Curtains arrived!!

You may remember when I purchased new curtains for our master bedroom via Homesav.  I'm so excited to say that they finally arrived (and right on schedule!!).  I can't wait to try them out at home.  I'm just hoping that they look different when they're vertical than they do when I'm looking at them horizontally (as the color looks much darker than I thought it would be...). I still really like them though, so I'm sure I'll find SOMEWHERE for them to go if they don't work in our bedroom (plus, they were super affordable!)

We still have to add some color to the room, which I was planning on doing with either paint (accent wall behind the bed), a stencil or vinyl wall sticker, or even new lamp shades.

Your weekend...

Hope you have a good weekend....here's what I'll be doing tonight while my hubby heads to the mountains with his dad.  (is it sad that this is how I'm spending my Friday night?) I kinda like a night alone every once in awhile....but don't worry, I have plans for tomorrow!

 {image via Etsy}

Ceilings

I was inspired by my site visit to some Calgary product (houses!) over the past few days.  Ceilings. Yes, that's right, ceilings. They often get overlooked (especially in houses, such as mine, with textured ceilings), but it can add so much more to the room. It's even possible to do in small to mid-size homes, not just the custom HUGE houses!  If you plan it right, you can add architectural elements that will be a timeless focal piece that people will adore.  These elements can appear traditional or contemporary, depending on the finish, but the end result is the same: stunning!  My favorite are the exposed beams (which don't even have to be real -- just clad them in wood to get the affect)

I also adore a coffered ceiling...whether in a kitchen or dining area.... 

{images via decorpad}

Paper Eyelashes

I came across this on the Dezeen website awhile ago and thought it was interesting.  I mean, I've heard of false eyelashes before (even used them for my own wedding!), but PAPER eyelashes?!? Are you kidding me??? I have no idea where you'd wear these, other than on a couture fashion photoshoot or something, but I couldn't help but let you see the endless and innovative things that the world brings to us....

{images via Dezeen}

Introducing Dale Tidy: Vancouver Photographer

I'd like to introduce to you a friend of mine, Dale Tidy, Vancouver Photographer.

Growing up in Canberra, Australia, he now resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, after falling in love with the city on his cross-Canada trip nearly two years ago.  Dale became serious about his love for photography back in 2007 when he purchased his first "real" (DSLR!) camera and travelled across Europe (which is where we met) and Egypt for nearly 5 months, mostly solo.  Along his way and ever since, he's managed to capture the moments in time that will captivate you, just as they do to me.  One of his stories that caught my attention (and deserved to be noted!) was the Random Act of Kindness he recently experienced, where a man he met briefly came back a few days later and had pre-purchased 250 business cards for him (as he was on his last one when he met the man).  Another, was the fact that Dale (being the outgoing and friendly person that he is) can strike up a conversation with anyone. Literally.  He struck up a conversation with a homeless man who paints artwork on the street (using materials he finds in alleyways and dumpsters) and sells them.  Dale hit this man up in a conversation and captured his work in progress. Amazing.

I hope you enjoy some of his photos as much as I do.  Feel free to check out more of his work on his photo blog here. (I'm sorry if there are a lot of photos...I couldn't narrow them down!)

I am amazed by Dale's ability to capture a portrait, where it speaks without words.

Fashion photography



LJ the Street Artist



I don't think I would normally buy art off the street, but isn't his work amazing?? I might have to rethink where to get art from!



{photos courtesy of Dale Tidy}

I wish I had found my love for photography before Dale made his quick pit-shop visit in Edmonton during his cross-Canada trip....I could've learned a few tricks of the trade...

Thank you, Dale, for sharing your work with us! I hope, just as you do, to one day see your photojournalist approach captured in print for the rest of the world to see.

Old Hollywood pictures

My friend came to visit this weekend, and we poked around at one of my favorite stores, Homesense.  She fell in love with some old hollywood film pictures in black and white, and that love transfered over to me once I saw them... Neither of us know where they'll go in our houses, but she purchased six of them, and I purchased two (if they were $20 cheaper [they were $39], I wouldn't have hesitated and I would have purchased more as well...).  I still adore them, but I may have to exchange at least one (as my husband says it's creepy...which is true...but it's an iconic movie moment, and it just spoke to me) -- I also have to return a light I bought, so maybe I'll pick up two new ones instead... (I just can't bear to not have these SOMEWHERE in my house!!) Aren't they AMAZING??

This is Michael Cane, from the movie "Michael's Fists" (apparently...I just googled it). If she hadn't found another copy of this picture, I probably never would have grabbed ANY...but this one was our favorite so I had to grab the last one!!

Paul Newman playing poker in "The Sting" 

Sean Connery in "James Bond" (if there was more than one, I would have grabbed this one as well...)

Jack Nicholson in "The Shining" (this isn't quite the same as the picture, but I couldn't find a matching image... the picture [which is the other one I bought] has him looking through some bars of some sort...I only assume its from the same movie, but I don't know... it is creepy,  but i absolutely love it still....but I'm not sure it would be a good picture to put on display for all to see..)

{images via google search}

I think I may have to make a quick stop today at the Homesense on the west end here... hmmm... I just have this soft spot for the Old Hollywood glam kinda feel....(they also had a Marilyn Monroe picture, but it wasn't a very good picture)

Are you bold enough? (Am I???)

Some people are really scared of black.....or grey (hi hubby!).... so it takes a lot of guts to do something this bold.  I came across this picture on the Veranda website, and absolutely loved it.  Would you be bold enough to do a black or grey wallpaper?? Even in small doses such as this?

{image via Veranda}

 I adore it! If only we had a place in our house for a small bold wall like this....(although, doesn't it look similar to the wall treatment I mentioned here from here?? I could do it using PAINT!!!) Hmmmmm.....

Apprentice Store

I've been trying to avoid my typical Sarah Richardson posts (especially since Sarah 101 aired a new episode on Tuesday), as I thought that maybe I'm bombarding you with too much Sarah Richardson!! You may remember my posts about churches being converted into houses here and here, but what about a warehouse?  With that, I give you The Apprentice Store by Threefold Architects. Located in Bath, England, this Grade II-listed warehouse is now a family home.

Four additionl buildings were added to this 200 year old warehouse, all connected now by a series of stairs and walkways which create a circular route through the house. Original elements from the warehouse (stone walls, exposed wood beams, etc) remain visible in the new living quarters and bring a touch of rustic charm to the otherwise contemporary home.  Materials for the home were meticulously chosen to compliment rather than intrude upon the history of the building.

{images via Dezeen}

Tree Hotel

Although I took architecture in school (architectural technology, technically...), I could not imagine myself as an actual Architect.  For one, I LOVE houses too much (and you don't have to be an architect to design houses!!), and two, I don't think I'm THAT crazy of an "out of the box" thinker!! For example, I'd like to introduce to you the Tree Hotel, located in northern Sweden and designed by Tham & Videgard Arkitekter.  Could YOU have thought of this?!?!?

This mirrored glass box (4x4x4 meters cube [13x13x13 ft])suspends around the trunk of a tree and is accessed by a rope bridge.  The mirrored exterior reflects the forest surroundings to blend seamlessly with the environment.  The room can accomodate two people, and contains a small double bed, bathroom, living room and roof terrace, and was opened to the public in July 2010.

If you're anything like me, I had to include a floor plan of the unit!! (it's hard for me to fully invision a space without seeing the floor plan!)

{images via Dezeen}