HODGE:PODGE - SO CANADIAN EH? INTERVIEW

Last week was packed full of excitement over here on the blog! I was blushing and beaming after the reveal of my new calling cards from The Penny Paper Co., the feature in Style at Home's Halloween Tricks or Treats story and the arrival of my bedroom window covering order! To my delight, the good times kept rolling right on into the weekend. On Sunday, Barbara over at hodge:podge featured me in an interview for her "So Canadian Eh?" Series. Note: Readers can catch the interview here.

Photo by: Janelle Baldwin Photography

A HUGE thank you to the talented Janelle of Janelle Baldwin Photography for capturing this lovely photo (above) for the interview. I also adore the angle of this other photo (below) by Janelle. I'm not the most photogenic gal, but you worked your magic! I owe you one ;) xo

Photo by: Janelle Baldwin Photography

And of course, thank you so much to Barbara for interviewing me for your fabulous series! I am truly touched and honoured to be included in the long list of amazing Canadian designers and bloggers you've featured on your site! 

[photo credit: Janelle, Janelle Baldwin Photography]

HALLOWEEN TRICKS OR TREATS via STYLE AT HOME

Happy Friday Folks!

Remember my new neutrals vignette for Elaine's Fall Trends story on styleathome.com last month? 

Well Elaine Song, Style at Home's wonderful web editor, is at it again! She's rounded up some of S@H's fav bloggers to compile a story on Bloggers' Halloween tricks or treats! Our assignment was to share [a] a styling "trick" for Halloween home decor or [b] a recipe for a tasty Halloween "treat". 

For my story, which Elaine cleverly entitled Ghostly glam, I styled this vignette (shown above) in an unexpectedly sophisticated palette of silver, cream and white. Then I threw a few treats into my decor...just because! You can catch my blurb on this simple, yet stylish trick right here!

And, be sure to read the full story here for sweet Halloween solutions from a round-up of talented bloggers! Thanks Elaine for including me in this story! As always, it's such an honour. 

[photo credit: amy walters]

MY LOVES: LINDSAY + THE PENNY PAPER CO. - PART 2

Last month, Lindsay over at Little House Blog and owner of The Penny Paper Co. sweetly sent me a pack of her Mod Chevron Correspondence Cards! The cards were so cute that I promptly placed an order for Chevron Calling Cards.

I've been anticipating their arrival ever since and was pumped when I received the parcel earlier this week. I opened the box with gusto and found a lovely note from Linds (see multi-colour striped card in the first photo) and my beautiful cards packaged in the company's adorable new acrylic cases!

Lindsay customized the card's colour palette and font to coordinate with the designs' of my blog and cell phone skin. The card's double-sided design and soft and simple aesthetic are perfectly me! I've already started passing these pretty things out and hope to get one into your hands soon! Until that time, treat your eyes to a tour of pennypaperco.com. You'll be in for a visual treat, I can assure you! Cheers!

STYLE AT HOME: BEFORE AND AFTER BATHROOM MAKEOVER

I'm over at Style at Home today FINALLY sharing a snippet of the before and after from my former condo's bathroom makeover. This is slightly delayed...I know! I only shared the big reveal with all of you way back here. Like I said...slightly delayed. 

I did improve the photo quality for this special post. That counts for something, right?! Hmm...maybe don't answer that. 

Anyways, even though you already know all about the makeover, be sure to hope on over there and catch my short blurb on the new design! Cheers!

[photo credit: amy walters]

BEDROOM MAKEOVER NO. 2 - STEP 3 [WINDOW COVERING]

With the bedroom's colour palette and layout ironed out, it's time to turn our focus to the WINDOW COVERING. 

I've always been a sucker for sunlight, but, after living in my sun-filled, south-facing condo where I kept window coverings to an absolute minimum, I've become almost dependent on the beautiful effect of natural sunlight in an interior! 

So I'm more than a little relieved that my new bedroom is also graced with south exposure and a window of generous proportions! This may sound odd, but I actually enjoy waking up to some morning sun. So over the weekend, I placed an order for a couple of light-filtering window shades.

Lola Linen-look Relaxed Roman Shade, Sears

I love this laid-back look via Sears!

I'm eager to test-drive this linen-looking beauty (shown above), as well as a graphic style fabric roller shade (not shown), in both white and charcoal hues! Can't wait for the parcel to arrive next week! I promise to keep you posted. Cheers ;) 

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

Happy Friday Folks! 

I am pretty pumped about the weekend, which involves me escaping The Peg to visit my 4 1/2 month old nephew! He's getting so big now! Seriously, I must show you some pics soon. While you wait for some current footage, feast your eyes on the birth announcement I designed for Owen this past summer. 

It really turned out beautifully! Of course, all credit goes to this adorable lil' man. He really is the cutest, isn't he?! 

Okay, now that I've gotten all mushy on you, I better leave you with your daily design fix. I just saw this fabulous nursery room makeover (designed by fellow design blogger Tim of DesignMaze) featured on Design*Sponge today and felt it was a must see!

