Monday Meanderings

In the past, I have written a round-up post or two about decorating inspiration I found around the web.  It could be a product, a post, or simply an image - something that captured my attention and made me pause.  It could also be news that I would like to share with you.

I’m sure we all know how time can fly while clicking through one beautiful blog/site to another.  There is so much inspiration out there.   In fact, rather than writing my own posts, I’m spending way too much time reading other blogs!  (I need help:)  I’m calling these posts Monday Meanderings – meaning to wander, weave, zigzag, well you get the picture.  It won’t be every Monday (that would be too much pressure and blogging should be fun) but every now and then.  So here we go!

1)  In case some of my readers haven’t heard (maybe there is one or two of you?), Lonny’s latest issue hit the web and it was brilliant.   My favourite image from the issue?  The fun and colourful girls’ playroom in Palmer Weiss’ relaxed West Coast home.  The mostly unframed artwork hung randomly (on grasscloth to disguise thumb tack holes) is so simple yet adds so much personality.  To me, that’s what the homes in this issue had – personality and charm and they weren’t so decorated.

You can also see the rooms featured in all of the Lonny issues here and read their blog here.



2)  Speaking of ezines, the Scandinavian Fryd released its second issue filled with pretty images.  The stylish self-published creator/writer/photographer, Jeannette Lunde blogs here.



The new kid on the block is Adore from Australia, an online home and lifestyle magazine founded by designer Loni Parker.  So fun to read a Spring issue when it is Fall here in North America.



3)  Margot Austin, Senior Design Editor at Style at Home magazine, writes here and also now blogs at the magazine.  Her recent post on Demystifying Magazine Styling is a wonderful lesson on ways to update your home.   The Before photos are from a scouting shoot of a gorgeous home designed by Sasha Josipovicz and featured in their November 2010 issue.  Rearranging accessories, adding unexpected colour hits, larger, more impactful art and flowers elevates this home’s features.  You can take these examples and apply them to your own home.



4)  Sarah at Quintessentially B did an informative  Q and A with New York designer Sara Gilbane.  I love reading about how other designers work and what inspires them. 
She recently updated her portfolio of work which is timeless, classic, creative and colourful.  I have been enjoying the posts on Autumn colours with paint colours and fabric samples over at Sara’s blog. 



 


5)  Nancy at Marcus Design gave us a glimpse into IDS West including some tips from Sarah Richardson and an update on her two new shows airing soon.  She even had her photo taken with her (that’s Sarah’s sidekick Tommy in the background!)



6)  I’m loving the new timeless and elegant furniture pieces from Schumacher.



7)  Did you see the bedroom reveal over at Rambling Renovators?  Love how they made the wall flush (see the Before) and did a simple but impactful panelling treatment.  They are crazy talented!



8)  I received the Matt Leblanc painting I purchased to support his Art for Life campaign with proceeds going to cancer research.  It looks a bit lonely on this wall so I purchased some prints from two of my favourite artist bloggers.  With some existing art and photos,  I am working on a salon style art wall over the sofa in my living room and can’t wait to share it with you.



9)  Although I tweeted, I neglected to mention that the ladies from Rue magazine chose a client project of mine as a finalist in Design Refuge’s October Challenge.  So honoured to have been chosen!

10)  I’m starting a new feature on the blog called “Work in Progress Wednesdays” featuring a look at a project in progress by a designer/design blogger.  If you are interested in being featured, email me.  Stay tuned.

Have a wonderful week!

Design Blog Love

Hope everyone had a Happy Mother’s Day! I took an unintended blogging break but did manage to find time to read my favourite blogs – funny how that happens. I thought I would share some of my favourite posts from the last few weeks – all well written, with beautiful images and very inspirational. If you are a design blogger, you probably have seen some of these before.

1) Holly at Things That Inspire writes the most informative, well researched posts about interior design. Not only that but she is the most generous of bloggers. A few weeks ago, she linked to my blog on her facebook page and my readership increased dramatically during that time. Thanks again Holly! She is in the process of working with designer Suzanne Kasler to design her new home, which is going to be extraordinary from the sounds of it. I loved her recent post on glass front cabinets which has images of beautiful kitchens (I loved them all) including this one by Nathan Egan Interiors.

