Inspiration

I used to love going to bookstores to gather inspiration from design books and magazines. Getting a tea and sitting quietly in a corner, soaking in all of the colours, shapes and patterns that caught my eye. With Covid, I’m not sure when those days will happen again. I often search online for inspiring house tours and this beauty jumped right out at me.

This listing for an apartment in Brighton through The Modern House is so eclectic and fun. It’s layered with beautiful lighting, artwork and collectibles. Years ago before we were married, my hubby and I travelled to England and Ireland. I would love to go back one day, oh to travel…we can dream.

All photos by The Modern House.

Inspiration

I always save so many images on my phone and laptop that inspire me. Here are a bunch from the past few weeks. Hopefully you connect with them in some way. I’m often attracted to colours, patterns and composition in a design or photograph.

Photo by Alex @sun_poured

Photo by Manolo Yllera

Photo via Mut Design

Photo by Dokter and Misses

Earrings designed by Liz Esser @hadendesigns

Photo via @talirothdesigns

Photo by Alichia van Rhijn

Photo by Maritere Rice

Photo by arflex

Photo by Mut Design

It’s officially October and I’m about to start creating a new collection of collages. I’m excited about this collaboration and will share more details soon.

New Colour Studies!

I had the past few days of work and sat and painted some new Colour Studies for you. Coming up with new colour palettes is the best part. I love interiors so I thought it would be fun to figure out what rooms they would look great installed in.

I recently came across Arent & Pyke an Interior Design studio in Australia. Here are some of my favourite projects they have designed with artwork of mine. All of these original paintings have just been added to my shop.

Photo by Felix Forest

Photo by Felix Forest

Photo by Felix Forest

Photo by Felix Forest and Ansen Smart

Photo by Ansen Smart

Photo by Felix Forest

If you have an idea for a colour combination I’m happy to create a custom piece for you. Send me an email and let’s chat. All of these paintings are 9x12” and would look wonderful with a large matte and frame.

Photo by Whitney Inacio

Colour Crush

The other day I stumbled upon the most delightful home in Melbourne Australia on Instagram and thought I would share a bit of it with you. The home owner Natasha Webb has the best art collection! The beautiful pastel colours in each piece compliment one another and really allow the eye to move freely from room to room. Most people would paint this home white to modernize it, the retro brown brick is unusual and why I think I scrolled her entire feed so quickly. She has a fantastic eye and great taste that just makes you happy.

All photos are from Natasha’s IG account linked above, make sure to check her out!

Photo of Natasha by Kate Hansen photography

I’m just going to pretend that I’m in Australia and I don’t see snow out my bedroom window!

Highlights of the week

Today I hung a collection of paintings, photographs and collages at a local Brewery. ‘Tis the season to start shopping for the holidays. If you are local stop next Tuesday November 13th for a night of art, beer and live jazz from 7-9pm. There will be a group of artists showing paintings, photography and pottery. Bring the entire family, they have games and a popcorn machine. I would love to meet you so come say hi!

If you love design and interiors you may have heard of The One Room Challenge. Participating designers are given six weeks to transform a space. I was lucky to have my artwork in two guest reveals. The first was a boys bedroom in Cobourg, ON. You can see more photos here from Thalita’s home. My collage is framed on the far right. How cute is this big boy room, no more cribs for these twins.

Photo by Thalita Murray

I was contacted by Brynn to make a custom collage for her Sunroom. She fell in love with one in my shop and needed a pair of them for her space. Contact me for commissions, I’m always up for a challenge. The transformation of her room is incredible, check here for the before and after shots.

Photo by Brynn

This room was my favourite design out of all the reveals I looked at online. I just discovered Nicole & I’m excited to follow along as she renovates her new home in Philadelphia. Check out the before and afters here.

Photo by Rebecca McAlphin

My mother-in-law took me to a pottery class in September and we just got to pick up our pieces. Since it was only a two hour class we made the pieces on the wheel but our instructors fired them in the kiln and glazed them for us. At least we got to choose the colours. This piece is my favourite, an actual bowl! If you do pottery I applaud you, it is hard.

I also got new earrings that I love wearing by Keona Boutique in Guelph.

It’s always the best feeling to see photos from customers of my art installed. This painting was shipped to England rolled in a tube and my new friend Blaise got it professionally framed. It now hangs in the master bedroom.

If you want a head start shopping for the holidays while supporting local small businesses and makers, check out this pop-up I'm going to be a part of at The Oshawa Centre. There will be contests and giveaways so make sure to follow Casa Alma for all the details. It will be located in the Circa 905 vendor space across from the food court and Brown Shoes.

With over fifteen participating companies here are a few of my favourites: Swell Made Co., Lit Lettering, Sticks and Strings Macrame, Dwellisimo and Style In Form.

A look at some of the goods that will be available. Photo by Casa Alma.

Yesterday we had our first snow fall this year, our new dog Biggie loved playing in it. My daughters say he looks like a polar bear and we won’t be able to see him in our yard in the snow. Guess we’ll wait and see. He is adjusting so well and we can’t imagine our home without him, drool and all.

Have a great weekend!

Holly's Dream Home

If you are new around here I’ll give you a quick update on what gets me excited about houses. I love mid-century architecture, flat roofs, bungalows, lots of windows, black exteriors, car ports…my list could go on folks. Just for fun I scroll through realtor sites and sales listings in different cities, you never know right!

