I Finally Met Her

Just wanted to share what I did this weekend....(briefly) met Sarah Richardson!! And by briefly, I mean just for this, but I don't care!! I was so excited!!





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Sarah Richardson coming to Edmonton!!

As you all know, I have a (slight) obsession with anything Sarah Richardson.... and that doesn't change with The Renovation Show.  Sarah Richardson is, once again, taking the main stage at our Edmonton show, February 4th-6th, 2011.  Since I missed the show (and her!) last year, I am NOT missing it again. I don't care if I don't learn anything new from what I've seen on her tv shows, but to get to see and listen to her IN PERSON is something I just HAVE to do.  I was almost beside myself at last fall's' Home and Garden Show when I saw a lifesize cutout of her design sidekick, Tommy Smythe.  I thought "OMG! I missed Sarah in February, but I can see Tommy NOW!!"... sadly, that wasn't the case (for he wasn't at the show...it was just an ad for something).  But, alas, I get a second chance!! Tommy won't be there (to my knowledge), but Sarah will! Aren't you excited? Maybe just excited FOR me then? Haha...well, maybe I'll see you there! I can't seem to find out what time she's actually on stage at, but if you know, let ME know!!

{images via Edmonton Renovation Show}

Thanks!! See you there!

Sarah 101...Sophisto-Nursery

Did any of you happen to catch Sarah 101 last night?? Well, I have to say, I was MUCH more pleased with last night's episode!  Her outlook on a nursery is something we should all keep in mind (especially if you dont want to renovate your child's room sooner than you thought you would!).  Sarah's view on a nursery is that it should be able to grow with your child, and not reflect the infant that they are for a short period of their life. If you design the room for a baby, it risks looking outdated and juvenile before he/she is out of their crib and into their first "big boy/girl" bed.  Instead, aim to create a space that can be used years from now, using bold & complementary colors (maybe it's just that I live in Edmonton, but blue and orange always shout OILERS to me!) and furniture that will grow with your child.  You can still add cutesy-baby decor, but keep items to a minimum so that you change out those items as the years go by (as Sarah did, with the art on the wall. The animal pictures can easily be replaced with other artwork, and the chair is not simply a nursing chair, but something the child can use throughout the years).  I love how she used a graphic wallpaper on the ceiling to hide the beam by the closet (genius!!). This also adds visual interest to the infant lying in their crib, and the impact it makes on the room is incredible.  She uses juxtaposition and mixes a uber-traditional paisley wallpaper print with more modern elements, such as the fabric on the curtains and the space-like orange chair in the corner....AMAZING. It doesn't make the room feel traditional OR ultra-modern.  I'm hoping that when we go to have kids, we can create a sophisto-nursery as Sarah 101 has taught me. We can still do a "Winnie the Pooh" themed room (as per my husband's request, as he LOVES Winnie the Pooh -- but not Tigger, oh no..."he's a jerk"...), but we could do it in a sophisticated way, and maybe only use Winnie the Pooh bedding and artwork. Genius? I think so!! But that's a ways a way yet...

Take a look at the Sophisto-Nursery

{images via Sarah 101 on HGTV.ca}

Sarah's House 4!

I feel bad for kinda dissing the Sarah 101 show the other day...not that she'll probably ever read this, but just 'cuz I don't want to be a blogger who gives negative reviews of other people's work.  If I don't like something, I shouldn't comment on it.  (I know I would be offended if someone commented on my work negatively...) My husband said yesterday in the car, "I'm going to try to stop being so negative.", and it made me think, "maybe I should too....". So, I'm going to try.  And, with that, I really am looking forward to more Sarah 101 episodes to see if I can learn something from her designs and be inspired by her future projects.  On another note, I read on Sarah Richardson Design's "Dear Diary" page that she's also working on a new season of Sarah's House and I absolutely cannot wait!! I'm also hoping we'll see an episode of her renovating her mom's new house (a converted 1906 church!)...maybe on Sarah 101?!? (remember when I posted about another church that was transformed into someone's home here?)  It was a little ultra modern, but Sarah's concept would make a church look LIVEABLE!!! (see for yourself in the pics below!!)  I hope we get to see more than just the few pics Sarah updates to her facebook page... Here's a quick glimpse...

 {image via Sarah's facebook page}

{image via Sarah's facebook page} 

  {image via Sarah's facebook page}

THIS is the Sarah Richardson design style that I know and love!!  Can she please come design my house?!?!

