key part of the charming farmhouse aesthetic are the framed vintage botanical prints.  These ones are available on UsedRegina for as low as $10.

One of a selection of beautiful old botanical prints on UsedRegina

They’re the perfect finishing touch to your sunny farmhouse bedroom.

And there you have it!  If you have a room you’d like to challenge me with, leave a link to it in the comments section!