Cherish Toronto

Creating Comfort in the Guest Bath

2013-06-16T23:55:00.004-04:00

When asked about my decision to move 15 minutes outside of downtown Toronto, my answer is twofold. Reason one is that I'm closer to work, so I can catch a few extra minutes of zzzzz's in the morning. The second, more important factor, is the affordability of a two bedroom condo here in Eatonville. Having a second bedroom means that the door is always open for guests (within reason, of course).

The second bedroom has been ready for guests for a few months, and I have added just a few small touches to the main bathroom to make an overnight stay as comfortable as possible for friends & family.

I upgraded to french vanilla marble floors in the guest bath, and I thought that the best way to show them off would be to keep the textiles in the room monochromatic. I chose this Indian block print shower curtain from HomeSense ($19.99!) because it coordinates perfectly with the floor.

The colours in the accessories are soft, including this cherub wall pocket which I found at an antique market in Fenelon Falls a few years ago. A simple touch like this and the vintage gold birds on the wall above the toilet (pictured above) keep the monochromatic scheme from being too boring.

I was super excited when I found out that the developer installed Delta faucets throughout the condo. The brand is know for its quality and Masco Corporation is a great company to work with; they are very supportive of design bloggers.

For the comfort of guests, I have tried to cover all the bases by providing extra towels, facecloths, tissue and toiletries under the sink. Instead of just throwing it all in a pile, I found a great reversible fabric basket at HomeSense ($12.99!), and rolled the towels up inside.

Call for your guest reservation soon!!

What's in a View?

2013-06-13T23:46:00.000-04:00

I grew up in my parents' home, a comfortable 3 bedroom bungalow in the Kawarthas with a view of Chemong Lake, and I remained there until moving out at the tender age of 21. My first apartment was a basement rental in Kingston, Ontario, where I lived for about 6 months before being transferred to Toronto. My sister and I shared the top floor of a triplex overlooking Davenport Road for several years until she bought her own place and I rented a tiny condo at King & Bathurst. The bachelor unit was tucked into a corner on the 9th floor, and was the first time I had lived more than 30 feet above terra firma. From there I purchased and relocated to my first home, a second floor condominium with a pleasant view of the courtyard.

When it came time to purchase my current home, I spent a considerable amount of time weighing a list of factors including the suite's orientation and potential view before making a final decision. I don't think I realized just how much I would enjoy the view from up here on the 20th floor. I have always asked in the past, "Is a good view really that important? Does anyone actually spend time just sitting around staring out the window?"

Well as it turns out, a good view is really important and as a matter of fact I do spend a lot of time staring out the window. Case in point:

I love it up here :)

Photo by Pamela Graham for Cherish Toronto

An Evening with Lynn Spence at Wicker Emporium

2013-06-11T23:41:00.004-04:00

I was recently invited to attend a special event at Wicker Emporium. To be completely honest, I wasn't aware of Wicker Emporium until this introduction, and I was surprised to discover that this Canadian company has been in business since 1973. The family owned chain of 22 retail stores (and growing!) is based in Halifax with stores in Eastern Canada and Ontario.

This event was entitled, "Inside Out" and was hosted at the store's Heartland Town Centre location in Mississauga. Style expert Lynn Spence was there to present some fabulous outdoor dining and entertaining ideas. Since summer officially arrives in just 10 days, I thought now would be a great time to share some of those ideas with you!

The overall lesson of the evening was to bring the indoors out when entertaining this summer. Lynn's advice was simply this: "Treat outdoor dining the same as you would indoors." This teak table was my absolute favourite, with 6 stylish place settings set off by a trio of statement candle holders. I was immediately drawn to the soft & chic Nantucket colour palette of this presentation.

The second table presentation was bright & sunny, which would be perfect for entertaining guests at an afternoon brunch. Lynn suggested using a small side table for extra plates, napkins, and perhaps a beverage pitcher. Having everything you need close at hand means not having to run back inside. Great idea!

