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Jumat, 31 Desember 2010

2011: New Year, New Life (?)

2011 will mark some major milestones in my life:March 2011: David and I will welcome our first child -- a boy.May 2011: David will turn 30.June 2011: I will turn 30.September 2011: David and I will celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary.November 2011: Marks my 5th year as a licensed attorney (unfortunately, I'll be missing my 5th year reunion in April due to above mentioned baby). Of course, that

Kamis, 30 Desember 2010

Get The Look: A Bold, Graphic Bathroom


In this post I'm going to share more interior design ideas for creating a stunning bathroom which is more suited to modern and contemporary styled homes.

Contemporary and elegant, the graphic bathroom is high shine - so sleek and smooth! This would be so much better if you have the advantage of a large bathroom, where you can squeeze in a Chesterfield style sofa in white leather (it is good to dream!) and to have enough space that your bath isn't squeezed into a corner or even against a wall.

The bathroom suite is really seductive with its matching pieces of black toilet and sink, a white bath and all three with gloss finish. Lines are clean and modern, only subtle curves are seen in the bathroom suite and your statement sofa or armchair if you had to downsize!

Polished white tiles on the floor and a focal wall with either black polished tiles or metallic wallpaper. Finishing touches include a contemporary light source where abstracts come into play and a large mirror on your focal wall.
As with the previous post try and use full length ready made curtains if you can; alternatively opt for high shine aluminium or white Venetian blinds to enable lots of natural light flood into the room.

Image:

Selasa, 28 Desember 2010

Wrap it up!

You know when you come across something and it encompasses your style completely?  Well that's how I felt when I saw this lamp.  It was love at first sight.  This is me all wrapped up in a lamp and it needs to be in my house!!  The pair would look so good in my living room.  I found them at a great little home decor store called Stella Bleu.  They have a great selection of pretty chandeliers to

Jumat, 24 Desember 2010

Create A Wind-down Zone!


Sometimes the whole festive season hustle and bustle can leave you exhausted and yet with a house full of relatives finding some 'me' time can be very difficult! If you only have one bathroom - let's be honest many homes do – you can't lock yourself away and soak in the bath as someone will want the loo! So you need to find another place to gather your thoughts and take time-out. There is an easy solution...creating your own little wind-down zone. It doesn't have to be anything lavish or encroach on much space, just a little ingenuity or your part!

In a larger living space have the area around it as an inviting reading nook or a retreat for a spot of 'winding-down'. It is an exclusive place with its solo chair – you don't have to share your favourite cushions and throws, but can still tease and excite guests with your acute style! Make it worthwhile by choosing luxury silk covered cushions in jewel tones, an end table with stylish table lamp for atmospheric lighting and an easy-to-reach shelf with your favourite reading material – choose a book that was a present or a recipe book and no one can accuse you of being selfish!

Image: Decorology

Rabu, 22 Desember 2010

Looking for something modern?

I am currently working on a modern family room with minimal colour.  A neutral pallet with great texture can be achieved by mixing fabric, metals and wood tones.  This is a great way to keep a modern space from feeling too cold.  Take note of the beautiful painting done by my friend and designer Karla Amadatsu from Kerrisdale Design.Throw pillows by Woody Liana and Caitlin Wilson 

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I'm off for the next few days enjoying some quality time with the family and some much needed R&R. I'll be back next week though with plenty of updates on the nursery (including some DIYs) as I scurry to get the room in shape before returning to work in January.Love,AverillP.S. - The winner of the Bold & Noble Noah's Ark

Senin, 20 Desember 2010

Beautiful Black Bedroom Ideas - Graphic




This bedroom idea adds a new twist to monochromatic black and white to bring your bedroom bang up to date with a very trendy design with clean lines and bold graphic prints; as much as it is trendy though, this bedroom look has a whimsical approach to elegant styling - oversized table lamps UK with a fluid white form and bedside tables that are half the height, showing off 'S' shaped legs in an acid yellow accent colour.

Monochrome black, white and grey is ahead of this bright pop of colour with a beautiful charcoal grey focal wall, white bedding and a large area bedroom rug with black abstract print on white background. Three lots of ready made curtains are used - two pairs in white and a black pair to go central; this gives the appearance of stripes.

Metallics are used, but they come through as a sheen on silk and satin cushions and bed runners - look for a jewel tone such as amethyst which also compliments the yellow side tables. A white gloss headboard projects the bed with its crisp white bed linen.