Maybe that perfect house will just appear and call my name. Today’s home known as the Lapierre residence is a beauty and was recently for sale. It was built in 1960 and situated in St. Catharines Ontario. A few hours away from where I live now. I attended University in St. Catharines and I never knew this house existed, it was so close to me. I could have went to visit!

These are the listing photos so I’m sure it is staged and the home owners didn’t live exactly like this. The space was just so dreamy I had to share. It’s not often you see a home from that era that still has original features, and is combined with modern details that are so complimentary to one another.

All photos are by Brott Hadden Group.

Just think if only my family had won the lotto last week…maybe it could have been ours. Anything over a million is way out of our price range. Insert laughter here!

Casa Alma

I first met Elizabeth the lady behind the brand Casa Alma through the good old internet. We met at a cafe and chatted in person, I knew she was my kind kind of gal. She has great style, loves to thrift, and has a passion for home decor and colourful rugs!

I’ve been lucky to have my work in several of her projects, and the latest is something she should be very proud of. The transformation and styling of a huge project in Cobourg ON, that was just featured on HGTV Canada. You can check out the full interview here.

Below I’ve included some of my favourite photos, you know I love a good vignette and each of these rooms has plenty of them. Original art is a favourite way to add personality to your space, I was in good company with the other artists chosen. All photographs are by another talented lady Chantelle Watt. If you are local check her out!!

Grab a beverage and getting ready to get be inspired.

This is Liz looking gorgeous!

Macrame by Sticks and Strings

Art by Larissa Clayton

My three framed collages available through Jenny’s Print Shop. Also an original collage in lucite frame.

One of Casa Alma’s colourful rugs!

Two of my paintings hanging on the right. Far left available at Dwellisimo.

Art by Beth James

In love with this pottery by Style In Form

Art by Larissa Clayton

Print by Swell Made Co.

My painting on the bottom left. Top right by Larissa Clayton.

My photograph “Montreal” all framed up.

Jenny Prinn's colourful home

A few years ago I came across American artist Jenny Prinn. She recently shared a feature that was written about her on The Mainers, and I loved it so much I wanted to share her home with you. If you love vibrant interiors filled with original art, antiques and colourful accessories, then you will enjoy a peak into her family’s home. Make sure to check out Jenny’s website, I know you will find something you want to take home.

To see the full interview and house tour please check it out here. All photographs by The Mainer.

House Feature - Bridget Lowe

I discovered Bridget though Instagram and it turns out we actually only live an hour away from one another. If you are in the market for a wonderfully restored home in the Durham area you are in luck because this one is for sale. I reached out to Bridget to see if she would be up for sharing her home with us all on the blog before the big move. Her home features a ton of character and maintains its historic charm in so many ways while also including modern elements throughout. 

"My husband Josh and I, along with our now three year old daughter Frankie moved into this house just about two years ago. We were the only ones at the open house and loved the place right away! We pinched ourselves when our offer was accepted! The house was custom built in 1931 by a local Oshawa Architect for a Mr E.A Cooper. It reminded us of apartments we had lived in in Montreal (my hometown and where Josh and I met)."

The family uses the large back entrance to store shoes and coats.

A peek into my favourite room in the home. Bridget is not afraid to use color, and this blue works so well with all of the natural light flooding into the space.

"My general approach to designing a family home is to surround yourself with things you love and that nothing should be too precious. Our coffee table (a mid century teak piece I found on kijiji) has ring marks from that glass of water (or bourbon) that didn't find a coaster, and the floor is scratched from Frankie dragging a chair across it while playing make believe. All these scars are a sign of a well loved and lived in home and I wouldn't trade them for the world!"

In this shot you can also see the closed off foyer at the front of the house. How amazing is the gold detail on the base of the coffee table!

The french doors allow the rooms to feel open for entertaining and when closed create an intimate space to enjoy a fire in the colder months. She has kept all of the original trim work natural where many people would have paint it white. The mix of old and new proves to be the perfect combination in Bridget's home.

"I took cues from the age of the home when selecting finishes and paint colours and I feel like we achieved a good balance between modernizing the space, being true to its period and infusing our own style (a mix of vintage and modern with a well travelled feel)."

I love a good gallery wall and Bridget has curated an eclectic mix of artwork in this corner of the living room. If you want to create a big impact this is an easy way to do so. Their vintage record collection is on display here as well.

Rugs can easily enhance the aesthetic of a space. This graphic pattern works so well to define the seating area and add a playful element.

A mix of modern and traditional styles are combined here with the solid wood table and airy brass pendant light. Who says you have to store fine china in the dining room? The families collection of books add an informal element and pop of color to the neutral walls.

Plants are good for the soul and are such an easy way to bring life to a room. Bridget has used greenery in almost every space, layering plants into vignettes and styling shelves with decorative pots.

"We loved the creaky floors, original trim work and french doors. We didn't quite love the mirrored backsplash and honey oak cabinets previous owners had put in the kitchen! Updating the kitchen and adding a powder room on the main floor (where there was once just a small landing) were the two major renos we accomplished over the past two years."

A view from the front entrance of the home.

The small powder room on the main floor is classic in style. I have always wanted a vintage first aid kit, how fun is this Kelly green one.

The spacious Master bedroom is a calm retreat.

"Another eyesore we got rid of was a poorly thought out set of built in closets in our bedroom that were basically unusable. We ripped them out in favour of an open concept closet. We both really love how it turned out and how much easier our mornings are now!" 