Lynn chose to arrange this classic mango wood pedestal table as a games table, surrounded by a group of durable organic stools made from sturdy acacia wood. Wouldn't this come in handy during a rainy afternoon at the cottage?

Here's another fabulous table setting. The mood at this long driftwood table was a bit more laid back and Lynn came up with an interesting seating combination; slipcovered chairs on one side, a bench on the other, and a pair of woven rattan chairs at either end. Why not mix it up?

Moving indoors, Lynn created this welcoming vignette for a small space such as a home's front entry. The twig lamp lends a casual cottage vibe and I am still wishing that I had a spot for the gorgeous trestle table. I suggested to my sister that she should buy this table for her new home...

This cozy tufted chair could tuck into a nook and provide a quiet spot to get away for some quiet "me" time. I can imagine settling into this chair on a rainy Sunday afternoon and enjoying a good read. Lynn suggested that you should fill the space in a small nook with a substantial chair - large furniture gives your home a feeling of grandeur.

Do you lack storage space? Think of all the different ways you could use this sideboard and hutch combination, it doesn't have to be just for dinnerware. Here Lynn filled it with spare blankets and bedding, but you could also use it for towels and toiletries in the bath.

The Inside Out event was a lot of fun and I was very impressed by the way Lynn Spence styled each table and vignette. For more info about the evening, check out Wicker Emporium's 5 minute video below. If you receive this post via email, please visit the Cherish Toronto website to view the video.

All photos by Pamela Graham for Cherish Toronto.

Video provided via Wicker Emporium's Facebook page.

**Please note that this post is not sponsored and I was not compensated in any way by Wicker Emporium to write this. I was very impressed by the presentation given by Lynn Spence and I wanted to share the experience with all of you.**

Blooms

2013-06-09T19:45:00.001-04:00

There's nothing like spring blossoms to remind you that Mother Nature is the master of beauty & design. It doesn't get any better than the peony. So lovely!

All photos by Pamela Graham for Cherish Toronto.

Oh, Paris, How I Miss Thee

2013-06-03T12:50:00.002-04:00

Today is one of those Mondays where I'm at work but I'd rather be anyplace else. Heather Clawson, of the popular blog Habitually Chic just spent a long weekend in Paris, and her instagram photos are making me yearn to return there. So much so that I was even compelled to watch Midnight in Paris on Saturday night. Le Sigh.

Photos by Pamela Graham for Cherish Toronto.

Christie Antiques Show Chronicle

2013-05-28T12:08:00.001-04:00

Even when I don't really NEED anything, I still love to make the trip to the Christie Antiques Show. It's always fun to look, and it felt like there was more than usual to see this time; I was there all day! Arriving early means getting a good parking spot and the pick of the crop, so I was at the entry the gate just before the 8 am opening.

7:55 am. Apparently I'm not the only early bird. I arrived at the entry gate along with a few hundred others:

8:10 am. I made my first purchase; a yellow basket weave McCoy flower pot. My grandmother used to have several of these on her kitchen windowsill. And yes, I was wearing gloves, it was a very chilly morning:

8:15 am. I spotted a beautiful set of Aynsley china and immediately fell in love. There were enough dinner plates, salad plates and soup bowls for 12, and the set included a lidded tureen and a teapot. The asking price was $395, but the seller offered it to me at $325. I totally regret not making the purchase:

8:24 am. I tweeted a pic of this Eastlake style footstool upholstered in orange velvet. Both the velvet and wood were in great condition, and its tiny proportions made it super cute, but I passed:

8:30 am. I was reminded of my age when I saw a Crissy doll. My sister Debbie had the same doll when we were kids. An item from childhood showing up at an antiques show cannot be good:

9:11 am. A pair of Beswick dogs caught my eye, and at $95 for the pair, they weren't a bad price for such popular collectibles. But since I recently thrifted a pair of ceramic dogs (see this post), in the end I decided against these:

10:53 am. My second purchase was a vintage glass towel bar. It's in great condition - no chips or cracks, just some paint from its previous home. I have yet to figure out exactly what I'm going to do with it, but something creative is in the works. I am embracing the wabi-sabi:

