Catch Spring Fever at Indigo

Back in January I attended Indigo's Spring 2014 preview. That day was crazy cold and I was bundled up against the elements as I hustled along King Street to my destination. At the time I wasn't sure if spring would ever return. Finally the weather seems to have broken - we hit 5 degrees yesterday, and today's forecast is for rain, not snow. Can I get a 'Hallelujah'?

I didn't want to tease y'all by posting these photos too early, but now that winter's end is in sight I think it's okay to start dreaming about warmer days ahead. Some items you see here are already available online and in store, and others will be arriving through March. The vignette below really sets the tone for the upcoming season; a palette of fresh blue & white is spring perfection.

Indigo has the BEST assortment of mugs with fun sayings like "Wake up & be Awesome!", "All You Need is Tea & Warm Socks" and my personal favourite, "Paris is Always a Good Idea".

These glass vessels set the tone for a relaxed gathering, each one labelled with an elegant script for water, white or red. They bring to mind a casual outdoor dinner with family and friends.

There is so much fabulous in the next photo. Lemonade on tap! Iced tea mix! Mason jars as drinking vessels and cocktail shakers! This table is here for a good time, not a long time ;)

 

Aren't these colourful porcelain vases lovely? I'm loving the ombre treatment, and I like that these containers are being used in a variety of creative ways for display and storage. Think outside the vase!

The soft colour palette doesn't stop on the table top, it carries into the living room with these painterly feminine floral fabrics on pillows. Toss 'em here & there for little hits of spring.

Tiffany blue, soothing lavender & pastel pink, now that's a colour scheme I can fall in love with. Add a metallic gold accent and I'm all yours. Watches & wallets & totes, oh my!!

 

I can't wait to catch spring fever at Indigo...it's been a long, cold winter!!

Small Pieces

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:

The Fun Stuff

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).

 

 

Zipper Dread

This weekend I had one of the longest ever to do lists, and by 1:30 am late, late Sunday night, I managed to complete the last chore. Sundays are always cleaning day. You know, the usual laundry, vacuum, fresh sheets ritual.

This particular Sunday, however, I also had to finish a pillow sewing project for my sister. According to the receipt, the fabric was purchased last August. Procrastinate much? The problem, my friends, is zippers. No matter how many times I have sew in a zipper, each and every time I am faced with the task, I become filled with fear and dread. So relieved to finally cross this off the to do list ;-)

Not one set, but two...

Yay!! Finally done :-)

Design Details: Toss Cushions

I was thinking about what makes a room feel unique & individual. What keeps one person's decor from looking just like the next? It's all in the details, in the accessories. It's the books, the artwork, the bowls, the candlesticks...you get the idea. Today is all about toss cushions, and the way they bring colour and texture to a space. The images below are from Design Inc. As you browse, consider how different the space would look without the cushions.










In my own space I have used cushions on both the chairs and the couch, and they soften the lines of the contemporary furnishings. The best part of these pillows is the way the fabrics incorporate all of the colours in the room. I made these myself with fabric found at Designer Fabric Outlet, which is how I was able to get just the right colours and texture.




Not all toss cushions have to be custom made for your space. There are a lot of great options out there, and the best part is, they're generally inexpensive. You can get a lot of design bang for your buck!!

West Elm (Faux) Mongolian Lamb

West Elm (Faux) Zebra

Crate & Barrel Liza

Crate & Barrel Cherry Blossom

Crate & Barrel Layla

Pottery Barn Textured Solid

Pottery Barn Butterfly

Fluf Cushions (available at Hollace Cluny)

If your home needs to be freshened up, or you want to add some colour and texture to your surroundings, just throw some pillows on the couch and you'll see how they change the look of your space. They don't call them "toss cushions" for nothing!!