Bridget runs her Interior Design business from her home office. She is passionate about creating functional, beautiful spaces for her clients, allowing them to enjoy the beauty in their everyday. When they moved in they found the original blue prints for the home in the basement and they now hang proudly in this space.

Photo by Ashley Adams.

Her daughter Frankie's room is full of her favourite toys and books. A perfect spot to let her imagination run wild.

"Leaving this place after all the love and sweat we have put into it is sad but I am also so thrilled about our move to Nova Scotia and the new home we get to make there. As the Irish author Cecelia Ahern said, "Home is not a Place, It's a Feeling" and my most favourite thing in the world to do is to make that feeling a reality. Both for myself and for my clients." 

Bedroom Makeover

When we first moved into our home my now eight year old daughter Stellan wanted a pink room. Fast forward to today and pink is definitely not her favourite color. Here are a few shots of what her room looked like before.

All of these shots were taken by Lauren Kolyn.

To switch things up on a budget all I needed was to change a few elements. I bought a gallon of white paint to cover up the pink that I had very carefully taped out. Two yards of Nate Berkus fabric that was on clearance for $6 to re-upholster the headboard. A new darker duvet cover, white was not the best choice as I would often find pencil crayons or markers on her bed.

I had a small desk in my basement studio that I had got at an estate auction for $20. It is the perfect size for this space and now she has a spot to sit and draw. Her desk chair is one of two, the other one sits in my studio. I bought this metal occasional chair years ago at a second-hand shop and I have requested that she doesn't pile all of her stuffed animals on it so that she can actually sit here and read if she wants to.

Her gallery wall got a little smaller, she requested that we keep the pieces I hung back up. Thifted wooden butterflies, her first real painting she made when she was 3 and a unicorn that hung in her Aunt's room when she was little.

Her bedroom has a huge closet so a dresser is not required. She loves creating and last summer took a pottery class, this new shelf we picked up at Winners gives her a spot to display her favourite pieces. A few touches of greenery help to break up all of the various animals.

Her old nightstand has a shelf where we put baskets for her socks and underwear. This has now been put in the closet as it's on wheels and quite versatile. Since we now have a lamp on her desk she really didn't need anything too large beside her bed.

This vintage rug I scored at an estate sale was previously in our kitchen, but I thought these colours worked great in here. She often complained she would lose her small toys in her shag rug, this one is flat so all the Legos and Shopkins can stand up easily. Her mirror which I found for $10 was hung back on the same wall.

We had been looking online at wallpaper to put on the wall behind her bed, but it really was out of the budget. I decided to hand paint a fun pattern in a dark blue paint I already had on hand. Hopefully she likes it for years to come as it took me a few days to complete!

At the fabric store, she fell in love with this round pillow and bought it with her own money. The fun print above her bed by September Wren was previously on the gallery wall in our living room.  I thought it went perfectly in a kids space. That bentwood stool has been painted a lot, I had it in the basement and it fits perfectly for her water at night. I think I will repaint it again, but I haven't decided on a color yet.

This wooden planter previously hung in my husbands office in our basement. I took out the faux plant and hung it here beside the window. I already had the turquoise pot so it was an inexpensive way to add a pop of color to this corner. 

If you ever want a room or wall hand painted let me know, I had a lot of fun creating this space.

Holly's Dream Home

I know I'm not the only design lover who has been following along with Sarah Sherman Samuel's renovation project with actress Mandy Moore. Mid-century architecture is hands down my favourite style. Her space had me drooling from the start, and the design elements that were chosen are so good!!! In case you haven't checked out the article in Architectural Digest, I thought I would share some of my favourite shots with you.

All photos by Architectural Digest. Check out the full feature in the magazine here. All those glass windows and that view, I can't even imagine!!

Today we booked tickets for our tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House next month. I can't wait to share our getaway with you.

Shelf Styling Tips

After I graduated with my BA in Visual Arts I then went to college to study something I've always been passionate about; Interior Design. That was 18 years ago, it really doesn't feel like that much time has passed.

When my friend Lesley asked me to share a few shelf styling tips on her blog I was on board. We have built-ins in our living room and they really pull the entire space together. You may require help from a friend or expert, but when you get it right you will just know. I kept ours the same for three years! That is an eternity in the world of design. If you don’t do anything too trendy, they will look great until you decide to change them again.

Check out the entire post here at Swell Made.

Photo by Swell Made

Highlights of the week

Two weeks ago I made a lot of new work for an upcoming collaboration I'm excited about. So this week was about trying to get my house in order and doing some much-needed gardening. 

 Last year I discovered The Modern House. Even though I'm not planning on moving to Britain, it's still fun to see all of the beautiful homes & inspiring designs they promote. This one caught my eye...that pop of yellow is so fun. The architecture reminds me of a vintage dollhouse from my childhood. I love me a bungalow!

Our vintage/new dining table is finally in the kitchen. (Read about it here) Which means changes need to happen soon. I have always hated the backslash in our kitchen & after four and a half years of living with it, I think I may have found an inexpensive solution. Peel & stick tiles, now I have to decide on how much of a pattern I want. Debating if I need to order samples or just go for it. 

Our kitchen shot by Lauren Kolyn a few years ago. The glass tiles are much more beige in person, and stores please stop selling accent tile! I'm not a fan.

I kind of like this graphic tone on tone pattern.

Recently I read Emily Henderson's post about her being on the set of the television show New Girl. I had only watched a few minutes here and there but decided I should give it a go. I've been binge watching it ever since and am now on the third season. I laugh so hard in every episode and my husband even enjoys it as well. 

Netflix brought back Arrested Development and we're loving it as well... Gob Bluth is my fav! If you want to feel like you've got your shit together, I suggest watching this or Shameless. They are both very strange families.

My husband was out of town which means I sat in bed and watched random celebrity interviews on youtube and caught up on design blogs.  I discovered this show and had another great idea...but realistically I need more hours in the day to accomplish everything I want to do.

I love this hand painted wall treatment and am going to try something similar in my daughter's bedroom. We've been talking about switching things up for a while and I love to decorate so it's a go. She was hoping for wallpaper and I would love to get this from Juju Papers, but it's not in the budget. Wish me luck with this technique.

Photo by Mr. Kate

Since my house is already a mess I thought why not repaint our master bedroom as well. I'm doing it first as it will hopefully be quick and easy. I just happened to go grocery shopping yesterday and drive by Sherwin Williams to see that they were having a 40% off sale. It was meant to be folks!

I went with the shade of green on the left, the color was inspired by this room that Mandi Johnson used in her study which she is currently designing.

This will be on my summer reading list.

It's been a while since I checked in here so I thought I would catch you up on what's happening. This tired lady is off to bed! 

House Feature - Kristi Lucero

As soon as I discovered Kristi through Instagram I knew her home needed to be shared on the blog. Some people just have a great eye and sense of style, this lady knows how to make a space look good! 

"Hi I'm Kristi, I'm a Realtor in Montana with a major obsession with Interior Design. My family (husband and two boys, 3 and 5) and I built our home a year ago."

"We wanted something modern and smallish (it's less than 2300 sqft) but with a large open living area. Basically the opposite of the two ranch style homes we owned before this. It couldn't be too precious.. because, two boys are wild and crazy."

Kristi knows the importance of curb appeal and your home making a good first impression. How fun is her door bell from Rejuvenation. 

When you enter Kristi's home you are welcomed by this gorgeous vintage Oushak runner she discovered on Etsy. The bench provides a perfect spot for her sons to sit and tie their shoes. Her favourite light fixture in the home hangs in the foyer. In the evening it gives off a soft checkboard glow.

"We love our sectional, it’s a custom Jonathan Louis design. Our wonderful, sweet, sweet puppy has chewed a few holes in the cushions.. but let’s not get into that. This is my favorite spot to sit and sip coffee and check my phone every morning."

The family dog Nova making herself right at home.

"We live in MT, surrounded by mountains and lakes so I try to make sure our home fits our surroundings and is a true representation of the people who live in it. My style is eclectic with Scandinavian influences and a pinch of boho."

The palette in the kitchen is neutral and timeless. Kristi has chosen various materials that add texture to the space, including these gorgeous leather stools. The open concept floor plan makes this family home a great spot to entertain.

"Floating shelves were always a key part of our kitchen design. Our builder wanted a ridiculous price to install them and he didn’t seem to have a clue how it could be done without side supports. My dad installed some pretty sweet floating shelves in their kitchen, so I knew it could be done. Plus, they’re all over Pinterest. So we planned to do it our selves."

"My husband's biggest hesitation was drilling into the tile we just had professionally installed. So it literally took 10 months (and me requesting them as my Birthday gift) before I could talk him into doing this project. Once he started though, he realized it wasn’t all that hard. It only took him an hour from start to finish."

Kristi had a difficult time deciding on what piece of furniture to put underneath the television as they didn't need storage for electronics. "I came across this simple shelving unit from Ikea and decided I could push two together. It was a perfect solution and the price was right."

Now Kristi has a great spot to display her vintage pottery collection. My kind of gal!

"Big (black) windows were a must. I love that our home has an abundance of natural light!" I know I'm not the only person drooling over them.

"The big tree was an awesome Craigslist score, $55 for a house plant that big, yes please!!!  It’s about 9 ft tall, I re-potted it and viola! It weighs a million pounds and my kids like to dig in it with their toys. But I love it!"

Kristi got this large Fluorite rock for Christmas from her in-laws. They know her taste so well & began this collection for her from their travels to North Dakota. From the size of them I would assume they were quite pricey, but Kristi tells me they are $20-$40 from a local gem shop. My daughters would lose their minds if I ever bought them one of these beauties...gorgeous!

"With two young kids, it was a high priority to have a designated play space on our main level.  We chose a floor plan with a Den/4th Bedroom that we can use as a playroom while they’re young. This way we can see what the kids are doing without them completely destroying our main living space. (disclaimer: they still destroy our main living areas, but this helps a tiny bit!)

"It was important to keep it kid friendly yet aesthetically pleasing. The wood cabinets are a stylish and affordable storage solution, they hold soooo many toys and games. The kids and I both really enjoy hanging out in here. It’s bright, cheery, comfortable and has a pop of color that I love."

"The coffee table is vintage and was such a score. My husband was demoing an old hospital a few years back and found this in their storage– it was covered in mouse poop and ready to go to the dump when he saved it. Smart man." It looks great paired with these junior Panton Chairs from Design Within Reach.

