Admiring from Afar

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This weekend I had the good fortune of being able to ‘plunk’ myself in a chair on the dock at the cottage and just watch the world go by.  To just sit by myself and gaze out at the lake and listen, watch and ponder.  To listen to the call of loons, watch the boats and water skiers go by and think about something, anything or nothing at all.  It is a rare moment when we truly can zone out and leave our busy lives turned off for a moment.  (Actually there is no cell phone or Internet coverage available here!)  From this comfortable perch I look towards a cottage on an island, one of the sights that my eyes always come to rest upon.  For years I have admired this cottage from afar with its nostalgic laid-back appearance.  The cottage was built almost 70 years ago and is still occupied by the original homesteader.  It was erected atop a huge rock and seems to just hug the water’s edge.  I have never been inside this charming cottage but the ‘decorator’ in me often wonders what the interior would look like?  But that I think is the biggest appeal of all, of not knowing but continually pondering and coming up with all kinds of different décor ideas.  My favourite design would be of weathered woods with natural fibres and a soft muted palette.  Although the ‘white cabana’ feel could be a great style also.  Maybe it is more of a nautical feel with stripes of blue and white and accents in red.  Whatever it is I am happy in never knowing because as a wise man once said “Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and seeing something different.”

        

Paint and Popcorn

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After venturing down memory lane yesterday and blogging about my first home, I found I had a deluge of memories come flooding back.  Writing about my first date with Mr. Renovate, who later became my hubby, I was reminded of another funny incident.   After refinishing the hardwood floors I decided that the living/dining room needed painting (again!).  My colour choices were inspired by a charming old brick building I had noticed on my daily journey to work via public transit.  The building had aged terra-cotta coloured bricks and trim work painted a wonderful deep historical blue.  Popular colours in the 80’s.  I thought that with my hardwood floors, white trim, blue/white striped sofa the historical blue and deep terra-cotta paint colours would complement well.  So my date (now bumped up to boyfriend status) and I painted the blue on all the walls except the stair wall which was to be painted as a feature wall in terra-cotta.  But that darned feature wall was giving us problems.  The first time we painted it – not good, second time we painted it – streaked with white.    So the third time (days later) when we painted this terra-cotta feature wall we purchased new rollers, brushes and another can of paint.  I told boyfriend “OK, this is the last time – let’s get this right”.  He was going to paint and I was going to make some popcorn to celebrate the successful completion.  So out to the kitchen I go and just as I was bending over getting the pot out of the bottom cupboard I felt something hit me.  Something wet and runny!  My date/Mr. Renovate/boyfriend had followed me into the kitchen and had been vigorously shaking the paint can when the lid popped off and I was now covered in terra-cotta paint from head to toe!!!    We never did have our popcorn nor was the painting completed that night but we still laugh about the time I became the painted feature!        

Eating Popcorn with Mr. Renovate!

 

My Date with Mr Renovate

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Many years ago I went on a date with a nice man.  He had phoned me up and asked if I would like to join him for a game of tennis.  Sure, sounds fun.  After our game of tennis we went out for ‘wings and a beer’ and shared a bunch of laughs.  The evening was going well so after dinner I asked if he would like to see my house.  I had just bought my first home and I was a little proud.  The home was a ‘starter home’ complete with yellow shag carpet and yellow-flowered wallpaper.  I had removed the wallpaper and painted but the yellow shag carpet still remained.  After having the tour of the house my date stated “you know there is hardwood under this [butt ugly, decades old] carpet” and then proceeded to persuade me to rip that carpet up right there and then.  That was a Thursday night and garbage pick-up was the next day so out went that yellow shag carpet!  But then I started to panic as I looked at the hardwood floor and realized OMG the floor needs repair and refinishing.  I had three tenants in the house that had no intention of becoming renovators.  This was the ‘80’s and my mortgage was at 13 ¾ % and I had no money to hire someone to refinish the floors. So I looked at my date and said “you better stick around to help me refinish these floors!”  Well my date stuck around and helped me refinish the floors, add new baseboard, repaint the room, renovate the bathroom, repair a fence etc., etc., etc.  My date (who sketched me a picture of my first house – see below) certainly did stick around, in fact we have been married for 20 years and we have never stopped renovating.    My love of ripping, refinishing and renovating began on a Thursday evening after a game of tennis, wings and beer because the next day was garbage day.  Or did my date have an ulterior motive??!!

          

Summertime Art?!

