spring GREEN with envy!!!

hi,

I think I can safely speak for all of us Canadians (and anyone else who is currently experiencing the ongoing effects of a polar vortex), when I say that WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF WINTER!!!

In an attempt to "will" spring to arrive, I keep finding myself drawn to this beautiful shade of green.

I would like to be invited to a party featuring a spring green candy bar! 

And I would LOVE to receive a bouquet of these gorgeous spring green flowers (not even sure what these are - they look like a cross between a ranunculus and a straw flower - but I sure do love them!) 

This image grabbed me because of the sharp contrasts of both colour and material on the 

one hand, and the repetition of both form and texture on the other. 

And, again, it just says "spring is here!" 

This image says "English cottage" to me with its vintage botanical prints and the shabby chic decor. I love the more subdued wall colour (like a ripe, juicy pear) when paired with the 

more intense "Kelly green" of the cushions and foliage. 

Now I realize that this dresser is painted a little more "citron green" than true "spring green," but seriously? How stunning is this piece? I love everything about this image - from the damask wallpaper, to the grouping of cloches, and everything in between. 

Fingers crossed that all of this GREEN inspiration has somehow kicked the last of 

winter in the pants and put spring in motion! 

IMAGE SOURCES

1, 2 , 3, 4, 5

Until next time, 

Kerry xo 

relishing the RUFFLE

hi,

Happy Valentine's Day! 

I hope that your day has been as sweet as the buttercream frosting on these pretty ruffled cupcakes!

Last week, I found this adorable picture on Etsy, and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind ever since. There are no little girls in my house, but if there were, I would want this three-tiered floral dust ruffle on the crib - sooo pretty and feminine.

And, the more this image kept appearing in my mind, the more I began to see other delightfully ruffled items in my online travels.

Like this picture of one of my all-time favourite flowers, the artfully elegant parrot tulip: 

Or, on this fabulous dress and clutch (can you tell that I am ready for spring?): 

But, alas, there is still another six weeks of winter (and, at the moment, there is snow/freezing rain outside), so I may just settle for this instead: 

And finally, I've loved the style of this shabby-chic shower curtain (this one was from Anthropologie) for a really long time: 

Do you have a favourite motif, pattern, or design detail that you are particularly drawn to? Hmmm...the more I think about it, the more I realize that I have lots and lots of them, but ruffles are definitely near the top of the list!


Have a wonderful weekend!

Kerry xo 

when VINTAGE visits the BEACH

hello,

I am SUPER excited to share these photos with you! I had the very good fortune to work with an amazing family on creating an open concept kitchen and living space. My sweet client grew up on a farm in the beautiful Ottawa Valley and has maintained a deep appreciation for all things vintage - inherited or acquired. And yet, along with these traditional roots, comes a love of clean, white space with an almost coastal vibe. What do we call this style? Updated Colonial? Hmmm...I am not sure if I have the answer, but I do know that I, too, fell in love with my client's style sense and had so much fun working to create the fresh and inviting space below.

Check out the gorgeous dark, wide-plank floor! It is cork! 

The backsplash tile is stunning and adds so much interest to the space with its 

pretty combination of marble and glass. 

Don't let a small footprint dissuade you from an island. It may be smaller than others you've 

seen, but this one still manages to comfortably seat four. 

A blend of old and new (a vintage dough bowl atop a Caesarstone counter, and a traditional bell-jar pendant paired with stainless steel appliances) create an ideal "tension" in the space. 

Dark library pulls help to ground the space against all of the white elements (and they look 

great with the floor, drapery hardware, and light fixtures). 

A reclaimed wood barn beam adds so much character and warmth to the family room. 

Built-ins on either side of the fireplace coordinate perfectly with the kitchen cabinetry and 

therefore, work to relate the two spaces. 

Adding natural caning to the cabinet fronts made for a fun DIY for the homeowner. 

 An antique paned window makes for unusual artwork on a main wall. 