{image via Sarah Richardson Design "Dear Diary"}

Sarah 101

Did any of you catch the premiere episode of the new Sarah Richardson show, Sarah 101, the other day?  She's probably my favorite Canadian celebrity designer (as I don't really know any designers unless they're famous...sadly....), but I have to say that I was a little disappointed with the room she designed.  I mean, I guess what makes a great designer and decorator is that you can give your clients what they ask for and what THEY like, not necessarily what YOU like.  Sarah didn't do her typical white-schemed room that she's known for, but went for bold colors and bold floral.  Not my cup of tea, but it is what the clients wanted.  The overall room still looks amazing, but I just couldn't picture myself living there, which is what I always want to feel when I watch her shows.  She takes risks and goes for a vibrant pink couch, puts a colorful overscale floral pattern on a pair of chairs, and hangs plates on the wall.  Would you ever think of that?? I wouldn't! But then again, I'm not an interior designer who needs to meet my clients wishes. I know it's difficult to come up with a plan that makes the client happy and produce something you're still proud of (as a client's vision of their house plan, I know, isn't always what I can give them).  I'm hoping to get some new ideas from upcoming Sarah 101 shows for things I could do in my house, or see myself doing....somewhere.  This episode ("Vibrant Living Room") just isn't my taste, but I still have to say that she does amazing work. It appeals to someone out there, and that's what matters.

{images via Sarah 101 on HGTV}

Monochromatic....White-on-White

Does anyone else love the new WHITE trend, where everything is white-on-white-on-white, etc?  I absolutely LOVE it!! I just don't know if I could go through with it in my own house...with my little black puppy that sheds and a husband who loves color.  Not to mention, I've only ever seen the white-on-white in magazines, online, or in photos....never in person.  So I would be SCARED to try it for real!!  Some people may think the white-on-white look is cold and unwelcoming...but not me! I think it looks crisp and clean, warm and inviting...like fluffy white clouds that say "join me!"  Won't you join me in this new love?


{image via Style at Home}




{image via Style at Home}




{image via zainteriora}




{Made By Girl's home office - image via Style at Home}




{image via Sarah Richardson Design}




{image via Style at Home}





I'm contemplating making my own DIY foyer light like Jen at Made by Girl did (see here), except smaller for our place...wouldn't it be gorgeous and unique??
{image via Made By Girl}



Sarah Richardson....and my house!

If you know me at all, you know I'm a HUGE fan of Canadian Interior Designer, Sarah Richardson.  I first caught a glimpse of her when I was in High School and she hosted a show, Room Service, where she taught me how to easily fold a fitted sheet. A little lame? Maybe. But I was always frustrated with the elastics and getting it smooth....until voila! Sarah came along. I was instantly hooked. Since then, I've been an avid follower of her website (and sad when she doesn't update her "tips" section...), and addicted to her shows, Sarah's House and Sarah's Cottage, just to name a few.  In January, they'll be a new show on TV, Sarah 101, and I can't wait!!

But, to get to my point, she is about to become part of my house. Not literally, but her paint line. Hopefully. My husband and I have been endlessy searching for a new paint color for our walls. Several discouraging sample cans later, I finally suggested trying Sarah's paint line from Para Paint. I have to admit though, I was a little disappointed to find out that she simply renamed existing Para Paint colors, and didn't actually create them herself...but, regardless, if she uses them, I'll try them!! Today I'm going to pick up sample cans of her "Linen" color (aka "Comfortable Chinos") and one shade darker "Sturdy Trivet" (not renamed and used as the Sarah Richardson line....). The picture below doesn't do the colors justice though... click on the Para link above for better color viewing.

How could you not be a fan of Sarah Richardson?? I mean, just take a look at some of her designs....



Image via Sarah Richardson Design, Sarah's House 2

 I tried talking my husband into framing the ledge over our corner fireplace into a full height wall, just so that I could copy this fireplace with the offset tall mirror....he wouldn't go for it though :(

Image via Sarah Richardson Design, Sarah's House

This is where I first fell in love with the marble & glass tile combination....Ah....if only this could be my bathroom!

Images via Sarah Richardson Design, Sarah's House

Probably my favorite entrance of all time...I absolutely love the mirror, the bench, and the railings!!!

Image via Sarah Richardson Design, Sarah's House

Makes me want to have a wallpaper feature wall in my own house... (sigh)....

Oh, I could go on and keep posting more pictures of her work...but I won't. Not today at least. But there will be more later. I promise you that.  When picking out stuff for my own house, I often ask myself, "What would Sarah do?".  Hopefully I've learned a thing or two from watching her over the years.