I love the mix of textiles Kristi has used in her youngest son's room. Nothing too juvenile that he will outgrow, just classic colors and patterns. I have the same vintage rug in our home, it's so beautiful.

One of my favourite elements in any home is artwork. Kids get so excited when they see something they made up on display, you can't have too much in my opinion.

"I love mixing in vintage treasures I've saved from the trash with vintage/handmade textiles I've sourced on Etsy with modern store bought things.  If you asked my husband what my hobbies are, he'd say collecting vintage dressers and chairs..only half joking."

"The boys’ bathroom was by far one of my favorite rooms to design. I love how playful the rope lights are for a kids space, you can knot them up or swag them anyway you want."

Kristi's art choices throughout her home are inspired by nature. She found this print on Etsy by searching Drone Photography. It looks great hung above these modern wall hooks. 

The large wood mirror from CB2 makes the space feel larger. A great trick to use if you have no natural light.

If you want to be that cool mom, then use chalkboard paint in your child's room. My daughters saw this and were very jealous. I honestly don't think I could handle the chalk dust.

"My husband is an ex-carpenter so he was able to build a nice deck, and floating shelves in our kitchen and laundry room." I love how Kristi has treated this space like any other room in her home styling it with family photographs, artwork and collectibles.

"Our Master Bedroom is far from finished but I’m pretty happy with it in it’s current state. In fact, it hasn’t changed at all since we moved in. I still need to find a comfy rug, the perfect wood night stands and I would love to do a mural or wallpaper on the wall behind the bed. I have big plans later on, to panel the ceiling in painted white wood and add two wood beams. But since those things take time (and lots of money) I'll just enjoy it as-is."

Kristi has been a realtor for almost ten years, so it's safe to say she has seen a lot of interiors. She hit the jack pot one day when a renter left this vintage Thonet chair in one of her Listings. "It was on it's way to the dump- I was like Nooooooo!!"

A perfect spot to sit and relax after a long day.

I want to thank Kristi for sharing her home with me. If I ever travel to Montana you know I'll be looking you up so we can hit the thrift stores!

Holly's Dream Home

When I come across a beautiful home I get excited and a little envious. Gemma van der Swaagh is an interior designer out of Boston. Her family home is filled with colourful patterns, bold wallpaper and a mix of eclectic and modern furniture and accessories.

I admire Gemma's style and she has an art collection that makes my heart skip a beat. Check out these photos and see what grabbed my attention. I really don't think I can pick a favourite room, but her master bedroom is high on the list. 

All photos are by Gemma van der Swaagh Interior Design.

House Feature - Anne Tu Quoc

Anne and I began an online friendship last year and have since bonded over motherhood, our passion for thrifted and vintage decor and our love for a good cup of tea. Anne is an entrepreneur, like myself, and makes the most adorable baby moccasins which allows her to work from home and spend time with her growing family.

"i have two boys lenox and finn with my partner marc, and we live in a little city called fribourg in switzerland. we live right at the border between the german and french part from our country, so we speak both languages. we have lived in this apartment for 6 years, the housing prices are crazy high and we hope to one day buy a house. i think every room has changed at least three times since then. i love doing things myself and i always have idea's for changing things up. like painting a piece of furniture, sewing new pillow cases, or moving furniture around."

Photo by maik-photography for tadah.ch

"i love furniture. i sometimes dream of moving so i can start all over again and create a brand new space. i would describe our home as colorful and full of life. its's constantly changing. i love furniture with a history, and i have a story to tell about almost every piece we own. i think it is much more interesting to bring an old piece into a new home, it's so much more personal."

We share a similar love for greenery, although I don't have the green thumb that Anne has been blessed with. Each room in her home is filled with such unique vignettes and collectibles. The addition of plants really is an inexpensive way to elevate the design. The pink cactus print is by Anny Who.

This Scandinavian teak bookcase is the perfect spot to showcase the families favourite books, toys, photos and treasures.

"you will find me at the thrift store almost every week, and most of the time i end up with some new pieces even though i wasn't looking for them. i see some chairs and i know these must come home with me, and i need to sell my old ones."

Anne has mixed a few pieces from Ikea and splurged on the vintage Togo Ligne Roset sofa designed in the 70's. The space is very open and her boys often play and make forts in this seating area. Her son Lenox made the hearts and black and white drawing that hang above the sofa. The skateboards are Marc's. Anne loved the colours and designs so she turned them into instant sculptures by hanging them on this gallery wall.

Photo by maik-photography for tadah.ch

The entrance leads you straight into the kitchen or to the living room on the left. The kitchen is compact and designed with modern appliances and hardware.

Anne has such a good eye, she thrifted this entire set! A classic Ghost chair mixed with open back metal chairs adds to the eclectic vibe in the dining room. A dark animal hide grounds the open space, creating texture on the light hardwood.

Natural light pours through the windows that lead to the backyard. I love the vintage pendant that Anne discovered above the table. Who needs a bar cart when you can have multiple shelves designated for your favourite cocktails!

"i own a little company called petit mai and i produce baby leather moccs made of vegetable tanned leather and i love it! it's so great to be able to turn what you love into an actual job!"

How cute is the packaging these little shoes come in? It makes me want to have another baby so I can dress it up. 

The master bedroom is kept clutter free with the use of bookshelves and floating nightstands with storage. The drawing above the bed was done by her oldest son when his baby brother was born. It is their first family picture, what a beautiful keep sake. Anne has an ever changing collection of toss pillows in all of the rooms. The cloud pillow is made in Denmark by normadot. I'm envious as this is such an easy way to transform a bed or sofa. You can never have too many textiles, my husband may not agree though!

