luxe and lovely laundry room

hello,

For today's post, I wanted to share some images of a friend's laundry room that I had the good fortune to help design.

My client and friend, Tracy, wanted a light and fresh space that was both uplifting and relaxing. As this was one of my first "official" design projects, I must confess to feeling a bit of apprehension prior to beginning this task. However, once we began selecting the materials, choosing the refreshing palette, and incorporating some natural elements (Calacatta marble backsplash and a linen roman blind), my mind was put to rest and I couldn't wait to see the space come together.

Cabinetry is by Lumsden Custom Cabinetry. Upper cabinets are
painted 2121-70 "Chantilly Lace" by Benjamin Moore. 

Construction and installation by Ashford Contracting Group.  Wall colour is
2123-60 "sea foam" by Benjamin Moore. 

A smooth and seamless Caesarstone countertop creates a pretty and practical surface
for folding (NOT for airing out hockey equipment, ok Paul?) The lower
cabinets are painted CC-548 "Asphalt" by Benjamin Moore. 

Roman blind sewing is by the talented Lisa Sinclair and the fabric can be
 found through Tonic Living. 

Contrary to the belief of some, this image shows that a solid surface countertop can be paired both beautifully and harmoniously with natural stone. 

Natural elements from the sea play up the "organic" vibe of the space and serve as budget-friendly accessories. 

This pretty brushed nickel three-light pendant is from The Home Depot.

And a very special thank you to my AMAZING photographer, Sarah Leeman of Bean Shoots Photography for capturing the images perfectly. 

Darn it! Why do I have this sudden urge to do laundry? If this room could be found in my home, I don't think that anyone in my family would ever run out of clean socks. 

Have a great evening, 

Kerry 

the beauty of BIRCH

hello,

The other day, I was scrolling through images and comments on a blog that I follow, and I saw the following comment:

 "I am SO done with seeing birch logs everywhere! Why don't we find something new to obsess over!"

I have to admit, at first I thought, "hmm...there certainly has been a prevalence of these beauties featured in decor (tablescapes, outdoor planters, indoor planters, fireplaces, etc.) over the last few years. Maybe there is some merit to this comment."

But then, I got to thinking...

• birch logs are a gorgeous and iconic representation of our landscape here in Southern Ontario. 
• they provide instant texture, height, and visual interest to many DIY projects. 
• much of the time, they can be sourced naturally from branches that have been blown down in windstorms. 
• they last forever. 
• I think they are pretty. 

And then I got to looking...

How gorgeous are these potted succulents? 

 {1}

I am sure that a variety of hardwoods were used in the making of this particular wreath, but, you get the idea. :) 

{2}

Swoon! I am in love with the neutral palette and these woven/knit baskets.

{3}

And look, birch tree wallpaper! How's that for a more contemporary look? 

{4}

And more gorgeous wallpaper...

{5}

And here, a more traditional application, but beautiful just the same. 

{6}

And finally, I came to this conclusion...

Some things are trends and will come and go, but others, like birch (in any format), have staying power and will never go out of style. Well, in my humble opinion, anyway. 

Bye for now, 

Kerry