I’m so excited to announce I’ve partnered with Article to give one lucky person $500 to spend. Even better there is a Boxing Day/End of Year Sale coming up Dec. 26-31 with up to 25%… Read More »$500 Article Boxing Day Giveaway!
This narrow plywood and particle board sideboard was the most I have spent on a project, but with the popularity of mid-century modern furniture right now, it’s driving up the prices of everything that looks… Read More »Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sideboard Before and After
Spring 2017 is here and it’s full of colourful textures. Woven fabrics, wicker and macrame are trending big time and while I like them, I think they’re best used in small amounts. Adding a colourful… Read More »Spring 2017 Decor Trends
I love colour but generally don’t use too much in my own home decor and my client projects. I prefer working with textures. I like to keep my palettes neutral and calm with touches of colour… Read More »Using Texture and Pattern in Home Decor
I made Rose Quartz crystals and I still can’t believe it! This DIY project is easier than it looks. The idea came from the need for Rose Quartz for a work project relating to Pantone Colour… Read More »How To Make Rose Quartz Crystals
It’s finally done! It took a lot longer than expected because life and work got in the way, but I’m excited to share this before and after. The cabinet was in really rough shape. It… Read More »Before and After: Vintage Cabinet
So it seems that the best time of year to find furniture is in the Spring and Summer, because people tend to just put stuff out in the back alley or take things to the… Read More »New Project: Vintage Mid Century Cabinet
It occurred to me that I haven’t done any recent posts of our apartment. We’ve lived here for a couple of years now and things are finally feeling settled. After initial renovations and minor tweaks along the way, I’d say things are pretty much where we want them. There will always be things we want to update or change, but those projects will get done eventually and when our budget allows for it.
Today I’m sharing the loft bedroom. I haven’t posted anything about this space because whenever I think to take a photo it’s far too dark or messy, plus it’s a very awkward space to photograph.
Check out the before photos:
Smelly old carpet and a dark purple ceiling making the low ceiling height feel even lower.
This week I’m sharing mostly local favorites. A local ceramics designer, a local crafts maker and jewellery designer, ice cream, beauty products, candles, alcohol and a local product that will probably change the world. Lets talk about… Read More »Friday Favorites: Local Love
I recently took some photos of a luxury bathroom renovation here in Vancouver, British Columbia. It may not be my personal style, but you can’t help but love the finishes in this space. The mix of traditional elements and slick modern design somehow fits together in perfect harmony. The soft pastels in the tile and wall colour contrast with the dark marble floors. I’m seriously obsessing over the floors, they have so much impact in the space, they ground the airiness of the pastel colours and bring in a bit of a masculine feature into a very feminine space creating a sense of balance. It all goes perfectly with the polished shower and vanity fixtures.
Below I’ve broken down the elements of this bathroom if you’re in the market for a renovation, or just very curious.
Lately Ikea has really been doing it right. There’s been so many really great items that don’t have that typical Ikea look and feel. You know what I’m talking about, the products that everyone buys, the… Read More »Ikea Love: products that don’t look like they’re from Ikea
I was so eager to makeover this pair of dressers that I plain forgot to take a before photo of the highboy dresser. You’ll just have to visualize that it had the same finish as the matching dresser shown below.
Lets take a moment to talk about the dresser in its before state. It is so bland and lifeless. It’s a mix of 80s peach laminate with mid century legs and hardware. The brass plating was coming off the hardware and the “brass” on the legs was painted on, so that definitely had to go. The laminate was chipping and had some weird sun damage spots. I took a closer look at the drawers and discovered the laminate was placed over top of solid wood. Sadly this was only on the drawers, but it was a very exciting find!
The laminate was so thin, so it was fairly easy to sand off using an electric sander and a heavy grit sand paper. Once the drawers were sanded down, several coats of Danish Oil were applied until they were sealed and the finish was even.
The body of the dresser was sanded and patched because there were several dents and scratches. Once the surface was smooth, I applied a few coats of primer. The final top coat is Benjamin Moore Snowfall White in high gloss Advance.
Here’s the final result of the dresser and matching highboy:
