trend to try: sports equipment as decoration

Recently I've come across more and more interesting interiors that use various sports equipment as decoration. I think this is an outstanding idea. You can use either equipment you already have or vintage pieces you can find at flea markets or online. What a fantastic way to re-purpose instead of buying something new for your home. And it gives a room unique character and shows off who you are! Check out these examples of equipment used as decor in very stylish ways.

via Frangipani Decor

via Apartment Therapy

from Flickr

via Country Living

via chicspacesforlittlefaces

via zatista

via bicyle design

via chicspacesforlittlefaces

via Apartment Therapy

via chic provence

via nest full of eggs

via vintage winter

via vintage winter

via A Beach Cottage

via public

 Very cool ideas. I may have to pull out my old field hockey stick from under my bed. Nah. Maybe not. 

home office inspiration

So I'm setting up my home office and looking for inspiration. Of course I love white, so these examples of white with punches of colour are eye-catching. I could work in any one of these!

via efedesigns

via Ideal Home

via Fresh Home

via decor8

Bright Bazaar

open vs. closed kitchen storage

Here are two very different storage options for the kitchen: sleek and modern closed storage, and casual, colourful and open storage. Which do you like best?

Chelsea Atelier via Houzz

James Dunlinson/Alistair Turnball via marthastewart

Enjoy the weekend! 

changing your chandelier from ugly to glam

So I've moved into my my new condo and it has the ugly builder-basic chandelier hanging in the dining area, and it is, of course, not centred above the table at all. There are so many great and affordable pendant lamp choices these days that I thought, I can change this out myself. How hard can it be?

Turns out, not hard at all!

BEFORE

I just followed a few easy steps (check out e-how home for even more detail):

1. MAKE SURE the power is turned off, first at the switch, and then at the fuse box. Double check. And use a circuit tester to be even more sure.

2. Unscrew and then remove the old plate from the ceiling, and note how the wires are connected.

3. Unconnect the wires and set aside the old fixture.

4. Check that the new plate will fit the plate from the old fixture. You may need to cut a bit of ceiling plaster or fill some in with caulking to make it a perfect fit.

5. Rewire the new light fixture. Use the instructions that came with the new light, plus remember how the old one was connected. Make sure to get the hot wire, the neutral one and the ground wire connected to the same ones in the ceiling.

9. Screw on the plate.

10. Make sure that the lamp is centred and at the right height above the table. You may need to swag it and hang the cord over a teacup hook in the ceiling like I did.

As a general rule of thumb, a chandelier should be hung 30-34" above the table. However, the height depends on the style of the fixture, the room style and ceiling height. If the chandelier has arms, is open and/or you can see through it, then closer to the table is better. If it is a drum shade that you can't see through it should be a little higher.

So here is after the switcheroo. I got the drum shade from Bouclair Home for around $80. Looks nice, and the light even works! I'm very proud. ;)

AFTER

Of course, chandeliers are great in other areas than just the dining room. Try one in the bathroom, bedroom, and even in a dressing room to add sparkle! Here are some great examples and sources.

Here are some great modern and glamorous chandeliers that I love.

Home Depot

Shades of Light

via Style Hive

Shades of Light

livinglighting.com

Home Depot

Shades of Light

Shades of Light

Azmyarch

i'm obsessed with...orange

I'm usually a subdued white, blues, neutrals kind of gal, but lately I've been inspired by orange. It is so versatile and comes in so many vibrant shades, I am now totally hooked!

Orange is a combination of red and yellow, so is very strong, but it's a warm tone that when paired right can create a very energetic and captivating feel to a room. Blue is opposite orange on the color wheel, so is a nice complement. Turquoise especially works well. Orange also works very well with white, which softens it. Orange is a very stimulating color for appetite and conversation, so you might try it in the dining room or kitchen.

Some shades of orange from Benjamin Moore that work well:

orange calypso

orange mandarin

new dawn

I've been looking for ways to introduce orange into my home and I think the best way to do that is through accessories and paint. I've found some great examples below, as well as sourced some items that are reasonably priced. Take a look.

via House Beautiful

via Martha Stewart

via Martha Stewart

via Elle Decor

via Elle Decor

via Casa Diseno

via Country Living

From top right: colander-Calypso; boxes-IKEA; tins-West Elm;tote-Crate & Barrel; rug-Pier 1; utensil holder-Pier 1; lamp-IKEA; hurricane vases-Pier 1; side table- West Elm; napkin ring-Crate & Barrel

Happy First Day of Summer everyone!

diy: pretty medicine cabinet

Oh, how I love Saturdays. Shopping, antiquing, sourcing fabrics and furnishings; a latte (or two) of course; and a diy project. Today I wanted to make my bland white plastic medicine cabinet prettier to look at every morning. So easy, and it cost $1.

I simply bought a roll of patterned adhesive paper from The Dollar Store, emptied the contents of the cabinet, took out the removable shelves, and measured for the back of the door and the back of the unit. I cut the adhesive paper to size, and used a box cutting knife to precisely cut around the edges.

I decided to add some inspiring messages to the back of the door so that when I am getting ready in the morning, I might feel a little more inspired to fully wake up and have a productive day!

 Anyone else have some examples of medicine cabinet make-overs?

spotlight on: cork floors and walls

OK, I am totally sold on cork these days. There are so many colors and patterns, it's easy to install, warm and comfy under my tootsies, not to mention it's a very sustainable flooring option. It's even so versatile you can use it on the walls as well.

Cork is a renewable resource that comes from cork oak trees found in Mediterranean countries. Bark is peeled from the tree without damaging it, and it then fully regenerates in 9-10 years and is able to be peeled again. A cork tree lives to be about 200 years old, and drops acorns that seed themselves and mature into new trees.

Cork has some remarkable and unique characteristics that make it a perfect choice for flooring and walls. It has the best insulating and acoustical capacities of any natural or man-made material, so it is a great choice for flooring when you want to cut down on the blaring music the kids are blasting in the basement. It is impermeable to liquid, making it functional even for kitchens and bathrooms. It is organic, and repels dust, germs and mold, so it's also a good choice for homes with little ones. It is elastic, which makes for easy installation in awkward areas. And it's super durable and cleans easily - perfect for high traffic areas and highly busy home owners.

There are some amazing new cork floors out there these days, in a variety of tones and textures. But cork isn't just used for flooring. It is also taking off as unique and natural wall and ceiling applications in tiles, or in rolls of wallpaper. Here are some cork interiors that I love.

Images from here, here and here.