Friday, February 29, 2008

Mission Complete



Here is the finished product, its only been oh 6 months since I decided this poor and sad chair had to be banished to the basement until its repairs could be done, however once an item reaches the depths of the basement its tough to see the light again. Which is why I use my dining room as my perpetual project room, its true what they say out of sight out of mind. Total cost to rebuild this chair, $15.49 including fabric and trim , everything. I am still waiting to get a quote from local upholsterer.That's questionable business practice to keep me waiting.
Just one rather bad glue gun burn and a few little nicks to my hands from previous staple removal. Well worth it .


A piece of Masonite cut to size, and screwed to the frame, adds stability and a solid base.
My second work station the living room coffee table, much easier on the knees.




Thursday, February 28, 2008

One step forward.

Partial after, the chair is coming along , I love the look of the fabric and the color, I will still need to find a nice trim to cover the staples, as the tacs will not work , they would still show the staples yuck. And get some plywood and cut it out for the base with the jigsaw. The back of the chair is still the stripe.
This is the picture that has been drawing me in, I love the wall color , this is what started me on making my bedroom walls darker , I have toyed with deep brown , but I think the deep grey is better for me.

I am so itching to get some of this painting done, but the weather is bringing me down. I have so many plans , paint the bedroom, paint the family room and deal with the ceiling and also paint the front living room, everything feels in transition. Will it ever be done, I think not.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I had to show you this

I am not sure of the prices of these pieces but look how lovely.


I love this bookcase with doors , couldn't you easily find a spot for it , I believe it is just over $500.00 , don't for get to check places like Home Depot Online for deals like these. http://www.homedepot.ca/


Look at these fantastic pieces from Home Depot Canada, the top one is $649.00
This one is $529.00
This one is $649.00 I can not believe what a great deal these are , and how do you decide ? Way to go.


I found this mocha velvet ribbon it was the perfect accent to my lamp shade . I love velvet ribbon.
Sophie comes up with the cutest outfits at times, she likes shrunken things, she is so petite, she is maybe 43lbs and 6 1/2 yrs , that's lightweight. I loved this outfit capris and matching brown belt and sneakers, they are velvet with embroidered flowers on them, adorable , and white tube socks, she looked so preppy hopping down the stairs in this outfit, it gave her some spring in her step, she is starting to try multiple outfits each day , for instance last night she picked and laid out an outfit and this morning on the bed was a completely different ensemble , if only she could remember to put her things away. Ah teenagers, I mean six year olds. I gave her hair a good chop the other night , she calls it short now, funny, it has a little it of wave and almost never lets me put it up , I love all one length long straight hair on little girls.


Tuesday, February 26, 2008

What did I start?

Things are coming along in the family room, I am not sure about the pale grey color for the wall change , as it is cool and the blues are cool, perhaps I need some warmth , I am think a nice cream color, now the search is on for a cream, I can not say enough how important it is to spring for those small pots of paint and try good sized sample boards around a room, its worth saving a mistake and choosing a color that won't make you happy. My settee decision has also changed after buying a yard of robin's egg blue linen look fabric, it had a lot of gray in it , but clearly it was not right, I need a more neutral fabric, a linen look yes, but in a sandy beige as to blend in with the other pieces in the room, I will play with fabrics with pattern on the pillows. I am very happy with the table and the roman's, the wall decor and painting black the mirror. I also updated the lamp shade on the floor lamp it is a green Channel type woven , I might embellish it a bit more , but there is time.

I have dismantled the desk chair that the springs were all a mess, it was so gross , I don't know how old this chair is as it was a garbage pick up , about 8 years ago, the woman threw out a perfectly good and solid chair because its cream fabric was soiled, so I have had it in toile , and this stripe, of course, and now is time for its third makeover under my ownership, I am still waiting for a quote from an upholsterer , it's taking longer than I think that it should have, however after pulling all the horse hair and springs and staples and nails out of it it is ready for a rebuild , but why springs? I will build it like my dining room chairs, cut a piece of plywood the shape of the chair, crew it from underneath and buy new foam and it will have a foam seat much more my speed. I will use the blue fabric I picked up for the settee , but the back of the chair will remain the stripe and all the front pieces will be the linen type blue, with nail studs, probably in black. I really love this chair , and it was free , what could be better.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Sarah , Tommy and the crew

This is Sarah and co. idea of a country space, the shell is a tent , a wood frame tent from somewhere near the Yukon, all the suppliers are Canadian , I missed the info card for this space, can you believe that. The line up was long long long, but so worth it. FYI Sarah wants the next big color to be APRICOT I love this art , I could use a few of those. Lovely neutral sofa , and gorgeous pillows , of course. A great mix of modern accessories and rustic as well as traditional pieces, Sarah says she does not intentionally pick some modern some traditional , she just picks what she likes, boy she just has a great eye.
Sorry the photo is so fuzzy , I had a rude woman behind me venting that I was making the line move slowly, old bag.


I love this bed how inviting, I love an upholstered bed, what a wonderful fabric. Note the Canadiana the plexi moose above the bed. Is that man kneeling at the bed she has created?



Here is a great example of glass counters , so intense in color, you can use it anywhere. Ok I am seeing it now , in my kitchen. A little windex or even better water and vinegar.

In the US you can find Design Inc on Fine Living Channel Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30 pm.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Today's Interior Design Show

Mason was sick with strep throat , so this was not the family affair it was supposed to be , but I did manage to bribe my youngest with a Webkinz accessory for her to join me, I know sad but true. I will say it was great ,10 years and I have only made it to the last two. So many amazing things , wonderful suppliers for people like myself about to start a design business, inspiring and even fun for a 6 year old, when was the last time you saw a inflated igloo or could go into the middle of velum drapery panels all artistically displayed, or stand beside the largest lamp we have ever seen, and walked through some of the best Canadian designers showcase spaces ever seen, and see gold fish really friendly goldfish. A feast for the eyes.
This is a beautiful piece of ceramic,done by www.kosoyandbouchard.com
Here in Brian Gluckstein's design house were even a bowl of goldfish.
Canadian House and Home had a most beautiful room , I loved it .

I could find a place for those raspberry colored velvet chairs.
A perfectly incorporated work area , and still beautiful.
Well this metal chair I can go on without , Sophie was shocked by it.

How funny is that , now seriously who would want that or could move that ?
The highlight was having Sarah Richardson come out to speak , the place was over flowing with fans , standing room mostly , there was seating for 700 and there must have been double that there. www.designinc.ca
I love this light , how fun is that , feathers.
Brian Gluckstein always does these double height rooms with libraries, signature detail, this was the foyer.
This the living room , he suggests taking out spare bedrooms to acheive this look.


This is my dream stove , I would have to rebuilt my kitchen to fit it in and I don't do gas stoves so really I will never have it , but it is a beauty isn't it.
Yes someone has knitted sweaters for the bench and tree trunks, actually they were pvc pipe, again who???
These were brilliant , these little cubbies would be a great storage, arranged however you like ,as well they were painted enamel, I love enameled things.
This was the neatest thing I saw by a long shot, a corner of a house door, so clever. Outside view.

Inside view. Looks like a phone booth huh?


I can't get enough of this glass , the counters in painted glass the back splash and the whole shower , I can have more stripes, love it . ( the painted counters I didn't get a photo of ) www.designerglassco.com
These fantastic inflated igloos would be the best for an outside party , set up low lounge benches, serve some wonderful cocktails voila , Divine. Kids might enjoy these too ?

Tables with dedicate tipped spindly legs.
I am saving Sarah's version of a country space for tomorrow, it is so good it deserves its own post, good night all.