Dish Envy …

Twice now, I’ve been walking through our local “Bay” (aka The Hudson Bay Company) store and come across this table setting.

And twice now, I’ve taken pictures with my iPhone (sorry for the quality …)

I’m thinking this means something.  This last visit, I took this picture also…

… which means two things … one - I am seriously crushing on this pattern and tw0 – it’s way out of my price point.

But one of the reasons for writing a design blog is to be able to dream – right?!   So, I’m dreaming of a virtual table setting including this lovely china…

Lenox French Perle in Ice Blue

I think it would be lovely paired with this set for contrast …

Mikasa Antique White

matched with this glassware…

Mikasa French Countryside wine glasses

And this flatware …

Anglais Ivory flatware by Alain Saint-Joanis

On this linen tablecloth …

Linen drawn-work tablecloth with double hemstitch c/o Opulence of Southern Pines

On this table …

Round onion based pedestal extension table c/o Camlen Furniture

In this room …

Room by Phoebe Howard

In this house …

traditional exterior design by minneapolis general contractor Stonewood, LLC

Well, look at that, a whole new life, just from one little table setting :).

What do you dream of setting your table with?

Friday Find–December 2 {Finally!}

This week’s Friday Find is inspiration from Houzz for the new focal point in my dining room/living room – a red wall!

contemporary kitchen design by san francisco design-build Harrell Remodeling

This has it ALL – the entire colour palette I’m trying to achieve, right down to that gorgeous blue as an accent colour and those roman blinds, although I think I’ll do mine in fabric.  And even though I don’t have a bay window, I even plan a bench seat in the dining room.  FINALLY!!!

Some teeny tiny news ...

Well, my friends, I've got some big teeny tiny news!

No, I didn't go out and buy a teeny tiny Smart Car like my friend Kelly at Design Ties.

And No, we are not adding a teeny tiny barker to our brood of (two) little pups (although isn't this litte one adorable????)  I'm sure Sam and Milo would adore a little sister - No??!!

And NO, hubs and I are not starting another family - GOD forbid!!! Sheesh - wouldn't that be a shocker.

Our teeny tiny news is ......

Our youngest and her hubs are expecting our very first teeny tiny grandson!  The little fellow is expected to arrive at the end of September.  The hubster, I and Daughter #1 (aka Auntie) are over the moon.

Now, I know you are all scratching your heads, thinking, "Wait a minute .... she is far too young to be having grandchildren!", and I really do thank you all for thinking that, but age really has nothing to do with it.  I'm beginning to believe "grandparenting" is a state of mind!  Now, of course I have no real experience "grandparenting", but from what my very young "grandparent" friends tell me, it ROCKS! 

My hubster is a huge (read HUGE) fan of babies, and I have to admit it will be great to see him with one of his own gender for a change :)!  And I am just itching to hold this little guy, coo with him, sing lullabies and watch him sleep.  And, yes, I know I'm leaving alot of "other" stuff out but I'm anxious to be doing all that too!

Over the last month or so I've started to gear up into baby mode.  I now make a b-line straight to the baby section in any store I'm in, I've been picking up the odd item here and there and Auntie and I are busy planning the mom-to-be's baby shower this weekend! 
 

PS: Anyone need to know ANYTHING about baby shower games? 

Check out this link:  http://www.babyshower101.com/baby_shower_games.html!  We are going to have FUN!

What I've also been doing though (in my spare time - cause I have soooo much of it) is decorating the nursery.  We painted it a couple of weeks ago when my fab-u-lous sister-in-law from New Brunswick was visiting.  Blue - of course!  The parent's-to-be had decided on Fisher-Price's Ocean Wonders as the theme:

So last night Mom-to-be, Auntie and I painted coordinating coloured bubbles in the room.  Here are some pics!

We traced bowls to get our larger bubble shapes and the inside of a roll of painters tape to get the smaller ones.

The turquoise and lime green paint is Natura from Beauti-tone, and the yellow, orange and dark blue (reads black in the pictures) are sample pots from Pittsburgh Paint.

We decided on a wave of bubbles across two walls, starting low under the window, reaching a peak in the corner and then a sideways S wave across the long wall to the door.  For fun, I also added a couple on the opposite wall above the light switch.

Next for the room:  a repainted IKEA pine shelf, rocking chair and lighting.  This is fun!!!

I'll keep you all posted on the room and of course on the arrival of our teeny tiny addition!

Odds & Ends

I’m far too mature to make excuses (well most of the time) and who am I kidding?  By the time anyone reaches “this age”, they pretty well know themselves and should be honest enough to admit it right.  So, here’s my big confession, although I think you’ve already figured this out – you are pretty bright people … :)

It takes me F-O-R-E-V-E-R to finish projects!

And that is for one reason only – I procrastinate – as I’ve confessed in my post about my dining room table.  Since starting this blog I’ve mentioned the following projects to you:

• dining room redo
• guest room redo
• furniture piece redo
• new 46” LCD TV placement
• hanging of my Matt Leblanc original won on Design Ties
• placement of my giveaway prize from Low Tide High Style

And you’ve all been very patient, waiting for news about them and occasionally reminding me about them (thanks for that :)).  Granted some of these projects are a long time in the making, but even so, I should just get my butt off this chair and show you the progress at least right?