Nursery Makeover via Design*Sponge | design by Tim [DesignMaze]

I'm gushing over the interesting mix of colours, fabrics and wallcovering. It's sweet, mod and completely gender neutral. Love it! Anyways, be sure to hop on over to Tim's blog and say hello! Have a safe and wonderful weekend everybody. Cheers!

[card design: amy walters; photography: my fam]

BEDROOM MAKEOVER NO. 2 - STEP 2 [LAYOUT]

Next up...LAYOUT. Before moving any furniture into the new space, I measured up the existing space, drafted a floor plan on my laptop and started to place existing pieces that I hoped to fit into my new living quartres. 

I came up with this plan, which utilized a nice chunk of my beloved furniture pieces (the platform bed, side table, dresser and chair from my previous bedroom, the white stools from my former living room, the ladder from my former bathroom and the pretty table-floor lamp I had snagged from a thrift store over the summer).

The above plan shifted a little on moving day and a few pieces didn't end up making the cut :( but overall the layout stayed pretty close to the first draft! Check back soon for the final floor plan! Cheers!

QUINOA GARDEN SALAD

I'm not much for salads after summer's end, but this salad could take me right through the winter. Oh yah...it's that good.

All of the garden salad basics are here. You've got your green lettuce, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and cheese (of course!). Topping this simple salad with warm Quinoa (pronounced Kin:wa) beefs things up a bit and makes it perfect for chilly autumn nights. A healthy dose of Renee's Tangerine and Lime Vinaigrette doesn't hurt either!

[Anybody else just learn that vinagrette is spelled vinaigrette...with an "ai". Nope...just me. Alright, my bad.]

Make this salad tomorrow for brunch, lunch or dinner - anytime really. Trust me. You won't regret it.

[photo credit: amy walters]

BEDROOM MAKEOVER NO. 2 - STEP 1 [PAINT]

Today, we're tackling the one thing folks tend to fear most when making over a space...COLOUR. Choosing a colour palette can be daunting...and definitely time consuming (I admittedly spent over half an hour picking the perfect shade of white for the trim and ceilings in my former condo). If you're feeling stuck and frozen with fear, try using a jumping-off point (ie. a piece of art, fabric swatch, fav book cover...anything really!) to narrow your focus and help you formulate a colour concept. That's how I came up with this soft and oh-so pretty palette for my new bedroom:

Jump-starter #1. I fell in love with Style at Home's New Neutrals fall trend while styling this vignette for their Blogger's fave fall design trends article. I'm not usually one to gravitate to pale, powdery hues such as lilac, but the greyed down version of this fresh and fabulous colour really resonated with me! 

Jump-starter #2. I had my heart set on showing off my beloved french poster (the one that used to reside in my kitchen) in the new bedroom. I think I really lucked out that the poster's background colour was none other than pale lilac! Meant to be? I think so.

New wall colour = lilac-tinted grey!

                

Wall colour matched to:

[top-centre] Benjamin Moore, Majestic Mauve, 2115-60
Accessories / accents inspired by:
[bottom-left] Benjamin Moore, Prairie Lily, CC-98
[bottom-right] Benjamin Moore, Black Beauty, 2128-10

What do you think of the new scheme? Have you ever built a room's design around something special. Leave a comment and let us all know ;)

THE BARE BEFORE: ROUND 2

Well Folks, the move is over! I wish I could say the same about unpacking, but hey, I'm taking my sweet time with that one! My plans to find a place for an apartment's worth of furnishings in a modest sized bedroom were well intended...just not realistic ;)

By the time Friday evening rolled around and good-byes were exchanged between me and the ol' condo, I was depleted of energy and ambition. The remedy? Runs to Booster Juice, Costco and the cheapie theatre with my new roomie and a night spent drooling over my latest home decor mag. All essential in proper self-care, right?! Yes, that's what I thought. 

Amidst all the fun, I managed to slip some unpacking in and my bedroom is looking surprisingly livable. It's not ready for it's close-up, but I'm pretty pumped at the progress! Decorating details coming soon, but in the meantime, whet your appetite with these before shots of my new digs:

Anybody else catch that crystal doorknob?!

Hardwood floors a must - no vacuuming for this gal!

Check out that closet! Umm, ignore the mirror's reflection. Awkward.

PETAL TO THE METAL

Hey there Folks! 

I managed to escape the city for a rugged weekend at camp over the Thanksgiving weekend. The break was much needed and enjoyed, but I've been busy catching up on the design projects and packing I had put off while I was away. So forgive me for the slow start this week. More posts next week...promise.

Now, back to the weekend. I traded in my laptop and cell phone for horseback riding, zip-lining and food galore vigorous walks. I even resisted the urge to pull out my camera in an attempt to ignore all things work-related! While this would drive most bloggers bonkers, I found it therapeutic to momentarily un-plug from the fast-paced life that technology so often encourages.

