Displaying posts from October, 2010

My last post was just not enough. There are so many inspiring spaces in Poteet Architects’ portfolio. Like this porch!! In a word… perfect. In another word… fun. Rustic, practical but oh so stylish. You must head over to the website. Amazing homes, amazing interiors!!

It’s a clever idea but often the idea never lives up to expectations. Not in this case. Poteet Architects, San Antonio, Texas have designed and executed a fab backyard retreat that still leaves no doubt as to its origins. I think what separates this conversion from many other ho-hum versions is the attention to detail both internally and externally and especially in its siting and landscaping. Too cool! Just need to get my hands on a container.

I am still a bit uncertain as to what to post on Sundays, but today I thought I’d do something different because I visited a very interesting place on Friday that I thought I’d share, since I took a ton of photos. It’s called the Third World Bazaar. This bazaar happens every weekend (Fridays – Sundays) in autumn for 7 weeks, beginning Thanksgiving weekend (which is this weekend here in Canada) and ending November 21st. I’ve been trying to go yearly for a few years now and it’s amazing. It’s a huge barn filled with thousands of items from countries all over the world – clothing, purses, furniture, knick-knacks, carpets, jewelry, Christmas decor and much more. The owners buy the majority of the products directly from the artisans and craftsmen in the source countries. This means they get to travel the world seeking out these beautiful hand-crafted products including Morocco, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Guatemala, Indonesia, Cuba, Thailand and India. I always leave the bazaar with a car full of goodies, and this year was no different. Below are a few photos of my purchases and many photos taken inside the bazaar. If you’re in the Ottawa area, you really must head out to Manotick and visit the Third World Bazaar….and make sure to go with an empty trunk!

I have a thing for punched tin – and Jo does too so I think some of these pieces above will be going in her parcel that I wanted to send out months ago…and maybe that Asian wall art…

I bought these on my second trip out to the bazaar. Yep, I went twice. The first time was too overwhelming and I spent most of the time snapping photos. I think the dragon will be a Christmas present for my nephew. I love the punched tin inlay in the wood vase. PRETTY!

This thing is SO RAD! It’s huge, and made out of recycled tires. It’s from Thailand I think, and in Thailand these bins are used to store garbage. It has holes in the bottom so it could be kept outside and used as a planter. I’ve heard this is also great for storing firewood. I may use mine (when I have space for it indoors) to store blankets. And now for the photos from the bazaar (which are not that great because we arrived at about 6:30/7 pm so there was no natural light)….

(or is that “poppies” of colour?)
WINKS – weekend links. Here we list what has come in during the week, things we’ve found and things we think you’ll want to see. If you’d like to see your blog or website featured email us and if we think it fits with our readers we’ll link you. So what’s in this week?

• How cool are these Melbourne Artplay 3D block sets by Spacecraft?!! Actually everything from Melbourne based Spacecraft is too cool for school. Create your own masterpiece models. Available in store only 🙁

• Loving this modern nomad look from UK based Plümo. Clothes are fab too but this is an interior design blog not a fashion blog 😉 They ship internationally as well.

• Salvaged wood, found objects,  fab artist and Etsy. Mix it all together with a splash of Southern style and you have the work of mixed media artist Dolan Geiman. Love these cuties but I’m really thinking of some of his more wild west meets longhorn prints for the man cave. Check out his Etsy store here.

• Beautiful handblocked bedding, linen and accessories from Attiser. Perfect to add a fresh and pretty touch to boho white scandi looks. Just right for spring and summer here.

• So minimal, so sensual. Glass and oak mortar and pestle I found online at Gessato. Manual food processor?

99% of the posts on this blog are published to inspire our readers. I’d say the other 1% are purely selfish posts that Jo and I post because we find something we adore and want to remember. This is one of those selfish posts. My twin sister sent me this home on Hus & Hem the other day and I went a little nuts. I am in love with the black exterior of this home. I’ve been thinking alot lately about what to do with the interior of my home, particularly the new addition we’re adding, and haven’t given alot of thought to the exterior. But after seeing these photos I WANT A BLACK HOUSE!!! The interior of this home is pretty fabulous too because it’s black and white and that’s what I’d like to do to mine, but with less of a modern/Swedish vibe and more industrial and ethnic bits thrown in.

P.S. My husband and I found 2 local architects that we’d LOVE to work with for the addition we’re planning for the house but one is too busy and the other missed an appointment with us this week. I’m starting to worry we’ll never find anyone so if anyone out there knows of an architect in Ottawa who is creative and likes to think a bit outside the box, please email me @ desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.com. THANKS!!