Turkish Towel Love.

Our bathroom is small. Tiny really. There isn't room for a towel bar anywhere in the room, except for the wall behind the door. But that would be mean that the door would be always hitting the towel rod each time it opens. This means that we resort to hanging our towels on the stair railing upstairs to dry. It drives me crazy.

The solution was a pair of hooks on the wall behind the door. I chose the Kraus Aura hooks from Home Depot because they matched our hand towel and toilet paper bars. I love their modern simplicity and chrome finish.

Turkish towels, also know as pestemals, are a flat woven towels traditionally used in Turkish baths. They are said to be highly absorbent and fast drying. They make a great beach towels, since they roll up nicely and some people even use them as a shawl or scarf. 

We had some nice white fluffy towels but I questioned whether they would dry out properly if hung on a hook. I decided to try out the Turkish towel route. I'd heard so much about them over the last few years and wanted to give them a try. My parents gifted them to us this Christmas. The grey and white Cabana Stripe are perfect in our bathroom.

The verdict? I like them. They do dry quickly and wash extremely well. I wouldn't call them highly absorbent but they do the trick. Stephane used his once and declared it his last. He said it wasn't warm enough though he may feel differently in the warmer months. I do see where he's coming from but ultimately do like it and will continue to use mine. Although it means I do still have a towel hanging on my stair rail on a daily basis. You win some, you lose some!

What are your thoughts? Have you tried a turkish towel? Is it something you would consider?

*** My mom picked ours up at Cottage Industry in Charlottetown. Last time I was there they had a good selection. 

Hello IKEA!

A collective cheer rang out across the maritimes last Friday when it was announced that an Ikea store would be coming to Halifax. The first in Atlantic Canada. I had heard many rumblings the last while and hoped so much that it would be true! For me, it's still a 3 hour drive away but that definitely beats the 12 hours to Quebec that we currently have. Although, I must admit I did love those exciting pit stops at Ikea along our travels. I'd make a long shopping list of things to check out and end up leaving with some of that and more of what I'd discovered while roaming the endless maze that is their showroom.

Ikea has long had the reputation of cheap furniture best suited for dorm rooms and first apartments but it's really time those naysayers take a second look. We mustn't overlook the the stylish, classic and functional pieces that Ikea keeps churning out year after year. Many stylish and timeless pieces will still grace our homes ten years from now. I'm sure of it.

In celebration of the big announcement, I'm sharing some of my favorite pieces. Some I own myself, have recommended to friends and clients and others are on my wish list.

clockwise from top left

Nordli dresser: 

A whole collection of dressers, bedside tables, shoe cabinets and wardrobes that are really catching my eye. Simple, clean lines and that classic white I love so much.

Ranarp table lamp: 

I wish I had a spot for this little lamp. 

We have two of the wall sconces in the bunk room and the pendant lights in our kitchen.

Linblomma duvet cover:

The most affordable linen bedding on the market. I'm impressed with ours, considering the price.

Stockholm mirror:

I wanted this mirror for our bedroom but understandably Ikea doesn't ship mirrors. Lucky for me,

 I found a similar one at Home Sense.

Bekvam stepstool:

Everyone needs one of these. Less than 20 dollars and cute enough to leave out.

I use ours at least once a day.

Stockholm TV bench:

I love this whole Stockholm line and the bench is no exception. Classic Scandinavian styling.

Stockholm rug:

A classic piece for many years now. I've almost bought it so many times.

 Hemnes pendant lamp:

Big and awesome. I love them paired over an island.

Rens sheepskin:

So fluffy and soft. Don't get the cheaper version (Ikea makes two). This one is so fluffy and soft. Perfect for draping over the back of a chair in the cooler months.

Aina curtains:

I have these in our living room and had another pair sewn into a shower curtain for our bathroom. The grey is the perfect compliment to crisp white walls. 

Mockelby table:

I keep seeing this table on Pinterest. I have yet to see it in person but it looks pretty great for the price.

Alseda stool:

Extra seating that is slim enough to slide under a coffee table when you aren't using them. I only have one but they look great stacked one on top of the other.

Gulliver Crib:

I love the look of a simple white crib. I know this is a favorite for many moms and dads.

Here are a few Ikea pieces in our home:

These VITTSJO metal shelves flank the piano window in our dining room. They were black and we sprayed them white. Then they became available in white. Isn't that always the way?

RANARP pendant lights in the  kitchen. I love the look but we are in desperate need of more light in there. I used the vintage style bulbs and it's just not cutting it.

More RANARP lights in each of our bunks.