11:35am. There are no words:

11:49 am. There were a lot of beautiful rugs at this show, even more than I remember seeing in past years. I've talked about my rug addiction in the past, but I managed to stay on the wagon. Sigh. So many beautiful patterns and colours. J'adore:

12:03 pm. These bamboo style iron chairs were in nearly new condition - no rust or grime. The vendor had 9 available at their shop near Niagara-on-the-Lake. These would be perfect for outdoor dining & garden parties:

Noonish. Time to break for lunch and enjoy a little 'tweetup' with some fellow bloggers. We shared our finds and talked blogs. Here we are from left to right: Laura of Sweet Maple, Moi, Amy of Love on Sunday, Kisha of Chronicled, and Jen of Rambling Renovators:

4:08 pm. After 8 hours of antiquing, it was time to head home. I took a quick photo of my last purchase before hopping in the car. I love all things brass, and this set of 6 tiny spoons from Thailand were too cute to resist:

If you missed this one and you're interested in attending, the next Christie Antiques Show happens on September 7th. In the meantime, check out your hometown for local shows and flea markets. You never know what you'll find ;)

A Study in Storage

2013-05-26T13:26:00.002-04:00

When it came time to negotiate the purchase of my new condo, I knew I should ask for a few "extras". I really wanted smooth finished ceilings throughout the unit, which unfortunately, the developers weren't willing to provide :( In lieu of that, however, I was offered built-in cabinetry for the study nook. Can I just tell you? Best. Bonus. Ever.

The amount of storage in this little nook is more than any simple desk could ever accommodate. Three drawers, full height adjustable shelving behind the cupboard door, open storage and a desk surface. I store so much stuff inside the cupboard; everything from paint chips to binder clips.

The open shelves above the desk are the perfect spot to display a few of my favourite things. I like to mix up the display whenever I find a new addition - like the faux Staffordshire dogs I recently scored while thrifting.

The faux bamboo chair I found on Kijiji (see this post) looks right at home in the study nook. I was originally planning to paint the chair, but considering its excellent condition I decided to leave it natural. I think it looks fab at the desk, and I use it all the time - in fact I'm sitting in it right now ;)

Have any of you purchased a new home or condo recently? Let me know if you've scored a good deal during negotiations!

Sweet Retreat: Lavender Master Bedroom

2013-05-20T20:58:00.001-04:00

It's finally time to take a look at the master bedroom in the new condo. The room is an average size for a Toronto condo, about 10' x 12', which is just the right amount of space for an upholstered queen size bed & two 24" bedside tables. The lamps & bedside tables were from my previous home, but I ordered a new upholstered Decor-Rest bed (Canadian made!) from G.H. Johnson's 6 weeks before I moved in. The bed ended up being ready earlier than expected, and G.H. Johnson's were kind enough to hold it in their warehouse until I was ready to have it delivered.

The wall colour was chosen several months before moving in (see this post & this post), but I had to wait for drywall repairs to be taken care of before painting could go ahead. I opted to paint both walls and trim in Gown, a soft and serene shade of lavender from Sarah Richardson's designer palette for Para Paints. This colour is very restful, which is just what I need :)

After living in a fishbowl for several months, I bit the bullet and had drapes custom made to cover the floor to ceiling east facing windows. Working with Parallele Interiors, I chose a gauzy neutral and opted for an inverted pleat style. The end result is very luxurious, and these drapes serve their purpose, blocking out both the morning sun and any potential peepers.

There are still a few missing pieces in the room, such as artwork or maybe a papered accent wall, but in its current state of simplicity the space is perfectly restful. And that's what it's all about, right?

Source Guide:
Upholstered Bed, Decor-Rest, ordered through G.H. Johnson's
Paint, Gown (SR9), Para Paints
Bedding, Magnolia by Gluckstein Home, purchased at Hudson's Bay
Lamps & Lamp Shades, Aquiesse Candle HomeSense
Bedside Tables, Magnolia (discontinued), EQ3
Toss Pillow Fabrics, Designer Fabrics
Toss Pillow Sewing, Fine Interiors by Susan
Drapes, Fabric, Sewing, Hardware & Installation, Parallele Interiors
Brass Tray, Thrifted, Value Village
Rosenthal Vase, Christie Antiques Show

Can You Handle It?

