Tag Archives: Design

My Corner Fireplace Dilemma

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When we purchased our home the basement was finished. Although many different definitions of ‘finished’ abound! The house is ~100 years old so a century ago the ‘cellar’ was never meant to live in. The basement was cold as insulation was not a factor in the home’s original construction. The previous owners tried to rectify this problem by installing a fireplace. A corner fireplace. Often considered to be the bane of designers! They also had a Santa Fe décor (note the purple wall colour) I believe to emulate warmth!? Due to the room’s layout the only place for the television was above the fireplace – terrible neck strain! Also, that meant that our sofa/sitting area was in the most narrow part of the room while the rest of the space was unused. We rectified this by flipping everything around. We got rid of the [ugly] corner fireplace and our solution to the cold factor was…..wait for it….insulation! In the process of figuring out the best solution as to how the room could be used we moved everything into different positions and lived with it for a while. After a long and dirty (we found out where at one time the furnace coal used to be stored) we now have a fabulous new ‘media’ room.

All images via Modmissy

 

 

Martha Sturdy

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In the sidebar of my blog I have the ‘Modmissy Wish List’; the location where I place the item I am ‘wanting’ (not needing!) at the moment.  My current obsession – Martha Sturdy resin bowls.  www.marthasturdy.com.  Actually I have been enamored by Martha Sturdy resin bowls for some time.  I would love to have a large resin bowl on my dining table.  For over 30 years at her studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Martha has been creating statements in resin.  Each resin design is exclusive to itself; having its own colouration, air bubbles, irregularities and textures. The unique quality of each handmade piece makes it a true original piece of functional art.  (Functioning as a salad bowl?? – never!!)  With an international reputation in art, sculpture and design, Martha Sturdy is known for her distinctive style that is sophisticated, minimal and bold.  Martha also creates in steel, brass and aluminum.  Her three-dimensional sculptures are made from resin and hand cut hot rolled steel.  Architectural by nature Martha designs the artwork with cutouts to capture light and form drawing people in and asking them to interact with it; touch it, feel it.

Martha Sturdy Resin Bowl in Shimmer Red

Resin Bowl in Soft Grey Marble – looks like real marble

Resin Bowl in Plum

Martha Sturdy Brass Trays

Three Dimensional Sculpture “Marmalade” – resin and steel

Smile – it’s the Weekend!

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This past week has been a little grey outside and the weekend is calling for rain.  Therefore I believe that the upcoming ‘colour’ forecast calls for some cheery yellow.  Add a splash of yellow in your life like this Pantone Yellow M colour chip.

If you are brave enough paint a feature wall in a guest bedroom, the inside of a cabinet or a small piece of furniture.  If that’s too much how about listening to soothing sounds from a Tivoli radio. www.tivoliaudio.com

How about pumping up the energy of a neutral kitchen with the Jake chair from Room and Board www.roomandboard.com .  Takes tea time to a whole new level.

This contemporary yellow sofa from www.bebitalia.it would definitely create a statement.

So wherever you find yourself this weekend I hope it is a cheery one. And remember – smile!!

Blue Shutters

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Taking advantage of the nice weather yesterday I decided to get some exercise while the sun was still shining.  As I passed by this home now vacant and under major renovation the words of Forrest Gump played in my head, “You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes”.

Well there were no shoes lying about or construction boots either but the tell-tale signs were still present – the blue shutters.  The house had been sold and the previous owners are gone but the shutters still tell the story of who used to live there.  The shutters shade of blue was a paint colour very popular in the 1960’s and unless the previous owners were a young couple with a penchant for retro colours (which I highly doubt) this was the home where Grandma and Grandpa had lived for decades.   Colours have history.  In 1961 the Dulux® paint colour guide included Summer Blue, the same shade as these blue shutters.  Dulux no longer includes Summer Blue in their colour palette.  It’s dated.  (Just like clothing with huge shoulder pads that scream 1980!)

