ALL WOUND UP

Unique lighting instantly elevates a room's decor, but choosing the perfect piece de resistance for your home requires time, patience...and sometimes money! So before you get all wound up, consider these light fixtures inspired by a ball of yarn.

SA-AG Hanging Lamp Natural (also in Wenge), Urban Barn

Urban Barn Hanging Lamp (above) - Go au natural indoors with this woven bamboo light fixture | SA-AG Hanging Lamp Natural from Urban Barn

Also consider these...

Matt Carr's Dining Room, featured in House & Home Magazine [January 2010] - Random has never looked more "put together" than it does here in this dramatic resin light fixture | Random Light from Moooi Lighting

Sarah Richardson's Office, designed for Sarah's House for HGTV - Yarn is given a glam twist with this metal criss-crossing strip light fixture | Alita Champagne, Metal Hanging Shade by Uttermost

STYLE AT HOME: ADVENT HOLIDAY CARD HOLDER

Hey Folks! I'm over at Style at Home today showing you how to turn the plethora of Christmas cards you'll be receiving this month into a beautiful Christmas countdown and display! Click here to hop on over and read the full story!

Advent Holiday Card Holder, Pottery Barn

LAST CHRISTMAS...

I poured over the 2011 December issue of Style At Home the other weekend, soaking up their enchanting mix of traditional and trendy Christmas and holiday home decor ideas! The entire issue was beautifully done (of course!), but I was most excited about the magazine's Let It Snow! article [December 2011 Issue, Page 168 to 173]...

Style at Home Magazine [December Issue 2011, Page 169]

Style at Home Magazine [December Issue 2011, Page 172 +173]

Style at Home Magazine [December Issue 2011, Page 172]

The feminine flair and tropical vibe of the Christmas decor highlighted in this article was perfectly me. The punchy palette of fuscia, turquoise and citrusy green is not only a nod to my former living room's colour palette, but also to last year's Christmas decor! Take a look...

As if that wasn't enough cause for excitement, I realized upon closer inspection that one of the pillows used for styling the luxurious bed on page 172 looks identical to the one shown on my vintage chair! Total awesomeness, right?!

[photo credit: top (3) images via Style At Home Magazine, December 2011 Issue | bottom image via aDESIGNdock]

PUT A PIN IN IT: NO. 2

Good morning Folks! It's Friday...and guess what that means?! It's time for a second weekly wrap-up via Pinterest ;)

My home office is pretty make-shift. A drop-leaf table stands in for a desk and I've been using a pair of cafe chairs (on loan from my parents) as a desk and guest chair. While the table may eventually be upgraded, I really quite adore the chairs and don't plan on replacing them anytime soon. 

The chairs are similar in profile to the classic Thonet Bentwood Chair (which I love!), but feature a metal frame instead of wood and a slightly different back rest design. I love them as is - white chipped paint and all - but this past week I rounded up a collection of interiors showcasing this chair in a rainbow of hues and I'm pretty sold on the stylish effect. 

My latest pins...

Carla Fahden, Color Me Carla
Dayka Robinson, Dayka Robinson Designs
Raina Kattelson, a stylist's life; 
Annie Coggan + Caleb Crawford, Coggan + Crawford Architects

If you like what you see, visit me on Pinterest and check out a few more images that I rounded up! Have a fabulous weekend everyone ;)

MY LOVES: JOY IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

I've been missing my Grandpa this week. While I always miss his presence, this week felt different...more emotional. Perhaps it was a subconscious awareness that today, November 24th, marks 6 months since his sudden passing - even though the thought only came to me late last night. Or perhaps it was something else. I don't know. The only thing I do know is that today felt like the perfect day to share this adorable image of my nephew Owen. 

My sister was overdue with Owen the week my Grandpa passed away. I remember feeling as though it was all a cruel joke. My Grandpa was so close to meeting his first great-grandchild. How could he have missed out like this? As my family grieved that week, I struggled to find excitement in my sister's pregnancy. Just how was I supposed to welcome this baby into the world when the loss of my Grandpa was still so fresh? I couldn't make sense of the timeline.

