Displaying posts from March, 2018

Classic and refined with an edge.  Subdued yet bold, with a mix of new and vintage. Some really hot spaces by Houston based designer Benjamin Johnston.

Over the last month or so I have received some really awesome things that I wanted to share. Nothing excites me more than packages on my front porch! I’ll start with some encaustic pieces – a medium I was really not familiar with.

Tracey-Mae Chambers of TMC Design Collection is an Indigenous Canadian encaustic sculptor who lives in Southern Ontario. She uses melted beeswax mixed with Damar resin to strengthen the wax and this liquid is then formed into her beautiful collection of vessels. They are then treated with clear gloss lacquer to make them more durable. I had a really tough time deciding which pieces to get but thought this stunning copper flower bowl and black vase would work really well in my home. Thanks Tracey-Mae!!

I had seen some fabulous pillows popping up on some of my favourite U.K. based Instagram accounts lately and was super excited when Karen Sedgwick of Wild Rice Designs (based in Nottingham, U.K.) got in touch about these infamous pillows of hers. Again, I had a really hard time picking my favourite pillow (the runners up were this one and this one).

In the end I went with the vintage floral velvet because I fell in love with the pattern.

It is soooo beautifully made and I could not be happier with it (I’m a bit picky about pillow quality – the feather fill and cotton linen backing with that adorable pom-pom trim totally sold me). Here’s her Instagram, website, and Etsy shop. Thank you Karen!!

I also received another little gem of a book from Tuttle Publishing called Miniature Terrariums. So cute!

What I love about this book is not only does it give lots of instructions for being able to execute these terrariums, but it shows you the beauty of repurposing glass containers such as a lab flask, wine glass, mason jar, or an inexpensive glass box or hanging bulb. It gives some examples of using moss and fern, air plants, succulents and other types of plants. I REALLY want to try some of these this summer. Find this book on Amazon here.

Award winning Los Angeles based Black Lacquer Design say they have a a penchant for all things pretty. Perhaps we better add edgy, fresh and fun. And their name? It might just have something to do with the belief that almost every room can benefit from a bit of black and a little lacquer. I just didn’t expect it on the ceiling and I must say I’m a convert!

It’s dramatic. It’s stylish. It’s edgy and it’s the show home (or should I say apartment) by Studio ro+ca for CasaCor Rio 2017, the largest and most complete exhibition of architecture, interior design and landscaping in the Americas showcasing the best of the best. All I can say is ouch! Brazilian design is so hot.

When you live along the edge of a bay, it only seems right to keep your spaces earthy and neutral. A touch of blue to bring the colour of the water in doesn’t hurt. What a gorgeous, simple project by Vancouver designer Angela Robinson. 

You can find my previous feature of Angela’s work here