Sarah's House 4: Been There, Seen That

I was going to start off with "you'll never guess what I did this weekend", but I think the title of this post has already given it away. Last week I told you about the listing for a million dollar plus home in Georgetown and this Sunday I attended the open house. In a word, Sarah's House 4 is Gorgeous with a capital G! The interior of this house took my breath away, with so much attention paid to every detail in typical Sarah Richardson style.

The biggest disappointment would have to be the "No Photos Allowed" sign plastered on the front door and throughout the house, so unfortunately I have no pictures to share, but I can provide small tidbits from memory. And no one said I couldn't scan the floorplans that were provided by the builder (click to enlarge):

*************************************

I spent several hours putting this post together, but when it was almost complete I started having second thoughts about divulging too many details about the upcoming season of Sarah's House. I've pared it down to just a few snippets - a fabric here, a wallpaper there, perhaps a splash of paint. Just a taste to keep you wanting more!!

You Want My Oscar Best Dressed Picks?

No? Too bad, you're getting them anyway. These are my picks for top 5 best dressed at the 2011 Oscars, with zero explanation. I just know what I like when I see it. That's all.

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab

Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein Collection

Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Couture

Hilary Swank in Gucci Premiere

All photos courtesy of Harper's Bazaar.

Snow Piled Up on Stuff in Toronto

Am I the only one who isn't sick of winter yet? With the snow gently falling in big, fat flakes at midnight tonight, I decided it was a great time to go out for a walk. There's nothing better than a fresh layer of snow to make everything look clean & fresh. I love this city when it snows!!

All Photos by Pamela Graham for Cherish Toronto.

Current Obsession: Ikea RAST Hack

I'm always amazed by people who invent and implement "Ikea hacks". I've always looked at these makeover projects and thought, "wow, that's cool, but I don't think I could do that." Until now. The Ikea Rast hack is inexpensive, the project is simple, and the results can be totally stunning. These are my favourite Rast hacks:

Aubrey and Lindsay's Little House Blog:

Eric Teng via DMD Insight:

Unknown Source via Decor Pad:

Nancy Marcus Gueret via Marcus Design:

Kate via For Me, For You

I have a few ideas rolling around in my head for my own Rast project, but I would have nowhere to put the finished product. Feeling creatively stymied right now!

Sarah 101: Episode 8 Classic Bath

The ensuite bath in last night's episode of Sarah 101 on HGTV started as an ugly green duckling, and was transformed into an elegant cream & grey swan by Sarah and Tommy. And all within a reasonable budget, saving here and splurging there. The most significant way to save when renovating a bathroom: Keep all of the key pieces (toilet, sink, shower, tub) in their original positions to avoid costly plumbing expenses.

Save to Splurge:
Pair a standard "big box" vanity
with a custom marble top.

Note how the chair rail runs 6 inches
above the top of the vanity.

Sarah & Tommy chose to combine 3 different
types of ceramic and glass tiles in the shower enclosure
to create an interesting banded effect.

Tommy suggested a chrome trim for the glass
shower enclosure. It lends a retro vibe to the room.

Save to Splurge:

Use large 12x12 marble tiles on the floor
with just an accent band or "carpet" of marble.

The organic fern print drapes with stripe border
provide a touch of softness behind the freestanding tub.

There is no rule that says the medicine cabinet must be
mounted above the sink. Why not try something new?

Sconces mounted beside the mirror provide more
flattering light than overhead fixtures.
Sarah & Tommy chose these for their 1930's look.

An antique piece is sprayed and repurposed as a
petite vanity table.

I thought this bathroom renovation was a beautiful transformation. It's classic and traditional, neutral but not boring. What did you think?

All images courtesy of HGTV Canada.