Because I was stuck at work well into the evening yesterday, I didn’t have time to get a post ready for this afternoon. And since I just got back from the upholsterer, I figured maybe I could get away with just posting my chairs with their new cushions I picked up. It was a bit costly, but OMG soooo worth it. She did an amazing job. Now if I can just keep the damn cats off them…

Like Jo, I have been so busy the last week or so trying to get some work done in my house. There are some exciting things coming up that involve my place and Jo’s that we’ll tell you about when we can. But in the meantime instead of doing a regular post (since I am lacking in time) I thought I’d post what I’ve been working on, and purchasing, lately.

For starters, I spent a few hours yesterday (with some help…thanks Jeff!!) putting up a forest mural in my living room. It was painstaking, and worrisome because we ended up with alot of bubbling, but this morning when I went downstairs, I was relieved to find out they pretty much all flattened out once it dried. PHEW. I love the result. It’s kind of wacky, and that’s my style. The cat on the couch is a pillow I bought on Etsy. Nah, just kidding, that’s Jo’s favourite cat Lucky.

Now for the office. Last weekend I painted the office floor-to-ceiling white. I finally said buh bye to pale blue walls, and ugly light oak hardwood. The room is SO MUCH BRIGHTER now. It gets alot of sunlight throughout the day, and with everything white, it’s just such a nice room to spend time in, as I do…ALOT. My desk was super long, so I cut it down and covered it in some eBay fabric I’ve had for a while. Jo suggested I paint the door leading to the back deck yellow, and it looks awesome. I have a ton more work to do in there but it’s a good start.

I’ve gone a little nuts lately on eBay and Etsy (and local shops) looking for trinkets and furniture to finish off some rooms with. Today I received 3 parcels, and am waiting for a bunch more. They included the pincushion chair, the resin grapes and the metal tray. The lamp I bought yesterday at a mid-century modern store here, and the table I bought last week at Value Village. It really needs a coat of paint, and I’m not sure what to do with it. I also have 2 chair cushions at an upholsterer so more photos to come hopefully later in the week.

Kim wrote us hoping we could help her with a design dilemma: “I am a uni student living on campus. My uni room is quite large and easily fits a king sized bed, a bar fridge, a bedside table and two tables. I am looking for an ethnic and minimal look (if that even exists). The walls are the real ugly dorm room walls. I have tried covering two of them up with pictures but am left with one really large blank wall. Any more pictures will definitively defeat the minimal look I’m going for. Any suggestions?? The room currently has a burgundy Thai bedspread with silk cushions, Turkish carpet and a Moroccan inspired lantern. Any help is appreciated!!”

Kim – your room sounds gorgeous so far! I have a couple of suggestions for you – an ornate wood mirror, carved wooden panels, a fab piece of fabric simply tacked up, or a big (but flat) tropical plant. Below are some photos of ethnic bedrooms and a couple living rooms for inspiration. We’d love to see photos of the room once completed!

Gaelle Le Boulicaut	Gaelle Le Boulicaut
PointClickHome	indigo design
Selina Lake	Canadian House and Home
Muriel Brandolini	Heather Cameron
Gaelle Le Boulicaut	House of Pictures
Living at Home	Domino
Johnny Bouchier	Marie Claire Maison

I just got back from the flea market, which is REALLY crappy and the only one we have here. But I managed to score, big time. I think Jo and I are starting a peacock chair collection – not that either of us have room for several of these chairs in our small spaces, but when you spot a really decent quality one for TWELVE dollars, you’ve just got to scoop it up. Which is exactly what I did. I also picked up 2 terracotta buddha heads for my backyard for $10 each, a brass peacock for $5, a brass vase for $7, a West German vase for $15, and a painting for $6. All in a morning’s work.

Penny wrote us recently with what I’d have to say is the toughest request yet: “In the next few months, I am going to begin renovating a big barn on my property in France to turn into a “great room” (kitchen/living room). I have been trying to collect photos from magazines with modern kitchens/living rooms in renovated barns, but I have only come across a few. Do you have any such photos that you could post on your blog?” The simplest answer to Penny’s question is no. But what I did find are photos of lofty spaces that are multi-purpose, that might help with ideas on layout. Penny – are you ever lucky! A barn conversion would be a blast! Hope this helps get your creative juices flowing.

Åsberg Interiör & Styling	Eugeni Pons
fernlund + logan	Film Locations
Gorlin Architects	Nelson Kon
New York Social Diary	The New York Times
Philippe Starck	Shoot Factory
Style at Home	Toshiko Mori
Urban Spaces	William Hefner
House of Pictures	Lagerlings