Friday Fancies – Vignettes

Tags

, ,

Good Morning!

I love vignettes.  I do struggle with making my own look particularly good but I love the process of trying.  There are so many different objects you can use to create them….art, flowers, food, mirrors, books, jewelry….the list goes on.  Emily Henderson gave some styling tips for vignettes during a session at Alt Summit that I attended two years ago…and lemme tell you, she creates a kick-ass vignettes, for example….

via

  A couple of the tips she gave that I recall are 1) to use objects of varying heights to draw the eye to different locations/create different levels and 2) use items with different textures and finishes.  I know there were a few more but those were the ones that stuck.  She’s such a design smarty-pants, no?

Anyhoooo, today I’m sharing some vignettes that I think are quite lovely.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Which are your faves?

And I PROMISE I will be posting Vegas pictures soon but I’m still editing away.

Have a great long weekend!

XO,

signature3

West Elm Summer Preview

Good Morning!

Last night I attended West Elm’s preview of their summer collection. It’s been a couple of months since I’ve been in the Liberty store, and it’s looks great.  Bright and cheery for summer.  Here are some of the highlights.

Colour! Loved the bright display of colourful paper flowers as you walk in the store.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Speaking of bright, how great are these fun pillows?  They would add a bit of happy to any room for summer.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABeing the east coast and spending my summers by the ocean, the beautiful calming sea glass-inspired table top and oceany ombre wall reminded me of home.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIf you haven’t checked out the West Elm Market yet, you are in for a real treat.  They have a ton of very cool and extremely useful items in there.  Personal care items, hardware and tools, camping supplies, food stuffs….you name it.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABut my favourite part of the tour was the outdoor and garden section.  So many things I wanted.  They have succulent plants from the Niagara region and if you like, staff will help you build a gorgeous terrarium with the plants. They have beautiful outdoor furniture, gardening tools, planters, and lots of great pieces for outdoor entertaining.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I personally couldn’t leave without getting a few of the those funky melamine plates (4 for $18!!). I also got the plant mister on the bottom right. I have always wanted a plant mister!

If you are looking to add some love to your home or outdoor space for summer, you should definitely head to West Elm and check it out.

XO,

signature3* this was not a sponsored post.

 

Vacation from my Vacation

Good Morning,

After a whirlwind trip to Vegas, I am back in Toronto.  Mentally I’m still dreaming of the 40 degree heat of the desert, especially since I have arrived back to arctic temperatures in Toronto.  Most yesterday was spent in airports where I was feeling like this…

As many of you said, after a trip to Vegas, you need a vacation from your vacation. I’ll post photos this week but, for now, I am still recovering.

XO,

signature3

Perfectly Pretty Pins

Tags

, ,

Mornin’ Lovers,

I don’t spend as much time on Pinterest as I would like but when I do get a chance to peruse for a moment, I find lots of inspiration. This morning I’m sharing a bunch of pretty pins that have recently given me reason to pause…which I subsequently repinned onto my boards with no pause at all.

This photo demonstrates how I feel this time of year, when I finally start to see the flowers blooming after a long winter. Giddy, like I’m walking in a giant flower garden all the time.

Repinned from Erin Lochener – Photographer: Joong Seok Oh

I just love this room.  I want to park my a$$ in that soft leather Eames-style chair and put my feet up.

Repinned from Heather Childress/originally from stylist Marie Olsson Nylander of Harvest Agency/

I don’t usually wear big chandelier earrings, but if I do, these are a beauties I want hanging from my earlobes.

Repinned from Hansol Kim // from Emma Stine Jewelry

This is such a beautiful photo.

Repinned from Cassandra Lavalle from kemukujara.tumblr.com

This black and while striped Oscar de la Renta gown is STUNNING.

Repinned from Signy Klein via OscarPR Girl

A light air bedroom with open doors to a patio.  Makes me exhale.

Pinned fom Globalist Mix - Photos by Sean Fennessy / styling by Lucy Feagins via thedesignfiles.net .

Marilyn Munroe. Kelly Green. 1946.  Vintage photo goodness.

Pinned from Victoria Fiske – photographer unknown.

This is so true.  How boring would our lives be without at least a little struggle?

Repinned from Erin Lochener – via Whintney English blog

Did I mention I’m off to Vegas tomorrow! I’m excited.

XO,

signature3

Restaurant Design Love: Twenty Five Lusk

Tags

, , ,

Good Morning!

My favorite thing about going to a new restaurant, well, second only to the food/eating part that always comes in first) is checking out the design of the interior.  OK… fine…second favourite since you all know that food/eating is usually the number one priority for me.  That being said eating in beautiful or interesting surroundings really adds to the experience.  It doesn’t have to be fancy or over the top, but I like to see that there was some thought put into the interior.  Today I’m sharing the very cool interiors of the restaurant Twenty Five Lusk in San Francisco.  The space has got clean lines and modern features but it balances that by mixing in natural, rustic materials.  It seems both pristine and cozy.