Blue is still a popular colour but it is the shade and hue that has changed to make it more current and up-to-date.  In the midst of all this renovation one can still tell that this home had been greatly loved and meticulously taken care of and I am sure the new owners will do the same but the blue shutters will be gone and replaced with colour that is more 2012-like.

My Desire for Pink

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This spring I have had a real desire to decorate with colour – especially pink.  I have never been a ‘pink’ person but I have been imagining my décor with hits of this bright hue.  It could be that the neutral colours of winter have me wanting anything but taupe, linen and grey.  I have been imagining how fun it would be to have something like this bright pink sofa from www.jamesstuartduncan.com and decorate a room around it with other hits of colours like juicy orange, sunshine yellow and chartreuse green.

So this past weekend I went shopping…..but for clothing/shoes/accessories.  Something I love to do!  A session of retail therapy always works wonders.  Of course a change of season is always a good excuse to go shopping too!  My subconscious mind must have been preprogrammed because the first thing that I found was a pink (actually raspberry) patent purse from www.badgleymischka.com.  I realized that my desire for colour had transferred over to my wardrobe.  It was way over my budget but I had to have it so I justified it by the fact that it cost a lot less than the pink sofa.

This purse became the ‘springboard’ for the shopping adventure that followed.  Those who know me will agree that generally I dress in black and white not bright colours so this shopping spree was a departure from the norm.  My eyes scanned the racks of clothing looking only for pinks, oranges, purples and chartreuses.

So this is what I came home with.

Whereas had I gone furniture shopping I would likely have come home with this – same colours, different pieces  Funny how that works!

Sofa and Chair: www.jonathanadler.com  Bouquet Chair: www.moroso.it    Lacquered Trays: www.westelm.com    Striped Pillow: www.roomandboard.com  Chartreuse Pillow:  www.westelm.com

 

 

 

Garden Mirrors

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My backyard is both my sanctuary and my little ‘green space’ in the city.  I look forward to being able to return to my summer hangout.  But until the warm weather is here I can patiently only watch spring’s progress in my backyard.  From my kitchen window, which is elevated above the backyard, I have a bird’s eye view to observe all the activity going on.  The buds on the trees are just starting to come out and some of the perennials are beginning to poke up out of the soil.  And the birds are so busy at this time of year.  Blue Jays, robins and cardinals are constantly flying about; looking for mates and starting to nest.  But here is the thing – I have a garden mirror that hangs on a wall in the backyard.  The mirror tucked in behind some greenery gives the appearance of creating visual space where none exists.  My yard is small so this ‘trompe l’oeil’ (French for ‘fool the eye’) is perfect for tricking one into believing that my backyard is spacious.  Same tactic as when a mirror is used inside a home.  But each spring I have to cover the mirror over with a plastic sheet to prevent birds from hurting themselves.  The birds, mostly robins, upon seeing their reflection in the mirror believe it to be another bird that is in their territory.  The bird fights itself to such a length that I have noticed blood on the mirror.  Not nice for the bird!  So I thought I would pass this info on to anyone who may have a garden mirror.  Cover over the mirror during springtime until the birds are finished mating.

A photo of a robin in spring – let’s protect him.

My garden mirror in spring before plant foilage covers over.

My garden mirror in summer somewhat hidden from surrounding foilage.

All images via Modmissy

Shedd Aquarium

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On a trip to Chicago I visited the Shedd Aquarium.  Considered to be one of Chicago’s no. 1 cultural attractions where visitors can make ‘inSheddible’ connections with over 30,000 animals, from snails to whales.  Initially I thought, boring…., but I was actually quite captivated.  Along with seeing beautiful fish and lots of creeping and slithering animals I was amazed at the amazing kaleidoscope   of colours.  Design takes its inspiration from nature and the colours at the Shedd definitely showcased this.  So I thought I would share some of my Shedd photos and parallel them to furniture pieces from Moroso www.moroso.it

