Just Some Stuff I Finally Did

I'm sure many of you understand the never ending to-do list that quite literally never ends simply because you never seem to get to the 'do' part. I've just passed four years of living in the "new" condo and there are several things that I've only just managed to cross off the list. Mind you, design is a process, and things have to happen in a certain order, and sometimes those things just take time.

Case in point: Shortly after I moved into my condo I created a gallery wall at the end of the front hall next to the built in study nook (see the finished product in this post). When I painted the wall a dark navy blue two years later, I took most of the artwork down and hung just four gold framed paintings. My intention was to recreate the gallery wall in the master bedroom. The plan was to hang the photos above a marble top commode (which I had yet to purchase) and also to incorporate a small bedroom television. It was nine months before I would find the right Louis XVI chest of drawers (see this post) and another 15 months before I wall mounted the tv and hung the photographs to recreate the gallery wall.

Et voila!

Of course I'm still not 100% done. I'd like to replace the Toronto photos in the center triptych with three new photos, but there's no rush, I'll get around to it eventually. If you're really paying attention, you'll notice that I went the extra mile and added a paintable cord cover to camouflage the ugly television wires.

Since I was on a roll, I also took the time to add a custom touch to the Pax drawers I had installed in the master bedroom closet four years ago (here is the original post). This past fall, while looking for cabinet hardware for a client, I fell hard for these Martha Stewart brass bin pulls. I ordered them up and they've been sitting in an envelope for months just waiting to be installed. I was nervous to do the installation on my own because the job required  precision - the pulls all needed to be perfectly aligned and level. Turns out it wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be, it took less than an hour, and the pulls added the custom look I was hoping for.

 

It's always nice to get things done around the house. The to-do list dwindles and there's a real sense of satisfaction that comes with a job well done. Onward & upward.

Tying It All Together

When I added mouldings to the walls in my new condo's dining and living spaces, it added much neeced character to what was previously a blank slate. For my next trick, I'll be attempting to link the two spaces to the open concept kitchen. Because the kitchen, dining and living room are all open to each other, the kitchen now feels more modern than the traditional vibe going on in the adjacent spaces. I think that swapping out the standard satin nickel pulls (used in every condominium kitchen since 2005) for unique hardware in a brass finish will go a long way towards tying the spaces together.

Here's where this trick gets trickier: finding stylish brass pulls that won't rob me of my next vacation. I'm looking for something like these modern pulls in a satin brass from Cheshire Hardware in the UK. Unfortunately these don't come in the size I need, and at about $70 each, they're slightly out of my price range (I need 29 pulls, you do the math). Despite all that, these are just what I'm looking for!!

 

Using Mirrors Above Bedside Tables

About 9 months ago (wow, time flies!!) I posted a DIY project where my Mom and I covered a pair of quatrefoil mirrors with gold foil. The idea was to mount the mirrors on the wall above each bedside, reflecting the light from the table lamps and adding a bit of sparkle. That idea worked great in the old condo but I hit a snag in the new place - the master bedroom here is about 6" narrower than my previous bedroom, plus the new upholstered bed is 6" wider than the headboard I used to have (which was recovered & relocated to the guest bedroom). If you do the math, you'll calculate that I lost an entire foot which meant that the quatrefoil mirrors no longer fit in the space. Boo :(

I decided to hang the gold foil mirrors in the entryway (still a work in progress) and I've been on the hunt for a new pair of mirrors for the master bedroom ever since. I bought a pair that were too big, and then I bought a pair that were too small, and finally, just like Goldilocks, I found a pair that were just right. Thank goodness HomeSense has an excellent return/exchange policy.

Success!!

There is more space between the mirror and the headboard than there appears, I just couldn't get back far enough to get the right camera angle. I love the shape of these mirrors, and I also love that even the frames are mirrored - I wanted to keep it as simple as possible without introducing any other elements to this wall.

What do you think? Do you like this idea?

Pretty Crystal Door Knobs!!

A couple of weeks ago I swung by the Ginger's warehouse sale hoping to score a few more of the crystal handles that I used on the vanity doors in the master bath. No luck. However... I did spy two crystal door knobs in a brass finish. A necessary purchase? Not reeeeally. But at 67% off regular retail, I was dazzled by the sparkle and the price!

These crystal knobs replace two of the annoying lever handles in the master suite (I say annoying because they would always catch on my belt loops and pant drawstrings). Now one of these sparkling beauties leads into the closet and the other into the master bath. So lovely, don't you think?

Now if I can just find five more on sale.

PS - I looooove the way the master bedroom colour looks in the Instagram photo above. The colour is Gown (SR9), part of the Sarah Richardson Designer Palette for PARA Paints.

Light Up My Life

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.

 

Quick Change

How many of you sharp eyed readers noticed a little something different in the photos I posted yesterday? Did anyone catch the shift I've made from cool silver metals to warm brass metals in the bedroom? Take a look at these before and afters, and you will see where I've made some quick changes.

BEFORE

AFTER

Okay, the lamp is an obvious switch-up, but I've also "changed" the hardware on the nightstands. The drawer pulls on my bedside tables are an unusual style - they're set across a recess in the drawer fronts. Since it would be difficult to replace these, I opted instead to give them a spray paint makeover.

The Quick Change Trio:
Primer, Paint, Lacquer

Two coats of primer:

Two coats of Brass metallic paint:

Two coats of Lacquer:

The hardest part of this DIY was waiting patiently for the paint to dry before sanding between coats. The easiest part was not having to seek out and purchase brand new hardware. I'm really warming up to the shift from silver to brass as an accent metal. What do you think of the transformation?

Sarah's House 4: Brass Easel

I've come across another piece of Sarah's House 4, which will premiere this October on HGTV Canada. The formal living room was one of my favourite spaces in the home; the decor in the room was a very elegant mix of cream and beige with brass accents throughout. One of the more memorable accent pieces was an Italian brass easel which held artwork - an interesting alternative to simply hanging art on the wall. I came across the easel on the 1stdibs website, where it's currently available for purchase from Decorum Decorative Finds, located here in Toronto.


Wouldn't this piece of Sarah's House 4 be a great conversation starter at your next cocktail party?

Decisions, Decisions

I'm still hung up on the wheat sheaf motif side table which I originally saw in the February/March issue of LonnyMag. When I saw a similar vintage brass with glass top table at Orbital Arts in Kensington market, I immediately started to swoon:


But when faced with the choice between the $275 table and a new winter coat, I must choose the latter. Sigh. This one goes on my Christmas wish list.

Top image courtesy of LonnyMag.com

Wheat Sheaf Motif

While innocently browsing on ebay yesterday, I stumbled upon this vintage french brass wheat sheaf candle sconce. Before I could stop myself, I made an offer and won!! Please just don't ask me where I'm going to put it.


The wheat sheaf motif has returned to vogue in home decor recently. Check out this pair of brass sconces in the foyer of Antonia Thompson's New York City apartment:

Image courtesy of LonnyMag Issue 3.

Antonia also selected this end table with a wheat sheaf base for the living room:

Image courtesy of LonnyMag Issue 3.