Auld Lang Syne

Well, I survived the holidays, thus far. The Christmas dinner was successful, the gifts were a hit, and seeing family and friends were a joy. As I contemplate 2011, I look back on 2010. Here are some of the highlights:

Holidays and special days
Birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, summer break, spring break, winter break - they were all special because I spent it with my family.

Christmas dinner setting 2010

Disney World
I must admit that the Stepfordish feel of Disney World was a bit creepy but the kids had a great time and the place runs like a well-oiled machine. Also, I wouldn't mind living in a castle like this even if it's a little over the top for my taste.

Disney World

The Beach
Okay, following our trip to Disney World, we spent time at the beach. I love the hot sands and the blue waters and of course, the white beach house style. This is not the beach house we stayed at but I wish we did. :)

Beach house from Something's Gotta Give

Blow Up
Back in the Nineties a club called Blow Up started up in my city, inspired by the London club. It played Britpop music, bands ranging from Sixties acts like the Small Faces to Nineties bands like Blur and Suede. Yours truly was a regular on the scene and recently we attended the 16th anniversary of the club. Much of the crowd was older, wider, and stiffer, but everyone was happy to reminisce and relive their days of youth.

Britpop decor

Simplycolourblind
It's been five months since I first started this blog. I've had fun writing it, even when life has gotten too busy to write another entry or when the inspiration just wasn't there. One thing's for sure, my love for home decor has not diminished.


Now, armed with my January 2011 copy of House and Home, I'm going to sit by the fireplace, contemplate this past year, and dream about the decor trends for the new year. Happy new year, all!

I'm dreaming of a white (and red) Christmas

Every year Christmas creeps up on me quickly, and before I know it, I'm making a mad dash to the malls trying to target everyone on my gift list. From teachers to family to friends, I make sure everyone is accounted for, which is a real challenge when life itself is busy without having to go shopping, and attend holiday concerts, pageants, and parties.

I have yet to buy all the gifts, mail my Christmas cards, and buy the turkey. Despite it all, I decided to take precious time and replace my real Christmas tree (it's sitting pretty on my driveway) and purchase an artificial white one.  I haven't had an artificial tree since I was child but I love my new one. I'm thrilled it fits in nicely with my present decor. Unfortunately, my children are disappointed with it, prefering the live green one. So, I've compromised and added red accents which has made them a little happier. Like I said, children add colour to my life.

Joyeux Noel

White (and red) Christmas tree

As I embark on my 2010 Christmas journey, I will make time to watch my favourite Christmas movie,  Family Man, starring Nicholas Cage. I love this movie because I can relate to it ("Where's my Mary Janes?"). But I must say, the decor of the homes is my absolute suburban nightmare.

Nicholas Cage in Family Man



Merry Christmas, everyone!

Deck the house

The Christmas season has arrived.
It began for me last week with the Santa Claus Parade. We braved the cold and crowds and took our kids for the first time. This past weekend we got our fresh tree and I'm starting to decorate the house. Each year, I give the kids their own tree which they are free to decorate as they please, while I reign over the main tree in the living room. They complain that my tree is boring because it's understated, and lacking in bright colours. Alas, my tree is not beautiful enough to post, so here are a couple of trees that I think make a real statement:

A girly tree



Stunning. I wish I could pull this off.

 

My lovely berry bowl from Restoration Hardware

 





Under construction

I have been living with various degrees of renovation for the past 10 years. Our current home is our second renovation. We have very litttle or no time to renovate so I'm looking forward to the holidays when the drywall in my basement may actually get finished. Meanwhile, I will have to be content and dream upon other beautiful (and finished) homes. Here are some photos of celebrity homes courtesy of Elle Decor that I love:

Candace Bushnell's living room

Monique Lhuillier's home - the carpet would go nicely in my home office.

Cynthia Rowley's home: The piano, gold leaf chairs, delicate drapes....

Nanette Lepore's home: I love the silver ottoman and chair, turqoise drapes, and moss green sofa.

Blog spotlight: Centsational Girl

It's been awhile since I've browsed through Craigslist or Kijiji. I'm in serious need of a little pick me up anywhere in my house to add some excitement to my routine yet unpredictable life. So, I look to others who do what I love to do, so much better. For example, I follow the Censational Girl blog. Kate has a great sense of style and is a master of decorating, and restoring and updating old furniture. Here is an imitation Dorothy Draper dresser she stripped and repainted so beautifully. I have been scouting a similar piece to redo myself but unfortunately finding a cheap, used one in this city and country is very difficult.

 

I'm also inspired by Kate's home office:

 

She has lots of other amazing craft ideas and pics of her place. Centsational Girl even includes a step by step process for others to try. Unfortunately, I don't have the patience to follow them but I do like her ideas. Thanks for the inspiration, CG!