The subtle coral print on the toss cushion adds to the coastal vibe. 

This antique blanket box is on temporary "loan" from another room in the house (just until the perfectly proportioned cocktail table  - with a reclaimed wood top) can be found. 

As I have mentioned in other posts, no photo shoot is complete without dessert!!!

A variety of patterns and textures (mmm...velvet) adds interest to the clean lines of the sofa. 

Here is a list of sources that were used: 

• Kitchen design and construction by Creative Kitchen Gallery
• backsplash tile from Saltillo Imports
• cork flooring by Kentwood
• paint colours are OC - 26 Silver Satin (walls) and OC-130 Cloud White (cabinetry and trim) by Benjamin Moore
• All sewing (drapery and cushions) by Lisa Sinclair Sewing
• Fabric is from Tonic Living and Designer Fabrics
• bell-jar pendant fixture and counter stools by Pottery Barn
• charcoal grey sofa from Trend-Line
• tufted occasional chairs from Decor-Rest
• countertop is Caesarstone in 4141 Misty Carrera 
• fireplace stone is Stone Selex in Aspen Cream 
• reclaimed wood beam is from Century Mill Lumber
• photos taken by Bean Shoots Photography

Thanks for stopping by, 

Kerry 

Pantone 2014 colour of the year - RADIANT ORCHID

hi,

On this absolutely FREEZING cold day, I wanted to share some images of a colour that reminds me of spring. Pantone recently named "Radiant Orchid" the 2014 colour of the year. They feel that it "blooms with a confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is a colour that emanates great joy, love, and health."

1

Now, while I am not typically a huge fan of purple, a couple of my good friends are, and, at this dreary time of the year, ANY colour that stirs up thoughts of fresh cut flowers, open-toed shoes, or even Easter jelly beans, is DEFINITELY a good thing.

Here are some images of this pretty purple that caught my eye: 

This bright and airy space is delightfully feminine. 

2

I love the neutrality of this space - and then, a hint of the unexpected - a bright pop of colour in a gorgeous abstract piece on the wall. There are great contrasting textures in this room! 

3

What a pretty palette! It makes me want to put an orchid in every room of my home. 

4

I am just about to have a purple damask wallpaper installed on a client's living room wall. And while it is not as bold as this one, I think it is going to look amazing! 

5

Can't commit to such a bright hue on your wall? Not a problem - a vase of beautiful allium 

serves as a much safer alternative. 

6

Stay warm, my friends! 

Kerry 

updated TRADITIONAL

Happy New Year!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season filled with family and friends.

I have been so excited to share some photos of a completed project with you! I LOVED every minute of this project - in no small part due to the lovely family I was working with. A sweet and gracious friend, her uber handy husband (all of the custom millwork was completed by him on evenings and weekends), and their two adorable daughters contributed to making this project a truly great experience.

Here are the items that were on the family's wish list: 

• a light and airy living space 
• suitable for entertaining, yet also conducive to curling up with a good book 
• clean and linear 
• updated, yet maintaining some traditional design elements
• a neutral colour palette (specifically, "We're tired of taupe!") 

And here is what we came up with: 

The natural light in this room adds warmth to this already inviting space. 

Working with tonal fabrics allowed us to have some fun with pattern and texture. 

A "pop" of raspberry red adds a refreshing element to the space and draws the eye into the room. 

The side tables are by Bernhardt through Union Lighting . 

The table lamps are from Decorium, and decorative accents are from Indigo and West Elm. 

I love to add personal touches wherever possible, so in this space, I found and framed 

vintage maps of the family's countries of origin - Finland, Italy, 

England, and Canada. They are a great conversation piece. 

The gorgeous coffee table made from reclaimed wood with a cast iron base is from Pottery Barn. 

Floor lamps are from Pottery Barn and the cozy occasional chairs are from Decor-Rest. 

The great texture of this Samar Ottoman from Crate and Barrel can double as a side table or as a stool. 