2013-05-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

Last year, when it came time to choose finishes for the new suite, I was working with a budget of pretty much zero dollars. At my selection appointment I chose to upgrade just 2 items. First, an undermount kitchen sink, a must have for sweeping crumbs straight off the countertop and into the sink:

Second was to upgrade the floor tile in both bathrooms after falling in love with Ciot's polished marble in French Vanilla. A worthy splurge considering its natural beauty:

That was the extent of it. Everything else came standard as determined by the developers' chosen design firm, Crayon Design. I'm happy with the finishes, but I recently got the itch to change one little thing. I decided to swap out the brushed nickel pulls in the master bath for a pair of crystal handles. I love a touch of pretty!

So...Can you handle it?

So gorgeous!!

By the way, the master bath will eventually need a coat of paint on the walls, and I'm not sure which way to go. Any ideas?

Sunrise, Sunset

2013-05-08T12:12:00.001-04:00

One of the best things about the new condo is the orientation of my suite. The windows in the living room and master bedroom face east, giving an incredible view of Toronto's downtown skyline. On the flip side, the guest bedroom, balcony and living room face northwest, providing vistas all the way to Pearson International.

Of course this also means catching the occasional sunrise...

...and spectacular sunsets too!

Photos via CherishToronto on Instagram

The NeverEnding Story

2013-04-30T14:02:00.000-04:00

If you ever hear me refer to my home's decor and you catch the words "I'm done"...it means I intend to be done, but I'm not done. That's just the way it works; there's always another layer to add. My very own never ending story.

Once the drapes are up in both bedrooms, I will officially have run out of funds. It's time to put my nose to the grindstone, work hard this summer and rebuild my depleted savings. During that time, I'll most likely come up with a million ideas, some of which will fall by the wayside and some which will eventually come to fruition.

Just this past weekend I placed an order for wallpaper samples. I love all of these beautiful papers!! Of course I'll have to decide where to use them. In the front entry? On the dining room wall? As an accent wall in the master bedroom? So many possibilities...

Clockwise from top left: Thibaut Papagayo (Cream), Nina Campbell Swan Lake (White), Thibaut Augustine (Blue), Thibaut Ting Yuan (Cream), Shand Kydd Budgie (Navy).

For those of you who have been waiting patiently for another room reveal, I'm hoping to get photos of the master bedroom soon. It's a tricky room to photograph due to lighting, so I'm hoping for a bright & sunny weekend :-)

Small Pieces

2013-04-17T12:00:00.002-04:00

I've always thought of creating a comfortable home as a process, it rarely happens overnight (unless, of course, you have elves). Time is spent gathering all of the pieces and then fitting them together just like a jigsaw puzzle. Some pieces are BIG and some pieces are small, but all of the elements have importance in the overall picture.

One of the small things I needed to take care of were new covers for the lumbar cushions that go on the living room slipper chairs. Since I love to tackle my own projects (let's be honest, I take on most of these projects to save $$), I figured I could whip up a pair. Sure, I had made these cushion covers before (see 2009 & 2011), but this time I wanted something a bit fancier...

...I wanted the cushions to have velvet on the front half, a woven graphic on the back half, a fold, sunburst gold buttons and an invisible zipper. I recently had a similar pair professionally sewn for the master bedroom, so I thought, "If someone else can do it, why can't I?" As it turns out, I can do it :-) Yay, me!!

Ta-Da!!!

Please take note of the invisible zipper, which I have now MASTERED:

Ready for Guests

2013-04-14T09:58:00.002-04:00

The guest bedroom in the new condo is sooooo close to being complete that I've deemed it ready for guests and a reveal. This room has been in the works for more than a year - gosh it takes a long time for a plan to come together!! The faux bamboo bedside tables were found on Kijiji in December 2011, and they were given a makeover as part of a D.I.Y. challenge in June 2012. In the meantime, I put together a floorplan and design scheme, which was largely inspired by the chartreuse lily lamps I purchased in a Peterborough antique shop.

