Displaying posts labeled "Black"

99% of the posts on this blog are published to inspire our readers. I’d say the other 1% are purely selfish posts that Jo and I post because we find something we adore and want to remember. This is one of those selfish posts. My twin sister sent me this home on Hus & Hem the other day and I went a little nuts. I am in love with the black exterior of this home. I’ve been thinking alot lately about what to do with the interior of my home, particularly the new addition we’re adding, and haven’t given alot of thought to the exterior. But after seeing these photos I WANT A BLACK HOUSE!!! The interior of this home is pretty fabulous too because it’s black and white and that’s what I’d like to do to mine, but with less of a modern/Swedish vibe and more industrial and ethnic bits thrown in.

P.S. My husband and I found 2 local architects that we’d LOVE to work with for the addition we’re planning for the house but one is too busy and the other missed an appointment with us this week. I’m starting to worry we’ll never find anyone so if anyone out there knows of an architect in Ottawa who is creative and likes to think a bit outside the box, please email me @ desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.com. THANKS!!

Pamela Makin has read my mind. How else would she know what I’d like in my beachside home? Hang that. How else would she know what I’d like in my home fullstop? The tribal artifacts, the smooth concrete floors, large striking artwork, views forever and natural textures including beautiful aged timbers teamed with cottons and linens. Les Interieurs is both Pamela’s interior design service and her Palm Beach, NSW store filled with one off pieces sourced from Africa, Thailand, Cambodia and India. Stunning interiors to match the breathtaking views. Sigh.

Sometimes it’s either black or white. You either like it or you don’t. It’s either hard and cold and impersonal or it’s clean and slick and modern. It’s monumental or monstrosity. Sometimes it’s also just a little grey. Although I couldn’t move in and be truly happy there  are elements of this Melbourne home that I really like. The gardens, the concrete floors, the art, the space. Then the little voice in my head goes”nooooo… not for me”. Does it tick the boxes for you or do you want to close the door on it? I’ve been real estate stalking again. The link is here while it lasts.

A few weeks ago Zdenka sent pictures of her adorable pups for Pets on Furniture. I loved what I saw of her Croatian home in the background. Of course I didn’t go lurking straight away. No I only decided to snoop further today. I’m glad I did! Zdenka’s home is amazing. Simple, stylish, fresh and… you can stay there. It’s the House of Gold and perches in a steep winding lane in the medieval village of Motovun. I’m thinking of getting together a house party. Want to come? (If only it wasn’t a dream… I’d love to visit Croatia.) If you want to see what Zdenka started with and her renovation journey visit her blog. It’s not for the faint hearted. OMG what a transformation!

I mentionned here on DTI a while ago that I was working on another home project but I didn’t give away too many details. I FINALLY finished and now it’s time to share.

I had grown VERY tired of the ugliness of my main bathroom. One day I hope to gut the space and completely redo every piece of it but in the meantime the ugliness was getting on my last nerve. And I needed a project because I just wasn’t busy enough. (HA). So here are a couple photos of the bathroom before I tackled it – and this is how it had been since I bought the home more than two years ago.

Trust me, it was even worse in person. The linoleum floor was scratched to sh*t, and so dirty and stained it was impossible to clean. The main light fixture, medicine cabinet, towel bar, light switch plate, outlet plate, toilet paper holder were ALL made of nasty wood. SO GROSS. I’m pretty sure the cabinet over the toilet was hung upside down. The faucet was probably the cheapest one you could buy and was missing a piece on the front to cover the screw. The walls were white and BORING. There’s a small window to the left of the toilet that had bright green plastic blinds hanging. There’s a second light fixture on the wall opposite the sink that had a nasty 80s vibe. The whole space was just awful. Until I can gut the room, I decided to do a cheap makeover. Some leftover paint, new inexpensive faucet and lighting, addition of a chair rail, cheap lino peel and stick tiles, some items brought in from other spaces around my house to decorate and VOILA, a temporary fix to keep me from losing my mind.