"i discovered my love for plants about two years ago, before this time i didn't own a single plant and the ones i had usually died after a couple of weeks. i don't know why, but since i started buying plants again almost all of them have survived. maybe it's because i talk to them, and maybe also because i love that they bring life into our home."

An up close look at a few of Anne's favourite plants. A true jungalow!

Every shelf in this home is so good! Her son's room looks so cozy with twinkle lights and a hanging canopy. The perfect spot to read a book or two.

"i like to change the look of our home with accessories like carpets, pillows, and some fresh paint. i don't really think of how i decorate our home a lot. it just comes naturally. i often walk into places and with my inner eye i imagine what i would do with it, i love doing this." The bunny print is by Anny Who.

In her other son's room a hand painted polka dot cabinet, as well as his collection of rocks and feathers create a focal wall. Anne's dad helped her build this bed and she sewed this canopy to create a cozy nook for Finn.

Anne studied piano for ten years and when her parents no longer had room for it she brought it here for the boys to practice on. "the lamp is an italian brand called stilnovo. i got it from my parents, who saved it from friends who wanted to throw it away. my parents didn't realize it's a vintage piece with some value, but they just thought of me and suspected i might like it. they were right!" The colorful landscape is by Swiss artist Iuna Tinta.  

Spaces like this really keep me excited about connecting with others who have a similar passion for design and interiors. If I ever travel to Northern Europe I will try my best to stop by for a tea, I can only imagine how fun it would be to go thrifting with you Anne.

Holly's Dream Home

The reality is that, it is freezing cold out, and we've been enjoying a lot of our holiday indoors. I'm becoming quite skilled at Uno and today I made my daughter quite happy by braiding her dolls hair, complete with beads. She looks like she was just chilling on the beach, while I'm wearing my toque 24/7.

I think I'm going to start sharing more spaces here that I come across online that just make me happy. I discovered this home last Spring and kind of forgot I wanted to share it with you. I hope you are cuddled up nice and warm on your sofa sipping a hot beverage. This space is so unique and eclectic. It's filled with colour and my favourite thing, art. The home owner is a graphic designer and the family has since moved but damn, I love it all! She has such a good eye and that bulletin board wall is so good.  I think I need to add a neon sign somewhere in our house this year.  

Photography by Katrine Rohrberg for Another Ballroom.

House Feature - Megan Buckland

I met Meg last year through Instagram. This photo captured my attention and I was curious to see what was behind the walls. It took a while to get it ready for the tour as they were finishing up some projects, but the time has arrived. Let's check out her wonderful space!

"Our home is tiny at just under 1000 SF and it works for us. We try really hard to be minimalists - keeping only what we need and using everything we have. Our design and decorating philosophy is pretty strict - if it requires too much effort or too much time, it gets simplified." I am trying to become more of a minimalist myself, but still have a lot of collectables and thrift shop finds that require lots of dusting...which everyone knows is no fun.

"My husband Tony is a graphic designer, I'm a commercial interior designer turned stay-at-home-mom (2 years ago), and we have three kids, Oscar-9, Penny-6, and Simon 3. We live in Bloomington, Minnesota, which is a suburb of Minneapolis, in a 1950's ranch-style home which used to be Tony's grandma's! Although it's pretty unrecognizable to what it was when we moved in, his family gets a kick out of visiting and seeing the changes. I love that our home has history."

Living in a smaller space with three kids can be challenging, but the family puts storage to use in the entryway. An Ikea cabinet has been customized with a solid wood top & a wire basket collects shoes and sports equipment.

I love this bold pop of colour in the kitchen. The print is by artist Angela Hardison.

Meg loves to cook and the family spends a lot of time hanging around this tulip dining table. The kids each have their own Stokke chair in red. If you are not familiar with this company you should check them out. The adjustable design ensures a comfortable and ergonomic seating position at any age. 

"I love the kitchen and spend most of my time here. It's set in the back of the house and has great natural light. We remodelled the kitchen in 2008 and it's time for a refresh. We'll keep the basic layout the same so the changes are mostly cosmetic this time around. New appliances and cabinet fronts are being made." 

When I asked Meg if they were doing the renovations themselves I laughed out loud at her response. "Except for painting, we haven't done any of the work to our house. Outside of operating a drill, neither Tony or I are all that handy and have little patience for projects. Paying for contractors is a lot cheaper than paying for a divorce! ;) And a good contractor you trust is as good as gold!" My husband and I renovated the kitchen in our first home years ago before we had kids and it definitely was a time consuming process. We didn't have to seek couples therapy afterwards so I guess thats a good thing!

Whenever a family member celebrates a Birthday these white lanterns are strung up. A simple and modern idea for kids or adults.

Yum...cake! I noticed that this art piece on the wall here was always changing in Meg's IG feed. I asked her how it worked and here are the details. "The photo wall is made up of a product called Photo Curator by the Curator Company. I bought them nearly 10 years ago on FAB, when that was still THE way to shop for design goods! (I miss them). I have 45 sets and each set holds one 4x6 photo. There are little clips in the corners. Tony usually designs the layout and we get the photos printed at Costco. We can change out the wall for under $10! It's such a fun thing in our house! We change them out at every birthday and they also hold 4x6 index cards so once in a while the kids will create art on each card."

