Winter Inspiration: Merry + Minimal

The holidays may be over, but that doesn’t mean you have to box up all of those lovely decorations! De-Christmas your home and put away anything that screams ‘Santa’ or totes a traditional red and green colour palette. Instead, opt for a monochromatic scheme accented with fresh greens from your neighbourhood park. Need help keeping those greens fresh? Martha has the 101 on how to keep your winter greens looking their best.    In the mean time, here are a few pretty pics to inspire your winter decor.  

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**As hard as I try to source correctly, it can be tricky to find an image's owner. If you notice an image that has been incorrectly sourced, please notify me so I may correct ** 

Merry Christmas + Adorable Snowman Marshmallow Recipe

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Hope everyone is cozy, warm and indulging in a pile of holiday treats (because Christmas is one of those calorie-free days, where nothing you eat or drink counts). Saw this super cute recipe from i am a food blog that was too sweet not to share. These mint marshmallow snowmen can still be made and enjoyed after the holidays, without feeling too festive. 

One Room Challenge - Guest Room - Week 1 to 6

Pardon the fuzzy pics and complete lack of follow-through with that previous post where I explained [what I thought was going to be] my second ORC project. The initial plan was to do something new with my parents' bedroom, but we had some trouble pinning down exactly what we wanted. And rather than rush through the project (since mid-challenge we were still stuck on concept) we decided to give the guest room a quick face lift.

The guest room is on the main floor of my parents' home, next to the main washroom visitors and guests use. The door to this room is usually open and in clear view when going upstairs or standing in the kitchen. So, it was important that it look welcoming, cute and slightly nautical/cottage-y to match the vibe of the (soon-to-be-completed) rest of the house.

Scroll to the bottom to check out the before pics and some of the finishing details. Including the teeny tiny budget we managed to work with!

As always, a huge thank you goes out to Linda for organizing the One Room Challenge. Twice a year she brings together over 200 guest participants (like myself) and 20 featured bloggers to redecorate a room in six short weeks. You can view the guest participants by click here and view the featured bloggers here.

 Before + Progress Pics

Above: In the end, my inspiration pillow turned out to be not quite right. But it did influence me to buy some gorgeous drapes. 

Below: We tested out some Benjamin Moore paint swatches and settled on the lovely Wickham Gray. 

I'm happy to report that we spent around $350 finishing this room. We shopped around the house and in storage to furnish the space, only buying a new set of drapes and hardware at homeSense for around $50. The remaining budget went to trim, paint and supplies! Not bad.

One Room Challenge - Master Bedroom, Week 1

Hi Friends! Apparently it has been six whole months since completing my first One Room Challenge (crazy!) and it is time to jump back on the crazy train and do it all over again [insert nervous laugh here]. I will be joining a group of 200+ bloggers and 20 featured designers who will be linking up each week to share our progress, struggles, triumphs and everything else that goes along with an ORC makeover. You can follow along with the hashtag #oneroomchallenge on Instagram or by checking into Linda's blog, Calling It Home every Wednesday and Thursday (she's the mastermind behind the ORC). So, here goes another six week makeover challenge! This time around I will be making over my mom and dad's master bedroom. It's lacking a lot of things...but my goal is to make it match this stress-free-lakeside-lounging-lifestyle my parents seem to have adopted. I'm hoping to give them a space that feels intentional and personalized, rather then the mishmash of hand-me-downs and makeshift storage solutions they've been working with. And to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what this space will look like when we're done, but I'm hoping it will be something along the lines of these inspiration pics...a little trim, a few nautical bits and some vintage accents. Should be easy, right? Heh...

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Trend Obsession: Whitewashed Fireplaces

My latest obsession has been browsing Pinterest and ogling those dreamy whitewashed fireplaces that look like they have existed forever. There’s something pretty fantastic about how they can transform a space into an effortlessly chic and casual space that you can definitely picture yourself enjoying no matter the season. In the fall and winter months you can keep a fire roaring, and they’ll feel cozy and warm, while in the spring and summer months they’ll make a gorgeous focal point and keep your space feeling fresh and bright. 

A pretty versatile trend, the whitewashed brick can give your existing fireplace an update that works with a more modern décor style OR on the opposite end of the design spectrum, can also work perfectly with traditional décor. 

To achieve this lovely look, check out these tutorials to help whitewash your existing stone fireplace. Or call my dad and he’ll build you one (but don’t tell him your plans of painting it…)

Lowes – Whitewash a Brick Fireplace 

Young House Love – How to Whitewash Brick 

This Old House – Whitewashing Red Brick 

7 Swimsuits Under $20

Okay, so this is a little out of character for me, BUT a deal is a deal, and I'm feeling the need to share.

A few weeks ago I was served an ad on Pinterest that actually caught my eye. It was this adorable bathing suit, and it was only $19.99 (USD). It came at a suspiciously perfect time, since I had just been out shopping for a new bathing suit, with pretty much every store being either sold out or left with barely anything great to choose from. Despite being weary of buying from Facebook/Pinterest/Instagram shops, and after reading a bunch of mixed reviews on Cupshe, I was on the verge of desperation and willing to gamble my $20. Six weeks later, I was pleasantly surprised to receive my new suit. Quality was great and it didn't dissolve in the water.

I am now contemplating picking up a few more (which should arrive in time for next summer) and really feeling these flow-y tops and one-pieces.