Not the best view but our couch is the Ikea KARLSTAD, which annoyingly has been discontinued. We bought it mostly because we knew we could buy replacement covers, if we wanted to change the color or if Beaufort drooled on it too much. I am really happy with it, just disappointed that they won't be carrying it anymore.

I'd love to hear your favorite pieces. I still have over a year before the store in Halifax opens but we do have a little trip to Montreal planned for this spring so I'll be able to get my fill!

A Touch of Christmas.

The halls have been decked! My goal this year was to not buy any new decorations. I used only what I had from other years but treated myself to a fresh boxwood garland from Prestige Floral. A friend gave me a generous bunch of pine that I used all throughout the house. Generally, everything was kept quite simple.

A look at the living room with our wee tree in the corner. We have nice tall ceilings and have usually chosen a large tree. This always meant that we had to find a spot for our coffee table and chair somewhere else in the house, which felt cramped. This year, we opted for a little untrimmed tree. We got it at a Christmas tree farm this past weekend, after the most beautiful snowfall. It was so beautiful! I only used my most favorite ornaments and it's turned out to be my most favorite tree yet.

The mantel is simply decorated with a piece of the boxwood garland wrapped with copper wire lights. I added feather trees, candlesticks and my favorite little polar bears. The wreath is artificial but it's filled with some real greens to add some fullness. The garlands are painted wood beads and the pompom garland that I made for our tree a couple of years ago.

 

Beaufort was hamming it up for the camera, wanting to be in every frame.

I brought out my winter pillows, cozy throw blankets and lots of candles to warm up the space. I love being in there at night with the glow of the tree. I'd imagine the wonderful smell of greenery won't last long so I'll enjoy it while I can.

My little brass deer were a thrift store score a few summers ago. I adore them paired with mini Christmas balls and a framed gold foil print by Kim Roach Design.

The stockings are filled with pine until Santa arrives and replaces it will much funner things!

I'm going to make some fresh arrangements for the dining room but for now, I've placed a table runner with my DIY wood bead advent wreath and some mini bottle brush trees down the center of the table.

There is more to come! I'll try to share if I can ever get home during daylight hours to take some good photos. Hope you are enjoying your own holiday decorated homes!

Modern Jane's Favourite Things.

Remember when Oprah used to do her favourite things show? I didn't follow her show religiously but I never missed that episode. So much fun and excitement! I decided there is no reason why I can't do my own favourite things list. I'm calling it Modern Jane's favourite things. Clever, right?

It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I sat down and made a list of the some of the things that have recently made life a little bit sweeter. I can sometimes be a bit of a salesperson when I find something I love. I think that everyone I know should have it too. I don't mean to be pushy about it, I just want to spread the joy!

I narrowed it down to seven things. I apologize ahead of time for my descriptions below being long winded but I feel like I have to explain why I like these  particular things so much.. and convince you why you should love them too :)

Clockwise, from top left.

Initial Pendant
I wear this necklace all the time. It was a gift from my girlfriends on my wedding day. The initial is an S so that I always have Stephane close to my heart. It's quite special to me.

Shellac Manicure
I always promise to do this more for myself and never follow through, There is nothing better than a fresh shellac manicure from Mint Spa. They last almost two weeks! I seriously love them. My favourite colour is a combination of Cake Pop and Romantique by CND Shellac. It's the perfect neutral.

Mindy Kaling's books
There were some mixed reviews about these books but I really liked the first one and loved the second. She cracks me up. I tend to choose heavier subjects and these were refreshing breaks in the last couple of months. I especially loved the chapter in her second book aimed at young girls.

Blundstones
I've talked about these before on the blog and for good reason. I swear they are more comfortable each time I wear them.. which is all the time. Steph has them too and it took him some time to warm up to them but now I feel like they may have become part of him. Speaking of which.. I often get comments from women who say: "I love your boots! My husband has the same ones!" I then walk away cursing them for making me question if perhaps they are maybe boys boots. Until I see other (cool) women wearing them and we agree.. Blundstones for life.

Sage Peel Gel
This is a new discovery for me. I used the same face wash for years and recently decided to try something new (manly because I learned that the micro beads in the product were killing all the fishies!). I always falsely believed that unless my skin felt squeaky clean, it wasn't. Moving to a new milk cleanser was a challenge. I really liked it but I felt like I needed something to slough off all the dead skin. I tried the Sage Gel Peel and was hooked after the first try. I use it once a week and it makes my skin feel incredible.

Foxhound Collection Candles
I wasn't always a candle burner. I'm actually very fussy about them. I don't particularly like things that smell like baking or candy. These candles have such a natural smell and best of all great packaging. I'm such a sucker for good packaging. I'll need more of them before long.

