This weekend I am going to take advantage of the last days of summer. The weather forecast looks promising for spending time lounging about in the backyard reading, hanging with friends and noshing on some delicious food. Too quickly the leaves will start falling and the snow will begin to fly so I plan on grabbing all the summer memories I can.
Whatever your weekend may bring have a great one!
My ‘end of summer’ backyard.
I started writing about our cottage renovation a few months back. See start, gut, build, decor. It was a renovation that took many months due to distance, weather and holidays. But it is now complete. Our initial goal was to raise the low ceiling but at the same time to create a cohesive relationship between the interior and exterior. The cottage is truly about the nature and the ability to experience it. In the end our renovation has given us more than just a new space. The cottage’s clear lines and modernist approach has given us a greater appreciation of the amazing view beyond the large windows. But more interestingly is the cohesive relationship now created within the family. We spend more time together interacting as a family than ever before. This is a space where we sit down together and share moments rather than racing through on the way to somewhere else. We slow down and enjoy together.
Have a look.
The before photo minus the furniture. (Just prior to gutting)
The After photos.
We forgo the upper cabinets opting for a larger window and a better view of the lake. The wall above the stove is presently blank but waiting for the perfect piece of art that we have yet to find.
Counter space that we did not previously have is now a place for an ‘edible’ vignette.
I chose neutral but fun pillows to keep the space calm.
We are thrilled with the outcome of this renovation and love all that this cottage now gives to us.
All images via Modmissy
Kitchen cabinets, Rug, Stools, Island, Leather Chair – IKEA http://www.ikea.com/
Hanging Light Fixtures – Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/
Chevron Cushion – Nesters http://www.nestershome.com/
Turtle Pillow, Wooden Tiered Stand – HomeSense http://www.homesense.ca/
I have been remiss on my posting duties of late. I apologize but summer seemed to have had a strong pull on me. When I visit my cottage in the north all technology and ‘city’ responsibilities get pushed away – happily.
I thought I would share with you some of the reasons why I went missing.
This is the first thing I see when I open my eyes each morning at the cottage. The view from bed with the sun streaming in and the sparkling lake – what’s not to love!
Once up I go for an early morning ride in this vintage boat while the lake is still like glass.
Of course the early morning call of the loon is like nature’s melody that lulls you into awe and harmony. And even more special if you happen to witness the union of adult and offspring during feeding.
Watching nature – colourful.
Observing wildlife – amazing! Notice the little fawn I came across on a quiet walk through the forest.
Bunnies too!
An afternoon water ski!!
The magnificent spectacle following an afternoon rain shower.
And the setting sun after a wonderful day at the cottage.
What’s not to love and possibly make you forget all of life’s commitments?
All images via Modmissy
A few weeks ago I wrote about my friend SW (SuperWoman) who was in the process of transforming her old wooden garage into a ‘ladies lounge’.
One year ago SW had decided that her garage could be better used as a backyard retreat rather than a storage space for ‘extra items’.
With a lot of love and elbow grease SW has achieved what she set out to do – she has turned a sow’s ear into a silk purse!
This was the ‘before’ photo with holes in the walls, old linoleum on the floor and lots of clutter:
This is what SW’s efforts produced – the ‘after’ photo:
Bikes, tools, ladders and garden paraphernalia used to clutter the space.
Now everything is tucked away out of sight behind softly draping white curtains.
What was involved in the transformation? The walls and ceiling were stripped back to the studs and sprayed a calming white. An old brick fireplace chimney was removed. The old linoleum was ripped up to reveal wood plank floors and then painted moss green. Holes in the walls, floor and ceiling were repaired. An old work bench was given a coat of white paint so that now it can be used as a bar and/or buffet table. Furniture and accessories were brought in. The orange futon provides the hit of colour in the room and a great place to take an afternoon nap. The round teak table with inlaid mosaic top (a real score!) is a fabulous nod to mid-century modern not to mention a great surface for a game of Scrabble. Any furniture that could was given a coat of white paint. In the lofted ceiling a light that twinkles like the evening stars was wired in.
