Displaying posts from May, 2012

I’d like to dedicate today’s pets on furniture posts to Tom, my latest stray who sadly lost his life Friday. I wanted to share his story, as traumatic as it was for me, because if I can get even a few people out there who come across a stray animal in need to do what they can to help, then I can feel Tom’s death wasn’t for nothing. Because it hurts alot that I wasn’t able to help him in time.

Friday I didn’t go to work due to an excruciating muscle spasm in my neck. I really believe I was meant to be home that day. Tom started visiting us in the winter, coming by randomly. Then about 2 months ago he suddenly decided he liked us and started to come by twice a day, for breakfast and dinner. He let me pet him until I gave him his food, then would take off to go galivanting in my ‘hood, looking for the ladies (he wasn’t neutered). Then about a week and a half ago he stopped showing up. I was really worried about him. Suddenly, Friday at noon he showed up. I looked outside and saw him laying on the driveway with his head down. I knew something was wrong. I grabbed some food and went outside to find him very lathargic and not interested in eating at all. His back end was crusty and he smelled like pee (he was usually a pretty well kept cat for a stray). All he wanted to do was sleep. I noticed his nose was runny and he was shivering. I called the vets and told them I had to bring him in ASAP. While waiting for my husband to show up I brought him inside into my powder room (away from my 7 cats) – he was totally unphased by this, put his head down and tried to sleep. He had never been in my house before so I knew he was really sick. When we got him into the cage, he started shaking really badly (from shock) and we realized he was worse off than we thought. We rushed him outside where he started making odd noises and then stopped breathing. I broke down, and then when I went to double-check his breathing I noticed he was breathing again. We raced him to the vets and on the way he was gagging and choking and having a hard time breathing. He was basically dying in my lap. The vet is luckily only a 5 minute drive away but they could not save him. He had a blocked bladder – it was huge and filled with blood. This caused kidney failure. He didn’t have a chance. I honestly think he showed up in my driveway that day to die, with us, because we were the only ones who cared. I know we did what we could but I can’t help but feel guilty that we didn’t try sooner to get him off the streets and find him a home. He would have made a great pet. 

I had a sinking feeling this wasn’t going to end well, so I snapped a photo of Tom in my bathroom while I waited for my husband to get home.
He deserved better – he deserved to live. Tom, love you buddy. I’m so sorry. 

Tossing industrial and cuts of colour like a crisp salad. Yes it’s Guilherme Torres again. Mirrored ceiling, concrete and brights. It’s fun, it’s fab, it’s fantastic. Studio Guilherme Torres.

It’s a candy floss coloured carnival ride of an interior. Minimal in essence but packing a colour punch like a sugar hit. Restraint is hyped with pastels and texture. It’s like a kid on red cordial. High high high. Who else but the Brazilian king of brevity with levity and sexiness with a purpose? Studio Guilherme Torres. See our previous posts here and here.

I am pretty excited to share a couple of new books with you today while I head out to the cottage to enjoy a beautiful summer day and spend time with my mom (Happy Mother’s Day Mom!!). 

The first one I was REALLY stoked to receive, as it was written by a fellow blogger. Maryam Montague has been living in Morocco for several years now and it is because of her and her blog MyMarrakesh.com that I have fallen in love with the country of Morocco and especially it’s absolutely gorgeous interiors and architecture. The textures and colours are mesmerizing and such beautiful inspirational decor. Maryam’s book, MARRAKESH BY DESIGN, (Artisan Books, May 2012), is filled with wonderful photos that she took herself (several are of her own home and boutique hotel called the Peacock Pavilions)  and gives quite an introduction to the Moroccan culture and elements of decor they are so well known for. I even busted out my vintage Moroccan wedding blanket Jo sent me as a wedding gift to use as a backdrop for the photos I took of the book. (That blanket is SO gorgeous and one of my prized possessions). I can’t wait to devour every word and photo of this book – I think I’ll bring it to the cottage. 🙂 Congrats Maryam – you should be so proud of this book! P.S. Maryam’s home is featured in this month’s Lonny and last month’s Elle Decor!

This next one I unfortunately didn’t receive a review copy of but the photos that we were sent were so great I had to show you all so you could get your hands on a copy of this book too. The Emmy Award-winning television producer formerly of The Oprah Winfrey Show and Nate Berkus Show – and fellow blogger Janet Lee is soon to release her first book, Living in a Nutshell (Harper Collins). Living in a Nutshell was inspired by Janet’s professional and personal experiences having made a home in over a dozen pocket-sized spaces over the past 20 years.From this sneak peak I’d say this book is one to look out for. 

Mel Munroe lives in Culver City, California. Mel lives in a 210 square foot apartment. (I had to convert it to square meters for it to sink in just how small that is. It’s 19.5) Mel lives small. More importantly Mel lives large. She has put all her skills from her day job as a visual merchandiser and freelance product designer to work here in her little home. Could you do it? Could you live in under 20 square meters? More importantly could you live large in a small home just like Mel?

Thanks to Mel and Jermaine Saunders for the photos!