New Camera & Other News

Well guys, last night I finally bit the bullet and bought myself a DSLR camera. I am so excited to start playing around with it. I decided to go with the Canon Rebel T3i. Canon was having a great promotion in which I got a second lens (75-300mm) free. I've been waiting for a good deal for quite awhile now.

 So get ready for some better pictures to come!  Taking it out of the box today!
Do any of you have it? Is it user friendly?

I also got some fun striped straws for my bar cart from this etsy seller.

My accessories to get it all styled up are slowly coming together. I just added the decanter with the crystal bar top (a great Good Will find), and I'm smitten with my gold rimmed low ball glasses.
Now I obviously need some booze!

On another exciting note, I got my ticket to Blogpodium happening here in Toronto in September! Are any of you going? Get yo ticket here (it's pricey this year....it'll be my first time going but I heard that the cost has jumped way up. I'm hoping this means that it'll be a good conference!).

And lastly, it's Friday again and that means another installment of the baby nursery party!
 Today's host is the talented Heather of Vivid Hue Home. Hop on over and check it out here:

Retro Reimagined - Inspired by my Grandma

It's funny what inspires us. Yesterday I was visiting my amazing Babcia (which is Polish for grandma) and I thought for the thousandth time just how awesome her house is. Entering her home is like entering a time warp, it is literally untouched design wise from when my dad was a little boy growing up there.We are talking retro appliances, shag carpeting, green floral couches - the works.
I snapped a pic of her original 1950s kitchen with my iPhone while I was there:

Ahh I mean it's truly lovely in it's own way, no?
I'm especially smitten with the fun counter top.
And the fact that the harvest gold oven is still fully operational is pretty cool too when you think about it.
Anyways, it got me thinking about how you could translate something like this into modern design
(avoiding the cheap finishes and obviously thinking more about function and code).
Here are my tips:

1. I love the idea of using the teal color in a backsplash subway tile. High end finish with a punch.

2. Fun ad posters like this one from Etsy ad instant retro charm.

3. My Babcia's kitchen has yellow everywhere. Yellow paint is so sunny and bright for a kitchen!

4. You can see that the edge of my Babcia's counter is stainless steel. Doing an entirely stainless steel counter top will add modern balance but still tie into a retro theme.

5. My Babcia's house has original crystal knobs on every.single.door. This is probably my favourite detail about her home. Another thing she has a bunch of that I love: rag rugs.

6. Keep cabinets simple and white to balance out all the other color happening here.

7. If you are going to embrace the retro look, go smeg all the way. I love this cream fridge (better than the harvest gold appliances, that's for sure!).

I'll have to show you her bathroom next time I visit. It's equally as cool.
Love you Babcia (I say to my beloved stubborn grandmother who doesn't use a computer and would probably disapprove of this post entirely. She really is the best!).

My Style via Instagram

I'm no fashion blogger but I do put some effort into what I wear. I don't have anyone to take actual post photos of my outfits, but if you are curious about my sense of style you can always follow me on instagram! Here is a look at some of my recent spring looks:

1. I bought this dalmation dress from H&M in the fall, and I am so happy to finally get to wear it without tights. It looks so much cuter this way in my opinion
2. My pleated blush maxi skirt from Forever 21 is better than I even imagined.
3. Jewels from Love Obsessed...Can't wait to wear these beauties. Just need the right occasion.
4. All about the contrast with florals, chambray and jewels!

What are your go to spring looks? And don't forget to follow me on instagram! xo

She Sells Seashells by the Seashore

close up of my mom's collection

Mother's Day is coming up, and it's got me thinking about my mama.
One thing my mom absolutely adores is seashells. In my parent's home, she has set up several lovely vignettes featuring seashells that we have gathered on our vacations.

Our Family Room

Our Powder Room

And don't forget that gorgeous pink shell that I stole borrowed from my mom to style my coffee table with:

Decorating with shells is such a beautiful way to add texture and a natural element to any space.
Can you believe this over the top mantle?:

via

Love the look of framed items from the sea! My mom has a sea fan we are dying to do this to:

via Danielle Oakley Interiors

Barri Leiner Grant via The Things That Matter (by Nate Berkus)

My parents are planning a trip to Sanibel Island, which is known for having some of the best shelling in the world. There is something so peaceful about hunting for shells:

 ^The boyfriend and I shelling last summer in Florida.

Do you collect seashells? How do you display them?

Dreaming of a Lake House

Growing up, my family often rented a cottage on the lake. Nothing beats the feeling of cottaging.
I love everything it entails: the great outdoors, campfires, boating, canoeing, jumping off the dock, and even fishing.
Yes, this girly girl loves fishing. I even bait my own hook. But I'm more of a catch and release kind of girl.

A question I always ask when I'm getting to know someone is: Would you rather own a lake house or an ocean front property? I heard some one ask this on a tv show once and I found it intriguing.
 For me, it's Lake House all the way.
It's always been a dream of mine to have a family cottage when I'm older. A place where my parents, brothers, and the families we create can all get together to relax and kick back. Now that the weather is getting nice I can't stop thinking about escaping to a pretty retreat like these:

via

via Style at Home

via Pinterest

Tell me, would you rather have a lake house or a beach front property?

And don't forget to head on over to the third installment of the baby blog party! Today's hosts are Cindi and Emily of ScrappyLoveBlog. Show them, and the other party animals some love by clicking the link below!

