two essential furniture pieces

IF, I could have any two pieces of furniture, today, I would indulge myself with diamond shag sectional from Anthropologie & this carmel leather chair and foot stool from Dwell.

One giant room, lots of glass windows to let in natural light and watch the snow falling outside. A fire burning in the fire place and some books, lighting and a chai tea. These two pieces of furniture and nothing else but space and beauty.

Pretty things

Pretty little things:

via Etsy shops: Fabric bunny doll, Nesting felt bowls, Paper Mache masks, Star garland

Chairs and a tree house

Chaircandy. Chairs I have been eying recently. Chairs that I may or may not get, once the kitchen reno is done. A rocker for the living room, and two possible dining chairs. All from CB2.

Yesterday we challenged the thunderstorm warnings and drove north to a sandy beach on Lake Ontario (directly towards the storms). We managed to squeeze in a half hour of diving in the waves. We couldn't feel the rain, but when the thunder started, we packed up our picnic.  It was worth it.  Today I am stalking real estate in that area and found this cool tree house listing.

Pretty things

Now that the Parisian Balcony is in place, patio inspiration is springing upon me:

Industrial Wire Basket Hook and Shelf

Vintage Wedding Ceremony Chair

The Fyrkat Cone Grill by Bodum

 

Looking over a field of Brown Eyed Susan

 

Jewelled peacocks, little VW cars

Heading down (or up?) the Bosphorus Strait I like to stroll through the arts and crafts market in Ortaköy, Istanbul.

We find many beautiful items such as scarves, hammered gold rings, spray painted gold mirror frames, little leather pouches, peacock jewelled hair clip ...ah it goes on.

We returned to the market in search of wee, wee VW cars to add to our collection. Sadly there were none to be found. Luckily we were not disappointed by all the other goodies.

We discovered Nahil. The little knitted booties drew my attention.


I have swooned over these kind of knitted booties @ ETSY shops ever since I spotted them when pregnant with L. But I was neither gifted a pair ;), nor bought myself a pair.   Having them live, in front of me, I couldn't resist. My daughter has outgrown baby booties, but I do know two people expecting...so I picked up a couple pairs.

The woman also gave me a pretty bookmark with details of the store, Nahil; an enterprise of the Foundation for the Support of Women's work (FSWW).  Women produce the goods and the income is used to support Women and Children Center's

The website has many lovely items for sale, from soaps and sponges to knitted boots to tree ornaments and adorable dolls. The dolls are my favourite. I am pining for a couple.

Wood and steel

The wood and steel kitchen in the inspiration post here reminded me of these things I had stumbled across. There is something surprising to me that steel has this warmth, must be the tone of the wood.

West Elm kitchen work station

West Elm stool

Urban Outfitters trolley of sorts

Pretty things

I went over to Anthropologies site to admire their over-dyed rugs, but stalled at this lovely photo.  I love the bird wallpaper, pendant light and cozy, inspirational working space. This has inspired me to tackle my peacock blue room that has become an overflow room.

The over-dyed rug. LOVE!

Wallpaper

While my contractor replaces a couple windows over the next few days....  Yay! Sort of. Would love to stay authentic, but the front window is broken. The single pane glass is broken, such as a bowling ball size cracked circle with missing glass shards. And the window sill is broken. And the paint is old old old and chipping away. And the upper window grates are in dire need of an overhaul. And the draft from the window is more like a mild wind storm. And the two attic windows are dangling kitty corner, in the non-existent frame. Yep, the poster windows for replacement.

I chose vinyl, for the time being. I need to see for myself if replacement windows are worth it. My house is not worth the cost of an expensive window, the Renewal Anderson (hard-sale) window. And I do not understand why I cannot just buy a new wood window (actually, maybe I can but ... I forget why ... oh yeah, maintenance).  For now, its vinyl.

And (back to my starting point), while I choose another white for my grey and white striped wall project,  I have serenditously come to the realization that wallpaper is the way to go.

My tiny foyer is already wallpapered. The design is pretty and the colours are neutral. It's the kind of wallpaper that looks like it was painted, with texture. But since it was peeling off the wall I had initially thought of removing the wallpaper and painting the tiny room some modern taupe ... BORING I tell myself now. One compliment on the wallpaper, from a visitor, changed my perspective. Instead, I redid the coat hooks. Pretty teal and purple hooks.  That was the first bit of wallpaper forces working my way.



And then there are the two wallpapers I have on my Anthropologie wish list. Stored there for possibly two years. Merely ideas. Guilty pleasures. Saved there to admire on a particularly challenging day. The blue Flora & Fauna, perfect for my half bathroom. And the light green Vanuatu Twilight. Well, I spent too much time admiring the paper. Imaging this one or that one in the bathroom. And then solution arose. One that would allow me to use both! A better place for it, the nook! Alas, all was in vain. The Vanuatu Twilight has retired from retail shelves. That's OK. I rebound quickly and have a new idea for my dining room. Smashing!



And then a few weeks ago I stumbled across another wallpaper that I CANNOT JUST SHAKE from my thoughts. It is so darn pretty and dainty, and bold and fun. It is every nursery rhyme[s] and storybook frolicking across the wall. Oh so smitten... and darling on the painted red wall of my daughters room. Perfect. Oh, I just love it!







  


And if I wallpaper the wall in Lucy's room, I surely most go forth with the idea I had for my son's wall. The massively large wall map. And in his room is the perfect wall for it. Nothing is on the wall, no windows, doors, closets or chimney structures. Nothing is against the wall. And it is large, large enough to host and boast the world. One slight, tiny, miniscule challenge arises though. The wall must first be built. Yes, the original owner took the wall down to create the master of all master rooms. This is, of course, why the wall map idea was put on the back burner.




And the final turning point. The "inspiration" photo that will be responsible for all the guilty pleasures, ideas and pretty eye candies to become more then what they were. To become realities on my walls....

Last night I received in the mail the paint package from Farrow & Ball. Ordered on a whim as there is no need for me to spend that much money on a gallon of paint (+ shipping and handling). But I was very curious about this product that I was not able to see in person. So I ordered their brochure and paint chips. Paint and wallpapers that is. And one design that will be responsible for all the future wallpapering I have in store for me




I do like the wallpaper. Love it. So old and new. I am not sure if it is the wallpaper or if it is the black painted baseboard that draws me to this inspirational photo.  That would tie in so nicely with my grey and white striped wall that is in the next room over.

postscript: compiling wallpaper is sooo much prettier and inspirational then sideboards!
postscript2: after taking a photo of my foyer wallpaper, I have determined it is in horrible condition - water stains to say the least. Not postable, even for my subpar blog!