As it turns out, Owen was exactly what we needed, when we needed it. He has brought our family so much love and joy, in a year that we would have otherwise preferred to forget. I am so thankful for this lil' man and love him so much!

To all of my American readers, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving; and, to everyone (no matter where on the globe you may be reading this from), I hope you find joy and thanksgiving in something today - no matter how small that may be. - blessings

[photo credit: amy walters]

READY OR NOT...HERE COMES CHRISTMAS!

You may or [may not] be ready for another holiday themed post, but you're gonna get one anyways! I admittedly am not quite into Christmas mode yet (the roomie and me are still sans Christmas decor over here in our apartment), but I have slowly been getting into the holiday spirit.

As a blogger, it's hard not too. Christmas and holiday posts have been floating around Bloggersland for weeks now and it's a bit contagious. I just find it so inspiring to watch the creative minds of the world gear up for the season that's upon us. So ready or not, here's s'more Christmas cheer for you!

My Grandma and I spent Saturday afternoon trimming the Christmas tree in her apartment. Here she is (shown above) putting the finishing touch on our labour of love! 

To me, nothing beats vintage! And that rule certainly applies to Christmas decor. I adore the fresh palette and retro-style of the ornament shown above! Just a few of these old schoolers' made for a strong statement on my Grams' tree. xo

[photo credit: amy walters]

THE STEVEN AND CHRIS SHOW: DRESSER DIY

Calling all Steven and Chris fans out there! I happened to catch last Thursday's episode [originally aired on November 17, 2011] on how to buy art for your interior space and almost fell off my chair when this appeared on my TV screen...

Console, Chair + Artwork by Alison Milne Design, via Steven + Chris

I was blown away by it. Not only is Alison's vignette gorgeous, but her dresser DIY also brings back fond memories of the vintage dresser DIY that I originally blogged about here and that was later featured here on Design*Sponge! 

Vintage Dresser Revamp by aDESIGNdock via Design*Sponge

Pretty cool, huh?! Okay...maybe it's only cool to a dorky design blogger like myself, but I couldn't resist sharing it with all of you anyways! Thanks for humouring me on this lovely Tuesday morning. Cheers!

[photo credit: dresser (at top) via Steven and Chris | dresser (at bottom) via aDESIGNdock and Design*Sponge]

STYLE AT HOME: HOLIDAY COOKIE SWAP

It's no secret here on the blog that I'm a sucker for sweets - especially cookies! Remember these? So naturally, I was pretty pumped last week when Elaine Song (web editor for Style at Home) brought their first ever Holiday Cookie Swap to my attention!

Style at Home had me at "cookies", but perhaps you need further incentive to add to your holiday to-do list. In which case, I should probably add that by joining in the cookie swap... 

Need I say more? [silence] 

Didn't think so. Now what are you waiting for? To enter, just whip up a batch of your best original family cookie recipe and snap a photo of the finished cookie. Email your photo (an original photo taken by you) along with the original family recipe to cookieswap@styleathome.com! It's that simple Folks!

Don't have an original family recipe to share? No problem! Just pick one recipe from Style at Home's pre-approved list! 

There...you have no excuses not to join me in the swap! I'm already conferring with my Mom on family recipes and will post on my progress soon! Click HERE for more details. 

Note: Entries must be received by 5:00 pm (E.T.) on Monday, December 5th, 2011.

PUT A PIN IN IT: NO. 1

Guess what Folks?! I finally did it...I finally created a Pinterest account. 

Pinterest is a website that provides users with a place to store and organize their fav images from around the web. Users can create boards and pin images they like onto them. A fashionista, for example might create a board with images of her fav skinny jeans, celebrity outfits or fashion accessories. Or a bride-to-be might create a board with images of her fav wedding dresses, flower arrangements or menus.

