Displaying posts from September, 2016

Outdoor spaces by Moneca Kaiser

Posted on Fri, 16 Sep 2016 by KiM

The property my home sits on has had essentially no landscaping done in the 80 years it has existed. A couple of weeks ago we had our hydro meter replaced so now we have a pile of dirt and rocks in our front yard so it is worse than ever. As much as I would like to design my own landscaping, I really have no clue in that area. I am hopeful that when the time comes to get this work done I will be able to bring in someone to help. And I would love for that someone to be Ottawa-based Moneca Kaiser. Specializing in both interior and exterior renovations, Moneca’s attention to detail and her vision and ethics always WOW me. For example, this home I featured several years ago. So I thought I would share a few of her oudoor projects that are really special. This first one, A Tea House, is my favourite.

“We don’t usually have a dreamy place, a place for reflection. Rooms always have a purpose: the kitchen is for preparing food, the bedroom is to sleep in. But a backyard pagoda or tea house, now there’s a room where you leave time and purpose at the entrance and let daydreams and reflection take hold.” “… and that nourishes the soul as much as the kitchen feeds the body.”

A Spider and Rain Pergola. This pergola was designed to shade in the summer and let the light in throughout the winter months.

A Backyard Retreat. This is a beautiful backyard shed/garage design we created and built in Ottawa that combined the clients need for a storage space and a natural relaxation space. Instead of using a fiberglass hot tub for this backyard spa, we sourced a beautiful wood hot tub and retrofit the stairs to lean a little more towards the clients preferred style.

Stalking a magazine editor’s house

Posted on Fri, 16 Sep 2016 by midcenturyjo

Oooh now it feels creepy. My real estate stalking takes me, in most part, to strangers’ homes and, yes, in this case the owner is still a stranger but it feels like I know him. I’m stalking the Surry Hills house of Vogue Living’s (and late of Belle magazine) editor-in-chief Neale Whitaker. At first I didn’t realise but the two weimaraners were a give away as was the Gillie and Marc portrait. It’s a stylish, light-filled two bedroom terrace house full of books and wonderful artwork. Almost worth a trip to Sydney to attend an open house. No I couldn’t be that creepy. For auction here through BresicWhitney.

A handsome SoHo loft

Posted on Thu, 15 Sep 2016 by KiM

From a bit feminine in my last post, to a bit masculine with this space. This SoHo loft designed by J+G Design is stylish and functional with blue accents added throughout. I can imagine the male homeowner waiting for Jennifer and Georgie to leave after having these photos taken, then immediately tossing in the trash all those flowers and branches and wondering why in the hell there are 8 pillows on the damn sofa. 😉

You can find more of J+G Design’s work here.

Broadhurst Gardens

Posted on Thu, 15 Sep 2016 by KiM

I wanted to share another British location home available via lordshippark.com. I am not usually much of a fan of pastel colours, but the large, rough around the edges reception room that is accented in pinks and blues is really pretty – especially the ceiling details. With a rustic, semi-industrial kitchen and an outdoor space to swoon over, this period home is cozy and so soooo lovely.

A’ Design Awards & Competition – Call for Entries

Posted on Thu, 15 Sep 2016 by midcenturyjo

It’s our second year associated with the prestigious A’ Design Award and Competition and we are excited to share with you not only some of the 2015-2016 winners but also how you can enter your own designs. With over 100 categories the A’ Design Award and Competition is the worlds’ largest design competition. But it is not just an award. It is an indicator of quality and perfection in design, recognized worldwide, your design front and centre before design companies and professionals. Entries will be judged by an international jury panel of scholars, professionals and media members and the benefits to the winners are inspiring. The trophy, of course, an invitation to the gala night, a certificate of quality, inclusion in the prestigious A’ Design Award and Competition exhibition and the yearly ResultBook but even more importantly press, PR, introduction to industry professionals and companies and international exposure.

From the Good Industrial Design Award to the Good Architecture Design Award. The Good Product Design Award to the Good Communication Design Award. The Good Service Design Award to the Good Fashion Design Award and so many more. Are you inspired? Excited? Believe you’ve got what it takes to take on the best of the best design from around the world? You can register for the 2016-2017 A’ Design Award and Competition here.

Platinum A’ Design Award Winner for Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category in 2015

One Main Office by Mark Goulthorpe, Raphael Crespin

Silver A’ Design Award Winner for Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category in 2015

Rising Canes Architecture Modular by Chris Precht

Platinum A’ Design Award Winner for Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category in 2015