Happy New Year

My new Decorating Mantra for 2009:

“Even if you’ve spent a lot of money for something, if it doesn’t work, throw it out. Otherwise, it holds the entire room hostage." Frank Faulkner

Love this image of Kate Spade’s apartment from 'Style Court’

I found this quote from ‘Things that Inspire’, you must read her ‘Favourite Posts of 2008 ’. The best piece of that post was her advice on actually gathering her favourites; to cut and paste the URL of a post she loves and save it on a word document! (Update: I have mine now for the first 6 months of 2009, see below)

Hope you all have a wonderful evening whether you stay in or paint the town red!

Related post:

10 of my favourite Posts

Faceted Curtains

A new design concept which offers a variety of different shapes to open curtains. Designed by Hannah Allijin by simply pulling strings at the side of the corded curtain track the curtains begin to move. The fabric is made up with triangles which folded together one by one. As the cord is pulled various geometric shapes form until they stopped at the corner.

The idea behind the concept was to ‘eliminate the colossus which arise when curtains are opened. The challenge is to change a big surface into a small form in different ways’.

This is a great way to bring curtains alive and interesting during they day. At night the cord is released and the weight will return the curtain back to its ‘closed’ state.

An ideal way to bring as much or as little light into a room as needed; as well as offering a great way to keep prying eyes out of a room by lifting the corner edges just enough to only let the light in!

The appearance reminds me somewhat of scrunched up paper! The Faceted curtains add fun and trendy way to dress a window. The plain neutral colours would blend with virtually all design colour schemes and interior styles; from traditional through to contemporary. An ideal window treatment for awkward shaped windows or those which are hard to reach, such as a landing.

For further information on Hannah Allijin’s Faceted curtains visit Yanko Designs

Image source: Yanko Designs.

Another Glimpse into a Designer’s Home

This has been the most social season ever! I have some amazing new friends--two I’ve met in the last month through blogging [Patricia Gray and Michelle Morelan]! One of my wonderful new friends, Jennifer Rudolph [Blue Garnet Design], hosted a holiday cocktail party on the weekend.

They live in a great character apartment on south Granville. This is her entry vignette, love the contemporary bowl and sexy flowing branch in the teak vase.

I heart her pillow shams! How organic and Scandinavian they look. And they have the ‘MALM’ bedroom suite from IKEA which is such a great contemporary look, it’s hard to believe it comes from there. However, we designers are usually pretty good at cherry picking the best looking bargains, that’s for sure!

This is a wonderful sculpture in their bedroom—a gift from her husband.

Love the decorated mantle – my favourite colour!

Here is her nordic inspired christmas tree, I fell in love with the white crochet balls with the red reindeer!

Host and Hostess, Duane and Jennifer Rudolph

Colour me Kelly Green!

Jamie Drake is in this month’s Elle Decor so I went on his website [so beautiful] and picked my favourite, which is this Manhattan Residence decorated in kelly green, white & brown.

I have been predicting that this colour is coming back for over a year now and here it is in one if Jamie’s interiors! Greens have been yellow based for many years now so the pendulum has to swing back to the bluer greens which has certainly happened with the blue and chocolate brown combination – that blue has moved to teal which is huge in designer fabrics right now.

Jamie loves large, oversized round ottomans. They are certainly a great piece in a big living room that doesn’t cut off the other side of the room while providing extra seating.

Notice how he’s combined a fresh clean, yellowy green with the kelly. I once had a designer friend of mine say “All greens go together” and in most cases, I think she’s right.

Love these Barbara Barry inspired dining chairs (I think her circles are wider so I’m not sure if these are the same ones).

The piece that makes Kelly green (which is suspiciously close to Forest Green from the 80’s) look fresh and new is pairing it with white which is what all the designers [that use this colour] are doing.