All animal images via Modmissy.  All furniture images via Moroso.it

Upon Closer Inspection

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My Friday space this week is a living room designed by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy of Orlando Diaz-Azcuy Design Associates or ODADA.  This Cuban-born American designer has had a significant impact on the contemporary practice of interior design.  With degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and City Planning, Diaz-Azcuy is a master in residential interiors, architecture, landscape design, furniture design and urban planning.  While researching for a room that I would like to spend time in this weekend I came across this photo that depicted a lovely calm space; a bit more traditional looking than I usually prefer.  But upon closer inspection I realized that the furniture was actually a ‘dramatic experiment’ in curved plywood.  “Sweeps of glossy white vinyl lie atop a plywood “over-floor” and rise onto and over the simple plywood furniture forms—coffee table, daybed, and chairs. Beneath them an exposed ebony floor serves up high contrast to highlight the beauty of negative space.”  Refined elegance but innovative modern at the same time.  Outstanding!

Image via Matthew Millman

The Dinette Table

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Entertaining at home has never been as popular as right now.  With all the cooking shows on television and the fabulous cook books now available, so many of us have now found our ‘inner-chefs’.  The dinner party has become the ‘au courant’ style of entertaining; sitting around the dining table sharing wonderful conversation, food, wine and laughter (more wine, more laughter!).  The party often starts in the kitchen but usually ends gathering around a table – the dining table.  Most homes have a dining room but so often the space must serve double or triple duty therefore the dining table is also a work desk, craft table, place to do homework or just a handy surface to place all stray belongings.  For small spaces a dining table is not always a possibility given square footage restrictions so a surface to dine and entertain at becomes a design challenge.  The kitchen island is now being designed with entertaining in mind.  Coffee tables that convert into dining tables are becoming popular.  A console table can be pulled into duty also.  Of course there is always the door removed from its hinges method – I have a client who has done this for years.  So I thought I would share with you my own dining table solution for small spaces.  My dining table, originally my parents’, is a mid-1950’s Duncan Phyfe style that was built by Drexel Furniture.  The table and matching buffet are both made of dark stained mahogany and have bow fronts.  It is a lovely table that blends well with my contemporary décor.  Mind you I would like to replace the chairs with something more modern i.e. Panton, Eames chairs.  But the best part about this table is the ‘secret’ small space design adaptability.  With 3 leaves my table seats up to eight people comfortably but with the removal of the leaves and the flip of the top, my table converts to a small desk.  Ingenious!  My ‘dinette’ table was the ‘high tech’ solution to small spaces during the 1950 and 1960’s.  An idea that is well worth copying.  

Dining Table extended to sit 6

 

Dining Table converted to Desk

 All images via Modmissy

 

Balance vs Symmetry

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A room that is designed with symmetry is a room that is in a state of equilibrium.  Every ying has it yang.  A sofa in the centre of a seating arrangement, flanked by two end tables, coffee table and a pair of chairs. Matched and a sense of harmony.  Whereas balance being a room with deliberate lack of symmetry.  Not matched but feeling coordinated.   It took me a long time to realize about myself that when it comes to my own personal space and décor, I prefer a room to look balanced without being symmetrical.  Case in point – my living room.  This room took me 3 sofas, actually 2 sofas and then finally a sectional sofa to realize that the room functions better and feels best when it is not decorated symmetrically.  The wall between my living/dining room had been removed creating one large open room.  On the long wall is the fireplace. Where it used to once sit centered in the living room the fireplace now sits at what feels like the end of the long wall.  When I placed my sofa/furniture symmetrically on the fireplace the living room occupied a small space of the overall room.  The living room felt small and there was too much space allotted to the dining area.  I decided that the solution to this problem was to decorate asymmetrically around the fireplace and a sectional sofa allowed that to happen.  My living room has been enlarged and occupies more of the space in the living/dining room.  After this lengthy and $$$$ exercise I realized that I preferred my rooms when they were not symmetrical but rather balanced.  I like my ‘vignettes’ mismatched and I favour items in odd numbers.  I feel the asymmetrical ‘tension’ created makes the space more appealing to me.  

   

    

             

                All images via Modmissy