That being said, I was more than ready to plug back upon my return to reality Monday evening. I was greeted with a plethora (big word, I know!) of comments on this blog here; and, read and smiled at every one of them. What a treat. And, as a little treat (and big thank you) in return, I thought I'd share these snap shots of the gorgeous flowers I received a few weeks ago. I had played around with my camera one afternoon and was amazed how well my lil' point and shoot cam captured these beauties. 

Well, I'd better sign off now and get started on my day. I can't put off the projects or packing any longer. So off to work I go - in full gear. Cheers! 

[photo credit: amy walters]

THANKSGIVING: PLACES EVERYBODY

Happy [Canadian] Thanksgiving Weekend everyone! 

Looking for some last minute, easy peas-y table setting ideas? Take inspiration from America's sweetheart, Martha Stewart! Here's 3 of my fav ideas from the marthastewart.com:

Glimmer and Shine (pumpkin) Place Card via Martha Stewart Living

Thanksgiving Chocolate Bar Place Card via Martha Stewart Living

Pear Place Card via Martha Stewart Living

Click here to jump to the full article on marthastewart.com!

Which is your favourite place card? The "glammed up gourds", "sweet-tooth's delight" or "fresh fare pear"?

GOING FOR A DIP

Dipped furniture has been making a splash across the design scene. Magazines and stores alike, are diving right in with their own interpretations of this raw, modern look.

Granted, the concept's a bit bizarre (and not for everyone), but the effect is edgy and undeniable eye-catching. So have some fun and take the plunge! Add a whimsical note to any room with these lil' skinny dippers!

Dipped Side Table (in Red or Natural), West Elm

Windsor Love Seat, Anthropologie

I don't know about you, but I'm up for a dip or too! You with me?!

NOT YOUR GRANNY'S DOILIES

Check out this fabulous window display at Soul Shoes and Accessories - one of of many adorable shops in my neighbourhood. 

Window Display at Soul Shoes and Accessories

I've yet to step inside the doors (consider it a precautionary measure to ensure I don't shop away my entire months salary) - but their store is en route of my evening stroll sessions and the sight of this intriguing window display gets me every time! These doily spheres are just so delightful that I couldn't put off sharing them with you any longer! Bring the delicate look of this display into your home with lace-like accessories such as these:

Leaf Lace Wallpaper, Lene Toni Kjeld (found via Design*Sponge)

Marrakesh 24" Floor Cushion Grey, The Cross Design

Perforated Porcelain Bath Accessories, West Elm

Soul Shoes and Accessories, 167 Lilac Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3M 2S1
t: 204.452.SOUL (7685), f: 204.477.5168, e: info@soulshoes.ca
www.soulshoes.ca

[photo credit - window display: amy walters]

DESIGN*SPONGE [FINALLY] AT HOME

Thank you everyone for your amazing response to yesterday's post. The thoughtful comments and well wishes were such an encouragement ;) I'm sending you all virtual hugs as we speak [wink]! 

Life, as you can imagine has been a bit of a whirlwind. The calm comes after the storm, right?! Please say yes! Some of you have been asking "what's next". Well...I'm not sure exactly. The plan is to not plan too much. I'm looking forward to having the freedom to explore new opportunities - in writing, design and life! I'm quite looking forward to settling in to my new apartment. A 2nd floor duplex rental located just a hop, skip and jump away from my current digs. Just as soon as I'm feeling "at home" in my new surroundings, you'll find me sipping a cup of tea and pouring over the pages of this fabulous book, which FINALLY arrived over the weekend!

Yes...it's finally here! Design*Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney

What book(s) are you looking forward to cozying up with this fall?

ONE LIFE TO LOVE

It seems like just yesterday that I had enlisted the help of realtor Eric Neumann (Wiebe and Neumann Team of Realty Executives First Choice) to find me my first home - a 585 sq. ft., 1-bedroom character apartment with beautiful bones and loads of potential. The apartment was just what I was looking for. A place to experiment with design and decor. A place to renovate and write about along the way. And renovate and write, I did.

15 months of renos, 5 transformed rooms and 149 blog posts later (today's post is most fittingly no. 150) - I had accomplished my mission. Everything had gone according to plan. My design ideas were now a reality and my apartment was uniquely me! There was just one little snag - I hadn't counted on falling in love with writing in the process. So.....

Yes friends, I guess this makes it official - I'm moving. You see, as it turned out, I discovered a whole new side to myself. One I never knew existed. One I've come to be truly thankful for. With the apartment renovations completed, and new goals and adventures awaiting me, it was time to call on Eric again to put this sweet thing back up on the market! He did...and it sold! 

I absolutely adore the little apartment that I've called home for the past 15 months and will always treasure the moments spent and memories made here. With the first chapter of this blog drawing to a close, I want to say thank you to everyone for showering me with all your support of this blog and sweet comments. I'm already gearing up for the second chapter and really hope you will stay on for the ride! Here's to 150 more posts. Cheers!

Wiebe and Neumann Team, Realty Executives First Choice
559 St. Mary's Road, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 3L6, Canada, T: 204.885.8999, www.wiebeandneumannteam.com

[photo credit: amy walters]