Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Little By Little.

Things are starting to come together around here. While much of Stephane's furniture was sold, it is the kitchen supplies, accessories, art, and clothes that we've had to contend with. We are far from finished in some ways, but I feel that we are more organized than ever and that feels good. Our project list has grown substantially too, but we love all that stuff so it's all good. (I promised Steph a nice break though before we get going on anything!)

Living with clutter makes me a little anxious. Steph is a machine when it comes to putting things away. I'm a good cleaner and I like to make things pretty, one spot at a time. What a team! Ha!

It has literally has come down to tackling one room, one cupboard, or one closet at at time. Here is a little glimpse of how things have been looking.


And here it is now... ahh... so much better!



I love our little framed print of useful information. Steph found it in an old book and framed it. Just in case you need to calculate the circumference of a circle or British Imperial gallons... hey, you just never know! :)

I love that you can see the reflection of another corner of "stuff". Like I said, little by little!


Did I ever mention that I love love love tulips? Is there a more simple sweet flower? The island grown
ones were on special at Superstore and who could resist on a Friday afternoon with a storm brewing outside? Not me, they bring a little sunshine to my life ;)


Sunday, January 29, 2012

Online Shopping Guide.

One of the biggest challenges when decorating your home on PEI, is the lack of sources available to us. What may seem like a simple afternoon shopping around Ikea to our big city counterparts, would be a dream come true for some of us island design enthusiasts.

Don't get me wrong. A couple of great small home decor stores have cropped up over the last few years and for that we are thankful. However, I know that supplying their stores with up and coming products is sometimes both expensive and challenging.

When I make it to Charlottetown, Winners is my first stop. I'm elated when I've, by chance, caught a new shipment day but most days it's been well picked over and I leave feeling a little deflated. Nothing like getting your hopes up and having them dashed! :)

Oh well. The good thing is that it forces us to be resourceful. It's no secret that my favorite activity is scouring antique and vintage stores for pieces to make my own with a little elbow grease, ingenuity and a lick of paint!

Alas, online shopping is my friend. Free shipping, my bosom buddy. More and more, our favorite companies are now shipping to Canada. That being said, it depends how much you want it because generally there is a cost involved. (Such dismay when you see. Free Shipping! *US only* Argh!)

So here it is. I've compiled a list of my favorite online shopping stores and plan to add to it when new ones crop up. Be sure to read the fine print at each site as some larger items cannot be shipped.



* This guide is intended for Canadian shoppers, more specifically, Atlantic Canadian shoppers:)

Furniture, lighting, rugs, accessories 
(some things are not available for online shipping but I've called the store in Toronto 
and they were happy to ship directly)

Accessories, bedding, rugs

Furniture, lighting

Furniture, lighting, rugs, accessories, bedding

Crate & Barrel
Furniture, lighting, rugs, accessories, bedding

Restoration Hardware
Furniture, hardware and home decor items.

Costco
You need a membership but shipping is free in most cases!

Lee Valley
Cabinet hardware (knobs, pulls etc) and more!

Best site for modern designer fabrics. 
Shipping is somewhat reasonable but join in with a friend to save on costs!

Designer fabrics
Fabric.

Tonic Living ~ a Canadian company
Beautiful fabrics and custom sewing service.

Not just books! Great home accessories at reasonable prices.

Pillow covers, vintage items, art prints
I'd be lost without Etsy. Seriously! It can be a bit overwhelming unless you are looking for something specific. An unbelievable resource for unique pieces, purchasing directly from the artist. 

A buying and delivery service for residents of Halifax, Dartmouh, Truro, Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, PEI and St John's NFLD. Brilliant if you ask me! They will pick up whatever you want from the Ottawa Ikea location (largest in Canada) at a charge of 20% of total order before taxes. 
I've not used it yet but definitely plan to!  

Please let me know if you know of one I've missed! I'd be thrilled to hear about it! The more the better!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Love = Fashion Illustrations.

I took an interest in fashion illustrations a few months ago and treated myself to an Esther Bayer print.

Source: etsy.com via Jane on Pinterest

I still think it's delicate lines and soft rose colors are absolutely gorgeous. Amidst the chaos in my home right now, I caught a glimpse of it sitting patiently on my new bookshelf. Waiting for me to clear the clutter around it so it can be on display. (My beloved new bookshelf has become a drop zone for anything without a place...)

My interest in fashion illustrations has become more like an obsession. I've been scouring etsy looking for more artists to love and there is no certainly no shortage. Here are some of my favorites.








Esther Bayer (From PEI!)






They are all so beautiful. I just want to order them all! Especially considering that most of these prints are less than $30. I will show some restraint though :) We don't have room for anything extra. Operation: Find a spot for everything! Fun, fun!

On a side note. One home that features some of these artists and is absolutely stunning is the home of Christine Dovey from Bijou and Boheme. Her blog is definitely worth a look. I'm so sad I missed her appearance on Steven and Chris! Seriously, she's the bomb.

