Monday, October 31, 2011
Upcoming InVU Drapery Event: Decorate for the Holidays
InVU Drapery is hosting another inSTORE event this Saturday, November 5th, from 11 am to 12 noon at their Mississauga location. If you're interested in receiving some inspirational tips about decorating your home for the holidays, plan to attend this event!!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Happy Hallowe'en: PartyLite Edition
Since I don't have kids, I don't go "all in" when it comes to Hallowe'en decor. However, I do like to add a touch of traditional orange and black around the house in the spirit of the season. This year I decided to work with items I already have, spending just a nominal amount on edible treats, plastic ants and ribbon. I transformed the PartyLite Woodland Retreat™ collection into a haunted hollow for the occasion.
The Woodland Retreat™ pillar holder is perfect
for yummy chocolate treats!
for yummy chocolate treats!
Black tapers and icky ants add a spooky vibe to the
Woodland Retreat™ tealight/taper trio.
Nothing says Hallowe'en like black candles!!
The Woodland Retreat™ Pillar Garden Tray
gets loaded up with bone candy and
skeletons full of powdered sugar.
skeletons full of powdered sugar.
I like my Hallowe'en decor simple, modern & edible!
How do you like yours?
All Woodland Retreat™ products and candles
provided by PartyLite Gifts Canada.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Sarah's House 4: The Kitchen
In most homes, the kitchen is where everyone hangs out during parties and special occasions, and with a kitchen as beautiful as the one Sarah & Tommy installed in this episode of Sarah's House 4, no one would want to leave!! Budgeting $15,000 (but spending $29,770) for the "massive" kitchen, Sarah envisions cabinetry with crown molding, and a large island that will include a bar sink and seating. Sarah and Tommy decide on a cool, moody palette for the space, with shades of true grey.
Island: Para Paints, SR73, Herringbone:
Sarah opts for honed black granite counter tops,
which looks softer and more subdued than polished.
The result looks similar to soapstone.
which looks softer and more subdued than polished.
The result looks similar to soapstone.
To reduce upgrade costs, Sarah opts to install
standard faucets, but changes them out later for the
Sifton Victorian faucets she and Tommy really want.
standard faucets, but changes them out later for the
Sifton Victorian faucets she and Tommy really want.
The drop down cabinet on the side of the island
creates a bar, and the raised overhang
hides all of the kitchen mess.
creates a bar, and the raised overhang
hides all of the kitchen mess.
Adding vintage touches to the kitchen is as easy as 1,2,3:
1: Pendant lanterns above the island.
2: Breakfast table with bamboo chairs.
3: Chandelier over the table.
1: Pendant lanterns above the island.
2: Breakfast table with bamboo chairs.
3: Chandelier over the table.
Sarah adds softness to the kitchen with a blend of fabrics.
Can you spot all four fabrics in the image below?
Can you spot all four fabrics in the image below?
Seat Cushion: Kravet Ranjani
Back Cushion: Kravet Pop Flower
Stool Seat Fabric: Kravet Dotkat
Back splash tiles bring a finishing touch to the kitchen.
With a huge selection of choices, Sarah and Tommy
finally settle on a unique mosaic fish scale pattern.
With a huge selection of choices, Sarah and Tommy
finally settle on a unique mosaic fish scale pattern.
A bamboo etagere painted the same colour as the kitchen
cabinetry provides an area to display special pieces.
cabinetry provides an area to display special pieces.
Truly a gorgeous kitchen!!
As Sarah says, the upgrades were "worth every penny".
Do you agree?
All room photos provided by HGTV Canada.
Do you agree?
All room photos provided by HGTV Canada.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Sarah's House 4: Entry, Mudroom & Powder Room
This first of this week's back to back episodes of Sarah's House 4 highlighted the front entry, mudroom and powder room. One of the first decisions for the entry and front hallway was to select flooring. Unenthusiastic about the builder's plan to lay standard ceramic tiles from front to back, Sarah and Tommy decided to upgrade the flooring in this area. They chose to spend a small sum ($549) to get a big impact just inside the front door, using cipollino marble tiles to add a wow factor. When I visited the space, I oohed and aahed over these tiles, proving the importance of a good first impression!!
Side Walls: Para Paints, SR5, Bubbles:
End Walls: Para Paints, SR58, Elephant:
Since the front hall is wide and long, Sarah was able to place two Jordan benches in the vestibule, along with a gorgeous custom credenza for storage and an occasional chair. A statement piece of artwork above the credenza creates an interesting focal point. Of course again we see Sarah's signature mix of fabrics, although limited to just three in this space, with a crewel, a zigzag and a lyrical woven.
Vestibule Fabric Scheme:
Just off the front entrance, a hall with coat closet serves as a mudroom. Tommy and Sarah select a slate tile for the floors, but because the colour in these natural tiles is extremely varied, they must be careful to choose just the tiles that work well together. On the walls, tongue in groove paneling topped off with a fiery orange paint colour creates an interesting sight line to the powder room. Hooks provide a spot where children can easily hang coats and school bags.
Tartuga Oro Slate Tile:
Mudroom Walls: Para Paints, SR37, Clay:
In the small powder room, there is an opportunity to use a wallpaper that would be overwhelming in a larger space. Sarah chose this bird print for a bit of whimsy and a splash of colour - notice how the birds in the paper are picked up by the paint colour used in the hallway.
Since the pedestal sink and toilet take up most of the floor space in this room, Tommy goes on the hunt for a small shelf where guests can set down a cell phone or clutch bag. This vintage Moroccan piece from The Door Store is just the right size for the space.
All room photos courtesy of HGTV Canada.
Did you watch this episode? What did you think?
