Yea or nay: The "Resto" Look

Reading the newest House and Home over the weekend

(the hard copy, I still love flipping pages..)

and was reading about Linda Reeves love of the "Resto" Look.

We know she is all about neutrals, so that is not surprising.

This refers to Restoration Hardware's current offerings:

pale linens, pale distressed woods, 

architectural elements and industrial elements worked into furnishings.

I love the textures and patinas, 

but what strikes me is the fact that their entire store is working from the same palette.

Everything on the grey side.

I have never seen a retailer so fully commit to one look.

They just had a sale on, and I went down and ordered new dining room chairs.

If you remember I found a set on Kijiji, but, let's just say that D. will never work as a furniture inspector!

It's not in the condition to live in the dining room, but I've found a spot for it, more on that later :)

These beauties will sit around our round glass/cast iron table,

for which we will order a larger top.

Did not order the pillows.

Going to find a to-die-for silk of heavily saturated color (thinking sapphire or emerald)

and make some of my own..

I'm not independently wealthy, and don't redecorate my entire home, at once, ever.

Like most, we add as we go, it's an ever-evolving process..

Yet, I'm sure some people have been led to fill their entire home with this trendy style.

So what happens in 3, 5, years when the aesthetic has worn itself out - redecorate?

I would never want a client feeling that way 3 years down the road.

Just wondering whether anyone is feeling resistance committing to this very distinctive,

 albeit restful and beautiful, look..

til next time..

the vintage pieces you've been searching for...new

Everyone shops vintage now, don't we?

Gone is the stigma of venturing into the local thrift shop.

We've all been lured back., searching for that elusive piece to upcycle...

the one with with the superior construction of yesterday and the amazing price tag!

But sifting through all these dusty treasures, 

how many times have you wished that someone would just begin manufacturing these again?

Well, DwellStudio has answered the call.

They've teamed up with Precedent to create a collection that has some serious swagger..

and the styling of these pics is parfait.

I need these tables.

(and the art, and that lamp!)

The sideboard has a fabulous patina, right?

But what about that art, and who wants black built-ins?

clean lines, check

perfect scale, check

a dash of gold, check

sumptuous tobacco leather, an très chic octogonal table and that art...

look at those legs!

Love the headboard... love that there is over 300 Dwell Studio fabric choices.

Am I the only one who gets excited by perfectly upholstered pieces?

This is how all patterned pieces should look, seamless pattern matching...

Nailed it, didn't they?

I Won the Kijiji Lottery! Ha!

Perserverence + Kijiji = A Dining Suite for $100!!!

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If someone had told me a few years ago I'd be dancing for joy

an antique table with harpback chairs and an ornate china cabinet

I'd have laughed, quite heartily :)

But tastes change, don't they - and that's another post..

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I tried to retrieve the pics to show you, but the ad was already gone.

So a few examples of what these chairs could be.. now I just have to get D. to agree to paint!

What is it with men and their resistance to painting wood?!!

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 The table and chairs are headed for my dining room, 

the cabinet for my new office/craft room that's in the works..

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mind the surfboard..not quite close enough to the ocean here for that!

 just wanted to show you the paint color I'm perusing,

Windsor Green, Ralph Lauren

Working at home today, but I may sneak in a visit to the fabric store for the dining room chair fabric :)

have a great day!

til next time..

This Artist is an Inspiration

You've never seen pictures of my son's room,

and there's a reason for that :)

We've ended up with an entire matching ikea set - remember the robin series?

We bought him the bookshelves at our last house,

then my brother offered us his son's desk (same series)

then D's sis offered us her son's bed and nightstand.

Crazy.

Although it's functional,

the sizing is becoming a little small for him,

and it's a bit matchy-matchy for me.

A plan is slowly forming,

and yesterday I was cruising around looking for pics of reclaimed wood accent walls,

and found the most inspiring, amazing blog.

It's called Brooklyn to West,

written by Ariele, a builder/sculpter/furniture maker living in Brooklyn.

Sounds interesting already, right?

Ariele drove acroos the country with her business partner and friend

collecting wood and antique chairs,

where she spent five months designing and building

a restaurant from reclaimed and salvaged materials.

She is truly passionate about her work, 

and her phenomenal photography perfectly captures the beauty of her designs.

If you ever wanted to read about an artist living their dream,

go over.

Some of the magic...

Thank you, Ariele,

for re-igniting the artist in me.

x

Discovered: Hudson Goods

The Hudson Goods motto is Build It and They Will Come.

I love the salvage chic aesthetic - a warm industrial feel..

just one or pieces add an edge to your home, amping up the cool factor.

An online shop, they only ship within the US 

but are willing to make some exceptions if you email them..

I have been on the hunt for a dining table for a while now.

This one is wonderful - graceful without being precious..

add a few of these quatrefoil stools for an instant update..

LOVE this lighting - love, love, love..

fantastic one-offs and vintage finds..

Looks like it's time to negotiate some shipping to Canada :)

til next time..

***Update** Hudson Goods founder Karl Miller sent me quick note to let me know that they do make some shipping exceptions into Canada..yay!

Leopard Love

It started in high school.

I found a silk leopard printed scarf and it became my signature bit.

tied in my hair, on my bag, as a sash..

that scarf could have told some stories :)

Oh yes, the knee-length faux leopard coat was so hot in 1999..

moving from the city to the burbs, I still wore it out to the grocery store,

much to our neighbours amusement.

Onward to my first apartment, which looked nothing like these spaces below, LOL.

 My first purchase was a leopard carpet - I was sleeping on a futon, but had my carpet!!

 There is always a few leopard pillows floating about our place..

it never fails to impress me how versatile this print is - 

moving from room-to-room with ease..

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Currently, I am trying to convince D. that the old Chippendale sofa 

sitting in our bedroom could really use a little leopard love..

It may just skip off to the upholsterers one day, ready to be re-invented...

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I like animal prints when used with RESTRAINT- 

they add that bit of kitsch and take the edge off.

Do you use any?

Which is your favourite?

on a side note, I was trying to find an example of a chippendale sofa done up in leopard to sell D.,

and have learned that searching chippendale leopard in google will bring up many results,

 most of whom are male and scantily clad :) 

didn't impress him, for some reason!

til next time..

Stylegarage sample sale!! Woohoo!

Anyone who is going to be in or around Toronto on Saturday - I have great news!

Stylegarage is having a sample sale...

If you aren't familiar with these guys,

 they make furniture.

Really chic furniture, with an industrial feel.

and they will customize just about anything you like..

I have a bit of a crush on this sofa.

the green/burlap trend..

just a touch of acrylic for barely there style..

This is the the funkiest rocker I've ever seen- and although it would fall naturally into a contemporary space, wouldn't it be great to put that into a more tradition room?

just so you know.. I won't be home on Saturday :)

til next time..