With the idea to spread costs out over the course of the year before the move, I tackled projects one at a time, slowly building my design arsenal. The vintage lamps needed to be rewired and new shades were custom made by Lia at Mod Pieces. I had my old headboard reupholstered in a grey velvet found at Designer Fabrics and upgraded to diamond tufting for a touch of luxury.

While rug hunting last summer at the Elte Outlet, I happened upon the SDH diamond coverlet, and then sewed my own pillow shams from a fabulous printed linen also found at Designer Fabrics. You may remember when I found the kantha quilt at a West Elm event last spring; I like how it adds just a touch of pink to the room.

The showstopper in this guest room is the Sanderson "Lilia" wallpaper in lime & silver. I painted all of the walls in Para Paints Pearl (SR39 from Sarah Richardson's designer palette) to match the ivory background of the paper, and then had the focal wall behind the bed and side tables professionally papered.

Some small finishing touches and the room is ready for guests to arrive. Drapery is happening soon, and then the room will be at 100%. My Mom has already stayed in the unfinished room a few times, but now I'm super for her to see the finished product next weekend!

Source Guide:

Wallpaper: Sanderson "Lilia"

Vintage Lamps: Nostalgic Journey

Lamp Rewiring & Custom Shades: Mod Pieces

Coverlet: S.D.H Linens via Elte Outlet

Kantha Quilt: West Elm

Fabrics: Velvet & Printed Linen via Designer Fabrics

Paint: Para Paints Pearl, SR39

Wallpaper Woes

2013-03-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

Sooooo...the wallpaper didn't really work out this weekend. Total bust. I prepped the wall, pre-cut seven strips of paper, applied the paste, "booked" it, waited 5 minutes and put up the first strip. It was all going so well...

...Until I tried to trim the edges. Blurggghhh. The brand new blade tore the paper. No big deal, it's at the bottom and it won't show, I'll snap the blade and try again. Total mess. It was so bad and so unfixable that I tore the sheet down, rolled it into a ball and jammed it into the garbage. Then I cried (this happens on a lot of my DIY projects). I decided right then and there to call a professional. Needless to say there won't be a room reveal this week :-(

Here's how I cheered myself up: retail therapy. I hit up Southworks Antiques on Sunday afternoon and I found some great deals, including a Royal Doulton tulip vase designed in 1982 by Gerald Gulotta. It looks so pretty sitting on my coffee table alongside the Jill Rosenwald vase I received as a birthday gift.

Fingers crossed I can get a professional wallpaper hanger to come in this week or next so that I can put the guest room back together before Easter. My busy season at work starts April 1st, so the sooner the better!!

Spring Fever

2013-03-13T13:44:00.001-04:00

It's only March 13th, and I already have a case of spring fever - one full week ahead of mother nature's schedule!! I've been working hard at the condo to get one room completely finished. Last weekend I painted the guest room, and I'm hoping to get the wallpaper up this Saturday. If all goes well, I should be able to give you a room reveal next week (fingers crossed)!!

One of the best things about the new condo is the amount of light it gets. Despite the gloomy skies Toronto has been seeing for the past few days, the hyacinth in my living room has burst into full bloom. Happy early spring ;-)

Rug Rehab

2013-03-09T22:58:00.003-05:00

Once I started looking at rugs, learning about how they were made and the effort goes into creating a hand knotted pattern, I became a bit of an addict. Rugs truly are an art form which I have come to appreciate, but it's gotten to the point where I have to be cut off from purchasing any more. I bought my last rug a few weeks ago - a 2'x3' wool Hamadan which I found at Karakashian Rug Gallery at Bay & Yorkville. At $125, it was such a good deal that I just couldn't resist and the gentlemen at the store were so nice that I was more than happy to make a purchase. Karakashian will be closing soon, so if you're looking for a rug at a great price, it's worth paying them a visit!!

