Love It!: Pillar Candle Chandeliers

Design by Windsor Smith via Decorpad

There is something about pillar candle chandeliers that really appeal to me.

I had been planning for something a little more, shall we say, glittery for over our dining table, but I'm being won over by the rustic appeal of these types of light fixtures. What do you think?

Photo 2 via undeniablestyle.com
3 and 4 via furniturefashion.com

Bright, Cheerful and Functional: That's cobistyle

You know me, I'm always trying to find ways to make things I like (ie: light-coloured fabrics) functional and worry free. I don't want to have to freak out every time someone sits on my chair holding a glass of red wine and I don't want to have to start banning my niece and nephews from coming over. Which is why I think the new collaboration from Cobi Ladner (former editor of House and Home) and Joanne Fabrics is so great. Cobi has recently launched cobistyle, a new line of upholstered items and decorative accessories that went on sale in Canadian stores this month.

And the upholstered pieces can be purchased in her "high performance" fabrics too. Like the indoor outdoor fabrics Trina Turk designed for Schumacher (I love the Peacock Print in Driftwood) or the velvets now produced by Sunbrella, these can be used inside or outside and are great for spills or wiping away dirt. Just great for a living or dining room chair or a banquette. I'm sold.

“When I started cobistyle, I made a promise that I would never add to the marketplace more of the same. I believe your home should reflect your own unique character and make you happy. In order to do that, we need choices we can fall in love with!” ~ Cobi Ladner

New House Purchase: Carrera Marble Washstand

Do you remember my post awhile back about finding a vanity just like this one for a steal (the one above is from Restoration Hardware)? And how my husband wasn't thrilled about the style? And then I was all heartbroken and what not? Well, good news! After searching high and low for something else we liked M finally came around and decided he liked this washstand (which he's dubbed The Spider) after all. My faith in my superior powers of persuasion has been restored!

So yesterday we went to buy it and...guess what? It was even cheaper than the first time I looked at it. This never happens to me. Obviously this washstand and I were meant to be. Now I just have to decide on what fixtures to put with it and whether or not I want to change out the builder tile. I'm not 100% on doing that yet. I'd like to but there are definitely more important house things to spend money on first.

Due to exposed pipes M says he'll be installing
a finishing valve like this one from Dahl.

Same with wallpaper. I'm planning on wallpapering our powder room and because it's a small space it will be relatively affordable if I'm good and pick relatively affordable wallpaper, but I may just paint it for now and do wallpaper down the road. I guess we'll just have to see where we're at when the time comes.
Oh, and I'll need to buy a toilet paper holder, garbage can, mirror and light fixture. How is it my lists just keep getting longer?! There is the issue of lack of storage with this vanity, but I'm not too concerned as it is just for a powder room and I can always put a basket or something underneath if I feel the need.

Anyway, I'm just glad that the powder room vanity can now be crossed off our house To Do list! We had a pretty productive weekend in terms of furniture too, I think we've narrowed down our couch ideas and found some great contenders for a table. Oh, and yesterday I went to try Five Guys Burgers. I've heard a lot about them and decided I wanted to see what the buzz was about. When I got there the line was out the door. My verdict? Burger was definitely good, fries were meh, I doubt I would wait in that line up again. Have you tried Five Guys? What did you think?

The Great Couch Debate: Leather vs. Fabric

If I had unlimited funds, no husband, and someone to constantly clean up after me I know exactly how I'd like to decorate my house. Considering I don't, I'd like to keep the one I have, and that person is generally me, the things I'd love to see in my house are not always practical.

White sofa? Not so much. Light coloured dining chairs? Likely not the best option. Carrera marble countertops? A bit too much trouble for me. Same goes with a sofa in a brightly coloured hue. Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of changing out large pieces of furniture on a yearly basis so I'll stick with throw pillows to inject some colour into a room.