"This is the room we live in. We eat here, watch TV, read, build trains, do homework, play, you name it. Our furniture is kid friendly and easy to clean." The streamlined designs are high off of the ground allowing your eye to travel through them. With the use of light weight pieces the family can easily move them around if the kids need the rug to play on.

With select pieces in the living room they chose to splurge on this iconic Womb Chair. I love the soft grey fabric & bet that they take turns sitting here to watch TV. Meg commissioned her son Oscar to create the artwork on the wall and draw out the names of each family member. I love adding kids art to my own home, it's such a personal and inexpensive way to decorate.

"When we did our first remodel in the kitchen in 2008, we chose to keep the kitchen separate from the living/dining area as opposed to a more open floor plan which is popular in ranch home remodels here. Living in such a small home with five people, it's nice to have some separation of space." Lots of hidden storage in the drawers and cupboards in this room.

Meg's son made this parrot hat at art school. They loved it so much they framed it and display it proudly in the heart of the home.

"Our bedroom doubles as Tony's work space. He designs almost every night after the kids go down so we've worked hard at accommodating what he needs to work and what I need to sleep!" I looked up Tony's website and guys he just designed that red N that pops up on your Netflix home page... I had to tell my husband I was very excited! 

Tony's art is hung throughout the home. "I believe in simplicity, clarity, and the importance of all design disciplines."

"We added additional lighting controls in our bedroom to support work and sleep and it works really well. We keep our room stripped of anything extra to help it feeling open and light."

Cuties!

"Our boys share a bedroom. One is very tidy and the other is very...not tidy. I help the messy one clean up almost daily to keep the peace! I think adding a bedroom in the basement might be in our future!"

I love this vintage lamp. I think my girls need similar storage for Lego.

Meg has a small workplace with the best gallery wall featuring Larry David...it makes me smile. A few years ago she taught herself how to make simple and modern quilts. 

The geometric pattern and colours on this piece really caught my eye.

"Penny has the best room in the house! It's super small, has a huge window, and is located in the heart of our house." What girl wouldn't adore this space? She's got her own art collection started and a small desk to sit and draw.

"Last year for her birthday, we surprised her by converting her weird, unused closet into a hideaway for her. The closet sits up a couple feet because it's over the stairs to the basement but it's the perfect size for her to read, color, draw, or get away from her brothers. As our only introverted child, it functions perfectly for her." 

"Though our house may be tiny, our back yard is huge for a city lot. We added a slatted wooden fence this summer and it's easily becoming our favorite place to be in the warm months. Our kids really enjoy being outside any time of the year so I'm especially thankful we have a place for them to be."

I want to thank Meg for sharing her home with me. I think it is wonderful that her kids will grow up in a home that has such meaning and family history. Good luck on your kitchen transformation, can't wait to see it!

House Feature - Lora Neveu

I recently discovered Lora's company on Instagram & fell in love with their designs. The products they make are sprinkled throughout her home & add a ton of personality. "If I had to describe my style I guess it would be vintage surf cowboy, because I love things that are earthy and natural but also really love quirky sparkly things. I come from a fashion background but have always been a maker and DIY-er. I started Sun + Stars in the winter of 2015 with my friend and business partner Kristen McGregor." 

"My husband and I bought our house in the Junction area of Toronto with my sister in 2011. It's split into two apartments. Our family is on the top two floors, they are on the bottom two and we share the outside spaces. It's a nice way to live in the city (more) affordably, plus we have less house to clean and have a built in dog sitter when we go away! Our portion of the house is about 1400 square feet. Sometimes we dream about moving to the country and having a big studio and wide open spaces, but we've lived in the city so long that I think we might miss the convenience of walking everywhere. Plus we have a really great community around us, it would be hard to walk away from it." 

Now let's dive into these photos and see her creative space!

This is a corner of the living room. It's filled with colour, art & music...some of my favourite things. Lora's sister got the girls the yellow record player in Nashville. "They love playing Mini Pops and Blondie records while they play lego."

A few records from their collection.

"I'm really inspired by vintage kids books and art prints. I've always been drawn to vintage and have been thrifting and flea market shopping my whole life, some of my favourite pieces of furniture or clothing are things I've owned for years."

"I used to be a big collector, but now too many things in a room create a visual noise that makes it hard for me to relax, plus living in the city space is at a premium so if I don't love it or use it, it goes! Our living room is our all purpose room, this room is rarely empty. We got that big sectional couch from West Elm because each piece is the size of a twin bed so it can double as a guest room when needed. The teak coffee table lived in my house when I was a kid and it's the most useful piece of furniture."

"The kitchen is the room we've done the least changes to other than adding some cupboards and lots of white paint. We're planning on re-doing the backsplash this fall. We do everything in this room, eat, dance, make art."

Using vintage maps is an inexpensive way to fill your walls & add colour to your space.

"In the warm weather we always have the sliding doors wide open to the deck. We eat out there and hang out and there are stairs down to the main back yard."

My favourite colour is turquoise...how great are these painted stairs!

I think we all need a pair of these pillows on our bed.

"Our room is pretty minimal. My life and house are loud and messy, I need my bedroom to be a place that is calm. Most of my collections are capped at 3-5 pieces, except for my plant collection, I tend to fall in love on sight with plants and bring them home with me."