So - let’s start with my dining room re-do. Unfortunately, there’s not too much to report on this as it will most likely be part of a much bigger reno – the kitchen.  Right now the kitchen and dining room are separated by a wall with a french door (which is never closed).  Here’s a floor plan view:

 

And this is what I want:

Based on these inspiration photos:

  (from local Ottawa Interior Designer Ulya Jensen from HGTV fame!)

And this – my original inspiration:

(from Interior Designer Phoebe Howard)

Needless to say – this is a BIG project and although it is on the list, it’s one that will require a wee bit of capital, so you probably won’t be seeing or hearing much about it soon :)!

Stay tuned and I’ll update you on my other projects – I promise :)!

Gone for a Sunday Sail ...

This afternoon we are going for a sail ....

(www.freefoto.com)

Nothing to do with decor, gardening or home projects - except that this is what takes me away from those, and may be the source of my love of the colour blue.

Not quite as exciting as this ...
(rosenblumtv.wordpress.com)


Or as picturesque as this...

(an Ellen Cowie painting c/o ontariosailing.com)

But enjoyable nonetheless...

(c/o www.diyc.com)
Happy Sunday everyone!

The colour BLUE

Hello to everyone from this weeks Hooked on Fridays! Thanks to Julia at Hooked on Houses for hosting.

Well, with all of the lovely weather (not) we've been having in Eastern Ontario, it was very easy to come up with the title of this post. With day after cool, rainy day, I have to say I have been "feeling blue", however that's not the BLUE I wanted to blog about. Let's try and lift our spirits with some talk and pics about the colour BLUE.

When I was a little girl, BLUE was my favourite colour. I wanted blue paint, BLUE wallpaper, BLUE decor, BLUE clothing (TG for BLUE jeans), shoes, jewellery, books... Every questionnaire that asked (and as a teenager, admit it, you did every one you could get your hands on) I filled in that asked my favourite colour - BLUE! We even had a dog named BLUE - who I still miss 34 years later!

You name it, it had to be BLUE - well OK not BLUE hair - back in the day we didn't have the means or the tolerance that we do today. Unlike my youngest daughter, who at the age of 15, decided that her hair should be neon pink. Figuring that heck, it's only hair and will grow back, I headed out to the local drugstore with her and picked up the bleach and Manic Panic and for one summer she sported a shockingly pink head of hair. But, I digress - back to BLUE.

From my studies, the colour BLUE, a primary colour on the Colour Wheel, is associated with the following emotions and physiological reactions – tranquility, calmness, faith, loyalty (true BLUE) among others. When used in advertising, BLUE is often used to promote cleanliness, travel (sea and sky colour) and precision. Gender wise, apart from the old adage pink for girls and BLUE for boys, BLUE is hiighly accepted by males, with dark BLUE symbolizing the corporate world and associated with strength and stability.

BLUE should be avoided in relation to food, as studies prove is is known to suppress the appetite. Now, I would like to interject here, that regardless of this last fact, I still plan to paint my dining room BLUE!

In languages, the word BLUE is derived from the Old French “bleu” from Germanic origin “blao” meaning shining. Although in the English language the term “BLUE” can mean feelings of sadness, in German it means drunk which equates back to an ancient use of urine, which the body produces copious amounts of, in dying cloth BLUE (ewwww!).

Of course, with my study of design and decor, I have grown to appreciate other colours and incorporate them into my homes - greens and yellows, mauves and pinks, garden and earth tones - but deep down inside I still have a hankering for BLUE. When I chose the colour for this blog - it wasn't a conscious decision - I naturally gravitated to the BLUEs.

So in honour of BLUE – let’s explore a bit – I hope you enjoy some of my favourites...

First and foremost – the sky…

I couldn’t resist the pic with the sailboat!

Followed closely by the sea …

One day I WILL go here….

the “BLUE City” – Jodhpur, India

Here’s a combination of my favourite colour and my favourite flower (which symbolizes devotion):

And in rooms…

On furniture …

And on our tables (even though we shouldn’t :) )

Photo credits:

1 – Steve Pinkers photos of Cape Cod - http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/photos/cape_cod/pages/blue%20sky%20sailboat.htm; 2 – unknown; 3 – Fira, Santorini - http://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/santorini-workshop-2009/; 4 – Jodhpur India - http://www.virtourist.com/asia/india/jodhpur/index.html; 5 – Hydrangea - http://www.brides.com/planning/flowers/flowerfinder/detail/176228/; 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18 ,19– www.HouseBeautiful.com; 14 – Kohler Canada -http://www.ca.kohler.com/ideas/showcase/showcase.jsp?section=3&nsection=3&nsubsection=1&subsection=1&aid=1824; 15 – Kohler Canada - http://www.ca.kohler.com/ideas/showcase/showcase.jsp?section=3&nsection=3&nsubsection=2&subsection=2&aid=716&style=Contemporary; 20, 21 – Cobalt Dinnerware & Glassware – www.pier1.com; 22 – Denby Imperial Blue - http://www.denby.co.uk/Imperial-Blue/Covered-Vegetable-Dish/invt/001010102;