All of this debating--weighing what's beautiful against what's comfortable, what's practical against what's stylish--came to a head this weekend when we went looking for furniture. Originally M campaigned for a sectional sofa, but based on the layout of the room we've ruled it out. Then he sat on a leather sofa and fell in love. This couch was the real deal--good quality, supple leather with decent lines (I'm not into the uber modern leather look) and a good colour (I happen to love a vintage-y looking brown for leather but unfortunately it doesn't go with what we have, so the search has been on for a workable leather in another colour).

How great are the colours in this room?!

And while a good leather couch is likely more expensive than one in fabric it's also probably more durable and a hell of a lot easier to keep clean. I've always been drawn to a tufted, chesterfield-style sofa but have come to find that while beautiful it's also not as comfortable as other options, and I do want a couch that we want to curl up in.

So the question remains: leather or fabric? The decision needs to be made soon. Maybe one of each? I'd love to know what you think!


Photos via Decorpad

Wallpapered Ceilings

This living room was one of my fave images from the

new issue of Lonny. I'm loving the added interest

of the ceiling--and that fab chandelier.

What do you think?

Ikea's Glamorous Black Country Kitchen

I haven't posted much about the Interior Design show, but one of my fave booths (and an award winner) is the IKEA Dream Kitchen. I'm really impressed at how IKEA has stepped up their game lately, producing some really pretty and reasonably priced kitchens.

I would love a beautiful and functional island like this 25-foot

one in my kitchen. IKEA's island is covered in leathered granite.

While I tend towards lighter kitchens myself there is something darkly glamorous about these RAMSJO cabinets. "We participate in the Interior Design Show to reach out to the design community and challenge the way people view our product," says Madeleine Löwenborg-Frick, Public Relations Manager of IKEA Canada. "This year, we have featured a sexy new black modern country door style. This is a departure from the ultra-modern high gloss look we have shown in previous years."

Black Faucet: IKEA RINGSKAR

I think IKEA achieved a good mix between country and glam in this kitchen. While I love the look of open shelving, glass cabinets or hooks displaying pots, as seen here, I could never really incorporate them in my own kitchen. I would be way too obsessed with having everything look perfect. And I guess those pots at the top would have to be ones you don't use often.

What do you think about IKEA's black kitchen?

Images courtesy of IKEA Canada

Guest Post: Interiors Inspired by Chanel Haute Couture

Today I'm happy to introduce a guest post on Chanel Haute Couture and fashion-inspired interior design courtesy of Arcadian Home Decor, a website that sells a variety of decorative items and home accessories.

(via)

It’s no secret that some of each year’s interior design trends are pulled straight off the catwalk. Fabrics, colors and design elements get a second life when taken from fashion’s lead. Spring/Summer Haute Couture 2011 at Chanel was directed by Karl Lagerfeld, who gets part of his inspiration from today’s It Girls like Chanel spokesmodel Blake Lively from the hit show Gossip Girl.

We took our inspiration from Lagerfeld’s designs and found home interiors to match. For example, hand-beaded jackets are mirrored in home accent accessories like chandeliers and crystal interior pendants. See if you can’t find the interior design elements mimicking fashion in the images below.

Blush Pink and Crystals

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The shimmering crystals of the Venetian mirrors and chandelier in the room below mimic the crystal effect of the hem and body of Lagerfeld’s dreamy creation above. The pale pink pillows give off a soft sheen not unlike that of the flowing skirt and neckline.

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Chic Neutrals and Pale Pastels

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The tailored beige velvet sofa when paired with the feminine tufted chairs is reminiscent of the boxy pink sweater and flouncy beige skirt in the image above. The ensemble when paired with black flats takes on the lines of the black stripes in the beige curtains and the black accents in the room below.

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Glam Grey and Shimmering Silver

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The combination of feminine and tailored is evident in the style of Karl Lagerfeld’s textured suit, which is reflected in the interior design of the room below. The tufted boxy accent chair with straight legs is similar to the geometric lines of the suit and its big buttons. The suit’s woven fabric can be seen in the grayish beige carpet with raised design, while the chandelier takes a hint from the flirty belt and buckle at the model’s waist.