I love the natural light in here, don't we all wish we had a few sky lights? How amazing are the hand made eye pillows Lora made. "The embroidered curtains are panels from a dress that my husband's mom wore when they lived in Mexico (when he was a kid)."

Years ago Lora purchased this print online of grasslands from National Geographic. It was enlarged & now hangs in the bathroom.

A private space to escape & enjoy a morning coffee.

"Looking out onto our little upstairs deck from bed is another of my favourite things. For a house in the city we are surrounded by trees, you can't look out a window without seeing trees. It almost feels like we live in a tree house."

Lora's studio is at the top of the staircase. A framed print of a Bald Eagle as well as lots of greenery add warmth to this corner of the home. 

"I spend ALOT of time in here, working and listening to music. It really is my happy place. We work on new designs and patterns, cut fabric, silk screen and sew in this room. My husband is an animation compositor and he he often works at night too. I've always found mornings and nights to be great times to work on projects, if you manage to get that second wind!"

I love seeing where other makers find inspiration and their creative outlets. "Together we aim to design items that appeal to both kids and their parents; Pieces that add imagination to a child's bedroom or look playful in a living room. We believe in quality goods made from sustainable materials that will live in your home for years to come." 

The pink door leads to the girls bedroom. "We have three rooms on the second floor of our house. Right now one is used as a studio so the kids share."

Vintage rattan hooks hold the girls dress up costumes & purses. I think the exposed brick is such a great feature, I'm glad they didn't paint it.

One of my favourite elements in this room is the eclectic vibe created by mixing vintage textiles & patterns. I feel like a boring mom as my daughters only have 2 sets of sheets & one duvet cover. Unless I do a complete makeover things always look the same.

"This is probably one of my favourite rooms in the house, it's so filled with light. My kids love jumping on beds and also often fall out of bed while sleeping so we keep them low to the ground. We made the window seat and the "cave" bed in separate DIY projects." 

Vintage textiles add so much colour & personality to the kids room. Lora has painted the ceiling a pale blue which allows the girls artwork & Lora's designs to pop against the white walls.

How cute is this! They are coming out with a new design for fall of a Blue Jay, all you Canadian readers check it out.

I want to thank Lora for sharing her home with me, & since we are only a few hours away I think my daughters & I should stop by before the snow falls for some fun in the big city! 

Gallery Wall

The photo below was taken in February of last year for our Apartment Therapy house tour. I grouped a collection of my favourite artwork together when we moved in 3 years ago & hung it in the living room on the main wall. All of the pieces were placed no higher than eye level & I was happy with how it looked. This is the first wall you see when you enter our home, after leaving the foyer.

Photo by Lauren Kolyn

Fast forward to this past Christmas when our daughters received an aquarium. It's large & we really had no space on the main level in our bungalow to put it. I've had the vintage teak coffee table for years, and it seemed like the only spot for it to sit. There are drawers on either end that are really deep, one side never opens as it would hit the wall. The other side houses lots of puzzles. The only thing that usually sits on top is the blue lacquered West Elm tray filled with kids books.  Sometimes the girls would sit & colour here but we definitely could do without the surface area. 

A week before school finished I decided to give the gallery wall a makeover. It was a rainy day, so I had the pot lights on. That 2 outlet power bar is no longer there, which makes me happy. The wicker basket sits behind our rope chair & also holds more kid's books. 

When I hang a gallery wall, I eyeball the entire thing, no measuring for me. The only thing on the wall in this shot is the first aid box that belonged to my father-in-law. It's screwed in so it wasn't going anywhere, all of the other frames aren't too heavy & a nail is all I used. I think some of the walls in our home are plaster, you really have to hammer the nails in with all your might to get them into the wall.

I hung the largest piece first above the aquarium, a photo from my friend Meg at September Wren. I also have 3 other prints of hers on the wall. The wooden piece on the left eventually got switched as it was too tight against the wall. A few pieces are signed prints I've thrifted, while others are photographs I've taken or purchased while on holiday. My husband enlarged an old photo of my grand parents for me which I love.

I started on one side of the wall & worked my way across, trying to vary the frame colours & style of artwork. The red piece on the bottom is an illustration from "Stranger Things" my husband bought that one. I love the turquoise palette in the canvas (pool scene) by my friend Laura Browning.  She graciously sent this to me after I featured her lovely home on the blog.

Two of my resin pieces are displayed. Pink clouds is from my Daydream series. Stay tuned I'm going to have a summer sale on what stock I have left. If you subscribe to my newsletter you'll be the first to know. The other mini block is resting on top of a frame since it's so lightweight. A polaroid of my daughters is sitting on a frame on the far left. I like an eclectic mix & this makes it less formal in my opinion.

We got a beach photo from our trip to California printed in a fun shade of blue by Parabo Press. I took the shot of the Zebras on the same holiday at Hearst Castle. My youngest daughter was so excited when she saw it up.

It's tricky to photograph this wall on an angle as the opposite wall is all windows. I think you get an idea of what it looks like all complete. My friend was over a few weeks ago & said she couldn't help but stare at it. It's a conversation starter for sure. It tells a story of the travels & memories that are special to me and my family.

Leading to our basement we have a large gallery wall on both sides of the staircase that is made up of family photos. If you have pieces you love, display them in your home! I always think it's strange when I go somewhere & there is no artwork on the walls. Maybe that's because I'm an artist, I like to surround myself with it daily.