Displaying posts from October, 2008

Ok, this has to be one of the coolest homes I’ve seen in a long time. And before you look any further, remember, this comment is coming from someone with 6 cats. Thanks to fellow Ottawan Liz for sending me a link to this unbelievable home in Japan, specifically designed for feline friends.

Aleksandra emailed us the other day with the following: “I would like to share with you an apartment project realized in Warsaw, Poland. I have never seen any polish design at your blog and when I found “softbox” I couldn’t resist. I had to write to you. It is about 70 square meters apartment, which instead of walls have curtains made from the same material that airbags are made of. Those curtains divide the apartment into bedroom, workroom etc. I think it’s interesting and beautiful design. The central part of the apartment, called “hardbox” contains among others the kitchen and bathroom and is custom made out of old furniture. The company which designed it is called Centrala, designers are Kuba Szczesny & Gosia Kuciewicz.” I really enjoy featuring creative living spaces on the blog so a big thanks to Aleksandra for wanting to share this one.

Here are more photos of Centrala’s work I found on their website.

It’s difficult to reconcile the beauty of these images with the tragic end of the talented photographer who took them. Fernando Bengoechea had his short but incredibly full life taken by the devastating tsunami of 2004. With work appearing in the major magazines like Elle Decor, Fernando displayed a phenomenal talent as his portfolio attests. So much extraordinary ability and potential was lost on that Boxing Day in 2004 not the least of which was that of Fernando Bengoechea. His photos live on and are a lasting tribute.

… to this fabulous book, Decorating With Plants, A House and Garden Book, by Marybeth Little Weston,The Condé Nast Publications, Pantheon Books, New York, 1978. I’ve been really inspired by the retro rooms and the greenery. So much so that more and more plants have been finding their way into my home over the past month. So that’s the end. There isn’t anymore. Time to rummage through my retro book collection for next weeks fab and funky photos!

I would typically do a Flickr finds post today but I thought since I have some new photos of my own I would post those instead. It was a bit of a hectic week but once it calmed down I managed to get out and do some shopping. There was a fabric flea market in the Glebe that I dragged my boyfriend to yesterday morning and it was an absolute zoo. A big room PACKED with women grabbing at fabrics and yarn and buttons. My boyfriend was one of about 5 men in the place and he and the guys he would pass would joke about how nuts it was. It was hilarious. But I’m glad he came because he held my bags for me while I rummaged. 🙂 Best part is I can’t even sew. They do look cute in piles in my office though!

I took one of the batiks I bought and draped it over the sofa since I am not fond of the colour (and it gets dirty very easily) and voila, a quick and easy transformation.

We then went to the Ottawa Antique Market since we were in the neighbourhood and stopped as I usually do at the section of antique rugs and kilims only to find out the seller was selling the kilims at half price! So I picked up an antique one…for $325!! I am absolutely in love with it. I am thinking it will go under the dining table I STILL haven’t found, and if not I will find it a home somewhere.

The other day I started demolition for the new kitchen which included the removal of the only closet on the main floor (*GASP*). So I had to create a new landing strip at the back door which will be my new everyday entrance. I have to shrink the bathroom that is next to the new entrance and have a closet built but that will happen sometime after the kitchen renovation.