After deciding that the size of the ebay rug was fine to use at the front door I needed to find one for in front of the kitchen sink, and this pretty in pink little number was just right for the space. Such a beauty!!

In comparison, these Hamadan rugs from Ikea are lovely, but these are a bit smaller and not as unique. In a stunning turn of events, at $149, they're actually more expensive than the rug from Karakashian.

Gotta run - I'm off to rug rehab ;-)

Light Up My Life

2013-03-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

So, let's get right to it. I just have to share - tell me what you think of this beauty:

I have six of these in my new condo. Yep, six!! I bet you're wondering how I got so lucky - ha!! I've been shopping for new fixtures since the day I moved in and I finally have replacements for all of them. Six friggin' light fixtures is a rather significant expenditure, but since I'm such a good shopper, I managed to find all of 'em for less than $900. Here's the rundown:

Entry Hall & Study:

3 Ikea Alang Fixtures

The Ikea Alang fixture isn't fancy, but it's a simple, modern and super affordable option, especially for my front entry hall and study area where there are three fixtures within ten feet of each other. The ceilings in the entry are just eight feet, so I needed to use flush mount fixtures here for sure. I chose the 35 cm size for the first two, but then I bumped it up to the 45 cm size for the last one where the ceiling rises to nine feet. The consistency of using the same fixture for all three just made sense, rather than having a mishmash of styles in this space. Bonus: The large Alang was free when I used the 15% cash back Ikea gift card I received when I purchased my Pax wardrobes.

Front Hall & Study Expenditure: $67.78

Dining Room:

Glass Chandelier

You may remember this amazing glass chandelier from the original post I wrote about it. This was an estate sale find, and I still get giddy when I think about the great deal I scored on this piece. Unfortunately I haven't gotten around to having it installed yet, but it's gonna be a showstopper when it finally goes up.

Total Dining Room Expenditure: $325.00

The bedrooms also have some lovely bare bulb action happening, so each room needs a ceiling fixture. I considered the possibility of a chandelier in one or the other, but in the end I opted for flush mount fixtures in both.

Master Bedroom:

Robert Abbey Square Fixture

I picked this fixture up a loooong time ago when it was the floor model on clearance at Union Lighting. As long as you know what you like and don't change your mind every week, it pays to be prepared and shop on sale. Hopefully this will be going up in the master real soon!

Also in the master bedroom, I got slightly carried away and decided that I could not live with the fixture the builder supplied inside the master closet. I know it will rarely be seen by others, but I have to look at it every day, and I wanted something a little more glamorous. It may not be to everyone's taste, but I love the new brass and acrylic wall sconce. (I spotted a similar Niermann Weeks fixture with a list price of $1660!!)

BEFORE AFTER

Total Master Bedroom Expenditure: $337.86

Guest Bedroom:

Fretwork Flush Mount with Inner Shade

I originally fell for this pretty and feminine fixture at Union, but couldn't justify the $260 price tag :-( When I spotted it on clearance at another retailer, I knew it was meant to be. Yay!! With elements of both silver and gold in the guest room, the metal detail will look perfect in the space.

Guest Bedroom Expenditure: $146.84

If you've been keeping track, I managed to keep the lighting budget for all seven fixtures to $877.48. Not only that, but I'm really happy with all of my choices - they're not just "stop gap" temporary fixtures that I'll want to switch out in a year.

What's New

2013-02-18T01:30:00.000-05:00

Things have been quiet around here recently. Mostly I've been waiting for the builders to repair all of the deficiencies listed on my Tarion warranty form, and they have finished up the last of the drywall repairs and other touch ups over the past couple of weeks. This means that I can get started on the painting. Yep... Time to get out the paint trays and rollers. Yep... Maybe next weekend?

In the meantime I've been scouting for interesting additions to the nest. During a recent visit to my Mom's, I picked up a vintage pair of framed embroidered linen panels. (If you're ever in the Peterborough area, Nostalgic Journey is a great place to browse.) I hung one on either side of the bed in the guest room, and they add a touch of colour to the bedside vignettes.