While this sounded great and all, I was already hopping back and forth between email accounts, the blog and Twitter. I wondered if ONE MORE account might just put me over the edge. So I simply watched Pinterest unfold before my eyes...watched it gain popularity monthly daily. Finally, after months of just watching - and after receiving a few invitations to join from other bloggers - I raised my white flag and surrendered to yet another account. Oy!

Some of my go-to bloggers have been sharing Pinterest love with their readers (Jennifer, Jenna, Eden and Heather to name a few) and I thought it might be fun to try my hand at it too. Maybe use Friday's post as a place to share my favourite pin(s) of the week. Make it a weekly wrap-up series, of sorts. We could call it "Put a Pin In It" Fridays! Are you with me?! Ooh, please say yes! In case there is any hesitation out there, I will leave with my first (and currently ONLY) pin to mull over for the weekend. Happy Friday!

My first pin...

I started a board to hold all the pretty patterned floors I've been gushing over lately. The tile flooring in interior designer Jessica Helgerson's lovely Mediterranean kitchen design captured my attention over at Design*Sponge this past week. 

It was the perfect first pin, wouldn't you say?

WALL COVER LOVING

Tonight I had the pleasure of attending an open house at Room For Style Interiors, an home decor shop situated on the trendy Corydon strip in Winnipeg (and just steps from my former condo)! I got my first fix of Christmas tunes, drank delicious apple cider and scoured the shop for new and notable products.

My fav find of the night was this...

Damsel in Aqua Grey, via Tempaper

Gio in Silver, via Tempaper

Marrakesh in Ruby Slate, via Tempaper

Tempaper is a self-adhesive, repositionable and temporary wallpaper. It's perfect for style-saavy renters like myself, who adore wallpaper, but are limited by landlord regulations. I stared long and hard at the pretty patterned rolls in the store. It took everything in me to hold off on making the purchase until I could do a little online search. Turns out this company has received press coverage from some seriously stylish sources, including impressive before and after pics on the Apartment Therapy blog!

Out of every beautiful detail in my former condo, the wallcovering my mom and I hung in the living room (right about this time last year...sniff) has to be one of the design elements I miss most. I thought I had given up my chances at living with wallcovering, but Tempaper might just make it possible to rekindle the love! LOL. 

Above are just a few that caught my eye, but if damask, art deco or moroccan motifs aren't your thing, hop on over to the Tempaper website and shop away! 

Room For Style Interiors, 875 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg, MB  R3M 0W7, t: 204.287.8833

TOMMY STATUS!

Eeeek! Big news Folks! 

Just learned that Tommy Smythe - you know, the stylish, comedic and oh-so talented designer who tackles reno's each week on HGTV alongside Sarah Richardson...yes, that's right...HIM! - is the celebrity guest at the 2012 Winnipeg Kitchen, Bath and Renovation Show. 

Appearantly, the press release went out over a month ago. I'm not sure what rock I've been living under, but I totally missed this lil' tid bit. You'd think with the crazy number of hours I spend online searching for blog material that I would have stumbled upon something, but nope. I had to learn about it yesterday in the check-out line at Safeway!

The show runs from January 13th to 15th. Dates and times for Tommy's presentation(s) are still under wraps, but tickets to see Tommy will go on sale soon. So be sure to check in with the KBR website often for those all-too-important updates! 

I adore Tommy's witty humour, charming smile and loveable personality (follow on twitter @tommystatus). I can hardly wait to meet the man! Hope to meet you all there too ;)

STYLE AT HOME: INDUSTRIAL FIREPLACE SCREEN FROM RESTORATION HARDWARE

Happy Monday Folks! I'm feeling the beginnings of a sore throat and wishing it weren't only Monday!

I'm over at Style at Home today wishing I was chillin' next to this cozy fireplace (image via Restoration Hardware). Click here to pop on over for a visit; and, for a lesson in styling charming interiors that are sure to chase even the nastiest of colds away! 