Nespresso
Everyone needs a Nespresso! Ok, maybe not but it's just so awesome. Steph and I like to call it the greatest purchase of 2014. We both prefer cappuccinos and the machine and frother make a perfect cup. I actually look forward to getting up in the morning because I get to have coffee. For real. It's not a perfect set up since you have to order your pods online, not to mention the waste, but we love it.

There you have it! I little list of some of my favourite things. I've been busy with my report cards this week and anxious to finish up so I can start decorating. I hope to share some photos of our home decorated for the holidays next week, as well as a couple of gift guides for Christmas shopping.

What are some of your favourite things? Have you started to decorate?

Our Kitchen.

This kitchen.. a labour of love, that's for sure! Upon moving into this house, I wanted the kitchen refinished immediately - I made it a priority. It felt dark and dated and I wanted fresh and bright. The funny thing is that when I look back on it, I sort of the like the mid-century vibe it had going on back then. It's funny how our tastes change so much or time. Regardless, it had seen better days and needed a major update.

Back then, my brother, a cabinetmaker by trade, happened to be between jobs and offered to build my cabinets. I had to be his gopher for the couple of weeks and had to paint them myself but it was well worth it. I was absolutely thrilled with how they turned out.

At the time, I couldn't afford a solid surface countertop (still can't!) and wanted something other than laminate. My brother used some pine stair treads, pieced them together and I stained and varnished them. They are definitely unique and have held up incredibly well.

The floor was several layers of linoleum over tiles that had been stuck to the floor with tar. Stephane and I spent hours lifting those tiles with little scrapers. Then, my dad and I punched the hundreds of holes from the sub floor into the wood floor in hopes that they could be refinished. It was hours of work but worth it after the refinisher came in and made them look new again. They are soft wood and have gotten marked up over the years by many dropped kitchen items and Beaufie's nails but I think it just gives it all character.

There have been many changes since it was renovated the first time. Originally, I had painted all the cabinets white but opted to update the look by painting the base cabinets grey. It totally changed the space. Also, the "crystal" chandeliers that were once hung in the kitchen moved to the bedroom. Instead, I chose a couple of simple pendants from Ikea.

We had Prestige Kitchens make us a peninsula for a bit more storage. We chose high gloss flat panel drawers so that it would be a complete contrast from the cabinets, rather than try to find something that looked similar. It has a butcher block countertop.

photos by Stephen Harris Photography

I have to say I still love our kitchen. I wish it was a little bit more open to the rest of the house and had more natural light but for an old house, I'd say it serves us well and we've made the most of it.

Sources:

Cabinetry: Marc Gallant

Cabinet paint: Uppers - Natural White, Dulux / Base - Whale Grey, Benjamin Moore

Peninsula: Prestige Kitchens

Pendant Lights: Ikea

Shelving: Ikea

Bar Stools: Home Sense

Love Food Print: Kim Roach Design

Capsule Wardrobe Update.

I had a great response from my post about my capsule wardrobe. I'm glad I inspired some of you to do their own capsule, to clean out their closets, to make some money selling their clothes or simply to look at the way they are shopping a little more closely.

As I said in that post, I came to realize that I actually needed to do some shopping to complete my wardrobe to ensure it really worked for me. Cleaning out my closet showed me what pieces were missing and I took the time to find the right ones.

I ended up buying four pieces since that day. Normally, I would have bought that and more in that period of time but now I more conscious about what I buy. I wait for sales, read reviews and have no problem returning if it's not quite right.

Arizona T-Shirt - soft, versatile and long enough to cover my bum in tights.
Cober Dress - Similar to the Lorelei tunic that I had on repeat all summer but in long sleeve. Yes, please.
Tribe Shorty Boots - I got these during a 25% off sale. Any leather goods I've ever owned from Roots have lasted forever. Plus, they are super soft and comfortable.
PEI Home Apparel T-shirt - Shop local! This T-shirt is a perfectly soft weekend T. I'm a proud Island girl.

Everything in my wardrobe is on high rotation and I'm still loving my capsule. It's pretty casual though so I think I may need a cute blouse or two to get me through the holiday season. I'm on the hunt.

In case you missed that post, you can check it out here.

Indigo Faves.

Happy Monday to you all. It was a busy but awesome weekend with our first Holiday Pop-up Shop. I'm humbled by the support we received and that people actually bought my creations! Thank you so much! I didn't have much left to pack up at the end of the day. I guess I can call that a success.