Evolution of a Drawing

I must apologize for neglecting this blog all week. Quite simply I've been busy and uninspired.
Quality over quantity sometimes, you know? But today I'm back with an inside look at the evolution of a drawing to create this finished result:

 This is the reception for Tiffany & Co. head office that I designed for my term 3 rendering class. You can see that the paper is a bit crinkled, but once I mount it to foam board for the presentation you won't see that.
Step 1: Start with a floorplan

Step 2 (to like...1000)
The next part is complicated and not something I could explain here in less than a thousand words. But basically you need to draw a station point (where you would be standing in the room), as well as a picture plane (along the back wall). You start transferring all the items to the picture plane and then down onto your new drawing using the vanishing point. I know that explanation was weak and makes no sense. You can youtube it.

 (You can see all of the lines 'raining' down from the floor plan that is taped above it. you mark the height and location of the objects on the back wall and extend them forward through the vanishing point to get the correct proportion.

Step 3 (or 1001)
Once everything is drawn in, I start to trace over the lines of the objects. At this point there are MANY unnecessary lines on the paper. Rather than carefully erase each one, I just trace over the lines I want to keep in marker and then do a big, fast erase after.

Finally, I make several photocopies just in case I end up messing up on the coloring stage, and then I have at er! First start with shading using French Gray prismacolors, then add the rest.
And voila!

Missed you all!

Baby Blog Party: I'm Hosting!

Hey loves! Today I'm hosting the blog party over at Simply Baby where I'm thrilled to be a style contributor. 
Do you think I created a mixy-matchy nursery, or a matchy-matchy one?
You'll just have to head on over to find out ;)
But I'll give you a hint, it features this fab jumping off point:

via The Animal Print Shop

Click on the image below to head on over and check it out!

I Finally Got Instagram!

my first instagram pic ever!

"If we're going to be friends let's get one thing straight...I hate snoops!" - Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Well Holly, you would most likely hate me then (although the thought of that truly torments me since I want to be your best friend) because I love snooping.  Whenever I'm at my friends' houses I'm always looking in their closets and drawers to see what they've got. I realize this makes me seem incredibly nosey... and I'm okay with that. I am a blogger after all.
And now I'm inviting you to snoop my life, because I FINALLY GOT INSTAGRAM. And I can snoop you right back.
My old phone bit the dust and I hopped on the iPhone bandwagon.
As of right now, however, I'm the instagram equivalent of Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls when she eats her lunch alone in the bathroom....friendless.

Please ladies, lets be Instagram friends! I promise to post lots of pretty, decor related things (and probably a few too many photos of my cat). Plus, you'll get an inside look on my everyday happenings.
Follow me here! xo

Black and Gold Lamps: So Glam

I was visiting my parents the other week and I found a brass lamp base in a box in the basement.
Unreal Find.
When I looked up 'brass lamp' on Pinterest, you wouldn't believe how many 'paint that old ugly brass lamp' pics I came across, and lets just say mine is of the same variety...you know, the old school ones that generally had dusty rose lamp shades and whatnot.
Maybe it's just because brass is so hot right now, but I'm in love with the lamp...I see the potential. I just need to find the perfect black drum shade to go with it... trickier than you might think! I found one at HomeSense but it wasn't tall enough to hide the ugly stuff.

In the mean time, here is some inspiration of the hollywood glam I'm hoping to recreate:

Eddie Ross via DecorPad

via Lonny August 2012

Amanda Dawbarn via the Glitter Guide

via Pinterest

via with-intention

I saw a possible lamp shade option at Walmart but they were sold out. I'll have to check in soon!
xox

Five Pieces of Furniture you can Add to a Washroom

You probably won't be able (and shouldn't try) to fit all of these suggestions in one washroom, but it sure is amazing what adding a piece of furniture can do to a bathroom. It improves functionality, adds warmth to the space, and makes it feel more decorated, and more like a living space. I love it.

1. Garden stool
Any stool takes up very little space, and is therefore a great option for those of us with smaller bathrooms. I like garden stools because they won't be damaged by moisture or humidity, and are easy to clean. Use one in a large shower as a little seat or table, pulled near the tub to perch on while washing the little ones, or as a little side table for a glass of wine during a nice bubbly bath.

via

via

2. Chair
A chair also doesn't take up much room, but it can add a great amount of texture, warmth and pattern to a generally stark space.

via

Sarah Richardson via

3. Bar Cart
Now, we know bar carts are all the rage right now. As much as I adore a bar cart stocked full of booze, I also love them in the bathroom to hold pretty soaps, towels, apothecary jars, etc.

via

via Linda McDougald Design

4. Vanity
I'm talking a free standing vanity here people, one not attached to the walls or floor and definitely no sink on top. This is an option that requires a little more space, of course, but if you've got it, use it! It doesn't have to be a huge vanity, just a perfect little perch for your perfumes and makeup. How glamorous.

Sarah Richardson via

5. Dresser
Alright, most of us won't have this kind of space, so you can always convert an antique dresser into a sink base to achieve this look. But a separate dresser in the washroom can add ample storage, mega warmth if it's wood toned, and even act as a great perch for a lamp if you so choose.

Ralph Lauren's home via Habitually Chic

Other great ideas: a bench and a shelf or etagere.
What is your fave 'extra' furniture piece to see in a washroom!?
Happy Monday xox