My decorating confession

I have a confession to make. I've let all my decor plans for my new space slip.

Decorating my new pad, dubbed the Jen-nasium and the jPad by friends, started off strong. I went on an epic Ikea shopping trip, allowing me to furnish my space, fill my cupboards, and survive day-to-day.

I had multiple allen-key assembly meltdowns, but, with a little (OK, a lot of) help from my friends, I managed to turn a stack of flat-pack boxes into actual, functional furniture.

As I raced to prepare for my housewarming party, I ruthlessly downsized (a task that appears to be never-ending) and strictly adhered to my purple and grey, with pops of yellow, palette. I even was able to rework my Ikea futon to fit my new scheme by swapping out its frankly rather unattractive cover for a simple fitted sheet.

A few decorative vases here, an armful more of hangers there - suddenly, I was set up.

And that's where my decorating efforts stalled. Once I could do laundry, cook, work from home and watch TV, those final touches started to slip down on my list of priorities.

But lately, I'm feeling a little bit guilty about the unfinished state of my decor. Yes, very few decorating projects are ever actually done, but blank white walls are less than welcoming. The stack of family photographs - enlarged and printed in black and white - wait to be framed and hung as a gallery wall. The chalkboard just needs to be hung in the hallway. Other bits and bobs need to be framed, placed and hung, with hopefully a little help from someone with a more level eye than I.

And, I bought this votive holder from West Elm to mount above my bed, for a bit of a change from the traditional large headboard or statement piece of art look.

So, that's my shameful decorating confession. I got lazy, and, three months after moving in, I still have yet to hang a single piece of art. But, here's hoping that I get back on the wagon soon!

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday: High-style Halloween decor

Who says Halloween needs to be all goofy pumpkins and blood and guts? I love this glam gothic take, which (like my current black mani-pedi) you can easily work all autumn long:

Photo Michael Graydon, Maison & Demure.

Check out more stylish interpretations on Halloween decor in House & Home's photo gallery and read up on our mess-free ways to decorate with pumpkins.

Is your view important to you?

As I not-so-slowly slip into vacation mode, I've been thinking a lot about views. You see, currently I've got a rather amazing view of Toronto from my new apartment.

And, I must confess, I love it.

Looking out from my balcony, I'm reminded both of how massive Toronto really is, and how the urban sprawl really has its own beauty to offer. It's pretty during the day, too.

But, of course, as I anxiously watch the clock in anticipation for my East Coast vacation, I'm also struck by the view from my childhood home - which, admittedly, is almost as far as you can get from admiring downtown Toronto!

Both stunning scenes, for sure. But I also remember that when living at home, I failed to appreciate that scene of the harbour and, off in the distance, the town of Lunenburg. 

This line of thought always brings to mind the experience of a family member, who would recall how their home was purchased,k in part, for the lovely view of the sunset. The first year, they watched the sunset almost every night. The second year, most nights. By the third year in their new home, that spectacular view was largely forgotten.

So, I wonder, how much does the view affect your decision when you're scouting new neighbourhoods and vacation destinations? Does a brick wall (or a neighbour's living room) deter you? And, if you love your view, how do you make sure you keep appreciating it?

A peek at the holidays, PC Home style

Sure, Christmas is still more than four months away. But, in my world, that means that holiday-themed products and press releases have been landing in my mailboxes for months!

Yesterday I popped over to Rock-It Promotion's holiday preview event (rumour has it that even the jolly old elf was in attendance, though I missed him), and got a peek at how holiday season 2010 will look at PC Home.

I, of course, am a fan of their modern colourway - full of slates, silvers and shiny, shimmery accents!

I bought similar stockings from my local Loblaws last year - but am tempted to upgrade to this new, slightly less embellished version.

This hammered metal tray, retailing for under $15, will be a must-have for Christmas cookies, and I also like the sleek stemless champagne flutes.

Another fun entertaining idea - plates and wine glasses that slot together!

 

And of course, a nod to the traditional with some gold accents.

So, are you feeling festive yet?

Wordless Wednesday: The ingredients for a shiny new life

This is what a new apartment looks like at Ikea.

 

(For more of an explanation, see yesterday's blog post.)

Five fab fall finds from West Elm

As one of those poor souls lacking a cottage to mooch this weekend, I'm consoling myself with a Liberty Village brunch and shopping jaunt, and in preparation I've been scouting the West Elm website. Here are my top five favourite finds for fall: 

These studded wool pillows covers, $34 - $39, hit all the right notes for me: the wool adds weight and warmth for the cooler weather, while the studs offer just a bit of rock star style.

I also adore the silhouettes pillow cover, $30. It would be a great graphic punch for my sofa, and I find the silhouettes a bit of an unexpected touch compared to the more abstract patterns I've been drawn to lately.

 

Still on the silhouettes theme - I'm spotting a trend here for my own fall decor - I find this set of dog rectangle dessert plates ($24) pretty adorable. Plus, I love the styling in this shot - I've really got to start saving those wine corks before the temperatures dip!

