It’s Sunday, and you can stay home and clean and do some really exciting meal prepping for this week (that’s what I’m doing on this rainy day) or you can go out and do something for YOU like get your nails done. Something I haven’t done in probably 20 years. EEEKKKK. Laquerbar in the San Francisco Bay Area promises great nails, great drinks, and unabashedly feminist values. Sweet! Monochromatic themes of pink and purple with light wood finishes and raw concrete came together for a fresh, millennial-friendly, yet sophisticated vibe. An oversized gallery wall of female icons and role models completes the space’s fun, girl-power attitude. Designed by Form + Field.

Sometimes all it takes is some modern artwork, some bold accent furniture and accessories, statement lighting, maybe a bit of graphic wallpaper and tile…. Coates Place was a 4 bed student flat that had seen better days, and after a complete home renovation, including new central heating system, a few new doorways and a kitchen relocation, the apartment is now a contemporary city pad fit for today’s living. Designed by Mr Buckley Interiors.

Villa Castelluccio is a restored villa located in the heart of Puglia, Italy, set within 5 acres of olive groves. Designer Andrew Trotter was brought on to assist with renovations and interior design of this beautiful home which is available as a rental vacation property. Sign me up!!! This would be such a relaxing, calming space to spend time in, while enjoying the traditional Puglian architecture.

Photos: Salva Lopez

At the beginning of August I received a surprise direct message in Instagram from local photo-based artist Christine Fitzgerald. I recognized her name immediately because I have admired her work that is sold through Studio Sixty Six, an art gallery here in Ottawa. She received a government grant for a project and decided to photograph gardeners in the time of the pandemic, and to my absolute delight, she wanted to include me. Her process is very antiquated, involving wet collodion photographic plates and the subject standing completely still for upwards of 12 seconds. Christopher Snow, a videographer, produced a video on Christine’s process and this latest project of hers which explains more in detail of how she created these incredibly beautiful photos.

For those who don’t know what I look like, this was my photo, shot in my backyard with my potted flowering hostas in front of me.

I am so honoured to be part of Christine’s project. It’s been a very tough year for me, and the month of August in particular as my husband spent it in Prince Edward Island saying goodbye to his father who passed away a couple of weeks ago and on my birthday (while my husband was still away), I had to make the really heartbreaking decision to have our sweet cat Milo, who had been with us about 16 years, put down due to the sudden onset of an apparent brain tumour. Seeing the results of this photo shoot and being a part of something so special is something I will not soon forget. My backyard had been my refuge during all of this so it really meant alot to me.

I wanted to share some screenshots of Christine’s work available at Studio Sixty Six. Each one is just stunning.

And because I am slightly obsessed with this 8mm film filter I found on Instagram, here are some photos I snapped around the yard.

This art-filled Georgian Revival home in Charlotte, North Carolina was designed to be family friendly and is so warm, comfortable and casual. Style was not compromised here, and I am particularly smitten with the simple, Parisian café vibe of the kitchen. The home has a subtle beachy, Caribbean vibe. By interior designer Barrie Benson.