Displaying posts from April, 2014

Light, energetic, comfortable and pratical – these spaces by Austin, TX interior designer Sarah Stacey are definite eye candy. Like the fun dining room above – fabulous light fixture! 

It is really unfortunate that Barcelona is no where near Ottawa because I would LOVE to check out this restaurant in person (and maybe even try a burger while I’m there). Alex of Blanco Azabache Interiorismo thought we would like to share this latest project of his with you all. It is a burger joint called EL Quiosc. It is an old house in the center of the town of Mataró (Barcelona) that after abandoning the shoemaker who had his workshop there decided to rent my clients to transform into a gourmet burger, with a industrial retro aesthetics (4 rooms, entrance area + the childs playground). As an aficionado of all things industrial, I love what Alex has done with this space. Lots of rustic and industrial touches with a French and Spanish vibe make this a quirky yet fun and inviting restaurant. There are lots of elements I would love in my own home – from every bit of lighting and seating to the hanging terrariums and tile flooring (YES!). 

Escape. Sandy beaches, simple life. Relax, chill out. After all running away should be like coming home.  Holiday house in Negril, Jamaica by Knibb Design. The best things in life aren’t complicated.

Fancy living in an old garage? Melbourne based architects Hearth have taken a small, utilitarian building and with clever use of space and salvaged or secondhand materials created a elementary but stylish studio apartment. Open plan, yes, and with private areas on view, the point isn’t to be exhibitionist when friends come to visit but to live simply and well in a small space.

Photography by Lauren Bamford.

I too will resume regular posts starting tomorrow (I didn’t receive enough pet entries for today anyway). I thought since I had time this long weekend to do a bit of organizing and photography, that I would share my latest home endeavours. Nothing too serious, mostly just some rearranging to fit all the things I had purchased in Almonte last weekend.

Once again, my kitchen shelving has been reorganized. When I was digging through the basement a few weeks ago looking for items to sell at the Ottawa Antique Show, I came across a vintage brass tea set (?) and some brass pineapples that I had thrifted and bought on Etsy several years ago. I could not let these go, so instead I tried incorporating them in my shelving display, along with my new Catherine Holm bowl I am totally stoked over (and coordinating pot I already had).

Catherine Holm bowl from Samantha Howard Vintage ~ vase from The White Monkey ~ Oaxacan vase bought in Puerto Vallarta ~ thrifted brass pineapple ~ silver egg bought in Puerto Vallarta ~ thrifted brass flower frog ~ Lumberjack candleholder by Normann Copenhagen from The Modern Shop ~ Catherine Holm pot from Etsy shop CrankHeartPony

Love that print (in my new vintage frame) by Emily McDowell purchased at Hello Yellow ~ vintage pot from Almonte ~ vase from The White Monkey

Vintage pot from Almonte ~ Oaxacan skull from Puerto Vallarta ~ candleholder by John Ward from General Fine Craft ~ thrifted Dansk candleholder ~ Hay Denmark scissors from The Modern Shop ~ air plant from Sparrow Floral Design

Saturday while running errands, my husband took us to a wood shop called KJP Select Hardwoods. *SIGH* So many glorious slabs of the most beautiful wood I have ever seen. I spotted a piece of Claro walnut that I had to have. I decided to use it on my dining table as a sort of tray for a centrepiece.

On top I clustered a bunch of pottery I did not have room to display anywhere else. 🙂
Eucalyptus from Sparrow Floral Design in a vintage Hornsea canister ~ a brown West German and no-name vase found in Almonte ~ new bud vase by Michael Doxey and bowl by Don Cormier, both from General Fine Craft

My new West German vase from Almonte now resides on top of my pantry cabinet (one to the far right) along with the rest of my collection and antlers found on a farm in Alberta.

I had purchased some vintage hangers from Tin Barn Market and had hooked them on my stair railing to bring up to my dressing room. They never made it up.

Art from Arte Limited – Lina Ekstrand and Florian Meacci ~ vintage pepsi crate now liquor cabinet from High Jinx

I had purchased a vintage dress form at the Ottawa Antique Show a few weeks ago. I was hoping to have her live in my dressing room but it is too damn small in there so she is hanging out in my bedroom. I dressed her up in some necklaces and a vintage faux fur jacket.

I am SO EXCITED about my new vintage steel medicine cabinet from Tin Barn Market. The medicine cabinet we had there was about half the size and jam packed with my daily toiletries/makeup etc. Now my husband has room for his toiletries as well.

The former medicine cabinet had a handy bar along the bottom where we hung a hand towel. This new one does not have one, so I went down to the dungeon/basement and unearthed an Anthropologie hook I had purchased several years ago and never had a chance to use.