I am so excited to share my first Canadian house tour with you. Ashely is a professional organizer and I'm so envious of how she can edit a space and still have it look so good. I am the opposite and like to display lots of collectables and thrift shop finds that require lots of dusting...which everyone knows is no fun. She is also a talented weaver. Her work is bright and whimsical, adding that perfect pop of colour to any room.
"When I met Holly (virtually), I instantly felt we'd be friends. I mean she lives in Peterborough - a city I frequented very often in my childhood and her house + art is amazing! So when Holly asked if I would be her house tour, of course I said yes." I work from my home studio where I live with my husband, twin daughters and two felines. In my spare time you may find me sipping wine and weaving. Oh and I have this thing with organizing spaces! Now that you know a little bit about me, hop on over and browse my etsy shop or email me hello@ashleyizsak.com to request a commission."
The pattern on this circular rug in the entry way is great and the large mirror is on trend. We do have similar taste and I know we would chat non stop if we were in the same room.
"I will preface this tour with one statement: our home is a work in progress. When we purchased the house two years ago, it screamed country dwelling. The bones were good, it was open concept and the yard left us speechless, so we took a leap and went for it. We live in a three bedroom high ranch bungalow in the village of Osgoode, Ontario. Our former home was a town home in suburbia and we sold 90% of our furniture on kijiji before moving. We wanted a fresh start and furniture that was more comfortable yet still our taste - and we'd raised twin babies in that house, as well as run an at home daycare. I will admit, transitioning to such a square living space, offered some challenges. Also, furnishing an entire home from scratch, is a daunting financial task."
I can see how Ashley's family were sold on this outdoor living space. A large lot with trees, privacy and a play house, what more could you ask for?
The bright white walls make the home so light and airy. I would so love to sit and enjoy a cup of tea in that vintage chair...I adore it!
I enjoy a good mix of furniture, and the end table with the brass cap feet really fits perfectly. Here you get a peak at one of her weavings...so lovely. This rug is amazing and the colour palette is what I often paint with.
"Our living room is where we spend most of our time together. For a long time I tried to keep the toys hidden. More recently, I've just tried to build them into the decor and so far I'm happy with it. We painted all of our main living spaces Farrow & Ball Wevet and I still love it. I prefer to commit to coloured accents, not large pieces. With the white walls the colours really stand out."
A framed print fits in with the living room decor and has a theme her daughters will enjoy. The placement of it is perfect here.
Ashley has created a multi purpose living space that the entire family can enjoy. Adults can hang out at one end, while the kids sit and do crafts and draw at these tables. At my house my daughters usually take over the entire dining table with colouring books and markers. Ashley can easily move the Wishbone chairs to the eating area if extra seating is needed.
This bright open window pours in natural light. I have always had a love/hate relationship with curtains, this simplistic style looks great just the way it is.
Bananas wearing sunglasses! I want to steal that pillow for our house. A view of the master bedroom is seen down the hall.
Here you can see how easily Ashley has incorporated the girls artwork into the space. I think it's a wonderful idea hanging it low at the girls eye level. The other element that my eye is instantly drawn to is the architectural detail of the stained glass. The colours contrast nicely with the area rug.
"The kitchen was our primary focus that we (thankfully) tackled before moving in. We removed a whole wall of upper cabinets to ease the transition into the dining and living areas. The walnut floating shelves are one of my favourite features of the space and that giant glass ball is actually a vintage Pyrex beaker that my mother bought for me while we were antique shopping in Montreal."
This neutral design is timeless. I love how the walnut shelves play off the warm wood tones in the room. Her cats really are at home here as well.
With all the natural light that this home has I can see why Ashley enjoys working from home.
Don't we all wish we had a sky light in our kitchen? A perfect spot for her twins to enjoy a snack.
Ashley and one of her daughters at Thanksgiving. In Canada this holiday was last weekend in case you are confused.
"My studio is currently located in bedroom number three ... but I am brainstorming on how to incorporate it into our living space, since my husband and I are hoping to expand our family shortly. If anyone has any suggestions on how to add a fibre studio to a living room, I'd love to hear them!"
Can I just say that plants add so much life to your home. They are an inexpensive addition to any space and your children will appreciate having them around. My daughters usually name ours after their favourite cartoon characters!
Ashley has some pretty amazing pieces. I personally love the ones that are geometric, like this little beauty hanging here.
"Shockingly, our master bedroom is my favourite place in the house. It probably looks empty to you, but it is my zen space. I regularly roll out my yoga mat, shut the door and look out at the trees. We do have plans for wall sconces and floating bedside tables eventually, but for now, I'm happy here."
The one detail I noticed is the hardware on the closet doors as it is very unique.
This vignette has so many interesting pieces to look at. I love the casual vibe achieved here by leaning the mirror and artwork. The dark wall colour is a nice contrast since the room can be seen from the main living area. It helps to create an intimate and cozy feeling.
"Our daughters are five and they share a bedroom. It's bright, full of dolls and they love it." This rug immediately calls my attention and helps to anchor the girls twin size beds. The woven butterflies were purchased on a trip to the Mayan Riviera, they add the perfect pop of colour.
I want to thank Ashley for sharing her home with me. I know I've said it before; social media has allowed me to connect with creative individuals all over the world. I truly appreciate the friendships and relationships I have made over the past year. Make sure to check out the links mentioned above to see more of Ashley's work. I look forward to your next trip to Peterborough so we can have a girls night out!