Purchasing a Rug on Ebay

2013-02-01T12:51:00.001-05:00

Have any of you ever purchased a vintage rug online? While scanning ebay listings a few weeks ago, I fell in love with a little rug that I thought would be perfect either at the front entrance or in the kitchen. I wasn't too sure about ordering without seeing the rug in person, but the ebay seller had over 6,000 sales and 100% feedback, so I decided to take the chance. It was totally worth the risk - the rug is sooooo pretty!!

Don't you just love the colours? A navy blue field, a coral medallion and a green inner border - such a gorgeous combination. I decided to use the rug in front of the sink in the kitchen, since it felt just a bit too small at the entrance. The experience of buying a rug on ebay was completely painless, so I may try it again in the future ;-)

The Fun Stuff

2013-01-30T00:51:00.000-05:00

Many of the basics at the new condo are complete - the furniture is in place, the closet is organized, and the artwork is hung. Now it's time for the fun stuff; the finishing touches, if you will. Once the drywall repairs are done (hurry up already, Edilcan!) the painting can get underway and the wallpaper can go up in the guest bedroom. Until then, I've been working on the little things, like these pillows I had made for the master bedroom (thanks to Tim for setting me up with a talented seamstress).

New Year, New Thoughts

2013-01-27T18:00:00.000-05:00

The New Year always brings with it a sense of renewal, and I always feel the need to make a change of some sort. As I look back through this blog, I can see a pattern of January rejuvenation:

January 2009: On January 9th, Cherish Toronto was introduced.
January 2010: Goals were set for the year 1,2,3,4,5 (all of which were eventually accomplished) and I had a quick getaway to NYC.
January 2011: My living room got a quick & colourful makeover with a fresh coat of Flamingo's Dream.
January 2012: Bedside tables were found and plans were coming together for guest room decor in the new condo.
January 2013: Crickets...

So far this year I've been feeling rather uninspired. That's not to say that things aren't happening - in fact I've tackled a few projects (closet organization and an art wall), but I'm not excited about anything new. I'm having a hard time putting my finger on the problem, but I think it might be this:

Inspirational quote via Girl Hearts Camera

The blogging community here in Toronto is made up of some very, very, very talented people, many of whom I consider "blogger friends", and I often make the mistake of comparing my efforts to theirs. Big mistake. Big. Huge! Many of these bloggers have either been a guest on CityLine, appeared on Steven & Chris, or have been featured in Style at Home magazine. Is it weird to be super happy for all of these amazing bloggers, while at the same time being just a little bit jealous? They make we want to step up my game, and I'm struggling to get there, but I often feel that what they're doing is soooo much better than what I'm doing. I mean, look at what these bloggers have up to over the past year:

Christine Dovey of Bijou and Boheme
Christine set the tone for her entire home with Project Kitchen Gorgeous:

Image via Bijou and Boheme

Jennifer Flores of Rambling Renovators

Jennifer and her husband Sean have mastered the skills of home renovation:

Image via Rambling Renovators

Vanessa Francis of Decor Happy

Vanessa is an interior designer by trade and her home reflects her talent:

Image via Decor Happy

Sarah Gunn of Sarah Gunn Style
Sarah is the Queen of DIY and is a regular Cityline Guest Expert:

Image via Sarah Gunn Style

Tim Lam of Design Maze

Tim always puts together beautiful rooms:

Image via Style at Home

Lisa Mackay of Wicked & Weird
Lisa has created a comfortable home for her young family:

Image via Wicked & Weird

Lindsay Stephenson of Little House Blog

Lindsay and hubby Aubrey recently finished a kitchen renovation:

Image via Little House Blog

So what are my thoughts for the year ahead? I think that it's an honour to be acquainted with such an incredibly talented group of bloggers who delight their readers by chronicling their DIY, design and renovation projects online. In 2013, I hope to by INSPIRED by them, and yet CONFIDENT enough in my abilities to find joy in my own home.