Monday, October 24, 2011
Kitchen Preview: Sarah's House 4
**Spoiler Alert**
Here's a teeny tiny sneak peek into this week's Sarah's House. Don't forget to watch HGTV Canada Tuesday night at 8 pm EST for the latest episodes!!
Photo via Double Oak Homes.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Thanksgiving Ambiance
Last weekend, the family celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving at my home, which has become an annual tradition in recent years. We celebrated one week later than the rest of the country, since we had the good fortune to have my eldest sister join us from Milwaukee (she was here to run in the Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon). The day was so busy that I felt it best to keep the decor simple with PartyLite Gifts.
For ambiance during pre-dinner drinks in the living room, I grouped the Woodland Retreat™ tealight/taper trio on the coffee table with spiced cider scented tealights. I love the modern look of the faux bois ceramic, and the scented candles add a touch of autumn.
When it came time to serve dinner, I moved the Woodland Retreat™ trio to the dining table, removed the tealights, and inserted a set of unscented tapers. The easy switch from tealights to tapers is such a cool idea!!
What do you think of this year's Thanksgiving table setting? I used the coordinating Woodland Retreat™ Pillar Garden Tray in the same faux bois finish to serve warm dinner rolls. Yummy!!
Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving
For ambiance during pre-dinner drinks in the living room, I grouped the Woodland Retreat™ tealight/taper trio on the coffee table with spiced cider scented tealights. I love the modern look of the faux bois ceramic, and the scented candles add a touch of autumn.
When it came time to serve dinner, I moved the Woodland Retreat™ trio to the dining table, removed the tealights, and inserted a set of unscented tapers. The easy switch from tealights to tapers is such a cool idea!!
What do you think of this year's Thanksgiving table setting? I used the coordinating Woodland Retreat™ Pillar Garden Tray in the same faux bois finish to serve warm dinner rolls. Yummy!!
Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving
with friends and family!!
All products provided by PartyLite Gifts Canada.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Sarah's House 4: Premiere Episodes
I feel like I'm the last design blogger to the table to prepare my post about the premiere episodes of Sarah's House 4. But regardless, I'm here to share the pics and divulge what I learned from the first hour of the season. I love that HGTV Canada has opted to air two episodes back to back each week, meaning that we get to watch Sarah and Tommy for an entire hour.
The first half hour dealt with Sarah's search to find the perfect "new build" home in the suburbs. Her mission for this season of Sarah's House is to transform a new build home from cookie cutter to custom. Sarah pointed out several good points and bad points in each of the new homes she visited, but none of the properties truly made the grade. Eventually, Sarah opted to purchase a pre-construction home in a neighbourhood with unique exterior designs. She chose to work with Double Oak Homes to build a home on a ravine lot, with both a school and park nearby. This builder would allow Sarah the flexibility to make non structural changes to the home's interior layout. Her first alteration was to create a long, spacious living room, which would allow southern light to flow through the living room and into the kitchen beyond.
For the living room's colour scheme, Sarah chose to keep the fabrics neutral, but opted for a pale lavender on the walls, inspired by a decorative shell ball which Tommy picked up at InVU. As she often does, Sarah combined a myriad of coordinating fabrics to flesh out all of the upholstered pieces, decorative cushions and draperies in the room. I count at least ten fabrics in this space!!
PS - Do you love Sarah's wardrobe in these episodes? She's wearing several blazers created by Smythe Les Vestes, a company owned by Tommy's sister, Christie Smythe and Sarah's childhood friend, Andrea Lenczner. How cool is that?
The first half hour dealt with Sarah's search to find the perfect "new build" home in the suburbs. Her mission for this season of Sarah's House is to transform a new build home from cookie cutter to custom. Sarah pointed out several good points and bad points in each of the new homes she visited, but none of the properties truly made the grade. Eventually, Sarah opted to purchase a pre-construction home in a neighbourhood with unique exterior designs. She chose to work with Double Oak Homes to build a home on a ravine lot, with both a school and park nearby. This builder would allow Sarah the flexibility to make non structural changes to the home's interior layout. Her first alteration was to create a long, spacious living room, which would allow southern light to flow through the living room and into the kitchen beyond.
For the living room's colour scheme, Sarah chose to keep the fabrics neutral, but opted for a pale lavender on the walls, inspired by a decorative shell ball which Tommy picked up at InVU. As she often does, Sarah combined a myriad of coordinating fabrics to flesh out all of the upholstered pieces, decorative cushions and draperies in the room. I count at least ten fabrics in this space!!
Walls, Para Paints SR9 Gown:
Ceiling, Para Paints SR15 Cotton:
Trim, Para Paints SR29 Snowfall:
In classic Sarah style, the pillows on the couch
are a mixture of prints and stripes.
Bamboo and Birds
are a mixture of prints and stripes.
Bamboo and Birds
Sarah and Tommy found the unique
fireplace mantel at The Door Store.
It instantly lends a vintage vibe to the room.
fireplace mantel at The Door Store.
It instantly lends a vintage vibe to the room.
Sconces in a combination of satin silver and brass
introduce both cool and warm metals into the room.
introduce both cool and warm metals into the room.
Although largely covered by a herringbone
seagrass rug, Sarah chose Vintage Flooring
Pioneered hardwood in Red Oak Estates Pewter.
seagrass rug, Sarah chose Vintage Flooring
Pioneered hardwood in Red Oak Estates Pewter.
What did you think of the premiere episode?
Did you love it? Did you (gasp!) hate it?
Did you love it? Did you (gasp!) hate it?
PS - Do you love Sarah's wardrobe in these episodes? She's wearing several blazers created by Smythe Les Vestes, a company owned by Tommy's sister, Christie Smythe and Sarah's childhood friend, Andrea Lenczner. How cool is that?
Room photos via HGTV Canada.