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We often make choices based upon labels.  I am referring to the labels on consumer products.  A lot of time and creative energy go into designing a products image, the visual appeal, its brand.  As consumers we often reach for a product and buy that product based on the label.  Just the same with interiors when our eyes rest on a room’s focal point so to do our eyes stop at a product on the shelf that has a great label. The colours, the patterns, the artwork, just the same as a room’s décor!  Every summer we are bombarded with new and catchy labels at the liquor/beer store influencing us to make the purchase.  The label that has caught my eye this summer is the very colourful and artistically graphic Corona® beer bottle; there are 6 different unique labels in all.  The entire long-neck bottle is wrapped in a ‘beach cover-up’ of a tropical setting.  I like these summer labels with their great colours and beautiful graphics and in fact I find myself colour coordinating my bottle choice to my clothing!  One of the labels has graphics that would make a great piece of framed art.  (See photo 2 below)  I have had a few conversations with other summer imbibers, some like the labels and some do not like the labels.  Those who do not explain that the classic yellow and blue label is fine the way it was and feel a change was not necessary.  I can’t argue with that as I am also a big fan of classic pieces i.e. Furniture, but this summer I am just having fun with these labels and their riot of colour. 

      

                 

The Dock Appeal

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During the summer I am very fortunate to be able to spend time at the cottage which is located in the Kawarthas.  Everything at the cottage is ideal; the views, the magnificent pines, the calm water, the sunsets.  We have a lakefront cottage with a flat sandy shoreline that is great for setting up chaise lounges, tables, beach blankets or whatever is needed for a day of lounging.  Perfect, right?  Well a few years ago when our dock needed replacing the master builder (my husband) was persuaded that what we really needed (read wanted) was a large new dock that would allow for us to set up a lounging and entertaining area right on top of the water.  The sandy beach was nice but the appeal of the water was greater.  There is nothing quite like having a ‘room’ sitting on top of water.  We built a 12 ft. X 24 ft. dock that sits just a few inches above the water (not a floater) and one that is easily removed for winter.  Brilliant design.  Kudos to hubby.  Of course now that we had this large dock or as my FIL (father-in-law) coined it ‘Michele’s Living Room’, it had to be decorated.  Several Muskoka chairs, comfy cushions, tables, foot stools, pots of flowers and of course the large market umbrella.  Just as there should always be an umbrella in your drink there should be one on your cottage dock to create that ‘I am on holiday’ ambiance!  Some evenings we have even set up a dining table and chairs on the dock to dine alfresco underneath the stars with the sound of the water lapping underneath.  Pure paradise.  As I stated in a previous post, neither man nor woman can improve on Nature, but we certainly can enjoy it.

     

Waiting (and waiting) Room Art

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I had to pick up a friend recently from a medical clinic where she was having a ‘procedure’ done and was not permitted to drive afterwards.  So, I had to sit in the waiting room for a while, waiting (and waiting).  The waiting room was large enough that all of us ‘drivers’ were not sitting side by side and practically on top of each other.  The chairs were placed in a manner that enabled us to look in different directions so we were not staring at each other.  There was no window that looked outside but there was a flat screen television that allowed us to have some focal point to rest our eyes upon.  Of course there were many magazines and fortunately they were current issues.  Nothing worse than 2 year old magazines where you are reading about Christmas in June!  The chairs were clean too – that scores big points with me.  As I looked around this office/waiting room I could tell that a designer had designed this space.  The wall colour choice had been chosen by a professional not by the ‘builder’.   The chairs were coordinated with the paint and the carpet.  There was ambient light so there was a nice calm feel to the room, not glaring overhead fluorescent lighting.  And the thing that caught my attention the most was the art on the wall.  It was not some art that had been cast-offs and brought from home.  (I am sure you have been in a Doctor’s office with art like that!)  These pieces had been specifically chosen for this space.  But the thing I found most interesting was how the art had been hung on the wall.  The art was hung at the correct height (art is often hung too high) with appropriate space between the pieces (another common mistake) but I liked how someone had thought to stagger the art.  It gave me something while sitting here and waiting to reflect upon.  Interesting style.  I liked that it was ‘leftward’ of ordinary. 

