I had to share another home filled with deep, warm colours, texture and patterns that I am absolutely in love with, by the inimitable Heidi Callier. The deep salmon colour in the living and dining rooms reminds me of my Red Earth (F&B) dining room. I love earthy terracotta/salmon/red colours that are just so yummy! And hello mustard yellow laundry! Heidi never disappoints.

It’s that time of year when the husband and I start planning our winter getaway trip to Mexico. Because I’m not an ignorant idiot, that won’t be happening for the second year in a row. I suppose I’ll have make up for it with as many beautiful homes and outdoor spaces that have SUMMER written all over them. Like this gorgeous house in Orient Village, North Fork, NY designed by Elizabeth Cooper.

Heidi Callier continues to be one of my all-time favourite designers. I find myself scrolling through the photos of each of her projects to take in every inch of every space. Her impeccable attention to detail, her use of deep and warm colours (and lots of them), her use of many patterns and textures. Somehow she manages to nail all of this in each project and it is never overwhelming. Quite the opposite in fact. I want to dive right in!

I catch myself frequently looking longingly into the backyard wondering when I can enjoy the outdoors again. Especially after getting a dumping of snow this past weekend when we only had a few inches on the ground before that. Winter has officially arrived! I spotted this backyard project recently by Growsgreen and was immediately smitten. This is my dream – no grass and tons of usable space with minimal gardens. The continuous flow from the house to the deck allows for more space at the same level. The dining area outside the kitchen has restaurant-style heaters in the overhang. Vertical beam screens lead one’s eye to the living room of the garden with concrete planters and floating benches large enough to lay on or seat friends around the fire. This area has a barbecue so the chef can join the party, along with a concrete plinth designed for trays of food or for sitting near the barbecue. When styled with planters it acts as a screen for the lower hot tub area. Light-colored materials make the garden feel open while the darker fence grounds the space and creates a backdrop for lush plantings. The translucent green house material designed in Shoji style is something we were most excited about, having seen it used in industrial applications on larger buildings. It becomes an art piece as it reveals shadows that emerge in the morning and change throughout the day.

Photos: Caitlin Atkinson and Growsgreen

Here in Ontario we are back in a state of emergency/stay-at-home order/lockdown #3 so there’s no cute cafés open to go hang out in and eat some avocado toast like this sweet spot, PINKAVO Café in Langley, B.C. designed by studio illa. Love the simplicity of this space and the Cedar and Moss lighting. Happy Sunday, stay home and stay safe!