Monday, February 27, 2012

Oscars: Les Plus Brilliants

I'm going to keep this short and sweet and rhyme off just my top Oscar Fashion 5 picks. I'm sure that hundreds, if not thousands, of fashion bloggers have already posted their best dressed list for this year's Oscars. Regardless, I want to throw my opinion into the ring as well.

Viola Davis in Vera Wang

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images via UsWeekly.com


Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton

Photo via Nylon Blog


Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford

Photo by Getty Images via Celebuzz!


Emma Stone in Giambattisti Valli

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images via Celebuzz!


Sandra Bullock in Marchesa (Best from the back)

Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images via Us Weekly

Photo by Steve Granitz/Wire Image via Us Weekly

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Missing In Auction

Sorry I went missing for a bit there, folks. I had intended to write up a couple of posts on the weekend, but then I got distracted by sleeping, cleaning, shopping, brunching...all kinds of fun stuff!! And just when I was ready to sit down at the computer...bam!...I decided to run off to Empire Auctions to do a little bidding. There was a stunning collection of silk rugs on the auction block this past weekend, and I thought maybe I could snatch up a bargain. Well...let's just say that when the opening bids are above my maximum, "bargain" is not the right word, but I did manage to snag one rug in my price range.

I present to you lot #558, a 4'x6' handwoven all silk rug with Kashan motif. I liked this one because it is predominantly navy, and I'm hoping to use it in the office area of the new condo. It will look great next to the gallery wall, which I'm planning to paint a dramatic navy blue.


Such a blend of colours!
A cream border with soft blue & butter yellow
corners lead into a navy blue field.


The central medallion represents a floral motif.
I see my favourite flower, the dahlia, in this pattern.


If you're in the market for a fabulous rug, but don't have an auction house near you, an ebay search often turns up some great options.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Four Leaf Clover or Horseshoe?

I've been having really good luck so far this year, at least as far as finding fabulous vintage furniture goes. I am seriously considering trying my luck at the lottery this week :-)

First I found an amazing pair of faux bamboo
bedside tables
listed on Kijiji and picked them up
on New Year's Eve. Now that's a party!!


Then just last week I almost stumbled over this vintage
campaign dresser at the Village. The brass handles
are still wrapped in the original tissue paper.


When I spotted this Lexington chest while thrifting last
night, although I didn't need it, I knew someone else might.
Tweet!! Tweet!! Anyone wanna get lucky?


Fingers crossed it's still there when my friend Jasmine
swings by the Village today to scoop it up!!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Liebster Blog Love

I've been chosen as a recipient of the Liebster Award by Krista, author of the blog Nook of Wellington. Thanks, Krista!! It's always good to know that people are actually READING this blog, so: Yay!! I'm not so familiar with the Liebster Award, so I gave it a google, and it's a way for bloggers to recognize their peers, and to spread some blog love all over the place.


According to the rules of the award, each recipient must "pay it forward" to 5 other blogs with less than 200 followers. Here are my picks for Liebster Award recipients:

Shannon at 8Foot6

Beatrice at The Crafty Bee

Lisa at The Room

Manal at Vanity in Vanilla

Ava at Turning Hope Into Home

Now, there is another part of the Liebster Award which must be fulfilled. I must reveal 5 random things about myself. This is tough, trying to think of anything remotely interesting, but I'll give it a go:

1. My favourite scent is Vetiver, although I have no idea what it is. I had to google it to find out that apparently it comes from the root of East Indian grass.

2. I love designer handbags, and I have one in almost every colour of the rainbow. It's an addiction, people!

3. I occasionally fall asleep with a stuffed blue creature who goes by the name Fu Manchu. He used to have a lavender scent, but I think that wore off years ago.

4. I am just a little bit late for work almost every day. Sshhh!! Don't tell my boss.

5. I do not like onions, and I never will. Blecch!!

Thanks once again to Krista for selecting me to receive a Liebster Award. I am honoured!! If you have the chance, please take a minute to check out the 5 newest recipients.

Keep it Simple, Valentine

For this single girl on Valentine's Day, there will be no chocolates, no special card and no fancy dinner. Just a simple bouquet of tulips from me to me.

Happy Valentine's Day ♥

Monday, February 13, 2012

Kicking It Old School


Despite all of the fancy gadgets at my disposal, I am a notebook dinosaur - a notebookasaurus, if you will. My notebook contains room schemes for every room in the new condo: fabric swatches, wallpaper samples and paint chips are all glued into its coiled pages. It may be old fashioned, but I like the ease of having everything in one place. How do you organize your thoughts and ideas?

Master Bedroom Scheme...


Guest Bedroom Scheme...

Sunday, February 12, 2012

What's in a Rug?

Now that the time has come to start considering a rug purchase, I realize that I know very little about the genre. The value of a rug is determined by many contributing factors such as how it's made, where it's made, and what it's made from. If you ask me, the most important component is the prettiness factor ;-)

Rug Pretty!!

Instagram photo by Pamela Graham for Cherish Toronto

I love the colours in the hand knotted, synthetic silk Kashmir runner above. This rug is a serious contender for the front entry hall.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Break Out The Campaign!!

Imagine walking into your local thrift store and finding the exact piece of furniture you've had rolling around in the back of your mind for months. This, my friends, is a true story.

The sagging Ikea entertainment console in my living room needs to be replaced with something sturdier, and I already had a particular piece in mind: a campaign dresser. After searching for nearly 6 months to find the perfect pair of bamboo bedside tables, I could hardly bear the thought of another long furniture quest. So you can imagine my over-the-moon excitement when I popped into the Village on Friday and spied a brand new 7 drawer Dixie Campaigner dresser. When I say brand new, I mean it - the 1971 hangtag is still attached and the handles are wrapped in the original tissue paper. Can you believe my luck? Somebody pinch me!!

OMG
Brass Beauties


I will soon have to decide what colour I'm going to paint the dresser - the choices are endless!! Take a look at these gorgeous examples I've gathered from around the interweb. By the way, mine is exactly like the 7 drawer dressers in the last two photos.

Dave & Joi's Natural Finish Campaign Dresser
via Nuestra Vida Dolce


Vanessa De Vargas' Kelly Green Campaign Dresser
via Lonny Mag


Michelle's Royal Blue Campaign Dresser
via Innovative Interior


Cindy Espinoza's Palmetto Green Campaign Dresser
via Viva Cindy


Dina's Bird's Egg Campaign Dresser
via Honey & Fitz


White Campaign Dresser


Claire's Peacock Blue Campaign Dresser
via Traci Zeller Designs


Lakeitha's Pistachio Green Campaign Dresser
via Home To Three Duncan Boys


Cassie's Swan Lake Campaign Dresser
via Cassie & Co.


Jessie's Red Campaign Dresser
via The Long and Short of It