Fusion Table

Many of us struggle to find space to have such large games tables in our homes. Here is the solution. This beautiful sleek wooden table ‘Fusion’ has an element of surprise! Simply slide the top off and underneath is a pool, billiard games table!

The table is made from different natural woods or metal to fit into both modern and traditional style homes with ease. It makes a real change to see such an innovative design actually photographed in a ‘normal’ home setting, complete with a wall bookcase/shelving and simple white venetian blinds; it enables you to realistically say ‘yes’ I could have one of those and it would be practical and functional for dining as well as playing pool or billiards.

As those of you who follow my blog have probably realised I admit to being a bit of a ‘wood’ lover! This beautiful Fusion walnut table is simply stunning in its sleek design. No fussiness about this table, the designers Aramith have used clean lines and sturdiness in a fashionable and stylish way.

The metal version may be more suitable for contemporary interior design styles which favour white or black décor and furnishings or ‘outside’ terraced dining areas for those who live in warmer climates than the UK!

The height of the table is adjustable to differentiate between dining and 'playing'; it is even possible to choose the colour of the felt on the pool/billiard table for a completely coordinated look in the dining room!

For further details of sizes and design styles visit Fusion

Image source: www.notcot.com

Garden Fresh Holiday Decorating

I came across these images from Southern Living that were so fresh, I had to post them! Enjoy.

Related post:

Why are Red & Green the Colours of Christmas?

Christmas Ornaments

The Private Spaces of Top Fashion Designers

Christmas Day

I received this lovely book from my sister Lea for Christmas! Happily, it's been on my list to buy and she didn't even know it!

Along with fabulous images of their homes, the author, Marie Bariller, interviewed each designer, and she asked Damiano Biella [artistic director of Escada]:

"If you were a color, what would you be?" Chocolate. (I've added my interpretation with photos of their answers)

If you were a house, what would you be? An English Manor house.

If you were an item of furniture? A chaise lounge.

If you were an era, what would you be? Tomorrow.

If you were a fabric, what would you be? Velvet

Is decorating a house the same as clothing a body?

It is exactly the same. In fashion design, you need an overall vision. When you imagine a shirt, you think of what goes with it, how it will be shown, the places where it will be sold, who will wear it, and how it will be arranged with other garments bought elsewhere. . . It is exactly the same with interior decoration: a combination of elements, materials, colors, fragrances, and light. The senses are alive in both these spheres.

Interview with Dolce & Gabbana: If you were a fabric, what would you be?
Stefano Gabbana: Slightly torn denim; Domenico Dolce: Black Velvet

If you were a painting, what would you be? S.G. A Passion or an Ecstasy from the Mannerist period, or perhaps a painting by Andy Warhol.

D.D. Something by Julian Schnabel


What are your favourite color combinations in interior design? Are they the same as those you use in fashion?

D.D. I find that black is, absolutely, the most elegant color. An ebony chest of drawers is, in my view, highly stylish, just as a black evening dress can be.

S.G. Art and architecture have always been a great source of inspiration for me. Similarily, the fashion that we create influences the way I see other art forms. Animal motifs, black, and gold are the colors I prefer, both for clothes and for furniture.

Interview with Christian Louboutin: [Creator of the celebrated red-soled shoes]

If you were a color, what would you be? The red of my shoes.

If you were a painting, what would you be? A poster for the Adventures of Tintin: Land of Black Gold.

What sort of atmosphere do you like to create in a house? The only things I don't like are empty interiors and interiors that are too technical, where the most important place is occupied by the stereo or television.
Interview with Elie Saab:

If you were a color, what would you be. Stone.

Do you have a motto in interior decoration? Space and Light.

Elie Saab

What sort of atmosphere do you like to create in a house? An atmosphere that reflects who I am, and where there is life.


That is a motto we could all strive to decorate by!

Glass Bed

This contemporary designed bed frame and surround is made from glass, ideal for grand interiors and those wishing to make a real statement in the bed room!

