do I have to boycott IKEA?

So I saw on twitter that the founder of IKEA has possible "deep" Nazi ties.

I hope it's not true because I really don't want to have to boycott IKEA. I love IKEA, I love the aesthetic, I love the price. When the catalog arrives it's like Christmas and I start planning room by room transformations. Of course, I never get around to doing it but every year a few pieces manage to find their way into my home.

The items on this year's wishlist:


The Mandal 6 drawer dresser for it's minimalist design and its solid wood

Karlstad loveseat with chaise - because every family room needs a sectional - just not the overstuffed kind from the 80's.

Barometer reading lamp




Eivor Kvist cushion - so fun

and well a new kitchen would be nice but it's just going to have to wait...sigh...

living in a material world

Yesterday after my fantastic hair cut I decided that I needed some new clothing and accessories to go with it (trust me, i need NO excuse to shop).

I headed to Winners (which is the Canadian equivalent of TJ Maxx, I think) and actually walked away with some fab scores. However, what I noticed everywhere was the lace. Lace seems to be very in this season and I have to say it's one fabric that I've never been able to quite get behind.

Despite my love of all things pretty I have to say that lace still just conjures up images of wedding dresses, bad "Grandma" curtains and dust.

That being said I loved Kate Middleton's wedding dress (who didn't?) so I set out in search of lace that I don't hate.



(Siena Sieries - www.thisnext.com)


(www.homemagz.com)




(chairs - www.trends-design.com)



(www.urbankaleidoscope.com)

I'm still not convinced I'll use it in my own home but I can be rather lovely.

tomorrow, tomorrow

tomorrow as of 9:30am i should look like:

sunshine, lollipops...

Pink seems to be one of those colours you either love or hate. The hue that normally conjures images of babies and candy and well...Barbie.

I personally love pink but admittedly I've never decorated with it - maybe because I've pretty much always lived with a man. House Beautiful's March 2011 issue was basically dedicated to pink and I have to say I fell in love. Though I'm pretty sure my husband would have an absolute hot fit if he came home to a pink room. Perhaps some day when I have a home office that doesn't do double duty as the dining room!

Pink is also surprisingly neutral, at least the paler shades. I would pair it with greys, and silvers and whites (heck even black!) for a cooler modern palette or taupes, creams, browns, brass and gold for a warmer palette and if you want colour - how about orange, green or turqoise.

Some faves:



(Housebeautiful.com - paint colour pink cloud Benjamin Moore)



(Housebeautiful.com)



(Housebeautiful.com - paint colour Bridal Pink by Benjamin Moore)



(page-thirteen.blogspot.com)



(Designdazzle.blogspot.com Sherwin Williams White Dogwood)



(thedesignophile.com)

What would I put in a pink bedroom?



(dwellstudio.com)



(www.westelm.com)



Edland dresser (IKEA.ca)



(structube.com)

www.westelm.com




www.amazon.com


"Branch" bed Cb2.ca

When will someone pay me to put a room together? This would be so much more fun if I could actually shop with someone else's money!

the thing about indigo

I know people, particularly of my parents generation that would have been satisfied to decorate their house once and only once. Yes, they would have paid good money for it and therefore why would you change it?

Me, I am definitely restless when it comes to decorating. Even if everything has come together perfectly and I'm satisfied with the end result, it only takes one magazine article or decorating show to make me want to start changing things up.

The Chatelaine bedroom makeover has only upped my interest the indigo blue trend right now. Indigo is moody and crisp all at once especially when paired with white.



(babygreendesign@blogspot.com)


decorpad.com



(veneerdesigns.com - LOVE this blog)

So, what can I repaint, recover, redo for next to no money and hop on the indigo bandwagon...

a little look for less for you - Chatelaine Sept 2011 Bedroom Makeover

I love Chatelaine magazine. I find it is the perfect blend of fashion, home, food, health and current events.

This month's issue features a blue bedroom with hits of brass and gold that I love but the price tag is a little steep (hello, $700 for a table lamp from Elte!) which may not be achievable for everyone. So, I thought I would scout some similar pieces to help achieve the same look but for less.

The photos of the finished room are not yet up on Chatelaine.com but I found these on www.themarionhousebook.com who is the designer (check out her site!)

the semi-finished room:

The fabric palette and paint (Down Pour Blue from Benjamin Moore)

My web finds for the look for less!

Roundabout Rug from CB2 (which at $699 is half the price of the Madeline Weinrib)

Table lamp from Sears.ca - a steal at $90 (compared to $575)

Second table lamp Hampton Bay "Edward Collection" from The Home Depot $129 (compared to $665)

"World Imports" hanging fixture from The Home Depot $160 (compared to $889)

\

Orange lacquer tray from West Elm $30

Indira bedspread from IKEA $30

Wall Art from Sears.ca $80 (compared to $1250)

Throw cushion from IKEA about $7

With a little research, you can achieve just about any look at any price point.

on a kick

I got the new issue of Canadian House and Home and one of the the twitter comments was "if i see another issue with three white kitchens featured in it i might scream". I really don't understand the anger!

To me there is nothing better than a white kitchen. It can be modern, traditional, rustic or somewhere in between. It is always clean and neat and fresh. It never goes out of style and, you can add any colour you want to it with accessories.

Here are a few faves.




(elle decor)



(the inspired room)





(kitchenbacksplashes)



(cococozy)


(home trends)

i and love and you

Happy 9 years.

in a white room

i've been thinking about re-painting my living/dining room which is grey. i love the grey but i'm finding it limiting. This photo just makes me want to take a sprayer to my entire house!



(from Belle Maison)