     

Electrifying Emilio Pucci

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As I may have mentioned I collect silk scarves.  I love the feel of the silk.  I love the colours and patterns on the scarves.  I love the history behind many of the scarf labels.  So, I recently added to my collection and treated myself to an Emilio Pucci silk scarf.  Happy Birthday to me!  The scarf is a very long rectangular shape with colours of purple, lavender, turquoise blue, yellow and black and bears the ‘Emilio’ name printed throughout.  Emilio Pucci, born in 1914, the son of a wealthy Italian aristocrat, was a scholar, skier and WWII pilot but was best known for his work as a fashion designer in the 1950’s and 60’s.  Pucci started using textiles with stretch and movement and brightly coloured patterns and dizzying prints eschewing the trend of the time of heavy fabrics and dull colours.  Pucci clothes “looked like they’d sprouted roots and bloomed on their hangers.”  Pucci’s transformation of fashion created quite a stir and developed a fan following from Sophia Loren to Jackie Kennedy.  Even Marilyn Monroe was buried in one of Pucci’s dresses.  Over the years, the Pucci design house often collaborated with home design companies; Rosenthal dishes in the 1960’s to Italian furniture maker Capellini.  Pucci’s electric coloured, kaleidoscopic patterned fabric has adorned everything from pillows to furniture.  Now if I could only adorn my home with a Pucci upholstered chair, definitely a room ‘wow factor’!

              

               

Image 1:  www.capellini.it

 Image 2:   www.visionamidcenturymodern.1stdibs.com

Outfit a Room

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While out for a stroll recently I spotted a dress on display in a shop window on the other side of the street.  I knew instantly that I had to have it so I jay-walked right across the street to get to that shop and that dress.  No second thoughts; I bought that dress.  The dress is a black and white stripe long summer dress.  Casual and fun.  While paying for my purchase I noticed a basket full of colourful bracelets.  Of course my eye immediately went for the orange bracelet.  (As I stated in a previous post, ‘orange is my new red’.)  So out I go from that store with a new black and white striped dress and an orange bracelet.  Instant decision, happy me.  Normally, I do not make quick decisions when it comes to my clothing or my décor but this purchase just seemed right.  When I got home I laid out my purchases, added a white hat and a blue jean jacket and voila, a whole outfit came together.  So the other day I put my new outfit on and stopped….!  As I looked around my bedroom I started to smile and the realization hit me then.  Not only was I dressed in black and white stripes with blue and a hit of orange but so was my bedroom!!  My ‘summer’ bedroom had the same colour scheme happening too; white coverlet, black and white striped pillows, orange lamps and blue art.  That is why I made such a quick decision on the dress purchase; it felt familiar.  Interesting huh?  So is it your clothes inspire your home décor or your home décor inspires your clothes?  Next time you are wondering what colours to decorate a room with, colour that is suited to your personal tastes and comfort, take a look inside your closet.

                          

                  

Nature’s Design

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Can you improve on nature?  Man or rather in my case – woman, will alter and change their space/interiors until they get it ‘right’.  I will strive until I get the right paint colour on the wall, the correct fabric on the chair, the precise layout of the furniture.  In my environment (my interior) I change things because I believe there could be a better alternative, a better design.  Change is good, right?  But year after year Mother Nature gets it bang on.  Every year in late spring my favourite tree, the Cornus Kousa, a variety of flowering Dogwood, flowers to a beauty beyond words, true perfection.  No improvement or change necessary here.  This year the two Cornus Kousa’s in my backyard were prolific and created an outstanding display.  The Cornus Kousa, with its creamy white petal-like flowers and softly rippled green leaves, requires little or no maintenance to maintain its natural form and beauty.  Naturally beautiful.  We don’t often think about it, but we do take our inspiration for design from Nature.  Frank Lloyd Wright was well-known for using Nature, “Nature is my manifestation of God.  I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work.  I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain.”  So next time you fall short on ideas or inspiration, take a look outside and see what Mother Nature has designed. 

    

               

Now you see, Now you don’t

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Isn’t it amazing the difference a few weeks can make.  In my backyard, truly the size of a small ‘courtyard’, my space literally transforms from an open patio into a hidden oasis; a very calm and private retreat.   Both of my next-door neighbours have birds-eye views into my backyard as our homes are all 3 stories high but by late spring my backyard foliage fills in and I am in total privacy.  Over the years I have strategically planted and re-planted many trees and bushes in my backyard.  Not only do the trees provide shade they now provide my anticipated concealment.  The trees have also grown in size that they provide a full canopy over the yard; similar to a huge sun umbrella.  In fact I can no longer see any neighbours, beside me or behind my.  I have created what I call ‘my fortress’.   I do like my neighbours but when you live in the city a little solitude is nice.  Similar to living spaces within the interior of a home, my trees are like pulling down the shades or drawing the blinds.  Sometimes it’s not about what you see but what who you do not see!