Image: Modesred

I love Ruby Love's Modern Baby Books

I'll admit that I'm a big fan of documenting everything (I'm a lawyer, after all!) and I cherish the baby books my mother and grandmother made for me. But a lot of the books on the market today just strike me as a bit too cheesy, a bit too...well, babyish. Cue a random (but most welcome email) from my blogging buddy Laura over at JourneyChic a few weeks ago recommending Etsy seller Ruby Love's

Jumat, 17 Desember 2010

Thom Felicia at Calico Corners

Not sure if I'm the last to know but it's news to me!  Now I have another reason to shop at Calico.

Win a Bold & Noble Screen Print!

So a few weeks ago I ordered the Noah's Ark print in turquoise from English design collective Bold & Noble for the nursery. Unfortunately, they initially sent me the print in poppy red -- a great color, but definitely not what I ordered. Quick to make amends, however, B&N shipped me the turquoise version and offered to let me keep the red version for myself. Well, of course the first thing I

Beautiful Black Bedroom Ideas - Gothic Inspirations


From pitch black to a midnight blue, this time we see a little colour coming through! Once again, it has to be said that the dark walls can make compromises for unisex bedrooms. You can also afford to use a colour that is neither too 'masculine' or too 'feminine' like a red-orange (another colour showing up an awful lot lately). A classic mid-century modern design is tasteful for exploring darker palettes; if you choose more period décor you can expect a more dramatic look and one that can be quite Gothic - depends on your personal taste I guess. I rather like the clean simple lines of the wooden bookcase-come-headboard in this idea.

The idea of having a shelving unit framing the bed makes bedtime all the more cosy, just having to reach behind your head to pick up a good read before dozing off. Choose duvet cover sets in white, but this time with a coloured print like the red-orange example - a graphic floral print is very eye catching. You can add a warm medium grey to the picture with floor rugs and some table lamps UK to add a sultry atmosphere if you want!

Kamis, 16 Desember 2010

The Backyard is (Finally) Finished!

Back in August I posted some pictures showing off some preliminary work we'd done to our backyard. Well, four months later I am thrilled to report that we've finally finished landscaping and that I couldn't be happier with the finished results. While we spent a huge chunk of my 2010 bonus on the yard, both Dave and I believe that we've managed to create a little something out of the ordinary,

Modern living room interior designs - Living room designs ideas

Modern living room interior designs - Living room designs ideas is where you entertain guests and spend quality time with your family. It is the most used room of many homes, and therefore it requires an extra amount of care when you design and decorate it. Coordination 1. You can coordinate your living room to match or accentuate the rest of the rooms in your home. You can follow a specific

Modern living room designs - Comfortable living room interior design

Modern living room designs - Comfortable living room interior design was first introduced in the mid sixties, when it was used to describe the down-striped sculptures of many artists. Today, the term has become Modern living room designs - Comfortable living room interior design. A minimalist design style calls for clean lines, hard surfaces and low furniture. The elegant style enhances the

Selasa, 14 Desember 2010

Advice for New Moms: Haven & Home

Today marks the final installment of the Advice for New Moms guest post series and I'd like to thank all the wonderful bloggers who contributed to the series and made it so informative (not to mention entertaining). We're finishing up strong today with Marianne Strong (sorry for the bad pun!) from Haven & Home and Marianne Strong Interiors. While Marianne is not yet a mother herself, she's had

Beautiful Black Bedroom Ideas


I am full of anticipation for this intimate bedroom; just because I know many initial thoughts will be negative – so much black you ask? How does it work without feeling Gothic or moody? I guess you have to appreciate the darker side of decorating a little to accept this idea; but it is really interesting how you can play with texture and pattern when sticking to one colour.

Of course, no idea is legitimate without the possibility of taking it and doing your own thing with it – if you want a little more white, if you want a little less black; just go for it and see how it unfolds. Back to black – three walls coated in matte black and the wall behind your bed head is papered up in a black matte and metallic print.

Bedding comprises of a black duvet but different textures give it detail – try a black satin duvet cover, a mixture of black silk and velvet cushions and a leather upholstered headboard; you can't tell me this doesn't sound inviting! You can lighten the room with mirrors, inclusive of mirrored furniture. Add the final touch with bedroom rugs - black and grey check print is so very appropriate!

Image: PadStyle

Sabtu, 11 Desember 2010

A Dog's Rules for Christmas

Santa Dress

#1 A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night. DON'T BITE HIM! Believe it or not, he comes bearing gifts.

#2 Don't pee on the tree.

#3 Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you. They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

Wishing you a happy holiday season filled with love and laughter with your dear ones two-legged or four!