All photos via the Twenty Five Lusk website

Some of my favourite features? The lighting, the uber-funky hanging fireplaces in the lounge area, and the mix of glossy surfaces and wood beams.

What do you think of this restaurant space?  Has anyone every been?  It’s on my list for my next trip to San Fran, for sure.

Have a great day!

XO,

signature3

Here Comes the Sun!

Tags

, , ,

Good Morning!

This past weekend was gorgeous in Toronto; sunny and 20 to 25 degrees, and the humidity has not set in quite yet. I tried to be outside as much as I could.  I started some planters, cleaned off my patio furniture and soaked in the rays.  Today’s post is inspired by that bright sparkling sun….

1,2,3,4,5,6

Have a great Monday!

XO,

signature3

Fashion Friday: Vegas Outfit

Tags

, ,

Good Morning!

Next Thursday I leave for Vegas, and I’m starting to get excited. However, my what to wear panic is kicking in.  Our itinerary revolves around food (big shocker). The Vegas Uncork’d food event is happening while we are there and we are going to the “Bellagio Block Party – Cured, Smoked, Braised, Grilled and Toasted”.  I am totally pumped for that.  And we also have a few dinner reservations. Considering the heat, I’ve decided that dresses are the best way to go.  Today I’ve whipped up the kind of outfit I’m thinking about.

Vegas Outfit #1
Via my Polyvore (outfit information here)
I am in love with that dress. Although I get very warm so it might be a bit heavy with the “drapey-ness”. Not sure. For those of you who have been to Vegas, what would you recommend for evening outfits?
Have a great weekend!
XO,
signature3

Finding Method in the Madness: Seed Storage

Tags

, ,

Good Morning!

It’s been awhile but I’m back with another installment of…

tag line copy

I have started my seeds for for garden for this year and now my remaining seeds are a big mess of partly ripped dog-eared seed packages….see exhibit A below:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I decided that this year I will try to get them better organized before I put them away for next year.  So, l looked into some easy ideas for containing and organizing your seeds with things I might already have around the house.  Here are a few I came across:

I LOVE this one! Although I rarely buy tictacs….but maybe I should start?

via

This idea is a very good candidate as I already have a few pill containers around.

via

…or maybe I could use this kind of pill container with some pretty labels to cover over the days?

via

I also found a tutorial here on D&G garden and craft on how to make new packages using pages from gardening magazines.

Also, if you don’t think you are going to use all your leftover seeds next year, I found a great DIY for seed tape at Home Made Simple . You can add them to cards or gifts, and they would make great shower gifts for the guests or wedding bonbonieres.

I’ll let you know which one I end of up using!

XO,

signature3

I wanna hold my honey!

Tags

, ,

Good Morning!

These days, I’ve been using honey a lot more as sweetener to try to reduce my use of refined white sugar. And I always buy the regular plastic containers from the grocery store. As it is used over and over it gets sticky and gross which annoys me. Then I though to myself, silly girl, why don’t you just get proper honey jar? So I channeled my inner Winnie the Pooh and rounded up some very cool honey jar options to share with you today.

1,2,3,4,5,6

I think my favourite is the second one with the wooden top, although the glass angular one is pretty cool as well.  Perhaps too cool for me.

Which ones do you like?

XO,

signature3

Last Week’s Loves – April 21st to 28th, 2013

Good Morning!

Looks like spring has finally hit the Toronto area, and it is about time! The weather was great this weekend and I loved it! As for today, since it has been a couple of weeks since I’ve featured my week’s loves, I’m back at it today. There were some great posts around the blog world this past week and here are a few of my faves….

1. I thought this Corrine coral sea fan sculpture featured by Designwali last week is so cool. Part organic, part modern, and totally great. (available at Horchow).

via

2. Design*Sponge featured the Vancouver based company JustPotters, which is part of the JustWork Economic Initiative that employes locals with physical or mental disabilities, those dealing with homeless or addictions and refugees as well as low-income single parents. Their work is awesome and supporting them supports such a great cause!  So happy to learn of such a great Canadian company.

via

3. French Connection has a home decor line?  Um, ya they do!  So happy that Decor8 alerted me of this fact this week. Of course it’s not in Canada yet (shocker), but you can peruse the lovely merchandise here.

via

4. With spring finally here, I’m very excited for a wider selection of fresh flowers.  And what better way to use fresh flowers that this fun flower garland I found on Oh Happy Day this week?

via

 5. When Coco & Kelley featured the wallpaper of Wall & Deco this week I was blown away.  It is some kind of awesome, let me tell you.  How awesome you ask? Well, what you see below is NOT lovely aged tile, it’s wallpaper! How crazy is that?

via

Have a great Monday!

XO,

signature3