Industrial Rivet Rectangular Fireplace Screen, Restoration Hardware

GUACAMOLE LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT

I was in the kitchen today whipping up a batch of guacamole! Ambitious, I know, but I bought a bag of avocados for the very first time last week, and after an unsuccessful first attempt at cooking with avocados (and by "cooking" I mean slicing and tossing into a salad), I decided I should give it another go. You know, experiment a bit. Eeeek?!

Isn't this supposed to be....I don't know...more green?! Umm, well yes...as a matter of fact it is. So what's with the pea-green coloured concoction? Good question. I'm not sure...it tastes great though, promise. I tried some myself. Although, I eat almost everything I make, against better judgement. 

Ah, but no worries. Really. You're going to love it - just maybe serve it dim lighting. To set the, you know, mood. It's all good. xo

Avocado, Tomato and Chili 

Guacamole - makes 3/4 cup (175 mL) | serves 4 to 6
Rose Reisman Brings Home Light Cooking - a fundraising project on behalf of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (1993) 
Half an avocado, peeled
3/4 tsp crushed garlic
2 tbsp chopped green onions
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup finely diced sweet red pepper
1/2 cup chopped tomato
Pinch of chili powder (adjust according to taste)

Directions: In a bowl, combine avocado, garlic, onions, lemon juice, red pepper, tomato and chili powder; mash with fork, mixing well.

Note: I went ahead and substituted the red pepper with a yellow one I had on hand. Perhaps this may explain the dip's questionable colour!

[photo credit: amy walters]

RUNWAY INSPIRED: A TOUCH OF TURQUOISE

For as long as I can remember, I've been ga-ga over all things green. Whether it's a new clothing piece for my closet or a new accessory for my home, I always find myself gravitating to this earthy, verdant hue!

So I guess it's only natural that when working with blues, my weapon of choice is a blue infused with lots of green tones...like the colour of my new purse I was just bragging about. Call it teal, aqua, turquoise or whatever you'd like. The name may change, but my love for this saturated jewel tone sure doesn't!

Take inspiration from this purse (via Danier Leather) and bring bold, exotic style into your home with turquoise accents like these...

Amorphous Nesting Table Set, Anthropologie

Solid Dyed Cowhide in Turquoise, The Cross Design

Organic Ironwork Duvet Cover and Shams, West Elm

Flamingo Stool in Aqua, Crate and Barrel

What do you think - bold and beautiful or just plain overboard?! Leave a comment and let us know!

SNOWY DAY SOLUTIONS

I woke up Monday morning to snow-covered rooftops. It's the season's very first snowfall in The Peg, so it's kinda a big deal. I'm not one to usually celebrate such an occasion...I mean, I could live quite well without a white Christmas. Still, there is something significant about the FIRST snowfall, which seems to set a new tone for the season and shoves everyone into the holiday spirit! Since it's only a matter of time before the roads are salted and the crisp white snow turns into brown slush, I figured I better capture the beauty while it's still there. 

To brace for the inevitably long winter ahead, I indulged in a warm cup of tea and a bowl of ice cream. Now I'm no expert here, but there really is no better solution to snowfall blues than this warm-cold combo. For a delightfully creamy, all natural treat, might I suggest Safeway's Open Nature ice cream. The milk chocolate flavour might just be the best ice cream I've ever bought...and friends, I've bought A LOT of ice cream in my short lifetime. 

Side Note: I was fiddling around with photoshop today and tested out a lighting filter. Now, I have no clue what the lighting filter "should" look like, so I apologize if there are any photographers out their cringing as we "speak"!

[photo credit: amy walters]

MY LOVES: PRETTY PURSES

Happy Monday everyone! 

My weekend played out just as I'd hoped. Friday night was spent at the cheapie theatre watching I Don't Know How She Does It (starring Sarah Jessica Parker). The movie offered a startling and comedic glance at what my life will look like in a few years if I don't change my pace, like right now! The rest of the weekend consisted of brunch, shopping, listening to the new Lady Antebellum album, eating ice cream (multiple times), and a healthy dose of reading.

Now, enough about me - let's talk about this bag! I received this beauty as a gift from my roomie and was delighted to put it to use on my excursions this weekend. 