Courtesy of Barking Babies

Patricia Gray Inc is an award winning Interior Design firm in Vancouver who blogs about Lifestyle and WHAT'S HOT in the world of Interior Design. 2010 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Jumat, 10 Desember 2010

2011 Color of the Year: Honeysuckle

The powers that be over at Pantone have dubbed "Honeysuckle", a vibrant pink hue with a yellow undertone, the color for 2011. While I'd describe the color as more pink lemonade than honeysuckle (after all, a honeysuckle flower is yellow!), I do like the vibrant feminine energy the color conveys. And I have to say, given the popularity of this more adultified pink (actually, pink in general) on

Kamis, 09 Desember 2010

Holiday decorating

I am finally getting around to decorating the house for the holidays and the first thing I did was fix up my empty uninviting planter at the front door.  It was pitiful that my guests were being welcomed by an empty planter!  I took inspiration from who else but Sarah Richardson.  I loved the planters that she put together with Tommy on her holiday special.   I don't have a green thumb at all so

3 Quick Tips To Creating a Relaxing Bedroom


1. Blackout roller blinds are fabric blinds that completely block the light out when they are down and when raised allow an unobstructed view to the outside. These blinds are inexpensive and are low maintenance, because they can be made of any material - cotton, silk and even hemp are just some of the choices. They can be chosen to match cheap bedding sets and the rest of your chosen décor. Most are washable and the ones that are not can be dry cleaned or dusted, so keeping them clean is not a problem. Best of all, you can find the best deals online.

2. In addition to shutting out the light and making sure that you have a comfortable bed, you could add accessories such as a rock waterfall set up or a white noise machine to shut out city noise or chirping birds. A diffuser with your favourite scent or some aromatherapy candles might be a good idea as well - your nose knows what it wants and that can be used to relax you!
3. Your eyes are pleased by the lack of light thanks to blackout roller blinds, new duvet covers bedding is also a great idea to help you feel comfortable and your ears are full of the sounds of the ocean gently rolling over the shore. The whole world is Zen and it's all because you took the time out to make your bedroom a relaxing environment.

Image: A Life's Design

Rabu, 08 Desember 2010

Frizzle the elf

Isn't he cute!  After reading Tamara's blog Modern Mommy a few weeks ago I knew he would be a welcome addition to our Christmas traditions.  My kids love waking up every morning and finding our elf perched in a new spot.  Thanks Tamara!

Selasa, 07 Desember 2010

Master Bedroom Design: Progress Report

It's been a few months now since I first posted about my plans for our master bedroom, but I promise that I didn't forget about it, despite my baby haze. In fact, real progress has been made towards achieving my initial vision and I'm excited to share the changes the room has undergone in recent weeks.I've swapped out our queen size bed with a larger king. I selected a modern, black version of a

Senin, 06 Desember 2010

Quick Tips To Creating A Home Work Station


Get the lighting and the mood right. If there is too much light, get some Venetian blinds. If there is not enough light, get a table lamp UK. It's tiring and counterproductive to work in too much light or too little light. Depending on what your work is, you might not need anything but a little bit of sunshine. The blinds will help you regulate the light coming in and out of the room and then you can electronically regulate any more or less light that you might need. In addition, leave out the TV and the radio. Some people claim that they can't work without some background noise, so a relaxing waterfall or a noise machine might be in order, but do not put anything at your work space that will visually or aurally distract you.

Get a comfortable chair to sit in while you work, and take care of your desk! It is impossible to get anything done if you are constantly worried that your desk is going to fall apart. Make sure that your workspace is sturdy and ready to be used for what you need it for. In addition, place any appliances or work related items you need on your desk and take away any distractions or non-work related items.

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to organise your things and remove anything that isn't needed. This will make your work space a real work space and make everything else fall into place. If you are a stickler for décor, don't hesitate to look for appliances or a Venetian blind in a style that matches or compliments your desk.

Image: A Life's Design

Jumat, 03 Desember 2010

Meet Matilda!

I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our family: Matilda, a 3.5 month old miniature dachshund! After the loss of our dear Olivia in October, Dave and I thought long and hard about whether or not we wanted another dog, especially since we're expecting a baby in just a few short months. Ultimately, however, we decided that, if we did want another dog, it was "now or never," as the

Kamis, 02 Desember 2010

Advice for New Moms: JourneyChic

Back again with yet another fantastic guest post in the Advice for New Moms series. Today I'm thrilled to have Laura of JourneyChic, who welcomed her first son into the world back in June...wow, I can't believe how time flies! I feel like I was just reading about her being pregnant! In any case, Laura has (unsurprisingly) some incredibly smart thoughts on decking out the nursery, delivery and

Rabu, 01 Desember 2010

Goodbye Patrick.

Patrick {who so thoughtfully confiscated my father's blackberry for the duration of my wedding in 2006}I wanted to take a time out today from the usual blogging about design and babies to say goodbye to Patrick, my cousin Carol's husband. Patrick passed away today after suffering massive head trauma in a terrible car accident in mid October. On Monday my family went to say goodbye to him at the