I don't know about you, but my sweet, funny grandpa was nothing like Ralph Lauren (my grandpa may have driven a red truck, definitely not a British sports car), but the esthetic Lauren lives by seems to check all the current "Grandpa Chic" decorating trend boxes...that perfect balance between comfort and elegant sophistication. … Continue reading Grandpa Chic…
Category: Decorating
The New Look…
When we bought our home, there was gold shag carpeting on this staircase, photo left (actually throughout most of the house), which I'm sure was original to the 1961-built house. You can use your imagination to visualize what it looked like 30 years later, in 1999, when we took possession. The previous owners had… Continue reading The New Look…
Housekeeping…or is it keeping house…
On a recent vlog, "The Tartan Topiary", shared the following quote from Jackie Kennedy. "If I was born to do anything, it would be housekeeping; this brings me true joy." When I heard this, I couldn't envision Jackie Kennedy with a mop in hand and a chocolate… Continue reading Housekeeping…or is it keeping house…
Home…
Now that the garden is waning, although the roses are still blooming, my focus tends to shift indoors. Over the summer months, my house is wholly neglected... dust bunnies collecting in corners and the chandeliers laden with dust (I don't want to look too close, is that a spider's web???)...not to mention the… Continue reading Home…
Ode to Paris…
If you've been following the blog for some time, you will know all about my love of Paris. Up until several years before the pandemic, I travelled to Paris almost annually...and I miss it. I'm not going this year, and for sure not next year (the Olympics), so Paris is coming to me! What… Continue reading Ode to Paris…
A Cautionary Tale…
As part of my mini "Livingroom Refresh", I mentioned that I would have slipcovers custom-made for the chairs we use for dining in the living room. Although these chairs aren't technically dining chairs, they have the same seat height as most. As you can see, these chairs are well-used and quite soiled (embarrassingly so!), but they… Continue reading A Cautionary Tale…
A (mini) Living Room Refresh…
It all started with Charlie chewing the living room area rug... I loved my old rug (the one at the bottom of this photo). The colours were subtle and fit in perfectly with the furniture and draperies. I've had it for a long time and had… Continue reading A (mini) Living Room Refresh…
The Snowball Effect…
You know how one thing leads to another? This tale of musical tables started innocently enough with a trip to a local home decor shop to pick up a few gifts. The shop, Plum Home & Design, always has the most beautiful window displays. I arrived a few minutes before the store opened, so I had… Continue reading The Snowball Effect…
Mood Boards…
When I was a decorator in a past life, I would have my clients go through magazines and without putting too much thought into what they were looking for, randomingly tear out pages that showed something that resonated with them. It could be a colour, a pattern, a style of furniture, anything really. After,… Continue reading Mood Boards…
The Finishing Touches…
This past weekend, I had a "mini break" to use Bridget Jones's words. Although short, it inspired me to add to my "Charlie Brown" Christmas decor. No, I am not putting up a tree after all, but I have bulked up the nature theme I had already started. My first errand on my return was… Continue reading The Finishing Touches…