House Porn

Pretty, pretty!

(suzanne dimma's blog on house and home)

(verhext via automatism)

(shelter)

(google.com via Dear Designer on Pinterest)

The Study is Less Barren... Still Not Painted

Yesterday, we did a top to bottom scrub of the house, rearranged the furniture in the study and then picked up a few plants to keep the place from looking completely barren.  I also did an inventory of all of the artwork I have waiting for frames to do the gallery walls... 58 pieces of various sizes.  I'm off to HomeSense today to find some nice looking pots for our two trial plants (please kitties don't eat them or use them as a second bathroom like you did their predecessors) and to start the process of collecting picture frames.

As well, I'm starting the hunt for some type of window treatment.  I'm thinking floor to ceiling drapes in blue or some shade in between.  Or maybe yellow?  Not sure if I want pattern...

Here's what it all used to look like when we first after we ripped up the carpet and realized why the original floor had been covered in the first place (oh, and I had been sampling different whites...)

Here it is now, waiting for curtains and artwork...

Here's the stairwell, needing more paint.

I'm still contemplating painting the desk out black and getting an upholstered slipper chair to go with it instead of our very fun mid-century find that we're using right now.

Today Kurt's finally installing the blinds in both bathrooms.  No more towels as makeshift window coverings!  It's only been a year...  As I said, for a long time we were all reno'd out.

Edited to add:  Yay!  Found an 11x14 so Snow White and the Usual Suspects is now over the sofa.  This sofa is new.  It does not appear so.  As you can see, the cats think it's theirs.

Take your house porn outside...

Oh, but I love this.  *sigh*

(Anna Malin via decor8... see more photos here)

(decorology)

Can I do this to my half story?

I've mentioned this before.  When I'm no longer feeling completely and totally reno'd out, I really, really, really want to rip up the carpet in the half storey and then paint the whole thing out white - floors and all. 

 (desire to inspire)

But maybe a bit of black?

(desire to inspire)

House Porn

My house changes as you go from the first to the second storey.  The main floor receives very little natural light while the second floor is washed with it.  It gives both spaces a very different feel and it's been interesting trying to unify the two. 

On the main floor, I'm moving to darker, richer pops of colour on a white background:

Via the decorista

skona hem via 2 by design

(decorology)

 (Decorology)

One of my favourite kitchens of all time ever.  It's a Tommy Smyth special that was originally photographed for House and Home Magazine.

(via nest egg)

On the second floor, I always want it to feel fresh and airy and kind of like it's spring no matter the time of year:

 (Pinterest via Decorology)

 (Bright Bazaar via Simply Grove)

 (Elle Interior via Simply Grove)

(The Decorista)

(decor8)

(decorology)

Long time since my last post...

The good news is the porch will be covered by insurance.  I'm just waiting on our insurance company to finalize Norm's quote.  Looks like the work will be done in the spring.   In the meantime, there's lots of small projects including way too much painting, wallpaper to be applied to the stairs leading from the main to the second floor and tiling in the kitchen.  Should keep me busy over the cold winter months (well, that and training for the upcoming CrossFit Games season).

While the outside of the house has an air of crack den, the insides are spiffied up for the holiday season.  The tree looks a little bit like it might be drunk.  One of the many reasons I love getting a real tree verses using an artificial one.  Oh, and in case you're wondering.   Yes, the cats knocked it over twice before a 50lb weight vest was added at the base to keep the poor thing upright.

We moved into the bedroom over a month ago...

...and then we decided summer is too nice to spend indoors painting and hanging curtains and pictures so we've been total slackers.  This weekend is supposed to not be particularly nice out (rain, cold) and the gym is closed (but I have a key) so my guess is we will get down to work and finish a room or two.  I'd like to get the study and powder room painted as well as some curtains up in the bedroom.  I'm sure our neighbours would appreciate it. 

To help motivate myself, I've been reviewing some house porn on the internets.

First up, soft white walls, diffused light and natural textures. I want to curl up on the bench with a strong cup of coffee and rub my bare feet on the soft rug.

(Valentin Loellmann via Escapade)

I really like how this half storey was carved up.  Hmm, thinking.  

(Apartment Therapy via Decorology)

If this doesn't get me excited about getting our powder room completed, nothing will.  Hmm, I need to get myself some frames.  I haven't picked up any so far and it's going to take awhile to start putting together a collection of vintage ones...

(Domino via Automatism)

Tea and a good book while wrapped in a gray flannel blanket.  How can you tell the weather has turned and it's cold out?

(The New Victorian Ruralist via La Maison Boheme)