Halloween Hangover

Halloween is a couple days away and my kids are really excited. They have already overdosed on candy at their school Halloween parties. Typically me, I haven't gone all out to decorate in the Halloween spirit, since I see no point in celebrating gore and death. However, I do enjoy dressing my children up to go trick-o-treating and giving out candy. Not to be too boring, I also have incorporated black and orange accents into my home.

Change the candles to gold or silver and this will turn into a Chrismas theme

Carving the pumpkin is always fun but that's my husband's department, since I am artistically challenged when it comes to drawing and sculpting. Here is our hungover pumpkin which I think is quite funny.

Hungover pumpkins

Festive Fall

It's that festive time of year. Thanksgiving turns into Halloween, which leads to Christmas, and then the New Year,  That means lots of decorations and celebrations. Although I like entertaining and dressing the house up a bit, I'm not a particularly crafty person. I wish I was but I don't have the time nor interest to make wreaths and other things. I rely on store bought decorations or reinvent things around the house. And occasionally paint and spray paint. I am also a believer in restraint when it comes to decorating.

To kick off festive season, on Sunday we hosted Thanksgiving dinner at my place. My husband was going to chronicle some of the classic Thanksgiving moments (ie. turkey display) on camera but we were too caught up in the actual food preparation that we forgot. This is what we did manage to capture:





Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving - I thank you for checking out the site :).

Style: Then and Now

As you grow older and time passes, your style and tastes change. There are always those trademark touches that define who you are and certain preferences never go away. For me, I think I've become a bit more conservative over time and my taste has matured and refined. Ultimately your lifestyle shapes your identity in the way you dress and the way you decorate your home. In my younger days, I preferred bohemian to classic and black to white.  Here's a sample of what my style would've been then, and what is more like now.

Then:

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I am not old enough to have been around for the mod days of swinging London but I  was into the style. A major part of that was the fashion. I loved Twiggy and go-go boots.  I also appreciated the bohemian look. I still do - silk fuschia curtains and jewelled colours - just not in my own home.

Now:

Kate Hudson and Boho fashion

 Okay, I still like hippie glam.


Stripped of colour but such a dreamy room



Then again, perhaps my tastes haven't completely changed that much.....

Excessories

"Another cushion?"

"More lampshades?"

My husband can't understand why I often buy accessories that he feels are unnecessary. From a practical point of view he's right. Aesthetically though, it's the most economical and quickest way to update and refreshen your home. Not to be wasteful though, I pack away previous accessories and bring them out again when I'm bored. I also donate and pass on stuff that I've totally outgrown so I don't feel too guilty about those little luxuries. Here are some accessories I occasionally enjoy updating:

* cushions

* lighting: lampshades, lamps, chandeliers

* picture frames

* mirrors

* throws

* bedding

* drapes

Here are pics of some favourite accessories:

White is always a clean choice.

Hat boxes are glamourous and practical. The striped gold one is vintage 1960s and belonged to my mother. Jewellery adds sparkle to a room.





 

Black lampshades and crystal bases are a current favourite. The Eiffel Tower motif runs through my home.

The silk rosette cushion adds a dainty touch. I got the Eiffel Tower decal from the dollar store : ). 

Simply Colour

My children add colour to my life. Literally. As I am blessed with watching them grow, learn, and experience life, I get back so much from them as well. One of those things is colour.

My children love and prefer colour. The spaces they occupy in the house - their bedrooms, the toyroom - involve some colour. They are still young enough to allow me to decorate their rooms but sometimes they express if they like or dislike something, especially my daughter. She is a girly girl and loves pink and princess stuff. My boys also take charge of decorating their shelves and the tabletops. It reflects their interests and extra-curricular activities. Secretly, I think it looks a little junky and messy but then again, it is their space...

                                     

Boy's room

  Fresh is best but bright silk flowers are everlasting





 

If I had my way, I'd probably like my children's rooms to look like something out of a Restoration Hardware Baby and Kids catalogue. For example:







A pretty playroom. In my reality, this room would be strewn with Lego pieces and dolls



I would love this bed for my room

Designer spotlight: Kelly Wearstler

Although I don't take many chances with colour and patterns, I admire anyone that can do so effectively and tastefully. One of these interior designers is Kelly Wearstler. Wearstler's style is adventurous, unexpected, and glamourous. Her style has been described as modern Hollywood Regency. She uses a lot of vibrant colours and textures, and updates classic pieces like wing chairs and tufted sofas. Besides having fabulous taste, she's gorgeous and is featured in best-dressed lists. This woman truly has style.