Today I thought I'd share some of my favourite holiday items from Indigo. It always surprises me that so many people still think that Indigo only sells books. It is so so much more. In fact, last year I did almost all my Christmas shopping on the website and I buy things for myself there all year long. I was not compensated for this posting this, I simply love Indigo and wanted to share all my awesome finds!

Clockwise from top left:

woodland animal mug / fox ornament / staying home pillow / crewel pillow / 

marble houses / bottle brush trees / beary merry wine bag /  bottle opener 

ribbon / wrapping paper /  copper string lights  / 

glasses / coasters / frasier fir candle / cozy blanket

  

Isn't it fun getting your home holiday ready? I generally try to use what a have from year to year but it's always fun to buy a few new things. Those glasses are on sale right now and I may need to order a  set and my frasier fir candle , which is seriously Christmas in a jar, is almost gone so I think I'll need another one! And that pillow? It needs to be mine.. pretty much my motto these days. I love love love cozy nights in.

Are you and Indigo fan? Anything catching your eye? 

Light and Bright Dining Room.

Our dining room. Definitely one of those hard to decorate spaces. It's home to a beautiful piano window and some fairly good symmetry with thee placement of the windows and doorways (which pleases me) but I have never been able to get it "right". It's been redecorated a few times over the years. I've tried wallpaper, patterned curtains and darker walls but ultimately fell back to what feels right for me.. light and bright. I finally feel happy with where it's at now.

Our teak table was given to us by Stephane's mom. It was the table he sat at as a boy. I love pieces with meaning! The mid-century pendant light is one of my favorite things in my home. It's the perfect scale for the space.

Two of the biggest changes we made were painting those Ikea shelves and replacing our dark teak chairs with simple white ones. The shelves were originally black and we sprayed them white. I didn't mind the black but prefer how they now blend into the walls and complement the sideboard.

I adore that window and the light it brings into the space in the evening. Sometimes it's too bright and you can't sit on the opposite side of the table. Not ideal but I really don't want to cover the windows with blinds or curtains. I prefer the naked look.

photos by Stephen Harris Photography

I put up that mini gallery of prints on day and assumed I may tire of it but I still like it. The photo on the bottom left was found in the basement. It's of the house shortly after it was built in 1939.The cabinet was a deep wine color with tole painted flowers. I gave it a new life with some peacock blue paint. The wall hanging was a recent diy project that you can check out here.

There you have it! A little peek into our dining room lately. I wish I could say it currently looks like this but the truth is that it's been my crafting space for the last few weeks and we can hardly find a spot to sit and and eat. After Saturday we can go back to normal.

Sources:
Paint: Meeting House, ICI paints
Rug: Rugs USA
White Cabinet: Structube
Pendant Light: The Modern Shop
Repro Eames Chairs: Wire Home
Shelving: Ikea (can now be bought in white)
Curtains: Ikea
Wall Hanging: DIY

Life Lately.

Well, I bought a new laptop and feel super organized, in terms of photos (which is amazing btw). Let's see if this gets me back into the swing of things with blogging!

Things have been pretty busy around here. Steph is building a new shed at the back of the house and it's just about finished. I think it looks awesome but he's hesitant to let me share because it's not going to be technically "finished" until spring. I guess you have to hold on for that little reveal.

I'm hosting a holiday pop-up shop with two friends this coming Saturday. I've been making holiday crafts in preparation and having lots of fun with it. My friend Em owns a restaurant so we are hosting it there. She's making some yummy goodies for the pop-up and will be selling pre-orders for Christmas. Another friend, Kim of Kim Roach Design, is joining us with her stationary. Lots of prints, cards, and banners. It's going to be a fun day!

Between Steph working on the shed and me crafting the evenings away, things have been pretty quiet on the home project front. I did order some new fabric from Tonic Living for some custom roman shades. I adore the fabrics. I chose an oatmeal linen for our bedroom and a navy linen for the little den. Looking forward to getting them back from my seamstress!

It was a busy summer with the wedding and the magazine feature so we've been just enjoying getting caught up on our favourite shows (Homeland, Last Man on Earth), reading and getting back into our regular workout routine.

Speaking of workouts, this fall I ran my first half marathon! Emily and I started our training together at the end of July and ran the PEI Marathon at the end of October. I was pretty proud of us! Of course for finishing but mostly for sticking to the training program. The jury is still out on whether or not I'll ever do another one.. :)

Beaufort has been busy being is cute little self. Sleeps all day and snuggles all night. Good life! I'm looking forward to getting my own holiday decorating done. I'll get the pop-up over with first and then start thinking about how I want to approach it this year. I'll definitely be keeping it simple for sure.

I'll be back tomorrow to share some new photos of our dining room!