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Content provided by Arcadian Home Decor, a site that specializes in top quality home decor items at extremely affordable prices. Come visit today!

A Blue Borne & DwellStudio for Robert Allen Fabric

One of the most colourful and fun booths at this year's Interior Design Show was the Margot Austin-designed Style at Home/Beauti-Tone booth. My favourite piece was--hands down--this deep blue borne.

(I've never known the correct name for this type of furniture until now. You learn a new thing every day!)

When I saw this piece in person I was immediately reminded of that iconic Windsor Smith entryway (from House Beautiful and photographed by Victoria Pearson), which apparently inspired Margot as well.

Not only do I love the shape of this piece of furniture (if I had a bigger foyer I would plunk a borne in the middle of it, no questions asked), but also the inky fabric, which is Robert Allen Carlton velvet in Cerulean. I'm deciding on a color scheme for my own main floor at our new home so after seeing the booth I was off to the Robert Allen website to see what's up. I was immediately taken with some of the great DwellStudio fabrics for Robert Allen that are now available. (Style at Home's borne was custom made by Whittington Furniture).



Plush Dotscape



Etched Aviary

Vintage Blossom

Vintage Plumes

Our new home's main floor is pretty open concept with a floor-to-ceiling two-sided fireplace separating the living/family and dining rooms. I know that I'm going to start with grey, probably on the main couch and on the walls, but deciding on the accent colours is pretty tough. I like the idea of purple and chartreuse, but I also love a good blue (see my Wenesday post). So I'm thinking of having the blue as an accent in one room and the purple in the other, but then worried it might be too much. Isn't it so much harder to decide on ideas for your own home!?

~ Today is the last day to enter the CSN Giveaway for a chance to win a $65 Gift Certificate ~

Happy Weekend!

Beautiful Room: 02.02.11

Happy Groundhog Day!

On this winter day I'm dreaming of spring so designer Lisa Sterio's

vibrant home seems like just what the doctor ordered.

The fabric for the chartreuse living room drapes--the inspiration

for the room--were purchased for $10/yard. The chartreuse (which

I think we all know by now I adore) paired with bright pink

and neutral black and white makes this not only a stylish room

but a happy one--and who wouldn't want to live here in the

middle of drab February?

(On an unrelated note: I can't believe it's February already!?!)

While I do love chartreuse I've always been a big fan
of blue too. This blue rug makes the room, I think.
And as I have a soft spot for anything peacock I
die over those chairs. Paired with gold it looks so rich.

The bedroom is much more sedate colour-wise, but no

less sumptuous. The grey accents are so chic and I

love the texture added by the fur throw.

So what do you think? Could you live in a home this colourful?

You can see more photos on the Style at Home site.

Moroccan Fancy from Kohler

Just me or is this Marrakesh faucet from Kohler pretty fab?

Gossip Girl Art

While I was perusing the lovely Dagney's blog, Scandinavian Chic, yesterday I came across a post all about the art on Gossip Girl, and where to buy reproductions of some of the Van der Woodsen's great pieces. Of course you all know that I'm a huge GG fan, and aside from loving the clothes on the show I'm also an admirer of the furniture and art in the Van der Woodsen penthouse designed by Christina Tonkin. The first piece I fell in love with was the Marilyn Minter eye in Serena's room (above), but the other art in the apartment is pretty great too.

Another Minter that can be seen at the Van der Woodsens'

If you'd like to snag some of the art seen on Gossip Girl check out WOW! Works on Whatever, the great resource Dagney found (thank you!) I'm still looking for stuff to put on the walls at the new house and I think any of these would be a great edition.

Elmgreen and Dragset Prada Marfa Sign

Richard Phillips "Spectrum"

Printed Canvas Reproduction of a Jessica Craig Martin Photograph

And Chuck's room...

Richard Phillips "Scout - Crop" as seen in Chuck's Bedroom



The Prada sign and Jessica Craig Martin are my faves
and not crazy expensive. What do you think?

Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 7