It wouldn't be autumn without a great throw, and this chunky knit purl-stitch throw, $59, looks to be the right weight to handle being casually draped over the sofa to cozy up my space while also having enough heft to keep me warm on those chilly evenings!

So, nothing about books really says fall - after all, I certainly get some serious reading done poolside - but I still was happy to browse across this neat Herringbone Spine Bookcase, $199. It's a unique way to display some cherished titles - and definitely piqued my interest after my recent quest for creative book storage solutions!

Hanging on to summer with these outdoor living trends ...

While I've been happily eying all of the velvets, studs and chunky knits that are making their way to store shelves in time for fall, I'm also stubbornly holding on to visions of patio season. And it's not too late to spruce up and enjoy your outdoor space!

So in the spirit of hanging on to that summer feeling, here are the top outdoor living trends for 2010 from Andrew Bockner of Andrew Richard Designs:

Boutique chic: “If it’s not possible to come home and instantly create that environment, choose your favorite aspect of the luxurious boutique hotel and use it as an inspiration or starting point to build from season to season," says Bockner in a release. "Though these days we like to be instantly gratified, there is still something to be said for adding to your perfect outdoor oasis to personalize it and make it right!”

Casual dining: Skip the traditional table and chairs and opt instead for relaxed groups of sofas, love seats, soft cushions and comfortable chairs gathered around a coffee table.

Fabrics that last: “Chenille, silk- and velvet-like fabrics are all big for 2010,” says Bockner, citing new advances in outdoor fabrics that allow these interior finishes to stand up to the elements. 

Understated colours: Subtler tones, like whites, slates, greys and blacks, are taking over from bolder hues, though Bockner recommends adding in a few bright accessories for a little summery pop.

Accessorize: Try outdoor rugs, stainless steel lanterns or pool torches, Moroccan lanterns and battery operated candles to give the outside the same polish as your interiors. “A little goes a long way,” explains Bockner. “A few well-placed accessories make any outdoor living space homier.”

Create separate spaces: Create areas for sitting, eating and entertaining to help break up your space into functional chunks.  “I often use small pavilions, outdoor rugs and strategically placed furniture to define the spaces from one another. It gives each area its own feel and purpose” says Bockner.

Read more about getting a glam outdoor space.

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday: Perfect purples

Perhaps spurred on by my lavender summer frock, my lilac cell phone or my general passion for all things plum, today's all about sharing lovely decor hits in my favourite hue from my seriously overflowing inspiration file:

(Image from Canadian House & Home)

(Image from Canadian House & Home)

(Image found via Anthropologie)

(Image found via Coco Male blog)

(Image found via Coco Male blog)

(Domino Magazine image via the City Sage)

Do you care about the appearance of your electronics?

I spent much of this week searching for a new television. My wish list, I thought, was relatively simple: I wanted it to be small, light and energy efficient. Oh, and white!

This last requirement turned out to be the tricky part. I didn't think it was an unusual request - I wanted my new TV to match my decor, as well as my beloved MacBook - but after wandering the aisles of several big box electronic stores, I realized that maybe I was going to need to do a little more digging!

As I asked around, I got a lot of "you want a white TV, really?" responses from friends (is it really that unusual?), but eventually managed to to find a small white TV in stock at another big box store. And, I'm happy to say, it's now mine!

But, this whole experience has made me wonder - how much thought do people put into the appearance of their electronic purchases? Do most people just settle for standard black, or is it worth putting the legwork into more design-friendly finishes? Obviously you know where I stand!

Creative book storage solutions

When I first moved from Nova Scotia to Toronto three years ago, my luggage included six very heavy boxes of books. Since, that collection has only expanded, which brings up the question of how best to display all of those cherished, and space hogging, pages.

My current set up involves two bookshelves, eating up a full corner of my partially finished basement. Plus an extra shelf upstairs. At least I colour-blocked them?

While this storage method obviously works - I can see the titles, and grab them at a moment's notice, it's just not cutting it for me aesthetically.

For starters, I have too many books to alternate them with shelves stacked sideways and pretty accessories! Plus, I can't help but wonder, what do people with less space do? Sacrifice their libraries?

I don't really want to downsize my personal library, so I started to explore other storage options. Here are some of my creative favourites:

The Umbra Conceal bookshelf ($14 for the large), which actually turns your books into their own stacked wall art.

 
The Bibliochaise chair-shelf fusion from Italy's Nobody & Co.:



 A book-lined staircase, spotted on Apartment Therapy:

Using dead wall space, like above the door or up in the rafters, as seen on HGTV's StyleSheet blog:

Or how about converting an unused fireplace into your new library - as spotted in this shot from Domino?

Or, you could always just resort to piles on the floor - or a staircase, another Domino idea, picked up by the Two Tall Girls blog:

What creative ways have you seen to max out your book storage - while still keeping all your titles accessible?