Monday, January 23, 2012

SOLD.


No, that sign is not on my house but it is on Stephane's! I apologize for the sporadic posts but we've been super busy around here. We have only one week to get his things out of the home. A lot of furniture was sold but some of it needs to find a new home at my place. So watch for some changes around these parts! 

I'm a tad controlling when it comes to the decor in my home, so wish me luck as I try to lighten up a bit and embrace the chaos! Thank goodness he has such great taste! ;-)


Bye bye, beautiful home. It's been a slice!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

My Full Moon.

A few evenings a week, I got to my Crossfit class and arrive home at around 8pm. I love pulling into the driveway and spotting the big glowing moon that hangs in my living room. You really can't miss it!


I've even had a few people walk by and ask me just what exactly it is. When I explain, I wonder if they walk away and talk about how crazy I am:)

If your missed the Zorb Reveal. You can check it out here!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Cozy Nooks Are The Best Nooks.

The little nook that now houses my new built-in bookshelf was a bit of an annoyance for me over the last couple of years. It was an awkward little open space beside my fireplace, that served no purpose as it was.

I knew I wanted a bookshelf from day one. That didn't stop me, however, from pinning away the many possibilities for tiny little spaces that can be oh-so-cozy! From reading nooks, homes for perfect pieces of furniture to office spaces, here are some of my favorites.




Source: tumblr.com via Jennifer on Pinterest


There is something perfectly cozy about a little nook and I like them:)

Sunday, January 15, 2012

One Beautiful Winter Day on PEI.

I mentioned before that I was involved in an amazing project with some wonderful creative ladies, here in PEI. Today was the big day! Eight ladies combined our talents to create a concept wedding showcasing the beauty of winter in Prince Edward Island. It was cold (-22), blustery, and beautiful. A true winter wonderland! 

I was lucky to be the event's designer and it was a fantastic experience! I'm dying to share it all with you but I've only got a tiny sneak peek. You'll have to wait for more:)

Our models are newlyweds, who braved the cold for us today, and did not disappoint. They are so in love! And what a stunner she is! These shots are just a glimpse into the day's events. 


Be sure to check out these talented ladies!

Rachel Peters - Rachel Peters Photography
Michelle Cudmore - Michelle Cudmore Makeup Artist
Cheryl Weeks - Cheryl Weeks Hairstylist
Alisha-Marie Stephen - Love Charlie
Jennifer Prinz - City View Bakehouse
Kim Roach - Kim Roach Stationary Designs

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

White Bedding.

Things are busy here these days, as I have a fun project in the works with some incredibly talented ladies. That's all I can say for now but I really hope to share it with you soon because it is pretty awesome :)



I love love love the fresh feel of white bedding. But what do you do when I have an adorable little black furred Boston terrier named Beaufort who loves to snuggle up under the covers? He is usually completely underneath then realizes he can't breathe and comes out gasping for air.


It's really too cute but it may be time for some darker bedding! 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

A Thank You and a Guest Post.


Thanks for the all the comment love yesterday! I'm glad you all liked my entry makeover!
I didn't notice until after but that was my 300th post! Crazy.

If you missed it, you can read about the makeover here.




I am over at Decor Happy today sharing a tip about organizing your jewelery! (I know, shocking! Me organized?) I'm participating with some other pretty awesome Canadian bloggers!

 Head here to check it out!



And while you are at it, check out the makeover Vanessa did of her best girl's room. Adorable! The fabric on the headboard and ottoman is gorgeous. Mostly, I'm jealous that she has a Cozamia print!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Entry Makeover Reveal.


I mentioned a while back that I was doing an entry makeover . I finished it before Christmas but finally got a chance to photograph it today. I can't believe I didn't do this long ago. What was there before did not suit the style of my home at all. Now it seems to flow with the rest of the space!

Here it was before!


Peeling off that wallpaper!


Next we added a shelf of sorts using some leftover scraps of wood and trim.


Once the wallpaper was off, I primed the walls and gave them a coat of white paint. 
Then, I taped off some stripes. My brain is not wired for those kinds of calculations so I was a tad frustrated! (If you've done this before, you can relate.) I know they look wonky and unevenly spaced but that's how you do it!



On goes the paint! Two coats. 

I had intended go for a very subtle soft blue-grey. The contrast ended up being a bit more than I wanted  but all in all, I am happy with the result! 

I think the biggest change was the decision to paint the door white. After one coat, I knew it was the right decision. It had really been sticking out like a sore thumb.


We added some hooks that my dad gave me. They were from and old piece and were old and rusted. Steph freshened them up with some black spray paint. The wainscoting was already there. It was my first project with a miter saw, a while back! We picked up the piano bench at a thrift store. Perfect for storing hats and mitts and to sit when putting boots on.




I would still like to add some sort of shade on the window, a bench seat or even a soft patterned pillow and, of course, a mirror. Gotta check yourself out before heading out the door!

What do you think of the freshened up little space?