Why You Should Be At IDS Right Now

2013-01-26T16:10:00.002-05:00

The Interior Design Show is on this weekend, January 26th & 27th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Front Street West. The show is sure to inspire you to get creative in your home this year!!

Clockwise from top left: Fun with balloons at the IDS entrance, industrial felt clocks from The Felt Store, pencil crayon wall from blackLAB Architects, a rainbow of paint colours at Farrow & Ball.

Clockwise from top left: Chic vignette at Cocoon Furnishings, modern traditional furnishings at Pearson, another gorgeous vignette at Cocoon, bath time at the Ikea installation.

From top left: Custom bird cage lamp at Eclectic Revival, a plethora of pendants at Ikea's kitchen installation, organic frosted glass sphere pendants at AM Studio, stunning custom twig chandelier at Living Lighting on King.

Art Wall

2013-01-21T00:50:00.003-05:00

On January 15th, 2012, I posted about my plan to create a gallery wall at the end of the front entry hall in the new condo. Just one year later, it was time to get the art out of the closet and up onto the wall as planned. This was the original idea for layout:

A few of the pieces were placed elsewhere, and I added in a mirror for variety, but the art wall turned out pretty much the way I'd imagined it. I tried to keep it "organic" so that I can eventually add more pieces to the mix. Also, once the wall has been painted (I'm still thinking about an inky blue), I think it will add more depth to the art and photos.

There was a bit of planning involved to get the arrangement right before hammering multiple holes into the wall. Using brown kraft paper, I cut a piece to the size of the wall and laid the artwork out on the ground until I was happy with the placement. Then I traced around each piece and marked where the hangers would go. I taped the kraft paper back up on the wall and followed the markings. It was easy-peasy!

Hope you had a great weekend!!

Just Launched: Jeff Lewis Colour/Color

2013-01-18T13:25:00.000-05:00

Designer and star of the HGTV series Flipping Out, Jeff Lewis has just launched his own palette of 32 paint colours. The spectrum is comprised of neutrals, touching on greens, greys, blues, beiges and browns. Currently available in a limited release to stores in the southwestern United States, I have a feeling this is the beginning of something big. It's so hard to get just the right shade of a neutral and Jeff's palette consists of so many good looking choices!!

Here are some of my personal faves from the online gallery:

Carbon

Dirty Martini

Inkblot

Clay

All photos via www.JeffLewisColor.com, and visit the website for more information.

Weekend Organization: PAX Wardrobes

2013-01-15T13:49:00.001-05:00

For the past 6 weeks I've been living out of suitcases in my own home. As a Virgo, this has been driving me craaaazy!! The builder's "step in" closet organization system was comprised of a single wire shelf with hanging below - such an ineffective use of vertical space. Since the room is tight on space (10'5" x 11'11"), I needed to get everything into this one closet.

Exhibit A: Before

When I found out that the Ikea bedroom event (15% back in Ikea gift cards) started last Monday, I printed my shopping list, jumped into the work van, grabbed a friend and headed straight to aisle 17 at Ikea's Vaughan location. Take heed people - do not attempt this alone, these boxes are H-eavy!!

Time to start my weekend project: Closet Beautification. The first step was to remove the existing shelving which literally had to be torn out of the walls - that meant spending Friday night with a putty knife and a bucket of drywall compound. Saturday morning arrived, the patches were dry and after a touch of sanding it was time to paint. I used Para Paints* Dusk (SR39), another colour from Sarah Richardson's Designer Palette, and it covered really well in just ONE coat - bonus!! Next up, I assembled the wardrobes and managed to squeeze the boxes through the door frame and into position, although not without a lot of sweating, a touch of swearing, a moment of crying and finally a huge sigh of relief.

The rest was a breeze - assemble the drawers and insert them into the wardrobe boxes along with the shelves and bars. The most time consuming part was figuring out how to get all of my purses to fit. What a pleasure to be able to open the closet door and see this. It was a weekend of time well spent :-)

*A big "Thank You" to Para Paints for supplying the paint for this closet project. I was beyond happy that it went on so well in a single coat, it certainly made the job much easier and quicker!!