The elongated headboard has a series of three steps on which to rest the pillows at different levels and angles, which also offer space for putting your clock or a, table lamp or two, but to be honest I think that would be defeating the object in the plainness of this dramatic bed!

The overall dimensions of the Glass Bed are quite immense, a pretty large bedroom would be needed to accommodate it.

There is something quirky about this bed which really appeals to me! I think it’s the sense of space and clean lines it offers. The black pillows and what I can only assume is the mattress provide a striking visual impact. The little tufts of white ‘feathers’ adds a quirky interest! I think the bed would look equally stunning with bright white accessories!

I wonder how cold the glass is to the touch? Something the Italians have less to worry about than us in the UK! Touching the glass may be just the thing on hot sultry nights!

Designed by the Italian studios Santambrogio Milan, Glass Bed has also been designed with the series of steps which come down two sides offering a more compacted version and ‘looks’ to hold the mattress more securely in place.


For further details of Glass Bed visit fuzbiz , translation from French will be needed!

Image source: www.fubiz.net/blog

Map Quilts

Map quilts by textile artist Leah Evans are simply stunning. Each design features hand sewn map in the finest details. Leah uses numerous different embroidery techniques as well as a variety of other textile applications such as appliqué, hand dyeing, piercing and needle-felting to make each unique quilt.

The designs are based on imagery from aerial photography, maps and satellite images, however, the quilts are not merely copies of these map sources they have been beautifully and skilfully created to make imaginary lands using elements from different maps.

I love the tones of colours used on each individual piece, and while they do indeed look like maps with rivers, lakes and contours they are quite simply stunning in my opinion. They must take hours of painstaking detailed work and dedication to create.

The Map Quilts offers a sense of old world charm in a modern effect. They would look superb in bedrooms with old cottage style interior design themes or equally effective in a modern setting. Coordinated with natural flooring and soft pastel curtains such as Cubik, the most peaceful settings can be created for wonderful calm and restful sleeping; being transport to the land of dreams in an instant!

During the development of the Map Quilt Leah created equally stunning samples which she called ‘estuary‘, ‘tundra‘, ‘alluvial fields’ and ‘braided field’ all in the most exquisite detail and workmanship.

If you would like to discover more about Lean Evans work visit designboom

Image source: Designboom

Happy Christmas

Well we’re off to drive out to my sister’s place for Christmas through the ice and snow, it’s supposed to snow some more tonight so we thought we’d head out now!

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!  Thanks for reading my blog and for your comments!

Happy Dilemma

I am getting a silver MacBook for Christmas, yippee! My old PC is on it's last legs, it is sooooo slow and there is no way to shut off the flashing red, blue, green, white flashing screen (when it goes on screensaver) so apparently, that means my screen is toast as well!

So now I need to decide which case I want (these are from amazon.com) and I'm having a hard time, they are all so great, so I'm doing a poll! What do you think? Which one should I choose?

So far the polka-dot one is my fav but then I saw this cool striped one as well!!

I love the graphics on this one but there's no yellow in it :(

This one is cool too but it's got a white background and I'm worried that it'll get dirty quicker!

Love this black and white pattern but I thought I should get a colourful one cause I'm a colour gal. . .

So tell me my sweets, which one shall it be?

Contemporary Heating Solution

Radiators can be very mundane, this contemporary design by Danny Wan brings a great Heating Solution into a modern home in a new exciting and practical way.

Virtually all rooms have radiator which situated under a window. As any cool air being generated will be warmed. Which is fine during the day when curtains are opened, however at night it’s a different story! Hang the curtains over the radiator and you’ll loose the heat behind them which is neither practical or energy efficient. Trying to drop the curtains behind the radiator is a time consuming nightmare which simply spoils the hang and line of the curtains.

Having ready made curtainsready made curtains which hang just below the window sill so that they don’t interfere with the rising heat is the ideal solution.