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Custom Creations from Loom Decor

I am more than aware of the fact that I have a serious pillow addiction. Lately I’ve been able to reign in the crazy and say ‘no’ to several beautiful pillows that have crossed my path, but when Laurel and Wolf asked if I was interested in learning more about Loom Décor and creating a free custom pillow, I jumped off my wagon and said YES.

Vaguely familiar with the brand (I can’t not click on an online ad with pretty pillows), I was given a tour of the site and services with one of their Pro Stylists, Erica. She walked me through the ins and outs of the shop, highlighting all of the services they offered, and the countless opportunities to create something customized—not to mention that each piece is handmade at their workshop in Nashville, Tennessee.

I’m pretty curious about their window treatment offerings and definitely want to give this service a whirl, especially since one of the site’s features includes a chat box with an online stylist ready to provide assistance (because you definitely don’t want to make a mistake when ordering custom window treatments…) But what I am most obsessed with are the bed skirts! For anyone who has recently shopped for these, you’ll know the struggle to find something that feels modern (read: NO ruffles) and in ANY colour other than white or cream. Sense my frustration? Honestly though, how cute is this?

Being the generous daughter that I am, I had my mom and dad’s room in mind when creating my custom pillow. We went with the Simple Lumbar style with feather insert, and pulled from their lengthy selection of blue fabrics. Immediately I was drawn to the breezy ombre palette and largescale print of Birds of a Feather in Pool (coincidently, that was my mom’s first choice too) and mom chose Mazing Grace in Aqua for the back of the pillow. When the pillow arrived, we were pleasantly surprised at how accurate the colours were – not always the case when ordering online. We had one small issue, where the zipper was placed on the wrong side of the pillow, but it took a few days for us to realize the mistake, and Loom was quick to replace for us.

Browsing their site, you definitely get caught up in all of the gorgeous fabrics and styles they have to offer, and I’ve rounded up a few fabulous prints that caught my eye…

Simple Throw Pillows: classic velvet - nectar / udaya - berry / classic linen - ivory w/ classic linen - terra cotta edge /  chantilly stripe - midnight / zoo-la-la - ruby / optrix - ash / xu garden - indigo / spot on - azure / babar - twilight / shore - classic / stream up - mist / band stand - oyster / classic linen - safari w/ classic linen - ivory edge /  classic linen - iron, casual linen - dune, crisp linen - dawn 

The Most Underrated Feature in Your Home

What's one of the most underrated and underutilized decor feature in your home? This week, my vote goes to your stair risers!

Commonly found in Spanish Mission-style homes, adding tile, wallpaper, paint or stencils to the risers on your staircase can transform them into an interesting focal point. In many North American homes, our staircases are among some of the first things guests see when entering, which makes it the perfect place to add a touch of personality. It can also help to create a sense of connection between your home’s main floor, and the often over-looked second floor.

From bold, high contrast colour schemes to soft and subtle monochromatic palettes—no matter your décor style, those blank risers have potential.

Renters can also take advantage of this DIY with Apartment Therapy's clever (and less permanent) hack.

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**As hard as I try to source correctly, it can be tricky to find an image's owner. If you notice an image that has been incorrectly sourced, please notify me so I may correct ** 

Go for the Gold: Olympic-Gold for Your Home

Is it just me, or does watching the Olympics feel stressful?? Like everyone else, I'm sure, you can't help but feeling invested in the successes of your country's athletes. Despite never having met them, or even knowing a thing about their Olympic event, you know they've practiced and competed their hearts out for a chance to bring home some bling (..I'm also a little envious at the passion and dedication they have for their sport)

Since I'm probably considered to be way too old to begin an Olympic career, I've done the next best thing, which is rounding up a few fabulous home accessories that come pretty close to being as lovely and sparkly as a gold medal. 

(Ps. Go Canada!!! Which sport has you on the edge of your seat?)

Lunar Kingdom Wall Art |  Ralston Pendant  |  Ranore Fire Screen  |   Set of 2 Vela Candlesticks  |   Paige Tray, Arteriors  |  Olso 5-Piece Cutlery Set, Canvas  |  3 Piece Fotochain Photo Display Set, Umbra  |  Audrey Lamp, Peachy Nude

ikea hacks: billy bookcase built-ins

One of my favourite decor features are built-ins. Not only are they multi-functional—offering precious storage and space to display your favourite books, family photos, souvenirs, etc.—but they can add value to your home, giving it the look of a custom build. If you don't have a carpenter in the family, built-ins may seem like an expensive and daunting task, however, one of my favourite Ikea hacks to peruse on Pinterest is the millions of different ways people are transforming the Billy Bookcase to look like a built-in.We attempted this in my parent's previous house, installing a set of wall to wall bookcases with doors in the dining room. We were looking for extra storage since both myself and my Bubi had moved in, bringing a lot of our belongings with us. These units held a ton of stuff, and kept things accessible when we needed them, or hidden when not in use. For some reason I never took a picture of them styled and in use, but managed to snap the below shot just before we moved. 

Now that we've officially moved everything into our new house, my parents and I are hoping to use the Billy Bookcase once again to create built-ins in our kitchen/dining space as well as a pair to sit on either side of the soon-to-be-built fireplace in the living room. Our first experience with the Billy was good, but I think we can customize them even more to look less like the Ikea staple and more like a custom piece of millwork. 

As inspiration, I've rounded up my favourite 5 Billy Bookcase hacks:

Bliss at Home via BHG Blog 

 Orlando Soria via Lonny 

 Suzanne's Colour in Harmony Room via Apartment Therapy 

Laura's Living Room via The Makerista 

Love these, but cannot find a source -- if anyone knows where they're from please let me know so I can credit them.