The lofted ceiling.
A pretty vignette. And by the way, SW made most of the baskets in the space – yes she does basket weaving too!
So in her relentless pursuit of happiness, SuperWoman has moved mountains (and junk) to create a ‘getaway’ worthy of a super hero!! Bravo SW.
All images via Modmissy
I always get ahead of myself or rather get ahead of the project. Whenever my husband and I renovate (and we have been doing that for over 20 years!) he is still in the ‘bust and build’ state while I am already decorating the space.
We are on track renovating our cottage, the drywall is up and the new window is in, the kitchen cabinets are assembled and the countertop is ordered. But way before all this I have been buying fabric, rugs, furniture accessories etc. all the little touches that will coordinate the final presentation. Make the finished space just ‘right’.
I pulled together my inspiration board which is always helpful to visualize the space.
I pictured our cottage done in white, warm wood, sisal and hits of blue to give a pop of colour to the space. I choose Benjamin Moore Oxford White CC-30 for the walls (new drywall) which is a nice bright white. The long wall across from the windows is paneled in pine. The sofa is an existing Bauhaus sectional that we have had for years and works really well in the space. The sectional is in a neutral weave fabric of which I replaced the back cushion covers with natural canvas. I bought a new area carpet – IKEA Tårnby, a natural fibre carpet that has a great textural appeal giving the room a warm organic look.
To keep the room bright I bought 3 coordinating fabrics that I will sew into cushions for the sofa. Crisp blue and white fabrics with lots of white accessories in the room will give a fresh, lakeside feel to the cottage interior. I decided to replace the existing large upholstered (red) chair as its size was not appropriate for the space. I wanted something light coloured and airier in appearance. On Craigslist I found a leather IKEA Poäng chair (wish it was an Alvar Aalto Lounge Chair! – check out my previous post here) which I thought would be perfect for the room. Gotta love Craigslist!
Ok…..so I had it all figured out. I knew exactly in my mind how this space was going to look. WRONG!!!!
This past weekend when we started to put the furniture, carpet, etc. back into the cottage I realized the room looked nothing like my inspiration board. I think my biggest miscalculation was the light. The natural light that floods the room from all the windows changes the sense of the room. The colours – paint and fabric, the furniture etc. all read very different.
And I love it!
So stay tuned……….
I live in a neighborhood close to downtown Toronto nestled on Lake Ontario. In the early 1900’s the neighborhood was used as a summer retreat for Toronto residents less than 10 miles away. Large private homes and ‘cottages’ sprang up in the area which still remain standing today. Many of the homes originally built were never intended to last 100 years – but they have. Garages constructed to originally house buggies or Model T’s were narrow wooden structures built apart from the house. One of these old wooden garages belongs to a friend of mine who I have named ‘Superwoman’. Superwoman (SW) is capable of anything – she can leap tall buildings if she puts her mind to it. SW has transformed her old wooden garage into a ‘ladies lounge’ – the female version of a ‘man cave’. What SW started with was this:
And this.
At some point in the history of this garage a former owner had built a chimney and drywall the inside. (I suppose to use as a workshop.) There were remnants of old linoleum on the floor and many, many holes where raccoons and squirrels entered to take up residence. Of course SW had a lot of her own ‘junk’ in there too. But once SW decided that this valuable piece of real estate could be better used there was no stopping her. Out went the junk, the drywall was ripped down, the chimney was dismantled, the numerous holes were covered, the linoleum was pulled up etc. etc. etc. SW had her work cut out for her.
But after many months of hard work the Ladies’ Lounge is finally ready. Stay tuned for the reveal!