Aahh...blue and grey. One of my favourite colour combinations. 

The stunning area rug is custom and available through APT carpets. 

Thanks again to my wonderful clients for letting me design this space for you! 

Stay warm and dry everyone! 

Kerry 

Rielly's Retreat

Hi,

I have been SO excited to share some new photos of a completed project with you! I recently had the great privilege to work with a super sweet and fun teen, Rielly, to create a space all her own. I had so much fun working on this project!

At our first meeting, Rielly told me that her perfect room would be a combination of black, white, and Tiffany blue and would include the following details:

• pretty drapes and LOTS of pillows 
• a bench at the end of the bed 
• a place to curl up and read 
• photos of herself and her friends 

With the colour palette and those ideas in mind, I set to work sourcing a fun array of fabrics, furniture, and accessories. I also had a wonderful time creating some DIY items that really help to personalize her space. 

Here is what I came up with: 

In my opinion, EVERY girls' room should contain a chandelier. This one is from IKEA.  

Just like every girls' room should contain a chandelier, it should also include a little bling. I fell in love with this sweet little clock from HomeSense with its rhinestone detail. 

Wall colour is custom, but is roughly based on the colour "Tropicana Cabana" by Benjamin Moore. The Gemini wall art is from HomeSense and the  letter "R" is from Michael's (I podged patterned paper on to it, let it dry, and then sanded the edges for a smooth finish). 

A super comfy, small scale, and cost-effective option for seating in a bedroom is the Ektorp Jenny Lund chair from IKEA. A cozy faux fur throw and a graphic print pillow complete Rielly's reading nook. 

This is a great overall shot that includes the striped rug from Crate and Barrel, and the custom upholstery (gorgeous headboard and bench) by Stefan at the House of Upholstery and Slipcovers. 

Close-up detail of the beautiful craftsmanship that went in to this headboard. 

This is by far my favourite shot of the room. I love the wide-angle, and I love how inviting Rielly's new bed looks with all of the custom cushions. The fabric is from Tonic Living and all of the beautiful sewing was done by Lisa Sinclair. 

To make this adorable flower, I roughly followed this set of DIY instructions. 

For continuity and flow throughout, I used the same velvet on both the headboard and the bench, repeated the nailhead trim detail, and used the grey and white
zig zag fabric as piping (also found on the drapes). 

Now, while I am sure the bench was intended to serve as a place to sit, or more realistically, to accumulate piles of clothes, (and not as a place to display colour-coordinated French macaroons), sometimes style trumps function (or at least until the photo shoot is over and we can eat the props!) 

The table lamps and side tables (tables custom sprayed in "jet black" by Benjamin Moore) are from HomeSense and the mug, coaster, and candle
are from Anthropologie.

DIY ribbon board - the large-scale damask fabric is from Tonic Living. 

The gorgeous jewellry "tree" is from West Elm and the glass jar and adhesive
rhinestone trim is from Michael's. 

For this DIY, I took a combination of Rielly's personal photographs, some downloaded photos of her celebrity "crushes," and then added in some inspirational quotes (found in the scrapbooking section at Michael's). Apparently, Channing Tatum is attractive whether you are 15 or over 40! 

Gallery wall of photos and quotes. 

Another DIY - I created this "tree of tags" using additional quotes that I matted on card stock and then hung from the branches of this cute little tree. It adds a pop of colour and some visual
 interest in the room. 

A close-up of the tag tree. 

The lacquered box and damask organizers are from HomeSense. 

So, that's Rielly's Retreat. What do you think? We had the opportunity to see Rielly's first reaction to her new space, and it was pretty great - I think she likes it!

Thank you so VERY much to Rielly and her family for giving me the chance to design her room, to Sarah Leeman of Bean Shoots Photography for capturing the true essence of this room, and to my fabulous design assistant, Denise Sharp, for all of her help.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Kerry xo