Danny Wan’s Heating Solution uses the fundamental principles of hot air rising. Ad the air is heated it rises up through each tube and is expelled from the top vents. As the heat is generated inside the pipes it will radiate outwards providing heat for the lower half of a room as well.

Who would want to try and disguise or hide this beautiful chromed radiator as they do with ‘usual‘ radiators by painting or having covers over them? The striking simplicity of the quite chunky pipes reminds of an church organ and exhaust pipes! Majestic, beautiful to look at and functional, what more could you ask for?

The polished chrome appearance makes a very welcome change from white and would compliment bathroom fixtures and fittings perfectly.

Visit yankodesigns for more information and image source.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

As I am typing this entry, the weather has made a quick turn about back to winter. This seems to be typical for our area of the country. The holidays are almost upon us, in the same manner. One minute we are in the middle of summer, then Labor Day arrives, and the next thing you know -we are zooming into Thanksgiving and Christmas. (Or, it could just be because the local radio station began playing Christmas tunes at the end of October!)

It isn't as if we don't have 365 days advance notice for preparation! And the same goes for birthdays, taxes - ugh! - and all of the annual events in our lives. We just have so many plates spinning in the air, we all do our best to keep them going, and the truth of the matter is, eventually one of them may fall. Something will be forgotten . . . and hopefully, it isn't earth shattering. (No pun intended!) Some to-do lists will be a little behind and maybe, even someone will be a little disappointed. And, in the end, we'll all get a little closer to our humanity and all of the imperfections and missteps will be forgiven. If it really is about the thought being what counts, we should all be in good stead.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! My special thoughts are being sent, for good cheer, good fortune, and to find a world of peace - all wrapped up in a big, red bow!

Happiness is. . . Enthusiasm!

To the woman who complained that riches hadn't made her happy, the Master said "You speak as if luxury and comfort were ingredients of happiness; whereas all you need to be really happy, my dear, is something to be enthusiastic about. Anthony de Mello

Orange is the colour of enthusiasm!

image from flickr

Sexy in the City

I was lucky enough to be invited to Patricia Gray’s holiday open house in her brand new, completely renovated, swanky townhouse right downtown in my favorite section of the city [I have always wanted to see what the inside of these fabulous walk-ups look like].

I have a few sneak peaks of her place, [to be officially photographed and published very soon] I couldn’t resist snapping a photo of this little ‘tablescape’ in her fabulous modern ensuite!

There’s something so sexy about a contemporary space juxtaposed with antiques, Patricia is a master at combining the two! This is a photo from her blog showcasing her recently installed custom made banquette in her breakfast nook, antique Georgian chairs, upholstered in white leather and a contemporary Saarinen table.

Patricia Gray & Maria Killam

She had this Hermes blanket (in beige and cream) draped over a chair in her living room – Now I want one!!

I met another blogger, Michelle Morelan from A Schematic Life. The blogging world is so much fun-- because you’ve been reading their blog already--it’s an instant connection!

We met two lovely women from Lightform, Jaime Bishop and Heather Merenda.

It was a rare [for Vancouver] and wonderful snowy evening, this is a shot of the lights and snow on the tree right outside her place from her den. You can just see a corner of the fuzzy, faux fur throw on her white slipcovered sofa! Love the simple panel with the black border!

Patricia’s Christmas tree was simple but sexy, decorated with silver and red balls, and then she had placed vases of lush evergreens throughout her townhouse.

This is Patricia’s brother-in-law John who is her supplier of high-end hard window coverings which had recently been installed on all her windows!

There were many books in her fabulous library that I need to add to mine, here are some of them.

This one ‘defining Luxury’ by Jeffrey Bilhuber I just picked up last week, so stay tuned for some excerpts. It’s beautiful! Full of luxurious images with all my favourite colours!

Make sure you check out Patricia Gray’s blog, it’s a sophisticated and up-to-the-minute, intelligent blog with everything that's current in interior design today!