With the warm weather now here the majority of us will be heading to a ‘big box’ store to purchase our outdoor furniture but Vondom, a manufacturer of outdoor furniture, lighting and flowerpots takes the experience to a whole new level. Vondom collaborates with the most prestigious designers and architects of the world to create a new form of understanding in outdoor decoration. “VONDOM works to create art, always in search of the natural beauty of the product, giving them their own personality, always bearing in mind the vanguard of contemporary design, simply and balance.” Here are a few pieces from the vast collection of Vondom. Enjoy!
The Pillow Collection
The Rest Collection
The Stones Collection
The Vertex Collection
The Faz Collection – used indoors here.
The Vela Collection – lit by LED lights
The Quadrat Collection
All images Vondom.com
‘Change’…..it’s time for change again.
When the weather starts getting warmer I change all the linens and accessories in my bedroom. The room faces west and receives the hot afternoon sun so my summer bedroom gets the all-white treatment giving both a cooler look and feel.
Layers of white cotton linens on the bed give a ‘cool as cotton’ sensation. I made the duvet cover from 2 sheets that we (hubby and I) brought back from Venice while travelling through Europe many years ago. Hubby carried these king-sized sheets plus 2 cotton tablecloths in his knapsack for a month! (had to throw out some of his clothing to fit them in!!) The cotton chenille fringed bedspread is vintage and originates from the same era as my beloved orange lamps. The cushions from West Elm provide the pop of colour on the bed.
The bergere chair is slipcovered in white cotton and the art above the dresser is exchanged for a white mirror.
My otherwise contemporary home gets a shabby chic makeover in the bedroom. Bring on the summer!
Yesterday I wrote about my front porch and how in summertime it is my oasis. Today I thought I would share some other porches. Enjoy.
Nothing says ‘hazy, lazy days of summer’ better than a porch swing. This one from Better Homes and Garden magazine is the ideal spot for an afternoon nap with its green and white ticking on a watermelon colour swing piled deep with vintage-inspired floral pillows. Languor away!
Wicker, rockers and wood suggests a country cottage feel. This porch from Canadian House and Home says “you’ve arrived”, now sit back and unwind.
Nothing says ‘calm and cool’ like a porch decorated in blue and white. This porch’s appeal is the combination of indoor furniture – a drop leaf dining table and mirror, mixed with director’s chairs and vintage finds. Cut flowers from the garden appeals to the senses with both beauty and scent.
A porch doesn’t have to be big to be great. Carving out a spot needn’t be about large square footage but rather any nook can fit the bill. This porch from Houzz shows how a small space, appropriate sized furniture and a great view is a perfect recipe for ‘drinks at five’.
While away the day drifting into a dreamy evening on this all white porch. The mixture of a white wicker settee with an industrial-style coffee table provides a nice contrast. But what I really loved was the unique table. This large white table top sitting on 2 huge white bases combined with wooden benches is a fabulous update of the age-old ‘picnic’ table.
So…..where will you be spending your lazy, hazy days and relaxed evenings of summer? Let me know.
Images: 1,3,5 – Better Homes and Garden 2 – Canadian House and Home 4 – Houzz
I love going to fabric stores. It is like an overload on the senses – looking, touching and imagining. As I walk amongst the bolts of fabric, admiring the many beautiful fabrics, running my hands along them to feel them, my mind starts racing trying to envision where I could use them all. So many gorgeous fabrics – not enough projects!
On a recent fabric store adventure I came across this fabulous orange/white fabric that I fell in love with – I bought 2 yards.
I decided to use the fabric for seat cushions on the chairs in my enclosed front porch. My sewing skills gained from grade 7/8 Home Ec. are fairly rudimentary but I can sew cushion covers.
My front porch spring/summer cushions were looking faded and boring so the new orange/white gives the needed punch. The patterned pillows which coordinated perfectly came from HomeSense thanks to a good friend who found them for me! The twig furniture (hubby and I made many years ago), lots of potted flowers, good lighting to read with and candles in the evening makes this porch my summer oasis.
All Images via Modmissy