It's saturated turquoise hue is absolutely splendid and the croco-patterned leather feels soft as butter! The bag is the most attractive thing I've had wrapped around my arm - EVER! It even came with it's own bag to protect it's soft shell (I kid you not)! What do you think? You like?

[photo credit: amy walters]

MY LOVES: KNITTED SLIPPER BOOTS

Happy Friday to you all! 

I don't what your weekend is looking like, but I'm keeping things low key and laid back! I was reminded the other day that "our relationships, health, decisions, [and] emotions all move to a better place when we move at a sustainable pace." - via Oasis

Sounds pretty straight-forward and simple, right? Well yes, but I can assure you that recent the last five year's attempts have bombed big time. This fall, I've been [trying] to replace the demanding schedules of life with more moments of spontaneity and self-care. I still get this wrong [a lot] - believe me - but hey, I'm trying here!

Anyways, that's what this weekend will be all about - setting my schedule aside in search of some "me" time. What that will look like I'm not sure, but you might find me...

1. Lounging around in my new slipper boots (shown above)!

* Inspiration for Purchase: Gushing over these knitted stockings from Brittany over at Gallery No. Eight; and, the fact that my feet get a shockingly low supply of blood flow! Knitted Slipper Boots - $5.99, Winners

2. Getting lost in a Friday night flick at the local cinema! Oh to be sixteen again! I'm still hashing out the flick pick. Suggestions are encouraged!

3. Pouring over the pages of this.

4. Eating something I crave - just because!

5. Walking without a destination. Walking tour anyone?

Well, it is now 12:59 AM on Friday. Hmm...I'd better put my money where my mouth is and sign off ASAP. 'Night Folks!

[photo credit: amy walters]

BEDROOM MAKEOVER NO. 2 - STEP 4 [HARDWARE]

It's time to make s'more progress in my new bedroom makeover. The paint is up, the layout drafted, and the window covering options ordered. Side Note: My window coverings arrived last week and the linen-look roman shade won by a landslide! With the major elements of the room finalized, it's time to focus our attention on a few of the room's finer elements.

Today, we're talking HARDWARE. Remember my dream-sized, double bank of built-in closets? Well, it's style quotient is not quite so dreamy. Fortunately for us, it's a simple fix with some nifty new knobs or pulls! I'm thinking something glass to reference the "old school" crystal door knob of my other closet (yes, you heard me right...I have a whopping THREE closets in my bedroom).

Known for having gorgeously detailed, vintage-style hardware, I made my [virtual] way over to Anthropologie.com for some serious inspiration. I adore every bit of their haute hardware collection, but these 3 really resonated with me. I mean, they're just soooo pretty! 

Prism Knob, Glass / Brass, Anthropologie

Pipeline Handle, Glass / Brass, Anthropologie

Bubbled Glass Handle, Glass / Iron, Anthropologie

I plan to scour local antique shops in search of some similar bling. This Saturday, perhaps? Anybody with me? You, me...the crack of dawn. Just kidding I'm serious...think about it ;)

HOLIDAY HELLO'S FROM KATE AND BIRDIE PAPER CO.

The folks over at Kate and Birdie Paper Co. have outdone themselves with their new holiday collection of greeting cards, boxed note sets and wrapping paper. Don't be surprised if their name rings a bell for you. K&B have been noted in Canadian home decor magazines such as House and Home, Style at Home and Western Living...just to name a few! Ooh, and I also bragged and blogged about them here over at styleathome.com last winter!

Holiday Mistletoe Greeting Card, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.

Winter Cabin Holiday Greeting Card, Kate &  Birdie Paper Co.

Winter Park Holiday Boxed Note Set, 8 cards, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.

The new collection's wonderfully wintery illustrations are simply irresistible, and charming to boot. They're the perfect pairing to any gift; and, the boxed note sets make for a glorious gift in and of themselves! Hop on over to the K&B's website and online shop to get a jump start on this year's gift giving.