2) Speaking of Suzanne Kasler, her office was recently featured in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles. See photos via Greige here.

3) Braebourne Farm is a blog full of pretty rooms. Recent posts on white linen and dressing tables had me at hello.

4) Lauren at Pure Style Home wrote a post about the transformation of her home over the span of a year, a year in which she also had a baby. All the before and afters are shown for your viewing pleasure in one post. I love her entrance where she framed 30 sketches from the book Da Vinci’s Notebook. The antique gold frames are a refreshing change from black or white frames and the random manner in which they are hung is both interesting and quirky.

5) Layla at The Lettered Cottage wrote a post titled “Easy, Affordable Ways to Add Character to Newly-Built Home” using before and afters of her home to illustrate her point. She took a new home void of personality and created a comfortable and charming home with a cottage vibe. The photos and tips are inspirational to new homeowners who don’t know where to start and what they can do to personalize their standard issue builder’s home.

6) Remodelista did a round-up of outdoor umbrellas and shades and I especially loved this one (if you had trees to secure it to). The price point is reasonable especially when compared to a retractable awning which can costs thousands of dollars.

7) Remodelista introduced an Architect/Designer’s Directory (US only) with links to sites of architect and design firms featuring stunning projects like this kitchen from San Francisco based Gast Architects.

8) Little Green Notebook showcased a number of inspiring living rooms in her post on the placement of pillows (cushions.)

9) The home of Michael Angus, owner of Angus and Company in Toronto, a decor shop filled with antiques and decorative items is featured in a recent Canadian House and Home video. What’s great is that it is a rental, above his store, but the use of architectural elements like panel moulding, antiques and mirrors makes it feel like a comfortable home full of personality.

10) Sue at the Zhush posted a beautiful collection of window seats here.

Design Blog Love Weekly

Week after week, there are so many inspiring rooms and products on design blogs. I thought I would do a round-up of the 10 posts that have inspired me over the past week. In fact, I may make this a weekly post. Happy reading!

1. A beautiful kitchen transformation: You can read it here and here.

2. A beautiful California house - see photos here.

3. Black and white bedrooms here.

4. These are prompting me to change my very ugly, plastic, builder standard laundry sink.

5. Speaking of the laundry room, can I have this one with a window?

6. OK, this will be the last post from Remodelista – interior glass walls never looked so good.

7. And speaking of Remodelista, the homes of two of the bloggers as well as others are featured here.

8. Designer Molly Frey’s work on her parent’s coastal home is featured here.

9. How to get the look: Martha Stewart’s set kitchen and her Bedford, NY kitchen – read it here.

10. I have been searching for a small desk/vanity table for a client (aka daughter) and found some pretty images here and more here and here.

I hope you enjoyed these posts as much as I did.

So many blogs, so little time

Desire to Inspire (photographer Eric Roth)

The London Times Online posted their 50 of the World's Best Design Blogs list. There are hundreds (maybe thousands?) of design blogs so this list is a great resource to discover blogs from some creative and clever folks from around the world. Desire to Inspire, one of my favourites, made the list. I love reading and viewing work of local (one of the bloggers is Canadian), U.S. and international designers, sylists and photographers. Many of the blogs showcase beautiful, handmade items, crafty projects or upcycled furniture. I can't get enough of the pared-down aesthetic found on some of the Scandinavian blogs like emma's design blog. I'm astounded that some bloggers (sfgirlbybay) post up to 4 times a day but I understand that blogging (like design) gets in your blood and sharing what you think is inspirational, or just plain useful becomes a passion, maybe even an obsession.

An inspirational photo of a room may be all you need to jump start your renovation/decoration project or eliminate "designer's block." Have fun perusing the blogs and bookmarking (is that term even used anymore with feeds, google readers and subscribing?) ones that really speak to you.